Zoe took it, thanked him gently, and left.Mason sat in the limousine and watched as she left. She was holding the bouquet of roses close to her chest and walking on the snow when he asked Luke softly, “Am I a bother to her?”The old chauffeur responded immediately, “Impossible, Mr. Mason! Why, you’ve never spoken in this manner.” Chuckling dryly, Mason said, “Well. I didn’t use to be a gimp!”Sitting upright, he wore a gloomy expression on his dashing face. “Take me home!”…The snow kept falling since Christmas Eve and didn’t stop until it was New Year.New Year was supposed to be celebrated.However, Mason had a high fever that wasn’t coming down on that day. Layla called Ava, who came over to check and decided it was serious. So, she called Cecil over.By the time Cecil arrived, Mason was already dizzy from the fever and slipping in and out of consciousness. He gave him an injection and called the private doctor over to ask about his condition. Worried that she might be
Mason had arranged for his father to work in Lockwood Corporation’s mailroom for the past couple of years. After all, it was important to keep himself busy even if he was settled for life. It was baffling that no one ever recognized that the middle-aged gentleman in the mailroom was the former director of the company. Of course, Westley never brought it up either. After all, he had a simple life. He visited Mason every month. However, it did nothing to deepen their bond. Cecil nodded at Westley when he walked over. Then, he called for Ava to leave the room with him. He knew they needed some space.Lisa pulled herself together the moment she saw Westley. Pointing at Mason, she yanked at her husband’s collar and cursed him. “Have you gotten a good look at your son? Look at how messed up he is. “If you hadn’t selfishly left all those years ago, this wouldn’t have happened! Why did you come back, Westley? What made you think it was okay to return?” Westley was a refined and c
The sound of an engine starting could be heard in Mason’s manor.Lisa was wearing an overcoat and sitting gracefully in the backseat, signs of tears still visible on her face. However, she appeared to be elegant. After all, her appearance mattered very much to her.She was going to Zoe’s place to beg her to check on Mason. Twenty minutes later, the black limousine stopped in front of the black ornate gate. Her chauffeur was about to honk, but she stopped him. She said softly, “I’m walking in!”Her chauffeur was stunned, but she had already opened the car door and stepped out of it.The security guard reported her arrival to Zoe and let her in shortly after. The moon was shining bright in the sky as her eight-inch high heels stepped on the snow. Her stocking got wet from the splash and the chill ate into her bones.It was so cold that she was shivering all over, but her face spoke of determination. She was going to take Zoe back to Mason’s manor.Stopping before her manor,
The moment Zoe laid eyes on Lisa, she was thrown back to the days when she was tortured at the rehabilitation center. Tugging at her overcoat, she said coldly, “Stop begging me! Let me make something clear. I’m going to check on him because he’s the father of my children, not because of you.”That still meant she was willing to go. Lisa couldn’t help but shed a tear, “Alright! I understand.” She had lowered herself to this extent, but it did nothing to move Zoe. Later, Zoe remained quiet in the car while Lisa kept biting her tongue every time she tried to talk. In the end, she sighed and said, “I know you hate me, Zoe.”Zoe turned her face to the side and looked at the snow out the window. Her voice was soft when she said, “I’ll never forget that hellhole. So, don’t expect me to forgive you.”Lisa covered her face in response. Perhaps she was getting old or perhaps she was shaken from the possibility of losing her son again. Either way, she started reminiscing. Zoe used to gre
Then, he started taking it slowly.Zoe couldn’t help but moan. Her body was giving in to the pleasure he was giving her, but her mind kept telling her she couldn’t let this keep up. It was wrong.They couldn’t have sex with each other again!He was doing it to her so roughly that her body was twisted in the most embarrassing position imaginable. On top of that, the door wasn’t shut tight. She couldn’t even imagine how humiliating it’d be if someone walked in on them now.Flat out of options, she slapped him across the face, trying to bring him to his senses.At the next moment, Mason snapped out of it. Staring at her somewhat dizzily, he didn’t seem to know what was going on exactly. With that said, his fingers were still inside her. By the time he realized it and withdrew his hand, both of them were extremely embarrassed. He wanted to do it with her so badly that his body was starting to ache.On the other hand, she was mortified by what happened. As he withdrew his hand,
Lisa was downhearted to hear it. “Are you leaving so soon? You could spend the night here and leave in the morning.”“It isn’t appropriate,” Zoe said calmly.Then, she put on the shoes. “I’m here because of my kids. I didn’t come here to reminisce about the past with Mason. It isn’t exactly appropriate for me to stay here longer than I should.”She might’ve sounded cold, but it was only because she had been hurt one too many times. Westley, on the other hand, was a reasonable man. Pondering on it, he said, “Just a couple of hours, Zoe. Please. I can’t let you go back by yourself! Let me send you home, at least!”“That won’t be necessary. I’ll ask Luke to send me back.”However, Weslet was persistent. Perhaps he didn’t want to be here alone and continue to bicker with Lisa.In the end, Zoe agreed to stay back for a while.By the time she got into the car, dawn was breaking over the sky. She could even hear the crowing of a rooster from afar, signifying the coming of a new day.
