Zoe also gazed at him. After a moment, she smiled gracefully and said, "Sure. I'll be waiting for you in the bedroom." She got up and walked away, passing by him.Suddenly, Mason grabbed her wrist, slowly pulling her closer until she was near him. Her cheek gently brushed against his shoulder, the fair skin contrasting with deep gray, highlighting its delicacy.Zoe blinked lightly. Mason might have forgotten that he caused a scandal in Crocksten, leading his former lover to come knocking on his door. He was supposed to be comforting his lover now.Zoe gently pulled away. She gave him a dignified smile and headed upstairs. Her graceful figure was pleasing to the eye. Considering she had been by his side for a little while now, any signs of the hardships she endured in the past days were no longer visible. She was raised in a wealthy environment, displaying an inherent air of delicacy.Mason, for once, seemed lost in thought.Fearing his blame, Lilith nervously twisted the sleeves
Mason sounded so gentle that it bordering on seductive.He might have disappointed her greatly, but Zoe couldn’t help but feel something stirring within at what he said. Eve so, she kept a clear head.He came over, pinned her on the couch, and started kissing her tenderly. However, all she felt was heartbreak. Touching his dashing face, she asked him softly, “Do you love me, Mason?”He would never admit it. In fact, he never loved anyone. His silence was his answer. She already knew this, but that didn’t make her feel any less sad about it. So, she asked again, “Well. Do you want to love me? You said we’re married. Are you ready to make me feel loved?”To his credit, Mason didn’t lie to her. Touching her lips with his own, he responded softly and tenderly, “Not at all!”Closing her eyes, Zoe let him kiss her. She felt him fondling her, but she still used every chance she got to talk about their relationship. She was cut off intermittently by his flurry of kisses. Each word w
When he was done, Mason let Zoe go and went to take a bath. He was dressed neatly by the time he came out of the bathroom. Meanwhile, Zoe stayed behind, too worn out to move at all. He gave her a sidelong glance and sneered before he left the room. He got into his Bentley, but didn't leave immediately. Instead, he lit up a cigarette and smoked it. The truth was that he no longer had a good time during sex if Zoe was miserable about it. It lacked a certain something when she wasn't as into it as he was.A thin wisp of gray smoke rose and swirled around him, giving him an air of mystery. He thought about his wife and what she said to him. Did she really just ask him if he could love her and make sacrifices for their relationship?He smirked to himself at the thought of it. Raised in a twisted environment, Mason had never learned how to love anyone, nor did he ever intend to. With that said, he was obsessed over Zoe’s love for him, but he wasn't sure why.Perhaps it was becau
She gave Mason’s outfits and accessories to the servant, but even the servant felt offended on her behalf. “Ms. Zoe!”Zoe, on the other hand, was calm. “It’s just part of my job.” This was nothing compared to the way Mason tortured her! She didn’t know that Mason was also in the car. With its heavily tinted windows, now could see who was in the black Bentley. Even the servant thought that Mason’s assistant was alone in it.As Ava closed the door, Mason, who was sitting in the rear seat, asked casually, “What did Zoe say?” His temper had been volatile at work lately. Even the slightest trigger would set him off.She answered apprehensively, “She didn’t say anything, but I think she’s going out.” Mason left it at that. As the car started, he thought to himself that she seemed to be quite busy these days!Zoe went to Liam’s law firm before noon. He had some case files he needed to go through with her. His office was small and not exactly luxurious. The bookshelves were lin
You could hear a pin drop in the office. Liam was wearing a gold watch on his lean hands, holding a platinum business card. It had his private number on it.Zoe took it from him gingerly. She stared at him for some time before asking softly, “Why would you help me, Liam? I thought you’d take Mason’s side.”He didn’t answer her. Instead, he leaned back on his chair and smoked the cigar wordlessly. Truth be told, he didn’t have a good reason for doing this. If he had to find a reason, then perhaps it was because of what he saw in the hospital that day. The cuts on her wrists were terrifying to look at and it reminded him so much of the same injuries he had seen on his mother. There was a definite difference between them, though. His mother was determined to die and she had succeeded in her goal.On the other hand, Zoe was doing everything she could to stay alive. Perhaps that was what triggered his compassion for her.…Zoe was gripping the business card tightly and her palms were
Mason had never loved anyone, but that didn’t mean he was clueless when it came to putting work into a relationship.Silence draped over the car.If working on their relationship meant that Zoe would love him again, he wouldn’t mind putting in some work so they could become a couple who loved each other genuinely.…It was evening on the weekend. A black limousine pulled up to the manor. The chauffeur carried Mason’s suitcases and said respectfully, “Do you need my help with the suitcases, Mr. Mason?”Mason was dressed in black. As they said, the suit maketh the man. Standing in the evening light, he looked exceptionally dashing. Even the old servant couldn't help but steal glances at him.He asked lightly, “Where’s Zoe?”The servant was about to respond when they heard the sound of a violin coming from the third floor. The melody was mellow and it complimented the evening twilight. She couldn’t help but put in a good word for Zoe, “Ms. Zoe plays a mean violin! Perhaps you sho
Zoe said softly, “That’s not it.” Then, she averted her gaze and spoke even more quietly, “I’m having my period.”Mason was a little startled.Then, he came back to his senses and couldn’t help but touch her warm cheeks. Zoe never wore makeup when she was at home. He was touching her bare skin and it was irresistible.Staring at her, he could not help but laugh. “Am I that much of a monster in your eyes, Zoe? Do you think I’ll force myself on you when you’re on your period?”Her eyes were slightly wet with tears, but she didn’t answer him.He got his answer from her reaction. She probably thought he cared only about pleasuring himself, even if it was at the cost of his wife’s well-being. And she would’ve been right. He had never cared about her in the past and he liked to do it rough, but he had never done it with her when she was having her period.Grabbing her slender arm, he pulled her up and let her sit on his lap. Zoe wasn’t used to this kind of intimacy. They had never be
The servant knocked on the door and said, “Dinner is served, Mr. Mason. Will you be having dinner now?”“Sure! We’ll have dinner now.”The servant went downstairs. Her footsteps trailed off, but he still kept Zoe pinned down. She couldn’t help but squirm a little. “Aren’t we going to have dinner now? Help me up.”In response, he stared back at her wordlessly. She couldn’t fathom what was on his mind. She tried pushing him away, but he grabbed her arm and put it back on his chest. His heartbeat was strong and throbbed rhythmically. She pulled back her hand abruptly, as if she had just touched fire. He pinched her chin gently and chuckled, “Did that scare you as well? What's on your mind, Zoe?”She couldn’t cope with this new side of Mason. Truth be told, she was missing his ruthless ways a little. He might hurt her, but she could brave through the pain. Now, however, she wasn’t sure what to make of him.Turning her back at him, she straightened out her dress. Then, she rose a
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
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