Seeing Zion Fitzwilliam’s face turn dark, a hint of triumph flashed through Rosalind Jacobs’ eyes.
She knew that the higher a man’s status and authority, the more he possesses an inherent desire to claim won. A man from a distinguished family like Zion Fitzwilliam would absolutely never tolerate his wife being a fickle and promiscuous woman.
Perhaps he might get carried away for a while and marry Elara Hale, a divorced woman, but he would never forgive her after knowing Elara’s deep sches.
Rosalind Jacobs was convinced that she could definitely plant the seed of doubt in Zion Fitzwilliam’s heart this ti.
Ha, Elara, you played dirty behind my back and ruined my marriage. Do you still want to comfortably be a rich man’s wife?
However, what she imagined — Zion Fitzwilliam becoming enraged and questioning Elara relentlessly — didn’t happen. He didn’t even glance at her and directly told the driver, "Drive."
Rosalind Jacobs watched the car window slowly rise, feeling anxious suddenly. She tapped on the glass, saying, "Mr. Fitzwilliam, don’t you believe what I’m saying? I can assure you, even her marriage with you was calculated. She’s taken you for a ride!"
The car window only rose halfway and suddenly stopped.
Rosalind Jacobs felt a spark of joy, ready to embellish tales about Elara, but Zion Fitzwilliam looked at her coldly, with a slight smirk and a mocking tone, "Do you think I care if she takes for a ride? No, I wish she’d try to manipulate ."
Unfortunately, Elara couldn’t care less about scheming against her.
Upon learning his identity, her first reaction was to run.
Zion Fitzwilliam was already bothered by this, and now Rosalind Jacobs ca to stir things up. Naturally, he was not in a good mood, his voice carried so impatience, "Miss Jacobs, if you have nothing else to do, you can go back and help your brother deal with the company’s troubles. I think he needs you quite much now."
With that, the car forcibly shook off Rosalind Jacobs’ hand and sped away.
Rosalind Jacobs stood in disbelief at the spot.
What did Zion Fitzwilliam’s words an just now? Elara’s being with him wasn’t her manipulation but sothing he longed for? How could soone of his identity possibly say such things?
His last words nearly confird that the recent blows to the Jacobs Family were connected to him.
Rosalind Jacobs was filled with mixed emotions, envious of Elara, furious at Zion Fitzwilliam’s brazen actions, and worried about the family company. Compared to Elara, who is now living well despite being scorned by her family, Rosalind’s being rejected by the Grayson Family seed like a joke.
She clutched her hand tightly, biting her lower lip.
She was unwilling, really unwilling! Why should it be Elara?
In the car, Zion Fitzwilliam looked at Elara, speaking softly, "If you think she was too outrageous to you before, I can..."
Before he could finish, Elara shook her head and gently declined, "There’s no need."
She hadn’t spoken since earlier; even when Rosalind was arranging things right in front of her, she didn’t argue back.
At this mont, she clearly understood what Zion Fitzwilliam ant.
She had been aggrieved too often before, and when she cared, she felt unwilling. Now that she didn’t care anymore, whether it was Mason or Rosalind, they might do as they pleased.
Rosalind’s clumsy performance today didn’t even stir her interest in responding. Those who trust her will naturally do so, and as for those who don’t, no amount of explanation will help.
But for so reason, she seed very sure that Zion Fitzwilliam wouldn’t be swayed by Rosalind.
Is it trust in his character, or... is she falling into the trap of affection again?
Elara herself couldn’t decipher.
Zion Fitzwilliam wasn’t surprised by her answer.
If she had agreed with unwillingness, he would have had to worry.
Not caring ant she truly let go.
Moreover, she was always gentle, unlikely to do anything outrageous.
No matter, he could step in for her if needed.
Thinking about Rosalind’s malicious intent earlier, Zion Fitzwilliam felt disgusted.
He didn’t want to continue on this topic, changing the subject as he asked, "Why didn’t you worry about buying things for Grandma today?"
Whenever he took her to Grandma’s place before, she always prepared gifts in apprehension; the better Grandma treated her, the more earnest her preparations were.
Yet today, she didn’t even ntion it.
