Chapter 228
Zoe was trembling all over. She didn’t want to believe what Mason just told her and that life could be so cruel, but, deep down, she knew
had no reason to lie to her.
Staring at him, her voice turned soft, “Mason…”
It was clear what she was trying to say. She was trying to get him to help Ella.
Flicking the cigarette, he smiled faintly. “This is no small feat. I’m not about to get on the bad side of both the Schmidts and the Lynches for her sake and get nothing in return. More to the point, I’m not exactly a charitable man. Don’t you agree?”
His voice was soft and his eyes were deep.
She knew what he meant. All she had to do was let go of her pride and give in to his wishes. Return to his side and he’d keep Ella safe, letting her give birth to the baby.
Her fingers twitched slightly, but she remained quiet for a long time.
Staring at her, he could tell she wasn’t willing to do it. Instead of pushing her, he leaned over and snuffed out his cigarette.
“Send Ella overseas, then. Better yet, send her off to some isolated island and give birth to the baby there. In any case, she no longer has a place in Brookesville.”
Then, she thanked him in a soft voice while he nodded and opened the car door for her.
Her legs were still wobbly when she got out of the car. She stood
there and watched as his car drove off into the distance, letting the breeze blow past her.
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The moment she was sure she couldn’t see his car, she raced to the
streets and hailed a cab.
It was still the middle of the night when Ella opened her door and saw
20e.
She said, stunned, “Why brings you here this time of the night? You look like you’re scared out of your wits, too.”
Concerned that Zoe might catch a cold, she pulled her indoors hastily.
She turned on the lights and saw some faint hickeys on the back of Zoe’s neck. She was about to make fun of her friend, but Zoe looked. straight into her eyes and said, “You’re pregnant.”
She was rooted to the spot.
After a brief moment, she walked to the kitchen to pour Zoe a glass of water and asked, “How did you find out about it? Did Mason tell you about it?”
Zoe came over and took the glass of water from her, “That’s not the point here! What matters is that you can’t keep the baby.”
With that, she burst into tears.
She knew what she said was cruel, but what choice did she have? Ella and her baby were nothing before the multi-billion dollar project.
Mason told her in no uncertain terms that Leslie’s grandfather wouldn’t let her friend live.
It would’ve been good if Ella had a child to raise, but she cared more about Ella’s life. She was genuinely afraid that someone would kill her friend.
Walking over, Ella hugged her and buried her face into her neck,
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warmth seeping into her cheeks. She said softly, “I want to keep the baby, Zoe! I was an orphan when I was merely a teenager. It was a miracle and a blessing that I ran into you!
“I’ll be grateful for that for the rest of my life. I highly doubt I’ll meet
ny decent guy in my lifetime. My baby couldn’t have come at a worse time, but I’m glad he came when he did. I want my baby to stay by my side!”
Zoe raised her head slightly, tears in her eyes. Then, she said sobbingly, “Do you have a death wish? You do know that if…”
“I do!”
Ella cut her off with a faint smile on her face. “I know it’s dangerous, but I’m willing to take a risk even if it means I might die!”
Trembling, Zoe looked at her and embraced her. She was crying when. she said, “You big dummy!”
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