Mason responded dryly, “So how much will it cost me? Twenty thousand dollars? Two hundred thousand dollars?”Zoe was so pissed off that she slapped him. At the next moment, she regretted doing it. What was she thinking? She couldn’t afford to offend someone like him. What if he tried to take revenge on her?The fact was, however, she didn’t slap him very hard. Also, Mason wouldn’t have minded either way. Reaching out, he touched his face and stared at her profoundly, “Alright. How about we trade two thousand dollars for a kiss? How does that sound?”Huh…?She didn’t understand what he meant.Taking a step back, he leaned on the wall and pulled out a cigarette from his front pocket. Lighting it up, he took a couple of drags, raised his eyes, and looked at her. Snorting lightly, he said, “What are you still doing here? Are you waiting for me to finish what I started?”She hated this guy so much. However, she didn’t bother to respond to him. Instead, she went to her room and loc
The door swung open and a human resource manager came in. She was about forty years old and dressed up in full formal attire. Sitting across the table, she flipped through Zoe’s resume half-heartedly. After a brief moment, she raised her head and asked, “Do you know any foreign languages?”Pursing her lips, Zoe said, “Yeah. I know a few!”The manager pulled out a document and handed it to her. She said dryly, “This document is written in English, French, and German. Read it out loud.”Scanning through it, Zoe didn’t find it hard at all. So, she went ahead and read it. That surprised the manager.Rising, she asked Zoe to stay put before she left. About five minutes later, she came back, looking more solemn than earlier. “Follow me!”Zoe felt a little unsettled. Slowing down a little, the manager explained to her. “There’s an opening for the director’s assistant and I recommended you to Ms. Ava. I’m taking you to her for an interview. Keep in mind that Mr. Mason prefers a more
Zoe was starting to think she misunderstood him and couldn’t help but say, “Mr. Mason. I think we…”He didn’t let her finish.Leaning back on his chair, he said dryly, “There’s no need to explain yourself! Get out if you don’t want the job. I need to rest now.”He sounded so stern that it felt like he was as cold-blooded as a snake.That was when it occurred to her that she was standing in his company. Now, he was in the role of the director who commanded over ten thousand employees in Lockwood Corporation. He was no longer the perverted guy who kissed and groped her. It wouldn’t do for her to stay here a second longer.Opening the door, she walked out of his office. The moment she was outside, it didn’t feel as imposing as it did a minute ago.What she didn’t know was that Mason had been staring at the door with tears in his eyes. The human resource manager came over begrudgingly and grumbled, “Why didn’t you cherish this wonderful opportunity? Do you know how hard it is to
The next day, Zoe went to Lockwood Corporation. This time, someone named Ava welcomed her. Obviously, she was immensely important in the company because everyone who passed her by would greet her respectfully.Ava was quite friendly too. She said, “Mr. Mason’s my college senior. I’ve been working with him for ten years now.”Zoe nodded in response. Then, Ava took her to get the uniform. After all, every assistant was obligated to wear the same uniform, consisting of a shirt and knee-length skirt. It was form-fitting and the fabric was top-notch too.…After Zoe got changed, Ava couldn’t help but praise her. “It’s like it’s tailored for you.” With that, she checked the time and said, “I’m going to have a team meeting soon. Go ahead and report to Mr. Mason. He might have some tasks ready for you. Basically, your job starts today.”That surprised Zoe. She thought she’d be sent to some training course for a couple of months before she started the job. Ava realized her concerns
Wasn’t it the chauffeur’s job to drive him home?Before she could say anything, he spoke in the same wry tone again, “Feel free to leave if you don’t want to do it…” She cut him off by picking up the car key. Then, they took his private elevator to the ground floor. They were walking side by side through the lobby when the other staff cast a strange glance their way. Thinking that she had overstepped her bounds, she slowed down and walked behind him instead. Mason didn’t say anything about it. After they got into the car, he leaned on the back of the seat and rested his eyes. Underneath the dim light, his side profile looked absolutely stunning. It felt like she could be drawn in at any given second.She couldn’t help but say, “Aren’t you getting in the backseat, Mr. Mason?”Opening a crack of his eyes, he gave her a sidelong glance before closing them again. “I’m sitting in the passenger’s seat! Also, stop being so stiff. Relax a little.”There was no pleasing this guy.A
