The phone kept vibrating. While my mother was still crying beside and not paying attention, I discreetly put the phone into my bag without answering the call.
Earlier at the law firm, his frowning look was still fresh in my mind.
He didn’t say anything harsh, yet the hint of disdain in his eyes told that I didn’t deserve and shouldn’t accept his help anymore.
After all, there is a world of difference between us. Even if he helps, it’s only him helping , unilaterally.
What could I possibly offer in return?
And so, I let the phone keep vibrating in the bag without answering.
Julian Sinclair probably made the call out of courtesy or due to my grandparents.
I didn’t answer, and he didn’t call a second ti.
The phone went silent, and the only sound left in the car was Mrs. Ellison’s stifled sobbing, which was suffocating.
I sighed lightly, my tone a bit dejected: "Mom, let take you ho first. As for my brother’s issue, I’ll think of a solution."
Speaking of which, I rembered Mrs. Ellison’s initial words and said word by word: "I’ve always kept in mind the gratitude for The Ellison Family’s upbringing. I won’t be ungrateful."
Mrs. Ellison looked at awkwardly: "Zoe, mom... that’s not what I ant, don’t take it to heart."
I didn’t say anything, just stepped on the gas pedal.
...
The Ellison Family.
As I accompanied Mrs. Ellison inside, I stopped in my tracks at the sight of the person sitting on the sofa.
Timothy Xavier, wearing a khaki trench coat, looked refined, his cold gaze falling on us.
It’s hard to imagine that this is the man who has made ruthless decisions in business and once drove a competitor’s family to despair.
Anger surged up in as I glaringly looked at him: "Timothy Xavier, how do you still have the face to co to The Ellison Family?"
Timothy’s face darkened, and his black eyes grew increasingly complex.
Just then, dad personally ca over with tea, eagerly trying to smooth things over: "Zoe, you’ve misunderstood. Timothy is invited by , don’t talk to him like that."
After saying this, Mr. Ellison smiled at Timothy and said, "Timothy, try this new tea I’ve got."
Knowing full well this man is the one who sent his son to prison, Mr. Ellison still lowered himself like this to speak to a younger generation.
I couldn’t help but feel heartache and sorrow.
And Mrs. Ellison beside suddenly rushed over, grabbing Timothy’s arm and crying, "Timothy, please, have rcy, let Declan go! He knows he’s wrong, can you let him out? Even if I take the punishnt for him!"
Timothy gently freed himself from her grip, and both Mr. Ellison and I quickly stopped her, pulling her back.
"Dad, Mom, please go back to your room, I want to talk to Timothy alone."
I didn’t want the family’s dignity shattered in front of Timothy, so I had the parents leave first.
Mr. Ellison nodded, taking Mrs. Ellison upstairs.
The living room was left with only and Timothy.
I looked at him, the anger I had just suppressed mixed with grievance, as I said with a touch of self-mockery: "Timothy Xavier, you’ve succeeded. Driving my brother and The Ellison Family to this point isn’t just to see bow down to you? You’ve won."
Timothy frowned deeply, his black eyes flickering with emotions I couldn’t understand, speaking in a deep voice: "Zoe Ellison, am I really this kind of person in your mind? You think I found soone to beat your brother?"
I didn’t respond.
Whether it is or isn’t, what difference does it make?
Isn’t all this stemming from him?
It’s as if my silence stung him, his Adam’s apple moved, and he spoke with tension, "The news of your brother being beaten in there, I just heard from your dad. Zoe Ellison, I didn’t do this."
I curled my lips, saying, "It doesn’t matter. Just like before when you misunderstood and wronged , the truth never mattered. I just want to know, how can I get you to let my brother go?"
He clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white, as if trying to restrain sothing.
Then, he coldly said, "I said I could drop the charges. But you need to withdraw the divorce suits now and co back to be Mrs. Xavier, we’ll start over."
I could never understand what Timothy Xavier truly wanted? What was he trying to do?
He didn’t love at all, so why restart?
The only answer I could think of was that a man like Timothy Xavier wouldn’t be satisfied being the defendant in a divorce suit.
He probably felt that if soone should be dumped, it should be him dumping .
I nodded decisively, "Okay, I agree with you."
A divorce suit isn’t sothing you can file only once in a lifeti.
Once my brother’s matter is completely settled, I’ll sue again.
...
Two days later, I withdrew the divorce suit.
