His words carried a hint of provocation.Mason smirked, gesturing for the caddy to place the ball. Then, with a slight tilt, he swung the club.Watching the ball's landing spot, he walked in that direction, speaking leisurely, "Since when have you understood me so well? Yes, one has to keep a close eye on the wife at home to prevent unwanted attention. What do you think, Gregory?"Gregory's expression was not pleasant. After a moment, he sneered. "But sometimes, no matter how closely you watch, it still won't work. There's a saying. Love is like sand. The more you want to grasp it, the faster it slips away."Under the sunset, the lush green grass stretched out. Mason, dressed in a white casual outfit, looked smart and energetic. He lowered his head and swung the golf club.With two strokes, the ball was in the hole.Mason showed no interest in playing further. Handing the club to the caddy, he took a towel to wipe his hands, smiling at Gregory. "Gregory, I've never failed to
Zoe received the transfer from Mason while having coffee with Ella. Ella had received some news about Liam and wanted to discuss it with Zoe.Ella shared the information she gathered, saying, "Liam is in some primitive tribe in Yarifa, providing legal aid. The assistant mentioned he might not be back for another one or two years. I told you, Zoe, these successful lawyers, once they hit the big time, they seem to get disillusioned with the urban life and money. It's all about the hustle and bustle of the big city, isn't it?"After finishing, Ella took a big sip of her coffee, making a face.She could not stand this pretentious stuff.Zoe lowered her head, stirring her coffee lightly.Worried that Zoe could not handle the news, Ella consoled her softly, "Let's keep looking into it. I refuse to believe that no one else can handle it besides him."Zoe nodded, about to say something, when she received a 30 thousand-dollar transfer notification.She was slightly taken aback.Seeing h
Mason smirked mockingly. "You have quite the appetite. Aren't you worried that you're being too greedy?"Zoe gave a cold laugh. "It's up to me to decide whether I'm being greedy or not. 300 thousand and not a penny less. Then, I'll get this job done, Mr. Mason." Mason narrowed his eyes. "What if we don't secure the project?"Zoe's smile faded. "That's not my problem. It just means you're not capable enough."No one had ever challenged him so blatantly before. Mason found it arousing. He leaned in, whispering near Zoe's ear, "It seems I have to secure this project now. Otherwise, my dear Mrs. Lockwood might think I'm incapable."His masculine scent enveloped Zoe's senses as he approached her, causing a flutter. Zoe pushed him away. "Are we discussing business or are you trying to have your way with me again?"She still felt disgusted by the incident from the other night. A disloyal husband always brought unpleasant images of his intimate encounters with other women to mind. J
Gregory was not surprised at all to see Zoe. He looked down on her from above, assessing her, especially her gorgeous outfit. After a few seconds, he descended the stairs gracefully and approached Zoe, casually remarking, "The dress looks good, but the one you wore at the hospital suits you better."Zoe had matured, and Gregory had noticed the inexplicable comments and his daily visits to the Imperial Hotel. Even though she was generally somewhat clueless, she could not ignore the signs. However, she had to pretend to be oblivious. After all, Gregory was not someone she could afford to offend.Rosemary could not sense anything unusual and happily introduced them, "Zoe, this is our distant cousin, a friend of Terrence's since childhood. He often comes over to hang out."Zoe smiled lightly. "We've met."Rosemary patted her shoulder. "I almost forgot, Gregory and Mason have been childhood friends. You two catch up. I'll go get some crystal glasses. The servants are always forgetfu
Mason stared at her for a moment. Then, he lightly chuckled, "Women pay attention to these things?" His voice suddenly deepened, carrying a hint of warmth. "So, Zoe, when did you learn these skills? Was it during your time as Mrs. Lockwood?"This remark was a bit flirtatious, something typical between spouses. Zoe had no interest in playing along. She turned her face away, looking out the car window, and calmly said, "I learned them along the way."Mason seemed like he wanted to say more. However, the traffic light turned green, and the cars behind them impatiently honked their horns. Mason had to press the accelerator lightly and drive away.…Mason brought Zoe to Brookesville's most upscale hair salon, and the manager personally tended to them.The manager was silver-tongued and eloquent. "Mrs. Lockwood, you have fair skin and a slender frame. We just received a new Marchesa couture dress that is perfect for you."As he spoke, he had it brought out for them to see. Indeed,
