Chapter 93


    "Ethan, don''t!" Ines clutched onto his clothes tightly.


    "Alright." Ethan let go of Ines, only to hug her close from behind, as if trying to make her a part of


    him.


    Ines was slightly touched. Sometimes Ethan seemed so resolute, like now, even with his strong


    physical reaction, he could still calmly hold her and sleep. But at times, this man was just a


    troublemaker, one that she couldn''t handle if provoked.


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    Ethan''srge hand traced circles on her stomach, whispering, "Your girlfriends are all urging you to


    have kids, do you think we already have one on the way?"


    Ines blinked, momentarily startled by his statement. Their rtionship had been progressing for


    some time, and while they had utilized contraception in the initial stages, no preventative measures


    had been implemented ofte. Her question emerged somewhat tremulously, "Are you suggesting


    we should have a baby now?"


    Ethan chuckled, "I''m almost 33, by the time the child is born I might be 34 or 35, you tell me if I''m in


    a rush?"


    Ines frowned slightly, "If you''re going to be a father at 35, it does seem a bit old."


    "So, we both need to try harder."


    They hugged each other, then Ethan handed Ines her phone, "Your phone''s been ringing non-stop


    when you were showering, lots of messages. Check if there''s anything important."


    Ines checked her phone, she had received a lot of congrattory messages from her current and


    former colleagues from B City, and of course, a text from Aaron. Also, a recent phone call from


    Phoebe. She knew Phoebe must have spilled the beans to Ethan.


    "Your friend thought you picked up the phone, she started talking before I could say anything,"


    Ethan exined.


    "Mmm." Ines nodded, knowing Phoebe''s character better than anyone else. No wonder Ethan knew


    about her past crush on him.


    Ines replied to the messages one by one. Ethan put her phone on the bedside table and asked her


    to get some sleep early as there was something important tomorrow.


    Ines was very tired and didn''t ask much about it.


    Early next morning, Ines was woken up by Ethan. Ethan was already dressed, in a ck suit, not


    his usual style, looking rather serious.


    Ines put on the clothes Ethan had prepared for her. When they went downstairs, everyone was


    already there, all dressed in dark colors, including Phillip.


    It was only when they arrived at the cemetery that Ines found out they were visiting Ethan''s older


    brother, the eldest son of the Meyer family, Beasley Meyer. Today was his birthday, he was a soldier


    who died in a car ident on a mission. He was only 29 when he passed away, very young.


    The sky was filled with drizzling rain, everyone holding an umbre.


    Ines looked at the young face in the photo, who looked a lot like Ethan, the brothers were only a


    little over a year apart. If not for the people who knew them well, they might have mistaken one for


    the other.


    She used to wonder why, for a military family like the Meyer''s, there was no one serving in the


    military in Ethan''s generation. Turns out there was.


    Five years had passed, and the Meyer family had gradually moved on from the pain. They simply


    paid their respects to Beasley and then went home.


    On the way back, Ethan seemed a bit down. Ines didn''t ask what happened, she just held onto his


    arm tightly.


    "Izzy, I think maybe I should have been a soldier. If I had been the one to enlist, I might be the one


    lying in the grave now."


    Ines clung more firmly to his arm, an unspoken tension constricting her chest. Yet, she found herself


    at a loss for words. Given the close age range of the Meyer siblings, she surmised that their bond


    must have been quite profound. Ethan''s speech was punctuated with pauses, and through his


    scattered disclosures, Ines learned about Phillip''s unusual method of determining their futures—


    through a lottery system. Beasley, aware of Ethan''s proclivity for business, manipted the draw by


    marking both chits with ''business''. Thus, irrespective of Ethan''s draw, he was destined for his


    preferred path. Once one individual''s fate was sealed, there was no requirement for the other to


    examine the remaining chit.


    "Ethan, it''s not your fault. It was your brother''s choice, he won''t me you." Ines didn''t know how to


    comfort him, and only managed to say this after a while.


    Ethan pulled a slight smile, nodding, "I know. I just had some things pent up for too long, and


    couldn''t help saying them now. Don''t worry about me."


    The Meyer household was a bit somber in the morning, but by the afternoon, it seemed everyone


    had gotten used to this kind of day and the mood gradually improved.


    Erica suggested ying poker at home. Erica''s suggestion was unanimously approved by the


    women. Ashley kept losing round after round, and she cried out desperately, "Grandpa, I need your


    help!"


    Phillip, hearing his granddaughter''s cry for help, rushed over. He confidently said, "Dear


    granddaughter, who dares to bully you? I''ll beat them till they''re down!"


    Ines hadn''t yed much poker before, so she was a novice. But she was incredibly lucky, and with


    Ethan giving her tips on the side, she won a good amount of money. In the end, Ashley couldn''t


    stand it anymore and cried out, "I quit, all my pocket money is gone! Grandpa, why do you always


    make me lose?"


    Ashleyined to Phillip, who didn''t back down, "You, howe your luck is so bad? There''s


    nothing I can do about it!"


    Ashley mmed the table, looking very serious, "I''ve decided, I''m adding a new requirement to my


    dating standards, must be good at poker." Pointing at everyone present, "Don''t get smug, I''ll get my


    revenge one day."


    Everyoneughed at her antics, Phillip rolled his eyes at her, "Useless, what''s so great about being


    good at poker? That''s for gamblers."


    "Haha, grandpa, are you saying sis-inw is a gambler?"


    Ines, caught in the crossfire, looked at Phillip with a pitiful expression, "Grandpa, I''m not a gambler."


    "No worries, as long as that rascal Ethan doesn''t mind," the old man patted Ines on the shoulder.


    Ines


    She was speechless.


    "Darling, rest assured, I don''t mind at all," Ethan immediately pledged his devotion. Ines couldn''t


    help but smile, she liked this warm and cozy family atmosphere.