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
Terrence was well aware of the situation, mentioning the project and excusing himself for other engagements. He left first, leaving Mason to express gratitude to Rosemary.Rosemary looked at her husband's retreating figure, her eyes moistening. She turned to Mason and said, "Mason, you probably don't know this, but in the early years, Terrence had an affair and even considered divorcing me. At that time, no one in high society respected me. "Once, at an event, I met Zoe. She was only 15 or 16 at the time but knew how to cheer people up. When she accompanied Terrence, she wore a beautiful dress and danced ballet in a quiet corner to lift my spirits. You don't know how long it had been since I had genuinely laughed. I was filled with despair."Rosemary finished speaking with a faint smile, "Forgive me for unloading on you."As she left, her figure looked lonely yet proud. Even though she held the position of Mrs. Abbott now and her husband respected her, she understood that someon