Timothy Xavier indeed kept his promise; although he dropped the charges, my brother’s case is criminal, and the lawyer says it will take at least a month to process before he can be bailed out.
When Mr. Ellison called , I was standing in the living room of The Xavier Manor.
He said excitedly, "Thanks to Timothy for not holding a grudge against your brother this ti. Zoe, are things going well with Timothy? Mom and dad don’t know how to thank you both?"
"..."
After finishing the call with Mr. Ellison, I breathed a sigh of relief.
The Ellison Family has cald down. I’ve repaid the gratitude for raising .
Yet the heavy feeling in my heart didn’t lighten at all.
Because the transaction between and Timothy Xavier had just begun.
At this mont, Timothy looped his arms around from behind, disregarding my stiff body, resting his chin lightly on my hair, softly speaking, "Your brother should be able to co out in a while. See, everyone gets along, isn’t this good?"
I only felt irony.
Translating Timothy Xavier’s words ant: If you listen to , The Ellison Family can live peacefully; if you don’t, none of the people around you can live well!
I took a deep breath, calmly and firmly stepping away from his embrace, coldly saying, "Yes, dad told . Thank you."
He seed displeased by my actions, yet he still stroked my cheek and said, "We are husband and wife, why be so polite? I also want to thank you for giving a chance to make it up to you."
The feeling of helplessness surged up like a tide, Timothy Xavier’s gentleness now felt like a beast holding back its temper.
Despite his fangs almost being exposed, he still pretended to be gentle to coax others.
Yet I was no longer the Zoe Ellison of the past who would unwrap his beautiful candy paper only to consu the poison.
Nanny Lowell ca in with two workers, smiling as she reported, "Sir, the wedding photos have been re-done as you requested and just delivered."
Timothy’s face blossod with a bit of a smile, his tone satisfied: "Take them to the master bedroom, hang them back where they were."
Nanny Lowell saw us like this and thought we reconciled, quickly responding, "Okay."
I looked down at the floor, my heart calm as a dead lake, without a ripple.
No matter how refined the wedding photos are, what’s the point of putting them back in place?
Timothy seed oblivious to my coldness, casually saying, "Let’s return that house outside, I’ll accompany you to move tomorrow."
I raised my eyes, imdiately declining, "No need. There aren’t many things, just a suitcase, I’ve already brought it here today."
He didn’t insist, rely gave a laugh, saying, "Well, whatever you need, let the mall deliver directly."
Then he called a servant, "Take madam’s suitcase to the master bedroom, get everything organized."
The servant was about to act, I quickly said, "Wait."
Then I looked at Timothy and asked, "Do you truly want to start over with ?"
He smiled, "Isn’t my sincerity enough? You know canceling your brother’s suit this ti, the board mbers were very upset, how much pressure I had to bear?"
I wasn’t persuaded by these words, playing guerrilla warfare with him, "If you truly want to restart, could you give so ti? I need to slowly digest those past things. Right now... I can’t temporarily move back to the master bedroom with you. Can I stay in the original guest room?"
The master bedroom has been defiled by Timothy Xavier and Serena Sawyer, and you’re asking to sleep there? I’d have to throw up at least once a day!
Timothy’s gaze lingered on my face for a mont, as if he realized sothing, and he rarely offered an explanation: "Zoe, nothing sordid happened between Serena and , not once. If it’s the bed you’re uncomfortable with, I can have it replaced right now."
I was slightly stunned.
Who can tell if what Timothy says is true or false?
A man and a woman alone in a room, on the sa bed for so long, claiming nothing happened, is laughable.
But clearly, now is not the ti to dwell on it.
Moreover, who he’s with and what happens between them, I’ve long ceased to care.
I have to play nice with him to get through these days smoothly, and once my brother’s procedures are sorted, I can appeal for divorce again.
So I said calmly, "I believe you. But right now, I really need ti to reconsider this marriage, and when I’m ready, I’ll return to the master bedroom."
Timothy stared at for a few seconds, eventually not pushing, and nodded: "Okay."
A faint sense of relief washed over , and without saying more, I quickly grabbed my suitcase and turned towards the guest room.
...
At dinner ti, most of the dishes on the table were my favorites.
Timothy was still working in the study then, and Nanny Lowell smiled warmly at , saying: "Ma’am, it’s what the master specifically instructed. You see, there was once not a single at dish to be seen on this table when he was here. Now, he must have realized your goodness and seen through that little seductress. So, he wants to make ands."
