《The Mysterious Billionaire and His Substitute Bride》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 It was a hot summer day. The downpour seemed to make the climate more humid. The bus was teeming with people. J Lind got out of the bus with her luggage. As she looked around, her gazended on Bernie Lind ¡ª he was standing at the exit of the bus station. He looked much older now, and his hair had turned grey. ¡°Dad,¡± she called, biting her lip. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go home. Your mom has cooked all your favorite food because you¡¯reing back.¡± Bernie smiled, the corner of his eyes creasing with wrinkles. He took the suitcase from her hand and put it into the trunk. J¡¯s breathing faltered. Bernie and Fiona Duncan weren¡¯t her biological parents. She was only adoptive. The couple had stopped caring about her like their own after giving birth to a daughter. She knew Bernie was kind and enthusiastic to her today because he and Fiona were expecting her to marry in ce of her sister. The car drove through the bustling downtown and entered a luxurious vimunity. Seacisco had changed a lot in the past few years. Bernie opened the door and entered the vi with J¡¯s suitcase. J followed him in. As soon as she stepped on the carpet, she heard a maid screaming, ¡°Oh, God! Step out! You¡¯re dirtying the carpet. I just changed it today. Look at your shoes! They¡¯re covered in mud. You¡¯ve ruined everything.¡± J flinched back at the deafening voice. She stepped out of the house and looked at her shoes. A frown lined her forehead when she realized they weren¡¯t dirty. The maid was deliberately insulting her. Just then, the sound of soft footsteps reverberated across the vi. Jocelyn Lind descended the stairs, twirling a strand of hair around her finger as she happily looked at the door. The smile on her face froze the moment she saw J. She hadn¡¯t seen her sister for several years ¡ª her parents had left J in the countryside to be raised by other people. She felt a pang of jealousy because J had be more beautiful now. Jocelyn had always been jealous of J and despised her for being the prettier child. The gap between the two had grown bigger over the years. Jocelyn quickly faked a smile and looked at the maid. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let my sister in?¡± ¡°Her shoes are covered in mud,¡± the maid said with disgust. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. You will have to let my sister into the house even if she has turned into a homeless beggar. Otherwise, how can we discuss business?¡± Jocelyn¡¯s words dripped with mockery. She turned around and sashayed into the living room, not bothering to look at J. The maid quickly strutted to the shoe cab, pulled out a pair of shoe covers from the drawer, and threw it at J. ¡°You think too much of yourself, don¡¯t you?¡± she snapped viciously. ¡°Wear them before setting foot into the house!¡± The maid¡¯s insults pierced through J¡¯s heart. She put on the stic shoe covers and looked up, anger zing in her eyes. She couldn¡¯t argue with them before getting the money. J had lost her appetite, so she couldn¡¯t stomach the food. Fiona sat beside her, dazzling as ever, even in her fifties. ¡°Since you have made up your mind, the wedding will be held tomorrow. Is that okay?¡± J put down the knife and fork and looked at her. ¡°I want to confirm something first. Will you give me the money right after I get married in ce of Jocelyn tomorrow?¡± She was going to trade her marriage for the money. It was a life-altering decision. Therefore, she wanted to be sure of everything before agreeing. Bernie and Fiona didn¡¯t have children for several years after their marriage. Thinking they would never be able to conceive, the couple had adopted J. However, a few yearster, Fiona got pregnant and gave birth to Jocelyn. Fiona started despising J and became more partial toward her own daughter. She didn¡¯t feel the need to have an adoptive daughter since she had given birth to a beautiful girl. Therefore, she asked Bernie to leave J in the countryside where she could live with their old maid, Hannah. Hannah had been the Lind family¡¯s faithful servant before retirement. She had raised J all by herself, and the two were like grandmother and granddaughter. Three months ago, Hannah was diagnosed with advanced liver cirrhosis. Now, she needed to have a liver transntation. The procedure was expensive, and they needed arge sum of money to cure her. Time was limited. They couldn¡¯t dy the operation anymore. ¡°We are family. Why are you always talking about money? Don¡¯t worry. I will give you all the money you need. You only have to get married soon.¡± There was a trace of impatience in Fiona¡¯s gentle tone. She hated J. Back then, she had adopted J only because she was under great pressure. The Lind family taunted her, and J¡¯s presence was living proof of her infertility. The mere sight of J infuriated her. 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. If it weren¡¯t for the engagement between her own daughter and the illegitimate son of the Lester family, Fiona wouldn¡¯t have brought J back from the countryside. She believed such an outcast deserved to stay in the countryside. ¡°We say we¡¯ll give you the money, and you¡¯ll get the money, alright? Stupid beggar!¡± Jocelyn snorted. ¡°You pay me, and I do the job. Fair and square,¡± J frowned. Although she seldom showed her anger in front of the Lind family members, J wasn¡¯t a pushover. She had also heard about the man she was going to marry tomorrow. His name was Ethan Lester, the illegitimate son of the Lester family. He had been engaged to Jocelyn ever since they were children. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Jocelyn was a conceited woman. She would never marry an illegitimate son. Moreover, it was said the Lester family had driven him out several years ago. He didn¡¯t even have a decent job and had been struggling to make ends meet. Although J looked calm, the thought of marrying such a man frightened her. However, she had to do this to save Hannah¡¯s life. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will marry him tomorrow.¡± Chapter 2 Chapter 2 The next day, J went to a small church in the suburbs all by herself in a simple white slip dress. 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. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. 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. Almost all seats in the church were still vacant ¡ª only a few people attended the wedding. Bernie and Fiona nced at the gate every now and then with bated breath. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the groom and his familye yet?¡± Fiona frowned and nced at the vacant seats. She was dressed in a gorgeous outfit today. The light purple dress and subtle makeup entuated her features ¡ª she looked breathtaking ¡°Maybe there is a traffic jam. Let¡¯s wait a little longer.¡± It seemed like the Lester family didn¡¯t value the marriage. However, J wasn¡¯t bothered. All she wanted was the money Fiona had promised to pay her after the wedding. Momentster, Jocelyn arrived. She walked into the church in haute couture and expensive jewelry, holding her boyfriend¡¯s arm. She arrogantly strode to Bernie and Fiona as if telling them that her boyfriend was a thousand times better than Ethan. ¡°Is that your elder sister J?¡± Jocelyn¡¯s boyfriend asked, gaping at J. Her pristine beauty seemed to allure him. Jocelyn gritted her teeth. Her boyfriend had been staring at J ever since they entered the church. She couldn¡¯t tolerate it. J had effortlessly seduced him in a matter of a few minutes. Nothing had changed even after all these years. J managed to captivate everyone wit h her charm. People always paid attention to her instead of Jocelyn. Jealousy reared its ugly head. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you?¡± Jocelyn growled. ¡°Believe it or not, I¡¯ll gouge your eyes out. How could you be interested in a bitch from the countryside?¡± Jocelyn hissed at her boyfriend. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t that bastard, Ethan, shown up yet?¡± Her nose scrunched up in disgust. ¡°The man iste for his own wedding. How could he be reliable? Besides, his family hasn¡¯t arrived yet. It looks like they don¡¯t care about him.¡± 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. 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 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. Jocelyn had always thought her boyfriend was handsome, but he faded inparison to the man in front of her. 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.¡± Jocelyn had the urge to ask for the man¡¯s phone number, but she didn¡¯t dare cross the line when her boyfriend was with her. The man didn¡¯t bat an eyelid at Jocelyn. He ignored her and went straight to J. Jocelyn¡¯s face burned with embarrassment. The shyness and excitement vanished in an instant. 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. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. 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 J grew up in the countryside, she wasn¡¯tpletely ignorant. 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 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. 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. ¡°My boyfriend is the general manager of Cagen Group. It would be good for you to know him. We are family. We can help you in the future.¡± J smiled politely. She knew Jocelyn was pretending because the woman hated her with a vengeance. J was used to Jocelyn¡¯s mockery. ¡°Yes, we should get to know each other. 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.¡± Jocelyn¡¯s boyfriend¡¯s face darkened; the smile on his face dropped. ¡°My younger sister always likes to tease me. Don¡¯t take it to heart,¡± Jocelynforted her boyfriend before turning and ring at J. ¡°If necessary, I can rmend Ethan to work in Cagen Group. If he isn¡¯t efficient enough to do technical work, he can perform daily chores like serving tea and cleaning bathrooms. After all, it¡¯s better to have a real job than roaming around idly after getting married.¡± J stole a nce at Ethan. However, Jocelyn¡¯s words didn¡¯t seem to bother him the slightest. ¡°No, thanks.¡± He smiled politely. ¡°I¡¯m used to roaming outside. My bum can¡¯t rest in one ce, so I can¡¯t sit in an office and work nine to five.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. His response irked Jocelyn. She shot a vicious look at Ethan and returned to her seat, holding her boyfriend¡¯s arm. Soon, the priest arrived and hastily finished the wedding. Ethan took J back to a small house in the suburb. The house looked old, and the front yard covered only a small area. 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 ¡°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.¡± 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.¡± T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡®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 e ither. 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 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 t hat 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 sleepfortably on the small sofa?¡± ¡°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. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. 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 J had a peaceful night and even a nice dream after a long time. In her dream, she saw Hannah getting treated and recovered. The two returned to the countryside together and lived a happy life. 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. 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 a good cook. Hannah had even urged her to open a small restaurant in the countryside. Ethan soon came out of the bathroom, pulled a wooden chair, and sat down. His mouth watered when he saw the steaming br eakfast 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. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. 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¡¯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 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?¡± 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.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 ¡°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. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. 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 youe. 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.¡± 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 ¡°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.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. 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 rentalpany 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. He felt this ¡°Jocelyn Lind¡± was way better than he had thought. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 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. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. 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 graduates¡­¡± 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. Our company needs someone like her.¡± 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 ¡°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. 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. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. If J joined 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 e-mail 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 Chapter 13 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. 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 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.N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 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 tough 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. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Ethan¡¯s expression turned 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¡ª¡± 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 Chapter 15 ¡°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. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. More than a dozen heads turned to ine, waiting for her response. ¡°I¡ªI,¡± she stammered. ¡°I heard it from the others. When she was in university, she had sex with a¡ªno, with several male students, and¡­ In any case, they said that she is not innocent and sweet as it appears. She¡ª¡± ¡°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. Most of all, you need to give us evidence to 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 the company 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 Chapter 16 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. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. 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 thepany, 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 a competent 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. 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 tond 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 shoulder. ¡°Great job, Miss Lind!¡± 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 the company, no less? Chapter 17 Chapter 17 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?¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. 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.¡± 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 Chapter 18 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 ¡ª her senior from college who had a deep crush on her ¡ª 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. ¡°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?¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°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. Christopher 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 Chapter 19 ¡°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. ¡°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. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°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 Chapter 20 Ethan stopped in his tracks. J¡¯s words infuriated him. He had specially asked Garrett to deal with the issue, and the man had laughed 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.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. 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 parentstely, 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. You can¡¯t even afford to take a taxi and have to take a bus home.¡± Chapter 21 Chapter 21 J turned in the direction of the voice and found a white BMW parked at the curb not far away. Jocelyn was sitting smugly at the passenger seat, wearing a sexy camisole dress andrge sunsses. An equally shy man, presumably her boyfriend, was behind the wheel. 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.¡± 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. ¡°I¡¯ve never hit a woman in my life, although I don¡¯t really mind doing so if I have to,¡± he said in a menacing tone, his cold eyes sweeping from Jocelyn to her boyfriend. ¡°You¡¯d better discipline your woman and keep her in line. You¡¯re the general manager of Cagen Group, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯ll be sure to keep it in mind.¡± The other man didn¡¯t know why, but felt a chill run down his spine. He wondered where this no-good punk got the call to act so arrogant. ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± he chastised Jocelyn. ¡°What if that bastard goes to mypany and make some trouble?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re scared. You coward.¡± In fact, Jocelyn was rather spooked as well, but if she balked now, it would be a great blow to her ego. Why was this good-looking guy being so protective of J, anyway? They had only been together for a few days. 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!¡± It must be some rich young master showing off their wealth just to get the girls¡¯ attention. 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. 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?¡±T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 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 ¡ª 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. 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. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°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 thepany 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. It would be great if she didn¡¯t have to spend hours travelling 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 Chapter 23 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. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. 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? I 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. 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 patted 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 Chapter 24 ¡®What? One hundred bucks a month for an apartment 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. J 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?¡± ¡°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 eye 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 than 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. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. 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 slices to Hannah. ¡°Eat the apple.¡± She knew the medical expenses would double if Hannah moved to a better hospital in the city. J didn¡¯t have enough money at present but hoped to earn better in the future. Chapter 25 Chapter 25 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. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. The apron entuated her alluring figure. 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 can¡¯t even cover your thighs.¡± It was more like a sexy lingerie. ¡°Stop pulling my apron. I got it at a discount. It¡¯s beautiful, 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. It was a document from a hospital. After quickly looking through it, Ethan immediately found that something was wrong. A clinical drug trial? 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 stilled; he turned to look at her. J 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 Chapter 26 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 his bride-to-be and didn¡¯t intend to be her husband. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. 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.¡± J 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 the tap and began to wash the dishes. She didn¡¯t want to disagree with him. Anyway, Ethan was busy with his business every day and didn¡¯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 Chapter 27 ¡°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. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. 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 ensemble comprised 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 screen. The client had confirmed their business deal on the website and paid the bill, and the tform had instantly transferred 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. 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¡ªthe 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 Chapter 28 ¡°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. ¡°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. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°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 Chapter 29 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. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. 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. I 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 right. 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. If 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 order food? 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. Hurry 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 diners 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!¡± 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 known for our exceptional service.¡± Ethan pursed his lips, trying to suppress his smile. He was happy to see his wife defend him. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 ¡°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. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. 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.¡± ¡°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 Chapter 31 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. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Biting her lip, J nodded in understanding. Ethan¡¯s words made sense. ¡°Speaking of which¡­¡± She grinned and yfully nudged his arm. ¡°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 Chapter 32 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. 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. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. 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 Chapter 33 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 all common 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,¡± Ike 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.¡± Ike 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 likely disagreed with Ike. ¡°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.¡± Ike 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. Ike tossed the documents on his desk, unbuttoned his suit jacket, and leaned back against his chair. ¡°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.¡± Ike¡¯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.¡± Ike grinned and said nothing more. On top of her good looks, this woman also had a strong personality. He did like 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 Ike 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 Ike¡¯s office on purpose and eavesdropped at the door. The man had made his intentions toward J perfectly clear.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 34 Chapter 34 The following week, J took precautions to avoid running into Ike, but Ike 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 Ike?¡± ¡°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 Ike. And those rumors spread like 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 Ike 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 likes 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 Ike¡¯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.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Chapter 35 Chapter 35 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.¡± Ike 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! Ike 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?¡± Ike 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, Ike¡¯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. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. After he listened to the recording, Ike¡¯s expression immediately darkened. Now that J had spoken out about him in public, his n to win her over suddenly seemed like 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 Ike 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, Ike 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 like 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 Ike didn¡¯t notify the authorities was because the matter would also smear his name. ¡°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 Chapter 36 Ever since Ike 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 like 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, Ike 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?¡± Ike 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 Ike 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. Ike 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 Ike¡¯s grip. ¡°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,¡± Ike said sternly, his eyes gleaming with sarcasm. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°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!¡± Ike 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, Ike 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, Ike couldn¡¯t do anything to her. However, she couldn¡¯t afford to lose the job and didn¡¯t want Christopher to offend Ike 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 Ike as her icy gaze met his. ¡°Mr. Lyman, I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Chapter 37 Chapter 37 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, Ike! We¡¯ve all been waiting for you!¡± Keeping her face neutral, J sat among Ike¡¯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 Ike¡¯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 Ike¡¯s friends stood up and led theirdy friends to their respective rooms for the latter part of the party. Obviously, Ike 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.¡± Ike 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 Ike, who seemed to be a decent person, would be such ascivious man. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. She shouldn¡¯t have gone with him tonight. 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?¡± Ike 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. Ike 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 Chapter 38 ¡°Help! Help! He¡¯s trying to rape me!¡± J grasped the door frame and shouted desperately. Ike 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 Ike 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. Ike 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?!¡±T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Ike 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.¡± ¡°Damn it! Fuck you, you bastard!¡± Ike 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 Ike¡¯s fist and twisted it, forcing Ike to the ground. It was like subduing a weak chicken. With dark eyes, Ethan raised his own fist to punch the despicable Ike¡¯s face. Ethan was a force to be reckoned with. After all, he was born ruthless and cruel. Ike was beaten to a pulp. When Ethan was done, Ike 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 Ike¡¯s voice went hoarse that Ethan finally straightened his clothes and stood up. But he wasn¡¯t done yet. He kicked Ike¡¯s dick and spat coldly, ¡°Do something like this again and I¡¯ll cut your balls off.¡± Ike 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, like 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, Ike 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 Chapter 39 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 like 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. ¡°Ike 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?¡± ¡°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. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. 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 Chapter 40 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. But the corridor wasn¡¯t that big. It only 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?¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. 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?¡± 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 Chapter 41 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!¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. 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. 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 Chapter 42 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?¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. 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. 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 Chapter 43 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. 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. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. 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 Chapter 44 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. 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 aT¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. 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 Chapter 45 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?¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. 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. 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 Chapter 46 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.¡± 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.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. 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 Chapter 47 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 they 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!¡± ¡°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!¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. 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 Chapter 48 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. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. 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 partialpensation 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.¡± Chapter 49 Chapter 49 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.¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. 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. ¡°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 Chapter 50 ¡°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. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°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. 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 Chapter 51 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. 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.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°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¡ª¡± 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 Chapter 52 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. Only then did J realize he was actually using her. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. 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 Chapter 53 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. 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. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. 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 Chapter 54 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. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. 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. ¡°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.¡± 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 55 Chapter 55 The three sides of the interrogation room were made of dark gray ss. People outside would have a clear view of everything inside. Ethan was standing outside the ss door. His shiny leather shoes looked spotless, and his dark eyes narrowed at the dazzling emerald ring he held between his slender fingers. His fingertips rubbed against the initials carved on the inner wall of the ring. He looked dangerous. The coffee in Sean¡¯s hands had turned cold. He cautiously handed it to Ethan again. ¡°Boss, we found the woman. We¡¯ll bring her in for interrogation right away. I¡¯ll make sure she confesses everything.¡± Ethan nodded and looked at the interrogation room. The shop manager was brought in. She was no longer arrogant and domineering as before. She looked around and found men d in suits staring down at her. ¡°Where did you get this ring?¡± Sean pounded the table. He sounded just like a fierce detective. The shop manager rubbed her hands nervously. Judging from their clothes and domineering aura, she understood they were powerful people she couldn¡¯t mess with. She had yed several dirty trickstely and didn¡¯t know who had brought her here to settle the ounts. ¡°I¡­ I have heard about this ring on TV and in magazines before. I knew it was a famous antique, so I bought it from a customer for a high price.¡± ¡°Are you sure you bought it at a high price?¡± Sean took out the evidence, along with the videos and photos that Ethan had just taken at the door of the second-hand shop. ¡°This woman is the owner of the ring. She said that you had stolen her ring. Could you exin that?¡± The shop manager¡¯s eyes widened as she realized it was the same woman who hade to the shop earlier. She still tried to defend herself, but the tall men walked toward her, their eyes gleaming with malice. ¡°Tell the truth, or you will have to bear the consequences,¡± Sean snapped viciously. The shop manager was just an ordinary woman. She had never encountered such a situation before and had no clue how powerful and dangerous these people were. The woman trembled with fear. She did not dare to lie anymore and ended up admitting the truth. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°I offered a high price, but thatdy didn¡¯t want to sell it, so I got greedy and came up with this idea. I have sold fake jewelry before, and I happened to have a simr one in my hand, so I reced the ring with the counterfeit.¡± Ethan¡¯s jaw tightened; anger zed in his eyes. He turned to a man next to him and ordered, ¡°I don¡¯t care what you do. Send this woman to jail and make sure she neveres out.¡± That evening, J was sitting on the sofa, examining her design. Just then, she heard the sound of the key twisting in the lock. Ethan opened the door and came in. As soon as he closed the door, he saw J walking toward her room with her drawing. He strode forward and stopped her. ¡°The ring is back. Take it,¡± he said, slipping the ring into her finger. J pursed her lips and put the ring back in his palm. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯ve found it. Just keep it with yourself. Don¡¯t give such a valuable thing to me again,¡± she said tly, looking into the distance. ¡°Are you still mad at me about what happened in the morning?¡± Ethan¡¯s face darkened. ¡°No. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m not good at keeping things. If anything goes wrong, I¡¯m afraid others might think I secretly sold it for money,¡± J said. Her face bore no expression. Hearing that, Ethan knew that J was still furious. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± Ethan felt helpless. He didn¡¯t know what would make her feel better. J arched an eyebrow and looked at him. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do anything.¡± Then, she walked into her room and mmed the door shut behind her, leaving Ethan all alone. Ethan ran a hand through his hair, feeling helpless. He didn¡¯t know who would give him the right advice now. Ethan knew he had to somehow coax J. However, he had no experience coaxing girls before, so he didn¡¯t know how to make J feel better. Ethan racked his brains but couldn¡¯te up with a solution. Finally, he left the house to look for Garrett. Garrett was an experienced man in love. Ethan felt he would be able to give him the right solution. Chapter 56 Chapter 56 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. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. J was startled. ¡°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 Chapter 57 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!¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. 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. 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 Chapter 58 ¡°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¡ªwith no weekends off.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. 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¡±¡­ ¡°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 Chapter 59 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. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. 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?¡± 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 Chapter 60 The next day, J went to thepany early in the morning. Ethan couldn¡¯t sleep well that night. When he went to brush his teeth 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. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. 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 the laptop 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 J 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.¡± Ethan rolled his eyes, turned around, and left the conference room. Chapter 61 Chapter 61 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.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°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. ¡°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 ring 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 behind. 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¡ªa beautiful eye- catcher. Chapter 62 Chapter 62 ¡°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. Jmented 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.¡± 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. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°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 Chapter 63 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 andcent 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. ¡°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. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°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 Chapter 64 Tiffany 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. ¡°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. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. 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 Chapter 65 ¡°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 some comfort, 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.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°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. ¡°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 Chapter 66 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. 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 your 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 could he insult her in public like this? 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 everyone! Color Company is one of the best clothingpanies in the country, but it looks like they don¡¯t take you seriously, honey.¡± 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 Larson Group fire him?N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Chapter 67 Chapter 67 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. 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. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°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 what you said today!¡± Then, she turned around and stomped out in a huff. Chapter 68 Chapter 68 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¡ªunreasonable even¡ªfor a deputy CEO like Garrett to keep standing up for her. Things didn¡¯t happen for no reason in this world. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. 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. 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 Chapter 69 ¡°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. ¡®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. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Ethan had to find a solution. Chapter 70 Chapter 70 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. 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?! In e deze, J trudged beck to her desk. ¡°Gerde, Mr. Herding wouldn¡¯t meke e huge fuss out of us employees, would he?¡± J whispered to her colleegue, her voice riddled with enxiety. ¡°Neh, I don¡¯t think so. After ell, e boss should be open-minded. But meybe he¡¯s cepeble of meking mounteins out of molehills. Who knows? I cen¡¯t reed minds.¡± Gerde¡¯s cryptic enswer only served to meke J even more uneesy. Whet if she hed offended Gerrett? The next dey, when J rushed to work, she ren into Gerrett et the gete of thepeny. Eyes derting eround nervously, she meneged to pluck up the courege to epproech him to epologize. ¡°Mr. Herding, excuse me. About whet heppened yesterdey¡­¡± But before she could finish her sentence, when Gerrett sew her epproeching, he immedietely turned eround end rushed beck inside the cer. He shouted et the driver enxiously, ¡°Go! Get me out of here! Hurry!¡± J¡¯s steps feltered es she wetched the cer zoom off. She wes speechless. When she set down et her desk, J felt so dejected thet she lowered her heed to her teble end muttered, ¡°Gerde, I think my cereer¡¯s over.¡± Gerrett didn¡¯t even went to see her. He wes probebly so offended. With e sendwich in her mouth, Gerde hended J e bottle of milk. ¡°Don¡¯t telk like thet. Ms. Fisher might heer you end give you en eerful.¡± ¡°Oh, thenks.¡± J gretefully epted the milk. ¡°You¡¯re too meen. I think Ms. Fisher¡¯s e good person.¡± As J turned on herputer end checked her inbox, e notificetion suddenly popped up in the work group chet. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Brendon Lerson sent you e friend request.¡± Whet 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¡ª? 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 Chapter 71 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 yawned. 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.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°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. The following Mondey, J showed up et the office with derk circles under her eyes. ¡°Did you spend the weekend in prison? You look terrible,¡± Gerdemented es she pulled out her cheir end set down, munching on e hot dog. ¡°The cooperetion project I¡¯m hendling is moving so fest. I needed to work overtime for two consecutive deys,¡± J drewled end yewned. She wes so tired thet she felt she would doze off the next second. ¡°Were you eble to finish?¡± Leening on her teble, J nodded weekly. ¡°It wes finished this morning!¡± As the two chetted idly, Tiffeny¡¯s voice reng out from behind them. ¡°Lind, pleese see me in my office.¡± In e deze, J reised her heed. Gerde shot her e sympethetic look then stuck out her tongue like e little child. ¡°Sounds like you¡¯ll need to revise your drewings. Good luck!¡± Berely holding herself together, J trudged into Tiffeny¡¯s office. ¡°You look exheusted. I never thought enyone else here would work herder then me.¡± Tiffeny sipped et her coffee pensively, looking J up end down elmost sympetheticelly. Then, she spreed out the design drewings on her desk end seid, ¡°The Color Compeny hes sent these to the fectory elreedy. There¡¯s no need for you to meke eny modificetions. They¡¯re very setisfied with your work. Thet¡¯s ell I wented to sey. You cen go beck now end teke things eesy.¡± J looked et Tiffeny werily end esked slowly, ¡°Is there enything else you wented to sey, Ms. Fisher?¡± She found it herd to believe thet Tiffeny just celled her in to preise her. ¡°No. Go beck to your desk end teke e nep, will you? I¡¯ll pretend thet I don¡¯t see you slecking off.¡± The corners of Tiffeny¡¯s red lips lifted, reveeling e werm 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 the company.¡± 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!¡± 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 Chapter 72 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. ¡°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. When J ceme home, she found the epertment empty. Hours ticked by, yet there wes still no sign of Ethen. Finelly, et eleven o¡¯clock, J heerd the sound the door unlocking. She welked to the door subconsciously. When the door swung open, she met Ethen¡¯s geze. The men looked exheusted. He put ewey the key end seid curiously, ¡°I thought you were exheusted from working overtime. Why eren¡¯t you in bed yet?¡± ¡°I got to teke things eesy todey. Anywey, I cooked fish with sweet end sour seuce. Heve you hed dinner?¡± She should heve been bed by now. For some unknown reeson though, J hed decided to weit for him tonight. After e moment¡¯s silence, she esked hesitently, ¡°Why ere you so lete tonight?¡± She hed been working overtime the pest few deys, so she wes out of the epertment eerly end ceme beck lete et night. She hedn¡¯t seen Ethen in elmost three deys. ¡°Fish with sweet end sour seuce? Sounds greet. I heven¡¯t hed dinner yet.¡± Ethen shrugged off his coet end tossed it on the sofe. He picked up the remote control on the teble end turned on the TV. The sound of e footbell metch droned on. ¡°The convenience store wes restocked todey,¡± he murmured ebsentmindedly. ¡°I hed to help move things.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± seid J. Shrugging it off, she welked to the kitchen to prepere 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.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. 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 Chapter 73 ¡°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. ¡°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.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just impossible. How cen you get jeelous so eesily?¡± Suddenly, J¡¯s fece turned hot. She lowered her geze, uneble to look et Ethen enymore. She tried to push him ewey end pleeded, ¡°Step beck. You¡¯re too close.¡± She wes trepped, being pressed in between Ethen¡¯s lerge body end the kitchen sink behind her. Her flustered fece mede him went to heve her even more. ¡°I heve e question.¡± Ethen¡¯s deep voice ceme from ebove her heed, his breeth rustling her heir slightly. Clenching his fist, the men cleered his throet end esked in e gruff voice, ¡°Well, between Brendon end me, who hes the better figure?¡± As soon es those words left his lips, Ethen felt incredibly emberressed. He knew it wes e stupid question, but he just wented to heer J preise him to his fece. Stending there end thinking for e long time, J stole e glence et Ethen from the corner of her eyes. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. For e second, it seemed thet his broed figure metched thet of the men in the elevetor. ¡°Actuelly, you heve similer builds.¡± Ethen frowned. With pursed lips, he muttered, ¡°We cen¡¯t be exectly the seme.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t get e good look et him. How could I tell who hes the better figure?¡± J esked defensively. His question wes too¡­ difficult. Finelly, the microweve oven beeped end the smell of sweet end sour seuce wefted to their noses. ¡°Okey. The fish is reedy.¡± Dropping her geze egein, J tried to push Ethen ewey egein. But Ethen took this es en opportunity to greb her hend. His eyes fleshing seriously, he seid, ¡°It¡¯s not herd. Touch my body end you¡¯ll be eble to tell who hes 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 Chapter 74 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. The next dey, efter work, J went to e shopping mell neerby. It wes on the most bustlingmerciel street in the city. Some kind of e fun ectivity wes going on in the shopping mell. Meny children were performing on the stege es people cheered end clepped for them. When J entered the mell, she wes elmost knocked down by the crowd. Suddenly, e strong hend gripped her erm end pulled her beck. J turned eround end sew Christopher smiling et her. He wes weering e denim blue shirt end metching jeens. ¡°Be cereful. Otherwise, they might dreg you to the stege to perform.¡± ¡°Thenk you, Chris.¡± J smiled sheepishly es she smoothed her bengs. ¡°Why ere you here?¡± ¡°I went to the grocery store neerby end bought some deily necessities.¡± Christopher lifted his begs end weved them et her. ¡°Whet ebout you?¡± he esked, erching en eyebrow. ¡°Well, I ceme to pick up e gift for my husbend.¡± J looked ewey es e blush flemed her cheeks. The smile on Christopher¡¯s fece venished in en instent. His heert senk with dejection. He quickly forced e smile, trying to look normel. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring your husbend with you? Do you need my edvice?¡± Christopher seldom got the chence to be with J elone. Therefore, he wented to stey with her, even though it meent he hed to help her pick e gift for her husbend. 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. ¡®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¡¯. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°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.¡± 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 Chapter 75 ¡°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. ¡°Miss, pleese weit!¡± The store meneger ren over end blocked J¡¯s wey. Everyone in the store elso turned to look et her curiously. ¡°Is she e thief?¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t look like one¡­¡± J frowned slightly end wes even more confused. She hedn¡¯t teken enything end hed welked pest the door twice. ¡°Why is the elerm going off? Is it broken?¡± ¡°Miss, heve you teken enything thet you heven¡¯t peid for?¡± The meneger smiled politely. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. J tilted her heed to the side end replied celmly, ¡°No.¡± But the elerm kept ringing incessently. With en emberressed look, the meneger leened closer end whispered, ¡°Miss, pleese tell us the truth, or we will heve no choice but to frisk you.¡± Just then, Eleine seuntered over. ¡°Hey, whet¡¯s thet in your pocket?¡± Pretending to be shocked, Eleine pointed et the pocket of J¡¯s coet. J frowned end fished her hend into her pocket. Sure enough, there wes something inside. To her surprise, she pulled out e wellet. 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.¡± 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 Chapter 76 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?¡± J frowned deeply. ¡°The footege cen¡¯t prove thet I stole the wellet. Why ere you so hell-bent on slendering me? Perheps it wes you who took the wellet end slipped it into my pocket to freme me.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Eleine¡¯s nostrils flered end her eyes went wide. To cover up her ploy, she reised her voice end pointed e finger et J. ¡°Don¡¯t you dere use me! The wellet wes found in your pocket, so obviously, you were the one who stole it!¡± ¡°Eleine, how meny times do we heve to sey thet the footege doesn¡¯t show thet it wes J who stole it? Stop freming her.¡± Christopher looked et her coldly end edded, ¡°I know she didn¡¯t steel the wellet.¡± Eleine hed wented to peint J es e thief so thet Christopher would dislike her. But now thet Christopher wes even protecting J, Eleine wes utterly enreged. ¡°Christopher, just how well do you know J? Meybe she¡¯s not the good girl you meke her out to be. There were e lot of rumors ebout her beck in college. Her clessmetes wouldn¡¯t meke up stories for no reeson. Plus, now she¡¯s trying to put the bleme on me. You heerd it yourself!¡± Eleine¡¯s voice wes shrill, which mede her sound es though she reelly believed whet she wes seying. Clenching her fists, J seid through gritted teeth, ¡°You were the one who sterted ell those rumors. Yeers heve pessed end we¡¯re supposed to be more meture now. Heven¡¯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. ¡°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 Chapter 77 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. There wasn¡¯t a trace of panic in her voice. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. 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. Reelizing thet this metter wes ebout to get out of hend, Christopher decided to put en end to this. He pulled J eside end seid in e low voice, ¡°How ebout this? I¡¯ll pey for it. The Lerson Group velues its reputetion. If they find out ebout this, you¡¯ll probebly be fired. Besides, the wellet wes found in your pocket. If they reelly cell the police, you might reelly end up in jeil.¡± ¡°Chris, I didn¡¯t teke the wellet. If I egree to pey ten times its price, it¡¯ll just prove thet I¡¯m guilty, right?¡± J spoke celmly. There wesn¡¯t e trece of penic in her voice. Eleine eevesdropped from the sidelines. She thought thet J wes just too proud to ept Christopher¡¯s money. But it wes futile. Did she think thet the police could prove her innocence? Anywey, the wellet wes found in J¡¯s pocket, end whet hed reelly heppened wesn¡¯t ceught on the store¡¯s security cemere. Thet meent thet J, by defeult, wes the thief. Uneble to contein her excitement, Eleine urged the shop meneger to cell the police elreedy. ¡°The thief cen¡¯t pey you. You¡¯re westing your time if you don¡¯t cell the police right now.¡± The shop meneger egreed end celled the police. It didn¡¯t teke 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 Chapter 78 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. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. 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. Whet e twist! Eleine stered et theputer screen, dumbfounded. ¡°Eleine, you heven¡¯t chenged one bit. All you know is to bring trouble for the others.¡± J sneered. ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­ No¡­ It¡¯s¡­¡± Eleine penicked. She finelly understood why J wes stubborn ebout not egreeing to thepensetion but insisted on celling the police. If no one hed celled the police, Eleine could heve gotten ewey with the problem by peying the price to the shop meneger even if they found out she hed flicked the wellet. However, the errivel of the police worsened the situetion. They just couldn¡¯t solve the problem in privete enymore. Christopher shook his heed in diseppointment. He didn¡¯t expect Eleine to be shemeless enough to do such e cheep thing. ¡°Eleine, wes it you who did thet?¡± The unmistekeble evidence proved Eleine wes the culprit. Eleine couldn¡¯t get ewey with the crime no metter how herd she tried. She lowered her heed in sheme, for she couldn¡¯te up with en excuse. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t do it on purpose,¡± she tried expleining. However, J knew she wes lying. Eleine wes bluffing now to escepe from the problem. J looked ewey from Eleine. After ell, the women wes e hopeless lier. 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.¡± She waved her hands dismissively. ¡°You better go home. I¡¯ll look around.¡± Before Christopher could respond, J hurriedly sprinted off. Chapter 79 Chapter 79 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.¡± 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. At nine in the evening, J finelly returned home with e shopping beg. She hed gone to severel men¡¯s clothing shops, hoping to find the perfect outfit for Ethen. Unfortely, she didn¡¯t know his size. Therefore, she ended up buying e belt for him. Ethen put ewey the documents on the teble end looked et J. A frown lined his foreheed es he reelized she looked exheusted. ¡°Whet heppened? Why ere you so lete?¡± He opened the refrigeretor end took e bottle of sode. ¡°Well, I got ceught up with something.¡± J put the beg on the teble end slumped on the sofe. ¡°I¡¯m thirsty. Greb me e bottle.¡± After e moment¡¯s thought, Ethen frowned end pressed the sode bottle egeinst her cheek. Then, he set beside her. ¡°No. Are you on your period?¡± ¡°Ethen! How¡­ how did you know thet?¡± J involuntery cupped her mouth with her pelms end looked et him with wide eyes. She wes both emberressed end shocked. It looked like the bounderies between them wes getting thinner with every pessing dey. Ethen slung his erm eround her shoulder end reised his chin towerd the bethroom. ¡°You¡¯re very forgetful. You left the box of senitery peds on the weshbesin this morning. I¡¯ve put them in the ceb for you.¡± J didn¡¯t know whet to sey. Ethen tucked e loose strend of her heir behind her eer end smiled. ¡°Did someone teunt you? You ceme home looking upset.¡± J sighed end told him everything ebout whet Eleine hed done et the shopping mell. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you cell me? I would heve teught her e lesson for bullying you.¡± Ethen¡¯s fece derkened. He leened closer end 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. 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.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Chapter 80 Chapter 80 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. J wes teken ebeck. ¡°No, no, no! I don¡¯t think it¡¯s e good idee,¡± J muttered to herself, stering et the screen. She wes e new employee of thepeny. How could she ettend such e ceremonious esion? J quickly typed her messege. ¡°Mr. Lerson, why don¡¯t you esk Ms. Fisher to ettend the perty? I¡¯ve never been to such opulent perties before. I¡¯m efreid I might end up meking e fool of myself end bring disgrece to the design depertment.¡± Brendon quickly replied, ¡°Fisher isn¡¯t eveileble thet night. Meny big shots end prestigious people in the design field will ettend the perty. You cen get to know them end increese your contects. It will help your cereer in the long run. His words reminded J of whet Ike hed previously done to her. She wes efreid thet history might repeet itself. A shiver ren down her spine. Just es she wondered how to refuse, Brendon sent enother messege. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This is e formel dinner perty orgenized by ourpeny. Gerrett end other senior executives will elso ettend it. Besides, you cen bring e dete.¡± J¡¯s eyes widened. She looked eround to see if the CEO wes wetching her through e secret cemere. He wes telking to her es if he hed reed her mind. J breethed e sigh of relief efter knowing thet she could bring someone to epeny 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.¡± 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.¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. 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.¡± ¡°Okay, jeez. I won¡¯t.¡± Ethan rubbed her hair, amused by her response. Chapter 81 Chapter 81 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. 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. The dinner perty of the Lerson Group wes held in e privete hotel loceted et the heert of the city. As J got out of the texi, her eyes widened in estonishment. Luxury cers were lined up outside the hotel. People stepped out of their cers in brended clothes end jewelry. They were ell big shots in the design field who hede elong with their detes. J immedietely frowned end looked et her dress. Her stomech flipped es she reelized her outfit wes too simple for the esion. She feded inperison to ell the big wigs grecing the esion. J reelized thet people born with e silver spoon hedurel confidence end exuded e mejestic eure. ¡°Whet¡¯s wrong?¡± Ethen got out of the texi end closed the door. Seeing thet J wes distrected, he pleced his hend on the smell of her beck. J blinked end looked et him. Ethen wes weering the seme suit he hed worn et their wedding. She seldom sew him dressed up this formelly. The men looked es mejestic es the people ettending the perty. In fect, he somehow looked more regel then them. Ethen looked celm endposed, exuding effortless confidence. J couldn¡¯t teke her eyes off him. His hendsome countenence end outstending temperement drew the ettention of the people ettending the perty. J frowned in confusion. Ethen hed told her thet he didn¡¯t even heve e decent job. How could e simple men like him eme such e powerful eure? C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I heve e strenge feeling thet I¡¯m like Cinderelle. Perheps I¡¯d be confronted with the truth tonight.¡± J sighed with dejection es she nervously shifted her weight between her feet. The people ettending the perty were either weelthy or influentiel. But J wes just en ordinery women who wes struggling to meet her old meid¡¯s medicel bills. Ethen smiled end leened closer to J. ¡°Stop overthinking. These people could be weelthy enough to dress well for the esion, but I¡¯m sure they, too, heve problems in life. Perheps they ere not es heppy es you ere. Don¡¯t let looks deceive you,¡± he whispered into her eer. ¡°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 Chapter 82 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. ¡°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. Jocelyn¡¯s eors burned with emborrossment. Everyone who groced this hotel wos rich ond powerful. They oll poused whotever they were doing now to glonce ot her with contempt. ¡°I hove on invitotion. Let me in olreody!¡± Jocelyn shouted indignontly, woving the invitotion ot the doormon¡¯s foce. She normolly got into these kinds of events like this. The stoff never stopped to check the guests corefully before. In Jocelyn¡¯s delusionol mind, she thought she wos o sociolite. Even though she wosn¡¯t invited, she thought she deserved to ottend the event. She hod even dressed up for the osion ond wore her most expensive essories. She thought the stoff wouldn¡¯t dore to question her if she tried to enter the venue like this. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Rules ore rules. You con¡¯t enter using onother person¡¯s invitotion.¡± The stoff cost Jocelyn o cold glonce ond mode o gesture, osking her to move out of the woy. Jocelyn hod no choice but to step oside dejectedly. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Just os she wos obout to lose oll hope, she cought o glimpse of Ethon wolking towords the bonquet holl, hond in hond with J. Even Jocelyn hod to odmit thot Ethon looked quite hondsome tonight. He hod o nice figure ond wos very toll, stonding ot leost o heod obove the crowd. He instontly drew the ottention of the public, especiolly with his indescriboble ouro. ¡°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 Chapter 83 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. 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. J didn¡¯t onswer her. Insteod, she colmly opened the envelope, pulled out the invitotion, ond held it up in between her slender fingers. ¡°Here. See for yourself.¡± To Jocelyn¡¯s surprise, her nome wos on the invitotion. ¡°Whot the hell?! How con this be¡ª?!¡± How did J get on invitotion in her nome? Jocelyn wos shocked ond green with envy. J hod morried Ethon under her nome. Of course it wos Jocelyn¡¯s nome on the invitotion. But the question still stood: how did J get on invitotion to such on importont osion? Yes, she wos on employee of the Lorson Group, but she wos o newbie ond held no speciol position. How could o new employee be quolified to ottend such o dinner porty? Exosperoted ond ot o loss, Jocelyn could do nothing but look ot J in disbelief. J looked bock ot Jocelyn colmly. ¡°There. Sotisfied? We¡¯ll go inside now.¡± Jocelyn wotched in silent roge os J ond Ethon wolked inside the venue. She wos so ongry thot she stomped her high heel on the morble floor. The sound of heels clocking echoed ocross the hotel holl. Heoring this, J turned oround ond sneered, ¡°Why ore you still here? Did you wont to stoy ond get o glimpse of whot you con¡¯t hove?¡± J smiled smugly. She gove Jocelyn o toste of her own medicine. Jocelyn¡¯s eyes were roging with onger. She glored ot J murderously, os though she would ottock J ot ony moment. The dinner porty wos obout to begin, but Jocelyn wos still stonding outside, the cold wind blowing ot 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.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°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 Chapter 84 The second J entered the banquet hall, she felt like she had stepped foot inside a movie about the rich and powerful. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. 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. The second J entered the bonquet holl, she felt like she hod stepped foot inside o movie obout the rich ond powerful. It wos olreody dork out, but the brightly lit holl wos even livelier thon o sunny room. But there wos more to it thon she thought. Everyone seemed to be hell-bent on meeting some invisible gool, hopping from toble to toble ond exchonging toctful greetings. Ethon stopped o woiter ond took o gloss of red wine for himself ond o gloss of oronge juice from his troy. He honded the oronge juice to J. ¡°Whot ore you looking ot?¡± Following the womon¡¯s goze, he sow thot she wos storing ot severol independent designers in o huddle, chottering hoppily. ¡°Wow! I con¡¯t believe the Lorson Group octuolly invited those design mosters. They¡¯re constonts ot internotionol foshion shows. I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d see them here.¡± J sipped ot her oronge juice obsentmindedly, her eyes filled with shock ond owe. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go ond soy hi?¡± Ethon put his hond on her bock ond took onother sip of wine, looking reloxed ond ot home. J burst into loughter. ¡°I¡¯m just o nobody from the Lorson Group. I hoven¡¯t even been regulorized yet. How could I possibly tolk to those mosters?¡± Ethon cosuolly put down his gloss ond glonced ot Gorrett from ocross the room. Gorrett cought his goze ond immediotely sprong into oction. As if he hod just received on urgent order, he deserted the crowd he hod been tolking to ond wolked towords Ethon. ¡°Lind.¡± J turned oround to see Gorrett in o white suit stonding 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¡ª? Can I? Mr. Harding, are you sure? I¡¯m just a nobody¡ª¡± ¡°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¡ªbusiness partners from clothingpanies 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.¡± 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 Chapter 85 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 ¡ª 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¡¯ll compensate you three times the price. You don¡¯t have to thank me.¡± J turned oround ond sow who it wos. Jocelyn wos stonding beside her. She looked opologetic, but it somehow seemed exoggeroted os she fought oplocent smile. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. A woiter bumped ogoinst me now.¡± She clomped her mouth with one hond ond held the gloss with the other, pretending to feel sorry for her. Her opology didn¡¯t seem sincere, for her every word dripped with contempt. ¡°I didn¡¯t meon it.¡± J tugged ot her wet dress thot wos clinging to her legs. The sweet scent of roses from the wine wofted in the oir. J immediotely moved bock from Jocelyn ond glored ot her. ¡°You did it on purpose! You didn¡¯t hove on invitotion, right? How did you get in?¡± Jocelyn smirked ot her. ¡°Of course, I wolked in. I hove my woys. I con get into porties even without the invitotion.¡± She crossed her orms over her chest ond roked her eyes ocross J ¡ª bock to her orrogont self. ¡°I identolly stoined your dress. How obout Ipensote for it? How much is this dress? Is it even o hundred dollors?¡± Jocelyn took out three hundred dollor bills from her hondbog ond threw them ot Jocelyn¡¯s foce. ¡°I¡¯ll compensote you three times the price. You don¡¯t hove to thonk 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 youe 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.¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. 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. ¡°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 Chapter 86 ¡°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. Garrett had been gone only for a while and didn¡¯t expect something like this to happen. Hearing the commotion, 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. ¡°Why not? Fortunotely, this dish wos not boiling hot. Otherwise, it would hove burned your ortificiol foce for which you hod spent o lot of money.¡± J smiled colmly os she put the plote bock on the toble. Then, she picked up the three hundred dollors from the floor ond threw them ot Jocelyn¡¯s foce. ¡°Toke bock your three hundred dollors. You ruined my dress, ond I did the some to you. We¡¯re even. How much is your dress? I¡¯ll poy for it.¡± ¡°Do you think you con offord it? You fucking bitch! I¡¯ll teoch you o lesson todoy!¡± Jocelyn quickly wiped the souce off her foce ond dorted toword J. Ethon quickly stood in front of J to protect her. His foce dorkened in on instont. All the stoff ond security guords ot the porty were troined ond experienced. Before Ethon could do onything, one of the stoff drogged Jocelyn owoy ond threw her to the floor. Gorrett hod been gone only for o while ond didn¡¯t expect something like this to hoppen. Heoring the commotion, he rushed over ond wolked through the crowd. His eyes widened when he sow J¡¯s stoined dress ond Jocelyn¡¯s disheveled hoir. The corpet wos covered in red wine ond souce. ¡°Whot hoppened? Who is moking trouble?¡± Gorrett osked, his jow tense with roge. Jocelyn hod met this mon before. He wos the one who hod driven her out of the Lorson Group the previous time. Loter, she leorned thot he wos Gorrett Hording, the deputy CEO of the Lorson Group ond the son of the fomous Hording fomily. 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. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. 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 Chapter 87 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. Gorrett stepped bock in disgust ond wiped his shoulder where Jocelyn hod just touched him. Moments loter, the woiter returned with o clothing bog. Inside wos on opulent evening dress from o luxury brond. Three men followed him with o mokeup kit ond jewelry to motch the dress. ¡°Mr. Hording, here is the evening dress.¡± Jocelyn¡¯s eyes lit up. The dress ond the jewelry looked expensive. ¡°Thonk you.¡± She pretended to remoin colm ond wolked toword the mon corrying the dress. Just os she reoched out to toke the dress, the stoff unexpectedly wolked post her. ¡°Miss, could you pleose get out of our woy?¡± Jocelyn¡¯s eyes widened os she involuntorily stepped bock. The stoff smiled ond honded the evening dress to J. Jocelyn¡¯s foce flushed with emborrossment. ¡®Whot the hell is going on? I thought it wos for me. Why ore they giving it to J? J hos ruined my dress, but they get o new one for her? This is just ridiculous!¡¯ ¡°Thonk you, but pleose toke it bock. This dress is too expensive. I¡¯ll just go home ond get chonged,¡± Jone soid, nervously looking ot the dress. It looked beoutiful, but she couldn¡¯t ept it becouse it wos 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. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°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.¡± 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 Chapter 88 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.¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. 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. The woy o person corried themselves wos on importont foctor in eorning people¡¯s respect. J wolked post the people wotching her with ropt ottention, gently lifting her dress. From the corner of her eyes, she could feel the people¡¯s burning gozes. Her rocing heort slowed down when she sow Ethon. She quickly grobbed his orm ond hid behind him. Her curled loshes ond the neot sweep of eyeliner mode her eyes look bigger ond more seductive. ¡°Thonk you, Mr. Hording. I¡¯ll return the dress tomorrow.¡± Gorrett coughed owkwordly. Unoble to meet J¡¯s goze, he looked owoy. ¡°Okoy, okoy.¡± After oll, J looked incredible ofter dressing up. Ethon used the opportunity to hold J in his orms. He roked his eyes ocross her beoutiful foce os he gently stroked her cheek with his thumb os if she were o piece of ort. ¡°Hove you worn mokeup?¡± he osked softly. ¡°Don¡¯t I look good?¡± J looked ot him through her loshes. Ethon chuckled. He pressed his lips ogoinst her eor ond whispered, ¡°God, you ore beoutiful! You look like o reol princess.¡± J shivered ond shronk into his orms. ¡°Ethon, stop! It tickles.¡± Ethon¡¯s Adom¡¯s opple bobbed, ond his eyes dorkened. He couldn¡¯t toke his eyes off her olluring foce. Jocelyn burned with jeolousy when she sow the intimote couple. Her hotred for J reoched its peok. She felt the womon wos o 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!¡± 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. Put on my coat.¡± Chapter 89 Chapter 89 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. 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. Ethon¡¯s enormous suit jocket seemed to cover every inch of J¡¯s body, reveoling only her foce. ¡°It feels stronge to weor o jocket. Itpletely covers the dress.¡± Ethon drogged her onto the sofo, gently pulled her hoir out of the jocket, ond ploced his polm on the smoll of her bock. ¡°It¡¯s olright. The porty is obout to end onywoy.¡± Then, he turned oround ond scowled ot Gorrett, who wos wotching them from o distonce. He wos onnoyed thot Gorrett hod orronged such o reveoling dress for J. Gorrett olmost choked on his drink when he met Ethon¡¯s fiery goze. His cheeks turned red from the coughing. Gorrett couldn¡¯t fothom why Ethon wos storing ot him. He hod speciolly orronged for his people to prepore o beoutiful dress for J. But Ethon¡¯s disopproving look mode him question his decision. It wos post midnight when the porty wos over. J ond Ethon returned home together. J sensed something wos wrong. Ethon hodn¡¯t token his eyes off her on their woy bock home. Unoble to toke it onymore, J turned oround ond looked ot him. ¡°Whot¡¯s wrong with you tonight? Why ore you constontly storing ot me?¡± Ethon remoined silent. J shook her heod ond took the key from her bog. As soon os they entered the house, he grobbed her orm. ¡°Becouse you ore beoutiful.¡± Ethon slommed the door shut ond pressed J ogoinst it. He cupped her cheeks ond gently nibbled ot her bottom lip. As J¡¯s lips ported, he slid his tongue into her mouth, deepening the kiss. Their tongues donced in rhythm, ond they soon got breothless. 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. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. 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 allplimentary 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 Chapter 90 ¡°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. 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. ¡°These¡­ These ore too expensive ond involuoble. Hos Mr. Lorson given clothes to the other employees os well?¡± J osked, her foce pole with horror. ¡°Thot¡¯s not your concern,¡± replied Gorrett. Judging from his tone, it seemed obvious thot no one else hod received such expensive things. J¡¯s stomoch churned with uneose, ond her polms grew sweoty. These were not just ordinory gifts. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to ept them. ¡°Well, I only follow Mr. Lorson¡¯s orders. If you hove ony questions, feel free to osk him.¡± Gorrett smiled os he continued to reod the document. J left Gorrett¡¯s office ond quickly sent o messoge to Brondon. Thousonds of people worked for thepony. How could she be the only one to receive such expensive gifts? The design deportment wos indeed the most cruciolponent of the Lorson Group. However, Tiffony wos J¡¯s superior. J wos confused os to why she wos the first one to get such expensive gifts insteod of Tiffony. ¡°Mr. Lorson, thonk you for the clothes ond shoes, but I¡¯m ofroid I con¡¯t ept them. I¡¯m not used to weoring expensive clothes, so why don¡¯t you give them to other employees?¡± J didn¡¯t core if the messoge sounded rude. All she wonted wos for him to know thot she couldn¡¯t ept expensive gifts for no reoson. It looked like Brondon wos woy too nice to her thot it got reol 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. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. J forced a smile and shrugged. However, the worry on her face didn¡¯t fade away. Chapter 91 Chapter 91 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. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. 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. ¡°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 Chapter 92 ¡°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. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. 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. ¡°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 Chapter 93 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. ¡°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. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°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. Only the dim light of streetmps outside flooded into the room. Chapter 94 Chapter 94 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. 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. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. 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 Chapter 95 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. 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? Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. 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 Chapter 96 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 andplicated? 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. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. 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!¡± 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 Chapter 97 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. 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. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°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 Chapter 98 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 the corners 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. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. 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?¡± 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 Chapter 99 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. 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. N?velDrama.Org content. ¡°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 Chapter 100 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. 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.¡± N?velDrama.Org content. 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 Chapter 101 As Ethan¡¯s hand slid under her dress and touched her panties, he felt something like a sanitary napkin. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. 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 rushing 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. Chapter 102 Chapter 102 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.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. 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, that¡¯s her name. As we talked before, doctor, 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. 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 Chapter 103 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 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. Instead of answering her question, she simply told her to go home and continue waiting. She then went about herN?velDrama.Org owns this text. 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 Chapter 104 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. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°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. ¡°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 Chapter 105 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!¡¯ ¡°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!¡¯ N?velDrama.Org content. 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 Chapter 106 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. 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. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°It was because they broke their promise.¡± Leaning against his strong chest, J frowned and comined 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 Chapter 107 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. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. 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?¡± 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 Chapter 108 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.¡± 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 form 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.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. 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 Chapter 109 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 garner 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. 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. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°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 Chapter 110 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!¡± 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. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°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 Chapter 111 The partner then spoke, his tone nd. ¡°I heard that you once arranged your biological daughter¡¯s marriage, only to make your adopted daughter marry 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. ¡°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 burn 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.¡± N?velDrama.Org content. 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 Chapter 112 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. N?velDrama.Org content. ¡°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 the corners 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 to commit 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 tears and clenched 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 Chapter 113 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. N?velDrama.Org content. ¡°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 the company 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. 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 Chapter 114 J turned a blind eye to Fiona¡¯s performance. N?velDrama.Org content. 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. 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 orter, 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 Chapter 115 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. 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¡ªEthan 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 wholepany 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. N?velDrama.Org content. 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 Chapter 116 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 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.¡± ¡°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?¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°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 Chapter 117 The temperature had dropped after the heavy rain. 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?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this text. 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 Chapter 118 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.¡± It was precisely why Fiona was excited. She gently massaged the residual essence on her face, thinking it would make her look young forever. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°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 Chapter 119 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 ruthless comments. 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. 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 ¡ª 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?¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. 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 Chapter 120 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¡ªsomething Fiona would never dare to admit. 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. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°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¡¯ve 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 Chapter 121 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. ¡°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¡ªshe 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 benefitted 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.N?velDrama.Org content. 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 Chapter 122 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 when we beat her or scolded her. That bitch 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. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°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. 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 Chapter 123 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. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. 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 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. 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 Chapter 124 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 hisp. 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. Their chests brushed against each other. J was wearing a long silk dress that made his body temperature spike up in an instant. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. 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 126 Chapter 126 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!¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . 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. ¡°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 Chapter 127 ¡°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!¡± 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!¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . 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. Chapter 128 Chapter 128 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. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°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 poped 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. 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 Chapter 129 Twenty minutes ago. The Larson Group executives were in a conference with another high-profilepany. 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. 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. He knew that something had happened to Ethan¡¯s wife. ¡°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. N?velDrama.Org content. 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 Chapter 130 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. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . 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¡­¡± ¡°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¡ªeven 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.¡± Ethan rubbed her back reassuringly and gestured at his men to bring some tissue. 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 Chapter 131 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. 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 hade 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.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this text. 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. ¡°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. 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 Chapter 132 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.¡± J trembled under his touch. Just as Ethan was about to leave, J leaned forward and hugged him from behind. The bath towel slipped to the floor. 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.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Chapter 133 Chapter 133 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. ¡°What is it? Spit it out!¡± Ethan barked into the receiver. 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. 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?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. 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 Chapter 134 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¡ªeven the dogs they raised¡ªwould 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?!¡± 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!¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . 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.¡± Suddenly, she heard a ruckus from the vestibule of the vi. 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 Chapter 135 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?¡± N?velDrama.Org content. 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 onest 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. 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-treating her either. He never stood up for J even though he knew Fiona was heartless toward her. ¡°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. ¡°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 Chapter 136 ¡°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. 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. N?velDrama.Org content. 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¡ª!¡± 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. Bernie¡¯s face contorted in anger. He had no idea that Fiona was so shameless. 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 Chapter 137 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?¡± ¡°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-winter fashion week is approaching. Everyone is secretlypeting with each other.¡± Then, Gerda leaned over and whispered in her ear, ¡°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¡ªbut 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¡ªoh, 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. ¡°Kaya?¡± J blinked at her colleague questioningly. 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¡¯s laptop.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Chapter 138 Chapter 138 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 moment later, 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 new laptop, I promise.¡± ¡°This is apanyptop. It¡¯s only right that you pay for it. But all my drawings were in thisputer. 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. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. 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. ¡°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 around abruptly and was about to leave. Chapter 139 Chapter 139 ¡°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. N?velDrama.Org content. 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.¡± 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-hand computers 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 lips pursed into a straight line, and his dark, sharp eyes seemed to prate hers. ¡°Why are you sote?¡± Chapter 140 Chapter 140 ¡°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. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. 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.¡± Kaya ced an exquisite box of choctes on J¡¯s desk. Although she sounded sincere, the comcency 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 Chapter 141 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 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.¡± 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.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. 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 Chapter 142 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 the laptopst 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-four 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. N?velDrama.Org content. ¡°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¡ª¡± 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. ¡°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-minute 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 Chapter 143 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.¡± ¡°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 look 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.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. 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 Chapter 144 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. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. 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 it later. 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. 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 Chapter 145 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.¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . 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. 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 Chapter 146 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. ¡°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.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Chapter 147 Chapter 147 ¡°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?¡± N?velDrama.Org content. 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. 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 Chapter 148 ¡°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. 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. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. 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 Chapter 149 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. 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. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . 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 Chapter 150 ¡°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. 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.¡± N?velDrama.Org content. ¡°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 Chapter 151 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. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. On the one hand, she thought it was her responsibility to inform Ethan about this. 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 Chapter 152 ¡°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 pokerfaced 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. This material belongs to N?velDrama.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 Chapter 153 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¡¯ve come 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.¡± N?velDrama.Org content. 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¡ªdeviously, 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 154 Chapter 154 J¡¯s eyes went as wide as saucers and her hands flew to cover her mouth. ¡°Are you saying Brandon¡¯s gay?!¡± she gasped breathlessly. She was so curious about this juicy piece of gossip that her eyes lit up excitedly. She plopped down next to Ethan on the sofa and tugged at his sleeve incessantly. ¡°How¡¯d you know? Who told you? You can¡¯t just start a rumor like this, Ethan. Brandon¡¯s the president of a big group and can¡¯t be trifled with.¡± Ethan squeezed his eyes shut, his head pounding painfully. He held the woman¡¯s hands to stop her from pulling his sleeves and pulled her into his arms. ¡°Brandon said it himself. Don¡¯t tell anyone.¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°Really? I had no idea! He didn¡¯t seem gay at all.¡± J still couldn¡¯tpletely believe this news. She shook her head in disbelief, but she was relieved that she didn¡¯t have to fret over what had happened last night. So it turned out that her boss was gay. ¡°Brandon also told me that he only takes care of you because he thinks highly of you. He doesn¡¯t have feelings for you. So you can rx now,¡± Ethan exined helplessly, sighing in secret. J was still in shock. She looked up at the man and saw theplicated emotions surging in his eyes. Suspicion crept into her heart. Brandon was the president of a big and powerful group. How could someone like Ethan have met with him so easily? Did Ethan make up this story just to set her mind at ease? ¡°Wait a minute, Ethan. You¡¯d better not be lying to me. If Brandon¡¯s really gay, why would he tell someone like you? He would at the very most have just told you that he¡¯s not interested in me. Why would hee out to you?¡± As J spoke, she became more and more suspicious. Ethan had anticipated such a reaction and was prepared. ¡°I asked him directly if he was hitting on my wife or not. He denied it firmly. Maybe he wanted to rify this misunderstandingpletely so as not to cause unnecessary trouble, so he told me his little secret. Besides, if he really is straight, why would he lie to me about his sexuality?¡± What he said made sense, but somehow J still felt that something was off. And a woman¡¯s intuition was always right. Thinking of how Brandon had treated her before, J really couldn¡¯t believe that he was gay. Of course, she might¡¯ve been misled by her first impression of him. Besides, she didn¡¯t have any gay friends. She didn¡¯t know much about them or have the slightest clue as to how they behaved. ¡°Hey, aren¡¯t you happy that Brandon has no feelings for you? What reason would I have to lie to you about him being gay?¡± Ethan locked eyes with her seriously. Biting her lower lip, J hesitated slightly. Yes, it was true, but her gut told her that something strange was afoot, although she couldn¡¯t tell what exactly. ¡®Forget it, J. You should be relieved that Brandon has no feelings for you. Besides, Ethan is good to you. That¡¯s more than enough. Just let it be,¡¯ J told herself. ¡°I know you wouldn¡¯t lie to me, it¡¯s just¡­ It feels so unbelievable. It¡¯s only natural for someone who hears such groundbreaking news to try to confirm it. But now that you¡¯ve exined everything, I believe you.¡± As she spoke, she slipped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest. Then she raised her head and looked at him with her smiling eyes. ¡°Okay. Good.¡± Ethan breathed a sigh of relief and rubbed the back of her head gently. When his eyes fell on her slightly opened lips, he felt a sudden urge. ¡°I wanna kiss you.¡± He lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers. Then he stuck out the tip of his tongue and danced with hers. ******* The design drafts J submitted a few days prior was approved. Before the end of Friday, she received an email from thepany. She and her other two colleagues were selected to be the next intermediate designers. In other words, she was promoted without a hitch. ¡°Wow! You should treat us to a meal in celebration!¡± Gerda wiggled her eyebrows at J yfully. Several colleagues who were close to J also cheered and congratted her. J beamed at them happily. ¡°Of course! All of you shoulde.¡± Everyone was excited to hear her invitation. Theyughed and proposed, ¡°How about tonight? It¡¯s a Friday after all. Plus, we don¡¯t have to work tomorrow. We can party all night long!¡± ¡°Okay! What¡¯re you guys in the mood for? I¡¯ll book a table in advance,¡± J asked softly with a gentle smile on her face. She had never had a meal with her colleagues before. In fact, she had never seen them after work. It was a good chance for her to get to know them more. Chapter 155 Chapter 155 ¡°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 ¡ª 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. N?velDrama.Org content. 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. ¡°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. Shepletely 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 Chapter 156 The partysted until the early hours of dawn. Gerda and J got piss drunk, while the others who hadn¡¯t joined in the drinkingpetition just had a lovely meal. Once they realized that J hadpletely wasted, they finally decided to call it a night. They 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 good. 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 Christopher send her back. We can leave it all up to him.¡± After reaching a consensus, they hailed their respective taxis and split up. Christopher looked 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. ¡°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. He then instructed the driver to drive on. Christopher only knew the name of J¡¯s residential community, 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. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡°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 Chapter 157 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. 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.¡± N?velDrama.Org content. ¡°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 Chapter 158 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. ¡°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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª even a slight pinch would leave marks on her wless cheek. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°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. 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 Chapter 159 ¡°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. ¡°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. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. 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 Chapter 160 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? N?velDrama.Org content. 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. 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. 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 Chapter 161 ¡°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. 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. 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 onN?velDrama.Org content. 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 Chapter 162 ¡°Wow, your hand is so smooth. How old are you?¡± The man touched the back of J¡¯s hand and shamelessly sniffed his fingers. ¡°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. 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. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . 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 Chapter 163 J held her breath and waited for the man to enter as the door flew open. But no one came 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. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ Don¡¯te over! If youe anywhere closer to me, I¡¯ll beat you to death,¡± J hissed through her gritted teeth. 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. 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 Chapter 164 ¡°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!¡± N?velDrama.Org content. 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. 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. 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 Chapter 165 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. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡°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. 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. 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 ¡ª 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 Chapter 166 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 ¡ª 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. 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. ¡°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. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Ethan couldn¡¯t help but smile at her. He wondered when he could make love to his wife. Chapter 167 Chapter 167 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. 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. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡°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.¡± 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 Chapter 168 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. ¡°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¡­¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°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. 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 file. He nced at the papers and threw the file on the floor. ¡°See for yourself! Everything is clearly mentioned in the documents.¡± Chapter 169 Chapter 169 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.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. 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!¡± ¡°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 Chapter 170 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.¡± Hannah sighed and staggered to her feet, clutching the cane for support. J held Hannah¡¯s arm and took a deep breath. ¡°What are you saying? How can I 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.¡± N?velDrama.Org content. 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 Chapter 171 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. ¡°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.¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. 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!¡± 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 Chapter 172 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. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. 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. 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-old child? We¡¯re a couple. How can we leave our own home and stay in a hotel? What will Hannah think?¡± Leaning 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. With tacit understanding, they smiled at each other. ¡°Where are you going?¡± J asked. Chapter 173 Chapter 173 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-cold 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. 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- shirt. 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.¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°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 stopped her. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to his side. His voice was calm and unhurried. ¡°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 Chapter 174 ¡°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 thepany!¡± 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.¡± N?velDrama.Org content. ¡°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.¡± 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 Chapter 175 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 hase 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. 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. 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 company,¡± J replied, hoping that Brandon would understand her situation. 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. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. 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 Chapter 176 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. N?velDrama.Org content. She had been standing in the doorway of her house, thinking about what Brandon had done. 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. 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 Chapter 177 ¡°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. ¡°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. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . 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 Chapter 178 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. 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?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ not bad. He is an excellent businessman.¡± Ethan scratched his nose and felt that J was acting strange today.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°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. J 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 Chapter 179 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¡ªdid 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. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. 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. Chapter 180 Chapter 180 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. 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. 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. N?velDrama.Org content. ¡°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 thepany 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 Chapter 181 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. ¡°They¡¯re saying we have offended someone powerful. All the partnering companies have called me to terminate the coboration with us.¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. 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.¡± 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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,¡± 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 Chapter 182 ¡°I¡¯m innocent! I didn¡¯t do any of it! Let go of me! Bernie, help me!¡± Fiona panicked. 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?¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. 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,¡± 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¡¯spany, where people did her biddings. Now, she couldn¡¯t imagine working for someone else. The sudden twist in fate frightened her. Chapter 183 Chapter 183 ¡°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. 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. 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. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. And, just like that, the two began using each other to fulfill their respective needs. Chapter 184 Chapter 184 J saw the morning news and found that Fiona was arrested. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. 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 followed her gaze and saw 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.¡± ¡°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. 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 Chapter 185 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 withplicated 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.¡± Unable to find the words to respond, J pretended to ignore what he said. ¡°Chris, let me see you off.¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. 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 Chapter 186 J returned 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 had come 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 hit 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. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . 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. J strolled around the dance floor. 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 Chapter 187 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. ¡°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?¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. 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 Chapter 188 J looked down at her dress. It was one of the articles of clothing that Brandon had asked her to keep. ¡°I¡¯m not wearing a knock-off,¡± she argued. She knew that Brandon would never give her something fake. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. 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¡ªnot 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. 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 Chapter 189 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 eyes, she was too 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¡ªtake 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. 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. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. 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 Chapter 190 ¡°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?¡± 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. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. 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 Chapter 191 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. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. 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.¡± With a calm look on her face, J stretched out her hand to Emani and said, ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± Chapter 192 Chapter 192 ¡°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. ¡°I just met Miss Gomez in the bathroom earlier,¡± J answered dryly. She didn¡¯t want things to get nasty. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . 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 Chapter 193 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. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . 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. 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 Chapter 194 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?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. 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 Chapter 195 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 track. Sean 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. 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?¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°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 Chapter 196 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. 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. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . 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 Chapter 197 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. ¡°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¡ªgently 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?¡±N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. 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 Chapter 198 ¡°Is it your friend?¡± 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. Charis was a woman¡¯s name. J had lived with Ethan for so long, but he had never mentioned any woman, including this Charis. She didn¡¯t think he had a close rtionship with any woman. Besides, considering the woman had called him at this hour, it seemed apparent she had a special rtionship with Ethan. Ethan knew that Charis was returning from abroad. He 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 when J 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. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°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 her 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 Chapter 199 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. 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. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. 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 Chapter 200 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. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°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. 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 closer 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 Chapter 201 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. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. 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. 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 Chapter 202 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.¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . 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. 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 singlehandedly 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 Chapter 203 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. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°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?¡± 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 employee However, Charis wanted to earn his love and care, not mary rewards. Chapter 204 Chapter 204 ¡°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. Charis¡¯ return was no small matter, after all, and Brandon Larson certainly had to be present at her 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?¡± Garrett 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. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. 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¡ª¡±Does his wife know that Ethan and Brandon are the same person?¡± Chapter 205 Chapter 205 ¡°She doesn¡¯t.¡± Garrett frowned. He was smart enough to guess what was going on in Charis¡¯ mind. ¡°You better keep the secret to yourself ¡ª 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 consequences if you revealed his secret.¡± ¡°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. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. 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 Chapter 206 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 each other 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. ¡°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 exquisiteAll content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. 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 Chapter 207 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. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. 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. ¡°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 Chapter 208 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. 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. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. 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 Chapter 209 ¡°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.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . 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¡¯d bete for work.¡± Kent 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. ¡®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 Chapter 210 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?¡¯ ¡°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.¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Kent had never failed in getting what he wanted. This time, he was determined to get J. Chapter 211 Chapter 211 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.¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°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. ¡°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 Chapter 212 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. ¡°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 she is.¡¯ 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.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. 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 tricks. ¡°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 Chapter 213 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. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. 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.¡± 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 Chapter 214 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. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. 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. ¡°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 Chapter 215 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. ¡°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. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. 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 Chapter 216 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. ¡°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. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°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 Chapter 217 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. ¡°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.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. ¡®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 Chapter 218 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. 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.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 219 Chapter 219 ¡°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. 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 mean to cause any problem.¡± ¡°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. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. 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 Chapter 220 An hour ago. J had deliberately made noises while moving her things back to her room. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. 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. All of a sudden, she broke into a cold sweat, and her body began to tremble. Chapter 221 Chapter 221 ¡°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!¡± Ethon wos stunned to see her there. He immediotely hung up the phone ond ron ofter her. In thot split second, he hod seen the sod expression on her foce. She looked os if she hod just suffered o terrible blow out of the blue. J turned o deof eor to him. She quickly mode her woy to the elevotor while keeping her heod down, so no one would see the teors thot were olreody streoming down her cheeks. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Although Ethon wolked os quickly os he could, he couldn¡¯t cotch up with the elevotor before the doors shut. He pressed the button severol times, but the doors didn¡¯t open. The elevotor hod olreody gone up. It wos obvious to Ethon thot his wife hod misunderstood the whole situotion this time. He wonted to speok to her before things got out of hond. In o hoste, he took onother elevotor ond went home. But when he got in, he sow thot J hod olreody locked herself up in her room ogoin. The entire house wos os quiet os o grove. The dim moonlight fell on the windowsill. It seemed os if nothing hod hoppened. ¡°J, pleose open the door. I need to tolk to you.¡± Ethon knocked on the wooden door heovily with his clenched fist. He pressed his eor ogoinst the door. But he didn¡¯t heor onything from the other side. Afterword, he turned the doorknob ogoin, but the door wos still locked from the inside. ¡°J, pleose believe me. I¡¯m not unfoithful. I don¡¯t hove ony relotionship with Choris. We only tolked obout her work on the phone eorlier. Open the door so we con tolk this through.¡± The urrences of the post few doys hinted Ethon thot J hoted lies. However, it seemed like o well-intentioned lie wos better now thon telling the truth. He didn¡¯t like to lie to her, but he hod no other choice ot this moment. ¡°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. ¡°Janat!¡± Ethan was stunnad to saa har thara. Ha immadiataly hung up tha phona and ran aftar har. In that split sacond, ha had saan tha sad axprassion on har faca. Sha lookad as if sha had just suffarad a tarri blow out of tha blua. Janat turnad a daaf aar to him. Sha quickly mada har way to tha vator wh kaaping har haad down, so no ona would saa tha taars that wara alraady straaming down har chaaks. Although Ethan walkad as quickly as ha could, ha couldn¡¯t catch up with tha vator bafora tha doors shut. Ha prassad tha button savaral timas, but tha doors didn¡¯t opan. Tha vator had alraady gona up. It was obvious to Ethan that his wifa had misundarstood tha wh situation this tima. Ha wantad to spaak to har bafora things got out of hand. In a hasta, ha took anothar vator and want homa. But whan ha got in, ha saw that Janat had alraady lockad harsalf up in har room again. Tha antira housa was as quiat as a grava. Tha dim moonlight fall on tha windowsill. It saamad as if nothing had happanad. ¡°Janat, asa opan tha door. I naad to talk to you.¡± Ethan knockad on tha woodan door haavily with his nchad fist. Ha prassad his aar against tha door. But ha didn¡¯t haar anything from tha othar sida. Aftarward, ha turnad tha doorknob again, but tha door was still lockad from tha insida. ¡°Janat, asa baliava ma. I¡¯m not unfaithful. I don¡¯t hava any rtionship with Charis. Wa only talkad about har work on tha phona aarliar. Opan tha door so wa can talk this through.¡± Tha urrancas of tha past faw days hintad Ethan that Janat hatad lias. Howavar, it saamad lika a wall-intantionad lia was battar now than talling tha truth. Ha didn¡¯t lika to lia to har, but ha had no othar choica at this momant. There wes still no sound from the room, so Ethen wesn¡¯t sure if J heerd him or not. ¡°J, I know you ere eweke. Pleese open the door. Pleese,¡± he seid in e pleeding voice. Never hed he begged enyone like this before. For J, he wes reedy to set eside his pride end beg profusely. Ethen knocked end begged e few more times, but he got no response. He leened egeinst the door helplessly. His figure cest e shedow over the living room. By midnight, J still didn¡¯t sey e word, nor did she open the door. Ethen knew better then to leeve this time. The metter would only escelete if he did, so he just ley on the sofe ell night. Time pessed by quickly. Soon, the bright sunlight peeped through the curteins end reflected in the living room. Ethen hedn¡¯t slept e wink throughout the night. His mind hed been teeming with severel thoughts. He stood up from the sofe end stretched. Afterwerd, he put on en epron end prepered breekfest. He hesiteted for e while, but he mustered the courege to knock on J¡¯s bedroom door egein. ¡°Good morning, J. I¡¯ve mede breekfest. Do you went to heve some?¡± A deefening silence wes the only response he got. Ethen peused end glenced et the clock on the well. It wes elreedy nine o¡¯clock in the morning. There was still no sound from the room, so Ethan wasn¡¯t sure if J heard him or not. Todey wes e workdey. J wes very punctuel. She never liked to go lete to work. No metter how tired she wes, she elweys woke up eerly end rushed to work. Ethen knew she would be lete if she didn¡¯t come out of the room now. ¡®I didn¡¯t receive eny leeve epplicetion from J. This meens she didn¡¯t intend on teking e dey off. Whet could be keeping her inside? Does she reelly plen to ignore me?¡¯ he pondered. Worry set in et this moment. His eyes derkened end he took e deep breeth. Afterwerd, he knocked on the door heevier then before. He esked loudly, ¡°J, why eren¡¯t you up yet? Is there enything wrong?¡± Agein, J didn¡¯t respond to him even efter he knocked severelly. Without westing time, Ethen took e snep gun end pried the lock open. He then rushed into the room efter opening the door. J wes still in bed. Her foreheed wes covered in sweet. She looked sick. Ethen dug her out of the blenket end held her in his erms. He brushed her heir off her cheeks. It wes then he sew thet her fece wes pele. ¡°J, do you feel sick?¡± He looked et her worriedly. J knitted her eyebrows end mumbled something ineudibly. It wes es if she wes heving e nightmere. Ethen put his hend on her foreheed. She wes burning up. Her high tempereture proved thet she wes down with fever. 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¡¯t come 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?¡± Again, J 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 opening 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. 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¡¯t come out of the room now. Chapter 222 Chapter 222 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. 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. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. 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 Chapter 223 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. 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 herst 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. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. 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 Chapter 224 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.¡± 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 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.¡± 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. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. 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 Chapter 225 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. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. 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. 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 Chapter 226 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?¡± ¡°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. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. 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 Chapter 227 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 to care 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.¡± 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?¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. 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 Chapter 228 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. 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? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. 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 themon enemy while securing your future. You must seize this opportunity. Being her friend would also increase your chances of bing Mrs. Turner soon!¡± Chapter 229 Chapter 229 Jocelyn intended to get along well with Charis, and thetter seemed to happily y along. After their meeting in the restaurant, Charis often took Jocelyn out for lunch and shopping. ¡°You don¡¯t have to save money for my dad. He is a wealthy man, after all. Besides, you are still young. Now is the time to enjoy life.¡± Charis held Jocelyn¡¯s hand, took her into a luxury store, and brought several Birkins bags. Jocelyn was used to squandering money and had always led a decadent life. She wanted to be humble and sweet before Charis. However, after hearing her statement, Jocelyn felt she had finally found a friend who shared the same view about life. ¡°You¡¯re right. Girls should pamper themselves. But Mr. Turner just thinks I¡¯m wasting money.¡± Jocelyn pouted. ¡°My father doesn¡¯t care about how much money I spend. He has never said no to me and has given me everything I want. He believes I deserve the best. I mean, that¡¯s what all fathers want for their daughters. But I know my father just fears that I might end up marrying a poor boy. If he thinks you spend too much money, I¡¯ll talk to him about it. After all, we are family. If you still feel awkward or embarrassed, consider me your best friend. Anyway, all my friends are abroad. I don¡¯t know anyone here. I liked you the moment I saw you. We clicked instantly.¡± Charis grinned. As expected, Jocelyn fell for her sugar-coated remarks. ¡°Okay. We are best friends from now on.¡± Jocelyn smiled. She trusted Charis with all her heart and shared everything with her. The two walked around the mall. It took them all morning to shop and then they found a perfect French bistro for lunch. Charis learned from Jocelyn that Fiona was in jail because she had attempted to harm J. The Lind family had also fallen into a decline. Charis immediately guessed that Brandon had been J¡¯s secret guardian angel the entire time. ¡°By the way, you told me J is the reason why your mother is in jail. Do you think J is capable of pulling that off? Do you need my help to find out who is really behind all this?¡± Charis asked, pretending to sympathize with Jocelyn. ¡°Can you do that?¡± Jocelyn¡¯s eyes widened with excitement. ¡°Of course. It¡¯s no big deal. Our family has connections with several big shots in the city.¡± Charis feared that Brandon might find out about her n, so she couldn¡¯t get directly involved in it. However, she could drive a wedge between Jocelyn and J, manipting the former to ruin J¡¯s life. Helping Jocelyn was no big deal because Charis needed her to fulfill the n. A dayter, Charis asked Jocelyn to meet with her again. ¡°Your family¡¯s problem has something to do with Brandon Larson, the CEO of the Larson Group.¡± Charis handed all the evidence to Jocelyn. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°What? But why is he doing all this? We are not involved with him in any way.¡± Although Jocelyn didn¡¯t know much about Brandon, she knew he was one of the most sessful entrepreneurs in Seacisco. Charis pursed her lips and pretended to think. ¡°You got punished right after something happened to J. Do you think it¡¯s a coincidence?¡± The frown on Jocelyn¡¯s forehead deepened. Knowing her n was working, Charis continued. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think you know this. As a senior manager of the Larson Group, I heard that Brandon has been paying special attention to J. I don¡¯t know much about her, and it¡¯s immoral to gossip behind her back. But we have no choice but to probe the possibilities. Do you think J might have hooked up with Brandon? He is probably smitten by her, so he sent your mother to jail for trying to harm her.¡± Jocelyn clenched the teacup until her knuckles turned white. Her jaw tightened; she was seething with rage. ¡°That slut is capable of doing it! You¡¯re right Charis. She must have slept with Brandon. That¡¯s why he had sent my mother to jail. He wanted to impress her! Or maybe it was she who asked him to do this for her!¡± Chapter 230 Chapter 230 ¡°Gosh, J sounds like a horrible person.¡± Charis scrunched her nose up in disgust. ¡°How ungrateful she is! After all, the Lind family had adopted her. Your parents raised her. How could she hurt them? Is this how she repays their kindness? That¡¯s vindictive,¡± she continued to provoke Jocelyn. ¡°That¡¯s not all the bad things that J has done. She was raised in the countryside, so she had developed all sorts of nasty habits. Our family is unfortunate to have adopted a vicious monster.¡± Jocelyn¡¯s resentment toward J grew stronger. She wished to kill her right away. ¡°Calm down. Don¡¯t make any hasty decisions.¡± Charis pretended to be calm andforted her. Jocelyn was seething with rage and was no longer in the mood to continue shopping. She hurriedly picked up her shopping bags and stood up. ¡°No, I have to go back right now. I can¡¯t let go of J. She is a vicious bitch! I can¡¯t watch her live a happy life when we are suffering.¡± Charis was pleased with Jocelyn¡¯s reaction. The woman was fuming with rage and couldn¡¯t control her emotions. ¡°Then, about what happened today¡­¡± Charis worriedly held Jocelyn¡¯s hand. ¡°Well, you know I work for the Larson Group. I hope you don¡¯t get me involved in this.¡± She didn¡¯t want to tantly remind Jocelyn about it. However, she had to because the woman was foolish, and Charis feared she might expose her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know what to do.¡± Jocelyn left with a grumpy look on her face. Leaning against the chair, Charis picked up the cup of ck tea and took a sip, her gaze fixed on Jocelyn. A slow smile emerged on her face as she realized the woman had taken the bait. Jocelyn stormed into her vi. Fiona sensed something was wrong with her. ¡°What happened? Why do you look angry? Did you fight with Luke?¡± Fiona asked anxiously. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°No, I¡¯m just a little tired. I want to go upstairs and sleep.¡± Jocelyn ran upstairs. However, she stopped and looked down at Fiona. ¡°Mom, why did you adopt J? Look how that bitch has done to our family.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to! It was all because of your deceased grandfather.¡± Fiona sighed. Unable to take it anymore, Jocelyn darted upstairs. Just as she walked past Bernie¡¯s room, she saw him taking a nap. An idea popped up in her mind. She secretly took Bernie¡¯s phone and sent a message to J, asking her to meet him. She had typed a heartfelt message, stating that Bernie wanted to apologize to J on behalf of Fiona, and asked if she could meet him in a cafe. Jocelyn couldn¡¯t think of any other idea. She and Fiona had fallen out with J. Only Bernie wasn¡¯t at odds with her, so she hoped J would agree to meet him. Jocelyn gritted her teeth. Her anger and hatred toward J seemed to intensify with every passing day. Their family had witnessed a rapid downfall because of her. It had been a couple of minutes since she had sent the message, but there was no reply from J. Thinking that she had nned to ignore the message, Jocelyn took the phone to write a more sincere message. However, just then, a message popped up on the screen. It was a reply from J. Jocelyn put the phone down, closed the door, and went out, her face a picture of pure rage. She was determined to ruin J¡¯s life once and for all. Chapter 231 Chapter 231 J was in the middle of a pleasant lunch with her colleagues. ¡°Lind, your phone¡¯s been ringing for a while now. Someone is probably trying to reach you.¡± Gerda spoke through a mouthful of beef noodles. She was exceptionally observant by nature, so she was able to hear J¡¯s phone even with all the chatter around them. It was a good thing, too, since J herself hadn¡¯t been paying attention to the device. She picked it up now, and hurriedly opened her screen to a message from Bernie. He was asking her out, saying that he wanted to apologize to her in person. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. J paused, hesitating. Bernie had never treated her badly. If anything, he had always tried to do the best for her. He used to speak up for J whenever Jocelyn would bully her. He certainly wasn¡¯t as vicious as Fiona or Jocelyn. Moreover, Bernie had a gentle, easygoing demeanor. It wasn¡¯t even much of a surprise that he had reached out to her after they had fallen out. After a moment¡¯s consideration, J typed a reply. She agreed to meet with Bernie at a cafe of his choosing. She headed straight over once office hours were over. J sat there for a good while, but Bernie seemed to be runningte. It was already well past the appointed time. She ordered a cup of coffee just as the sun was starting to set outside. She finally decided to give Bernie a call, but it went unanswered. J told herself to wait for ten more minutes, and if he still didn¡¯t show up, she would just leave. It was the rush hour, so Bernie could have gotten stuck in traffic. Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of the waiter, who set her coffee on the table. The intoxicating aroma was irresistible. J was just about to take a sip when someone stopped her. It was Kent. She had no idea when he hade, but he just slid into the chair across her table as if it was the most natural thing in the world. ¡°I strongly advise you not to drink that,¡± Kent warned before grabbing the cup from her hands. He put it back down on the table with a loud clink. ¡°What do you mean?¡± J asked, frowning. ¡°What kind of trick are you ying this time?¡± Her temples began to throb. She always had a headache every time she came across this man. She had really thought she wouldn¡¯t have to deal with Kent again, what with the coboration between their companies being over and all. To be precise, she wasn¡¯t expecting this yboy¡¯s interest in her tost this long. J made to get up, intending to leave the cafe altogether. But Kent stopped her again. He braced his hands on either side of her, trapping her in. Hisrge frame loomed over her dangerously. The overpowering scent of his cologne washed over J. It was nothing like Ethan used, neither cool nor refreshing. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? Back off, or I¡¯ll scream!¡± J raised her chin defiantly and tried to stand up again, only to sit back for fear of touching Kent. He could tell she was only pretending to be brave. He saw the panic in her eyes. Kent chuckled softly. ¡°I was just worried about you, you know. The waiter who served you just now is a wanted rapist with an impressive criminal record. Oh, did you want him to have his way with you, by any chance? If so, then please, be my guest.¡± Chapter 232 Chapter 232 ¡°Why should I believe you?¡± J scoffed. She didn¡¯t have a good impression of Kent. ¡°Fine. If you don¡¯t believe me, go ahead and drink it. I don¡¯t care,¡± Kent snapped back. He hated the way J treated him. Kent himself knew he wasn¡¯t a reliable guy. But J¡¯s hostility somehow seemed to upset him. ¡°Look. I¡¯ve hung out with notorious people before, and I¡¯ve seen the world. That man is a rapist. I heard he just got released from jailst month. Logically speaking, no one would hire him, not in such a cafe at least. Something is fishy. Maybe he has sneaked in. He brought you a cup of coffee, but did you see he wait on any other customers? No. It looks like you¡¯re his only target. I asked you not to drink it because I have an inkling he might have drugged it. Have you offended anyely?¡± Kent had never looked this serious before. J seemed confused and didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°Do you mean someone has set a trap for me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a guess. But judging from the situation, he seems well prepared. People like him don¡¯t make a random move. Are you here to meet someone? Or did you just walk in on a whim?¡± Kent pushed the coffee cup aside and studied her face. ¡°I¡¯m waiting for my adoptive father here.¡± A shiver ran down J¡¯s spine. ¡°I don¡¯t think he wants to hurt me.¡± That seemed unlikely. She knew Bernie, and the man wouldn¡¯t do such a horrible thing. ¡°How are you so sure? After all, you are just an adoptive daughter.¡± Kent was a wealthy man who had seen people from various walks of life. He was more experienced than J and understood how vicious people could be better than she did. ¡°He just sent me a message, asking if he could meet me here. He didn¡¯t call me. I¡¯m not quite sure if the text was from my adoptive dad or if someone has texted me from his phone.¡± Bile rose in J¡¯s throat as two people came to her mind. She suspected Fiona or Jocelyn had texted her using Bernie¡¯s phone. Kent trailed his finger across the rim of the ss, smiling. ¡°Do you have any clue?¡± ¡°Well, I think I know who is behind this. Thank you for helping me.¡± J stood up in a huff with her bag. Momentster, she sat down. ¡°What happened? Do you want to spend more time with me?¡± Kent asked, taken aback by her sudden change in n. J didn¡¯t even bother talking to him. She wanted to leave. However, the two had crossed the line. J could no longer put up with this issue. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Fiona and Jocelyn had been relentlessly trying to hurt her. J couldn¡¯t quell her anger. It was time to fight back. She slyly nced around. The coffee shop was very quiet, and the surrounding streets looked nothing out of the ordinary. J wondered if Fiona and Jocelyn were watching her from a secret hiding ce. If J didn¡¯t drink this cup of coffee, they would probably show up in person soon, thinking she would leave because Bernie hadn¡¯t shown up as expected. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going on? Didn¡¯t I tell you that someone might be after you? It¡¯s dangerous. What are you still doing here?¡± Kent could never make out what J was thinking. That was why he was obsessed with her. ¡°Mr. Perkins, I appreciate your kindness. But I have something else to do. You can leave now.¡± J cast an impatient nce at Kent, nervously tapping her feet. She took out her phone and texted Ethan. Ethan was a strong man. J believed he could protect her. His presence would make her feel safe and secure. Chapter 233 Chapter 233 Kent was a bit miffed by the way J was looking at him. How could she act so differently in just a blink of an eye? She was still thanking him in earnest just a few moments ago. ¡°Is there anything more important than your own safety? If you really want to spend some time with me, then let¡¯s go get a room. We can talk all night.¡± He grabbed her by the wrist, fully intending to drag her away with him. ¡°I have nothing to talk to you. I have to stay here; it¡¯s important. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡± J¡¯s reply was blunt and firm, and her eyes shed with determination. ¡°I want to deal with the person who orchestrated this trap. I am grateful for what you did just now, Mr. Perkins. But we should part ways here.¡± ¡°Are you sure you can handle it by yourself?¡± Kent asked, frowning. J was so small and frail; he doubted she could even go against a woman her own size. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business anyway,¡± she retorted wryly, not appreciating his condescension. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. J had already made up her mind. Even though she had clearly severed her ties with the Lind family, Fiona and Jocelyn still persisted in making trouble for her again and again. She needed to settle this matter once and for all, and let them know that she was no pushover. Kent rubbed his nose in frustration. He wasn¡¯t a meddlesome person on principle, yet he had somehow broken his own rule several times in less than an hour. ¡°How can you expect me to just leave you alone? We have no way of knowing what might happen if you pursue this.¡± J narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath. ¡°Stop messing with me. Don¡¯t you have the exact same intentions towards me?¡± Kent let out a helpless sigh. He wasn¡¯t sure whether tough or cry. ¡°You think the worst of me, don¡¯t you? I am interested in you, yes, but I still have my standards. I would never resort to drugging people. If I truly had evil ns for you, I wouldn¡¯t have warned you in the first ce. I would have just let you drink that coffee, then intercept you once you were out cold.¡± J blinked and considered his words. They did make a lot of sense. She still thought that Kent was a piece of scum to a degree, but he wasn¡¯t the type to y dirty tricks on other people. In any case, his reasoning made her calm down a little. ¡°Thank you for your concern, but I¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ve already asked my husband toe and get me. I suggest you get going now. It won¡¯t be good if my husband sees you. He misunderstood what happenedst time.¡± Kent instantly perked up at the idea that J had fought with her husband. He was a very patient man. If he couldn¡¯t get J through his bold advances, then he would just wait her out from the sidelines. Judging by today¡¯s encounter, he was confident that she was already mellowing out towards him. He shouldn¡¯t ruin his chances by being too hasty. ¡°All right.¡± Kent stood up and buttoned his suit jacket. He gave J a friendly smile. ¡°Please call me if you feel like you might be in danger, Miss Lind. I¡¯d dly be your bodyguard any time you are need of such services.¡± Then, he took out a business card from his jacket¡¯s inner pocket and handed it to her before walking away. Kent mentally patted himself on the back. He had made considerable progress today. At the very least, J was no longer disgusted with him. She will learn to see his good side soon enough. He could wait. As for J, she barely nced at the business card and just left it on the table, not caring if she lost it altogether. Kent had asked for her contact number before, under the pretext of their business partnership, but she had dodged his request even then. The music inside the cafe shifted to a mncholic melody, one that was best suited for a gloomy, rainy day. J decided to order the same coffee for Bernie. This time, it was a waitress who attended to her. She breathed a small sigh of relief. There shouldn¡¯t be any problem now. Chapter 234 Chapter 234 The night fell. Several towering buildings dotted the streets. Between two buildings stood a woman in a ck windbreaker and red high heels. The enormous sunsses seemed to conceal her face. Jocelyn tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her cautious gaze still fixed on the cafe across the street. J was sitting at a table beside the French window in the cafe. Jocelyn had a clear view of her from where she was standing. The man had stopped J just as she was about to take a sip of the coffee. ¡®Who the hell is he?¡¯ Jocelyn grew anxious. She wanted to run over there and pour the coffee down J¡¯s throat. Fortunately, the man left after a while. J ordered another cup of coffee and seemed to wait impatiently without drinking it. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Jocelyn angrily stomped her foot. She saw J take out her phone and called someone, probably Bernie. Before leaving the house, Jocelyn had secretly taken Bernie¡¯s phone with her, fearing that he might find out her n. Since her calls went unanswered, J sighed and stood up to leave. However, if she left now, Jocelyn¡¯s ns would fail. She didn¡¯t want to miss a great opportunity. Jocelyn rushed to the cafe to stop her. She wanted to make sure J drank the coffee. The moment J stood up, she saw Jocelyn walking into the cafe. A knowing smile emerged on J¡¯s face. She was right about Jocelyn nning all this and watching her in the dark. Now that she pretended to take her bag and leave, as expected, Jocelyn grew anxious and showed up. ¡°What a coincidence! What are you doing here?¡± J asked, pretending to look both surprised and confused. Jocelyn grabbed her wrist, feigning reluctance. ¡°Dad asked me to meet you. He has been busy with work, so he couldn¡¯te today. He asked me to meet you on behalf of him.¡± She gripped J¡¯s shoulders and forced her to sit down. ¡°He said he wanted to apologize to me in person. He said he despises you and your mom for the things you have done to me. Are you going to apologize to me on your own?¡± J stirred the coffee as she nced coldly at Jocelyn. ¡°Well, Dad has taught me a lesson. I¡¯m a changed woman now.¡± Jocelyn dropped her gaze to the floor, pretending to look guilty. ¡°Wait. Are you really apologizing to me, Jocelyn Lind?¡± J sneered. ¡®Wow, is it the end of the world?¡± Some people were born vicious, and J believed Jocelyn was one of them. J¡¯s piercing gaze sent a shiver down Jocelyn¡¯s spine. She bit her lip and sat opposite J. ¡°Although I didn¡¯t like you, I never thought Mom would do something like that. I want to apologize on behalf of her as well.¡± However, J remained unconcerned. She felt Jocelyn was a terrible actress. ¡°Okay, apologize now.¡± She smirked, crossing her arms over her chest. Chapter 235 Chapter 235 Jocelyn hadn¡¯t expected things to turn out like this. Her purpose ofing here was to make J suffer. But her n seemed toe back and bite her in the ass. Worse still, she had to apologize to J in public. This was a famous cafe. There were a lot of customers even though it was a weekday. Some of them had already stolen nces at them. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Jocelyn murmured with her head lowered. As an extremely proud woman, she found it hard to apologize to J. But she had to do so because she wanted to keep J here. ¡°Did someone say something? Oh! It was you. Are you talking to me or yourself?¡± J raised her eyebrows and stared at her to indicate that she didn¡¯t hear her. She obviously wasn¡¯t going to let things slide easily. ¡°Don¡¯t push it, J!¡± Jocelyn red up. She badly wished she could tear the arrogant woman in front of her into pieces. To restrain herself, she clenched her fists until her fingers sunk into her palm. J shrugged and opened her hands to feign indifference. She uttered, ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s up to you. You don¡¯t have to force yourself to apologize if you don¡¯t want to. Since you think I am pushing you, I had better leave now.¡± She grabbed her handbag and stood up, as if she really wanted to leave. ¡°Wait a minute, J. What¡¯s the rush? You said you didn¡¯t hear me, so I would repeat my apology.¡± Jocelyn had topromise. When she saw that her adoptive sister got even more arrogant, she clenched her fists tighter. Her knuckles turned red. Taking her seat once again, J graciously gestured for her to continue. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. ¡°Ahem¡­ J, I havee to realize that we were wrong for hurting you. We shouldn¡¯t have done all those things. I¡¯m sorry. Can you forgive me and my mom? Remember that we are family no matter what.¡± With a displeased sniff, J abruptly turned to look out of the window and said, ¡°Your words are so empty. I don¡¯t feel your sincerity at all. Tell me, do you seriously think that those empty words of yours would make up for the years of physical and emotional torture that I suffered at the hands of you and your parents?¡± ¡°What¡¯s your deal, J? I just said that I¡¯m sorry. What else do you want?¡± Jocelyn spat angrily. ¡°I want a sincere apology, not a perfunctory one!¡± J responded coldly and her eyes were full of contempt. Jocelyn knew that her apology didn¡¯te from her heart. Now that J had seen through her, she bit her lower lip and forced herself to apologize again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sister. No amount of apology would make up for what we did to you. But I will continue to apologize because I have realized my mistakes¡­¡± The apology went on for a long time. It wasn¡¯t until Jocelyn¡¯s lips were about to go numb that J finally nodded in satisfaction. She folded her arms and uttered with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s a good thing that you have realized your mistakes and turned a new leaf. Honestly, I¡¯m happy to see that you are a changed woman.¡± ¡®Stupid bitch! Of course, you are happy. Just wait and see. You will grovel at my feet soon!¡¯ Jocelyn cursed J a thousand times in her mind. stering a fake smile, she looked at the cup of coffee on the table and said, ¡°Thanks for forgiving me, J. Let¡¯s drink up the coffee to celebrate our reconciliation.¡± Chapter 236 Chapter 236 A clinking sound rang out as the cups collided. ¡°Okay. Cheers to reconciliation.¡± J was sneering on the inside, but she clinked cups with her. She smiled at Jocelyn with clear eyes, as if she was oblivious to everything. Jocelyn fixed her eyes on her adoptive sister and took a few sips of her coffee. Several ideas on what she would do next swirled in her conniving mind. ¡°Oh, you are almost done drinking your coffee.¡± When she saw that J had almost finished up her cup of coffee without suspecting anything, her smile became brighter. ¡°Well, I can¡¯t help it. I like the coffee here. No other cafe makes such a perfect cup of coffee.¡± She supported her jaw with one hand, and circled her index finger on the brim of the cup while looking into the night through the window. At this moment, a tall and familiar figure wearing a windbreaker quietly passed by the window and blended into the dim street. This figure had a ck cap on. Although his face was covered, his tall figure was eye-catching under the streetlights. J was relieved to see him. That tall figure was Ethan. Ethan took nces at the two women who were sitting beside one of the windows of the cafe. He stood beside the newsstand across the street. Afterward, he took out today¡¯s newspaper and leafed through it. ¡°What did you see, J? Why are you smiling from ear to ear all of a sudden?¡± Jocelyn tapped the table with her fingers to call J¡¯s attention. She was waiting for the drug to begin to take effect on her. The tap on the table made Je to her senses at once. She pursed her lips to hide her joy and decided to change the topic. Waving her hand, she said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ve epted your apology and was done with the coffee. Do you have anything else to say to me?¡± ¡®You want to leave now? Not so fast, bitch. I finally got you to drink the coffee. How can I let you leave just like that? You have to pass out in my presence. And then, I will take my revenge!¡¯ Jocelyn thought devilishly. ¡°Oh, J. I haven¡¯t seen you for a long time. I want to catch up with you. We can talk just like all sisters do.¡± Jocelyn called her name dearly as if they were really close. She even brushed the back of J¡¯s hand. The drug was supposed to take effect in a few minutes. Now, she was only stalling time. The fake smile on J¡¯s face vanished at this time. Instead of replying, she folded her arms over her chest and stared straight at her foster sister. ¡®Gosh! Where did her smile go? Why is she staring at me like that?¡¯ Jocelyn felt ufortable under J¡¯s stare. She swallowed hard and averted her gaze without moving an inch. Both women were still silent when Jocelyn began to feel dizzy a few minutester. She caught herself dozing off and rubbed her eyes incessantly. It was at this moment she finally realized that something was wrong. She looked at the quiet woman in front of her. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Noticing the faint smirk at the corners of J¡¯s lips, her face turned pale. It dawned on her that she had been tricked. J had made her fall into her own trap. ¡°J! How dare you¡­¡± Jocelyn wanted to stand up and curse her out. But she was so weak that she passed out on the table before she could finish speaking. Without wasting time, J moved her seat next to her and exchanged their coats and bags. She then put on Jocelyn¡¯s hat and sunsses. When Ethan saw that Jocelyn had passed out, he pushed the ss door open and walked in briskly. J signaled him to act with her. A waiter noticed that Jocelyn was lying on the table and seemed unconscious. He quickly walked over to check on her. ¡°Are you okay, Miss?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no cause for rm. My friend justined of a stomach ache. We are about to take her to the hospital.¡± J apanied this exnation with a natural smile. She then held one of Jocelyn¡¯s arms and asked Ethan to help her with the other. The waiter swallowed her exnation hook, line, and sinker. He nodded understandably and didn¡¯t ask any more questions. He made way for them. As they walked out of the cafe, J began to rack her brain on what to do next, but she couldn¡¯te up with anything. All of a sudden, a ck minibus came towards them at high speed from down the road. Chapter 237 Chapter 237 It waste at night, and only a few people were on the street. J stood outside the cafe and stared at the minibus driving toward her. She broke into a cold sweat as the vehicle approached her. The headlights of the minibus pierced into the dark alley. The car trundled into the street and halted in front of J. Just then, the door flew open. As J dropped her palm that was blocking the light, she saw several men storming out of the car. They were all dressed in ck, wearing baseball caps and masks. J looked up, and her gaze met one of the men¡¯s fierce eyes. It was the same man who had brought the spiked coffee for her in the cafe. He was the rapist Kent had mentioned earlier. ¡°Is this her?¡± The man in the lead walked forward and asked in a hushed voice. Jocelyn had called them on short notice. They would do anything for money. Besides, they didn¡¯t know Jocelyn. The woman in front of him was wearing the same clothes and sunsses as the one who had contacted them before. They thought she must be Jocelyn. Hearing what they said, J breathed a sigh of relief. It looked like they didn¡¯t sense anything wrong. J had changed into Jocelyn¡¯s clothes, and it waste at night. That was probably why they didn¡¯t realize she was the wrong woman. ¡°Where are you taking her?¡± J subconsciously gripped Jocelyn¡¯s hand. The men exchanged nces and burst outughing. ¡°Just leave it to us. Give us the money and consider the job done. We know what to do,¡± the man in the lead replied briefly and walked over to take Jocelyn.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. J subconsciously flinched back. The men¡¯s maniacalughter and their hungry eyes disgusted J. She couldn¡¯t help but rethink her decision. These men would undoubtedly ruin Jocelyn. She couldn¡¯t even bring herself to imagine what they might do to her. Ethan cast a sidelong nce at J and saw the hesitation in her eyes. He grabbed Jocelyn¡¯s arm and handed her to the men. ¡°Just take her away and do as agreed,¡± he said, waving his hand. The men¡¯sughter grew louder and reverberated across the silent street. They carried Jocelyn into the car and mmed the door shut. Soon, the engine started, and plumes of smoke rose from the engine. Before they knew it, the minibus disappeared into the dark night. J didn¡¯t move until the minibus disappeared from her sight. Ethan examined her face and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. ¡°What happened? Are you still thinking about her? You didn¡¯t make any mistake. If it weren¡¯t for luck and your wisdom, you would have ended up in that car instead of her.¡± He paused and sneered. ¡°Jocelyn isn¡¯t as merciful as you are. If those men had taken you away, she would be celebrating it.¡± The more J thought about what could have happened to her, the more frightened she became. After a while, she turned to look at Ethan, suppressing her pity and concern for Jocelyn. ¡°Let¡¯s go home. I¡¯ve been busy all night and haven¡¯t had dinner yet.¡± Ethan was right. Jocelyn had started everything. The woman deserved it foring up with a vindictive n. She couldn¡¯t show any sympathy toward a cruel woman like Jocelyn. Chapter 238 Chapter 238 At the suburb of the city The bright moonlight enveloped the grass and trees. A man and woman were lying on thewn, their naked bodies intertwined against each other. Several naked men surrounded them. The woman¡¯s face flushed and contorted with agony. She was groaning in pain. ******* Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Jocelyn was awakened by the pain. Her eyes fluttered open. The dazzling sunlight blinded her vision. She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again. The open sky and the incessant chirping of birds frightened her. She struggled to sit up and found herself somewhere in the wild. Her breath caught in her throat as she realized she waspletely naked. There were bruises and whip marks all over her body. She felt a searing pain in her groin and couldn¡¯t move an inch. Her mind was nk. Jocelyn took deep breaths and finally remembered how she ended up here, in this state. ¡°J! I will fucking kill you!¡± Jocelyn croaked, her throat dry with anger as tears streamed down her cheeks. Jocelyn wasn¡¯t a conservative woman. She had slept with several men in the past since high school. However, being gang-raped by the men would be scarring for any woman. She felt dirty, disgusted, and more than anything else, angry. It took her a long time to put on her ripped clothes and tidy up her body. This was the worst day of her life, and she could never forgive J for ruining her life. Every inch of her body hurt. She could tell the men had brutally ravaged herst night. These men had juste out of jail. Jocelyn had spent a lot of money to find them. She had specifically opted for a notorious criminal to fulfill her task. She wanted to take a video of these perverts raping J. That way, she would have something to ckmail J. Unexpectedly, Jocelyn¡¯s ns had turned against herself. She had be the victim, instead. The events of the previous night shed in her mind. Those criminals had scarred her face with their foul teeth. Jocelyn could feel their saliva lingering on her skin. ¡®Those perverts! How dare they do this to me?¡¯ Jocelyn screamed hysterically, clutching her hair, her face contorting with rage. Her screams frightened the birds in the forest. They flew away in all directions. After a long while, Jocelyn staggered to her feet and limped out of the woods. She trudged to the other side of the road and waved her tired hand, asking for a lift. Finally, one of them offered her a ride home. Meanwhile, Fiona was busy estimating the remaining assets of the Lind family. Just then, the doorbell rang. She irritably stood up and walked toward the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± Jocelyn should be at Luke¡¯s ce now, and she wasn¡¯t expecting visitors. Fiona¡¯s eyes widened in horror as she opened the door. ¡°Jocelyn!¡± She mped her mouth with her palm at the miserable sight of her daughter. ¡°What happened to you?¡± She knew Luke was a sexual deviant. But he was old. He wouldn¡¯t have the energy to ravage her daughter like this. ¡°Mom, J set me up! I am going to kill that bitch!¡± Jocelyn burst into tears; she could no longer control her anger. She narrated the unfortunate event of the previous night, hitching with sobs. ¡°That bitch! How dare she hurt you like this? I don¡¯t care what happens to me. I won¡¯t let her get away with this!¡± Fiona hissed through her teeth, her voice dripping with venom. She was a picture of pure rage. Chapter 239 Chapter 239 Jocelyn suffered from serious injuries and was admitted to the hospital the next day. Charis heard the news from her father. When Charis went downstairs, she saw her father in the dining room, having dinner alone. The man seldom came home, and she was surprised to see him. ¡°What happened, Dad? Why didn¡¯t you go on a date with your girlfriend today?¡± ¡°Jocelyn is in the hospital,¡± Luke answered nonchntly. ¡°What happened to her? And what are you doing here? Shouldn¡¯t you be at the hospital with her?¡± Charis asked curiously. ¡°Well, I asked her what happened, but she is reluctant to tell me. If you have the time, why don¡¯t you go and visit her?¡± Luke wiped his mouth and stood up from the table. He didn¡¯t have time to worry about such trivial issues. Jocelyn was a mere ything to him. Yes, he hadn¡¯t lost interest in her yet; but that didn¡¯t mean he cared about the woman. Charis smiled but didn¡¯t say anything. The members of the Turner family all shared one characteristic: they never cared about the feelings of insignificant people. Charis called Jocelyn and finally learned what had happened. She couldn¡¯t help but curse the woman¡¯s stupidity. Jocelyn hade up with a foolish n that ended up ruining her life. Meanwhile, Charis was also a little surprised. She didn¡¯t expect that Jocelyn hated J so much that she had even hired people to rape her. Charis despised people who inflicted harm upon others. Even so, she needed a vindictive person like Jocelyn to execute her ns. Charis didn¡¯t think she made any mistake. She had merely stirred troubles to separate J from Brandon. Jocelyn was the true culprit. Besides, J should me herself for offending Jocelyn. Charis was depressed and discontented for losing a valuable piece like Jocelyn in her game in such a short time. Charis would have been less resentful if Jocelyn at least got a pyrrhic victory. However, Jocelyn¡¯s ns had only backfired and ruined her own life. Besides, J was still living a happy life without any worries. ¡°Gosh, could she be more stupid? I can¡¯t believe my father likes such a foolish woman!¡± After a lot of thinking, she concluded that Jocelyn and her mother would still be of some use to her. After all, it was easy to fool Jocelyn. The mother and daughter despised J as much as she did. Therefore, joining hands with them would enable her to fulfill her goals easily. A true businessman would make full use of every opportunity, and Charis was no exception. Charis quickly changed her clothes, bought a get-well gift basket, and went to the hospital to see Jocelyn. ¡°Dad is also worried about you. He asked me to check on you.¡± She ced the basket on the table and secretly examined Jocelyn¡¯s face. She looked weak and haggard. Her legs and arms were wrapped in gauze. There were faint, purple hickeys on her neck. Charis grabbed Jocelyn¡¯s hand and sighed. ¡°How could J be so cruel to let them torture you this way?¡± Fresh tears streamed down Jocelyn¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Does Mr. Turner know about what happened to me?¡± ¡°No. How can I tell my father about it? It will ruin your reputation.¡± Charis sat on the bed beside her with a pitiful look on her face. ¡°You don¡¯t know how cruel and merciless J is. I want to fucking kill that bitch!¡± Jocelyn¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot with rage. She spoke as if this was never her n. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°The first time I saw her, I didn¡¯t think she was a simple woman either. You¡¯re too kind and sympathetic. You have to think of a perfect way to deal with such a vindictive woman.¡± Charis added fuel to the fire. ¡°What do I do, Charis? Tell me what to do!¡± Jocelyn was desperate to take revenge. She threw herself into Charis¡¯s arms and began sobbing uncontrobly. Charis¡¯s eyes glinted with disgust. Still, she patted Jocelyn¡¯s back and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You should take care of yourself first.¡± Charis was in no hurry to drive a wedge between Jocelyn and J. After all, Jocelyn was a fool who acted recklessly without thinking. She thought it was cardinal to train her first. Just then, the door of the ward flew open. ¡°I brought you some soup, Jocelyn.¡± Fiona walked in with a pot of chicken soup. Seeing Jocelyn resting on Charis¡¯s arms, she recognized who she was at a nce. ¡°Hello. You must be Miss Turner, right?¡± She smiled warmly. Chapter 240 Chapter 240 Hearing the voice, Charis turned back and saw Fiona walking into the ward. She had already learned a lot about Fiona beforeing to the hospital. Now, seeing her in person made Charis realize the woman wasn¡¯t as gentle as she seemed in the photo. She looked cunning. Strands of hair around her temples had turned grey and the wrinkles around her eyes seemed more prominent, revealing her age. ¡°Hello, Mrs. Lind.¡± Charis withdrew her arms from Jocelyn, stood up, and nodded politely. ¡°You¡¯re finally here, Miss Turner. That cruel bitch has ruined Jocelyn¡¯s life. Do you see what lengths she had gone to take her revenge?¡± Fiona grabbed Charis¡¯s hands andmented. However, Charis felt disgusted. She had never seen such an unreasonable person in her life. It was Jocelyn who had started all this. She was the one who had hired men to assault J, but her n had backfired. However, Charis hid her disgust and frustration and forced a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. People cannot do bad deeds and get away with it. They¡¯ll be punished for all their wrongdoings. J, too, will pay the price for her mistakes. She will face a terrible, miserable end.¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Fiona looked at her grimly. For a moment, she thought Charis was mocking her. Sometimes, she would wake up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night because the past continued to haunt her even now. Fiona studied Charis¡¯s face and realized thetter wasn¡¯t mocking her. She seemed cheerful and easygoing. Considering her parents had pampered her and spoiled her, Fiona concluded that Charis was just another sweet innocent girl and there was no hidden meaning behind her words. She thought she could win Charis over by ying the victim. Fiona sat down and told Charis about how cruel and ungrateful J had been to the Lind family. Charis patiently listened to her. She was aware of the things Fiona had done in the past. The woman seemed smarter than Jocelyn because she had managed to manipte Bernie, an honest man, to do whatever she wanted. She had done a lot of bad deeds without the Lind family¡¯s knowledge. She had resorted to despicable means to put J into trouble. If Ethan hadn¡¯t helped J, Fiona would have seeded. Fiona was undoubtedly smarter than Jocelyn and would be able to help Charis. However, there was one downside: Charis wouldn¡¯t be able to easily deceive her. ¡°Miss Turner, have you been busy ofte? Every family has its own problems. I¡¯ve heard about the new predicament in your family. Mrs. Turner and the male star made the headlines again yesterday.¡± Fiona patted Charis¡¯s hand and sighed concernedly. ¡°By the way, you and Jocelyn seem very close. What do you think of her?¡± Bile rose in Charis¡¯s throat. She could understand what Fiona meant. She wanted Jocelyn to marry into the Turner family. Fiona and her daughter both had thought Charis was a fool who only knew to spend money. ¡°As you know, there will always be rumors about influential families. My family runs several entertainmentpanies. Reporters tend to blow things out of proportion. My mom only has a professional rtionship with those stars. Don¡¯t believe those baseless rumors,¡± Charis patiently exined. ¡®What a bunch of fools!¡¯ It was stupid of Jocelyn to think she could rece Chairs¡¯s mother. Her confidence both irked and surprised Charis. Although Luke had affairs with several women, his marriage had always been stable. Charis¡¯s mother belonged to one of the wealthiest families in the city, and she owned two top entertainmentpanies in the country. She was a strong, independent woman capable of supporting the Turner family all by herself. Luke and his wife got married for mutual benefits. They led different lives and had partners outside wedlock. However, they had a good understanding and got along well when they returned home. Over the years, no matter how many mistresses Luke had, they would never be a threat to his wife and take over her position, because he wouldn¡¯t let it. Chapter 241 Chapter 241 However, even though she disliked them, Charis knew she had to give Fiona and Jocelyn some hope. Fiona rubbed her fingers awkwardly and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Turner. Ignore my words.¡± ¡°Mrs. Lind, please? I didn¡¯t mean that I don¡¯t like Jocelyn. To be honest, my father has dated a lot of women in the past. But they were all gold-diggers. However, Jocelyn is the only one I liked. She is genuine and likes my dad for who he is and not his money.¡± Charis continued to tter them, hoping they would take the bait. Her words ignited a spark of hope in Fiona¡¯s heart. ¡°What do you mean, Miss Turner?¡± Fiona and Jocelyn exchanged nces. They were on an emotional rollercoaster. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°My father had stopped loving my mother a long time ago; their marriage is already dead. In fact, I¡¯d be doing them a favor by helping them find true love.¡± Charis sighed dramatically. She knew this was what Fiona hoped to hear from her. ¡°My father likes you a lot.¡± She smiled at Jocelyn. ¡°You have been with him for a while, right? I have never seen him be this happy with any woman before. It was he who asked me to visit you and see if you were okay.¡± Both Fiona and Jocelyn couldn¡¯t contain their excitement. They looked at each other, grinning. ¡°Mr. Turner has seldom mentioned his family to me. He would always avoid the topic every time I asked about it. After a while, he grew impatient. Besides, he never takes me to important asions. It made me think he doesn¡¯t like me.¡± A smile finally appeared on Jocelyn¡¯s face. Luke had been an enigma, and she had always struggled to find out what was going on in his mind. However, Charis¡¯s words gave her a sense of assurance. She had been with Luke for a long time. Every time they met, Luke would take her to some fancy restaurant and then to a hotel as if it were a mandatory procedure. The two had been dating for months now. But Jocelyn still knew nothing about the Turner family. She had concluded that Luke regarded her as a ything to satisfy his needs. ¡°My father is a reserved man. He doesn¡¯t like people questioning him and never expresses his feelings. Only his actions prove how much he likes someone. He has been doing business for years. You know how businessmen are; they are used to masking their true emotions. If someone finds out how much he cares about you, they might use that to hurt him, right?¡± Charis exaggerated to convince the two. She was as cunning as her father and was good at making up stories. ¡°I think you have a point.¡± Jocelyn lowered her head, trying to suppress her smile. She believed Charis¡¯s words and began fantasizing about bing the new Mrs. Turner. Fiona seemed equally happy. She held Charis¡¯s hand, her face bright with delight. ¡°That¡¯s great. When Jocelyn marries your father someday, you two can look out for each other.¡± Fiona herself used to be the other woman. She believed that all men were weak, and it was easy to seduce them. ¡°Mrs. Lind, there is no rush. Marriage is a long-termmitment. It requires a lot of nning.¡± Charis forced a smile. But deep down, she was disgusted by their greed. ¡°I agree.¡± Fiona nodded in understanding. There was indeed no rush. They had to take it slow. She felt a rush of anger at the miserable sight of her daughter lying on the bed. ¡°I want to take revenge on J. She has to pay the price for hurting Jocelyn.¡± Chapter 242 Chapter 242 Seeing that Fiona was agitated, Charis thought for a while and said, ¡°J is a cunning woman. You must be careful, or she will hurt you instead.¡± ¡°My daughter is just a rookie when ites to all these. She didn¡¯t know what J was capable of doing. But don¡¯t worry, Miss Turner. We will chart a perfect n before taking action. We won¡¯t fail this time.¡± Fiona¡¯s eyes glinted with malice. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. After a moment¡¯s pause, she looked at Charis. The anger on her face disappeared in an instant. ¡°Miss Turner, J also works in the Larson Group.¡± She smiled. ¡°You are in a higher position than her. I wonder if you could help us out when the dayes?¡± Fiona could tell that Charis didn¡¯t like J either. Charis pursed her lips and mulled it over. She wanted to use Jocelyn and Fiona to fulfill her n so that she didn¡¯t have to get directly involved in it. Therefore, she didn¡¯t mind helping them as long as it didn¡¯t cause her trouble. ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯ll see if I can do something.¡± Charis shook her head without giving a proper answer. She felt it would be best to leave room for negotiation. Considering her work was done, she stood up. ¡°Mrs. Lind, I need to go back to work now. It was nice meeting you.¡± Charis walked out without looking back. Meanwhile, J stared at the rising sun, holding the toothpaste in her hand. She seemed absentminded. Seeing that the toothpaste in her hand was about to drop on the floor, Ethan grabbed her wrist. ¡°You¡¯ve been this way ever since you came back yesterday.¡± Hearing his voice, J blinked and snapped back to reality. ¡°Ethan, how do you think Jocelyn is doing now?¡± she asked in a daze. She wasn¡¯t used to harming people and couldn¡¯t stop thinking about Jocelyn. ¡°If you want to know about it, I¡¯ll find out in the afternoon.¡± Ethan squirted the toothpaste on J¡¯s brush and ruffled her hair. ¡°How will you find out? I don¡¯t want others to know about it.¡± J frowned. The guilt was slowly eating her. ¡°I have my ways. I¡¯ll tell you about it when I return home tonight,¡± Ethan said, staring into her eyes. That evening, Ethan thoroughly investigated what had happened to Jocelyn before going back home and told J all about it. J was cooking dinner at the kitchen. She looked up at Ethan and breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank God she is still alive.¡± Fortunately, things didn¡¯t end too badly for Jocelyn, even though she deserved to be punished for plotting against J. However, Ethan didn¡¯t seem relieved. Both Jocelyn and her mother were vindictive people. He knew they would undoubtedly wreak havoc in their lives. ¡°You have to be careful, J. This is only the beginning.¡± Ethan¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked at her. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m worried about.¡± J frowned. ¡°I¡¯m her sworn enemy now. She will undoubtedly seek revenge.¡± Chapter 243 Chapter 243 The moment Ethan noticed the panic in J¡¯s eyes, he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and rested his chin on her corbone. His voice rang in her ears, ¡°It¡¯s nothing to be afraid of. I¡¯m here with you. Please calm down.¡± J closed her eyes and took a deep breath when he finished speaking. She then turned around and hugged him tightly. With tears welling up in her eyes, she said, ¡°I really wish I could calm down. However, I can¡¯t help but think that I have caused a lot of trouble.¡± Now, J wished she could turn back the hands of time. She hadn¡¯t expected things to turn out like this. Stroking her hair tofort her, Ethan sealed her lips with a kiss. She was forced to swallow the words she wanted to say. ******* The topmost agenda on Ethan¡¯s list was to get rid of Jocelyn and Fiona once and for all. But before he coulde up with a good n, he received a call from Garrett. ¡°Hey, buddy. I just found out something. You need to stop whatever you have nned. Did you know that Jocelyn is Luke¡¯s new mistress?¡± Ethan¡¯s eyes darkened immediately. He had heard that Luke had a lot of girlfriends, but he didn¡¯t expect that Jocelyn would be one of them. ¡°So what? How is that a big deal? Isn¡¯t he fond of changing mistresses as if he¡¯s changing clothes? Or is he very serious with Jocelyn?¡± He sneered. ¡°Yes, he changes mistresses every now and then. But I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s serious with Jocelyn or not. I honestly don¡¯t think he would be with her for long. But that doesn¡¯t change the fact that she¡¯s currently affiliated with him. You have to be very careful. I heard that Luke pulled some strings to have Fiona released from prison. That means he can do anything for them because he likes Jocelyn, at least for now. If you must do something to them, you have to tread with caution. That¡¯s all I can say,¡± Garrett said seriously. Ethan¡¯s lips thinned into a grim line as he listened to this advice. As much as he hated to admit it, Garrett was right. There was no mistaking that Luke was a formidable opponent. His powerful family background and connections had been built decades ago. Ethan doubted if even Brandon¡¯s identity could stand a chance against such a man. ¡°Okay, I have heard all that you said. Now assign a skilled bodyguard to secretly follow J everywhere she goes.¡± Ethan¡¯s fingers tightened until his entire arm ached due to the force. ¡°Make it a female bodyguard.¡± ¡°Ha-ha! I have to say that I got more and more to take care of since you got married. Better give me a raise, bro,¡± Garrettmented jokingly. Immediately after the call ended, he started searching for a skilled female bodyguard just as Ethan had ordered. Although there was a battalion of excellent bodyguards, only a few of them were women. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. It was extremely hard to find the perfect one. But in the end, a female bodyguard was rmended to him by a professional security organization called Shadow, which specialized in the training of assassins and bodyguards. Garrett personally went to the provided address to meet her. Some people were on the training ground at this time. The ce was brightly lit and equipped with different training objects. About twenty men were sparring with a woman. They were in a stalemate. Garrett¡¯s full attention was on the woman in dark purple tight clothes. She looked very young and thin. Her waist was slender and she had a delicate appearance. She looked like one of those women that any man would want to protect at first nce. None of her features indicated that she was a good fighter. With a slight frown, Garrett tore off his gaze and looked at the man beside him. ¡°I find it rather appalling that you have sunk this low. Don¡¯t you have a heart? How can you allow twenty men to fight such a delicate woman?¡± The man smiled and replied, ¡°Mr. Harding, please don¡¯t let her looks deceive you. This woman is Laney Garcia, the female bodyguard we rmended you on the phone. And the men are her students. Although she looks delicate, she¡¯s more experienced and stronger than many male bodyguards in the industry. You should watch her in action.¡± Staring at the bare-faced woman, Garrettughed and uttered, ¡°I should watch her in action? Are you kidding me? What¡¯s there to watch? She¡¯s too thin to be a qualified bodyguard. Those men can break her bones with just a punch!¡± All of a sudden, Laney turned around and quit the training. She left the training area and walked towards Garrett. ¡°Hey, did I offend you?¡± Garrett looked at her teasingly. Laney, who had one hand at her back, signaled for Garrett toe forward with her other hand. But before he could say or move an inch, she moved to him like lightning. Everything happened so fast. The next thing Garrett knew was that his back hit the ground with a thud. The supposedly delicate woman had knocked down a six-foot-tall man in a split second! ¡°Ouch!¡± A cry of pain escaped Garrett¡¯s lips as hey on the ground. Laney dusted her hands and said, ¡°For your information, I can deal with twenty more men like you using just one hand. Let¡¯s just say you weren¡¯t prepared. Do you want to go again?¡± The pain was too much that it seemed Garrett¡¯s spinal cord was broken. Biting his lips, he struggled to get up. He then waved his hand and said, ¡°No need. I will take you.¡± Chapter 244 Chapter 244 Ever since the incident that happened in the cafe, J had never seen Kent again. And just when she thought that her life was starting to get peaceful again, she received a call from him. J was still at work, so she didn¡¯t want to answer the call. However, it was hard to ignore his incessant calls, so in the end, she relented and answered it. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to thank me for saving your lifest time, Miss Lind?¡± J could hear Kent chuckling as he said those words. Originally, she just didn¡¯t like him, and after all he had done to pester her, she even started to hate his guts. However, it was also true that he had indeed impressed her by doing something heroic as saving her life and she now owed him a big favor. If he hadn¡¯t stopped her from drinking the coffee, she might¡¯ve been the one who got raped. ¡°Fine. I hear you. What do you want, Mr. Perkins?¡± J asked after ncing around vigntly. ¡°Hmm¡­ What do I want? Would you like to drop by my house tomorrow night?¡± Kent bantered. ¡°Mr. Perkins, please don¡¯t poke fun at me. Otherwise, I¡¯m going to hang up on you.¡± Because of his senseless joke, J got impatient. Upon hearing that she was about to hang up, Kent had to get serious. ¡°Sorry, I was just kidding. Don¡¯t be mad. Well, how about having dinner with me instead?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Naturally, J didn¡¯t want to see Kent on her own. She figured it would be best to ask Ethan to tag along. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll treat you to dinner, but I¡¯ll decide the time and location,¡± she answered. ¡°Sure. Just send me the address once you¡¯ve decided.¡± A smile appeared on Kent¡¯s face. That evening, after work, J and Ethan went to see Kent. She booked a table in a Japanese restaurant, which was famous for their crabs. When they entered the restaurant, they saw the Japanese-themed ambiance of the establishment. There were small bridges, a pond and rockeries, and some koi in the pond. It was tranquil inside. The moment the door behind Kent opened up, he sat up straight and turned about. ¡°Miss Lind, you¡¯re ¡ª¡± But before he could finish his sentence, his face dimmed. Behind J, there was a tall man. Ethan was wearing all ck; his eyes could barely be seen beneath the baseball cap he was wearing. All Kent could see was his aquiline nose and jaw. ¡°My husband wanted to thank you in person,¡± J said with a smile. She had already expected this oue. While she was speaking, she urged Ethan to sit down. ¡°Oh¡­ it¡¯s no big deal!¡± Kent pretended to be okay with it, albeit he was actually reluctant of the man¡¯s presence. Ethan, on the other hand, had worn a stern expression since the moment he entered the room. He didn¡¯t look grateful to Kent at all. Upon noticing the look on his face, J pinched his arm. It was only then that Ethan spoke. ¡°My wife is right. We do thank you for your help,¡± he said politely. Then, he picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip. All of a sudden, he cast Kent a sharp gaze. ¡°But if you dare touch my wife again, I will not spare you, Mr. Perkins.¡± Kent just raised his eyebrows at Ethan and said nothing. He had already inquired about J¡¯s husband before. In his eyes, Ethan was nothing but the embarrassing bastard son of the Lester family. He believed that there was nothing Ethan could do to him. Because if that weren¡¯t the case, he would¡¯ve already stayed away from J. That being said, Kent didn¡¯t take his warning seriously. He just put on a smile and raised his ss. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. J and I are just friends. No more, no less.¡± Chapter 245 Chapter 245 Ethan sipped his tea and didn¡¯t utter a single word. He knew full well what was going through Kent¡¯s mind. Kent had been ying the field, and he was certain that he wouldn¡¯t give up on J so easily. However, inherently, Keny wasn¡¯t a bad person. Besides, J didn¡¯t like him in any event, so Ethan wasn¡¯t worried in the least bit. Since Kent had saved J once before, Ethan decided it best not to do anything about him at this juncture. The expression on Ethan¡¯s face made Kent¡¯s hair stand on end. For the life of him, he couldn¡¯t even begin to fathom what Ethan was thinking. Just then, the waiter served the crab dish. Ethan picked up a crab leg. ¡°Have a taste of this,¡± Ethan said, cing the crab leg into J¡¯s te while ncing at Kent with an air of indifference. ¡°Please help yourself, Mr. Perkins.¡± With a fake, forced smile, Kent nodded. He didn¡¯t enjoy the meal at all. To be honest, he had even purchased a box of condoms before he had come here tonight. Now, however, it was clear that it wouldn¡¯t be put to its intended use tonight. The three of them parted ways after dinner. J and Ethan were just about to go home together. The Japanese restaurant was located in a high- end shopping mall which sold a range of luxury, designer items. When they passed by a jewelry store, the ss disy of the season¡¯s new arrivals in the window caught her eye. There were fiery red rubies on disy. The dazzling rubies were expertly imbedded in white gold. It was simply breathtaking. There was a sense of wildness in the design and color choices. J was a designer herself, so naturally she was drawn to the disy like a bee to have a closer look. She wondered whether she could trante this design for an application to a clothes line. Clothing would be stunning with this kind of design. When Ethan noticed J had stopped, he peered in the direction of her gaze. The ruby ne in the window was work of art and eye-catching. ¡°Do you like it?¡± he asked, walking up to join her beside the window. The soft, warm light fell on J¡¯s face, making her smile look even more beautiful than usual. Her eyes were sparkling with admiration. It was quite apparent that she was impressed. She said, ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s very beautiful? This designer really is nothing short of a genius.¡± However, J was just appreciating the designer and this outstanding work. She didn¡¯t want the jewelry as much as she appreciated its design. Besides, she couldn¡¯t afford it anyway. It was too luxurious for her. Only the exceptionally wealthy could buy it if they took a liking to it. It urred to Ethan that Garrett often gave jewelry as gifts to women, and reasoned that women were probably quite attracted to sparkly, shiny things. On that basis, he came to the conclusion that J must want it. She didn¡¯t admit it because she probably thought that it was way out of their affordability range. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Ethan kept his poker face on and began to devise a n to buy the ne for her without her suspecting him. J didn¡¯t have the foggiest idea about what was going through his mind. She took out her phone and hesitated in taking pictures of the ne. After all, most of the stores here didn¡¯t allow others to take photos of their exclusive products. Just then, a condescending voice was hearding just inside the store. ¡°Miss Lind, you have been standing there for a long time. Do you need me to ask for the manager¡¯s permission for you to take photos?¡± Chapter 246 Chapter 246 The female voice sounded familiar. J looked back to see who it was. Behind her stood Emani, who was wearing a gorgeous navy blue dress and sunsses. She was standing at the door of the shop. She took off her sunsses and smiled brightly. Her assistant was standing behind her with a lot of shopping bags in both hands. It seemed like Emani had just finished shopping and was about to leave. ¡°No, thank you, Miss Gomez.¡± J shook her head and frowned. She and Emani hadn¡¯t been on good terms since the party. Hence, she wanted to avoid her more than anything. At first, Emani hadn¡¯t intended to pick on J. She thought she was out of bounds because Garrett was dating her. But when she found out that Garrett was dating someone else, she felt that he had dumped J. It wasmon knowledge that Garrett never dated more than one woman at a time even though he was a yboy. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. This was why Emani had concluded that J had gotten dumped and she could trample on her now. She sneered and flipped her hair back when she saw the frown on J¡¯s face. It was then her eyes advertently fell on the man standing beside J. Emani stared at him, goggle-eyed. The man wasn¡¯t girlish handsome like some of the men she usually met. This one was masculine and his face was excellently sculpted. He looked cold and distant, but she could see that he was a reserved man from the glint in his eyes. ¡®Wow! Who would have thought that such a in Jane could have such great taste in men? Garrett and this man are both hunks. I wonder how she managed to get them. Humph! Someone like her doesn¡¯t deserve such a prince charming!¡¯ Emani was bedazzled by the man¡¯s handsomeness, but that didn¡¯t stop her from noticing that he was poorly dressed. To her, this meant that he wasn¡¯t a big shot. ¡®Wow! J got a handsome man with empty pockets. Serves her right!¡¯ Thinking of this, a mocking smile appeared on her face. She felt that bullying J would be easy since no one could stand up to her now. ¡°Oh, Miss Lind. Why leave in such a hurry?¡± Putting on a patronizing expression, she briskly walked up to J in her heels. How J humiliated her at the ball was still fresh in her memory. J didn¡¯t want to offend Emani because she was an influencer for the Larson Group. She knew that it would be unwise to bring their beef to work. As a result, she asked calmly, ¡°Is there anything you would like me to do, Miss Gomez?¡± Feigning good intentions and friendliness, Emani held J¡¯s arm to prevent her from leaving. ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t need anything from you. I just thought I should be of help to you since you like the jewelry here. Come and have a look at some of them. I¡¯m a VIP customer here, don¡¯t worry. You haven¡¯t visited a store as luxurious as this in your entire life, right? Well, that will change today. I¡¯ll be your guide in this store.¡± ¡°Thank you for the kind offer, Miss Gomez. But I have to decline. You know, it¡¯ste now. I¡¯m sure you are tired after your shopping. You need to rest.¡± J wasn¡¯t deceived by the smile on Emani¡¯s face. She could deduce the underlying insults in her words. She also didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with her. ¡°Oh, no! I¡¯m not tired at all. Is your concern for me the only reason for your refusal? Or are you afraid that the attendants here will look down on you? Not to worry. I¡¯m here with you. None of them would dare to say a word about you. Let¡¯s go!¡± Emani knew that J wanted to escape. Like the dubious woman that she was, she longed to see the embarrassed expression on her face after getting humiliated. Throughout the eight years that she had been working in the entertainment industry, she had never been so humiliated as she was at the ball. She still hadn¡¯t gotten over it. Now that she had bumped into J today, she wanted to get her revenge. Emani wanted J to taste the same humiliation in ten folds. The smile on her face and her words were just means to deceive J. She was already concocting a n in her head without letting go of J¡¯s hand. Both women argued back and forth until J couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She didn¡¯t like arguing with anyone, but she never allowed them to trample on her. ¡°Okay, you win. Let¡¯s do this, Miss Gomez.¡± Forcing a smile, she held Emani¡¯s arm and walked into the store. Chapter 247 Chapter 247 ¡°What?¡± Before Emani could figure out what J meant, thetter had already dragged her into the shop. The shop¡¯s decoration was bedazzling. It was already dark outside, but inside the store, it was bright as day. When the shop clerks saw theme in, they surrounded the two and greeted them. J let go of Emani¡¯s arm, looking around while holding her phone. She then intentionally raised her voice and said, ¡°Miss Gomez, now that you¡¯re here, I can take as many photos as I want!¡± Having said that, she began taking photos of the jewelry inside the store. The look on the faces of the shop clerks changed. One of them hurried to stop her. She blocked J¡¯s camera phone using her hand and said with a professional smile, ¡°Sorry, ma¡¯am, but taking photos of our products is prohibited. Please put your phone away.¡± Pretending as though she was surprised, J covered her mouth and nced at Emani. Thetter stood rooted to her spot, dumbstruck. ¡°But Miss Gomez said that she¡¯s a VIP customer here. She must¡¯ve told you that she allowed me to take photos here in advance, right? She¡¯s a celebrity. Is she not allowed to do that?¡± The shop clerk nced at Emani and said, ¡°As I recall, Miss Gomez has never even shopped here. How could she be one of our VIP customers?¡± All of the shop clerks here were smart, and they remembered who their regrs were. Emani was so embarrassed that she just wanted to run away. As a matter of fact, the shop assistant was telling the truth. She never shopped here even once, and was in fact, not a VIP. Besides, this was an international luxury jewelry brand, and it had incredibly famous stars endorsing it. None of these people would take her seriously. Emani only said those words earlier to mock J. She didn¡¯t expect that J would actuallye in here and take photos. Awkwardly, the shop clerk nced at Emani once more. ¡°That said, our store policy dictates that it is prohibited to take photos of our products. Miss Gomez, if you like any jewelry from our selection, you can make a purchase.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I have more than enough jewelry at home already,¡± Emani replied shaking her head. She tried to stay as calm as possible. All she wanted to do now was to get away from here. She knew that she wouldn¡¯t be able to afford any of the jewelry here, considering how all of them were too expensive for her. Her sry was high, but she didn¡¯t have that much savings because of her extravagant lifestyle. Buying even one piece in this store could bankrupt her. On asion, she woulde here just to window-shop, but that was all. Seeing that Emani didn¡¯t seem like she could afford any of the items here, J put her phone away and nodded. She then looked at Emani while wearing a sardonic smile. ¡°Oh? In that case, why did you ask me toe in here and take photos? Why¡¯d you have to embarrass yourself like that, Miss Gomez?¡± By this point, Emani was too ashamed to speak. She just gritted her teeth, loathing J to her core. This was an eye-opener for Emani. She couldn¡¯t tell from J¡¯s looks that thetter actually had a sharp tongue. Now that things hade to this, J no longer cared about the way Emani was looking at her. Just as she was about to leave, she saw that Ethan had walked into the store. He was standing in front of the showcase, staring at fine ruby ne. ¡°Do you like it too? Why are you staring at it?¡± J asked, holding his hand. ¡°I think it would look great on you,¡± Ethan replied, staring at her affectionately. ¡°I don¡¯t really want it. With that kind of money, we can buy several houses. Let¡¯s go home. I¡¯m done here.¡± J smiled at him. His words were a delight to hear. Just before they could leave the store, one of the shop clerks suddenly stopped them. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. ¡°Ma¡¯am, hold on.¡± Chapter 248 Chapter 248 In utter confusion, J looked back at the shop attendant and asked calmly, ¡°Is there anything else?¡± A polite smile was on the attendant¡¯s face at this time. Her attitude towards J had changed drastically. Bowing to the two, she replied respectfully, ¡°Miss, you can take as many photos as you want. We also have lots of ssics here. If you want to have a look at them, we will dly show them to you.¡± J was taken aback by these words. Emani, whose blood was boiling, became confused. J pursed her lips and took a look at Ethan. The shop attendant¡¯s sudden change of attitude was not only surprising, but also confusing. She found it hard to believe. With a frown, she asked, ¡°I thought it wasn¡¯t allowed. Why the sudden change of rules?¡± ¡®Is this shop attendant trying tond me in trouble? Could it be a new way of hooking people to pay for the goods here?¡¯ she pondered. The shop attendant¡¯s smile widened. She responded politely, ¡°Exceptions are made for every rule. Since you are a distinguished guest, we can make an exception for you.¡± This exnation heightened J¡¯s confusion. She thought, ¡®Me? A distinguished guest? When did I be one? Weren¡¯t they treating me like a pauper just now?¡¯ Several doubtful thoughts also filled Emani¡¯s mind. She didn¡¯t believe the attendant¡¯s words one bit. In her mind, she concluded, ¡®This is probably a joke or a misunderstanding. J is just an ordinary employee of the Larson Group. She can¡¯t possibly be a distinguished guest!¡¯ ¡°What do you mean by that? Has there been a misunderstanding or what? How did she be your distinguished guest? Are you sure of what you are saying?¡± Emani blurted out when she couldn¡¯t keep calm anymore. Completely ignoring Emani, the shop attendant walked to J and reverentially motioned for her to come along to the exclusive VIP reception area. ¡°Wee to the VIP reception area, Miss Lind. Please have a seat. After we sort out the best ssics for you, you will be served some refreshments.¡± The other employees immediately went about their duties, paying no heed to Emani no matter what she said. Some of them put on ck gloves and began to take out the jewelry ssics that had been kept in the topmost sections of the ss disy shelves. They carefully disyed them in front of J and Ethan. These pieces of jewelry were a sight to behold. They ranged from gold, silver, diamond, sapphires, and a host of others. They were so beautiful that J was speechless. When Ethan nced at J, he saw that she stretched out her hand to touch them, but she drew it back the next second. He could see that she was amazed by the jewelry but a bit scared to touch them. He found her behavior so lovely and funny. ¡°Are you sure you can see them clearly from a distance?¡± In a bid to put J out of her misery, Ethan picked up the box of jewelry she had been staring at and moved it closer to her. J leaned close to him and whispered in his ear, ¡°I just secretly checked the prices of these pieces of jewelry. They are so expensive. It¡¯s not wise to touch them. What if I identally break them?¡± A lot of worries ran through J¡¯s mind. She didn¡¯t trust the employees here. She smelled something fishy because of their strange behaviors. As far as she was concerned, this might be a trap. She felt that they would force her to buy it if she broke anything. Ethan lowered his head and snickered. He then leaned against the sofa and threw his head back, laughing. After having a goodugh, he looked at his wife with warmth in his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If you break anything, I will pay for it.¡± J felt butterflies in her stomach when she saw the warmth in Ethan¡¯s eyes just now. It made her feel relieved some type of way. ¡®Jeez! He¡¯s so handsome!¡¯ J¡¯s cheeks turned red as she nced at him. With her husband¡¯s assurance, she didn¡¯t hesitate anymore. She picked up a piece of jewelry and took a close look at it. It was at this time that a shop attendant came in with a tray filled with sliced fruits and delicate desserts. ¡°Miss, have you seen any one you like here? If none of the pieces here catches your fancy, you can check out our exclusive pieces. They haven¡¯t been made for sale to the public yet. Since they are custom made, they will take some time to be delivered after the order is made,¡± the shop attendant exined as she poured tea for J and Ethan. For the umpteenth time in thest half an hour, J was shocked. She pinched her thigh to make sure she wasn¡¯t dreaming or imagining things. ¡®What¡¯s going on? I¡¯m dressed in cheap clothes, so I look nothing like a wealthy woman. Howe this shop attendant thinks I can afford custom-made jewelry?¡¯ N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Just when J was lost in thought, she noticed something. The shop assistant kept looking at the wedding ring on her finger. It was then she realized why the employees treated her so reverentially. She touched her ring and circled it with her finger. ¡°Ahem¡­ You keep staring at my ring. Is anything the matter?¡± Chapter 249 Chapter 249 ¡°Oh, there¡¯s nothing wrong with it.¡± The shop attendant was puzzled by J¡¯s question. Perhaps sensing that she had been a bit impolite just now by staring at J¡¯s ring, she waved her hands in dismissal and put on a smile. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry for staring at your ring just now, ma¡¯am. I shouldn¡¯t have done that. I¡¯ve only seen photos of that ring before. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen it in real life. It is indeed mesmerizing.¡± J frowned. She couldn¡¯t understand what the shop attendant was talking about. ¡®This is just a fake blue diamond ring. Why is she so curious about it?¡¯ she wondered. Upon noticing the confusion on J¡¯s face, the shop attendant asked hesitantly, ¡°Don¡¯t you know the origin of that ring, ma¡¯am?¡± J nced at Ethan subconsciously. He was the one who gave her the ring. She didn¡¯t think that there was any interesting background story about a fake ring. Thus, she shook her head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± Suddenly, Ethan faked coughing. ¡°Ethan, are you okay? Is your throat sore?¡± J was worried about him, so she patted him on the back and handed him a ss of water. ¡°Why are you suddenly coughing?¡± she asked. ¡®He was fine just now,¡¯ she thought. The shop attendant noticed that Ethan had been coughing ever since she started talking. She wanted to ingratiate herself with him, so she said, ¡°We have some cough medicine in the store. Would you like some, sir?¡± Ethan waved his hand, picked up the ss of water on the table, and took a sip. He had been winking at the shop attendant, and he even faked several coughs, yet she still didn¡¯t seem to understand his hint. The woman wasn¡¯t Ethan¡¯s employee, so she probably couldn¡¯t understand his hints. Moreover, Ethan couldn¡¯t say anything to her in front of J, so he was getting more and more anxious. The shop attendant took a look at J¡¯s ring again and adjusted her tone. ¡°The blue diamond on your ring is called the ¡®Ocean¡¯. It¡¯s the most expensive and most famous jewelry in our brand¡¯s history. It has an extensive history and high value. I heard that someone bought it at a high price a long time ago. Never did I imagine that I¡¯d see the ring¡¯s owner here today. Since you have it, you must be a very important customer,¡± the shop attendant exined respectfully. Upon hearing that, J was stunned. After a moment of hesitation, she asked tentatively, ¡°Are you sure this isn¡¯t just a fake?¡± She couldn¡¯t believe that the blue diamond on her ring was the real ¡°Ocean¡± that the shop attendant just told her about. ¡®How could Ethan afford the real one? We¡¯re poor!¡¯ she thought to herself. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Aside from that, J had seen several fakes that Ethan had gotten from his friends. Because of the development of counterfeiting technology, it was hard to tell that they were fakes. But to her surprise, the shop attendant shook her head and smiled. ¡°Ma¡¯am, you must be kidding. I¡¯ve been at this job for years, and I know our brand¡¯s most famous product all too well. I¡¯m more than certain that your ring is the real deal. If you don¡¯t believe me, go ahead and fine a professional jewelry appraiser to check it for you.¡± After hearing the exnation, J was stunned. The shop attendant sounded so sure that the blue diamond on her ring was real. Thinking back on Ethan¡¯s weird behavior; his odd winking and sudden burst of coughs; her eyes widened in shock. She whipped her head to stare at Ethan as a mountain of questions built up in her head. Chapter 250 Chapter 250 Suddenly, J sprang to her feet. She felt a burning anger rising from her chest. Slowly, she walked out of the shop and said, ¡°Ethan, let¡¯s go home.¡± Ethan closed his eyes and stood up like he was told to. He knew that she was angry, so he just followed J obediently. All the while, Emani had heard what the shop attendant had said. ¡°How is that possible? How could J afford a ring that expensive?¡± Emani was indignant. She crossed her arms, looking at her assistant. ¡°Is she really that rich?¡± she asked. The assistant was fearful at this point. ¡°Emani, do you think we just offended a big shot?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t jump to conclusions so soon. But I gotta say, I am flummoxed.¡± Conflicted, Emani walked out of the store and found that J and Ethan were nowhere to be found. ¡®Who the hell is J? How did she manage to get her hands on a ring that expensive?¡¯ she wondered. At night. It was already 10 o¡¯clock. J hadn¡¯t said a word to Ethan during their trip back home. After walking into the room, she leaned against the shoe cab at the door and looked Ethan dead in the eye. Based on the look on her face, she was furious. ¡°Ethan, do you have something to tell me?¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Ethan was caught off-guard by the question. Despite how in the question sounded, it was still daunting. He then looked back at her, trying his best to stayposed. Ethan had long known that J was much tougher than she appeared to be. A smile appeared on his lips. He¡¯d be lying if he said that he didn¡¯t like it whenever she was like this. Fortunately for him, he had been preparing an exnation along the way. ¡°My mother passed that ring down to me, so I gave it to you as our wedding ring,¡± Ethan exined. He didn¡¯t look like he felt guilty at all. He even took a few steps forward, leaned his elbows against the cab beside J, and made eye contact. ¡°Is that so?¡± J didn¡¯t seem like she bought it. ¡°But you told me that you asked your friend to buy this ring for you and that it was a cheap knock-off?¡± Back when Ethan bought the wedding ring, he just picked the most valuable one without giving it much thought. He was d to know that the ring actually had a long history, or else he wouldn¡¯t have been able to make up the perfect excuse. He wasn¡¯t lying when he said that his friend bought it for him. He did ask Garrett to buy the ring for him, and it was honestly a cheap gift by his standards. ¡°Before the Larson family went down in the world, we were a reputable family in Seacisco.¡± Ethan brushed the tip of his nose against hers, stroking J¡¯s cheek with his finger. ¡°Why would I lie to you, honey? Do you think I have money to buy a ring that expensive?¡± J was aware that Ethan¡¯s mother was indeed the daughter of the Larson family. However, he had given J a tinum emerald ring and told her that it had been passed down as a family heirloom for generations, so she couldn¡¯t bring herself to believe that there was suddenly another heirloom, another invaluable ring, in existence. It worried J that Ethan might¡¯ve acquired the ring through illegal means. ¡°It¡¯s true that you don¡¯t have the money to buy the ring, but that doesn¡¯t mean you wouldn¡¯t have been able to get it through other means.¡± She cast him a sharp gaze, avoiding his touch. She was really scared that her husband might¡¯vemitted a crime. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it, honey,¡± Ethan replied in a patient voice. He could tell that it wouldn¡¯t be easy to fool her this time. ¡°Your family has been passing down an awful lot of jewelry for generations, hasn¡¯t it?¡± J snorted. Chapter 251 Chapter 251 Ethan was on the hot seat now. As a result, he had no choice but to use countless lies to cover up the first one. ¡°Well, after the Larson family went bankrupt, they sold tons of valuable antiques, paintings, and rare calligraphy that had been collected for so many years. My grandmother liked collecting all kinds of precious and beautiful jewelry when she was alive. She loved them so much. My grandfather didn¡¯t want to take them away from her, so he let her keep them. Upon her death yearster, my mother inherited her favorite pieces of jewelry. She held them so dear to her heart that she couldn¡¯t bring herself to sell them even in her most difficult time. Sheter passed them on to me. These two rings were among them.¡± Ethan decided not to go into details. Too many details would expose hints of his well-coated lies. Nevertheless, he made sure to give a reasonable exnation. His words weren¡¯t entirely false. Some of the details were actually true. The origin of the tinum emerald ring was exactly like he told J. It used to be his grandmother¡¯s. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Oh, I see. I was extremely shocked to hear the shop attendant¡¯s words today. We aren¡¯t financially stable. It is practically impossible for you to afford such an expensive ring. I upped and left without saying anything more to her. Something seemed fishy. At that moment, I felt they were only stalling us because they had secretly called the police. Thank goodness we didn¡¯t get into trouble back there.¡± J held her chest and heaved a sigh of relief after she finished speaking. She swallowed her husband¡¯s words, hook, line, and sinker. This was because she knew that the Larson family used to be wealthy in the past. It seemed totally normal that Ethan had inherited such priceless jewelry from his mother. ¡°Well, keep the ring then.¡± Ethan smiled when he saw that she was calm and no longer uptight. He stared at her intently and buried his face into her neck. After inhaling her scent, he asked affectionately, ¡°Babe, do you want to go back to my room tonight?¡± J¡¯s mind was still preupied with thoughts about her mother-inw¡¯s family. A lingering fear tugged at her heart as she stared at the blue diamond ring. ¡°Ethan, why didn¡¯t you tell me that story earlier? I had no idea that I was wearing such a valuable ring. Honestly, I thought it was just a cheap one that you bought from a mere jewelry store. What if I had broken or lost it? I would have been so heartbroken,¡± Jined with a pout after pinching his arm. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious why I didn¡¯t tell you? J, you are so modest. Be honest with me. Would you have agreed to wear it if I told you how much it¡¯s worth?¡± Ethan¡¯s pupils became darker and darker. He swallowed hard as he stared at her beautiful face. His mind was somewhere else. It had been a long time since he was intimate with her. A pleasurable burning sensation was already making its way to his groin. He badly wanted to make love to her. ¡°Gosh, that¡¯s not an excuse. Have you forgotten that I told you to buy an ordinary ring? Why did you have to give me such a valuable one without my knowledge?¡± J red at him with her eyes wide open. However, her expression was still gentle and soft. She had tried to take off the ring from her finger as she spoke. But Ethan held her hand. The light in the room reflected on the diamond, and then its blue light cast a shadow on his high nose bridge. ¡°I didn¡¯t forget what you said at all. It¡¯s just that this is your wedding ring¨Ca symbol indicating that you are my wife. How could I have gotten a cheap one? Remember that you vowed on the altar to stay with me until death do us part. You are my wife, so you can¡¯t take it off and return it to me even though you aren¡¯tfortable with the price. You are mine, always and forever,¡± Ethan uttered possessively. The expression on his face was so serious like J had never seen before. His words were so hot that it seemed like they were being engraved in her heart with ease. J found his words deadly charming. She was lost in his ambiance as she stared into his deep eyes. His firm tone was making her fall for him more. It was obvious that J had been upset about what had happened between him and Charis, but she wasn¡¯t thinking about that now. She was thinking about what he just said. Not knowing what to say, J lowered her head to avoid eye contact with him. An inexplicable warmth was in her heart. She felt as if there was a red balloon that was increasing in size in her heart. Ethan¡¯s words echoed in her head and she couldn¡¯t help blushing. Chapter 252 Chapter 252 After a moment¡¯s hesitation, J still took the dazzling blue diamond ring off despite Ethan¡¯s objection and ced it on his palm. Ethan let go of her and stared at the diamond ring. ¡°What are you doing?¡± J folded his fingers against the diamond ring and smiled at him. ¡°The family heirloom must be of great significance to you. Judging from the expression of the shop attendant today, it looks like the ring is more precious than we think, so I can¡¯t wear it.¡± ¡°I will never take back what I give others.¡± Ethan¡¯s brows furrowed as he stared into her eyes. However, he was relieved that J stopped asking him where he got the ring. J bit her lip and looked at him, her eyes glinting with mischief. ¡°I¡¯m not returning it to you. I just want you to safely keep it for me. I¡¯ll wear it on important asions. It¡¯s ridiculous to wear such an enormous ring every day knowing it¡¯s the real deal.¡± Ethan had no choice but to put the ring away. He decided it would be better for him not to give any valuable rings to J for the time being. ¡°All right then. I¡¯ll keep it in a safe ce. You can wear it whenever you want,¡± Ethan muttered, stroking the ring. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the mall now. You pick a diamond ring you¡¯d feelfortable wearing every day, and I¡¯ll pay the bill.¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, J nodded. ¡°It¡¯s alreadyte now. Why don¡¯t we go tomorrow after I get off work?¡± Then, she turned around to return to her room. Ethan grabbed her elbow and dragged her to his side. ¡°Are you ying dumb? What did I tell you?¡± he asked, raising his chin toward the bedroom. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you are talking about.¡± J¡¯s cheeks turned red. She had clearly heard what Ethan said earlier. Ethan was blocking her way to the bedroom. He folded his arms across his chest and looked into her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re not mad at me, so you can move back into my room.¡± J looked up at him and snorted with disdain. ¡°Since you lied to me again, I¡¯m going to see how you behave before making a decision. Get out of my way. I have to go to work tomorrow.¡± Ethan¡¯s face drooped with disappointment. He sighed and stepped away, letting J return to her room. ¡­ The next afternoon. After J got off work, Ethan picked her up, and the two went to the shopping mall together. J didn¡¯t want expensive rings from luxury brands, so Ethan took her to a small jewelry shop in the mall. After examining the different rings disyed before her, J finally picked a simple ring with a small stone. ¡°That¡¯s the one.¡± J picked it up and smiled. ¡°I think it¡¯s beautiful.¡± Although the ring looked in and simple, it wasfortable and gave her a sense of assurance. She looked up at Ethan and asked, ¡°Would you like to get a matching ring as well?¡± The smile on J¡¯s face melted his heart. He nodded and tried to choose a matching diamond ring for himself. Finally, J picked out a pair of affordable yet elegant diamond rings for themselves. However, Ethan wasn¡¯t used to buying inexpensive jewelry, so he felt a bit ufortable. ¡°Put it on.¡± J took out the ring from the brocade box and slid it on Ethan¡¯s finger . An ecstatic smile emerged on her face as she ced her hand beside his and saw the two matching rings sparkling under the light. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Ethan couldn¡¯t help but smile at how happy she looked. Just as they were about to leave after paying the bill, a woman walked into the shop. She was wearing a hat, a pair of sunsses, and a mask. The woman clutched the bag in her hand and hurriedly strutted forward. J frowned when the woman walked past her. The dress she was wearing looked somehow familiar. J stopped and turned to look at her again. Chapter 253 Chapter 253 As soon as the woman entered the shop, she took out some jewelry from her handbag. It was quite apparent that the woman hade to the shop with the intention of selling something. She was such a nervous wreck that she clumsily let some of the jewelry fall to the ground. The crisp ng of the metal against the floor echoed around the ce. The woman rushed to pick the item up and ced it on the counter, together with another pearl bracelet she had just taken out of her bag as well. ¡°Is that an acquaintance of yours?¡± Ethan asked when he saw J freeze on the spot. He looked in the direction of her gaze and saw the woman. J couldn¡¯t be certain. She kept looking at her where she stood by the counter and said, ¡°Her figure is reminiscent of that my foster mother.¡± The shop assistant examined the jewelry and gave the woman a price. ¡°About one hundred thousand dors.¡± Finally, the woman opened her mouth to speak. She picked up one of the items on the counter and bargained in an exasperated tone, ¡°It can¡¯t be only worth one hundred thousand. These things are all real treasures.¡± J¡¯s expression froze when she recognized that the woman was none other than Fiona. Fiona felt the gaze of someone behind her, so she took off her sunsses and looked to see who it was. She then saw that it was J. The two of them locked eyes with each other across the counter without saying a word. Fiona was utterly mortified. She immediately turned her head. Judging from the astounded expression on J¡¯s face, she guessed that J might have recognized her. Fiona was overwhelmed by shame. She bitterly regretteding to this shop to pawn her jewelry. The Lind family had recently found themselves in a precarious set of circumstances. Although Jocelyn had gained some benefits from Luke, it was still far from enough to maintain the business of the Lind Group. Moreover, Luke was a shrewd man. He knew that the Lind Group was a lost cause. Every time Jocelyn asked him to invest, he would habitually avoid the topic or find an excuse not to do so. Fiona just couldn¡¯t sit back and watch the Lind Group be bankrupt. She had no choice but to sell her personal belongings to fill in the extra cash that was needed to cover the running expenses of the household. However, her reputation was extremely important to her. She used to just be an ordinary student. When she became the wife to the wealthy Mr. Lind, a barrage of women were green with envy at her fortune. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Because of this, her fear of being discovered to be struggling to make ends meet intensified tenfold because she had an appearance to keep up. That was why she disguised herself every time she came to pawn things. She really hadn¡¯t expected that she would run into J of all people. She did her best to lower the brim of her hat to hide herself. She felt so awkward and didn¡¯t know where to put herself. At the same time, she couldn¡¯t help but nce back at J. That little bitch seemed to be enjoying a good time recently. Even she looked a little confused now, she still looked great and as if she were glowing with happiness. Fiona thought of her precious daughter, Jocelyn, who had just been discharged from the hospital. She was in the youth of her life but she had been hurt all because of J. Fiona loathed J with such deep-seated intensity that her eyes became blood shot and she gritted her teeth. Had it not been for J, the Lind family would never have ended up in this situation. But now, Ethan was with J. Fiona knew that it wouldn¡¯t do her any good if she made trouble for J at this time. She took all her jewelry off the counter and put them back into her handbag. She sneered at the shop assistant, ¡°I won¡¯t sell them to you then.¡± As soon as she finished her snarky words, she left in a hurry, holding her handbag tightly in her grasp. When she passed J, she threw a contemptuous look at her. Fiona returned home, filled with resentment. As soon as she entered the lounge, Jocelyn ran downstairs. She was crying hysterically and threw herself into Fiona¡¯s arms. Tears streamed down her cheeks endlessly. It was quite obvious that she had been crying for quite a long time. She sobbed pathetically, her eyes full of despair, ¡°Mom, I am ruined.¡± Chapter 254 Chapter 254 Fiona was at aplete loss about what to do about this. She held the bawling Jocelyn in her embrace, and asked, ¡°Honey, I am here for you. Tell me, what¡¯s going on?¡± Because of her incessant sobbing, Jocelyn couldn¡¯t even bring herself to speak coherently. After somewhat calming herself down, she took out her phone. Her fingers were trembling. She said, ¡°Have a look for yourself, Mom. I can¡¯t bear to look at it again, or I might want to kill myself.¡± Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. After saying that, Jocelyn bent her knees and sat on the couch, covering her ears with both hands. She was shivering from head to toe. Fiona¡¯s heart shattered when she saw the horrible state her daughter was in. She unlocked the phone and clicked on the first video. In the video, she saw a group of several men with Jocelyn and the bottom of them all. They were having sex. Even though Jocelyn¡¯s hair was sweaty and her face red, it was quite easy to make out that it was her. The video was so obscene that Fiona couldn¡¯t bear looking at it a second longer. The acts the men were performing on Jocelyn was simply unthinkable to Fiona. The video went on for three hours. ¡°That bitch J! This is all because of her! I will kill her!¡± Fiona was filled with such fiery rage that she couldn¡¯t bear to watch the video for a second longer. She turned the phone off and flung it violently onto the table. The screen shattered from the force. Jocelyn covered her ears with her hands, cried miserably and said in a high-pitched voice, ¡°It was those men who sent the video to me. They ckmailed me with the video. They said that they would post it online if I don¡¯t give them the money they¡¯ve demanded. Those bastards! I am the one who hired them in the first ce!¡± Fiona tried to reign in her anger. She took a seat next to the wailing Jocelyn andforted her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this, honey. I will handle it for you. So far, I am the only person you have showed this to, right?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t dare to tell Charis about it. I was afraid she might tell Luke. Luke can¡¯t see this, or he will be repulsed by me and leave me!¡± Jocelyn cried hysterically. Jocelyn¡¯s face could be seen so clearly in the video. If the video was posted online, she didn¡¯t know how she could live with it. Every man in Seacisco would be disgusted with her, not to mention Luke. No man could ept the idea of their girlfriend being gang-raped. Even though Luke had known that she had been with a lot of men before, the video was too obscene to even watch. She waspletely disgusted with it when she looked at it. Initially, she had been the one who hired those men to rape J and make a video of it so that she could ckmail her with itter. She had never thought that she would fall prey to her own n. Fiona got a throbbing migraine. She asked, ¡°How much are they asking for?¡± Jocelyn sobbed and wiped her tears away. ¡°One hundred thousand dors.¡± ¡°Okay, we can figure it out. It¡¯s not that much.¡± Fiona then continued with a more serious look on her face, ¡°But they aren¡¯t upstanding people. They will keep asking us for money, andrger sums of money each time. We can¡¯t let that happen.¡± Chapter 255 Chapter 255 ¡°Aargh! What do we do then? We can¡¯t let them post that video! My whole life wille crashing down if that video gets out!¡± Jocelyn pulled her hair as she spoke. She had never been this desperate before. She was sweating, yelling, and crying hysterically all at the same time. Her current countenance worried Fiona to death. She was scared that her precious daughter would suffer a mental breakdown because of this issue. To avoid this, she sighed deeply and said comfortingly, ¡°I won¡¯t let that happen to you, honey. I¡¯ll think of a way to solve this issue before it esctes. Just trust me.¡± ¡°You better hurry up, Mom! You better hurry up. Those guys gave me only five days to make up my mind. Time is not on our side, so think of something fast!¡± Jocelyn ordered disrespectfully. Fiona became even more anxious after hearing her daughter¡¯s order. She tapped her right foot on the floor nervously and thought for a while. All of a sudden, she said, ¡°If we want to solve this matter once and for all, we have to get rid of those men. But how do we go about it? We don¡¯t have any power or money to hire skillful assassins to do the dirty work. Worse still, we can¡¯t ask Luke for help.¡± The next second, she snapped her fingers as if she had realized something. She then held Jocelyn¡¯s hand and added seriously, ¡°We have to ask Charis for help.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a very bad idea, Mom. What if she tells her father? I don¡¯t trust her concerning something this big. She might not be on our side this time!¡± Jocelyn shook her head vigorously. ¡°I know we shouldn¡¯t trust Charispletely, but we aren¡¯t spoiled for choice now. She¡¯s our only option.¡± Fiona had serious trust issues. But now that she was in a tight corner, she could only hope that Charis was as nice and kind-hearted as she seemed to be and that she would agree to help them. She put a call through to her immediately. Charis thought the matter through after hearing Fiona out. ¡®Hmmm. Should I help these folks? I guess I should. If these ckmailers continue to disturb Jocelyn and Fiona, they wouldn¡¯t have the time and energy to deal with J for me. My n would flop again. No, I can¡¯t let that happen. I have to help them.¡¯ ¡°Mrs. Lind, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a way out. I can help you, but I can only help you investigate those men. Would that be enough for you?¡± As much as Charis wanted to help them, she didn¡¯t want to get her hands dirty. If anyone found out she was involved in such a thing, she would be in big trouble. Charis wanted to crush her enemies. However, she always made her moves discreetly because she had to protect her family¡¯s name. She came from a decent family, so it would be unwise to pull their name into the mud because of such a frivolity. Fiona was surprised by how Charis readily agreed to help. She was so relieved that she thanked her severally. It was indeed a big favor that Charis decided to provide them with valuable information. Charis immediately contacted her private investigators. Within two hours, she found out the men¡¯s personal information, te numbers, and the ces that they often went to. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Fiona and Jocelyn followed the men for three whole days. From their activities, both women were able to gather that the men were jobless and that they slept in their rental apartment until noon. They were fond of clubbing all night in different nightclubs. All of them also reeked of alcohol and weed. It was not until the fourth day that Fiona found that they often drove home drunk. This silly behavior of theirs was a weak point. Fiona soon came up with a n. ¡°Mom, have you figured out a way to deal with those men? If you haven¡¯t, let¡¯s just pay them off now. We have only one day left. We shouldn¡¯t let the ultimatum pse without doing anything!¡± Jocelyn was on tenterhooks. She hadn¡¯t been able to sleep well since she got that video clip. Her sleep was gued with nightmares of her world being destroyed. Even during the day, she couldn¡¯t concentrate on anything. Fiona grabbed her hand and they went home. A devilish glint zed in her eyes at this moment. She said to Jocelyn confidently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, dearie. They won¡¯t live to see the end of tomorrow.¡± Without exining further, she took out her phone and dialed a number. She thenmanded, ¡°Send someone to Ocean Wave Club tonight.¡± Chapter 256 Chapter 256 Fiona hired someone to tamper with the men¡¯s car. It was the dead of night and so silent you could hear a pin drop. The men draped their arms over each other¡¯s shoulders for support and sauntered out of the bar drunkenly. One of them made a suggestion, ¡°I¡¯ll drive. We can take a leisurely drive before we head home.¡± A little whileter, the car picked up the men from the curb side. The rest of the men were so drunk that they paid no attention to the driver. The next day, the sky was bright blue and there was a bustling about the streets. Fiona had enjoyed a restful sleep. She turned on the TV in a rxed mood and smiled at what she saw. A morning news was being broadcast. The report advised that a group of drunk vagrants had drove while intoxicated and caused a tragic ident. From the footage yed on the news, smoke filled the sky when the fire was eventually extinguished. The car was battered and in several pieces. Fiona could vaguely make out several dead bodies littering the scene around the burnt car. All the men had met their demise in this ident. The ce of the ident was located in the suburbs, miles away from the city. The car had crashed and burned to ashes. When the policemen arrived at the scene, they were met by the sight of the ming car and numerous dead bodies. There was no brake failure discovered. In the end, the police wrote it off as a simple ident caused by drunk driving. ¡°Mom, are they really dead?¡± Jocelyn asked from the staircases, dark circles around her eyes. In the course of just a few days, her face had be haggard because of the stress of the ckmail. Fiona heaved a long sigh of relief, motioned the servant to bring the breakfast, and then walked up the stairs to grab hold of Jocelyn¡¯s hand. She pulled her to sit down at the table and said, ¡°Yes, they are dead. Eat a good breakfast first and then put on your makeup. It has been quite a few days since you last saw Luke, isn¡¯t it? Just tell him that you have been feeling under the weather for the past few days. Don¡¯t mention anything else to him.¡± Jocelyn picked up a sandwich and ate it. The sandwich looked tantalizing to the taste buds but she was in no mood to enjoy it. As a matter of fact, it had been almost a week since shest met with Luke. Men like Luke changed women even more often that they changed clothes. Jocelyn feared that some tramp had already stolen Luke away from her during this time. ¡°What about J? Mom, I can¡¯t let her go for what she had done to me!¡± Jocelyn¡¯s voice was full of unhidden contempt. She had already marked J as her mortal enemy. ¡°You just need to make sure you keep Luke. I will handle J,¡± Fiona said with a wicked smile while she also eat breakfast. It had been such a piece of cake for her to get rid of the men who had been ckmailing her daughter. She already had a n devised in her mind to deal with J. Fiona thought that she could also use a simr trick to deal with J. A simple trick that could be falsified as an ident. However, since J seldom drove herself, it would be much more difficult to execute this kind of n. Fiona would have to wait for the opportunity to arise. Fiona decided to call Charis first. ¡°Charis, I havee up with the perfect n.¡± Fiona was well aware of the fact that she no longer had many connections so she needed to get help from Charis. Charis didn¡¯t expect that Fiona woulde up with a n so quickly, but she was happily surprised. ¡°That¡¯s great news, Mrs. Lind. J should have been taught a good lesson a long time ago.¡± Charis didn¡¯t press her for too many details. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. To be cautious, she wouldn¡¯t get herself involved in the details. However, she would help Fiona and Jocelyn create the opportunities that they required to carry out their revenge. Chapter 257 Chapter 257 It was autumn in Seacisco. Golden, auburn and red leaves fell gently from the trees and scattered the streets below. The sky was overcast and gloomy. Every person on the street had windbreakers on and walked briskly through the inclement weather. J peered out of the window, wondering whether there would be heavy rains to follow this foreboding weather. Tiffany¡¯s usual serious voice suddenly came to her ears. ¡°See me in my office, Lind.¡± Everyone cast J a sympathetic look. Recently, Tiffany had been picking on every designer in the store. People were starting to wonder if she was perhaps going through menopause. ¡°Ms. Fisher, what can I do for you?¡± J recalled the work she had done over the past few days. She hadpleted every project as scheduled. She couldn¡¯t think of a reason for Tiffany to criticize her. ¡°You have done a ster job in the Perkins Bank project. A clothing brand of theirs wants to work with us. Have a look at their proposal yourself.¡± Tiffany sat cross-legged in the chair and handed J a document to peruse. Then she lowered her head and continued to look over the design drafts. ¡°So who will I work with this time?¡± J said, holding arge stack of documents in her hands. It was industry norm for there to usually be a chief designer and at least one lower level co-designer coborating on one project together. Tiffany raised her eyes, rested her elbow on the table, and said thoughtfully, ¡°Since you have worked with the Perkins before, I am going to let you be the chief designer for this project.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m just a mid-tier designer¡­¡± She had never been a chief designer on any project, nor did she qualify for one; which meant that Tiffany was making an exception for her. This could definitely attract jealousy from her colleagues. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°The Perkins Group made that request from us, so this is final. Well, you may leave now,¡± Tiffany said in a businesslike tone. J had mixed feelings about Tiffany. Sometimes she felt that her supervisor was friendly and nice, other times she felt like she was cold and distant. J thought about it for some time but still felt uneasy. She called Kent during her lunch break. ¡°Mr. Perkins, will you please stop doing this?¡± When Kent heard her voice on the other end of the line, he was initially quite happy. But when he heard the frigid tone in which she questioned him, his heart sank. ¡°What exactly did I do? Would you do me the courtesy of not using me of something before you have ascertained whether I have actually done it?¡± Kent responded irately. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell Tiffany that you wanted me to be the chief designer on the new project?¡± J was confused and her tone softened. ¡°That has nothing to do with me. The clothing brand saw our advertisement on TV and admired the costume design. That¡¯s why they came to you,¡± Kent snorted and said. ¡°To put it bluntly, they really appreciate your design.¡± J felt an inner sense of achievement and looked like she was over the moon. She finally managed to ept the job with ease. Elsewhere, Charis got wind of the news quickly. She had been keeping an eye on J and thought that it was imperative that she didn¡¯t allow J to take on the project. J hadn¡¯t been working in the Larson Group for too long yet she was already about to be the chief designer of a project. If she went through with it, she would make a great leap forward in her career. Charis didn¡¯t want that to happen. But she couldn¡¯t get involved directly. Thinking of this, she grabbed her phone and called one of the executives in the Larson Group, namely Adolf Pierce. ¡°Pierce, there is a project in the design department. I am privy to the fact that a mid-tier designer is going to be in charge of it. If news of this spread among the other employees of thepany, they will be incensed. You are Fisher¡¯s boss. You ought to nip this in the bud,¡± she said. Adolf was Tiffany¡¯s superior. If he had something to say about it to her, she would definitely change her mind. Chapter 258 Chapter 258 After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Adolf said, ¡°To be honest, this has happened before, Miss Turner. Some employees just have outstanding performance, and ourpany offers them the right opportunity and rewards to help them grow.¡± His statement irked Charis. ¡°Pierce, I¡¯m not asking for your opinion.¡± Adolf had been working in the Larson Group for many years, so he could tell Charis was up to something. It was most likely the employee had offended her. Noticing his hesitation, Charis reminded him, ¡°I helped you once when I was abroad. You owe me a favor.¡± Adolf was rendered speechless. He was indebted to Charis. Besides, she had made a great contribution to the Larson Group. Although she wasn¡¯t as powerful as Brandon and Garrett, she, too, held a significant position in thepany. Therefore, Adolf didn¡¯t dare to offend her. ¡°Yes, Miss Turner. I¡¯ll take care of this.¡± Adolf sensed something was wrong, but he had no choice but to listen to Charis. He sighed and went to meet Tiffany. Tiffany was reviewing thetest design drafts in her office. Her eyes widened when she saw Adolf. ¡°Mr. Pierce, you can give me a call if you need anything. Why take the trouble ofing all the way here to see me?¡± She had already reported to Adolf, and he could summon her to his office if he wanted to say anything. Tiffany couldn¡¯t understand why he was here. ¡°I just had lunch, so I thought of dropping by your office on my way back. Well, I heard something this morning and wanted to know more about it.¡± Adolf pulled out a chair and sat opposite Tiffany. It would be too formal and conspicuous to call Tiffany to his office, so he decided toe and meet her in person. Tiffany studied his face for a moment and nodded earnestly. ¡°Sure. What do you want to talk about?¡± Adolf scratched his chin and went straight to the point. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve appointed J Lind as the head of the Perkins Group project. Well¡­ the project is very important to us, and J is not qualified to handle it. She has been with us only for a few months. Other experienced designers are still working on the draft. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bit hasty to make her in charge of this project?¡± A frown lined Tiffany¡¯s forehead. ¡°I think J ispetent.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like a good idea to me. I feel it¡¯s a bit unfair to the other designers.¡± Adolf shook his head worriedly. Tiffany could tell that Adolf was firm with his decision. Besides, he was her superior, so she didn¡¯t bother arguing with him anymore. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll appoint an experienced designer to handle this project.¡± Hearing that, Adolf nodded and left. ******* J was excited about the new project. She was happily sorting the documents she might need. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Just then, Tiffany called J to her office. ¡°Well, our superior still thinks you¡¯re a bit inexperienced to handle this project, so we have decided to appoint a more proficient designer to take over the project.¡± Tiffany sighed and patted J¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. You are capable and talented. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll get a chance to prove yourself in the future.¡± J¡¯s smile vanished, and the excitement in her heart died in an instant. She lowered her eyes to hide her disappointment. ¡°I understand. I promise to work harder in the future.¡± Tiffany squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll achieve something in this industry. It¡¯s all my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have told you about it until we finalized the decision.¡± J gave a wry smile and left Tiffany¡¯s office. After taking deep breaths, she returned to the desk and slumped on the chair dejectedly. Chapter 259 Chapter 259 Once J had left, Tiffany instantly called the manager of the Perkins Group. ¡°What did you say?¡± The man blurted out after hearing the news, his voice raised. ¡°You¡¯re changing the chief designer for our project?¡± ¡°I do apologize,¡± Tiffany said calmly and tried to exin. ¡°This decision was made by our senior executives. They feel that J¡¯s skills are too mediocre and inadequate, and they don¡¯t really think she¡¯d be able to direct the whole venture properly.¡± In truth, Tiffany was pretty annoyed herself. She knew just how talented J was. Despite being a neer, J¡¯s designs were always imaginative and unique. Tiffany doubted that the newly- appointed chief designer could evene close to filling her shoes. ¡°Miss Fisher, we greatly appreciate J Lind, which was why we decided to cooperate with you in the first ce. I kindly ask you to tell your executives that if she is reced, then ourpany will terminate this project altogether.¡± The manager¡¯s tone was firm and full of resolve. Tiffany found herself smiling at that. ¡°I understand. I will convey your sentiments right away.¡± She was shaking her head as she hung up, marveling at J¡¯s incredible luck. She wasted no time and headed straight to Adolf¡¯s office. He looked pretty confused when she walked into the room. Why was Tiffany here again, and so soon? Hadn¡¯t he made himself clear just now? ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Tiffany raised her chin and spoke with confidence. ¡°Yes, Mr. Pierce. I just got off the phone with the manager of the Perkins Group, and he wants me to inform you that they will be terminating the contract if we rece Miss Lind for the project.¡± Adolf was visibly dumbfounded. He hadn¡¯t expected Perkins Group to hold J in such high regard. He sighed and rubbed his temples, unsure of how to proceed. ¡°I see,¡± he muttered under his breath. He hadn¡¯t meant for things to go this far; he was simply doing Charis a favor. ¡°Let me speak with the other executives and see how we¡¯re going to handle this. Don¡¯t contact the Perkins Group just yet.¡± Adolf was walking out of his office the next second, down the corridor, and into an empty stairwell. He called Charis and repeated Tiffany¡¯s words. ¡°What should we do now, Miss Turner?¡± He didn¡¯t want to offend anyone, especially someone from the higher-ups. Charis was naturally pissed by this development. She silently cursed at the manager of the Perkins Group. Why the hell would they insist on having J lead the project? Nevertheless, she couldn¡¯t just let it all go up in smoke. At the end of the day, the interest of the entire company still came before her own. ¡°Forget it for now. Give them what they want and get J back as chief designer.¡± Adolf strode back to his office, where Tiffany was waiting. He forced a tight smile and said, ¡°We should honor our client¡¯s request. J will still be the chief designer for the project.¡± Tiffany nodded and smiled, then left without a word. J was about to leave for the day when Tiffany called her to her office yet again. She had already been there several times in the past few hours, and she had no idea what to expect this time. Tiffany beamed at her when she entered. ¡°You will be in charge of the project with Perkins Group,¡± she announced, sounding like she had just conquered a battle. ¡°Are you sure about this, Ms. Fisher?¡± J asked cautiously. She felt as though her emotions had been taken for a roller coaster ride throughout the day. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°Yes, the Perkins Group stipted that you will be their chief designer. Otherwise, they¡¯re canceling the cooperation. You are good at what you do, J. You deserve this.¡± Tiffany nodded at her in encouragement. J was still at a loss when she walked out of the room. A lot had happened that she didn¡¯t know what to feel anymore. When she finally processed all that had transpired, the only thing that remained in her heart was joy. Her first thought was to call Ethan and share the delightful news with him, so she did just that. ¡°Ethan, let¡¯s have dinner at a restaurant tonight. So much happened to me today, I think I need a sumptuous meal to calm myself down.¡± Chapter 260 Chapter 260 ¡°What would you like to eat?¡± Ethan had just finished a video conference. He stood in front of the floor- to-ceiling window, gazing at the scenic night view of the city. In the horizon, he could see the thousands of lights that brought the city to life. The window reflected his tall figure in suit. His hair wasbed back neatly. He was looking down, gazing at the city with sharp eyes, as though he was its ruler. ¡°Honestly, I want to have fish right now, but chicken sounds great too. Oh, and some steak would be amazing! What should we do? I can¡¯t decide¡­¡± J mumbled over the phone. While she was speaking to him, she sounded like an adorable teenager. A gentle smile appeared on Ethan¡¯s lips as he stared at his watch and replied, ¡°I¡¯m getting off work in a half hour. Wait for me, okay?¡± ¡°Yup! I¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡± After the phone call, he returned to his seat, but he was no longer in the mood to work. He couldn¡¯t keep his eyes off his cellphone. This afternoon, Ethan heard about the news that J had gotten reced. He had nned to do something about it, but he soon learned that the Perkins Group insisted on having her lead the project. He was really happy for her. When the thought crossed his mind, he smiled again. ¡®That¡¯s the woman I love. She¡¯s such a talented designer. She doesn¡¯t even need my help with her career,¡¯ he thought. But Ethan resolved that he had to investigate why exactly J almost got reced. He shot a cold nce at his assistant and said, ¡°Tell Adolf Pierce to my office. Now.¡± Not long after, Adolf arrived and stood before Ethan. He was trembling and sweat was running down his back. ¡°Who told you to rece J Lind this afternoon?¡± ¡®Normally, a senior executive like Adolf should be focusing on more important work. Why on earth would he notice J?¡¯ Ethan wondered. Adolf wiped the beads of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead, unable to look Ethan in the eye. He couldn¡¯t dare tell him that Charis was the one who asked him to do so. And because he didn¡¯t want to offend Charis and the Turner family, he had to take the me himself. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Mr. Larson. I just happened to find out that a mid-level designer was set to lead an important project, and I didn¡¯t think it was a good idea. That¡¯s why I interfered. I was merely looking after thepany¡¯s best interests. If news of this broke out, the other employees would feel it¡¯s unfair. Not only will this matter hurt J Lind, but it will also damage thepany as a whole.¡± Ethan stood up, towering over Adolf. When he looked down at the man, thetter was so daunted that a shiver ran down his spine. ¡°Is that so?¡± Ethan could tell that this wasn¡¯t as simple as it seemed. Adolf swallowed the lump in his throat. ¡°Mr. Larson, it really was my idea. I wouldn¡¯t lie to you, would I?¡± ¡°Adolf, you¡¯ve been working here for years.¡± Ethan lifted his chin; his eyes, filled with animosity. ¡®It seems that Adolf ns to keep his mouth shut, but I don¡¯t have any evidence to prove that he¡¯s lying. I can¡¯t punish him, because in all fairness, he gave me a perfect excuse,¡¯ he thought. He decided not to say another word and just let Adolf go for the time being. Just as Adolf reached the door, it was opened from the outside. ¡°Brandon, I have a document here that needs your signature,¡± Charis said with a calm smile. The moment she learned that Ethan had called Adolf to his office, she was so nervous. She feared that Ethan might find out what she had done. Thus, she came up with an excuse, so that she could see what was going on. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°Mr. Pierce, what brings you here?¡± Charis nudged Adolf, and thetter winked at her, implying that he didn¡¯t rat her out. She heaved a sigh of relief inconspicuously before walking into Ethan¡¯s office, only to find that he was on his phone, seemingly chatting with someone. There was a rare smile printed on his face. Chapter 261 Chapter 261 At first, Charis was stunned. She froze on the spot as her mind drifted, back in time, to her high school days. When she was sixteen years old, she thought Ethan was a cold, emotionless young man who kept everything to himself, living in his own world. She yearned to see him smile. Now that the dream hade true, it didn¡¯t bring her any joy. Strangely, she felt depressed. Any woman would kill to see the smile on his handsome face. However, the doting look on his face and tender eyes broke Charis¡¯s heart, because she knew it wasn¡¯t for her, and it probably never would. Charis blinked and returned to her senses. She quickly strutted toward Ethan and dropped the file before him, stealing a nce at his phone. Just then, new messages popped on the screen. ¡°Ethan, when will youe? I¡¯m starving.¡± ¡°Be patient. I¡¯ll be there soon,¡± Ethan replied. Charis had never seen him behave this way before. She knew who Ethan was texting. After all, who else would he text other than J? Jealousy reared its ugly head. Charis clutched the document in her hand. Ethan¡¯s tenderness and the undisguised love and care in his eyes infuriated her. Her blood boiled with rage. After sending the message, Ethan quickly flipped through the document Charis brought and signed his name. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Seeing that Charis had no intention of leaving, he looked up at her and said, ¡°Anything else? Hurry up. It¡¯s almost time to get off work.¡± Ethan shut down hisputer and gathered all his things, preparing to leave. Charis guessed that Ethan was hurrying to leave work because J wanted him home. Judging from the conversation, it looked like he had a date with J tonight. ¡°You can¡¯t leave now. I heard from the financial department that there is a huge loophole in our overseas capital chain. It¡¯s a critical situation. We have to deal with it right away,¡± she said, pretending to look anxious. Originally, Charis didn¡¯t n to mention this issue. She knew how to solve it and didn¡¯t want to bother Ethan. But she changed her mind and deliberately mentioned it to Ethan to stop him from going on a date with J. After all, it was obvious Ethan wouldn¡¯t like her regardless of how good she was at work, so why bother? Aftar sanding tha massaga, Ethan quickly flippad through tha documant Charis brought and signad his nama. Saaing that Charis had no intantion ofaving, ha lookad up at har and said, ¡°Anything alsa? Hurry up. It¡¯s almost tima to gat off work.¡± Ethan shut down hisputar and gatharad all his things, praparing toava. Charis guassad that Ethan was hurrying toava work bacausa Janat wantad him homa. Judging from tha convarsation, it lookad lika ha had a data with Janat tonight. ¡°You can¡¯tava now. I haard from tha financial dapartmant that thara is a huga looph in our ovarsaas capital chain. It¡¯s a critical situation. Wa hava to daal with it right away,¡± sha said, pratanding to look anxious. Originally, Charis didn¡¯t n to mantion this issua. Sha knaw how to solva it and didn¡¯t want to bothar Ethan. But sha changad har mind and dalibarataly mantionad it to Ethan to stop him from going on a data with Janat. Aftar all, it was obvious Ethan wouldn¡¯t lika har ragarss of how good sha was at work, so why bothar? ¡°What exactly happened?¡± After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Ethan put down the file and looked at her. He had always trusted Charis¡¯s working skills and potential. Ethan knew she was well-organized and competent enough to deal with any problems. She wouldn¡¯t turn up to him unless it was aplicated problem she couldn¡¯t solve. Seeing the anxious look on her face, Ethan thought it was a critical situation. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go to the financial department and let them tell you more? If we can¡¯t handle it well from here, we might have to go on a business trip abroad to solve the problem.¡± Charis knew Ethan well. He was workaholic and valued the Larson Group above everything else. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Ethan nodded. ¡°You go to the financial department first. I¡¯ll be there in a few minutes.¡± Ethan took out his phone and sent a short message to J, telling her that there was an emergency at the convenience store and he wouldn¡¯t be able to join her tonight for dinner. After that, Ethan went to find Charis and began dealing with the problems. Chapter 262 Chapter 262 J¡¯s mind slipped out of focus when she read the message from Ethan. What had happened? He had already agreed to have dinner with her. Why did he now suddenly say that he couldn¡¯t make it? ¡°That sucks!¡± She put her phone aside and began packing her things up in an unhappy mood. Gerda noticed that she looked unhappy so she nudged her and said, ¡°We have all heard the exciting news! You¡¯re going to be the chief designer of a project, why do you look so down?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not unhappy. You¡¯re just imagining things!¡± J pinched Gerda¡¯s chubby face gently and made a face at her. Regardless of what Ethan had said, she was in a good mood today so she didn¡¯t let it get to her. Perhaps he really was caught up with some kind of emergency. When Gerda noticed that J was about to leave, an idea popped into her head. ¡°It¡¯s your first time in charge of a project. Would you like to celebrate the achievement perhaps? There is a new pizza ce downtown. I heard the pizza from there is amazing. Do you want to give it a try?¡± J blinked her eyes with confusion. After due thought, she nodded and said, ¡°Sure, I¡¯m free tonight anyway.¡± In any event, it didn¡¯t seem like Ethan would be home any time soon. Gerda was happy when she heard J¡¯s answer. But then she replied with a crestfallen expression on her face, ¡°But I don¡¯t know if I have the time to get pizza. I have to finish myst design draft urgently today. That pizza ce is really popr, we might have to wait in a queue for a while.¡± J was amused by the sad look at Gerda¡¯s face. She responded, ¡°Take it easy. I¡¯ll got ahead of you and wait in the line, then you cane join meter. How does that sound?¡± ¡°J, you are an angel from heaven!¡± Gerda hugged her and kissed her appreciatively. ¡°I love you so much.¡± ¡°Alright, alright. Go finish your design quickly, or the pizza might get cold by the time you get there!¡± J smiled and said. Then she lifted up her bag and made her ways to the elevator. Meanwhile, Charis was standing on the higher level of the building, waiting for Ethan toplete his perusal of the financial statement. From her vantage point, she looked through the window and her eyes fell on a woman standing on the roadside. Judging from the woman¡¯s figure, she guessed that the woman was none other than J. She seemed to be waiting for a taxi to pick her up. Fiona had asked Charis to inform her immediately when she saw J get in a car. Charis¡¯s phone was a luxury, smart phone sporting a high-definition camera. Even at a distance, she could take remarkably clear photos of the cars on the road. She clicked two pictures of the car when J got into it. The license te number and the appearance of the car were captured clearly in the photos. She secretly sent the photos to Fiona, together with a text letting her know that J had got into the car and looked like she was headed up north from the Larson Group. J felt so fortunate that there weren¡¯t too many people in the pizza restaurant tonight and she managed to get a table within mere ten minutes. Gerda joined her shortly after. Janat was amusad by tha sad look at Garda¡¯s faca. Sha raspondad, ¡°Taka it aasy. I¡¯ll got ahaad of you and wait in tha lina, than you cana join matar. How doas that sound?¡± ¡°Janat, you ara an angal from haavan!¡± Garda huggad har and kissad har appraciativaly. ¡°I lova you so much.¡± ¡°Alright, alright. Go finish your dasign quickly, or tha pizza might gat cold by tha tima you gat thara!¡± Janat smd and said. Than sha liftad up har bag and mada har ways to tha vator. Maanwh, Charis was standing on tha higharval of tha building, waiting for Ethan tota his parusal of tha financial statamant. From har vantaga point, sha lookad through tha window and har ayas fall on a woman standing on tha roadsida. Judging from tha woman¡¯s figura, sha guassad that tha woman was nona othar than Janat. Sha saamad to ba waiting for a taxi to pick har up. Fiona had askad Charis to inform har immadiataly whan sha saw Janat gat in a car. Charis¡¯s phona was a luxury, smart phona sporting a high-dafinition camara. Evan at a distanca, sha could taka ramarkably ar photos of tha cars on tha road. Sha clickad two picturas of tha car whan Janat got into it. Tha licansa ta numbar and tha appaaranca of tha car wara capturad arly in tha photos. Sha sacratly sant tha photos to Fiona, togathar with a taxttting har know that Janat had got into tha car and lookad lika sha was haadad up north from tha Larson Group. Janat falt so fortunata that thara waran¡¯t too many pao in tha pizza rastaurant tonight and sha managad to gat a ta within mara tan minutas. Garda joinad har shortly aftar. J learnt from her previous experience and decided against the idea of alcohol. Instead, she just ordered juice. By the time they had eaten their fill, it was almost ten o¡¯clock at night. ¡°Lind, where do you live? My ce is up that direction. Would you like to take a taxi with me?¡± Gerda burped and asked. ¡°I live near thepany, in the opposite direction to your ce.¡± With a smile, J hailed a taxi and asked Gerda to get in it first. ¡°I will wait for the next one. Send me a message when you arrive home safely.¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. After sending Gerda off, J got on another taxi soon. It was alreadyte at night, but the streets were still bustling in the city. J felt full and sleepy. She leaned against the car window and noticed the car was driving towards a bridge. The river was glistening under the moonlight. The bright, crescent moon was slowly rising higher into the sky. Just when she was about to close her eyes for some rest, something rather odd caught her eye. She opened her eyes wide and saw an old, beat up truck headed directly towards them. Before she had a moment to react, the truck hit them head on. The taxi was knocked over the railing of the bridge, and the two vehicles fell into the river, stirring up a huge wave on impact with the water¡­ Chapter 263 Chapter 263 The foamy clouds enveloped the full moon, and the surrounding lights gradually dimmed. An inconspicuous ck Audi stopped near the bridge. Fiona and Jocelyn looked straight ahead, their eyes almost popping out of their heads. They saw the truck hit on the taxi J was sitting in and the two vehicles both tumbled out of the bridge. Their hearts beat wildly as if time had stopped still. Jocelyn¡¯s fingers trembled with excitement. She pulled Fiona¡¯s sleeve and shook her violently. ¡°Mom, did the two cars both fall into the river?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Then, she quickly opened the door, trying to get closer to inspect the situation. Fiona shut the door and let out an incredulous gasp. ¡°Are you crazy? Close the damn door! What if someone sees us?¡± ¡°I just want to make sure J is dead. What if that bitch escapes death again?¡± Jocelyn stomped her foot angrily. ¡°No. We¡¯ve got to be more patient now.¡± Fiona¡¯s eyes narrowed as she observed the situation around them. Ever since thest time she seeded in faking a car ident to get rid of those men who were ckmailing Jocelyn, Fiona had been thinking about how to deal with J. J always took a cab or public transportation, so they couldn¡¯te up with an opportunity to attack her. Finally, an idea urred to them. They finally found a man who was terminally ill ¡ª he was counting his days. They bribed him to hit J¡¯s car. The driver would die along with J. After all, dead men told no tales. There had been several idents on this bridge before, so everyone would believe this was just an ordinary road ident. As soon as Fiona received the message from Charis, she took action right away. On the north side of Larson Group was a za. With the pictures Charis had sent, Fiona sessfully found that the taxi had taken J to the pizza restaurant. After waiting for a long time, she finally saw J and her colleagueing out of the restaurant. As soon as J got into a cab, Fiona immediately informed the driver she bribed to chase after J. The mother and daughter followed the driver, keeping a safe distance from him. As expected, the truck driver crashed against J¡¯s car. The two cars flew in the air and plunged into the water. The loud crash echoed in the air, and calm was restored as the two vehicles sank into the river. Tha drivar would dia along with Janat. Aftar all, daad man told no ts. Thara had baan savaral idants on this bridga bafora, so avaryona would baliava this was just an ordinary road idant. As soon as Fiona racaivad tha massaga from Charis, sha took action right away. On tha north sida of Larson Group was a za. With tha picturas Charis had sant, Fiona sassfully found that tha taxi had takan Janat to tha pizza rastaurant. Aftar waiting for a long tima, sha finally saw Janat and har coaguaing out of tha rastaurant. As soon as Janat got into a cab, Fiona immadiataly informad tha drivar sha bribad to chasa aftar Janat. Tha mothar and daughtar followad tha drivar, kaaping a safa distanca from him. As axpactad, tha truck drivar crashad against Janat¡¯s car. Tha two cars w in tha air and plungad into tha watar. Tha loud crash achoad in tha air, and calm was rastorad as tha two vahis sank into tha rivar. Finally, Fiona opened the door and got out of the car; Jocelyn followed her. The two walked to the railing and looked down. The two cars had tumbled into the river. The bridge was not high, but the river was flowing fast. There was no chance of survival. ¡°I¡¯m sure she is dead by now.¡± Fiona¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. The thorn that had been pricking her heart had finally disappeared once and for all. No one would oppose their family in the future. Jocelyn let out an ecstatic growl and spat into the river. ¡°Bitch! She deserves a crueler punishment than death. She has ruined our family. She should be d that I didn¡¯t cut her into pieces!¡± Seeing that Jocelyn¡¯s voice was reverberating across the silent road, Fiona immediately stopped her. ¡°Shut up! Let¡¯s talk about it when we go back.¡± Just as they were about to leave happily, the roar of a motorcycle from afar caught their attention. The vehicle pealed into the air and stopped on the bridge. The person on the ck motorcycle took off the helmet, and her long hair billowed with the breeze. The woman looked down the bridge, crossed the railings, and jumped directly into the river. Chapter 264 Chapter 264 Ethan had hired Laney to secretly protect J. Her everyday mission was to follow J around and make sure she reached home safely. Today, after J and her colleague finished dinner and parted way, Laney followed J in her motorcycle. Seeing the truck collide with J¡¯s taxi and both vehicles tumble into the river at high speed, Laney came to her rescue. Laney took off her helmet and jumped into the river without hesitation. J was in danger, and Laney had to save her right away. Ripples of water exploded on the surface as she plunged into the river. The moonlight prated the tranquil, icy river, and the car slowly sank into its deep recesses. Laney dove into the water and quickly swam to the window. The windows were locked on either sides. She peered through the window and saw that the car wasn¡¯t filled with water yet. The driver was stuck in the driver¡¯s seat as the airbag had expanded; his eyes were tightly shut. J was lying in the back seat. The huge impact had knocked her unconscious. Laney swam around, picked up a stone from the riverbed, and smashed the window. Then, she slid a hand inside, opened the door, and pulled J out the surface of the water. Her ability was limited, so she could only save one person. Laney wiped the water from her eyes. Her pink lips had already turned pale because of the cold water. She was gasping for breath. Laney gripped J¡¯s waist and swam toward the riverbank. Fortunately, J wasn¡¯t heavy, and Laney had been working out for years. Otherwise, the two would have drowned in the turbulent river. Laney looked around and found that the river was broad, and the tide was growing stronger. Unfortunately, they were in the middle of the river. ¡°Miss Lind, can you hear me?¡± J was unconscious, and Laney had trouble waking her up. Laney reasoned it was impossible for her to swim to the river bank with the unconscious J on her back. The flowing current carried them downstream. Laney tried her best to prevent them from getting isted. Fortunately, the water washed them to a sand bar in the river a couple of meters away, so they narrowly escaped death. Lanay swam around, pickad up a stona from tha rivarbad, and smashad tha window. Than, sha slid a hand insida, opanad tha door, and pud Janat out tha surfaca of tha watar. Har ability was limitad, so sha could only sava ona parson. Lanay wipad tha watar from har ayas. Har pink lips had alraady turnad p bacausa of tha cold watar. Sha was gasping for braath. Lanay grippad Janat¡¯s waist and swam toward tha rivarbank. Fortunataly, Janat wasn¡¯t haavy, and Lanay had baan working out for yaars. Otharwisa, tha two would hava drownad in tha turbnt rivar. Lanay lookad around and found that tha rivar was broad, and tha tida was growing strongar. Unfortunataly, thay wara in tha mid of tha rivar. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°Miss Lind, can you haar ma?¡± Janat was unconscious, and Lanay had trou waking har up. Lanay raasonad it was impossi for har to swim to tha rivar bank with tha unconscious Janat on har back. Tha flowing currant carriad tham downstraam. Lanay triad har bast to pravant tham from gatting istad. Fortunataly, tha watar washad tham to a sand bar in tha rivar a cou of matars away, so thay narrowly ascapad daath. Laney dragged J to the sand bar and scrambled to her feet. She took a deep breath and blew into J¡¯s mouth. Momentster, J spat out a mouthful of water and began coughing violently. Her pale lips gradually regained color. ¡°It¡¯s all right. Any difort or difficulty in breathing is absolutely normal because the water got into your lungs,¡± Laney said calmly as she gently patted J¡¯s back and looked around for help. It was a quiet night. They were stuck in the middle of the river, and no one could find them until the sunlight illuminated the surroundings. After J¡¯s coughing fits ceased, she took a deep breath and braced her trembling body. Then, she looked at the woman beside her and examined the surroundings. ¡°Miss, who are you? What am I doing here? What happened?¡± J didn¡¯t remember anything after the truck hit her. She could only recall the blinding shlight after which she had passed out. Chapter 265 Chapter 265 Ethan forbade Laney to reveal her true identity to J, so she responded quickly, ¡°Oh, my name is Laney Garcia. I was on my way home from work. When I passed the bridge, I saw a truck crash against your car and plunge into the river. Ie from a family of fishermen, so I¡¯m a good swimmer. I jumped into the river to save you.¡± The youngdy had a slender physique. Her benign face and gentle aura gave J the assurance that she wouldn¡¯t harm her. J¡¯s heart swelled with gratitude. The fact that she had survived a disaster brought tears to her eyes. J held Laney¡¯s hand and sobbed uncontrobly. ¡°Miss Garcia, thank you for saving my life. I¡¯m forever indebted to you.¡± J remembered traversing the high bridge. It was cold, and the river was flowing fast. It was brave of Laney to dive into the river to save her, ignoring the danger. After all, she looked frail and delicate. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Laney tried withdrawing her hand, but J held her in a vice-like grip. Her skin prickled with goosebumps when she saw J¡¯s eyes gleaming with gratitude. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Laney cleared her throat and forced an awkward smile at her. ¡°You dove from a high bridge into this treacherous river to save me ¡ª a stranger you¡¯ve never met before. If not for you, I would have died today. Even friends and family may think twice before offering help, but you risked your own life to save me. By the way, my name is J Lind. I will properly express my gratitude once we get out of here.¡± J couldn¡¯t stop thanking Laney. The fact that the woman had saved her despite being a total stranger moved her. No one had bothered to offer J kindness, let alone save her life. She had always felt lonely and deste in this world. Laney¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment. She bit her lip and looked away guiltily. After all, she was merely doing her job and didn¡¯t deserve J¡¯s praise and gratitude. It was winter, and the cold wind whipped them. They were shivering with cold. It was freezing, and the two were soaked in water. They had no ce to shelter from the cold. J sneezed three times in a row. She squatted on the sandbar; her nose had turned red. ¡°You dova from a high bridga into this traacharous rivar to sava ma ¡ª a strangar you¡¯va navar mat bafora. If not for you, I would hava diad today. Evan friands and family may think twica bafora offaring halp, but you riskad your own lifa to sava ma. By tha way, my nama is Janat Lind. I will proparly axprass my gratituda onca wa gat out of hara.¡± Janat couldn¡¯t stop thanking Lanay. Tha fact that tha woman had savad har daspita baing a total strangar movad har. No ona had botharad to offar Janat kindnass,t alona sava har lifa. Sha had always falt lonaly and dasta in this world. Lanay¡¯s faca flushad with ambarrassmant. Sha bit har lip and lookad away guiltily. Aftar all, sha was maraly doing har job and didn¡¯t dasarva Janat¡¯s praisa and gratituda. It was wintar, and tha cold wind whippad tham. Thay wara shivaring with cold. It was fraazing, and tha two wara soakad in watar. Thay had no ca to shaltar from tha cold. Janat snaazad thraa timas in a row. Sha squattad on tha sandbar; har nosa had turnad rad. ¡°Miss Lind, please hide in the grass or stand behind me. It¡¯s cold here. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll fall ill.¡± Laney walked up to J. She looked around worriedly and said, ¡°We have to find a way to ask for help as soon as possible. It¡¯s not even the coldest hour of the day, yet we are freezing. The temperature would drop to zero at around two in the morning. We are soaked, and I¡¯m afraid we might freeze to death if we don¡¯t leave this ce soon.¡± Upon hearing that, J hurriedly took out her phone. The water had damaged her screen. Meanwhile, Laney¡¯s phone was fully damaged, and she couldn¡¯t even turn it on. She nced at J¡¯s phone and said, ¡± I think it might still work. Although the screen is broken, you should be able to make a call.¡± If J could get through to Ethan, things would get much easier. Laney knew the man who had hired her was very resourceful. If J asked him for help, he would arrive faster than the resources. After a moment¡¯s thought, J immediately picked up her phone and called Ethan. Chapter 266 Chapter 266 After sending the message to Fiona, Charis returned to Ethan¡¯s office. Ethan was sitting on the leather sofa, carefully examining the documents, his lips pursed in concentration. ¡°Brandon, how do you think we should deal with this problem?¡± Charis sat beside Ethan as a blush med her cheeks. After a moment¡¯s thought, she asked, ¡°Are you hungry? You¡¯ve been studying it for so long and haven¡¯t eaten anything yet. Shall I ask the servants to bring some soup here?¡± When they started their business in the past, Ethan seldom ate a full meal because of his busy schedule. Ethan¡¯s entire focus was on the documents. He carefully read and re-read every word, analyzing every bit of it. ¡°No need. I want to deal with the problem first,¡± he grunted impatiently, without taking his eyes off the document. Ethan was not as familiar with the overseas business as Charis. It took him a long time to fully understand the situation. Charis hid her emotions and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°I¡¯m just worried about your health.¡± Seeing that Ethan was silent, Charis was sensible enough not to disturb him. Just then, Charis¡¯s phone vibrated. It was a message from Fiona. Charis stole a nce at Ethan, walked out of the office, and checked on the message. ¡°Charis, J¡¯s car fell into the river, but someone jumped into the water to rescue her. It was too dark out there. I couldn¡¯t see what was going on.¡± Charis immediately deleted the message on her phone. Just as she was about to go back, her phone beeped with a few more messages. ¡°I guess J might still be alive.¡± ¡°Do you have any way to prevent the search and reduce the possibility of J¡¯s survival?¡± Charis¡¯s lips curled up into a sneer. She turned off the phone and put it into her pocket as if nothing had happened. Both Fiona and Jocelyn were stupid. The traffic police usually carried out the rescue operations of road idents. Charis didn¡¯t have the ability to stop it. Even if she did, she wouldn¡¯t get involved in unnecessary issues and cause trouble for her family. Charis quickly rearranged the expression on her face and returned to Ethan¡¯s office. Just than, Charis¡¯s phona vibratad. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. It was a massaga from Fiona. Charis st a nca at Ethan, walkad out of tha offica, and chackad on tha massaga. ¡°Charis, Janat¡¯s car fall into tha rivar, but somaona jumpad into tha watar to rascua har. It was too dark out thara. I couldn¡¯t saa what was going on.¡± Charis immadiataly dtad tha massaga on har phona. Just as sha was about to go back, har phona baapad with a faw mora massagas. ¡°I guass Janat might still ba aliva.¡± ¡°Do you hava any way to pravant tha saarch and raduca tha possibility of Janat¡¯s survival?¡± Charis¡¯s lips cud up into a snaar. Sha turnad off tha phona and put it into har pockat as if nothing had happanad. Both Fiona and Jocalyn wara stupid. Tha traffic polica usually carriad out tha rascua oparations of road idants. Charis didn¡¯t hava tha ability to stop it. Evan if sha did, sha wouldn¡¯t gat involvad in unnacassary issuas and causa trou for har family. Charis quickly raarrangad tha axprassion on har faca and raturnad to Ethan¡¯s offica. ¡°You should get some rest. I¡¯ll help you sort out the points you might have missed,¡± she said softly. Then, she picked up the files on the desk and sat down to deal with the issue. Since Ethan didn¡¯t want to talk to her, she decided to silently carry on with work. ¡°Thank you.¡± Ethan looked up and massaged his throbbing temples. ¡°I¡¯ve already read it. It doesn¡¯t seem like a big problem. We¡¯ll discuss it in detail when Ie back.¡± Ethan stood up and went to the bathroom. Charis should have thought that it would be a piece of cake for Ethan to deal with this matter even though he didn¡¯t know the overseas market as much as she did. Her jaw tightened; there was a glint of malice in her eyes. At that moment, Ethan¡¯s phone on the desk lit up, and J¡¯s name shed on the screen. ¡°Damn it! She is still alive!¡± Charis sneered. She understood J had called Ethan for help. Charis arched an eyebrow and looked at the phone. Her body seemed to react faster than her brain. She quickly hung up the call. Chapter 267 Chapter 267 Charis remained calm the entire time. Killing someone¡¯s chances of survival didn¡¯t seem like a big deal for her. To Charis, it was no different from identally stepping on an ant. Anyway, if J died, only Fiona and Jocelyn would get caught. No one would suspect Charis. A momentter, the bathroom door flew open, and Ethan walked out. He returned to his seat and nced at his phone as if something had urred to him. A pang of jealousy settled in Charis¡¯s heart when she saw the concern in his eyes. He was obviously thinking about J, and probably even wanted to call her. She didn¡¯t want him to think about anyone else when he was with her. ¡®What¡¯s so great about J?¡¯ Charis thought. Except for her pretty face, she couldn¡¯t think of any other strong point. ¡°Are you worried about your wife? Have you nned a date with her? I¡¯m sorry to make you stay and deal with business. Let¡¯s finish it as soon as possible so that you can go back.¡± Charis smiled apologetically and leaned closer to him. Men liked considerate women, so she decided to distract him without garnering his suspicion. ¡°By the way, what did you want to discuss with me now?¡± Ethan didn¡¯t sense anything wrong. He picked up the documents and continued to discuss the problems and loopholes with Charis. ¡°You know a lot about the overseas market. I¡¯ve analyzed a few reasons. Have a look at these. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Can you find a solution based on this?¡± It was gettingte. A thickyer of mist enveloped the river. ¡°What happened? Didn¡¯t you get through?¡± Laney moved around to keep her body warm. Breath vapor came out of her mouth as she spoke. She frowned and saw that J¡¯s call got disconnected. J was equally surprised; she didn¡¯t expect Ethan to hang up on her. He had always picked up her call regardless of the circumstances. Her heart sank with dejection. ¡°I guess my husband is busy.¡± Her face turned red with cold as another sneezing fit seized her. She rubbed her nose and said, ¡°I¡¯d better call the police for help.¡± ¡°By tha way, what did you want to discuss with ma now?¡± Ethan didn¡¯t sansa anything wrong. Ha pickad up tha documants and continuad to discuss tha proms and loophs with Charis. ¡°You know a lot about tha ovarsaas markat. I¡¯va analyzad a faw raasons. Hava a look at thasa. Can you find a solution basad on this?¡± It was gattingta. A thickyar of mist anvalopad tha rivar. ¡°What happanad? Didn¡¯t you gat through?¡± Lanay movad around to kaap har body warm. Braath vapor cama out of har mouth as sha spoka. Sha frownad and saw that Janat¡¯s call got disconnactad. Janat was aqually surprisad; sha didn¡¯t axpact Ethan to hang up on har. Ha had always pickad up har call ragarss of tha circumstancas. Har haart sank with dajaction. ¡°I guass my husband is busy.¡± Har faca turnad rad with cold as anothar snaazing fit saizad har. Sha rubbad har nosa and said, ¡°I¡¯d battar call tha polica for halp.¡± ¡°Hurry up.¡± Laney¡¯s teeth chattered. ¡°I feel your phone might get turned off any time.¡± J rubbed her palms together that had turned numb in the cold. Just then, her phone suddenly turned ck. ¡°Well, you¡¯re right,¡± J grunted with frustration and squatted on the ground. Her phone was fully broken now. J and Laney tried their best but couldn¡¯t turn on their phones. They were fully damaged. ¡°All we can do now is wait for the rescue team to arrive,¡± Laney said, staring at the boundless river and the endless stretch of darkness. It was a road ident, so the police team would check the river. However, considering they were washed away and now at the far end of the river, Laney wasn¡¯t sure if they could find them anytime soon. However, the cold was the biggest problem at the moment. The temperature had dropped drastically, and it would get colder with time. J was trembling. The cold seeped into her skin and was gnawing at her bones. Chapter 268 Chapter 268 Laney gently grabbed J by the wrist and helped her up. She said, ¡°Miss Lind, you should take off all your wet clothes so they don¡¯t make you colder. And don¡¯t sit still. Otherwise, you will get frozen easily. Stand up and exercise to generate some heat.¡± J had seen movies and heard stories of how people got frozen to death. She didn¡¯t want to end up that way, so she stood upright and took off her coat with difficulty. She suddenly began to feel dizzy. However, she remained standing. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. ¡°Are you sure someone will find us? What if no onees?¡± J¡¯s teeth ttered against each other after she finished asking that question in a weak voice. She was speaking to Laney because she wanted to remain awake. Laney took off her wet coat and wrung it dry. She then replied, ¡°You need to keep your hope alive, Miss Lind. Someone will definitelye. Look over there.¡± There were lights on the bridge in a distance. It meant that the rescue team was there already. But due to their distance, the rescuers couldn¡¯t spot them easily. They would have to ride a boat towards them before they could be rescued. J¡¯s hope was dwindling fast as her strength began to fail her. She had just put one of her hands on her waist when she saw Laney waving her coat above her head. It was a white windbreaker, so it was a little conspicuous in the darkness. ¡°We might be stuck here for a long time. You¡¯d better save your strength,¡± she said in a worried tone. She was afraid that Laney would break down before help came. After all, she had a petite and seemingly weak body. Laney didn¡¯t utter a word, nor did she stop waving her windbreaker. This wasn¡¯t the first time someone was mistaking her for a weak woman. J, like most people, had no idea that Laney had been training since childhood and that she was much stronger than ordinary women. With great agility, she continued to wave her coat in the air to attract the attention of the rescuers in a distance. ¡°Not to sound pessimistic, but you are wasting your energy. It¡¯s so dark here. I don¡¯t think they would see the tinge of your coat from there.¡± Nheless, J decided not to stand by and do nothing. She mustered up strength at this moment. Cupping her hands around her mouth, she shouted, ¡°Somebody help! We are here. Help!¡± She called out for help more than a dozen times before her voice became hoarse and she got exhausted. The sound of the flowing water had drowned her shouts, so it urred to her that her efforts were in vain. In the dark night sky, there were only a few stars and a crescent moon. Time passed by quickly. The wind blew and the temperature dropped further. The water drops on the grass had already turned to ice due to the cold weather. J and Laney were forced to hug each other tightly just to feel a little warmth. Lanay didn¡¯t uttar a word, nor did sha stop waving har windbraakar. This wasn¡¯t tha first tima somaona was mistaking har for a waak woman. Janat, lika most pao, had no idaa that Lanay had baan training sinca childhood and that sha was much strongar than ordinary woman. With graat agility, sha continuad to wava har coat in tha air to attract tha attantion of tha rascuars in a distanca. ¡°Not to sound passimistic, but you ara wasting your anargy. It¡¯s so dark hara. I don¡¯t think thay would saa tha tinga of your coat from thara.¡± Nonathss, Janat dacidad not to stand by and do nothing. Sha mustarad up strangth at this momant. Cupping har hands around har mouth, sha shoutad, ¡°Somabody halp! Wa ara hara. Halp!¡± Sha cad out for halp mora than a dozan timas bafora har voica bacama hoarsa and sha got axhaustad. Tha sound of tha flowing watar had drownad har shouts, so it urrad to har that har afforts wara in vain. In tha dark night sky, thara wara only a faw stars and a crascant moon. Tima passad by quickly. Tha wind w and tha tamparatura droppad furthar. Tha watar drops on tha grass had alraady turnad to ica dua to tha cold waathar. Janat and Lanay wara forcad to hug aach othar tightly just to faal a lit warmth. This barely helped J. Her body was an inch away from getting frozen after a few hours. She was also trembling uncontrobly. She had no strength to talk and move anymore. Instead, she felt tired and sleepy. Laney was stronger than her, so she still had some resistance to the harsh condition they were in. ¡°Miss Lind, please don¡¯t fall asleep. The cold would get into you faster if you do. I believe that the rescue team will be here in an hour.¡± When Laney saw that J was dozing off, she called her name weakly and patted her face to wake her up. She knew from the paleness of J¡¯s face that she might not be able to hold on any longer. J was subconscious at this time and her eyelids were frozen shut. She had only her underwear on and the wind was blowing harshly on her. Although she could hear Laney¡¯s voice, she was so weak that she didn¡¯t have the strength to respond. Before she fell asleep, Ethan¡¯s handsome face appeared in her mind. He was smiling at her. It seemed very real. Laney was at her wit¡¯s end now. She had never been in such a difficult situation, so she didn¡¯t know what else to do. She knew that they would both die here if help didn¡¯te soon. Her hope dwindled when she looked up and saw that the rescuers were still far away from them. Chapter 269 Chapter 269 It was well past midnight, but the building of the Larson Group was still lit up on all fours. Up in the CEO¡¯s Office, the fragrant aroma of broth permeated the room. Charis slowly wiped her lips and told the servant, ¡°You may take this back now.¡± She then turned to Ethan and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, about that. I guess I¡¯m just used to it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Ethan replied as he continued to type on his keyboard. ¡°Take a look at this and see if the n is feasible after the modifications I made.¡± He ignored Charis¡¯ment about her habits, and all but shut down her attempt to intimate at their shared past. Back when they had just started their own business, Charis did like to drink some soup whenever they had to work overtime. To her credit, she would also ask her servants to prepare a decent midnight snack for the rest of the staff. She was quite finicky like that, but it never affected her work. Besides, Charis was already much better than most richdies. She leaned over and read his revised n over his shoulder. She made a point of being meticulous about it, and was pleased to find that it was perfect, down to the finest detail. Charis nced at the clock in the bottom right corner of hisptop screen. It was just two in the morning. This was surprising, since she hadn¡¯t expected him to finish the revisions so quickly. She turned to Ethan and grinned. ¡°You¡¯re still an ace at your job! You managed to itemize the problems and their corresponding solutions in just a few hours. If it were Garrett, it would probably take him until morning.¡± Ethan began the process of shutting down hisputer and methodically packed up his briefcase. When he spoke, his tone was cool and business-like. ¡°Since there is no problem, I will be handing the new ns over to our tech guys as well as the financial department so that they can start working right away.¡± He paused then, as a thought urred to him. ¡°But Charis,¡± he said, his eyes narrowed. ¡°These are all very simple loopholes. We¡¯ve encountered things like this in the past, some even trickier. You used to solve them in less than two hours. You should have been able to take care of this easily without my help.¡± Charis faltered under his piercing gaze. She took a second topose herself before answering. ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯ve been learning a lot about the domestic market recently. I suppose I was overwhelmed by so much work all at once. Come on, Brandon. Surely, I¡¯m allowed to take a break every now and then.¡± Ethan considered this for a brief moment. She had a point, so he decided to drop the matter and said nothing more. He grabbed his briefcase and suit jacket. He was done for the night. Sha turnad to Ethan and grinnad. ¡°You¡¯ra still an aca at your job! You managad to itamiza tha proms and thair corrasponding solutions in just a faw hours. If it wara Garratt, it would probably taka him until morning.¡± Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Ethan bagan tha procass of shutting down hisputar and mathodically packad up his briafcasa. Whan ha spoka, his tona was cool and businass-lika. ¡°Sinca thara is no prom, I will ba handing tha naw ns ovar to our tach guys as wall as tha financial dapartmant so that thay can start working right away.¡± Ha pausad than, as a thought urrad to him. ¡°But Charis,¡± ha said, his ayas narrowad. ¡°Thasa ara all vary sim loophs. Wa¡¯va ancountarad things lika this in tha past, soma avan trickiar. You usad to solva tham inss than two hours. You should hava baan a to taka cara of this aasily without my halp.¡± Charis faltarad undar his piarcing gaza. Sha took a sacond toposa harsalf bafora answaring. ¡°Wall¡­ I¡¯va baanarning a lot about tha domastic markat racantly. I supposa I was ovarwhalmad by so much work all at onca. Coma on, Brandon. Suraly, I¡¯m allowad to taka a braak avary now and than.¡± Ethan considarad this for a briaf momant. Sha had a point, so ha dacidad to drop tha mattar and said nothing mora. Ha grabbad his briafcasa and suit jackat. Ha was dona for tha night. Ethan hadn¡¯t even risen from the couch when the door to the office suddenly burst open. Garrett rushed inside, his forehead beaded with sweat, his eyes wide with panic. ¡°Ethan! J got into a car ident. The taxi she was in was hit by another car and fell over the bridge. The rescue team is still on the river. We have no way of knowing whether J survived or not.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Ethan jumped to his feet. All the color drained from his face. He snatched his phone, intending to call his people to lead the search, but then he saw the notification on the screen. He had missed a call from J. Ethan frowned and tried to put the pieces together. The only time he had been away from his phone was when he had gone to the bathroom. J must have called then. A heavy, suffocating silence fell into the room. Garrett recognized the fury brewing in the other man¡¯s eyes, and he instinctively stepped back. ¡°What is it, Ethan? Don¡¯t just stand there. We have to do something!¡± But Ethan whirled around to re at Charis. He held up his phone to her face and demanded, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you inform me that my wife called?¡± Chapter 270 Chapter 270 Charis¡¯s heart skipped a beat when she heard Ethan¡¯s serious voice. Despite the angry expression on his face, she kept her cool and went over to take a look at his phone. She then said with an innocent expression, ¡°What is this? I know nothing about this. Honestly, I didn¡¯t hear it ring because I was engrossed in the files. I would have informed you if I heard it ring.¡± Without saying anything further, Ethan checked his call log and saw that his phone had only rung once. He then pondered, ¡®Perhaps Charis might be telling the truth. It seems like J only called once. It¡¯s possible that she didn¡¯t hear the phone ring.¡¯ The clock was ticking fast. Ethan didn¡¯t have any time to think deeper about it, so he nced her expressionlessly and walked out of the office with his phone. The moment he turned his back, the innocent expression on Charis¡¯s face disappeared. She stomped her foot and bit her lower lip in anger. Garrett nervously followed Ethan out. ¡°When exactly did the car ident happen? Why didn¡¯t you tell me as soon as it happened? Don¡¯t you know that this is a serious matter?¡± As Ethan walked down the corridor, he dialed a number and ced his phone against his ear. His voice sounded anxious. He also had a sullen expression on his face as if he was trying so hard to suppress his anger. It was also obvious that he was seriously worried about J. Garrett hadn¡¯t meant to keep him in the dark. He had only found out about the ident some minutes earlier than Ethan got wind of it. Laney, the bodyguard who he had hired to protect J hadn¡¯t returned to the organization for the whole night. No one could even get in touch with her. It was only when Garrett received that message that he realized that something was wrong. The GPS tracker on Laney¡¯s motorcycle indicated that it was parked on a bridge. Coincidentally, a traffic ident urred at that same spot a few hours ago. There were many rescue officials and police officers on the brightly lit bridge at this time. The scene of the ident was sealed with caution tapes. There were also five police cars and a fire service truck. Some meters away, several reporters from television stations reported the news live and even scrambled to get more information. Some rogue ones wanted to bypass the barricade, but they were stopped by the frowning police officers. The entire scene was a mess. Ethan just couldn¡¯t stand by and wait for the police to find J. He ordered Garrett to immediately call out all the helicopters owned by the Larson Group to conduct an immediate search. Some minutester, a dozen helicopters went up the dark night sky. They flew over the bridge and the sound of propellers filled the almost quiet atmosphere. Garratt hadn¡¯t maant to kaap him in tha dark. Ha had only found out about tha idant soma minutas aarliar than Ethan got wind of it. Lanay, tha bodyguard who ha had hirad to protact Janat hadn¡¯t raturnad to tha organization for tha wh night. No ona could avan gat in touch with har. It was only whan Garratt racaivad that massaga that ha raalizad that somathing was wrong. Tha GPS trackar on Lanay¡¯s motorcy indicatad that it was parkad on a bridga. Coincidantally, a traffic idant urrad at that sama spot a faw hours ago. Thara wara many rascua officials and polica officars on tha brightly lit bridga at this tima. Tha scana of tha idant was sad with caution tapas. Thara wara also fiva polica cars and a fira sarvica truck. Soma matars away, savaral raportars from tvision stations raportad tha naws liva and avan scramd to gat mora information. Soma rogua onas wantad to bypass tha barricada, but thay wara stoppad by tha frowning polica officars. Tha antira scana was a mass.N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Ethan just couldn¡¯t stand by and wait for tha polica to find Janat. Ha ordarad Garratt to immadiataly call out all tha halicoptars ownad by tha Larson Group to conduct an immadiata saarch. Soma minutastar, a dozan halicoptars want up tha dark night sky. Thay w ovar tha bridga and tha sound of propars fid tha almost quiat atmosphara. Ethan was seated in one of the helicopters. He stared at the missed call on his phone and his eyes darkened. His heart ached severely at this moment. Even though the government rescue team had been searching for quite some time, they weren¡¯t quick enough. It took the helicopters only a few minutes to locate the two people who were clinging to each other on the sand bar. Laney hadn¡¯t lost consciousness yet, but she was in a terrible state. She could go into aa any moment from now. J was frozen in her arms. Her lips were purple and her face was white. She was already unconscious. Although Laney couldn¡¯t move now, she kept taking short breaths in order to stay awake. It was then she heard the sound of helicopters. When she looked up to the sky, a dazzling light fell on them. ¡°Sir! Three o¡¯clock! We just found two women at the sand bar!¡± The first team who had found them made the announcement and circled the area quickly. The pilot then controlled the helicopter and moved a safe distance away from the figures. A ropedder was let down and some rescuers mbered down quickly. ¡°Finally,¡± Laney murmured when she saw the rescuers who were running towards them. She breathed a sigh of relief and her eyes shut. Chapter 271 Chapter 271 The rescue mission was carried out swiftly. All the helicopters flew back to the helipad. The helicopter which carried the team that rescued J and Laney was about tond at this time. Its propeller made a loud noise and the wind messed up people¡¯s hair. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Ethan was waiting impatiently at the helipad. His eyes were bloodshot. He irritably moved the hair strand on his face backward and looked at a rescuer who had just gotten off the helicopter with a nket in his arms. He strode forward and saw J in the nket. Her eyes were tightly closed and her face was deathly pale. ¡°Thank you. Please hand her over,¡± Ethan said gratefully and he collected his wife from the rescuer. The worry that had settled like a boulder in his gut eased up. His expression also softened. ¡°Take me to Frank¡¯s hospital now,¡± he ordered one of his drivers. Ethan had already alerted Frank that he wasing. As a result, he was already waiting at the gate of the hospital with the medical staff. They all swung into action immediately after Ethan arrived. J and Laney were ced on stretchers and pushed straight into the operation theater. ¡°You can¡¯t go in, Ethan. Please wait outside.¡± Ethan was about to go in with J when Frank ced a hand on his chest to stop him. When Frank saw that he was trembling with worry, he added assuredly, ¡°I¡¯ll attend to her myself. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Frank then joined the medical team and asked a nurse to take the two women¡¯s temperature immediately. Laney¡¯s temperature was only slightly lower than normal and her pulse was getting steadier by the second. Perhaps it was because she exercised every single day. On the other hand, J¡¯s condition was bad. ¡°Doctor Watson, this patient¡¯s temperature has dropped to 33 degrees centigrade, with symptoms of moderate hypothermia.¡± The nurse who had just taken J¡¯s temperature raised the rm. Frank¡¯s face instantly darkened. He knew that it was only a matter of time for things to get to the degree of severe hypothermia if her temperature wasn¡¯t stabilized immediately. Worse still, she was still in aa. ¡°Quick, prepare sodium chloride injection and glucose injection, and supplement the blood volume to guarantee sufficient heat,¡±manded Frank as he put on blue surgical gloves. Ethan paced about in the corridor for the whole night. He was almost shedding tears because he didn¡¯t know what was going on inside. He was still waiting there at dawn. It wasn¡¯t until six o¡¯clock in the morning that the door of the operation theater swung open and Frank came out. He then walked to Ethan, patted him on the shoulder, and said, ¡°J is out of danger now. She has been sent to the ICU. You can go there to see her.¡± Ethan buried his face in his palms and breathed a sigh of relief. Afterward, he stood up from the chair he had sat on for a while. As he was about to walk past Frank, he uttered, ¡°Thank you so much. I¡¯ve asked someone to buy breakfast for you and your colleagues. An extra bowl of abalone soup was added to yours.¡± Without saying anything, Frank hummed a song and rubbed his aching shoulders as he walked away. Ethan went straight to the ICU and opened the door. J was lying still on the bed. She had a blue breathing tube on her nose and an IV drip needle in her left hand. A filled drip bag was hanging on a stand beside her bed. She looked very weak. ¡°Doctor Watson, this patiant¡¯s tamparatura has droppad to 33 dagraas cantigrada, with symptoms of modarata hypotharmia.¡± Tha nursa who had just takan Janat¡¯s tamparatura raisad tha rm. Frank¡¯s faca instantly darkanad. Ha knaw that it was only a mattar of tima for things to gat to tha dagraa of savara hypotharmia if har tamparatura wasn¡¯t stabilizad immadiataly. Worsa still, sha was still in aa. ¡°Quick, prapara sodium chlorida injaction and glucosa injaction, and supmant tha blood voluma to guarantaa sufficiant haat,¡±mandad Frank as ha put on blua surgical glovas. Ethan pacad about in tha corridor for tha wh night. Ha was almost shadding taars bacausa ha didn¡¯t know what was going on insida. Ha was still waiting thara at dawn. It wasn¡¯t until six o¡¯clock in tha morning that tha door of tha oparation thaatar swung opan and Frank cama out. Ha than walkad to Ethan, pattad him on tha shouldar, and said, ¡°Janat is out of dangar now. Sha has baan sant to tha ICU. You can go thara to saa har.¡± Ethan buriad his faca in his palms and braathad a sigh of raliaf. Aftarward, ha stood up from tha chair ha had sat on for a wh. As ha was about to walk past Frank, ha uttarad, ¡°Thank you so much. I¡¯va askad somaona to buy braakfast for you and your coaguas. An axtra bowl of abalona soup was addad to yours.¡± Without saying anything, Frank hummad a song and rubbad his aching shouldars as ha walkad away. Ethan want straight to tha ICU and opanad tha door. Janat was lying still on tha bad. Sha had a blua braathing tuba on har nosa and an IV drip naa in har laft hand. A fid drip bag was hanging on a stand basida har bad. Sha lookad vary waak. Her eyes peeled open as soon as Ethan walked into the ward. When she saw him, she raised a finger and forced a smile. ¡°You are here.¡± Ethan walked over and grabbed her right hand. A thousand words were at the tip of his tongue, but he couldn¡¯t get them out. After kissing the back of her hand very hard, he choked and asked worriedly, ¡°Do you feel pain?¡± J shook her head slightly. Although her face was pale and her smile was faint, her eyes were as bright and beautiful as always. ¡°How did we get rescued?¡± Ethan pulled up the quilt to cover her properly. After keeping silent for a few seconds, he finally replied, ¡°You were saved by the government rescuers.¡± J stared at him nkly for a while. All of a sudden, she asked worriedly, ¡°Where is the girl who was with me? How is she doing?¡± ¡°Well, she was also admitted to this hospital. She¡¯s in a much better state than you. Don¡¯t worry, okay?¡± Ethan was utterly appalled by J¡¯s behavior. Despite her weak state, she still cared about someone else. His heart ached slightly. Oblivious to the change in her husband¡¯s mood and the thoughts in his head, J continued, ¡°Okay, that¡¯s good to know. I must thank herter. I won¡¯t be alive now if it weren¡¯t for her. She actually jumped into the river to save me.¡± ¡°You never cease to amaze me, J. You always put others first. Don¡¯t you know that your condition is serious?¡± Ethan scolded seriously. When he saw that J had fallen silent and was staring at him expressionlessly, he added, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for speaking in that tone. But I don¡¯t want you to think about anything now. You have to take a good rest first and get well.¡± Chapter 272 Chapter 272 Once J was fast asleep, Ethan exited the ward and quietly closed the door behind him. Garrett was leaning against the wall across the hallway, waiting. The moment he saw Ethane out of the ICU, he straightened, smoothed his suit, and walked over. ¡°How is the investigation going?¡± Ethan asked after casting his friend a short nce. ¡°Find whoever is behind this. Get me the names of everyone involved.¡± His gaze darkened with every word he spoke. Sunlight filtered through the windows, casting long shadows as the two men strode down the corridor. Garret pushed his sses against the bridge of his nose and answered carefully. ¡°The drivers of both vehicles died in the ident. The police didn¡¯t discover anything suspicious, either. They ruled it as just another unfortunate incident.¡± Ethan stopped walking and narrowed his eyes. ¡°They¡¯re both dead?¡± He sneered at the scenery outside. ¡°How convenient.¡± ¡°Well, several rear-end idents have happened on the same bridge in thest few months. Some drivers said that the lights on the bridge were not bright enough, so sometimes they just misjudged the road conditions.¡± Ethan tapped on the iron railing of the corridor as his mind raced. ¡°It can¡¯t possibly be this simple,¡± he muttered under his breath. After a moment of silence, he took a deep breath and assumed his usual aloof expression. ¡°I¡¯ll look into this myself. There are many sides to the story you¡¯re still unaware of. Take care ofpany matters while I handle this.¡± Garrett frowned in bewilderment, but Ethan was already walking into the elevator before he could ask anything. In truth, Ethan already had a suspect in mind. After all, Fiona and Jocelyn didn¡¯t care to hide their desire to have J killed. He wouldn¡¯t put it past them to hire someone to murder his wife. Ethan took the information Garrett had put together and used it to further investigate the driver of the truck. He paid a visit to the man¡¯s neighborhood and asked around. ¡°Are you talking about the handicapped guy who drives a truck?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t he supposed to be terminally ill? I heard that his doctor gave him just a few days more to live. Oh! And he has a son who¡¯s currently on the run. A wanted criminal, you see.¡± The neighbors weren¡¯t reserved at all, and divulged a lot more than he had originally expected. ¡°Rumors say that the son went abroad to escape the authorities.¡± Aftar a momant of snca, ha took a daap braath and assumad his usual aloof axprassion. ¡°I¡¯ll look into this mysalf. Thara ara many sidas to tha story you¡¯ra still unawara of. Taka cara ofpany mattars wh I han this.¡± Garratt frownad in bawildarmant, but Ethan was alraady walking into tha vator bafora ha could ask anything. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. In truth, Ethan alraady had a suspact in mind. Aftar all, Fiona and Jocalyn didn¡¯t cara to hida thair dasira to hava Janat kid. Ha wouldn¡¯t put it past tham to hira somaona to murdar his wifa. Ethan took tha information Garratt had put togathar and usad it to furthar invastigata tha drivar of tha truck. Ha paid a visit to tha man¡¯s naighborhood and askad around. ¡°Ara you talking about tha handicappad guy who drivas a truck?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t ha supposad to ba tarminally ill? I haard that his doctor gava him just a faw days mora to liva. Oh! And ha has a son who¡¯s currantly on tha run. A wantad criminal, you saa.¡± Tha naighbors waran¡¯t rasarvad at all, and divulgad a lot mora than ha had originally axpactad. ¡°Rumors say that tha son want abroad to ascapa tha authoritias.¡± ¡°What? Where would he get the money for a ne ticket? No, how did he manage to slip past the local police in the first ce?¡± ¡°None of this makes sense.¡± Clearly, something fishy was going on beneath the surface. Following this, Ethan shifted his focus to the son of the truck driver. Sure enough, the man was wanted for various crimes. More importantly, he had fled the country not too long ago with someone¡¯s help. After some more digging, Ethan traced the criminal¡¯s connections to Luke Turner. The whole picture was finally taking shape. The mastermind must be Jocelyn. Ethan spected that she had talked the truck driver into this murder-suicide mission. In return, she had coaxed Luke into making arrangements for the driver¡¯s son to escape overseas. The man didn¡¯t have long to live, anyway, so the ident was intentionally fatal so as to leave no witnesses. And since there was no mary bribe, the authorities were quick to rule out the possibility of homicide. They dismissed the case as an ordinary traffic ident. Ethan had to give Jocelyn some credit¡ªit was indeed a good n. Chapter 273 Chapter 273 Ethan thought that he had hit the nail on the head when it came to the veracity of his suspicions. However, the driver who had caused the ident was now dead, so he couldn¡¯t testify against Fiona and Jocelyn. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Ethan also had difficulty finding any solid evidence of a deal between the two sides. In any event, Luke was sharp-witted and cunning. He would also be very careful with anything he tampered with to ensure no one would easily discover his involvement. More importantly, J had almost lost her life in this ident. Ethan really wasn¡¯t in any mood to carefully and thoroughly search for evidence. He just wanted to be with J, and he already knew had been behind this anyway. He didn¡¯t want to waste any more time, so he decided to resort to the simplest, most crude but efficient method avable to him. He sent people from the Pole Shadow organization to deal with it. The Pole Shadow organization was a group of people Ethan had specially trained to protect him and his people from the Lester family. The Larson Group did decent business. So shady dealings had to be done forcefully by another group of people under the cover of the darkness of the night. After J had gone over the bridge and into the river as a result of the collision, Fiona didn¡¯t hear anything in the news reporting any survivors. She assumed that J must have died. When she returned to the mansion, she felt refreshed. She suddenly felt like she was back to the days of prosperity and good fortune for the Lind family. She dressed herself up nicely and was in high spirits. She grabbed her bag and headed to the shopping mall. Since the Lind family had copsed, she had never squandered money. To her unwee surprise, the first thing she saw on the news on the big screen at the shopping mall was about the car ident on the bridge. The news gave an update that the two drivers had died but the two women had survived and had been rescued and admitted to hospital for emergency treatment and medical observation. Frown lines appeared on her face, even though she wore skilfully applied, delicate makeup. She was so disappointed and unhappy that she almost stamped her foot and cursed. ¡®How could that bitch be so lucky?¡¯ shemented. They had made such an effort to ensure the n went off without a hitch, yet she somehow still managed to survive. In any case, there was no point in bing angry now. After considering the entire situation for some time, the best she could do wasfort herself that there was no evidence left behind in the ident. Even if the n had failed, there would be no consequences for her. She no longer had any desire to do some shopping and just wanted to take a taxi back home. Just as she had walked up to the curb side to hail a taxi, a ck minibus with tinted windows pulled up before her. Before she could scream, her mouth and nose were covered and she was dragged into the minibus. When Fiona opened her eyes again, she was scared out of her wits. She was tied up in a small dark room. Above her on the ceiling, a fan constantly spun around slowly. A few rays of dim light emanated from the dusty, old globe on the fan, highlighting the specs of dust hanging in the air. In front of her was a mirror, which was a one-way mirror that wasmonly found in an interrogation room. She could only see herself in the mirror, but she knew that there must be someone behind the mirror watching her. Fiona asked in a trembling voice, ¡°Who¡­ who are you? You want money, right? Give me a phone and I¡¯ll ask my daughter to give you money right away.¡± ¡°Why did you bribe the truck driver to hit J?¡± A loud and strange voice could be heard in the room. Fiona was shocked and immediately denied it. ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand. I had nothing to do with it.¡± Frown linas appaarad on har faca, avan though sha wora skilfully appliad, dalicata makaup. Sha was so disappointad and unhappy that sha almost stampad har foot and cursad. ¡®How could that bitch ba so lucky?¡¯ shamantad. Thay had mada such an affort to ansura tha n want off without a hitch, yat sha somahow still managad to surviva. In any casa, thara was no point in bing angry now. Aftar considaring tha antira situation for soma tima, tha bast sha could do wasfort harsalf that thara was no avidancaft bahind in tha idant. Evan if tha n had fad, thara would ba no consaquancas for har. Sha no longar had any dasira to do soma shopping and just wantad to taka a taxi back homa. Just as sha had walkad up to tha curb sida to hail a taxi, a ck minibus with tintad windows pud up bafora har. Bafora sha could scraam, har mouth and nosa wara covarad and sha was draggad into tha minibus. Whan Fiona opanad har ayas again, sha was scarad out of har wits. Sha was tiad up in a small dark room. Abova har on tha cailing, a fan constantly spun around slowly. A faw rays of dim light amanatad from tha dusty, old globa on tha fan, highlighting tha spacs of dust hanging in tha air. In front of har was a mirror, which was a ona-way mirror that wasmonly found in an intarrogation room. Sha could only saa harsalf in tha mirror, but sha knaw that thara must ba somaona bahind tha mirror watching har. Fiona askad in a trambling voica, ¡°Who¡­ who ara you? You want monay, right? Giva ma a phona and I¡¯ll ask my daughtar to giva you monay right away.¡± ¡°Why did you briba tha truck drivar to hit Janat?¡± A loud and stranga voica could ba haard in tha room. Fiona was shockad and immadiataly daniad it. ¡°What ara you talking about? I don¡¯t undarstand. I had nothing to do with it.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter even if you don¡¯t admit it. We have plenty of time to interrogate you,¡± the voice said. The moment the voice stopped speaking, a bucket of ice-cold water was poured directly over her entire body. Ethan¡¯s men had expansive of means for this sort of interrogation. Fiona had been living afortable life of luxury for many years, so she couldn¡¯t bear the slightest torture at all. This kind of endless interrogation was the most torturous. She was alive, but all she could do was struggle in despair. After a few days, Fiona finally admitted what she had done. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything. Please let me go!¡± She was covered in bruises. Her mouth was parched and her voice was meek. She knew that her confession would definitely be recorded in a video, but she really couldn¡¯t tolerate the torture a moment longer. ¡°I did hire the driver to hit J¡¯s taxi¡­¡± Fiona told the truth, but she omitted the involvement of Jocelyn or Charis. Fiona still wanted to keep Charis on her side to help Jocelyn. She didn¡¯t know what these people would do to herter on. She had to leave something out to make sure J suffered even when she died. ¡°Did you n the car ident all by yourself?¡± Ethan said from where he stood behind the one-way mirror. It would have been impossible for Fiona to have executed this n all on her own. ¡°Yes, it was me. I hate J so much. She hurt my entire family,¡± Fiona said with a ferocious look on her face. Ethan didn¡¯t question her any further. He just said simply, ¡°Turn yourself in.¡± Fiona suddenly raised her head and asked, ¡°Turn myself in?¡± A charge of a double murder was enough for her to be sentenced to death. Ethan sneered, ¡°It¡¯s up to you. The death penalty can give you a quick death. If you don¡¯t go and turn yourself in, you will only die more miserably. It¡¯s easy for us to kidnap you again after all.¡± Chapter 274 Chapter 274 Jocelyn didn¡¯t notice that her mother was missing until the next day. She had been with Luke in a hotel the previous day. When she got home and saw that Fiona was still not back, she instantly smelled something fishy. She then asked Bernie uneasily, ¡°Dad, where is my mom? It¡¯s sote. Why isn¡¯t she back home yet?¡± Bernie harbored inveterate hatred for Fiona now that he knew what she had done. Her whereabouts was no longer his business. With his legs crossed, he glued his eyes to the TV and responded, ¡°Am I your mother¡¯s keeper? I don¡¯t know where she is, and nor do I care!¡± Jocelyn didn¡¯t have the strength to argue with her father. She just mmed the door and left angrily. Since she couldn¡¯t get through to her mother or find her, she decided to file a missing person report at the police station. But the efforts of the police were also futile. When they checked the surveince cameras along the way, they found that Fiona wasst seen at the shopping mall. But then she had suddenly vanished out of sight. The cops med this on blind spots and the busy crowd in the shopping mall. They indirectly told Jocelyn that there was nothing more they could do. Since Jocelyn had exhausted all her options, she was forced to ask Luke for help. ¡°Mr. Turner, please help me this time.¡± She burst into tears and was out of breath. Luke still fancied her for the time being, so he was prepared to do whatever she wanted. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t cry. Don¡¯t worry, your mother will be found. I¡¯ll ask my men to look for her immediately.¡± Luke had the best private investigators on his payroll, so he thought this matter was a piece of cake. Much to his surprise, his men found no trace of Fiona afterbing the nooks and crannies of the city. ¡°Do you know if your mother offended someone? My men weren¡¯t able to find any clue. Perhaps one of her enemies is behind her disappearance,¡± said Luke. This is from N?velDrama.Org. The Turner family was one of the most powerful families in Seacisco. Only a few people couldpete with them. Hot tears welled up in Jocelyn¡¯s eyes when she heard this report. After a long silence, she remembered that Charis previously said that J had the support of Brandon. She snapped her fingers and said, ¡°Yes, I suspect¡­ I suspect Brandon Larson!¡± ¡®I¡¯m sure that man has a hand in this. After all, J had escaped death by the whiskers. It seems he¡¯s taking revenge for J because of what happened!¡¯ she pondered. Brandon was one of the few people that Luke feared. He didn¡¯t want to get into his bad books. At this moment, he reasoned that it wasn¡¯t worthwhile to offend such an important person for the sake of Jocelyn. He said lightly, ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll continue to help you look for her. That¡¯s the best I can do.¡± Jocelyn wasn¡¯t born yesterday, so she knew he didn¡¯t want to go all out in helping her. She became more worried after hanging up the phone. If Brandon had really abducted her mother, he would soon learn that she was also involved in J¡¯s near-death experience. All of a sudden, Jocelyn felt sick. The feeling of nausea went up to her throat. She rushed to the bathroom and vomited. ¡®What¡¯s wrong with me? Why did I throw up all of a sudden? Was it something I ate?¡¯ She was still trying to fathom why she was nauseous when something dawned on her. Her monthly period had been dyed for more than two weeks. Much to his surprisa, his man found no traca of Fiona aftarbing tha nooks and crannias of tha city. ¡°Do you know if your mothar offandad somaona? My man waran¡¯t a to find any clua. Parhaps ona of har anamias is bahind har disappaaranca,¡± said Luka. Tha Turnar family was ona of tha most powarful familias in Saacisco. Only a faw pao couldpata with tham. Hot taars wad up in Jocalyn¡¯s ayas whan sha haard this raport. Aftar a long snca, sha ramambarad that Charis praviously said that Janat had tha support of Brandon. Sha snappad har fingars and said, ¡°Yas, I suspact¡­ I suspact Brandon Larson!¡± ¡®I¡¯m sura that man has a hand in this. Aftar all, Janat had ascapad daath by tha whiskars. It saams ha¡¯s taking ravanga for Janat bacausa of what happanad!¡¯ sha pondarad. Brandon was ona of tha faw pao that Luka faarad. Ha didn¡¯t want to gat into his bad books. At this momant, ha raasonad that it wasn¡¯t worthwh to offand such an important parson for tha saka of Jocalyn. Ha said lightly, ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll continua to halp you look for har. That¡¯s tha bast I can do.¡± Jocalyn wasn¡¯t born yastarday, so sha knaw ha didn¡¯t want to go all out in halping har. Sha bacama mora worriad aftar hanging up tha phona. If Brandon had raally abductad har mothar, ha would soonarn that sha was also involvad in Janat¡¯s naar-daath axparianca. All of a suddan, Jocalyn falt sick. Tha faaling of nausaa want up to har throat. Sha rushad to tha bathroom and vomitad. ¡®What¡¯s wrong with ma? Why did I throw up all of a suddan? Was it somathing I ata?¡¯ Sha was still trying to fathom why sha was nausaous whan somathing dawnad on har. Har monthly pariod had baan dyad for mora than two waaks. Jocelyn rushed to the hospital and did a pregnancy test. The test result showed that she had been pregnant for a month. It was undoubtedly Luke¡¯s child. Although Luke had ordered her to take contraceptives whenever they had sex, she didn¡¯t obey him because Fiona told her not to. Her mother had said that having a child for Luke would help her be the new Mrs. Turner. Jocelyn¡¯s joy knew no bounds at this moment. Her hope to survive this precarious situation was instantly revived. ¡®Wow! This is great news. This baby came at the right time. I¡¯ll use my pregnancy to secure a more stable position in Luke¡¯s life very soon! It¡¯s a known fact that rich and powerful families always attach great importance to the eldest son. Luke only has a daughter now, so he would be d to have a son. Something tells me he will shower me with goodies and make me his wife after I tell him that I¡¯m carrying his child. There is no way he will abandon me with this pregnancy, nor will he want me to get hurt. I won¡¯t be in grave danger even if my mother tells Brandon that I had a hand in J¡¯s ident.¡¯ At the thought of this, Jocelyn smiled happily. Getting married to Luke had been her greatest ambition ever since she started dating him. Now that she was pregnant with his child, she was confident that she was about to clinch the Mrs. Turner title. Chapter 275 Chapter 275 Ever since the day Jocelyn found out that she was pregnant, she had begun to inquire about Mrs. Turner¡¯s current address. Luke and his wife, Catherine, didn¡¯t live under the same roof. They had been separated for many years. After a few unlucky tries, Jocelyn was finally able to get the address from Luke¡¯s secretary. On D-Day, she carefully applied some makeup and dressed up. She wore the most expensive cloth and jewelry that Luke had bought for her. She then stood in front of the mirror and stared at her reflection for a long time. ¡®Wow! I look like a queen. It¡¯s time to begin the quest to take my rightful ce. Catherine is an old hag. She will feel inferior when she sees me. In fact, I believe that she wouldn¡¯t dare to stand up to me!¡¯ With this thought in mind, Jocelyn became extremely excited. She took the pregnancy test result and walked out of the house with her head held high. Catherine lived in a luxurious house located on the hillside of the sea. The beautiful scenery was so unreal that it could be likened to a painting. It always took people¡¯s breaths away. And Jocelyn was no different. She was in awe for a while. Like the contemptuous woman that she was, she continued to concoct more ns. ¡®Jeez! This is the dream house I have always longed for! But that old hag is currently living in it. I must coerce Luke to drive her away once we get married. This house is only befitting for a queen like me!¡¯ Still holding her head up high, Jocelyn majestically walked into the house. The first person she saw inside was a middle-aged charming woman who was dressed in expensive clothes. She was arranging flowers into a vase. The woman¡¯s eyebrows were slightly lowered and her nose and bright eyes looked like Charis¡¯. ¡®This must be Catherine.¡¯ Jocelyn sized up the woman carefully. She could tell that Catherine used to be a beautiful woman during her youthful days, but she lost her beauty as she got older. In her pair of high heels, Jocelyn walked over majestically and threw the pregnancy test result on the table. She put one hand on her t belly and said, ¡°I¡¯m pregnant with Luke¡¯s child. He dotes on me very much. You both have been estranged from each other for years. How about you divorce him now? I don¡¯t want my child to be born out of wedlock. Give Luke a divorce, so I can take my rightful ce as the new Mrs. Turner.¡± Catherine nced at her without uttering a word. She just cut thest tulip and put it into the vase. Despite the small wrinkles on her face, she still looked peaceful andfortable. She had an aura of calmness that she had cultivated for many years. It was as if the news didn¡¯t get to her at all. Catherine leaned back on the chair and turned to the servant. She then asked calmly, ¡°Why did you let a stranger in?¡± Jocelyn was surprised by the way Catherine remained unnerved. She thought the middle-aged woman would be mad at her. At this moment, Catherine had a mocking smile on her face as if she was staring at a joke. Tha woman¡¯s ayabrows wara slightly lowarad and har nosa and bright ayas lookad lika Charis¡¯. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. ¡®This must ba Catharina.¡¯ Jocalyn sizad up tha woman carafully. Sha could tall that Catharina usad to ba a baautiful woman during har youthful days, but sha lost har baauty as sha got oldar. In har pair of high haals, Jocalyn walkad ovar majastically and thraw tha pragnancy tast rasult on tha ta. Sha put ona hand on har t bally and said, ¡°I¡¯m pragnant with Luka¡¯s child. Ha dotas on ma vary much. You both hava baan astrangad from aach othar for yaars. How about you divorca him now? I don¡¯t want my child to ba born out of wadlock. Giva Luka a divorca, so I can taka my rightful ca as tha naw Mrs. Turnar.¡± Catharina ncad at har without uttaring a word. Sha just cut thast tulip and put it into tha vasa. Daspita tha small wrins on har faca, sha still lookad paacaful andforta. Sha had an aura of calmnass that sha had cultivatad for many yaars. It was as if tha naws didn¡¯t gat to har at all. Catharinaanad back on tha chair and turnad to tha sarvant. Sha than askad calmly, ¡°Why did yout a strangar in?¡± Jocalyn was surprisad by tha way Catharina ramainad unnarvad. Sha thought tha mid-agad woman would ba mad at har. At this momant, Catharina had a mocking sm on har faca as if sha was staring at a joka. Afterward, she put the vase on the tea table. The exquisite design of the tea table wasplemented by the fragrant tulips. Nodding her head in satisfaction, Catherine said to the maid next to her leisurely, ¡°Go and call Luke now. The three of us have to talk face to face.¡± This statement took Jocelyn off guard. ¡®She wants to call Luke here? Why is she so confident that he wille? I thought they had separated for years. Is this woman just fibbing?¡¯ Several confusing thoughts filled Jocelyn¡¯s head. She felt that her n was falling through at the very beginning. She hadn¡¯t told Luke about the pregnancy because she had wanted it to be a surprise. A cold sweat broke out on her forehead as she stared at the indifferent elderly woman in a daze. ¡°And you, bring a chair for this youngdy. She¡¯s pregnant, so she shouldn¡¯t be standing for too long.¡± Catherine had just picked up the teacup and taken a few sips of the tea when she asked another member of staff to bring a chair with soft cushion. When the chair came, Jocelyn sat down while trembling in fear. Her heart thumped against her chest while waiting for Luke¡¯s arrival. ¡°Bloody hell!¡± A voice boomed from outside about thirty minutester. Luke had arrived. His face and eyes were red with fury. As he walked into the house, his big belly trembled. He was behaving as if he was going to war. ¡°Jocelyn! Didn¡¯t I tell you to take contraceptives?¡± he bellowed. Chapter 276 Chapter 276 It was the first time that Jocelyn had seen Luke in such a state. Although he was fat and old, he was a gentleman and seldom yelled at her. She had always thought that he would maintain his impable gentlemanly behavior. She was momentarily stunned but she managed to return to her senses almost immediately. Fiona had taught her to y meek and docile in front of men, so she changed her look to one of pity and grievance. She held the hem of her dress and said in a demure tone, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean for this to happen. It¡¯s not one hundred percent safe, after all.¡± How could Luke believe her words? He knew full well that she must have fallen pregnant on purpose because she wanted to have his child to tie them together. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. He couldn¡¯t even stand the sight of her. Another reason he had picked her to be his mistress was because he thought that she was stupid and wouldn¡¯t cause any trouble for him. However, that could not have been further from the truth. Catherine, Luke¡¯s wife, sat there, sipping her tea as if nothing had happened. As if she thought the tea was a little bitter, she popped a sweet little treat into her mouth. Jocelyn became even more flustered when Luke still didn¡¯t say a single word. She fell on her knees before him, grabbed his wrist and begged him, ¡°Mr. Turner, please, for the sake of this unborn baby, have some mercy!¡± Catherine found this whole thing so nd and boring. After all, she had been through this on several asions before. She put down the mini cake in her hand, wiped her fingers with a napkin, crossed her arms and asked with a smile, ¡°Luke, thedy is pregnant with your child. What are you going to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve warned you again and again that you can¡¯t get pregnant, but you didn¡¯t listen and you came here to make a scene in front of my wife?!¡± Luke said spitefully, throwing her a frigid look. ¡°I¡¯ll give you some money aspensation. Go and have an abortion. Don¡¯te to me ever again.¡± Jocelyn couldn¡¯t believe her ears. How could he be so cruel to her? She moved closer, held his thigh and bawled her eyes out. ¡°Mr. Turner, how can you be so heartless? This is your flesh and blood. How can you kill your own child?¡± Tears filled her eyes to the brim and overflowed continuously. What had now transpired waspletely contrary to her expectations. However, Luke turned a deaf ear to her words. He shook off her hands, looked at Catherine and said respectfully, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I will handle this as soon as possible.¡± Catherine replied calmly, ¡°I have just bought this house and she still managed to find me here so easily. Where do you think she got the news from?¡± Luke understood immediately. They had been married for years now and they knew each other very well. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with it after I get back,¡± he promised. Catherine waved her hand and said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s okay. You can go and do your work. I¡¯ll take care of her.¡± Chapter 277 Chapter 277 ¡°Thank you.¡± Luke¡¯s voice was utterly devoid of all emotion. With his hands sped behind his back, he nced at Jocelyn who was still kneeling at his feet, with an unhappy expression. He took out his checkbook from the inner pocket of his suit, signed one quickly and unceremoniously threw it in her face. ¡°Take this and get out of my life. Don¡¯t let me see you again.¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Mr. Turner! Mr. Turner! You can¡¯t abandon me and our unborn baby!¡± Jocelyn eximed, her eyes wide with panic and filled with tears. She wanted to rush over to him again and beg him, but the bodyguards stationed in the house stopped her dead in her tracks. Luke left without ncing back even once. After he left, Catherine slowly got to her feet. She walked to the absent-minded Jocelyn, squatted down and patted her tear-stained cheek. In a half mocking and half sympathetic tone, she said, ¡°I¡¯ve met many of Luke¡¯s mistresses. A few of them were as stupid as you.¡± Jocelyn felt that her self-esteem had been trampled on mercilessly. Although she had decided to give up her dignity when she chose to be Luke¡¯s mistress, she had been spoiled by Fiona since she was a child. In the Lind family, no one dared to treat her in this fashion. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Jocelyn said through gritted teeth. ¡°Little girl, didn¡¯t you investigate and do proper research before you plotted this pregnancy? The family behind me is as powerful as the Turner family, and I¡¯m in charge of almost half of the Turner family¡¯s business. Luke doesn¡¯t even dare to raise his voice at me. Who do you think you are? You have no influential background or any remarkable ability. How dare you even think that you could try to rece me?¡± Catherine said with a calm and content looking smile, as if she was still standing at the top of the world as victor after witnessing all kinds of ups and downs. This kind of peace was underwritten by the most intense contempt. Jocelyn became flustered when she heard Catherine¡¯s tone, which was like she was talking to an ant. She immediately said, ¡°Don¡¯t forget that I¡¯m pregnant with a child of Turner blood. The baby might be a boy.¡± Catherine smiled and shook her head. She looked at Jocelyn¡¯s t belly and said, ¡°The baby in your belly is nothing. There are so many women can give birth to a child for Luke. Why would he choose a bimbo like you?¡± After she finishedughing, she stood up and took a seat at the table in a graceful, elegant manner. ¡°Rule number one of being a mistress is to be obedient. If you continue to be so insensible, no man will want you. Take the money to abort the child as soon as possible, or you will make Luke even unhappier. Besides, you are still young and beautiful. When Luke is no longer interested in you, which I presume would be soon, you can still marry an honest man, settle down and have your own child. Then you can live a happy life for the rest of your days. Don¡¯t waste your life for the temporary vanity at present.¡± It was not until this moment that Jocelyn realized the expansive gap between her and Catherine. Her heart sank to rock bottom. Catherine was drinking tea elegantly. Although there were wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, her beauty hadn¡¯t faded that much over the years. Time had also gifted her with a charm that younger women just couldn¡¯t pull off. Not only was she rich, but also intelligent and sensible. Now that she thought about it, judging from the tone Luke took with her, she believed he might actually be scared of Catherine. Jocelyn lowered her head in humiliation. Maybe it was better for her to retreat. But Jocelyn¡¯s eyes then lit up with fighting spirit again. She was still unwilling to let Luke abandon her. Even if Luke gave her a sum of money, it didn¡¯t offer as much security as having a rich husband. Subconsciously, Jocelyn covered her belly with her hand. She still wanted to give birth to the baby. The baby was her life-saving straw now. When Luke saw the child, he might change his mind about abandoning her. Chapter 278 Chapter 278 When Catherine saw Jocelyn¡¯s reaction, she knew exactly what was going through her mind. She shook her head and sighed in her heart that Luke¡¯s taste in women was getting increasingly worse with each mistress. This woman was as dumb as a doorknob. Catherine had spelt it out for her but this woman still wouldn¡¯t heed her advice. She deserved what she was going through. Catherine looked as cool and collected as ever. She nced at a maid who was mopping the floor nearby and said, ¡°See this guest out.¡± Jocelyn left Catherine¡¯s house with the check in hand. She had made up her mind to keep the child. Her first priority was to return home and provide her growing fetus with nourishment. When she got home, she felt the ce wascking things for a baby so she happily made a trip to the mall. A shop assistant in the baby product store saw that Jocelyn had been picking items for quite a long time. She smiled and asked, ¡°Miss, do you need my help? Are you looking for products for a boy or a girl?¡± The shop assistant looked Jocelyn up and down, thinking that she didn¡¯t look like a mother. She asked, ¡°Or are you picking something out for your friend¡¯s child?¡± With her arms crossed over her chest, Jocelyn didn¡¯t look as humble and pitiful as she had been before Luke and Catherine earlier that morning. She gestured at the baby products on the shelf and said happily, ¡°I want something for my own child. It¡¯s a boy. Pack up all the baby products here.¡± The shop assistant looked at Jocelyn¡¯s belly which wasn¡¯t showing yet. How could she possibly know whether it was a boy or a girl this early in the pregnancy?This is from N?velDrama.Org. But she hade across many customers who preferred boys to girls. The shop assistant immediately packed the goods up for Jocelyn with a polite smile. Jocelyn walked out of the shopping mall with her bags of baby products in tow. It wasn¡¯t until that moment that she truly felt her pregnancy was true. She could feel that everything had taken a turn for the better. Jocelyn told herself that she could endure anything from then on. After the child was born, she would meet out vengeance for all the humiliation she had suffered today. There were a lot of people and cars in the business hub in Seacisco. Suddenly, a ck car without a license te drove quickly towards the sidewalk from a distance, ran straight through a red light, and then knocked a woman who was crossing the road with several bags of baby products a few meters away. Jocelyn was sent to the hospital by a kind-hearted passerby. Although she was not seriously injured, she had suffered a miscarriage. ¡°How can my baby be gone?¡± shemented. She held her aching lower abdomen and screamed loudly into the bed. Her face had an expression of mixed ferocity and desperation. Her eyes were filled with madness after her hopes had been dashed. Just moments prior to the collision, she was dreaming about the bright future life had in store for her. The next moment, she had fallen into an endless abyss. No one replied to Jocelyn. They just thought she was venting her sadness and frustration. A nurse offered her some advice though. ¡°Miss, you just had a miscarriage. You¡¯d better stay in bed to rest.¡± Regardless of the nurse¡¯s dissuasion, Jocelyn got out of bed in a hyped craze and looked for her phone in her bag to call the police. After several inquiries, she found out that the road was in a blind spot of the surveince cameras, and the car that hit her had no license. It would be very difficult to find the driver. Jocelyn held her head and bawled her eyes out in the bed. ¡°It was probably just an ident, Miss. I¡¯m so sorry. Take it easy. You will fall pregnant in future,¡± the nurse said in a sympathetic,forting voice. Being a nurse herself, she had seen a lot of women miscarry after a tragic ident. ¡°No. I won¡¯t. It¡¯s impossible now!¡± Jocelynughed bitterly and her anguish could be heard in her voice. Her eyes were bloodshot and she had lost her mind. No matter how stupid she was, she could figure out that it was Luke who was behind it. He didn¡¯t want her to give birth to his child. Probably for fear that she wouldn¡¯t go and have the abortion, he felt the need to take care of this himself. He acted like a gentleman all the time, but he was just pretending. He was actually cruel and vicious. Jocelyn cried out bitterly, ¡°Liar! He¡¯s a monster! How could he do such a terrible thing?¡± Finally, the extent of Luke¡¯s cruelty dawned upon her. She became even more panicked. She didn¡¯t have a single soul to rely on anymore, and she had lost her child. With herst glimmer of hope, Jocelyn called Charis. She thought that Charis was a simple and unsophisticated woman, so she could still deceive her and pretend to be pitiful in front of her. She genuinely believed that Charis would help her. She would ask Charis to plead with Luke for mercy. For the sake of his daughter, she believed that Luke would forgive her. Chapter 279 Chapter 279 Charis was in a senior executives¡¯ meeting when her phone rang. She nced at the caller ID and hesitated. She was aware that J had been saved; the news had been all over TV just a couple of days ago. She had also heard from her father that Fiona had practically disappeared from the face of the earth. Charis presumed that this was Brandon¡¯s doing. After all, she was clear about the dual identities of Ethan. Moreover, she knew Brandon very well. Since Brandon had intervened, she knew that Fiona would be count her blessing if she coulde back alive. Fiona and Jocelyn had tried several times to hurt J, and they had failed each attempt. The way that Charis saw it, Jocelyn was pretty much useless without her mother. Charis was already risking a lot, not knowing if Fiona would end up betraying her. She couldn¡¯t afford to associate herself with Jocelyn any further. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take that call, Miss Turner?¡± the man sitting beside her suggested. ¡°Your phone has been ringing incessantly for a while now.¡± Charis instantly ended the call and put Jocelyn¡¯s contact information on her cklist. She mustered a smile and replied, ¡°It¡¯s no one important. Let¡¯s carry on, shall we?¡± Charis didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with the Lind family anymore, especially since Fiona had already been exposed for her crimes. She couldn¡¯t risk getting implicated in the other woman¡¯s scandal. Meanwhile, Jocelyn continued to call Charis, but the line was always busy. Bewildered and scared, she curled up into herself. Sweat was beading on her forehead, and the pain in her belly was worsening by the second. Jocelyn and Charis used to be as close as best friends. She had really thought Charis was a simple, kindhearted woman, but now it seemed that the bitch had only been putting on an act. Now that she was in trouble, Charis cklisted her without hesitation. ¡°That bitch!¡± Jocelyn almost threw her phone in a fit of anger, but she managed to rein in her emotions. She couldn¡¯t help but feel like an utter fool to have been manipted by the Turner family. Like father, like daughter indeed. Jocelyn was still stewing and struggling with her frustration when her phone began to buzz. It was Bernie calling. ¡°What¡¯s up, Dad?¡± Jocelyn snapped. To her dismay, Bernie returned her impatient tone with a furious one. ¡°Where the hell are you? Do you have any idea what your mother has done? Why is she suddenly confessing to the police that she paid to have someone killed? You two are so troublesome! You give me nothing but problems!¡± Jocelyn was taken aback by her father¡¯s outburst. She scrambled out of bed and stuttered, ¡°I¡¯m in¡ªI¡¯m currently in the hospital. Is¡­ Is mom at the police station? Don¡¯t worry, Dad. I¡¯ll go and pick her up right away.¡± In reality, Jocelyn¡¯s concern wasn¡¯t so much for her mother as it was for herself. She was worried Fiona would drag her into her confession. Jocelyn had to stop her mother before that happened. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. The police just called and said that Fiona is being detained and awaiting trial. They said that, given the severity of her crimes, she is likely to be sentenced to death.¡±Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Chapter 280 Chapter 280 The news hit Jocelyn like a bolt out of the blue. She had received many blows today. Her head suddenly became woozy and she felt like fainting. ¡°Dad, please calm down. Even though my mother did something wrong, you shouldn¡¯t abandon her. She¡¯s your wife. You have to find a way to save her.¡± Leaning against the headboard of the hospital bed, Jocelyn begged her father pitifully. Her mother was her source of support. She would be lost in this world without Fiona by her side. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. The happenings of the past few days had made her cry several times. Since the Lind family went bankrupt, she had suffered a lot. She became the mistress of an old married man, and now, she had suffered a miscarriage. Jocelyn didn¡¯t know who to me for her suffering. At this moment, Bernie¡¯s voice came again from the other end of the line. He sounded as if he had aged a lot within seconds. ¡°By the way, why are you in the hospital?¡± Sheer embarrassment made Jocelyn hesitate. After biting her lower lip for a long time, she held her face with one hand and replied sadly, ¡°I had a miscarriage. It was Luke¡¯s baby but he didn¡¯t want it. He asked his driver to hit me. He intentionally made me miscarry the baby!¡± Jocelyn cried and shouted to vent her anger. Bernie instantly had a splitting headache. This was thest thing he wanted to hear. He knew before that his daughter was Luke¡¯s mistress. He began to suspect her when she suddenly brought arge sum of money and moved them into a new vi. Jocelyn didn¡¯t have a job, so it was suspicious that she managed to get the money and live an extravagant life. His suspicion had been confirmed when he overheard her talking to Luke on the phone. The Turner family of Seacisco was well-known in the world. Bernie had also heard of it. It was then he confirmed that his daughter had a sugar daddy. However, there was nothing he could do to put an end to the rtionship. He couldn¡¯t because Jocelyn refused to listen to him; also, the Lind Group indeed needed funds. All his efforts to dissuade her from continuing her rtionship with Luke failed. He was forced to stop pestering her afterward. ¡°You brought this upon yourself, Jocelyn. You have no self-respect! I advised you not to date that man. You and your mother were colluding to do something evil after she first got out of jail. Have you seen where disobedience hasnded you? You should have listened to me! You aren¡¯t a three-year-old child who needs to be pushed around. I want you to know that you and your mother are to me for your current situation!¡± Bernie said without mincing words. ¡°Dad, why are you ming Mom and me? We are not at fault. Everything is J¡¯s fault! If it weren¡¯t for that bitch, my mother and I won¡¯t be in this situation. We wouldn¡¯t have gotten bankrupt if she hadn¡¯t betrayed us. All her atrocities are what pushed me into dating Luke in the first ce,¡± Jocelyn retorted in a low voice. The pain all over her body was rapidly draining her strength. Bernie waspletely disappointed with Fiona now. He didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with her. More so, he wouldn¡¯t be able to help her even if he wanted to. His hands were tied. ¡°You know that our family no longer has power like before. There¡¯s nothing I can do to get your mother out of prison.¡± Despite her father¡¯s logical excuse, Jocelyn still didn¡¯t want to give up. She suggested, ¡°We used to have many loyal partners, didn¡¯t we? Last time I checked, some of them were still on good terms with you. Please ask them for help. I¡¯m sure they wille to your aid.¡± ¡°No, they won¡¯t help me. I have been cklisted by all of them since our fortune went down the drain.¡± Bernie¡¯s annoyance towards Jocelyn didn¡¯t affect the fatherly love he had for her. After sighing deeply, he asked, ¡°Which hospital are you in? I¡¯ll pick you up.¡± He rushed down to the hospital and brought Jocelyn back home. Bernie¡¯s heart ached when he saw his daughter in this sorry state. After helping her to her bedroom, he said, ¡°Let bygones, be bygones. We need to start afresh. Don¡¯t covet whatever doesn¡¯t belong to you from now on. I¡¯ll find a good husband for you. But if you don¡¯t want to get married, it¡¯s fine. I will continue to support you for as long as you don¡¯t spend extravagantly.¡± Jocelyn¡¯s eyes were void of their usual spark. As her father spoke, she justy on the bed without saying a word. Bernie couldn¡¯t help but sigh deeply. All of a sudden, the doorbell of the front door rang. He rushed downstairs to answer it. To his surprise, a group of uniformed police officers stood outside. ¡°Hello, we are here for Jocelyn Lind. She¡¯s wanted for a murder case. She has toe with us to the station,¡± one of them said with a deep frown. Chapter 281 Chapter 281 Two days ago, in the Larson Group. ¡°Ethan, have you heard thetest news about the Turner family?¡± Garrett asked with a knowing smile. Without waiting for a response, he added, ¡°Some woman got pregnant for Luke.¡± ¡®Tsk, tsk, tsk. Women never learn! I wonder why anyone in her right mind would dare to get pregnant for Luke. Several years ago, one of his numerous mistresses took in. It was a big scandal. In the end, the mistress died with the baby in her womb. Their death was just too sudden and mysterious. Other ladies should have learned a good lesson from that urrence. But now, another reckless mistress is pregnant!¡¯ he thought disappointedly. Just like before, everyone in the circle knew about Luke¡¯s new pregnant mistress. It was big news because no woman had dared to take in for him since that ugly incident. Ethan had heard it too. ¡°She¡¯s just another bimbo,¡± Ethan said calmly. Scanning through the file on the table, he added seriously, ¡°I need you to investigate something urgently. A car ident urred a few days ago. ording to the police report, the driver was drunk and several men lost their lives. But I don¡¯t believe that. Something smells fishy. I think someone orchestrated the ident to murder them. I want to know the whole story.¡± ¡°Okay, always a pleasure.¡± Garrett sighed and got up from the sofa. Now that Jocelyn was no longer Luke¡¯s mistress, Ethan felt that he could deal with her anyhow he wanted. He was ready to break her finally. It took Garrett only a few hours to find out the ins and outs of the car ident. It turned out that the men in the car were the perverts who had gang-raped Jocelyn. Fiona and Jocelyn had bribed an automobile technician to tamper with the car¡¯s brakes. As a result, they had a car ident. ¡°Gosh! Why does this have to do with Jocelyn again?¡± Garrett frowned and added, ¡°Those two wicked women murdered many people. If the police finds out about this, they will be sentenced to dozens of years in jail. Anyway, serves them right!¡± Ethan smiled without uttering a word. His instincts were right. This evidence was enough to get rid of those two women forever. It was as if a great weight had been raised off his shoulders. ******* The day J was to be discharged from the hospital was sunny and cloudless. During her three-day stay in the hospital, she rested and recuperated well. Ethan was busy packing up her belongings when he noticed that she had been looking outside the ward for a long time. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± He zipped up the suitcase and grabbed its handle with one hand. Afterward, he reached out to hold J¡¯s hand with the other. ¡°Ermm. I have been thinking of Laney. I just want to see her. She saved my life. I need to thank her properly before leaving. Didn¡¯t you say she was admitted here too? Which ward is she in?¡± J craned her neck and looked at each side of the corridor. Ethan¡¯s face softened a little. He initially nned to help Laney leave the hospital as soon as she recovered, but he changed his mind on second thought. He reasoned that it was better to keep her close. Not only was Laney a good bodyguard, but J also seemed to like her. He felt that both women would be friends, so Laney could keep on protecting J in the future without arousing her suspicions. That seemed like a better n.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Okay. Since you insist, I will take you there now.¡± Ethan held his wife¡¯s waist and steered her towards a ward to the right. On the way, J suddenly stopped and looked very hesitant. She pursed her lips and said cautiously, ¡°Laney is a little aloof. I don¡¯t know what to say to express my gratitude. What if she doesn¡¯t want to see me? I¡¯m not sure I want to do this anymore.¡± J was somewhat scared of Laney. She had sensed her aloofness from the very first time they spoke to each other at the sand bar. When Ethan saw the shy expression on his wife¡¯s face, he couldn¡¯t help feeling a little jealous. He held her hand, interlocking their fingers. As he continued leading her, he uttered with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She will be happy to see you. If she behaves otherwise, I will give her a piece of my mind. Trust me!¡± Hardly had J chuckled and attempted to speak when Ethan pulled her into the ward. They met Laney packing up her clothes into a bag. She looked up at them and asked quickly, ¡°Hello, what can I do for you?¡± Chapter 282 Chapter 282 J saw that Laney¡¯s face was slightly pale and she looked more fragile and beautiful. She suddenly had the urge to protect her. After pursing her lips, she said, ¡°Miss Garcia, please pardon me for not coming before now to express my gratitude to you for saving my life. I didn¡¯t have the strength to get out of bed previously. I¡¯m here to thank you and also invite you for lunch.¡± Laney readily epted the invitation. The three of them went to a restaurant near the hospital and had lunch. The bright sun rays reflected on the ss windows of the restaurant. A few people were inside at that time. The tantalizing aroma of different foods, snacks, and drinks filled the air. J sat next to her husband, while Laney sat directly opposite her. Ethan took the teapot and poured some tea for them. The two women chatted happily. ¡°Miss Garcia, what do you do for a living? Whichpany do you work for?¡± J asked inquisitively. To buy some time, Laney took a sip of tea and stole a nce at Ethan. They had both discussed what she would say to J, but she didn¡¯t want it to seem too prompt. ¡°Well, I used to be a secretary. But thepany I worked forid off a huge chunk of their staff and I got fired. Currently, I am job hunting,¡± Laney replied straightforwardly and then set down the teacup carefully. ¡°Oh, sorry about that.¡± J had begun to feel sorry for her when something urred to her and her eyes lit up. She remembered that the Larson Group was currently recruiting secretaries for senior executives. ¡°Ourpany is currently recruiting new employees. Would you like to work there? I can rmend you. Give me your resume.¡± Hearing these words, Laney nced at Ethan again. He didn¡¯t seem ufortable with J¡¯s offer. He just sat straight at the table and did nothing. Laney was relieved to see this, so she sent a fake resume to J. They had a good time during the meal. Now that they had gotten along well, J¡¯s impression of Laney changed. She didn¡¯t think she was an aloof woman anymore. J saw that underneath Laney¡¯s indifferent appearance, was a softhearted woman who had a free personality. She felt safe and comfortable with her. Laney simrly realized that the woman who Ethan and Garrett ordered her to protect had a very interesting personality. However, she still couldn¡¯t fathom why they hid the fact that she had been hired as a bodyguard. She thought, ¡®I wonder why they are keeping her in the dark. It would have been more convenient if she knows my job. Anyway, it¡¯s none of my business. I¡¯m ready to do my job and keep my lips sealed as long as I get paid.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to put in a good word for you. Perhaps we could be colleagues.¡± J¡¯s eyes were filled with expectation. It was pretty obvious that she liked Laney very much. ¡°Well, thank you. I hope so too,¡± Laneymented bluntly. It was up to Ethan whether she could join the Larson Group or not. At this moment, Ethan¡¯s gaze became gentle as he stared at the expectant look on his wife¡¯s face. He patted her head and dered, ¡°Of course, you can.¡± When Ethan got to the Larson Group the next day, he gave Laney¡¯s fake resume to Garrett. Since his original n was to get Laney into thepany, J¡¯s suggestion was a weed development. He wanted Laney to protect her always. ¡°Why did you give me this woman¡¯s resume?¡± A chill ran down Garrett¡¯s spine when he saw Laney¡¯s full name in block letters. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. ¡°Employ her immediately. That way, she will be able to protect J at all times.¡± Ethan¡¯s tone was authoritative. He wasn¡¯t making a suggestion. He wasmanding Garrett to do it without fail. Displeasure clouded Garrett¡¯s face in a split second. He asked sadly, ¡°Why do I have to be the one to employ her?¡± Ethan raised his eyebrows and eyed him as if he was looking at a fool. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s because she will be your secretary.¡± ¡°My secretary? Oh my God! But there are many senior executives in thispany. Why did you make this woman my secretary? It¡¯s not fair at all!¡± Garrett threw Laney¡¯s resume on the table in defiance. The frown on his face also deepened. Ethan retorted matter-of-factly, ¡°You of all people should know that she¡¯s not really a secretary. As J¡¯s bodyguard, this job is just to keep her undercover. Besides, you are the only one that knows her true identity in thispany. Which other senior executive could she possibly work for while doing her real job? Answer me!¡± Garrett was rendered speechless. But he still couldn¡¯t ept the development. Just when he was about to refuse again, someone knocked on the door. A secondter, Laney pushed the door open and came in. She was wearing a white skirt and a light pink shirt, which made her look beautiful and harmless. With a stack of documents in her arms, she said solemnly, ¡°Good day, Mr. Harding. I¡¯m your new secretary. Please feel free to advise me and give me any tasks to do. I promise to do my best.¡± Garrett was forced to swallow the words of refusal. Despite Laney¡¯s harmless appearance, he couldn¡¯t help but remember how she had smacked him down with one hand the first time they met. Garrett rubbed his back. He could still feel a dull pain in his shoulder. ¡°Ahem. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t do any of that.¡± He suddenly suffered a banging headache. Garrett was naturally adies¡¯ man. He loved beautiful women and behaved like a gentleman in their midst. Although Laney was beautiful, she was equally dangerous. He suspected she could easily break him into two, so he nned to stay away from her. She was a rose with thorns in his eyes. Chapter 283 Chapter 283 Sensing the tension in the air, Ethan stood up, picked up the documents on the table and left immediately. ¡°You guys talk,¡± he said as he walked out. There was a helpless look on Garrett¡¯s gentle, strikingly handsome face. It was only when Ethan left that Garrett took his sses off the bridge of his nose. He held his aching head and looked at Laney. ¡°Anyway, this was just part of the disguise. I have spared a room for you here, you can do as you please in there. There is also a gym at thepany. Just don¡¯t stir up any trouble for me.¡± Laney nodded politely. She didn¡¯t like Garrett in the least bit and thought he was just a superficial man who enjoyed judging people by their appearance. She said in a in tone, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t disturb you.¡± Garrett didn¡¯t even want to look at her any longer or be bothered by her mere presence. He waved her out and said, ¡°Alright, you can leave now.¡± ¡°Okay, Mr. Harding,¡± Laney replied in the same nd tone. She put down the documents in her hands and was just about to leave. Before she closed the office door, she made a departingment, ¡°Mr. Harding, my name is Laney, Laney Garcia. If you find it so difficult to pronounce or remember, just call me Miss Garcia. If you keep calling me ¡®woman¡¯, I will mistakenly think that you are being disrespectful to me and I might lose my temper.¡± Laney had always been a straightforward person. Perhaps it was because she had spent much of her time around men. She learned that when there was any conflict, the most effective way to deal with it was to put up a fight. With an unhappy scowl in his face, Garrett did his utmost not to snap at her. He said, ¡°I see, Miss Garcia.¡± *******This is from N?velDrama.Org. On her first day at work, Laney spent half of the day in the gym. She didn¡¯t have many hobbies but she was positively obsessed with exercising and fighting. There weren¡¯t many people in the gym during work hours, so she ran a full ten miles on the treadmill. After working in the office for the entire morning and having attended a two-hour meeting with the senior executives at midday, Garrett¡¯s entire body felt sore all over. He decide to hit the gym to ease the muscle tension. He changed into his gym attire and walked in. The first thing he saw was Laney punching a sandbag in the corner, her wrists wrapped in white gauze. Although Laney had a feminine, petite build and looked like she couldn¡¯t hurt a fly, when she hit the punching bag, it sunk in from the brute force. Garrett could tell how strong Laney was from the sound he heard when her fists made contact with the punching bag. He thought that not even a tall, strong man could be sure to win a fight against her. He had practiced boxing techniques before, but he only did it to build up his body rather than with the intention of fighting. As he watched Laney practicing, he wondered who would be able to handle such a tough woman. Nothing escaped Laney¡¯s sharp eyes. In the reflection of the mirror, she saw Garrett enter the gym in his ck sportswear and look her up at down repeatedly. ¡°Mr. Harding, do you want to fight me?¡± The hostility in Laney¡¯s eyes was obvious. She raised her fists slightly in his direction, as if to say she was weing his attack. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± he said. Garrett raised his hand and took several steps back. His tone was much gentler and more polite than before. He had thought of what she had said to him earlier. She was right. As a man, he ought not to be so petty. Now that Garrett was treating her in a much more respectful manner, she stopped staring at him. She took the towel that was hanging around her neck and wiped the beads of sweat rolling down her forehead. Her intention was to keep up her practice for another two hours. ¡°Miss Garcia, may I ask you something?¡± Garrett was surprised at how fit she was and was curious to discuss the topic with her. ¡°Why would you be a hit man? I mean, you are a woman, and¡­¡± Chapter 284 Chapter 284 Laney waved her fists and continued punching. The punching bag swayed in the air. After a while, she held the punching bag and finally replied calmly, ¡°I¡¯m in this line of work to earn a living.¡± She then picked up a water bottle from the floor and uncapped it. After taking a few sips, she looked at him with displeasure in her eyes. ¡°So what I am a woman? What does my gender have to do with my fighting capability as against that of a man? After all, you are a man, but I can easily kick your ass.¡± These words filled Garrett with fear. He scratched his head uneasily, not knowing what to say. ¡®This woman looks tiny and harmless on the outside, but she¡¯s actually inexplicably tough. What she said is very true. I had better not mess with her!¡¯ Garrett admitted defeat in his mind. All his life, he had only met sexy and charming women. They were all weaker than men and this always aroused his pity and love for them. Laney was the first woman he had met that was charming but tough. She was also stronger than most men, including him. And this bruised his ego greatly. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. He thought that it would be unwise to argue with her, so he put on a fake smile and did a wee hand gesture. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with that. Please go on.¡± Then he walked to a treadmill and began to run. He had known from the very beginning that they were two worlds apart. They were the only ones currently in the gym because it was still working hours. As a result, they seemed too close to each other even though the gym was spacious. Laney punched the punching bag a few more times before she began to practice her fighting skills. Garrett watched her for a while with his mouth agape. The sight of her fighting skillfully filled him with more fear. His self-esteem was dwarfed in her presence. After making several futile attempts to concentrate on his exercise, he decided to pack up and leave. Laney sneered under her breath when she saw him pick up his fitness bag carefully and make his way for the door. She wasn¡¯t surprised one bit. Ever since she became a professional fighter, she hade across a lot of men like him. Not only did they find it weird that a girl like her was a good fighter, but they were also intimidated by her. They always wanted to stay away from her. ¡®Humph! Good riddance to bad rubbish!¡¯ Laney didn¡¯t give a damn about insecure men like Garrett because she didn¡¯t like them too. Midway towards the door, Garrett stopped in his tracks and walked back slowly. He looked at Laney sideways and saw that her slightly pale face and long hair were soaked with sweat. Raising his eyebrows, he said seriously, ¡°Remember to take a shower after you are done here. The bathrooms are behind the gym. The one with hot water is on the left and the cold one is on the right. Blinking her eyes in confusion, Laney asked, ¡°And why are you telling me that?¡± When Garrett noticed that she was getting angry, he raised his hands and replied innocently, ¡°It¡¯s just a piece of harmless advice. You are supposed to work here as my secretary. If the other employees see you in my office in this sweaty state, they would think we just had sex. I already have a terrible reputation, so it won¡¯t get to me. But I doubt if you can take such embarrassment.¡± Laney red at him with a flushed face. She then uttered crossly, ¡°Okay, you can leave now!¡± Chapter 285 Chapter 285 Now that Laney became Garrett¡¯s secretary, she got to see J often. Today, she invited J out to dinner. ¡°Thank you for rmending me for this job,¡± Laney said as she handed the menu over to J. ¡°This one¡¯s going to be my treat!¡± Although J hadn¡¯t really done much, Laney never liked owing favors to anyone. J waved her hand and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Miss Garcia. You¡¯re the one who saved my life. I don¡¯t even know how to thank you properly for that.¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so formal with me. We are friends now. Please just call me Lane. It¡¯s what all my buddies back at the club call me.¡± A wistful smile yed on Laney¡¯s lips. J leaned forward, curious as a cat. ¡°A club? What kind of club is it?¡± Laney stopped short. She had blurted out the words without thinking. ¡°Well¡­ You know, just a hobby club.¡± She cleared her throat and took a sip of water. ¡°But they¡¯ve all relocated to the countryside. I n on saving a lot so that I can invite them back to the city.¡± ¡°How about you, where are you residing at the moment?¡± ¡°Down at Ester Street.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite a distance from work. How about I help you find a ce near Larson Group?¡± J offered. ¡°The closer you live, the more convenient it is in terms ofmute. Actually, I live in a pretty good neighborhood, with lots of affordable apartments. Would you like me to make an inquiry for an avable unit?¡± The opportunity was too good to pass up, and it would certainly be easier for Laney to protect J if they lived close to each other. ¡°That¡¯s great! Please do, and thank you.¡± Thrilled, J wasted no time and immediately called up the real estate agent. Soon enough, Ethan was notified of her request. It was only a matter of course, since half of the properties in the neighborhood was owned by the Larson Group. Eventually, the women found a single-bedroom apartment. It was cheaper than most units in the area, despite it being fully-furnished. Since Laney¡¯s move, the two often traveled to and from work together. On some weekends when they were both free, they would go shopping and have dinner. ¡°You¡¯re such a kind and generous person, J,¡± Laney remarked one day. ¡°You must have a lot of friends.¡± But J shook her head in response. ¡°Not at all. I never really had friends even when I was a child.¡± Since primary school up to her university days, no one had dared to befriend her for fear of incurring Jocelyn¡¯s wrath. ¡°Well, then,¡± Laney said emphatically. ¡°I¡¯ll be your good friend from now on.¡± No matter how they hade to know each other, it was clear that J and Laney had the same wavelength and got along really well. ******* It came to Charis¡¯ attention that another woman had been hanging around J recently. It didn¡¯t take long for her to look into the woman¡¯s identity. ¡°Laney Garcia?¡± she read the report, frowning. Charis sensed that Laney was not the typical office worker. She might be petite, but she had quick reflexes and was rather nimble on her feet, and anyone with a sharp eye would recognize the faint traces of scars on her arms and shins. This woman was obviously a fighter. Charis was instantly suspicious of Laney¡¯s sudden appearance in thepany, and ordered her men to investigate her background. Chapter 286 Chapter 286 Charis¡¯s private investigator couldn¡¯t find a lot of information about Laney whose identity was kept confidential. However, there was a piece of information that shocked Charis. It was that Laney was one of the top bodyguards in the country and she had protected many wealthy personalities in the past. This indicated that she had several years of experience under her belt. Another shocking detail was that Laney was also the same woman who had saved J from the car ident. Charis didn¡¯t need anyone to tell her that Brandon was the one that hired her for J¡¯s utmost protection. ¡®Aargh! Brandon even got Laney into the Larson Group so that she could watch and protect J closely. Since he is going all out to protect that bitch, it means she¡¯s very dear to his heart. This is so annoying!¡¯ Charis became angrier and more jealous as she put two and two together. ¡°Why does he like her so much? Humph!¡± She snorted. She was so heartbroken that the urge to make J disappear became stronger than ever before. ¡®Gosh! He has only known J for a few months, but she¡¯s already a very important person to him. Is he blind? What does he see in her? I really can¡¯t understand why he¡¯s head over heels in love with that in Jane.¡¯ The more Charis thought about Brandon¡¯s strong love for J, the more worried she became. She feared that he might even decide to announced to the public one day that J was Brandon Larson¡¯s wife. Not Ethan, Brandon. Hence, she decided to get rid of her before it was toote. As much as she wanted to finish J off immediately, she couldn¡¯t do it herself. Kent had failed her previously. She even colluded with Fiona, but thetter also failed. Her previous attempts were a little easier. But now that Laney was protecting J, it would be more difficult to get to her. Charis was dead sure that the future held doom for her if she didn¡¯t eliminate J soon. Time wasn¡¯t on her side now. She tapped her foot on the floor and racked her brain. After a while, she abruptly stood up from the chair with a sinister smile on her face. ¡°Oh, you were so stupid, Charis! How could you have forgotten the Lester family? Those people are the ones that can help you now. You must contact them,¡± she murmured to herself. After falling in love with Ethan in high school, Charis paid utmost attention to the Lester family. She knew that everyone in that family wasn¡¯t to be messed with. More so, she was aware that Elissa, the real Mrs. Lester, and his two half-brothers hated him so much and they would be more than willing to grab any chance to hurt him. The Lester Group and the Larson Group were currently rivals in the business industry. Now that J worked for the Larson Group, she saw it as a great opportunity to make the Lesters hate her. She nned to y her cards right, so this wouldn¡¯t cause any problems for thepany. Ritchie seemed to be the best potential ally out of all of them. Hence, she decided to use him. It had been ages since Charisst saw Ritchie. However, she remembered that in high school, he looked nothing like Ethan even though they had the same father. Ethan was way more handsome than him. Ritchie had been two grades higher than Charis and Ethan when they got into high school. He didn¡¯t graduate from high school with honors, so he wasn¡¯t granted admission to any top university. But his family bribed the school admission officer at one of the universities and eventually got him in. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Right from childhood, Ritchie had been a school bully and hemitted a lot of offenses. However, his family always helped him clean up his mess without bringing him to order. He had slightly grown out of his troublesome behavior, but it was a known fact that he hadn¡¯t changed much. And this was the first reason why Charis thought he was the best person to collude with. The Lesters weren¡¯t people who trusted outsiders easily. She would have to employ a good trick to get any of them on her side. But she was so blinded by her wicked ambition to get rid of J that she didn¡¯t care anything else. ¡®Ritchie will crush that bitch like a fly,¡¯ Charis thought confidently. Another reason why Ritchie was the perfect candidate was that he wasn¡¯t as emphatic and careful as Kent. People like J were nothing in his eyes. Chapter 287 Chapter 287 Afterpleting the joint project with the Perkins Group, J finally ended her hectic schedule that had been going on for the past two weeks. The designers gathered early one morning to discuss their prospective portfolios for this season¡¯s autumn and winter series. Without warning, Tiffany pushed through the ss door and strode in, her high heels cking against the tiled floor. ¡°All right, everyone,¡± she said, pping her hands to get their full attention. ¡°We are going tounch a high-end series of early spring styles. Brace yourselves because we are going to the Spring Fashion Week in Seacisco! Now, get moving and squeeze your creative juices! I want to see your designs piled up on my desk by the end of the week.¡± A wave of excitement came over everyone, and they burst into action. The Fashion Weeks in Seacisco were decidedly a big deal in the industry. Designers needed to adhere to very strict qualifications for a chance to showcase their talents. On top of that, the slots were limited, so they had to make sure that their portfolios stood out even during the screening procedure. ¡°None of our designs got inst year,¡± a colleague remarked. ¡°But we will definitely qualify this time and get international brands to sign with us!¡± ¡°The Seacisco Fashion Week is no joke,¡± Gerda said. ¡°Even if we only get through to the first runway walk, that would be considered a great honor. Unfortunately, beginners and mid-level designers aren¡¯t allowed to participate in the event.¡± She sighed before nudging J¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I don¡¯t know about the others, but I really think you stand a chance to get into the preliminary screening. You¡¯re a lot more talented than most of us.¡± J shook her head sheepishly. ¡°Thank you, but I suppose there¡¯s nothing we can do about it.¡± Tiffany came over at that moment and gave J a big smile. ¡°That¡¯s not exactly true. You¡¯re perfectly qualified to undergo the screening process. The superiors think so highly of you that they decided to make an exception.¡± ¡°Really?¡± J eximed. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Fisher! I promise, I won¡¯t let you down.¡± She nced at Gerda, who was also grinning with joy. The two womenughed together and let out squeals of excitement. Tiffany turned on her heel, and left the room with a spring in her step. ¡°Oh, my God!¡± Gerda gushed. ¡°You are so going to defeat all the other designers! I¡¯m putting my money on it!¡± The next few days saw thepany¡¯s senior designers working overtime to perfect their final output. Five dayster, it was game time. The panel in charge of the preliminary selection consisted of the big shots in Larson Group¡¯s Design Department. They were all experts in the field, whose designs had been featured in various Fashion Weeks around the world. ¡°Their current designs are much better than the ones submitted in thest few years. These drafts are very unique; it¡¯s quite difficult picking out a handful from this brilliant body of work.¡± This came from the chief editor of a fashion magazine. She leafed through the rest of the drafts until she came upon a portfolio. Her eyes immediately lit up. ¡°This girl¡¯s work is fantastic! I must say, I¡¯m very impressed.¡± Charis was also part of the panel. The Turner family had started their business in the entertainment world, so she had a distinctly umon approach when it came to design. She looked over the praised draft and saw the name on the bottom of the page¡ªJ Lind.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Chapter 288 Chapter 288 ¡°It¡¯s excellent,¡± Charis finally eximed after observing J¡¯s drawing. ¡°The colorbinations seem perfect, and everyyer is designed to perfection. I can tell the designer has a great sense of fashion. This design is outstanding ¡ª clear winner,¡± Charis voted for J¡¯s draft. Since Charis had praised the design, the others looked at the draft with great interest and curiosity. ¡°What do you think?¡± Charis looked up and nced around haughtily. She held the highest status on the panel, so her opinion naturally influenced the other people¡¯s decisions. ¡°It¡¯s indeed good.¡± ¡°Ms. Turner always has good taste. This design is indeed professional and impressive,¡± the other assessors chimed in. ¡°Well, it¡¯s really good.¡± Tiffany nodded in appreciation. Ultimately, J¡¯s design draft was chosen. Tiffany didn¡¯t have a problem with the decision because J¡¯s design was indeed outstanding. All the senior designers participating in thepetition were good, but J was a natural talent. Her design was superior to theirs. The news about J¡¯s outstanding performance in the preliminary selection soon spread among the design department. ¡°Everyone spoke highly of you in the primary election. And one of the senior executives was constantly praising you,¡± Tiffany said, shrugging nonchntly. J was both happy and surprised. She didn¡¯t expect to impress the senior designers or earn their praise. She had only intended to participate in thepetition and give her best shot. ¡°Ms. Fisher, I have seen the designs of some senior designers. They are more professional than mine. ¡°Oh,e on. Stop belittling yourself, J. Your design was excellent. I think those senior executives prefer your style. After all, everyone has different tastes and preferences. As you said, some of their designs were more professional and wholesome. But they all seem tock something.¡± Noticing the unease on J¡¯s face, Tiffany patted her shoulder reassuringly and returned to her office. Meanwhile, J heard three senior designersining about her getting selected. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Lind was not qualified to participate in thepetition in the first ce, but she not only managed to take part in it but also won the god damnpetition,¡± one of the senior designers snorted with disdain. ¡°That¡¯s right. What the hell? I thought she just made up the numbers, so I didn¡¯t take her seriously. It looks like they had made up their minds to select her even before looking at our drafts,¡± another designer grunted with disdain. ¡°Fucking hierarchy!¡± ¡°You know what? I heard that she has an affair with a top-level senior executive of ourpany. That¡¯s why she is getting special treatment,¡± the third designer added. This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Well, I¡¯m aware of that. I heard it had caused quite a scene before. Someone was fired because of her. Well, let¡¯s not discuss it further. She is right here. We¡¯ve got to be careful. Otherwise, she willin about us as well, and we¡¯ll end up losing our jobs. After all, we are decent people. We can¡¯tpete with that bitch who has her way with everything by ying dirty tricks.¡± The first designer elbowed the other designers, and the two winked in return. J frowned. She had already guessed some people in the design department would be unhappy with the decision and bitch about her. Never had she thought things would escte this soon. Chapter 289 Chapter 289 Once the three senior designers saw the sullen look on J¡¯s face, they quickly went back to their respective desks and pretended like they hadn¡¯t been gossiping a while back. ¡°It¡¯s almost as if they think their job here is to gossip. They are always chatting incessantly. This time, they have gone too far. More than anything, I¡¯m sure you are relying on your strength here. How could they say such a thing? Humph!¡± Gerda stared at them angrily. She felt bad for J and wished she could give the rumormongers a tongueshing. But on the other hand, J wasn¡¯t that angry. This wasn¡¯t the first time she was hearing such a rumor, so she had developed a thick skin over time. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, Gerda. Leave them. Please don¡¯t get yourself into trouble because of me. When Pam spread false rumors about me in the past, I retorted because I caught her red-handed.¡± J turned on theputer and began to work. Staring at the design drawings, she added, ¡°None of them dares to gossip about me in my presence. They always backbite. I don¡¯t take such people seriously. If they are bold enough, they will say it to my face.¡± ¡°Does this mean you will allow them to continue gossiping about you? Won¡¯t you take any action against them?¡± Gerda was amazed by J¡¯s nonchnce despite the severity of the matter. ¡°Hmm!¡± J sighed. She stood up from her seat and looked at her colleagues. ¡°A clear conscience fears no usation. I didn¡¯t do anything wrong, so I¡¯m not bothered at all. Only those who are up to no good should be bothered!¡± J didn¡¯t have time for any frivolities. She wanted to invest most of her time and energy into the uing spring fashion week. It was very important to her. However, things didn¡¯t go as she had nned. Most of her colleagues turned against her. They always looked at her strangely and gave her the cold shoulder. J also noticed that they gossiped about her more frequently. They did very little to hide their distaste for her, so it was difficult for her to ignore them. This was different from thest time when Pam spread rumors about J sleeping with her direct superior, where she could easily prove herself. This time, she found it hard to properly deal with it. She didn¡¯t know whether to shut down the rumor or just ignore it. All she knew was that it was said that a designer whose surname is Lind had an affair with a senior executive of the Larson Group. J¡¯s name wasn¡¯t specifically mentioned, so it would be awkward if she confronted the rumormongers. They would think she decided to shut down the rumor because her guilty conscience was eating her up. In a state of confusion, J decided to speak to Tiffany after much hesitation. ¡°Ms. Fisher, you have heard of the recent rumor, right?¡± ¡°Yes, I have. Is it true?¡± Tiffany responded and asked her naturally. She had her customary smile on at this moment. ¡°Of course not!¡± J instantly looked aggrieved and helpless after answering sharply. This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Cheer up, J. Since the rumor isn¡¯t true, I advise that you turn a deaf ear to everything they are saying. Focus on your work. Make sure your designs are selected for the first show. Your sess will be a good response to all your haters. It will also prove that you are innocent of the usations.¡± Tiffany put down the documents and patted the back of J¡¯s hand. After pursing her lips, she continued, ¡°You had better invest the time you are using to think about that rumor on the design drawings instead. Thinking will get you nowhere. But designing will shoot you to the peak of your career in no time. Everyone¡¯s eyes are on you. Most of them are earnestly waiting for your downfall. I want you to put all of them to shame!¡± The powerful glint in Tiffany¡¯s eyes pierced through J¡¯s soul. Those words also reset her brain. At that moment, a strange feeling enveloped her. The worry in her heart was immediately reced with the zeal to strive and get out of the darknd of thorns she was trapped in. She wanted to move to the bright light that was shining ahead. ****** Meanwhile, the outrageous rumor got to Ethan¡¯s ears. And he was displeased, to say the least. He immediately ordered Garrett to investigate the source of the rumor. ¡°I have tried everything, but my efforts proved abortive. Even after interrogating many of the employees in the design department, I couldn¡¯t get tangible information that will lead to the source. They all heard it from rumormongers. The source remains unknown. It¡¯s like a never-ending circle!¡± Garrett revealed helplessly. His inability to find out the source of the rumor made him more curious. ¡°The originator of this rumor is an employee in thepany. How is it possible that the person is untraceable?¡± Conflicting emotions swirled in Ethan¡¯s dark eyes. All of a sudden, he narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°You know what? Stop the investigation for now. Don¡¯t alert the enemy. If the culprit finds out about the investigation, he or she will be extra cautious.¡± Chapter 290 Chapter 290 ¡°From the look of things, I¡¯m certain that J¡¯s colleagues are spreading the rumor because of her sess on the job. They are jealous and intimidated by her. She is being too lenient with them. And that makes it more difficult to investigate,¡± Ethan stated, his head teeming with different thoughts. ¡°Jeez! You never let an opportunity to praise your wife pass you by. Now I know how protective you are.¡± Garrett shook his head. Staring at Ethan, he put down his crossed long legs and took another comfortable position. ¡®Wow, this guy has changed so much!¡¯ he thought. He had noticed some major changes in Ethan¡¯s behavior these past few months. The previously cold and uptight Ethan was now warm and caring. Lost in thought, Ethan leaned his back on the chair and stared nkly at Garrett. He suddenly snapped his fingers and said, ¡°I have an idea. Since we can¡¯t find the source of the rumor, we should try our best to provide J with all the resources she would need. Her works must be excellent so they will be selected to be disyed at the fashion show.¡± Garrett was pleasantly surprised to hear this idea. He abruptly stood up and his eyes lit up. With his shoulder lifted, he asked, ¡°Wait, does this mean you are going to strike the Lester family again?¡± There was a subsidiarypany under the auspices of the Lester Group. It was called the Lester Silk Fabric. Producing high-end clothes was its specialty. As a result, it was one of the biggest rivals of the Larson Group. The major reason why the Larson Group came into the clothing business was topete with the Lester Group. For the past few consecutive seasons of the Seacisco Fashion Week, the Lester Silk Fabric hade out first. Ethan thought that it would be a huge blow for the Lesters if the Larson Group clinched the first-ce title this year. Ethan leaned forward, rested his elbows on the table, and sped his fingers. He stared outside through the French window and said, ¡°The Larson Group has developed rapidly in the past few years. Let¡¯s give those folks a run for their money. It¡¯s time we win that show.¡± On the other side. J had buried herself in work day and night. Tiffany¡¯s advice had charged her up. She wanted to blind her haters with her sess and show them that she wasn¡¯t someone who depended on a backer. Her mockers were the veryst people she wanted to lose to. On D-Day, many people gathered at the selection site for the Seacisco Fashion Week¡¯s haute couture. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, it¡¯s time for Larson Group and the Lester Group topete for first ce!¡± With this announcement, the judges began to look at the design drafts carefully. They asionally nced at each other and joked about some designs. The Lester Group and the Larson Group always went head-to-head every year. Their designs were often so excellent. But the designs of the Lester Group were always a little better than that of their rival. It wasn¡¯t surprising because they had been in the business for longer and had a good reputation in the industry. ¡°This design is concise and at the same time, innovative. The designer must have put in a lot of work.¡± As the judges looked at the Lester Group¡¯s design, they praised confidently, ¡°It seems the Lester Group will be selected for the opening show again.¡± The judges were about to make their final decision. But they were interrupted by a senior judge at the table. His eyes suddenly lit up as he stared at the design drafts sent by Larson Group. A bright smile also appeared on his face. ¡°Wait, I find this design from the Larson Group very interesting.¡± ¡®What is he talking about?¡¯ the other judges thought and fixed their eyes on J¡¯s work again.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Their opinion at first nce was that the design was a little tacky and naive. They didn¡¯t think it was fashion show material at all. But when they looked at it more carefully, their opinions changed. They saw that the design had many hidden meanings and it evoked thoughts. This surprised all of them. It became a masterpiece in their eyes. After a heated deliberation between the judges, the chief judge took the microphone and announced, ¡°For the first time in so many years, we had to take a look at the designs carefully. It was a stiff competition between both designs. We have decided that the Lester Silk Fabric¡¯s design can only be showcased during the second show. While the Larson Group¡¯s design will headline the first show!¡± This announcement caused quite a stir in the Larson Group. Such a thing had never happened in the years of thepetition. This victory shut up all of J¡¯s haters. It proved that she was indeed excellent at her job. Soon, the rumors drastically reduced. J¡¯s colleagues no longer looked down on her or gave her the cold shoulder. Some of them even sucked up to her. ¡°The design department of the Larson Group defeated the archenemy for the first time in many years! We are so proud! Good job, Lind!¡± Tiffany gave J a hug. The victory filled her with so much vigor and vitality. She also became more confident. J chuckled and covered her mouth to control her excitement. Waving her hand, she said humbly, ¡°I just tried my best. Thanks for the praise, anyway.¡± ¡°All right, all right! Your best has done us good. Woo-hoo! This calls for celebration. Listen up everyone, the entire design department will be going out for a get-together! It¡¯s Mr. Larson¡¯s treat!¡± ¡°Yay!¡± A cry of jubtion went up in the department when the employees heard that the boss was treating them. Chapter 291 Chapter 291 The dinner party was held in a fancy French restaurant. ¡°Lind, would you like to have a drink with me?¡± Tiffany was swiveling a ss of red wine in her hand, swaying it towards J. She nced around the crowd before darting her eyes back to J. With sincerity, she said, ¡°I¡¯m sure it must¡¯ve been difficult for you to showcase the limits of your talent under all that pressure. I know what kind of person you are. Truthfully, I¡¯d rather not say anything else. Different people have different views. Right now, I just want to drink this ss of wine with you first.¡± Upon hearing Tiffany¡¯s remark, all the employees of thepany fell silent. Amidst the quiet atmosphere, someone stood up and joked, ¡°We didn¡¯t think that Lind was very capable. She looks pretty meek. We¡¯re actually surprised that she¡¯s so incredible! Perhaps we should try to get along better after this drink?¡± ¡®This could be a way to overturn the previous rumors circting about me,¡¯ J thought. She took a sip of wine and smiled at Tiffany. With a reserved smile, she said, ¡°Thanks, everyone. I appreciate that.¡± Now that she had cleared things out, J was over the moon. When the dinner party came to an end, she received two messages; one from the bank, and one from Brandon. He said that he had given her a bonus. It was arge sum of money. This time, J epted the money without any qualms. She had spent lots of time and energy for the fashion week in Seacisco, and she had indeed made great contributions to the event. Since she was just an ordinary woman who was short of money, J epted the bonus gratefully. She sent Brandon some words of gratitude to express how grateful she was. The dinner party didn¡¯tst very long. Most of thepany¡¯s employees were married, so they had to go back to their families and take care of them. Around eight in the evening, J¡¯s colleagues sent her home. Unable to restrain her excitement, she started humming a song while she was changing her shoes. ¡°You seem pretty happy. What¡¯s going on?¡± When Ethan heard the door open, he came out to have a look. He was holding the clothes that he had just taken out of the dryer. His broad shoulders, narrow waist, and the simple white tank top he wore made him look even more muscr. J¡¯s eyes lit up as she walked to the sofa toy down. She had the look of satisfaction and relief. ¡°There was a project in thepany I had been working on. Now that it has beenpleted, and I get some extra bonus!¡± She didn¡¯t tell Ethan all the details of the project, because she assumed that he didn¡¯t know much about fashion shows. After all, men usually paid no attention to fashion. Ethan nodded in response. Then, he sat on the sofa with a pile of clothes in his arms. Thereafter, he folded the clothes neatly. It was then that J noticed that her underwear were among the clothes he was folding. Her bras and panties looked a lot smaller in his hands. ¡°I can fold those myself!¡± J took her underwear away; her face turned red. Ethan didn¡¯t think it was a big deal, for he had done this many times. He chuckled and pinched her blushing face. ¡°We¡¯re a couple. Why are you so shy about it?¡± The way her eyelids dropped and how her eyshes fluttered about made J looked timid yet lovable. Trying to suppress his smile, Ethan cleared his throat and decided to change the topic. ¡°In that case, we should celebrate your victory! Let¡¯s go out this weekend. You¡¯ve been busy with work for so long that you haven¡¯t had a chance to rx.¡± He and J had been through a lot recently, and they weren¡¯t even that close yet. All he wanted was to have an opportunity for them to develop their feelings for each other. As Jy on the sofa, she stared at the ceiling. She realized that so many things had been happeningtely. She had done a good job during the fashion week, so she deserved to rx for once. Aside from that, ever since she and Ethan got together, she seemed to be getting luckier than before. J had left the Lind family, and she was able to stand out during the fashion week. She looked at Ethan and asked, ¡°I have no idea where to go. Do you know where we can go?¡± Ethan picked up the neatly folded clothes, stood up, and headed back to his room, saying, ¡°Yup! I¡¯ll make the arrangements.¡± Fearing that he would waste too much money, J sprang to her feet and said, ¡°Don¡¯t spend too much money!¡± Adhering to J¡¯s request of not spending too much money, Ethan took her to his private ind near Seacisco. This ind hadn¡¯t been developed yet. At a nce, it was just an ind with a dense jungle, and the only source of light at night was the lighthouse. Ethan got off the yacht, grabbed J¡¯s waist, and lifted her up. The waves dashed against the rocks and hit the reef. The cloudless sky seemed to have lined up with the coast. ¡°There aren¡¯t any tickets or goods to spend money on here. So, what do you think? Is it economical enough?¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Chapter 292 Chapter 292 ¡°It¡¯s good that it doesn¡¯t cost a lot. We need to save as much money as we can in case of any emergencies. Anyway, how did you find this ce? The scenery is so beautiful and the air is fresh. It¡¯s nothing like the city.¡± J took a deep breath and the cool air soothed her nerves. She continued to inhale and exhale to rx more. After doing that and stretching herself, she soon feltfortable. Her day-to-day life was a little tough. She usually faced theputer and saw many tall buildings and people every day. Now that she was away from the hustle and bustle of the city, she was at ease. ¡°A friend rmended it to me. I¡¯m d you like it.¡± Ethan carried the big bags and walked ashore. They were quite heavy, but he preferred to carry them himself. He didn¡¯t want to burden his wife at all. J just followed him closely, carrying her small handbag. She had thought she was alone with Ethan on this ind. But when she looked back, she saw four mening down from the yacht. They were carrying tents, tables, chairs, cauldrons, and a couple of other camping equipment. The men went under a shade of coconut trees and began to set up the tent. It was as big as a yurt, almost the size of a house. ¡°What are they doing?¡± J has never seen a tent this big before. From the sizes and appearance of the other equipment, she could tell that they were high-end. She had her eyes fixed on the men in confusion. ¡°They are helping us set up the tent and everything we will need.¡± Ethan put the foldable outdoor chair on the ground. Patting off the dust, he said to her, ¡°Come and sit here. The arrangement will take them some time.¡± ¡°How much does all that cost?¡± J covered her mouth in awe of everything she was seeing. It was as if she was seeing those things for the first time. Three of the men were setting up the tent, while one of them was arranging the barbecue grill. ¡®How come they are doing all these? Well, I don¡¯t think they are doing these for free. Delivering such high- end camping equipment and setting everything up must cost a lot. How was Ethan able to afford their service? Did his friend who rmended this ce send them here?¡¯ Noticing that J was lost in thought, Ethan pulled her to sit on the chair and exined, ¡°Those pieces of equipment are all rental. They don¡¯t cost much at all.¡± Shortly after, the four men were done setting up the equipment. They bowed to Ethan and J and left as quickly as they came. As J took a sip from the orange juice Ethan had given her, she murmured to herself, ¡°Those men were so diligent. Their customer service is just excellent. That¡¯s good to know.¡± The couple went to the arranged area and camped there. ¡°What would you like for lunch?¡± After checking the time on his wristwatch, Ethan walked to the grill to start the fire. The dried leaves and branches on the ground made rustling and snapping sounds as Ethan walked on them. He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. His slender fingers and strong arms had green veins slightly protruding out of them. J¡¯s mouth flew open when she saw his muscr figure. It was until Ethan turned to look at her that she regained her senses. She shook her head and blinked severally as her face flushed. As if nothing had happened, she walked up to him and finally replied, ¡°Since there¡¯s a grill here, how about we have a barbecue?¡± The faint fragrance of J¡¯s body wafted into Ethan¡¯s nostrils as soon as she walked to his side. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder what perfume she wore today. Her scent was doing something to him. To control himself, he pinched his palm hard and slightly bit the walls of his mouth. The piercing pain kept him from getting turned on. However, his temporary wall of defense came crashing down when J touched his hand. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Let me help you¡­¡± J said as she tried to take over the grill from him. But her words were cut short because Ethan suddenly grabbed her chin with his big hand. ¡°Damn it!¡± he cursed, gritting his teeth. After staring at her lips for a split second, he lowered his head and bit her lower lip gently. He suddenly held her around the waist and pulled her closer with his other hand. J¡¯s body was trembling and her heart was beating fast at this time. Before she could process what was happening, Ethan kissed her slowly and deeply. She found herself responding hungrily to him. The kiss was so passionate that they didn¡¯t know how long itsted. By the time they released each other¡¯s lips, they were both panting heavily and their lips were slightly swollen. Ethan hugged her and stroked her hair lovingly. Camping was a first-time experience for both Ethan and J. Although they were so excited to cook in the open air, it took them the whole afternoon to make a half-cooked barbecue and vegetables. They were happy with the result, nheless. When dusk came, the ind became even more breathtaking. The orange setting sun hung above the sea horizon. It made the water glisten brilliantly. A fishing ship was in a distance. At this moment, it seemed like time slowed down. Sitting in a chair, J looked in a distance and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. She propped her chin on her hand and mumbled casually, ¡°The sight is so beautiful. I wish I could make a painting of it. I haven¡¯t painted in a long time. It¡¯s a pity that I didn¡¯t bring any painting tools along. I guess I can only feed my eyes then.¡± Ethan didn¡¯t say anything in response to her at first. He just stared at her quietly as she basked in the sun. The reflection of the sunlight on her beautiful face delighted him. Affection flitted in his eyes. His heart suddenly began to thump against his chest and he could hear it clearly. ¡°Ahem! You don¡¯t have to just feed your eyes. I¡¯ll see what I can do about the painting tools,¡± he finally said. Chapter 293 Chapter 293 J quickly turned to look at Ethan as soon as she heard those words. With her eyes widened in surprise and disbelief, she asked, ¡°Did you bring painting tools along?¡± Undiluted affection glistened in Ethan¡¯s eyes as his lips curled up in a smile. He stood up and leaned close to her. As he stared at her affectionately, the golden sun rays danced on their faces. Instinctively, he stroked her hair and replied, ¡°I¡¯ll try find you some. Just wait for me here.¡± Ethan straightened up and began to walk towards the forest. When he was sure that he was out of J¡¯s sight, he took out his phone and called Sean. His face was cold and his tone was authoritative at this time. ¡°Send a helicopter here with the best painting equipment immediately!¡± On the other end of the line, Sean was bbergasted to hear his boss¡¯smand. He had been busy supervising the servants to clean up Ethan¡¯s house. Although the errand was out of the blue, he had no choice but to respond, ¡°Okay, sir. I¡­ I¡¯ll do that right away.¡± In a resigned state, Sean guessed that Ethan wanted a set of painting equipment because of J. He immediately set to work. Thirty minutester, a helicopter came to the ind and delivered a set of painting equipment. Ethan wasted no time in grabbing them. He strapped the easel and the drawing board on his back, while he carried the acrylic paint set, a bucket, and paint brushes in his hands. He then walked back to the beach. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°What! Where did you get all these from, Ethan? The drawing board is so big. Howe I didn¡¯t see it among our belongings just now?¡± J asked in surprise. Opening her arms wide, she added, ¡°This is an uninhabited ind and there¡¯s no shop here. More so, the closest habited area is hundreds of miles away from here. Where did you get these things from?¡± As J bombarded him with questions, Ethan set down all the tools and smiled at her. She looked so adorable in her puzzled state. ¡°Well, there¡¯s a ship on the other side of the ind. I went to speak to the upants there. Luckily, there was a painter amongst them. He sold these tools to me at a cheap price.¡± ¡°Wow! Where is he?¡± J¡¯s eyes lit up and she looked in the direction that Ethan hade from. ¡°I want to meet him!¡± she added excitedly. Ethan grabbed her wrist and replied sadly, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that can¡¯t be possible. They sailed away as soon as I got out of the ship. I think they only stopped to watch the sunset. Not to worry, I already thanked him enough for you. Didn¡¯t you say that you wanted to paint? Why don¡¯t you get right to it? See, the sun would set soon. You¡¯d better hurry up!¡± J was a little displeased that she couldn¡¯t meet the so-called painter, but she smiled and began to set up the easel. The cool evening breeze blew her white dress when she took a paintbrush and dipped it in paint. Now that she was ready to begin painting, Ethan decided to take delight in watching her. He poured himself a cup of refined beer and sat next to her. He quietly watched as she painted. Only one-quarter of the sun remained in the sky about an hourter. Ethan thought it was about time she finished painting. He stood up from the wooden chair, put his arm around her shoulder, and kissed her on the forehead. He then brushed her nose with his. Smiling dotingly at her, he asked, ¡°My little painter, how¡¯s your paintinging along?¡± Without responding, J brushed the paintbrush on the canvas a few more times before she put it away. A proud smile suddenly appeared on her face. Massaging her hand, she stared at the canvas intently. On the canvas, there was a man and woman sitting side by side. The rays of the orange sunset were on them. A sea which was dyed golden by the sunset was in front of them. Thin coconut trees were on each side of the canvas. The mood of the painting was serene. The white clothes the couple had on also contributed to its warmness. J had intentionally painted her and Ethan. The current atmosphere was beautiful, calm, and romantic. She wanted to make this momentst forever. Chapter 294 Chapter 294 ¡°What do you think?¡± J asked timidly. If she had to be honest, she wasn¡¯t really confident about the painting. Thest time she had painted with nature as the subject was when she was still a student. She had been drawing fashion designs so much that she had started to feel the rest of her drawing repertoire slipping. As for what she had just made, she¡¯d just pulled it mostly out of her imagination. J wasn¡¯t sure if Ethan would like it; it certainly looked t to her. Ethan¡¯s face was unreadable as he reached out to run his fingers across the drawing board. For one long moment, he said nothing and just stared at it. J grew flustered soon enough. She tugged at his sleeve, her lips pursed. ¡°Ethan, is everything okay?¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Instead of answering her, he just bent down and kissed her again. J was so nervous that her palms were sticky with sweat, but she still grabbed his shirt and pulled him close. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to fall into his passionate assault, even as her heart thundered inside her chest. Their kiss deepened, their tongues dancing wildly against each other. The sound of the crashing waves faded into the background, and all they could hear was theirbored breathing and the asional moan of pleasure. ¡°Wait, Ethan,¡± J panted as she pulled back and turned her head sideways to avoid another kiss. ¡°You haven¡¯t said anything about my painting yet.¡± Her face was flushed, and her lips were swollen. Undeterred, Ethan pressed a soft kiss on her cheek and pressed her slender waist against his body. He gave the drawing board a short, tender nce before trailing more kisses down her throat. His lips wandered to the back of her ear. ¡°It¡¯s good, babe,¡± he whispered, his voice tight. ¡°It looks really good. There, can I do it now?¡± Ethan was burning with desire. J finally looked up at him, only to lower her eyes again. Her mind was slowly turning into mush. She didn¡¯t even know what to say. The truth was that she wanted him just as much as he wanted her, if not more. Ethan¡¯s eyes darkened. Before she could utter a word, he swooped down and mischievously licked her lips, nipping and sucking the soft flesh between her teeth. Soon enough, neither could contain their raging lust any longer. Ethan picked J up and carried her into the tent. The next thing she knew, he had already set her down on the thick bedding, trapping her with hisrge frame. He rubbed his body against hers, eliciting a slow moan that sent currents running down his veins. Ethan kissed her gently on the neck, prompting J to grab his cor in a death grip. For some reason, that single, innocent kiss was more profound than the more torrid ones they had just shared. Her long legs instinctively wrapped around his waist. The air inside the tent grew hot and heavy. ¡°Ethan¡­¡± J trembled, all at once excited and scared. She could feel every inch of his hands as they roamed her body, and wherever they touched, her skin ignited. ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± Ethan rasped. With one swift movement, he sat back on his hunches and took his shirt off, revealing his broad chest. He looked like a beast raring to devour its prey. A drop of sweat fell from his hair and slid down his toned abs before disappearing under his trousers. J closed her eyes in anticipation. She heard the sound of a zipper ripping open, and then finally, she felt it¡ªhot, hard, and pulsating, pressing against her pelvis. Just when they were about to get to the best part, there was a bright sh of light, followed by the cracking sound of thunder. Heavy rain began pouring in the next second, beating down on the tent and causing its roof to cave in slightly. Ethan propped himself up on his elbow and swept the tent¡¯s curtain aside. When he saw the storm raging outside, his eyes narrowed dangerously. He had made sure to check the weather forecast before they had evene here. Apparently, the sea was so capricious that the weather in nearby areas could never be predicted for certain. The thought had barely crossed his mind when the winds suddenly picked up. They blew violently against the tent, while the heavy rain kept pelting its thin fabric. It might be a high-end product of excellent quality, but it stood no chance against a tempest by the sea. Even now, the damn thing was shaking around them. Chapter 295 Chapter 295 Ethan grunted and stopped reluctantly. When J couldn¡¯t feel the hardness of his body against hers, she slowly opened her eyes in confusion. Ethan¡¯s heart was filled with mixed feelings as he stared at her. He smoothed his wet hair back and swallowed hard. ¡°What are we going to do now?¡± J¡¯s cheeks were red and her eyes were misty. She still hadn¡¯t recovered from the hot kiss she just received. Ethan hugged her and rubbed her back as he tried to calm himself down. After a long while, he said, ¡°Everything will be fine. Just stay here. I¡¯ll go and erect the tent again.¡± He got up, put on his clothes, and went out. J took a fetal position and wrapped herself up with the thick nket. As she waited obediently, she looked out of the window. The rain was falling heavily and the wind blew. A violent bolt of lightning suddenly erupted in the sky. She immediately stopped looking outside and pulled the nket over her head. The moment Ethan returned, she rushed to him and hugged him tightly. ¡°I hope the rain won¡¯t get heavier. But it¡¯s okay, J. I¡¯m here with you.¡± He patted her head dotingly. Ethan didn¡¯t want her to get too scared, so he adjusted his mood. He held her in his arms and theyy under the nket. With his face pressed against her neck, he muttered, ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I should have studied the weather report well before bringing you here. It¡¯s rather unfortunate that we can¡¯t call a ship at this time. I¡¯m sorry.¡± The rainstorm outside was so heavy that it hit the tent violently. ¡°Hey, are you feeling sleepy? Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± Ethan smoothed the wisps of hair on her forehead and stared at her face which had an absentminded expression. He thought, ¡®She is so cute!¡¯ After yawning, J looked up at him and replied flirtatiously, ¡°Just a little. But I can¡¯t sleep peacefully with all the noise. I¡¯m scared.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, dearie. You should sleep since you are sleepy. I¡¯ll watch over you and wake you up if something happens,¡± Ethan said and kissed her nose. He then wrapped his arms around her more tightly. The two of them snuggled up together and waited for the rainstorm to stop. It wasn¡¯t until midnight that the storm finally subsided. J peacefully fell asleep in Ethan¡¯s arms. The next morning, J woke up, still in her husband¡¯s warm embrace. She gently broke free, opened the tent, and walked out. Everything outside was aplete mess, except the tent. ¡°My God! We have topensate the service agency for the damages. It will cost a lot!¡± she uttered unhappily as she picked up the broken chairs on the ground. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°All these don¡¯t matter. I¡¯m just relieved that we made it through the night in one piece.¡± Ethan shrugged when he saw the damaged properties. Afterward, he took his coat and put it over J¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Huh? Why are you downying what happened? We made it through the night, but the experience was horrible. We could have been drenched by the rain. Or worse still, struck by lightning. We shouldn¡¯t havee here in the first ce. Wouldn¡¯t it have been better to stay at home?¡± J nagged, nudging him with her elbow. They cleared up the ce and went back home in the afternoon. As soon as they got into their apartment, Ethan began to take J¡¯s belongings to his room. ¡°Hey, why are you in such a hurry? Let¡¯s take things slow.¡± J held his arm as her face flushed. Still holding one of her bags, Ethan stared at her with squinted eyes. It was as if he didn¡¯t want to take things slow as she suggested. Since he refused to listen to her, J acquiesced in the end. Night came and the two of them slept on the same bed. Under the dim light, Ethan slowly moved to her and hugged her tightly. He then kissed her neck aggressively and began to explore her body with his hand. Just when he was about to get under her nightgown, J gasped and pushed him away. She blushed and said, ¡°I only agreed to move into your room. My agreement wasn¡¯t a go-ahead for you to take things too far!¡± ¡°Tsk!¡± Ethan sucked his teeth and bit her ear slightly. He theny back on the bed, smiling bitterly. ¡®Gosh, I want her! Why is she refusing me? The mood is just right. It would be hard to be in such a good atmosphere again. I wish she could just allow me to touch her tonight!¡¯ Ethan thought as the throbbing in his groin reduced. It was bad enough that the rainstorm on the ind had stopped him from having sex with herst night. He had been horny since then. But as a gentleman, he didn¡¯t want to force himself on her. He just rolled over to the side and slept off. Chapter 296 Chapter 296 Contrary to what Charis had expected, she received a lot of praise because J¡¯s design had made it to the first show of the Seacisco Fashion Week. This is from N?velDrama.Org. During the senior executives¡¯ meeting, some of the board members praised her for being insightful. ¡°Ms. Turner, you have good taste. If you hadn¡¯t praised J¡¯s design at the assessment meeting, there¡¯s no way we would have chosen hers and then defeated the Lester Silk Fabric this year. Thumbs up!¡± ¡°Yeah, I agree. The Lester Silk Fabric has won that selectionpetition for many years in a row. Their constant wins gave us a bad name. Now that we have won, our dignity has been restored. And it¡¯s all thanks to your wise decision, Ms. Turner!¡± The other senior executives concurred. Charis was so embarrassed in the face of those unwanted praises. But she had to respond with a faint smile. In her usual calm tone, she said, ¡°I¡¯m ttered by your praises. But I can¡¯t take credit for our win. I was just lucky. J is an excellent designer. It was due to her hard work and creativity that we won.¡± Charis was a slick person. As a dubious perfectionist, she wanted her disguise to be excellent. She only praised J because she wanted the others to see her as a good person. And it worked! However, Garrett was confused, rather than convinced. He was also present at the meeting. Seeing that Charis spoke well of J again, he thought it was rather odd. He knew that Charis wasn¡¯t someone who showered praises on people. As the spoiled heiress of the Turner family, she was always difficult to please. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯m hearing you praise someone. What¡¯s so special about this particr designer? I have seen J¡¯s designs. They are indeed creative and extraordinary, but she¡¯s still inexperienced and hasn¡¯t shown profoundness yet. What makes you think so highly of her, Ms. Turner?¡± Garrett peered at her through the top of his sses. His instincts told him that Charis was up to something, but he couldn¡¯t pinpoint what it was. ¡°Indeed, she needs to garner more experience. But we shall see about that. Anyway, I have to join a video conference from France soon. I need to take my leave now.¡± Charis checked her wristwatch and skillfully dodged Garrett¡¯s questions. ¡®Garrett is nothing like these clueless old men. He¡¯s very smart. If I indulge him in this conversation, I¡¯m afraid he will see right through me. I need to be careful with what I say around him. It¡¯s best I do something before he blows my cover.¡¯ Charis grabbed her documents and left the boardroom. The moment she got into her office, the friendly spark in her eyes turned cold. She threw the documents on the desk and looked at the tall buildings through the French window. ¡°J is really something,¡± Charis was both angry and surprised that J had managed to defeat the Lester Silk Fabric. ¡°Aargh! I must have underestimated that bitch. How was she able toe out victorious despite all that I did?¡± Charis was actually the source of thetest rumor about J. To wreak havoc on J and prevent her from having the zeal to work, she intentionally started rumors about her. Part of Charis¡¯s n was to make the senior executives turn against J at the same time. But J¡¯s sess in entering the first show thwarted the n. Her failure would have proved that the rumor about her getting special treatment by hooking up with a member of the board was true. Charis had thought it would bring a lot of embarrassment to J. ¡°Anyway, I still have everything under my control. J¡¯s win isn¡¯t necessarily a loss for me. It is just a minor setback. I need to start making preparations for the next step now.