Chapter 107: Chapter 107: Accompanying Her to Watch the First Snow of Winter

Eve Vaughn stiffened at first, but quickly softened, letting him hold her. She parted her lips cooperatively, allowing him to deepen the kiss.

Not until the young woman in his arms was nearly dizzy from the kiss did the man finally release her.

Mason Lawson’s dark eyes gazed intently at the girl so close to him. Her delicate nose was red, her eyes were red and swollen, and her fair, exquisite face was written all over with distress.

"Uncle, you scared me to death."

The next second, Eve Vaughn suddenly burst into uncontrollable sobs, gasping for air as she said, "I... I thought..."

She couldn’t say the rest.

A faint smile touched Mason Lawson’s lips as he finished her sentence. "You thought I was going to die, didn’t you?"

Eve Vaughn wiped away her tears and choked out, "I didn’t think I would see you tonight, Mr. Lawson. But where are you hurt? Let me see."

"It’s just a flesh wound. Don’t worry."

Mason Lawson downplayed it, not wanting her to see and worry about him.

But Eve Vaughn insisted on seeing for herself.

With no other choice, Mason Lawson took off his dark gray overcoat, revealing a thick white bandage on his shoulder.

Eve Vaughn looked at him, her heart aching. She gently touched the bandage and asked, "Does it hurt a lot?"

"It’s bearable."

Mason Lawson raised his uninjured arm and used the pad of his thumb to wipe the tear tracks from her face. He coaxed gently, "Now you believe me, right? It’s really not a serious injury. Look at you, crying your eyes out over this."

Despite this, Eve Vaughn was still terribly upset. "Aren’t you running a fever? Why aren’t you resting properly in the hospital?"

"Isn’t this the first snow of the winter?" Mason Lawson took her small hand in his, a gentle smile playing on his lips. "Or did you not want me to come and be with you?"

In that moment, Eve Vaughn felt immense happiness, happier even than Aria.

Her bright dark eyes gazed at the man as she said with great earnestness, "Mr. Lawson, I love you. I really, truly love you so much."

Mason Lawson’s fingertips brushed against her red, swollen eyelids. "Yes," he murmured, "I can feel it."

Eve Vaughn said sheepishly, "If I’d known your life wasn’t in danger, I wouldn’t have cried. You had me terrified for so long for nothing!"

Mason Lawson knew she was just being stubborn with her words; he was perfectly aware of how soft and kind her heart truly was.

He sighed softly, looking at her with a helpless fondness. "Looking at you, I bet you haven’t eaten anything tonight, have you?"

Eve Vaughn pouted. "I didn’t have an appetite earlier."

"So what do you want to eat now?" Mason Lawson ruffled her hair. "I’ll take you to get something to eat first."

Eve Vaughn thought for a moment, then said to him, "Maybe we shouldn’t go? You’re injured, and restaurant food is always spicy and harsh."

Mason Lawson kissed her for being so thoughtful and well-behaved. "Didn’t you say you like hotpot? On the first snow of winter, you must be craving it even more, right? It’ll warm you up."

Eve Vaughn’s eyes lit up. In fact, earlier that evening, when Aria said she was going for hotpot with Todd Hayes, Eve had been green with envy.

She never imagined that Mason Lawson would know this, as if he could read her mind.

But thinking of Mason Lawson’s condition, she shook her head. "Let’s eat it after your wound has healed. Let’s have something light today."

But how could Mason Lawson not have seen the anticipation in her eyes when she mentioned hotpot?

He still had the driver take them to a high-end private restaurant known for its excellent privacy and confidentiality.

The moment they entered, the hotpot was already arranged.

Given Mason Lawson’s physical condition, it was a clear-broth hotpot.

However, having just had a minor procedure, Mason had no appetite. His left shoulder was injured, but his right hand was fine, so he busied himself with cooking ingredients in the pot for Eve, encouraging her to eat more.

He realized he hadn’t had a proper look at her recently. She was much thinner than before.

After the hotpot meal, Eve had eaten until her small belly was round and full.

After all, once she learned Mason Lawson was out of danger, her appetite had returned with a vengeance, and she had eaten a lot.

Afterward, Mason Lawson took her to a mall, bought a cashmere scarf checkered with white and smoky gray, and wrapped it around her neck. He then bought a matching hat.

