Chapter 72


    Chapter 0072


    Madison spun around, her eyes still zing with anger, brandishing her phone before him as her


    other hand pressed against the balcony table-


    “What do you mean by this?”


    Ethan had just sobered up, with aptop and an ashtray still on the


    table.


    His mile revealed neat, white teeth, exuding a friendly demeanor: ”


    hat you saw.”


    ge? Really?


    he had the audacity to mention it?


    Having interacted with him over the past couple of days, Madison felt less intimidated. She walked


    over, crouched down, and tilted her head, “How did you untie that knot?”


    In an instant, Ethan recalled…


    How he’d desperately tried to use brute force to escape the grip of that tie;


    The near-miss of chipping a tooth while attempting to bite the tie in two;


    And…


    He’d even considered using his feet.


    Ultimately, it was his cunning use of the candle in the resting room that had burned the tie off.


    But during that process, his wrist had felt the pain.


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    “It just came undone,” he patted the chair beside him, “Sit.”


    Madison, now with fewer reservations, boldly took a seat beside him, just one chair away.


    They had just…


    Shared a kiss.


    To think they could now sit side by side, it was quite the marvel.


    Madison’s hand idly traced her earlobe.


    “Are you curious about how I broke free?” he suddenly asked.


    ooked back at him, “Hm?”


    ver mind, Madison added: “I’m not curious anymore.”


    o knew what strangé suggestions he mighte up with next?


    than didn’t persist in teasing her and became serious, “Michael called me a while ago. He said


    Lucas doesn’t agree to split the assets with you. If there’s a split, he wants to split the debts too.


    What do you think?”


    Madison’s spirit instantly cooled.


    Lucas really was bottomless.


    Just as she was about to speak, Ethan chimed in again: “If you agree, I’ll take care of it for you.”


    Madison’s eyes immediately met his.


    Why would Ethan, a businessman, help someone out of pure benevolence?


    There had to be a profit to it.


    That was something he himself had pronounced.


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    Ethan smiled, “Don’t guess wildly. I’m not trying to trick you, just


    think of it as…”


    He pondered his words: “Consider it a meddling man’s whim.”


    However, Madison shook her head: “No need. I’ll deal with it myself.


    I’ll talk to him.”


    She had proof of Lucas’s infidelity, saved on her phone. If Lucas. insisted on fighting dirty, she was


    more than willing to go all the way.


    “What, afraid of owing me, then finding it hard to exin yourself Wh


    you want to leave?” Ethan poured himself a cup of tea and one


    [00.


    ison’s breathing slowed.


    ow could he guess everything so urately?


    She indeed didn’t want to owe Ethan too much. She had no favors to return, nor any reason to


    enjoy his unwavering support.


    Between them, steam from their cups of tea fogged the air.


    Their eyes met, and Ethan finally subdued his assertiveness, adopting a gentle tone: “Lucas is sort


    of a rival in my business sphere. Helping you is like helping myself. If he loses half his assets, it


    makes it that much easier for me to suppress him. Understand?”


    “I don’t.”


    Madison, holding the small tea cup, smiled faintly, “You’re getting more and more skillful at


    bamboozling me.”


    “When have I ever bamboozled you?”


    “Lucas does run an airlinepany, but his scale of business can’tpare to yours in any way, so


    how can he be called a rival?”


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    Madison was not easily fooled.


    She could be swayed only if she willingly allowed it.


    Ethan ‘oh’-ed in response, put down his teacup, and resigned, “I just want to help you, tell me what


    to do.


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    Madison was utterly baffled.


    Ethan was blunt: “I want to get involved in your affairs, do you agree? If you don’t, I’ll assume you


    still can’t let go of Lucas.”


    yed the rogue so smoothly, didn’t he?!


    s she remained silent, Ethan’s gaze grew heavier, darker, until…


    Madison’s eyes widened: “…Ethan?”


    The man before her had reddened eyes, staring at her with a look of silent grievance and pitiful


    restraint.


    It gave Madison the ufortable sensation that she was somehow in the wrong.


    “It’s not that…” Madison swallowed, “You…”


    “Do you still miss Lucas?”


    She immediately responded: “No!”


    “Do you still like him?”


    “Even less!”


    “Then you must dislike me.”


    “How could that be?”


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    A rapid-fire trio of questions and equally swift responses seemed to raise the temperature of the


    entire balcony.


    Ethan maintained his gaze, and Madison, feeling a bit of pressure, sighed in exasperation: “Ethan,


    what are you doing?”


    “Then agree to it.”


    “Fine, fine, I agree,” Madison quickly grabbed a tissue from the table


    for him.


    Ethan took it, seemingly carelessly wiping the corner of his eye, and spoke in a hoarse voice: “Go


    rest.”


    Madison nced at him, then hurried back to her room.


    As soon as she left, a head peeked out from the end of the upstairs living room.


    Michael strolled over, whispering, “How did it go?”


    Ethan nodded: “The eye drops worked.”


    He hadn’t managed to squeeze out tears, but thankfully, he had the eye drops Michael provided. His


    eyes often felt dry from staring at theputer screen.


    And coincidentally, Madison woke up and came over.


    “You old fox, deceiving that young girl, aren’t you afraid of divine retribution?” Michael leaned


    against the balcony railing, scorn in his voice.


    Holding the tissue, Ethan retorted, “When have I deceived anyone? Go talk to Lucas’swyer. If he


    disagrees, expose his marital infidelity.


    “Aren’t you afraid Lucas will act desperately?” Michael asked.


    Ethan lit a cigarette, lounging back with azy smile: “You said it


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    yourself, he’s just a dog.”


    A dog.


    What’s there to fear?


    Michael clicked his tongue: “Madison doesn’t know you’re afraid of dogs, does she?”


    Ethan’s smile stiffened, “You’d better keep quiet, don’t ruin my image, got it?”


    Michael gritted his teeth and pointed at him, then walked away.


    But that night, Madison couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning.


    Every time she closed her eyes, it wasn’t Ethan’s kiss that haunted her, it was the words he spoke


    on the balcony.


    “Sigh.”


    She eventually got so agitated from flipping over that she sat up.


    In the middle of the night, she felt hungry.


    She quietly got up, not disturbing anyone, and headed to the kitchen.


    However, the moment she switched on the light, she locked eyes with Ethan, who was inspecting


    the expiration date of a loaf of bread.


    Madison’s heart skipped a beat, instinctively asking, “What are you doing?”


    “Checking the expiration date?”


    She was dumbfounded: “Without turning on the light?”


    “I was about to, then you came in. How’s that for timing?”


    Ethan smiled, cing the loaf back.


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    “Are you going to cook? Could you possibly prepare a meal for CEO Grant as well?”


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