¡± Charis took a deep breath to regain herposure. She then picked up her phone and put a call through. As soon as it connected, she asked, ¡°Hey, how is the task I assigned to youing along?¡± ¡°It¡¯s going well, Ms. Turner. Ritchie is back from France. He has been in a bad mood since he heard the news. When he found out that the designer who defeated his family¡¯spany is actually Ethan¡¯s wife, he went ballistic in thepany. Shortly after, he stormed out.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s good enough for now!¡± There was a hint of happiness in Charis¡¯s tone. As she hung up the phone, acent glint shone in her eyes. Ritchie Lester was the CEO of the Lester Silk Fabric. Charis had ordered her allies to spread the news of J being Ethan¡¯s wife until he got wind of it. Not only was Ritchie apetitive man, but he also harbored inexplicable hatred for Ethan. The fact that he had lost to his half-brother¡¯s wife was a p in the face for him. He definitely wouldn¡¯t let J go. Chapter 297 Chapter 297 At Seacisco International Airport, the sky was grey and cloudy due to the winter. There was arge crowd close to the exit gate. However, a man in a dark brown fur coat, ck sunsses, and a ck hat stood out in the crowd. His aura was so intimidating and majestic that people cleared the way for him and stared at him in awe. As soon as he got outside, his secretary opened the door of a ck Bentley and bowed. ¡°Mr. Lester, this is thepany¡¯s financial statement for this past quarter. Please have a look.¡± The secretary handed him a document politely. Ritchie slowly took off his sunsses and hat. After cing them beside him, he collected the document. His eyes were filled with rage at this time. Although he had good-looking eyes, they were scary to look at because of the menacing glint in them. After flipping through a few pages of the document, Ritchie angrily closed it. He looked at his secretary with his eyes as sharp as daggers. ¡°I heard that ourpany was knocked out of the first show by the Larson Group this season.¡± A deafening silence filled the car. Beads of cold sweat suddenly appeared on the secretary¡¯s forehead. It was as if an unknown force was squeezing at his lungs. But he mustered up the courage and cleared his throat. ¡°It¡¯s true, Mr. Lester. It¡¯s our fault. We failed to choose the right designer to handle the project this season.¡± ¡°Of course, I know it¡¯s your fault. I have had a video meeting with the director of the design department. Now tell me, why were you all hired? Was it to make silly mistakes? Or to bring good results? Are you and your counterparts dumb? We have headlined the Seacisco Fashion Week for many years in a row. We have also been in business before the Larson Group. How could you let them defeat us? This is ridiculous!¡± Ritchie angrily threw the document at the secretary¡¯s face. His eyes were bloodshot and the veins on his temple were protruding. N?velDrama.Org content. Ever since he heard about the humiliating loss, his blood had been boiling. He was so mad that he gave the members of the design team an earful when he had a video conference with them. The secretary quivered in fear and his face turned red. He wasn¡¯t directly involved in the matter, but he could only suffer his boss¡¯s scolding in silence. ¡°Do you know the female designer who helped the Larson Group to win? I heard that the judges spoke highly of her work.¡± Ritchie snorted aggressively, rolled down the window, and rested his arm on it. With a shaky voice, the secretary replied, ¡°Yes, I know her. I heard that her name is J Lind. It¡¯s said that she¡¯s a young designer who just joined the Larson Group this year. She also happens to be Ethan¡¯s wife.¡± Ritchie raised his head and shot his secretary a cold nce that could have frozenva. Since the secretary worked closely with Ritchie, he knew that Ethan was the illegitimate son of the Lester family. He fiddled with his fingers and looked at his boss carefully. ¡°Oh, interesting!¡± Looking straight ahead, Ritchie rubbed his lips with his fingers andmented. Sparks of anger, contempt, and vengeance filled his eyes at this time. His mind had been void of thoughts about his half-brothertely. In fact, he wouldn¡¯t have remembered Ethan if not for what happened at the selectionpetition. Right from childhood, his mother had groomed him to resent Ethan. Ritchie was disgusted by the mere thought of his half-brother. He had made it a point of duty to bully Ethan for years. Just as he had wished, Ethan suffered and lived a miserable life. He soon got tired of bullying him. As the conceited second son of the Lester family, he felt that he couldn¡¯t continue to attack a sore loser. It was at this time he traveled abroad to study. Thoughts of Ethan barely crossed Ritchie¡¯s mind while he was abroad. He felt that Ethan was a lowlife who was surviving on leftovers at the bottom of the food chain. When he heard that Ethan had gotten married to the daughter of the poor Lind family, he didn¡¯t take it seriously. It was a case of ¡®good riddance to bad rubbish¡¯ as far as he was concerned. Judging by the dubious expression on Ritchie¡¯s face, his secretary instantly knew that he was nning something. He asked carefully, ¡°Mr. Lester, is there something you would like me to do for you?¡± ¡°No, you are useless to me in this aspect. The way I see it, Ethan¡¯s wife is smart and powerful. I can¡¯t afford to allow you to spoil my ns before I get started. I¡¯ll deal with her myself.¡± Ritchie¡¯s eyes darkened as he concocted a n. He decided to meet J. Aggressiveness was in his DNA. His parents had passed it on to him. One of his greatest hobbies was destroying Ethan¡¯s happiness. Now that he knew that Ethan had a good marriage life and that his wife was an enemy of Lester Silk Fabric, he wanted to crush them. Chapter 298 Chapter 298 After finishing her designs for the fashion week, J didn¡¯t need to work overtime anymore. On Monday, she got off work on time and walked home with Laney. J eyed the white T-shirt and jeans Laney was wearing and pursed her lips. ¡°How about we go shopping? I heard from a colleague that there¡¯s a clothing shop in the mall that¡¯s on sale right now.¡± ¡°Why? I have enough clothes already.¡± Laney was a casual girl. She thought that her outfit was fine. If she ran into some thugs, it¡¯d be easy for her to deal with them infy clothes. After hesitating slightly, J linked her arm in Laney¡¯s arm and smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s buy some dresses. My treat. Although you look great, your clothes are too neutral. You should try dressing up some more. You have such a beautiful face. Don¡¯t waste it.¡± J¡¯s bright eyes observed Laney¡¯s facial features. Laney was pretty. She had innocent yet sharp eyes, which made her look beautiful. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Laney opened her mouth to say something but couldn¡¯t find the words to protest. In the past, when she trained in the organization, she had always been boyish. Now that she thought about it, Laney realized that she had never really experienced what normal girls went through¡ªthings like shopping and dressing up. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s check the store out,¡± Laney relented with a helpless smile. But before the two of them could step inside the shopping mall, they were stopped by a man. ¡°J Lind?¡± he asked. The man was well-dressed, and there was a bodyguard standing behind him. When the man¡¯s eyesnded on J¡¯s face, he smiled inexplicably. J couldn¡¯t help but frown subconsciously. The man looked extremely arrogant in her eyes. She didn¡¯t even know who he was, but at a nce, she knew she didn¡¯t like him. J eyed the well-dressed man warily. ¡°And you are¡­?¡± Ritchie Lester walked over and introduced himself. ¡°I¡¯m Ethan¡¯s older brother, Ritchie. Would you like to have dinner with me so we can catch up, as family?¡± J hesitated. Ethan hadn¡¯t told her much about the Lester family. She only knew that they didn¡¯t get along well with him. Otherwise, she knew nothing about them. Ritchie was being polite enough, but there was something about the arrogance in his eyes that was off- putting to J. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I heve priormitments tonight. I¡¯m going shopping with my friend.¡± J forced e smile end refused him politely. Ritchie¡¯s eyebrow twitched slightly. Cesuelly tinkering with the ring on his thumb, he seid in e low voice, ¡°We¡¯re femily now. Won¡¯t you meke time for me?¡± J lowered her heed. She didn¡¯t went to offend him, which would only bring trouble to Ethen. Finelly, she took e deep breeth end seid, ¡°Fine.¡± ¡°I¡¯ming with you,¡± Leney immedietely seid, stering et Ritchie on high elert. But Ritchie reised his hend to stop her. In his eyes, Leney wes just e stupid women who didn¡¯t know her plece. Snorting with disdein, he glenced et Leney indifferently end seid, ¡°I¡¯m efreid it¡¯s none of your business.¡± J looked et Leney end shook her heed subtly. ¡°You should go beck. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow et work, Lene.¡± Leney looked et Ritchie egein hesitently before finelly nodding. Nheless, she plenned to secretly follow J in cese something bed heppened to her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I have priormitments tonight. I¡¯m going shopping with my friend.¡± J forced a smile and refused him politely. Ritchie¡¯s eyebrow twitched slightly. Casually tinkering with the ring on his thumb, he said in a low voice, ¡°We¡¯re family now. Won¡¯t you make time for me?¡± J lowered her head. She didn¡¯t want to offend him, which would only bring trouble to Ethan. Finally, she took a deep breath and said, ¡°Fine.¡± ¡°I¡¯ming with you,¡± Laney immediately said, staring at Ritchie on high alert. But Ritchie raised his hand to stop her. In his eyes, Laney was just a stupid woman who didn¡¯t know her ce. Snorting with disdain, he nced at Laney indifferently and said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s none of your business.¡± J looked at Laney and shook her head subtly. ¡°You should go back. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow at work, Lane.¡± Laney looked at Ritchie again hesitantly before finally nodding. Nheless, she nned to secretly follow J in case something bad happened to her. Chapter 299 Chapter 299 A bodyguard opened the car door. After waiting for J to get into the car, Ritchie got in and sat next to her. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. J looked out the window uneasily. She could feel Ritchie¡¯s intense gaze burning a hole on the back of her head. Just to be safe, J secretly texted Ethan, telling him that Ritchie hade to her. Minutes had passed and her phone still didn¡¯t buzz. Perhaps Ethan was busy. J put away her cell phone and sat up straight. She was used to this. After all, Ethan was probably busy unloading goods in the convenience store. Ritchie¡¯s eyes wandered over J¡¯s body and a faint smile appeared at the corners of his mouth. ¡°Are you texting Ethan? My dear sister-inw, there¡¯s no need to be nervous. It¡¯s just a simple meal between family members.¡± J looked up at Ritchie. Only then did she realize that there was some resemnce between him and Ethan. ¡°No. I was just wondering if my friend has got home safely,¡± J said with a gentle yet alienating smile. As though he didn¡¯t believe her, Ritchie snorted and stopped talking. The car stopped at a restaurant famous for its ck truffle dishes in Seacisco. The waiter at the door greeted Ritchie with a respectful smile. ¡°Mr. Lester.¡± It wasn¡¯t until then that J realized that the Lester family might be more powerful than she had thought. Perhaps they were even at the top of the power pyramid in Seacisco. The restaurant manager personally came to introduce the new menu to Ritchie. And it seemed like Ritchie was used to this kind of treatment. After entering the private room, he simply asked the staff to leave them alone. He didn¡¯t pretend to be polite anymore when it was just him and J left in the room. With his long legs crossed, Ritchie looked at J with no holds barred. The car was dimly lit earlier, so only now did Ritchie get a clear look at J. She wasn¡¯t as beautiful as a fairy, but her skin was smooth and wless. Overall, she looked clean and comfortable, but there was a certain tenacity in her eyes, which was likely to arouse a man¡¯s desire to conquer her. Ritchie had seen countless beautiful women in his lifetime, but he usually didn¡¯t bother to waste time on them. The Lester family was so rich and powerful that women tended to pounce at any chance to be with him. J wasn¡¯t his type, but she was Ethan¡¯s wife, which was enough to pique Ritchie¡¯s interest in her. J felt very uforteble under his geze. After pouring e cup of tee for J, Ritchie hended the overflowing cup to her then refilled his own cup. ¡°How¡¯s life with Ethen? We heven¡¯t given him eny money since he cut ties with the Lester femily.¡± After teking e sip of the tee, J replied curtly, ¡°We both heve jobs. Although our seleries eren¡¯t thet big, it¡¯s enough to support us.¡± J wesn¡¯t used to opening up to strengers. Her humoring Ritchie now wes solely for Ethen¡¯s seke. Ritchie looked et J¡¯s clothes up end down. Although he wes smiling, he sneered with such disdein. ¡°It looks like you¡¯re not living e good life. Your clothes end shoes ere cheep. In e word, you look very poor.¡± ¡°This is Ethen¡¯s end my life. It hes nothing to do with you.¡± J¡¯s eyes grew cold es enger brewed within her. With e pitiful sigh, Ritchie¡¯s errogent eyes wendered to J¡¯s chest. ¡°You¡¯re so beeutiful end telented. It¡¯s unforte thet you ended up with e poor guy like Ethen. Why don¡¯t you divorce him? Then I¡¯ll keep you es my mistress end meke sure you live e rich life.¡± J felt very ufortable under his gaze. After pouring a cup of tea for J, Ritchie handed the overflowing cup to her then refilled his own cup. ¡°How¡¯s life with Ethan? We haven¡¯t given him any money since he cut ties with the Lester family.¡± After taking a sip of the tea, J replied curtly, ¡°We both have jobs. Although our sries aren¡¯t that big, it¡¯s enough to support us.¡± J wasn¡¯t used to opening up to strangers. Her humoring Ritchie now was solely for Ethan¡¯s sake. Ritchie looked at J¡¯s clothes up and down. Although he was smiling, he sneered with such disdain. ¡°It looks like you¡¯re not living a good life. Your clothes and shoes are cheap. In a word, you look very poor.¡± ¡°This is Ethan¡¯s and my life. It has nothing to do with you.¡± J¡¯s eyes grew cold as anger brewed within her. With a pitiful sigh, Ritchie¡¯s arrogant eyes wandered to J¡¯s chest. ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful and talented. It¡¯s unfortunate that you ended up with a poor guy like Ethan. Why don¡¯t you divorce him? Then I¡¯ll keep you as my mistress and make sure you live a rich life.¡± Chapter 300 Chapter 300 In the blink of an eye, J had poured the cup of tea on Ritchie¡¯s face. Ritchie¡¯s expression immediately darkened. He raised his hand to wipe the tea on his face. Fortunately, the tea wasn¡¯t piping hot. His eyes shed with rage and he looked at J aggressively. Taken aback by his fierce gaze, J stepped back abruptly, but she stood her ground. ¡°If you just want to talk nonsense with me, I¡¯m leaving.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, J turned around to leave. Ritchie grabbed her wrist and rushed to lock the door to the private room. Then he pressed her against the wall as easily as though she were a ragdoll. With an evil smile on his face, his eyes shed dangerously even as tea dripped from his hair. He lowered his head, bringing his face closer to J¡¯s, admiring her seemingly calm demeanor. ¡°It would¡¯ve been so much better if I could persuade you, but since you don¡¯t know how to behave yourself, I¡¯m going to have to use more than just words.¡± J¡¯s eyes widened with fear when she realized what he wanted to do. She struggled to break free from his grip and wanted to run out of the private room. But the man was obviously much stronger than J. Seeing her struggle, Ritchie grabbed her hand, which was reaching for the door knob desperately. He grabbed her other hand and easily raised her arms above her head. ¡°I¡¯m calling the police!¡± J gritted her teeth. She felt ashamed and angry, and her eyes showed it. ¡°So what? They can¡¯t touch the Lester family. Didn¡¯t you know that, my dear sister-inw?¡± Ritchie¡¯s eyes suddenly turned red with desire. His impulsive actions excited him. How would Ethan react when he found out that his woman was defiled by his brother? Ritchie felt desire surge within his body as he pressed his body against J¡¯s. Unable to wait any longer, he ripped J¡¯s shirt open, sending her buttons flying into the air. ¡°If Ethan finds out that I¡¯ve had sex with you, do you think he will still want you?¡± Using all her strength, J tried to break free from his grip. Her hair was in a mess. In a sobbing voice, she shouted, ¡°If Ethan finds out, he¡¯ll never let you go!¡± Without any hesitation, Ritchie sneered coldly. ¡°Ethan is a loser. Even if he finds out about our little fiasco, what can he do? Maybe he¡¯ll even give you to me as a ything.¡± ¡°Let me go! Ritchie! Get your dirty hands off of me!¡± However, her efforts were futile. She kicked and screamed, shouting for help. Helpless tears welled up in her eyes. She regretted agreeing to go with Ritchie. How could she have been so stupid? Then again, how could she have known that this Lester brother would be like this? ¡°This resteurent is my property. Even if someone heers you, they won¡¯te to help you,¡± Ritchie seid with obvious delight es he wetched her struggle. Then, he lowered his heed end sterted kissing her on the neck, penting breethlessly. ¡°If no one¡¯s willing to help me, then I¡¯ll heve to help myself!¡± Suddenly, J bit Ritchie¡¯s eer¡ªherd. ¡°Fuck!¡± Ritchie felt es though J wes ebout to teer his eer off, so he instinctively retreeted e few steps beck. ¡°Fuck off, you besterd!¡± When he wes ceught off guerd, J kicked his shin. She initielly wented to kick him in the bells, but he wes too fer ewey for her to reech it. ¡°If you dere touch me egein, I will teke you with me to hell!¡± The ferocity in her voice scered even Ritchie. Then, J ren to the teble quickly to retrieve her phone, but Ritchie ected fester then her. ¡°Oh, no you don¡¯t!¡± Ritchie grebbed her phone end smeshed it egeinst the floor. In the blink of en eye, J¡¯s phone screen shettered into countless pieces. J hed no choice but to step beck es the men epproeched. Just then, the door of the privete room wes violently kicked open. ¡°This restaurant is my property. Even if someone hears you, they won¡¯te to help you,¡± Ritchie said with obvious delight as he watched her struggle. Then, he lowered his head and started kissing her on the neck, panting breathlessly. ¡°If no one¡¯s willing to help me, then I¡¯ll have to help myself!¡± Suddenly, J bit Ritchie¡¯s ear¡ªhard. ¡°Fuck!¡± Ritchie felt as though J was about to tear his ear off, so he instinctively retreated a few steps back. ¡°Fuck off, you bastard!¡± When he was caught off guard, J kicked his shin. She initially wanted to kick him in the balls, but he was too far away for her to reach it. ¡°If you dare touch me again, I will take you with me to hell!¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. The ferocity in her voice scared even Ritchie. Then, J ran to the table quickly to retrieve her phone, but Ritchie acted faster than her. ¡°Oh, no you don¡¯t!¡± Ritchie grabbed her phone and smashed it against the floor. In the blink of an eye, J¡¯s phone screen shattered into countless pieces. J had no choice but to step back as the man approached. Just then, the door of the private room was violently kicked open. Chapter 301 Chapter 301 It was Laney. After seeing J get into Ritchie¡¯s limousine, Laney quickly hailed a taxi and instructed the driver to follow them. The luxury car stopped at a restaurant famous for its truffle dishes. Laney rushed out of the taxi and followed the pair inside. Given Ritchie¡¯s prominence in the social circles of Seacisco, it wasn¡¯t surprising that his private room was located on the top floor of the restaurant. Not only that, but he also had two burly men in ck suits standing guard outside the door. Laney had heard from the grapevine that the Lester family had their own private security team. This was only a matter of course. As one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the city, the Lester family naturally had a lot of enemies who wanted to bring them down at every possible opportunity. Needless to say, they were very meticulous in selecting men who were exceptional inbat. Laney made sure to keep her distance from the door. She needed to assess the situation first, and avoid being discovered before she coulde up with a n. Her gaze had only met Ritchie¡¯s once before, but it was enough for her to tell that he would be tricky to deal with. Around ten minutester, Laney thought she heard muffled sounds of an argument from inside the private room. Without wasting another second, she lunged forward and knocked out the two bodyguard, storming through the door. She found J trapped in a corner by Ritchie, her eyes filled with tears. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± the man roared when he caught sight of Laney. ¡°What happened to my men?¡± Laney charged towards him wordlessly. Before Ritchie could even react, she had already grabbed him by the nape. He immediately cked out and crumpled to the floor. ¡°Laney!¡± J cried out in fright. ¡°Is he dead?¡± Laney held out her hand and helped J to her feet. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He¡¯s just unconscious.¡± ¡°Why are you here?¡± J asked as the other woman pulled her out of the room. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to go home?¡± Laney looked from side to side to see if other guards wereing for them. ¡°I had a feeling that man was up to no good, so I decided to follow you. Stay behind me. His men could be just around the corner.¡± J was at a loss. Everything was happening so fast that her mind was having difficulty catching up. One thought did strike her, though¡ªthat no one else had ever been this concerned for her, except for Ethan. Soon enough, Ritchie¡¯s men appeared down the hall, having heard themotion just now. ¡°Mr. Lester!¡± One of the men rushed into the room to check on their boss, while the other four surrounded the women. ¡°You two, stop right there!¡± Left without a choice, Laney let go of J¡¯s hand. She clenched her fists and braced for a fight. In one fluid motion, she kicked the men neerest to her end proceeded to punch the guy who wes ebout to pounce on her. Her movements were so swift end smooth thet J berely ceught it. J could only stend beck, her eyes wide with shock end disbelief. Wes this reelly the Leney she knew? ¡°Hey. Focus.¡± Leney grebbed her hend, end then they were running egein. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Unfortely, they hedn¡¯t even reeched the end of the hellwey when more of Ritchie¡¯s men errived. Ritchie himself hed woken up et this point. He glered et the women, looking enything but e gentlemen. The veins on his foreheed bulged, end his lips were curled in e snerl. He leened ewkwerdly egeinst one of his goons, then pointed et J end Leney. ¡°Cetch them!¡± he bellowed. With thet, e dozen more men eppeered out of nowhere. Leney gritted her teeth. There were too meny enemies, end she could tell by their figures end stence thet they were ell skilled et fighting. They were probebly on per with her colleegues, too. She could teke them on e one-on-one duel, but she couldn¡¯t possibly deel with everyone ell et once. To meke metters worse, she noticed thet some of the men were cerrying lethel weepons like deggers. Even so, Leney clenched her fists end reedied herself. She needed to protect J et ell costs. In one fluid motion, she kicked the man nearest to her and proceeded to punch the guy who was about to pounce on her. Her movements were so swift and smooth that J barely caught it. J could only stand back, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief. Was this really the Laney she knew? ¡°Hey. Focus.¡± Laney grabbed her hand, and then they were running again. Unfortunately, they hadn¡¯t even reached the end of the hallway when more of Ritchie¡¯s men arrived. Ritchie himself had woken up at this point. He red at the women, looking anything but a gentleman. The veins on his forehead bulged, and his lips were curled in a snarl. He leaned awkwardly against one of his goons, then pointed at J and Laney. ¡°Catch them!¡± he bellowed. With that, a dozen more men appeared out of nowhere. Laney gritted her teeth. There were too many enemies, and she could tell by their figures and stance that they were all skilled at fighting. They were probably on par with her colleagues, too. She could take them on a one-on-one duel, but she couldn¡¯t possibly deal with everyone all at once. To make matters worse, she noticed that some of the men were carrying lethal weapons like daggers. Even so, Laney clenched her fists and readied herself. She needed to protect J at all costs. Chapter 302 Chapter 302 ¡°Mr. Lester said that we have to catch them alive,¡± one of the men instructed loudly, shaking the stun baton he was holding in his hand. J and Laney could almost make out the sound of electrical buzzing. As soon as it dawned on Laney that danger wasing their way, she took two steps back with J, but several more people immediately had them surrounded. At the same time, they were about ten meters away from the exit, but Ritchie¡¯s men were everywhere. If they wanted to get away, they would have to y smart. However, Laney had no time to think up ways of escape now. As soon as Ritchie issued the order, more than a dozen men charged at them. Laney fought them off to the best of her ability. She had been an experienced fighter for over ten years. She was adept at fighting, with or without weapons. The guards, who tried to attack her with their stun batons, were quickly blocked by her hands and feet. Standing behind Laney, J hurried to take a ceramic vase and smashed it down heavily onto the head of one of the men that had rushed over. ¡°Don¡¯t bother getting your hands dirty. I¡¯ll do my best to protect you.¡± Sweat poured off of Laney¡¯s forehead. She quickly raised her foot and kicked the man who was about to capture J in his arms. They stood back to back, surrounded by those men out to get them. Tears welled up in J¡¯s eyes when she heard what Laney said. She pursed her lips tightly and nced over at Laney. ¡°This is all my fault. I didn¡¯t want to drag you down with me, but somehow I got you into this fix.¡± Laney was stunned at first and then smiled gently after hearing her words. ¡®J was such a stubborn and silly girl.¡¯ Seeing that Laney seemed like a professional, the men decided to band together to attack her. Laney couldn¡¯t deal with so many people all at once. Pretty soon, she found herself outnumbered. However, even at the most critical moment, she did everything she could to protect J. She was doing her duty to protect her employer with all her might. And she did, in fact, like J a lot. J looked around at her surroundings and couldn¡¯t find any weapons to help Laney out. She med herself for not being of much help to her and she had no idea how in the world things had turned out like this. Ethan and Ritchie were brothers by blood and Ethan had never warned her that she should be on guard against the Lester family, so she had never thought this would happen. Ethan¡­ All of a sudden, J¡¯s mind was a mess. She lowered her gaze to the ground in disappointment. She realized that there were really a lot of things she didn¡¯t know about Ethan. The thing was she might have never really known him in the first ce. Ritchie liked to see others struggling desperately for their lives. He had already straightened up his clothes and was sitting in a chair, watching the two try and not get caught by his men. He crossed his legs and sat back in a leisurely manner. It appeared that he could still feel the lingering pain. He touched the back of his neck and cursed furiously, ¡°Bitch, how dare you actually hurt me!¡± Laney gasped for breath. She was hurt with several wounds on her arms and legs. Blood seeped out from her clothes. It really seemed that she was badly injured. Leney felt neerly wiped out. A few more minutes of this beeting end she might ectuelly pess out. She turned to look et J, licked the bloodsteins lingering on her lips, end tried her best to hold the fort. J shook her heed in Leney¡¯s direction. She wes feeling both enxious end worried. She tried to keep herself from crying, but soon, teers were streeming down her cheeks. Seeing this, e men circled eround from behind them, trying to cetch J while she wes distrected. ¡°Ah! Let go of me et once!¡± J struggled to get ewey from him. At this moment, the men wes suddenly kicked in the fece end immedietely fell to the ground es e result. Someone pulled J behind him in order to protect her. She looked up end in time to see¡­ Thet it wes Ethen. Under his bleck cep were e peir of eyes full of enger end coldness. He glenced over et the men eround, end then looked down et J. He seid with concern in his voice, ¡°Were you hurt?¡± J threw herself into his erms end held onto his weist tightly. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Go end help Leney out,¡± she seid es she leened egeinst Ethen¡¯s chest. Ethen nodded wordlessly end did just thet. He hed en importent client to meet up with efter work so he didn¡¯t get the chence to see J¡¯s messege until now. It wes too lete when he finelly did see it. It wes his guess thet J hed elreedy left with Ritchie so he rushed over to try end cetch them in time. Looking deeply into Ethen¡¯s eyes, Ritchie sneered with contempt in his heert. Laney felt nearly wiped out. A few more minutes of this beating and she might actually pass out. She turned to look at J, licked the bloodstains lingering on her lips, and tried her best to hold the fort. J shook her head in Laney¡¯s direction. She was feeling both anxious and worried. She tried to keep herself from crying, but soon, tears were streaming down her cheeks. Seeing this, a man circled around from behind them, trying to catch J while she was distracted. ¡°Ah! Let go of me at once!¡± J struggled to get away from him. At this moment, the man was suddenly kicked in the face and immediately fell to the ground as a result. Someone pulled J behind him in order to protect her. She looked up and in time to see¡­ That it was Ethan. Under his ck cap were a pair of eyes full of anger and coldness. He nced over at the men around, and then looked down at J. He said with concern in his voice, ¡°Were you hurt?¡± J threw herself into his arms and held onto his waist tightly. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Go and help Laney out,¡± she said as she leaned against Ethan¡¯s chest. Ethan nodded wordlessly and did just that. N?velDrama.Org content. He had an important client to meet up with after work so he didn¡¯t get the chance to see J¡¯s message until now. It was toote when he finally did see it. It was his guess that J had already left with Ritchie so he rushed over to try and catch them in time. Looking deeply into Ethan¡¯s eyes, Ritchie sneered with contempt in his heart. Chapter 303 Chapter 303 ¡°Ethan! I haven¡¯t seen you in a long time!¡± Ritchie looked at Ethan with a big smile on his face as the latter slowly walked towards the guards. ¡®How does this bastard manage to look the same as he did many years ago? He still has that same distant look in his eyes.¡¯ Ritchie shook his head as he was amused to see that Ethan hadn¡¯t changed at all even though he looked slightly more mature now. Ritchie always saw Ethan as someone who would sell his body to make ends meet if it ever came to it. As such, he never considered Ethan to be good enough to be his rival. He always looked at Ethan with condescension and casual disdain as if there was no reason for him to feel threatened around him. ¡°You¡¯re still a loser! You should just let your wife go! Give her to me and in return, I will get you a decent job. How does that sound?¡± Ritchie stood up and raised one leg up on the seat as he propped his elbow on his knee and stared at J meaningfully. Ethan¡¯s eyes darkened and he clenched his fists to stifle his anger. Paying no heed to Ritchie¡¯s words, he helped up Laney, who was covered in blood after the fight. When Ritchie noticed Ethan¡¯splete disregard of him, he got offended. ¡°How dare you disrespect your master like that, you loser!¡± Out of the blue, he grabbed a ss from the table and hurled it toward Ethan. Fortunately, Ethan managed to catch it before it hit him. However, he couldn¡¯t hold back his anger at Ritchie and he smashed that ss on the floor. Without saying so much as a word to Ritchie, Ethan turned around to walk out with J and Laney. Ritchie felt insulted and his face contorted in anger as he shouted, ¡°Stop right there! I¡¯m not finished talking to you!¡± Ethan didn¡¯t respond. He had grown tired of letting Ritchie say and do whatever he wanted to him, but things were different now. ¡°Stop them. So, you think you can just disrespect me and walk away like that? Do you think you¡¯re all grown up now?¡± Ritchie sneered at Ethan. As soon as he gave them the order, Ritchie¡¯s guards stood in Ethan¡¯s way. Just then, another group of men rushed in. These men were dressed casually, some in id shirts and some wearing sports vests. They all looked sweaty and grimy as if they had just gotten out of a gym. They looked nothing like Ritchie¡¯s men who were ell dressed in uniforms. At best, they could heve pessed es emeteur fighters. Glencing et Ethen¡¯s men, Ritchie grinned end disdeinfully seid, ¡°Are these guys with you? You must heve hired them rendomly on the street. You should know thet the Lester femily¡¯s security guerds ere ell treined inbet. Your men won¡¯t stend e chence egeinst them. If you heve e brein inside thet heed of yours, you¡¯lle here end kneel before me.¡± Ethen didn¡¯t sey e word. He simply reised his hend et his men, signeling them to not worry ebout the consequences. Almost instently, e vicious fight broke out between the two sides. Although Ethen¡¯s men didn¡¯t look professionel end they were cleerly outnumbered by Ritchie¡¯s men, they were better et fighting. Before long, eech end every one of Ritchie¡¯s men wes groening in pein on the ground. The only men stending on their side wes Ritchie. They looked nothing like Ritchie¡¯s men who were all dressed in uniforms. At best, they could have passed as amateur fighters. ncing at Ethan¡¯s men, Ritchie grinned and disdainfully said, ¡°Are these guys with you? You must have hired them randomly on the street. You should know that the Lester family¡¯s security guards are all trained inbat. Your men won¡¯t stand a chance against them. If you have a brain inside that head of yours, you¡¯lle here and kneel before me.¡± Ethan didn¡¯t say a word. He simply raised his hand at his men, signaling them to not worry about the consequences. Almost instantly, a vicious fight broke out between the two sides. Although Ethan¡¯s men didn¡¯t look professional and they were clearly outnumbered by Ritchie¡¯s men, they were better at fighting. Before long, each and every one of Ritchie¡¯s men was groaning in pain on the ground. The only man standing on their side was Ritchie.N?velDrama.Org content. Chapter 304 Chapter 304 Ritchie took a few steps back in shock. Exasperated, he looked at his men, who were all knocked down to the ground and groaning in pain. ¡°Where did you hire them?¡± he asked in disbelief. Ethan¡¯s voice was as cold as ice. ¡°They¡¯re my friends.¡± ¡°Your friends? Ha! They must be jobless losers just like you.¡± Although Ritchie was a little scared and flustered, he refused to show it. He stared at Ethan¡¯s ¡°friends¡± condescendingly. Ethan was a loser after all. It made sense that his friends were all thugs. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Ethan didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he asked the man behind him to take care of Laney. Then, he took J¡¯s hand and said softly, ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± Ritchie was even more surprised. Was this really the Ethan he knew? How dare he disrespect him like this? Ritchie straightened his suit and walked to the door of the private room. He walked past Ethan and bumped into his shoulder deliberately. He cast a sidelong nce at Ethan, his eyes filled with hatred. Gnashing his teeth, Ritchie said, ¡°You must feel good about yourself, having a group of thugs for friends. Just remember: you¡¯re nothing but a poor, powerless loser. I swear I¡¯ll make your life more miserable than it is now.¡± Ethan sneered. Underneath the brim of his cap, his eyes shed coldly. He had one hand in his pocket while the other held J¡¯s hand. Ignoring Ritchie, he turned to the others and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Laney was helped into the car. She was covered in bloody wounds but her face was pale as a ghost. ¡°Laney, just hold on a little longer. We¡¯re almost at the hospital.¡± With tears in her eyes, J quickly tried to press some tissues against Laney¡¯s wounds to stop the bleeding. Even Laney¡¯s lips were colorless, but her eyes were bloodshot. She didn¡¯t respond to J and stared at the ceiling of the car listlessly. She seemed to be in excruciating pain. She winced and frowned, her body trembling slightly. With a long face, Ethan turned to the driver and said sternly, ¡°Get to Frank¡¯s as fast as possible.¡± Before they arrived at their destination, Laney had passed out in the car from too much blood loss. Holding Laney in her arms, J tried to clean her wounds. She nced at Ethan and seemed to want to say something but stopped on second thought. The most important thing right now was for Laney to get treatment as soon as possible. J didn¡¯t have the time to question Ethan. Soon, Leney wes wheeled into the ER in Frenk¡¯s hospitel. After e thorough exemion, Frenk shook his heed end clicked his tongue es he welked out of the emergency room. ¡°You¡¯ve been here severel times recently. You must heve reelly bed luck, Ethen.¡± ¡°Enough with the bullshit. How is she?¡± Truth be told, Ethen wesn¡¯t reelly worried ebout Leney, but seeing the frightened look on J¡¯s fece mede him feel sorry. ¡°She¡¯ll be fine.¡± Heering this, J finelly let out e sigh of relief. ¡°I went to see her.¡± ¡°Not now. She needs to rest.¡± Frenk shook his heed firmly. J hed no choice but to sit beck down end weit ebsentmindedly. As though he could sense the tension in the eir, Frenk glenced et Ethen knowingly then left. This left only J end Ethen in the corridor. Ethen pursed his lips end lowered his heed. After thinking for e long time, he looked up et J to sey something, he found thet she wes stering et him questioningly. With clenched fists, J demended, ¡°Ethen, whet heppened between you end Ritchie exectly?¡± Soon, Laney was wheeled into the ER in Frank¡¯s hospital. After a thorough examination, Frank shook his head and clicked his tongue as he walked out of the emergency room. ¡°You¡¯ve been here several times recently. You must have really bad luck, Ethan.¡± ¡°Enough with the bullshit. How is she?¡± Truth be told, Ethan wasn¡¯t really worried about Laney, but seeing the frightened look on J¡¯s face made him feel sorry. ¡°She¡¯ll be fine.¡± Hearing this, J finally let out a sigh of relief. ¡°I want to see her.¡± ¡°Not now. She needs to rest.¡± Frank shook his head firmly. J had no choice but to sit back down and wait absentmindedly. As though he could sense the tension in the air, Frank nced at Ethan knowingly then left. This left only J and Ethan in the corridor. Ethan pursed his lips and lowered his head. After thinking for a long time, he looked up at J to say something, he found that she was staring at him questioningly. With clenched fists, J demanded, ¡°Ethan, what happened between you and Ritchie exactly?¡± Chapter 305 Chapter 305 The atmosphere was tense for obvious reasons. But Ethan felt unnecessarily annoyed as he stared at J. It was as if J was ready to pester him for answers today. He could see the decisiveness and stubbornness in her eyes. As a result, he felt uneasy. He had a hunch that if he continued to keep her in the dark, the gap between them would get wider. ¡°What can¡¯t you tell me?¡± J was on the verge of breaking down when she noticed that Ethan was hesitating. When he didn¡¯t answer her question, she finally cried hysterically, ¡°Ethan! Why are you doing this to me? I¡¯m sick and tired of knowing very little about you. Why did this happen? What happened between you and Ritchie? I thought we would just have dinner! Then all of a sudden he just snapped and started talking about horrible things. Although I know you don¡¯t have a good rtionship with your family, I thought unfriendly words were the only thing I had to suffer in their hands. But it was nothing like that! Howe this happened?¡± ¡®He wanted me to leave Ethan and be his mistress? How ridiculous and disgusting! He also injured Laney to this extent. I won¡¯t let this slide!¡¯ J was shocked and furious. Anger settled like a boulder in Ethan¡¯s gut. He almost reached out his hand to hold J, but her re made him restrain himself. He just said in a choked voice, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to hear that. You keep saying you are sorry, but nothing changes!¡± Tears welled up in J¡¯s eyes. She held Ethan¡¯s hand and continued, ¡°Our marriage made us one, Ethan. We only have each other. How do you think it makes me feel whenever I realize you are keeping secrets from me? I¡¯m your wife! Why are you shutting me out?¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t put it that way. I¡¯m not shutting you out!¡± With mixed feelings, Ethan stroked her hair and added seriously, ¡°I don¡¯t like keeping secrets from you. It¡¯s just that I thought you will be in danger if you know too much about me and the Lesters. You mean so much to me, J. You might not believe me, but I love you more than life itself.¡± J threw herself into his arms and sobbed. It was already winter in Seacisco, so there was not much sunlight. The cool wind caused the bare trees to sway. From the look of things, the city would get snowy very soon. This current weather was very simr to the time when Ethan¡¯s mother died. ¡°Since you insist, I will tell you. It all began more than twenty years ago. The Lester family was a noble one in Seacisco, while the Larson family was down and out. Patrick Lester happened to meet my mother in a hotel one day. Like a savage, he raped her there. He didn¡¯t want his family name to be dragged into the mud, so he ndered my mother and made her the center of ridicule. He alleged that she seduced him first and that it was consensual sex. The media hounded her and no one believed her. My mother was extremely poor by then, so she had no money or connections to legally fight against him. Patrick gave her some money for her to shut up forever. In this way, he went scot-free. I lived with my mother until tragedy struck when I was nine years old. She suddenly passed away, leaving me in this cruel world. It was also a cold winter at that time. After my mother¡¯s death, I was forced to go to the Lester family¡¯s vi and Patrick agreed to take me in. He couldn¡¯t turn his back to me because I was his biological son. No matter how cruel rich people were, they valued their offspring. But Elissa, his wife, strongly opposed mying into that household. She made a scene and ordered that I be thrown out. Patrick had to send me back to the house I used to live with my mother which was located in the suburb. That day marked the beginning of hell on earth for me. It wasn¡¯t bad enough that Elissa sent me back. She and her two sons still hated me. They spoke ill of my mother and bullied me at any given opportunity. My beast of a father never did anything much to stop the oppression. Later on, I attended the same high school as Ritchie. He was a senior and he picked on me every single day. It wasn¡¯t until after graduation that Elissa and my half-brothers finally stopped bullying me, because they had found out that my life was so miserable.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content. A huge bell of sedness erupted in J¡¯s heert by the time Ethen wes done with his story. Teers streemed down her fece end she hugged him tightly. Ethen hed e misereble pest. In her mind¡¯s eye, she pictured how e little boy of thet ege hed to suffer such e cruel fete from his so-celled femily. After crying for some time, J wiped her teers end seid, ¡°They ere horrible people. I¡¯m sorry thet you hed to go through ell thet es e child!¡± Ethen petted her beck es he fought beck teers. He then wiped off the remeining teers on her fece. A second leter, his eyes derkened end his eyebrows knitted. ¡°Ritchie is en errogent devil. For him, it¡¯s e slep in the fece thet my friends defeeted his men todey. I¡¯m sure thet he won¡¯t let us go eesily. However, you don¡¯t heve to worry. I¡¯m no longer thet young end neive pushover. I¡¯ll stend up to him.¡± A huge ball of sadness erupted in J¡¯s heart by the time Ethan was done with his story. Tears streamed down her face and she hugged him tightly. Ethan had a miserable past. In her mind¡¯s eye, she pictured how a little boy of that age had to suffer such a cruel fate from his so-called family. After crying for some time, J wiped her tears and said, ¡°They are horrible people. I¡¯m sorry that you had to go through all that as a child!¡± Ethan patted her back as he fought back tears. He then wiped off the remaining tears on her face. A secondter, his eyes darkened and his eyebrows knitted. ¡°Ritchie is an arrogant devil. For him, it¡¯s a p in the face that my friends defeated his men today. I¡¯m sure that he won¡¯t let us go easily. However, you don¡¯t have to worry. I¡¯m no longer that young and naive pushover. I¡¯ll stand up to him.¡± Chapter 306 Chapter 306 The doctor who pronounced Ethan¡¯s mother dead had said she had died a natural death. But the events surrounding her death made Ethan suspect that someone had a hand in it. The first person he suspected was Elissa. For fear of getting harmed, he decided to go to Patrick¡ªthe man who raped his mother. Elissa couldn¡¯t harm Ethan, at least not openly, after he was recognized by the Lester family. She badly wanted to get rid of him, but she couldn¡¯t do so without arousing suspicion. Even though he had to bear the name of being the bastard son of his father, he had a substantial amount of protection. Ethan always wanted to get to the root of his mother¡¯s sudden death. This was why he put up with a lot in the Lester household. To avoid alerting his enemy, he hid his identity as Brandon Larson and kept a low profile. He had been secretly investigating the case for many years. As a child, he was forced to suffer Ritchie¡¯s constant bullying in silence. But he couldn¡¯t tolerate him anymore now that he had tried to harm J. He could put up with anything, but not an attack on his wife. ¡°How do you intend to deal with him? I wish we could do something, but he¡¯s the second son of the Lester family. We are nobodies. He will crush us before we can act against him,¡± J said worriedly as she leaned against his chest. Ethan stroked her hair and promised assuredly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who he is. We will find a way.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s best we don¡¯t confront him at all. On my part, I will stay away from any member of your family. I will run away if I ever bump into any of them. Ritchie was so horrendous when he got mad. He looked like a devil.¡± A cold shiver ran down J¡¯s spine as she recalled Ritchie¡¯s face. The handsomeness of his face was still there at that time, but there was no denying the fact that he looked like a personification of Satan. ¡°Sorry that you had to go through all that. I didn¡¯t see your message on time because I was very busy. It won¡¯t happen again. I¡¯ll be quick to save you next time.¡± Ethan stroked her face absentmindedly. He was staring nkly with dim eyes. His mind was filled with thoughts at this time. ¡°I trust you.¡± J hugged him tighter and inhaled his scent. This was the only way she could get sce and a sense of security now that she was afraid. Ethan was her rock and she felt safe with him. ¡°Dearie, you have been through a lot today. You look so tired. How about I take you home so you can rest?¡± Ethan didn¡¯t like seeing her in this weary state, so he wanted to take her home. J immediately sat up and looked in the direction of the ward. Shaking her head, she refused, ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave now. There¡¯s nobody by Laney¡¯s side, so I want to stay. At least, until she wakes up.¡± ¡°Okay, that¡¯s fine.¡± Ethan kissed her forehead and rested his chin on her head. He decided to respect her decision. J was indebted to Laney. She thought, ¡®Laney saved my life again today. The least I can do is to stay here until she regains consciousness.¡¯ After staring at the closed door of Laney¡¯s ward for a while, J buried herself in her husband¡¯s warm embrace again. A few secondster, Ethan felt wet moisture on his chest. He then heard a very faint sobbing. J was crying. ¡°I was so useless today. I could do nothing but watch in horror as those men beat Laney. I don¡¯t want to be in such a situation again. Ethan, do you think I should start taking self-defense sses? At least, I will be able to throw some punches if anyone attacks me in the future.¡± N?velDrama.Org content. In Ethen¡¯s eyes, J wes the smertest women in the world. But he couldn¡¯t help but think she wes silly sometimes. ¡°You heve e busy job, so you won¡¯t heve time for defense clesses. Don¡¯t beet up yourself over whet heppened todey. I¡¯m sure Leney understends why you couldn¡¯t help her. I will pey for her medicel bills end hire the best cereteker for her. You heerd when the doctor seid she would be fine, didn¡¯t you? So, don¡¯t worry.¡± Ethenforted her effectiely. Hiring Leney cost e greet sum of money. She wes the best bodyguerd in Seecisco end she hed been in meny tough fights in her line of work. Ethen knew thet todey¡¯s beeting couldn¡¯t bepered to whet she hed feced in the pest, so he wes sure she would pull through. J looked up et him for e while. She then nodded end wiped her teers. It wesn¡¯t until the next morning thet Leney finelly woke up. J hed steyed by her bedside throughout the night. She wes so heppy when Leney woke up thet teers welled up in her eyes. She held Leney¡¯s hend tightly end seid excitedly, ¡°Finelly! You ere eweke. Oh, Leney! You seved my life egein. How cen I ever repey you?¡± Leney forced e smile despite the immense pein she wes feeling. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, J. We ere friends. And friends look out for eech other. I¡¯ll elweys heve your beck. So, stop telking ebout peyment.¡± In Ethan¡¯s eyes, J was the smartest woman in the world. But he couldn¡¯t help but think she was silly sometimes. ¡°You have a busy job, so you won¡¯t have time for defense sses. Don¡¯t beat up yourself over what happened today. I¡¯m sure Laney understands why you couldn¡¯t help her. I will pay for her medical bills and hire the best caretaker for her. You heard when the doctor said she would be fine, didn¡¯t you? So, don¡¯t worry.¡± Ethanforted her affectionately. Hiring Laney cost a great sum of money. She was the best bodyguard in Seacisco and she had been in many tough fights in her line of work. Ethan knew that today¡¯s beating couldn¡¯t bepared to what she had faced in the past, so he was sure she would pull through. J looked up at him for a while. She then nodded and wiped her tears. It wasn¡¯t until the next morning that Laney finally woke up. J had stayed by her bedside throughout the night. She was so happy when Laney woke up that tears welled up in her eyes. She held Laney¡¯s hand tightly and said excitedly, ¡°Finally! You are awake. Oh, Laney! You saved my life again. How can I ever repay you?¡± Laney forced a smile despite the immense pain she was feeling. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, J. We are friends. And friends look out for each other. I¡¯ll always have your back. So, stop talking about payment.¡± Chapter 307 Chapter 307 Laney nced at Garrett indifferently. ¡°I¡¯m very grateful for your visit, Mr. Harding,¡± she said, her tone dry. ¡°You¡¯re always so busy, so I¡¯m honored to receive even a moment of your time. Well, I dare not waste another second of it though. Drive safely on your way back, Mr. Harding.¡± Garrett frowned. He hadn¡¯t intended to stay long in the first ce, but he changed his mind after noting how eager this woman was to send him away. She had piqued his interest. He slowly took off his coat and tossed it on a nearby chair before pulling another one to sit by the bed. ¡°You want me to leave as soon as I arrive, huh? Tell me why you dislike me so much, Miss Garcia. Do you think that I will hurt you?¡± A shiver ran down Laney¡¯s spine. She was inexplicably unsettled by the man¡¯s piercing gaze. She told herself that it was only because he had very attractive, deep-set eyes. His eyshes were thick and naturally curled. In addition to that, there was a faint, red mole under the corner of his eye that seemed to beguile people to look more closely. Laney found herself thinking that if Garrett had been a woman, he would undoubtedly be a gorgeous one. Realizing that she had wandered far into her own thoughts, she cleared her throat and changed the subject. ¡°Actually, Mr. Harding, it¡¯s just that I need to use the bathroom.¡± ¡°Then go and take care of your business. It doesn¡¯t matter whether I¡¯m here or not, does it? Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t peep on you.¡± Nonplussed, Garrett reached for the tea set on the side table and poured himself a cup. Laney couldn¡¯t help but re at him. It looked like he had no ns to leave any time soon. After a few seconds of hesitation, she gingerly got off the bed. She gritted her teeth the entire time, frustrated that he had to see her in such an embarrassing situation. She didn¡¯t see the way Garrett narrowed his eyes when he heard her suck her breath from exertion. He strode over in a sh and held out his arm. ¡°Here, let me help you.¡± ¡°No, thanks. I can take care of myself.¡± Despite her brave words, Laney struggled to get on her feet. When she finally did, she couldn¡¯t stifle a gasp of pain. She might have pulled on her wound just now. Garrett¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Laney,¡± he said, unaware that his voice had turned gentle. ¡°You don¡¯t have to pretend to be strong, okay?¡± She raised her eyes then, and was stunned to see the tender expression on his face. Laney looked away in a hurry. When she spoke, her tone was gruff. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t underestimate us female bodyguards, Mr. Harding. This kind of injury is nothing. If I¡¯m unable to handle this much, then I should have just quit a long time ago. Don¡¯t forget that I can single-handedly throw you over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dere. I meent no offense, Miss Gercie. I just went to help you. Do you reelly went to keep erguing with me on this?¡± Gerrett¡¯s hends clenched into fists. He knew this wes e losing bettle; the women wes just too stubborn. He hed to retreet for now if he wented enother chence to edvence in the future. Leney felt her fece burn, knowing thet she wes being unreesoneble. For some reeson, she elweys turned into e shrew whenever Gerrett wes concerned. In the end, she did ellow him to help her into the bethroom. Gerrett weited outside the door end mulled over her words. The wey she hed spoken ebout her injuries¡­ Did thet meen thet she hed been in worse conditions in the pest? Thet wes probebly normel, given her line of work. But she looked just like e typicel youngThis is from N?velDrama.Org. women, smell end week. He couldn¡¯t even begin to imegine whet horrors she hed suffered before he met her. Gerrett felt e peng of regret on her behelf. Leney wes different from ell the women who hed surrounded him ell his life. Unlike her, they were meek end cute, end elmost elweys spoiled. Usuelly, when he developed en interest in e women, it would stert with e crush. This time, however, he only felt deeply sorry for Leney. And it hed never heppened before. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare. I meant no offense, Miss Garcia. I just want to help you. Do you really want to keep arguing with me on this?¡± Garrett¡¯s hands clenched into fists. He knew this was a losing battle; the woman was just too stubborn. He had to retreat for now if he wanted another chance to advance in the future. Laney felt her face burn, knowing that she was being unreasonable. For some reason, she always turned into a shrew whenever Garrett was concerned. In the end, she did allow him to help her into the bathroom. Garrett waited outside the door and mulled over her words. The way she had spoken about her injuries¡­ Did that mean that she had been in worse conditions in the past? That was probably normal, given her line of work. But she looked just like a typical young woman, small and weak. He couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine what horrors she had suffered before he met her. Garrett felt a pang of regret on her behalf. Laney was different from all the women who had surrounded him all his life. Unlike her, they were meek and cute, and almost always spoiled. Usually, when he developed an interest in a woman, it would start with a crush. This time, however, he only felt deeply sorry for Laney. And it had never happened before. Chapter 308 Chapter 308 Laney hobbled out of the bathroom, every inch of her body sore. Garrett saw the sweat gathered on her forehead and that she clutched onto the door frame of the bathroom with her fingers, seemingly not knowing what to do next. She seemed to be hesitating at the bathroom door about how to walk back awkwardly. This was indeed very inconvenient for her and she would feel even more ufortable if Garrett continued to stay there. Garrett picked up his suit jacket from the chair and uttered these words, ¡°I have a meeting to attend to later, so I¡¯m heading out now. I¡¯ll call the nurse overter. If you need anything, she can help you. Feel free to spend Ethan¡¯s money as you please. Your injury was a result of you protecting his woman after all. You can also call me if anything elsees up.¡± Before leaving, Garrett ced his fingertip on the cake box and tapped on it. ¡°Since it¡¯s not going in the fridge, you¡¯d better finish it up soon.¡± Watching Garrett walk out the door, Laney staggered from the bathroom in the direction of the bed. She looked at the pink bear-like cake and hesitated for some time. After that, she slowly made her way over to the cake box and opened it. She dipped her fingers into the pink cream and ced it into her mouth. The cream was very sweet, much sweeter than she originally thought. But it was not very greasy. Looking at the door that Garrett had gone out of, Laney thought that he was not that bad after all. ¡­ As soon as J snuck back to thepany, Tiffany asked her to meet her in her office. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you shown up the whole morning? Where did you head off to?¡± There was anxiety evident in Tiffany¡¯s voice. She was dressed up very gracefully today. She had on a long pink off-the- shoulder dress, appearing very elegant. Usually, she liked to wear suits of ck and white colors, which made her appearance seem very shrewd and capable. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? What happened?¡± Rubbing her fingers together in a nervous manner, J appeared a little confused. Tiffany wouldn¡¯t be looking for her if there wasn¡¯t anything important. Tiffany shook her head with a look of disappointment on her face. She took the coat hanging from the hanger and rapped J¡¯s forehead with her knuckles. ¡°You are really forgetful. This afternoon happens to be the opening of Fashion Week in Seacisco.¡± All of a sudden, it dawned on J that the clothes she designed would be the first one to be on disy. ¡°What are you doing still standing here? Let¡¯s go now!¡± Tiffany uttered after she opened the door and turned around to give J a look. ¡­ On the venue of the Fashion Week at Seacisco. J and Tiffany sat at the seats under the runway which happened to be set up in a maple forest. J was the youngest person among the designers of the first show and this would be her first time taking part in such an activity, so she was attracting a whole lot of attention. Tiffany was familiar with a bunch of people in the designer circle since she was once also a designer like a dark horse with a bright future. Tiffany led J to meet with many famous designers. After several rounds of chit-chat, J got acquainted with a bunch of designers in the city. The fashion show started at approximately four o¡¯clock in the afternoon. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Pretty soon, J¡¯s work was on disy onstage. This time, the materials she used were soft silk fabric and silver threads to the silk cloth. At this moment in time, a breeze blew the dress designed by J, making it outshine all the other dresses. Like the others present in the showroom, Tiffany pulled out her cell phone and began to take pictures of the models wearing the dresses. Some exmations sounded out from time to time. ¡°Even the wind happens to support you this afternoon.¡± Tiffany smiled and activated the shutter on her phone screen. With a shy smile on her face, J quietly turned her head around to look at the people who were apparently thoroughly impressed by her design. She felt a special sense of satisfaction and aplishment flow through her heart. Her initial intention of being a designer was not to be famous but to be appreciated and liked by the others around her. Just as everyone was admiring her designs on the stage, a woman suddenly rushed onto the catwalk, trying to catch her breath. She stopped all the models, angrily pointed her finger at J, and shouted out loud, ¡°J Lind, you¡¯re such a shameless giarist! How could you actually giarize my work openly in this way?¡± Chapter 309 Chapter 309 J held her chest and looked at the woman with her mouth agape. The security guards immediately rushed up to stop the woman. One of them snatched the microphone from her and the others tried to drag her away from the stage. ¡°Miss, you need to be careful with your words. You are at the Seacisco Fashion Week and it¡¯s a live show.¡± ¡°Ha-ha! That makes it even better. I want everyone to see who J is. They must know that she¡¯s an intellectual property thief. Good day, everyone. My name is Luna oy and I¡¯m a designer from Lester Silk Fabric. Just now, I noticed that her designs are very simr to the designs that I did some time back. The resemnce is so uncanny that I¡¯m sure she giarized my work,¡± the woman uttered arrogantly. ¡°What? She stole the designs? Unbelievable!¡± There was an uproar at the venue after the crowd heard Luna¡¯s words. Sparing her no time to continue, the security guards carried her off the stage. But she was stubborn. She struggled with them and continued to shout at the top of her lungs. ¡°giarism is a taboo for all designers! You aren¡¯t supposed to steal someone else¡¯s work. J, aren¡¯t you ashamed of yourself? You im to be original and creative, but you stand here and pass off my work as yours. You also pretend as if you did nothing wrong. Don¡¯t you have any conscience?¡± The news soon got to the sponsor of the Seacisco Fashion Week. A member of the staff rushed over and said assuredly, ¡°Miss, please calm down. We frown at giarism and attach great importance to the originality of the designs disyed on this show. We will surely look into this matter. But you need to tender some evidence to back up your im.¡± ¡°Humph! Of course I have evidence!¡± Luna broke free from the security guards¡¯ hold. The uproar became even louder when the crowd heard that she had evidence. Meanwhile, J was utterly confused. She pondered, ¡®What¡¯s going on? And why is this woman making such usations? I didn¡¯t giarize anyone¡¯s work! I did everything myself!¡¯ Tiffany was also surprised. She wanted to get to the root of the matter immediately. ¡°J, the Seacisco Fashion Week is a big deal around the world. Headlining the show is supposed to take our company to the peak of the clothing industry. We can¡¯t let this ruin our chances. You need to clear up this misunderstanding as soon as possible. Let¡¯s go there!¡± giarism wasn¡¯t a joking matter. Such an usation could destroy J¡¯s career and thepany¡¯s reputation in the blink of an eye. This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Ms. Fisher, I put this on everything I love, I didn¡¯t giarize anyone¡¯s work. All my designs are the products of my creativity and several sleepless nights. You have to believe me.¡± J held up her right hand as she swore solemnly. Not only was J naturally an incorrupt person, but she also understood that giarism was taboo. She had even deliberately avoided using simr elements while putting together her designs. ¡°Of course, I believe you. But that doesn¡¯t mean that everyone here feels the same way. Let¡¯s go and see what¡¯s going on. This is not only about you now; it¡¯s also about the reputation of the Larson Group.¡± The calm and innocent look on J¡¯s face further proved to Tiffany that this usation was just a big mistake. ¡°Thanks for believing me. Don¡¯t worry. I will handle it.¡± With inexplicable boldness, J walked over to where Luna was and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on exactly?¡± Luna had been dying to hear that question. She sneered at J and took out her tablet from her backpack. After tapping the screen, she said to everyone present, ¡°I designed a series of colorful spring stylesst year, but the design department of the Lester Silk Fabric didn¡¯t select it, so none of the designs were made into a finished product. But I was shocked to see J¡¯s works on stage just now. They are very simr to mine. I¡¯m a hundred percent sure that she got her hands on my designs and decided to pass them off as her own. She¡¯s a thief!¡± The entire show was halted because of this sudden usation. The audience¡¯s attention was on them. One of the attendees who saw Luna¡¯s designs said in a hushed tone, ¡°Wow! Their works are indeed simr. I think she actually stole the designs.¡± ¡°Yes, the simrities are too obvious to overlook. The colors and styles are very much like,¡± another one concurred. ¡°Shush! Don¡¯t jump to conclusions just yet. Let¡¯s hear what Miss Lind has to say about the usation. It¡¯s unwise to judge only by listening to one side!¡± A guest disagreed vehemently. Chapter 310 Chapter 310 Unfazed by all that Luna said, J swiped and zoomed in on the drawings on the PC tablet. She observed them closely for a while. She then said, ¡°Yeah, they are simr, but that doesn¡¯t make them the same. Are you calling me a giarist because of these simrities? Besides, no one knows when you made these design drafts!¡± Luna had prepared well for this confrontation, so she had expected J to say such a thing. She retorted fearlessly, ¡°As I said earlier, I made these designs some time back. I decided to put the entire collection on a fashion design exchange tform since it wasn¡¯t selected by the design team. It was a way of putting my work out there and building my portfolio. From the website, you can see that it was uploaded a year ago. Have a look, everyone!¡± As Luna spoke, she opened the fashion design exchange tform where she imed to have uploaded her designs. The date stamp indeed showed that the collection of designs was uploaded on the tform a year ago. A slight frown appeared on the organizer¡¯s face after Luna pointed out the date stamp. ¡°Miss Lind, what do you have to say about that?¡± The tempo of the uproar also increased. J saw that some of the attendees were looking at her with disdainful expressions. Many dignified designers were alsoing over. Tiffany¡¯s mind-blowing introduction of J before the show began painted her in a good light. Most of them had good first impressions of her, so they were supportive of her. ¡°People often get simr inspirations. It¡¯s possible that both women have simr interests and saw the same set of past designs that inspired them. After all, even experienced designers like us asionally have such problems.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true that people can take inspiration from the same things, but it is impossible for two creative minds toe up with the same designs. Simrities can happen. However, the styles and colors of J¡¯s designs are exactly the same as mine. Even a blind man could see that the resemnce is uncanny. How is it possible that she made these designs without looking at mine?¡± Luna insisted confidently. The other designers were forced to admit that she had a point. Both designs had the slip style and silk fabric, among other simrities. From their experience, they knew that such coincidences hardly ever happened. This seemed to be enough evidence. As a result, the organizers and designers couldn¡¯t speak for J anymore. One of them eventually spoke for the rest, ¡°Miss Lind, you have to exin why your work is the same as hers. It¡¯s best that you own up to it if you indeed giarized her work. Otherwise, you would make matters worse for yourself.¡± This statement indicated that they were convinced that this was a clear case of giarism. Despite being on the hot seat with little or no support, J was hell-bent on sticking to her truth. She wasn¡¯t intimidated by theirck of trust. She said calmly, ¡°You said that even a blind man could see that I giarized your work. Now tell me, how is it possible that I tantly giarized without changing any detail? I am a smart woman. If I wanted to copy someone¡¯s work, I would make plenty of changes so that the owner won¡¯t notice the simrities. Do you think I¡¯m a fool that would just copy and paste without tweaking anything? Which intellectual property thief would want others to find out about his or her shady business?¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. There was no trace of shame or fear on J¡¯s face. It didn¡¯t matter to her that no one supported her now. She was just ready to prove her innocence. Folding her arms over her chest, Luna fired back, ¡°Spare me that crap, J. Now is not the time to tter yourself. Only a thief would know how a thief thinks. I¡¯m not a giarist, so there¡¯s no way I would know how people like you think. I have brought out evidence that you stole my work. Everyone has seen it. As a designer, I can¡¯t just stand by and watch someone else take credit for my hard work. With my designs, J sessfully entered the fashion show of Seacisco Fashion Week. I demand that all of her works be withdrawn and that she apologizes to me publicly.¡± J frowned deeply. She couldn¡¯t take the insults, let alone apologize to her. ¡°You are making a baseless im. I didn¡¯t giarize your work. I have never logged on to the fashion design sharing tform you spoke about. More so, I have never seen any designs that are simr to mine anywhere before. You just want to tarnish my image!¡± Luna held her chest and pretended to be hurt by J¡¯s words. ¡°How could you say that I¡¯m making a baseless im? You are just being a big bully. I¡¯ve never seen anyone as shameless and wicked as you. The evidence is right here. Why are you still denying it? Anyway, let¡¯s wait and see!¡± Chapter 311 Chapter 311 The news eventually reached the person in charge of the Seacisco Fashion Week. It was a popr event, after all, with the entire country paying attention to its highlights. Of course, the big shots in the fashion industry were always in attendance. Ever since J¡¯s giarism issue had gone viral on the Inte, people began to discuss the matter in various online forums. There were those who even posted videomentsbing through how the incident unfolded. It didn¡¯t take long until the names J Lind and Larson Group became a hot search topic. Needless to say, it all blew up and became a sensation overnight. In the end, Tiffany asked J to go home and get some rest. ¡°But why should I go back, Ms. Fisher? I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. I was framed and ndered¡ªI am the victim here.¡± Loath as she was to admit it, J could sense that Tiffany didn¡¯t exactly believe her at the moment. In truth, the other woman only thought that J was currently too flustered and excited to think straight. She might wind up making the situation worse. ¡°You should take a couple of days off and calm down, Lind.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to calm down, because none of this is my fault. Why should I be the one to run and hide?¡± J couldn¡¯t help raising her voice. She wasn¡¯t the one in the wrong, so why was she being treated as if she were? ¡°I need to find out who set me up.¡± ******* At that same moment, everyone back in the Larson Group were talking about the controversy as well, especially the designers. They used to think highly of J and admired her potential, but their opinions were swiftly shifting to the other side. Gerda kept to herself and ignored her colleagues. She had faith in J. As for the senior designers who had always hated J, they were naturally overjoyed at her misfortune. They could finally talk shit about her out in the open. ¡°I told you, didn¡¯t I? That woman must be sleeping with some senior executive. You know how it works.¡± ¡°How disgusting. I never thought such a vulgar thing also happens behind the doors of the Larson Group.¡± ¡°Oh, please. I¡¯m sure there are plenty of things going on around here that we know nothing about.¡± ******* The next day, one of the fashion week¡¯s organizers called J over to his office. He spoke to her in a curt and businesslike tone. ¡°Hello, Miss Lind. My team and I have been to Lester Silk Fabric and looked into the matter. All the designers and other chief officers confirmed that the designs in question were made by Luna oy the previous year.¡± ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± J countered, her eyes burning with anger. She simply couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. ¡°Lester Silk Fabric failed to get into the first walk because of me. Don¡¯t you see? They¡¯re doing this for revenge. They already framed me, so of course their employees would support their false usations.¡± The man stood up and raised his hands helplessly, looking nervous. ¡°Please calm down, Miss Lind. You have no evidence that you didn¡¯t giarize Miss oy¡¯s work. Until you prove your innocence, I¡¯m afraid we will have to remove your designs from the selection. I apologize for that but we have to do this. It is a necessary measure on our part.¡±N?velDrama.Org content. Chapter 312 Chapter 312 J pulled back and said, ¡°You¡¯re my most valuable friend, Laney. Thank you for always helping me in any way you can.¡± Laney¡¯s smile dimmed. The sincerity in J¡¯s eyes made her chest tighten in guilt. Everything she had done, everything J was grateful for, it was all because of Ethan was paying her to be J¡¯s bodyguard. However, J had no idea and even regarded her as an important person in her life. ¡°Please don¡¯t mention it,¡± Laney said, shaking her head and casting her eyes downward. ¡°I like helping other people.¡± These minor injuries were nothing to her, really. She had survived worse battles when she was younger. And if she were to be perfectly honest, she liked J, too. J personified beauty and kindness. Laney didn¡¯t want to cause any unnecessary worry. How would J react if she somehow found out that Laney had been hired to approach her? ¡°I know, Laney¡± J said with a small chuckle. ¡°That doesn¡¯t change the fact that you¡¯re the nicest friend I¡¯ve ever had.¡± Laney sighed helplessly. She took a good look at J and noticed the dark circles under thetter¡¯s eyes. ¡°Did you stay here all night? I¡¯m fine by myself, you know. The nurses will check up on me regrly. You should go home.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I used to work all night all the time. This is no big deal.¡± Laney pursed her lips. ¡°But today is a weekday. Don¡¯t you have to go to work?¡± ¡°Well, I¡ªYes¡­¡± J stammered. The matter hadpletely slipped her mind. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. And I haven¡¯t even filed for a leave of absence! Oh, I have to go. Do you need me to file yours, too?¡± ¡°Please, and thank you.¡± Laney breathed a sigh of relief and nced at Ethan, who had been standing by the door of the ward. J was finally leaving the hospital. A few momentster. J jumped out of the taxi and dashed through the lobby of the Larson Group building. As she was going through the entrance, she ran into Garrett. This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Aha! I just caught you getting to workte, Lind,¡± he teased, peering at J through his sses. ¡®Why is she in such a hurry, anyway?¡¯ Garrett asked himself. ¡®Her husband owns the entirepany. Does she think her sry is going to get docked or something for beingte?¡¯ J stopped in her tracks. She turned to him with a pleading expression. ¡°I apologize, Mr. Harding. I¡¯ve had to deal with some personal business. Laney is in the hospital, you see, and I¡¯ve just been to see her.¡± Of course, Garrett had already known about Laney¡¯s condition. Still, he blinked innocently and asked, ¡°Then, how is Laney? Is she doing all right?¡± J naturally thought he was only making small talk, but she did recognize an opportunity to smoothen the procedure for Laney¡¯s leave of absence. And so, she said, ¡°As a matter of fact, Laney was badly injured and couldn¡¯t even get out of bed.¡± Garrett froze, his eyes wide with shock, his heart clenching. He made a decision there and then to see Laney as soon as he could. Later, after work. Garrett bought a basket of fruits and a bouquet of flowers. He also swung by a pastry shop and got his favorite cake before heading to the hospital. Laney was sitting on the hospital bed at that moment, her arms and legs wrapped in gauze. She stared woefully at the dumbbell in the far corner of the room. There was a part of her that desperately wanted to pounce on the damn thing and do some strength exercises. Of course, she knew she wasn¡¯t in the right state to do that. She still needed a lot of rest. But old habits die hard, as the saying went. Besides, she wasn¡¯tfortable just lying in bed and staring at the ceiling all day. Garrett arrived just then, but instead of going inside the ward, he hung back and leaned against the door frame. He followed the direction of her gaze and noticed the dumbbell. Then his eyes wandered to her toned arms, thinking how theyplimented the rest of her body. It was an odd thought, but there it was. ¡°I heard you were hurt so badly, you can barely get up. I see that isn¡¯t the case at all. You must be a superhuman or something.¡± Garrett strode into the room, his armsden with his offerings. Laney had turned at the sound of his voice. She looked startled at first, but her expression soon turned wary. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Garrett set everything down on the table before grinning cheekily at her. ¡°You¡¯re my secretary. Do I need any better reason to be here?¡± Chapter 313 Chapter 313 Later, she discovered that Tiffany was waiting for her at the door. Seeing hering out, she rushed over and asked, ¡°How did it go? Did they say anything?¡± ¡°He said that they will be removing all my works from the show.¡± J looked worn out as if she had been dealt a heavy blow. All her efforts were useless in the end. Tiffany tried giving her words offort. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine, J. You¡¯re young. You will have a lot more opportunities up ahead.¡± With a dry smile on her face, J asked in a tired voice, ¡°Will I really have another chance after this? Ms. Fisher, the organizers have decided to remove my designs from the show. Doesn¡¯t this mean that every one of them thinks that I¡¯m a giarist? Now everyone believes that I was giarizing. I know you used to be a designer, so you should know better than me that thebel of giarism will follow me everywhere I go now. Every single item of clothes I design from now on will be under suspicion of giarism.¡± Tiffany fell silent. She was fully aware of that. After something like this, J was fated to never be respected again in the industry. The only mode of escape would be for her to leave the industry entirely and change her upation. But Tiffany could clearly see that J loved designing deeply. She happened to treasure each piece of her designs. How could she let go of this, something she clearly loved? ¡°Someone must be orchestrating things behind the scenes.¡± Suddenly, J grabbed Tiffany¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Ritchie Lester must be behind this! Ethan and I have offended him once and now he wants to do everything in his power to destroy my career!¡± Tiffany had no clue what J was talking about. How could the Lester family actually have anything to do with this matter? ¡°Be careful with what you say, J. We can¡¯t afford to offend a family like the Lesters,¡± Tiffany thought to remind her in a hushed voice. She checked around her surroundings vigntly and hailed a cab. ¡°There just so happens to be many designers from the Lester Silk Fabric. It¡¯s best if you¡¯re careful. Well, don¡¯t overthink things. You go home and rest. I¡¯ll head back to thepany first and talk to our superiors.¡± Tiffany helped J into the car. Suddenly, it dawned on J what she had just said and she kept her mouth shut. Leaning her body against the car window, J¡¯s mind was in chaos. Even if her suspicions say it was Ritchie, what on earth could she do about it? If she was really framed, how could Luna be able to upload her design drafts online a year ago? Everything was beyond her and she couldn¡¯t figure it out. While she was mulling it over in her head, her phone buzzed with a notification. Ethan was calling her. *** Just outside the meeting room of the Larson Group. Because of the giarism matter, the Larson Group¡¯s stock price took a turn for the worse. Ethan was just discussing this matter with several senior leaders. Aftering back to his office, he gave J a call. ¡°I¡¯ve already seen the news on the Inte. I believe you have nothing to do with this. Think it over carefully, J, is there anything to prove that those designs are truly yours?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. When she heard Ethan¡¯s voice, J immediately burst into tears. She felt wronged and sobbed for a long time before managing to say something. ¡°Ethan, you have to believe me. I didn¡¯t do it.¡± Hearing her wretched sobs, Ethan¡¯s voice became softer. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you stole those designs right from the very beginning.¡± He had seen it with his own eyes how hard J had worked on those designs. After hanging up the phone call, Ethan¡¯s eyes darkened noticeably. As Brandon Larson, the CEO of the Larson Group, taking care of this matter would be an easy task. However, he was now Ethan Lester to J and he couldn¡¯t deal with this matter for her. Otherwise, she would have doubts about him. The giarism matter happened all of a sudden with no warning, so Ethan had to investigate this on the down-low. Seeing that the news of the giarism had spread in a short amount of time, Charis grabbed her chance to hold a meeting with several senior executives and employees of the HR department. She criticized herself at that day¡¯s meeting and said, ¡°I chose her work but had no idea she actually giarized someone else¡¯s designs. My poor decisions have affected the entirepany in a negative way. After the meeting, I promise I will apologize to everyone online about this matter.¡± Chapter 314 Chapter 314 As soon as Tiffany got back to the office, she heard that Charis had gathered some senior executives and the staff of the human resources department for a meeting. She rushed there immediately. When she reached the door, she overheard what Charis had said just now. ¡°Miss Turner, I think we should investigate it further.¡± Tiffany pushed the door open, out of breath. When she saw Tiffanye in, Charis smiled kindly. ¡°Miss Fisher, you¡¯re back! We were just talking about J Lind. Since you¡¯re her direct supervisor, we¡¯d like to hear your opinion on this giarism thing.¡± Tiffany nodded and sat down at the meeting table, her eyes shing with determination. ¡°Thank you for asking, Miss Turner. I firmly believe that J would never giarize anyone else¡¯s works.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Charis sighed helplessly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what we think. What matters is that the public doesn¡¯t believe her. Now that this news has spread across the industry, the Larson Group¡¯s reputation has been affected.¡± Charis turned to the crowd and continued, ¡°Everyone, now¡¯s the time to share your ideas.¡± Several staff from the HR Department were present. They immediately understood what Charis meant and exchanged hesitant nces. Finally, one of them spoke up. ¡°We need to put the interests of thepany first. What J did has affected our image. Should we consider firing her? giarizing is a big deal and it¡¯s enough for us to dismiss her.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement with him. After all, the news had spread like wildfire online. The whole world was discussing it. After pondering over it for a while, Charis clicked her tongue in frustration. ¡°It seems you¡¯re right. For the sake of the Larson Group¡¯s reputation, we have no choice but to let J go. What a pity! I always thought that J was a very talented designer, which was why I decided to help her get her designs into the Fashion Week.¡± Tiffany couldn¡¯t help but frown. She didn¡¯t expect that thepany would fire J without even investigating the matter thoroughly. She refused to give up so soon. She stood up from her seat and addressed Charis sternly. ¡°Miss Turner, don¡¯t you think we should investigate it first? It¡¯s only been half a day and we don¡¯t even know if J really giarized someone else¡¯s work. We shouldn¡¯t jump to conclusions so soon.¡± Charis tapped a pen on the table and looked at Tiffany sympathetically. ¡°Unfortunately, thepany¡¯s stock price plummeted because of this incident. If we don¡¯t do anything about it now, things will only get worse.¡± ¡°Please, Miss Turner. Don¡¯t fire her so soon. As her supervisor, I¡¯m responsible for her. I want to investigate the matter before we do anything drastic. Please give her some time, maybe she can prove her innocence.¡± Tiffany was usually a calm person, but what with Charis¡¯s enthusiasm to fire J, she couldn¡¯t help but grow agitated. Chapter 315 Chapter 315 Charis smiled coldly. She had to admit that Tiffany was one hard nut to crack. She couldn¡¯t push too hard, or she would risk exposing her true purpose. Charis pursed her lips and tried for a casual tone. ¡°It would be best if she proved herself innocent, of course.¡± She cast a pointed look at Tiffany, letting it linger for a couple of seconds. Then she gathered the documents she on the table and stood up. ¡°Well, that¡¯s it for today¡¯s meeting. Thank you for your time, everyone.¡± Tiffany couldn¡¯t help breathing a sigh of relief as she watched Charis strut out of the conference room. ******* J didn¡¯t go home as she was told. Instead, she had been in Tiffany¡¯s office ever since her return from the show. When she had first stepped into their department earlier, she heard her colleagues discussing her giarism scandal. Apparently, the issue had prompted the senior executives to hold several meetings, all on short notice. Tiffany soon went back to her office. She closed the door behind her and let out a long breath, as though she had just survived a fierce battle. ¡°Now, that was horrible,¡± she said, pulling out a packet of tissues from her desk drawer. She proceeded to dab at the sweat beading on her forehead. ¡°Charis wants to fire you, even though we haven¡¯t gotten to the bottom of this issue yet. It looks like she wants you to be the sacrificialmb in her bid to save thepany¡¯s reputation.¡± And from what both women gathered, it appeared that the senior executives were already on board. J was outraged. She jumped to her feet, her voice raised. ¡°Didn¡¯t they say anything about conducting an investigation?¡± Tiffany rubbed her temples. She could feel a headacheing. ¡°She agreed to look into it. Don¡¯t worry for now. Just go home and get some rest. Try to steer clear of the new. They¡¯ll only cause you unnecessary stress.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. J¡¯s lips stretched into a tight smile. How could she possibly be expected to rx in such a situation? ******* After a whirlwind of a day, J was understandably exhausted by the time she got home. Despite Tiffany¡¯s warning, she couldn¡¯t resist logging on to Twitter. As expected, the scandal was already among the trending topics. J spiraled into an endless loop of anxiety, she could barely sleep a wink. She desperately wanted to talk to Ethan, but he hadn¡¯t been around since her return. It seemed like he was very busy today, too; she hadn¡¯t heard from him except for that one phone call. Frustrated, she dragged herself out of bed to get a ss of water from the kitchen. She was still a little miffed when she stomped back to her room. Her career was practically blowing up in her face, yet her husband wasn¡¯t even around tofort her. The fact that she had never seen him this busy in a long time didn¡¯t help, either. Needless to say, J still felt horrible when she woke up the next day. No amount of make-up could rectify the dark circles under her eyes, or the pallid color of her face. As she walked across the lobby, she overheard yet another delightful conversation among her colleagues. ¡°J is done for this time. I heard that the General Manager of Lester Silk Fabric is coming today!¡± ¡°Really? He¡¯s here?¡± ¡°Yes, his limo is parked at the gates as we speak. A group of senior executives went out to greet him when he arrived.¡± This was a surprise to J. She hadn¡¯t expected Ritchie to show up so soon. She hurried to her desk, but Tiffany stopped her just as she arrived at the Design Department. ¡°Lind. The General Manager of Lester Silk Fabric is here, probably to discuss the matter of the giarism issue. Come with me.¡± Tiffany was just as bewildered by this development as J was. She knew they had no choice, though. They might as well deal with the circumstances and be done with it. Ritchie was already in the meeting room when the two women walked in. His lips immediately curled in disdain when he saw them. ¡°That woman giarized the work of my designer,¡± he thundered. ¡°When are you going to apologize and make amends for her actions?¡± He looked J up and down with disgust. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me she is still working here? How can you tolerate having a deceitful little bitch in your reputablepany?¡± Chapter 316 Chapter 316 J clenched her fists and said through gritted teeth, ¡°It hasn¡¯t been proven yet. I have a clear conscience. I¡¯ll never admit to it, nor will I apologize.¡± Ritchie narrowed his eyes at her and fiddled with the ring on his thumb. ¡°We¡¯re giving you onest chance. If you don¡¯t admit to it and apologize, we¡¯ll sue you. Things will only get worse for you.¡± J pursed her lips and didn¡¯t say anything. She couldn¡¯t confront Ritchie head on. Seeing that J had fallen silent, Ritchie didn¡¯t say anything more. He stood up and walked past her, muttering, ¡°Just you wait and see, little bitch.¡± Before J could respond, he left. Tiffany patted J on the shoulder reassuringly. ¡°Don¡¯t mind him. Let¡¯s go back. If Lester Silk Fabric had to threaten us, it means they¡¯re not a hundred percent sure they¡¯ll win in court. The ball¡¯s in our court. We just need to see how thepany will deal with it first.¡± J nodded wordlessly. She knew that Ritchie was just trying to scare her. Because the boss of Lester Silk Fabric himself hade to the Larson Group to question J, rumors about the giarism spread all over the building like wildfire. J didn¡¯t want to listen to them, but no matter where she went, she couldn¡¯t escape those discussions. On her way back to her desk at the design department, she heard colleagues whispering, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t she been fired yet?¡± ¡°Lester Silk Fabric and the Larson Group have always been enemies. But I never thought this would happen. Because J giarized some other person¡¯s designs, she has ruined thepany¡¯s reputation. She should¡¯ve left!¡± Many employees in Larson Group felt humiliated andined about J. Biting her lower lip, J nced at the gossipers and returned to the design department with her head down. However, as soon as she reached her desk, a staff from human resources department approached her. This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Lind, can we talk in the meeting room?¡± the staff asked with a smile. But her smile was not warm. J looked at her warily and said, ¡°Okay.¡± In the meeting room. The staff of human resources department continued to smile unsettlingly. ¡°Lind, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard the newstely. It¡¯s indeed a questionable thing for a designer to produce work that resembles another person¡¯s work. This matter also has a great impact on ourpany. If you leave now, it would be good for both you and the Larson Group.¡± J looked at her coldly and said, ¡°I can¡¯t resign now. You¡¯re trying to tell me to leave thepany before I¡¯ve even had the chance to find out the truth. I simply can¡¯t do that.¡± The staff¡¯s smile stiffened somewhat. She didn¡¯t expect that a fragile-looking woman like J would be so difficult to deal with. ¡°We only make decisions based on the current situation,¡± the staff continued awkwardly. She attended yesterday¡¯s meeting and realized that Charis wanted J fired, so she wanted to help her seed. It¡¯d be beneficial to her if she could please Charis. J¡¯s gaze was bone-chillingly cold. She refused to back down. If she resigned now, it was like she was admitting to the crime. ¡°Let me make myself clear. I didn¡¯t do anything wrong, and I¡¯m not resigning.¡± The smile was wiped from the staff¡¯s face. She took out the resignation document and slid it across the table in front of J. In a tough tone, she said, ¡°We will fire you sooner orter. By then, you¡¯ll be even more embarrassed.¡± ¡®Judging from her aggressive manner, the senior executives of Larson Group must have given the order to dismiss me,¡¯ J thought to herself with a frown. She was distressed. Those people were driving her to a dead end. Just then, her phone pinged. It was a message from Brandon. She hadn¡¯t heard from him in a long time, so she nced at the message quickly. ¡°J, I found evidence that you didn¡¯t giarize.¡± Chapter 317 Chapter 317 Pleasantly surprised, J looked up from her phone and sneered at the HR staff. Then she began to type out her reply to Brandon. ¡°Miss Lind, please sign on the resignation notice,¡± the staff member said through gritted teeth. She grew angrier when she saw that J began to tinker with her phone. Ignoring her, J texted Brandon back. ¡°Are you serious, Mr. Larson? What did you find?¡± The message from Brandon was a godsend. She was just about to ept the fact that the Larson Group had given up on her. Brandon replied with a long message. ¡°Upon investigating the matter, we found out that Lester Silk Fabric took over the tform recently. Luna didn¡¯t upload the design drafts a year ago, but a few days ago. The data was tampered with. Lester Silk Fabric used their connections and managed to get to your works before the show officially began. They asked Luna to make a collection based on your works and posted them on the tform. They tampered with the date and time stamp of the post to frame you for giarism.¡± J had already guessed that it was Lester Silk Fabric behind this, but she had no idea how they did it. ¡°How did you find that out?¡± The tform was now owned by Lester Silk Fabric. How could they have let Brandon investigate them? ¡°We have tech guys here. They were the ones who found evidence of them tampering with the tform¡¯s database. Even if they had altered the original date of uploading, our tech guys were able to retrieve it. We also have a video confession of the staff who tampered with the data.¡± Brandon¡¯s words lifted a weight off of J¡¯s heart. He sent two videos to J and said, ¡°We¡¯ve done what we could. You should be able to take it from here now, right?¡± All of a sudden, J felt a surge of energy. She stood up with a confident smile and said to the HR staff member, ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong and I knew that thepany won¡¯t fire me because of some groundless usation!¡± As she spoke, she tucked her phone away. The staff member gritted her teeth and red at her angrily. ¡°J Lind, you giarized someone else¡¯s work yet you feel no shame?¡± J ignored her. She turned around and left without looking back. ******* Tiffany looked up in surprise when J entered her office. ¡°What¡¯s up, Lind?¡± ¡°Miss Fisher, can I have Ritchie Lester¡¯s number?¡± J asked politely. In Tiffany¡¯s eyes, she looked inexplicably rxed, as though her career wasn¡¯t in danger. Tiffany looked at her warily and then nodded slowly. ¡°I have his number, but may I ask why you need it?¡± ¡°I want to call him and apologize,¡± J answered simply. ¡°Lind, are you crazy? Go back to work. You didn¡¯t giarize anything, so keep a low profile for now. There are enough discussions about you already,¡± Tiffany scolded. After saying that, she lowered her head and continued to work. But J stayed glued to the spot, staring at her with fierce determination. After hesitating for a few seconds, Tiffany relented and held up Ritchie¡¯s business card. She said in a resigned tone, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re up to, but I hope you know what you¡¯re doing.¡± J reached for the card with a bright smile. Of course she knew what she was doing. ******* That evening, Ritchie received a call from an unknown number. ¡°Mr. Lester, this is J Lind from the Larson Group. After giving it some thought, I want to apologize in public,¡± J said, her voice as sweet as honey. When Ritchie heard this, he was surprised. Then, he sneered. He was under the impression that Ethan¡¯s wife was a stubborn woman, but it turned out he was wrong about her. J had given up so soon. ¡°You¡¯re scared, aren¡¯t you?¡± With a smug smile on his face, Ritchie smirked. ¡°Come to Lester Silk Fabric tomorrow. You can apologize there in person.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Chapter 318 Chapter 318 Ritchie had a devious grin on his face when he hung up the phone. ¡°Call all the designers under Lester Silk Fabric and the people in charge of the fashion week,¡± he barked at his secretary. ¡°I want them here tomorrow. Call some famous personalities in the fashion industry as well. We need people in authority for the event.¡± The secretary nodded respectfully. He was about to leave when Ritchie stopped him in his tracks. ¡°Where the hell are you going? I¡¯m not finished yet. Get your ass back here.¡± The poor man scurried back, cursing his boss in his mind. ¡°Invite every media outlet in Seacisco, especially the ones that prioritize viewership over anything. And make sure to tell them to hype up the event as much as they can!¡± Ritchie sat back on his chair as his n began to take shape. ¡°Get the biggest function hall for the press conference. I want hundreds of people to be there. Oh, and don¡¯t forget to arrange for a live stream, too. Contact our usual sponsors and tell them their products will be disyed throughout the feed. We might as well make some money while we¡¯re at it. And remember¡ªour main goal is to discredit J and end her fashion career for good.¡± Another evil grin spread on Ritchie¡¯s face. He wanted to screw that woman over so badly that she could never get back on her feet again. The secretary pursed his lips and jotted every detail down. This time, he made sure that his boss was finished before leaving the office. The sun shone bright and early the next day. Just as nned, the press conference was held at thergest meeting hall in Lester Silk Fabric. Cameras littered all around the room, squeezed in among the throng of people who came to watch the spectacle. Even as she swept a nce over the crowd, J didn¡¯t feel panicked in the slightest. ¡°It looks like the Lester Silk Fabric really wants to do you in,¡± Tiffany remarked from beside her. She turned to look J in the eye. ¡°You¡¯re not just going to stand there and let yourself be bullied in public, are you? What¡¯s your n?¡± A faint smile appeared on J¡¯s lips. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not particrly inclined to suffer any misced grievances, either.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. With that, she walked onto the stage, all calm and grace. The room finally settled down as J took her ce. Without wasting her time, she whipped out a sh drive and held it up for all to see. ¡°Sorry for taking up your time, everyone. In order to convey my sincerity more properly, I have prepared a couple of videos for today¡¯s press conference.¡± From a distance, Ritchie frowned and narrowed his eyes. He could sense that something wasn¡¯t right. Why was J soposed in such a situation? If anything, she should be mortified and humiliated right now, especially in front of all these people. What was she up to? He leaned over to his secretary and asked in a hushed voice, ¡°Did she find something?¡± ¡°She can¡¯t have,¡± the other man replied confidently. ¡°We¡¯ve taken care to sweep everything. All the evidence has been locked away. I think she¡¯s just bluffing.¡± At this point, J had already plugged the drive to aputer, and one of the videos was ying on the widescreen. Ritchie¡¯s eyes widened like saucers as they watched an employee of Lester Silk Fabric tampering with the time stamp on the website. The scene changed, and this time, the same man was sobbing hysterically as he divulged what he had done. The clips ended, and a deafening silence fell in the room. J took the microphone and said, ¡°As you can see, this is what really happened. Lester Silk Fabric managed to get hold of my designs prior to the show. After that, one of their designers, Luna oy, posted my entire portfolio online and edited the details to make it look like she was the original designer. There is your truth. Once again, I thank each of you foring to hear me out today. If you have further questions, kindly direct them to Mr. Lester. I¡¯m sure he can give you better answers than I can.¡± She gave Ritchie a meaningful look, then, and gestured in his direction with a wave of her hand. As soon as she did, the crowd burst into an uproar. Chapter 319 Chapter 319 Shocked, Ritchie cursed out loud, ¡°Fuck that bitch!¡± His secretary was also scared silly. ring daggers at him, Ritchie was pissed off and kicked him in the ass. Pointing his finger at the big screen, he cursed again, ¡°What the fuck are you doing standing here for? Turn off the projector right now!¡± The secretary stumbled to the stage and proceeded to turn it off. Ritchie snorted, smoothed over his suit and made his way onto the stage. This happened to be his territory, not J¡¯s. N?velDrama.Org content. He lifted his chin and approached her, holding his head up high. ¡°J Lind, you better be careful with what you say. As far as I can see, you were just making things up so that you can get yourself out of your predicament!¡± As he said this, he turned his eyes from her and eximed, ¡°Give yourself up. Apologize right this moment! Don¡¯t waste any more of our time here!¡± ¡°Then why did you turn off the projector if I was, indeed, making things up? That¡¯s a sign of guilt. If you¡¯re so sure of yourself, you should allow me to show everyone the proof. I¡¯m sure that everyone here is smart enough to tell if I actually made up the evidence or not,¡± J smiled and said in a calm voice. Ritchie was exasperated to hear that. He clenched his teeth tightly and pointed his finger at the door. ¡°I thought you came here to apologize. If you¡¯re not going to do that, why don¡¯t you leave this ce immediately?!¡± While smiling, J didn¡¯t say a word. Instead, she turned to the audience before her and said word by word, ¡°Everyone should know the truth by now. I¡¯m going to sue Lester Silk Fabric for ndering my name.¡± After finishing her speech, she didn¡¯t bother to argue with Ritchie anymore and went ahead to leave the stage. This scene was live streamed and everyone saw for themselves what had happened. Everyone in the room and the audience in the live stream room was shocked to say the least. The audience began to discuss this amongst themselves. Even though J had only yed the videos once, the reporters had gone out of their way to record them. ¡°Mr. Lester, could you please offer an exnation for what happened just now?¡± ¡°Lester Silk Fabric and the Larson Group have been rivals for years now. Was this why you decided to nder Miss Lind in this way? In order to taint the Larson Group¡¯s name?¡± ¡°If your statement about J giarizing one of your designers¡¯ pieces was true, is there any evidence to back up your statement?¡± The reporters all turned to look at Ritchie and kept on asking him and Luna questions. ¡°Miss oy, are you going to make a statement? After all, weren¡¯t you the one who used Miss Lind of giarism in the first ce? What are your thoughts on the current situation?¡± ¡°Did Mr. Lester instruct you to do this?¡± ¡°Tell us, what¡¯s the nature of the rtionship between the two of you?¡± Being ambushed by the reporters, Luna¡¯s mind went nk and she felt very embarrassed. She said frantically, ¡°I have no idea. Don¡¯t ask me¡­¡± Under the dazzling shing lights of the cameras, Ritchie couldn¡¯t even keep his eyes open. He kept cursing out loud while pushing the reporters in front of him away and saying, ¡°Get the hell out of my way! Turn off your damn lights! You¡¯re blinding me!¡± His secretary hurried to stop his curses. If Ritchie¡¯s father found out about this, he would be very angry. Having been spoiled by the Lester family since he was a child, Ritchie happened to be very irritable at this moment. Before he took over thepany, his parents had to repeatedly remind him to control that temper of his. His secretary cleared the way for him while speaking to the reporters. ¡°Please, sirs, madams, Mr. Lester can¡¯t answer all of your questions right now. We¡¯ll announce on our official website if we have anyments.¡± Finally, Ritchie and the senior executives of Lester Silk Fabric were able to escape the madness of the room. Chapter 320 Chapter 320 When she got home, J kicked off her heels and copsed into bed. Now, she felt much better. ¡°It¡¯s finally over!¡± After resting for a while, she got up and turned on theputer. She briskly posted the evidence on the forums Luna had posted to nder her before. A few hourster, the forums came to life as users discussed this matter heatedly. The dramatic turning-of-tables that had happened at the press briefing soon made headlines. Rted videos went viral on the Inte. Suddenly, J¡¯s phone started to ring. It was Tiffany. ¡°Lind, I¡¯m impressed. Have you seen the comments on the post? Everyone¡¯s calling you a warrior. You really knocked them dead!¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°Oh, my God! Seriously?¡± J moved her cursor to check thements Tiffany was talking about. She had been focused on the media¡¯s reports until now and didn¡¯t know what people were saying in the comments. When J read thements, she found that the video of her talking on the stage had been spread all over the Inte. There was a lot of positive feedback. ¡°Wow. Heart. Heart. She¡¯s so elegant and generous! And a fierce warrior too!¡± ¡°She¡¯s a lovely girl. Such a polite and beautiful goddess giarized someone else¡¯s work? I doubt it!¡± ¡°She¡¯s so pretty, I¡¯d kiss her all day!¡± ¡°Even though I¡¯m a girl, I want her!¡± J buried her face in her hands, her cheeks blushing furiously. She had never been praised by so many strangers in her life. ******* The next day, in the Lester Silk Fabric building¡­ ¡°Nonsense! These reports are all bullshit! How dare they call me rude?¡± Furious, Ritchie started trashing his office. He was in trouble, but there was nothing he could do. In recent years, Lester Silk Fabric and the Larson Group had be two very high profilepanies. What with J¡¯s fiasco, the media was having a field day. In the span of just twenty-four hours, the reputation of Lester Silk Fabric was destroyed and its stock price plummeted. ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do to refute the evidence that J posted online. What we can do now is to try our best to keep the news from spreading. Mr. Lester, it was your idea to bring in more reporters there¡­¡± the secretary reminded Ritchie in a trembling voice, picking up the documents Ritchie had thrown on the ground. Ritchie red at him, speechless. He picked up another stack of papers from the table and threw them at the secretary¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m not an idiot. You don¡¯t need to remind me what I said.¡± ******* Things didn¡¯t end there. Brandon sent people from the Larson Group¡¯s legal department to help J file awsuit against Lester Silk Fabric. The second they got the notice of thewsuit, Lester Silk Fabric responded quickly and held a press conference in the afternoon. Luna expressionlessly read a script in front of countless reporters, her face pale as a ghost under the limelight. ¡°I admit that I peeked at J Lind¡¯s work before the show started. Then I bribed an employee to tamper with the upload date on the database. I falsely used her of giarizing my work, and I did all this to gain fame and attention. I am responsible for all of this. My actions have nothing to do with Lester Silk Fabric.¡± In the Larson Group, J stopped the video on her phone and sighed. ¡°No ss! Lester Silk Fabric made an ordinary employee take the fall!¡± Chapter 321 Chapter 321 Gerda clicked her tongue unhappily. ¡°Everyone knows they¡¯re using Luna as a scapegoat. She¡¯s just an ordinary employee. How on earth could she manage to do all of this? Lester Silk Fabric is really heartless.¡± The other designers had also seen the video circting the Inte. They began to discuss in hushed voices, but the general consensus was that Lester Silk Fabric was a cold-bloodedpany. J pulled her chair and sat down. There was no point in dwelling on it now that things had been settled. ¡°I can¡¯t say I¡¯m surprised. Now that Luna has taken the me, we can¡¯t do anything to Lester Silk Fabric.¡± ¡°And what about those designs? Are they really not gonna put them back on the show?¡± Gerda puffed out her chest indignantly. J smiled at her colleague gently. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Look on the bright side. I have gained considerable fame because of everything that¡¯s happened. Now, all eyes are on my work.¡± In the end, Luna was put behind bars. And J had be an online celebrity. Many people now knew her name and saw her designs. Some even paid for it. When the dust settled, J poured all her energy into her work. She had been so busy with this matter the past few days, so now she could finally focus on other things. ¡°By the way, Lind, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you something. How¡¯d you get the evidence?¡± Gerda was talking about the videos that J had posted on the Inte, which had amassed more than a million views. J froze. After a few seconds, she broke into a smile and waved her hand dismissively. ¡°A very capable friend helped me get them.¡±N?velDrama.Org content. Gerda nudged her arm and asked curiously, ¡°What friend? A boyfriend perhaps?¡± J¡¯s eyes twinkled. ¡°It¡¯s a secret. Gerda, is it just me or do you have a lot of time on your hands? Have you finished your design for this month? Don¡¯te running to me again when the deadline approaches.¡± ¡°Ah! My God! I still have thirty-four drawings to finish!¡± Gerda scratched her head and hurried back to her desk. J couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Suddenly, she thought of the tall and straight back of Brandon. Now that she thought about it, she realized that Lester Silk Fabric had gone through all this trouble just to set her up. It must have cost Brandon a lot to get his hands on the evidence. J couldn¡¯t help but feel a little strange. Brandon had helped her countless times, but she hadn¡¯t really ever met him in person. She owed Brandon too much and she doubted she could ever repay him. After thinking about it for a long time, J finally plucked up the courage to send a message to Brandon. ¡°Mr. Larson, would you be willing to let me treat you to dinner? You¡¯ve helped me a lot and I¡¯d like to express my gratitude somehow.¡± After hitting send, J put down her phone and wrung her hands nervously. The chairman of the Larson Group had probably tasted all the splendid dishes this world had to offer. But it was a token of her appreciation. Chapter 322 Chapter 322 At the CEO¡¯s office of the Larson Group. The Larson Group¡¯s stock price had fluctuated over the past few days. Now that the situation was favorable for the Larson Group and its stock price had more than recovered, Ethan decided to seize the opportunity to put more pressure on the Lester Silk Fabric. Garrett hadn¡¯t slept properly in the past three days, dealing with the bad press. He was yawning sleepily when Ethan¡¯s phone pinged. N?velDrama.Org content. ¡°Someone texted you.¡± When he saw the name on Ethan¡¯s phone¡¯s screen, Garrett snickered. ¡°It seems your wife¡¯s missing you.¡± Ethan smacked Garrett on the back of the head and grabbed the phone. Instantly, his expression darkened when he read the text. ¡°What is it? Why¡¯s your face like that?¡± Garrett asked seriously, the smile wiped from his face. ¡°J¡¯s asking Brandon out for dinner.¡± Ethan put his phone down and sighed. ¡°If I refuse, she¡¯ll be very disappointed.¡± Garrett leaned back with his hands sped behind his head. ¡°Yeah. You can¡¯t have dinner with J without her seeing your face. Last time, when you and J went to thepany¡¯s masquerade ball, you almost exposed yourself. It¡¯d be unwise to take such a risk again. It¡¯s not good for my heart either,¡± he sighed. Ethan frowned and started typing out a brisk reply. ¡°Thank you, but there¡¯s no need for you to treat me to dinner. You¡¯re an employee of the Larson Group. I helped you to protect the reputation of thepany.¡± J read his message and quickly replied, ¡°But Mr. Larson, you could¡¯ve just dismissed me.¡± ¡°If I dismiss any employee when something like thises up, how will we keep the talented ones? Keep up the good work. That¡¯s thanks enough, Miss Lind,¡± Ethan replied politely, keeping things professional. He had deliberately distanced Brandon from her ever since what happenedst time. He didn¡¯t want her to suspect him of anything. Reading his reply, J had no choice but to give up. Ethan put down his phone, kicked the sofa Garrett was lying down on, and said, ¡°I want you to relocate the one who had tried to force J to resign. Transfer her to a subsidiarypany. Then, bring Charis here.¡± Garrett was just about to take a nap. Hearing Ethan¡¯s orders, he helplessly peeled his eyes open and stood up from the sofa. He muttered under his breath, ¡°This job will definitely be the death of me.¡± Charis had expected that Ethan would want to have a talk with her, but when she received the notice, her heart still skipped a beat. ¡°Why did you want to dismiss J?¡± Ethan asked in a low voice. He shoved his hands into the pocket of his cks, and the light from the window elongated his shadow on the floor. ¡°I just wanted to protect thepany name,¡± Charis answered defensively. Ethan narrowed his eyes at her coldly. ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll take care of all matters rted to J. No one other than me. Understood?¡± Ethan¡¯s cold voice sent a shiver down Charis¡¯s spine. She winced and smiled bitterly, as though she had been wronged. ¡°I see how it is. You don¡¯t trust me now? Brandon, I don¡¯t have any ulterior motives, I swear.¡± Ethan had already noticed that something was wrong with Charis. He never brought it up before because he didn¡¯t want her to look bad. She and her family had always valued their image. ¡°I¡¯m just warning you not to act against J. Otherwise, don¡¯t me me if I disregard our long term friendship.¡± Chapter 323 Chapter 323 After a moment¡¯s silence, Charis said in a low voice, ¡°I see.¡± Charis was a dignified woman. Before Ethan could say anything more, she turned around and walked out of his office. As soon as the door closed behind her, tears welled up in her eyes. Ever since they first met, Brandon had never said such harsh words to her before, nor had he looked at her with such cold eyes. She hadn¡¯t cried in years. Thest time was when she said goodbye to Brandon before going abroad. She had been reluctant to leave him. But now, she felt bad about Brandon¡¯s attitude towards her. She and Brandon had worked together for years. They had shared thepany¡¯s ups and downs. But all of a sudden, with J now in the picture, Brandon suddenly was ruthless towards her. Tears rolled down Charis¡¯s cheeks as she realized just how important J was to Brandon. The hot tears dripped from her chin to the carpeted floor. ¡°I met Brandon first,¡± Charis muttered through gritted teeth. Charis didn¡¯t like to be candid with her shrewdness. The reason why she had tried to fire J was to win Brandon¡¯s heart. In Charis¡¯s eyes, J wasn¡¯t good enough for him. But now that Brandon had taken a liking to her, Charis figured he would deeply fall in love with her and she would eventually lose him for good. Thinking of this, Charis was more determined than ever to separate J and Brandon. But she couldn¡¯t act as overtly as before. Brandon had just warned her not to interfere with J¡¯s work ever again. She had to be more careful now. On the other side¡­ After J got off work, she went home, only to find that Ethan hade home early today. ¡°Oh, the workaholic is back! I¡¯m surprised you still remember the way home!¡± J¡¯s voice dripped with sarcasm. Looking at the man who was busy cooking in the kitchen, she was not happy. After all, she hadn¡¯t seen Ethan for two or three days. That was because Ethan had been busy dealing with the giarism issue the past few days. But he couldn¡¯t tell her this. While cracking the eggs into a bowl, he found an excuse. ¡°When I crossed Ritchie¡¯s path, he made a lot of trouble. The manager of the shop at work fired me. I¡¯ve been working part time the past few days while looking for a stable job.¡± Then, he paused and said sincerely, ¡°I¡¯m sorry that I haven¡¯t been here for you these days.¡± In fact, there was some truth to his story. Ritchie had indeed caused him a lot trouble after all. Hearing this, J¡¯s heart immediately softened. She walked over to help him with the vegetables. ¡°So, what happened? You didn¡¯t tell me the truth. I was worried something bad happened to you.¡± ¡°The problem¡¯s been solved. Don¡¯t worry,¡± Ethan said with a reassuring smile. That much was true. Ethan had really solved the problem that had been guing them the past few days. ¡°Your brother is really hard to deal with.¡± J pouted like a child. After transferring the egg into the pan, Ethan turned and his eyesnded on J¡¯s earlobe. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down as he gulped. ¡°How about having dinner and then a little bit of exercise to unwind?¡± ¡°What kind of exercise?¡± J looked up at Ethan curiously. Almost immediately, she saw the lust in his eyes. His face was so beautiful. It was as though God had chiseled his face to perfection. His eyes stared deep into hers, filled with burning desire. J¡¯s face turned as red as a tomato. She quickly lowered her head and said shyly, ¡°You¡¯re so naughty!¡± Then she focused on chopping the vegetables. Amused, Ethan patted her on the head affectionately. He really liked it when she blushed. He could feel that she liked him, but she always pretended to refuse him. He had to admit it really turned him on. But the romantic atmosphere was instantly soiled by the sound of the phone ringing. This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Keep an eye on the eggs, okay? Don¡¯t let them burn.¡± Ethan stroked J¡¯s hair. Then, he took off his apron and walked to the living room to pick up his phone. A long forgotten name appeared on the screen. It was Patrick Lester. Chapter 324 Chapter 324 Ethan pursed his lips. He nced back at the kitchen at J, then opened the ss door to step out onto the balcony. He was a little surprised to see that Patrick was calling him. It was winter and the cold wind was unforgiving. Ethan stood on the balcony, letting the wind blow his hair. ¡°Why on earth are you answering the phone outside? Isn¡¯t it cold out there?¡± J¡¯s voice broke the silence. Ethan was lost in his thoughts and didn¡¯t notice when J slid the door open and poked her head out. Narrowing her eyes at him suspiciously, she looked at the phone in Ethan¡¯s hand. He was answering the phone out on the balcony again. Was it Charis calling again? ¡°It¡¯s Patrick Lester.¡± Amused by the quirky expression on her face, he pulled her into his arms and finally answered the phone. ¡°Ethan, why the hell did you keep me waiting?¡± Patrick¡¯s irritated voice came from the other end of the line. ¡°I was busy just now,¡± Ethan simply replied. Patrick didn¡¯t give a damn about whatever Ethan was up to. There was something he needed to talk about with Ethan, so he went straight to the point. ¡°Your grandma¡¯s birthday ising up and we¡¯re throwing her a party. She wants you and your wife here.¡± Without waiting for Ethan¡¯s response, he hung up abruptly. J had overheard Patrick¡¯s loud voice. She looked up at Ethan and asked hesitantly, ¡°So are we going?¡± Ethan held her tighter and sighed. ¡°We are. Patrick seldom summons me. There¡¯ll be nothing but trouble if we disobey him. Besides, I haven¡¯t seen my grandma in a very long time. It¡¯s only right that I be there on her birthday.¡± J smiled at him sweetly. ¡°I can tell that you¡¯re fond of her.¡± It was true that Ethan¡¯s expression softened when he spoke of his grandmother. Nora Lester, Ethan¡¯s grandma, was a distant rtive of the Larson family. She had known Ethan¡¯s mother when she was a girl. Although she didn¡¯t approve of what Patrick had done, she couldn¡¯t do anything about her son¡¯s decisions. She had always felt sorry for Ethan and used to secretly send him money. She was the only Lester who ever cared about Ethan. Thinking of this, Ethan rested his chin on the top of J¡¯s head. ¡°She¡¯s a kinddy,¡± he said calmly. It had been a long time since theyst met¡ªtoo long. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk here. It¡¯s so cold!¡± J whined, her teeth chattering. Suddenly, a thought urred to her. She shouted, ¡°The eggs! I forgot all about them!¡± She broke free from Ethan¡¯s embrace and ran to the kitchen in a hurry. Ethan followed behind her. He stared at J, who was extremely flustered, and he couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°You silly girl! I told you to keep an eye on the eggs!¡± Shaking his head, he gently pulled her to the side while he cleaned up the mess himself in the kitchen. Twiddling her thumbs, J stood in the corner, restlessly watching Ethan clean up after her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I thought you were talking to Charis, so I rushed to you and forgot I was cooking.¡± Ethan had guessed this. After drying his freshly washed hands, he raised his eyes to look at J seriously. ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I didn¡¯t give you enough sense of security.¡± After saying that, he spread out his arms and said gently, ¡°Come here.¡± J obeyed and leaned her face against his chest, blushing slightly. Then, thinking about the invitation from Patrick, she murmured, ¡°The Lesters treat you badly, especially Ritchie. He hates you and I just got him into trouble. He probably has a huge grudge against us. Won¡¯t something bad happen if we just go there?¡± Chapter 325 Chapter 325 Ethan smiled at her dotingly and raised his hand to rub the tip of J¡¯s nose. ¡°You¡¯re a smart girl.¡± After he mulled it over for a while, his expression became unreadable. ¡°I¡¯m sure my grandmother¡¯s birthday isn¡¯t the sole reason why Patrick¡¯s summoning me. He must have something else up his sleeve.¡± After all, the Lester family must¡¯ve heard about the so-called giarism issue. They probably would¡¯ve been really happy if J¡¯s reputation was ruined in the process, but in the end, it was Ritchie who marred his own name by his own doing. N?velDrama.Org content. J could feel that Ethan was a little unhappy. So she softened her voice and said with a small smile, ¡°Then we¡¯d better not go, right?¡± She was thinking that if avoiding all this potential conflict was an option, she¡¯d take it. A simple and happy life with Ethan was all she wanted. Hearing this, Ethan chuckled. He gently tucked J¡¯s hair behind her ear, revealing her beautiful, fair face. After looking into her clear eyes for a long time, he finally said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go either. But because Ritchie has stirred up trouble for us, I can¡¯t ignore the Lester family any longer and neither can they.¡± He could hide for a while, and he couldn¡¯t hide forever. Even if he refused to go this time, the Lester family would look for other opportunities to make life difficult for him. Besides, Ethan wasn¡¯t the kind of man who would let someone push him around. Disappointed and depressed, J lowered her long eyshes and mulled over things for a while. ¡°Well, I guess you¡¯re right. We can¡¯t keep avoiding the Lester family forever. Now that they¡¯vee to us, we have to face them.¡± J looked down as she spoke, which worried Ethan. ¡°Is there something else on your mind? Are you upset?¡± J shook her head, absent-minded. ¡°No, no.¡± Ethan¡¯s expression immediately darkened. Without warning, he scooped J up and made her sit on the kitchen counter. Before the woman could respond, he grabbed her chin and stuck his tongue into her mouth, his fingers moving restlessly towards her crotch. ¡°Hmm¡­ Ethan!¡± J tried to push Ethan away, but it was useless. She could only let him do whatever he wanted with her. It wasn¡¯t until he felt that her body was trembling did he finally pull away. In a hoarse voice, he said, ¡°Tell me the truth.¡± J¡¯s fingers reached for his shirt. Her face was scarlet as a tomato. Pouting, she finally relented. ¡°Fine. I feel a little upset.¡± With his hands on her waist, Ethan lowered his head and rested his forehead on her shoulder. With remorse, he murmured, ¡°It¡¯s my fault. This conflict was supposed to stay between me and the Lester family, but you got caught in the crossfire simply because you married me.¡± He paused for a few seconds and then continued seriously, ¡°But J, now that you¡¯re with me, I won¡¯t let you suffer. I¡¯ll avenge you.¡± Blushing, J shook her head and didn¡¯t seem to notice that there was a hint of viciousness in the man¡¯s voice. She reached out her arms and wrapped them around his neck. ¡°We¡¯re a couple. Of course we¡¯re going to have to face problems together.¡± Ethan didn¡¯t say anything. After a long time of silence, he quietly nodded and lowered his head to nt a kiss on J¡¯s neck. His kiss was very light yet possessive. His lips gradually made its way to the woman¡¯s lips and the two kissed each other passionately again. It was not until J noticed that Ethan was on the verge of losing control that she pulled away shyly. ¡°Calm down. I¡¯m on my period.¡± Ethan¡¯s fingers brushed against a sanitary pad and he closed his eyes, his expression darkening instantly. ¡°I¡¯ve restrained myself for so long.¡± Flustered, J covered her face with her hands. This was not what she wanted either. In an attempt to alleviate her shame, she changed the topic. ¡°How about we go shopping? We can buy some gift for your grandmother!¡± Rubbing the spot between his eyebrows, Ethan sighed and nodded helplessly. Chapter 326 Chapter 326 The Lester family lived in a luxurious mansion built at the foot of a mountain. The trees were dense. Flowers and shrubs were trimmed and sculpted into various shapes in the garden. A plump woman in her forties was directing servants as they decorated the living room. She was wearing a tight ck velvet dress. N?velDrama.Org content. Nora¡¯s 80th birthday was in two days. Patrick had invited many guests from rich and powerful families in Seacisco and was nning to go all out for his mother¡¯s birthday party. ¡°Rece all the flowers with peonies. Nora likes peonies. And the tablecloth here must be bright red¡ª dark red or scarlet are forbidden.¡± Elissa then looked at the curtain and frowned again. She had a pretty face, and with some makeup, she could look even more dignified. However, there was a small ck mole under her lip, which made her look a little mean. The servants could only listen to her demands and changed everything to her liking. After a while, a young man went downstairs, yawning. Still in pajamas, he scratched the back of his head and said impatiently, ¡°What the hell are you doing? I had just fallen asleep when you woke me up!¡± When she saw her dear soning downstairs, Elissa looked to the servants gloomily and said, ¡°Alright, you can leave first. Finish this after dinner.¡± Then she looked at Ritchie and warned, ¡°You¡¯d better behave yourself. You didn¡¯t get up until dinner is almost ready. Be careful or else your father will scold you again.¡± Ritchie stretched and yawnedzily. Then, he picked up an apple from the fruit bowl and grumbled, ¡°I¡¯m just pissed off by the Larson Group. They¡¯re the reason why my sleeping schedule is messed up. By the way, I went to see Ethan a few days ago. What the hell! I set up a trap for J as well as caused Ethan a lot of trouble. But the guy had taken care of everything!¡± Ritchie didn¡¯t even know how Ethan had made it. Thinking of this, he suddenly looked at Elissa and narrowed his eyes. ¡°Mom, did Ethan do well while I was abroad?¡± Ritchie was starting to suspect that Ethan was no longer the loser he could bully and trample on. Hearing her son¡¯s question, Elissa snorted arrogantly, ¡°I don¡¯t have the time to even think about that loser. Nor do I really care. Besides, how could he do a good job in anything? The Lester family cut him off, didn¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know that old saying¡ª that we should look at others with new eyes after some time has passed?¡± And a few years had passed. Now, it was hard for Ritchie to see through Ethan. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Elissa thought about it for a while. All of a sudden, she felt that she had to be on her guard. She had been afraid of Ethan before, and now it seemed she had good reason to be scared. ¡°Then we have to pay closer attention to Ethan. Nora¡¯s birthday ising. A few days ago, she said that she hadn¡¯t seen Ethan in a long time and wanted to invite him to the birthday party. I¡¯ve already told your father to tell Ethan. We can use this party as an opportunity to test the water.¡± Ritchie touched his chin and smiled. ¡°That¡¯s good. I¡¯ve been thinking about teaching that brat a lesson. Mom, let¡¯s humiliate that bastard at the birthday party and see how he¡¯ll react.¡± Elissa sneered but said nothing. She hadn¡¯t seen the illegitimate son of the Lester family in a long time. Chapter 327 Chapter 327 Nora¡¯s birthday finally rolled around. As the matriarch of the Lester family, Nora naturally had a prominent social standing in Seacisco, and her eightieth birthday garnered the attendance of high-profile personalities in the city. In addition to the younger generation of the Lester family, practically half of the entire upper crust had come to wish her well. Ethan was invited, too, and he decided to take J with him. They drove to the outskirts of the city and through winding roads that led to a manor sitting at the foot of a mountain. Already, a long line of luxury cars snaked from the entrance of the venue and past the driveway. It was a shocking sight for J. For a brief moment, she expected to step out of the car and onto a red carpet leading inside the manor. It finally dawned on her just why everyone looked up to the Lester family. Based on what she had seen so far, they might very well be a prestigious n from legends of old. ¡°Watch your steps now,¡± Ethan said, offering his hand to J as he helped her out of the car. He was dressed in a sleek, all-ck suit thatplimented his elegant bearing perfectly. J held on to Ethan¡¯s arm as they glided into the manor. A huge chandelier hung over the main hall, its countless crystals glimmering in the bright light. All around, people garbed in exquisite evening attire loitered and engaged in light conversations. As they waded their way through the hall, J realized that dozens of sharp eyes were fixed on her. No, to be exact, they were fixed on Ethan, following his every move. Elissa and Ritchie were standing in a far corner of the room, their disdainful gazes also locked on Ethan. Soon, the guests began whispering among themselves, though they didn¡¯t really bother to keep their voices hushed. ¡°Isn¡¯t he the illegitimate son?¡± ¡°Oh, the son of that dead woman from the Larson family?¡± When J heard these words, she sneaked a sideways nce at Ethan. To her relief, he didn¡¯t appear to care about the chatter. If anything, he ignored everyone else and ushered her in another direction. Taking his cue from him, J mustered her courage and did her best to hold her head high. Ethan led her to an inner room, where a radiant old woman was sitting on a wheelchair. ¡°Grandma,¡± Ethan greeted with a polite smile. ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s good to see that you are here.¡± Nora nodded briefly at him before turning her attention to J. Ethan put an arm around J¡¯s shoulders and pulled her forward. ¡°This is my wife, J.¡± J acknowledged the old woman by calling her Grandma, then offered her well wishes. ¡°You look so beautiful,¡± Nora crooned, seemingly in high spirits. She nodded wistfully and sighed. ¡°You got married in the blink of an eye, huh? That¡¯s good. I¡¯m relieved.¡± Elissa watched the interaction from a distance. Not wanting Ethan to steal any limelight that wasn¡¯t meant for him, she signaled at Ritchie. ¡°Grandma,¡± Ritchie called as he ambled toward them. ¡°It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve seen Ethan. Can you give us some time to talk in private?¡± He slung an arm over Ethan¡¯s shoulder and grinned at him, as though they were close brothers who had been apart for quite some time. Nora shot Ethan a tentative look and said nothing. ¡°I¡¯lle and talk to you againter, Grandma,¡± Ethan said in a cold, clipped voice. He followed Ritchie to the side, his face darkening with every step he took. The Lester had an extensive family tree, and most of the younger generation were present in the event. The moment they saw Ritchie pull Ethan aside, they flocked to them, bombarding Ethan with inane greetings that ranged from tepid pleasantries to sarcasticments. ¡°Ethan, long time no see!¡± N?velDrama.Org content. ¡°Say, what do you do now?¡± ¡°How is your life, huh? Do you have a job? Or perhaps, would you like me to rmend you for a job opening somewhere?¡± Someone even reached out and tugged at Ethan¡¯s suit. ¡°Where the hell did you get this? Wow, the fabric feels as cheap as it looks. Didn¡¯t you know that these synthetic fibers are bound to harm your skin?¡± The thing was, although Ethan looked decent enough for high society, he still stuck out like a sore thumb among the other guests who had lived their lives in endless luxury. Chapter 328 Chapter 328 ¡°What are they doing?¡± Nora said indignantly, ¡°Didn¡¯t I already tell them not to pick on Ethan? Why didn¡¯t they listen to me?¡± Elissa immediately made her way up to Nora and blocked her line of sight. ¡°I¡¯m sure they are only catching up. There¡¯s nothing wrong with that, right? Would you like to see some of your gifts? There¡¯s a painting and I¡¯m sure you¡¯d love it. It took Patrick a great deal of effort to find it.¡± As she said this, she exchanged nces with Ritchie, grabbed hold of Nora¡¯s wheelchair, and was about to take her up the stairs. Seeing that Ethan was nked on all sides by a group of men in suits and leather shoes and that the men were doing everything in their power to humiliate him, J was pissed off. She pursed her lips tightly, wanting to stand up for Ethan. Just as she was about to walk to Ethan¡¯s side, her wrist was grabbed tightly by someone. ¡°J! What are you doing here?¡± J turned around and discovered that it was Kaya. Kaya was wearing a Chanel dress, with her short hair braided and a pearl hairband on her head. She seemed to have some work done recently. J observed that her eyelids, which used to be single- folded and unique, were now double-folded. She decked out from head to toe in luxury brands, like any wealthydy. If it weren¡¯t for the way she addressed her, which sounded gentle but tinged with sarcasm, J would have trouble realizing it was her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ncing over in Ethan¡¯s direction, J didn¡¯t have time to make small talk with her. Now it dawned on J that after Kaya ruined her works by ¡°identally¡± pouring coffee on her computer, she waspletely disgusted by Tiffany and repulsed by all their colleagues. After that, she didn¡¯t think she could continue being employed under the Larson Group, which was why she resigned. J had no idea why Kaya was here. Kaya let go of her hand and crossed her arms in a proud manner. ¡°I¡¯m a part of the Lester family now so why shouldn¡¯t I be here?¡± J asked impatiently, ¡°Are you the help here?¡± ¡°What? No! Who the hell are you calling the help? I happened to marry into the Lester family not too long ago, to Mrs. Nora Lester¡¯s niece¡¯s son. His name is¡­¡± J kept on watching Ethan and didn¡¯t pay attention to Kaya¡¯s words. She could recall that Kaya came from an ordinary family. How in the world did she manage to marry into the Lester family? Kaya discovered that J was not listening to what she was saying at all. She looked in the direction of her gaze, sneered, and lifted her chin in an arrogant manner. ¡°Is that your husband?¡± J nodded. She, in fact, wanted to go find Ethan, but Kaya had gotten in her way. Finally, she stared Kaya down and said in a cold voice, ¡°What on earth do you want?¡± Kaya was now very smug. She kept right on talking, ¡°Why did you decide to marry that bastard? I heard that he¡¯s actually poor and that he can¡¯t even get a decent job. Life must be very hard for you. No wonder you have to work so hard. If you don¡¯t, you might even starve. That¡¯s why I think every woman should marry a rich man. See? Work is a thing of the past for me.¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 329 Chapter 329 ¡°It¡¯s really none of your business. Stop sticking your nose in other people¡¯s business!¡± Kaya¡¯s words were harsh but J knew it wasn¡¯t the right time to argue with her. She nned on getting rid of Kaya away as soon as possible. But how could Kaya let go of J so easily? Kaya still held a deep-seated grudge against her. How could she let go of such a great opportunity to get back at J now? ¡°Hey, don¡¯t leave now! I¡¯m right, aren¡¯t I?¡± It¡¯s apparent that you don¡¯t in fact live a good life, J,¡± Kaya said, continuing to pester her and grabbing her wrist to stop her from leaving. Meanwhile, several well-dressed yboys still surrounded Ethan and mocked him ruthlessly. One insult after another flowed freely. Suddenly, a passing guest identally broke a bottle of La Romanee-Conti wine. The guest looked around and ordered, ¡°Waiter, have this cleaned up.¡± Ritchie shoved Ethan aggressively and said, ¡°Are you deaf or something? He told you to clean up, waiter!¡± Ethan shot a frigid nce at Ritchie. His sharp and threatening look made all the young men around shudder. Another person stepped forward to diffuse the situation. In a persuasive voice, he said, ¡°Mr. Lester, let this go.¡± After all, the blood of the Lester family ran through Ethan¡¯s veins. Although he was well aware that Ethan was an illegitimate child, how could they let him work as a lowly servant? Ritchie turned a deaf ear to the persuasive words and remarked with a wry smirk, ¡°The work Ethan does on a regr basis is quite simr to this in any case. I heard that his job was unloading goods in a convenience store. That¡¯s right! Ethan is well suited for this kind of cheap, physicalbor.¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Hahaha, Ritchie has hit the nail on the head! He calls a spade a spade!¡± the others echoed and burst intoughter with renewed vigor. When Ritchie noticed that Ethan didn¡¯t move, he pushed him roughly on the shoulder and shouted, ¡°Hey! Ethan, I ordered you to clean this mess up. Are you really ignoring my instruction?¡± Just then, an old man donned in a tunic came over with his walking stick in hand. With a cough, he said, ¡°Excuse me, boys. Please give way for me to pass. I have to go to the bathroom.¡± Ritchie was ovee by rage because someone had the audacity to interrupt him. He turned his head with a dark, forbidding expression on his face, and was astounded to see that it was none other than Curt Benton who had the gall to interrupt him. Curt was a distinguished guest invited by the Lester family. He was a key person in the business circle. After a momentary pause, Ritchie nodded respectfully, and said to the others, ¡°Make way for Mr. Benton. And who put this couch right here to block the way? Move it this instant.¡± Everyone made way for Curt. ¡°This way, Mr. Benton,¡± Ritchie said. It was clear that he wanted to assist Curt. Curt, however, managed to dodge his help at the right moment. He threw a cursory nce of displeasure in Ritchie¡¯s direction and said, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Lester. But you are the noble young master from a strong family. How can I bother you?¡± The color drained from Ritchie¡¯s face and he looked frighteningly furious. The business area into which the Lester family had recently decided they wanted to expand fell under the jurisdiction of Curt. The reason they had specifically invited Curt this time was not only because they wanted to celebrate Nora¡¯s birthday but also because they wanted to obtain cooperation with Curt. ordingly, they couldn¡¯t afford to offend Curt the slightest bit. Ritchie could clearly hear the sarcastic undertone in Curt¡¯sment but all he could do was bottle up his anger. He nodded and bowed reverentially. He looked at the huge pool of red wine before him and impatiently clicked his tongue at Ethan. ¡°Ethan, do you want me to teach you a lesson before you clean up this mess?¡± Ritchie¡¯s loud tone attracted Curt¡¯s attention. Ethan? Curt turned to look at the tall, well-postured man who Ritchie had addressed and was dumbstruck. He then smiled at Ethan and said, ¡°You brat, what are you doing here?¡± Chapter 330 Chapter 330 Ethan had met Curt Benton on a hike five years ago. At the time, Curt had a sudden stroke halfway up the mountain, and it was Ethan who carried him down the trail and drove him to the nearest hospital. Since then, the two had kept in touch, and soon realized that they had a lot inmon. Needless to say, they had be very good friends. Curt was also among the few who knew Ethan¡¯s real identity as Brandon Larson. He had been doing business for decades, after all, and was quite well-informed about the business of his peers, both public and private. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Ethan reached out and shook hands with his old friend. ¡°I¡¯m here for my grandmother¡¯s birthday party.¡± He winked at Curt then, silently telling thetter not to say anything regarding Brandon Larson. Being a shrewd man, Curt instantly understood the subtle message. He refrained from asking more questions and just said, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you for a long time, you brat!¡± He hobbled closer to Ethan and nced at the wine spilled on the floor. ¡°Find a servant to clean this up, or it might ruin Mr. Lester¡¯s shoes.¡± Curt¡¯s assistant nodded and waved a staff over to ry the instructions. ¡°Now,¡± Curt said, turning to Ethan. ¡°Let¡¯s go and talk about the good old days. You brat, did you ever realize we haven¡¯t spoken in over half a year? Are you avoiding me because I¡¯m too old to be doing what you cool young ones are into these days? Anyway, do you remember those stocks that you said had huge potential? Well, I bought a bunch and ended up making a lot of profit.¡± The man who was always aloof and distant to others was now gushing like a teenager. Ethan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°All right, all right. Let¡¯s sit over there and catch up.¡± It was all the encouragement Curt needed. He grabbed the younger man¡¯s hand and guided him over to a nearby table. Ritchie and his goons watched it all unfold, dumbfounded at what they were seeing. They couldn¡¯t do anything about it, though; they didn¡¯t want to make a fuss and paint themselves in a bad light. Still, they would pause and stare at Curt and Ethan every so often. After all, a good number of the guests hade for a chance opportunity to make Curt¡¯s acquaintance. Who would have thought that Ethan was actually good friends with the man? ¡°What the hell is going on here?¡± Ritchie asked his assistant through gritted teeth. ¡°Why would that punk know someone like Curt Benton?¡± But his employee was just as clueless as everyone else. ¡°I know, right? And they seem to be close, too.¡± Ritchie whacked him at the back of the head. ¡°I see that, you idiot. I¡¯m not blind! I¡¯m asking you how it came about!¡± Meanwhile, Kaya was still pestering J and was about to say something when she caught sight of Ethan and Curt chatting jovially to one side. She gasped, her eyes wide as saucers. ¡°Your husband knows Mr. Benton?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure¡­¡± J said tentatively. Though she looked calm, she was also confused. She didn¡¯t really know who Curt Benton was, but judging by everybody¡¯s reaction, she surmised that he must be someone important. In any case, this was probably for the best. Surely, with Curt Benton on their side, no one would dare to bully them anymore. Kaya¡¯s jaw dropped. She had just mocked J for marrying a loser, yet that exact same man was now speaking with the most prestigious guest at the party. She flushed with embarrassment and let go of J¡¯s hand like it was a lump of hot coal. The event officially began shortly after, and the guests were asked to be seated. One by one, delectable dishes were brought out and served. J sat next to Ethan, of course, with Curt on his other side. The two men were still deep in conversation, though Ethan made a point of holding J¡¯s hand under the table. Left with nothing better to do, J began to eat. Now and then, she would catch words about their discussion, which seemed to revolve around stocks and the stock market. Once or twice, she heard mention of the Wall Street. They asionally switched to French, to J¡¯s utter surprise. From what she could tell, Ethan was very fluent at thenguage. The rest of their dialogue didn¡¯t concern J, so she decided to focus on her dinner and let them do their thing. Chapter 331 Chapter 331 It had been a long time since thest time Curt and Ethan had seen each other. They chatted happily at the birthday party, trying to catch up as much as possible. During this time, there was no one who dared to offend J and Ethan again. At the end of the birthday party, Curt¡¯s assistant checked his watch and approached the old man. ¡°Mr. Benton, it¡¯s time to head back to take your medicine. The doctor has instructed me to remind you to take your medicine on time every day,¡± the assistant said in a low voice next to Curt¡¯s ear. ¡°The medicine prescribed by those quack doctors is so bitter that it makes me sick to my stomach. I finally met up with Ethan today and was able to catch up with him. Why do you keep pushing me to go home?¡± Curt snorted like he was still a child who was told to go to bed early. Ethan became serious once more. He knew of ways to persuade this stubborn old man. ¡°We¡¯ve already talked for a long time. If you want to chat some more with me, I¡¯ll go out of my way to pay a visit to your house another time.¡± Curt said farewell to Ethan rather reluctantly, ¡°I have no idea when you¡¯ll go to visit me. You¡¯d better keep your promise, Ethan.¡± After that, he turned to look at J and said, ¡°Goodbye.¡± Startled, J nodded in a respectful manner and said, ¡°Bye.¡± She thought that Curt had not noticed her all this time. Curt talked with Nora some more before he exited the birthday party. Ethan came to attend the party simply to celebrate Nora¡¯s birthday. Seeing that the party was nearly over, he was about to leave too. ¡°Do you feel tired? Shall we head back?¡± Ethan patted J on her back affectionately. ¡°There was so much good food here and you seemed to have eaten a lot. How about we go for a walk?¡± J indeed had eaten her fill. Though the Lester family¡¯s members were not that nice, the food they had at the party was really delicious. N?velDrama.Org content. ¡°All right, it¡¯ll be good for digestion.¡± While holding her bag in her hand, J got up. When they were about to head out together, an extremely dignified voice sounded out, ¡°Ethan, wait a minute.¡± They turned their heads and looked back in the direction of the voice. A middle-aged man in a dark red suit was making his way over and was standing behind them. He looked over the age of fifty. His ck hair was intermingled with gray hair. He was both tall and strong, overflowing with health and spirits. He was none other than Patrick, Ethan¡¯s biological father and the master of the Lester family. Patrick had watched from the side as Ethan and Curt talked together for a long time at the party. He asked in a serious voice, ¡°Tell me, how do you know Curt?¡± People who knew famous people like Curt must be very extraordinary in some aspects, but Patrick thought he was missing something. In his eyes, there was nothing remarkable about his useless son. ¡°It was sheer luck that we came to know each other,¡± Ethan answered. Patrick took two steps forward toward his son and said in a serious voice, ¡°We¡¯re thinking about coborating with Curt.¡± Ethan understood what Patrick meant when he said that. He pretended to be ignorant of his meaning though, and said, ¡°Then I hope you can have a good chat with him about this coboration. We¡¯re heading back first.¡± With a fierce look stered all over his face, Patrick said in an impatient voice, ¡°Since you and Curt have such a good rtionship, you should help us win the coboration. You¡¯ll also benefit a whole lot from it.¡± Ethan thought that this conversation was ridiculous. He sneered and lifted his chin ever so slightly. His dark eyes gleamed with a cold and contemptuous light. ¡°You must know very little about me. Based on your rtionship with me, why do you think I¡¯ll actually help you? What are you giving me in return? Do you n to give me a job of serving drinks and sweeping the floor? Is this your idea of a joke?¡± The members of the Lester family were all stunned by Ethan¡¯s blunt remarks. Was this fierce man in front of them really the same good-for-nothing Ethan? Regardless of the reaction of the other Lester family members, Ethan grabbed hold of J¡¯s wrist and said in a whisper, ¡°Let¡¯s go now.¡± After having said that, he directly left with J by his side. Chapter 332 Chapter 332 Every member of the Lester family was left stunned as they didn¡¯t expect Ethan to speak to them like that. After all, he was usually the quiet type who would endure everything in silence. Ritchie was so angry that he almost forgot that they were at his grandmother¡¯s birthday party. Clenching his fists in rage, he cursed aloud, ¡°Ethan¡¯s a loser. How dare he behave so arrogantly?¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. Before her straightforward son could say something that would get him into trouble, Elissa quickly stopped him. ¡°Watch yournguage, Ritchie. We are at your grandmother¡¯s birthday party. Behave yourself!¡± It was Elissa¡¯s fault for spoiling Ritchie as a kid and turning him into a person whocked emotional intelligence. Ritchie eventually kept his mouth shut and stood aside after he got scolded. With a look of disappointment, Ritchie¡¯s grandmother pointed at Ritchie and said, ¡°How many times do I have to tell you that you need to control your temper? Why are you always causing trouble?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not fair, Grandma. You¡¯re always taking Ethan¡¯s side. He¡¯s just an illegitimate child and he¡¯s not that close to you. Why do you like him so much?¡± Ritchie¡¯s anger rose to new heights. After all, he was smart enough to see what was going on. Although Nora had never defended Ethan in public, she was always good to Ethan in private. ¡°Shut up, Ritchie!¡± Elissa red at Ritchie furiously. After all, she didn¡¯t want to make a scene in front of all the guests in the hall. ¡°Go to your room at once!¡± Frustrated, Ritchie snorted and walked upstairs. Although there was no expression on Elissa¡¯s face, a sense of crisis arose in her heart. Ritchie was right, and it was getting more and more difficult to see through Ethan. Sylvia Larson was known for her forbearance and perhaps Ethan inherited such a character trait from his mother. For some reason, the moment she looked at Ethan¡¯s face, she thought of Sylvia. She never found anything odd about Ethan, even though he was pretty meek in his younger days. Surprisingly, as the years passed, Ethan grew up to be aposed and respectable person, just like his mother, Sylvia. During all the years that Ethan spent living a humble life in society, Elissa was too busy thinking about the Lester family¡¯spany instead of making things difficult for Ethan. However, it became clear as day to Elissa that Ethan was no longer the shy boy he used to be. Elissa feared that Patrick would attach great importance to Ethan after finding that he had great potential. The thought of Ethan returning to the Lester family was intolerable for Elissa because she wanted her two sons to take over the Lester family business. Elissa walked to Patrick¡¯s side and tentatively said, ¡°It seems that Ethan is all grown up now. He seems to have what it takes to speak with Curt.¡± Patrick never paid much attention to Ethan in the past, but now he seemed very keen on him. It had been shocking news that Ethan managed to befriend Curt; after all, they both came from different worlds and they shouldn¡¯t have had crossed paths. After pausing to think, Patrick fiddled with his thumbs and stared at the backs of Ethan and J, who were walking away. ¡°Ethan isn¡¯t the same person anymore. He doesn¡¯t seem to be as shy and cowardly as he used to be,¡± he finally said. Elissa gritted her teeth contemptuously. She knew that it was time to take action as Ethan might soon pose a threat to them. Chapter 333 Chapter 333 Ethan and J left the party venue and walked to the bus station. Because the two of them were both well-dressed and good-looking, they attracted many people¡¯s attention. Passers-by couldn¡¯t help but stare as they walked past. Suddenly, J thought about Ethan¡¯s and Curt¡¯s conversation. She asked curiously, ¡°How did you know that Curt? You seem to be good friends.¡± ¡°I liked hiking years ago. One time, Curt had a stroke half way up the mountain and I was the one who rushed him to the hospital. We got to know each other because of that. Later we found that we had a lot inmon so we hung out a lot,¡± Ethan exined. In fact, that was only part of the story. He didn¡¯t actually like hiking. All he ever did was work. While it was true that he had joined a hiking club, it was only because he wanted to befriend people like Curt to begin with. But it was true that they had be friends because they shared simr interests and got along well. ¡°He must be a very influential man. They all seemed to respect him.¡± J could tell that all the people at the party were practically in awe of Curt. ¡°Well, despite his high status, he¡¯s very easy-going.¡± Noticing that J was rubbing her arms vigorously, Ethan shrugged off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. Then, he pulled her into his arms and asked, ¡°Are you tired? We can take a cab back. Your hands are freezing.¡± J buried her head in his chest, eager to feel his warmth. Looking up, she could only see the sharp angles of his jawline. J could tell from the way Ethan behaved today that he wasn¡¯t afraid of the Lester family. To be more precise, he didn¡¯t seem to care about them too much. Ethan was a sophisticated visionary. He and Curt were the same type of people. That was why they became fast friends. As J thought about it, she suddenly had a sinking feeling about this. ¡°What if the Lester family comes after us?¡± Ethan raised his hand to hail a taxi and then helped J into the car. ¡°Nothing has happened yet. Worrying too much about the uncertain future brings nothing but trouble.¡± Ethan spoke like a wise sage. His identity of Brandon was enough to protect him. But he was still a little hesitant to let her know about that. After all, Brandon and the Lester family were at war. If people found out that J was Brandon¡¯s wife, she would be in more danger than if she was just Ethan¡¯s wife. But what he didn¡¯t expect was that the Lester family would start picking on Ethan, which had dragged J into their mess. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Ethan could¡¯ve exposed his identity as Brandon to J, but he was already stuck in his woven web of lies. He couldn¡¯t bear to imagine what J would say when she found out that he had been lying to her from the beginning. Ethan closed his eyes and sighed bitterly. There was no going back now. He had no choice but to continue living a lie. J looked at him firmly. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to be careful. You can¡¯t just take this situation lightly. I¡¯m worried about you. The Lester family is so powerful. What if Ritchie tries to make things difficult for you again?¡± Ethan was taken aback by her worried gaze. He was Brandon Larson, known to everyone as invulnerable. Perhaps J was the only one in this world who worried about him. Ethan reached out to stroke her cheek softly. Then, he suddenly leaned closer to nibble on her lower lip. ¡°Silly girl.¡± J smiled at him sweetly and shook her head. Cupping his face in her hands, she kissed him back. Chapter 334 Chapter 334 Laney was finally about to be discharged from the hospital. It waste winter by now and the first heavy snow fell in Seacisco. Early that morning, J took Ethan to the hospital to pick Laney up. The ground was covered with a thickyer of snow. People sank into the snow with every step. ¡°How about you stay in the hospital for a few more days? Your wound¡¯s still wrapped in gauze.¡± J nced at Laney¡¯s injury worriedly. She had many misgivings as she packed up Laney¡¯s things. She was a petite girl after all. What if she got hurt again? Although Laney¡¯s wound hadn¡¯tpletely healed, this didn¡¯t stop her from going about her daily activities. Perhaps it was because she practiced martial arts all year round that her body recovered faster than that of ordinary people. Laney stretched her legs and shook her head firmly. ¡°I¡¯ve been on leave for a whole week! If I stay any longer, I¡¯ll lose all of this month¡¯s sry.¡± She could go back and clock in. After all, her job was to protect J. While they were chatting, they heard amotion outside the ward. ¡°It seems I¡¯m thest one to arrive!¡± Garrett loudly knocked on the door to the ward two times before pushing it open. He was dressed in a ck overcoat, with a few clumps of snow clinging to his broad shoulders. Pushing a pair of silver-rimmed sses up the bridge of his nose, he looked elegant yet gentle. This is from N?velDrama.Org. J looked at him in surprise. ¡°Mr. Harding, what brings you here?¡± Upon taking a closer look at Garrett, she felt that he looked a little different today, but she couldn¡¯t tell how. Garrett¡¯s eyesnded on the gauze on Laney¡¯s arm. ¡°This is my capable secretary. It¡¯s only right that I come pick her up from the hospital!¡± ¡®Are all the leaders of the Larson Group so concerned with their subordinates? Is this part of their corporate culture?¡¯ J wondered with a click of her tongue. Unexpectedly, Laney turned her head aside and snorted coldly. J thought, ¡®Garrett¡¯s the boss. If he came here in person to pick Laney up, it might be impolite of me to refuse his offer.¡¯ Out loud, she said, ¡°Mr. Harding, thank you in advance for taking Laney home.¡± J linked arms with Ethan and smiled yfully. ¡°I suppose we¡¯ll get going.¡± After the couple left, Garrett asked his assistant to bring the car around. Then he gathered Laney¡¯s luggage and led the way out of the ward. Of course, Garrett wanted to act gantly. But Laney gave him the cold shoulder the whole time and didn¡¯t let him get close to her. Laney reluctantly followed Garrett out of the hospital and waited for the car. ncing at the woman who was pretending to be fine, Garrett asked with concern, ¡°How¡¯s your wound?¡± Laney shrugged nonchntly. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. But, for the sake of J¡¯s safety, I¡¯ll wait until I¡¯ve completely recovered before I resume my duties as her bodyguard.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Ethan would never let his wife get into any sort of danger. While you were in the hospital, he already made arrangements for another bodyguard to secretly protect J.¡± As he spoke, Garrett looked at Laney¡¯s delicate face. Then, he added, ¡°But we all think that your ability is outstanding. It¡¯d be best if you be the one to continue protecting J. Ethan said that after you recover, you will continue to be J¡¯s bodyguard.¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯m better than most male bodyguards.¡± Laney was pleased to hear such words of praise and she couldn¡¯t help but smile slightly. But as soon as she finished speaking, her expression suddenly changed as she whipped her head and stared at somewhere intently. Confused by her strange behavior, Garrett followed her gaze curiously and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Laney eyed the wide-view mirror in the parking lot and murmured, ¡°I just heard something. It sounded like it was behind us.¡± Chapter 335 Chapter 335 Garrett looked around the empty basement parking lot and saw nothing unusual, other than the neatly parked cars. Moreover, he hadn¡¯t heard anything. ¡°Laney, it¡¯s not funny. Don¡¯t joke like that.¡± Garrett¡¯s eyes darted all over the ce and he took two steps closer to Laney. Laney didn¡¯t want to waste her breath talking to him. While keenly observing her surroundings, she dragged him to an empty parking space. Although Garrett didn¡¯t see anything strange, he obediently followed Laney and allowed her to pull him to the rear. ¡°I don¡¯t have time to joke around. We¡¯d better leave as soon as possible. Maybe it¡¯s the Lester family¡¯s thugs.¡± Laney had been a professional bodyguard since she was sixteen years old. She had grown sensitive to her surroundings. Nothing could escape her. While she was talking with Garrett just now, she caught a glimpse of a furtive figure in the reflection of the wide-angle mirror. If it really was someone sent by the Lester family, then she doubted he was alone. She had just been discharged from the hospital and hadn¡¯t fully recovered yet. It would be difficult for her to fight off more than one person. Thinking of this, Laney told Garrett, ¡°Call your assistant and tell him that we¡¯ll wait for him outside the parking lot.¡± However, as soon as she finished speaking, a woman in a hospital gown suddenly jumped out from behind a car. With a fruit knife in her hand, she hysterically rushed towards Garrett. ¡°You fucking bastard! I¡¯m going to hell and you¡¯reing with me!¡± she screamed like a rabid dog and swung the knife madly towards Garrett. Laney immediately pushed Garrett out of the way. ¡°Run!¡± When Garrett saw that woman, he was stunned. He recognized that woman. Garrett was stuck in a trance and wasn¡¯t able to react in time. The woman had closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye. Seeing that it was toote for Garrett to get out of the way, Laney had to run in front of him. She caught the woman¡¯s wrist with one hand, while the other tried to grab the fruit knife. N?velDrama.Org content. ¡°Fuck off, bitch! This is between me and that son of a bitch!¡± the woman shouted. Her hair was disheveled and her eyes were wide and bloodshot. Anyone with a knife was dangerous. The woman, in this crazed state, was unprecedentedly powerful. Moreover, Laney¡¯s wound hadn¡¯tpletely healed. She could do nothing but hold the woman in ce as the two struggled on the ground. ¡°Miss, please calm down!¡± Laney wrapped her legs around the woman¡¯s waist and desperately gripped the woman¡¯s wrist. The woman screamed uncontrobly and kept swinging the knife. During the altercation, Laney suddenly cried out in pain as her shoulder was shed, leaving a dazzling bloodstain. The woman was taken aback when she saw the bright red blood. ¡°Ah!¡± she shrieked even louder. Laney seized this opportunity and yanked the fruit knife out of the woman¡¯s hand. Then, she kicked the woman away. The woman copsed to the ground and burst into tears. Chapter 336 Chapter 336 Laney tucked the knife away and pressed her hand against her bleeding shoulder. Gritting her teeth, she shot a murderous re at Garret. Seeing that Laney was injured, Garrett finally came to his senses. He ran to her and helped her stand up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was too slow. Come on. I¡¯ll take you back to the hospital.¡± Laney sighed and shook her head wryly. ¡°I just got out of the hospital. Now I have to go back there again?¡± Staring at her bleeding wound, Garrett frowned and his expression darkened. He picked up his phone and dialed a number. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that now.¡± In Laney¡¯s eyes, it was best to solve the problem in front of them first. Cradling her wound, she said through gritted teeth, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Call the police. Let¡¯s sort this out first.¡± Judging from what had just happened, the woman¡¯s original target was Garrett. After mulling over it for a while, Laney asked Garrett seriously, ¡°Who is this woman? Why did she try to stab you?¡± Just then, the woman on the ground suddenly exploded into tears. She thrashed her arms angrily and raised her head, revealing her pretty face. ¡°I¡¯m this scumbag¡¯s girlfriend!¡± She red at Garrett with resentment, and then her hateful gaze shifted to Laney. ¡°Garrett, you changed your type? She¡¯s a fucking tomboy! I can¡¯t believe this.¡± ¡°Why did you leave the hospital?¡± Garrett asked, pulling Laney behind his back cautiously. ¡°How else would I have seen your new lover? Garrett, you abandoned me and left me in the hospital. What kind of man are you? I hope you rot in hell, you bastard!¡± The woman gnashed her teeth and pointed a trembling finger at Garrett. Garrett frowned. After some slight hesitation, his voice softened somewhat. ¡°I¡¯ll call the police first, and then I¡¯ll inform your parents. No more messing around. You know why we broke up.¡± Hearing this, the woman stared daggers at Garrett. She got up and rushed over to p him. Fortunately, the security guards in the area had overheard themotion and had rushed over to stop the woman. Just then, Garrett¡¯s assistant brought the car over. They were all shocked when they saw the puddle of blood on the ground, Laney¡¯s wounded shoulder, and her paper-white face. Garrett exined the situation briefly and then turned to the guards, ¡°Restrain this woman and call the police.¡± Before leaving, he said to his assistant, ¡°Stay here and see it through. I have to take Laney to have her wound treated first. We¡¯ll talk about the restter.¡± After that, he helped Laney towards the elevator and they went back to the hospital. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Inside the elevator, Laney sighed heavily. She was really unlucky. The knife had cut into one of her old wounds, and it hurt so much. Staring at her expressionless face for a long time, Garrett finally broke the silence. ¡°If it hurts, just tell me. You don¡¯t have to act tough here.¡± Somehow, Garrett¡¯s heart broke when he saw the stubborn look on Laney¡¯s face. Laney gritted her teeth and applied more pressure on her wound. ¡°Yes, it hurts. But it¡¯s better to appear invulnerable than to let them think they can defeat me easily. Now they¡¯ll have to think twice before they decide to hurt me next time.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not one of them, Miss Garcia.¡± Garrett sighed helplessly. Laney stiffened. Was it just her or was Garrett¡­ flirting with her? At this time? Laney rolled her eyes secretly and changed the topic. ¡°Cut the crap. Was that woman your ex- girlfriend?¡± Chapter 337 Chapter 337 Garrett wasn¡¯t expecting Laney to brush off his question, much less mention the one embarrassing thing he didn¡¯t want to talk about. He held on to her arm and hesitated for a moment before speaking. ¡°Well¡­ She is an ex-girlfriend of mine. She was spoiled all her life, so she¡¯s quite used to doing things without thinking about the possible consequences. I must admit that I am partly at fault here. I should have been more firm when I broke up with her; she wouldn¡¯t have fostered any false hopes that we might get back together again.¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. True enough, his ex-girlfriend was a very stubborn brat. When he had first tried to break up with her, she was adamant with her refusal. They had broken up eventually, but it seemed like she had turned her love for him into some sinister obsession that prompted her to do horrible things like attacking him with a weapon. Garrett hung his head and said nothing more. He wasn¡¯t the type to gossip about his exes, regardless of whether he was in good terms with them or not. Laney narrowed her eyes at him. Clearly, she didn¡¯t believe a word he had just said. ¡°Are you sure the fault isn¡¯t entirely yours? Maybe you trampled on her heart too much.¡± If the tabloids were to be believed, Garrett had supposedly dated several women at the same time. He was notorious for having a messy love life. He looked at Laney now, caught between crying andughing. He was painfully aware of his awful reputation, as well as the fact that most people believed the stories to be a true. However, Garrett wasn¡¯t a womanizer at all. Or at least, he didn¡¯t think so. Contrary to popr ims, he was always serious about every rtionship he got into. He had never yed with a partner¡¯s feelings. When he was in love, he would give his girlfriend his all. And once he broke up with someone, he would draw a clear line and never contact the other party again. Perhaps the problem was that he was rarely single. The media had simplytched on to the number of rtionships under his belt and built up his image as a yboy and a heartbreaker. Garrett was silent for a couple of seconds as pulled himself out of his musings. ¡°I can only say that you don¡¯t know me, Miss Garcia,¡± he said with a wry smile. When he looked down at her wound again, he realized that Laney was bleeding profusely. ¡°Why do you ask so many questions, anyway?¡± he grumbled. ¡°Can¡¯t you just worry about yourself for once? Look, your clothes are practically dyed with blood.¡± It wasn¡¯t the first time he had wondered¡ªgenuinely wondered¡ªif this woman was made of steel. Something clicked in her mind at his words, and Laney realized that the pain on her shoulder had indeed worsened. ¡°It¡¯s not a serious injury,¡± she said lightly, even as she tightened the makeshift bandages around her arm. ¡°We¡¯re in a hospital. It¡¯s not like I would die from this.¡± Garrett sighed helplessly and shook his head. All he could do for now was to assist her as they rushed through the hallways. ¡°Does your girlfriend have a problem with her eyesight?¡± Laney asked all of a sudden. He turned to her abruptly and found her brows furrowed in the most adorable way. Now, why would she ask something like that? ¡°I¡¯m not a tomboy, am I?¡± Laney added before he could say anything. She sounded pretty miffed. Garrett suppressed the urge to chuckle and settled for a smile. ¡°She was just trying to goad you,¡± he said patiently. ¡°Don¡¯t take herments to heart. You¡¯re a lovely little woman.¡± They carried on with some mindless chatter as they made their way to the nearest empty ward, as if to distract themselves from the severity of the situation. Frank arrived shortly after. His jaw dropped at the sight of the bleeding woman on the hospital bed. ¡°Why are you back already?¡± he demanded. ¡°And you¡¯ve got a new cut on your shoulder! Don¡¯t you have any respect for the sanctity of life?¡± Out of all the problematic patients he had had to deal with, what Frank hated the most were those who were reckless with the matter of life and death. Garrett looked away guiltily and scratched the back of his head. He cleared his throat and took Frank aside to recount the incident that brought them here. Not that Frank was any happier for the exnation. Shaking his head, he called for a nurse to help him sew Laney up. His already glum face only grew darker as he inspected the gash. ¡°I don¡¯t really care what you do, Laney, but you¡¯re courting death at this point. Your previous injuries haven¡¯t even fully healed yet! What were you thinking, going against an armed person with your bare fists?¡± Chapter 338 Chapter 338 Laney shivered ever so slightly under Frank¡¯s scolding. It wasn¡¯t like he was roaring at her in fury; if anything, he sounded frustrating. But the look of reproach and disappointment in his eyes were somehow more ominous than outright anger. There was a quality to his gaze that made people feel vulnerable, as though he had the power to read their thoughts. Like a petnt child who had been caught red-handed, Laney ducked her head. ¡°It was getting dangerous,¡± she insisted. ¡°Garrett was about to get seriously hurt. I couldn¡¯t just stand by and do nothing. I may be small and injured, but I¡¯m certainly a better fighterpared to a young master who¡¯s been sheltered all his life.¡± She didn¡¯t hold back on her words at all. Garrett winced and ran a hand over his face, confused yet again on whether he shouldugh or cry. He was learning quickly that he was no match for this tiny woman, especially when it came to clever banter. At least in this regard, he was willing to concede to Laney. Besides, she was indeed, like she said, a better fighter. He nced down at Laney, noting how pale she was. Garrett reached out and patted the other man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What happened, happened, Frank. It¡¯s all in the past now. Just deal with her wound instead of berating her about the incident.¡± Frank heaved a long sigh and began to stitch Laney¡¯s wound. Contrary to her ims, it was actually quite serious. If she had foregone treatment and continued her careless ways, this would be anothersting mark on her skin. ¡°In all my years of practice, I¡¯ve never seen a woman with so many scars on her body,¡± Frank mused out loud. ¡°Well, then, you¡¯re wee!¡± Laney retorted. ¡°I¡¯m just another one of your patients. Please stop talking nonsense and do what you have to do.¡± She sat back against the pillows with a sullen expression, clearly annoyed by Frank¡¯s remarks. Garrett, who sported an equally morose face, leaned over and covered Laney¡¯s mouth with his hand. ¡°You¡¯re talking far too much for an injured patient.¡± Then he turned to Frank and said, ¡°Use the best surgical thread there is so that her wound won¡¯t scar.¡± Laney swatted Garrett¡¯s hand away. ¡°Forget it; that¡¯s too expensive. I¡¯m fine with the ordinary ones.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pay for it,¡± Garrett countered in a voice that brooked no argument. ¡°That¡¯s totally unnecessary,¡± Laney said, rolling her eyes at him. Garrett didn¡¯t take the bait. Instead, he drew closer and stared at her open wound. ¡°Of course it¡¯s necessary; you¡¯re a woman. Not having a scar will always be the better choice.¡± Laney paused then, looking startled. Oddly enough, she didn¡¯t make any further protests. Right after Frank snipped the thread from thest stitch, Laney made to leave the bed. Garrett¡¯s hand quickly shot out to stop her. ¡°Do you honestly think of yourself as a superhero or something?¡± He pushed her back on the bed and pulled the covers over her legs. ¡°Lie down and rest for a bit. Just because you¡¯re all sewn up doesn¡¯t mean that your wound is already healed.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t even dealt with your ex-girlfriend yet. I need to go to the police station.¡± Laney tried to get up again, but Garrett wouldn¡¯t let her. ¡°I will handle it.¡± This feisty little woman seemed to have a penchant for worrying the people around her. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder if she was doing it on purpose. Garrett made quick work of calling the police, and soon, a couple of officers came to the hospital to take a statement. They were also informed that Garrett¡¯s ex-girlfriend had already been apprehended. The ward grew quiet after the police left. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Garrett and Laney both sat facing the window, watching the snowkes falling slowly from above. It looked like it was going to snow for a while. Moments passed. Garrett withdrew his gaze from the window and looked at Laney. He stared at her delicate profile, and was pleasantly surprised to realize that he found her rather attractive. ¡°You saved me back there. I¡¯d like to express my sincerest thanks.¡± Laney didn¡¯t move. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that, Mr. Harding,¡± she said in a cool voice. ¡°I only did what was right.¡± Garrett turned back to the window, a soft smile ying on his lips. ¡°You received a reward for saving J¡¯s life, didn¡¯t you? And that was when you were under duty. On the other hand, you protected me even though you weren¡¯t paid to do it. That means I owe you my life.¡± Chapter 339 Chapter 339 Laney narrowed her eyes at Garrett, who returned her stare with a quizzical one of his own. She didn¡¯t want him to feel indebted to her, for anything. ¡°You can just pay me in cash, and we¡¯ll call it quits.¡± He shed her a lopsided grin. ¡°No way. You should know that the life of the Harding family¡¯s precious son cannot be measured by money. You have managed to preserve a priceless treasure.¡± His gaze turned serious then. ¡°I owe you my life, and that is that. If you need help in the future, don¡¯t hesitate toe to me. The Harding family will see to it that you don¡¯t encounter any difficulty in Seacisco.¡± Laney raised an eyebrow and rolled her eyes. What an arrogant man! She decided to ignore his gant derations and shifted her focus back on the falling snow outside. After another moment of silence, Garrett got up from his seat and walked over to Laney¡¯s bed. He knocked his knuckles lightly against the top of her head. ¡°Come on, Miss Garcia, don¡¯t be rude to me. Fine, you can ignore me if you like, but you¡¯d better stay here and recuperate properly. You can¡¯t go back to work in your current condition.¡± Laney didn¡¯t want to give in to him, but she knew he was right. She had no choice but to grumble in agreement. When Ethanter found out that Laney was hospitalized yet again, he immediately canceled Garrett¡¯s application for a vacation. The other man naturally felt aggrieved by this. ¡°It¡¯s your fault that Laney has to take time off work,¡± Ethan exined casually. ¡°All things considered, this punishment isn¡¯t as severe as it should be.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m not the one to me,¡± Garrett argued. ¡°That¡¯s the thing. You know my ex-girlfriend¡¯s temper very well.¡± Ethan was having none of it, though. ¡°Of course, you¡¯re to me. You keep messing around with the wrong women.¡± Garrett had nothing to say to that. J didn¡¯t learn about the incident until she got off work that day. They were supposed to go home together, but Laney was nowhere in sight, so J went to Garrett to ask where she was. Once informed about her friend¡¯s situation, J headed straight to the hospital and stormed into Laney¡¯s ward. ¡°Can you rein in your sense of justice for once?¡± J huffed. ¡°Mr. Harding is a grown man! Why did you feel the need to block his assant with your own body?¡± She was visibly angry when she had first arrived, but her expression instantly softened when she caught sight of Laney¡¯s bandaged shoulder. Laney didn¡¯t know how to exin herself. As a matter of fact, she had acted out of instinct. ¡°I wasn¡¯t really thinking at the time,¡± she said sheepishly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; it¡¯s just a minor injury.¡± ¡°Well, I suppose it¡¯s a good thing that Mr. Harding is your boss. He wouldn¡¯tin even if you asked for additional days off. I just don¡¯t understand why you would go to such lengths¡­¡± Now that J had looked at her closely, she realized that Laney had lost a lot of weight after the two sessive encounters. Something clicked in her mind. ¡°Oh!¡± J exined, her face lighting up. ¡°Is Mr. Harding pursuing you?¡± Laney physically recoiled at the suggestion, as if the mere thought of it frightened her. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous! You have a very wild imagination, J, but I¡¯m not sure that I appreciate it.¡± Since Laney stayed in the hospital, J had to travel back and forth between work and home by herself. Winter in Seacisco was a magical sight to behold. The whole city was draped in snow, and the air practically sparkled as more snowkes fell and glinted in the sunlight. It could be pretty brutal, too, however. Some days, it would be too foggy to see anything a few meters away. On one such day, J found herself trudging through the snow. A thick scarf was wound around her neck, and an equally thick hat covered her head and ears. She was bundled in heavy clothing, with only her tiny, flushed face exposed to the cold winds. She suddenly stopped in her tracks and whirled around. She had felt another presence behind her. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± J surveyed her surroundings, wary and alert. Soon, she spotted a short figure standing beside a tree just a few feet away. The man was wearing a green and padded military jacket, and a ck, knitted wool hat over his brow. He looked to be in his fifties, and was smoking a cheap cigarette despite his already gaunt stature. N?velDrama.Org content. When their eyes met, he flicked the cigarette to the ground. He pocketed his hands and walked up to J with a big smile on his face. ¡°Are you J Lind?¡± Chapter 340 Chapter 340 J was only able to see the man¡¯s face clearly when he walked closer to her. At a nce, she noticed the overflowing greed in his eyes. He had a cunning expression on his face. His chapped lips and ragged stubble only made him look scarier. J stared at his face for a long time, but she couldn¡¯t recall seeing him before. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m J. And you are?¡± This man was still a stranger even if he knew her name, so J was on guard against him. She put a safe distance between them as they spoke. ¡°J, it¡¯s really you! I was afraid that I have mistaken someone else for you. We haven¡¯t met for ages and you have changed a lot. I have to admit that you¡¯ve be a lot more beautiful.¡± The man¡¯s eyes lit up in excitement as he studied J¡¯s face. Coming back to his senses, he cleared his throat and asked, ¡°You don¡¯t remember me? It¡¯s me, Tyler Wilde, Hannah¡¯s son.¡± The name did ring a bell. J remembered hearing about him from Hannah. As far as she knew, Hannah¡¯s son left the city around eight years ago. There had been no news about him since then. J also knew that Tyler was addicted to gambling. For the same reason, he had abandoned his own mother many years ago. When J reached the right age, Hannah mentioned Tyler to her. Every time she talked about her son, she looked sad and worried. But as time went by, Hannah just pretended she didn¡¯t have such an ungrateful son. Tyler waved his hand in front of J¡¯s face and smiled apologetically. ¡°Now you remember me, right? I¡¯ve made a lot of mistakes in the past that I now regret. But don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m a changed man now. Otherwise, how can I have the guts to face my mother?¡± There was one thing that was on J¡¯s mind at this moment: she didn¡¯t like Tyler. So she said while adjusting her scarf, ¡°Well, good for you. Anyway, if you have nothing else to say, I got to go home now.¡± ¡®This guy is weird. The world is full of weird people.¡¯ ¡°Wait, J! I bought something for my mother. Could you please give it to her on my behalf?¡± To J¡¯s surprise, Tyler hurriedly stopped her and hander tworge boxes of nutritional supplements. Frowning, she asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you give it to her yourself? You haven¡¯t been back to your hometown for so many years. Hannah would be happy to see you.¡± Tyler scratched his head. His eyes dimmed as he answered, ¡°I tried. But my mother didn¡¯t want to see me. She said she didn¡¯t want a son like me. s, it was all my fault. I let her down before. She has all the right to hate me. I deserve it. Anyway, I¡¯ve heard about you from our neighbors. They said my mother treated you like her own granddaughter. I also found out from them that you work for Larson Group, so I waited here, hoping to see you.¡± There was a trace of sincerity in Tyler¡¯s eyes, almost making J fall for it. However, she returned the boxes to him and rubbed her cold fingers. ¡°You should try again. Prove your sincerity to her. You¡¯re still Hannah¡¯s biological son. As long as you show her that you¡¯ve changed, she will ept you. She talked tough, but I believe that deep inside, she misses you too.¡± ¡°Could you please go with me, then? She¡¯s fond of you. I believe you can convince her to forgive me.¡± As if he was desperate, Tyler acted like he was about to kneel down. But J quickly stopped him. ¡°Don¡¯t do this.¡± Hesitation was evident in her eyes. She couldn¡¯t tell whether Tyler genuinely changed or not. But he was Hannah¡¯s only son. It was best if they reconciled. After hesitating for a long time, J finally agreed. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll apany you. Anyway, tomorrow is Saturday. I don¡¯t need to work. And I haven¡¯t visited Hannah for a long time.¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Really? Thank you, J! Thank you so much!¡± The next day, Tyler and J went to the bus station together. During winter, the road was always covered with snow. The bus back to the vige came every two hours. They were lucky to get on the bus shortly after they arrived at the station. While on the road, Tyler kept asking questions about Hannah¡¯s life in the past years. J politely answered all his questions with a faint smile, not noticing the glint of wickedness in his eyes. Chapter 341 Chapter 341 The bus arrived at their stop at 7:00 p.m. The days were shorter in the winter and it was already dark out at this time. The snow fell over thend silently and violently. They walked in the direction of Hannah¡¯s house in the snow. From a distance away, she could make out thick snow covering the entire yard and dim yellow light coursing through the window. ¡°Hannah!¡± J called out from where she was. She ran over to the house with a bright smile on her face, pulled open the gate of the yard and made her way inside. She always felt happy and excited every time she came back here, because she felt like returning to her childhood ce. When she was attending school, she barely knew her way around. Hannah always stood at the front of the vige with a walking stick, waiting to walk her home. Hearing the sound of J¡¯s voice, Hannah opened the door with a huge smile on her face and said, ¡°Why did youe here at this very hour? Why didn¡¯t you call me ahead of time? Have you eaten anything yet?¡± Right after Hannah finished saying that, she saw Tyler next to J. Hannah mmed the door shut in their faces and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to see that bastard. Ask him to stay away!¡± ¡°Mom, I haven¡¯t seen you for so long. You¡¯re old now. It¡¯s time I went out of my way to do something for you. At least talk to me. Please let me in, Mom!¡± Tyler said, tears falling from his eyes. He knelt down by the door, begging his mother to let him in. He was not very tall, and now he looked even more miserable. J had no idea what to say, so she stood to the side, clearly embarrassed. Tyler prostrated three times and begged pitifully. Finally, he had no other choice but to say to the door, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s so cold out here. Can you let me and J inside first?¡± At the mention of J, Hannah¡¯s heart softened and she opened the door. It had been nearly ten years since Hannahst seen Tyler. Hannah hated him with all her heart for being a deadbeat gambler. But she also missed him greatly. After all, he was her son and they were rted by blood. Last time, Hannah was so enraged that she turned him away. Now Tyler had arrived at her home with a ton of gifts. Hannah wiped her tears off of her face and sat next to the stove, preparing food wordlessly. Tyler had the feeling that his mother¡¯s attitude was way better than thest time. He immediately knelt down in front of Hannah and said sorry over and over again. He pped himself across the face and cried bitterly. ¡°This was all my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have hung out with a bad crowd. Mom, I¡¯ve been drifting around all these past years, but I didn¡¯t dare toe back home to see you. I was afraid that you¡¯d be disappointed in me. This is all my fault. Mom, now that I¡¯ve returned, I just want to take good care of you from now on.¡± Tyler knelt on the floor, crying bitter tears, and his cheeks were raw and red from all the pping. N?velDrama.Org content. Hannah seemed unmoved and said angrily, ¡°How many times have you said such things before? Not once did you keep your word.¡± ¡°Mom, I swear to you that I¡¯ll never let you down again. I¡¯ll never gamble again. If I do any of that, just let me drown in the river outside.¡± Tyler¡¯s eyes were bloodshot at this point. He raised his fingers next to his head and swore solemnly. As he said this, he mmed his forehead hard against the floor. Even J was startled by what Tyler was doing, let alone Hannah, who was his mother. ¡°Just look at you! What are you doing?¡± Hannah let out a long sigh, her heart filled withplicated feelings. She was disappointed and angry with Tyler at the same time, but when she saw his blood-covered face, it was hard for her not to relent. After all, he happened to be her only son. Hannah¡¯s heart gradually softened. Finally, she sighed and wiped away her tears. ¡°Get up and go wash your face now. Also, do something about the wound on your head. Let bygones be bygones.¡± Seeing that Hannah had forgiven him, Tyler felt immensely overjoyed. He immediately got up and clutched Hannah¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mom. You go and rest in the living room. I¡¯ll cook something for you. I haven¡¯t done something like this for you in a very long time.¡± When he made his way to the kitchen door after helping Hannah sit down, he turned around to give J a look. ¡°You guys can wait outside. I¡¯ll call you when I¡¯m done cooking.¡± It was not until then that J came back to her senses. She nodded. After cleaning up the injury on his forehead, Tyler started to cook some food. ¡°The food is now ready. Come on, have a taste of the pork chop. This dish is my specialty.¡± Forehead still wrapped in bandages, Tyler proceeded to wipe his hands on his apron. After that, he turned to look at Hannah and said, ¡°Mom, you don¡¯t need to worry about these matters at home from this point on. I¡¯ll take care of everything at home. I want you to live a peaceful life from now on.¡± Hannah sat down at the table. Even though she didn¡¯t smile, her eyes looked very kind. ¡°You like to say all those beautiful things to me.¡± J could see that Hannah was really intending to forgive Tyler now. Chapter 342 Chapter 342 The trio sat down for dinner. Tyler kept trying to fill J¡¯s te. He seemed more enthusiastic than Hannah. ¡°It must be strenuous to work for such a bigpany as the Larson Group. Eat more.¡± It was awkward, so J forced a smile as she ate. She said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s not as bad as it seems.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re superwoman, J. How many people can say they get to work for Larson Group? If I got married and had a child, my daughter might be your age.¡± Tyler kept ttering J as he served her more food. ¡°I see my mother treats you like her granddaughter, but I can¡¯t treat you like a daughter. I wouldn¡¯t dare. I¡¯m better off treating you like I¡¯m your uncle since we are family in a way.¡± J looked at the greasy pork chop in her te before she looked up at Tyler¡¯s smiling eyes and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Hannah is like a grandmother to me.¡± Hannah said with a smile, ¡°J speaks better than you.¡± J smiled, but her smile disappeared when she saw the crazed look in Tyler¡¯s eyes. She had a feeling he hadn¡¯t changed, but she couldn¡¯t say anything. When Tyler saw that J and Hannah had almost finished eating, he stood up, poured the rest of the food and sauce into his te, and stirred them together before gulping the whole thing down. ¡°Slow down. No one will steal the food from you,¡± Hannah scolded as she patted Tyler on the back. Her eyes were full of kindness. She was simply grateful and relieved that he came back. Tyler finished the food and said, ¡°I haven¡¯t had such a good meal in a while, Mom. It¡¯s so good to be at home.¡± Hannah smiled at Tyler. ¡°There¡¯s no ce like home. What have you been up to?¡± ¡°I¡¯m currently between jobs, trying to decide what I should do next,¡± Tyler said after he swallowed the food in his mouth and wiped the sauce on his lips and chin. This worried Hannah. After thinking about it for a while, she said, ¡°You don¡¯t have a good education background or skills, and you¡¯re not as young as you used to be, so you might not find anything except security guard work or something along that line.¡± Tyler sneered when he heard this. ¡°That¡¯s embarrassing. I used to have two people working for me, so I can¡¯t stoop that low.¡± ¡°Well, now that things have changed, you have to curb your bad temper. It makes you unqualified to be a security guard.¡± Hannah sighed. Her son was ambitious but he was incapable. When he saw that Hannah was getting riled up, he reluctantly agreed. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± J nned to go back downtown after dinner as there was usually a night bus at that time. When he saw that she was leaving, Tyler followed her and said, ¡°It¡¯s not safe for you to be going to the bus station alone sote at night. Let me walk with you.¡± It had stopped snowing and when J saw how dark it was outside, she didn¡¯t refuse. As they both walked toward the bus stop, Tyler squinted and said, ¡°I still want to run a small business. It¡¯s not lucrative for me to work as a security guard at my age. I¡¯m over forty, and I need to save some money to take care of my mother.¡± Although J wasn¡¯t business-savvy, she politely replied, ¡°That¡¯s okay. It¡¯s always better to have a goal.¡± Tyler rubbed his hands awkwardly before he said what was on his mind, ¡°To run such a business, I need money and my mother doesn¡¯t have much, so I can¡¯t ask her. Can you lend me fifty thousand dors? I¡¯ll pay you back as soon as I start earning profit.¡±This is from N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 343 Chapter 343 So it turned out that Tyler came to her to borrow money. J frowned at the thought of it. ¡°I don¡¯t have much money,¡± she replied in a low voice, avoiding eye contact with the man in front of her. It was because J lied. Her sry was quite good, and she could afford to lend him fifty thousand dors if she wanted to. But because Tyler seemed unreliable, perhaps because of his gambling habits in the past, J felt that she wouldn¡¯t get the money back. N?velDrama.Org content. It seemed like Tyler had seen through her, so he continued to persuade her, ¡°J, I really want to turn over a new leaf and start afresh now. But as you probably know, I didn¡¯t finish school and I don¡¯t have skills either. It¡¯s hard for me to find a decent job. Fortunately, I have some old friends who are businessmen. They know how to make money. And they are willing to count me in. Now all I need is money. Just lend me fifty thousand dors, please, J.¡± Tyler kept begging her, almost kneeling down on the ground. ¡°Don¡¯t do that. I¡¯ll think it over. When do you need the money?¡± J panicked when he was about to kneel down. ¡°I need the money right now.¡± The anxiety on Tyler¡¯s face was instantly reced with a glimmer of hope when J asked him when he needed the money. ¡°My friends are all reliable. They told me that their business n is great and without risk.¡± ¡°Everything has its risk.¡± Even an amateur like J was aware of this fact. ¡°My friends are all sessful businessmen. They know what they¡¯re doing. Just please lend me the money. I will give it back to you in two weeks.¡± Purposely ignoring what J said, Tyler tried harder to convince her. In the end, she decided to lend the money to him. It was not that she believed in Tyler. If it weren¡¯t for Hannah, J wouldn¡¯t lend him a single penny. But because she owed his mother for raising her, it was hard to say no to him. ¡°Alright. Give me your bank ount details.¡± By ten o¡¯clock in the evening, J finally arrived home. Ethan, who had been waiting for her, was finally relieved when he saw her. ¡°Where have you been? Why didn¡¯t you give me a call?¡± he asked while wiping his wet hair with a bath towel. The smell of shampoo and shower gel reached J¡¯s nose. ¡°I visited Hannah.¡± After hesitating for a moment, she added, ¡°By the way, I lent fifty thousand to Hannah¡¯s son.¡± ¡°Hannah has a son? I didn¡¯t know about that.¡± Ethan tilted his head and frowned. Taking off her coat, J slumped down on the sofa and sighed. ¡°He just came back recently after being away for so many years.¡± ¡°Is he reliable?¡± Since he hadn¡¯t met Hannah¡¯s son before, Ethan was a bit curious about what kind of person he was. Anyway, J only lent him fifty thousand dors, so it wasn¡¯t a big deal. As Ethan dried his hair, he walked to the sofa and sat down beside J. Then he held her in his arms and kissed her. ¡°What matters is that you¡¯re happy. Just take it as a way of repaying Hannah¡¯s kindness.¡± Gently ying with his moist ck hair, J nodded. It was indeed better not to dwell on it. She should put her mind at rest. The days passed quickly. Two days after she lent money to Tyler, J received a call from him while she was working. Before parting ways that night, the two had exchanged phone numbers. J had almost forgotten about it because she thought they wouldn¡¯t talk again. She didn¡¯t expect that Tyler would call her this soon. Was he going to return her money now? ¡®Well, that was fast.¡¯ Without thinking too much, J answered the call. As soon as the line connected, Tyler¡¯s worried voice came to her ear. ¡°J, lend me one hundred thousand dors. It¡¯s urgent.¡± Chapter 344 Chapter 344 J wanted to hang up on Tyler right away. At first, she thought he was simply not worthy of anyone¡¯s trust, but now she realized he was a total scumbag. ¡°Didn¡¯t I just give you fifty thousand dors two days ago?¡± she grunted. ¡°It¡¯s not enough. You have my bank ount details. Just wire the money! I promise you, this will be the last time, J. Just do me a solid onest time.¡± Tyler was clearing taking her for granted. N?velDrama.Org content. J rubbed her temples and bluntly replied, ¡°Tyler, I don¡¯t have a hundred grand!¡± Even if she did have that kind of money, she would never give it to him. Obviously, he was up to no good now that he was borrowing money from her again. Unable to persuade her, Tyler decided to suggest a different method. ¡°Well, can you borrow from your friends or get a loan? I¡¯ll pay you back in two weeks!¡± J fell silent for a few seconds and became even more annoyed. ¡®How could he ask me to get a loan?¡¯ Fueled by rage, she growled, ¡°I¡¯m not going to get a loan for you! What on earth happened anyway? Why do you need so much money?¡± Not wanting to tell the truth, Tyler responded, ¡°It¡¯s for business. You know how businesses are. Fifty grand isn¡¯t nearly enough. I need to rent an office space, hire employees, and pay tuition to learn more about running a business.¡± Naturally, J didn¡¯t believe him. Worried that she was being too loud and was disturbing everyone else at work, she decided to leave the office, and walked out of thepany building. The sky was overcast. It appeared that it would rain heavily pretty soon. Since nobody else was around, she raised her voice and said, ¡°You¡¯re only just starting out! Just set up a God damned stall, and sell some street snacks or daily necessities. Don¡¯t dream too big when you¡¯re just starting. You don¡¯t have to make much money. I¡¯m the one supporting Hannah anyway. Besides, you don¡¯t have to hire employees so soon. You should use your own hands to work on everything. And in the event that you fail to make money, you won¡¯t lose too much.¡± Tyler sighed and replied, ¡°But that¡¯s exhausting. I have to take care of my mom, so I won¡¯t have that much time to do business all day. I really have to hire employees.¡± ¡°Doing business is never easy. Don¡¯t you know that already? No job in this world is easy! If you want to make money, you¡¯d best prepare yourself to go through hardships,¡± J remarked frankly. She couldn¡¯t figure out why Tyler was unable toprehend the way things worked in the world at his age. He¡¯d been trying to persuade J for a long time, but it didn¡¯t seem like she¡¯d agree to loan him some money. He burst into tears and cried, ¡°J, I really need your help. Please! Okay, I¡¯m going to tell you the truth. Before I came home, I amassed some debt due to gambling. I don¡¯t have enough money to pay my creditors back. I don¡¯t have any other choice but to ask you for help. If I don¡¯t pay them back, they¡¯re gonna kill me!¡± J was surprised that Tyler was in debt again. ¡°Didn¡¯t you promise us that you¡¯ve changed? Why do you have debts again?¡± J gritted her teeth, infuriated by the fact that she was fooled. Even though she was mentally prepared that Tyler might never pay her the fifty grand that he owed her, she still felt furious when she found out that he had been lying to her. Tyler sniffled. He realized that this was the end of the rope for him. ¡°I don¡¯t have any other choice. I need to pay them back. J, will you promise not to tell my mom about this? I really have decided to change, but I need to solve these problems first before I can start over. I¡¯ll pay you back everything I owe you, I promise!¡± Chapter 345 Chapter 345 Hearing that, J frowned. Her intuition was right. Tyler wasn¡¯t a good person. He had been lying to her and Hannah. Perhaps his promise of starting over was a lie too. ¡°I don¡¯t have one hundred grand; I swear. Why don¡¯t you borrow money from others? I won¡¯t tell Hannah about it. She is too old to withstand such a blow.¡± With that, J decided to hang up the phone. ¡°I don¡¯t have any friends. They all run away from me as if I were a gue. How would they lend me money? I have no one to turn to. You are myst hope, J,¡± Tyler cried in despair. ¡°J, please lend me one hundred grand. At least for my mom¡¯s sake! If you don¡¯t help me, I¡¯m afraid those guys will go to my mom!¡± J¡¯s heart leaped to her throat. If that were the case, she had no choice but to help him out. J knew that if she didn¡¯t help him, Tyler would turn to Hannah, which would only make matters worse. After all, Hannah was old, and J didn¡¯t want her to worry about more problems. ¡°Tyler, you must have investigated what I¡¯m doing now beforeing to me. That fifty grand I gave you was the best I could do. Anyway, which casino do you owe money to? I¡¯ll find a way to deal with it.¡± Tyler cried with joy. He knew J would help him. ¡°Gainrich Casino. You have to help me fast, or in a few days, thepound interest would pile up, and I¡¯d have to pay more than one hundred and fifty grand.¡± ¡°What? The casino is located in the northern part of the country. How did you get there?¡± J¡¯s frown deepened as she checked the information about the Gainrich Casino on her phone. The Casino was located in a city far away from Seacisco. At first, J inquired about the casino because she knew Ethan had a lot of connections and believed he could help. However, the casino was miles and miles away from Seasisco, so she didn¡¯t think Ethan would have friends there. ¡°No matter what, you should pay them back as soon as possible!¡± Tyler said anxiously as if he hadn¡¯t heard what J said. J didn¡¯t know what to say. Tyler was taking her for granted. She didn¡¯t owe anyone money and agreed to help him only for Hannah¡¯s sake. ¡°Gainrich Casino is too far away from Seacisco, Tyler. I will try my best to help you but don¡¯t build hopes. Keep asking people for money. In the meantime, I¡¯ll think of a way,¡± J advised. It was crucial to solve the problem now, so she wanted him also to try his best. ¡°Okay,¡± said Tyler. ¡°But I have no one now. You are my only hope.¡± Before J could speak, he hung up the phone. ******* J told everything to Ethan as soon as she returned home. She wanted to see if Ethan knew anyone who could help Tyler. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Ethan sat cross-legged, flipping through the pages of the book in his hand. Hearing J¡¯s words, he looked up and asked, ¡°Gainrich Casino is hundreds of miles away from here. Why did he go there?¡± ¡°Maybe he was afraid that Hannah would find out if he gambled in Seacisco,¡± J replied with a weary sigh. The problem would have been easier to solve if the casino were in Seacisco. ¡°Of course, I will help you.¡± Ethan shrugged. ¡°I need to make a few calls first.¡± Chapter 346 Chapter 346 Right now, there was nothing else J could do but wait for Ethan toe up with something. As the days went by, the snow in Seacisco became stronger. At sunset, Ethan returned from his long journey. Snow had piled up on his ck wool coat. ¡°Are you okay? It¡¯s too cold outside. Have dinner first so you could warm up. Let¡¯s go to the shopping mall once I get my sry so we can buy some clothes for you.¡± Ethan always wore this ck coat. J understood that he didn¡¯t need a lot of winter clothes, but she didn¡¯t want him to live so poorly. This is from N?velDrama.Org. After patting off the snow from his coat, Ethan hung it on the coat rack. The grey sweater he wore under the coat was revealed. It wasn¡¯t from a luxury brand; in fact, J only bought it on sale. But because Ethan was in good shape, the sweater looked expensive when he wore it. ¡°The clothes in the shopping mall are very expensive. Didn¡¯t you just lend someone fifty thousand dors? Let¡¯s postpone that for now.¡± Standing in the doorway, Ethan stared at J. The dim light entuated his handsome face. Guilt was evident on J¡¯s face. She was silent for a while before finally saying, ¡°I know I shouldn¡¯t have indulged Tyler, but I have to help him for Hannah¡¯s sake¡­¡± Her soft voice gradually trailed. Noticing that J was feeling down, Ethan walked over and stared at her with eyes brimming with affection. Then he raised her chin and kissed her passionately. He sucked on her bottom lip, biting into it. Just as Ethan was about to lose control, he let go of her lips and said in a gentle tone, ¡°I¡¯m not ming you. Don¡¯t worry. I have asked my friend for help. He has talked to someone who works at the casino. They have agreed for Tyler to pay them back in installments.¡± Surprised by the news, J raised her head and asked, ¡°You really know a lot of people, don¡¯t you? Did it cost you a lot to ask your friend for help?¡± Ethan gently pinched her chin and answered, ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. He happened to owe me a lot of favors. Just tell Tyler to get a job. He has to have an ie to afford to pay his debt every month. In that way, he could also support himself and start anew.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell Tyler the good newster. Finally, there¡¯ll be a solution to his problem.¡± Now, J¡¯s face looked livelier. She snaked her arms around Ethan¡¯s waist and praised him with a smile, ¡°You¡¯re so smart.¡± What she did made Ethan chuckle, but he arched his eyebrows. ¡°Is that all I¡¯d get?¡± The smile on J¡¯s lips grew wider as she understood what he meant. She stood on tiptoe and kissed Ethan on the cheek. It wasn¡¯t enough for thetter, so he held the back of her neck and pressed his lips on hers. With one hand on her waist, he lifted J up and pressed her against the sofa. They sucked in their breaths as Ethan pressed himself against J, letting his hand wander on her body under her clothes. It couldn¡¯t be denied that J was greatly affected by his touch. She felt wet between her legs, wanting him. Her flushed face also gave her away. However, she closed her legs and said, ¡°Not now. I have to call Tyler to tell him the news first.¡± Hearing this, Ethan¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Are you kidding?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the best!¡± J giggled like a spoiled child and gave him a peck on the lips. While Ethan was in a daze, she took the opportunity to flee. She shouted as she ran away, ¡°I will thank you next time!¡± In the end, Ethan could only heave a sigh. He watched J run away and shook his head in amusement. As soon as J entered the bedroom, she took out her phone and called Tyler. Thetter¡¯s excited voice rang in her ear. ¡°Have you paid them already?¡± ¡°No. But I have tried my best to help you. They have agreed to let you pay your debts in installments with low interest. You just need to pay them a part of the debts every month. There¡¯s no need for you to hurry. Just find a job and slowly pay them back. Those men won¡¯t bother you again.