I Refuse to Divorce

Chapter 17

Zoe ran all the way back to the place she rented. Mia was standing there with an umbrella, waiting for her. Zoe slowed down and asked, “What are you doing here, Mia?”

They went back home together and Mia gave her a clean towel to dry her hair, “I’m worried about you. It’s raining so heavily. Why didn’t you hail a cab?”

Zoe said lightly, “It’s hard to get one when it’s raining.”

Mia urged her to take a bath. She gave Zoe a bowl of hot chicken soup afterward. She hesitated a little before asking, “Any updates about the divorce?”

Zoe froze for a second before continuing to drink the soup and said lightly, “He wouldn’t agree to the divorce! I can’t seem to find a lawyer who’s willing to take my case too, but I’ve filed for separation. It’ll last two years. It doesn’t matter about what he thinks, I will divorce him.”

Mia left it at that. She looked at Zoe’s wounds, treated them, and felt a lump in her throat.

Zoe had been the best student in a music academy back in the day. Many famous musicians wanted to take her under their wings, including the violin virtuoso, Aiden. He had personally visited Zoe several times. Now, however, Zoe was playing violin in a supermarket.

Zoe could tell what her stepmother was thinking and soothed her, “I’ll further my studies when dad recovers and Noah is released!”

That brought a smile to Mia’s face, “I believe in you, Zoe! You’ll become a real musician one day.”

Zoe smiled too. It had been a long time since she smiled in this way. She looked so adorable with her canine tooth slightly jutting out of her mouth.

She went to her room, sat on the bed, and wiped her violin. She cherished it a lot. At that moment, her phone rang.

It was the manager from her agency. An upscale French restaurant was opening tomorrow and they wanted a performance that would make them look more elegant.

The manager was smiling. “You’re the first person that came to mind! We’ll make five thousand dollars in just four hours. It’s such a steal! I know you need money badly, Zoe. So, let’s split the profits in half! I’m such a kind soul!”

She would make two thousand and five hundred dollars in four hours. Zoe rose suddenly. She did not really like socializing under normal circumstances, but she had a rather diplomatic conversation with the manager.

The manager reminded her. “Dress up tomorrow!”

“Okay.” She hung up the phone and could not help but hold her violin again and caressed it. After that, she went to choose a suitable outfit for tomorrow’s performance. She searched for a long time before she saw the white silk blouse and long black skirt.

Zoe felt around it and was entranced. She wore it when she was Mason’s wife. It had been such a long time since she last put it on.

…

The upscale French restaurant was located on the brightly lit Essence Street in Brookesville. The waiters were holding up trays and busy serving customers.

Dressed in the long black skirt, Zoe tied her hair back and wore a pair of pearl earrings. She looked so delicate. Under the crystal chandelier, she looked graceful and exquisite when she was playing the violin.

On the other side of the glass, a black Bentley was parked right outside. Mason was smoking a cigarette. He donned a black shirt and black casual pants. It was a more casual outfit compared to his usual business look. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

He breathed out the smoke and saw it blow apart instantly in the wind. This was the first time he had seen her playing her violin. He looked at her with a hint of perverted interest as well as a sense of possessiveness he did not know he had.

Mason did not walk into the restaurant. He merely stood out there and waited. From time to time, guys would be amazed by Zoe so much that they would give her their business cards, but she rejected all of them with a faint smile.

Instead, she focused on playing her violin. He was happy with that. If Zoe would go home with him, then he could pretend nothing had happened.

It was ten o’clock and they were closing the restaurant. Zoe tucked away her violin and said her farewells to the restaurant manager. He was rather pleased with her performance.

So, he paid her without further ado. He even said he would contact her again if there was another gig for her.

Zoe thanked him and walked out of the restaurant. Mason saw it and put out his cigarette. He was about to call out to her when someone else did it before him.

“Hey, Zoe!”

She looked at where the sound came from. Cecil pulled over, wound down his window, and said, “Hop in! I’ll give you a ride home.”