Westley didn’t disturb him.After a brief moment, he asked, “Is that Zoe’s diary?”Nodding, Mason said, “She used to keep a diary when she was young. Once, I did something wrong and said something I shouldn’t have. Then, she got so infuriated that she burned it. That’s why it looks the way it does now.”After that, he fell into a trance for a long time.Would he have to rely on her belongings to remember her if he never got better? Would Zoe fall in love with another man?Westley could tell something was bothering his son. He soothed him softly, “If you really can’t let her go, then you should focus on the treatment. You still have a shot at full recovery! Moreover, you and Zoe love each other. She never saw you as a burden.“Time is highly precious to a lady, son, and yet you keep making her wait for you. There are even times when you outright sent her away. You’ll regret it when she actually goes too far for you to reach!” Looking out the window, he added softly, “That’s the
Evening rolled on and a silver Rolls-Royce pulled into the manor.Mason had been waiting for Zoe’s arrival.Sitting in the wheelchair, he wore a white shirt and a deep gray coat, the evening sunlight accentuating his good looks. The car door opened and out came Yanni. The first thing the little girl did was dive into his arms. It had been a long time since she had seen him and she missed him so much that she was rubbing her nose against him the way a puppy would.He patted her head, he squinted at the car. A young man dressed in business attire came out of the car, looking smart and elegant. There was no way he was her chauffeur, but Zoe did allow him to open the car door for her.Then, out came Zoe with Jamie in her arms.She saw what was on his mind and explained, “This is John Graye. My personal assistant.”“Greetings. I’m Mason, Zoe’s ex-husband.”Mason appeared to be unfazed. He greeted and chatted with her assistant before the man walked away. Casting a glance at the m
Zion maintained a respectful demeanor and immediately greeted, “Mr. Noah.” Noah, however, didn’t make things difficult for him. He gave a light cough, which could be considered acknowledgment. Then, turning to his youngest daughter, he said, “Go upstairs first. Your mother’s been waiting for you all night; she probably has something to say to you.” Gwen hesitated and didn’t move at first. Zion gently nudged her, his voice soft, “You should go.” Only then did Gwen start to move. But before heading upstairs, she walked over to Noah. As the youngest daughter and the most adept at charming her way out of trouble, she hugged her father. Only then, with visible reluctance, did she head upstairs. Her father’s anger dissipated by more than half after the hug. Watching her go, Noah turned his attention to Zion, his tone calm but firm: “Have a seat. Let’s talk.” Zion immediately sat down and, with practiced ease, poured Noah a cup of tea. Noah feigned irritation and remarked, “
But Gwen was not satisfied.With reddened eyes, she pitifully asked again, "Are you married? Is there someone else by your side? Do you still love me?"As she asked, she was more persistent than before, yet it made the man's heart ache even more.Zion remembered that when they parted ways, Gwen was still an innocent, naive girl. Now, however, she was willing to ask such direct and revealing questions. The braver she became, the more pain he felt in his heart.Zion no longer teased her. He looked into her eyes and answered seriously."No, I'm not married. There's no one else by my side. Her leg healed, and she got married earlier this year. And yes, I still love you. Very much."...Gwen's eyes turned even redder.Her voice trembled as she said, "That doesn't mean I have to be with you. I'm still mad at you."Zion took a step forward and gently wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes. It had been five years, and now she had become a teary little kitten. He remembered how
At that moment, Gwen was completely flustered. She didn’t understand what Zion meant, nor did she understand why he was deliberately getting close to her. She wanted to ask, but before she could, Zion had already led her out of the car. The restaurant arranged by the school leadership was nearby, just off campus. Gwen had been there with Zion before, but not in a private room. Returning to an old haunt brought a sense of nostalgia. Zion walked side by side with Gwen. He was six-foot tall, and she was about five-foot-five. They made for a strikingly good-looking pair. Considering their history, the school leaders naturally couldn’t resist teasing them a bit. Gwen felt slightly uncomfortable and replied, "We were young and foolish." Over the years, Zion had grown seasoned in the business world, exuding an effortless charm. He responded with a light smile, "I wonder if we can pick up where we left off—still holding a grudge?" As soon as those words were said, the schoo
After running away in a flurry that night, Gwen retreated into her home, avoiding the world outside for several days. Her father, Noah, meanwhile, busied himself with his new hobby of keeping turtles—purchased on a whim after his wife, Gwynn, teased him for being too old. In an attempt to prove his youth, Noah even released the turtles back into the wild one evening, making a point of marking one with the name "Zion" on its shell in a bold act of petty revenge. Gwynn, ever the pragmatist, found the gesture immature and pointless, but it brought him a fleeting sense of satisfaction. Gwen, however, was unaware of the antics her father had indulged in. All she knew was that her father had been unusually concerned during her self-imposed seclusion, urging her to get out and take a break. Noah's insistence that she shouldn’t remain cooped up at home was an attempt to draw her back into the world, to reconnect with life. But she couldn’t shake the weight of everything that had transp
