Chapter 7

Zoe released her grip on the car door handle. The atmosphere in the car was oppressive.

Mason was actually tired from his trip and the subsequent visit to Lockwood Manor. He rubbed his brow with one hand and gripped the steering wheel with another, the impatience clear in his voice.

“When are you going to stop being unreasonable?”

So, he merely thought she was being unreasonable. How disappointing.

Zoe sat upright and said softly after a brief pause, “I’m serious, Mason! I don’t want to be with you anymore!”

He turned around and looked at her. He looked so dashing with his sharp features. She used to fall for him every time, but she felt nothing now. Not even a little.

…

Mason stared at her and unbuckled his seat belt. “Out of the car!”

Zoe exited the car as soon as he unlocked the doors and walked briskly toward the villa. She puffed up her chest, determined to go through with the divorce.

Mason smoked a cigarette before he got out of the car and went upstairs.

They ended up sleeping separately. She took the guest room that night and Mason could not be bothered to soothe her. He was mad too. He changed into his pajamas and laid on the bed.

It was a little strange to have no one sleeping next to him. In the past, it did not matter how coldly he treated her. She would always wrap her arms around him from behind and doze off.

Morning came and a ray of light shone into the bedroom. Mason raised his hand to block it. Then, he woke up.

He could hear faint noises from downstairs. The servants were setting up the dining table. Zoe had always done it with them and prepared his breakfast separately.

Feeling better now, Mason got out of bed and had a change of clothes. Then, his gaze was fixed on a spot. Zoe’s suitcase was gone. He opened the wardrobe and found several of her frequently worn clothes also missing.

He stared for a few seconds and closed her wardrobe. After he changed into his usual working attire, he freshened up and wore his watch.

Mason went downstairs and asked the servants, “Where’s Zoe?”

The servant said cautiously, “Ms. Zoe left early in the morning, dragging a suitcase with her. She didn’t even ask for the chauffeur.”

“She thinks she’s so tough!” Mason proceeded to ignore what he’d just heard and dug into his breakfast. It was the usual black coffee and whole wheat bread.

However, the contents in the newspaper grabbed his attention. It was filled with articles about him and Lilith. Each of the headlines was more sensational than the other.

He read it for a while before asking the servant, “Did Zoe read the newspaper before she left?”

The servant answered honestly, “Ms. Zoe left before breakfast.”

Mason raised his head and looked at her. Then, he made a call to Ava.

“I need you to deal with the articles in the newspapers!” He gave her a few more orders and prepared to hang up.

He unfastened his tie and said casually, “Also, I need you to check where Zoe sold off her wedding ring. I want it by four o’clock.”

Ava was startled briefly before saying, “That’s impossible! Ms. Zoe loved you very much. How could she sell off the wedding ring?”

With that, Mason hung up the call and threw his phone onto the dining table. He had lost his appetite after reading the articles.

…

Zoe was back at her family’s place. Mia had just finished making chicken soup and was about to head to the hospital, but she was upset when she saw Zoe.

She pointed at the suitcase and said, “Every couple bickers. It’s perfectly normal for a guy to cheat a little. Lilith’s looks are modest at best, and she’s a gimp. I’ve asked around and found out that she’s a divorcee. There’s no way she could shake your standing in the Lockwood family.”

“Nobody respected me there!”

Zoe laughed at herself and poured the chicken soup into a thermal jug, “I’m going to visit Dad at the hospital later.”

Mia stared at her for a while before wiping her hands.

“You might give your dad a heart attack when he learns that you’re getting a divorce! Let’s just take a step back and assume you really can’t be with him anymore, Zoe. How do you plan on surviving without the Lockwoods? How do you intend to support our family?”