No Sex for Six Years Because of Her? I'm Done novel Chapter 136

**TITLE: My Heart Waited Too Long and Choosing Freedom**
**Chapter 136: Reason for His Late Return**

As the atmosphere thickened with unspoken tension, Edward stepped forward with a sense of purpose, gracefully positioning himself behind Mason. With a respectful demeanor, he gently accepted the brocade box from Fiona’s hands, as though it were a precious artifact rather than a mere container.

Mason, feeling the weight of the evening pressing down on him, made a decisive move to exit. “It’s getting late,” he announced, his voice steady and firm. “I appreciate the Rowes’ hospitality, but I must be on my way.”

In an instant, Grace felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. Her heart raced as she glanced at the clock hanging on the wall—Ethan had yet to return home. The thought of Mason leaving now sent a jolt of panic through her; if he walked out that door, the entire deal would collapse like a house of cards.

“Please, Mason, stay just a little longer!” she implored, her voice laced with urgency. “Ethan is probably stuck in traffic. He’ll be here any minute. Why not have some snacks with us before you go?”

Mason, however, had clearly anticipated her plea. His expression remained unchanged, an impenetrable mask of resolve. “No, I have matters to attend to tonight. And business discussions shouldn’t take place over snacks anyway,” he replied, his tone unwavering.

He paused, allowing Grace a glimmer of hope. “If Ethan has the time, he can always choose another day to come to my office for a meeting.”

With that, he had effectively agreed to keep the partnership alive, a small victory for Grace that made her shoulders relax as a smile returned to her lips.

As Mason turned to leave, Grace nudged Amelia, who was standing beside her. “Amelia, go and walk your brother out,” she instructed, her voice a mixture of authority and encouragement.

Amelia nodded dutifully, her steps following Mason’s as they made their way toward the parking lot. They walked in single file along the garden path, the silence between them stretching out like a taut string, their shadows dancing together on the ground beneath the soft glow of the streetlights.

Just before they reached the car, Amelia felt a surge of frustration bubbling within her. Unable to contain herself any longer, she finally voiced the question that had been gnawing at her insides. “Why… would you still give the Rowes this business opportunity? The more power you grant them, the harder it’ll be for me to escape.”

Mason halted in his tracks, turning to face her fully. His car was parked a short distance away, the driver standing patiently by the open back door, waiting under the vast expanse of the night sky.

From his elevated stance, Mason looked down at her, the streetlamp casting deep shadows that accentuated his chiseled features. He raised an eyebrow, an air of absolute confidence radiating from him, his dark eyes glinting with a mixture of arrogance and intrigue.

“When have you ever seen me take a deal where I lose?” he replied, his voice dripping with a lazy drawl that belied the intensity beneath.

Amelia felt a flicker of understanding wash over her; she recognized that Mason was intentionally choosing to align himself with the Rowes. Yet, the reasoning behind his decision eluded her, and she felt powerless to extract an explanation from him.

In his presence, all her attempts at insight or strategy felt childishly naïve, almost laughably so.

Suppressing the whirlwind of emotions swirling in her chest, she forced a smile, her eyes meeting his sharply defined face. “Then… goodbye, Mason. Drive safely.”

Mason nodded in acknowledgment, but just as he was about to step into the car, he hesitated mid-motion. His voice softened, infused with a surprising intimacy that caught her off guard. “So how long are you planning to stay here? Don’t forget, you promised you’d come back to stay at my place.”

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