I Refuse to Divorce!

Zoe had yet to speak.

Mason caught her hand, his gaze deep. "I'm flying back to Brookesville to handle this. Zoe, I will suppress this matter, and minimize the negative impact."

Zoe lowered her eyes.

After a while, she smiled bitterly. "How can it be suppressed? There are over a hundred thousand reposts, Mason. Tell me, how can you suppress it?'

Mason tightened his grip on her hand momentarily, but he still left.

This matter with Lilith not only affected the Sanders family but also the Lockwood Group.

If not handled well, Lockwood Group's stocks could fall to their lowest today.

Mason walked to the theater entrance.

He couldn't help but turn around to look at Zoe, but Zoe didn't look at him.

She stood under the spotlight, fragile and lonely.

She softly told the theater manager, "I want to be alone for a while, is it okay?"

The manager sympathized with her situation and quickly said, "Of course, Ms. Zoe. I'll clear the place for you. You can stay as long as you want. We close at six in the evening."

Zoe thanked him in a low voice.

After the people dispersed, Zoe set up her violin again, closed her eyes, and played a piece by Massenet called "Meditation." It was her mother's favorite piece, and Zoe remembered the summer nights when her mother would hold her and hum gently. She would sleep soundly in her mother's

arms.

The sound of the violin was suppressed, as it was played too forcefully...

Zoe slowly put down the violin.

She stood there for a long time. Finally, she took out her phone and dialed Gordon's number.

After three rings, the call was answered.

There was silence between them.

The shallow and rapid breathing told her that her father already knew about the matter.

Zoe choked. "Dad, I'm sorry!"

On the other end of the phone, Gordon remained silent for another half a minute.

When he spoke, his voice was unexpectedly hoarse, indicating the agony he experienced in the past half minute. He said, "Zoe, I don't want you to exchange your whole life for these ten years."

Tears filled Zoe's eyes. She held the phone and slowly sank to the floor.

It hurt so much.

Her body was in pain, and everything hurt.

The family she had been proud of since childhood did not collapse when her brother went to prison, but it shattered the moment Lilith walked into Kirk Manor.

She thought that she wouldn't have come to this point if she had never liked Mason in the first place.

Her family had endured such humiliation because of her.

Her mother, who had a clean reputation, couldn't even rest in peace.

Zoe crouched down, crying silently.

She stayed in the theater until evening. After leaving, she didn't go back to the hotel but walked quietly along the riverside avenue.

The sunset dyed the world red.

The bustling traffic and those century-old buildings in the distance highlighted her desolation.

Zoe walked like this, from dusk to dark, from dark to dawn.

She knew that the matter had been settled during this time. No one was reposting Lilith's photos on social media anymore. They had been completely deleted.

However, the upper-class circles in Brookesville knew Lilith had been in Kirk Manor to take a series of pure and provocative photos.

It was an irony.

Zoe finally returned to the hotel at seven in the morning.

As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Mason in the corridor, leaning against the wall opposite the suite. His gaze was fixed on the doo plate with a deep, unreadable expression.

Upon hearing footsteps, he turned to look at her, and their eyes met.

Time seemed to stand still.

Mason's voice was hoarse. "Where did you go? I've been looking for you all night."

Zoe walked slowly to him. She didn't open the door but leaned lightly against the door panel.

The spotlights above the corridor illuminated her small face, pale, and her expression was tired.

When she spoke to him, she was calm, without a hint of questioning. "Mason, did you come to talk to me about a divorce?"

Mason's eyes narrowed slightly. "I haven't thought about divorce."

Zoe smiled, bending over to take off her high heels. The shoes were beautiful but hurt her feet after walking for a long time. Now that she had taken them off, she felt comfortable.

Holding the delicate high heels, she lowered her head. "But you let Lilith take wedding photos in the mansion my mother personally built. Mason, even if our marriage is unpleasant and unhappy, the deceased should still be respected. While you, Mason, your indulgence and compensation to your lover far exceed our marriage. My family and I can't even get a bit of respect from you..."

Zoe's eyes were teary, and she pressed her head against the door panel, supporting her body.

Her neck was also tense.

Her lips trembled slightly.

"Mason, you say you want to start over with me. In fact, you don't love me. Even if you like me, your feelings toward me are limited. You just want to correct the chaos in your life.

"In the end, it's still for yourself! It has never been your concern whether I'm okay, happy, or willing. At most, it's a form of compensation.

After speaking, she paused, her breathing painful.

Mason wanted to follow her in, but Zoe blocked the door.

Mason was stubborn.

He ignored his bruised fingers and stared into her eyes.

What she said really frustrated him. He could feel that she wanted to leave him, but he didn't want to let her go.

Zoe lowered her head and stayed silent for a while. Then, she told him to let go.

The door closed, and Zoe leaned against the door panel, lost in thought.