Chapter 116

Mason flew back to Brookesville on Friday evening. Ava and his

chauffeur picked him up at the airport.

Ava asked him when he got in the car, “Are you going back to the

company or your manor, Mr. Mason?"

He had worn himself out, working for the entire week. Rubbing his

brows, he said, “Take me to Zoe's apartment.”

Ava seethed with jealousy.

After a brief pause, she asked softly, “Are you going to take her back

home? Did you guys have a fight?”

He frowned, “You crossed the line, Ava.”

That frightened her and shut her up. Putting both of her hands on her

knees, she clutched the hem of her skirt. Women had a sixth sense

about these things and she could sense that Zoe was becoming more

important to Mason as time went by.

She found another photo frame on his desk a few days ago. Zoe's

picture was in it. After being married for three years, he had finally

fallen in love with Zoe after all.

The chauffeur dropped Ava off at her place on their way to Zoe's

apartment. By the time they made it to Zoe's apartment, it was already

late evening and dusk was settling in. A dim evening light was doing its

best to hold back the impending darkness.

Zoe was taking a stroll with Gordon. They were murmuring with each

other as they walked.

Then, a black limousine stopped right in front of them. The car door

swung open and out came Mason. He was dressed in a formal attire.

Wearing a black pin-striped suit,he looked dashing and refined in the

evening light.

Gordon was not pleased to see him. However, he didn't let it show. Zoe

needed to stay with him after all. He sighed internally and thought his

daughter wouldn't have to put herself through this if the Sanders were

still at the top of their game.

Taking out the gifts from the trunk, Mason ordered the chauffeur to

bring them upstairs. Then, he said to Gordon in a smile, “You look well,

Dad.”

Gordon was about to say something, but he decided otherwise. In the

end, he merely patted Zoe's shoulder and said, “Mason's here to take

you home. Go on up there and tell Mia that you're going back home!”

Mason stared at her.

Truth be told, she didn't want him to stay at their apartment. So, she

went upstairs with her father, packed up her stuff, and got ready to

leave. However, she was very reluctant to go.

Mia stuffed a passbook into her hands. She checked it and found that it

had twenty million dollars in it. Looking at Mia, she grumbled, “I saved

this for you and Dad, Mia!"

Mia said, “This is the money you got from selling our old villa. Take it

with you. It'd be great if you could buy it back! Your dad actually went

back to check on it quietly. I saw him wandering at the entrance for a

long time. I can tell he’s finding it hard to let go of the place.”

Zoe was distressed to hear that.

“Okay. I'll buy it back if I ever have the chance!”

However, she knew that was easier said than done. After all, she sold

off their villa at far less than its actual value back then!

Sitting in the car, her eyes were slightly red. Mason leaned over and

looked at her. He was tired but he still spoke gently, “Couldn't bear to

leave your place? You can stay there again next time if you want to!"

She didn't tell him about the old villa. Instead, she responded to him

briefly and nonchalantly.

He kissed her chin, pressed his lips on hers, and muttered, “I was only

gone for a few days, but it seems I have really missed you! This is

something I've never felt before.”

Putting the sentiments aside, it was hard to resist a dashing, young

man like him when he flirted with her.

She got his surprise gift when she stepped foot into their manor. The

painting “Crabapple in the Rain” was hanging in the room where she

usually practiced playing the violin. It had been placed in a spot where

she could see it easily while she played the violin.

Brushing the painting with her lean fingers, she couldn't stop herself

from touching it. She muttered, “How did you know that I love this

painting?”

He stood behind her, leaned over, rested his chin on her shoulders, and

chuckled, “Gregory wanted to buy it and the curator gave me a call. So,

I bought the painting at double the price!

“Initially, I wanted to buy each and every painting your late mother

made so I could give them all to you. Then, I thought only nouveau

riche fools act like that. Moreover, I think an artwork should be shared

with the entire world, instead of being stored in a single person's place.

If I had done it the other way around, then the paintings would've lost

their value and appeal. Giving you your favorite painting is a much

better way to do it.”

He had virtually never said anything like this to her in the past three

years and yet, here he was, doing something that moved her again.

She had to admit that something stirred in her heart, but she

remembered that a lady shouldn't appear too eager and concealed her

feelings.

On the other hand, Mason was a perceptive man. How could he not tell

what she was thinking?

Holding her slender waist, he whispered in her ear, “Do you love it? If

you do, would you take mercy on me and let me sleep with you

tonight?”