Elara was very candid, explaining, "I didn’t know your family’s identity and status before, arrogantly using my own standards to choose gifts. Thinking now, none of those things would be anything your level of people would eat or use. Now that I’m aware, sending these ordinary things would be disrespectful to the elderly."
She sighed before sincerely saying, "Honestly, I can’t afford the things used by people at your level. I don’t have access to purchase channels nor trusted individuals, so I simply didn’t prepare anything."
When she was with Mason before, she had tried to earn favor with Kylie Dalton, even being taken by Mason a few tis to buy gifts.
Each ti, Mason took her to either an obscure collection or an infamous antique or jewelry chain.
Mason knew the salespeople and friends, buying goods without fear of being cheated.
He had taken her to buy a two-million jade Buddha, one hundred fifty thousand jewelry, a seven-million collection.
All charged on her card.
These shopping experiences stunned Elara’s worldview.
Needing to face such matters again today made her hesitate repeatedly and choose to react passively.
Even if she had soone to guide her this ti, she wouldn’t be able to find suitable gifts. Even thinking of one, spending a couple of million on a seemingly insignificant gift, she simply couldn’t bear it.
Moreover, the Fitzwilliam Family was far more powerful than the Jacobs Family; things Kylie Dalton might appreciate, Grandma Fitzwilliam may not necessarily.
Zion Fitzwilliam raised a brow, surprised by her passive handling but slightly uneasy too; her appearance seed like soone giving up after reaching a dead end.
Elara’s subsequent words confird his suspicions.
She folded her hands, placed them on her lap, and hesitated for a while before speaking, "The things received from your family before, I’ll return them to you after going ho. Zion, I regard you as a friend, speaking honestly; I don’t want to face those past dilemmas again. Two people with mismatched identities can’t go to the end; drastically different views will wear down all feelings.
This ti you used Grandma Fitzwilliam as an excuse, I understand it was your expedient asure, but Grandma Fitzwilliam has been kind to , so I don’t want to hurt her feelings. I agreed to see her with you, but this is the last ti. Afterwards, you can explain to her yourself; I hope you’ll cooperate with to divorce quickly, part amicably, and not in vain... as friends."
As she spoke these words, her heart felt like it was being cut with a knife. Yet so words needed to be said in ti and situations resolved promptly; she didn’t want to struggle and bla when sinking deeper later.
Upon hearing her say this, Zion Fitzwilliam felt sothing settling in his heart that had been hanging there.
The feeling was probably having a heart suspended that finally died; it’s certain now, she did dislike his identity, she indeed planned to leave.
But he was never one to give up easily, especially when facing the person he had thought about and loved for over ten years.
He went to extre lengths to deceive her into staying by his side, tricked her into marriage, all so that when the truth ca out, he’d have enough leverage to keep her; in other words, it was all for today.
He thanked the governnt for setting up a divorce cooling-off period; as long as he could stall, this marriage wouldn’t have a chance to end.
"If I say now that I’ll love you forever, you probably won’t believe it," Zion Fitzwilliam looked softly at the woman beside him and spoke, "but I can sign a prenuptial agreent with you."
Elara’s heart trembled slightly at the words prenuptial agreent.
For her, those words didn’t bring a positive experience.
Once, to be with Mason Jacobs, she signed a prenuptial agreent at Kylie Dalton’s request, everything of Mason Jacobs had nothing to do with her, even during the marriage, Mason’s annual inco was only one dollar, and she accepted it.
She did it for love and plunged right in.
Now... Zion Fitzwilliam also wanted her to sign this thing.
Indeed, the ans of wealthy people to avoid risks are pretty much the sa.
She was extrely grateful she hadn’t gotten lost in the way; this ti, she had the courage and rationale to refuse.
"I don’t..." she began but was interrupted by Zion Fitzwilliam.
He looked at her, his gaze candid, "The prenuptial agreent can specify that all my assets, including those companies I wholly own, the real estate investnts, cash, stocks, dividends, etc., be transferred to your na.
If during the marriage, I cheat, even emotionally cheat, or conduct dostic violence including cold violence, etc., which is detrintal to you, and we reach the point of divorce, I will leave the marriage with nothing.
