"Of course, you can reject this," Mason said. "But I can guarantee that without my help, Noah will be in prison for a good ten years. Zoe, let me remind you of how outstanding your brother was back then. "Numerous elite ladies were eyeing him. If it weren't for his fall from grace and the Sanders family's downfall, he would have it all in a couple of years. He would have a family and children."…If, in the past, Mason had torn apart Zoe's body. Now, he was tearing apart her heart. They had finally stripped away all the veils, speaking openly and straightforwardly. He wanted her to be his wife not for love but for the sake of interest and appearances.Noah's freedom was the price he set for her.Zoe didn't refuse. Still, she didn't agree immediately. Her hands tightly grasped the bedsheets, restraining all her emotions as she looked at him, softly saying, "I need some time to think about it."Mason wasn't surprised at all. He thought to himself that people grow, and Zoe was no e
Zoe didn't meet his gaze. She leaned against the headboard and spoke softly, "I guess those terms you laid out last night also include me turning a blind eye to Lilith and any future affairs, right?"Mason remained silent.Zoe continued, "Mason, the moment you chose to get involved with Lilith, you didn't need to consider my feelings anymore, did you? Besides, are we really husband and wife? Just like you said, we're just...marriage partners."She made it clear. There was no need for her to act foolish and resentful anymore. Mason sneered.Approaching her, he lightly held her chin, using a slender index finger to stroke her rosy lips. He gazed at the moistened color, his voice slightly hoarse. "Quite articulate, I must say."Unable to bear it, Zoe wanted to turn away.However, Mason suddenly leaned in, pinning her against the head of the bed. His prominent nose and lips pressed against hers, a soft and enticing touch.Mason lowered his gaze, his Adam's apple involuntarily movi
Mason frowned slightly and twisted the pen closed. He remembered the sounds Lilith made during the meal. He could endure it, but he wondered if Aiden would mind. Ava was indeed an experienced professional. Mason's eyebrow raised, and she already guessed his thoughts. She assured him, "Mr. Mason, rest assured. I'll remind Ms. Lilith on the way to pay attention to table manners. Aiden, coming from a literary family background, should be quite concerned about this."Mason remained silent.Ava was confident she guessed right. She despised Lilith even more now. 'Eating like a pig and still thinking of marrying Mason? Dream on!' However, it was evident Lilith didn't think the same way. She had dressed up intentionally, wearing a white layered dress with romantic lace layers that complemented her face. Ava pushed Lilith's wheelchair downstairs, casting a disdainful glance from above. In her mind, Lilith was a hillbilly. She was short, and this distasteful dress highlighted it.
Aiden's assistant was taken aback. He realized she might have revealed too much and quickly covered it up, saying, "I searched it on Google."Mason gave a faint smile, not delving deeper. After the assistant breathed a sigh of relief, he looked at Lilith.Rumors had it that Lilith was exceptionally talented, but no one mentioned her having a limp. On top of that, that outfit of hers wasn't much to comment on, to be honest.Lilith was especially excited. "You must be Aiden, right?"The assistant smiled. "I am Aiden's assistant, David."Lilith's enthusiasm instantly faded. So, it wasn't Aiden but just an assistant. She rolled her eyes in disappointment.On the side, Ava sneered. David was the most famous manager in the industry, holding many high-quality resources. Many young musicians tried to curry favor with him. Lilith, on the other hand, was nothing, yet she dared to roll her eyes. She was truly foolish.As expected, when Aiden met them, David leaned over to whisper somethi
Aiden couldn't help but shed tears when he spoke passionately. Lilith empathized with her. "What a pity."Aiden composed himself and clinked glasses with Mason, adopting a lighter tone. "But I will find her. It's never too late to pursue a career in music."Mason smiled reservedly. "Your dedication to classical music is truly moving."Then, he glanced at Ava. Ava immediately presented a check for three million dollars, skillfully saying, "This is a small symbol of support from Mr. Mason for classical music. Please accept it, Mr. Aiden. In the future, if you needs anything, Mr. Mason will not hesitate to offer assistance."Aiden, being polite and reserved, responded, "That's very kind of you, Mr. Mason."Mason excused himself. "I hope I'm not intruding."Finally, David accepted the check and saw Mason and his group off.When David returned, Aiden was still sipping his drink. David chuckled. "Where did Mr. Mason find such a treasure? She's nowhere near as good as Zoe, both i
Mason sat in the car, taking a moment to relax with his eyes closed. Suddenly, he remembered what Aiden had mentioned about that student who married her Romeo. Mason thought of Zoe again and their long-time acquaintance. 'Did she feel the same way when she married me? That she married her Romeo with a lifetime of companionship?' Although Mason had a steady temperament, he felt a bit restless about Zoe's situation lately.He dialed his assistant's number, asking, "How's the task I assigned you?"The reply came promptly, "Mr. Mason, I've already contacted Mr. Liam. In the next 12 hours, Mr. Liam's flight will land at the Brookesville International Airport. He will immediately join the legal team to handle Noah's case."Mason inquired in a calm tone, "How certain is he?"There was a brief silence on the other end before the response. "Mr. Liam quoted a sky-high fee of 300 thousand. He said that he is hundred percent confident."Mason trusted Liam's capabilities. After hanging
The two of them exchanged a few more words before reluctantly ending the call. After hanging up, Zoe curled up on the sofa, gently hugging herself as if it could provide some sense of security.She reminisced about many things. She reminisced about the beautiful moments spent with her brother during childhood, the longing for their mother after her passing, and how her brother used to comfort her every night by reading fairy tales and singing nursery rhymes until she fell asleep.Noah was the best brother in the world.As the night deepened, Zoe fell asleep in the hospital room. Her face rested on her knees, cold and beautiful.Outside the ward, Mason stood silently. A nurse stood beside him, lowering her voice, "She's been like this since she watched the news last night, Mr. Mason. Should we wake Mrs. Zoe? Sleeping like this might be uncomfortable for her."Mason's gaze was obscure and difficult to decipher. After a while, he turned and left, leaving only a sentence behind. "Do
Zoe hadn't responded, but she found herself already pulled onto his lap. As she settled, Mason let out a muted groan, likely aggravated the ligament in his injured thigh. Zoe whispered, "Should I get off?"Her slender waist was embraced, bringing them close. Mason exuded a purely masculine aura, a tempting warmth that was both near and distant.He lowered his gaze to her posture. She was clad in loose hospital attire, sitting on the man's lap with her fair legs resting on the dark fabric of his trousers,. Itemitted an indescribable sense of taboo, as if she were entwined with a man.Mason's voice grew huskier. "Just stay on my lap while you apply the ointment."Zoe didn't resist further. She took the medicine box he handed her and silently began applying the ointment. The soft lighting surrounded them as Mason, positioned higher, observed her expression.With lowered brows and willing to sit on his lap, he believed he understood her choice. She sacrificed herself to help her b