"Mason, I’m a little tired," Aurelia said. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Mason wrapped an arm around her. "Then let’s go back and rest, okay?"

Aurelia nodded. "I want to take my mom with me."

"Okay." Mason lifted his hand, and Gustavo Yates, who was waiting behind him, went upstairs to collect all of Isabella Parker’s photos.

Balthazar Shaw’s heart lurched in panic. "You—what are you going to do?! Mason, don’t go too far. This is my home, Isabella is my wife, you can’t take her away! You and Aurelia are already divorced, you have no right to interfere in my daughter’s affairs anymore!"

"So President Shaw still remembers that Isabella is your wife and Aurelia is your daughter." Mason’s lips curled into a mocking, icy smile as his cold gaze swept over the two people behind Balthazar. "Since President Shaw is so intent on protecting the two behind you, then just stay with them. Don’t let your greed get out of hand—wanting to keep your little affair while refusing to let go of the past. That kind of greed will burst you from the inside out."

Balthazar’s steps faltered.

With one sentence, Mason had stabbed straight into his heart.

He was selfish, clinging to the warmth he had now, yet unwilling to let go of that past relationship. He was gripping both sides in a deathlock. It looked like he was the one sacrificing the most, but in truth, he was the most selfish one of all, the one who had hurt everyone.

Gustavo Yates had already finished gathering everything.

Aurelia stood up and went to wait for Mason in the car.

Mason cast a cold glance at Jovana Shaw, and she shuddered.

"I was there today as well," he said in a low voice. "Jovana Shaw, you’re the one who lied to Aurelia and tried to hurt her, and in the end you reaped what you sowed. Yet now you run over here and turn black into white. Balthazar Shaw might be blind enough not to see it, but I, Mason Nightshade, am not that easy to bully.

If you dare lay a hand on my woman, you’d better watch yourself every time you step out the door. You never know which day you’ll end up dead."

Jovana wrapped her arms around herself, shaking her head as she cried. "N–no, it’s not... it’s not like that..."

Mason’s eyes slid over to Balthazar again, cold as ice.

Every hair on Balthazar’s body stood on end. He knew there was no way Mason hadn’t found out about what happened all those years ago. Mason definitely knew something. The only reason he hadn’t moved against him was probably because of Aurelia. But now, Aurelia had nothing to do with him anymore...

Balthazar felt a danger like he had never felt before.

Mason’s lips lifted in a cold sneer. "I haven’t even settled the old score with you yet. You don’t know to cling to this last straw and keep quiet—instead you’re so eager to die? Has the Shaw family business been too peaceful lately?"

"Mason, don’t forget who stepped in to help you when Nightshade Corporation was on its last breath," Balthazar stammered.

Mason let out a derisive laugh. "Of course I remember exactly who it was. But I also know very clearly who pushed Nightshade to that state. And your reason for ’helping’ Nightshade? I know that even better.

I haven’t met many people who are tired of living, but someone like you—who thinks his life is too long—if I don’t oblige you, how could I live with myself?"

"Ma... Mason, you..." Balthazar cut himself off halfway through, because he couldn’t think of a single thing that could threaten Mason. Mason no longer needed the Shaw Family’s support. With his capabilities, he didn’t need anyone at all.

Mason turned and walked away.

...

"Old Shaw, what did Mason mean by all that? What Nightshade Corporation, what Shaw Family? What on earth happened between you and Mason?" Clara Philips still felt uneasy; she’d always thought there was something off between those two.

Balthazar’s face was ashen. He glanced at the unconscious Jovana on the floor, then closed his eyes briefly and said, "Help Jovana back to her room first. When she wakes up, we’ll ask her clearly who did all this... to her."