In the lounge, Gwen curled up in Tegan’s embrace, crying silently. Tegan gently stroked her smooth black hair, sighing softly. “If you really like him, I’ll help you talk to him.”Gwen sobbed quietly, “Dad will say you’re being rebellious.”Tegan paused for a moment, then replied, “Your brother will help me, won’t he?”Gwen clung to Tegan, continuing to cry softly. She remembered that today was Yeager’s full moon celebration and decided to cry for just a little while. After all, who hasn’t shed tears in their youth?At that moment, there was a knock at the door. From the sound of it, the person outside had a very refined aura. Tegan immediately guessed who it was; it certainly wasn’t her husband. She gently rubbed Gwen’s head. “I’ll go answer it.”When Tegan opened the door, as expected, it was Zion standing outside. The two locked eyes, and after a moment of silence, Tegan calmly spoke, “You two talk.” Zion nodded.In the quiet lounge, the soft sound of Gwen’s crying fill
The following August. It was the party for Ocelotte and Molly's child. Molly had given birth to a boy, named Yeager Sanders, a name chosen by her eldest brother-in-law, Lorian. She was very fond of the name. As for Lorian and Tegan's youngest son, he was named Fergus Sanders. Yeager and Fergus were the next generation of boys in the Sanders family. However, the first child was still Lola, the one and only little princess. She loved following Gwen around. The little girl was now three and a half years old and about to start kindergarten. On the day of Yeager's party, Gwen was still taking Lola around, but she unexpectedly ran into an old acquaintance. It had truly been a long time. Since the year Zion had left for another country, although they had occasionally bumped into each other, they hadn’t had the chance for a proper meeting. How many years had passed? Gwen didn't dare to think about it, nor did she want to calculate. She vaguely felt it had been four
After Yanni finished speaking, the Sanders family stood frozen in shock. It was Gwynn who recovered first, quickly asking Yanni, “How is Molly doing?” Yanni smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Aunt Gwynn. Molly is fine, just a bit overwhelmed. I think the baby came as a surprise. Ocelotte is with her right now.” Before Gwynn could respond, Noah muttered under his breath, “A surprise is great! A surprise is wonderful.” Although the young couple’s relationship was excellent, what parent wouldn’t hope for grandchildren? And with Ocelotte and Molly’s stunning looks, the baby was bound to be exceptional. The mere thought of it had Noah brimming with excitement. He silently speculated that it was definitely going to be an adorable little girl. Definitely just like Molly.After a while, Ocelotte emerged, carrying Molly in his arms. She had regained her strength after sipping some sweetened water but was advised to rest for a few days at home. Moreover, during the first trimeste
Over half a year later, in the golden autumn of October. The film "Scarlet Dreams, Jade Skies", starring Molly, achieved a blockbuster box office success and earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the prestigious Golden Bear Awards. On the night of the ceremony, the entire Sanders family showed up to cheer Molly on. Tegan, worried she might feel pressured, kept comforting her, saying, “It’s okay if you don’t win this time. There’s always next time.” Molly was deeply moved. Tegan had just finished her postpartum recovery and yet still came to support her. Looking at Ocelotte, Molly whispered, “I’ve already won the biggest award of my life, Tegan.” Usually composed, Tegan was amused by her and replied gently, “You’ve been much more lively since hanging out with Ocelotte! Your big brother thinks it’s great. He always praises Ocelotte for being so caring.” Molly felt a little shy and leaned in closer to chat softly with Tegan. Gwen handed over a piece of candy and qu
Molly spent the most joyful holidays of her life.In early spring, she married Ocelotte. Her wedding veil was an impressive three meters long, as the elders said that the longer the veil, the longer the marriage. So, Ocelotte had a three-meter-long veil designed for her.He said he wanted to be with her for three lifetimes and more.As the bells of the church rang, Molly, holding onto Lorian’s arm, slowly walked toward Ocelotte. From that moment on, they were one, bound together not only as a couple but as a family. His loved ones were now hers, and they would share both joy and hardship.The few meters between them felt like the culmination of the four years they had spent together.At the altar, Lorian handed Molly to his younger brother and gave his shoulder a gentle pat. "Take good care of her," he said.Ocelotte took a step forward, gazing at Molly through the delicate veil. Today, she looked like a pure white jasmine flower.Ocelotte gently lifted the veil, wanting her t