Isn’t it said that controlling a man’s money is like controlling a man’s life? If even these can’t provide you with a sense of security, I can also let you manage the companies; I’ll take a back seat."
Elara couldn’t help but widen her eyes, opened her mouth, yet didn’t know what to say.
Even though his words were Mandarin, she found herself unable to comprehend how abstract they seed.
His version of a prenuptial agreent was actually to transfer all assets to her na? If one day divorced, he would leave with nothing?
How could this possibly be real?
Perhaps Elara’s doubt was too apparent, Zion Fitzwilliam chuckled quietly, looking at her with sincere eyes, "I’m just showing you my sincerity, willing to give you everything, that’s my honesty. In fact, when we got married, I’d already altered part of my assets, Elara, your current net worth..."
He paused, seemingly calculating, "Conservatively estimated, it’s already over five billion."
Elara was startled and automatically scooted backward, frowned, and said, "Are you kidding ?"
Her total savings didn’t exceed two million, if she had five billion, how could she not know?
"Most are real estate; the rental inco has a special card I’ve allocated to store for you, under an account opened in your na. There’s also stock and dividend inco that’s ongoing; I’ve set aside another card for it, I’ll give it to you another day."
Elara still found it hard to digest this information; are wealthy people so capricious?
It didn’t align with her understanding of wealthy people.
She opened her mouth and, with so difficulty, asked, "Why are you doing this?"
Zion Fitzwilliam clasped his hands, leaned slightly forward, and after a few seconds of silence, said, "Although I’m certain of my feelings for you and sure I’ll protect you, life is unpredictable, one day suddenly I am gone, I’m afraid you’ll end up like before, in a difficult situation again, I don’t want there to be a day when you’re left with no way out."
Elara looked at him blankly, montarily forgetting to respond.
A sentence suddenly flashed through her mind.
Love deeply, and plan deeply.
At this mont, she truly felt Zion Fitzwilliam’s sincere love for her.
Also wealthy, Mason Jacobs feared she’d split his assets, guarding against her both before and after their marriage. Zion Fitzwilliam had transferred part of his wealth to her na after marriage, simply worried that one day he couldn’t protect her anymore; a hope that she’d have sothing to rely on.
Elara’s feelings were complicated; she was very touched, very happy, and wanted to cry.
But also very calm.
"Thank you for all you’ve done for ," she said softly, "You never ntioned before; I didn’t know you did so much for ."
Zion Fitzwilliam hesitated; was transferring part of his asset for her considered doing so much?
Yet he didn’t explain, just said, "Can we talk now? Are there any concerns about being with ? We can find ways to resolve them together."
"Those assets you transferred to my na, transfer them back," Elara smiled bitterly, "You know, I don’t like using money to prove everything; as for money, having enough is fine, I have the ability to earn; I’m satisfied with ordinary days."
She didn’t answer Zion Fitzwilliam’s question, and as he was about to further inquire, the car slowly stopped.
They arrived at Grandma Fitzwilliam’s residential area.
Upon getting out of the car, Elara looked at the shabby buildings and surrounding environnt, still finding them familiar, the previous explanations from Zion Fitzwilliam led to so doubt, "Was this where you lived as a child?"
According to him, they were childhood friends, though she’d almost forgotten it all; if they lived so close growing up, her ho should have been around here too.
But since she rembered, their family always lived in her father’s workplace housing, several streets away from here.
Zion Fitzwilliam gave her a deep look, nodded, "Yes, we lived here before."
Elara asked puzzled, "My family has always been a few streets away; I don’t rember ever moving."
Zion Fitzwilliam’s hand tightened at his side, after a mont he said, "Maybe you moved, but you forgot."
Elara didn’t notice his oddness; she decided to ask her father when she returned.
With one leading, one following, they stepped into the shabby staircase and soon arrived at the door.
Zion Fitzwilliam knocked, shortly after, Grandma Fitzwilliam opened the door, automatically ignoring the grandson that was right there, happily looking at Elara, "Elara, co in quickly, see the treasures grandma kept for you!"
She pulled Elara inside, not even bothering a glance for Zion Fitzwilliam standing by the entrance.
Zion Fitzwilliam was used to it long ago, helplessly shook his head, closed the door, and walked inside.
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