Zoe stared at Leslie, who looked very worried.How hilarious.It was absurd that Ella should fall in love with someone like Leslie. It was outrageous that she would think the Schmidt family would let her friend go when she was pregnant with his baby.Zoe stumbled forward and said in a daze, “She was pregnant with your baby, Leslie! She didn’t want to let you know about it. All she wanted was to live in a faraway city and give birth to the baby. She just wanted to have a family of her own.”Tears were all over her cheeks when she raised her eyes, “It was never her intention to throw a wrench in your marriage. She didn’t even complain when you compensated her with fifty million dollars for making her lose her hearing! “She didn’t accept these cruel fates because she was numbed to them. It’s because she never had much to begin with! She has no family or lover. All she has is her baby! Do you know how happy she’s been ever since she was pregnant? She told me about her baby every sing

Evening rolled on, but Ella had yet to come round from her coma. Mia looked at Zoe’s reddened eyes and said softly, “I’ll watch over her. You should go home, take a bath and get changed. Grab some shut-eye too. How long are you going to last if you keep white-knuckling it? Your dad’s worried sick about you too.”Zoe responded with a simple “Okay.” Before she left, she took Ella’s hands and said, “Wake up soon, Ella.”That made Mia feel sad again. Walking over to Zoe, she asked softly, “I was sending the doctor out and saw you with Cecil this morning. Are you going to give him a chance?”After a brief silence, Zoe responded, “I have no room in my heart for another relationship, Mia. Not for the time being.”Mia hesitated before saying, “I know this might not seem like the right time for a relationship. But don’t just turn him down. I could tell he quite likes you and he’s very respectful toward me and Gordon.”Nodding, Zoe said, “I understand, Mia.”…Zoe chatted with Mia for

Zoe knew what Mason wanted to talk about in this phone call! She didn’t want to let Mia know about it, so she excused herself before she answered it outside.Even the tightly closed window couldn’t hold off the bitter coldness of the night. The chilling wind seeped in through the crack of the window at the end of the hallway and hit her squarely in the face.With that said, it was nothing compared to her conversation with Mason. Over the phone, his voice was soft yet heavy with intention. “You should know what the Schmidts’ next move is! I’m the only one who can help you now, Zoe! Ella has to become one of the Lockwoods if you want Langston to back off!”Numb, Zoe asked, “Can you please help me?”After a brief moment of silence, his voice sounded significantly deeper than earlier when he said, “I told you. I’m not a charitable man! I think you know that I won’t intervene in Leslie and Ella’s matters if you’re not in the picture.”Of course, she knew that. She had been married

Zoe stared at him for a long time. She didn’t turn around until her eyes hurt from the crying.The moment she turned around, she donned her identity as Mason’s wife. Walking into the resplendent lobby, she made her way to the elevator. She didn’t turn back and see what was behind her, afraid that she’d regret her decision once she did.The reception hall was wide enough to seat a hundred guests. It was filled with people from high society. Leslie wasn’t here, but Langston and his parents were here to pay respect on his behalf. Nellie wasn’t happy about it, but she put a smile on her face and drank with everyone. At that moment, the door to the reception hall opened and they could the loud, crisp voice of a heel clicking on the floor.Everyone directed their gaze at the door. Wearing a dress fashioned after the revenge dress of Diana, the Princess of Wales, she took slow steps toward Langston’s table and shoved any waiters who tried to stop her.A moment later, she was standin

Lowering her gaze, she saw that she was in a compromising pose. Their bodies were tightly pressed against each other. Beneath her silk skirt, her legs were hanging by his sides. Mason’s deep-colored long pants cast a stark contrast against her fair skin. It was an erotic sight.Her eyelids fluttered. “I’m not in the mood.” Then, she begged him a little, “How about another day?”Leaning back on the seat lazily, he looked at her intently. She leaned backward a little as he touched her face and asked, “Are you scared?”Before she could answer, he held the back of her neck and pushed her toward him. She thought he was going for a kiss, so she parted her lips and decided to let him do it.Little did she know he’d exert more pressure on his hand. She was perplexed and raised her eyes to look at him. His eyes were so deep and there was a hint of dominance in his eyes. Truth be told, he looked sexy when he was like this. She believed that if he asked for it, a lot of ladies would do anyt