Chapter 268
Mason smiled lightly and said, “Don’t worry, Grandma! I’m doting on her at every turn.”
That was what Barbara wanted to hear, as evident from the smile blooming across her face. She wanted Mason to return home and look after Zoe. “You shouldn’t have come over here! I’m ill. I might bring some bad luck to the baby.”
Smiling, he responded, “That’s impossible! My baby isn’t even born yet.” It was clear from his tone that he was overjoyed to have a baby, and she was happy for him too.
Sweeping her eyes across the room and out the window, she thought the impending arrival of a new baby breathed new life into the manor. She was looking forward to the baby’s birth.
He went downstairs and ran into his mother. Lisa was busy
overseeing the dinner preparation. It looked like she expected him to stay for dinner, but he rejected her, “Zoe’s losing her appetite lately. I should be home.”
Lisa had much to say about Zoe. She had always preferred to have a submissive daughter-in-law. It’d be better if she had some artsy side because capable businesswomen tend to challenge their mother-in- law’s authority.
Her tone was harsh when she said, “I’m not against the idea that she’s a business owner, but she’s pregnant now. So, she should focus on that instead. Moreover, it is unseemly for a lady to own a business and work all day.
“You have to remind her of her place! If it was up to me, you would’ve married someone like Gabriela in the first place. She would’ve been less trouble.”
He didn’t like what she said.
Rising from the couch, he patted his pants and said softly, “If my memory serves me right, Gabriela works at the public relations department in her company. She must’ve spent her time drinking with men out there. If you ask me, she takes the cake when it comes to being an unseemly lady!”
What he said almost gave Lisa a heart attack.
ere
Zoe was packing up her suitcase when he was back home. She was standing beneath the crystal chandelier, bending slightly to put her clothes into the suitcase while wearing a silk bathrobe. Her legs straight when she was in this position. Moving his eyes upward, he saw the seductive rounded shape.
He was upset at what he saw. Hugging her from behind, he rubbed her gently and said, “Are you going on a working trip tomorrow? I’ve never heard you say anything about it.”
She didn’t fight back. Instead, she let him carry her to the couch. He took off her silk bathrobe, revealing her slightly bulged belly and her fair skin, looking hotter than ever.
Running his hands across her belly gently, he began chatting with her about mundane stuff. Then, he brought up his grandma and said that they might be having a funeral by the end of the year.
It was clear that he was distressed when he was talking about it. Zoe was disheartened by the news as well. After that, he held her and fell asleep on the couch. It was one of the rare intimate moments they shared recently, probably because both of them were sad about Barbara’s condition.
Zoe woke up in his embrace in the middle of the night. Turning on the
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lights, she admired his sharp eyebrows. He looked stunning even when he was sleeping.
Running her fingers across his dashing features, she began to
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reminisce. She used to fight for his love to no avail and succumbed to panic and fear over it. She used to be deeply tormented, but she was feeling indifferent and calm now.
Then, she recalled in a daze that she was merely a twenty-five-year- old lady.
Now, Mason woke up too. Staring at her wordlessly for several
seconds, he leaned over and kissed her while stuffing his hand into her bathrobe. After some fondling and kissing, a wet stain showed up where they sat on the couch, looking conspicuous underneath the light.
Panting slightly, he asked, “Let’s take a shower together. I’ll take you to the airport tomorrow morning! Anyway, where are you headed?”
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