Chapter 13
Zoe looked undignified while Mason was dressed fully. There was merely a slight wet stain on his pants, revealing a hint of lewdness. Her hands trembling uncontrollably, Zoe was having a problem gripping the buttons on her shirt.
He merely stood by and did nothing to help. He habitually felt around for his cufflinks and frowned when he could not find them. He still had not found them, but he was not about to ask her and make himself look incompetent.
Much time had passed when Maia was finally done tidying herself up. She looked at Mason, who was staring at her too. It was impossible to read him. Zoe had no intention of doing so either. She said, disheartened, “I’m tired, Mason! Let’s split up on good terms!”
With that, she left the office.
Mason did not stop her this time. He merely stood there and watched as she left. He smiled coldly after a long time had passed. It was typical for divorced couples to tear each other down. There was no such thing as splitting up on good terms!
Zoe’s legs were still trembling when she left Lockwood Corporation. It felt searing hot where he touched her, as if he was still touching her. Her mind kept playing back what he said.
“Return to me. We can go back to the way things were.”
“Do you think you can just leave the Lockwood family when it pleases you? Do you think I’m a meek man who can be pushed around?”
She was suffocating thinking about it. Zoe went about her business for a long time before going back to the place she rented. It was a six hundred and forty–five square foot house in an old neighborhood and only came with the most basic furniture.
It was a world of difference compared to the villa they used to live in. Mia stood in the cramped living room and remained quiet for a long time. Zoe knew Mia was not used to it, but it was all she could afford now.
Mia was making soup in the kitchen again. She put aside her soup when she saw Zoe coming home. “How’s Noah?”
Zoe did not bring up Mason. She was taking off her shoes and said softly, “He wanted me to look
+15 BONOS
for a lawyer called Liam. He said he could help us.”
“Liam?”
guy. If he’s
Mia contemplated, “I might’ve heard his name before! Anyway, we have to find this guy. really good, then Noah will be freed.”
Zoe said, “Okay. I just called Ella. She’ll put her feelers out.” She had known Ella since they were very young. Ella had gone on to become a model after graduating from college and traveled the world. Her connections reached far and wide.
Mia’s expression was hard to read when Zoe brought up Ella. She did not like Zoe hanging out with Ella. She thought Ella had a complicated life because she was in the entertainment industry to some extent. Little did she realize that she would need her help now.
She did not say anything for a good while. Then, she poured a bowl of soup for Zoe. “Here. It’ll invigorate you. You’ve grown thinner recently. Aren’t you going to work at the Training Institution next week?”
Zoe lowered her head and said softly, “It’s a bust! I’m going to look for another job.”
Mia sat down. “What happened?”
Zoe did not want her to worry, so she adopted a casual tone. “It’s Mason! He pulled some strings. and made them reject me! It’s going to be fine, Mia. I’ll find another job. There are so many job openings in the newspaper. There’s got to be something for me there.”
She thought Mia would harp on her, but Mia merely remained quiet and said eventually. “All that matters is that Noah will be freed.” Then, she rose and went to the kitchen.
Soon, Zoe could hear Mia’s voice from the kitchen. She sounded depressed. “You might think me cruel for making you live under Mason’s thumb, Zoe. However, there wasn’t much choice here! What are you going to do if Noah can’t get out?” With that, she cried.
Zoe was distressed as well, but she pushed her feelings down. She walked to Mia and leaned on her shoulders. “I’m all grown up now, Mia! I can support our family even if Noah is in jail.”
What she said sent Mia bursting into tears.
Zoe tried looking for jobs for the next few days, but they wereall dead ends. Deep in her heart, she knew Mason made his rounds with the high–end institutions. They would never give her a job.
So, she had to lower her expectations and join an entertainment agency. It mainly focused its business on opening and anniversary celebrations and paid its performers based on the number of performances.
