Chapter 64

He carried his luggage downstairs, and Zoe, with delicate white fingers,

gently tugged at the hem of his shirt. She was on the verge of tears.

Mason had no intention of relenting. After all, he didn't love Zoe.

Despite her pleas, he got into the car and left. He spent about a week

in Hucksburgh, during which time Lilith underwent her first leg surgery.

It was also the week when the media exposed Mason's relationship

with Lilith, leading to the first rumors of an extramarital affair.

Upon his return from the business trip, Zoe made no mention of her

family matters. She attended to him as she used to, packing his

suitcase and preparing a bath.

After Mason bathed, he slept with her twice. It was the quietest intimate

encounter they had had since marriage. Neither of them made a sound,

and Zoe buried her face in the pillow, suppressing her body's pleasure,

reluctant to make a sound.

She felt guilty.

After the lovemaking, Mason sat at the edge of the bed, smoking

silently. Zoe softly mentioned needing money, and after observing her

for a moment, Mason wrote her a check for 15 thousand dollars.

Over a year later, Mason still remembered the moment. Zoe's fingers

trembled so much she could hardly hold the check.

Mason thought, perhaps from that moment, that Zoe no longer had any

love or liking for him. It was from that moment onwards that she

transformed from Mason's wife to Mrs. Lockwood.

There was a knock at the door, interrupting Mason's reminiscence. The

housekeeper's voice echoed, "Sir, dinner is ready. Will you be coming

down now?"

“In a little while," Mason responded.

However, his gaze remained fixed on the last line Zoe wrote in the

diary, the last trace of her girlish heart, a simple sentence that echoed

loudly in Mason's world.

"Mason will never like me again.”

Mason read it repeatedly.

In the end, he pulled out a cigarette but didn't light it. He contemplated

the emotions behind Zoe writing those words.

Outside, the housekeeper spoke again, "Sir, are you asleep? The

house just called. Madam wants to see Mrs. Zoe. When will you bring

her over?"

Mason put the diary back in place.

Changing into another set of clothes, he went downstairs to eat.

While having dinner, the housekeeper cautiously brought up the matter

from earlier. She even added, "Today is Mrs. Zoe's birthday. In previous

years, we would especially serve her favorite food on this day.”

Mason paused. He looked up and asked, "Today is Zoe's birthday?"

The housekeeper blurted out, "Yes! Sir, don't you remember?"

Upon saying that, the housekeeper remembered Mason's troubled

relationship with his wife and the rumored affair with a mistress. She

even heard that he had set off a night of fireworks for his mistress"

birthday.

At this moment, the housekeeper regretted talking.

Mason didn't blame her.

After a moment, he suddenly said, "Go to the kitchen and make her

favorite food.”

The housekeeper thought their marital relationship was improving,

feeling delighted. She immediately went to the kitchen. Soon, she

brought back a bowl of pasta. The aroma was enticing.

Mason quietly finished the noodles.

He thought this was the first time he had celebrated Zoe's birthday, but

it should also be the last.

Zoe was in pain, wanting a divorce.

If that was what Zoe wanted, then he would grant her wish.

He thought to himself, with so many women in the world, there should

be plenty suited to be Mrs. Lockwood.

There was no need to cling to the events of three years ago and keep

Zoe tied to him. He didn't love her. It simply wasn't necessary.

Yes, it was not necessary.