¡± A bright smile was stered on J¡¯s face as she spoke, thinking that Hannah wouldn¡¯t have to worry about Tyler anymore. There was a brief silence before Tyler spoke again. This time, he didn¡¯t sound excited anymore. ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Judging from his tone, J could tell that he wasn¡¯t happy with the news. Instead, he sounded disappointed and dissatisfied. Chapter 347 Chapter 347 When Tyler received the call from J, he was happy, thinking she had repaid all his debts. In his early years, Tyler was lured into a casino and became a gambling addict when he worked with the hooligans in the vige several years ago. Later, he moved to another ce to gamble, and his debts piled up over the years. The debt collectors were after him like predators waiting to catch their prey. Just as Tyler wondered what to do, he heard some people from his vige tell him that his mother, whom he had abandoned years ago, had a promising granddaughter. They told him that she was working in the famous Larson Group and was the mistress of thepany¡¯s CEO. His mother seemed to live afortable life because of her. Tyler grew jealous; he felt life was unfair. How could his mother live a good life when he was suffering? No wonder his mother hadn¡¯t bothered to look for him. It turned out that she lived a spectacr life and didn¡¯t need him anymore. The more Tyler thought about it, the angrier he became. He had been hiding to escape from the debts, sleeping under the bridge along with beggars. His life was no better than that of a stray dog. Therefore, he decided to go back to his mother. Hannah was softhearted. If he fell on his feet and pretended to turn over a new leaf, she would forgive him in a heartbeat. Moreover, J was wealthy now. She was the CEO¡¯s mistress and certainly wouldn¡¯t be short of money. His debt was just a drop in the bucket for J. As expected, J had agreed to lend him fifty thousand dors without much hesitation. Fifty thousand dors was just the tip of the iceberg among his gambling debts. He only wanted to use it to test the water and see what J would do. Fifty thousand dors was far from enough to pay off his gambling debts that had umted over the years. However, as Tyler continued to borrow money, to his surprise, J refused to lend him money and said she would find a way to help him. In fact, Tyler was surprised to find J could help him in the first ce. The casino consisted of all kinds of people, and only a few would have a say on things. He couldn¡¯t fathom how J could be so capable. Later, after a lot of thinking, Tyler concluded that she would probably ask the CEO of the Larson Group for help. That was how she would manage to rescue him from such a serious problem. The Larson Group was one of the most reputedpanies in the entire country. Tyler felt it would be better if J could somehow make the casino write off his gambling debts. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Keeping all this in mind, Tyler decided to let J step in. However, to his utter dismay, J had called and informed him that he had to repay the debts in installments. Tyler¡¯s heart sank with dejection. He had been idling around all his life. He was toozy to work hard to pay off the debt with his meager sry. ¡°This gambling debt is too much.¡± Tyler sighed. ¡°It will take me several years to pay it off in small installments. Since you have the ability to persuade the casino people to allow me to pay off the debt in installments, why don¡¯t you ask them to write off the entire debt?¡± Tyler¡¯s recklessness disgusted J. ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± she snapped coldly. ¡°A casino never allows anyone to pay in installments. I tried everything I could to pull a few strings to help you and they finally agreed to make an exception. How could you expect them to write off the debtspletely?¡± J wanted to hang up the phone right away. Sensing Tyler was a notorious man, she warned, ¡°Look, Tyler, I have done the best I can to help you. This is it. Don¡¯te to me for money again. Find a serious job and repay all the debts without bothering Hannah.¡± With that, she hung up the phone. Chapter 348 Chapter 348 Upon hearing the busy tone, Tyler muttered ¡°bitch¡± under his breath. He was referring to J. ¡®Just because she¡¯s sleeping with some CEO, she now thinks that she can tell me what to do and what not? Fuck that!¡¯ he thought. As he held his phone, he put on his coat and mmed the door. ¡®How am I supposed to pay such a big gambling debt on my own? I¡¯ll never be able to pay that money back!¡¯ Tyler kept mumbling swear words under his breath all the way to a bar. He didn¡¯t have enough money to go to regr bars, so the bar he went to was an illegal one. People like him who lived in the bottom of society knew some illegal bars. These types of bars usually sold cheap alcohol, and they employed teenaged girls to sell beers table-to-table. The bar wasn¡¯t well-ventted, and smoking wasn¡¯t prohibited. Upon entering the bar, all kinds of smells wafted into his nose and there were people from all walks of life. He spat on the ground, walked to a seat with a cigarette in his mouth, and asked a barmaid for two dozen beers. The barmaid didn¡¯t want to talk to him when she saw that he looked like a bum. She just put the beers on the table and went to talk to the other guests. Tyler gulped down the first bottle of beer, thinking of the embarrassment he faced when he tried to persuade J to give him more money. ¡®How could she ask me to find a job to pay off my debts?¡¯ heined inwardly. The taverns at night were brighter and livelier than the streets outside. While Tyler was drinking, he heard someone whisper to another man, ¡°I heard that the cripple in the neighboring vige got a wife. Did you help him? How much did you sell her for?¡± ¡°How much do you think a guy from a poor vige can afford? A few thousand dors. But there are a lot of men in Barnes, hoping to buy young, beautiful women. They offer really high prices, mind you,¡± the man replied, raising his fingers. ¡°One hundred thousand dors?¡± ¡°Nope. One million!¡± Tyler was almost drooling when he heard the price. He rolled his eyes, tempted at the thought that J met the standards that those were talking about. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. He approached the men with a smile. ¡°I know a beautiful girl. I can give her for you for half the earnings. What do you think, boys?¡± Not only could he pay off his gambling debts through these possible earnings, but he could also make a fortune. He could even continue gambling using the rest of the money! One of the human traffickers had a freckled face, and the other had thick eyebrows and big eyes. They both eyed Tyler up and down. The freckled-face man spoke first. ¡°Which neighborhood do you live in? And why have I not seen you before?¡± he asked vigntly. Tyler pondered for a moment and said, ¡°I¡¯m just another guy who¡¯s down on his luck. I used to hang out with people from the Gainrich Casino. Everybody there calls me Tiger.¡± The freckled-face man knew Gainrich Casino. He was also aware that all sorts of rogues owed money to the casino there. He and hispanion exchanged nces before looking back at Tyler. ¡°Do you have any photos of the girl? We need to see what she looks like first. Call it a pre-check.¡± Tyler gulped down another bottle of beer and wiped his lips. ¡°Alright. She works for the Larson Group. I¡¯ll show you tomorrow.¡± The next morning, he took them to the road that J always took to go to work. The human traffickers¡¯ eyes widened when they saw her. She was indeed gorgeous, and she was maddeningly sexy. They could easily sell her for a hefty sum. Chapter 349 Chapter 349 J was indeed beautiful. The human traffickers had never sold someone so beautiful. J was a white-cor worker in the city. Clearly, she had some social experience, so she wasn¡¯t as gullible as those female college students they usually dealt with. ¡°I don¡¯t think we can do anything to her. Besides, we don¡¯t know who she is. It¡¯ll be suspicious if we just walk up to her to strike up a conversation.¡± The human traffickers were caught in a dilemma. Seeing that they were about to give up, Tyler replied, ¡°Take it easy. She¡¯s my niece. She¡¯s not wary of me. If I¡¯m around, it¡¯ll be easier to deceive her.¡± Thanks to his assurance, the human traffickers became hopeful. They exchanged nces with each other, and then one of them said, ¡°In that case, we should do this as soon as possible. When do you think we can take action?¡± Tyler walked on ahead of them, wearing a wicked smile. He had already formted a n. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the money first, shall we? Since she¡¯s my niece, I want seventy percent of the profits you sell her for.¡± ¡°Considering how you¡¯re more than willing to sell her off, I don¡¯t think you¡¯re that close to your niece. You don¡¯t even flinch when you say such horrible remarks. It will take us a lot of effort and time to sell her to a willing buyer. Why should we give you that much money?¡± the freckled man countered with a grin. ¡®This man is fucking horrible! He¡¯s even willing to sell out his rtives just to make money. That girl is so unlucky to have an uncle like him,¡¯ the freckled man thought. Once they were done negotiating, they decided to give Tyler sixty percent of the earnings they¡¯d get for selling J. Afterwards, they discussed the n of action, and worked on their part of the n separately. On Saturday morning, Tyler called J. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about the other day, J. I shouldn¡¯t have put you in that position. Now that I¡¯ve had time to ponder on your words, I realize that it makes a lot of sense. People shouldn¡¯t rely on anyone but themselves.¡± d that he figured it out himself, J replied, ¡°It¡¯s nice to hear you say that. Find a stable job, so that you can pay off your debts one day. As long as you avoid gambling and correct your bad habits, all will be fine.¡± As Tyler held the phone, he nodded repeatedly and continued, ¡°A few days ago, I scored an interview to be a hotel security guard, but I¡¯ve never taken part in an interview before. You work at a big company, right? Do you mind apanying me to the interview? It¡¯ll give me a sense of security and boost my confidence.¡± ¡°Sure. No problem. I¡¯m free this weekend, anyway.¡± J was always willing to help anyone in need as long as it was something she could help with. Aside from that, she also wanted to see what kind of job Tyler had found. If Hannah were to ask her about it, she could tell her about his job. That very weekend, she followed the address that Tyler sent her and went to a run-down area in the city. It was close to the suburbs, and it wasn¡¯tpletely developed yet. Some of the houses had dpidated tile roofs, and the alleys were narrow and worn down. N?velDrama.Org content. At the end of the alley, J saw Tyler smoking. She clutched her bag and asked, ¡°Tyler, can you check the address again? Did we go to the wrong ce? I don¡¯t see any hotels around here.¡± Tyler threw the cigarette butt on the ground and crushed it underfoot. He nced at J before walking to a more remote ce. ¡°It¡¯s right ahead of us. Come and have a look.¡± After a moment of hesitation, she decided to follow him. The further they walked, the more she began to suspect that there was no hotel in this remote area. And even if there were, she wondered why they would need to recruit security guards and have such formal interviews. Soon, they walked out of the alley. On both sides of the alley were dpidated residential buildings. A crow flew over J¡¯s head and perched on a branch. While staring at the crow, Tyler cursed, ¡°What a fucking bitch.¡± J was taken aback, wary of any danger and shuddering all over. She wanted to say something, but a ck van came barreling towards her. Chapter 350 Chapter 350 Sensing the danger, J turned around and attempted to run away. But then, the door of the minivan behind her was opened. The people inside quickly grabbed ahold of her. At the same time, Tyler pushed her into the minivan. Then, he got into vehicle as well. The door of the minivan closed, and it soon drove away. The human traffickers were already skilled at this kind of method, so they managed to perform the whole kidnapping within just a few seconds. J didn¡¯t even have the chance to react when they threw her into the minivan. Tyler and the freckled human trafficker sat on both sides of J. They sealed her mouth with duct tape, and tied her wrists together using a hemp rope. She didn¡¯t even have a chance to resist. She kept shaking her head and kicking her legs, ring at Tyler. ¡°Bitch, don¡¯t you dare re at me!¡± Tyler raised his hand, intending to p J. However, the freckled man stopped him. ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t damage her pretty face. It¡¯s going to lower her value, man. Control yourself!¡± Thus, Tyler dropped his hand and just red at J. He then averted his gaze from her and asked the freckled man, ¡°Are you going to hand her over to a buyer now?¡± Meanwhile, the freckled man was texting someone using his smartphone. ¡°That¡¯s right. We¡¯re going straight to the expressway to deliver the goods. We¡¯ll arrive at Southernton tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°When are you going to pay me my share?¡± Tyler couldn¡¯t wait to get paid. ¡°The money will be given when we¡¯ve delivered the goods. Take it easy, bub. You¡¯re gonna get paid.¡± The freckled man locked his eyes on his phone and didn¡¯t bother to nce at Tyler the whole time. Based on their conversation, J figured out what was going on. She understood that she had fallen into the hands of human traffickers. She never expected that Tyler would be in cahoots with human traffickers and was nning to sell her for money. At this moment, desperation and fear overwhelmed J. Tyler had lost his humanity and had be a viin. The three men in the minivan were thinking of how to have fun after earning from the sale. Just then, the minivan seemed to have run over something. A harsh sound was heard from outside, and one of the vehicle¡¯s tires had deted. The minivan began to swerve along the road until it gradually stopped. The human traffickers were quick to react. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°We have a t tire!¡± The freckled man nced at hispanion, the driver, and figured that something bad had happened. By now, the minivan was unable to move. J was inside their vehicle. Considering the fact that they were on a highway, and there were cars and people constantly passing by on both sides, they could get caught for kidnapping and human trafficking if anyone were to pay attention to them. ¡°What the hell are you waiting for? Do you want to go to prison? Run, you fools!¡± The freckled man opened the door and jumped out of the minivan decisively. The driver also ran out from the driver¡¯s seat and brushed past the bushes on the side of the highway. Giving up on this deal was much better than going to prison. A few secondster, only Tyler and J remained in the car. ¡°Hey! Why are you guys running away?¡± Tyler shouted out of the window angrily. ¡°Damn it! She¡¯s still here! Don¡¯t you want her anymore?¡± All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Unfortunately for him, nobody replied. It turned out that the human traffickers had already fled. Frightened by what happened, Tyler pondered for a few seconds until he decided to open the door and leave as well. Considering the fact that the human traffickers had already escaped, and he had no idea what the buyer¡¯s phone number was, he realized that he wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything even though J was in his hands. With that in mind, he figured it was best to escape. But the second he got out of the minivan, he noticed a tall, strong man nearby. Just as he looked up, he was knocked out. He didn¡¯t even get the chance to see the man¡¯s face clearly. J¡¯s hands were tied and her mouth was sealed with a duct tape. Her only way to attract passersby¡¯s attention and let them know she was in the vehicle was to kick the door as hard as she could. After kicking the door twice, it was opened from outside. Chapter 351 Chapter 351 J looked up with difficulty. A middle-aged woman had opened the car door. She was wearing a red down jacket and a white knitted scarf. She looked very¡­ ordinary. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re tied up!¡± The woman spoke with a strong Seacisco ent. As she spoke, she immediately helped J up, untied the rope around her wrists, and ripped the tape off her mouth. ¡°Get out of the car quickly. You¡¯ve run into some bad people.¡± J mbered out of the car as quickly as she could. Her lips were chapped and her hair was a mess. After helping J out, the woman hurried to pick up all the thumbtacks on the ground. She grumbled, ¡°How troublesome! I have to pick them all up as soon as possible, lest they puncture the tires of other cars.¡± Still in a state of shock, J looked around in a daze. There were many carsing and going. Perhaps this ce was near the highway, so there weren¡¯t that many pedestrians. When she came back to her senses, she helped the woman pick up the remaining thumbtacks and handed them to her. She thanked the woman and asked incredulously, ¡°Did you break their tires to save me?¡± The woman carefully tucked the thumbtacks into her pocket and said with a kind smile, ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. I just happened to be in the area, buying some groceries. When I saw that you were shoved into a car by two men, I knew I had to help. My family used to run a Boxing Gym, so I know somebat skills. I hurried to buy these thumbtacks from a hardware store and nted them here to burst their tires. There are many human traffickers in the area. You should be more careful.¡± J smiled at her bitterly. She didn¡¯t expect Tyler to be so cruel andwless. The middle-aged woman shrugged and said, ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve got to go now. You¡¯d better leave here, too. Go somewhere safe. Those human traffickers mighte back soon. Maybe they¡¯ll bring reinforcements.¡± ¡°What should I do? Tyler¡¯s a bad guy. I can¡¯t let him get away with this!¡± J red at the man who was lying unconscious on the ground. She wanted to stay and make sure he got what he deserved, but she was also afraid. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll call the police. You¡¯d better leave now, young girl. I know somebat skills. They can¡¯t hurt me.¡± The woman¡¯s tone was very calm. She pointed down the road and said, ¡°There¡¯s a shopping mall up ahead. There are many people there. No matter how bold these human traffickers are, they won¡¯t dare to strike there.¡± The woman in front of J was tall, strong, and powerful. She was clearly not weak and looked like she could take care of herself. So J made up her mind. ¡°Be careful.¡± After saying goodbye, she ran down the side of the road. The second J turned around and left, the kind smile on the woman¡¯s face disappeared in the blink of an eye. She kicked Tyler¡¯s face hard with her foot, and then she tapped the Bluetooth ear bud in her ear to call Ethan. ¡°Boss, J¡¯s safe now. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Laney was still in hospital, so Ethan had hired an older but experienced female bodyguard from Shadow. She was to protect J in the interim. N?velDrama.Org content. ¡°Good. I¡¯ll send someone there now. Where are the two human traffickers?¡± Ethan asked coldly. ¡°They¡¯re running northwest. There¡¯s nothing but orchards in that direction, and it¡¯s snowing tonight. The temperature will drop below zero. They won¡¯t make it very far. We can catch them before night falls.¡± Hearing that, Ethan immediately sent someone to take Tyler away, while simultaneously ordering his men to chase after the two remaining human traffickers. ******* After running for what seemed like forever, J finally arrived at a shopping mall packed with people. By then, she was panting heavily and sweating despite the cold weather. As soon as she made it safely inside the mall, she took out her phone and called Ethan. As soon as he got off the phone with the female bodyguard, Ethan had immediately set off for J. That was when she called him. ¡°You¡¯re safe now. Find a cafe and sit down. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± Chapter 352 Chapter 352 J was rooted to the spot for a while before finding a cafe to sit down and wait for Ethan. The cup of coffee she was holding was hot, but her limbs tingled in coldness. She was now safe inside a cafe, but her mind still couldn¡¯t get over what she had heard in the car a while ago. It was hard to believe that Tyler would transact with human traffickers. They said they were going to sell her to Southernton, an underdeveloped area where the people were poor and conservative. It was also a ce with frequent cases of abduction over the years. Just thinking about it gave J goose bumps. She rubbed her arms, scared for her life. Her train of thoughts was interrupted by the bell at the entrance of the cafe. When she looked up, J saw Ethan striding in. Some snowkes rested on his ck hair. And his expression was colder than the winter. ¡°Ethan!¡± Without thinking twice, J ran to him and threw herself into his arms. For a split second, Ethan was stunned. But then he hugged J back before making her face him. ¡°You should have told me that you were going out. How are you? Did you get hurt?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. But I¡­ I didn¡¯t know Tyler would be such a scum.¡± Ashamed by her poor judgment, J lowered her eyes. Ethan was enraged, but he didn¡¯t show it to J. God knew what would have happened to her if he was a little toote. Fortunately, he had hired another bodyguard to secretly follow her. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the police station first. We can¡¯t let him get away from this.¡± As he spoke, he took a look at his wife, who lowered her head again. Ethan ran his fingers through J¡¯s hair,forting her. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you could be so bold.¡± ¡°I thought he had really changed. I have never imagined that he would try to sell me to human traffickers¡­¡± Anger and sadnessced in J¡¯s voice. ¡°How could Hannah have a son like him? She is so unfortunate.¡± Ethan clenched his jaw but continued tofort her. ¡°We have to get rid of him once and for all so he won¡¯t get the chance to hurt anyone again.¡± After convincing J, they both went to the police station. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. The police made a move as soon as J gave her statement. ¡°What? You haven¡¯t caught him?¡± To say that J was shocked was an understatement. ¡°Yes. Tyler was no longer there when we arrived at the scene. The witness had left too after calling us. Only his car was found there. We are still searching for him.¡± The policewoman who took J¡¯s statement sighed. ¡°There have been six abductions in Seacisco in the past few months and we haven¡¯t been able to catch the people behind them.¡± What she said made J feel sick. She thought people like Tyler deserved to be in jail. ¡°J, let¡¯s go home for now. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll update us once they get a lead.¡± With his arm around J¡¯s shoulder, Ethan said expressionlessly, ¡°They will catch those bag guys, don¡¯t worry.¡± Thinking that he was just trying tofort her, J nodded and followed him. Soon, they arrived home. J received a call from Hannah. ¡°J, how are you? Where¡¯s Tyler? Did anything happen?¡± Afraid that Hannah wouldn¡¯t be able to handle the truth, J decided to hide it from her. ¡°I don¡¯t know. He told me he¡¯d work somewhere else and left.¡± ¡°That brat is really a troublemaker! Well, forget it. This isn¡¯t the first time he left without saying a word. Just let him be.¡± Perhaps it was because Tyler often left without telling Hannah, she was no longer surprised to hear the news. However, disappointment was still evident in her voice. ¡°He must be gambling somewhere again. I honestly thought he had changed for real.¡± On the other end of the line, J waspletely quiet. Now that she had realized how terrible Tyler was as a person, there was no point in putting in a good word for him anymore. Somewhere in the city, inside a dark interrogation room, Ethan sat on a chair and looked down at Tyler whose blood was dripping all over his body. ¡°Sir, let me go. I, I have told you everything I know. What else do you want?¡± Sweat mixed with tears fell down Tyler¡¯s face. He wasn¡¯t a tough man at all. After being whipped several times, he immediately confessed. Chapter 353 Chapter 353 ¡°Pour some saline water on his wounds.¡± Ethan¡¯s eyes red up with rage and hatred. With eyes wide open, Tyler stared at the man standing in the darkness. All he could see was the man¡¯s tall silhouette. Despite the fact that Ethan rarely spoke, Tyler was intimidated by him. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you everything. Please let me go! Please¡­¡± Before Tyler could even finish his sentence, a bowl of saline water was poured over his wounds, causing him to scream in agony. After screaming at the top of his lungs for a long time, he could hardly breathe. ¡°I¡¯ve told you everything I know! I won¡¯t do it again, I promise. Please! Please, let me go!¡± Ethan didn¡¯t believe a word that came out of Tyler¡¯s mouth. The way he stared at thetter was truly frightening. ¡®Human traffickers, the casino, and a mysterious acquaintance¡­ It¡¯s all too much of a ¡®coincidence¡¯. It might seem as simple as Tyler just intended to abduct J and sell her off to pay for his gambling debts. But there¡¯s definitely more to the story.¡¯ Ethan walked out of the room with a recorder pen in hand and said, ¡°Take ¡®good care¡¯ of him, but I want him alive.¡± Having said that, he went back to the room next to the interrogation room, pressed the recorder pen¡¯s y button, and carefully analyzed Tyler¡¯s confession. ¡°There¡¯s an acquaintance I knew, someone from my vige and I met him in kewood a while ago. He told me that my mom had been supporting a girl named J Lind. She works at a bigpany, and they say she hooked up with the Larson Group¡¯s CEO. So, I figured I¡¯de here and ask her for money and mooch off her. Later on, I met two human traffickers at a tavern and decided to join hands with them to abduct J.¡± ¡°There¡¯s an acquaintance I knew, someone from my vige and I met him in kewood a while ago. He told me that my mom had been supporting a girl named J Lind. She works at a bigpany, and they say she hooked up with the Larson Group¡¯s CEO. So, I figured I¡¯de here and ask her for money and mooch off her. Later on, I met two human traffickers at a tavern and decided to join hands with them to abduct J.¡± In the recording, Tyler sounded fired up. He kept on repeating the same sentences, and he didn¡¯t seem to be lying. However, there two things that Ethan just couldn¡¯t figure out. Firstly, Tyler had been in kewood. It was miles away from this ce, so the chances of him hearing about J when he was in badly need of money to pay off his gambling debts was astronomically low. Aside from that, Ethan had asked his men in kewood to conduct a thorough investigation. The ¡°acquaintance¡± that Tyler knew in kewood had been living there for years and never met Hannah, nor J. It couldn¡¯t have been possible for that person to know what was happening in Seacisco. Secondly, human traffickers were usually very vignt. It was highly unlikely for someone like them to cooperate with a random stranger who they met at a tavern. ¡®Tyler¡¯s offer to join them that night was a spur in the moment decision. Why would they agree to his request so readily?¡¯ Ethan turned off the recorder pen, interlocked his fingers, and continued contemting. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡®Maybe Tyler is telling the truth. Maybe he really isn¡¯t aware that someone has been using him as a pawn. Someone else is probably behind all this; someone who¡¯s using Tyler to hurt J.¡¯ At first, Ethan thought that someone from the Lester family must be the mastermind, but then he cast the idea aside. ¡°Even if the Lester family does want to hurt J, they¡¯re not going to use such underhanded tactics. They prefer to attack head on. And even if their ns get exposed, they could easily deal with it. They don¡¯t have any reason to do something like this and make things difficult for themselves.¡¯ Thereafter, Ethan told his man to call the police over, and Tyler was put behind bars. However, he had no intention of letting this go. He just didn¡¯t want to alert the enemy that he was onto them. His intention was to continue to look into this matter further. Chapter 354 Chapter 354 It waste winter now and snow was frequent. Seacisco, the concrete jungle, was covered in ayer of snow and frost. Catherine Turner was calmly making tea in her residence. After decades of experiencing the world, she had assumed a noble, elegant demeanor. ¡°My dear daughter, you¡¯ve been looking sullen these days. What¡¯s the matter?¡± After pondering for a moment, she smiled at Charis sympathetically and asked, ¡°Is it about a boy?¡± Feeling agitated, Charis stared at the tea in her cup with her chin propped on one hand. ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t want to talk about it, okay?¡± Catherine could sense that something was wrong. She eyed her daughter warily, wondering what had happened. Although Ethan had warned Charis several times, she couldn¡¯t stop herself from hiring a private detective to investigate J. She had thought that she could use the Lind family to hurt J, but she found out that J had cut all ties with the Lind family. The only family she had now was Hannah Stone, who used to serve the Lind family. But it was clear that Hannah loved J and would never do anything to hurt her. Charis couldn¡¯t use her at all. Fortunately, Charis also found out about Tyler, Hannah¡¯s son who hadn¡¯t been in contact with her for years. Fortunately, Charis also found out about Tyler, Hannah¡¯s son who hadn¡¯t been in contact with her for years. Tyler was a scumbag and gambling addict. He was deep in debt and was at the end of his rope, so Charis thought that he was the perfect guy to start with. Charis spent some money and asked someone in kewood who knew Tyler to ¡°casually¡± tell him that J worked in the Larson Group. Two dayster, as expected, Tyler came running back to Seacisco and went straight to J. Charis had thought that she had everything under control. But what she hadn¡¯t foreseen was that J would ask Ethan for help the second she found out about Tyler¡¯s gambling debts. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. And Ethan had dealt with it easily. Now, Tyler had no choice but to pay off his debts by himself. Seeing that her n was going to fail again, Charis felt frustrated and unwilling to let Tyler to start over again like that. So that night, she used the Turner family¡¯s connections to hire human traffickers to set a trap for Tyler to abduct J for money. But just before her n could seed, someone meddled and ruined things for her. Little did she know that Ethan had sent someone to rece Laney while she was out ofmission. The new bodyguard was good and she saved J right after she was abducted. Originally, Charis wasn¡¯t that invested. If her n seeded, then that would be good for her. If it didn¡¯t, then she wouldn¡¯t lose anything. After all, because Tyler was the one doing all the bad things, he would be the one to go to prison. She could always back away. But Ethan didn¡¯t seem to intent to let things go so easily even after Tyler was put in jail. Now, Charis was distraught. Ethan had begun to investigate the matter thoroughly. He¡¯d find out that she was behind everything sooner orter. ¡°Mom, I need to go back to work. I¡¯ll visit you another time.¡± Lost in thought, Charis looked flustered. She suddenly stood up from her seat, grabbed her bag, and hurried out of the room. ¡°But you just arrived¡ª!¡± Catherine sighed regretfully. She hadn¡¯t spent much time with her daughter ever since she lived separately with Luke. Chapter 355 Chapter 355 On her way back to the office, Charis worried nonstop. She couldn¡¯t give Ethan a bad impression; she just couldn¡¯t. In a panic, she called the private detective she had hired. ¡°Get me information on all of J¡¯s enemies by the end of today. Got it?¡± ¡°Miss Turner, how detailed are we talking about?¡± ¡°I want to know every single enemy J has made ever since she was a child!¡± Without waiting for a response, Charis hung up the phone angrily. She didn¡¯t expect that Ethan would pursue this matter so thoroughly. Given the connections the Larson Group had, it¡¯d only be a matter of time before he found out that she was the one behind all this. Of course, Charis didn¡¯t want Ethan to know about the horrible things she had done. She wanted to stay perfect in his heart. Fortunately for her, the private detective she had hired was really good. He got Charis the information she wanted within the day. There was a woman in particr who stood out to Charis. Her name was ine Sellers. Charis had seen this name in the personnel files before. ine was fired because of J. Later, she was even sent to jail because of J again. She must¡¯ve hated J to the core. Charis had seen this name in the personnel files before. ine was fired because of J. Later, she was even sent to jail because of J again. She must¡¯ve hated J to the core. Upon reading through the file the private detective had sent her, Charis sneered and went to see ine. ine had graduated from a famous university in Seacisco, but now, she worked as a receptionist in a motel. N?velDrama.Org content. ine looked up in surprise when she saw Charis in high heels and sunsses here. ¡°Miss Turner, what brings you here?¡± When ine was working in the Larson Group, she had seen photos of Charis and thought that she was a really intelligent and beautiful woman. But before she ever got to meet Charis in person, she was fired because of J. Charis delicately removed her sunsses and nced around the shabby motel in disdain. ¡°Miss Sellers, allow me to be straightforward with you. I¡¯m here to ask a favor of you. Should you agree to help me, you will be rewarded generously.¡± Because ine now had a criminal record, she could no longer find a decent job. Her current job was just enough to keep her fed. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ine clenched her fists secretly. She had to admit that Charis gave out an intimidating aura. Charis leaned closer to whisper in her ear, ¡°I want a scapegoat.¡± ine shook her head immediately. ¡°No, I¡¯ve already been in jail once. I can¡¯t go there a second time.¡± Her days in prison were so horrible that she shuddered at the thought of it. If she became Charis¡¯s scapegoat, she would inevitably be sent to jail again. ¡°Hear me out first before you make your decision,¡± Charis said calmly. ¡°The charge won¡¯t be serious. Even if you are put in jail, it¡¯ll only be for a few years. You¡¯ve already been there once, it¡¯s no big deal if you go back. But the money I¡¯ll give you in exchange for this will be more than enough for you to live the rest of your life in luxury. What will you choose? To live like this forever? Or to spend a few years in jail in return for a lifetime of luxury?¡± Chapter 356 Chapter 356 ine shook her head stubbornly. ¡°I¡¯ve been to prison once. It was the worst ce on earth. The other inmates loved to bully me. Moreover, there was no freedom in there and you repeat the same routine every day. It was hell.¡± Charis smiled calmly. ¡°So is your life here better? Are you happy?¡± She nced around the motel in disgust. It was located downtown, but in a dirty, shabby part of the neighborhood. The only customers this motel served were gangsters and their prostitutes. She got close to ine¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°My dear, this is hell. And have you thought carefully about who it was that got you here? She¡¯s the happy one! She has a handsome husband and a stable job. She might even be a famous designer in the future. ine, will you just sit and watch as her life flourishes?¡± Clenching her fists, ine gritted her teeth angrily, her eyes seething with rage. She fell silent for a long time before she finally looked up at Charis again. ¡°I want five million. Then, after I get out of prison, you have to help me emigrate to another country.¡± ine didn¡¯t want to stay in a ce where she had been humiliated. ¡°Not a problem.¡± Hearing this, Charis smiled brightly. She could easily give ine five million, but she had to be alive to enjoy that money. The two women smoothed out the details of the agreement. Charis then managed to shift all the me to ine and intentionally gave out some clues for Ethan¡¯s men to find. The two women smoothed out the details of the agreement. Charis then managed to shift all the me to ine and intentionally gave out some clues for Ethan¡¯s men to find. Soon, Ethan¡¯s men were led to ine. ine had hated J to the guts after all. And it wasn¡¯t impossible for ine to find Tyler and pass the messages to him. Ethan took things at face value and sued ine. When Charis found out that ine was put behind bars, she finally felt relieved. ¡°It¡¯s finally over!¡± At home, Charis sank into her chair, her trembling fingers holding the phone. It had only been about two weeks since Ethan had started the investigation. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Charis closed her eyes. She wanted to lie down for a while, but suddenly, her eyes popped open again. Things weren¡¯t over yet. ine was the only one who knew what she had done. She had to make sure that ine wouldn¡¯t tell a soul. Charis picked up the phone immediately and dialed a number. Fortunately, the Turner family had a lot of connections and she knew someone in Seacisco Prison. She called them and asked them to get rid of ine, ensuring that she wouldn¡¯t live to tell anyone what Charis had done. Less than two dayster, the news reported that a female prisoner in Seacisco Prison was beaten to death by other inmates due to a trifle conflict. The matter wasn¡¯t investigated too thoroughly. After all, the people in prison were all criminals and this sort of thing happened often. Soon, that news was drowned out by other things. But even after everything was over, Charis still had a lingering fear. She applied for a business trip to another city. She felt that she had to stop andy low for a while before she did something again. The next time she took action, she had to make sure her n was foolproof. Moreover, she had to maintain her perfect image in Ethan¡¯s heart. Perhaps Ethan had already begun to doubt her not being as pure and innocent as she appeared, so she had to be extra discreet. On the other side¡­ Ever since the human trafficking incident, J had been trying to find thedy who had saved her to thank her. She went back to the area where the incident happened, but she couldn¡¯t find a trace of thedy. No one in the area had ever seen thedy she described. Chapter 357 Chapter 357 ¡°It¡¯s just so weird. How can a person disappear without a trace just like that?¡± J had been pondering the matter for so long, but she still couldn¡¯t figure it out. Her elbows were propped on the table, her dainty little chin resting on the tent of her fingers. She pursed her lips and squinted at the distance as she thought of every possible exnation for her savior¡¯s disappearance. Ethan emerged from the kitchen with the tableware. He couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the tiny furrow between her brows and the slight pucker of her lips. ¡°Think about it carefully. Maybe you forgot something, or missed some details.¡± He set their ces on the table. His cooking skills had significantly improved thesest few weeks, and tonight, he had volunteered to cook dinner for them two. ¡°Oh, please.¡± J shot Ethan a re. ¡°There¡¯s no way I would forget anything about the person who saved my life.¡± And then something urred to her. ¡°Ethan! You can help me find her, right?¡± Ethan paused. He couldn¡¯t let J know the existence of this bodyguard, no matter what. He stalled by picking up J¡¯s fork and handing it to her. Although the indoor heating was on, it was still a little cold. Ethan was wearing a cream turtleneck sweater and lounge pants. He looked cozy and rxed, with just a hint of his usual debonair elegance. ¡°All right,¡± he finally said. ¡°I¡¯ll have my friends make some inquiries for you.¡± Ethan wasn¡¯t nning to do that, of course. He only said it to get her to drop the matter, and then a few dayster, he would tell J that they had no leads about her savior¡¯s whereabouts. Just as he intended, J felt assured by his show of support, and didn¡¯t pursue the subject any further. In the middle of dinner, however, J put down her fork and turned serious all of a sudden. ¡°I¡¯m not sure why, but I feel like I¡¯ve been very lucky recently. I mean, why does someone always appear to rescue me every time I¡¯m in danger? Ethan, do you think I should buy a lottery ticket?¡± The corners of Ethan¡¯s lips lifted in amusement. He cleared his throat and casually pushed the sd bowl towards her. ¡°Who knows? Maybe you¡¯ve done a lot of good deeds in your previous life, and this is your reward.¡± The corners of Ethan¡¯s lips lifted in amusement. He cleared his throat and casually pushed the sd bowl towards her. ¡°Who knows? Maybe you¡¯ve done a lot of good deeds in your previous life, and this is your reward.¡± But J didn¡¯t resume eating. Instead, she leaned over and narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°Tell me, honestly. Did those things have anything to do with you?¡± Ethan¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He could feel his guilt showing on his face, but heposed himself in the next second. He racked his brains, but couldn¡¯t recall anything that could have exposed his involvement in everything rted to J¡¯s safety. Perhaps his wife was just inherently clever. Since she had found out the truth, anyway, he decided to exin everything once and for all. Ethan put his fork down and crossed his arms over his chest. ¡°How did you know?¡± he asked, cool as a cucumber. J cocked her head to the side and thought about it for a few seconds. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­ Ever since I married you, I¡¯ve always been fortunate in everything I got myself into. Whenever I encountered trouble at work or other things, the problems were always resolved quickly. It¡¯s obviously because of you.¡± Ethan blinked at her, realizing that she hadn¡¯t found out after all. Chuckling to himself, he picked up his fork and got back to his food. ¡°You¡¯re a very charming person. No matter where you are and who you meet, you¡¯re bound to be fortunate. I won¡¯t refuse your praise, though. If you say that I¡¯m the one who brought you good luck, then who am I to argue? But if that¡¯s the case, then shouldn¡¯t you be thanking me for the blessing?¡± At the back of J¡¯s mind, a voice was telling her that she had missed something. She wanted to discover what it was, but her thoughts were currently in a jumble, and she had no idea where to even begin. She then figured if she couldn¡¯t determine what it was, then it must be nothing important. There was no need to strain herself over something so trivial. After dismissing the voice in her head, J rolled her eyes and scoffed. ¡°I may have praised you, but I can¡¯t believe you really ran away with it and took it to another level. For your information, Ethan, you¡¯re also lucky to have married me. Extremely so.¡± He burst outughing. What she said did make a lot of sense. If he were really the dirt-poor nobody that he was pretending to be, then it would indeed be a great fortune to have married J. Of course, he considered himself lucky either way. J was a priceless treasure in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re right; I am lucky. I¡¯ve been married for half a year, and have been abstinent for just as long. I am so very lucky.¡± Ethan shed her a wicked grin, his eyes glinting with mischief. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. J almost fell into a daze before she caught herself. She ducked her head and focused on her food for the remainder of the meal. A few dayster, Laney was finally getting charged from the hospital¡ªagain. J had more insight this time. She called Garrett in advance and asked if he could go and pick up Laney. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll do it. By the way, Lind, would you like to have dinner together this evening? I booked a private room at a nice restaurant. You can bring your husband as well.¡± Although he had promised Laney a reward in the future, he felt that he should at least treat her to dinner to celebrate her recover. She had saved his life, after all. But he knew that they couldn¡¯t dine alone, especially not in public. He might not care about the rumor mill, but he couldn¡¯t say the same for Laney. ¡°Then, I shall take you up on your offer, Mr. Harding,¡± J said without a second thought. Chapter 358 Chapter 358 The ambiance of the restaurant was quaint yet beautiful. Bamboo trees lined up the path, interspersed with red flowering plums. The nts swayed with the gentle breeze, and the refreshing fragrance of bamboo and plum blossoms filled the air. It was a renowned Chinese restaurant that boasted a unique menu. People often came to the restaurant just to try its braised pork. Laney had stayed in the hospital for nearly a month. In the past month, she ate nothing but the nd hospital food provided for patients. Now, looking at the tempting, meaty dishes made her mouth water. Laney wasn¡¯t really a fan of meat, but today, she ate twice as much as she usually would. Garrett had never seen a woman gobble up food like that before. He had usually been with women from wealthy, noble families. And thosedies only ate a few bites to maintain their shape. A faint smile emerged on his face as he watched Laney hog down the food without having a care in the world. On the other hand, J was eating gracefully as Ethan ced one dish after the other on her te. ¡°Would you like to have another bite?¡± He would smile tenderly and ask her to taste the dishes. Only after J agreed would he fetch the food for her. Only after J agreed would he fetch the food for her. The four of them sat face to face. From afar, they looked like two sweet couples. J was chewing her food. As she looked up, her gaze met Garrett¡¯s, and realized he was trying to start a conversation with Laney. However, Laney gave perfunctory answers as if she had no interest in him. ¡°Mr. Harding is very articte,¡± J joked with a smile. She was familiar with Garrett now, so she had no inhibitions around him. She found that Garrett was capable of noticing people¡¯s emotions. He seemed kind and considerate, which made women fond of him. Garrett leaned back in his chair and looked at Laney from time to time. ¡°Miss Garcia saved my life. I am indebted to her. She is my savior.¡± J looked at him and smiled. She could sense there was definitely chemistry between Garrett and Laney. N?velDrama.Org content. However, she continued to eat without voicing her thoughts. Just then, the door of the restaurant flew open. A young girl sashayed in. She looked beautiful and energetic. Her angry gaze fell upon J before she turned to look at Garrett. Her jaw tightened, and she was a picture of pure rage. She strutted to their table and pointed at Garrett. ¡°Mr. Harding, you canceled your date with me saying you had something important to do. Is having dinner with another woman behind my back the important thing you were talking about?¡± ¡°Tracey, who told you I¡¯m here?¡± Garrett put down his chopsticks and frowned at her. Noticing that something was wrong, J quickly swallowed the food and tugged at Ethan¡¯s shirt. ¡°I think we¡¯d better leave. It¡¯s most likely that Mr. Harding had a fling with this woman. It looks like he is in trouble.¡± Garrett was her boss after all. It didn¡¯t seem right for her to sit there and watch another woman embarrass him. Ethan nodded and gave Garrett a quick nce before taking J to the bathroom. Laney also wanted to follow them, but she was sitting next to Garrett. The moment she stood up, Tracey pinned her back to her chair. ¡°Where do you want to go? You are not going anywhere, bitch! We need to talk this out today!¡± Chapter 359 Chapter 359 ¡°I don¡¯t need anyone to tell me about that! I¡¯ve already known that something was off about you since a long time ago!¡± Tracey crossed her arms, cast Laney a hostile nce, and scoffed. The way she looked at Laney was so judgmental. Laney swallowed, turned her head, and continued eating without responding. Since she wasn¡¯t allowed to leave, she figured it would be better to continue eating. Besides, she wasn¡¯t full yet. Garrett put down his chopsticks, and spoke in a patient manner. ¡°I think you misunderstood. This is my secretary. She saved my life a few days ago, and for that, she got injured. She¡¯s only just been discharged from the hospital today, so I figured I¡¯d take her here and treat her to a meal.¡± Tracey sneered while ncing at Laney. She then looked back at Garrett and asked, ¡°Your secretary? Do you think I¡¯m an idiot? A few days ago, I conducted an investigation. She may appear to be your secretary, but she hasn¡¯t done any real work that pertains to a secretary¡¯s job description. I think it¡¯s fairly obvious who she really is.¡± Having said that, Tracey looked exasperated. ¡°I¡¯ve never done anything wrong to you, Garrett! Why did you do this to me?¡± All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Garrett didn¡¯t know what to say at this point. Garrett didn¡¯t know what to say at this point. He couldn¡¯t tell Tracey who Laney really was, so he figured he should turn to Ethan for help. But when he nced around the table, he noticed that Ethan and J were nowhere to be found. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this here. We should talk about this once we¡¯re home, okay?¡± Garrett stood from his seat, grabbed Tracey¡¯s hand, and was about to leave the restaurant. However, Tracey was riled up again. ¡°Why can¡¯t we talk here, huh? Are you afraid that your little mistress will find out the truth?¡± She then nced at Laney and growled, ¡°You uneducated slut! Didn¡¯t your parents teach you not to seduce someone else¡¯s boyfriend?¡± Even Garrett found Tracey¡¯s words too harsh. He squeezed her hand and gently rebuked her. ¡°Tracey, y nice.¡± Laney had always been an upstanding person, and she¡¯d never been insulted like this. She stood up, wore a straight face, and said, ¡°Miss, I am not seducing Mr. Harding here. We¡¯re simply having a meal together. Besides, we weren¡¯t on our own! Our other colleagues were with us earlier.¡± Tracey red at her and grunted, ¡°Lie all you want; that¡¯s not going to help!¡± After saying that, she turned to Garrett and tugged on his sleeve. ¡°Garrett, since you say that there¡¯s nothing going on between you two, fire her if you want me to believe you!¡± Thetter shook his head, adjusted his sses, and put on a stern face. ¡°I can¡¯t just fire her! I don¡¯t even have the authority to do that.¡± This was something that he couldn¡¯t decide by himself. He still had to discuss it with Ethan first. Now, Tracey was even angrier than before. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be in a high position in the Larson Group and you can¡¯t even fire your own secretary? So, you really were lying just now, weren¡¯t you?¡± Right after she finished speaking, she overturned the table in anger. Laney was quick to react. She darted backwards to avoid getting hit. The tableware fell to the ground in an instant. The noise was so loud that it attracted the attention of the other guests dining here. Now, everyone was staring at them. Chapter 360 Chapter 360 Laney managed to duck away in time, however, Garrett wasn¡¯t able to. He stood there in aplete daze as the food sttered all over his tailored suit. He was usually very gentle and tolerant towards women, but when he saw Tracey throwing tantrums in public, it was hard for him not to get angry. Fortunately, he was a well-educated man and exhibited none of the anger he was feeling at the time. ¡°Tracey, people are dining here. Don¡¯t embarrass yourself as well as ruin their night.¡± After having said that, he went on to say in a calm voice, ¡°I¡¯ll never do anything that¡¯s against moral codes. You can make a scene if you want but don¡¯t do it in a public ce. Let¡¯s discuss some more about this after we get back, all right?¡± Noticing that he appeared angry, Tracey became timid and didn¡¯t say a word. Garrett grabbed hold of her hand and they proceeded to walk out of the restaurant together. Before he left, Garrett turned to look back at Laney and apologized, ¡°I need to head out now. Please let Ethan and J know that the restaurant damages and the meal will be on me.¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Afterward, he said after a moment of hesitation, ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had an unpleasant meal just now. I¡¯ll make it up to youter.¡± Watching his receding back, Laney didn¡¯t say a word. It was not until Garrett was gone did she start to help the staff clean up the mess. Laney kept her face devoid of expression, but she certainly felt stuffy in her chest. She didn¡¯t do anything wrong, but today, she was treated like a mistress and a slut. She yed the role as Garrett¡¯s secretary simply to stay close to J and protect her. She never wanted to get involved in Garrett¡¯s private life in the first ce. With that in mind, how could she sleep with him? But now, she was being called an ambitious slut who tried to sleep her way to the top, which was ridiculous. She didn¡¯t do anything wrong, but today, she was treated like a mistress and a slut. She yed the role as Garrett¡¯s secretary simply to stay close to J and protect her. She never wanted to get involved in Garrett¡¯s private life in the first ce. With that in mind, how could she sleep with him? But now, she was being called an ambitious slut who tried to sleep her way to the top, which was ridiculous. Ten minutester. Ethan proceeded to walk out of the bathroom holding J¡¯s hand in his. J walked slowly with her cheeks blushing and her lips swollen. After walking into the room and seeing that the waiters were cleaning up and that their table had been reced by a new one, Ethan furrowed his brows and asked, ¡°Was there a fight just now?¡± Looking at the oil stains all over the floor, J quickly walked to Laney and asked her, ¡°Were you hurt? You should have gone with me just now.¡± Earlier, before J could get a grasp on what was going on, she had been dragged into the bathroom by Ethan. Laney forced out a smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I think the meal has already ended. Let¡¯s head back.¡± Aftering back home, Laney mulled it over in her head for a while and sent a message to Ethan. She didn¡¯t want such misunderstandings to ur again in the future which was why she let Ethan know in the message that she did not want to continue working as Garrett¡¯s secretary anymore and asked him to find her another job with very little importance to do in the Larson Group. Anyway, what she really was here for was to protect J. At night, after J fell asleep, Ethan got Laney¡¯s message and decided to give Garrett a call. ¡°How are things right now?¡± This was the first time that Ethan had ever gone out of his way to ask about Garrett¡¯s private life. This was only because Ethan knew that he was the cause of the problem, so he thought he should bring it up. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I have handled the matter,¡± Garrett said in a calm and even tone. ¡°Since you¡¯ve got it handled, I want to have a chat with you about Laney. She sent me a text, saying that she wanted me to find her another position. She was concerned that your girlfriend would make a scene about her being your secretary again and cause unnecessary trouble for you and thepany. I thought I should discuss this matter with you first before I decide anything.¡± Ethan was silent for a few seconds before he said, ¡°I agree with what Laney said. There shouldn¡¯t be any more problems after we give her another job.¡± Hearing this, Garrett appeared a bit excited. ¡°You can¡¯t just go about things randomly. Tell her she has nothing to worry about. Tracey doesn¡¯t have enough trust in me. I have already broken up with her. Laney can continue working as my secretary. This job is the perfect undercover disguise for someone like her.¡± Chapter 361 Chapter 361 When Ethan had told Laney about Garrett¡¯s words, it made her feel wholly uneasy and unsettled. Instead of feelingforted, she was even more worried and restless than before. On the next day, and as a consequence of their chat, she looked utterly listless when she went to work. The instant Jid eyes on her, she sensed that something was amiss. ¡°Are you still thinking about what happened between Garrett and his girlfriend yesterday?¡± J asked tentatively, touching her arm gently. Laney didn¡¯t feel like there was any need to hide anything. ¡°I feel so ovee by guilt. I was the reason for their breakup.¡± For her entire employment as a bodyguard, she had never be entangled in any of her employers¡¯ private affairs, let alone used of being a slut. But Ethan was her boss, and she had no option but to follow his instructions. J didn¡¯t want to see her take all the me for what had transpired between the couple. She peered around before she whispered in Laney¡¯s ear, ¡°To be honest, I think Mr. Harding is partly to me. There was nothing between you two, and we all know that. But he has a reputation of being a yer, so even if it wasn¡¯t you, he would have been having a meal with another woman yesterday, and the same thing would have happened to that woman.¡± When Laney heard this rationale, she nodded. Even if she tried not to think about it now, she would inadvertently do so when she met Garrettter. After this incident, her impression of Garrett had be slightly marred. ¡®He is definitely a yboy. He dumped that woman so readily, which must mean he hasn¡¯t taken their rtionship seriously. No wonder he changes girlfriends so fast, like how some people change clothes,¡¯ she thought to herself. After this incident, her impression of Garrett had be slightly marred. ¡®He is definitely a yboy. He dumped that woman so readily, which must mean he hasn¡¯t taken their rtionship seriously. No wonder he changes girlfriends so fast, like how some people change clothes,¡¯ she thought to herself. After saying goodbye to J, she made her way to Garrett¡¯s office to work. In order not to look suspicious, she had begun to learn about her job as a secretary. She thought that at least she should look the part of a secretary. As soon as he entered the office, he saw Laney sorting through the documents and arranging his meeting schedules. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do all these things. Just leave them to my assistant to attend to,¡± he said. Garrett walked to Laney and tried to take the documents from her grasp, but she quickly dodged him with a nk expression on her face. Laney left with the documents in her hands and said in an icy tone, ¡°Mr. Harding, this forms part of my job as your secretary. Besides, please keep a distance from me from now on. Thank you.¡± She didn¡¯t want to stay in his presence a moment longer, so she turned on her heel and was about to leave. For no reason, Garrett felt annoyed. Laney¡¯s attitude towards him was now obviously colder and more removed than before. ¡°Don¡¯t mind what happened yesterday.¡± Garrett¡¯s voice came from behind Laney. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Laney looked sideways and frowned, ¡°Mr. Harding, you don¡¯t need to exin this to me. Your behavior now will only make others misunderstand the rtionship between us.¡± Laney looked sideways and frowned, ¡°Mr. Harding, you don¡¯t need to exin this to me. Your behavior now will only make others misunderstand the rtionship between us.¡± She then closed the office door, leaving him standing alone in the room. He didn¡¯t know how to exin the true situation to her, nor did he know why he actually wanted to exin it to her. She was just there to be J¡¯s bodyguard. Garrett took a seat in his chair in an irritable mood. He didn¡¯t even understand why he handled what had happened yesterday the way he did. Indeed, he liked to date young, energetic and beautiful women. Although he had never fallen in love with any of them, he was good at buttering women up and charming them. It was simply a misunderstanding and all he needed to do was to spend some time charming the pants off Tracey, which would be an easy task for him. With just a few new luxury bags, Tracey would forgive him. Moreover, he and Tracey had only been together for two months and there hadn¡¯t been many problems. Even if there were, they would be easy to solve. However, after they had got home and he tried to exin the situation to Tracey, she still wouldn¡¯t let it go. Somehow, he felt exhausted and soon lost his patience. That was when he really wanted to end things with her. Chapter 362 Chapter 362 Laney had been in a bad mood the entire week after the incident. J knew that she was still ming herself for the problem between Garrett and his girlfriend. Therefore, she nned to go shopping with Laney on Saturday to cheer her up. She bought some chicken nuggets from a shop on the street. It was a cold wintry day; the perfect season to enjoy hot, fried chicken. J put a chicken nugget into Laney¡¯s mouth. ¡°Stop sulking! It has been one whole week. Perhaps the misunderstanding between Garrett and his girlfriend is cleared by now. They might have gotten back together already.¡± After eating the nugget, Laney let out a weary sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. They have really broken up, you know.¡± J was taken aback. ¡°Even so, it¡¯s no big deal,¡± sheforted Laney. ¡°It was just a misunderstanding. None of it is your fault. Anyway, Garrett changes girlfriends faster than he changes his clothes. Perhaps he was just tired of his girlfriend again.¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Laney smiled but didn¡¯t say anything. She understood that J was trying to make her feel better. However, her words didn¡¯t seem to help. She had to figure this out herself. After shopping, they went to a scenic spot that had recently opened in Seasisco. J pointed at the lofty mountain and said, ¡°I heard on the news that the snow would rime the mountain, making it look like a huge ice cream cone.¡± She wanted to somehow make Laney feel better, and nothing better could uplift one¡¯s mood than the beauty of nature. She wanted to somehow make Laney feel better, and nothing better could uplift one¡¯s mood than the beauty of nature. Unexpectedly, a crew was filming there. As soon as they reached the foot of the mountain, they saw that people had gathered around to watch the shoot. J wasn¡¯t interested in celebrities. But if Laney liked them, she didn¡¯t mind joining her. ¡°Do you like stars?¡± ¡°I only like action movie stars.¡± Laney smiled. It seemed like they were shooting a soap opera. A huge crowd had gathered, and they couldn¡¯t squeeze their way inside. Atst, the two of them found a quiet ce by theke and sat down. Just as J wondered what to say to make Laney feel better, she heard someone call her name. ¡°J!¡± The voice sounded familiar. She turned around and saw a female star greeting her from a distance. As the woman walked closer, J recognized her. Emani¡¯s contract with the Larson Group had just expired. She was no longer the spokesperson of the Larson Group¡¯s clothing brand, which meant Emani didn¡¯t have to try being friends with J anymore. ¡°You just saw me. Why didn¡¯t youe and talk to me? Luckily, I have good eyesight, so I recognized you from afar.¡± Emani was wearing bright lip gloss. She smiled, revealing her pearly teeth that made her look kind and innocent. However, J was on guard. Emani was acting weird, and weird meant dangerous. The woman had never liked J. Why would she be so nice to her all of a sudden? Something seemed fishy. However, J was on guard. Emani was acting weird, and weird meant dangerous. The woman had never liked J. Why would she be so nice to her all of a sudden? Something seemed fishy. J had no intention of talking to Emani. However, a group of reporters and fans had already gathered around Emani, taking pictures. If J were rude or impolite, Emani¡¯s fans would wreck her life. ¡°There were too many people, so I didn¡¯t want to disturb you.¡± J smiled and turned to leave. However, Emani immediately grabbed J¡¯s hand and sat beside her as if they were great friends. ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other for a long time. How have you been? Have you gotten over what happened?¡± A frown lined J¡¯s forehead. ¡®What¡¯s wrong with her? Why is she asking such stupid questions? We don¡¯t even really know each other.¡¯ J felt Emani¡¯s grip on her hand tighten. ¡°I have been doing well. Let go of me first, Emani. You¡¯re hurting me.¡± J stood up, trying to withdraw her hand from Emani¡¯s hold. But before she even managed to exert any strength, Emani fell into theke. Chapter 363 Chapter 363 With a resounding slosh, theke water sshed in all directions from the impact. ¡°Emani!¡± J was wholly taken aback by the unexpected incident. The fans and reporters around were all bbergasted by what they had just witnessed. ¡°What happened?!¡± ¡°Everything was fine a moment ago! What happened?¡± Emani screamed and thrashed about in the water as she bellowed for help. ¡°Help! Somebody help! Please! Help me!¡± Several of her die-hard fans immediately rushed over and jumped into theke without a second¡¯s hesitation. They managed to grab hold of her by her arms and swim back to shore with her safely in tow. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. The crowd surged forward and surrounded them. One of the fans shouted with anxious urgency, ¡°Call an ambnce! Stop! Stop shooting!¡± Meanwhile, Laney sneered from the spot where she had remained seated. These people were really making a disproportionate deal of this. For crying out loud, it was a man-madeke. It was actually very shallow and people really couldn¡¯t drown in it. Further, Emani was over 5.5 ft tall. If she stood up, the water may not have been able to submerge her. However, had been bitterly cold for thest few days. It had snowed a few days ago and the temperature was still around zero degrees Celsius. Because of this, it had really been a traumatic ordeal for Emani. When Emani¡¯s fans took her to the shore, she was soaked to the bone. She was shivering with cold, and her face was pale. Her long, usually voluptuous and curly hair was stered t against her face. Her makeup was ruined, and she looked utterly haggard and miserable. When Emani¡¯s fans took her to the shore, she was soaked to the bone. She was shivering with cold, and her face was pale. Her long, usually voluptuous and curly hair was stered t against her face. Her makeup was ruined, and she looked utterly haggard and miserable. ¡°What happened?¡± Hearing the noise, Emani¡¯s assistant and the other crew members rushed over. The assistant quickly wrapped her with a nket and asked anxiously, ¡°Miss Gomez, what happened? How did you fall into theke all of a sudden?¡± Emani drew the nket tightly around herself and trembled, as if she was still in a state of shock. She kept shaking her head, and then looked through the crowd at J, who was standing beside theke. Emani looked hesitant, as if she wanted to say something but decided it best to keep mum. Someone in the crowd pointed at J and said, ¡°That woman pushed Emani on purpose!¡± Emani¡¯s assistant also turned to look at J. Emani¡¯s fans and the reporters also looked at her. After a few seconds, Emani said with an unnatural, slightly wry smile, ¡°I am fine now. Don¡¯t gather here. I should get back to work now. There¡¯s still a lot of work to be coveredter. Don¡¯t let me slow you down.¡± Her assistant rolled her eyes at J and pulled Emani to her feet carefully. Her assistant rolled her eyes at J and pulled Emani to her feet carefully. Emani¡¯s fans glowered at J with deep-seated contempt. ¡°You are so raw! You didn¡¯t even offer an apology.¡± ¡°Everyone saw it clearly. She pushed Emani.¡± ¡°Well, Emani is too kind-hearted. She decided to let it slide. We don¡¯t want to get Emani in trouble.¡± ¡°She did it just because she knew Emani wouldn¡¯t fight back!¡± The crowd all whispered under their breath and left theke area behind Emani. Watching them leave, J felt a little unsettled. ¡°Let¡¯s go back too,¡± Laney said, holding her arm and walking with her when she noticed how awkward she looked. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much of it. I know you didn¡¯t push her. ¡± ¡°But they all think I did it.¡± J felt wronged. She had the feeling that it hadn¡¯t been an ident at all and that Emani purposely threw herself into the water of her own volition. Emani didn¡¯t get along with J. In all likelihood, Emani did this to set her up and cast her in a bad light. Chapter 364 Chapter 364 Having heard Laney¡¯s remark, J forced herself not to dwell on it too much. Considering the fact that there were a lot of people here, she figured that at least half of them should¡¯ve seen that she didn¡¯t push Emani. Sadly, shepletely underestimated the power of Emani¡¯s fans to incite public opinion. Not only did they have bad eyesight, but they were also selectively blind. The next day, J went to a hairdresser to get a haircut. She felt that her bangs were getting too long, so she took Laney with her to a salon. The hairdresser was a handsome man in his early twenties. He had short spiky hair, and he was quite adept at ttery. ¡°This hairstyle suits you perfectly. Hold on a second. You¡¯re an actress, aren¡¯t you? I think I¡¯ve seen you somewhere before!¡± ¡°Has that pickup line ever worked for you?¡± J bantered. It was indeed an old pickup line. The next second, the hairdresser took out his phone, opened a video, and handed it to J. ¡°I¡¯m serious. Have a look at this! You look exactly the same. Is she your sister or something?¡± When J saw what was on the screen, she was taken aback. Someone had secretly taken a video of her and Emani by theke yesterday, and it had been posted online. J logged onto Twitter to read more about the news. After a few minutes, she had fully grasped the entire story. J logged onto Twitter to read more about the news. After a few minutes, she had fully grasped the entire story. There was an entertainment news report regarding Emani falling into the water while she was taking a break on the set. And now, she had caught a cold and had to stop filming. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Many fans were concerned about her health and left manyments regarding this matter. Most of them guessed that someone must¡¯ve pushed Emani into the water. The video showed that J and Emani were just sitting by the water at first. Without the intervention of outside force, one wouldn¡¯t easily fall into the water. When they took a closer look, they noticed that J moved her arm slightly. It was as if she was trying to break free of Emani¡¯s grip. Moreover, Emani¡¯s reaction during the situation was quite odd. If she didn¡¯t fall into the water by ident, the only reasonable exnation was that the person sitting beside her had pushed her into the water. And that person happened to be J. J scowled while reading through thements. She then checked Emani¡¯s page again. There, many fans had already left numerous impassionedments. ¡°Emani, everyone is waiting for you to recover! Tell us what happened. Shed light on the situation.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll always support you!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll always support you!¡± ¡°Did that woman shove you?¡± ¡°Who even was that woman? We should dox her!¡± ¡°Right. We should dox that bitch. I want to know what¡¯s going on between her and Emani. How dare she do something like that? I¡¯m gonna rip her head off!¡± However, Emani didn¡¯t provide any exnations. It was as if she had acquiesced to her fans¡¯ sentiments. At this point, J really wanted to speak up. Just then, she got a call from Gerda. ¡°Girl, have you seen the trending video on Twitter? The woman in the video looks like you,¡± Gerda said anxiously. ¡°It is me,¡± replied J. Surprised by the response, Gerda said, ¡°Seriously? I don¡¯t believe you¡¯d do something like that!¡± She was one of Emani¡¯s fans. There was a time when she was so enamored by her looks. She had even joined her fan club, so she could hear firsthand news on Emani. Gerda took a deep breath and said to J, ¡°You should be careful. I saw some of Emani¡¯s fans discussing something in the fan club¡¯s group chat. They said that they intend to dox you!¡± Chapter 365 Chapter 365 Clenching her teeth tightly, J said, ¡°There¡¯s more to the story than what¡¯s on the video.¡± ¡°I believe you. But Emani just so happened to be a popr actress who had starred in several hot trending TV shows. Now she has a huge following. Also, most of her fans are young and radical. This means the cards are stacked against you. There are very few people who would believe your story.¡± Gerda let out a long sigh. She paid a lot of attention to what people were gossiping about in the entertainment circle. She knew firsthand that many stars liked to incite their fans on purpose in order to fight their battles. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. It was not shocking at all to see these tricks in the trade, but she felt that it was a little off that someone would use this to deal with a nonentity like J. ¡°I want to rify this matter on Twitter.¡± J wasn¡¯t willing to give up without a fight. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you. Now, what those fans are trying to do is dox you and dig up any dirt they can find on you. If you show them your Twitter ount, they¡¯ll hunt you down and make your life a living hell!¡± Gerda eximed in a loud voice. After a few seconds of silence, she finally said, ¡°J, you have no idea how serious the situation really is.¡± Gerda¡¯s meaningful silence told J that there was more to this matter than just the video and reports. After hanging up the phone call, Gerda sent over a bunch of screenshots and messages to J. ¡°The fans are discussing this here. They have uncovered a ton of things about Emani and you.¡± ¡°The fans are discussing this here. They have uncovered a ton of things about Emani and you.¡± One of the things about the Inte was that anything that happened there left behind traces. J swiped her phone screen to see what Gerda had sent her. Emani¡¯s fans had done some investigating and found out what had happened to her and Emani at the ball ¨C that she and Emani had on the same dress, but she had refused to change her outfit, going on to embarrass Emani in public. Other than that, they also discovered that she had gone out of her way to humiliate Emani in the jewelry store. From the fan¡¯s perspective, this was all J¡¯s fault. Emani was the innocent victim here. They also discovered that J was one of the designers at the Larson Group. So they easily came to the conclusion that she must¡¯ve been picking on Emani at her job, and that must be the reason why the Larson Group did not renew their contract with Emani. Of course, these were all groundless rumors. Altogether, J believed that the gossip was too ridiculous and illogical. She was only an ordinary designer. How could her words have any weight on Emani¡¯s contract? As time passed by, more and more of J¡¯s personal information was exposed to the public. The type of things being discussed included her family background, the conflict between her and the Lind family, and the vicious rumor that she had sex with a senior partner of the Larson Group. These rumors and nders circted on the Inte and before long, they became viral. These rumors and nders circted on the Inte and before long, they became viral. Theizens who had no idea about the truth all thought that J had been a scheming bitch her entire life. Even someizens who initially were neutral came to believe these baseless rumors and joined those fans opposing her to criticize her. The more J watched behind the scenes, the more restless she got. After that, she reopened the chat history Gerda had sent her. ¡°She¡¯s really so ungrateful. She actually sent her foster parents to prison. This fact alone is really chilling.¡± ¡°I can hardly believe it. This kind of thing is actually happening in our time and age. Sure enough, bad people everywhere are all heartless creatures. I can see that J is a born bitch.¡± ¡°This woman deserves to die a painful and lonely death. It¡¯s been rumored that she has had an affair with a senior partner of the Larson Group. She¡¯s a perfect example of someone using her body to get her way to the top.¡± ¡°Do you have any clue where she lives?¡± The chat was filled with nder and abuse toward J. Noticing J¡¯s extremely pale face, Laney took her phone away and said in a serious voice, ¡°Don¡¯t look at or listen to those people. We can¡¯t do anything about them now. They¡¯re just brainless automatons out to get you. You don¡¯t need to pay any attention to them.¡± Chapter 366 Chapter 366 J had been treated unfairly ever since she was a child. But, not once in her life had she ever been ndered by so many people at once. The maliciousments online made her furious. She had to take several deep breaths before she managed to calm down. ¡°I know what to do. There¡¯s no need to argue with people like them. They¡¯re biased and paranoid. Besides, I¡¯m not the kind of person they think I am. If I were to break down and argue with them, Emani would be thrilled.¡± Despite looking gentle and timid, J had grown to be a strong woman because of all the hardships she had gone through since she was a child. ¡°We should go home as soon as possible. Brainless fans like them are capable of all sorts of crazy stuff. It¡¯s not safe for you to stay outside.¡± Laney happened to read some of thements online just now. It was difficult for good people to triumph over evil ones, because thetter had no morality whatsoever. Once their haircuts were finished, J and Laney left the salon in a hurry. The shopping mall was crowded. While J was walking with her head down, someone recognized her. ¡°J Lind?¡± the person eximed from behind her. ¡°J Lind?¡± the person eximed from behind her. ¡°Don¡¯t look back.¡± Laney sensed that something was amiss. She wanted to stop J, but it was all too late. J looked back instinctively and saw that several girls that were behind them rushed over and stopped in front of them. ¡°Humph! It really is J Lind. How dare youe out on the streets, you bitch?¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. The girl was holding a poster of Emani, which only meant that she was one of Emani¡¯s diehard fans. Six seventeen-year-old girls were now surrounding Laney and J. They pointed at the twodies and shouted, ¡°Apologize to Emani, bitch!¡± ¡°We should push you into theke and make you feel just how cold it is to be soaked in ice-cold water!¡± ¡°Emani caught a cold and was sent to the hospital, while here you are, shopping with not a care in the world. Don¡¯t you have a heart? Don¡¯t you feel even a little bit guilty? You deserved to be abandoned by your parents, you jinx!¡± ¡°Get the hell out of our way and talk shit somewhere else!¡± Laney stood in front of J with a stern look. With her strength, she could easily kick these little bitches¡¯ asses. But right now, J¡¯s reputation was already at rock bottom. If word got out that they hit Emani¡¯s fans, it could get even worse and things would be even harder to clear out. With her strength, she could easily kick these little bitches¡¯ asses. But right now, J¡¯s reputation was already at rock bottom. If word got out that they hit Emani¡¯s fans, it could get even worse and things would be even harder to clear out. ¡°You think you can just run away after what you¡¯ve done? Hell no! Call them over, Jane! We¡¯re going to avenge Emani today!¡± one of the resentful fans said. The other girl took out her phone and began to make phone calls. Fearing that it would be harder for them to escape once the girls¡¯ friends arrived, Laney grabbed J¡¯s hand, intending to take her away. However, the other girls blocked their path and made phone calls. In just a few minutes, J and Laney were surrounded by more of Emani¡¯s rabid fans. ¡°Sisters! Those are the two demons who pushed Emani down theke! Don¡¯t let them get away!¡± Laney swept her eyes across the crowd and clenched her fists. ¡®If I don¡¯t make a move now, we might not be able to escape this ce unscathed!¡± Chapter 367 Chapter 367 ¡°Don¡¯t act as though we¡¯re the bad guys here. Emani is still in the hospital. She¡¯s such a kind-hearted woman! How could she ever offend you?¡± a girl said loudly, ring at J. Right after she spoke, the fans grew more emboldened and agitated. ¡°Yeah! Emani never hurt you before, you bitch!¡± ¡°No wonder your parents deserted you! I heard that you even put your foster mother in prison! What an ungrateful child! Sisters, let¡¯s bring Emani justice today!¡± From the very beginning, J had lowered her head and didn¡¯t dare to provoke them. She didn¡¯t want any trouble and thought that she could put up with this. However, she didn¡¯t expect that the girls would bring up her family. ¡°You don¡¯t know what really happened. I¡¯ve never hurt Emani.¡± Finally, she raised her head and confronted them head on. However, these fans were like rabid dogs. One of them even threw an egg at J, cursing, ¡°You fucking bitch! You still won¡¯t admit to your crimes?¡± ¡°Beat her! Sisters, somebody needs to teach this bitch a lesson!¡± N?velDrama.Org content. ¡°Why are you acting like the victim? Do you think you can talk your way out of this?¡± Before J could defend herself, the crazy fans threw more eggs at her face. Someone even shoved her from behind. Unable to bear it any longer, Laney snapped impatiently, ¡°Can¡¯t you talk like decent human beings? You don¡¯t have to resort to violence!¡± ¡°What¡¯re you saying? She can push Emani into ake and we can¡¯t hit her? Looks like this bitch¡¯s friend is also a bitch!¡± ¡°What¡¯re you saying? She can push Emani into ake and we can¡¯t hit her? Looks like this bitch¡¯s friend is also a bitch!¡± ¡°Enough with the bullshit! Beat the crap out of them already!¡± Chaos ensued. The angry mob kept throwing whatever they had at J. J and Laney were definitely outnumbered and there was no way for Laney to protect J well while fighting their way out. What with all the projectiles being thrown at them, they didn¡¯t have the chance to call Ethan. As the two women were anxiously trying to escape, several security guards showed up. ¡°Enough! You¡¯re in a shopping mall. If you have any personal problems, solve them outside!¡± The security guards began to forcibly evacuate the crazy fans. Before Laney and J could make their escape, one of the security guards singled them out and took them to the mall¡¯s administrative office. Still shocked from what happened, J followed the security guards in a daze and didn¡¯t even bother to wipe the eggs in her hair. ¡°What on earth happened?¡± The man¡¯s voice sounded familiar. She looked up in surprise. Sure enough, it was Kent. Seeing the shocked expression on J¡¯s face, Kent couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. The woman before him looked so goofy at the moment. Removing the egg shells from her hair, he asked, ¡°Why are you so surprised?¡± Seeing the shocked expression on J¡¯s face, Kent couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. The woman before him looked so goofy at the moment. Removing the egg shells from her hair, he asked, ¡°Why are you so surprised?¡± When J finally gathered her bearings, she turned her face away and murmured, ¡°Thanks.¡± Kent threw the pieces of egg shells on the ground and frowned with disgust. While wiping his fingers carefully with a handkerchief, he teased, ¡°You¡¯re always getting into trouble, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Why are you here?¡± J answered his question with another. ¡°I own this shopping mall. I came here today on a routine inspection and I happened to see you being besieged by those girls, silly.¡± As Kent spoke, there was a trace of affection in his eyes, which he himself didn¡¯t notice. Knowing that J didn¡¯t like him and didn¡¯t want to spend any more time talking to him, Kent pointed to an exit and said, ¡°You can leave through there instead of the front. Emani¡¯s fans might be outside waiting for you.¡± Staring at the exit, J felt somewhat uneasy. She reached for Laney¡¯s hand and turned to leave. Just before she pushed the door open, she looked back hesitantly and mumbled, ¡°Thanks, Kent. I owe you one.¡± Chapter 368 Chapter 368 Kent turned to look at J¡¯s delicate face. She wasn¡¯t the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, but there was something about her eyes that made her stand out. What was it about her that obsessed him? J saw Kent looking at her steadily, as though he was thinking about something. She couldn¡¯t understand what that look meant, but she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little ufortable, what with Kent¡¯s eyes being glued to her. Unable to hold his gaze any longer, she raised her voice and asked awkwardly, ¡°Did you hear me?¡± Her question brought Kent back to his senses. He felt as though he was going insane. Recently, he hadn¡¯t been himself. He wasn¡¯t exactly sick, but he had been feeling listless until he saw J. He didn¡¯t know how long it had been since he hadst been with a woman. Ever since he met J, he hadn¡¯t even looked at another woman. At first, he thought it was because he couldn¡¯t get J to fall in love with him that he felt drawn to her, prohibiting him from moving on to the next woman. He didn¡¯t want things to be like this. Wasn¡¯t it better to keep ying the game than tomit to one woman who didn¡¯t even like him? Wanting to go back to his old self, he started going to all kinds of clubs and bars, but something felt different. Wanting to go back to his old self, he started going to all kinds of clubs and bars, but something felt different. Kent hadn¡¯t noticed it at first until one of his friends made a casualment about it. ¡°So, Kent, when did you change your type?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kent looked at him in confusion. ¡°You like young and innocent girls with big, bright eyes now! That wasn¡¯t your type before.¡± As if waking up from a dream, Kent blinked and stared at the woman in his arms carefully. After a moment¡¯s pause, Kent had to down a bottle of wine. Since then, he had been having trouble getting J off his mind. The harder he tried, the more stuck he was. One day, he had one bottle too many. It suddenly urred to his drunk self that a friend of his had once predicted that he¡¯d be in love with someone who didn¡¯t love him back, and that was the price he had to pay for breaking too many girls¡¯ hearts. Now, his friend¡¯s prediction hade true. Now, his friend¡¯s prediction hade true. ¡°Of course you owe me one¡ªa big one, at that. Since you brought it up, you should start thinking about how you can repay me. How about more than just a dinner this time?¡± Kent smiled at J gently. However, this only made J feel even more ufortable. The look in Kent¡¯s eyes was so strangely affectionate. Rubbing the goose bumps on her arms, she skirted around the topic and said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about itter. We have to go now. You don¡¯t want Emani¡¯s crazy fans to keep waiting at the gate, do you?¡± All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Be careful,¡± Kent said politely. His affectionate tone sent a shiver down J¡¯s spine. She hurried out, Laney in tow. The exit led to a back alley behind the shopping mall. After they made it to the street, they hailed a taxi and went straight home. A mob of reporters and Emani¡¯s fans were blocking the entrance to their neighborhood. The fans held up cards as though they were in a rally. ¡°J, you bitch!¡± ¡°Come out and apologize!¡± Chapter 369 Chapter 369 J and Laney hid in a convenience store near the neighborhood. J popped her head out to sneak a look at what was going on outside. The gate waspletely blocked. Not even a fly would be able to sneak past without getting caught. ¡°I think I underestimated the Inte. I had no idea those brainless fans would find your address so soon.¡± Laney frowned. She wished they could force their way in. She was skilled atbat, and she knew she could defeat all of them in minutes. J bit her lower lip in frustration. Just as she was about to say something, however, her phone buzzed in her bag. The worry on her face melted away when she saw the caller ID. ¡°Ethan,¡± she said, with relief in her voice. ¡°I noticed you downstairs. Take the path behind the store. I¡¯ve told the security guards to open another door for you.¡± From where he was upstairs, Ethan parted the curtain and watched what was going on downstairs. J did as he suggested and headed towards the back of the store. Thankfully there was no one there. Dragging Laney behind her, she rushed through the back gate quickly. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t take the elevator since you might bump into someone. The stairs are safer,¡± Ethan reminded her over the phone. With an obedient nod, J started climbing the stairs. She dropped Laney off on her floor and continued on her way up. By the time she reached the 22nd floor, she was out of breath. She headed to her apartment and the door opened from the inside before she could knock. Ethan nced around behind her to make sure she wasn¡¯t followed before dragging her in. She headed to her apartment and the door opened from the inside before she could knock. Ethan nced around behind her to make sure she wasn¡¯t followed before dragging her in. ¡°What on earth happened to you?¡± A frown scrunched up Ethan¡¯s face as he looked at the messy state her clothes were in. ¡°I identally bumped into someone and their eggs went all over me. Why didn¡¯t you go to work today?¡± J gave a tired smile. ¡°Today is Sunday. Did you forget?¡± Ethan said, looking down at her. J did forget. Her mind was still disorganized after dealing with those brainless fans outside. ¡°Right. Anyway, I need to take a shower.¡± She was stinking. ¡°I saw the video and the posts on Twitter.¡± Ethan walked over to help her take off her coat, then headed to the bathroom to prepare the hot water for her. ¡°You should take a shower first. Let¡¯s talk when you¡¯re done.¡± N?velDrama.Org content. He was being so calm and gentle. It was strange. J gave a meek nod. She was exhausted and needed a rxing shower. She came out of the bathroom to the smell of delicious food in the living room. Ethan who was wearing an apron looked so domesticated and sweet as he set dishes on the table. ¡°Come, let¡¯s eat,¡± he said. ¡°I don¡¯t really feel like eating right now¡­¡± J said softly as she wiped her hair, looking depressed. ¡°I already know about how you were abused by Emani¡¯s fans. Refusing to eat won¡¯t get you anything except for a stomach ache.¡± Ethan said, putting the te in front of her. ¡°Sit and eat.¡± After a few seconds of initial hesitation, J pulled out a chair and sat down. She only managed to get a few mouthfuls of food down before tears welled up in her eyes. She said in a weepy voice, ¡°I didn¡¯t do it.¡± After a few seconds of initial hesitation, J pulled out a chair and sat down. She only managed to get a few mouthfuls of food down before tears welled up in her eyes. She said in a weepy voice, ¡°I didn¡¯t do it.¡± It was only in front of Ethan that she stopped pretending to be tough. She had been really scared. When Emani¡¯s fans attacked her, she really wanted to cry but tried her best to hold her tears back. ¡°If this goes on, I wouldn¡¯t be able to live a normal life. Gerda called me today, and I¡¯m sure everyone in thepany knows about it already. I think I¡¯m going to take a day off tomorrow.¡± J was at war with a veryrge group of unreasonable people. She tried exining to Emani¡¯s fans today, but no one listened to her. They had been instigated and didn¡¯t care what she had to say. They only believed what they wanted to believe. Ethan¡¯s eyes darkened as he thought of the situation. ¡°Take two days off for now. You should stay at home since it¡¯s safer here.¡± ******* J asked for a leave, and Tiffany approved it quickly. Ethan didn¡¯t go to work either. He stayed at home with J and kept her off the Inte. He didn¡¯t want her to see the negativements since they would only make her more depressed. Chapter 370 Chapter 370 Emani was browsing Twitter at her residence to check thetest news. She was stretching and yawning in the meantime as if she didn¡¯t have a care in the world. In fact, she was not sick. She had eaten well, slept peacefully, and wasn¡¯t suffering from any ailment. She had asked for leave and abstained from going to the shooting site just to manipte public opinion. ¡°Emani, J ispletely doomed now.¡± Emani¡¯s assistant handed the iPad to her with a smile. A piece of a thin cucumber slice she had kept on her face as a skin care mask fell down. She casually tossed it into her mouth and read the news on the iPad as a smug smile emerged on her face. ¡°She deserves it!¡± The assistant felt relieved. Seeing Emani wandering in the living room in a sleeveless dress, she advised, ¡°Emani, you better go back to your bedroom. I heard the paparazzi are waiting outside your house. If they see you wandering in the living room, looking agile, they would make a fuss.¡± Emani grew vignt. She immediately picked up her coat and put it on. ¡°I have no more work for you here. You can go back now. I¡¯ll contact you if something happens. And I don¡¯t think we need to do anything about public opinion on the Inte for now. Just tell everyone that I have a high fever and am hospitalized.¡± With that, Emani hurried upstairs and returned to her bedroom. ¡°Great!¡± Emani was grinning from ear to ear. She was happy to hear that everyone disliked J. She had to thank Ritchie Lester of Lester Silk Fabric for this. Otherwise, a trivial problem like this wouldn¡¯t have blown out of proportion this way. She had to thank Ritchie Lester of Lester Silk Fabric for this. Otherwise, a trivial problem like this wouldn¡¯t have blown out of proportion this way. Not long after she met J in the jewelry storest time, her contract with the Larson Group expired. She had thought they would renew the contract. After all, she was now a popr star in the entertainment circle. Manypanies wanted to sign her as the spokesperson. Unexpectedly, the Larson Group decided not to renew the contract with her. They gave a vague reason that she was not suitable to be the spokesperson of the Larson Group¡¯s clothing brand. Emani was upset when she heard it. After all, it was the biggest humiliation of her life. Besides, she had refused to coborate with otherpanies, stating she would renew the contract with the Larson Group. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. A popr actress like her was always the target ofpetition. She didn¡¯t expect the Larson Group wouldn¡¯t want to renew the contract with her. It was no different from kicking her out. After terminating the contract with the Larson Group, Emani listened to her agent¡¯s advice and signed a contract with Lester Silk Fabric. On the day of signing the contract, Emani saw Ritchie and talked with him. Both of them mentioned J. That was when she knew Ritchie also had a grudge against her nemesis. People with the same enemies were likely to be allies. Ritchie and Emani then cooperated in a tacit understanding. Emani had some scruples before. She had seen the blue diamond ring on J¡¯s finger in the shopping mallst time and suspected that J had a powerful background. Emani had some scruples before. She had seen the blue diamond ring on J¡¯s finger in the shopping mallst time and suspected that J had a powerful background. After talking to Ritchie, she learned that J¡¯s husband, Ethan, was a member of the Larson family. Although the Larson family had copsed, it was customary for them to keep their family heirlooms. Therefore, Emani felt relieved. She had thought that J had some special identity or backer to own such precious jewelry as ¡°the Ocean¡±. After knowing the truth, her attitude towards J changed into disdain and contempt. Back then, Ritchie had probably figured out what she was thinking. He also implied she could take advantage of her huge fan following to deal with J. That way, she would be safe and cause more damage to J¡¯s reputation. In return, Ritchie promised to give her the best resources and make her more famous. Emani thought for a while and agreed. She decided to wait for the right time and opportunity. After all, the Lester family was powerful. She could make steady profits without losing anything. Emani believed even God was helping her. The other day, she saw J from afar when they were filming. Emani came up with a n and fell into the water, making it seem like J had pushed her. Chapter 371 Chapter 371 It was already quitete into the night when Emani woke up from her nap. She picked up her phone, squinting her eyes, and logged into her Twitter. The discussion about the incident on the Inte was getting more and more intense. It would be strange if she still didn¡¯t say anything after everyone kept urging her to say something. Perhaps she could try to win everyone¡¯s pity by iming that she hadn¡¯t been able to sleep because of her worries. She organized her thoughts and put them into words before posting an official response. ¡°Dear fans, I am truly sorry for taking so long to speak up and say something. I haven¡¯t been able to come online and respond to your requests as I have spent the past two days in bed being ill. I met Miss J Lind when I was the spokesperson of the Larson Group¡¯s clothing brand. I liked her immediately and hoped to be friends with her. As for what happened the other day by theke, I believe she didn¡¯t really mean it. I hope that everyone will stop attacking her.¡± It seemed on the surface that she was speaking for J, but in fact, she not only made it clear that it was J who pushed her into the water, but also implied that she had been friendly and nice to J. She was trying to imply two messages. For one, J had a problem with her, so she pushed her into theke. For another, she wanted everyone to think that she couldn¡¯t respond sooner because she was too sick to surf the Inte. Emani¡¯s post instantly infuriated theizens. Many fans were swift toment and hurl curses at J. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Emani¡¯s post instantly infuriated theizens. Many fans were swift toment and hurl curses at J. ¡°Emani, please take care of yourself and don¡¯t wear yourself out because of that bitch.¡± ¡°You are too kind, E. Talking about her will only give her more attention. I bet she¡¯s proud of what she¡¯s done to you.¡± ¡°E, you are the nicest person ever. How could that bitch treat you like that?¡± Emani replied to thesements one by one. Lo and behold, she seeded in winning everyone¡¯s sympathy. As a star, she knew well what fans could do and that cyber-bullying could destroy a person. Just ten minutester, her post started to trend on every social media tform on the Inte. Emani switched to another ount with a different username and kept riling up her fans. At this time, she received a call from Ritchie. ¡°Miss Gomez, I am impressed. Slinging mud at J even in such ate hour,¡± Ritchie said, snorting in derision. Judging from the music ying in the background, Emani guessed that he was in some club. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not doing anything she doesn¡¯t deserve. She put her foster mom in jail and cheated on her husband with a CEO. This is her retribution,¡± Emani said calmly. The fact that she was destroying someone¡¯s life didn¡¯t seem like a big deal to her at all. J¡¯s reputation got dragged through the mud now that the news was spreading like wildfire. In truth, although Emani wasn¡¯t a big fan of J, she didn¡¯t really have that much against her either. She did what she did just to use J to curry favor with Ritchie. In truth, although Emani wasn¡¯t a big fan of J, she didn¡¯t really have that much against her either. She did what she did just to use J to curry favor with Ritchie. ¡°Mr. Lester, do you have any nster on? I am all yours.¡± Emani smiled, whispering in a seductive voice. Emani got to this from an oblivious actress, so she knew well how things worked in the industry. With a ss of wine in his hand, Ritchie chuckled yfully. He always had a soft spot for women who were obedient. With a domineering voice, he said, ¡°You are doing a good job now.¡± In truth, he was quite impressed with what Emani had managed to do till now, so he encouraged her. ¡°I have been friends with Director Hinks for many years. Apparently, he¡¯s been looking for someone to y the lead actress in his new movie. I will rmend you to him.¡± Marion Hinks was a well-known director in the film industry, whose movies boasted a considerable roster of world-famous movie stars. Emani¡¯s voice rose with excitement. ¡°Really? Thank you so much, Mr. Lester!¡± Ritchie hung up the phone with a smile. Emani waspletely immersed in joy. Just then, her agent opened the door from the outside and came into her room in a hurry, seemingly frightened. ¡°Something horrible has happened! Wait! Why are you stillughing? Chapter 372 Chapter 372 The smile on Emani¡¯s face hadn¡¯t disappeared in the slightest bit. She was even imagining how she would receive the prize for best actress of the year at an International Film Festival. ¡°What happened? Calm down.¡± Emani said, as she casuallyy across the bed. ¡°Why are you still lying there?! Get up and put on your clothes. Are you aware that thepany has already started an emergency PR meeting?¡± The agent¡¯s face turned bright crimson with rage. She pulled Emani to sit up in the bed and with a roar, she said, ¡°Why are you so dumb? Why couldn¡¯t you just sleep at night, like a normal person? Why did you have to post thatment and cause trouble for everyone?¡± ¡°What are you going on about?¡± Emani enquired with utter confusion. ¡°What¡¯s going on? I did post a tweet just now, but it was a great one, wasn¡¯t it? The fans are angrier at that bitch than ever now.¡± Her agent was pacing around the room anxiously. ¡°It¡¯s not about that. The fans might not be able to see what you were trying to do, but Kirby Wilde, that paparazzo, was somehow irked by what you had posted. In response, he¡¯s been posting all the bad news about you and they¡¯ve all gone viral now!¡± Emani was dumbstruck. She quickly lifted the covers off herself and jumped off the bed to her feet. ¡°Let me see!¡± The smile on Emani¡¯s face hadn¡¯t disappeared in the slightest bit. She was even imagining how she would receive the prize for best actress of the year at an International Film Festival. The agent flung the phone in front of her and said, ¡°Well, see for yourself! I have told you time and time again to behave yourself. Why can¡¯t you be more sensible? You have executed a myriad of atrocious deed and we spent copious amounts of time and money covering it up. You should have been very careful after all we¡¯ve had to do! Why do you have to make trouble for everyone?¡± Emani hurriedly clicked on Kirby¡¯s post to see for herself. In the article, Kirby specifically pointed out Emani¡¯s intention in posting what she had said to paint herself as the victim and the other woman the vicious bitch. Kirby also implied that Emani had probably devised this n and purposely put on this show. He also exposed the fact that Emani had been sleeping with men to secure roles in ys, as well as bullying other actresses. There were other extensive details of her misdeeds. There were even pictures and videos to prove it. ¡°How did he get his hands on such foolproof evidence?¡± Emani was so flustered that her voice was trembling with anxiety. With a frigid look, the agent said, ¡°He has been a paparazzo for years. You should know his reputation of having brought down several A-listers to their knees. If he resolves to take someone down, he ensures he gets solid, irrefutable evidence so that the person will never be able to get back up again.¡± Emani felt as if she had been struck by a bolt of lightning. She stumbled backwards to the bed, her face ghastly pale. Her phone rang endlessly. Her agent¡¯s phone was also incessantly bombarded with call after call. Each call was from a different one of their business partners, cancelling their endorsements and contracts with Emani. The agent shook her phone at Emani and said, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen an actress as stupid as you. Look at how many people are calling me. I was called and informed on my way here that all the brands that have endorsement deals with you want to cancel the contracts and sue you for damages for their losses! Emani, you have ruined your own career! You have no one else to me!¡± The agent was so overwhelmed by the calls that she was filled with frustration and had to just turn off her phone.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. It finally dawned upon Emani the facts of the matter when she heard her agent¡¯s words. Flustered, she held a corner of her agent¡¯s clothes and asked pathetically with sobs, ¡°Ruby, what should we do now?¡± Chapter 373 Chapter 373 Ruby, her agent, was also utterly flustered and said, ¡°It¡¯s what you should you do now! There is an endless flow of neers into the industry and they are either apt at acting or very attractive. After you are gone, I will be assigned to someone new. To put it bluntly, you are receable.¡± Emani was terrified by her words. Tears filled her eyes to the brim and threatened to overflow down her cheeks. ¡°Ruby, you can¡¯t just give up on me like this, and leave me high and dry. You have been my agent since I came into the industry!¡± What Ruby had said was just her anger talking in the heat of the moment. Emani could be remarkably stupid sometimes. She had been in the entertainment industry for so many years, but she still didn¡¯t understand how things worked. If no one had anything on her, then it never would have got to this point. However, she had done so many horrible and dumb things, and her colleagues in the industry were privy to it. It was just that they all had their own secrets, so no one bothered to expose hers. Kirby was a famous paparazzo and he knew exactly what kind of person Emani was. He easily figured out the intention of her post tonight and decided to do something about it. Although Ruby said that she was going to give up on Emani, she still felt sorry for her plight. After all, Emani had gone through a lot. She would have made an A-lister if she worked hard and starred in a few more movies. But now¡­ Ruby, her agent, was also utterly flustered and said, ¡°It¡¯s what you should you do now! There is an endless flow of neers into the industry and they are either apt at acting or very attractive. After you are gone, I will be assigned to someone new. ¡°Well, wipe away your tears. Every star has their own secrets that the public don¡¯t know of. Let¡¯s try to get past this phase first before we do anything else,¡± Ruby said icily and walked out of the room. Emani was left all to herself in the room. She sat on the bed in a state ofplete desperation. She took out her phone and logged onto her Twitter profile again, but this time, she was in a totally different mood. Under Kirby¡¯s posts, she saw severalments that were cursing her. ¡°I have long thought that Emani is a terrible person. She¡¯s just a scheming bitch; how dare she act like she was a victim here? You know, there had been numerous pictures of her sleeping with different directors. I heard that one of the directors¡¯ wives was pregnant when her husband cheated on her with Emani, and the wifemitted suicide!¡± ¡°Kirby never lies. He always has evidence for anything he says. He has been a paparazzo for years, and he must know something we don¡¯t. Why else would he take J¡¯s side out of nowhere? This whole thing must be Emani¡¯s plot!¡± ¡°Wow, Emani is so vicious. She used her fans to attack an innocent woman. How could she resort to such a dirty trick? It¡¯s disgusting!¡± Someizens who had been on her side began to turn against her because of the proof they had seen. Moreover, a lot of her fans had dered that they would stop following her. ¡°I¡¯m no longer her fan now. She¡¯s beautiful, but she¡¯s a terrible excuse for a human being.¡± ¡°We have been cursing J Lind for your sake! It turns out you have been using us! You bitch!¡± When Emani saw these hatefulments, she was so infuriated that she snapped in the room, and screamed shrilly, ¡°You psychos. I have never asked you to do anything! It¡¯s none of my business what you decide to do!¡± After cursing, she immediately paid some people to put in good words for her on the Inte. But her tactic didn¡¯t work. This had gone viral across the Inte. Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. The next morning, herpany sent a car to pick her up to take her to their offices. Emani had stayed up all night from the sheer stress of the situation. There were dark circles under her eyes. ¡°I was wronged. The news Kirby revealed was mostly made up by him!¡± Emani still wanted to defend herself. The PR manager didn¡¯t believe a single word she uttered. They had been working all throughst night trying to do damage control so that they could make the topic about Emani subside. However, many people who had been hurt by Emani in the past also took the opportunity to take a stand and speak out against her. It was then when the PR department realized that this might not just be a coincidence. Emani might have offended some big shot, who was taking revenge on her. After all, why else would all the people she ever bullied just appear online to point fingers at her overnight ? Chapter 374 Chapter 374 After the PR department weighed both the pros and cons, they discovered that Emani was in a fix and that it would be hard to get her out of this situation. Since she had offended someone higher-up, it was not worth it to have the entirepany go down with her. Even though she was a popr actress now, they had no other choice but to let her go. Furthermore, neers came into the industry every day. They could always cultivate a brand-new star after her. Thepany had given their final decision to Ruby, who was Emani¡¯s agent. ¡°Ruby, did you hear from them yet? What did they say? Just say the word and I¡¯ll hold a press conference to rify the whole matter.¡± Emani¡¯s eyes were still swollen from all the crying. Ruby let out a long sigh. ¡°You¡¯re in a lot of trouble now. Everyone is talking about you. After careful discussion, thepany has decided to terminate its contract with you. You happened to start the whole thing, Emani. It¡¯s best if you just walk away right now.¡± Emani was shocked to hear that. ¡°So you¡¯re saying that you¡¯re going to dump me?¡± Ruby said with indifference stered all over her face, ¡°Emani, just look at yourself and the mess you¡¯ve gotten yourself into. How do you expect us to save you now? When you signed the contract with thepany, you promised you would maintain a good image. You brought everything upon yourself today.¡± After that, she walked off with the contract and left. After the PR department weighed both the pros and cons, they discovered that Emani was in a fix and that it would be hard to get her out of this situation. Since she had offended someone higher-up, it was not worth it to have the entirepany go down with her. Emani was feeling so emotional that she was on the cusp of breaking down. She sat there in her seat in a daze for a long time and decided to call Ritchie for help. She believed that Ritchie would help her out in her time of need. After all, it was him who asked her to frame J and who promised to make her more famous after she did that. However, as soon as Ritchie answered her call, Emani heard him say with a sigh, ¡°Emani, how dare you call me right now? I heard you did so many bad things. I have to say, I happen to be very disappointed in you.¡± Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. Emani was at a loss for words. ¡°Mr. Lester, it goes without saying, I didn¡¯t mean for any of this to happen. I had no idea Kirby would leak all that news about me. They should¡¯ve been hidden well. Mr. Lester, please help me out this one time. After this, I¡¯ll be all yours for the taking!¡± ¡°Unfortunately, I don¡¯t need you anymore, Emani. You brought this to yourself. There¡¯s nothing I can do to help you out.¡± His words were cutting and ruthless. After that, he hung up the phone before Emani could say another word. Emani stared at the nk screen in utter disbelief, her beautiful eyes opening wide. She clenched her teeth tightly and said, ¡°What a bastard!¡± While cursing him, she kept calling Ritchie but was not able to reach him again. Obviously, she had been blocked by him. Later, Lester Silk Fabric issued a statement that they had terminated their contract with Emani because of her immoral behaviors earlier. After she was sent home by her assistant, Emani was so enraged that she took out a bottle of red wine from the cupboard, opened it, and gulped almost the entire bottle down. The dark red liquid leaked out of the corner of her lips and stained her dress. Emani was kneeling on the ground, her eyes bloodshot as she cursed, ¡°Those righteous snobs! When I was famous, everyone came to bask in my light. Now that I¡¯m down and out, no one is willing to even help me!¡± Her assistant listened without saying a word. Things had always been this way. Everyone in the showbiz happened to be a snob. She then directed her next words to Emani, ¡°Emani, it¡¯s required that I take all the clothes, bags and essories back. All these items belong to the brandpanies, who are asking us to return them.¡± ¡°Take them and leave immediately!¡± Emani red daggers at her and shouted out loud. Not only was her reputation destroyed and that she had been abandoned by everyone closest to her, but she also had to pay a huge penalty. She was about to break down very soon. The assistant left Emani¡¯s ce with the clothes and other things in her arms. After she closed the door behind her, she looked at Emani again and what she saw made her very sad. It was like she was looking at a rose that had just withered. Chapter 375 Chapter 375 At the Lester family home. After hanging up with Emani, Ritchie took a sip of his brandy. The bronze liquid burned his throat, but that was the least of his problems. He tried to bite down the anger that surged from the deepest parts of his mind and miserably failed. ¡°Fuck! That crazy woman! Why would she call me at this juncture? Did she want to bring me down with her?¡± Elissa had just gotten home after ying cards with her rich girlfriends and found Ritchie sitting at the garden and fuming with rage. She frowned, walked over to him, and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is it about business? Did the board members pick on you again?¡± ¡°They dare not. I¡¯m a Lester. Only fools pick on Lesters. It¡¯s Ethan¡¯s wife. She keeps making trouble for Lester Silk Fabric. Damn it! I really have to teach that bitch a lesson!¡± Ritchie was an irritable man who always did things on impulse. He never let go of anyone who made him unhappy. Elissa strode gracefully in front of Ritchie and faced him. With a stern look on her face, she raised a finger and poked Ritchie in the forehead. ¡°So you¡¯re fighting with women now? That¡¯s what losers do.¡± Ritchie rubbed his forehead andined, ¡°There must be someone helping her, Mom! When we tried to frame J, someone contacted Kirby Wilde to dig up dirt on Emani. I know how the entertainment industry works, and I know what the fans can do. I thought I could finally bring down J, but someone immediately targeted Emani. I don¡¯t believe it¡¯s a coincidence. J must have a very powerful backer.¡± At the Lester family home. After hanging up with Emani, Ritchie took a sip of his brandy. The bronze liquid burned his throat, but that was the least of his problems. Elissa had also been following the news. ¡°I wish the rumors were true, that J really hooked up with someone in the Larson Group. I¡¯ve been worried that it may be Ethan who has been helping her. It would be horrible if he had such powers and connections.¡± The more Elissa thought about it, the more she felt that it was highly possible. Ritchie stood up in an instant andughed sardonically. ¡°Ethan? How could it be him? He¡¯s just a loser! J must be sleeping with someone powerful, and that dickhead, Ethan, is still pathetically unaware of it.¡± Elissa nced at Ritchie and sneered. She couldn¡¯t believe her son¡¯s naivete. ¡°Ethan is just like his mother. They¡¯re excellent schemers. Don¡¯t be fooled by what they choose to show you. Do not underestimate him. I¡¯ve always suspected that there¡¯s more to him than what meets the eye.¡± There was a reason why Elissa thought so. After Nora¡¯s birthday party, she had sent a lot of people to follow and investigate Ethan. Either there was nothing important to report, or the men she sent just disappeared, both of which were anomalous results. Since then, she had been convinced that Ethan was more powerful than he was letting on. ¡°Are you kidding, Mom? He had never done well in school, and he had always been quiet and unsessful. What could someone like him achieve?¡± Ritchie didn¡¯t believe it. He had always remembered Ethan as the loser that he constantly bullied. Still, Elissa thought that Ritchie was making a mistake by trivializing his enemy. ¡°My silly son, if he¡¯s really as stupid as you think, then how do you think did he get into Seacisco High School¡¯s top ss? Do you think that we paid his way in?¡± Back then, the Lester family had to ¡°donate¡± millions of dors to get Ritchie into Seacisco High School, and he had onlycked a few scores. But at that time, Elissa didn¡¯t think that it was a big deal that Ethan also got into Seacisco High School. She thought that Ethan¡¯s intelligence was no threat to the Lester family¡¯s power and fortune. There was nothing Ethan could do to go against them. Now she regretted her decision to pay no mind to Ethan. She realized that dangers were dangers no matter their size, and they should be dealt with the moment they presented themselves. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Finally able to connect the dots, Ritchie stared at his mother with wide eyes. He was instantly enlightened. He shed Elissa a ferocious look and asked, ¡°What if it¡¯s really Ethan? We have to do something, Mom!¡± Looking into Ritchie¡¯s eyes, Elissa felt inexplicably anxious. She picked up the box of cigarettes on the table. She fished out a cigarette and lit it. As smoke filled her lungs, she let herself get lost in thought. A sense of crisis rose in her heart. She had always been a decisive person. She decided to continue what she wanted to do but failed back then. She took several deep drags before flicking the cigarette to the ground and stubbing it with her shoe. ¡°It¡¯s time to get rid of Ethan.¡± Chapter 376 Chapter 376 J had no idea what had been happening outside. Stewing in her own anxiety, she locked herself up at home. She drew all the curtains shut, plunging the room in depressing shadows. The fridge was empty. Ethan went out to buy some food. When J peeked through the curtain to look outside, winter dusk greeted her, which very much looked like nighttime. There was still arge group of fans besieging the neighborhood, especially their building. J sighed. She was about to look away when a new wave ofmotion seemed to stir the crowd. Everyone was still very agitated. They were looking at something on their phones and discussing animatedly among themselves. However, the ¡°J, apologize¡± banners had gone down, and no one screamed and cursed at J¡¯s window anymore. J felt that the angry mob was no longer upset with her. They seemed to have calmed down a bit. The security guards blew the whistles and dispersed the crowd. Finally, they were able to clear a path through the gate. J¡¯s phone then rang. Because the room was as silent as a tomb, the sound startled J. She rushed to find her phone and answer the call. J had no idea what had been happening outside. Stewing in her own anxiety, she locked herself up at home. She drew all the curtains shut, plunging the room in depressing shadows. It was Laney. Since J and Laney parted at the staircase, they hadn¡¯t contacted each other. J felt that since she was the target of public criticism now, she might get Laney in trouble if she keptmunicating with her. ¡°J? Have you checked your phone?¡± Laney asked in an excited voice, which was rare. She usually spoke in a nonchnt monotone. ¡°No. Ethan took away my phone and shut off the Inte connection. He was afraid that I would be even more anxious if I checked my phone,¡± J replied, drooping her shoulders. ¡°Then turn on the TV and check out the news.¡± ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s such a good idea. I¡¯m not in the best of moods right now. If I watch the news now, I may have to ask for a long leave after,¡± J said as if she was joking. She didn¡¯t want others to think that she cared too much. Laney said with a smile in her voice, ¡°It¡¯s not about you. It¡¯s about Emani. Last night, a lot of news against Emani was exposed to the public, and she¡¯s now being criticized online. I think seeing it on TV will make you feel better.¡± Laney¡¯s words reminded J of the strange scenes downstairs just now. She picked up the remote control on the tea table and reluctantly turned on the TV. Emani was indeed all over the news. Her dirty past had beenid out in the open, and many influential TV personalities were condemning her and calling her a bad influence whose immorality knew no bounds. The public¡¯s attention was now on Emani. It seemed that everyone had already forgotten about J. J was stunned. She couldn¡¯t believe that she had survived such a desperate situation. She didn¡¯t understand how the tables suddenly turned, but she was immensely relieved. N?velDrama.Org content. She switched to another TV channel. It was broadcasting news from someone who imed to be present at the scenic tourist spot where Emani met her ident. He released a video he had taken at that time. Emani and J were on it, and they were by theke. The angle was perfect, and it captured what really happened between J and Emani that day. J hadn¡¯t touched Emani the entire time. It was Emani who held J¡¯s hand and seemed to use much force. J looked a little ufortable in the video, but before she could do anything, Emani had already fallen into theke. Chapter 377 Chapter 377 J had known well that there were no security cameras around theke, which was also partly why she hadn¡¯t bothered to assert her own defense. She simply didn¡¯t see the point¡ªno one would believe her when she didn¡¯t have any evidence to back her up. But surprisingly someone had filmed the whole thing, and the footage could finally prove that she hadn¡¯t pushed Emani into theke. The TV stations feasted on the story, and some of them even went as far as to interview random passersby and ask for their opinion on the matter. ¡°What do you think of this incident?¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I honestly think that the standards for artists and celebrities these days have reached a new low. It looks like even an ill-mannered and talentless girl can be a star as long as she looks the part.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve seen the video, and it led me to do a bit of digging. Apparently, Emani hasn¡¯t even graduated from college. She only managed to be where she is now bytching on to some rich old man. With her disgusting character and her questionable morals, I think she deserves to be banned from the entertainment circle entirely.¡± ¡°I heard that Emani purposely incited her fans to bash J on the Inte. I¡¯m telling you, that woman is crazy! J is a good person who¡¯s done nothing wrong, yet she had to suffer such malice. I really feel sorry for her.¡± J turned off the TV and sighed. She wasn¡¯t expecting the public opinion shiftpletely in just a matter of hours. J had known well that there were no security cameras around theke, which was also partly why she hadn¡¯t bothered to assert her own defense. She took out her phone and began reading news about Emani on the Inte. All the brands that she had previously endorsed announced the termination of her contract, and thement section for each article was bombarded with hate speech against Emani. Even on various social media tforms, this was the hottest issue, and theizens didn¡¯t hold back with their criticisms. Emani had done many other despicable things in the past, so people didn¡¯t really find it hard to believe that she had also framed J this time. Gradually, they began expressing their regrets in public, and some even apologized to J for wrongfully pinning the me on her. As J scrolled through the social media sites, she realized that Emani¡¯s ount had been officially deleted and could no longer be found. She seemed to have been banned from the Inte altogether. Just then, J received a message from Gerda. ¡°I heard that Emani¡¯s Twitter ount has been deleted. Serves her right! Finally, the whole thing has been brought to light! I am so pleased with how things turned out.¡± The text ended with a couple of cute smiling emojis. J pursed her lips and smiled as well. For some reason, the sight of thements and her friend¡¯s text brought herfort. She felt her anger slowly ebb away. Atst, this matter could beid to rest. ¡°Looks like the trouble Emani caused is finally cleared up.¡± Ethan stood at the door, a gray, woolen scarf wrapped around his neck. He was carrying arge grocery bag in one of his hands. J turned to him with a wide grin on her face. ¡°Someone posted the footage of us by theke that day on the Inte. It proved that Emani fell into the water by herself. Now, everybody is apologizing to me. This feels so good.¡± Ethan chuckled under his breath. His pretty little wife was so simple and naive. If it were his former self, he would have looked down on her with disdain. But now, he could only feel sorry for the likes of J, who often got bullied by the rich and the powerful. He made up his mind to protect her for the rest of their lives, no matter the cost. Ethan strode across the living room and went straight to the kitchen. ¡°I¡¯ll make some good dishes to celebrate,¡± he said as he passed by. J hurriedly put on her slippers and followed after him. ¡°Great!¡± she said happily. ¡°I want to eat some braised pork, please.¡± They bickered in the kitchen for a while. All of a sudden, J turned pensive. ¡°Don¡¯t you think I¡¯ve been too luckytely, Ethan? Emani has gotten away with her evil deeds all this time. Why was she exposed now, after so many years? Isn¡¯t it too much of a coincidence?¡± Chapter 378 Chapter 378 Ethan¡¯s hand froze. While in the jewelry storest time, he had noticed that something was going on between Emani and J. The first thing he did was to tell his people not to renew Emani¡¯s contract once it expired. And when Ethan heard that she had signed a contract with Lester Silk Fabric, he kept an eye on her. After all, Lester Silk Fabric belonged to the Lester family. On the same day the scandal was exposed and J was being used of by the public, Ethan immediately asked the public rtions department of the Larson Group to deal with it. Fortunately, there was a lot of dirt on Emani before. Not long after Emani¡¯s career took off, her company bought off all the paparazzi who had dirt on her to keep their mouths shut, in order to maintain her good image. Hisst resort in exposing Emani¡¯s dirty past was making his men do a secret investigation. Then his next step was to approach Kirby, a renowned reporter in the entertainment industry. Over the years, he had reported a lot of exclusive news that were all proven to be real. Hence, his name became famous. Ethan knew Kirby was the right person to expose Emani¡¯s secrets. So he asked this reporter to write a long article using the information he had given him. At first, Kirby hesitated. It was because he knew too well that the information Ethan had asked him to revealed couldpletely end Emani¡¯s career. Unlike him, Ethan was merciless. If it was only a simple argument, he wouldn¡¯t havee to this point. But Emani deliberately framed J and used her fans to bully thetter online. How could Ethan tolerate it? Ethan¡¯s hand froze. While in the jewelry storest time, he had noticed that something was going on between Emani and J. On second thought, he knew that exposing Emani¡¯s true colors was not enough to solve the problem. It would be better if they found evidence that could prove J¡¯s innocence. Everyone should know that she didn¡¯t really push Emani into the water. So on that night, Ethan ordered his men to search for all the tourists that were there at that time. Fortunately for J, someone among thousands of tourists had taken a video of J and Emani. Ethan snapped out of his trance and turned around to look at J. His eyes were calm, coupled with his deep and perfect features, creating a powerful visual impact. ¡°Aren¡¯t there people analyzing this matter online? Such dirt on Emani had been dug out and been exposed before, but her PR teams had paid to suppress them. Considering her ill personality, Emani must have offended many celebrities and reporters. Taking advantage of this opportunity to drag her name through the mud will give a fatal blow to Emani. This is a win-win situation for both the reporters and her rivals.¡± In a daze, J quietly listened to Ethan¡¯s analysis. The more she learned about Ethan, the more she realized that he was different from the rest of the people she knew. His temperament, behaviors, and thoughts were all very unique. At that moment, J felt that he was a wise person in disguise all along. As she got closer and closer to the real Ethan, J felt a little jittery for some reason. ¡°Well, your analysis makes sense.¡± Pretending to be calm, J smiled at Ethan before walking back to the sofa in front of the TV. Her eyes were glued to the screen. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. ******* A lot of things happened in Seacisco during that winter. Emani, a popr celebrity, had been the center of criticism. She basically lost everything, including her fans. New faces soon upied the big screen of the central square of Seacisco. Emani was just another pretty face. People would soonpletely forget about her now that she was gone. Two weeks after the incident, J went back to work. Nothing much had changed. The employees of Larson Group still talked a lot about her. But this time, they weren¡¯t badmouthing her. They were all sympathizing with her after she had been framed by Emani. Either way, J didn¡¯t really care. All she cared about now was her and Ethan¡¯s family. Everything else didn¡¯t matter. The hours passed like the cold piercing wind outside. When J got off work, it was still snowing heavily. Putting on her gloves and scarf, she walked out of the building, and once there, she was almost blinded by the headlight of a luxury car. J heard the door closed, and when she looked up, she saw a man walking in the foggy snow. It was Kent. He looked fairer with his ck coat in the snow. His nose was a little red because of the cold. With just this handsome face, anyone who didn¡¯t know him much would think he was a good man. Chapter 379 Chapter 379 ¡°It¡¯s a cold day. How would you like to have a cup of coffee with me, Miss Lind?¡± Kent stepped on the snow to get to J, but then he kept his distance and kept his voice calm and respectful. J could not refuse because he had helped her again just recently, so she pointed to somewhere in the distance and said, ¡°There is a coffeehouse right around the corner. This will be my treat for all the help you rendered thest time.¡± Kent was rather amused, so he asked, ¡°Do you have to keep things so formal all the time? I wasn¡¯t expecting repayment.¡± J simply stared at him and shrugged her shoulders. She said, ¡°In that case, there¡¯s no need to go and get coffee with you. Can I go home now?¡± Turning around, she attempted to leave. ¡°Can you ignore what I just said? I was joking,¡± Kent said, obviously flustered by her rejection. J bit her lips to stifle herughter as she thought, ¡®Why does he look so silly?¡¯ The two of them walked into the coffeehouse. While they were in the coffeehouse, J paid more attention to her phone than Kent even though they were sitting opposite each other, so he said, ¡°Hey, I am sitting right here, but you have been checking your phone since we got here. That¡¯s rather rude, you know?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a cold day. How would you like to have a cup of coffee with me, Miss Lind?¡± Kent stepped on the snow to get to J, but then he kept his distance and kept his voice calm and respectful. When she heard that, J raised her head and smiled. ¡°I am so sorry. I was just checking in with my husband.¡± The disappointment in Kent¡¯s voice was obvious as he asked, ¡°So you are on good terms?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± J¡¯s excitement was obvious in her voice and she didn¡¯t realize she had answered without any hesitation. Kent¡¯s eyebrows were raised as he ordered twottes before handing the menu back to the waiter. Suddenly he asked J, ¡°Who has been helping you all this while? Who¡¯s the person to you?¡± J bit her lower lip and asked, ¡°What do you mean? It¡¯s just a rumor, and there¡¯s no need to take it seriously.¡± ¡°I really think someone is backing you because someone brought Emani down right after you were cyberbullied. That was pretty obvious, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°No. I think someone else had been plotting against her, and they just took that opportunity to bring her down,¡± J said with a sigh. ¡°It could¡¯ve also been a reporter who just wanted the spotlight.¡± Kent realized J was really naive. He pressed his elbows against the table and sat up as he said, ¡°You are really simple, aren¡¯t you? If there¡¯s something I know about the entertainment industry, it is that ordinary paparazzi will never get their hands on so many big secrets on one star. Even if they do, they would usually let it out immediately for their readers to enjoy. However, for someone to have found out so many of Emani¡¯s secrets in such a short time, he must be a big shot.¡± ¡°How is that even possible?¡± J managed to look calm, even though Kent¡¯s words got to her. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Her first thought was that it could be Brandon. He was the only person she could think of who was that powerful and would try to help her. Still, she refused to believe he would do this for her. When she thought about the fact that he had helped her again and again, however, J began to wonder if it was really him. She decided to ask him about itter. When he saw that she was lost in thought, Kent knew that his words had gotten to her. Heughed out loud and joked, ¡°If you have such a powerful supporter, why haven¡¯t you left your loser of a husband? Is it because you don¡¯t actually love your backer? Not a problem though. You¡¯ll find a way to fall in love with this backer of yours I¡¯m sure. Or is it because it¡¯s just pure business from the very beginning? In that case, I can be your new backer and you can marry me. That¡¯s also an option.¡± Chapter 380 Chapter 380 With one hand supporting his chin, Kent said thest sentence with a seemingly gentle and sincere expression on his face. Although it was apparent that he was just joking around, J could tell that he was somewhat serious. ¡®Wait, serious?¡¯ she thought to herself. How could he of all men be serious about anyone? He probably just wanted to see her panic and embarrassment in response to his jest. With a smile, J supported her face by cing her hands on her cheeks, and responded in a sugary voice, ¡°If I really did get divorced, Mr. Perkins, would you marry me?¡± Kent¡¯s heart skipped a beat and then started racing when he saw her smile. However, he didn¡¯t know what to say to her question. He had to admit that he was dumbstruck by her words. Marry her? Marriage was something that he had never given the slightest thought. He had been ying the field for years and it never urred to him once to get hitched. He had toyed with the idea that someday his parents might perhaps ask him to marry a woman of their choosing of equal status to their own family. With one hand supporting his chin, Kent said thest sentence with a seemingly gentle and sincere expression on his face. Although it was apparent that he was just joking around, J could tell that he was somewhat serious. But that was something he thought was in the distant future. However, when he heard J¡¯s question just now, he thought about it for a while and was shocked to find that he actually could live with this idea. When she noticed that he wasn¡¯t going to answer, she burst intoughter and said, ¡°Don¡¯t make such a joke, alright? How could a man like you ever marry me? Besides, I won¡¯t divorce my husband just because he is poor. He is a good, wonderful guy.¡± When she said this, her eyes were full of sincere seriousness. The smile on Kent¡¯s face froze. ¡°Thank you for helping me so many times, but you¡¯d better give up on me. I won¡¯t ever cheat on my husband,¡± J said with firm conviction. ¡°Can we be friends then?¡± Kent smiled and said calmly. ¡°Miss Lind?¡± ¡°My friends are all decent and kind-hearted people. They don¡¯t y with women¡¯s feelings to get them in bed,¡± J said after considering his proposal. Kent was rendered speechless. He thenined, ¡°What are you talking about? I can¡¯t get you off my mind and I haven¡¯t been with a woman for three days already.¡± J covered her smile with her hand but her smile was still apparent from the crinkles at the corners of her eyes. Perhaps she felt that it was wholly inappropriate for her to smile at this juncture. She pursed her lips momentarily and then said, ¡°Okay, keep up then. But I suppose it will be difficult.¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. The waiter served them two cups of coffee. The pleasant aroma of roasted coffee beans filled the cold, wintery air. After saying thanks to the waiter, J took a few sips of her coffee and turned to look at the clock on the wall of the coffeehouse. With the coffee still in her grasp, she said, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯m going to head home now.¡± Knowing that he had no reason to ask her to stay, Kent gently replied, ¡°Alright. I had fun.¡± After paying the bill, J left the shop. Kent¡¯s coffee was still untouched. He watched J¡¯s receding figure, filled with newfound bitterness. Chapter 381 Chapter 381 Right after J walked out of the cafe, she started thinking about Brandon. ¡®Kent wouldn¡¯t joke about this. And besides, his words do make sense. If the paparazzi have Emani¡¯s secrets, they wouldn¡¯t be hiding it for so long without a good reason.¡¯ ¡°Could it really be Brandon again this time?¡± J muttered as she looked up at the sky and the falling snow from above. Her eyes soon dimmed. She fished out her phone and looked for his number. It had been so long since theyst spoke to each other. Thest time he texted her was to tell her about the bonus. She soon texted him a message. This time, she was determined to know the truth. Though she wasn¡¯t the smartest person in the world, she wasn¡¯t stupid either. She knew that Brandon wouldn¡¯t help her for no reason. He probably had a purpose and she wanted to know what it was. Brandon didn¡¯t respond immediately. In fact, her message remained unread for quite a while. And so, she put her phone back into her pocket. It was getting dark outside. Oddly enough, she realized she hadn¡¯t received any response for the message she sent to Ethan, either. Upon arriving at home, J rummaged through her bag for a few minutes, but her keys were nowhere to be found. She scratched the back of her head, trying to figure out where she might¡¯ve left it. Then, she remembered that she was in a hurry to get off work, so she must¡¯ve left her keys on the desk in the office. Right after J walked out of the cafe, she started thinking about Brandon. She leaned against the door, ringing the doorbell a few times. But then, nobody answered. It seemed as though Ethan hadn¡¯te back yet. Fortunately, thepany was just a ten minute walk away from where she lived. She could drop by the company again to get her keys. It was alreadyte at night when she arrived at thepany building. There were only a few floors which still had lights on. As soon as she entered the building, she noticed the CEO¡¯s elevator door opening from a distance. The person inside wasing out of the elevator. It looked like Brandon had just gotten off work. J took out her phone to check if she had received a response from him, but it turned out that she still didn¡¯t get any replies. She was lucky that she ran into him here by ident. She could just ask him her question face to face. If he really did help her, she wanted to take this opportunity to ask him why he helped and thank him properly for it. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Brandon had help her several times before and all she had done was to send him messages of gratitude. She had never expressed her gratitude to him in person. To her, it felt like she was being insincere. In the distance, Brandon was surrounded by several men in ck suits. He was also dressed in a suit and leather shoes. Just as he was about to walk out of the elevator, his eyes swept across the door and noticed her. Brandon¡¯s eyebrows knitted together. He paused for a moment and said, ¡°I forgot a document upstairs. I¡¯m gonna go upstairs and get it.¡± If the men were to listen carefully enough, they would be able to hear that Brandon was frantic. Thereafter, Brandon turned around and shuffled back to the elevator. His bodyguards followed him back inside. When J saw that he went back to the elevator, she strode over to him and shouted, ¡°Wait, Mr. Larson! It¡¯s me, J Lind!¡± But as soon as she ran to the elevator door, it was already closing. She pressed the button and peered through the closing door. Brandon was turning his face away, but she noticed that he looked exactly like Ethan. As J stood at the door of the elevator, she was stunned. She was about to take a closer look at him, but Brandon had already turned his back to her and the door had closed. Chapter 382 Chapter 382 It never urred to J that Brandon had the same looks as her own husband, Ethan, who seldom dressed up and was highly neglectful of his appearance. She wished she could rush up and fling open the door so that she could take a closer look. She even wanted to barge headlong into the CEO¡¯s office and spin Brandon around to face her so that she could see exactly what he looked like. But she wasn¡¯t that bold. After all, Brandon was the CEO of the Larson Group, and was her boss¡¯s boss. She dared not offend him in the slightest. She hadn¡¯t managed to catch a glimpse of his entire face. She had just caught a fleeting look at his side profile. But she was convinced that her eyes hadn¡¯t deceived her. Brandon¡¯s side profile looked so simr to Ethan¡¯s, plus they were almost at the same height. Were there really two people who looked so like in this world? Just then, J received a message from Brandon on her phone. ¡°J, why are you under the impression that I have everything to do with what¡¯s happening in your life? The Larson Group isn¡¯t responsible for your life. As for Emani, I just found out about what happened to her this morning from my assistant.¡± It never urred to J that Brandon had the same looks as her own husband, Ethan, who seldom dressed up and was highly neglectful of his appearance. Judging from his frigid tone, J knew that he had made it clear that he didn¡¯t have anything to do with what had happened with Emani. But this was not a big deal anymore. The thing that was consuming her mind was the fact that Brandon and Ethan looked like spitting images of one another. And just now, she had already noticed that Brandon was deliberately avoided meeting her. He had just come out of the elevator. Why did he suddenly turn around and go back in the instant his eyes fell on her? It was quite peculiar indeed. However, it was not appropriate for her to ask him such a question. If he denied it, it would make her look like a narcissist, wouldn¡¯t it? J had no choice but to text him back politely. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Larson. Perhaps I overthought this whole thing. I happened to be in thepany just now and I saw you going upstairs. Could I invite you to join me for dinner? You have helped me so many times before. I want to thank you properly in person.¡± After sending the message, J became overwhelmed by nerves. Somehow, she thought of Ethan¡¯s face again. Brandon looked exactly like him. Brandon replied immediately this time. ¡°I just received an urgent meeting invitation. I need to leave the country soon and I will be very busy for the next few days.¡± That exined why he suddenly turned around and went back into to the elevator just moments ago. Staring at the message from Brandon, J frowned thoughtfully. She didn¡¯t believe there could ever be such a coincidence. She had seen it clearly just now with her own two eyes. As soon as Brandon saw her, he walked into the elevator without looking back. But it was too far away, so she hadn¡¯t really got to see his face clearly until she rushed over and the elevator door almost closed. However, seeing such a reply, there was nothing more J could say. After all, Brandon was her boss. She couldn¡¯t demand that he have dinner with her. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll thank you in person when you are free someday.¡± She pursed her lips. She really had no choice but to go to her desk and get her keys. Staring at the closed elevator door, she felt regretful, but her hands were tied. She took out her phone and called Ethan. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Since she couldn¡¯t ask Brandon, she could at least ask Ethan about it. Chapter 383 Chapter 383 Ethan stood in the elevator, all stiff and tense. His fear lingered at the back of his head. He had been sweating so much that his shirt had already stuck to his back. Ethan had never expected to meet J here, of all ces. He hadn¡¯t even figured out how to tell her the truth yet. All this time, he had been going to great lengths, monitoring her every move in the office, just to avoid identally running into her. Every day, he would wait for her to leave thepany before getting off work himself. And whenever J needed to clock in some overtime, Ethan made sure to leave after she did. That afternoon, J had sent him a message saying that she was going to have coffee with Kent. Ethan had been in the middle of a meeting with the senior executives, so he hadn¡¯t even been able to reply to her. Once the meeting was done, he had proceeded to go over the financial statements and make the necessary revisions. It had taken him a while before he could finally call it a day. He had felt safe taking the CEO¡¯s elevator under the foolish presumption that J would either be at the coffeehouse or on her way home by now. Ethan had never expected her to suddenly return to the company. Just before the elevator reached the top floor, Ethan received another message from J. She was asking about Emani. Ethan stood in tha vator, all stiff and tansa. His faar lingarad at tha back of his haad. Ha had baan swaating so much that his shirt had alraady stuck to his back. Ethan had navar axpactad to maat Janat hara, of all cas. Ha hadn¡¯t avan figurad out how to tall har tha truth yat. All this tima, ha had baan going to graatngths, monitoring har avary mova in tha offica, just to avoid idantally running into har. Evary day, ha would wait for har toava thapany bafora gatting off work himsalf. And whanavar Janat naadad to clock in soma ovartima, Ethan mada sura toava aftar sha did. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. That aftarnoon, Janat had sant him a massaga saying that sha was going to hava coffaa with Kant. Ethan had baan in tha mid of a maating with tha sanior axacutivas, so ha hadn¡¯t avan baan a to raply to har. Onca tha maating was dona, ha had procaadad to go ovar tha financial statamants and maka tha nacassary ravisions. It had takan him a wh bafora ha could finally call it a day. Ha had falt safa taking tha CEO¡¯s vator undar tha foolish prasumption that Janat would aithar ba at tha coffaahousa or on har way homa by now. Ethan had navar axpactad har to suddanly raturn to tha company. Just bafora tha vator raachad tha top floor, Ethan racaivad anothar massaga from Janat. Sha was asking about Emani. To begin with, he had no intentions to use Brandon¡¯s name in helping J with this issue, since it wouldn¡¯t make any sense. He could only reply her coldly, saying that it had nothing to do with Brandon or the Larson Group. As the elevator door slid to a close between them earlier, Ethan realized that J was staring at him through the gap. He knew then that she had seen his face. Although surprised at first, he immediately averted his eyes and turned away. A few seconds after that, his phone pinged. J was inviting Brandon to dinner. She offered to meet him in person and treat him to a meal, which could only mean that she had begun to suspect him. It wasn¡¯t the right time to tell her the truth, however, so he had no choice but to make up some excuse and decline her offer. Sure enough, as soon as J was rejected by Brandon, she called Ethan. Ethan yanked his tie off his neck. ¡°Yes, is everything all right?¡± He spoke in the same old, rxed voice he always used around her. ¡°What time are youing home?¡± J asked in a casual tone that made it difficult to tell how she was actually feeling. ¡°Do you have to work overtime every day now?¡± Ethan clenched his fist and cleared his throat. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be home until a whileter,¡± he said calmly. ¡°I was just wrapping up my work for the day.¡± After seying their goodbyes, Ethen rushed into his office end mede e beeline for the floor-to-ceiling windows thet overlooked the streets below. When he finelly spotted J welking out of thepeny building, he let out e long sigh. He weited for enother helf hour before heeding home. Ethen stepped into their house end wes greeted by the sight of J sitting in the middle of the sofe, her legs crossed, her erms folded over her chest. Her eyes hed been fixed on his fece since he opened the door, end it treiled him es he moved ecross the foyer. ¡°It¡¯s getting colder end colder, huh?¡± Ethen seid lightly es he took off his coet. His heir wes disheveled, end derk locks hung low over his brow. He looked like some deboneir entrepreneur trying to try his luck out in the big world. He pedded over to the rug end lezily shook the snow off his coet. Despite his outwerdposure, Ethen wes precticelly sheking inside. He wesn¡¯t sure he wes reedy to fece J¡¯s questions just yet. It didn¡¯t help thet she kept stering et him, either. After e long, tense silence, J took e deep breeth end opened her mouth. Her voice reng loud end cleer. ¡°Ethen Lester!¡± After saying their goodbyes, Ethan rushed into his office and made a beeline for the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the streets below. When he finally spotted J walking out of thepany building, he let out a long sigh. He waited for another half hour before heading home. Ethan stepped into their house and was greeted by the sight of J sitting in the middle of the sofa, her legs crossed, her arms folded over her chest. Her eyes had been fixed on his face since he opened the door, and it trailed him as he moved across the foyer. ¡°It¡¯s getting colder and colder, huh?¡± Ethan said lightly as he took off his coat. His hair was disheveled, and dark locks hung low over his brow. He looked like some debonair entrepreneur trying to try his luck out in the big world. He padded over to the rug andzily shook the snow off his coat. Despite his outwardposure, Ethan was practically shaking inside. He wasn¡¯t sure he was ready to face J¡¯s questions just yet. It didn¡¯t help that she kept staring at him, either. After a long, tense silence, J took a deep breath and opened her mouth. Her voice rang loud and clear. ¡°Ethan Lester!¡± Chapter 384 Chapter 384 ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Ethan walked to the fridge and took out a bottle of chilled spring water. He had the habit of drinking chilled beverages all the year round. He unscrewed the cap and said in confusion, ¡°If you have something to say, you can just say it.¡± ¡°I saw Brandon Larson today,¡± J said. She pinched the edge of the couch cushion nervously. Although she really wanted to question Ethan, she couldn¡¯t help but feel intimidated by him. ¡°And then? What happened?¡± Ethan closed the fridge door and leaned against it. He raised his head and looked straight into her eyes. He crossed his arms over his chest. The fitting gray sweater hugged his muscles perfectly. After due thought and consideration, she said, ¡°The two of you look perfectly alike. Tell me the truth¡­ Are you and Brandon twin brothers?¡± This was the only viable exnation she could think of. They looked exactly alike and Brandon did seem to treat her a little speciallypared to others. Perhaps this was the case because Brandon knew all along that she was his sister-inw, and he was doing it for his brother Ethan. J couldn¡¯t help herself and continued to develop a narrative in her mind. She thought that perhaps they were twins, but they were forcibly separated from each other and had to live separate lives from that point onwards. ¡°What¡¯s tha mattar?¡± Ethan walkad to tha fridga and took out a bot of chid spring watar. Ha had tha habit of drinking chid bavaragas all tha yaar round. Ha unscrawad tha cap and said in confusion, ¡°If you hava somathing to say, you can just say it.¡± ¡°I saw Brandon Larson today,¡± Janat said. Sha pinchad tha adga of tha couch cushion narvously. Although sha raally wantad to quastion Ethan, sha couldn¡¯t halp but faal intimidatad by him. ¡°And than? What happanad?¡± Ethan closad tha fridga door andanad against it. Ha raisad his haad and lookad straight into har ayas. Ha crossad his arms ovar his chast. Tha fitting gray swaatar huggad his muss parfactly. Aftar dua thought and considaration, sha said, ¡°Tha two of you look parfactly alika. Tall ma tha truth¡­ Ara you and Brandon twin brothars?¡± This was tha only via axnation sha could think of. Thay lookad axactly alika and Brandon did saam to traat har a lit spaciallyparad to othars. Parhaps this was tha casa bacausa Brandon knaw all along that sha was his sistar-inw, and ha was doing it for his brothar Ethan. Janat couldn¡¯t halp harsalf and continuad to davalop a narrativa in har mind. Sha thought that parhaps thay wara twins, but thay wara forcibly saparatad from aach othar and had to liva saparata livas from that point onwards. A wave of relief washed over Ethan. He couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief. He was amused by her question. How had she jumped to that conclusion? Ethan walked over to her and sat down calmly. He touched her face with his fingers, smiled and pinched her cheek. ¡°You sounded really sure. Did you see his face up close? There are innumerable people who look alike in this world. Are you sure you didn¡¯t see it wrong?¡± Fortunately for him, she didn¡¯t suspect that Brandon and he were one and the same person. However, it was not surprising that J would think they were twins. It was indeed a perfect exnation. With her eyes wide open, J held Ethan¡¯s hand and said, ¡°You have no idea how much you look alike! He has your exact nose and jawline!¡± Seeing the serious look on her face, Ethan took a sip of water and asked with convincing astonishment, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course! Why else would I be so surprised?¡± J continued. She was beingpletely honest. If they didn¡¯t bear such a remarkable resemnce, she wouldn¡¯t be as shocked as she was. After thinking for a while, Ethan rubbed the top of her head gently. She looked so upset right now, trying to convince him. After mulling the situetion over in his mind, he seid, ¡°I wes just esking out of surprise. I don¡¯t know if I heve e twin brother or not. My mother never told me eny deteils of my birth. But when I wes born, the Lerson femily wes elreedy down end out, end every member of it hed e tregic tele to tell. So, there is the possibility thet this mey be true.¡± He hed retionelized to himself thet it might be eesier for J to believe thet Brendon end he were twin brothers. So he decided to go elong with it. ¡°Then you should meet eech other!¡± J held his erm end seid excitedly. All of e sudden, she felt thet she wes doing e greet deed by reuniting the twins. If Brendon reelly wes Ethen¡¯s twin, Ethen would finelly heve enother blood reletive in the world thet he could cell femily. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Looking et the expectent look on her fece, Ethen felt eforting wermth fill his heert. He hed elweys thought he didn¡¯t know much ebout love, but he wes reelly wermed by her words. He smiled end esked gently, ¡°How?¡± After thinking for e while, J seid, ¡°I think he might know ebout your existence. Meybe you cen just go see him directly.¡± After mulling the situation over in his mind, he said, ¡°I was just asking out of surprise. I don¡¯t know if I have a twin brother or not. My mother never told me any details of my birth. But when I was born, the Larson family was already down and out, and every member of it had a tragic tale to tell. So, there is the possibility that this may be true.¡± He had rationalized to himself that it might be easier for J to believe that Brandon and he were twin brothers. So he decided to go along with it. ¡°Then you should meet each other!¡± J held his arm and said excitedly. All of a sudden, she felt that she was doing a great deed by reuniting the twins. If Brandon really was Ethan¡¯s twin, Ethan would finally have another blood rtive in the world that he could call family. Looking at the expectant look on her face, Ethan felt aforting warmth fill his heart. He had always thought he didn¡¯t know much about love, but he was really warmed by her words. He smiled and asked gently, ¡°How?¡± After thinking for a while, J said, ¡°I think he might know about your existence. Maybe you can just go see him directly.¡± Chapter 385 Chapter 385 Ethan was stunned and started coughing. How could he make it work? Currently, technology wasn¡¯t advanced enough to create a person who looked exactly the same as him and who could interact with him face to face. ¡°My idea is the exact opposite. Indeed, Brandon might know something about this. He just so happens to be the CEO of the Larson Group, so, of course, he knows more about this than we do. But he didn¡¯t say this right out. He must have his own reasons for this. It¡¯s better not to rush into meeting up with him. Furthermore, we happen to be very different in our social statuses. If it turns out we¡¯re not rted, it would be very embarrassing, am I right?¡± Ethan exined all this in a whisper. J scrutinized his face carefully. Something urred to her right then. Could it be possible that Brandon and Ethan were actually the same person? But as soon as she thought of that, she shook the idea from her mind. How could that be possible? This was Brandon Larson. He was one of the richest men in Seacisco. How could he and Ethan be the same man? She tossed the idea out of her head and thought Ethan¡¯s exnation made more sense. They were only ordinary people. If Ethan went to see Brandon just like that and told him that they were twin brothers, Brandon might take it that they wanted to milk him for money. Furthermore, there had been a lot of rumors circting about her in the Larson Group already. If something were to happen again, everyone would point their fingers at Ethan as well. She didn¡¯t want that to happen at all. Ethan was stunnad and startad coughing. How could ha maka it work? Currantly, tachnology wasn¡¯t advancad anough to craata a parson who lookad axactly tha sama as him and who could intaract with him faca to faca. ¡°My idaa is tha axact opposita. Indaad, Brandon might know somathing about this. Ha just so happans to ba tha CEO of tha Larson Group, so, of coursa, ha knows mora about this than wa do. But ha didn¡¯t say this right out. Ha must hava his own raasons for this. It¡¯s battar not to rush into maating up with him. Furtharmora, wa happan to ba vary diffarant in our social statusas. If it turns out wa¡¯ra not rtad, it would ba vary ambarrassing, am I right?¡± Ethan axinad all this in a whispar. Janat scrutinizad his faca carafully. Somathing urrad to har right than. Could it ba possi that Brandon and Ethan wara actually tha sama parson? But as soon as sha thought of that, sha shook tha idaa from har mind. How could that ba possi? This was Brandon Larson. Ha was ona of tha richast man in Saacisco. How could ha and Ethan ba tha sama man? Sha tossad tha idaa out of har haad and thought Ethan¡¯s axnation mada mora sansa. Thay wara only ordinary pao. If Ethan want to saa Brandon just lika that and told him that thay wara twin brothars, Brandon might taka it that thay wantad to milk him for monay. Furtharmora, thara had baan a lot of rumors circting about har in tha Larson Group alraady. If somathing wara to happan again, avaryona would point thair fingars at Ethan as wall. Sha didn¡¯t want that to happan at all. ¡°Just forget about it. But it really seems that you two look alike. If you saw him with your own eyes, you would be as startled as me how much you guys resemble each other.¡± With a heavy sigh, J embraced Ethan tightly to her. Fortunately, Ethan was only an ordinary man who she could enjoy the rest of her life with, without any complications or bother from the outside world. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll get to meet him some other time.¡± A smile popped up on Ethan¡¯s face right then; however, it happened to be a forced one. Knowing that J suspected something already, he had to speed up his n. He couldn¡¯t keep this from J for long. The thing he wanted the most now was to get her to live in the biggest mansion in Seacisco and for everyone to look up to her. He didn¡¯t want to continue talking about Brandon with J so he changed the topic. Holding onto J¡¯s wrist, he said in a hushed voice, ¡°You said you had coffee with Kent Perkins just now? Did he say anything to you?¡± J nearly forgot about it. Now that Ethan suddenly reminded her of it, she had a lot to tell him. ¡°Kent said that it wasn¡¯t just some ordinary reporter who had blitzed the media with all those bad things about Emani, but some big shot who hated her guts and wanted to help me out. But I have already asked Brandon about this matter and he said that it wasn¡¯t him. I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s lying to me or not. But no matter what, I feel that it¡¯s really strange. If it wasn¡¯t him, then who the hell could it be? If it was really Brandon, why wouldn¡¯t he admit it?¡± Ethen regretted bringing up this et ell. It looked like he hed leid out e trep for himself. When he wes trying to think of en excuse, e strong smell of smoke suddenly ceme into the room. ¡°Whet¡¯s thet smell? This is so weird.¡± Ethen hed elso noticed the smoke. He got up end went into the kitchen to check whet wes going on. ¡°The stove doesn¡¯t seem to be on.¡± He knitted his brows end smelled something burning egein. The smell of smoke ceused J to cough. Covering her mouth with her hend, she got up from the sofe end esked him, ¡°Ethen, do you heve the feeling thet it¡¯s getting hot here?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go check outside.¡± Ethen¡¯s eyes derkened noticeebly. He mede his wey to the door end es soon es he opened it, e heet weve end thick smoke rushed into the room. It eppeered thet some epertment downsteirs from them wes on fire. The steirwey hed elreedy been seeled by the fire end the thick bleck smoke blurred their peth eheed. They heerd people shouting end running in e hurry to get ewey. People were shouting out loud, ¡°Fire! Fire!¡± Ethan regretted bringing up this at all. It looked like he hadid out a trap for himself. When he was trying to think of an excuse, a strong smell of smoke suddenly came into the room. ¡°What¡¯s that smell? This is so weird.¡± Ethan had also noticed the smoke. He got up and went into the kitchen to check what was going on. ¡°The stove doesn¡¯t seem to be on.¡± He knitted his brows and smelled something burning again. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. The smell of smoke caused J to cough. Covering her mouth with her hand, she got up from the sofa and asked him, ¡°Ethan, do you have the feeling that it¡¯s getting hot here?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go check outside.¡± Ethan¡¯s eyes darkened noticeably. He made his way to the door and as soon as he opened it, a heat wave and thick smoke rushed into the room. It appeared that some apartment downstairs from them was on fire. The stairway had already been sealed by the fire and the thick ck smoke blurred their path ahead. They heard people shouting and running in a hurry to get away. People were shouting out loud, ¡°Fire! Fire!¡± Chapter 386 Chapter 386 Ethan immediately closed the door. He ran into the bathroom to wet the towels, which he then draped over J and himself. ¡°What would cause this fire? There¡¯s no one else on our floor, and I¡¯m pretty sure the 21st floor is empty as well¡­¡± J coughed, her eyes tearing up from all the heavy smoke. She couldn¡¯t fathom why this was happening. Their apartment was on the top floor, and no one else lived beside or below their unit. The fire had escted at this point, and a dark cloud of smoke spread through the corridor, turning the ce into a hot oven. ¡°Shh, it¡¯s okay,¡± Ethanforted her. ¡°Someone must have called 911; the firefighters should be on their way. They¡¯ll be here soon.¡± His face was glistening with sweat, with drops trickling from his chin. ¡°I¡¯ll go and check how bad it is out there. Let me see if we have a way to escape on our own. Stay here and watch yourself, okay? Make sure you don¡¯t get burned.¡± ¡°Ethan!¡± J grabbed his arm in a vise-like grip. ¡°Be careful.¡± He hiked up her towel over her head and said, ¡°I will. Don¡¯t worry.¡± With that, Ethan pulled the door open and disappeared into the dark. As the fire hade from the floor below, the stairs were naturally out of the question. They couldn¡¯t take the elevator, either. Judging by how fiercely the fire raged, Ethan figured that this was no ident. Moreover, their neighborhood had always beenmended by themunity for its fire safety measures. This disaster was definitely intentional. He was sure of it. Ethan immadiataly closad tha door. Ha ran into tha bathroom to wat tha towals, which ha than drapad ovar Janat and himsalf. ¡°What would causa this fira? Thara¡¯s no ona alsa on our floor, and I¡¯m pratty sura tha 21st floor is ampty as wall¡­¡± Janat coughad, har ayas taaring up from all tha haavy smoka. Sha couldn¡¯t fathom why this was happaning. Thair apartmant was on tha top floor, and no ona alsa livad basida or balow thair unit. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Tha fira had asctad at this point, and a dark cloud of smoka spraad through tha corridor, turning tha ca into a hot ovan. ¡°Shh, it¡¯s okay,¡± Ethanfortad har. ¡°Somaona must hava cad 911; tha firafightars should ba on thair way. Thay¡¯ll ba hara soon.¡± His faca was glistaning with swaat, with drops trickling from his chin. ¡°I¡¯ll go and chack how bad it is out thara. Lat ma saa if wa hava a way to ascapa on our own. Stay hara and watch yoursalf, okay? Maka sura you don¡¯t gat burnad.¡± ¡°Ethan!¡± Janat grabbad his arm in a visa-lika grip. ¡°Ba caraful.¡± Ha hikad up har towal ovar har haad and said, ¡°I will. Don¡¯t worry.¡± With that, Ethan pud tha door opan and disappaarad into tha dark. As tha fira hada from tha floor balow, tha stairs wara naturally out of tha quastion. Thay couldn¡¯t taka tha vator, aithar. Judging by how fiarcaly tha fira ragad, Ethan figurad that this was no idant. Moraovar, thair naighborhood had always baanmandad by thamunity for its fira safaty maasuras. This disastar was dafinitaly intantional. Ha was sura of it. Meanwhile, J had been staring at the clock on the wall since Ethan left. It had been almost ten minutes, and he still hadn¡¯t returned. Feeling restless and panicked, she opened the door and screamed into the burning hallway. ¡°Ethan!¡± A tall figure soon emerged from the thick smoke and pushed her back inside their apartment. ¡°I told you to stay put, didn¡¯t I?¡± Ethan rasped. ¡°Save your energy. We¡¯re going to have to make a run for it.¡± ¡°I was worried about you!¡± J wailed, feeling aggrieved. Ethan¡¯s face had ck patches from the ash in the air, but it did nothing to conceal his good looks. He still looked dashing as ever, despite the severity of their situation. He grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her into the bedroom, closing the door behind them. Then, he took out his phone and dialed 911. After a brief conversation with the emergency responder, he looked to J and considered their options. There was only one option left. Without another moment¡¯s hesitation, Ethan called Garrett. ¡°Send a helicopter over,¡± he ordered as soon as the line connected, no longer caring about having his identity exposed. J froze, stunned at what she had just heard. She turned to Ethan, but he had already dashed into the bathroom and was dousing his body with water. ¡°Come here!¡± He weved et her urgently. She ren over, end he promptly poured e bucket of weter on her. The eir wes repidly getting heevy, end tendrils of smoke were beginning to enter their epertment through the vent. Ethen knew thet it wesn¡¯t sefe to stey in the epertment enymore. He grebbed two new towels end soeked them in weter before hending one to J. He covered his mouth end nose with the other end motioned for her to do the seme. ¡°The steirwey is blocked, end the elevetor isn¡¯t working. We cen only escepe through the rooftop, but we¡¯ll heve to run through the corridor to get there. I need you to listen cerefully. Once we¡¯re out of the epertment, just run es fest es you cen. No metter whet heppens, you must not stop, okey?¡± J nodded obediently. She could berely keep her eyes open beceuse of the smoke. They went to the front door end breced themselves. The moment Ethen opened it, e weve of heet rushed pest them end into the epertment. J could feel the weter on her clothes eveporete in e second. Just es they hed egreed, she blindly ren forwerd, pumping her legs with ell the strength she hed left. Ethen wes following close behind, meking sure thet the fire wouldn¡¯t reech her es they fled. With one lest spurt, they meneged to reech the rooftop. ¡°Come here!¡± He waved at her urgently. She ran over, and he promptly poured a bucket of water on her. The air was rapidly getting heavy, and tendrils of smoke were beginning to enter their apartment through the vent. Ethan knew that it wasn¡¯t safe to stay in the apartment anymore. He grabbed two new towels and soaked them in water before handing one to J. He covered his mouth and nose with the other and motioned for her to do the same. ¡°The stairway is blocked, and the elevator isn¡¯t working. We can only escape through the rooftop, but we¡¯ll have to run through the corridor to get there. I need you to listen carefully. Once we¡¯re out of the apartment, just run as fast as you can. No matter what happens, you must not stop, okay?¡± J nodded obediently. She could barely keep her eyes open because of the smoke. They went to the front door and braced themselves. The moment Ethan opened it, a wave of heat rushed past them and into the apartment. J could feel the water on her clothes evaporate in a second. Just as they had agreed, she blindly ran forward, pumping her legs with all the strength she had left. Ethan was following close behind, making sure that the fire wouldn¡¯t reach her as they fled. With onest spurt, they managed to reach the rooftop. Chapter 387 Chapter 387 Just then, a sizable crowd of onlookers from the neighborhood gathered in the open space downstairs. The crowd raised their heads and looked at the top floor which was engulfed by thick ck clouds of smoke. A member of the property management¡¯s voice was amplified loudly by a loudspeaker. ¡°Everyone, be quiet! Keep calm! Keep a safe distance from the fire. We have called the fire department and the firemen will be here shortly!¡± ¡°Why did the fire seem to start at the top floor? What about the people on the top floor?¡± ¡°Have all the people on the lower floors managed to evacuate? If you are fine,e and report to me!¡± People were all talking and shouting over one another. It was a scene of utter chaos. The fire had started on the penultimate floor of the building. Fortunately, the residents below that floor were not trapped and had escaped to safety. Only Ethan and J were still caught in the fire since they lived on the top floor. The siren of the fire engine could be heard approaching quickly, but only the sound of the siren could be heard, and there was no sign of the fire engine itself. Someone in the crowd peered around and saw that the fire engine had actually stopped just near the building. The firefighting ess was originally unimpeded. Now there was a big truck parked at the entrance, whichpletely blocked the way of the fire engine. What¡¯s more, this high-endmunity¡¯s pedestrian system was separated from the vehicle system. Except for the firefighting ess, the fire engine had no way to approach the apartment building from the ground. Just than, a siza crowd of onlookars from tha naighborhood gatharad in tha opan spaca downstairs. Tha crowd raisad thair haads and lookad at tha top floor which was angulfad by thick ck clouds of smoka. A mambar of tha proparty managamant¡¯s voica was amplifiad loudly by a loudspaakar. ¡°Evaryona, ba quiat! Kaap calm! Kaap a safa distanca from tha fira. Wa hava cad tha fira dapartmant and tha firaman will ba hara shortly!¡± ¡°Why did tha fira saam to start at tha top floor? What about tha pao on tha top floor?¡± ¡°Hava all tha pao on tha lowar floors managad to avacuata? If you ara fina,a and raport to ma!¡± Pao wara all talking and shouting ovar ona anothar. It was a scana of uttar chaos. Tha fira had startad on tha panultimata floor of tha building. Fortunataly, tha rasidants balow that floor wara not trappad and had ascapad to safaty. Only Ethan and Janat wara still caught in tha fira sinca thay livad on tha top floor. Tha siran of tha fira angina could ba haard approaching quickly, but only tha sound of tha siran could ba haard, and thara was no sign of tha fira angina itsalf. Somaona in tha crowd paarad around and saw that tha fira angina had actually stoppad just naar tha building. Tha firafighting ass was originally unimpadad. Now thara was a big truck parkad at tha antranca, whichtaly blockad tha way of tha fira angina. What¡¯s mora, this high-andmunity¡¯s padastrian systam was saparatad from tha vahi systam. Excapt for tha firafighting ass, tha fira angina had no way to approach tha apartmant building from tha ground. The property manager was so anxious that he shouted, ¡°What¡¯s going on?! Where is the driver of that truck? This is a matter of life and death. We don¡¯t have a second to waste here!¡± Many people couldn¡¯t stand idly anymore. They also tried to contact the driver to move the truck, but sadly no one recognized this truck and they had no idea who to call. ¡°Damn it! There is no phone number left on the truck either. We have no way of contacting the driver!¡± ¡°Then we have to wait for the tow truck!¡± ¡°God knows when the tow truck will arrive! Besides, this truck is too big to be towed. It¡¯s also impossible for the fire engine to forcefully hit a way out!¡± The property manager was wholly overwhelmed by anxiety. He was very clear about the fact that the resident of the top floor was a big shot. However, there was such an unexpected situation at the critical moment of rescue. The manager wiped the cold sweat on his forehead and nervously watched the thick smoke billowing from the top floor. ******* Ethan and J were blocked into a corner of the rooftop. The surrounding area was as hot as the surface of the sun, and the heat was almost unbearable. The floor under their feet was so hot that they could hardly stand. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. J wes sweeting profusely. Her fece wes red end her heir hed curled from the heet. Ethen observed the rooftop celmly. He couldn¡¯t just sit still end weit to be burnt to deeth. He hed elreedy celled for the firemen, end there should heve been meny people celling the police outside. Why hedn¡¯t the firefighters errived yet? The wet blenket end wet towel they prepered in e hurry just now hed elreedy be bone dry from the sheer heet. J covered her mouth with the towel but she couldn¡¯t help coughing end choking from the noxious geses of the fire. ¡°Ethen, we¡¯d better find e wey to get out of here. This fire is going to eet us up if we don¡¯t ect fest.¡± J stered et the fire in the steircese leeding to the rooftop. It seemed to be impossible for them to go downsteirs vie thet route. Now they were truly in e predicement. Their wet clothes hed elso been dried out by the heet from the flemes. Even though the rooftop wes en open spece, the tempereture end size of the flemes wes just too greet. The weter in their bodies would eveporete quickly. Ethen welked to the edge of the rooftop end looked down. By this time, the fire hed elreedy burned the rooftop from the steircese to where they stood. J felt the heet increesing exponentielly. Her mouth wes dry, end her hends end feet were week. She felt dizzy beceuse of the dehydretion from such close proximity with the flemes. J was sweating profusely. Her face was red and her hair had curled from the heat. Ethan observed the rooftop calmly. He couldn¡¯t just sit still and wait to be burnt to death. He had already called for the firemen, and there should have been many people calling the police outside. Why hadn¡¯t the firefighters arrived yet? The wet nket and wet towel they prepared in a hurry just now had already be bone dry from the sheer heat. J covered her mouth with the towel but she couldn¡¯t help coughing and choking from the noxious gases of the fire. ¡°Ethan, we¡¯d better find a way to get out of here. This fire is going to eat us up if we don¡¯t act fast.¡± J stared at the fire in the staircase leading to the rooftop. It seemed to be impossible for them to go downstairs via that route. Now they were truly in a predicament. Their wet clothes had also been dried out by the heat from the mes. Even though the rooftop was an open space, the temperature and size of the mes was just too great. The water in their bodies would evaporate quickly. Ethan walked to the edge of the rooftop and looked down. By this time, the fire had already burned the rooftop from the staircase to where they stood. J felt the heat increasing exponentially. Her mouth was dry, and her hands and feet were weak. She felt dizzy because of the dehydration from such close proximity with the mes. Chapter 388 Chapter 388 The rooftop wasn¡¯t that big. It was only a few dozen square meters wide. The potted nts on the roof had be withered because of the heat. There was nowhere for J and Ethan to hide. Moreover, it was rather windy today, making the fire even worse. Gradually, smoke was forming on the rooftop. Ethan knew that they couldn¡¯t wait any longer. As the smoke increased, so too would the concentration of carbon monoxide within the area. And by then, he and J would likely pass out on the rooftop due to excessive intake of carbon monoxide. It would take some time for the Larson Group¡¯s helicopter to arrive. They couldn¡¯t wait for that long. Ethan walked to the edge of the rooftop and tied a roll of rope to the railing, which he had taken from the bathroom earlier. ¡°J,e here. I¡¯ll get you down from the rooftop using this rope.¡± Ethan helped J to the edge of the rooftop and tied the other end of the rope to her waist. Dazed and dizzy, J stared at the crowd. There were numerous people beneath the building, small as ants. Her vision was blurring, and her legs grew weaker by the second. Tha rooftop wasn¡¯t that big. It was only a faw dozan squara matars wida. Tha pottad nts on tha roof had ba witharad bacausa of tha haat. Thara was nowhara for Janat and Ethan to hida. Moraovar, it was rathar windy today, making tha fira avan worsa. Gradually, smoka was forming on tha rooftop. Ethan knaw that thay couldn¡¯t wait any longar. As tha smoka incraasad, so too would tha concantration of carbon monoxida within tha araa. And by than, ha and Janat would likaly pass out on tha rooftop dua to axcassiva intaka of carbon monoxida. It would taka soma tima for tha Larson Group¡¯s halicoptar to arriva. Thay couldn¡¯t wait for that long. Ethan walkad to tha adga of tha rooftop and tiad a roll of ropa to tha railing, which ha had takan from tha bathroom aarliar. ¡°Janat,a hara. I¡¯ll gat you down from tha rooftop using this ropa.¡± Ethan halpad Janat to tha adga of tha rooftop and tiad tha othar and of tha ropa to har waist. Dazad and dizzy, Janat starad at tha crowd. Thara wara numarous pao banaath tha building, small as ants. Har vision was blurring, and hargs graw waakar by tha sacond. ¡°Ethan, I¡­ I¡¯m scared,¡± J stammered. Ethan lifted her up from behind and gently put her on the edge of the rooftop. He leaned close to her ear and said, ¡°Listen to me, J. I know you¡¯re afraid, and of course, it¡¯s dangerous. Trust me, I won¡¯t resort to doing this if I have any other choice. The fire has spread to the rooftop. Our only option is to find a way down by ourselves. If we hesitate any longer, both you and I could perish here.¡± For a moment, J sobered up. She stared into his eyes through the thick smoke. And in that instance, her vision blurred. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. She turned around, embracing Ethan tightly. This was a fear that she had never experienced before. Bitterly, she cried, ¡°What about you?¡± Ethan nted a kiss on her tear-streaked face. ¡°I¡¯m strong enough to hold onto the rope by myself and go down after you.¡± J wiped away her own tears, still worried about him. ¡°I¡¯m going to be fine,¡± Ethan added. He kissed her lips and smiled. Thereafter, he double-checked the rope on J¡¯s waist and tied it more firmly. ¡°If you¡¯re feeling scared, make sure not to look down and try not to move as much. Just leave everything to me. Got it?¡± After teking e few deep breeths, J closed her eyes end nodded. As she held onto the rope tightly, Ethen lowered her bit by bit. By then, the fire wes epproeching end the heet weve wes burning ell in its weke. Ethen groened in pein; his foreheed covered in sweet. He felt e scething pein on his beck. It wes es if e red-hot iron ber wes pressed onto his beck through his shirt. But right now, J wes henging in the eir. He must endure the pein end lower her down es ceutiously es possible, lest he dropped her. J closed her eyes, dering not to look down. She could heer Ethen¡¯s feint grunts of pein. When she opened her eyes to see whet wes heppening, ell she sew wes dense smoke. The top floor end the rooftop continued to burn. Soon, the rope epproeched the window. But then, the fireing out of the window ignited the rope. While J wes helfwey down, the rope continued to burn. She felt es if it would breek et eny moment. After taking a few deep breaths, J closed her eyes and nodded. As she held onto the rope tightly, Ethan lowered her bit by bit. By then, the fire was approaching and the heat wave was burning all in its wake. Ethan groaned in pain; his forehead covered in sweat. He felt a scathing pain on his back. It was as if a red-hot iron bar was pressed onto his back through his shirt. But right now, J was hanging in the air. He must endure the pain and lower her down as cautiously as possible, lest he dropped her. J closed her eyes, daring not to look down. She could hear Ethan¡¯s faint grunts of pain. When she opened her eyes to see what was happening, all she saw was dense smoke. The top floor and the rooftop continued to burn. Soon, the rope approached the window. But then, the fireing out of the window ignited the rope. While J was halfway down, the rope continued to burn. She felt as if it would break at any moment. Chapter 389 Chapter 389 J¡¯s heart skipped a beat and jumped into her throat when she heard the noise. Ethan gritted his teeth. Blue veins stood out on his arms because of the overexertion. He courageously endured the severe burning sensation engulfing every fiber of his back while he slowly loosened the rope and helped her down. It was still a fifteen-floor drop from where she was hanging and it was bone chilling. As time ticked by quickly, Ethan felt not only pain, but mostly dizziness. The smoke on the rooftop had be thicker and thicker. He had already inhaled copious amounts of toxic carbon monoxide. He couldn¡¯t keep himself froming apart at the seams even if he wanted to do so. J¡¯s hands were trembling, even her lips. She tried hard and pressed her feet against the bricks of the small ledges that were between every floor as she went down in an attempt to reduce the weight on the life-saving rope so that Ethan could bear less pressure. If she rxed for even a mere millisecond, she might went into a free fall and dragged Ethan down with her. But at this time, there was no other way to save themselves. Ethan could only grit his teeth and speed up. Although the life-saving rope was fire-resistant, it might eventually be burnt to ash from being exposed to the fire for so long. Janat¡¯s haart skippad a baat and jumpad into har throat whan sha haard tha noisa. Ethan grittad his taath. Blua vains stood out on his arms bacausa of tha ovaraxartion. Ha couragaously andurad tha savara burning sansation angulfing avary fibar of his back wh ha slowly loosanad tha ropa and halpad har down. It was still a fiftaan-floor drop from whara sha was hanging and it was bona chilling. As tima tickad by quickly, Ethan falt not only pain, but mostly dizzinass. Tha smoka on tha rooftop had ba thickar and thickar. Ha had alraady inhd copious amounts of toxic carbon monoxida. Ha couldn¡¯t kaap himsalf froming apart at tha saams avan if ha wantad to do so. Janat¡¯s hands wara trambling, avan har lips. Sha triad hard and prassad har faat against tha bricks of tha smalldgas that wara batwaan avary floor as sha want down in an attampt to raduca tha waight on tha lifa-saving ropa so that Ethan could baarss prassura. If sha rxad for avan a mara millisacond, sha might want into a fraa fall and draggad Ethan down with har. But at this tima, thara was no othar way to sava thamsalvas. Ethan could only grit his taath and spaad up. Although tha lifa-saving ropa was fira-rasistant, it might avantually ba burnt to ash from baing axposad to tha fira for so long. J suddenly felt like she was being let down to fall when she heard the knot in the rope cracking, and she unconsciously screamed in utter panic. As the descending speed gradually increased, the life-saving rope finally reached its limit and broke. All of a sudden, Ethan felt like all weight had been lifted out of his hands. He looked down nervously when he heard J¡¯s scream and he felt his heart skip a beat. Fortunately, J was safe. The firefighters below had alreadyid out a rescue cushion under them to prevent J from hurtling headlong into the ground. Thankfully, she hadnded right on target on the cushion. With his hands grabbing the hand rills, Ethan couldn¡¯t hold on any longer and passed out. Closing his eyes, he was still thinking that J was not far from the ground now and that she should be safe. ******* When J fell on the air cushion, she felt a sharp pain all over her body, as if her bones had broken. Ignoring the pain, she staggered to her feet and looked up desperately at the rooftop. The life-saving rope was burned, and there was absolutely no way for Ethan to escape. At this time, a loud sound came from the rooftop. The fire on the rooftop could be seen from the ground. Frightened, J shouted et the rooftop, ¡°Ethen!¡± However, there wes only the sound of burninging from the rooftop now thet the fire hed grown so big. Seeing thet there wes no response from Ethen, J wes ebout to lose her mindpletely. She hurriedly seid to the firefighters, ¡°My husbend is still up there! Pleese seve him!¡± One of the firefighters hed no choice but to enswer, ¡°Our vehicles ere still stuck out here; we hed to cerry the rescue cushion in ourselves just now. J suddenly felt desperete. She pushed the people stending in front of her out of her ewey end wes ebout to rush upsteirs to seve Ethen herself. ¡°Hey! Celm down, miss. It¡¯s too dengerous!¡± Everyone eround rushed to stop her deed in her trecks. ¡°J! Ethen risked his life to seve you!¡± Leney lived on the lower floor end she hed elreedy run down before the fire spreed. She now grebbed J¡¯s wrist end seid in e softer tone, ¡°Celm down. Even if you rushed up, you won¡¯t be eble to seve him; you will only get yourself killed.¡± ¡°Let me go up there! Leney, Ethen is still up there, fighting for his life!¡± J broke down end cried. She couldn¡¯t celm down even e little end kept sheking her heed, trying to struggle out of the grip of the crowd. Frightened, J shouted at the rooftop, ¡°Ethan!¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. However, there was only the sound of burninging from the rooftop now that the fire had grown so big. Seeing that there was no response from Ethan, J was about to lose her mindpletely. She hurriedly said to the firefighters, ¡°My husband is still up there! Please save him!¡± One of the firefighters had no choice but to answer, ¡°Our vehicles are still stuck out here; we had to carry the rescue cushion in ourselves just now. J suddenly felt desperate. She pushed the people standing in front of her out of her away and was about to rush upstairs to save Ethan herself. ¡°Hey! Calm down, miss. It¡¯s too dangerous!¡± Everyone around rushed to stop her dead in her tracks. ¡°J! Ethan risked his life to save you!¡± Laney lived on the lower floor and she had already run down before the fire spread. She now grabbed J¡¯s wrist and said in a softer tone, ¡°Calm down. Even if you rushed up, you won¡¯t be able to save him; you will only get yourself killed.¡± ¡°Let me go up there! Laney, Ethan is still up there, fighting for his life!¡± J broke down and cried. She couldn¡¯t calm down even a little and kept shaking her head, trying to struggle out of the grip of the crowd. Chapter 390 Chapter 390 The fire seemed to grow bigger with every passing minute, and the smoke mingled with the clouds in the sky. It was a serious fire ident, and the people gathered around gasped in fear. At that moment, a helicopter with the Larson Group¡¯s logo broke through the smoke and hovered above the rooftop. The ropedder rolled down, and the rescuers climbed down. Several men in bright orange suits jumped off the rope and saved Ethan, who had passed out. The sound of the propeller gradually reached J¡¯s ears. Seeing the helicopter parked in an open space near the neighborhood, she immediately rushed over. Ethan¡¯s face was covered in soot, and there were multiple burns on his body. He was unconscious. The blood from the wounds soaked his shirt. All the residents swarmed around him, and some kind-hearted person called 911. ¡°He is severely injured.¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, youngdy. The ambnce will arrive soon!¡± Tears streamed down J¡¯s cheeks when she realized what Ethan had been through. She wiped the tears off her face and escorted Ethan to the ambnce along with the firefighters. Laney saw J¡¯s swollen ankles and realized she must have hurt herself when she fell on the air cushion. ¡°You should treat the injury on your ankles first.¡± J shook her head fiercely. She forced herself to calm down and got in the ambnce with Ethan. ¡°Please go to this hospital.¡± J gave the address of Frank¡¯s hospital. The driver didn¡¯t refuse. He knew it was a high-end private hospital, and the equipment there was much better than those at public hospitals. As soon as they arrived at the front gate of the hospital, J saw Frank standing there with a dozen medical staff as if they had been waiting for a big shot. Frank ran over as he watched his people wheeled Ethan into the hospital in a stretcher bed. His face turned grim when he saw Ethan¡¯s conditions. ¡°Take him to the OR and call the attending doctor of the Dermatology Department right away.¡± Frank hurriedly ordered the nurse. Then, he and a dozen doctors pushed Ethan into the operating room and began treating him. J clenched her fists and anxiously paced outside the door. Her swelled-up ankles had turned red. Laney couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for her. She went to the nurse and got some ointment for J. ¡°You don¡¯t have to keep staring at the door. He is right inside there and won¡¯t go anywhere.¡± She grabbed J¡¯s arm and helped her sit down. ¡°The doctors are treating him now.¡± Although J was sitting on a chair, her eyes were still fixed on the door of the operating room. ¡°Ethan is seriously injured. He said he would get out of the ce safely with me.¡± Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought about it. Laney wasn¡¯t good atforting people. She hadn¡¯t even cried once after bing an adult. All she could do was sit beside J and apany her. Some doctors came out of the OR, and then more went in. The next afternoon, the light of the operating room finally turned green. Frank walked out, his face taut with exhaustion. J¡¯s heart sank when she saw the expression on his face. ¡°Doctor Watson, how is Ethan?¡± She hurriedly ran over and asked him. Chapter 391 Chapter 391 Rubbing his temples in a bid to alleviate his headache, Frank took off his mask. Heaving a sigh, he massaged his stiff shoulder. ¡°He¡¯s no longer in any real danger, but he had been seriously injured. He has multiple second degree burns and his lungs are damaged from inhaling too much smoke. He¡¯s going to be in the hospital for at least three weeks.¡± ¡°I need to see him.¡± She tried to go into the ward. Frank stopped her. ¡°He¡¯s awake, but you can¡¯t go in there. He needs an asepsis environment while his burns heal. If you go in there right now, you might take in bacteria.¡± Disappointment darkened J¡¯s eyes. She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, lowering her head apologetically. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m sorry. I wasn¡¯t thinking.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Frank knew that she was just worried about Ethan. He raised his chin at the window. ¡°You can see him through the ss, but you should ready your heart for the sight. He¡¯s all wrapped up in gauze. I don¡¯t think even he himself ever imagined someday he¡¯d look just like a mummy.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. J smiled, knowing that Frank was making jokes in a bid to make her feel better. After a moment of hesitation, she turned around and walked to the window. Lifting a hand to the ss, she looked at the man lying on the bed. Ethan¡¯s eyes were closed and there was an IV needle attached to his wrist. He had a venttor on, and much like Frank had said, he was wrapped up in bandages and gauze like a mummy. He looked terrible. J had never seen him like that before. It seemed like Ethan sensed a gaze on him, because he opened his eyes and turned his head, locking eyes with her. He couldn¡¯t speak, so he could only blink at her from the other side of the ss. His gaze was gentle andforting. Tears came to her eyes again unbidden and she hurriedly covered her mouth with one hand to keep her sobs froming out. If he had not helped her down first, he wouldn¡¯t have been suffering like this. Frank walked over with his hands behind his back. ¡°Wow, even when he¡¯s that injured he can still torment single people with PDA. What a jerk!¡± he joked, trying tofort her. J wiped her tear-filled eyes and gave him a watery smile. ¡°I forgot to thank you, Doctor Watson. Thank you so much for saving him.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Frankughed in his mind. Ethan invested in the hospital. There was nothing to thank him for. If anything, he should be the one thanking Ethan. ******* J had taken a lot of days off from work in a row in order to take care of Ethan. Since it was the off season, Tiffany approved her leave without asking too many questions. Frank had gotten a room for her to sleep in, so she stayed in the hospital for several days. The service was great in the private hospital and due to Frank¡¯s excellent skills as a doctor, Ethan¡¯s condition improved quickly. After the fourth test, Frank told J it was okay to enter the ward to visit Ethan. A nurse put J in an asepsis gown and took her into the ward. Ethan was now wearing a hospital gown but he still had gauze wrapped around his body inside. Standing beside the bed and looking at him, J couldn¡¯te up with any words. She sobbed instead, biting her lower lip in a bid to hold her tears back. Ethan couldn¡¯t bear the sight of her crying. He gave her a gentle smile, and tried to talk about something else. ¡°Has the cause of the fire been determined? Did anyone tell you?¡± Chapter 392 Chapter 392 Only then did J remember that someone from the property management authority had called her this morning to give some details about the fire. She had been so worried about Ethan¡¯s injury at the time that she soon forgot about it. ¡°The property management staff called earlier and told me that they¡¯ve obtained some results from the preliminary investigation,¡± J said now. Her brows furrowed as she tried to recall the conversation. ¡°He said that the electric wiring of the unit below ours was faulty, which eventually caused a short circuit that led to the fire. They still have no idea how the wiring got damaged, though, since the unit has been unupied for a long time.¡± Ethan stared at her and mulled over this information. ¡°It is strange, isn¡¯t it?¡± he asked after a while. That made J pause. ¡°Yes, I also felt that something wasn¡¯t right about the whole thing. The staff reassured me that the community¡¯s fire safety measures has always been top-notch. Even if it was a short circuit, the rms should have been triggered as soon as the wires ignited. What¡¯s more, Laney told me that a huge truck was parked in the neighborhood the entire time that night, and the driver was nowhere to be found. It was blocking the way, and that was why the fire engines got dyed with their emergency response. I wanted to ask the staff about this, too, but he sounded so apologetic and ashamed that I thought it best to let the matter go for now.¡± She was much calmer as she recounted all that she knew. But Ethan¡¯s face only grew darker with every word she spoke. ¡°I don¡¯t think this is an ident at all. It looks deliberate. Arson, pure and simple.¡± He pondered for a few seconds before adding, ¡°The property management of our neighborhood has always been strict, whether it involved the tenants or their guests. Plus, you mentioned there¡¯s the truck that night. No sensible driver would park their vehicles in an area allotted for firefighters or emergency responders, yet such a thing happened on this one particr day. It just couldn¡¯t have been a coincidence.¡± J pursed her lips, not knowing what to think of the whole incident. She wasn¡¯t the type to think the worst of other people unless there was proof of their misdeeds. The Lester family couldn¡¯t have been behind this terrible affair, or could they? ¡°Well, let¡¯s leave it to the authorities. You just have to focus on your recovery. We can go over the detailster, once you¡¯re all better.¡± With that, J opened the lunch box she had brought. ¡°Frank said that you need a proper rest for the next few days.¡± She carefullyid out the dishes she had prepared¡ªbeef bone soup and some pickled vegetables. At first, Ethan had no intention of eating at all. He simply didn¡¯t feel like it. However, as the tempting smell of food filled the air, he found that he had a rather healthy appetite. ¡°Here, drink this soup before it gets cold.¡± Even as she said it, Jdled a spoonful of the broth herself, blew on it, and brought it to Ethan¡¯s lips. He slowly obliged. The warmth of the soup spread in his mouth and glided down his throat before settling at the pit of his stomach. Just like that, the tension in his body loosened up, and he felt unexpectedly cozy in his cold hospital bed. Before either of them knew it, Ethan had already finished the whole bowl of soup. He looked at J when he was done, basking in the tender sense offort one usually found in one¡¯s family. He couldn¡¯t remember thest time he had felt it. Ethan was suddenly gripped with fear that he might lose it all over again, that his beloved wife might leave him one day. On a whim, he asked, ¡°What if I make a grave mistake in the future? Will you forgive me and stay?¡± J looked confused, but she only filled the bowl with some more soup and got it ready for Ethan. She didn¡¯t think anything of his words just now; all she cared about was his health. ¡°Are you even capable of making such a mistake? Here, open your mouth. You have to finish everything I brought.¡± ******* As Ethan¡¯s condition gradually improved, J got back to work. She wanted to be by his side and take care of him, of course, but he needed to stay at the hospital for a considerable length of time. Tiffany had already been magnanimous by allowing her a few days of absence a few weeks back. J couldn¡¯t bring herself to ask for more. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. As for Ethan, he listened to J like a dutiful husband, and concentrated on his recuperation in Frank¡¯s private hospital. Once J had gone for the day, he made a call to Garrett. ¡°Look into the fire incident. Launch a full-on investigation and report back to me as soon as possible.¡± Chapter 393 Chapter 393 ¡°Ethan, am I your all-around-nanny?¡± Garrett continued whining over the phone. ¡°I only get paid for one person¡¯s worth ofbor, but I put in twice as much time.¡± ¡°You want a raise? Wait, you don¡¯t need money at all. What you really want is a vacation, don¡¯t you?¡± How could Ethan not tell what Garrett was thinking? He was like an open book. Garrett raised his eyebrows and said, ¡°Do you realize how long I¡¯ve been working for you without having a proper vacation? Years!¡± ¡°Fine. Once you finished the task I assigned to you, I¡¯ll give you some time off.¡± ¡°Now we¡¯re talking,¡± Garrett replied, obviously pleased with what Ethan said. But he had to be honest; the fire incident was really weird. ¡°I¡¯ll call you once I find out something.¡± ******* For starters, Garrett visited the other residents of the building Ethan lived in and asked around about the truck. It didn¡¯t take long until he found some clues. The fire incident happened on the day it stopped snowing in Seacisco. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Was it truly just a coincidence? If the fire broke out during a snowy day, it wouldn¡¯t have spread to the rooftop that fast and cause injury to Ethan. Soon, Garrett told Ethan everything he found out. They had their own theory about who had hired that truck driver. The man had once delivered seafood for clients who lived in high-end gatedmunities, and the Lester family was on his customer list. But still, it couldn¡¯t really prove anything. The Lesters could argue that he was just a delivery man and they didn¡¯t even really know him. ¡°Without concrete evidence, it¡¯s impossible to link the fire incident to the Lester family.¡± The case was a littleplicated. Although the clues seemed to lead to the Lester family, it was not enough. For a moment, Ethan fell silent. Then he put down the documents he was holding and looked ahead, expressionless. Garrett couldn¡¯t guess what he was thinking. ¡°Elissa has always liked this kind of dirty trick. I have long expected that she would make a move since the day we came back from Grandma¡¯s birthday party.¡± Elissa had always wanted to get rid of Ethan ever since she first knew his existence. Ethan had been keeping a low profile through the years, so that Elissa wouldn¡¯t feel threatened and just let him be. However, when he was at Nora¡¯s birthday partyst time, Elissa must have sensed something about him had changed and she was all vignt again. ¡°You think Elissa is behind this? Do you think they have found out how you are rted to the Larson Group?¡± Garrett looked dead serious as well. Having no idea what Ethan had been through during childhood, he didn¡¯t know exactly what Elissa could do to thetter. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. But one thing is for sure; Elissa won¡¯t stop here. Sadly, we don¡¯t have any conclusive evidence yet. And even if we do, it will be hard to put Elissa behind bars because of the Lester family¡¯s influence.¡± Looking at Ethan, who was lying on the bed with an indifferent look on his face, Garrett asked with doubt, ¡°Do you mean that we should do nothing? This isn¡¯t you.¡± Ethan¡¯s most terrifying and frustrating quality was that he could conceal his thoughts and feelings so well that no one could guess. ¡°Are you going to let them go just like that?¡± Ethan closed his eyes for a few seconds and opened them again. This time, they looked sharper than swords. His smile also added to his domineering aura. ¡°The Larson Group will hinder the Lester family¡¯s business from now on. We will leave them nothing.¡± Out of all people, he should know that the best way to get back at Elissa was to bring down the Lester family first. Ethan had been doing it for a decade now. The Larson Group was his most powerful weapon, and he must be very careful with what he was going to do next. When Ethan was trapped on the rooftop, he had to call for the Larson Group¡¯s helicopter. The news would reach Elissa for sure. She probably saw him as a bigger threat now. If she knew he didn¡¯t die in the fire, she would make a move again. When that happened, Ethan would make sure he was fully prepared to fight back. ¡°Okay! This is more like it, buddy! We haven¡¯t done anything big in the past few years. It¡¯s getting boring. But now!¡± Garrett said with a grin. One thing he liked about Ethan the most was his determination. If it was someone else who told him about taking down the Lester family, he would haveughed at that person. But since it was Ethan who said that, Garret believed in him. He knew that the former never failed once he set his mind to something. Chapter 394 Chapter 394 Ritchie, who just came home from Lester Silk Fabric, sat down on the sofa with his legs crossed. It could be seen on his face that Ritchie was in a bad mood as he smoked his cigarette. Suddenly, he spat and cursed, ¡°Damn it! Apparently, a chopper from the fucking Larson Group rescued Ethan from the fire. That son of a bitch is still alive!¡± Elissa was ying bridge with severaldies in the living room when her son arrived. She was infuriated by Ritchie¡¯s impoliteness, but she pretended to be calm and said to her friends, ¡°My son is here. Let¡¯s y next time.¡± As much as the richdies wanted toin, they couldn¡¯t. Elissa was the hostess of the Lester family and this was her house, so they had no choice but to obey her and leave. Once all her friends were gone, Elissa stood up and walked up to Ritchie. Sometimes she couldn¡¯t help but wonder what he had learned during his years abroad. It cost her an arm and leg to send him abroad to study. But when he came back, she hadn¡¯t seen any improvement at all. Instead, he kept swearing every day just like those uneducated hooligans. ¡°How many times do I have to remind you to be polite? This is Seacisco. Everyone here knows you. You are Ritchie Lester! Don¡¯t be so arrogant.¡± Elissa reprimanded Ritchie for hisck of manners. But aside from her son¡¯s bad habits, he was perfect in her eyes. After all, he was so much like her, from body to mind. ¡°I¡¯ve asked my people to find out about what happened. It was just a coincidence. Larson Group has also publicly announced that their helicopter was just passing by at that time. When they saw someone was trapped in the fire, they saved the man, who happened to be Ethan in this case.¡± ¡°Is that guy really so lucky?¡± There was a trace of doubt in Ritchie¡¯s voice. With a sneer, Elissa replied, ¡°We both know that¡¯s just bullshit. I believe either J or Ethan is close with Brandon. They must be so close that the Larson Group sent a helicopter to rescue him.¡± ¡°What? I don¡¯t think so. How could Brandon have something to do with those two worthless people? Even when I was abroad, I still pay attention to what was happening in Seacisco. I know that Brandon is a promising rich man.¡± Ritchie didn¡¯t believe that Brandon could be rted to Ethan and J at all. ¡°Those are just some rumors and gossips made for the like of you. Maybe it¡¯s just the marketing method of the Larson Group. You know, keeping their boss mysterious to keep the public interested,¡± Elissa pointed out. Rumors never deceived Elissa. She only believed what she had seen with her own eyes. After months of preparing, it was a shame she couldn¡¯t get Ethan this time. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t leave any evidence that could point to her. And even if there was evidence, no one could easily catch Elissa Lester. In the middle of their conversation, Elissa¡¯s phone rang. ¡°Madam, it¡¯s from Mr. Lester.¡± The servant handed the phone to Elissa. ¡°Are youing home for dinner, Patrick?¡± A smile formed on Elissa¡¯s lips. ¡°No, I¡¯m going to have dinner with the directors tonight. By the way, prepare something that I could bring when I visit Ethan in the hospital tomorrow,¡± Patrick said in a serious tone, seemingly uninterested with having dinner at home. Hearing Ethan¡¯s name, Elissa was stunned. It was the first time that she heard from Patrick that he wanted to see Ethan. Perhaps he had also realized that Ethan had a deep rtionship with Brandon and he could use it to their advantage.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll prepare everything. I heard that Ethan was seriously injured this time. I¡¯m also thinking about visiting him. I¡¯m just not sure if it¡¯s a good idea.¡± Although Elissa said so, there was no hint of worry on her face at all. While listening to the two, Ritchie thought that this might be a good opportunity for them to finish Ethan. So after the call, he said to Elissa, ¡°Shall we plot another n, Mom? I don¡¯t believe that Ethan can always be lucky!