Zoe nodded and smiled. Yanni held her dad’s waist. Her black eyes rolled in their sockets several times before she purposefully raised her voice and said, “You’re Alice, from here on out! Dad has had many assistants. Belle, Cinderella, Elsa, and more. “Each of them had huge breasts and slender waists and they all tried to seduce him. They wished they could climb on his bed and be my stepmother!” The little girl was even outlining Zoe’s figure with her hands. Zoe didn’t even know what she should say at this moment. Lowering his head, he scolded her sternly, “Apologize to Zoe now, Yanni!”Yanni pouted in response. Then, she apologized to her genuinely, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called you Alice and I certainly shouldn’t have accused you of trying to crawl onto my dad’s bed wearing nothing but your birthday suit.”Geez. Perhaps she shouldn’t have apologized at all. Mason thought to himself.Holding his forehead, he said, “Go ahead and work on your homework! I’ll send Alice…
Mason gave her a look before pulling out a bathrobe from the wardrobe. He said dryly, “I sincerely hope you can do a good job! My wife used to grumble that I’m very picky and that it was hard trying to please me.”Zoe couldn’t help but ask, “Are you and your wife close, Mr. Mason?” Then, she immediately regretted asking about it. As expected, his face turned cold at once. “That’s none of your concern!”Zoe felt mortified. She felt as humiliated as the time she was at the motel, but she needed the job. So, she had to take all of the insulting and miserable moments that came with it.Opening the wardrobe, she picked out a suitable outfit for him. He’d be attending a formal meeting. So, she picked a deep gray, hand-tailored suit and a light blue shirt to go with it.Faint steam rose in the air when she was ironing them. The smell was familiar. In fact, everything she was doing in there felt like déjà vu to her. It felt as if she had been doing this countless times in a faraway dre
Zoe wasn’t a fool. She knew what he meant. Mason wanted her to be his mistress.If she slept with him and succumbed to his carnal pleasure, then he’d shower her with piles of cash. She didn’t even need to work twelve hours a day to attain a wealthy and comfortable life. However, that wasn’t the life she wanted for herself.She said in a trembling voice, “I had a husband and kids. They’re lost to me now, but I’m searching for them! You’re extremely attractive and wealthy, Mr. Mason. You could get your hands on any kind of lady. It’s different for me, though. My family is all I’ve got. That’s why I can’t have any complicated relationships with you, Mr. Mason.”His eyes grew darker at that. All of a sudden, he bent over and carried her up to the glass shelf with one hand. The cooling sensation from the glass startled her a little. Before she knew what was happening, he lifted her clothes with another hand, revealing her black bra beneath her white shirt.Shifting his gaze below
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
Zion could sense Gwen’s cautiousness and chuckled softly. Then, he cupped her face and planted a firm kiss on her lips. “Don’t worry, I won’t touch you. We agreed to save that for our wedding night. Besides, I just drank last night, so I probably wouldn’t be much use. I want your first time to be special, so I’ll make sure I’m well-prepared.” Gwen’s cheeks turned crimson. She buried her face in his chest, mumbling, “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” How peculiar! Back then, even though they were together, their relationship had always been proper and restrained. But now, here they were, sharing a bed, their bodies so intimately close it was both thrilling and embarrassing. Gwen had never experienced this before. Zion seemed to understand her thoughts. He leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “I haven’t either. Before the wedding night, I’ll make sure to study hard.” Gwen didn’t dare ask how he planned to “study,” though she had a pretty good idea—i
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