Mrs. Ellsworth was furious when she heard that, slapping her daughter on the arm. "Zoe, are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
"Mom, calm down. I haven't finished talking yet."
Mrs. Ellsworth was fuming. "What else could there be?!"
"I just paid for his company, to have someone to talk to. I'm not looking for a husband or a boyfriend. I still haven't moved on from my failed marriage."
Mrs. Ellsworth fell silent, her anger subsiding.
Her heart ached for her daughter. "How about I arrange some dates for you? We won't be picky about his background—we don't need the money. But he absolutely cannot be like that Marlon Marshall. We'll find a man of good character, someone who will love you. You can see how you get along. If you like him, you can be together. If you really don't, we'll just keep looking. You're still so young."
