《The Substitute Wife: My Poor Husband Is A Billionaire》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Chapter 1: Cheating On Her ¡°I have given myself to you. Why don¡¯t you break up with J?¡± the woman asked in a seductive, breathless voice. She was half-naked and hovering above a man. ¡°Don¡¯t mention her name when we are making out.¡± The man was so excited that he squeezed the woman¡¯s breasts and moaned in pleasure. The woman seemed dissatisfied as she didn¡¯t get the answer she wanted. ¡°No way! She is an adopted daughter ¡ª even our dog holds a more important position in our family than she does. What¡¯s so good about her?¡± The man didn¡¯t say anything. He gripped the woman¡¯s waist and thrust harder, which made her scream and moan his name. J Lind stood in front of the door, listening to everything in the room. Her tired eyes turned cold as she understood what was going on. She had just returned from the hospital. Hannah, who had raised J ever since she was a child, was diagnosed with advanced liver cirrhosis three months ago. The woman needed a liver transnt right away. J had to gather the money to pay the medical expenses. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. To make her situation worse, her younger sister hooked up with her boyfriend. J felt her life was falling apart. ¡°Did you hear me? You have to tell me your decision tonight. It¡¯s either her or me. The choice is yours.¡± Jocelyn Lind pounded on Steve Carter¡¯s chest, desperate to hear his answer. J kicked the door open and red at the couple. ¡°Let me save you the trouble. He is just a man. You can have him if you want.¡± Although J sounded nonchnt, her heart broke to watch her boyfriend cheat on her with her sister. Steve was J¡¯s college ssmate. He was a handsome man from a wealthy family. He had chased after J for three years. He had confessed his love to her again right before their graduation. It was on the yground of their college. Many people were around, and almost all the students had witnessed the romantic scene. The crowd cheered, and J finally agreed to be his girlfriend. The pain of betrayal crushed her. Looking at the two people in front of her, J clenched her fists, her nails sinking into her flesh. Steve hurriedly pushed Jocelyn away, put on his pants, and got out of the bed. Jocelyn almost fell down. J¡¯s words ignited her anger. She had put a lot of effort into hooking up with a wealthy, handsome man like Steve. J had won his heart without doing anything, which infuriated Jocelyn. After all, J was just an adoptive daughter. ¡°What the hell are you saying? You sound like you dumped Steve. It¡¯s Steve who dumped you, bitch!¡± Jocelyn sneered as she pulled the quilt closer to her body. Then, she looked at Steve and asked, ¡°Steve, what did you say to me just now? Tell that to J!¡± Steve had slept with Jocelyn purely out of impulse. The woman had seduced him, and he lost control of himself. He kneeled and grabbed J¡¯s wrist. ¡°J, please forgive me. I didn¡¯t know what I was thinking.¡± Although tears filled her eyes, J looked at him with disgust. Once J set her mind to something, no one could change it. She withdrew her hand from Steve¡¯s hold. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Steve. I don¡¯t want anything that¡¯s tainted by Jocelyn. You two are a perfect match. Let¡¯s break up.¡± Jocelyn was taken aback. Steve was on the verge of a breakdown, but there was not even a trace of sadness on J¡¯s face. Anger surged through her veins because she didn¡¯t achieve what she had wanted. J didn¡¯t have the time to talk to them. Jocelyn had always beenpeting with her ever since they were kids and she enjoyed taking away whatever belonged to J. She used to snatch J¡¯s toys. Now that they had grown up, she snatched her boyfriend as well. J was used to it. She was only worried about Hannah¡¯s medical expenses now. Just as she was about to leave, she heard the cking of footsteps from the corridor. ¡°It¡¯ste at night. What¡¯s with all the noise?¡± J¡¯s adopted parents, Bernie Lind and Fiona Duncan, rushed over after hearing themotion. Bernie walked into the room first. His eyes widened in horror when he saw his daughter sitting on the bed wearing nothing ¡ª except for the quilt wrapped around her. ¡°What the hell are you doing? You are going to get married soon. What are you doing with another man?¡± he bellowed. Jocelyn hugged herself and looked at Bernie with bloodshot eyes. She gritted her teeth to suppress her rage. The Lester family and the Lind family had an agreement to get their kids married when they grew up. Her fiance was an illegitimate child, and the Lester family had driven him out of the house a long time ago. He was poor and didn¡¯t even have a decent job. He was just an idler who wasted his time doing nothing. Jocelyn didn¡¯t want to marry him. She felt she deserved someone better than him. ¡°I¡¯m pregnant!¡± Jocelyn said, pointing at Steve. ¡°I am pregnant with his child. So I can¡¯t marry anyone else. You better cancel the wedding.¡± Steve was dumbfounded. He had slept with Jocelyn only a few times. How could she get pregnant? ¡°What nonsense! You must marry into the Lester family!¡± Bernie was fuming with rage. He wanted to p Jocelyn for acting stupid. After all, the wedding was a matter of his prestige. What could he tell the Lester family if they asked the reason for calling off the wedding? Fiona protectively stood in front of her daughter. She was protective of Jocelyn and seldom scolded her. Her husband was seething mad, and she couldn¡¯t watch him shout at Jocelyn. ¡°Bernie, why are you mad at Jocelyn?¡± Fiona cried. ¡°J is also a daughter of the Lind family. She can also marry into the Lester family.¡± Bernie and Fiona didn¡¯t have any child for the first few years after they got married. Due to the pressure of the elders of the Lind family, they had to adopt J. Yearster, Fiona finally got pregnant and gave birth to Jocelyn. The whole thing only made her hate J even more. J¡¯s existence was proof of her infertility. The mere sight of her adopted daughter irked Fiona. After giving birth to Jocelyn, Fiona became partial toward her daughter and despised J. Later, as time went by, J grew up to be a better woman than her daughter in every aspect. That seemed to intensify her hatred for J even more. Fiona¡¯s words enraged J. ¡°You had agreed to get Jocelyn married into the Lester family, not me,¡± she roared. ¡°Why are you nning to get me married just because your sweet daughter has been banging someone?¡± ¡°We have raised you all these years. It¡¯s time for you to repay our kindness, J,¡± Fiona said in a low voice, her eyes twinkling with cunningness. ¡°Don¡¯t you want that maid to have the surgery? We will pay for the medical expenses as long as you marry into the Lester family in ce of Jocelyn.¡± Acent smile emerged on Jocelyn¡¯s face. She felt J and the illegitimate son of the Lester family would be perfect for each other. J gritted her teeth as Fiona¡¯s words infuriated her. However, the doctor¡¯s words shed in her mind. Hannah didn¡¯t have much time left. J had just graduated and couldn¡¯t afford to pay for Hannah¡¯s treatment. Although Bernie and Fiona adopted J, they never really cared about her. Hannah, the maid of the Lind family, raised J. Hannah was like the grandmother J never had. She couldn¡¯t leave her alone. Noticing her hesitation, Fiona walked up to J. ¡°You will have to marry someone in the future. Why don¡¯t you help us by marrying the son of the Lester family? I will give you the money as soon as you get married.¡± J¡¯s feet trembled as everyone in the room stared at her. She needed money to pay Hannah¡¯s medical fee. Tears finally streamed down her cheeks. She lowered her head and replied in a low voice. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll marry him.¡± Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Chapter 2 The Wedding A few dayster, J arrived at a small church in the suburbs, wearing a simple white slip dress. She was getting married today.She was going to marry a man she had never seen before.She didn¡¯t bother renting a wedding dress because she didn¡¯t want to pay for it. J had to pay the medical fees for Hannah¡¯s surgery.She bought some white baby¡¯s-breath in a flower shop and asked the seller to give her an extra white silk ribbon to braid her hair. J looked pure and innocent. It was time for the wedding, but the groom hadn¡¯t arrived yet. The wedding venue was almost empty ¡ª only a few people had arrived. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He¡¯s probably stuck in traffic. Let¡¯s wait a little longer,¡± Bernieforted J. J¡¯s breathing faltered. She had heard something about the man she was going to marry. His name was Ethan Lester. The man didn¡¯t have a decent job and was an idler who wasted his time hanging out with punks from the streets all the time. The thought of marrying someone like him made J stomach churn with anxiety, but she had no choice. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the groom and his family arrived yet?¡± Fiona frowned and nced at the handful of people in the church. She was dressed in a gorgeous, soft purple dress. The subtle makeup entuated her features ¡ª she looked breathtaking It seemed like the Lester family didn¡¯t value the marriage. However, J wasn¡¯t bothered. She only cared about Hannah¡¯s medical expenses. J leaned closer to Fiona and whispered, ¡°Will you give me the money as soon as the wedding is over?¡± She had promised her adoptive parents to trade her marriage for money to save Hannah¡¯s life. ¡°We are family. Why do you keep talking about money all the time? Don¡¯t worry. I will give you the money as promised. Don¡¯t keep asking about it.¡± Regardless of how gentle Fiona tried to sound, impatience was evident in her voice. Meanwhile, Jocelyn also arrived. She walked into the church in a sshy outfit and expensive jewelry, holding her boyfriend¡¯s arm. She strutted toward Bernie and Fiona with a smug smile. She had stolen J¡¯s wealthy boyfriend, leaving her to marry the worthless illegitimate child of the Lester family. Steve¡¯s brows furrowed when he saw J in her wedding dress. A ball of guilt settled in the pit of his stomach. It was all his fault. A moment¡¯s passion had ended his rtionship with the love of his life. J was going to marry someone else. He didn¡¯t intend to attend the wedding. Jocelyn had practically dragged him to the church. However, he couldn¡¯t refuse after learning that Jocelyn was pregnant with his child. Steve¡¯s eyes had been fixed on J ever since he arrived at the church. Jocelyn couldn¡¯t bear to watch him gape at the woman she despised. Nothing had changed even after all these years. J managed to captivate everyone with her charm. People always paid attention to her instead of Jocelyn. Jealousy reared its ugly head. Jocelyn grew furious and began yelling at Steve, irrespective of the asion. ¡°Believe it or not, I¡¯ll gouge your eyes out. What the hell is so good about that bitch? Why are you staring at her like that?¡± Then, she turned and sneered. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the bridegroom arrived yet? The man iste for his own wedding. How could he be reliable? His family hasn¡¯t bothered toe either. It looks like they don¡¯t care about that bastard.¡± Jocelyn was a princess at home. No one would me her for making such rudements. However, they were in a public ce, and she was the bride¡¯s sister. Her rude, presumptuous behavior had be the topic of everyone¡¯s gossip. J gently lifted her hemline and stepped forward. J had tolerated Jocelyn regardless of how arrogant and heartless she had been in the past. However, she couldn¡¯t put up with her nonsense anymore. ¡°Jocelyn, don¡¯t call anyone a bastard! You¡¯re in a church now. Mind yournguage! Don¡¯t you have basic manners?¡± Jocelyn was taken aback. She had never seen J like this ¡ª the woman had always been tolerant. Hearing that, the church fell silent. Just then, the gate creaked open. A tall man stepped inside. The dazzling sunlight seemed to outline his slender frame. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. As the church gate closed again, the man looked up. His deep eyes swept across the crowd, his lips pursed into a thin line. He buttoned up his suit and smoothed his coat as if he hade here in a hurry. The sunlight cast a soft glow on his handsome face. It looked like God had put all effort into creating him. All eyes were on him as if he had cast a spell on everyone in the church. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Chapter 3 A Watch Worth Millions Everyone looked at the man in awe. He seemed to exude an effortless charm. Jocelyn¡¯s eyes lit up. She guessed the handsome man would be one of Ethan¡¯s two elder brothers. The Lester family was one of the most powerful families in the city. After all, Ethan was an illegitimate son ¡ª Jocelyn felt he would never stand a chance against the noble members of the family. The man before her looked charming and regal, so she thought he must be the legal heir of the family. His good looks and charm both surprised and excited her. She thought Steve was a handsome man, butpared with the man in front of her, Steve undeniably became the bottom-of-the-barrel type. Jocelyn walked forward and greeted the man. ¡°Are you Ethan¡¯s brother?¡± Merely looking him in the eye made her blush. ¡°Well, the groom¡¯s family is yet toe. Please take a seat. The wedding won¡¯t commence for a while.¡± She even wanted to ask for his phone number, but because of the asion, she did not dare be so bold. The man didn¡¯t bat an eyelid at her. He ignored her and went straight to J. Jocelyn¡¯s face burned with embarrassment. The shyness and excitement vanished in an instant. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. She angrily returned to her seat. Her eyes widened in horror when she saw the handsome man take position beside J. That was when it dawned on her: he was none other than the bridegroom, Ethan. Jocelyn shook her head in disbelief. ¡®How could Ethan look this handsome?¡¯ She leaned over and whispered in Fiona¡¯s ear, ¡°Mom, why didn¡¯t you find a photo of Ethan for me? If I had known what he looked like, I wouldn¡¯t have asked J to marry him in ce of me.¡± Fiona closed her eyes and blew out a loud breath, shaking her head in disapproval. Then, she turned and cast a reproachful look at her daughter. ¡°You are still young. When you grow up, you will know that a man¡¯s appearance is the least important thing. Ethan is a loser ¡ª he doesn¡¯t even have a decent job. He is a useless idiot who doesn¡¯t have a life. He is the perfect match for J. The two will remain outcasts forever.¡± Jocelyn didn¡¯t bother retorting. However, she hated the fact that J was going to marry a handsome man. He looked like a movie star. Ethan walked to J and studied her face. ¡°I¡¯mte because I had to deal with personal affairs,¡± he said tly, scratching his brows. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± J didn¡¯t mind. She was d to know that Ethan was a good-looking man. There was at least something good about him. Just as she turned, her gaze settled on the Patek Philippe watch on his wrist that was dazzling under the sunlight. Although she wasn¡¯t rich, she had seen enough of the world to know the value of the watch. She recognized at a nce that the watch was worth at least a million dors. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. Everyone had told her that Ethan was a poor lowly man. That was why they wanted J to marry him in the first ce. How could he afford such an expensive watch then? Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Do You Want To Take A Shower First Seeing the frown on J¡¯s face, Ethan followed her gaze and saw his watch. Momentster, he realized what she was thinking. ¡°This is a knock-off that I borrowed from my friend,¡± he whispered into her ear. ¡°I usually wear it to look cool but didn¡¯t expect you¡¯d notice it soon.¡± Ethan removed the watch and put it into his pocket. ¡°It looks real.¡± J smiled and stepped back, covering her ming ears. Ethan was leaning closer, and she could feel his breath blowing in her ear as he spoke. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. As J thought about it, she realized it was normal for a man like Ethan to have a street friend who sold fakes. She breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment, J had freaked out, thinking Ethan had done something illegal to make a fortune. Ethan knitted his brows. He had heard that the daughter of the Lind family had several boyfriends and hung out with different men all the time. The girl¡¯s shyness seemed to surprise him. ¡°The bridegroom is here. Why hasn¡¯t the wedding started yet?¡± asked a sweet voice of a woman. Jocelyn grinned and walked forward, holding her boyfriend¡¯s arm. ¡°Since the bridegroom is here, let me introduce my boyfriend to you,¡± she said, deliberately raising her voice a decibel higher. ¡°This is Steve Carter, the eldest son of the Carter family. We are family. Steve and I can help you in the future.¡± Steve hurriedly lowered his head. It was almost as though he was too ashamed to meet J¡¯s gaze. When J saw Steve arrive with Jocelyn, she felt nothing. So she pretended that it was their first time to meet andmented lightly, ¡°Nice introduction, Jocelyn. But your current boyfriend is different from the one I sawst week. I wonder if you¡¯re going to be with him or not next week.¡± Steve¡¯s feigned smile instantly went stiff. Smiling embarrassedly, Jocelyn then shot J a murderous re and quickly changed the subject. ¡°Anyway, if you¡¯d like, I can refer Ethan to the Carter family¡¯spany. I¡¯m sure they¡¯d be willing to take him in even if he doesn¡¯t know any technical skills. Maybe he can do the chores like mopping the floor and cleaning the toilet, that kind of thing. After all, it¡¯s better to have a real job than roaming around idly after getting married.¡± J stole a nervous nce at Ethan. Unexpectedly, he didn¡¯t seem to mind such insulting words. He simply broke into a warm smile and waved his hand dismissively. ¡°No, thanks. I like roaming around outside.¡± Without getting the reaction she expected, Jocelyn¡¯s face fell and she returned to her seat sulkily, dragging Steve along with her. Soon, the priest arrived and hastily finished the wedding. Ethan took J back to a small house in the suburb. The ce was small, old, and shabby, but at least they had a house to return to. The house looked empty and hoarded only basic necessities. She felt they were recent additions simply for the wedding. Ethan was a tall, muscr man; the narrow space somehow looked smaller after he came in. It seemed obvious that he barely made ends meet. ¡°This is my home. Make do with it.¡± Ethan shrugged casually. He didn¡¯t seem embarrassed in the slightest. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a small house, yet it looks tidy. It can amodate the two of us.¡± J was honest. Although the house looked shabby, Ethan had maintained it well. The yard looked neat, and the house looked spotless. However, it didn¡¯t feel like a home ¡ª it was too empty; perhaps because Ethan seldom stayed there. J looked around. She saw that Ethan had taken off his suit jacket and put it on a wooden chair. He was unbuttoning his white shirt. She trailed her gaze across his body and saw the toned muscles under his shirt. It looked like he had been working out regrly. Sensing her gaze, Ethan turned his head and met J¡¯s anxious eyes. He stopped and walked toward her. ¡°You¡¯ve been busy all day. Do you want to shower first?¡± he asked intently. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Chapter 5 You¡¯re Not Jocelyn ¡°You better take a shower first. I can wait.¡± J subconsciously stepped back as if guarding herself against an enemy. She looked like a trapped bird, struggling hard to hide her panic. She didn¡¯t know how to face her so-called husband. The man stood at the table and looked at J. She looked like a deer caught in headlights. Ethan looked at her and chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. I won¡¯t eat you. I need to discuss something with you.¡± All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. J crossed her arms over her chest and hesitantly walked over to him. She didn¡¯t want to be associated with this man in any way. Everything was happening too fast. She was married to a man she had just met at her wedding. ¡°What is it?¡± Ethan picked up a wooden chair with one hand and put it in front of her. ¡°Sit down, please.¡± Then, he dragged his chair closer to Janice and sat down. ¡°I don¡¯t like beating around the bush. I know you¡¯re unwilling to marry me.¡± ¡®Is it that obvious?¡¯ thought J. ¡°A rtionship can¡¯t be achieved overnight. It needs time ¡ª we need to get to know each other first,¡± she exined, trying to hide her embarrassment. However, after saying so, she felt her exnation seemed unnecessary. Ethan was aware of his position and what people thought of him. He knew Jocelyn wouldn¡¯t want to marry an illegitimate person like him. Ethan knitted his brows and looked J up and down. The woman had been nervous right from the beginning. She had been biting her lower lip, her gaze nervously roaming around everywhere. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not interested in this marriage either. We can be a married couple to the outside world, but let¡¯s stay out of each other¡¯s affairs. That way, we can avoid trouble and live in harmony. I spend most of the time outside and seldome home. I want to have the freedom to do whatever I want. The same goes for you. I will not control or interfere in your business.¡± Then, he stood up and picked up the suit jacket from the chair. Then, as if remembering something, Ethan bent over and grabbed the armrests of the chair, trapping J between his arms. ¡°Watching a man change his clothes isn¡¯t right. In case, you want me to fulfill your sexual desires, I will be more than happy to satisfy you as a husband.¡± The smell ofundry detergent mingling with his scent wafted in the air, making J¡¯s scalp prickle. ¡°No need,¡± she hissed through her teeth, trying not to show any weakness. Ethan¡¯s face darkened. He nced at J¡¯s stomach for a split second and warned, ¡°Although we are just a nominal couple, there is one thing I want you to keep in mind.¡± He took a deep breath and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to find out that my wife is pregnant with another man¡¯s child one day.¡± Loyalty was the most important virtue for Ethan. He had heard that Jocelyn changed men like changing clothes. ¡°I will abide by my duty as a wife as long as we are married,¡± J answered firmly. ¡°I hope you keep your word and don¡¯t interfere with my life.¡± The man¡¯s yful smile faded a little. He straightened up and stepped back from J. ¡°You¡¯re not Jocelyn Lind, are you?¡± he asked, arching an eyebrow. Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Only One Bed J was startled. ¡°If I¡¯m not Jocelyn Lind, who else do you think I am? It¡¯s such ame question,¡± she said jokingly. J had married Ethan as Jocelyn Lind. If she messed up the n, Fiona would not give her the money. Hannah was still at the hospital, waiting for the money to get her surgery done. Ethan frowned ¡ª something seemed out of ce. Someone who had previously investigated the daughter of the Lind family told him that Jocelyn was an arrogant, willful, vain, brainless woman who liked seducing wealthy men for personal gain. Therefore, he pretended to be a penniless loser in front of J, thinking she was Jocelyn so that she would take the initiative to ask for a divorce because the woman despised the poor. However, the woman in front of him seemed surprisingly epting of his financial position, as well as his humble abode. Besides, her nervousness seemed apparent even though she tried her best to remain calm. Ethan felt the woman in front of her was kind and sweet. She seemed interesting to him. But it didn¡¯t matter whether she was the real Jocelyn or not. He married Jocelyn only because this was his mother¡¯sst wish on her deathbed. All he had to do was marry her. ¡°It was a casual question. Forget about it.¡± Ethan picked up the suit jacket and stepped back. ¡°I have finished saying what I want to say. Do you have anything else to add?¡± J felt relieved. ¡°No.¡± She shook her head and looked around. There was only one bedroom and a tiny sofa in the living room. ¡®Do I have to sleep on the same bed with Ethan?¡¯ she thought. Ethan turned around and was about to go to the bathroom when he saw the concern in her eyes. He remembered there was only one bed in the house. The house had been unupied for a long time; he only asked the servants to clean it every month. ¡°There¡¯s only one bed here. I¡¯ll sleep on the sofa tonight. You can sleep in the bedroom,¡± Ethan said, casually unbuttoning his cuffs. J looked at him in surprise. ¡®Does he know how to read people¡¯s minds? How does he know what I was thinking?¡¯ she thought. Although J wanted him to sleep in the living room and was overjoyed that he offered before she asked, she pretended to be embarrassed. ¡°Is that okay? It is our wedding night. Don¡¯t you think it is inappropriate for you to sleep on the sofa? Besides, you are big and tall. How can you sleep comfortably on the small sofa?¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°It is indeed ufortable. But there is only one bed here. If I want to sleepfortably, I might have to sleep here on the same bed with you.¡± Ethan lowered his head and leaned closer to her. His eyes darkened as their gaze met. ¡°I¡¯ll join you after taking a shower,¡± he whispered into her ear. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯ve misunderstood me. I didn¡¯t mean that.¡± J¡¯s eyes widened. She braced herself as a blush med her cheeks. She lowered her eyes, trying to escape. But there was nowhere to hide. She was forced to retreat to the wooden table. Seeing that she was about to hit the corner of the table, Ethan reached out and held her tightly in his arms. ¡°Then, what did you mean?¡± Ethan asked, cocking his head to the side with a yful glint in his eyes. J blinked at him, looking like a trapped animal. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She could feel Ethan¡¯s warm breath blowing against her neck. The man¡¯s body heat cloaked her. She had the urge to run away. ¡°I just want to sleep alone. And you just said that we only needed to be a nominal couple.¡± ¡°Well, I can change my mind. Being a real couple seems like a good option. After all, it looks like you want to consummate the wedding.¡± Ethan withdrew his hand from her waist and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°No, I don¡¯t!¡± J hissed through her teeth. Her face turned red, looking like an angry kitten. ¡°Well, it looks like it. You are inviting a man to sleep on the same bed with you,¡± Ethan said indifferently. J pushed him away, rushed into the bedroom, closed the door behind her, and locked it. Seeing her reaction, Ethan chuckled outside. Leaning against the door, J panted for breath. Her heart was beating faster than normal. Her face burned as if she had a fever. As her racing heart gradually slowed down, she made up her mind to hit Ethan with themp on the bedside table if he trieding anywhere near her. J then cautiously sat on the bed, her gaze fixed on the closed door. She couldn¡¯t fall asleep until it was veryte. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Breakfast It was rare for J to dream pleasant dreamstely. In this particr one, Hannah was treated in time and was able to recover. They went home together and life seemed all bright and hopeful. However, the ring of the ringtone interrupted her dream. J sat up from the bed and looked at the strange environment in a daze. It took a while for her to finally remember she was married. She couldn¡¯t adapt to the change yet. As soon as she opened the door of the bedroom, her gaze fell on Ethan curling up on the sofa, hugging a pillow. The sofa was too small for his giant body. His legs were dangling out, and a gray nket was wrapped around him. The sunlight cast a soft glow on his wless features, making him look like a Greek God. J was d to know that Ethan didn¡¯t make a move on herst night, so she rxed her guard around him. J smiled to herself and walked into the kitchen. There were eggs, bacon and bread in the fridge. It looked like the spices were never used before. J put on an apron and began to make breakfast. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. The bacon sizzled, and the delicious smell of butter wafted in the air. Ethan woke up. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the woman busy cooking in the kitchen. He continued to stare at her in a daze. The scene brought memories of the past, as a strong sense of nostalgia engulfed him. For a moment, he thought it was a dream. His mother always made breakfast before he got up when he was a child, and the entire house would smell of butter. Ethan ran a hand through his hair. The vision became clear, and he realized it was his newly married wife. Seeing that Ethan was sitting on the sofa, staring in a daze, J asked casually, ¡°Do you want some breakfast? The bread is almost ready. Freshen up first.¡± She had made a simple breakfast of sandwiches and soup with whatever they had in the fridge. J was known to be a good cook. Hannah had even suggested she open a small restaurant once. Ethan soon came out of the bathroom, pulled a wooden chair, and sat down. His mouth watered when he saw the steaming breakfast on the table. He picked up a sandwich and took a bite. His heart stuttered as he recalled the time when he and his mother had dinner at this table many years ago when he was a child. Ethan had eaten all kinds of food from expensive restaurants, but nothing seemed to be at par with what his mother cooked. Now, J¡¯s food seemed to take him back in time ¡ª to the good old days. Ethan¡¯s face softened. He smiled at J, his eyes gleaming with emotion. ¡°It¡¯s delicious. It tastes just like what my mother used to cook for me when I was a child.¡± J¡¯s mouth popped open. She didn¡¯t know what to say. She had made him a simple breakfast with the ingredients they had in the fridge, yet the gratitude and emotion on his face surprised her. She waved her hands, shaking her head. ¡°I¡¯m ttered. Please wash the dishes after you finish eating. I have something urgent to deal with today.¡± Ethan nodded and ate his breakfast, relishing every bite. After breakfast, J grabbed her purse and left. She had something important to deal with today. Not long after she left, a pure ck Bugatti trundled to a halt outside the yard. A man in a striped suit darted in with a bag. Hearing the knock on the door and thinking it was J, Ethan opened the door and asked, ¡°Did you forget something?¡± Sean Johnson¡¯s eyes widened. Ethan¡¯s tone sounded strangely gentle. ¡®Is boss really happy about this marriage?¡¯ he thought. ¡°What are you gaping at, Sean?¡± Ethan knitted his brows and nced outside before beckoning him into the house. ¡°Come in.¡± ¡°Boss, I have packed breakfast for you from the Michelin restaurant.¡± Ethan was a picky eater. He only ate food from certain restaurants and food prepared by specific cooks. Sean was Ethan¡¯s assistant and was responsible for his food. ¡°I already had breakfast.¡± Ethan shrugged nonchntly. ¡°You can eat it if you want. Then, wash the dishes in the sink after you finish eating.¡± Sean was shocked again. He couldn¡¯t believe the man in front of him was really his boss. ¡®Could marriage change someone so much so soon?¡¯ he wondered. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Chapter 8: Asking For Money The taxi stopped outside the Lind family''s vi.J hurried out and rang the doorbell. Now that she had married Ethan as promised, she decided to ask her adoptive parents for money. After all, she did all this only to pay Hannah''s medical expenses.Fiona was sitting on the sofa, sipping a cup of coffee.She looked up at J and smiled faintly. "How are you getting along with Ethan? You just got married yesterday.What are you doing here? Shouldn''t you be at your house? Did something happen? Tell me now." She didn''t utter a word about the money as if they had never made a deal. J looked at her sternly. "I''m here to get the money.You promised me that you would give me the money as soon as I married Ethan." Fiona ced the coffee cup on the table and smiled gently.She didn''t n on giving J the money. It was just a tactic to persuade J.It had only been an oral agreement. And J and Ethan were married now. J wouldn''t be able to do anything even if they went back on their word. "Don''t be anxious, J.I''ll give you the money.I''m sure you are aware of our family situation.Your dad has invested in a new business recently.But it turned out to be a shellpany.The owner of the company ran away with the money and his mistress, leaving all the problems and burden on your dad''s shoulders.Doing business isn''t easy.Look, your dad''s hair is already grey.Our family has been going through a hard time.We are having trouble with the cash flow and can''t afford such arge sum of money for the time being.J, please try to understand." Fiona held J''s hand, trying to look pitiful. J''s body trembled with rage. Fiona was pure evil. Even a small piece of jewelry she possessed was worth more than Hannah''s medical expenses.She was lying about not being able to afford the promised money. Bernie frowned. Fiona had gone too far this time, and he felt sorry for J. "Actually, it''s no big deal.We can still afford..." "What did you say, Bernie? Don''t we have to make ends meet? Jocelyn is going to study abroad soon.Don''t we need money? The money we have now is my savings over the years after cutting down my expenses.Have you forgotten what I''ve done for our family? But you don''t care about us, do you?" Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Wiping her fake tears, Fiona red at her husband. Bernie was rendered speechless.He didn''t dare to utter another word. "You promised me that you would give me the money as soon as possible." J was unhappy, but she couldn''t do anything. After all, it had only been a verbal agreement.She couldn''t demand the money if they really refused to Pay. Wiping her eyes, Fiona smiled. "All right.All right.Dad and Mom will give you the money as soon as we get it.I still have a few thousand dors.I''ll give that to you first." She tried stalling J. After all, once the old maid died, J would have no reason to ask them for money. ¡®How could a few thousand dors be enough?¡¯ Biting her lower lip, J was about to say something.However, Jocelyn interrupted her. She descended the stairs and shot a disgusted look at J. "Why are you back? And why isn''t your husband with you? Does he loathe you?" Jocelyn''s lip curled up into a smirk as she walked toward J. "I married him on your behalf.You have such a bad reputation.If he loathes his wife, it means he loathes you," J snapped coldly. Jocelyn always thought highly of herself. Hearing the humiliation, she grew furious. Jocelyn picked up the ss of water and poured it on J, who was sitting calmly on the sofa. J skillfully dodged the attack.She had expected Jocelyn to do something like that. When they were children, Jocelyn liked beating people up when she was mad at them. "Get out! This is my home!" Jocelyn barked, pointing at the door. J''s calmness infuriated her. "I wouldn''t havee here if you didn''t owe me money," J sneered. Seeing that her own daughter was bullied, Fiona lost her cool. How could you talk to your family like this? I don''t have a daughter like you. ¡°Get out!" J''s heart sank with disappointment. Arguing with them was pointless, so she dejectedly stood up to leave. The moment she opened the door, she saw Ethan standing outside in a jacket. Behind him stood a man, gasping for breath, holding several bags in his hand. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Chapter 9: Regret "Something came up.That¡¯s why I¡¯mte." Ethan stood outside the door, exuding a powerful aura, making it impossible for J to step forward. "Why are you here? I want to go back.Get out of my way." J¡¯s voice broke with anger and sadness. Seeing her red teary eyes, Ethan looked at everyone in the living room.Then, he gently grasped her wrist. "There¡¯s no hurry." He took J back to the living room.Sean put the bags on the table and opened them one after the other. After disying everything on the table, he wiped the sweat off his forehead and retreated behind Ethan. Sean was tired of exerting all his physical strength to do his job. J¡¯s eyes widened when she looked at the gifts. Expensive jewelry, watches, wine, and other rare antiques dazzled under the lights. She wondered if these gifts were also knock-offs, like Ethan¡¯s expensive watch he had got from his friend. Although the Lind family wasn¡¯t the most powerful family in the city, they had seen the world. They could differentiate fake from the real deal. J tugged at Ethan¡¯s sleeve. "What were you thinking? They¡¯re not easy to fool! Forget it.If they find out these are fake, just tell them that I bought these," J stood on tiptoe and whispered in his ear. A faint smile tugged at the corners of Ethan¡¯s mouth. J¡¯s words amused him. It was the first time someone had thought he would give knock-offs as gifts. More than that, the way J wanted to protect him and take the me brought a smile to his face.He gently scratched her soft palm. "Don¡¯t worry.I never give a fake as a gift." It took Fiona and Jocelyn a few seconds to recover from the shock. They finally shut their mouths and looked at each other. Both of them knew the gifts were invaluable. Fiona smiled sweetly. "Ethan, this is your house too now that we¡¯re family.You don¡¯t have to bring gifts when you come.Moreover, these are too expensive.How can we ept them?" Jocelyn was drawn to the diamond jewelry dazzling on the table. Moreover, the limited edition bracelet was her favorite among the others. Just as she was about to pick it up and put it on her wrist, Ethan shut the velvet box.He began to close the boxes and put them in the bag. Ethan nced at the mother and daughter who were greedily eyeing the gifts. "These were supposed to be gifts from the Lester family for you.But I just heard that you don¡¯t regard her as your daughter anymore.Such being the case, there¡¯s no need for me to give these gifts.You are a dignified family.I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t care about these insignificant gifts." Both Fiona and Jocelyn were dumbfounded. Jocelyn anxiously tugged at her mother¡¯s sleeve. "Mom! Say something.I really want that limited edition jewelry." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Fiona thought she was rich and had seen the luxuries of the world, but clearly she was wrong. The Lind family was inferior to the Lester family in every way. Even though Ethan was only an illegitimate son of the Lester family, it was normal for him to show his respect to his inws by gifting them. Fiona regretted humiliating J when she could have used her to take advantage of Ethan in the future. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Chapter 10: Much Better "Ethan, you must have misunderstood things here.I scolded my daughter in a fit of anger.It doesn¡¯t mean anything," Fiona shed a sweet smile, her eyes still fixed on the expensive gifts. "I don¡¯t want to hear any exnation." Ethan looked at them indifferently.He was in no mood to listen to their stupid justification. Seeing that, Sean ran over, packed everything, and took the bags away. Ethan didn¡¯t say anything more.He held J¡¯s hand and left the Lind family¡¯s vi. Ethan finally let go of her hand when they walked outside.His face softened as he looked at her. "Why didn¡¯t you tell me that you were going to see your parents?" J wanted to ask her adoptive parents for money, so she couldn¡¯t take Ethan with her. "I didn¡¯t n on visiting them in the first ce," she lied. "I happened to take this route, so I decided to drop by.Did you hear all our conversation?" "I only heard your mother say she didn¡¯t have a daughter like you.Did she say anything else?" Ethan turned to look at her, J shook her head. She was just afraid that Ethan would find out about the deal and ruin all her ns. However, J was surprised at how he blindly supported her.She felt Ethan was a reckless man. "How could you stand up for me after hearing just one sentence? What if it was my fault? The Lind family members are not to be trifled with." Ethan looked at J. Seeing her fluttering eyshes, he swallowed and said, "I didn¡¯t care about it." J chuckled. The Lind family members always humiliated her every time she visited them. However, today, Fiona and Jocelyn¡¯s frustration made her happy. She was pleased to see their disappointment. Moreover, J had witnessed Ethan¡¯s concern and care for her. "Are these really gifts from the Lester family?" she asked, pointing at the bags. "No.The Lester family has abandoned me for years.I rented these to maintain my image for you.I didn¡¯t intend on giving these gifts to them in the first ce." Ethan had heard that Jocelyn was acent woman. Fearing that she would ask the Lester family for benefits and use him for selfish gain after marrying him, Ethan lied that he had nothing to do with his family anymore. ncing at Sean, Ethan added, "The man carrying the bags works for a luxury rental shop." "Hello! Nice to meet you." Sean shook J¡¯s hand.He couldn¡¯t help but admire her beauty. The woman seemed nothing like what he had imagined.She was a pristine beauty and didn¡¯t seem arrogant or selfish. "Why are you shaking hands with him?" Ethan red at Sean, and thetter immediately withdrew his hand. "Don¡¯t say that. He carried these heavy bags for us.We ought to thank him.It¡¯s surprising to find a rental company that offers exceptional service.They are even carrying bags for their customers." J smiled, revealing her cute dimples, Sean was speechless. He didn¡¯t know how to react to such a statement. J tied her long hair into a ponytail, squatted, and began to inspect the things in the bags. "They are not broken, are they? How much do we have topensate if there are any damages?" Sean couldn¡¯t help but smile at her. All the items in the bags were a collection of gifts people had given to Ethan. "Don¡¯t worry about the damages.You can return them to ourpany at any time." Sean was an exceptional actor. Ethan leaned against themp pole and looked at J, who was examining the expensive gifts. There was not even a trace of greed in her beautiful eyes when she looked at the precious jewelry.She only seemed to appreciate them. Ethan sighed. The woman seemed different from the rumors he had heard. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. He felt this "Jocelyn Lind" was way better than he had thought. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Chapter 11: Interview After returning home, J began applying for a job. After the conversation with her adoptive parents that morning, J understood she couldn¡¯t rely on the money they had promised to give her. J had majored in design.She had graduated this year with flying colors.She was a popr face in the university because of her outstanding design talent.She was supposed to apply for a job like her ssmates earlier this year. However, her application was dyed because she had been looking after Hannah. The old maid was ill, and taking care of her was more important to her. After sorting out her portfolio and resume, she sent them to reputablepanies, Considering J was a gold medalist and had received several des, she received interview calls in a few days. "Oh my God! This is unbelievable!" She mped her mouth with excitement and stared at theputer, A ck invitation was shing on the screen.It was an interview invitation from the Larson Group. Everyone revered the design department of the Larson Group. Fashion and jewelry design were just one of the many industries the Larson Group was engaged in. They were a pioneer in dealing with multiple domains in the country. Their operations expanded all over the world. Brandon Larson, the CEO of the Larson Group, was a legend in the industry.He was young, talented, and the sole reason for the Larson Group¡¯s sess. However, the man was an enigma.He had barely appeared in front of the public. People practically knew nothing about him. Only the senior executives of the Larson Group knew what he looked like. Other people had little knowledge about him. J, too, was curious to know about him. Apart from the interview invitation, thepany had also sent an examination paper. J had to finish it before attending the interview. A frown lined J¡¯s forehead as she read the questions: none of them were from the books she had read. They were all tricky questions that even design experts couldn¡¯t answer. However, the Larson Group required more for their staff and manpower than the otherpanies in the industry. That was why J wanted to join the Larson Group. It would offer her the ideal experience. After finishing the examination, J left for the Larson Group. Her eyes widened as she looked at a silver building towering into the clouds. The translucent ss at the door reflected J¡¯s slender figure. The receptionist gave J a brief introduction handbook of the Larson Group and asked her to wait in the waiting area. The building had silver, ck, and white shiny walls. Fashionable men and women decked up in sleek outfits walked past each other. Meanwhile, a handsome man, surrounded by several people, walked into the private elevator. J¡¯s eyes narrowed; she felt the man looked familiar. However, before she could get a closer look, someone called her name. It was J¡¯s turn to attend the interview. A man and two women dressed in formal clothes were seated on the other side of the desk. "Our interviewer ine Sellers has graduated from the same university as yours.You two are schoolmates." The woman on the left had straight chestnut hair. She picked up J¡¯s resume and cast a curious look at her colleague. ine regained herposure and looked at J. "What a coincidence! I was indeed Miss Lind¡¯s senior in school," she said tly J¡¯s eyes fell on the woman in the middle. She soon remembered they shared a strange past. One of the senior schoolmates had a crush on J. However, ine liked him. Therefore, she hated J for it and even caused trouble for herter. J had no interest in the man, so she didn¡¯t care about it. After graduation, they all parted ways, and J never saw ine until now. ine pursed her ruddy lips and nodded. "Miss Lind, you have an impressive resume.But I don¡¯t think you¡¯d be the right fit here because we are looking for experienced candidates.Where is the examination paper we sent to you earlier?" J took the examination paper from her bag and gave it to the interviewers. The male interviewer took it. His brows knitted together as he flipped the pages. "Well, ine, did you send the wrong examination paper to her? This one is not for new ." It turned out that ine had purposefully sent the wrong examination paper to J along with the interview invitation, thinking she would back out from the interview. J knew that ine¡¯s sweet smile was just a facade. The woman had always tried ruining her life. ine smiled and said, "If Miss Lind is capable enough, she would have been able to crack the examination." "You are right, Miss Sellers.Please see how I¡¯ve fared,"said J. "Well done! In fact, this examination paper is only for candidates with more than three years¡¯ work experience." The other two interviewers looked at J in awe. ine didn¡¯t utter a word.She stared at the examination paper, shaking her head in exasperation.She couldn¡¯t believe that J had cleared the examination. Even some senior designers found it difficult to answer the questions, yet J had got it right. The other two interviewers asked J a few more questions, and she effortlessly answered them. After J left, the two interviewers couldn¡¯t stop praising her. "She is a young, insightful designer.Ourpany needs someone like her." Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ine threw J¡¯s resume aside, her eyes zing with anger and disgust. "She is not right for the Larson Group!" Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Chapter 12: Failed The Interview "Why? What were you thinking? You had asked a new graduate to write an examination paper we had prepared for experienced professional designers." The other female interviewer eyed ine with suspicion.She picked up the resume that ine had thrown away and leafed through the pages. "J seems like a promising candidate.She is better than all her peers.We can¡¯t afford to miss such a talent.Do you have any personal grudges against her?" ine anxiously bit her lip. "Why would I have anything against her?" She shrugged, trying to sound indifferent. There were many rumors about J when we were in college. She isn¡¯t as innocent as she seems.During her freshman year, J would roam around stealing other people¡¯s boyfriends.I know her better than you guys.She has a bad reputation.We can¡¯t take the risk of recruiting her." "Oh, I see.We trust your judgment.If that¡¯s the case, we can¡¯t recruit her.If you hadn¡¯t exined it to me, it would have seemed like you had used your position to take your revenge.Anyway, she¡¯s just a fresher.It wouldn¡¯t be a big deal to reject her.Hey, listen.There is a Mexican restaurant right across the street.I heard it¡¯s very good.Do you want to go there and give it a try?" asked the other female interviewer. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. She didn¡¯t dare to insist on recruiting J anymore. Although she felt a little reluctant to let go of such a talent, she didn¡¯t want to risk her job. After all, pure talent alone wasn¡¯t the only criteria while recruiting a candidate ¡ª character was equally important. The woman didn¡¯t want to get into trouble thepany and caused problemster, she would have to bear the brunt of her decisions. The Larson Group was located in the center of the city. J had to take several buses to get to the suburb. After about two hours of travel, she finally returned home. J was so exhausted that she slumped on the sofa as soon as she returned home. ine had always despised J ever since they were in college. Her hatred was apparent during the interview. Therefore, J guessed she would somehow prevent her from getting the job. Just as she was lost in thought, she received an email from the HR department of the Larson Group that she had failed the interview. J stood up and went to the table to get herptop.She was not discouraged. There were still many otherpanies that she could work for. J scrolled through the e-mails and continued to prepare for interviews.She was determined to get a job. Just then, her stomach rumbled. J had been busy with the interview since she woke up ¡ª she neither had the time nor energy to eat. She went to the kitchen, made a quick sandwich, and munched on it as she continued to read the e- mails. Just then, she heard the clinking of keys, and the door opened. Ethan walked in, wearing a ck jacket and faded jeans. He slumped on the sofa and let out a long, weary sigh. As he turned to look at J, his gaze fell on her resume and the portfolio on the table. "Are you looking for a job?" he asked. "I have graduated from college," said J with a mouthful of sandwich. "I obviously have to find a job.I have made more sandwiches.Do you want one?" Ethan looked at J. She was wearing light makeup and a simple yet elegant outfit. Her dressing revealed she was an art major. Ethan looked at her plump lips as she bit her sandwich ¡ª they looked inviting. He blinked away and said, "Well, I¡¯ll have one if there are any extra sandwiches." J put the sandwich in front of him and sat opposite him. Ethan¡¯s eyes fell on the pamphlet of the Larson Group under her resume. He picked it up and looked at her. "Did you go to the Larson Group for an interview?" Chapter 13: He Is Not Bad Chapter 13: He Is Not Bad J¡¯s focus was fixed on theptop.She took thest bite of the sandwich. "Yes, I did.But I failed the interview,"she answered while typing. "I¡¯m checking otherpanies now." Ethan took a small bite of the sandwich and put it down.He quietly looked at her resume and portfolio. She had achieved excellence in school, designed several works, and had won several awards and des. Although her jewelry and clothing designs looked amateurish, it was still betterpared to the works of her fellow graduates. A fresher with exceptional talent like this deserved a job at the Larson Group. "Why did you fail? Did the interviewers tell you the reason?" Ethan put the sandwich on the te and sat on the sofa with his legs crossed.His face looked cold and stern. J looked up at him.She felt strange and couldn¡¯t understand why he was asking her too many questions. However, they were a married couple now.He had the right to question her for knowing her better. "Perhaps it was an unlucky day for me," she said, shrugging. "One of the interviewers was my schoolmate.She has been harboring a grudge against me.Maybe that¡¯s why she didn¡¯t want to hire me." Ethan¡¯s face darkened. He nodded without saying anything more. Enoch, too, was confused as to why he was questioning her. Her failure or victory had nothing to do with him. However, he didn¡¯t know the HR department of the Larson Group had an employee who rejected a talent for a personal grudge. He couldn¡¯t tolerate the injustice, so he questioned her. Or that was what he told himself. J checked a dozenpanies and sorted the information of thepany she had to go to for an interview the next day. After that, she stretched herself and looked around the small house. The house looked small, but many things were crammed inside. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. The decorative pieces on the shelves were all piled up together. Several old magazines and a few flower pots with withered roses sat on the window sill. Several showpieces and objects were scattered carelessly everywhere. J knew he must have bought these right before their wedding. The ce looked like a temporary abode as if they would move at any time. It just didn¡¯t feel like home at all. She didn¡¯t know what the future had in store for her and Ethan. Until then, they had to live here. Therefore, she decided to tidy up the house.She didn¡¯t want to live in a haphazard manner. Therefore, she picked up everything and began cleaning the house. J bnced the thick stack of magazines in her hand and stole a nce at Ethan, who was sleeping on the sofa. From afar, he looked like a male model on the cover of a fashion magazine. J wondered if she should ask him to join her. After all, this was his house. Just as she was thinking about what to do, Ethan¡¯s eyes fluttered open. Looking at J¡¯s vignt eyes, Ethan smiled. "I will feel conscious if you continue to stare at me this way.Do you need my help with anything?" J quickly averted her gaze and pretended to be impervious to his good looks. "Well, you can go to the kitchen and wash all the tableware on the cupboard," she said, clearing her throat. Her heart was racing in her chest as she didn¡¯t expect Ethan to catch her staring at him. Ethan stretched himself and walked to the kitchen.His tousled jet-ck hair somehow made him look sexier.He opened the cupboard to get the tableware. His mother had raised him all by herself a difficult feat for a single mother to achieve. When Ethan was a child, he had always helped his mother do the household chores, and J seemed to have awakened his old habit. After organizing the magazines, J began to clean the bookshelf. An involuntary smile stretched across her lips as she nced at the tall man cleaning everything in the kitchen. Although Ethan wasn¡¯t wealthy, he was principled and organized. Ever since J moved into Ethan¡¯s house, she felt the rumors were untrue.He wasn¡¯t a useless hooligan who fought on the streets like people told her. She was d that Ethan shared the household work with her, unlike other sexist husbands who thought only women belonged in the kitchen. Although they were only a nominal couple, Ethan seemed to be a good partner. J hummed a song and continued to clean the house.Just then, a loud bang reverberated from the kitchen. Chapter 14: Home Chapter 14: Home J spotted Ethan as soon as she entered the kitchen.He stood there awkwardly, surrounded by shards of broken china.He raised his eyes at her, looking lost and helpless. "I was washing the dishes when they¡­ slipped off my hands." Well, he hadn¡¯t done this sort of thing for more than ten years, so a mess was inevitable sooner orter. J walked over and began picking the broken pieces one by one.She wasn¡¯t quite sure whether to laugh or cry. "I¡¯m guessing you didn¡¯t rinse any of these dishes.Ceramic tableware needs to be rinsed with warm water twice." "I see.I¡¯ll take note of it next time." Enoch ripped off a sheet of paper towel and handed it to her. "Go ahead and do your thing.I¡¯ll clean up over here." He didn¡¯t want her to get injured due to his own carelessness.It didn¡¯t take long for Ethan to finish tidying things up. When he was done, he wiped his hands and walked out of the kitchen, only to pause at the scene that greeted him. The floor was absolutely spotless, and the huge windows were wide open, letting in beams of light and the refreshing afternoon breeze. The previously messy cabs and shelves had all been arranged neatly as well. Wild daisies and irises adorned what was once an empty and dusty vase on the dining table. Several potted nts popped up here and there, giving the house an artistic vibe that was edgy and refreshing at the same time. "What do you think? It feels different, doesn¡¯t it? The house was clean enough before, but it was dull and a little depressing.It needed some life kicked back into it." J was standing by one of the windows.She had a bright smile on her face and a bottle of soda in her hand. Why was she so pleased, anyway, when she had to make do with such a small house? Nevertheless, her cheerful mood was infectious. A soft smile appeared in Ethan¡¯s eyes. He reached out to the wild daisies, taking a soft white petal between his fingertips. "You¡¯re right.It does feel different.Just like it did in the past." His mother had liked to put flowers on the table, too. Although they¡¯d been dirt poor, she had managed to brighten up their lives with these tiny, trifling details. Ethan hadn¡¯t had a proper home since his mother had died. For the first time in as long as he could remember, he finally had a ce he could call a true home. "Your mother must have loved life very much," J remarked, studying him out of the corner of her eye. Ethan¡¯s expression tuned much tender as he thought of his departed mother. "Not your mother-inw? Are you still getting used to the fact that I am your husband now?" He tried to sound nonchnt as he opened the fridge.He soon realized that J had taken thest bottle of drink they had. "I¡­ I¡¯ll be careful next time." It was true that she had yet to get ustomed to the fact that they were married.She hadn¡¯t thought much about it when she spoke. Had she offended him, by chance? J was mulling her words with regret when her soda was suddenly snatched out of her hands. The next thing she knew, he was tipping it up against his lips. "No! I already drank," Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Her words caught in her throat as she watched Ethan touch his lips to the same spot where hers had been.She was mesmerized at the way his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down as he drank the whole bottle. As for Ethan, he was too thirsty to care about anything else. It urred to him then that he had something else to do. He took out his phone and nced at the time, then tapped J¡¯s forehead with the now empty bottle. "I¡¯ll be leaving now.I have matters to deal with this evening.Don¡¯t wait up for me." For some reason, the atmosphere had grown quiet and intimate. J¡¯s hand shot up to touch the ce he had tapped, her ears hot. Even as Ethan disappeared through the door, she remained frozen in ce, still thinking about their indirect kiss just now. The next morning. J woke up to shrill ringing of her rm clock.She got up and padded to the kitchen. On her way, she noticed the slight depression on the sofa. Ethan had obviously spent the night there, and it seemed like he had already gone out for the day. J sighed and thought nothing more of it.She was going to have another interview today, and not much time to get herself ready. Later, she was on the subway on her way to thepany when she received an email. It was from the Larson Group. J was quite surprised.She hurriedly opened the mail and found herself reading a formal apology. The email said that the notice of her failure at the interview had been withdrawn, and that the Larson Group was inviting for another one. Chapter 15: A Commotion Chapter 15: A Commotion "How is this possible?" J murmured, confused. "I¡¯ve never heard of a failure notice being withdrawn before." Even so, she decided to give it another shot and went to the Larson Group. The receptionist ushered her to the meeting room and motioned for her to enter. As soon as she stepped inside, all eyes fell on J. It gave her a momentary fright, but she calmed herself and mustered a smile. "I apologize.I¡¯m afraid I¡¯vee to the wrong ce." But before she could turn and get out of there, a voice called out, "You¡¯re in the right ce, Miss Lind.Pleasee in and have a seat.Now that she looked closer, J recognized her.She was one of the interviewers yesterday, the woman with straight, chestnut colored hair.She must not be mistaken, then. J swallowed and cautiously moved forward.What was going on? "Hello, Miss Lind.I¡¯m Garrett Harding from the Larson Group.We invited you here today because we wanted to deal with some problems that urred in yesterday¡¯s interview." The one who spoke was a handsome man in a tailored suit.He was sitting right in the middle of the long table, and he was eyeing J carefully.His silver-rimmed sses made him look like the typical boy next door, charming and friendly. It helped that he also had a mole at the outer corner of his eye. Garrett Harding? Why did he have to do with all of this? J had only ever seen him in financial news and magazines.He was the vice president of the Larson Group, as well as a notorious yboy. Back at university, a lot of her female ssmates were so enamored by him. They had been shameless and vocal about their fantasies to be his lover, and they eventually went on to try their luck innding a job at the Larson Group. "I see," J said now, not really seeing anything. She still had no idea what was happening here. And then she noticed that ine was also present, albeit looking like rather distressed.She looked up and gave J a re filled with hatred. J only looked away.She didn¡¯t know why ine had just done that, either.She was absolutely clueless. Garrett pressed his sses against the bridge of his nose and nced at either side of the table. Seeing that everyone was there, he cleared his throat and spoke in a gentle but clear voice. "All right, let¡¯s get down to the matter at hand.ine, you rejected Miss Lind on the grounds that she had moral issues, but we cannot simply take your word for it.Now, kindly tell us in detail what exactly is wrong with Miss Lind¡¯s character.It is only fair that you rify things face-to-face, with us as your witnesses." ine gingerly got to her feet, her fear showing on her face.She hadn¡¯t expected to cause such a commotion, all because she had rejected an applicant. Who was this woman, anyway? As far as anyone could tell, J was clearly a nobody. More than a dozen heads turned to ine, waiting for her response. "I¡ªI," she stammered. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org "I heard it from the others.When she was in university, she had sex with a-no, with several male students, and¡­ In any case, they said that she is not innocent and sweet as it appears.She-". "Think carefully before you speak," Garrett interrupted, his tone sharp. "Who did you hear it from? Give us the names of your informants, of the people involved, as well as the time and ce of these incidents prove these ims.We must clear this matter up once and for all.I don¡¯t want to find outter on that you were judging potential candidates for thepany based on hearsay.It¡¯s easy enough to investigate whether you are telling the truth or not.You will have to take responsibility for every word you say today.I don¡¯t think I have to remind you, ine, that there¡¯s a fine line between gossip and nder.It can easily turn into a legal matter entirely.In addition to that, you failed your duties as an interviewer by treating Miss Lind with bias.You know very well that it¡¯s against thepany¡¯s rules to let the newly-graduated applicants take the advanced examination meant for professional designers with years of experiences." Chapter 16: You Are Fired Chapter 16: You Are Fired ine froze.She gritted her teeth and red at the two other interviewers. It seemed that Garrett had already investigated this matter thoroughly, and he was dead serious about the consequences. There was no way she could save herself with a few measly lies. But the Larson Group discarded dozens, if not hundreds, of hopeful applicants every day. She really couldn¡¯t see what was so special about J. Why would a powerful man like Garrett go out of his way to personally handle something so trivial? At this point, ine decided to face the situation head-on. She lifted her chin, her eyes burning with resentment and defiance. "I have no evidence.I only heard the rumors.I disliked her on the spot and didn¡¯t want her to work in the company, and that¡¯s why I said that she has a moral issue." The amiable expression on Garrett¡¯s face disappeared, turning cold. "You made a subjective conjecture about another person based on rumors, and because of your personal feelings, you ndered and insisted on eliminating a perfectly capable applicant.In doing so, you almost cost thepany apetent employee.It is obvious that you are unfit for a position in the Human Resources Department.The only person of moral issues here is you.ine Sellers, you are fired." A tense silence descended over the room. All the color drained from ine¡¯s ce. "I¡¯m so sorry, Mr.Harding!" she immediately begged. "I know I was wrong.I¡¯ve realized my mistakes.It was all my fault.Please, I¡¯ve been working for the Larson Group since I graduated from university.Please, I beg you, let me go this once.If only for the sake of my years of hard work in thepany." Her desperation was written all over her face. The Larson Group was a leading enterprise in the field of design, after all. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. It hadn¡¯t been easy for her to get into thepany in the first ce. She had even bragged about it to everyone she knew. More importantly, if word got out that she had been fired by the Larson Group, she might not be able to land a job in the industry again. ine¡¯s career would be ruined for good. Unfortunately for her, Garrett didn¡¯t care.He ignored her and turned to his assistant. "Call security and have them take ine Sellers out of the building." A small ruckus ensued. Only when the guards had dragged ine away did the meeting room fall into another silence. Garrett¡¯s eyes darted toward J. Finally, he could observe this clever and talented woman at his leisure. "Miss Lind," he said kindly, "you may continue your application process if you like.I have read your resume.You meet the requirements that the Larson Group has set for new graduates." J gaped at him for a few seconds. When she finally came back to her senses, all she could manage was a thoughtless nod. "I see.Okay.Thank you." She couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it. Thankfully, Garrett spoke again, or she would have remained there, dazed and lost. "Thank you again foring today," he said, shing her a smile. "I have another meeting, so I will be leaving first." He got to his feet and the rest of the men followed suit. Garrett was at the door when he suddenly turned and winked at J. He appeared to be interested in her. "It¡¯s been a pleasure meeting you, Miss Lind.I look forward to seeing you again." Once they had left, the female interviewer with chestnut hair came over and patted J on the shou And then she left before J could say anything. Now all by herself, J gripped the armrests of her chair, as if to ground herself and make sure that everything was real. When she stood up a whileter, she felt like she was stepping on clouds, weightless and free. She was just as confused as she had been when she had first arrived, if not more so. What the heck had just happened? Why did her failed interview draw so much attention, and from the VP of thepany, no less? Chapter 17: Will You Resent Me Chapter 17: Will You Resent Me A ck Bugatti slowly ground to a halt outside the yard.The area was remote, with only a handful of shabby houses in sight. A luxury car was decidedly out of ce in such a scene. The man in the backseat put aside a stack of documents he had been perusing, then changed from his svelte, tailored suit to an old jacket. Sean twisted around to look at his boss, who had been going through so much trouble traveling back and forth every day. "You used toe here only once or twice a year, Boss," Sean pointed out. "You have vis all over the city.You can just move into in one of them with your wife.Why do you bother going to this dump every single day?" Ethan threw him a cold nce. "You''ve been awful talkativetely.Do you have so much time in your hands? If you have nothing better to do, you might as well clean up and tend to these other vis of mine." Sean immediately shut up and looked away. Ethan got out of the car. Once he was out of sight, Sean pped his own cheek, muttering, "You bbermouth.You spoke too much." Ethan walked into the house and found J stretched out on the sofa, her eyes fixed on herptop screen. She had cucumber slices stered to her face, and one of her hands was holding arge tumbler with a straw peeking out of its rim. "You''re back? Have you eaten yet?" She had heard him arrive, yet she just couldn''t bear to miss a second of the TV series she was watching. Ethan found her endearing. "I already had dinner with a friend," he said softly. Noticing that her long, slender legs were bare, he quietly fetched the gray nket from the sofa and draped it over them before plopping down next to her. "How did your job interview go?" J perked up. She closed herptop, then grabbed the cucumber pieces from her face and popped them into her mouth. "You won''t believe what I''m about to say," she said seriously. But Ethan already knew everything. Chuckling under his breath, he leaned back and listened intently as J recounted the day''s events. "Maybe thepany just values your talents," Ethan said lightly when she was done. "I saw your resume yesterday, and even I think that you have excellent skills." Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. J had been looking forward to his shocked face, so she was caught off-guard by his reaction. Ethan didn''t seem the slightest bit surprised. "Maybe," she murmured. In the end, J brushed it off, thinking that the gravity of the situation might be beyond his understanding. She opened herptop again, meaning to carry on with her series. But then she paused at thest minute, and looked back at Ethan. He was reading a magazine beside her, looking all rxed and unbothered. His jacket had faded into a dull yellow color, and his jeans were worn-out, but his face more than made up for his clothes. If she didn''t know better, she would have even thought they were from vintage designer brands and he had dressed this way on purpose. "Ethan," J said, her curiosity getting the better of her. "What on earth is it that you do?" All she knew about him, apart from his name, was that he had this small house, a deceased mother, and the Lester family that had abandoned him for being a bastard child. When it came down to it, she knew virtually nothing at all. Moreover, he always went out early in the morning and came homete in the evening. He often looked tired, too, which could mean that he was toiling rather hard throughout the day. Ethan put down the magazine he was reading and picked up a different one from the coffee table. ¡®I''m something of a part-time worker.I do odd jobs here and there." He paused then, as if an idea had just urred to him.He lifted his eyes and looked at J sharply. "I''m afraid I don''t have a stable job.Do you think you''ll grow to resent me for it?" "Of course not," she replied without a second''s hesitation. J didn''t care about these things; she just happened to ask out of mild interest. ¡®I¡¯m awfully poor and she''s okay with it?¡¯ Ethan was taken aback by her response. His eyes gradually softened. He cleared his throat and was about to tell her that he would work hard in order to earn more in the future, but the woman beside him beat him to the punch. "In any case, we''re nothing more than a couple in name.I didn''t actually expect you to support me.Don''t put too much pressure on yourself." Ethan''s grip tightened on the magazine. "I see," he said after a while, his voice low and cold. J peered at him, confused at the sudden shift in his mood. It was he who had proposed a contractual marriage in the first ce, and she had just said that she wouldn''t take his circumstances against him. What was he so displeased about? Chapter 18: Christopher Garrison Chapter 18: Christopher Garrison J attended the second round of the interview on the date the Larson Group had assigned and sessfully passed it. At the end of the month, she received an offer. The Larson Group had two separate buildings in the city. The design department was on the seventeenth floor of the first building. It housed a talented team of designers who possessed exceptional skills and experience. All the designers had graduated from well-reputed universities with flying colors. J believed the Larson Group would be the ideal ce to start her career. Before going upstairs, J went to a convenience store near thepany to buy coffee. "Miss, your change is on the floor." Someone nudged her shoulder from behind. "Oh, thank you." J turned around, took the money from the man, and put it into her bag. "You''re wee." The voice sounded familiar. J looked up and met the man''s gaze. Her eyes widened in astonishment. "Chris?" "What a coincidence!" The man looked equally surprised.He had ck hair and brown eyes that twinkled with glee.He was wearing a navy blue shirt and suit pants. Aptop bag was casually slung on his shoulder. Although he didn''t seem handsome and eye-catching at first nce, he was tall and graceful. J never thought that she would meet Christopher Garrison - her senior from college who had a deep crush on her -- here, in a convenient store like this. They had never met after she graduated from college. J was not interested in a rtionship back then, so she politely refused Christopher''s advances. The two parted ways in harmony, so she didn''t feel embarrassed to meet him now. "Do you also work in the Larson Group?" Holding a cup of coffee in her hand, J walked out of the convenience store and looked at Christopher''s ID card hanging around his neck. No wonder ine was so hostile to her. It turned out that Christopher also worked here. "Yes, I worked as an intern in the Larson Group when I was in college, so I joined thepany right after graduation.You work in the design department?" Christopher asked, smiling. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org "Yes.It''s my first day at work." The two chatted along the way. Apparently, Christopher worked in a different department and held a higher position in thepany. She wondered if Christopher had stood up for her when ine rejected her application. The Garrison family was also a wealthy and powerful family. When they were in college, the information about all wealthy students was printed on the university forum, and Christopher was one among them. That was perhaps why thepany listened to him and gave her another chance. "Thank you, Chris." J smiled gratefully. Thinking that she was thanking him for picking her coins, Christopher chuckled. "It''s not a big deal.Why do you always feel grateful even for a small favor?" J smiled, revealing her dimples. "I just don''t want to owe favors to anyone." In the past, J had deliberately kept a distance from him at college after he proposed to her. A few years had already passed, and Christopher had just helped her, so J felt much closer to him than before. Christopher smiled, hiding the joy in his eyes.It had been several years since hest saw J. She was more beautiful and graceful than she was at school.Her eyes were bright like the stars, and her delicate features made him like her at a nce. Christopher couldn''t deny that he had never forgotten her over the years. But he didn''t take the initiative to ask her out right away.He had been very immature in college. That was perhaps why J had rejected him.He couldn''t stand another rejection. Now that they worked in the samepany, he felt he had the chance to win her heart. "All right, let''s have dinner sometime so that you can return my favor, okay?" "Okay.But I''m busytely.How about next month?" J wanted to wait until she got her sry.She had to cover Hannah''s medical expenses, so she couldn''t afford to spend money on casual dinners. Chester smiled. "No hurry.I''m free any time.How about I show you around thepany?" "Okay.Thank you, buddy." The smile on her face vanished as she followed him into the elevator. In the elevator stood another man who had a charming smile. "We meet again, Miss Lind." With a faint smile on his lips, Garrett nced at J and Christopher. Chapter 19: Someone Is Going To Be Unhappy Chapter 19: Someone Is Going To Be Unhappy "Good morning, Mr.Harding," J lowered her head and greeted him respectfully.She didn¡¯t expect to meet Garrett again so soon. "Did you encounter any problems after that?" Garrett pressed the button to the tenth floor and smiled at J. J didn¡¯t expect him to ask about it. After all, they had met only once. The deputy CEO of the Larson Group seemed to care a lot about their employees. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. "No.Everything¡¯s fine.Thank you for asking, Mr.Harding." J smiled politely. Garrett nced at Christopher, who was standing beside J. "Who is this gentleman?" "Mr.Harding, my name is Christopher Garrison.If she encounters any problem, I will help her.Please rest assured." Christopher¡¯s eyes gleamed with concern as he looked at J. Garrett was a smart man.He could see everything clearly. The smile on his face dropped in an instant. Just then, the elevator door opened. Garrett walked out with a meaningful look on his face. J and Christopher seemed to be close. Garrett felt someone was going to be unhappy after knowing this. When it was time to get off work, dark clouds blocked the sunlight, and the sky became gloomy. J and Christopher walked out of the building,ughing together. The handsome man and the beautiful woman seemed to attract the attention of the people around. Everyone wondered if they were fashion models of thepany. Ethan was sitting in a car at the corner of the street.His gaze was fixed on the two people afar.He didn¡¯t look away until J and Christopher disappeared out of sight. "See? I didn¡¯t lie to you." A smile emerged on Garrett¡¯s face as he stirred up trouble with a sense of schadenfreude. Ethan couldn¡¯t know why, but he was extremely upset.He opened the door and got out of the car. "It¡¯s none of your business.Stay out of it," he snapped, his eyes zing with rage. After parting with Christopher, J took a shortcut to the next street to catch the bus. As soon as she entered an alley, someone patted her shoulder. "Where are you going, babe?" called a cold voice. The man¡¯s voice sounded familiar. J turned around and saw Ethan standing behind her. "Gosh, how could you call me that way in a public ce?" J frantically looked around as a blush med her cheeks. Fortunately, no one else heard him. "I¡¯m just talking to my wife.I didn¡¯t break thew." Ethan smiled and yfully pinched her cheek.Then, he took J¡¯s bag and walked beside her. "What are you doing here?" J changed the topic. "I was just taking the same route and saw you walking with a man.I thought you were going to a hotel to have fun with him." Ethan¡¯s tant words made her blush again.She was so angry that she pped Ethan¡¯s shoulder. "Don¡¯t talk nonsense.Chris and I were schoolmates.Didn¡¯t I tell you about ine a few days ago? I guess it was Chris who helped me get the job." Chapter 20: Take A Bus Chapter 20: Take A Bus Ethan stopped in his tracks.J¡¯s words infuriated him.He had specially asked Garrett to deal with the issue, and the man hadughed at him for that.But in the end, she thought her schoolmate had helped her.Ethan sneered at her. "Christopher¡¯s family isn¡¯t powerful enough to influence thepany¡¯s decision.What makes you think the Larson Group hired you because of him or whatever he had said?" "Whoa! Calm down.How could you be so sure? Do you know the Larson Group well?" Ethan¡¯s remarks amused her.She looked up at him and saw the unhappiness on his face.Her questions had rendered Ethan speechless. A frown lined his forehead ¡ª he couldn¡¯t reveal more information. "I often hang out with people who work there so I know a thing or two about it," he said, trying to hide his disappointment. "You¡¯re a married woman.Even though we¡¯re only a nominal couple, you still have to maintain a distance from other men." Ethan¡¯s possessiveness surprised her. "Chris and I were schoolmates; now, we are colleagues.Our rtionship won¡¯t go beyond that." Biting her rosy lower lip, J looked into Ethan¡¯s eyes. Thinking that he might misunderstand her dynamic with Christopher, she exined, "I just met him when I walked out to get some coffee.We just hung together for a while ¡ª that¡¯s it." Looking down at her head, Ethan smiled and touched her silky hair. "All right.I see.Don¡¯t keep your head down.Look at the road." J¡¯s flushed cheeks somehow made her look prettier. The two walked to the bus stop. J fumbled inside her bag, looking for coins. Ethan nced at the rows of buses in front of him and asked, "Are we going home by bus?" "Of course.Our home is a long drive from here.It¡¯s too expensive to take a taxi home." Finally, she took out two coins from her wallet and ced them on Enoch¡¯s palm. "Here you are." Ethan¡¯s brows furrowed as he looked at the coins. "You are the precious daughter of the Lind family.Why are you hesitant to even take a taxi home?" Sensing the suspicion in his tone, J clutched the wallet tightly.She had almost forgotten that she was ying the role of spoiled Jocelyn now. "I used to spend whatever money I have, so I don¡¯t have any savings.I¡¯ve been at odds with my parents lately, so I don¡¯t want to ask them for money.I¡¯m broke now," she lied, hiding her nervousness. Her eyshes fluttered as she averted her gaze. Ethan stroked the coins in his hand.He remembered seeing J quarrel with her parents when he went to the Lind family¡¯s house. They didn¡¯t seem to get along with each other. "What happened? Why are you nervous? Why do you freak out every time I mention your family?" Ethan ruffled J¡¯s hair tenderly. "How can I spend a woman¡¯s money? You better use my money first." After a moment¡¯s thought, Ethan took out his wallet from his jacket pocket and ced it in J¡¯s hands. "I¡¯ve made some money working part-time in a shop for the past few days." J looked at the wallet, and her bangs covered her pretty face. Just as the two looked at each other in silence, they heard a voice dripping with sarcasm. "It looks like you really have been living a miserable life. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org You can¡¯t even afford to take a taxi and have to take a bus home." Chapter 21: A Lamborghini Chapter 21: A Lamborghini J turned in the direction of the voice and found a white BMW parked at the curb not far away. Wearing cat-eye sunsses and a_ figure-hugging strapless dress, Jocelyn sat in the car next to Steve. She took off her sunsses now, and smacked the gum she was chewing as she eyed J and Ethan. "What, do you want a ride or something?" Jocelyn drawled. "I suppose that''s fine, but make sure you wipe your shoes before you get in, or you''re going to dirty my babe''s new car." J took out her phone and wordlessly rounded the car to take photos of its license te. When she straightened, she pointed at the road sign just up ahead. "Didn''t you see that you''re not allowed to park here? If you don''t move right away, I''ll report you to the traffic enforcers." Steve''s ears burned with shame.He didn''t want to irritate J with Jocelyn and had wanted to drive away immediately, but Jocelyn had stopped him. Jocelyn crossed her arms over her chest and scoffed. "Go ahead, then.We can pay the fine, no matter how much it is.I''m not like you, who probably can''t even afford to take a taxi.For all I know, you must be out here begging for alms, aren''t you? Like some piss-poor vagrant.Oh, wait.Now that I think about it, our dog does the same." Jocelyn''s harsh words cut deep into J''s skin.She gritted her teeth and looked at her feet to keep herself from spouting bitter curses at the woman. J had worked hard to build herself up over time, yet her morale seemed to have crumbled in the blink of an eye.She felt as though she had regressed back to her younger, helpless self. J clenched her fists so hard that her nails almost cut into her palm. It was all she could do to keep her tears at bay. She couldn''t let anyone see her cry. All of a sudden, Ethan pulled her back and took her in his arms. Her forehead was then pressed against his broad, warm chest. Just then, a Lamborghini sped toward them, its engine roaring in the otherwise serene highway. It screeched to a halt just a few feet behind the BMW. "Whose car is this?" Jocelyn¡¯s boyfriend eximed. "It''s a limited edition model!" Even Steve couldn''t help but raise his eyebrows, thinking that the car was owned by some rich young master who wanted to show off his wealth as well as pick up girls. Jocelyn craned her neck and stared at the Lamborghini in a simrly covetous fashion. Very few people in the city¡ªno, in the whole country¡ªcould afford this luxury car. The BMW was nothingpared to this sleek Lamborghini. The driver of the Lamborghini got out of said car, walked past the BMW, and stopped in front of Ethan. He gave a small bow and spoke in a respectful voice. "I apologize for keeping you waiting, sir.Please get in the car." Jocelyn and her boyfriend were stunned speechless. That punk actually owned the Lamborghini? But how was that even possible? Ethan nodded at the driver and squeezed J''s shoulder. "Let''s go home," he said softly. Jocelyn red at the scene unfolding in front of her, her nostrils red in anger. Just what kind of man had J married? J had been burrowing in Ethan''s arms all this time. When she finally looked up and spotted the Lamborghini, she froze and gaped. "Ethan..." Her unblinking eyes never left the Lamborghini. Ethan was unfazed.He gently ushered J into the backseat of the car. They drove off without another word to Jocelyn and her beau. When J was looking away, Steve stole a nce at her and couldn''t help but feel sad. He didn''t care about whoever J had married, but he did regret losing her to his stupidity and immaturity. Jocelyn noticed the tenderness on Steve''s face as he looked at J and gritted her teeth in anger. The reason why she had tried to seduce Steve in the first ce was because she wanted to take something away from J. In truth, she didn''t give a damn about Steve. But it looked like J didn''t care about her supposed "loss" at all. Plus, Steve seemed reluctant to leave J, too. So why would Jocelyn want to keep a man who loved someone else? It''d only make her feel bad in the long run. Steve''s status was good, but it wasn''t enough to satisfy her. After all, her ultimate goal was to marry into a rich and powerful family that controlled the city, such as the Lester family. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org It went without saying that she needed to marry a man richer and more powerful than Steve. So she wrinkled her nose at Steve in disgust and said, "Let''s break up." Steve looked at her nkly and didn''t respond at first. But this only served to annoy Jocelyn even more. She raised her voice and said, "Steve! I said I want to break up with you!" This pulled Steve back to his senses and his jaw dropped in shock. "Didn''t you say you were pregnant?" Steve''sbined obsession with J and his indifference towards Jocelyn when she brought up the topic of breakup made her angry beyond belief. "That was because I didn''t want to marry the illegitimate son of the Lester family, you idiot! I lied to you! I''m not pregnant, okay?" Steve felt a wave of relief. His expression immediately rxed, as though he had been granted amnesty. "Okay, then let''s break up.You can get out of the car now." Steve''s reaction made Jocelyn even more furious. "Why the hell would I do that?" Steve smiled coldly and opened the door for her. "We''re broken up.And this is my car.So get out." Jocelyn''s face contorted with anger, but she had no choice but to obey. As soon as she stepped out, Steve mmed the door in her face and zoomed away, as though he was escaping from her evil clutches. In his haste to get away, the car ran through a puddle, sshing dirty water on Jocelyn¡¯s feet. Gritting her teeth, she was so angry that she nearly screamed expletives into the sky. Why? Why the hell couldn''t shepete with J? She just couldn''t understand. Meanwhile, J was sitting on the luxurious andfortable backseat of the Lamborghini. It wasn''t until they had driven some distance that J finally shook herself out of her daze. She whirled at the man beside her, looking confused and mad, and perhaps a little scared. "Ethan! What the hell is going on?" Chapter 22: House Hunting Chapter 22: House Hunting Ethan averted his gaze. "I rented this car.It''s your first day at work.I wanted to pick you up in this car." "Renting a luxury car for even just one day must have been expensive.Ethan, I know you did it out of kindness, but you don''t have to do this for me.We have to ept the reality and live our lives," J stuttered. She was not the biological daughter of the Lind family -- but a simple girl who was used to living in poverty. The situation was embarrassing. She had been working hard to save up money to pay for Hannah''s medical expenses and meet her daily needs. Even though Ethan didn''t spend her money, it still broke her heart to see him waste it on unnecessary luxuries. On second thought, she realized it was perhaps difficult for Ethan to change his habit because he was used to living avish life.She couldn''t push him too hard. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. J handed the wallet back to Ethan. "Forget it." She grinned happily. "Today is my first day at work.I should celebrate it.You better save the money for yourself.I think you would also need money." She had married Ethan as Jocelyn''s substitute. J had already deceived him and felt it would be unreasonable to spend his money as well. "Great!" She stretched her body and sighed with contentment. "I have never been in a luxurious Lamborghini before." Ethan sat beside her and looked at his wallet.He remained silent all the way. The woman was different than he had thought. The next morning J took a bus to thepany. The longmute had exhausted her. She had to get up early to reach thepany on time. "The director asked you to go to his office." One of her colleagues nudged J''s shoulder as she yawned. "Okay, I''ll be right there." J hadn''t met the department director yet. She had only heard that he was a talented designer.She entered the office and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, revealing her delicate face. "Mr.Lyman, what can I do for you?" Ike Lyman stood in front of his desk. The man was in his thirties with an average height.He turned around to look at J.His eyes widened with amazement when he saw the woman in front of him. "Nice to meet you.I¡¯m Ike Lyman," he greeted, stretching out his hand. "I went on a business trip a few days ago and just came back today.Wee to the design department." "Thank you, Mr.Lyman." J smiled and let go of his hand after shaking it. Yesterday, a colleagueined that Ike was a harsh man. However, he seemed kind and affable toward J. Perhaps he was yet to show his other side. "If you have any doubts or problems regarding your work, you can always approach me.I''m in charge of all the design projects of ourpany." Ike narrowed his eyes and studied J''s face. The greediness in his eyes made J squirm.It felt as if he was picturing her naked. "Okay." J left calmly, but her skin prickled with goosebumps as she stepped out of his office. J''s stomach flipped with unease as she recalled how Ike looked at her. By the time she got home from work, it was already dark. Themute took most of her time, and J felt drained and exhausted. As soon as J returned home, she slumped on the sofa. Ethan was sitting by the window, sorting the documents. Seeing J, he closed the file and looked at her tired face. "Why don''t we rent a house near yourpany? Your work is a long drive from here.Traveling to the company consumes most of your time." J finally opened her eyes and looked at him. "Forget it.Thepany is in the heart of the city.The houses there are expensive.I can''t afford it." "Leave it to me.I promise I will find you afortable house with affordable rent." Ethan stepped closer and picked up the shoes that J had casually thrown beside the sofa. J stood up, blinked, and thought for a while.lt would be great if she didn''t have to spend hours traveling on bus. That way, she could have more time to work on her designs. Besides, she could go to the hospital to visit Hannah during her spare time. "Okay.Try to find a house with reasonable rent, okay?" Chapter 23: A Haunted House Chapter 23: A Haunted House J was busy every day at work and seldom had time for herself.Time seemed to pass in the blink of an eye because she was consumed with work. "What a coincidence! How about we go back together?" Christopher stopped J in front of the elevator. Ever since J joined the Larson Group, the two had been coincidentally meeting every day after work. Sometimes, J would meet Christopher even if she worked overtime. "Chris, howe we meet every day after work?" J asked, smiling. Her biggest problem was not knowing to say no to people. Just then, her phone red in her bag.She took it and saw Ethan¡¯s name shing on the screen. Therefore, she quickly answered the call. "What¡¯s up?" "I found a house.I¡¯m in the cafe opposite yourpany.Let¡¯s go and see the house together." Ethan¡¯s words were brief and concise. She didn¡¯t expect him to act fast. J put away her phone and looked at Christopher apologetically. "I¡¯m sorry, Chris.I have important work to do.I have to go now." "Okay, go ahead." Christopher smiled and watched J scurry out.He couldn¡¯t hear what the person on the other end of the line had said. However, judging from the smile on her face, Christopher felt she shared a good bond with the caller. When Christopher walked out of the building of the Larson Group, he saw J and a tall man disappear into a corner. The man was holding J¡¯sptop bag. Looking at the man¡¯s side profile, Christopher felt he was a handsome man. The house Ethan had mentioned earlier was near the Larson Group. It was a small apartment with two bedrooms, one living room, a bathroom, and a kitchen. The location, neighborhood, and every aspect of the house seemed to work well for J. The tasteful decoration was an added advantage. "Ethan, the house has excellent lighting and is close to mypany.It¡¯s only ten minutes¡¯ walk from the Larson Group." J¡¯s eyes twinkled with delight as she walked around the house. However, the happiness vanished from her face in an instant. J arched an eyebrow in suspicion. "This house is perfect in every way.The rent must be at least a thousand dors, right? asked you to look for an affordable house." Ethan looked at J¡¯s flustered face and smiled. "Thendlord wants to rent out this house as soon as possible for personal reasons.He is only charging two hundred bucks." J cast a skeptical look at the realtor and pulled Ethan closer to her side. "How is that possible? Is he a fraud?" "If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask the realtor." Ethan looked at the realtor. "That¡¯s true.Mrs.Lester, your husband inquired about the situation.The owner of the house is desperate to rent out the house, so he is willing to lower the rent." The realtor wiped the sweat on his forehead. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. The man wasn¡¯t a realtor but was pretending to be one under Ethan¡¯s orders. He hoped that J would be dumb enough to believe him If he made any mistakes and J suspected him, he would lose his job. "Okay, thank you. Do you mind if we looked around the house one more time?" Although J sounded polite, she had be vignt. She walked into the rooms and carefully inspected them. Leaning against the door, Ethan saw her looking around the house and rummaging through the cabs and drawers. "What are you doing? he asked in a hushed voice. J was still worried, so she even checked under the beds. Then, she parted the dust on her dress and stood up. "Something seems fishy.The rent of a house like this can¡¯t be this cheap.Perhaps this house is haunted, or someone has died here.We have to check it properly." Ethan was speechless. He stepped closer to her and gently wiped the dust on her face. "There is dust on your face." He dusted his dirty fingers and frowned. "You are overthinking.Perhaps thendlord is having a financial crisis." The apartment was Ethan¡¯s property.He knew his house well. J¡¯s skin prickled as his touch left a burning trail on her cheek. She quickly wiped her face and turned around. "You¡¯re too naive.I feel something is wrong with the house.Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t rent it at such a cheap rate.And if that¡¯s the case, I have to go and bargain with the realtor." She rolled up her sleeves and trotted to the living room. "One hundred bucks.What do you say?" Chapter 24: How Could She Be So Cut Chapter 24: How Could She Be So Cut ¡®What? One hundred bucks a month for an apparent like this? That¡¯s unbelievable. The man looked dumbfounded. However, the apartment didn¡¯t belong to him, so he couldn¡¯t finalize the rent. "Mrs.Lester, I¡¯m actually surprised to hear your offer.However, this house isn¡¯t mine.I need to check it with thendlord of the house." He walked out of the room with his phone on the pretext of making a phone call. Taking the opportunity, he winked at Ethan to ask for his opinion. Ethan understood his gesture and agreed without hesitation. Janel was a little nervous. After all, she knew her offer was definitely uneptable. A few minutester, the realtor returned with a smile. "Thendlord has agreed." J¡¯s mouth popped open in shock. She tried shing the price but didn¡¯t think thendlord would actually agree. She blinked at Ethan. Ethan coughed and walked up to her. "What¡¯s wrong?" "I don¡¯t think this is an ordinary haunted house.I think something extremely terrible must have happened here before.Otherwise, why would thendlord agree to rent it at only a hundred dors?" Her hot breath blowing in his ear seemed to distract Ethan. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he blinked and asked, "Do you want to find another house?" C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org "No.We are lucky to have found such an affordable house.I won¡¯t let go of it." "Aren¡¯t you afraid it might be a haunted house?" "Nope.The rent is unbelievable.Even if there are ghosts in the house, I don¡¯t mind inviting them for dinner¡± J said intently Ethan had never seen anyone willing to move into a haunted house just because the rent was cheap He narrowed his eyes and pinched J¡¯s cheek. "Wow! You¡¯re brave." He gulped, surprised by the softness of her cheeks, "Ethan, it hurts!" J¡¯s face turned red.She stood on tiptoe to grab his face. However, Ethan towered before her, so he quickly stepped back. J couldn¡¯t even touch his chin. "Let me go! Ethan! I¡¯m angry." "Don¡¯t move.There is still dust on your face.I¡¯m just wiping it for you." The smile on his face widened as he looked at her. ¡®How could she be so cute?¡¯ he thought. J and Ethan moved into the apartment the next day. It was more convenient for her to go to work She could save all hermuting time. In her spare time, J epted frencing design gigs to earn extra money During weekends, she went to the hospital to see Hannah. "Hannah, I have nned to transfer you to a better hospital for treatment.The hospitals in the city are more advanced then this one.It would also be convenient for me to meet you often," she said while peeling an apple Hannah had raised J. The old woman was all she had "The hospitals there will be too expensive.I¡¯m fine here." Hannah shook her head Her hair had already turned white. Hannah was only in her sixties, yet she looked older because of her illness, Hannah knew that J lived a hard life even though she never openly discussed her problems "I¡¯ve found a new job.I can handle it.Don¡¯t worry about me." J smiled and handed the teful of apple stres to romah Fat the apple,"She knew the medical expenses would double if Hannah moved to a better hospital in the city Janei didn¡¯t have enough money.¡± Chapter 25: Drug Trial Chapter 25: Drug Trial After leaving the hospital, J immediately called Bernie and Fiona. But neither of them answered, She had no choice but to go to the Lind family¡¯s house again. "Are you insane? Why are you constantly ringing the doorbell?" Minutester, the maid opened the door and yawned.She seemed annoyed that J had disturbed her sleep. "Let me in! I¡¯m looking for Bernie and Fiona!" "The entire family is on a vacation to the Maldives.They¡¯re not at home." "When will theye back?" J asked anxiously. Fiona said she didn¡¯t have the money to pay the agreed money.How could they go on vacation to the Maldives? "I don¡¯t know.Go ask them!" The maid mmed the door. J stared at the door and kicked it.Her body trembled with rage. "You lying bastards! All of you will rot in hell!" The Lind family had gone to the Maldives. Regardless of whether it was true or not, J couldn¡¯t get in touch with them.She had to think of a way to pay Hannah¡¯s medical bills. Perhaps God had sensed that J needed money. As soon as J opened her browser, she saw an advertisement about a hospital looking for volunteers for clinical trials toe up with tumor drugs. They were paying the subjects a thousand dors for staying in the hospital for a few days and trying out the medicines. In case the drug had repercussions on the subject¡¯s body, they would get about ten to forty thousand dors aspensation, depending on the seriousness of the problem. It seemed like the perfect opportunity for J. She was young and healthy. Even if the medicines had any side effects, they wouldn¡¯t harm her that much. J went to the hospital, filled out the registration form, and went straight to get a physical examination. She nned to try the medicines the next week. Delicious smell of food wafted in the air as soon as Ethan entered the house. "Why did youe back early today?" J cast a sidelong nce at him and continued to toss the spaghetti in the pan. The apron entuated her alluring figure. One could grasp her slender waist with one hand. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Her curvy bum bobbed as she moved around. The bowtie on her back seemed to tease Ethan ¡ª as if hinting at him to open it and peek at the tempting gift inside. Ethan¡¯s eyes darkened as he felt hot in his throat. He unbuttoned his cor and went to the fridge to get a bottle of water. "I was off duty earlier today," he said after gulping down the water He looked at her floral apron and tugged at the hem. "Is this an apron? It¡¯s pink.It can¡¯t even cover your thighs." It was more like a sexy lingerie. "Stop pulling my apron.I got it at a discount.Pink is a beautiful color, is it not? Take the spaghetti to the table.I¡¯ll make some sd." J red at him and continued to cut the vegetables without uttering a word Ethan grinned and put the spaghetti bowl on the dining table. Several design sketches were scattered on the table. Just as Ethan sorted the papers and was about to keep them aside, a piece of paper fell from his hands. I was the physical examination report Ethan looked at it and felt something was wrong. He couldn''t understand why there was a nicotine test. J put the sd on the table and realized that Ethan didn¡¯t seem to be interested in the food tonight "You don¡¯t like the food?" "No, I was thinking about something." The fork in Ethan¡¯s hand sulled, he turned lo look at her met his piercing gaze. "What¡¯s it?¡¯ she asked. "Have you volunteer to do drug trials?" he asked coldly. J¡¯s hand trembled, and her fork fell.She didn¡¯t know why she was flustered, but she tried to remain calm. ¡°Yes.The hospital conducts regr trials like these.Moreover, the trial is legal.Don¡¯t look at me as if I have done something horrific." Ethan put down his fork, pursed his lips, and looked at her. "Don¡¯t go.Don¡¯t you know that the drug trial could cause serious side effects?" Chapter 26: Unexpected Concern Chapter 26: Unexpected Concern The expression on Ethan¡¯s face frightened J.Her heart leaped to her throat. She took a piece of tissue and wiped her lips, pretending to be calm. "Why are you stopping me?" ¡°I¡¯m in urgent need of money now, I have no other choice." Ethan¡¯s eyes smoldered with anger. "How much money do you want? I¡¯m your husband.If you¡¯re going through any problems, why can¡¯t you tell me? Why would you do something like that?" J had been short of money ever since she was a child. Tears welled up in her eyes.She took a deep breath and looked at him. "We are husband and wife only to the outside world.You have already said that we shouldn¡¯t interfere in each other¡¯s business.What makes you think I¡¯d share my problems with you and even ask for money?" Her words silenced Ethan. He rubbed his brows, and his chest tightened with unease.He stood up and looked at her. "Let¡¯s calm down first and then solve this problem." Ethan closed the door and went out. The cold summer breeze and the chirping of cicadas filled the air. Ethan took a deep breath, and the sweet scent of roses filled his nostrils. J had nted them on the balcony. Ethan leaned against the door as the moonlight kissed his soft features. Ethan realized that he had crossed the line tonight. Before they got married, he never liked J and didn¡¯t intend to be her husband. However, his impression of her changed.He seemed to like her more with every passing day. Ethan ran a hand through his hair and let out a weary sigh.He couldn¡¯t understand when he had started caring about her so much.He rubbed his temples and closed his eyes, trying to suppress his iprehensible emotions. J stood at the table and picked up the tableware. Just then, the door flew open, and Ethan walked toward her and took the tableware from her hand. "I¡¯m going to wash them." "Why did youe back?" J thought he wouldn¡¯te back, so she grabbed the tes and held them tightly in her arms in a fit of pique. The oil from the vessels had stained her clothes. "You don¡¯t need to wash them.I¡¯m afraid you will only break them," she said. "Why did Ie back? You want me to let you cry here alone?" Seeing her bloodshot eyes, Ethan¡¯s eyes darkened.He raised his hand to touch her cheek. "Don¡¯t touch me! I¡¯m not crying!" Shocked, J stepped back.Her eyes were red and puffy.She stared at Ethan fearlessly. Ethan felt dejected. J was like a delicate flower that would wither if he forced her. Ethan put his arms on the table, trapping her in ce.He leaned closer and stared into her eyes. "Don¡¯t do the drug trial.Maybe you will get other ie soon.Please listen to me," he said softly, "What will you do if I don¡¯t listen to you?" J sneered at him. Ethan¡¯s brows furrowed, and his eyes looked frightening. "There are several ways to deal with women," he hissed through his teeth. "Anyway, I¡¯m a gangster.I¡¯m not afraid of anything." He inched toward her and reached out his hand to unzip her dress. "I know.I won¡¯t do the trial." Japet hugged herself as her voice trembled, Ethan let go of her and stood aside. Biting her lower lip. J ignored him and walked to the sink with the tes.She turned on thep and began to wash the dishes. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. She didn¡¯t want to disagree with him. Anyway, Ethan was busy with his business every day and di?in¡¯t have time to care about her. She could still do the trial next week without letting him know. The next day, as soon as J went to thepany, several messages popped up on herputer. She opened the e-mail and found that a client had contacted her about a design gig for a high payment. Chapter 27: A Magnanimous Client Chapter 27: A Magnanimous Client "Twenty thousand dors?" J stared at herptop screen, her mouth wide open.She quickly typed a message to the client, her fingers flying over the keyboard. This was going to be her first big client ever since her graduation. Given the amount of the offer they had made, she was expecting a heap of strict instructions she would have to abide by. "Excuse me.May I know whether you are a gentleman or ady?" This website yed as a bridge between clients and frence designers. The clients had the option to use their real names or remain anonymous, but most of them didn¡¯t really bother setting up a profile. Most of the profiles in the listings were nothing more than the default gray icon, with no way to tell the client¡¯s gender. "Male," came the client¡¯s reply. "I see.Do you have specific requirements regarding the design, sir?" J leaned forward and propped her chin on one hand, bracing herself for a long list of demands. It didn¡¯t take long for the client to write back. "I have seen the designs you posted on the website.They are very good.You may have free rein in designing my suit.I will provide you with the necessary feedback once you have given me your first draft." J wasted no time and began drawing a prototype ording to the client¡¯s measurements. Meanwhile, thepany had recently asked them for tentative designs meant for a regr, pre- selection process. That meant that none of her work would go to waste in the end. Apart for a few hours¡¯ sleep, J spent all of her time poring over her digital panels. Three dayster, she was finally able to send a final design to the client. The bespoke ensembleprised of a double-breasted, gray jacket with matching trousers, an immacte white dress shirt, and a skinny ck tie. A silver tie clippleted the outfit. Over the course of her work, J had presumed that this client must be young, probably around her age or so. After all, her designs did not appeal to the more mature demographics, but young professionals who liked to look smart and fashionable at the same time. She was also expecting aplete overhaul. In this field, the first drafts almost always needed revisions. If the client was willing to pay such an exorbitant amount of money, and for a rookie¡¯s design, no less, then the preliminary rejection was inevitable. And so, J was utterly surprised when the client instantly approved of her design. "This is brilliant!" "Do you need me to polish anything?" J typed with some trepidation. Despite her good fortune, she was feeling a little guilty about how smooth the transaction was going.It shouldn¡¯t be this easy to earn twenty thousand dors, should it? "Not for the time being.I will contact you if there¡¯s anything I want to change in the future.Don¡¯t worry, this price is reasonable enough.I¡¯m paying for the uniqueness and originality of your design." It seemed that the client had seen through J¡¯s nervousness, hence his words of reassurance.She was about to type her thanks when a payment notification popped up on her dashboard. The client had confirmed their business deal on the website and wired the money to her ount. J clutched herptop in both hands and stared at the figure disyed on her screen. She felt immensely proud and gratified, and it showed in the twinkle of her eyes. Another message popped up from the client. "If you¡¯re interested, we can talk about a long-term coboration." Really? J pictured fireworks going off in the background. "Of course!"she typed hurriedly. "I am.I have plenty of time!" The man then gave her several more orders, all with some minor instructions. He seemed to be very fond of suits, though he wasn¡¯t in any hurry to have them made. He advised J to take her time with her designs, and even reminded her to take a break every now and then "Oh, my God, J! You just made a fortune!" Overjoyed, J got to her feet and bounced on her bed like a little kid. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. All at once, there was an urgent knocking at her bedroom door. Ethan had probably heard her squeal just now. He entered the room without waiting for her to ask what he wanted. "Did something happen?"he asked, frowning. "Ethan! We finally have money!"J eximed as she resumed her festive bouncing. Her long hair danced around her flushed cheeks, and her eyes were clear and bright. The next thing they knew, she had jumped off the bed and was throwing herself in Ethan¡¯s arms. He instinctively reached out to catch her. After making sure that she was all right, he promptly froze on the spot. J was still so engrossed in her recent milestone to notice anything amiss.She pulled back and grinned at him. "Do you know what it means?" "What?" Ethan¡¯s smile was tender, not that he was aware of it.His smile caught her attention, and this time, she was the one who froze. Only then did she realize what she had done. J abruptly pushed against Ethan¡¯s chest and took a couple of steps back. Her face turned red with embarrassment even as she averted her eyes and tidied her messy hair. "I didn¡¯t mean anything by¡­ Well, I was just so happy that I lost sense of what I was doing.I¡¯m sorry." After saying that, J cleared her throat and changed the subject as if nothing significant had happened. "Why did youe, by the way?" "Ah, I heard you yelling and thought something bad happened." Ethan bit his lower lip and put his hands into his trouser pockets. Traces of their brief embrace still lingered in his person-the warmth of her chest, the scent of her hair¡­ If he could, he would have held J in his arms andid in bed all day. Chapter 28: A Big Meal Chapter 28: A Big Meal "Did I disturb you? I¡¯ll try to keep my voice down." Startled, J mped her mouth with her hand and looked at him apologetically. Ethan shook his head and walked to her bed.Then, he slumped onto it and inhaled her sweet fragrance. Propping his head on his arm, Ethan closed his eyes. "What happened? Why are you so happy?" he asked casually "Don¡¯t lie on my bed, Ethan." J¡¯s cheeks puffed as she tried to pull his arm. He was tall and heavy. Finally, she gave up and sat on the chair beside the desk. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. "I met a wealthy and generous client who asked me to design for him.I just submitted my draft and got paid." Ethan opened his eyes and saw J grinning with joy. "Then, you don¡¯t have to go for the drug trial.That¡¯s good." J smiled. She rested her chin on the palm of her hand and poked themp on the desk with one finger.Why don¡¯t you ask me how much I¡¯ve earned? "It¡¯s all your money and is none of my business.I only wish for you not to go for the drug trial." Ethan smiled at her. J didn¡¯t expect him to care so much about her. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she leaned on the desk. The next day, after work, J went to the hospital to pay Hannah¡¯s medical fee. She still had three thousand dors left in her bank ount even after that. When she got home, J wondered if she could take Ethan out for dinner.She would still earn in the future. Moreover, she would get her sry in two weeks. "Ethan, let¡¯s go out for dinner tonight.It¡¯s my treat! I¡¯m going to buy you a big sumptuous meal,"J said, raising her wallet. She looked like she had just won the lottery. Ethan was lying on the sofa.He looked at her tattered wallet and stood up. "Okay, I know a nice ce." When they arrived at the door of a magnificent restaurant, J stiffened. She pursed her lips and pulled Ethan¡¯s arm, who was just about to enter the restaurant. Her eyes widened in horror. "Ethan, this is the best restaurant in the city." The restaurant belonged to the Larson Group and was one of the most famous restaurants in the city.It would cost all her savings to eat here. "Didn¡¯t you want to treat me to a big dinner?" Ethan arched his brows, pretending to be confused J gritted her teeth and forced a smile. "Yeah.Nothing.Let¡¯s go inside." When J checked the menu, she felt she couldn¡¯t afford any of the dishes here. Her heart sank as she skimmed through the menu card. Not even one dish was affordable here. Biting her lower lip, J continued to look at the menu. "Miss, could you please hurry up? We still have to serve other guests," one of the waiters said impatiently, casting a disdainful look at her. Two waitresses nearby cast a scornful look at J. "They shouldn¡¯t havee here if they can¡¯t afford it," one of them whispered to the other. "I haven¡¯t seen them before.They don¡¯t look like regr customers.They¡¯ve been looking at the menu for ten minutes.Don¡¯t they feel ashamed?¡± Chapter 29: The Conflict In The Restaurant Chapter 29: The Conflict In The Restaurant J put down the menu card as the blood drained from her face. She stood up and looked at the two noisy waitresses "What are you talking about? There is no time limit for ordering in your restaurant. Can''t we check the menu for a while before ordering?" The two waitresses examined J¡¯s and Ethan¡¯s clothes and assumed the two were poor people.They didn¡¯t think offending the two would cause them any trouble "We didn¡¯t say anything I guess you are mistaken," one of the waitresses said confidently "That¡¯s right.We were just discussing what to eat tonight," the other waitress chimed in Ethan poured a ss of water for J and stood up I, too, heard what you were talking," he said, ring at them The waitresses looked startled "Are you two here to make trouble on purpose?" one of them asked in a sobbing tone Just then, the restaurant manager heard themotion and approached their table. The manager looked at J and Ethan and back at the waitresses "Enough! Stop fighting¡¯" He waved his hand "Don''t disturb the other diners.What¡¯s going on here?" The waitress pointed at Ethan. "These two have been looking at the menu without ordering anything. We didn''t say anything ! only reminded them to order, but they got offended and started fighting with us¡± The manager¡¯s face darkened as he believed her. This was one of the most popr restaurants in the city. Many diners came to hang out without ordering food and sometimes ordered only the least expensive dish These people came to the restaurant just to click fancy pictures. The restaurant manager hated such people and assumed J and Ethan were here for the same reason "All night I understand what¡¯s going on." The restaurant manager straightened his suit and walked to J "Sir, miss, please leave Other diners are waiting for a table you don''t intend to order, please allow the other diners to upy the table." Ethan¡¯s face darkened.He didn¡¯t expect the restaurant that belonged to Larson Group would have such poor service. The workers disrespected the diners. He wondered how Garrett managed his subordinates. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at the manager. "What makes you think we aren¡¯t going to onder lood? You blindly believe their words without listening to us." The argument caught everyone¡¯s attention. They stopped eating and gawked at them. Several passersby outside were also peeking into the restaurant through the ss door. The manager broke out in a cold sweat. After all, the quarrel would affect the restaurant¡¯s reputation. If the media covered the news, people would stoping to the restaurant. "I¡¯ve already inquired the waiter and waitresses.You two were making trouble out of nothing. How dare you question me. The restaurant manager grew anxious and was desperate to solve the problem as soon as possible. He picked up the walkie talkie on his chest and said, "Security,e to the second floor.A couple is making trouble here Muty up and drive these two people out." J became furious when the manager called the security guards. She walked to the manager and red at him. "Yours is a high end restaurant. How could you insult your daughters like this? Your service is poor, and your workers are impolite.And you drive us out of the restaurant if we point it out? My husband didn¡¯t say anything wrong. How could you disrespect him? You¡¯ve gone too far!" Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. The manager frowned and nced around the guests who were already whispering about the issue. What are you talking about he shouted "Don¡¯t spread nonsense to ruin the reputation of our restaurant Our restaurant is how lor cu exceptional service." Ethan pursed his lips, trying to suppress his smile. He was happy to see his wife defend him. Chapter 30: The Boss Was Here Chapter 30: The Boss Was Here "Come here." Ethan grabbed J¡¯s wrist and pulled her closer to him, "Stay away from him.Look at the man.Aren¡¯t you afraid that he might p you?" he whispered into her ear. "They are wrong.They didn¡¯t offer good service and were extremely rude.They humiliated us.Why should I spend my money here?" J looked at him, anger zing in her eyes.Ethan smiled and gently stroked her hair. "Leave it to me."He then turned to the manager, with a stone-cold face. "I want to see your boss.Call him!" The manager had been working in the restaurant for several years.He could tell Ethan wasn¡¯t an ordinary man but exuded a strong aura. If not for his shabby clothes and menacing looks, the man would have mistaken him for a movie star or a rich young master from some noble family. However, judging from his clothes, the manager felt he was a lowly man trying to cause trouble. He snorted with disdain. "Who do you think you are? My boss won¡¯te and see you as and when you wish." Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. "Believe it or not, if he doesn¡¯t show up, I¡¯ll make sure this restaurant is sealed tomorrow," Ethan said calmly. The threat in Ethan¡¯s voice and the intensity of his gaze frightened the manager. He swallowed as sweat beaded his forehead. "Just wait and see!" He pointed his trembling finger at Ethan. "Just wait and see.Our boss will teach you a lesson." A few minutester, the manager returned with the owner of the restaurant. "Boss, they¡¯re the ones making trouble.We must call the police." The owner¡¯s face turned pallid when he saw Ethan sitting at the table, his cold eyes piercing through him. His legs grew weak. He felt flustered. Their staff had made a grave mistake offending Ethan. "Boss, listen to me.These two people are trying to cause trouble¡­ "Shut up!" the owner shouted, stopping him. He gritted his teeth and red at the manager and the waitresses. "All three of you apologize to our guests right now!" "Boss, we¡­" The manager and the waitresses exchanged nces. They had thought their boss would drive the couple away. But to their utter dismay, he was asking them to apologize. The boss wiped the sweat on his forehead and looked at his staff. "What have I told you? Guests are like God.Peoplee to our restaurant for its exceptional taste and service.What are you doing here?" The manager and the waitresses were frightened. They immediately pressed their palms together and bowed before Ethan and J. "Sorry, we didn¡¯t mean to insult you.Please ept our apologies.We¡¯re really sorry." Ethan turned a deaf ear to them.He calmly poured a ss of water without batting an eyelid at them. J seemed just confused. "Is this how a restaurant owned by the Larson Group treats its guests?" Ethan asked, his jaw tightening with menace. The boss understood the meaning behind his words and looked at the three people standing aside. "That¡¯s enough! All three of you are fired!" Then he turned to Ethan again. "I apologize on behalf of our staff.You can stay here as long as you want ¡ª no one will disturb you.Your dinner is on us.You can order whatever you want." Chapter 31: A Drunken Kiss Chapter 31: A Drunken Kiss J finally snapped out of her astonishment when the owner of the restaurant left with his staff.She quietly stared at Ethan. ¡®How could he be so calm?¡¯ she wondered. "Ethan, what just happened? Why was the owner of this restaurant nice to you? Besides, he didn¡¯t probe the issue to find out what really happened.How was he so sure that the waitresses were rude to us?" J fired one question after the other. "He didn¡¯t have to question them.High-end restaurants always handle problems like these with care because they can¡¯t afford to lose their reputation.The manager and waitresses were thoughtless, but the owner knew what to do.After all, losing even one customer would impact their business because reputation is their biggest asset," Ethan exined. Biting her lip, J nodded in understanding. Ethan¡¯s words made sense. "Speaking of which¡­" She grinned and yfully nudged his arm. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org "You were domineering like you were his boss." "Gangsters like us have to put on an act at all times.It¡¯s a dangerous world.Otherwise, I¡¯d be dead by now." Ethan filled J¡¯s bowl with soup and looked at her. J felt he was right, so she didn¡¯t probe further. Since J didn¡¯t have to pay for their dinner, she enjoyed the meal and ordered all her favorite food. The owner gave them a bottle of Lafite as a token of his apology. J had never tried expensive wine before, so she downed a few sses and soon got drunk. Therefore, Ethan picked her up in his arms and walked out of the restaurant. Sean had been waiting at the door of the restaurant for a long time. He opened the car door for Ethan and grinned at him. "Boss, you and your wife are in a good mood today." "She is drunk." Ethan gently put her inside the car. "Ask Garrett to inspect all the restaurants that belong to the Larson Group once again." Although J didn¡¯t drink much, she was a wimpy drinker. Sheined about feeling hot and wanting to take off her coat when she was only wearing a thin coat and a camisole today. Ethan held her safely in his arms and nced at the rearview mirror. "Behave yourself.We are not alone in the car," he whispered in her ear. Sean immediately looked away. He had been working for Ethan for many years but had never seen him this happy and intimate with anyone else.He felt emotional. ¡®Has he be gentle?¡¯ Sean wondered. However, he quickly shook his head. ¡®Gentle¡¯ didn¡¯t seem like the right adjective to describe Ethan.He had witnessed the fierce and dangerous side of his boss more times than he could remember. "But I¡¯m really hot.Very hot, Ethan," J whined, leaning against his chest.She looked up, and her blurry gaze met his. Ethan¡¯s eyes darkened.He took out a piece of tissue to wipe the sweat off J¡¯s forehead. "Hold on.We¡¯ll be home soon,"he said, stroking her cheek. Ethan¡¯s hormones were on overdrive. In a daze, J rested her head on his shoulder, her nose rubbing against his skin. Her hot breath blew against his neck as her fingers pressed his Adam¡¯s apple. She somehow found it amusing and giggled goofily. "Didn¡¯t I ask you to behave yourself?" Ethan warned. Before J knew it, he pinned her against the car window. His burning body pressed against hers as he stared at her with lustful eyes. J had broken his self-control. He inched forward and kissed her gently. Ethan thought J had taken the initiative to tempt him, so he didn¡¯t bother restraining himself. He cupped her neck and nipped her bottom lip, asking for entrance. J trembled under his weight and grasped his chest.She tilted her head up and opened her mouth to breathe. But Ethan slid his tongue into her mouth, deepening the kiss. Chapter 32: Self Control Chapter 32: Self Control Ethan pressed every inch of his body against J¡¯s.The woman was soon out of breath.She tried pushing him away with all her might. "E¡­ Ethan¡­ Don¡¯t bite me¡­ God, you¡¯re too heavy.You¡¯re crushing me." She turned around, trying to dodge his move, but he cupped her cheeks, trapping her in ce. J couldn¡¯t move as he continued to kiss her deeper. Ethan hoisted J on hisp and cupped her bum. Just as their kissing deepened, the car skidded to a halt as Sean mmed the brakes. The force propelled J and Ethan forward, and the back of her head almost hit the front seat. Sean was still in a state of shock. "That was close.I almost ran into that dog¡­" He turned around and said, "Boss, here we are¡­ Eh?" Sean was startled. He didn¡¯t realize what Ethan and J were doing until now. His face flushed with embarrassment, and he quickly turned away. Ethan took a deep breath and looked at Sean as he tried controlling his raging hormones. "You¡¯re an excellent driver, Sean." Then, he got out of the car and picked J up in his arms. Before leaving, he turned around and red at his assistant. "I¡¯m going to deduct fifty percent of your sry this month to help stray dogs, in case you by any chance run your car on one of them in the future." Sean angrily stomped his foot. ¡®How could Boss deduct my sry over such a trivial thing?¡¯ Ethan put J on the bed and tucked her messy hair behind her ears. "Be good.I¡¯ll run a hot bath for you." With that, Ethan went to the bathroom. J felt stuffy, so she took off her coat and fell asleep. When Ethan entered the room again, J was fast asleep.He looked at her and shook his head. "You never listen to me, do you?" His face softened when he saw her serene face.He pinched her cheek and finally gave up the idea of giving her a bath. Ethan reached out to tuck her in. However, J rolled on the bed and dragged him down. Caught off guard, Ethan lost his bnce and fell on the bed. J immediately wrapped her legs around his, hugged his waist, and rested her head on his chest. She clung to him like a baby ko and drifted off to a peaceful sleep, oblivious to the consequences of her actions. J¡¯s toes rubbed against his shins. Ethan¡¯s body burned with passion.He was turned on. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. The desire he had been holding in while they were in the car hit him with full force now. He quickly turned on the bed and pressed his boy against hers. The sweet scent of her body made his mouth dry. Ethan¡¯s eyes swept across her breasts that rose and fell with her every breath. J always wore loose clothes.She had an alluring figure. Although she looked petite and had a dainty waist, her plump breasts and curvy bum made her look like a model. Ethan leaned forward and kissed her neck. His body froze the next moment, and he suddenly pulled back. After taking a deep breath, he wriggled away from her. He fisted his hair and cursed under his breath. Ethan just couldn¡¯t act on his desires. J was drunk, and he couldn¡¯t take advantage of her. Ethan leaned back against the headboard and looked at J¡¯s face.He had never properly looked at her. J had a wless face with perfect features.She still had baby fat on her cheeks. If she were a size thinner, she would look morous. But Ethan liked how she looked like now.She looked like a pristine beauty. J¡¯s breathing evened as she slept like a baby. Ethan shook his head, lifted the quilt, and quietly walked out of the room. He entered the bathroom and found the water he had prepared for J had turned cold. It wasn¡¯t a waste because he needed to take a cold shower to calm down. Ethan let out a weary sigh. Then, he took off his T-shirt and sank into the bathtub. Chapter 33: Took The Initiative Chapter 33: Took The Initiative A beam of sunlight fell on J¡¯s face.She winced and rubbed her bleary eyes, realizing that it was already morning.Her throat was dry, and there was a dull pounding at her temples. It appeared that she had been drunk the previous night. J scratched at her messy hair and padded to the bathroom in a daze, intending to freshen herself up. When she faced the mirror, however, she was horrified to find her neck and chest dotted with red marks, which were decidedly not insect bites. "Ethan Lester!" J screamed at the top of her lungs, her face burning. "You called for your husband?" Ethan said as he sauntered into the bathroom. A thin sheen of sweat covered his sculpted face, and his gray shirt was damp at the chest.He must have gone running. "What did you do to mest night?" J demanded, crossing her arms over her chest. Ethan raised an eyebrow and looked pointedly at the hickeys around her neck. "You¡¯re seriously asking me what I did to you? Shouldn¡¯t you be asking what you did to me? You started it all.You clung to me and kept touching my body, rubbing my¡ª" "Stop it!" J closed her eyes and put her hands up. "Did you think I would believe all these nonsense you¡¯re spouting?" There was no way she would do those things to him! With a helpless look on his face, Ethan walked away and came back with a crumpled shirt in his hand. "This is the evidence.My chest was also pinched red by youst night.Do you want to have a look?" Then he intended to take off his clothes. "No!" J turned away in a panic.She tried to recall everything that had transpired, but only vague, hazy shes surfaced in her mind. If she wasn¡¯t mistaken¡­ She had, indeed, taken the initiative to kiss Ethan in the car, Great! She had well and truly ruined her image. J had never expected that she would lose allmon sense after a few sses of wine. She bit her lower lip and covered her face with her hands, wishing that a hole would open up below her and swallow her into an abyss. "All right, I didn¡¯t do anything, okay?" Ethan said behind her, his voice deep and husky. "Here, drink this." He handed her a paper cup. J took a sniff of the drink and realized that it was honey water. After drinking it, her stomach finally settled down. The bitter taste of hangover had also disappeared from her tongue. Unfortunately, her mortification remained. J decided to ignore Ethan altogether and proceeded to freshen up for the day.She changed into a turtle-neck dress and rushed out to work. Ethan watched her the entire time, a small smile ying on his lips. As soon as she arrived at the Larson Group, J was called into the conference room. "We have reviewed all the designs you submit for the autumn and winter series," He said. "We¡¯vee to the unanimous decision to use Lind¡¯s designs." He held up a portfolio as his gaze swept down the long table to where J was sitting. "Thank you for this great honor," she gushed. "I¡¯m new here, and I know that I still have much to learn.Please guide me as I move forward.I will value any advice you give me." J had never imagined she wouldnd such a big project so soon.She had been working here for less than a month, after all. Besides, as a neer, she didn¡¯t think it was a good thing to show off her abilities before establishing good rapport with her colleagues, "There¡¯s no need for that.Your designs are excellent as they are.Oh, but if you have any questions, then feel free to ask your seniors." I looked through her portfolio as he spoke, his pride and admiration evident in his eyes. J only smiled in response.She knew that the other designers present in the meeting lIly disagreed with I. "I think those designs are pretty ordinary," Pam Daly muttered under her breath. She had joined the Larson Group a few years prior to J, and had been fully expecting that her designs would be selected this time around. Naturally, she wasn¡¯t happy with this development. "Keep your voice down," one of Pam¡¯s friends reprimanded her softly. "She¡¯s right in front of you." "But I didn¡¯t say anything wrong, did I?" Pam retorted. J pretended not to hear their exchange and focused on sorting out the folders she had brought with her. "Okay, everyone.That¡¯s all for the meeting." I stood and gathered a stack of documents before smiling kindly at J. "I¡¯m going to need you in my office, Lind." J obediently followed him to the other room. I tossed the documents on his desk, unbuttoned his suit jacket, and leaned back against his chair. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. "There¡¯s a cozy vibe to your designs, you know," he remarked. "Your style is unique and memorable, but not in an overpowering way. I see a lot of potential in you, but you do need further training. If you do well with your projects, I will give you more chances to cultivate your skills in the future." I¡¯s gaze had turned sharp as it fell on J¡¯s face. There was nothing particrly special about her features, but she was undoubtedly gorgeous. J fidgeted under his stare. She understood what he was implying, and immediately felt disgusted. Even so, she mustered a light smile. "Thank you, Mr.Lyman.I still have some drafts to finish, so if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be taking my leave now." I grinned and said nothing more. On top of her good looks, this woman also had a strong personality. He did lI it when they were feisty; it brought some spice to the game of pursuit. She would end up taking off her clothes in front of him, anyway. He could wait. "Go ahead." J felt sick and outraged as she made her way back to her desk.She didn¡¯t notice Pam, who had been following close behind her. "It¡¯s no wonder I favors you," Pam thought as she sneered at J¡¯s back. "You¡¯re just another shameless vixen who seduces her way up thedder."Just now, she had stopped by the office on purpose and eavesdropped at the door.¡± The man had made his intentions toward J perfectly clear. Chapter 34: Rumors Chapter 34: Rumors The following week, J took precautions to avoid running into I, but I kept on hinting at her from time to time. One morning, she went to the convenience store downstairs to buy some coffee. As she waited in line, two women nced at her and started whispering to each other. "Isn¡¯t that the woman from the design department who hooks up with me?" "Yeah, I think so!" J overheard their loud whispering and frowned deeply. "What are you two talking about?" The two women were shocked by her sudden confrontation. They quickly shook their heads and smiled embarrassedly. "Nothing, nothing.We mistook you for someone else, that¡¯s all." But that wasn¡¯t thest J heard of this.She soon realized that someone from the design department must have spread unpleasant rumors about her and I. And those rumors spread lI wildfire. Some colleagues who used to be nice to J even started to keep their distance from her. Previously, J was viewed as a well-mannered, kind young woman in the design department. But now that someone had spoken ill of J behind her back, people began to view her in a different light. It was Pam who had first shown hostility towards her. Ever since I announced that he would select J¡¯s design, Pam had been hostile to J to her face. So J suspected that Pam was the one started the rumors. And sure enough, upon careful but quiet observation, she found that it was indeed Pam who was gossiping around. Pam had even made a group chat with many colleagues from thepany. That was where she shared her made-up rumors about J. One day, during lunch break, J went to the tea room and took a bottle of soda. On her way out, she saw Pam nearby. J paused for a second and just left. Pam nced at her mischievously then whispered to the colleague next to her, "I heard Lind went to a hotel with Mr.Lymanst night." "What? No way! Didn¡¯t he have a meeting in the office until verytest night? I don¡¯t know why she lIs him though.He¡¯s such a jerk." The colleague shook her head and sighed. She had thought that J was a beautiful girl and that she was way out of I¡¯s league. "Of course she doesn¡¯t like him.She¡¯s just using him because he¡¯s her immediate supervisor.Some women would do anything to get promoted, am I right? I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if she used to be a married man¡¯s mistress when she was in college.I¡¯ve heard a lot about her ¡®frivolous¡¯ life in college.She just doesn¡¯t care about her reputation.That¡¯s her style." As Pam spoke, she sipped from her water calmly, as though she knew all about what she was talking about. "What? What happened to her when she was in college? Tell me everything!" The colleague leaned in closer towards Pam. "What¡¯re you two whispering about over here? Let me join you!" Apparently, J hade back and was leaning against the door, smiling sweetly at the two women. "Wh-what? Nothing.We were just talking about some gossip we heard on the news." Pam was taken aback when J suddenly spoke.She was so surprised that she stammered and her face turned red. With a gentle smile, J straightened her back and strode over to Pam.She picked up the phone that was lying on the desk and held it up. "Really? I just came back to get my phone, you see." She unlocked the phone and nced at it, then feigned a surprised expression. "Oh, my God! I¡¯m so sorry.The recorder was turned on this whole time.Oh, I know! Let¡¯s listen to what you said just now!" A look of horror shed on Pam¡¯s face.She had no idea that the phone was recording their conversation just now. J turned up the volume of her phone so that everyone in the tea room could hear it clearly. In the recording, Pam¡¯s voice could be heard loud and clear. It also sounded harsh and mean. All eyes were on her now. "What? I never did anything you imed here.But you described it so vividly.How about we confront Mr.Lyman face to face?" After the recording stopped, J sneered.Pam had made everything up.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Chapter 35: Clarification Chapter 35: rification Pam eyed J warily.She never would¡¯ve thought that J would dare to make a scene in public. "You lunatic! How dare you record me? I was having a private conversation with a colleague! This is an invasion of my privacy!" She was so anxious that her voice turned shrill. As she berated J, she tried to grab the phone from her. But J acted quick and dodged her advance. Looking at Pam sharply, she said, "You defamed me first.I¡¯m going to call Mr.Lyman right now.We can confront each other in his presence." Then she strode out of the tea room and went straight to the director¡¯s office. She knocked on the door politely and announced, "Mr.Lyman, it¡¯s Lind." I snickered, thinking that J hade around so soon. "Come in.What¡¯s up?" he asked, feigning a concerned expression. J opened the door and smiled slightly. "Mr.Lyman, could youe out here please? There¡¯s an emergency you need to deal with." Was she actually asking him for help? Awesome! I cleared his throat and smiled greasily. "Of course!" He then followed J out and found a group of people waiting outside his office. Pam was among them, looking nervous with eyes darting around and fists clenched tightly. "What happened?" I looked around him in confusion. "Mr.Lyman, somebody here has been spreading a rumor that we have an affair.She even went so far as to tell people that we went to a hotelst night." J¡¯s voice was calm yet powerful. Everyone couldn¡¯t help but look at her. As she spoke, she took out her phone and held it up. In fact, I¡¯s flirtatious hints were borderline harassment, which annoyed J.She wanted to put a stop to this, so she took this as an opportunity to make him give up on her. After he listened to the recording, It¡¯s expression immediately darkened. Now that J had spoken out about him in public, his n to win her over suddenly seemed lI wishful thinking. He never thought that J, who seemed to be a meek push-over, was actually a tough, capable woman.He had no choice but to snort as though the rumor waspletely ridiculous.He cleared his throat loudly and announced, "Everything that was mentioned in the recording is purely unfounded.I had a meetingst night that ran all the way until midnight.If you don¡¯t believe me, why don¡¯t you ask my wife to testify? Lind and I are not involved with each other except in matters regarding work." The crowd immediately burst into whispers now that the rumor was dispelled. Since I even dared to mention his wife, it meant that there was really no affair between him and J. With a serious look in his eyes, I pointed at Pam and frowned deeply. "Since you have so much extra time to gossip, why don¡¯t you focus on work instead? If I hear that a rumor this spreads again, I¡¯m going to report it to thepany leader." All the color drained from Pam¡¯s face.She knew that she was doomed this time. No boss would ever tolerate a subordinate ndering his name. The next day, as soon as J arrived at the office, the colleague sitting opposite to her suddenly winked at her. "Did you hear? Pam was demoted and transferred to an insignificant department." J cocked her head to the side slightly. After a short pause, she asked, "Was it Mr.Lyman¡¯s doing?" "Of course! You can¡¯t just spread a rumor about your superior.In fact, I think Mr.Lyman actually showed her mercy.At least he didn¡¯t fire her.But I have a feeling that Pam won¡¯t be staying with the Larson Group for very long," the colleague said in a sing -song voice. J smiled slightly.She figured that the real reason why I didn¡¯t notify the authorities was because the matter would also smear his name. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. "Lind, I think you did well.Pam isn¡¯t that capable a worker, but she can get really jealous.She was always stirring up trouble and trying to put her other colleagues down.Now that she¡¯s gone, I think our department will be more peaceful." Another colleague handed a little pastry to J and patted her on the shoulder. "I support what you did.You were so brave yesterday." A faint, warm smile pulled at the corners of J¡¯s lips. Chapter 36: Go Out For Dinner Chapter 36: Go Out For Dinner Ever since I was forced to rify his rtionship with J in public, he had stopped calling her into his office every now and then, or hitting on her lI before. J felt that he had probably given up and was gradually relieved about it. It was Saturday tomorrow, and she was looking forward to it. She had nned to buy some fruits and visit Hannah after work. Hannah¡¯s condition had stabilized ever since she was transferred to another hospital. As soon as J turned off herputer, I called her from behind. "Lind, don¡¯t rush off work.Pack your things ande with me.We¡¯ll go out for dinnerter, and it will be considered overtime.Thepany will offer you extra payment for it." J bit her lip; she had an inkling about the dinner. "Mr.Lyman, what kind of dinner is it? Is anyone else joining us?" I calmly looked around and said, "Everyone has left.Only you¡¯re here.I can¡¯t ask anyone else to join us, can I? I just received the news that there is a chance to win this client over and design customized products for their brand this year.Let¡¯s see if we can make it happen tonight." J looked around.Her colleagues had indeed left work. J had sketched an extra design draft. That was why she had stayed in thepany longer. But she was confused as to why I was asking her to attend the dinner. After all, she was a new employee in thepany. ¡®Doesn¡¯t he have an assistant? I¡¯m not experienced enough to discuss business, nor can I drink,¡¯ she thought. "Mr.Lyman, why don¡¯t you ask someone else to join you? I have important work to do tonight." J picked up her bag, ready to leave. I quickly grabbed her wrist and looked into her eyes. "Don¡¯t be nervous.I just want to help you.You are just getting started with your career, and you have practically no resources.Now, you have the chance to be friends with big shots in the fashion world.Don¡¯t toss it away for some silly reason." J wriggled her hand away from I¡¯s grip. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org "Mr.Lyman, we are in thepany now.If you keep behaving like this, people will end up misunderstanding us.Don¡¯t forget that you have already rified our rtionship once.You don¡¯t want to do it again, do you?" "Lind, don¡¯t be so stubborn.We are all here to work.It¡¯s just a dinner.Why are you making a big deal out of it? This is a workce, not a school.You ought to follow the rules and regtions here," I said sternly, his eyes gleaming with sarcasm. "It is not that I don¡¯t want to go with you.I really have an important work to do." J didn¡¯t want to argue with him. "Don¡¯t be so reckless!" I snapped. He raised his hand, trying to pull her away. Just then, someone grasped her wrist. "Mr.Lyman, this is the 21st century.Don¡¯t you know that you can¡¯t force your subordinate into doing something she doesn¡¯t want to?" Christopher¡¯s jaw tightened. Although he looked calm, the anger was evident in his eyes. Noticing that it was Christopher, I calmed down and straightened his suit. He didn¡¯t dare to be too arrogant in front of Christopher, but he wasn¡¯t afraid of him either. "This is none of your business.Stay out of it." He turned and red at J. "Don¡¯t be so reckless! If you let me down, I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t work with the Larson Group anymore." J¡¯s face darkened at his threat. Now that Christopher was here, I couldn¡¯t do anything to her. However, she couldn¡¯t afford to lose the job and didn¡¯t want Christopher to offend I because of her and end up losing his job. "Chris, don¡¯t worry about me.It will be fine." J smiled at him. Then, she turned to look at me as her icy gaze met his. "Mr.Lyman, I¡¯ll go with you." Chapter 37: Danger Chapter 37: Danger They arrived at a five-star hotel. J followed Ike into a private room and found that the people he went to meet weren¡¯t clients but just a bunch of his friends. There was a big round table filled with all kinds of sushi and sashimi, and in the middle, there was a carved gon. At the table sat a group of men dressed in strangely styled clothes. Each of them held a ss of wine in one hand and a woman in the other. The women all wore heavy makeup and skimpy dresses. Their faces were all red from drinking. When they saw Ike, they raised their eyebrows and one of them shouted at him, "Oh, finally! Get over here, I! We¡¯ve all been waiting for you!" Keeping her face neutral, J sat among I¡¯s friends and theirdypanions.It was obvious that the women were working girls. The women looked at J with a smile as if weing one of their own to the party.They even raised their eyebrows and winked at J.The men fondled the women, and the women giggled. The low moans and the stifled squeals gave the room an atmosphere of drunken lust. The entire time, J felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.She itched to run far, far away. "Why are you so nervous?" Ike¡¯s cheeks were red. He stared at her lewdly and put his hand on her thigh. Frightened, J stood up and dumped wine on I¡¯s face, "You are such a lecher! Don¡¯t touch me!" The people around them didn¡¯t seem to be surprised though. In fact, they even startedughing. "Ike, the girl you brought seems to be hot-tempered.You better teach her a lesson tonight so that she¡¯ll behave herself." After that, some of I¡¯s friends stood up and led theirdy friends to their respective rooms for thetter part of the party. Obviously, I already had too much to drink, but he didn¡¯t get angry at J¡¯s behavior. He just chuckled and said, "What¡¯s wrong with me touching you? You¡¯re not worth much more than those women who have sex with men for money, unless you¡¯re still a virgin though.Are you? Hey, if you let me pop your cherry, I¡¯m willing to pay you much, much more.What do you say? Sounds good?" Ike¡¯s words and movements became more and more indecent. At the same time, J just wanted to take off her shoes and beat Ike up.She knew that if she stayed here, she¡¯d be in great danger. "Excuse me, Mr.Lyman.I seem to have consumed too much water.I need to go to thedies¡¯ room.I¡¯ll be right back." Gritting her teeth, J forced a smile. "Okay.Don¡¯t take too long.You still have to serve me." I reached out his hand and touched the side of J¡¯s face. Then, he stuck his face to her neck and sniffed. A small, satisfied sound escaped his throat. "You smell so good." J pushed him away, grabbed her purse, and ran out of the room.She rushed to the elevators and pushed the down button. It didn¡¯t matter to her anymore if she lost her job. Her life was more important. She didn¡¯t have much experience and thought things too simply.She didn¡¯t expect that I, who seemed to be a decent person, would be such ascivious man.She shouldn¡¯t have gone with him tonight. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Finally, the elevator doors whirred open. When J was about to step in, somebody suddenly grabbed her from behind. "Let¡¯s go to the bathroom together, and then let¡¯s have sex right inside the bathroom stall.How¡¯d you like that?" I reeked of alcohol. He leaned his head on J¡¯s shoulder and rubbed up against her. "You bastard! Get away from me!" Even though already nauseated, J desperately struggled to break free from Ike. But she was too thin and weak to overpower such a strong, albeit intoxicated, man.I locked J in a tight embrace. "Don¡¯t be so stubborn.Many women in thepany have slept with me.And the day after, they went right back to work.Some of them even got promoted and got a raise.They had it easy.All they did was go to bed with me." As he spoke, he dragged her into an empty room nearby. Chapter 38: I’m Her Husband Chapter 38: I¡¯m Her Husband "Help! Help! He¡¯s trying to rape me!" J grasped the door frame and shouted desperately.I held her waist tightly and dragged her into the room. Despite struggling with all her might, helpless tears rolled down her cheeks.She kept shouting until her voice grew hoarse. However, no one responded to her pleas. Then, a flicker of hope ignited in her heart when she caught a glimpse of a waiter pushing a dining cart down the corridor in the distance. Hoping against hope that the waiter could help her, she shouted with all of her might, "Help! This man¡¯s trying to rape me! Please help me! Call the police! Please!" The waiter paused and nced at her as she called to him desperately. However, his eyes were cold, and he then proceeded to walk away as though he hadn¡¯t seen or heard anything, disappearing behind the corner of the corridor. "Shut up already.People here won¡¯t meddle in our business even if they see it.After all, they¡¯ve seen too much of it.So be a good girl and do as I say.Maybe I¡¯ll even be nice to youter." As I spoke, he eyed J¡¯s exposed waist hungrily.He couldn¡¯t wait to kiss her bare skin. However, as soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly felt a heavy blow to his face and he fell backwards onto the floor.I was shocked. His face stung and, as the taste of metallic blood filled his mouth, he could tell that one of his teeth was broken. "What the fuck? How dare you hit me?!" I spat out the loose tooth and a mouthful of blood. Touching his stinging cheek gingerly, he flew into a rage. When he turned to look at the perpetrator, his eyes met that of a fierce man standing over him. The tall, burly man was wearing a ck jacket and a ck cap. Beneath his cap, his eyes gleamed coldly. "Ethan!" Wiping her teary eyes, J rushed to Ethan as though she had seen her savior. Ethan met her halfway and stepped in front of her protectively.He took the ck cap off of his head and put it on hers. Then, he wiped her tear-stained cheeks with his thumbs and said through gritted teeth, "Get out of here.Now." Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. "Damn it! Fuck you, you bastard!" I angrily got to his feet. With clenched fists, he rushed towards Ethan in a fit of rage. But before he couldnd a blow, Ethan caught I¡¯s fist and twisted it, forcing I to the ground. It was lke subduing a weak chicken. With dark eyes, Ethan raised his own fist to punch the despicable I¡¯s face. Ethan was a force to be reckoned with. After all, he was born ruthless and cruel. I was beaten to a pulp. When Ethan was done, I couldn¡¯t get up. Two or three of his teeth were knocked out, and blood flowed freely from his nose. Finally, he shrieked, "Let go of me! Please! Someone, help! He¡¯s trying to kill me!" It wasn¡¯t until I¡¯s voice went hoarse that Ethan finally straightened his clothes and stood up.But he wasn¡¯t done yet.He kicked I¡¯s dick and spat coldly, "Do something like this again and I¡¯ll cut your balls off." I immediately crumpled and rolled on the ground, screaming in pain loudly. It took a while for him to recover. He quickly retreated a safe distance, lI a cornered dog. While he didn¡¯t dare to attack Ethan again, he still had the audacity to spit at Ethan. "Who are you? How dare you meddle in other people¡¯s business?" Ethan calmly walked up to J and put his arm on her shoulder. To Ike, he held his chin up high and said coldly, "I¡¯m her husband." Trembling like a leaf, I stood up, gnashed his teeth, and pointed at Ethan. "This isn¡¯t over! I won¡¯t rest until you¡¯re behind bars!" Then his pointing finger shifted to J. "And you! Don¡¯t even think abouting back to the Larson Group.I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re banned from the whole industry, bitch!"Ethan sneered, sending shivers down Ike¡¯s spine. "Is that so? I guess we¡¯ll have to wait and see." At this point, he didn¡¯t want to waste his breath with Ike anymore.So, with his arm around J¡¯s shoulder, he turned around and left along with her. Chapter 39: Sneaking Around Chapter 39: Sneaking Around Ethan led J into the elevator.She kept her head down and her hands were sped tightly together.She was still trembling.Her breathing was also faster than normal. All of a sudden, Ethan lifted the ck cap he put on her head. J looked up in a panic. Warm tears had already welled in her eyes.Her longshes were wet and shiny. This made her look pitiful and beautiful at the same time. "Are you hurt?" A faint gleam of pity flickered in his eyes as he checked her body.He pinched her cheeks and stared at them for a while. Next, he reached down to lift her clothes with the intention of checking her waist. J quickly held her clothes down with both hands. Her face flushed and she shifted uneasily. "Please don¡¯t do that.I¡¯m fine.Don¡¯t worry about me," she said in a low voice. Afterward, she kept silent again.She looked so depressed with her head lowered. Ethan sensed her uneasiness and fright. To put her at ease, he wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly. Her waist was so slim that his long arms circled itfortably. "Don¡¯t be afraid.I promise to protect you from that pervert from now on.No harm woulde to you," he said assuredly after sighing deeply His doting voice took J by surprise. She raised her head to look at him. With her eyebrows slightly furrowed, shemented, "I¡¯m not unhappy because I almost got raped today.There¡¯s something else on my mind." J was somewhat dependent on him. Ethan had always given her a sense of security. Even today, he had stood up for her as a knight in shiny armor. Thus, she rested assured about her safety as long as she stayed with him. Something else was causing her to worry though. Her mind teemed with several unfavorable things that might happen. "I won¡¯t let this slide.I¡¯m sure I would be fired from my job.I had my heart in my mouth earlier.Due to the way you rained blows on him, I was afraid that he would be disabled or worse still, die.Do you know if any of that had happened, you would be sent to jail?" Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. "Don¡¯t worry your pretty head over such things.None of it will ever happen.I won¡¯t go to jail," Ethan responded in a calm voice The next second, his eyes darkened and he held her more tightly. "Besides, why are you afraid of Ike? He¡¯s just a nobody who has a big mouth!" "Uh-huh.I hear you.Anyway, why were you also in the hotel?" J¡¯s mind drifted to the women she had seen in the private dining room a while ago. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Ethan was also there to hook up with other women. Insecurity set in and caused the gleam in her eyes to change suddenly. Garrett was a phnderer. He changed women as if he was changing his underwear. Tonight, he had taken Ethan to such a messy ce to have fun. It seemed like he wanted to introduce him to his bad ways. "Nothing much.My boss just invited me to have dinner with him." "Oh," J muttered. Whenever people affixed the two words, ¡®nothing much¡¯ to their response there was a high chance that they had done the exact opposite. She began to worry again.She pursed her lips and buried her face in his chest silently. As soon as they arrived at the apartment, J rushed into the bathroom. The disgusting smell of the cigarettes and alcohol was kicking up her gag reflex. It reminded her of Ike¡¯s ugly face.She wanted to take a bath to get rid of all the traces of that disgusting man. Immediately she turned on the shower, hot water flowed to her head and went down to her body. Her sight soon became blurry. The ss became misty. The mixed scent of her shower gel and the steam soothed her tensed nerves. J scrubbed her body as if she had fallen into a muddy ditch. When she was done, she began to look for clothes to wear. It suddenly urred to her that she had rushed to the bathroom absentmindedly. She hadn¡¯t brought anything to change into. Her original clothes were already wet. Biting her lower lip hard, she gave herself a knock on the head. She felt too stupid at the moment.She wrapped her body with a bath towel. It was so short that it barely covered her cleavage down to her thighs. Out of frustration, she held her head and squatted on the floor. She couldn¡¯t go out like this, nor could she ask Ethan to help her fetch her clothes.It would be so embarrassing. Her underwear was in the same drawer as the pajamas. She didn¡¯t want a man to see her private clothes. J pressed her ear against the bathroom door and listened carefully. No sound came from outside. After listening carefully for a while, she slowly opened the door and poked her head out. There was no one in the living room. It seemed that Ethan was in his room. With her heart beating fast, J ced her hand on her bosom to prevent the towel from falling. She then walked out of the bathroom, intending to sneak back into her room. She had calcted that she would make it to her bedroom without Ethan seeing her. Unfortunately, she had only taken two steps on her tiptoes when the knob of Ethan¡¯s bedroom door was suddenly turned. The door swung open in a trice. Chapter 40: You Shouldn’t Dress Like This Chapter 40: You Shouldn¡¯t Dress Like This Just as Ethan was about to walk out of the bedroom, J, wearing nothing but a bath towel, came out of the bathroom and met his gaze.The two looked at each other wordlessly for a moment. Ethan then slipped one hand into his trouser pocket, while the other hand was holding a mug. Nobody spoke for what seemed like an eternity. Ethan, truth be told, was stunned speechless. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he gulped excitedly.He was much taller than J, so he could clearly see her cleavage peeking from above the bath towel. When J realized what he was looking at, she blushed a bright red and tried to rush into her room, intending to pretend that nothing had happened. l took Ethan two steps to grab her by the wrist and pull her into his arms from behind. The woman¡¯s skin was smooth and supple, subconsciously making him want to caress it. "Honey, you shouldn¡¯t dress like this and walk around," He teased in a low voice, deliberately poking fun of her. J opened her mouth to say something, but soon found that she was at a loss for words. "Wh-what are you talking about? I just forgot to bring my clothes into the bathroom.Let go of me!" Covering her chest with one hand, J looked up at him stubbornly. Ethan did the opposite and pulled her even closer to him.She could feel his breath on the back of her neck. He took in her scent. She smelled like fresh body wash, simr to how her room smelled. "Don¡¯t worry.I won¡¯t bite.Let me just walk with you, okay?" Ethan pinched her gently on the waist and asked, "Why are you shaking? Are you cold?" Biting her lower lip, J almost cried out when he pinched her. His behavior gave her goose bumps. Ethan¡¯s warm breath tickled the back of her ear. She tightly clenched the bath towel that was wrapped around her. Stammering, she realized she was still scared of Ethan. "It¡­ It¡¯s improper for a man to touch a woman like this.Just let me go, Ethan.Stop teasing me." "What¡¯re you talking about? We¡¯re married.It¡¯s only right for us to be intimate like this." With a serious look on his face, Ethan suddenly loosened his grip so that he could look J up and down to see if there were any bruises on her body. "Are you really okay?" J blushed, thinking that he was ogling her. She held her arms over her chest protectively, blocking Ethan¡¯s view of her cleavage. "I¡¯m fine,"she said hurriedly. "Just let me go back to my room." She struggled, trying to squirm out of Ethan¡¯s arms. But if she kept struggling like this, her bath towel would definitely unravel and fall to the ground. "We¡¯ve kissed each other already.Why are you still so shy?" The corners of Ethan¡¯s mouth twitched.He was flirting with her on purpose. Pinching her cheek, he suddenly grew serious. "I hope you¡¯ve learned your lesson.You¡¯re young and beautiful.Quite an easy target.I can¡¯t guarantee I¡¯ll be there to save you all the time." When Ethan came back, the image of J crying silently kept reying in his mind. He frowned slightly, thinking that he shouldn¡¯t have let that lecherous man off the hook so easily.He should¡¯ve beaten him until he could never stand up again. Her doe-like eyes widened and she nodded obediently. All of a sudden, she found herself smiling. She couldn¡¯t help but feel ttered by hispliment about her beauty. "Okay, okay.Can you let me go now?" J¡¯s pouted, albeit red-faced. The bath towel was in a precarious position.She could feel it loosening around her body. Ethan hesitated for a few seconds.His eyes were fixed on her blushed face and he stole a nce at her charming chest.He was, in a word, captivated by her. His eyes clouded over and he couldn¡¯t think straight. In a hoarse voice, he whispered, "Do you want me toe inside with you?" Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. J shrieked and pushed him away. "No! You bastard! Haven¡¯t you heard a word I¡¯ve said?" Without waiting for a response, J rushed into her room and mmed the door. Ethan didn¡¯t dare to stop her. He stood there, stunned, as the bath towel fluttered to the ground in front of the closed door.He saw something he shouldn¡¯t have seen just now.He cursed, feeling hot all over. Leaning against the wall heavily, he pulled at his cor as though it was choking him. Chapter 41: Video Evidence Chapter 41: Video Evidence The next day, J went to work.Her stomach churned with unease the entire time.She knew that Ike wouldn¡¯t spare her for what happenedst night. As soon as she arrived at her desk and sat down, Ike stormed out of his office and threw a stack of documents on her table. "You are fired! Pack your things and get out of here now!" J picked up the documents and looked at them ¡ª they were all design drafts she had previously submitted. "May I know why you¡¯re firing me, Mr.Lyman?" she asked calmly. There was still a Band-Aid on the bridge of his nose to cover the injury he had sufferedst night. His eyes were zing with rage. J¡¯s words reminded him of the way he was humiliatedst night. "You¡¯re ipetent for your current position!" he spat venomously. "Pack your things and get out of the Larson Group.You¡¯re just a graduate.I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t flourish in the fashion field, ever.As long as I¡¯m in the industry, you won¡¯t be able to get a job, let alone seed in your career." "You already approved my designs.Why do you say I¡¯m ipetent now?" J retorted, clutching her design documents. Her sharp gaze met his, and she didn¡¯t seem afraid in the slightest. Ike¡¯s screams drew the attention of other employees. Everyone stopped working and looked up at them. "That¡¯s right.Mr.Lyman.We have already started executing Lind¡¯s design n after you approved them," said one of J¡¯s colleagues. J had a good rtionship with everyone in the department, and her colleagues liked and respected her. "Is there any misunderstanding? Mr.Lyman, we all have witnessed Lind¡¯s exceptional talent.She is dynamic and diligent." Ike¡¯s face darkened when he saw his colleagues standing up for J. He cleared his throat and said, "There is no misunderstanding.The design n is changed now.She is fired! I¡¯ll pick a new design from what you all submitted earlier.No more questions! I¡¯m the director.If I say she is ipetent, it means she is!" The people around fell silent and cast a sympathetic look at J. By now, everyone guessed that J had offended Ike in some way, and that was probably why he was firing her.Ike had made his decision. Moreover, he was a respected senior designer in the design industry, and no one dared to question his decisions or argue with him. J breathed a long sigh of relief. Considering what happenedst night, she knew things would end this way.She gritted her teeth and sorted her designs, preparing to pack her things.Her heart sank at the knowledge that she wasn¡¯t an employee of the Larson Group anymore. "Wait!" said an intimidating male voice. J looked up and found that it was Garrett. He nced at J and walked toward Ike. "Lyman, someone has filed a report stating that you have molested a female employee in thepany and attempted to rape her." Everyone in the design department burst into an uproar. All eyes turned toward Ike as they eyed him with scrutiny. "What? Mr.Harding, I would never do such a thing.Someone must have filed aint against me on purpose, just to ruin my reputation," Ike said, shaking his head fiercely. At that moment, Christopher walked into the design department. "You would never do such a thing?" He glowered at Ike. "Yesterday, I saw you forcefully take Miss Lind to a dinner party and threaten her with her job." Ike grew tense. "You¡¯re just making groundless usations!" he snorted coldly. "I thought Lind had potential, so I proposed to take her to a party held for designersst night.I wanted to introduce her to some designers and help her.I didn¡¯t mean to molest her at all." J clenched her fists and red at the man. Bile rose in her throat. She couldn¡¯t believe he had the audacity to lie after what happened. "Let¡¯s see the evidence first.Only then will we know whether it¡¯s true or not." A knowing smile emerged on Garrett¡¯s face.His assistant immediately opened theptop and yed a video. The ce looked like a hotel corridor. The door of an elevator opened, and J wanted to get in, but Ike dragged J out. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Her hair was disheveled, the panic evident in her eyes. She struggled desperately as Ike tried dragging her into a room. ¡°Is this how you help an employee?" Garrett sneered, his face red with rage. Chapter 42: A Kiss Chapter 42: A Kiss The video clearly proved that Ike had assaulted J and attempted to rape her.He knew nothing would save him now.His legs grew weak, and he slumped on the chair beside him. Garrett signaled his assistant to take away theptop. "The evidence says it all.Ike Lyman, you are fired from the Larson Group on ount of molesting a fellow employee." Ike looked at J with resentment, thinking about how to take revenge on her. A group of police officers then came and dragged Ike away.Christopher walked to J and said apologetically, "I¡¯m sorry.I shouldn¡¯t have let Ike take you away yesterday.Did he hurt you?" J shook her head, smiling. Then, she put her design works on the table. "It¡¯s not your fault, Chris.I told you not to get involved in the issue yesterday.I thought it was just a casual dinner with clients.How stupid I was.Fortunately, someone saved me in time yesterday, so nothing happened." "Well, that¡¯s good.Thank God you don¡¯t have to leave the Larson Group now.I wonder who filed a report against Ike," Christopher said, smiling bitterly. He regretted missing the opportunity. If he had stopped J from going with Ike or followed her vigntly, he might have been the one who saved her.He would have been a hero in front of her eyes. After Ike left, his position as the Department Director was vacant. Garrett conducted a meeting with the senior executives and appointed, Tiffany Fisher, the director of another department to take over Ike¡¯s position.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org She, too, was a renowned fashion designer once. When J returned from work, a wave of relief washed over her when she saw a man jogging in the community. "Ethan!" J waved at him. The man gradually slowed down. J couldn¡¯t wait to talk to him. Looking at his handsome, sweaty face, she asked, "Is it you who filed a report against Ike?" "Yes." Ethan nced at her and stopped running. He opened the bottle in his hand, gulped down a few mouthfuls of water, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and asked, "Was he arrested?" J followed him as he walked. "Yes.He was fired and took away by police this morning.How did you get the surveince video from the hotel though?" Such an incident would ruin the reputation of the hotel. Therefore, they wouldn¡¯t share the video with anyone, lest they got into trouble. Moreover, J was a hundred percent sure about it because she had tried calling for help when it happened, but the waiter just ignored her. Ethan took theptop bag from her shoulder and walked toward their apartment. "I got some capable friends, so I asked them to help me get the footage." "Wow! You do know a lot of people." J looked at him in awe, trusting his words. The longer she stayed with Ethan, the more she felt he was reliable and observant.She felt he had friends in every field. "Thank you for helping me.You have no idea how shameless and persuasive he was.He denied the fact even when Mr.Harding was there." Ethan opened the door, walked in, and threw the keys on the table. Seeing the smile on J¡¯s face, he arched an eyebrow and looked at her, "After all I did, you¡¯re just going to thank me verbally? That seems like an insincere gesture." "What else do you want me to do? All right.How about I cook a hearty meal for you tonight?" J tilted her head and looked at him, blinking innocently. "You think it¡¯s that easy to satisfy me?" Ethan slowly raked his eyes across her body. J pouted and looked at him. "What do you want then?" Ethan¡¯s gaze settled on her plump lips as a wave of passion consumed him. He was really attracted to her. "Well, why don¡¯t you fulfill your duty as a wife by making love to me?" Ethan stared into her eyes; his maic gaze seemed to suck her into a state of bliss. "Be serious!" J blushed and turned around to leave. Ethan grabbed her hand and scratched his hair. "All right.At least kiss me." J turned around and pursed her lips without answering his question. Seeing that she didn¡¯t refuse, Ethan pulled her closer to him, gently took her hand, and wrapped them around his waist. "Hurry up." He closed his eyes and said, "I won¡¯t look at you." J¡¯s face turned hot. Since Ethan was standing with his eyes closed, she mustered the courage to look at him. He was a handsome man, mature, and manly. J¡¯s heart took a sprint in her chest as she looked at him. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, J looked at his lips, stood on tiptoe, and gently kissed him. Chapter 43: Too Dangerous Chapter 43: Too Dangerous As soon as J pressed her lips against his, Ethan felt a surge of frenzied passion.He picked her up in his arms and put her on the sofa.He wrapped his arms around her and pecked on her lips. "You¡¯re too naive." He smiled. J was startled. The man pressed her against the sofa and deepened the kiss, swallowing her screams. The room was silent, except for the ticking of the clock and rustling of clothes. "En¡­ enough¡­ Ethan!" J grasped Ethan¡¯s shirt and looked away, intending to escape.She didn¡¯t expect a small peck to turn into something this wild and passionate. His tongue explored her mouth with aggression as if he was going to devour her. Ethan pressed his forehead against J¡¯s and stared into her eyes, gleaming with inexplicable emotions.He cupped the back of her neck with his palm and gently nipped her bottom lip. Then, he grasped her pert bum and pressed it against his hardness. His body had turned hot and stiff. All of a sudden, J¡¯s eyes sprang up. She quickly pushed him away, gasping for breath. "No, Ethan!" However, Ethan was not ready to let go of her. He rested his head on her shoulder and bit her corbone, peppering soft kisses on her neck. Noticing that J was trembling under him, he pressed his mouth against her ear. "Don¡¯t you want it?" he whispered, his hot breath blowing against her skin. "Or is there any other reason? Are you afraid I won¡¯t be nice to you if we be a real couple?" J¡¯s mind was a mess. The man¡¯s kisses drove her crazy. If this continued, they might end up having sex. Before things went out of control, she quickly pulled back and turned her head. "No¡­ Ethan.I really can¡¯t! Please¡­" "Why not? Tell me the reason." Ethan asked, his voice thick with lust. He looked up at her, searching for answers.His long legs were casually slung around J, trapping her in ce. "I¡¯m not ready yet." She picked up a pillow and covered her flushed face to hide her embarrassment. Moreover, she had married Ethan in ce of Jocelyn. She wasn¡¯t supposed to get married to him in the first ce. If she and Ethan had sex and became a real couple, she wouldn¡¯t be able to forgive herself for deceiving him. After all, J didn¡¯t know what would happen to her and Ethan in the end. Ethan¡¯s body froze.He narrowed his eyes and examined her. "Haven¡¯t you had sex with your ex-boyfriends?" J clutched the cushion tightly and shook her head subconsciously. Then she realized something was off.She was here as Jocelyn. Ethan must have heard that Jocelyn jumped from one rtionship to another. How could Jocelyn still be a virgin? J panicked. Staying with him seemed too dangerous. "Well, I have a deadlineing.I should submit my designs as soon as possible.Let go of me.I need to go back to my room." J pushed Ethan away. Her body was hot as if she were having a fever. Ethan, too, was hot. The smell of his sweat mingled with the faint minty fragrance made her blush. "At least let me hug you a little longer.I won¡¯t force you," Ethan said in a grumpy voice. He frowned unhappily and wrapped his arms around J.He wondered why J wanted to workte at night. ¡®Is her client that important?¡¯ Although he was the client, it didn¡¯t make him feel any good. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org The tightness of his grip made J ufortable. She felt a surge of heat travel southward.She pushed Ethan away and hurriedly smoothed her dress. "No.I really have to work now." Seeing her running back to her room in a fit of panic, Ethan turned his head and leaned back on the sofa, sighing helplessly. In the room, J held her pencil for nearly an hour but didn¡¯t know where to begin.She couldn¡¯t calm down as she couldn¡¯t stop reying her hot kiss with Ethan in her mind. He was eager to make love to her. ¡®Oh stop it, J!¡¯ She scolded herself silently. She squeezed her eyes shut and blushed again.She couldn¡¯t concentrate on the design, so she turned on theptop to contact the wealthy client.She named him "Rich Party A". "Sir, I had a really bad stomachache today and had to go to the hospital.Could you extend my deadline by a day?" She sent the message along with a crying emoji. Rich Party A responded immediately: "You don¡¯t need to work on the design anymore." Chapter 44: Repudiation Chapter 44: Repudiation Thinking the client was unhappy, J quickly sent a message. "I¡¯ll finish the design.I promise.I¡¯ve brought myptop to the hospital.You don¡¯t have to give me an extra day.I¡¯ll finish it today, I promise." Rich Party A replied, "I don¡¯t need it for the time being.Don¡¯t worry.You¡¯ll still get the payment." J pped her hands excitedly as her heart swelled with gratitude. She quickly typed, "I¡¯m grateful and moved.You¡¯re the best client in the world!" Ethan turned off his phone and walked into the bathroom, holding his clothes. A small smile stretched across his lips as he recalled what happened in the living room. It was Friday, and the weather was rtively hotter and humid. It felt as if the entire city was set aze. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Everyone was sweating profusely, and the scent of sunscreen wafted in the air. After work, J took the bus back home. She gazed out the window, listening to music and watching the scenes whizzing past. Suddenly, her ringtone red, interrupting the music.She looked at the phone: It was a call from the hospital. Her heart tightened. "Hello, Miss Lind.We are speaking from the municipal hospital.Hannah Stone is on the top of the waiting list for liver transntation now.Please arrange the expenses for the operation as soon as possible.We can perform the surgery as soon as we find a suitable liver for her." It was the best news she had heard in a long time. J wanted to scream with joy. "Okay, okay.Thank you.Thank you so much!" J hung up the phone and breathed a sigh of relief. Hannah had been waiting for the transnt for a long time. It was finally happening. J prayed for Hannah to find a suitable donor and get better. Now, all she needed to do was arrange the money. Fiona owed her arge sum anyway for marrying Ethan in ce of her daughter. The next day, J went to the Lind family¡¯s vi again. "What the hell are you doing? If you break into the house again, I¡¯ll call the police!" The maid tried her best to drive J out. "I¡¯m here to see Fiona.Let me in!" J tried breaking into the house. "They haven¡¯te back yet! Get out of here! Or I¡¯ll call the police!" The maid stood by the door like a human shield. J sneered and pointed at the window upstairs. "Do you think I¡¯m an idiot? I saw through the window.Fiona is right inside, walking around." Fiona didn¡¯t even bother hiding when she wanted to deceive J. Perhaps she thought J was a fool, whom she could easily deceive. Sound ofughter and the muffled voices of Fiona and Bernie came from the house. The maid rolled her eyes to hide her guilt and tried shutting the door. "They¡¯re not here.Is something wrong with your ears? If you don¡¯t leave right now, I¡¯ll ask the security guards to drive you away!" J quickly hurried to the door. Her heart sank with dejection. It looked like Fiona didn¡¯t even bother to lie ore up with an excuse this time. Now that J was married to Ethan and her n had seeded, she didn¡¯t feel the need to pay her anymore. "No.I¡¯m going to wait right here.You go in and tell them if they don¡¯t give me the money today, I¡¯ll tell Ethan that Fiona asked me to marry him in ce of her daughter Jocelyn, and this wedding was a hoax.Ethan was supposed to marry Jocelyn in the first ce.If he knows the truth, he won¡¯t spare Fiona for deceiving him.If I can¡¯t get the money, I¡¯ll make sure she doesn¡¯t live a peaceful life either." Chapter 45: Humiliation Chapter 45: Humiliation Seeing that J was dead serious, the maid went into the house and told Fiona about what J had said. "Did she really say that?" Fiona was enjoying her strawberries.Her hand stilled when she heard that.Her gentle face reddened with rage. She looked at Bernie, who was sitting next to her. "J has gone too far.How could she talk to her parents this way? After all, we adopted her.Although she is not close to us, I wish she at least showed us some gratitude for the things we have done for her.Do you remember what I said back then? Your parents insisted on letting us adopt her.It was unnecessary, wasn¡¯t it? Look at what trouble it has brought us.Now, she is ckmailing us.What do you think we should do?" The memories of the past made Fiona hate J even more.She pulled a tissue from the box and wiped her tears. Seeing Fiona cry again, Bernie shook his head helplessly. "No, J is not that kind of a person.She would never do that.It was all your fault.Why didn¡¯t you just give her the money as promised? None of this would have happened if you hadn¡¯t gone back on your word." Fiona dramatically cupped her face and wailed loudly. "Jocelyn is our biological daughter ¡ª our flesh and blood.Doesn¡¯t she need money to live on in the future? We have raised J all these years, and for what? Her marriage with Ethan is a way of repaying us for raising her all these years.It seems fair.Why is she stilling here and making trouble?" On the one hand, she was resentful, and on the other hand, she was terrified that J would reveal the secret that she had married Ethan as Jocelyn¡¯s substitute. Jocelyn was Fiona¡¯s precious daughter ¡ª the true heir of the Lind family.She was far superior to an adopted child like J. If Ethan knew that he wasn¡¯t married to Jocelyn, he would undoubtedly make trouble. Fiona had met Ethan ¡ª the man looked cruel. Judging from his appearance, she knew he was not someone to be trifled with. Moreover, he had the strong support of the Lester family. Although Ethan was just an illegitimate son of the Lester family, the Lind family still couldn¡¯t afford to offend him. Bernie picked up the cup on the table and took a sip of tea. His face darkened. "J just wants money.How about we give her some money to calm her down.It¡¯s not like we don¡¯t have any." Fiona wiped her tears with the back of her hand, and the jade bracelet on her wrist jingled.She looked at him and reluctantly nodded.She was unwilling to give J even a penny. Her heart sank at the thought of giving her money. Fiona went upstairs with her phone. In a fit of anger, she called J. "J! You¡¯ve gone too far this time.Are you going to fall out with your family for money? We have raised you all these years.How could you turn into such a selfish woman? Are you really going to force your parents this way?" She scolded J, venting out the resentment that had umted in her heart over the years. J had be immune to Fiona¡¯s hatred and maltreatment. "Where is the money?" she asked coldly. ¡°If you don¡¯t give it to me, I¡¯ll tell the truth to Ethan right away." Fiona¡¯s anger reached its peak. She tried her best to control herself and said, "We have tried our best to raise money for you.I don¡¯t have money.I¡¯ll ask the maid to give you some thingster.You can use them to meet your expenses.J was standing at the door of the Lind family¡¯s vi.After a while, the maid came out with several bags and threw them at her. "Take these and get out!" The door of the vi mmed shut. Squatting on the ground, J rummaged through the bags. Inside were old-fashioned, outdated jewelry, used expensive clothes, and second-hand bags. "Are you collecting scraps? There are a few paper boxes in our house.You can take them too." The woman living next door nced at J as she entered her house. "No, thank you." J smiled bitterly. Fiona didn¡¯t want to give her money, so she insulted her by treating her like a beggar. J picked up the bags and slowly walked out of the vi. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. It wasn¡¯t the first time Fiona had humiliated her. She could sell these second-hand goods and get money. It was better than going home empty-handed. However, even so, the money would probably be less than one-fifth the fee for Hannah¡¯s liver transnt operation Chapter 46: This Is My Husband Chapter 46: This Is My Husband J propped her cheek on her palm and looked at her paycheck with a worried look. Although she had just received her sry, it was just a drop in the bucket for Hannah¡¯s surgery. "You just got your paycheck today.Why do you still look unhappy?" her colleague asked, frowning. One look at J told her that she was upset. "Would you like to have a barbecue with me tonight?" J shook her head, smiling. "How about next time? I have ns tonight." "Okay.See you tomorrow." The colleague smiled and took her bag to leave. J slowly packed up herptop. When she was about to leave, someone patted her back. It was Christopher. He was dressed in a brown wind breaker, looking fresh and pristine. He smiled at her, his eyes twinkling with delight. "Ready to go? How about I walk you to the bus stop? What¡¯s wrong? You look upset.Having trouble at work?" J sped the straps of her backpack and smiled. "No, I was just thinking about something.By the way, Chris, are you free tonight? I just got my paycheck today and was thinking of taking you out for dinner." She had already promised to take Christopher out, so she nned to invite him for dinner.She didn¡¯t have enough money for Hannah¡¯s operation, anyway. Spending money on a meal didn¡¯t seem like a big deal. After all, she had to return his favor. "Yeah.I came across a new western restaurant.I want to give it a try," Christopher suggested, feeling both surprised and ttered. He pressed the elevator button. As the door closed, he examined her face and asked, "Is the man who picked you upst time your boyfriend?" This question had been lingering in his mind ever since he saw J with Ethan. Even though he seemed hesitant to question her, he wanted to find an opportunity to find out about Ethan. Perhaps the man was her cousin, friend, or rtive. After all, he didn¡¯t look like the type J would date. The man looked like a beast and didn¡¯t seem like the right match for her. "You saw him the other day?" J looked at him, hesitant to reveal their rtionship. "That man is¡­" Just as she wondered whether to tell the truth or not, her phone rang. "Sorry, I have to answer this call." J quickly walked out of the elevator and headed to the bathroom. "What¡¯s up?" she asked in a hushed voice. "When will youe back? I¡¯m hungry," Ethan said. J could picture him lying on the sofa, frowning. "There are sandwiches in the fridge.Have them first." After a moment¡¯s thought, J felt that since she was married to Ethan now, she had to tell him that she was going to have dinner with another man. "I¡¯m taking Christopher out for dinner to pay back his favorst time.I might be a littlete." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org The man remained silent for a while. "You¡¯re not even sure if he was the one who helped you.Why do you have to pay him back?" he asked coldly. J bit her lip. "But I¡¯ve already invited him.It wouldn¡¯t be nice to cancel the n all of a sudden." She heard the rustling of clothes. Then, Ethan spoke, "I¡¯lle with you.Which restaurant?" After telling him the restaurant¡¯s name, J walked back to Christopher. "Let¡¯s go." They passed two streets and arrived at the opulent western restaurant. "Well, I guess someone is going to join us for dinner.I¡¯m sorry, Chris," J stuttered as they reached the door of the restaurant. "It doesn¡¯t matter." Although Christopher sounded rxed, he immediately figured out the situation. "Is it a male or a female friend?" he asked, trying to sound rxed. When J was about to answer him, she saw Ethan standing outside the restaurant. The setting sun cast a golden hue on his towering frame, outlining his features. ¡®Wow! He has arrived soon.¡¯ Christopher followed her gaze and saw a tall man with broad shoulders wearing a vintage ck jacket. He looked like a mature man with fortitude yet seemed arrogant at the same time.His eye-catching features made Christopher gulp with insecurity. "This is my husband, Ethan.This is Christopher¡­ I mentioned him over the phone," J said as she awkwardly walked to Ethan. Christopher¡¯s eyes widened; his jaw dropped in horror. "What? When did you get married?" He couldn¡¯t help but look Ethan up and down, who was also staring at him. It was, after all, a matter of self-esteem between the two men. J broke into a cold sweat.She forced a smile, trying to hide her fear because Ethan¡¯s sharp gaze was fixed on Christopher. He looked unhappy.He put one arm around J¡¯s shoulder, suppressing his anger. "Haven¡¯t you told others that you¡¯re married and have a husband?" he asked in a low voice. Chapter 47: An Awkward Dinner Chapter 47: An Awkward Dinner J¡¯s head started to pound.It was hard for her to deal with this matter with ease. Normally, she wouldn¡¯t admit that she was married¡ªespecially since she had married in Jocelyn¡¯s stead. If people knew that she was married, their little secret would be exposed. Forcing an apologetic smile, she tried tough it off and said, "I told Chris just now, didn¡¯t I?" Ethan snorted but said nothing. The atmosphere among the three seemed to be cold as ice. J had no choice but to bite the bullet and lead the way into the restaurant. After we sat down, Christopher excused himself and went to the bathroom to calm himself down. He just couldn¡¯t ept the fact that J was married out of the blue. Ever since he had taken his seat, Ethan hadn¡¯t even nced at J. While flipping through the menu, J nudged him gently. "Are you mad at me?" The man rested his chin on his hand as he skimmed through the menu. His eyes were cloudy, and he didn¡¯t even look at her when she tried to talk to him. With a small, stiff smile, he replied, "No.Leave me alone." Disappointed, J pursed her lips but didn¡¯t say anything more. "Did you two order already?" When Christopher returned, he smiled at them politely.He could tell that there was some tension between the couple, but he was still flustered and didn¡¯t know what to say. "Not yet.Chris, is there anything in particr that you want to eat?" J handed him the menu with a small smile. Throughout the course of the meal, nobody spoke a word. Only J and Christopher would asionally make ament, only for the conversation to die shortly after. When he was done with his steak, Ethan sank into the back of his chair, giving off a cold aura. Just then, Jocelyn and her friends entered the restaurant. "Wow¡­ Look over there, Jocelyn.Is he a celebrity?" Jocelyn followed the gaze of her friend and found Ethan sitting at a table. He was incredibly handsome, but seemed oblivious to the fact that he had be the center of attention. "Wait.I know him¡­" A smug smile appeared on Jocelyn¡¯s face, but then the corners of her mouth dropped when she saw that Ethan was apanied by both J and Christopher. Two handsome men and a beautiful woman were all seated together. The scene was quite eye-catching. Jocelyn gritted her teeth with rage. She had once tried to flirt with Christopher, but he immediately rejected her. J, on the other hand, always seemed to be surrounded by men.She already had Ethan, but now she even had the audacity to hook up with Christopher. Jocelyn tried tofort herself, telling herself that J was nothing but rubbish. Maybe Christopher was with them now because he knew Ethan. "Is that so? Introduce us to him! But the gorgeous girl next to him is probably his girlfriend." "You should see her without makeup.She¡¯s hideous.You look much better than her.Anyway, I¡¯ll just go there and say hi.You guys can order ahead." Before waiting for a response from her friends, Jocelyn sauntered over to J¡¯s table. J had been threatening her parents, saying that if they didn¡¯t give her money, she would tell Ethan the secret of her being a substitute. Yet she had the gall to have dinner at such a high-end restaurant. Today, Jocelyn was determined to reveal J¡¯s hideous true colors in front of Ethan and Christopher. J and Christopher were racking their brains for a topic when they suddenly smelled a pungent perfume. "My dear younger sister, you¡¯ve pushed our parents too far.How could youe to such an expensive restaurant for dinner?" Batting her eyshes piteously, Jocelyn emerged at their table, tears streaming down her face. "Our family is struggling financially, and our parents are bleeding dry.Why can¡¯t you think about our family and stop spending so much money? You squander the family funds like this every single day.You¡¯re an adult already, but you keep demanding money from our parents.Sooner orter, they¡¯ll jump off a building from the pressure!" Jocelyn¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t that loud, but she spoke clearly enough for everyone to hear her. She wept and whined so incessantly that all the guests in the restaurant nced at their table. Then, the hall was filled with hushed whispers. "Oh, what a scandal!" C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org "How could that girl squander her parents¡¯ money like this? What a parasite! And are those two her toy boys?" "If I had a daughter like her, I would¡¯ve died from anger already.She even has the audacity to date two men at the same time.Young people nowadays really have no shame!" Ethan¡¯s handsome face immediately darkened. Christopher lowered his gaze helplessly. This dinner was awkward to begin with.Now, he was even being ndered. Chapter 48: Plunder All Chapter 48: Plunder All J unhurriedly put down her knife and fork and calmly looked at the woman with heavy makeup.She knew that Jocelyn just wanted to smear her name in front of all these people. But she also knew that Jocelyn was an idiot.She was wearing a Chanel dress, an Hermes handbag, and a Dior ne. How dare she talk about being frugal while dressed like that? "I asked you for money because you owe me money.Isn¡¯t it only natural for people to pay off their debts?" J¡¯s voice was clear yet calm. Tears rolled down Jocelyn¡¯s cheeks uncontrobly. She sobbed, "Mom and Dad took good care of you, yet this is how you repay them! They really can¡¯t afford to give you money now.We are family.How can you bear to treat them like this?"" Then, she suddenly took her ne off and threw it at J, crying even louder. "We really don¡¯t have the money! This ne must be worth something.Take it as a payment of our debt! Please don¡¯t threaten Mom and Dad anymore!" Jocelyn carefully painted herself as the poor daughter who had been forced to sell off her own things for the sake of her parents. J, on the other hand, was made to look like the cold blooded creditor who was ungrateful to her parents and was only after their money. Narrowing her eyes slightly, J took the ne without hesitation. ncing at Jocelyn¡¯s Hermes handbag, she said calmly, "I think that Chanel dress might be worth something¡­ And that Hermes handbag, too¡ªactually, isn¡¯t that a limited edition piece? In that case, I won¡¯t make things difficult for you.You don¡¯t have to strip your clothes.Just give me the bag as partial compensation for your debts." Jocelyn¡¯s pitiful and painful expression immediately went stiff. This was her only Hermes Birkin.She had been waiting to get one forever. It had only been a few days since she got it. Even if it was second-hand, it was still cost her a fortune. How could she just give it to J? "These¡­ these are all fake! They¡¯re useless to you.Anyway, you should stoping to such fancy restaurants and save money for our parents!" As she spoke, Jocelyn hurriedly covered her bag. J crossed her arms over her chest and looked around at the guests in the restaurant. "Do you think everyone here is an idiot? As you said, this is a high-end restaurant.Do you think that the people who can afford to eat here can¡¯t tell whether a bag is real or fake? Even if you insist that you¡¯re using the fake, I can still take it.After all, it¡¯s still worth some money.Give it to me!" Hearing this, Jocelyn was panic-stricken. Everyone around her was eyeing her and whispering to each other.She was caught in a dilemma now.She gritted her teeth angrily.She had nned to make things difficult for J by pretending to be pitiful, thinking that J would just take it in silence since they were in public ce. Never in her wildest dreams would she have expected J to act so audaciously, not caring about the people around her at all. "In the past, J had always been the submissive and silent one in their family.How could she change into another person overnight? Had marriage really changed her? Heartbroken, Jocelyn reluctantly set her Hermes Birkin on the table. She took out her wallet, phone, and cosmetics from the bag then threw it at J. "There! Happy?" "Wait, I want to see what¡¯s in your wallet." J smiled sardonically. She knew that Jocelyn liked carrying a lot of cash with her. "Don¡¯t push it!" Jocelyn hissed through gritted teeth, ring at J murderously. J sneered indifferently. "What? You said you didn¡¯t have money, right? So I¡¯m letting you pay off your debt with your belongings. Isn¡¯t it only reasonable? Besides, there should be no money in your wallet, right? I mean, you¡¯ve been talking all night about how our family is struggling financially.Why are you so nervous? The next time you want to nder me, don¡¯t dress like that.It¡¯s one thing to be unable to pay off your debts, but it¡¯s another thing to simply refuse to pay.You¡¯ll have bad credit."Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 49: What Happened Chapter 49: What Happened The people around them felt there was an inside story, so their opinions gradually changed.The opulent restaurant housed wealthy diners. Many people could tell that Jocelyn¡¯s attire and essories were all real deals from renowned brands by merely looking at her. "Well, it looks like she is the shameless one.She wears only luxury brands.I¡¯m sure she is from a wealthy family." "I guess she is ndering the girl only to avoid paying the debt." "Damn it! I didn¡¯t expect the situation would reverse." Jocelyn felt a pang of regret. But she opened the wallet anyway that was stacked with money. "Give it to me." with a faint smile, J stood up and took out the money from Jocelyn¡¯s wallet. She carefully counted the bills and neatly arranged them. "Eight thousand dors is also money.Thank you, Miss Lind." Jocelyn had nothing left now apart from her clothes and shoes. "Just wait and see!" she said through gritted teeth. J smiled and put the ne and the money into the Hermes Birkin. "Okay, Miss Lind.I¡¯ll wait for you to repay the debt next time." With that, she stood up and waved at the receptionist. "Please give us a doggie bag so Miss Lind could put her phone and cosmetics in it." Then, she turned around and shed a sweet smile at Jocelyn. "You don¡¯t need to pay for the bag.It¡¯s on me." Jocelyn almost tasted the blood as she gritted her teeth a little too hard. She would lose her mind if she stayed there longer. Noticing that J was staring at her Chanel high-heeled shoes, Jocelyn feared that she would snatch them away from her and make her walk home barefoot. Therefore, she quickly took the things from her bag and walked out of the restaurant in a huff. Seeing her leave, J sat down and began estimating the prices of the things she got from Jocelyn. The Hermes Birkin alone was worth a lot of money. A triumphant smile stretched across her lips. She put away the things and looked up. Christopher was staring at her with wide eyes, holding the knife and fork in his hands. J¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment.She looked at him and sighed.Her behavior now was against the impression of what he thought of her. But J was not a pushover. "Every family has a skeleton in the cupboard, Chris.I¡¯m sorry you had to watch that.Our family is a little special," J said, smiling.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. "No.I know you are kindhearted.However, when someone rubs you the wrong way, you have to stand up for yourself.Nothing ¡®wrong with that." Christopher smiled at her in awe. J had impressed him yet again today. Seeing her delicate appearance and innocent face, he had thought J was someone who would endure all the problems and suffer in silence. However, she was not. Although she was as sweet as the rose, no one could get past her thorny exterior. This incident only made him adore her even more. However, she didn¡¯t have special feelings for him. Christopher cast a sidelong nce at Ethan, who had been silent the entire time, wondering what rtionship he shared with J. J felt that Christopher was only joking. She didn¡¯t care about what he thought of her. After all, money was more important than her image at the moment. J stole a nce at Ethan and caught his indifferent gaze. Neither of them spoke. The man lowered his head and continued to look at his phone. J cleared her throat and ate the remaining steak. After saying goodbye to the couple, Christopher left the restaurant alone. It waste at night, and the neon lights illuminated the roads. The city was decorated with colorful lights. The traffic was at its peak. "Do you want to walk back?" J asked, stealing a nce at Ethan. She had a sudden urge to walk home with Ethan. No one would know their names and identities. They were just an ordinary couple, walking back home like the others. Ethan finally broke his silence. "Okay," he said, turning to look at her. He couldn¡¯t understand the woman in front of him. The incident at the restaurant and the way J¡¯s elder sister, dressed in an opulent outfit, spoke to her confused him. "What¡¯s going on with your family? Why does the Lind family owe you money?" Chapter 50: The Wedding Ring Chapter 50: The Wedding Ring "It¡¯s no big deal.My parents owe me a lot of money.After I fell out with them, they refused to pay me back.It¡¯s a family matter.I can handle it.There¡¯s no need for you to get involved." J¡¯s tone was rxed even though she deliberately omitted the most important part. Ethan nced at her from the corner of his eye and sighed. It was true that he didn¡¯t know that much about the Lind family, but since J was being stubborn about it, he respected her decision. "Fine.But if you need any help, just tell me." J nodded obediently and lowered her gaze. "Okay," she said softly. Ethan pinched her cheek and warned in a low voice, "And from now on, you have to tell others that you¡¯re married." "Okay, okay, okay.Do you want me to wear a sign with the word ¡®married¡¯ on it?" J raised her head and red at him, pouting like a spoiled child. "It¡¯s for your own good.It¡¯s obvious that Christopher guy had ulterior motives.Trust me.His intentions were written all over his face." As he spoke, Ethan pulled J closer to him. "What? In that case, why couldn¡¯t I see it? Christ has helped me before.Don¡¯t be so quick to judge him." J rolled her eyes helplessly. "Are you kidding me? It¡¯s all over his face that he wants to fuck you," Ethan snorted, his eyes darkening dangerously. How could he say that? J looked at him indignantly. Ethan was always such a jerk. "Can you, for once, act like a normal guy? Not everyone thinks like you." "True.I guess he¡¯s different from me.I¡¯m legal to do you, he isn¡¯t." Ethan raised his eyebrows in a rxed way. At a loss, J pushed him away and scurried on ahead, her ears burning red. Even after they got home, J still gave Ethan the cold shoulder. After knocking on her door to announce his presence, the man walked into her room carrying a ss of warm milk. "Are you nning to ignore me forever, Miss Lind?" Without so much as ncing at him, J continued to draw. Suddenly, Ethan took her hand and stuffed something cold onto her palm. Startled, J looked at the item in her hand. It was an old tinum ring iid with an emerald. The edges already had a lightyer of patina. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org The ring seemed to carry a long history with it. "What¡¯s the meaning of this?" "My mother left it for me.Put it on.That way, people will know that you¡¯re a married woman." Ethan leaned against her desk, looking at the ring on her hand with a slight smile. Turning the ring over, J shrugged and slipped it onto her left ring finger. The dark-colored emerald shone dimly on her fair slender finger. It looked good on her, but the ring was one size too big. Holding her hand up, she tried to hold back a smile. "It¡¯s very beautiful.Thank you,"she said stiffly. That weekend, J took the things she got from the Lind family to a second-hand shop. But the shop assistant offered a price far lower than she had expected. "How could all of this be worth only twenty thousand? The bag alone is worth more than that!" J was so angry that she felt she was about to explode. It was painfully obvious that the shop assistant was taking advantage of her. "Any second-hand good is priced at ten percent of its original price." The shop assistant sneered at Jcently. Then, after punching a couple of numbers into the calctor, she snapped, "Get out if you¡¯re not nning to sell your things.There¡¯s a line behind you." "All of these are authentic!" J stubbornly continued to bargain. Twenty thousand dors barely covered Hannah¡¯s hospitalization. "Surely you can offer me something higher!" "I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s real or fake.They¡¯re all second hand.Plus, they¡¯re all old models from more than a decade ago.Only this Hermes is worth something.Do you think this is a charity? I can add five thousand for the bag, but that¡¯s the best I can do.If you still think it¡¯s too low, take your things somewhere else." The shop assistant could tell that J was in urgent need of money and deliberately used this to her advantage. Feeling helpless, J epted the money even though she was getting the short end of the stick. Just as she turned around to leave, a woman in her early thirties stopped her. J saw from her name tag that she was the shop manager. "Miss, why the long face? Were you not able to sell your goods at an ideal price? If you stillck money, perhaps you¡¯d be willing to sell the ring on your finger.We can give you a good price for it!" The shop manager smiled, staring at the emerald ring on J¡¯s finger, her eyes shining greedily. Chapter 51: Did You Sell The Ring Chapter 51: Did You Sell The Ring Trying to seem casual, J asked calmly, "How much?" ncing at the other people in the shop, the shop manager leaned closer and whispered in J¡¯s ear, "One million.What do you think?" This amount was more than enough to cover Hannah¡¯s medical bills. J was stunned.She looked carefully at the ring on her finger. The emerald nestled in the middle was like a pea that was just freed from its pod. The little gem was round and slightly cold, but its deep green color was dazzling.She couldn¡¯t believe that the ring Ethan had given her was that valuable. "Sorry, this is my wedding ring.I can¡¯t sell it." Despite the tempting offer, J couldn¡¯t give in. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. It was a gift from Ethan after all, and it was left by his mother. Perhaps it was a family heirloom. Whatever the case, she couldn¡¯t sell the ring. After refusing the shop manager, she turned around to leave. But the shop manager stopped her again. With a big smile stered on her face, she said, "No rush, Miss.It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t want to sell it.But it¡¯s clear to me that the ring is a little too big for your finger.We offer free ring sizing.We can alter it to fit you within the day.Do you want to avail of this service? It¡¯ll look even better if it fits you properly." "No, thanks.I don¡¯t want to bother you." J could see that the shop manager was still staring at the ring on her finger greedily, so she politely refused. The shop manager seemed to understand what J was thinking.She smiled knowingly and pointed at the corner of the store. "Miss, I know that your ring is valuable.Are you worried that we¡¯ll lose or damage it? Look.We have surveince cameras here.We won¡¯t let anything bad happen to your ring.Besides, it¡¯s too big and most likely will slip off your finger.It¡¯ll be inconvenient for you if you keep wearing it like this." After ncing at all the cameras in the shop, J hesitantly pulled the ring off of her finger and handed it to the shop manager. "Thank you," she said with a smile. The shop manager then pulled out a string from her pocket to measure the size of J¡¯s finger and said with a friendly smile, "All right.You cane back and get it tomorrow." As instructed, J went back to the shop the morning of the next day. The shop manager warmly received her. "Miss, you¡¯re early! Hang on a moment.I¡¯ll fetch the ring." "Okay, thank you." The shop manager pulled out a blue velvet jewelry box from a wooden chest behind her and opened it. "Have a look, Miss.You can check if there¡¯s anything wrong." J picked up the ring and held it up in front of her, studying it carefully. Finally, she put it on. "It fits nicely, but why does it look brand new?" The shop manager rolled her eyes with a chuckle and waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, here¡¯s the thing.When our staff saw how old your ring lookedst night, they had it cleaned.Don¡¯t worry.The cleaning was also free." J nodded and didn¡¯t think much of it. It just looked shiny and new now. Otherwise, there was nothing else unusual. When she was done at the second-hand store, J went to the supermarket to buy some groceries. When she got home, Ethan walked out of his room in flip flops and disheveled hair. "Where¡¯ve you been? I didn¡¯t see you all morning." Yawningzily, he strode over to help J with her groceries. As he opened the bags and checked the food, he asked, "What¡¯s for lunch?" After thinking for a while, J opened the fridge and took a bottle of cold water. "I bought a lot of tomatoes.How about we have scrambled eggs with tomatoes? Or spaghetti? What do you think," Before she could finish her sentence, Ethan suddenly grabbed her hand fiercely. The man stared at the shiny ring on her finger and asked coldly, "Did you sell the ring I gave you?" Chapter 52: A Counterfeit Chapter 52: A Counterfeit J was startled and confused. With the bottle of water in her other hand, she took a sip nonchntly and shook her head. "No.It¡¯s right there on my finger! Or are you blind?" She looked at him yfully. Ethan, on the other hand, was in no mood to joke. His expression darkened and his voice lowered. "Let me see." Unlike J, he was very familiar with the ring.He knew something was wrong with it at just a nce. As she took off the ring, J muttered to herself, "Weird." Ethan pressed his fingers against his temple and picked up the ring to have a closer look. His expression grew even more serious. "The back of the ring I gave you is engraved with my mother¡¯s initials, but this ring has no such engravings." Ethan knew she was short on money, but he didn¡¯t expect her to sell the ring just like that.He wouldn¡¯t have minded if it were any other ring, but this ring in particr was left by his mother. "Is this a fake?!" J¡¯s eyes went wide in shock.She took the ring back from him and inspected it.Sure enough, its inner wall was very smooth. There wasn¡¯t a sign of any engraving on it. Ethan shook his head and frowned deeply. "It¡¯s not a fake¡ªat least, not exactly.The gem and the tinum are real, and the style is simr to the ring I gave you. It¡¯s difficult for ordinary people to distinguish the difference between the two. But this is just a counterfeit, and it was made to copy the original one. The one I gave you is a quite famous antique. It was passed down from my mother¡¯s ancestors. Its value is worth ten times more than this one. Ethan didn¡¯t know much about jewelry before, but he had made a few friends in the industry. They told him that some people sold fakes and yed tricks like this. J felt all the color drain from her face. Her hands and feet went cold, as though someone had stabbed her with an ice pick. The manager of the second-hand shop must¡¯ve realized instantly that her ring was a priceless antique. She was so greedy that she lied to J through her teeth about changing the ring size. In fact, she had reced the real ring with a measly imitation. Seeing that J was at a loss for words, Ethan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Why¡¯re you wearing a fake? Did you sell the real ring and find a cheap recement so I wouldn¡¯t notice?" Ethan looked incredibly disappointed. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Only then did J realize he was actually using her.She felt wronged. Her heart felt tied up in knots. "Are you using me of exchanging your mother¡¯s valuables for money?" Ethan closed his eyes, feeling a little annoyed. What else should he think? His wife seemed to always need more money. ording to his investigation of her, she used to like luxuries. Ethan had been in the business world for so many years, and he had been exposed to all kinds of people. No one could keep up with this sort of lifestyle forever. Moreover, "Jocelyn" used to live such a luxurious life, and it was only a matter of time for her to show her true colors. When Ethan didn¡¯t say anything, J¡¯s heart sank. "You didn¡¯t even ask me what happened.You just assumed that I sold the ring!" Clenching the water bottle in her hand, J sneered unhappily.He probably thought she was crazy. Yet she held onto a small hope that Ethan would believe her. But now that she thought about it, she recalled that they were just a nominal couple, no different from strangers. How could they really trust each other? "Ethan, no matter how much money I need, I would never do such a thing.That ring was an heirloom from your mother.I promise I¡¯ll get the real one back." Taking the counterfeit from Ethan¡¯s hand, J turned around and was about to leave. Suddenly, something urred to her.She pursed her lips and turned to look at the man behind her. "And even if I can¡¯t find it, I¡¯ll find a way to pay you back, no matter how much it costs." Chapter 53: No Evidence Chapter 53: No Evidence Without waiting for a response, J strode out. As he watched her leave, Ethan frowned.He felt very depressed. Sighing heavily, he quickly picked up his jacket and rushed out to follow her. It waste June now, and it was extremely hot in the afternoon. As he followed J from a distance, Ethan stared at her long hair fluttering in the wind. Where on earth was she headed? Ethan had no clue. Judging from the woman¡¯s hurt tone just know, he could tell that there was more to the story. Moreover, he would¡¯ve been able to tell if she was lying. Ethan quickened his pace and followed the woman closely. As they walked, he couldn¡¯t help but feel bad. Did he wrongfully use J? After passing two streets and a traffic light, J finally veered off the sidewalk and entered a second-hand shop. Ethan followed her in silently. "I want to see your shop manager!" J pped the ring hard on the counter. Her beautiful face was ice cold and sullen. When she wasn¡¯t smiling, she always looked so aloof and unapproachable. "Miss, what brings you here so soon? Did you forget anything?" The shop manager nced up from a conversation with a customer. When she saw J¡¯s glowering face, she quickly walked over with a smile. Crossing her arms over her chest, J said coldly, "I did leave something here.Give me my ring back." "Are you joking, miss? Isn¡¯t the ring right on your finger?" The smile on the shop manager¡¯s face didn¡¯t even falter, which made her look even more hypocritical. "You lied to my face and reced my ring, yet you still have the audacity to deny it?" J was furious. It looked like she was going to pounce on the shop manager the next second. The shop manager¡¯s smiling face stiffened slightly. "I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.Are you trying to ckmail us with a fake ring? This isn¡¯t the first time someone¡¯s tried to y tricks on our honest store." J¡¯s eye twitched. It was obvious she was really pissed off. "Why don¡¯t we check the surveince camera footage? This isn¡¯t the ring I left here yesterday." The shop manager looked calm and fearless. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. She looked at the shop assistant at the checkout counter and said, "Do as she says." Seeing how calm the shop staff were, J realized she had been fooled ever since the beginning. This whole ruse was premeditated.The video definition was terrible. The footage was so pixted that it couldn¡¯t capture the ring clearly. J had initially wondered why the shop manager was still so calm and arrogant after doing such an evil thing. It turned out that it was because she was confident that the video could not prove that she had the ring changed. "Miss, can you leave now? You¡¯ve checked the surveince video and it shows no foul y.If you keep making trouble for us, we¡¯ll call the police." The shop manager threw the fake ring to J confidently and smiled smugly, as if she was going to call the police the next second. Several shop assistants also came out, trying to intimidate J. J pursed her lips as she racked her brains for a solution. Suddenly, a thought urred to her. With a faint smile, she sauntered over to the shop manager and ced the fake ring on the counter. "Didn¡¯t you offer me an extremely high price for the ring yesterday? I¡¯m willing to sell it now.Here you go.Will you pay by check or cash?" Chapter 54: A Humble Apology Chapter 54: A Humble Apology J¡¯s wordspletely wiped the smug smile off of the shop manager¡¯s face.She quickly tried to calm down and said feebly, "I offered you that price yesterday.I don¡¯t want to buy it anymore." After all, the counterfeit wasn¡¯t worth much. If she bought it at such an extravagant price, she¡¯d be crazy. Smiling sardonically, J continued, "You wanted it so bad yesterday.The surveince footage can prove it.Why don¡¯t you want it now? Is it because you know that this one¡¯s a fake and isn¡¯t worth a million?" The shop manager faltered, "Uhm, well¡­ I thought the ring was an antique.I had seen something simr in a jewelry magazine before.But when you left the ring here for resizing, I looked at it carefully, and I realized that it wasn¡¯t the same one as on the magazine.It just looked simr.So I don¡¯t want it anymore." After saying that, she took a deep breath and regained herposure. "Miss, please go now.We have a business to run.Please escort thisdy out." But her anxiety had exposed her guilt. Several shop assistants closed in on J, ready to kick her out of the store. "How dare you be so arrogant after you stole my wife¡¯s ring?" A cold, harsh voice sounded from near the door. J whirled around in surprise. She found the man standing behind her, wearing a dark gray shirt and ck suit pants, jacket in hand. Ethan stood a head taller than her. The atmosphere around him was ominous and oppressive, especially with his dark expression. He looked like someone one didn¡¯t want to mess with. J rolled her eyes. She was still mad at him for using her earlier. Without another word, she walked past him and left the shop. Ethan had overheard her conversation with the shop manager just now and knew perfectly well that the latter was lying. "Sir, please don¡¯t stir up any more trouble.This is the ring your wife left with us yesterday.If you two insist on ckmailing us, we¡¯ll be forced to call the police," Since the surveince video couldn¡¯t prove otherwise, the shop manager resumed her arrogant disposition. Ethan gave her a bone-chilling look and his smile sent shivers down her spine. "Then call the police.I¡¯ll deal with them and make sure you¡¯re put behind bars." After saying that, he turned around abruptly and strode out of the shop. He quickly caught up to J, who was briskly walking away, and reached for her hand. "Are you still mad at me?" he asked even though he already knew the answer. J looked at him stubbornly. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. "I heard what you said back there.How do you n on putting her behind bars? We don¡¯t have any evidence!" Ethan said calmly, "Don¡¯t worry.I¡¯ll take care of everything and get my mother¡¯s ring back." Then, he lowered his gaze shamefacedly. "I misunderstood you earlier.I¡¯m sorry." As he apologized, he realized he couldn¡¯t remember thest time he had ever said the word "sorry" to anyone. He wasn¡¯t used to it, so he sounded stiff and emotionless. J narrowed her eyes at him and said sarcastically, "Oh, is that so, Mr.Lester? Thank you for your humble apology." After saying that, she turned around and left Ethan in the dust. Ethan watched as she walked away, pressing his fingers against his aching temple. It seemed that she was truly angry with him this time. Standing under a streemp and facing a busy street, Ethan looked up at the tall buildings that seemed to pierce the sky. Then he took out his phone and called Sean. His voice was brisk and cold as ice. "Find out if there¡¯s an antique tinum emerald ring that was put on the market recently." Sean, having worked for his boss for a long time, could tell from Ethan¡¯s voice that he was seething with rage. He quickly tasked someone to investigate the matter. An hourter, some clues were found. "Apparently, there was a tinum emerald ring put up at an antique auction today.I¡¯ve already asked our people to intercept it." Apology Ethan listened to the report as a steady breeze ruffled his hair slightly. He quietly stared at the tall building across the street and asked, "Who sent it there?" "A woman from a second-hand luxury shop sent it there just this noon. She said she got it from a customer.I¡¯ve got all the information on the ring and the woman.I¡¯ll send them to you right now.¡± Chapter 56: She Refused My Money Chapter 56: She Refused My Money The bar looked dim except for the asional neon lights that shed from time to time. The loud music vibrated through the floor. Seeing Ethan walking into the bar, Garrett quickly drove away the beautiful women clinging to him and straightened his clothes. After hearing why Ethan was here today, Garrett burst outughing. "I can¡¯t believe you¡¯de to me one day for such a thing." Ethan slowly picked up the ss. The dim lights softened his features, making him look more handsome. He leaned against the sofa, stretching out his long legs. "Mind your tongue.Unless you don¡¯t want to have weekends this month." Garrett cleared his throat and swallowed the rest of his words.He picked a ss of wine and sat beside Ethan. "Do you want me to be single all my life? My eighteenth girlfriend is waiting for me to take her on a date this weekend." "Didn¡¯t you say that your seventeenth girlfriend was pregnant? Don¡¯t you want to get married?" Ethan frowned and took a sip of the wine. "How could I marry a woman pregnant with another man¡¯s child?" Garrett sneered but quickly rearranged his expression and smiled at Ethan. "Coaxing women is easy," he said, scratching his chin. "If you knowingly or unknowingly piss her off, just apologize to her.Hug her and say something sweet.Her anger will quickly subside." Ethan rolled his eyes impatiently. "What¡¯s the matter with you? If I knew what to say, I wouldn¡¯t be asking you for help." "Are you serious?" Garrett downed the remaining contents of his drink and pushed his ss up. After a moment¡¯s thought, he asked, "Do you know what she likes? Buy her something she likes: branded bags, jewelry, clothes.Buy a lot of the most expensive things she likes, and just shower her with gifts.I promise she will calm down the next day." Ethan¡¯s face was hidden in the dark; only his high nose was revealed. His fingertips drew circles on the rim of the ss. "She likes those things, but that¡¯s only because she can sell them for money.I¡¯d rather give her the money directly." "Hmm¡­ Your wife is quite interesting," Garrett said, smiling. Ethan red at him. Garrett immediately waved his hand and exined, "I didn¡¯t mean that.Don¡¯t get me wrong.Since she likes money, it will be easier to solve the problem.You¡¯re a wealthy man, after all." Ethan stood up and patted Garrett¡¯s shoulder. His eyes darkened. "That¡¯s enough for today.Don¡¯t drink too much.I¡¯ll give your idea a try." J didn¡¯t sleep wellst night. She looked listless when she woke up in the morning. As soon as she walked out of her room, she saw Ethan standing at the door. He slid a bank card into her bag and said, "This is my payment card.You can use it as you like." J looked at him. Then, she took the card from her bag and ced it on the table. "No, thanks.You keep the card for yourself.We¡¯re just a nominal couple that doesn¡¯t get along well with each other.How can I use your money?" Judging from her tone, it was obvious that her anger hadn¡¯t subsided one bit. Ethan¡¯s towering frame blocked her path. Ethan picked up the card from the table and forcefully pressed it on J¡¯s palm. "Take it,"he said, closing her fingers against it. J was startled. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. "Why are you standing here, blocking my way? Won¡¯t you let me go if I don¡¯t take it?" Looking at her cold face, Ethan felt she was distant and aloof.He didn¡¯t know what to do. "I didn¡¯t mean that."He frowned. "Such being the case, get out of my way.Or I will bete for work." J threw the card back to the table, pushed him away with her elbow, and walked out, closing the door behind her. His face darkened as he slumped on the sofa. Pleasing a woman didn¡¯t seem as simple as Garrett had imed it to be. Therefore, he called the man right away. "She refused my money.Think of another solution for me." Chapter 57: Why Are You Such A Big Spender Chapter 57: Why Are You Such A Big Spender There was a woman nestled in Garrett¡¯s arms.He squinted sleepily and spoke in a voice that didn¡¯t soundpletely sober. "You can¡¯t do this to me.It¡¯s seven o¡¯clock in the morning.Even servants should have time to rest." "I¡¯m not joking.Hurry up and find a way to help me.I can¡¯t sleep until this problem is solved." As he spoke, Ethan sullenly stared at the scenery framed by the window. "Okay, okay.Just give me a minute, will you?" Garret struggled to climb out of bed and lumbered to the bathroom to ssh his face with cold water. Then, when he was fully awake, he returned and said, "Buddy, I can tell from just a nce that your wife¡¯s a little tricky.I¡¯ve seen her a couple of times.She looked gentle and easy-going, but I could never tell what was on her mind." Ethan sneered with disdain. "Don¡¯t talk about her like that.Do you want to die, Garret?" Garrett smiled sheepishly. "Well, anyway, my point is since money doesn¡¯t work, then you need to change tactics.Try wooing her romantically.Girls like flowers, especially roses, lilies, and tulips.A popr trend before was to surprise a girl by leaving flowers in the fridge for her to find when she least expects it.Oh, I know! What if you fill your house to the brim with flowers? She¡¯ll be so touched!" Garret puffed out his chest confidently, despite Ethan¡¯s dubious silence. Ethan shook his head and walked out to the balcony, leaning on the railing pensively. "Have you tried something like that before?" "Trust me, I¡¯m a pro at this," Garrett solemnly swore. Although, truth be told, he never put in that much effort for a woman.He usually just took them to his bed.But he could tell that J was a conservative woman. It¡¯d take a lot of effort to get her in bed. Later that evening, J finally came home from work. When she pushed the door open, the strong and sweet fragrance of flowers wafted over to her nose. To her surprise, she found the apartment crowded with countless beautiful red roses illuminated by candlelight. Even the floor was covered with rose petals. There was no ce for her to step. Gripping the doorknob tightly, J¡¯s gaze swept over the apartment, too stunned to speak. Ethan was standing in the living room.His handsome features were perfectly highlighted by the candlelight.He slowly strode towards J. Judging from her nk stare, at first, he thought she was too pleasantly surprised to say anything But then, upon a closer look, he realized he was wrong. J leaned against the door as though her soul had left her body. She asked weakly, "How much did you spend on all of these flowers?" But she already had a rough estimate in mind. There were at least one thousand flowers here. If one flower cost ten dors¡­ She felt as though she wasn¡¯t looking at flowers, but lost money. "F¡­ five thousand," Ethan answered falteringly. The truth was, he had spent twice as much as that, but he didn¡¯t dare say so. He could see that J¡¯s face had gone pale as a ghost. "How could you spend that much?!" J gasped in shock. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org But on second thought, she realized she had no right to scold Ethan for his spending habits. After all, she was just his nominal wife. In the end, she could only throw her arms in the air helplessly and say, "You don¡¯t earn that much, Ethan.You should be wise with your money." As J spoke, she walked into the room and began to survey the damage. "Some of these flowers still look good.Maybe we can return them to the flower shop to get some money back!" Seeing that Ethan was stuck in a trance, J tugged at the hem of his shirt. "What¡¯re you doing? Am I supposed to put them away by myself? Go and get some bags.I wonder if we can still make it to the flower shop at this rate.Please don¡¯t do something so meaningless yet expensive again.I can¡¯t stand wastage." Ethan scratched his head embarrassedly.He felt as though he had been struck by lightning. Finally, he managed to say, "I¡¯ll put them away.Go to your room and get some rest." "We¡¯re kind of housemates.I can¡¯t let you do all of this alone," J protested. Ethan¡¯s expression darkened as mixed emotions surged within him. He squatted on the floor and began to clear the flowers, silently cursing Garrett and vowing he¡¯d tear that useless guy into pieces the next time he saw him. Chapter 58: The Love Manuals Chapter 58: The Love Manuals "Do you have the flower shop¡¯s phone number? Ask if the flowers can be returned." After clearing the petals on the floor, Jid a pile of flowers on the dining table. Ethan painstakingly removed all the candles from the floor and made a call to have his men take the flowers away. It was already midnight by the time they finished cleaning. Exhausted, J leaned against the sofa. "I was able to get this much back from the flower shop." With one hand in his pocket, Ethan walked over to J and put a wad of cash next to her. "Why are you giving it to me? It¡¯s your money." J looked tired, but her tone was as cold as it was that morning. As she spoke, she dumped the money on the coffee table and then got up to walk to her room. Before closing the door behind her, she stole onest nce at the man. Truth be told, she was delighted to have received flowers from Ethan.She had never seen so many flowers before, let alone the fact that they were from Ethan. But the most important thing for two people to get along was to trust each other. Ethan didn¡¯t trust her enough, and that was what made her mad.She couldn¡¯t let go of it so soon. Breathing a long sigh, J threw herself to the bed dejectedly. Just outside her door, Ethan was seething with rage. He gritted his teeth and walked to the balcony to call Garrett. "So how did it go? Have you won her heart yet?" Garrett asked bluntly, his voice riddled with amusement. Ethan sneered. His eyes clouded over, even darker than the night sky. "Thanks to you, I haven¡¯t rested since sundown," he hissed. "Oh, my God! You¡¯re amazing! It¡¯s been almost four hours! Good job, buddy!" Unfortunately, Garrett didn¡¯t seem to sense anything wrong. He continued excitedly, "I told you it¡¯d work! Since I¡¯ve helped you with something so important, would you consider giving me some time off?" Ethan was so angry that he almost burst intoughter. ncing at J¡¯s door, he cursed in a low voice, "You¡¯re fucking useless! Your shitty idea didn¡¯t work at all.She called me a big spender and asked me to return the flowers.I even had to get rid of all the petals on the floor.I just finished cleaning! And you say you deserve a vacation? Garrett, you¡¯re working in the office this month-with no weekends off." If Ethan was in a bad mood, it meant that not only Garrett was in trouble. The entire Larson Group was about to face a storm. "Wait! Don¡¯t hang up!" Garrett shouted in a hurry. Pressing his phone against his ear tightly, he quickly lifted the quilt and got out of bed. His girlfriend was in the bathroom, taking a shower. But Garrett was in no mood to peak at her beautiful naked body. He went straight to the balcony, wine bottle in tow, and said, "Mr.Lester, calm down, Flowers worked every time for me.But I already told you that your wife¡¯s different.How about I give you a few of my girlfriend¡¯s books? They¡¯re all manuals on love.You might find some good ideas in there." Ethan snorted coldly and hung up the phone without another word. It was rare for him to be so emotional. Such an uncontroble mood couldn¡¯t be good. The next morning, in the Larson Group, Garrett pped a paper bag of books onto Ethan¡¯s desk. Smiling brightly, he dered, "These are all good.I guarantee that by tonight, you¡¯ll get to cuddle with your wife." Ethan nced at him emotionlessly but decided to finish up his work before opening the bag. Finally, he put down the document in his hand and picked up the paper bag. "My Bossy CEO Boyfriend"¡­ Content ? N?velDrama.Org. "Pregnant Wife Runs Away"¡­ "Mysterious CEO, Gentle Lover".. What the hell was all of this bullshit?! Ethan¡¯s nose wrinkled with disgust. He had half a mind to throw the books into the garbage can, but after a moment of hesitation, he picked one up and read it. His knitted brows didn¡¯t loosen until he put it down. The content of the books were even more shocking than their titles. Ethan felt the need to wash his eyes after reading it. But perhaps the books weren¡¯tpletely useless. There wasmon theme in all these books. Whenever the hero and the heroine quarreled, they would solve the problem by making passionate love. The hero would always push the heroine down forcefully and kiss her, and things would escte until they had made it to their bed. Then all their problems would be solved. Ethan frowned slightly, wondering if he should also give it a try. Chapter 59: Scratch His Face Chapter 59: Scratch His Face At night, J wore her headphones and sat on the chair, with one leg under her bum, and began working on her design.Her elegant fingers had a way of their own with the pen.She painted at ease, drawing bold, confident strokes. The window was open, and the summer breeze rustled her long, silky locks. Ethan knocked on the door.His heart flipped when he witnessed the beautiful scene. J nced at him and looked away, focusing on the painting Ethan took her gesture as approval to get into the room.He shamelessly walked in and closed the door. "Let¡¯s talk." Ethan¡¯s eyes were dark. He ced a steaming ss of milk on the table and looked at her. The sweet scent of milk wafted in the air. J pursed her lips.Her mind was a mess. "I don¡¯t have time." Ethan took a step back and sat on the edge of the bed, trailing his fingers across the soft bedsheet. "I¡¯ll wait for you to finish your work." J¡¯s unique scent filled the room as the wind swept across her. Ethan¡¯s mouth dried, and his body turned hot in an instant. He felt a surge of desire within him. At eleven at night, J finally stopped drawing.She stole a nce at Ethan, who was staring at her. J stood up and picked up her graphic tablet on the table. The next moment, darkness engulfed her. Ethan¡¯s muscr frame pressed against hers.He ced his hands on either side, trapping J against the table.His hot breath blew against her ear. "You¡¯re done with work.Let¡¯s talk now." J¡¯s ears turned red, and her heart took a sprint in her chest as if she were on a rollercoaster. "What do you want to talk about?" Ethan wrapped his arms around J and pulled her into a tight embrace. His hair rested on her shoulder, exuding a faint peppermint scent. "What on earth do you want me to do to calm you down?" J trembled, shifting her weight from one foot to another, as his hot breath made her skin prickle with goosebumps. "Let go of me, Ethan! I have to clean the desk," she whined, shrinking back. Ethan got reminded of the domineering heroes he had read in books, who wouldn¡¯t let go of their love interests during such situations. The more their female counterparts struggled, the more aggressive they would get. He held her tighter and pressed his body against J¡¯s, trapping her against the desk. With his free hand, he helped her put the tablet into the bag and asked, "Why are you shaking? I¡¯ll help you clean up the desk." "Let go of me first.We¡¯ll sit downfortably and talk." J tried wriggling out of his hold.She was both shy and scared. "If I let you go, you will run away and won¡¯t talk to me," Ethan grunted. He hooked his fingers under her chin and lifted her head to make her look at him. "You naughty girl!" J¡¯s eyes widened. Ethan snorted and gently stroked her pink lips with his fingers. "Why are you still ring at me?" Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. He leaned forward and bit her bottom lip. An involuntary squeal left J¡¯s lips. Before she could react, Ethan picked her up and threw her on the bed. Before she could sit up, Ethan grabbed her slender ankles, pulled her under him, and pressed himself against her. J whimpered as he forcefully kissed her. The stubble on his chin scratched her face. Ethan gripped her skirt and pushed it to her waist. "Ethan!" Ethan jerked up in shock when he heard J¡¯s voice.She waved her hand against his face, leaving three scratch marks on his skin. Ethan rubbed his stinging forehead and let go of her.She retreated to the head of the bed and draped her body with a quilt, revealing nothing but her angry eyes. Ethan cleared his throat and leaned against the bed. "I just¡­" J pointed at the door and growled, "Shut up! I don¡¯t want to see you! Get out now!" Seeing that what he did had only ignited her anger, Ethan didn¡¯t dare to provoke her anymore. He took a deep breath and left, closing the door behind him. J covered her face with the quilt.She could feel the blush ming her cheeks. After returning to his room, Ethan immediately threw the books into the trash can with a murderous look on his face. "Garrett! You¡¯re gonna pay for this!" Chapter 60: Scratched By The Cat At Home Chapter 60: Scratched By The Cat At Home The next day, J went to thepany early in the morning Ethan couldn¡¯t sleep well that night. When he went to brush his the next morning, he looked at himself in the mirror and found three red marks on his forehead. He could neither cover it with a mask nor did he have long enough hair to hide it.He had no choice but to go out this way. There was a meeting for the senior executives in the Larson Group today. Everyone was well prepared for the meeting with a solemn look on their faces. Garrett sat on the left, idly rotating a pen with his fingers. Just then, the room of the meeting room flew open. Ethan walked in, wearing a dark blue suit, followed by his assistant Sean, who was carrying aptop and the necessary documents for the meeting. He exuded his-usual majestic aura. However, the red marks on his cold face seemed to catch everyone¡¯s attention. Everyone stared at Ethan with bated breath as if they had seen a ghost. They wondered who had scratched the CEO of the Larson Group this way. Garrett¡¯s mouth widened in shock.He leaned closer to Ethan and asked, "Boss, what¡¯s wrong with your face?" The corner of Ethan¡¯s mouth twitched, and his hand flipping through the documents stilled.He looked up and red at Garrett. "Well, my cat scratched-me." Ethan¡¯s coldness frightened the people. Everyone fell silent and dared not to utter a word. After the meeting, everyone left with a sigh of relief. "Well, you haven¡¯t managed to get around her yet, have you?" Garrett asked Ethan as he closed theptop and pushed the sses up the bridge of his nose. Ethan rubbed his temples impatiently. "Get out of here! It was all because of your stupid books." Garrett burst outughing, tears welling up in her eyes. Ethan leaned back on his chair and smiled coldly. "Laugh all you want.I am going to deduct your bonus this quarter and buy coffee and desserts for all the staff of ourpany." "I¡¯m sorry, boss!" Garrett immediately stoppedughing and coughed. "I think you should stop ying such tricks.Your wife clearly doesn¡¯t buy it.If you do something wrong, apologize to her like you mean it.And I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll forgive you.She doesn¡¯t look like an unreasonable person." Ethan stared into the distance, recalling how Ja?et had protectively covered herself with a quiltst night. "Well, judging from her reactionst night, I could tell she was angry.She refused to talk to me even when I asked her what she wanted." "Well, it looks like she is still angry.When a woman says it doesn¡¯t matter, it certainly matters.When a woman says she isn¡¯t angry, it means she is seething inside.It¡¯s not about what she says.You have to study hard and try to figure out what she is thinking," Garrett exined patiently like an experienced mentor. Ethan¡¯s expression was unpredictable. Garrett read his mind. "Don¡¯t feel ashamed.Think about what is more important." He nced at the red marks on Ethan¡¯s forehead. "Don¡¯t tell me that you actually slept with herst night.I have dated quiet and meek girls like her before.They don¡¯t like aggressive men." Garrett knew Ethan better than anyone else. Ethan was quick, decisive, and resolute in business.He would never let go of anything he liked. But women were different. They might not like his tough nature. Ethan scowled at Garrett and recalled the quarrel between J and her sister. "She is not meek." He smiled, shaking her head. "Well, just apologize sincerely," Garret said smugly. "I promise it will work.If it fails, you can deduct my next month¡¯s sry.Think about how I have managed to date so many girls in the past.That¡¯s because I¡¯m shamelessly persistent." "I¡¯m not as shameless as you.Bye." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Ethan rolled his eyes, turned around, and left the conference room. Chapter 61: Apology Chapter 61: Apology It was July now, and the first wave of scorching summer heat rolled over Seacisco. The days were longer and the sun setter. J came home one day just as the sun was sinking in the horizon. The warm yellow light flooded the apartment, illuminating everything in a hazy glow. In the kitchen, the man was cooking something that smelled delicious. "Why are you home so early?" J hid her surprise and walked to the kitchen slowly. Piping hot dumplings bounded on the pot as Ethan flipped them over with the light flick of his wrist. Afterwards, he turned off the gas and transferred the dumplings to a te, then fetched a pair of bowls and chopsticks. "Have dinner with me.Why are you just standing there?" "Okay," J said without protest. As Ethan set the table, she sat down hesitantly. Staring at the steaming dumplings in her bowl, shemented in surprise, "You can even make dumplings?" Ethan pulled out a chair and sat down opposite her. In the setting sun, his usually sharp features looked gentle and soft. Even his eyes were full of affection. "Why? Is it so strange that I can make dumplings? My mother forced me to learn how to cook.She didn¡¯t like cooking alone, so she often asked me to help her." In the end, Ethan had taken Garrett¡¯s advice. But now that he had to make an apology, he needed to show his sincerity. He would not do that in a perfunctory way. "Oh, I see.Anyway, I¡¯m starving.Let¡¯s eat." J lowered her gaze, unable to meet his.She couldn¡¯t bear to look at the thin scars on Ethan¡¯s face. It made her remember what had happenedst night. She picked up her chopsticks and began to eat the dumplings in her bowl slowly. A little whileter, she put her bowl down, exposing three lone dumplings. Ethan raised his hand and took her bowl, pouring her leftover dumplings into his bowl. "We can¡¯t let them go to waste." "Sorry, I really can¡¯t eat another," J said softly, looking down guiltily. After a pause, Ethan smiled and asked gently, "What¡¯s the matter? I was just making up some excuse to eat your leftover dumplings." "Oh?" Realizing that she misunderstood him yet again, J found herself unable to meet his eyes.She was still very sensitive about what other people thought of her. After all, she used to be the outcast, excluded from many school activities. "Look, I know I was wrong about the ring.I¡¯m sorry.I shouldn¡¯t have doubted you.Don¡¯t think too much.I trust you now." Ethan brought up what had happened the other day, scratching his head embarrassedly. He really wasn¡¯t used to this whole "apology" thing.He hadn¡¯t needed to humble himself in years. "It¡¯s in the past.Never mind." J wrung her fingers nervously.So many days had passed.She had nearly put this matter to rest. After thinking about it, she realized it wasn¡¯t entirely Ethan¡¯s fault for judging her. It was her carelessness that led to the ring getting lost. Besides, she was supposed to be Jocelyn, who had a reputation for being extravagant. It was only natural that Ethan suspected her. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. "Are you sure?" Ethan raised his head to look at her, his dark eyes filled with skepticism. He had a stress reaction to what she had said a few days ago, and now it was hard to tell whether she meant what she said now or not. Finally, she gave him a small smile. "I¡¯m sure.I was ignorant and made many mistakes before, but people change.You¡¯ve lived with me for a while now, so you should know what I¡¯m like now." In fact, she was talking about Jocelyn. But she wanted Ethan to understand her now. "Okay." After wolfing down the rest of the dumplings, Ethan fished the emerald ring out of his pocket and handed it to J "Since you¡¯re not angry anymore, put it on." J took the ring and held it tightly.She shook her head and said, "I¡¯ll hold onto it, but I won¡¯t wear it.I had no idea this ning was so precious, and it¡¯ll make me anxious if I have to wear it every day.If you really want others to know that I¡¯m married, we can buy another ordinary ring." Ethan eyed her pensively for a while before finally agreeing. "Okay.I¡¯ll buy you another ring." The following morning, as J was brushing her teeth, she suddenly felt a pair of thick arms wrap around her waist from The man¡¯s morning stubble rubbed against her bare shoulder. With groggy eyes, he said in a low voice, "What lotion do you use? It smells so good.Anyway, look at what I got you!" "Hey! Stop it." J shrank away from his touch, feeling itchy from his stubbles. As she continued to brush her teeth, she eyed the wine red velvet box that the man hadid on the counter in front of her. After rinsing her mouth, she opened the box. Insidey a diamond ring that glistened under the morning light. Nestled in the center was a huge blue diamond-a beautiful eye-catcher. Chapter 62: The Blue Diamond Ring Chapter 62: The Blue Diamond Ring "Wow," J said breathlessly. "It¡¯s beautiful¡­ and it looks expensive." All of a sudden, she sighed. "Don¡¯t tell me you spent a fortune on me again." "Don¡¯t worry.It didn¡¯t cost much.I got it from my friend." Ethan said affectionately, lying as easily as breathing. As he spoke, he ran his fingers across the woman¡¯s slender waist restlessly. It never urred to J that the gem in front of her was a genuine diamond. And how could it be real? If it was, Ethan had to be extremely rich. Eyeing the twinkling gemstone, she said in awe, "Technology these days must be amazing.It looks like a real diamond!" Ethan looked at her cute face and had to hold back a smile that kept tugging at the corner of his lips. Lowering his head so that she couldn¡¯t see his face, he took the diamond ring out of the box and slipped it onto her index finger. Her fair, slender finger made the diamond pop out even more. Delighted, he nibbled her neck and whispered, "You¡¯re right.It does look real." "Ouch! Hey!" J shot him a re, rubbing the spot he bit. Raising her hand, she stared at the diamond under the light. Each facet glistened and twinkled. Even she couldn¡¯t help but nod with satisfaction. Now, no one would try to rob her with such a big diamond ring on her finger, because it looked way too big. It was obviously fake. "Oh, that hurts already? Then what should you do when we get down to real business someday?" Looking at the faint teeth marks he left on her neck, Ethan snickered. "What¡¯re you talking about?" Hearing his naughty words, J blushed, her ears burning bright red.She quickly yanked at a towel to wipe her face. Pushing him, she barked, "Get out of my way.I¡¯m going to bete for work." But Ethan¡¯s hands still lingered on her waist, unwilling to let her go. "I¡¯ll let you go if you kiss me." "Ethan, stop it.I¡¯m going to bete!" J quickly turned her face away stubbornly. It was as red as an apple. "It¡¯s not like we¡¯ve never kissed before.Why are you so scared?" Ethan whispered in her ear teasingly. But in the end, he let her go. He patted her on the head and murmured, "You win." J looked at him, bewildered.She had thought that he¡¯d force her to kiss him, but he didn¡¯t. Ethan turned around and walked away.She stared at his back nkly, lost in thought. When she arrived at the office, she found the design department bustling busily. The new director, Tiffany Fisher, was quite strict. She required everyone to submit an independent design within two weeks, and all the designers running around like headless chickens to meet the deadline. "Why did Mr.Harding give us such a difficult director? She¡¯s worse than Ike," a male colleague comined under his breath as he made revisions to his design drawing. Fortunately, Tiffany¡¯s office was far from here, so they could afford a moment to ck off. "Tiffany¡¯s a typical twenty-first century irondy.She¡¯s good with office work and housework." Suddenly, a female colleague sitting next to J poked her head out. "Hey, is she married? How old is she anyway?" "I don¡¯t know how old she is, but I¡¯m willing to bet she doesn¡¯t have a boyfriend." The male colleague gnawed one end of his pen, lost in thought as he stared at his drawing. J commented lightheartedly, "I think she¡¯s good for this department. She might be cold and strict, but she¡¯s just and will get the job done.We could learn a lot from her." As everyone chattered on excitedly, they suddenly heard a knock on the ss. Tiffany was standing by the door in a ck dress, her lips pursed unhappily. "Since you all have so much free time on your hands, let¡¯s have a meeting at ten o¡¯clock.All you designers are required to attend." A hush fell over the office. Everyone knew they were doomed. The male colleague subtly made a gesture of slitting his throat. "The design department just received an important project.We¡¯ll be cooperating with anotherpany to design the spring collection.Every designer has to submit their n by the end of this week." Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. As Tiffany spoke, she flipped through a PowerPoint presentation concisely. Then, ncing at all the designers before her, she finished assigning tasks and left the room, like a teacher leaving her students to answer their test. The atmosphere in the design department dropped several hundred degrees. J and the other designers all worked overtime that week, sketching drafts seriously, as if they were in the middle of an intense exam. Surprisingly, when the designs were submitted a weekter, J¡¯s design was selected.She thought the battle hade to an end. But one morning, Tiffany suddenly called her into her office. "You have to start over and design a new n." J frowned, tilting her head to the side in confusion. Tiffany looked at her indifferently. "Don¡¯t be anxious.Listen to me first.When we handed over your draft to the client, it was rejected and your designs were criticized thoroughly.They said they wanted something more serious." Chapter 63: The Design Was Rejected Chapter 63: The Design Was Rejected J picked up the design draft she had submitted and carefully examined it. "This design is inplete ordance with their requirements.I¡¯m surprised they had rejected it.Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m too inexperienced to understand where I had gone wrong.Ms.Fisher, please give me some advice, or perhaps just choose someone else¡¯s designer." Not only J, but Tiffany was also equally confused and surprised.She looked at the design draft and shook her head. "I can¡¯t give you any advice.I think this design draft is good.That¡¯s why I chose it and presented it to the client.Well, frankly, if a client is not happy with our design, they never reject it right away.They usually ask us to modify it based on their requirements.I can¡¯t believe they just rejected our design without giving a proper exnation this time." "Then, what do we do now?"J asked hesitantly. "Since we can¡¯t figure out the reason, let¡¯s go to theirpany and ask them why they rejected it.It would be better to talk to them in person.Bring your design drafts andptop with you so that we can modify it on the spot." As Tiffany spoke, she stood up and took her coat. Tiffany¡¯s decisiveness shocked J.She thought Tiffany would ask her to modify the design until the client was satisfied.But Tiffany had other ns.She took J to the Color Company. Thispany belonged to a clothing group, and it ran a women¡¯s fashion brand that had gained poprity over the years. As soon as they arrived at the reception, J met an old acquaintance. "Sorry for keeping you waiting.I am in charge of the project.You can talk to me directly." Jocelyn walked in haughtily with a cup of coffee in her hand.She became more arrogant and comcent after seeing J. Seeing the astonishment on J¡¯s face, Tiffany frowned. "You two know each other?" Before J could say anything, Jocelyn answered with a smile, "No, we don¡¯t.This woman hase to our house to collect second-hand goods several times.So she works as a designer in your company? Well, it looks like you¡¯re lethargic when ites to recruiting employees." "That¡¯s very rude of you.We all know the design department of the Larson Group has a name of its own.Besides, you opted for ourpany to meet your design needs," Tiffany said politely, suppressing her anger. Jocelyn snorted and skimmed through the design draft on the table. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. "Your drafts seem very amateur.What are you still doing here?" At that moment, a man came to the reception. He was Jason Gentry, the CEO of the Color Company and Jocelyn¡¯s current boyfriend "Why are you all standing here? Please sit down so we can talk." Jason sat down on the sofa. "Here is the thing.My girlfriend doesn¡¯t like the design, so I would have to ask you toe up with a different draft." Jason was happy with the design. However, Jocelyn saw the draft at his cest night. After knowing that J had designed it, she immediately asked him to reject the design.She held Jason¡¯s arm and looked at J, acent smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "I¡¯m responsible for evaluating the design drafts of this project now.I think Miss Lind¡¯s design is not good enough to meet our requirements.You better rece her with a better designer." "Ourpany has selected this draft among the other designs submitted because it was the best.Some other designer¡¯s n might not be as good as this," Tiffany said calmly. J was surprised to see Tiffany speak for her.She leaned closer to her and whispered, "This is our company¡¯s project.We should prioritize the interests of thepany." "Of course, we should prioritize thepany¡¯s interest.I am just exining the pros and cons to them." Tiffany smiled. Jason picked up the coffee and took a sip.He nced at J and back at the design draft.Then, he turned to look at Jocelyn without saying anything. "I don¡¯t like this designer¡¯s work.I have the final say in this project.If you don¡¯t change the designer, I have no other choice but to cancel our coboration.The choice is yours." Jocelyn didn¡¯t give in.Her makeupden eyes turned to J. Chapter 64: Bane Chapter 64: Bane Hiffany pursed her ruddy lips, feeling helpless.She put away the design draft, stood up, and nodded. "Okay, we¡¯ll go back and discuss it again.Sorry for bothering you two." When they entered the elevator, Tiffany turned to look at J. "What happened? Did you offend that woman?" J didn¡¯t know what to say. The feud between her and the Lind family wasplicated. "Well, that was a long time ago," she said, letting out a weary sigh. Tiffany rubbed her temples and nodded. She looked effortlessly beautiful when she arched her eyebrows. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. "I didn¡¯t expect you to offend someone.After all, considering your kind nature, I didn¡¯t think you were capable of rubbing people the wrong way." A smile stretched across J¡¯s lips. "Ms.Fisher, since they don¡¯t want mine, why don¡¯t we use someone else¡¯s design?" "Yeah.That¡¯s the only solution.We have no other choice." Tiffany rubbed her sore shoulder and said, "We are so unlucky to have met such a vindictive client who couldn¡¯t draw a line between their professional and personal life.Well, you go back to thepany first.I¡¯ll go to meet another client." J nodded, thinking about how hard Tiffany worked every day. The elevator door opened, and the two walked out, one after the other. However, before J left the building, she saw Jocelyn walking toward her with an evil smile on her face. J¡¯s face turned cold. "Are you angry? I haven¡¯t barred you from the entire industry yet." Jocelyn scoffed. "The sess or failure of a woman depends on whether she has found the right man or not.As you can see, Jason is a handsome guy.But he is also the CEO of thispany A lowly woman like you only deserves a poor illegitimate child.You have to obey others all your life and aren¡¯t destined to make any achievements." J smiled and looked at Jocelyn. She was amused to hear her childish remarks. "Bar me from the industry? We¡¯ll see when that happens.By the way, is something wrong with your previous boyfriend? Is that why you¡¯ve shifted to a new guy?" Jocelyn looked at her beautiful painted fingernails and gently blew at them. "Well, hispany isn¡¯t doing well.I guess it will go bankrupt soon.That¡¯s why I dumped him.You see, only a perfect man deserves to be with me." "Uh-oh! I think your current boyfriend should be more careful.You¡¯ve had a history of boyfriends.Your first boyfriend¡¯s family went bankrupt, and you dumped him.Your second boyfriend had a serious ailment, and you dumped him.Your third boyfriend¡¯s parents were arrested, and you dumped him.It seems to me that you¡¯re bad luck ¡ª anyone who dates you falls into deep shit." J smiled before pushing Jocelyn away and walking out "You mean to say I¡¯m a bane?" Jocelyn shouted, regardless of being in a public ce. "Yes." J didn¡¯t have the time to argue with her. Ignoring the woman¡¯s screams, she walked out of the building, hailed a taxi, and left. In the evening, the setting sun painted the sky red. J was standing on the balcony with a mug of coffee in her hand.She hadn¡¯t moved ever since she returned home. Ethan opened the ss door to the balcony and walked to her side. "What¡¯s up? Is everything all right?" He rested his hand on the railing and stared into the distance. J turned to look at him, her face softening with appreciation as if he were a beautiful oil painting. "It¡¯s just some work stuff." Seeing that she didn¡¯t want to say anything more, Ethan shook his head and smiled. "Well, it looks like you still regard me as an outsider.You don¡¯t want to share anything with me." "No.I¡­" After a moment¡¯s hesitation, J finally told Ethan about how and why Jocelyn had rejected her design draft. Ethan listened to it carefully and looked into the distance. His brows knitted together as if he had decided what to do. "She won¡¯t be arrogant for long.Don¡¯t worry." Chapter 65: Public Humiliation Chapter 65: Public Humiliation "Well¡­ Thank you." J ran the tip of her finger along the rim of her mug before taking a sip of coffee.Her lips were upturned ever so slightly.She thought that Ethan had only said it to give her somefort, though, so she decided not to take his words seriously . In any case, she was in a terrible situation. Jocelyn definitely had more in store for her in the future, but for now. J just wanted to focus on keeping her job. When they had returned from Color Companyst time, Tiffany had proceeded to choose another designer¡¯s drafts for submission. The next day, Tiffany called for a meeting and made the announcement. "Color Company has approved the drafts of another designer.Good job everyone.You¡¯ve been working hard, so coffee and desserts are on me.Order whatever you like.Also, another conference will be held tomorrow, and a representative from Color Company will being to discuss the detailed ns for this project.You are all required to attend.Make sure youe on time." "Whoever makes the decision over at Color Company must have awful taste," a colleague whispered to J once the meeting was dismissed. "I think your designs are so much better." But J had more or less expected this oue. That didn¡¯t mean that she was d to see her hard work go to waste. Even so, she hid her disappointment and mustered a smile. "Maybe they just don¡¯t like my style." "How unfortunate," the other woman sighed. "I really thought you would catch a big break this time." The meeting with the people from Color Companymenced as scheduled. Naturally, Jocelyn came to the Larson Group in person on behalf of thepany. "Are you satisfied with the designs this time?" Tiffany asked calmly, her eyes fixed on Jocelyn. "Yes, I¡¯m very pleased with it.That this designer is surely going to make a name in the industry.I want to meet her, by the way I intend to further our cooperation in the future." Jocelyn perused through the portfolio, picking up sheets to study the drafts. As she did this, the massive diamond ring on her finger glinted in the sunlight. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org "Thank you for your kind words." The young designer in question tucked her hair behind her ear and stood up. Though immensely gratified, she couldn¡¯t help the pang of guilt that tightened her chest. Even she had always thought that J¡¯s designs were outstanding, and far better than hers. "Why are you thanking me? You achieved this with your talents.The previous design that was presented to me was a far cry from this.That one was out of date and boring.There was nothing special about it at all.I couldn¡¯t believe someone had wasted ink and paper on such pathetic scribbles.In fact, I don¡¯t understand why your department had taken in such a person in the first ce." Jocelyn tossed the papers back to the folder and took a sip of coffee.Her movements caused her Chanel bracelet to clink against her Cartier watch. Everyone turned silent and threw surreptitious nces at J. It was clear to them that Jocelyn was purposely insulting her. J only clutched her skirt and lowered her eyes, saying nothing. She was painfully aware of the fact that Jocelyn was here to humiliate her in front of other people.But she was now their client, and if J defended herself, it would only make things worse.She could feel her cheeks grow hot, but she did her best to keep her temper. "I¡¯m talking about you, Miss Lind," Jocelyn snapped all of a sudden. Her tone was sharp and biting, especially after seeing that J wasn¡¯t reacting to her barbs. Jocelyn wanted the woman to be humiliated in public and flee the design business for good. Just then, a knock came at the door. Before anyone could do or say anything, Garrett opened the door and walked into the room. ¡°Ah.Excuse me, but who are you?" he asked Jocelyn coldly. "I¡¯m pretty sure that you¡¯re not the person in charge of the design department over at Color Company.What are you doing in this meeting?" Jocelyn¡¯s nostrils red "I am the girlfriend of Jason Gentry, the CEO of Color Company," she dered haughtily. Garrett only raised an eyebrow before striding to the head of the table. When he sat down, his demeanor had turned serious. "And what position do you hold at Color Company, exactly?" Chapter 66: The Chairman Knew Chapter 66: The Chairman Knew Embarrassed, Jocelyn put down her coffee cup and said, "I hold no position for the time being." Her goal was to marry into a rich and powerful family. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Why would she work for anypany? The only reason why she was involved in this project in the first ce, was because she had seduced Jason into letting her do so. Garrett pushed his sses against the bridge of his nose. "Your rtionship with Mr.Gentry is a private matter, but this coboration project is a business affair between twopanies.You¡¯re just his girlfriend.You are in no position to determine which designs are going to be used, let alone nder our employees and ourpany." Jocelyn flushed, humiliated. Who the hell was this man? How dare he interfere with her purpose? The more she looked at him, the more he seemed familiar. Jocelyn thought that she had seen him in a magazine before, but she couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on it. Nevertheless, she shot up to her feet and glowered at him. "You have offended me greatly.You can rest assured that I will be telling Jason about this.You can say goodbye to this damn coboration once and for all." Garrett sneered at her, unfazed. "Be my guest." He had to admit that he was quite taken aback by this woman¡¯s arrogance and profound stupidity. He couldn¡¯t believe that Jason Gentry, who was a reputable CEO by his own right, had such terrible taste in paramours. Gritting her teeth, Jocelyn grabbed her purse and stormed out of the conference room. Just as she said, she headed directly to Jason¡¯s ce. Where else would she go? She hadints to air out. "Jason! Are you aware that the people at Larson Group are nothing but bullies? They actually kicked me out! And that man wearing sses actually dared to yell at me in front of his subordinates! Color Company is one of the best clothingpanies in the country, but it looks like they don¡¯t take you seriously, Darling." Jocelyn was scantily d at this point, having shed most of her clothes when she had thrown herself at Jason.She clung to his arm now, pressing her breasts against him as she whined coquettishly. Jason was busy ying games on his phone and didn¡¯t even turn to look at her. "Hmm? The man with sses? Are you talking about Garrett?" "You know that guy? Do you think you can make the CEO of Larson Group fire him? He insulted me in public.I was so mortified!" Jocelyn looked up at him angrily. In hindsight, Jocelyn realized that her mockery of J was nowhere near enough to make up for the insults she herself had taken. Jason gaped at her. Apparently, his girlfriend was a very ignorant woman. The Hardings were one of the four great families in the city, and its three recent generationsprised of corporate geniuses. Not to mention, the Larson Group was a conglomerate of an overwhelming scale, and Garrett was the second-inmand. In contrast, Jason was merely the CEO of a local branch, a subsidiary of thepany in general. How was he supposed to force Garrett out of office? "I don¡¯t have the power to cancel the project, and Garrett is not just some small-time nobody.I can¡¯t touch him.Very few people can." "I don¡¯t care how you do it, but you must find a way to keep this project from happening!" Jocelyn wailed. "And I want to make that man disappear from the Larson Group for good!" She had already made threats of canceling the project in a bid to throw shade at J. If she failed in seeing this through, on top of having to flee with her tail between her legs, Jocelyn might have no face to show anyone in the future. This time, Jason scowled. Although Jocelyn was haughty and reckless at times, he had truly thought that she still had some sense in her. Now, she was acting childish and unreasonable. He didn¡¯t care for it at all. "Well, let me think about it," he muttered begrudgingly. No sooner had he uttered the words than his phone began to ring. "I have to get that," he said, gesturing for Jocelyn to be quiet Jason got out of bed and answered the call while putting his bathrobe on. "Jason, what¡¯s going on with the coboration project? Garrett Harding from the Larson Group called me in person." It was the chairman of the group ofpanies he worked for, demanding an exnation. Jason was rooted to the spot. Why would Garrett call over something so trivial? Was there something he didn¡¯t know? "Don¡¯t worry, Sir.I will fix the problems and handle it well." But the chairman already sounded furious. "What the hell are you going to fix, huh? Do you think you still have something to handle after this? Let me ask you one question¨Cdid you or did you not let your girlfriend stick her nose into our business with the Larson Group?" Chapter 67: Kick Her Out Chapter 67: Kick Her Out The chairman¡¯s question shocked Jason.He walked to the sofa and slumped down, feeling helpless. "Sir, please listen to my exnation.I did ask my girlfriend to evaluate the design drafts.But¡­" He had involved Jocelyn in the decision-making process, just to please her, thinking it wouldn¡¯t be a big deal. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. However, he didn¡¯t expect the chairman of thepany to find out about it. Jason broke into a cold sweat and didn¡¯t dare to deny his mistake. "Jason, how could you make a mistake at this critical moment? After a lot of hard work, ourpany has finally managed to coborate with the Larson Group.Don¡¯t you know the design resources of the Larson Group have been outstanding in recent years? I had nned to take advantage of the coboration this time to develop the Color Company into a domestic preeminent modest luxury brand.We can¡¯t make any mistakes.Do you understand?" The chairman was furious. Jason took a deep breath and said, "Please give me onest chance.I will undo all the mistakes." "What can you do? I saw the design drafts the Larson Group had submitted.The first design was obviously better, but your girlfriend rejected it.Pleasing your girlfriend had clouded your decision.You were stupid.Our coboration with the Larson Group is more important than anything else.How dare you allow her to make the decision?" The chairman reprimanded Jason. Jason bit his lip and didn¡¯t dare to retort. All he could do was apologize over and over again. After all, it was indeed his fault. "I¡¯m sorry, sir.It¡¯s all my fault.I was too stupid¡­ What has the Larson Group decided?" Jason had an inkling the chairman wouldn¡¯t easily let go of him because of the magnitude of his mistake. The chairman was so angry that he shouted, "They asked us to deal with it and get back to them by the end of the day.The Larson Group is not to be trifled with.I don¡¯t know if Mr.Larson himself has heard about it or not.I¡¯ve already told Mr.Harding that you should be demoted first for putting us in such a situation." With that, the chairman hung up the phone. Jason clenched the phone, gritting his teeth. Reaching his current position hadn¡¯t been easy.He had worked hard day and night. Now, he had lost everything he had worked hard to achieve just because of a woman. Jocelyn was sitting aside, dumbfounded. The chairman had been practically screaming over the phone, and she had heard every word of their conversation Jason was getting demoted. "Did you hear that? You idiot, what did you do in the Larson Group today? How did you offend Garrett?" Jason was so furious that he mmed the phone on the table. He picked up the clothes on the floor and threw them at Jocelyn¡¯s face. "It¡¯s all your fault.You are the bane of my life! Let¡¯s break up! Get out of here!" "What did you say?" Jocelyn¡¯s face reddened with rage. "When I said I wanted to see the design, you agreed.But now, you¡¯re ming me for everything.Man up, you fucking loser!" She was used to dumping men ¡ª not once has anyone dumped her. It was a matter of her prestige. "Fuck off!" Looking at the woman sprawled on the bed, Jason stood up and opened the door. "Jason, you bastard! How dare you dump me?!" Jocelyn screamed. "What the hell? You¡¯re not going to leave? Well, I won¡¯t be polite to you anymore." Jason sneered at her. Then, he grabbed Jocelyn¡¯s arm and dragged her out of the bed. "Fuck! It hurts! Let go of me, Jason! This is not done! When I find a better boyfriend, I will take my revenge on you.I will¡­" Before Jocelyn could finish her words, Jason pushed her out of the door.He threw the clothes on her and sneered. "You bitch! I don¡¯t give a damn.You¡¯ve been with countless men in the past.No one will take you seriously.They just want to fuck you!" With that, he mmed the door shut. Jocelyn was half-naked when Jason pushed her out of the door. She hurriedly put on her clothes as people looked her up and down, whispering to each other, pointing at her. This was the biggest humiliation in Jocelyn¡¯s life. She put on her crumpled dress and angrily kicked the door. "Jason! Remember¡± Chapter 68: Do You Have A Crush On Me Chapter 68: Do You Have A Crush On Me The next day, as soon as J walked into thepany, Tiffany called her into her office. J swallowed nervously.She couldn¡¯t tell if Tiffany believed what Jocelyn had said yesterday "Lind, your design was approved by the Color Company.Go ahead and prepare for the project with them." Tiffany spoke briskly not even ncing up at J when she entered her office. "What? But they criticized me and my work yesterday.How could they change their mind overnight?" J¡¯s jaw nearly dropped to the ground Plus, what with the arrogant way Jocelyn acted yesterday, J was under the impression that Tiffany had called her into her office to fire her "Why are you so surprised? They¡¯re not blind.Anyone could see that your design was way better than the second proposal.It¡¯s obvious that the representative from the Color Company didn¡¯t know what they were talking about and only rejected your design because she holds a grudge against you.Anyway, Mr.Harding contacted their chairman and now, their CEO has been demoted.So your design n has been re-adopted and the cooperation between us two parties can proceed smoothly.Any more questions?" Finally, Tiffany looked up from the document she was reading and smiled at J encouragingly. Dumbfounded, J shook her head slowly. "Oh, no, no.I¡¯m just surprised.Thanks for telling me, Ms.Fisher.I¡¯ll go back to my work." When J came to her senses, she smiled sheepishly and excused herself. Truth be told, she wasn¡¯t happy per se.She just felt confused. In her eyes, the cooperation wasn¡¯t that crucial, so why did Garrett need to interfere? Seeing that she was about to leave, Tiffany raised her eyebrows and seemed to have read her mind. "I didn¡¯t think that Mr.Harding would get involved in this matter.You two seem to be¡­ on good terms.Did you know him before you joined thepany?" So, it turned out that it wasn¡¯t just J who felt that something was off. "Oh, no.Actually, I¡¯ve only met Mr.Harding twice." J shook her head and waved her hands dismissively. When she got back to her desk, she couldn¡¯t seem to concentrate on her work. It was really unorthodox-unreasonable even-for a deputy CEO like Garrett to keep standing up for her. Things didn¡¯t happen for no reason in this world. Could it be that Garrett was interested in her just like Ike? "Lind, why the long face? Did Fisher give you an earful?" A colleague sitting next to J poked her arm with a pen. "Huh? Oh, no.I just have a stomachache¡­ Gerda, would you know if Mr.Harding has a girlfriend?" J whispered in her colleague¡¯s ear. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Gerda knew everything that went on in thepany, since she was the most gossipy one and was always kept in the loop. "Well, I guess you could say that.Mr.Harding might be very good to us employees, but I can¡¯t say I respect his private life.You know how rich men are with open rtionships.He probably has a girlfriend, but most likely has more than one.At least, that¡¯s what those gossip magazines say," Gerda whispered back, her eyes twinkling with interest. "Why? Do you have a crush on him? Oh, my dear, this kind of man doesn¡¯t suit you." "No! I mean, I was just curious.You¡¯re overthinking." J adamantly shook her head.She was a married woman after all.She was just worried that she¡¯d be sexually harassed again, like what had happened with Ike back then. After mulling it over, J decided she needed to get to the bottom of this. If it turned out that Garrett liked her, she¡¯d have no choice but to leave the Larson Group. After all, she couldn¡¯t afford to offend someone as powerful as Garrett. She plucked up the courage and sent him a private message through the work chat group. "Mr.Harding, are you free to talk? There was something I wanted to ask you." "Of course.What is it, Lind?" Garrett replied in a friendly tone. For some reason, J got goose bumps when she read his reply.She quickly gathered her design drawings and went up to the thirty-first floor. From such a height, the scenery down was breathtaking. One could easily see the entirety of the city from the floor-to-ceiling windows. There were two meeting rooms and two offices on this floor. The door to thergest room was covered by a white curtain. A sign that said "Brandon Larson" in grand, gold lettering hung outside the door. As she walked past it, J heard a faint, low voice from inside. Finally, she made it to Garrett¡¯s door.She raised her hand and knocked politely. "Come in," Garrett¡¯s voice sounded promptly. "Good morning, Mr.Harding." When Garrett saw here in, he immediately stood up and smiled. "Lind! Wee.Come and take a seat.What can I do for you?" After a moment¡¯s hesitation, J sat down stiffly. "Mr.Harding, I heard that my design was re-adopted by the Color Company.Thank you for your help." "No need to thank me.It was no big deal." Garrett waved his hand dismissively then proceeded to pour piping hot tea into a cup. Unbeknownst to J, it was her husband who pulled the strings. This matter actually had nothing to do with Garrett. "Hmm, there is one more thing I wanted to talk to you about¡­" "What¡¯s up? You can talk to me about anything." Seeing how uneasy she looked, Garrett tried to coax it out of her gently. Closing her eyes, J plucked up her courage and finally blurted, "Mr.Harding, do you have a crush on me?" Chapter 69: Misunderstanding Chapter 69: Misunderstanding "What?" Garrett was scared out of his wits. His hands trembled, and the teacup fell to the floor. He sprang up from the sofa and peeked out of the room to see if Ethan was outside. Then, he looked at J and shook his head vehemently, "No, I absolutely do not have a crush on you.Don¡¯t talk nonsense! I did everything for thepany.And for Mr.Larson!" "Well¡­ Mr.Harding, it was just a casual question.I..." Startled by his reaction, J quickly stood up too. "Are you okay, Mr.Harding?" Garrett quickly stepped back to keep a safe distance from her as if she were a dreadful monster. Sweat beaded his forehead. "I¡¯m fine.Don¡¯te near me.Stay away! Although only the two of us are in this room, there¡¯s a third pair of eyes watching us" With that, he opened the door and stormed out of the room. He didn¡¯t dare to stay in the same room with J anymore Garrettpletely forgot that this was his own office. J frowned, her eyes still fixed on the door, dumbfounded by his reaction.She had thought about it a lot beforeing here but didn¡¯t expect Garrett would react this way. Even if her guess was wrong, he should have either yelled at her orughed at her for being stupid. But he was strangely scared, which seemed to confuse J. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡®What did he mean? Is there something scary and horrible about me?¡¯ she wondered, rubbing her hair. Not knowing what else to do, J let out a weary sigh and walked out of the office in confusion.She couldn¡¯t understand what was going on. After Garrett left his office, he rushed out to see Ethan. "Did shee to your office? I thought I heard her voice now." Ethan asked in his usual maic voice. The sunlight cast a soft glow on his body, outlining his features. His face looked stern. Garrett looked at Ethan, who was wearing a suit, leaning against the ck leather sofa, reading the documents. A shiver ran down his spine. "Buddy, I have to tell you something." Ethan was aware of everything happening in thepany. Therefore, Garrett felt he¡¯d rather tell the truth before he found out himself. Garrett took off his sses and rubbed his eyebrows, choosing his words. Ethan stopped reading, and his sharp gaze fell on Garrett. "Well?" "Your wife just came in and asked me if I had a crush on her," Garrett hissed through his teeth, clenching his fists as if someone was going to kill him. Ethan¡¯s face darkened in an instant.He leaned against the sofa and studied Garrett¡¯s face. "What did you do to her?" "What can I do to her? I¡¯m innocent." Garrett lifted his hands, shaking his head. Then, he quickly walked up to the sofa and sat beside Ethan. "I only did what you asked me to do.I didn¡¯t expect her to misunderstand me.Trust me, I have nothing to do with her.But think about it; I¡¯ve been helping her time and again.It¡¯s only natural for her to think I¡¯m interested in her." Ethan closed the file in his hand and sneered. "Wow! That¡¯s great! I did everything, but you got the credit." "That¡¯s because she has never seen you here.I have been standing up for her every time she has encountered a problem.Look, I don¡¯t want things to be this way either." Garrett shook his head and put on his ss. "Don¡¯t put me through anything like this again.Even if I¡¯m required to help her, I have to do it on behalf of Mr.Larson Otherwise, she will continue to misunderstand me." Ethan pursed his lips and stared into the distance. After a moment¡¯s thought, he realized Garrett was right. Things couldn¡¯t go on this way. He had been J¡¯s secret savior and helped her every time she encountered a problem, but he didn¡¯t get any gratitude from her in return. She always thought someone else had helped her. Ethan had to find a solution. Chapter 70: Brandon’s Sudden Request Chapter 70: Brandon¡¯s Sudden Request In a daze, J trudged back to her desk. "Gerda, Mr.Harding wouldn¡¯t make a huge fuss out of us employees, would he?" J whispered to her colleague, her voice riddled with anxiety. "Nah, I don¡¯t think so.After all, a boss should be open-minded.But maybe he¡¯s capable of making mountains out of molehills. Who knows? I can¡¯t read minds." Gerda¡¯s cryptic answer only served to make J even more uneasy. What if she had offended Garrett? The next day, when J rushed to work, she ran into Garrett at the gate of thepany. Eyes darting around nervously, she managed to pluck up the courage to approach him to apologize. "Mr.Harding, excuse me.About what happened yesterday¡­" But before she could finish her sentence, when Garrett saw her approaching, he immediately turned around and rushed back inside the car. He shouted at the driver anxiously, "Go! Get me out of here! Hurry!" J¡¯s steps faltered as she watched the car zoom off. She was speechless. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. When she sat down at her desk, J felt so dejected that she lowered her head to her table and muttered, "Gerda, I think my career¡¯s over." Garrett didn¡¯t even want to see her.He was probably so offended. With a sandwich in her mouth, Gerda handed J a bottle of milk. "Don¡¯t talk like that.Ms.Fisher might hear you and give you an earful." "Oh, thanks." J gratefully epted the milk. "You¡¯re too mean.I think Ms.Fisher¡¯s a good person." As J turned on herputer and checked her inbox, a notification suddenly popped up in the work group chat. "Brandon Larson sent you a friend request." What the hell?! Startled, J nearly choked on the milk she was drinking. Brandon was the ever-elusive CEO of the Larson Group. How the heck did she fall under his radar? Brandon¡¯s position was even higher than that of Garrett! Worse yet was the fact that the request was sentst night. Mind whirling, J cautiously epted Brandon¡¯s request. It had been hours since he had sent the request. Would the CEO think that she was arrogant? J hurriedly typed, "Good morning, Mr.Larson.I¡¯m sorry.I went to bed earlyst night, so I didn¡¯t see your request until just now." As Ethan was pouring over the financial statements of the new quarter, his phone suddenly buzzed. When he saw the text, he couldn¡¯t help but smile and started typing out a reply. "I see.Thepany is currently running an investigation on its senior executives.Has Garrett Harding harassed you in any way?" When J read this, rms went off in her mind. Did Brandon know that she had gone to Garrett¡¯s office yesterday? But Garrett had done the opposite of harassment. At the mere sight of her, Garrett had turned around and ran just now, as if he had seen a ghost. Frowning slightly, J answered, "No, I rarely interact with Mr.Harding." Brandon then asked, "You¡¯ve been working in the Larson Group for a while now.How¡¯s the experience? If you encounter any problems, just tell me.I¡¯ve seen your designs, and I think you have great potential." J¡¯s heart skipped a beat. This was the Brandon Larson of the Larson Group. The CEO had noticed her, a faceless employee amidst a hundred others. She replied obsequiously, "Thank you for your praise, Mr.Larson.I will do my best for the sake of the company." "What¡¯s your n for the future in terms of your career?" J hastily replied to express her loyalty to thepany. "I enjoy it here with the Larson Group and would be honored if I could grow here.If I can, I¡¯d like to spearhead projects in the future.That way, I can learn a lot more." "Okay.I won¡¯t disturb you anymore." After that, Brandon didn¡¯t say anything more. Minutes ticked by, but J didn¡¯t receive any more notifications, so she closed the chat window. The CEO¡¯s words were so concise yet impactful, which made him look unprecedentedly cool. "Hey, are you chatting with your boyfriend?" J nearly jumped in her seat when Gerda¡¯s voice suddenly sounded right next to her ear. "What? Of course not!" she immediately refuted, pping herptop shut. After a moment of thought, she asked in a low voice, "Have you ever seen Mr.Larson?" Their CEO was so mysterious that, although he was a well-known public figure, nobody knew what he even looked like. There were no pictures of him anywhere. "Not exactly¡­ But one time, I went downstairs to buy breakfast and I saw Mr.Harding with a tall, buff guy.I figured the other man was Mr.Larson.I mean, his back alone had an incredibly domineering aura.Why¡¯d you ask? Have you seen him?" Gerda asked curiously, as to be expected from the most gossipy employee in thepany. "No," J sighed helplessly. Shaking her head, she decided to drop the subject and proceeded to work. Perhaps the CEO chatted up random employees as part of his routine¡­ Chapter 71: Give Her A Raise Chapter 71: Give Her A Raise The following Monday, J showed up at the office with dark circles under her eyes. "Did you spend the weekend in prison? You look terrible," Gerdamented as she pulled out her chair and sat down, munching on a hot dog. "The cooperation project I¡¯m handling is moving so fast.I needed to work overtime for two consecutive days," J drawled and vawned.She was so tired that she felt she would doze off the next second. "Were you able to finish?" Leaning on her table, J nodded weakly. "It was finished this morning!" As the two chatted idly, Tiffany¡¯s voice rang out from behind them. "Lind, please see me in my office." In a daze, J raised her head. Gerda shot her a sympathetic look then stuck out her tongue like a little child. "Sounds like you¡¯ll need to revise your drawings.Good luck!" Barely holding herself together, J trudged into Tiffany¡¯s office. "You look exhausted.I never thought anyone else here would work harder than me." Tiffany sipped at her coffee pensively, looking J up and down almost sympathetically. Then, she spread out the design drawings on her desk and said, "The Color Company has sent these to the factory already.There¡¯s no need for you to make any modifications.They¡¯re very satisfied with your work.That¡¯s all I wanted to say.You can go back now and take things easy." J looked at Tiffany warily and asked slowly. "Is there anything else you wanted to say, Ms.Fisher?" She found it hard to believe that Tiffany just called her-in to praise her. "No.Go back to your desk and take a nap, will you? I¡¯ll pretend that I don¡¯t see you cking off." The corners of Tiffany¡¯s red lips lifted, revealing a warm smile. Then, having dismissed J, she fixed her eyes on the design drawings before her. After lunch, a notification popped up on J¡¯sputer.It was Brandon. "I heard that you did a good job." J read and reread his message, feeling ttered. There were thousands of employees in the Larson Group, and she was just a newbie. How could the news about her work have reached Brandon¡¯s ears so soon? J cautiously replied, "I was just doing my job, Mr.Larson.I¡¯ll do my best to keep contributing to thepany." Actually, new designers weren¡¯t usually get well-paid.Only J herself knew that if she didn¡¯t enjoy this job, she would¡¯ve long quit. To her surprise, Brandon then said, "We monitor every employee¡¯s output.Given your progress, I¡¯m going to give you a raise." "Really?" Thrilled beyond belief, J lost control of herself and nearly shrieked with excitement, She had just joined the Larson Group. A raise was the least of her expectations, but it was very much wee, as it would help her pay for Hannah¡¯s medical fees. Sitting in his brightly-lit office, the man watched the surveince video from hisputer screen, staring at the woman who was snickering at her desk.He couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. "Have you been working overtime in the past two days?" he asked, J looked around the office secretly, wondering if the CEO was watching her. But then she soon realized that the CEO probably had ess to the attendance of all the employees. However, it was still surprising that he would pay special attention to her, an insignificant employee, let alone a newbie. J shrugged off any feeling of uneasiness and cheered up at the thought of her raise, She answered, "Yes.I had to work overtime because I needed to finish my design for our client as soon as possible." After she sent this message, confusion began to creep on her. There were thousands of employees in the Larson Group. Why did the CEO personally tell a neer that her sry was to be raised? Wasn¡¯t that the HR¡¯s job? In that moment, Brandon seemed to read her mind. "It¡¯s not yet time for annual evaluation for raises and promotions.Your raise is my special reward for you, which is why I¡¯m the one who¡¯s telling you about it." J heaved a sigh of relief and replied, "Thank you, Mr.Larson.I will work harder in the future!" Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Then she sent a smiling emoji of good will. This was her first job.She was so lucky! And the Larson Group was a hugepany, too. Perhaps the boss was willing to shell out a tiny sum in an effort to retain the talented employees, Without thinking too much, J proceeded to focus on her work. When it was time to get off work, J was about to turn herptop off when Brandon sent her another message. "Don¡¯t work overtime today.You have to get proper rest." J¡¯s body went stiff. After what had happened with Garrett, she didn¡¯t dare to even consider the idea that Brandon was interested in her. After all, a mysterious big shot like Brandon was different from the yboy, Garrett. It was impossible for him to take a fancy to her.So she decided that perhaps he was just a really considerate boss¡­ Chapter 72: Jealous Of Himself Chapter 72: Jealous Of Himself When J came home, she found the apartment empty. Hours ticked by, yet there was still no sign of Ethan. Finally, at eleven o¡¯clock, J heard the sound the door unlocking.She walked to the door subconsciously. When the door swung open, she met Ethan¡¯s gaze. The man looked exhausted.He put away the key and said curiously, "I thought you were exhausted from working overtime.Why aren¡¯t you in bed yet?" "I got to take things easy today.Anyway, I cooked fish with sweet and sour sauce.Have you had dinner?" She should have been bed by now. For some unknown reason though, J had decided to wait for him tonight. After a moment¡¯s silence, she asked hesitantly, "Why are you sote tonight?" She had been working overtime the past few days, so she was out of the apartment early and came backte at night.She hadn¡¯t seen Ethan in almost three days. "Fish with sweet and sour sauce? Sounds great.I haven¡¯t had dinner yet." Ethan shrugged off his coat and tossed it on the sofa.He picked up the remote control on the table and turned on the TV. The sound of a football match droned on.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. "The convenience store was restocked today," he murmured absentmindedly. "I had to help move things." "Oh," said J. Shrugging it off, she walked to the kitchen to prepare the food. Hearing the sounds of dishes clinking, Ethan followed her to the kitchen and leaned against the door frame. "How¡¯s work?" J looked up at him, her eyes lighting up excitedly. "I was just about to tell you.Mr.Larson himself told me that he¡¯s going to give me a raise.He thinks I¡¯m a promising designer.Maybe I¡¯ll be rich in the future!" Ethan surveyed the excitement on her face and asked slowly, "What do you think of Mr.Larson?" As she stuffed the fish into the microwave oven, J smiled softly. "I think he¡¯s nice and approachable.He cares about his employees.He even told me that I can tell him if I had any problem.Truth be told, I never thought that the CEO of the Larson Group would turn out to be so nice.What was most important was that he wasn¡¯t as arrogant as I thought.He doesn¡¯t put on any airs and he appreciates talent.No wonder the Larson Group is so sessful.With such a boss, I think I¡¯ll be willing to work for the Larson Group forever." At first, Ethan was pleased to hear her praise Brandon so much, but the more he listened, feelings of jealousy stirred in his heart. Even though he was Brandon himself, hearing J praise someone she thought was another man made him a little unhappy.She had never praised Ethan like this. Didn¡¯t she have a good impression of him as Ethan? Odd as it may sound, he began to be jealous of himself¡­ Forcing a smile, Ethan strode over to J and asked sourly, "You haven¡¯t even seen this Brandon Larson guy.Why do you speak so highly of him? He has never shown his face to the public.Maybe he¡¯s super ugly." J stuck out her lower lip in a pout.She looked up at the man and tried to defend the boss who had just given her a raise. "Don¡¯t be so judgmental.After all, a person¡¯s quality doesn¡¯t depend on their appearance.Besides, when I first went to the Larson Group, I saw a man take the exclusive elevator to the top floor.Later I knew that it was the exclusive elevator for the CEO.So the man I saw was Mr.Larson.His back alone was good-looking, so I doubt he¡¯s ugly." Amidst the tense atmosphere, the te of fish continued to be heated in the microwave oven. Ethan snickered and looked down at the woman¡¯s parted lips. Unafraid, J looked back at him defiantly. "Well? What do you have to say to that?" Instead of arguing with her, the man slipped his arms around her waist and pecked her on the corner of her lips. "Tsk, I¡¯m just a little unhappy.I¡¯m your husband.I can¡¯t just stand still and listen to you praise another man like that!" Chapter 73: Touch My Abs Chapter 73: Touch My Abs "You¡¯re just impossible.How can you get jealous so easily?" Suddenly, J¡¯s face turned hot.She lowered her gaze, unable to look at Ethan anymore.She tried to push him away and pleaded, "Step back.You¡¯re too close." She was trapped, being pressed in between Ethan¡¯srge body and the kitchen sink behind her.Her flustered face made him want to have her even more. "I have a question." Ethan¡¯s deep voice came from above her head, his breath rustling her hair slightly. Clenching his fist, the man cleared his throat and asked in a gruff voice, "Well, between Brandon and me, who has the better figure?" As soon as those words left his lips, Ethan felt incredibly embarrassed. He knew it was a stupid question, but he just wanted to hear J praise him to his face. Standing there and thinking for a long time, J stole a nce at Ethan from the corner of her eyes. For a second, it seemed that his broad figure matched that of the man in the elevator. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. "Actually, you have simr builds." Ethan frowned. With pursed lips, he muttered, "We can¡¯t be exactly the same." "I didn¡¯t get a good look at him.How could I tell who has the better figure?" J asked defensively. His question was too difficult. Finally, the microwave oven beeped and the smell of sweet and sour sauce wafted to their noses. "Okay.The fish is ready" Dropping her gaze again, J tried to push Ethan away again. But Ethan took this as an opportunity to grab her hand. His eyes shing seriously, he said, "It¡¯s not hard.Touch my body and you¡¯ll be able to tell who has the better body." Without waiting for a response, he shoved her hand under his T-shirt. And just like he said, his skin was firm, with distinctly toned muscles bulging out J¡¯s eyes went as wide as saucers. She felt as though she touched fire and instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but Ethan was too strong. He pressed her palm forcefully against his abdomen. There was nothing she could do but feel his defined muscles. If her hand moved any lower, he would have needed to unbuckle his belt. She shut her eyes tight and her whole body went stiff.Her other hand flew to her face and she quickly turned her face away from him.But it was toote. Ethan could see how red her face was "Okay, okay.You have a better figure, even better than those models in the magazines.You¡¯re also tall and handsome.There.Happy now?" J knew that if she didn¡¯t praise Ethan, he would never let her go. Sure enough, Ethan finally let go of her hand. His dark eyes clouded over but J couldn¡¯t read his expression. He raised his hand and touched her cheek gently. "Why is your face so red? I¡¯m your husband." "No, I¡­" J gnawed her lower lip, at a loss for words. Before she could say anything, Ethan had scooped her up and onto the kitchen counter. Surprised, she looked up at the man¡¯s beautiful and deep eyes. Before she could react, Ethan had already leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. His passionate kiss overwhelmed her. She had nowhere to go and nothing to do but part her lips slightly and let him kiss her fiercely. This wasn¡¯t the first time they kissed, but she still wasn¡¯t used to it. Ethan¡¯s kiss was too intense, conveying a passion that seemed to want to devour her. What felt like an eternity passed before he finally pulled away. He nearly lost control of himself. Fortunately, he hade to his senses before then. Still, he continued to peck on her neck gently. His palms still rested on her waist, but he didn¡¯t go any further. "I¡¯m going to bed," J whispered hoarsely. She twisted her head in an effort to avoid his advances.Her eyes had clouded over in a daze, but her lips were red and swollen. Ethan rested his forehead against her shoulder to calm himself down. "You just got a raise.Shouldn¡¯t we be celebrating?" J stared at him nkly. Finally, when she came to her senses, she remembered that Ethan had given her two rings, but she hadn¡¯t given him anything in return yet. "Okay.What do you want to do?" Ethan pressed his lips against her bare neck then finally pulled away. With a gentle smile, he winked and said, "Figure it out yourself.I know you¡¯re tired.Go to bed." Then he turned around and went back to his room to get changed. Chapter 74: Meet Elaine Again Chapter 74: Meet ine Again The next day, after work, J went to a shopping mall nearby.It was on the most bustlingmercial street in the city. Some kind of a fun activity was going on in the shopping mall. Many children were performing on the stage as people cheered and pped for them. When J entered the mall, she was almost knocked down by the crowd. Suddenly, a strong hand gripped her arm and pulled her back. J turned around and saw Christopher smiling at her. He was wearing a denim blue shirt and matching jeans. "Be careful.Otherwise, they might drag you to the stage to perform." "Thank you, Chris." J smiled sheepishly as she smoothed her bangs. "Why are you here?" "I went to the grocery store nearby and bought some daily necessities." Christopher lifted his bags and waved them at her "What about you?" he asked, arching an eyebrow "Well, I came to pick up a gift for my husband." J looked away as a blush med her cheeks. The smile on Christopher¡¯s face vanished in an instant. His heart sank with dejection.He quickly forced a smile, trying to look normal. "Why didn¡¯t you bring your husband with you? Do you need my advice?" Christopher seldom got the chance to be with J alone. Therefore, he wanted to stay with her, even though it meant he had to help her pick a gift for her husband. Afraid that Ethan might not like her choice of gift, J thought it might be a good idea to get a man¡¯s opinion. After a moment¡¯s thought, she nodded. "Okay.Thank you, Chris." The two strolled into an opulent leather product store. ncing around, Christopher picked up a reddish brown leather wallet and handed it to J "The wallets here are good.What do you think?" "Yes, I love the color." J¡¯s eyes lit up. "You have good taste, Chris." Christopher smiled bitterly. The two of them were busy examining the wallet, so they didn¡¯t see ine staring at them through the ss door. ine had juste out of a clothing store opposite the leather shop. The blood on her face drained when she saw J and Christopher interacting with such intimacy. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡®Are they together?¡¯ she wondered. ine couldn¡¯t find a satisfactory job after she got fired from the Larson Group.She had no choice but to work for a smallpany to make ends meet.Her pathetic life only made her hate J even more.She felt the woman had ruined her bright future. Bile rose in her throat when she saw J and Christopher shopping happily in the mall.She felt that J was a slut, who must have seduced Christopher after joining the Larson Group. Just as J and Christopher were busy choosing the right wallet, they heard ine¡¯s voice. "Hi! What a surprise to run into you two here!" After a short pause, J forced a smile. "ine! Long time no see." It was a small world, after all. Since Christopher was not familiar with ine, he greeted her with a polite ¡®Hello¡¯. "Would you like to have dinner with me? We three haven¡¯t seen each other for a long time.After all, we used to be schoolmates And Lind, I want to apologize for what happened before.I misunderstood you." ine shook her head sadly and looked around as if she had no intention of leaving "No, I¡¯m going home for dinner." J smiled politely.She was aware of ine¡¯s hypocrisy. Moreover, her rtionship with ine wasn¡¯t good enough to have dinner with her. Christopher didn¡¯t bother beating around the bush, so he bluntly said, "ine, I don¡¯t think we are close enough to have dinner together." Again ine¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment.She remained silent. With that, J and Christopher put down the wallets, intending to leave. However, as soon as J arrived at the door, the anti-theft sensor on the door instantly turned red and began to beep aloud, startling everyone. Chapter 75: Thief Chapter 75: Thief "Miss, please wait!" The store manager ran over and blocked J¡¯s way. Everyone in the store also turned to look at her curiously. "Is she a thief?" "She doesn¡¯t look like one¡­" J frowned slightly and was even more confused.She hadn¡¯t taken anything and had walked past the door twice. "Why is the rm going off? Is it broken?" "Miss, have you taken anything that you haven¡¯t paid for?" The manager smiled politely. J tilted her head to the side and replied calmly, "No." But the rm kept ringing incessantly. With an embarrassed look, the manager leaned closer and whispered, "Miss, please tell us the truth, or we will have no choice but to frisk you." Just then, ine sauntered over. "Hey, what¡¯s that in your pocket?" Pretending to be shocked, ine pointed at the pocket of J¡¯s coat. J frowned and fished her hand into her pocket. Sure enough, there was something inside. To her surprise, she pulled out a wallet. With a puzzled look, ine pointed at an empty spot on the shelf and said to the manager, "Look over there.Are you missing a wallet?" The manager looked at the wallet in J¡¯s hand. His eyes instantly darkened and he said with disdain, "Yes, this is the most expensive wallet in our store." This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Hearing this, ine feigned shock and her hand flew to cover her mouth. "I always thought those things they said about you were just rumors back then.It turns out that our ssmates were right all along.Why do you still misbehave? You¡¯ve even resorted to stealing!" J looked back at her, bewildered. She had no idea how the wallet had ended up in her pocket.She pped the wallet onto the counter and said firmly, "I didn¡¯t take this.I¡¯ve never stolen anything in my life.You stop trying to ruin my reputation.If you don¡¯t believe me, check the store¡¯s security camera footage." "Yes, check the footage.My friend¡¯s always been a decent, upright person.She would never do such a thing." Christopher stood by J firmly. Irritated, ine crossed her arms over her chest. "Christopher, haven¡¯t you heard what people have said about her back in college? She¡¯s not as decent as you think." "ine, unlike you, I don¡¯t fall for whatever other people say so easily." Christopher¡¯s usually gentle eyes turned fierce in that moment. "Then check the security camera footage!" ine snorted and said nothing more. The best way to have this matter cleared was to check the security cameras. And so the manager scurried off to check the footage, as asked. In the video, J and Christopher were standing next to the shelf with the wallet. Unfortunately, ine¡¯s body blocked J¡¯s, including her arms. So it was impossible to see whether J had taken the wallet or not. ine smiled smugly.She sneered, "Just admit it already.Did you steal the wallet?" Chapter 76: Call The Police Chapter 76: Call The Police J frowned deeply. "The footage can¡¯t prove that I stole the wallet.Why are you so hell-bent on ndering me? Perhaps it was you who took the wallet and slipped it into my pocket to frame me." ine¡¯s nostrils red and her eyes went wide. To cover up her ploy, she raised her voice and pointed a finger at J. "Don¡¯t you dare use me! The wallet was found in your pocket, so obviously, you were the one who stole it!" "ine, how many times do we have to say that the footage doesn¡¯t show that it was J who stole it? Stop framing her." Christopher looked at her coldly and added, "I know she didn¡¯t steal the wallet." ine had wanted to paint J as a thief so that Christopher would dislike her. But now that Christopher was even protecting J, ine was utterly enraged. "Christopher, just how well do you know J? Maybe she¡¯s not the good girl you make her out to be.There were a lot of rumors about her back in college.Her ssmates wouldn¡¯t make up stories for no reason.Plus, now she¡¯s trying to put the me on me.You heard it yourself!" ine¡¯s voice was shrill, which made her sound as though she really believed what she was saying Clenching her fists, J said through gritted teeth, "You were the one who started all those rumors.Years have passed and we¡¯re supposed to be more mature now.Haven¡¯t you grown up yet?" At the time, J had ignored what ine did because they were about to graduate. There was no use getting worked up over such a trivial thing. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. "How dare you use me of starting those rumors? Do you have any proof?" ine couldn¡¯t help but snicker at J¡¯s stupidity. They had graduated years ago. Even if ine indeed was the one who spread the rumors, J had no evidence. Moreover, the video didn¡¯t show that ine deliberately framed J. All the bystanders in the store watched this scene unfold with great interest. Since the wallet was found in J¡¯s pocket, surely she was the prime suspect. "But she¡¯s so pretty.I¡¯d never have thought she was a thief!" "You know what they say: you can¡¯t judge a book by its cover." Hearing their whispers, Christopher raised his head and cleared his throat loudly. "The matter hasn¡¯t been investigated thoroughly.Don¡¯t draw conclusions just yet." The manager couldn¡¯t just let J go after what happened. "Miss, store policy dictates that you have to pay ten times the price of what you stole.The wallet was found in your pocket.You must pay us back, or we¡¯ll call the police." J looked at him, speechless. Hesitating, she clutched her bag so tightly until her knuckles turned white. Suddenly, she saw something at the corridor outside the store. Turning around, she sneered smugly. "Okay.Call the police." ine¡¯s eyes widened as she couldn¡¯t believe her luck. Snickering, she said arrogantly, "It sounds like you don¡¯t have the money to pay for it.That¡¯s probably why you resorted to stealing, you poor thing." ine nearly jumped with joy. If J was sent to jail for shoplifting, her career would be ruined. ine¡¯s words undoubtedly smeared J¡¯s name even further. "I¡¯m asking the manager to call the police precisely because I didn¡¯t steal the wallet! Why do I have to pay ten times the item¡¯s price? I¡¯ll wait for the police to deal with this matter." J¡¯s voice was clear, confident, and had no trace of fear. But ine was unfazed.She firmly believed that J would be put behind bars. Seeing J act as stubborn as a mule, she couldn¡¯t help but sneer with satisfaction. Chapter 77: To Prove Her Innocence Chapter 77: To Prove Her Innocence Realizing that this matter was about to get out of hand, Christopher decided to put an end to this. He pulled J aside and said in a low voice, "How about this? I¡¯ll pay for it.The Larson Group values its reputation.If they find out about this, you¡¯ll probably be fired.Besides, the wallet was found in your pocket.If they really call the police, you might really end up in jail." "Chris, I didn¡¯t take the wallet.If I agree to pay ten times its price, it¡¯ll just prove that I¡¯m guilty, right?" J spoke calmly. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. There wasn¡¯t a trace of panic in her voice. ine eavesdropped from the sidelines.She thought that J was just too proud to ept Christopher¡¯s money. But it was futile. Did she think that the police could prove her innocence? Anyway, the wallet was found in J¡¯s pocket, and what had really happened wasn¡¯t caught on the store¡¯s security camera. That meant that J, by default, was the thief. Unable to contain her excitement, ine urged the shop manager to call the police already. "The thief can¡¯t pay you.You¡¯re wasting your time if you don¡¯t call the police right now." The shop manager agreed and called the police. It didn¡¯t take long before two men in uniform strolled into the shop. When the police arrived, ine immediately ran up to them, dragging J behind her. "Sir, it¡¯s her who stole from this store, but she still doesn¡¯t want to admit it." "Please hold on.I want you to check the security camera footage.I have evidence to prove that I didn¡¯t steal the wallet, but was framed," J said with a confident smile. ine narrowed her eyes at her, sniggering as though she had heard a dirty joke. "What tricks are you ying? Didn¡¯t we just check the store¡¯s security footage?" "I¡¯m not talking about this shop¡¯s security camera.I¡¯m talking about the security cameras in the shopping mall¡¯s corridor." Suddenly, J turned around and pointed to the security cameras in the corridor right outside the shop. In order to attract more customers, the shop¡¯s storefront was made of ss, so the security cameras in the corridor could easily capture what went on inside the store through the ss walls. "Please check the mall¡¯s security cameras.The footage from that angle should be able to prove that I didn¡¯t steal anything," J said calmly, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Don¡¯t listen to her! She¡¯s probably just stalling for time and ns to run away when you¡¯re not looking!" Hearing J¡¯s calm exnation, ine was the one who was filled with panic. All the color drained from her face as she urgently tried to convince the policemen. After all, she was the one who slipped the wallet into J¡¯s pocket, taking advantage of the blind spot of the store¡¯s security camera. But she didn¡¯t take into consideration the mall¡¯s security cameras. If what she had done was really captured on video, she would be doomed. "ine, I¡¯m just asking the police to check the mall security cameras.Why are you so scared?" J looked at her with fake empathy, although her eyes shed dangerously. Flustered, ine forced herself to keep calm. "If the thief isn¡¯t scared, why should I be?" As requested, the police immediately checked the mall¡¯s security footage. Everyone held their breath and peered at theputer screen, wondering what tricks J would y. After all, the wallet had been found in her pocket. While the footage was a little pixted, it was still very clear that ine had stood next to J and, under the cover of her body, secretly took the wallet from the shelf and slipped it into J¡¯s coat pocket. Chapter 78: Arrested Chapter 78: Arrested What a twist! ine stared at theputer screen, dumbfounded. "ine, you haven¡¯t changed one bit.All you know is to bring trouble for the others." J sneered. "I didn¡¯t¡­ No¡­ It¡¯s¡­" ine panicked. She finally understood why J was stubborn about not agreeing to thepensation but insisted on calling the police. If no one had called the police, ine could have gotten away with the problem by paying the price to the shop manager even if they found out she had flicked the wallet. However, the arrival of the police worsened the situation. They just couldn¡¯t solve the problem in private anymore. Christopher shook his head in disappointment. He didn¡¯t expect ine to be shameless enough to do such a cheap thing. "ine, was it you who did that?" The unmistakable evidence proved ine was the culprit. ine couldn¡¯t get away with the crime no matter how hard she tried. She lowered her head in shame, for she couldn¡¯te up with an excuse. "I¡­ I didn¡¯t do it on purpose," she tried exining. However, J knew she was lying. ine was bluffing now to escape from the problem. J looked away from ine. After all, the woman was a hopeless liar.The police quickly stopped ine. "You are suspected of theft and false usation.Come with us, please." ine stepped back and tried defending herself. "No, I won¡¯te with you.I canpensate by paying ten times the price of the wallet.Please don¡¯t take me away." "You are the suspect of this crime.There is no point inpensating now.This is a police case now, and the people who have filed aint do not intend to let you go," a policeman said mercilessly. Hearing this, ine grabbed J¡¯s hand and pleaded, "J, can you let go of me this time? Please show mercy.I know I made a mistake.I will never hurt you again.I promise." "You tried ruining my reputationst time in the Larson Group, and tried framing me for theft now.What makes you think I¡¯ll let go of you?" J asked calmly. If she didn¡¯t teach ine a lesson, the woman would continue to bother her. "Sir, you can handle the case ording to thew." ine sneered, fury zing in her eyes. "Why are you so cruel? It¡¯s all because of you! I won¡¯t let you go!" Her words dripped with malice. J shrugged indifferently. "I have never intended to harm you in any way.But you have been making things difficult for me time and again right from college.ine, it¡¯s time for you to introspect and realize what all you have done.Don¡¯t even think of bothering me again.Otherwise, you¡¯ll have to face the consequences.It will be worse than this." J scoffed at ine and stormed out of the shop with her bag. Christopher followed her out, guiltily lowering his eyes. "I¡¯m sorry.It¡¯s all my fault.I remember ine confessing her love for me before.Has she been troubling you because of that?" The setting sun cast a soft glow on J.She shook her head and sighed. "Don¡¯t beat yourself about it, Chris.ine is a crazy woman.Besides, you already rejected her proposal in college.It¡¯s not your fault." "Well, do you want me to continue helping you with the gift?" Christopher asked hesitantly. J checked the time on her phone: it was almost seven in the evening. "Forget it." Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. She waved her hands dismissively. "You better go home.I¡¯ll look around," Before Christopher could respond, J hurriedly sprinted off. Chapter 79: A Dinner Party Chapter 79: A Dinner Party At nine in the evening, J finally returned home with a shopping bag.She had gone to several men¡¯s clothing shops, hoping to find the perfect outfit for Ethan. Unfortunately, she didn¡¯t know his size. Therefore, she ended up buying a belt for him. Ethan put away the documents on the table and looked at J. A frown lined his forehead as he realized she looked exhausted. "What happened? Why are you sote?" He opened the refrigerator and took a bottle of soda. "Well, I got caught up with something." J put the bag on the table and slumped on the sofa. "I¡¯m thirsty.Grab me a bottle," Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. After a moment¡¯s thought, Ethan frowned and pressed the soda bottle against her cheek. Then, he sat beside her. "No.Are you on your period?" "Ethan! How¡­ how did you know that?" J involuntary cupped her mouth with her palms and looked at him with wide eyes. She was both embarrassed and shocked. It looked like the boundaries between them was getting thinner with every passing day. Ethan slung his arm around her shoulder and raised his chin toward the bathroom. "You¡¯re very forgetful.You left the box of sanitary pads on the washbasin this morning.I¡¯ve put them in the cab for you." J didn¡¯t know what to say. Ethan tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear and smiled. "Did someone taunt you? You came home looking upset." J sighed and told him everything about what ine had done at the shopping mall. "Why didn¡¯t you call me? I would have taught her a lesson for bullying you." Ethan¡¯s face darkened. He leaned closer and pinched her cheek J pped Ethan¡¯s hand away and nestled closer to him. "I could handle it myself!" she said, blinking at him. "Besides, there were surveince cameras everywhere." Ethan arched an eyebrow in reprimand. "Well, thankfully, there were surveince cameras this time.What if there wasn¡¯t any way to prove your innocence?" J pursed her lips and yed with her fingers. "I didn¡¯t think about it.Even otherwise, I don¡¯t think you¡¯d be able to prove my innocence.It would have only been unnecessary trouble for you." Ethan looked at her as a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "What makes you think I wouldn¡¯t have been able to help you?" Dealing with such a problem was a piece of cake for Ethan.He could buy the entire shopping mall with the snap of a finger. Every shop in the mall would belong to him, and his wife could just take anything she liked. "By the way, I bought you a gift." J pointed at the bag on the table. "Miss Lind, you¡¯ve acted fast.I¡¯m impressed." Ethan¡¯s face beamed with joy.He had only casually mentioned it in their conversationst night. Ethan picked up the bag on the table and opened it. Inside was a pure ck leather belt. Although it looked stylish, the texture and quality were average. Ethan knew that was all J could get for her budget. In his unupied vi, there were hundreds of belts with excellent workmanship that was a thousand times better than this one. However, Ethan loved this belt more than anything else. "It looks good." Ethan¡¯s smile broadened, and his eyes twinkled with delight.He leaned forward and kissed the top of her head.His heart melted into a puddle at the sweetness of her gesture.He happily clutched the belt. J smoothed her bangs and smiled.She had chosen the belt in a hurry. Part of her had been worrying that Ethan might not like it, but she was finally relieved to witness his reaction. "Don¡¯t try to be brave when you encounter problems like this again.I can always help you.Remember that." Ethan looked into her eyes. Their faces were inches apart; they could feel each other¡¯s breath. J¡¯s face turned hot when she met his gaze. His hot breath drove her insane. She curled up in his arms as countless thoughts exploded in her mind.She couldn¡¯tprehend her emotions. J¡¯s mind instantly flitted to the passionate kiss they sharedst night.She quickly withdrew herself from his warm embrace. "Oh, I¡­ I see.I¡¯m d you like the gift.Well, it¡¯s gettingte.I¡¯m going back to my room." Ethan¡¯s brows furrowed as he saw J sprint into her room. He didn¡¯t bother chasing after her. Something seemed wrong. Ethan understood that J didn¡¯t think he was capable enough to help her, and that was why she didn¡¯t call him for help. mi It looked like he had to get close to J as Brandon. Even if J didn¡¯t ask him for help, she could always resort to Brandon¡¯s aid. The next day, when J was engrossed in work, her phone chimed. It was a private message from Brandon. "The Larson Group is holding a dinner party next week.I want you to attend it on behalf of the design department." Chapter 80: Male Companion Chapter 80: Male Companion J was taken aback "No, no, no! I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea," J muttered to herself, staring at the screen.She was a new employee of thepany. How could she attend such a ceremonious asion? J quickly typed her message. "Mr.Larson, why don¡¯t you ask Ms.Fisher to attend the party? I¡¯ve never been to such opulent parties before.I¡¯m afraid I might end up making a fool of myself and bring disgrace to the design department." Brandon quickly replied, "Fisher isn¡¯t avable that night.Many big shots and prestigious people in the design field will attend the party.You can get to know them and increase your contacts.It will help your career in the long run.His words reminded J of what Ike had previously done to her.She was afraid that history might repeat itself. A shiver ran down her spine. Just as she wondered how to refuse, Brandon sent another message. "Don¡¯t worry.This is a formal dinner party organized by ourpany.Garrett and other senior executives will also attend it.Besides, you can bring a date." J¡¯s eyes widened.She looked around to see if the CEO was watching her through a secret camera. He was talking to her as if he had read her mind. J breathed a sigh of relief after knowing that she could bring someone to apany her.She could take Ethan with her. That way, she would feel safe and protected. After work, the HR department sent J an invitation to the dinner party. It was an elegant gilded envelope written in a beautiful font. The invitation revealed the Larson Group¡¯s power and wealth. When J arrived home, she was surprised to find that Ethan was already back. He walked out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel, water dripping from his hair.His chiseled muscles flexed with every move. "Ethan, why are you not wearing any clothes?" J hurriedly turned her face as a blush med her cheeks. Ethan looked at her and smiled. Then, he picked up the remote and turned on the TV. "I just came home after a run, so I took a shower.I didn¡¯t know you¡¯de back early." J often worked overtime and came homete. "Put on your clothes.Otherwise, I won¡¯t be able to talk to you." Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. She covered her face with one hand whilst fanning herself with the other.It was a scorching summer day. Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. Then, he picked up a ck shirt from the sofa and put it on "I¡¯m dressed now.What do you want to say?" J blew out a loud breath and walked to the sofa.She took out the invitation from her bag and sat beside him. "Ourpany is holding a dinner party next week.Would you be able to join me?" she asked, studying his face. She would feel safe only if he apanied her. Ethan looked at the invitation and nodded. "Sure.Anyway, I¡¯m free that day." Then, his eyes widened as if he remembered something, "Well, let me just grab my jacket, and I¡¯ll take you to buy some clothes." J frowned in confusion. "What clothes are you going to buy?" Ethan quickly buttoned his shirt. The ck shirt clung to his pert muscles andplimented his skin tone. "If we don¡¯t buy clothes, what will you wear to the dinner party?" he asked, arching an eyebrow. "I have many dresses.I can pick something nice from my wardrobe." J frowned. "An evening dress is insanely expensive.We don¡¯t have to waste money on that." Ethan rubbed his temples and sighed. "I¡¯ll pay for it.You can wear it for other important asions in the future." "No, no! You have no idea how expensive they are." J shook her head fiercely. "Don¡¯t buy me clothes.Otherwise, I won¡¯t talk to you." Chapter 81: Meet Jocelyn Again Chapter 81: Meet Jocelyn Again The dinner party of the Larson Group was held in a private hotel located at the heart of the city. As J got out of the taxi, her eyes widened in astonishment. Luxury cars were lined up outside the hotel. People stepped out of their cars in branded clothes and jewelry. They were all big shots in the design field who hade along with their dates. J immediately frowned and looked at her dress. Her stomach flipped as she realized her outfit was too simple for the asion. She faded inparison to all the big wigs gracing the asion. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. J realized that people born with a silver spoon had natural confidence and exuded a majestic aura. "What¡¯s wrong?" Ethan got out of the taxi and closed the door. Seeing that J was distracted, he ced his hand on the small of her back. J blinked and looked at him. Ethan was wearing the same suit he had worn at their wedding.She seldom saw him dressed up this formally. The man looked as majestic as the people attending the party. In fact, he somehow looked more regal than them. Ethan looked calm andposed, exuding effortless confidence. J couldn¡¯t take her eyes off him. His handsome countenance and outstanding temperament drew the attention of the people attending the party. J frowned in confusion. Ethan had told her that he didn¡¯t even have a decent job.How could a simple man like him emanate such a powerful aura? "I don¡¯t know.I have a strange feeling that I¡¯m like Cindere.Perhaps I¡¯d be confronted with the truth tonight." J sighed with dejection as she nervously shifted her weight between her feet. The people attending the party were either wealthy or influential. But J was just an ordinary woman who was struggling to meet her old maid¡¯s medical bills. Ethan smiled and leaned closer to J. "Stop overthinking.These people could be wealthy enough to dress well for the asion, but I¡¯m sure they, too, have problems in life.Perhaps they are not as happy as you are.Don¡¯t let looks deceive you," he whispered into her ear. "Oh,e on.Don¡¯t joke to cheer me up.I¡¯m not a fool." J grinned at the handsome man before her.She didn¡¯t realize her eyes were glinting with joy. Ethan¡¯s presence somehow made her feel at ease. Ethan was a great partner.He would always do or say something to make her happy. However, today, his handsome countenance seemed to outshine his personality.He was like a dazzling star, and all eyes were on him. "All right Stop frowning.Let¡¯s go inside with happy faces." Ethan¡¯s eyes shone with tenderness. He leaned closer and nted a soft kiss in the corner of her mouth, The cool night breeze swept across them, and the cicadas chirped. J giggled, oblivious that her curly hair had be messy because of the night breeze. "Are you kidding me? Are you also here for the dinner party?" A shrill voice of a woman snapped J out of her happy bubble. J turned around and saw Jocelyn glowering at her, anger and hatred evident in her eyes. Jocelyn had witnessed the sweet interaction between the couple. J looked blissfully happy with Ethan, who looked like a Greek God. They looked perfect for each other, and Jocelyn couldn¡¯t bear to see that. She hated J with a vengeance and couldn¡¯t watch her be happy. To Jocelyn, everyone in the world could be happy except for her. The smile on J¡¯s face disappeared in an instant. ¡®What a small world!¡¯ "Yes." J shrugged nonchntly. "Are you aware of how important this dinner party is? It¡¯s only meant for wealthy and influential people.What the hell are you doing here? You¡¯re not qualified to attend such opulent parties." Jocelyn sneered at her. J crossed her arms over her chest and nced at Ethan. "Oh, really? But are you qualified to attend this party? Have you forgotten your identity?" Ethan¡¯s face darkened when he saw Jocelyn.He fished out his phone and started texting someone. Jocelyn was seething, but she had no choice but to hold back her anger. After all, Ethan believed that J was the true heir of the Lind family, while Jocelyn was the adopted daughter. Fearing that Ethan might find out the truth, Jocelyn remained silent. She gritted her teeth and red at J. "I¡¯ll deal with youter." Jocelyn rolled her eyes and walked toward the banquet hall of the hotel. However, the escort at the door stopped her. "Ma¡¯am, please show us the invitation." "Why are you stopping me? I have the invitation." Jocelyn angrily opened her bag and threw the invitation at him. The Larson Group hadn¡¯t invited the Lind family. Jocelyn had bought the invitation from a friend. Jocelyn had been single ever since she broke up with Jason a few days ago. She was used to having boyfriends at her beck and call. An emptiness would reside in her heart as if she had lost her purpose in life if she didn¡¯t date anyone. Therefore, Jocelyn decided to attend the party and hook up with a golden bachelor. Tired of feeling bored and lonely, Jocelyn was determined to find a wealthy, handsome boyfriend. The escort took her invitation and then opened the guest list.He carefullypared the two. "I¡¯m sorry, Ma¡¯am.You¡¯re not on the guest list.I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re not allowed to attend the party." Chapter 82: The Invitation Chapter 82: The Invitation Jocelyn¡¯s ears burned with embarrassment. Everyone who graced this hotel was rich and powerful. They all paused whatever they were doing now to nce at her with contempt. "I have an invitation.Let me in already!" Jocelyn shouted indignantly, waving the invitation at the doorman¡¯s face. She normally got into these kinds of events like this. The staff never stopped to check the guests carefully before. In Jocelyn¡¯s delusional mind, she thought she was a socialite. Even though she wasn¡¯t invited, she thought she deserved to attend the event. She had even dressed up for the asion and wore her most expensive essories. She thought the staff wouldn¡¯t dare to question her if she tried to enter the venue like this. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. "I¡¯m sorry.Rules are rules.You can¡¯t enter using another person¡¯s invitation." The staff cast Jocelyn a cold nce and made a gesture, asking her to move out of the way. Jocelyn had no choice but to step aside dejectedly. Just as she was about to lose all hope, she caught a glimpse of Ethan walking towards the banquet hall, hand in hand with J. Even Jocelyn had to admit that Ethan looked quite handsome tonight. He had a nice figure and was very tall, standing at least a head above the crowd.He instantly drew the attention of the public, especially with his indescribable aura. "Are you here to catch a glimpse of what you can¡¯t have? They won¡¯t let you in without an invitation.Don¡¯t me me for not giving you a heads up if you¡¯re driven away." Jocelyn crossed her arms over her chest and sneered at J when they came close. After all, what right did J have to be here? She was basically begging to be insulted. Ethan looked at Jocelyn coldly.His eyes clouded over, as though they had been covered with a thin veil of frost. This woman had been nothing but rude to J. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that she was his wife¡¯s sister and that he wasn¡¯t sure how J felt about her, he would¡¯ve taught her a lesson or two by now. J simply ignored Jocelyn and walked past her. With a faint smile on her face, she pulled out an invitation from her bag and handed it to the staff. Jocelyn¡¯s jaw practically dropped to the floor. How the hell did J have an invitation?! But Jocelyn quickly recovered. She figured that J must¡¯ve stolen the invitation. Since the staff here was particrly strict, surely they¡¯d find out that J was a fraud and would never let her in. Smirking, Jocelyn was ready tough at J¡¯s humiliation. "Oh! Miss Lind, pleasee in.Allow me to escort you inside." To Jocelyn¡¯s surprise, the staff didn¡¯t even bother to look at the invitation and respectfully weed J. Through gritted teeth, she stopped them angrily. "What the hell?! You didn¡¯t even check her identity!" "Not here, sis." J shook her head and sighed, as though she was exhausted by Jocelyn¡¯s behavior. Jocelyn had humiliated the Lind family in public time and time again. Fiona had really spoiled her. How could she not control herself even in public? "What the hell is that supposed to mean? Why can¡¯t I point out injustice when I see it? And how on earth do you have an invitation? It can¡¯t be yours.You stole it from someone, didn¡¯t you?!" Jocelyn was so furious that her face turned purple. It wasn¡¯t some third-rate dinner party. This was an event hosted by the Larson Group, a tycoon in the business world. It had taken Jocelyn a great deal of effort to get her hands on an invitation.So how the fuck did J get one? Chapter 83: Finally Came In Chapter 83: Finally Came In J didn¡¯t answer her. Instead, she calmly opened the envelope, pulled out the invitation, and held it up in between her slender fingers "Here.See for yourself." To Jocelyn¡¯s surprise, her name was on the invitation. "What the hell?! How can this be¡ª?!" How did J get an invitation in her name? Jocelyn was shocked and green with envy. J had married Ethan under her name. Of course it was Jocelyn¡¯s name on the invitation. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. But the question still stood: how did J get an invitation to such an important asion? Yes, she was an employee of the Larson Group, but she was a newbie and held no special position. How could a new employee be qualified to attend such a dinner party? Exasperated and at a loss, Jocelyn could do nothing but look at J in disbelief. J looked back at Jocelyn calmly. "There.Satisfied? We¡¯ll go inside now." Jocelyn watched in silent rage as J and Ethan walked inside the venue. She was so angry that she stomped her high heel on the marble floor. The sound of heels cking echoed across the hotel hall. Hearing this, J turned around and sneered, "Why are you still here? Did you want to stay and get a glimpse of what you can¡¯t have?" J smiled smugly.She gave Jocelyn a taste of her own medicine. Jocelyn¡¯s eyes were raging with anger.She red at J murderously, as though she would attack J at any moment. The dinner party was about to begin, but Jocelyn was still standing outside, the cold wind blowing at her.She couldn¡¯t let J get away with this. No matter what, she needed to get inside the banquet hall. More and more people streamed into the dinner party. A limousine slowly pulled to a stop outside the private hotel. A paunchy rich businessman who seemed to be at his fifties or sixties got off the car, supported by a femalepanion in her twenties.It looked like a little kind-hearted girl was helping her frail grandfather cross the road. "Mr.Sherman, you¡¯re here!" With a bright, flirtatious smile on her face, Jocelyn sauntered over to the elderly businessman.He had tried to hook up with Jocelyn before, but she had rejected his advances because he was old and fat. But now, she had to put her hopes on him to get inside the venue. "Jocelyn!" The man was stunned when he saw who had called his name.Then he broke into a wrinkly smile. "Didn¡¯t I give you my numberst time? Why didn¡¯t you call me?" As he spoke, his eyes roamed over her body hungrily. When she saw that she still had a chance, Jocelyn walked to his side and slipped her arm into his. "Mr.Sherman, I¡¯m sorry.I wanted to call you, but I lost your card." Nobody cared that she was lying. The man smiled knowingly and put his wrinkled hand on Jocelyn¡¯s waist.He had been interested in Jocelyn ever since the beginning.His gazended on her bulging cleavage, lust filling his eyes. "Why haven¡¯t you gone inside yet?" "My friend couldn¡¯t make it and give me her invitation, but the staff didn¡¯t let me in." Jocelyn stuck out her lower lip, batting her eyshes at the old man coquettishly "In that case, you cane in with me.But you have to be with me tonight." The man¡¯s eyes stared into hers hungrily. While he didn¡¯t think that Jocelyn was that pretty, he couldn¡¯t get over her because he hadn¡¯t gotten her yet. Then, he looked at his young femalepanion and said in a low voice, "You can go now.I¡¯ll have my secretary transfer the money to your ount." Hearing this, the girl nced at Jocelyn indifferently.She didn¡¯t know why Jocelyn was so eager to have this old man. Oh well, life was difficult for everyone, the girl supposed.It didn¡¯t matter. Anyway, she¡¯d still get the money, and that was all that mattered. With a smile, the girl nodded and left. The man brought Jocelyn to the dinner party as his plus one. When they entered the banquet hall, Jocelyn heard sses clinking everywhere. The magnificent hall was brightly illuminated, while the sound of saxophones and pianos ying stimted her senses. The Larson Group wasn¡¯t ying around. The dinner party reeked of extreme luxury. There were even gambling tables and billiard tables by the side, for when guests got bored. Jocelyn studied the crowd seemingly nonchntly, keeping an eye open for her prey tonight. Chapter 84: The Red Wine Chapter 84: The Red Wine The second J entered the banquet hall, she felt like she had stepped foot inside a movie about the rich and powerful.It was already dark out, but the brightly lit hall was even livelier than a sunny room. But there was more to it than she thought. Everyone seemed to be hell-bent on meeting some invisible goal, hopping from table to table and exchanging tactful greetings. Ethan stopped a waiter and took a ss of red wine for himself and a ss of orange juice from his tray.He handed the orange juice to J. "What are you looking at?" Following the woman¡¯s gaze, he saw that she was staring at several independent designers in a huddle, chattering happily "Wow! I can¡¯t believe the Larson Group actually invited those design masters.They¡¯re constants at international fashion shows.I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d see them here." J sipped at her orange juice absentmindedly, her eyes filled with shock and awe. "Why don¡¯t you go and say hi?" Ethan put his hand on her back and took another sip of wine, looking rxed and at home. J burst intoughter. "I¡¯m just a nobody from the Larson Group.I haven¡¯t even been regrized yet.How could I possibly talk to those masters?" Ethan casually put down his ss and nced at Garrett from across the room. Garrett caught his gaze and immediately sprang into action. As if he had just received an urgent order, he deserted the crowd he had been talking to and walked towards Ethan. "Lind." J turned around to see Garrett in a white suit standing behind her. What was he doing here? Wasn¡¯t he trying to avoid her? Why did he take the initiative to talk to her here? "Good evening, Mr.Harding " J smiled awkwardly and tilted her head slightly. ncing at Ethan¡¯s face carefully from time to time, Garrett broke into a big smile and told J, "Mr.Larson told me to take care of you tonight.Are you free? The Larson Group has invited some well- known designers here.Do you want to meet them?" J¡¯s jaw dropped to the floor in shock, as though she was just informed that she had won the lottery. "What? Can I? Mr.Harding, are you sure? I¡¯m just a nobody," "Of course.Mr.Larson needed to deal with some things tonight, so he told me to introduce you to the top designers in your field.They seldome back.They all just happen to be here this time because of a fashion show.It¡¯s a rare opportunity to meet them all in one ce." Garrett pushed his sses up his nose and smiled politely. J pursed her lips, her eyes blinking a lot more than usual. Whenever she was nervous, this was her body¡¯s physical response.She looked at Ethan, who nodded at her encouragingly. "Okay then." She pinched herself to make sure she wasn¡¯t dreaming.She followed Garrett to the group of designers. Garrett cleared his throat and said, "Sorry to disturb you, everyone.Allow me to introduce to you our newest and most promising designer, Lind." Since someone like Garrett had gone out of his way to introduce her, the designers all looked at J with great interest. "You must be very talented!" One of the designers gave J a thumbs up and smiled, which made J feel wee. From local to international design trends, the conversation between the designers could¡¯ve kept going forever. But after a while, Garrett wanted J to meet other important guests-business partners from clothing companies who had also attended the dinner party. Hours passed and the party wasing to a close. Ethan had been sitting on the sofa in silence, sipping from his wine asionally. Multiple women tried to ost him, but they all shrank back whenever the cold man looked at them sharply. It wasn¡¯t until J wove through the crowd and came back that he finally broke into a smile. "Why don¡¯t you talk to them some more? You came back so soon."This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Garrett had just suggested that J go back to chat with the designers, but she had worried that Ethan would be bored to death, so she came back to him. J smiled gently and was about to sit down next to Ethan.She wanted to hang out with him, not the designers. "I met them already.But now, I want to talk to¡ª" Before she could finished her sentence, J jolted in shock.Somebody had spilled a ss of wine on her from behind. Red wine stained her light blue dress and dripped at her feet, forming a red puddle. Chapter 85: Embarrassment Chapter 85: Embarrassment J turned around and saw who it was. Jocelyn was standing beside her.She looked apologetic, but it somehow seemed exaggerated as she fought acent smile. "Oh, I¡¯m sorry.A waiter bumped against me now." She mped her mouth with one hand and held the ss with the other, pretending to feel sorry for her.Her apology didn¡¯t seem sincere, for her every word dripped with contempt. "I didn¡¯t mean it." J tugged at her wet dress that was clinging to her legs. The sweet scent of roses from the wine wafted in the air. J immediately moved back from Jocelyn and red at her. "You did it on purpose! You didn¡¯t have an invitation, right? How did you get in?" Jocelyn smirked at her. "Of course, I walked in.I have my ways.I can get into parties even without the invitation." She crossed her arms over her chest and raked her eyes across J back to her arrogant self. "I identally stained your dress.How about Ipensate for it? How much is this dress? Is it even a hundred dors?" Jocelyn took out three hundred dor bills from her handbag and threw them at Jocelyn¡¯s face. "I¡¯llpensate you three times the price.You don¡¯t have to thank me." Ethan put down the ss and stood up, his face taut with anger. He grabbed some tissues from the table and tried wiping the stain from J¡¯s dress, which was dripping with wine. Then, he red at Jocelyn as if he wanted to burn her alive. "I¡¯m fine.It¡¯s between her and me.Please don¡¯t get involved in this." J felt the coldness emanating from him.She quickly grabbed the tissues from his hand, trying to calm him down.She feared that Ethan might end up beating up Jocelyn until she passed out. Moreover, her dress indeed wasn¡¯t expensive. Jocelyn had perhaps already figured that out. How could a poor woman like J afford an expensive dress? She didn¡¯t even have decent clothes to wear for opulent dinner parties. After all, she struggled to make ends meet. Jocelyn threw the money on the floor and sneered. "Do you know what kind of asion it is? Don¡¯t you have any sense of aesthetics? How could you come here wearing a cheap dress? Don¡¯t you have money to even afford a decent dress, or are you too stingy to spend money on it? You are indeed just a bumpkin that hasn¡¯t seen the world.You should feel ashamed of yourself for attending such a party." J ignored the money that Jocelyn had thrown on the floor. She smiled and picked up a te of stewed beef from a waiter walking past her and turned it over on Jocelyn¡¯s head. "Argh! What the hell are you doing?" Jocelyn bellowed. She never thought Jocelyn would do something like this. The thick sauce sshed on her face, ruining her makeup. Lumps of beef were stuck on her head, and the sauce dripped from her head, staining her dress and dribbling down her body. Jocelyn¡¯s face distorted, and her eyes almost popped out of her sockets. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. "You bitch!" she shouted like a maniac. "How dare you¡­" In the past, only she bullied J. Jocelyn was the spoiled princess, while J endured everything without fighting back. Chapter 86: A Dress Chapter 86: A Dress "Why not? Fortunately, this dish was not boiling hot.Otherwise, it would have burned your artificial face for which you had spent a lot of money." J smiled calmly as she put the te back on the table.Then, she picked up the three hundred dors from the floor and threw them at Jocelyn¡¯s face. "Take back your three hundred dors.You ruined my dress, and I did the same to you.We¡¯re even.How much is your dress? I¡¯ll pay for it." "Do you think you can afford it? You fucking bitch! I¡¯ll teach you a lesson today!" Jocelyn quickly wiped the sauce off her face and darted toward J. Ethan quickly stood in front of J to protect her.His face darkened in an instant. All the staff and security guards at the party were trained and experienced. Before Ethan could do anything, one of the staff dragged Jocelyn away and threw her to the floor. Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. Garrett had been gone only for a while and didn¡¯t expect something like this to happen. Hearing themotion, he rushed over and walked through the crowd. His eyes widened when he saw J¡¯s stained dress and Jocelyn¡¯s disheveled hair. The carpet was covered in red wine and sauce. "What happened? Who is making trouble?" Garrett asked, his jaw tense with rage. Jocelyn had met this man before. He was the one who had driven her out of the Larson Group the previous time. Later, she learned that he was Garrett Harding, the deputy CEO of the Larson Group and the son of the famous Harding family. The men she had dated so far faded inparison to Garrett. Jocelyn pointed at J, who was standing behind Ethan. "It¡¯s her!" she pouted, trying to sound pitiful. "I identally spilled wine on her dress, but she unreasonably threw this dish on me.Why would you let such a crazy woman into the party?" Jocelyn knew that her makeup and clothes were ruined, and she looked terrible at the moment. Therefore, her hatred for J intensified. The woman had ruined her night and her chances for seducing Garrett. J lowered her eyes and fell silent. Ethan pulled her closer into his arms and sneered. "You should have hit her harder.Look at the way she is talking about you now." J¡¯s eyes narrowed.She shouldn¡¯t have attacked Jocelyn, but she just couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Growing up together, she found out about Jocelyn¡¯s true nature long ago. Ethan smiled tenderly and stroked J¡¯s hair as he secretly winked at Garrett. Sensing the warning in his eyes, Garrett pushed his sses up the bridge of his nose and looked at Ethan. The coldness of his gaze sent a shiver down Garrett¡¯s spine. He understood what the man meant and beckoned at the waiter. "Go and get a new evening gown here, now." Hearing that, Jocelyn¡¯s face suddenly lit up, and her lips curled up into an arrogant smile. She assumed the evening gown was for her, which meant Garrett was on her side. ¡®J is doomed!¡¯ "The Larson Group is indeed a big enterprise.I won¡¯t hold you ountable for what happened to me at your dinner party today," Jocelyn said arrogantly. The corners of Garrett¡¯s mouth twitched in embarrassment. ¡®Who let this mad woman in?¡¯ he thought. Thinking that Garrett cared about her, Jocelyn assumed she had a good chance with him.She winked at him seductively in front of all the people. Garrett seemed like the perfect guy for her. He was from a wealthy family and held a high position in a reputablepany. Moreover, he was tall, well-built, and handsome. Jocelyn felt it would be great if she hooked up with him. Her future would dazzle if she got married to him. Seeing that Garrett was still silent, she walked up to him and smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Mr.Harding." The gravy mingled with her perfume and makeup exuded a disgusting smell. Garrett mped his mouth, for the scent made him sick. However, Jocelyn continued to walk toward him. Chapter 87: Most Beautiful Woman In The Party Chapter 87: Most Beautiful Woman In The Party Garrett stepped back in disgust and wiped his shoulder where Jocelyn had just touched him. Momentster, the waiter returned with a clothing bag. Inside was an opulent evening dress from a luxury brand. Three men followed him with a makeup kit and jewelry to match the dress, "Mr.Harding, here is the evening dress." Jocelyn¡¯s eyes lit up. The dress and the jewelry looked expensive. "Thank you." She pretended to remain calm and walked toward the man carrying the dress. Just as she reached out to take the dress, the staff unexpectedly walked past her. "Miss, could you please get out of our way?" Jocelyn¡¯s eyes widened as she involuntarily stepped back. The staff smiled and handed the evening dress to J. Jocelyn¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment. ¡®What the hell is going on? I thought it was for me.Why are they giving it to J? J has ruined my dress, but they get a new one for her? This is just ridiculous!¡± "Thank you, but please take it back.This dress is too expensive.I¡¯ll just go home and get changed," Jane said, nervously looking at the dress. It looked beautiful, but she couldn¡¯t ept it because it was too expensive. "Mr.Larson has asked us to take care of you and make sure nothing bad happens to you at the dinner party.You can¡¯t wear your dress now.We had prepared some extra dresses in case of emergencies, and this is one of them.You can borrow it tonight.After all, it¡¯s a matter of ourpany¡¯s reputation." Garrett smiled calmly even though his heart was racing in his chest. He knew that Ethan would punish him if J didn¡¯t take the dress. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, J finally took the dress. "Miss, this way, please." J nodded and went to the dressing room with the staff. "Miss, let me help you with your makeup.You are a natural beauty, and makeup will entuate your features.The make-up artist picked up the eye shadow palette and carefully examined J¡¯s face."I have already worn mild makeup." J frowned and covered her face Despite being a designer, she didn¡¯t like dressing up. She seldom wore makeup and had never tried any heavy, dramatic look "What do you mean by you¡¯re wearing makeup? You have just worn a little foundation.I promise you will look gorgeous.You won¡¯t know unless you try.I have worked with many celebrities in the past.I¡¯m sure you will dazzle tonight." Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org. The make-up artist smiled and waved the brush in her hand, as if it were a magical wand. Soon, the makeup artist finished her work, and the assistants helped J with the dress. After checking that everything was in ce, they finally led her out. The noisy banquet hall dropped silent. All eyes were on J. The sudden attention made her ufortable.She squirmed on the spot and didn¡¯t know where to put her hands. ¡®Gosh, why are they staring at me? Do I look ugly?¡¯ Her stomach flipped with anxiety. Just then, J let out a startled gasp as her gaze fell on the ss door.She was amazed to see her reflection. The woman on the ss looked nothing like her but seemed like a regal princess. Her face looked wless, and the makeup seemed to entuate her features.Her bright red lips lit up her entire face. The ck velvet strapless dress revealed her milky skin. The dazzling neckpiece made her look like royalty J was the most beautiful woman at the party tonight. It looked like the makeup artist had brought out J¡¯s inner beauty that she had been hiding all this while Chapter 88: Throw Her Out Chapter 88: Throw Her Out The way a person carried themselves was an important factor in earning people¡¯s respect. J walked past the people watching her with rapt attention, gently lifting her dress. From the corner of her eyes, she could feel the people¡¯s burning gazes. Her racing heart slowed down when she saw Ethan. She quickly grabbed his arm and hid behind him.Her curledshes and the neat sweep of eyeliner made her eyes look bigger and more seductive. "Thank you, Mr.Harding.I¡¯ll return the dress tomorrow." Garrett coughed awkwardly. Unable to meet J¡¯s gaze, he looked away. "Okay, okay." After all, J looked incredible after dressing up. Ethan used the opportunity to hold J in his arms. He raked his eyes across her beautiful face as he gently stroked her cheek with his thumb as if she were a piece of art. "Have you worn makeup?" he asked softly. "Don¡¯t I look good?" J looked at him through hershes. Ethan chuckled. He pressed his lips against her ear and whispered, "God, you are beautiful! You look like a real princess." J shivered and shrank into his arms. "Ethan, stop! It tickles." Ethan¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, and his eyes darkened.He couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her alluring face. Jocelyn burned with jealousy when she saw the intimate couple. Her hatred for J reached its peak.She felt the woman was a slut who effortlessly seduced men. Ever since they were children, J had been more attractive than her. Even though J wore the simplest outfit, she would garner the attention of the people around her. Now that J was dressed like royalty, Jocelyn felt she faded inparison to her. "Be careful about the dress.Otherwise, you¡¯ll have to sell yourself to pay it back." Jocelyn sneered and walked past J, deliberately bumping against her shoulder. Ethan¡¯s face darkened, his cold eyes zed with rage. Seeing that, Garrett immediately waved at the security. "Throw this woman out!" Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Several security guards surrounded Jocelyn and grabbed her arms to take her away. Jocelyn thrashed and screamed, trying to free herself. "Why the hell are you driving me away? I¡¯m here as Mr.Sherman¡¯s date.How dare you drive me away?" "All right.I¡¯ll ask Mr.Sherman to deal with you." Garrett looked around the banquet hall and saw a plump, timid-middle-aged man. "Mr.Sherman, don¡¯t be shy.What do you say?" he demanded Sherman had been a loser in his early years. Later, he gained wealth after selling antiques. However, by then he had be too old to have fun in life.He didn¡¯t dare to offend the deputy CEO of the Larson Group. Sherman was frightened out of his wits that he didn¡¯t dare to even look at Jocelyn. "It¡¯s up to you, Mr.Harding."He waved his hand. "I just brought her to apany me tonight.Besides that, we don¡¯t share any rtionship.You can do whatever you want." With that, Sherman turned around and began talking with the others as if nothing had happened. "Do you know who I am?" Jocelyn bellowed. "I¡¯m the daughter of the Lind family.My parents won¡¯t spare you." Garrett nced at her coldly. Then, he picked up a ss of wine from the tray, took a sip, and smacked its lips. "I don¡¯t care who you are and which family you belong.I¡¯m ready to deal with them at any time." Jocelyn struggled desperately and refused to leave. Finally, the guards dragged her out of the hotel. Themotion had already garnered the people¡¯s attention. Several men were staring at J. They all seemed to ogle her with lustful eyes, their gazes drinking every inch of her body. "It¡¯s all right now.Let¡¯s go back to our seats." When J raised her head, she saw Ethan staring into the distance. His jaw was tense, and his eyes narrowed as if faced with a dangerous enemy J sensed that he was angry. "What¡¯s wrong with you?" she asked quizzically. Ethan took a deep breath and looked at her. Then, he took off his suit jacket and draped it around J¡¯s shoulders. "Nothing ¡° Chapter 89: Take Them All Away Chapter 89: Take Them All Away Ethan¡¯s enormous suit jacket seemed to cover every inch of J¡¯s body, revealing only her face. "It feels strange to wear a jacket.Itpletely covers the dress." Ethan dragged her onto the sofa, gently pulled her hair out of the jacket, and ced his palm on the small of her back. "It¡¯s alright.The party is about to end anyway." Then, he turned around and scowled at Garrett, who was watching them from a distance.He was annoyed that Garrett had arranged such a revealing dress for J. Garrett almost choked on his drink when he met Ethan¡¯s fiery gaze. His cheeks turned red from the coughing. Garrett couldn¡¯t fathom why Ethan was staring at him. He had specially arranged for his people to prepare a beautiful dress for J. But Ethan¡¯s disapproving look made him question his decision. It was past midnight when the party was over. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. J and Ethan returned home together. J sensed something was wrong. Ethan hadn¡¯t taken his eyes off her on their way back home. Unable to take it anymore, J turned around and looked at him. "What¡¯s wrong with you tonight? Why are you constantly staring at me?" Ethan remained silent. J shook her head and took the key from her bag. As soon as they entered the house, he grabbed her arm. "Because you are beautiful." Ethan mmed the door shut and pressed J against it.He cupped her cheeks and gently nibbled at her bottom lip. As J¡¯s lips parted, he slid his tongue into her mouth, deepening the kiss. Their tongues danced in rhythm, and they soon got breathless. J pulled back and leaned against Ethan¡¯s shoulder, panting for breath. Ethan smiled and trailed his tongue across her earlobe. "Put me down.The dress is already wrinkled.What if we end up tearing it?" J whimpered as she tried pushing him away. Her ears were sensitive to the kiss, and she shivered under his touch. "Hmm¡­" Ethan finally let go of J and gently stroked her hair. "I¡¯m going to take a shower.You go to bed early." With that, he turned around and walked into the bathroom. Frustrated, J leaned against the door and covered her ming face. They had been getting intimate at every given opportunity, and J¡¯s will seemed to crumble with every passing day. ¡®What if we both lost self-control someday?¡¯ she wondered. The next day, J carefully packed the dress and jewelry and went to thepany. However, she had no idea where to return them. Seeing that Garrett was walking past the design department, J hurriedly stopped him. "Mr.Harding, I brought the dress and essories." "Well, give it to Mr.Larson.They are his, not mine." Garrett shrugged and went straight to the elevator. J sighed and sent Brandon a message again. "Mr.Larson, whom should I return the dress I borrowedst night for the dinner party?" "You don¡¯t have to return it.We don¡¯t reuse custom-designed dresses.It¡¯s yours now." That was when it dawned on J that wealthy people didn¡¯t wear second-hand clothes. However, she was too embarrassed to ept it. "It¡¯s too expensive, Mr.Larson.How can I ept it?" "Well, you can save it for the future.Considering the Larson Group¡¯s unshakable position in the fashion industry, how can an employee wear cheap clothes for dinner parties and ruin ourpany¡¯s image?" J couldn¡¯t argue with that.She had no choice but to take back the dress and jewelry.She carefully wrapped them up in a bag and hid them in her closet. The next day when J went back to work, Garrett called her to meet him. "Mr.Larson wants you to have these," he said, holding out several enormous bags. "Well, ourpany has coborations with several fashion brands and enterprises.These are all complimentary gifts they have sent to us.You can take them." J¡¯s eyes widened when she saw the expensive clothes and shoes lying in front of her. They were all from the biggest fashion houses. The clothes and shoes were in trend. Considering the demand, many of the pieces were out of stock, and most importantly, every single garment was expensive. Chapter 90: What Did He Want From Her Chapter 90: What Did He Want From Her "These¡­ These are too expensive and invaluable.Has Mr.Larson given clothes to the other employees as well?" J asked, her face pale with horror. "That¡¯s not your concern," replied Garrett. Judging from his tone, it seemed obvious that no one else had received such expensive things. J¡¯s stomach churned with unease, and her palms grew sweaty. These were not just ordinary gifts.She couldn¡¯t bring herself to ept them. "Well, I only follow Mr.Larson¡¯s orders.If you have any questions, feel free to ask him." Garrett smiled as he continued to read the document. J left Garrett¡¯s office and quickly sent a message to Brandon. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Thousands of people worked for thepany. How could she be the only one to receive such expensive gifts? The design department was indeed the most crucialponent of the Larson Group. However, Tiffany was J¡¯s superior. J was confused as to why she was the first one to get such expensive gifts instead of Tiffany. "Mr.Larson, thank you for the clothes and shoes, but I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t ept them.I¡¯m not used to wearing expensive clothes, so why don¡¯t you give them to other employees?" J didn¡¯t care if the message sounded rude. All she wanted was for him to know that she couldn¡¯t ept expensive gifts for no reason.It looked like Brandon was way too nice to her that it got real creepy. J had never seen the mysterious CEO, and perhaps Brandon hadn¡¯t seen her in person either. Although she tried not to overanalyze the situation, her intuition told her that something was wrong. The day passed in a blur. Hourster, J finally received a message from him. "You may have to get involved in more coborative projects in the future.As a designer of the Larson Group, you don¡¯t seem to pay attention to the way you dress.It¡¯s a matter of ourpany¡¯s image.I don¡¯t want people questioning the Larson Group¡¯s design abilities.Wearing the right outfit is also an advertising strategy.As a designer, you have to carry yourself well." It was a long, reasonable, irrefutable speech. Brandon was smart enough to persuade J to ept the clothes even though she didn¡¯t think it was appropriate for her to take them. J stared at the long message on her phone and took a deep breath. She had no choice but to ept the clothes and shoes in the end.She quickly sent, ¡®thank you¡¯ and turned off her phone. After work, she received another message from Brandon. "If you face any problems in life, you can alsoe to me any time.I will help you solve it so that it doesn¡¯t affect your work." J put her phone down as her stomach clenched with unease. ¡®Why would a CEO worry so much about the work of an ordinary employee like me?¡¯ They only chatted online. Therefore, J couldn¡¯t conclude that he had an ulterior motive.She wanted to figure out what Brandon wanted from her. "What¡¯s up? You¡¯re always on the phone.Who have you been texting all day? You said you don¡¯t have a boyfriend.Then, who is it?" J¡¯s colleague, Gerda, turned around and winked at her. "Not my boyfriend." She couldn¡¯t tell who she was texting. After all, it was the CEO, and people might gossip about it. J propped her chin on her palm and thought for a while. "Mr.Larson seems like an excellent man.He must be married, right?" she asked, hoping for her friend to say yes. "I don¡¯t know.Maybe he has a girlfriend.But who cares? Wealthy people like him will have several girlfriends and mistresses at the same time.We should never probe into their personal lives." Gerda elbowed J and arched an eyebrow. "By the way, since when did you start gossiping?" Gerda felt that J was a quiet person who never gossiped about anyone.So she was surprised to see her ask questions about their CEO¡¯s personal life. Chapter 91: Disappointment Chapter 91: Disappointment Seacisco had extreme climatic conditions.It had scorching hot summers and cold winters. The fruit store near their apartment sold iced watermelon juice.The refreshing scent of the fruit wafted in the air. J bought two cups of juice and went home. She was still thinking about Brandon¡¯s messages. As J walked into the house in a daze, she saw Ethan standing on the balcony, picking up dried clothes from the line. His hair swayed with the gentle breeze, and a few strands covered his bright eyes. "What¡¯s wrong? You look preupied." Ethan sat on the sofa and put the pile of clothes beside him. His droopy eyes made him look indifferent andzy. His maic voice snapped J out of her thoughts. A pang of guilt settled in her heart when she met his gaze. J felt she had to tell him the truth. After all, she didn¡¯t do anything wrong. "I¡¯ve been thinking about mypany¡¯s CEO, Brandon Larson." J¡¯s brows furrowed as if it were something important. Ethan picked up a cup of watermelon juice from the table, inserted the straw into it, and brought it to J¡¯s mouth, "What?" After taking a sip of the juice, J turned her phone on and showed Ethan the conversation between her and Brandon. "I think he is being too nice to me.It doesn¡¯t look like a professional conversation at all.That¡¯s not how a CEO talks to his employees." Ethan drank the juice whilst reading the conversation. He scrolled down the screen and read the messages. Although Ethan had sent all the messages, he had to read the conversation. Otherwise, J would doubt him.He was d that J had told him the truth. Ethan felt she was a righteous woman and a good wife who would never cheat on him with a wealthy man for personal gains. "Well, it seems normal to me.Why don¡¯t you just ept what he has given you? Brandon is an influential person.I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be able to help you in case you encounter any problems." Ethan leaned back on the sofa, and his hair rubbed against J¡¯s neck. "Honey, you smell so good." He couldn¡¯t speak ill of Brandon, for it was equivalent to cursing himself. J frowned and studied his face. "Is this how you really feel?" Ethan¡¯s reaction surprised her. She had always felt the man was jealous and possessive, but he seemed strangely calm now. "Husbands usually get upset and angry when they find out other men are trying to hook up with their wives.Why are you so calm about it?" J was confused. Something seemed fishy. Ethan had never reacted this way. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. "I think it¡¯s pretty obvious that Brandon¡¯s up to something," she added. Ethan was smart enough to understand the intention behind a message. J felt he, too, must have sensed the conversation didn¡¯t seem normal but couldn¡¯t understand why he was strangely calm about it. "He just wants to help you, doesn¡¯t he?" Ethan shrugged as if it were no big deal. Although he didn¡¯t think he had done anything wrong, he could sense J¡¯s unease.He sat up straight and turned to look at J, who was staring at her feet. A frown lined Ethan¡¯s forehead. He wanted J to ask Brandon for help if she encountered any problems. After all, he was Brandon. J bit her lower lip and fell silent.She didn¡¯t expect Ethan to take Brandon¡¯s side. His reaction both confused and upset her.He had kissed and hugged J. Now, another man was showing strange concern towards her. But Ethan dismissed it as normal behavior. ¡®Perhaps I¡¯m not as important to Ethan as I had thought." she wondered. Chapter 92: She Cares About You Chapter 92: She Cares About You "All right.Forget it then." J stood up and picked up her clothes from the sofa. "What¡¯s wrong with you?" Ethan frowned and grabbed her wrist. The drastic change in her reaction surprised him. "Nothing." J withdrew her hand from his hold.She decided to remain calm and not reveal her emotions. J had married Ethan only for her old maid¡¯s medical expenses and didn¡¯t have any expectations from him. Divorce was always an option in case he found out she wasn¡¯t Jocelyn, the woman he was supposed to marry. But still, knowing that Ethan didn¡¯t care about her made her heart sink with disappointment. Perhaps she had unknowingly gotten attached to him since they had be intimate. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. "You are not allowed to touch or kiss me anymore.We are just a nominal couple, Ethan.If you dare to touch me again, I will move out of this house." J was not in the mood to talk to Ethan anymore. Ethan¡¯s brows furrowed, and his face darkened. "Did I say something wrong? I¡¯m sorry if I did." He never got the chance to make love to her, and now she wasn¡¯t even allowing him to touch her. "You didn¡¯t do anything wrong.I¡¯m fine." J stepped back to keep a distance from him. Then, she returned to her room, hiding her disappointment. Ethan could tell that J was upset about something. He had a keen intuition as a businessman, but he couldn¡¯t understand what was going on in his wife¡¯s mind and what was bothering her.. Ethan felt dejected. How could she deprive him of the right to kiss her? He had just leaned on J¡¯s shoulder but didn¡¯t do anything to offend her. They had made out countless times in the past, and she had never resisted it. ¡®What¡¯s with the sudden change in her attitude?¡¯ He couldn¡¯t figure out what was on her mind. J came out of her room during dinner. A faint smile graced her face, but it was not as genuine as a few days ago. Ethan felt upset and confused. The growing distance made him ufortable. Later that night, he called Garrett. The phone rang several times before it got connected. "I¡¯m busy right now.What¡¯s the matter? Can¡¯t you check the time before calling me?" Garrett grunted in frustration. He could hear the wind from the other end of the line and assumed Ethan was standing on the balcony. "I have something to ask you.After that, you can carry on with whatever you¡¯re busy doing." Ethan was standing on the balcony with a bottle of beer.His dark eyes stared into the distance. The apartment was near the beach. The salty air filled his nostrils.It was refreshing, yet the confusion seemed to gnaw his heart. "Fine.Go ahead.You just got married, and it¡¯s making all of us restless.Gosh, it¡¯s annoying." Garrett scratched his hair as his desire to have sex died in an instant. He patted the woman on his bed and listened to what Ethan had to say. After listening to the entire story, Garrett burst outughing. "Congrattions! Your wife cares about you too." Chapter 93: Love Signal Chapter 93: Love Signal The frown on Ethan¡¯s face deepened.He became even more confused. "I don¡¯t quite get it.Exin what you mean clearly." He took a sip of the beer and stared nkly at the sea of lights in a distance. Garrett shook his head and narrowed his eyes. "I think you deserve it.You are married, but you still behave like a bachelor.It¡¯s appalling that you don¡¯t even understand a woman¡¯s behavior.Listen to me.Your wife just told you that some men are making advances at her.A normal husband would get jealous and ask questions about these men, but you just waved it off.You didn¡¯t show care.What do you expect her to think? She¡¯s unhappy because of your nonchnce.She thinks you don¡¯t care about her.Doesn¡¯t her unhappiness show that she cares about you and how you feel about her? Dude, you need to learn how to interpret the signals women give!" Everything dawned on Ethan at this moment.He leaned against the railing and smiled brightly.His side profile was so handsome. It ddened his heart to know that this was why she was displeased. "I just hope that she can ask Brandon for help when necessary.That means they have to be close first.What should I do now?" After pondering for a while, Garrett replied, "Well, you can¡¯t possibly get jealous of yourself.In the end, you would at least prove to your wife that you genuinely love her.I¡¯m sure she would be happy when her feelings are reciprocated.I¡¯m not supposed to be teaching you this.Your rtionship with her is hopeless if you can¡¯t do it without any help.Man up!". In a low voice, he continued, "You have turned me into your marriage counselor.I¡¯m helping you build your marriage for free, but you will reap all the benefits in the end." Garrett knew Ethan well.He saw him as an opportunist right from their high school days. Ethan chuckled and waved his hand yfully. "What are friends for? Anyway, I will give it a try." "Keeping secrets can cause a strain and even destroy a marriage.You can¡¯t just keep her in the dark forever.When are you going to reveal your true identity to her?" Garrett asked seriously. Ethan was silent for a moment. "You have a point there, Garrett.But I can¡¯t tell her just yet," he finally replied. "Why? Are you afraid that she will be in danger? I have to admit that your family is a mess.Even I am wary of them." Garrett tut -tutted with a fake shiver. "How is the task I gave youing along? Hope you are monitoring them well?" Ethan stared down at the beer bottle in his hand. The cold night wind blew. The trees swayed from side to side and their leaves rustled. At this time, the clouds darkened. It indicated that there would be a heavy downpour soon. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. "Your two brothers? Nothing is up with them.They haven¡¯t done anything suspicious recently.But you have to be wary of your father.He always keeps a close watch on us.It seems like he¡¯s smelling something fishy and we would be found out if care is not taken." "Okay, I¡¯ll keep that in mind." "Are you really not going to tell her the truth? I think you owe her that, buddy," Garrett queried further. He felt that the problem would be easier to solve if Ethan opened up to his wife soon. ¡®Two heads are better than one.There¡¯s nothing like having the support of your wife." He felt this way because Ethan had been trying to solve this problem for a long time. If he wanted toe clean only after he took care of everything, it would take quite a while. "No, I don¡¯t want her to get involved in this matter.I¡¯m still at loggerheads with my family.They already know that I married her.Ethan¡¯s just an illegitimate child to them and they don¡¯t take me seriously.Things would be harder for her and she would be in grave danger if I reveal my identity to her and officially make her Mrs.Larson.I don¡¯t want her to be caught in the middle before I solve the matter about my mother," Ethan responded calmly.He closed his eyes for a while and then opened them again. The wind blew back the separate dark wisp of hair, revealing his shiny forehead. "Okay, I get it.I won¡¯t bring up that topic again." Garrett sighed. Afterward, he said with a giggle, "I wish you can win the beauty¡¯s heart as soon as possible.I¡¯m rooting for you!" "Thank you.You can have a long vacation once I seed." Ethan chuckled. His eyes were void of any coldness at this moment.He opened the ss door and entered the room. As soon as he shut the door, the sound of the howling wind and rustling leaves was no more. The lights in the room had already been turned off, and the moon was covered by clouds. Chapter 94: A Part-time Job Chapter 94: A Part-time Job Ethan put down his phone andy on the sofa.He was lost in thought for a long time before he dozed off. The sound of cooking utensils clunking together in the kitchen woke him up the next morning.He stood up and stretched his body. While yawning, he looked at the kitchen with misty eyes. A woman was standing there in a thin and long white dress that covered her legs down to her ankles. He stared at her in a daze for a long time. "Ethan, don¡¯t stand here.You¡¯re in my way," J said in a lukewarm tone, blinking her big watery eyes. Ethan cleared his throat and made way for her. Scratching his head, he asked, "Do you need my help with anything?" "No, I don¡¯t need any help.I¡¯m not making breakfast for you.If you are hungry, you can eat out," she replied with a poker face. ¡®Humph! You have no feelings for me, but you have been eating all the delicious breakfast I made.I¡¯m not your maid, so don¡¯t expect any more meals from me!¡¯ she thought to herself. J walked to the fridge and took out two eggs. The oil sizzled in the pan as she cracked the eggs. Shortly after she drizzled some ck pepper on her fried eggs, a pleasant aroma filled the kitchen. Ethan took a deep breath and his shoulders slouched. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Without uttering a word, he sulkily went to the bathroom to freshen up. He was naturally not a romantic man, so he didn¡¯t know the sweet words to say or the best gift to get her. ¡®She¡¯s still angry with me.What do I do now?¡¯ he pondered while brushing his teeth. An idea suddenly popped up in his head when he spat out the foam in his mouth. He smiled faintly, staring at his image in the mirror. When he returned to the living room, he saw that J was eating breakfast slowly.She didn¡¯t even look up at him, as if he was invisible. "Are you free this weekend? There¡¯s a part-time job that pays this much.Are you interested?" As Ethan spoke, he pulled out the chair beside her and sat down slowly. J swallowed the bread in her mouth quickly when she saw him open up all five fingers of his right hand. With her eyes opened wide, she asked, "Five grand?" Since they had been married for some time, Ethan knew a little about her.She loved making money. A job offer that paid that much was something she could never refuse. Sure enough, J set aside the displeasure she felt about his actionsst night. She wiped her mouth quickly. Although her expression was still indifferent, her face wasn¡¯t as cold as before. "What kind of part-time job is it?" she finally asked. A smile tugged at the corners of Ethan¡¯s mouth after he heard her response.He picked up a piece of toast from her te and took a bite. "Well, it¡¯s a painting job.The owner of the convenience store where I work is decorating his new house.He needs a wall painting.I saw your works before, so I thought you would be perfect for the job." Ethan had seen J¡¯s paintings. Although she majored in fashion design, painting was one of her foundational courses. Her artistic skills were also very good. It was at this moment that J finally noticed that he had been taking big bites off her toast. She frowned and queried him angrily, "Ethan, I said I didn¡¯t make breakfast for you.Why are you eating my toast?" "Chill, it¡¯s no big deal.Just take this as a reward for telling you about the job.Besides, you are my wife.Sharing is caring!" Ethan stuffed thest quarter of the toast into his mouth and smiled at her yfully. J¡¯s heart skipped a beat when she saw his handsome smile.She wanted to draw the line between them, but he only got closer to her with every effort she made. "Do you have any copies of your previous work? Give me some of them so I can show my boss at work today." Pouting her lips, she went to her room.She brought back her previous paintings a few secondster. "Here you go.This is the collection of my works.Hope this will do?" "Yeah, it will.I need to head to work now." Ethan picked up the collection and scanned through the paintings. He then stood up and put on his ck jacket while staring at her with a yful glint in his ck eyes. Later in the afternoon, J received a call from him. "What¡¯s the matter? I¡¯m still at work," she whispered directly into the speaker and nced at her colleagues. "Well, I just called to give you feedback.My boss likes your paintings.Instead of an artistic piece, he wants you to paint his wall thising weekend.The price is double the one I told you about this morning.Would you be free this weekend?" Ethan¡¯s calm voice wafted into her ear from the other end of the line. ¡®Ten thousand dors just to paint a wall? That¡¯s huge.I would be a fool if I turned down such an offer!¡¯ she thought quickly. "Yes, I can do it this Sunday," she replied without hesitation. Chapter 95: Caring Husband Chapter 95: Caring Husband The weather was very sunny that Sunday. J waited impatiently at the bus stop.She had looked down at her phone several times. Just when the long-awaited bus arrived, she heard a roar of an engine. A dazzling ck Vyrus suddenly halted in front of her¡­ Ethan pushed up the ss visor of his helmet. His high nose bridge was revealed first, followed by his alienated eyes. He looked so dashing even though he was just wearing an ordinary ck T-shirt and loose jeans.He threw a helmet to J. "Get on the motorcycle." After she caught the helmet, she stared at the luxury motorcycle for a while before putting on the helmet reluctantly. She then asked, "Whose motorcycle is this?" J had seen this motorcycle in an automobile magazine before. It costs a whopping amount of money that she could never make even if she worked tons of jobs for the rest of her life. "I borrowed it from a friend.My boss¡¯s vi is a little far from here.It¡¯s in the suburbs.I¡¯ll take you there." J sat on the motorcycle uneasily. "Let¡¯s go!" Ethan cast a nce at his wife and then put down the ss visor of his helmet. J held onto Ethan¡¯s T-shirt tightly. Ethan rode the motorcycle at a high speed. The wind blew violently past her ears and ruffled her hair. All the road noises soon faded away. Before now, J had associated the riding of motorcycles with rogues. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. This was because most of them rode recklessly and the roaring sound of the engines always disturbed othermuters on the road. However, this wasn¡¯t the case for this particr motorcycle. The engine only made a humming sound. "Ethan, why is there no loud noise?" she asked nkly. "Are you talking about the sound of the engine?" Ethan abruptly stopped to wait for the traffic light to turn green. It was so sudden that J¡¯s breasts bumped into his back because of the inertia. He looked back at her and smiled. "My dear wife, do you see me as one of those numerous hooligans that disturb the peace of this city with their roaring motorcycles? This one has a silencer.I don¡¯t want to constitute any nuisance on the road." The Vyrus belonged to Garrett and it was the kind of motorcycle used for serious racing. With her face blushing, J inched backward and tightened her coat. The rest of the ride wasn¡¯t bumpy. When they arrived at the so-called boss¡¯s vi, Ethan led her to the front door. Unbeknown to J, this vi was owned by her allegedly poor husband.It wasn¡¯t decorated because he had never lived there. "Wee!" A woman who looked about forty years old answered the door at the first ring.She introduced herself as the wife of Ethan¡¯s boss and guided them into the vi. "Hello, ma¡¯am.What style of wall painting do you want for this vi?" The wall the woman pointed out wasn¡¯t so wide. Thus, J calcted that she could finish painting it today. "Nothing tooplicated.Just make it simple but unique.It should be in grey.I would settle for any style that you choose to paint the rest." The woman took a sip of tea and nced at Ethan. She then continued, "I¡¯ve already bought the buckets of paint and the tools you would need.I¡¯m going shopping with my neighborster.You just take your time." She left after showing J the buckets of paint and all the tools. ¡®Let¡¯s get to work!¡¯ J charged up herself. She was only free on weekends, so she decided to finish the painting today.She first tied up her hair into a ponytail. Then, she rolled up her sleeves and put on an apron.She mixed the paint skillfully and began to paint "Aren¡¯t you going back to work?" she asked curiously after sensing that he was still there. "No, I took the day off.Let me help you here.I can pass you whatever paint you need." Ethan took off his jacket and squatted beside the paint buckets. "Thank you, but there would be no need for that.I can do it myself." J wanted to be left alone, but she didn¡¯t drive him away either. She just concentrated on painting.She didn¡¯t even bother to rest for a while. Some hourster, the sun began to set and the dark rays fell into the room through the window. Everything became orange. It also warmed up J¡¯s skin a little. She stopped painting and swung her right arm which was already aching at this time. When she looked back, she saw that no one was on the sofa. It seemed that Ethan had left. J pouted her lips and lowered her head dejectedly. A secondter, she let out aughter of self-mockery. ¡®J, you are such a fool.Were you expecting him to wait until you were done? Weren¡¯t you the one who declined his help? Tsk-tsk!¡¯ A strange noise suddenly came from the door. She looked up and saw that Ethan was standing there with some takeout bags in his hands. There was an inexplicable glint in his eyes and a warm smile on his face. "Were you looking for me? Anyway, I went to get dinner.You have been painting for a long time.I¡¯m sure you must be tired and hungry by now.Come down and eat first." "Oh, you are still here.I thought you already left," Jmented indifferently in a bid to hide her joy.She averted her gaze and continued to paint despite her aching arm. Ethan smiled without saying anything.He just opened all the takeout bags and set the table. The soup was steaming, and the desserts had a strong creamy fragrance. "Hey,e and eat.You need to rest and refuel your energy.I¡¯ll help you paint while you are at it," Ethan said as he walked to her and grabbed the brush. It was easy for him to do so because he was taller than her.He raised the brush high when she tried to take it back. She saw his perfectly sculpted jaw as she looked up. The closeness of their bodies gave her butterflies. At this moment, J had no choice but to go and eat quietly. While munching on the food, she stole nces at him as he painted. ¡®How does this man feel about me? Does he love me? Sometimes he behaves indifferent, but other times, he¡¯s so caring like a loving husband.Gosh! How can someone be so hard to read?¡¯ she pondered. J had a small appetite, so she didn¡¯t eat much. Ethanter wolfed down all the leftovers as if he hadn¡¯t eaten for a week. At nine o¡¯clock in the evening, the so-called wife of Ethan¡¯s boss returned to the vi and immediately checked the work J did. An deep frown appeared on her face as soon as she set her eyes on the wall. Chapter 96: Finding Faults Chapter 96: Finding Faults Noticing the woman¡¯s unhappiness, J cautiously asked, "Ma¡¯am, are you not happy with the work?" The woman sat cross-legged on the sofa with a grumpy look on her face.She nced at the painting on the wall and snorted coldly. "I don¡¯t like the colors.Didn¡¯t I ask you to keep it simple? Why have you made it so fancy and complicated? And the patterns here don¡¯t match the style of my vi.I don¡¯t understand what you were thinking.I didn¡¯t ask you to fill in random colors.My vi is going to be upied soon.You¡¯re dying us from moving in." J exined anxiously, "I have painted ording to your requirements.The colors are white and gray, whichpliments your vi style.Ma¡¯am, if you¡¯re dissatisfied with any aspect of the design, I can change it for you." The woman sitting on the sofa took a sip of coffee and nced at Ethan, who was standing beside J.Her stomach clenched with anticipation.She didn¡¯t know if she had gone too far. The girl in front of her was the wife of her boss, while she was a mere employee who was called to act in the y. If she weren¡¯t arrogant enough, she wouldn¡¯t be able to achieve the desired result. Meanwhile, if she were too arrogant, she feared Ethan might take it personally and get offended. It was like walking on thin ice. The man frowned and witnessed everything, without uttering a word. "How can you change it? I don¡¯t like it one bit, and it doesn¡¯t meet my requirements.How are you going to change that? Your portfolio looked excellent.I never expected you to do such a terrible job.Now I wonder if the previous works you¡¯d done earlier are authentic or not.It makes me think if you had really drawn them by yourself.This is a disaster! I don¡¯t know what to say.Get out of here!" Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. The woman pointed at the painting on the wall and continued to indicate non-existent faults on purpose. She looked dissatisfied, exhibiting all her acting talent. Enraged, J began to pack her things. "No one has ever suspected the authenticity of my work.If you are not satisfied with my painting, you better find someone else." "Of course, I¡¯m going to find someone else!" The woman angrily pointed at the door. "Get out now!" After taking a few steps toward the door, J stopped in her tracks, turned around, and red at the woman. "I will go! But you have to pay me the money first!" "You¡¯ve ruined my wall.I haven¡¯t asked you topensate for it yet.What makes you think I¡¯d pay you for wrecking my wall?" the woman snapped venomously. "If you don¡¯t leave right now, I¡¯ll ask the security guards to drive you away." The woman picked up her phone, pretending to make a phone call while she was mourning in her heart.She wondered if she had gone too far. After all, fighting with the CEO¡¯s wife was a dangerous thing to do. ¡®Gosh, why is he asking me to do such a terrible thing!¡¯ At that moment, Ethan stepped forward and protectively stood beside J. "It looks like you¡¯re happy with the painting.You are deliberately trying to find faults just so that you don¡¯t have to pay the money." The woman snorted. "Do I look like someone who can¡¯t afford to pay for this stupid painting? I said I¡¯m not satisfied.Don¡¯t you understand that?" Ethan gently held J¡¯s arm and red at the woman. "If you don¡¯t pay as per the agreement, I¡¯ll make you regret it." Chapter 97: Also My Business Chapter 97: Also My Business The woman was petrified.She didn¡¯t know what to do. Although she knew the CEO was just acting, he looked frightening. "Who do you think you are? Fine, I¡¯ll pay you!" The woman took out her wallet from her bag and handed all the money she had already prepared to give to J. Without saying a word, J took the money and carefully counted it.The woman looked at her and sneered. "You don¡¯t need to count it.I wouldn¡¯t cheat over such a small sum of money." Just then, they heard someone open the door. "What¡¯s going on? Why the noise? I could hear you quarreling all the way from the front yard." A man in his forties walked in. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. J suspected he had used hair gel and makeup to look older for some reason. The woman sprang to her feet and quickly rushed over to the man. "Honey, you¡¯re finally back.What kind of employee do you have! He just threatened me a while ago," the womanined as tears filled her eyes. The middle-aged man was none other than Ethan¡¯s male subordinate. He had specially gone to the salon to have his hair done so that he could pay justice to the role. Ethan was his boss. Today, he finally had the chance to be his boss ¡ª even if it was in a y Ethan had arranged. He was thrilled about it. "What¡¯s going on, Ethan?" The man threw his bag on the table and red at him. "How dare you threaten my wife? You are fired!" Ethan seemed calm. He nced at the couple in front of him and pulled J to the door. "If you want to fire me, then go ahead." The man gritted his teeth and shouted after Ethan to show that he was angry. "Let¡¯s wait and see! I will make you suffer!" Ethan seemed indifferent. He grabbed J¡¯s hand and walked out of the vi. It was already dark outside. The stars dazzled in the night sky. After walking a few steps forward, J stopped in her tracks and looked back at Ethan, who had also stopped behind her. "You shouldn¡¯t have stood up for me.You have offended your boss.What are you going to do now?" J couldn¡¯t help but worry about Ethan. He didn¡¯t have a good educational background and was an illegitimate son. Now, he even lost his job. She feared the Lester family would despise him even more. Besides, Ethan¡¯s boss had even threatened to make him suffer. ¡®What if he takes his revenge?¡¯ she thought, shuddering with fear. Ethan had fought with his boss for her. J let out a weary sigh. "It doesn¡¯t matter." Ethan shrugged nonchntly. She was more worried than him. J looked at him, her watery eyes burning with annoyance. "How could it not matter? What if he gets back at you?¡¯ She sighed, and her shoulder slumped with dejection. "It wasn¡¯t a big deal.You didn¡¯t have to stand up for me." Ethan stopped and looked at her.His deep eyes bore into J¡¯s face.The light from the streetmp flooded over him, entuating his towering frame. "It was my business too.I couldn¡¯t watch others bully my wife.Don¡¯t worry about it.You don¡¯t have to feel guilty." Chapter 98: Secret Exposed Chapter 98: Secret Exposed How could J not feel guilty? Although Ethan seemed casual, he treated her like a princess. If she nned to leave him for some reason one day, the pain would feel excruciating as if someone had ripped her heart right out of her chest. The wind whistled in the night. J lowered her head and tried to get hold of herself. "I could have handled it on my own, Ethan." Her voice drifted with the wind. She had always been alone and fought her own battles. Ethan walked up to her, and J saw his yellowing canvas shoes.She looked up, and her gaze met his enigmatic eyes. Ethan smiled and gently stroked his hair. "You have a husband now.It¡¯s different." Ethan¡¯s broad chest blocked the wind as he stared into her eyes. "Let¡¯s go back.It¡¯ste," J said in a hushed voice. His words both confused and touched her. She turned around and continued to walk forward. Ethan followed J and caught up with her. The cicadas chirped in the quiet summer night. All of a sudden, Ethan felt something touch his finger.He looked down and saw J sp his finger. A smile tugged at theers of his lips, and his face softened.He gently held her hand and caressed her fingers with his thumb. "I really want to kiss you.Can I?" Ethan¡¯s voice was thick with lust as he stared at her supple lips. J¡¯s eyes widened.She didn¡¯t know what to say to him.She felt his actions proved his affection for her. J¡¯s ears turned red. "Why are asking me that?" she murmured shyly. Ethan shook his head in amusement. J had just told him that he couldn¡¯t touch her without her permission. Ethan leaned toward her.He kissed her lower lip and gently licked it. J moaned in the back of her throat. He nibbled on her lip, making her eyes flutter close. As soon as J¡¯s mouth parted, Ethan lifted her in his arms. She involuntarily wrapped her legs around his waist and rested her head on his chest. His chiseled, muscr body made her heart stutter. J couldn¡¯t dodge. Ethan didn¡¯t let go of her until they were breathless. "Aren¡¯t you going to get the motorcycle?" J¡¯s face flushed as she rested her face against his chest, hearing his heartbeat.She licked her swollen lips and smiled to herself. "No need.My friend wille and get it himself." Ethan shrugged. His maic, yful smile made her heart skip a beat. J couldn¡¯t take her eyes off him. Garrett would have no choice but to get the Vyrus himself. Ethan pecked the corner of her lips again. "Your lips taste like strawberry.I like it.It¡¯s just so sweet." It was almost nine when they got home. As soon as J entered the apartment, she rushed into the bathroom to shower. Ethan was checking his phone on the sofa in the living room. Just then, the male subordinate who had yed the role of his boss sent him a message. "Boss, what should we do with the painting on the wall?" "Why bother asking?"This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Ethan typed impatiently. They obviously had to keep the painting. Meanwhile, the bathroom door opened. Noticing that she had forgotten to take the bath towel, J decided to tiptoe to her room to get it. A football game was ying on the TV. Thementator¡¯s intense voice muffled her footsteps, so Ethan didn¡¯t notice her. When J walked past behind him, she caught a glimpse of Ethan¡¯s phone and saw someone asked about the painting on the wall in a respectful tone. J stopped. Her face darkened as she finally understood what had happened. "Ethan!" Ethan jerked up in shock when he heard her high-pitched voice. He didn¡¯t expect J toe out of the bathroom so soon, so he subconsciously hid the phone behind his back upon hearing her voice. But seeing the fury in her face, Ethan immediately realized it was toote. Chapter 99: Sincere Chapter 99: Sincere J weakly slumped on the sofa.The window was open, and her long hair billowed with the wind.She sighed and closed her eyes. Momentster, she turned to look at Ethan, her gaze cold and aloof. "What the hell is going on, Ethan?" Everything had been a hoax.She was so touched when Ethan stood up for her.But she felt like a fool now. "I can exin." Ethan quietly nced at his phone. Although he looked calm, he was burning with rage inside.He was mad at his subordinate for ruining his perfect n. ¡®Damn it! What a stupid, useless man! Why did he have to send a message about the painting now?¡¯ "No need! I clearly saw everything.You had joined a few people and performed a drama to deceive me.J sneered.Ethan was startled.He rubbed his brows and blew out a loud breath.He didn¡¯t want to reveal his guilt.J had caught him red-handed, and Ethan didn¡¯t dare to deny it. He sat up and looked at her innocently. "Yes, that was a setup.It was a rented vi." J crossed her arms over her chest. "Do you think I¡¯m a fool?"She was seething with rage.She took a deep breath to control her rage. "What the hell were you thinking? Do you have too much money to spare? It was a stupid thing to do." "I just wanted you to be happy." Ethan squatted in front of J and held her knees. "Don¡¯t be mad at me.I¡¯m sorry," he said intently. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. J shook her head and stood up, intending to leave. Ethan grabbed her shoulders, and the two fell onto the sofa. J¡¯s face reddened with rage.She quickly grabbed her clothes in fear. Ethan¡¯s dark eyes bore into hers; he looked frightening. "Do whatever you want, but please don¡¯t ignore me." "You are crazy!" J shouted as she tried wriggling out of his hold. "Don¡¯t touch me! You tried fooling me.What makes you think I¡¯d listen to you?" Before she could utter another word, Ethan wrapped her into a tight embrace.His body trembled, for he couldn¡¯t control his emotions anymore. Ethan was an influential personality in the business world. People feared him. However, his voice broke when he spoke. "Don¡¯t be afraid.I won¡¯t do anything to you without your consent.I just want to talk to you.Can you please listen to me?" He knew J was unhappy but didn¡¯t know what to do to make her feel better. "I just want you to know that I care about you a lot.If you don¡¯t like what I just did, I¡¯ll try something else next time.Anything for you.From now on, I will listen to your every word.A few days ago, when you told me about Brandon, I knew it was my fault that it appeared I didn¡¯t care.Trust me when I say I do care about you.Scold me, beat me, do whatever you want to vent your anger, but please don¡¯t ignore me.I¡¯ve never been with anyone before, and we are newly married.This is all new to me.I¡¯m bound to make mistakes.Correct me if I do something wrong, but don¡¯t just turn your back to me.I want to be a better man ¡ª a better husband for you." Ethan stared into J¡¯s eyes. Their faces were inches apart.The intensity of his gaze trapped J. Ethan¡¯s shaggy air gently brushed against her face, emanating a faint peppermint fragrance. The macho man now looked vulnerable in front of her. J could tell that he meant every word. Chapter 100: The Devil’s Bewitchment Chapter 100: The Devil¡¯s Bewitchment Autumn was just around the corner.The wind was blowing outside, making the clothes on the balcony sway violently. J pursed her lips and looked away. "Get up first.Then we¡¯ll talk, I promise." She tried pushing him away.Her nose almost brushed against his. "No.You will run away." Ethan held her tighter and looked into her eyes. "You can¡¯t leave without giving me an answer tonight." J pinched his arm. Her anger had almost subsided.She could tell that Ethan had no experience in love, but he was willing to take an effort and change himself for her. It meant he truly cared about her. However, J didn¡¯t want to forgive him easily.She rolled her eyes and looked away. "Forget it.I will spare you this time.Don¡¯t make such a stupid mistake again.It cost us both money and time.Now, let go of me.There is still hot water running in the bathroom.I need to shower," Ethan¡¯s gaze slowly drifted to J. He nodded and reluctantly let go of her. However, his heart sank as soon as she stepped away from him. It felt as if something was missing.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Ethan immediately grabbed J¡¯s hand and pulled her back. "Ah! What are you doing? We have arrived at an agreement, haven¡¯t we?" J squealed as she lost her bnce and slumped in his arms. Ethan pursed his lips as he raked his eyes across her face. The soft light seemed to outline his handsome features. He looked like a hunter waiting to catch his prey. "I want to kiss you." Before J could respond, he quickly cupped her cheeks and bit her lip. Even though he looked cold and aloof, he was really good at pretending to seem innocent. He was more dangerous and powerful than the others, but J hadn¡¯t realized it yet. Ethan nibbled her bottom lip and pried her mouth open with his tongue.She wrapped her legs around his waist. The howling winds stopped blowing, and the room was quiet as if time had stopped still. Only the rustling of clothes and their soft moans were audible in the quiet night. "To my room?" Ethan¡¯s voice was thick with lust. He gently trailed his fingers against J¡¯s lips and tucked a sweaty strand of hair behind her ear. Before J could answer, Ethan kissed her earlobe, picked her up, and carried her to his room. The kiss was so intense that it left J dazed and breathless. Her face had turned red. She bit his shoulder as her eyes rolled up in ecstasy.She didn¡¯t know what to do. Ethan pinned her on the bed and kissed her passionately. It seemed as if Ethan hadplete control over her body and emotions. "Ethan, wait¡­" J felt weak and limp as she sensed his hands reaching under her clothes. "Shh¡­ Don¡¯t say anything, and don¡¯t think about anything.Leave everything to me." Ethan¡¯s low, maic voice made her body tremble. It felt as if he had cast a spell over her. Wrapping her arms around Ethan¡¯s neck, J responded to his passionate kiss. She sucked his tongue as he thrust it into her mouth. Ethan took off his jacket as he straddled above her. Chapter 101: Seize The Opportunity Chapter 101: Seize The Opportunity As Ethan¡¯s hand slid under her dress and touched her panties, he felt something like a sanitary napkin.His hands stilled; he jerked up his head and looked at her. "Are you on your period?" J leaned against his arm, gasping, for breath. Her face turned scarlet. "I told you to wait," she said, looking away. Ethan did some mental math and realized it was indeed time for her period. He sighed and stepped back, wrapping the quilt around J. "When will you¡­" "In three days." Ethan stroked her hair. Then, he buried his head in her chest and took a deep breath. "You smell good." A few minutester, Ethan stood up and kissed the corner of her lips. His bloodshot eyes bore an unreadable emotion. "All right." He swallowed and cleared his throat. "Go to bed early.I¡¯m going to shower." It was not easy to contain the desire surging through his veins. Ethan had been tired of waiting for J to let him make love to her. Now that she didn¡¯t resist his advances, his hopes and desires had reached their peak. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t continue because J was on her period. Ethan could feel his blood rusking southward. It felt as if he were about to explode and burst into a ball of me. He clumsily stood up, grabbing his jacket. J was wrapped in the quilt, revealing nothing but her wless face.Her watery eyes met Ethan¡¯s.She pursed her lips that still tingled after all the kisses. "Okay, sleep early.Good night." Her pristine beauty could easily arouse men¡¯s desire to protect and take care of her. Ethan leaned forward and kissed her lips. "No wonder you were very cooperative today," he whispered, chuckling. "I won¡¯t let go of you next time." With that, he went to the bathroom and took a cold shower until his raging hormones subsided. After making sure Ethan was inside the bathroom, J sneaked back to her bedroom with her legs still shaking and heart beating like crazy. On Monday morning, Ethan went to work with a grumpy look on her face. The ferocity of his gaze and his tense aura frightened the senior executives of the Larson Group. After the meeting, Garrett walked up to him and asked, "How¡¯s it going, bro?" Ethan¡¯s jaw tightened, and his brows furrowed as he looked at Garrett. "Stop gossiping, will you?" "No, I won¡¯t.I want to know what¡¯s going on with you." Garrett had a keen eye for detail.He could tell at a nce that something was wrong with Ethan. After a lot of persuasion, Ethan finally told him what happenedst night. Hearing that, Garrett couldn¡¯t stopughing. "Oh, God! It looks like you have absolutely no talent for pursuing women.Who would use such an old trick? No wonder you got exposed.But fortunately, everything is good now." Ethan scowled at Garrett, ignoring his ridicule. Meanwhile, after work, J went to the supermarket to buy groceries. Ethan was a strong man.He had a good appetite and ate a lot. J had to get a lot of food. Otherwise, Ethan would empty the fridge in a day. J peeked out of the bus window.The entire city was sparkling with light. It waste summer and early autumn. The green ginkgo leaves on either side of the road had turned yellow. J admired the surroundings with a satisfied smile on her face. Just as the bus passed a high-end club, her eyes widened. Bernie, Fiona, and Jocelyn were standing at the entrance of the club. All three were dressed well as if they were attending a party. Just then, the bus trundled to a halt.J immediately grabbed her grocery bag and ran out of the bus. The Lind family hadn¡¯t paid the money they owed her as promised, saying they couldn¡¯t afford it; but now they could afford toe to have fun at an opulent club. J clutched the groceries and walked toward them. She was worried about Hannah¡¯s medical expenses. Considering they were in a posh ce, J felt that Bernie and Fiona wouldn¡¯t create a scene. Therefore, she decided to seize the opportunity to get back all the money they owed her.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Chapter 102: Playing Dirty Tricks In Secret Chapter 102: ying Dirty Tricks In Secret At that moment, Fiona was smoothing her clothes. As soon as she was about to enter the club with her husband and daughter, J stopped her "Since you can afford to have fun in such a high-end club, I¡¯m sure you must have the money to pay me back as well." J¡¯s loud voice caught everyone¡¯s attention. The smile on Fiona¡¯s face dropped in an instant. She quickly strutted toward J and said, "What a coincidence, J! What are you doing here? What nonsense are you saying? How can a grown daughter still ask her parents for money?" J frowned.She hated Fiona¡¯s hypocrisy, so her voice grew a decibel louder. "Oh, cut the crap and give me my money.What? Are you trying to deny it? If that¡¯s the case, I will tell everyone the truth about how this marriage is a hoax." Bernie and Fiona attached great importance to their reputation. The truth would tear their facade and reveal their true faces.It would be a huge blow on their image. "All right, J.That¡¯s enough.Let¡¯s stop arguing.Some people have returned the money they owed us.How about I give you one hundred thousand first?" Bernie looked around and saw the people watching him.He wanted to deal with J as soon as possible and return to his business.He took out a bank card from his pocket and ced it on J¡¯s palm. "There is one hundred thousand in this card.I¡¯ll send the pin number to youter." J silently took the card. Bernie was better than Fiona.He was at least an honest man. Ever since J was a child, her adoptive father had been neutral toward her.He neither cared for her nor tortured her in any way.He didn¡¯t hate J as much as Fiona and Jocelyn did. But he was too weak that he listened to the two women¡¯s every word, and never bothered to stop them when they bullied J. J looked at the card and nodded. "Okay.". "Well, you better leave now.I will give you the rest of the money soon." Bernie smiled apologetically. The one hundred thousand was more than all the money they had given J before. J looked at Fiona and saw that she was appalled by what her husband had done. She sensed that getting more money today was impossible, so she finally left. Fiona¡¯s eyes zed with rage as she watched J leave. "Are you crazy?" she growled, pinching her husband¡¯s arm. "The wires havee loose in your head! One hundred thousand? Are you kidding me? Why did you give her so much money?" Bernie sighed and tried to persuade her, "What¡¯s the matter with you? You promised to give J money before.One hundred thousand is far from enough." Fiona was burning with anger.Her husband¡¯s words infuriated her. "That¡¯s not true." She leered. "J is our adopted daughter.We adopted her when she was little.We have fed her and supported her all these years.Marrying Ethan would be her way of repaying us for everything we have done for her.How could she demand money from us? You¡¯re too kindhearted." "Yes, Dad.Why did you give that bitch money? You have no idea how badly she bullied me at the banquetst time!" Jocelyn gnashed her teeth as she saw J¡¯s receding figure. Looking at the indignant mother and daughter in front of him, Bernie shook his head and walked into the club without saying anything Fiona followed him inside. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.She felt she had to end this. Otherwise, J would continue to ask her for money. Fiona nced at her phone. Just then, an idea urred to her.She pursed her lips and dialed a number. "Good evening, doctor.I¡¯m Fiona Lind.Is there a patient named Hannah Stone in your hospital who needs a liver transnt? Yes, your promotion is kind of in my hands.Now I¡¯m in trouble, and I need your help.Could you do me a favor?" Momentster, Fiona hung up the phone and took a sip of the ck tea.Her red nail polish dazzled under the lights. "Mom, why are you grinning happily?" Jocelyn quickly descended the stairs and stood beside her mother, eyeing her with curiosity. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. A faint smile stretched across Fiona¡¯s lips. "Well, good news.I have connections with a few people in the hospital.I secretly asked someone to give the suitable liver they had allocated for Hannah to someone else.Let¡¯s see how long the old woman can hold on." Jocelyn was putting on lipstick, looking at herself in the mirror. "That¡¯s great, Mom.That old bat should have died a long time ago.She has been relying on our money to survive.She is already in her eighties.It¡¯s time for her to die." Chapter 103: The Bad News Chapter 103: The Bad News J put a call through to the hospital as soon as she got home.She didn¡¯t have all the money yet for Hannah¡¯s medical bills, but it was good news that the hospital had found the perfect match liver. Money was hard toe by these days. J had barely had time to work for it. From her calctions, the money she had wouldn¡¯t be enough, but she still wanted tomunicate with the hospital. She wanted to inquire if the operation could be carried out and she would pay the bnceter bnce later. "Hello, I¡¯m the rtive of the patient that needs a liver transnt.Her name is Hannah Stone.I want to make an inquiry.A perfect match liver has been found for her, right? How soon can she get the transnt?" Holding her phone pressed to her ear with one hand, J put all the food she had bought into the fridge with the other. "Did you say Hannah Stone? Please wait for a moment.I need to check our database.Oh, I¡¯m so sorry, ma¡¯am.We were just about to call you.A few minutes ago, we received a call from our superior.The liver can¡¯t be used for her anymore.The patient who wanted to be euthanized and donate the liver has decided to continue treatment instead.Since there¡¯s no matching donor, you would have to wait." The vegetable J was holding fell to the floor as soon as she heard this news.It was a bolt out of the blue for her.She suddenly froze like a statue. "Why did the patient have a change of heart? Howe? Why? No, no¡­ I didn¡¯t mean¡­ But¡­" The shock was too much that J could barely think straight, let alone speak coherently. Although she badly wanted the liver to be donated to Hannah, she couldn¡¯t decide the potential donor¡¯s life and death. "Is there any other matching livers?" she asked anxiously. "I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am.We understand how you feel.However, there¡¯s nothing we can do to help you now.Your rtive isn¡¯t the only patient waiting in line for a liver transnt.You will be contacted when another perfect donores forward.Have a great day,".. the nurse said and then hung up the phone. J¡¯s legs suddenly felt wobbly. The next second, she slumped to the floor. A painful lump went up to her throat. She wanted to break down in tears, but something gued her mind. A voice in her head told her that there was more to the incident than the hospital was telling her. Something smelled fishy.She rushed out and went straight to the hospital. "Doctor, please can I meet the patient who previously wanted to donate a liver to Hannah Stone?" J asked the doctor nervously. "Ma¡¯am, I¡¯m sorry.It¡¯s illegal to reveal any information of our patients or a potential donor who had a change of heart.The patient has every right to decide to continue receiving treatment.We have no right to interfere.I can¡¯t be of help to you.Please you need to leave now.I¡¯ve other people to attend to." The doctor stared at J with a serious expression on his face. When she didn¡¯t move an inch, he called on a nurse to escort her out of his office. Even after she was escorted out, she was still unwilling to give up.She held the nurse¡¯s hand in the corridor. "Please is there really no other way? My rtive has been waiting for a liver transnt for a long time.Her health is deteriorating by the second.She can¡¯t wait any longer.Please save her life." J pleaded in a quavering voice. The nurse wriggled her arm from J¡¯s firm grip. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Instead of answering her question, she simply told her to go home and continue waiting. She then went about her work. A heavy weight suddenly fell on J. She was anxious, confused, and helpless all at this time.She leaned against the wall and stared nkly for a long time. Several patients passed by. A patient, who had overheard her conversation with the nurse moved close to her and shook his head sympathetically. "Youngdy, you should go back home.There¡¯s no point wasting time here.I have seen a lot of cases like yours.Believe me when I say that they are just lying to you by saying that the donor decided to continue treatment instead.They must have given the perfect match liver to someone else with money or connections." The tears J had been trying to hold back streamed down her cheeks immediately she heard this.She became even more distressed. "What do you think I should do now?" she murmured, sobbing helplessly. "From my experience, such a negative turn of events frequently happens when the patient or family members have enemies with power.Do you have an enemy? Or have you offended anyone recently, youngdy?" With an infusion bottle in his hand, the patient sighed and added, "Well, I think you might offend someone." Something suddenly dawned on J as she stared at the man¡¯s back.She had offended someone today. It was Fiona. Not only was her adopted mother her sworn enemy, but she was also the person she had quarreled with recently. However, she didn¡¯t expect her to act so quickly.She had only gone to ask them for money a few hours ago. It was pretty obvious that Fiona had secretly pulled the strings to prevent the transnt because she didn¡¯t want to give her money. J¡¯s blood boiled at this moment. She gritted her teeth and really wanted to fight her adopted mother to the death. ¡®Hannah¡¯s health is rapidly declining.There¡¯s no guarantee that she would still be alive by the time another donores forward.Fiona has crossed the line.Since that family has refused to keep their end of the bargain, I won¡¯t keep their secret about this marriage anymore!¡¯ she thought, clenching her fists in fury. Chapter 104: Revealing The Truth Chapter 104: Revealing The Truth J¡¯s face reddened with rage.She wiped the tears on her face and left the hospital. It was dark outside. The colorful neon lights cast a soft glow on her face. Hearing the squeak of the door, Ethan stood up and looked outside.He heaved a sigh of relief and put the phone down. When Ethan returned home, he saw the fridge was open, groceries on the floor and J nowhere to be found. He knew J wasn¡¯t lethargic, so he sensed something had happened to her. "Is everything all right? Where have you been?" J lowered her head and shook her head silently. Ethan quickly walked to her and took her bag. Seeing that she was still silent, he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and examined her face. J¡¯s eyes were swollen, and the tip of her nose had turned red. It was obvious she had cried.Ethan frowned; his heart tightened in his chest. "Who bullied you?" he asked tenderly even though his body was tense with anger. Someone had bullied his beloved wife, and he couldn¡¯t watch her cry. "No one.I¡­" "Don¡¯t try to fool me." Ethan hooked his fingers under her chin, forcing her to look at him. Although he looked like a towering mountain before her, the tenderness of his gaze revealed how much he cared for her. As soon as her gaze met his, J threw herself in his arms. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. "What¡¯s wrong?" Ethan¡¯s body stiffened. He gently rubbed her back, trying to calm her down. J sniffed and shook her head. Ethan¡¯s manly scent consumed her at once, making her feel safe and secure. She had never met anyone who smelled both aggressive andforting at the same time. His mere presence lured women like moths to a me. She nestled her face in the crook of his neck and asked in a muffled voice, "Can you apany me to the Lind family¡¯s house?" Things had gone out of hand, and she made up her mind to put an end to everything. Ethan looked at her and frowned.He didn¡¯t know what was going on.He followed J as she dragged him into the vi. This time, J had made up her mind to reveal the truth. The maid wasn¡¯t as arrogant as she usually was, mainly because Ethan apanied J. Seeing Ethan and J hade together, Bernie and Fiona didn¡¯t dare to shut the door on their faces ore up with some excuse. "Why are you here at this hour, dear?" Fiona asked, pretending to be calm. She didn¡¯t expect J to bring Ethan with her. "I¡¯m here to deal with our previous debts!" J snapped coldly. She decided to get straight to the point and break the truth, J looked at Ethan, her eyes glinting with confidence. "Ethan, I¡¯m sorry.My adoptive parents and I have deceived you.I¡¯m not Jocelyn Lind.I¡¯m J Lind, an orphan.The Lind family adopted me when I was a child.I married you as my younger sister¡¯s substitute." She took a deep breath and pointed at Jocelyn, who was staring at her with wide eyes. "She is Jocelyn Lind.You have seen her before.She has insulted me in public several times in the past.She¡¯s the woman you were supposed to marry." Bernie and Fiona turned pale with fright.They didn¡¯t expect J would do such a thing. The unexpected turn of events caught them off guard. They didn¡¯t know what to do. "What nonsense! What do you mean by a substitute? It¡¯s not true.Don¡¯t bber shit! I guess you¡¯re drunk.Go home and rest." J had torn her facade in an instant.She quickly darted forward and stopped J before she uttered another word. Just then, Ethan grabbed Fiona¡¯s hand and stopped her. His face bore an unfathomable expression. Ethan always had an inkling that something was wrong, and he was initially stunned after hearing the truth. Then on second thought, everything started to make sense. "Why did you marry me as a substitute?" He looked down at J, staring into her eyes as if prating her thoughts.The air suddenly turned cold. J averted his gaze and looked away. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she took a deep breath and told him the truth. "For the money.I was in desperate need of money to pay the medical expense for someone who raised me." Chapter 105: One Of A Kind Chapter 105: One Of A Kind Never had Ethan expected to hear this shocking information today. As he processed everything, his teeth clenched and his face sunken slightly. The fact that J only married him in exchange for money made him feel annoyed and heartbroken. But on second thought, he remembered that he also only agreed to the marriage because of his mother¡¯sst wish. He wasn¡¯t any different from J. Hence, he reasoned it would be unfair to judge her. Although Ethan put his emotions on a lockdown in order to stayposed, his mind was on a rollercoaster. ¡®Why did J suddenly let the cat out of the bag? Does she want to divorce me? Oh my God, I thought she had feelings for me!¡¯ Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. "Why are you telling me this all of a sudden?" Ethan¡¯s jaw rose slightly and his eyes were filled with trepidation. J lowered her long eyshes and replied calmly, "It¡¯s because the Lind family have refused to keep their end of the bargain.I have asked them severally to pay me the money as promised, but they refused.Today, they even orchestrated for the liver that was donated for Hannah to be given to someone else.I had no choice but to open up." With clear eyes, she looked up at him and continued sincerely, "I¡¯m sorry for deceiving you all along.If you resent me because of this, you can divorce me." "Divorce?" Ethan muttered and scoffed. Getting a divorce was easier said than done. Besides, he didn¡¯t want that, "Do you think I will be interested in a bitch like Jocelyn?" Ethan stared at her with an inexplicable glint in his eyes for a while before walking up to her. He looked into her eyes and said, "J, you seem to know very little about me.Just so you know.No woman can bepared to you.Besides, don¡¯t you know you are the only woman I want?" J¡¯s cheeks and ears turned red instantly.She fiddled with her fingers and stared at the floor. Jocelyn, who had been standing on the staircase was livid when she heard Ethan¡¯sst statement. With her face burning with fury, she shouted angrily, "Why? How dare you say that? What makes this bitch better than me? Ethan, I used to think you were a man with good taste, but I was wrong.You are blind and stupid!" Only a few moments ago, Jocelyn had thought that Ethan would divorce J and ask for her hand in marriage. She wasn¡¯t going to ept his proposal, but she just wanted to hurt J and reiterate that she was better than her in all ramifications. Ethan paid no heed to the woman who was shouting at him. He shot Bernie and Fiona a cold re and uttered, "Why bother? The substitute marriage was pointless.You should have just told me from the onset that you switched your daughters.I never had an interest in Jocelyn in the first ce.She has a bad reputation, an ugly face, and a terrible character.No man in his right mind would want to have anything to do with her, let alone marry her.J is ten thousand times better than her." Bernie and Fiona had been afraid that Ethan would re up at them once he found out that his bride had been substituted. Much to their surprise, he was actually happy with the arrangement because he harbored inveterate hatred for Jocelyn. This annoyed them to the bones.Several wrinkles appeared at the corners of Fiona¡¯s eyes as she sneered. In a mean tone, she retorted, "Watch your mouth, Ethan. Don¡¯t be so arrogant because you are just the illegitimate son of the Lester family. As far as I¡¯m concerned, you are nothing but an unpresentable bastard. How dare you speak ill of my daughter in my presence?" "Spare me that bull crap! I see where Jocelyn gets all her bad attributes from.She¡¯s your carbon copy.The three of you are a family of vile humans!" Ethan sneered at them. Afterward, he turned to look at J who was still lowering her head timidly. He lifted her head and said affectionately, "You are one of a kind.How did you manage to put up with them for so long?" Despite Ethan¡¯s shunning words, Fiona still stood up for her daughter. "You bastard, you must apologize to my daughter, or you won¡¯t be able to leave here today!" "Humph! Fine, I¡¯ll apologize!" A murderous expression appeared on Ethan¡¯s face at this moment.He suddenly picked up a wine bottle, holding it by its neck.He then smashed it on the table. The red wine spilled on the floor and dyed the carpet. The remaining half of the bottle in his hand now had extremely sharp tips. "No! Mom! He wants to stab us.Don¡¯t let him get here!" Jocelyn was so scared that her face turned pale. As quick as a sh, she ran into her room and mmed the door shut. Fear also filled Fiona as she stared at the bottle and the murderous look on Ethan¡¯s face. She staggered backward as her heart began to pound against her chest. ¡®Oh my God! J and Ethan are both crazy!¡¯. Ethan took two steps forward. His ck eyes were void of any emotions. It was as if they led to a bottomless abyss. "Please calm down, Ethan.Fiona, stop arguing with him.You should know that we are to me for this.We promised the Lester family to give out Jocelyn¡¯s hand in marriage to their son many years ago.But we didn¡¯t keep to our promise.He has every right to be angry now!" Bernie scolded his wife in a bid to show that he was reasonable and wanted peace. He was only trying to save their lives. Being an illegitimate child didn¡¯t change the fact that Ethan still had a powerful family behind him. The Lesters were so powerful that a scandal would never erupt about them. Even if Ethan killed them all tonight, the truth would be buried easily by the Lesters and no one would know what happened forever. Seeing that Bernie was being fairly reasonable, Ethan threw the broken bottle aside and casually wiped his fingers with tissue. He nced at the scared couple and said, "I can let go of you for deceiving me.You unknowingly did me a favor.I¡¯m d that J became my wife.However, you owe her money, so you must pay her." He threw the tissue on the floor, held J¡¯s hand, and left. Chapter 106: Fortunately, It Was You Chapter 106: Fortunately, It Was You It was alreadyte at night.There were no buses, and only a few taxis were avable. Ethan and J slowly walked back along the quiet road. J hadn¡¯t stopped crying ever since they left the Lind family¡¯s house. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Ethan took off his jacket and wrapped it around J, holding her in his arms.He was now wearing only a white T-shirt that clung to his chiseled body. "Don¡¯t you want to ask me something?" J sniffed and looked up at him. The pool of tears in her eyes sparkled under the dim streetlight. "Well, I have a lot to ask.I just don¡¯t know where to begin." Ethan wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes with his thumb. His calm, resonant voice made her cry harder. Ethan couldn¡¯t watch her break down before him. Crying was one thing he didn¡¯t like about J. He wanted to make sure she didn¡¯t shed a tear again. "When I was one year old, Bernie and Fiona adopted me.But a yearter, Jocelyn was born.Since they had a daughter of their own, they stopped caring about me.Hannah was a maid in the Lind family.She was the one who raised me.I was living with Hannah in the countryside before I grew up and came to the city.Bernie and Fiona gave Hannah some money every month.However, that was not enough to meet our expenses.They didn¡¯t bother increasing the monthly allowance.Hannah bought things for me with her money.She doesn¡¯t have any family, and I have been taking care of her.She is all I have.Now, to make things worse, Fiona has secretly intercepted the liver for Hannah¡¯s transnt.I don¡¯t know how long it will take to find another donor.I don¡¯t know how she is going to manage." J sniffed, gasping for breath. Ethan pulled out a tissue from his pocket and handed it to her. Seeing J hitching with sobs, he pulled her into his arms. "So you told me about your deal with them in a fit of anger?" Ethan asked softly, his chin resting on her head. He felt sorry for her.He had thought that J was an optimistic carefree woman but didn¡¯t think she shouldered a lot of burden and responsibilities on her own "It was because they broke their promise." Leaning against his strong chest, J frowned andined like a child.Her answer amused Ethan. He hailed a taxi and pulled her inside. J hugged him tighter and pressed her face against the crook of his neck. "Don¡¯t worry!" Ethan stroked her hair. "I have a lot of friends.I¡¯ll help you figure something." J¡¯s head became hot and heavy after all the crying.She felt sleepy. Ethan¡¯s embraceforted her.She rubbed her cheek against his chest and snuggled up to him. Silence fell. The ride was quiet, except for the whooshing of the wind. "I¡¯ve lying to you the whole time.Aren¡¯t you mad at me?" J asked, intecing her fingers with his. ¡®How could every part of his body look beautiful?¡¯ She looked at the blue veins running across his muscr hand in awe. Ethan let her y with his hand as he watched her intently. The flickering light cast a soft glow on his face. He put his other arm around her shoulder and sighed. "When I found out that you deceived me, I was furious.Butter, I was simply d that I didn¡¯t marry Jocelyn.Fortunately, it was you" Chapter 107: You Still Have Me Chapter 107: You Still Have Me His every word felt like fireworks exploding in her ears.Her heart stuttered in her chest.She began to sob uncontrobly. The pain was unbearable. Her vice-like grip wrinkled Ethan¡¯s T-shirt that was soaked in her tears. "It¡¯s okay.I¡¯m here.It¡¯s over now, J." Ethan hurriedly took out a tissue and wiped her tears. He peppered kisses across her cheek and lips tofort her. J looked at him through her teary eyes, and her nose had turned red.She was so vulnerable at the moment that she shrank in his arms.She wrapped her arms around Ethan¡¯s neck and cried, "What do I do now, Ethan? I have severed all ties with my adoptive parents, and Hannah is in fatal danger now.I feel like I have no one in this world.Nobody wants me." J felt abandoned and helpless. Living in a world without any hope or anyone to hold on to was tragic. J wasn¡¯t an optimistic person.She always pretended to be strong and happy to protect herself from the world. "You still have me.I¡¯ll always be with you." Ethan pulled her closer into his arms.He meant every word he said. J pressed her face closer against his neck and continued to sob silently.She clung to him for dear life.She didn¡¯t know how and since when she started trusting Ethan. But at the moment, the man was her savior. He continued to stroke her backfortingly. After crying out her emotions, J leaned against Ethan¡¯s chest, wrapping her arms around his waist.She felt sleepy. As she closed her eyes, Ethan pulled the jacket tighter, covering J¡¯s neck, and kissed the top of her head. "Forget everything and sleep." When J woke up again, it was already midnight.She was lying on the bed in her room. It looked like Ethan had carried her into the house. A nightmare woke her up.She wanted to close her eyes and sleep again but couldn¡¯t.Her mind was filled with thoughts about Hannah.She tossed and turned on the bed all night. The next morning, J walked out of the room. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy. After she called herpany and took a leave of absence, J went to the bathroom to brush her teeth. She nned to go to the hospital to see if they had found another suitable liver for Hannah. "Your phone is ringing." Ethan knocked on the bathroom door and came in with J¡¯s phone. A frown lined his forehead when he saw J¡¯s tired eyes. J answered the phone and quickly turned her head. She looked haggard today and didn¡¯t want Ethan to see her in this state. "Hello, Miss Lind? I¡¯m a nurse from the municipal hospital.I¡¯m calling to tell you that the liver that was originally assigned for Hannah Stone is avable again.The liver transntation operation will be performed as scheduled." "Oh, okay, okay.That¡¯s great!" At first, J was overjoyed. Butter, she remembered what they had done earlier. "Didn¡¯t you say the patient decided to continue with his treatment? What happened now?" Content ? N?velDrama.Org. She wondered which corrupt doctor in the hospital had secretly colluded with Fiona. "Well¡­" The nurse sounded embarrassed. She cleared her throat and said, "Well, I just called to inform you that the surgery will be performed as nned." J hung up the phone and breathed a sigh of relief. After a moment¡¯s thought, she turned to look at Ethan. "How did you make it?" Ethan rubbed the back of his neck nonchntly. "Well, I know a few people working in the hospital." J examined his face. Ethan¡¯s eyes were droopy, and his hair was a mess.He was leaning against the sink, brushing his teeth. Somehow, J sensed something was wrong.She didn¡¯t believe him. After all, she believed Ethan was just amon man.How could he know more influential people than Fiona did? Chapter 108: How Long Do You Think You Can Avoid It Chapter 108: How Long Do You Think You Can Avoid It But soon, J forgot about everything as excitement bubbled up in her heart.She was so happy that she didn¡¯t bother probing how it all happened. "Aren¡¯t you going to work today?" Ethan asked in a muffled voice as he wiped his face with a cotton towel. "No, I have taken the day off. I nned to go to the hospital, but that seems unnecessary now." Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Clenching a rubber band between her teeth, J casually coiled up her chestnut curly hair into a bun. After that, she smoothed her unruly bangs in front of the mirror, tucking long strands of hair behind her ear. She looked like a college student. However, the dark rims around her eyes made her look haggard. "All right.Then, sleep well at home." Ethan yfully ruffled her hair and lowered his head to meet her eyes. Their faces were inches apart. The next moment, the darkness consumed J as he pecked on her lips. "I¡¯m going to work." With that, he left. J touched her lips in a daze. By the time she returned to her senses, the door was closed, and the apartment returned to silence. After breakfast, J slumped on the sofa and watched TV.It was humid and dark outside. The cloudy sky showed signs of a rainstorm. J didn¡¯t know when she fell asleep. When she woke up, the light in the living room was off, and a football match was ying on the TV. Ethan was sitting on the sofa beside her. The dim light from the TV cast sharp shadows on his face, making his features look sharper.He was leaningfortably against the sofa, sending messages on his phone. "Why didn¡¯t you wake me up?" J rubbed her eyes. A gray nket slipped down from her shoulders. "I thought you would wake up any time." Ethan smiled and handed a ss of warm milk to her. "Drink this and go to your room.It would be morefortable for you to sleep there.".J took the milk and drank it obediently. The room fell silent again. "By the way, thank you for helping mest night.Did your hand get hurt when you smashed the wine bottle?" She had been busy worrying about Hannah that she almost forgot what happened in the Lind family house. Holding the ss, she studied Ethan¡¯s face. His expression remained the same throughout.He put down his phone and took a sip of beer. "It¡¯s okay.We are husband and wife,"he said, his eyes still fixed on the TV. "You don¡¯t have to thank me." J pulled the nket closer in her arms and looked at him. The light from the TV brightened her face. She drew circles on the rim of the ss, carefully choosing her words. "Now that you know I wasn¡¯t the one you had nned to marry, do you still want to be in a serious rtionship with me as my husband?" Ethan stopped drinking beer and turned his head. His eyes narrowed as he looked at her. "Why do you ask? Who else do you want to marry?" J¡¯s hair stood on end when she heard the threat in his tone.She looked away and shook her head. "No.I didn¡¯t mean that." Ethan was an excellent man, and she had no reason to stay away from him. After a moment¡¯s thought, Ethan asked, "You always refused to consummate our wedding and be a real couple.Was it because you married me as a substitute? Were you nning on leaving me one day?" J¡¯s mouth parted.She didn¡¯t know what to say. Ethan had observed her every move intently. "Well, that was one of the reasons.But I didn¡¯t intend to leave without telling you the truth.I just wanted to wait for a proper timing to tell you everything so that we could decide what to do next." A blush med J¡¯s cheeks.She didn¡¯t know why they were talking about this all of a sudden. "What about now?" Ethan grabbed her wrist. The warmth of his body seeped into her skin. He pushed the nket away and leaned closer to her. His tall nose and chiseled jaw made him look manly. J pulled the nket closer to her as she felt her heart was about to leap out of her chest. At such a close distance, she could see his drooping eyshes. "I¡­ I¡¯m not ready yet.I have to pay for Hannah¡¯s surgery.There are still a lot of things for me to do.I have to finish the design for thepany as well.And¡­ and there are eggs in the fridge¡­ well, we have to finish them as soon as we can.They have been in the fridge for almost two months." Ethan arched his brows and listened to her rant about the most random thing to avoid the topic. "How long do you think you can avoid it?" Flustered, J cleared her throat and said, "You know what, Ethan.The money Bernie and Fiona give me won¡¯t even cover up to half of the surgery fee.I have to find a way to pay for it.Now, I think I have no choice but to borrow money from the bank even if the interest rates are high." Chapter 109: They Were A Couple Now Chapter 109: They Were A Couple Now Ethan slowly loosened his grip on J¡¯s wrist.His slender fingers trailed down her hand and inteced her fingers. He kissed her knuckles and smiled. "You have said a lot.Catch some breath now.Is your throat dry?" J was taken aback; she stared at him with wide eyes. A blush crept onto her cheeks. She lowered her gaze, batting her eyshes. Ethan didn¡¯t say anything more.He stroked her palm and looked at her shy face. The smile lit up his face; he looked more handsome than ever. Somehow, the lust in his eyes seemed appealing rather than annoying. "Tell me something.Would you rather get a loan from a bank than ask me for help?" "You are no better than I am.You have no money.Even if you have savings, I don¡¯t think it would be enough to pay for the surgery." J smiled and looked at him. Then, she drank the milk and ced the ss on the table. Ethan was rendered speechless. Judging by J¡¯s impression of him, it was indeed unreasonable for him to offer the money for the surgery. It would gamer her suspicion.He frowned and said, "You should have at least asked me to find a way to help you.I could also ask around for money." After a moment¡¯s thought, J looked at him intently. "I don¡¯t have the habit of depending on others.Hannah is old and weak.I have been solving all the problems myself without seeking anyone¡¯s help ever since I was a child.If I started depending on others, then it would be a habit.As time goes by, it would turn into a weakness.After all, you can only rely on yourself." "That makes sense, in a way." Ethan nodded in understanding. He leaned against the sofa, his hair bouncing with every move. "Come here," he said, stretching out his hand. J bit her bottom lip in embarrassment.But her body reacted on its own ord.She nestled in Ethan¡¯s arms and let out a weary sigh. Ethan pulled J closer to him and wrapped the nket around them. "Are you cold? Do you want me to get a quilt from the bedroom?" Outside the window, the streets were pitch dark. Only the dimmps illuminated the road. The wind howled, and the raindrops pattered on the green leaves.It finally began to rain. "No need." J nestled closer to him. The warmth of his body seeped into hers. It felt as if he were her own, cozy heater. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. She leaned against Ethan¡¯s chest and inhaled his fresh, manly scent. A contented sigh escaped her lips. Suddenly, her eyes sprang open.She looked at him and asked. "Did you collect the clothes I washed today?" "Yes.I have folded and kept the clothes in your bedroom." Ethan moved his arm, pulling her closer to him, making her lean on his shoulder morefortably. Once the football game ended, Ethan picked up the remote control and switched to a horror movie.It was still pouring outside. "You have to change your habit," Ethan said, breaking the silence. J was engrossed in the film. Hearing his voice, she turned and looked at him quizzically. "What?" "From now on, you have me.You don¡¯t have to struggle on your own," Ethan said softly, stroking her silky hair. J looked out of the window without answering him. "Don¡¯t think about a loan for the time being.I¡¯ll try to find a way to get the money.Listen to me.We still have a couple of days left.Let taking a loan from the bank be ourst resort." Ethan rubbed his fingers against her soft cheek and looked into her eyes.He wanted her to trust him. Ethan¡¯s handsome face made her dizzy. J finally nodded in agreement. A faint smile stretched across Ethan¡¯s lips. He cupped her cheeks and kissed her, slipping his tongue into her mouth. They were a couple now. Chapter 110: Terminate The Cooperation Chapter 110: Terminate The Cooperation The Lind family¡¯s house was still morous after Ethan and J left.The maid was cleaning the red stains on the carpet, listening to the three of them bicker. Jocelyn lost her temper. She sniffled loudly and burst into tears as if she had just broken up with her boyfriend. "How could Ethan do this to me? How could hepare me to that bitch? I¡¯m in no way inferior to her! Mom, no one has ever humiliated me this way!" Bernie was reading the newspaper, scowling with frustration.He couldn¡¯t understand what his daughter was thinking. ¡®What makes her think Ethan would like her? Besides, isn¡¯t it a good thing he doesn¡¯t like her?¡¯ he thought. Since Ethan didn¡¯t like her, he wouldn¡¯t me them for marrying him to J instead of Jocelyn. Bernie couldn¡¯t understand why his daughter was making a fuss. Fiona was also furious.She had been dreading this day, thinking Ethan would ruin their lives if he found the truth. However, the man showedpletely no interest in Jocelyn, which infuriated them. "Stop crying.Otherwise, your eyes will be puffy and bloodshot.You won¡¯t be able to go out.Ethan is just a loser.He doesn¡¯t deserve you." Fiona patted Jocelyn¡¯s back tofort her.But Jocelyn began to weep harder. Gritting her teeth, she picked up the teacup on the table and threw it on the floor. "But he doesn¡¯t like me.He evenpared me with that bitch.That¡¯s the biggest humiliation of my life!" Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Fiona¡¯s heart clenched at the sight of the shattered remnants of the antique vases and cups on the floor. She had spent a lot of money on them, but Jocelyn smashed them in an instant. "That¡¯s a good thing.What would you have done if Ethan pestered you to marry him?" Fiona continued to persuade her daughter. Hearing that made Jocelyn calm down a little. "Of course, I wouldn¡¯t have agreed." She sniffed loudly. "But I should be the one denying him and this proposal.I can¡¯t believe he doesn¡¯t want me." "Ethan is not a good man.I¡¯ve asked you not to let his good looks deceive you.Keep my words in mind.Otherwise, sooner orter, you¡¯ll fall for the wrong man and suffer." Fiona poked Jocelyn¡¯s temple with disappointment. At that moment, Bernie¡¯s phone rang. Fiona picked up the phone and nced at the screen. "Bernie, it¡¯s a call from thepany you have partnered with.Answer it now!" She nudged Bernie¡¯s arm, who was about to doze off on the sofa. "What¡¯s the matter? Why have they called me at this hour?"Bernie sat upright, clearing his throat. "Hello, Mr.Walton.What¡¯s up?" The caller was the CEO of one of the Lind family¡¯s partneringpanies. "Mr.Lind, the senior executives of ourpany have decided to terminate our cooperation with your company." Bernie sprang up from his seat in horror. "Wait, Mr.Walton.Why? What¡¯s with the sudden decision? Are you not happy with our coboration?" Bernie wasn¡¯t good at handling business. Thepany was barely holding on over the years as he struggled to retain the connections his father had built in the past. This coboration was crucial for business. Once they withdrew, the Lind family would face severe downfall. Chapter 111: Integrity Chapter 111: Integrity The partner then spoke, his tone nd. "I heard that you once arranged your biological daughter¡¯s marriage, only to make your adopted daughter many in her stead.You still owe the girl a sum of money, don¡¯t you? Yet you refuse to give her properpensation.Your adopted daughter has made this matter public, and she certainly wasn¡¯t subtle about it.Clearly, you are not a trustworthy person.In our recent meeting with the shareholders, we have reached a consensus to no longer engage in any cooperation with your dubious enterprises." Although the man¡¯s voice was rtively calm, Bernie felt it rumble in his core. "Mr.Walton, these allegations aren¡¯t true at all! We have our fair share of difficulties.Can¡¯t you please reconsider the matter?" Bernie was so frightened that he could barely think properly before speaking.He was still honest, to a degree.He wanted to acknowledge the Lind family¡¯s fault in the issue with the marriage, but he didn¡¯t know how to even begin his exnation. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. "Why should I? How dare you insist on a coboration when you and your family have already been exposed for your deceit?" Bernie felt his face bum with shame.He had nothing to say to that. Fiona was seated beside him, and she had been pressing her ear to the other side of the phone the whole time to listen in on the conversation. She was just as shaken to learn that their business partner intended to terminate their cooperation. Unlike Bernie, however, she was quite adept with words. "Let me talk to him," she said impatiently as she grabbed the phone from his hands. "Please, Mr.Walton," Fiona said in a singsong voice. "You must allow us to exin our side of the matter.You can¡¯t just listen to what other people are saying.It is true that we have an adopted daughter.However, this so-called expose of hers is nothing but a ploy to extort us of money.Such an ungrateful girl, really.We raised her like our own, and here she is now, maligning us for profit.I¡¯m afraid that she won¡¯t stop until she has taken every single penny to our name.We would have dly given her what she needed, but we know her well enough to know that she¡¯s only going to squander any cash she gets her hands on.This is a family matter, Mr.Walton.We are trying to handle it as best as we can, but I hope you understand that personal affairs have no ce in business transactions." Fiona had fully expected to convince the man with her persuasive ways, but she only received more disdainful remarks. "I disagree.As a matter of fact, I had this issue investigated exactly because of our existing coboration.I must say, I¡¯m quite appalled that you persist in ndering your adopted daughter.I already know that J asked you for money in order to finance the surgery of a maid that used to serve the Lind family.She wasn¡¯t going to spend it on herself.It seems that you and your husband are incapable of truth.Only an idiot would be willing to enter a business deal with you, and I assure you, I am no idiot.Furthermore, the Lind family has been on the decline in recent years.The only reason why we kept giving you contracts is to honor the friendship between the previous generations of our two families.Now that you have broken that trust, I believe I have no other choice but to sever our ties for good." Fiona¡¯s lips twitched, until her face contorted into a hideous expression. They shouldn¡¯t have adopted J in the first ce! Even as a child, she had always stolen the limelight from Jocelyn. As an adult, all she did was to go against the Lind family. If Fiona had known that things would turn out like this, she would have just left J to die in the cold. "No, please don¡¯t hang up, Mr.Walton!" she cried out in a hurry. "Let¡¯s continue with this discussion.Please tell me what we need to do so that you¡¯ll continue working with us." The man snorted derisively. "Do honestly need me to spell it out for you? Don¡¯t you have any idea what you¡¯ve done wrong at all? Our cooperation was built upon integrity, something that the Lind family is painfullycking." Then he hung up the phone before Fiona could say anything else. Chapter 112: Vengeful Adopted Mother Chapter 112: Vengeful Adopted Mother Fiona¡¯s blood boiled after she hung up the phone.She gritted her teeth for a while before bursting into tears. "Ah! J is out to destroy us! Bernie, you¡¯d better man up and do something before it¡¯s toote.Mark my words.I will divorce you and leave with Jocelyn if the Lind family goes bankrupt.Don¡¯t expect me to languish in poverty with you!" The events that led to J¡¯s adoption reyed in her head at this moment. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. "I told you not to adopt a child, but you refused to listen to me.Your parents used me of being infertile and made my life a living hell because we were childless.I was forced to adopt that child.She turned out to be a jinx who has made it her point of duty to destroy us.It¡¯s all your fault.I didn¡¯t do anything wrong, so I won¡¯t suffer with you here!" The bankruptcy news took Jocelyn by surprise. She sprang to her feet and asked anxiously, "Mom, what did you just say? We are on the verge of bankruptcy? Howe? I thought we are extremely wealthy." She had been busy living a carefree life, so she knew very little about her family¡¯s current financial situation. The death of Bernie¡¯s father had dealt a huge blow to the Lind Group. Bernie was a pushover, so he couldn¡¯t run thepany like his father. It was harder for him because all the senior executives left with their loyal subordinates one after another. Even now, he didn¡¯t know what to do.He just curled up in the corner of the sofa like a child. After a while, he said, "Let bygones be bygones.We can¡¯t undo what has already happened.Let¡¯s focus on the issue on the ground.What should we do now?" This question added fuel to Fiona¡¯s anger. As her hand which was holding the teacup shook, she shot him a cold re. "What else can we do? We need to give J the money in public, so everyone would know that we are honest people.". "Mom, do we really need to give her the money? Don¡¯t you think that bitch has gotten enough from us? I am not in support of it!" Jocelyn angrily stamped her feet and added, "She¡¯s always winning against us!" "If we don¡¯t give her the money, what else can we do? I honestly don¡¯t know if J is winning because she has a powerful person backing her up or that we just have ill luck.Howe Mr.Walton find out?" Fiona sighed and rubbed theers of her eyes. She was so stressed that more wrinkles appeared on her face. When she was done with the massage, she looked at Jocelyn and said, "My dear daughter, you must marry a good and wealthy man.J is so arrogant now, and this is really driving us crazy.Fortunately, we still have you.You are our only hope.Don¡¯t let us down.By the way, your rtionship with Jason is going well, right?" "Yes, Mom.Our rtionship is blissful.Trust me, I won¡¯t let you down." Jocelyn quickly took a sip of her coffee to hide the guilt on her face after lying. She was yet to tell her mother that Jason had dumped her. The same person who put her family in this mess was also the reason why he broke up with her. "Oh, you are a good child.Keep up the good work." Fiona heaved a long sigh and mmed the cup on the table. Sheer resentment filled her up as she thought about her adopted daughter. She wiped her tears and spewed, "J is such an ungrateful bitch! After everything we did for her, she wants to repay us with wickedness.Why did she open our family affairs to the public? Does she want me tomit suicide or die of a heart attack before she would be satisfied?" Bernie was still in that fetal position. "I¡¯ll give J the money tomorrow and then talk to Mr.Walton about the cooperation.Let¡¯s wait and see if things would pan out," he said sheepishly. Fiona red at him unwillingly. Losing the family¡¯s fortune was one thing she could never ept. The thought of being poor scared her out of her wits. ¡®Aargh! We are about to lose everything because of that jinx, but we still have to give her the money.She must be very happy now!¡¯ It began to rain heavily outside. The downpour was apanied by thunder and lightning. Fiona wiped her t her fists tightly. A murderous expression reced the sadness on her face in a trice. ¡®J, you will not go scot-free!¡¯ She made up her mind to teach her adopted daughter an unforgettable lesson. Chapter 113: Making Trouble In Public Chapter 113: Making Trouble In Public In the design department of the Larson Group Considering it wasn¡¯t working hours yet, most employees were having breakfast. "Why did you take the day off yesterday?" Gerda munched on her sandwich and inadvertently nced at J. "Well, I had something private to deal with," J mumbled. She recalled the passionate kiss she shared with Ethan on the sofast night. They had been kissing for quite a while. Her lips had be numb after it. J quickly brushed the thought away as her cheeks became hot. Gerda arched an eyebrow and studied her face. Seeing J giggle like a teenage girl, she understood what had happened. "Oh, you went on a date? Lind, please control yourself.We are in thepany now.Don¡¯tugh like a crazy, lovesick woman." J immediately pursed her lips to suppress her smile. "Oh,e on.Stop talking nonsense." Gerda didn¡¯t want to argue with her. The suddenmotion downstairs caught her attention. She looked out of the window and asked curiously, "What¡¯s going on? Why have so many people gathered downstairs?" Many workers were standing by the window, staring downstairs. J also joined them to see what was going on. Her eyes widened; she was taken aback for a moment. In the middle of the curious crowd stood Bernie and Fiona. J quickly ran downstairs. Seeing here out of the building, Fiona quickly rushed to her, carrying a kraft paper bag.She looked depressed and indignant. J frowned at her. "What are you doing here?" Strangely enough, both Bernie and Fiona were wearing ordinary, wrinkly clothes, unlike their usual expensive ones. They didn¡¯t look wealthy and extravagant like they usually did but looked like two peasants who had juste out of their farm after work. Fiona looked much older than usual.She looked like she was in her fifties or sixties, probably because she deliberately wore haggard makeup. The dark circles under her eyes and her wrinkly face made her look pitiful. "You kept pestering us to give you money.Why else do you think we are doing here?" Fiona wiped her eyes, took out a stack of cash from the kraft paper bag, and purposefully handed it to J as all the employees watched them. Then, she sniffed and began to cry out loud. "Don¡¯te to our house asking for money again.We¡¯ve sold all our possessions to give you money.We don¡¯t have anything else to give you.Please don¡¯t force us again.We can¡¯t afford an adopted daughter like you.We have raised you all these years without expecting anything in return.But you can¡¯t treat us this way.We are getting old." It looked like the two hade to the Larson Group just to ruin J¡¯s reputation. J checked the money and realized at least three or four hundred thousand dors were in the paper bag. Besides, she had also saved up after selling the things she had got from them in the past. The money would be sufficient enough to meet Hannah¡¯s medical expenses. J was thrilled. Now that she had the money, she didn¡¯t have to worry about Hannah¡¯s medical expenses anymore. The fake pitiful looks on Bernie and Fiona¡¯s faces disgusted her. J wasn¡¯t in the mood to talk to them anymore. "Thank you.If you don¡¯t have anything else to say, I¡¯d better return to work." Seeing that she was about to leave, Fiona hurriedly stopped her. J tried wriggling out of her hold. But even before J pulled her hand back, Fiona screamed and fell to the ground. "How can you do this to us, J? You didn¡¯t bother calling us your parents when I gave you the money.Now, you¡¯ve pushed your mom to the ground.You¡¯re an ungrateful daughter! God will punish you.If you have a conscience, tell everyone how we¡¯ve raised you all these years.But you¡¯ve forgotten all that.Money is all you need.But we have nothing left to give you.Do you want to take our lives? Would that satiate your greed?" J crossed her arms over her chest and looked at Fiona. "You have never been nice to me.Now, you owe me money.What are you up to now? All right, go ahead.Bring it on.I¡¯ll see what you can do." "You ungrateful bitch!" Fiona waved her hands in exasperation.She continued to pound the ground and cry, which seemed to garner everyone¡¯s attention. It was working hours now. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Several employees were walking in and out of the Larson Group. Hearing Fiona¡¯s usations, they cast a disgusted look at J. "Gosh, could she be more greedy?" "Look at their clothes! Her parents look like they¡¯re struggling to make ends meet. How could their daughter ask them for money instead of supporting them?" "It¡¯s said that she is an adopted daughter.How could an adopted daughter ask for money from her parents with such arrogance when she should be grateful for them?" Chapter 114: Relief Chapter 114: Relief J turned a blind eye to Fiona¡¯s performance. Since Fiona didn¡¯t allow her to leave, she used the chance to count the money. After carefully counting and recounting it, she put the money back and neatly tucked away the bag. "Well, the sum is correct.But your performance was pathetic.Don¡¯t you feel ashamed to stay here?" she asked, looking into Fiona¡¯s eyes. Her lips curled up into a smile. J was d that she got the money and didn¡¯t care about what anyone thought of her. "If you¡¯re not tired yet, you can sit down and cry a little longer.I have to give the money to the hospital for Hannah¡¯s treatment right away, so I won¡¯t be able to watch your performance." "What? You¡¯re going to leave with the money? That¡¯s your sister¡¯s tuition fee! Your father and I struggle to make ends meet.Do you want us to sell our kidneys to support our family now?" Seeing that J was about to leave with the money, Fiona raised her voice a decibel higher and shouted, "Your father and I lead miserable lives.We have raised an ungrateful daughter.You are sucking the life and money out of us!" Just then, Tiffany arrived and was about to enter thepany. A frown lined her forehead when she saw J and the crowd around her. "What¡¯s going on, Lind? What are you doing here? Shouldn¡¯t you be at work?" "Everything is okay, Ms.Fisher.Don¡¯t worry.I can handle it.I want permission to take off from work for an hour or two.I have to pay the medical fee for my family member in hospital.I¡¯ll be back in the afternoon." J smiled at Tiffany. Fiona¡¯s tricks didn¡¯t affect her the slightest. "Okay,e back soon," Tiffany readily agreed. Then, she saw Fiona lying on the ground and frowned. "What are these two homeless people doing in there? Security! Get them out of here.We don¡¯t want them to affect our work." With that, she turned around and strutted into the building. Considering she got Tiffany¡¯s permission, J left.She didn¡¯t want to talk to Bernie and Fiona anymore.She was already running out of time and had to pay for the surgery as soon as possible. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Fiona looked around in embarrassment. J had left the ce, leaving her all alone. However, she didn¡¯t want to give up easily. Fiona waved her hands dramatically and began to cry again. "J treats us like filth.Although we are her adoptive parents, we have always treated her as our own.But she is an ungrateful girl! ¡° J turned a deaf ear to Fiona¡¯s words.She already hailed a taxi and rushed to the hospital.She didn¡¯t want to waste her time dealing with Bernie and Fiona. After J left, Fiona slowly got up and left with Bernie.Once they got far away from the Larson Group, Bernie scolded Fiona.No one had ever humiliated him this way. "We could have just given her the money without ying any tricks.God, it was humiliating!" However, Fiona didn¡¯t seem to care. "Oh,e on, Bernie.You should be happy.I¡¯m sure our drama would have ruined J¡¯s reputation.Didn¡¯t you see the look on the faces of the people there? They all hate J now.Sooner or later, J will get fired." Meanwhile, in the hospital. J paid the fees and confirmed the date of Hannah¡¯s surgery. She slumped on the chair and breathed a sigh of relief. All the worries and quandaries in her mind were cleared, and J finally began to wonder why Bernie and Fiona had returned the money all of a sudden. She leaned against the railing outside the corridor and called Ethan. The heavy rain had awoken the entire city.The trees and greeneries looked lush and vibrant. The cool breeze seemed to refresh everyone. Autumn had finally arrived. "I want to ask you something.My adoptive parents suddenly returned the money.Did you do anything?" J asked. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips when she heard his resonant voice. Chapter 115: Come To My Room Tonight Chapter 115: Come To My Room Tonight Ethan sat in his office, a beam of light streaming through his floor-to-ceiling windows and falling on his voice. His eyes softened as he listened to J¡¯s voice through the phone. "Yes, I did have a hand in exposing your sister¡¯s substitution matter and your parents¡¯ debt.The Lind family does business with a lot of notable partners, so it¡¯s only a matter of course that they try to save their reputation as soon as possible.That¡¯s probably why they decided to finally pay you what they owe.They have no other choice at this point." Garrett rarely heard Ethan speak this much in one breath. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. With raised eyebrows, he pricked his ears and leaned forward slightly, trying to hear more of the couple¡¯s conversation. On the other side of the line, J frowned. Ethan sounded calm and casual about his exnation, but she knew it couldn¡¯t have been so simple. "Tell me the truth.Did you spend a lot of money to make this happen?" "Of course not.It cost nothing just to spread a bit of news.You¡¯re thinking too much." Ethan¡¯s tone remained patient.He swiveled his chair and looked out of his massive office windows. Garrett struggled to contain hisughter and ended up snorting. The CEO of the Larson Group was so powerful that people were willing to bend over as soon as he gave the word. He didn¡¯t even need to lift a finger to have them do his bidding.J sighed. "I know, I know.Stop patronizing me." Her life was already a mess to begin with, and now she even got Ethan involved in her troublesome affairs. He had neither the money nor the power to stand up against people like her adoptive family.He must have gone to great lengths in order to bring their selfish deeds to light. A small smile tugged at the corners of Ethan¡¯s lips.He threw a pointed nce at Garrett, who was now openly and shamelessly eavesdropping. The man immediately straightened and nodded. He understood the message-Ethan was about to say things that weren¡¯t meant for anybody else¡¯s ears. Garrett strode to the door and left the office. When he was gone, Ethan leaned back against his chair and tapped his nose with his forefinger. "Hmm?" he said on the phone, his voice quiet andzy. "What is it that you know?" "I know that you¡¯re awfully good to me." J¡¯s voice had also fallen into a whisper.She covered her phone¡¯s receiver and looked around to make sure no one could hear her. "Is your husband reliable?¡¯ "Yes, yes." "Come to my room tonight." "Why?" "I¡¯m going to fuck you senseless until morning," Ethan rasped. A delicious shiver ran down J¡¯s spine.She looked around again as she felt her ears burn. "Stop it! It¡¯s still the middle of the day." "Why are you being shy all of a sudden?" Ethan chuckled. "Ethan Lester!" J snapped. "Cut it out.I¡¯ll cook something delicious for you when I get home." Despite her protests, she already felt hot all over her body. She hung up the phone and covered her face with her hands, as if that could stop the desire and temptation from coursing through her veins. It was well into the afternoon when she returned to her office desk. Gerda saw J approach and gave her a wink. "Hey, I heard that the old couple downstairs earlier were your adoptive parents, is that right? The whole company is talking about it." Of course, they were. They were probably badmouthing her, too. J looked around, and sure enough, her colleagues were staring at her with morbid curiosity. She instantly lowered her eyes. "They came for some family matters." Gerda could tell that there was something else J didn¡¯t want to talk about, something that wasn¡¯t particrly pleasant, like a secret.She decided to offer the new girl some advice. "You had better make things clear as soon as possible.Everybody loves to gossip, and they tend to exaggerate every little detail.You never know what those silly rumors would eventually be." J said nothing and just sat at her desk. She had been expecting this much. After all, Fiona had raised quite a ruckus in front of so many people this morning. It didn¡¯t help that J made no response and just walked out on Fiona and Bernie. Without any exnation from J, the onlookers were naturally led to believe that she was an ungrateful daughter, just as Fiona had so publicly imed. Chapter 116: I’ll Handle It For You Chapter 116: I¡¯ll Handle It For You Seeing that J was absentminded, Gerda nudged her with concern. "Why don¡¯t you take the rest of the day off and go back home? It¡¯s big news now.Everyone¡¯s been discussing it from the morning.I heard that people areining and reporting your misconduct to your superiors because they feel what you did was unfair to your adoptive parents." "I¡¯m fine.In fact, I already anticipated this result." J shook her head and smiled bitterly.She had thought that everything woulde to an end once her adoptive parents gave her the money. Regardless of what Fiona and Bernie did, they took J in and gave her a home after all. But Fiona couldn¡¯t just let go and let J have the money. The woman wanted to make trouble for J. Gerda knew every family had a skeleton in its closet. But she didn¡¯t expect such a reserved, calm¨ª person like J would encounter such unfortunate things. "How about you exin it to Ms.Fisher? You should at least fight for it.You still have to build a good rapport with your colleagues in the future.A bad reputation would only ruin your career.J smiled but didn¡¯t say anything, for she knew that was precisely what Fiona wanted.She wanted to ruin J¡¯s reputation once and for all.But J made up her mind not to let that happen.Although she was a little grateful to her adoptive parents for giving her a home, she couldn¡¯t allow Fiona to nder her like that. "Don¡¯t worry about me." J patted Gerda¡¯s shoulder. "Thank you for rooting for me." Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. "It¡¯s no big deal." Gerda smiled and went on with her work. Just as J wracked her brains, thinking about how to exin herself to her superior, she received a message from Brandon. "Thepany has been receivingints about you.What happened?" Brandon cut to the chase. J swallowed as her face flushed with embarrassment.She was a little afraid of Brandon. After all, he was the boss of thepany; J didn¡¯t dare to neglect him. She quickly briefed him about the conflict she had with her adoptive parents.She didn¡¯t know whether he would believe her or not. Brandon didn¡¯t question her morals and character. Instead, he asked, "What are you going to do?" "I want to rify everything but haven¡¯t figured out how to do it yet." J read and reread her message for a long while before sending it. After all, she felt so stupid for noting up with an idea yet. Instead of condemning her for being stupid, Brandon sent a message that surprised her. "Don¡¯t let this matter affect your work.I¡¯ll handle it for you." J was terrified that she dropped her phone.How could she bother her boss by asking him to help with her personal issues? "Thank you, Mr.Larson.But I can handle it myself.This is my private affair,"she quickly replied. However, Brandon¡¯s profile picture turned gray, and her message was read, but she didn¡¯t receive a reply. Chapter 117: I Want To Eat You Chapter 117: I Want To Eat You The temperature had dropped after the heavy rain. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. The air became cool. As soon as J took out the key to open the door, she heard footsteps and the rustling of stic behind her. Just as she was about to turn around, a ck shadow engulfed her. Her body stiffened, and her heart began to race in her chest. ¡®Oh, God! I hope Ethan has returned home." She waved her purse to attack, but the tall figure quickly dodged. The man¡¯s strong body pressed her against the door. His steady breath blew against her air. She could feel his rising body temperature. The man tucked J¡¯s long hair behind her ear and gently kissed the back of her neck. "My husband is inside.If you dare to eveny a finger on me, he will beat you to death!" J¡¯s voice quivered with fear. "You have another husband?" Hearing the familiar voice, J finally breathed a sigh of relief.She turned around and pinched his arm. "That wasn¡¯t funny.I was so scared that my heart was in my throat the entire time." "I¡¯m sorry.Let¡¯s go inside." Ethan smiled and ruffled her hair. Then, he leaned forward and opened the door. As soon as they entered the apartment, Ethan grabbed her waist, and the two fell onto the sofa. J moaned as he peppered kisses on her ear and corbone. Ethan was strong and aggressive. "I miss you so much.We agreed to sleep in my room tonight," he said breathlessly. J didn¡¯t remember agreeing to it. "No.I have something important to tell you.Please listen to me. Brandon texted me again," J said, turning her head aside. Her ears turned red, and she felt itchy.She told Ethan about what happened in thepany today. After listening to everything, Ethan buried his head in the crook of her neck. "It¡¯s good that your boss is willing to help you.I¡¯m sure he can solve the problem," he said in a muffled voice. "I still don¡¯t understand why Brandon wants to help me.In fact, I¡¯m kind of afraid of him," J said, shaking her head quizzically. "You¡¯re just overthinking this.As the CEO of thepany, he must protect thepany¡¯s interests first.Perhaps he doesn¡¯t want your personal issues toe in the way of your work.Solving such a trivial problem would be a piece of cake for him." J cast a skeptical look at him as her heart sank with dejection. Ethan was always calm whenever she mentioned Brandon.He was a possessive husband. However, he seemed tolerant of Brandon.She just couldn¡¯t understand why. Ethan looked up at her. His unfathomable eyes bore into hers. He smiled and bit her earlobe, wrapping his arms around her. "Didn¡¯t you say that you would cook a delicious meal for me? Or do you want to go to my room first?" He wondered if she¡¯d be able toe out after they went in. J¡¯s eyshes fluttered.She blinked and shyly pushed him away. "We have nothing in the fridge.Wait for me at home.I¡¯ll go and buy some groceries right away." Ethan pressed himself against her. With J¡¯s slender legs wrapped around his waist, he grabbed her fingers resting on his chest and kissed them. "Don¡¯t buy anything.I just want to eat you.Will you allow me?" J¡¯s face turned red as she felt something hard poke her hip. "No, no.I¡¯m still on my period¡­" Ethan shook his head and chuckled. He gently bit her lip and finally got up. The in white T-shirt clinging onto his body revealed his pert, chiseled abs. J quickly got up and hurriedly smoothed her dress. ¡®Gosh, he is like a dog who is constantly biting me." Ethan sat up and looked at her. "How about Ie with you?" "No, no.I can go on my own." J¡¯s mind went nk, and her body was burning. She quickly smoothed her coat and darted out of the house. Chapter 118: The Larson Group’s Party Chapter 118: The Larson Group¡¯s Party Fiona didn¡¯t let go of J even after giving the money to her. Whenever she thought about it, she would curse J, saying she was the bane of her life and that she wanted to kill her. The next day, a maid gingerly knocked on the door and handed an envelope to Fiona. "What¡¯s this?" Fiona looked at the envelope and quickly removed the face mask whilst rubbing the sticky essence onto her cheeks. "A gentleman just gave it to me.He said it was an invitation to a party." Fiona sat up straight and snatched the envelope. It was an invitation to a party held by the Larson Group. "Bernie! Bernie! Come out and see what I received!" Fiona shouted and ran to Bernie, waving the invitation. The man was happily ying with birds he raised outside the balcony. Bernie was submissive, but he was not a fool. He took the invitation and carefully read it. "The Larson Group? What¡¯s going on? Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s strange? They would never invite the Lind family to such an asion." Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. It was precisely why Fiona was excited. She gently massaged the residual essence on her face, thinking it would make her look young forever. "Are you out of your mind? It just proves that our drama in the Larson Group has worked.Maybe they are holding a party, just to apologize to us." Fiona grinned dreamily as she thought about attending such a momentous party. Bernie wasn¡¯t as blindly confident as she was. He still couldn¡¯t bring himself to believe they got invited to the party. The party was held at Waterside Manor. It was a private ce exclusively offered to influential celebrities for conducting social events. Before leaving, Fiona carefully dressed up and applied two thick coats of foundation on her face, hiding her fine wrinkles and freckles. Jocelyn was also dressed in an extravagant outfit. Only wealthy, influential people attended the parties held by the Larson Group. Fiona felt the asion was perfect to find her a good son-inw. All three arrived at Waterside Manor with great expectations. "Mom, this ce is huge!" Jocelyn squealed with excitement as she looked at the splendid building in awe. "Shush!" Fiona grabbed her arm and leaned closer. "Stop looking like an ignorant woman and degrading yourself, Jocelyn.After all, you are a wealthy diva.Straighten your back and look like a dignified woman." Jocelyn took a deep breath, held her head high, and tried to look like a majestic queen. However, the next moment, the smile on her face vanished. "J is also here!" All eyes turned to her. The dark green satin dress clung to J¡¯s slim waist, entuating her perfect features. Her chestnut curly hair was coiled up with a wooden hairpin. Her bangs elegantly swayed as a gust of cool breeze brushed against her. The light makeup and pink lips seemed to brighten her face. She looked breathtaking tonight. J stood out among the women dolled up with copious amounts of makeup and dressed in extravagant clothes. Even Fiona was shocked. She always knew J was beautiful. However, the woman somehow looked prettier with every passing day.She was an effortless beauty who exuded a natural charm. "What the hell is she doing here? I¡¯m going to p her.You don¡¯t know how she humiliated me in the banquetst time." Jocelyn was seething with rage as she remembered what happened to her at another partyst time.She grabbed her dress and almost rushed toward J. However, Fiona quickly grabbed her wrist and stopped her. "Don¡¯t be impulsive.If you fight with her on this asion, it will only ruin your reputation." Jocelyn gritted her teeth and suppressed her anger. Fiona used to be a social butterfly when she was young.She enjoyed dancing at balls and parties. Many people knew her. Soon, she began to chat with the other guests. "Things aren¡¯t going well." "What¡¯s wrong?" thedy beside her asked concernedly. Fiona let out a weary sigh, feigning pity. "It¡¯s kind of embarrassing.You probably know my adopted daughter, J.She is a heartless, ungrateful child.She has taken away all our money from our family.Now, she is leading a carefree life outside, neglecting me and her adoptive father." Many guests at the party were employees of the Larson Group. "You mean J Lind? We know her.She works in the design department.She seems sweet and well- mannered.I didn¡¯t expect her to be such an evil person." As they got into an animated discussion, J walked toward them, grinning broadly with a ss of champagne. Chapter 119: Clarification Chapter 119: rification J walked past the crowd of guests in fancy clothes and strutted toward Fiona with an indifferent look on her face. J¡¯s beautiful eyes turned cold, revealing all the disappointment and anger umted in her heart over the years. Every time Fiona looked at J, she wanted to pluck J¡¯s beautiful eyes out of their sockets. "Have you ever shown kindness and warmth to me? You have humiliated and tormented me all my life, and now you call me ungrateful? That¡¯s absurd!" J said calmly as if impervious to Fiona¡¯s ruthlessments. Fiona was an extraordinary actress. Tears welled up in her eyes. "We adopted you and raised you with great efforts, but you¡¯ve always milked us for money.How does that make you a good daughter?" Fiona said, waving her hands dramatically. Her dramatic performance in the Larson Group a few days ago had already attracted everyone¡¯s attention. Moreover, J hadn¡¯t exined herself to anyone. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Many people regarded her as an ungrateful daughter, and some even took videos on their phones. However, J didn¡¯t care about what people thought of her. "You abandoned me after Jocelyn was born.You sent me to the countryside to live with Hannah.You never cared about me.Hannah was the one who took care of me.She is all I have.I came to you because she was ill, and you promised to give me the money in exchange for a favor.I kept my end of the bargain, but you¡¯ve been cheating me.Why are you creating a scene in front of everyone?" Fiona wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and sniffed loudly. "What nonsense! You¡¯re just bbering." Jughed, shaking her head. "Your neighbors don¡¯t know me, and my neighbors in the countryside haven¡¯t seen you.I don¡¯t even have a picture with you.You better think twice before lying.Do you have any evidence to prove that you raised me? Look, I don¡¯t want to talk about the past.I¡¯m grateful to you for giving me a shelter even though you all have loathed me." If Fiona hadn¡¯t ndered J in front of everyone, she wouldn¡¯t have uttered a word about the past. J didn¡¯t have a home that she could call hers. It was just another ce she didn¡¯t belong, where she was abandoned by her "family" again. Fiona looked around helplessly. J took out her passbook that had a record of the money Bernie and Fiona had sent Hannah over the past twenty years. She sneered at Fiona and threw it on her face. "You were bragging about raising me and used me of milking you all for money.But this proves how much you¡¯ve really spent on me.You two have been giving only 200 dors a month for the past twenty years ¨C ¨C not a penny more. Is that what you call ¡®raising me with every penny you have? You always take Jocelyn to fancy restaurants.One dinner of yours are at least twice or thrice my monthly expenses.Can¡¯t you see the irony here?" The crowd burst into an uproar. Most of the women attending the parties offered generous tips. They didn¡¯t think 200 dors was a good tip, let alone be a good monthly allowance. "You are lying! We gave you more than that." Fiona was rendered speechless.She hugged her handbag to avoid the surprised gazes of the people staring at her. "We have always been generous with you!" J rolled her eyes. Fiona¡¯s response didn¡¯t surprise her.She still couldn¡¯t figure out why Fiona hated her so much. The woman despised her with a vengeance. When she still stayed with them in their house, Fiona would scold J for even the smallest things. "I didn¡¯t ask you to adopt me, did I?" J sounded calm andposed. "Since you adopted me, you are obligated to raise me.Considering your wealth and ie, the money you¡¯ve given me every month does not even cover the standard child custody.I can¡¯t even meet my monthly expenses.I owe what I am today only to Hannah.She struggled to raise me, with her own savings.You¡¯ve done nothing I should be grateful of." Chapter 120: Tit For Tat Chapter 120: Tit For Tat The onlookers started discussing heatedly. "How could you do such a thing? A manicure like yours costs more than two hundred dors!". "Since you chose to adopt a child, you should¡¯ve been responsible for her.The Lind family is rich, yet you gave your adopted daughter so little.Shame on you." All the color drained from Fiona¡¯s face. Little did these people know that the Lind family was actually poor-something Fiona would never dare to admit. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. After a while, Fiona said weakly, "We were worried we¡¯d hurt our biological daughter.If Jocelyn saw that we treated her adopted sister better, she would¡¯ve used us of being unfair.And J, even if we didn¡¯t give you that much money, you shouldn¡¯t have forced us to give you more.We adopted you and you should be grateful!" J set her ss on the table. Her eyes shed with sheer rage. Even now, Fiona chose to lie through her teeth. "The money wasn¡¯t for me.I just wanted to save Hannah¡¯s life.I didn¡¯t force you to give me more.You were the one who promised me that you¡¯d give me the money if I married Ethan instead of Jocelyn.But even after that, you kept refusing to pay me.I was just asking for what was rightfully mine." The audience burst into an uproar. Everyone began to criticize Fiona harshly. "How dare she!" "So, she adopted a child but left her in the countryside and didn¡¯t give her any money.Such a criminal should be sued!" "How the hell could she ask her adopted daughter to marry someone as a substitute for her biological daughter? The poor girl!" Ethan was sitting on a ck sofa nearby with his legs crossed. He took a sip from his ss of wine as he watched this scene unfold before him.He had witnessed the whole thing. "I didn¡¯t know that your wife could be so fierce.You must be beaten up a lot at home, hmm?" Garrett joked, poking fun at Ethan. Ethan¡¯s eyes had been fixed on J the entire night.To him, the woman before him now was a stark contrast to the woman she saw at home. "She¡¯s a submissive sweet girl at home." Ethan took another sip from his wine, his eyes darkening slightly. Seeing that his friend looked a little worried, Garrett smiled at him reassuringly. "Don¡¯t tell me that you want to interfere.From what I can see, your wife can handle this." "I suppose we shall wait and see," Ethan said gloomily. At this point, Fiona couldn¡¯t stand the humiliation anymore and dropped her gentle facade. Her expression changed and she started coughing so violently, one might have wondered if she was terminally ill. "What¡¯re you doing here anyway? We took you in and raised you.Otherwise, who¡¯s to say you wouldn¡¯t be homeless right now? Isn¡¯t it only right that you married someone for our sake? Just take it as a payment for our kindness." When she saw that her mother had changed tactics, Jocelyn immediately echoed Fiona¡¯s sentiments, adding fuel to the mes. "How could you have the nerve to talk back? If it weren¡¯t for you, our family wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this.You¡¯ve pissed my mother off.You always think of that old maid but don¡¯t give a damn about your foster mother.Don¡¯t you have a conscience?" Chapter 121: The Origin Of The Engagement Chapter 121: The Origin Of The Engagement Finally, Ethan slowly stood up from the sofa.As he did, he drew the attention of the people around him. Nobody knew who he was. All they could see was a superior-looking, tall man with cold, ck eyes, as alienating yet dazzling as the sun. Everyone subconsciously felt drawn towards him. He walked towards Fiona, shrouding her in his shadow. He looked down at her and the daughter next to her with frighteningly cold eyes and said in a low voice, "Was your kindness enough to give you the right to force your adopted daughter to get married as a substitute bride?" Being stared at by him like this, Fiona shrank back. Any trace of arrogance she held earlier now disappeared. "Wh-what do you mean?" she stammered. Ethan sneered coldly. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. "When my mother¡¯s family was rich and powerful, you clung to her like a parasite.Thinking you could profit from us in the future, you arranged for your daughter to marry her son when they grew up.Later, when my mother¡¯s financial situation declined, you regretted your decision.Not wanting your biological daughter to marry me, you had your adopted daughter do it instead.Was that the real reason why you adopted a daughter?" Memories brought about by Ethan¡¯s words resurfaced in Fiona¡¯s mind. Sylvia Larson¡­ Fiona hadn¡¯t heard that name in a long time. Sylvia Larson was Ethan¡¯s biological mother. At the time, the Larson family was one of the richest and most powerful in the city. And Sylvia was beautiful-she was even considered the most beautiful girl in the city. Ethan had gotten his good looks from his mother. And even though Sylvia was born into a rich family, she had a pleasant personality and never put on airs. Fiona, on the other hand, came from an ordinary family. When the two girls were in college, Fiona deliberately tried to get close to Sylvia, gunning to be the rich girl¡¯s best friend. Back then, Fiona had benefited a lot from Sylvia¡¯s riches. Later, she suggested to Sylvia that their children get married, if one of them had a boy and the other, a girl. That was how Fiona sessfully tied herself to a rich and powerful family like the Larson¡¯s. However, it wasn¡¯t part of her n for the Larson family to decline so suddenly. As soon as Sylvia could no longer be considered rich, Fiona immediately cut off contact with her. The two of them never spoke afterwards. It wasn¡¯t until about ten yearster that Fiona heard that Sylvia had died. She had practically forgotten about Sylvia by then, and even when she heard the news of her death, Fiona didn¡¯t give a damn. "How dare you use me of such nonsense!" Fiona said, albeit her voice faltered. But she couldn¡¯t say anything to defend herself, because Ethan was right. Wide-eyed, J turned to look at Ethan. Ethan had never told her before about how the engagement came about. In the distance, Garrett¡¯s heart leapt to his throat. He was worried that something big was about to happen. The subject of Ethan¡¯s mother was very touchy to him, and he seldom mentioned her. It had been almost ten years since Garrett first met Ethan in high school. But he still didn¡¯t know his friend¡¯s family too well. Something big had happened back then, which led to the copse of the Larson family and the rise of the Lester family. But all rich and powerful families wereplicated behind the curtain. Although the Lester family was powerful on the surface, they were rotten on the inside. Their dirty secrets were just concealed well. The onlookers began to talk even more harshly about Fiona. "Get this old woman out of our sight! She spread rumors about her adopted daughter!" "How shameless! She¡¯s a liar and a hypocrite!" Chapter 122: Defeated Chapter 122: Defeated The more people that pointed their fingers at Fiona, the more overwhelmed she got.She was so enraged that she needed to take a few deep breaths to regte her blood pressure. How she wished in that moment she could strangle J to death! Thankfully, she managed to hold herself back. She racked her brains for a way to redeem her reputation, but found that she couldn¡¯t refute Ethan¡¯s statement at all. There was no way she could admit to the dirty things she had done.Her only choice was to retreat. Seeing that her mother was nearing defeat, Jocelyn was furious. She opened her mouth to give J an earful, but was interrupted by Fiona. "Calm down, Jocelyn." Fiona shook her head. Then, she whispered into her daughter¡¯s ear, "We¡¯ve lost.It¡¯ll be worse if we try to defend ourselves." Jocelyn wrinkled her nose with disdain. "Mom, I can¡¯t stand her arrogance! When she still lived with us, she never fought back tch deserves to be punished.Who does she think she is, anyway? She¡¯s just a bitch who was abandoned by her biological parents!" Fiona¡¯s eyes went wide and her hand flew to cover Jocelyn¡¯s mouth.They weren¡¯t in the confines of their own home. If Jocelyn kept talking like this, things would just get worse. "We¡¯re leaving." They couldn¡¯t stay here a second longer. Fiona shot J onest murderous re before turning around to leave with Jocelyn and the timid Bernie. As they stormed off, Fiona gritted her teeth angrily.She was never going to let J go.She needed to take revenge. After the Lind family of three left, themotion died down and the guest went back to drinking and talking. Just as J was about to approach Ethan, several colleagues stopped her. "Lind, you look amazing today.If I didn¡¯t see you quarreling with those women, I wouldn¡¯t have recognized you."Gerda grinned from ear to ear, with a slice of cake in one hand. "Yes.It was a good chance to make things clear." J smiled back helplessly. As she spoke, she craned her neck to look for Ethan, only to find that his broad back was to her. Shortly after, he disappeared in the crowd that surrounded her. "I knew you weren¡¯t the kind of person they made you out to be!" Gerda said enthusiastically, pumping her fist in the air. Many employees from the Larson Group were at this party. After the altercation just now, they all knew the truth. They all came over and toasted to J¡¯s victory. "We¡¯re sorry, Lind.We used to think you just lived off of your foster parents¡¯ money." "Little did we know that your foster family is the worst! They¡¯re rich, yet they pretended to be poor and miserable here!" "Yeah.We didn¡¯t know the truth and gossiped about you behind your back.We¡¯re really sorry." J smiled faintly and her eyes softened.She wasn¡¯t good at this kind of stuff. What with the crowd that surrounded her, she could only smile and politely clink sses with everyone. "It¡¯s okay, you guys.It doesn¡¯t matter now.Just forget it." After the crowd dispersed after a while, she let out a long sigh. Now that she had cleared up the truth in front of so many people, no one would dare use her of being ungrateful again. It was already past midnight when the party ended. A cold full moon hung in the sky, surrounded by twinkling stars. The Larson Group arranged for luxury cars to send the guests home from the party, which drove off one by one. J and Ethan were also led to a car that would take them home. On the way, Ethan sat in the backseat silently. His eyelids drooped slightly, but the corners of his jaw were tight. J felt he looked a little mncholy and depressed. After taking a careful look at him, she quietly looked away. But she couldn¡¯t help but peer at him from the corner of her eye. "What¡¯s the matter?" Ethan saw right through her.He looked up at her and rested his elbow on the car window. J watched his movements. His fingers were so elegant and beautiful, as if they were carefully carved by an artist. But the rest of him looked quite rough. After getting along with him for a long time, J slowly uncovered a lot of strange things about him. He turned out to be quite meticulous in whatever he did.He always took a shower before sleeping and when he woke up, and he always folded his clothes neatly.He liked to watch live football games without subtitles despite them being from different countries. It seemed that he could understand without difficulty. This made J suspect that he knew several foreignnguages. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Clenching the hemline of her dress tightly, J looked at him earnestly and asked in a soft voice, "Can you tell me something about your mother?" Chapter 123: About His Mother Chapter 123: About His Mother A silence fell over the car. Even the driver didn¡¯t dare to make a sound. Outside the car window, the trees swayed as the wind whistled through their branches, like a ghost singing in the night. At J¡¯s question, Ethan¡¯s expression darkened. "Well, if you don¡¯t want to talk about it, just forget it.I¡¯m sorry I brought it up," J apologized immediately, sensing that she had said something wrong. "I was just curious.I didn¡¯t mean to offend you." she turned around and focused on the scenery outside, watching the trees and scattered lights. Truth be told, she was a little disappointed.She didn¡¯t know what was with her tonight. Maybe all the booze from the party gave her the courage to ask Ethan something personal. To her disappointment, she failed at the first try. The wind blew in through the window. Suddenly, J felt a warm hand holding hers.She turned around to meet Ethan¡¯s deep eyes. "Didn¡¯t you want to know about my mother? You¡¯re sitting so far from me.How could I tell you without shouting?" J looked around and found that it was true. Her whole body was pressed against the window, as though she wanted to put as much distance between her and Ethan as possible. Just as she was about to scoot over, the car came to a halt. They had arrived at their apartment. "Already?" J muttered unhappily. Ethan hadn¡¯t spilled any beans yet. Seeing the disappointment in her eyes, Ethan got out of the car then helped her out. He immediately shrugged off his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders. "Let¡¯s take a walk." The man¡¯s coat was oversized on her. Being enveloped by it, only J¡¯s bright, clear eyes could be seen. She nodded eagerly, her shining eyes bobbing up and down. "Okay!" Together, they walked to the benches in the small park near their apartment. Purple vines crept up the columns, looking especially enchanting. "Come on, then.Tell me already!" J tugged at Ethan¡¯s sleeve, her eyes full of curiosity.She looked like a little child asking for candy. Ethan pursed his lips into a straight line, and his expression darkened again. But with a heavy sigh, he started to talk. "My mother was born into a rich family, but her family¡¯s financial situation plummeted fastter.She was never a mistress, like the rumors imed.My father had forced her, which led to her pregnancy.At the time, she couldn¡¯t fight against him, and he was the one who imed she was just a mistress.Because her health was in bad shape, she couldn¡¯t have an abortion.So she gave birth to me." J tilted her head to look at him. His tone was calm, but there was a frighteningly cold undertone.Plus, Ethan omitted how his mother died.There must¡¯ve been more to the story. But she didn¡¯t ask. She could tell that his mother held a special spot in his heart. Yet in order to protect J earlier, Ethan had brought up the subject of his mother in front of all those people. "I have to thank your mother, because you turned out to be a great man." J smiled and wrapped her arms around his slim waist.Her cheek was pressed against his chest. There was always a faint smell of mint on his body. She couldn¡¯t help but bury her nose into his clothes, taking in his scent. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Ethan chuckled and rested his chin on her head. In a low, hoarse voice, he asked, "What¡¯s gotten into you? Aren¡¯t you afraid that I will eat you up?" J¡¯s heart skipped a beat. With a cunning look in her eyes, she raised her head and pressed her lips against his. Chapter 124: Now I Have You Chapter 124: Now I Have You The quiet night seemed to spark up the romance between the couple.J somehow felt fearless. She and Ethan hugged each other in the quiet park.Ethan gently lifted her up and hoisted her on his lap. His touch made J quiver as she began panting. Ethan sped her neck with one hand and nipped her bottom lip. Perhaps because they were outdoors that J felt more nervous. The furtive night made it all the more thrilling. J was afraid, but she wanted more. Ethan wrapped his hand around her slender waist and pulled her closer to him. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Their chests brushed against each other. J was wearing a long silk dress that made his body temperature spike up in an instant. J grew breathless as Ethan deepened the kiss. He slowly loosened his grip after a while, and the two stared at each other, gasping for breath. "Who taught you to bite people like this?" Ethan asked, peppering soft kisses all over her cheeks and eyes. Leaning against Ethan¡¯s strong chest, J looked up and saw his Adam¡¯s apple bob up and down. "Well, I learned it from you.Did I do it wrong?" she asked, touching her ming cheek. Ethan chuckled and looked at her. Once her breathing returned to normal, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. This time, the kiss was soft and chaste, unlike his usual hungry, aggressive kisses. Ethan bit her lower lip and gently sucked it. Then, he opened his eyes and saw the passion on her face and how much she enjoyed his kisses. J let out a soft moan and stuck out her tongue to lick Ethan¡¯s lips. However, she then realized Ethan was watching her, so she shyly shrank in his arms. Ethan seldom kissed her this gently, without lust but just pure affection. He wrapped his arms around J and rested his head on her shoulder. "Now, I have you." Hearing his muffled voice, an inexplicable feeling welled up in J¡¯s heart.She stroked his hair and realized they only had each other. "Yes.We have each other." Ethan hummed softly as he gently bit her slender neck and earlobes. His hot breath blowing against her skin made J shiver with pleasure. "Stop kissing me.I¡¯m still on my period," she mumbled as a blush med her cheeks. Her body felt sticky, and her raging hormones made her ufortable. "I know.I¡¯m only kissing you.I won¡¯t do anything else." Ethan could barely breathe. The need to make love to her grew intense with every passing minute. Ethan stood up and lifted J in his arms in one swift motion. "You¡¯re light as a feather." He frowned, trailing his fingers against her hip. "You don¡¯t have flesh in your body." "I¡¯m already heavy." J blushed. Her heart skipped a beat. Fortunately, no one was around.She felt conscious about making out with Ethan outdoors. Moreover, she didn¡¯t expect him to lift her with one hand.She quickly wrapped her arms around his shoulders. His towering frame made her feel tiny. Ethan immediately took her home, and the two fell on the sofa and continued to kiss. "Wait, wait, I have something important to do." J quickly turned her head and stopped him from deepening the kiss. Ethan groaned and buried his face on her bosom, groaning irritably.His body was burning with passion. However, he stopped kissing her and gently bit her neck. Having no other choice, he stood up and ran a hand through his hair. J nodded. Once Ethan went to the bathroom, she took out her phone from the sofa and sent a message to Brandon. "Mr.Larson, thank you for organizing the party tonight.Everything went well." She thought about it and added, "Things went on just like you said.Many colleagues have apologized to me.I¡¯m sorry for all the trouble, and thank you very much for helping me." It was Brandon, who had invited the Lind family members to the party and asked J to rify herself in public. As soon J sent the messages, Ethan¡¯s phone on the table lit up. Since the room was still dark and the lights were still off, the messages caught J¡¯s attention.His phone lit up twice, right after J sent messages to Brandon.She frowned and looked up at Ethan¡¯s phone. Chapter 125: A Coincidence Chapter 125: A Coincidence J didn¡¯t think too much about it.She thought it was just a coincidence.She wouldn¡¯t have made the connection between Ethan and Brandon so easily. After taking a quick cold shower, Ethan came out of the bathroom in a white T-shirt and loose track pants. Water was still dripping from his ck hair, and his long narrow eyes drooped slightly. J was still waiting for Brandon¡¯s reply when she felt somebody hug her from behind. The familiar scent of mint wafted to her nose, whichforted her. "Done so soon?" J asked feebly, shifting ufortably in his arms. "Weren¡¯t you waiting for me?" Ethan smiled. He withdrew his arms and dried his ck hair with a towel, staring at herzily. J¡¯s face flushed and she immediately tried to defend herself. "I wasn¡¯t waiting for you.Anyway, you should check your phone since it lit up twice now.I think you got a few texts." Unhurried, Ethan leaned over and nibbled on her earlobe affectionately.His stubbles tickled her. "Hey, stop! You phone¡­ Do you need me to get it for you?" Under his touch, goose bumps formed on the back of his neck, so J pulled away quickly to get his phone. But as soon as she tried to stand up, she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist from behind, shackling her to the sofa. "Stop it! Just give me a minute, will you?" J¡¯s watery eyes were as wide as saucers.She thought that Ethan was going to try to kiss her again. While the thought gave her butterflies, she still felt shy around him. Plus, there was some business she had to take care of first. "What¡¯s on your mind? Why¡¯s your face so red?" Ethan pinched her cheek yfully. ncing at his phone on the tablezily, he asked, "Who are you texting anyway?" "Oh, just Brandon Larson.He was the one who invited us to the party.Thanks to him, I had the opportunity to teach Fiona and Jocelyn a lesson today." As she spoke, J typed out another text to Brandon to express her gratitude. Ethan observed her quietly, taking note of her swollen lips from his biting earlier. Then, he stood up and turned on all the lights in the room, flooding the apartment with light.Just then, his phone lit up again. "Who keeps texting you sote at night?" J eyed Ethan¡¯s phone curiously. But she didn¡¯t connect the dots, thinking it was just a coincidence. "The owner of the convenience store asked me toe in and restock the store tomorrow." Ethan picked up his phone and saw that J had sent texts to his business ount, which was Brandon¡¯s. After a quick nce, he put away his phone. Simultaneously, J saw that the messages she had sent to Brandon had been read, but he didn¡¯t reply. Under her breath, she muttered, "Huh? Why didn¡¯t he reply?" Worried that J might make the connection any second now, Ethan hurriedly scooped her into his arms and carried her to her room. "Ah! What¡¯re you doing?" Startled, she grabbed his clothes in a panic. Ethanid her down on the bed gently then kissed her passionately. The woman¡¯s unique fragrance intoxicated him, making him want to conquer her even more. He cupped her cheek gently, but he climbed atop her, holding her down.He started kissing J even more passionately, his tongue dancing with hers.He tasted like mint, too. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Probably from the tooth paste. After what seemed like an eternity, just as J was beginning to think something might happen, the man suddenly pulled away. J¡¯s eyes were shut tight. The kiss made her feel dizzy.Shey on the bed weakly. "Get some sleep," Ethan said gruffly, gently kissing her ear. His eyes still burned with lust, but he pulled out the nket and gently tucked her in. Then, he kissed her on the forehead and asked, "By the way, when¡¯s Hannah¡¯s surgery?" J, who was cozily wrapped in the nket, looked stunned. Blushing, she muttered, "Tomorrow." "Okay.I¡¯ll go with you tomorrow." Ethan stroked her hair and gave her onest peck on the forehead before turning around to leave. He had kissed her just now only to distract her.But he almost lost control of himself¡­ Chapter 126: It’s Time For Surgery Chapter 126: It¡¯s Time For Surgery The scorching sunshine filtered through the curtains.The faint smell of disinfectant wafted in the air. It had been a few weeks since J came to see Hannah. She felt a little guilty about not being able to see her often. Ever since J started working, she had been dealing with unfortunate incidents that seemed to take all her time. Hannah¡¯s liver transnt surgery was scheduled for 10 o¡¯clock today.J still had half an hour to talk with her. "Don¡¯t be nervous.You won¡¯t feel any pain after they administer anesthesia." J smiled andbed Hannah¡¯s gray hair. Hannah gently patted J¡¯s hand and smiled at her. "I have no fear, my little girl.I know you¡¯re busy with work.You don¡¯t have to wait here for me.The nurses in the hospital are very considerate.You need to stop worrying about me." Tears welled up in J¡¯s eyes. She knew Hannah was in so much pain, yet the old woman was smiling to make sure J didn¡¯t worry about her. "Don¡¯t worry about me.I¡¯m not a child." J couldn¡¯t help but smile at her. Hannah suddenly pouted and flicked her gaze to the door. "That young man has been waiting outside for a long time.Why don¡¯t you let him in?" J turned around and saw Ethan leaning against the railing in the corridor. His gaze asionally flitted toward them to see if they were okay. J hadn¡¯t figured out how to introduce him yet.. "Nice to meet you." Ethan walked into the ward with a polite smile.He had changed into a brown windbreaker today. The man looked handsome as if he hade straight out of a magazine photoshoot. J had never seen Ethan in such clothes before. She was taken aback for a moment. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she said, "This is Ethan.Well¡­ You know about the marriage the Lind family had arranged for me." Hannah wasn¡¯t aware of J¡¯s secret. She only knew the Lind family had arranged a man for J and that she was already married. Hannah''s face broke into an ecstatic smile as she examined Ethan¡¯s face. "Wow, what a handsome young man!" She patted J¡¯s hand. "He looks like a good, decent man.J, you are a lucky girl!" Ethan smiled and nced at the clock on the wall. "It¡¯s about time." J¡¯s heart leaped to her throat when she saw the nurses wheeling Hannah into the operation theater. "She will be okay, right?" she asked in a tremulous voice. "Yes, everything will be fine." Ethan patted her backfortingly. It was a long procedure thatsted all afternoon. Hannah had to stay in the hospital for at least three weeks for observation to see if her body had adapted to the new liver. After the operation, Hannah had to rest on the bed as the doctors administered an IV drip. She needed someone to take care of her. "I want to take a few days off and take care of Hannah.But I¡¯m not sure if thepany will agree." J let out a weary sigh as she walked out of the doctor¡¯s office. "You should call them and exin your situation.I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll understand.After all, it¡¯s a reasonable request," Ethan suggested. "But I have already taken many days off this month." J¡¯s shoulders slumped with dejection. "How do you know if you don¡¯t give it a try?" Ethan asked J sighed and called Tiffany. "You want to ask for leave? No problem at all.How many days do you need? How about two weeks?" Tiffany asked in a serious tone. J was taken aback.She thought Tiffany was mocking her. "No, no, no! Thank you so much." J frantically shook her head. "Forget I called." "No, I¡¯m serious.How many days do you need?" Tiffany asked. Brandon had called Tiffany earlier and spoken to her. Therefore, she didn¡¯t dare to frighten J in any way. Tiffany didn¡¯t know much about J, but she was shocked the CEO of thepany had personally called her, instructing her to approve J¡¯s leave. "Well, two days.Is that okay?" J asked cautiously. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. "Okay, okay.Sure.Your leave is approved." Tiffanyughed. Hannah recovered well after the operation. The doctors said she would be discharged real soon. J had already taken several days off, so she had to return to work. However, she didn¡¯t work overtime and came to the hospital as soon as she got off work to check on Hannah. During the day, she hired a nurse to take care of Hannah. Initially she was against the idea of a full-time nurse, because she couldn¡¯t afford it. Ethan ended up paying part of the fee to make it happen. Three weekster, J packed the bags and helped Hannah out of the hospital. "Hannah, would you like to live with me?" "Oh, no.I¡¯m old, and I¡¯m used to living in the countryside.Take me back home.I won¡¯t befortable living in big apartments here." Hannah smiled happily. She was pleased to see that J led a better life here. J had no choice but to grant Hannah¡¯s wish.She called a taxi at the gate of the hospital and decided to drop Hannah back at her home in the countryside. J looked out the window and saw them traverse a deste path. At that moment, it dawned on her that the car was driving in the wrong direction. Chapter 127: The Abduction Chapter 127: The Abduction "Excuse me, you are driving in the wrong direction." When J looked out of the window, she found that they were already in the wild.The ce was uninhabited and was surrounded by an endless stretch of trees.The car was winding across an unknown path. Hannah knew her way home better than anyone else.She also realized they were traversing an unknown terrain. "Ah, this is not the way to our home! Are you deliberately going in the wrong direction?" Hannah anxiously shouted.Sensing something was wrong, J quickly grabbed the driver¡¯s seat. "Stop the car! We need to get out!" The driver nced at them through the rearview mirror.He was wearing a mask, leaving only his eyes visible. Before they knew it, he hit on the gas.J and Hannah jerked backwards. Hannah had just undergone the surgery, so she weakly copsed on the seat.Her lips turned pale in an instant. The taxi moved in an unknown direction, circling along the winding mountain road. "I told you to stop the car.If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll call the police!" This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. J took out her phone from her bag and quickly called the police. "Help! A taxi driver has abducted me.I don¡¯t know where I am.There is a maple forest in front of me." "Ma¡¯am, calm down, please.Do you remember the license te¡¯s number? Could you be more specific about where you are and what¡¯s around you? Any clue would be helpful to us." J couldn¡¯t tell where she was.She couldn¡¯t see the license te number now and didn¡¯t pay attention to it when she got into the car. "No.I don¡¯t know.I don¡¯t remember.I¡¯m terrified! Please help me." J¡¯s voice trembled with fright. "I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am.Anyndmark or any distinct thing you can spot?" "No, nothing.It¡¯s a deste ce surrounded by mountains and trees." The driver sneered and turned a deaf ear to J¡¯s words. Then, he suddenly turned the steering wheel and made a sharp turn. Sitting in the back seat, J jumped with every bump. As the driver took a sharp turn, J¡¯s phone flew from her hand and fell down. J fumbled around and finally picked up the phone. Unfortunately, by then, the call got disconnected. J propped herself up and looked out of the window. The wind was like a sharp knife, shing her face. Just as J tried to jump out of the car, her gaze fell on Hannah, who had passed out in her seat. J could easily jump out of the car and escape. But Hannah was old and was just discharged from the hospital. Therefore, J couldn¡¯t leave Hannah alone in the car. J took out her wallet, gathered all the money, and angrily threw it at the driver. "I¡¯ll give you all my money.Let us go!" The driver narrowed his eyes and chuckled. "You bitch! What¡¯s the use of your small bills?" He ignored J¡¯s pleas and drove into a grove. Not knowing what else to do, J called Ethan right away. When the phone got connected, she shouted, "Ethan, Ethan¡­ the taxi driver has abducted me and Hannah.It looks like we are in a maple forest.But I don¡¯t know the specific location.No one is here.It¡¯s about an hour¡¯s drive from the city¡­" J controlled her emotions and tried to calmly describe her situation to Ethan. "Do you have anything to protect yourself? Try escaping or negotiating with the driver.I will be there in 20 minutes." J felt a sense of invisible security. Ethan¡¯s calmness somehow made her believe she was fine, and that he wasing for her.She trusted him.. However, she was too frightened to notice that Ethan¡¯s voice had never been this cold and serious before. Hearing that J was on the phone, the driver hit the brakes. J¡¯s forehead rammed against the seat, and she cried out in pain.She hurriedly fumbled in her bag. As soon as she touched a pen, she heard the door open. "You fucking bitch! Who are you calling?" The driver grabbed fistfuls of J¡¯s hair and dragged her out of the car.Then, he snatched her phone. "Ah! Let go of me!" J shouted in horror, kicking her legs and struggling to escape snatched her phone. "Ah! Let go of me!" J shouted in horror, kicking her legs and struggling to escape. Chapter 128: A Failed Attempt To Escape Chapter 128: A Failed Attempt To Escape J thrashed around, struggling to escape.She tried biting his hand and kicked her legs.But she was no match to the driver. He was a strong man who effortlessly dragged her out of the car. Hannah wanted to help J, but the driver kicked her. "You old bitch, get away from me!" Then, he mmed the door shut and locked Hannah in the car. "Hannah!" J screamed as a lone tear trickled down from the corner of her eye. When the driver closed the door, J quickly took the pen and stabbed it into his palm. "Ouch! Damn it!" The driver groaned in pain.The man¡¯s face turned scarlet red and the blue veins on his forehead popped out.He quickly grabbed his wrist, and the blood trickled down from the tip of the pen. Without looking back, J seized the opportunity to escape and ran into the forest. The driver grew furious.He quickly took off his mask and pulled the pen from his palm.He sucked on his wound and spat out the blood. "Damn you, bitch!" he bellowed. He grabbed the knife on his belt and chased after J. J ran as fast as she could. After running past the maple forest, she arrived at a green cornfield. The cornstalks towered above her, swaying with the wind. They were taller than an average man¡¯s weight. J couldn¡¯t run anymore.She bent down and began gasping for breath. All the running had exhausted her.She turned around and found that the driver was still chasing after her. Knowing that she was no match for the driver, J decided to hide in the cornfield behind the lofty cornstalks. The wind blew the corn leaves, and the sound of footsteps became louder and resonant. Huddling in the cornfield, J held her breath and carefully listened to the sound of the footsteps. "Bitch, I know you¡¯re in here!" J¡¯s heart leaped to her throat when she heard that. As the footsteps grew louder, the corn leaf above her suddenly parted. The driver grinned down at her, looking like the devil. "I found you, bitch!" J let out a piercing scream.She tried running away but the driver grabbed her hair and dragged her out. J fell to the ground with a loud thud. "You bitch! You shouldn¡¯t have made the phone call.And how dare you attack me?!" The driver angrily dragged J out of the cornfield with a ferocious look on his face.He squatted before J and pped her face twice. "Let me go! I will give you more money!" The sharp pain made J dizzy; her vision grew blurry.She could taste the rancid taste of blood as they slid down from the corner of her mouth. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. The driver grabbed her chin and eyed her with lust. Then, he pulled out his knife and tore J¡¯s shirt open. His jaw dropped when as he looked at her milky white skin. "Oh!" He moaned. "Gosh, you¡¯re beautiful! We can have some fun before I kill you." J struggled and scratched the man¡¯s face. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and her chest heaved violently. "Don¡¯t even think of touching me.I will fucking kill you!" The driver frowned and touched the wound on his face. Anger zed in his eyes. He pped J and ripped off her shirt. "Fuck you, bitch! I will give you a moment to enjoy it!" Chapter 129: The Rescue Chapter 129: The Rescue Twenty minutes ago. The Larson Group executives were in a conference with another high-profilepany. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Ethan¡¯s phone had been vibrating for quite a while, but he chose to ignore it the first couple of times. When the phone buzzed again and he finally nced at the caller ID, his frown rxed. He raised a hand to signal a halt to the meeting. "I¡¯m sorry, but I need to take this call," he said, proceeding to answer his phone without waiting for the other men¡¯s response. As Ethan listened to J¡¯s words, his face slowly darkened. His body grew tense, and a heavy pressure was palpable in the air. Garrett turned to Ethan and noted how tight his grip was on his phone, as well as the slight tremor of his hand. "What happened?" Garrett asked as soon as Ethan hung up. But thetter barely acknowledged him. "Sorry, this meeting will have to be postponed," Ethan announced. He stood up and walked out of the room. The men looked at each other, dumbfounded, but none of them dared to raise a question. Garrett hurried after Ethan and asked him again, "What¡¯s wrong?" Ethan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Send out all our helicopters to look for a maple forest in the periphery of the city." Garrett needed no further exnation.He nodded and rushed to do as he had been ordered.He knew that something had happened to Ethan¡¯s wife. Momentster, five helicopters hovered over the city, scouring for a particr patch of woods. Ethan was on one of the machines, siting with back ramrod straight and his eyes straight ahead. He was barely keeping his anger in check. Just then, the radio crackled, and Garrett¡¯s voice came through the noise of the propellers in full action. "We¡¯ve found it.There¡¯s a maple forest just outside the main highway into the city.I¡¯m sending the exact location to your phone." Ethan cursed under his breath and instructed his pilot to turn around. The helicopter took sever seconds to make a turn, and then it was speeding toward the southeast part of the city. ¨C Meanwhile¡­ After being pped and then running for a long time, J now had no strength at all, but she was still struggling. She stared up at the sky in despair, and thought she heard the distant rumble of a helicopter approaching. "You bitch, I¡¯m gonna fuck your brains out," the driver said with an evil grin on his face. He undid his belt, took it off, and used it to tie J¡¯s hands together. Before he could tighten the binding, however, someone pulled him by the shoulder and sent him falling on his back. Dazed and disoriented, the man had to blink a few times and collect his bearings. When his vision finally cleared, he found himself surrounded by a group of people wearing all ck. "Cut his balls off," Ethanmanded, his voice cold as steel. He stood against the light streaming through the trees, so the driver only caught his tall, suited silhouette. "Who are you people?" the driver demanded as he cowered and tried to crawl away. No one answered him, but one of the men in ck stepped forward, brandishing a knife. Shortly after, a howl of agony rang out in the woods. Ethan strode over to a barely conscious J. He crouched beside her and untied her hands before carefully wrapping her in his suit jacket.He gathered her close in his arms and whispered, "Don¡¯t be scared, baby." J¡¯s eyes were still zed, and she instinctively panicked at his sudden proximity.She iled in his embrace. "Let go of me! Somebody, help! You bastard! If you dare to touch me, I will kill you!" The sheer desperation in her voice made his heart ache. Ethan grabbed both of her hands and tried to soothe her. Although his voice was calm andforting, his face was theplete opposite. His brows were knitted, his lips tight, and a deadly storm was brewing in his eyes. Chapter 130: I Will Be With You Chapter 130: I Will Be With You Ethan carefully carried J into the car. As heid her down on the backseat gently, the cool breeze of early autumn blew on her ruddy cheeks. "Do you know who I am?" he whispered. Seeing J in such a state made Ethan feel terrible. He ran his fingers through J¡¯s messy hair. There were two obvious palm marks on J¡¯s face, and there was a streak of blood at the corner of her mouth. His heart ached so much that he didn¡¯t dare to touch J¡¯s face. Holding J¡¯s shivering body in his arms, he gently tried tofort her. "It¡¯s okay now.I¡¯m here.You¡¯re safe.Don¡¯t cry." J clenched the waistcoat of Ethan¡¯s striped suit and looked up at him, tears rolling down her cheeks. Only then did she return to her senses. She threw herself into Ethan¡¯s arms and sobbed, "Oh, Ethan, it¡¯s really you¡­" Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. "Yes, J.It¡¯s me." Ethan was very patient.He gently fixed the suit jacket he put on her and put his arm around her shoulders. With his head slightly lowered, he was able to press his forehead against hers, He kissed her earlobe gently. "Does it still hurt?" J couldn¡¯t answer him.She could only sob uncontrobly and bury her face into Ethan¡¯s chest. It was as though a boat that had sailed alone for so long had finally found a harbor amidst a violent storm. Ethan rubbed her back reassuringly and gestured at his men to bring some tissue. His men, on the other hand, were in a state of shock. Their boss had always been an icy cold, serious man. Yet here he was now, wiping the tears of a woman as though he was patiently coaxing an aggrieved child. "Your eyes are all red and puffy from the crying.They won¡¯t look pretty for a while," he whispered in a low voice. Only J could hear him. At that, the woman stopped crying abruptly. Her teary eyes turned angry. "Calm down, babe.You look good no matter what-even if your eyes are red and puffy.So stop crying.It hurts me to see you cry." Seeing that she still had the energy to re at him, Ethan finally heaved a sigh of relief. But when his eyesnded on the stark p marks on her face, his expression darkened once more. Damn it. Castration was too good a punishment for the driver. It took a few more minutes for J to calm down.She was really scared. As Ethan¡¯s men castrated that damned driver, piercing shrieks echoed across the forest. After screaming in pain for a while, the driver finally ran out of breath and fell silent, whimpering quietly. Ethan covered J¡¯s ears before turning to his men and ordering coldly, "Keep him alive.No matter what, get him to tell you who¡¯s behind this." A few minutester, Ethan¡¯s men dragged the driver away. With a tissue in her hand, J blew her nose and wiped her tear-stained eyes. The tip of her nose and cheeks were red, and her eyshes were wet with tears. "Ethan, were you able to find Hannah? How is she?" J asked in a broken voice. Ethan cupped J¡¯s face and wiped her remaining tears with his thumb. "Don¡¯t worry.I¡¯ve asked someone to look after her." When J finally calmed down, Ethan took her to see Hannah. Ethan had rescued Hannah from the car. She was fine, but since the driver had kicked her just now, her arm showed a little bruising "Oh, my God! Are you okay? I¡¯m d you¡¯re safe.I was so worried about you." Hannah stroked J¡¯s hair. When she saw the red marks on J¡¯s face, she couldn¡¯t help but burst into tears. "How on earth did this happen?" J averted her gaze. Biting her lower lip, she couldn¡¯t answer. Then, her eyes wandered over to Ethan. She quietly nced at the dozen men in ck suits that surrounded them. Confused, she tugged Ethan¡¯s sleeve questioningly. "Why are you dressed like that? And where did all these peoplee from? They look so scary." Chapter 131: Can You Stay With Me Today Chapter 131: Can You Stay With Me Today Ethan was dressed in a formal, elegant suit.His ck hair wasbed to perfection, revealing his wless face and entuating his deep-set eyes that exuded a majestic aura every time he looked at others. Unlike his usual slovenly self, Ethan looked mature and noble, as if he were a whole new person today. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Ethan stopped for a second, took off his double-buttoned vest, and draped it on his arm.He ruffled his ck hair, letting a few strands fall between his thick eyebrows. "I have to apany my boss to receive an important client today," he said nonchntly. "So I wore formal clothes.These are my friends.I asked them to help me when I received your call." Ethan had a meeting with his foreign partners today, so he had dressed extra formally.But since he had come in a hurry to J¡¯s rescue, he didn¡¯t have the time to change. Ethan¡¯s so-called ¡®friends¡¯ were all trembling with fear.They nodded and bowed respectfully before J. "Hello! Nice to meet you!" "Our buddy here always praises you.He thinks the world of you." Everyone tried to y along. After all, it was a good opportunity to get a hike. "Hello, everyone.Thank you for helping us.How about I treat you to dinner?" J¡¯s face turned red.She felt awkward to meet Ethan¡¯s friends like this. After all, the p mark was still visible on her face.She stole a nce at Ethan, her eyes gleaming with admiration.She didn¡¯t expect him to have so many friends and connections. Ethan draped his arm around J¡¯s shoulder and smiled. "Well, that¡¯s enough.She is shy.You guys better drop Hannah back to her home first and then hire someone to take care of her.". "I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea.It will cost a lot of money." J frowned, tugging at the corner of Ethan¡¯s shirt. "Well, would you rest assured if Hannah stays in the countryside all by herself?" he asked, cocking his head to the side. "Besides, it won¡¯t cost much to hire a help to do household chores.Let¡¯s discuss this further after Hannah recovers." J had no choice but to agree. By the time they got home, it was getting dark. J sat on the sofa, hugging her knees, as she watched the sun sink into the horizon.Her face was coated with ointment, and the swelling had alleviated a bit. The sound of running water reverberated from the bathroom. "I have run a bath for you.Go and take a bath first.It will make you feel better." Ethan walked out of the bathroom.His sleeves were rolled up, revealing his strong forearms. J nodded and got up from the sofa.Her face bore no expression. "What¡¯s wrong?" Ethan checked her pulse and pressed the back of his hand on her forehead. "Do you sense any difort? You don¡¯t look good." He sensed something was wrong. J shook her head. "Ethan¡­" She took a deep breath and cleared her throat, finally summoning the courage to speak. "Can you apany me to the bathroom?" she asked in a feeble voice. The traumatic incident had shaken her up. J was still frightened. Ethan was the only person she trusted; his presence made her feel safe and secure.She wanted him by her side at all times. Ethan nodded. "Sure." The bathroom was covered with steam, and a thinyer of mist sat on the ss. As J removed her dress, the sound of the zipper sliding sounded louder than usual.She cast a sidelong nce at the man beside her. Ethan¡¯s gaze fell on the closed door. His towering frame made the bathroom seem small and cramped. Hearing the spluttering of water as J stepped into the bathtub, Ethan turned his head and sighed. J was submerged in the foamy water. A thickyer of bubbles floated on the surface, revealing nothing but her wless face.Her rosy cheeks and pitiful eyes somehow made her look more innocent than ever.She managed to effortlessly arouse his desire. Ethan¡¯s mouth became dry as passion coursed through his veins.He took deep breaths to control himself. J had seen him like this before. Ethan had the same look on his face every time he kissed her. "I¡¯ll be at the door.Call me if you need anything." Ethan smiled and gently patted her cheek before turning around to leave. J looked sad and miserable, so Ethan decided to let her go today. Just as Ethan turned out to leave, he felt a feeble grip on his hand. He turned around and saw J looking at him with expectant eyes. "Don¡¯t go¡­" A hint of panic shed in her eyes.She didn¡¯t want to stay alone in the bathroom. Chapter 132: Please Don’t Go Chapter 132: Please Don¡¯t Go J was almost in tears, looking aggrieved and helpless. Ethan couldn¡¯t leave her alone after looking at the pitiful sight of her. "Are you sure you want me to stay? Well, you know I¡¯m not a gentleman." Ethan¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, and his jaw tightened.He lifted her in his arms and pressed her against the cold wall. Caught off guard, J yelped in shock.She didn¡¯t stand a chance to react. Although he seemed gentle, the ferocity of his kiss reflected his desire. He thrust his tongue into her mouth, prying it open. Then, he massaged his tongue against hers, making J moan with pleasure. "Hmm¡­ Ethan, I¡­ I can¡¯t breathe¡­" J moved her head back, trying to wriggle out of his grip.Her breathing faltered as a subtle blush painted her cheeks. "Don¡¯t you want it?" Ethan asked, rubbing his nose against hers. His dark eyes dazzled with desire.He gulped and gently bit her chin. "If you are afraid, stop seducing me and behave yourself." J¡¯s face turned a shade pinker. However, she refused to let go of him. "My¡­ My period is over¡­" Ethan¡¯s eyes widened with astonishment.He picked up the towel beside him and wrapped it around J¡¯s delicate body. His breathing came out in short pants. "No, this isn¡¯t right.You better have your bath.I¡¯ll wait outside." He felt that J¡¯s fear had driven her to say something like that. Ethan didn¡¯t want to take advantage of her vulnerability. Just as Ethan was about to leave, J leaned forward and hugged him from behind. The bath towel slipped to the floor. "Please don¡¯t go¡­" She whimpered as tears filled her eyes. J felt she had lost her mind.She had allowed her desire to cloud her reasoning and logic.However, she wasn¡¯t acting upon her fear. The incident today only made her realize how much she liked Ethan and relied on him. It was the first time J had initiated getting close with him. Ethan had been trying hard to hold back his lust and desire all this while. Although he couldn¡¯t wait anymore, he still tried his best to restrain his emotions and asked, "You have always stopped me from getting intimate with you.Why do you want it now? What happened?" "Nothing¡­ I¡­ I just think that you are a good man, and consummate our marriage doesn¡¯t seem like a bad idea." J¡¯s face burned with embarrassment.She had never openly admitted her feelings to a man before. It was more or less a confession of love. "I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll regret it." Ethan cupped her cheek and nted a soft kiss on it. "But there¡¯s no time for regrets because you initiated this," he whispered, his hot breath blowing on her skin. "I won¡¯t regret it." This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. J trembled under his touch. Their bodies rubbed against each other.The proximity made her shy. Hearing that, Ethan couldn¡¯t wait any longer.He lifted J and carried her to the bathtub. Ethan took off his clothes in one swift motion and hovered above J, resting his hands on either side of the bathtub.His strong muscles flexed with every movement.His chiseled chest was pressed against her body. J felt hot all over.She was so shy that she didn¡¯t dare to meet his eyes. At that moment, J realized how much she wanted Ethan. After all, she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off his perfect figure.She could feel the lust coursing through her veins. Ethan held her in his arms and kissed her gently. The kiss gradually deepened as he sucked her lips and drew circles against them with his tongue. Their naked bodies were intertwined in the bathtub. The bubbles scattered out as they got more passionate and aggressive. J sensed that Ethan couldn¡¯t wait any longer, for his erection rubbed against her abdomen. Ethan¡¯s heavy-lidded eyes turned red as he stared at her. "Tell me if it hurts," he whispered, pecking on her lips. J¡¯s eyeballs rolled up, and her eyshes fluttered.She bit her lip and buried her face in his strong shoulder.She was nervous yet curious as she felt his huge cock rubbing against her. Chapter 133: The Truth Chapter 133: The Truth Suddenly, the sound of a phone ringing interrupted them. "Fuck!" With eyes as cold as ice, Ethan cursed in a low voice.He was just inches away from achieving his goal, but the phone call got in his way. "Don¡¯t you want to answer that?" The ringing phone jolted J back to reality.She raised her head to peer at him curiously. But instead of answering her right away, Ethan kissed her earlobe, sucking at it and nibbling it.His hand reached up to cup and squeeze her breast, and he said fiercely, "Not really." Ever since he had moved in with J, he had be hot tempered. J snorted and rolled her eyes. After a while, the phone stopped ringing and the bathroom fell silent. Ethan eagerly went back to kissing her lips passionately.He ordered in a hoarse voice, "Spread out your legs." But before J could oblige, the phone rang again, echoing against the bathroom tiles. It kept ringing incessantly, without any signs of stopping.It seemed that the person on the other end of the line was very anxious. There must¡¯ve been something important he needed to talk about. Ethan was so angry that he almost pushed J away.He stood up, got out of the bathtub, and picked up the phone. "What is it? Spit it out!" Ethan barked into the receiver. The man on the other end of the line was one of the subordinates he had ordered to investigate the whole kidnap thing. Ethan¡¯s furious voice sent shivers down his spine. "Sir¡­ Here¡­ Here¡¯s the thing¡­ After interrogating the driver, he confessed that it was Fiona Lind who paid him to rape J." "I see." After hanging up, Ethan turned around and saw that J had already climbed out of the tub.She had wrapped a bath towel around her slim body tightly. "What happened? It sounded serious.You should probably deal with it first." For his sake, J didn¡¯t think they should continue today. "That driver was hired to hurt you," he said gruffly. Ethan wrapped his arms around her slim waist.He looked down at her red, swollen lips and whispered, "And Fiona¡¯s the one behind all of this." Before J could react, Ethan pressed his lips against hers fiercely.She parted her lips to let him in, enduring the man¡¯s passion. Their warm tongues intertwined, filling the bathroom with hot steam. "Wait, wait¡­ Fiona?" J mumbled incoherently, still in a daze from Ethan¡¯s kiss. She was shocked at the mention of this name: Although Fiona had never treated her well, J didn¡¯t expect her to stoop to this level of viciousness. Clenching her fists, her nails dug into her palms. J couldn¡¯t help but feel a mix of anger and disappointment. "She must really hate me." Ethan cupped her face in his palms and kissed her. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. J had just taken a bath, and her body smelled sweet and fresh. "What do you want to do?" J shook her head, at a loss. "I guess I want to see her, face to face." Ethan didn¡¯t object.He pinched her chin and said, "Let me take a shower first.Wait for me outside." "Didn¡¯t you just take a bath?" After all, they were both in the bathtub just now. With a helpless sigh, Ethan leaned against the wall and gestured downwards yfully. "Do you think I can go out like this?" J¡¯s eyes followed the direction of his gesture. When she saw what he meant, she immediately looked away as though she had been burnt. "Okay, okay.I¡­ I¡¯ll wait for you outside." With a face as red as a tomato, she scurried out of the bathroom as quickly as possible and mmed the door shut behind her. Chapter 134: Beg For Mercy Chapter 134: Beg For Mercy After getting dressed, Ethan took J to the Lind family¡¯s vi. Behind them, his men dragged the driver with them. "Who¡¯s there?" The same arrogant servant was the one who answered the door. It seemed that every living creature from the Lind family household-even the dogs they raised-would bully J whenever they crossed paths. This servant however, was the sort who would bully the weak and submit to the strong. So as soon as she opened the door and saw the men in ck standing at the door behind J and Ethan, her mouth snapped shut and she didn¡¯t dare to insult J. "Oh, uh¡­ Come on in." At this time, Fiona was leisurely painting her nails while a soap opera red from the TV in the background.She seemed quite happy and was humming a cheery tune under her breath. Just a few days ago, she had found a rapist who had just been released from prison.She offered him a huge sum of money to pretend to be a taxi driver to lure J into her trap. Such a desperado was greedy for money, and moreover, he had a criminal record. Fiona figured that he was definitely the right guy to teach that damned bitch a lesson. Then Fiona would help the man escape. No one would know that she was the mastermind behind this.She got a message from the man earlier that he had J. But hours passed and Fiona still hadn¡¯t gotten any more feedback from the driver, so she felt a little uneasy. "Oh, rx, Fiona.You just need to wait a little bit longer." Sheforted herself and proceeded to paint her nails a bright red. Suddenly, she heard a ruckus from the vestibule of the vi. "What the hell are you doing? Keep it down over there! Or else I¡¯ll deduct your sry this month!"Fiona nced at the door with disdain.But her angry shouts was met with a nervous voice.The servant announced, "Mrs.Lind, J¡­ she¡¯s here." Before Fiona could react, J and Ethan strode in, followed by several burly men. They dragged in the driver she had hired with them. When Fiona¡¯s eyesnded on the driver kneeling on the ground, her body went stiff, as though she had been struck by lightning. All color had drained from the man¡¯s face, and his lips were cracked and bleeding. It was clear that he had been tortured senselessly. "Why the hell did you let them in?!" Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Fiona yelled at the servant in a panic. Wide-eyed, the servant didn¡¯t dare to answer. Fiona took a deep breath and feigned a sense of calm. "What¡¯s the meaning of this, J?" J red at Fiona murderously. Her chest heaved violently from anger. Pointing a finger at the driver, she shouted, "He admitted to everything.You hired him to rape me!" Fiona¡¯s eyes went as wide as saucers and she pretended to be innocent. "What nonsense are you talking about? I don¡¯t even know this man! What evidence do you have? If you keep this up, I¡¯ll sue you for defamation!" "Do whatever you want," J said fearlessly, her eyes shing dangerously. "I don¡¯t need to show you any evidence.Go ahead and call the police.They¡¯ll find the evidence and convict you for me." Bernie was idly flipping through a newspaper on the balcony when he heard themotion in the living room. Confused, he went in to see what was going on. "What are you talking about, J? Fiona is a sweet, kind-hearted woman who doesn¡¯t even have the heart to kill a cockroach.How could she do such an evil thing?" "Is that so? Do you really believe that she¡¯s kind?" J sneered, her voice riddled with icy disdain. "How ironic! A woman who can¡¯t kill a cockroach is cruel enough to try to kill me.You should really open your damn eyes and look at the woman in front of you carefully.Well, if you¡¯re not going to admit to your crimes, I¡¯ll just call the police." As she spoke, J pulled out her phone and started dialing 911. Fiona was so frightened that her face turned deathly pale and her posture grew unsteady.She knew what she had done more than anyone else. Unfortunately for her, the driver had been caught and forced into admitting everything. If the police came to investigate and the truth was brought to light, she would definitely be sentenced to jail. And by then, everything would be over. Fiona¡¯s arrogance vanished.She had no choice but to beg for mercy.She fell to her knees and grabbed J¡¯s arm, crying and begging her desperately. "J, I was wrong! I must¡¯ve been out of my mind at the time! Please let me go this time for the sake of our family bond! We adopted you and took you in after all!" Chapter 135: Sever All Ties Chapter 135: Sever All Ties Bernie was shockedpared to the rest of the people present.He sprang up from the sofa and pointed his trembling finger at Fiona. "What the hell are you saying? Did you really do it?" He didn¡¯t expect that Fiona would do such a thing.His anger reached its pinnacle. "Fiona!" he bellowed, pounding the table. "How could you do such a thing?" The Lind family members were decent people with good values. Bernie had married Fiona only because she was gentle and obedient. Fiona wiped her tears and sniffled loudly. "Bernie, I know I made a mistake.I was too disappointed in J that I lost my mind.I was just thinking about apologizing to her now." "That¡¯s unbelievable! Do you think I¡¯m dumb enough to believe you? You¡¯ve been humming a happy tune all afternoon.You were even denying it when J showed up here to use you.What the hell is wrong with you?" Bernie frowned. The wrinkles on his forehead grew more prominent, making him look ten years older.His wife suddenly seemed like a stranger to him.He didn¡®t think Fiona would be such a ruthless person. "You know I married you because I thought you were a kind, virtuous woman.When we first adopted J, I knew you were angry and you had suffered a lot because we couldn¡®t have a child of our own.I felt sorry for you and never argued with you.I just wanted to make it up for you.You...I didn¡®t expect you to be such a ruthless person!" "Now that Fiona has admitted the truth, let the police handle it," J said in an indifferent voice as her cold eyes flitted to Fiona. Bernie was taken aback for a moment.His anger was reced with terror. "No, J.If Fiona gets arrested, it will ruin our Lind family¡®s reputation.Can you please forgive her one last time? After all, she is your foster ¡®mother.I agree we didn¡®t treat you well in the past, but I promise such a thing would never happen again." Bernie stood in front of Fiona, hoping to convince J. Regardless of how bad Fiona was, the woman was his wife.He couldn¡®t watch her go to jail. Her arrest would also ruin the Lind family¡®s reputation once and for all. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. J crossed her arms over her chest and sneered. Ever since J was a child, Bernie had always been a coward. He was never harsh toward J but he didn¡®t stop his wife from ill¨Ctreating her either.He never stood up for J even though he knew Fiona was heartless toward her. "That¡¯s enough!" J snapped, ring at the two people begging and crying for mercy. "Do you think attempted rape is a forgivable crime? It¡®s not a trivial thing to forget.Don¡¯t you think it¡®s unfair for you to ask such a thing?" J had always been grateful to them both. After all, they had adopted her. Even though Bernie and Fiona were mean to her, they had put a roof over her head.However, now, she had lost all respect for the two after hearing Bernie¡¯s words "Please, J.Think about us.You want money from us, don¡®t you? We¡®ll give you as much as you want if you don¡¯t call the police." Fiona said, hitching between her sobs. J¡¯s anger reached its pinnacle.She was fighting for her self-respect, but Bernie and Fiona were haggling with her, thinking she would do anything for money. "Fine.I won¡¯t call the police.In exchange, I don¡¯t want you to mention adopting me ever again.Do you understand?" J closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Besides, I¡¯m going to sever all ties with you, formally.From now on, we have nothing to do with each other.You both mean nothing to me." Chapter 136: Cut All Ties Chapter 136: Cut All Ties "What?! Why would you want to do that?" Fiona blurted, stomping her foot anxiously. Although she hated J to her core, she never considered cutting ties with her. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. After all, although Ethan was just an illegitimate child of the Lester family, it was still the fastest way for Fiona to forge a rtionship with them.She had tirelessly wondered how to benefit from her adopted daughter¡®s husband. However, Fiona hadn¡¯t even seen Ethan¡¯s two brothers since he married J. This whole time, she had been waiting for an opportunity to introduce Jocelyn to his brothers. That way, Jocelyn would have a chance to marry into the Lester family. This was Fiona¡¯s borate n, which was why she was shocked that J wanted to sever their rtionship. "You hired someone to rape me.Do you really think I¡®m an idiot and a pushover? Of course I want to cut all ties with you!" J was so angry that sheughed bitterly. Fiona narrowed her eyes at J, wondering if she could still take advantage of her despite the odds. But J didn¡¯t want to waste time here anymore. "If you disagree to my terms, I¡®ll call the police.It¡¯s as simple as that." Without waiting for a response, she turned around to leave. Bernie stomped angrily and pointed at Fiona, nostrils ring. "What the hell were you thinking? Now that things havee to this, severing ties should be the least of your worries! Why in God¡®s name are you hesitating?" Fiona turned and whined in Bernie¡®s ear, "We¡®ve fed and clothed her for years.I can¡®t just let her go like this!" If they severed ties, Fiona would no longer be able to dangle J on a string, using the fact that their family had taken her in to guilt her. Bernie¡®s face contorted in anger.He had no idea that Fiona was so shameless. "Then go to jail! I don¡®t give a damn, you hopeless woman!" "Why, you" Fiona gritted her teeth and red at Bernie angrily.She was doing all of this for the sake of the Lind family after all. In this way, Jocelyn would find a good husband and that bitch J would never dare to talk to them like this ever again! "Have you decided yet? If it¡®ll help you choose faster, I¡®ll call the police already." Without waiting for a response, J picked up her phone and unlocked it. "No! Don¡®t you dare call the police!" Fiona tried to yank the phone out of J¡®s hands, but J dodged her advance deftly. She was so anxious that she nearly bit her lip until it bled. Now that she was cornered, she had no choice but to submit. She buried her face in her hands and slumped onto the sofa, crying pathetically, "Fine! We¡®ll cut all ties! Satisfied now? What an ungrateful child!" After putting her phone down, J looked at her pitiful figure, unfazed. "Then let¡®s go and get it done officially now." ******* They immediately went to the Department of Civil Affairs to finalize the formalities. When everything was settled and they were about to go their separate ways, Fiona cursed J under her breath. "We have painstakingly raised you for so many years.You are so heartless to cut ties with us." People passing by all looked in the direction where J was standing. "Me? Heartless? Okay, I¡®ll go to the police station now." J shrugged indifferently. If they kept pushing her like this, she was more than capable of defending herself. "You, you...!" Fiona¡¯s nostrils red uncontrobly.She was so angry that she pointed a finger at J in front of all the passers-by. Bernie didn¡¯t want Fiona to cause them any more trouble than she already had, so he hurriedly dragged her into the car Only when the car drove away did J finally rx. Her shoulders drooped, as though she had no strength left in her anymore. "It¡®s good that you¡®ve finally gotten rid of them.Otherwise, the Lind family would keep on making things hard for you in the future," Ethanmented nonchntly, slipping his arm around her slender waist.. J turned to him and buried her face in his chest.She muttered, "I just don¡®t understand why she always hates me.I never did anything to her!" "It¡®s not your fault, okay?" Ethan rested his chin on the woman¡®s forehead, and stroking her back gently. Their shadows ovepped on the ground. Time stopped for no one, and life went on. The following day, when J got to the office, she ran into Tiffany. "Why did you ask for another leave yesterday?" Tiffany asked calmly, but her eyes looked at J sharply. J shifted ufortably under her intense gaze. "I¡®m sorry.There was something I had to deal with at home." Tiffany pursed her red lips. "No need to be so nervous, Lind.I¡®m not going to bite you.You didn¡®t make it to yesterday¡®s meeting so I just came to catch you up to speed.The design department will select a new batch of designers for promotion, and there are only three vacancies." Chapter 137: Competitor Chapter 137: Competitor As soon as J sat down at her desk, Gerda swiveled her chair around to face J. "Did you hear the news? The annual intermediate designer evaluation is about to begin.Everyone¡®s been running around like headless chickens trying to prepare for it.By the way, why¡¯d you go on leave again yesterday?" Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. "Something urgent came up at home." After taking a sip of water, J nced around at the bustling office. "It seems everyone¡¯s excited." "Of course everyone¡¯s excited.This is a good chance to be promoted.Besides, the fall¨Cwinter fashion week is approaching.Everyone is secretlypeting with each other." Then, Gerda leaned over and whispered in her car, "There are only three positions.All the new designers are itching to get a spot.I know of two who have been working here for a while now, and they both have performed excellently.I just know that they¡®ll get the promotion -but as for the third position, it¡®s hard to say who will get it" "There¡®s a lot of people in our department.Thepetition must be tough." J pressed her lips nervously, sensing that a fierce battle was about to begin. While the battle had not yet begun per se, people were already loading their weapons. "Well, what choice do we have? I know I¡®m way out of their league, so I¡®m pretty chill.After all, there are too many strongpetitors this year.I feel like I¡®ll just be cannon fodder out there." Gerda sighed bitterly. Then, she looked at J and her eyes lit up. "You and Kaya might have a chance." "Kaya?" J blinked at her colleague questioningly. "You know, Kaya Dixon¨Coh, right! She went abroad to study so you haven¡®t met her yet." Gerda¡®s eyes wandered towards the tea room and she pouted. "That¡®s her." J followed her gaze and saw a slender woman with short hair. Kaya¡¯s eyes met hers.She strode towards J, high heels clicking against the floor, and she asked, "Are you J Lind? Nice to meet you.I¡®m Kaya Dixon." "Hello." J smiled and shook hands with her politely. "I heard that thepany has a big uing project, and that many designers will need to participate.It¡®s said that this will be used as a reference for the promotion.I¡®m looking forward to your performance," Kaya nodded and smiled at J with grace. It seemed that Miss Dixon had already regarded her as a potentialpetitor. "Oh, thanks.I also look forward to your designs." J secretly breathed a sigh of relief. To be honest, she didn¡®t want to put too much pressure on herself. Because of the uing evaluation, countless designers worked overtime, doing their best for the project. J was busy taking care of Hannah recently, so she had spent less time and energy on work. So now, she did her best to keep up the pace and finish her work.She hadn¡¯t been with thepany for that long, but her outstanding performance had shone a spotlight on her. In the words of Gerda, the third position was between her and Kaya. The night before the deadline of handing their designs, a lot of the designers were still working overtime. J looked around and found that all her colleagues were bent over their desks, working hard.She massaged her aching neck and found herself parched. Just as she stood up to go to the tea room, she found that Kaya was standing behind her. "Do you want to take a break? Here, I just made some coffee.Want some?" As she spoke, Kaya subtly nced at theptop on J¡¯s desk. However, J didn¡¯t notice and gratefully epted Kaya¡¯s offer. "Sure, thank you." J did feel like coffee would be a great pick-me-up. "No problem.Is this your cup? Let me pour some for you." Smiling sweetly, Kaya picked up J¡®s cup. Suddenly, she lost her grip on the kettle and it fell with a tter, spilling coffee all over J¡®sptop. Chapter 138: Broken Laptop Chapter 138: Broken Laptop J¡¯sptop screen instantly went ck. A slight sizzling sound came from inside it, and it coughed out a puff of smoke. The air smelled of coffee and burnt metal. J hurriedly tried to wipe the coffee off herptop with some tissue, but it was toote. When she picked it up, the wholeptop was dripping with coffee and couldn¡®t be turned on, "Oh, my God! I¡®m so sorry! The coffee was so hot, and you cup was made of ss, so I dropped it identally" Kaya¡¯s hands flew to her mouth and she kept apologizing "Let me see if the data in the hard disk can still be restored," Angry but helpless, J didn¡¯t know what else to say. She quickly took theptop to the Technology Department downstairs. The technical staff carefully pried out the hard disk from theptop and inspected it. A brief momentter, they shook their heads and told J that it waspletely soaked and was irreversibly damaged. Standing beside J, Kaya apologized again. "I take full responsibility for this.I¡®ll buy you a newptop, I promise" "This is apanyptop.It¡®s only right that you pay for it.But all my drawings were in this computer.Now the data is damaged beyond restoration.What are you going to do about that?" J¡®s tone was calm, but her eyes shed dangerously. Kaya lowered her eyes, unable to utter another word.It turned out that the woman in front of her wouldn¡®t be as easy to bully as she thought. "Why are you so angry? I already said sorry and that I¡®d take responsibility.Is it really necessary to be so aggressive?" Kaya pulled a long face, as though she was the one who was wronged. Just then, Tiffany happened to pass by and overheard their conversation.She knocked on the ss door from outside. "What¡®s going on? Go outside if you two want to fight.Don¡®t disturb your officemates," Tiffany shot the two women an icy cold look Biting her lower lip, Kaya tried to defend herself. "Ms.Fisher, here¡®s what happened, I¡¯ve been working overtime every day this week and I¡®m exhausted.On my break, I made myself some coffee and offered Miss Lind here some, but it was too hot that I identally dropped her cup.I spilled the coffee on Lind¡®sputer, but it was just an ident.I¡®ll take responsibility for it and buy her a newptop." She especially stressed the fact that she had been working overtime for a week.Her voice dripped with sarcasm, which made J feel that something was wrong. It sounded like Kaya was implying that J hadn¡®t worked overtime for the past few days, unlike her, J didn¡®t want to see Kaya in a bad light, but now it just didn¡®t seem like a mere coincidence. "So what about my design drawings, which were stored in myptop? How will youpensate me for that?" J looked at Kaya sharply. "You need to redraw them yourself of course.How can I do that for you? Plus, I¡®ve already apologized to you." Kaya raised her chin slightly, but there was no mistaking the indifference in her tone.She reasoned that J could do nothing to her In this stage of thepetition, Kaya was most likely to be selected for the promotion. But she had heard from other designers that there was a promising neer in thepany.It was said that this neer was a dark horse and would make for a strongpetitor. Kaya had to get rid of J as soon as possible, so she came up with this ploy. Kaya¡¯s indifferent attitude annoyed J. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. "I don¡¯t have enough time to redo everything.How can I start over and finish on time when the deadline is tomorrow?" "I can only take responsibility for theptop.As for the rest, that¡¯s your problem." After saying that, Kaya turned after the broken Laptop around abruptly and was about to leave. Chapter 139: Design Draft Gone! Chapter 139: Design Draft Gone! "Stop right there!" J grabbed Kaya''s wrist and forced her to turn around, her eyes seething with anger. "You did it on purpose, didn''t you? You came to my desk and offered me coffee so that you could deliberately damage myptop to get rid of my designs!" "How dare you use me of such a crime? Can you prove that I did it on purpose? Plus, I''ve already said sorry a hundred times.What more do you want from me?" Kaya whined as though it was J who was making things difficult for her. "Well, that''s it.It''ste now.Dixon, you go back to your desk.Lind,e with me to my office." After shooting the two women onest icy nce, Tiffany turned around and entered her office. "I''m really sorry for what happened.Let me treat you to dinner sometime so that I can make things up to you, okay?" Before going back to her desk, Kaya looked at J pitifully.But this only made J feel sick. Kaya was such a hypocrite! If Tiffany weren''t there, she would have pped Kaya across the face. In Tiffany''s office. "I know you''re angry, Lind.And I also think that she did it on purpose.It doesn''t look like an ident to me.But since we can''t prove it, we can¡¯t do anything to her," Tiffany sat in her chair and coaxed J calmly. As an experienced woman in design industry, she could see through this smokescreen at a nce. "I just feel so wronged, you know? How could she do this to me? We don''t even know each other before this!" J pursed her lips unhappily, her body trembling slightly from anger. Tiffany sighed heavily. "I''ve heard about what kind of person Dixon was before.Anyway, you can take yourptop to the repair shop to see if it can still be repaired.Maybe you might be able to download the data on it, then you can still participate in the evaluation." Tiffany also felt bad, because in her eyes, J was the most promising candidate for this promotion. "Okay, will do." This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Since her superior had said so, J had no choice but to swallow her grievance. After leaving the office, J promptly took herptop to the repair shop. "It was soaked in coffee and the hard disk is damaged.I''m sorry but I can''t retrieve the data for you." The technician at the shop took a quick look at the damagedptop and shook his head. He tossed J''sptop aside and offered, "Are you considering getting a new one? All the second- handputers here are cost- effective." "Oh, no, thanks." Although J had already expected the worst, she was still very depressed.She took back herptop and left the shop dejectedly.It took her a long time to finish this series of drafts. Now, even if she had to redraw it, it would take at least a day to finish everything. But the work had to be submitted by tomorrow morning.It would be futile to even try since there were only several hours left before the deadline.It was already 12:30 in the morning when J came back home with a cloud over her head. She walked into the dark living room quietly. Suddenly, the lights went on, illuminating the whole apartment suddenly. J raised her hand to block the light and squinted. Ethan was leaning against the wall near the door, with his arms crossed over his chest. Frowning slightly, his I lips pursed into a straight line, and his dark, sharp eyes seemed to prate hers. "Why are you sote?" Chapter 140: Power Failure Chapter 140: Power Failure "Well, I worked overtime today.There is apetition in ourpany," she said, letting out a weary sigh. J was exhausted, both physically and mentally, so she went straight to her room. Ethan''s heart sank as she didn''t bother to even look at him.He didn''t wait all night just to hear something like this. Ethan wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder. "Spend some time with me," he said, nestling his face in the crook of her neck. Ethan wanted to kiss her and make out with her.He couldn''t let his wait end in vain. After all, he was a shrewd businessman. "It''s alreadyte.Aren''t you sleepy?" His warm, steady breath blowing against her skin made J restless.Her heart was crashing in her chest. She turned around. Seeing Ethan''s handsome face, J stood on tiptoe and pecked him on the lips. A blush painted her cheeks. "Well, I had to submit my designs for thepetition by tomorrow morning.Unfortunately, one of my colleagues sshed coffee on myptop.I just don¡¯t have anything to submit now because theptop broke down.I''m actually very upset about it.Can we talk tomorrow?" Ethan pursed his lips as he thought about it. "Did your colleague ssh coffee on yourptop on purpose, or was it an ident?" J didn''t want to talk about it.She felt annoyed to even think about Kaya. "Her intentions don''t matter to me anymore.I have lost all my drawings, and it sucks.I put a lot of effort into it, you know." J''s shoulders slumped with exhaustion.She had been busy all week designing for the project, but a cup of coffee had ruined all her efforts. The expression on J''s face answered Ethan''s question. "Oh, don''t beat yourself about it.It doesn''t matter if you don''t get selected this time.After all, you had just joined thepany." Ethan rubbed her hairfortingly. Seeing the disappointment on her face, he kissed the corner of her lips. "There will be plenty of opportunities in the future." "Hmm." J nodded. It was Kaya''s arrogance that irked her, and she hated the woman for destroying her hard work. However, Ethan''s kisses made her forget all about her work problems. She was mesmerized by the man, who wrapped her with his love and warmth. Ethan pressed her against the wall and kissed her until the two got breathless. "Since you can''t submit the design tomorrow, sleep early tonight." J''s lips were numb, and the burning trails of his touches made her dizzy. Ethan somehow managed to wake up the wild side of her. J went to bed, reying the kisses in her head over and over again. The next morning, Kaya went to J''s table with breakfast. However, J was still mad at her.She scowled at her and looked away. "I thought about what happened yesterday again.Sorry I might sound harshst night, but I was simply angry and hurt that you misunderstood me.Anyway, I bought you this sandwich and chocte.Let''s just forget what happened yesterday, please." Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Kaya ced an exquisite box of choctes on J''s desk. Although she sounded sincere, thecency in her eyes was unmissable. "This brand is very expensive.I don''t think you''d have tasted their choctes before.They are delicious." Although Kaya was smiling at her, J somehow felt the woman was disgusting and hypocritical. J put the chocte aside and ignored Kaya. Just as she was about to sit down, the lights on the entire floor went off, and darkness engulfed them. "Gosh, is it a power outage?" someone eximed. Chapter 141: Good Luck Chapter 141: Good Luck It wasn''t working hours yet, and most employees had just arrived at thepany. Therefore, the power failure only caused amotion but didn''t affect their work in y any way. "Contact the staff downstairs, and ask them to check the circuit." "Oh, thank God, I didn''t start my work.Otherwise, my designs would have been gone." This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. A momentter, the employees were asked to take the day off because of the power failure. The entire building had no power supply. Tiffany walked out of her office and pped her hands to get the attention of the people who had just come to work, looking around with confusion. "We have just called the maintenance personnel to fix the problem.They said it would take a day to repair, so you all can go home.And considering the unexpected power outage, we are extending the deadline of the project.You can submit your design drafts tomorrow morning.The meeting will also be scheduled tomorrow." All the employees pped and cheered. "Great! Then, I can go on a date with my boyfriend today!" "Much needed day off! I need to go back home and sleep well.I have been working overtime for the past few days, and I am exhausted." Everyone happily packed their things, ready to go back home. Gerda nudged J''s arm excitedly. "Hey, Lind, you are so lucky! You will have time to redo the design since we''re allowed to submit the drafts tomorrow." "Yeah.I''ll go home and start working on it right away." J grabbed her bag, grinning happily.She couldn''t believe her luck. It was a great opportunity to prove herself. Gerda had heard a little about what happened between J and Kaya yesterday. Although she was not at the scene, her colleagues were gossiping about it all morning.It seemed like a serious problem, after all. "One day is enough.Don''t exhaust yourself.By the way, Kaya has done the same thing in the past as well.Last year, during the evaluation process of intermediate designers, one of our colleagues encountered a simr situation.Kaya had damaged her work as well.Fortunately, that girl had a backup.So Kaya didn''t seed." J cast a scornful nce at Kaya.It turned out the woman was a repeat offender. All employees were happy except for Kaya.She stood there dumbfounded as if struck by a lightning. Kaya was stunned.She gritted her teeth and ran to Tiffany. "Didn''t you say that today was thest day to submit the design? How could you suddenly extend the deadline? It''s unfair!" Kaya grew impatient as she saw all the employees happily leave thepany. After all, the power outage had ruined her ns. Kaya had deliberately damaged J''sptop.She thought even buying a newptop for thepany would be worth the effort if she could defeat J and get a promotion. One day was enough for J to redo her work, and she couldn''t let that happen. "Our superiors have asked us to take the day off," Tiffany said calmly. "There is a problem with the circuit.We can''t do anything about it.The entirepany is out of power.How will they submit the drafts, and how will we check them without even oneputer that works?" "Can''t you just ask the maintenance personnel to speed things up a little?" Kaya insisted. She couldn''t give J so much time.Otherwise, she wasn''t sure she could get this promotion. Chapter 142: Catching Up Chapter 142: Catching Up Tiffany had a pretty clear understanding of what Kaya was doing. Unfortunately for the girl, she hated it the most when her subordinates were ying tricks to get ahead of their peers. Tiffany raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest. "If you¡®re so worried," she said impatiently, then why don¡®t you repair it yourself? If you can, then I will give you due credit for it." Kaya blinked, speechless. But Tiffany wasn¡®t done yet. She added, "Since it was you who broke theptopst night, make sure topensate thepany for loss of property, and do it as soon as possible." With that, she turned away and headed in J¡®s direction. Computers yed a big role in their job as designers, and the Larson Group had spared no expense in equipping them with thetest tools the market had to offer. All in all, the damages would cost at least a month¡®s worth of Kaya¡®s sry. She red at J, her hands clenching into fists. It irked her to realize that she would have to lose arge amount of money without even aplishing anything. J, on the other hand, was about to leave after seeing that the matter had been resolved. To her surprise, Tiffany stopped in front of her. "Hurry and get back to redoing your drafts.Tomorrow¡®s meeting will be at ten in the morning." Tiffany nced at her watch. "You still have twenty¨Cfour hours left.I look forward to your designs." "Yes, Ms.Fisher.I¡®m going back to work now." J left with a wide smile on her face. As soon as J got home, she made a beeline for her room and dove into her drafts. The window was open, letting in a soft breeze that yed with the whitece curtain. A beam of sunlight poured into the room andnded on the desk, where she was hunched over, drawing. J rolled her long hair into a haphazard bun and used one of her pencils to hold it in ce. Now and then, she would stand and walk around to stretch her muscles, and then she would get right back to her sketches. This was decidedly more taxing than preparing for the final exams back at the university. It felt as though she was racing against time, and both her hands were barely enough to keep up with the ideas that constantly came to mind. Soon, the light outside dimmed, and rain began to pour. When it finally lightened up, the leaves outside glistened with water, and the fresh scent of damp grass hung in the air. A knock suddenly came at her door. "Come in," J called out automatically, her eyes still fixed on herputer screen.She didn¡®t turn around, even as footfalls came up behind her. "You¡®ve been holed up in here for almost a day.Aren¡®t you hungry?" Ethan was carrying a steaming bowl, which he set down on the wooden table on the other side of the room. "Thank you.Just leave it there.I¡®ll eatter.I still have a lot to finish." J gave him one grateful nce before getting back to herputer. He was wearing a casual gray shirt today, paired with loose, linen trousers. His lustrous ck hair was somewhat tousled, making his curls stand out more than usual. "I want to stay.Don¡®t worry, I won¡®t bother you.Just carry on with your work.May I read these books?" Ethan had pocketed one of his hands, while his other hand was now fiddling with the spines of her books. Judging from the slight rasp in his voice, J assumed that he had just gotten up. "Of course, you¨C" she paused, realizing something. The books had been here when she had moved in, and were in either Russian or Greek.She couldn¡®t read them at all. J finally turned to look at Ethan: "You can read them? Those are foreign books." Ethan leaned against the bookshelf, his curls dangling over his forehead. A faint smile was dancing on his lips. "No, I can¡®t, but they do have illustrations on some of the pages." But of course, he could read these books.He had a talent fornguages even as a young child, and he had grown up learning dozens from all over the world. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. "Oh, all right," J said lightly. She faced her screen again, and began to color her draft with a digital pen. Ethan plucked a book and turned its page. "By the way, why are you home all day? Don¡®t you need to be in your office?" J visibly brightened at the question. "Well, there was a power outage at thepany, and I must admit that it worked in my favor.As a result, the deadline was moved to tomorrow, and I got an extra day off.With this, I¡®ll be able to catch up with the schedule and make somest¨Cminute polishing on my designs, too." "That is very lucky, indeed," Ethanmented with a smile. "How about you?" J asked, still engrossed with her work. "Why aren¡®t you at work? Is there a power outage in the convenience store, too?" Chapter 143: Why Are You Being So Nice Chapter 143: Why Are You Being So Nice Ethan turned another page with a small smile. "I''m just a part-time worker with no fixed hours.I just happened to be free for the day." Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. "I see." J pursed her lips. "All right, stop talking and finish your work quickly." Ethan walked up to her and gently knocked the book he was holding against the top of her head. "But I only said two words!" J grumbled, ducking her head and shooting him a re. Ethan chuckled softly and padded out of the room. Without the distraction he provided, J was able to concentrate on her designs. Soon, the light drizzle stoppedpletely. Its pitter- patter was reced by the asional sound of a drop falling from the leaves and into the puddles on the ground. The air had be balmy after the rain, and J felt her body grow hot and sticky with sweat. By the time Ethan came around again, it was already dusk. "What is this supposed to mean, J?" he asked, his face stern. "You didn''t even touch the noodles I brought for lunch." This time, he was carrying a te of what looked like meat balls.He set it on the table and crossed his arms over his chest. Ethan stared pointedly at the bowl of noodles that had grown cold and soggy, then back to the stubborn woman in front of him. Only then did J remember that he had brought her something for lunch. "Sorry, I forgot," she said sheepishly. She nced at the clock on the wall and found that it was already six in the evening. J hadn''t felt a pang of hunger at all. Besides, she didn''t have much time left to waste on eating.She pressed her lips together and looked up at Ethan with some caution. "I''d like to eatter.I should finish my drafts first." Ethan raised an eyebrow. Before she knew it, he had thrown himself on the chair next to her. "You can''t just skip meals," he scolded. "Here, Ibined grains, vegetables, and fish to make these tiny balls.It''s bite- size and should be convenient enough for you.You can just draw while eating, it won''t hold you up for too long." J put her pen down and looked at the dubious- looking balls on the te.They didn''t look all that appetizing. In fact, they didn''t took like balls, at all. Ethan had probably used too much force in shaping them. Still, he looked rather adorable in his ck T-shirt and floral apron. "Open your mouth." The sound of spoon scraping against porcin te rang in the air as he scooped out a ball and held it against J''s mouth. "I can eat by myself," she muttered, blushing. And yet, she still opened her mouth obediently.Ethan let out a small snort. "You little liar," he teased. "It''s your fault! You fed me first!" J retorted in between chews. A smile was tugging on the corners of her lips, and her eyes twinkled with amusement. "Sure, sure." Ethan wasn''t interested in an argument.He scooped out another ball and held it up for her just as she finished swallowing. "Why are you being so nice today?" J asked after gobbling the second ball. His thoughtfulness was endearing. "Wasn''t I always nice?" Ethan countered, leaning forward with narrowed eyes. J giggled before nting a kiss on the corner of his mouth. "You''ve always been the best." Chapter 144: Im Done Chapter 144: I''m Done Ethan bent forward, grabbed J''s chin, and swept his tongue across her lips, restraining his urge to kiss her passionately.He nibbled at her bottom lip, gently bit it, and stepped back.He didn''t try deepening the kiss. J hadn''t finished her work yet. "Eat your dinner first.How many drawings do you have to finish?" Ethan wiped her soft, pink lips, letting his finger linger a little longer.His eyes were dark with lust.He tried his best to stop himself from taking J to bed. In a daze, J looked at the screen and counted. "Well, three more designs left.And I have to color a few drawings .it will take several hours." "All right, hurry up so that you don''t have to stay up all night." Ethan ruffled her hair, stood up, and turned on all the lights in her room. Then, he walked to the wooden table and picked up the bowl of noodles that had turned cold.He looked down at J and raised his chin, motioning at the meat balls. "Finish your dinner.I''ll check itter.The bowl should be empty." Just as he walked toward the door, he stopped for a moment and cast a sidelong nce at her. "Well, I''m home tonight.If you need any help, just call me." "Got it." J nodded, biting her pencil. An involuntary smile emerged on her face.She looked up and saw Ethan''s back. Her heart fluttered at the mere sight of him. The chalky full moon hung high in the sky, and the moonlight flooded into the house like a stream. The trees swayed with the breeze, and J could hear the sounds of cars running in the distance from time to time. After dinner, J seemed brisker and active.She finally finished all her designs before midnight. After saving thest drawing, she threw the pencil down, sprang to her feet, and ran out of the room excitedly. "I''m back again!" A football match was ying on the TV. Ethan was leaning back on the sofa, sipping on his beer. He nced at her and said, "Miss Lind, please look at the dark circles under your eyes.Don''t you want to sleep?" J had been stressed all day, and now she finally felt rxed.She jumped to Ethan and grinned excitedly. "I''m very happy now.How can I fall asleep?" "Well, do you want me to take you downstairs to set off firecrackers to celebrate a bit?" Resting his hand on her leg, Ethan took a sip of beer, looked at her, and smiled. J jumped up on the sofa and began dancing around. "I''m not going.What if someone protests? I''m just going to celebrate at home." She waved her hands happily. Ethan was amused to watch her jump up and down on the sofa. Suddenly, J wrapped her arms around his neck from behind and pressed herself against his chiseled back. "Thank you, Ethan," she whispered, resting her chin on his shoulder. The tenderness and passion were evident in her voice. Ethan''s body stiffened under her touch.He wrapped his arms around her waist and carried her in his arms.He gritted his teeth and kissed her temple. "Are you seducing me?" Ethan could feel his raging hormones. J''s one innocent touch seemed to turn him on. "I''m not..." Embarrassed, J blushed and squirmed around. Just as she moved, she felt his erection rub against her bum. Ethan continued to kiss her face.He peppered little kisses on her cheeks, trailing toward her mouth. As soon as his lips pressed against hers, he finally pried her mouth open and sucked her tongue.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. J moaned in pleasure.Her face turned beet red as she couldn''t take it anymore. Ethan pinned J onto the sofa and gently nibbled on her earlobe. Then, he gently squeezed her buttocks in reprimand. "You''ve been a very bad girl!" J red at him. "No, you''re bad!" "Okay, okay.I was just kidding." Ethan chuckled and got up. "If you can''t sleep, let''s watch the game together," he offered, picking up the remote from the table. The night breeze gently blew through the window, and the moon hid behind the clouds. J rested against Ethan''s arms and watched TV. Minutester, her eyes grew heavy; she yawned and drifted off to a peaceful sleep. Noticing J''s steady breathing, Ethan turned off the TV, kissed her forehead, and carried her to her bedroom. Chapter 145: Run Into Brandon Chapter 145: Run Into Brandon The rm clock red on the bedside table. J rolled on the bed and stretched before opening her eyes. A wide grin stretched across her lips.She was in a good mood today. Ethan was eating a sandwich as he looked at his phone nonchntly.When she opened the door, he looked up and smiled. "You finally woke up." "Hmm." J rubbed her eyes and yawned. After freshening up in the bathroom, she picked up a piece of bread and turned to leave. "I''m going to thepany now." Ethan put on his jacket and followed her. He patted her shoulder and ushered her out. "I''ll walk you out."J looked up at him. Seeing his handsome face, she lowered her head and smiled. As soon as she arrived at thepany, J saw Gerda finishing her sandwich in a hurry. "The meeting is about to begin.Gosh, I''m going to bete." "Don''t we have ten more minutes left?" J smiled and walked to Tiffany''s office. Then, she submitted all the designs she had finishedst night. "I didn''t expect you to be so fast," Tiffany teased. The meetingmenced at ten in the morning, as per schedule. All the designs submitted were piled up on Tiffany''s table. "Well, I checked all the designs you guys have submitted.Everyone has made great progress." Tiffany was wearing a red slip dress.Her gaze became sharp as she looked at the designers in the conference room. "Well, during the process, something unpleasant has happened.I''ve said this before, and I''m saying it again: our Larson Group only encourages healthypetition.If you want to defeat your fellow designers, resort to your strength and skills.We don''t entertain people who y dirty tricks." Many designers who had worked overtime that evening had seen that J''sptop was sshed with coffee. And those who weren''t present during the scene had heard it from their colleagues. All in all, everyone present knew who Tiffany was talking about. They all unanimously turned in the same direction Kaya clenched her fingers and lowered her head.Her face flushed with embarrassment and rage. After the meeting, everyone began to gossip about the incident in private. "Kaya is doomed this time.She has left such a bad impression on Tiffany.Her future here seems bleak." "That''s right.Now that J has submitted her designs on time, there is absolutely no hope for Kaya to win thepetition.I''m curious to find out what she''s going to do next." Kaya was exasperated.She deliberately bumped against J as she stormed out of the room. J didn''t want to waste her time arguing with the woman, so she returned to her desk and continued with her work. "Has thepany given you a newptop?" Gerda craned her head and eyed J with curiosity. "Wow, it looks like an expensive one. I envy you." "It''s because my previousptop was sshed with coffee.There''s nothing to be envious of.I lost all the information I had on my oldptop.it may take forever to restore the data today." J sighed as she propped her chin in the palm of her hand. J didn''t leave until midnight. All her colleagues had left by then. The bright streetlights dotted the beautiful city at night. From the Larson Group building, J had a clear view of the entire city.She walked into the elevator, staring at her phone and checking new messages. As the door closed, J realized a man was also inside with his back to her.Her eyes widened when she looked at him. The man had an eerie resemnce to Ethan. J rubbed her eyes.She felt she was confused after working hard all day. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. The man was wearing an expensive suit. "Why would Ethane here in an expensive suit? she thought. ¡®It''s probably Brandon.He looks a lot like Ethan" J squinted her eyes.But unfortunately, she couldn''t see his face from behind. Chapter 146: Take The Elevator Together Chapter 146: Take The Elevator Together In the elevator, Ethan nervously bounced on his feet. Five minutes ago, when he walked out of his office and was about to take the exclusive elevator, he saw the workers were still repairing it. Yesterday, Ethan had asked Garrett to cut off the electricity supply in the Larson Group building for an entire day. Unexpectedly, something went wrong with his exclusive elevator.It stopped working even after the power was restored. The maintenance team came to repair it in the morning and hadn¡®t finished working yet. Ethan had no choice but to take themon elevator. It was already midnight, so he didn¡®t think he would bump into any workers. However, just as he arrived at the floor of the design department, the elevator stopped. Ethan was taken aback when the door opened, and J entered. He shivered and immediately turned his back to her. Fortunately, J was staring at the phone when she entered the elevator, so she didn¡®t notice him. J guessed it was Brandon. The first thought that came to her mind was to get out of the elevator. However, the door closed, trapping her there. Subconsciously, J wanted to press the open button.But she was already in the elevator and felt it would be impolite to leave now.She had no choice but to take the elevator with Brandon. Fortunately, the two would only have to spend a minute or two together. The elevator was quiet, and the sound of her breathing amplified with every passing second. Considering it would be rude to ignore his presence, J decided to greet him.She nced at his back and said, "Good evening, Mr.Larson." Her voice was barely above a whisper. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. "Hmm." Ethan gave her a cursory nod.He deliberately lowered his voice to make sure J didn¡®t recognize him. J frowned.She felt his voice wasn¡®t as pleasant as Ethan¡®s. It looked like he was speaking in an artificial voice to make him superior to others. Ethan would sometimes hold J in his arms and whisper sweet words into her ear that would make her heart tremble. However, Brandon¡®s voice was t and rude. Thinking about Ethan made J miss him even more.The man remained silent and didn¡®t bother to even look at her. J found that Brandon was totally different from what she thought he should be.He often took the initiative to talk to her online. But now, he didn¡®t even bat an eyelid at her. But on second thought, his aloofness seemed justifiable. After all, he owned the Larson Group while J was a mere designer there. This was probably how a president would talk to his workers. The elevator fell silent again. J took out her phone to check the time.It was already midnight, but she hadn¡®t gone home yet.She wondered why Ethan hadn¡®t texted or called her. ¡®Is he still busy working in the convenience store?¡® As J thought about him, she nced at Brandon.The man was tall. His broad shoulders, straight posture, and firm back were simr to Ethan¡®s.He was dressed in an expensive suit that clung to his perfect, muscr frame. Perhaps Brandon also liked running and working out. J shook her head and checked her phone again. ¡®Should I talk to him about something? Gosh, this silence is embarrassing.Anyway, we often chat online,¡® thought J. She nced at the LED screen and abandoned the idea. ¡®We have reached the fifth floor.I can soon run away from this embarrassing scene.After all, we won¡®t meet again.¡® Just as J was lost in thought, the elevator jerked and stopped.The lights in the elevator went out, and darkness consumed them. Chapter 147: Trapped In The Elevator Chapter 147: Trapped In The Elevator "What happened? Why did the elevator stop?" J anxiously shouted. The elevator hade to a jerky halt just as she thought she could escape soon. J was not in the mood to care about Brandon anymore.She reached out to touch the buttons of the elevator. Just then, she identally touched a slender hand. "Sorry." She heard Brandon''s resonant voice. It looked like their hands had collided as the two had reached out to press the buttons. "It doesn''t matter.I...I just wanted to press the emergency button." Frightened, J withdrew her hand.She could feel Brandon''s breath blowing against her.She guessed Brandon was standing right behind her. After a moment''s pause, Brandon said, "I guess something has been wrong with the circuit ever since the power went off yesterday." Then, he pressed all the buttons, including the emergency button.But there was no response. "What should we do now? Should we call someone?" J looked at her phone and was about to call for help but stopped on second thought.She thought maybe Brandon could be the one to make the call. After all, he was the CEO of the Larson Group. Since he was trapped in the elevator, the staff would take it more seriously ande to their rescue immediately. "Hmm." Ethan turned around, took out his phone, and called someone for help. He briefed the situation and hung up the phone. "Don''t worry.The maintenance personnel said they would arrive soon." J shrank in a corner and hugged her bag. "Okay." Sensing the dread in her voice, Ethanforted her, "Don''t worry.The elevator has a vent up there, so there is no risk of running out of fresh air.Just wait patiently for a while." J nodded. Her fear had subsided after she heard him talk over the phone. After all, the CEO of the Larson Group was trapped with her. Thepany would act immediately and make sure nothing happened to him. Therefore, she would also be rescued along with him.But the sudden darkness suffocated her. When J was a child, Fiona despised her. Every time Jocelyn bullied her to tears, Fiona would lock her in a dark cab. J wasn¡¯t ustrophobic, but the darkness seemed to bring back bitter memories of the past. The two remained in the dark elevator; none of them spoke.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. The silence made J ufortable. "How about I turn on the shlight of my phone? It''s too dark here." Just as J was about to turn the light on, she felt a strong grip on her wrist. "Don''t waste your phone''s power." Ethan couldn''t let her turn on the shlight. Otherwise, she would see his face and find out his secret. He didn''t know how to exin himself if J found out now that Brandon Larson was actually Ethan Lester. Ethan knew J was a sensitive person.He wasn''t sure if she would be mad at him for concealing his true identity. Besides, his two brothers had already taken action. If they followed the clues and found that he was Brandon, it would cause an earth-shattering storm. Ethan felt it would be better if J didn''t know his true identity for now. Sensing something was wrong, J said, "Well, since people areing to rescue us, I think we will be out soon.Besides, you''re the CEO of thispany, Mr.Larson.I''m sure they''lle and rescue you soon." ¡®Well, the battery in both our phones put together wouldst for a few hours.Won''t we be out by then?¡¯ she thought. Chapter 148: Unpredictable Chapter 148: Unpredictable "Just in case," he said indifferently. Ethan had to say something to dispel her doubts.He stood in the darkness, staring at J''s silhouette. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Ethan wished he didn''t have to conceal his identity.He wanted to walk to J and hug her. Kissing her in a dark elevator would be thrilling. All his senses would be amplified, making it all the more pleasurable. "Okay." J sighed. Her doubts and worries vanished in an instant.She reasoned the CEO was a cautious man. Since her boss had asked her not to waste the battery, she decided to humor him instead of arguing. The two continued to stand silently in the darkness. J wanted to take out her phone and call Ethan. However, Brandon was standing right beside her, and he wasn''t using his phone. As an employee, it would be inappropriate to ignore her boss''s order and fidget with her phone. J decided not to use her phone now and exin the situation to Ethan once she got home. Silence pervaded the elevator except for the rhythmic breathing of the two people. The awkwardness made J ufortable. Unable to hold it any longer, she quietly looked at the tall figure and asked, "Mr.Larson, do you usually work thiste?" "It depends." "I haven''t had the chance to meet you before.You have been taking good care of me ever since I started working for yourpany.Thank you for everything." "You''re wee." "By the way, why did you take themon elevator?" J''s face med with embarrassment.She felt like a chatterbox. "My private elevator isn''t working." The man''s terse response made J wonder if he didn''t want to talk to her. J wracked her brains to think of a topic to keep the conversation going. Since Brandon sounded like he didn''t want to talk to her, J reckoned she had to hold her tongue.She had learned to cope with his erratic moods and behaviors. Brandon didn''t seem aloof when they chatted online. He spoke to her normally, and the two seemed to get along well with each other. J couldn''t help but wonder if all the CEOs were unpredictable like him. Ethan didn''t know what J was thinking. His throat hurt as he altered his voice every time he spoke to her. Besides, he didn''t want to talk and garner J''s suspicion. It would only lead to unnecessary problems. Therefore, he tried to remain silent. Just then, there was amotion outside the elevator. Ethan''s phone vibrated as someone called him. "Mr.Larson, our rescue team has arrived and is trying to open the elevator.But the elevator is stuck between two floors, so it''s taking longer than expected.Please give us some time.We''ll get you out, Mr.Larson.Sorry for the inconvenience." "Okay, hurry up." J stole a nce at Brandon. The elevator was pin- drop silent, so she could hear the muffled voice of the man from the other end of the line. She felt that Brandon was not a friendly boss. Everyone who spoke to him seemed to tremble with fear and respect. Chapter 149: The Familiar Feeling Chapter 149: The Familiar Feeling A few minutester, a loud noise sounded from outside the elevator.Faint voices in a heated discussion could be heard. "Mr.Larson? We''re going to force the elevator door open.Please take a few steps back and make sure no one''s near the door." Someone''s voice came from outside the elevator. Brandon replied to acknowledge him and obediently retreated to a corner. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. More chaos ensued outside, as though the maintenance personnel were prying the elevator door open with some tools. Some time passed, but there seemed to be no progress.Just then, the elevator shook violently. "Ah!" J shrieked, her heart dropping to her stomach. The elevator''s sudden movement made her lose her bnce. Just as she felt as though she was going to hit the ground, a powerful pair of arms caught her in the darkness. With a low grunt, Brandon pulled her up and held her close. J''s back was pressed against the wall, while Brandon''s body was pressed against hers.He lowered his head until his lips brushed against her ear. J could feel his breath sweeping across her bare skin. Despite him saving her, Brandon''s act made J even more anxious than the shaking of the elevator.She immediately tried to shake him off. "Mr.Larson, please let go of me.I can stand on my own feet." She was so panic-stricken that she tried to push Brandon away, but then the elevator shook even more violently all of a sudden. "Don''t move!" Brandon barked, grabbing her shoulder forcefully. His low voice was strong yet steady, and it had the power to snap people back to their senses. J managed to calm down somewhat, at least enough to gather her bearings.She was still very nervous, and her heart pounded against her chest uncontrobly.She just hated being touched by men. Ethan was an exception.He always had a mature and reliable temperament, which made J feel an inexplicable sense of security.He also had a strong aura and anyone in front of him would seem weaker. But now that she thought about it, Brandon also made her feel this way. Even though she couldn''t see his face, she could feel that the man before her was decent and reliable. For some reason, he made J feel that she could put her trust in him. In fact, J thought that it all felt a little familiar, as though it was Ethan standing in front of her.She lowered herself and wrapped her arms around herself protectively, trying to keep some distance from Brandon. The elevator shook for another ten seconds before it finally stopped. Brandon held J so tight that she broke into a cold sweat. The fabric of her dress got wet, which made her very ufortable. Finally, a ray of light pierced through the crack in the elevator door. The rescue workers finally pried the door open a centimeter. Raising her head, J asked in a low voice, "Can you let go of me now?" "Oh, right.I''m sorry." Brandon''s tone was a little stiff.He immediately let go of J and took two steps back to put a safe distance between them. Simultaneously, on high alert, J retreated to the farthest corner of the elevator. Leaning against the opposite side of the elevator, Brandon sighed silently.He rubbed his eyebrows and squinted J in the darkness. "I''m sorry.I didn''t mean to offend you.I just...wanted to make sure you were safe." Chapter 150: Mysterious Superior Chapter 150: Mysterious Superior "It¡¯s okay.And thanks.I was really scared just now," J said in between deep breaths. While she didn¡¯t feel offended by Brandon¡¯s behavior, she did feel a bit taken aback. After all, her boss didn¡¯t look like the type of guy who would treat a woman this way. When he held her in his arms just now, his movements were very natural, as if he had done this sort of thing countless times. "Are you scared of me?" the man in the darkness suddenly asked. Ethan, whose fingertips were still tingling from touching the woman across the elevator, felt that J¡¯s body was stiff just now.She seemed scared. Whenever they kissed, she would always go limp in his arms. But now, she went and did the opposite. "Well, a little.But Mr.Larson, I¡¯m not ming you or anything.It¡¯s all just too sudden." Even though they were kind of friends, J didn¡¯t dare to tell Brandon to stay away from her.He was her boss after all. If she wanted to continue to work in the Larson Group, she had no choice but to swallow the pride and show Brandon some respect he deserved. Still, she was confused with the way Brandon treated her. Was he interested in her? No.That couldn¡¯t be it. J frowned slightly in the dark, wondering if she was overthinking: Well, whatever the reason Brandon behaved like this, she just couldn¡¯t understand what kind of person he was. As she mulled it over, Brandon didn¡¯t say anything more.A hush fell over the elevator. Suddenly, a grating noise sounded from the elevator door and light came flooding in. The rescuers had finally pried the door open! Several fully armed rescue workers in orange uniforms reached out their hands to them. "Grab on!" J squinted from the sudden light. Before her eyes could adjust, Brandon walked behind her and said, "You go first." Then he put his hands under J¡¯s arms and lifted her up from behind without hesitation.He held her up and handed her to the rescuers. The rescuers quickly pulled J up.It was noisy outside. A group of people had gathered in front of the elevator. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Most of them were the employees of the Larson Group. They probably rushed there when they heard the news that something had happened to their CEO. "Lind, are you okay? Go home already.It¡¯s almost 1 o¡¯clock.Your family¡¯s probably worried sick!" Garrett¡¯s smiling face came into J¡¯s view.He pushed her towards the exit without scruples. Before J could protest, she was pushed out of the gate. "Well, I guess I¡¯ll go home then, Mr.Harding." She deliberately turned around to look at Garrett and smiled.She reasoned that Brandon should have been pulled out of the elevator by now.She wanted to take this opportunity to peek inside and see what Brandon looked like¡­.She had always been curious about the CEO of the Larson Group. However, she couldn¡¯t see past Garrett¡¯s tall figure. Upon craning her neck slightly, she only saw Brandon¡¯s broad back. With his head bowed, Brandon was escorted away by a group of men in ck suits. That whole time, she didn¡¯t get even a glimpse of his face. "What are you looking at, Lind?" With a pair of charming eyes, Garrett followed her gaze and sneered cryptically. "So, you were trying to get a look at Brandon, huh? It¡¯s a pity he left too soon." "No, no.You misunderstand.Mr.Harding, please don¡¯t make fun of me."Riddled with guilt, J quickly averted her gaze. She didn¡¯t want to talk to him anymore, so she turned around to leave. "I¡¯ll get going, Mr.Harding." With a smile on his face, Garrett took two steps forward and offered kindly, "Let me drive you home.It¡¯s sote." Truth be told, someone had tasked him to send her home safely. Frowning slightly, J didn¡¯t think it was appropriate for him to send her home alone at such ate hour. "No, thanks.I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea, Mr.Harding.Besides, my home isn¡¯t that far from the company.It¡¯s only a short walk away." "You look like you think I¡¯m going to bite you.But okay, be safe, Lind!" With an unbothered smile, Garrett turned around and went back into the building leisurely.Since he had promised Ethan, he wasn¡¯t about to go back on his word. He quickly found a bodyguard to secretly follow J.He didn¡¯t feel relieved until he heard that she arrived home safely. Chapter 151: Waiting For His Response Chapter 151: Waiting For His Response It was already half past one when J got home that evening. Quiet as a mouse, she opened the door and crept inside. Only the sound of the clock ticking on the wall could be heard. J flicked on the light switch. To her surprise, the sandwich from breakfast was still sitting on the table where she left it, and there was not a beer bottle in sight. She walked into the living room in her slippers and looked around in confusion, "Ethan?" It was sote, but Ethan seemed to not havee back yet. Or was he asleep in his room? J had half a mind to knock on his bedroom door, but decided against it on second thought. She was afraid she''d just wake him up. In the end, she quietly opened his door and poked her head in. To her surprise, the room was empty. With a slight frown, J decided to wait for Ethan toe back.She wasn''t sleepy anyway. After everything that had happened, she was wide awake.She popped the sandwich in the microwave to heat it up.She settled on the sofa and watched TV while eating. All the while, she kept thinking of what had happened in the elevator. About twenty minutester, she heard the sound of the key unlocking the door. Ethan stepped inside wearing a simple, clean white T- shirt underneath a ck windbreaker. His prominent nose stuck out more than usual, making him look even more handsome. Chewing on her sandwich, J looked up at him questioningly. "Why''re you sote?" "Night shift.A colleague waste, so I covered his shift for another half an hour," Ethan exined briefly. As he spoke, he realized he was getting more and more skillful at lying. "Oh, do you have night shifts often? I didn''t know you could stay up thiste all the time," J said, after thinking about it for a while. Ethan shrugged off his coat and sat next to her. "What are you eating? It smells so good." He craned his neck to get a bite of her sandwich, then he put his arm around her shoulder and pinched it. Raising his eyebrows slightly, he smiled. "You always stay upte.Why are you getting so worked up about me staying upte?" Unable to retort, J kept silent and looked down, feeling a bit sheepish.He was right. She worked overtime a lot and was oftente to go home. "By the way, something happened today," she suddenly said, looking up at him with bright eyes. Then she ryed what had happened in the elevator with Brandon. On the one hand, she thought it was her responsibility to inform Ethan about this. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. On the other, she was curious to see how he would react to this. She was under the impression that Ethan was very tolerant of her boss despite his behavior.So since Brandon had crossed the line today, she wondered if Ethan would finally get angry. Otherwise, he was a really abnormal man. And J wouldn''t be pleased if that was the case. Ethan rubbed his eyebrows, his thin lips pursed into a straight line. When he heard how J had screamed in the elevator, he tossed logic out of the window and just rushed to hug her protectively. In a situation as dangerous as that, if the elevator plunged to the ground, he still wanted to protect her. But he was Brandon at that time, so it was definitely inappropriate for him to do such a thing. Ethan could feel J''s eyes boring into him. She was obviously waiting for him to react. Last time, he didn''t show jealousy towards Brandon, which made J unhappy. If he was still indifferent to the matter this time, J would definitely break up with him. Chapter 152: An Excellent Solution Chapter 152: An Excellent Solution "Why are you so quiet? Say something!" Seeing that Ethan didn''t reply to her, J frowned unhappily and tugged at his arm urgently. Was he a robot? How could he be so poker faced after what she just told him? Moreover, the question that kept hanging over J''s head was eating away at her¡ªdid he like her or not? "Calm down.I''m just thinking about how to deal with Brandon.I can''t just scold him for getting trapped in an elevator with you.I have to think it through before I do anything." Ethan''s expression darkened, as if he had made up his mind. J propped herself up and asked anxiously, "What? What do you want to do? I hope you won''t act rashly, Ethan.Brandon is the CEO of the Larson Group.We can''t afford to offend him." Ethan chuckled lightly. "Don''t worry.I know what I''m doing.I''ll just talk to him." J''s eyes widened in surprise. "How? You can''t just walk into his office! Even I can''t do that." Ethan shrugged and said firmly, "I''ll figure it out.I have a lot of connections.I''m sure I''ll be able to get to him, one way or another." Although Ethan was calm andposed as he spoke, J couldn''t help but worry that Ethan would stir up trouble for her. Seeing the worried look on the woman''s face, Ethan gave her a reassuring smile and lowered his head to kiss her lips. His loose ck hair brushed against her face. "Didn''t you want me to do something about it? Yet now that I''ve told you what I''m going to do, you''re worried.You silly girl.Don''t worry.I''ll handle it," he joked lightly. "I just wanted to know whether you care about me or not," J said shyly, lowering her eyes. Her delicateshes quivered slightly.Then she looked up and met his eyes. "So how are you going to talk to Brandon?" "It''s a secret." Ethan smiled mysteriously. "You''re so mean!" J murmured. Despite her pouty face, she felt satisfied in her heart. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. There was a huge gap between the social status of Ethan and that of Brandon, but Ethan showed no fear and was even going to talk to Brandon, which meant that he cared about her very much. Seeing that the woman in his arms was finally grinning from ear to ear, Ethan breathed a sigh of relief.He finally managed to get himself out of this sticky situation. But then came another question. What was he going to do next? The following day, in the Larson Group, Ethan decided to leave the problem to Garrett. While racking his brains, Garrett smoked three boxes of cigarettes. After stubbing out thest cigarette butt, he mused, ¡®I''m not going to lie.What you''re doing is difficult.It won''t be easy to fool your wife." "You can''t get off work today until youe up with a solution." Ethan''s eyes were cold and sharp. "Fuck! Gee, thanks." Garrett scratched his hair and sank into the sofa, deep in thought. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "Oh! I have an idea.You should give me a raise ¡®cause I''m so damn smart." He looked at Ethan with a mischievous smile and rubbed his hands together. "I have an excellent solution.It can solve all your problems once and for all, as long as you are willing to do it." Ethan''s hand, which was holding a pen and hovering over an unsigned document, paused. "What do you mean?" Garrett smiled knowingly. "Just tell your wife that Brandon is gay and only likes men.Which means he won''t have any interest in your wife.Then all your problems will be solved." The pen in Ethan''s hand nearly snapped in half. Chapter 153: He Doesn’t Like Women Chapter 153: He Doesn¡¯t Like Women Clenching his teeth, Ethan shot Garrett a murderous re. "You want me to pretend to be gay?" Garrett burst into unhingedughter thatsted a long time. When he finally was out of breath, he leaned back against the sofa and looked at his friend innocently. "What else can you do? You want to help your wife using Brandon¡¯s identity, but your wife refuses to ept Brandon¡¯s kindness.And, as her husband, you can¡¯t remain indifferent while knowing that Brandon¡¯s hitting on your wife." When he finished his words, he looked at Ethan, who was sitting against the light. Garrett could only make out Ethan¡¯s outline in the dazzling afternoon light.His friend seemed unfathomable. Ethan put down the pen and leaned against his chair, gnashing his teeth angrily. After a long time, he finally said with great reluctance, "I guess it is my only choice." Garrett¡¯s smile grew even wider, as though his trick had seeded.He happily took a sip of the tea then set the cup on the table and smacked his lips. "Dude, I told you I¡¯m so smart.Who else could¡¯vee up with such a good idea? Now, you won¡¯t have to go through all that trouble anymore." Ethan curved his mouth into a sneer. "Of course only you could think of an idea so ridiculous, it might actually work, but it is also a double- edged sword." Garrett sighed and said in a whining tone, "It took me a long time to solve this problem for you.How could you say that to me?". Truth be told, Ethan thought Garrett¡¯s idea was feasible.Even if J was under the impression that Brandon was gay, it wouldn¡¯t change anything anyway.When he revealed his identity in the future, the misunderstanding would naturally disappear.But despite knowing this, he couldn¡¯t help but feel awkward. It¡¯d have been much better if someone else could tell J that Brandon was gay. But now he had to tell her himself that he liked men. It was hard for any straight man to say it. How much more the domineering and powerful CEO of the Larson Group? Garrett kept on smiling and winked at him. "I have another idea.You could tell J that Brandon has erectile dysfunction.So even if Brandon had a crush on her, there¡¯s nothing he could do about it.". All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Garrett was such a mischievous man with countless tricks up his sleeve. Even though he was born into a business-inclined family and even though the three generations before him were all wealthy businessmen, he didn¡¯t take after them at all. Ever since he was a child, he thought differently-deviously, if Ethan were to put it lightly. "I think you¡¯ll soon be the one with erectile dysfunction," Ethan said in a voice so low that it sent a shiver down Garrett¡¯s spine. But Garrett waved his hand dismissively andughed. "Okay, okay, no more joking around.I think the first solution was better anyway.We¡¯re at the end of our rope.This is our only choice." Ethan didn¡¯t say anything, but his dark expression spoke volumes. ******* It was early autumn in the Seacisco city. The originally green leaves started to turn yellow and orange.The days were getting shorter and shorter. By the time people got off duty, the sun had already sunk in the horizon. Today, when Ethan came back home, J wasn¡¯t there. He opened the refrigerator, took out a can of ice cold beer and gulped it down. Then he crushed the can and leaned against the refrigerator, his hooded eyes riddled with anxiety. Ethan didn¡¯t have the slightest idea how to initiate the ufortable conversation with J. Just as he was fretting, the door opened. J walked in and stopped when she saw him.Her eyes curved in a smile like crescent moons. "You¡¯re home early today!" she said with pleasant surprise. As she spoke, she walked to the fridge and put in all the fruits and vegetables she had just bought. Noticing that there was something wrong with Ethan¡¯s expression, J turned to look at him questioningly. "What¡¯s with the long face? Is there anything wrong?" Ethan took a deep breath to calm himself down.His jaw tightened and his eyes grew even more serious. "So, I reached out to Brandon.Although I didn¡¯t meet him face-to-face, I talked to him over the phone." J¡¯s eyes went wide with disbelief. Then, she asked him curiously, "How¡¯d you manage to get in touch with him?" She was already satisfied with the fact that Ethan said he¡¯d talk to Brandon, but she didn¡¯t expect that he¡¯d actually be able to reach the President of the Larson Group. Even she, an employee of his, couldn¡¯t just waltz into his office and talk to him. Ethan¡¯s slippers squeaked as he walked across the apartment to the sofa. Lowering his eyes, he said, "I have my ways." "Okay then.So what did he say? Was he mean?" J asked tentatively. She followed Ethan to the sofa, but she didn¡¯t sit down.She could feel that Ethan was upset, so she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little anxious. Ethan rubbed the back of his neck and pursed his lips into a straight line. After a long time, he said with great difficulty, "You don¡¯t have to worry about Brandon anymore.He doesn¡¯t like women." Chapter 155: Dinner Party Chapter 155: Dinner Party "How about that Korean barbecue restaurant we went tost time? It''s an authentic restaurant run by a Korean family. It''s the best and most delicious ce in the entire city," Gerda suggested, pping her hands excitedly. "Well, the food in that restaurant is indeed delicious.But it''s also a little expensive.With so many of us going there, I''m afraid we will empty Lind''s wallet." Now that J didn''t have any financial pressure, she thought for a moment and readily agreed, "It''s okay.I don''t often invite you to dinner, after all.Gerda, give me the phone number of the restaurant.I''ll reserve a table." J had not only received a promotion but a sry hike as well.She could asionally squander without burning a hole in her pocket. After making a reservation in the restaurant, J sent a message to Ethan, informing him about the dinner party.Not long after she sent the message, her phone rang.It was indeed a call from Ethan. "Who are you going with? A man or a woman?" "Well, I''m going with my colleagues -- mostly girls.One guy is joining us, but he already has a girlfriend,"J exined in a low voice. "Why are you whispering? Are you afraid others might hear us?" Ethanined. "What''s wrong? Are you hiding me and our rtionship from others? Are you ashamed of me?" J frowned. She couldn''t understand what he meant. "I''m used to keeping my voice down when I''m in the office.It''s a little inconvenient to chat loudly with so many people around." J looked around. She was in thepany''s bathroom now. After all, it was amon area where people enter and exit all the time. Ethan hummed but didn''t say anything more.He was idly knocking on the table with a pen, having no intention of hanging up. "All right.I''ll hang up then." J was anxious to return to work. Just as she was about to hang up, Ethan spoke, "I miss you.What do I do?" His voice was thick with emotion. J''s breath caught in her throat; her face turned red.She didn''t know what to say. "I...I..." "Why are you stuttering?" Ethan giggled. "All right.I''m hanging up.I won''t disturb your work." J stared at the ck screen in confusion. Ethan had disappeared after flirting with her. What was that supposed to mean? It waste in the evening when she got off work.It was almost dark outside. J and her colleagues nned to take a taxi. As soon as she finished packing her bag, her gaze fell on a hand with a royal blue gift box. "Congrattions on your promotion! I just bought it from downstairs.Don''t refuse it.It''s not expensive." J looked up and saw Christopher.He put the box on the desk and looked at her, almost as if he was prepared to hear her refusal. J pursed her lips and reluctantly took the gift box. "Thank you, Chris.By the way, we''re going to have a barbecue.Why don''t you join us? Don''t refuse, or I won''t ept this gift." J followed suit. Now that Christopher had given her a gift, she decided to treat him to dinner in return. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. "Well, since you insist, I can''t really refuse.Let''s go." A small smile emerged on Christopher''s handsome face. They had a good time at dinner. The atmosphere was warm and lively. Gerda ordered a crate of beer and drank most of it. "Lind,e on! I already finished drinking twelve bottles.Look at you.You haven''t even emptied one bottle.That''s unfair!" Gerda¡¯s face turned red from all the alcohol she consumed.She urged J to drink more. "Okay, I''ll help you empty these bottles." J was happy. Being around friends seemed to encourage her. She opened two bottles of beer, picked one up, and downed the entire contents in one gulp.She completely forgot about her low tolerance of alcohol. "Awesome! It seems like Gerda has met her opponent tonight.Lind, defeat her! No one canpete with her when ites to drinking.You should avenge us!" Everyone whistled excitedly. J giggled as she finished three bottles of beer and let out a loud burp. "Yeah! I''m going to defeat her!" Looking at her flushed face, Christopher sensed something was wrong.He patted her back and whispered in her ear, "I think that''s enough.You seem a little drunk already." J shook off Christopher''s arm and straightened up.She could not walk steadily. "Nonsense!" she slurred, shaking her head. "You are drunk! I''m not! I must defeat Gerda today! No one canpete with me!" She was insanely drunk tonight. Chapter 156: Sending Her Home Chapter 156: Sending Her Home The partysted until the early hours of dawn. Gerda and J got piss drunk, while the others who hadn''t joined in the drinkingpetition continued to eat and drink. Once they realized that J hadpletely wasted, they finally decided to call it call it a night. The coworkers had worked together to lift the two girls from their seats and carried them outside. "Hey, what should we do with these two? They''re drunk as a skunk." Christopher nced at the still unconscious J and cleared his throat. "I''ll send Lind home." "Oh yeah, you and J went to the same university, right?" One of their colleagues asked with a mischievous glint in her eye. Christopher just smiled. "Yes, we were schoolmates." He was not particrly good-looking, but he always looked neat, and had a calm and gentle demeanor that made people feel safe around him. it didn''t hurt that he was tall and had broad shoulders, too. Gerda opened her eyes then, and grinned. "I heard that you two are close.Didn''t you stand up for her when Ike deliberately targeted her?" "Aren''t you supposed to be drunk?¡® Everyone had turned to Gerda in surprise, and couldn''t help but admire her seemingly indestructible tolerance to alcohol. "I was just pretending.Lind is too stubborn for her own goad.She knows she can''t handle her drink, but she still insisted.If I hadn''t acted like I was drunk, she would have kept at it until she had to be rushed to the ICU." Gerda paused and let out a loud burp, her face turning red as a tomato. "Well, then.Let Chrislopher send her back.We can leave it all up to him." After reaching a consensus, they hailed their respective taxis and split up. Christopher locked at J, who was slumped against the wall of the restaurant. The early autumn breeze was chilly, especially given the hour. Christopher took off his coat and draped it over J''s shoulders, then he put an arm around her waist to support her to the curb.His hold on her was loose and casual; he didn''t have any ulterior motive.He only wanted to see that J went home safely, and perhaps spend a little more time with her in the process. Christopher slung her purse over his neck and ushered J to the street. It wasn''t easy, seeing as he was practically dragging a dead weight. All the jostling must have woken her up, because J began to groan. "J?" Christopher leaned close and parted her messy hair to find her struggling to open her eyes.Her plump lips pursed as he tucked her locks behind her ear. "Are you all right? Do you feel ufortable anywhere?" "Be quiet.I want to get some sleep." J appeared to be sleep talking.She reached up with her slender fingers and scratched her nose. Before he knew it, she had settled into afortable position in his arms, and was sleeping soundly against his chest. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. "Okay...Sleep well." Christopher was unaware that he was sporting a huge grin at that moment.He had even forgotten the fact that J was already married. Shortly after, he called a taxi and put J in the backseat with much difficulty before flopping beside her. "Please take us to this neighborhood," he instructed the driver. Christopher only knew the name of J''s residentialmunity, but he had no idea which apartment building she stayed in, let alone her unit number. The taxi sped into the night. Throughout the drive, Christopher sat stiff and virtually motionless. J''s head was nestled in the crook of his shoulder. Soon, he heard her muttering under her breath. He lowered his head and stared at her delicate face. "What? Can you say that again? I didn''t hear you clearly just now." J huffed, her eyshes fluttering slightly. "I said, aren''t you going to kiss me?" Christopher felt his ears burn. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath. "Do you know who I am?" He was just a man, after all¡ªa man with feelings for her. "Why aren''t you kissing me already?" J ced a hand on his other shoulder and pulled him close. She sounded petnt, coy almost. Christopher leaned into her invitation, his hand pressing against the small of her back. He traced the curve of her cheek with his forefinger, pausing when his burning gaze fell on her lips.A muscle ticked at his jaw as he hesitated. Chapter 157: The Angry Ethan Chapter 157: The Angry Ethan Christopher''s heart raced in his chest as he leaned closer to J. "Ethan..." J mumbled softly, shattering all the intimacy into pieces. The light in Christopher''s eyes dimmed in an instant.He immediately stopped and sat upright as the corners of his mouth twitched. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. The light outside the window fell on his face, outlining his features. He looked hurt.He restrained his emotions and lifted the coat on her shoulders. "It''s all right.Go to sleep." He turned his head and looked out of the window. The Korean restaurant they had dinner in the evening was quite far from J''s home. When they arrived, it was already past midnight. The moon hung among the foamy clouds, casting a silver light on thend. J was drunk; she had no idea what she was doing. Her arms dangled out of her coat as she waved her hands. Her loose shirt, unbuttoned on the top, slid to her shoulders, revealing her cleavage and cor bones. "Hmm, it''s ufortable here.My back hurts a lot." "Hey, J, don''t move.You''re home." Christopher''s mouth became dry.He hurriedly lifted the coat and wrapped it around J, revealing nothing but her flushed face. "Well, hurry up and carry me upstairs.I''m so sleepy." J leaned back and slumped onto the back seat of the taxi as soon as Christopher got out. Christopher wanted to drag her out of the taxi, but J didn''t seem to cooperate with him, so he bent forward and lifted her off the car. Just as he was about to put her down, a strong force pulled J from his arms. "What the hell?" Christopher looked up and saw a strong figure standing in front of him. The dim light on the street cast long shadows, making Ethan look like a towering mountain that seemed to even block the dazzling moon. "You were holding her with such ferocity!" Ethan sneered. His droopy eyes turned murderous as he looked at Christopher.Then, he turned to look at the woman in his arms. A frown lined his forehead, and his jaw tightened. "You''ve misunderstood me.I''m here to drop J," Christopher hurriedly exined. Ethan ignored him and gently put J down and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, forcing her to stand steadily. Seeing that her wobbly feet didn''t support her, he held her shoulder tightly to offer more support. "Don''t you know how to walk? Why are you asking others to carry you?" he chided her. "Ouch!" J yelped in pain as she felt someone was crushing her shoulder. The pain made her sober up a little. When she opened her blurry eyes, her gaze fell on Ethan, who was.a picture of pure rage. His sharp eyes were like bullets waiting to pierce through her. J trembled with fright. "Are you awake?" Ethan sneered and fixed her clothes. "Can you stand on your own now?" His venomous words and the anger in his eyes seemed to sober J up.She nodded and stood beside Ethan, trying to bnce her weight. Christopher took a deep breath. "Mr.Lester, don''t get me wrong.J got drunk during dinner.I wanted to safely drop her home.Nothing happened," he exined to prevent any misunderstanding. Ethan''s towering presence made Christopher look insignificant.His exnation only seemed to worsen things. "Only guilty people feel the need to exin, Mr.Garrison." Ethan looked cold and indifferent. His one arm was wrapped around J, who was swaying around like a puppet dangling from the rope. "I¡¯ll deal with youter." With that, he took J away. Chapter 158: Questioning Chapter 158: Questioning Just as J walked forward, Ethan grabbed her waist and threw her on his shoulder. "Ethan!" J''s eyes sprang open in horror.She screamed and hit his back, but the man continued to walk forward. With a stone-cold face, Ethan didn''t say a word on the way. When he walked out of the elevator, he took out the key, opened the door, and threw J on the sofa. "Can you please let me exin?" J asked, her voice breaking almost as if she was about to cry. Her head began to spin, so she sank on the sofa. J struggled to sit up, but her stomach churned, she wanted to throw up. "Fine.Exin!" Ethan leaned forward and rested his hands on either side of the sofa as he stared into her eyes. J hugged her knees and looked out the window to avoid his sharp gaze. Ethan grasped her chin, forcing her to look at him. "I got a promotion and sry hike.Christopher gave me a gift to congratte me, so I invited him for dinner.I drank too much during dinner.I had no idea he had dropped me home.Nothing happened between us." Tears rolled down J''s cheeks and dropped on Ethan''s knuckles.He looked like a fierce beast that was about to swallow J alive. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. "Is that all? Why didn''t you tell me that you invited him when we were talking over the phone? Did you lie to me?" Ethan sounded calm, but J could sense his coldness. "Well, he gave me the gift only after I spoke to you.I invited him as a way of thanking him for the gift - it was a spur-of-the-moment decision.I forgot to tell you about it," J argued weakly. "You were so drunk." Ethan sneered. "How do you know that he didn''t do anything to you in the car?" J was so scared that she didn''t dare to retort. Her shoulders trembled as fresh tears filled her eyes. "You have low alcohol tolerance.Why did you drink so much?" Ethan drew a tissue from the table and wiped her tears. A shiver ran down J''s spine despite the gentleness in his voice. The lights in the room were off, so half his face was hidden in the darkness. "Well, I was happy.It was fun to be around all my friends, and I was having a good time, so I just drank without thinking much." J curled up and hugged her knees. She wished she could hide from the man¡¯s intense gaze. Ethan withdrew his hand. Two red fingerprints were etched on her cheek. J had soft, tender skin -- even a slight pinch would leave marks on her wless cheek. "I called you so many times, but you didn''t answer.Are you deaf?" Ethan stood up, took out her phone, and threw it beside her. J frowned and saw a series of missed calls from Ethan. "I was drunk, and my phone was muted.I didn''t notice it.It wasn''t my fault," J exined, desperately trying to convince him.https://novelebook/Her pitiful voice was in stark contrast with his harsh tone. "Do you think I''m a fool? You haven''t checked your phone for six hours.Are you going to say you didn''t even once look at your phone after you left work?" Ethan¡®s eyes narrowed. Bile rose in his throat as the image of Christopher holding J in his arms shed in his mind. "Fuck!" he cursed and pressed J against the sofa.Then, he grabbed her dress to tear it apart. Chapter 159: Ill Teach You A Lesson Chapter 159: I''ll Teach You A Lesson "Ethan! What are you doing? Get your hand off me!" Frightened, J recoiled from his touch and continued to step away until she felt the arm of the sofa against her back.She was trapped. Ethan had an obvious advantage in terms of size; he could be all over her in an instant.She tried her best to push against him, but his chest was like a solid wall. He squeezed himself between her legs and pressed his knee over her thigh to stop her from iling. The next thing she knew, Ethan was sweeping his hot hand down her abdomen and to her crotch. "Nothing happened between you, right? What are you afraid of, hmm?" He leaned forward and nipped the delicate shell of her ear. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. "Since you don''t seem to have any awareness to the possible dangers around you, I''m afraid I will have to teach you a lesson." "How dare you? Stop touching me!" J''s face had drained of all color, while her eyes turned bloodshot and teary. Ethan''s eyes were like bottomless pits that threatened to swallow her whole.The air around them thrummed with the promise of danger and excitement. "You don''t like me touching you?" he asked, his voice low and menacing. "You must really be having an affair with that man." J had never seen him so angry, nor had she imagined that he was capable of such frightening rage. "It''s not that! I''m just¡ªI''m scared." She realized toote that it was the wrong thing to say. Ethan swooped in and began pulling at J''s clothes.She felt the distinct bulge underneath his trousers as his burning lips trailed kisses from her ear to her neck. "Let me go!¡± "Stop, Ethan.I''m not ready.I don''t want this! Please,e to your senses..."J cried out desperately, even as she struggled against his ruthless assault. His eyes spoke of a raw, ferocious hunger, and she knew that he would devour her all night. For a while, they engaged in a tug of war with her clothes, but J was no match for him. Ethan was relentless and unmovable.It wasn''t that she didn''t want to ept his passions; she was simply much too frightened of him at the moment. Ethan turned a deaf ear to her pleas and proceeded to take off his ck shirt.And then he was burying his head in her chest, licking and biting her tender flesh. J felt the electric sensations rush to her very core. "No! No!" She was screaming now, covering her face with her hands. It was bad enough that she was terrified of him, but she couldn''t deny the fact that her body was instinctively responding to his advances. "You bastard! Let go of me!" Ethan had already freed himself from his trousers and was about to silence her with yet another fierce kiss when he saw the look on her face. He paused. J''s hair was a mess, her eyes wide with horror. Fresh tears were streaming down her flushed cheeks. "Fuck....". Ethan mumbled through gritted teeth. He nced down at his swollen cock, took a deep, fortifying breath, and zipped his pants up.He grabbed J''s shirt and bra from the floor and handed them to her before wordlessly striding into his bedroom.He mmed the door shut behind him. J stared at the crumpled items of clothing in her arms. She was still in a state of shock, and it took her a good while topose herself.She stared at Ethan''s door, biting her lip in an effort to hold back her tears. She knew, without the shadow of a doubt, that her husband was absolutely furious this time. Chapter 160: Silent Treatment Chapter 160: Silent Treatment J slowly put on her clothes.She knew she was wrong. However, Ethan shouldn''t have reacted that way either.She was innocent, and Christopher did not do anything to her. ¡®Can''t I talk to another man just because I''m with Ethan now?¡± "Are you insane?" J cursed under her breath as she buttoned up her shirt. Tears streamed down her face.She stood up and wanted to go back to her bedroom, but she waited in front of Ethan''s room for a long time. J even pressed her ear against the door to hear what was happening inside.But the room was strangely silent. J clenched her fist and was almost about to knock on the door.But she ultimately decided against it. What could she possibly tell him after getting inside? Ethan was still angry. He would probably pinch her face and continue to question her or push her onto the bed. She had just escaped from him. Going inside would be like voluntarily setting foot into the trap and letting Ethan interrogate her all over again. "J, you''re such a wuss!" She hated herself for hesitating outside, not knowing what to do. J wandered around in the living room for a while and nced at Ethan''s bedroom door. ¡®Should I take the initiative to apologize to Ethan?¡¯ she wondered. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. But they had never got into a fight like this before. J was hesitant whether to apologize first. After all, Ethan had also been mean and rude to her earlier. Lying on the sofa, hugging the pillow, J stared at the closed door. "You have toe out sometime.Then we''ll talk." She snorted and buried her face in the cushion. J wanted to stay awake.She held her cushion and waited, but her eyelids grew heavy.J didn''t know when she fell asleep. The next morning, she was awakened by the honk of the car downstairs. Thinking she was sleeping on the bed, J stretched herself and turned over. But as a result, she clumsily fell on the carpet.J winced in pain, for her back hurt. Fortunately, there was a carpet. Otherwise, she would have broken her waist. J scratched her hair and sat up.She had a terrible hangover. Her stomach felt queasy and her temples throbbed as if someone were piercing them with an electric drill. She sat on the sofa, staring at the wall, not knowing what to do. Once the fog in her mind settled, she looked at herself and found a nket wrapped around her. Breakfast and hangover pills were lying on the tea table beside her. The steaming bowl of porridge made her mouth water.She stared at it in a daze. All of a sudden, she stood up and ran to Ethan''s room. "Ethan? Are you in there?" There was no answer.She twisted the doorknob and peeked inside. The empty room looked spotless.The window was open, and the dark blue curtains billowed with the wind. It looked like Ethan had left. J''s heart sank as she turned around and closed the door. It was Saturday, and Ethan didn''t return home all day.It was nine in the evening.Sitting on the sofa, J stared at the clock.https://novelebook/She felt ufortable for no reason as if a weight had settled on her heart, crushing her soul. J sat up straight and took a deep breath. Unable to stand it anymore, she dialed his number.She wanted to ask him when he woulde back. Chapter 161: A Strange Man Chapter 161: A Strange Man "Hello? Ethan, it''s me." J didn''t know what else to say.The moment she uttered the words, she felt stupid.It was not the first time they had talked on the phone. Ethan must have saved her number.She didn¡¯t have to introduce herself.It looked like Ethan was in a quiet ce. J could hear the whooshing of the winds and the honks of cars. Momentster, J heard him sigh. "I have to replenish the stock tonight.I will bete tonight!" he said coldly. "Well, I''ll wait for you." J''s heart sank. She pursed her lips and stared at her toes that were peeking out of her slippers, not knowing what to say next. Ethan was silent again. J could hear his rhythmic breathing.https://novelebook/She heard the muffled voice of a man calling Ethan from a distance but couldn''t clearly hear what they were saying. "It''s fine.You don''t have to wait for me.Go to bed early," he said calmly and hung up the phone. Unease settled in the pit of her stomach as she stared at the screen of her phone. J could feel the coldness in his voice.She wandered aimlessly in the living room, hoping to see Ethan soon. It felt like walking on pins and needles. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. J looked out the window, staring at the dark night. When the clock struck ten, there was a soft knock on the door. Thinking Ethan had finally returned home, J sprang up from the sofa and opened the door right away. "Why didn''t you take the key?" She opened the door, grinning happily. But the smile on her face froze when she saw a stranger outside the door. "What can I do for you, sir?" The man was tall with broad shoulders.He was perhaps in his early forties and somehow looked strong even though he was only in his pajamas.He looked at J up and down, his eyes gleaming with wonder and amazement. The man''s face lit up, and his smile broadened. After a moment''s hesitation, he touched his nose and said, "Hello, I live downstairs.Have you noticed there''s a leakage in your apartment? The water has been dripping into my room, ruining my sleep." "What? A leakage? I don''t think so.No one has used our bathroom tonight." J''s gaze involuntarily flitted to the bathroom, and she instantly grew vignt. It looked like the man had just found an excuse to enter the house. J tried closing the door, but the man stepped his foot onto the threshold and held the door.He grinned at J, revealing his cigarette-stained teeth. "Are you sure there is no water leakage? My room is flooded because of you.Miss, do you mind if I go in and take a look at your bathroom? If there is any leakage, I could fix the faucets for you." J tried her best to block the door.Her eyes turned cold, and she didn''t bother to remain polite. "If you want to have a look, you cane tomorrow.My husband will be back home soon.If he sees you, it will definitely cause unnecessary misunderstanding." "I''ll just go in and see if there''s any water leakage.It will only take a moment.There won''t be any misunderstanding.Let me in.My room is flooded.Do you understand me? Or did you do it on purpose?" The man forcefully opened the door and peeked into the house.His eyes widened when his gaze fell on J.She had a pretty face and big breasts. "What are you doing? Believe it or not, I''ll call the police right now!" J bit her lip and exerted all her strength to close the door. However, she was not strong enough.The man heaved the door open in one swift motion. Chapter 162: The Assaulter Chapter 162: The Assaulter "Wow, your hand is so smooth.How old are you?" The man touched the back of J''s hand and shamelessly sniffed his fingers. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. "Are you going to leave or not?" J began to panic as she couldn''t drive him away.She wanted to close the door, but the man had already squeezed himself into the house. J was all alone, so she couldn''t handle him. Seeing that J was anxious, the man lowered his voice. "I know.I know.Don''t worry.I''ve met many of your peers.https://novelebook/There''re quite a lot of working girls in the neighborhood." He smiled as if he had understood her concern. "And the building in front of this one is full of girls who are mistresses of wealthy men.Quote your price.Let''s have a nice chat in your house!" "Are you insane? I''m married! When my husbandes back, he will definitely beat the hell out of you for harassing me." J''s eyes turned red; she was seething with rage.She was unfortunate to encounter such a situation when Ethan wasn''t around.Her breathing faltered. J''s thoughts flitted to the driver Fiona had hired before. He had also looked at her with lustful eyes as if she were a cheap product he could buy with money. "What''s with that look on your face? Do you feel ashamed?" An obscene smile emerged on his face as he stared at J. The man liked J''s pristine, innocent look.His desire to sleep with her spiked up in an instant. She was different from all the slutty women he had met before. Unable to control himself anymore, the man pounced on her. "Get out!" J picked up a high-heeled shoe from the cab and flung it at him. The man covered his face and shouted. "Damn it! You bitch! How dare you hit me?" J used his distraction to her advantage and ran into her bedroom.She locked the door, leaned back on it, and took deep breaths. Before she could react, the door vibrated with a loud thud, followed by a string of expletives. "Open the door, you bitch! I''ll teach you a lesson when I get in! How dare you hit me? I''ll fucking kill you!" J''s heart raced in her chest.She was so terrified that her body froze, and she didn''t know what to do. The man probably found that he couldn''t open the door, so he began to pry the lock from outside. J began to tremble with fright. The lock of the bedroom door was fragile, so she knew the man would break it open soon. J anxiously looked around for her phone and wanted to call Ethan. But, unfortunately, her phone was in the living room.She had rushed into the bedroom to save herself from the man, and it never crossed her mind to take the phone. J scanned the room to find something to protect herself. Just then, her gaze fell on themp on the bedside table. She quickly unplugged the chord, picked up themp, and hid beside the wardrobe. The doorknob of the bedroom was frantically twisting, and the lock was about to fall. J clutched themp tightly and stared at the doorknob. Sweat trickled down her back, making her thin shirt stick to her skin. All of a sudden, a loud bang reverberated from outside, and a beam of light flooded into the bedroom as the door flew open. Chapter 163: It’s All My Fault Chapter 163: It¡¯s All My Fault J held her breath and waited for the man to enter as the door flew open.But no one care in. J heard rustling noises and muffled groans from outside. Momentster, the house returned to silence.She clutched themp tightly until her knuckles grew white.Her palm grew sweaty, and she almost dropped themp. J swallowed loudly; her heart was in her throat the entire time. J nned to smash themp on the man¡¯s head as soon as he came in.She hoped to injure his head and knock him unconscious Momentster, a tall figure appeared outside the room and pushed the door open, causing it to creak on its hinges. A tall figure walked toward her. J immediately picked up themp, closed her eyes, and flung it toward him. However, J didn¡¯t hear any shouts or screams as expected.She slowly opened her eyes and saw that the man had grabbed themp. "Don¡¯t¡­ Don¡¯te over! If youe anywhere closer to me, I¡¯ll beat you to death," J hissed through her gritted teeth. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. She was so scared that her heart almost stopped beating, but she pretended to be fearless. "Beat me to death? Can you do that?" Ethan¡¯s deep, resonant voice reverberated across the silent room. There was no light in the room, so J could only see a silhouette of his frame.https://novelebook/The light outside blurred his features, and J couldn¡¯t see his expression. But the anger was evident in his voice. "Ethan?" J was still in a state of shock. As Ethan stepped closer, she pounced on him.Her voice trembled, and her legs gave away. Ethan caught J and carried her to the bed.His brows furrowed as he lifted her clothes and inspected her body to see if she had suffered any injuries. "Are you injured? Did he touch you?" J¡¯s face flushed. She quickly dragged her skirt down and shook her head.She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned on his chest to calm herself down. Ethan tied her messy hair into a ponytail and brushed the loose strands off her face, tucking them behind her ear. His grip tightened as he pulled her closer.He pressed his cheek against her ear and took a deep breath. "It¡¯s all my fault. I should havee home early," he mumbled, stroking her back. J¡¯s heart took a sprint in her chest as Ethan¡¯s manly scent filled her nostrils. Her face turned red. J finally returned to her senses and pushed him away. However, Ethan didn¡¯t budge.She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and sniffed loudly. "Why did youe back sote? Do you even know what time it is now? Why don¡¯t you just move out if you don¡¯t wannae back?" The wind blowing through the window made Ethan¡¯s thin shirt stick to his muscr body.He pursed his lips and nodded, allowing J to scold him. "Well, it¡¯s all my fault." It took a while for J to calm down. She slowly returned to her senses and looked out the door, her eyes glistening with tears.She curled up in his arms and looked at the short stubble on his jaw. "Where is that man? What did you do to him?" Chapter 164: Do You Know How Worried I Was Chapter 164: Do You Know How Worried I Was "I have tied him outside." Ethan¡¯s brows furrowed; anger zed in his eyes.He looked at J and frowned. "How did you get involved with a disgusting man like him?" "What¡¯s wrong with you? You sound like I seduced him on purpose" J¡¯s eyes widened at his remark. She struggled to get away from him. "Let go of me!" Ethan always spoke this way to his subordinates.He found it difficult to switch between modes. J was a delicate and sensitive woman and a bit shaken up after what happened, so he held her tightly in his arms. "I¡¯m sorry I said the wrong thing.Scold me or beat me if you want, but please don¡¯t be mad at me." He cupped J¡¯s cheeks and kissed her. "Ethan¡­ Stop it.Get rid of this man first!" J grunted as she continued to wipe the lingering trails of his kisses.But the man ignored her and peppered kisses all over her face.https://novelebook/She couldn¡¯t get rid of Ethan¡¯s vice-like grip, so she asked him to take her to the living room. Ethan smiled and stood up J held his arm and followed him to the living room.Her eyes widened when she saw the man was tied to the chair. Ethan had knocked him unconscious; his face was covered in bruises. "Should we call the police now? What do we do?" J asked in a tremulous voice as the mere sight of the man frightened her. Ethan red at the man, and his jaw tensed with anger.He looked like a beast guarding his territory. Anyone who even thought ofying a finger on his woman would end this way. "No.I have a better idea." Ethan picked up his phone and sent a message to someone. "What have you nned to do?" J stood on tiptoe to check the message on his phone. But Ethan was too tall, so she couldn¡¯t catch a glimpse of his phone screen., After sending the message, he put his phone into his pocket. "Honey, leave it to me.I¡¯ll ask someone to deal with him."Ethan gently stroked her hair and nted a soft kiss on her cheek. J didn¡¯t notice the coldness in his eyes. "Don¡¯t go too far," she mumbled. J didn¡¯t know what Ethan had nned to do.But she was sure the man would be safer with the police than facing Ethan¡¯s wrath. However, the man deserved it. J didn¡¯t know what would have happened to her if Ethan didn¡¯t arrive on time. The evil man deserved severe punishment for barging into her house and attempting to rape her. J couldn¡¯t shake off the image of the man pouncing on her.It frightened her witless.She trusted Ethan and didn¡¯t want to show any mercy to the animalistic monster. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. About ten minutester, a few burly men arrived and dragged the assaulter away. J kept her head down and didn¡¯t say a word. Ethan knew that she always dropped her gaze to the floor to hide her emotions. "Why do you keep staring at the floor? Do you see anything precious lying there?" Ethan¡¯s face softened. He closed the door and pulled J into a tight embrace, "Look you have to be cautious at all times.Danger might find you even if you¡¯re at home.I called you so many timesst night, but you didn¡¯t answer any of them.Do you know how worried I was?" Chapter 165: Dread Chapter 165: Dread Ethan was a rugged man.However, he was kind and gentle toward J. "I know you were furiousst night because...because you cared about me..." Staring into his beautiful deep-set eyes made J dizzy.Being with the man always made her breathless.She couldn''t form a coherent thought in her mind. Ethan''s touches and soft kisses took her to another world almost as if the man had cast a spell on her. J craned her neck, and her eyes fluttered close as Ethan''s hot breath blew against her skin. "Of course.If not you, who else do I have to care about?" Ethan stared at her loose shirt and nted a soft kiss on her neck again. "What skincare product do you use? God, you smell divine." "Be serious.We are talking about what happened yesterday!" J wanted to push him away because his kisses drove her crazy. J was no longer stubborn, for she understood Ethan''s concern. "I''m sorry for what happened yesterday.From now on, I''ll check my phone often and won''t get drunk when I go out with friends," she promised in a low voice. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Ethan clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Is this all you want to say after thinking all this while?" His face darkened as he looked into her eyes. Realization crossed J''s face.She closed her eyes and nodded. "And I''ll try my best to avoid having dinner with Christopher again.We are a couple.I would never cheat on you, Ethan.In fact, Chris is actually a good man.He had a good reputation in college." Ethan scoffed at thement.https://novelebook/He pulled J closer and gently nipped her corbone. "That''s because you are too naive.Christopher is only pretending to be kind and gentle.You haven''t seen his true color yet.Never mind.Stay away from him! Don''t let this happen again." Ethan knew everything about the Garrison family.They all had impressive careers and good reputations -- some of them were doctors andwyers. However, only a few people were aware of their secret business. Ethan would never trust a man from that family. J didn''t knew this, and obviously wouldn''t change her mind about Christopher just because Ethan didn''t like him.But she couldn''t argue with Ethan now. After all, J had no idea what the man would do if he got mad again. "Okay.Let go of me.I have to check the bedroom door.The man just broke it now." J immediately strutted to her room.The lock had been pried out.She tried closing the door from inside but couldn''t. A gust of wind from outside blew the door open again. "The lock is broken! We can call a locksmith only tomorrow." Ethan nced at the clock on the wall. "All right.Then, let''s do it the first thing in the morning." J''s shoulders slumped as she realized it was past midnight.She nced at Ethan and pulled the door frame. "It''ste.We better get some sleep first." Ethan touched his nose.He wanted to say something but stopped on second thought. Finally, he nodded and returned to his room.It was a windy night. The autumn air was hot and humid. The door creaked as it swayed with the wind. J got out of the bed and closed the window but couldn''t fall asleep. The whooshing of the wind frightened her.She tossed and turned on the bed and buried her face in the quilt. J felt restless. Somehow, all her thoughts returned to the frightening episode with the man who had knocked on her door earlier, and the driver who came onto her in the cornfield. Both the incidents had scarred her for life. The repeated encounter with assaulters made her feel unsafe. J broke into a cold sweat as a wave of dread engulfed her. "Ethan..." She wrapped herself in the quilt and stared at the door, Ethan was the only one who could make her feel safe, and J had a sudden urge to be with him. Chapter 166: Im Scared Chapter 166: I''m Scared Grasping the quilt, J bit her lip and hesitated for a long time.Finally, she put on her slippers and walked toward the door, hugging her pillow. The early autumn weather was damp -- moisture lingered in the air. All lights in the living room were turned off. J walked to Ethan''s room and saw the dim light from the crack of his door. J took a deep breath and knocked on the door twice. The door immediately opened, which surprised J. If not for the ss of water in Ethan''s hand, she would have thought the man had been standing by the door the whole time, waiting for her to knock. "What''s the matter?" Ethan had broad shoulders; his frame narrowed down on his waist to a perfect V.He was wearing a white tank top, and his trousers weren''t secured by a belt. They hung loosely on his waist. He leaned against the door frame and took a sip of water.His lips curled up into a knowing smile when he saw the pillow in her arms. J lowered her head. ¡®I''m a little scared," she mumbled, clutching the pillow tightly. One look at J told him why she was here. "Do you want me to sleep with you in your room?" he asked. After a moment''s thought, J nced at him and nodded. "Yes." "Wait a minute." Ethan ruffled her hair and walked into his room. Momentster, he came out in his pajamas, holding a gray pillow in his hand. "Let''s go." He smiled. J''s face flushed with embarrassment as she walked toward her room. "Okay." The trees dancing wildly with the breeze cast long shadows into the room.The moonlight flooding through the window was the only source of light. Jy stiffly on the bed and stared at the white ceiling while clutching the quilt tightly. Meanwhile, Ethan was lying on his side of the bed with his back to J, blocking the moonlight. J was wide awake despite lying on the bed for a long time.https://novelebook/She craned her neck and looked at Ethan. "Ethan, are you asleep?" Ethan moved. He propped his head on his palm and looked at her. The dim light outside the window outlined his face and made his deep ck eyes sparkle. "No." "Can we talk for a while?" J was wrapped in the quilt, revealing only her wless face. Ethan chuckled and leaned toward her.He was a tall, muscr man who exuded a powerful aura. Before J knew it, he lifted her in his arms and wrapped her in a tight embrace. Ethan leaned against her and peppered soft kisses on her earlobe and cheek as he spoke. "Well, what do you want to talk about?" J''s face turned red; the little kisses made her dizzy. Ethan must have just taken a shower.The fresh scent of shower gel made her mouth water. "What part-time jobs do you do? Are you tired from your work?" The kisses made J''s skin prickle with goosebumps.She ced a hand on his chest, keeping a safe distance from him. Ethan didn''t know much about part-time jobs.He had an honorable job, after all. "Well, nothing in particr.I do what I''m asked to do and what I feel like doing." He shrugged nonchntly. "Honey, we are a real couple now," he said, gently caressing her neck. "From now on, why don''t we sleep in the same room?" J bit her lip and hummed softly, neither epting nor refusing his suggestion.She felt safe in Ethan''s arms. He was like the protective shield that could guard her against all sorts of troubles.Her body rxed, and her eyes grew heavy. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. "I''m a little sleepy..." she mumbled, stifling a yawn. ¡®She was awake all this while.Does she have to sleep during such a crucial moment? ¡° "We barely spoke about anything, but you want to sleep," Ethan hissed through his teeth. J had closed her eyes, and her breathing had be even.It looked like she had drifted off to a peaceful sleep. Ethan couldn''t help but smile at her.He wondered when he could make love to his wife. Chapter 167: Return To The Countryside Chapter 167: Return To The Countryside J woke up to the sound of the rm. Ethan stretched himself and rubbed his eyes.It was bright outside, and the howling wind from the previous night had blown the leaves from the trees, scattering them to the ground. J nced at Ethan and remembered what had happenedst night.She had heard what Ethan asked herst night. J had pretended to be asleep to buy time from answering his question.She felt an inexplicable void and unease in her heart, so she couldn¡¯t give him an answer now. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. But to her utter surprise, she had really fallen asleep. "Why don¡¯t you sleep longer? It¡¯s Sunday." Ethan turned over and wrapped his arms around her. The sunlight seemed to sharpen his chiseled features.But despite that, Ethan looked gentle.He pulled J closer to him. "Today is Sunday? Oh, Gosh.I almost forgot.I can¡¯t sleep.I have something important to do." J wriggled out of his hold and avoided meeting his eyes.Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she ran into the bathroom. "What¡¯s the matter?" Ethan followed her.His jet ck hair was sticking on end.His messy hair and the sleep lines on his face somehow made him look more handsome. J averted her gaze. "I¡¯m nning to visit Hannah.I haven¡¯t seen her after she got discharged from the hospital." "All right.Let¡¯s go together.I¡¯m free today." Ethan squeezed the toothpaste onto the brush and handed it to her. Hannah lived in the countryside.The vige was surrounded by mountains. They had to traverse the bumpy terrains to reach her house. Ethan got out of the bus and walked behind J with bags of fruits and health drinks.J led the way. After they turned a corner, she smiled and pointed at an old house. "That¡¯s her house.We arrived on time.Hannah is probably making lunch.I could give her a hand." Ethan looked at the small tile-roofed house in the distance ¡ª it was simpler than he had thought. However, there was a small yard outside with a giant osmanthus tree that had begun to bloom.He could see clusters of pale yellow flowers from afar. The sweet scent of flowers wafted in the air, making the yard look like a paradise on earth. "I used to sit under that Osmanthus tree and do my homework.The flowers have just started to bloom.We shoulde back in two weeks and see when they¡¯re in full blossom.When I was little, we didn¡¯t have much money.Hannah would often make sweet treats for me using the flowers."https://novelebook/J smiled at the memory. Seeing Ethan stare at the tree with great interest, she wanted to share snippets of her childhood with him. J¡¯s bright smile made his heart stutter.Ethan was never fond of the countryside.He had lived there with his mother before. However, the memories of the impoverished ce only depressed him.The two chatted as they walked to the small yard. J smiled and pulled the gate open. "Hannah, I¡¯m back!" However, there was no response.Sounds of tableware shattering reverberated from the house, followed by Hannah¡¯s cries. "Damn it! You old bitch! You have signed the damn document! Give me the money!" "Damn it! If you don¡¯t pay the money, I¡¯ll take away your old, shabby house!" "Break all her things! This is what happens if you fail to pay your dues!" Chapter 168: Three Hundred Thousand Dollars’ Debt Chapter 168: Three Hundred Thousand Dors¡¯ Debt Hearing that, J rushed into the house and saw a group of burly men surrounding Hannah with bats or clubs in their hands.It looked like they had broken in while she was cooking. "I don¡¯t have so much money.Please try to understand." Hannah scooted back beside the stove, still holding knife and vegetable scattered all over the ground.She looked terrified. J could only see Hannah¡¯s grey hair and the side of her haggard face from where she was standing. Hannah staggered backward, grabbed the knife tight with her shaking hands, and pointed it at herself. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. "If you keep forcing me, I will have to die!" "Okay, we won¡¯t force you, you old bitch." A muscr man with a scar between his brows spat on the floor and red at her. "Your neighbor told me that you have a granddaughter.She lives in the city, right? I heard she is pretty.We want to see her.I¡¯m sure she will visit you if you have trouble, won¡¯t she?" With that, the man took out his mobile from his pocket and knocked the stove with a wooden club. "Hurry up! Call your granddaughter and ask her to pay your debt." Hannah¡¯s face reddened with fear, and her wrinkles grew prominent. "I¡­ I won¡¯t." "Damn it! You won¡¯t call her? Fine! Break this old bitch¡¯s leg!" the strong man bellowed his orders. He put a cigarette in his mouth as the other men surrounded Hannah. "I¡¯m here.What¡¯s going on?" asked a cold voice of a woman. The men unanimously turned around and saw J¡¯s pretty face and met her icy gaze.J walked over and stood in front of Hannah. "We are here to collect debts.This old woman owes us three hundred thousand dors." The strong man red down at J.His plump face looked fierce as his lips curled up in disdain.J¡¯s brows furrowed as she nced at Hannah, who was staring at the floor. "What money? Why does Hannah owe you money?" "Wow, Hannah.It looks like you haven¡¯t told your family about your debt yet." The man grinned, revealing his yellow teeth. "This woman here, she¡­" "Shut up!" Hannah shouted, interrupting the man as she looked at J with guilty eyes. "What are you doing here, J? You better leave.This doesn¡¯t concern you." "Damn it! Don¡¯t you dare leave today!" The men surrounded J and stopped her. "Hannah borrowed money from us to buy medicines and health care products.She owes three hundred thousand dors to us.If she doesn¡¯t have money, you better pay her debts for her." The muscr man patted his hand with the club.His lips curled up as he looked at J. "Well, I ept repayments through sexual favors also.My friend owns a nightclub.Women like you are popr there." "Borrow money? Do you have any evidence? What kind of health care products would be that expensive?". J frowned. She only had little money now and wouldn¡¯t be able to afford even thirty thousand dors, let alone three hundred thousand.https://novelebook/J felt helpless, but more than that, she was surprised to know that Hannah owed a huge sum. After all, she was a frugal woman who never spent money unless necessary.There was no way she would have spent three hundred thousand dors on healthcare products. "Give me the document!" the muscr man ordered his subordinate. The man immediately handed over a nie.He nced at the papers and threw the file on the floor. "See for yourself! Everything is clearly mentioned in the documents." Chapter 169: Deceit Chapter 169: Deceit J picked up the file from the floor and read the documents consisting of several pages of iprehensible,plicated text.She couldn¡¯t understand the gist. However, the papers indeed contained Hannah¡¯s signature and fingerprint "What does it say?" Ethan asked as he walked in with a stick in his hand.He was wearing a thin ck shirt, and his tall frame almost blocked the entire doorframe. Ethan almost stood a foot taller than those men.The wind made his shirt stick to his body, revealing his chiseled muscles. J sighed and handed the document to Ethan. "I don¡¯t understand it.There are so many terms and conditions." Ethan skimmed through the papers and found Hannah¡¯s signature in the end.The document revealed Hannah owed three hundred thousand dors to these people. "Did you read the document clearly? I wasn¡¯t lying.Give me the money! Hannah is very old.You don¡¯t want us to injure her, do you?" The strong man arrogantly leaned against the kitchen top and nced at the stick in Ethan¡¯s hand from time to time. "I really don¡¯t have the money now.Can you give me some time? I will borrow money and repay the debts." J had no idea what happened and why Hannah owed so much money to these men. Therefore, she had no choice but to persuade the men to leave first. "I¡¯ve heard enough excuses.Tell me the specific time.You can¡¯t keep me waiting all the time." The strong man spat on the floor again and squinted at J. However, his gaze involuntarily flitted to Ethan, who was staring at him with a stick in his hand.The muscr man flinched back in fear.He wondered who Ethan was. The man had been in the underworld for many years, but he had never met such a powerful man before.He felt inferior around Ethan. Besides, looking at Ethan¡¯s strong muscles made him wonder if he was a trained fighter. "How about one week?" J asked after a moment¡¯s pause. Seeing that J hadpromised, the strong man scratched his head and stole a nce at Ethan. A shiver ran down his spine.The man coughed awkwardly and nodded. "Okay, I¡¯ll give you a week¡¯s time." He then waved at the men behind him. "Pack your things.Let¡¯s leave!" This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. "What? What¡¯s the matter? You were determined to get the money today." "You didn¡¯t behave like this before." The strong man stole a nce at Ethan again and cast a reproachful look at his men. "Shut up! It doesn¡¯t seem like the right time.Didn¡¯t you see the helper standing behind that woman?" After they left, J anxiously held Hannah¡¯s hand. "What¡¯s going on?" Hannah rubbed her temples and let out a weary sigh. "A few days ago, a group of people came to sell health care products.They seemed very enthusiastic.At first, I just thought I¡¯d give them a try.But they coaxed me into buying their products.I said I didn¡¯t have money, so the salesman asked me to sign a few papers saying that I could avail the products for free.I was confused and couldn¡¯t understand what was going on.Several vigers had also signed the agreements, and they all seemed fine.And these people kept pressing me, so I signed.A couple of days ago, arge group of people barged into the house, saying that I owed them money.But I never borrowed money from anyone.When I asked them about it, I found out the salesman had deceived me into signing up for a loan.Now, I have to pay them three hundred thousand dors ¡ª including the interest.I still can¡¯t figure out why I owe them so much money." Chapter 170: Move Into My Room Chapter 170: Move Into My Room J took a deep breath as her temples began to throb with pain. "Well, it looks like a bunch of fraudsters deceived you.They introduced the products to you and enticed you into signing the documents.Now, they''re asking you to repay the debts.The vigers you mentioned might have colluded with them." These fraud organizations would pick old people who lived alone as their target.Hannah couldn''t even understand what the documents meant. Besides, she was old and received only minimal education.She would have been an easy target for them. Hannah was dumbstruck; she didn''t know what to say.It took a long while for her to realize her mistake.She had always been vignt and never made hasty decisions. Now, she felt like she was being a burden to J. "Leave this to me.Anyway, they can''t get any money from me."https://novelebook/Hannah sighed and staggered to her feet, clutching the cane for support. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. J held Hannah''s arm and took a deep breath. "What are you saying? How can | leave you alone?" Tears coursed down Hannah''s cheeks. "What should we do now?"she asked anxiously. "I don''t have the money to pay them." "Don''t worry.There is always a way," Jforted her even though she couldn''t think of a solution. Hannah was her responsibility, and she couldn''t let her worry about it. Looking at the hot pot, J gently said, "I know this must be frightening, so you better sit down and rest.I''ll cook you a bowl of noodles." While Hannah was eating the noodles, J dragged Ethan out of the room. "I want to discuss something with you.I don''t think it''s a good idea for Hannah to stay here all by herself.I''m thinking if we should ask her to move in with us." J looked at him hesitantly. Having Hannah at home meant they had to take care of an elderly person and be at her beck and call at all times.It would be a tedious task. Ethan was her husband, and she wanted his opinion first before making a decision. "You rented the house, so it''s up to you.I''ll listen to whatever you say," Ethan replied, arching his eyebrow. He dropped the stick as a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "That''s very sweet of you." However, the next moment, she noticed the smile on his face and nudged his shoulder. "What''s with that look on your face? Why are you smirking?" The mischievous grin on his face made her wonder if he was up to something. Ethan feigned a cough and looked at J. "Don''t pretend like you know nothing." Ethan exuded a masculine aura.He thrust his hands into his pocket and examined J''s face. "We only have two bedrooms.Well, if Hannah moves in with us, you will have to move into my room.You have to sleep with me anyway." J''s eyes widened.She was busy worrying about Hannah, and living in the same room with Ethan didn''t cross her mind until he mentioned it. A subtle blush painted her cheek. "I..." She red at him. "What? Are you going to sleep on the couch?" Ethan had guessed what she was going to say. He suppressed his smile and said, "Well, don''t you think Hannah will get suspicious if we don''t sleep in the same bed? After all, we are married." J opened and closed her mouth a couple of times, not knowing what to say. Ethan had a point, after all. Chapter 171: My Room Is Soundproof Chapter 171: My Room Is Soundproof The two packed Hannah¡®s belongings and took her to the city, However, Hannah didn¡®t like the idea. "I feel ufortable about moving into the city.You two are just married.I don¡®t want to bother you.Moreover, you both have to go to work, and I¡®m sure you¡®lle home exhausted.I don¡®t want to be a burden to you.Moreover, I¡®m not used to living in the city either.The high buildings and wide roads frighten me.I won¡®t be able to chat with my friends in our vige anymore." "I¡®m not asking you to live with us forever.Stay here, in the city, so that we can avoid the debt collectors.I know you prefer living in the vige, but it doesn¡®t seem like a good idea now.We¡®ll send you back once the problem is over," Jforted her. Hannah sighed and nodded in agreement. Once they returned to the apartment, J vacated her room and put her personal belongings in Ethan¡®s room. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. "Why are you moving your things? Are you two sleeping in separate rooms even after being married for so long?" Hannah grabbed J¡¯s arm and eyed her with concern. "Is that man not treating you right? Did you two fight?" Hannah squinted and looked at Ethan, who was busy cooking in the kitchen. J couldn¡®t help but smile at her concern. "No, we are fine.I¡¯ve been working overtime, so Ie homete at night.I didn¡®t want to disturb Ethan¡®s sleep, so I chose to sleep in a separate room.Hannah, the long ride must have exhausted you.Do you want to take a nap in the bedroom?" "That¡®s good.I thought the handsome boy wasn¡¯t treating you well." Hannah smiled, and the wrinkles around her eyes deepened like they always did. "All right.Don¡®t overwork yourself.Keep it simple.I¡®m old, and I live a simple life." J took all her clothes to Ethan¡®s bedroom so that Hannah could rest in her room. Just then, J felt a tight grip around her. Ethan chuckled, and the two rolled on the bed. J yelped in shock. "Why didn¡®t you make a sound beforeing inside? Stop it.Hannah is still in the next room." "My room is soundproof. Let¡®s give it a try," Ethan mumbled, biting her corbone. He pressed his body against hers.His loose ck shirt slid down, revealing his corbone.His chiseled jaw and the stubble made J weak in her knees. The intensity of his gaze made J¡®s hair stand on end.He tightened his grip, making it impossible for her to move. J whimpered under his hold. "Not now, Ethan! Let go of me." J was frightened. Ethan was aroused; it looked like he would pounce on her.It would be embarrassing if Hannah heard it. "Stop it! I need to discuss something important with you.We need to think about how to help Hannah." Hearing that, Ethan finally let go of her.He kissed the corner of her lips, leaned back on the head of the bed, and thought for a while. "Well, Hannah¡®s problem is quiteplicated.I read the document she has signed.The papers seem legit enough, and we can¡®t prove that Hannah was tricked or forced to sign the papers.Even if we go to court, I don¡®t think we can win this case." "What do you mean? We can¡®t pay the money.It¡®s three hundred thousand dors!" https://novelebook/J sounded anxious. She had just started working, so her ie wouldn¡®t cover the debt.And she didn¡®t have much savings. Why else would she ask the Lind family to pay for Hannah¡®s medical expenses? Arranging for three hundred thousand dors was a nightmare.She didn¡®t know what to do.Ethan stared at the ceiling "Well," he took a deep breath and said, "Since it¡®s impossible to win this case, I think the only solution is destroying the fraud gang" "What? How is that possible? Neither of us has the power or means to do that.If we were that powerful, we wouldn¡®t be worrying about arranging for the money in the first ce." J felt like they had hit the dead end. Ethan turned to look at her.It was impossible for Ethan to solve such a problem, but Brandon could.It was a piece of cake for him. He wanted to remind J but decided against it.If he mentioned Brandon first, it would only arouse her suspicion. Ethan smiled and pinched her cheek. Seeing that J was still upset, he pulled her into his arms. "Don¡¯t worry.I¡®ll talk to my friends.Some of them are victims of fraudulent groups like these.I¡®ll ask them for advice.You stop worrying about it." Chapter 172: Can‘t Fall Asleep Chapter 172: Can¡®t Fall Asleep The man and the woman were forced to share a room that night because Hannah was staying in the other room After dinner, while Ethan was taking a shower, J paced around his room restlessly.She obviously didn¡¯t want to share a bed with Ethan, but there wasn¡¯t even a sofa she could sleep on. "What¡¯re you doing? Do you need my help?" Ethan strolled out of the bathroom and leaned against the door frame.He was wearing gray linen pajamas with a towel hanging on his shoulder. As he looked at J leisurely, he ran his fingers through his damp hair. J was taken aback by his handsome figure and instantly went stiff. "Nothing." she answered awkwardly, "Why can¡®t you just tell me?" Ethan smiled, his eyes twinkling. Without pressing her further, he sat on the bed and dried his hair with the towel "I can sleep on the floor..." J averted her gaze, her face flushed with embarrassment. "What¡¯re you talking about? We¡®re a married couple.We can share a bed." As he spoke, Ethan put the towel away andy on the bed, resting the back of his head on his arms.He sat up slightly to look at her with his ck eyes and asked mischievously, "Didn¡¯t you say that we would do it tonight?" "Do what?" J¡¯s heart leapt to her throat. How could he say such a thing? She took a deep breath topose herself. Finally, she whispered shyly, "Didn¡¯t I tell you? Hannah¡¯s sleeping right next door and this room is far from sound proof.Sometimes, I can even hear you talking on the phone from my room." Of course, moans would be heard even more clearly. "Forget it then.I¡¯m going to bed now." Ethan tore his gaze away from her andy back down on the bed. After all, he was just kidding.He knew that J was a timid girl. But J misread his reaction.She thought he was angry with her, so she crept to the bed and sat down. Gritting her teeth, she hesitated for a while, then finally sighed in defeat. "If you really want to do it, how about we go to a hotel?" There was no way she would have sex in the same apartment as Hannah. https://novelebook/Raising his head to look at her, Ethan stretched out his hand to ruffle her hair yfully. As though he had read her mind, heughed and said, "Do you think Hannah¡®s a three-year¨Cold child? We¡®re a couple.How can we leave our own home and stay in a hotel? What will Hannah think?" Learning against the headboard, he jutted his chin at the pillow next to him. "Come on and get some sleep already.You don¡®t have to worry.Your husband can control himself." "Oh, okay.I¡®ll take a shower first though." J sighed with relief. Tonight¡®s sky was clear and cloudless. Countless stars were scattered all over the night sky. After taking a shower and drying her hair, J lifted a corner of the quilt and slipped into bed next to Ethan. The bed sheet smelled faintly of mint. Ethany on his side, facing the bare white wall. A hush fell over the room J faced the window, but she was so nervous that her body was as stiff as a nk. The twoy in silence for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, J figured that Ethan must¡®ve fallen asleep, so she slowly turned over. Just then, Ethan also happened to move.He was carefully lifting the quilt up, as if he was about to get out of bed. Unbeknownst to J, this whole time, Ethan had been burning with desire. Things were different now that the woman he pined for was lying right next to him. The two¡¯s eyes met. Both of them were wide awake and they instantly knew why the other couldn¡¯t sleep. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. With tacit understanding, they smiled at each other. "Where are you going?" J asked. Chapter 173: Make Trouble Chapter 173: Make Trouble Ethan slipped on a ck windbreaker over his pajamas and said softly, "Hannah¡®s probably asleep by now.I¡®m going to the balcony to get some air.You can sleep first." "Okay." J didn¡®t think about it too much. After all, with Ethan gone, she had the bed to herself and she could finally rest easy. Sure enough, Ethan brought a can of ice¨Ccold beer to the balcony with somepany documents he wanted to go over. After finishing his drink, he headed back to the bedroom J, who had fallen asleep on his side of the bed, was clutching the quilt tightly. Her smooth, slender leg was poking out from under the edge of the quilt. "You¡®re sleeping in a rude way." Ethan snorted as he pulled the quilt over her legs. After tucking her in properly, he sat on the edge of the bed and looked at her sleeping figure for a long time before lying next to her. On Monday morning. https://novelebook/J had been quite nervous ever since she moved into Ethan¡¯s bedroom. As a result, she overslept and was runningte for work. After quickly washing up, she ran out the door with a piece of bread in tow. "Wait for me!" Ethan was wearing a ck baseball cap and a gray hooded sweatshirt over a white T¨Cshirt.He caught up to her and offered to carry her bag "What? Why? Aren¡®t you going to work today?" J walked quickly to catch up to Ethan and looked at him questioningly, although she secretly felt happy that he was apanying her. Ethan stood at the stairnding, waiting for her.He lowered his head, the brim of his hat covering his cold eyes.His high nose looked even more prominent, and his thin lips curved upward into a charming smile. "Those debt collectors mighte looking for you again.I just want to make sure you get to work safely." "That might be too troublesome on your end.What if you¡®rete for work? I¡®m sure those people won¡®t find out where I work.I haven¡¯t revealed any personal information to them." Not wanting to inconvenience others, J reached out to get her bag back from Ethan.But Ethan raised his hand and lifted the strap of her shoulder bag over his head.Then he slipped his hand around her waist and escorted her outside the apartment building. "What¡®re you talking about? I¡®ve already asked my boss for a leave today." J looked at him helplessly, left with no choice but to give up. As soon as they made it to the pedestrianne across the road from her office, she saw that a group had gathered right outside the building, causing quite the ruckus. The group of thugs who hade to demand money from her had hung banners at the entrance of the building. There were several bright red words scrawled on the banners. "J Defaults On Her Debt." "Pay Off Your Debt!" Perhaps the strong men had gone to Hannah¡®s house to stir up trouble again, but found no one there, so they went here instead. "How did they find me here?" J stood frozen to the spot, too shocked to move. Although she did not reveal any personal information, it turned out that these people were smart. They probably went out of their way to find out where she worked. What happened between her and Fiona took ce only a few days ago, so this matter was bound to cause big trouble and further ruined her reputation "Who¡®s this J and why does she always cause us so much trouble?" A female employee passing by read all the banners and frowned deeply "I¡®m not sure, but I heard she¡®s from the design department.Her foster parents came here and made a scene a few days ago.I wonder what¡¯s going on now." A short, stout woman nearby crossed her arms over her chest and sneered arrogantly. "She kept nagging others to pay her back, yet now she¡¯s the one who¡¯s in debt.What a hypocrite!" J¡¯s expression darkened. She was about to go over there and teach those gossipy women a lesson, but then Ethan stoppedher. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to his side.His voice was calm and unhurried.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. "Don¡®t.If they find out you¡®re here, they won¡®t let you inside the building, and things will get even trickier." Chapter 174: Driven Away Chapter 174: Driven Away "Let go of me.I have to exin myself, or else it¡®ll affect my work!" J struggled to shrug off Ethan¡®s grip, looking up at him helplessly Ethan sighed and pulled her to a corner. In a gentle voice, he said soothingly, "Now¡®s not the right time." J shook her head stubbornly. "This is different from what happened with Fiona.This is usury.If I don¡®t exin myself, it will prove that I¡®m guilty! Everyone who passes by will spread rumors about me all over the company!",https://novelebook/ J sighed. Exhausted and defeated, her shoulders slumped. "Thepany¡®s board must¡®ve found out about it already.These people might even attract the media and mar thepany¡®s reputation.The board will probably ask me to resign..." "No, they won¡®t.The Larson Group is huge.The board has bigger fish to fry.Plus, you didn¡®t borrow the money.These scammers are just trying to stir up trouble for you.Come on.What are you afraid of?" Ethan squeezed her hand reassuringly. "How do you know that? You¡®re not the CEO of the Larson Group." J knew that Ethan was just trying tofort her, and he was sessful. The corners of her lips still lifted ever so slightly.She felt much better.She raised her hand, which was holding Ethan¡®s. "Let go of me first.I have to go now.I can¡®t just skip work because of this." "Just wait." Ethan lowered the brim of his cap over his eyes and stole a nce at the gate to the Larson Group. J looked at him, puzzled. What on earth was he waiting for? Secondster, a group of armed security guards swarmed out of the building. "What are you doing here? Do you know where you¡®re standing? This is the Larson Group¡®s premise!" the leader of the security guards barked coldly. Not to be outdone, the men with the banners red at the security guards and shouted. "J is an employee here and she owes us three hundred thousand dors! We¡®re just waiting for her here! Do you have a problem with that? We¡®re not interrupting your work after all!" The security guards picked up their electric batons and marched forward in a dignified manner. "I don¡®t give a damn who owes you money.You can¡®t make a fuss here.If you refuse, we¡®ll be forced to remove you from the property." After their leader said that, several security guards came forward and violently ripped the hanging banners off the gate. Then they forcibly dragged away the three people who were holding some cards. Seeing this, the onlookers quickly dispersed. When the coast was clear, Ethan withdrew his gaze and finally let go of J¡®s hand. He gave her back her bag and patter her shoulder. "You can go in now.I¡®ll pick you up after work." "Be careful, Ethan.If those thugs know where I work, they probably know where I live.Maybe they¡®ll ambush you at home." All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. J grabbed his arm and looked at him worriedly. "Don¡®t worry.They won¡®t have the guts to do that." As he spoke, Ethan looked into the distance with a cold expression.Then he patted her on the head gently and turned around to leave, disappearing in the crowd. Swallowing her nervousness, J walked briskly into the Larson Group¡®s building. Chapter 175: Brandon’s Favor Chapter 175: Brandon¡¯s Favor The woman behind J snickered at her and whispered to her friend while they all waited for the elevator. ¡°That¡¯s really her. Where was she hiding all this while? Now that those people left, she has come out as if nothing had happened.¡± ¡°She was probably waiting for the security guards to drive those people away. I think she must have availed a loan and doesn¡¯t want us to know about it,¡± the man beside her echoed. J was in no mood to argue with them. She turned around and decided to take the stairs. She didn¡¯t want to think about it and decided to concentrate on work. When J finally reached her desk, no one bothered to talk to her. Gerda was usually a chatterbox who spoke nonstop. However, she seemed strangely silent today. J¡¯s colleagues nced at her and carried on with their work. https://novelebook/They all seemed eerily calm, as if a storm were brewing to destroy her life. J had been sensitive ever since she was a little girl. Sensing everyone¡¯s strange attitude, she took a deep breath and sat down to draw. Time passed in a blur, and it was noon. Just then, J¡¯s phone chimed with Brandon¡¯s message that seemed like an rm bell, reminding J of what she had been trying to forget all day. ¡°I heard today¡¯s incident has something to do with you.¡± J¡¯s heart leaped to her throat. What could she possibly tell him? After all, she had be the talk of the office yet again. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. J bit her lip and hesitated for a long time. A few minutester, her phone chimed again. ¡°Answer me!¡± J could sense Brandon¡¯s anger in the message. ¡°Yes, Mr. Larson. I apologize for all the trouble. A group of fraudsters has deceived an elder from my family into signing up for a loan. I¡¯ve been dealing with the issue. I¡¯ll try not to cause any trouble to the All capitalists focused on their interests first. She only prayed for Brandon to show mercy and forgive her. However, this time, Brandon didn¡¯t reply quickly like he usually did. J nervously checked her phone for new messages. Every minute seemed like an hour ¡ª it was sheer torture. After five minutes, her head began to spin. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t rush to ask Brandon for help. She had thought of exining her situation to Brandon to find out if he might help her. After all, he could effortlessly solve the problem. However, J felt ashamed to ask him for help. After all, she didn¡¯t know Brandon well. He was neither a rtive nor a friend. She didn¡¯t even know what he looked like. He was her boss and wasn¡¯t obligated to help her. J¡¯s torture finally ended when she got another message from Brandon. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink about it. Focus on your work. Ourpany will handle this issue.¡± ¡®What does he mean? Is he going to help me solve the problem?¡¯ J couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. She read and re-read the messages over and over again. She couldn¡¯t understand why Brandon wanted to help her again. No boss would ever be this kind to an employee. Brandon was a businessman. J thought he would put the interest of thepany first over anyone. But he strangely seemed different from the others. ¡°Am I somehow rted to Brandon? Is there a secret I¡¯m yet to unravel?¡¯ The idea seemed ridiculous. ¡®But isn¡¯t Brandon gay? Why is he doing all this for me?¡± Chapter 176: Are You Hiding Something From Me Chapter 176: Are You Hiding Something From Me There were no further specifics after Brandon informed J thepany would deal with the problem. J had no idea how Brandon was going to deal with the issue. She didn¡¯t dare ask him. That evening, J packed her things only after everyone left. Just as she left thepany, she received a brief message from Brandon that read, ¡°Problem solved, and the debt is written off.¡± J¡¯s eyes widened in shock when she read the message. Then, she calmed down and wiped the sweat off her forehead. If they did this the legal way and the fraudsters were sent to jail, Hannah still would have to pay the debt from a legal point of view since she signed the contract which was totally legit. Brandon now told her that thepany had dealt with it and the debt was written off. Although J had no idea what exactly had happened to the fraudsters, she knew Brandon must have taken care of the problem in a not-that-legal way, The debt had been bothering J for a long time. Considering how Brandon had effortlessly solved the issue, J once again realized how powerful he could be. Getting rid of fraudsters in a single day wasn¡¯t an easy task. It reminded J of what had happened before. However, she couldn¡¯t understand why a powerful man like Brandon was helping her time and again. J was a mere employee in hispany. They were worlds apart, and he didn¡¯t have to help her. The thought seemed to gnaw J¡¯s brain. She was indebted to Brandon. Besides, the man lived a wealthy life. What could she possibly give him to express her gratitude? J didn¡¯t know what to do. She had been standing in the doorway of her house, thinking about what Brandon had done.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. As soon as she opened the door, the delicious smell of food greeted her. Ethan had be a better cook. He was a quick learner and had started cooking all kinds of dishes after reading the recipes from cookbooks. J rolled up her sleeves and walked over to him. https://novelebook/Ethan¡¯s back ¡ª his broad frame and height looked simr to that of Brandon¡¯s. ¡°Do you need my help? Where is Hannah?¡± J asked, ncing around the kitchen. ¡°She has gone dancing with the other elderly women downstairs. She asked us to eat first. Dinner is almost ready. Can you set the table?¡± Ethan said as hedled out the soup in the casserole. It was just a simple gesture, but Ethan looked stylish and exuded a majestic aura while doing it. As they sat down to eat, J stole nces at Ethan every now and then. He not only looked handsome, but J was impressed by the way he carried himself. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Brandon was also like him. J immediately shook her head and took another bite of the food, shaking off the thoughts bothering her. She was losing her mind. How could shepare Ethan with Brandon? ¡°What are you thinking? You seem absentminded.¡± Ethan propped his chin on the palm of his hand and looked at her. After taking a spoonful of soup, J shook her head. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she said, ¡°The issue with the fraudsters is solved now. Well, Bandon solved it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you look bothered?¡± Ethan asked, examining her face. ¡°I just don¡¯t understand this. Why would a stranger offer help for no reason? I can¡¯t stop thinking about it.¡± J had made up her mind to ask Brandon why he was helping her. An unease had settled in her heart. ¡°It might be a big deal for you. But Brandon is a powerful man. He deals with problems like this every day. It¡¯s a piece of cake for him. Stop overanalyzing this.¡± Seeing that J had finished eating, he stood up and began cleaning up the table. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so. Maybe it¡¯s just a casual order to Brandon. But he still had to ask his subordinates to deal with them. I¡¯m just amon designer. Why would he go out of his way to help me? Brandon is a businessman. If he doesn¡¯t have any other motive and is helping me only out of kindness, why would he make a decision that would probably cause him huge losses?¡± All of a sudden, J stood up and stared at the man who was cleaning up the table. ¡°Ethan, are you hiding something from me?¡± Chapter 177: What’s Your Relationship With Brandon Chapter 177: What¡¯s Your Rtionship With Brandon ¡°What could I possibly hide from you?¡± Ethan shrugged and continued to put the dishes into the sink. Although he seemed calm, his heart was racing in his chest. J was a smart woman, and hiding the truth from her wasn¡¯t easy. Ethan hoped for her to stop overanalyzing everything and just let him help her. ¡°I mean, did you go to see Brandon again? Otherwise, why would he help me again?¡± J frowned and studied his face. Something seemed fishy. Why would Brandon find the fraud group that had deceived Hannah and eradicate it without J informing him about the details? J didn¡¯t doubt Brandon¡¯s capability but was still confused about his intentions. Ethan took out a can of beer from the fridge, opened it, and gulped it down. Leaning against the fridge, he cast a sidelong nce at J. ¡°Brandon is different from us. People like him always have everything nned. We can hardly find out what he is thinking. Perhaps he thinks you¡¯re an asset to thepany. That¡¯s probably why he is being friendly with you. Helping you might be an investment that could reap a lot of benefits in the future.¡± J took what he said with a pinch of salt. Ethan¡¯s expression was unreadable. She couldn¡¯t tell if he was telling the truth or hiding something from her. She opened and closed her mouth, not knowing what to say. Ethan could tell that she still doubted him. He sighed and sat beside her. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I think you¡¯re overthinking this. Your boss thinks highly of you; I don¡¯t think he has any hidden motive. You have to be proud of yourself.¡± ¡°I just want to know the truth. Ethan, tell me. I won¡¯t be mad at you even if you meet Brandon without telling me.¡± J held Ethan¡¯s arm and sized him up. Ethan had always been a determined man. Garrett always considered him to be a sophisticated man. No one in the business world could read his mind, but his judgment was always right. Ethan could tell what J was thinking. ¡°You are imagining things. It wasn¡¯t easy for me to meet him thest time. After all, he is the president of the Larson Group. I can¡¯t meet him as and when I like.¡± Ethan rubbed her back. Then, he gently slid his hand down and massaged her waist. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink this.¡± He leaned closer and whispered in her ear, ¡°This issue is solved. You should be happy. There is no point in worrying about it now. Do you want to rest for a while? I¡¯ll go and wash the dishes, babe.¡± J pursed her lips and fell silent. Ethan sounded so gentle and sweet at the moment. J liked the way he treated her now. After all, she was attracted to Ethan. ¡°All right. You can go now.¡± Ethan breathed a sigh of relief, pecked on the corner of her lips, and went into the kitchen. J was a little tired. She hadn¡¯t managed to sleep well ever since she moved to Ethan¡¯s room. She stretched her sore back and nced at Ethan, who was busy watching the dishes. An involuntary smile stretched across her lips. Ethan was charming and didn¡¯t shy away from doing household chores. Anyone would fall in love with him. The smile on J¡¯s face froze as she thought about something. Ethan sensed her burning gaze. He smiled to himself without looking up. ¡°Are you supervising if I¡¯m properly washing the dishes or not?¡± However, there was no response from J. He frowned and looked back. J was standing at the kitchen door, staring at him intently. ¡°Ethan!? What¡¯s your rtionship with Brandon?¡± Chapter 178: Did Ethan Have An Affair With Brandon Chapter 178: Did Ethan Have An Affair With Brandon Ethan let out a startled gasp and almost broke the bowl in his hand. He took deep breaths and immediately calmed down. ¡°I¡¯m just an illegitimate child of the Lester family. How could I have any kind of rtionship with the CEO of the Larson Group?¡± Ethan cleaned thest bowl, wiped it dry, and ced it on the cab above his head. Then he took the kitchen towel and carefully wiped his slender fingers. J felt ufortable as she stared at his handsome face. The doubt in her heart seemed to grow with every passing moment. The more she thought about it, the more she believed that Brandon and Ethan were rted in some way. Brandon was a good-looking man, and Ethan wouldn¡¯t lose anything by being in a rtionship with him. J¡¯s face reddened. She rested her hands on her hips and red at him. ¡°Are you two hiding something from me?¡± Brandon was gay, and that was why he didn¡¯t seem interested in her. ¡®Then why is he helping me time and again? Is he actually interested in Ethan? Is he helping me because I¡¯m married to Ethan?¡¯ ¡°What could possibly happen between us?¡± Ethan¡¯s eyes darkened as he strode toward her. J involuntarily stepped backward and raised her hand to stop him. ¡°Don¡¯te over. I need to sort my thoughts.¡± She was still racking her brains to figure out what was going on. Ethan had told J that he had talked to Brandon. That was how all her doubts started. It seemed suspicious because he should have had no chance to talk to Brandon. Ethan had not only contacted him, but also learned his sexual orientation. J couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Ethan and Brandon shared a special rtionship. Besides, Ethan didn¡¯t seem like an idler who wasted his time. There was an air of mystique around him. It was understandable for Brandon to have feelings for him. J felt her guess was likely to be right. Ethan¡¯s heart was racing in his chest. J eyed him with suspicion. She looked doubtful, confident, disgusted, and sympathetic. The mixed reaction confused him more. https://novelebook/Ethan lifted J and threw her on his shoulder, ignoring her protests. ¡°What the hell are you thinking about?¡± he asked, patting her butt. J was stunned when he put her down. Ethan cupped her face and kissed her. ¡°Drop that look on your face. It turns me on.¡± J snapped out of her trance and red at him. Ethan was domineering and always exuded a majestic aura. J couldn¡¯t picture him having an affair with Brandon, yet that seemed like the only possibility. She ignored Ethan¡¯s words and asked, ¡°What do you think of Brandon?¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°Hmm¡­ not bad. He is an excellent businessman.¡± Ethan scratched his nose and felt that J was acting strange today. ¡°Don¡¯t think you can fool me by pretending to be innocent. I know what you two are up to,¡± J said, arching an eyebrow His evasiveness irked her. Ethan had been deliberately avoiding the question. He had already conspired with others and fooled her once. Besides, Ethan was an effortless actor. She couldn¡¯t tell whether he was lying or not. The man always had a straight face and effortlessly masked his emotions. ¡°What?¡± Ethan couldn¡¯t understand what she was insinuating. T forced a smile at him. She had to be patient. She would wait until Ethan exposed himself. ¡°Nothing. I was just joking. I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡± She pursed her lips and pushed Ethan away from her. It didn¡¯t matter if he didn¡¯t admit the truth. J nned to pay close attention to Ethan and Brandon in the future.She was determined to find the truth. Chapter 179: An "Acquaintance" Chapter 179: An "Acquaintance" After taking a shower, J came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her wet hair.She pulled the towel off her head and started drying her wet hair.Her cheeks were slightly ruddy from the steamy bathroom, which made her look like a plump pink peach.Her eyshes were wet and slightly stered together, giving her eyes a doe-like effect. As he looked at her, Ethan couldn¡¯t help but be reminded of a wild cat he had once seen on the roadside on a rainy day.That little wild cat had the exact same wide, doe-like eyes. Just then, he noticed that J was observing him as well.Ethan frowned slightly. Under her piercing gaze, he felt as though she was trying to see right through his soul. ¡®I wonder what¡¯s on her mind?¡¯ he thought to himself. Ethan leaned back into the sofa and looked back at her calmly. Finally, he said in a low voice, "Don¡¯t beat around the bush and go straight to the point." He was always this casual and blunt, but his sudden seriousness still made J¡¯s hair stand on end. "It¡¯s nothing.Just focus on your game." J guiltily averted her gaze and retreated to her bedroom, all the while still drying her hair. But before she went inside, she turned around to nce back at Ethan. It seemed that she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off of his hip. ¡®Oh, my God.His buttocks are so round!¡¯ J thought inwardly. Just as she was about to enter the room, Ethan¡¯s deep voice interrupted her. "I forgot to ask-did you want to go somewhere for our honeymoon?" Life tended to be dry and monotonous at times. Ethan reasoned that they needed to spice things up from time to time. Moreover, he wanted to make things up to J and give her all the best things in the world. J hesitated slightly.She thought that it was a good idea, but she had just gotten back on track at work, so she couldn¡¯t take a leave anytime soon. "No, thanks.I¡¯m so busy with work these days, so I don¡¯t think I have the time to go on a trip." As she spoke, Ethan was gazing at the dark night from the window.Then, he closed his eyes and pressed his fingers against his temple.It was the first time that he couldn¡¯t figure out what was on J¡¯s mind. He had already taken care of everything. Had he done anything wrong? At ten o¡¯clock that evening, the subordinate Ethan tasked with investigating the fraud group texted. It turned out that they had found the mastermind behind it all. To Ethan¡¯s surprise, it was an "acquaintance". "We¡¯ve garnered nearly all the information from the fraud group themselves.It turned out that Fiona sought out their boss around a month ago.She gave him arge sum of money and asked him to look for Hannah.He¡¯s a swindler, so it wasn¡¯t a big deal for him to deceive one more person.Moreover, he could¡¯ve gotten more money from the deal, so he agreed to Fiona¡¯s request.Fiona also suggested that he harass Hannah for the money, but when they saw how old and weak she was, they showed her mercy." After reading the message, Ethan tossed his phone aside and tinkered with an empty can of beer in silence.He walked over to the balcony and rested his arms on the railing. Wearing loose pajamas, he looked slimmer and less muscr than he actually was.So, it turned out that the Lind family had struck Hannah because they couldn¡¯t seem to touch J. By targeting Hannah, they could destroy J.They were ying with fire. Ethan sneered coldly into the night.He was not a forgiving man. Plus, J had severed all ties with the Lind family. There was no need to be polite to strangers. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. The next second, he grabbed his phone and made a call. "The Lind family has been living way toofortablytely." Ethan fiddled with the pull tab on the can. His cold voice seemed to pierce the darkness of the night. "The Lind family has been living way toofortablytely." Ethan fiddled with the pull tab on the can. His cold voice seemed to pierce the darkness of the night. Chapter 180: Have You Offended Anyone Lately Chapter 180: Have You Offended Anyone Lately Fiona had hired a criminalst time to rape J.However, her n was exposed and ruined.Since then, she couldn''t find a chance to vent her anger.Later, after a lot of thinking, she devised this scheme.She was determined to take revenge this time. The Lind family had raised J.But now, the dog was going to ride on its master.She couldn''t let that happen. However, the previous experience had taught her a lesson.Fiona restrained her emotions now.She had others to execute the n now and was sure no one would find out she was the mastermind. When Fiona heard the news that the fraudsters had caused trouble in J''spany, she was ecstatic. After all, the men were dangerous people.They were all experienced enforcers who would go to any extent for money. Even if the crisis couldn''t destroy J, it would definitely ruin her life and reputation. Fiona hated how J had her way with everything by putting on an innocent face.She felt the woman was a master at faking innocence.She behaved as if she were on a mission to let the entire world know that the Lind family had ill-treated her. ¡®Now, everyone could see through her pretense.This conniving bitch would lose her foothold in the Larson Group.That''s for sure" A triumphant smile emerged on Fiona''s face as she thought her n had seeded this time.She didn''t want to contact the fraudsters. The less she got involved in the matter, the better.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. One day, she saw the news on TV that the police hadunched a crackdown on several fraud groups. Although Fiona was not sure if it included the fraud group she had hired, dread and unease settled in the pit of her stomach.https://novelebook/The fear was eating her up. All of a sudden, Fiona recalled what had happened to thest man she hired.She broke into a cold sweat and began squirming with fear. Fiona abandoned her previous n and called the fraud group.The phone rang, but no one answered. Finally, she sensed something was wrong and slumped on the sofa helplessly.Bernie flipped the pages of the newspaper and muttered, "The fraud groups are rampant now.They deserve it," he said, looking at Fiona. Seeing the dread on her pallid face, he arched an eyebrow and asked, "Did you do anything wrong again?" As soon as Bernie finished speaking, his phone rang. "Hello.What can I do for you?" Bernie asked respectfully. After all, he was talking to a powerful man. A shiver ran down Fiona''s spine as she looked at Bernie. "What? No.But everything went on well.Why have you decided to withdraw the investment? We reached an agreement before, didn''t we?" Bernie licked his lips and wiped the sweat on his face. Then, he put down the newspaper and leaned back on the sofa. Bernie had worked so hard to reach the refinancing agreement. With this money, he could reopen the abandoned stic factory and hopefully gradually get the family business back on track. He heard a soft sigh from the other end of the line. "Anyway, we haven''t signed the contract yet.You better take care of your business.Please don''te to us again in the future." With that, the man hung up the phone. Judging from his resolute tone, Bernie understood the man had made up his mind. Bernie was pacing back and forth in the living room when his phone rang again. Anotherpany had also called to cancel their partnership. Bernie could tell that they were all in a hurry to cut ties with hispany.His stomach churned with anxiety. The relentless phone calls turned his throat dry, but all his efforts were in vain.He couldn''t convince them. The phone calls continued; Bernie grew anxious and worried with every passing moment. The partneringpanies were willing to even pay a high penalty fee to distance themselves from the Lind family. Bernie''s face turned ashen pale as he continued to wipe his sweat in despair. Bernie had been a part of the business circle for several years.His father hadid the foundation for the company in the early years. Now, the technological advancement and change in trends worsened the situation of hispany. However, Bernie was sure that wasn''t the reason why his partners had chosen to abandon him. "We''ve been friends for so many years.Can you at least tell me what happened?" Bernie''s voice trembled. "I''m sorry, but I can''t.He is a powerful man.But I don''t understand.You two are not supposed to have any interaction.Well, I suggest you reflect on your actions.Have you offended anyely?" said the man on the phone. Bernie couldn''t think of anyone except for a few influential families that would ruin the lives of the people who rubbed them the wrong way.But Bernie didn''t remember offending any one of them. Chapter 181: Arrested Chapter 181: Arrested Bernie looked dejected after hanging up the phone. Judging from the phone calls and his expressions, Fiona understood the Lind family''spany was in trouble, just likest time. "Bernie, what''s going on?" Fiona walked to him and held the handle of the carved sandalwood chair with a trembling hand. Hearing that, Bernie red at Fiona and mmed his fist on the wooden table beside him. "Did you do something again?" he growled. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. "They''re saying we have offended someone powerful.All the partneringpanies have called me to terminate the coboration with us." Fiona didn''t dare to tell the truth. Bernie''s attitude toward her had changed greatly ever since he found out that she had hired a criminal to rape J.He had be cold and distant. Fiona couldn''t tell him that she had hired people to harm J again. "Why are you always ming me when something bad happens? I''ve been staying at home all day long.I would never do anything reckless under your watch.Maybe you''ve offended someone during one of your business deals," Fiona exined in an aggrieved voice. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the chair to hold back her fear and guilt.Bernie believed Fiona''s words. He had been watching her closely so he believed she didn''t do anything reckless again. However, little did he know that Fiona was more cunning and vindictive than he had imagined. She had ways to execute her ns right under his watch without garnering his suspicion. "All right.I''ll apologize to the partners and find a way to deal with the issue."https://novelebook/Bernie was burning with rage.He picked up his coat on the chair and stood up to leave. "Stay at home.Don''t make any trouble again." Fiona picked up her bag and followed him. "Bernie, I''lle with you.How can I let you endure all the hardships yourself? We are a couple, and we''ll face it together," she said, holding his arm. The Lind family''spany was in a miserable position because all the partners had cut ties with them. Some of the factories had copsed due to ack of funds. Bernie and Fiona had been dealing with the chaotic situation for the past three days. Bernie was exhausted.He was even debating on dering bankruptcy. But the business was all they had now -- it was an ancestral asset.He didn''t want the family business to copse under his administration. "Don''t worry.Our Lind family''s business stood for years.I''m sure we''ll make aeback after the crisis ends," Fionaforted him. Even she couldn''t figure out why all thepanies had terminated the partnership with theirpany overnight. ¡®Who on earth is behind all this?¡¯ Fiona wondered. Unfortunately, she didn''t have the time to figure it out. The day after the couple finally dealt with the problems of the Lind family''spany and returned home, the police came looking for Fiona. "Mrs.Lind, you''re the suspect of multiple crimes.We have received the evidence and are here to take you for investigation." "What''s going on, sir? I think it''s a misunderstanding.My wife wouldn''tmit a crime." Bernie tried stopping the police. However, his voice faltered.He regretted marrying Fiona at the moment. The woman was pure evil -- she got into trouble and dragged him into the mess. But Bernie couldn''t leave her alone.If Fiona got arrested, it would be a disgrace to the Lind family. "Your wife is suspected of bribery, attempted murder, illegal business transaction, and several other crimes.If you want to know further, we can discuss it in the station." The policeman walked over and handcuffed Fiona who was staring at him with wide eyes. As the cold handcuffs touched her skin, Fiona began to scream and thrash.Her legs grew wobbly, and she could barely stand on her own. "No...I didn''t do anything,"https://novelebook/she mumbled as her head began to spin. The past shed before her eyes.She had taken advantage of the Lind family''s power and secretly indulged in illegal activities. Fiona had been hiding the secret all these years, and she almost forgot all about her tainted past. The memories came gushing as the police mentioned the crimes one after the other.Fiona broke into a cold sweat.After all, she was in a deep mess now. Chapter 182: The End Of The Lind Family Chapter 182: The End Of The Lind Family "I''m innocent! I didn''t do any of it! Let go of me! Bernie, help me!" Fiona panicked. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Her hairpin fell to the ground, leaving her hair in disarray as she struggled to break free from the handcuffs.Two policemen had to hold Fiona in ce as she continued to scream and thrash. "We have to take her away now." Bernie lowered his eyes and remained silent. He didn''t know how to defend Fiona. Bernie was more shocked than anyone else when he learned what had happened.He had lost all trust in Fiona. The charges made him wonder if he had married a devil. Bernie''s stomach churned with unease.He didn''t know whether he hated Fiona or not. "I have nothing to say," he finally said, waving his hand. "Bernie, let me exin! They are using me of a crime I didn''tmit.Think about all the things I have done for this family.I''m Jocelyn''s mother, for God''s sake!" Fiona shouted hysterically. Tears flowed through her thick foundation, leaving a ck streak.Just as the police were about to take Fiona away, a woman strutted into the house. Sounds of heels clicking on the floor reverberated across the room.The woman reeked of alcohol, smoke, and perfume. "What did my mother do? Why are you arresting her?" Jocelyn asked, switching her gaze between Fiona and the police. She had no clue about the problems the Lind family had been enduring. The police ignored her and dragged Fiona into the car. Confused, Jocelyn ran to Bernie, who had copsed on the sofa.His face had turned pale. "Dad, what''s going on? Why have the police arrested Mom?" Bernie stared into the distance as his heart sank with dejection. "That''s it," he croaked. "This is the end of the Lind family." Just then, the wall clock red loudly. Jocelyn''s heart trembled.It seemed like a warning from God, stating the day of reckoning had finally arrived. Jocelyn sat down with Bernie and listened to the problems they had been facing for the past few days. "What? How is that possible?" She felt as if her entire world had copsed.She threw her bag down on the floor and slumped on the carpet. The energy in her body drained in an instant. "So our family is broke?"Jocelyn wasn''t worried that her mother was arrested. She only cared about money. Jocelyn needed money to live a luxurious, carefree life.She raked her eyes across the house and all the expensive things they had bought over the years. Jocelyn couldn''t imagine that she had to part with her possessions.It felt like she was living her nightmare. "It is not as bad as you think.You can find a job.We can manage but surely can''t live a luxurious life anymore,"https://novelebook/Bernieforted her. The Lind family didn''t have any money left. After paying the sry of the employees in his factory, Bernie would have to find a job himself. ¡®What? Find a job?¡¯ Jocelyn''s eyes widened in horror.She had been happily working in her father''s company, where people did her biddings. Now, she couldn''t imagine working for someone else.The sudden twist in fate frightened her. Chapter 183: Be A Mistress Chapter 183: Be A Mistress "Dad, don¡¯t worry.I¡¯m with you." Jocelyn took a deep breath and stood up. "I¡¯ll find a way out." She held Bernie¡¯s hand and sat beside him. "Jocelyn, your mother has set a bad example.I don¡¯t want you to follow in her footsteps.Money isn¡¯t everything.We can still live a peaceful life.Once you find a stable job, you can find an honest, trustworthy man to marry.You can have children and live happily." The relentless problems had taught Bernie a great lesson in life.He began looking at the bright side instead of putting too much pressure on Jocelyn. After all, he just wanted the best for his daughter. However, Jocelyn didn¡¯t want to marry an honest, trustworthy man.She couldn¡¯t even imagine living an ordinary life. "Dad, that¡¯s not what I want," Jocelyn said firmly.https://novelebook/She was sure about what she wanted and didn¡¯t want to waste time arguing with her father.She stood up and went upstairs with her bag.She couldn¡¯t sit and pray for her life to get better. After all, women wouldn¡¯t be young and pretty for too long. Jocelyn always wanted to live a wealthy life and decided to pursue it herself this time.She took deep breaths to calm down. Jocelyn had been going to parties every day for the past few days and met several wealthy men there. However, the eligible bachelors didn¡¯t seem to like her. They all just disappeared after sleeping with her.No one was ready for a stable rtionship with her. However, one of them seemed interested.She opened her bag and took out his business card. The name ¡®Luke Turner¡¯ was printed in bold letters.He was the head of the Turner family. Jocelyn¡¯s brows furrowed.She had never thought of getting into a rtionship with the man. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Luke was an average-looking man in his fifties. Besides, he was married and had a son. Jocelyn never wanted to be a mistress. Although she had a string of boyfriends in the past, her goal was to marry into a wealthy family and live a luxurious life. Luke, however, was a married man and not her type or age. Besides, Jocelyn went after good-looking men.She wanted her man to look dashing. The idea of being with a middle-aged fat married man disgusted her. Although the Turner family held a significant position in the city and was one of the wealthiest families, she didn¡¯t consider being in a rtionship with Luke.But she was desperate to find a wealthy partner now. Jocelyn bit her lower lip and mulled it over.She didn¡¯t expect the Lind family would go bankrupt one day. Jocelyn decided to let go of her pride and think about the future. Being poor and struggling to make ends meet seemed far worse than being with a middle-aged married man.She had to rely on a wealthy man to live a sophisticated life, and Luke was the ideal choice. Jocelyn decided to forget everything and just go for it.She called Luke and asked him out for dinner. Luke liked Jocelyn because she was young and beautiful. After all, old men loved pretty young women.He epted her invitation without hesitation. Dinner was just an excuse to get in her pants.He had been waiting for a long time to sleep with a sultry woman like her. To his surprise, Jocelyn, who had rejected him when they first met, seemed excited to meet him now. "It seems like you¡¯ve been going through a hard timetely, Miss Lind," Luke said, taking a sip of wine. He was shrewd. After all, the man was the reason for the Turner family¡¯s sess.He could sense that Jocelyn was going through a hard time. "You¡¯re a smart man, Mr.Turner." Jocelyn smiled. Fiona had taught her how to seduce men. Besides, she had to work harder to be his mistress. Otherwise, the man would toss her away like trash after one night¡¯s pleasure. Luke wasn¡¯t in the mood to beat around the bush.He smiled and slid a room card toward her. "Miss Lind, if you have any problem, you cane to this room to see me.I¡¯ve booked this room for an entire year." Jocelyn chuckled and rubbed her foot against his shins. And, just like that, the two began using each other to fulfill their respective needs. Chapter 184: Transfer Chapter 184: Transfer J saw the morning news and found that Fiona was arrested. The Lind Group was a bit famous in Seacisco. Just then, Hannah came out of the kitchen to call J for breakfast. Seeing her staring at the TV absentmindedly, Hannah w the news. "They should have arrested her a long time ago! Without old Mr.Lind, the family and its business have been falling apart with every passing day." "But, Hannah, thepany has been running without Grandpa all these years." J turned and smiled at her, not bothering to pay attention to the TV anymore.Hannah scoffed. "The Linds have done a lot of bad deeds over the years.I think it¡¯s time for retribution." J grabbed Hannah¡¯s shoulder and stood up. "Well, stop thinking about it.After all, we have nothing to do with the Lind family anymore.It¡¯s all over." She had decided to let go of the past after severing all ties with the Lind family.However, Hannah was old, so she couldn¡¯t stop nagging J.She sat down and continued to watch the news. "I wonder who did it." J took a sip of milk and shook her head. "I don¡¯t have a clue.Fiona has done a lot of bad things, so I¡¯m not surprised.Besides, the Lind family was already on the brink of downfall.It was just a matter of time before they went bankrupt." J wasn¡¯t in the mood to discuss their misfortunate, so she ate quickly. After all, she had nothing to do with the Lind family and didn¡¯t care about them anymore.Seeing that J was about to leave for work, Hannah stopped her. "J?"She cleared her throat and said, "Now that the debt is settled, I think it¡¯s time for me to go back.I prefer living in the vige; city life isn¡¯t for me." She didn¡¯t like the mundane city life where people lived like robots. The neighbors used to invite Hannah home, and they would dance together. But considering she was a slow learner, they had stopped calling her.The life in the countryside seemed happy and peaceful.She could grow vegetables and breed chickens and ducks to kill time. J held the coat and looked at Hannah. "Can¡¯t you stay with me for a couple more days? Living in the countryside on your own isn¡¯t easy.I have nned to buy a house nearby once I save up money.You would move in with me, won¡¯t you?" "Well, there is no one to take care of my vegetables.I have to go back.Otherwise, they will rot in the field." Hannah didn¡¯t want to leave J, either. But going back to her house seemed right because she didn¡¯t want to disturb the young couple. Besides, she could never get used to the busy city life. J sighed and nodded. "Fine, I¡¯ll book a taxi to drop you home after work." It was almost eleven in the evening when J returned home after dropping Hannah at her ce. As soon as she opened the door, strong hands held her waist from behind. Before J could react, she was pinned against the wall. Ethan pressed his body against hers and began unbuttoning her shirt. His breathing came out in pants, and his body was hot with desire. "Let¡¯s go to my room.I want you." This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. "Ethan, I¡¯m a little tired." J was exhausted after the long journey. Ethan¡¯s passionate kisses made her scalp tingle.She didn¡¯t even have the time to turn the light on; Ethan had trapped her in his tight embrace. He slowly opened his eyes and rubbed his heaving chest against hers. "Just lie down.I will do all the work." His voice was thick with lust. "It¡¯s alreadyte.I have to go to work tomorrow.Now that Hannah¡¯s gone, I¡¯ll move back to my room." J turned around and pushed him away. "How about next time? I really am exhausted now." Ethan¡¯s rtionship with Brandon still bothered J. She now suspected that Ethan was gay or at least bisexual, and she just couldn¡¯t give herself to him knowing her boyfriend had another boyfriend. However, Ethan didn¡¯t know what was on J¡¯s mind.He just wanted to consummate their rtionship by making love to her.He wanted their first time to be special and memorable. However, J was right. It was better to save it for another time when both were free and up for it. Ethan bit her earlobe and mumbled, "All right.I¡¯ll let you go this time, but you better sleep in my room." Before J could respond, he cupped her cheeks and kissed her passionately.https://novelebook/He was desperate to make love to her. The news about the fraudsters and their arrest became viral on the Inte. Thereby, all the rumors about J were cleared. The next morning, when J went to work, she bumped into Christopher in the elevator. He was holding an enormous box in his hands "Chris, are you quitting?" J asked in surprise. Christopher shook his head and smiled bitterly. "I¡¯m transferred to our branch in Snape.They¡¯ve appointed me as the new department director." Chapter 185: Masquerade Ball Chapter 185: Masquerade Ball It took half a day to take a bullet train from Snape to Seacisco. Snape was a prominent city that was still under construction, so property prices were much lower than that of Seacisco.In a word, Snape had promise in terms of development. It¡¯d be good if Christopher worked as a department director of thepany in Snape. Although it meant that he couldn¡¯t work in thepany headquarters, it was still a promotion. J sincerely thought this was a good thing. In her eyes, the Larson Group was giving him a chance to achieve his full potential. "It¡¯s all so sudden.I didn¡¯t know it wasing at all.The HR department told me just yesterday that Mr.Larson himself gave the order." Scratching the back of his head, Christopher looked down at J anxiously.It seemed like he wanted to say something but stopped on second thought. "What? Really?" As soon as J heard that Brandon was behind this, she pricked up her ears.Christopher nodded. To his surprise, J frowned deeply, as though she was thinking about something. J wasn¡¯tpletely certain, but there were just too many coincidences between Ethan and Brandon. Otherwise, why else was Christopher suddenly being transferred to a remote office all of a sudden? She knew better than anyone else that Ethan wanted to put as much distance between Christopher and her as possible. J suspected that perhaps Ethan asked Brandon to do this. If Ethan could persuade Brandon to transfer the employee of the Larson Group, what did that say about the rtionship between the two men? Could Brandon value Ethan enough to follow his requests? "Honestly, I¡¯m not too happy about the promotion.I don¡¯t want to move to another city." Christopher tightened his grip around the carton in his hand.He stared at J for a long time with complicated emotions.When he first learned about his transfer, his knee-jerk reaction was to refuse.But after calming down and weighing the pros and cons, he decided to take the promotion.He figured that it would be better this way.He had no future with J anyway. If he stayed away from her long enough, maybe one day his infatuation with her would die down. "Snape isn¡¯t that different from Seacisco.It¡¯ll take some getting used to, but I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be fine." All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Unable to find the words to respond, J pretended to ignore what he said. "Chris, let me see you off." J still kept Ethan¡¯s warning in mind. Now that she couldn¡¯t invite Christopher to dinner, she could only say goodbye to him.She apanied Christopher until he hailed a taxi.As she walked back to her desk, she mulled over the rtionship between Ethan and Brandon once again. The more convinced she was of her theory, the more she wanted to find some evidence to prove it. But even if it turned out to be true, she didn¡¯t know what to do. When she arrived at her desk, only then did she realize that the entire design department was in a state of chaos. Everyone was talking about something excitedly. When Gerda saw her colleague¡¯s questioning look, she excitedly showed J the notice in the chat group. "Lind! Look at the notice!" It turned out that the Larson Group was going to hold a masquerade ball as a reward to the employees. What caught J¡¯s attention was that Brandon was also attending the party. This was the perfect opportunity! If J could take Ethan with her to the ball, that¡¯d put the two men in the same room. That way, she might get a chance to figure out their rtionship. Chapter 186: Dual Identity Chapter 186: Dual Identity J retumed home and invited Ethan to join the ball with her. "A masquerade ball?" Ethan asked breathlessly. Ethan was doing pushups on the balcony.He did a dozen more pushups before standing up.Then, he grabbed a bottle of water, gulped it down, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "When?" J raked her eyes across the chiseled muscles on his waist. A blush med her cheeks, so she quickly averted her gaze and looked at the towering buildings in the distance. "Saturday¡­ Saturday night." With a pensive look on his face, Ethan thought for a while.Then, he threw the empty bottle into the trashcan, walked over to J, and stroked her hair. "I¡¯m on night shift in the convenience store that day.I can pick you up after the party ends though." That night, Ethan was going to attend the party as Brandon, so of course he couldn¡¯t go with J as Ethan.Several veterans and big shots would be attending the party.It would be respectable only if Brandon Larson himself attended the party and received them. "Can¡¯t you trade your shift with someone else? All my colleagues will bring their partners along." J leaned against the ss door, blocking Ethan¡¯s way. Ethan¡¯s response seemed to increase her suspicion. "Then, I won¡¯t go either.Everyone at the ball will have a partner. I¡¯ll feel left out." Then J¡¯s eyes widened as she turned to look at Ethan as if she hade up with a great idea. "Or I can ask if any of my male colleagues can apany me."A frown lined Ethan¡¯s forehead.He saw J running toward the sofa to grab her phone. It looked like she was sending a message to someone. He quickly put on the ck T-shirt lying on the sofa and sat beside her. "I didn¡¯t say I can¡¯t ask for leave that day," he said, taking the phone from her. "Your expression told me that you don¡¯t want toe with me." J looked at him with big innocent doe eyes. Ethan wiped the sweat off his face and smiled helplessly. "Well, what can I say? You¡¯ll really be the death of me." He smiled and returned the phone to her. However, that wasn¡¯t the answer J expected to hear. "Will you be joining me or not?" Ethan picked up his phone and waved it at her. "I¡¯m calling the convenience store now to ask for leave." Going to the ball with J seemed more important to him now. Ethan decided to switch between his two identities. That way, he could h¨ªt two birds with one stone. After all, he didn¡¯t have to show up as Brandon for too long. On the evening of the party.Ethan and J arrived at the venue hand in hand. Everyone was wearing a mask. In addition to its own employees, the Larson Group had also invited some of its partners in the entertainment circle. Fashion models from Fashion Week and female soap opera stars also graced the event. However, the light in the banquet hall was dim, and they all had masks on their faces. Recognizing even the most well-known people seemed like a difficult task. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. J strolled around the dance floor.https://novelebook/She wanted to find Brandon. "I need to go to the bathroom." Ethan let go of her wrist and broke out of the crowd. J nodded and secretly followed him to the bathroom. The light was brighter here. J¡¯s eyes were fixed on Ethan, so she didn¡¯t notice the woman walking toward her. The woman bumped against J, almost spilling the wine on her beautiful, long dress. "Ah! Are you blind? Don¡¯t you have eyes?" "The woman bellowed in rage. "I¡¯m sorry.I¡¯m looking for someone," J said as her eyes continued to search for Ethan. The woman was also wearing a mask, but she still looked like a regal beauty.She was wearing an elegant dress, and her assistant apanied her, so J concluded the woman was a celebrity. However, her eyes widened when she saw the woman¡¯s light green silk dress. They both were wearing almost the same outfit. Chapter 187: Cheap Imitation Chapter 187: Cheap Imitation The woman turned to look at J as well.She froze for a brief second, then her eyes narrowed into slits. ¡®Is she a celebrity, too?¡¯ J was a gorgeous woman, but not in the way that most women in showbiz were. She wasn¡¯t the type to turn heads at first nce, but her charms never failed to make asting impression on everyone she met. Needless to say, this quality of hers attracted jealousy from other women inasmuch as it inspired admiration in most men. Emani Gomez shot J a look of displeasure, which only darkened when she realized that they were wearing an almost identical evening dress as hers¡ªthe same style, in the exact same color. And it looked far more beautiful on J. Emani nced at her assistant pointedly.The girl understood the message at once, and she proceeded to point a finger at J. "Hey, you!" she snapped in an arrogant tone. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. "Who the hell do you think you are? You almost bumped into Miss Gomez just now.Hurry and apologize." J¡¯s brows furrowed. "You said ¡®almost¡¯, so I haven¡¯t really done anything to her, have I? Why should I apologize?" The assistant sputtered, obviously taken aback. "How dare you¡ªWhere are your manners? Well, whatever! Go and change your clothes.Don¡¯t you see that you¡¯re wearing the same dress as Miss Gomez?" J cocked her head to the side, wondering what the fuss was all about.She didn¡¯t think it was a big deal at all. Granted, the woman was a star, so it was understandable that she wouldn¡¯t be keen on having anyone wear the same outfit to the same event. If only they had asked her nicely, then J would have dly obliged. Unfortunately for them, she wasn¡¯t the type to tolerate rude and presumptuous people. "Why should I change?" J countered. With that, she turned on her heel, intending to continue her search for Ethan. But the assistant suddenly grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her back forcefully. "Whichpany are you from, you ungrateful bitch? Do you have any idea who she is? She is the Emani Gomez! You can never afford to offend her, not even in your dreams!" J nced sideways at the actress. She was tall and slender, with dark and shiny curls framing her delicate features. J was all too aware of Emani¡¯s identity. In addition to being a popr star of their age, she was also the new face for the Larson Group¡¯s clothing business. Emani wore a butterfly-shaped mask which covered half her face, so J didn¡¯t recognize her just now.She didn¡¯t look half as pretty nor sexy as she did on the screen. Maybe it was because of her heavy makeup, but she was looking particrly tacky. J shook off the assistant¡¯s hold and stared straight at Emani. "I am not an actress, but a designer for the Larson Group.And I am not changing my clothes.I can wear whatever I want; you have no right to give me orders.If you¡¯re so bothered by the simrity, then you can go and change yourself." The assistant huffed, and she began to roll her sleeves up, ready to teach J a lesson. "You! You¡¯re just another employee of thepany; how dare you act so arrogant? Don¡¯t me me for punishing you, since you brought this upon yourself!" The air around them crackled with tension. Emani instantly stepped between them. "Watch yourself," she chided her assistant. "We must not ruin Mr.Larson¡¯s party on ount of this nobody.Let it go." She gripped the girl¡¯s hand and gave J a sneer. "My assistant was being impulsive just now.Let me put it bluntly.Your dress is just a knockoff, right? The details are very different from the ones on mine.It wouldn¡¯t be good for you to wear such a cheap imitation to this kind of party.I¡¯m afraid you will only embarrass yourself if you insist on wearing it for the rest of the event." Chapter 188: Limited Edition Chapter 188: Limited Edition J looked down at her dress. It was one of the articles of clothing that Brandon had asked her to keep. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m not wearing a knock-off,¡± she argued. She knew that Brandon would never give her something fake. Emani sighed heavily, as though she felt sorry for the poor J. She straightened the bead drops on J¡¯s evening dress for her and smiled. ¡°Then show me thebel on the cor of your dress. I¡¯m good friends with the designer of this dress, so I¡¯ve seen it before. The logo on thebel should be embroidered in gold thread.¡± Without hesitation, J showed her thebel. Sure enough, the thread was not golden, but purple and silver. The assistant took one nce at it and burst into peals ofughter. ¡°See? And you had the audacity to argue with me! You said that your dress isn¡¯t a fake, but look at the evidence. You¡¯d better change into another dress, sweetheart. You¡¯re just a regr employee. How on earth did you expect me to believe you could afford a dress worth hundreds of thousands of dors?¡± There were other female guests who were headed to thedies¡¯ room. When they heard the quarrel, they couldn¡¯t help but prick their ears. ¡°Oh, look! It¡¯s J!¡± The women exchanged nces and smiled. They were all keen to see J make a fool of herself. After what had happened with J¡¯s foster parents and the usury lenders, J had be a hot topic in the Larson Grouptely. Just then,dies¡¯ room¡¯s door swung open and Tiffany strode out. She was wiping her fingers carefully with a tissue in her hand. When she saw thebel on J¡¯s clothes, she looked surprised. Her eyes wide with awe, she asked, ¡°Lind, is this the limited edition spring dress Power released?¡± J was confused by Tiffany¡¯s question. Truth be told, she had no idea what brand this dress was. ¡°Is¡­ Is it expensive?¡± When she heard the words ¡°limited edition¡±, she knew the dress must¡¯ve cost a fortune. She didn¡¯t expect Brandon to be so generous to her. ¡°Of course it¡¯s expensive! Most importantly, even if you had the money, you might not be able to get your hands on one,¡± Tiffany chuckled, her eyes twinkling. Then she turned to look at Emani, who was standing in front of her, and tossed her crumpled-up tissue into the trash can. ¡°Miss Gomez, what a coincidence to see you here! Is that a basic you¡¯re wearing? Honey, you¡¯re a star. You shouldn¡¯t be wearing something so basic. What? You couldn¡¯t borrow a high- end dress? You should¡¯ve asked me for help. You know I¡¯m on good terms with Power¡¯s designers.¡± Emani had fallen silent ever since Tiffany showed up. Tiffany was famous in the designing industry. Nobody dared to offend her-not even Emani though she was the brand spokesperson of the Larson Group. Hearing what Tiffany said, Emani looked very embarrassed and lowered her head. She feebly tried to change the topic and said, ¡°Ms. Fisher, it¡¯s nice to see you again.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been so long.¡± Tiffany said dryly. novelebook . Then she smiled and turned to look at J. ¡°Lind, you¡¯re a designer and you¡¯re supposed to know what you wear. You should keep learning at least the works of famous brands. The piece you¡¯re wearing is authentic. Because it¡¯s a limited edition, the fabric and style have been upgraded. There are only five of these in existence, and they¡¯re worth a ton of money and are only avable to the top VIP customers. Chapter 189: Brandon Came Chapter 189: Brandon Came On the surface, Tiffany was just exining the facts to J, but in fact, she was deliberately putting Emani in her ce. She had worked with Emani before, and she didn¡¯t like her from the very beginning. In her eves arrogant. How could she just stand by and watch as Emani bully her co-worker? Both Emani and her assistant were stunned speechless. So was J She took a deep breath to calm down. She had no idea that Brandon had given her such expensive clothes. Emani was so embarrassed that the thickyer of foundation on her face couldn¡¯t cover her reddened cheeks. Without saying another word, she turned around to leave. But before she could storm off, Tiffany stopped her. ¡°Where are you going, honey? I heard that dress¡¯designer ising tonight. I thought you were friends with her? How about we go to her and have a chat?¡± Emani¡¯s heart leaped to her throat. She was just bluffing earlier. She couldn¡¯t even borrow a decent dress for the party, so how could she know the designer? ¡°No, thanks. Something urgent came up.¡± Emani forced a smile and turned around once more. She had to get out of here. But before leaving, she stole onest nce at J. Emani hadn¡¯t recognized J at first and had thought that she was just a nobody that she could bully. But now, it seemed she had made a mistake. Seeing that the onlookers around had already left, Tiffany decided to let Emani go. ¡°Okay then. By the way, Emani, a word of advice-take off that basic dress. You¡¯re a celebrity. Don¡¯t you think you should dress better than J, a ¡®regr employee¡¯ as you said? ¡°Okay. Thanks for the advice, Ms. Fisher.¡± Emani was secretly furious, but she couldn¡¯t deny how expensive J¡¯s dress was. Perhaps J wasn¡¯t just the ordinary employee she thought she was. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Not daring to say anything more, she could only leave, sulking, with her assistant and change her clothes in one of the stalls. She gritted her teeth angrily. She hated J for this. ¡°What¡¯re you looking for?¡± Tiffany eyed J questioningly, who seemed to be looking for something. ¡°Nothing¡­ Anyway, thank you for your help, Ms. Fisher,¡± J said gratefully. Tiffany shrugged nonchntly and gave her a small smile before leaving. J stayed where she was and continued to wait outside the men¡¯s room. Ethan had been in the men¡¯s room for a while now. Just as she considered calling him, on the other end of the hall, the lights suddenly went out. Only a ringly white spotlight lit up the stage. The audience apuded, and everyone turned to focus on the tall man onstage. J could tell from the man¡¯s figure that he was Brandon. He was wearing a ck mask and a suit. Facing the audience, he gave a simple opening speech. ¡°Last but not least, enjoy the night.¡± As soon as he finished his speech, the lights went out again. Brandon descended from the stage and disappeared behind the ck curtain. Intrigued, J wanted to know where he went and whether he would stay for the ballter. But there was no way of knowing his ns. Now that Brandon was gone, she withdrew her gaze from the stage and turned to face the door to the men¡¯s room. Ethan still hadn¡¯te out. She paced back and forth outside the bathroom. After waiting for a few minutes, she finally got impatient. She anxiously called Ethan, who answered the phone after several rings. ¡°Ethan, are you okay? Why haven¡¯t youe out yet?¡± Chapter 190: Brandon And Ethan Chapter 190: Brandon And Ethan ¡°Sorry, I have an upset stomach. I need to stay here a bit longer, but I think I¡¯m almost done,¡± Ethan said with difficulty. He seemed to be ufortable judging from the tone of his voice. There was only one way in and out of the men¡¯s room, and Ethan couldn¡¯t have gone anywhere, so J didn¡¯t think too much about it. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you outside the bathroom.¡± After a slight pause, she pursed her lips and added in a concerned voice, ¡°If you don¡¯t feel well, do you need me to look for some medicine for you? Maybe you ate something bad. Do you have diarrhea?¡± This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. But as far as she could recall, she and Ethan had eaten the same food that day....... ¡°No, no, it¡¯s okay. Just wait there. I¡¯ll be right out.¡± A very low sigh came from the other end of the line then Ethan hung up the phone. J was idly tinkering with her phone when a tall and strong figure loomed in front of her. It was none other than Brandon. He was wearing a ck mask that covered his eyes and nose, exposing only his mouth and a pair of ck pupils. Startled, J nearly gasped, but she quickly recovered. ¡°Good evening, Mr. Larson.¡± Why didn¡¯t Brandon make a sound when he walked? He was like a ghost. Without saying a word, Brandon nodded at J and strode into the men¡¯s room. J instantly felt that something was off. Ethan was in the bathroom, too. She quickly dialed his number again. Unbeknownst to her, inside the men¡¯s room, Brandon had just entered the second stall and was changing his clothes as quickly as he could. Just as Ethan took off his pants, his phone started ringing again. He quickly put on his pants and didn¡¯t even have the time to buckle up. Panicked, he fished his phone out of the pocket of his suit and answered the call. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Why did it take you so long to answer the phone?¡± J asked, her voice dripping with suspicion. ¡°I was washing my hands so I couldn¡¯t pick up right away.¡± Ethan¡¯s forehead broke out in cold sweat as he lied through his teeth. ¡°Oh, okay. Hurry up.¡± Without waiting for a response, J hung up the phone. A few minutester, Ethan finally came out. J walked around him and inspected his clothing. Narrowing her eyes in suspicion, she asked, ¡°What took you so long? Why are your clothes wrinkled?¡± She could clearly see the creases on Ethan¡¯s suit.Besides, when Brandon went to the bathroom just now, it took Ethan a while before he answered the phone.Did something happen between the two of them in the bathroom? When this thought crossed her mind, J frowned deeply. She asked Ethan in a roundabout way, ¡°Did you run into Brandon in the bathroom? He went in just now.¡± Ethan could keenly sense that J was onto something. Although he wasn¡¯t sure exactly what she was thinking, he knew that it definitely wasn¡¯t something good. He broke into a smile and put his arm around her shoulder, intending to take her to the dance floor. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. Did I make you wait long? Are you tired? Do you want to get something to eat?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hungry yet. You really didn¡¯t see Brandon?¡± J asked persistently even as Ethan nearly dragged her away from the men¡¯s room. She kept looking back, paying close attention to the bathroom door. Seeing this, Ethan stopped and asked, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± J took his hand and started walking back toward the bathroom. ¡°Why are you in such a hurry? I just found out that the clothes Brandon gave me were super expensive. Let¡¯s wait for him toe out. I have to thank him properly.¡± Ethan pressed his fingers against the area between his eyebrows, feeling helpless. He could do nothing but follow as J pulled him back to the men¡¯s room, not knowing how to deal with the current situation. After checking the time on her phone, J looked at the bathroom door and pursed her lips. ¡°Brandon has been in there for so long. Why hasn¡¯t hee out yet?¡± Chapter 191: Worried About Brandon Chapter 191: Worried About Brandon For a second, Ethan was at a loss, But then a thought urred to him. In a low voice, he whispered to her, ¡°Everyone¡¯s staring. Just text him a ¡®thank you¡¯ message. You don¡¯t have to keep staring at the men¡¯s room. People might think you¡¯re a pervert.¡± Only then did J realize that everyone who passed by the bathroom had looked at her strangely. Perhaps it was because she looked as though she was guarding the door. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll text him.¡± Then she took out her phone and tapped away, typing out a message to Brandon. Sure enough, when she hit send, the phone in Ethan¡¯s pocket vibrated. He didn¡¯t dare to take out his phone to check the message she texted him just now. The text remained unread. She had sent him two messages, but they were both unread.Wouldn¡¯t Brandon check his phone in the men¡¯s room? Why were her texts still unread? ¡°I¡¯m a little worried. Do you think something bad happened to him? Should we ask the staff to go in and check if he¡¯s alright in there?¡± J turned to Ethan worriedly. ¡°What if he fainted?¡± Ethan closed his eyes. His temples throbbed. Judging from the look on J¡¯s face, it looked like she wouldn¡¯t leave until she saw Brandone out safe and sound. Fortunately, just then, Garrett showed up. ¡°What are you two doing outside the men¡¯s room?¡± Garrett unbuttoned his two suit buttons and smiled politely. Just as he was about to walk inside, J stopped him. ¡°Mr. Harding, Mr. Larson has been in there for a long time. I¡¯m starting to worry about him. Can you ask someone to go in and check if he¡¯s alright?¡± Panic was written all over J¡¯s pretty face, her eyes wide with worry. Garret nced at Ethan, who was winking at him furiously, and he immediately understood what was going on. Speechless, he racked his brains for a solution. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll call someone over in a bit¡± Finally, an idea urred to him. ¡°Do you want to meet the new spokesperson of the Larson Group? I heard from Tiffany that the design department is preparing for the winter collections already.¡± Garrett forced a smile, although internally, his stomach was doing flip-flops. If he couldn¡¯t get Ethan out of this sticky situation as soon as possible, he might lose his job. When it came to matters about work, J was serious. After giving it some though, she turned to Ethan and held up her phone. ¡°I¡¯ll go with Mr. Harding. Call youter.¡± Ethan smiled at her gently and nodded. ncing at Garrett gratefully, he turned around, walked out of the hall, and slumped into a chair. Then, Garrett quickly led J to the center of the ball. There was a bar counter there, where men and women in all kinds of fancy clothes were talking andughing merrily. Garrett looked around the people in one of the booths then his eyes lit up. He held up his hand in greeting to the woman sitting in the innermost corner. Under the dim lights, the woman then approached him with a bright smile on her face. Emani strode over to them. When she saw that it was J who was standing next to Garrett, her expression changed dramatically. J smiled back at her politely, but there was no mistaking the fierce look in her eyes. Garrett didn¡¯t know what had happened between the two girls just now, so he introduced the two to each other. ¡°This is Emani Gomez. You¡¯ve probably heard of her before. She starred in a lot of famous TV dramas as well as a lot ofmercials.¡± This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. With a calm look on her face, J stretched out her hand to Emani and said, ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± Chapter 192: Complaint Chapter 192: Comint ¡°J Lind is a promising and talented designer. We¡¯re about to start our winter collection. Emani, if you have any ideas or suggestions, just tell J.¡± Garrett was grinning as he introduced the two ladies, but then he saw that Emani looked a little disgruntled, while J¡¯s attitude seemed a bit strange, too. ¡°Have you two met before?¡± Garrett nced at J questioningly. He had only done this to separate J from Ethan in order to buy Ethan some time. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I just met Miss Gomez in the bathroom earlier,¡± J answered dryly. She didn¡¯t want things to get nasty. J had nothing to fear. Emani was the one who started the fight, and J didn¡¯t do anything wrong. Still, she didn¡¯t want to make things awkward for Emani since she was a celebrity Emani rolled her eyes and sneered. Earlier, she had worried that J was from some rich and powerful family. After all, the Larson Group had invited many important figures tonight. So when they had the small scuffle earlier, Emani was scared that she might¡¯ve offended someone she shouldn¡¯t have. Now that she knew that J was indeed just an ordinary employee of the design department of the Larson Group, she guessed that J must¡¯ve just borrowed the designer dress from thepany. So she grewcent and threw caution to the wind. ¡°Yes. We met earlier. She left a deep impression on me,¡± Emani said in a voice that oozed with sarcasm. Garrett raised his eyebrows. He could keenly feel the highly charged atmosphere here. Initially, he had nned to leave the twodies to talk after introducing them. After all, they were both women so he figured they would find out something inmon. But now it seemed that he couldn¡¯t just leave. Emani was an arrogant, self-centered, and domineering woman, which left J at a disadvantage. ¡°Did something happen between you two?¡± Garrett asked with a straight face. As he spoke, he plucked a ss of champagne from the tray of a waiter passing by.Now that Garrett had asked, Emani grew emboldened. ¡°Mr. Harding, I do have some ideas, but your designer doesn¡¯t seem to have any manners.¡± ¡°Mr. Harding, that¡¯s not¡ª¡± J started to protest. But Garrett raised his hand to show that he didn¡¯t need any exnation from J. Knowing that Emani was just going to speak ill of J, he yed dumb. ¡°J is still young and inexperienced. Emani, even you used to be like that before. Now you¡¯re matured and much experienced. Why can¡¯t you be more tolerant of our new employee?¡± Emani was infuriated by his words. She pointed at J and said in a shrill voice, ¡°Mr. Harding, you don¡¯t know what happened. She wore a dress simr to mine, but your designer had the audacity to ask me to change my dress!¡± Emani jutted her chin out arrogantly. She was a popr star now. J was below her. Now that she had exined what had happened to Garrett, she thought that he would finally take her side and put J in her ce. Sipping his champagne, Garrett looked Emani¡¯s dress up and down. ¡°I think the dress you were wearing earlier didn¡¯t suit you. You look much better in this one.¡± . Emani was dumbfounded. She never expected that she would hear such a thing from Garrett. Everyone in the circle knew that Garrett was a smooth operator. He had always been gentle and privy to women. While Garrett hadn¡¯t tantly insulted Emani, it was still obvious that he was on J¡¯s side. Chapter 193: Misunderstanding Chapter 193: Misunderstanding As far as Emani could think, there seemed to be only one possibility as to why Garrett was protective of J.J was either his girlfriend, or he was nning to ask her out. Thinking of it, Emani couldn¡¯t help but nce at J¡¯s dress again. Garrett was famous for his generosity. She wondered if the dress was his gift to J. Emani then turned to look at J. She was indeed a beautiful woman, so it wouldn¡¯t be a surprise if Garrett liked her ¡°You¡¯re right, Mr. Harding.¡± She forced a smile at J, her eyes no longer domineering as before. She looked calm andposed even though she wasn¡¯t happy about it. ¡°This dress does look better on you than it did on me, Miss Lind.¡± ¡°Thank you, Miss Gomez,¡± J could still sense the sarcasm in her words. She was impressed at how fast Emani had changed her attitude. The woman would make a fortune If she acted for a living. Garrett didn¡¯t say anything more. He took a sip of the champagne and nced at the dancing floor. Ethan was walking toward the hall. Garrett looked away and nced at Emani. ¡°You guys carry on.¡± Emani wasn¡¯t in the mood to talk with J. She looked down upon women who seduced men and then slept their way to the top. But she couldn¡¯t afford to offend Garrett. Therefore, she had no choice but to smile at her and carry on a polite conversation. ¡°Did Mr. Harding gift this dress to you?¡± J shook her head. ¡°Thepany held a dinner partyst time, and my evening dress got stained. So he lent this dress to me.¡± However, Emani didn¡¯t believe it. She assumed J was ashamed to admit her rtionship with Garrett simple because she was just his mistress. There were many such women in the industry. Besides, Garrett was a well-known yboy. Sensing that Emani had misunderstood her, J hurriedly waved her hand to rify herself. ¡°Mr. Harding and I work in the samepany. That¡¯s all.¡± Emani arched an eyebrow, still doubting her words. ¡°Right, of course,¡± she said perfunctorily Garrett had brought J here just to distract her so she would cut Ethan some ck. Seeing Emani now eye J with suspicion, he quickly exined, ¡°Emani, when did you be inquisitive? You shouldn¡¯t jump to conclusions.¡± Garrett looked stern. He feared there would be another misunderstanding. After all, Ethan was here; he didn¡¯t want to make him unhappy and face his wrath. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Hearing that, Emani returned to her booth without uttering another word. ¡°Shall we go back, Mr. Harding, or should we go and check on Mr. Larson?¡± J didn¡¯t want to talk to Emani from the very beginning. She hated the woman for what had happened earlier. J would never get along with such an arrogant woman. ¡°Mr. Larson is fine. He is busy with his work and has already left,¡± Garrett said, pretending to look at his phone. J took her phone and found that Brandon had texted her back. ¡°You are wee.¡± The message was brief and concise. Chapter 194: Are You Sleeping Together Chapter 194: Are You Sleeping Together With onest nce around the banquet hall, Garrett surmised that Ethan was no longer in danger of being exposed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry but I need to help my girlfriend with something. Shall I walk you to your husband?¡± With a smile, he gestured in the direction of the gate. After a moment¡¯s consideration, J nodded and followed him into the garden. Ethan was seated in one of the benches outside, his legs crossed, a ss of wine in his hand. Garrett didn¡¯t linger. He all but fled the scene after escorting J to her husband. ¡°What are you doing out here? Aren¡¯t you cold?¡± J plopped down on the bench opposite Ethan¡¯s with a huff. Her eyes were clouded with disappointment. She hade here for nothing. She didn¡¯t even get to see Ethan and Brandon together. ¡°It¡¯s too noisy in there,¡± Ethan replied softly. He took a sip of his wine as the music from the ballroom started to dwindle down. He heaved an inward sigh of relief. The party was finallying to an end. Ethan nced at J and found her fiddling with her fingers, seemingly deep in thought. He walked over and held out his hand. ¡°Shall we go home?¡± His voice jolted her back to her senses. J nodded and epted his hand. There was no point in staying when Brandon had already left. The Larson Group had pre-arranged for cars and chauffeurs to send the guests home. Wearing a mask, Sean pretended to be the driver and opened the door for Ethan. J slumped in the backseat, her eyes fixed outside the window. She remained quiet and dejected throughout the drive. Despite her best efforts to distract herself, she just couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the rtionship between Ethan and Brandon. She would sneak nces at the man beside her from time to time. J considered asking him once and for all, but ultimately decided against it. It wasn¡¯t an easy question, after all, and who was to say that Ethan would tell her the truth? As for the man in question, he had sensed that something was bothering J since the moment she had joined him back at the garden. And yet, he somehow knew that she was still unaware that he and Brandon were the same person. Otherwise, she would have confronted him there and then. Ethan reached over and closed the window on her side. A slight tension fell in the car, which Sean took as his cue to slow down. Ethan gathered J into his arms. ¡°Is there something in your mind? Perhaps something you would like to ask me?¡± This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. He always wanted to know what she was thinking, especially when her thoughts started bothering her. They might have grown closer recently, but Ethan couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that J had put up a wall between them. A couple of times, she had instinctively recoiled from his touch, and other times, she would avoid it altogether. J snuggled into his tight embrace and pondered her options. After some hesitation, she decided it would be better to just ask him directly instead of repeatedly overthinking matters without reaching a conclusion. ¡°You and Brandon¡­ Are you¡­¡± Her voice was so quiet that Ethan had to lean close to hear her properly. ¡°Are we what?¡± he prompted. J took a deep, fortifying breath, then pulled back and looked Ethan in the eye. ¡°Are you sleeping together?¡± Chapter 195: Prove It To You Chapter 195: Prove It To You Ethan choked on air with shock. His hold on J cked as he covered his mouth and coughed violently. He was flushed and out of breath by the time he recovered, and even his ears were burning. Sean was just as startled by J¡¯s question that he lost control of the steering wheel. The car swerved to the side of the road and almost ran into a tree before he finally got it back on trackSean thumped his fist against his chest and bit his lips in an effort topose himself. ¡°Where in the world did you get that idea?¡± Ethan asked, his face a mask of disbelief. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. It was J¡¯s turn to blush. By all ounts, she was still a conservative and rather pure woman, and this topic was throwing her out of herfort zone.She lowered her head and fiddled with her fingers nervously. ¡°When you said you were going to see Brandon, you made it sound like you two are very close. And remember the big fight we had over Christopher? Shortly after, he was transferred to Snape. I heard that Brandon was behind it, but what reason could he possibly have to do that all of a sudden?¡± Ethan let out a short, helpless sigh. ¡°Have you ever considered that it might all be just coincidence?¡± ¡°Oh, please. There can¡¯t be so many coincidences happening around me in such a short span of time. Brandon has also helped me numerous times in thepany. I only told him a few words regarding that incident with Hannah, and he took care of it right away. Is that still a coincidence?¡± J was turning frantic. The more she said the words out loud, the more convinced she was of her presumptions. ¡°Besides, you said so yourself that Brandon isn¡¯t into women, so there¡¯s no way he¡¯s doing these things because he likes me. So why would he go to such lengths for my sake?¡± When she put it this way, Ethan had to admit that she made a lot of sense. He floundered for a moment, unable toe up with anything to refute her ims with. Sean nced at them through the rearview mirror and snickered under his breath. He silently praised J for her wild imagination. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood everything. It¡¯s not what you think.¡± Ethan closed his eyes and rubbed his nose. He racked his brains for a reasonable exnation, all to no avail. Worse, J thought he was being nonchnt about the matter. ¡°Well, why don¡¯t you make it clear to me, then?¡± she demanded. ¡°Not to mention that you and Brandon were holed up in the men¡¯s bathroom earlier. You were right there when he went inside, weren¡¯t you? You stayed there for minutes on end!¡± What the hell had they been doing? Thoughts of the two men locked in an embrace had already been swirling in J¡¯s head, and she couldn¡¯t bear to think any further into the possibilities. Ethan blinked at her, both impressed and appalled at her creativity. ¡°I didn¡¯t see Brandon,¡± he said, following it up with a silent curse at Garrett. He shouldn¡¯t have gone along with the bastard¡¯s n in the first ce. Ethan had practically just shot his own foot with it. J heaved a deep sigh. She didn¡¯t believe a single word he said. She fell back wearily against her seat and looked out the window again.They had arrived at their neighborhood at this point, and the car slowly came to a halt in front of their apartment building Wasting no time, J threw her door open and rushed outside, leaving Ethan staring at her back. She burst into their home and angrily tossed her mask into the trash bin, feeling upset for some reason. Despite their intimacy and rtive closeness, she felt as though she knew nothing about Ethan at all. He came through the door just a few momentster. He had taken off his suit jacket and draped it over his arm. Ethan discarded it to the side, then strode over to J and pulled her into his arms. His face was serious, and his tone was firm when he said, ¡°I promise you, it¡¯s not what you think. I can¡¯t give you a proper exnation right now,but I need you to trust me when I say that you are mistaken.¡± J made a feeble attempt to struggle against his grasp, but she could only look up at him in the end. He didn¡¯t seem to be lying, but she couldn¡¯t dispel her doubts just yet. ¡°How can I trust you?¡± she challenged. Ethan¡¯s eyes immediately darkened at that, and he leaned close until their breaths mingled. ¡°I can prove it to you,¡± he whispered. The burning lust in his eyes made J swallow. Without warning, Ethan picked her up and carried her into the bedroom. The next thing J knew, her back was on the mattress, and his hot, hard body was pressing on top of her. Ethan grabbed her thighs and wrapped her legs around his waist before trapping her wrists above her head. He held them in ce with one hand, while the other traveled down to her chest, squeezing her soft flesh as he sucked on her lower lip ¡°I can prove to you right here, right now, that I¡¯m only interested in women,¡± he said, his voice dangerously low. ¡°I can prove it to you any time you want. I¡¯m just not sure that you can handle it.¡± Chapter 196: Pretend To Be Asleep Chapter 196: Pretend To Be Asleep J flinched back in fear.She involuntarily pressed her knees tight as she felt something hard and hot between her thighs.It was getting bigger and hotter. "No, you don¡¯t have to prove anything.I trust you." J hurriedly turned her head to avoid Ethan¡¯s kiss. Her face turned red as the temperature in her body seemed to rise with every passing second. Women were always attracted to domineering men who took control. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Ethan loosened his grip on her wrist and kissed her cheek.He then leaned closer and rubbed her earlobes. "Were you unsure because we haven¡¯t had sex yet?" "I didn¡¯t mean that.Wait a minute.I¡­ I need to go to the bathroom." J was so nervous that her toes curled up.She tried getting up, but Ethan pinned her against the bed. "Do you really think you can escape from me? Don¡¯t try to change the subject.You suspected that I might be into men, right? I will prove my sexuality to you, right here, right now." Ethan grinned and bent forward. J¡¯s heart was racing in her chest.She was not ready for this yet. J crossed her arms over her chest as if bracing herself from him.Her eyes had turned red; she looked miserable. "Give me a moment.I haven¡¯t changed yet.This dress is very expensive. I can¡¯t afford to pay for it. "Fine." Ethan touched her chin and grinned. He withdrew his hand and stepped back. "Okay, I¡¯ll wait for you." J hurried to the wardrobe, picked the first outfit she could find, and ran into the bathroom. Her racing heart finally slowed down when she closed the door behind her. She stared at herself in the mirror and found that her cheeks had turned deliciously red.She covered her face and looked away. J hid in the bathroom for a long time as she rubbed the body lotion all over her body. About ten minutes after her shower, she slowly opened thetch and peeked out. The room was dead silent.She finally pushed the door open and walked outside. Ethan wasn¡¯t in the bedroom.She nced at the living room and saw him standing on the balcony, talking over the phone to someone. J breathed a sigh of relief, sneaked into her room, and covered herself with the nket. Ethan returned minutester.He didn¡¯t look happy. It seemed like the phone call had ruined his mood.He closed the door and saw J fully covered in the nket. Ethan also went to take a shower. When he walked out of the bathroom, he saw that J was lying on the bed, with her eyes closed. She didn¡¯t move, but Ethan could see that her eyshes were trembling as if she was trying hard to keep her eyes closed. He knew that J was pretending to be asleep, and that was why she looked nervous. "J?" Ethan intentionally called her, gently patting her shoulder. However, J didn¡¯t respond, trying to make it seem like she was fast asleep and didn¡¯t hear him. Ethan nced at the clock on the bedside table.It was eleven at night. They had enough time, so he closed the automatic blinds with the remote control and smiled at her. Chapter 197: Charis Turner Chapter 197: Charis Turner J stared as the blinds slowly closed, her eyes wide.Shey on the bed, stiff as a board. There was a rustling sound as Ethan lifted the covers and joined her. He braced himself on one elbow and straddled her thighs with his long, muscr leg.His fingers stroked her hair and syed them across the pillow. "Are you asleep?" Ethan¡¯s hand slowly crept around her waist, then down the front of her leg.He clicked his tongue yfully. "How are you mping your legs so tightly when you¡¯re already fast asleep?" His words only made J press her thighs even more tightly together, preventing him from doing what he wanted. "If you keep this up, I¡¯m going to slide my fingers in.You know you can¡¯t stop me." Ethan¡¯s voice was low and dangerous. He blew lightly on her ear before pressing his lips against the sensitive skin. "No¡ª" J blurted out before she could stop herself. "Ethan¡­" She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling. He was frightening her. She hadn¡¯t missed the massive bulge of his crotch back when they had taken a shower together before.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. "Aren¡¯t you going to say something else, hmm?" Ethan whispered to her now, his hot breath drifting over to her nape. The scent of their body wash lingered in the air. When J didn¡¯t answer right away, he pressed closer against her until his broad chest covered the width of her back Ethan gave her thigh a squeeze before diverting his attention to her shoulders. There, he caressed her skin with feather-light touches before tugging the strap of her night gown off.He could feel her shiver as it raced down her spine.He leaned over and licked the curve of her neck. When she still didn¡¯t turn around, Ethan finally rolled her over to face him. "Are you crying? Are you so afraid of me that you would cry? Weren¡¯t you the one who asked me to take you to bed before?" J sniffed. It was true that she was a little frightened because she heard that the first time would always hurt, but she knew she also wanted him. "Why are wasting your time talking nonsense? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m resisting¡­" She averted her gaze as she spoke, embarrassed at how ridiculous she was acting.Ethan chuckled softly. He perfectly understood what she meant.He pinched her cheek and kissed her-gently and with affection.It was a kiss of reassurance. When he pulled back, he asked, "Are you still scared?" J shook her head, her cheeks burning as Ethan grinned. "In that case, let¡¯s kiss for a while, shall we?" He took her face in both hands and swooped in for another, longer kiss. J loved his kisses.Her arms instinctively snaked around his neck to bring him closer. In the next second, however, she flinched and pushed against his shoulders. "Ethan! Leave my belly alone, I¡¯m ticklish!" Ethanughed and gave her another peck.He was done ying now.He loomed over her, trapping her between his powerful legs. She had stoked the fire of his desire, and he could no longer contain it.He made quick work of discarding his pajama bottoms. "I can put it in, right?" Even as he asked, he was already grinding his groin against hers. J bit her lower lip, hesitating.He took advantage of the pause and took off his pajama top. "We have nothing better to do for the rest of the night, We might as well¡­ Right?" J had no reason to refuse, of course.They had finally cleared up their misunderstandings, so there was no point in holding back. "Hmm,"she nodded.Her voice was quiet and timid, but Ethan heard it. He needed no further encouragement. With one swift motion, he pushed her night gown up to reveal her plump breasts, J felt a hotness rush toward her thighs, and her pulse quickened in anticipation. Ethan could tell with that she was ready for him.He reached for the night stand and fumbled around the first drawer.He had bought a box of condoms shortly after confessing his affections for J. Little had he known then that he wouldn¡¯t have any use for them until now. Just as he was finally able to find the prized box, his phone began to buzz on the night stand. Ethan growled.He had already been thwarted by a phone call once; he wasn¡¯t keen on letting it happen again.He grabbed the device, fully intending to hang up and turn it off altogether. "Who is it?"J asked. Curious, she sat up and peeked over his shoulder.She nced at his phone and saw the caller ID disyed on the screen. "Charis Turner". A woman¡¯s name. Chapter 198: Coming Back Chapter 198: Coming Back ¡°ls it out friends¡± J wrapped herself in the nket and sat on the bed Her face still looked flushed. She pulled the ck rubber band on her wrist with her teeth and tied her hair into a messy bun Her intuition told her that something was wrong Charit was a woman¡¯ name .J had lived with Ethan for so long, but he had never mentioned any woman, including this Charia. She didn¡¯t think he had a close rtionship with any woman Besides, considering the woman had called him at this how it seemed apparent she had a special rtionship with Ethan knew that Charis was returning from brand We just didn¡¯t expect to receive a call from her at this hour ¡°She¡¯s an acquaintance. I think she has called to tell me something¡± Ethan exined briefly. He couldn''t think about anything else whe was lying beside him. Her body was soft and tender, as if she had no bones Although she looked petite, ripples of pleasure had exploded in Ethan¡¯s body as he cupped her warm flesh whilst caressing her smooth skin. Ethan couldn¡¯t contain his excitement anymore. He leaned closer to kiss her again, but J pushed him away ¡°Why haven¡¯t you mentioned her before? Why is she calling youte at night?¡± J asked, cocking her head to the side ¡°She lives abroad now. It¡¯s morning there. She is probably too busy to remember the time difference,¡± he said, wrapping his arm around J¡¯s shoulder. Charis was a workaholic. She would drown in work and forget that she had a personal life. Ethan liked coborating with such people who put work above everything else. That was one of the reasons why he started a business with Charis J felt there was something more to it. Things weren¡¯t as honest as Ethan made it seem. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you call her back? She probably has something important to say.¡± Ethan was in no mood to talk to Chairs. He wanted to continue making out with his wife. But J wanted him to call her back. If he didn¡¯t, it would only garner her suspicion. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll call her now.¡± Ethan took his phone and called Charis. It was noisy on the other end of the line. Charis was in California. She was on her annual vacation and had just finished a short trip ¡°What happened? Were you so absorbed in work that you didn¡¯t have the time to even answer my call?¡± Charis sounded enthusiastic. ¡°It¡¯s eleven in the evening in Seacisco.¡± Ethan pulled J in his arms. Her pouted lips and sullen face increased his desire to kiss her; she looked adorable. He leaned forward and bit her lip again. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± he asked over the phone, hoping to end the conversation soon. ¡°I¡¯m returning next week, right? I want to bring you a gift. Do you want anything specific? But nothing too expensive, okay? I¡¯ve indeed made some money from the previous project. But Garrett has ripped me off.¡± ¡°No, thanks. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll hang up,¡± Ethan replied tersely as his mind was filled with other thoughts. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s catch up after I return. I haven¡¯t seen you guys for a long time.¡± Charis hung up the phone. She knew Ethan very well. Judging from his tone, it seemed obvious that he didn¡¯t want to talk to herContent ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. right now. Ethan put down his phone. However, J still looked unhappy. She could hear the muffled voice of the woman from the other end. She could only make out thest sentence where Charis said she wanted to catch up with Ethan. ¡°She called to tell me that she wasing back.¡± Ethan pulled the nket away and buried his head in J¡¯s bosom, peppering little kisses. ¡°Shall we carry on? I¡¯m so hard; it¡¯s very ufortable, you know.¡± J was no longer in the mood to have sex with him. She subconsciously pushed him away and asked, ¡°Are you two close?¡± Charis seemed like an excellent woman who had studied and worked abroad. Moreover, she wanted to meet him first thing she came back. Her intention seemed obvious. Ethan sensed something was bothering J. He understood he wouldn¡¯t be able to have sex with her tonight He pushed himself off J and rested on the bed, pulling her in his arms. ¡°We haven¡¯t been in touch for a while.¡± he said, staring at the ceiling. After a moment¡¯s thought, he added, ¡°She also works in the Larson Group; she is a senior executive. She has been exploring the overseas market. You¡¯ll probably meet her after shees back.¡± Chapter 199: Like An Outcast Chapter 199: Like An Outcast J sprang up from the bed and looked at Ethan in shock. ¡°Howe you know the senior executive of the Larson Group?¡± ¡°She was my ssmate from high school,¡± Ethan said nonchntly, resting his head on J¡¯s arm. ¡°High school ssmates? So, you guys have known each other for a long time. Which school did you go to?¡± J asked, examining his face. The small tablemp was the only source of light in the room. The warm yellow light seemed to soften Ethan¡¯s features. ¡°Seacisco High.¡± Ethan shrugged nomittally. Considering his current identity, he couldn¡¯t say anything more. ¡°My teachers have once mentioned that it is one of the best schools in the city,¡± J lowered her head. Only children from wealthy and influential families studied there. They all had extraordinary IQs and excelled in their studies. Ordinary people couldn¡¯tpete with them.J fell silent. A strange feeling settled in her heart. Ethan and Charis had known each other since high school and had been in touch ever since. She sensed they shared a good rtionship. Besides, the woman was now a senior executive in Larson Group, which was a testimony of her talent. She probably had been excellent in all aspects since high school. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. J couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Ethan had a crush on her. ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Ethan frowned as J seemed distracted. J picked up her nightgown from the floor, put it on, andy back on the bed. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ever mention her before?¡± ¡°She¡¯s not important to me, so I didn¡¯t feel the need to tell you about her.¡± Ethan pinched her cheek and looked into her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not really close to her.¡± J turned her head. She didn¡¯t know if they were mere acquaintances or not. However, since Ethan said so, J chose to believe him. She rested on the bed and covered her face with the nket. A range of emotions consumed J. She couldn¡¯t shake off the unease in her heart. She felt Ethan had too many secrets, and for some reason, he didn¡¯t want to share them with her. The man had always been an enigma. She didn¡¯t know much about him, and it looked like he didn¡¯t want her to know more about him either. He only wanted her to see the side of him that he chose to reveal to her. It looked like Ethan had different personas and led different lives. J couldn¡¯t see through him and find whaty beneath the exterior he revealed to the world. J¡¯s heart sank; she felt like an outcast all over again.She wasn¡¯t in the mood to get intimate with someone who wasn¡¯t even willing to reveal his true self to her. ¡°Well, it¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯m going to sleep,¡± she mumbled, with her back to him. Although J said so, she was wide awake. The countless thoughts swarming in her mind disturbed her peace. She pursed her lips and stole a nce at him. She secretly hoped that Ethan would tell her more.However, he didn¡¯t utter a word. She only heard him sigh and lie beside her. J¡¯s racing heart calmed down and sank to her stomach as she listened to the ticking of the clock. Just then, Ethan moved behind her. His chest pressed against her back as he hugged her from behind. Chapter 200: The Past Chapter 200: The Past Ethan rested his chin on J¡¯s shoulder and looked at her pink earlobe.A strange silence prevailed in the room.The dim yellow light from the tablemp enveloped them. "You want to know more about my past?" J heard his voice rumbling against her back as he trailed his fingers across her arm, drawing patterns on her silky nightgown. "Don¡¯t force yourself if you don¡¯t want to talk about it," J mumbled. She wanted him to open up everything to her, but only if he wanted to.It wouldn¡¯t make sense if she forced him to do it. "I have never been in a rtionship with her as you think." Ethan stared at the closed blinds as he recalled the past. Charis was in the same ss as Ethan and Garrett in high school. Back then, only the three of them belonged to influential families.The three shared the same hobbies and naturally became friends. When Ethan was determined to start a business, Charis let go of the opportunity to take over the Turner family¡¯s business and established the Larson Group with him. Considering the Turner family and Lester family were associated with one another, Charis knew a bit about Ethan¡¯s family.She was also aware of his dual identity as Brandon Larson and Ethan Lester. Their friendship grew stronger as they went through all the hardships and hurdles together. Ethan had always felt Charis was an excellent partner and a reliable friend.But he didn¡¯t love her or have any special feelings for her. However, one day, Garrett told him that Charis had always had a crush on him. The memory was still clear as a day.Garett was drunk. "You¡¯re a heartless man!" heined, taking another gulp of wine. "Charis abandoned her family business just to help you start thispany ¡ª to help you fulfill your dreams.But you never respond to her feelings.To tell you the truth, Charis is into you.She¡¯s smart and pretty.Why don¡¯t you just be with her?" Perhaps because Garrett had already informed Ethan about Charis¡¯ feelings, she confessed her love to him a few dayster.However, Ethan wasn¡¯t interested in Charis, so he turned her down. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Charis was a practical woman.She applied for a transfer and went abroad to explore the overseas market to expand the Larson Group.She had been there for three years. Soon, Ethan returned to his senses and nestled his head against the crook of J¡¯s neck.He had a clear conscience. After all, he was never involved with Charis romantically.He believed three years would have changed many things. Charis might have already fallen in love with someone else. And for himself, he was married to J now.He was just surprised to find out about Charis¡¯ sudden return. However, the overseas business was indeed sessfullypleted, so it was naturally time for Charis toe back. However, Ethan knew that J and Charis would inevitably meet at the Larson Group. Therefore, Ethan told J everything about Charis to avoid unnecessary trouble. But even so, he couldn¡¯t fully disclose his secrets to her. Ethan knew that J was unhappy about it.But he couldn¡¯t reveal that he was Brandon. "I want to know everything about you and Charis. You know what, Ethan? It feels like I never fully know you, J muttered. "I¡¯m sorry that I can¡¯t tell you everything now because of my origin.But I promise to tell you everything one day." Ethan pulled her closet into his arms as if he wanted to melt her into his flesh and blood.He closed his eyes and reminded himself not to utter a word because many unpredictable dangers awaited him and he couldn¡¯t drag J into his mess. Chapter 201: Alienation Chapter 201: Alienation Ethan held her in a vice-like grip, and J could barely breathe.She tried wriggling out of his hold, but Ethan slung his leg around J, trapping her in ce. "I am having trouble breathing!" J kicked her legs, trying to free herself. "But you¡¯re still mad at me," Ethan mumbled, pulling her impossibly closer. J could feel his hot breath blowing against her.Her skin tingled, and she couldn¡¯t think properly. "Gosh, you¡¯re squeezing me.I can¡¯t even speak properly," she said, gasping for breath. However, J suddenly remembered that Ethan was the illegitimate son of the Lester family. The cause of his mother¡¯s death was still a mystery to all.It must have been embarrassing for him to admit his identity. J felt he must have experienced a lot of setbacks ever since he was a child. Therefore, it didn¡¯t seem strange for him to hold back many secrets. Although J was still unhappy that Ethan was hiding something from her, she couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for him at the same time. "Well, it¡¯s a bit upsetting to know that you¡¯re still in touch with your high school friend but haven¡¯t uttered a word to me.It made me feel like you¡¯re still attracted to her.She is an excellent woman, after all." Considering Ethan¡¯s family background, J felt sorry for him.She wanted to rify everything once and for all. Seeing that J didn¡¯t resist anymore, Ethan held her tighter and kissed her cheek. "She is not my type." Then, he bit her neck and slid his hand under her dress. "I only want you!"he whispered into her ear. "Don¡¯t mess around.I can give you some time.But you have to tell me everything ¡ª soon, and no more secrets." J pped his hand and moved farther away ¡ª keeping a safe distance from him. Although J felt sorry for Ethan, part of her still feared something was going on between him and Charis.She didn¡¯t want to sleep with him unless he told all his secrets to her. Ethan chuckled and rolled back to his side of the bed.He knew J very well. If she wasn¡¯t in the mood, trying to seduce her would only make her hate him even more. Ethan was determined to speed up his n.He had to solve the Lester family¡¯s problems as soon as possible. J was the most important person in his life, and he didn¡¯t want to continue deceiving her. Ethan had many misgivings.He feared that exposing his identity to J before solving the problems would only put her in danger. Both of them fell asleep soon after the conversation, their minds filled with problems of their own. The next morning, J wanted to talk to Ethan, but just couldn¡¯t find the right words to say.It felt as if an invisible wall had risen between them. While brushing his teeth, Ethan wondered if he should do something to ease the tension.He didn¡¯t want Charis toe in between them and ruin their lives. After all, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with J. "I¡¯ll pick you up tonight?" Ethan thought he could take her out for dinner. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. J was just about to leave for work.She didn¡¯t like staying away from him either. Just as she was about to say yes, Ethan¡¯s phone rang.She quickly nced at the screen and sneered. "You should pick her up and have dinner with her.After all, you two haven¡¯t seen each other for a long time." J mmed the door and left. Ethan sighed and picked up the phone.It was Charis. "Brandon, I¡¯ve arrived at the airport.The driver isn¡¯t here.Can you pleasee and pick me up?" Chapter 202: Win His Heart Chapter 202: Win His Heart Ethan rubbed his nose and looked out of the window. "Aren¡¯t you supposed to be back next week? Well, I¡¯m kind of busy now.I¡¯ll ask someone to pick you up." Ethan heard the bustling sounds of traffic from the other end of the line. Charis managed to hear his words and answered casually, "Well, surprise! Anyway, it¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t make it.I¡¯ll figure it out myself." Although Charis tried to sound cheerful, Ethan could hear the disappointment in her voice. "Are you free tonight?" she asked expectantly. "We haven¡¯t seen each other for three years.Shall we meet today?" "I¡¯m not free tonight." Ethan thought about J storming out of the house in a fit of pique. "Maybe next time." "You always say that you have to tell me what you mean when you say ¡®next time¡¯.I haven¡¯t seen you in three years.Can¡¯t I even ask you out for dinner? is that too much to ask?" Charis grunted. She had always been honest about her feelings. Ethan¡¯s constant rejection annoyed her. Charis only wanted to catch up with him and couldn¡¯t understand why Ethan was constantly refusing her.She couldn¡¯t keep herposure anymore. "I¡¯m really busy tonight.Besides, you will be in thepany tomorrow.I¡¯ll see you there," Ethan mumbled. "We can catch up then." Charis knew Ethan well. He had always been indifferent toward everyone and was devoid of emotional attachments. But she had fallen for him despite that, "Fine.See you in thepany tomorrow." The smile on Charis¡¯ face disappeared as she hung up the phone. It had been three years, but Ethan hadn¡¯t changed one bit.She clutched her phone and stared into the distance. Unrequited love was painful. Only she knew what it felt to love someone so much and not get anything in return.She had fallen in love with Ethan when they were in high school. Back then, she chose to start a new business with Ethan instead of taking over her family¡¯s business. Ethan had nothing but talent when they started thepany together.She had been through a lot of trials and tribtions with him.She had stood by him during his toughest times. Later, Ethan¡¯s business picked up, and he became Brandon Larson ¡ª the CEO of the Larson Group. Then, she confessed her love for him, but he rejected her. Charis was devastated.She left the country and stayed abroad for three years.She actually hoped that he would regret his decision ande after her. But not once in those three years had he tried contacting her. Everyone assumed she would have moved on. But her feelings had only grown stronger during the three years.She loved him now more than ever. Charis was born rich and beautiful.She regarded herself as the perfect match for Ethan. The Lester family was a mess. Charis had assumed Ethan had rejected her because he wanted to get rid of his family and develop his career first. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Now that the Larson Group was flourishing, she assumed he would have time to think about their rtionship.Besides, she was more sessful now. She had single handedly expanded the overseas business of the Larson Group.She was sure about winning him back this time. However, Ethan seemed more indifferent now.He didn¡¯t even want to talk to her. Charlie¡¯s heart sank with dejection. But she quicklyforted herself that even best friends would feel estranged if they didn¡¯t see each other for a long time. Charis smiled and cheered herself up.This time, she was determined to win his heart. Chapter 203: Welcome Party Chapter 203: Wee Party The next morning, Charis¡¯s car stopped on the street outside the Larson Group¡¯s building. She got out of the car and looked up at the magnificent building. It had been three years since she had left Seacisco. Many things had changed. Towering buildings dotted the streets everywhere she looked. The Larson Group waspletely different from what it was three years ago. Back then, the three worked day and night in a small studio. Now, the Larson Group had turned into a magnificent enterprise with thousands of employees working tirelessly for them. ¡°Why are you reminiscing the past instead of going inside and seeing what your future looks like?¡± Charis turned around and saw Garrett. He pushed the golden-rimmed sses up the bridge of his nose and smiled gently. ¡°I know you change your n and get back early. Gosh, you look so gorgeous now!¡± ¡°You used to say that I behave like a boy. Anyway, did you get my gift? God, you¡¯re a greedy man! Two bottles of La Romanee-Conti, huh?!¡± Charis joked, rolling her eyes. The meeting seemed to bring back memories of the past. The two relived their teenage days. However, Brandon wasn¡¯t with them now. ¡°Where is Brandon? How is he?¡± Charis asked as she followed Garrett into thepany. ¡°You¡¯re a heartless woman, Charis. I know you¡¯re eager to meet him. You left without saying goodbye. I¡¯m standing right before you right now, but you¡¯re asking about him. That¡¯s hurtful.¡± Garrett frowned. He sounded jealous. If Charis didn¡¯t know Garrett well, she would have misunderstood him. ¡°Come on, Garrett. I know those beautiful girlfriends of yours have taken good care of you. Anyway, how is Brandon?¡± Brandon¡¯s mother had passed away when he was young, and no one took care of him. ¡°He is a free bird. After all, he is¡­¡± Garrett bit his lip, for he almost blurted out the truth. He was aware of what had happened between Ethan and Charis. Therefore, he felt it would be better if Charis heard about Ethan¡¯s marriage from the man himself. Otherwise, it would onlyplicate things further, and Ethan would scold him again.Garrett pouted, tilting his head toward the Larson Group¡¯s building. ¡°You¡¯re going to meet him in a couple of minutes. Why are you still asking me about him? Go inside and see for yourself.¡± .Charis smiled at him and walked into the building. The conference room on the top floor of the Larson Group was packed with people. The room was tastefully decorated. All senior executives had gathered to wee Charis back home, Brandon himself included. Brandon sat at the head of the table. His outstanding temperament and extraordinary appearance made him stand out from the rest. Charis easily spotted him in the crowd. Three years had passed, yet Brandon still managed to make her weak in the knees. Her heart raced at the mere sight of him. Charis slepttest night and hadn¡¯t fully recovered from the jetg. But the excitement to meet Brandon seemed to energize her in an instant. She spent hours in front of the mirror, dressing up to impress him. Now, she was confident about her looks. All the senior executives came to talk to Charis. She politely greeted them and walked to Brandon. ¡°Long time no see, Brandon.¡± Charis smiled and clinked her ss with his. She wanted to hug him and tell him how much she missed him and how lonely she had been for the past three years. A smile tugged at the corners of Brandon¡¯s lips. He took a sip of the red wine, staring into the distance. It looked like he was thinking about something else. ¡°You must be tired after the long journey. Wee back.¡± Charis sat beside Brandon. She wanted to spend her entire day talking to him. She thought Brandon would inquire about her personal life and what she had been doing for the past three years. But he was sipping on his wine without uttering a word. Brandon¡¯s indifference broke Charis¡¯s heart. ¡°We are meeting each other after three years! Don¡¯t have anything to say to me?¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Brandon put down his ss and looked at her. ¡°We have made huge profits from the overseas market this time. Thepany has decided to reward you for that.¡± Charis arched an eyebrow and looked at him with expectant eyes. ¡°I obviously don¡¯t want to work for free. What reward will I get?¡± ¡°During the meeting with the senior executives, we decided to give you a promotion along with a raise. In addition to that, you will also get extra shares and a bonus. We will always treat you fairly,¡± Brandon said calmly. Charis¡¯s jaw tightened; she was utterly disappointed. Brandon only regarded her as an excellent employeeHowever, Charis wanted to earn his love and care, not mary rewards. Chapter 204: He Is Married Chapter 204: He Is Married "You haven¡¯t changed at all." Charis looked down at her ss of wine, unable to hide the disappointment in her eyes.Ethan swept a nce over the room, then made a point of ncing at his watch.Without another word, he stood up and buttoned his suit jacket. "It¡¯s gettingte, and I still have work to do.Enjoy yourself." He had only attended the party for formality¡¯s sake. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Charis¡¯ return was no small matter, after all, and Brandon Larson certainly had to be present at het wee party. Charis¡¯ head immediately shot up. "Oh, you¡¯re not done for the day yet?" she blurted out. "Do you need my help with anything?" They had only been talking for a few minutes. She was reluctant to see him leave so quickly.Her offer made Ethan frown, but his tone remained polite. ¡°This party is all about you.There¡¯s no point in you disappearing in an event held in your honor." In the end, Charis could only sit back and watch dejectedly as Ethan walked away. When he was finally gone from sight, she downed her wine ss in one gulp. "Oh, did you not have a pleasant conversation?" Garrett asked, plopping down on the seat beside her. "Didn¡¯t he give you an update on what has been happening to him recently?" With a bitter smile, Charis picked up the bottle on the table and filled her ss with more wine. "How do you expect us to catch up with anything? He said he was busy with work and took off within a couple of minutes." Garret cocked his head to the side and rubbed his chin. So Ethan hadn¡¯t told her anything.He watched her drink her sorrows away out of the corner of his eye. "I know you came back for Ethan, but there¡¯s something you need to know, Charis." She recognized the seriousness in his tone and paused. She already knew what wasing. "You¡¯re going to tell me to give up on him, aren¡¯t you?" Charis¡¯ face crumpled into a sneer. "There¡¯s no need for that, I¡¯m afraid.I¡¯ve loved him all these years.I¡¯m not giving up until I have absolutely no choice but to do so." Garrett chuckled humorlessly and shook his head. "I haven¡¯t even finished talking yet.I¡¯m not telling you to give up, I just wanted you to understand something.Now, if you don¡¯t want to hear it, then I won¡¯t say anything.But know that if you act carelessly in the future, it might affect more than just your rtionship with Ethan." He grabbed the wine bottle and ced it somewhere out of her reach. Charis sat back and mulled over his warning. After a while, she asked, "Does he have a girlfriend?" She told herself that it was all right if he did. Ethan was a catch; there was no way someone so brilliant would stay single for years at a time. That was all okay, because she could wait.She had already waited for the better half of her life. "He is married," Garrett stated bluntly. His words struck her like lightning, and Charis¡¯ eyes instantly welled up.How was this possible? How could Ethan have gotten married without her noticing? "Why haven¡¯t I heard of this?" Charis demanded. "I¡¯ve been paying attention to his every move, even when I was abroad." Garrett raised an eyebrow and sighed. "You might have been paying attention to Brandon, but he isn¡¯t the one who got married Ethan is." True enough, Charis hadn¡¯t cared much for Brandon¡¯s other identity as an illegitimate son. She always saw him as the CEO of the Larson Group, nothing more, nothing less. "What exactly happened?" corrett proceeded to recount the circumstances that had led to Ethan and J¡¯s marriage. "Ethan cares about his wife," he emphasized. "Very much so.I¡¯m telling you this because I don¡¯t want you to overstep his boundaries.If you do, you would only be ruining whatever rtionship you have with him, and you may never have the chance to mend it again." Charis struggled to hide her shock and her pain. She covered her face with her hands and took several deep breaths.but she still couldn¡¯t calm down. For a moment, Garrett just watched her, helpless and unsure of what to say next. In the end, he reached over and gave her a light pat on the shoulder. "Take your time to process this.You¡¯re not a child anymore, you should know what to do." He got to his feet. "I¡¯m leaving now." It was all Charis could do to contain her sobs.She managed topose herself enough to stop Garrett with a question "Does his wife know that Ethan and Brandon are the same person?" Chapter 205: They Finally Meet Chapter 205: They Finally Meet "She doesn¡¯t." Garrett frowned enough to guess what was going on in Charis¡¯ mind. "You better keep the secret to yourself don¡¯t tell it to J.Ethan doesn¡¯t want her to know that he is associated with the Larson Group.I think you know the SS consequences if you revealed his secret." This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. "Of course, I know.But he doesn¡¯t even want to reveal his true identity to that woman.Do you think he really loves her?" Charis sneered. "Stay out of it.He has his reasons.You better stop meddling in this." Just as Garrett turned to leave, he heard Charis¡¯ sad voice. "I met him first! I have known him for many years!" Looking at the pained look on her face, Garrett sighed helplessly. "It doesn¡¯t matter who came first.Stop overanalyzing everything.You still have a lot of work today.Forget everything and move on.People can change a lot in three years.Stop staying in the past, Charis." Garrett buttoned up his suit jacket, turned around, and left. Charis stared into the distance for a long time and finally calmed down.Her mind was elsewhere.She couldn¡¯t ept the fact that Brandon was married. Therefore, she tried her best to convince herself that she still had a chance with him. Charis knew Brandon better than anyone else.She had known him since high school. Considering he married J as Ethan Lester and didn¡¯t want her to know his real identity as Brandon Larson, Charis felt he hadn¡¯t really epted J as his wife. After all, J was just an ordinary employee of thepany without any family background.She didn¡¯t deserve Brandon at all. As the CEO of the Larson Group, Brandon needed a wife who could match his status. Charis felt she was the ideal match for Brandon. Not only could she aid in the development of the Larson Group, but her family could also support Brandon.She believed Brandon had married J only because he needed to fulfill his mother¡¯s final wish. Charis¡¯ heart became light, and she saw a ray of hope. Brandon was the most important man in her life.She had loved him for so many years, and it had turned into an obsession.She couldn¡¯t just let go of him and move on. After the wee party, several senior executives showed Charis around the Larson Group. "Miss Turner, this is our executive department, and that¡¯s the HR department.The design department is upstairs.Let me take you there," one of the senior executives offered. ¡®Design department?¡¯ Charis¡¯ eyes lit up. Garrett had told her that J Lind worked in the design department. "Let¡¯s go to the design department.Mr.Harding told me that all our designers are talented.I want to meet them." Charis smiled gracefully. She couldn¡¯t wait to meet Brandon¡¯s wife. The senior executives led her to the design department.The employees of the design department knew Charis well.They all stood up and greeted her.The originally quiet office turned lively. Charis smiled and shook hands with every employee who greeted her as she walked through the crowd.She stopped and looked at a beautiful woman standing behind a chair. Their gaze locked, and Charis could sense the hostility and vignce in her eyes. ¡®This must be J.¡¯ Chapter 206: Comparison Chapter 206: Comparison J had been thinking about Charis ever since Ethan told her about this woman. Charis worked for the Larson Group and was about to return from abroad, which meant they would be seeing eachother often ¡°You don¡¯t look well today. Didn¡¯t you sleep wellst night? Today is a big day. Cheer up!¡± Gerda patted J¡¯s shoulder The two had be close again after the news about the fraud group got televised. J felt it was normal for Gerda to misunderstand her after hearing the rumors because the two had be friends only after J joined thepany. After all, Gerda didn¡¯t J well enough. ¡°Big day?¡± J looked listless. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Miss Turner is finally returning to thepany today after three years abroad. She is a legend. I heard she and Mr. Larson had started thepany together ¡ª she was one of the core founding members. Later, she left the country to explore the overseas market. She is only about four or five years older than us. I admire her a lot!¡± Gerda adored Charis and spoke at length about her, oblivious to the look on J¡¯s face. J¡¯s lungs constricted. It felt as if a giant rock was sitting on her chest. She sounds like an amazing woman,¡± she said, forcing a smile. When J returned to her desk, she heard everyone talking about Charis. Just then, the ss door of the department flew open, and everyone unanimously turned around. A graceful woman walked in, surrounded by all the senior executives of thepany. A beautiful smile graced her lips, revealing her pearly teeth. She was wearing a simple ck suit paired with exquisite makeup. She looked calm and confident with an air of authority. J¡¯s colleagues gasped in awe as she walked in. But somehow, J didn¡¯t like Charis. It was probably because she felt insecure about her rtionship with Ethan. As everyone admired her, J couldn¡¯t help but look at herself. She was dressed in in clothes and wasn¡¯t wearing any makeup. She didn¡¯t bother to even put on lipstick beforeing to work. All of a sudden, she felt dwarfed. After greeting the other employees, Charis walked toward J, sizing her up. Suddenly, she was on her guard. It was not because of how beautiful J was. However, there was something in her eyes. She looked innocent yet enchanting. Her eyes seemed to have the power to lure anyone, Charis¡¯ heart leaped to her throat. She was the princess in her family who always got everything she wished for. She had always been proud, yet she somehow felt inferior around J. Today, she had worn an expensive outfit and styled herself to perfection to impress Brandon. However, J looked breathtaking even without any makeup. Charis knew she wouldn¡¯t be able topete with J if she brought her style game on. Charis¡¯ heart sank. No wonder Garrett kept telling her how important J was to Brandon. After all, no man could resist a beautiful woman like her. Chapter 207: The New Plan Chapter 207: The New n Out of caution, Charis decided not to meet J. Instead, she walked to Tiffany¡¯s office and smiled at the employees along the way ¡°Miss Turner. I didn¡¯t expect to meet you again after three years.¡± Tiffany smiled and stood up to shake hands with Charis. ¡°I was busy with work, so I couldn¡¯te out to wee you. Please forgive me.¡± Charis let go of her hand and sat cross-legged on the leather chair opposite Tiffany. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t like asions like these, anyway. I¡¯m d you didn¡¯te out. Otherwise, the ce would get too crowded.¡± Tiffany smiled. ¡°Are you here to talk about work with me? Tiffany knew that Charis was in charge of the marketing department before. ¡°I heard the design department has witnessed rapid development in the past few years after I left. Our designs are a huge hit all over the country. I came to see what everyone¡¯s been talking about.¡± Tiffany nodded in understanding and briefly reported their current situation to her. ¡°When did she start working here?¡± Charis asked, flipping through J¡¯s designs. Her face bore no expression. ¡°This is our new designer, J Lind. She has incredible talent, and all her designs are unique. She has contributed a lot to ourpany. Mr. Larson appreciates her work, and I also think she is an asset to ourpany.¡± Charis remained silent. Tiffany was a picky woman. If she praised J, it meant the woman was indeed talented. Charis dejectedly put down the drafts. J seemed like a bigger threat now. Not only was she beautiful but seemed like a bundle of talent as well. It wasn¡¯t surprising that Brandon wanted to hone her talent. Charis couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Brandon was really serious about being with this woman. ¡°Okay. I should leave you to your work.¡± The moment Charis left the office, the smile on her face disappeared. She had to somehow separate the two before J knew the truth. He and J were worlds apart. The woman was born into an ordinary family, which meant money and power could easily lure her. Charis felt J would never let go of Ethan if she knew he was the CEO of the Larson Group. After work, Charis nned to have dinner with a friend. He was the son of the Perkins family ¡ª a handsome, wealthy man. However, he was also a notorious yboy in the city. He had dated countless women. The man was a charmer and could get any woman in bed. But despite that, he had never been with a woman for more than three months. Kent Perkins was talking over the phone as he walked into the box. ¡°Get a goddamn abortion! Don¡¯t call me again,¡± he grunted impatiently. One of the women he had dated had been pestering him for the past few days. She was a married woman. Kent, as usual, had abandoned her after getting what he wanted. However, the woman imed to be pregnant with his child and insisted on keeping the baby. She had also said she wanted to divorce her husband and be with him, which. forced Kent to flee the UK and return to Seacisco.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Gosh, you haven¡¯t changed one bit. One day, you¡¯ll pay the price for all this!¡± Charis¡¯s nose scrunched up with disgust. If her family wasn¡¯t friends with the Perkins, she wouldn¡¯t want to be associated with Kent in any way. He had tricked a lot of women into bed with his charm. Kent was used to her attitude. He took off his coat and hung it on the back of his chair before filling her ss with wine. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± he asked, smiling. Charis seldom asked him out. ¡°Nothing. I just haven¡¯t seen you for three years, so I wanted to catch up.¡± Charis shrugged nomittally. Kent was indeed happy to have dinner with a beautiful woman. The two chatted as they ate. Gradually, Charis shifted the topic to women, which she knew would undoubtedly captivate Kent¡¯s interest. She casually mentioned J in the conversation, praising her beauty. ¡°How beautiful is she?¡± Kent sounded curious. ¡°Do you have any photos of her?¡± Charis took out a photo of J at work and showed it to him. Kent¡¯s eyes widened as he looked at the picture. He took the phone and zoomed in, examining every inch of her beautiful face. ¡°Wow! Pretty is an understatement. She seems innocent though.¡± ¡°Well, she looks more beautiful in person. But, unfortunately, she is married. I don¡¯t think you can get her.¡± Charis took back her phone just to rub his ego. ¡°Oh, really?¡± Kent¡¯s brows shot up as if he was already interested in the challenge. ¡°What if I got her?¡± Charis knew that Kent was determined to get J to prove himself. She was his next conquest. However, she smiled and yed along. ¡°Well, that means you¡¯ve won. I will introduce you to all the beautiful women I know. Can¡¯t wait to see how you¡¯re going to get her.¡± Chapter 208: Jealousy Chapter 208: Jealousy After listening to people praise Charis all day long, J returned home with a heavy heart. Ethan was busy cooking in the kitchen when he heard Je in. He walked to the living room whilst stirring the egg in the custard bowl. He looked up at her and asked, ¡°What would you like to have tonight? Shall I make some pasta?¡± J put down her bag and nced at him. He was wearing a gray shirt and a pair of slippers. An old apron clung to his torso. He looked like a family man. J didn¡¯t know where he learned to cook and be the best partner who looked after his wife. Instead of feeling lucky, a pang of unease settled in her heart. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he had cooked for anyone else before and looked at another woman the same way he looked at her, which always made her weak in the knees. Perhaps he had treated Charis the same way in the past. The multitude of thoughts wrecked J¡¯s peace at once. She red at Ethan and opened the bedroom door. ¡°Cook whatever you want because you¡¯re going to eat by yourself.¡± With that, she mmed the door, Ethan stood there, staring at the closed door. He knew that Charis¡¯ arrival might have ignited her jealousy. Ethan hoped that J would get jealous because it meant she cared about him. At first, he liked it; she looked adorable. However, the jealousy had turned into something vicious, separating them. Ethan couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He felt depressed. He walked to the door, hoping to exin to J that he and Charis weren¡¯t close. However, Ethan had already made it clear before. Mentioning it over and over again would only make it seem like he was trying to hide something from her. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Therefore, Ethan chose to remain silent. He couldn¡¯t tell J that Charis liked him because it would only amplify her insecurity. The situation was a tricky path to tread. The weather gradually turned cold at night. J took a quick shower, andy on the bed, wrapped in a nket, facing the window. Just then, she heard rustling sounds. Knowing that it was Ethan, she closed her eyes, ignoring him. Since Ethan wanted J to stay in his room, he practically turned her old bedroom into a storage room, making it impossible for her to move back. Ethan gently lifted the nket andy beside J, resting his head on his arm. The bed rattled under his weight. A depressing atmosphere prevailed in the room. Ethan turned and nced at the back of J¡¯s head. Noticing his presence, J moved away from him, pulling the nket closer to keep a safe distance from him. Ethan closed his eyes and let out a weary sigh. J seemed cold and distant, so he didn¡¯t dare to touch her. He didn¡¯t want to do anything that would increase her anger. J didn¡¯t sleep well that night. The next morning, she walked to thepany in a daze. Thepany was only a couple of blocks away from their new apartment, so she walked to work every day. But today, the road ahead was under construction, so J had to take a different route. Autumns were dry in Seacisco. The leaves of the ginkgo trees had turned yellow. J stopped and admired the beauty of the trees dotting the silent street. Just then, a loud screech caught her attention. She spun around and saw a car darting toward her. J had no time to dodge. She fell to the ground in fear, Fortunately, the car skidded to a halt a couple of inches in front of her. Just as she was about to get up, she saw a hand reaching out to her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ma¡¯am. I was on the phone and didn¡¯t notice you in front of me. Are you hurt?¡± J was still in a state of shock. She looked up and saw a man examining her with concern. He was a handsome man who seemed to be able to effortlessly win women¡¯s hearts with his mere looks. Chapter 209: Interesting Chapter 209: Interesting "I''m fine. Thank you.¡± J shook her head, patted the dust off her dress, and picked up her bag to leave, ¡°Miss, your ankle is scraped. I think there must be other wounds as well. Let me take you to the hospital for a check-up.¡± Kent offered, ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. I have to go to work. I¡¯ll buy some band-aids on my way,¡± J said, forcing a polite smile. She had to be in the office in ten minutes. ¡°Prettydy, please give me a chance to make amends with you,¡± Kent said, holding her hand. The sudden praise left J astounded. Just as she was about to say something, the man spoke, ¡°I¡¯m Kent Perkins. There is a hospital nearby. I can drive you there. If you¡¯re worried about beingte for work, I can ask for leave for you. I am a Perkins. I¡¯m sure I¡¯d be able to help you.¡± J frowned. She hated the way Kent introduced himself. He sounded arrogant and cocky, as if he believed the entire world should know him and show him respect. J nced at Kent¡¯s sports car and back at his expensive suit. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he belonged to the famous Perkins family she knew. ¡°No, thanks. I¡¯m leaving now.¡± J had no interest in talking to Kent or knowing about his wealthy family. She withdrew her hand and walked away. Kent¡¯s attitude and behavior revealed that he only seemed like a gentleman on the outside. It was a mere facade. J believed he was a yboy in nature who flirted with every woman he liked. ¡°Can you at least give me your phone number? I would at least like to treat you to a meal as a token of my apology.¡± Unwilling to give up, Kent continued to follow her. He had noticed the displeasure on her face, but he was determined to win her heart. After all, everyone knew the Perkins family, and no one had ever turned him down. Kent¡¯s constant nagging infuriated J. She stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him. ¡°I¡¯m fine, sir. You needn¡¯t worry about me. I request you to stop following me. Otherwise, I stopped and nodded in acknowledgment. Seeing that he had finally stopped following her, J quickly rushed to the Larson Group. A slow smile emerged on Kent¡¯s face as he watched J disappear out of his sight. He turned around and got into his car. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡®Interesting.¡¯ This trick had always worked in the past. Women from ordinary families instantly fell for him after seeing his expensive sports car. His charm never failed to work on them. However, J didn¡¯t seem bothered one bit. Kent¡¯s smile broadened. After a long time, he finally met a woman that was worth the chase. Chapter 210: Desire To Conquer Chapter 210: Desire To Conquer J soon forgot her encounter with Kent, thinking it was a trivial episode, and carried on with her work. However, that evening, as J walked out of thepany, she was shocked to see Kent¡¯s sports car parked at the gate. J¡¯s colleagues saw kent getting out of the car and began whispering to each other. ¡°Hey! Who is that man? Gosh, he is so handsome!¡± ¡°Is he waiting for his girlfriend? He looks like Kent Perkins!¡± ¡°You mean Kent Perkins from the famous Perkins Bank?¡± J was speechless. She wanted to sneak away. Unfortunately, Kent had seen her and was walking toward her. ¡°Miss Lind, you were busy in the morning. Do you have time to have dinner with me now?¡± He walked towards her. Kent was wearing a nnel suit; his coat was casually slung over his arm. He looked like a real gentleman. J hated the confidence in his tone.She stopped and looked at him. ¡°How do you know my name?¡± Kent thrust his hands in his pockets and looked into her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s easy. I¡¯ll tell you during dinner.¡± ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t have the time,¡± J hissed through her teeth. At that moment, the setting sun cast an orange hue on her face, softening her angelic features. She looked breathtaking even without makeup. After a moment¡¯s pause, Kent returned to his senses and asked patiently, ¡°Do you have any specific restaurant in mind that you¡¯d like to try?¡± J was speechless. ¡®Did he not hear me?¡¯ Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I don¡¯t want to have dinner with you, Mr. Perkins. I hope I don¡¯t see you ever again,¡± she said bluntly. Before Kent could utter another word, she turned around and left. J thought that Kent would stop following her. After all, someone like him, born into a wealthy family, would have pride and self-respect.However, the next morning, Kent was standing outside the Larson Group building again with arge bouquet of roses. J looked behind him and saw the driver holding boxes of expensive gifts. J ran away as soon as she saw him. However, Kent stopped her before she could escape. His face softened when he saw the anger zing in J¡¯s eyes. ¡°Miss Lind, don¡¯t worry. I just want to give you these,¡± he said, handing the gifts to her. ¡°I don¡¯t want it, Mr. Perkins. Stop pestering me; it¡¯s disgusting!¡± J snapped as she ruthlessly pushed the bouquet away She couldn¡¯t control her anger anymore. Seeing J storm away, Kent burst outughing. He somehow found her adorable when she got angry. Poor J was oblivious that her constant rejection had only aroused Kent¡¯s desire to conquer her. Kent always went after the things he couldn¡¯t have ever since he was a child. He liked the challenge. He had a kick out of the things that were out of his reach. Kent sighed and threw the bouquet into the trash can on the roadside. There were thousands of ways to get a girl, and Kent was sure at least one such trick would help him get J. The repeated failure made him realize that constant persuasion wouldn¡¯t work on her. He had to find a way where she couldn¡¯t refuse his offer. A smile emerged on his face. He immediately picked up his phone and made a call. ¡°Yes, this is Kent. I want you to customize new uniforms for our bank staff. Give the project to the Larson Group and ask their best designer to do the job for us.¡± Kent had never failed in getting what he wanted. This time, he was determined to get J. Chapter 211: The Client Chapter 211: The Client The tension between J and Ethan continued to prevail. One day, after the regr meeting of the senior executives of the Larson Group, Ethan asked Garrett to stay back Garrett had already guessed Charis¡¯s return would bring a lot of problems between J and Ethan. But he couldn¡¯t figure out how J found out about Charis. After all, Ethan should have been able to hide the truth from her. ¡°Well, Charis called me one night; J saw it. She asked who she was, and I told her,¡± Ethan said intently. The smile on Garrett¡¯s face vanished in an instant. After all, Ethan¡¯s rtionship with J was hanging by a thin thread now.He rubbed his forehead and let out a weary sigh. ¡°No one would want their partner to have secrets, especially when it has something to do with the opposite sex. You should be able to connect with her.¡± He sat on the sofa, cross-legged, and blew out a loud breath. ¡°Women get jealous easily. You have to coax her.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve exined it to her. I¡¯ll tell her about my past soon, but now isn¡¯t the right time.¡± Ethan¡¯s face darkened. ¡°I¡¯m not good at coaxing women. You know I have used force all my life to get the things I want. But women prefer men who are kind and gentle toward them, right?¡± Garrett arched his brows and thought that Ethan had finally understood the problem. Meanwhile, Garrett had warned Charis to say away from J. The two had been friends since high school. From what he knew of Charis, she wouldn¡¯t make any trouble. ¡°It¡¯s not because J is jealous. You need to understand that she¡¯s upset because she knows you¡¯re hiding something from her. She won¡¯t forgive you unless you tell her the truth. Moreover, women tend to overthink. She is probably imagining the worst after you told her about Charis but without any details.¡± ¡°You know I have no feelings for Charis.¡± Ethan sighed. He was a man of few words, so he didn¡¯t bother exining himself. ¡°What¡¯s the use of me knowing it?¡± Garrett patted his shoulder. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You have to make her believe that. But I don¡¯t think she would believe you even if you told her so, since you¡¯re still hiding things from her.¡± Ethan leaned back on his chair, closed his eyes, and let out a weary sigh. He realized the friction would persist until he told her the truth. The following day, when J arrived at thepany, Tiffany told her that a client had requested her to be the chief designer of the new project. Although it was a small project, J was still d to be a part of it. After all, she had just begun her career, and opportunities like these would never knock on her door twice. She happily sorted the documents, preparing to meet with the client. J¡¯s breath caught in her throat when she pushed the door of the meeting room open. Kent was sitting on the sofa, drinking coffee. He looked up and smiled at her. ¡°Sorry, wrong room.¡± J mmed the door shut and took a deep breath. ¡°Miss Lind, is this how you treat your clients? That¡¯s very unprofessional of you.¡± There was a hint of ridicule in Kent¡¯s voice. Gritting her teeth, J pushed the door open and smiled at him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Perkins. I thought you were here to see another designer.¡± Kent smiled at her. Then, he poured a cup of coffee for J and slid it toward her. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. I¡¯d never mix work with private life. I chose you because I think you¡¯re an exceptional designer.¡± Chapter 212: I Will Get You Chapter 212: I Will Get You J grew dejected when she saw Kent. However, she forced a polite smile at him. ¡°Well then, what are your preferences, Mr. Perkins? Bank uniforms generally look formal. If you don¡¯t have any special requests, we will make a sample design based on the temte.¡± Kent took a sip of coffee and rested his arms on the sofa. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I trust your choices, Miss Lind. How about I show you around the Perkins Bank first so that you¡¯ll have an idea of our enterprise culture?¡± . J frowned and checked the time on her phone. ¡°Of course, please give me the address, Mr. Perkins. I¡¯ll go there myself.¡± Kent stood up and walked to the door. ¡°I think it would be better if I showed you around in person,¡± he said, examining her face. Miss Lind, you bettere with me now. I don¡¯t think you¡¯d want to waste your time.¡± J had no choice but to follow him into his sports car, Kent drove her to the Perkins Bank and showed her around. After that, he insisted on driving J home. ¡°We still have time. Why don¡¯t you have dinner with me? There is a ssy restaurant nearby. Their food is out of the world,¡± Kent said, turning the steering wheel. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Perkins, but no. My husband will be waiting for me,¡± J grunted irritably as she stared out of the window. She was no longer the innocent girl who couldn¡¯t understand people¡¯s intentions. J very well knew why Kent was following her everywhere. Kent smiled and looked at her hand. His eyes widened when he saw the huge, sparkly ring. It looked like an expensive blue diamond ring. Kent wondered how an ordinary employee could afford it. However, he assumed it was a fake diamond and looked away.¡± He thought J¡¯s husband was a poor man who had fooled her with a faux diamond ring. Kent was always surrounded by women, so he had noticed the ring on J¡¯s finger ever since heid eyes on her. But he didn¡¯t mind dating a married woman. Nothing would stop him as long as he went after something he wanted. ¡°Such a beautiful hand deserves a more expensive ring. There is a jewelry auction in the city next week. Do you want to go with me and find a ring you like?¡± Kent smiled, resting his hand on top of hers. ¡°Please behave yourself, Mr. Perkins!¡± J shook off his hand, eyeing him with surprise. Kent wisely withdrew his hand. ¡®¡®Gosh, how ungrateful is she.¡¯¡¯ He had never thought of taking any woman to a social event before because he didn¡¯t want people to think they were serious. But strangely, he wanted to take J with him now. He didn¡¯t mind going to any extent to impress her. J couldn¡¯t avoid him now. After all, he was her client, and she had no choice but to work for him. However, the man had crossed his limits today, making her ufortable. The following days, J tried her best to keep the conversation professional and avoided being alone with him. She turned down Kent¡¯s proposals to take her out shopping or buy her a ring. And during the times he tried crossing his limits, J knew how to cut him off. She ignored him most of the time and talked to him only regarding work. After nearly a week¡¯s struggle, Kent finally admitted defeat. J didn¡¯t seem to fall for any of his thicks. ¡°Damn it!¡± He kicked the gifts that J had returned and angrily slumped on the sofa. He had never met a woman who remained impervious to his charm and tteries. However, the relentless failure somehow encouraged him to go after her. He gulped down the red wine in his ss and wiped his mouth. ¡°J, I will win you over!¡± Chapter 213: Time To Take Action Chapter 213: Time To Take Action Charis had been busy dealing with the Larson Group¡¯s affairs ever since she returned from abroad. She put herself under a lot of pressure just to impress Brandon and transform herself into a better partner for him. Now, she hoped that Kent would work his charm and win J¡¯s heart. A week had passed. Charis didn¡¯t know what was going on between Kent and J. She wanted to know if things were going ording to n. Charis had faith in Kent. He was a charmer. When they were still in college, almost all the girls from their ss were attracted to him. After all, Kent was a handsome and wealthy man who wouldn¡¯t mind spending money for his girlfriends. Besides, J was an ordinary woman. Therefore, she believed it wouldn¡¯t be difficult for Kent to win her over. Charis immediately called Kent and asked him to have dinner with her at a nearby restaurant. Kent arrived an hourte. He walked into the restaurant, looking tired and grumpy. ¡°Why do you look upset? Is something wrong?¡± Charis was good at reading people¡¯s minds. She chuckled to lighten his mood. However, she was actually a bit surprised. Judging by the look on his face, she could tell he hadn¡¯t seeded yet. ¡°The girl you mentionedst time is a tough cookie.¡± Kent pulled a chair and sat down, massaging his temples. ¡°What? You failed to win her heart?¡± Charis took a sip of water and silently examined his face. ¡°I tried every possible means, but that woman is a hard nut to crack.¡± Kent picked up the menu and flipped across the pages. Then, he snorted and threw it back on the table. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t matter, you know. She is quite cute.¡± Charis¡¯s lips curled up. She was d to know that Kent was still interested in J. She put down the ss and looked at him. She didn¡¯t expect Kent would struggle to win J over Considering her initial n had failed, Charis decided to make a move before it was toote. The coboration with the Perkins Bank had entered its final stage. This afternoon, J hurriedly walked out of the office with the drawings.She yelped in shock as someone bumped over her, spilling coffee on her dress. ¡°Oops, I¡¯m sorry. I was busy reading the documents. I didn¡¯t see you,¡± said a woman¡¯s high-pitched voice. ¡°That¡¯s all right.¡± J rubbed the stains on her chest and looked up, her eyes widening in horror. She had been busy dealing with Kenttely that she almost forgot Charis. J thought that she at least wouldn¡¯t have to meet Charis too often. ¡°Are you J Lind?¡± Charis¡¯s eyes lit up. She smiled and said, ¡°Do you know that Ethan and I know each other? I recently found out that he¡¯s married to you. I¡¯m sorry for staining your shirt. Would you like toe to my office and change to something else? I have many clothes in my closet.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Before J could react, Charis dragged her away. Although she didn¡¯t want to go to Charis¡¯s office, part of her wanted to find out about the woman¡¯s rtionship with Ethan. Therefore, she followed her Seeing J walking out in the new outfit, Charis looked her up and down, smiling. ¡°This color suits you very well. By the way, Ethan also likes blue.¡± J was buttoning up the shirt. Her hands stilled when she heard Charis¡¯sment. ¡°Are you two close?¡± Charis looked out of the window and smiled. ¡°We were ssmates in high school and good friends.¡± After a moment¡¯s pause, she added, ¡°I don¡¯t know if Ethan has told you this, but I liked him. I even confessed my love for him a couple of years ago.¡± J froze. She snapped up her head and looked at Chairs, the shock evident on her face. Chapter 214: Sow Discord Chapter 214: Sow Discord Seeing the look on J¡¯s face, Charis hurriedly held her hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have said that. It¡¯s all in the past. Oh, God. Hasn¡¯t Ethan told you?¡± Licking her pale lips, J forced a smile. ¡°No. Were you two in a rtionship?¡± J felt the two must have been together before. Why else would Ethan hide the truth about Charis? Every time she tried asking about her, he would always try changing the topic or give a perfunctory answer. Charis shook her head and let go of J¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s all in the past. Forget it. It will only ruin your current rtionship with him. Besides, I think it would be better for you to hear it from Ethan himself. Miss Lind, please don¡¯t take my words to heart.¡± She smiled wryly. Charis¡¯s words only piqued J¡¯s curiosity. The ambiguous answer made her wonder about the kind of rtionship she shared with Ethan. A thousand thoughts began to swarm in her mind. ¡°You said it was in the past, so why don¡¯t you tell me?¡± J asked, restraining her anger. She couldn¡¯t understand why she was angry. ¡°No. I don¡¯t want to talk about it. I hope you don¡¯t mind. Forget about what I said. Let bygones be bygones. Ethan is married now, and I only wish the best for you both.¡± Charis smiled. Although she seemed calm, the sadness was evident in her eyes. J could tell that Charis still had feelings for Ethan, and she wouldn¡¯t give up. ¡®¡®No wonder Charis called Ethan in the middle of the night. She isn¡¯t stupid enough to forget the time difference. She must have done it on purpose¡± thought J. ¡°Well, if you don¡¯t want to talk about it, I won¡¯t force you.¡± With that, J stormed out of the office. She always had an inkling that Ethan was hiding something from her. He had only told her that Charis was just his ssmate, but not once did he mention that Charis liked him. J¡¯s suspicion intensified; she strongly believed Ethan was hiding something from her. Acent smile emerged on Charis¡¯s face as she watched J walk away, she had told everything she wanted to say and sown the seeds of suspicion in J¡¯s mind. She had managed to stir her peace by giving ambiguous answers to her desperate questions. Jealousy simmered in J¡¯s heart. Her mind was a mess, and she couldn¡¯t concentrate on anything. When it was time to leave, Kent called her again. ¡°We have finalized the design today. I think it deserves a celebration. Would you like to join me for dinner?¡± J¡¯s mind flitted to the proud,cent smile on Charis¡¯s face earlier. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll see you in a bit.¡± Kent had prepared himself to face another rejection. But excitement bubbled up in her heart when he heard her answer. It looked like all his efforts had finally paid off. He quickly booked a table in an exquisite restaurant in a five-star hotel with floors of guest rooms just upstairs, so it would be convenient for him to take her up for some after-party after dinner. Kent picked J from the office and drove her to the hotel. The two got out of the car and walked inside. Meanwhile, Garrett brought his girlfriend to the same hotel. Just as he was about to take a bite of food, his gaze fell on Kent.He stopped and looked intently to see the man¡¯stest conquest. Garrett¡¯s eyes widened in horror when he saw J walking beside him. Chapter 215: You’re About To Lose Your Wife Chapter 215: You¡¯re About To Lose Your Wife Garrett grew nervous. He called Ethan right away. ¡°Bro,e to the Sandy Hotel right now. You¡¯re about to lose your wife!¡± Ethan was busy cooking at home. He had been trying his best to improve his rtionship with J. Therefore, Ethan returned home early every day and cooked a delicious meal for J. ¡°Kent?¡± Ethan took off his apron, picked up his jacket from the sofa, and darted out. ¡°Keep an eye on them. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± ¡°You know Kent very well. He has brought J to a hotel. He¡¯s definitely up to no good. Something is about to happen tonight.¡± Garrett fell silent. He couldn¡¯t understand why J had agreed to have dinner with Kent in the first ce. He knew that Kent had wanted J as the head designer for the project they were working on and also knew J hated Kent. Therefore, he was confident nothing would go wrong. Ethan walked out of the apartment and hailed a taxi. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault,¡± he grunted, running a hand through his hair. ¡°Knowing J, I thought she wouldn¡¯t give Kent any chance. Besides, Kent would never force a woman, so I thought everything would be fine.¡± Ethan didn¡¯t think it would be a problem, so he didn¡¯t feel the need to mess it up. After all, he didn¡¯t want to wreck J¡¯s first project as the chief designer. It would be a good opportunity to grow and hone her skills. ¡°You should know that Kent has his way of getting into women¡¯s pants. Either that or something is wrong with J. That¡¯s probably why she has agreed to have dinner with him.¡± Garrett¡¯s heart sank when he followed them into the restaurant. J and Kent wereughing and chatting happily. The anticipation made him sick. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Well, I¡¯m on my way.¡± Ethan hung up the phone coldly and looked out the window, hoping to reach the hotel soon. The soft lights of the room made the ce all the more romantic. Kent was a little excited tonight. He had dressed into a gorgeous suit and brought his flirting game on, trying to impress her. Nobody knew what she was thinking. However, despite all his effort, J seemed absentminded. She propped her chin on the palm of her hand and nkly stared outside. Kent waved his hand before J¡¯s face to grab her attention. ¡°What would you like to eat? The steak here is out of the world. Miss Lind, this is the third time I¡¯m asking you this question.¡± J was lost in thought. She didn¡¯t bother paying attention to him. ¡°Order whatever you like. I don¡¯t have anything in mind.¡± ¡°What are you thinking? Tell me. I can tell something is bothering you. Maybe I can help you solve your problem.¡± Kent ordered the food and handed the menu to the waiter. His heart sank with disappointment. He had thought J¡¯s determination had finally wavered when she finally agreed to have dinner with him. However, she had been disinterested ever since she came to the hotel. ¡°Nothing.¡± J didn¡¯t like sharing her thoughts with strangers. Besides, she didn¡¯t have a good opinion of Kent, so she thought it was better to keep her worries to herself. Kent drummed his fingers on the table. Just as he was about to speak, J¡¯s phone red in her bag. ¡°Sorry, I should answer the phone.¡± She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and picked up the phone from her bag. ¡®¡®Why is Ethan calling me now?¡¯¡¯ She frowned. Chapter 216: Unexpected Arrival Chapter 216: Unexpected Arrival J¡¯s anger was still flickering inside her. Talking to Ethan was thest thing she wanted to do now.She picked up the phone and said coldly, "I¡¯m having dinner with a client.I¡¯ll call you backter." She then hung up the phone before Ethan could say a word. The busy tone that came after his wife¡¯s statement made Ethan¡¯s face darken.He didn¡¯t expect her to react like this.His fingers tightened around the phone as his heart sank. "Can¡¯t you drive faster?" he asked in a low, but impatient voice. The atmosphere in the car instantly became tense.This question made the driver¡¯s palms sweaty all of a sudden. He sensed Ethan¡¯s mood and didn¡¯t dare to disobey him.He stepped on the gas and maneuvered through the vehicles on the road. Meanwhile, in the restaurant, a waiter just served the dishes at the table of J and Kent. The tantalizing aroma wafted into their nostrils. The colors of the food made them look so tempting. However, none of these moved J.She didn¡¯t have an appetite for it due to her fury.She just kept forking the steak on the te in a bid to vent her anger. "Ouch! That hurts!" Kent cried out, holding his chest. It wasn¡¯t until this moment that J came to her senses.She looked up at him and asked in confusion, "What¡¯s wrong?" Kent jerked his chin towards the steak on her te and responded, "I¡¯m just speaking up for the steak on your te.If it could talk, it would say, ¡®Ouch! That hurts!"" "Jeez! You¡¯re so childish," said J, rolling her eyes. She then looked down at her te and saw that the steak had several bright-red marks amidst its crusty brown exterior.Her anger no longer blinded her. Kent stopped making a joke about it.He quietly cut his steak into small pieces. Afterward, he exchanged her te of steak with his and began cutting again. While at it, he looked up at her with a smile and said, "Come on, eat something first to fill your stomach.You can worry about whatever that is bothering youter.But you can¡¯t eat steak like that.They make the best steak here.Have a taste of it.I¡¯m sure you will love it." Despite Kent¡¯s nudge and thoughtful help, J still couldn¡¯t bring herself to eat.Her anger had made her appetite non-existent. "Oh, I see.Why don¡¯t you eat both servings since it¡¯s so good?" she supported her chin with one hand and sighed slightly. It finally dawned on Kent that all wasn¡¯t well with her.He set down his cutlery and picked up the ss of wine beside him. As he poured some into his ss, he asked, "Penny for your thoughts? Tell me what bothers you.How about drowning your sorrows in wine?" Kent was a cunning man.He knew that alcohol could easily intoxicate women. As a result, he wanted to make things easier by getting J drunk first. He thought schemingly, ¡®Damn, if I can make her drunk, it would be convenient for me to just take her to the room upstairs. Please fall for it!¡¯ Covering the brim of her ss, J stared at him with her eyes gleaming with vignce.She muttered politely, "I¡¯m sorry.I can¡¯t drink." She had an extremely low tolerance for alcohol. No matter how she tried to control herself, she always ended up misbehaving after drinking.She had learned a lesson from what happened thest time.So, she didn¡¯t dare to drink even though it would be nice to drown her sorrow. "Hey, why not? Are you afraid that you will get drunk?" A sinister glint shed through Kent¡¯s eyes at this moment. "No, it¡¯s not that.I have a stomach problem, so I can¡¯t drink," replied J, forcing a smile. "Don¡¯t worry.The alcohol percentage in this wine it¡¯s very low.It won¡¯t upset your stomach.Just take it.I assure you that it would get rid of your dull spirit." Kent put the ss of wine in front of her. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. "No, thanks, Mr.Perkins.I don¡¯t want to risk it." J gently pushed the winess towards him.He pushed it back, and thissted for a while. All of a sudden someone grabbed the winess and gulped down its content at a go. "I¡¯m her husband, so I¡¯ll just drink it for her." Ethan heavily put the ss on the table. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle¡¯s. The dim light made his facial features look deeper and colder.He was staring daggers at Kent. Under this intimidating aura, Kent was noticeably startled. Ethan only stood there and stared at him, but he sensed that he was a terrifying person.He suddenly felt the urge to pee.And he broke out in a cold sweat. ¡®¡®Oh my God! What is he doing here? How did he find me?¡¯¡¯ J¡¯s heart was pounding. She didn¡¯t expect Ethan to show up here. Just as she felt weak in the knees, Ethan pulled her up roughly. "Let¡¯s go." Never did it ur to Kent that J¡¯s husband woulde here.He had thought his mischievous n would be achievable tonight. Although he was a scum, he wasn¡¯t stupid, so he didn¡¯t stand up to Ethan in public. Ethan pulled J outside of the hotel. The cold night wind hit her immediately.She couldn¡¯t help but shiver.Her teeth also chattered. "You said you were with a client.This is a hotel.Why are you here?" he asked with a sneer. Chapter 217: Lovers’ Tiff Chapter 217: Lovers¡¯ Tiff J was a stubborn woman.Not only was she angry with Ethan, but she was also displeased that he was speaking to her in that tone.She shook off his hand and smoothed her hair which had been messed up by the cold night breeze. After she put her hair behind her ears, she faced him squarely. "Mind your words, Ethan.This might be a hotel, but it came with the restaurant downstairs.Kent booked a table in the restaurant and we were just having dinner.I¡¯ve done nothing else with him.Or did you catch me doing anything out of line?" Ethan suppressed his anger when he realized that he had been too harsh and his wife was getting angrier. He fixed his eyes on her and said softly, "You should have declined his invitation." "You and I know this is not just an ordinary invitation.It¡¯s for work.Kent and I have to work together in the future.There¡¯s no way I can decline seeing him always." J lowered her eyes to stare at the ground. The warm gleam in Ethan¡¯s eyes and his soft voice made her feel guilty. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. "I get that, but you should have told me in advance.You shouldn¡¯t have hung up the phone without giving me a chance to talk.How do you think that makes me feel?" Ethan queried calmly. J¡¯s anger which was previously dying down was reignited by hisst sentence. ¡®¡®Humph! See who¡¯s talking about feelings? Yes, I came to have dinner with Kent in a fit of pique.I was wrong for not informing him.But what makes him any different? After all, he hid his past with Charis from me.Why is it a big deal that I¡¯m dining with my client? How dare he criticize me? Oh, please!¡¯ She chewed him out in her mind.Balls of fury swirled inside J as she thought about it.Charis¡¯ affectionate face when she talked about Ethan also shed through her mind. It made her blood boil. The next second, she lost her cool.She raised her zing eyes and looked at Ethan.She then shouted angrily, "Spare me your moral high ground, Ethan.You have no right to guilt-trip me.You kept your words intentionally vague when it came to Charis.I¡¯m your wife, but you didn¡¯t tell me that she confessed her love to you before! Not once did you tell me that she had feelings for you.Why then are you concerned about who I have dinner with? Answer me!" Many people were moving in and out of the hotel. They stole nces at the couple and whispered to each other. They all thought that it was just a normal lovers¡¯ tiff, so none of them interfered. Ethan was rendered speechless. After a while, he frowned and said, "Yes, it¡¯s true Charis once professed her love to me.But I didn¡¯t like her, so I refused her immediately.If she still hasn¡¯t moved on, how is that my fault?" All these could be traced back to high school. As far as Ethan was concerned, Charis¡¯ confession of love was a trivial matter.He felt that it wasn¡¯t supposed to be causing a fight in his marriage. "It happened years ago.Honestly, I didn¡¯t tell you because I was afraid that you would be angrier if you knew it.Please, let¡¯s not argue over that anymore." Ethan took off his jacket and put it on J. J snorted coldly and lowered her eyes without saying anything.She felt a little powerless. Being kept in the dark was one of the things she hated the most.She wanted to know everything about him, no matter how small. But Ethan always had misgivings.He didn¡¯t know how sad she felt whenever he kept such little details away from her. It always made her heart ache inexplicably. Growing up as the adopted daughter of the Lind family, her opinions were never taken into consideration. They always ignored her and made decisions that were often disadvantageous to her. This was also the case with her biological parents who had abandoned her without considering how she would survive in this cruel world. All of these made J feel so left out and unloved.She badly wanted to feel how it was like to be taken into consideration when decisions were being made. ¡®¡®I know next to nothing about my husband, but Charis knows his favorite colors and the kind of things he likes.She was even by his side for many years.Oh, Lord!¡¯¡¯ The thought of this caused J¡¯s heart to ache again.Her energy seemed to be draining rapidly. Sensing that she was still sad, Ethan put his arms around her and patted her back gently.He then asked, "Who told you about it?" J suffered a banging headache and her face turned pale at this moment. The terrible memories tormented her greatly. A painful lump went up to her throat when she tried to wade them off. In a fit of pique, she wriggled free, took off his jacket, and threw it on him.She then replied with a pout, "Charis told me herself." Ethan caught the ck jacket and frowned imperceptibly.He knew what kind of person Charis was. At this moment, he thought, ¡®¡¯Jeez! How could she do such a stupid thing? I guess I wasn¡¯t being too paranoid for keeping her a secret.She would have caused more harm if I made it clear to J from the onset!¡± Chapter 218: None Of Your Business Chapter 218: None Of Your Business With that, J walked forward without looking back. Ethan quickly followed her and grabbed her wrist. "Even if you¡¯re angry, you shouldn¡¯t have gone to have dinner with Kent.He is a notorious scum in Seacisco.If I didn¡¯te here tonight, do you know what he would have done to you?" J struggled to withdraw her hand from his hold but couldn¡¯t escape Ethan¡¯s vice-like grip.She looked up at him and red. "It¡¯s none of your business! You better stay out of this.We don¡¯t have feelings for each other.Our marriage is just a deal and we only try to make do.You have no right to interfere with my personal life." J didn¡¯t mind living alone.She wanted to live a peaceful life without any unnecessary problems and complications. After earning enough money, she had nned to bring Hannah over from the countryside. After all, Hannah was the only one who truly cared about her. Although she looked gentle and sweet, deep down, she was more stubborn than anyone else.Ethan¡¯s body froze.He silently let go of her wrist. J walked to the other side of the road and hailed a taxi.She didn¡¯t bother to look back at him even once. J knew that Ethan must be mad at her for what she had said. However, it didn¡¯t matter because she believed the one he truly loved was back. J regarded herself as an outsider and thought it was time for her to step back. As soon as J returned home, she went to her room, picked up all the things Ethan had dumped in her room, and moved them into the living room. Then, she took her belongings from Ethan¡¯s room and moved back to her room.She didn¡¯t want to live in the same room with Ethan anymore. When Ethan returned home, he saw that J had already moved back into her room and locked herself there. Ethan wandered around in the living room dejectedly.It was yet another cold, lonely night.He was angry and upset. However, considering he was the one who had caused all the problems in the first ce, he held back his anger. Ethan walked toward J¡¯s room and raised his hand to knock on the door. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. But eventually he clenched his fist and decided against it.He walked back and slumped on the sofa, letting out a weary sigh. Ethan had always been a proud man.He didn¡¯t want to beg her to talk to him. Besides, even if he did, he feared it would only worsen things and increase her anger. Ethan had no choice but to control himself and wait for J to cool down. After all, she seemed upset and angry. Ethan felt it was better for them both to take a break and then sit down and discuss the problem. Charis was the reason for all their problems, so he decided to talk to her first. A thousand thoughts swarmed Ethan¡¯s mind.He took a deep breath, went downstairs, and dialed Charis¡¯s number. Chapter 219: She Heard It Chapter 219: She Heard It "Hey, I thought you were busy," Charis squealed with surprise "Why have you called me at this hour?" She had just returned home from work. "I¡¯m not calling to say hello.I want to ask you something." Ethan said coldly. "Why did you tell J about what happened between us in the past?" When Charis decided to tell everything to J and sow the seeds of doubts in her mind, she knew Ethan woulde to her "What¡¯s wrong? Did she quarrel with you?" Charis asked, pretending to be surprised. "She¡¯s unhappy," Ethan grunted. "I¡¯m sorry, but I didn¡¯t mean to do it. You know me," Charis whined innocently. "She asked about us and our past, and I couldn¡¯t just walked away from our conversation. That would be rude. However, I made it clear to her that although I liked you, it¡¯s all in the past, and you¡¯re married now. I told her that I no longer have a crush on you and I only wish you two nothing but happiness. I didn¡¯t expect J would bicker with you for such a trivial issue. I thought she was a reasonable woman." Charis had already prepared what to tell Ethan when he questioned her.She wanted to make it seem like she didn¡¯t do anything wrong, and J¡¯s shallowness was the reason for their problems.She wanted to shift all the me on J However, the phone call displeased her. It seemed that Ethan truly cared about J.He had called herte at night just to talk about this. Ethan didn¡¯t think Charis was lying. After all, she would easily be busted if she really lied about this and he asked J to confront her.He knew Charis well. She was bold, straightforward, and wouldn¡¯t waste her time creating problems in their lives. But Ethan couldn¡¯t entirely be sure of it.His intuition told him that things weren¡¯t as simple as they seemed. J would never make trouble out of nothing. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. If Charis had merely talked about the past and their friendship, J wouldn¡¯t be jealous. "Why don¡¯t you say anything?" Charis knew Ethan well and understood what he must be thinking.She sighed and said, "Do you want me to talk to J tomorrow and exin everything clearly to her? I¡¯m really sorry.I didn¡¯t¡± "No, thanks," Ethan said unhappily. Charis¡¯s heart sank.It looked like Ethan was suspicious of her. The cold wind gave him a headache. Reading women¡¯s minds was an impossible task. Ethan felt the only solution to the problem was to keep J away from Charis.It would be better if the two never saw each other again. However, unlike Christopher, Charis was important to the Larson Group.She was the daughter of the Turner family. Ethan, despite being the CEO of the Larson Group, couldn¡¯t just kick her out. "Charis, you better mind your own business," he said, massaging his throbbing temples. "Stay out of our personal problems." At that moment, he heard rustling noises behind him.Ethan turned around and saw J standing behind him. Her dress billowed with the cold wind as she stared at him with tears in her eyes. Chapter 220: Misunderstanding Chapter 220: Misunderstanding An hour ago J had deliberately made noises while moving her things back to her room.Her anger red up when Ethan didn¡¯t respond.She mmed the door, making it rattle against the hinges.She had thought Ethan would stop her and exin everything to her. Part of her hoped all this was just a misunderstanding, and Charis was nothing more than Ethan¡¯s ssmate. J waited for a long time but didn¡¯t hear any sound outside. J walked to the bed and slumped down.She was mad at herself for not being decisive enough.She had stormed off like she didn¡¯t give a damn.However, she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about what was going on in Ethan¡¯s mind.She fell on the bed and buried her face in the pillow. It was a quiet night. As J stirred in her sleep, she felt like someone was standing by her bed.She quickly opened her eyes and turned the light on. However, there was no one else in her room. The white nket was still smooth and fluffy. J realized no one had been watching her sleep. Ethan hadn¡¯t whispered sweet things into her ear during her sleep. J sat up and massaged her temples. ¡®¡®Why hasn¡¯t Ethan bothered to exin himself? Was my guess right then?¡¯¡¯ J couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the smug look on Charis¡¯s face. They definitely had a history. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Finally, unable to take it anymore, she got up from the bed.She knew sitting in the room and wracking her brains was pointless.The only solution to the problem was to talk to Ethan about it. But J was a coward.Her momentum disappeared as soon as she walked out of the bedroom.She trudged across the living room as if nothing had happened, pretending that she only got up to get some water. However, to her surprise, the living room was empty. ¡®¡®Where is Ethan?¡¯¡¯ She frowned and tiptoed to his room. However, Ethan wasn¡¯t in his room either. J was enraged.She couldn¡¯t believe Ethan had left the house without even telling her. J took a bottle of beer from the fridge and walked to the balcony. A gust of cold breeze brushed against her as she looked down.Her gaze fell on the man standing in the garden downstairs.It was Ethan.He was leaning against the tree, talking over the phone. J grew suspicious. ¡®¡®Why does he have to go downstairs to answer the phone? Does he not want me to know who he is talking with?¡¯¡¯ J quickly ran downstairs and walked toward Ethan from behind. The cool night breeze caused the shadows of the trees to dance under the streetmps. J could clearly hear his voice.He uttered Charis¡¯s name and was asking her not to get involved in their business. ¡®¡®What does he mean? It looks like the two indeed have a history ¡ª an unforgettable past.¡¯¡¯ J¡¯s heart sank. Countless thoughts and possibilities buzzed in her mind.Her vision grew blurry.She froze and didn¡¯t dare to walk any further It looked like Charis was telling the truth. And Ethan didn¡¯t care to exin himself probably because he never cared about J.A wave of shame consumed her.She felt stupid for trying to defend Ethan for a moment. J wiped her tears, turned around, and ran back. A pang of jealousy settled in her heart. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. All of a sudden, she broke into a cold sweat, and her body began to tremble. Chapter 221: Sudden Illness Chapter 221: Sudden Illness "J!" Ethan was stunned to see her there. He immediately hung up the phone and ran after her.In that split second he had seen the sad expression on her face.She looked as if she had just suffered a terrible blow out of the blue. J turned a deaf ear to him.She quickly made her way to the elevator while keeping her head down, so no one would see the tears that were already streaming down her cheeks. Although Ethan walked as quickly as he could, he couldn¡¯t catch up with the elevator before the doors shut.He pressed the button several times, but the doors didn¡¯t open. The elevator had already gone up.It was obvious to Ethan that his wife had misunderstood the whole situation this time.He wanted to speak to her before things got out of hand. In a haste, he took another elevator and went home. But when he got in, he saw that J had already locked herself up in her room again. The entire house was as quiet as a grave. The dim moonlight fell on the windowsill.It seemed as if nothing had happened. "J, please open the door.I need to talk to you." Ethan knocked on the wooden door heavily with his clenched fist.He pressed his ear against the door. But he didn¡¯t hear anything from the other side. Afterward, he turned the doorknob again, but the door was still locked from the inside. "J, please believe me.I¡¯m not unfaithful.I don¡¯t have any rtionship with Charis.We only talked about her work on the phone earlier.Open the door so we can talk this through." The urrences of the past few days hinted Ethan that J hated lies. However, it seemed like a well-intentioned lie was better now than telling the truth.He didn¡¯t like to lie to her, but he had no other choice at this moment. There was still no sound from the room, so Ethan wasn¡¯t sure if J heard him or not. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. "J, I know you are awake.Please open the door.Please," he said in a pleading voice. Never had he begged anyone like this before. For J, he was ready to set aside his pride and beg profusely. Ethan knocked and begged a few more times, but he got no response.He leaned against the door helplessly.His figure cast a shadow over the living room. By midnight, J still didn¡¯t say a word, nor did she open the door. Ethan knew better than to leave this time. The matter would only escte if he did, so he justy on the sofa all night. Time passed by quickly. Soon, the bright sunlight peeped through the curtains and reflected in the living room. Ethan hadn¡¯t slept a wink throughout the night.His mind had been teeming with several thoughts.He stood up from the sofa and stretched. Afterward, he put on an apron and prepared breakfast.He hesitated for a while, but he mustered the courage to knock on J¡¯s bedroom door again. "Good morning, J.I¡¯ve made breakfast.Do you want to have some?" A deafening silence was the only response he got. Ethan paused and nced at the clock on the wall. It was already nine o¡¯clock in the morning. Today was a workday.J was very punctual.She never liked to gote to work.No matter how tired she was, she always woke up early and rushed to work. Ethan knew she would bete if she didn¡¯te out of the room now.I didn¡¯t receive any leave application from J.This means she didn¡¯t intend on taking a day off. ¡°What could be keeping her inside? Does she really n to ignore me?¡¯¡¯ he pondered. Worry set in at this moment.His eyes darkened and he took a deep breath. Afterward, he knocked on the door heavier than before. He asked loudly, "J, why aren¡¯t you up yet? Is there anything wrong?" Angi didn¡¯t respond to him even after he knocked severally without wasting time, Ethan took a snap gun and pried the lock open.He then rushed into the room after over the door.J was still in bed.Her forehead was covered in sweat.She looked sick. Ethan dug her out of the nket and held her in his arms.He brushed her hair off her cheeks. It was then he saw that her face was pale. "J, do you feel sick?" He looked at her worriedly. J knitted her eyebrows and mumbled something inaudibly.It was as if she was having a nightmare. Ethan put his hand on her forehead.She was burning up.Her high temperature proved that she was down with fever. Chapter 222: Ethan’s Tenderness Chapter 222: Ethan¡¯s Tenderness Ethan quickly took out a coat from the wardrobe and helped J put it on. He then carried her in his arms and was about to go to the hospital. It was at this moment J woke up. Her vision was blurry, so she rubbed her eyes hard. The light in the room was just too bright and it shone in her eyes. She couldn¡¯t see Ethan¡¯s face clearly, but she could make out his outline. J frowned and she wanted to say something, but her throat was too dry. Her body was weak at this moment. More so, she felt dizzy and there was a sharp pain in her head. It was as if someone had hit her temple with a blunt weapon. Although she couldn¡¯t remember what Ethan had said outside her doorst night, she knew for sure that he had just made the usual silly exnation. Last night was the height of it all for J. She had never been that angry before. She couldn¡¯t help but think that her marriage with Ethan would be hanging by a thread soon. What happened made her so sad that she didn¡¯t know what to do. J had run directly into her room, locked the door, and thrown herself on the bed. The memories of her miserable childhood flooded her mind at that moment. She recalled how the Lind family had maltreated her and how she ended up getting married to Ethan ¡®¡®God, why do I have to suffer every time? My childhood had been terrible. The Linds treated me like an outcast for many years. I never had a stable ce to call home until I got married to Ethan. But my little happiness is about to be taken away now that Charis is back. Why do I have such ill-luck?¡¯¡¯ J had thought about her predicament and questioned God for so long that she didn¡¯t know when she dozed off. All she remembered was that the wind had been so strong that it rustled the leaves on the trees. She had fallen asleep without covering herself with the nket. In the middle of the night, she woke up because of the cold. Her nose was stuffy and her mouth was dry. She felt so dizzy and her eyes hurt from crying too much. Judging by the dehydration and her stuffy nose, J knew she had caught a cold. She wanted to go out to drink hot water or take some medicine from the cab. But when she was about to open the door, she hesitated. Something told her that Ethan was on the other side of the door. She didn¡¯t want to see him because she knew he would pester her to give him a listening ear. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Talking things out wasn¡¯t on her mind at that time, so sheid back on the bed. She decided to cover herself with the nket and continue to sleep. She thought she would recover from the cold by tomorrow if she sweated all night. But her expectation was just a pipe dream. She got the opposite of what she had expected. The simple cold seemed to develop into a fever by the time she woke up. J was still mad at Ethan. She hit his chest weakly because she didn¡¯t want to be in his arms. She managed to get off him even though her legs felt wobbly. Ethan pped his forehead frustratedly. He then grabbed her wrists and pulled her close. ¡°Please, don¡¯t be stubborn now. I have to take you to the hospital.¡± In the blink of an eye, he carried her on his shoulder, wrapped both of his strong arms around her waist, and took her out of the room. Like a child who was about to throw a tantrum, J resisted with all her strength. But he was too strong for her. She had no choice but to give up after a while. In this way, Ethan took her out of the house. When he got to the roadside, he quickly hailed a taxi and told the driver the name of a private hospital. Ethan didn¡¯t let go of J even after they got into the car. With his arms wrapped around her, he began to talk to her. ¡°How do you feel, J? Do you feel very feverish?¡± He gently wiped the beads of sweat on her forehead with his soft fingers. There were worry lines on his forehead, but a glint of tenderness shone in his eyes. Ethan¡¯s jaw formed a beautiful arc as he lowered his head. All of a sudden, he stared deeply into J¡¯s eyes as his dark eyes continued to glisten. He then gave her a warm kiss on the top of her nose. The high bridge of his nose rested just above her forehead at this time. A warm feeling filled J¡¯s heart immediately. She didn¡¯t know how to react to his kiss, so she closed her tired eyes again. She also didn¡¯t want to look at him while he stared at her like that. The ride to the hospital took only a few minutes. Carrying his wife in his strong arms, Ethan rushed to the inpatient department and went through the necessary procedures. He then took her to the assigned ward andid her carefully on the bed. Shortly after, a young man who was dressed in a clean white gown and a light blue mask came in. He seemed to be a doctor in this hospital. He was tall and thin, with charming eyebrows and eyes. There was a very light red mole under one of his eyes. He looked very gentle and delicate, but something about him made people afraid of him. The mole wasn¡¯t scary, so it was hard to pinpoint what exactly made him terrifying. Chapter 223: Unfriendly Doctor Chapter 223: Unfriendly Doctor J opened her eyes and looked around at this time, The hospital was a top-notch one that had a beautiful environment and was equipped with advanced medical equipment. All the wards were single rooms. J didn¡¯t need anyone to tell her that it would cost a lot to receive treatment here. She didn¡¯t like the thought because she didn¡¯t have much money. Despite not having any serious expenses now, she was still poor. ¡®¡®No, I can¡¯t stay in this hospital. How am I going to pay the bill? Ethan isn¡¯t well-to-do, so who will pay? Besides, I¡¯m not seriously ill. There¡¯s no need for me to be hospitalized. I¡¯ll be fine once I take some cold medicines.¡¯¡¯ With this thought in mind, J decided to leave. She tugged at her husband¡¯s sleeve and whispered, ¡°Ethan, why didn¡¯t you take me to an ordinary hospital? From the look of things, receiving treatment here will cost an arm. Although I don¡¯t have any financial pressure on me, I can¡¯t afford to squander so much money. Let¡¯s figure out how to leave here.¡± J spoke in a whisper because she didn¡¯t want the doctor who had juste in to hear. She knew that it would be inappropriate to leave now that she had been admitted into the ward. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Ethan looked at her affectionately and rubbed her head slowly. He then said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, J. It won¡¯t cost that much. Besides, the doctor here is my friend. He will give me a huge discount. Just allow him to treat you, okay?¡± ¡°Is he really your friend?¡± J gave him a suspicious look. She didn¡¯t believe what he had just said. After all, doctors in such high-end private hospitals were definitely not ordinary people. When she saw that Ethan nodded with genuineness in his eyes, she had a vague feeling that his connections were too high for someone of his status. It seemed that he knew many people from almost all works of life and they were always higher than him. ¡®¡®I have to admit that this husband of mine seems to be a capable man. He has such strong connections, but he¡¯s just an ordinary part-time worker. Why is that so? Something is not adding up!¡¯¡¯ J was a little confused, but she couldn¡¯t think too much because of her illness. She was suffering from a splitting headache and her mind was a mess. Now, she decided not to argue or speak for the time being. ¡°I¡¯ll leave her to you, Frank. I need to get something. Won¡¯t be long. Take care of her, alright?¡± Ethan patted the doctor on the back, nced at J, and left. Frank Watson put on a displeased frown on his face while he examined J. He didn¡¯t even ask her any questions like normal doctors usually did. ¡°Ermm¡­ Sir, please what¡¯s wrong with me?¡± J stammered. Frank¡¯s first response came in form of a re. J¡¯s heart almost jumped to her throat at the sight of this. It seemed like the doctor was angry with her for asking that question and that she needed to say her last prayer at this moment. She swallowed hard and averted her eyes fearfully ¡°Nothing extraordinary is wrong with you. You just caught a cold. I¡¯ll prescribe some medicine for you,¡± replied Frank casually while writing something on his clipboard. J¡¯s lips were sealed as he put her on a drip. Afterward, he took his instruments and walked out of the ward. He coincidentally met Ethan in the corridor. With a bowl of porridge in his hand, Ethan asked worriedly, ¡°How is she? Is she seriously ill?¡± Frank took off his mask. He had a handsome face, but his skin was pale and morbid as if he hadn¡¯t been exposed to the sun for a long time. ¡°She just caught a cold. It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s serious or not. She will get better once she takes some antibiotics. That aside, why did you bring her here for me to attend to her? Do you how busy I am with my research?¡± Frank grumbled. The anxious message he had earlier received from Ethan had put him on edge. He thought the situation was serious so he abandoned his research and rushed over. Ethan raised his eyebrows and retorted, ¡°Cut the crap, dude. Just do your job. Your research can wait until my wife is cured. Besides, I specially asked for you because I believe you are more capable than the other doctors. Don¡¯t let me down.¡± These ttering words mixed with a conspicuous tinge of audacity annoyed Frank so much that he rolled his eyes at him. He would have fought Ethan if he had enough strength to defeat him. ¡°It¡¯s said that prevention is better than cure. Since you are so concerned about your wife¡¯s health, you should take care of her so she doesn¡¯t fall sick in the first ce. Don¡¯t interrupt my research again, or we are going to have serious issues.¡± Frank took a nce at the porridge in Ethan¡¯s hand. He then turned around and left. Chapter 224: The Promise Chapter 224: The Promise Ethan just chuckled as he looked at Frank¡¯s receding figure. After a while, he opened the door of the ward and said to J, "The doctor said you would have to stay here for a day so he can monitor your conditions." In defiance, J turned her head away and said, "I don¡¯t want to stay here just because of this minor illness.I will be fine after taking some medicine and drips.Just take me home." Ethan simply shook his head to indicate he would do no such thing.He walked to the bedside and pulled out the over-bed table.He set down the bowl of porridge which had chopped green onions and eggs on the surface. "You haven¡¯t eaten anything sincest night.The medications won¡¯t work on an empty stomach.Have some porridge." I stirring the hot porridge mildly, he added pleadingly, "Please, don¡¯t be angry anymore." The tantalizing aroma soon hit J¡¯s nose.Her stomach instantly began to rumble loudly.Her salivary nds also became hyperactive.She hadn¡¯t had anything for dinnerst night, nor breakfast this morning. As a result, she was so hungry now. Despite her hunger, she didn¡¯t have the appetite to eat anything.Herck of appetite wasn¡¯t because of her illness.It was due to her bad mood. "I have no appetite.Just put it there." After pointing at the top of the drawer beside her, J turned sideways and closed her eyes. Ethan sensed her mood, so he didn¡¯t force her.He just lifted his ck pants slightly and sat on the edge of the bed.He helplessly stared at her pale face for a long time. Sadness was written all over his face as he watched her quietly. The nurse who had just administered some medicine to J tidied up her tray. While at it, she stole nces at Ethan. As she walked out, she thought, ¡®¡¯This patient is giving this man the cold shoulder.She¡¯s lucky that such a gentle and handsome man cares for her.I honestly feel pity for him.¡¯¡¯ The sun was shining outside.Its rays gleamed on trees and the lush grass. The scenery was so beautiful like the ones that could only be seen in movies. J¡¯s eyes slowly peeled open and she looked at Ethan subconsciously.He happened to be staring intently at her at this time. The room was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.Their long stares made each other slightly ufortable. When Ethan realized that J wasn¡¯t going to break the silence, he sighed and uttered, "You have to believe me, J.My call with Charis didn¡¯t mean anything else.I just wanted to warn her against sowing a seed of discord between us.That¡¯s all." Hearing these words, J snorted and looked out of the window. "I don¡¯t and looked out of the window.¡± "I don¡¯t want to hear it, Ethan.It¡¯s your fault that she can¡¯t get over you." "I¡¯ve made it clear to Charis that I can¡¯t be with her, but she¡¯s still stubborn.I really wish I can take drastic measures to cut her off.However, I can¡¯t do anything to her because she¡¯s the daughter of the Turner family and has such a high position in the Larson Group.The only thing I can do is to continue warning her." This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Ethan was telling the truth.His hands were practically tied concerning this matter. Even with the identity of Brandon, he couldn¡¯t do anything to Charis.They had known each other for a long time and even started their own business together. Thus, he couldn¡¯t sever ties with her just like that. Although Ethan didn¡¯t dare to tell J this, he felt that Charis was a capable and mature woman.He tried to look past the fact that she was into him. As a businesswoman, she was decisive in dealing with things and always made decisions for the benefit of everyone.She didn¡¯t seem to be a bad person to him. It wasn¡¯t until this moment that J looked back at him. ¡®¡®Ethan has a point there.He¡¯s only the illegitimate child of his father and has no social status.He doesn¡¯t have the power to go against someone that important.Even if he tried, it would cause a great rift between him and his family, she pondered reasonably. "I understand where you areing from, but it¡¯s just that I feel you aren¡¯t honest with me at all." J looked dispirited. The feelings she had for Ethan was getting stronger and stronger by the day.She wanted to get close to him. But it seemed like every time she tried, he would try his best to drift away from her. And she didn¡¯t like that. "J, the time is not right.Please wait a little longer.When everything is settled, I¡¯ll dly tell you whatever you want to know." Ethan¡¯s face was gloomy, and his eyebrows were slightly furrowed.He seemed to be extremely hesitant, but his tone was also very serious. J saw that a thousand unsaid things swirled in his eyes.She also knew that he was serious about this promise.She nodded her head and finally looked at him. With tears welling up in her eyes, she said, "Ethan, I¡¯ll wait." Now that she was calm, she began to think of the recent happenings.She knew that Charis had deliberately talked about Ethan to make her jealous.It urred to her that she would only be fulfilling Charis¡¯ greatest desire if she fell out with Ethan. Chapter 225: Make Up Chapter 225: Make Up Ethan leaned over and whispered in her ear, "We¡¯re good then, right?" His deep voice made J shiver, and goose bumps rose on her skin.She narrowed her eyes at him. "Don¡¯t push your luck." "Well, what more would it take? I¡¯ve been out in the cold for days, and it¡¯s been so long since Ist kissed you." Ethan¡¯s gaze fixed on her lips as he said this.He braced his arms on either side of her waist, careful not to touch the infusion tube attached to her hand. J stiffened as he tried to draw closer.If she just let him off after a bout of flirting, he might think she was an easy woman. "There¡¯s something I want to ask you," she said, her tone chilly. "Did Charis ever have a boyfriend while she was abroad?" Considering her background, Charis was more than worthy of a match with the most outstanding man any city had to offer. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. There was a distinctly huge gap between her social status and Ethan¡¯s, so why was she so devoted to him? This question was burning a hole in the back of J¡¯s mind, but she didn¡¯t want to ask Ethan directly for fear of hurting his self-esteem. Ethan blew out a small sigh and pulled back. It appeared that he wouldn¡¯t be able to kiss his wife this time, either. "We didn¡¯t stay in contact after she left, so I never really had a way of knowing." J seemed to rx at that, but she didn¡¯t seem particrly pleased at all.She nced at the fruits sitting on the side table and pouted. "I¡¯d like to eat some fruit." Ethan followed the direction of her gaze and smiled. "Anything for you, honey." As he said so, he was already walking towards the table.He picked up an apple and the paring knife that came with the fruits. J wasn¡¯t entirely mollify just yet, and he was more than happy to attend to her needs, no matter how trifling they were. His deft fingers went to work on the apple. Soon enough, a long, winding strip of apple peel was dangling from his hands. J watched him in silence. This charming man was just so damn good at everything he did. Ethan sliced the peeled apples and put them in a te, carrying it back to the hospital bed. "You should eat some porridge, too.It should have cooled down to the perfect temperature by now." A blush crept into J¡¯s cheeks. In a bid to hide it, she huffed and reached for the te of apple slices, only for Ethan to pull back and hold it high above her head. "Won¡¯t you call me honey first?" "Forget it, then! You can eat those yourself!" J shot him a re before scoffing and turning away. Ethan¡¯s lips stretched into a knowing smile.He ced the te on herp, then reached out and squeezed her burning ear lobe. Before she could tell him off for it, he had already stolen a peck on one of her rosy cheeks. "I was just teasing.You can¡¯t even take a joke, my grumpy little wife.Take your time.I¡¯ll be outside, so just holler if you need anything." And then he was striding across the room and out into the corridor outside, closing the door behind him. Ethan was so infuriatingly smooth, and he could always drive her to a loss without much effort, J looked down at the te on herp and began to eat.He was treating her so well. If she had to be honest, she didn¡¯t have the heart to make things more difficult for him. Luckily, J wasn¡¯t seriously ill.Her fever broke on the same day, and she was discharged the next morning, all cleared to return to work. The moment she was back in the office, she tried toe up with the most ideal way to deal with Kent. J didn¡¯t have to ponder too long, however, because Tiffany soon sent her a notice saying that Perkins Bank had changed their representative. Kent was no longer the person in charge of the project. Chapter 226: Thwarted Plan Chapter 226: Thwarted n Ethan wasn¡¯t particrly concerned that Kent was working with J at first. But when he saw that Kent had asked her out with an obviously ulterior motive, he decided to secretly pull some strings so Kent would get into trouble and he would be busy sorting out the issue for the time being instead of harassing J. ¡°Kent has been reced by someone else. You can rest assured now.¡± Garrett hade to report the latest developments to Ethan. He asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just cancel the project once and for all? You would be able to avoid any more trouble that way, right?¡± This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°There would be no need for that. I just want to stop J from contacting him. Also, I don¡¯t want to destroy her project. She¡¯s really investing her all in it. Creating trouble for Kent would see to it that he wouldn¡¯t have time to keep in contact with J.¡± Ethan browsed through the document in his hands. His legs were crossed and he looked so serious. A few minutester, he picked up a pen and appended his signature on the document quickly. Garrett collected the document and got ready to leave. He said, ¡°I think you should deal with this matter as soon as possible. It would put a stop to the incessant quarrels between you and your wife. By the way, have you guys made up?¡± ¡°Yes, we have. She¡¯s no longer angry with me for now. Please keep an eye on Charis for me. She seems to be up to something. If she does anything suspicious, don¡¯t hesitate to inform me.¡± Ethan had hesitated for a while before he made that statement. He didn¡¯t want to say it, but he thought it wise to do so. Garrett understood exactly what he meant. With a slight frown, he questioned, ¡°Why do you want me to keep tabs on her? Is there a misunderstanding? Charis is not that kind of woman.¡± They went back a long way, so Garrett subconsciously put in a good word for Charis. It seemed like she could do no wrong in his eyes. Ethan shot him a re without uttering another word. This sent a shiver down Garrett¡¯s spine. Taking the cue, he spun on his heel and went out. He thought, ¡®''Jeez! Ethan was so scary just now. Anyway, it¡¯s between him and Charis. I had better bridle my tongue next time." It took J a week to finish the design of the new uniform for the employees of the Perkins Bank. The project had been proposed by Kent in order to get close to J. It was not difficult. Tiffany went with J to the Perkins Bank to finalize things. On the way, she said, ¡°Lind, I think you could be a project leader in the nearest future.¡± She always had an eye for talent. Herment just now wasn¡¯t intended for ttery. She indeed saw that J had great potential. ¡°Really? This is my first independent project.¡± J was stunned by the praise she had just gotten. It was surprising because bing a project leader wasn¡¯t a piece of cake. No one in the design department had ever attained that level within a short time. ¡°So what if it¡¯s your first? Believe me when I say that it wouldn¡¯t be a problem. It¡¯s rare for a new designer to sessfully take on a project alone. You are a rare breed. Something tells me that the management won¡¯t ck on you.¡± Tiffany continued to shower praises on J as she drove. Meanwhile, Charis received a call from Kent. ¡°What¡¯s the Larson Group up to? Why does it seem like you are deliberately attacking the Perkins family? Are you asking for war?¡± Kent fumed immediately after the line connected. ¡°Hey, take it easy with the allegations. I didn¡¯t make any trouble for you. I advise that you look for Brandon,¡± Charis exined calmly. She had gotten wind of how trouble had suddenly started for Kent and how he had to divert his attention to solving it while J continued with the project. She also knew that Brandon was intentionally protecting J. ¡°Damn it!¡± Kent cursed from the other end of the line. He had heard of the mysterious CEO of the Larson Group¨CBrandon. Although he had never met him in person before, he knew that such a man wasn¡¯t to be trifled with. Now, he could only curse him to vent his anger. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for going off on you. Please, I need you to do me a favor. Can you find a way to ask J out?¡± Despite all that was happening to him, Kent didn¡¯t want to give up. He was obsessed with J. He hadn¡¯t seen her for some days, but he couldn¡¯t stop thinking about her. Charis was naturally a stubborn woman, but she didn¡¯t dare to act rashly recently. Ethan had warned her seriously, so she had to tread with caution in dealing with Kent. ¡°I would love to help you, but I don¡¯t have time for now. As you know, I just got back into the country. I have a lot of things to do at work. Please, don¡¯t call me from now onwards. I will get into trouble if word gets out that I¡¯m linked with you.¡±.. Charis hung up the phone as soon as she finished speaking. She decided it was high time she reduced the way she kept in contact with Kent. To create a rift between Ethan and J, she had incited Kent to chase after J. But he failed. On her part, she had also failed to make Ethan dislike his wife. Every part of her big n failed woefully. Charis couldn¡¯t help feeling dejected. After she got off work, she went to a restaurant for dinner. She had just finished making her order when a familiar face appeared in front of her. This familiar face belonged to Luke Turner, her father. He was here to have dinner with a younger woman. Charis rested her chin on her hand and stared at her father¡¯s new girlfriend, who was very beautiful. Luke was totally into women who were more than half his age. Chapter 227: Easy To Exploit Her Chapter 227: Easy To Exploit Her Even though Luke was married and had a wife, he hooked up with every woman he saw and changed girlfriends often Such things weremon in wealthy families. Considering her mother didn¡¯t mind it, Charis didn¡¯t seem about her father¡¯s affairs either. After all. Luke had been a good father, and Charis liked him. He had never said no to her and always got what she wanted. Noticing that Jocelyn was constantly looking back, Luke smiled and stroked her wless face. ¡°What are you staring at? It looks like you want to say something but are hesitant for some reason.¡± ¡°Mr. Turner, does that woman know you?¡± Jocelyn asked gently. Luke turned around. The smile on his face froze when he saw Charis. He quickly averted his gaze and stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s go and say hi to her.¡± This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Before Jocelyn could react, Luke dragged her toward Charis. Charis arched an eyebrow and looked at Jocelyn before a slow smile emerged on her face. ¡°Good choice, Dad,¡± she joked. Jocelyn was taken aback for a moment. She had never been with a married man before. Besides, Luke¡¯s daughter was about the same age as her. She lowered her head in embarrassment. Regardless of how thick-skinned she was, meeting the daughter of the man she dated was still awkward. Luke smiled and waved his hand at Charis. ¡°That¡¯s my daughter, Charis. She has just returned from abroad. And this is Jocelyn Lind.¡± Charis looked at Jocelyn and smiled. ¡°Hello, Miss Lind.¡± ¡°Have you ced the order? Considering we all are here today, why don¡¯t we have a meal together?¡± Luke offered, smiling. Judging from his expression, Jocelyn could tell Luke adored his daughter. He unbuttoned his cor, loosened his tie, and sat down. Seeing that Luke had already sat down, Jocelyn had no choice but to sit next to him. ¡°I see yourst name is Lind. You just remind me of this a girl in ourpany; her name is J Lind.¡± Charis was a smooth talker. There wouldn¡¯t be even a moment of awkward silence with her. After a short pause, Jocelyn forced a smile at her. ¡°She used to be my sister. But my parents kicked her out of the Lind family.¡± Jocelyn¡¯s words seemed to pique Charis¡¯s interest. ¡°Really? Well, there were some bad rumors about her in ourpany. Can you tell me more about her?¡± Jocelyn went on and on about J. She poured her heart out, exaggerating her shorings. Upon hearing that, Charis concluded that Jocelyn hated J with a vengeance. Besides, Jocelyn didn¡¯t seem like a smart woman. Therefore, Charis felt it might be easy to exploit her. ¡°Really? Well, I didn¡¯t know J was such a person. In fact, I liked her before. I¡¯m quite surprised to know what she is capable of doing.¡± Charis shook her head, faking disappointment. ¡°You better be careful around J. She is a vindictive woman.¡± Jocelyn held Charis¡¯s hand concernedly as if she were a loving stepmother. Charis suppressed herughter and nodded at Jocelyn. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m superior to her. She can¡¯t harm me in any way.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah. I¡¯m stupid. How can Ipare you with J? You¡¯re Mr. Turner¡¯s daughter, after all. You must certainly be more capable than my good-for-nothing sister.¡± Jocelyn smiled sheepishly. She was happy that Luke¡¯s daughter liked her. Chapter 228: The Mistress’s Goal Chapter 228: The Mistress¡¯s Goal Luke took Jocelyn to a hotel after saying goodbye to Charis. Jocelyn was his new girlfriend, who he used to satisfy his sexual desires when he deemed fit.She was very submissive to him, and this made him happy. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Jocelyn had incited Luke to pull some strings to get Fiona out of prison. The Linds had gone bankrupt, so they couldn¡¯t afford to live at their former luxurious vi anymore. With the money Luke gave her, Jocelyn rented a small vi for her parents. It wasn¡¯t as big and luxurious as their previous house.However, it was still more extravagant than the rented apartments in ordinary buildings. The moment Fiona noticed that Jocelyn was back home this day, she wiped her tears and concealed her sadness. Life in prison had taken a toll on her.She seemed to have aged ten years during her short time in prison. Unlike the beautiful woman she was before, her physical features looked like that of a grandmother.She had wrinkles on her skin.Her eyes were sunken into the sockets. There were also droopy bags underneath them. Worse still, her previous dark curly hair had lost its shine and was already mixed with a few white strands. "How did things go with Mr.Turner today?" Fiona hurried to get Jocelyn¡¯s bag.She had been in despair since the Lind family copsed. Desperation more than anything drove her to teach Jocelyn all her cunning and seduction skills when she found out about her rtionship with Luke.She saw Luke as their one -way ticket out of poverty, so she admonished her daughter not to let go of him no matter what. As soon as Jocelyn got in, she kicked off her high-heeled shoes.She then copsed on the sofa tiredly. In a disgusted tone, sheined, "How else would it have gone? I had to put up with that old man even though he was so annoying.He¡¯s so weak and bad in bed, but he was busy bbing like a stallion and asking me if I was having a good time.I had to fake it the entire time." Recounting the episode fueled Jocelyn¡¯s anger.She had never allowed such an elderly man to have sex with her before. Now she felt that she was only a little more valuable than the prostitutes who serviced men in nightclubs. "Well, stopining.It¡¯s always like this at the beginning.You will get used to it gradually." Not minding her daughter¡¯s difort, Fiona decided to cajole her into staying with Luke.She moved closer and patted herfortingly.She had eyes on something bigger. "You will be his wife in the future.Getting married to him would restore our dignity and give us a better life.So, just endure whatever he does for a while." Fiona was a master in this kind of game.Excessive seduction was exactly how she had gotten Bernie to fall in love with her. Back then, Bernie had a fiancee who he had dated for a long time.But Fiona came along and snatched him away.If she hadn¡¯t, he would have been married to someone else.Now, she was passing on her knowledge to Jocelyn who was already like her in so many ways. Fiona wanted Luke to get married to Jocelyn so she could be the new Mrs.Turner. "Mom, how long would I have to put up with him? Being with that man isn¡¯t easy at all! By the way, I met his daughter today.She is about the same age as me.She looked beautiful and shrewd.I have a bad feeling about her.She¡¯s definitely a tough nut to crack." At this moment, Charis¡¯ face appeared in Jocelyn¡¯s mind.She was smiling a lot during their dinner together, but the smiles never reached her eyes. Fiona waved her daughter¡¯s fears aside. Patting the back of her hand, she said, "Don¡¯t let that bother you, dearie.You should be happy about it.Since Luke took you to meet his daughter, it means he attaches great importance to you." Jocelyn instantly had a banging headache when she heard her mother¡¯s words.Luke hadn¡¯t taken her to see his daughter. They had just met coincidentally. ¡®¡®My mother has no idea how Luke is.I¡¯ve been submissive to him for a long time, but I don¡¯t think dating him is worth my while.Although he¡¯s generous, he doesn¡¯t make any big promises, let alone guarantee that he would help me and my family.He¡¯s not like other sugar daddies who go the extra mile to make their girlfriendsfortable.Worse still, I can¡¯t see through him at all" In this perplexed state, Jocelyn recalled the conversation she had with Charis. "Mom, it seems like Luke¡¯s daughter works in the samepany as J.She doesn¡¯t like J either" This news ddened Fiona¡¯s heart. She pped her hands and uttered, "That¡¯s great! You had better make friends with her.After all, it¡¯s said that the enemy of my enemy is my friend.Talk to her about J.If you two can unite.you can defeat the