Saying this, Nanny Lowell sighed: "The master really has changed!"
I smiled slightly, well aware of how difficult it is to change a person’s ingrained nature.
It’s never been who could change Timothy Xavier.
At this mont, Timothy had finished his work and joined us at the dining table.
The servants had already moved his chair.
He said to Nanny Lowell, "Madam has anemia, so in the future, prepare more nourishing dishes."
"Sure, sir, I’ve noted it down."
Nanny Lowell smiled again, much like a family mber watching couples in a TV show with delight.
I felt a faint lancholy in my heart; Timothy’s smiles and concerns for today seed to exceed all those in the past three years combined.
Unfortunately, late affection is sothing I no longer need.
At this mont, I suddenly noticed that Timothy had a wedding ring on his left ring finger.
This ring was sothing he had worn only once on our wedding day.
Later, when I asked him why he didn’t wear it, he said he wasn’t used to wearing things and found it restrictive.
I didn’t think much of it then; I even wore my wedding ring every day, loving to watch the diamond sparkle in the sunlight, under the lights.
Later, when I beca pregnant and bloated, the ring no longer fit.
After the child was born, he told the child had died, and since then, he was exceptionally cold to . Subconsciously, my expectations for this marriage grew less and less, and I stopped wearing that ring.
Later, I sold the tokens of my love, the ring, and jewelry he had given , and used the money to pay for my mom’s dical bills.
I truly never expected that the mont he wore this ring again would be when our marriage was nearing its end.
Then suddenly, Timothy asked , "Where’s your wedding ring? Find it and wear it after dinner. Didn’t you always like shiny things?"
"Sold it."
I said bluntly.
Timothy’s hand holding the soup spoon suddenly froze, displeasure evident in his brows, he asked coldly: "When did you sell it?"
"When I sold the tokens of love. Your mom implied that you’d no longer cover my mom’s dical bills. So, I sold everything that could be sold."
I explained clearly, and he couldn’t bla for it.
Timothy indeed had nothing more to say.
His previously sowhat gentle expression now turned cold as ice, and he ate in silence.
After finishing, he went upstairs without a word, ignoring completely.
Oddly, I felt a sense of relief; him ignoring now, minding his own business, was the most liberating thing for .
Conversely, his presence would feel like a looming threat, pressuring greatly.
After dinner, I returned to the guest room and found several missed calls on my phone, all from Victoria Monroe.
I called her back.
"Zoe, you finally called back! I urgently need help! Our company has been swamped lately, and I’m at my wit’s end. There’s an opportunity for an internal recomndation now; the trial period is only two months, and you’ll be confird if you pass. Would you like to co?"
I paused slightly.
A job would be good, that way I’ll have legitimate reasons to leave early and co back late. It’s better than staying in this villa and under Timothy’s watchful eye all day.
"Sure, I’ll go."
I agreed.
Victoria was overjoyed.
I suddenly rembered to ask, "By the way, does your company have a cafeteria?"
Victoria laughed and said, "Yes, and the cafeteria food is delicious!"
Does this an from now on, I could have all three als at the company?
I was surprised at how much I resisted Timothy, to this extent.
Eating, sleeping, even just glancing at him—I had no desire to look.
After the call with Victoria, she sent the company’s address to my WeChat.
...
Early the next morning, I got up, but Timothy woke up even earlier than .
He’s either running or at the temple in the morning.
In any case, he doesn’t sleep in.
Thus, when I was about to leave, I happened to encounter him coming back from running outside.
He frowned at , asking, "Where are you going?"
"To work."
I replied without batting an eyelid.
Timothy said calmly: "It’s only seven. Have breakfast first, then I’ll give you a ride."
"No need, there’s a cafeteria at the company."
After speaking, without caring about his reaction, I grabbed my bag and left the villa.
...
At the company, Victoria first gave a brief tour of the company structure, then took to et the chief editor.
The chief editor scanned through my resu, his eyes carrying approval: "Reporter Ellison, I’ve read those hot-news articles you wrote before, impressive work. Welco to our team!"
"Thank you."
I smiled slightly, saying, "I will adapt to the work as quickly as possible."
The chief editor nodded, "Recently, we’ve had a lot on our plate, so it might be a bit demanding."
Saying this, she handed over a set of materials, "This is your first assignnt, take a look."
I took the materials and was suddenly stunned.
It was an exclusive interview with Lawyer Julian Sinclair.
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