Mason wanted to slide the wedding ring onto Zoe's finger. She curled her finger inward slightly, resisting the act.He stared at her until she finally flattened her hand, allowing him to place the ring on her finger. The diamond ring sparkled on her delicate finger.Mason's voice was slightly hoarse. "Mrs. Lockwood, welcome back."Zoe trembled slightly. She had finally returned to him, ultimately selling herself to Mason. However, from now on, she was not just Mason's wife. She was now Mrs. Lockwood.…Mason did not stay overnight. The next day, he did not show up in person. Instead, he sent Liam directly to the hospital to meet Zoe. Liam brought two sets of documents. One document was an agreement for the transfer of Lockwood Corporation's shares, and the other was related to Noah's case.Zoe met him in the hospital's small reception room. Liam was more intimidating in person than on TV.He glanced at Zoe and smiled faintly. "Mrs. Zoe, you seem more delicate than I imag
Mason embraced Zoe. He spoke intimately to her, a level of closeness she was not accustomed to. She turned her face slightly and said, "Yes, Liam just left."She wanted to continue packing, but Mason blocked her. He held her slender waist, leisurely caressing her body without any apparent ulterior motives. It was as though he was just passing the time.After being married to him for several years, Zoe knew how he was was all too well. She did not resist. She let him touch her.After a while, Mason finally stopped, "What did you and Liam talk about?"Zoe's voice was calm. "Shares and the lawsuit."Mason waited for a while, but she did not bring up Gregory or his unwarranted advances. His gaze deepened as he looked at her for a long time.Rather than revealing what he had seen, Mason changed the subject. "By the way, I had Ava find an apartment with a great location and environment. It's perfect for your dad and Mia to live in. You can check it out tomorrow, okay?"He was co
After Mia left, Zoe stood by the window, silently observing. She saw Mia going downstairs, sitting on the roadside, sobbing uncontrollably. Zoe had never seen Mia like this before. Even on the day the Sanders family went bankrupt, Mia maintained her composure without losing control.Ava was behind her, unable to resist asking softly, "Mrs. Zoe, do you regret it?"Zoe lowered her gaze. After a moment, she smiled faintly. "I don't regret it. I've never regretted it."She had no choice. There was no room for regret. Zoe spent half a day at the apartment. When she left in the afternoon, she only took a small suitcase.…In the evening, as darkness fell, the sky was painted with colorful clouds, and the twilight was exceptionally splendid. A luxurious black RV passed through the ornate black gate, circling a few times before stopping in the villa's parking lot.Mason stood in the dusk, opening the car door for Zoe. He called her Mrs. Lockwood. With a handsome face, he revealed a
Mason looked down at her condescendingly.He watched her nose twitch and observed as she gradually sunk into ecstasy.If he did well, she would uncontrollably wrap her arms around his shoulders, gently panting near his neck. Only in moments of surrender, her face would not appear so cold and regain its lively and charming aspect.It seemed like the old Zoe had returned.Mason lowered his body and kissed her passionately.…Mason took quite a while, making love to her three times before finally finding some relief.In the end, both of them were covered in sweat.They quietly embraced each other, calming the emotional tide.After a long time, Zoe's body moved slightly, sitting up.Mason wrapped his arms tighter around her her waist, his voice husky in the aftermath of their passion. "What's wrong?""I need to take my pills."Zoe used her fingers to comb through her waist-length hair and explained calmly, "You didn't use protection just now, so I need to take my pills."Mason
Mason did not immediately let her go.He pressed her against the wardrobe door, his large palm slipping into her robe, teasing her lightly, "What could be more important for you to do than me?"Zoe, of course, was familiar with such tricks from a man like him.She slightly tilted her head, enduring his teasing. Occasionally, she could not help but let out a soft moan.After a while,her eyes were misty as she spoke, "Mason, I told you that I was not going to be locked up like a bird in a cage. The freedom to go where I want and do what I want was part of the deal."Mason did not inquire. He released her, giving a light snort. "It seems Mrs. Lockwood is planning to do something big."Then, right in front of her, he took off his bathrobe and started dressing.Mason had a great figure.He had a tall and well-built frame, covered with a thin layer of natural muscles, not an ounce of excess fat, but also not the type of muscle mass developed in the gym.He stripped down to just a bl
Mason returned to the mansion, and the servants were a bit surprised to see him back."Where's Mrs. Lockwood? Didn't she go out?" Mason casually asked while heading upstairs.The servant quickly replied, "Mrs. Zoe is still here, but she just told the driver that she'll be heading out shortly."Mason paused for a moment, not saying anything. He walked to the second floor, opened the door to the master bedroom, and saw Zoe changing into different clothes.She wore a silk blouse paired with a fishtail skirt, giving off a hint of restrained beauty.Mason could not help but glance for a few more seconds. Then, he took off his suit jacket, sat on the couch, and stared at her intently. "I just got back, and you already have plans? Cancel them and have dinner with me."Zoe had a meeting with Aiden. It could not be canceled on a whim.However, she also did not want to upset Mason. So, she said gently, "I didn't know you'd be back early, Mason. Next time, let me know in advance if you
Zoe quickly said, "Aiden, you're being modest." Her compliment was not just flattery. Aiden was highly respected in the industry, internationally renowned, and held a prestigious status.Aiden had always liked her. He smiled at David and said, "I enjoy hearing her praises."David poured tea for him, adding, "You should take this chance to relax. There's no need to be so restrained. You seemed so tense the last time you met… Ms. Lilith, was it? I knew you were holding back your disdain."Aiden patted David's back. "Let's not dwell on that. Why bring her up?"David, with a look of sudden realization, kept apologizing to Zoe. "My bad, I wasn't really thinking. I'm sorry, Zoe."Zoe was not foolish. They were trying to dig into Lilith's affairs, and she guessed it was because Mason brought Lilith to meet Aiden. Aiden might not have liked her, but he saw the potential in Mason's deep pockets.She smiled faintly. "I understand."Then, Aiden began to vent. After sipping some tea, he
Zoe allowed him to touch her. Compared to the past, she appeared more compliant, but Mason still felt she was different now. He could not figure out what had changed. Perhaps it was because Zoe now treated her role as Mrs. Lockwood as a job, fulfilling his needs and taking care of household matters, but without love. Men could actually sense love and the absence of it. Mason thought he did not mind. It was just slightly discomfiting.Zoe did not speak up, so he spoke instead. "I saw Cecil earlier. Is he the reason you seem so unsettled?"Zoe looked up. Their eyes met, conveying a sense of mutual scrutiny. After a while, Zoe spoke softly, "Mason, you don't need to doubt me all the time. That wasn't a secret rendezvous. It was just a coincidence."Mason's gaze turned analytical. After a while, he lightly touched her face and said, "I believe you, Mrs. Lockwood. Now, can you come home with me and have dinner?"Before Zoe could nod, he had already lifted her into his arms.She did
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