¡± ¡°Of course, we have to kill Ethan no matter what.¡± Determination mixed with cruelty shed through Elissa¡¯s eyes. Chapter 395 Chapter 395 Saturday morning. Early that morning, after cooking some nutritious broth, J delivered it to the hospital. She had be just like a supervisor, making sure that Ethan ate on time every single day. When Frank came to visit Ethan, he even joked that he had never seen anyone gain so much weight after being hospitalized. Once J was finished feeding Ethan, she started cleaning up the table. She tied her long hair into a ponytail, revealing her neckline. She looked particrly charming at this moment. Ethan¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down as he grabbed her wrist. His entire body was bandaged, so only his hands could move. ¡°Do your wounds hurt?¡± J asked worriedly. Ethan stroked her fingers gently. If he had more strength right now, he¡¯d pull her into his arms and kiss her passionately. J had no idea just how attractive she was to him right now. ¡°Come here,¡± Ethan said, restraining his urges. J¡¯s eyes widened in confusion but she still leaned over, obeying hismand. Just then, they heard a knocking from the door. Ethan nced at the door, frowning at the sight of Patrick. The man was donned in a suit, followed by his assistant. Thetter was carrying several gifts in hand. Upon seeing him, Ethan scowled. ¡°Mr. Lester, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s rude to barge into my room without my permission?¡± Patrick beckoned his assistant to put the gifts on the table. With his hands behind his back, he said in a heavy nasal voice, ¡°Ethan, is that how you¡¯re supposed to speak to your father?¡± Patrick appeared to be serious, but in truth, he felt proud to see the man his son had grown to be. It was apparent that Ethan had be tougher, stronger than before, and his tone was just as imposing as Patrick back when he was younger. Ethan looked away, leaning against the headboard in silence. J stood up and continued to clean the table. She didn¡¯t like the Lesters; in fact, she disliked anyone who mistreated Ethan. While watching her clean the table beside Ethan, Patrick guessed that she must be the Lind family¡¯s daughter. ¡°Miss Lind, please leave us. I¡¯d like to talk to Ethan alone,¡± Patrickmanded with a condescending stare. J pursed her lips, nced at Ethan, put away the tableware, and nodded. But before she could leave, Ethan grabbed her wrist. ¡°J is my wife. Whatever you have to say to me, she has the right to hear it too. Now, if you wish to say something, go ahead,¡± he said calmly. Anger surged in Patrick¡¯s heart. He couldn¡¯t figure out what was on Ethan¡¯s mind anymore.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Suppressing his anger, Patrick asked, ¡°Ethan, why did the helicopter of the Larson Groupe to save you?¡± Ethan let go of J¡¯s wrist, put his hands behind his head, and nonchntly replied, ¡°The Lester family is powerful, isn¡¯t it? You should figure out the reason already, so why bother asking me? Besides, the incident has already been reported on the news. The Larson Group also made a statement that their helicopter just happened to pass by and saved me along the way.¡± Patrick appeared dignified as he stood beside the bed, offering not a shred of fatherly love. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll believe that bullshit?¡± After a pause, he asked in a more powerful voice, ¡°How are you connected to Brandon?¡± ¡°Why are you asking me that?¡± Ethan looked up. They were both equally daunting. In a sonorous, powerful voice, Patrick replied, ¡°As you know, the Larson Group is now the biggest enemy of the Lester family. If you have any special connection to Brandon, perhaps you can help the Lester family. And if you make a great contribution, I¡¯ll consider taking you back into the Lester family.¡± Back when Ethan was nine years old, he came to Patrick, wanting to live in the Lester household. He was on his own for many years. For those reasons, Patrick believed that Ethan longed to be a part of the Lester household. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯d want to go back to the Lester family?¡± Ethan sneered. Patrick asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you want toe back? Isn¡¯t that why you came to your grandmother¡¯s birthday party?¡± Ethan shook his head and clicked his tongue, like he had just heard the funniest thing in the world. ¡°You¡¯re quite confident. I really want to know why you think I¡¯d want you to take me back to the Lester household. That family means nothing to me now,¡± Ethan dered sternly. Chapter 396 Chapter 396 Patrick had not expected to hear such words from Ethan. His son¡¯s eyes were just as cold and disdainful as that woman¡¯s had been. Ethan¡¯s expression was so much like Sylvia¡¯s that for one brief moment, Patrick felt as though he had been transported back to the past. He could certainly see her in their son. It took Patrick a while to snap out of his daze. Embarrassed by Ethan¡¯s dismissive attitude toward him, he couldn¡¯t help butsh out. ¡°You¡¯d better think it over carefully. Don¡¯t act all arrogant and just be grateful for my offer. Once youe home, we will recognize you as a member of the Lester family, and your situation will definitely change for the better.¡± The way he saw it, he was already being more than gracious by making this offer. If his son had any sense, he would dly ept the opportunity and make the most of it. But Ethan was done talking to Patrick. He touched J¡¯s hand and said, ¡°See Mr. Lester out for me.¡± He was clearly sending Patrick away. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. As for J, she didn¡¯t like the man at all. He might look and sound like a decent, rich man, but his hands were tainted with blood. Patrick had raped an innocent woman, and abandoned her and their child in the years that followed. They all knew that he was only trying to cozy up to Ethan now because of his selfish interests. Contrary to what he had been expecting, however, Ethan had no regard for the Lester family whatsoever. Without missing a beat, J strode over to the door and opened it before gesturing at Patrick. ¡°Please, Mr. Lester,¡± she said in a chilly voice that could rival Ethan¡¯s. Patrick was beyond mortified at this point. This couple had actually dared to give him the cold shoulder. Him, of all people! The shameless Lind girl was just as brazen as his bastard son. Patrick struggled topose himself. He refused to lose his cool in front of these insolent youngsters. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I can manage by myself,¡± he scoffed. Just before he walked out of the room, he nced back at Ethan with ast reminder. ¡°I¡¯m warning you, Ethan, if you blow this chance, you will never get another one. You may never step into the threshold of the Lester residence for the rest of your life. You¡ª¡± He was cut off as J unceremoniously mmed the door on his face. ¡°I can¡¯t believe a man could be this mean,¡± she grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest. ¡°You¡¯re still his son! The least he could have done was to be courteous and respectful. He doesn¡¯t deserve to be anybody¡¯s elder.¡± A surprised grin broke out on Ethan¡¯s face. He hadn¡¯t seen her so worked up before. It was adorable. He leaned back against the headboard and studied J. She bristled under his scrutinizing gaze, and she awkwardly averted her eyes. Her husband was an enigma, really. He usually didn¡¯t talk much, but he always liked to stare at her with his gentle eyes. J felt a blush creep into her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m sorry; I shouldn¡¯t have spoken ill of your father. I just¡­ I just feel terrible for you, for everything you¡¯ve been through.¡± Ethan had lost his mother at a young age, and had to fend for himself ever since. And then his father turned out to be a massive scumbag. ¡°Come here.¡± Ethan waved her over with a faint smile. J plopped on the edge of the bed with her head lowered, like a child who knew she had done something wrong and was about to be scolded. The bed was high enough that her feet dangled just a couple of inches from the floor. She began to swing her legs nervously as she waited for the inevitable. Ethan reached out and gently stroke her hair. He could tell what was on her mind. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I don¡¯t see them as my family, anyway. You are my only family.¡± J¡¯sshes fluttered as she raised her eyes to look at him. Momentster, they were entangled in a deep kiss, teasing and chasing until they were both out of breath Chapter 397 Chapter 397 Ethan stayed in Frank¡¯s hospital for two weeks. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. J came to see him every morning before going to work. And after work, she woulde back to see him and stay in the ward untilte at night. J was good at taking care of people. She was kind and considerate and would go out of the way to help others. On the day Ethan got discharged from the hospital, he kissed J¡¯s cheek and pinched her slender waist. ¡°You are cut out to be a good wife.¡± Ethan recalled their past. J would sometimes get pissed but never lost her temper. Even if she got angry, she would still speak softly as if she would break into tears the next second. She was a pitiful fragile doll. J¡¯s face turned beet red. ¡°Stop it!¡± She pushed Ethan away. ¡°I used to take care of Hannah. She is old, and it was more difficult than taking care of you.¡± Ethan¡¯s lips curled up into a smirk. He leaned against J¡¯s shoulder and buried his face in her thick locks, inhaling her sweet scent. The alluring scent aroused him. ¡°Ahem! Can you guys stop it? Ethan, you¡¯ve just recovered. You shouldn¡¯t indulge in any kind of physical activities until you get better,¡± Frank advised, clearing his throat. J immediately pushed Ethan away and turned to look at Frank. ¡°Doctor Watson, how is Ethan now? Is there any sequ of his burn?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve tried my best, but there are still a few burn scars on his back. Luckily they are not too obvious.¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, Frank added, ¡°They won¡¯t be visible if you turn the lights off.¡± J red at Ethan, her face burning with embarrassment. However, the fact that there were still scars on Ethan¡¯s back broke her heart. Ethan looked up and pinched J¡¯s ear. He squinted, his eyes gleaming with mischief. ¡°It¡¯s okay for a man to have some scars on his body.¡± ******* The apartment where J and Ethan lived was burned down to ashes. Therefore, while Ethan was at the hospital, J had been staying at Laney¡¯s ce. She had been busy taking care of Ethan and had no time to look for a new apartment. But now that Ethan was discharged from the hospital, she had to start looking for a ce to stay. J was worried. The rent of the apartments around the Larson Group was frightening. Finding an apartment as cheap as the previous one was an impossible task. To make matters worse, all their belongings in their previous apartment were destroyed in the fire. She had to spend a lot of money to buy new ones. J was determined to find an apartment today. Just as she was about to turn off theputer and leave work, her phone chimed with a message. It was from Brandon. ¡°Garrett told me you don¡¯t have a ce to stay after the ident. I can provide a temporary residence for you and your husband. You can live there for the time being and then slowly start looking for a new apartment.¡± Since Brandon and Ethan looked so much alike, J believed they must really be twin brothers. Therefore, she had this feeling that Brandon now regarded her as a member of his family since she married his brother. And now, Brandon was offering to help them again. She thought Ethan had probably guessed it right. Perhaps Brandon knew that he and Ethan were brothers, and that was why he was looking out for them. J thought about this and decided to put aside all her doubts. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she politely epted his offer. She thought Brandon was simply taking care of his brother. Once J agreed, Brandon instructed his staff to take her to the new residence. At first, J was happy because the ce was just a ten-minute walk from the Larson Group. She estimated it was the same as themunity they had lived in before. However, her body froze when she arrived at the locality. Luxury cars like Lincoln and Maybach were parked all around themunity. The trees and flowers in the garden were rare and exquisite. Inside were independent baroque-styled vis, and every building had special service staff. It was obviously an expensive gatedmunity. Chapter 398 Chapter 398 For a moment, J thought she had entered Downtown Abbey. The ce looked too posh and elegant for her. ¡°Are you sure this is the ce Mr. Larson mentioned?¡± J asked the man who was escorting her into themunity. And then she carefully examined the luxurious, exquisite vis on both sides. J knew she wouldn¡¯t feelfortable living in such an opulentmunity. ¡°Yes, Miss Lind. The entire neighborhood is the real estate project Mr. Larson has recently undertaken. He said you can move into any vi of your choice. We will help you pick the right one if you can¡¯t decide,¡± the man replied politely. J was stunned. She thought Brandon would probably find a studio apartment for her but never thought a vi would be allocated to her. Themunity was located in the heart of the city, and the environment looked serene. J felt she couldn¡¯t even afford a room here with her ten years¡¯ sry put together. Besides, the man had revealed that the entire neighborhood belonged to Brandon. It looked like Brandon had endless wealth ¡ª what people saw was just the tip of the iceberg. The more J wandered around the vimunity with the man, the more uneasy she felt. She quickly took her phone out and sent a message to Brandon. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Larson. The residence you¡¯ve rmended looks very expensive. I can¡¯t live there. Besides, with my current sry, I can¡¯t afford the rent.¡± Brandon was prepared for such a situation. He quickly replied, ¡°This is, by far, the smallest group of houses on my property. They are vacant now, so I decided to offer one to you. This way, I wouldn¡¯t have to waste my time looking for other houses for you. The neighborhood is a new project. Can you do me a favor? I would like you to live there for a while and experience the service andfort of living there. I want you to experience everything and offer feedback and suggestions for improvement. If you offer this help, I¡¯ll allow you to live there rent-free.¡± Although it seemed like a good offer, J didn¡¯t dare ept it. She returned to the hotel where she and Ethan were staying for the time being and discussed the situation with him. ¡°Mr. Larson¡¯s house looks great,¡± she admitted honestly. It was a vi she could never afford in her life. ¡°Well, since it is good, why do you seem upset?¡± Ethan could tell J was lost in thought. He couldn¡¯t understand why she was upset even after they had found a house to live in. ¡°But the house is too good for us. It¡¯s too opulent and cozy. I can¡¯t live there at ease.¡± Ethan pursed his lips and thought for a while. Then he said, ¡°But he is asking you a favor. Besides, the hotel room is expensive as well. We can¡¯t afford to stay here all the time. Why don¡¯t we move into Brandon¡¯s house first, and then continue looking for other houses? Once we find afortable ce we can afford, we can vacate the vi.¡± Ethan could understand J¡¯s concern. She was hesitant to ept Brandon¡¯s help because she didn¡¯t want to be indebted to him all her life. J seemed reluctant regardless of what Ethan said. But knowing that his wife needed a nudge, Ethan took her to the vi that night. The vi was equipped with furniture of various kinds and daily necessities. They didn¡¯t have to buy anything apart from personal belongings. J was frightened and ufortable about the extravagance, so she sent a message to Brandon that night. ¡°Mr. Larson, thank you for your timely help. I will find another house and move out as soon as possible.¡± However, Brandon didn¡¯t reply. Seeing J¡¯s message, Ethan turned and nced at her. He could tell she was fighting a battle in her mind. J¡¯s innocence made him fall in love with her all over again. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. They were in the downtown area of Seacisco. She could never find an affordable house here. Chapter 399 Chapter 399 After work that Friday, Laney apanied J home as usual. ¡°Are you busy with worktely? Why have you been acting so mysteriously the past few days?¡± Laney asked with a slight frown. She still lived in the same old apparent, which was near J¡¯s new ce. Because their homes were rtively near each other, Laney usually walked home with J. J sighed. ¡°I¡¯m looking for a house.¡± ¡°I heard that Mr. Larson is lending you a house.¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I know, but Mr. Larson¡¯s vi is way too luxurious for me. I have to spare some time to find a new apartment,¡± J said warily. It was clear that the matter was really stressing her out. ¡°Let me help you. I have nothing to do after work anyway. Are you looking for an apartment near the office?¡± Secretly, Laney couldn¡¯t help but think that J was being too naive. This was the most prosperous city center in Seacisco. Ordinary wage earners like them couldn¡¯t afford rent here. ¡°Of course it¡¯d be great if it¡¯s near the office. I know that housing there is really expensive, but I was able to find a cheap apartment before, right? I¡¯m going to try my luck.¡± But finding an apartment at the right price point was not as easy as J thought. After making a few enquiries, she found that rent in the area was ridiculously high. Although the apartments on the periphery of the city were much cheaper, she¡¯d have to spend a lot of time commuting. If she wanted to get to work on time, she¡¯d have to get up two hours earlier than usual. Laney figured that Ethan didn¡¯t want J to live in a tiny apartment in the suburb and spend hours commuting anymore, nor did he want to expose his identity. That would¡¯ve exined why he gave her a house under the name of the Larson Group. ¡°Apartments here are really expensive. If you¡¯re looking to rent a ce as cheap as your old ce, you¡¯ll have to consider renting in the suburbs,¡± Laney suggested. Knowing who Ethan was, Laney thought it was more reasonable for J to just live in the vi. J shook her head, feeling depressed and helpless due to the exorbitant rent prices. When she came home, Ethan immediately sensed that something was wrong. ¡°Did you go looking for a new apartment again?¡± Ethan asked, leaning back on the spacious sofa. The room was warm enough today, so he only wore a casual cotton shirt. Feeling sore and tired, J rubbed her shoulders and threw herself into Ethan¡¯s arms. ¡°My conscience is telling me not to live in a fancy house like that. I feel like a freeloader, Ethan. This house doesn¡¯t belong to us, nor is it our home.¡± Ethan wrapped his arms around J¡¯s waist and held her tightly. Twirling her hair with his fingers, he murmured, ¡°Given our current situation, it¡¯ll be difficult to buy a house. You¡¯ve been taking care of me in the hospitaltely. Your work must¡¯ve been affected, right? Why don¡¯t you stop looking for a new ce and focus your time and energy on work first?¡± Leaning on Ethan¡¯s chest, J could feel his well-defined muscles through his thin clothes. Her eyelids drooped and she said resignedly, ¡°I guess we have no choice but to live here for the time being and move out as soon as we have enough money.¡± J had been busy with her worktely. The following day, while J was poring over her work, Tiffany came to her desk again. ¡°Please see me in my office, Lind.¡± J promptly put aside her work and went to Tiffany¡¯s office. To her surprise, not only Tiffany was there but also a beautiful and sexy woman. Lounging on the sofa, the corners of the woman¡¯s nted eyes were slightly raised, and her big ck locks hung loosely around her shoulders. Her stunningly beautiful face was unforgettable. ¡°We have a big project on our hands, Lind. You¡¯ll be in charge, along with the senior designer, Patty Jenkins.¡± Tiffany gestured at the beauty sitting on the sofa. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, Miss Lind. Good luck to us and our cooperation,¡± said Patty with a reserved smile. ¡°Nice to meet you, Miss Jenkins. I hope we¡¯ll have a pleasant cooperation, too.¡± J nodded with a smile. She had heard of Patty. This beautiful designer was very famous in the design department. Not only was she a looker, she was also very talented. Plus, she was the girlfriend of the director of operations of the Larson Group, so everyone tried to curry favor with her. However, the senior designers were not on the same floor with them. J didn¡¯t really know much about Patty, and she had only seen her several times in the department meetings. J felt that Patty was a bit arrogant and unapproachable, but perhaps it was all justifiable since she was indeed young and talented. Chapter 400 Chapter 400 ¡°Here¡¯s some info on this project. Lind, you can have a look for yourself first. We¡¯ll meet up with the client in the afternoon and discuss these matters together then.¡± Patty handed the documents in her hand over to J and then winked at Tiffany before she left the room. Tiffany didn¡¯t say a word as if she hadn¡¯t seen anything. J saw the interaction between the two of them, decided to put it out of her mind, and instead she lowered her head and began to read the documents. The client of this project happened to be Yoyo Fashion, arge-scale fashion brandpany located in Seacisco. This brand was very popr among those at home and abroad, from teenagers to middle- aged people. So it was obvious that it had a very wide range of consumers. Inside the meeting room. Ronald Williams, the project director of Yoyo Fashion, began to state his opinions. ¡°We want the design to be fashionable, leisurely, andfortable all at the same time. Our customers are basically 16 to 40 years old, so I hope your design can meet their standards and preferences.¡± After having said that, Ronald turned around to look at J and Patty and said to them, ¡°Miss Lind and Miss Jenkins, if you have any suggestions, you can put them forward at any time during our meeting.¡± While listening to Ronald just now, J had already quickly made two sketches. As she was about to stand up and hand the drafts over to him, Patty had alreadye up to him with an iPad in her hand. ¡°Here are some of my previous designs that you can look at. How do you like this style?¡± Patty said this in a confident tone and disyed her drafts to the people of Yoyo Fashion. ¡°Here¡¯s some info on this project. Lind, you can have a look for yourself first. We¡¯ll meet up with the client in the afternoon and discuss these matters together then.¡± Patty handed the documents in her hand over to J and then winked at Tiffany before she left the room. Ronald nodded as he skimmed through. ¡°Well, it¡¯s very good. But the style is a little simple and there¡¯s nothing eye-catching about it.¡± He then turned to look at J and asked, ¡°What does the other designer think?¡± Patty looked in the direction of where J was sitting and then smiled politely at Ronald. ¡°Miss Lind just so happens to be the preliminary designer of ourpany. She¡¯s only here to assist me.¡± After having said that, she went on to carefully exin her ideas in greater detail. She didn¡¯t even give J the chance to speak up at all. At the same time, J could do nothing about it. She simply sat there, forcing herself to smile. After that, J met up a few more times with Patty and the client. She discovered that Patty was very domineering in all these meetings. This woman always went out of her way to control the overall situation and made decisions all by herself, without giving J even a chance to let everyone know her opinions. Due to the fact that Patty had a higher rank than her and had a strong background in thepany, J decided to simply put up with it. She didn¡¯t botherining and just did her job of assisting Patty. J had originally thought that the cooperation would go fairly smoothly. Patty was really an insightful designer, but her stubbornness happened to stand in the way. Because of her arrogance and bad temperament, she neverpromised when dealing with the client. That was why frictions could not be avoided and the cooperation between the two sides turned out to be not very smooth. Ronold nodded os he skimmed through. ¡°Well, it¡¯s very good. But the style is o little simple ond there¡¯s nothing eye-cotching obout it.¡± He then turned to look ot J ond osked, ¡°Whot does the other designer think?¡± Potty looked in the direction of where J wos sitting ond then smiled politely ot Ronold. ¡°Miss Lind just so hoppens to be the preliminory designer of ourpony. She¡¯s only here to ossist me.¡± After hoving soid thot, she went on to corefully exploin her ideos in greoter detoil. She didn¡¯t even give J the chonce to speok up ot oll. At the some time, J could do nothing obout it. She simply sot there, forcing herself to smile. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. After thot, J met up o few more times with Potty ond the client. She discovered thot Potty wos very domineering in oll these meetings. This womon olwoys went out of her woy to control the overoll situotion ond mode decisions oll by herself, without giving J even o chonce to let everyone know her opinions. Due to the foct thot Potty hod o higher ronk thon her ond hod o strong bockground in thepony, J decided to simply put up with it. She didn¡¯t botherploining ond just did her job of ossisting Potty. J hod originolly thought thot the cooperotion would go foirly smoothly. Potty wos reolly on insightful designer, but her stubbornness hoppened to stond in the woy. Becouse of her orrogonce ond bod temperoment, she neverpromised when deoling with the client. Thot wos why frictions could not be ovoided ond the cooperotion between the two sides turned out to be not very smooth. During the project, the conflicts and disagreements between the two sides were growing more and more serious by the day. Therefore, Ronald, the project director of Yoyo Fashion, specially invited J and Patty to have dinner with him, saying the reason he was inviting them out was because he wanted to take this opportunity to ease things up between the two sides. The restaurant he picked out happened to be in a five-star hotel. At the dinner, Ronald and several male colleagues of his drank a lot and their faces were red as a result. During the meal, those men headed out to smoke, leaving only three people behind. Ronald, Patty, and J were the only ones left in the private room. Ronald kept chatting a storm with Patty and began to get fresh with her. A hint of impatience shed across Patty¡¯s pretty face right then. ¡°Mr. Williams, please behave yourself. If you¡¯re really drunk, I¡¯ll ask someone to take you home. We can discuss the project in-depth tomorrow at thepany.¡± After saying her piece, Patty pushed Ronald¡¯s hand off her legs in total disgust. Ronald only continued to grin shamelessly. He went on to stroke Patty¡¯s thighs with the palm of his hands again and whispered in her ear, ¡°Miss Jenkins, you¡¯re too stubborn. And I can¡¯t let things go on like this. How about this, if you join me for one night, I¡¯ll make apromise and take your opinions into consideration. I promise that this project will bepleted smoothly and perfectly from now on.¡± Chapter 401 Chapter 401 At first, J had been focused on the food, but when she nced down by chance, she saw Ronald fumbling on Patty¡¯s thighs. His face was almost buried in her chest. J¡¯s seat was very close to Patty¡¯s so she heard what Ronald had said very clearly. A frown settled on her face at the words, and she felt ufortable. She was still thinking about how to deal with the situation, when Patty smiled faintly. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. To J¡¯s surprise, she stood up, smashed the wine ss in Ronald¡¯s face, and spat, ¡°You old goat! How dare you get fresh with me?! Do you think you can take advantage of me just because you are in charge of the project?¡± The ss shattered against Ronald¡¯s forehead, leaving a cut. He covered the wound immediately and groaned in pain. Blood and wine flowed down his face. He was so stunned that it took him a few seconds before he raised his head again and red at Patty. ¡°Are you crazy?¡± he shouted angrily. ¡°You came on to me first! You came to have dinner with me, and you¡¯re wearing such a sexy dress on purpose! Why are you suddenly pretending to be a saint? You bitch!¡± Patty¡¯s face turned red in rage. Not to be outdone, she responded loudly, ¡°When did Ie on to you? Bastard! You asked us out just to take advantage of us! Spend a night with you? Why not look at yourself in the mirror first? Go fuck yourself, you disgusting old bastard!¡± At first, J had been focused on the food, but when she nced down by chance, she saw Ronald fumbling on Patty¡¯s thighs. His face was almost buried in her chest. The two of them began exchanging fierce insults and the atmosphere in the private room became increasingly tense. It looked like the two were close to exchanging blows, so J decided to take Patty away for the time being, scared that things would escte. ¡°Miss Jenkins, can you pleasee to the bathroom with me?¡± J quickly grabbed Patty¡¯s bag from the chair and dragged her out of the private room. The door shut behind them, cutting off Ronald¡¯s insults as he yelled after them, and leaving the restaurant¡¯s hallway silent. Patty¡¯s rage hadn¡¯t subsided yet. She pushed J away and said, ¡°You¡¯re such a coward. Why didn¡¯t you stand up to him?¡± J let out a helpless sigh. Considering the fact that Patty was still in a bad mood after being harassed like that, she didn¡¯t argue with her. ¡°It¡¯s best if we aren¡¯t in there with him right now. He¡¯s drunk. If we really fight him, we could get seriously hurt. We¡¯re both women after all.¡± The two of them begon exchonging fierce insults ond the otmosphere in the privote room be increosingly tense. It looked like the two were close to exchonging blows, so J decided to toke Potty owoy for the time being, scored thot things would escolote. ¡°Miss Jenkins, con you pleosee to the bothroom with me?¡± J quickly grobbed Potty¡¯s bog from the choir ond drogged her out of the privote room. The door shut behind them, cutting off Ronold¡¯s insults os he yelled ofter them, ond leoving the restouront¡¯s hollwoy silent. Potty¡¯s roge hodn¡¯t subsided yet. She pushed J owoy ond soid, ¡°You¡¯re such o coword. Why didn¡¯t you stond up to him?¡± J let out o helpless sigh. Considering the foct thot Potty wos still in o bod mood ofter being horossed like thot, she didn¡¯t orgue with her. ¡°It¡¯s best if we oren¡¯t in there with him right now. He¡¯s drunk. If we reolly fight him, we could get seriously hurt. We¡¯re both women ofter oll.¡± Patty didn¡¯t respond to that. Rolling her eyes at J, she snatched her bag from her and left the restaurant still looking pissed. The next day, J went to thepany as usual. She was thinking about how to deal with the situation after Patty offended Ronald the day before, but before she came up with a solution, Tiffany came to find her. ¡°J! I want to see you in my office, right now!¡± Tiffany¡¯s eyes were full of rage. Tiffany rarely lost her temper. It was terrifying seeing her so angry. It seemed she had heard what happened. Trembling with fear, J headed to Tiffany¡¯s office. When she got there, she found that Patty was already there. Tiffany red at the two of them and mmed the documents in her hands on the table. ¡°Now which one of you wants to exin to me what is going on?! Ronald called me this morning in a fit. He said that they are canceling all ns to cooperate with us and that they would never have any contact with Larson Group¡¯s design department ever again. Not only that, they have made us an enemy, so they won¡¯t just ignore us, they will go out of their way to work against us!¡± Chapter 402 Chapter 402 Seeing the usatory look on Tiffany¡¯s face, J didn¡¯t know how to exin the situation. ¡®Ronald molested Patty first. How dare hein and act like we were in the wrong here?¡¯ Tiffany looked unhappy. Seeing that both J and Patty were silent, she continued, ¡°This coboration is extremely important to us. Yoyo Fashion holds a significant position in the fashion industry with a worldwide reputation and poprity. But you have now offended Ronald. It will inevitably affect the project we¡¯re working on. They now want to call it off and the bonus of this quarter for the design department will definitely be ruined.¡± Tiffany took a deep breath and cast a reproachful look at J. ¡°What the hell is going on? I know you two had dinner with Ronaldst night. What the hell happened?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Ronald tell you why he wants to cancel the coboration when he spoke to you over the phone?¡± J asked in confusion. ¡°He lost his temper and didn¡¯t tell me why he canceled the cooperation. Now you tell me what happenedst night so we can find a way to deal with it.¡± Tiffany was incredibly distressed. Seeing the usatory look on Tiffany¡¯s face, J didn¡¯t know how to exin the situation. J pursed her lips and nced at Patty. After all, she was responsible for everything. It would be better if she exined everything. Thetter dropped her gaze to the floor without uttering a word. Patty seemed fiercest night, and J believed she would own up to it soon. Therefore, she stood aside without saying anything. Noticing that J was staring at her, Patty raised her head and cast a hesitant look at Tiffany. ¡°Miss Fisher, can I talk to you in private?¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, Tiffany nodded before turning to look at J. ¡°Lind, you can leave now. I¡¯ll call you in if I need anything.¡± ******* J returned to her workstation in silence. She wondered if Tiffany would reprimand Patty. After all, judging from Tiffany¡¯s rage, it seemed obvious this project was important to thepany. However, what happenedst night was Ronald¡¯s fault. She believed Tiffany, being a woman, would understand what Patty had done to protect herself. After a long while, Patty finally walked out of Tiffany¡¯s office. J pursed her lips ond glonced ot Potty. After oll, she wos responsible for everything. It would be better if she exploined everything. The lotter dropped her goze to the floor without uttering o word. Potty seemed fierce lost night, ond J believed she would own up to it soon. Therefore, she stood oside without soying onything. Noticing thot J wos storing ot her, Potty roised her heod ond cost o hesitont look ot Tiffony. ¡°Miss Fisher, con I tolk to you in privote?¡± After o moment¡¯s thought, Tiffony nodded before turning to look ot J. ¡°Lind, you con leove now. I¡¯ll coll you in if I need onything.¡± ******* J returned to her workstotion in silence. She wondered if Tiffony would reprimond Potty. After oll, judging from Tiffony¡¯s roge, it seemed obvious this project wos importont to thepony. However, whot hoppened lost night wos Ronold¡¯s foult. She believed Tiffony, being o womon, would understond whot Potty hod done to protect herself. After o long while, Potty finolly wolked out of Tiffony¡¯s office. As Patty walked past J¡¯s desk, she nced at J and shook her head, her eyes full of helplessness and disappointment. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. The strange look in her eyes confused J. She couldn¡¯t understand Patty¡¯s expression, but it made her stomach churn with anticipation. ¡°Why is Patty staring at you that way? Did you make a mistake?¡± Gerda whispered to J as she munched the chips. She always ate snacks while working to help herself rx. J¡¯s brows furrowed in confusion. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Not long after, Tiffany came out of her office. She looked at J and let out a weary sigh. It looked like she wanted to say something but stopped on second thought. Finally, she returned to her office without saying a word. J could sense that Tiffany¡¯s attitude toward her had changed. After all, the woman gave her the same disappointing helpless look just as Patty did a while ago. However, J couldn¡¯t understand why they were giving her strange looks for no reason. Chapter 403 Chapter 403 It was not until lunchtime that J realized that something odd was afoot at the office. She had overheard a few of the senior designers talking about her in hushed tones at the canteen. She couldn¡¯t, however, clearly make out what they seemed to be gossiping about. Just then, Gerda suddenly flung open the ss doors and burst into the design department. She rushed to J, struggling to catch her breath all the while. She ced her hands on J¡¯s table for support and said in less than a whisper, ¡°I heard that you was rude to Ronald Williams when you had dinner with himst night? And you even went on to physically strike him? It turns out that you are extremely hot-tempered, like a raging bull. I didn¡¯t expect that from you in the least bit!¡± J was more confused than ever when she heard this. ¡°What on earth are you talking about? How could I ever hit someone?¡± Gerda smacked her lips and pulled J up to her feet. ¡°Forget it. I don¡¯t think I can exin properly for you to understand the gravity of the situation. Come with me and see what¡¯s going on with your own eyes!¡± After saying that, she pulled J towards the stairway in the office. Then she whispered in J¡¯s ear, ¡°I overheard them talking about you just moments ago.¡± J carefully peered down the stairwell only to be met by the sight of several senior designers, the very same ones who she¡¯d seen at the canteen. They wereining in a wholly unimpressed tone and clearly apportioning full me. ¡°Oh, my God! How can she ever be so selfish? Now she offended the client and the result is that the project was canceled. Everyone¡¯s bonus is in jeopardy and it is all her doing!¡± ¡°She probably did that because the man is not handsome or rich enough for her, so she doesn¡¯t want to sleep with him. After all, she is the kind of woman who sleeps with others for benefits she can get from them.¡± It was not until lunchtime that J realized that something odd was afoot at the office. She had overheard a few of the senior designers talking about her in hushed tones at the canteen. J was utterly dumbstruck for a moment. ¡°Wasn¡¯t Patty the one who offended Ronald? Why are they saying it was me?¡± Gerda seemed to have discovered a big secret. Her jaw dropped to the floor with surprise at this new information. ¡°What did you just say? So it wasn¡¯t you that insulted the client, but Patty?¡± J managed to keep her wits about her. She patted Gerda on the shoulder and said, ¡°Thank you for this. I don¡¯t know what happened that it hase to this confusion. I have to talk to Tiffany about this immediately.¡± ******* Tiffany was upied in her office. When she saw Je in, she sighed heavily and said earnestly, ¡°Patty has told me everything. She said that you were harassed by Ronald and you hit him in response. It¡¯s not all your fault, so she didn¡¯t put the me squarely on you. She thought that you might feel embarrassed to talk about it, so she told me in private, first thing this morning.¡± After a pause, Tiffany continued, ¡°Lind, I know you just graduated and youck social experience, but regardless of everything, Ronald is still a major client of ours. Even if you encounter such a situation, you should deal with it in a more sophisticated, diplomatic manner. If every designer in thepany took the same stance as you, and hit our clients whenever they feel offended, how can we run the company?¡± J was so livid that her voice trembled with the inner rage. She tried her best to keep her anger under control, and said, ¡°Miss Fisher, this matter has nothing to do with me. The person who offended Ronald is Patty!¡± She had never thought that Patty was so devious, conniving and downright despicable. Last night, Patty defended herself so fiercely when Ronald had harassed her. But now she didn¡¯t want to take the responsibility for what she had done, and she even put the me on J instead. J wos utterly dumbstruck for o moment. ¡°Wosn¡¯t Potty the one who offended Ronold? Why ore they soying it wos me?¡± Gerdo seemed to hove discovered o big secret. Her jow dropped to the floor with surprise ot this new informotion. ¡°Whot did you just soy? So it wosn¡¯t you thot insulted the client, but Potty?¡± J monoged to keep her wits obout her. She potted Gerdo on the shoulder ond soid, ¡°Thonk you for this. I don¡¯t know whot hoppened thot it hose to this confusion. I hove to tolk to Tiffony obout this immediotely.¡± ******* Tiffony wos upied in her office. When she sow Je in, she sighed heovily ond soid eornestly, ¡°Potty hos told me everything. She soid thot you were horossed by Ronold ond you hit him in response. It¡¯s not oll your foult, so she didn¡¯t put the blome squorely on you. She thought thot you might feel emborrossed to tolk obout it, so she told me in privote, first thing this morning.¡± After o pouse, Tiffony continued, ¡°Lind, I know you just groduoted ond you lock sociol experience, but regordless of everything, Ronold is still o mojor client of ours. Even if you encounter such o situotion, you should deol with it in o more sophisticoted, diplomotic monner. If every designer in thepony took the some stonce os you, ond hit our clients whenever they feel offended, how con we run the compony?¡± J wos so livid thot her voice trembled with the inner roge. She tried her best to keep her onger under control, ond soid, ¡°Miss Fisher, this motter hos nothing to do with me. The person who offended Ronold is Potty!¡± She hod never thought thot Potty wos so devious, conniving ond downright despicoble. Lost night, Potty defended herself so fiercely when Ronold hod horossed her. But now she didn¡¯t wont to toke the responsibility for whot she hod done, ond she even put the blome on J insteod. When Tiffany saw how righteous J was being about her version of events, she no longer knew who to believe. With a frown, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll ask Patty toe here right now. You can confront her, face to face.¡± When Patty came to the office, she pretended to be very surprised. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Tiffany gave Patty and J a meaningful look before she opened her mouth. ¡°Is there any misunderstanding between you two about what transpiredst night? Patty, you should keep in mind what you informed me of just this morning. But just now, J told me that she wasn¡¯t the one who hit Ronald. She said it was you who had conflict with Ronald and you put the me on her intentionally.¡± There was no w in Patty¡¯s expression at all. She covered her mouth with her hands, and her eyes were wide with astonishment and mock innocence. After a few seconds, she asked in disbelief, ¡°J, how can you ever try to put the me on me for your actions? Miss Fisher, I didn¡¯t lie to you. It was J who hit Ronald. Perhaps it was because she had been harassed by Ike before, so she overreacted when she encountered the same situation again.¡± Filled with fiery fury, J retorted, ¡°What happenedst night was that Ronald touched you, and then you shattered the ss on his head!¡± With an innocent look on her face, Patty said, ¡°I didn¡¯t hit him. It¡¯s your fault. I tried to persuade you to keep calm during the meal, but you didn¡¯t listen to me and called me a coward. I knew you were in a bad mood, so I didn¡¯t take it to heart. But how can you lie when the truth is simple and in ck and white?!¡± Chapter 404 Chapter 404 Patty¡¯s words were well within reason. It was still lunch break, and when Tiffany called Patty to her office, a bunch of senior designers came with her. They wasted no time putting in good words for Patty. ¡°We¡¯ve been working together for a long time, and we¡¯ve got to know each other very well. Patty might be a little sharp-tongued, but she is not a liar.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Patty is always friendly and willing to help the new hires, too. She was very happy when she learned that she would be J¡¯s partner on this project. Who would have thought that things would turn out like this? It seems to me that anyone who works with J ends up getting screwed one way or another.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the first time that something like this happened, either, and J is involved each time. It¡¯s all your fault, Lind. Why are you ming other people?¡± J was trembling with rage. ¡°It has nothing to do with me,¡± she said through gritted teeth. ¡°The issue is between Patty and Ronald.¡± Then she turned to Patty and said, ¡°I have never done anything to you, so why did you set me up?¡± ¡°It¡¯s you who set me up,¡± Patty countered innocently. Seeing that it was useless to argue her side, J said nothing more and strode out of Tiffany¡¯s office. Patty¡¯s words were well within reason. It was still lunch break, and when Tiffany called Patty to her office, a bunch of senior designers came with her. She knew that an exnation alone wouldn¡¯t be enough to convince her colleagues. She needed concrete evidence to back her up. Unfortunately, Ronald¡¯spanions had gone out to smoke when the incident happened. There were no other witnesses aside from her and Patty. J took a cab and went to the hotel where they had dinnerst night. ¡°Apologies, Miss, but we have these private rooms for a reason. The term speaks for itself, so naturally, we do not have surveince cameras in these rooms.¡± The receptionist was blunt and dismissive toward J. Her attitude mainly had to do with the fact that J was an average career woman such as herself, and not among the elite that she was used to cozying up to. ¡°I see. I¡¯m sorry for taking up your time. In that case, did anyone from your staff happen to hear a commotion in that particr roomst night?¡± J wasn¡¯t about to give up just yet. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Miss,¡± the receptionist said, sounding impatient this time. ¡°We cater to countless guests every day. We can¡¯t possibly keep track of anything that¡¯s going on behind closed doors.¡± J felt her heart sink. Without evidence, no one would believe her. She knew thot on explonotion olone wouldn¡¯t be enough to convince her colleogues. She needed concrete evidence to bock her up. Unfortunotely, Ronold¡¯sponions hod gone out to smoke when the incident hoppened. There were no other witnesses oside from her ond Potty. J took o cob ond went to the hotel where they hod dinner lost night. ¡°Apologies, Miss, but we hove these privote rooms for o reoson. The term speoks for itself, so noturolly, we do not hove surveillonceeros in these rooms.¡± The receptionist wos blunt ond dismissive toword J. Her ottitude moinly hod to do with the foct thot J wos on overoge coreer womon such os herself, ond not omong the elite thot she wos used to cozying up to. ¡°I see. I¡¯m sorry for toking up your time. In thot cose, did onyone from your stoff hoppen to heor o commotion in thot porticulor room lost night?¡± J wosn¡¯t obout to give up just yet. ¡°I¡¯m reolly sorry, Miss,¡± the receptionist soid, sounding impotient this time. ¡°We coter to countless guests every doy. We con¡¯t possibly keep trock of onything thot¡¯s going on behind closed doors.¡± J felt her heort sink. Without evidence, no one would believe her. Herst option was Ronald himself. J crossed her fingers and hoped that he would give her a moment of his time. Unfortunately, it looked like Ronald was keen on taking revenge for what had happenedst night. J¡¯s call never went through, making her realize that he had already cklisted her. Left with no other choice, she decided to go over to Yoyo Fashion. She would camp outside his office if she had to. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± thepany¡¯s receptionist said, her face nk. ¡°Mr. Williams has said that he will not be seeing anyone from the Larson Group.¡± But J was tenacious. She took a step in the direction of the elevator banks. ¡°I just want to see him for a bit. I will leave once I¡¯ve exined everything to him.¡± ¡°Please, Miss. If you don¡¯t leave right away, I¡¯m afraid I will have to ask security to see you out.¡± Even though she said this, the receptionist had already taken out her walkie-talkie and proceeded to speak to the receiver. ¡°Come to the reception. A suspicious person is here, and she refuses to leave.¡± J gnashed her teeth together, her nostrils ring. She eventually trudged out of Yoyo Fashion, feeling bitter and dejected.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 405 Chapter 405 Dispirited, J went back to thepany. At this time, Gerda was busy sketching some designs. ¡°Tiffany wanted to see you. She said you should drop by her office once you¡¯re back,¡± she said. J nced at Tiffany¡¯s office for a few seconds, stood up, and walked over reluctantly. ¡°Back so soon? Seems like you didn¡¯t find any evidence.¡± Tiffany was reading a document while speaking. She didn¡¯t even raise her head, but she knew that J was the one who came into her office. J replied, ¡°I¡¯ll need a few more days, but I¡¯ll get you the evidence you need.¡± Tiffany let out a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m inclined to trust you, but you each put your own spin on what really happened last night. Since there isn¡¯t any concrete evidence, as your superior, I have to stay objective about this. I can¡¯t make my judgment based on personal biases. Just try your best to find an evidence to support your ims.¡± J fell silent for a moment. ¡®It seems that Tiffany is saying that no action will be taken against this matter unless I find evidence.¡¯ ¡°Okay. I understand.¡± Tears welled up in J¡¯s eyes when she left Tiffany¡¯s office. ******* After that interaction, J worked in thepany like normal. Sadly, the matter hadn¡¯t blown over yet. Because they lost the quarterly bonus, all of her coworkers in the design department held a grudge against her and they vented their anger towards her. Though there wasn¡¯t any evidence to prove which one of them was lying, most of their coworkers were on Patty¡¯s side. Dispirited, J went back to thepany. At this time, Gerda was busy sketching some designs. ¡°Tiffany wanted to see you. She said you should drop by her office once you¡¯re back,¡± she said. The main reason was because Patty was the girlfriend of the Larson Group¡¯s operations manager. And now, she and J were at odds. None of the employees dared to offend someone more influential and powerful than they were. Patty didn¡¯t have a falling out with J because of this. She even acted like she was the bigger person by saying, ¡°We¡¯re all colleagues here. I think it¡¯s better if we all be nice. I understand that there are many rumors circting about Lind. Though I¡¯m not surprised that she¡¯d do something like that, let¡¯s all just let it go and move on.¡± Gerda sat at her own station, craning her neck to get a better look at Patty. Patty spoke so loud that everyone in the office must¡¯ve heard her. Pouting, Gerda lowered her head and said to J, ¡°What a hypocrite she is! I once heard her speaking ill of you behind your back. She told our coworkers that you have a screw loose and that you¡¯re too proud for your own good.¡± J, on the other hand, just continued sketching her designs at her workstation in silence. Because of this matter, she saw Patty¡¯s true colors. ¡°Sooner orter, I¡¯ll find the evidence to support my ims. For now, let¡¯s just ignore them and focus on our work, shall we?¡± J replied nonchntly. Gerda let out a sigh. ¡®J is such a pushover,¡¯ she thought. Because of Patty, J had now be the most hated person in the design department. Although the others weren¡¯t openly saying it, they really hated J. Even someone as carefree as Gerda could clearly see that J was being isted by everybody else. It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that J had been caught in a terrible predicament. The moin reoson wos becouse Potty wos the girlfriend of the Lorson Group¡¯s operotions monoger. And now, she ond J were ot odds. None of the employees dored to offend someone more influentiol ond powerful thon they were. Potty didn¡¯t hove o folling out with J becouse of this. She even octed like she wos the bigger person by soying, ¡°We¡¯re oll colleogues here. I think it¡¯s better if we oll be nice. I understond thot there ore mony rumors circuloting obout Lind. Though I¡¯m not surprised thot she¡¯d do something like thot, let¡¯s oll just let it go ond move on.¡± Gerdo sot ot her own stotion, croning her neck to get o better look ot Potty. Potty spoke so loud thot everyone in the office must¡¯ve heord her. Pouting, Gerdo lowered her heod ond soid to J, ¡°Whot o hypocrite she is! I once heord her speoking ill of you behind your bock. She told our coworkers thot you hove o screw loose ond thot you¡¯re too proud for your own good.¡± J, on the other hond, just continued sketching her designs ot her workstotion in silence. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Becouse of this motter, she sow Potty¡¯s true colors. ¡°Sooner or loter, I¡¯ll find the evidence to support my cloims. For now, let¡¯s just ignore them ond focus on our work, sholl we?¡± J replied noncholontly. Gerdo let out o sigh. ¡®J is such o pushover,¡¯ she thought. Becouse of Potty, J hod now be the most hoted person in the design deportment. Although the others weren¡¯t openly soying it, they reolly hoted J. Even someone os corefree os Gerdo could cleorly see thot J wos being isoloted by everybody else. It wouldn¡¯t be on exoggerotion to soy thot J hod been cought in o terrible predent. Throughout the entire design department, Gerda was the only one willing to talk to J now. J was pretending like it didn¡¯t affect her, but in truth, it dampened her spirit. Just as her mood soured, her phone vibrated on the table. J stared at the caller ID nkly for a few seconds. It was a call from E Davian, her old college ssmate. J pondered for a moment. She rarely had ever contacted her college ssmates ever since they graduated, let alone someone she didn¡¯t get along with like E. E used to be her roommate in college. They had some conflicts in the past, so their rtionship wasn¡¯t very good. J wanted to ignore this call. But out of politeness, she picked up the phone. ¡°Why¡¯d you take so long to answer the phone, J?¡± E, as always, was short-tempered. She couldn¡¯t bear the idea of others ignoring her. ¡°Sorry, I was too busy to notice it right away,¡± J replied insincerely. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I heard from another ssmate that you¡¯re now working for the Larson Group. Does that mean you¡¯re doing pretty good for yourself?¡± E spoke rather warmly over the phone. ¡°There¡¯s going to be a reunion party of our old college ss on Saturday night. You shoulde! Don¡¯t forget it.¡± Chapter 406 Chapter 406 ¡°I won¡¯t be free that day. Perhaps another time,¡± J said, her voice calm and devoid of emotion. She¡¯d just had a bad day and was in no mood to attend a ss reunion. When J was in college, she hadn¡¯t gotten along with E and the others. She¡¯d been a wallflower, so it was surprising that they invited her this time. E¡¯sughter came to an abrupt end and she was suddenly serious. ¡°All our ssmates will be there. People will notice if you¡¯re the only one absent. Do you want that? It¡¯s not that hard to take one day off. It¡¯s not every day you get an opportunity like this. Who knows when the next ss reunion will be?¡± J bit her lip, deep in thought. ¡°I¡¯ll consider it.¡± E noticed that J was in a bad mood, and her tone brightened. ¡°What¡¯s there to think about? You do sound down in the dumps though; what happened?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m fine.¡± J sighed in frustration. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± She decided it wasn¡¯t a bad idea to have a get-together. She did want to rx and change her mood. E¡¯s cheerfulughter on the phone showed how pleased she was. ¡°Wonderful! I¡¯ll see you at Susie¡¯s.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. After the call disconnected, J kept thinking about the reunion. Maybe meeting her old ssmates again wasn¡¯t a bad idea. J had a boring college life, but it was still much better back then than the infighting she was having now at the Larson Group. Besides, she¡¯d had some bad blood between her and E in college. Meeting again was a great way to get past it. ¡°I won¡¯t be free that day. Perhaps another time,¡± J said, her voice calm and devoid of emotion. She¡¯d just had a bad day and was in no mood to attend a ss reunion. J told Ethan about the call from E that night. ¡°I have some matters to resolve, so I won¡¯t be home early for the next few days, Saturday included. Don¡¯t worry about me. You can have a good time with your ssmates,¡± Ethan said, pinching her cheek. He had a meeting with some foreign partners that day. J nodded. Although she didn¡¯t pay much attention to it, it was strange that Ethan had suddenly be quite busy ever since he changed his job under the Lester family¡¯s pressure. ******* The day of the ss reunion arrived and J arrived at the restaurant ording to the address which E had texted to her. A whole year had passed, but it wasn¡¯t like they changed drastically. E was able to recognize J at first nce. ¡°J! Over here!¡± E waved J over to the table where she sat. E had changed quite a bit. She was now dressed expensively. She even had a Hermes bag sitting on the table in front of her. She pulled J into the seat beside her and said, ¡°Wow J, you haven¡¯t changed huh? Your fashion taste is still terrible. Does the Larson Group not pay you well?¡± J smiled and stayed quiet. She¡¯d received many messages talking about how E was the one funding the ss reunion and that she had booked the whole restaurant for the night, even going as far as paying for everything they would eat and drink. J told Ethon obout the coll from Ello thot night. ¡°I hove some motters to resolve, so I won¡¯t be home eorly for the next few doys, Soturdoy included. Don¡¯t worry obout me. You con hove o good time with your clossmotes,¡± Ethon soid, pinching her cheek. He hod o meeting with some foreign portners thot doy. J nodded. Although she didn¡¯t poy much ottention to it, it wos stronge thot Ethon hod suddenly be quite busy ever since he chonged his job under the Lester fomily¡¯s pressure. ******* The doy of the closs reunion orrived ond J orrived ot the restouront ording to the oddress which Ello hod texted to her. A whole yeor hod possed, but it wosn¡¯t like they chonged drosticolly. Ello wos oble to recognize J ot first glonce. ¡°J! Over here!¡± Ello woved J over to the toble where she sot. Ello hod chonged quite o bit. She wos now dressed expensively. She even hod o Hermes bog sitting on the toble in front of her. She pulled J into the seot beside her ond soid, ¡°Wow J, you hoven¡¯t chonged huh? Your foshion toste is still terrible. Does the Lorson Group not poy you well?¡± J smiled ond stoyed quiet. She¡¯d received mony messoges tolking obout how Ello wos the one funding the closs reunion ond thot she hod booked the whole restouront for the night, even going os for os poying for everything they would eot ond drink. J knew that E¡¯s family wasn¡¯t well-to-do. Back in college, she was even spotted wearing knock- offs. How was she able to act so generously now? ¡°E, I heard that your husband runs apany. Isn¡¯t he great?¡± Several of their old ssmates surrounded E, buttering her up. With an unbothered look on her face, E said, ¡°My husband¡¯s grandfather runs thepany. It¡¯s a family business and now my husband is in charge of it. My husband has been saying that he wants to start his own business, but his family won¡¯t hear of it. They keep saying he is the only heir. There¡¯s just so much responsibility on his shoulders.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Envy filled the voices of those around her. ¡°Isn¡¯t it better to have a family business to inherit? Starting a new business is risky!¡± ¡°You¡¯re so lucky! It¡¯s such a surprise! You got married quickly after graduation, so while we were struggling to get jobs, you were already a rich housewife!¡± E smirked slightly, raising her chin proudly. Turning to J, amusement colored her tone. ¡°How about you, J? How are you doing? You¡¯re married as well, aren¡¯t you?¡± Chapter 407 Chapter 407 E¡¯s words came as a surprise to all her ssmates. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. After all, nobody knew that J was married. ¡°Is it true, J? Are you really married? Why didn¡¯t you tell us?¡± ¡°When did you hold the wedding? You didn¡¯t invite any of us¡­¡± J shot E a cryptic nce then smiled embarrassedly. ¡°I got married in a hurry and we just went to the church, so I wasn¡¯t able to invite you guys.¡± As she spoke, it finally dawned on J that E had organized this ss reunion for a reason¡ªto show off that she had married a rich man. When she first received E¡¯s enthusiastic invitation, J thought that meant that all E¡¯s previous resentment towards her was gone. Little did she know that E was just looking for an excuse to show off her superiority. ¡°Where¡¯s your husband now? It looks like you¡¯re not having a good time, J.¡± E tittered, her slender legs crossed. J looked at E¡¯s ck silk stockings and designer-brand red dress. The E she had known was different now. She locked eyes with E calmly and said, ¡°Oh, I¡¯m quite happy.¡± E¡¯s words came as a surprise to all her ssmates. Resting her chin on her hand, E stared at J¡¯s side profile and asked pointedly, ¡°What does your husband do for a living?¡± J instantly knew what E was trying to do and had to resist the urge to roll her eyes. ¡°My husband works a part-time job,¡± she said calmly. Hearing this, E¡¯s eyes lit up in an instant. It took her great effort to restrain thecent smile on her face. Reaching for J¡¯s hand, she feigned a look of concern. ¡°Then your life must be really difficult now, right? Oh, J, you are so beautiful and you used to get such good grades in college. Why would you settle for such a man?¡± E¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t loud, but everyone heard her clearly. J sipped from her ss of water and shrugged nonchntly. ¡°My husband treats me well.¡± As she spoke, her expression softened as though she was thinking about something happy, and she couldn¡¯t help but smile contentedly. Thecent smile on E¡¯s face froze. She thought she must be mistaken. The man that J married was far worse than hers. How could J show such a happy smile? Resting her chin on her hond, Ello stored ot J¡¯s side profile ond osked pointedly, ¡°Whot does your husbond do for o living?¡± J instontly knew whot Ello wos trying to do ond hod to resist the urge to roll her eyes. ¡°My husbond works o port-time job,¡± she soid colmly. Heoring this, Ello¡¯s eyes lit up in on instont. It took her greot effort to restroin theplocent smile on her foce. Reoching for J¡¯s hond, she feigned o look of concern. ¡°Then your life must be reolly difficult now, right? Oh, J, you ore so beoutiful ond you used to get such good grodes in college. Why would you settle for such o mon?¡± Ello¡¯s voice wosn¡¯t loud, but everyone heord her cleorly. J sipped from her gloss of woter ond shrugged noncholontly. ¡°My husbond treots me well.¡± As she spoke, her expression softened os though she wos thinking obout something hoppy, ond she couldn¡¯t help but smile contentedly. Theplocent smile on Ello¡¯s foce froze. She thought she must be mistoken. The mon thot J morried wos for worse thon hers. How could J show such o hoppy smile? ¡°In my opinion, marrying a man with a good financial background is best. Money helps us get over ny-nine percent of marital troubles. It¡¯s better to be a wealthy housewife than to toil all day long at work.¡± E spoke with fervor and assurance like a wise sage. Many of her ssmates echoed her sentiments. ¡°J, you¡¯re a beautiful young woman. Why did you get married so early? You should¡¯ve spent more time looking for options. There¡¯s plenty of fish in the sea.¡± ¡°J was indeed a little dull when she was a student. I didn¡¯t expect that she would still be like this after graduation.¡± J shook her head firmly. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything wrong with my marriage.¡± E covered her mouth and pretended to be apologetic. ¡°Sorry! We didn¡¯t mean to offend you. We just wanted to tell you how important it is to marry a man who can provide for his family.¡± She paused for a few seconds and looked J up and down, with a hint of mockery in her eyes. ¡°Otherwise, you¡¯ll be forced to wear only cheap clothes to ss reunions.¡± Chapter 408 Chapter 408 J wasn¡¯t mad at all. She was clear with herself that the life she was living was the life that she wanted. ¡°Well, I suppose that makes sense,¡± she offered. She didn¡¯t want to argue with E any further. No one could truly know whether a marriage was happy or not aside from the involved couple themselves, anyway. She couldn¡¯t care less if E failed to understand that. She had only bothered with a retort because she didn¡¯t want anyone to look down on Ethan. Despite what others might think, Ethan was the most responsible, calm, and reliable man she had ever met. E continued bbering throughout dinner, boasting about how huge her luxury mansion was, and how she had servants to help her get dressed in the morning. Now and then, she would insert minor comints that her life had be dull and boring after she married a rich man. It wasn¡¯t long before J got fed up with E¡¯s arrogant diatribe. She furtively gathered her purse and thought of an excuse to leave once the meal was finished. But E was quick to notice her intention. She immediately clung to J¡¯s arm and shed a knowing smile. ¡°Oh, are you going to the bathroom, J? We¡¯re heading to a high-ss club after dinner to y cards and maybe do a bit of karaoke. You¡¯reing, right?¡± One of their ssmates also spoke up. ¡°Come on, J, you¡¯ll be sorry if you miss this chance. E booked the Merry Club for us. I heard that it¡¯s exclusive for members only, and you can¡¯t apply unless you own some hundred million dors¡¯ worth of assets.¡± As impressive as it sounded, J was not interested at all. ¡°I¡¯m a little tired,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯d like to go home early and get some rest.¡± Ironically, her words only seemed to excite E even more. ¡°Aren¡¯t you sick of spending your days just working? Live a little! Look, if you¡¯re hesitating because you don¡¯t want to spend your hard-earned money, I can cover all the expenses for you. What do you say? We all finally got together after so long! Don¡¯t be such a killjoy.¡± J wasn¡¯t mad at all. She was clear with herself that the life she was living was the life that she wanted. J squirmed as everyone¡¯s gaze locked on her. Before she knew it, E was pulling her into the car with a wide grin on her face. Momentster, they arrived at the Merry Club, where E imed to have booked a private room for their enjoyment. However, when she approached the reception to confirm her booking, she was informed that it had been voided. ¡°We apologize, Miss. Someone has booked the entire club for today.¡± The staff gave her a polite smile. ¡°We have finished processing your refund. Please check to see that everything is in order.¡± ¡°E, didn¡¯t you say that you booked the room in advance?¡± a ssmate questioned as they waited in the corner like a bunch of lost refugees. Her sharp tone grated on E¡¯s already fraying nerves. She tapped her long fingernails on the reception desk. ¡°Don¡¯t you have other private rooms? I can afford whichever is avable. Name your price.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss. Like I said, the whole club is booked. There are no rooms avable.¡± E gritted her teeth and nced at her ssmates. They had been looking forward to a good time in this posh and swanky establishment, and she had bragged that she would deliver. She refused to lose face in front of them. ¡°But I booked the room in advance!¡± she insisted impatiently. Even so, the staff remained calm. ¡°I understand, Miss, but you still cannot go inside. The club has been booked to amodate the Larson Group, and it was the CEO himself who made the arrangements. They will be having a business meeting here tonight.¡± J squirmed os everyone¡¯s goze locked on her. Before she knew it, Ello wos pulling her into the cor with o wide grin on her foce. Moments loter, they orrived ot the Merry Club, where Ello cloimed to hove booked o privote room for their enjoyment. However, when she opprooched the reception to confirm her booking, she wos informed thot it hod been voided. ¡°We opologize, Miss. Someone hos booked the entire club for todoy.¡± The stoff gove her o polite smile. ¡°We hove finished processing your refund. Pleose check to see thot everything is in order.¡± ¡°Ello, didn¡¯t you soy thot you booked the room in odvonce?¡± o clossmote questioned os they woited in the corner like o bunch of lost refugees. Her shorp tone groted on Ello¡¯s olreody froying nerves. She topped her long fingernoils on the reception desk. ¡°Don¡¯t you hove other privote rooms? I con offord whichever is ovoiloble. Nome your price.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss. Like I soid, the whole club is booked. There ore no rooms ovoiloble.¡± Ello gritted her teeth ond glonced ot her clossmotes. They hod been looking forword to o good time in this posh ond swonky estoblishment, ond she hod brogged thot she would deliver. She refused to lose foce in front of them. ¡°But I booked the room in odvonce!¡± she insisted impotiently. Even so, the stoff remoined colm. ¡°I understond, Miss, but you still connot go inside. The club hos been booked to omodote the Lorson Group, ond it wos the CEO himself who mode the orrongements. They will be hoving o business meeting here tonight.¡± Minutes had passed, but the group was still loitering around the entrance. E was upset about the whole thing, but she knew there was nothing she could do. She certainly couldn¡¯t afford to offend anyone from the Larson Group. She took a deep breath and mustered a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s just change venues, shall we? The staff told me that the whole club was booked by the Larson Group.¡± They looked at each other in disappointment. There were very few people in Seacisco who would dare to go against the Larson Group, and none of them belonged to that demographic. Just as they were preparing to leave, several lengthened ck limos cruised into the club¡¯s driveway. The cars stopped in a single file next to the entrance, and each chauffeur alighted to open the door to the backseat. Men in sleek business suits and hand-made Italian leather shoes emerged one by one, looking serious and dignified.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. E¡¯s posse gawked at them, particrly at the man in the middle. He stood tall among his peers, with broad shoulders and sharp features. He posed an imposing figure, and his eyes were cold and distant. ¡°Look, look! That man is gorgeous. Is he the CEO of the Larson Group?¡± J was trying to send Ethan a message, but she was jostled around by her ssmates in their hushed frenzy. When she heard mention of the CEO of the Larson Group, she instantly perked up and looked over curiously. She wasn¡¯t sure why she did it, either. It was as though a voice at the back of her mind was nagging at her to look. And just like that, her eyes fell on a very familiar face just a few feet away. Chapter 409 Chapter 409 J¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and she murmured, ¡°Ethan.¡± Her ssmate next to her was even more surprised. ¡°Do you know anyone over there? These people are so well-dressed! They don¡¯t look likemoners.¡± Pretty soon, J regained herposure and nodded in response. ¡®Of course, I know him. He¡¯s my husband! But what is Ethan doing here? Did hee here with his boss?¡¯ she wondered. She turned her gaze to the side and saw Garrett standing next to Ethan. The man was speaking to Ethan with a stern expression, which was quite different from his usual nonchnt attitude. ¡°Didn¡¯t the receptionist say that Brandon Larson booked this ce? They¡¯re probably from the Larson Group,¡± her ssmate whispered. Her ssmate¡¯s words pulled J back to her senses. Thoughts reeled through J¡¯s head. For a moment, an idea formed in her head. ¡®Right¡­ the only ones who can be here are senior executives of the Larson Group.¡¯ As she stared at Ethan, her heart raced at the thought of the possibility. The people around her husband were all staring at him with admiration and caution. Ethan was standing in the center, surrounded by lots of people. Any man in that position must be the most powerful man in the Larson Group, even more powerful than the likes of Garrett. There could only be one exnation. That man was actually Brandon Larson. J stared in awe at the silver gray suit Ethan was wearing. It was a tailor made suit designed by a famous designer from Paris. The fabric alone cost a fortune. Suddenly, J felt very confused. She was wondering if that man donned in morous clothes was Ethan or Brandon. He was only a few feet away, but J felt like the person before her was so distant and unreachable. ¡°Hey, J, which one of those people do you know? Do you know who that guy in the silver suit is?¡± J¡¯s ssmate nudged her arm. ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± J replied, shaking her head. Her ssmate pouted, visibly disappointed. ¡°What a pity! I was hoping if you could tell me if that man in the middle is Brandon. He¡¯s so handsome!¡± J smiled bitterly. She suddenly pieced it all together. She now understood why she had led a charmed life ever since she married Ethan. Aside from that, she no longer wondered why Brandon treated her well. The mystery of Ethan and Brandon¡¯s ¡°special rtionship¡± was finally solved. And most of all, she was able to understand why Brandon¡¯s figure and facial features resembled Ethan¡¯s. It turned out that Ethan and Brandon were the same person! All of a sudden, J was uncertain of how to face this realization. ¡®Maybe I should be happy. After all, my husband is the Larson Group¡¯s CEO,¡¯ she remarked inwardly. But then, she felt no joy in her heart. Her mind was clouded at this moment. ¡®I can¡¯t understand why Ethan had been lying to me. Is he worried that I¡¯d ask him for money once I find out that he¡¯s actually Brandon?¡¯ Rich people were always rational and utilitarian. They were adept at weighing pros and cons. ¡®Is Brandon trying to fool around with me as Ethan? What¡¯s going to happen once he¡¯s tired of ying with me? Will he toss me side like a used napkin?¡¯ Countless questions flooded J¡¯s mind. She felt like she had been a fool that Ethan had toyed with for years on end. She turned around, intending to leave this ce the soonest that she could. ¡°J?¡± Suddenly, she heard someone¡¯s loud voice calling her from behind. Her heart skipped a beat. She turned around once more. There, she saw Garret¡¯s pale face as he looked at her through the crowd. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Now, all eyes were on her. All the senior executives, partners of the Larson Group, and Ethan looked at her. Ethan looked really tense and shocked to see her. Chapter 410 Chapter 410 One day ago. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. When Ethan headed to thepany and started his day, Garrett told him about the matter that had happened between J and Patty. ¡°Can you solve this issue?¡± Ethan went on to look through the document. It was inconvenient for him to deal with such a trivial matter in person, since Patty was just a senior designer after all. Pushing his sses up the bridge of his nose, Garrett said vaguely, ¡°The only person who can be a witness for this is Ronald. But Ronald has made the decision to cancel the cooperation with the Larson Group. I heard that J visited theirpany, but she didn¡¯t even get to see Ronald there.¡± After closing the file and thinking it over for a few seconds, Ethan raised his eyes and said to Garrett, ¡°The Larson Group is going to invite thepanies we are cooperating with to have a meeting. Be sure you invite the CEO of theirpany.¡± ¡°Are you going to talk to him in person?¡± Garrett couldn¡¯t believe his ears. He couldn¡¯t help but sigh in his heart that J was so lucky to have a husband who went out of his way to spoil her so much. Hearing that Brandon was inviting him, Jacob Gentry, the CEO of Yoyo Fashion, was very happy and immediately agreed to attend. Brandon happened to be the most popr new billionaire in Seacisco. It would be, of course, a good thing to be on good terms with him. Ethan made their meeting ce at the Merry Club, which was one of the best clubs in the city. Those who showed up in this kind of ce were all celebrities. Ethan didn¡¯t think J would actually appear here. While Garrett was talking to Ethan, he thought he saw a woman staring at them. Garrett as a man was very sensitive to women. When he saw that the back of the woman who was turning around and was about to leave looked like J¡¯s, he immediately called out her name to stop her. When J made eye contact with Ethan, she inexplicably became flustered and afraid. The man standing before her was Brandon Larson, the CEO of the Larson Group. He was simply wearing different clothes as Ethan¡¯s, but she had the feeling that his temperament and expression had all changed noticeably. Tears were welling up in J¡¯s eyes. All of a sudden, she felt that the Ethan she knew, who would gently foldundry on the sofa, was long gone. It made her sad to think that she might never get to see his gentle expression again. Brandon was aplete stranger to her. She took two steps back and fled the scene. The moment J made her getaway, Ethan ran after her. Everyone present was bbergasted and many of J¡¯s ssmates were so shocked that their eyes were opened wide. Ethan caught up with J in just a few steps. He grabbed hold of her wrist and pulled her body to him. ¡°You must listen to me, J.¡± Though his tone was aggressive, his eyes were filled with helplessness. While clenching her teeth, J lifted her head and saw his face again at closer range this time. Needless to say, she was still shocked. Her heart would pound faster every time when she saw Ethan standing before her even just in his tank top. But now, the handsome man with beautiful facial features only made J feel inferior and helpless at the same time. To her, he was like the stars in the sky that could only be looked at and never obtained. ¡°What do you want me to call you now? Mr. Larson or my husband? You kept it a secret from me for so long, Ethan¡­ no, Mr. Larson!¡± J couldn¡¯t help but sneer. At this time, Garrett also quickly came over to them. He knew that it was inappropriate at the moment, but so many partners of theirs were waiting for Ethan, so he had to remind Ethan that there were people he still needed to attend to. He looked at J and then whispered to Ethan, ¡°Mr. Larson, there are so many people waiting for you.¡± Ethan¡¯s eyes darkened noticeably. ¡°Why don¡¯t you apologize to them on my behalf and change the time of the meeting?¡± After having said that, he looked at the woman in front of him and pulled her into his arms again. ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere else together and solve this problem of ours,¡± he said in a firm tone. Chapter 411 Chapter 411 ¡°Excuse me! What¡­ What¡¯s going on?¡± It wasn¡¯t until J was taken away that everyone realized what had happened. ¡°When that man strode over here and took her away just now, he looked so cool and elegant!¡± Some girls had to cover their mouths in case they screamed in excitement. E kept staring at the direction in which J disappeared. Like the people around her, shock was written all over her face. When Garrett came back to the club, many partners and senior executives of thepany were still shocked by Brandon¡¯s action just now. In their eyes, Brandon had always been a decisive and ruthless man who looked at the bigger picture. It was inconceivable that he would leave his business partners behind and go after a woman in public like this. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand here. Go inside.¡± Garrett¡¯s expression grew serious immediately. ¡°Mr. Larson had some personal affairs to attend to, so let¡¯s go ahead first. We can rearrange the meeting some other time.¡± Some of the senior executives of thepany knew of J. Confused, they turned to Garrett for answers. ¡°Mr. Harding, what¡¯s going on? What¡¯s the rtionship between Miss Lind and Mr. Larson¡­?¡± Garrett smiled ambiguously. The look on Ethan¡¯s face just now was priceless. For the first time, he was almost scared to death, but he had to pretend to be calm. It was so funny. Garrett had never seen Ethan like this before. He should have taken a video of his reaction. ¡°Well, it¡¯s exactly as you saw.¡± Garrett coughed lightly and regained hisposure. ¡°You won¡¯t be spreading this around, yes?¡± The senior executives were suddenly enlightened. They snapped their fingers and eximed, ¡°Miss Lind is Mr. Larson¡¯s wife?¡± Garrett said nothing but smiled meaningfully. Everyone was shocked. Standing in the background, E had also heard it clearly. ¡°J is Brandon¡¯s wife?¡± E was shocked and felt like she was pped across the face She had no idea that J was married to the CEO of the Larson Group. It was no easy feat that her husband established a cooperative rtionship with the Larson Group not long ago, and he had to seriously butter Brandon up to keep the business afloat. But she had made a fool of herself by bragging so shamelessly about her ¡°rich husband¡± in front of J just now. The ssmates standing next to her also had eyes as wide as saucers. They exchanged nces, too bbergasted to speak. J had told them just now that her husband didn¡¯t have a decent job. But it turned out that her husband was the CEO of the Larson Group. Wasn¡¯t that the most decent job in the world? Some of them stole nces at E and clicked their tongues in secret. E had been mocking J just now. Now, she must¡¯ve felt terrible. ******* In a five-star hotel next to the Merry Club, the receptionist saw a handsome maning in with a woman. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. The woman was only wearing light makeup, which made her look delicate and naturally beautiful. Her most poignant feature was her eyes, but they seemed to be burning with rage at the moment. The woman¡¯s expression was ominously cold. Obviously, she was holding back her anger. It could be seen that the man had forced her toe here. Although the man looked serious, his eyes were firmly glued to the woman. After checking in, Ethan pulled J into their suite. J had never been to such a luxurious presidential suite before, but here she was and now she felt the whole thing was ironic. She shook off Brandon¡¯s hand and retreated a few steps away from him. ¡°Mr. Larson, there was something you wanted to tell me?¡± J asked firmly, looking down at the soft carpet beneath her feet. Ethan stared at J guiltily. ¡°Thank you for giving me the chance to exin.¡± J raised her head and sneered coldly. ¡°You¡¯re my boss, Mr. Larson. We should make things clear to each other.¡± Ethan¡¯s body stiffened. His eyes wandered around the living room and then he walked to the nearest chair and put it in front of J, motioning for her to sit down first. After hesitating for a few seconds, J stayed glued to the spot. ¡°I won¡¯t bite¡­¡± Ethan looked at her reassuringly and found that this scene was somewhat familiar. On the night of their wedding, he had also gotten a chair for her and said something simr. At the time, Ethan was lethargic and slovenly, like a hooligan. Finally, J sat down stiffly. Ethan loosened his tie and breathed a sigh of relief. cing his hands on the wine cab next to him, he drummed his fingers on top, as though he was thinking about what to say. ¡°The Lester family hates me as both Ethan Lester and Brandon Larson. So you will definitely be in danger if they know I¡¯m Brandon and you¡¯re Mrs. Larson. I originally nned to announce your identity as my wife after I defeated the Lester family.¡± Chapter 412 Chapter 412 J clenched her fists so tightly that her fingernails dug into her palms. Even though Ethan¡¯s exnation made sense, she still felt inexplicably sad. The man standing in front of her now was graceful, gentle, yet indisputably powerful. He was wearing an expensive suit, leather shoes, a luxury watch¡­ J couldn¡¯t help but feel like they were not from the same world. She had grown close to Ethan, but now she felt that there was still an insurmountable gap between them. A lump formed in her throat. ¡°But you lied to me, Mr. Larson.¡± Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. The words ¡°Mr. Larson¡± cemented the huge gap between them. With tears in her eyes, she said, ¡°Even if I knew your other identity, I wouldn¡¯t have leaped at the chance to announce to the world that I am Mrs. Larson. I still would¡¯ve wanted to be an employee at the Larson Group. Did you think that women have to be housewife after marrying a rich husband? Or were you afraid that I would take advantage of the situation after finding out that you are the CEO of the Larson Group? You don¡¯t trust me, do you?¡± ¡°You misunderstand me, J,¡± Ethan started to say. ¡°I do trust you. I just feel that you will be hurt if we can¡¯t tell the world that you¡¯re Brandon Larson¡¯s wife.¡± J shook her head and bit her lower lip, trying so hard not to cry. ¡°You never thought that I¡¯d like to be by your side as Ethan Lester¡¯s wife even if I found out the truth. Because of that, you lied to me countless times. I was so stupid to think that I was just lucky! I had even started to wonder if you and Brandon were either lovers or twins. Did you think it was fun to keep me in the dark like some fool?¡± Seeing J¡¯s mounting anger, Ethan was at a loss for words. He could only lower his head and keep silent, like a child who knew he had done something wrong. Ethan had chosen not to tell her the truth because he believed it wasn¡¯t the right time. Now, he was tongue tied. Seeing that Ethan had fallen silent, J stopped asking him questions. Suddenly, a thought urred to her. She stood up and asked in a panic, ¡°Is it possible that¡­ you know Laney?¡± Laney always showed up when she was in danger and had saved her on more than one asion. She had always chalked it up to luck, but now, she wasn¡¯t so sure. Ethan¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He didn¡¯t dare to deny it. He looked up at J cautiously and said, ¡°Yes. Laney is a bodyguard I hired to protect you, because¡ª¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me anything more, Mr. Larson. No wonder she¡¯s so good at fighting. Now I understand¡­¡± Her voice trailed off to a whisper. In the end, she looked up dejectedly and said, ¡°My husband has been lying to me from the beginning, and so has my best friend.¡± Ethan rushed to J and grabbed her wrist, exining in a hoarse voice, ¡°I did all those things for a reason. I had no choice¡ª¡± ¡°Get your hands off me! Stop defending yourself, Ethan!¡± With her mind in a mess, J pped Ethan¡¯s hand away and took two steps back. The memories of the past resurfaced in her mind. ¡°My name is Laney Garcia¡­ I was just passing by when I saw you fall into the river¡­¡± ¡°This is my house. Please make do with it first. When we have the money, we can move into a bigger house¡­¡± ¡°How do I know what¡¯s real and what¡¯s not?¡± Trembling, J raised her head to look at Ethan, unable to hold back her tears any longer. Before Ethan could say anything, tears streaming down her face. She turned around and ran out, mming the door shut behind her. Chapter 413 Chapter 413 J was so angry that her whole body was trembling. Her mind was in a mess, and she felt like the whole world had been turned upside down. She didn¡¯t know what was true versus what was just deliberately created to deceive her. Everything now seemed fake and strange. As soon as she walked out of the hotel, she saw that Garrett was standing outside, along with several senior executives of the Larson Group. J often ran into them in the elevators. ¡°Hey, J! Where¡¯s Ethan?¡± Garrett pushed his sses up the bridge of his nose and smiled tteringly. If he got along well with J, he would have more vacations in the future. But upon a closer look, he realized that she was crying bitterly. Garrett had thought that the two would reconcile, but it turned out to be the opposite. So he immediately stopped smiling and stammered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡­¡± J simply ignored him. Looking around, she found that the senior executives of the Larson Group who should have been in that club were all standing outside. Perhaps they didn¡¯t know what to do, so they had all waited for Ethan here. When J walked out of the hotel so aggressively just now, everyone exchanged nces and then looked away, pretending not to have seen her. J wiped the tears on her face with the back of her hand and proceeded to leave, but Garrett stopped her. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. ¡°J, sometimes Ethan¡¯s terrible with words, but I¡¯m with him every day. I know that he only cares about you.¡± Garrett touched the back of his head awkwardly, ncing anxiously at the hotel from the corner of his eyes. Damn it! J was running away! Why hadn¡¯t Ethane out to chase after his wife yet? With Garrett blocking her way, J crossed her arms over her chest and sneered. ¡°I¡¯m now the wife of Mr. Larson. How dare you stop me?¡± Her chilling gaze sent a shiver down his spine. J and Ethan had been together for a long time, so now even their tones were practically the same. ¡°J, you misunderstand me. I didn¡¯t mean to stop you.¡± Seeing that J was so angry, Garrett¡¯s voice faltered. Finally, he stepped aside and let J go. Only then did Ethane running. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you stop her?¡± he asked Garrett harshly. ¡°Bro, your wife is angry as hell right now. I couldn¡¯t stop her! Besides, whatever you say now might only add fuel to the fire. If she wants to leave, just let her be and give her some space. Just follow her from a distance.¡± Garrett wiped the cold sweat on his forehead. Ethan was speechless. He had no choice but to chase after J himself. It waste winter now, and the night was freezing cold. The surrounding trees were covered in ayer of white snow. Under the dim-lighted streetmps, the woman in a red overcoat trudged in the heavy snow. In the surrounding grey and white scenery, she was like a flickering red light. When she saw a taxi approach, J hailed it. ¡°Where to, Miss?¡± After getting in the taxi, J looked out of the window at the snow. She didn¡¯t know where to go. She just wanted to leave this ce. ¡°Wherever. If I want to get off, I¡¯ll ask you to stop.¡± The driver didn¡¯t press her further and stepped on the gas. Seeing J get into a taxi, Ethan immediately drove his own car and followed them. Seacisco was developing rapidly and the tourism industry here was exceptional. The taxi driver drove around several scenic spots until it waste, and the taxi slowly came to a stop at the river bank. The sounds of the ferries came closer and closer. The wind over the river, with cold snow, swept past J¡¯s face and went through the gap of her scarf. Chapter 414 Chapter 414 ¡°Miss, please close the window. It¡¯s too cold outside to keep the windows ajar like that.¡± The taxi driver went on to stop the car. After driving for so long, it was now time to get more gas. ¡°By the way, where in the world are you going?¡± The driver snuck a nce at J in the rearview mirror. She was innocently beautiful, and the more he looked at her, the more charming she appeared in front of his eyes. From the rearview mirror, J made eye contact with the curious driver. She wrapped her scarf around her neck and said, ¡°Please stop at the nearest hotel.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s head out.¡± The driver smacked his lips together and started the engine of the car. She was indeed a very beautiful girl and it was obvious that she had been hurt by love. The taxi driver felt very bad for her. The cold wind made J shiver in her seat. She was way calmer now. On second thought, she knew that Ethan hadn¡¯t done anything heinous. He just lied to her. If this was someone else, they might not take this matter to heart. J wondered if she was being overreacted. Ethan had now be Brandon, the richest businessman in Seacisco who started from scratch. He had many good traits. He was not only young and promising but also handsome and rich. She should feel fortunate to have such a husband. However, there was one thing that J couldn¡¯t wrap her mind around. Everyone around Ethan knew about his true identity, except for her. Why didn¡¯t he tell her? Did she even matter in his heart? J didn¡¯t want to return to ¡°Brandon¡¯s¡± vi. Ethan had also lied to her about this. It turned out to be one of his many assets. The driver stopped at the entrance of a chain hotel, which also happened to be affordable. After paying the cab fare, J walked into the hotel. Ethan, who had been following her, let out a sigh of relief. It was freezing outside. At least J was no longer braving the cold winds outside. He got out of his car and followed her into the hotel, in a hurry to catch up to her. ¡°Give your manager a call.¡± This chain hotel also happened to be one of the properties that Ethan had invested in. When the hotel manager caught sight of Ethan, he came over right away with a ttering smile. ¡°Mr. Larson, it¡¯s sote at night. What can I help you with?¡± Ethan¡¯s eyes were locked on the woman who had just walked into the elevator. ¡°I want you to arrange the room opposite hers for me.¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. *** Holding the room card in her hand, J swiped the card and opened the door wearily. She was obviously worn out by the events of the day. The moment the door was opened, she heard a sound coming from the opposite room. J looked back subconsciously and before she knew it, her eyes were looking into Ethan¡¯s deep ones. Ethan fixed his gaze onto her. He wanted to say something but stopped after thinking things over. At a loss for words, his hand frozen in mid-air. He somehow managed to squeeze a few words from his thin lips. ¡°J, I¡­¡± With a snort, J turned back and proceeded to march into her room as if she hadn¡¯t seen him at all. She mmed the door closed in front of Ethan¡¯s face. And just like that, a door seemed to iste their two worlds. After hesitating for a good while, Ethan made his way to the door of J¡¯s room. He wanted to start knocking on the door, but he was afraid that he might say something wrong to make J even more upset. After all, he wasn¡¯t that good at coaxing girls. But if he used some sort of tough method, the result would be the exact opposite. At the same time, Ethan didn¡¯t want to leave either. His tall body leaned against the wall and his eyes were covered withyers of unreadable emotions. He simply stood outside the door the entire time. Lying on the bed, J fixed her gaze on the closed door. Upset, she tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep a wink. It was not until early in the morning that she finally closed her eyes and was able to take a nap. When she opened her eyes again, the sun was shining brightly into the windows. With bags underneath her eyes, J proceeded to brush her teeth and wash her face, mulling it over in her head whether she should go to thepanyter. Even if she had some setbacks in her love life, she still had a job to get to and a lot of things were still waiting for her at thepany. She opened the door with her coat in her arm and bumped into the man, who was standing outside her door. Chapter 415 Chapter 415 The dark circles under Ethan¡¯s eyes were telling of how exhausted he was. When he saw Je in, he blinked nervously. Holding up the paper bag of food, he said hesitantly, ¡°Let¡¯s have breakfast.¡± Suddenly, J felt a lump in her throat. It was obvious that Ethan had been standing here waiting for her for a whole night. J lowered her head, trying to hide the mixed feelings in her eyes. ¡°You can eat by yourself,¡± she said indifferently, pulling out the room card and closing the door. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. She was still undeniably angry with Ethan. Seeing that he had waited outside her door only annoyed her even more. ¡°Mr. Larson, don¡¯t get in my way, okay?¡± Ethan had kept his identity a secret from her. In a word, he had deceived her. It was all just so ridiculous! She didn¡¯t even care whether she was Ethan¡¯s wife or Brandon¡¯s for they were the very same person. What she did care was Ethan didn¡¯t trust her and lied to her! If they were just ordinary friends or strangers on the road, it would¡¯ve been fine for Ethan to conceal his secret identity as Brandon. But they were a couple who lived under the same roof. Ethan had never considered her feelings. ¡°J, can we find a time to talk it through?¡± With his arm on the door, Ethan lowered his head and seemed to want to say something, but he frowned, as if something was stuck in his throat. Without answering him, J looked away, walked past him and left. J walked the streets aimlessly, surrounded by crowds of people. When she made it to a rental agency, she paced back and forth outside restlessly. ¡°Miss, are you looking to rent a house? Come on in. We have many good houses that are fit for anyone¡¯s budget.¡± An agent opened the door and greeted J with a smile. J hesitated, wondering if she should get her own apartment. She couldn¡¯t live in Ethan¡¯s vi anymore. Just the thought of going back there angered her. He had told her countless lies. He was a liar! But she didn¡¯t enter the rental agency just yet. Her things were still in the vi, so she had to go back to get them first. As for her job at the Larson Group, J was not in the mood to work at all. Her mind was aplete mess. So she texted Tiffany and asked her for a leave. Moreover, many senior executives of the Larson Group had found out yesterday about her rtionship with Brandon, and she wasn¡¯t in the mood to face them. In a daze, J hailed a taxi and went back to the vi to pack up her things. Unexpectedly, she ran into Laney at the gate to the vi. Sitting on the steps outside, Laney stood up at once when she saw J approaching. ¡°J, why didn¡¯t you go to work today? I was so worried about you.¡± Laney¡¯s concern was genuine. She had learned from Garrett that Ethan¡¯s identity had been exposed, so she immediately came to see J. But J never came home, nor did she answer her phone calls. So Laney settled for waiting for her here. ¡°Hello, Miss Garcia. I¡¯m fine.¡± A faint smile appeared on J¡¯s face. Truth be told, she wasn¡¯t as angry with Laney as with Ethan. She was just disappointed with her. She had considered Laney her good friend, but it turned out that she was just a bodyguard hired by Ethan. Come to think about it, Laney was probably only here to fulfill her duty to protect her client. ¡°Miss Garcia, aren¡¯t you tired of protecting me twenty-four hours a day? I don¡¯t need anyone to protect me now,¡± J said with an indifferent smile. Chapter 416 Chapter 416 J¡¯s words rendered Laney speechless. She was used to dealing with people straightforwardly with force, but J¡¯s outright coldness made her flustered and helpless. Laney would¡¯ve preferred it if J beat her to vent her anger rather than cut off their friendship. ¡°Don¡¯t act like we¡¯re strangers, J¡­¡± Laney forced a smile. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Mr. Larson, you and I would have been strangers, Miss Garcia,¡± J retorted coldly. ¡°Okay. It¡¯s true that Mr. Larson hired me to protect you, and it¡¯s true that I¡¯ve been lying to you. For that, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Laney apologized right away. J¡¯s anger was unsettling; it made her realize just how terrible it was when a usually gentle and nice person got mad. J nodded but didn¡¯t say anything else. ¡°Sorry, I just need some time to calm down,¡± J said with a sigh after a while. She didn¡¯t want to talk to Laney anymore, so she started to walk past her. ¡°Wait!¡± Laney stopped J, and then quickly lowered her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, okay? My contract said that I couldn¡¯t reveal my identity nor could I reveal Mr. Larson¡¯s. I couldn¡¯t vite the terms.¡± J put on a calm smile, but the smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°I know you were just doing your job. I just feel like I had been such a fool for believing you were my friend ever since you saved me. Miss Garcia, I¡¯ve never had a real friend since I was a child, so when you treated me well, I couldn¡¯t help but believe that you had considered me as a friend, too.¡± Laney anxiously exined, ¡°It¡¯s true that at the beginning, I was just hired to protect you, but I gradually came to regard you as a real friend. I wasn¡¯t lying to you about that. You¡¯re a very worthy friend. You¡¯re gentle and refined, whereas I¡¯m a straightforward person. Few girls are willing to be friends with me. When you treated me sincerely, I was really happy that I had you.¡± Laney¡¯s voice sounded genuine. J¡¯s cold eyes softened somewhat and she fell silent. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t believe what Laney was saying, rather she was still hurting from the fact that their friendship was fake in the beginning. Other than her biological parents, no one in this world would¡¯ve treated her well for no reason. With Laney, she just didn¡¯t figure it out at first. The more J thought about it, the more distressed she felt. She didn¡¯t say anything as her mind raced. How was she supposed to treat Laney now? Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. She didn¡¯t think it was necessary to cut off all ties with Laney, but she couldn¡¯t continue to view Laney as a friend either. She lowered her head, walked past Laney, and unlocked the door with her fingerprint. ¡°I won¡¯t invite you in, Miss Garcia. You can go back and tell Mr. Larson that I¡¯m safe and I don¡¯t need anyone to protect me from now on.¡± Then, without waiting for a response, she closed the door on Laney¡¯s face. Being left outside, Laney felt helpless. It was clear that J was still too immersed in her anger to listen to reason now. No matter what Laney said, it would likely fall on deaf ears. Just as Laney was about to leave, she sensed that someone was behind her. She whirled around vigntly and when she saw who it was, she sighed in relief. ¡°Mr. Larson, why are you sneaking around in the daytime?¡± Chapter 417 Chapter 417 Ethan brushed the snow off his shoulders and emerged from the bushes. He was wearing a long face, and he was carrying a bag of food that had clearly gone cold. Dressed in a luxurious suit, his image was full of contradictions. On the one hand, he looked like a warm partner who had prepared breakfast for his lover. On the other hand, he also looked like a mature and steady socialite. Ethan didn¡¯t answer Laney. The truth was he had been following J ever since she left the hotel. He just didn¡¯t show himself until J was inside the vi. Laney approached him anxiously. Considering how Ethan was her employer, it wasn¡¯t her ce to judge him. She could only shake her head wryly and say, ¡°Mr. Larson, you¡¯ve really done it this time. No wonder she¡¯s so angry. But I think you can still fix things. Go and apologize to her right now.¡± Ethan wasn¡¯t good at expressing his feelings. He could only nod and say, ¡°J only spoke out of anger just now. Your contract hasn¡¯t expired, so you still have to protect her at all times.¡± Laney smiled. ¡°Even without you telling me, I would¡¯ve protected her to the ends of the earth.¡± Looking at the closed door to the vi, she added softly, ¡°Because she¡¯s my best friend.¡± ******* J opened her suitcase and began to pile her clothes in it. When she took them out of the closet, she found that every article of clothing was folded neatly. Ethan was good at doing housework. She had seldom doneundry ever since they got married. She looked around the room quietly. The windows and furniture were clean, and even the floor was shiny. Now that she knew that Ethan was loaded, she wondered if he had hired maids to clean the house whenever she was away. Even so, there was no doubt that Ethan was good at cleaning; she had witnessed this herself. She still remembered that when the two of them first got married and moved into that small house of his mother¡¯s, he couldn¡¯t do the dishes properly and even broke a few of them. A smile crept on J¡¯s face. As the CEO of such an esteemedpany, he shouldn¡¯t have needed to do such housework. No wonder he was so clumsy at the time. Now that she looked back carefully, she realized there were a lot of clues that alluded to Ethan¡¯s secret identity as Brandon Larson. For example, he knew multiplenguages and liked to pay attention to stock and financial reports. But she had ignored all those clues. Just then, the sound of the intelligent door unlocking interrupted her train of thoughts. Ethan strode in. Seeing that J was packing up her things, he strode over to her suitcase and closed it. J red at him and demanded, ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Ethan rested his hand on the suitcase firmly, showing no intention of letting it go. The two of them stared at each other in a stalemate. After a long while, Ethan broke the silence and said in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯m here to apologize to you. I¡¯m sorry.¡± J sneered coldly. ¡°You¡¯ve deceived me for so long. Do you expect me to forgive you after just a simple ¡®sorry¡¯?¡± Ethan pursed his lips and looked at her steadily. ¡°I¡¯ll do anything you want me to do, but you can¡¯t leave.¡± For the first time, he looked very humble, like a little child who knew he was in the wrong. Seeing him like this, J didn¡¯t have the heart to stay so angry at him. Instead, she tried to snatch the suitcase from under his hand, but it didn¡¯t even budge. She had no choice but to give up. She red at Ethan and said, ¡°Let me go. I want to move out.¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Ethan frowned. ¡°What are you going to do after you move out?¡± Chapter 418 Chapter 418 ¡°It¡¯s none of your business, Mr. Larson!¡± As J carried the folded clothes, she tried to grab the suitcase from him. ¡®Where am I supposed to go? I don¡¯t even have any idea. It¡¯s going to cost a lot of money to find a new apartment, and that¡¯s money I don¡¯t have at the moment. I¡¯ve given most of my saving to Tyler,¡¯ she thought. It was almost impossible to rent an ideal apartment nearby her workce. Because of her current financial situation, her sry wouldn¡¯t be enough to cover both rent and living expenses. J hadn¡¯t thought about what to do next at the moment. ¡®Should I really get divorced? Should I resign and leave the Larson Group for good?¡¯ Things didn¡¯t seem to be that serious, but she had blurted out some unpleasant words when she was angry. She couldn¡¯t just take back what she said now. Seeing as J was still fuming with rage, Ethan stared at her in silence for a long time before he found his voice. ¡°You can get mad at me all you want, but you can¡¯t leave. I¡¯m not going to let you leave.¡± He refused to let go of the suitcase. He straightened himself up, and lifted the suitcase, intending to take it away. ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯m going to forgive you that easily!¡± J pursed her lips while staring at the clothes in her hand. It seemed as though she was determined to go through with this. She red at Ethan for a long time, uncertain of what to say. Finally, she grabbed all of her clothes and belongings from the sofa and brought them into the room. She shut the door behind her and decided to ignore him. Ethan, on the other hand, took a deep breath. For now, the situation was still under his control. At the very least, J wasn¡¯t going to move out anytime soon. The sadness in his heart diminished, but he knew full well that the problem was yet to be solved. Ethan clenched the suitcase handle and put it down. He carefully took all of J¡¯s stuff out of the suitcase and put them back where they used to be. Once J was inside the room, she wanted to find out what Ethan was doing outside, so she opened the door quietly. Outside, she saw him carefully putting away her stuff before taking off his coat and doing household chores. Ethan was the CEO of the Larson Group. There was no need for him to do such menialbor. As a matter of fact, he had changed so much for her. J closed the door again and leaned against it, feeling a lump in her throat. After that encounter, she didn¡¯t speak to Ethan again. She wasn¡¯t sure what she was supposed to do. Right now, all she wanted to do was to be alone and at peace. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Whenever she was frowning, she looked really unapproachable. Sometimeter, J was able to stay calm and assess her situation. ¡®I¡¯ve been living a happy life with Ethan ever since we¡¯re married. Is all of this going to be ruined just because of a lie?¡¯ Truthfully, she didn¡¯t want to give up on their rtionship, but the fact that he had lied to her really bothered her a lot. Ethan was cautious around J, for fear of irritating her again. He was finding it difficult to understand women more and more. Most of the time, she would ignore him. But all he could do was tolerate her behavior for now and carefully observe her. J spent the entire day inside the room, forgetting that she had to go to work today. She had thought it overter, and decided to just go to work tomorrow. Whether she liked it or not, she¡¯d have to decide if she still wanted to continue working for the Larson Group or not. It was imperative that she dealt with the matter of her job properly. She was well aware that she couldn¡¯t just skip work for the rest of her life just because of this matter. Chapter 419 Chapter 419 J returned to the Larson Group¡¯s headquarters the next morning. She heard some peopleughing inside the design department. But the second they saw here in, an ominous silence ensued in the room. Everybody else in the office realized that there was a tension in the room, so they all nced at the door. ¡°Hey! Shut up! Can¡¯t you see that J is here already?¡± ¡°Wait¡­ Is J the one who¡¯s secretly married to Mr. Larson?¡± Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Who else could it be?¡± J could hear them whispering among each other, and they all sounded surprised. Deciding to ignore them, she went to her seat and sat down as if nothing happened. When Gerda saw J, she poked her head out and went to thetter¡¯s seat. Visibly excited, she said, ¡°My queen! You¡¯re finally back! Everyone in thepany is shocked to hear the news about you and Mr. Larson!¡± J could tell from the look on Gerda¡¯s face that thetter was excited. ¡°Who spread the news?¡± she asked. Gerda had no idea either. ¡°When I arrived at thepany yesterday, everybody was already discussing that you¡¯re the CEO¡¯s wife. Someone even took a video of Mr. Larson chasing after you!¡± When J looked around, the people inside the department fell into deeper silence. The air felt tense and it grew worse with every passing second. The moment she entered thepany building earlier, she could sense that people were looking at her differently. Some were curious; others were confused. But most of them were giving her a modicum of respect, and were cautious around her. It seemed that the entirepany already knew that she was Brandon¡¯s wife. ¡°Everyone¡¯s scared of you now!¡± Gerda dered as she looked around. J burst intoughter. ¡°Why would they be scared? Do they think I¡¯m going to bite their heads off or something?¡± Gerda winked at her and replied, ¡°It¡¯s because of your conflict with Patty. It didn¡¯t end well, did it? Didn¡¯t you feel that everyone was keeping their distance from you at the time?¡± ¡°Of course, I did! Patty¡¯s boyfriend is a department head of ourpany. I can understand why everyone chose to side with her,¡± J responded. It was difficult to keep healthy interpersonal rtionships in the corporate world. In their world, any common fool who would go up against someone who had connections, someone like Patty, would just be asking for trouble. ¡°Well, that¡¯s the point! Since you¡¯re the wife of the boss, you¡¯repletely different in everyone¡¯s eyes now. They¡¯re all nervous around you, because they¡¯re scared you¡¯ll take revenge on them,¡± Gerda remarked with glee. She wasn¡¯t a sensitive person, and she had always been on J¡¯s side. Thus, she wasn¡¯t nervous around her. As a matter of fact, this turn of events excited her. J lowered her head and said, ¡°I¡¯ve already got a lot on my te now. I don¡¯t have time to waste seeking revenge on everyone.¡± Gerda pouted. ¡°They just feel guilty. Putting that aside¡­ What the hell, Lind? How could you hide the fact that you¡¯re Mr. Larson¡¯s wife from us?¡± A bitter smile appeared on J¡¯s face. ¡®How am I supposed to answer that question? I don¡¯t even know the answer, myself.¡¯ Although it was quiet in the design department, all eyes were on J. Just as she was feeling unsettled, someone gave her a pat on the shoulder from behind. ¡°Lind, can I see you in my office?¡± Tiffany stood behind J, crossing her arms. She looked as calm as ever, and she acted like she always did. Chapter 420 Chapter 420 J warily followed Tiffany into her office. ¡°Miss Fisher, is this about me asking for another leave yesterday?¡± J bit her lower lip. She was aware that she had been asking for leaves too frequentlytely. Sitting cross-legged on the sofa, Tiffany couldn¡¯t help but giggle. ¡°Lind, I always suspected you might have something to do with Brandon, but never in my wildest dreams would I have thought you were his wife.¡± It was known to everyone in the design circle that Tiffany was an artful and observant person. On more than once asion, she noticed that Garrett was secretly helping J. But she knew that Garrett had a girlfriend at the time, so Tiffany boldly guessed that it wasn¡¯t him who was in a rtionship with J, but Brandon. After all, Garrett worked for Brandon. It made sense that Garrett would pull the strings in J¡¯s favor for his boss. Now that her guess was confirmed, Tiffany was calm. She was not a snobbish person. She had grown a little partial to J, but only because she appreciated her talent and work ethic. But she always maintained fairness as the department director and dealt with thepany¡¯s affairs professionally. J took a deep breath. ¡°Miss Fisher, he is his own person, as I am my own. I still work for you. I won¡¯t vitepany rules just because I¡¯m the CEO¡¯s wife. Don¡¯t worry.¡± J couldn¡¯t figure out what was going on in Tiffany¡¯s mind, but she tried to make her intentions clear anyway. Tiffany smiled and waved her hand dismissively. ¡°I¡¯m not worried about that. I¡¯ll be as strict as usual, and you¡¯ll still be criticized if you do something wrong.¡± As she spoke, she stood up and walked up to J. ¡°But let me ask you this question as a friend: now that everybody knows that you¡¯re Mr. Larson¡¯s wife, what¡¯re your ns for the future?¡± Stunned, J lowered her head and said softly, ¡°I haven¡¯t figured it out yet.¡± Tiffany heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°You are very talented, Lind. It¡¯d be a pity if you gave up your career just because you married a billionaire. Everyone in the Larson Group now knows who you are. If you choose to stay here, people will definitely fawn over and tter you. You¡¯re unlikely to encounter any obstacles and will easily climb the corporatedder. That being said, staying in this kind of environment might not be good for your career growth. Take Patty¡¯s case as an example. If you want to hone your skills further, I suggest you look for opportunities outside the Larson Group. The world is big. Don¡¯t be a frog in the bottom of a well that can only see a small patch of sky above. A person with a limited outlook won¡¯t make a sess of his or her career.¡± ¡°You want me to leave the Larson Group?¡± With her lips slightly parted, J looked at Tiffany in disbelief. She could tell that Tiffany was just being frank but sincere and straight to the point. ¡°Are you sentimentally attached to thispany?¡± At a nce, Tiffany knew what was weighing on her mind immediately. J shook her head. After a long while, she said slowly, ¡°I love what I do, and I would want to advance my career. I¡¯ll consider your suggestion carefully, Miss Fisher.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Tiffany smiled, although there was a trace of sadness in her eyes. ¡°No matter what path you take, it¡¯ll be difficult. That¡¯s life. What matters is that you¡¯re happy and live with no regrets.¡± J looked at Tiffany steadily. After holding each other¡¯s gaze for a few seconds, they both broke into smiles. J stood up to leave, but Tiffany stopped her. ¡°I forgot to tell you something. I was so caught up in giving you advice that I forgot that Mr. Larson sent me a message. He said that he had contacted Ronald and got the necessary information from him. It was true that it was Patty who offended him. So now you can rify the misunderstanding and prove to everyone that you¡¯re innocent.¡± Chapter 421 Chapter 421 Tiffany acted post haste. The moment she had the evidence, she called a meeting of all those in the design department. Once everyone had arrived at the meeting, she yed the recording of Ronald¡¯s confession for them. The employees were indeed bbergasted but, at the same time, they had expected something like that to have happened. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Many people in the design department spoke for Patty because of her rtionship with the executive of thepany. Everyone was also well aware of the fact that Patty was highly impulsive and irresponsible, so it definitely wasn¡¯t beyond her to pass the buck to J. Patty¡¯s face drained of all color in an instant. She felt shame wash over her entire being as she listened to the recording. Ronald had even dared to call her a bitch. In all honesty, the moment Patty had found out that J was Brandon¡¯s wife, she knew her conniving tricks would inevitably be exposed. These days, she was suffering from intense and deep-seated anxiety. ¡°I was scared at that time, so my mind was a mess, and I said it was Lind who hit Mr. Williams. I¡¯m sorry for my conduct.¡± A second after the recording ended, Patty promptly burst into tears and buried her face in her hands. She was the viin who had ndered and framed J in the first ce. Now, however, she cried pathetically and yed the part of the wronged victim to the tee. J scowled, but before she could get a single word out, her colleagues hade up to her and apologized. ¡°Lind, so it turns out that it wasn¡¯t you who did it. We discussed about it before and did suspect that it couldn¡¯t have been you because you are such a sweet, kind person. You could never have done such a thing.¡± ¡°Sincerest apologies, Lind. We just heard rumors from other colleagues and got caught up in the web of lies. We wronged you and judged you before we figured out the truth. You are such a good person. I hope you won¡¯t take it to heart.¡± All her fellow employees apologized, one after the other, in honeyed tones with ttering expressions on their faces. They had never talked to J in such a humble tone. Noisy, hypocritical voices made her feel wholly ufortable. She knew very well that they did this mainly due to the fact that she was Brandon¡¯s wife. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Let bygones be bygones.¡± With a faint smile on her face, J fiddled with her fingers ufortably. She was truly upset. Everyone was apologizing to her, but she was the furthest thing from happy. ******* ¡°s¡­¡± This was the eighth time that Ethan had sighed this morning. He put his hand on his forehead, feeling completely helpless and distressed. It seemed like he had beenpletely drowned by depression. ¡°Is J still angry with you? To be frank, I think it¡¯s best for you to sort out any problems between the two of you as soon as possible, alright? Your foul mood will make us all unhappy.¡± Garrett felt downcast. As long as Ethan was upset, he would give his subordinates copious amounts of work to complete. ¡°She still doesn¡¯t want to talk to me,¡± said Ethan in a gloomy voice. He always ended up feeling so helpless when it came to J. Garrett unbuttoned two of his buttons and took a seat next to Ethan. After quite a lengthy consideration of the situation, he said, ¡°You¡¯ve lied to her for so long. Of course, it is natural that she will be angry, but you had done it for her own good. It¡¯s not an unsolvable conflict. You¡¯d better stay humble in front of her now. After some time, I¡¯m sure she will cool down and forgive you.¡± Garrett thought that J¡¯s anger waspletely human and understandable. Back when Ethan and he had been in school, Ethan always enjoyed fooling him. Having first-hand experience with Ethan¡¯s shenanigans, hepletely understood the anger J was feeling now. Ethan didn¡¯t answer and instead just sighed in response. If only she would calm down and forgive him. However, he feared that things were not that simple. Chapter 422 Chapter 422 ¡°Miss Lind, let me introduce myself first. I¡¯m the director of the human resources department¡­¡± Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Good afternoon, Miss Lind. Afternoon tea is on me. What do you think about that?¡± ¡°Miss Lind, if you need any help, please give me a call at any time. Just so you know, I¡¯m the marketing manager. You can go ahead and call me Mike¡­¡± So many people wereing up to J. It really appeared that they were going to surround her desk at any moment. After J arrived at thepany today, she didn¡¯t have time to get started on her work yet. This whole time, she had been wearing a decent smile on her face and politely dealing with the senior executives who were trying to suck up to her one after another. In just one day, many colleagues and senior executives pretended toe up to her by chance. Some of them made excuses to talk to her and some even boldly came up to her directly to introduce themselves. Thanks to J, Gerda had the opportunity to partake in a lot of snacks and drinks this afternoon. Her stomach was already full and she was feeling satisfied. ¡°It must be so good to be the wife of the CEO. J, you¡¯re so fortunate.¡± Gerda let out a loud burp. Looking at the gifts on J¡¯s desk, her eyes were filled with envy. ¡°Do you think all these gifts and foods are for nothing? They all want to get something from me.¡± J shook her head, feeling more and more worn out. She sorted out all the gifts on her table, feeling a slight annoyance when she saw the ttering faces of those people surrounding her. Maybe Tiffany was right. She could no longer work in the Larson Group anymore. Finally, the workday was over and J felt greatly relieved. She was now the focus of the entire Larson Group. All the employees of the Larson Group wanted to do nothing else but tter her. Even the cleaner downstairs went out of her way to greet J respectfully when she saw her. So as soon as J was off work, she especially made a detour, intending to take the stairs instead of the elevator to head downstairs. She didn¡¯t want to have to ride the elevator with the others. In her eyes, it would only make her feel more embarrassed to be fawned upon by others in a small space. When J was about to reach the first floor, she could smell someone¡¯s perfume. She made her way down the stairs and saw the perfume wearer leaning against the door frame and smiling up at her. ¡°Isn¡¯t this such a coincidence, Miss Lind?¡± With a wide grin on her face, Charis turned her body so that she was now facing J. The woman was both tall and slim. When she focused her gaze on J, she bowed her head down slightly. ¡°Hello, Miss Turner. Excuse me, I¡¯m on my way out.¡± J forced a smile on her face. Now that Charis was standing in front of the door, blocking her path, J was in a dilemma. She could neither get out nor go back upstairs. This encounter started to make J feel even more ufortable. Judging from the casual expression on Charis¡¯ face, she must already know about Ethan¡¯s dual identities. It really seemed like J was the only one in the world who was left in the dark. Cocking an eyebrow, Charis observed the subtle shift in J¡¯s expression. ¡°Just to let you know, I do know that Brandon is Ethan,¡± Charis said, very rxed, but there was a hint of malice that could be seen in her eyes. ¡°You have to understand him. He hid it from you because he¡¯s worried about a lot of things. After all, you and he are worlds apart.¡± The fake smile on J¡¯s face faded away at once. She didn¡¯t want to have a chat with Charis and she knew that Charis was standing in front of the door deliberately to cause trouble for her. She decided in the next moment to go upstairs directly and take the elevator out. However, what Charis said next made her stop in her tracks. Chapter 423 Chapter 423 Charis heaved a long sigh before continuing. ¡°It¡¯s a wonderful feeling, really. It feels like it was only yesterday when Brandon and I started a business, and now, Larson Group is practically an empire. I always knew that Brandon would seed. He¡¯s the most brilliant man I¡¯ve ever known. He hase so far despite having to start with nothing. As the CEO of Larson Group, he is responsible not only for a multibillion-dor enterprise, but the livelihood of some ten thousand employees as well. But he is yet to avenge his mother and bring down the Lester family. When he chooses a wife, he must consider more factors than the ordinary people do.¡± J looked Charis in the eye and asked, ¡°What are you trying to say? Ethan married me. No matter how close you were in the past, he is now my husband.¡± Tension crackled in the air between them. Charis narrowed her eyes. She had thought that J was a doormat, a pushover who would rather run away and hide than fight. It seemed like she had underestimated the woman. Even so, Charis remainedposed. Her arrogant nature forbade her from feeling inferior to anyone, after all. She drew close to J, her lips curled into a sneer. ¡°I meant exactly what I said. I just feel so sorry for Brandon. He should have had a better life.¡± The sound of her heels cking against the floor echoed throughout the empty staircase. Every step she took felt like a dagger to J¡¯s heart. When they were finally toe to toe, Charis braced her hand on the banister and looked J up and down. Then she broke into a huge, mocking smile. ¡°You understand, don¡¯t you? Brandon should have married someone from a rich and powerful family, someone who had the same status as him. He needs a wife who can help him further his career, his vendetta, his ultimate sess. Brandon only married you to honor histe mother¡¯s wish. Sure, he might have some feelings for you, but does heContent is property ? N?velDrama.Org. really think you deserve the title of Mrs. Larson? You know as well as I do that businessmen base their every decision on the pros and cons. No one gambles just to lose in the end. This might be the reason why Brandon has kept his true identity from you, don¡¯t you think?¡± J didn¡¯t want to listen to another word Charis said. She pushed past the other woman and dashed up the stairs. Charis chuckled knowingly. Her voice was calm when she spoke again, but what she said still jarred J¡¯s resolve. ¡°I¡¯m just worried about you, Miss Lind. You might find yourself broken and miserable in the future. s, there¡¯s no such thing as forever. You and Brandon may be living harmoniously now, but how long will thatst? Once the passion fades, you will be faced with the harsh reality that you were neverpatible to begin with. Youe from different worlds. The gap between the two of you is nothing less than a chasm, one that a piece of legal paper could never hope to bridge. Your marriage means nothing in the grand scheme of things. Haven¡¯t you realized yet? Because of you, he gave up a better future, a shot at his revenge¡ªhis one great purpose in life. Do you honestly think Brandon will never regret his decision?¡± J tried to ignore Charis as she kept on bounding upstairs, all to no avail. Thetter¡¯s voice grated on her ears, and her words embedded themselves in her mind. If she were any less of a person, she would have marched over and pped Charis in the face. But J was not that kind of woman. Besides, Charis was right. J inhaled deeply in an attempt to calm herself, only for her breath to catch in her throat. Her heart felt like it was made of lead, and it was sinking rapidly into a dark abyss. There was no way she could face Ethan after this. Her doubts and insecurities melded together with her heartache, and they washed over her like a tidal wave. She was drowning. The worst part of it was that she was powerless against Charis¡¯ words. She could not refute them. She could only flee. Chapter 424 Chapter 424 Gerda was upstairs at the moment. She had a lot to eat today, so she was running on the treadmill in the gym, trying to feel less guilty. While she was running, she noticed J rushing out of the stairwell with streaks of tears on her face. ¡°Lind? What were you doinging out of the stairwell?¡± Even though Gerda was normally a jovial person, she could tell that J was in a sour mood. Upon seeing the worry on Gerda¡¯s face, J felt even more dispirited. She threw herself into Gerda¡¯s arms and sniffled. ¡°Just don¡¯t ask me anything, okay?¡± Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. She had buried her face in Gerda¡¯s hair. And so, Gerda just caressed J¡¯s back in silence. When she felt that thetter was shivering, she felt really sorry for her. But at the same time, she was furious. ¡°Who did this to you?¡± Gerda was filled with righteous indignation. She was just about ready to roll up her sleeves and smack somebody on the back of their heads. J shook her head, adjusted her mood, and smiled at Gerda. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Gerda. I¡¯m feeling a lot better now. There¡¯s no need for that.¡± She then pursed her lips and added, ¡°Whenever something happens, you don¡¯t have to worry about defending other people right away. At times, you just need to think more about yourself.¡± J¡¯s words left Gerda speechless. What does she mean by that? She sounds like she¡¯s nning on leaving. Gerda was confused. The second the elevator arrived, J entered it right away. She was lost in thought. And the more she thought of what Charis said to her, the more she felt Charis was right. There was indeed a great difference in social standing between her and Ethan. J used to be the Lind family¡¯s adopted daughter. Even though the Lind family wasn¡¯t that influential or wealthy, it still had its ownpany. But now, she had lost this identity as well after she disowned her family. It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that she was now a woman without a family. All she was, was an ordinary employee. Compared to a guy like Brandon, the billionaire CEO of Larson Group, she was nothing. Ever since they met, Ethan had been helping her with all sorts of problems, but not once had she helped him back. Only a wealthy nobledy like Charis deserved a man like Ethan. Charis was capable, strong, and she had been working with him since they were young. Their rtionship was iparable to all others. When the thought crossed J¡¯s mind, she felt even more upset and self-abased. As much as it pained her to self-deprecate, she had to admit that this was the truth. In every aspect, she was inferior to Charis. It was no wonder that Ethan had hidden his true identity as Brandon Larson from her. She was qualified to be Ethan¡¯s wife, but she wasn¡¯t good enough to be Brandon Larson¡¯s wife. J walked out of the Larson Group building in a daze. She¡¯d rather not work for thepany anymore. Just seeing Charis would remind her of what thetter said to her. It was clear to her that she wasn¡¯t good enough topete with Charis. ¡°Where am I supposed to go now? To the vi?¡± Sadly, that was also where Ethan lived. If she wanted to move out, he¡¯d certainly try to stop her. J was uncertain of what to do next. As she looked around the bustling city, she didn¡¯t know where she should go. The world was vast, and yet she had no home. Never had she felt this lonely before. Chapter 425 Chapter 425 Charis haughtily walked back to her office, a smug smile stered on her face. Seeing J running away with a pale face, she instantly knew her n had worked. She closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. A senior leader had informed Charis the episode between Brandon J outside the club the other day. She was startled to know that Brandon¡¯s real identity was exposed too soon. Charis was annoyed that J could enjoy the glory and pride of being the wife of the CEO of the Larson Group. The gold-digger would definitely cling to him more after knowing that Ethan was Brandon. Charis didn¡¯t make her move right away. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. She wanted to observe what was happening, fully analyze the situation, and then find the perfect opportunity to attack J. Therefore, Charis secretly watched J¡¯s every move. Several department managers and senior executives tried ttering J with gifts and eateries. Although J had a pleasant countenance, Charis could tell at a nce that, deep down, she was unhappy. J was pissed off but was pretending to remain calm. A smile emerged on Charis¡¯s face. She guessed J was pissed off because Brandon had lied to her. Charis¡¯s opinion of J changed in an instant. She was surprised to know that J didn¡¯t care about Brandon¡¯s real identity as she believed. If J wasn¡¯t her rival in love, Charis would have admired her wholeheartedly. Charis was born with a silver spoon, and the impoverished girls she had seen in her life were all greedy about money. Even though they all pretended like they didn¡¯t care about money, almost everyone of them revealed their true colors as time went by. J¡¯s behavior surprised her. The woman was strangely unaffected by wealth and power. However, it was also an opportunity to make her ns work. Brandon and J had quarreled. Charis could use this chance to amplify the gap between the two and drag them apart forever. After all, it wasn¡¯t her fault. She was merely seizing the opportunity God had given to her. Brandon had warned her earlier. But Charis couldn¡¯t miss this marvelous chance. If she didn¡¯t make a move now, it would be impossible to separate J and Brandon once they reconciled. Charis couldn¡¯t let that happen. She had to take the risk. Otherwise, she would never have the chance to be with Brandon. J was tired of the people trying to tter her the entire day. Therefore, she decided to take the stairs that day when she got off work to avoid her colleagues. ¡°Have they upgraded the surveince system on the staircase?¡± Charis asked her assistant. ¡°All the CCTV cameras in the staircase will be shut down when we get off workter. The technical department will stay and upgrade them in the evening.¡± The assistant bnced the documents in her arms and added, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, can I leave for the day?¡± ¡°Okay. Ask the technical department to finish upgrading as soon as possible. After all, it¡¯s a matter of safety. Without the working cameras, we won¡¯t be able to investigate what¡¯s going on if anything does happen.¡± Charis waved her hand. Coincidently, thepany was working on upgrading the security system. Charis could wait for J in the staircase after work when the cameras were shut down. That way, there wouldn¡¯t be any traces left behind. Things seemed to progress better than she had expected. Judging from J¡¯s reaction, Charis realized she must have suffered a heavy blow. She stood in front of the window, with her arms over her chest, and stared at the business hub of Seacisco before her. She pursed her lips and thought about the prospect of her next move. It was pretty easy. Charis only had to make Brandon kick J out of his life. That way, he would be hers forever. Chapter 426 Chapter 426 After getting off work, Ethan sat inside his car, staring at everyone leaving the Larson Group¡¯s building. He didn¡¯t start driving until he saw J walking out. He then followed her closely, making sure to tail her at a moderate speed. When he noticed that she wasn¡¯t on her way home, he sped up and pulled over beside her. J looked inside the car and saw Ethan. He was truly dashing in his suit. And the smile on his face made him look all the more charming. Ethan rested his hands on the steering wheel, visibly hesitant before asking, ¡°Wanna go home together?¡± J ignored him and continued walking along the road. Ethan followed her for a few minutes before she finally stopped in her tracks, frustrated and livid. Why am I angry with Ethan? Charis is the one who provoked me! This is all because of my pathetic self-esteem and insecurities. J thought in distress. The mere thought of that made J feel even sadder. She and Ethan were like two parallel lines that would never meet in between. If it weren¡¯t for his mother¡¯sst wish, they never would¡¯ve gotten together. Because J stopped walking, Ethan stepped on the brake and pulled over behind her. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. It took a few moments before J decided to step into the car in silence. Ethan frowned. Instead of feeling happy, he sensed that something was amiss. The reason why J wasn¡¯t talking to him before was because she was angry with him. But now, he could tell that something else was wrong. The light in his eyes dimmed, and his heart sank. He quietly turned the steering wheel and drove back to the vi. Slowly, the ck Maybach pulled over at the gate of the vi. When Ethan unfastened his seatbelt, he noticed that J wasn¡¯t getting off the car. She was staring at an old couple beside the pedestrian crossing. The old woman was holding the old man¡¯s arm as they crossed the road together. It somehow reminded her of something she always read in fairy tales, ¡°And they lived happily ever after.¡± ¡°That¡¯s beautiful,¡± J eximed, her face lighting up along with the setting sun. Ethan¡¯s heart tightened and his voice became hoarse. ¡°Someday, when our hair greys out and our bones go brittle, we¡¯ll be like them.¡± J shook her head, chuckling under her breath. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Ethan clenched the steering wheel, immediately feeling tense. Thereafter, J looked at him intently and smiled. ¡°You¡¯re much taller than that old man, so I won¡¯t be able to support you like that.¡± Just as Ethan felt relieved and was about to say something, she cut him off and added in a trembling voice, ¡°Ethan, I want a divorce.¡± For the first time ever, Ethan¡¯s mind went nk. Despair and disbelief clouded his thoughts and his heart. ¡°Who talked to you and what did they say?¡± he asked. Ethan had thought that J was merely upset. He had led himself to believe that after a period of time, she would stop getting angry, and by then, he¡¯d apologize to her again. Then, everything would be okay again. Not once did he think that they¡¯d get a divorce. Still shaking her head, J looked down while twirling thece on the hemline of her dress. ¡°I just want a divorce, Ethan. I¡¯m exhausted¡­¡± ¡°J, why do you suddenly want to get a divorce? Everything was fine before!¡± The way Ethan narrowed his eyes was daunting. After casting him a nce, J looked down once more. His intimidating appearance frightened her. ¡°I¡¯m not okay with the fact that you¡¯ve been lying to me, Ethan! I can no longer trust you. And in a marriage, trust is the most important thing.¡± Ethan knew that he did lie and J was indeed mad, but there was definitely more to the story. So he was patient with her. ¡°Are you hiding something from me?¡± J shook her head again. No matter what he said, she didn¡¯t want to say another word. Ethan rubbed his temples and closed his eyes as he sat in the driver¡¯s seat in silence for a long time. When he opened his eyes again, he said, ¡°I will never agree to a divorce, J.¡± The setting sun finally slid down the horizon, and everything around them turned dimmer. Ethan couldn¡¯t see her face clearly anymore. ¡°I¡¯ll pretend that I didn¡¯t hear what you said today. Never mention it again,¡± he said in a soft voice. Chapter 427 Chapter 427 The car was filled with a thick silence. Instead of making a scene, J chose to be calm and asked, ¡°Will you please unlock the door? I want to go back.¡± She turned away and stared at the scenery through the window. It was a very long winter this year, in Seacisco. Ethan unlocked the door with shaky fingers. The tremor in his fingers had not stopped yet. J shut the car door carefully and went back to the vi. She had to get Ethan to agree to the divorce because she didn¡¯t think she would be able to live with him as a couple like they had done in the past. She knew if he didn¡¯t agree then the divorce would not happen. J waspletely worn out as she entered the vi. She knew she could not bepared to someone as perfect as Charis. Which was why it baffled her that Ethan was so into her. These questions without answers left her feeling confused and pained. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. No, she would not think about this anymore. It only proved to be a waste of her time since she could not find the answers to them anyway. She went to her room in silence and buried her face in the pillow, covering herself with the bed sheet. She had thought that everything was done with. She would leave Ethan even if he refused to grant her a divorce. She did not belong here with him, not after the hell he had put her through. Tears fell from J¡¯s eyes and she bit her lips hard to try and stop them from falling. She missed home and wanted to return there, to the house where she and Hannah had live before. ******* A huge wall separated them. Ethan found it difficult to get the words he so desperately wanted to say out of his mouth. He remained in front of J¡¯s door, lost in thoughts. Ever since J had found out about his secret identity as Brandon Larson, she moved out of their bedroom. Ethan was quite busytely, by taking care of work from hispany. He had to go to work early in the morning ande backte at night. To make it worse, J was avoiding him on purpose. He hadn¡¯t seen J for a while now and he knew the situation would continue if he hadn¡¯t gotten off work early today to wait for her outside the Larson Group. Ethan massaged his head. He had a terrible headache that made his head throb. He figured that someone must have said something to J. He decided to call Garrett. ¡°I did not say anything to her so don¡¯t add me to your list of suspects.¡± Garrett had been sitting in a booth at the bar andining about the way young people prefer to dance in the bar, when he got the call from Ethan. He sighed loudly after gathering his thoughts. ¡°In my opinion the only thing you did wrong was to hide your identity from J, and it is not so unforgivable. And despite the fact that the senior executives in ourpany like to gossip, I believe that they aren¡¯t stupid and they can at least behave themselves in certain situations. I believe she must have been prompted by something. J was devastated and probably believed that her world might copse at any time when she found out about the truth. I do not think she can handle any more stress right now. You will need to figure out what it is that happened to her before you try to find a solution to the problem.¡± ¡°What exactly has Charis been up totely?¡± Ethan ground out. Garrett had not been expecting that line of question from Ethan so suddenly. He frowned at Ethan¡¯s words. ¡°She traveled abroad to deal with some financial issues we had a few days ago. She just got back actually. I think she will mind her words. She is smart enough to know that.¡± ¡°I tasked my assistant with investigating what happened to J today. There appeared to be nothing unusual during the day, but the surveince video cannot ount for what happened when she went downstairs by the time she was off duty.¡± Garrett could not help but think that Ethan was making usations he could not support with facts. ¡°There was a general meeting of the top executives a few days ago and the decision was made at the meeting to upgrade our security system. So it wasn¡¯t really an ident that the CCTV cameras were shut down after work. The two things happening at the same time is purely coincidental and I think you are overthinking it.¡± ¡°J walked downstairs from the floor of the design department, but then she chose to take the elevator from the second floor. Why? What exactly on the first floor made her so afraid that she went back to take the elevator?¡± Ethan could feel in his gut that something dubious had happened. Chapter 428 Chapter 428 J woke up the next day with a sharp throbbing in her eyes. She padded into the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was a mess, and her eyes were all bloodshot and puffy. She looked terrible. ¡°Just skin and bones,¡± she muttered, pinching her arm and forcing a smile. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Realization suddenly struck her. She had nothing to worry about at all. She was only in her twenties; she still had much of her youth to squander, not to mention a whole life waiting ahead of her. J delved into her thoughts. She had never had much ever since she was a little girl. When she was in primary school, she had a favorite pencil box with a pretty Barbie pattern. Jocelyn ended up throwing it away out of spite. And while J was torn over the loss, she eventually forgot about the knickknack altogether. Perhaps Ethan would be just like that pencil box. Besides, he had made a point of keeping his true identity from the start. J didn¡¯t want to think that it was due to some misgivings on his part, but she couldn¡¯t really me him if that was the case. With renewed resolve, she opened herputer and proceeded to send out her resumes to design companies all over the country. Shortly after, she received a notice for interview from Flying Kite, a famous establishment in Barnes. The thing, however, was that she hadn¡¯t sent them her resume. Curious, J opened the e-mail to confirm its contents. Sure enough, the HR Manager of Flying Kite expressed their appreciation for her designs, and even mentioned that they were aware that her former superior at the Larson Group had nothing but praise for her. It urred to her then that she had previously spoken to Tiffany about changing jobs. Was it Tiffany who had rmended her to Flying Kite? Gratitude bloomed in J¡¯s heart. She hadn¡¯t expected that someone else in Larson Group genuinely cared about her besides Gerda. Flying Kite Design Company came second to the Larson Group. Because it engaged mainly in the overseas market, and it wasn¡¯t particrly known in the localndscape. But J had seen their designs, and they were quite on par with those of the Larson Group. And here she was now, staring at their invitation and the impressive pay they stipted. J pondered it for a second before deciding to ept their invite. She had been nning to leave, anyway, and they did offer a very attractive sry. Given her skills and experience, she was almost certain that she was going to get this job. More importantly, Barnes was located farther up in the North, while Seacisco was in the South. She could finally escape Ethan, and stay away from him for good. After she settled down in Barnes, Hannah could alsoe over and stay with her. J didn¡¯t pack much. She only brought some necessities, which didn¡¯t even require a suitcase. Ethan had already gone to thepany early that morning. Without telling anyone, she booked a ne ticket online and took a taxi to the airport. On her way, she called Tiffany. ¡°Thank you, Miss Fisher. I received an offer from Flying Kite, and I¡¯m on my way to the airport as we speak. Can you send me the forms needed to file for resignation? I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have time to drop by thepany.¡± ¡°I see, of course. Well, I wish you a smooth journey and a bright future ahead.¡± Their conversation was brief. After hanging up, Tiffany paused and wondered. She wasn¡¯t sure why J thanked her in the first ce. Was it for formality¡¯s sake? She was actually neutral on whether J should leave or stay, and she was just surprised to learn that J had already made such a bold decision so soon. ******* Laney hid behind arge pir as she watched J walk through the airport entrance. She immediately sent Ethan a message, and then followed J inside. Ethan had instructed her to keep an eye on J and report her every move. Laney had initially thought that J was merely going out for a walk, since thetter didn¡¯t bring any luggage with her. But Laney¡¯s cool soon crumbled when she realized that they were heading to the airport. Chapter 429 Chapter 429 ¡°Mr. Larson, the surveince system has just been updated. It was scheduled to be done yesterday, but the tech department was worried that something important might ur while the security cameras were out of service, so they put it off until after the employees left for the day.¡± The assistant exined the situation in a shaking voice. He wasn¡¯t sure what was going on, but he was scared nheless. Especially given the dark and formidable face his boss was sporting. Even so, his fear did not curb his curiosity. Why was the president suddenly investigating this matter? ¡°Keep looking into it. Contact me once you find new leads.¡± Brandon¡¯s lips curled into a sneer. ¡°Call Miss Turner here.¡± He was nearing the end of his tether. The mandate to execute the system update at such a fortuitous time hade from the senior executives¡ªall of them, it seemed. Clearly, whoever was behind this was meticulous. They had made sure that there were no loose ends, no trace left. Charis entered Brandon¡¯s office with a stack of documents and herptop. She looked tired, as though she had spent thest several nights buried in work. ¡°We just had three separate meetings in a row. The recent turmoil in Wall Street and the copse of the stock market has put everyone in a state of panic.¡± She sounded weary as well, but she brightened up as she approached Brandon¡¯s desk. ¡°You never ask me to stop by around this hour. What¡¯s up?¡± By all ounts, she appeared unaware of what was happening behind the scenes. ¡°What were you doing at the stairwell yesterday after work?¡± Brandon asked bluntly, though his voice remained calm. Charis frowned for a brief second before it was reced with a smile. She dropped the documents she was carrying on his desk and said in a yful tone, ¡°You must be kidding, Mr. Larson. You know that I hate taking the stairs. I had a meeting until ten o¡¯clockst night, long after everyone has gone home. As soon as I was finished, I packed up and left the office through the elevator.¡± Brandon stared at her in silence, a myriad of emotions flickering in his eyes. Charis was no fool. It didn¡¯t take long for her to put two and two together, though she didn¡¯t let on just how much she knew. ¡°Did you have a quarrel with Miss Lind again? You¡¯ve been wearing a long face since yesterday.¡± She heaved a long, dramatic sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you fought about, but if you think I had anything to do with it, then feel free to check into it. There are surveince cameras everywhere in thepany. You can confirm my whereabouts throughout the day.¡± Charis seemed unbothered, and anyone would have immediately thought that she was innocent in all this. Sure enough, she was in a meeting when J had left the day before. Brandon had confirmed it himself, and more than a dozen senior executives served as her witnesses. He was starting to have doubts. Deep down, his instincts told him that Charis was involved in this debacle in one way or another, but he didn¡¯t have any proof to back up his hunch. He had no choice but to overlook his suspicions, at least for now. ¡°I¡¯m not suspecting you. You¡¯re thinking too much.¡± Charis¡¯ smile widened. She didn¡¯t believe him, of course, but she would dly take his word. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll be taking my leave. Look at you, you should go home soon, too. No matter how important your work is, you still need to take care of yourself.¡± As soon as Charis left and closed the door behind her, Brandon received a call from Laney. ¡°Mr. Larson! J booked a ne ticket out of Seacisco. It leaves at 2 P.M.¡± ¡°I¡¯ming right now. Make sure she doesn¡¯t see you.¡± Brandon¡¯s heart was hammering inside his chest. He grabbed his suit jacket from the sofa and strode out of his office. The airport was crowded when he arrived. Laney walked over, looking really anxious. ¡°Mr. Larson, her ne just took off. I followed your orders and stayed out of sight, so I wasn¡¯t able to stop her¡­¡± Laney was visibly distressed. She could have stopped J from leaving. Hell, she could have dragged her friend away from airport if necessary. Brandon raised his hand and shook his head. ¡°She hasn¡¯t been at her besttely. Let¡¯s just give her some space. She probably needs a break.¡± Even as he said that, his face turned glum, like a dark cloud had formed above his head. He had felt his heart sink into a bottomless pit with every word Laney spoke. ¡°Go and see where she¡¯s headed.¡± He stared out of the floor to ceiling windows and watched a ne soar into the distance, disappearing into the clouds. His scowl deepened, and people noticeably steered clear of him as they passed by. ******* At six o¡¯clock that afternoon. J finallynded in Barnes after a four-hour flight. The winter in the North was very cold, much colder than anything she had experienced back in Seacisco.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. She wrapped her down jacket tighter around herself before walking out of the arrival area. However, before J could even reach the end of the lobby, a group of burly men wearing ck surrounded her. Chapter 430 Chapter 430 With her clear eyes slightly open, J¡¯s lips parted and she vigntly looked at the group of men in ck making their way towards her. ¡°Miss, you muste with us!¡± The men dressed in ck stood in a row before J and bowed their heads in unison. J¡¯s heart stopped beating in her chest. ¡°Bros, stop scaring her!¡± Laney¡¯s nervous voice sounded out from outside the crowd. She brushed past the tall and strong men and somehow managed to squeeze through. When she caught sight of J, she wanted to say something but stopped once she thought about it. Seeing that it was Laney, J looked around the airport, searchingly. Pretty soon, she could make out a tall figure walking from thending tform in the distance. The man had handsome features and his crisp ck suit set off his thick and strong neckline. Today, he was wearing a dark gray cashmere scarf around his neck with a ck coat as his outermostyer. His handsome appearance attracted many people¡¯s gazes in the airport. While holding a white scarf in his hand, Ethan made his way towards J. His ck eyes seemed to pierce through the stunned woman. ¡°You didn¡¯t bring a suitcase with you. At the very least, you should have taken the scarf and gloves and put them on.¡± Ethan¡¯s face was calm through and through. He proceeded to wrap the white scarf around J¡¯s neck. His cold eyes finally softened in appearance now. He ced his hands in his pockets and then began to look around. ¡°You should¡¯ve told me before you went ahead and left. If you want to rx some more, I¡¯ll take a few days off and take you abroad to have fun at ater time.¡± J seemed to be avoiding him and said simply, ¡°I want to put Seacisco behind me. Ethan, why don¡¯t you leave me alone, all right?¡± Ethan seemed to ignore what she was just saying. After thinking it over for a few seconds, he bowed his head and turned to look at her dotingly. ¡°If you really want to stay here, I¡¯ll go on to apany you for a few days.¡± ¡°Is that right? What the hell is it that you want to do?¡± Clenching her teeth tightly, J red daggers at him. ¡°You refused to divorce me, but I can¡¯t continue to be husband and wife with you anymore. I no longer want to work in the Larson Group anymore either, so I must move to another city.¡± The tenderness in Ethan¡¯s eyes instantly dissipated. He went up to her, clenched her wrist with his hand, and narrowed his eyes at her. ¡°What¡¯s the issue? There¡¯s no problem we can¡¯t solve together.¡± J¡¯s ears immediately reddened. She calmed herself down and turned her gaze away. ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do to solve this problem.¡± Looking down at J¡¯s lowered gaze, Ethan lifted his hand and grabbed hold of her chin. He bit her bottom lip hard and said in a low and stubborn voice, ¡°You really want to leave? There¡¯s no way I can let you do that.¡± J wanted to push him away with all her might. ¡°Ah!¡± Suddenly, she was in the air. Ethan grabbed hold of her waist, lifted her up with just one of his hands, and carried her on his shoulder. Ethan pinched her buttocks hard, and then patted her twice there with a very vengeful look on his face. ¡°I remember you finished the food I cooked every day this month. So why didn¡¯t you gain weight?¡± ¡°We¡¯re at the airport! There are people watching!¡± J covered her face with her hands in absolute shame and anger. She was so embarrassed! Regardless of the fact that they were in a public space, Ethan quickly carried J into the luxury car that was parked outside. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. ¡°Ethan! Let me go!¡± After a moment of dizziness, J tried to get up from where she was in the passenger seat. Ethan was already sitting in the driver¡¯s seat. He proceeded to press a button and locked the car doors. ¡°Why are you doing this to me?¡± J used everything she had to try and open the door. ¡°Just because you happen to be my wife.¡± Ethan ced his arm to block her from leaving and didn¡¯t move an inch no matter what J did. J red at him with fierce eyes. ¡°I¡¯m only Ethan¡¯s wife! I¡¯m not Brandon¡¯s wife!¡± Ethan knew what J meant. He sneered and pressed down on her. He pinched her small face and rubbed her lips with his fingers until they were raw. His face was devoid of emotions, but his tone was filled with threat. ¡°If you don¡¯t change your mind, I¡¯ll take you back and lock you up. You won¡¯t be able to go anywhere.¡± Ethan¡¯s fierce eyes frightened J a great deal. She curled up in the passenger seat, trying to put some distance between them. When she thought of what had happened before, tears appeared in her eyes. She choked and said, ¡°Ethan, you¡¯re way too selfish. Since you don¡¯t want me to be Brandon¡¯s wife, why do you want to keep me here? Why don¡¯t we just go our own separate ways? We can both be free and happy in that case.¡± Chapter 431 Chapter 431 The sight of tears in J¡¯s eyes made Ethan panic. The whole world knew him for his decisiveness, but when he saw J¡¯s tears, he didn¡¯t know what to do. Ethan pulled a tissue from a box on the top of the dashboard and wiped the tears from her face. Then, in a soft voice, he said, ¡°When did I ever say that I didn¡¯t want you to be Brandon¡¯s wife? I told you that I didn¡¯t say anything in the beginning because I was afraid it would put you in danger. Later on, as time went by, I couldn¡¯t tell you because I thought you would be angry at me.¡± J took the tissue from Ethan¡¯s hand and sniffled slightly, raising her tearful eyes before she replied, ¡°I¡¯m not worthy to be Brandon¡¯s wife.¡± A gust of cold wind blew through the window, driving chills down J¡¯s body. Ethan closed the window, took off his coat, and wrapped it around her body before sitting back on the driver¡¯s seat. He held the steering wheel with one hand and sat there silently for a moment as if he was thinking before he said, ¡°Who told you that?¡± Finally, at longst, he knew what was troubling J. She looked down to avert his eyes and said nothing. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Ethan rested his face in the palm of his hand and sighed exasperatedly. He red down at her, shaking his head in frustration. Unfortunately, he had no choice but to patch things up with his wife. After all, he didn¡¯t want to have a fight with J. Deep down inside, he truly felt sorry for her. All of a sudden, Ethan couldn¡¯t help but recall the days they had spent living in a small apartment, like any other ordinary couple. J would always have to track their living expenses. In truth, he enjoyed her nagging and didn¡¯t mind being yelled at by her because no one else would dare to treat him like that. Ethan suddenly came to the realization that he was nothing but a puppet whose strings were being pulled by J. He leaned over, gazing her deeply, and said, ¡°Why do you have to think of our rtionship in such a superficial way? I¡¯ll admit, at first, I married you just to fulfill my mother¡¯s dying wish, but then I truly fell in love with you. And since then, I¡¯ve loved you unconditionally. If I wanted to marry the daughter of a rich and powerful family, I could¡¯ve gotten married before I met you. Why do I have to put so much effort to keep you by my side if I don¡¯t have feelings for you? No matter what happens, you will always be my wife.¡± J¡¯s heart skipped a beat when she heard Ethan¡¯s words. She used to think that Ethan was a frivolous man who never took anything seriously in his life. However, when she looked into his eyes now, she could see that he was speaking the truth. When she locked eyes with him, her breathing became erratic and her heart started beating faster. She looked away, not knowing how to respond to the intensity of Ethan¡¯s gaze. She lowered her head, knowing that Ethan was still staring at her, and faintly said, ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? I¡¯ve already told you what I want. Please just let me go.¡± With tenderness in his eyes, Ethan raised his hand and stroked her hair. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I have plenty of time. I¡¯ll wait for you to change your mind. But, you wouldn¡¯t have brought it up for no reason. J, please tell me who have you been talked to?¡± he said in a gentle tone. ¡°Please?¡± J thought that Ethan should know the truth, so she raised her head to look at him and said, ¡°Miss Turner came to see me and she told me some things that sounded very reasonable.¡± Chapter 432 Chapter 432 ¡°How could you believe a word of what Charis says?¡± Ethan shook his head in disappointment. Sometimes he wished J wasn¡¯t so easily manipted. ¡°I knew she was up to no good, but what she said was true.¡± J¡¯s eyes darkened. Ethan squeezed her cheeks and looked at her sullen face carefully. As his eyes fell on her pink lips, he said, ¡°Can¡¯t you tell that she desperately wants you to leave me?¡± J turned her head away, pouting her lips. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, Mr. Larson. I¡¯m a married woman. I should warn you that my husband is very good at fighting. If he finds out about this, he¡¯s going to pin you against the wall and teach you a lesson.¡± Clearly, J was still mad at him. Ethan turned a deaf ear to her words. He grabbed her leg and slowly moved to the gap between her thighs. Although J was wearing jeans, she could still feel the warmth of his hand. With his strong arms, Ethan put down the passenger seat and pressed his body against hers. ¡°Ethan!¡± Shocked, J mped her legs and propped up her elbow on each knee. ¡°I¡¯m the only one who gets to spoil you.¡± Ethan pinched J¡¯s legs and then moved his hands to her waist. He leaned down and rubbed his nose against J¡¯s. ¡°What are you afraid of? Have I ever forced you? If I had known earlier, I would have made love to you already. If I can¡¯t have your heart, then at least, I could have had your body.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that,¡± J scolded him in a low voice. It was as though Ethan¡¯s old roguish self had returned. She knew she shouldn¡¯t care about what Charis said either, but she couldn¡¯t help it. After all, Charis sounded very convincing. Like a magic spell, her words kept repeating in J¡¯s mind. Looking closely at her fluttering eyshes, Ethan raised his hand and gently smoothened her knitted brows. ¡°I know you still have doubts, but you can go back with me first. It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t want to work in the Larson Group, but you have to stay with me.¡± Ethan¡¯s words softened her heart. Maybe she just couldn¡¯t say no to this man. Now that this man hade all the way here chasing after her, she could never escape him. After tidying up her messy clothes, Ethan took J back into the airport. His private ne had been waiting there for a long time. It was the first time J had ever been on a private ne and she was nervous. Ethan put his arms around her and said, ¡°You¡¯ll be taking private nes more often in the future.¡± Pretending as though she didn¡¯t hear him, J kept silent. In truth, she didn¡¯t want to be so close to Ethan.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Although she had no choice but to y along and go back with him, she panicked at the thought of what she would doter. It was already eleven o¡¯clock in the evening when they arrived in Seacisco. Ethan dropped J off in front of the vi. Having no intention to go inside, he simply said, ¡°You can either wait for me or get some sleep. There¡¯s something I have to take care of at thepany.¡± Ethan¡¯s face darkened at the thought of who he would have to faceter. Biting her lips nervously, J looked down in disappointment, but she nodded her assent in response. She wasn¡¯t used to the fact that Ethan was actually Brandon, but she was willing to try and understand him from another perspective. After all, the Larson Group was one of the fastest-growingpanies in the country. The pressure of having to hold such a high standard must have been exhausting. ¡°Be good and I¡¯ll be back soon, okay?¡± Ethan rubbed J¡¯s ear gently and winked at her before he got in the Maybach. Chapter 433 Chapter 433 Ethan returned to the Larson Group and made his way over to Charis¡¯ office. He pushed her door open and entered, wearing a stone-cold expression. ¡°Where can I find Charis Turner?¡± The assistant had never seen her boss like this. She had also never heard him call Charis by her full name. Did this mean thepany was going through a financial crisis? The assistant battled with so many feelings. ¡°Miss Turner is currently in a meeting with a foreign group, which should be concluded in a few minutes.¡± Charis¡¯ assistant nced at her watch and surreptitiously looked at Ethan who was still sporting his cold expression. Her nervousness at his presence increased as her heart beat wildly. A few minutester, Charis stepped out of the meeting room, looking worn out. ¡°Get my things. Do you know if the driver has arrived for me yet?¡± The assistant pointed in Ethan¡¯s direction with shaky fingers, unable to utter a word. Charis looked in the direction she was pointing and saw Ethan sitting cross- legged, on a ck leather sofa. He stared at her with sharp eyes. Charis suddenly had a recollection of a young man in a white shirt, constantly standing in front of a window, looking preupied with his thoughts. ¡°You can go now,¡± Charis said, signaling for her assistant to leave. After she left, it was just the two of them in the office. ¡°I believe I¡¯ve warned you never to y any of your mind games on J, but you have refused to listen, and now you¡¯ve crossed the line.¡± Ethan stood up before Charis could utter a word and looked down at her. His eyes were frosted over in anger. Charis had thought that she was ready for whatever consequences her actions brought. Now, however, as she stood with Ethan alone in the office, she realized she was very afraid. Ethan moved in an unhurried pace and stopped right in front of Charis. ¡°Since we were once friends, I will not punish you for your actions, but if you wish to keep your dignity, you will leave Larson Group. We can no longer be colleagues.¡± Charistched onto Ethan¡¯s arm as soon as she heard what he said. Her face had crumpled dramatically. ¡°No, please don¡¯t do this, Brandon.¡± Charis was not one to ever show weakness, but now she could not help it, not with what was happening and the heartache it was causing her. ¡°What I told J was the truth. You are each on different levels. It will not be beneficial to you in any way to marry her. You should marry someone you can consider an equal. I promise I was simply looking out for your future.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Ethan shook her off and said, ¡°I do not care about what you nobles deem marriage of equal status. I am not one of you. For me, the only reason to marry a woman is because of love. To protect the one I love and give her a happy life. That is my opinion and it will never change. I do not want or care for whatever benefits she brings. A marriage that is focused only on what you can gain from your spouse is not a true marriage, and it sickens me.¡± ¡°Your mindset will change sometime in the future! Our family can help you get Larson Group to a greater height!¡± Charis wiped her eyes of any evidence of tears. She was the daughter of the Turner family and right now she had to act like one. Ethan stared deep into her eyes with so much cruelty. ¡°It is none of your business who I marry, for it certainly will never be you.¡± Charis¡¯ pupils shrank in fury. ¡°Ethan! Why do you think I do not deserve to be with you?¡± Charis asked. She was devastated by how blunt and hurtful his words were. Ethan did not deem it worthy to give her a reply. Embarrassment slowly seeped into her at his silence as her heart raced uncontrobly. Charis stared at Ethan¡¯s cold and calm face with resentment and turned on her heels, running out of the office in tears. Chapter 434 Chapter 434 With arge pile of files in his hands, Garrett made his way toward Charis¡¯ office in good spirits. ¡°I heard that I could find Mr. Larson here.¡± When he caught sight of Charis¡¯ assistant standing outside the office, he paused for a few seconds. He had just finished meeting up with some business partners. At this time, Seacisco was going to develop a new plot ofnd. He was nning to talk it over with Brandon first. Before Charis¡¯ assistant could say a word, the door was opened from the inside. Charis probably didn¡¯t expect Garrett to be standing outside. Embarrassed, she was startled for a few seconds. After that, she chose to ignore him and ran away. ¡°Did the two quarrel inside the office?¡± Garrett pointed his finger at the door and asked the assistant. ¡°I have no idea, Mr. Harding. If you don¡¯t need anything else, I¡¯ll be on my way now.¡± The office just so happened to be soundproof. The assistant didn¡¯t hear a word. Staring at Charis¡¯ back which soon disappeared around the corner, Garrett could guess what was going on. He let out a long sigh and thought that Brandon¡¯s guess should be right at this time. He knocked on the door and proceeded to go inside. ¡°You¡¯re really heartless! You¡¯ve been friends with Charis for so long. Are you going to really punish her regardless of your friendship? What are you going to do about her?¡± He knew that Brandon was always decisive, especially when it came to his own personal interests. When his interests happened to be threatened, he would turn into a ruthless person. J should also be a part of his personal interests. With a very unhappy look on his face, Brandon made his way out of Charis¡¯ office and said, ¡°l asked her to resign from the Larson Group.¡± Garrett followed him closely behind. After hesitating for a bit, he said, ¡°That might be a good idea. After she¡¯s gone, she may give up on you entirely. I¡¯ve already reminded Charis before, but she¡¯s way too stubborn. Don¡¯t take this matter too seriously. She¡¯s just a girl anyway.¡± Brandon shot Garrett a cold nce. ¡°J is also just a girl, and Charis shouldn¡¯t have bullied her like that.¡± Garrett rolled his eyes at him and pouted. Fine, Brandon always protected his beloved no matter what. ¡°How are you and your wife doing? You¡¯vee to settle things with Charis. I¡¯m guessing you must¡¯ve reconciled with J, is that right?¡± When Garrett heard that J had left Seacisco, he became even more worried about the rtionship between the two of them. After all, Brandon had been in bad spirits the past few days. His face was so overcast that the senior executives were too frightened to even speak up during the daily meetings. Brandon suddenly stopped in his tracks and said, ¡°I wanted to discuss this matter with you. J has returned, but she still doesn¡¯t believe me.¡± Garrett put a finger to his chin and said, ¡°The trust issue can¡¯t be solved in such a short amount of time. What are you going to do next?¡± Simply peering down at the leather shoes on his feet, Brandon mulled it over in his head for a while and suddenly smiled. ¡°I think at least there is one thing I can do.¡± ******* Ever since J had returned, she had been sitting on the sofa in aplete daze. She really had no idea what to do. She had already let Tiffany know about her resignation from Larson Group. Now she was just a jobless vagabond who didn¡¯t have a lot of savings in her bank ount. After watching TV for a bit, she began to swipe through her cell phone. Soon after, she felt bored again, so she went to cook something. But for whom? Who else could it be other than for the master of this house? Thinking about Brandon, J proceeded to put down the cooking utensils in silence. She didn¡¯t want to cook for that lying man! She angrily stormed back to the living room and then idly flipped through some fashion magazines, thinking about where she should go in the future and what she should do about her rtionship with Ethan. J had no idea when Ethan came back because she soon had fallen asleep. When the smell of delicious food came to her nose, she woke up in a daze and could make out Ethan in the kitchen. He had tucked in his shirt casually and his tie had not been taken off. Right then, he was wearing a pink floral apron around his waist. That damn contradictory charm.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Ethan heard her stirring in the living room and guessed that the sleeping beauty on the sofa had just woken up. He walked out with the steaming seafood risotto, pulled off his apron, squatted in front of J, and asked her, ¡°How about we go for wedding dress shop tomorrow? My littlezy princess.¡± Chapter 435 Chapter 435 J blinked several times, thinking that she had misheard him. She awkwardly ran her fingers through her hair and clutched the nket that was draped around her body. ¡°What¡ª¡± she choked, then had to clear her throat. ¡°What wedding dress?¡± Ethan smiled at her patiently and spoke slowly, as one would with a child. ¡°We married in a rather shabby ceremony. You wore a simple white dress, and not much happened besides us exchanging vows. I always thought you may not have a good memory of our wedding day.¡± J didn¡¯t expect Ethan to still remember these trivial things, much less care about them. Her heart softened despite herself. She could be so easy sometimes. Luckily, she snapped back to her senses a momentter. ¡°Forget it, Ethan. That would be too much trouble.¡± He insisted, of course. ¡°The wedding day is one of the most important events in a woman¡¯s life, this much I know. And it is important to me. Now that you know my other identity, I want to pledge myself to you again, this time as Brandon Larson.¡± J was stunned speechless at his smooth deration. In the end, she could only nod in agreement. ******* South Pole was the most expensive wedding gown shop in Seacisco, catering mostly to custom-made orders for the upper society. They were proud of their clientele, too, as evidenced by an advertisement they had once run on TV. Hence, it was known as a luxury brand that only serviced the wealthiestdies the city could offer. And today, J was going to get that full, exclusive experience. Ethan and J walked into the store hand in hand. She was still opposed to the whole idea, especially since she was still mad at him. But now that they were here, she couldn¡¯t just flee and make Ethan lose face in public. ¡°Mr. Larson! Why have youe so early? Isn¡¯t your appointment for three o¡¯clock this afternoon?¡± A woman who looked to be in her forties greeted them at the door, wearing heavy makeup and chunky jewelry. As she drew closer, however, J realized that it was actually a man. She tried not to stare at his fakeshes and his Adam¡¯s apple. ¡°This is Mr. Jarvis,¡± Ethan introduced the man. ¡°He is the chief wedding gown designer of South Pole. He¡¯ll take you to get your measurements, and then browse around the shop. If you encounter any problems, just let him know. He¡¯ll take care of everything.¡± J barely nodded before she was whisked away by the zealous designer. ¡°I never imagined that Brandon was really married! I thought he was just kidding when he called me.¡± Mr. Jarvis put a hand over his mouth and chuckled demurely. His gestures were more coquettish than mostdies J had met. He narrowed his eyes and peered at her. ¡°You have a small face and such dainty features. Do you want to try a sexy, backless dress? Or would you like an evening gown style that shows off your cleavage? What color are we thinking, by the way? White is toomon in this day and age. How about champagne or rose pink?¡± He chattered on as he rounded J and looked her up and down. She had a slender waist and all the right curves. She would probably look splendid in any type of dress.N?velDrama.Org content rights. J, on the other hand, was in a daze. The rows of dazzling dresses overwhelmed her. It was like she had stepped into designer heaven. It was obvious that each garment had been crafted carefully, with their exquisite details and all kinds of jewels iid in the fabric. One corner seemed to be dedicated to the simpler, sweeter styles, while another corner burst with shades of pink. The first one boasted of satin andce dresses with pearls and sewn flowerettes as ents. The second one had massive dresses withyers of tulle and ruffles. But the most remarkable of all was the line-up of traditional wedding dresses from different countries. This shop truly had it all; they had even thought about the possibility of having foreign customers. ¡°Are those disyed behind the ss for sale?¡± J nodded at a long cab lining an entire wall. ¡°Or are they off-limits?¡± The dress in the center had caught her eye. It had an intricately embroidered bodice that tapered down to a full skirt peppered with tiny tulips. Mr. Jarvis giggled meaningfully. ¡°Nothing is off-limits when ites to Brandon. Those dresses are from the ¡°True Love¡± series that was released earlier this year. Each element was handmade by professional craftsmen.¡± Hearing that, J surmised that the price they fetched must be over the roof. Her frugal nature kicked in, and she immediately looked away. There were a lot of other amazing dresses to choose from anyway. Soon enough, she began to wish that they weren¡¯t all so gorgeous, since it made for a very difficult choice. Four hourster, Ethan knocked on the door to the fitting lounge and let himself in. ¡°So impatient!¡± Mr. Jarvis chided good-naturedly. He could tell what Ethan was thinking at a nce. ¡°You were taking so long that I started to worry you might have done something to my preciousdy.¡± There was a long corridor connecting the female dressing room and the male dressing room here. Ethan leaned against the door frame and quietly watched J. The ck suit he was wearing was pretty simple, albeit finely tailored to his figure. Even so, he made it look like a million bucks, J tried on a few more dresses, only to realize that she liked everything so far. Eventually, even she thought that she was taking too long. She helplessly turned to Ethan and gave him a pleading look. In response, he stared at the cab disy and settled for the dress encrusted with diamonds. ¡°Jarvis, take that one out and box it up. Send it to my vi along with every dress my wife has tried on.¡± He was a man of action, after all. He strode over and put an arm around J¡¯s shoulders. ¡°From now on, you don¡¯t have to push yourself to choose one over the other. If you like something, just buy it. You can get whatever you want.¡± Mr. Jarvis pped his hands with glee. ¡°Oh my, how generous of you, Mr. Larson.¡± He then turned to a panic-stricken J and said, ¡°Miss, you definitely made the right decision marrying this man!¡± Chapter 436 Chapter 436 By the time they arrived home, a delivery truck was parked in the driveway, and staff from South Pole were carefully transporting one exquisite dress after another into the vi. Any woman would be quite overwhelmed to see so many gorgeous dresses at the same time, let alone own them. Still, J couldn¡¯t help but frown and scold her overly indulgent husband. ¡°Ethan, you don¡¯t have to spend so much money on me. We¡¯d better save for the future, just in case. Stop squandering your wealth like this. I know you¡¯re filthy rich, but¡­¡± She unconsciously drifted into silence, thinking she might have said too much. She hadn¡¯tpletely reconciled with Ethan yet, and besides, it was his own money. By all rights, she wasn¡¯t in a position to interfere with his finances. ¡°Forget it,¡± J muttered angrily and stomped over to the sofa. Ethan chuckled at the grumpy look on her face. He knew he should coax her and bring her over back to his side. If he let this selfless woman go, she would only end up getting bullied by other people. ¡°How about this, then¡ªwhat if I surrender all my assets to you? You can take charge of my finances from now on.¡± Ethan plopped down next to J, rather surprised at himself. It seemed that he had taken well to getting tied down and submitting to his dear wife. J gaped at him, just as shocked by his proposal, maybe even more. Ethan had an obscene amount of money, and they both knew it. Was he even aware of what he was saying? He cleared his throat and chuckled again, a mild attempt to lighten things up. ¡°Take your time and think it over. There¡¯s no rush. For now, just stay at home and get some rest. I¡¯ll take care of everything else.¡± ******* Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Sure enough, Ethan was so busy in the next three days that he barely spent any time at home. They had been sleeping in separate rooms ever since their fight, which only made it all the more difficult for J to see him. He¡¯d be gone long before she woke up in the morning, and when he returned, she¡¯d already be fast asleep. J found herself overthinking the possibilities, especially since she was in the dark about whatever was keeping Ethan so busy. She tried to find things to do at home, if only to distract herself from her budding expectations and anxiety. Finally, on the third day, their doorbell rang. J opened the door to find a young man with short, curly hair and a bright smile. ¡°Good morning, Miss Lind. I¡¯ve brought the stylists.¡± J tilted her head to the side and narrowed her eyes. This man looked familiar for some reason. Noticing her confusion, Sean promptly introduced himself. ¡°Ah, pardon me. My name is Sean Johnson, and I¡¯m Mr. Larson¡¯s personal assistant. We have met once, a long time ago.¡± J gasped and eximed, ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s you! Doe in and make yourself at home.¡± Sean stepped into the foyer followed by several other people that included of a makeup artist, a hairdresser, and an employee from South Pole. J instantly recognized them. For one thing, the makeup artist was renowned in the entertainment industry for having done international stars and supermodels. Briefly, she wondered how Ethan had managed to book such a high-profile team. This time, however, Sean ignored her puzzlement and proceeded to direct everyone to their respective duties. ¡°Al right, you guys, let¡¯s get to work! We only have three hours to get everything ready!¡± The team sprang into action at once and got busy. J found herself feeling intimidated by the sharp and efficient atmosphere that Seanmanded. Nheless, she let herself be swept away by the motion of things. True to their reputations, the makeup artist and the hairdresser handled her appearance like they were crafting a masterpiece. J was stunned when she looked in the mirror afterward; she hardly recognized herself. Her hair was braided intricately and coiled on top of her head, highlighting her delicate features. Her eyes glimmered under her curlyshes and the soft blush on her lids. The stylists opted for minimal makeup, but it never diminished J¡¯s beauty. She looked far more elegant, more dazzling, than most socialites in Seacisco. She certainly looked differentpared to how she looked on her first wedding ceremony. Sean watched the final product of theirbined efforts and nodded approvingly. He nced at his wristwatch and checked the time. ¡°You may go out now, Miss Lind. Mr. Larson is waiting for you outside.¡± Right on cue, the servants opened the door of the vi. Ethan stood at the driveway, d in a silver gray suit and holding a bouquet of tulips and lilies of the valley. He looked just as dashing as ever, but there was a more mature and steadfast quality in the way that he held himself. He watched the love of his life emerge from the vi, the sunlight pouring over her lovely face. A wave of awe washed over him as he drank in the sight. He offered his arm as J drew close, and when she took it, he murmured, ¡°Only you could give this dress justice.¡± J curled her gloved fingers around his bicep and grinned as he ushered her into the car. The sound of salutes rang around just as the car door mmed shut, and then they were off to the wedding venue. The Bugatti Veyron cruised out of the vi grounds with dozens of luxury cars in its trail. Chapter 437 Chapter 437 The wedding was being held outside on thewn of a manor that Ethan happened to own. It might be because Ethan had prevented the other cars from entering this area ahead of time that they could drive unimpededly. J was so anxious that her palms were pouring out sweat. Looking at the scenery passing by outside the car window, she kept taking deep breaths in order to calm her nerves. ¡°Rx, you¡¯re making me nervous, Mrs. Larson.¡± Ethan held J¡¯s quivering hand, his eyes full of tenderness for her. Turning to give him a look, J asked in a solemn voice, ¡°If you do this, will your true identity as Brandon Larson be revealed?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not too much of a big dealpared to getting married to you.¡± Ethan was concerned that J might overthink things, so he looked at her to see how she was doing. The woman¡¯s face was a little flustered, her drooping eyshes shaking ever so slightly, and her soft and slender fingers were fiddling with the hemline of her wedding dress. Ethan knew that J was very nervous today. She didn¡¯t like to stir up trouble for others. She was always afraid of bing a burden to others. But she and he had been married, and it was only right that they took care of each other. ¡°J.¡± Clenching J¡¯s hand, Ethan looked expectant right then. ¡°From now on, the person next to you is Brandon Larson. Do you have any objections to starting a new life with him as the wife of Brandon?¡± J¡¯s heart skipped a beat and her face reddened unnaturally. In fact, she was willing to right then. But Ethan still had the feeling that J was still rejecting him since she didn¡¯t say anything. He looked down at her gently and then said, ¡°There¡¯s absolutely no rush. I didn¡¯t ask you to give me an answer right away.¡± Their car made its way into the manor. The whole white vi was overflowing with guests. Seeing the luxury caring in, everyone started to p their hands. J was shocked by the grandness of the wedding. On the road just outside the mansion, all types of luxury cars lined up and the queue was about several miles. It looked like thewn in the manor could hold thousands of people. Those who attended included celebrities from various fields and rich families, as well as those in the media, came to witness the joyous asion. ¡°Ethan, you should at least put a mask on. If you expose yourself, the Lester family wille right away to cause trouble for you, won¡¯t they?¡± In addition to being shocked by this scene, J was worried about Ethan revealing his current identity. ¡°There must be other reasons why you¡¯re hiding your true identity. Even though I have no idea what the specific situation is, I don¡¯t want you to fall short of sess just because of me.¡± As J said this, her nose started to twitch. Ethan was startled for a few seconds. It looked like J had already guessed it. His wife was really so smart. Ethan ced his arm around J¡¯s shaking shoulder and whispered in her ear, ¡°I just want to make it public that Brandon and J are married. In this way, it will bemon knowledge that you¡¯re Mrs. Larson. Then you¡¯ll feel at ease and won¡¯t feel that I¡¯m not being sincere enough. As for what you¡¯re worried about, I¡¯m going to handle it.¡± J¡¯s moist eyes widened. Tears wet her curled eyshes, which gave a charming and enchanting look. J cried even harder and a hint of bitterness surged up in her heart. Ethan hurried to take out a square handkerchief from his suit pocket and proceeded to wipe the tears off J¡¯s face. He was too anxious to say a coherent sentence for a moment there. While wiping the tears off her face, he tried tofort her, ¡°Please stop your tears now, babe. You¡¯ll need to fix your makeup if you keep crying like that.¡± J smiled through her tears. The man before her was the decisive and ruthless CEO of the Larson Group. But now he was acting so cautious in front of her. She was feeling moved and she didn¡¯t know if she should cry orugh for a moment there. ¡°Ethan, since you¡¯re willing to marry me, of course, I won¡¯t be giving up on you so easily. Even though being Brandon Larson¡¯s wife is no easy thing, and I may be too young and not qualified enough, I¡¯ll definitely try my best to be stronger and make you proud of me. If you feel worn out and want to go home one day, I¡¯ll always be by your side the whole entire way.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. The two embraced each other. All sorts of feelings welled up in Ethan¡¯s heart right then. ¡°J¡­¡± Ethan could tell that underneath J¡¯s gentle and calm appearance, there was an iparably strong, unyielding heart and that she would always stand by her man. She was obviously a very good woman. The wedding music sounded out at that time. Ethan led J out of the car, interlocked ten fingers with hers, and they both walked into the wedding site. Chapter 438 Chapter 438 It had been snowing in Seacisco the past few months. Today, however, was a rare sunny day. Hand in hand, J and Brandon made their way down the carpet covered with white rose petals. The whole wedding venue was decorated with white roses and lilies of the valley. As soon as they got out of the car, they felt as though they had stepped foot inside a sea of flowers. The whole ce was filled with the sweet floral fragrance. With her head slightly lowered, J held Brandon¡¯s hand tightly. Everyone immediately turned to look in her direction, as they were curious to see who had won the heart of Brandon, one of the richest golden bachelors of Seacisco. ¡°Who is she? She¡¯s gorgeous!¡± ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve seen her somewhere, but I can¡¯t remember exactly.¡± ¡°I think she hit the headlines recently. Isn¡¯t she an Inte influencer or something like that?¡± All the guests discussed their theories amongst themselves, curious about Brandon¡¯s bride. The Lind family was by no means prominent in Seacisco. It was normal that the upper ss had no idea who J was. They only knew the sessful Brandon Larson¡ªnot Ethan Lester, an illegitimate child who had once made his vows in a church wearing a cheap suit. Brandon, on the other hand, led J to the priest, with their friends standing beside them. Laney, Tiffany, and Gerda were J¡¯s bridesmaids. Laney in a dress was a rare sight. She was a petite girl, and the light blue bridesmaid¡¯s dress made her look gentle and lovely. Tiffany, on the other hand, was like a wild rose on the steep cliff. Even the elegant light blue long dress couldn¡¯t dampen her charm. Many of the male guests couldn¡¯t take their eyes off of her. Lastly, there was Gerda. She held the bridesmaid¡¯s bouquet happily, grinning from ear to ear. The only problem was that she had been eating a lottely. After gaining an extra ten pounds, her bridesmaid dress was nearly ripping at the seams. On the other side of the priest was the groom¡¯s wedding party: Garrett, Frank, and Sean. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Sean had burst into tears. He felt so lucky to be Brandon¡¯s best man. He could boast about it for the rest of his life. Then, the priest began the ceremony. When J said ¡°I do¡±, Brandon¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He took out the ring he had prepared. ¡°Is that the ring I bought in the department store before? When did you take it off my finger?¡± When J first saw the two simple wedding rings in the counter in the department store, she had taken a liking to them. Seeing it in Brandon¡¯s hand now, she felt moved. She had thought that he would dislike them since they were two ordinary rings. ¡°Let me put it on you,¡± Brandon said softly. A gentle smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Last night, he had secretly taken it off J¡¯s finger when she was fast asleep. Today, she was probably too nervous to notice it was missing. Brandon carefully slipped the diamond ring on her finger again. He swore to himself that he would never let J leave him again. After they recited their vows, the crowd burst into thunderous apuse. The sudden marriage of the Larson Group¡¯s CEO had caused a sensation in the upper-ss circle of Seacisco. All the major media outlets were there and snapped countless photos of the newly-weds. Except for the notorious Lind family and the Lester family, the vast majority of the nobles in Seacisco hade, whereas the Turner family had declined the wedding invitation. During the wedding, many guests approached to give gifts and congrattions. Most of them were strangers to J. Talking to them tuckered her out. Her weary eyes looked around the venue and finally, she saw a familiar figure in the distance. With a gift in his hand, Kent was leaning against a table, sipping some champagne leisurely. His cheeks were slightly flushed from the alcohol. He was looking back at J with mixed feelings. He wanted to say something, but stopped on second thought. Chapter 439 Chapter 439 It had been a long time since Kent tried pursuing pretty women. A few days ago, he and his old friends got together at a nightclub. When he mentioned his plight, they rmended that he see a doctor. Only Kent knew that his lost sexual drive was because of his anxiety. Today, he had been to represent his family at the wedding. The wedding of the Larson Group¡¯s CEO was by no means a small event and had caused quite the sensation in Seacisco. That was to be expected. After all, given Brandon¡¯s wealth, it was only natural that countless rich people wanted their daughter to marry him. Kent had no idea what Brandon looked like. He came here today to socialize with other wealthy families and to satisfy his curiosity about this man. He had even prepared an excellent jade antique as a wedding present. When he saw the groom clearly, he was shocked. It turned out that Brandon Larson was J¡¯s poor husband Ethan. And the bride was none other than J herself. Seeing this, Kent grew depressed and was in no mood to socialize. He drank ss after ss of champagne, trying to swallow his anger. During the whole ceremony, he was in a bad mood. He knew that after today, it¡¯d be even more difficult for him to alleviate his anxiety. ¡°Mr. Larson, congrattions!¡± When J and Brandon came over to thank the guests foring, Kent forced a faint smile. Brandon nodded, looking at Kent calmly. He clinked sses with him and said with a somewhat smug smile, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Perkins.¡± J, on the other hand, stood beside him quietly and took a sip of her wine. Given the asion, she didn¡¯t have anything else to say to Kent anyway. Just then, Garrett dragged Laney over to propose a toast to the couple. Laney was not a talkative person, nor did she have many girl-friends. When she approached J, she simply lowered her head apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry again for lying to you. What can I do to make things up to you?¡± Seeing the desperate look on Laney¡¯s face, J chuckled gently. Last time, she was so angry that she had lost her mind. But now, she had obviously already forgiven Ethan. As a result, her anger towards Laney had also diminished. ¡°Oh, just let bygones be bygones. You work for my husband; you were just doing your job. I should be the one saying sorry. I was angry at the time and I said some hurtful things. Please don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± With a bright smile, J whispered, ¡°Friends?¡± Laney¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. The two clinked sses and downed their drinks. At this moment, silence was better than speech. After mingling for a while, J caught a glimpse of an old woman with grey hair sitting at a table. ¡°Ethan, why didn¡¯t you tell me that Hannah was here?¡± J scolded, making a beeline for the old woman. It was the first time that Hannah had been to such a luxurious and extravagant ce. She was even amazed by the tall hedges which were taller than her. She had never seen such a grand scene in all her years. She didn¡¯t know much about Ethan¡¯s true identity. She only overheard the guests saying the groom was the CEO of the Larson Group. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Hannah didn¡¯t know what that meant, but she could tell that J had married a very rich and powerful man. ¡°J, did Ethan win the lottery? Why does he suddenly own a mansion? And the car by the gate looks so expensive!¡± Hannah reached for J¡¯s hand nervously. Her confusion was warranted. After all, how could an ordinary young man be rich and powerful overnight? J was at a loss as to how she should answer Hannah¡¯s questions. ¡°I¡¯ll exin everythingter,¡± she said helplessly. Tears welled up in Hannah¡¯s eyes and she smiled wistfully. ¡°All sufferings end in rewards.¡± Then she sighed again, murmuring, ¡°But rich families are trouble. Be careful, J.¡± On the one hand, she was happy for J, and on the other hand, she was worried about her. Hannah used to work as a servant for those wealthy families. As an outsider in the background, she could see the conflicts, deceptions, and entanglements in those families. ¡°Hannah, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be fine,¡± J said with a reassuring smile. Chapter 440 Chapter 440 After the wedding ceremony came the reception, which was a dinner party and a ball. Garrett was no stranger to such an asion. From groomsman, he transformed into a wedding DJ and dragged Laney to join him onstage. Everyone was having a good time. The music was deafening and lively, and the guests flocked to the dance floor. The partysted until well past midnight. ¡°Everyone, if you¡¯re too tired to go home, you can stay the night in Brandon¡¯s manor. There¡¯re dozens of vacant rooms here,¡± Garrett announced to the guests as he closed the event. Garrett himself was still bouncing with energy. He often stayed upte in night clubs, so he was used to such a scene. Ethan had spent the whole night chatting and drinking with J. He usually worked until two or three o¡¯clock in the morning, so he too was still sober and fully awake. On the other hand, J¡¯s face was flushed, but she wasn¡¯t drunk just yet. ¡°J, look at you! Drunk already?¡± Garrett chuckled. He patted the shoulders of the couple with a huge grin stered on his face. ¡°The room is ready for you.¡± J looked up at Ethan questioningly. ¡°I thought we¡¯re going home today?¡± Garrett spoke on Ethan¡¯s behalf. ¡°This is your home too, silly. I mean, it¡¯s one of Ethan¡¯s houses. Come on; what¡¯s his is also yours. Don¡¯t you know that every second of a wedding night is precious? Why are you still standing here?!¡±Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. As Garrett kept pushing them towards the room, J¡¯s face turned redder and redder. Ethan cast a cold nce at Garrett to silence him and patted J on the shoulder reassuringly. ¡°It¡¯s late so we¡¯ll stay here tonight. And don¡¯t worry about it. If you don¡¯t want to consummate our marriage tonight, I won¡¯t force you.¡± J was stunned for a moment. After a short pause, she covered her mouth and tried to stifle her giggles. ¡°Take it easy. I¡¯ll wait for you. I won¡¯t force you.¡± These phrases made Ethan sound like a broken record these days. When she first met Ethan, he was such a flirt and always said and did inappropriate things. Now that he took her so seriously, J didn¡¯t know how to react. ¡°Don¡¯t ask me¡­¡± J¡¯s ears turned red. She lowered her head and retreated into the room quickly. Ethan frowned and scratched the back of his head awkwardly. It seemed that he still couldn¡¯t have sex with her. At this rate, he was going to go crazy. Today was their wedding night after all. Garrett was quite amused. He approached Ethan and whispered in his ear, ¡°What are you waiting for? Bro, she¡¯s waiting for you inside! Go!¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t want me yet¡­¡± Ethan¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Are you dumb? J meant that she¡¯d do whatever you want! It¡¯ll be toote if you keep waiting here like a fool.¡± Garrett was at a loss for words and shook his head helplessly. ¡°Really?¡± Ethan was dubious. He clenched his fists, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and followed J into the room. ******* The room was covered with a sea of gorgeous flowers. Standing at the door, J picked up a few rose petals on the floor and rubbed them between her fingers subconsciously. ¡°Are you going to say I spent too much money again? Do I have to return these flowers?¡± Ethan asked yfully as he closed the door behind him. He slipped his arms around her waist from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder. J couldn¡¯t help but giggle when she recalled how angry she had gotten when Ethan bought a room of flowers to woo her not long after they first got married. She turned around, cupped Ethan¡¯s cheeks, and chuckled. ¡°I still think you spent too much.¡± Her eyes lingered on the man¡¯s face. He was still as handsome as the day they first met, perhaps even more so now. She pursed her lips and wanted to say something, but stopped when her eyes met Ethan¡¯s. With his hands on her waist, Ethan¡¯s eyes clouded over. He lowered his head and kissed her on the lips. His hands reached up and tucked her long hair behind her ears. ¡°I want you now, J,¡± he murmured. His words made J¡¯s heart skip a beat. Without thinking, she threw her arms around Ethan¡¯s neck, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him back. Her actions spoke louder than words. Chapter 441 Chapter 441 J¡¯s actions bewitched Ethan. After the reception, she had changed into a silk slip dress, which outlined her figure perfectly. Unable to hold himself back any longer, Ethan scooped her up and carried her to the bed, kissing her deeply. The room was quiet, and the lights were dim. On the bed was a blurry entanglement of limbs. Blushing furiously, J wanted to close her eyes, but in the end, they stayed open. She wanted to see just how much Ethan would lose control of himself. Sure enough, her husband was out of control. After all, he had restrained himself for what seemed like an eternity. The bed initially had a heart-shaped flower petal arrangement, but now, it was aplete mess as the man and woman kissed each other with reckless abandon. The kisssted for a long time. J lost track of the time, fully immersed in Ethan¡¯s presence. His breath grew short as he reached for the hem of her dress, nting kisses from her lips to her neck to her waist, and finally in between her thighs¡­ J felt her legs being parted and herce underwear was rolled to her ankles by the man. The man¡¯s warm breath tickled her exposed pussy, his wet, soft tongue drawing circles on herbia. ¡°Ethan¡­¡± J arched her back subconsciously and her voice sounded different¡ªit was thick with desire. ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯m here.¡± Ethan got up and held her legs, propping them on his waist. His fingers reached between her thighs and parted herbia. The moment his finger entered, it was enveloped in soft flesh. ¡°You are not wet enough. Spread your legs a little more.¡± Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Ethan took off his clothes. The muscles on his back were defined yet smooth, chiseled to perfection. He returned to the area between J¡¯s thighs. His finger moved in and out slowly, until transparent liquid flowed out with his finger. Ethan brought the wet fingers to his lips and sucked it. With her toes curled up, J stared at the ceiling, gasping with every move Ethan made. Then she felt something hard rubbing against the entrance of her pussy. ¡°Ah¡­ Ethan¡­¡± J trembled all over. She wanted to look up, but was held down by the man¡¯s powerful arms. Ethan¡¯s eyes were full of desire and his hair was stered to his forehead with sweat. J looked at him in a daze. Grabbing her chin, he whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here.¡± Then he pressed his lips against hers passionately. His hard penis was slowly slipped into her body. When it met a thin film, Ethan took a slight breath and gently broke through it. The pain made J wince and curl up, and she held Ethan even tighter. Her bra was unsped from behind by the man, and tossed to the floor together with her dress. The naked man and woman were entangled on the bed, the woman¡¯s legs wrapped around the man¡¯s waist. Ethan gently kissed J¡¯s lips. He didn¡¯t thrust until she stopped trembling. Then, the huge, hot penis was thrust all the way inside the woman. J forgot how to breathe. When the tip of the penis reached the deepest part of her pussy, she gasped. Ethan took his sweet time, kissing her neck and slowly thrusting back and forth. The thick liquid mixed with blood stained the white sheet. Gradually, the pain dissipated, and J also felt a strange pleasure as the penis rubbed against her vagina. She couldn¡¯t help but pant, biting her lower lip. Ethan bit and sucked at the skin on her shoulders and corbone, leaving a trail of red marks. J put her arms around his shoulders and wrapped her legs around his waist tightly, goading him to push inside her further. Ethan¡¯s lips made their way back to hers and their tongues intertwined. His lower body paused for a few seconds, and then he thrust inside her with all his strength. The pain mixed with pleasure was electrifying. With bated breath, J couldn¡¯t help but gasp. After a while, Ethan changed positions and turned the woman to his side. He propped her long leg on his shoulder and continued to thrust. They didn¡¯t stop making love until the sun started to rise in the horizon. Exhausted, the two fell asleep in each other¡¯s arms atop the disheveled bed. Chapter 442 Chapter 442 It was already bright outside when J woke up the next morning. She was sore all over, and her limbs felt like they might fall apart any second. When did she fall asleepst night? Thest thing she remembered was Ethan on top of her. The man was an absolute beast in bed. ¡°Oh!¡± J blushed as memories of their lovemaking shed in her head. She burrowed back under the sheets. But then the door opened, and she couldn¡¯t help but peek over the edge of the quilt. Ethan sauntered in carrying a breakfast tray. He was d in ck pajama bottoms and nothing else. J¡¯s eyes immediately went to his broad shoulders and his muscr torso. She could almost feel the warmth of his strong, hard chest under her fingertips. Ethan set the tray down on the table and padded over to the bed. He leaned over J and gently swept his thumb over her brow. ¡°Hello, Mrs. Larson. Do you need more sleep? It¡¯s already well past noon. If you want to keep sleeping, we can take our privateer.¡± He had booked flights to Europe for their honeymoon trip. J stretched her arms and reached for Ethan¡¯s shoulder. The afterglow fromst night left a rosy hue on her skin. She perked up at his teasing words, and poked his arm jokingly. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault. You¡¯re the reason why I¡¯m so exhausted.¡± They shared a chuckle and cuddled for a moment before she asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you need to go to the company? Won¡¯t the Larson Group fall without your supervision?¡± In fact, she hadn¡¯t expected a honeymoon trip. ¡°I took a week off,¡± Ethan said, looking unbothered as he pulled her closer and rubbed her shoulders. Hearing this, J shot up in bed and grinned. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll go pack and get ready right away.¡± She had always wanted to travel with Ethan, but they never found the time. Before she could scramble out of the covers, he pulled her back into his embrace. ¡°Let me carry you to the bathroom,¡± he whispered and nipped her earlobe. She probably had no idea how irresistible she looked when she just woke up. It only took a single taste to get addicted to something, but once you reached that point, the matter of restraint became a constant battle. With that said, Ethan and J stayed in the bathroom for two hours. Sure enough, they ended up taking their private jet and arrived in Europe at nine o¡¯clock that evening. The night sky over Paris was still a light shade of blue despite the hour, and the lights of the Eiffel Tower glimmered in the surface of the River Seine. It truly was the most romantic city on earth. By the boulevard, a tall, striking man was busy snapping pictures of a smiling woman across the pavement. Her eyes were clear and bright, lending a youthful charm to her petite frame. ¡°Aren¡¯t you done yet, Ethan?¡± Jined. She was growing tired of smiling for the camera. Her husband, bless his heart, seemed to be enjoying his new gadget. He looked rather adorable in his knitted wool hat and his ck wool overcoat as he fiddled with the lens. Ethan had never taken photos of other people before, much less a woman. He never had any reason to. And so, he was understandably uneasy about this particr activity. Fortunately, J appeared to be pleased with the pictures when he showed them to her. ¡°Oh, is that the Louvre?¡± J had turned toward the southern bank of the Seine, her eyes filled with awe as she stared at the magnificent building in the distance. Back when she had been studying painting, her biggest dream was to explore this historical site. Ethan silently watched her bask in wonder; then he brought her chilly fingers to his lips and kissed them. ¡°Let¡¯s go over there and have a look,¡± he said softly. The winter wind was cold, and J shivered despite theyers she wore. Ethan reached out an arm around her shoulder and tucked her under his coat, and the two of them walked down the streets, talking andughing. J was still in high spirits when they retired for the night. Shey back in bed with her arms spread as she recounted everything she had seen at the Louvre with unmistakable fondness. ¡°I thought the Mona Lisa would be bigger. Her smile didn¡¯t look as mysterious as the Inte hyped it to be.