I Refuse to Divorce

Chapter 22

Ava knocked on the door of the director’s office and went in after she got the a-okay. Mason was on a phone call with his mother. Their conversation was about something that Ava had just found out and wanted to report to Mason.

“Are you just going to leave her alone, Mason?”

“Who’s Leslie?”

“That Ella has such a bad reputation. We can’t allow Zoe to mingle with her! You should keep your wife in check, Mason.”

…

Mason said nonchalantly, “Zoe is divorcing me, Mom! How am I supposed to keep an eye on her?”

Lisa cared for nothing more than her family’s reputation. She was mad that she had spent a long time talking to Mason without a positive outcome. With that, she hung up on him.

He put down the phone and looked at Ava. “Is Zoe working for Leslie?” She was about to say something when she suddenly saw a velvet box next to him.

She recognized it. It was the box that held Zoe’s wedding ring. If it was there, then he must have looked at it from time to time.

Mason always had his silver wedding ring on. He did not love Zoe and yet he had always worn it to remind everyone that he was already married.

Ava’s fingers curled slightly. She smiled a moment later. “That’s right! Ella recommended her to him. She’s that model with the terrible reputation. I have no idea how Ms. Zoe got to know her.”

Mason could not care less about Ella or Leslie. He thought about Cecil. There was no denying it. The way Cecil looked at Zoe meant that he wanted her. He was merely using their history as a front!

He leaned back in his chair, flipped through a document, and said lightly, “Move my meeting with Gregory to the Imperial Hotel tonight.”

Ava was taken aback. Mason had routinely met up with business associates at business hotels. Was he making an exception this time because of Zoe?

Mason raised his eyes to look at her when he did not get a response. “Is there any problem?”

Ava bowed. “I’ll see to it immediately, Mr. Mason.”

…

It was eight o’clock. Gregory and the gang were already playing poker on the fifty-sixth floor of the Imperial Hotel, and the gang included Leslie. All of them were accompanied by young, hot ladies. They were all celebrities and models.

This particular group comprised of the most influential individuals from prestigious families in Brookesville. Mason was the most powerful among them. Naturally, some of the men stood up as a sign of respect when he arrived at the scene.

Leslie personally poured him a glass of wine as he sat down and jested, “What a pleasant surprise, Mason. However, I’ll wager you’ll be even more surprised with our next guest!”

Mason had guessed that Leslie was talking about Cecil. Little did he know, Zoe showed up. She got ready to play the violin, but her eyes froze abruptly when she saw him. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

It was dim in the lavish hall. Mason leaned on the couch and gave her a sidelong glance. The way he looked at her reminded her of the moments when he was tormenting her on the bed. Zoe might

have asked for a divorce, but she could not help but shiver when she met his gaze.

Although she was shaking slightly, she delivered a strong performance. Mason was a little surprised. He was not well-versed in music, but Zoe performed the ‘Serenade’ exceptionally well. It was a tad familiar, as if he had heard it before.

He was sure he had never heard Zoe play a violin in his entire life. Where had he heard it, then?

Mason was deep in his thoughts when the song ended and a round of applause could be heard.

Gregory never thought he would bump into Zoe. There was some bad blood between them. His younger sister, Gabriela, tried to woo Mason in the past. However, Zoe moved faster and they lost out on having Gabriela marry into the Lockwood family.

Gregory had a score to settle.