Lilith's hands clenched tight. However, on the surface, she still wore a seemingly obedient look. "I understand, Mr. Mason."Mason got up and left. Lilith's parents appeared outside the door, wanting to initiate conversation when they saw Mason. However, Mason had already entered the elevator before their mouths could open. Ava gave them a stern look and followed him in.Only Mason and Ava were in the elevator, and the red numbers on the screen continued to descend. Suddenly, Mason asked, "Why was Lilith sent to Samphia Hospital? I remember Zoe's father is being treated in this hospital."Ava's heart skipped a beat. Immediately, she explained, "Mr. Mason, this really wasn't my idea. When I arrived at the airport, the ambulance had already taken Lilith to this hospital. Mr. Mason, will you come to visit Lilith after her surgery tomorrow?"As the elevator doors opened, Mason walked out, saying, "I'm not her doctor."Ava followed him. Mason got into his car, a black Bentley,
In the parking lot of the Lockwood Group, Mason turned off the engine. Sitting in the car, he pondered for a moment and decided to call Zoe.Zoe refused to answer.Mason did not persist in making more calls. He leaned back on the leather seat and quietly lit a cigarette, contemplating whether Zoe was upset because of his rough treatment last night or because he left abruptly in the middle of the night. Zoe must have heard Ava’s words on the phone.With one hand gripping his phone, he wondered if he should comfort her or perhaps try to placate her. However, this thought lingered briefly before he brushed it off. Such lovey-dovey actions were not suitable for him and Zoe. He never loved Zoe in the past, not now, and not in the future.As he put away his phone, Ava approached and opened the car door for him. Having not slept all night, Ava was still full of energy. She had always been a hard worker, a trait that Mason admired, so he kept her around even after she crossed some boun
His words carried a hint of provocation.Mason smirked, gesturing for the caddy to place the ball. Then, with a slight tilt, he swung the club.Watching the ball's landing spot, he walked in that direction, speaking leisurely, "Since when have you understood me so well? Yes, one has to keep a close eye on the wife at home to prevent unwanted attention. What do you think, Gregory?"Gregory's expression was not pleasant. After a moment, he sneered. "But sometimes, no matter how closely you watch, it still won't work. There's a saying. Love is like sand. The more you want to grasp it, the faster it slips away."Under the sunset, the lush green grass stretched out. Mason, dressed in a white casual outfit, looked smart and energetic. He lowered his head and swung the golf club.With two strokes, the ball was in the hole.Mason showed no interest in playing further. Handing the club to the caddy, he took a towel to wipe his hands, smiling at Gregory. "Gregory, I've never failed to
Zoe received the transfer from Mason while having coffee with Ella. Ella had received some news about Liam and wanted to discuss it with Zoe.Ella shared the information she gathered, saying, "Liam is in some primitive tribe in Yarifa, providing legal aid. The assistant mentioned he might not be back for another one or two years. I told you, Zoe, these successful lawyers, once they hit the big time, they seem to get disillusioned with the urban life and money. It's all about the hustle and bustle of the big city, isn't it?"After finishing, Ella took a big sip of her coffee, making a face.She could not stand this pretentious stuff.Zoe lowered her head, stirring her coffee lightly.Worried that Zoe could not handle the news, Ella consoled her softly, "Let's keep looking into it. I refuse to believe that no one else can handle it besides him."Zoe nodded, about to say something, when she received a 30 thousand-dollar transfer notification.She was slightly taken aback.Seeing h
Mason smirked mockingly. "You have quite the appetite. Aren't you worried that you're being too greedy?"Zoe gave a cold laugh. "It's up to me to decide whether I'm being greedy or not. 300 thousand and not a penny less. Then, I'll get this job done, Mr. Mason." Mason narrowed his eyes. "What if we don't secure the project?"Zoe's smile faded. "That's not my problem. It just means you're not capable enough."No one had ever challenged him so blatantly before. Mason found it arousing. He leaned in, whispering near Zoe's ear, "It seems I have to secure this project now. Otherwise, my dear Mrs. Lockwood might think I'm incapable."His masculine scent enveloped Zoe's senses as he approached her, causing a flutter. Zoe pushed him away. "Are we discussing business or are you trying to have your way with me again?"She still felt disgusted by the incident from the other night. A disloyal husband always brought unpleasant images of his intimate encounters with other women to mind. J
Gregory was not surprised at all to see Zoe. He looked down on her from above, assessing her, especially her gorgeous outfit. After a few seconds, he descended the stairs gracefully and approached Zoe, casually remarking, "The dress looks good, but the one you wore at the hospital suits you better."Zoe had matured, and Gregory had noticed the inexplicable comments and his daily visits to the Imperial Hotel. Even though she was generally somewhat clueless, she could not ignore the signs. However, she had to pretend to be oblivious. After all, Gregory was not someone she could afford to offend.Rosemary could not sense anything unusual and happily introduced them, "Zoe, this is our distant cousin, a friend of Terrence's since childhood. He often comes over to hang out."Zoe smiled lightly. "We've met."Rosemary patted her shoulder. "I almost forgot, Gregory and Mason have been childhood friends. You two catch up. I'll go get some crystal glasses. The servants are always forgetfu