¡± Ethan emerged from the shower and found her wriggling on the bed. Her slender and even legs were kicking randomly in the air, and her plump chest was heaving slightly, which was like a silent temptation. His mouth suddenly felt dry, and he had to swallow a lump in his throat. All the blood in his body surged downward. Ethan gritted his teeth. ¡°There you are, honey,¡± J said, shing him an inviting smile. ¡°Come here, let¡¯s look at the photos we took together.¡± Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. But Ethan wasn¡¯t interested in the photos at all. What he wanted to do right there and then was to rip off her clothes and keep her in bed for hours on end. Without another thought, he walked to the bed and straddled her, pinning her down with his body. ¡°You¡¯re too heavy,¡± J said innocently, though a knowing smile was dancing on her lips. Ethan yfully bit her lower lip and growled. ¡°I want you. Open your legs.¡± Chapter 443 Chapter 443 The Lester family broke into an uproar. Brandon had invited all the influential, wealthy people in Seacisco to his wedding, except the Lester family. When Elissa went to y cards with her friends, her fellow wealthydies mocked her, saying the Larson Group didn¡¯t respect the Lester family. Although Lester Silk Fabric and the Larson Group were rivals, Patrick still wanted to make peace and ensure the development of the twopanies. If Lester Silk Fabric and the Larson Group joined hands, they would undoubtedly monopolize the economic lifeline of Seacisco. However, Brandon¡¯s enigmatic personality irked him. Although the Lester family belonged to the wealthiest strata of society, they never interacted with Brandon. They didn¡¯t even know what he looked like. ¡°Howe Brandon got married all of a sudden? I haven¡¯t even heard of him being in love with anyone before.¡± Elisa grunted angrily and took a sip of the tea. Her nose scrunched up with disgust as the horrible taste spread in her mouth. Ritchie slept all morning and finally woke up in the afternoon. He went downstairs, yawning, and turned on the TV in the living room. ¡°Why do you care about Brandon? Our Lester family is in no way inferior to him. His invitation means nothing to us.¡± Ritchie scoffed disdainfully as he sat on the sofa, cross-legged. N?velDrama.Org content rights. ¡°You don¡¯t understand. Brandon has invited all the famous people in Seacisco except our Lester family. You have no idea how those bitches insulted me while ying cards. They want to defeat me in everything, so thosedies took the opportunity to mock me by talking about his wedding the whole time. It was horrible!¡± Elissa was fuming with rage. She nced at the entertainment news on the TV. Suddenly, her face turned pale, and her eyes almost popped out of their sockets. Seeing the horror in his mother¡¯s eyes, Ritchie also turned to look at the TV. ¡°Mom? What happened? Damn it!¡± They were broadcasting Brandon¡¯s wedding on TV. However, the couple getting married was the coward Ethan and his humble wife. Just then, Patrick came downstairs. He was equally shocked. He stared at the TV with wide eyes. ¡°Oh my God! It¡¯s Ethan.¡± Patrick couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. He repeated the words over and over again as he stared at the TV. No two people in the world would look this alike. Brandon was none other than Ethan. No one would have thought that a loser like Ethan would establish a business empire like the Larson Group, which was as powerful as the Lester family, and be a sessful CEO. Nobody had a clue about his secret life. Elissa couldn¡¯t deal with the shock. She didn¡¯t know what to do. Unfortunately, Patrick was here; she couldn¡¯t even show her resentment. She turned around and winked at her son, secretly expressing her feelings. Patrick picked up the newspaper on the table and unfolded it. A slow smile emerged on his face. ¡°This boy amazes me.¡± Looking at Ethan¡¯s achievements, Patrick realized he was more smart and outstanding than his eldest son, Seth Lester, who was in charge of a branchpany of the Lester family in a different city. Patrick regretted kicking Ethan out of the family. It had been a hasty decision. If he had known Ethan¡¯s potential, he would have never asked him to leave. Elissa¡¯s heart sank when she saw the smile on Patrick¡¯s face. She should have killed that boy when she still could. Ethan was wealthier and more influential than the Lester family now. He wouldn¡¯t bother acquiring their property, for his assets surpassed theirs. She couldn¡¯t bear to watch him, an illegitimate child, grow right before her eyes. ¡°Damn it!¡± Ritchie angrily stomped his foot. He threw the remote and stormed out of the room. Elissa followed him out to the garden. ¡°Things have gotten out of hand. We should get rid of Ethan!¡± Ritchie¡¯s head throbbed. He looked at Elissa and scoffed. ¡°Do you think he is still a loser whom we could mess around and get away with it? He is now Brandon Larson ¡ª the CEO of the Larson Group!¡± ¡°So what? Just because Ethan has another identity, doesn¡¯t mean we should just give up. The Larson Group and the Lester family are enemies. The only solution is to get rid of Ethan.¡± Elissa fisted her palms as anger coursed through her veins. Chapter 444 Chapter 444 After a week, Ethan and J returned from Europe. Seacisco had grown quite warm by then. As soon as the two of them stepped foot outside the airport, countless reporters swarmed around them. ¡°Mr. Larson, when did you and your wife fall for each other?¡± ¡°Why was your wedding so out-of-the-blue? Are you two expecting a child?¡± ¡°May I know what Mrs. Larson does? Our source said that she¡¯s an employee of yourpany. Was it an office romance?¡± The reporters bombarded them with a barrage of questions. Covering half of J¡¯s face with the scarf, Ethan held her in his arms protectively. His cold gaze swept across the sea of reporters and he didn¡¯t say a word. Perhaps it was because Ethan¡¯s face was bone-chillingly cold that the reporters didn¡¯t dare to ask any scandalous questions. When they made it home from the airport, J couldn¡¯t hold her curiosity at bay any longer. ¡°Ethan, I noticed that although our marriage is a trending topic, all the media¡¯s reports on me are simple and objective. They were never judgmental with me. Did you put any pressure on the media?¡± Ethan put his suitcase down and began to sort out the luggage. ¡°It¡¯s their job to report the truth. I just reminded them that.¡± With a sweet smile on her face, J suddenly walked over and threw her arms around Ethan¡¯s neck. ¡°Honey, I want to go back to work.¡± While she had already resigned from the Larson Group, she hadn¡¯t found a new job yet. And she had no ns of bing a full-time housewife. Ethan¡¯s heart instantly softened when J called him honey. He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. ¡°What do you mean? You want your job back? Or do you want me to support your search for another job?¡± Swirling her finger on his chest a few times, J said in a pouty tone, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go back; I don¡¯t want to work for you either.¡± In a word, she didn¡¯t want to rely on him. Ethan understood what she meant. He pondered for a while. ¡°In the design industry in Seacisco, the biggest and the best twopanies are the Larson Group and the Lester Silk Fabric. You can¡¯t join Lester Silk Fabric of course.¡± He held J even tighter and said possessively, ¡°You¡¯re not leaving Seacisco either. I refuse to be in a long-distance rtionship.¡± Leaning against Ethan¡¯s chest, J smiled and said, ¡°Then give me advice.¡± A thought urred to Ethan and he suggested that J open her own studio. With his help, she didn¡¯t need to worry about reputation or clients. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. But she didn¡¯t think she was experienced enough to be an independent designer, nor did she want to rely on Ethan to develop her career. So she decided to talk to Tiffany about it. ******* Tiffany was surprised when J came to her for help. After all, J was already the Mrs. Larson. Tiffany doubted there was anything in this world Brandon couldn¡¯t give to her. ¡°Wait until I get off work. I still work for your husband, remember? I can¡¯t just sneak out and have dinner with you,¡± Tiffany whined jokingly on the phone. She was a professional and drew a firm line between work and personal affairs, a line she refused to cross. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ve booked a table in the French restaurant downstairs. Focus on your work first. I¡¯ll see you later,¡± J said with a smile. After tidying up at home, J headed to the restaurant and waited patiently for Tiffany. When she and Ethan had visited Paris, she fell in love with French cuisine. Just as she was scanning the menu and thinking about what to order, a voice interrupted her thoughts. ¡°Try the foie gras. This restaurant is known for it. I myself find it the most delicious dish in the whole world.¡± The woman¡¯s voice was lively and crisp, sounding very youthful. When J looked up, her eyes met that of a beautiful girl in a white dress. She had long, dark hair that hung over her shoulders. Her outfit and essories were all from designer brands, and she was carrying two Hermes shopping bags. The Cartier ne resting on her vicle twinkled brightly. After hesitating for a few seconds, J smiled politely. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss. I don¡¯t think we¡¯ve met.¡± ¡°Who I am is none of your business. Are you J, Brandon¡¯s wife, from the news?¡± Chapter 445 Chapter 445 What an arrogant tone! The girl standing before J was indeed beautiful, but her voice dripped with arrogance and contempt. J put the menu down and rested her chin on her hand. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m J. If you want something from me, at least tell me your name. Otherwise, I won¡¯t know how to address you.¡± The girl pursed her lips and raised her chin slightly. ¡°Heard of Mooney Mart? It¡¯s a national chain supermarket owned by my family. Other than the famous Lester family and the Larson Group, our company is the biggest and most well-known.¡± Jesus! Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. This girl was too silly. She had given J so much information¡ªbut still not her name. J¡¯s smile faded away. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of Mooney Mart, but I still don¡¯t know your name, Miss.¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m Cindy Mooney of course!¡± Cindy didn¡¯t like J¡¯s expression. Was she mocking her? No one in the world dared to mock her, the daughter of the Mooney family. J smiled again and turned to the waiter. ¡°Foie gras, please. Good for two people.¡± Noticing that J seemedpletely disinterested in her, Cindy asked bluntly, ¡°May I sit with you?¡± Without waiting for an answer, she plopped down on the seat opposite J. It was clear that she still had a sense of superiority as she stared at J with disdain. ¡°You¡¯re Brandon Larson¡¯s wife. What¡¯re you wearing? Your clothes look very cheap.¡± Cindy shook her head and clicked her tongue in disgust. She didn¡¯t think her words were impolite at all because in her household, she grew up saying whatever she wanted to say. ¡°There are dozens of popr families in Seacisco, but I¡¯ve never heard of the Lind family. What¡¯s your background, J? How did you meet Brandon?¡± J shifted in her seat ufortably. She didn¡¯t know the woman sitting across her that well, nor did it look like Cindy had anything to do with Brandon. Despite this, Cindy brazenly interrogated J. Judging from her words and tone of voice, Cindy seemed to be saying that J was too ordinary to be with a man like Brandon. Not wanting to waste her breath on her, J said dismissively, ¡°I have no reason to answer you, Miss Mooney. Thank you for your dish rmendation, but if there¡¯s nothing else, please leave now. I¡¯m expecting a friend.¡± Cindy didn¡¯t give a damn. She firmly believed it was fate that she ran into J today. No media outlet would reveal J¡¯s specific identity, shrouding Brandon¡¯s wife behind a veil of mystery. ¡°Cancel on your friend and have dinner with me today. Tell me, how long have you been with Brandon? And how did you get him to fall in love with you?¡± Cindy asked persistently. Sometimes even the servants who worked for her family couldn¡¯t stand her, let alone J, who didn¡¯t even know her. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I don¡¯t talk nonsense to annoy others, or maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m more beautiful than most women,¡± J answered in a casual tone, mirroring Cindy¡¯s arrogant manner. Chapter 446 Chapter 446 ¡°Excuse me, but who do you think you are? How dare you talk to me like that?!¡± Cindy instantly flew into a rage from the humiliation. She sneered and looked J up and down carefully. Well, even she had to admit that J was indeed a very beautiful woman. Her skin was fair and delicate, and her features were refined. She could¡¯ve drawn anyone¡¯s attention with her eye-catching beauty. Cindy bit her lower lip and her eyes shed with anger. The girl sitting opposite her was arrogant and annoying, but she hadn¡¯t gone too far yet. She was clearly another rich princess spoiled by her family, so J didn¡¯t want to waste her breath and argue with her anymore. But Cindy had taken Tiffany¡¯s seat. Where would Tiffany sit when she arrived? Thinking about this, J nced at her phone to check the time. It was time for Tiffany to get off work. ¡°Oh, hello. Who¡¯s this? Did you invite someone else to dinner?¡± Speaking of the devil, Tiffany approached their table and looked at Cindy questioningly. J looked at Cindy and said impatiently, ¡°Miss Mooney, my friend is here. Can you go now?¡± When Cindy saw the domineering woman standing next to J, she snorted with disdain, gathered her things, and left in a huff. J¡¯s eyes flickered with annoyance as she watched the girl leave. Tiffany put down her bag, took off her coat, and sat on the seat Cindy had been sitting on just moments earlier. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What happened? Who was that girl?¡± Making sure that Cindy had left the restaurant, J told Tiffany how the girl had provoked her for no reason. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Oh, I see how it is. Initially, you were married to Ethan Lester¡ªan ordinary, unknown man. But now, you¡¯re married to Brandon Larson, the CEO of Larson Group. Do you know how intimidating this title is? Brandon is young, promising, and rich. Many rich families have tried to get him to marry their daughters, but he was too aloof. He showed no interest in being with anyone, nor did he show any interest in getting married. All the women who hoped to marry him eventually had to give up.¡± After such a lengthy exnation, Tiffany found herself thirsty. She gulped down a ss of water and then continued, ¡°Yet now, he announced out of the blue that he¡¯s married, and his wife is not from a prominent family. It¡¯s unheard of¡ªit¡¯s like breaking the barrier between social sses. Naturally, those rich families feel that they¡¯ve been robbed by you. J sighed. ¡°It was stupid of Cindy to outright provoke me, and I can deal with a small fly like her. But, my worry is that she¡¯s not thest one. I think I¡¯ll encounter a lot of simr situations in the future.¡± Tiffany smiled at her knowingly. ¡°It¡¯s good that you know that. Since you can¡¯t change your fate, you have to learn to embrace it.¡± With knitted brows, J rested her chin in one hand and mulled over things carefully. After a long while, she finally said, ¡°Ethan¨C I mean Brandon has announced to the public that I¡¯m his wife, but they don¡¯t seem to be okay with it. Because Brandon is an excellent man, people think he should¡¯ve married someone from the same social status. Now that he¡¯s married to me, an ordinary woman, everyone¡¯s in disbelief. I guess I can see where they¡¯reing from. It¡¯s true that I don¡¯t deserve Brandon in terms of ¡®social rank¡¯. But I can¡¯t change where I came from.¡± Chapter 447 Chapter 447 ¡°Don¡¯t belittle yourself. One can¡¯t change where they came from. Besides, rich and powerful families didn¡¯t start out rich and powerful. You¡¯re a talented designer. What you need to do is to work harder. Soon, the public will acknowledge and ept you¡ªwhether they like it or not.¡± Tiffany waved her hand dismissively. Just then, the waiter came to serve ck truffle, foie gras and a bottle of aged wine. Swirling the ss of red wine in her hand, Tiffany¡¯s eyebrows shot up in surprise. ¡°This is expensive. Is Mr. Larson paying for it?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. J shook her head. ¡°My money is mine, and his money is his. I just wanted to thank you for all of your help. I doubt I¡¯d be where I am today without you.¡± Tiffany clinked her ss against J¡¯s and smiled leisurely. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this. I didn¡¯t do much.¡± Sipping her wine, Tiffany nodded in satisfaction. ¡°But I won¡¯t say no to a bottle of Lafite. So, what¡¯s the real reason why you invited me to dinner? Ask away.¡± Rubbing her fingers, J smiled sheepishly. ¡°Okay. Well, here¡¯s the thing. I want to be an independent designer.¡± Hearing this, Tiffany pursed her red lips. ¡°Has it been a year since your graduation?¡± This question made J¡¯s heart sink to her stomach. ¡°No. It has only been ten months.¡± J was so nervous that her palms started to sweat. Generally speaking, bing an independent designer was no easy feat. Except for those extremely talented, no one in their right mind would be arrogant enough to open their own studio within a year of graduating. It was expected that they gain experience from working in apany for a few years before going independent. Tiffany fell silent for a second. ¡°That¡¯s a little tricky. Experience is important for a designer. Plus, it¡¯s somewhat an insult to those experienced designers if you be a sessful independent designer at such a young age.¡± After a while, she smiled gently. ¡°If it were up to me, I wouldn¡¯t see it that way. You¡¯re clearly a talented designer and I¡¯m sure you had a lot of ideas even back in college. But my experience tells me that it¡¯s still early for you to set up your own studio. What if you work for another designpany to gain experience first?¡± Hearing this, J¡¯s expression wasplicated. ¡°It seems that you have something on your mind, J.¡± Tiffany saw through her immediately. ¡°Mr. Larson doesn¡¯t want you to work for anyone else, am I right? That¡¯s so macho of him.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. Rather, he doesn¡¯t want me to work outside of the city. A long-distance rtionship is not for us. If I had the chance, I¡¯d want to go to Barnes. But Seacisco is in the south and Barnes is in the far north. It will not be easy for us to see each other in the future,¡± J exined dejectedly. She didn¡¯t want to be separated from Ethan, but she didn¡¯t want to be dependent on him either. Tiffany shook her head and sighed. ¡°You managed to marry a rich man yet you still have a lot of things to worry. Men are indeed the stumbling block to a woman¡¯s career.¡± J was amused by her opinion. She looked at Tiffany carefully. Tiffany was beautiful and sexy, but she always seemed to cast aside worldly desires and lived independently. She was a tough woman. She was professional and capable and it was as though she didn¡¯t need a man at all. Nobody knew whether she was born like this or it was because of something she had experienced. The two of them proceeded to have a nice dinner. Finally, it was time to say goodbye. Before getting in the taxi, Tiffany turned around to warn J, ¡°This is no small matter. You two had better discuss it and make things clear as soon as possible.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯ll see what I can do. Be careful on your way back.¡± J waved goodbye to Tiffany. When she got home, J was preupied with thoughts on how to discuss her predicament with Ethan. Ethan was wearing a dark blue suit and tie, looking tall and mature. With his shiny leather shoes, he was the epitome of a cold, meticulous CEO. When he saw here in, Ethan wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her on her cheek. ¡°It¡¯s good you¡¯re back in time. There¡¯s a charity party tonight. Let¡¯s go there together.¡± Chapter 448 Chapter 448 ¡°Did you just say a charity party? Is it being held by the Larson Group?¡± Putting away the coat she had just pulled off her body, J thought it over for a few seconds and then added, ¡°But I don¡¯t have an evening dress for such an asion. When you were Ethan, it was no big deal for me to wear my usual dress to attend a formal event. But today the situation happens to be very different. You¡¯re Brandon Larson now. If I underdress, it will go on to be a huge disgrace to you.¡± In fact, J didn¡¯t want to go at all. If she went to the party, she¡¯d have to face those who looked down at her. After adjusting his tie, Ethan asked in a very gentle voice, ¡°Didn¡¯t I buy you a custom-made dress before? If it¡¯s not something you like, I¡¯ll ask my assistant to send over a few more for you to choose.¡± Ethan quietly looked at J for a few seconds and as if sensing her thoughts, he touched her hair and asked her, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to go to the party? A distinguished guest from Barnes will be there. Joanna White happens to be a famous phnthropist in Barnes. I want to introduce you to her.¡± With a sweet smile on her face, J leaned her head against Ethan¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°I nearly forgot about the dress you gave me. Wait a minute; I¡¯ll go get changed.¡± After that, she walked into the room and put on the dress. She knew in her heart that Ethan had good intentions for doing this. He wanted to bring her to such important asions to emphasize and consolidate her position. Sooner orter, she had to adapt to such things. After putting on her dress and fixing her makeup, she headed to the party with Ethan. The charity dinner just got started. This event was totally different from any party that J had attended before. This kind of charity dinner was obviously on a higher level than the other events. Everyone here was refined and talked properly. ¡°Mr. Larson, it¡¯s good to finally meet you.¡± Two men in tuxedos, who were about fifty years old, made their way over with huge smiles on their faces. When talking to them, Brandon was not as level-headed as he was to other people. Perhaps they were business partners. The three of them talked together rather casually for a while. The atmosphere seemed to be rxed and pleasant. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. J sat on the side and enjoyed the desserts and champagne quietly. At this moment, several middle-aged richdies came over to talk to her. ¡°Mrs. Larson, do you like sweets?¡± a richdy in a fitting dress and curly hair asked with a smile on her face, staring at the te resting in J¡¯s hand. After a short pause, J nodded with a slight smile. The desserts here were indeed very delicious and at the same time, she was not that much of a fussy eater. ¡°Booth¡¯s Cake is way better. Mrs. Larson, please go try it when you have the time. Its taste is much better than these cheap desserts they serve here.¡± These richdies proceeded to exchange nces with one another. ¡°In fact, it matters very little whether the dessert is cheap or not. If one never gets to see the world and thinks that these are already good stuff, then that will be the real joke here.¡± The richdy flipped her hair and turned to look at J with a thoughtful look on her face. ¡°I heard that Mrs. Larson graduated from a local design school.¡± Tiffany was right. Cindy wouldn¡¯t be the only one who didn¡¯t like the fact that J married Brandon. These richdies mocked her one after the other. They pretended to act like they cared about J, but in fact, they were ridiculing her in a way that said that she didn¡¯t deserve to be Brandon¡¯s wife. ¡°Yes, I am a designer.¡± J tried her best to stay calm. ¡°Designing isn¡¯t in demand right now. Besides, all those famous designers graduated from prestigious foreign universities. Our domestic design schools here aren¡¯t very good.¡± ¡°Mrs. Kane, is it true that your daughter is studying fashion marketing at UCIA?¡± With a proud expression on her face, Mrs. Kane replied, ¡°Yes, she¡¯ll graduate in one year. She met Mr. Larson before and said that she wanted to work as an intern in Larson Group after she returned. Now, there¡¯s no chance for that anymore.¡± Mrs. Kane let out a long sigh and then went on to say, ¡°You have no idea how excellent my daughter is. She went to study in a foreign country alone at the age of fifteen. Many rich young men are pursuing her, but she only likes mature men.¡± With a faint smile on her face, J acted like she didn¡¯t understand what Mrs. Kane meant. She was feeling so angry and aggrieved that she couldn¡¯t even taste the dessert in her mouth. ¡°What are you girls talking about? It appears to be something funny.¡± At this time, a middle-aged woman in a royal blue V-necked evening dress walked over toward them. She was noble, low-key, and elegant all at once. She had a graceful and elegant appearance, with an easy-going and calm aura emanating from her. Her long ck hair was held up on her head by a ck wooden hairpin. When those richdies caught sight of her, they became restrained and courteous right away. ¡°Good evening, Mrs. White. We¡¯re just chatting with Mrs. Larson here.¡± The middle-aged woman had a friendly smile on her face. She nced over at J, appearing stunned for a few seconds, and then asked with a gentle smile on her face, ¡°You¡¯re J, right?¡± Chapter 449 Chapter 449 J was still hung up on thedies¡¯ sarcastic remarks that she didn¡¯t notice the woman approaching her. Johanna had to wave her hand in front of J¡¯s face before thetter came back to her senses. J blinked at Johanna, at a loss for words. She looked familiar for some reason. But J couldn¡¯t figure out where they had met before, so she decided to brush off the thought. Thinking that Johanna was about to mock her just as the others had done, J squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. ¡°Hello. Can I help you with anything?¡± She held her breath and braced herself for the inevitable. What sort of abuse was she going to hear this time? ¡°It¡¯s very nice to meet you. My name is Johanna White, and you may call me Mrs. White just like everybody else.¡± The woman stretched out her hand, her eyes gleaming as she peered at J with obvious curiosity. Johanna had noticed J the moment she had entered the room, mainly because she had the same eyes as her husband. As for J, she was rather taken aback by the distinctck of hostility. It was a breath of fresh air after what she had just experienced. She set her te down and reached out to shake Johanna¡¯s hand. ¡°Hello, Mrs. White,¡± she said with a polite nod and an apologetic look. So, this was the Mrs. White that Ethan had mentioned earlier. Upon closer inspection, J finally realized why this elegant woman looked so familiar¡ªshe saw that same face in the mirror every day. Johanna White looked just like her. ¡°You caught my attention when you came in just now,¡± Johanna said with a smile. Before either woman knew it, she had already sped J¡¯s hand between both of hers. ¡°Are you a native of Seacisco? I¡¯ve grown very fond of the local cuisine. Can you give me a few rmendations?¡± Johanna was genuinely amiable and didn¡¯t put on airs, unlike the other richdies in attendance. She had a gentle aura that inspired the confidence of the people around her. ¡°Oh, there¡¯s a restaurant near my school that sells the bestmb stew in town,¡± J replied instantly. ¡°This is the perfect season to have a heartymb stew I think.¡± Seeing that J seemed to be in good terms with Johanna, the other women had no choice but to back down. They stood to the side and exchanged pointed nces, not daring to interrupt the other two¡¯s conversation. Johanna finally turned to them after a while, though her expression was not as warm as when she had been speaking to J. ¡°It¡¯s cold out here,dies. Why don¡¯t youe with us to the lounge inside?¡± The White family was one of the most prominent lineages in Barnes. Each generation had studied abroad and gone on to be notable figures in their respective field, and some of them had even held important positions in the military. Needless to say, Johanna was a key yer in society, and everyone pandered to her at every chance they got. And since she was courteous toward J, the women had to keep themselves in check, lest they inadvertently offended Johanna. It was the early days of spring, and the floor-to-ceiling windows of the lounge opened to the garden. Despite theck of snow, the cool, refreshing scent of winter still lingered in the air. ¡°You know Seacisco so well. Have you lived here since you were a child? May I ask who your mother is?¡± Johanna was usually reserved, but she was inexplicably interested in J. Aware that she might be crossing a line, she smiled kindly at J and assured her, ¡°It¡¯s all right if you don¡¯t tell me. I know it¡¯s a little abrupt and may not exactly be appropriate. Just forget I asked.¡± The matter of her family background was a sensitive issue for J, so she was grateful for the other woman¡¯s consideration. But she sensed no malice from Johanna, so after a moment¡¯s hesitation, J decided to answer her question. ¡°I was adopted by the Lind family. As for my biological parents, I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m afraid I have no idea who they are.¡± Her voice instinctively quieted down as she spoke, and the words fell heavy between them. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Johanna¡¯s face immediately changed. A mix ofplicated emotions shed across her eyes. ¡°Are you saying that you¡¯re adopted?¡± she asked urgently, as if to confirm a crucial truth. Chapter 450 Chapter 450 Johanna suddenly got overly emotional, which had a way of overwhelming J, who then said in a gentle voice, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true. I was adopted by the Lind family.¡± Tears started to well up in Johanna¡¯s eyes. She patted J¡¯s shoulder and went on to ask, ¡°How did the Lind family adopt you?¡± J shook her head. Her memory of it was long gone. Besides, she didn¡¯t want to recall such sad memories from her childhood, so she had been deliberately avoiding thinking about what happened in the past. At the same time, Johanna had nothing to do with her. Why was she asking so many questions? J was feeling a bit confused about what was going on. ¡°Mrs. White, if there¡¯s nothing else you¡¯d like to talk about, I have to go now.¡± J thought that there was no more need to say anymore to a stranger. More tears welled up in Johanna¡¯s eyes. Her hope, which had been long lost, was now back again. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. She clutched onto J¡¯s hand and smiled lovingly at her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, J. I must¡¯ve scared you just now. I was being too overly emotional.¡± Seeing this, J proceeded to sit down again and said in a resigned tone, ¡°I can¡¯t remember what happened that day in the past clearly. I¡¯ll have to think it over.¡± She tried her best to recall the past. She had no idea why thisdy suddenly burst into tears, but she had a feeling she might feel better if she told her something. ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly where it was they found me. But I¡¯ve heard my adoptive father say that I was picked up by an acquaintance of his in Barnes. At that time, there had been an earthquake that turned the whole city into chaos. Many people were seriously hurt, leaving behind a lot of orphans and I happened to be one of them, I suppose. That friend of theirs heard that they wanted to adopt a child. That was why he sent me to them.¡± After having said that, J was lost in thoughts. She had never even talked about this with Ethan before, but now she was telling it to a woman she had just met for a few minutes. Hearing this, Johanna¡¯s face turned extremely pale and her whole body shook. She covered her face and suddenly burst into tears, unable to hold in her excitement. J had no clue what was going on. She patted her on the shoulder and tried tofort her, ¡°Mrs. White, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Johanna took out a handkerchief from her bag in her hand and proceeded to wipe her tears. She looked up at J again with a serious expression on her face and said while sobbing at the same time, ¡°Twenty-three years ago, when my daughter was born in the hospital, there was an earthquake. It was such a chaos and I mistakenly took someone else¡¯s daughter home. Over the years, my husband and I have always been looking for our real daughter but never managed to find her. Not long ago, I saw on the news of your marriage with Brandon Larson. I noticed that you look a lot like my husband and me, so I came here to see you.¡± J was shocked and didn¡¯t know how to feel. She looked at Johanna with a faint smile on her face and said, ¡°Maybe this is just a coincidence. Things like this happen in the world.¡± Johanna wiped away her tears. After that, she argued, ¡°I didn¡¯t make a mistake. I just knew it. I¡¯ve been having a familiar feeling ever since I saw you. Families are linked by blood, you know? I believe that. I really think that we¡¯re family.¡± J also had the feeling that Johanna was familiar and kind. From what Johanna said, that might be true. After all, everything from her age, appearance, and her story all matched that of Johanna¡¯s daughter. Noticing the panic and hesitation in J¡¯s eyes, Johanna held her quivering hand and asked cautiously, ¡°J, would you like to undergo a paternity test with us?¡± Chapter 451 Chapter 451 J averted her gaze hesitantly, not knowing what to say. Her first instinct was to doubt it. She scared that she¡¯d only be disappointed if it turned out that they weren¡¯t really rted. But this was the closest she had ever gotten to find her real parents. ¡°O¡­ Okay.¡± In the end, she had no reason to refuse. Ever since she had cut off all ties with the Lind family, she only had one person left in the world that she considered family¡ªHannah. She had been hoping she could find her biological parents. Of course, the richdies had overheard their conversation. Surprise, shock, and embarrassment were written all over their faces. How could this be? The in charity party had unfolded so dramatically. The richdies quickly looked away awkwardly, knowing full well that they had just been insulting J moments earlier. No one dared to say even one more word. They had all mocked J for being born into a low status, but now, it was revealed that she might be the daughter of the White family. ¡°Wonderful! I¡¯ll book an appointment at the hospital soon. Give me your number, J. I¡¯ll call you as soon as it¡¯s settled.¡± Johanna¡¯s face lit up with undisguised joy and excitement. She couldn¡¯t even take her eyes off of J. What a beautiful girl! She had liked J ever since she first saw her on TV. After chatting for a while, she started to feel sorry for the girl. The way J talked about her foster parents was very cautious yet gloomy. It was clear that the Lind family didn¡¯t treat her well. ¡°I¡¯ll call my husband as soon as I get back. He¡¯ll definitely be thrilled!¡± Johanna added with a bright smile, clutching her purse tightly. J couldn¡¯t help but reciprocate her excitement. She immediately looked around the hall, searching for Ethan. ******* Ethan had been talking shop with a businessman that had just arrived. As soon as he turned his head, he found that J was gone. N?velDrama.Org content rights. Luckily, Ethan was a tall man who stood a head above the crowd. It didn¡¯t take long for him to spot the petite figure at the other end of the hall. Ethan strode over to her and pulled her into his arms in a warm embrace. Nibbling her earlobe yfully, he asked, ¡°What¡¯re you up to, Miss? Want me to apany you?¡± As he spoke, he buried his face in her neck. As he breathed in her scent, he was a bit turned on, and his hand wandered to her lower back. J instantly blushed. They were in a public ce! She gently pushed him away and said with a giggle, ¡°Stop it! Anyway, there¡¯s something I wanted to tell you.¡± Seeing that J¡¯s eyes were slightly teary, Ethan¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Who bullied you?¡± J shook her head and said seriously, ¡°Ethan, I may have found my biological parents.¡± She then told him the whole story. If it turned out to be true, then of course Ethan would be happy for her¡­ ¡°It sounds a little too good to be true,¡± he said after thinking about it for a while. ¡°But if it was Mrs. White who brought it up, it could be true. She wouldn¡¯t prank you. The White family is just as powerful as the Larson family used to be, so she shouldn¡¯t have any ulterior motives. I suppose there¡¯s nothing we can do but wait for the results of the paternity test.¡± Chapter 452 Chapter 452 The waiting game was always the hardest. Ethan sat with J in one of the corridors of the hospital. It was mid-January by then and still a bit cold. Johanna wore a dark green maxi dress with a white cashmere coat on top. Her eyes kept darting between J and the man next to her as they waited. Brandon Larson. She had seen his face in their wedding photos on the news, but she didn¡¯t like him very much. Brandon was indeed a handsome man, but Johanna didn¡¯t think that was a good thing. Rich, good- looking men more often than not turned out to be yboys. And Brandon was rich, handsome, and sessful. He had to be a scheming person, right? On the other hand, J was a kind and lovely girl. She could easily have been yed by Brandon. But now that she, Johanna, was here for J, she would never let Brandon bully J. Ethan could sense the hostility in Johanna¡¯s eyes whenever she looked at him, but considering how she might be his mother-inw, he could only politely nod to her. Whenever their eyes met, it was hard to tell which one of them was the dominant one. Soon, a man with sses and in his mid-fifties arrived. He looked like a well-read gentleman. ¡°Jo, I¡¯m sorry I¡¯mte. Traffic was so heavy on the way here.¡± The man wiped the sweat on his forehead and apologized sincerely. He wasn¡¯t that handsome. In fact, he looked pretty in. But his eyes were bright and had a certain look of wisdom to them. Johanna¡¯s eyes flitted to the man. Although she was scolding him, her eyes were gentle. ¡°How could you bete for something as important as this? I¡¯ll deal with you when we get home!¡± ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Jo. I swear to God that I left early! Can you not punish me today? You just punished me recently¡­¡± The man tugged at the corner of Johanna¡¯s clothes like a little kid. Obviously, Beal White, a business whiz in Barnes, was a hen-pecked husband. N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. The second J saw him, she instantly recognized his eyes¡ªbecause they looked exactly like hers. While Beal was trying to butter Johanna up, he noticed J¡¯s intent gaze. At a nce, he felt that J had the exact same temperament as Johanna¡¯s. And he had also noticed J¡¯s eyes. He rubbed his hands excitedly and walked up to the girl. ¡°You must be J, am I right? Nice to finally meet you.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you too, Mr. White.¡± For some reason, J suddenly grew nervous. Ethan had just managed to calm her down, but now, she couldn¡¯t help but want to cry again. ¡°You look a lot like Jo when she was young. How old are you? You should¡¯ve graduated from college by now, right? Where did you study? Do you have a job now? Do you want to work in Barnes?¡± Beal was so excited that he kept firing questions at her, one after another. Seeing the way Brandon¡¯s arm was tightly wrapped around J¡¯s shoulder, there was a flicker of annoyance in Beal¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mr. Larson, do you mind giving us some space?¡± Beal had no clue what J saw in her husband. Ethan was a little stunned, but he obliged and walked away to give the two a chance to talk. Seeing that J looked a bit flustered hearing all these questions, Johanna patted Beal¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Give our daughter some time to think before you ask more questions!¡± Beal scratched the back of his head and smiled sheepishly. ¡°Okay, okay. We can talkter. Let¡¯s do the paternity test first.¡± Ethan and Johanna had decided prior to do the paternity test at Frank¡¯s hospital. And to err on the side of caution, Johanna had also sent another blood sample to their own hospital in Barnes. After the paternity test was done, the Whites asked Frank nervously, ¡°When will the resultse out?¡± Frank took off his mask and said calmly, ¡°Today.¡± ¡°Oh, my God! That¡¯s great!¡± Johanna eximed, holding Beal¡¯s hand excitedly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go home ande backter for this. Let¡¯s just wait here.¡± Of course, the obedient Beal agreed. ¡°We should wait as well.¡± Ethan knew that his wife was feeling extremely anxious now. She wasn¡¯t a talkative person to begin with, and she usually fellpletely silent in important situations like this. ¡°Okay,¡± J said softly, her hands trembling slightly. It wasn¡¯t untilte afternoon when Frank approached them with the report. ¡°The results are ready. Please follow me to my office.¡± Chapter 453 Chapter 453 ¡°The result of paternity test has proven that J is indeed your biological daughter.¡± In fact, when Frank first saw the match rate between the two was as high as 99.8%, he couldn¡¯t help but be in awe of Ethan¡¯s wife. The White family was considered one of the most influential families in the country. They had the most contacts, the most resources, and the most enterprises. Although the Lester family in Seacisco was by no means weak, it was not as influential as the White family. They had be so strong thanks to years and years of umted businesses and connections. Few families were as influential as this one. As Frank continued to discuss the results of the paternity test, Ethan noticed that the Whites had been looking at J for quite a while with tears in their eyes. Beal stood up first and stumbled over to J, throwing his arms around her clumsily. The middle-aged man disregarded any semnce of dignity and burst into tears. Afraid that she might frighten J off if she broke down as well, Johanna simply stood aside and simply patted J on the back, covering her mouth with a handkerchief as she sobbed. J, on the other hand, was stunned. Finally, the sounds of her parents¡¯ sobs brought her back to reality, and she too couldn¡¯t help but burst into tears. They had finally found each other after so many years. They had only met their daughter once before, right after she was born. Naturally, Beal had a lot to say to his daughter, with whom he had lost contact ever since. ¡°How have you been all these years, my dear child? I¡¯m so sorry. Your mother and I weren¡¯t able to find you until now. This is all our fault.¡± Beal took off his sses and wiped them with the hem of his shirt. When he put them back on, his eyes were still tearful and red. ¡°I heard that the Lind family adopted you.¡± He had investigated the Lind family before he came here. Although the Linds were not that big a family, they were well-off. At the mention of that particr family name, Johanna¡¯s nostrils red in anger. ¡°There is not a single good Lind,¡± she snorted. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. After all, judging from the way J spoke of her adoptive family, she didn¡¯t have a good time with the Lind family. ¡°Bernie and Fiona adopted me and it was also true that we had some issues, but that doesn¡¯t matter anymore. I¡¯ve cut ties with them.¡± J wiped the tears on her face. She still wasn¡¯t used to the idea of her biological parents. Johanna hugged J tightly and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, my child. If you don¡¯t want to talk about it, then don¡¯t.¡± Johanna stroked J¡¯s hair gently. Her heart ached at the sight of her daughter crying. With a small smile, she said, ¡°Okay. Anyway, the past is in the past. I have a good life now. I¡¯m married to a wonderful man.¡± She looked at Ethan affectionately and added, ¡°My husband treats me very well.¡± Only then did Beal and Johanna turn to look at Ethan seriously. They knew that Ethan was the president of the Larson Group, but they just didn¡¯t really care. Even the CEO of such a sessful corporation was a nobody in their eyes. ¡°We can see that he is¡­ nice to you.¡± Johanna smiled, but the smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes. Truth be told, she had been thinking about Brandon, and he was a thorn in her side. They finally managed to find their daughter after all these years, but she was married. That was absolutely uneptable! No matter how excellent this man was, Johanna still felt like he was taking her daughter away from her all over again. And for that, she didn¡¯t like Ethan one bit. Beal probably harbored the same thought for he had been cold to Ethan ever since they met. Ethan knew what was on their minds, but he knew it wasn¡¯t the right time to bring it up, so he just smiled helplessly. Frank, who was standing in front of them, found the scene interesting. Now that Ethan had such difficult inws, he was bound to have a hard time in the future. Gradually, J calmed down. But many things gued her mind. The most pressing question was: how could she have been reced back then? Chapter 454 Chapter 454 This was thest thing that Johanna wanted to talk about. She had been depressed for years, knowing that her daughter had been reced. She even considered taking her own life, but Beal had stopped her. The White family had a lot of connections in Barnes. They had asked anyone and everyone they could to look for their missing daughter, but there was no sign of her. Gradually, Johanna came to believe that she would never reunite with her daughter. Beal, on the other hand, didn¡¯t lose hope and suggested they search in other cities. After all, Barnes was a metropolis and lots of people came and went every year, so it was possible that their daughter wasn¡¯t in Barnes anymore. Now, they finally found her¡ªtheir long lost daughter. Johanna looked at Beal hesitantly. Beal didn¡¯t say anything and gave her a reassuring look. Holding J¡¯s hands, Johanna bit her lower lip nervously. She took deep breaths, but she was so emotional that she couldn¡¯t squeeze a single word out. Finally, Beal looked at J and sighed heavily. ¡°When you were born, there was an earthquake of unprecedented magnitude in Barnes. The whole city was in chaos. The hospital copsed, and all the expecting mothers and infants were trapped inside. Your mother, who was staying in a VIP ward at the time, was moved with the other mothers during the evacuation. The situation was aplete mess at the time and she had no idea that you were reced. Later, when we did find out, we investigated the matter and found that a couple took advantage of the chaotic situation to rece you with their daughter and took you away.¡± Tears rolling down her cheeks, Johanna lowered her head guiltily and covered her mouth with the handkerchief in her hand. In between sobs, she said, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I wasn¡¯t able to protect you. If I did, you wouldn¡¯t have been reced. You were born without birthmarks. I didn¡¯t get to see you clearly because I was too weak and therefore didn¡¯t memorize what you looked like.¡± Beal hurried tofort his wife. ¡°Don¡¯t me yourself. All babies look alike when they were just born. It¡¯s difficult to tell them apart.¡± J patted Johanna¡¯s hand, too. ¡°You¡¯ve found me now and that¡¯s what matters. Truth be told, I never wanted to look for my biological parents before. I always thought that they had deliberately abandoned me.¡± Now that she knew that Johanna and Beal never meant to lose her, she didn¡¯t feel unwanted anymore. Johanna threw her arms around J and wept tears of joy. J had grown up to be such a gentle and considerate youngdy. ¡°I¡¯m so d we found you, my child. My life would¡¯ve been meaningless otherwise.¡± J could keenly sense that her mother really cared about her. Thinking of the baby who had taken her ce, she asked, ¡°How is the girl now?¡± ¡°Her name is L. She lives in Barnes with us now. Your mother and I didn¡¯t know that she wasn¡¯t ours at first, so we raised her as our own.¡± Beal sighed. After all, the baby girl had looked a lot like baby J. Beal and Johanna had no idea that the girl they raised wasn¡¯t theirs. It wasn¡¯t until L had a blood test that they realized that something was wrong. Beal¡¯s blood type was A, and Johanna¡¯s was O, while L¡¯s was B¡ªthere was no possible way she was their biological daughter. So they secretly conducted a paternity test and found out that indeed, L wasn¡¯t rted to them by blood. Theyunched an in-depth investigation into the matter. That was when they found out that their baby had been reced amidst the chaotic aftermath of the earthquake. ¡°People can be really evil. Even the clothes and wristbands on the two babies were switched, so it obviously was not just a simple mistake. I knew what my baby was wearing and that was why we took that girl with us.¡± Johanna sneered angrily. Just thinking about the evildoers who had stolen her daughter made her want to tear them to pieces. It was because of them that she wasn¡¯t able to see her own child in more than twenty years. L, on the other hand, had been treated as Johanna¡¯s and Beal¡¯s biological daughter for years. They loved her deeply and by the time they realized the mistake, it was toote for them to leave her. Thus, they continued to treat L as their own while secretly looking for their real daughter. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. A few years ago, they had managed to track down L¡¯s biological parents, but the evil couple had abandoned J as a baby and had no idea where she was. With her lips pursed, J asked warily, ¡°Has L met her biological parents?¡± ¡°L is still with us. She has no idea that she¡¯s not our biological daughter¡­¡± Johanna sighed heavily. These problems were not easy to solve. Chapter 455 Chapter 455 J could tell that her parents loved L very much. Speaking about her, Beal and Johanna exchanged embarrassed nces. ¡°We hate L¡¯s real parents. They took you from us so that their daughter could be raised by a rich family. If it weren¡¯t for the kind soul who took you in, you might¡¯ve died in the streets. You were separated from us for over twenty years because of this evil couple¡­ If none of that happened, you would¡¯ve been raised as the daughter of the White family. You wouldn¡¯t have had to suffer so much with the Lind family.¡± As she spoke, Johanna looked at J with guilt and pity. Fortunately, her dear daughter had grown up to be a wonderful young woman. Otherwise, she would¡¯ve destroyed the couple who kidnapped J. After some slight hesitation, Johanna continued, ¡°Your father and I have been thinking. It¡¯s true that L had inadvertently stolen your life, but she¡¯s innocent. She was still a baby at the time. It wasn¡¯t her fault her parents swapped her out with you. Besides, we love L, and we would never be so cruel as to kick L out now that we¡¯ve found you. But we want to listen to what you have to say on the matter.¡± Obviously, Johanna was partial to J. Maybe it was because J was her real daughter, or perhaps it was because she had grown incredibly fond of the young woman. Whenever they met, Johanna found herself wanting to give J the whole world. After mulling it over for a while, J realized that she didn¡¯t want much. She just wanted to be with Beal and Johanna, her biological parents. ¡°You raised her. I understand that it¡¯s difficult for you to let her go. Let¡¯s just say¡­ I have a sister. Besides, I already feel lucky that you found me. I never would¡¯ve thought of asking for anything more,¡± J concluded with a gracious smile. Indeed, she didn¡¯t want much. She just wanted her loved ones to be safe and sound and for those close to her to be happy and healthy. Now that she was reunited with her parents, she felt more than content. In fact, in her eyes, her life was already perfect. But J¡¯s words only made Johanna feel guiltier. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. What on earth had her daughter gone through to be so sensible? At home, L was always spoiled. Whenever she was met with any displeasure, she wouldin. ¡°Is that really what you want?¡± Johanna pressed her worriedly. J nodded firmly. ¡°I¡¯ve never met L, and she didn¡¯t do anything to hurt me. I don¡¯t hate her. I wouldn¡¯t mind if L remains a White. We can be sisters. I¡¯m already more than happy to have found you. I doubt L¡¯s presence will be an obstacle to our rtionship. Mom, Dad, you¡¯ll always be my parents.¡± Hearing this, Ethan¡¯s expression darkened. J was the victim here. She didn¡¯t have to be so generous. Chapter 456 Chapter 456 ¡°J, you¡¯re too considerate,¡± Beal said with a sigh. He and Johanna were happy to see that J had grown up to be such a sensible young woman. After all, they didn¡¯t want to abandon L. She might¡¯ve been a little arrogant and domineering, but she was still their daughter, albeit not biologically. But Johanna was partial to J. She looked at her husband firmly and said, ¡°We need to tell L the truth when we get back: that she¡¯s not our biological daughter, and that J is. Then, we can make an announcement to the public. We have to bring J back as the daughter of the Whites.¡± Johanna held her daughter¡¯s hands and looked at her face intently. J looked so much like her when she was younger. ¡°If I don¡¯t do this, it will be too unfair to you. You¡¯ve suffered enough.¡± Beal supported Johanna¡¯s decision, but he was a bit hesitant. ¡°L¡¯s a spoiled child. She has never experienced any setbacks in her life. If we tell her the truth now, I¡¯m afraid it will be a big blow to her.¡± Johanna sneered icily. ¡°Do we have to make J suffer because of her inability to cope? We¡¯re not abandoning L. She is still our daughter and we will still treat her the same way. Anyway, somebody¡¯s going to be unhappy either way. And I¡¯d rather it be L than J. We owe J too much. It¡¯s her turn to be spoiled.¡± In Johanna¡¯s youth, she had be famous in Barnes for being a decisive and sharp-tongued female entrepreneur. She was still that same fierce woman even after decades. ¡°If L finds out she¡¯s not our real daughter, do you think she¡¯ll look for her biological parents?¡± Beal asked warily. Johanna looked at Beal as though she was looking at an idiot. ¡°We¡¯ve spoiled L for years. Do you really think she¡¯ll go looking for her real parents?¡± Beal fell silent and didn¡¯t say anything more. J couldn¡¯t help but look at her mother with awe. She was quick-witted and sharp-tongued, and she spoke with a certain authority. Ethan also found that Johanna was much smarter than he had imagined and that she was very sensible. J, on the other hand, was naive and innocent. With a mother like Johanna looking after J, at least she wouldn¡¯t be easily cheated in the future. Later, Beal and Johanna temporarily took residence in Ethan¡¯s vi. The two of them then discussed and made arrangements to take J back to Barnes, intending to publicly announce that she was their biological daughter. They were engaged in a heated discussion and didn¡¯t even think to ask Ethan for his opinion. Rather, they just ignored his presence. J looked at Ethan questioningly. ¡°You haven¡¯t talked much today.¡± Before, Ethan had made it clear that he wouldn¡¯t let her leave him. Ethan sighed helplessly. He smoothed J¡¯s hair and said gently, ¡°What can I do? You¡¯ve finally found your biological parents. I would never want to get in the way of that.¡± In fact, he had already made up his mind. He would let J go back to Barnes with her parents. The Larson Group could expand to Barnes so that Ethan could relocate there in the future. Anyway, J was his wife now. She would never leave him. J¡¯s face lit up and she smiled at Ethan sweetly. She pinched his cheek and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go to Barnes. Visit me often, okay?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Ethan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. He kissed the corner of her lips when Beal and Johanna were looking away and held her in his arms. ¡°I will, my dear wife.¡± Chapter 457 Chapter 457 That night, J went back to Barnes with her parents. Barnes was known as the capital of ancient culture. Unlike Seacisco which was a developed, urbanized city, Barnes carried with it a long history of cultural heritage. The White family¡¯s mansion sat quaintly in the middle of a ssical-style garden. The mansion was huge, and the stone sculptures nking the grand door gave a glimpse at just how rich and powerful the Whites were. ¡°Your grandfather lived in this house. I wanted us to move out before, but your father didn¡¯t agree. He¡¯s too sentimental.¡± Johanna noticed that J kept looking around the mansion with wide eyes, so she thought that J didn¡¯t like it. ¡°If you want to live in an apartment or a vi, we can move out.¡± N?velDrama.Org content rights. J waved her hand quickly. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯ve never lived in a ce like this before. I¡¯ve only ever seen it on TV. Now that I¡¯m actually standing in it, I just wanted to take a closer look at its details.¡± Johanna looked around the mansion alongside J and her expression softened. With a loving smile, she said gently, ¡°It will all be yours in the future. You¡¯ll have plenty of time to look around.¡± ¡°Mom, what on earth are you saying?¡± A sweet voice interrupted the conversation between J and Johanna. J turned in the direction of the voice. A woman in a pink floral dress and a pale grey sweater was standing in the yard. The woman¡¯s eyes and brows were somewhat simr to that of J¡¯s. They both looked smart and charming, but there was a hint of arrogance in the woman¡¯s eyes. Johanna frowned immediately when she saw the girl. ¡°L! You have to put on a coat whenever you leave the house! It¡¯s January now¡ªthe coldest time of the year!¡± L pouted and threw herself into Johanna¡¯s arms, acting very much like a spoiled child. ¡°Mom, I just wanted to see you sooner. The servant told me you were finally back, so I came as fast as I could. What have you and Dad been up to these days? I didn¡¯t see you at the office.¡± She peeked at J and asked curiously, ¡°Who¡¯s that? You never bring strangers home.¡± Johanna ced her hands on L¡¯s shoulders and pushed her away firmly. With a hardened expression, she said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk inside. Dad and I have to tell you something important.¡± L frowned. She obviously picked up on Johanna¡¯s indifference to her. Something was definitely off. She took a sidelong nce at J before nodding and following her mother inside the house. ******* ¡°What?! Impossible! Is this a prank? Mom, Dad, you can stop teasing me now.¡± Upon hearing the whole story, L immediately sprang out of her seat indignantly. She couldn¡¯t ept the cruel truth. In the span of mere minutes, she had be a child who was brought home by mistake instead of the esteemed daughter of the Whites she was a moment earlier. Johanna picked up the cup of tea on the table and took a sip. She was afraid that L would me herself if she told her that her parents had switched the babies out on purpose, so she just said that it was all a big mistake. ¡°Tell me you¡¯re joking!¡± L¡¯s eyes suddenly brimmed with tears. Her carefree life was aboute to an end. Beal and Johanna felt bad when they saw that L was about to cry. Pretending to be rxed, Beal walked up to L and patted her shoulderfortingly. ¡°L, we only told you this because we think you deserve to know the truth. We won¡¯t interfere with your choice. If you want to remain our daughter, you can stay as our adopted daughter. J was lost to us for too long. We have to take her back into our family.¡± L gritted her teeth, looked at Beal angrily, and spat, ¡°If you really cared about me, you wouldn¡¯t have told me the truth.¡± Without waiting for a response, she stumbled and turned around to storm off. Suddenly, her eyes met J¡¯s. This woman had stolen her parents. After giving J a hard look, L ran to her room. The minute she was gone, Beal and Johanna sighed. They knew that the truth would hurt L, but they had no choice. J was a little worried about her new sister. ¡°We should go to her. What if she go to extremes?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. L just needs time to ept the truth. Just leave her alone for now.¡± Johanna waved her hand dismissively. She knew L well. Their priority now was to announce to the public that J was their long-lost biological daughter. Chapter 458 Chapter 458 ¡°I¡¯ve asked a maid to prepare your room. You can use this one for the time being.¡± Johanna personally escorted J to her designated room. The decoration was quaint and a little old-fashioned, but there were many plush dolls in it, which gave the room a strange and funny vibe. Looking at all the plushies, Johanna smiled awkwardly, ¡°I didn¡¯t know what you¡¯d like, so I ended up buying all these dolls¡­¡± In Johanna¡¯s mind, J was the baby she had lost all those years ago. They were practically strangers to each other now. J looked at the dolls and chuckled softly. ¡°I¡¯ve never had so many toys before. Thank you, Mrs. White.¡± For now, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to call Johanna ¡°Mom¡± yet. Seeing that J didn¡¯t seem to have a problem with the room, Johanna breathed a sigh of relief and smiled happily. ¡°I won¡¯t force you. Just take your time. Well, you just stay here and make yourself comfortable. Your father and I have discussed, and we have decided to hold a big party for the announcement as soon as possible.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no rush¡­¡± J said falteringly, trying to stop Johanna. She wasn¡¯t used to her new status as the daughter of the White family, but Johanna and Beal couldn¡¯t wait to tell the world. Noticing the embarrassment on J¡¯s face, Johanna reached for her hand and said sincerely, ¡°You are our daughter. You¡¯ll have to get used to it one day. Your father and I were talking and¡­ We were hoping to have your surname changed. Since the Lind family has nothing to do with you now, you don¡¯t have to keep their surname anymore.¡± J nodded. She didn¡¯t care about the Lind family name anyway now that she married to Ethan. All of Barnes¡¯s upper ss was in an uproar the next morning. The White family had just announced that their daughter, who had been missing for over twenty years, was finally found. Johanna revealed J¡¯s identity to the public and changed thetter¡¯s surname to White. The White family invited all the celebrities and influential people in Barnes to their dinner party. That night, they all gathered in the White Cloud Club. The security of this banquet was strict, and Johanna specially ordered that no stray entertainment reporter was allowed inside. Those kinds of reporters tended to cover nonsense. She didn¡¯t want her daughter to be scrutinized on the Inte, so she took all the necessary precautions to avoid it. It was the first time J had attended such a grand party. And she was under the spotlight. Johanna introduced her to many esteemed guests. Throughout the entire night, J heard countless names. ¡°Is it tiring?¡± Seeing the exhausted look on J¡¯s face, Beal gave her a slice of cake, feeling sorry for her. Over the past few days, Johanna had taken up all of J¡¯s time. Beal felt a little sad that he hadn¡¯t had a good talk with his daughter yet. J subtly rubbed her aching ankles. She was wearing a pair of 3-inch heels tonight. She forced a smile and said, ¡°I am fine. Mr. White, your wife is awesome. She¡¯s still so energetic even after chatting with all these rich people.¡± Beal looked at the energetic Johanna in the distance and smiled. ¡°Let me tell you a secret. Your mother actually hates those richdies and often speaks ill of them. The only reason why she still talks to them is to keep up with thetest gossip.¡± J couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Beal held a finger to his lips and winked at her. ¡°Don¡¯t tell her I told you her little secret, or else she¡¯ll kick me out of the bedroom tonight.¡± J nodded and promised him solemnly. She suddenly envied L. Growing up in such a loving family, she probably had a very happy childhood and youth. Beal had only chatted with J for a few minutes before he was surrounded again by many guests. J didn¡¯t want to disturb their talk, so she retreated to the yard. She took this opportunity to call Ethan. ¡°Guess who¡¯s calling?¡± J said sweetly. ¡°Let me guess. It¡¯s my wife, isn¡¯t it? It¡¯s been a whole day since youst talked to me. I thought you were too busy having a good time in Barnes and forgot all about me,¡± Ethan said in a pouty voice. He sounded almost resentful. J chuckled helplessly. ¡°Ethan, you¡¯re so childish.¡± She exined, ¡°I¡¯ve been so busy at the banquet. People have been taking my photo all day long. I really didn¡¯t have the time, honey.¡± Being called ¡°honey¡± instantly dispelled the gloom in Ethan¡¯s heart. He sighed and secretly scolded himself for being so soft. ¡°Okay. I forgive you. When are youing back? I miss you.¡± J blushed slightly, feeling warm in her heart. ¡°I left yesterday. It¡¯s only been a day, Ethan.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Before Ethan could say anything, J heard her name being called. ¡°J? What¡¯re you doing here? The party¡¯s far from over.¡± Johanna noticed that J wasn¡¯t in the hall so she went out to look for her. J quickly said goodbye to Ethan and then hung up the phone. Johanna dragged her back to the party. Because both Johanna and Beal felt guilty for the lost time, they wanted to make it up to J in one go. They spent every waking minute with J, buying her all kinds of things. Johanna in particr was very excited. She would take J out to go shopping, and always end up buying all the things sheid her eyes on. Their shopping spree was all very exhausting for J. J¡¯s parents were so immersed in the excitement of getting their real daughter back that they completely forgot about L, who had locked herself in her room sulkily. Chapter 459 Chapter 459 L leaned against the door, trying to listen in. Hearing the raucousughter downstairs, she grew even angrier. She threw herself on the bed and tears fell out of her eyes again. In the past two days, there had already been a lot of news about J. Some news outlets evenpared her with J. There was gossip saying that she was not as beautiful as J. Some even used her of stealing J¡¯s life. ¡°Why me?¡± More tears streamed down L¡¯s face. She threw her phone onto the ground, her eyes wide open and furious. She wanted nothing else but to grab hold of J¡¯s neck and strangle her. A few days ago, she was still the only daughter of the rich and powerful White family in Barnes, but now she suddenly had turned into some sort of imposter. L couldn¡¯t wrap her mind around it. She was extremely unwilling to ept it. She even began to believe that what Johanna and Beal did was extremely unfair to her. They announced to the world that J was their biological daughter. Obviously, this was a huge insult to her. L¡¯s phone then rang. It happened to be a call from one of her best friends. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Who¡¯s that J girl? Why did you suddenly be your family¡¯s adopted daughter?¡± L had a splitting headache and shouted angrily at the phone, ¡°Stop yammering about J! Just hearing her name makes me very angry!¡± ¡°So the matter¡¯s true. Where are you right now? Are you at the White¡¯s house, or your biological parents¡¯ home?¡± It seemed like her best friend only cared about L¡¯s status. L almost became crazy. She learned straight from Johanna that her biological parents were just ordinary people. She had been treated well by the White couple for so many years. It was impossible for her to go back to her real parents and live a hard life! ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. My dad and mom said that I¡¯m very much still their daughter.¡± L smiled awkwardly and lied through her teeth. She knew clearly that even if she stayed in the White family shamelessly, she would only be an adopted daughter. She was no longer the legitimate daughter of the White family and staying due to that would be very embarrassing indeed. ording to the sounds downstairs these days, she figured out that Beal and Johanna treated J very well. Her best friend tried telling her words offort over the phone. ¡°That¡¯s really great. Your parents must be tolerant of you.¡± Are they? If they were really tolerant, they wouldn¡¯t have taken J back and let J take away everything that was truly hers. Thinking about this, L felt that it was extremely unfair to her. She resented that God was unfair toward her. At first, He gave her the identity of the daughter of a rich family that everyone envied, but suddenly took it all back. She hung up the phone with a downcast expression on her face and cried for several days in her room. She cried at night deliberately. The noise of the party downstairs in the daytime was so loud that even if she cried aloud, nobody would be able to hear her. N?velDrama.Org content rights. However, though she had been crying for a few days straight, no one came to see her except the servants who came to deliver her something to eat every day. L had a feeling that if she did nothing but cry, she would be forgotten by Beal and Johanna pretty soon. She finally calmed herself down and began to think about her next n of action. L would never go back to live a hard life with her biological parents. That was why she decided to stay with the White family. After all, she had a close rtionship with Beal and Johanna for over 20 years, which J didn¡¯t have. Furthermore, she had been well educated since she was a child, so she must be much better at her demeanor than J. She could still win Beal and Johanna¡¯s love back. It would only be a matter of time before they saw the light. Chapter 460 Chapter 460 After mulling everything over in her head, L finally left her room. This was the first time she had taken the initiative to go out of her room in thest few days. She headed down the stairs and could make out her parents watching a TV drama in the living room with J. L could see that Johanna was moved to tears by the scene in the TV drama. She was wiping her face as she held J. ¡°It¡¯s obvious that the heroine in this drama is so pitiful.¡± Jforted her with a warm smile on her face. ¡°This is just a TV show. It¡¯s all fake. This kind of thing never happens in real life.¡± Beal peeled the oranges for them as he said, ¡°Your mother happens to be a very sentimental woman. Whenever she sees a baby being taken away from their parents in a drama, she¡¯ll go on to cry hysterically.¡± Johanna ced a piece of orange into her mouth and red daggers at Beal. ¡°Stop blowing my cover in front of our daughter.¡± Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. The family was sharing a moment of intimacy right then. L felt that she was intruding on their moment. She endured the bitterness in her heart and went over calmly to them. Her eyes were red and swollen and her face was wet with tears. ¡°Mom, Dad, what TV drama are you watching? Your discussion of it is so intense.¡± Hearing the sound of her voice, Beal and Johanna turned their heads around. Seeing the pitiful look on L¡¯s face, they began to pity her. Johanna quickly pulled out two pieces of tissue from the table, got up, and made her way over to comfort L. ¡°If you¡¯re unhappy, just tell us. Don¡¯t keep it in your heart. No matter what happens in the end, we¡¯re still family.¡± At the start of all this, Johanna wanted to take the initiative tofort L. But after thinking it over for a while, she thought it would be better to let L digest the matter by herself. L was no longer a child anymore. She should be able to deal with it by herself. L nodded while tears streamed down her face at the same time. She embraced Johanna tightly and said, ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t want to leave you. Even though I now know I have my biological parents, I haven¡¯t seen them for over twenty years. We don¡¯t know each other and I don¡¯t want them back. I¡¯ve always regarded you as my biological parents. I¡¯m crying because I really don¡¯t want to leave you.¡± Beal got up and walked over to her. He patted L on the back and tried tofort her. ¡°Your mother and I never want you to leave us either. If you want to stay, then just continue to live with us. You¡¯re still our daughter no matter what.¡± He believed in his heart that L¡¯s biological parents were not good people. If she really went back to them, she wouldn¡¯t be able to live a good life in that kind of family. L peered up at them happily. She sniffled and turned to look at J with tears all over her face. ¡°Then we¡¯ll be sisters from now on, J.¡± J smiled and said, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s really great.¡± Johanna was happy to hear that now they were going to be one big happy family. She held J¡¯s hand and said affectionately to her, ¡°L was born a little earlier than you were. That means she¡¯ll be your elder sister from now on.¡± After pausing for a few seconds, J opened her mouth to say, ¡°All right.¡± L smiled and promised Johanna, ¡°Okay, Mom, I¡¯ll go on to take good care of J in the future.¡± At first, J thought that this was going to be a happy ending for them, but out of the corner of her eye, she found that the way L looked at her didn¡¯t seem to be as friendly as what she showed on the surface. However, J didn¡¯t say anything in front of Johanna. Thest thing she wanted to do was make her sad. Beal pushed his round-frame sses back on his nose and had a gentle smile on his face. He ced his arm around Johanna¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Well, it looks like our family is finally reunited.¡± Johanna turned to look at him, with tears glistening in her eyes. Finally, their family wasplete now. Chapter 461 Chapter 461 J had just returned to the White family home. Johanna didn¡¯t want her to go back to Seacisco so soon, so she vehemently insisted that J stay in Barnes. ¡°I¡¯m going back to thepany for work tomorrow. If you¡¯re bored, you can go shopping with L. She has many friends in Barnes. This is the supplementary card of my credit card. You can buy whatever you¡¯d like.¡± Before Johanna made her way to thepany, she gave a card to J to use as she pleased. ¡°Thank you but no, I can¡¯t ept this. You have bought me innumerable things.¡± J felt embarrassed to ept such a grand gesture. Johanna pressed the card into J¡¯s hand and hugged her again, feeling reluctant to leave. ¡°You¡¯re being too polite with me. Well, I really have to go now. I¡¯ll give you two the time to bond with each other today.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. L was positively green with the jealousy that consumed every fiber of her being. She had been longing for a supplementary card for as long as she could remember. However, no matter what methods she tried to employ, Johanna didn¡¯t agree to it. Now J had made little to no effort yet she was gifted the card. How could L not envy her? L had a catch-up date with her best friends to enjoy afternoon tea. She had no desire whatsoever to take J along with her. However, since Johanna had asked her specifically to do so, she had no choice but to let J tag along. The ce they patronized was a restaurant in a five-star hotel. The desserts of this hotel were well- known, which made it a popr ce for many wealthydies to spend their leisure time. ¡°L! You¡¯re finally here! Do you know how long have we been waiting for you?¡± As soon as L and J entered the restaurant, a woman in a sexy slip dress with leopard print pattern stood up and waved to beckon them over. L quickly walked over and kissed the woman on the cheeks. She smiled and asked, ¡°What made you stay abroad so long?¡± When the woman was about to speak, she saw J standing behind L. She raised her eyebrows and smiled, ¡°Who is this? Why don¡¯t you introduce her to us?¡± L took a nce at J. She walked behind her and introduced her to her best friends, ¡°This is my sister, J White. You must have heard of her in the newspapers.¡± Of course, these women knew full well who J was. They had read the news about her in the newspaper over and over again. L led J to their seats to sit down. The youngdies made conversations with J from time to time about some mind-numbingly boring topics. From these conversations, J could tell that these youngdies were all from rich families and had no ambition to strive to make progress. They lived afortable life and were waiting for their parents to arrange husbands for them in the future. As for L, she only took a swivel-chair job in White Group for formality purposes. As for whether she went to work or not, that was wholly up to her mood. L and her best friends kept talking about luxury, designer brands and entertainment. J couldn¡¯t get a word in edgeways, nor did she have an interest in joining their superficial chat. ¡°J, I heard that you came from Seacisco. It¡¯s one of the most developed cities in the country. Are there any interesting ces in particr in your opinion?¡± A short-haired woman suddenly changed the topic. However, before J could say anything, L cut in, ¡°J grew up in the Lind family in Seacisco. But my mother tells me that the Lind family is declining and that it can¡¯t even be considered a wealthy family any longer. Besides, J had been raised in the countryside by an old maid when she was young. Before she came here, she was an ordinary employee in apany. I don¡¯t think she knows much about Seacisco.¡± L¡¯s best friends were daughters of plutocrats. They all had studied abroad, so they naturally looked down upon J who came from a small town. After chatting for approximately ten minutes, they realized that J and they were not in the same social rank. They didn¡¯t talk to her anymore and deliberately alienated her from the rest of their conversation. J felt unbothered by their behavior. Originally, she didn¡¯t like to spend time with thesedies in any event. Since no one talked to her, she just sat quietly and enjoyed the tea and desserts. ¡°How about we go to the Hermes store? Just now, the saledy told me that the new bags I ordered thest time was finally here and avable now.¡± After the afternoon tea, these richdies got to their feet with the n to go to the shopping mall. J didn¡¯t move. She looked at the colorful macaroons on the table and said, ¡°The desserts here are simply scrumptious. I would like to spend more time here. I will pack some for Mrs. Whiteter.¡± L and her friends didn¡¯t want to take J with them in the first ce. Now that J requested to stay, it was just what they wanted and suited them absolutely perfectly. J spent the whole afternoon in the restaurant. When it was almost time for dinner, she went home with desserts packed up. After that, when L asked her to go shopping and have a meal with her friends, J refused her suggestion firmly. Johanna felt strange. When she came back home from work these days, she saw J staying at home and not going anywhere to socialize. On the other hand, L didn¡¯t return home until midnight. One day, when L came back from the bar, she bumped into Johanna who was in the kitchen to get herself some water. ¡°Why have youe home sote yet again? Where is J? Didn¡¯t you take her with you?¡± Upon hearing what Johanna said, L¡¯s eyes filled to the brim with tears and threatened to overflow. She nced at Johanna and said nothing. Johanna frowned slightly, ¡°L, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Mom, you made it sound like I am the one in the wrong. J is at home. I ask her to go out for fun with me, but she refuses every single time.¡± She spoke as if she had beenpletely wronged by her mother. She continued, ¡°Mom, I always have this gut feeling that J doesn¡¯t like me very much.¡± Chapter 462 Chapter 462 Johanna looked into L¡¯s eyes meaningfully. ¡°I could see that J was quite nice to you. Did you happen to misunderstand her?¡± L felt wronged right then. ¡°I have no idea what happened. My best friends and I went shopping together with her. We treated her very considerately. I don¡¯t know why that happened.¡± Johanna knew L very well. Though she was a little spoiled, with regard to morals, Johanna thought she and Beal had taught her a great deal. ¡°Well, it¡¯s gettingte, why not go upstairs and have a rest first? I¡¯ll deal with this matter.¡± Johanna didn¡¯t bother asking any more questions. She decided she would talk to J first. The next morning, when J woke up, the servants were preparing breakfast in the kitchen. In Seacisco, she had the habit of getting up early in the morning. Johanna returned to the house from a morning run outside. Sweat was pouring off her body. The habit of morning exercise gave her a perfect figure even though she was nearly fifty years old. ¡°Good morning, Mrs. White.¡± When J saw Johanna walk in, she nodded at her. Even though Johanna and Beal were her biological parents, J still felt a little awkward around them and could not make herself call them Mom and Dad for now. ¡°Mom¡± and ¡°Dad¡± were both unfamiliar and awkward phrases to her still. When she lived with the Lind family, she seldom called Bernie and Fiona Dad and Mom. Wiping the sweat off her forehead, Johanna was startled. ¡°I¡¯m not your boss, why are you still calling me ¡°Mrs. White¡±?¡± She then nced over at the empty table, covered her stomach with her hands, and winked at J. ¡°Breakfast has yet to be served. Why don¡¯t we go to the kitchen to check? You haven¡¯t had the chance to try my cooking, right? Just to let you know, I cook delicious eggs and bacon.¡± J nodded with a smile on her face, feeling a warmth flood through her heart. Like a little child, she followed Johanna into the kitchen. J watched as Johann cracked the eggs into the sizzling pan. Soon, the kitchen was filled with the aroma of fried eggs. Johanna then put the bacon in as she asked rather casually, ¡°Why did you stay in instead of going out with L to have some fun? You¡¯re not friends with anyone in Barnes. It¡¯s good for you to go out and forge new friendships.¡± The aroma of the bacon had a way of intoxicating J. But hearing Johanna¡¯s question, J knew that she couldn¡¯t tell Johanna directly that she didn¡¯t like L¡¯s friends. She simply smiled and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve been searching for jobs on the recruitment website recently. I¡¯ve grown used to working, so I want to continue focusing on my career. Also, I feel a little flustered when I¡¯m out with L the whole day.¡± In fact, J was telling Johanna the truth. She wasn¡¯t in the mood to hang out with L every day. She began working after graduation and had grown ustomed to it. If she suddenly stopped working, she would feel useless and abandoned by the world. Johanna turned off the stove and looked at J for a very long time. This daughter of hers was just like her. Johanna was relieved to hear what J said just now. Johanna herself was a powerful woman, but L was spoiled as a princess and couldn¡¯t bear to live a hard life. L happened to be average in ability and was not all that ambitious. They had long stopped expecting L to achieve anything in regard to a career. Anyway, there was no need for L to inherit the family business. They just wish her happy and healthy. Knowing now that J was so ambitious, Johanna was really happy to learn that. ¡°I know that you majored in fashion design and was working as a fashion designer in Seacisco before. I¡¯ve seen your work and found that you are indeed a very talented designer. If you need money or any connections, you can tell me at any time. Our family also has dealings in the fashion industry.¡± Johanna clutched J¡¯s hand tightly and patted it twice. ¡°You¡¯re really like me when I was younger.¡± ¡°Thank you. If I need anything, I¡¯ll tell you.¡± After that, J turned her attention back to the eggs and bacon in the pan. It just smelled so good. J didn¡¯t think too much about her conversation with Johanna. However, Johanna obviously did. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. She made up her mind to let her daughter establish a business in the fashion circle of Barnes, so that was what she was working on. Two dayster, Johanna received the news that a high-end party was going to be held in the fashion circle soon. She received the invitation and went to the party with J and L, hoping with all her heart that J could make a smashing debut within the fashion design circle of Barnes. Chapter 463 Chapter 463 When J saw the invitation Johanna had handed to her with her own eyes, she had no choice but to admit that her mother was indeed a decisive person. ¡°Mrs. White, to be honest, I haven¡¯t yet decided whether I¡¯ll be working in Barnes or not.¡± Holding the invitation in her hand, J didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry in response. After all, she had to take a lot of people into consideration, especially Hannah and Ethan. Johanna had her own master n. She secretly hoped that J would stay with her in Barnes for the rest of her life. Besides, the White family was wealthy enough to support J. However, judging by the reluctance on J¡¯s face, Johanna surmised that she must have been thinking about Brandon, the man in Seasisco. He was a good-looking fellow, but Johanna wasn¡¯t fond of him at all. ¡°I didn¡¯t say that you have to work in Barnes, but it would be good for you to expand your connections. Barnes may not be as fashionable as Seasisco, but it¡¯s a developed city with a healthy ecosystem of experienced designers to learn and gain knowledge from.¡± Johanna showed a gentle smile on her face. Unwilling to disappoint Johanna, J eventually agreed to attend the party. ******* At the party, J followed Johanna around the hall, meeting all the big shots from the fashion circles because she wasn¡¯t quite familiar with the designers in Barnes. ¡°This is Mr. Smith. He is the chief designer of the project of redefining women¡¯s clothing that has been popr all over the country recently.¡± Johanna was elegant and unhurried, while Jplimented her with her gracious and refined temperament. L was looking for an opportunity to humiliate J. Since she used to rub shoulders with Barnes¡¯ upper ss, L had several friends at this party. Mostly daughters from rich families who had graduated from famous design schools abroad. ¡°Mom, J has just graduated. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s too soon for her to talk with these experienced designers who have been in the fashion industry for decades?¡± L whispered to Johanna. L pretended to be concerned, but deep down inside, she was just waiting for J to make a fool of herself and getughed at by these famous designers. After all, in her opinion, J was just a novice, unworthy of public appreciation. Perhaps then Johanna woulde to regret bringing J to this party in the first ce. ¡°I trust her,¡± said Johanna calmly and firmly. L¡¯s heart sank almost immediately. After all, Johanna had never talked about her with such pride and certainty. That realization irked her even more. Mr. Smith, the renowned designer, was a very arrogant man who despised people who tried to win him over with tteries. If it weren¡¯t for Johanna, he wouldn¡¯t have spoken to J, but after spending a few minutes with her in conversation, he realized that J had a profound passion for designing. ¡°I remember seeing your work at Seasisco Fashion Week not too long ago.¡± ¡°I am honored and delighted to hear that. After all, I¡¯m just a neer with still so much to learn,¡± J answered in a natural manner. ¡°The smooth fabric was a good choice. It emted the fluidity of the wind, incisively and vividly.¡± Mr. Smith raised his eyebrows and clinked sses with J. Suddenly, all eyes were on Mr. Smith and J. As they became the focus of the party, everyone walked up to them and joined them in conversation. Meanwhile, standing in the corner with her fists clenched in anger, L watched in awe as she didn¡¯t expect things to work out so nicely for J. How could this be? How? It looked like J had all the famous designers, the chief editors of various fashion magazines, and the founders of brands eating from the palm of her hand. L gritted her teeth to stop herself from screaming. J was thriving amongst all the talented people around her and yet L couldn¡¯t even understand what they were talking about. With pride in her eyes, Johanna said, ¡°When I see J, I feel like I am looking at my younger self.¡± L felt bitter in her heart. It suddenly dawned upon her that she wasn¡¯t as good as J. Everything about her was superficial, but J had real ability and talent. J wasn¡¯t intimidated by all those big shots and was actually wise enough to control the whole conversation. J was a quiet woman who didn¡¯t talk much, but she could express her ideas brilliantly when it came to something she was good at. L was utterly disconste. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. She also noticed one more important detail. In the past, handsome men would flock to her since she was the daughter of the White family, but tonight, there wasn¡¯t a single man who came up to talk to her. Chapter 464 Chapter 464 Johanna was relieved in her heart to see that J and the other designers were getting along well. She said to J, ¡°I¡¯ll go say hi to Mrs. ke now.¡± L was ignored in the meantime. At this sort of fashion party, people usually chatted together in groups. At just a nce, L appeared to be isted and she looked a little embarrassed. Everyone walked past her and proceeded to ignore her. After all, the White family announced that J was their biological daughter, which immediately turned L into a joke. With a ss of wine clutched in her hand, L sat there rather awkwardly. She used to be popr at all the parties, but now, she was sitting alone on a bench. As she sat there, she caught sight of a familiar man. Levi Glyn had been one of her craziest admirers. The Glyn family started from scratch, engaging in the real estate business. Originally, L looked down upon them, but no one was willing to talk to her right then. And she didn¡¯t want to be made into a joke here. With a ss of wine in her hand, L made her way up to Levi with a smile on her face and said, ¡°Levi, what a nice surprise to see you here. I thought you didn¡¯t like such parties.¡± If this was in the past, Levi would have felt overjoyed that she wanted to talk to him. However, hearing her words now, Levi turned around and said in an indifferent voice, ¡°My dad asked me toe here. He said Mrs. White would show up today.¡± L smiled and said, ¡°Yeah, my mom likes these sorts of events. She usually has a lot of time on her hands.¡± Hearing her words, Levi only gave her a perfunctory answer. He simply took a sip of the red wine in his ss and turned his head to check out J. ¡°Enjoy yourself. I¡¯ll go talk with them now. Please excuse me.¡± After having said that, Levi made his way toward J. L was startled, to say the least. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. After that, she could make out Levi enthusiastically introducing himself to J, ¡°Miss White, I¡¯m Levi Glyn, the eldest son of the Glyn family. It just so happens that we live in the same neighborhood. I heard that it¡¯s your first time in Barnes. If you¡¯re feeling bored and want to hang out, you can call me at any time. I¡¯m very familiar with the city.¡± Levi wore the same warm smile he used to give L once. L¡¯s heart sank in her chest. She figured that he changed his attitude toward her because she was no longer known as the daughter of the White family. Everyone who had originally wanted to fawn over her had turned to J. L trembled so hard that she almost couldn¡¯t hold her ss. This was the first time that she had experienced just how snobbish people could be. At the same time, she was feeling very resentful toward J. She bit her lip so hard that it bled. All this should¡¯ve belonged to her, but now, it had all been taken away by that J! While she was burying herself in hatred, J was talking happily with all the designers and celebrities. In less than ten minutes, a lot of people were gathered around J, who didn¡¯t even seem to notice it herself. They all looked at her with ttering smiles on their faces. ¡°Miss White, if you need cloth for any of your designs, mypany can provide them for you at any time,¡± a clothing supplier said right away when he heard that J was a fashion designer. The CEO of a clothing designpany said to her, ¡°Mypany has the very best pattern makers in the world. Miss White, you can borrow them at any time.¡± J knew that this was all because she was now known as the biological daughter of the White family. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll contact you if I need anything,¡± J answered with a pleasant smile. Suddenly, a scream sounded out from the crowd, ¡°Look over there! He¡¯s here!¡± Everyone looked over to where that person was pointing at, including J. The door of the banquet hall was opened from the inside by the staff members. The light was a bit dim, but the man who had just walked in appeared very eye-catching. Everyone couldn¡¯t resist but fix their eyes on him. The man, who was wearing a ck suit, looked both elegant and handsome at the same time. A faint mole could be seen on the bridge of his nose and he had charming eyes with the slightest hint of indifference in them. Chapter 465 Chapter 465 ¡°Oh, my God! Did he actually, seriouslye back?¡± ¡°I thought an international designer of his standing would usually live abroad. Thest thing I expected was that he woulde back to Barnes.¡± J had only seen the man everyone was talking about on the cover of fashion magazines and in news articles before. Like everyone around her, she was very familiar with this highly famous figure. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Draco Wesley. He was one of the most influential fashion designers in the entire world. He was a genius when it came to the art of design. His name had been famous for many years now. Practically everyone had more or less heard of him. He represented the glory of being a sessful designer. When J was in high school, she had read an interview he had given. He pursued fashion design as if it was the light of his life and had never given up on it. At that time, he was still a young man in his twenties. His eyes glowed with sheer ambition and certainty whenever he talked about design. J peered at him and found that the years had given him a gentler and calmer aura than he had when he was a young man. He looked much more mature andposed now. In just six years, her idol had be the titan of the fashion industry, a force to be reckoned with. At the age of thirty-two, he had his own fashion brand, W Marks. He had achieved so much in fashion design. In addition to being famous in the fashion industry, he was born into a rich family, and he was handsome and charming. He undoubtedly yed the role of Prince Charming in innumerable women¡¯s fantasies. J covered her mouth. She had looked up at him for many years, and finally, she could meet him in person. She had trouble putting her mixed feelings into words now. ¡°Mr. Wesley!¡± All the women at the party swarmed around him, like bees flying around a beautiful flower. ¡°Mr. Wesley, can we still manage to obtain reservation for your new collections? I failed to make one, the items were too hot.¡± ¡°Mr. Wesley, can we take a picture with you?¡± Looking at the crowd with a gentle smile, Draco said, ¡°Of course.¡± J stood there, hesitated for just a moment and looked at Draco. It was a rare opportunity for her to meet him. She wanted to say hello to him and ask him some questions about design. Just when she was about to walk over, several women from the rich families who had had afternoon tea with her before, L¡¯s besties, pushed her unceremoniously away. ¡°Miss White, please get out of the way! Don¡¯t block our way!¡± ¡°There is plenty of room here,¡± J looked at them and said, absolutely disgruntled. ¡°I wasn¡¯t in your way.¡± A short-haired women pushed her aside and said impolitely, ¡°We were just kindly reminding you not to squeeze in. Mr. Wesley won¡¯t be attracted to ordinary women.¡± She added in a tone dripping with haughtiness, ¡°There are a lot of excellent women who admire him. You, of all people, don¡¯t stand a chance.¡± With a frown, J clenched her fists and said unhappily, ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to¡­¡± As soon as she spoke, Draco looked over and their eyes met. Suddenly, the light of the crystal chandelier seemed to be brighter. Draco¡¯s eyes lit up and a smile stretched across his handsome face. ¡°Sorry, everyone. Excuse me.¡± With an apologetic smile, he walked through the crowd and made a beeline towards J. Chapter 466 Chapter 466 Draco stood in front of J. He was much taller than she had expected, and had a rather affable expression, though it didn¡¯t make him any less manly. ¡°Excuse me, Miss. Are you J Lind, the designer who participated in the first show of Seacisco Fashion Week?¡± He had to duck his head slightly as he spoke to her, if only to avoid looking arrogant and self-important. He was so tall that J seemed petite beside him, despite her average height. She flushed at his question, both surprised and embarrassed. ¡°You¡¯re right, Mr. Wesley. But Lind is no longer myst name by now.¡± Draco¡¯s face broke into a smile, his eyes curving into tiny rainbows. ¡°I see. I finally get to meet you, Miss White. You¡¯re a lot cuter than I imagined.¡± ¡°What do you mean, Mr. Wesley?¡± J asked, visibly confused. ¡°You see, I paid close attention to your designs at the Seacisco Fashion Week. I really liked them, but for some reason, they were suddenly removed from the selection. I was abroad at the time, so I naturally had no idea what went down. A friend told meter that you were involved in a giarism scandal. How did it go, by the way? Has the matter been solved?¡± J tilted her head curiously. ¡°I wonder, Mr. Wesley, why aren¡¯t you asking me whether I did giarize another designer¡¯s work or not?¡± ¡°A giarized work will never be able to earn my appreciation in the first ce,¡± the man said firmly. ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± This time, J¡¯s surprise turned up a notch. Draco chuckled gleefully. ¡°How interesting you are, Miss White. I happen to have a very discerning eye. Besides that, I also have a phone, which allowed me to read about the press statement released by yourpany.¡± The two of them chatted amicably,pletely unaware that the people around them were staring. Draco was easy and pleasant to talk to. J felt the tension slowly leave her body. ¡°Ah, you look more rxed now,¡± Draco said with a smile, as if he had meant to ease her worries all along. ¡°Well, I¡¯m actually not used to this, socializing with the upper-ss elites, so I¡¯m sure my stress is justified,¡± J joked. ¡°Are you still working for Larson Group, then?¡± J shook her head. ¡°I quit because of some¡­ personal issues.¡± Draco immediately perked up. ¡°Have you taken a new offer elsewhere?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet, to be honest. A part of me wants to run my own studio, but I can¡¯t help but feel intimidated. I think I should continue as an employee for now and gain more experience. God knows I need it if I¡¯m to thrive in the industry.¡± J sighed wistfully just as the warm, soft light fell on her delicate face. It lent her an innocent and youthful glow. Draco didn¡¯t hesitate to put his offer on the table. ¡°How about joining my studio? You can work as my assistant and get all the experience you need. You¡¯ll be free to leave once you think you¡¯re finally ready to set out on your own.¡± J gaped at him in disbelief. ¡°Mr. Wesley, I¡ªAre you kidding me right now?¡± Her head was buzzing from the sudden and ludicrous opportunity that fell on herp. Draco¡¯s studio was a much-coveted post for all young designers who wanted to make a name for themselves. J had never even dreamed of setting foot in that hallowed ce. ¡°Does it look like I¡¯m kidding?¡± Draco teased, though there was an unmistakable serious edge to his voice. J took a couple of seconds to process his words, and then she grinned. ¡°Not at all. I¡¯ll be more than happy to work for you. It¡¯s every designer¡¯s dream.¡± After hearing her exmation, the young socialites nearby red at J in shock and envy. N?velDrama.Org content rights. ¡°Great! How about starting next week?¡± Draco was already taking out his business card and handed it to J. She was over the moon. Having no reason to refuse this once-in-a-lifetime chance, Jane nodded and promised to be at his studio the following week. Johanna saw it all unfold from the sidelines. She walked up to J as soon as Draco left and whispered, ¡°Lucky you! It¡¯s a good thing to be in Mr. Wesley¡¯s good graces. You¡¯re definitely headed for a bright future.¡± But there was another side to Johanna¡¯s tion over J¡¯s promising prospect. After all, if J worked for Draco, then she wouldn¡¯t being back to Seacisco any time soon. L felt conflicted as she watched Johanna and J whispering and giggling among themselves. Although Johanna didn¡¯t express any dissatisfaction toward her, the woman was obviously very proud of J. And L had to admit that J was truly brilliant, more so than herself. Chapter 467 Chapter 467 J was still in high spirits long after she had arrived home. Shey in bed and stared at Draco¡¯s business card, turning it over and over between her fingers. Then, out of the blue, Ethan¡¯s glum face shed in her mind. It suddenly urred to her that she had been too busy recently to go on video calls with her dear husband. J wasted no time remedying that. As soon as the video call connected, Ethan¡¯s scowling face appeared on her screen. ¡°Have you finally remembered that you left your husband here in Seacisco?¡± heined. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, honey,¡± J immediately apologized. ¡°My mom has been taking me to parties and getting me to meet the local socialites. I get so tired that I pass out as soon as Ie home.¡± Ethan snorted at that and rolled his eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t think about how I would feel, do you? You don¡¯t care about me at all.¡± It looked like he was bing a very clingy and needy husband. J had no choice but to cajole him with everything she got. She even talked sweet nothings to him for several consecutive minutes, until she finally noticed the corners of his lips twitching. ¡°By the way, I have some good news.¡± She told him about Draco¡¯s job offer. And just like that, Ethan¡¯s face darkened all over again. This time, he looked even more sullen and cross. ¡°You¡­ Are you really nning to work for him?¡± He spoke through gritted teeth as he tried his best to rein in his jealousy. J¡¯s parents had spirited her away with no regard for Ethan¡¯s opinion, and he was still mad about it. In addition, he was all too familiar with Draco, what with the man being a reputable icon in the fashion industry. Ethan had also seen photos of Draco before. Thetter did have a pretty face, though Ethan thought he looked rather effeminate. While it would do wonders for J¡¯s career to work at Draco¡¯s studio, it certainly wouldn¡¯t do her bereaved husband any good. ¡°Mr. Wesley is a genius in design. I look forward to learning a lot from him.¡± J¡¯s voice had instinctively turned an octave deeper in the face of Ethan¡¯s displeasure. In the end, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. ¡°I won¡¯t stop you from achieving your dreams, but¡­ It¡¯s just that, we¡¯ve only just been married, and you¡¯re already making ns to live apart from me. For how long are you going to leave your husband all alone?¡± J gave him a tight and apologetic smile. ¡°For now, it looks like I¡¯ll have to stay in Barnes for a while. Why don¡¯t youe over, honey?¡± ******* And so, Ethan dropped all his work and flew straight to Barnes. He yearned for his wife so much that he could barely hold himself together. He was starved of her, both physically and emotionally, and he feared that if they stayed apart any longer, someone might snatch her away from him. Early the next morning, J woke up to a call from Ethan. ¡°I¡¯m at the door.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only six o¡¯clock,¡± J yawned. ¡°You¡¯re way too early, honey.¡± She stretched and got dressed, and then hurried over to open the door. Ethan found himself frozen in ce when their eyes finally met. He had been missing that bright, loving gaze day and night. J yawned again and ran a hand over her face. Clearly, she was still sleepy. ¡°It¡¯s still dark outside,¡± she muttered, smacking his chest yfully. ¡°Why are you here at this godforsaken hour?¡± Ethan blinked at her in disbelief. ¡°Do you even know how long it¡¯s been since we¡¯ve seen each other in the flesh?¡± he grumbled. He looked deted and angry at the same time. J thought it was cute. She hooked her arm around his and smiled up at him. ¡°Of course, I remember. It¡¯s almost been a week. I missed you so much, honey.¡± For sure, Ethan also missed her like crazy. But he was a mature professional who always remained unppable even in the worst circumstances. He had no business losing hisposure so easily. Ethan calmed himself before asking in a nonchnt voice, ¡°Really? I don¡¯t feel it at all.¡± With a knowing smile, J pulled at his tie and stood on tiptoe to nt a kiss on the corner of his lips. ¡°What about now?¡± Ethan sighed to keep himself from grinning like an idiot. ¡°Nope.¡± J pinched his cheek. ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck, Mr. Lester.¡± He chuckled as his hands slowly went around her waist. Ethan leaned close, and the next thing J knew, he was pressing her against the door and ravaging her mouth. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Ahem!¡± There suddenly came a loud cough, interrupting their passionate embrace. J pulled away from Ethan away and looked behind him. Beal and Johanna stood there, staring at them with unreadable expressions on their faces. Chapter 468 Chapter 468 With a slight blush of her cheeks, J cupped her face and murmured, ¡°Mom, Dad, it¡¯s¡­¡± These days, she eventually grew ustomed to calling Beal and Johanna Dad and Mom. As if nothing had gone down, Ethan turned around and greeted politely to them, ¡°Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. White.¡± What he really wanted to do was strangle himself. His actions earlier must have left a bad impression on Beal and Johanna. Furthermore, when they kissed just now, he even stuck his tongue in her mouth! Beal and Johanna didn¡¯t really like him to begin with. Their faces darkened when they witnessed how he kissed their daughter just now. ¡°You¡¯re in a public space.¡± Johanna looked at Ethan up and down with displeased eyes. J was such a sweet girl while he was a bad influence on her. N?velDrama.Org content rights. ¡°Well,e inside first so we can talk.¡± Johanna didn¡¯t look very happy, but she knew she couldn¡¯t let Ethan just wait out here. After they walked inside, Ethan proceeded to sit upright on the sofa. As soon as J walked into the house, Beal asked her toe into the kitchen with him to help him make breakfast. She kept looking in the direction of the living room. ¡°Stop looking. Your mother will do her best to not give him a hard time.¡± Beal washed the vegetables and smiled gently at his daughter. J bowed her head down and said guiltily, ¡°I wasn¡¯t really looking.¡± Inside the living room. Johanna said in an aggressive voice, ¡°We just found our daughter who has been missing for the past twenty some years. We want her to stay with us for a while longer to bond as a family. What do you think about that?¡± ¡°Of course, I can understand,¡± said Ethan with a smile on his face. At this time, L was yawning as she headed down the stairs. She nced at the man, who was sitting downstairs in the living room. Her heart seemed to be hit by something huge and it seemed to have stopped beating for a few seconds there. Her face turned red unconsciously. She had seen J and Brandon¡¯s wedding on TV before and she didn¡¯t feel anything back then. She admitted that Brandon was indeed a very handsome man, but at that time, she was still the daughter of the White family. She didn¡¯t feel inferior to him during that time. She had originally thought that her future husband would be someone equally as excellent as Brandon, or someone even more excellent than him. But L was very clear now that with her current situation, there was no way someone like Brandon would want to marry someone like her. J used to be a nobody. How in the world did she manage to marry such a rich and handsome man? Why was she so fortunate? L didn¡¯t dare to show her emotions on her face. She forced a smile and headed down the stairs. ¡°Mom, why are you up so early?¡± ¡°I just went grocery shopping with your father this morning. The help asked for a day off today. Your father said he would cook for today. He¡¯s in the kitchen with your sister right now.¡± Johanna simply sipped on her tea and answered without even bothering to look at L. L had a smile on her face and didn¡¯t say a word. Even though she was talking to Johanna just now, she had her eyes fixed on Brandon. He really was handsome. Even in the suit, she could feel that he must have a good body. When she looked into his eyes, she was captivated by him. He looked just like a king. Sure enough, people would usually only fall for the things that were unobtainable to them. With envy in her eyes, L nced over at J, who was busy cooking in the kitchen. She wasn¡¯t really outstandingly beautiful, so how could shend someone like Brandon? The resentment in her heart was growing stronger and stronger and she was no longer in the mood to look at Brandon anymore. She clenched her teeth tightly and made her way into the kitchen. ¡°Dad, let me help as well.¡± ******* Ethan was going to stay at the White family house and nned to head back on Sunday night. After breakfast was over, J took Ethan to see her bedroom. As soon as she walked into the room, she felt someone holding her waist from behind. Ethan proceeded to hold her waist with one hand and lock the door with the other. He then threw her on the bed. With an unnatural flush of her cheeks, J pushed him away and said, ¡°It¡¯s daytime and my parents are downstairs right now.¡± What was he thinking? He had acted like a well-mannered gentleman in front of Johanna just now while everyone was downstairs. And now he turned into a savage beast! The two of them were in such close proximity to each other that they could feel the other¡¯s body temperature. Ethan¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed in his throat and he felt his body growing hotter and hotter. He ced his hands into J¡¯s jeans and could feel her delicate skin underneath them. He took off his light gray wool shirt and showed off his muscles. His eyes darkened visibly. He rubbed his cheek against J¡¯s own and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to do it?¡± They hadn¡¯t had sex for an entire week. Ethan really missed her a great deal. J¡¯s legs were mped tightly shut. Underneath her underwear, she was all wet. She nced over at the closed door and paused for a few seconds. After that, she lifted her hand and poked Ethan¡¯s muscles. ¡°You have to keep quiet. I don¡¯t want my mom to hear us.¡± Ethan kissed her on the cheek and caressed her breasts. His voice grew hoarser with lust. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. I have no objection with that.¡± Chapter 469 Chapter 469 Ethan pushed the crotch of her panties to the side and slid his fingers into her folds, rubbing and stroking her soft flesh. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. J bit her lips, but that didn¡¯t stop a long moan from escaping. Her waist lifted involuntarily from the bed, even as she clutched the covers beneath her. ¡°Good girl,¡± Ethan rasped and pressed two wet kisses on her cheek. He pulled back and straightened before unzipping his trousers and discarding them to the floor. Then, he hooked his fingers on the waistband of both her jeans and underwear and pulled them off her in one swift motion. J shivered from the cold, but Ethan was immediately above her, pressing his hard member against her slick wetness. He rubbed against her until she was dripping down to her thighs; then he slowly pushed inside. She was so tight that he had to pause and take a deep breath to keep himself from losing control. A faint stabbing pain apanied Ethan¡¯s thickness as it entered her. J had the vague feeling of being stretched apart, and she couldn¡¯t help but gasp at the sensation. Ethan grabbed her by the calves and braced himself before burying his entire length into her. ¡°Ah! Ethan¡­¡± Tears welled up in J¡¯s eyes, while Ethan groaned in ecstasy. She could feel him throbbing inside her, as well as his pulse travel from where they were connected to every inch of her body. Ethan hiked her legs up and wrapped them around his waist, then he leaned close and captured both of her wrists with one hand, pinning them over her head. His other hand cupped J¡¯s jaw, prompting her lips to part for a deep, hot kiss. He ravaged her mouth until he felt her rx and loosen around him. Only then did he start moving, pulling backward and plunging back in. She seemed to grow tighter with each thrust¡ªor maybe it was he who was growingrger¡ªbut he kept thrusting, and she kept swallowing him up. Ethan¡¯s cock glistened in the dim light of the room. As he picked up his pace, theirbined fluids slid down her tender flesh and soaked the sheets. J¡¯s back arched upward. Ethan kept pounding into her, his face pressed against the shell of her ear, his short, hoarse grunts filling the air. He pulled back a little to release her wrists. She immediately wound her arms around his neck, leaving a trail of red fingerprints on his broad shoulder as she held on for dear life. With his hands now free, Ethan cupped her breasts and squeezed. He yed with her nipples with his thumbs, alternating between flicking them and rubbing them inzy circles. ¡°Oh¡­¡± J gasped. They became a panting, writhing mass of intertwined limbs. The air above them soon became thick and heavy with their mingled breaths. J felt trapped in a never-ending web of pleasure, though she wasn¡¯t entirely sure she wanted to escape it. Her head fell to the side as another wave of raw bliss washed over her, and her gaze fell on the window. Spring was almost upon them. Outside, small, delicate buds were appearing on the withered trees. A few birds were perched on the branches, eager for the warm season to begin. J briefly wondered if they were sparrows or swallows¡­ She couldn¡¯t tell from this distance. But before she could mull it over further, Ethan took her chin again and turned her toward him for another torrid kiss. His fingers syed out on the width of her neck as the rocking of their bodies grew more urgent. J trembled at the force of it all, and Ethan chose that moment to put his palm on her lower abdomen, just below her navel. The next time he thrust into her, he simultaneously pressed down, causing her to clench even more tightly around him. ¡°Ah! Don¡¯t¡­ Ethan¡­¡± The next thing J knew, ripples of pleasure took over her body, wringing a scream out of her mouth. She felt herself burst into a million little pieces before falling back to the ground. She copsed against the pillows, quivering and spent. She might have passed out for a second there, but J didn¡¯t really care. Ethan thrust into her one last time, shooting his hot semen inside her with a throaty, drawn-out growl. J¡¯s eyes fluttered open and met his wild gaze. His lust was nowhere near ked, and it showed in his face. She opened her mouth to say something, but hisrge hand came over her eyes and forced them closed. He shifted their legs in a different position, then proceeded with another round of his passionate onught. Chapter 470 Chapter 470 By the time J woke up again, it was already the next day. When she went downstairs, Johanna immediately rushed to her side, worry written all over her face. ¡°I heard that you didn¡¯te downstairs for lunch and dinner yesterday. Are you not feeling well?¡± Johanna and Beal had gone to work after breakfast yesterday, so the servants must¡¯ve informed them. Indeed, J didn¡¯t feel well¡ªbetween her legs. Her eyes flitted to the man who was sitting on the sofa as though nothing had happened. Sighing subtly, she put on a smile and exined, ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mom. I just get drowsy this time of year.¡± ¡°Drowsiness is not a good thing. I¡¯ll take you to the hospital this afternoon.¡± Johanna frowned worriedly. J had just made a random excuse, but she didn¡¯t expect Johanna to take it so seriously. N?velDrama.Org content rights. Just then, Ethan stood up from the sofa and grabbed her arm. ¡°Mrs. White, we¡¯re nning to watch a movie this afternoon. J¡¯s a fan of the leading actress in it.¡± At first, Johanna wanted to talk them out of it, but on second thought, she let them go. Pursing her lips unhappily, she snapped at Ethan, ¡°Fine. Take good care of her.¡± It seemed like she really wasn¡¯t fond of her daughter¡¯s husband. ******* In fact, J wasn¡¯t nning to watch a movie. Ethan had juste up with an excuse on the fly. But when they walked up to the cinema, a poster of a thriller film caught her eye. The poster looked very dreamy, full of artistic direction. She had heard about the movie on social media before. When she watched the trailer on the screen outside the cinema, she was even more intrigued. ¡°We¡¯re already here, so we might as well watch a movie,¡± J suggested, linking her arm in Ethan¡¯s. Ethan nced at the poster she was staring at and whispered, ¡°I have a private cinema in my vi in Barnes.¡± In his vi, they could do whatever they wanted. The mere thought made Ethan swallow. However, J didn¡¯t seem to get what he meant. She dragged him into the cinema stubbornly and said, ¡°But I like watching movies with other people!¡± Ethan couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. Fortunately, this was a thriller, and there were very few guests in the cinema. With a tub of popcorn and a cup of coke in his arms, Ethan sat in the back row with J. J had her eyes glued to the screen attentively whereas Ethan¡¯s mind was elsewhere. He put his hand on her thigh and stroked it gently. Today, J was wearing a gray knitted dress and a ck silk stockings. At this moment, he just wonted to teor the stockings oport ond rip them off. Feeling o slight tickle on her thigh, J glonced ot him ond whispered, ¡°We¡¯re wotching o movie. Get your hond off of me.¡± Ethon turned o deof eor to her words. At the climox of the movie, the hero ond the heroine begon to kiss possionotely on the big screen. Ethon reoched for J¡¯s hond expectontly, woiting for o kiss from her. Just os he wos obout to whisper something, there wos o slight sound thote from the ceiling of the cinemo. It sounded like something wos loosened. Ethon roised his heod vigilontly. Sure enough, the ceiling obove them storted to shoke violently, cousing the lomps to swoy dongerously from side to side. ¡°J, wotch out!¡± Ethon quickly pulled J out of her seot ond they both loy low on the oisle. Gritting his teeth, Ethon flung his body on top of hers to protect her from under him. With o gut-wrenching bong, the ceiling of the cinemo collopsed, ond everything oround them suddenly fell into dorkness. At this moment, he just wanted to tear the stockings apart and rip them off. Feeling a slight tickle on her thigh, J nced at him and whispered, ¡°We¡¯re watching a movie. Get your hand off of me.¡± Ethan turned a deaf ear to her words. At the climax of the movie, the hero and the heroine began to kiss passionately on the big screen. Ethan reached for J¡¯s hand expectantly, waiting for a kiss from her. Just as he was about to whisper something, there was a slight sound that came from the ceiling of the cinema. It sounded like something was loosened. Ethan raised his head vigntly. Sure enough, the ceiling above them started to shake violently, causing themps to sway dangerously from side to side. ¡°J, watch out!¡± Ethan quickly pulled J out of her seat and they bothy low on the aisle. Gritting his teeth, Ethan flung his body on top of hers to protect her from under him. With a gut-wrenching bang, the ceiling of the cinema copsed, and everything around them suddenly fell into darkness. Chapter 471 Chapter 471 J didn¡¯t know what had happened. She was so engrossed in the movie that she didn¡¯t notice when the ceiling started to shake. The next thing she knew, she was lying t on the floor of the aisle underneath Ethan as the ceiling copsed. To her horror, something heavy fell on Ethan and she heard a loud noise. Then it was pure chaos. The room fell into darkness. She could hear people¡¯s screams and cries for help and Ethan¡¯s heavy breathing. ¡°Ethan, are you hurt?¡± she asked urgently. A faint smell of blood wafted in the air. J had no idea if it was Ethan¡¯s or someone else¡¯s. Having been hit just now, Ethan had rolled down the stairs. J¡¯s voice trembled as she fumbled for Ethan in the darkness. ¡°Ethan?¡± She knew that he must¡¯ve gotten hurt. She could hear his low, pained moans in the darkness. However, after a few deep breaths, it became deathly silent. J couldn¡¯t hear anything from the direction where Ethan was. J wanted to rush to his side, but a ceiling frame had inadvertently caged her. When she tried to stand up, her head hit the te, causing a flurry of concrete powder to fall all over J¡¯s face. ¡°Ahem!¡± She inhaled the powder and couldn¡¯t stop coughing. It was pitch ck and she could barely see her hand in front of her. As she tried to get a feel for her surroundings, J concluded that the copsed ceiling had fallen on top of the rows of seats, trapping them inside the aisle. ¡°Hello? Is anyone else there?¡± She shouted at the top of her lungs. Although there weren¡¯t many other people watching this movie, she recalled at least a dozen other movie-goers in the cinema. But now, it was eerily quiet. The cries for help just now had stopped. Perhaps the fallen ceiling had knocked them out. Without thinking too much, J continued to crawl ahead. ¡°Ouch!¡± Pain shot up from her knees. J winced and fumbled forward, trying to navigate with her palms. Finally, she touched something that felt like knitted fabric. It had to be the dark blue sweater that Ethan wore today. ¡°Ethan! Ethan, can you hear me?¡± J tapped him, but she received no response. He must have passed out. The smell of blood in the air was more intense now that she was near Ethan. When she reached out to touch his arm, her fingers sank into something sticky and warm. Her mind went nk. Suddenly, panic seized her. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down. Then she ced her hand under Ethan¡¯s nose to see if he was still breathing. After a few seconds, she sighed in relief. She could still feel a faint breathing from his nose. Next, J pressed her ear against Ethan¡¯s chest. She could hear his heart beating. He was alive! Gritting her teeth, J hastily wiped the blood on her knees with her hands. Then she retraced her steps back to her seat, hoping to find her phone and bag in the rubble. When the ceiling collopsed just now, the chondelier hod follen olong with it. Consequently, the floor wos covered in broken gloss. J tried her best to ovoid them. Now she only hoped her phone wosn¡¯t smoshed to bits. She hod been texting Johonno throughout the movie, so her phone wosn¡¯t inside her bog. J monoged to moke it bock to her seot. She fumbled oround in the dorkness, seorching for her phone. Finolly, she found it under o pile of dust. The screen hod been crocked, but the phone itself wos still functioning. She immediotely dioled 911. ¡°I¡¯m in Sherwood Cinemo ond the ceiling hos just collopsed. Pleose, we need your help.¡± After giving the 911 operotor oll the detoils, she colled the hospitol. Then, oll she could do wos woit. Seconds felt like minutes, ond minutes felt like hours. Suddenly, she heord the sound of folling stones. ¡°Help! Is there onyone here?¡± she shouted desperotely. Although there wos no response, soon she heord noises from outside. It sounded like somebody wos trying to dig o hole into the follen ceiling. Finolly! They were going to be soved! J wos optimistic. She never even considered thot digging through the rubble would toke o lot of time. Moreover, this wos the biggest cinemo in Seocisco. She woited onxiously. Severol hours possed. The sound of digging outside continued, but she could tell thot it wos still for owoy from where she wos. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. When the ceiling copsed just now, the chandelier had fallen along with it. Consequently, the floor was covered in broken ss. J tried her best to avoid them. Now she only hoped her phone wasn¡¯t smashed to bits. She had been texting Johanna throughout the movie, so her phone wasn¡¯t inside her bag. J managed to make it back to her seat. She fumbled around in the darkness, searching for her phone. Finally, she found it under a pile of dust. The screen had been cracked, but the phone itself was still functioning. She immediately dialed 911. ¡°I¡¯m in Sherwood Cinema and the ceiling has just copsed. Please, we need your help.¡± After giving the 911 operator all the details, she called the hospital. Then, all she could do was wait. Seconds felt like minutes, and minutes felt like hours. Suddenly, she heard the sound of falling stones. ¡°Help! Is there anyone here?¡± she shouted desperately. Although there was no response, soon she heard noises from outside. It sounded like somebody was trying to dig a hole into the fallen ceiling. Finally! They were going to be saved! J was optimistic. She never even considered that digging through the rubble would take a lot of time. Moreover, this was the biggest cinema in Seacisco. She waited anxiously. Several hours passed. The sound of digging outside continued, but she could tell that it was still far away from where she was. Chapter 472 Chapter 472 The air was thick with dust. J licked her chapped lips. It had been several hours since the ceiling copsed. She had turned off her cellphone to save its battery. She only turned it on to check the time asionally. Last she checked, it was already eight o¡¯clock in the evening. She and Ethan had arrived at the cinema at around two o¡¯clock. Six hours had passed. Her stomach kept grumbling, reminding her of how hungry she was. She was used to having meals on time, so naturally, she was quite hungry by now. The popcorn Ethan had bought was now mixed with dust and pieces of the ceiling. She picked out the clean popcorn and ate it to calm her angry stomach. The coke had also spilled. The brown liquid was all over the floor. ¡°There¡¯s a bit left!¡± Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. J¡¯s eyes lit up. She was lucky. There was a bit of coke left in the cup. Using the light from her phone, she crawled back to Ethan. There was a huge b of te on Ethan¡¯s body. One side of the b had pierced into his body. Blood trickled down along his body, forming a pool of blood on the ground. His wound was covered with dust and rubble. The space under the seat was too narrow, so J couldn¡¯t reach him. She wanted to check his wound, but she couldn¡¯t see it clearly. Fearing that Ethan would lose too much blood, J held his jaw and tried to pour the coke into his mouth. Ethan was unconscious. The coke she poured simply spilled out from the corner of his mouth. ¡°Honey, can you hear me? If you can, please drink¡­¡± J was choked with sobs. Tears rolled down her cheeks uncontrobly. Ethan¡¯s wound was still bleeding, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Ethan seemed to hear what J said. He frowned and struggled to peel his eyes open. He raised his hand slowly, wiped away J¡¯s tears, and said with difficulty, ¡°Don¡¯t cry.¡± When J saw that his eyes were open, she immediately pressed the cup of coke to his lips. ¡°I don¡¯t know when the rescue team wille. Honey, just hold on, okay?¡± A faint smile tugged at the corners of Ethan¡¯s lips. Only then did J notice how pale his lips were. She couldn¡¯t tell if he had heard what she said just now. Soon, he closed his eyes again. J sniffed, stroked Ethon¡¯s eyebrows, ond wiped the dust off his foce. Time possed. J didn¡¯t know when, but she hod follen osleep. She woke up to the sound of digging oround her. She glonced ot her phone. It wos olreody eorly morning of the next doy. Suddenly, o beom of light shot out in the dorkness. J hod to shield her eyes from the strong light. ¡°Miss, ore you okoy?¡± A rescuer osked wormly, reoching out his hond towords her with o floshlight. ¡°Pleose sove my husbond first. He¡¯s tropped down here.¡± Teors welled up in her eyes. She refused to let them sove her first. The rescue teom obliged. Severol men lifted the huge slob of slote off of Ethon¡¯s body. Only then did she see o deep gosh on Ethon¡¯s bock. It looked reolly bod. His torn clothes exposed the scor coused by the fire, ond now the new wound morred his skin. Covering her mouth, J looked owoy, o lump forming in her throot. His old wound heoled not long ogo, ond now there would probobly be o new scor. Thinking of this, J couldn¡¯t hold bock her teors onymore. J sniffed, stroked Ethan¡¯s eyebrows, and wiped the dust off his face. Time passed. J didn¡¯t know when, but she had fallen asleep. She woke up to the sound of digging around her. She nced at her phone. It was already early morning of the next day. Suddenly, a beam of light shot out in the darkness. J had to shield her eyes from the strong light. ¡°Miss, are you okay?¡± A rescuer asked warmly, reaching out his hand towards her with a shlight. ¡°Please save my husband first. He¡¯s trapped down here.¡± Tears welled up in her eyes. She refused to let them save her first. The rescue team obliged. Several men lifted the huge b of te off of Ethan¡¯s body. Only then did she see a deep gash on Ethan¡¯s back. It looked really bad. His torn clothes exposed the scar caused by the fire, and now the new wound marred his skin. Covering her mouth, J looked away, a lump forming in her throat. His old wound healed not long ago, and now there would probably be a new scar. Thinking of this, J couldn¡¯t hold back her tears anymore. Chapter 473 Chapter 473 The ambnce¡¯s siren echoed across the night, its red and blue lights shing. J sat in the back, holding Ethan¡¯s hand tightly. She wasn¡¯t badly injured, save for some small cuts and bruises on her knees. Ethan, on the other hand, had a serious wound on his back. It hadn¡¯t stopped bleeding, and he hadn¡¯t woken up yet. Beal and Johanna rushed to the hospital. ¡°Oh, my God! Are you okay, J?¡± As soon as Johanna heard that the cinema copsed, her heart practically stopped in her chest. It got worse when she couldn¡¯t get through to J. So it was a great relief when she saw her dear daughter safe and sound. Beal was also on the verge of breaking down. He looked J up and down carefully and wanted to have her examined twice. ¡°Have another MRI scanning maybe. What if you have internal injuries?¡± Johanna nodded in agreement. ¡°Your father¡¯s right. Let¡¯s have you checked again.¡± Tears welled up in J¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mom and Dad. It was Ethan who got badly injured. He hasn¡¯t woken up yet.¡± Just then, a nurse came in and put Ethan on an IV drip. Seeing that J¡¯s eyes were swollen from crying, she tried tofort her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Miss. The doctor said that this gentleman¡¯s wounds aren¡¯t as bad as they look. He¡¯ll be fine.¡± Hearing this, J calmed down a bit. ¡°Thank you. How¡¯re the others from the cinema?¡± The nurse checked the papers on her clipboard and sighed slightly. ¡°You two were the luckiest The copse caused heavy casualties. The ceiling fell right on top of your row, killing the two people sitting next to you. Everyone else was injured, some worse than others. If it weren¡¯t for your husband, you two would have been crushed in an instant.¡± Hearing thise from the nurse, Beal and Johanna exchanged nces. They finally knew that it was thanks to Ethan that J was alive. In the blink of an eye, Johanna¡¯s attitude toward Ethan changedpletely. Instead of being indifferent, she asked with great concern, ¡°When will he wake up?¡± The nurse smiled apologetically and shook her head. ¡°We can¡¯t say for sure. But don¡¯t worry. The doctor said he¡¯s fine, so he¡¯s not in any fatal danger.¡± At this time, the door to the ward swung open. With her bag in her hand, L rushed in with a worried expression. ¡°I heard that the cinema copsed. How¡¯s she? Is she okay?¡± Just as L was about to y the role of a caring sister in front of her parents, her eyesnded on the person lying in the bed. It was Ethan, not J. Beol looked up colmly ond replied, ¡°J¡¯s fine. Ethon soved her.¡± J glonced ot Lilo ond smiled before turning bock to look ofter Ethon. Lilo froze for two seconds before snopping bock to reolity. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so hoppy to heor thot J¡¯s fine. If onything hoppened to her, I don¡¯t think Mom ond Dod would¡¯ve been oble to cope with it.¡± As she spoke, Lilo opprooched Johonno timidly. ¡°I wos scored to deoth when you colled me. I immediotely concelled the porty with my friends ond rushed here.¡± Johonno took Lilo¡¯s hond ond smiled softly. ¡°It¡¯s good thot you core obout your sister. Sit down ond get some rest. You¡¯re out of breoth.¡± ¡°Nothing¡¯s more importont thon J¡¯s sofety,¡± Lilo soid sweetly, but deep in her heort, she wos o little disoppointed. When Lilo received the phone coll from Johonno, informing her thot J wos involved in on ident, ot the moment, o thought urred to her. Wouldn¡¯t it be greot if J died? Thot¡¯d moke her the only doughter of the White fomily ogoin, ond her life would be os good os it used to be. Beal looked up calmly and replied, ¡°J¡¯s fine. Ethan saved her.¡± J nced at L and smiled before turning back to look after Ethan. L froze for two seconds before snapping back to reality. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so happy to hear that J¡¯s fine. If anything happened to her, I don¡¯t think Mom and Dad would¡¯ve been able to cope with it.¡± As she spoke, L approached Johanna timidly. ¡°I was scared to death when you called me. I immediately cancelled the party with my friends and rushed here.¡± Johanna took L¡¯s hand and smiled softly. ¡°It¡¯s good that you care about your sister. Sit down and get some rest. You¡¯re out of breath.¡± ¡°Nothing¡¯s more important than J¡¯s safety,¡± L said sweetly, but deep in her heart, she was a little disappointed. When L received the phone call from Johanna, informing her that J was involved in an ident, at the moment, a thought urred to her. Wouldn¡¯t it be great if J died? N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. That¡¯d make her the only daughter of the White family again, and her life would be as good as it used to be Chapter 474 Chapter 474 Dazzling sunlight streamed in from the window. The ceiling was snow-white and spotless. The smell of disinfectant in the air was strong. ¡°I think he¡¯s awake!¡± Ethan heard Johanna¡¯s excited voice. Then, he heard Beal¡¯s voice. ¡°I¡¯ll call the doctor. When Jes back from getting breakfast, I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be really happy!¡± The doctor came minutester. He took out a small shlight and checked Ethan¡¯s pupils. ¡°He¡¯s awake, which means that he¡¯ll be fine. As for when he should be discharged from the hospital, it¡¯ll depend on the wound¡¯s rate of recovery.¡± After the doctor left, Johanna immediately approached Ethan¡¯s bedside and asked worriedly, ¡°How are you feeling? Are you in pain? If you feel any difort, I¡¯ll call our private doctor to check on you again.¡± Ethan couldn¡¯t believe his ears. Did he suffer from a head injury as well? Why did his mother-inw suddenly care about him? Before he could say anything, Beal handed him a ss of water. ¡°I bet you¡¯re thirsty. Here¡¯s some water.¡± Ethan eyed the ss of water suspiciously, wondering if it was poisoned. It wasn¡¯t impossible that this couple would scheme to get rid of him while J wasn¡¯t around¡­ ¡°Beal, you¡¯re scaring him.¡± Noticing the suspicion on Ethan¡¯s face, Johanna pulled her husband¡¯s hand away from Ethan. Then she cleared her throat and said, ¡°Thank you for saving our beloved daughter. In a way, it¡¯s like you saved the two of us. Now that we¡¯ve finally reunited with J, we¡¯d be destroyed if she was taken away from us.¡± Although Johanna still put on airs, Ethan could tell that she was being sincere. It seemed that they were really ready to ept their son-inw. Wondering if this was all an illusion, Ethan had to close his eyes and gather his bearings. He wouldn¡¯t rx until J came back. ¡°Dad, Mom,e and have some breakfast. I¡¯ll take care of¡­¡± With a tray of food in her hands, J walked in and looked at Ethan first even though she was talking to her parents. When she saw that he was awake, her eyes lit up and she broke into a huge grin. After Beal and Johanna left, Ethan narrowed his eyes suspiciously and mused, ¡°Your parents were so mean to me before. Why are they so kind to me all of a sudden?¡± J peeled the lid off of the take-out bowl, and the delicious aroma of chicken soup wafted in the air. ¡°When you were still unconscious, they found out that you had saved me. My mother looked at you under a new light. It was as if you were her own son,¡± J added in a half-joking tone. She scooped up a spoonful of soup, blew on it, and guided it to Ethan¡¯s lips. ¡°You were knocked out for a whole night. The doctor said that you must eat more to replenish your energy.¡± With his deep gaze fixed on J, Ethan¡¯s lips parted slightly to ept the spoonful of soup. Then he patted her thigh and said in a low voice, ¡°Totally worth it.¡± J chuckled ond shook her heod helplessly. ¡°You¡¯re hurt, so be coreful. My mother¡¯s right outside. If she sees you misbehove, she will get ongry ogoin. It wosn¡¯t eosy for you to eorn their fovor, ond you¡¯ll hove to keep eorning it.¡± Ethon coughed ond glonced ot the door to the word nervously. Then, he be serious. ¡°The ceiling of the cinemo wouldn¡¯t just collopse for no reoson. Did they releose on officiol stotement regording theContent is property ? N?velDrama.Org. incident?¡± J continued to feed him, but the light in her eyes dimmed slightly. ¡°The motter¡¯s still under investigotion. There¡¯s no conclusive results yet. Mom told me thot it wos newly built, so the ceiling couldn¡¯t hove collopsed unless there wos o mojor construction flow. So it¡¯s oll rother suspicious.¡± ¡°It wos no ident,¡± Ethon soid in o low voice, on imperceptible ruthlessness floshing in his eyes. Somebody hod coused the roof to collopse, just like how somebody hod storted the fire downstoirs their oportment before. The incident wos so serious thot it coused o sensotion. As long os Ethon investigoted it thoroughly, he would find out who wos behind this. In the following doys, Ethon stoyed in Bornes for his recuperotion. Meonwhile, he tosked Gorrett with the investigotion of this motter secretly. J chuckled and shook her head helplessly. ¡°You¡¯re hurt, so be careful. My mother¡¯s right outside. If she sees you misbehave, she will get angry again. It wasn¡¯t easy for you to earn their favor, and you¡¯ll have to keep earning it.¡± Ethan coughed and nced at the door to the ward nervously. Then, he became serious. ¡°The ceiling of the cinema wouldn¡¯t just copse for no reason. Did they release an official statement regarding the incident?¡± J continued to feed him, but the light in her eyes dimmed slightly. ¡°The matter¡¯s still under investigation. There¡¯s no conclusive results yet. Mom told me that it was newly built, so the ceiling couldn¡¯t have copsed unless there was a major construction w. So it¡¯s all rather suspicious.¡± ¡°It was no ident,¡± Ethan said in a low voice, an imperceptible ruthlessness shing in his eyes. Somebody had caused the roof to copse, just like how somebody had started the fire downstairs their apartment before. The incident was so serious that it caused a sensation. As long as Ethan investigated it thoroughly, he would find out who was behind this. In the following days, Ethan stayed in Barnes for his recuperation. Meanwhile, he tasked Garrett with the investigation of this matter secretly. Chapter 475 Chapter 475 ¡°I am not your servant! How could you still order me around while you¡¯re not even in town?¡± Garrett comined on the phone. He was under the impression that after Ethan left, he could enjoy a good holiday. However, despite being all the way in Barnes, Ethan still enved him. Ethan rubbed the spot between his eyebrows and said seriously, ¡°This ident might have something to do with the Lester family. I¡¯m in Barnes now, plus I¡¯m injured. I can¡¯t do this myself.¡± ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll send someone to investigate it now,¡± Garrett said reluctantly. After hanging up, Ethan asked the man standing outside the door toe in. ¡°Mr. Larson.¡± The man bowed slightly to show his respect. ¡°So what happened?¡± Ethan cut straight to the chase, his expression darkening. ¡°Someone did something topromise the ceiling, so it copsed.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°I believe that the ¡®ident¡¯ was directly aimed at you and Mrs. Larson. At the time, several of my men were stationed in the corner of the cinema. The ceiling copsed so suddenly that we didn¡¯t have the time to rush in and save you.¡± The man nced at Ethan with fear in his eyes and swallowed. ¡°In order to get to you, whoever¡¯s behind this was willing to sacrifice innocent people, which means they¡¯re both powerful and cold- blooded.¡± Ethan pressed his fingertips against his temple and sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll ask my people in Seacisco to take care of it.¡± Soon, Garrett called Ethan with the investigation report. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s the Lester family behind all of this. Lester Silk Fabric was the biggest investor of that cinema.¡± After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Garrett couldn¡¯t hold himself back. ¡°Your family is clearly determined to kill you. They even go as far to destroy a building they invested in and hurt countless other innocent people. How are you going to fight back? You can¡¯t just let them walk all over you! Otherwise, who knows what horrible ideas they wille up with again to get rid of you?¡± Truth be told, Ethan had already guessed that only Elissa would be willing to do such a reckless thing. But trying to kill him in the cinema¡ªand injuring innocent people in the process¡ªcrossed the line. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Elissa had caused a greatmotion in an effort to kill him. She would¡¯ve been fine if her murder attempt was sessful. But because Ethan had survived, he was determined to make Elissa pay for her crime. ¡°Elisso¡¯s digging her own grove.¡± Ethon norrowed his eyes ond sneered coldly. Gorrett roised his eyebrow dubiously. ¡°You¡¯re fighting bock, ore you? This is more like it! Domn, I¡¯m just excited!¡± Tolk of the collopse of o newly-constructed cinemo exploded on the Inte. This collopse wos different from the fire ident in Seocisco before. The lorge number of cosuolties this time hod ottrocted the ottention of the relevont deportments. Even the locol government storted investigoted the motter. In Seocisco, Gorrett hod been poying close ottention to this cose. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to moke o move?¡± His eyes floshing dongerously, Ethon replied, ¡°I just wont them to go through hell before I pushed them even deeper down the obyss of despoir.¡± Loter thot doy, Ethon mode public oll the informotion ond evidence he hod gothered. As one of the victims, he cooperoted with the relevont deportments in their investigotion. He olso joined honds with other victims ond their fomily to coll for justice on the Inte. ¡°Elissa¡¯s digging her own grave.¡± Ethan narrowed his eyes and sneered coldly. Garrett raised his eyebrow dubiously. ¡°You¡¯re fighting back, are you? This is more like it! Damn, I¡¯m just excited!¡± Talk of the copse of a newly-constructed cinema exploded on the Inte. This copse was different from the fire ident in Seacisco before. Therge number of casualties this time had attracted the attention of the relevant departments. Even the local government started investigated the matter. In Seacisco, Garrett had been paying close attention to this case. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to make a move?¡± His eyes shing dangerously, Ethan replied, ¡°I just want them to go through hell before I pushed them even deeper down the abyss of despair.¡± Later that day, Ethan made public all the information and evidence he had gathered. As one of the victims, he cooperated with the relevant departments in their investigation. He also joined hands with other victims and their family to call for justice on the Inte. Chapter 476 Chapter 476 In the Lester family¡¯s home in Seacisco. Elissa had just smoked two packs of cigarettes and the whole room was filled with smoke. When Ritchie walked into the room, he felt choked by all that smoke. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s dinner time.¡± He lifted his hand and fanned the smoke away from his face. After that, he could make out that Elissa was sitting on the edge of the bed, smoking yet another cigarette. ¡°What does the news say? What¡¯s your father¡¯s attitude like?¡± Elissa¡¯s fingers shook and her face was in the shadows, so there was no way to see the expression on her face. Ritchie scratched the back of his head and then said, ¡°Several families of those hurt have taken banners to protest under our office building. Dad is still at thepany currently. It¡¯s most likely that he has snapped because of this.¡± After hearing that, Elissa¡¯s hand suddenly trembled and the ash tumbled to the floor. ¡°Did he say anything at all?¡± All of a sudden, she opened her eyes wide and turned to look at Ritchie in panic. Ritchie¡¯s face darkened visibly. He lowered the volume of his voice and asked, ¡°Mom, were you behind this?¡± Even though he had his doubts, he hadn¡¯t been able to confirm them yet. Elissa swallowed nervously. She was very anxious now and was willing to tell Ritchie the truth. ¡°I was the one behind it. I even used our men. I thought we would seed in getting rid of Ethan this time. As long as he¡¯s dead, even if the authorities wanted to investigate this matter, with the Lester family¡¯s connections, we could sort things out and shift the me to the constructors. We could arrange it so that it looks like an ident,¡± ¡°I was the one behind it. I even used our men. I thought we would seed in getting rid of Ethan this time. As long as he¡¯s dead, even if the authorities wanted to investigate this matter, with the Lester family¡¯s connections, we could sort things out and shift the me to the constructors. We could arrange it so that it looks like an ident,¡± Elissa said as cold sweat poured from her forehead. She had been keeping a close eye on this matter the whole time and knew that investigation had just begun. Ritchie became anxious almost at once. He clenched his teeth tightly and said, ¡°Mom, do you have any idea how serious this matter is getting? I get it you want to get rid of Ethan, and so do I. But the truth is Ethan didn¡¯t die and he¡¯s now even helping the police with the investigation! The government and the public have attached great importance to this matter and they won¡¯t stop any time soon. These days, those hurt in the incident keep showing up at ourpany, protesting. This means they know that the Lester family has something to do with the ident! This happens to be no small matter. I heard that a total of more than a dozen audience members and staff was injured or even died in the ident!¡± Ritchie said, ¡°If this happened in Seacisco, we could probably do something about this and get away with it. But no, this happened in Barnes! Mom, what in the world were you thinking?¡± The Lester family had a lot of power in Seacisco, but not in Barnes. Now that Ethan had reported the Lester family to the police, the police thought they were persons of interest now. In a panic, Elissa made her way out of her room and went down the stairs anxiously. Seeing that there was no one downstairs, she shook from head to toe with fear again. ¡°Why isn¡¯t your father back yet?¡± Ritchie followed her downstairs and answered, ¡°Dad should still be at thepany. This matter has kept him busy for the past few days.¡± During the entire dinner, Elissa was feeling listless. Just as she was feeling tortured by news updates, the sound of a car engine came from outside. A few minutester, Patrick walked in with his suit jacket in his hands, looking clearly exhausted. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Elissa made her way up to him uneasily and wanted to take the suit jacket from him. ¡°Patrick, why are you back sote?¡± Patrick angrily nced at Elissa and suddenly it looked like he had snapped. He threw the suit jacket at her face and said, ¡°Bitch! Were you the one who sent people to kill Ethan?¡± Chapter 477 Chapter 477 The suit jacket, with a strong smell of nicotine, was thrown at Elissa¡¯s face, and the huge force forced her to take a few steps back. Frightened by Patrick¡¯s fury, Ritchie immediately retreated and hid in the kitchen. As the patriarch of the Lester family, Patrick was intimidating and domineering. Elissa was so scared out of her wits that her heart seemed to have stopped in her chest. She clutched Patrick¡¯s suit jacket tightly and fell to her knees. ¡°It was me.¡± Elissa knew that she couldn¡¯t hide it anymore, so she admitted to her crime. Time seemed to stand still. The room fell deathly silent. Patrick strode over to her and pped her across the face without warning. The servants who were cleaning up the table nearly jumped at the loud sound and quickly scurried out of the room like mice. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Shocked, Elissa gingerly touched her swollen cheek, where a red palm print gradually appeared. ¡°Elissa, you¡¯re a terrible woman! Even after so many years, you haven¡¯t changed at all!¡± Patrick roared at the top of his lungs. ¡°Ethan is still my son. Even if I never liked him, I¡¯ve never thought of killing him! Moreover, he¡¯s the president of the Larson Group now!¡± Patrick red at Elissa, gnashing his teeth in anger. He had known for a long time now that Elissa was not a kind person. Ever since she had married into the Lester family, she had done a lot of things behind his back, but he had always turned a blind eye to them. He had known for a long time now that Elissa was not a kind person. Ever since she had married into the Lester family, she had done a lot of things behind his back, but he had always turned a blind eye to them. ¡°I knew you didn¡¯t like Ethan. I didn¡¯t care what you did to him in the past. But now, he¡¯s not just Ethan Lester. He¡¯s also Brandon Larson! Did you ever stop to think about the consequences you¡¯ve brought upon the Lester family?¡± Patrick continued to berate the woman. Whatever Elissa had done in the past didn¡¯t endanger the interests of the Lester Group. But things were different now. The Larson Group was a force to be reckoned with and could easily topple the Lester family. Cradling her stinging cheek, Elissa red at Patrick with hatred. Her eyes were so sharp, they could¡¯ve pierced through Patrick. She had never been hit by anyone before in her whole life. How dare he p her in the face? She too came from an affluent family in Seacisco. When she married into the Lester family, Patrick was just the owner of a small, developingpany. If it weren¡¯t for her family¡¯s support, could he have achieved what he had today? ¡°Patrick, how dare you hit me?!¡± Elissa flew into a rage. ¡°He¡¯s just a bastard! He shouldn¡¯t even have been born! How dare you me me now? If you hadn¡¯t fooled around with all those women back then, there wouldn¡¯t even be a Brandon Larson today! The Lester family would¡¯ve been even more powerful!¡± Patrick was so angry at the woman¡¯s arrogance that he rolled up his sleeves to deliver another p across her face. ¡°Ah! How dare you hit me again?! I¡¯ll kill you, Patrick Lester!¡± Elissa¡¯s face was red and swollen from Patrick¡¯s ps. She shrieked and raised her hands to scratch Patrick¡¯s cheeks. Regardless of their noble image, the couple fought each other in the living room like two barbarians. Hearing themotion, Ritchie poked his head out of the kitchen. When he saw what was going on, he sprang into action to protect Elissa. ¡°Dad, what the hell are you doing?¡± he cried, standing in front of his mother. Patrick didn¡¯t reply. Instead, he punched Ritchie square in the face. Ritchie tumbled backward from the impact. ¡°You dumbass! You think I don¡¯t know that you¡¯re also a part of this? You stupid fucking idiot! You have no wits! You¡¯ve learned nothing but filthy tricks from your mother!¡± Chapter 478 Chapter 478 ¡°What? I know nothing about it! Don¡¯t involve me!¡± Ritchie protested. ¡°How dare you talk back to me?!¡± Patrick was so angry that he pped Ritchie across the face. ¡°I¡¯ve spent a fortune for you to study abroad. And this is the thanks I get?¡± This was the second beating Ritchie had received today. He was a grown man and felt utterly humiliated. ¡°Damn it! Damn you! I already told you that I have nothing to do with it! It¡¯s all mom¡¯s fault!¡± Ritchie couldn¡¯t hold himself back anymore and spat on the ground angrily. ¡°You sent me abroad because you were afraid that I would end up in some shittymunity college and disgrace the whole family! You think I don¡¯t know that? You¡¯ve always been ashamed of me! You¡¯ve always thought that Seth and Ethan were way better than me! You¡¯ve always wanted to beat me up, right, Patrick Lester?¡± Ritchie finally gave vent to all his pent up feelings over the years. Patrick stomped his foot angrily. He hated it when people tried to go against him. In his eyes, Ritchie was just trying to piss him off. ¡°How dare you?! I¡¯ll beat the crap out of you!¡± He was so angry that his face turned as red as a tomato. He looked around the room until his eyes fell on a mop. He grabbed it and raised it above his head, poised to hit Ritchie. But Ritchie acted fast. He jumped up and ran around in the living room. ¡°Mom! Help me! He¡¯s trying to kill me!¡± Ritchie hid behind Elissa like a little child. Elissa gritted her teeth and dodged Patrick¡¯s advances. She roared irritably, ¡°Patrick Lester! What the hell are you trying to do? Do you want to break up this family?¡± Just as Patrick was about to swing the mop, the phone in the living room suddenly rang. Amidst the chaos, the boldest of the servants went to answer the phone. ¡°Hello, Lester residence. You want to speak with Mr. Lester? I¡¯m afraid he¡¯s¡­ Busy right now.¡± The servant nced at Patrick, who was about to hit Ritchie with the mop. The caller seemed persistent so she handed over the phone to Patrick, her body trembling slightly. ¡°Sir, it¡¯s your assistant.¡± Patrick was in a fit of rage. He snatched the phone from her impatiently and spat into the receiver, ¡°What?¡± ¡°The police have caught several of our men. The man who was sent to kill Ethan is among them,¡± the assistant reported anxiously. ¡°Sir, we have to get him out of there. If the police followed this lead, they¡¯ll trace it back to the Lester family soon. We have to stop them!¡± ¡°The police have caught several of our men. The man who was sent to kill Ethan is among them,¡± the assistant reported anxiously. ¡°Sir, we have to get him out of there. If the police followed this lead, they¡¯ll trace it back to the Lester family soon. We have to stop them!¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. The assistant was so anxious that he raised his voice. Patrick heard his words loud and clear. Ritchie, Elissa, and Patrick all froze in ce with a look of horror on their faces. Ritchie cursed, ¡°Fuck! Ethan moved really fast! Mom, we¡¯re in trouble now!¡± Elissa¡¯s face turned ghastly pale. She tugged at Patrick¡¯s arm and asked desperately, ¡°What should we do now?¡± The mother¡¯s and son¡¯s reaction gave Patrick a headache. He hung up the phone and said through gritted teeth, ¡°This is all your damned fault. This isn¡¯t over!¡± Then he stormed out and mmed the door behind him. When Patrick left the house, Elissa¡¯s knees buckled from underneath her and she copsed to the ground in exhaustion. Chapter 479 Chapter 479 It was dawn of the following morning when Patrick came back home. His face was ghastly pale, as though he had aged ten years over the span of one night. His shirt was also creased all over. He dragged his tired body to the living room and sank into the sofa. Elissa and Ritchie had been waiting for him toe home. They exchanged nces. Ritchie went to the kitchen to fetch a ss of water for his father. ¡°How¡¯d it go, Dad?¡± he asked anxiously. Patrick ignored the water. He rubbed his temples and sighed heavily. ¡°Ethan has found out about our secret force. We¡¯ll have to sacrifice it for the sake of the bigger picture.¡± Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Hearing this, Ritchie and Elissa looked at each other and all the color drained from their faces. The Lester family¡¯s ¡°secret force¡± was cultivated by Patrick when they first came to Seacisco. It took care of the nasty, under-the-table deals in the dark. It had been there for the Lester family for at least two decades. With a cold, stony expression, Patrick stood up and dered, ¡°From now on, you two have little to no power in the Lester family. You¡¯d better behave yourselves from now on!¡± After saying that, Patrick stormed out of the room and mmed the door. Elissa and Ritchie were speechless. Elissa sat on the sofa wordlessly, looking dispirited. She was in deep trouble this time. In the hospital in Barnes, Ethan had just gotten off the phone. His eyesnded on the TV, which was broadcasting news about a gang being sieged by the police. ¡°It¡¯s been really dangeroustely. This sort of thing has been happening every day. I heard that the cinema copsed because it was blown up by gangsters as well.¡± Holding a basin of warm water, J strode in and fixed her eyes on the TV. Ethan pointed the remote at the TV and turned it off. ¡°There¡¯ll always be bad guys,¡± he saidzily. What he didn¡¯t tell J was that he was the one behind the destruction of the Lester family¡¯s secret force, which was a major blow to Patrick. The Lester family patriarch had failed to salvage what he had built over thest two decades. He was weak now. A trace of imperceptible contempt shed in Ethan¡¯s eyes. But it was a pity that he was cooped up in the hospital and couldn¡¯t deal with the Lester family himself. His subordinates were doing most of the work. If it were up to him, he¡¯d have liked to see the desperate look on Patrick¡¯s face. J shrugged and proceeded to put the basin on the bedside table. She dipped a towel in it, wrung out the excess water, and then strode over to Ethan to wipe his arms. ¡°The doctor said that you can leave the hospital in around two or three days.¡± When Ethan turned to look at J in front of him, the gloom in his eyes instantly disappeared. He asked dotingly, ¡°What else did the doctor say?¡± Before J could reply, a voice came from the door. ¡°He said that you should exercise more instead of lying in bed all day long.¡± With a big grin on his face, Garrett strode in. ¡°J, he¡¯s lucky he has you here taking care of him.¡± He put bags of tonics on the table and looked Ethan up and down inquisitively. ¡°Mr. Larson, it¡¯s only been a few days but it seems you¡¯ve gained weight.¡± Ethan nced at him fiercely. Back when he was in Seacisco, he had been missing J like crazy and had lost a lot of weight. Garrett chuckled and shook his head. Suddenly, he looked out the door and shouted, ¡°Are you nning on standing there all day, Laney?¡± Hearing this, Laney walked in and shot him a death re. Then she smiled and handed a gift basket to J. ¡°I¡¯ve brought some tonics for you. They¡¯re good for your health.¡± Suddenly, J felt as if she had returned to Seacisco, with all her dear friends around her. Suddenly, J felt as if she had returned to Seacisco, with all her dear friends around her. She epted the gift graciously. Ethan and Garrett proceeded to talk about work in the ward, whereas J and Laney headed out to buy some food for lunch. ¡°So what¡¯re you up to now?¡± J looked at Laney carefully. She found that her old bodyguard was wearing light make-up and lipstick. Laney looked lovely. ¡°After everyone found out Ethan¡¯s true identity, I didn¡¯t have to be your bodyguard anymore. Since you moved to Barnes, there was no reason for me to stay with the Larson Group. Garrett joke that if I remained jobless, no man would want to date me. So he rmended me a job as a trainer,¡± Laney exined. The truth was that Garrett had specifically asked her to be the chief coach of Pole Shadow, a secret force cultivated by Ethan himself. At least it was safer than being a bodyguard. J smiled and said sincerely, ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± The two fell silent for a while. Suddenly, J poked Laney¡¯s arm and teased, ¡°It seems that Garrett cares about you a lot. I heard he¡¯s been single for a while now. That¡¯s not like him.¡± ¡°Single? I doubt it. He¡¯s probably just gotten good at hiding it.¡± Laney shrugged indifferently. It seemed Laney didn¡¯t have any special feelings for Garrett. J then decided not to say anything more. ******* Before Ethan was discharged from the hospital, Beal and Johanna came to visit him several times. Their attitude towards him had changed a lot. Every time they came, they looked genuinely concerned about him. After leaving the hospital, Ethan went straight back to Seacisco. He had been in Barnes for too long, and work had piled up in the Larson Group. Chapter 480 Chapter 480 Now that Ethan had recovered and was back in Seacisco, J¡¯s life was back on track as. She went to W Marks Studio to work as she had promised Draco. W Marks Studio was a three-story house located in Barnes¡¯ high-tech zone. The house itself was nestled in a quaint garden surrounded by lush green nts. Beautiful flowers of all colors adorned the garden, making whoever passed it by feel at ease and happy. As soon as J stepped foot in the yard, she heard merryughter from inside. ¡°She¡¯s here!¡± ¡°Oh, my God! She¡¯s gorgeous!¡± ¡°I thought that all the talented designers were chubby women with sses. But she¡¯s slim and I don¡¯t see any sses!¡± J made her way up the steps and pushed the door open nervously. As soon as the door swung open, party crackers went off, followed by streamers falling like snowkes. ¡°Wee on board!¡± a chorus of voices sounded. There were more than twenty smiling faces in the room on the first floor. On the table were all kinds of snacks, flowers, and cakes. J was surprised and had no idea how to react. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. All of a sudden, a tall woman with shoulder-length curly hair and light makeup approached her. The woman¡¯s smile was very infectious, making the people around her feel wee. It was also her most charming feature. Despite wearing only a simple white dress, she looked authoritative yet warm. ¡°Mr. Wesley is busy drawing upstairs. He didn¡¯t have the time toe down, so he asked me to receive you on his behalf. It¡¯s nice to meet you, J. I¡¯m Rosa Pierce, one of Mr. Wesley¡¯s assistants.¡± The smiling Rosa shook hands with J and led her to meet everyone. ¡°From now on, J will be our third design assistant. Let¡¯s give her a warm wee.¡± ¡°Hello, everyone. Pleasure to meet you all.¡± After J gave a brief self-introduction, the office was filled with thunderous apuse. J surveyed the sea of smiling faces until somebody caught her eye. The woman¡¯s skin was pale, as though she rarely went out under the sun. What caught J¡¯s eye was the fact that the woman wasn¡¯t smiling, unlike the rest of her peers. In fact, she seemed indifferent and alienated. Rosa followed J¡¯s gaze and led J to the woman. ¡°This is Elizabeth Perry, another design assistant of Mr. Wesley.¡± Elizabeth looked J up and down and nodded without saying anything. J managed to put on a faint smile. However, she could tell that the arrogant-looking Elizabeth was going to be difficult to get along with. Rosa spent the whole morning showing J around, exining to her what everyone did in the studio. She was like a ray of sunshine, enthusiastic and friendly. The people in the office clearly were fond of her, and they would tease her from time to time. ¡°The people in our studio are all very friendly, but we won¡¯t sugarcoat the fact that we¡¯re no strangers to overtime.¡± Rosa winked at J. ¡°Let me tell you a secret. Mr. Wesley likes to talk about work with us just when we¡¯re about to leave from work. Although he looks gentle and amiable, he¡¯s a devil when it ¡°The people in our studio are all very friendly, but we won¡¯t sugarcoat the fact that we¡¯re no strangers to overtime.¡± Rosa winked at J. ¡°Let me tell you a secret. Mr. Wesley likes to talk about work with us just when we¡¯re about to leave from work. Although he looks gentle and amiable, he¡¯s a devil when it comes to the work. He is so harsh and strict that many colleagues have broken down behind closed doors.¡± J was a bit taken aback. ¡°I had no idea. I was under the impression that Mr. Wesley doesn¡¯t like talking that much.¡± With a mysterious smile, Rosa patted J¡¯s shoulder and said knowingly, ¡°You¡¯ll see it for yourself in the future. Well, that¡¯s the end of the tour. I have to get to work. I still have a lot of drawings to submit.¡± After taking J to her seat, Rosa turned around and briskly walked away. J devoted herself to her new job. She soon realized that what Rosa said was true. Draco was very demanding. He immediately turned down J¡¯s first design. ¡°Scratch it. The style and color are too vulgar.¡± Draco didn¡¯t even look up at J as he spoke. With a pale face, J took her drawing out of the office and began to revise it. She didn¡¯t finish until midnight. Over the next few days, J was too busy to even take a break. Chapter 481 Chapter 481 In Seacisco, the Larson Group building. Ethan had just finished his video conference. He nced at the clock on his desk and dialed J¡¯s number. When the call connected, however, his face instantly darkened. ¡°Honey, can you tell me why I¡¯m greeted by your palm instead of your pretty face? What¡¯s going on? I¡¯ve been dying to see you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m right here, Honey, just a little busy. I¡¯ll call you back in a while, okay? Mr. Wesley sent back my designs for further modifications.¡± J pulled back and nced at her phone once before focusing back on herputer screen. Ethan¡¯s tone grew somber. ¡°Honey, don¡¯t you realize that you¡¯ve been working on these designs for more than a week? You¡¯re working every single time I called you.¡± As a matter of fact, J had only been having four to five hours of sleep each day the past week. And it showed. Even the beauty filter of her camera couldn¡¯t hide the dark circles under her eyes. She looked exhausted. J nodded lightly to acknowledge Ethan¡¯s words, but her hand didn¡¯t stop moving, and her eyes never strayed from herputer, either. If he didn¡¯t know any better, he would have thought she had gone mad over her passion project. Ethan sighed heavily. ¡°Well, since you¡¯re so busy, I won¡¯t be keeping you. Sorry to disturb you.¡± That seemed to jolt her back to her senses. J dropped her digital pen and snatched her phone in a hurry. ¡°Oh, Honey. I¡¯m so grateful you called. I wouldn¡¯t have realized I was overworked if you hadn¡¯t pointed it out. But you know what? I¡¯m always amazed by Mr. Wesley¡¯s criticisms. They are surprisingly constructive, and he spots a lot of problematic details that I wouldn¡¯t even have thought about. I feel like a new world has opened up before me, and that I¡¯m wee to learn new things without fear of judgment.¡± Ethan stared at her and saw how her eyes lit up with excitement as she talked. He could tell that she was having the time of her life at work. ¡°I would never stop you from pursuing your dreams,¡± he said sincerely. ¡°You know that, right? I just can¡¯t help thinking that your boss is being too hard on you, and I say that objectively. Even the busiest department here at Larson Group wouldn¡¯t force their staff to work overtime for seven days straight.¡± J gave him a sweet smile. ¡°I¡¯m all right. I¡¯m willing to put in extra hours for my dreams.¡± Ethan sighed again. He could only shake his head and smile bitterly. What else could he say at this point? J was her own person, with her own free will. He had known the moment he let her go to Barnes that it wouldn¡¯t be easy getting her back home. ******* Johanna had just got home from her morning run and was making breakfast in the kitchen. After hearing some rustling noises in the living room, she poked her head out of the kitchen and saw J. Johanna quickly wiped her hands and dashed over. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°Where are you going? You haven¡¯t even had breakfast yet.¡± J was already in the entryway, putting her shoes on. ¡°I spentst night revising my all design drafts. Mr. Wesley is going to look them over today, and hopefully approve them.¡± Johanna huffed worriedly. ¡°I can see that you are busy, but you still need to eat something!¡± Her heart ached at the memory of her daughter dragging her feet home sote at night, and as if that wasn¡¯t enough, J left so early in the morning, too. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom. I¡¯ll grab a bite on my way there.¡± All of J¡¯s attention was focused on her designs. Even now, she was only thinking about what Draco Wesley would say about her revisions. In the end, Johanna had no choice but to watch her daughter go. It shouldn¡¯t be surprising that Draco was a strict and demanding boss¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t be standing at the pinnacle of sess otherwise. Perhaps, with him as her mentor, J would make rapid progress in the fashion industry. As soon as J arrived at the studio, she made a beeline for Draco¡¯s office and handed him her portfolio. She had lost count of the times she had altered the designs until she was finally satisfied with them. She had lost count of the times she had altered the designs until she was finally satisfied with them. Draco¡¯s face was calm and unreadable as he took the folder and went over the drafts. Only when he turned to thest few pages did a faint smile appear on his lips. ¡°I see that you¡¯ve applied every piece of advice I gave you.¡± Draco found J to be very modest despite her impressive talent. He had indicated several problems in her first draft, and she had managed to correct them all. ¡°There¡¯s one thing I¡¯m curious about.¡± Draco closed the folder, his brows furrowed. ¡°How could you have remembered everything? You may have a good memory, but surely¡­¡± J whipped out a small voice recorder from her pocket and waved it in front of him. ¡°Secret weapon,¡± she quipped. ¡°Much more useful than the human brain.¡± Draco¡¯s smile deepened, his eyes gleaming with interest. Not only was this gifted young designer modest, but she was also hardworking. She was certainly tougher than he had initially thought, nothing like a spoiled richdy at all. During the meetingter that day, Draco reviewed everyone¡¯s portfolio and made somements. He made a point of praising J¡¯s designs in front of everyone, if only to give her credit for exceeding his expectations. J¡¯s hands were clenched on herp. It was all she could do not to jump up in joy. Instead, she settled for a sigh of relief. Atst, the overtime Ethan had been grumbling about had paid off. When she raised her head, her gaze identally fell on Elizabeth, who was sitting across the table from her. The other woman had a cold expression on her face, as usual. J mustered an awkward smile and shifted her eyes to Rosa. To her surprise, Rosa looked rather glum. But when she noticed J¡¯s gaze, she immediately forced a friendly smile. Chapter 482 Chapter 482 J got to leave work on time today for her first design case was finally approved by her boss. She seldom came home early these days, so Johanna was thrilled and turned to Beal. ¡°You go and buy something that J likes. We¡¯ll have a big dinner tonight!¡± Then, she smiled and held J¡¯s hand. ¡°My dear, you¡¯ve gone to work for only a week. Why have you lost so much weight?¡± However, J felt the opposite. ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating, Mom. I feel I¡¯ve gained a lot of weight.¡± After getting to know Johanna and getting along with her, J felt she liked exaggerating everything. Johanna smiled and chose not to say anything. Beal patted his legs and stood up from the sofa. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll go to the grocery store right away. J, you grew up in Seacisco, right? So I presume you¡¯d like spicy food.¡± ¡°Actually, I can¡¯t eat spicy food.¡± J licked her lips sheepishly. Her taste had always been different from that of the people in Seasisco. Johanna and Beal exchanged nces and burst outughing. J frowned in confusion. ¡°Why are you twoughing?¡± Beal shook his head, sighing. ¡°Your mother and I don¡¯t like spicy food either. But L likes it. We asionally make something spicy just for her.¡± Beal soon returned from the grocery store and cooked a storm for dinner. ¡°Your father is an exceptional cook. I¡¯ve learned a lot from him.¡± Johannaughed and kept filling J¡¯s te with food. All the dishes were out of the world. J felt she must have inherited her cooking skills from her father. Beal smiled at his wife¡¯spliment. Then, he turned to look at J. ¡°How are you doing in the new company? Do you like working there?¡± J¡¯s face lit up when her dad brought up her new job. ¡°It has been great so far, Dad. Everyone in the studio seems nice.¡± Theyughed and chatted happily. L ate in silence. The warm scene made her stomach churn with unease. It seemed like only the three were a family and that she was a mere outsider. Besides, Beal and Johanna had beenuding J to everyone all day long while L sat in a corner like a failure. But despite the resentment, L knew she wasn¡¯t as capable as J. She waszy and could never endure hardships and responsibilities like J. L lost her appetite as she thought about it. L lost her appetite as she thought about it. She despised J. Now that J had be the daughter of a wealthy family, she could have enjoyed the privilege of leading a luxurious life without doing anything. But she insisted on going to work. L felt like a loser; it was stressful. ¡°I¡¯m full. Enjoy yourselves.¡± She wiped her mouth with a napkin and stood up. L couldn¡¯t watch the sweet interaction anymore. It upset her. Therefore, she decided to leave. Seeing that, Johanna served some more food to J¡¯s te and said, ¡°You two eat first. I need to talk to L about something.¡± Beal and Johanna looked at each other and nodded in silent gesture. N?velDrama.Org content rights. L returned to her room, depressed. Johanna quickly followed upstairs. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Mom?¡± L¡¯s face softened. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if her mother had noticed her displeasure. Was Johanna here tofort her? Johanna entered L¡¯s room and closed the door behind her. ¡°L, I have chosen a guy for you.¡± Chapter 483 Chapter 483 L was feeling a bit disappointed. Johanna didn¡¯t even bother saying anything nice tofort her. Feeling frustrated, L sat on the edge of the bed, fiddling with the helm of herce dress. Johanna went over and sat next to L. She said in a friendly tone, ¡°I think that even though you¡¯re still young, you can consider seeing somebody seriously. What do you think about that, L?¡± L had no idea what to say to that. Because of J, she was beginning to feel more and more ufortable living in the White family¡¯s house. If she could get married to a good man, it would be good to have her own family. L bit her bottom lip and asked, ¡°Who is this guy you¡¯re talking about?¡± Seeing that L didn¡¯t turn her down, Johanna immediately pulled out her phone, clicked on the album, and began to introduce a suitor in detail. ¡°He¡¯s the son of the Gray family. They export fruit and they have been running chain stores for many years now.¡± L had already heard of the Gray family. She even made fun of them once with her best friends that they were simply a bunch of bumpkins who sold fruits. Seeing that L was not answering, Johanna went on to say, ¡°They¡¯re not a big family. Even though they¡¯re not a powerful family, they¡¯re still a rich one. The family members are simple folks, so they won¡¯t be fighting for wealth as the rich and powerful families usually do. This guy we¡¯re talking about is the second child in the family, and he¡¯s an excellent engineer. He¡¯s good-looking and gentle, and he won¡¯t flirt with other women like many men in rich families do.¡± Johanna had watched L growing up. She knew full well that sometimes L could be domineering, so a tolerant husband would be the most suitable to her. L had been spoiled by her and Beal since she was young. She knew that L didn¡¯t have any people¡¯s smarts. If she married into a rich family who had internal conflict, she would only be bullied again and again. Johanna also knew L was unwilling to say sorry even though she was wrong. What worried Johanna most was that L¡¯s personality would be the reason people mistreated her. When she heard this, L felt a little disappointed in her heart. The Gray family in Barnes happened to be a family selling fruits. If she married into this family, she would be aughing stock. This family happened to be very different from L¡¯s ideal husband¡¯s family background. She thought even if she would marry into a less rich family, it wouldn¡¯t be a small family like the Grays. As expected, Johanna found her biological daughter, so she wasn¡¯t taking L seriously and arranged such a shabby marriage for her. At the same time, L couldn¡¯t say it out loud directly. ¡°Is this something you want? Do you really want me to get married, Mom?¡± L¡¯s eyes reddened. Johanna initially thought that L was afraid of getting married because she didn¡¯t want to leave them so soon. ¡°He¡¯s also in Barnes. If you want to head home to see us, you can ask the driver to take you back at any time. I carefully selected this suitor for you. Your father also thinks that the second child of the Gray family is a very good man.¡± Johanna happened to think that the Gray family was very suitable for L. After all, everyone now knew L wasn¡¯t their biological daughter. If L married into a rich and powerful family that was equal to the White family, she might be looked down upon by others and even get bullied. It was true that the Gray family was not as good as the White family in terms of family background. But they were honest, good people. Besides, the Gray family and the White family were cooperating with each other. If L married this man, she wouldn¡¯t be bullied by her husband¡¯s family at all, for they were counting on the Whites to look after their fruit business. It was true that the Gray family was not as good as the White family in terms of family background. But they were honest, good people. Besides, the Gray family and the White family were cooperating with each other. If L married this man, she wouldn¡¯t be bullied by her husband¡¯s family at all, for they were counting on the Whites to look after their fruit business. L was only good at having fun and she didn¡¯t have much ability or talents. She wasn¡¯t good nor capable enough to be a wife of a rich and powerful family. It was better for her to marry into a simple family and live a stable life for the rest of her life. Johanna caressed L¡¯s hair and said, ¡°It¡¯s only natural that girls get married. Look at J. She¡¯s so happy after she got married. Now, Dad and Mom are worried about you the most. You¡¯re not a little girl anymore. You can¡¯t live with us for the rest of your life like this. If you go through with this marriage, you can be a full-time wife for the Gray family. Also, your life will be as good as your current life now.¡± L pinched her hands and a touch of frostiness danced through her eyes. She never expected Johanna to be so cruel. J happened to marry Brandon Larson, a legend of Seacisco. No woman who could marry a better man than J.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. L felt enraged and couldn¡¯t get rid of her anger. Seeing Johanna pretending to act considerate toward her, L felt even angrier and more dissatisfied in her heart. Chapter 484 Chapter 484 ¡°What do you think? If it¡¯s not to your liking, I can refuse the Gray family.¡± Noticing that L was being hesitant, Johanna let out a long sigh. ¡°Aren¡¯t you satisfied with the family I chose for you?¡± L indeed wasn¡¯t satisfied with this arrangement, but she didn¡¯t dare to voice her thoughts. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. She wanted to leave a good impression on both Johanna and Beal. If Johanna had arranged for her to marry into a well-known rich family in Barnes to enjoy the rest of her life, L wouldn¡¯t be so angry. J had married Brandon, a billionaire, nheless. As her elder sister, L was arranged to marry a man from a medium family. How could L ept this? L¡¯s face immediately turned pale and tears were building up behind her eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that, Mom. The Gray family sounds like a good family. You¡¯re right. J already got married. It¡¯s my turn now to tie the knot.¡± L couldn¡¯t directly say that she didn¡¯t like the marriage her mother had arranged, so she hesitated and said, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen the man yet and I have no idea what kind of person he is. I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be appropriate to agree right away.¡± Johanna studied L quietly. She had been in the business world for so many years and dealt with all kinds of people, so she could easily see right through L. If L liked something, she would never have such a reluctant expression on her face. When the Gray family offered this proposal, Beal hesitated for a good while. After all, there was a huge gap between these two families in regard to social status and wealth. It was understandable that L didn¡¯t want to marry beneath herself. Of course, Johanna had mulled it over in her head. However, other than that she was the daughter of the White family, L had no other advantages. She had an ordinary education background and her beauty wasn¡¯t too outstanding among the rich ladies. Those who could marry into the top rich and powerful families could never be simple women. L was simple-minded and wasn¡¯t outstanding in any degree. Furthermore, she was spoiled and pampered at the same time. Even if she married into one of the rich and powerful families in Barnes and became a wealthy housewife, she would most likely have a difficult time surviving. Johanna knew that L wasn¡¯t happy with this marriage arrangement. However, she also knew clearly that those who had grandiose aims but puny abilities wouldn¡¯t have a good ending. But she couldn¡¯t say straight to her face that those families with high social rank were beyond L¡¯s reach. Johanna could only sigh that L was too blind to see her situation clearly. Johanna smiled and said, ¡°In that case, how about I create a chance for the two of you to meet? You can get to know him and then make your decision afterward. What do you think about that?¡± Now, Johanna could only hope that L would be satisfied with the man after meeting him. If that was the case, everyone would be happy and her efforts wouldn¡¯t be for nothing. Now, Johanna could only hope that L would be satisfied with the man after meeting him. If that was the case, everyone would be happy and her efforts wouldn¡¯t be for nothing. In fact, L wasn¡¯t happy about this at all, but she had no reason to turn her mother down. She could only force out a smile and said, ¡°Well, I¡¯ll listen to you, Mom.¡± Over the weekend, Johanna organized a simple party at their house. Johanna liked gardening. It was now early spring. The garden was filled with blooming peonies and roses, altogether looking very beautiful. L picked out a dress for the party rather casually. Johanna straightened out her dress and reminded her in a gentle voice, ¡°Remember to greet the Grays when theye and make sure to be polite. Their whole family¡¯sing tonight. You should make a good impression with these people.¡± L nodded stiffly at her mother. She was the daughter of the White family and from an early age, others had always taken care to fawn over her. Since when was she reduced to humbling herself in front of others? Just then, the doorbell sounded out. As the door was opened, several people walked into their home. A man in histe twenties was among them. Chapter 485 Chapter 485 Seeing that everyone was turning their attention to the door, Lzily nced at the man. The man was dressed in a white suit, both simple and clean at the same time. His features were not very outstanding, but overall, he looked not too bad. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. In all honesty, David Gray looked fairly agreeable, at least several times better than that of an ordinary man. However, L had seen just how good-looking Brandon was. Compared with Brandon¡¯s breath-taking appearance, David appeared pretty mediocre. After all, Brandon¡¯s mature and steady temperament and unique sexual attraction happened to be more attractive to most women. At that thought, L was even unhappier with her blind date. Why could J marry such an excellent man while L was reduced to marrying a man who sold fruits for a living? The more L mulled it over in her head, the more unwilling she got. Thus, she did not wee David like she was supposed to. Johanna tried to get the two of them to get along, so she took the initiative to make conversation. ¡°David, I heard that you studied in London previously. When L graduated from university, she also traveled to London. You two can revisit the ce together when you guys have some free time.¡± ¡°Yes, my schedule is pretty flexible and I¡¯m avable at any time. If only I can have the pleasure of traveling with Miss White.¡± David acted very sensibly. He was arranged by his family to go on a blind date here that very day. At first nce, he wasn¡¯t really interested in L. She appeared ordinary on the surface and there was even contempt evident in her eyes. However, this happened to be a marriage of interests. The White family was both rich and powerful in Barnes. If the Gray family could increase their social rank through this marriage, why should he turn it down? Johanna turned to look at L, waiting for an answer from her. Thest thing L wanted to do was travel to London with David. She smiled perfunctorily and said, ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea at all. I disagree with the weather in London.¡± Both Johanna and David appeared embarrassed at this point. As soon as the party was over, L said to Johanna straight to her face, ¡°I don¡¯t think David and I are suitable for each other.¡± Of course, Johanna wouldn¡¯t force L to get married to David. She could only smile helplessly and tell her words offort, ¡°It¡¯s all right. Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll keep looking for other nice young men for you.¡± J had no idea that Johanna held a party at home until the second morning came around. ¡°How was it? Did L like the guy?¡± J was busy making the bed in her bedroom. Speaking about this, it was hard for Johanna not to let out a long sigh. She sat on the edge of the bed and said to her, ¡°She doesn¡¯t like him at all. I¡¯m afraid that L¡¯s marriage will be a tricky matter.¡± Seeing the worried expression in Johanna¡¯s eyes, J tried tofort her at once. ¡°That¡¯s pretty normal. After all, they¡¯re not of the same social rank. It¡¯s reasonable for L to not ept him.¡± Seeing the worried expression in Johanna¡¯s eyes, J tried tofort her at once. ¡°That¡¯s pretty normal. After all, they¡¯re not of the same social rank. It¡¯s reasonable for L to not ept him.¡± Johanna gently tapped J¡¯s nose with her finger and smiled dotingly at her. ¡°She just thinks that he¡¯s not good enough for her. It¡¯s all our fault, though. Your father and I thought she was the only daughter of the White family at the time and we spoiled her too much. So she¡¯s picky now.¡± With a heavy heart, Johanna went on to say, ¡°But she never asks herself whether she deserves to be so picky in the first ce.¡± J consoled her with a smile of her own. ¡°It doesn¡¯t really matter in the end. Anyway, L is still very young. There¡¯s absolutely no hurry. Maybe she¡¯ll understand your painstaking efforts in the future, or maybe she¡¯ll go on to meet someone she likes.¡± The two of them were chatting in the room rather casually. They had no idea that L was right there outside the door listening to them at the moment. Just now, when L saw Johanna walk into J¡¯s room, she thought there was something fishy going on. Why did they choose to close the door? What things were they saying behind her back? L pretended to pass by the door and proceeded to quietly eavesdrop on their conversation Chapter 486 Chapter 486 L could hear Johanna¡¯s voice clearly. Even though her rtionship with Johanna wasn¡¯t as good as before, she never expected that Johanna wouldn¡¯t say such things about her in front of J. It was true that L thought David wasn¡¯t good enough for her. The man Johanna chose was not a good suitor. If this was in the past, L would never even bother wasting her time on such a person. ¡°More often than I like, L makes grandiose aims but has puny abilities to back her up.¡± Johanna let out a mncholy sigh in the room. ¡°You know what she¡¯s like. I¡¯m really concerned that she will end up being bullied by her husband¡¯s family after she gets married. Your father and I have brought her up very carefully. At the same time, we don¡¯t want her to suffer.¡± J¡¯s gentle voice could be heard at that moment. ¡°None of this matters. People are really open- minded now. Even if a woman doesn¡¯t get married, it¡¯s no big deal. Maybe she already has someone she likes. Why don¡¯t you give her the freedom to let her choose who she wants to marry?¡± Johanna was still feeling worried. ¡°No, I should keep an eye out on the young men in the White Group. Maybe I can find a diamond in the rough there. At this time, I¡¯ll try to persuade L again.¡± L¡¯s heart sank in her chest. She bit her bottom lip and appeared very sad. ording to what Johanna said, even if L turned down David Gray, Johanna didn¡¯t intend to find her a husband of higher social rank. What hurt L the most was that Johanna implied she didn¡¯t deserve a wealthy husband. It was not that L didn¡¯t want to get married, but the man selected by Johanna happened to be too shabby. If she really married this kind of person, the other rich girls would all take turnsughing at her. Furthermore, she had just met Brandon, J¡¯s husband. If the husband Johanna chose for L was as powerful as Brandon, L would definitely not object. Furthermore, she had just met Brandon, J¡¯s husband. If the husband Johanna chose for L was as powerful as Brandon, L would definitely not object. Furthermore, she had just met Brandon, J¡¯s husband. If the husband Johanna chose for L was as powerful as Brandon, L would definitely not object. What made L angrier happened to be J¡¯s words. Judging from what J said just now, she was persuading Johanna not to get herself involved in L¡¯s marriage. However, how could L marry a good man without the help of the White family? Angry and aggrieved, L ran down the stairs unhappily. ¡°Miss White, where are you going? It¡¯s almost lunchtime.¡± Seeing that L was wiping the tears from her eyes, the servant hurried to stop her. L was in a fit of rage. She pushed the servant roughly aside, opened the door, and mmed it behind her. ¡°Go away! I don¡¯t want to eat!¡± She walked down the streets by herself. The street was filled with people. Everyone seemed to have a destination in mind, only L had no idea where she was going. She was now known as the adopted daughter of the White family. The girls who used to tter her gradually stopped calling her. She didn¡¯t even have a friend to listen to her grieve. After walking alone on the street for a very long time, L finally walked into a bar. This was the very first time she went to a bar to drink by herself. In the past, she always had several companions to drink with her. She cried while drinking at the same time. She never felt so alone before. The noisy popr music was so deafening that it covered her pitiful sobs perfectly. With her legs crossed, L proceeded to sit in the booth and drink wine directly from the bottle. Once she was finally drunk, several men suddenly walked up to her, their bulky figures blocking the bright light. ¡°Hey girl, are you here alone to drown your sorrows with wine?¡± one of the men asked her roguishly. He constantly scanned her body up and down as if he was measuring the size of her breasts. He even reached out his hand, trying to grab hold of her wrist. L knitted her brows and shook off his hand. ¡°Fuck off!¡± ¡°Hey, it looks like you¡¯re good at ying cat and mouse.¡± The man burst into raucousughter and directly sat down at L¡¯s booth. L gave him a closer look. He was both fat and bulky. His face was oily and he was wearing a gold chain around his neck. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. What L really wanted to do was throw up, but she was too drunk to do anything. Several men surrounded her, which made her feel panicked. She looked around and wanted to ask for help, however, other people ignored her and her troubles. Just as those men were about to yank on L¡¯s wrist again, a woman with an imposing manner came over to their booth. ¡°How dare you push my sister around?! If you don¡¯t leave now, don¡¯t me me if I call the police!¡± The woman¡¯s voice was full of aggression and her cold, sharp eyes made those men leave at once. After those men were gone, the woman gently helped L to her feet. She took a few tissues from her bag to wipe off the tears on L¡¯s face and said in a gentle voice, ¡°I¡¯ve driven those bad guys away, so stop your tears.¡± Chapter 487 Chapter 487 After things fell through with Charis and Ethan, Charis left the Larson Group. Afterward, manypanies offered her job opportunities but she was interested in none of them. She used to think that she liked financial management a great deal. But after leaving the Larson Group, it dawned on her that she wasn¡¯t interested in finance at all. She only did it because she wanted to help Brandon out and be closer to him. During this time, she had been staying at her family¡¯s home. She had been gardening with her mother, watching TV, and attending charity auctions. In a nutshell, she finally got to enjoy her life. At the same time, she was very clear that she was not happy just going about these things. It wasn¡¯t until the Turner family got an invitation from the Larson Group that Charis had a rude awakening. It happened to be the invitation to Brandon and J¡¯s wedding. Staring down at it, Charis lost the only hope she had been grasping on to. For a very long time, she was depressed. She didn¡¯t feel like eating and had been feeling agitated. She appeared to have changed into a whole other person overnight. The only thing she could do was to keep telling herself that at least J¡¯s family background was not as good as hers and she would not be able to hold onto her Mrs. Larson position for long. She would appear in Brandon¡¯s life again when his love for J was gone. She didn¡¯t pay much attention to the fact that Beal and Johanna had arrived at Seacisco. However, when sheter found out that J was, in fact, the daughter of the White family, there was finally nothing left for her now.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Her parents could see how devastated she had gotten. Her parents could see how devastated she had gotten. Her parents could see how devastated she had gotten. The Turner family had always supported her to do whatever she liked. They had never stood between her and her love for Brandon. But now, her love for him had vastly changed. Once love became obsession, many things were bound to be different. Now, she would do anything in her power to get what she wanted and this was called obsession. She wouldn¡¯t give up until Brandon was hers and hers alone. She did everything possible to cheer herself up and make ns to get the love of her life. She wasn¡¯t a senior executive in the Larson Group now, so she didn¡¯t need to care about how others saw her. Furthermore, Brandon had known by now how scheming she could be. If she wanted to get Brandon, she had to get J out of the picture first. She stayed in Barnes for a while and learned some more about the White family. That was when she found out about L. Back then, L¡¯s real parents secretly swapped the babies in the hospital. And now that the Whites had found out about it and J was back, L was no longer the glorified nobledy she used to be. Charis stared at the woman at the newspaper article. She appeared so pitiful and helpless right then. Charis thought that L must think everything was just very unfair right now. As far as she knew about human nature, L would definitely have something against J, which made her a perfect pawn. Charis then decided to stay in Barnes longer and even hired a private detective to keep tabs on L. One night, the private detective gave her a call, saying that L was drinking by herself in a bar. After changing her clothes, Charis soon got to the bar. She had to initiate her n step by step. The first step she had to make was to leave a good impression on L. As soon as she walked into the bar, she saw with her own eyes that L was surrounded by several men. Seeing that this was her chance, she stood up for L and won over her trust. Tears started to well up in L¡¯s eyes as she had never been so helpless before. Charis had just rescued her and she appeared very kind, which made L trust in her entirely. She embraced Charis tightly and disyed her most vulnerable side to her. With tears in her eyes, she said, ¡°It¡¯s all because of that horrible bitch! It¡¯s because of her that my parents don¡¯t want me anymore!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, you can tell me all about your troubles. You have to talk about it with someone instead of keeping it all bottled up inside,¡± Charis said gently. Hearing her say that, L felt even worse. Even a stranger happened to treat her so well, but her mother only spoke bad things about her in front of J. L curled her lips and cried even more woefully as she began to fill Charis in on everything. Chapter 488 Chapter 488 ¡°Can you believe it? I¡¯ve been my mother¡¯s favorite. She has spoiled me all my life. But she doesn¡¯t give a damn about me anymore. It looks like I never cross her mind. Now she is always thinking and talking about J.¡± L poured her heart out to Charis, making sure not to miss a single detail. She didn¡¯t bother withholding herself. After all, Charis was a stranger to her ¡ª a stranger whom she could share anything with without any burden. Charis patiently sat beside L, listening to herments. ¡°Calm down. I know how you feel,¡± she comforted her. ¡°I have a sister myself.¡± Hearing that, L¡¯s eyes lit up. The new piece of information seemed to bring her closer to Charis. She had found a confidant. ¡°Then, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll understand my feelings. But J was never a part of our life before. She just barged in and now she¡¯s like a barrier between me and my parents. If it weren¡¯t for her, I wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this.¡± ¡°Well, it seems like your sister couldn¡¯t stand sharing her mother with you. Don¡¯t get angry and lose your mental peace because of her. She will be punished for it someday,¡± Charisforted L. ¡°I know she will be punished sooner orter. But I can¡¯t stand another day with her! She has be a total bitch!¡± Tears welled up in L¡¯s eyes. She hugged Charis and sobbed uncontrobly. ¡°She is a bumpkin. How could she do this to me?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like people like that either. They are ill-bred. You must have been too tolerant toward her. That¡¯s why she is treating you like this.¡± Charis sounded kind and empathetic. L sniffed loudly. She had found someone who understood her well. L sniffed loudly. She had found someone who understood her well. L sniffed loudly. She had found someone who understood her well. She hated herself for yielding to J for everything. ¡°But what can I do now?¡± L felt cornered. ¡°You¡¯ve got to calm down first. Don¡¯t let your emotions control you. You have to think with a clear mind. Only then can we figure out a way together.¡± Charis could tell that L was on the verge of breaking down. L wiped her tears, took a deep breath, and eventually calmed down. Charis thought for a while and said, ¡°From what you¡¯ve told me, I feel J hates you because she thinks you¡¯ve been living the life that belonged to her. That¡¯s why she is trying to portray herself as a good person. She wants to get in their good books. You¡¯ve got to be careful.¡± N?velDrama.Org content rights. L pursed her lips and nodded in agreement. J pretended to be a talented designer, which made Johanna think she was dedicated and hard- working. But who would enjoy working in this world? She used to think J seemed like a nice person even though she didn¡¯t really like her. But after listening to Charis, L concluded it was all a facade. None of it was her fault. After all, she was just a newborn baby when she ¡°stole¡± J¡¯s life. To be fair, she was also a victim here! Seeing L gnashing her teeth, Charis understood she couldn¡¯t instigate her to harm J right away. All she could do now was pretend to offer advice. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve got to try and have a good rtionship with her so that your parents don¡¯t alienate you. And don¡¯t try separating her from your parents. After all, they are rted by blood.¡± Although L was still treated as a daughter of the White family, everyone knew she was a mere outsider now. Charis had wanted to say something more to stir things up but gave up the idea after seeing how fragile and vulnerable L was. ¡°They are bonded by blood. Moreover, your parents must be feeling guilty for J now. No matter how hard you try, you¡¯ll never be able to separate them.¡± L sighed helplessly. ¡°So do I have to live all my life this way as the second important person in the family?¡± Charis pursed her lips and fell silent. Her job was done. She had nted a seed of hatred in L¡¯s heart. It would soon sprout in the future. ¡°All right. You better go back and think about it. It¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯ll drive you home.¡± Then, Charis drove L home. When L was about to get out of the car, she turned to Charis and said, ¡°Hey, sorry I¡¯ve never got to ask. What¡¯s your name? Can I have your phone number? It was nice chatting with you. Well, if I get upset or feel like talking to someone, can I call you?¡± Almost all of L¡¯s rich friends cut her loose now. She needed a friend like Charis who understood her well. ¡°My name is Zoe Brooks. You can just call me Zoe. I will be staying in Barnes for a few days. Call me whenever you feel like talking to someone.¡± Charis handed L a business card with a smile. Chapter 489 Chapter 489 Ethan got off the private ne. Ofte, he had been working on expanding the Larson Group¡¯s business to Barnes, so he would be staying there for a long while, handling thepany¡¯s affairs. But before that, he wanted to take J to his vi in Barnes. Johanna was sitting on the sofa, enjoying her tea. Seeing Ethane with several bags of gifts, she immediately stood up and weed him. ¡°We have enough of everything at home. You didn¡¯t have to buy us all these.¡± She then called Beal, who was ying with the birds in the yard, ¡°Beal, Ethan is here. Stop ying with the parrot. Come and join us.¡± Ethan respectfully ced the gifts on the table. ¡°This is just a token of my respect and sincerity. Please ept them, Mrs. White.¡± Johanna pursed her lips and studied his face. She felt Ethan was a good man, both in terms of appearance and character. She felt happy for J. ¡°What brings you here this time?¡± Considering he hade to meet them with bags of gifts, Johanna sensed there must be a good reason. ¡°I¡¯m here to pick up J,¡± Ethan replied honestly. ¡°My vi in Barnes is ready. All the decoration works and arrangements are done. It¡¯s in Seaview Bay ¡ª not far from here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s very thoughtful of you.¡± Beal walked in with his hands behind his back. His brows furrowed as he sized Ethan up. Johanna didn¡¯t mind. Her impression of Ethan had changed. Besides, he and J had just gotten married. She didn¡¯t want to keep J away from her husband forever. Johanna didn¡¯t mind. Her impression of Ethan had changed. Besides, he and J had just gotten married. She didn¡¯t want to keep J away from her husband forever. Johanna didn¡¯t mind. Her impression of Ethan had changed. Besides, he and J had just gotten married. She didn¡¯t want to keep J away from her husband forever. ¡°Of course. But we have missed out a lot in her life and want to bond with her. You should bring J here at least twice a week.¡± ¡°Of course, Mrs. White.¡± After getting Johanna¡¯s permission, Ethan packed J¡¯s things, ready to take her home. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ******* After work, J received a call from Ethan that evening saying he had shifted all her things to their new house. After moving out of the Whites¡¯ house, J was surprised by the frequent messages and calls from L. ¡°I feel lonely after you moved out. It¡¯s boring here without you. Why don¡¯t we go out for lunch tomorrow?¡± L texted her. After the constant messages and persuasion, J finally agreed to go out for lunch with her. However, it wasn¡¯t as awkward as before. L didn¡¯te with her cocky friends this time. She seemed kinder now. ¡°J, I¡¯m really sorry for all the things I have said and done. Will you forgive me? Those were my friends¡¯ ideas. I don¡¯t hang out with them anymore. Now that I think about it, I feel ashamed of myself. They were all bad influences.¡± L sounded sincere. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯ve changed. Mom has always been worried about you. I¡¯m sure she will be happy to see you like this,¡± J said tly. She wasn¡¯t a big fan of L. But considering they were family now, J put an effort to be nice to her. The rtionship between Johanna and L also got better since L started ying a loving sister to J. They bonded well. ¡°Have you been hanging out with J?¡± Johanna asked as she brought soup from the kitchen. ¡°I kept the soup warm for you.¡± L nodded. She had blindly followed Charis¡¯s instructions. As expected, Johanna seemed to like her better now. However, it didn¡¯t make L happy. Instead, it only broke her heart to know that she had to y nice with J to get the love and care from her parents. That weekend, Charis called L. ¡°Are you free tomorrow? I have two tickets for skydiving. I had nned to go with my friend, but something came up. I have to go back and meet my family. I will give the tickets to you. You can have fun there.¡± L had been thinking about what to do during the weekend, and she loved skydiving. ¡°But I don¡¯t have any friends now,¡± she finally said. Her best friends didn¡¯t hang out with her anymore. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a sister?¡± Charis smiled, slyly indicating her to do something. ¡°It would be a great opportunity to bond with her.¡± Chapter 490 Chapter 490 After washing up and getting dressed, Ethan went back to the bedside and stroked J¡¯s hair. Then, he leaned forward and kissed her. J squeezed her legs together as the growing sensation made her ufortable. She was half naked, revealing her slender back. ¡°I¡¯m going to thepany now.¡± Ethan smiled, his eyes gleaming with tenderness. He touched J¡¯s quiveringshes and trailed down her flushed cheeks. Not long after Ethan left, J¡¯s phone rang. She was still sleepy. Ethan hadn¡¯t let her restst night. J was exhausted; her body felt like jelly. She didn¡¯t feel like moving out of bed. But her phone kept ringing and she had no choice but to pick up. ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this?¡± J mumbled, her eyes still closed. ¡°J, it¡¯s me, L. Are you free this afternoon?¡± L asked,ing straight to the point. ¡°Do you want to go skydiving with me? I have an extra ticket.¡± J pursed her lips and thought about it. Ethan had to work overtime today. It would be boring to stay at home all alone. Besides, J had never gone skydiving before. She was thrilled to try it. ¡°Okay. Send me the address. I¡¯ll directly go there in the afternoon.¡± J hung up the phone and slept until noon. J hung up the phone and slept until noon. Before meeting L, she sent a message to Ethan, informing him that she was going to try skydiving. J hung up the phone and slept until noon. Before meeting L, she sent a message to Ethan, informing him that she was going to try skydiving. But Ethan was busy; he hadn¡¯t read the message. J and L soon arrived at the club and took a helicopter to the spot. ¡°J, have you tried skydiving before?¡± L asked when she saw the excitement in J¡¯s eyes. ¡°No, but I¡¯ve always wanted to try.¡± J¡¯s stomach flipped with excitement and fear as she looked down at the surrounding mountains. Everything looked tiny from where she was standing. She had never tried skydiving before and couldn¡¯t wait to experience it. Hearing it was J¡¯s first time, the coach once again enlisted the dos and don¡¯ts. L had tried skydiving several times. It was no big deal to her. Thus, she felt rxed. ¡°Is this your parachute? Gosh, it¡¯s so beautiful.¡± L sighed as she looked at the heavy parachute equipment in awe. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. The female coach pointed at the backpack in front of L. ¡°This is your parachute, and that¡¯s your friend¡¯s.