I Refuse to Divorce!

Mason was mesmerized by Zoe's serene expression on her delicate face. It looked like she was glowing in the evening light. She was beautiful and graceful.

He couldn't help himself but muttered some crude, but flirtatious words to her. What he said would've acted like a lubricant to their relationship if they were an ordinary couple, but Zoe thought it was repulsive.

The servant was trying to look past Mason. She reminded them softly, “It's almost time for dinner!”

Grabbing her slender arm, he chatted with her as they walked to the dining hall. “We're having crabs for dinner tonight. They're fresh, just came in in the afternoon. Aren't crabs your favorite food? You've got to have more later.”

She smiled faintly in response.

Zoe didn’t even let her displeasure show during dinner, much less question him. If he wanted to act like a lovely couple, then she'd go along with it. She didn’t even reject him when he wanted to have sex with her at night.

Just when things were getting hot, she reached for the bedside table with a trembling hand and took out a box of condoms. Then, she signaled him to put it on.

He was stunned.

The truth was, he might not have preferred it, but that didn’t mean she liked it either. Lowering his head, he kissed her and murmured that he wanted a baby. He was almost thirty years old now. Some of his childhood friends already had sons and daughters.

She raised her head, looked at him, and caressed his delicate brow. He really was stunning!

It was no wonder he was confident he could win her heart swiftly and make her love him again. Cards on the table, he had what it took to pull it off.

Lowering her gaze, she whispered tenderly, “That's too fast, Mason. We need to take it slow and work out the kinks in our relationship. Moreover, aren't you busy building your career? I want you to have the kind of energy and time to take care of our baby when he comes.” Propping himself up, he lowered his head and looked at her. After a brief pause to put on the condom, he proceeded to kiss her and finish what he started. It was his way of agreeing to what she said.

The deed was done, and Zoe went to shower and apply her skincare, as she usually did. Mason headed to the study.

A wife knew best if there was a third person in their marriage. She might pretend to be accepting of what he told her, but she knew, deep down, that his heart was distracted by another woman somewhere out there.

He actually stared off into space when he was releasing his love into her while they were having sex.

Zoe surmised that something bad happened to Lilith. Mia told her that Lilith had it coming when she stayed at their apartment. Her stepmother thought Lilith deserved the medical accident.

Mason still hadn't come back to the room by the time she finished applying her skincare. Picking up his clothes, she took them to the restroom to straighten them up. She found a party invitation when she checked the pocket of the coat. The cover looked familiar, somehow. Then, she recognized David's handwriting.

However, the invitation was addressed to Lilith.

She smiled bitterly. Putting down his coat, she walked out to the balcony. It was cold in the night.

Holding herself gently, she felt both pathetic and absurd. He had been nothing but cold and aloof for the entire duration of their three-year marriage. Why would she care about the possibility of him loving her for real?

She had to wake up!

Putting back the invitation in the pocket, she proceeded to put the coat back where she found it. She had decided to preserve some dignity for herself by not exposing him, even if it meant he hurt her badly yet again.

She laid on the bed and adjusted the bedside lamp to its dimmest glow. Mason still hadn't returned to the bedroom.

She couldn't help but think he might be chatting with his mistress in the study, perpetuating their platonic relationship.

Wisps of smoke were swirling gently in the study. Mason was, indeed, thinking about Lilith. However, he was also thinking about Zoe. Leaning on the couch, he smoked a cigar while holding a medical report. The specialists in Lockwood Hospital compiled the report for him. They had consulted each other several times and determined that Lilith was suffering from kidney failure.

She had two more years to live, and that was a positive estimate. She could very well have only a year left.

Lilith was a woman with many shortcomings, but she saved him once. He, too, had thought of marrying her once, and he knew she suffered this fate because of him.