Mason stared at her for a moment. Then, he lightly chuckled, "Women pay attention to these things?" His voice suddenly deepened, carrying a hint of warmth. "So, Zoe, when did you learn these skills? Was it during your time as Mrs. Lockwood?"This remark was a bit flirtatious, something typical between spouses. Zoe had no interest in playing along. She turned her face away, looking out the car window, and calmly said, "I learned them along the way."Mason seemed like he wanted to say more. However, the traffic light turned green, and the cars behind them impatiently honked their horns. Mason had to press the accelerator lightly and drive away.…Mason brought Zoe to Brookesville's most upscale hair salon, and the manager personally tended to them.The manager was silver-tongued and eloquent. "Mrs. Lockwood, you have fair skin and a slender frame. We just received a new Marchesa couture dress that is perfect for you."As he spoke, he had it brought out for them to see. Indeed,
Their bodies pressed tightly against each other, rubbing against one another. To say that Zoe did not feel anything would be a lie. However, she still had reservations about Mason, so she found an excuse. "The banquet starts at seven. If you care so much about that project, why would you want to be late?"At her words, Mason loosened his grip on her slightly. He looked at her in the mirror and chuckled softly. "Mrs. Lockwood, you really know how to kill the mood."The crisis was finally averted. In the car on the way back, neither of them spoke.Mason's black Bentley slowly pulled into the Abbott Residence at 7:00 PM. He got out of the car and opened the door for Zoe. Mason held her hand as she got out of the car. She could not help but look up at him.Under the fluttering night breeze and the glamorous lights, they locked eyes. Mason gently tightened his grip on her hand, pulling her toward him and whispering, "Stick close to me tonight. Don't flirt with other men, okay?"His w
In the presidential suite, the newlywed night was fiery, filled with affection and intimacy. The wedding banquet was still bustling with excitement.There was a special guest, who quietly arrived and hoped to leave just as quietly. He was afraid to disturb her mood and feared that if she saw him, she might not be pleased. However, despite his best efforts, they still crossed paths in the hallway.Gael stood quietly, watching Yanni. She had just taken Ella to the restroom, as she wasn’t comfortable leaving her alone. Besides Ella, there was another small girl with her, probably one of the twins she had with Keaton. The other twin was her brother.The twins were named Shay Bright and Drew Bright. Ella adored her younger siblings. Whenever she came home from school, she would always spend some time playing with them first. At night, she would sneak her little sister into her room and cuddle her to sleep, treating her like a little doll.At first, Yanni was quite worried, but she lat
In the early morning, the first rays of sunlight bathed the earth, signaling a joyous occasion at the Sanders family home. The youngest daughter of Noah and Gwynn was finally getting married. Even more delightful, she was marrying her childhood love. Dressed in a headpiece and red bridal gown, she was as beautiful as could be, the most stunning woman Zion had ever seen.The Quarto family was busy with preparations. Although they were not extremely wealthy, Jordyn was a capable family head with a good reputation. He handled both inside and outside affairs with finesse and charm. To everyone’s surprise, he got along very well with Mason.However, Noah had some reservations. “Don't you have any relatives of your own, Mason?”Mason didn’t engage with his criticism. Together with Zoe, they helped with the wedding arrangements. A traditional Chinese wedding was far more elaborate than a Western one, but thankfully, the families had enough help to avoid any chaotic moments.During the d
That night, Jamie and Paityn returned home with their daughter Carol. As soon as they arrived, Carol went to do her homework, while Paityn went to check on their youngest son, Colten Lockwood. The housekeeper was taking care of him and, upon hearing footsteps, turned her head and softly said, "Madam, you're back? He hasn't woken up at all, he's such a good boy."Paityn smiled lightly and signaled for the housekeeper to go downstairs and rest.When the door closed, she looked down at the sleeping Colten. The little one, only eight months old, resembled his father completely; almost like a miniature copy of Jamie. Even Carol, at times, would look at her brother’s face and marvel: "It’s really a masterpiece from God!"Jamie replied, "You even know what a masterpiece is?"Carol teased, "A husband’s looks are the wife’s glory!"Paityn quietly said to Jamie, “She must have seen a supermodel runway show."Jamie immediately asked, "Did she like it?"Paityn didn't answer, just smiled.
