Chapter 40


    Zoe received the transfer from Mason while having coffee with E. E had received some news


    about Liam and wanted to discuss it with Zoe.


    Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    E shared the information she gathered, saying, "Liam is in some primitive tribe in Yarifa, providing


    legal aid. The assistant mentioned he might not be back for another one or two years. I told you,


    Zoe, these sessfulwyers, once they hit the big time, they seem to get disillusioned with the


    urban life and money. It''s all about the hustle and bustle of the big city, isn''t it?"


    After finishing, E took a big sip of her coffee, making a face.


    She could not stand this pretentious stuff.


    Zoe lowered her head, stirring her coffee lightly.


    Worried that Zoe could not handle the news, E consoled her softly, "Let''s keep looking into it. I


    refuse to believe that no one else can handle it besides him."


    Zoe nodded, about to say something, when she received a 30 thousand-dor transfer notification.


    She was slightly taken aback.


    Seeing her expression, E could not help but lean in.


    "Whose message is that, you look like you''ve seen a ghost."


    "It''s from that jerk."


    "He''s transferring 30 thousand dors to you. What does that mean? Is he trying to get you to sleep


    with him? Zoe, I always said this guy is no good... It turns out he''s just like any other man, driven by


    lust."


    …


    Zoe did not respond. She put away her phone.


    E still looked eager. "We can at least order something now with that 30 thousand dors!"


    Zoe forced a bitter smile, "Mason''s money alwayses with strings attached."


    E could not help but curse a few more times.


    With a scheduled appointment looming, she bid farewell to Zoe. Before leaving, she did not waste a


    drop of the terrible coffee, a habit she developed since childhood.


    Zoe was also ready to leave, but as she stood up, her phone rang.


    Thinking it was Mason, she was surprised to see a message from Aurora instead.


    "I''m arriving in Brookesville on Saturday. I look forward to meeting you."


    Zoe could not help but smile.


    After replying, she tidied up and headed to the Imperial Hotel.


    By the time she finished work, it was nearly 11:00 PM.


    The autumn night carried a hint of chill as Zoe tightened her thin coat around herself.


    After a few steps, she stopped.


    A luxurious ck Bentley was parked on the side of the road, and Mason, dressed in a ssic ck


    and white suit, was smoking inside. Perhaps sensing Zoe''s gaze, he looked over.


    Under the neon lights, they silently locked eyes.


    It felt like a reunion after a long separation.


    After a moment, Mason extinguished his cigarette, got out of the car, and opened the passenger


    door.


    "Let''s talk inside."


    Zoe knew he had a favor to ask.


    Approaching, she sat in the car under his gaze.


    Mason stared at her for a while before closing the car door. As he circled around to the driver''s side,


    fastening his seatbelt, he casually asked, "Hungry? Do you want to grab something to eat?"


    Tonight, he was unusually gentle.


    Zoe did not think he had undergone a transformation or suddenly fallen for her. She looked at him


    calmly, "If you have something to say, let''s discuss it in the car."


    Mason took a cigarette box from the glovepartment, shook one out, and lit it.


    After a while, a faint stream of smoke filled the car.


    Mason held the cigarette in his hand and spoke.


    "Mrs. Rosemary has taken a liking toward you. She hopes you can help with the preparations for


    tomorrow night''s banquet."


    Zoe stayed silent for a moment.


    Mason nced at her. "What? Do you not want to?"


    Zoe smiled lightly, her tone bing even more indifferent.


    "Mason, I''m not your first choice, am I? Ava didn''t handle it well, so now you''re willing to spend big


    bucks on me, isn''t that right?"


    Mason was surprised by her keen perception.


    He also thought Zoe might get angry.


    Unexpectedly, Zoe''s tone grew even more casual. She stated, "The project at the Abbott Group is


    worth billions. 30 thousand is too little. I want 300 thousand."


    Mason frowned slightly.


    It was not that he could not afford this money, nor was he reluctant to spend it on a woman.


    However, he was a businessman at heart. Businessmen were ustomed to maximizing their


    profits, even if the person in front of them was their wife.