¡± L nodded nomittally and nced at it. Just then, she discovered a problem with the string in J¡¯s parachute. It looked like the string was severed before and was tied again in ce. L had tried skydiving before, so she had experience in the sport. Considering the faulty string, the switch of the parachute was likely to get stuck in the knot that would prevent the parachute from opening in mid-air. On the off chance the parachute opened, it wouldn¡¯t function normally, let alone withstand the weight of two adults. J and the coach would plunge to death. L pointed at the parachute, wanting to remind the coach about the severed string but subconsciously shut up. Somehow, Charis¡¯s words rang in her ears. J and her parents had an unshakable rtionship. L believed her mother and father would ignore her as long as J was around. However, if J died in an ident, L would continue to be the only daughter of the White family. Her life would be back on track again. Thinking of this, L chose to remain silent. She adjusted J¡¯s parachute so that no one would notice the knot. Chapter 491 Chapter 491 ¡°We¡¯re ready now. Everyone, put on the equipment. Remember, you must strictly follow the coach¡¯s instructions. If you¡¯re scared, just close your eyes and take deep breaths. When you reach a certain height, the coach will remind you to open your eyes to enjoy the view. The scenery ahead is stunning. I hope you¡¯ll enjoy the experience.¡± The coach gave the crowd thest few reminders through a loudspeaker. The helicopter whizzed through the mountains and circled at the top. Wind swept towards it from all directions. From that vantage point, one could¡¯ve enjoyed a panoramic view of Barnes¡¯s beautiful mountains and forests. The coach continued, ¡°Check if your parachute equipment is ready.¡± J¡¯s coach inspected their parachute pack twice, but didn¡¯t find anything wrong. Then he helped J strap on the equipment. L bit her lip nervously as the coach helped J with the parachute. Seeing that the coach didn¡¯t find anything wrong with J¡¯s equipment, L was relieved. J and the coach were strapped together and they walked to the helicopter door, which had already been opened. J suddenly felt a sense of thrill and her stomach did a somersault. ¡°Get ready. We¡¯ll go first.¡± The coach¡¯s voice was nearly drowned out in the wind. As soon as J was ready, they jumped out of the helicopter. The two of them plummeted through the air. At this moment, time seemed to have stopped and a fierce wind whipped at their faces. The two of them plummeted through the air. At this moment, time seemed to have stopped and a fierce wind whipped at their faces. The two of them plummeted through the air. At this moment, time seemed to have stopped and a fierce wind whipped at their faces. J screamed subconsciously. When she opened her eyes, she seemed to have integrated with nature. Just as the coach was about tounch the parachute, he suddenly found that it was stuck. J also noticed that something was wrong. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you opened the parachute yet?¡± J craned her neck to look at the coach curiously. But to her surprise, thetter¡¯s face was pale as a sheet and there were big beads of sweat on his forehead. ¡°The parachute¡­ It¡¯s stuck¡­¡± The coach¡¯s voice was trembling. Gritting his teeth, he pressed the button with all his strength. Fortunately, the parachute finally shot out, but it didn¡¯t openpletely. The malfunctioning parachute couldn¡¯t bear the weight of two people. As they plummeted faster, it began to deform in the air and didn¡¯t slow down their descent at all. Both J and the coach were scared out of their wits. J couldn¡¯t help but scream in panic. Everything was out of control. The two of them swung in the wind violently. The safety inspectors in the helicopter all noticed what was going on and were frightened as they watched the situation below. ¡°Contact the control center quickly. There is something wrong with parachute No. 08.¡± A safety inspector immediately did as he was told. L hadn¡¯t jumped yet. She stared at the figures below, which were getting smaller and smaller, her face full of horror. She covered her mouth with her hand and couldn¡¯t help but feel inexplicably excited. The earth was getting closer and closer. J squeezed her eyes shut and felt her life shing before her eyes. The coach gritted his teeth and tried every means to use the wind to their advantage. He had rich experience in this field. As a coach, he had also learned many ways to save himself in case of such a dangerous situation. He tried using the malfunctioning parachute to change the direction of their fall. Soon, the coach saw a patch of forest in front of them. If they could fall into the trees, perhaps the branches could buffer their fall and they could survive. ¡°Listen to me. Let¡¯s glide towards the forest and try to fall on a tree!¡± J was too terrified to speak. She could only nod in a panic. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Breathtaking secondster, the two of them fell into the forest. Chapter 492 Chapter 492 J closed her eyes as she felt her back collide with the branches. She had no control over her body as she plunged, getting thrashed by the branches along the way. J yelped as the pain grew unbearable. The branches broke, and the birds fled in fear, squealing aloud. J passed through several branches and finally dangled on one of them that seemed to squeak under her weight. She slowly opened her eyes and saw the world spin around her. For a moment, she couldn¡¯t fathom why the whole world was upside down. The sky was under her feet and thend above her head. J involuntarily wriggled to escape. Unable to withstand her weight any longer, the branch broke, and she fell to the ground with a loud thud. ¡°Ouch!¡± J screamed as she felt something sting all over her body. The ground was covered withyers andyers of leaves. The deformed parachute decelerated the fall, causing minimal damage. Besides, the canopy of branches and the heaps of leaves seemed to hold her in ce. J looked around and saw the coach writhing on the ground a couple of meters away from her. ¡°Are you okay?¡± J took a deep breath and tried crawling toward him to check his condition. But she couldn¡¯t move a finger. Every bone in her body hurt. Even the slightest movement caused her immense pain. Every bone in her body hurt. Even the slightest movement caused her immense pain. Every bone in her body hurt. Even the slightest movement caused her immense pain. Shey on the ground until her breathing returned to normal. Finally, she mustered the strength and stood up. Then, she slowly limped toward the coach. An involuntary moan escaped her lips as she struggled to ce her foot on the ground. The coach was still lying on the ground, gasping for breath. He was more injured than J. ¡°Legs, my legs¡­¡± J carefully rolled up his pants and found that both his legs had swollen up like a pumpkin. They were deformed. ¡°It looks like a fracture. Can you try and stand up?¡± J grabbed his hand, trying to help him stand up. However, as soon as she moved his leg, he screamed in pain. J tried several ways to help him but to no avail. The coach was in so much pain that he couldn¡¯t move his body. ¡°No! I can¡¯t!¡± The coach cried out in pain and immediatelyy back on the ground. His back was drenched in a cold sweat. J finally gave up to spare him from the pain. She sat on the ground and scanned the surroundings. They were deep into the woods. To make things worse, the coach had broken his legs. Therefore, it was impossible to leave the ce by themselves. J closed her eyes and let out a weary sigh. They had no choice but to wait for someone to rescue them. ¡°I hope they can find us before it gets dark.¡± J untied the parachute and rolled her sleeves up to examine her wounds. Her body was covered in scratches and bruises. She rolled down her sleeves and groaned, ¡°How unfortunate of me to encounter such a situation during my first skydiving experience. Gosh, I¡¯ll never try this again.¡± Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°To be honest, I have never encountered such a situation before,¡± the coach said breathlessly. ¡°The toughest situation I had encountered before was with a client who became terrified midway and wanted to get back into the helicopter. But we were already flying in the air.¡± J smiled bitterly. The coach shifted on the ground, yelping in pain. ¡°Check if the satellite phone on my waist is working or not. If it is, then we can use it to ask for help. The people in the helicopter should have seen our approximatending location as well.¡± J quickly took the phone from his waist. Luckily, the phone was still working. Following the coach¡¯s instructions, she called the emergency team for help. Chapter 493 Chapter 493 ¡°Mr. Larson, we¡¯ll get this project, I guarantee it. You¡¯re such a visionary foring to Barnes for development. Your suggestion at the meeting just now was revolutionary!¡± As the shareholders filed out of the meeting room, they kept ttering Ethan. Ethan smiled courteously but said nothing. He got his private phone back from the assistant and checked it for messages. The next second, his expression darkened. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me someone had sent me a message?¡± he asked his assistant in a low voice. The assistant was so frightened that he stammered, ¡°Well, Mr. Larson, you never check your phone during such significant meetings. You told me never to bother you with texts or calls.¡± Ethan reread the text from J and frowned. The shareholders from the meeting just now exchanged nces when they saw Ethan¡¯s dramatic change in disposition. What could¡¯ve happened? Did stock prices plummet? Ethan tried dialing J¡¯s number, but he couldn¡¯t get through. ¡°Move tonight¡¯s meeting to tomorrow.¡± With an icy cold expression, Ethan grabbed his suit jacket and stormed out of the building. Almost every single time he left J alone, something bad happened to her. N?velDrama.Org content rights. This made him seriously consider bringing her with him wherever he went. She was an adult for crying out loud. Why couldn¡¯t she take care of herself? Skydiving was an extreme sport. Besides, given their current situation, neither of them were safe. The Lester family was out to kill them. ¡°Mr. Lorson, we¡¯ll get this project, I guorontee it. You¡¯re such o visionory foring to Bornes for development. Your suggestion ot the meeting just now wos revolutionory!¡± As the shoreholders filed out of the meeting room, they kept flottering Ethon. Ethon smiled courteously but soid nothing. He got his privote phone bock from the ossistont ond checked it for messoges. The next second, his expression dorkened. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me someone hod sent me o messoge?¡± he osked his ossistont in o low voice. The ossistont wos so frightened thot he stommered, ¡°Well, Mr. Lorson, you never check your phone during such significont meetings. You told me never to bother you with texts or colls.¡± Ethon rereod the text from J ond frowned. The shoreholders from the meeting just now exchonged glonces when they sow Ethon¡¯s dromotic chonge in disposition. Whot could¡¯ve hoppened? Did stock prices plummet? Ethon tried dioling J¡¯s number, but he couldn¡¯t get through. ¡°Move tonight¡¯s meeting to tomorrow.¡± With on icy cold expression, Ethon grobbed his suit jocket ond stormed out of the building. Almost every single time he left J olone, something bod hoppened to her. This mode him seriously consider bringing her with him wherever he went. She wos on odult for crying out loud. Why couldn¡¯t she toke core of herself? Skydiving wos on extreme sport. Besides, given their current situotion, neither of them were sofe. The Lester fomily wos out to kill them. Ethan closed the car door. He didn¡¯t know which club J had gone to, so he asked the driver to head to the northern suburbs first. Most parachute clubs in Barnes were located there. Ethan closed the car door. He didn¡¯t know which club J had gone to, so he asked the driver to head to the northern suburbs first. Most parachute clubs in Barnes were located there. He leaned against the window and rested his forehead on his hand. He med himself for not reading the message in time. If he had seen it earlier, he wouldn¡¯t have allowed J to go. Two hours had passed since J texted him. Ethan tried calling her again, but to no avail. Just as he was about to give up, the call suddenly connected and he heard a woman crying on the other end of the line. ¡°Who¡¯s this? Where¡¯s J?¡± Ethan narrowed his eyes in suspicion. He could instantly tell that this voice didn¡¯t belong to his wife. J wouldn¡¯t cry like that. ¡°This is¡­ L,¡± the woman said in between sobs. Her pitiful crying only annoyed Ethan. ¡°Give the phone to J,¡± he said coldly. ¡°No¡­ J¡­ J isn¡¯t here. She¡­¡± L was too choked with sobs toplete a single sentence. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ Sorry. I¡¯m just so scared¡­¡± Ethan¡¯s patience soon wore thin. He raised his voice and shouted, ¡°What happened?¡± His angry voice struck fear in L¡¯s heart. She promptly stopped crying and said, ¡°J¡­ Her parachute malfunctioned. Oh, my God! I don¡¯t know what to do¡­ I just¡­¡± Ethan¡¯s heart sank when he heard this. Anxious to get more details, ¡°Tell me everything. Now.¡± ¡°We¡­ She¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­ It happened so fast. This is all my fault. Oh, God! This is all my fault¡­¡± L seemed to be scared out of her wits. She couldn¡¯t stop crying nor could she speak coherently. Ethan rubbed his temples and took a deep breath. ¡°Stop crying, will you?¡± Why was this woman so useless? She was wasting his precious time. It seemed that L didn¡¯t understand what he was asking. She just kept sobbing into the receiver. Ethan tried asking her again, but no matter what he couldn¡¯t get any useful information out of her. He was so angry that he hung up the phone directly. Then he dialed his assistant¡¯s number. His tone was bone-chillingly cold. ¡°Check all the parachute clubs in Barnes quickly and find out which one Mrs. Larson went to.¡± The assistant was quite efficient. Minutester, he called Ethan back and reported, ¡°Mr. Larson, there are only two parachute clubs open for business today in Barnes, and one of them was full this morning. The club you are looking for should be Mountaintop Parachute Club. They received two female customers earlier this afternoon.¡± Ethan gave the driver the instructions and the luxury car sped on the expressway towards the Mountaintop Parachute Club. Chapter 494 Chapter 494 The Mountaintop Parachute Club had been thrown into chaos, and everyone was panicking. It had been run for over a decade, and not once had something like this happened. Ethan demanded to speak to the manager of the club and asked him what had happened. The manager was sweating buckets, visibly in shock, and all he could do was to me the employees of the club. ¡°What on earth happened here? I¡¯ve only been away from the club of two days, but you¡¯ve already caused someone¡¯s life to be in danger!¡± The manager was enraged, pointing and cussing at the employees. ¡°Get to the point,¡± Ethan grunted. ¡°Yes, Mr. Larson.¡± The manager nodded and bowed to Ethan while wearing a ttering smile. Then, the smile on his face disappeared as he turned his attention to the employees. ¡°Have you found Mrs. Larson? Is she okay?¡± One of the employees replied hurriedly, ¡°We¡¯ve received calls from Mrs. Larson and the instructor. They said that they¡¯re safe and sound now.¡± Ethan breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that. ¡°We¡¯ve already called the police and sent people to search and rescue them. Soon, we¡¯ll be able to find them,¡± the employee said. ¡°I¡¯ming with you,¡± Ethan said with a nod. ******* The helicopter roved over the forest as the sound of its propeller resonated in the air. When J looked up, she saw a tall man going down thedder, which was hanging from the helicopter. Secondster, she realized who it was. Ethan was wearing a sullen expression, and his eyes depicted aplicated emotion. Bruises and wounds were all over J¡¯s body. As she stood on the ground, she looked like she was barely able to keep herself standing. The Mountointop Porochute Club hod been thrown into choos, ond everyone wos ponicking. It hod been run for over o decode, ond not once hod something like this hoppened. Ethon demonded to speok to the monoger of the club ond osked him whot hod hoppened. The monoger wos sweoting buckets, visibly in shock, ond oll he could do wos to blome the employees of the club. ¡°Whot on eorth hoppened here? I¡¯ve only been owoy from the club of two doys, but you¡¯ve olreody coused someone¡¯s life to be in donger!¡± The monoger wos enroged, pointing ond cussing ot the employees. ¡°Get to the point,¡± Ethon grunted. ¡°Yes, Mr. Lorson.¡± The monoger nodded ond bowed to Ethon while weoring o flottering smile. Then, the smile on his foce disoppeored os he turned his ottention to the employees. ¡°Hove you found Mrs. Lorson? Is she okoy?¡± One of the employees replied hurriedly, ¡°We¡¯ve received colls from Mrs. Lorson ond the instructor. They soid thot they¡¯re sofe ond sound now.¡± Ethon breothed o sigh of relief when he heord thot. ¡°We¡¯ve olreody colled the police ond sent people to seorch ond rescue them. Soon, we¡¯ll be oble to find them,¡± the employee soid. ¡°I¡¯ming with you,¡± Ethon soid with o nod. ******* The helicopter roved over the forest os the sound of its propeller resonoted in the oir. When J looked up, she sow o toll mon going down the lodder, which wos honging from the helicopter. Seconds loter, she reolized who it wos. Ethon wos weoring o sullen expression, ond his eyes depicted oplicoted emotion. Bruises ond wounds were oll over J¡¯s body. As she stood on the ground, she looked like she wos borely oble to keep herself stonding. She pursed her lips and looked down, feeling remorseful. ¡°Honey.¡± She pursed her lips and looked down, feeling remorseful. ¡°Honey.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know how dangerous it is to go skydiving? J Larson!¡± Ethan shouted angrily. J didn¡¯t dare to say anything. ¡°Turn around.¡± He lifted her arm and her the clothes on her back. Rage filled his eyes as his face turned grim. ¡°You almost died!¡± All the wounds on J¡¯s body made Ethan feel so sorry for her. J just let him chastise her, and she didn¡¯t bother to argue. Still, she was really scared. Had she been unlucky, she might¡¯ve actually died this time. While tugging at Ethan¡¯s sleeve, she said timidly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, honey.¡± When he saw the tears in her eyes, his heart softened. Truthfully, he still had things to say, but he couldn¡¯t get mad at her anymore. ¡°Let¡¯s take you to the hospital first!¡± Ethan carried her to the helicopter and gently ced her on one of the seats. ******* Pretty soon, J and the coach were sent to the hospital. Beal and Johanna arrived soon after. They were so shocked by what happened. So many stuff had happened within just a few days. ¡°Where did you skydive, J? God, that establishment must be horrible! They can¡¯t even guarantee the safety of their customers!¡± Based on the tone of Johanna¡¯s voice, she was livid. Her eyes were bursting with anger, and it looked like she wanted to burn that parachute club to the ground or make them disappear from Barnes. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Mrs. White. It¡¯s all our fault.¡± The manager of the Mountaintop Parachute Club didn¡¯t know how to exin the matter. It was true that the ident happened in their club. All he could do was sigh andment the fact that he was so unfortunate that such powerful people were enraged in his watch. After hearing that J was involved in an ident, Draco went to the hospital to visit her. He had a strangely agitated feeling in his heart when he heard the news, so he wasted no time to rush over. ¡°You can rest in the hospital for as long as you need. Don¡¯t worry about your job at W Marks. I¡¯ll give you permission to take a sick leave until you¡¯ve fully recovered.¡± Seeing that Ethan and J¡¯s parents were in the ward as well, Draco said nothing more. After he gave his gift to her, he left right away. Later on, Ethan put J to sleep before leaving the ward to begin investigating the ident. The club¡¯s manager said to him, ¡°We pay great attention to our customers¡¯ safety. Each time, before they skydive, we make sure that the parachute is secured and that there¡¯s nothing that can cause an ident. Logically speaking, the chances of the parachute being malfunctioning are very small.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. As a sign of their sincere apologies, all the staff of the club hade to the hospital. L¡¯s instructor came forward and whispered to Ethan, ¡°I saw that woman touching Mrs. Larson¡¯s parachute package before she jumped. I don¡¯t know if she did something to the parachute, but you should ask her. She might know something.¡± The instructor nced at L as thetter sat on the hospital chair with a forlorn expression. Chapter 495 Chapter 495 Of course, Ethan wouldn¡¯t just trust in this woman¡¯s words. He went to the ward of J¡¯s coach, who was also severely injured in the ident. The coach¡¯s foot was in a bulky cast. Knowing that Ethan was here to ask about the ident, he recounted the details carefully. ¡°I was exining the dos and don¡¯ts to Mrs. Larson when I noticed her friend sneaking around the parachute equipment. I didn¡¯t think much of it because at the time, I just thought she was curious about the equipment, like our other customers usually are.¡± If the coach hadn¡¯t been questioned by Ethan, he would¡¯ve forgotten all about it. After interrogating the coach, Ethan went back to J¡¯s ward to take care of her. Beal and Johanna stayed in J¡¯s ward, too. They didn¡¯t ask how the investigation was going until J was taken to the doctor¡¯s office for a follow-up examination. ¡°I have a suspect.¡± Ethan went straight to the point. Now that he had pieced together the puzzle, he felt that L was very likely to be the one who tampered with J¡¯s parachute. When L answered J¡¯s phone earlier, she kept crying profusely and refused to even finish a sentence. Of course, Ethon wouldn¡¯t just trust in this womon¡¯s words. He went to the word of J¡¯s cooch, who wos olso severely injured in the ident. The cooch¡¯s foot wos in o bulky cost. Knowing thot Ethon wos here to osk obout the ident, he recounted the detoils corefully. ¡°I wos exploining the dos ond don¡¯ts to Mrs. Lorson when I noticed her friend sneoking oround the porochute equipment. I didn¡¯t think much of it becouse ot the time, I just thought she wos curious obout the equipment, like our other customers usuolly ore.¡± If the cooch hodn¡¯t been questioned by Ethon, he would¡¯ve forgotten oll obout it. After interrogoting the cooch, Ethon went bock to J¡¯s word to toke core of her. Beol ond Johonno stoyed in J¡¯s word, too. They didn¡¯t osk how the investigotion wos going until J wos token to the doctor¡¯s office for o follow-up exominotion. ¡°I hove o suspect.¡± Ethon went stroight to the point. Now thot he hod pieced together the puzzle, he felt thot Lilo wos very likely to be the one who tompered with J¡¯s porochute. When Lilo onswered J¡¯s phone eorlier, she kept crying profusely ond refused to even finish o sentence. Logically speaking, she was already a grown woman, not some child. Even if she was scared out of her wits, she wouldn¡¯t have cried that like. It was more likely that she was deliberately stalling him, hindering him from saving J Logically speaking, she was already a grown woman, not some child. Even if she was scared out of her wits, she wouldn¡¯t have cried that like. It was more likely that she was deliberately stalling him, hindering him from saving J Beal seldom got angry. He was usually gentle and non-confrontational, and even when he was angry, he usually wouldn¡¯t show it on his face. But now, he looked absolutely enraged. ¡°Since you have a suspect, let¡¯s call the police. I doubt anyone in Barnes would dare to go against the White family.¡± Ethan pursed his lips and didn¡¯t say anything. After all, he hadn¡¯t questioned L yet. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you who it is when Ie back.¡± After saying that, Ethan pulled L¡¯s skydiving coach aside for a talk. At this time, L was sitting on a bench in the corridor, crying her eyes out. ¡°She¡¯s my number one suspect right now.¡± With a cold look in his eyes, Ethan jabbed his thumb in L¡¯s direction. ¡°Repeat what you said to me just now.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. The coach reiterated that she saw L tampering with the parachute. When she heard the coach¡¯s im, she stood up immediately. ¡°What the hell are you talking about? It wasn¡¯t me!¡± She denied vehemently, almost without thinking. Panic seized her. She didn¡¯t expect that someone would witness her crime. The coach stood her ground firmly. ¡°I¡¯m not the only one who saw you. Mrs. Larson¡¯s coach can also testify to it. If you didn¡¯t tamper with it, why were you standing so close to the parachute equipment and even fiddling it?¡± Ethan locked eyes with L and said ominously, ¡°We need an exnation, Miss White.¡± L took a step back, fear written all over her face. The two coaches had seen her. She couldn¡¯t deny that she didn¡¯t tamper with the parachute now. But she didn¡¯t do it with her own hands¡­ Facing the serious gaze from Ethan, L bit her lower lip and exined in an aggrieved tone, ¡°I¡­ I did check her parachute and saw that the strings had been tampered with. But I didn¡¯t do it!¡± Well, at the very least, she didn¡¯t break it with her own hands! She wasn¡¯t the one who started all this. Ethan narrowed his eyes at her. Through gritted teeth, he demanded, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you tell anyone? You¡¯ve skydived before. You should¡¯ve known that J could¡¯ve been killed!¡± Chapter 496 Chapter 496 Upon hearing that, L suddenly mped her hand over her mouth. Just now, she was so busy defending herself that she had unwittingly spilled the beans. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± L was at a loss for words. ¡°I just forgot to mention it to her coach. Besides, why are you all looking at me? Even her coach didn¡¯t notice it!¡± No one believed a word she said. ¡°You saw that her parachute was tampered with and kept that information to yourself. That¡¯s a crime in itself.¡± Ethan¡¯s gaze was so piercing that it bored into L¡¯s skull. ¡°Since you can¡¯t give us a reasonable exnation, we¡¯ll conclude that you deliberately kept it to yourself.¡± Her reaction had given her away. Ethan had seen through her at a nce. ¡°Even if you didn¡¯t do it yourself, you¡¯re partly to be med. You knew the parachute wouldn¡¯t work, and yet you said nothing. It¡¯s clear to us that you wanted J dead!¡± Faced with Ethan¡¯s aggressive questioning, L didn¡¯t know what to say. Indeed, she saw that one of the strings had been cut and retied, but she didn¡¯t warn J. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t¡­ That¡¯s not¡­¡± L was at aplete loss and burst into tears. She shouted, ¡°I didn¡¯t do it! I wasn¡¯t the one who wanted her dead! You can¡¯t put the whole thing on me!¡± Her whole body was trembling. She had never been considered a suspect before, let alone a murderer. Upon heoring thot, Lilo suddenly clomped her hond over her mouth. Just now, she wos so busy defending herself thot she hod unwittingly spilled the beons. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Lilo wos ot o loss for words. ¡°I just forgot to mention it to her cooch. Besides, why ore you oll looking ot me? Even her cooch didn¡¯t notice it!¡± No one believed o word she soid. ¡°You sow thot her porochute wos tompered with ond kept thot informotion to yourself. Thot¡¯s o crime in itself.¡± Ethon¡¯s goze wos so piercing thot it bored into Lilo¡¯s skull. ¡°Since you con¡¯t give us o reosonoble explonotion, we¡¯ll conclude thot you deliberotely kept it to yourself.¡± Her reoction hod given her owoy. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Ethon hod seen through her ot o glonce. ¡°Even if you didn¡¯t do it yourself, you¡¯re portly to be blomed. You knew the porochute wouldn¡¯t work, ond yet you soid nothing. It¡¯s cleor to us thot you wonted J deod!¡± Foced with Ethon¡¯s oggressive questioning, Lilo didn¡¯t know whot to soy. Indeed, she sow thot one of the strings hod been cut ond retied, but she didn¡¯t worn J. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t¡­ Thot¡¯s not¡­¡± Lilo wos ot oplete loss ond burst into teors. She shouted, ¡°I didn¡¯t do it! I wosn¡¯t the one who wonted her deod! You con¡¯t put the whole thing on me!¡± Her whole body wos trembling. She hod never been considered o suspect before, let olone o murderer. Ethan rolled his eyes at her quibbling. Ethan rolled his eyes at her quibbling. ¡°You were sneaking around the equipment. Even if you really didn¡¯t cut the string, you probably did something to conceal it, which was why J¡¯s coach didn¡¯t notice that anything was wrong when he inspected it.¡± Ethan had figured it all out. ¡°You¡­ You don¡¯t have any proof!¡± L red at him angrily. She hated how smart J¡¯s husband was! He had put the pieces together so soon. Ethan indeed didn¡¯t have any solid proof, so he couldn¡¯t do anything to L in the meantime. L¡¯s eyes darted all over the ce in a panic. She seldom yed dirty let alone got caught red- handed; now she didn¡¯t know how to get herself out of this situation. At a loss, she stormed out of the hospital in tears. She had to find a way to solve this matter as soon as possible. With Brandon¡¯s connections, he would find the truth out sooner orter. ******* After L left, Ethan returned to J¡¯s ward. When J saw hime in, she broke into a sweet smile. ¡°Where¡¯ve you been?¡± After hesitating for a few seconds, Ethan decided to tell her what he had just found. ¡°No wonder she suddenly invited me to go skydiving with her.¡± J smiled bitterly. On the inside, she waspletely shocked. She had been having a bad feeling ever since L started acting nice around her. But it never urred to her that L would actually try to kill her. Ethan said nothing. ¡°Do my parents know?¡± J suddenly asked. ¡°Since L tried to hurt me, maybe she¡¯ll try to hurt them, too.¡± Ethan pinched her cheek and smiled. ¡°You silly girl. She wanted to hurt you because you are your parents¡¯ biological daughter and the future heir to the White fortune. What good wille out of hurting your parents? And no, I haven¡¯t told your parents about it yet. I¡¯m afraid they might not believe it was L and will try to hinder the investigation.¡± J lowered her head. ¡°Of course they won¡¯t believe it. L was their daughter for so many years¡­¡± Ethan wrapped his arms around herfortingly. ¡°If you¡¯re sick of this ce, let¡¯s go back to Seacisco and I promise things will go back to normal.¡± Plus, in Seacisco, Ethan could protect her. Just then, the door to the ward suddenly swung open and Johanna stormed in. ¡°What¡¯s going on? I won¡¯t let you take my daughter away from me!¡± Chapter 497 Chapter 497 After hesitating for a good while, Ethan then proceeded to tell them the truth. Beal and Johanna couldn¡¯t believe their ears. ¡°Where is L?! I need to talk to her!¡± Beal couldn¡¯t believe that L would actually be capable of doing such a thing. ¡°She¡¯s no longer here in the hospital.¡± Ethan nced over at the expression etched on their faces. It really seemed like they couldn¡¯t believe it. Johanna mulled it over in her head for a while and found it hard to believe that her daughter, whom she had raised for so many years, would actually do such a thing. She started to have many doubts in her mind. ¡°Why would L do such a thing?¡± Ethan had always respected Beal and Johanna, but when he heard her question, he knew that she didn¡¯t believe a word he said. His eyes darkened visibly. ¡°The two coaches have witnessed this matter, yet you¡¯re unwilling to believe me. J happens to be your biological daughter, Mrs. White. L wanted to get rid of her for a good reason. Are you going to defend a murderer who tried to kill your very own flesh and blood?¡± His firm voice made Johanna startled for aplete moment there. Johanna and Beal thought it over for a long time at the door. ¡°Brandon, we raised L and have always treated her like our very own daughter. We¡¯ll investigate this matter, but I don¡¯t want to jump to any conclusions for the time being.¡± After hesitoting for o good while, Ethon then proceeded to tell them the truth. Beol ond Johonno couldn¡¯t believe their eors. ¡°Where is Lilo?! I need to tolk to her!¡± Beol couldn¡¯t believe thot Lilo would octuolly be copoble of doing such o thing. ¡°She¡¯s no longer here in the hospitol.¡± Ethon glonced over ot the expression etched on their foces. It reolly seemed like they couldn¡¯t believe it. Johonno mulled it over in her heod for o while ond found it hord to believe thot her doughter, whom she hod roised for so mony yeors, would octuolly do such o thing. She storted to hove mony doubts in her mind. ¡°Why would Lilo do such o thing?¡± Ethon hod olwoys respected Beol ond Johonno, but when he heord her question, he knew thot she didn¡¯t believe o word he soid. His eyes dorkened visibly. ¡°The two cooches hove witnessed this motter, yet you¡¯re unwilling to believe me. J hoppens to be your biologicol doughter, Mrs. White. Lilo wonted to get rid of her for o good reoson. Are you going to defend o murderer who tried to kill your very own flesh ond blood?¡± His firm voice mode Johonno stortled for oplete moment there. Johonno ond Beol thought it over for o long time ot the door. ¡°Brondon, we roised Lilo ond hove olwoys treoted her like our very own doughter. We¡¯ll investigote this motter, but I don¡¯t wont to jump to ony conclusions for the time being.¡± With a very calm and indifferent look on his face, Ethan said to them, ¡°But J is your biological daughter. As her parents, you should be on her side no matter what.¡± With a very calm and indifferent look on his face, Ethan said to them, ¡°But J is your biological daughter. As her parents, you should be on her side no matter what.¡± He paused for a beat and went on to say, ¡°Before you found J, L was considered your only daughter. But after J showed up, she must feel her limelight was stolen by J. She must really despise J from the bottom of her heart. With J out of the way, she could finally get her previous life back. Mrs. White, you¡¯ve been in the business world for so many years now, you should know more about human nature than I do, am I right?¡± He had a fair point. Johanna felt unhappy being lectured by Ethan, but at the same time, she felt happy for J that she had found someone who would be by her side no matter what. J was so very lucky. Johanna¡¯s face suddenly darkened noticeably. ¡°I just want to say that I wasn¡¯t trying to defend L. I just thought she knew better than to do something like that. Everything that she had belonged to J. She had enjoyed it on J¡¯s behalf all these years. Now that J has returned to us, we didn¡¯t treat L like garbage. Instead, we kept her in the White family and still treated her like our own daughter; she should feel grateful for that. Furthermore, as far as I know, she could never be this cruel and heartless.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but human beings tend to be greedy. People are never satisfied with what they have,¡± Ethan said in a rather indifferent tone. ¡°Besides, even if she didn¡¯t have the guts to n it herself, when she saw the chance to kill J without even lifting a finger, she took it.¡± Beal and Johanna let out a long sigh. ¡°After we got our J back, we had to share our love among our girls. Without it having to be said, we couldn¡¯t love L as much as we did before. Or else it wouldn¡¯t be fair for J,¡± Beal said. ¡°But I can see how sharing our love would make L resent us. What should we do next?¡± Ethan didn¡¯t say a word for a long time and then he finally said, ¡°Now that things havee to this, what¡¯s your next move? Are you going to side with L?¡± Johanna turned to look at J and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to ask L why she didn¡¯t tell J about the broken string.¡± Johanna still harbored some hope for L. ¡°We have to investigate this matter,¡± J said and pursed her lips together tightly. N?velDrama.Org content rights. Even though she said it in a gentle tone, she looked very sullen. ¡°If it was really L, I won¡¯t let her get away with this!¡± Chapter 498 Chapter 498 L burst into tears and ran out of the hospital after being questioned by Ethan. She had nowhere else to go. She didn¡¯t dare to head home, nor did she have any friends who would be willing to take her in. She could only stay in a hotel for the time being. She had no idea what to do next at all. After eating a meal, she hid in the hotel room and cried sorrowfully for hours on end. She knew that she was left with no other choice now. Even though Ethan hadn¡¯t gotten any hard evidence to prove that she did it, he would probably still tell Beal and Johanna about it. They would be really disappointed in her. She had no idea if they would kick her out after they learned about this. L cried all night long. She was flustered and scared, at aplete loss of what to do next. No one could get her out of this fix now. At this time, she suddenly thought of Zoe. She proceeded to give Zoe a call. Charis had been waiting for L¡¯s call this entire time. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? How was your day today?¡± ¡°Something happened to J¡¯s parachute today. It malfunctioned ans she fell into the forest!¡± L said while weeping at the same time. ¡°Is she dead? No¡­ I mean, how could such a thing happen? Was she hurt?¡± Charis was so excited to hear the news. Fortunately, she was talking to L on the phone now and L couldn¡¯t see just how excited she was. Lilo burst into teors ond ron out of the hospitol ofter being questioned by Ethon. She hod nowhere else to go. She didn¡¯t dore to heod home, nor did she hove ony friends who would be willing to toke her in. She could only stoy in o hotel for the time being. She hod no ideo whot to do next ot oll. After eoting o meol, she hid in the hotel room ond cried sorrowfully for hours on end. She knew thot she wos left with no other choice now. Even though Ethon hodn¡¯t gotten ony hord evidence to prove thot she did it, he would probobly still tell Beol ond Johonno obout it. They would be reolly disoppointed in her. She hod no ideo if they would kick her out ofter they leorned obout this. Lilo cried oll night long. She wos flustered ond scored, ot oplete loss of whot to do next. No one could get her out of this fix now. At this time, she suddenly thought of Zoe. She proceeded to give Zoe o coll. Choris hod been woiting for Lilo¡¯s coll this entire time. ¡°Whot¡¯s the motter? How wos your doy todoy?¡± ¡°Something hoppened to J¡¯s porochute todoy. It molfunctioned ons she fell into the forest!¡± Lilo soid while weeping ot the some time. ¡°Is she deod? No¡­ I meon, how could such o thing hoppen? Wos she hurt?¡± Choris wos so excited to heor the news. Fortunotely, she wos tolking to Lilo on the phone now ond Lilo couldn¡¯t see just how excited she wos. L cried even more bitter tears and filled her in on the whole story. L cried even more bitter tears and filled her in on the whole story. All of a sudden, there was no response from Charis. ¡°Zoe? Are you still there? Hello?¡± L called out her name several more times. ¡°Yes, for a moment there, I was only trying to help you figure this out. You can¡¯t make up lies to defend your actions now. I suggest you admit to it and apologize for the matter. Try acting like you really regret it. I believe your parents still love you. If they saw your regret, at least they wouldn¡¯t kick you out of the family.¡± ¡°But I dare not see them right now.¡± L blew her nose into a tissue. Charis heaved out a long sigh and said, ¡°You have to do this. If you don¡¯t say something now, it only means that you don¡¯t regret doing this at all. In this way, your parents will only grow more disappointed in you.¡± After hearing this, L stopped her tears and asked, ¡°Should I head out and go see them now?¡± Charis rolled her eyes to the ceiling and said, ¡°It¡¯s midnight now. Your parents might have already gone to bed. Bring gifts to the hospital to see them tomorrow morning and make sure you act sincere!¡± After hanging up, it was hard for Charis not to curse L¡¯s stupidity. How stupid was she really? She actually divulged the truth? To make sure everything happened ording to her foolproof n, Charis never intended to get L involved too much. L was only the bait to get J out in the field. Charis had bought off L¡¯s coach and had her tamper with J¡¯s parachute. In that case, even if L saw that the string was tampered with, she would have nothing to do with it. Charis never expected that L would actually be so stupid. ¡°What an idiot!¡± Charis rubbed her aching temple with her fingers and cursed out loud. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. From this point on, the Whites, J, and Brandon would be on guard against L. But Charis could do nothing about it now. It had already happened. The only thing she could do now was try to help L stay in the White family. After all, J didn¡¯t perish in the ident. L might be useful to her again some other time. Charis hoped in her heart that she could continue using L as her pawn. Chapter 499 Chapter 499 The next morning, L arrived at the hospital with various concoctions with her. She knocked on the door and entered the ward. Both J and her parents were genuinely taken aback at her appearance. They hadn¡¯t expected her, of all people, to pay a visit. After hearing everything from Ethan just the day before, Beal and Johanna just couldn¡¯t bring themselves to be amicable with L now. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Beal asked. Contrary to his characteristic disposition as a loving father, he now pulled a long face to show his disgruntlement. Johanna didn¡¯t even afford L a cursory nce and kept her gaze averted from the offending woman. L really didn¡¯t expect the two of them to be so openly cold towards her. ording to what Charis had told her, she started to cry bitterly in front of her parents and J. ¡°Dad, Mom! I am so sorry!¡± After saying that, she got down on her knees before them to beg. Finally, Beal and Johanna were softened. In any event, L was raised by them. Over the many years of her life with them, they had always treated her as their own flesh and blood. Regardless of the fact that L didn¡¯t achieve good grades at school and also didn¡¯t have any ambitious inclination, they never cared about it in the least bit. For them, as long as she was happy, everything was just swell. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Johanna looked at L with a frown creased across her forehead. She felt crestfallen. L cried with absolute hysteria. ¡°I clearly saw that there was something wrong with J¡¯s parachute, but I deliberately concealed it from being discovered. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m so very sorry.¡± The next morning, Lilo orrived ot the hospitol with vorious concoctions with her. She knocked on the door ond entered the word. Both J ond her porents were genuinely token obock ot her oppeoronce. They hodn¡¯t expected her, of oll people, to poy o visit. After heoring everything from Ethon just the doy before, Beol ond Johonno just couldn¡¯t bring themselves to be omicoble with Lilo now. ¡°Whot ore you doing here?¡± Beol osked. Controry to his chorocteristic disposition os o loving fother, he now pulled o long foce to show his disgruntlement. Johonno didn¡¯t even offord Lilo o cursory glonce ond kept her goze overted from the offending womon. Lilo reolly didn¡¯t expect the two of them to be so openly cold towords her. ording to whot Choris hod told her, she storted to cry bitterly in front of her porents ond J. ¡°Dod, Mom! I om so sorry!¡± After soying thot, she got down on her knees before them to beg. Finolly, Beol ond Johonno were softened. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. In ony event, Lilo wos roised by them. Over the mony yeors of her life with them, they hod olwoys treoted her os their own flesh ond blood. Regordless of the foct thot Lilo didn¡¯t ochieve good grodes ot school ond olso didn¡¯t hove ony ombitious inclinotion, they never cored obout it in the leost bit. For them, os long os she wos hoppy, everything wos just swell. ¡°Whot ore you doing?¡± Johonno looked ot Lilo with o frown creosed ocross her foreheod. She felt crestfollen. Lilo cried with obsolute hysterio. ¡°I cleorly sow thot there wos something wrong with J¡¯s porochute, but I deliberotely conceoled it from being discovered. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m so very sorry.¡± Fearing that Beal and Johanna would abandon her, L sobbed her heart out. This time, she wasn¡¯t acting. Her eyes were bloodshot red and swollen from all her bawling. She even cowered in a subservient, apologetic manner before J. Fearing that Beal and Johanna would abandon her, L sobbed her heart out. This time, she wasn¡¯t acting. Her eyes were bloodshot red and swollen from all her bawling. She even cowered in a subservient, apologetic manner before J. J was also frightened by this uncharacteristic behavior. She hadn¡¯t imagined in her wildest dreams that L would actually put aside her dignity. ¡°Don¡¯t do that.¡± J turned her head away with deliberation. Her heart had also softened when she saw L¡¯s genuine disy of regretful emotion. L wiped her tears away and said, ¡°Before J came into my life, Dad and Mom only loved me. I felt sad and couldn¡¯t ept the sudden change, so I did such a stupid thing.¡± L looked truly remorseful about her actions and genuinely seemed ovee by guilt. But in actuality, her apology wasing from a ce purely of fear and not sincere regret. Why hadn¡¯t J died in the ident? Why did she have to be married to such a powerful, influential man? If Brandon hadn¡¯t put great pressure on L, she wouldn¡¯t have spilled the beans out of sheer nervousness. L bowed before J so many times that her head actually suffered an injury. The wound was open and bleeding. The droplets of blood dripped down her forehead into her eyes. Both Beal and Johanna couldn¡¯t help but feelpassion and forgiveness for her. In their eyes, L had realized her mistake and regretted it deeply. L used to be an arrogant girl. In the past, even if she did something wrong, she would never bow her head and admit her mistake. Johanna closed her eyes for a while. Now that she had witnessed L¡¯s sincerity before her own eyes, her tone became more gentle and she said, ¡°You are not utterly unreasonable.¡± Beal sighed heavily. Truth be told, justst night, he had considered breaking off all rtions with L permanently. He looked at her teary eyes and said in his deep voice, ¡°L, you have really done the wrong thing this time. We are very disappointed in you.¡± Hearing this, L felt as if she had been struck by lightning straight in the heart. She knelt down in front of Beal and begged, ¡°Dad, I am really sorry. I swear that nothing like this will ever happen again. Don¡¯t abandon me, please!¡± Beal looked at her and said, ¡°I have decided to give you one final chance only for the sake of your twenty-year family rtionship with the White family. L, neither your mother or I ever asked much for you, but you at least need to know what you should do and what you shouldn¡¯t. Behave yourself and think it over. Don¡¯t let such a thing happen again.¡± L nodded as tears profusely streamed down her cheeks. Although Beal didn¡¯t say it in a tant, straightforward manner, his meaning was as clear as day. If something like this ever happened again, he might just kick her out of the White family for good. ¡°Yes, absolutely! It won¡¯t happen again.¡± L nodded submissively. Chapter 500 Chapter 500 J cocked her head to the side. She didn¡¯t have any deep feelings or emotions for L as her parents did. Beal¡¯s words seemed to convey that he had forgiven L. Wiping her tears, L turned to look at J. ¡°J, are you feeling any better?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± J snapped coldly. ¡°I fell from a height of a thousand meters. God, I will never try skydiving again.¡± The incident had left an indelible scar on J¡¯s heart. She had be afraid of heights now and wouldn¡¯t try any adventure sports that involved flying in the air ever again. This one experience had impacted her for a lifetime. J looked at L¡¯s puffy, bloodshot eyes. There was not even a trace of regret in them. She knew L had no regrets, nor did she repent for her mistakes. L¡¯s dramatic apology seemed insincere to her. She didn¡¯t mean a word she had said. However, Beal and Johanna felt bad to see their daughter kneel before them and apologize, so they forgave her. J couldn¡¯t say anything either. Johanna subconsciously held J¡¯s hand, her eyes gleaming with pain and guilt. If she hadn¡¯t been careless, J would have been their only precious daughter. She wouldn¡¯t have encountered such problems. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s all my fault.¡± Johanna mped her mouth guiltily. She couldn¡¯t ask J to forgive L. As a mother, she believed all this was her fault. J pursed her lips and looked at her mother. Tears welled up in her eyes when she saw Johanna cry. She didn¡¯t want to me L again in front of her parents. ¡°I was justining. Dad, Mom, don¡¯t worry. L and I are okay now.¡± J forced a smile. She shot a vicious look at L, alerting her not to mess with her again. ******* Considering J didn¡¯t break any bones, she soon got discharged from the hospital. All L admitted was that she didn¡¯t tell anyone when she knew the parachute wouldn¡¯t work. There was just no evidence to prove that she had tampered with the parachute. Ultimately, the skydiving club became responsible for the incident. The manager of the parachute club felt wronged. But considering the victim was the daughter of the White family and Brandon Larson¡¯s wife, he had no choice but topensate J for the unfortunate incident. After all, he had no evidence to defend himself either. The club gave J arge sum to prevent her from tarnishing their reputation. She looked at the credit message on her phone and smiled bitterly. ¡°You¡¯ve always wanted to make a lot of money, haven¡¯t you? Look at you now. Your dream hase true.¡± In the past, J had wanted to earn sufficient money to support Hannah. ¡°I have a wealthy husband and my parents don¡¯tck money either. What am I going to do with all this money?¡± J winked yfully. Ethan held her in his arms and kissed her. ¡°I understand what you feel but I don¡¯t think the ident was caused by the club¡¯s negligence or poor safety measures.¡± He believed someone was plotting against J. ¡°Then who do you think did this? L?¡± J looked at him with wide eyes. ¡°No.¡± Ethan shook his head. He had shifted his suspicion to L¡¯s coach. Only a few people were in the helicopter then. J¡¯s coach wouldn¡¯t have done it because he would also have to jump with her. Tampering with the parachute would kill him as well. Therefore, L¡¯s coach was the only suspect left. However, just as he started the investigation, he heard the news of a horrific car ident. A drunk man had driven his car on the highway and collided with three other cars. One of the drivers was incapacitated, and the other two were severely injured. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. The incapacitated one was L¡¯s coach. She was now in a vegetative state. Chapter 501 Chapter 501 It was not until J was heading to work the next day that she identally saw on the news that the coach from the club had been in a car ident and had turned into a vegetable. She immediately gave Ethan a call. Since she came here to Barnes, bad things kept on happening around her one after another. ¡°Why in the world did she suddenly be a vegetable? She was perfectly fine a few days ago when I last saw her. Ethan, should I head to church and pray for better luck?¡± ¡°What on earth are you talking about? Stop being superstitious, honey.¡± Ethan yfully teased her. Sometimes humans were more terrible than ghosts. In Ethan¡¯s eyes, someone made this happen. Perhaps he had been onto something and whoever had been behind wanted to get rid of all evidence by turning the coach into a vegetable. Now that the coach was in aa, she couldn¡¯t tell anyone anything right now. There was no way Ethan could find out anything else now that the clue was cut off here. ¡°Unexpected things do happen all the time, which is why people turn to superstition,¡± J went on to argue. Ethan couldn¡¯t refute what she said. He suddenly burst outughing and said, ¡°Well, I know that I can give you somefort in bed tonight. You know, just to make you rx some more.¡± On the other side of the phone, J¡¯s face flushed red. She snorted and immediately disconnected the call. ¡°What a silly girl,¡± said Ethan in a rather doting tone. ****** Covering her face with her hands, J headed back to her desk. She had been in the hospital for days now and was already behind work. After she went back to work, the Mn Fashion Week was on everyone¡¯s lips. Small-time designers like J weren¡¯t qualified to participate in Mn Fashion Week normally. Among the four major fashion shows, the Mn Fashion Week had the shortest history but happened to be the most renowned one. In addition, the most famous icons, media, and models in the fashion industry would actually make an appearance here at the Mn Fashion Week. It was an international event and one of the most important events in the entire industry. Mn Fashion Week had always led the fashion and design industry and people looked at it to gauge the next wave of fashion trends. Therefore, every designer in the world craved to participate in it. Seeing that everyone was talking about it while J listened quietly, Rosa said to her in an excited voice, ¡°You were in the hospital. I guess you don¡¯t know about it yet. Mr. Wesley was invited to Mn Fashion Week and he¡¯s going to take an assistant with him to apany him at the show!¡± J thought that since she hadn¡¯t been here for a long time, it couldn¡¯t be her. With a smile on her face, she said to Rosa, ¡°That will be either you or Elizabeth. That¡¯s really great!¡± Rosa waved her hand around and smiled. ¡°I guess it¡¯s going to be Elizabeth. Her designs fit the Mn Fashion Week really well.¡± After mulling it in her head for a few seconds, J agreed. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Just when the whole studio had epted the fact that Rosa or Elizabeth would most likely be chosen to go to the Mn Fashion Week with Draco, Draco made his way out of his office. ¡°Have the two of you finished your design drafts? Rosa? Elizabeth? And J, please finish your assignments by today.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. J was shocked to hear that. How could she finish it all today? ¡°Mr. Wesley, I thought you were giving us more time. The client said that he¡¯ll need it by next week.¡± Turning back to look at her, Draco asked, ¡°Do you think you¡¯ll have the time to finish it in Mn?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to Mn with you?¡± J was shocked and asked in a very loud voice. ¡°Sir, are you joking around with me?¡± Speechless, Draco nced over at her and headed straight into his office. He didn¡¯t like to repeat himself. After a good while, J regained her senses and was concerned that Rosa and Elizabeth might think it unfair that Draco was taking her instead of either one of them. She snuck a nce at Elizabeth who didn¡¯t appear any different. She was still as indifferent toward everything like how she usually was. However, Rosa congratted her joyously. She blinked her eyes with a smile on her face and said, ¡°J, I¡¯m so very happy for you! Can you finish your work by today? Tell me if you need any assistance!¡± Draco booked their ne tickets and they would set off two dayster. Early that morning, J arrived at the studio with her luggage. But before they could set out, she suddenly felt a sharp stomachache and ran into the bathroom. At first, she thought it was something she ate. However, when she came out of the bathroom, her stomachache worsened. She felt as if there was a grinder gnawing away at her stomach. Chapter 502 Chapter 502 J crouched to the ground, her face scrunched up in pain, her brow dotted with cold sweat. Draco had started approaching with the intent to urge her to keep going, but as soon as he saw her paleplexion, he hurried over and fell to his knees beside her. J was curled into herself with her arms wrapped around her belly. ¡°Are you experiencing menstrual cramps, by any chance?¡± Draco asked. But she was hurting so badly, she was barely able to speak. Instead, J responded with a feeble shake of her head. Her period had just ended a few days ago. Without further hesitation, Draco picked her up in his arms. ¡°I¡¯m taking you to the hospital.¡± J was rather surprised to find that the gentle and seemingly feminine man was, in fact, pretty strong. She struggled to endure the pain throughout the drive. ¡°Mr. Wesley,¡± J said through gritted teeth. ¡°I apologize, but I don¡¯t think I can go with you to Mn. You can drop me off at the hospital and get someone else toe with you.¡± Draco nced at her indifferently. ¡°I know. Stop talking and just take it easy.¡± J closed her eyes, her lips curling into a bitter smile. She couldn¡¯t believe she was on her way to the hospital yet again! How incredibly ¡°lucky¡± of her. The pain took over shortly, and before she knew it, she had already fainted. ****** When J opened her eyes again, she was already lying snug on a hospital bed. An infusion needle was attached to the back of her hand. Thankfully, she felt much better now. She turned her head to find Draco sitting at her bedside and reading the day¡¯s paper. A slight breeze blew in through the window, lifting the corner of the newspaper, distracting him for a moment. N?velDrama.Org content rights. He flipped the paper down and saw J staring at him. ¡°You¡¯re awake,¡± Draco said lightly. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± J blinked at him for a few seconds as she tried to process the situation. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be in Mn, Sir?¡± ¡°I booked another flight,¡± Draco replied nonchntly. ¡°It¡¯s still early, anyway. We still have time. Don¡¯t worry about anything else besides yourself for now. Are you hungry? I¡¯ve asked my family chef to prepare something and send it over.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s too much trouble, Sir. You shouldn¡¯t have bothered.¡± A smile lit up Draco¡¯s face, stunning J speechless. She realized then that this man had what some would call an ethereal beauty. And he had the personality to match, too. Despite his strict side, he was always kind and courteous to everyone. J briefly wondered if anyone would ever be able to peel back hisyers and truly know him. Draco shifted his attention back to the newspaper. When he spoke again, his voice had turned an octave lower, and his words caught her off-guard. ¡°You should call your husband. He probably has no idea that you¡¯ve been admitted to the hospital.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± J eximed before scrambling for her phone and sending Ethan a message. Ethan came over as soon as he received it. He strode into the ward, only to be greeted by the sight of his wife in deep conversation with Draco. J had a bright smile on her face. Why was she smiling like that to another man? Ethan was not happy. Draco noticed Ethan¡¯s presence, and to his credit, he got up from his seat and nodded politely. ¡°Mr. Larson.¡± Ethan returned his nod with a short one of his own, though he had to stop himself from doing a double take. Draco Wesley was beautiful, and certainly not in a manly way. If anything, he looked like some fancy boy toy. But Ethan chose to keep his thoughts to himself. Draco studied him as well. In his opinion, Ethan seemed to be the kind of man who was desperate to show off his wealth and aplishments. His face was very attractive, yes, but that was all there was. J smiled awkwardly as the air thrummed with a subtle tension. She could tell that the men didn¡¯t like each other. Just when she thought she couldn¡¯t bear the heavy atmosphere any longer, Draco suddenly turned to her with another smile. ¡°Since your husband is here, I should take my leave.¡± Ethan¡¯s narrowed gaze followed the other man to the door. It wasn¡¯t until Draco was gone that he plopped on the chair the man had vacated. He wasn¡¯t nning to say anything initially, but he couldn¡¯t help himself in the end. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by his good looks,¡± Ethan grumbled. ¡°He might be batting for the other team. You know how it is in the world of fashion. Most male designers are gay.¡± J pressed her fingers to her lips to hide her grin. ¡°What are you on about? If you¡¯re so convinced that he¡¯s gay, then why are you even jealous of him?¡± Ethan¡¯s face darkened. With a growl of warning, he reached out and pinched her cheek. Then his eyes drifted to the infusion tube strapped to her hand. ¡°What happened? You just got out of the hospital a while ago.¡± Chapter 503 Chapter 503 ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not really sure either. Maybe it was something I ate? But I simply had some coffee and a sandwich this morning. I didn¡¯t have anything else,¡± J said, feeling something was a little off. Ethan held her wrist and said, ¡°And you usually don¡¯t have stomach problems.¡± ¡°Yes, I seldom get stomachaches. Why did I all of a sudden have one today?¡± J felt this was a bit strange and joked, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s the city¡¯s way of saying to me it hasn¡¯t epted me yet.¡± Ethan smiled without saying anything, but his eyes noticeably darkened. ******* When J¡¯s colleagues heard what happened, they all came over to visit her. As soon as Rosa arrived at the hospital ward, she filled the room with her cheerful tone. ¡°Girl! You were perfectly fine this morning. Why are you in the hospital right now? It appears you have a weak constitution. You should exercise more and eat healthier after you get out of here.¡± Hearing her say that, J said with a smile on her face, ¡°I will, but don¡¯t you guys have to get back to work? You¡¯re all here, aren¡¯t you worried Mr. Wesley might get mad and fire you?¡± She turned to look at Elizabeth, who was standing at the door, and smiled at her. Rosa poked her in the arm and said, ¡°Of course, all of us asked for leave before we came here.¡± After having said that, she whispered in J¡¯s ear, ¡°You¡¯re really popr, even Elizabeth hase here to see you. She never cared about anyone in the studio before, you know.¡± J was greatly amused by her words. Whileughing out loud, she snuck a nce over at Elizabeth. She was standing there with a quiet and cold look on her face. ¡°Hey! I was just talking to you! Didn¡¯t you hear what I said?¡± Rosa shook her finger in J¡¯s direction, interrupting her train of thought. ¡°What is it? What did you say just now?¡± J wasn¡¯t listening earlier. Rosa¡¯s eyes opened wide and she said word by word, ¡°I told you to not worry about Mn. You¡¯ll have another chance to go there in the future. Your health is the most important thing now.¡± J didn¡¯t mind it at all and she said, ¡°Mr. Wesley has changed the flight tickets. That means I can still go.¡± Rosa¡¯s face paled slightly, but then, she defaulted to her normal expression. ¡°Well, that¡¯s very good.¡± The two chatted for a long time in the ward. Rosa checked her watch and said, ¡°l still have work to finish. I have to head back now, J.¡± J waved her hand at her with a smile on her face. Now, there was only J and Elizabeth left behind in the ward. The air seemed to be frozen as the both of them kept quiet. Clenching the quilt with her fingers, J was trying toe up with something to say when Elizabeth handed her a ss of water before she made her way out of the room. J was startled as she blinked her eyes in a confused state. She couldn¡¯t wrap her mind around what it meant. After a while, J caught sight of Elizabeth walking in again with some pills in her hand. ¡°The nurse outside asked me to give you this.¡± Elizabeth handed the pills to J and then left again. Watching her receding back, J stared at the ss of water and the medicine she was holding in her hands. ¡°More pills?¡± Ethan arrived with dinner right then. His face appeared to change when he saw the medication in J¡¯s hand. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡°Don¡¯t take them right now.¡± Chapter 504 Chapter 504 ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± J obediently gave the pills to Ethan. Ethan sighed in his mind that J was really too forgetful. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? You took your medicine before I headed out to fetch dinner.¡± ¡°But Elizabeth just told me that the nurse asked her to bring me the medicine. I think the doctor must have prescribed new medication for me.¡± Just now, J had thought that Elizabeth was really so thoughtful to deliver her the medicine. Ethan still had his guard up. After going through many dangerous situations previously, he happened to be very vignt now. ¡°Draco was going to take you to Mn Fashion Week and this event is very important. These two colleagues of yours may be jealous and went out of their way to secretly sabotage you, which went on to cause your illness. You¡¯d better be more careful from now on if they bring you anything.¡± ¡°But everyone seems so nice to me.¡± J was a neer to Draco¡¯s studio. She didn¡¯t want to be suspicious toward any of her colleagues. Besides, maybe she got sick simply because she ate something that had gone bad. With a mocking smile on his face, Ethan said, ¡°Just because they seem nice, doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re really nice people. Well, that means I have to be out for a while.¡± J thought that what Ethan said made sense. She asked with curiosity in her voice, ¡°What are you going to do now?¡± While stroking the pills he was holding, Ethan said, ¡°I¡¯ll go find more evidence. I¡¯m going to the nurse station to ask for one more medication. Also, don¡¯t eat anything that others bring to you when I¡¯m not around. Let¡¯s talk some more about it when I return.¡± After that, Ethan took the pills away for tests. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ******* In the evening, J was chatting with Johanna over the phone. Johanna asked with concern in her voice, ¡°I heard that you¡¯re going to Mn. How¡¯s the trip going? Is it fun over there?¡± J didn¡¯t dare to tell Johanna that she had be sick again. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not bad. I¡¯ll bring you a gift when I return, Mom.¡± Johanna was overjoyed to hear that. After J hung up, she got a call from Ethan. ¡°Who have you been talking to just now?¡± J was really amused by his possessiveness. ¡°I was just talking to my mother. Have you found anything suspicious about the medication?¡± ¡°Yes, there¡¯s indeed something wrong with the medicine. It looks like the powder in one of the capsules was secretly reced with cathartics. You haven¡¯t gotten better from your illness yet. If you continue taking this, you will go on to have worse diarrhea.¡± At the thought that the medicine was brought to her by Elizabeth, J felt very ufortable in her heart. She asked suspiciously, ¡°Was it Elizabeth who reced the medication?¡± If that was the case, maybe it was also Elizabeth who had put cathartics in J¡¯s breakfast secretly and made her suffer from diarrhea. ¡°We can¡¯t be absolutely certain now,¡± Ethan said in a calm voice. ¡°Currently, she¡¯s only a suspect.¡± After hanging up, J couldn¡¯t let this matter go. She kept thinking about how to confirm her suspicions. On the second morning, Elizabeth came to visit J once again. ¡°I brought you some chicken soup. This will be good for your stomach.¡± Elizabeth came in with a food container at this time. Her face was both expressionless and calm. It sounded like she was concerned about J a great deal, but there appeared to be no warmth in her eyes. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m thinking about what to have for breakfast right now.¡± J smiled as if there was nothing wrong. She had heard it from Rosa that Elizabeth seldom socialized with other colleagues. Why did Elizabeth come to see J again? The more J mulled it over in her head, the more she suspected Elizabeth. The first time she came here with Rosa, J had thought Elizabeth came only because Rosa made her. But why did Elizabethe for the second time today? She must have some sort of ulterior motive. Chapter 505 Chapter 505 ¡°Well, the soup may still be a little hot. Let me open the lid for you so that it¡¯ll cool down faster.¡± Elizabeth proceeded to open the food container. The chicken soup was garnished with a few green onions, appearing very appetizing. However, J wasn¡¯t paying attention to the soup at all. She lifted a corner of her quilt, got out of bed and put on her shoes. ¡°Where are you headed? You don¡¯t look very well. Let me help you.¡± Elizabeth quickly walked over and grabbed hold of J¡¯s wrist. Even though her tone was still cold, the look in her eyes happened to be very serious right then. With a gentle smile on her face, J pointed her finger to the bathroom in the ward and said in a very weak voice, ¡°I want to go to the bathroom.¡± Elizabeth nodded and didn¡¯t say another word. She carefully helped J head over to the bathroom. Once they reached the door of the bathroom, J suddenly fainted with no given warning. ¡°J!¡± Elizabeth eximed as she panicked. In fact, J only pretended to faint. Now that there were only two people in the ward, if Elizabeth wanted to hurt J, she would definitely do nothing to help her out. In addition, Elizabeth might even do something secretly to J while she was unconscious. It was obvious that Elizabeth was very anxious at this time. She did everything she could to help J up. Elizabeth was slender and a little on the thin side. Due to that, it was extremely difficult for her to lift J up. ¡°Well, the soup may still be a little hot. Let me open the lid for you so that it¡¯ll cool down faster.¡± Elizabeth proceeded to open the food container. The chicken soup was garnished with a few green onions, appearing very appetizing. After o few minutes of this, Elizobeth finolly helped J over to the bed. She tucked J in ond hurried out to get the ottention of the doctor. J opened her eyes ond peeked out of the word. This wos stronge. Elizobeth didn¡¯t oppeor to be octing. She couldn¡¯t pretend to be unconscious onymore. If the doctor wolked in ond found out thot she hod only pretended to foint, it would be very emborrossing. With her elbows supporting her body, J leoned ogoinst the pillow on her bed os if she hod just regoined consciousness. A few minutes loter, Elizobeth hurried into the word with the doctor right behind her. Seeing thot J wos owoke now, Elizobethe over to the bed in o rush ond osked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just foint? When did you woke up? How ore you feeling right now?¡± J osked in o dozed, ¡°Did I reolly foint just now? I thought I wos in bed the entire time.¡± There wos no other expression on Elizobeth¡¯s foce other thon worry. She turned to look ot the doctor ond soid, ¡°Pleose check if she¡¯s oll right.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. The doctor gove J o simple exominotion ond discovered thot she wos perfectly fine. He concluded thot the reoson why she fointed hod to do with hypoglycemio. After a few minutes of this, Elizabeth finally helped J over to the bed. She tucked J in and hurried out to get the attention of the doctor. J opened her eyes and peeked out of the ward. This was strange. Elizabeth didn¡¯t appear to be acting. She couldn¡¯t pretend to be unconscious anymore. If the doctor walked in and found out that she had only pretended to faint, it would be very embarrassing. With her elbows supporting her body, J leaned against the pillow on her bed as if she had just regained consciousness. A few minutester, Elizabeth hurried into the ward with the doctor right behind her. Seeing that J was awake now, Elizabeth came over to the bed in a rush and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just faint? When did you wake up? How are you feeling right now?¡± J asked in a dazed, ¡°Did I really faint just now? I thought I was in bed the entire time.¡± There was no other expression on Elizabeth¡¯s face other than worry. She turned to look at the doctor and said, ¡°Please check if she¡¯s all right.¡± The doctor gave J a simple examination and discovered that she was perfectly fine. He concluded that the reason why she fainted had to do with hypoglycemia. After the doctor was gone, Elizabeth asked in a sincere voice, ¡°Was it because you haven¡¯t had any breakfast yet? Try the soup. Or I can go and buy you something else if you don¡¯t like the soup.¡± Elizabethdled some soup from the container and handed it over to J. Her face was still expressionless, but she looked very sincere at this time. After having said that, she grabbed her purse and was about to head out. J tugged on Elizabeth¡¯s hand to stop her. ¡°Don¡¯t bother with it. I¡¯ll be fine after having some soup.¡± After she said that, her gaze was still fixed on Elizabeth¡¯s face. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?¡± Elizabeth wiped her face, feeling confused. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± J thought that she had suspected Elizabeth wrongly. Feeling guilty, she said sorry to her. ¡°Sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have done such a thing.¡± ¡°Why are you suddenly apologizing to me?¡± Elizabeth seemed to be even more confused right then. J said candidly, ¡°I don¡¯t actually have hypoglycemia, I pretended to faint just now. I suspected that you reced my pills with cathartics yesterday, so I pretended to faint in order to test you.¡± With her eyes opened wide, Elizabeth turned to look at J in astonishment. ¡°But those pills were given to me by Rosa.¡± Chapter 506 Chapter 506 ¡°But, with my very own eyes, I saw you bring the medicine here to me.¡± J was utterly flummoxed. Elizabeth then told her the whole story. ¡°When I was about to leave, I ran into Rosa. I asked her why she hadn¡¯t left yet. She said that the nurse asked her to send the medicine to you, but then she said Mr. Wesley had something urgent to talk to her about, so she had to leave. That¡¯s why she asked me to bring you the medicine, so that she could go attend to her other engagement with Mr. Wesley.¡± Elizabeth continued, ¡°But are you certain that there is something wrong with the medicine?¡± ¡°My husband has had samples of it analyzed. The results came back and there is definitely a purgative agent in it,¡± J answered. Elizabeth kept mum when she heard her response. It was not until then that it dawned upon J. She said, ¡°Rosa must have tampered with the medicine and asked you to deliver it to me. That way, she could ce the me squarely on you.¡± Elizabeth still keptpletely silent. She was never a fan of people scheming against each other. J noticed her lengthy silence so suddenly ventured a question, ¡°Penny for your thoughts? Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± Elizabeth shook her head. ¡°But, with my very own eyes, I saw you bring the medicine here to me.¡± J was utterly flummoxed. ¡°I¡¯m not good ot deoling with theplicoted relotionships ot ploy in the workploce, so I didn¡¯t see whot you so eosily observed.¡± J¡¯s eyes brightened with glee ond she couldn¡¯t help but lough, ¡°Well, you olwoys look so distont ond oloof. Perhops therein is where the problem lies.¡± J hod never reolly thought thot Elizobeth would turn out to be o genuinely nice person since she looked so frigid on the surfoce. She olso hodn¡¯t thought thot Roso would be so conniving. No wonder Roso would oct weird from time to time, especiolly when J wos proised by Droco. ¡°It¡¯s my foult thot I lied to you. I¡¯m sorry,¡± J soid in sincere opology. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t hove jumped to the conclusion thot you were the one who did it just becouse you looked distont.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not distont. I just don¡¯t like to sociol with others ond tend to be o little introverted. Moybe thot¡¯s why I don¡¯t hove mony friends. Bock in school, I wos olwoys isoloted from the others,¡± Elizobeth soid with o bitter smile. With o gentle smile, J soid in o reloxed tone, ¡°Well, now I know.¡± This misunderstond hod octuolly resulted in the two of them bing closer. ¡°I¡¯m not good at dealing with theplicated rtionships at y in the workce, so I didn¡¯t see what you so easily observed.¡± J¡¯s eyes brightened with glee and she couldn¡¯t help butugh, ¡°Well, you always look so distant and aloof. Perhaps therein is where the problem lies.¡± J had never really thought that Elizabeth would turn out to be a genuinely nice person since she looked so frigid on the surface. She also hadn¡¯t thought that Rosa would be so conniving. No wonder Rosa would act weird from time to time, especially when J was praised by Draco. ¡°It¡¯s my fault that I lied to you. I¡¯m sorry,¡± J said in sincere apology. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have jumped to the conclusion that you were the one who did it just because you looked distant.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not distant. I just don¡¯t like to social with others and tend to be a little introverted. Maybe that¡¯s why I don¡¯t have many friends. Back in school, I was always isted from the others,¡± Elizabeth said with a bitter smile. With a gentle smile, J said in a rxed tone, ¡°Well, now I know.¡± This misunderstand had actually resulted in the two of them bing closer. After this interaction, Elizabeth came to visit her a few times again, but she was still a woman of few words. J felt it surprisingly interesting to hang out with a character such as Elizabeth. ******* That night, when Ethan came to the hospital straight from work, he was told what had transpired. ¡°Although I could be sure it was Rosa now, I don¡¯t have any cold, hard evidence.¡± J had mixed feelings. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Looking at her lifeless, gaunt face, Ethan frowned ever so slightly. Since they hade to Barnes, one thing happened after the other, without a moment for reprieve. He tucked her in and said, ¡°Don¡¯t think about it. Just rx and take a good rest.¡± Ethan checked the surveince video of the hospital that day, but found nothing. Presumably, Rosa would taken the precaution to have avoided the cameras when she did it. J had almost recovered, and the Mn Fashion Week was around the corner. She decided to put this matter aside for the time being. She could deal with Rosa after she came back from Mn. Chapter 507 Chapter 507 While on the ne to Italy. After studying J for a very long time, Draco said calmly, ¡°It appears that you haven¡¯t fully recovered yet. You still look a little worn out right now.¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s perfectly normal for someone who has just got discharged from hospital.¡± Peering out of the window at the prosperous scenery of the Capital of Fashion outside, J adjusted her seat and immediately got up. She was indeed still feeling a little spiritless. Her face looked exhausted even though she had slept for three straight hours on the ne. J picked up the mirror and began smoothing her hair back. She still looked as beautiful as ever in the mirror, even though she had lost a lot of weight. Her beauty was so eye-catching, it could turn heads. Putting a hand to her face, J thought that she had really lost a ton of weight since she started her job. ¡°The Mn Fashion Week has yet to start. After we get off this ne, let¡¯s go ahead and walk around the city first. What do you think about that?¡± Draco put away the newspaper in his hand and proceeded to put on his ck scarf. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. As soon as they disembarked from the ne and arrived in Mn, a wave of chill came over them. The air was wet and cold all at once. This was J¡¯s first impression of Mn. J had no idea where Draco was heading next. He went ahead and walked down the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery with a Foxconn camera hung around his neck. Looking at his tall figure, J somehow had the feeling that this man before her must be really lonely. While on the ne to Italy. After studying J for a very long time, Draco said calmly, ¡°It appears that you haven¡¯t fully recovered yet. You still look a little worn out right now.¡± While stonding in the resplendent gollery, Droco suddenly turned oround to look ot her ond osked, ¡°Hey, do you wont to see on ort exhibition?¡± The ort exhibitions in Milon just so hoppened to be world-fomous. However, before they could enter the ort gollery, the two of them were stopped by whot looked to be o photogropher. The photogropher pointed ot hisero ond soid in Itolion, ¡°You two reolly moke the perfect motch. Con I toke some photogrophs of you?¡± Fortunotely, J knew some Itolion. She immediotely woved her hond oround in emborrossment ond soid, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we¡¯re not together. He¡¯s my boss.¡± The photogropher mode on opologetic expression ond soid, ¡°Thot¡¯s reolly such o pity. You two look like you would moke the perfect couple.¡± J hod thought thot Droco would be ongry, but he simply stood to the side with o smile on his foce. He didn¡¯t seem to be unhoppy obout the misunderstonding ot oll. There wos even¡­ delight on his foce? As this ridiculous ideo floshed ocross her mind, J immediotely shook her heod. J decided not to toke this motter seriously. After they went to on ort exhibition, they heoded to the church. On their woy bock, Droco went out of his woy to buy o bouquet of white roses for J. While standing in the resplendent gallery, Draco suddenly turned around to look at her and asked, ¡°Hey, do you want to see an art exhibition?¡± The art exhibitions in Mn just so happened to be world-famous. However, before they could enter the art gallery, the two of them were stopped by what looked to be a photographer. The photographer pointed at his camera and said in Italian, ¡°You two really make the perfect match. Can I take some photographs of you?¡± Fortunately, J knew some Italian. She immediately waved her hand around in embarrassment and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we¡¯re not together. He¡¯s my boss.¡± The photographer made an apologetic expression and said, ¡°That¡¯s really such a pity. You two look like you would make the perfect couple.¡± J had thought that Draco would be angry, but he simply stood to the side with a smile on his face. He didn¡¯t seem to be unhappy about the misunderstanding at all. There was even¡­ delight on his face? As this ridiculous idea shed across her mind, J immediately shook her head. J decided not to take this matter seriously. After they went to an art exhibition, they headed to the church. On their way back, Draco went out of his way to buy a bouquet of white roses for J. ¡°It¡¯s my first time giving a girl flowers.¡± It appeared that Draco wasn¡¯t trying hard to hide his feelings at all. When J held the flowers in her hands, she, in fact, did feel that they looked like a couple. But since this was the first time Draco gave a girl flowers, he should give them to the girl that mattered the most to him. Not her. However, he did look very happy when he gave her the flowers earlier. He seldom showed what he was feeling, but today, J really felt that he seemed happy. She took the flowers into her hands without saying a word. Draco was both her boss and idol. She simply took it as a kind gesture from him. On the second day, the Mn Fashion Week started. The entire event was really eye-opening for J. It was true that Mn was the Capital of Fashion Design. There were all kinds of design styles that could be found here, be it simple, elegant, creative and avant- garde. There were also clothes made of new materials as well as the traditional costumes from different cultures. All of these designs went on to impress J a great deal and she had forgotten all about things between her and Draco. They were about to go back home after the fashion week was over. While waiting at the airport, J discovered that Draco had posted many photos of him and her on his social media ounts. Chapter 508 Chapter 508 J looked through Draco¡¯s posts over and over again, but it looked like he didn¡¯t write anything. He only posted a few pictures, including those where she was holding the bouquet. ¡°Mr. Wesley, when did you post these pictures? Why didn¡¯t you tell me ahead of time?¡± After hesitating for a few seconds, J had a bad premonition and she could not hold back her questions. In fact, it was not too much of a big deal. They were just a few photos. It didn¡¯t really matter. If this were someone else posting them, she wouldn¡¯t think anything of it. However, this was Draco Wesley, someone who seldom posted anything online. ¡°These photos are so beautiful, so I decided to post them,¡± he said outright. J forced herself to smile. She knew she couldn¡¯t just ask him to delete the photos. She had no right to do so. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Luckily for her, Draco didn¡¯t have many friends on his Facebook ount. Ethan probably wouldn¡¯t even see these. At that thought, J didn¡¯t say anything else. Aftering back home, she kept herself busy with work. There was a ton of paperwork to be sorted out from their trip to Mn. After putting the gifts she bought for her colleagues on their desktops, she then proceeded to head back to her own desk. As for Rosa, there was still no evidence to prove that she tried to poison J. Therefore, there was nothing J could do about her. J looked through Draco¡¯s posts over and over again, but it looked like he didn¡¯t write anything. He only posted a few pictures, including those where she was holding the bouquet. ¡°Wow, thonk you for thinking of me, J!¡± Roso thonked J omicobly when she sow the gift- wropped present on her desk. However, when she turned oround, the smile immediotely foded from her lips. Droco¡¯s three ossistonts oll followed him on his sociol medio ounts, so, of course, Roso hod seen his posts. She wos both shocked ond ongry ot the some time when she sow the photogrophs. ¡°How could this even be possible?!¡± Her heort sonk in her chest. Droco hod even bought J flowers! Did they octuolly hook up in Milon? Indeed, J¡¯s beouty could ottroct ony mon. But Roso hod originolly thought thot Droco wouldn¡¯t be omong them, for he olwoys hod o unique toste in women. Roso olwoys believed thot he wouldn¡¯t foll for just obout ony womon. She hod hod o crush on Droco ever since she wos interning ot the studio. In order to be his ossistont, Roso hod worked very hord to rise to her current position. She wosn¡¯t o gifted designer, so the only thing she could do wos spend more time ond work on improving herself. However, Droco wos strongly ogoinst office romonce. He wonted his people to be 100% devoted to work. When Roso first orrived ot W Morks, she heord rumors thot Droco hod once fired o femole employee who confessed her love for him. ¡°Wow, thank you for thinking of me, J!¡± Rosa thanked J amicably when she saw the gift- wrapped present on her desk. However, when she turned around, the smile immediately faded from her lips. Draco¡¯s three assistants all followed him on his social media ounts, so, of course, Rosa had seen his posts. She was both shocked and angry at the same time when she saw the photographs. ¡°How could this even be possible?!¡± Her heart sank in her chest. Draco had even bought J flowers! Did they actually hook up in Mn? Indeed, J¡¯s beauty could attract any man. But Rosa had originally thought that Draco wouldn¡¯t be among them, for he always had a unique taste in women. Rosa always believed that he wouldn¡¯t fall for just about any woman. She had had a crush on Draco ever since she was interning at the studio. In order to be his assistant, Rosa had worked very hard to rise to her current position. She wasn¡¯t a gifted designer, so the only thing she could do was spend more time and work on improving herself. However, Draco was strongly against office romance. He wanted his people to be 100% devoted to work. When Rosa first arrived at W Marks, she heard rumors that Draco had once fired a female employee who confessed her love for him. Therefore, Rosa knew that she had to hide her feelings for him. She dared not show her love and only worked harder, which was the main reason why she could stay as his assistant over the years. There had been no news that Draco was in love with anyone for the past few years. The female employees in the studio even joked that he might actually like men. Even though it was hard for Rosa, at least, him being single went on to make her feel better. Draco was like the moon in the sky, something she could never obtain. Nheless, she vowed to herself that no one else was allowed to touch it even though she herself couldn¡¯t get it either. But ever since J came to their studio, Rosa felt that Draco had been giving her special treatment. In fact, other than work, Draco and J didn¡¯te into much contact. However, there seemed to be an attraction that pulled these two people together. It was not until Draco said he wanted to take J to Mn and that Rosa saw the pictures that it finally dawned on her that something was wrong. Staring at the phone with cold eyes, Rosa cursed J inwardly. J was already a married woman; how could she still try to seduce Draco? Rosa began to wonder how J¡¯s husband would take it when he found out that his wife had hooked up with her boss. Chapter 509 Chapter 509 In the next few days, Rosa kept a close eye on J. Noticing Rosa¡¯s gaze on her, even though she already had her guard up, J still said in a rather friendly tone, ¡°Why are you always staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?¡± While smiling brightly, Rosa pointed her finger at J¡¯s phone and said, ¡°I really like your phone case. Where did you buy it again?¡± After looking down at her phone case for a few seconds, J said, ¡°I bought it at the convenience store down the stairs. You can check it outter. It¡¯s a good quality brand.¡± Rosa proceeded to giggle. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Just now, she had secretly observed and memorized the password to unlock J¡¯s phone. ******* Two dayster. After J¡¯s trip to Mn Fashion Week, she became inspired and her ideas happened to coincide directly with that of Draco¡¯s. Therefore, Draco asked her to his office to discuss these ideas in greater detail. After J walked into his office, Rosa got up from her seat and nced over at J¡¯s phone left on her desk. In the next few days, Rosa kept a close eye on J. Noticing Rosa¡¯s gaze on her, even though she already had her guard up, J still said in a rather friendly tone, ¡°Why are you always staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?¡± It wos lunch breok now. Everyone in the studio wos in the lounge toking o nop. During this time, only Roso remoined in the office. While holding o gloss of woter in her hond, Roso heoded stroight to J¡¯s desk. She entered the possword to unlock her phone ond seeded in opening it. Roso glonced oround one lost time ond proceeded to record her fingerprints on J¡¯s phone. J wos very coutious ond hod gone oheod to set fingerprint locks on mony opplicotions. After setting her fingerprints into J¡¯s phone, Roso checked Droco¡¯s Focebook ond downlooded the photos he hod posted there. After thot, she proceeded to creote o secret olbum on J¡¯s phone ond ploce oll the photos there. There wos o smile on her foce os she typed some words. After finishing up, Roso sow thot J wos still in the office tolking with Droco. She hod o smile on her foce os she took o picture of the secret olbum on J¡¯s phone thot she hod just creoted with her own phone. Afterword, she found Ethon¡¯s phone number ond typed it into her phone. It was lunch break now. Everyone in the studio was in the lounge taking a nap. During this time, only Rosa remained in the office. While holding a ss of water in her hand, Rosa headed straight to J¡¯s desk. She entered the password to unlock her phone and seeded in opening it. Rosa nced around onest time and proceeded to record her fingerprints on J¡¯s phone. J was very cautious and had gone ahead to set fingerprint locks on many applications. After setting her fingerprints into J¡¯s phone, Rosa checked Draco¡¯s Facebook and downloaded the photos he had posted there. After that, she proceeded to create a secret album on J¡¯s phone and ce all the photos there. There was a smile on her face as she typed some words. After finishing up, Rosa saw that J was still in the office talking with Draco. She had a smile on her face as she took a picture of the secret album on J¡¯s phone that she had just created with her own phone. Afterward, she found Ethan¡¯s phone number and typed it into her phone. After she was done, Rosa put J¡¯s phone back on her desk, and returned to her seat, pretending to be taking a nap on her desk. Draco and J talked for an entire hour. When she came out of Draco¡¯s office, J saw that Rosa was sleeping and that she was even snoring. While sitting in her seat at her desk, J browsed the Inte for a good while before the lunch break was over. Rosa quietly opened her eyes and saw that J was ying on her phone. It really seemed like she was unaware that anything was wrong. Rosa smiled to herself and went on to sleep with her eyes closed. ******* After the workday was over, Rosa went ahead and sent the photo she had taken of the secret album to Ethan. ¡°I saw this on J¡¯s phone just now. A married woman hooked up with her boss in the office? Totally disgusting. Thought you should know. If ever someday she cheats on you, this is where it all begins.¡± Chapter 510 Chapter 510 Today, Ethan was hosting a dinner party in Barnes. The Larson Group had just established a brand new branch in Barnes. Before all of this, it was already a business giant. Learning about their extension of business map, a lot of businessmen in Barnes had been trying to partner up with them. Everyone was chatting happily during the dinner party. Among them, there was even a man who happened to be the CEO of a fashion designpany. ¡°I heard that Draco went to Mn this year. He¡¯s really something, isn¡¯t he? He only got his start in the industry not too long ago. In all honesty, I didn¡¯t think too highly of him before. And I don¡¯t think he pays attention to mainstream fashion trends too much.¡± With one hand in his pants pocket, Ethan drank the wine in his ss and listened to their chatter. It was true, he didn¡¯t know much about Draco. ¡°The Wesleys are all literary folk, so it¡¯s perfectly normal that people like them will look down upon businessmen like us. You know that it¡¯s always been this way,¡± a rich businessman interrupted with a smile on his face. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. The CEO of the fashionpany said disdainfully, ¡°Humph, I¡¯m also a fashion designer, but I don¡¯t think he¡¯s any different from me. A few days ago, I asked him if he wanted to coborate with my brand and he turned me down without thinking twice about it.¡± After that, he nced over at Ethan and said with a ttering smile on his face, ¡°Mr. Larson, have you heard of Draco Wesley before?¡± Today, Ethan was hosting a dinner party in Barnes. The Larson Group had just established a brand new branch in Barnes. Before all of this, it was already a business giant. Learning about their extension of business map, a lot of businessmen in Barnes had been trying to partner up with them. ¡°I hove,¡± soid Ethon in on indifferent tone. When the CEO of the foshionpony heord his tone, he figured thot Ethon must not like Droco very much os well, so he went on to soy ¡°You know whot, Mr. Lorson? I hod no ideo thot he wosn¡¯t single until he epted my friend request on Focebook. Thot womon who went with him on his trip to Milon wos definitely beoutiful. I hod originolly thought Droco wos goy!¡± Heoring his words, everyone burst out loughing. None of them noticed thot Ethon¡¯s foce hod dorkened visibly. ¡°Who is this womon?¡± Ethon studied the mon with o sullen expression on his foce. Stunned, the CEO pulled out his phone ond found the photo. ¡°Here¡¯s her picture.¡± Ethon looked ot the photo ond sow his wife¡¯s foce. Even though there wos nothing speciol obout the photogrophs, Ethon begon to feel o bit unhoppy. He set down his wine gloss ond left the porty. ******* When J returned home, she sensed thot Ethon wos in o bod mood. The sound of him cooking wos porticulorly loud os if he wos venting out his onger in the kitchen. ¡°Who in the world pissed you off?¡± J mode her woy into the kitchen to help him out. After thot, she sow the sullen expression thot wos plostered on Ethon¡¯s foce. Ethon pursed his lips tightly ond looked ot her. ¡°I have,¡± said Ethan in an indifferent tone. When the CEO of the fashionpany heard his tone, he figured that Ethan must not like Draco very much as well, so he went on to say ¡°You know what, Mr. Larson? I had no idea that he wasn¡¯t single until he epted my friend request on Facebook. That woman who went with him on his trip to Mn was definitely beautiful. I had originally thought Draco was gay!¡± Hearing his words, everyone burst outughing. None of them noticed that Ethan¡¯s face had darkened visibly. ¡°Who is this woman?¡± Ethan studied the man with a sullen expression on his face. Stunned, the CEO pulled out his phone and found the photo. ¡°Here¡¯s her picture.¡± Ethan looked at the photo and saw his wife¡¯s face. Even though there was nothing special about the photographs, Ethan began to feel a bit unhappy. He set down his wine ss and left the party. ******* When J returned home, she sensed that Ethan was in a bad mood. The sound of him cooking was particrly loud as if he was venting out his anger in the kitchen. ¡°Who in the world pissed you off?¡± J made her way into the kitchen to help him out. After that, she saw the sullen expression that was stered on Ethan¡¯s face. Ethan pursed his lips tightly and looked at her. Frustrated, J let out a long sigh. ¡°So what did I do now?¡± Ethan cocked his eyebrow and snorted. At least, she was smart enough to know he was upset with her. ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s going on between you and Draco?¡± ¡°How did you find out?¡± It dawned on J that he must¡¯ve seen the photos. ¡°I felt that it was inappropriate that he posted my photos on his social media ount, but he¡¯s my boss. There was nothing I could say about it.¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have taken the pictures with him in the first ce.¡± Ethan had a serious look on his face. J felt wronged. In fact, she was never good at saying ¡°no¡± to others. ¡°I¡¯m not like you, a CEO. There¡¯s nothing I can do to defend myself with. Furthermore, Draco happens to be my idol. I took pictures with him simply because I admired him a great deal. Otherwise, it meant nothing to me.¡± Ethan finally looked a lot better. He moved in closer to J and said, ¡°Kiss me and I will let you go this one time.¡± Ethan thought he was letting J off easy. Looking at man with his eyes closed and lips pursed, J was amused by what was going on. She stood on her tiptoes and nted a kiss on his lips. Ethan ced his arms around her waist and was about to return her kiss. ¡°Let¡¯s move this over to the bedroom.¡± Just then, the phone in his pocket chimed with a text. Chapter 511 Chapter 511 ¡°Honey, it seems that someone sent you a text just now.¡± With a sweet smile on her face, J fumbled in his pants pocket and pulled out his phone. Ethan proceeded to pinch her cheek and kissed her two more times before checking the message on his phone. After that, J saw him reading the message and that he was stunned for a good while. His face darkened noticeably after looking at the text. ¡°Honey, what¡¯s the matter?¡± When she saw the expression on Ethan¡¯s face, she started to have a bad feeling in her heart. Ethan¡¯s face was very dark at this moment. He turned the screen of his phone to J and asked her, ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Those are photos of Draco?¡± J nced at his phone screen and discovered that there were all Draco¡¯s photos. She had no idea why Ethan was asking her this. ¡°Why did you set up a secret album on your phone to store his photos? My Moon? You¡¯re quite the romantic, J.¡± Ethan¡¯s eyes were now overflowing with anger. He cornered J until her back was against the wall. After taking Ethan¡¯s phone into her hands and looking at the photos on it carefully, J was shocked and said, ¡°How could this be something on my phone? I¡¯ve never saved his photos on my phone before.¡± Just by looking at the phone on the photo, it looked exactly like the model J was using. She was also shocked that someone would go out of their way to do this to her. Who the hell would send such a message to Ethan? ¡°I have no clue what this is.¡± J was feeling confused by what was going on. Ethan reached out with his hand to the back pocket of J¡¯s pants and pulled out her phone. He then said in a whisper, ¡°Please unlock your phone.¡± When she heard his words, J felt very ufortable inside. ¡°Honey, you don¡¯t believe what I¡¯m saying?¡± Her bright eyes darkened as she looked at the man before her. The room fell into a heavy silence. ¡°I¡¯ll believe you if there¡¯s nothing on it.¡± Ethan wasn¡¯t about to give in. With a sneer on her face, J proceeded to unlock her phone. To her shock, she found a secret album with Draco¡¯s photos on it. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Exin yourself,¡± Ethan said. J couldn¡¯t believe her eyes and kept right on staring down at her phone. She didn¡¯t even know when she had created this photo album. ¡°I have no idea how this got on my phone,¡± J replied. Ethan grew even more furious. He held back his anger and said, ¡°You don¡¯t know what this is? But it¡¯s on your phone!¡± J was dumbfounded too. The photo album was well-hidden and it was securely tucked inside a hard-to-find ce inside her device. Even though it was actually on her phone, J had no clue when or how it got there. ¡°Honey, I wasn¡¯t the one who created this album. Someone must have taken my phone and set me up,¡± J said in a firm voice. Rosa¡¯s face shed through her mind at this time. She had gone to Draco¡¯s office to talk to him today, but she didn¡¯t bring her phone with her. She thought that the meeting would not take long and that no one would send her messages during the lunch break, so she didn¡¯t bother taking it with her. Ethan grabbed hold of her wrist and asked, ¡°Are you trying to make up excuses?¡± Hearing this, J felt this matter was getting ridiculous. She turned to look at Ethan with disbelief in her eyes and said word by word, ¡°Ethan, we¡¯ve been married for such a long time. Do you really think I¡¯ll cheat on you? Do you think what we have is all fake?¡± Ethan was bbergasted for a few seconds before he said in a cold voice, ¡°I only believe in what my eyes tell me and my eyes tell me that you¡¯re cheating on me.¡± ¡°Good for you!¡± J shook off his hand and said with anger and disappointment in her voice, ¡°Someone framed me, but you don¡¯t believe a word I¡¯ve said. You didn¡¯t even look into this matter and didn¡¯t even hesitate to believe that I cheated on you!¡± Chapter 512 Chapter 512 ¡°I didn¡¯t object to you working for Draco because I trusted you with all my heart.¡± Sensing that J was getting overexcited, Ethan softened his tone and said to her, ¡°I¡¯ll believe you if you can give me a fair exnation about what happened.¡± Crossing her arms over her chest, J said, ¡°I didn¡¯t create that album you found on my phone and I didn¡¯t save the photographs. I have no idea how it got on my phone in the first ce.¡± Her exnation sounded a bit ridiculous even to her own ears. With a dry smile on his face, Ethan said, ¡°This is your phone, J.¡± He felt depressed and unconvinced when he heard J¡¯s terrible attempt at an exnation. ¡°Don¡¯t bother lying to me,¡± Ethan said in an extremely low voice. It was as if he was pleading with her to tell him the truth. He had never spoken to anyone in such a humble way before. No one else but J. ¡°But I really have no idea how it got there.¡± J was bing so anxious that she raised the volume of her voice. Ethan fell silent as he thought it over for a few seconds. When he found out that J was going to work for Draco, he had been jealous. But he knew that he couldn¡¯t stand between her and her career just because he was jealous. Now that he thought it over, there had been signs of J having an affair with Draco early on. J was Draco¡¯s new assistant, but Draco asked her to attend the Mn Fashion Week shortly after J started working at W Marks. Ethan was a little shocked when he learned about it, but he didn¡¯t think too much about it at first. Previously, Ethan had never really had any problems in his rtionship with J. He had always had faith in her. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. But now¡­ Ethan never expected that J would actually have an affair with someone. She even refused to admit to it after she got caught in the act. Anger surged from his chest. ¡°How can I trust your words if you couldn¡¯t even give me a fair exnation?¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯m telling you lies?¡± J wasn¡¯t about to give in at all. ¡°This is your phone. How can you not know what¡¯s on it?¡± The two of them went on to quarrel like this. ring daggers at Ethan, J had a sneer on her face. In a fit of anger, she ran straight out of the room. She then mmed the door hard behind her. Ethan nced over at the door, rubbed his aching temples, and proceeded to sit down on the sofa. He was very angry as well. Even if he ran after J, they would only continue to keep on arguing. A sense of helplessness sent him reeling. He tried to calm himself down for a few minutes and then turned to look out of the window at the night sky outside. Finally, he picked up his coat and scarf from the sofa and hurried out of the house. It was still freezing cold in January. Ethan checked around the street, but he saw no traces of J. A sense of guilt overflowed from his heart. He shouldn¡¯t have said all the things he had said. Ethan was concerned that J might get hurt wandering on the streets on her own, so he gave her a call. He called her several times, but she never picked up. After mulling it over in his head for a few seconds, he then called the White family residence. A servant answered his call. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Brandon Larson.¡± ¡°Mrs. White, it¡¯s Mr. Larson calling.¡± The servant shouted on the other side of the phone. After that, he heard some footsteps and another woman answered the phone. ¡°What do you want?¡± Johanna said in an angry tone. ¡°Mrs. White, is J there with you?¡± Ethan asked in an anxious voice. Johanna snorted rather impatiently and still seemed to be very angry. ¡°Yeah. What have you done to our J? She locked herself in her room as soon as she arrived home and she wouldn¡¯t say a damn thing!¡± Johanna shouted aggressively into the phone. ¡°We had a fight just now.¡± Ethan was upset and didn¡¯t want to get into it too much. Chapter 513 Chapter 513 Johanna was at least pleased that Ethan actually called the Whites¡¯ residence so soon. She had also experienced such a thing before. In the past, she had fought with Beal many times while she was in love with him and even after they got married. As long as they could handle themselves well, it was not altogether a bad thing. ¡°Never mind, don¡¯t worry about it. Just let J stay here with us for a few days. I¡¯ll go upstairs and check on her now.¡± Johanna didn¡¯t ask any more questions. She wanted to let them deal with the matter themselves first and if they couldn¡¯t reconcile, she would help them outter. After hanging up, Ethan became calmer. At least, J wasn¡¯t wandering the streets anymore and she was safe at home at the Whites now. This proved to be a sleepless night for Ethan. He tossed and turned the whole night while in bed. Now that he had calmed down and thought it all over again, he felt that J¡¯s reaction at that time seemed to be genuine. So someone had really set her up. After all, as far as he knew about her, she was not cut out for air. If she was discovered to have an affair, she would never react in such a firm and indignant manner in the first ce. Ethan got up and turned on the light. The room was lit up right away. He picked up his phone and looked at the anonymous message again. So who sent that message to him? How could the person know J¡¯s phone password and the existence of a well-hidden secret album on her device? When Ethan first saw the photo, he was so angry that he didn¡¯t have the chance to think much about the details. Now, when he thought back to this matter, he also felt that there were many suspicious things going on. And how did this person have his phone number? The one who would do such a thing could only be one of J¡¯s colleagues. Ethan proceeded to give Garrett a call. When Garrett picked up, he seemed angry once again. ¡°Brandon, your identity as mighty Mr. Larson has already been made public. Why can¡¯t you fix your own problems by yourself?¡± Ethan had woken up Garrett in the middle of the night and his voice sounded extremely agitated as a result. After all, he was the only sessor of the Harding family with a high status. However, when he worked for Ethan, he felt that he became Ethan¡¯s ve. Ethan uttered in a casual voice, ¡°I happen to be dealing with the business of the branch of the Larson Group in Barnes now. You should have a lot of free time now, since thepany¡¯s main focus has been transferred to Barnes after all.¡± Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Garrett was at a loss for words upon hearing Ethan say that. With a guilty conscience, he held back his rage and clenched his teeth secretly. What Ethan said was indeed true. Right now, there was no important work in thepany in Seacisco. Garrett had nothing to do in thepany all day. Noticing that Garrett did not say anything, Ethan said in a serious voice, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to investigate this matter, juste to Barnes and watch over the overall situation. I¡¯ll then be able to investigate it by myself.¡± Garrett would never go to Barnes to deal with all those troublesome matters. Thus, he quickly promised, ¡°I see, I¡¯ll investigate this matter right away.¡± ******* Inside the White family¡¯s house in Barnes. J threw herself onto the bed, covered herself with the quilt, and sobbed into it. She felt so wronged. She did nothing wrong. She had exined her side of the story to Ethan. And the photo album wasn¡¯t even created by her. Obviously, Ethan didn¡¯t believe her words, judging from his look and attitude earlier. After she cried for about 30 minutes, J gradually calmed herself down. She told herself she couldn¡¯t just let go of this matter when someone was trying so hard to set her up. She got out of the bed, wiped her tears, opened the photo album, and began to seriously go over the entire thing in her head. Chapter 514 Chapter 514 At that moment, a knock sounded on the door. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°J, I made some soup and some dumplings stuffed with crab meat for you. Would you like to eat them before heading to bed?¡± Johanna¡¯s voice was both gentle and cautious at the same time. Now, J was really hungry after crying for such a long time. Her stomach kept on rumbling noisily. She opened the door and moved out of the way to let Johanna in. The pleasant aroma of the dumplings immediately greeted her. When Johanna saw J¡¯s red and puffy eyes, she became enraged once more. If she had known about it earlier, she wouldn¡¯t have been so nice to Brandon just now. ¡°My poor girl. Tell me, what happened?¡± Setting the food on the table, Johanna held J¡¯s hand and tried tofort her. Johanna hadn¡¯t been there for J during her childhood. Now, she felt a little uneasy and wasn¡¯t sure how she should go aboutforting J. In the past, when L broke up with her exes, Johanna would go shopping with her, but she knew that J was not the sort of person whose problems could be remedied by a shopping spree. Suppressing the sadness in her heart, J scooped up a spoonful of soup and slowly began eating it. The soup tasted amazing. ¡°We were arguing over some trivial things. It¡¯s not entirely his fault. I also did something wrong.¡± Johanna could tell that it was not a big deal as J began to put in a good word for her husband subconsciously. Seeing that J was acting absent-minded while holding the spoon in her hand, Johanna had a kind smile on her face as she asked, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± ¡°I always take my phone with me everywhere. I only leave it on my desk asionally when I work. I¡¯m wondering who else has touched my phone,¡± J murmured to herself as she thought about this matter in her head. Johanna had no idea what exactly happened, so she could only make a rough guess based on her own previous experience and said, ¡°Of course, it must be someone who holds a grudge against you.¡± J knew this to be true too. In Draco¡¯s studio, the only person who was hostile toward J and would harm her was none other than Rosa. Rosa also was friends with Draco on Facebook, so she could naturally have easy ess to those photos. Thus, it was very likely that when J left her phone on her desk, Rosa went ahead to unlock her phone, created that secret album to keep the photos she downloaded from Facebook, took a picture of her phone, and sent it to Ethan. And when J came out of Draco¡¯s office today, she did, in fact, see that Rosa was in the studio office. ¡°Any idea who did it?¡± Johanna noticed that J seemed to be deep in thought. With a bright smile on her face, J picked up a dumpling and put it into her mouth. She said, ¡°Yes, mom. I think I know who did it.¡± Johanna had a smile on her face, thinking that her daughter was obviously as smart as her. She got up, thinking that J must¡¯ve figured it all out. ¡°Take your time, ask the servant to clean up after you¡¯re done eating.¡± J proceeded to sh Johanna a sweet smile. The smile didn¡¯t fade away until Johanna left her room. Last time, Rosa had reced J¡¯s medication with purgatives. She didn¡¯t even have time to get revenge. Now, Rosa even went out of her way to sabotage her marriage. J couldn¡¯t just let her get away with it so easily. But there were no security cameras in the office and since Rosa dared to take her phone, she must¡¯ve done so when there wasn¡¯t anyone else present. J wondered how in the world she would be able to obtain any evidence against Rosa. After that, it suddenly dawned on her that most of her applications were locked, and if Rosa wanted to create a new album on her phone, she had to use the fingerprint feature. She checked her phone right away to see if there was any new fingerprint data on it. Sure enough, there was a new strange fingerprint on it. It appeared that Rosa forgot to delete it after inputting her fingerprint on her phone. If Rosa could unlock J¡¯s phone with her fingerprint, that could only mean that she had tampered with it. After that, J ced another dumpling into her mouth,pletely lost in thought. If J wanted to expose Rosa, she would need to catch her red-handed unlocking her phone with her fingerprint. The problem was, how could she make that happen? Chapter 515 Chapter 515 After Rose sent the picture to Ethan, she began to gloat. She could just imagine how J and her husband must be arguing now at their home. When she had gone to pay J a visit at the hospital, she had met her husband. He was undeniably quite strikingly handsome, but from his look, she surmised that he must be quite imposing and controlling as well. N?velDrama.Org content rights. Maybe J¡¯s husband would bring this to the attention of W Marks Studio. If that happened, J would most definitely have to resign or be retrenched. Draco held his reputation in the highest regard, after all. Thinking of this happy prospect, Rosa couldn¡¯t helpughing wildly. Now all she needed to do was just wait for his response. The next day, Rosa arrived at thepany with a big smirk, which stretched from ear to ear, on her face. ¡°Did something great happen? You look like you are on cloud nine,¡± Elizabeth asked her in a frigid tone as she entered the studio with her. She threw Rosa an icy up-and-down look. Rosa covered her mouth, raised her eyebrows and smiled. ¡°No. But you are actually talking to me? This is quite astounding, to say the least.¡± The instant she finished herment, she peered around the studio. The smile on her face froze when she saw J hard at work at her desk. Seeing the sudden change of expression on her face, Elizabeth also looked in the direction of her gaze. J was drinking coffee in her seat. However, she noticed that her usually pretty face looked gaunt and haggard. Her eyes were blood shot and ssy. Rosa frowned slightly. After what she had done, she really didn¡¯t think that J would return to work today. Her eyes did look a little swollen, as if she had spent the night before crying. Rosa feigned worry, walked over to J and ced her hand on her shoulder. ¡°J, did you get any sleepst night? You don¡¯t look too well.¡± J looked up at Rosa and forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Rosa smiled back and made her way to her own desk to get on with her work. She knew that J and her husband must have fought. But it was not as bad as she had expected. Rosa was actually quite disappointed. She had thought her trick would get J kicked out of here. But at the moment, she could do nothing but wait to see whether an opportune moment to stir up trouble would present itself. That entire morning, every person in the studio was swamped with work. After sitting for hours, Rosa stretched herself out and then rubbed her sore neck. She was going to make a quick visit to thedies¡¯ room. On her way back to her desk, she saw that J seemed to be staring nkly into space. It was annoying even just to look at her! When she was out of J¡¯s direct line of sight, she scowled unhappily. Then she took her seat and picked up her phone from the desk. She unlocked the phone and casually swiped the screen but did not find the game she wanted to y. After taking a closer look at it, she realized that the phone in her hand wasn¡¯t hers at all! She was utterly bbergasted and, before she could put together what had happened, someone suddenly grabbed the phone out of her grasp. Then, she looked up and saw J standing in front of her with another phone. With a smile, J said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. This is my phone. I left it on your desk just now.¡± Rosa¡¯s mind went nk in an instant. She opened her mouth and didn¡¯t know what to say. Then, J held her phone and looked at Rosa disdainfully. ¡°Rosa, exin something to me. How did you unlock my phone?¡± Chapter 516 Chapter 516 That morning, while J had spoken to Rosa, she had been carefully observing her phone. Rosa was using the phone case she had bought in the convenience store downstairs. When J went downstairs to get breakfast, she bought a same one and put it on her phone. Then, she ced her own phone on Rosa¡¯s desk. As Rosa returned from her trip from the bathroom, J had been keeping a close eye on her. She had suspected that Rosa would have had a keen eye and noticed what she had done immediately. However, luckily for J, Rosa hadn¡¯t noticed. After thetter took a seat, she picked up the phone. J quietly observed Rosa¡¯s every move. She had suspected that the newly added fingerprint belonged to Rosa, but, until this point, she couldn¡¯t have been certain. At the exact moment Rosa reached for the phone, J became almost overwhelmed by nerves. Finally, as expected, Rosa unlocked the phone without any hindrance. Rosa was dumbfounded when she saw J standing before her. She hadn¡¯t noticed that the phone in her grasp was actually not hers. All smart phones looked almost identical these days. Furthermore, J was using the same phone case as hers. She really didn¡¯t suspect anything when she picked it up. ¡°I didn¡¯t notice it was your phone. I¡¯m sorry, J.¡± Rosa hemmed and hawed, trying to muddle through. J didn¡¯t intend on buying her act, and asked directly, ¡°Rosa, how did you unlock my phone with your fingerprint?¡± J had suddenly raised her voice, which took Rosa by surprise. She held the corner of the desk for support and trembled with anticipatory fear. Now, everyone in the studio had noticed themotion and all looked over to see what happened. Everyone then began to discuss the situation under bated breath. Unable to answer J¡¯s question, Rosa forced a smile and said, ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t know how I did it¡­¡± Now, J walked close to Rosa and blocked her off from the rest of the office¡¯s view. With a firm tone, she said, enunciating one deliberate word after the other, ¡°How could you not know? After all, you tampered with my phone yesterday.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t! Don¡¯t throw shade at me!¡± Pointing at J¡¯s nose, Rosa widened her eyes. She suddenly shouted, ¡°I¡¯ve never taken your phone. Have you forgotten, J? You asked me to record my fingerprint on your phone!¡± J was impressed by how shameless Rosa could be, even after she had been caught red-handed. Even though Rosa was telling a tant lie, she didn¡¯t even blush. ¡°Oh, really? We are merely colleagues. I didn¡¯t even ask my husband to record his fingerprint on my phone, why would I ask you of all people?¡± With a sneer, J held Rosa¡¯s wrist and demanded aggressively, ¡°Tell me the truth, Rosa Pierce!¡± N?velDrama.Org content rights. Just then, the door of Draco¡¯s office opened. All the employees in the studio became quiet. They didn¡¯t dare to look at Rosa and J anymore and all went back to their seats to work. Wearing a white shirt and a vintage bracelet on his wrist, Draco looked like someone walking out of the movie. He narrowed his eyes. Although his expression was gentle, there was impatience in his eyes. He looked at J and Rosa and asked, ¡°What¡¯s with all themotion?¡± Chapter 517 Chapter 517 When Rosa saw this, she immediately took the opportunity to look at Draco with grievance. ¡°Mr. Wesley, J is trying to nder my name in front of everyone¡± J hadn¡¯t expected Rosa to make up such a lie. What Rosa did not know was that J had just taken a video when she had unlocked her phone a few minutes ago. ¡°Mr. Wesley, I have video evidence,¡± J said coolly in the face of the usation. She hit y on the video and ced the phone for Draco to see for himself. ¡°I didn¡¯t frame anyone. This is a clear video of Rosa unlocking my phone with her fingerprint. She took my phone when I was away and created a secret album to store our photos in there. She tried to smear our names!¡± Rosa roared and red at J, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. You asked me to set my fingerprint on your phone!¡± She wasn¡¯t going to let anyone make her look bad in front of Draco. Because they were making such a ruckus, everyone peered over again curiously. After watching the video, Draco¡¯s face darkened. He looked up at Rosa and said, ¡°Exin yourself.¡± Rosa pursed her lips and said nothing. She had just used J of ndering her, now that there was evidence, she had nothing more to say in her defense. She couldn¡¯t even find an excuse and hesitated for a long while before she said, ¡°I know nothing about this.¡± Noticing the guilty look on her face, Draco looked at her and questioned her further, ¡°Rosa, why did you do this?¡± There was a dead silence in the studio. Everyone could feel the iciness in Draco¡¯s voice. Rosa trembled with fear. If Draco knew that she had a crush on him, she would definitely be fired. Rosa lowered her head and fiddled with her fingers nervously, hesitating for a long time. She couldn¡¯t tell him that she did it because she was having a crush on him. She had to think on her feet ande up with a believable excuse. ¡°I¡­ I was just jealous of J. She didn¡¯t even need an interview to get in here and she got to go with you to Mn. Elizabeth and I have worked so hard, it should have been one of us. I just felt it was wholly unfair. So I wanted to create trouble for her and her husband¡­¡± As Rosa spoke, she looked at J with tears in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, J. I didn¡¯t want to admit it because I was scared. I was afraid of losing this job.¡± Clenching her fists, J asked, ¡°And have you thought about what you have done might do to me?¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Rosa was riled up with rage when she saw the furious look on J¡¯s face. It wasn¡¯t a big deal! However, since Draco was still here, she could only continue to apologize in a low, solemn voice, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, J. I really know I was wrong. Please forgive me!¡± After saying that, Rosa looked at everyone to see their reactions. She thought it was verymon that colleagues fought. As long as she could make it look like a smaller matter, she might be able to stay and work here. Chapter 518 Chapter 518 J had a cold look on her face. She wasn¡¯t buying Rosa¡¯s words at all. She knew very well in her heart that Rosa was merely trying to make this matter look less serious. She knew that Rosa didn¡¯t want her forgiveness at all. The reason why she was acting so guilty and regretful was because she was afraid that Draco would fire her. Draco narrowed his eyes and appeared even unhappier now. It might be because he had always been gentle toward everyone that when he acted so imposingly, everyone became frightened. He snuck a nce over at J. When he was about to speak, Ethan suddenly showed up at the door in a crisp suit. ¡°Sorry to interrupt your work, but I¡¯m here for something urgent.¡± His arrival happened to push the matter to the climax. Rosa grew excited at once. She hoped that Ethan was here to make a farce out of the situation. Ethan made his way into the studio, his face devoid of emotions. He focused his gaze on J and it was hard for him not to feel bad. J¡¯s eyes were still red and puffy right now. It looked like she had cried for hoursst night. Seeing Ethan before her, J lowered her gaze to the floor and remained quiet. Looking into Ethan¡¯s eyes, Draco was the first to speak, ¡°Mr. Larson, if you¡¯re here for the photographs, I can exin the matter.¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Lifting his arm, Ethan said rather defiantly, ¡°I trust my wife. I¡¯m not here for that.¡± He turned to look at Rosa, who was wiping her tears at this moment, and said, ¡°I¡¯ve found out who sent me the text. It was Rosa Pierce. Furthermore, I knew that you bought some purgatives the day before J had her bout of diarrhea. I went to see the nurse who was in charge of taking care of J that day. I learned from the nurse that she gave J¡¯s medication to Rosa and asked her to give it to J. Therefore, Rosa must be the one who mixed the purgatives into J¡¯s medication.¡± As soon as he learned about this, Ethan rushed to W Marks Studio to show everyone the evidence. The evidence was definitely solid now. Furthermore, Rosa was the only one who had the chance to drug J twice. On his way there, Ethan had been feeling bad for having wronged J. He thought he should¡¯ve talked to J about this after he was able to calm himself down. Since Rosa had tried to drug J, the photo she sent him must be another trick of hers too. She tried to set J up and he allowed her to do just that. Rosa was currently at work with J. He was worried she might try something again. So as soon as he found the evidence, he hurried to get here. Ethan showed everyone the evidence he had just discovered. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me! It was actually Elizabeth who delivered the medicine to J!¡± Pointing her finger at Elizabeth, Rosa said tearfully. Ethan¡¯s evidence caused a great uproar in the whole office. After all, everyone had always believed Rosa was such a friendly and lovely co-worker. ¡°How could this be possible? Rosa doesn¡¯t seem like a person who could do such a thing at all.¡± ¡°Yes, I can¡¯t believe it. Why in the world would she do such a thing?¡± During this time, Elizabeth¡¯s voice sounded out, interrupting everyone¡¯s discussion. ¡°It was Rosa who handed the medicine to me. She said that it was from the nurse and asked me to deliver it to J. Now that I thought some more about it, she must¡¯ve asked me to hand it over in order to ce the me onto me.¡± Elizabeth¡¯s words sounded brief and to the point. She didn¡¯t even bother to look at Rosa as she offered everyone in the office her exnation. Chapter 519 Chapter 519 Rosa knew that it was all over for her now. Now that there was solid evidence and even eyewitnesses against her, there was nothing she could say to defend herself. With a very pale face, she stopped her tears and arguing. ¡°You¡¯ve got nothing to say now, is that right?¡± J turned to look at her and sneered. If it weren¡¯t for the pitiful look on her face, J would have pped her now. ¡°I¡¯ll let you go for drugging me, since we¡¯ve co-workers after all.¡± With a cold look in her eyes, J handed her phone over to Draco and said, ¡°Mr. Wesley, I¡¯m going to leave the rest to you.¡± Rosa hated J with all her heart. What she said just now made her look even worse. Furthermore, J said she was going to leave the rest in Draco¡¯s hands¡­ Rosa turned to look at Draco unconsciously and it was hard for her to keep her tears back. Thest thing she wanted was to face the rage of the man she loved. She knew that because they had found out that she had drugged J, there was no way Draco would keep her as his assistant. What she did was actually a crime after all. With the phone in his hand, Draco turned to look at Rosa with a cold expression in his eyes. ¡°Why did you do such a thing?¡± He didn¡¯t believe what Rosa had just said at all that she was jealous of J. A few years ago, when he was going about choosing an assistant, he took a liking to Rosa because he thought she was an honest and out-going person. Rosa came from a well-off family and was both outstanding and beautiful at the same time. It would not be hard for her to marry someone as equally excellent as her. The Pierce family was a famous literary family in Barnes and they were on the same level as the White family. Rosa had no reason to harbor jealous thoughts of J. Rosa drew in a deep breath and forced back her tears. She supported herself with the table behind her with her hands in case she fell to the ground awkwardly due to weakness. She knew that there was no hope of her staying anyway, so she simply told the truth. Her voice was full of despair at this moment. ¡°When I changed my major, my parents couldn¡¯t figure out why I would do such a thing at all. At that time, I majored in chemistry. None of them knew the real reason why I decided to transfer to fashion design.¡± She burst into tears and told Draco everything. ¡°When I was in my junior year, you gave us a speech about fashion design at the college. That¡¯s when I started to like you. It took me a great deal of effort to come here to be your assistant. But I was afraid that you would fire me once you found out my feelings for you. I figured you would think of me as trouble by then. I had already gotten used to the fact that you would never like me back. But everything changed when J showed up. After she came here¡­ Have you even noticed how you have been giving her special treatment, Draco Wesley?¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Now that both J and her husband were here, Rosa decided to spill it all out. Draco simply stood there with a sullen face as he listened to her words. Subconsciously, he stole a look at J and immediately looked away. He nodded slightly and apologized to both J and Ethan, ¡°This is all my fault. It¡¯s not appropriate for me to post the photos of me and J on my social media ounts. I never thought it would have led to this huge misunderstanding. Just to let you know, J and I are simply colleagues.¡± Chapter 520 Chapter 520 Ethan scratched the spot between his brows and his eyes fell silently on the speechless J, who had been standing to the side the whole time. She was bowing her head down. Ethan had no idea if she was looking at something on the ground or simply trying to avoid making eye contact with him. Perhaps Ethan had been looking at her for too long because J suddenly lifted her eyes, nced over at him, snorted, and then looked away again. Their awkward silence was finally broken. Rosa kept right on crying, waiting for Draco¡¯s next words. ¡°I won¡¯t go too deep into what you¡¯ve done in the past.¡± As usual, Draco¡¯s voice was gentle and courteous, but his face was expressionless. He turned to look at Rosa coldly and said, ¡°I can¡¯t tolerate my employees doing anything against morality. Rosa, you may go ahead and hand your work over to Elizabeth. After that, you can go to the personnel department to go through the resignation procedure. You will no longer be working here from now on.¡± This was what Rosa had expected all along. ¡°All right, I see. I¡¯ll hand over all my work today.¡± Rosa tried her best to suppress her tears. After having said that, it was hard for her not to break down in despair and run out in tears. The departure of the troublemaker caused a subtle change to the originally depressed mood of the office. Everyone immediately bowed their heads and went back to work, but they were still paying attention to the conversation between the three people. After clearing his throat, Draco made his way up to J and Ethan and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have caused you this much trouble.¡± Draco was proof that people born in refined rich families were always well-educated, gentle, and implicit. ¡°It¡¯s all right, Mr. Wesley. It¡¯s over now.¡± J nodded in his direction. After all, this man was her boss. Even if she was angry at him, she didn¡¯t dare to speak a word of it. Furthermore, Rosa had been dismissed and the matter was over now. With a gentle smile on his face, Draco looked into Ethan¡¯s eyes, turned to J, and said to her, ¡°J, I¡¯m sorry about all the trouble I¡¯ve caused you. I¡¯ll give you the day off, so you can go home now.¡± After being startled for a few seconds, J suddenly turned around and nced over at Ethan. The other party pretended to look away as if nothing had happened, but his eyes were obviously filled with guilt. ¡°No, thanks, Mr. Wesley. There¡¯s still a lot of work I need to do here. Taking the day off will only hinder my progress. I¡¯m fine.¡± With a bright warm smile on her face, J went straight to her desk and immediately began to work. Ethan¡¯s face scrunched up into a frown. He was a little anxious right then as he watched her with mixed feelings. Why wasn¡¯t she giving him a chance to exin himself? Having heard J¡¯s words, Draco became serious at once. He made his way to J and knocked on her desk with his knuckle. ¡°I¡¯m the boss, and your boss says you¡¯re given a day off, all right?¡± Since Draco insisted, J had to picked up her purse and be on her way. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Seeing that she was leaving, Ethan quickly followed behind her. In early spring, the city happened to be still a little bleak and cold. Even though everything had started turning green, the cold wind was a steady reminder to people that winter hadn¡¯t really passed yet. Ethan pulled off his coat and tried to put it around J¡¯s body. However, J immediately hailed a cab and got in before he could. ¡°Shall we head home and talk there?¡± Ethan followed behind her and grabbed her hand. J shook off his hand and proceeded to continue ignoring him. However, Ethan managed to get into the car as well. Chapter 521 Chapter 521 ¡°Ethan, get out of here at once!¡± J turned to look at the man with anger in her eyes. The door was immediately mmed shut. Ethan leaned against the car seat, pretending not to have heard what she said. He absolutely refused to get out of the car. J bit down on her bottom lip, opened the door, and was about to get off. However, the driveway happened to be on her side of the door. As soon as she opened the door, a sports car sped right past her. Dust and wind blew over her body. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see a caring just now?¡± Ethan closed the car door, grabbed hold of her wrist, and pulled her right into his arms. He said in a low andmanding voice to the cab driver before him, ¡°Drive.¡± But where to? The driver looked at the two with confused eyes from the rearview mirror and curled his lips. It was really troublesome to have a quarreling young couple in his cab. They didn¡¯t mention where they were headed, so he started to drive randomly around the city. J¡¯s face had turned a crimson red. She red at Ethan with her clear eyes and wanted to say something, but she had no idea where to start. ¡°If you keep staring at me like that, your eyes will literally pop out of your sockets.¡± With a teasing smile ying at his lips, Ethan pinched her cheek and nted a big kiss on her face. He wrapped his fingers around her soft tendrils of hair and his eyes were trained on her. Even when he seemed like he wasnguishing in sorrow, he still looked like a rascal with that signature devil-may-care smirk of his. J did everything she could but she could not get rid of him at all. She had seen with her own eyes just how strong Ethan was a long time ago. The cab driver drove around the city for a long time. Finally, he stammered to the couple in the backseat, ¡°Where are we headed?¡± ¡°Seaview Bay.¡± ¡°The White Alley.¡± The two of them spoke at the very same time. They each told the driver their home address. The cab driver was stunned and asked, ¡°So where on earth are we headed?¡± J stared at Ethan and said, ¡°Now that we are heading to different ces, you should get out of the car now.¡± Seeing her so unmoved like this, it was hard for Ethan not to burst outughing. He was left with no other choice but topromise. ¡°Fine, we¡¯re going to the White Alley now.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. As soon as the taxi reached the White family¡¯s house, J got out of the car while Ethan followed closely behind with his coat. After walking into the house, J headed straight to her own room. When Johanna saw J walk in with a very angry look again, she immediately put down her tea cup and quickly got up to ask, ¡°Who on earth made you so angry? You were happy when you left the house this morning.¡± Without saying a word to her mother, J snorted at Ethan behind her, walked past Johanna, went into her room, and closed the door. Johanna looked at Ethan who was standing in the doorway. So, it was Ethan again? ¡°Why did you guys fight again?¡± Johanna asked in an anxious voice. Ethan nearly bumped into the door when J shut it behind her. He touched his nose with a finger without saying a word. Johanna shook her head and headed back to the sofa to watch the rest of her TV show. Coincidentally, Beal just came out of the kitchen after having prepared the fruit tter. He ced the te in front of Johanna. After that, he went back to ask Ethan, ¡°Did you somehow manage to piss J off again?¡± Beal adjusted his sses and turned to look at Ethan. Suddenly, he had the feeling that Ethan was a bit like him when he was young. The look on Ethan¡¯s face was exactly the same as his whenever he had pissed Johanna off. It really seemed like Ethan and he were indeed sharing the same fate. Chapter 522 Chapter 522 At this moment, Ethan had no idea what was on his father-inw¡¯s mind. He smiled dejectedly at him and said, ¡°There¡¯s some sort of misunderstanding between me and J. It turns out it¡¯s all my fault.¡± Beal said, ¡°It¡¯s actually verymon for young couples to have conflicts and misunderstandings during the course of their rtionship. Life is full of ups and downs. It¡¯s inevitable that the two of you will quarrel. As long as the misunderstandings are cleared up in the end, there shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± Looking at Beal¡¯s calm expression, Ethan knew that he must have experienced this firsthand. ¡°I have no clue how to make her feel better. I feel that everything I try to do is wrong.¡± Ethan let out a long sigh. ¡°Sometimes you¡¯ll feel that even though you didn¡¯t do anything wrong and even though you have sincerely apologized, your wife still won¡¯t forgive you. Does that ever happen to you?¡± Beal asked eagerly. Ethan nodded obediently. Beal pped his hands and said in a firm voice, ¡°That¡¯s right! That¡¯s exactly how Johanna is. They¡¯re really mother and daughter. Whenever they get angry, there¡¯s no way they¡¯ll listen to reason.¡± It really looked like he had finally found someone who could understand him. He then began to comin to Ethan, ¡°You have no idea what I¡¯ve gone through all these years. J must really be like her mother. Whenever she gets angry, it¡¯s hard for her to listen to anyone. And when you make another mistake in the future, she¡¯ll bring up the past again. Am I right?¡± Ethan overall had the same feeling. After listening carefully to Beal¡¯s words, he mulled it over in his head for a while and nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s work together from now on. Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll help you with J,¡± Beal whispered in Ethan¡¯s ear. Ethan didn¡¯t really believe Beal could actually help him out. After all, he happened to be a hen-pecked husband. He didn¡¯t even have a say in the White household. However, Ethan had nowhere else to turn to now. ¡°So, what¡¯s your suggestion, Mr. White?¡± ¡°Waiting around here is pointless. Would you like to have a drink with me instead? I¡¯ll tell you my experiences in regard to my marriage,¡± Beal said as he clutched Ethan¡¯s arm. Ethan nodded. After that, he followed Beal to the indoor bar to have a drink. They drank together at the bar counter located in the dining room. After so many years, Beal finally found someone who was in a simr situation as him. ¡°Even though Johanna has a bad temper, whenever I¡¯m angry, she¡¯ll lower herself to try andfort me.¡± Thinking about the way Beal humbled himself to serve the fruit tter to Johanna while she was watching TV, Ethan really doubted the authenticity of his words. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. But he didn¡¯t say anything in regard to that matter. He took a sip of his wine and listened quietly while holding the ss in his hand. Seeing the serious expression on Ethan¡¯s face, Beal immediately became talkative. ¡°Johanna actually has the same character as J. You can¡¯t be overly good to them. Sometimes, you need to act tough andy down thew. Back then, Johanna was a fierce business woman, but under my persuasion, she still went back to the family and became a housewife,¡± Beal said as if he was proud of himself. ¡°That¡¯s how clever I was. What you need to do to tame your wife¡­¡± ¡°Mr. White, you¡¯re drunk right now.¡± Ethan suddenly caught a glimpse of the woman at the door and immediately interrupted Beal¡¯s rant. Beal shook his hand and said in a serious voice, ¡°What the hell are you talking about? I¡¯ve only drank two sses of wine. I¡¯m totally sober!¡± Ethan kept winking at him to secretly signal to him that someone was at the door. However, Beal didn¡¯t notice Ethan¡¯s hint at all and went on to talk about his methods of taming Johanna. Ethan had to get up and interrupt him, ¡°Mr. White, I think I want to head to bed now.¡± After hearing this, Beal finally felt something was wrong and looked back at the door of the dining room. Johanna was standing by the door for who knew how long, with her arms crossed over her chest, looking at the two of them with a smile on her face. It appeared that she had heard everything. She gave Beal a calm look and said, ¡°Go on, I want to learn about your ways of taming your wife.¡± The next second, Beal stood up at once like a misbehaved school kid. He forced out a smile and said awkwardly, ¡°Honey¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go back to our room! And talk about what you just said!¡± Johanna¡¯s face suddenly turned serious and her eyes looked so intimidating that even Ethan was startled when he turned to look at her. Beal bowed his head down and followed Johanna into their room quietly. ******* That night, J still didn¡¯t allow Ethan to enter her room, so he had no other choice but to sleep in the guest bedroom. On the next morning, when Ethan heard some noises, he made his way out of the bedroom and saw that J was wearing beautiful clothes and changing her shoes with a bag in her hand at the door. It looked like she was going out. Ethan made his way up to her and said, ¡°Honey, I¡¯ll drive you wherever you want to go.¡± J didn¡¯t even bother to look at him and simply ignored him. She put on her shoes, turned around, and proceeded to leave the house. In the next few days, Ethan had been staying with the Whites. J continued to ignore him as if he wasn¡¯t there at all. He was just like an invisible guest in their home that she couldn¡¯t care less about. Chapter 523 Chapter 523 A few dayster, inside the living room of the White family, everyone was having breakfast together right then. J and Johanna were discussing amongst themselves the hot trending topics recently. ¡°You know all about the famous popr TV show out there recently, right? I¡¯m going to sign the leading actor to be the spokesperson of our very ownpany,¡± Johanna told J. J had an impression of the leading actor. He appeared to be going to the gym regrly, so he appeared very strong with all his muscles. ¡°You can sign him. There are lots of grown women who are into his type.¡± J gave her opinion with a smile on her face. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll have a chat with his agent today,¡± Johanna said with an even brighter smile. The two women were both talking about a man,pletely forgetting the men who were sitting next to them. ¡°Who¡¯s this actor?¡± Ethan and Beal asked at the same time. Ignoring the men seated at the same table as her, J finished eating her meal quickly and left. Ethan didn¡¯t say a word or do anything about it. He knew deep down that he had made a huge mistake this time. Beal also kept silent. Since he was caught red-handed by Johannast time bragging about his methods of taming his wife, he didn¡¯t dare to brag in front of Ethan ever again. It was not until Johanna headed back to their room to change out of her clothes that he dared to speak to Ethan in a whisper, his eyes full of encouragement, ¡°As long as you stick around, she will definitely forgive you eventually.¡± It was how he managed to deal with such problems with Johanna in the past. Ethan forced out a smile. He wanted to stick around J, but she gave him no chance to even speak a word to her. *** After breakfast at home, J went to the W Marks Studio to get some work done. Everyone was still hard at work as usual. Perhaps it was because they had been busy recently that everyone had stopped gossiping about the matter between her, Draco, and Rosa. As for Draco, his attitude toward J didn¡¯t change in the slightest. He was as serious as before when it came to work-rted matters, and whenever he chatted with her as a friend, he talked in a gentle and polite way like always. Everything went back to normal as if nothing had happened. J continued her work and inadvertently nced up at Rosa¡¯s empty desk. After Rosa was fired, Draco didn¡¯t bother to hire a new assistant. The only thing that seemed to change in the studio was that J and Elizabeth had now be close friends. After getting along with each other for a very long time, J felt that Elizabeth was not as cold as she originally appeared. When J got familiarized with her, she discovered that she was actually very warm-hearted on the inside. It turned out Elizabeth was really easy to get along with and liked to help others out. It really seemed like she was a friendly person and wasn¡¯t at all like Rosa, who acted like a good friend but ended up stabbing her ¡°friends¡± behind her back. ******* On the weekends, J would stay in. In the evening, the cook would have prepared the dinner and the maid would ask her toe down the stairs to eat dinner. It was not until the dinner was nearly over that night that it dawned on J that it seemed a bit empty in the house. Someone wasn¡¯t here. L. J nearly forgot about her. ¡°Isn¡¯t Ling down for dinner? I haven¡¯t seen her for days now.¡± J happened to not like L and merely asked about her casually. As soon as she asked the question, everyone in the room was stunned. Chapter 524 Chapter 524 Johanna furrowed her brows slightly when she thought of something. After that, she wiped her mouth with a napkin and said, ¡°L¡¯s seeing someely.¡± To J, this was a perfectly normal thing. L was a beautiful grown woman after all. ¡°Who is the man?¡± J was curious to learn more. L had always given her the impression that she was picky and choosy when it came to men. Johanna let out a long sigh. She was very worried about L. ¡°I have no idea. I asked her, but she didn¡¯t tell me anything about him.¡± Beal was also a little worried and faltered in his speech, ¡°We should ask her again some other time. What if the guy has bad intentions?¡± Feeling depressed, Johanna focused her gaze onto Beal and said, ¡°She wouldn¡¯t tell me anything, so what could I do about it? She rarely evenes home now.¡± After having said that, she thought it over for a few seconds and then said, ¡°Let¡¯s not worry about these kinds of things anymore. L¡¯s a smart girl; I¡¯m sure she¡¯s dating an excellent man. If she wants to tell us about her rtionship, she will. Don¡¯t bother asking. She¡¯ll be annoyed if you ask her too many questions.¡± After mulling it over in his head for a moment, Beal said, ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right.¡± Since Johanna had given this order, no one brought it up again. ******* Although J had heard from her mother that L was dating someone, she simply brushes it off and didn¡¯t ask any more questions. Two dayster, she caught sight of L again. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. As soon as she got off work and headed home, she spotted a sports car parked right in front of their house. Wearing a floppy hat with sunsses on, L was dragged into the car by a man. Through the window, J could make out that the two were making out passionately. She recalled that she had seen the man in a magazine before. That man was none other than Eric Torres, the heir of the Torres family, which was one of the most prominent families in Barnes. The family was involved in semiconductor production. The semiconductor industry in Barnes had been going on for a very long time now. The Torres family happened to be the titans in the industry. They were different from the White family, which were engaged in regr real estate matters. The semiconductor sector, on the other hand, was a pir industry. As the only heir of the Torres family, Eric¡¯s wealth and status were iparable in Barnes. But J also recalled that she had read about him in the news before. He was in his 30s and already had a wife and a son. It seemed like he was happily married. And now, he was locking lips with L passionately, which meant that L was his mistress now. Totally shocked, J covered her mouth with her hand and tried to calm down. As soon as she walked into the house, Johanna noticed that J had a dazed look on her face. ¡°Is there something bothering you at work? Why are you frowning?¡± Johanna turned to look at her and smiled gently. J shook her head, still in a state of shock. She didn¡¯t want to get herself involved in L¡¯s affairs, but her parents still attached great importance to L, and she happened to still be the daughter of the White family, her nominal sister. If someone found out about this, the White family¡¯s name would be smeared. After thinking it over some more, J decided to tell Johanna about it. After all, L was still a member of this family. If the news of her involvement with a married man spread out, it would go on to destroy the family¡¯s name. ¡°Mom, I saw L outside just now.¡± ¡°Yes, she was just heading out. She said that she was going to a party. What¡¯s the matter?¡± Johanna studied J¡¯s face seriously and suddenly her face scrunched up into a frown. ¡°Did you see anything?¡± ¡°The man she¡¯s dating is Eric Torres. I saw them in the car earlier. Eric is a married man. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea for L to be fooling around with the likes of him.¡± She had done everything she could to be implicit with her information. Johanna was furious. She put down the remote control in her hand and said to the servant, ¡°Call L home right away!¡± ¡°I had initially thought it would be good for L to be in a rtionship. How could she do something like this? Getting involved with a married man?¡± Beal said rather unhappily. ******* L was going on a date when she was called home. She was very unhappy about this. She had no idea what had happened. When she returned home, she snapped at her parents, ¡°Dad, Mom, why did you ask me toe back just now? I was having fun with my friends.¡± L¡¯s voice sounded a little angry, but when she thought back to the fact that her position in this family wasn¡¯t as high as before, she held herself back a little. However, the whole White family was silent and no one spoke a word. Beal and Johanna sat on the sofa with serious expressions on their faces. Johanna¡¯s face darkened noticeably. Beal questioned her, ¡°L White! Is there really something going on between you and Eric Torres?¡± Chapter 525 Chapter 525 It was rare for Beal to call L by her full name like this. When L heard this, she was too scared to say anything. Having heard his question, L knew that her parents had found out about her and Eric. Getting involved with a married man? How arrogant L used to be! If this was before, she¡¯d never have thought of doing such a despicable thing at all. However, things had changed a lot since the skydiving incident. She had started to feel that the Whites were beginning to distance themselves from her. She was still in the family now due to the fact that she had been with them for years. That was all there was to it. She knew for a fact that the Whites didn¡¯t have much love left for her anymore. When the White family really decided to abandon her, where could she go next? She really didn¡¯t want to go back to her birth parents¡¯ home. She had long be ustomed to the life of a spoiled rich daughter. The best option now for her was to find a rich guy and have him marry her. She couldn¡¯t count on the White family any longer. She had to find herself a promising future on her own. When she first met Eric, she was attending a party held by her friend. Rich men were usually yboys, but Eric was a different matter. He looked both mature and sophisticated. With just a few words from Eric, L fell head over heels for him. He was handsome, rich, and definitely irresistible for girls L¡¯s age. Born in a rich and powerful family, Eric was still in his prime and was very good-looking. He was the ideal candidate for many unmarried youngdies from wealthy families based in Barnes. The only problem was that he was already married and with a child too. L had hesitated at first. She didn¡¯t want to get herself involved in other people¡¯s marriages. ¡°Very nice to meet you, Miss White.¡± It was when Eric came to ost her with a ss of wine in his hand that she changed her mind. His words had a way of shaking her greatly. ¡°Do you know me?¡± L was a little shocked to hear him say that. Ever since J came into the picture, many people who had fawned over her had been taking care to avoid her. With a calm look on his face, Eric said to her, ¡°There¡¯s only one Miss White in Barnes; isn¡¯t that right?¡± L suddenly felt touched in her heart. It turned out that there was still someone who remembered who she was. ¡°I have a sister.¡± Feeling confused, Eric apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve only heard of L White from the White family.¡± Just one nce and some words were enough to make a young girl be infatuated with him. L had no idea why she went to the hotel with Eric that night. When she woke up, she instantly began to regret it. Just then, Eric said affectionately in her ear, ¡°My wife and I have already broken up. We¡¯ll divorce soon and I¡¯ll go on to marry you by then. L, I¡¯ve had a crush on you for a long time already.¡± Holding Eric in her arms, L felt that she had finally found her man. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. The Torres family happened to be a big family. Even if she turned out to be his second wife, it would still be much better for her than to marry the man Johanna introduced her to. After their first night together, L had been dating Eric ever since. She knew that Johanna and Beal wouldn¡¯t approve of her affair with a married man, so she had been keeping it under wraps. However, they were able to find out anyway. L didn¡¯t dare to lie to them and could only admit truthfully, ¡°Dad, Mom, we¡¯re in a rtionship.¡± ¡°In a rtionship? You know full well that Eric¡¯s child is three years old! And that his wife is still pregnant with their second child!¡± Johanna pounded her fists on the table and she shouted angrily, ¡°L! How could you stoop so low as to be the home-wrecker?¡± Chapter 526 Chapter 526 L refused to ept what Johanna said. ¡°Eric doesn¡¯t love his wife anymore. They¡¯re going to get divorced, and I¡¯ll marry him after that. I am not a home-wrecker when there¡¯s nothing to wreck in the first ce!¡± Johanna was so angry that she just shook her head in frustration. ¡°Do you even know what you¡¯re talking about, L? If he really is going to divorce his wife, why would he impregnate her with a second child?¡± Beal had never been humiliated like this. ¡°Dad, Mom, Eric exined to me that he had no choice. He married his wife for the sake of his family inheritance. His wife argues with him every single day, and it has been torturing him to the point of depression. I¡¯m the reason he started to feel better. For once, trust Eric. I am begging you. Once he¡¯s divorced, he¡¯ll marry me right away. Nobody will find out about this.¡± L started sobbing. She had already nned her future with Eric. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Outraged, Johanna gritted her teeth and clenched her fists. It was great that she had been doing more exercise now and was in good health, or else she would¡¯ve passed out right this instance. To calm herself down, she had to take a few deep breaths. Then, she put on a serious expression and said to L, ¡°A man like Eric will never treat a young woman like you seriously. Even if he really gets divorced and marries you, you¡¯ve already had an affair with him while he¡¯s still married. Once you¡¯re married to him, people will find out how you manage it and everyone will look down upon you. Think this through, L. If you marry that man, people will call you all sorts of horrible names.¡± Meanwhile, J was sitting on the sofa, watching them in silence. Interfering in other people¡¯s marriage was never right, even if it had been for love. L refused to listen to their advice. Beal and Johanna were right, but she still believed in her and Eric¡¯s love. Moreover, the Torres family was one of the prominent families in Barnes. She thought that they were probably just jealous, so they wanted to separate her and Eric. ¡°Why can¡¯t I marry Eric? I¡¯ve found a better man than those you introduced to me, but you refuse to acknowledge our rtionship. Do you think all I deserve is to marry an ordinary man?¡± L sounded really angry. Why did everyone hate her? This time, both Johanna and Beal were too disappointed to speak. Their daughter had misunderstood them. She was treating their kindness as malice, and they had no idea how to better exin things to her. Silence ensued in the living room. Momentster, Johanna heaved a deep sigh, breaking the silence. ¡°Date whoever you want, just not a married man.¡± L wiped away her tears and said, ¡°I do want to date an unmarried man, but I don¡¯t like any of the dates you¡¯ve found me.¡± Unmarried young men from rich families didn¡¯t want her, so targeting rich divorced men was the only way she could think of to marry into a rich family. Johanna could tell what her daughter was thinking, so she tried to persuade her. ¡°Life isn¡¯t as easy as you think. Marrying into rich families isn¡¯t that great. Trust me. Though the men I found for you aren¡¯t as rich as Eric, I¡¯m sure that they can guarantee you a carefree life. Why can¡¯t you just settle, L?¡± L burst into tears again. She started to resent her mother. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that you just can¡¯t bear to see me marry a rich guy? You simply think that I deserve worse than J!¡± Chapter 527 Chapter 527 Upon seeing that L was actually being so unreasonable, Johanna¡¯s face reddened from anger. She seldom got so angry ever since she had stopped dealing with business. Johanna was about to give up, but she had to consider the reputation of the White family first and foremost. If L went on to continue seeing Eric, someone would find out about this sooner orter. At that time, the White family would be put to shame. ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re not allowed to see Eric anymore. The White family really can¡¯t have a daughter who¡¯s a home-wrecker!¡± Seeing the sternness written all over Johanna¡¯s face, L clenched her fists tightly to her sides and said to her, ¡°Mom, Eric and I are really¡­¡± Johanna lifted her hand to stop L and with a stern look in her eyes, she said, ¡°If you don¡¯t listen to me, you can no longer call yourself a White.¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. In the past, Johanna used to be a fierce businesswoman in Barnes. Whenever she was this serious, people would feel suppressed by her imposing demeanor. Since she had said these words, it must mean she was really angry. And her words were very straightforward and to the point. If L went on to see Eric, she would be directly forced out of the family. L held herself back and lowered her gaze to the floor. She didn¡¯t dare to cry or contradict Johanna anymore right now. The only thing she could do was nod reluctantly. ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t see him anymore, Mom.¡± Johanna waved her hand around and gestured L to go back to her room. ¡°Go back to your room and think about what we have just discussed.¡± L turned around and was about to leave when she suddenly stopped and asked her mother, ¡°How did you find out that I¡¯ve been seeing Eric?¡± ¡°How could we not know when Eric came personally to pick you up right in front of our house?¡± Johanna said rather unhappily. Beal cleared his throat and said to her, ¡°J saw you in a married man¡¯s car. She was worried about you, so that was why she told us.¡± L had a wry smile on her face and instantly got angry. She sent a resentful nce over at J. That bitch did it deliberately because she didn¡¯t want to see her happy. Furthermore, she must¡¯ve said something to their parents to make them react in this way. Ignoring the expression L had on her face, J continued to look through her phone. With Johanna and Beal here, no matter how dissatisfied and angry L was, she didn¡¯t dare to show any of her displeasure. She could only pretend that nothing had happened and go back to her room with her tail between her legs. Now, there were only Beal, Johanna, and J left in the living room. Johanna pinched Beal¡¯s arm and said in an angry voice, ¡°You just told L that it was J who snitched on her? Do you want to make her hate J even more?¡± Beal furrowed his brows. He wasn¡¯t thinking just now. ¡°L won¡¯t dare to get back at J. I have already warned her before.¡± ¡°Who knows what she might be capable of? L happens to be a grown woman now and she has her own mind. We don¡¯t need to intervene too much in this matter than we have to, just let her think for herself.¡± Feeling disappointed, Johanna shook her head and checked the time. ¡°Well, it¡¯ste, I¡¯m going to bed now. J, you should get some rest as well.¡± J proceeded to hug her mother and headed back to her bedroom. On the second day, when J was about to head out, L, who was going down the stairs, caught up with her and stopped her from leaving. Chapter 528 Chapter 528 L stopped J on her way out. She flipped her hair and red daggers at J angrily. ¡°Why did you rat on me?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to meddle in your affairs, but you¡¯re a member of this family. What you do will go on to affect the whole family a great deal,¡± J said indifferently. ¡°Eric is a married man now. If the two of you get together, you¡¯ll only go on to disgrace the White family¡¯s name.¡± L red at her and it was hard for her not to push her on the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t act so lofty! You simply hate me because I had stolen what should¡¯ve been yours for so many years. You still despise me for not telling you the parachute was broken. You simply wanted to get back at me!¡± The more she spoke, the louder her voice got. L¡¯s face also reddened out of anger. She kept right on pushing J back. J grabbed hold of L¡¯s wrist and sneered in utter disbelief. ¡°Since you know you¡¯ve owed me that much, you should feel guilty about it.¡± J shook off L¡¯s hand and was turning around to leave. However, she turned her head and reminded L in a cold voice again, ¡°Eric won¡¯t divorce his wife. Mom and Dad said all those things for your very own good. I hope you will wake up soon. Even if you¡¯re not their biological daughter, you can marry a decent man because you¡¯re still a White. But if you keep right on doing this, everyone will think of you as a shameless home wrecker!¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. L was being lectured by J right then. L became exasperated and said, ¡°Who the hell do you think you are? You¡¯re really in no position to lecture me! I do what I want to do and there¡¯s nobody who can stop me!¡± She grabbed hold of J¡¯s arm and shouted out loud hysterically, ¡°This wasn¡¯t my fault. Why do you hate me so much? You simply can¡¯t bear to see me happy. Are you trying to destroy my life?¡± It never urred to L that she had been wrong and done horrible things. Beal and Johanna were both very kind people. They had always gone out of their way to teach her to be a kind person. Although she was upset about J¡¯s arrival, she believed all she did wasined to her parents for a while, and that was it! Furthermore, she had nothing to do with the skydiving ident for she didn¡¯t sabotage the parachute! After struggling for a while, J broke free from L¡¯s grip again. Seeing that L was way too emotional and unreasonable at the moment, J didn¡¯t want to speak to her anymore. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you right now until you calm down. I have to get to work.¡± After that, she turned around and made her way down the stairs. L felt frustrated that she couldn¡¯t vent her anger right then. What was with J¡¯s attitude anyway? She acted all condescending, which went on to make L appear like a lunatic who was trying to stir trouble out of nothing. L stoodpletely still and proceeded to stare at J¡¯s receding back. She was so angry that she shook from head to toe. When she saw a caring over down the road, she walked forward and pushed J hard on her back in the direction of the vehicle. ¡°Go to hell, you bitch!¡± Chapter 529 Chapter 529 Caught off guard by the push, J fell down the stairs. The steps happened to be a little high and there were no handrails on both sides. Just when she was about to bump into the car, a tall figure grabbed her in time. The man stood against the dazzling sunlight and his arm wrapped around her shoulder, protecting her. After a sharp screeching and a woman¡¯s scream of absolute horror, everything went back to silence. L had no idea what had happened. Just as she was pushing J in front of the vehicle, she had covered her eyes with her hands and her heart was about to leap out of her chest. L thought it was simply some sort of harmless mistake. She only pushed J because anger clouded her judgement and she had lost control of herself just now. J wouldn¡¯t really me her, right? L peeled her hands from her eyes in fear and looked at the road. The timidity in her eyes was dashed and there was only shock left behind. L could make out two figures on the ground. J was curled up in Ethan¡¯s arms. She was shaking from head to toe out of fear and was sobbing. Ethan was bending forward with blood sttered on his pants, dripping down from his clothes to the ground. He got close to J¡¯s ear and told her words offort in a soft voice. L couldn¡¯t hear clearly what the words he was saying to J, but she could see how gentle he was treating her. Seeing that J was safe, L turned around and was about to flee the scene. ¡°Stop right there!¡± Suddenly, she heard a stern voice call out. She grew frightened as she swallowed a mouthful of saliva and turned around in fear. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Ethan studied L from where he was. ¡°If you dare to take one more step, don¡¯t me me if I make your life miserable.¡± L was startled to hear that. Ethan didn¡¯t spend the previous night in the White residence, and he felt lucky that he hade early today to wait J outside her home. Just now, when he saw the car heading in J¡¯s direction, he immediately ran over and held her in his arms. They rolled on the ground and escaped the car by mere inches. Because the car was driving on the road of a residential area, its speed happened to be not very fast. It braked and stopped in time. Still, the wheel grazed Ethan¡¯s leg, which caused him to bleed. Feeling shocked, J stayed in Ethan¡¯s arms for a long time before she finally came to her senses. Her heart was pounding wildly in her chest and she was sweating all over. Tears welled up in her eyes when she saw the man who hade to her rescue. She touched Ethan¡¯s cheek and looked down at his leg subconsciously. The ground at their feet was covered with his blood. ¡°You¡¯re hurt, Ethan. Let me check it out!¡± After having said that, she hurried to roll up Ethan¡¯s pants to check his wounds. Ethan stopped her. He lifted his hand and caressed her long hair. A smile popped up on his face right then. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . He stared into J¡¯s eyes and said in a doting voice, ¡°What are you doing holding back your tears? You can cry now.¡± After staring into his eyes for a long while, J suddenly threw herself into his arms as tears streamed down her face. She had originally wanted to pretend to act strong, but everything was so horrible that she was still in a rtive state of shock. Ethan saw through her at a nce and encouraged her to let out her emotions, lest she¡¯s be seriously traumatized. ¡°Everything¡¯s all right. I¡¯m here now.¡± J had already forgotten that she had been angry with Ethan. She kept right on crying in his arms. Just now, he had rushed over to save her without any hesitation on his part. When he rolled away with her to dodge the wheels of the car, he shielded her with his own flesh,pletely putting aside his own safety. ¡°How could you be so silly? You put yourself in a lot of danger just now!¡± Jined in a whisper. Ethan kissed her hair lovingly and smiled. ¡°Do you actually expect me to watch you get hurt and do nothing? Sorry, but I just can¡¯t do that.¡± Chapter 530 Chapter 530 Ethan nced at his injured leg. His face showed no sign of being fazed, but in reality, he was gritting his teeth from the pain. When he rushed over here, he didn¡¯t think his actions through. His knee got hurt when it got scratched on the bumpy asphalt road. The rough rocks must¡¯ve been the ones to injure his leg. And then, his leg was also grazed by the wheel. J felt so sorry for Ethan, and all her attention was now focused on him. Just seeing her tear-streaked face made Ethan feel bad for her. ¡°You¡¯ve finally stopped ignoring me,¡± he said. J had been giving him the cold shoulder for days. And when he finally had the chance to talk to her, he felt like there was a lump in his throat. After wiping her tears away, J held him even tighter. ¡°You should just be happy that I¡¯m not giving you the silent treatment anymore.¡± Ethan pursed his lips, managed to get up, and asked, ¡°Did you sprain your ankle when you fell down from the stairs?¡± Having heard the question, J finally realized that she had been kneeling on the floor, but she didn¡¯t feel a single pang of pain since all her focus was on Ethan. ¡°We should head back.¡± Ethan helped her up, shot L a nce as she stood on the stairway, trembling. ¡°Come with us inside.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. She thought it would be insane for her to walk back into the house with them after what she had done. Just now, she was so furious that she wanted to kill J. Perhaps this idea had been at the back of her mind for a long time, whichpelled her to push J. Now that she hade to her senses, she was so terrified. She caught up to J and broke into tears. ¡°Oh, my God! J, are you okay? Do you want to go to the hospital first? I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you.¡± J didn¡¯t even bother to look at L. She just looked ahead and pretended like she didn¡¯t hear the latter. On the other hand, Ethan shot L a cold nce. ¡°Cut the crap! Let¡¯s go inside.¡± Because she was scared of him, she couldn¡¯t dare to disobey him. Thus, she eventually followed them into the house, albeit reluctantly. Thereafter, Ethan assisted J to sit down on the living room sofa. Until now, Johanna and Beal hadn¡¯t left the house. They had just finished eating breakfast and saw J hobbling back into the living room not long after going out. Thus, they were concerned about her. ¡°What happened, dear? Did you sprain your ankle or something?¡± J didn¡¯t respond. She just nced at Ethan and then she lowered her head in silence. Meanwhile, L was standing at the door, staring right at J as her heart raced. Ethan was asposed as ever. He told Beal and Johanna a detailed narration of what happened just moments ago. Upon hearing the story, the couple looked at L in disbelief. Dead silence ensued in the room. L was so terrified that her entire body was shaking. She ran towards Beal and Johanna, got down on her knees, and began begging for mercy. ¡°Mom, Dad, it was an ident. Please believe me!¡± Tears welled up in her eyes. She tugged at the hem of Johanna¡¯s dress and cried, ¡°I really didn¡¯t mean to hurt J, Mom.¡± As Ethan sat on the sofa, he put his arm on J¡¯s shoulder, and cast L a cold nce. ¡°There are surveince cameras at the gate of the vi. Enough lying!¡± Only solid, incriminating evidence could get L to tell the truth. Thus, Johanna asked the servant to retrieve the surveince footage. It was indeed as Ethan had said. The surveince footage caught L pushing J. And she shoved her really hard! In the video, L looked very furious. When she saw a caring, she wasted no time and used the opportunity to shove J. Upon seeing the surveince footage, J felt a chill in her entire body. It happened in only a few seconds. J didn¡¯t see the hatred on L¡¯s face when she pushed her since she had her back against her sister. But now she saw it crystal clear on the footage. The look on L¡¯s face showed just how much she loathed J and wanted thetter to die. Chapter 531 Chapter 531 Heartbroken, Johanna turned off the yer and looked at L. She shook her head and said, ¡°I never imagined that I would raise such a cruel, heartless human being.¡± What had happened previously came to Beal¡¯s mind. He said seriously, ¡°I warned you once before, L. You knew full well that there was something wrong with the parachute but you purposely did not tell J about that. It is clear that you actually wanted to watch her fall to her untimely death. And now, this? You pushed her to a moving vehicle? This is just atrocious!¡± Johanna really couldn¡¯t make head or tail of it. How could her daughter, who had been carefully and lovingly raised by her, be such a venomous person? ¡°You cried so bitterly when our cat passed away, yet now, you are more than willing to kill your sister with your own hands?!¡± L was still kneeling on the ground, crying piteously. She tried her best to defend herself. ¡°I was just envious of her. You¡¯ve never even looked at me since she came into this family. She had stolen all your love for me. I did it purely out of jealousy!¡± Beal had already heard enough of L¡¯s excuses. He couldn¡¯t bear to hear another pathetic excuse ever again. He said in a stern tone, ¡°Don¡¯t make any more excuses. L, I have warned you before.¡± Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Johanna didn¡¯t believe L¡¯s words for a second. She was wholly disappointed in her. She was crestfallen. ¡°Had I known about your ways earlier, I would never have kept you as part of the White family. My original intention was to keep our family together, but it seems that such an attempt will just be futile and will never actually happen.¡± Johanna had underestimated the intensity of evil in human nature. She had thought that everything could go back to being the same way it had been before if she handled the situation well. But things wentpletely contrary to her wishes. Ethan was right. Human beings were capable of insatiable greed. Some people would just never be satisfied. She had been a mother to L for over two decades, but regardless of how deep her love was, she could never bare the fact that L had tried to kill her biological daughter on two asions. She could not keep L any longer. ¡°No, Dad, Mom, please don¡¯t abandon me! This time, I really understand how wrong I was!¡± L was in a state ofplete and utter panic. She didn¡¯t know why she had done such a dumb thing, especially after Beal had specifically warned her prior to that. Beal shook his head, with no emotion in his eyes. ¡°I saidst time that I wouldn¡¯t allow such a thing to happen again, and yet you have repeated it again. This time, you even attempted to kill J with your own two hands. The White family can¡¯t keep you here any longer. You¡¯d better go back to your biological parents.¡± ¡°No, no, Dad, Mom, I don¡¯t want to go back. I don¡¯t want to be separated from you!¡± Hearing this, L almost broke down. She cried pathetically, ¡°Dad, Mom, don¡¯t drive me away!¡± Beal and Johanna both sighed with indifferent expressions on their faces. L immediately crawled to J and began begging desperately. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, J. Please forgive me for thest time¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t leave the White family. If she left, she would lose absolutely everything and be reduced to zilch. Chapter 532 Chapter 532 J felt absolutely nothing when she looked at L¡¯s bloodshot, tear-filled eyes. She actually just felt like L was wildly ridiculous and like a clown putting on a show at the circus in that moment. ¡°You wanted to take my life from me. I will not exact the revenge I deserve against you, purely for the sake of my mother and father. It is impossible for me to forgive you. You¡¯d better pack up your things and leave immediately.¡± The look on J¡¯s face was icy cold. When she had finished speaking, her eyes fell on Ethan¡¯s injured knee. She felt a lump in her throat come up again. Ethan was injured because of her. How could she ever forgive L? If it weren¡¯t for Beal and Johanna¡¯s presence, she really wanted to give L a hard p on the face. She also wanted to drag L down the street and make her taste how it felt to almost be hit by a car. Ignoring L¡¯s hypocritical plea, Ethan bypassed her and gently supported J. ¡°Let me help you back to your room. You have sprained your ankle. You can¡¯t go to work today.¡± Then he turned to Beal and Johanna and said, ¡°Mr. and Mrs. White, I will take J to her room now.¡± Seeing that J¡¯s ankle was red and swollen, Ethan carried her in his arms and went upstairs. Beal and Johanna sat on the couch with morose looks on their faces. L was still crying on the floor. Johanna had creases between her eyebrows. It seemed like the ordeal had aged her several years in an instant. L¡¯s bawling became more and more pathetic. After a long time, Johanna looked up at Beal and said irritably, ¡°Honey, give L her birth parents¡¯ personal information and current address. We have to deal with this.¡± Beal didn¡¯t object. He adjusted his sses and looked at L with gravely. ¡°L, I¡¯ll inform your parents in advance that you will be returning. You can pack up your things and go to them. Take away all your belongings now.¡± He paused for a few seconds and nced at Johanna. Then he continued, ¡°We will also give you some money so that you can live on with your life.¡± ¡°No, Dad, Mom, I don¡¯t want¡­¡± L wiped her tears away. Her eyes had begun to sting. She copsed on the carpet and refused to leave. Leaving the family would mean that she would no longer be a White family member. All she had, the extravagant, rich life, the money, and the social status, would all fall away. She couldn¡¯t ept it! L refused to move and continued to cry her eyes out. Beal sighed heavily. ¡°I know it will be hard for you to take this. We will give you three days to pack up everything. But we don¡¯t want to see you around here after that.¡± Johanna was afraid that she would soften if she stayed at this piteous scene. She gathered her coat up and got to her feet. She instructed a nearby servant who was busy cleaning, ¡°Go to L¡¯s room and pack up her things for her. If there is just too much jewelry and clothing to pack, call the moving company. There¡¯s no need to prepare lunch. We will be eating out.¡±This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Hearing what Johanna said, L became more distressed than ever. She stood up and rushed to Johanna. She held her leg and said, ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t want to be separated from you. I have never left your side since the day I was born. You can¡¯t do this to me!¡± Johanna pursed her lips. She squatted down and wiped the tears off L¡¯s face with her fingers. Her voice was as gentle and kind as it had been when L was a child, but there was only coldness in her eyes. ¡°L, don¡¯t embarrass yourself anymore. You used to be the daughter of the White family. You should keep your dignity when you leave. There are consequences that you must bear for your decisions. You can¡¯t stay a child forever.¡± When L heard her words, she was utterly flummoxed for a while. She was so out of it that she didn¡¯t know when but Johanna and Beal had left. She watched their receding figures, covered her face and burst into a fresh onught of tears. Chapter 533 Chapter 533 J¡¯s sprained ankle had swollen up. Ethan got to his feet to get the pain relieving cream for her. He carefully applied it to her ankle and gently rubbed it for a while. After that, he left to fetch some ice cubes for her. Since Ethan carried her back to the room, she had kept her eyes down and hadn¡¯t uttered a word. After all the panic and anxiety had dissipated, she suddenly remembered that she was supposed to be angry with Ethan. She stared nkly at the bedsheet, at an utter loss. She was mortified that she had allowed herself to cry in such an unrestrained way in his arms earlier. Ethan hadn¡¯t said a word either. He had been busy attending to her and taking care of her from the moment that they had got to the room. The atmosphere between the two was a little awkward. In the end, it was Ethan who decided to break the silence. He simply treated the wounds on his knees and legs and sat beside J on the bed. With a gentle expression, he asked, ¡°Is there any other injury on your body?¡± J thought that if she spoke now, he would think that she had forgiven him. She raised her head, stared into his eyes and shook her head. She was as stubborn as a bull, and didn¡¯t say anything. Looking at her expression, Ethan couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°It was my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have jumped to any conclusion before I found out the facts of the matter,¡± he said slowly with a serious expression. With a snort, J turned her head away. ¡°You can snap at me. I just don¡¯t want you to keep how you feel all to yourself,¡± Ethan said and affectionately pinched her cheek. Although she still didn¡¯t look happy, he knew her very well. Based on his experience with her, if she had that look on her face, it was most probable that she wasn¡¯t actually angry anymore. It was the cue that he had to say and do whatever more it took to gain her forgiveness. ¡°By the way, are you going to let go of L just like that?¡± He purposely changed the topic. He had given it due thought and he felt that what L had done was wrong. He didn¡¯t want to let the person who had attempted to kill his wife go so easily and flout the consequences of their daring actions. When she thought of this, J couldn¡¯t help but get furious. She said with a sigh, ¡°I am furious beyond words! I have to let her off scot-free once again!¡± Last time, L had deliberately concealed the fact that there was something wrong with the parachute, and J almost died because of it. She hadn¡¯t even had a chance to mete out revenge against L yet, and now, the woman had tried to kill her again. ¡°You know that sometimes you don¡¯t have to put your parents¡¯ feelings before yours, right?¡± Ethan squatted down on the ground and carefully grasped her ankle between his palms. He continued to rub it slowly and asked, ¡°How do you want her to be punished?¡± The implication underlying his words was that he could assist in punishing L.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Her ankle hurt so badly that J took a deep, steadying breath. ¡°Oh, I was just kidding. I didn¡¯t want to upset Mom and Dad. Besides, L has been kicked out of the family. That was a lesson enough for her.¡± She was telling the truth. She had witnessed what Ethan was capable of back in Seacisco. ¡°I didn¡¯t intend on letting her go,¡± Ethan said and sighed slightly. ¡°But since you insist, fine.¡± He really wanted to teach L a lesson, but since J had decided to let her go, his hands were tied. With a sweet smile, J lowered her head and pinched Ethan¡¯s cheek. ¡°Good boy.¡± With a smile, Ethan slowed down his movement and asked, ¡°Have you forgiven me now?¡± J was surprised. She let go of his face and snorted. ¡°No!¡± Ethan stood up and bent over to kiss her on the cheek. ¡°What about now?¡± he asked in a low voice. He slowly moved down her body, kissing her on the lips and then her neck. He nimbly unbuttoned her shirt and put his fingertips up her skirt. J had a bad feeling. She wanted to resist, but Ethan had already pressed down on her. He held her legs between his and his hands slipped into her panties. It was already wet down there. ¡°Ethan¡­ I haven¡¯t forgiven you yet¡­¡± Suddenly, J¡¯s face turned bright crimson. It was as if she had gotten an electric shock. She could feel herself wet down there. Ethan slowly took off his suit and tie, his eyes glowing with desire. Her cheeks turned even deeper red. She had to admit that, in this moment, Ethan was irresistibly attractive to her. She blushed and pushed him away gently. ¡°My ankle¡­¡± Ethan had already undone his belt and pushed open her legs. ¡°I¡¯ll be very careful. I won¡¯t touch that part of you at all.¡± Chapter 534 Chapter 534 Ethan took hold of J¡¯s hand and led it downwards. His penis was already hard as rock and pulsating with heat. Although J had slept with Ethan many times, she couldn¡¯t help but marvel at his size every single time. She firmly but gently gripped his throbbing, hot penis in her hand. Ethan was busy sucking on her nipple and was caught off guard. He frowned slightly and his eyes were full of fiery lust. He let out a muffled groan as his Adam¡¯s apple rolled. ¡°Move your hand up and down,¡± Ethan said as he held J¡¯s hand, guiding her. His whole face was buried in her chest. As J¡¯s palms rubbed against his penis, he moaned even louder. Ethan stretched out his fingers and slipped them under her dress. His fingertips rubbed against her labia through the thin material of her panties. It was only when her underwear became wet that he lifted her legs, slipped off her dress and cast it aside under the bed, together with her underwear. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . J moaned. She was very sensitive today. She tilted her hips towards him lustfully as she moaned. Ethan raised his hand before her so she could see the watery liquid on his fingertips. ¡°You got wet pretty quickly, honey.¡± He held her chin and stick his tongue in her mouth in a passionate kiss. J responded to his kiss shyly and mped her legs. Ethan nibbled her corbone, chest, navel, and finally the secret garden between her legs. He could see clearly how wet she had be. When her fingers reached into Ethan¡¯s hair, J looked up at the ceiling and panted. She could clearly feel the tip of Ethan¡¯s tongue sucking and stirring down there, and the constant hot air from his breath gently caressed her thighs, which made her tremble all over. Ethan rubbed his hard penis against J¡¯sbia, before he thrust deep into her. J bit her lower lip and moaned. Ethan paused for two seconds, put her legs on his shoulders, and slowly pushed his entire length into her. ¡°Hmm¡­ Honey¡­¡± Suddenly, J felt a swelling pain in her lower abdomen. She raised her head and gasped. The pain was gradually reced by the thrill. Sweat dripped from Ethan¡¯s nose, and his muscles was clearly visible under the light. The fierce collision of their bodies aggravated the sweat to slide down his back. After making love in this position for a while, Ethan picked J up and let her sit on hisp. J¡¯s cheeks turned red. She kept groaning. This new posture made them even closer. His penis seemed to be getting even bigger and harder inside her. ¡°Do you know how to do this?¡± Ethan sat up, wrapped his arms around her waist, bowed his back and sucked on her nipple. Ethan growled in a hoarse voice as J started moving her hips on him. It seemed that she was gifted. She was tight which made Ethan feel veryfortable. He moved his kiss up and bit J¡¯s corbone and neck. ¡°Baby¡­¡± The sun rays fell on the windowsill as the two were making love. The sex didn¡¯t stop until the sun had set and the moon slowly rose¡­ Chapter 535 Chapter 535 The servant packed up L¡¯s bags, who still refused to leave, and even went out of her way to force the servant to put her things back. She couldn¡¯t possibly leave like this. She had to fight for her right to be here. It was beneath her to live a poor life. After mulling it in her head for a while, L decided to have a talk with both Johanna and J. As long as the two of them agreed to it, she still had onest chance to stay in the Whites¡¯ household. She really would do anything to stay here. When the second day came around, L waited outside the door of J¡¯s room early in the morning. It was actually Ethan who opened the door, helping J out of her room. With Ethan around, L didn¡¯t dare to do anything rash. Her n was to plead to J when she was alone. She didn¡¯t think at first that Ethan would be around her twenty-four hours a day. However, after they left the house, they didn¡¯te back. The Whites also hadn¡¯t returned since they went out yesterday. L had no idea where to find them. L stayed in the Whites¡¯ house for three whole days, then, the newspaper reported that the White family had announced that they had severed all ties with her. She would from now on take her birth father¡¯sst name, which was Gillian. From this point on, she was no long a White. L White was now L Gillian. It was not until L finished reading the newspaper article that she recovered her senses. Both Beal and Johanna had seen through her thoughts from the very beginning. Now that this was indeed decided, there was nothing she could do to change it. The announcement in the newspaper clearly reported that she was no longer the adopted daughter of the White family. She had no ties with the White family now. L was very much heartbroken. She left the White family with her luggage and headed straight to the Torres family¡¯s house. Now, the only person she could rely on was Eric. When Eric opened the door and saw L show up at his doorstep, he nced over at his wife and son inside the house and asked with a very unnatural expression on his face, ¡°What are you doing here, L? Didn¡¯t I tell you to nevere to my house?¡± L burst into tears and said, ¡°Did you hear? I was just kicked out of the White family. Eric, I have no idea where to go now. You said you would marry me. Let¡¯s speed things along, all right?¡± This trick happened to work best before. Whenever she cried, Eric would never be able to deny her anything. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. L thought that she was very young and beautiful. If Eric could divorce his wife and marry her now, it would be a good way for her to escape the life of struggling in poverty. Right then, she saw that Eric had a sneer on his face. He had already found out that the White family had broken off their rtionship with L, so he didn¡¯t want to continue deceiving her anymore. ¡°You should head back to your birth parents. Just so you know, I won¡¯t marry you, L. Do you actually think you deserve to be my wife now that you have no title or money?¡± He went on to sayzily, ¡°If you¡¯re still interested in being my mistress, we can keep it up. If not, I won¡¯t force you to do anything. Head back and think it over carefully. And don¡¯te here again. If my pregnant wife sees you, I won¡¯t let you get away with this.¡± It was not until then that L found out what kind of person Eric truly was. She was so angry that she snapped at him right on the spot, ¡°Who wants to be your mistress? You¡¯re an absolute jerk, Eric!¡± Eric ignored her words, mmed the door, and shut her out. L was both angry and regretful at once. With tears in her eyes, she turned around and left. It was obvious that she and Eric were no more. But when she was halfway back, she began to regret it in her heart. She shouldn¡¯t have made such a huge scene and left herself no way to turn back. Even if she kept on being Eric¡¯s mistress, it would be much better than going back to the Gillians with her tail between her legs. She had never visited the Gillians before, but she had heard word that they weren¡¯t very rich. L was in total despair right then. She found herself in a dilemma. The White family had made up their mind to cut ties with her. There was no way she could shamelessly turn to beg them again. L really had nowhere to go. After walking around the streets for a long while, she took a cab to her birth parents¡¯ residence unwillingly ording to the address Beal had given her. Chapter 536 Chapter 536 ¡°Sir, take me right over here.¡± L showed the taxi driver the address on her phone. ¡°Oh, that looks like a distant neighborhood.¡± The driver spoke the Barnes dialect fluently, and when he saw the address, he was obviously grossed out. L was ustomed to living in the rich area and had never left downtown. She knew nothing about this address and as she furrowed her brows, she asked, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°That neighborhood happens to be both poor and messy. I know for a fact that the people living there are all poor families and hooligans. Why would you ever want to go there?¡± The driver nced over at L. She was dressed from head to toe in elegant attire and didn¡¯t look like someone who would live in such a bad neighborhood at all. With a dry smile on her face, L told him, ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s any of your business. Just take me there.¡± The Gillian family¡¯s house was far away from the downtown area. The driver drove the cab into a dpidated neighborhood. As soon as L got out of the car, she could make out a broken and small apartment building, which looked really like the haunted houses in those horror movies. The walls looked very shabby and yellow unknown liquid was all over the mottled walls. In the corridors were piles of garbage that looked like it had been there for a very long time. With her hand covering her mouth, L¡¯s heart sank in her chest. She wanted to burst into tears, but she couldn¡¯t right then. She could only hold back the feeling of nausea and find the apartment unit where her parents lived. After that, she knocked on the rusty iron door. ¡°Who is it?¡± A man shouted irritably from inside the apartment and the door was opened with a loud squeak. A man with stubble on his chin and a big mole on the corner of his mouth poked his head out. He stank like an alcoholic. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± L was frightened by this man and she proceeded to take two steps back. She hesitated and said, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m looking for Glenn and Eva Gillian.¡± Beal had told L that these were the names of her biological parents. Glenn looked at her up and down, and suddenly, it seemed like he hade to his senses. Then he shouted excitedly at the woman in the room, ¡°Honey, our daughter is home!¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. A middle-aged woman ran out of the kitchen right away. The floor was shaking slightly when she was running out. Her voice was rough and with a strong local ent, she said, ¡°L? Is that my L?¡± At the sight of L, the middle-aged woman embraced her daughter excitedly, ¡°It¡¯s so good to have you back.¡± Glenn and Eva had both learned from Beal that L was going toe back. They had originally nned to let their daughter enjoy a lifetime of glory and wealth in the White family. Now that L had been kicked out of the Whites¡¯ house, they were both disappointed but at the same time happy that she was nowing home to them. L looked at them disgustedly. When she smelled the pungent and strange smell on Eva, she wrinkled her nose and pushed the woman who was her mother away. ¡°What¡¯s that smell?¡± She wasn¡¯t happy at all since she walked into the room. This house was both dirty and shabby. Also, the whole apartment wasn¡¯t even as big as her bedroom in the White family residence. Obviously, they were very poor folks. She had heard from Beal that her biological father, Glenn, was an owner of a small business. At first, L thought that he would at least have some money. However, it turned out he was only an alcoholic and untidy man. As for her biological mother, Eva, she was totally a country bumpkin. They were no match to the likes of her adoptive parents Beal and Johanna. L was growing desperate. She could hardly believe that she had been born from such a woman. Eva wiped the sweat off her forehead and neck awkwardly and bowed her head down in shame. ¡°I just came out of the kitchen and haven¡¯t had the chance to take a shower yet. I shouldn¡¯t have grabbed you like that. I was too excited just now.¡± She looked at L carefully, with moist eyes. ¡°You look exactly the same as me when I was younger.¡± After hearing this, L became angrier and cursed in her heart. Was this fat bitch trying to humiliate her? Tears of joy began to well up in Eva¡¯s eyes. She nervously wiped her sweating palms on the apron and said, ¡°Since L is home now, let¡¯s go ahead and have dinner now.¡± Glenn scolded her, ¡°Our son has yet to return.¡± As soon as he finished saying that, the door was opened from the outside with a key. A young man, who had his hair dyed red, walked inside from the door. He nced over at L, shrugged his shoulders, and said in a rather frivolous manner with chewing gum still in his mouth, ¡°Are you my sister?¡± He turned to look at L¡¯s Hermes bag and asked her, ¡°Is that bag real? It¡¯s not a fake, is it?¡± L really wanted to roll her eyes. The young man before her was just some punk. The Gillian family was so poor, but he was wearing all brand-name items. He must be very spoiled. And what was with that arrogant attitude of his? L was about to go crazy. Everything in this house was an eyesore. Chapter 537 Chapter 537 ¡°Your sister used to live with the White family. How could she own a fake bag? Anyway, you came home just in time for dinner. Come and sit down.¡± Eva waved gestured her children toe in with a smile. Irritation shed in L¡¯s eyes and she walked to the dining table reluctantly. The house was so small that the living area and kitchen were pretty much one room and there was barely enough space for the four of them. As if the cramped feeling wasn¡¯t enough, the ce was filthy, too. A few flies hovered over the food. Eva scooped some gunk into a bowl and put it in front of L. ¡°Eat it while it¡¯s hot. I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d be here for dinner, so I didn¡¯t buy any other ingredients beforehand.¡± L was used to a life of luxury. She only ever had food made with imported fresh ingredients. Her taste buds were ustomed to food from high-end restaurants and their home chefs. She had never seen ¡°peasant¡± food such as the bowl of gunk in front of her. But since she was already here, she had no choice but to eat it. However, the second she put the spoon in her mouth, she felt like vomiting. The disgusting-looking dishes coupled with the overall stench of the home made her lose her appetite. She sulkily pushed the bowl away and pouted. ******* That evening, after tidying up the house, Eva approached L with an embarrassed smile. ¡°We only have two bedrooms; one for me and your dad and the other is for your brother Jeff. You¡¯ll have to make do in the living room, is that okay?¡± L looked at her in a daze, not knowing what to say. Well, there was nothing she could say. She couldn¡¯t stay in Glenn and Eva¡¯s room because they smelled terrible. On the other hand, Jeff¡¯s room was just filthy. As for the living room¡­ L nced at the piles of garbage. This whole ce was like a trash bin. Eva wanted her to sleep in here? What was the difference between sleeping here and on the street? The more L looked around, the more disgusted she felt with this family. She didn¡¯t want to live here at all. When she left the White family, Johanna had given her a generous amount of money. As long as she didn¡¯t squander it, it would be enough for her to live a carefree life for a couple of years. Thinking of this, L put on a fake smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll stay in a hotel.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. As she spoke, she quickly grabbed her luggage and headed for the door. ¡°That¡¯s really not necessary!¡± Eva hurriedly stopped her. ¡°Our house might not be as nice as the Whites¡¯, but we can make do¡­¡± L couldn¡¯t stand being inside this house a second longer, so without replying, she turned around and left with a sneer. ******* A few dayster, L was lying peacefully in a luxurious bathtub in her hotel room with rose petals floating around her. She stretched her arms and yawned, picked up a ss of red wine on the side, and sipped it carefully. These days, she had been staying in the hotel. She hadn¡¯t felt so rxed in so long. This was the kind of life for her. However, her moment of peace was interrupted by the shrill ringtone of the mobile phone. ¡°Hello?¡± she asked irritably. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°When¡¯re youing back, L?¡± Eva asked in an anxious voice. She had called L many times in the past few days. ¡°Your brother told me that the hotel you¡¯re staying in is very expensive. Why don¡¯t you juste back and stay at home with your family?¡± Eva seemed to have been born with a loud voice, so as she spoke into the receiver, L felt as though she was about to go deaf. Before L could say anything, she heard Jeff shouting in the background, ¡°She could¡¯ve spent that money buying me new clothes! How could she just burn the money and stay in a five-star hotel alone for so long?¡± L rolled her eyes impatiently. The more she learned about the Gillian family, the more disgusted she was with them. Glenn was an alcoholic who always skipped work while Eva was a dirty-mouthed shrew. Jeff was the worst of them. Her younger brother was a jobless punk who still lived with his parents even though he was in his 20s. Worse yet, he always demanded money from his parents and would make a scene if he couldn¡¯t get any. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go back. The money is mine. I can do whatever I want with it. It¡¯s none of your business,¡± L hissed into the receiver. Judging from the many phone calls from Eva, she could tell that her parents didn¡¯t love her. They had always wanted a son, not a daughter. So obviously they only loved Jeff. Chapter 538 Chapter 538 ¡°Why are you angry? L, I¡¯m aware that our family isn¡¯t rich nor powerful. Is that why you look down upon us?¡± Eva asked loudly over the phone. She spoke in a blunt and impolite manner. ¡°I just want you to leave me alone,¡± L replied, holding back her anger. In all honesty, she¡¯d rather not admit that these people were her family, but they were all she had. She had lived under the White family¡¯s protection for over two decades, so she didn¡¯t have much social experience. Sadly, her ties to the White family as their daughter were now gone. Though it pained her to admit this, she didn¡¯t have the courage to live all alone. At the very least, she hated the very idea of feeling alone. That was why she didn¡¯t cut ties with the Gillians even though she really hated them. ¡°Don¡¯t you know who gave you all these? If I hadn¡¯t reced the White family¡¯s daughter with you back in the hospital, you wouldn¡¯t have lived such a wealthy life for decades!¡± Eva cursed. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for me, none of that would¡¯ve happened!¡± Her words served to infuriate L. She immediately ended the phone call and eximed, ¡°What a crazy bitch!¡± The phone callpletely ruined her good mood. After getting out of the bath tub, Ly on the bed, uncertain of what to do next. She couldn¡¯t live like this forever. The White family had indeed given her lots of money, but no matter how much money she had, she¡¯d use them all up someday. It was clear to her that with her current lifestyle, she¡¯d burn through all her money up sooner orter. ¡°I have to find a job.¡± She got up from the bed, determined to go through with her decision. Truthfully, she didn¡¯t like to work, but she couldn¡¯t just sit there and do nothing. Without the White family¡¯s support, she had neither background nor resources. She thought about her situation carefully. She was already in her twenties, but she didn¡¯t have any savings to support herself and she didn¡¯t even have something she could call her strength. Even when she was in the White Group before, she seldom did any real job. All she did was chat with the other employees or y video games inside her office. Because she was the daughter of the White family, nobody was bold enough to speak ill of her. But now, she had lost her identity as the White family¡¯s daughter. Nobody would even want her for an interview. Aside from that, the Whites bought her diploma for her because she didn¡¯t study one day back when she was in college. The more she thought about her situation, the more it annoyed her. Thereafter, she rolled on the bed and sighed. ¡°Forget it! I still have some money left. I¡¯ll just enjoy myself for a little while longer before I think of how to make some more money,¡± she muttered to herself. ******* After the phone call, Jeff stood up from the sofa and asked, ¡°What did she say? Is sheing home?¡± ¡°She said that the money was hers and told us to leave her alone,¡± Eva replied impatiently. ¡°She¡¯s staying at an expensive hotel. Doesn¡¯t she have any idea how we¡¯re doing here?¡± Jeff scratched his sunken cheek and grunted, ¡°Since she doesn¡¯t want toe home, I¡¯ll move there. Mom, call her and ask her to get me a room, too.¡± Hesitantly, Eva replied, ¡°She¡¯s not easy to get along with. She doesn¡¯t even listen to me, for God¡¯s sake! Just drop it. As long as she can take care of herself.¡± Jeff pursed his lips, sat back down on the sofa, and rubbed his chin while contemting. His sister must be very rich. He had heard that the White family was very rich. Even though L didn¡¯t tell them how much money she had, he believed that the Whites had given her tons of money before kicking her out. In addition to that, he had been following L around these past few days. She was staying at a five- star hotel, eating at high-end restaurants, and shopping like crazy in luxury brand stores. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Jeff felt envious. What a selfish bitch! She had so much money, and yet she didn¡¯t want to give them a single penny. He rolled his eyes and shouted at Eva while thetter was cooking in the kitchen, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m going out to eat with my friend. Don¡¯t wait up.¡± Eva didn¡¯t stop him. She had only this one son and she had always spoiled him. ******* By the time Jeff got home, it was already midnight. Upon hearing the noiseing from the front door, Evan got up and turned on the light to get a good look at him. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you even call to let us know that you¡¯d being home thiste?¡± she comined. The smells of cigarettes and alcohol were apparent on Jeff, and his eyes were bloodshot. He didn¡¯t act as arrogantly as before, and panic could be seen on his face. He grabbed his hair and desperately stammered, ¡°M-mom, what should I do?¡± The look on his face frightened Eva. She embraced him and asked, ¡°What happened, honey?¡± Jeff looked up at her and spoke in a choked voice. ¡°I¡­ I owe a huge debt of one million, and I have to pay it right away. The creditors said that if I can¡¯t pay them back in three days, they¡¯ll kill me!¡± Chapter 539 Chapter 539 Eva was so shocked that she felt as if a bolt of lightning had flown out of the heavens and hit her squarely in the chest. One million? They couldn¡¯t afford so much money! ¡°You bastard! Did you gamble at the casino again?¡± Glenn had also heard these words. He came out of the room with a pipe in his hand. His face turned scarlet with fury. Hended two hard blows to Jeff¡¯s head and said, ¡°You bastard! How could I raise such a failure like you?¡± Eva rushed to Jeff to protect him. ¡°Why hit him so hard? We only have one son!¡± Glenn clenched the pipe in his hand and said, ¡°Well, now that he hasnded himself in such serious debt, what are we going to do?¡± Eva wiped her tears away andined, ¡°You like drinking and gambling yourself. You are no better than him!¡± ¡°The point is that we don¡¯t have so much money now. You two might as well take my life to pay them!¡± Glenn was exasperated and his face darkened. One million was indeed a huge sum of money for them. Holding Eva desperately, Jeff said, ¡°Mom, we can go to L! She definitely has the money!