On the second floor, Gwen was trying on her wedding dress for tomorrow. Just as Zion had wished, it was a traditional Zutriysteinian wedding.The red wedding gown was crafted by the top artisans from Zutriystein, elegant and dignified. The headpiece she wore was adorned with wild pearls; each gem was carefully embedded, and the headpiece alone cost tens of millions. A substantial amount of money had been spent.The woman in the mirror was stunningly beautiful. Gwen gently touched her headpiece and muttered to herself, "Zion really doesn’t mind spending money on this little hobby of his."Gwynn, as a mother, patted her head. "This little girl really doesn’t know when to keep quiet, but luckily, she’s married well and is right here beside me..."She had given a generous wedding gift, exactly the same as when Holly got married. Like Holly, Gwen didn’t want any shares of the Sanders Group. The money that Zion earned was enough to support both of them and his small hobbies.Meanwhile
Ignacio said, "We can’t take care of both of you."Holly was at a loss for words.Lucius was at that lively age, but he was raised by his father and had good manners. When he saw Ocelotte, he respectfully greeted him, saying, "Second Uncle."Ocelotte patted his little head, thinking that the boy seemed sturdier than his own children, possibly because Molly was too fragile. He made a mental note to make sure Yeager got some extra nutrients when he went back.The black Rolls-Royce Phantom sped down the highway, getting them back to the Qiao family mansion before evening.The Sanders family’s sons had all moved out, leaving only Gwen still living at home. Holly, who rarely came back, was also staying at the house. She didn’t refuse, planning to stay for a few days before heading to Silvercrest to visit her biological parents and pay respects.The car pulled into the Sanders Residence, and the house was lit up brightly.In the courtyard parking area, luxury cars were parked everywhe
In the evening, Gwen was preparing to leave work.In the parking lot, she spotted Zion’s car, but it was empty. Just then, a school leader passed by and said to her, “Zion came to school. There’s a donation ceremony happening in the auditorium. You should go check it out. "Then, you two can head home together afterward. On a cold day like this, a nice dinner would be perfect. What a cozy idea!”Gwen playfully replied, “You really know how to enjoy life.”The leader, holding a bag of groceries, laughed, “See? Your teacher’s wife has been nagging me since morning to go home and cook while babysitting the grandkids.”Gwen smiled softly, watching him leave.In the sky, clouds glowed orange and yellow, their edges tinged with gold.She carried a thermos as she walked toward the auditorium. Along the way, a few students noticed her and started chirping excitedly, cheekily calling her “Ms. Gwen.”Gwen corrected them, “It’s Ms. Gwen.”The students laughed and teased, “Ms. Gwen! Mr. Z
Gwen stared dazedly at the man.Zion, dressed in a black coat, stood tall in the study, exuding an oppressive aura. He walked toward her and pulled the teary-eyed girl, her face streaked like a little tabby cat, into his arms. One hand gently smoothed her hair as his voice softened to the extreme, "Still saying you didn’t cry."Gwen leaned against his shoulder, mumbling, "You did it on purpose.""Are you at least a little touched?"She pounded on him twice more in response.Zion chuckled lowly, letting the girl vent while his heart ached silently.These past five years had been filled with fear and uncertainty for him. He had been afraid that before he could make a name for himself, Gwen would fall for someone else. If that happened, what could he possibly use to ask her to come back to him?The love story of a poor boy and a rich girl might've existed in novels, but the reality was often harsh.Gwen didn’t care, but he couldn’t bear to let her endure hardship.Now, as they
Zion and Gwen's marriage seemed inevitable, with no one putting up any resistance. Occasionally, Gwen even had a strange illusion.It all went so smoothly that the years of separation seemed like they had never happened, as if she and Zion had always been together. After their reunion, he didn’t even ask her about her life abroad and treated her just as he did before.She was no longer as youthful and tender, but Zion still saw her as if she were a 20-year-old girl. Gwen felt a bit dejected, thinking to herself, he must just like girls around 18-year-old.But unfortunately, the spring river flows eastward and cannot return!Zion only smiled.In winter, the days grew shorter. After work, Gwen arrived at Zion's villa, but he had not yet come home. The two housekeepers had already started preparing dinner.When Gwen got out of the car, she received a call from Zion. Her voice was soft and tender.“When will you be back?”On the other end, Zion checked the time and said, “I’ll be
Zion noticed Gwen gazing at him with those wide, expectant eyes again. With a chuckle, he reached into the pocket of his trench coat, pulled out a sleek wallet, and carefully extracted a platinum card. He placed it in her outstretched hand and said with a smile, “This is my secondary card. There’s no credit limit.” Gwen gasped softly, then teased, “Wow, aren’t you generous? Thank you, Teacher Qin.” Zion gave her a light tap on the head. Not missing a beat, Gwen wrapped her arms around his neck and grinned mischievously, “Thank you, my sugar daddy.” Zion’s response was to pull her close, cupping her cheeks as he kissed her fiercely. Though he once carried himself as an educator and now as a refined businessman, he found himself utterly smitten by her playful antics. After the kiss, Zion leaned close to Gwen's ear and murmured something uncharacteristically crude that sent a shiver down her spine. He playfully nipped her nose. “Turns out you’ve got a thing for bad boy