After a brief moment, Zoe responded gently, “I’m going to Silvercrest. Rosemary recommended a pretty good location to me last month. I thought it was a strategic location and secured it.”Silvercrest? That was surprising. Lowering his head, he closed his lips on hers. After a long, intense kiss, he murmured, “Do you like that city so much?” He was on a mission to make her happy. So, he reached out and took his phone, “I’ll ask Ava to look over my schedule. I’ll go with you if I can. We can enjoy some leisure time after your work is done.”“It’s fine.” Propping herself up, she stopped him from taking the phone. “I’ll be back when my work is done. Moreover, I’m not really keen on a leisure trip. I’m feeling a little lazy, actually.”His eyes grew darker while her heart pounded like crazy. She was worried he might sense something wasn’t right, but he merely closed her bathrobe after staring at her for a long time. He couldn’t resist fondling her supple breasts when he was tying up
Mason recognized the elegant man. He was Farley, the famous businessman in Silvercrest! If his memory served him right, Rosemary was pretty close to this man. She even invited him to the outdoor party Mason had in his manor. Did that mean Rosemary was responsible for Zoe’s friendship with him?Sneering, he walked over to their table. Zoe raised her eyes and was stunned to see him in the restaurant. She murmured, “What are you doing here, Mason?”Smiling faintly, he held her shoulders, looked at her, and said tenderly, “I wanted to surprise you. So, I found out from your assistant that you’re having dinner here!”Extending a hand to Farley, he smiled politely, “We meet again, Farley!” Farley took his hand and introduced his daughter to Mason. Then, Mason patted her head affectionately and said with a smile, “Zoe loves kids. Thanks for bringing your daughter along, Farley!” With that, he sat down next to Zoe and joined their dinner.Both he and Farley were successful businessmen.
Mason had snuffed out his cigarette and was looking out the window by the time Zoe got out of the bathroom. He didn’t turn his head around when he heard footsteps behind him. Putting his phone on the bar counter, he said softly, “Lockwood Corporation has tens of thousands of employees and most of its business in Brookesville. You know very well that I can’t move to Silvercrest. I can’t just uproot my company!”He probably found out about her plans, Zoe thought. Walking over, his back was still turned to her when she checked his phone for a few seconds before putting it back down.“You knew.”“Do you want to know what I know?” Turning to the side, he looked at her and asked gently, “I know that you don’t love me and that you want to leave me. Have you given some thought to it and decided this was the most unprovocative way to leave me? “You counted on our marriage going stale and taking our kid with you when I no longer cared about our family. Is that it?”She didn’t deny it.
Things between Zoe and Mason hit a real, low point ever since their fight in Silvercrest.He rarely came home. If he did, it was only to get changed. They didn’t exactly talk to each other. He would even ask about her pregnancy through Ava.On the other hand, Barbara’s condition was getting worse. They would visit her, but they’d never do it together. One would visit Barbara in the daylight while the other would do it at night. They didn’t want to see each other and make things awkward.This went on day after day. Even Barbara noticed what was happening, but she was powerless to do anything. Every once in a while, some scandal about Mason would surface and make the rounds.Summer was gone and autumn came. Zoe was having her breakfast at the dining table in the morning. The trees were particularly green outside and the weather held up as well.Mason’s scandals made the newspaper. He checked into a hotel with a beautiful celebrity. Somebody took pictures of them walking in the h
A week later, Quinlee was banned from all activities relating to the entertainment industry. At first, she wasn’t sure who she had offended, but she gradually learned that it was none other than Mason. He put her on the bench because she tried to challenge Zoe’s status as his wife.After that, she tried to ask Zoe to give her a chance. However, some people who were in the know said to her, “It wasn’t Zoe who ordered your ban. Mason was the one who pushed for it! Don’t even think about begging him to help. It won’t work on him!”Quinlee was completely baffled and unsure of what to do next.…It was drizzling on an autumn night. A Rolls-Royce Phantom slowly pulled up to the manor. The car was drenched in the rain as it caught the glow from the light and reflected it dazzlingly.Luke got out of the car, held an umbrella, and opened the door to the backseat. He said softly, “We’re home, Mr. Mason!”It was dark in the car and Mason was resting his eyes. There was a lot of stuff goin
Mason’s phone rang in the middle of the night.Rising, he leaned on the headboard and turned on the night light. Zoe also woke up when he was talking on the phone. “What’s wrong, Mom?”It was Lisa at the other end of the phone.She sounded calm and collected. “I don’t think Barbara’s going to make it past tonight, Mason. Take Zoe along with you. This could be the last time you guys will see her.”He remained quiet for about half a minute before responding in a husky voice, “We’ll be right over!”They got changed in less than five minutes and hit the road in the middle of the night.The rain splashed down on the black Rolls-Royce. Beads of raindrops streamed down the car, reminiscent of tears.Due to Zoe’s pregnancy, he didn’t drive very fast. They didn’t say anything to each other. Zoe sat next to him in the passenger seat and looked out the window and into the rainy night. She knew, deep down, that this would probably be the last night she’d see Barbara.The car slowed down
Mason raised his head and strained to fight back tears. When he had control of his emotions, he held Barbara’s hand and murmured gently, “It’s me, Mom. I’m home.”“You’re back, Westley!”Tilting her head, she looked at him. She couldn’t be sure if it was really Westley. All she knew was that these were her son’s features. It was the little boy she raised. Her last shred of energy left her and her chest was rising and falling listlessly. She didn’t have any strength left in her to call out to him.So, she merely looked at her son.Her lips curled into a serene smile. Her son had come home. She fell into a deep thought.Do you know that you’re about to become a grandpa, Westley? Your granddaughter will be born in two more months. There will be another Lockwood in our family.You’re going to be overjoyed when you see her, Westley!The night grew darker as Barbara clung on to dear life, reluctant to let go. After all, her son had come home.Holding her hand, Mason said to the oth
Their lives returned to normal after Barbara’s funeral drew to an end.Mason started going back home more frequently.They were still treating each other coldly. They didn’t really talk to each other during dinner and they would sleep twenty inches away from each other. Sometimes, he’d even sleep in the guest room. Once in a while, he’d hug her from behind and brush his hands across her belly, trying to feel for his baby girl in there. If Zoe was woken in the process, she’d remain quiet and let him do his own thing. This was how their marriage was now. Aside from Yanni, there was nothing left between them. She had forgotten that she used to love him and he had forgotten that he used to want to make up to her. He even forgot to tell Zoe that he wanted to have a daughter who’d run towards him when he came home from work and asked for a hug.Both of them had forgotten what made them love each other in the first place. All they could remember now was how painful it was to maintain