I Refuse to Divorce

Chapter 14

Zoe was good-looking and she played the violin very well. The person in charge paid her three hundred dollars for each show. He would ask her to play for three or four shows every day if business was good. That resulted in her playing violin for six hours a day. Calluses and blisters formed on her fingers from it.

It was a hard life and she was occupied all the time, but she had never regretted her actions. She never gave a call to Mason, nor did he call her. From time to time, she would read news about him attending banquets and acquiring other companies.

He looked stunning and arrogant in these events. She used to accompany him to such events in the past, her heart leaping from glancing at his dashing looks. Be that as it may, all she felt now was distant and strange.

…

It was evening. Zoe sat quietly on the top floor of the hospital. A can of iced Coke stood next to her. She rarely used to drink sodas because it was not exactly healthy, but she would drink one from time to time now.

Cecil, tall and clad in a white coat, came over and stood by Zoe’s side, watching the sunset with her. Zoe turned around as the last trace of light vanished from the sky and saw Cecil. She rose immediately and said hurriedly, “Greetings, Dr. Cecil.”

He looked at her, his eyes full of nostalgia and warmth. Zoe was a little unsettled. Then, Cecil cast his glance at the far side of the sky and said softly, “You called me by my name when we were young, Zoe. You loved sleeping in the tent in the summer. My mom always gave you shaved ice. She misses you.”

Zoe was startled for a long time before she finally recalled and muttered, “Cecil…”

She felt a twinge of sadness as her mind was cast back to the time when she was just a child who was pampered and loved by her family, without a care in the world.

Now that they had met each other again, everything had changed drastically. Cecil tilted his head and looked at her quietly. Then, he took out a bank card from his pocket, “There's two million dollars on this. The password is the date of your birthday. That should be enough to cover your father’s medical fee.”

Zoe refused to take it. “I can make my own money. I mean it.”

He looked at her hand which was all bandaged up. It was no longer tender like it used to be. His throat tightened a little, “There’s no reason you have to make it hard for yourself, Zoe.” Then, he treated her wounds with some salves.

Zoe curled her fingers slightly and said softly, “I used to live under other people’s protection and lost myself somewhere along the way. It’s true. I have nothing now, but I’m only twenty-four years old. I want to start my life anew.”

She raised her head and looked at Cecil, who was looking at her warmly.

…

Zoe stayed at the hospital for two hours. It was seven o’clock now. She needed to perform for a bar’s opening. It was already past midnight by the time she was done. Carrying the violin on her back, Zoe walked on an empty street. A cold breeze blew past. She had to hold herself tightly so she would not tremble.

The neon lights dimmed in the dead of night. One of the skyscrapers had a big screen that displayed tabloids.

“Business Tycoon, Mason Lockwood, Flew All the Way from Brookesville to Hucksburgh to Celebrate Summer Solstice with Lilith”

The screen showed footage of Ava standing behind Lilith in the elevator as the reporters trapped them in the elevator. Mason looked annoyed. He must have been irritated that the reporters got pictures of them together, Zoe thought.

Then, it showed an interview about Lilith. She was smiling sweetly in front of the camera. “I had a wonderful Summer Solstice. My next wish is that my legs could be cured. Also, I hope I can learn from the violin virtuoso, Aiden, one day. Mason? He was the most important man in my life.”

There was a flash of guilt in her eyes as she said it. She impersonated Zoe and made him think she was the one who played violin for him every day four years ago. She was afraid he would find out about it, but she convinced herself otherwise.

She was the one who held onto a violin and sat in the ward when he came around. There was no way he would know the truth.

…

Zoe stood quietly on the street in Brookesville in the dead of night. Her head raised slightly, she trained her gaze at the screen. Mason was protecting Lilith. Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

She was cold all over by the time she snapped out of her trance and muttered, “It’s already Summer Solstice.” Then, she turned around and left with the violin on her back, the street lights casting a long shadow behind her.