Their bodies pressed tightly against each other, rubbing against one another. To say that Zoe did not feel anything would be a lie. However, she still had reservations about Mason, so she found an excuse. "The banquet starts at seven. If you care so much about that project, why would you want to be late?"At her words, Mason loosened his grip on her slightly. He looked at her in the mirror and chuckled softly. "Mrs. Lockwood, you really know how to kill the mood."The crisis was finally averted. In the car on the way back, neither of them spoke.Mason's black Bentley slowly pulled into the Abbott Residence at 7:00 PM. He got out of the car and opened the door for Zoe. Mason held her hand as she got out of the car. She could not help but look up at him.Under the fluttering night breeze and the glamorous lights, they locked eyes. Mason gently tightened his grip on her hand, pulling her toward him and whispering, "Stick close to me tonight. Don't flirt with other men, okay?"His w
Terrence was well aware of the situation, mentioning the project and excusing himself for other engagements. He left first, leaving Mason to express gratitude to Rosemary.Rosemary looked at her husband's retreating figure, her eyes moistening. She turned to Mason and said, "Mason, you probably don't know this, but in the early years, Terrence had an affair and even considered divorcing me. At that time, no one in high society respected me. "Once, at an event, I met Zoe. She was only 15 or 16 at the time but knew how to cheer people up. When she accompanied Terrence, she wore a beautiful dress and danced ballet in a quiet corner to lift my spirits. You don't know how long it had been since I had genuinely laughed. I was filled with despair."Rosemary finished speaking with a faint smile, "Forgive me for unloading on you."As she left, her figure looked lonely yet proud. Even though she held the position of Mrs. Abbott now and her husband respected her, she understood that someon
Zoe emerged from the restroom, her complexion not looking good. Mason lowered his highball glass, glancing at her. "What's wrong? Are you unwell? I'll tell Mr. Terrence that we're leaving."Zoe did not refuse. Mason sent a message to Terrence and then left with Zoe. Seated in the car, he turned to look at her, a tenderness on his face that had never been there before. "The project should be in my hands. I owe it to you, Mrs. Lockwood. I never knew you were so capable."Zoe leaned back against the leather seat. She was too exhausted after a busy day to even lift a finger. After a while, she turned to meet his gaze, her voice soft and gentle."Actually, I've always been like this. It's just that you never noticed."Throughout the three years of marriage, most of his time spent with her was in bed. Other than that, he was either working or with Lilith in Hucksburgh.Any emotions Zoe had were worn away. Now, his sudden tenderness did not move her.Her serene demeanor was quite
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
In the lounge, Gwen curled up in Tegan’s embrace, crying silently. Tegan gently stroked her smooth black hair, sighing softly. “If you really like him, I’ll help you talk to him.”Gwen sobbed quietly, “Dad will say you’re being rebellious.”Tegan paused for a moment, then replied, “Your brother will help me, won’t he?”Gwen clung to Tegan, continuing to cry softly. She remembered that today was Yeager’s full moon celebration and decided to cry for just a little while. After all, who hasn’t shed tears in their youth?At that moment, there was a knock at the door. From the sound of it, the person outside had a very refined aura. Tegan immediately guessed who it was; it certainly wasn’t her husband. She gently rubbed Gwen’s head. “I’ll go answer it.”When Tegan opened the door, as expected, it was Zion standing outside. The two locked eyes, and after a moment of silence, Tegan calmly spoke, “You two talk.” Zion nodded.In the quiet lounge, the soft sound of Gwen’s crying fill
The following August. It was the party for Ocelotte and Molly's child. Molly had given birth to a boy, named Yeager Sanders, a name chosen by her eldest brother-in-law, Lorian. She was very fond of the name. As for Lorian and Tegan's youngest son, he was named Fergus Sanders. Yeager and Fergus were the next generation of boys in the Sanders family. However, the first child was still Lola, the one and only little princess. She loved following Gwen around. The little girl was now three and a half years old and about to start kindergarten. On the day of Yeager's party, Gwen was still taking Lola around, but she unexpectedly ran into an old acquaintance. It had truly been a long time. Since the year Zion had left for another country, although they had occasionally bumped into each other, they hadn’t had the chance for a proper meeting. How many years had passed? Gwen didn't dare to think about it, nor did she want to calculate. She vaguely felt it had been four