Only when he saw the young woman bundled up snugly, with only her delicate, porcelain doll-like face peeking out, was Mason Lawson satisfied.

He adjusted her collar. "From now on, you must wear a hat and scarf when you go out. It’s getting cold. If you catch a cold, you’ll be the one suffering."

Eve Vaughn felt his concern, which was like that of a brother or a father. She leaned softly into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his waist, not wanting to ever let go.

In the square outside the mall, a brilliant fireworks display was underway.

Beneath the colorful fireworks, amidst the flurry of snow, Eve Vaughn was held in Mason Lawson’s arms. "Mr. Lawson," she said, "I never thought I’d be able to spend the first snow of the year with you."

Her voice was small and soft.

An inexplicable heat rose in Mason Lawson, and he felt himself swell below.

Just then, Neil Kane walked over and whispered to Mason Lawson, "Mr. Lawson, it’s time to go back. The doctor said your injury needs proper rest. We’ve been out for several hours."

Mason Lawson nodded and led Eve Vaughn to the car.

Not long after, a call came from The Third Madam.

Mason Lawson frowned slightly as he answered. His mother’s worried and angry voice came through the phone. "Mason, where are you? The doctor said you weren’t in the hospital during rounds. What is going on? You just had surgery, and you’re not in the hospital!"

"Mom, don’t make a fuss. It was just a minor procedure," Mason Lawson said calmly. "I had to take care of something. I’m on my way back now."

The Third Madam was clearly unconvinced. "Take care of what? What could be more important than your health and safety? Besides, Joanna and I are here at the hospital waiting for you. We won’t leave tonight until we see you."

Mason Lawson glanced at the quiet Eve Vaughn beside him and said to his mother, "I know. I’ll be back soon."

After he hung up, Eve Vaughn’s expression clearly soured. She seemed a little tense and uneasy.

After all, she had only just learned about the relationship between Third Madam Lawson and Joanna Sullivan that afternoon, and on top of that, Mason Lawson and Joanna Sullivan had a deep history together.

Against this backdrop, Eve Vaughn’s confidence in herself dwindled.

Finally, she summoned her courage and asked, "Uncle... will you... get back together with Miss Sullivan?"

Mason Lawson was slightly taken aback, then answered flatly, "No."

Only then did Eve Vaughn breathe a sigh of relief. She looked at him with sincerity and earnestness. "I was wrong before. I know that whatever you do, Uncle, you have your own considerations. I won’t pressure you to make our relationship public anymore. But, if you ever do get back together with Miss Sullivan, can you please tell me? Because I... I don’t want a love that involves three people."

Seeing this girl, who was always so bold in her love and hate, now so humbled, Mason Lawson felt a pang of pity. He caressed her downcast cheek. "I promise you, that won’t happen. As for our relationship, now is truly not the right time to go public. Like I’ve said before, I’m not just your Mr. Lawson. You have to give me time, understand?"

Although a trace of hesitation and sadness still lingered in Eve Vaughn’s heart, she told herself that if Mason Lawson weren’t serious about her, he wouldn’t have come looking for her tonight—running a fever right after surgery—just to watch the first winter snow with her. Since she loved him, she was willing to yield and compromise for that love.

As she was about to leave, Eve Vaughn looked at Mason Lawson with reluctance. "Mr. Lawson, I won’t let my imagination run wild anymore. As long as you don’t let go of my hand, I’ll follow you forever and be your little tail!"

Mason Lawson once again kissed those clever, honeyed lips of hers.

Later, seeing how late it was getting, he knew he had to go back and finally let her out of the car.

Only after watching the young woman enter the campus and her figure disappear into the snowy night did Mason Lawson tell the driver to head back to the hospital.

On the way back, his expression was grim, no longer gentle like it had been when he was with Eve Vaughn.

...

Meanwhile, at the hospital, The Third Madam was waiting in the VIP room with Joanna Sullivan.

"That Mason, he really doesn’t take his own body seriously," The Third Madam said with displeasure. "The Lawson family has many enemies. I don’t know which faction sent people this time, trying to take the Old Master’s life. Mason was foolish, too. Why did he have to be the one to shield him when others didn’t? Thank goodness he’s lucky and didn’t injure any vital organs. Otherwise, after working so hard to gain power in the Lawson family, it would all be for nothing, and the first branch would gain the upper hand!"