Chapter 8
His face was flushed from running, his tailored suit now wrinkled and disheveled.
In the dead of winter, his body radiated cold air, though his features remained handsome and striking.
The face I once never tired of looking at now repulsed me as he held me in his arms.
Frowning, I pushed him away firmly, keeping my voice low: “Mason, get a grip. You have a wife, a career. Stop this
nonsense.”
But Mason, head clouded by adrenaline, clung to me stubbornly like an octopus, whining: “No! Ava, I don’t want Ivy, I don’t want the company, I don’t even want the family fortune anymore. Let’s run away together, somewhere my father can’t find us!”
Bystanders, mistaking us for a couple facing separation, offered unsolicited advice with knowing smiles:
“Miss, your boyfriend clearly can’t bear to part with you. Why not take him with you?”
“Yes, career is important, but so is love! Good men like this are rare these days!”
Hearing this, Mason’s ears reddened slightly as he lowered his voice: “Ava, do you know how terrified I was when you left? I thought I might never see you again…”
His romantic words would have once melted me completely.
But not now.
I responded coldly: “Aren’t you afraid of your father? With his connections, he’ll find you eventually. What then?”
Mason reacted almost instinctively, shouting: “Don’t mention him! He’s insane! He found himself a gold–digger and blamed me for it. If he hadn’t brainwashed me into believing nobody loved me for myself, only for my money, how
could I have lost you?”
With this, he pulled out a black credit card and placed it in my palm like a precious offering: “Here, I’ve wanted to give this to you for so long. Ava, I’ll hold nothing back from now on. Give me another chance to love you, please?”
I understood that Mason’s madness today was the culmination of years of suppression by his controlling father. Despite my years of trying to heal him, I’d never managed to help him overcome his inner demons or truly open his
heart to me.
Shaking my head, I sighed, tucking the black card back into his pocket before reaching for my phone to call 911.
Just then, another group entered the airport.
Mr. Huntington led the way, with Ivy close behind, followed by over a dozen black–suited security personnel eyeing Mason menacingly.
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Just a Stand In?! My Billionaire Hubby’s OTHER Wife…
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Chapter 8
At first, Mason held me tightly.
But with just one glance and a curl of his finger from his father, Mason trembled and obediently walked over to him.
Mr. Huntington flashed me an emotionless smile: “Ava, I’ve spoiled Mason too much. Don’t mind him. I hope you enjoy your trip abroad.”
I understood his implication–never come back.
Looking at Mason, now docile and head bowed as Ivy took his hand, I suddenly felt pity for him.
His rebellion was so powerless in the face of his father.
Goodbye forever, Mason.
Turning away, I passed through security and boarded the plane that would take me overseas.
As I looked out at the city where I’d lived for over thirty years, I waved farewell.
Gently stroking my suitcase, where rested my grandmother’s ashes, I could almost hear her voice whisper: “Wherever my granddaughter is, that’s my home.”
After landing, the HR manager warmly greeted me.
A private car drove me back to the company, and she showed great concern for me along the way.
Upon learning of my grandmother’s passing, she even promised to help me find the best local cemetery.
Soon we arrived at Google.
The CEO agreed to offer me a million–dollar annual salary after just a few words of conversation.
Hearing this, I was deeply shocked, but she just smiled faintly: “Ava, when I saw you at that reception three years ago, I knew you would join my team someday.”
I nodded in understanding.
The female CEO, Elena, before me had worked her way up step by step through sheer competence, enjoying high prestige in the industry. I was certain that following in her footsteps would lead me to build my own career empire someday.
So from that day on, I threw myself entirely into my work.
My next encounter with Mason came six months later.
Dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, he emerged from the conference room looking triumphant, smiling alongside my CEO, Elena.
Seeing me, Mason smiled slightly: “You look surprised, Ms. Lopez. I’m here to sign a contract–a fifty–million–dollar deal, in fact.”
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