Ella felt her heart ache to the point of tears. She tightly held Zoe's hand. "Why is he so fickle? Is he going through an early mid-life crisis or something?"The atmosphere, initially heavy, lightened up when Ella made that remark. Zoe even chuckled. "It's quite possible!"The two chatted for a while. Ella looked at Zoe with a complex expression. "Last night, Gregory ended up in the hospital. He broke a rib, and it was Leslie who sent him there. Gabriela couldn't stand Gregory's feelings for you. The siblings had a big fight at the hospital, and it was Mrs. Margaret who eventually came to resolve it. I guess the Waldolf family is in chaos right now."Zoe stirred her coffee with her head down. In a low voice, she said, "I didn't provoke him."Ella naturally understood that she was worried about Gregory not giving up. In simple terms, Gregory only had some fear of Zoe because she was Mason's wife. If that were to change someday…Ella did not dare to think about it. She refraine
It seemed that Mason had come directly from the office. Dressed in a sharp three-piece suit, he looked incredibly handsome. He was youthful and charming yet exuding the typical allure of a successful man. Many young girls could not help stealing glances at him. It was something he was accustomed to. Mason walked directly to Zoe and looked at the gigantic movie poster."Do you want to watch this?" he asked.Zoe discreetly clenched the movie ticket, smiling lightly as she denied, "I just thought of grabbing a soda."Mason's deep eyes focused on her for a moment. He then personally bought her a drink, saying casually when paying, "You used to dislike this, didn't you?"Zoe smiled faintly. "People change."Mason handed her the soda, smiling. "How about watching a movie together?"It was the first time Mason had invited her on a date. In the past, Zoe would probably have been overwhelmed with gratitude and felt so thrilled that she would not be able to sleep for three nights. No
Mason lightly pinched her chin. He had no romantic feelings for Lilith, and whether he saw her or not was irrelevant. He only helped her fix her legs due to their past friendship, and then he introduced her to Aiden. They were square and even. However, he did not want to explain these things to Zoe. After all, after three years of marriage, he knew what she was thinking.Right now, she simply did not care about him. Otherwise, she would not go to such lengths to flaunt her charm just to avoid watching a movie with him. Zoe was now repulsed by him. She could not even bear the thought of watching a movie with him. Her previous fondness for him had vanished into thin air.…Feeling dissatisfied, Mason became somewhat cranky when they returned home. Usually, he was tolerant of the servants, but during dinner, he complained that the food was not up to par. The servants were somewhat anxious but dared not speak up.Zoe knew that his anger was directed at her. Not wanting to mak
Early in the morning, Zoe was ironing Mason's shirts in the master bedroom's dressing room, selecting a suitable tie. She knew today was the shareholders' meeting at Lockwood Corporation, and to showcase his status, she even picked a tie pin.Someone embraced her delicate figure.Zoe was slightly surprised. After their unpleasantness last night, she thought he would be distant for a few days. Mason did not mention the movie ticket incident.He held his wife's slender waist, evaluating the tie pin in his hand. His voice was warm. "It was inconvenient when you weren't home."Zoe smiled lightly. "I'm back now."Just as she finished speaking, Mason turned her around.He pressed her against a transparent glass display cabinet, lifting her slightly. Zoe half-sat on his left leg. The bathrobe was pulled aside as her husband held her body, toying with her.It was still early, but Mason did not care.He was not really in the mood for anything particularly salacious. He lazily groped her
Mia's mindset was indeed old-fashioned. After contemplating for a moment, she said softly, "Zoe, have a baby. Life won't be as tough with a child."Zoe understood her good intentions. She once desired to have a child with Mason when she was with him. However, returning to his side again, she had no such thoughts.Zoe smiled lightly. "Let's talk about it in a couple of years."Mia sighed softly and watched Zoe leave. After leaving the hospital, Zoe went to the clinic to get more contraceptives. Maybe it was her imagination, but the recent intimate moments with Mason made her think he was not keen on using protection. Sometimes, even when they had run out of condoms, he would still proceed eagerly.Not wanting to get pregnant, she had to take care of it herself. After getting the medicine, she was about to leave but unexpectedly encountered the very people she did not want to see. Lilith and Carly.Although they were not from a notable background, due to Mason's relationship, th
In the elevator, there was a lingering silence between them. Eventually, Mason broke the silence. "Why did you get the medicine yourself? The contraceptive pills developed by the Lockwood Corporation—"Zoe chuckled. "What's the difference? They're all contraceptive pills."She looked at him, casually asking, "Why did you follow me? Don't you need to accompany your lover? Lilith seems to be in desperate need of your company."Mason's eyes were deep. He stared at her face, trying to interpret her expression. After a while, he shifted his gaze away, adjusting his tie and the position of the tie pin in front of the mirror. His eyes met hers in the reflection, and he casually asked, "What about you, Mrs. Lockwood? Don't you need my company?"Zoe did not avoid his gaze. She looked into his eyes, her tone calm. "Having the title of Mrs. Lockwood is enough for me."Clearly, this statement irritated Mason.Mason stared at her for a long while, his voice cold. "Well, I should thank you
"Rub my temples for me," the man spoke, his voice hoarse.Zoe set aside the book in her hands, surprisingly not harboring any resentment. She leaned over to massage him. In the past, she had learned this skill to comfort him after long hours of work.However, as soon as she touched him, she frowned slightly. "Mason, you have a fever!"Mason opened his eyes. Due to his illness, his usually bright black eyes seemed dim. Suddenly, his hand reached for her slender waist as if intending to engage in an intimate act.Zoe restrained his hand, preventing him from acting recklessly.Mason rarely fell ill, but his temper worsened each time he did. In the past, Zoe had always accommodated him, taking care of him meticulously and occasionally letting him have his way.Mason, feeling unwell and unsatisfied, became even more disgruntled. His black eyes stared intently at Zoe. "What's wrong? You don't want to do it?"Zoe took the initiative to sit on his lap, reaching for the medicine box whil
Zoe's resistance was futile against the force of Mason's ardor, even in sickness.Mason easily pinned her beneath him.Gradually, Zoe lost her strength. Eventually, she stopped struggling, burying her delicate face in the dark-colored couch. She refused to look at him or respond.In his anger, Mason could not help but become more aggressive. He pinched her delicate chin with his slender fingers, forcing her to look at him. His words were anything but pleasant. "Mrs. Lockwood, let's see who can make you moan louder."Zoe felt humiliated. She turned her face away, but Mason held her tightly. She could not escape. Reluctantly, she was forced to stare at his handsome face.The dim yellow light surrounded Mason, casting a soft halo around him. However, there was no tenderness in his eyes. His forehead, side profile, and neck were covered in sweat.Mason was getting carried away, both mentally and physically. Finally, when emotions reached a critical point, he lowered his body, bit
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
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