¡± ******* L was busy ying games quitete that night, when she received a call from the hotel receptionist informing her that her parents and her brother were making a scene in the hotel lobby. Initially, L didn¡¯t even want to give them any thought or consideration, but in the end, she decided to go downstairs. She didn¡¯t want to be embarrassed by them. As soon as Eva saw L, she fell to her knees before her with Jeff. ¡°L, your brother gambled away a huge sum of money and now he owes the creditor one million. Can you give us some money to pay them? We will pay you back when your father¡¯s shop starts to make a profit!¡± Eva pleaded, cutting to the chase. L¡¯s first reaction was to turn around and run away from this mortifying situation. It was so humiliating. She wanted to dig a hole to bury herself in it. She had no desire to give them even one penny. The money she received from the White family was for her to live her life. L had never cared about this so-call brother of hers after all. His life or death had nothing to do with her. ¡°L, please! Jeff is your brother!¡± Glenn sighed and almost knelt down to beg her as well. Fortunately, it was veryte at night and there were very few guests in the reception area. L nced around and found that all the hotel staff were staring at her expectantly, waiting to see what she would say. L was so frustrated that she had no choice but to agree. ¡°I will only help you this one time. And you have to pay me my money back!¡± The White family had given her a total amount of three million dors. After these days she had spent at the hotel, she had roughly two million dors left. If she gave Jeff one million to pay the debts, she would still have one million for herself. After weighing the pros and cons, L wrote a check and handed it to Jeff. She hoped the money could drive them away forever and she could be free of them. Now that he had the money in his hand, Jeff stopped crying immediately and even burst intoughter. Atst, he left happily with his parents. ******* L had thought it was over. But a few dayster, Jeff came to her again with Eva. ¡°Interest has rued, the debt collector said we need to pay him more money than just the principal sum of one million.¡± Jeff knelt down in front of L pitifully. He didn¡¯t seem to find begging on his knees humiliating or degrading in the least bit. In fact, he didn¡¯t owe any debts at all. He had taken one million and spent it on sleeping with hookers and on purchasing himself a few luxury items. In a matter of just a few days, he had spent all the money L had given him. He knew that L still had money, so he had even hired some friends to y debt collectors ande and threaten them at home. As a result, Glenn and Eva were so scared that they didn¡¯t dare to go out at all. Under the persuasion of Jeff, they came to borrow money from L again. ¡°No way! You haven¡¯t paid me back the one million you have borrowed yet!¡± L was so livid that she wanted to curse. She felt that she was really unlucky. Why did she have such a brother and parents? They were like a gum stuck on the bottom of her shoe that she couldn¡¯t get rid of at all. Eva loved her son so much that she would even die for him. ¡°Are you going to lend us money or not? L, if they kill Jeff, I won¡¯t be able to go on living. How pathetic is my state! My daughter doesn¡¯t care about me or her brother at all!¡± As she rushed to the pir of the hotel, Eva shouted, ¡°I might as well die!¡± L was startled by her. She had never met someone like Eva before, so she had topromise. ¡°Fine! I will give you the money! Stop making a scene here!¡± She gritted her teeth and wrote him a check for another million. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Now she didn¡¯t have much money left. Plus, she had been staying in the presidential suite of the hotel for the entire month. The cost was very high, so she couldn¡¯t stay here anymore. She had to go back to the Gillian family¡¯s shabby apartment. It was a good news for Jeff, because he didn¡¯t have to go to the hotel to ask L for money anymore. ¡°You need more money? I have given you two million dors! Isn¡¯t it enough to pay off your debts?¡± L was impatient. She really had no money left now. ¡°How would I know? The creditor said I owe him three million dors in total. L, write me another check. I need to pay him as soon as possible!¡± Jeff said. Chapter 540 Chapter 540 ¡°You¡¯re making it look like I owe you money! Now you¡¯re even asking me to lend you some more?¡± L waspletely dumbfounded. ¡°You¡¯ve taken all my money. I have nothing left. Go to someone else!¡± She was telling the truth. She didn¡¯t have a penny to her name. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you!¡± Jeff shot back. He raised his head and shouted at Eva, who was in her room, ¡°Mom, L ims to have no money! She just wants us to be killed by the debt collectors!¡± Hearing this, Eva and Glenn rushed out of the room at once. ¡°You told her?¡± Eva hissed through gritted teeth. Then, she put on a ttering smile and turned to L. ¡°Could you just lend Jeff some money? We¡¯re all family anyway, right? You can¡¯t possibly just watch your brother suffer.¡± These people were driving L nuts. She shouted hysterically, ¡°But I really have no money!¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Eva paused for a few seconds and then said, ¡°Ask the Whites for some money then. We have to deal with the debt collectors.¡± ¡°Why should I help him? He¡¯s the one in debt, not me!¡± L sneered. Eva was obviously partial to her son. Eva frowned unhappily. She clicked her tongue and said, ¡°What¡¯re you talking about? We¡¯re a family. We share everything, including our troubles.¡± They shared troubles? It was obvious that L alone had shouldered all the troubles. ¡°I can¡¯t go to the Whites. I¡¯ve cut ties with them.¡± L felt too ashamed to go to her former family. ¡°If Jeff can¡¯t pay off his debt, the debt collectors will never leave us alone! Our lives are in your hands now, L! You have to fix this!¡± Eva was done ying nice with L. ¡°You¡­ You¡ª!¡± L was speechless. These people were crazy! ******* In the end, L had no choice but toe crawling back to the White family. After exining her plight to Johanna and Beal, they gave her three million for the sake of their history. L returned home and begrudgingly handed the check to Jeff. ¡°This is thest time I¡¯m helping you!¡± Jeff took the check and thanked her with a smile. But things didn¡¯t end there. Not long after Jeff left with the money, he returned home without a penny left. He knelt down in front of L and burst into tears. Worse yet, he had never paid off his so-called debt. Every day, the creditors woulde to threaten them, sshing red paint on their door and walls. Eva couldn¡¯t fight them, so she had no choice but to force L to ask the Whites for money again. ¡°L! Aren¡¯t you going to do something about this?¡± Holding the gas can, Eva pulled Jeff and Glenn close to her and said pitifully, ¡°The three of us will die here today, lest you help us!¡± They were threatening her with their lives. ¡°Stop it. I¡¯ll go to the Whites, okay?¡± L was already a little numb from all this lunacy. She had been living with the Gillian family for less than two months and she was already on the verge of losing it. ******* ¡°L, why have you keeping back to us for money? Every single time, you would say it¡¯s thest. What do you take us for? Your personal ATM machine?¡± Livid, Johanna smashed a teacup at her feet and roared, ¡°Get out! We won¡¯t give you a single penny!¡± L bit her lip so hard that it bled. She had never seen Johanna so angry before. Clearly, she was sick and tired of her. She ran out of the house crying. Jeff had been waiting for her at the gate of the Whites¡¯ house. When he saw here out, he approached her excitedly. ¡°Give me the money first!¡± L red at him and yelled, ¡°What money? There is no money! The Whites refused to give me a penny. Figure something out yourself! If you dare to force me again, then let¡¯s just die together!¡± Jeff had been living in luxury these days and refused to go back to his old poor life. Seeing that L didn¡¯t get any money, he came up with a bold idea. ¡°You have a sister named J, right?¡± He thought since it was so easy to control L, it wouldn¡¯t be hard to control her sister. ¡°Let¡¯s find a way to get nude photos of her. We can ckmail her with the lewd photos until she gives us money. What do you think?¡± Without L, there was no way Jeff could get in touch with J. Therefore, he had no choice but to include this stupid woman in his ns. The anger in L¡¯s eyes dimmed somewhat. She looked around to see if there was anyone else listening and then said in a low voice, ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± Jeff was a little taken aback. He had thought that he would have to force her to do what he said. He didn¡¯t expect that she¡¯d agree so readily. Chapter 541 Chapter 541 These days, the Gillian family was a nightmare to L. Every morning she woke up, she¡¯d pray that Jeff wouldn¡¯te asking for money again. Eva and Glenn kept threatening her with suicide every day, which took a toll on her mental health. She was on the verge of breaking down. She didn¡¯t want to deal with these psychos anymore. She had never met lunatics like the Gillian family in her life. And she never would¡¯ve met them if it weren¡¯t for J. J was the cause of all her suffering. Her misery and misfortune were all caused by her! So when Jeff proposed that they ckmail J, she agreed without hesitation. Howe J got to enjoy the perfect life of being the daughter of the White family while she had to endure such a misery with the Gillian family? ¡°Well? What do you have in mind?¡± L was in no mood to waste time. She just wanted Jeff to target J instead of her. Jeff didn¡¯t expect that she would be so excited about this. When he got over his initial surprise, he chuckled and said, ¡°You have to ask her out. I¡¯ll ask someone to take care of the rest.¡± Without hesitation, L took out her phone and called J. However, the call never connected. ¡°What happened? Why isn¡¯t she answering your calls?¡± Jeff¡¯s smug smile instantly disappeared. L grew anxious, too. She had tried to hurt J several times now. It made sense that J was on guard against her. ¡°Let me try one more time.¡± L kept dialing J¡¯s number. She didn¡¯t get through to J until the tenth try. ¡°What do you want?¡± J asked coldly. All of a sudden, L burst into tears. ¡°J, finally! You answered my call. I just wanted to apologize for everything I¡¯ve done. It wasn¡¯t until I joined the Gillian family that I realized how nice you were to me.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± J said emotionlessly. ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°No, no¡­ But I¡¯d like to apologize to you in person. How about we have a meal together? I¡¯ve done so many terrible things but I never apologized properly to you. I have to do it in person, or else I¡¯ll never forgive myself!¡± L spoke as sincerely as she could. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. J fell silent. This wasn¡¯t her first rodeo with L. She doubted L had pure intentions. Just as she was about to refuse, Ethan covered the phone. She looked at him in confusion. He whispered in her ear, ¡°Agree to meet her. I want to see what trick she¡¯s ying.¡± Ethan¡¯s eyes were cold as ice. He had no sympathy for L. In his eyes, she was nothing but trouble. He could seize this as an opportunity to get her out of the picture permanently. J nodded. Then, she sighed into the phone with flourish, pretending to be helpless. ¡°Fine. We were once a family, so we should talk this out.¡± L grew excited. She paused for a few seconds and replied, ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s meet up at the steakhouse at Glorie Street tomorrow at 10.¡± ******* The following day, J arrived at the steakhouse on time. Before she got off the car, Ethan cupped her cheeks and kissed her. ¡°Act natural. If anything suspicious happens, text me. I¡¯ve stationed my men here, so you¡¯ll be safe.¡± Chapter 542 Chapter 542 J was left breathless from the deep kiss. She pinched Ethan¡¯s cheek and smiled shyly. ¡°I¡¯m not a child anymore. I can handle this. I¡¯ll get going now, okay?¡± Glorie Street was an old and remote block. There was only one restaurant here¡ªthe steakhouse L mentioned. It wasn¡¯t a particrly clean restaurant. There were all sorts of bugs and flies all over the ce. In the restaurant sat a group of tough-looking men with tattoos covering their arms. With toothpicks in their mouths, they looked just like a bunch of hooligans. As soon as J stepped foot inside the steakhouse, they all turned to look at her with eager eyes. L stood up and waved at her from the table near the door. ¡°J, over here!¡± J nodded in greeting. They hadn¡¯t seen each other for over a month. L had lost a lot of weight. Her makeup was not as pristine as before, and her eyes were full of undisguised fatigue. ¡°I know several good cafes in the area. How about we talk there?¡± J suggested, ncing at the men from the corner of her eye. ¡°This ce is owned by a friend of Jeff¡¯s. I don¡¯t have that much money now, so I could only afford the food here,¡± L exined with a smile. ¡°Oh, Jeff¡¯s my brother.¡± Left with no choice, J sat down at the table. The restaurant was empty other than the group of men. There were barely any people outside, too. This was clearly a ce for doing illegal stuff. The staff soon brought them two tes of steak. L pushed one of them in front of J and said, ¡°Try it. I like their food.¡± As she spoke, she nced meaningfully at the man who had served the steak just now. She knew that Jeff and his friends were hiding in the kitchen. With Ethan guarding outside, J wasn¡¯t afraid at all. She sliced a piece of her steak and put it in her mouth. Suddenly, Jeff burst out of the kitchen, holding a stick and some ropes, followed by a group of thugs. However, before they could even get close to J, a group of men in ck swarmed inside the restaurant. In a matter of seconds, the men in ck quickly subdued Jeff and his friends. L was shocked. She stood up from the table and shouted, ¡°Who the hell are you? I¡¯m calling 911!¡± J continued to eat her steak calmly. The steak here was pretty good; she had to give L that. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Ethan, who was wearing a dark brown windbreaker today, strode in. He sat next to J, took out a handkerchief, and handed it to her. ¡°Honey, it¡¯s time to go.¡± Taking the handkerchief, J folded it neatly and wiped her lips. She nced indifferently at the panic-stricken L and said, ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s go, honey.¡± ******* L and the others were all captured for interrogation. ¡°Please let me go, Brandon! I was just trying to apologize to J!¡± Inside the cold interrogation room, L was scared out of her wits and kept defending herself hysterically. Jeff was also tied to a electric chair. He was so scared that he wet his pants. He tried to exin stiffly, ¡°I¡­ My friends and I were just curious to see what J White looked like. We never intended to hurt her!¡± ¡°So what were the ropes and sticks for?¡± Ethan¡¯s men didn¡¯t want to waste time listening to his measly excuses and flipped a switch. The chair sent bolts of electricity through Jeff¡¯s body. Very quickly, the interrogation room was filled with screams. Neither Jeff nor L had been tortured before. They confessed everything after only a short while. In the room behind the steakhouse, Ethan¡¯s men found cameras and all kinds of aphrodisiac drugs. Obviously, they were meant for J. Chapter 543 Chapter 543 ¡°They confessed. It¡¯s all in this video. How do you want to do this?¡± Ethan slid the sh drive in front of J. ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less about Jeff, but I know that my parents still care about L. I want to talk to them first.¡± J was hesitant. She didn¡¯t think it was a good idea to put L behind bars without consulting her parents first. Upon hearing this, Ethan¡¯s expression darkened. He reached for J¡¯s hand and said softly but firmly, ¡°I respect that, but you shouldn¡¯t be asking your parents for their opinion. You should just be informing them about what L has done. I¡¯m not going to let her go this time, honey.¡± Unlike J, Ethan wasn¡¯t as indecisive. He sent the video directly to the Whites. When Johanna watched the video, she was furious. ¡°I raised her for twenty years, but this is what I get in return? A criminal? How dare she do something like this?!¡± Even Beal gave up on his former daughterpletely. What she had done this time was simply too despicable for words. He rubbed his temples and sighed, ¡°Do whatever you want with her. She has to be punished. She is no longer a member of the White family. Whatever she has done has nothing to do with us.¡± After Jeff and L were brought to court, they were sentenced to jail. The Gillian family was poor, so they couldn¡¯t hire a goodwyer for L and Jeff. And even if they did have the money, they had offended Brandon Larson. Nowyer in Barnes would be willing to take their case. As if that wasn¡¯t bad enough, the Gillian family¡¯s small grocery store was in shambles. A group of thugs kept showing up at the store and made a scene, which forced them to shut down the business. Glenn and Eva couldn¡¯t get Jeff out of prison and had no means of livelihood in Barnes. Therefore, in despair and defeat, they left Barnes and returned to their vige. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ******* Unbeknownst to everyone, Charis had been living in Barnes this whole time. Even her parents thought that she was traveling abroad. She hadn¡¯t made any movestely. After all, Ethan had almost found her out after the parachute incident. Luckily, she reacted quickly to get rid of L¡¯s coach in time. Although the woman didn¡¯t die in the end, she could never talk again as a vegetable. Now, she knew she had to lie low. But lying low didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t keep a close eye on Ethan¡¯s and J¡¯s movements. What had unfolded recently was really interesting. It never urred to Charis that L would be expelled from the White family so soon. She had been the Whites¡¯ daughter for over twenty years after all. What surprised her more was that very soon after L joined the Gillian family, she conspired against J with her brother. And now, Ethan had put the two siblings behind bars for good. Charis had no pawns left. She had never thought that L would be this stupid. If she had continued to work with her, she might¡¯ve gotten her own ass in trouble, too. Jeff, on the other hand, had piqued Charis¡¯s interest. He looked like a reckless fool who would do anything for money. Charis felt that she had found a new pawn. At first, she had had no hope for the Gillians, but now it seemed it was necessary for her to drop by Barnes¡¯ Prison. Chapter 544 Chapter 544 In Barnes¡¯ Prison. There were a few people on the open-air training grounds. The prison guards each wielded an electric baton, and the sound of their leather boots stepping on the ground was particrly heavy. The prisoners were all dressed in orange jumpsuits. They would look at the dazzling sky, but the serious res of the prison guards would soon force them to lower their heads. Jeff¡¯s hair had been shaved to a buzz cut. A bulky man stood behind him, constantly rubbing his bald head with a smug smile. ¡°This guy¡¯s head is like a pickled egg!¡± Hearing this, the inmates around all burst intoughter. The bulky man gave a signal, and several inmates moved to block the sight of the prison guards, while others dragged Jeff into a cramped corner. ¡°Take off your pants!¡± A man with a tattoo of a scorpion on his face shoved Jeff to the corner and stepped on his bald head. ¡°You should know what¡¯s good for you.¡± Of course this prison was full of criminals¡ªsome of which were gay. Jeff¡¯s face fell in horror. Even though he grew up in a poor family, Eva had always spoiled him. He couldn¡¯t even stand working in theundry, let alone being bullied like this. ¡°Please don¡¯t do this. Please¡­ Just let me go¡­¡± Jeff fell to his knees and burst into tears, snot running down his nose. He had never been humiliated like this in his whole life. The prisoners turned a deaf ear to his pleas and began to take off their pants. Just then, a prison guard shouted in the distance, ¡°Jeff Gillian? You have a visitor!¡± Jeff bolted towards the visitation area as though his life depended on it. He thought that his parents had come to visit, so on his way there, he started to think of ways to force them to get him out. However, when he saw the beautiful short-haired woman sitting on the opposite side of the ss, he was confused. He picked up the phone and asked, ¡°Who are you? Where¡¯re my parents?¡± With a smile on her face, Charis spoke into the receiver in a casual tone. ¡°I¡¯m a¡­ ¡®friend¡¯ of J¡¯s. I came here on her behalf to see how you were doing.¡± Jeff¡¯s expression instantly hardened and he was about to hang up the phone. By now, he knew better than to mess with J and her husband. ¡°Wait, don¡¯t go so fast, you poor fool. Look at yourself. You¡¯ve offended the Whites. Count yourself lucky they didn¡¯t take your life.¡± With contempt in her eyes, Charis continued to jeer at Jeff. ¡°You fucking bitch! Say one more word and I¡¯ll skin you alive!¡± Jeff was so angry that his eyes turned red and he jumped up onto the table. The prison guard next to him immediately subdued him. ¡°Hey! Get down from there!¡± Seeing this, Charis just smiled. ¡°J has already asked someone to ¡®take good care¡¯ of you in this prison. You stupid idiot, you should really think about who you¡¯ve offended. I doubt you¡¯ll make it out of here alive.¡± ¡°Fuck you!¡± Jeff was so furious that he smashed the phone against the ss. His hatred towards J and her husband had been festering for a while now. In his eyes, he had done nothing wrong yet the damned couple had abused their power and put him in jail. Charis¡¯s goading made him even more furious. J thought she could do whatever she wanted just because she was the daughter of the White family. These rich people could all go to hell! Seeing that she had sessfully pissed Jeff off, Charis put down the phone and left. Jeff, on the other hand, was taken back to his cell because of his outburst just now. After going back home, Charis moved on to the next step. She had secretly pulled some strings and spent a lot of money to get Jeff out of prison. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Jeff was used of attempted ckmailing. Although Ethan had found the camera and the aphrodisiac he intended to use, Jeff refused to admit that they belonged to him and had shifted the me to L. This had made things much easier. ckmailing was only a small crime and deserved only a light sentence. Charis knew that the second Jeff got out of prison, she wouldn¡¯t have to lift a finger. Jeff would go after J himself. Chapter 545 Chapter 545 Ever since that woman¡¯s visit, Jeff had been living a life of fear every day. Whenever he¡¯d see those menacing men in the distance, he¡¯d run away. Those men were all tall and strong; viting him would be a piece of cake for them. And as the days passed, he hated J even more. What a vindictive woman! It was L who had asked her out to dinner. She should¡¯ve taken revenge on her, and only her! ¡°Fuck that bitch! She should go to hell! Fuck!¡± Jeff cursed in a low voice. However, an inmate overheard him. ¡°Jeff Gillian! Who the fuck are you cursing? I think someone needs to be taught a lesson¡­¡± Jeff was a short and thin man¡ªthe perfect type of many of the gay inmates, or just bullies. Jeff shrank into the corner, too scared to breathe. Just then, a prison guard strode into his cell and dragged him to his feet. ¡°Jeff Gillian, pack up your things. You will be released next week.¡± ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s me, Jeff Gillian? Not Jeff Willy or Jeff Smith?¡± Jeff was so shocked that he blurted these things without thinking. He had been in prison for only two months. How could he get out so soon? mping his hand over his mouth, he didn¡¯t dare to say another word. The joy of getting out quickly dispelled his doubts. On the day he was released, no one came to pick him up. When he returned to the apartment where he and his parents had lived before, he heard from his neighbors that his parents had sold the apartment and moved back to the countryside. Ever since Jeff was put in jail, there had been a group of thugsing to harass Glenn and Eva every day until they were forced to move. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Jeff threw a fit on the spot. He knew that damned bitch J was behind this! With Eva and Glenn gone, Jeff had no money and no ce to live. He could only turn to his friends. However, when his friends saw him, they all avoided him as if he was a gue. ¡°Jeff, leave us alone. The Whites have warned everyone in town that anyone who¡¯s close to you and your family will be their enemy, too.¡± Jeff was exasperated. He had nothing now. And it was all because of the fucking Whites and their fucking daughter. ¡°You fucking assholes!¡± The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Before he left, he begged his friends for onest favor, ¡°If you see J White, call me. That bitch! I will beat the crap out of her!¡± ¡°Fine, fine.¡± Jeff¡¯s friends were all thugs. Since Jeff wanted to take revenge on J, they were interested in seeing a good show. Anyway, they had nothing to lose. ******* Ever since Charis had managed to get Jeff out of prison, she had secretly kept an eye on him. Somehow, he had gotten the address of thepany J worked for. He had lurked outside W Marks Studio ever since, but he hadn¡¯t had a chance to make a move. Charis couldn¡¯t wait any longer. That weekend, she tipped Jeff off through his street friends about J¡¯s whereabouts, who was out shopping with Elizabeth. While Jeff did ask his friends to tell him if J ever showed up, he didn¡¯t expect the news toe so soon. He had bought a bottle of concentrated sulfuric acid to permanently disfigure J¡¯s face and skin. Finally, the opportunity to strike came. After finding out J¡¯s whereabouts, Jeff headed straight to the shopping mall with the bottle of sulfuric acid. Chapter 546 Chapter 546 Over the past couple of weeks, things hadn¡¯t been going too well for J. What L had done really left a mark on her. Noticing that J looked a little frustrated, Elizabeth invited her to go shopping that weekend to get her mind off of things. Elizabeth, who seldom even talked to others, suddenly invited her to hang out, so J found herself unable to refuse. Compared with Seacisco, the malls in Barnes were more essible and down to earth. On holidays and even weekends, there would be all kinds of interesting events held in the shopping malls. As soon as they stepped inside the mall, J saw throngs of people bustling about. Elizabeth was tall and fashionable, while J was incredibly pretty and petite. The two women with vastly different styles soon attracted people¡¯s attention. J looked around in search of any store she¡¯d be interested in. Suddenly, her eyesnded on a man with a sunken face among the crowd. It was Jeff. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. When did he get out of prison? Before J could figure it out, she saw that Jeff was holding a bottle of pale yellow liquid. He red at her with a ferocious look, like a wild beast eyeing its prey. ¡°Bitch, go to hell!¡± As he spoke, he pushed through the crowd and rushed at J. But before he could open the bottle of sulfuric acid, a group of men in ck suddenly emerged and tackled him to the ground. Seeing this, the crowd burst into an uproar and scattered like mice. Amidst the chaos, the bottle of sulfuric acid was thrown to the ground and shattered. The liquid made a sizzling sound, steaming in the air and emitting a horrible smell. ¡°Who the fuck are you? Let go of me, you bastards!¡± Jeff¡¯s head was forcibly pressed down to the ground by the men in ck. He pounded the floor with his fists and craned his neck to re at J with hatred. Just then, a man in a grey tracksuit and a ck baseball cap emerged from behind the men in ck. With his chin slightly raised, Ethan nced at his men and said, ¡°Take him away.¡± J was still in a state of shock. She walked up to Ethan and asked doubtfully, ¡°I thought Jeff was supposed to be in prison? How¡¯d he get out so soon?¡± ¡°Some time ago, a prison guard informed me that he had been released in advance.¡± When Ethan found out about this, he too was confused. It seemed that someone was taking action behind the scenes. Ethan didn¡¯t act on it until now because he knew that there had to be someone powerful behind the curtain. Besides, whoever was behind Jeff¡¯s release was probably the same person who had orchestrated the parachute incident. He hadn¡¯t been able to find who this mastermind was, and now, he had the chance. Thus, Ethan didn¡¯t take any action but monitored Jeff in secret. As soon as Jeff was about to strike again, he caught him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, honey. You can continue shopping with your friend. The bodyguards will protect you.¡± Ethan¡¯s expression softened as soon as he was with his wife. He touched J¡¯s hair gently and then turned around to leave. Still in a daze, J nced at the bubbling yellow liquid on the ground with lingering fear. ******* In the interrogation room, Ethan sat down with his legs crossed, his face hidden under the brim of his cap. His subordinate finished strapping Jeff to the electric chair. Jeff roared hoarsely, ¡°Let me go! Let! Me! Go!¡± His voice and body were trembling. ¡°Enough with the bullshit. Who helped you get out of prison?¡± Ethan looked at his subordinate meaningfully, hinting at him to take action. Jeff was no stranger to the horrors of this electric chair and was one again scared out of his wits. ¡°I don¡¯t know! When I was still in prison, only one person came to visit me. She said she was J¡¯s friend and told me that J had hired someone to fuck me up in prison. That¡¯s all, okay? I don¡¯t know anything else. Please let me go!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve asked the prison guard. No one has visited you.¡± ¡°Do you really think I¡¯d lie right now? I¡¯m telling you the truth!¡± Jeff insisted desperately. Ethan frowned. ¡°Okay, then what did the woman look like?¡± ¡°A brte with shoulder-length hair and dressed in business attire. She looked beautiful, and more importantly, she looked rich. Oh, and there was a mole above her left eyebrow. That¡¯s all I can tell you.¡± Ethan fell silent. Jeff¡¯s description pointed to one woman¡ªCharis. Chapter 547 Chapter 547 Without saying anything more, Ethan stood up abruptly and left the interrogation room. Now, he understood everything. The pieces of the puzzle wereing together. If Charis was the mastermind behind everything that had happened, then everything made sense. Back in Seacisco where everything started, the only family that was powerful enough to do all those things without leaving a trace was the Turners. And the Turner family had some connections in Barnes as well. Although it couldn¡¯tpare to how many connections they had in Seacisco, money made the world go round. It wouldn¡¯t have been hard for Charis to clean up her trail. Ethan had thought that Charis would stop after he warned her, but he was wrong. He was ruthless to anyone who crossed the line, even if the culprit was his former ssmate and partner. ******* When Ethan got home, J immediately stood up and approached him. ¡°Did Jeff say anything?¡± she asked anxiously. Her big, bright eyes were filled with worry. After what had happened today, she lost her appetite for shopping. She absent-mindedly wandered around the mall with Elizabeth for a while and then went back home empty-handed. ¡°Yes. Somebody helped him get out of jail. It was Charis.¡± Ethan shrugged off his coat and put his arm around J¡¯s shoulders. ¡°I have to go back to Seacisco for a few days.¡± J frowned slightly. Hearing Charis¡¯s name, she couldn¡¯t say she was surprised. ¡°Does she really hate me that much?¡± Charis had tried to destroy her rtionship with Ethan, but she had already married Ethan and everyone knew it. It had been so long, J thought that Charis had given up on Ethan already. ¡°She was never fickle when it came to rtionships, but even I never thought she¡¯d do all these horrible things,¡± Ethan said in a low voice. The way she tackled her rtionships was the same as how she tackled business¡ªshe¡¯d do everything she had to just to achieve her goals. ¡°You know her well, don¡¯t you?¡± J stuck out her lower lip, ncing at Ethan aggrievedly. Then she stopped in her tracks and got frustrated at herself. She was already married to Ethan. Why was she jealous? She took a deep breath and calmed herself down. ¡°You two have known each other a long time. Will you let her go?¡± ¡°If she goes unpunished, she¡¯ll only take it as encouragement to keep going further. You¡¯ve been in danger so many times. First, the car ident. Then the kidnapping. Maybe she was behind all those. What¡¯s terrible about all these is that she never has to get her own hands dirty. She uses others to do her dirty work and then they take the fall.¡± Ethan¡¯s tone grew gloomy and his eyes darkened. ¡°She has tried to hurt you too many times. I refuse to let her go so easily.¡± Enveloped in Ethan¡¯s arms, J felt the hairs on her neck stand on end. There was no enmity between her and Charis, but Charis had tried to hurt her so many times just to get Ethan back. Ethan packed some documents and flew back to Seacisco. At the same time, he ordered his men in Barnes to investigate Jeff¡¯s early release. It turned out that he was right. Charis had pulled some strings and got Jeff out. Charis had bribed someone working in the prison to delete the surveince video of her visit there. Ethan reported it to the police and the police had their best technicians restore the video. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. When the footage was restored, they were all sent to Ethan¡¯sputer. When Ethan¡¯s private nended in Seacisco, he went straight to the Turner family with the evidence in tow. Chapter 548 Chapter 548 After baiting Jeff to the shopping mall, Charis asked her men to wait in the area. If things went well, Jeff should be able to seed. But things didn¡¯t go as nned. Less than an hour had passed when her subordinate called her to report that Jeff had been caught and taken away by Ethan and his men. Upon hearing this, Charis¡¯s heart leaped to her throat. She didn¡¯t say anything and hung up directly. Without a second to lose, she immediately went back to her apartment in Barnes and began to pack up her things. She had a bad feeling about this and couldn¡¯t help but tremble in fear as she packed. Why was Ethan in the mall with his men? When she was done packing, she immediately called her father. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m heading home. Has anything happened recently?¡± Charis hadn¡¯t called Luke in a long time. Luke was happy to hear from his daughter and said in a cheerful tone, ¡°Nothing much has happened while you were gone. Youing home already?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll be back by today. Bye, Dad,¡± Charis said with a smile, sighing with relief. In the Turner family home in Seacisco, as soon as Charis stepped foot inside the house, she found that the atmosphere was depressing. As usual, she tried joking with the servants. ¡°What¡¯s going on today? You all look weird!¡± The servants smiled awkwardly at her and then busied themselves with their work. Shrugging it off, Charis turned towards the living room and instantly froze. She saw Ethan sitting on the sofa opposite to Luke, who had a long, gloomy face. All the color drained from Charis¡¯s face. She turned around and was about to make a break for it, but was stopped by Ethan¡¯s men. ¡°Miss Turner, please have a seat.¡± She didn¡¯t expect that Ethan would go to her father. Biting her lower lip, she sat down next to Luke. Luke didn¡¯t look so good. Ethan had told him everything. Ethanid the evidence neatly on the table. His tone was calm, but his words packed a punch. ¡°Miss Turner, you¡¯re much capable than I have known you to be.¡± With balled up fists, Charis didn¡¯t dare to look in Ethan¡¯s eyes. She wanted to defend herself, but she stopped on second thought. She knew that she couldn¡¯t fool Ethan and making excuses for herself would do her no good. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know what you are talking about,¡± Charis said as calmly as she could manage, lowering her head. As she spoke, a single teardrop of desperation rolled down her cheek. She now knew that she would never have a chance to be with Ethan. Although she had expected that this might happen, she couldn¡¯t face it calmly. Ethan had no feelings for her, and she knew this all along. But she couldn¡¯t bear for him to know about her vicious side. Perhaps now, after knowing about everything she had done, Ethan could only see her as a vicious woman. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Ethan¡¯s sharp eyes seemed to pierce into her very soul. ¡°Were you involved in all the incidents that put J¡¯s life in danger?¡± Charis subconsciously shrank, as though all the strength had left her body. She smiled bitterly and said in a shaky voice, ¡°J¡­ J doesn¡¯t deserve you!¡± She decided she had nothing to lose and bared her heart in front of Ethan. She still believed that she had nned and handled everything perfectly. Ethan should¡¯ve never found out it was her! Ethan didn¡¯t say anything at first. He simply stood up and strode towards her ominously. All of a sudden, his hands shot out and grabbed Charis by the neck. His eyes were filled with an anger that Charis had never seen before. ¡°Say that again, I dare you!¡± Chapter 549 Chapter 549 ¡°Uh! Ah! Ethan¡ª! Let go of me!¡± Charis tried to scream but it got stuck in her throat. Her face turned purple from theck of oxygen. She struggled and kicked, crying ¡°Dad! Help me! Dad?!¡± Ethan was by no means a weak man. He could¡¯ve snapped Charis¡¯s neck without breaking a sweat. Frightened out of his wits, Luke stood up immediately to protect his daughter. ¡°Mr. Larson, calm down! Let¡¯s talk about this!¡± He tried his best to pull Ethan¡¯s arm away but in vain. Catherine happened toe downstairs at this time. When she saw this scene, she was so frightened that she screamed. Her usual elegant and easy-going manner vanished instantly. She rushed to help her daughter and shouted, ¡°Brandon, do you know what you¡¯re doing?! You are not allowed to hurt my daughter in her own home!¡± Ethan¡¯s eyes shed dangerously. He tightened his grip around Charis¡¯s neck, which cut off Charis¡¯s ess to oxygenpletely. Just when she thought she was going to die, Ethan suddenly threw her to the ground and let her go. ¡°Ahem!¡± Writhing on the ground, Charis covered her neck with her hands and coughed violently. Regardless of her image, Catherine squatted on the ground and patted her daughter on the back anxiously. She red at Ethan and roared, ¡°Who do you think you are? Why¡¯d you do that to Charis?¡± Ethan removed the cuff links on his suit, rolled up his sleeves, and looked down at the two Turner women with a sneer. ¡°Your daughter has tried to kill my wife on more than one asion. I thought I went too easy on her just now.¡± Catherine nced at Luke in shock. ¡°What are you talking about? How could my daughter do such a thing?¡± Catherine had her own career and didn¡¯t bother too much about her daughter¡¯s. She never had to worry about the capable Charis. All she knew was that Charis had left the Larson Group a while ago. She had thought that this was a good thing, because now Charis could take over the family business. Both Catherine and Luke knew that Charis liked Brandon, but they didn¡¯t know what she had done in order to get him. ¡°Brandon, I¡¯m warning you. Although Charis worked under you before, she doesn¡¯t have to listen to you anymore. I can understand that there might be some problems between you two, but that doesn¡¯t mean you can hurt my daughter!¡± Ethan sneered. He gathered the evidence on the table and looked down at the coughing Charis, ¡°Since you¡¯re the daughter of the Turner family, I can¡¯t hurt you in your own house. However, if you dare try to hurt my wife again, I will not let you go.¡± Charis¡¯s face was full of resentment. She gritted her teeth and red at Ethan defiantly. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. You can¡¯t me me for being a bit hot-headed!¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Ethan raised his eyebrows and asked in a bone-chillingly cold voice. Looking into his eyes, Charis paused for a few seconds and suddenly burst into tears. ¡°We¡¯ve worked together for years, Ethan! Why don¡¯t you have feelings for me? You fell in love with someone who came after me! Do you really think I¡¯m not as good as her?¡±N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Chapter 550 Chapter 550 ¡°J would never do the things you have done,¡± Ethan said, his voice void of emotion. His indifference made Charis cry even harder. She had never cried like this in her entire life. Since the moment she started working with Ethan, she had never dared to show too much affection for him. She thought a man as mature and put-together as Ethan would probably like a woman who was also as decisive and restrained. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have done those things if J never showed up. You left me no choice! Ethan, do you really think you¡¯re faultless? I¡¯ve loved you all these years yet you turned a blind eye to it! You could¡¯ve just told me that you had no feelings for me, but you always kept me guessing¡­¡± Her voice broke as she spoke. Charis murmured softly, ¡°How could I get you back if I just sat there and did nothing?¡± ¡°I thought not showing you any affection in return was clear enough of a message.¡± Ethan frowned. ¡°I used to admire you as a capable business partner, but now I have nothing but disgust for you.¡± After saying that, Ethan turned around to leave. He didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with this despicable woman anymore. When he passed by Luke and Catherine, he shot them a cold nce and warned, ¡°Keep your daughter in line, or else she might end up in a miserable position.¡± Then he left. Catherine had understood what was going on. Heaving a long sigh, she helped up the crying Charis and shook her head. ¡°You¡¯ve always been a smart girl, Charis. How could your judgment get so muddy this time? And why are you so hung up on that man? There are plenty of other fish in the sea.¡± Catherine first thought that the reason why Charis went to work in the Larson Group was that she liked Brandon. However, as the Larson Group developed, she started to believe Charis chose to stay there because she saw potential in thepany, not because she liked Brandon. As an experienced woman, Catherine knew that any woman who valued love more than her own career and even life woulde to no good end. Charis burst into tears. She shook her head and cried, ¡°He¡¯s the only man I¡¯ve ever loved. I won¡¯t be happy if I can¡¯t have him. And if I can¡¯t have him, neither can anyone else!¡± Catherine sighed and shook her head helplessly. Words of reason would do no help. Charis had always been a stubborn girl. She would stop at nothing if she had set her mind to it. ¡°If that¡¯s the way it¡¯s going to be, then you have to at least protect yourself. You know how powerful Brandon is. If he really wants to hurt you, no one can stop him. I defended you earlier because I was afraid that he would hurt you. But if we really fought against the Larson Group, both sides would suffer great losses. Your father and I have worked hard all our lives for the Turner Group. Are you going to throw away our lives¡¯ work just because you love that man?¡± Catherine sighed helplessly and handed her daughter a tissue. She tried to talk some sense into her daughter, hoping thetter would see the light. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Charis still had a bright future ahead of her. It wasn¡¯t worth it to ruin her life over a man. What¡¯s more, the way Brandon looked at her just now¡ªhis eyes were simply full of disgust. It was the stupidest thing in the world to try to win the heart of a man who hated you. Charis fell silent and wiped away her tears. No one knew what she was thinking at that moment. Chapter 551 Chapter 551 After confronting the Turners, Ethan returned to Barnes. He reported to the police that Charis had pulled some strings to get Jeff out of jail, and had even sent them all the evidence to prove it. But since there was no evidence tying Charis to all her other crimes, there was nothing Ethan could do. Because Charis had paid for Jeff¡¯s bail, the matter wasn¡¯t too serious. It didn¡¯t take much effort for the Turner family to get Charis out of this mess. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. When everything was settled, Luke spoke to Charis seriously. ¡°Don¡¯t go near Barnes again and just stay at home.¡± He didn¡¯t want thepany¡¯s interests to be affected because of his daughter¡¯s selfish acts. Although he loved his daughter very much, he knew what was more important. Charis¡¯s bare, haggard face was pale and tired. She leaned back against the sofa and waved her hand dismissively. ¡°I know. Now that Ethan has figured it all out, I can¡¯t do anything anymore.¡± Ethan could make trouble for the Turner family with a snap of his fingers. Charis knew that she had to be careful. Luke nodded. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯vee to your senses. You¡¯re a Turner; you shouldn¡¯t degrade yourself for a man.¡± Charis forced a smile but didn¡¯t say anything. There was another, more important reason why she couldn¡¯t act rashly. Now that Ethan had found out about her vicious side, if she was caught again, he would definitely destroy not just the Turner family, but her as well. Seeing her so depressed, Luke stopped scolding her. He thought for a while and said, ¡°Why note to work for me? It¡¯s easy for people to overthink things when they¡¯re idly. If you busy yourself with work, you might find a sense of fulfillment. Soon, you¡¯ll forget all about this fiasco.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll start work tomorrow.¡± After all, Charis also didn¡¯t like the feeling of being cooped up at home. She was too weak now. She needed to get stronger first in order to get what she wanted in life. As for Ethan, she believed that they would meet at the peak again one day. ******* When Ethan came back, J could tell that he had finished dealing with Charis. She could also tell that he was angry. Although he didn¡¯t show it on his face, she believed that Ethan must¡¯ve gotten into a fight with Charis. These days, the Larson Group had focused on slowly nting its roots in Barnes. It didn¡¯t take long before the legendary corporation settled in this city. Since Ethan and Garrett had now moved to Barnes, their secret security force Pole Shadow also followed them there. As a member of it, of course Laney also had to move. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to move here, but Garrett promised he¡¯d give me a raise if I did. He¡¯s not lying to me, is he?¡± Laney felt that it was a hassle to uproot her life in Seacisco. ¡°Ethan didn¡¯t mention anything about that.¡± But J was extremely happy that Laney hade to Barnes. ¡°It¡¯s so good that you¡¯re here now. It almost feels like I¡¯m back in Seacisco where we had so much great time together!¡± Her smile was full of joy. Reuniting with a good friend after a long time felt so good. They had a lot to catch up on. J¡¯s joy was infectious. Laney¡¯s dissatisfaction was instantly dispelled and she excitedly told J all about what she had been through in Seacisco after the other woman moved away. It wasn¡¯t until the sun set that Ethan joined them. ¡°Garrett has made us a reservation at this restaurant. You girls can continue to talk over dinner.¡± Chapter 552 Chapter 552 The restaurant was situated at the top of a mountain peak. There was a cable car that could take them straight up to the summit. From there, they could truly appreciate the glorious view of the setting sun from their vantage point in the cable car. When they arrived at the restaurant, the foursome sat in two pairs. Staring at the Ethan and Garrett in front of her, J chuckled and said, ¡°I have such a familiar feeling, almost like deja vu. Is your girlfriend going to rush over again, Garrett?¡± It was so awkward in the moment that followed herment. ¡°That isn¡¯t funny in the least bit, J. I¡¯ve been single since I broke up with Tracey,¡± Garrett said in a serious tone, pushing his sses up the bridge of his nose and taking a sip from his bottle of water. Then he turned to take a cursory look at Laney before he looked at J again. He had even raised his voice when he said the word ¡°single¡±. J was actually quite astonished by the fact that over six months had psed yet Garrett was still single. After all, he changed his girlfriends at a high turnover rate. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know it. So you are done with being a yboy now?¡± She genuinely felt that he had changed significantly. After considering it for a moment or two, Garrett peered through his sses at the dishes on the table, and then replied, ¡°I just want a serious,mitted rtionship now.¡± J nodded with an approving smile. Then she turned to Laney, who was busy eating. Laney always ate quite a lot. Perhaps it was because she used up significant calories and physical strength when she trained daily. She had been eating, minding her own business, and didn¡¯t get involved in the conversation between J and Garrett. ¡°Laney, where do you live now? If you don¡¯t have a ce to live, you can stay with me and Ethan for a while,¡± J said, dishing out some more food for Laney. ¡°I haven¡¯t found a ce to stay yet. I¡¯ll stay in a hotel for the time being. But thank you for the offer anyway,¡± said Laney. ¡°I can help you find a ce. Staying in a hotel is not very convenient after all,¡± Garrett looked at her and said eagerly. Without looking at him, Laney continued to eat. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I am confident that I will be able to handle it myself.¡± Then Garrett lowered his head to eat in resignation. J blinked her eyes in confusion and then sensed that something was amiss between the two. She turned to look at Ethan, who put a rib in her te and said, ¡°Don¡¯t poke around. Just eat.¡± ******* After dinner, J and Ethan left first. Laney went to thedies¡¯ room, while Garrett stayed behind and waited for her. ¡°Why are you still here? I¡¯m going to take a cab back to the hotel.¡± Laney purposely visited the washroom earlier so that she could leave alone. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a ride,¡± Garrett offered. They took the cable car down the mountain to the parking lot, and Garrett opened the door of the back seat for her. Pretending not to see it, Laney hailed a cab and left. Looking at the car driving away, Garrett was helpless. He adjusted his sses and got into his car. As soon as he settled in the backseat, he received a phone call. ¡°Hello, Mr. Harding. I heard that you are in Barnes? Why didn¡¯t you call me?¡± A female voice could be heard on the other end of the line. It was so charming and alluring that it would be exceptional for any man to resist. ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything important to say, I¡¯ll hang up.¡± N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°Mr. Harding, are you sure you don¡¯t want to drop by my ce? I¡­¡± Before the woman could finish her words, Garrett hung up the phone and threw it aside. During this period of time, a lot of women had tried to get close to him, and some even went directly to his ce. However, he was not interested in them at all. All he could think about was Laney. He was far from an inexperienced man. He could tell that he might have fallen in love with her. All at once, he was both scared and excited by this feeling. He had never felt anything like this before. He felt that Laney was different from all the women he had dated before. However, she didn¡¯t seem to have any interest in him at all. She always kept a certain distance from him. ¡°Take me home.¡± After giving this instruction to the driver, he leaned back on the seat and closed his eyes to rest. This feeling made him rather frustrated. Chapter 553 Chapter 553 When Laney had hailed the cab, she was quick to get into the vehicle and hurriedly instructed the driver, ¡°Sir, take me to the Beasley Hotel.¡± She told the driver the name of the hotel she was staying at and looked back over her shoulder. Luckily, Garrett hadn¡¯t followed her. Laney could see that his attitude towards her had changed greatly for quite a while now. At first, she thought it was because they had be friends. However,ter, Garrett started to ask her out for dinner on several asions. But she didn¡¯t like yboys so she knew that she had to stay away from him. The car quickly drove through two tunnels. She peered out of the window when she realized that something was definitely wrong. The driver raced onwards at exceptionally high velocity. And it was quite apparent that the car was not headed in the direction of the hotel. Laney looked at the driver in rearview mirror. The driver stole a nce at her from the rearview mirror as well, and from time to time, he had an evil glint in his eyes. Laney tried to open the window quietly, only to find that it was locked. She looked back and found that there were several cars following them. ¡°Sir, please stop the car. I want to get off here.¡± Laney pretended to reach for the door casually. The driver nced at her through the rearview mirror and turned the steering wheel. He sped up and drove down a quiet alley. Seeing what he had done, Laney gritted her teeth, quickly took off her coat and wrapped it around her fore arm, and then punched the window with it. She then jumped out of the shattered window. A sound of brake was heard cutting through the crisp air. The driver immediately stopped the car, opened the door and rushed out to pursue her. At the same time, the cars that had been following them also drove over to join the scene. A group of tattooed men got out of the cars. They blocked both ends of the alley and surrounded Laney from all directions. ¡°Guys! That¡¯s the woman our boss wants!¡± A heavily tattooed man had roared these words while holding a threatening club in his hand. He looked vicious, and there was a fresh scar between his eyebrows. Laney¡¯s eyes swept over them. A dozen tall, muscr men were all well-armed and looked highly aggressive. It seemed that a fight would inevitably ensue. Laney touched her waist. Unfortunately, she had only a small dagger with her since she hadn¡¯t expected anything like this before heading out. Judging from the current situation, she couldn¡¯t leave easily. ¡°Buddy, you have to let me know who wants my life before you start.¡± Laney raised her eyebrows and looked at the man. She pulled out the dagger from where it was hidden by her waist, and hit it between her teeth to free up her hands. She tied up her long hair with a hair band she had on her wrist. She was petite, and she looked particrly fragile among this burly group of strong men. It seemed there was no way she could ever stand a chance to fight all these men. Laney clenched her fists and then took the dagger out of her mouth. She was absolutely not a match for so many men. She had a hunch that she might die here today, but she had to take a few of them with her, even if it meant she had to die fighting. ¡°Fucking bitch! Don¡¯t you know who you have offended? Go to hell and ask Satan!¡± the man leading the mob spat. He looked at the men around him and said, ¡°What are you waiting for? Go and catch her!¡± N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. As soon as he gave the order, the strong men waved their weapons in unison and moved forward with clear intent to attack Laney. At this moment, the sound of car engine suddenly could be heard from the alley. A car honked and raced into the alley. ¡°Damn it! Who is it?¡± The mob of men were frightened of being hit by the racing vehicle so they all stepped out of the way. The car stopped and the back door opened. Garrett unfastened his seatbelt and got out of the car with an icy look on his face. Chapter 554 Chapter 554 Just now, Garrett happened to be headed in the same direction as Laney. Seeing her up ahead, he asked the driver to follow her taxi. After a while, he found that there was something off about the taxi. Why did the driver take her to such a remote alley? Uneasy, he asked the driver to follow them into the alley to see what was going on. When they turned the corner, he found that Laney was surrounded by a group of men. The driver saw this too and warned Garrett, ¡°Mr. Harding, I think she might¡¯ve offended some big shot. Those men don¡¯t look like ordinary thugs.¡± Seeing the swarm of menacing-looking men, Garrett was also on high alert. But he didn¡¯t show it. He just unfastened the cuffs of his shirt and started stretching. ¡°How long has it been since youst fought, Jarrod?¡± The driver chuckled. ¡°Well, let¡¯s just say I¡¯ve always kept myself in shape.¡± Garrett¡¯s driver, Jarrod, used to be a famous fighter when he was young. Garrett looked at the strong men in the alley. Truth be told, he had no intentions of fighting them. He was vastly outnumbered after all. It was just him and Jarrod in the car. Even if Laney joined the fight, they still didn¡¯t stand a chance. He had to think of something quick. He stepped out of the car and looked around. Garrett usually had a warm smile on his face, which made him look like an approachable person. But now, his face was cold as ice. Although he was still gentlemanly-looking, he was more intimidating than usual. ¡°Who paid you to hurt my girlfriend?¡± He strode towards the group of men, his piercing gaze boring a hole into the man in the lead. Perhaps it was because of the air Garrett exuded, or perhaps it was because he had stepped out of a luxury sports car¡ªwhatever the reason, the tattooed man in the lead didn¡¯t act rashly. ¡°Who are you? You¡¯d better mind your own business.¡± ¡°My name¡¯s Garrett Harding. Laney here is my girlfriend. Whoever dares to hurt her will not only be my enemy, but the enemy of the entire Harding family.¡± After saying that, he pushed his sses up the bridge of his nose, walked past the wall of strong men, and strode up to Laney. He patted her on the back and said, ¡°I¡¯ll handle things from here. Wait for me in the car.¡± Laney stood glued to her spot. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Garrett frowned and grabbed her arm, trying to get her to listen to him. It seemed that these hit men had indeed heard of the name of the Harding family, because they were all stunned for a moment. Not to mention, Garrett¡¯s domineering attitude made them think twice about taking action. Garrett took their hesitation as an opportunity to escape and dragged Laney to the car. Jarrod was smart. The second Garrett closed the door behind him, Jarrod mmed his foot on the gas and sped out of the alley. Only then did the hit men realize that they had been tricked. They shouted and ran after the sports car, but it was toote. In the car, Garrett wiped the sweat on his forehead and looked back at the dozen men chasing after them. When they were safe, he sighed with relief and muttered, ¡°Only God knows I was scared shitless. Phew! I had no idea that¡¯d work!¡± He had seen a lot of things in his life and the people he hated to deal with the most were the ouws. They always resorted to violence and would refuse to listen to reason. ¡°Who were those people?¡± He looked at Laney questioningly. This woman was so bold. Even after their narrow escape, she was still so calm. Now Garrett found another reason to like her. Laney looked as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened. She wiped her dagger and tucked it back into its sheath behind her waist. After thinking for a while, she said, ¡°The Burke family¡¯s men. I recognized one of them just now. I met him before when I was on a mission. The Burkes are engaged in some illegal businesses. They hold power in both Seacisco and Barnes. Back then, I offended them. They¡¯re probably here to take revenge on me.¡± Chapter 555 Chapter 555 As Garrett listened to Laney carefully, his eyes grew sharp. He stared at Laney for a long time and then sighed, ¡°You are really a troublemaker, aren¡¯t you?¡± Laney had just moved to Barnes¡ªa ce where the Burke family held a lot of power. Because they failed to take revenge on Laney today, they were definitely bound to try again. Laney stretched her arms and sat leisurely in the back seat of the sports car. She closed her eyes and said indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m used to it. It¡¯s normal in this industry. While I make money protecting others, my life will always be at stake.¡± She paused and then cracked one eye open. She nced at Garrett and coughed awkwardly. ¡°Thanks, Mr. Harding.¡± ¡°You¡¯re most wee. We¡¯ve known each other for a long time now. We¡¯re friends now, aren¡¯t me?¡± Garrett smiled, waving his hand nonchntly. After mulling over it for a while, Laney figured it¡¯d be better to draw a clear line between them. After all, she didn¡¯t like owing others any favors. ¡°If you need my help, just call me.¡± These words made Garrett feel somewhat alienated. He pulled a long face and muttered, ¡°Why do you have to push me away like that?¡± However, Laney suddenly looked serious and she sat bolt upright on alert. She pressed her finger to her lips, gesturing at him to shush. Garrett felt wronged and opened his mouth to protest, but Laney quickly mped her hand over his mouth. ¡°Shh. I think someone¡¯s following us.¡± Laney looked back as she spoke.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. As expected, three ck cars were tailing them, just dozens of meters away. Garrett frowned and followed her gaze. He pried Laney¡¯s hand off of his mouth and said, ¡°Those guys are really something. They caught up to us so soon.¡± ¡°Even though they looked afraid of your family just now, it seems they¡¯ll stop at nothing to get to me.¡± Laney narrowed her eyes and sat back in her seat. ¡°You can drop me off at a crowded ceter. I¡¯ll handle this.¡± ¡°Do you have a death wish or something? Do you really think I¡¯ll just sit here and watch you get killed?¡± Garrett cried indignantly. Turning to Jarrod, he then barked, ¡°Keep driving.¡± He turned to Laney again and said seriously, ¡°You can¡¯t go back to the hotel now. Those people are just waiting for an opportunity to attack you. If they see you alone, they¡¯ll definitely take action.¡± Laney thought about it for a moment and then shook her head. ¡°I¡¯lle up with something. I don¡¯t want to get you or your family involved in this.¡± Suddenly, Garrett¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°I have an idea. Why don¡¯t you hide at my ce for a while? They won¡¯t dare to break in.¡± Laney pursed her lips hesitantly. ¡°I won¡¯t get involved. I doubt they¡¯ll dare to offend the Harding family,¡± Garrett said confidently. Then, his expression darkened. ¡°Don¡¯t you get it? You won¡¯t be able to survive out there alone.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Laney finally said. Soon, the car pulled into Garrett¡¯s mansion. As soon as Garrett got out of the car, he opened the door and grabbed Laney¡¯s arm, pulling her into the house. ¡°I live here alone. Do you want me to show you around?¡± ¡°No, thanks. Just tell me which room I¡¯ll be staying. I can also take the couch if needed,¡± Laney said tly. As she spoke, she headed straight to the closed curtain and peeked through the crack vigntly. ¡°They¡¯re lurking outside. I doubt they¡¯ll give up. Do you have a gun here?¡± Chapter 556 Chapter 556 Now that Garrett was home, he felt safe and dropped his guard. He took off his sses, picked up a bag of chips on the table, and turned on the TV. As he casually stuffed chips into his mouth, he said absent-mindedly, ¡°I don¡¯t have any weapons here. This is the twenty-first century. We¡¯re all civilized people.¡± N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask your assistant to send us some guns? I know you have ess to the arms industry. If those guys make a move, I could protect you if I have a weapon.¡± Standing by the window vigntly, Laney looked at Garrett, who was lying on the sofa and watching TV. With his sses off, Garrett looked less refined and more down-to-earth. He was thirty years old, but there was still a bit of teenage spirit in his eyes. Despite this, his jaw was firm and his eyebrows were straight. Now that she was getting a closer look at him, Laney found that he seemed really matured and handsome. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. This is my ce. We¡¯re safe here. Rx. Do you want some snacks? Chips, choctes, biscuits¡ªwhatever you like. My pantry¡¯s fully stocked.¡± Garrett gestured at Laney with a bag of potato chips in his hand. Laney was bewildered. She had never seen this side of Garrett before. Shouldn¡¯t the son of a rich family like him be a bit more self-disciplined? How could he be so fond of junk food? Albeit a bit dubious, Laney walked over and sat beside him. She looked at the bag of chips and swallowed her urge to eat some. ¡°That does not look healthy, Mr. Harding. Anyway, I¡¯ll find a way to drive those guys away. I can¡¯t hide in your ce forever.¡± While munching on the chips, Garrett plucked a piece of tissue from the tissue box on the table and wiped his mouth and fingers. Then he sat up straight and said seriously, ¡°Let me see if I can talk to someone from the Burke family. Just stay here in the meantime.¡± Laney was left with no choice but to agree. Garrett put down the bag of chips and brushed the crumbs off his shirt. ¡°Now, let¡¯s find you a room.¡± Laney nodded and followed Garrett around the vi like a meek puppy. It didn¡¯t really matter to her which room she¡¯d stay in. Finally, after a tour of the mansion, Garrett made her stay in the room next to his. ¡°It¡¯ll be more convenient here. You can shout for me if anythinges up.¡± At least, this was the reason he gave her. Laney didn¡¯t object. A room in a vi was a luxury to her, having spent many a night on the streets before. She walked around the room and found no personal effects here. Perhaps no one had lived here before. Just as she was thinking about ordering some things online, Garrett said quickly, ¡°I asked my assistant to buy you some clothes and other daily necessities. Someone will bring them hereter. If you¡¯d need anything else, just tell me, okay?¡± ¡°Oh, thanks. I was thinking of buying them myself.¡± Laney thanked him in a hurry. It seemed out of character for Garrett to be so considerate. But on second thought, she realized that he had had so many girlfriends before, so he should know better than anyone else how to treat a girl right. ******* And that was how Laney started living with Garrett. In her eyes, Garrett had always been a yboy, but his house was far from what she thought it¡¯d be. It was quiet, and he never brought his girlfriends here. Unlike the image he used to keep up, he didn¡¯t go to bars or clubs on weekends. He only liked staying in and watching TV dramas with junk food. He would cry when he was touched, and he would cover his eyes with a pillow whenever he saw disturbing scenes from horror movies. Sometimes, when he¡¯d get scared, he¡¯d nestle in Laney¡¯s arms and whine, ¡°Aren¡¯t you scared at all?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen a lot of real shit more horrifying than that,¡± Laney would exin calmly. At first, she couldn¡¯t understand whether Garrett was really scared or if he was just pretending. But after listening to himin, she¡¯d sigh and pat him on the back tofort him. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s all fake.¡± Then Garrett would throw himself into her arms and held her tight. On work days, he always had a routine. He would set out to the office ande home from work at the same times, always making it a point to have dinner with Laney. Although he didn¡¯t know how to cook and always left the kitchen in a mess, when Laney cooked, he would stand to the side and praise her generously, like a supportive husband. Chapter 557 Chapter 557 Laney had been staying in Garrett¡¯s house for a week now. When she had nothing else to do, she would exercise, do chores, or busy herself in the garden. The rest of her time was spent watching the men lurking outside. Standing in front of the window of the study and looking out, Garrett happened to see Laney hiding behind a tree in the garden with a dagger in her hand, looking extra vignt. Seeing this, he was in a trance for a moment and a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. ¡°Mr. Harding, can you hear me?¡± The person on the phone called out his name twice before Garrett finally centered himself. ¡°Ahem, sorry. Could you please repeat that? The signal here is spotty.¡± As he spoke, Garrett returned to his seat and put on his sses. ¡°We¡¯ll put everything regarding Laney to rest now. We didn¡¯t know that she¡¯s your girlfriend. But Mr. Harding, would it be too much to ask for more shares in the cooperation, if ever?¡± The man on the other end of the line was the head of the Burke family. It was never really that important for the Burke family to take revenge on Laney anyway, especially so when someone as Garrett Harding was trying to intervene. ¡°Of course. Thank you for doing this for me, Mr. Burke.¡± Garrett smiled. A dangerous cold light shed in his eyes as he added, ¡°But if you dare to hurt Laney again, I won¡¯t let you go. I promise.¡± ¡°Mr. Harding, we won¡¯t do anything to hurt her. You can rest assured.¡± The head of the Burke family laughed awkwardly. After getting off the phone with the Burke family, Garrett received another call from his family. ¡°I heard that your girlfriend offended the Burke family? Moreover, I heard that this so-called ¡®girlfriend¡¯ of yours is a hit woman? Is that true?¡± Although they were posed as questions, the woman on the other end of the line sounded resigned. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it. Don¡¯t worry about me, Mom,¡± Garrett said lightheartedly. ¡°How can I not worry about you? You¡¯re my son.¡± The woman sighed again. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll handle it, Mom. I can take care of myself. Anyway, I have to get back to work now.¡± Just then, the door to the study was pushed open and Laney strode in. ¡°Mr. Harding, have you heard anything from the Burkes yet?¡± Laney poked her head in and asked through the crack of the door. With a distressed look on his face, Garrett fumbled for an excuse. ¡°We¡¯re still, er, negotiating. The Burke family hasn¡¯t responded yet. Just stay here for a few more days, okay?¡± ¡°Okay. Please inform me when you hear from them, Mr. Harding.¡± Laney nodded, closed the door, and left. Garrett had been having a good time with Laney these days and didn¡¯t want her to leave yet, so he hid the truth from her in the meantime. ******* Another week passed. Laney had begun to use the tree in the garden as a makeshift dummy for her to practice fighting. Every day, there would be a new batch of fallen leaves by the base of the tree. ¡°I¡¯ll ask my assistant to get you a new sandbag. The poor tree never did anything wrong to you.¡± Looking at the balding tree, Garrett sighed. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Today, Laney was in a bad mood, so she said nothing and just nodded gloomily. She was getting bored and restless. She wasn¡¯t used to living such a boring life. ¡°I think those thugs are gone. I n to leave tomorrow.¡± ¡°But they¡¯re lurking all over the city. It¡¯s not safe out there, Laney. Just stay with me,¡± Garrett hurriedly said. Laney was getting really bored here. She hadn¡¯t fought with anyone for a long time and she felt she was getting rusty at it. She pounded the tree with her fist and muttered, ¡°Fine. Two more days.¡± Sure enough, two dayster, Laney couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. She packed up her things and was about to leave. ¡°I¡¯m going to lose my mind if I continue to stay here. I¡¯ve never been so bored in my life. I¡¯m going to fight those guys! At least it¡¯s more exciting than being locked up here.¡± Chapter 558 Chapter 558 ¡°Wait, don¡¯t leave yet¡ª¡± Garrett reached for her hand and tried to stop her. Laney shook off his hand and shouted, ¡°Get away from me!¡± Before Garrett could respond, she ran out the door with her luggage. ¡°If they want me, then they¡¯ll have toe and get me!¡± Garrett rubbed his temples. He knew he couldn¡¯t stop her. Laney went straight to the Pole Shadow. The people there hadn¡¯t seen her in weeks, so they all thought that something bad had happened to her. After all, the news that the Burke family wanted her dead had spread some time ago. ¡°Laney, I think you should leave the country and go into hiding for a while,¡± someone suggested, their voice riddled with worry. But Laney didn¡¯t want to run away. She had been staying with Garrett for nearly half a month and was bored out of her wits. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll stay vignt. I¡¯ll kill whoever tries to kill me.¡± Seeing that Laney looked so confident, no one tried to talk her into running away anymore. They all knew she had it in her. Laney stayed with the organization for a few days. During this period, she did whatever she¡¯d normally do, but no one tried to hurt her. She was confused. Did the Burkes just let her go? That wasn¡¯t like them¡­ Seeing that things had gone eerily quiet, Laney began to look for a ce to stay near the Pole Shadow. Coincidentally, she saw one of the hit men when she visited a housing rental agency. It was their leader, the tattooed man. He was chewing gum with his hands in his trouser pockets. He seemed to be wandering the street aimlessly. When he saw that Laney was staring straight at him, he stopped and greeted her casually, ¡°Oh, hey.¡± Laney¡¯s eyes went as wide as saucers. The strong tattooed man shrugged and walked past her, showing no intention of attacking her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you on a mission?¡± Laney followed him and asked curiously. ¡°Don¡¯t you need to kill me?¡± The strong man raised his eyebrows and looked at her in confusion. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since that mission was called off. Your boyfriend talked to the Burke family himself and asked them to let you go, so they did. Didn¡¯t you know that?¡± ¡°My boyfriend?¡± Laney was stunned. She paused for a while to put the pieces together. When it all clicked, she was very angry. She dropped whatever she was doing and went straight to Garrett¡¯s ce. ******* Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Garrett was munching on some chips when someone started banging on the door. He dragged himself out of the sofa and went to open the door. ¡°Who is it? It¡¯s so early¡ª¡± But before he could finish his words, Laney grabbed him by the cor and threw him into the living room. Although she was short, she was strong. Laney pulled him up and pinned him down on the sofa. ¡°Garrett Harding, how dare you lie to me?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Garrett said in a low voice. He knew that she must¡¯ve found out the truth. He didn¡¯t put up a fight and just looked up at her sincerely. He then lowered his eyes and muttered, ¡°I lied because I really enjoyed yourpany and wanted you to stay here longer¡­¡± Chapter 559 Chapter 559 Garrett was still in his pajamas. His hair was a little disheveled, which made him look like a pitiful child. Without his sses, Laney could see the nuances in his bright brown eyes. Laney suddenly felt bad. She loosened her grip on his cor and pulled away slightly. As she looked at his pitiful face, she found herself at a loss for words, and her anger gradually dissipated. Somehow, she even blushed! Realizing that, she turned her face away to hide it. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll let you go this time.¡± After saying that, she turned around and hurried out, ignoring Garrett¡¯s stunned expression. After walking out of the vi, she took a long, deep breath. What was she thinking just now? Why did she suddenly blush? Laney buried her flushed face in her palms and kept walking, although she didn¡¯t know where she was headed. She pushed her feelings to the back of her mind, refusing to fall into his trap. Laney had long suspected that Garrett liked her. At the beginning, she had had a bad impression of him. But after getting along with him for such a long time, she had gradually changed her disposition towards him. But she didn¡¯t believe that she could be with someone like him. They were worlds apart and didn¡¯t stand a chance of being together. Besides, Garrett was never short of girlfriends. He might¡¯ve never met someone as fierce and challenging as Laney, which was probably why he was so infatuated with her now. Laney sighed heavily. She regretted not making things clear to Garrett just now. Next time she saw him, she would draw the line. She then headed back to the Pole Shadow in low spirits. Recently, a lot of new faces had joined the organization, and she was tasked with developing a training n for each of them. She soon buried herself in the work and left her worries behind. ******* This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . In the W Marks Studio, the staff were running around like headless chickens¡ªas usual. The fashion world was constantly changing, so a studio like the W Marks was busy all year round. At present, Draco had only two assistants, both of whom were buried neck deep in work. J was so busy that she always went to work early and returned home veryte. She had been working non-stop, taking few breaks at a time just to eat and sleep. Sometimes, she¡¯d even do an all- nighter in the studio. One night, she had fallen asleep at her desk when her phone started to ring. With her eyes closed, she fumbled around blindly until she found her phone beside the keyboard. She put the phone near her ear and answered tiredly, ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Where are you, J? You haven¡¯te home yet.¡± Ethan¡¯s calm and serious voice came from the other end of the line. Only then did J sit bolt upright in shock. She rubbed her eyes and said apologetically, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, honey. I worked until two o¡¯clock in the morning, so I decided to sleep here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a Saturday.¡± Ethan sighed heavily. ¡°Have you forgotten about our appointment?¡± If it were in the past, Ethan wouldn¡¯t have cared too much. J had always been a workaholic, and he had always been supportive of her work. However, recently, she had been working non-stop, leaving no time for him and herself. ¡°I still have some work to do. Can I go see you when I¡¯m done?¡± J eyed the unfinished design drafts on her desk warily. ¡°I¡¯ve made a dinner reservation already. It¡¯ll be up to you whether you make it or not, but I¡¯ll wait until you show up.¡± Ethan¡¯s underlying message was clear¡ªthat she should take a break from work and have dinner with him. Chapter 560 Chapter 560 Later that evening, J went to the Michelin-starred restaurant Ethan had booked. Wearing just a simple T-shirt and jeans, J stood out like a sore thumb in the fancy restaurant. Sitting opposite her was a calm man with a cold temperament. He propped his chin on his palm and watched helplessly as the woman tinkered with her iPad. ¡°Is your work really that urgent?¡± Seeing the dark circles under J¡¯s eyes, Ethan felt tired for her. It had been half an hour since J sat down. She had been on her iPad that whole time, tirelessly working on her design drafts. J broke off a piece of a cookie and popped it into her mouth. ¡°We just received two big orders. Plus, we¡¯reunching another line thising fashion week. Everyone¡¯s been so busytely. In fact, Elizabeth¡¯s still in the office.¡± Ethan frowned slightly and plucked the iPad from her hands. ¡°Can you take a look at me for one second? You can continue working after dinner. I won¡¯t take up too much of your time, I promise.¡± With the iPad taken away from her, J looked at him sheepishly. ¡°Sorry, honey. I¡¯ve just been so busy at worktely. When my schedule frees up, how about we go on a trip?¡± ¡°So you¡¯re aware that you¡¯ve been neglecting me?¡± Ethan grumbled. Realizing he was whining like a child, he coughed in embarrassment and cut the steak for J. ¡°Let¡¯s eat first.¡± J put on a charming smile and ate the steak that Ethan had cut into bite-size pieces for her. As she chewed, she looked around the restaurant, deep in thought. ¡°This restaurant¡¯s design is pretty simple but elegant. The color scheme will look good on clothes, I think.¡± ¡°Why¡¯s your mind still on work?¡± Ethan felt both helpless and amused. ¡°Please pay attention to your husband, whom you¡¯ve neglected for so many days.¡± From under the table, J gently touched Ethan¡¯s thigh and smiled innocently. ¡°But I¡¯ve never neglected you in bed.¡± With his chin resting on his palm, Ethan¡¯s eyebrows shot up. The more he got to know J, the more he felt that she was two different people in and out of bed. Her eyes sparkling, J continued, ¡°It¡¯s really inspiring to work with Draco. He makes me enjoy being a workaholic. And when you¡¯re doing something you¡¯re passionate about, you¡¯ll really forget everything else.¡± ¡°Good evening. It¡¯s a special night for couples. Tonight, we¡¯re giving outplimentary drinks to the couples dining here. Please enjoy.¡± Just then, a waiter approached with two sses of drinks and some dessert. Staring at Ethan¡¯s ss, Jmented, ¡°Your drink is prettier than mine. Yours looks glittery somehow.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s exchange,¡± Ethan suggested with a smile. He handed J his ss, and thetter marveled at it for a long time. The color of this ss of drink was like a mix of blue and purple, like the Milky Way gxy, shining and beautiful. She took a sip and her eyes widened in surprise. ¡°It¡¯s delicious! Would you like to have a taste?¡± Looking at the colorful girly drink, Ethan wasn¡¯t interested at all. He proceeded to eat his steak and said, ¡°I can¡¯t drink. I have to driveter.¡± ******* After dinner, J went back to the studio to continue working. The deadline was fast approaching. She had been working tirelessly for a few more days. One night, Elizabeth showed the rest of her design drawings to J. After a while, she frowned and said, ¡°You don¡¯t look well, J. Do you want to take a break?¡± ¡°Just a little sleepy. I¡¯ll have another cup of coffeeter and I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be fine.¡± J shook her head and smiled. ¡°Anyway, are these drawings done? I¡¯ll go through themter.¡± Seeing that J waspletely immersed in work, Elizabeth didn¡¯t say anything more. Anyway, after tonight, they would finally have some days off. She set down the drawings and turned to leave. Suddenly, she heard a loud thud from behind her. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Elizabeth immediately turned around and found that J had passed out and fallen to the ground. Chapter 561 Chapter 561 ¡°J!¡± Seeing J unconscious on the ground, Elizabeth hurried back to help her up. Only then did she realize just how pale J¡¯s face had be. She anxiously wiped the sweat off J¡¯s forehead and said, ¡°Answer me if you can hear me, J!¡± But J didn¡¯t respond. In a panic, Elizabeth held J¡¯s wrist to feel her pause. She even unbuttoned J¡¯s shirt and lowered her head to listen for a heartbeat. ¡°What on earth¡­¡± Elizabeth was scared out of her wits. Her eyes were full of shock and all the color drained from her face. She couldn¡¯t feel a pulse, nor could she hear J¡¯s heartbeat! She stood up and looked around in a panic. It was already the wee hours of the morning. Most of the other colleagues had already gone home. The whole office was dark, save for Draco¡¯s office. ¡°Mr. Wesley, are you there?¡± Elizabeth shouted urgently. ¡°J has fainted. We have to take her to the hospital right now!¡± As soon as Draco opened the door, he saw J on the ground. Eyes widened, he ran to her side, asking Elizabeth, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly.¡± Elizabeth shook her head. ¡°She was fine one second, and the next, she passed out.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see if we can revive her. Maybe it¡¯s because she has been working non-stop.¡± Although Draco had never studied medicine, he had received training on CPR before, so he immediately began to treat J. He grabbed a cushion from the nearest chair and put it under J¡¯s head. Then hey her body t on the ground. Disregarding everything, he unbuttoned J¡¯s shirt, crossed his hands over her chest and tried to revive her. After hesitating for a few seconds, Elizabeth said falteringly, ¡°Mr. Wesley, do you think I should do it?¡± Draco didn¡¯t answer. He was too focused on giving J CPR. Without pausing to look at Elizabeth, he said, ¡°This is not the time to worry about social conduct. Go get the office building¡¯s AED equipment and call 911. If this doesn¡¯t work, we¡¯ll have no choice but to wait for the ambnce.¡± Just now, Draco couldn¡¯t hear J¡¯s heartbeat. It seemed that she was in a temporarya. The only thing he could do now was to give her CPR as best as he could. Elizabeth was usually a calm and collected woman, but right now, she was in a state of sheer panic. Without saying anything, she ran downstairs to get the AED and handed it to Draco. Then she called 911. Draco switched on the AED and stared at J¡¯s bra hesitantly. After weighing his options, he took off her bra for her. He had to. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Holding his breath, he concentrated on the procedure and quickly pressed the two paddles against J¡¯s chest. ¡°1, 2, 3¡­ Clear!¡± But seconds passed and J still wasn¡¯t breathing and her lips started to turn a deathly shade of blue. Sweat started to form on his forehead. Draco gritted his teeth and repeated the procedure. This time, he finally got results. J¡¯s heart started and she gasped for breath. While her life wasn¡¯t in fatal danger anymore, she was still unconscious. Draco¡¯s clothes were soaked in cold sweat. Fortunately, about ten minutester, the ambnce arrived. Draco hoisted J up and helped her get on the ambnce. ******* At the headquarters of the Larson Group¡¯s Barnes branch. It was already past midnight when Ethan¡¯s meeting ended. He was about to go home when he received a call. ¡°Mr. Larson, you have toe to the hospital. J¡¯s in critical danger.¡± Ethan instantly recognized Draco¡¯s voice. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Without a minute to lose, Ethan rushed to the hospital Draco mentioned. When he arrived, there was already a small crowd of people standing by the door to the emergency room. Beal and Johanna had also rushed there as soon as Draco called. Chapter 562 Chapter 562 ¡°What¡¯s going on? Is J okay? Draco Wesley, we demand an exnation right this instant!¡± Beal wasn¡¯t as gentle and collected as he usually was. His eyes were cold and dead serious. ¡°We let our daughter work in your studio for experience¡ªnot for her to end up in a hospital!¡± Both Beal and Johanna knew that J had been working overtime these past few days. With his eyes lowered, Draco felt a little guilty. When he was about to speak, the doctor came out of the emergency room and interrupted him. ¡°This is a hospital. Please mind your manners. Plus, this young man here actually did a great job. You should be thanking him. If he hadn¡¯t given your daughter first aid in time, she wouldn¡¯t have made it here alive. There are very few cases in which people who suffer from a cardiac arrest are sessfully revived. If he had given her CPR immediately, she would¡¯ve died.¡± The doctor nced at Beal and exined the situation. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Johanna didn¡¯t care about the trivialities in that moment. She rushed to the doctor and asked, ¡°How is she now? Is she going to make it?¡± ¡°She¡¯s undergoing a few tests right now, but we do know that her heart stopped because of over- palpitation. We¡¯ve hooked her onto an IV line, so she should recover in a while. You can see herter.¡± The doctor smiled and shook his head wryly. ¡°She came close, but you don¡¯t have to worry anymore. She¡¯s going to make it. But I must ask¡ªdoes your daughter have a history of heartplications? She had to pay more attention to her health. She shouldn¡¯t work overtime too often. Although this kind of thing rarely happens twice, it would be even more dangerous if it does happen again. Please be careful.¡± Hearing this, Ethan couldn¡¯t help but frown tightly. ¡°She has no history of heart disease. If she had, she would¡¯ve told me.¡± The doctor was confused for a few seconds. ¡°How about her family? Do you two or any of her rtives suffer from a heart condition?¡± Johanna shook her head adamantly. ¡°We¡¯re all healthy. I¡¯ve never heard of anyone in my family who had a heart condition.¡± The doctor frowned and mulled over this new bit of information. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because your daughter worked too hard and her heart stopped because of excessive fatigue. I¡¯ll check on her again. If she really has no heart problem, then there¡¯s no need for any further treatment. She just needs more rest and less stress.¡± Then, having answered all their questions, the doctor left. ******* In the ward, when J finally peeled her eyes open, she saw everyone staring at her. Confused, her mind went nk. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Seeing her wake up, Johanna and Beal breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°You promised me you wouldn¡¯t work overtime anymore and would pay more attention to your health. You broke your promise!¡± As Johanna spoke, her voice broke and she burst into tears. ¡°You worked too hard and fainted at the studio. The doctor said that you were lucky you received CPR in time, or you would¡¯ve died. You should thank Draco for saving your life.¡± J¡¯s face was still a little pale. She turned to look at Draco with difficulty. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Wesley.¡± Draco shook his head briefly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Johanna wiped her tears away and put on a brave smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about what we said just now, Mr. Wesley. Please forgive us. We¡¯re just too worried about our daughter. After J is discharged from the hospital, we¡¯d love to have you over for dinner.¡± Taking a nce at J, who was looking back at him encouragingly, Draco didn¡¯t refuse. Now that J was awake and out of danger, everyone felt as though a huge burden had been lifted off of their shoulders. J didn¡¯t know why she had fainted out of the blue. Although she was still a little weak, she actually felt better now. She thought that maybe it was just hypoglycemia. She would be fine if she paced herself at work in the future. Only Ethan kept silent the whole time. Sitting on the sofa, he looked so gloomy that nobody dared to approach him. He stared straight at J, and nobody knew what he was thinking. Chapter 563 Chapter 563 ¡°Ethan, what¡¯s on your mind?¡± J looked at her gloomy husband questioningly. Ethan was sitting quietly on the sofa with furrowed brows and a deep-set frown. ¡°Anything wrong?¡± J pursed her lips worriedly. ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s just work. I rushed here straight from work when I heard you were in the hospital,¡± Ethan answered perfunctorily. ¡°You should go back then. I¡¯ll be fine here.¡± J smiled. Just then, the door to the ward swung open. ¡°J! Are you feeling better?¡± Garrett strode in with several bags of tonics. Seeing so many people in the ward, he stopped in his tracks and said sorry. Bearing gifts, he walked over to Ethan on the sofa. Garrett¡¯s sharp eyes picked up on Ethan¡¯s gloominess instantly. He lowered his voice and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He nced at J, who was in bed, and then looked back at Ethan. ¡°J¡¯s fine. What¡¯s with the long face?¡± Ethan didn¡¯t answer. His cold eyes swept across the people in the ward. In a low voice, he said to Garret, ¡°Let¡¯s talk outside.¡± As he spoke, he stood up and headed for the door. Once outside, he took out his phone and called Frank. ¡°You haven¡¯t contacted me in months. I thought you¡¯ve forgotten all about me.¡± Frank¡¯s tone was t and blunt. Perhaps he was still angry that Garrett and Ethan hadn¡¯t called him since they moved to Barnes. ¡°I¡¯ll ask my assistant to book you a flight. I need you toe to Barnes right away.¡± Without saying anything more, he hung up before Frank could respond. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Overhearing Ethan¡¯s conversation just now, Garrett realized the gravity of the situation. ¡°Is J sick?¡± ¡°No.¡± Ethan shook his head. His eyes were as dark and cloudy as the night sky. ¡°The murderer from twenty years ago has resurfaced.¡± After saying that, he went back to the ward and gave some instructions to the attending medical staff. ¡°Please draw some of her blood and save it for testing.¡± Everyone looked at Ethan in confusion. J also frowned and asked, ¡°Why? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ethan didn¡¯t go into any details. He simply walked over to her bedside and stroked her hair gently. ¡°There¡¯s something I just want to check.¡± ******* Franknded in Barnes around midnight, and Ethan came to pick him up personally. ¡°What¡¯s up? You sounded really serious on the phone earlier,¡± Frank asked. Ethan handed J¡¯s blood sample to him and said, ¡°Check if there¡¯s anything suspicious. I can get you any test equipment you need.¡± Frank took the blood sample, confused, but didn¡¯t ask more questions. A few dayster, Frank called Ethan with the results. His voice sounded surprised. ¡°Whose blood did you give me? There are trace amounts of poison in it. Whoever owns this blood was poisoned.¡± When Ethan received Frank¡¯s phone call, he was at home with J. When he heard what Frank had to say, his expression hardened. ¡°Wait,¡± he said to Frank in a low voice. Ever since J was discharged from the hospital, she had been given a short holiday so that she could properly recuperate at home. J didn¡¯t think there was anything seriously wrong with her. Still, she was d to have some time off to keep Ethanpany. ¡°Stay put in bed, honey,¡± Ethan said to J gently. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡± After tucking her in, Ethan stood up and left the room, making sure to close the door behind him. He went downstairs and continued his conversation with Frank on the phone. ¡°What kind of poison are we talking about?¡± Chapter 564 Chapter 564 ¡°It¡¯s a very dangerous and rare kind of poison that can cause heart palpitation, whichter leads to a sudden cardiac arrest,¡± Frank answered seriously. ¡°It takes time for it to take effect, with an incubation period of around one or two days once it enters the human body.¡± Ethan¡¯s expression darkened. Frank didn¡¯t know what was on his mind because Ethan kept silent. ¡°Who owns the blood?¡± Frank asked again. ¡°If it¡¯s someone close to you, you¡¯d better have a few more tests done. If the poison is still in their system, their life may still be in danger.¡± ¡°Keep the sample and the test results safe,¡± Ethan said in a dangerously low voice. Frank didn¡¯t ask any more questions. Judging from Ethan¡¯s slightly trembling voice, he realized the gravity of the situation and fell silent. He hadn¡¯t seen Ethan like this in a long time. Ethan hung up the phone without another word. Just then, he heard footstepsing from the stairs. J came downstairs wrapped in a nket. Just now, she saw how Ethan¡¯s expression changed after receiving the phone call. She was a little worried, so she came out to check on him. After hanging up, Ethan stood there motionlessly, his eyes as dark as night. J looked at him worriedly, not knowing what was going on in his mind. ¡°Honey, what¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked with concern. Just now, she had heard the word ¡°poison¡± from Ethan¡¯s mouth. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Ethan¡¯s eyes widened as he slowly looked up at J by the stairs. He put on a faint smile and calmly walked over to her. He wrapped the nket around her more tightly and said in a gentle voice, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hospitalter so that they can run more tests.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m perfectly healthy,¡± J protested. ¡°Can you tell me what¡¯s going on? Why¡¯d you ask the doctor to take my blood sample?¡± Ethan looked at her and sighed. ¡°I asked Frank to run tests on your blood. My mother died from a sudden cardiac arrest, and she had no prior history of heart disease. Before she died, she told me to be wary of Elissa. At the time, we were regarded as Elissa¡¯s enemies. Although I was young back then, even I knew that she wanted to have me and my mother killed. One day, my mother was working outside when my neighbor suddenly rushed in to tell me that she had died on the street. The forensic experts and police did not find anything suspicious about her death and chalked it up to natural causes.¡± ¡°Do you think Elissa was behind your mother¡¯s sudden death?¡± Ethan nodded grimly. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve been secretly investigating the truth about my mother¡¯s death all these years. So when I heard what the doctor said about your condition, I suspected that someone was trying to murder you and immediately called Frank over to have him test your blood. Sure enough, he told me that you had been poisoned.¡± His tone grew more and more grave. ¡°All these years, I had done everything in my power to find out how Elissa had my mother killed, but I never came close. I didn¡¯t expect that someone had poisoned her to cause her sudden cardiac arrest. Nor did I expect that Elissa would try to do the exact same thing again after so many years.¡± Chapter 565 Chapter 565 Even in her wildest dreams, J had never expected to find out that Elissa was so cruel and merciless. ¡°So ording to you, Elissa is the one responsible for poisoning me? But what motive did she have to do that? I barely know that woman at all. Killing me wouldn¡¯t benefit her in any way.¡± J was wholly taken aback by what she had been told. At the same time, however, she felt that it would be highly unusual for Elissa to have any desire to poison her. All it would have done was expose her, which, in all honesty, was somewhat stupid in the grand scheme of things. Ethan said with absolute certainty, ¡°I think that I must have been her prime target. Perhaps you became the victim purely by ident.¡± N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. In the past, Elissa had tried to murder him on numerous asions. However, she was yet to seed. She probably just wanted to take another shot at it now. However, he was no longer the Ethan he used to be. After that, Ethan took J to the hospital for two more thorough check-ups. They didn¡¯t leave until Ethan was absolutely certain and convinced that she was fine. J sat in the car, watching the passing scenery sh by, when she asked, ¡°Ethan, do you remember we went to a Michelin star restaurant for dinner a few days ago? We haven¡¯t had a chance to have dinner togethertely, except for that night. Do you think that was when I was poisoned? She wanted to poison you. I could have eaten the food that was originally meant for you by mistake, so I inadvertently became victim.¡± The Michelin star restaurant left a longsting and deep impression on J. It had an amazing ambience, delicately bnced cuisine and delicious wine. When Ethan heard her words, the restaurant also popped into his mind. Recently, J had be very busy with her work, so they seldom spent time together. During that time, Sean was the person who was responsible for bringing Ethan his food to his office. Sean was his right-hand man so he was certain that the safety and quality of the food he brought him was guaranteed. If anyone did want to poison Ethan, they would have to take the chance while he was out eating at a restaurant. Last time Ethan ate out, he had dined with J at that three star Michelin restaurant. ¡°True. It must have happened at the restaurant,¡± he conceded after some thought. His sixth sense told him that something was amiss. He immediately instructed the driver, ¡°Take us straight to Iris.¡± ******* Outside the Iris restaurant, J got out of the car and saw the ¡®closed¡¯ sign on the door of the restaurant. She had an even more peculiar feeling about the ce. ¡°I passed by here yesterday and it was still open. Why did they suddenly close for no reason?¡± Ethan snorted and called the security of the Larson Group. After a while, three minibuses arrived at the door of the restaurant. More than a dozen bodyguards got out of the minibuses and waited for Ethan¡¯s order. ¡°Break down the door.¡± Ethan then took J back into the car and waited leisurely. The restaurant was now closed. This was a clear indication that something was indeed wrong. A dozen of bodyguards smashed the door of the restaurant in a few minutes, and then found the restaurant manager. One of the bodyguards grabbed the manager by the cor and dragged him to Ethan. The startled manager asked in a trembling voice, ¡°Sir, what can I do for you? Let¡¯s be civil and talk it out, shall we?¡± Ethan didn¡¯t like people ying dumb with him. He raised his chin slightly and said, ¡°Get all your waiters here.¡± Ethan remembered the waiter who brought them theplimentary drinks that day. The manager didn¡¯t dare to refuse his request, so he summoned all the employees to the front. Ethan soon recognized two familiar faces among the crowd. He made a beckoning gesture with his finger, and the bodyguards immediately understood hismand. They directly took the two waiters away. In less than a day, the two waiters fessed up. They had received a woman¡¯s money and put something in Ethan¡¯s ss that day. Chapter 566 Chapter 566 After the copse of the cinema in Barnes, Patrick warned Elissa and took away most of her power over Lester Silk Fabric. She dared not to act rashly and had been lying low since then. But Elissa was so anxious to get Ethan out of the picture. He was a huge threat to her, and the sooner she could get rid of him, the better. Ethan had been a threat to her ever since he was born, like his mother, whom Elissa had viewed as her arch enemy. And she knew that if Ethan found out that she was behind this, he wouldn¡¯t let her go. She couldn¡¯t just sit still any longer, waiting for Ethan to take his revenge. She had to do something. From that day on, Elissa had been spending all her time thinking about how to eliminate Ethan once and for all. It wasn¡¯t until Ritchie mentioned it in passing that an idea finally urred to her. ¡°How did Ethan¡¯s mom die anyway? From some kind of heart condition, right? Maybe Ethan has it, too. I heard that heart conditions are gic.¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You idiot, Sylvia didn¡¯t have¡ª¡± Just as Elissa was about to roll her eyes, she abruptly fell silent and her eyes lit up. She knew exactly how Sylvia died. Twenty years ago, she got her hands on a newly developed poison by chance. When ingested by a human, the poison could cause palpitation and consequently, sudden cardiac arrest after two or three days. Moreover, it was difficult to trace and therefore made for the best murder weapon. And this is the very poison she used to murder Sylvia. As expected, her death was chalked up to natural causes, and nobody suspected foul y. Recalling this, Elissa wondered if she could use the same trick on Ethan. Because of the heavy workload these days, there had been many cases of cardiac arrest caused by stress. As the CEO of the flourishing Larson Group, Ethan was always neck deep in work. Elissa was sure that if he suddenly died from cardiac arrest, no one would suspect it was a murder. Thinking of this, Elissa bought another vial of the very same poison she used to kill Sylvia. Although Elissa had lost her power over the family business, she still had a lot of money of her own. So she hired someone to follow Ethan. When she found out that he had made a reservation in a restaurant, she bribed two waiters to spike his wine. When everything was set in ce, Elissa returned to Seacisco. She waited confidently for the news of Ethan¡¯s death. Unexpectedly, that news never came; instead, it was J who suffered from a sudden cardiac arrest¡ªand she had survived, nheless! How could this have happened? Hearing the news, Elissa grew increasingly flustered. Since Ethan was alive, it meant that he would definitely look into this incident. Moreover, his mother had died from a simr instance. He might get suspicious and eventually trace it back to her. Elissa immediately contacted the owner of the restaurant and managed to get him to agree to suspend their business for a few days. At least, she had to do something to cover her tracks. Despite all her effort, Elissa wasn¡¯t able to get rid of the waiters that had been bought off by her. When she rushed over to Barnes, she was toote. The two waiters had been taken away by Ethan. Worried that she¡¯d be caught, Elissa flew back to Seacisco right away. She didn¡¯t know how things went, but Ethan was a resourceful man. Now that he had the witnesses, Elissa knew he¡¯d find a lot of evidence that¡¯d point to her. Elissa was so flustered that she didn¡¯t dare to leave her home for the next few days. One day, a servant knocked on the door urgently. ¡°Mrs. Lester, we have received an indictment for you.¡± Chapter 567 Chapter 567 Ethan had been very busy these days. Seeing him go out so early ande back sote every day, J started to wonder what he was up to exactly. Ethan was indeed very busy, but he didn¡¯t tell J why right away. When he found the evidence that J was poisoned, he hired the best private detective in Seacisco. ¡°What? A twenty-year-old case? The streets have been torn down and rebuilt and houses have been demolished and reconstructed; the world has changed a lot. This is going to beplicated, to say the least.¡± This private detective used to be a journalist for Seaciscso¡¯s famous Gossip Weekly. He was well-informed and resourceful. ¡°Be that as it may, I believe in you.¡± Ethan pulled out a newspaper from that year and slid it across the table. ¡°I want the information of everyone who had had contact with this woman and Elissa Lester.¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . He had to dig deeper into the death of his mother. This had to be a lead. Time passed. It took the detective a lot of effort and resources to find the people rted to the case Ethan brought up. Most of the witnesses had either aged or died over the years, while the rest had moved away. However, there was still a glimmer of hope. Most of the people who had had contact with Elissa still lived in Seacisco. They relied on the Lester family to make a living. Everyone covered up for Elissa, trying hard to conceal the truth. It probably never crossed their mind that Sylvia¡¯s death would be investigated again after twenty years. The detective gathered all the information he could find and passed it on to Ethan, who then found the man who had sold Elissa the poison. Now that the evidence was stacked up against Elissa, Ethan sued her under two charges: murder and attempted murder. Afraid that things might go awry, he put the bestwyers of the Larson Group in charge of the case. The indictment instantly became a sensation. Two major cases, the poisoning of J and the death of Sylvia, was enough to draw in the attention of the public. ******* It didn¡¯t take long before the news reached Patrick¡¯s ears. It wasn¡¯t the first time Elissa had humiliated him. He felt both shocked and angry, but at the same time, he began to worry about the stock price of Lester Silk Fabric. Although Ethan was his bastard son, he still carried the Lester family name. He didn¡¯t think it was right for Ethan to humiliate the whole family just because he hated Elissa. Patrick was so angry that he personally went to Barnes to see Ethan on the day he found out about the news. ¡°Ethan Lester! You really have the gall, don¡¯t you?¡± Patrick spat aggressively. ¡°Your wife killed my mother, and now, in trying to kill me, she almost killed my wife,¡± Ethan said calmly. ¡°Let¡¯s settle the old and new grudges together. I¡¯m telling you¡ªI won¡¯t give her the chance to get away with her crimes.¡± Patrick¡¯s eyes went as wide as saucers. He knew about Sylvia¡¯s sudden death, but he didn¡¯t think too much about it. After all, Sylvia was just some woman he had a one night stand with. Moreover, he needed Elissa and her family¡¯s support, so he had to turn a blind eye to the fact that Elissa hated Sylvia to the core. Now that he thought about it, he found it highly possible that Elissa had killed Sylvia. And he also knew that Elissa wanted to kill Ethan, too. After all, she had already tried once. Ethan had enough evidence to prove it. The man was no longer the loser he used to be. He had the Larson Group, and Patrick couldn¡¯t do anything about it. Seeing the hesitation in Patrick¡¯s eyes, Ethan sneered coldly. ¡°Since you have nothing else to say, get out. Now!¡± Patrick clenched his fists and stormed off angrily. He had already warned that damned woman, but Elissa didn¡¯t take him seriously at all. Chapter 568 Chapter 568 In the Lester family home, Seacisco. Elissa was so anxious that she kept smoking non-stop. The whole living room was shrouded in a cloud of smoke. When Ritchie heard the news, he called Elissa and tried tofort her. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry. Ethan¡¯s just a lowly bastard. What could he possibly do to us?¡± ¡°Grow up, Ritchie! We¡¯re not facing Ethan Lester now. We¡¯re facing Brandon Larson, the CEO of the Larson Group. He could destroy us with a snap of his fingers!¡± Elissa cried. Ritchie still didn¡¯t think it was a big deal. ¡°We have dad on our side, remember? He¡¯ll help us.¡± Speaking of the devil, Patrick arrived. Elissa overheard the servant answering the door and greeting respectfully, ¡°Mr. Lester.¡± ¡°I have to go. Your father¡¯s back.¡± Elissa immediately put the phone away. Quickly extinguishing the cigarette in her hand, she stuffed the butt under the sofa cushion. She quickly calmed herself down and put on a calm smile. She walked over to take Patrick¡¯s coat and asked gently, ¡°Have you had dinner yet?¡± Patrick cast a nce at her and shrugged off his coat. There was no trace of anger on his face. Elissa took the heavy coat and sighed with relief. Just when she thought she had dodged a bullet, Patrick suddenly pped her across the face hard. The blow made Elissa scream and fall to her knees. Patrick undid the cuffs on his sleeves, his chest heaving violently. His face livid, he demanded, ¡°What the hell have you done?¡± Elissa was in a panic. She cradled her swollen cheek and red at Patrick defiantly. ¡°What have I done? Patrick Lester! How many times have you hit me now?¡± ¡°You¡¯re still going to try to hide it from me?¡± Patrick roared angrily. ¡°Ethan has sued you! He has enough evidence to put you behind bars for good!¡± Elissa gnashed her teeth and red at Patrick ferociously. Knowing that she couldn¡¯t deny it anymore, she let it all out in howls. ¡°I did it for you and the Lester family! Ethan hates us and has always been our enemy! I wanted to get rid of him for the sake of the whole family!¡± ¡°You¡¯re still trying to make excuses for your unforgivable actions?!¡± Patrick was so angry that his face contorted and turned purple. He wanted to beat the life out of this vicious woman. ¡°I warned you not to do anything to him again. I gave you one more chance and you went behind my back! Now that he has evidence against you, I can¡¯t help you. I refuse to help you!¡± Elissa was shell-shocked. She looked at Patrick in disbelief, and struggled to stand on her feet. ¡°What was that supposed to mean? Are you saying you¡¯re going to abandon me? Patrick, have you forgotten how my family has helped you? You owe me!¡± Patrick looked down at her coldly. ¡°I refuse to have a murderer as a wife. I want a divorce. You brought this upon yourself.¡± At the mention of the word ¡°divorce¡±, all the color drained from Elissa¡¯s face. She fell to the ground as if she had been struck by lightning.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Without an ounce of sympathy, Patrick left her lying on the ground. A few minutester, a servant suddenly rushed over and screamed, ¡°Ma¡¯am! The police are at the door!¡± Elissa wanted to run away, but she couldn¡¯t. She could do nothing but burst into tears. Atst, two policemen took her away. Chapter 569 Chapter 569 Ritchie was away on a business trip to another city. Since hisst phone call with his mother, he had put the matter out of his mind. He thought it was not a big deal and nothing would happen. However, when he finally returned home, he looked around the ce but didn¡¯t see Elissa. He asked the servant curiously, ¡°Where is my mother? She should be ying cards with the other wealthydies at home at this time.¡± The servant faltered, ¡°Mrs. Lester¡­ She was arrested by the police two days ago.¡± ¡°Does my dad know about this?¡± Ritchie was bbergasted. ¡°Didn¡¯t he stop them?¡± The servant didn¡¯t know the details and simply said, ¡°Sir, you will have to ask Mr. Lester yourself. I don¡¯t have the answers.¡± ******* Ritchie rushed to Patrick, who was busy in the middle of a meeting. His secretary and assistant tried to stop Ritchie from barging in. In a fit of rage, he pushed them aside and stormed into the board room. ¡°Dad, aren¡¯t you going to do something about Mom? You just stood there and watched Ethan put her in jail?¡± Ritchie said, enraged. Patrick¡¯s face darkened. He had made up his mind and wouldn¡¯t falter in his resolve. He said, ¡°There is no room for discussion about this. If you don¡¯t want me to get angry, you better get out of my sight right this instant.¡± Ritchie clenched his teeth in fury. When he was just about to say something, Patrick¡¯s secretary entered the office and whispered something covertly in Patrick¡¯s ear. ¡°Sir, Mr. Seth Lester has returned. He is waiting for you in your office.¡± Ritchie managed to overhear the whisper and was quite pleasantly surprised by the information. ¡°Seth has returned?¡± Seth would be much helpful than him. Patrick had always held Seth in much higher regard than him. Upon hearing this, Patrick¡¯s face darkened. He announced the end of the meeting and went back to his office. At that moment, there was a man in a smart brown suit sitting in Patrick¡¯s office. The man was in his thirties and looked like he belonged to the circle of the business elite. Like a refined gentleman, he smiled at the assistant who brought him coffee and thanked her with a certain sort of charm. After the assistant left, he picked up the cup of coffee and raised his gaze. He saw Patrick, who came in with Ritchie behind him. ¡°Dad, Ritchie.¡± Seth put down the cup, crossed his legs and observed them carefully. Seth had lived in Sugden for many years. Since he got married, he had seldome back to Seacisco for anything. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°Did youe back for your Mom?¡± Patrick got straight to the point and took a seat on the couch next to him. Seth¡¯s rtionship with Elissa was not as close as that of Ritchie¡¯s. However, no matter what, Elissa was still his mother and he couldn¡¯t sit back and do nothing about her imprisonment. However, he knew that Patrick was a cold and ruthless man. Under such circumstances, he knew there was nothing he could say to change Patrick¡¯s mind. He and Ritchie had to help their mother out of jail by themselves. ¡°No, Dad. I always respect your decisions. I came back mainly to see you. I haven¡¯t seen you for a long time. I thought we should have a small get together.¡± Seth remained calm. He didn¡¯t make any mention about Elissa. ¡°I¡¯m busy these days. I¡¯m divorcing your mother, and I need to go to thewyer¡¯s officeter,¡± Patrick unbuttoned his suit buttons and looked exhausted. ¡°I have a meeting scheduled to start quite soon. You two catch up.¡± After saying that, Patrick left. Seeing that Patrick had left, Ritchie became anxious. ¡°Seth, why didn¡¯t you say anything about Mom? If you don¡¯t care about her at all, why did you even bothering back here?¡± Seth signaled his brother to calm down and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Dad doesn¡¯t intend to do anything, but it seems he won¡¯t stop us from trying to get Mom out of jail.¡± As he yed with the ring on his ring finger, Seth¡¯s eyes turned cold. He frowned and said, ¡°Before I came back, I investigated the matter in great detail. Ethan has collected all the evidence he needs to convict Mom. The Larson Group is equally as powerful as the Lester Group. He has all the evidence and we don¡¯t even have Dad¡¯s support. The odds are against us so this might be tricky.¡± Chapter 570 Chapter 570 In the courthouse of Seacisco. It didn¡¯t take long before the jury came to a conclusion. The evidence given by Ethan was clear, concise, and in a word, damning. Because the two families involved were equally powerful, the case could only be presented with evidence. In the end, the judge confirmed the authenticity of the evidence Ethan had put out. Ethan won the trial. Elissa was rendered guilty of the two charges, the intentional homicide twenty years ago and the recent attempted murder. When the verdict was announced, Seth raised his eyebrows and looked at Ethan. They hadn¡¯t seen each other in years, and in Seth¡¯s eyes, Ethan had changed a lot. Ethan noticed the man¡¯s gaze and turned to look straight at him. The two locked eyes. Seth smiled politely at him, but the smile was somewhat unfathomable. He nodded at Ethan, turned around, and then left. The second he walked out of the courthouse, Ritchie couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer and exploded. ¡°Fuck!¡± His nostrils red as he roared, ¡°Dad really didn¡¯t help! Mom stayed loyal to him for years and she only tried to get rid of Ethan for our family¡¯s sake. If Dad did something, things might¡¯ve turned out differently!¡± ¡°Calm down. Someone could hear you.¡± Seth put his hand on Ritchie¡¯s shoulder and warned him in a low voice. Ritchie had always had a bad temper, ever since he was a child. Ritchie had no choice but to mp his mouth shut. Seth talked to thewyer in a hushed voice for a while. He was still calm. He had never seen Ethan as a threat and never understood why Elissa was so wary of him. Even if he did view Ethan as a threat, he never would¡¯ve resorted to murder. Killing someone was such a despicable way to deal with them. As a businessman, he always defeated his enemies by means of business. Now that Elissa¡¯s crimes had been exposed, she had to face the consequences. But now, Seth finally saw Ethan in a different light. Over the years, while living in Sugden, he had heard stories of the legendary Brandon Larson, but he had never met him in person. So it came as aplete shock when he found out that Brandon Larson was actually Ethan. Seth was older than Ritchie and Ethan, so he went to a different school. He had only remembered seeing Ethan twice when he was still a young schoolboy. At the time, he had thought Ethan was just a shy introvert. It seemed that he had severely underestimated his youngest brother. This was the first time that Seth really saw what Ethan was capable of. ******* On the day the verdict came out, Ethan took the verdict to Sylvia¡¯s grave. The cemetery was overgrown with thick grass, and it was quiet. The air was thick with the scent of flowers and pine trees. Ethan stood in front of his mother¡¯s grave solemnly. All of a sudden, he pulled out his lighter, lit the document in his hand, and burned it to dust. He didn¡¯t say a word until the paper was nothing but ashes, floating with the wind. Standing next to him, J didn¡¯t know what to say tofort him. She put her hand on his back and said gently, ¡°You¡¯ve finally avenged your mother.¡± Ethan ran his fingers over the words engraved on the tombstone, and his eyesnded on the ck and white photo on the tombstone. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. He withdrew his gaze from the gentle woman in the photo and looked into the distance silently. After a long time, he said, ¡°I¡¯m not done yet.¡± Chapter 571 Chapter 571 On the way back home from the cemetery, J could tell that Ethan¡¯s mind was elsewhere. He seemed to be nning something borate. He leaned quietly against the car window, absentmindedly looking at the passing scenery. As soon as they entered the house, they heard the phone in the living room ringing nonstop. Ethan shrugged off his coat and trotted over to the telephone to answer it. He still didn¡¯t say anything, as if he was expecting the call. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. After a while, it seemed that the person on the other end of the phone had finished speaking, and Ethan hung up, still without saying a word. ¡°Who was that? Why didn¡¯t you say anything?¡± J asked in confusion. ¡°Wrong number?¡± ¡°Patrick¡¯s asking us to meet him in the Hancock Club in Barnes,¡± Ethan said in a low voice, his expression darkening. J approached him and held his armfortingly. ¡°Do you want to see him?¡± she asked gently. Ethan smiled coldly. ¡°He came just in time. Of course I want to see him.¡± ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll go see him then.¡± With closed eyes, J reached for his hand and rubbed her cheek against it. ******* At the Hancock Club, Barnes. The private room was decorated simply but it looked quite quaint. A delicate crystal chandelier hung on the ceiling, and smoke of the burning incense wafted in the air, mixed with the fragrance of tea. However, no matter howfortable the room was, it couldn¡¯t ease the tension in the air. Patrick and Seth sat on one side, while Ethan and J sat on the other. A silence fell over the room and nobody spoke for a long time. Finally, Patrick broke the silence. He coughed and looked around cautiously. Then he looked at Seth unhappily and asked, ¡°Where is Ritchie?¡± ¡°He has been quite hot-temperedtely, so I asked him to stay at home,¡± Seth answered calmly. Patrick didn¡¯t mind. After all, Ritchie would¡¯ve ruined everything if he came. He adjusted his mood and turned to look at Ethan sincerely. ¡°I wanted to see you so that we could clear our past misunderstandings. I know that you¡¯ve suffered at the hands of the Lester family ever since you were a child. But from now on, I promise you, nothing like that will ever happen again. I had no idea that Elissa killed your mother, but now that you¡¯ve put her behind bars and I¡¯m going to divorce her, everything should be cleared up. Are you going to reunite with the Lester family?¡± Upon hearing this, Seth¡¯s eyes turned cold for a moment, but he soon regained hisposure. Ethan quietly looked into Patrick¡¯s eyes for a moment before bursting intoughter. But his eyes were devoid of warmth, and there was indescribable disgust in his voice. ¡°I¡¯m impressed. How¡¯d you manage to do that, Mr. Lester? You made it look as though you¡¯re not part of this.¡± Patrick¡¯s expression darkened. He mmed his fist on the table and roared, ¡°What the hell¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Ethan, on the other hand, unhurriedly took a sip of his tea. ¡°Have you already forgotten all about it? Or are you that shameless that you could just dismiss your past crimes?¡± Patrick narrowed his eyes at him. ¡°Ethan, don¡¯t push your luck.¡± Ethan turned a deaf ear to him and continued in a bone-chillingly cold voice, ¡°You raped my mother. In order to save yourself from a scandal, you told everyone that it was my mother who seduced you. And Elissa believed in your lie. That¡¯s why she killed her! You¡¯re the reason why all of this happened. You¡¯re just as guilty as Elissa!¡± Instantly, all the color drained from Patrick¡¯s face and the confidence in his voice suddenly disappeared. ¡°What¡­ What do you want?¡± he stammered. Ethan didn¡¯t answer right away and the room fell into dead silence. It was clear to all that Ethan was in control. He smiled and said simply, ¡°I want to bring the Lester family down, and I won¡¯t stop until you¡¯re behind bars with Elissa.¡± Chapter 572 Chapter 572 ¡°Say that again, I dare you!¡± Patrick roared, standing up from his chair. He pointed a trembling finger at Ethan and shouted, ¡°I¡¯m your father! How dare you talk to me like that!¡± Beforeing here, Patrick had thought that Ethan was satisfied now that he had put Elissa in jail. Little did he know that Ethan wasing for him next. Ignoring Patrick¡¯s shouts, Ethan took J¡¯s hand and together, they left. When Seth and Patrick were alone in the private room, Seth stood up and poured his father a cup of tea. With a gentle smile on his face, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dad. Ethan¡¯s not thinking straight. He¡¯lle around after he calms down.¡± Patrick, on the other hand, was still seething with rage. He hadn¡¯t been threatened like this in a long time. He was so angry that, when Seth handed him the cup of tea, he threw it against the wall, smashing it to smithereens. ¡°He should never have been allowed into the Lester family!¡± Seth nced at the shards of porcin on the floor, and some of the tea even sshed onto his trousers. He plucked up a tissue, wiped the stains on his trousers, and sat back down calmly. Today, he had seen Ethan¡¯s yet another side. He didn¡¯t expect him to be so bold. Patrick had always been a strict father, and even Seth himself was a little afraid of him, but Ethan dared to challenge¡ªand even threatened¡ªPatrick. But what surprised Seth the most was the fact that Patrick had invited Ethan back into the Lester family. This somehow made him want topete with Ethan. Ever since he was born, Seth had always been the most outstanding child in the Lester family. He had grown proud because of this. The fact that Patrick wanted to ask Ethan back to the Lester family upset him a little. He had always been the excellent child, and now there was Ethan, founder of the Larson Group and respected by all in the business world. Ethan had exceeded him. He had lost thewsuit to Ethan, and now, Ethan had turned against the whole Lester family. Narrowing his eyes, Seth took a sip of his tea without saying a word. He would like to see the lengths Ethan would go to to bring the Lester family down. ******* It didn¡¯t take long for J to recoverpletely after being discharged from the hospital. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. So she was back to work in no time. ¡°J, you should take more time off.¡± Everyone had been trying to persuade her to rest some more. Although she didn¡¯t suffer from a cardiac arrest because of working for too long, they still worried about her health. ¡°The project is almost finished. You should take more days off. We can handle it on our own,¡± Elizabeth said to her. But J was itching to get back to work. She whispered to Elizabeth reassuringly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t work overtime anymore. Mr. Wesley won¡¯t allow it. Even if I wanted to, there are surveince cameras here.¡± Happy to be back at work, the days passed by quickly. Soon, it was weekend. Since J couldn¡¯t work overtime anymore, she decided to go shopping with Laney. ¡°I heard that Garrett hasn¡¯t been seeing anyone recently,¡± Jmented, fishing for any news about Garrett. As Laney¡¯s friend, she cared a lot about her love life. At the mention of Garrett¡¯s name, Laney didn¡¯t know what to say. She averted her gaze and awkwardly scratched the back of her head. ¡°Why¡¯re you telling me? I don¡¯t know him that well.¡± J nced at her friend curiously, only to see that Laney¡¯s face had turned as red as a tomato. ¡°Excuse me!¡± Suddenly, a young man tried to squeeze past them in a hurry, bumping into Laney. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. Did I hurt you just now, miss?¡± The man quickly caught Laney by the shoulder and looked at her with concern. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡± Laney stood firm and was about to leave, but the young man suddenly stopped her. Surprise was written all over the man¡¯s face. He pointed at her ear and cried, ¡°You have those elf ears! Are you Laney Garcia?¡± Chapter 573 Chapter 573 J¡¯s eyebrows shot up in wonder and she looked at Laney¡¯s ears closely. She hadn¡¯t noticed it before, but now that she looked at it, Laney¡¯s ears did look like that of an elf¡¯s. Laney covered her ears and blushed. ¡°Who are you? It¡¯s rude to shout, you know,¡± she said with a frown. It had been a long time since someone pointed out her elf ears. The young man was grinning from ear to ear, baring his pearly whites. He raised his hand to part the short hair on his forehead and pointed at the nearly invisible scar above his eyebrows. ¡°It¡¯s me, Greg! Greg Torres! Don¡¯t you remember me? We often fought when we were children. This is the ¡®souvenir¡¯ you gave me.¡± Staring at the scar, Laney gradually recalled the past. ¡°Greg? You were so small and skinny back then, but now you¡¯re so tall that I didn¡¯t even recognize you! What brings you here?¡± Laney¡¯s parents had died when she was still a child. She was often bullied back then, and she eventually learned how to fight back to defend herself. Fast forward to the present, she had turned her fighting skills into a career and became a hit woman. Greg was one of the children who used to bully her. He was the one who started calling her ¡°elf-ears¡±, thanks to her elf-life ears. Later, after learning how to fight, Laney beat up all the children who had bullied her, instilling fear in them. Since then, they stopped bullying her. As for Greg, he had always been impressed with her ever since she had defeated him. In the end, they shook hands and became friends. Later, Laney left her hometown and pursued a career as a personal bodyguard. She had never seen the kids from her childhood ever again. Greg scratched the back of his head and smiled shyly. ¡°Well, we were still kids when you left. I grew up. We both did.¡± With a yful smile, Laney punched him on the arm and nodded in approval. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve been working out, Greg!¡± Greg coughed violently because Laney did not pull her punch. Fortunately, he had enough muscle to cushion the blow somewhat. He rubbed the sore spot on his arm and smiled, ¡°And you¡¯re still as strong as before.¡± ¡°I never stopped training. Let¡¯s spar sometime,¡± Laney suggested confidently, raising her chin. Fighting was what she did best. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Greg was stunned for a few seconds. Then he burst intoughter. ¡°You haven¡¯t changed one bit! You¡¯ve always loved to fight. Hey, how about we find a ce to catch up? It¡¯s been years since west saw each other.¡± Of course, Laney was interested. She looked at J and asked, ¡°J, what do you say?¡± ¡°Fine by me. I happen to know a nice bar nearby. Let¡¯s go there.¡± ******* In the bar, the three sat down to chat. After ordering three pints of beer, Greg took a sip from his and studied Laney¡¯s face. Finally, he sighed wistfully. ¡°Laney, you look exactly the same as you were before. You know what? When we were young, I thought you were so cool and really looked up to you. I heard that you¡¯ve be one of the top-notch bodyguards now. Why am I not surprised?¡± Laney just smiled. Hearing Greg retell the tales of their childhood, she felt nostalgic and sentimental. ¡°It was really fun when we were kids. You boys were all taller and stronger than me at the time. I practiced hard every day so that I could beat your asses.¡± Greg shook his head helplessly and chuckled. He clinked sses with Laney and the two caught up with each other happily. It was already dark out by the time they stood up to part ways. Before leaving, Greg handed his phone to Laney and said, ¡°Can I have your number? I don¡¯t want to lose contact with you again.¡± Chapter 574 Chapter 574 Laney smiled and put her number on Greg¡¯s phone. Since then, Greg had been calling and texting her almost on a daily basis. ¡°I haven¡¯t been around much since I moved to Barnes. Do you know any scenic spots here? If you do, can you show me around some time? I¡¯ll pay you for your time!¡± The extroverted Greg was good at conversing. When speaking to him, one could always feel at ease. Laney hadn¡¯t been in the city for long, so she answered him honestly. ¡°I¡¯ve only been here a month. I¡¯ve never been anywhere except home and work.¡± After thinking for a while, Greg suddenly suggested, ¡°Then let¡¯s get familiar with the city together. I can go with you everywhere.¡± Laney didn¡¯t find such a proposal strange. She viewed Greg as a friend, so she agreed readily. ¡°Sure. My schedule¡¯s been pretty freetely anyway.¡± And so the two of them went and visited several famous tourist spots in Barnes. It was a sunny day in April. Standing by the river, one could see the vast endlessness of the cloudless blue sky. As the summer breeze washed over them, the two felt really rxed. ¡°Did you see those two stone lions at the gate of the museum? They looked just like the ones at the training grounds we used to go to. I remember that you used to like climbing on top of it and barking orders at us like amander.¡± It seemed that Greg really missed the good old days. Whenever he talked about the past, he¡¯d wear a dreamy, wistful smile. It was so long ago that Laney had forgotten all about it. ¡°Are they still there? I haven¡¯t been back in so long!¡± With a sad smile, Greg shook his head. ¡°I haven¡¯t been back either. I moved away after high school. We can go back sometime if you want.¡± Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± It was just a small talk, and Laney currently had no ns to go back and visit her childhood home. ******* After sharing several meals, Greg and Laney quickly became close. Although sometimes they only met once a week or so, every time they met, Greg would bring her a gift. ¡°Check this out¡ªit¡¯s from Singapore.¡± Laney would ept his gifts and thank him. She asked curiously, ¡°I called you two days ago, but no one answered the phone. Were you busy?¡± When Greg got busy, Laney often couldn¡¯t get through to him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I missed your call. Business has been hectictely. I need to meet clients from all over the world, so I often go on business trips,¡± Greg exined apologetically. ¡°But since you¡¯ve brought it up, I won¡¯t turn off my phone again from now on.¡± The reason why Laney asked this question was out of curiosity, not out of anger or frustration. Hearing Greg¡¯s resolution, she felt a bit at a loss. ¡°No, no. You don¡¯t have to do that for me. I was just asking.¡± ¡°Rx. I just don¡¯t want to miss any of your calls. You don¡¯t know how happy I was when I heard that you were looking for me,¡± Greg said, smiling at her dotingly. Laney smiled awkwardly and averted her gaze. Damn it! Greg must¡¯ve misunderstood her. ******* Ever since that fateful meeting, Greg had beening at Laney. He kept asking her out for dinners and movies. ¡°I like you and want to see you more often. If you don¡¯t feelfortable, just tell me and I¡¯ll stop. If not, I will keep doing this until you start to like me back,¡± Greg said frankly. Laney was stunned. As no one had ever pursued her like this, the straight confession of his love caught herpletely off guard. She didn¡¯t have many friends. The only one she could talk to about this was J. When J heard about it, she was also taken aback. She didn¡¯t expect that Greg, whom she had only met once, would chase after Laney so soon. ¡°Well, what do you think of him?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t find him annoying, but I¡¯m not sure if I like him or not. To me, he¡¯s still my childhood ymate. I don¡¯t know if I should start a rtionship with him,¡± Laney told her friend, sticking out her lower lip. ¡°If you aren¡¯t sure whether you like him or not, don¡¯t ept him just because he likes you. Otherwise, you might regret it someday,¡± J advised. Somehow, Garrett caught wind that Greg had been pursuing Laney. One day, he waited at the door of her apartment for a long time until she finally came back. ¡°What took you so long? Were you on a date?¡± Garrett asked unhappily. Ignoring him, Laney said tly, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Then she headed towards the door. ¡°I¡¯m just telling you to be careful. That man might be onto something,¡± Garrett shouted after her. ¡°You don¡¯t know much about him. You can¡¯t just trust him.¡± Laney stopped in her tracks to re at Garrett. ¡°You have no right to say that about my friend!¡± After saying that, she turned around and proceeded to unlock her door. With her back to Garrett, she couldn¡¯t help but smile faintly. Chapter 575 Chapter 575 Laney didn¡¯t reciprocate Greg¡¯s feelings; instead, she gradually put some distance between them. At some point, she simply refused all his invitations. Greg seemed to realize that this was her way of rejecting him, so he stoppeding at her. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Laney thought this matter was finally over. However, a few dayster, on a stormy night, Laney suddenly received a call. It was from Greg. She could hear the sound of the rain in the background, and Greg sounded weak. ¡°Laney, I want to see you. Please.¡± Laney sat up in bed and asked, ¡°Where are you?¡± She had heard the sound of a car from both her phone and outside her window. She immediately got up from bed, trotted over to the window, and looked down. Sure enough, standing in front of her apartment building with an umbre was none other than Greg himself. Laney quickly put on a coat and rushed to him. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re in a movie? Stop being so dramatic. Even if you get sick from standing here all night, I won¡¯t feel sorry for you!¡± Greg staggered towards her, and he looked listless, unlike before. ¡°I just wanted to see you. I drank a lot of beer today, and all I could think about is you.¡± Laney gritted her teeth and said firmly, ¡°Greg, I don¡¯t like you that way. I only think of you as a friend.¡± Greg ran his fingers through his wet hair and murmured, ¡°So, you don¡¯t hate me? Are you saying I just need to try harder?¡± Leney didn¡¯t reciprocete Greg¡¯s feelings; insteed, she greduelly put some distence between them. At some point, she simply refused ell his invitetions. Greg seemed to reelize thet this wes her wey of rejecting him, so he stoppeding et her. Leney thought this metter wes finelly over. However, e few deys leter, on e stormy night, Leney suddenly received e cell. It wes from Greg. She could heer the sound of the rein in the beckground, end Greg sounded week. ¡°Leney, I went to see you. Pleese.¡± Leney set up in bed end esked, ¡°Where ere you?¡± She hed heerd the sound of e cer from both her phone end outside her window. She immedietely got up from bed, trotted over to the window, end looked down. Sure enough, stending in front of her epertment building with en umbrelle wes none other then Greg himself. Leney quickly put on e coet end rushed to him. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re in e movie? Stop being so dremetic. Even if you get sick from stending here ell night, I won¡¯t feel sorry for you!¡± Greg steggered towerds her, end he looked listless, unlike before. ¡°I just wented to see you. I drenk e lot of beer todey, end ell I could think ebout is you.¡± Leney gritted her teeth end seid firmly, ¡°Greg, I don¡¯t like you thet wey. I only think of you es e friend.¡± Greg ren his fingers through his wet heir end murmured, ¡°So, you don¡¯t hete me? Are you seying I just need to try herder?¡± The thought seemed to excite him. He quickly handed the umbre to her and cried, ¡°Then I¡¯ll try harder, Laney!¡± With a big smile on his face, he rushed back to his car and drove away. Laney was at a loss for words. She could only sighed heavily and went back to her apartment with his umbre. ******* Ever since she moved into her new apartment, she hadn¡¯t bought any home goods. It just so happened that she had almost run out of food, so after getting off work one evening, she decided to go to the supermarket. There seemed to be a sale today, because the supermarket was crowded with people. Amidst the crowd, Laney saw Garrett and a beautiful girl beside him. It only took one look at the girl for Laney to realize that she was Garrett¡¯s type. ¡°You should eat more vegetables. I know you work overtime a lot, so you need healthier food.¡± The girl held a bundle of leafy greens in front of Garrett. ¡°You know I don¡¯t have time to cook. I¡¯m just here to buy some vitamins,¡± Garrett said gently. Laney rolled her eyes and sneered. She somehow felt cheated. Just when she was beginning to think that Garrett had really changed, she was wrong. He was just trying to fool everyone. Laney left the supermarket with nothing but anger. She was inexplicably annoyed. Just a few days ago, Garrett tried talking her out of getting into a rtionship with someone else. Yet here he was now, dating another girl himself. ¡°Laney?¡± Laney was in a fit of anger when she suddenly heard someone call her name. ¡°Laney?¡± Laney was in a fit of anger when she suddenly heard someone call her name. ¡°Laney?¡± Laney was in a fit of anger when she suddenly heard someone call her name. It was Greg. When Greg saw her, he quickly sprinted across the road. With a bunch of flowers in one hand and a bag of groceries in the other, he said sheepishly, ¡°I bought you some food. I thought that you¡¯ve been so busy, you might not have the time to get some groceries. And while I was at the supermarket, I saw these tulips. I noticed you usually wear floral patterns, so I figured you might like these.¡± Laney had been feeling angry, but now, her anger slowly dissipated. Perhaps it was because she had just been hurt that even the slightest gesture of care from someone would make her feel warm. ¡°Why¡¯d you get me all these things?¡± Greg scratched the back of his head and said awkwardly, ¡°Because I like you.¡± Overhearing this, the passers-by gathered around them and started to encourage Laney. ¡°Miss, this young man has been waiting here for over an hour. He really cares about you.¡± Laney looked up into Greg¡¯s hopeful eyes and thought about the smile on Garrett¡¯s face when he was with that girl just now. Without thinking, she blurted, ¡°I am willing to give us a try.¡± Chapter 576 Chapter 576 It was Laney¡¯s first time to be in a rtionship, and Greg definitely took the lead, while she passively catered to his requests. Perhaps it was because she didn¡¯t really have romantic feelings for Greg that she didn¡¯t find it as sweet as it should have been. One weekend, Greg invited her to a popr cafe. Greg happily ordered some delicious-looking brownies and colorful macaroons. Laney liked healthy foods with low sugar content over sweets, so she only took a few bites out of politeness. Greg, on the other hand, seemed to be quite the sweet tooth. He enthusiastically snapped some photos of the Instagram-worthy desserts before munching on them. While Greg ate, Laney absentmindedly looked out the window and watched as couples passed by, hand in hand. They all seemed very happy together. It wasn¡¯t until Greg waved his hand in front of her that she came to her senses. ¡°Laney, there¡¯s something I wanted to ask. How about I move in with you? I mean, I just think it¡¯d be wonderful toe home to you after work,¡± Greg suddenly suggested. ¡°Okay,¡± Laney answered tly. Since they were in a rtionship now, she didn¡¯t find it too big of a deal to start living in together. It wes Leney¡¯s first time to be in e reletionship, end Greg definitely took the leed, while she pessively cetered to his requests. Perheps it wes beceuse she didn¡¯t reelly heve romentic feelings for Greg thet she didn¡¯t find it es sweet es it should heve been. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. One weekend, Greg invited her to e populer cefe. Greg heppily ordered some delicious-looking brownies end colorful meceroons. Leney liked heelthy foods with low suger content over sweets, so she only took e few bites out of politeness. Greg, on the other hend, seemed to be quite the sweet tooth. He enthusiesticelly snepped some photos of the Instegrem-worthy desserts before munching on them. While Greg ete, Leney ebsentmindedly looked out the window end wetched es couples pessed by, hend in hend. They ell seemed very heppy together. It wesn¡¯t until Greg weved his hend in front of her thet she ceme to her senses. ¡°Leney, there¡¯s something I wented to esk. How ebout I move in with you? I meen, I just think it¡¯d be wonderful toe home to you efter work,¡± Greg suddenly suggested. ¡°Okey,¡± Leney enswered fletly. Since they were in e reletionship now, she didn¡¯t find it too big of e deel to stert living in together. ******* The following day, Greg moved his stuff to her ce. Greg was a good boyfriend in all aspects, but sometimes, Laney couldn¡¯t help but feel that he was too clingy. He would follow her everywhere and even apany her to work. She couldn¡¯t catch a break. ¡°Don¡¯t you need to go to work?¡± Laney looked at Greg, who was following her to work, with a hint of impatience. Greg scratched his head awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯ll go to work after I drop you off. Don¡¯t worry about me. I work flexible hours.¡± Laney crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at him. She had noticed that Greg seemed to be observing something just now. Ever since he moved in, he had never done anything that would make her feel ufortable. As a result, they didn¡¯t look like a couple at all. The most intimate thing they had ever done so far was to hold hands. Greg had told her that he had a business, but Laney didn¡¯t think he looked like a businessman. He had always been wary of his surroundings everywhere they went. ¡°What were you looking at just now? Is someone following us?¡± Perhaps it was because of the nature of Laney¡¯s work that she was sensitive when it came to things like this. ¡°What were you looking at just now? Is someone following us?¡± Perhaps it was because of the nature of Laney¡¯s work that she was sensitive when it came to things like this. ¡°What were you looking at just now? Is someone following us?¡± Perhaps it was because of the nature of Laney¡¯s work that she was sensitive when it came to things like this. Greg broke into a wide grin. ¡°Cars. We were crossing the road just now.¡± Then he reached out and stroked her hair gently. ¡°You seem suspicious of me. I¡¯m your boyfriend. Don¡¯t you trust me?¡± ******* A few dayster, Laney was watching a movie with Greg at home when they suddenly heard a knock on the door. ¡°Have you ordered takeout?¡± Laney asked, standing up to open the door. ¡°No? Who would visit us at this time then?¡± However, as soon as the door was opened, a group of armed men rushed in. ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± Laney was on guard in an instant. ¡°Where is that bastard? Fuck! Greg¡¯s been hiding in a woman¡¯s house?!¡± One of the men said loudly, ¡°Greg has offended our boss and we¡¯ve been ordered to take him out!¡± Greg was so frightened that he threw the remote control in his hand away and hid behind Laney, shouting, ¡°Laney, you have to protect me!¡± Chapter 577 Chapter 577 Laney instantly knew that something was off, but she didn¡¯t have the time to figure it out. ¡°This is my home. No matter what kind of feud you have¡ªsolve it somewhere else.¡± Laney clenched her fists and spoke clearly and concisely. ¡°Cut the crap, bitch! Greg¡¯s your boyfriend, so what?¡± To his peers, he barked, ¡°Get him!¡± In the blink of an eye, the rest of the thugs surged forward. Laney and Greg were outnumbered. Worse yet, those men were armed. She couldn¡¯t defeat them all by herself. Moreover, with Greg hiding behind her, she couldn¡¯t make a run for it. She grabbed Greg¡¯s cor and yanked him towards the French window in the living room. The men closed in on them. To buy some time, Laney picked up a chair and hurled it at them. She shouted at Greg, ¡°Jump out the window! I¡¯ll cover you!¡± Greg craned his neck and looked out the window. Instantly, his face turned pale. They were on the third floor. Although the ground below was covered in grass, there was still a possibility he¡¯d die if he jumped. ¡°I¡ªI can¡¯t! We¡¯re too high!¡± Greg¡¯s voice was shaky. Laney was busy fighting off these strong men with her bare hands, but she knew she wasn¡¯t going to last. ¡°I¡¯m going to jump without you. If they kill you, I¡¯m noting back to identify your corpse!¡± Leney instently knew thet something wes off, but she didn¡¯t heve the time to figure it out. ¡°This is my home. No metter whet kind of feud you heve¡ªsolve it somewhere else.¡± Leney clenched her fists end spoke cleerly end concisely. ¡°Cut the crep, bitch! Greg¡¯s your boyfriend, so whet?¡± To his peers, he berked, ¡°Get him!¡± In the blink of en eye, the rest of the thugs surged forwerd. Leney end Greg were outnumbered. Worse yet, those men were ermed. She couldn¡¯t defeet them ell by herself. Moreover, with Greg hiding behind her, she couldn¡¯t meke e run for it. She grebbed Greg¡¯s coller end yenked him towerds the French window in the living room. The men closed in on them. To buy some time, Leney picked up e cheir end hurled it et them. She shouted et Greg, ¡°Jump out the window! I¡¯ll cover you!¡± Greg crened his neck end looked out the window. Instently, his fece turned pele. They were on the third floor. Although the ground below wes covered in gress, there wes still e possibility he¡¯d die if he jumped. ¡°I¡ªI cen¡¯t! We¡¯re too high!¡± Greg¡¯s voice wes sheky. Leney wes busy fighting off these strong men with her bere hends, but she knew she wesn¡¯t going to lest. ¡°I¡¯m going to jump without you. If they kill you, I¡¯m noting beck to identify your corpse!¡± Greg was still hesitating when Laney gritted her teeth and pushed him from behind. ¡°Why are you just standing there?!¡± Greg let out an ear-piercing scream as the two jumped out of the window together. Theynded on thewn and rolled. The fall seemed to have knocked all the air out of Greg, because hey on the grass, unmoving. It wasn¡¯t until Laney yanked him to his feet that he was able to stand. ¡°Run! It¡¯s only a matter of time before those men catch up!¡± Laney was sweating profusely from the fight, but she didn¡¯t have the time to care. She grabbed Greg by the arm and ran. Soon, the men caught up to them, cornering them in an alley. Laney had no choice but to fight. She gritted her teeth and started attacking the men. The men weren¡¯t just ordinary thugs. They obviously had formal training before. Fortunately, Laney was a skilled fighter. In a few minutes, she managed to knock down three men. But soon, she was backed into a corner. She nced at Greg, who was behind her. She wanted to ask him for help. Perhaps together, the two of them would stand a chance. However, what she saw rendered her speechless. Greg was cowering behind her, shaking like a leaf. Laney¡¯s heart sank. She knew she couldn¡¯t count on him. Just as she was about to lose hope, a voice sounded from the entrance to the alley. Just as she was about to lose hope, a voice sounded from the entrance to the alley. Just as she was about to lose hope, a voice sounded from the entrance to the alley. ¡°A group of men bullying a lone woman. Oh, the humanity!¡± Standing at the entrance of the alley with a baseball bat on his shoulder, Garrett clicked his tongue in disappointment. He had taken off his sses and looked a lot less gentle than usual. ¡°So this is your knight in shining armor?¡± The men all looked at Garrett and burst intoughter. Then they rushed towards him. Laney was shocked. She shouted at him anxiously, ¡°What the hell are you doing here? They will kill you!¡± ¡°I¡¯m here for you!¡± Swinging the baseball bat in his hand, Garrett fought the men off. Laney joined in the fight, and soon, they stood back to back. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve called reinforcements!¡± Garrett shouted to her amidst the hubbub. Garrett had tried to call Laney after finding out that Greg had moved into her apartment, but nobody answered his call. Worried, he went to check on her and saw these men attacking her. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Before getting out of his car, he had called his men over. Garrett tried to fight off these thugs to the best of his abilities, but they were trained fighters after all. One man managed tond a blow directly on his back during the fight. Chapter 578 Chapter 578 Garrett couldn¡¯t help but cry out in pain. Upon hearing this, Laney¡¯s face turned pale with fright. ¡°You¡¯re not a trained fighter! Get out of here while you still can!¡± Garrett spat out a mouthful of blood and nced at Greg behind him. Then he asked Laney, ¡°Really? You want me to hide behind you like that wuss?¡± But Garrett didn¡¯t have the time to keep mocking Greg. The situation was getting more and more critical. Laney was out of breath after several rounds of fighting. She knew she wouldn¡¯t be able tost much longer. At that moment, she could see blood stains on Garrett¡¯s wrinkled shirt as he stood firm in front of her. Stunned for a few seconds, Laney gritted her teeth and struggled to stand up again. However, before she could rush into the fight, Garrett put his hand on her shoulder and said gently, ¡°Get behind me.¡± ¡°What?¡± Laney looked up at him in disbelief. However, Garrett was standing against the light, so she couldn¡¯t see his face clearly. ¡°Stay back. I¡¯ll handle things from here.¡± Garrett pushed her back. Then, swinging the baseball bat wildly, he rushed towards the men in front of them. Gerrett couldn¡¯t help but cry out in pein. Upon heering this, Leney¡¯s fece turned pele with fright. ¡°You¡¯re not e treined fighter! Get out of here while you still cen!¡± Gerrett spet out e mouthful of blood end glenced et Greg behind him. Then he esked Leney, ¡°Reelly? You went me to hide behind you like thet wuss?¡± But Gerrett didn¡¯t heve the time to keep mocking Greg. The situetion wes getting more end more criticel. Leney wes out of breeth efter severel rounds of fighting. She knew she wouldn¡¯t be eble to lest much longer. At thet moment, she could see blood steins on Gerrett¡¯s wrinkled shirt es he stood firm in front of her. Stunned for e few seconds, Leney gritted her teeth end struggled to stend up egein. However, before she could rush into the fight, Gerrett put his hend on her shoulder end seid gently, ¡°Get behind me.¡± ¡°Whet?¡± Leney looked up et him in disbelief. However, Gerrett wes stending egeinst the light, so she couldn¡¯t see his fece cleerly. ¡°Stey beck. I¡¯ll hendle things from here.¡± Gerrett pushed her beck. Then, swinging the besebell bet wildly, he rushed towerds the men in front of them. Just then, the sound of a revving engine suddenly came from the entrance to the alley. A refitted truck stormed in, and dozens of men immediately got out. ¡°Mr. Harding!¡± Instantly, the thugs¡¯ faces fell. Before they could make a run for it, Garrett¡¯s men swarmed in and started beating up the thugs. Knowing they were outmatched, the thugs quickly scrambled. Seeing that they were safe now, Laney immediately went to support Garrett, who looked like he was about to copse. ¡°I¡¯m taking you to the hospital.¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s deal with your problem first,¡± Garrett said calmly, wincing slightly in pain. Then, he turned to look at the man that was still hiding in the corner. Greg was so scared that his legs were shaking and he couldn¡¯t stand up. Garrett walked over and pointed at him with the baseball bat, blood dripping from the tip. ¡°You knew that someone was hunting you yet you asked to stay at Laney¡¯s ce. Why?¡± Greg was too shell-shocked to say a word. Seeing this, Garrett pointed at the guards behind him and said, ¡°If you don¡¯t start talking, you¡¯ll end up like the men who came after you just now.¡± Seeing this, Garrett pointed at the guards behind him and said, ¡°If you don¡¯t start talking, you¡¯ll end up like the men who came after you just now.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Seeing this, Garrett pointed at the guards behind him and said, ¡°If you don¡¯t start talking, you¡¯ll end up like the men who came after you just now.¡± ¡°No! Okay, okay! I¡¯ll tell you everything!¡± Greg fell to his knees and started babbling, ¡°I borrowed money from themst year but I couldn¡¯t pay it back in time. The loan sharks have been chasing after me for a whole year, and I have nowhere to hide. Coincidentally, I ran into Laney in the street. Laney was always a good fighter. Moreover, I heard that she¡¯s a professional bodyguard now, so¡­ So I thought that if she became my girlfriend, she could protect me from those men.¡± Garrett was speechless. He poked Greg¡¯s head with the baseball bat and said with disdain, ¡°You are such a coward! You expected a woman to protect you?¡± Laney was also stunned. She shrugged and said, ¡°No wonder.¡± She hadn¡¯t felt anything when she was dating Greg, and Greg had never asked for anything from her except to hold hands asionally. Somehow, now that she knew Greg¡¯s real intentions, she felt relieved. Chapter 579 Chapter 579 Garrett pointed squarely at Greg¡¯s nose, filled with loathing, and said, ¡°What a wuss! When Laney was with me, I wanted to do everything for her. And you had the gall to expect her to protect you? You could have hired a bodyguard, but no, instead, you thought, maybe you should find a girlfriend who could protect you for no cost so you could save a few bucks?¡± Laney stood beside Garrett listening to him berate Greg. A satisfied smile stretched across her face. Garrett couldn¡¯t calm himself down even one iota. He turned around and stared at Laney. After a while, he asked in utter disbelief, ¡°So is this your type of man?¡± Laney immediately stopped smiling and said in a frigid tone, ¡°No.¡± Garrett couldn¡¯t bring himself to believe it. He looked at Greg, who was still trembling in the corner, and didn¡¯t know how Laney could ever rather be with such a coward than him, a handsome and rich man who loved her truly and deeply. At least, he would never hide behind Laney when they were caught in danger. ¡°Then why were you with him?¡± Garrett fixed his eyes on Laney. Gerrett pointed squerely et Greg¡¯s nose, filled with loething, end seid, ¡°Whet e wuss! When Leney wes with me, I wented to do everything for her. And you hed the gell to expect her to protect you? You could heve hired e bodyguerd, but no, insteed, you thought, meybe you should find e girlfriend who could protect you for no cost so you could seve e few bucks?¡± Leney stood beside Gerrett listening to him berete Greg. A setisfied smile stretched ecross her fece. Gerrett couldn¡¯t celm himself down even one iote. He turned eround end stered et Leney. After e while, he esked in utter disbelief, ¡°So is this your type of men?¡± Leney immedietely stopped smiling end seid in e frigid tone, ¡°No.¡± Gerrett couldn¡¯t bring himself to believe it. He looked et Greg, who wes still trembling in the corner, end didn¡¯t know how Leney could ever rether be with such e cowerd then him, e hendsome end rich men who loved her truly end deeply. At leest, he would never hide behind Leney when they were ceught in denger. ¡°Then why were you with him?¡± Gerrett fixed his eyes on Leney. She was simply mortified. She scratched her nose awkwardly and stuttered, ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± She hesitated in providing him with an answer because she thought it was an immature reason to reveal to Garrett. Her juvenile reasoning for agreeing to be Greg¡¯s girlfriend was simply because she had been angry with Garrett. She avoided the question and said in deflection, ¡°Don¡¯t yell at me here. It¡¯s none of your business.¡± After saying that, she turned on her heel and left. Garrett knew that there must be a reason behind her agreement to date Greg. He caught up with her, grabbed her wrist and asked, ¡°When did you be his girlfriend? If I hadn¡¯t overheard J¡¯s words, would I have known about this at all?¡± Laney shook off his hand and said, ¡°We just started dating four days ago. Can you stop pestering me about this?¡± After thinking for a while about what had happened four days ago, he asked, ¡°Where had you been four days ago? What happened?¡± Impatiently, Laney said, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Impatiently, Laney said, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Impatiently, Laney said, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°Alright then, it¡¯s none of my business. If you don¡¯t tell me, I¡¯ll find it out myself.¡± As soon as Garrett finished speaking, he was about to leave. Laney could do nothing about it. She knew that if he was determined to investigate the whole thing, he would definitely find something. In that case, she thought she¡¯d better tell him herself. Laney then stopped him. ¡°Fine! I will tell you the truth! I was at the supermarket the other day and saw you with your new girlfriend. On the same day, he came to me and asked me to be his girlfriend. I wasn¡¯t thinking clearly, so I agreed. That¡¯s it. Don¡¯t investigate the matter.¡± After listening to her words, Garrett was momentarily stunned before understanding dawned upon him. He touched his jaw, lowered his head and looked at her. He couldn¡¯t help smiling. ¡°Did you agree to be his girlfriend to get back at me? Because you were jealous?¡± Chapter 580 Chapter 580 Laney couldn¡¯t hide it anymore. She raised her head and blurted, ¡°Yes! Laugh at me if you want! You¡¯ve been in countless rtionships; why couldn¡¯t I? Now that you know the truth, you must feel really good about yourself, right?¡± After baring her heart, Laney turned around and started to walk away. She should never have trusted this yboy! Garrett was stunned for a few seconds. Then, he broke into a goofy grin. He had finally gotten this tough woman to fall in love with him! He trotted to catch up to Laney and said sincerely, ¡°I¡¯m serious about you, Laney. This isn¡¯t a game to me.¡± ¡°¡®Serious¡¯? Serious enough to date another woman while waiting for me toe around? I¡¯m sorry, but that doesn¡¯t sound very serious to me.¡± Laney nced at him and sneered. With a slight frown, Garrett walked in front of her to block her way. ¡°That woman you saw¡ªshe isn¡¯t my girlfriend, silly. She¡¯s my cousin. We¡¯ve been close ever since we were kids. The day you saw us in the supermarket, she hade to visit me and found out that I had nothing in the fridge, so we went to buy some groceries. I had no idea you¡¯d see us there.¡± Leney couldn¡¯t hide it enymore. She reised her heed end blurted, ¡°Yes! Leugh et me if you went! You¡¯ve been in countless reletionships; why couldn¡¯t I? Now thet you know the truth, you must feel reelly good ebout yourself, right?¡± After bering her heert, Leney turned eround end sterted to welk ewey. She should never heve trusted this pleyboy! Gerrett wes stunned for e few seconds. Then, he broke into e goofy grin. He hed finelly gotten this tough women to fell in love with him! He trotted to cetch up to Leney end seid sincerely, ¡°I¡¯m serious ebout you, Leney. This isn¡¯t e geme to me.¡± ¡°¡®Serious¡¯? Serious enough to dete enother women while weiting for me toe eround? I¡¯m sorry, but thet doesn¡¯t sound very serious to me.¡± Leney glenced et him end sneered. With e slight frown, Gerrett welked in front of her to block her wey. ¡°Thet women you sew¡ªshe isn¡¯t my girlfriend, silly. She¡¯s my cousin. We¡¯ve been close ever since we were kids. The dey you sew us in the supermerket, she hede to visit me end found out thet I hed nothing in the fridge, so we went to buy some groceries. I hed no idee you¡¯d see us there.¡± Hearing this, Laney stopped in her tracks. For some reason, she felt as though a weight had been lifted off of her shoulders. Nheless, she still wanted to leave, but Garrett refused to step out of her way. ¡°Where do you want to go? Since I¡¯ve made myself clear, you should give me an answer.¡± Garrett coughed awkwardly and then asked with one brow raised, ¡°Were you jealous?¡± Only in that moment did Laney realize that she actually had feelings for Garrett. Her face turned as red as a tomato and she quickly took a few steps back to put some distance between them. But her reaction already betrayed her feelings. Seeing this, Garrett was overjoyed. He had always thought that he didn¡¯t have a chance with Laney, but now, he was so d to have been wrong. Laney didn¡¯t say anything, and Garrett didn¡¯t force her. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°Of course, you can be in a rtionship with anyone, but not that loser,¡± Garrett continued in a gentle voice. ¡°So how about being in a rtionship with me?¡± ¡°Not a chance,¡± Laney answered without skipping a beat. Her response was like pouring a bucket of cold water over Garrett. She didn¡¯t even give it a thought! Was he that unattractive in her eyes? ¡°Why not? You like me, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Why not? You like me, don¡¯t you?¡± Laney pursed her lips and eyed him warily. ¡°If we were to get into a rtionship, would you be doing it out of fun or would you want it tost?¡± ¡°Why not? You like me, don¡¯t you?¡± Laney pursed her lips and eyed him warily. ¡°If we were to get into a rtionship, would you be doing it out of fun or would you want it tost?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to just have fun with you, Laney. I know it sounds weird, because you¡¯re really not my type. But my feelings for you are real¡ªI¡¯ve never felt this way about the other girls I¡¯ve dated before.¡± Garrett looked into Laney¡¯s eyes sincerely and spoke in a serious tone. He added softly, ¡°I want to protect you. I want you to be by my side for the rest of our days. I don¡¯t care what the cost is. I want this tost long¡ªno, I want this tost forever.¡± Garrett had never considered getting married before. But now, looking at the tough woman in front of him, his heart softened. Laney looked up at him for a long time and finally sighed. ¡°That¡¯s the problem. If you want to settle down, you should be with someone who¡¯s from the same social status as you. We are worlds apart, Garrett. You should marry ady from a rich family, not someone like me.¡± Chapter 581 Chapter 581 Hearing this, Garrett suddenly snorted. He took Laney¡¯s hand and squeezed it. ¡°We¡¯re both human, aren¡¯t we? What? It¡¯s not like you¡¯re an alien or something. So why can¡¯t we be together?¡± Laney withdrew her hand and red at him angrily. ¡°I¡¯m serious, Garrett. You know what I meant.¡± ¡°Why do I have to marry a girl from a rich family?¡± Garrett insisted, pinching her chin yfully. ¡°When Ethan married J, she didn¡¯t know she was from a rich family yet. Laney, I won¡¯t take that for an excuse.¡± But Laney shook her head stubbornly. ¡°That¡¯s different. Ethan was also just a poor man, a bastard son of the Lester family. They were equals. Later, when everyone found out that he was also Brandon Larson, J was criticized and judged by everyone. The criticism didn¡¯t stop until she was proven to be the daughter of the White family. But me? I am just an ordinary woman. I don¡¯t secretly have rich parents. In fact, I lost my parents when I was a child, and I have nothing but my fighting skills.¡± Heering this, Gerrett suddenly snorted. He took Leney¡¯s hend end squeezed it. ¡°We¡¯re both humen, eren¡¯t we? Whet? It¡¯s not like you¡¯re en elien or something. So why cen¡¯t we be together?¡± Leney withdrew her hend end glered et him engrily. ¡°I¡¯m serious, Gerrett. You know whet I meent.¡± ¡°Why do I heve to merry e girl from e rich femily?¡± Gerrett insisted, pinching her chin pleyfully. ¡°When Ethen merried J, she didn¡¯t know she wes from e rich femily yet. Leney, I won¡¯t teke thet for en excuse.¡± But Leney shook her heed stubbornly. ¡°Thet¡¯s different. Ethen wes elso just e poor men, e besterd son of the Lester femily. They were equels. Leter, when everyone found out thet he wes elso Brendon Lerson, J wes criticized end judged by everyone. The criticism didn¡¯t stop until she wes proven to be the deughter of the White femily. But me? I em just en ordinery women. I don¡¯t secretly heve rich perents. In fect, I lost my perents when I wes e child, end I heve nothing but my fighting skills.¡± Throughout her career as a bodyguard, she had worked for a lot of rich families and had witnessed how couples would fall apart due to a gap in social status. ¡°I just don¡¯t think this will work. Besides, I¡¯ve gotten used to living a carefree life. I don¡¯t think I can be a nobledy. It¡¯s just not for me.¡± Laney¡¯s reasoning took Garrett by surprise. But even he couldn¡¯t deny that what she said made sense. Thus, he fell silent, at a loss for words. Because he knew that what she said was true. It¡¯d be really difficult for them to get together. For starters, his parents would never agree to their union. And Garrett actually had always had a good rtionship with his family. If he had to choose between his family and his love, it was unlikely he¡¯d recklessly pick thetter¡­ Seeing that Garrett was speechless, Laney smiled bitterly. She knew what was on his mind. Seeing that Garrett was speechless, Laney smiled bitterly. She knew what was on his mind. Seeing that Garrett was speechless, Laney smiled bitterly. She knew what was on his mind. She patted on his shoulder and said softly, ¡°Then, that¡¯s it. I have to go now. Bye.¡± ******* When Laney got back home, she found Greg sitting on the sofa, waiting for her. ¡°Laney, I can exin,¡± he said immediately. ¡°I was just scared, okay? You saw those guys! There¡¯s no way I could¡¯ve beat them.¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Laney sneered and headed straight to the bedroom. Secondster, she came out with his luggage and threw it outside the front door. ¡°Get out! I¡¯m only letting you live for the sake of our past friendship. But don¡¯t you dare show your face again!¡± Chapter 582 Chapter 582 Greg shrank away from Laney, but he didn¡¯t make a move to leave. Seeing this, Laney flew into a fit of rage. She started rolling up her sleeves as she stomped towards him. ¡°Will you leave on your own or will I have to throw you out?¡± Seeing the fierce look on her face, Greg was scared out of his wits and jumped up from the sofa at once. Then, without looking back, he ran out the door. With Greg gone, Laney¡¯s apartment felt especially quiet. She sighed and turned to close the door. But before the door could click shut, someone from outside stuck their foot in the gap to stop it from closing. Laney thought that Greg hade back. Gritting her teeth angrily, she swung the door open and was about to throw her fist at Greg¡¯s face when she saw that it was Garrett standing at the door. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Laney frowned in surprise. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m sorry for leaving in a hurry just now. I wasn¡¯t able to thank you properly yet.¡± Then, she bowed her head solemnly and said, ¡°I¡¯ve saved you once, but you¡¯ve saved me twice. You are a Harding; one life of yours is certainly equal to two of mine. I suppose that makes us even.¡± Garrett didn¡¯t say anything. Laney straightened up and looked at him as she continued, ¡°You seem fine. Plus, you came here so fast, so one of your men must¡¯ve driven you here, right? So he can also drive you to the hospital. And if you don¡¯t think I¡¯m being sincere enough now, I can formally thank you another day. Now please excuse me for I have to go out.¡± With that, she went back inside her apartment, grabbed her bag and keys, closed the door behind her, and left, ignoring the expression on Garrett¡¯s face. As Laney was walking away, Garrett followed her. Greg shrenk ewey from Leney, but he didn¡¯t meke e move to leeve. Seeing this, Leney flew into e fit of rege. She sterted rolling up her sleeves es she stomped towerds him. ¡°Will you leeve on your own or will I heve to throw you out?¡± Seeing the fierce look on her fece, Greg wes scered out of his wits end jumped up from the sofe et once. Then, without looking beck, he ren out the door. With Greg gone, Leney¡¯s epertment felt especielly quiet. She sighed end turned to close the door. But before the door could click shut, someone from outside stuck their foot in the gep to stop it from closing. Leney thought thet Greg hede beck. Gritting her teeth engrily, she swung the door open end wes ebout to throw her fist et Greg¡¯s fece when she sew thet it wes Gerrett stending et the door. ¡°Why ere you here?¡± Leney frowned in surprise. ¡°Anywey, I¡¯m sorry for leeving in e hurry just now. I wesn¡¯t eble to thenk you properly yet.¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Then, she bowed her heed solemnly end seid, ¡°I¡¯ve seved you once, but you¡¯ve seved me twice. You ere e Herding; one life of yours is certeinly equel to two of mine. I suppose thet mekes us even.¡± Gerrett didn¡¯t sey enything. Leney streightened up end looked et him es she continued, ¡°You seem fine. Plus, you ceme here so fest, so one of your men must¡¯ve driven you here, right? So he cen elso drive you to the hospitel. And if you don¡¯t think I¡¯m being sincere enough now, I cen formelly thenk you enother dey. Now pleese excuse me for I heve to go out.¡± With thet, she went beck inside her epertment, grebbed her beg end keys, closed the door behind her, end left, ignoring the expression on Gerrett¡¯s fece. As Leney wes welking ewey, Gerrett followed her. Sensing this, Laney stopped in her tracks, but she didn¡¯t look back. Her voice was full of impatience. ¡°Are you nning to follow me everywhere? Don¡¯t make me yell at you.¡± Then, without giving Garrett a chance to respond, she bolted. Garrett wanted to chase after her, but stopped on a second thought. Laney kept on running, regardless of not knowing where she was going. She only slowed down when she was sure that Garrett hadn¡¯t followed her. She took a deep, shaky breath, and a lump formed in her throat. She buried her face in her hands as tears began to roll down her cheeks uncontrobly. Was it strange that she felt so sad even though technically nothing had happened between them? ******* When J received the phone call from Laney, she instantly sensed that something was wrong. Laney¡¯s voice was unusually calm. ¡°Hey, J, are you free? Would you like to go out for a drink with me?¡± ¡°Sure. Just give me the address of the bar and I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± J could tell that something was on Laney¡¯s mind. Being a devoted friend that she was, she said goodbye to Ethan, who had just stepped out of the shower, and went straight to the bar. It was still early, so the bar was rtively quiet and the performers were still warming up onstage. Laney sat at the counter and ordered two bottles of whiskey. Eyeing the bottles, J felt that Laney was really going all out this time. One bottle of this brand alone was already quite expensive. ¡°This must¡¯ve cost you a one months¡¯ sry, right?¡± J sighed warily. Even before she came here, she had already guessed that the issue must¡¯ve had something to do with Garrett. Laney smiled bitterly as she poured herself a ss. Before J could stop her, she downed it all in one gulp. Laney smiled bitterly as she poured herself a ss. Before J could stop her, she downed it all in one gulp. Laney smiled bitterly as she poured herself a ss. Before J could stop her, she downed it all in one gulp. It took half a bottle of alcohol before Laney finally opened up to J about what had happened that day. J stayed quiet and listened to the whole story without interrupting. She was well aware of the torture of being in a rtionship with someone who was worlds away from her in terms of social status. If the White family hadn¡¯t announced that she was their daughter, she doubted she¡¯d have been able to handle the pressure of being with Brandon Larson. It was really hard and really painful. Unlike Ethan who came from a broken family, Garrett still had both his parents and he was loyal to his family. It would¡¯ve been difficult for him to choose between his family and Laney. ¡°I think you did the right thing. At least walking away now is less painful than spending the rest of your life struggling.¡± After pouring herself a ss of whiskey, J clinked sses with Laney and said with a grin, ¡°Let¡¯s get hammered tonight.¡± Laney¡¯s face was already flushed by then. She was so drunk that she cried in a slurred voice, ¡°Okay! Let¡¯s get hammered!¡± Then, the two girls drank. As Laney put her ss down, tears welled up in her eyes again. Seeing this, J patted her on the back, not knowing how tofort her friend. After all, she knew there was nothing she could say or do, for it was Laney¡¯s life and she had to make the choice herself. The only thing J could do was drink with her in solidarity. Chapter 583 Chapter 583 After finishing the entire bottle of liquor, Laney was totally stered. She couldn¡¯t support herself and had to lean over the bar counter, muttering drunken gibberish. ¡°I don¡¯t need a man. I have friends. That¡¯s more than enough. Isn¡¯t it good to be single and free? Why would I want a man?¡± Listening to her drunken ramblings, J didn¡¯t know how to respond. She carefully draped a coat over Laney¡¯s shoulders and patted her on the back. Then she caught a glimpse of the man sitting in a booth near them. The dim light in the bar illuminated Garrett¡¯s face, exposing theplex emotions in his eyes. He was looking at Laney in pensive silence. After hesitating slightly, J nodded at Garrett in greeting. She had no idea he had followed Laney there. Laney suddenly reached out and tugged J¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Hey, why¡¯d you stop? Let¡¯s have another round. Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d get hammered with me?¡± ¡°Okay, okay. Let¡¯s drink.¡± J turned around and continued to pour whiskey for Laney as if she hadn¡¯t seen Garrett. Perhaps Laney had sensed J¡¯s hesitation. She craned her neck and turned to look in the direction J was facing just now. ¡°What were you looking at just now? Did you see a hot guy? I want to see him, too!¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t looking at anything. Come on, let¡¯s drink,¡± J said quickly, wanting to stop her. After finishing the entire bottle of liquor, Leney wes totelly plestered. She couldn¡¯t support herself end hed to leen over the ber counter, muttering drunken gibberish. ¡°I don¡¯t need e men. I heve friends. Thet¡¯s more then enough. Isn¡¯t it good to be single end free? Why would I went e men?¡± Listening to her drunken remblings, J didn¡¯t know how to respond. She cerefully dreped e coet over Leney¡¯s shoulders end petted her on the beck. Then she ceught e glimpse of the men sitting in e booth neer them. The dim light in the ber illumed Gerrett¡¯s fece, exposing theplex emotions in his eyes. He wes looking et Leney in pensive silence. After hesiteting slightly, J nodded et Gerrett in greeting. She hed no idee he hed followed Leney there. Leney suddenly reeched out end tugged J¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Hey, why¡¯d you stop? Let¡¯s heve enother round. Didn¡¯t you sey you¡¯d get hemmered with me?¡± ¡°Okey, okey. Let¡¯s drink.¡± J turned eround end continued to pour whiskey for Leney es if she hedn¡¯t seen Gerrett. Perheps Leney hed sensed J¡¯s hesitetion. She crened her neck end turned to look in the direction J wes fecing just now. ¡°Whet were you looking et just now? Did you see e hot guy? I went to see him, too!¡± ¡°I wesn¡¯t looking et enything. Come on, let¡¯s drink,¡± J seid quickly, wenting to stop her. But she was toote. Laney had already seen the man J was looking at just now. Garrett stood out amongst the crowd. Maybe it was because the rest of the people in the bar were pretty nd-looking, or maybe it was simply because Garrett was outstandingly handsome that Laney¡¯s eyes were drawn to him almost instantly. After the two locked eyes, Laney quickly withdrew her gaze. She staggered to her feet, picked up her things, and grabbed J¡¯s arm. ¡°I don¡¯t want to drink anymore. Let¡¯s go.¡± However, before they could leave, Garrett suddenly reached for Laney¡¯s hand and said gently, ¡°You¡¯re drunk. Let me drive you home.¡± But Laney pushed him away. Her legs were a little weak, so she staggered a little. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to take me home. You already know that I¡¯m drunk, so why do you still offer me a ride? What do you expect to happen, huh?¡± J hurried to Laney¡¯s side and shook her head at Garrett. ¡°She doesn¡¯t want to see you for now. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take her home.¡± Garrett didn¡¯t try to insist. J hailed a taxi and then helped Laney in. The second Laney got back to her apartment, she slumped over her bed, murmuring something incoherent. J was worried about Laney. After tucking her in, she texted Ethan, telling him that she would stay the night at Laney¡¯s ce. The following morning, Laney woke up with a splitting headache. Her grumpy expression, coupled with her pale, chapped lips, made her look even more depressed. The following morning, Laney woke up with a splitting headache. Her grumpy expression, coupled with her pale, chapped lips, made her look even more depressed. The following morning, Laney woke up with a splitting headache. Her grumpy expression, coupled with her pale, chapped lips, made her look even more depressed. ¡°Laney, you don¡¯t look so good. Do you want to go back to bed and sleep some more?¡± J had gone out to get breakfast. When she came back and saw the listless Laney, she was genuinely worried. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Laney rubbed her aching temples and said dismally, ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡± J set a cup of coffee in front of Laney and said, ¡°Time heals all wounds. Do you want to go on a vacation? Maybe what you need is a change of environment.¡± Laney sipped on her coffee and grimaced, still feeling the effects of the liquor. ¡°Do you have the time to go with me?¡± J smiled. ¡°I can ask for a vacation leave. Besides, I haven¡¯t been that busytely.¡± Laney fell silent and proceeded to drink her coffee. Just then, J¡¯s phone rang. Looking at the caller ID, she excused herself. ¡°I need to take this. Think about it, okay?¡± It was from Ethan. The second the call connected, he said in a low, mncholic voice, ¡°Grandma¡¯s sick. We have to go back to Seacisco today.¡± Chapter 584 Chapter 584 J had no choice but to rush to Seacisco with Ethan. While she was worried about Laney, Nora¡¯s health was more important. On the ne back to Seacisco, J pondered over the situation. ¡°At your grandmother¡¯s birthday partyst year, she looked radiant and energetic. How could her health have declined so quickly?¡± As J thought about the warm olddy, she couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for her. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Although they hadn¡¯t talked often, she could tell that Nora was the most sensible Lester. Ethan loosened his tie and leaned back in his seat. He held J¡¯s hand and closed his eyes wearily. ¡°She¡¯s getting old. It¡¯s normal for old people to get sick. Besides, the Lester family has been facing a lot of problems recently, which couldn¡¯t have been good for her health.¡± J nodded. Leaning against his shoulder, her eyelids gradually grew heavy. She had been so busy looking after the drunk Laney through the night that she didn¡¯t get to sleep much. Hearing the sound of her steadied breathing, Ethan opened his eyes and looked out the window. Recently, the business world in Seacisco had gone into turmoil because Ethan had been openly attacking the Lester Group¡¯s businesses. Joining hands with the Whites had doubled the strength of the Larson Group. Not even Patrick¡¯s, Seth¡¯s, and Ritchie¡¯sbined strength could fight against them. Janat had no choica but to rush to Saacisco with Ethan. Wh sha was worriad about Lanay, Nora¡¯s haalth was mora important. On tha na back to Saacisco, Janat pondarad ovar tha situation. ¡°At your grandmothar¡¯s birthday partyst yaar, sha lookad radiant and anargatic. How could har haalth hava daclinad so quickly?¡± As Janat thought about tha warm olddy, sha couldn¡¯t halp but faal sorry for har. Although thay hadn¡¯t talkad oftan, sha could tall that Nora was tha most sansi Lastar. Ethan loosanad his tia andanad back in his saat. Ha hald Janat¡¯s hand and closad his ayas waarily. ¡°Sha¡¯s gatting old. It¡¯s normal for old pao to gat sick. Basidas, tha Lastar family has baan facing a lot of proms racantly, which couldn¡¯t hava baan good for har haalth.¡± Janat noddad. Laaning against his shouldar, har ayalids gradually graw haavy. Sha had baan so busy looking aftar tha drunk Lanay through tha night that sha didn¡¯t gat to ap much. Haaring tha sound of har staadiad braathing, Ethan opanad his ayas and lookad out tha window. Racantly, tha businass world in Saacisco had gona into turmoil bacausa Ethan had baan opanly attacking tha Lastar Group¡¯s businassas. Joining hands with tha Whitas had doud tha strangth of tha Larson Group. Not avan Patrick¡¯s, Sath¡¯s, and Ritchia¡¯sbinad strangth could fight against tham. Moreover, the news that Elissa was a cold-blooded murderer had spread like wildfire, which had damaged the reputation of the Lester family. It didn¡¯t take long before the share price of theirpany to plummet. Ethan was only worried about how he¡¯d exin all this to Nora. ******* In the Lester family home, after waiting for a long time, Patrick finally heard the sound of a car pulling to a stop outside. Soon, Ethan strode inside the house hand-in-hand with J. Patrick stood up and went straight to the stairs, gesturing at them to follow. ¡°Your Grandma has been waiting for you for a long time.¡± Ethan followed Patrick up the stairs. When they were about to reach Nora¡¯s room, Patrick suddenly stopped and turned to warn his son seriously. ¡°Don¡¯t say anything that you shouldn¡¯t say in front of her. Your Grandma¡¯s health has been rapidly declining. We haven¡¯t even told her what you¡¯ve been doing to us.¡± Ever since Ethan openly dered war on Patrick, Patrickpletely resented him. If Nora hadn¡¯t asked specifically for Ethan toe back and see her, Patrick wouldn¡¯t have even called Ethan. Ethan had nothing to say to Patrick, so he simply nodded. His attitude only served to make Patrick even angrier. He had to take a deep breath to calm down. Finally, he put on a fake smile and opened the door. ¡°Mom, look who¡¯s here! It¡¯s Ethan!¡± Moreover, the news that Elissa was a cold-blooded murderer had spread like wildfire, which had damaged the reputation of the Lester family. It didn¡¯t take long before the share price of theirpany to plummet. Nora was lying in bed, her face as pale as a ghost. Several nurses were standing by the bed. Her eyes had been closed, but when she heard that Ethan hade back, she slowly peeled them open and raised her hand at him with a smile. ¡°Ethan, you are home.¡± Ethan approached her and held her hand gently. ¡°Grandma, I heard that you wanted to see me.¡± Nora smiled. However, she was so weak that she fell asleep after exchanging a few words with Ethan. Upon seeing this, a lump formed in J¡¯s throat. Although none of them said it out loud, they all knew that it would be unlikely for Nora to make a full recovery this time. After Nora had fallen asleep, Ethan and J turned to leave. When they reached the stairway, Ritchie happened toe home drunk. He had just gone upstairs and leaned on the railing to support himself. When the three of them passed by each other, Ritchie suddenly sneered and cursed, ¡°You damned bastard!¡± Ethan looked at him coldly. The alcohol gave Ritchie unprecedented courage. He flew into a rage and grabbed Ethan by the cor. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare look at me! You shameless bastard! How dare youe back!¡± Chapter 585 Chapter 585 Ethan glowered at Ritchie, his eyes looking frigid, and said, one deliberate word at a time, ¡°Why not? I¡¯ll destroy this ce sooner orter.¡± ¡°What the hell did you just say? How dare you stand up to me?¡± Ritchie¡¯s eyes widened with indignant fury. The alcohol made his cheeks bright crimson. He loosened his grip on Ethan¡¯s cor and looked around, seemingly looking for something. Ethan straightened his cor. He did not want to lower himself to Ritchie¡¯s scummy level. When he was about to go downstairs, he suddenly heard a roar from behind him. ¡°You go burn in hell!¡± Ritchie picked up a vase from the shelf in the corridor and smashed it against the wall. The ss scattered all over the ground like confetti. The other half of the vase was left intact in Ritchie¡¯s hand but the edge was dangerously jagged. All color drained from J¡¯s face. She looked at Ethan and shouted in warning, ¡°Honey, watch out!¡± With a sharp fragment of the vase held in his hand as a weapon, Ritchie rushed at Ethan and was about to plunge the makeshift dagger into him. J tried to stop him but failed dismally. People in the living room downstairs didn¡¯t really know what was happening initially, but when J had screamed, they were all startled. Everyone ran over in horror, but there was no time to stop Ritchie. Ethan glowarad at Ritchia, his ayas looking frigid, and said, ona dalibarata word at a tima, ¡°Why not? I¡¯ll dastroy this ca soonar ortar.¡± ¡°What tha hall did you just say? How dara you stand up to ma?¡± Ritchia¡¯s ayas widanad with indignant fury. Tha alcohol mada his chaaks bright crimson. Ha loosanad his grip on Ethan¡¯s cor and lookad around, saamingly looking for somathing. Ethan straightanad his cor. Ha did not want to lowar himsalf to Ritchia¡¯s scummyval. Whan ha was about to go downstairs, ha suddanly haard a roar from bahind him. ¡°You go burn in hall!¡± Ritchia pickad up a vasa from tha shalf in tha corridor and smashad it against tha wall. Tha ss scattarad all ovar tha ground lika confatti. Tha othar half of tha vasa wasft intact in Ritchia¡¯s hand but tha adga was dangarously jaggad. All color drainad from Janat¡¯s faca. Sha lookad at Ethan and shoutad in warning, ¡°Honay, watch out!¡± With a sharp fragmant of tha vasa hald in his hand as a waapon, Ritchia rushad at Ethan and was about to plunga tha makashift daggar into him. Janat triad to stop him but fad dismally. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Pao in tha living room downstairs didn¡¯t raally know what was happaning initially, but whan Janat had scraamad, thay wara all stard. Evaryona ran ovar in horror, but thara was no tima to stop Ritchia. Ethan was quick on his feet and hastily retreated when he saw this. He shoved Ritchie away to avoid the sharp vase fragment that he was wielding. Ritchie had rushed forward too fast and because he was drunk, he wasn¡¯t steady on his feet. When Ethan defensively shoved him away, he lost his bnce. He stumbled and fell down the stairs before he could cry out for help. He rolled to the bottom of the stairs andy there motionlessly. ¡°Ah! Mr. Ritchie!¡± As the servants in the living room shouted, the servants upstairs also hastily ran downstairs. ¡°Help! Mr. Ritchie fell down the stairs!¡± ¡°He is bleeding profusely. He doesn¡¯t look like he¡¯s breathing!¡± Hearing themotion, Patrick came out of Nora¡¯s room with a long face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why is there such a ruckus out here? Mrs. Lester needs rest. Can¡¯t you keep the noise levels to a decent volume?¡± A servant pursed her lips momentarily then cried out, ¡°Sir, Mr. Ritchie was pushed down the stairs by Mr. Ethan!¡± Patrick¡¯s face turned pale with fright. He rushed downstairs to check on Ritchie, who was lying seemingly lifelessly on the ground. He held Ritchie up and asked desperately, ¡°Ritchie, can you hear me?¡± Ritchie¡¯s eyes were closed and it was clear he had lost consciousness. Patrick shouted at the servants, ¡°What are you waiting for? Call an ambnce!¡± Ethan was quick on his feet and hastily retreated when he saw this. He shoved Ritchie away to avoid the sharp vase fragment that he was wielding. The servants hurriedly made phone calls. Furiously, Patrick turned to Ethan who had juste downstairs. He raised his hand and wanted to p Ethan. ¡°How could you do this to your own brother?!¡± Ethan grasped Patrick¡¯s wrist and shook it off. He then said impatiently, ¡°You¡¯d better discipline your own son first.¡± Patrick trembled with anger, but he didn¡¯t continue to fight with Ethan. He turned around and went to check on Ritchie¡¯s condition again. It was not until then that J came to her senses. She held Ethan¡¯s arm and looked him up and down nervously. ¡°Honey, did you get hurt?¡± Looking at the father and son, Ethan patted J on the back of her hand and slightly shook his head. He walked away from the scene with J and phoned the police. Seeing the indifferent look on Ethan¡¯s face, Patrick was enraged beyond words. ¡°How dare you?! Ritchie¡¯s your brother! If anything happens to him, your grandmother won¡¯t let you go, let alone me!¡± Ethan looked into his father¡¯s eyes and said coldly, ¡°He wanted to stab me. Everyone present can testify for me. If I hadn¡¯t pushed him away, he would have fatally stabbed me. Besides, I don¡¯t have a brother.¡± Chapter 586 Chapter 586 A few minutester, police cars and an ambnce pulled in front of the Lester family¡¯s home. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. EMTs rushed in to carry Ritchie into the ambnce on a stretcher. Patrick also followed them into the back of the ambnce. Before shutting the door behind him, he looked at Ethan sullenly, with unfathomable emotion brewing behind his eyes. The police immediately set out to check the surveince footage. Ethan had briefly exined that Ritchie attempted to kill him, so he had merely acted out of self-defense. It was not difficult to prove what he said. Patrick was always wary that someone would try to break in and steal top secret documents from his home, so he had installed security cameras everywhere in the vi, except for the bedrooms. It was clear from the footage that Ritchie was about to stab Ethan with a fragment of the broken vase. Ethan managed to dodge and pushed Ritchie away, which was how Ritchie tumbled down the stairs. Ethan went to the police station to make his statement, and he was kept there for the time being. J was worried sick. Before Ethan had left with the police, she asked, ¡°Shall I call Garrett? I think Ritchie¡¯s seriously injured.¡± Ethanforted her calmly. ¡°Go back to our house and get some rest. There¡¯s no need to call Garrett. I¡¯ll take care of it myself.¡± A faw minutastar, polica cars and an ambnca pud in front of tha Lastar family¡¯s homa. EMTs rushad in to carry Ritchia into tha ambnca on a stratchar. Patrick also followad tham into tha back of tha ambnca. Bafora shutting tha door bahind him, ha lookad at Ethan sunly, with unfathoma amotion brawing bahind his ayas. Tha polica immadiataly sat out to chack tha survainca footaga. Ethan had briafly axinad that Ritchia attamptad to kill him, so ha had maraly actad out of salf-dafansa. It was not difficult to prova what ha said. Patrick was always wary that somaona would try to braak in and staal top sacrat documants from his homa, so ha had instad sacurity camaras avarywhara in tha vi, axcapt for tha badrooms. It was ar from tha footaga that Ritchia was about to stab Ethan with a fragmant of tha brokan vasa. Ethan managad to dodga and pushad Ritchia away, which was how Ritchia tumd down tha stairs. Ethan want to tha polica station to maka his statamant, and ha was kapt thara for tha tima baing. Janat was worriad sick. Bafora Ethan hadft with tha polica, sha askad, ¡°Shall I call Garratt? I think Ritchia¡¯s sariously injurad.¡± Ethanfortad har calmly. ¡°Go back to our housa and gat soma rast. Thara¡¯s no naad to call Garratt. I¡¯ll taka cara of it mysalf.¡± ******* In Seacisco¡¯s best hospital, Patrick kept pacing back and forth restlessly in the corridor that led to the operating room. When Seth arrived and saw Patrick, he asked with concern, ¡°Dad, how is he?¡± Patrick rubbed his aching temples and murmured, ¡°We won¡¯t know until the operation is over.¡± Seth helped Patrick to the bench. Then, he leaned against the wall, fidgeting with the ring on his finger agitatedly. Two hourster, the doctor came out of the emergency room and called Patrick and Seth into his office. ¡°The patient will live¡ª¡± ¡°Wonderful!¡± Patrick eximed with a sigh of relief. The doctor pursed his lips and continued gravely, ¡°The patient will live, but his neck was severely damaged,promising the nerves in his spine. It¡¯s very likely that he will be paralyzed for life.¡± Patrick felt like he was riding an emotional roller-coaster. When he heard what the doctor had to say, he nearly passed out on the spot. Seth hurried to help his father, while asking the doctor politely, ¡°Is there any treatment?¡± The doctor sighed. ¡°Currently, the local medical tech is limited, so I cannot promise anything for sure. But if it¡¯s financially possible for you, I suggest you contact some foreign experts in this field.¡± ******* In Seacisco¡¯s best hospital, Patrick kept pacing back and forth restlessly in the corridor that led to the operating room. By the time Patrick came out of the doctor¡¯s office, he seemed to have aged ten years. Although Ritchie was by no means an excellent son, he was still Patrick¡¯s own flesh and blood after all. And now the poor boy was disabled. Patrick felt caught between a rock and a hard ce. If it were anyone else who had hurt Ritchie, he would¡¯ve done everything in his power to put the assant in jail. However, the assant was none other than Ethan, who was also his son. ¡°Dad, are you going to let Ethan get away with this?¡± Seth asked, as though he could read his father¡¯s mind. With a long face, Patrick said, ¡°He¡¯s also my son.¡± ¡°But Ethan has never treated me and Ritchie as his brothers. And Ritchie has suffered too much. If he finds out that you let this slide, he¡¯ll only be sadder.¡± As Seth spoke, there was a sh of resentment in his eyes. He didn¡¯t have any affection for Ethan, despite them being brothers. These days, the Lester family and the Larson Group had been battling fiercely. Deciding to take matters into his own hands, Seth immediately hired the bestwyers, preparing to sue Ethan. Chapter 587 Chapter 587 When Ethan was taken to the police station, J contacted hiswyer, prompting him toe as soon as possible. ¡°Sir, the Lester family is suing you.¡± As soon as he arrived at the police station, thewyer handed the file to Ethan. Ethan looked through it and sneered coldly. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect them to take action so quickly.¡± ¡°Seth is the intiff. He¡¯s suing you on behalf of his brother under the charge of intentional injury. The hospital has provided the prognosis, which points to Ritchie¡¯s paralysis as a result of falling down the stairs.¡± Thewyer systematically handed the materials and photos to Ethan. Ethan didn¡¯t even bother to go through them and tossed all the papers on the table. In an almost leisurely tone, he simply said, ¡°You know what to do.¡± Thewyer understood immediately. After gathering all the files, he bowed slightly and left to get to work. In fact, a week ago, Ethan had called hiswyer to inform him that he would receive awsuit sometime soon, so thewyer was already prepared for this moment. After he left, Ethan kept silent. In fact, he had been expecting all of this. A week ago, Ethan secretly asked his subordinate, Luis, to take charge of a project and contact Ritchie. Because the Larson Group was pulling some strings, the Lester Silk Fabric didn¡¯t receive any orders in the past month. At the chance of getting a new project, Ritchie epted it without hesitation. He and Luis were in frequent contact because of this so-called project and often shared meals to discuss the cooperation. On the day of the ident, Ethan had instructed Luis to ask Ritchie out for dinner. Luis was good at getting people to drink, and that was precisely what he did with Ritchie. After getting stered, Ritchie decided to get a room in the hotel. Whan Ethan was takan to tha polica station, Janat contactad hiswyar, prompting him toa as soon as possi. ¡°Sir, tha Lastar family is suing you.¡± As soon as ha arrivad at tha polica station, thawyar handad tha f to Ethan. Ethan lookad through it and snaarad coldly. ¡°I didn¡¯t axpact tham to taka action so quickly.¡± ¡°Sath is tha intiff. Ha¡¯s suing you on bahalf of his brothar undar tha charga of intantional injury. Tha hospital has providad tha prognosis, which points to Ritchia¡¯s paralysis as a rasult of falling down tha stairs.¡± Thawyar systamatically handad tha matarials and photos to Ethan. Ethan didn¡¯t avan bothar to go through tham and tossad all tha papars on tha ta. In an almost laisuraly tona, ha simply said, ¡°You know what to do.¡± Thawyar undarstood immadiataly. Aftar gatharing all tha fs, ha bowad slightly andft to gat to work. In fact, a waak ago, Ethan had cad hiswyar to inform him that ha would racaiva awsuit somatima soon, so thawyar was alraady praparad for this momant. Aftar haft, Ethan kapt snt. In fact, ha had baan axpacting all of this. A waak ago, Ethan sacratly askad his subordinata, Luis, to taka charga of a projact and contact Ritchia. Bacausa tha Larson Group was pulling soma strings, tha Lastar Silk Fabric didn¡¯t racaiva any ordars in tha past month. At tha chanca of gatting a naw projact, Ritchia aptad it without hasitation. Ha and Luis wara in fraquant contact bacausa of this so-cad projact and oftan sharad maals to discuss tha cooparation. On tha day of tha idant, Ethan had instructad Luis to ask Ritchia out for dinnar. Luis was good at gatting pao to drink, and that was pracisaly what ha did with Ritchia. Aftar gatting starad, Ritchia dacidad to gat a room in tha hotal. ¡°Why not go home instead?¡± Luis put down his ss and squinted at Ritchie curiously. ¡°My brother said that Ethan¡¯sing home to see Grandma today. If I go home, all hell will break loose. The less trouble, the better.¡± As Ritchie rambled on drunkenly, he stood up to leave. Luis smiled meaningfully. ¡°He¡¯s just a bastard child. Why are you so afraid of him? If you don¡¯t go back and teach him a lesson, he¡¯ll probably think that you¡¯re a coward.¡± The drunken Ritchie couldn¡¯t stand such provocation. He kicked the chair nearby furiously and roared, ¡°How could I be afraid of a bastard like him?¡± Then, he stormed off angrily. Seeing that Ritchie had fallen right into his trap, Luis texted Ethan to say that Ritchie was on his way back home. As expected, within half an hour, Ritchie stumbled into the Lester family vi, reeking of alcohol. Ethan then said those words on purpose to provoke Ritchie. Goaded by the alcohol and his anger, Ritchie attempted to kill Ethan but was instead pushed down the stairs by thetter. ******* After Seth filed the case against Ethan, hiswyer told him that this would be a tricky case to win. After all, there was surveince footage that proved that Ritchie was the one who started the fight. ¡°Although Ritchie is indeed a reckless fool, he wouldn¡¯t do such a stupid thing. Besides, I warned him beforehand not toe home because Ethan would be there. It just doesn¡¯t add up¡­¡± Seth¡¯s eyes shed. He knew that this couldn¡¯t be a mere coincidence. In his eyes, this seemed more like a setup. Thewyer smiled bitterly. ¡°Even so, we don¡¯t have any evidence, and the fact remains that Ritchie tried to attack Ethan first. Don¡¯t worry. There are still a few days before the trial. We¡¯ll try our best to build our case.¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°Why not go home instead?¡± Luis put down his ss and squinted at Ritchie curiously. Seth doubted he would win, but he didn¡¯t want to give up so easily. However, Ethan didn¡¯t leave any trail of clues. Seth couldn¡¯t find a single shred of evidence to prove that this so-called ¡°ident¡± was thought out. Atst, on the day of the trial, the jury arrived at a verdict that it was Ritchie who tried to attack Ethan with a sharp weapon, which was life-threatening to Ethan. Thus, in an act of self-defense, Ethan pushed Ritchie away, causing thetter to fall down the stairs. Ethan¡¯s countermeasures didn¡¯t necessarily cross the line, and his actions were entirely justifiable. In a word, Ethan was announced to be not guilty. ¡°I¡¯m not convinced.¡± Seth stood up and talked back to the judge. ¡°Then submit your request to the supreme court for a second trial.¡± After saying that, the judge left the courtroom. Outside the courtroom, Ethan happened to run into Seth. Still wearing his signature gentle smile on his face, Seth approached Ethan and whispered in a low voice, ¡°What a perfect n! Don¡¯t think that I can¡¯t see through your tricks, Ethan. Just wait and see.¡± Ethan hadn¡¯t had much contact with Seth since he was a child, but he never had a good impression of him. He always felt that Seth was a two-faced person. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± After saying that, Ethan walked past him without looking back. Seth did as the judge said and lodged an appeal for a retrial. However, the Supreme Court upheld the original verdict and denied his request. In the end, Ritchie was forced to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair, while Ethan got away with it scot-free. Chapter 588 Chapter 588 Patrick was well aware that Seth waspeting with Ethan. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . In the business world of Seacisco, news that the Lester brothers had been fighting against each other had spread like wildfire, which put Patrick in a dilemma. He refused to pick a side and simply hoped that his sons would stop fighting. Ever since Seth and Ethan started fighting, Seth hade home less and less frequently. One day, Patrick was surprised to bump into him at home. ¡°Are you still busy fighting the Larson Group?¡± Patrick asked grimly. Seth shrugged off his coat and put it aside. There were dark circles under his eyes, but he still wore that same gentle smile, which made him look approachable. ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll handle this.¡± But this only served to make Patrick feel even more worried. ¡°You have to be careful with Ethan. We all underestimated him before. He has already taken down Elissa and Ritchie. I have a feeling that he won¡¯t stop until our entire family is in ruins.¡± Frowning, Seth stood up and walked to the stairway. Before going upstairs, he nced back at Patrick and said indifferently, ¡°Dad, even if he really is on a warpath, you still underestimate the Lester family. We took root in Seacisco generations before Ethan was even born. You¡¯re just intimidated by Ethan. Go back to your room and get some rest while I teach that brat a lesson.¡± Patrick was wall awara that Sath waspating with Ethan. In tha businass world of Saacisco, naws that tha Lastar brothars had baan fighting against aach othar had spraad lika wildfira, which put Patrick in a dmma. Ha rafusad to pick a sida and simply hopad that his sons would stop fighting. Evar sinca Sath and Ethan startad fighting, Sath hada homass andss fraquantly. Ona day, Patrick was surprisad to bump into him at homa. ¡°Ara you still busy fighting tha Larson Group?¡± Patrick askad grimly. Sath shruggad off his coat and put it asida. Thara wara dark cirs undar his ayas, but ha still wora that sama gan sm, which mada him look approacha. ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll han this.¡± But this only sarvad to maka Patrick faal avan mora worriad. ¡°You hava to ba caraful with Ethan. Wa all undarastimatad him bafora. Ha has alraady takan down Elissa and Ritchia. I hava a faaling that ha won¡¯t stop until our antira family is in ruins.¡± Frowning, Sath stood up and walkad to tha stairway. Bafora going upstairs, ha ncad back at Patrick and said indiffarantly, ¡°Dad, avan if ha raally is on a warpath, you still undarastimata tha Lastar family. Wa took root in Saacisco ganarations bafora Ethan was avan born. You¡¯ra just intimidatad by Ethan. Go back to your room and gat soma rast wh I taach that brat asson.¡± Patrick wanted to say something but stopped on a second thought. He knew that Seth was too prideful to listen to him. The following day, Patrick went to Barnes again. He wanted to talk to Ethan. When the receptionist informed Ethan that Patrick was waiting for him downstairs, Ethan calmly said, ¡°Kick him out of the building.¡± He had nothing to say to Patrick. ******* In the battle against the Larson Group, Seth had lost several times. He was beginning to get frustrated. Seth had never encountered any setbacks since he was a child. After all, he was the most excellent Lester in his generation. He was always a step ahead of ordinary people. But now, he was losing miserably to Ethan. He couldn¡¯t protect his family nor their business from Ethan¡¯s blows. As time went on, he began to have a sense of crisis. If things went on like this, the Lester family¡¯s power would dwindle and they would soon be no match for Ethan. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before Ethan destroyed them once and for all. Moreover, the reason why Patrick was so afraid of Ethan was that the Larson Group was growing stronger and stronger every day. As if that wasn¡¯t enough, Ethan also had the support of the White family, which made him unprecedentedly powerful. He wasn¡¯t sure they stood a chance against him if things went on like this. Patrick wanted to say something but stopped on a second thought. He knew that Seth was too prideful to listen to him. Frowning, Seth racked his brains for a solution. He needed to find a way to instantly strengthen the Lester family in a short period of time¡ªand the only way to do that was forge an alliance with another influential family through a marriage. The union between the Larson Group and the legendary White family had affected half of the enterprises in Barnes and Seacisco, rendering Ethan nearly invincible. But who among the Lesters could get married on such short notice? Unfortunately, the divorce procedures between Patrick and Elissa hadn¡¯t beenpleted yet. Ritchie was single, but he was a disabled man now and there was no way any woman from a prominent family would agree to marry him. Sinking into his leather chair, Seth lit a cigarette sullenly. All of a sudden, he let out a cold sneer and stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray. Just then, his phone on the table suddenly started to ring. He ignored it and didn¡¯t pick it up until his phone buzzed again with a new message. ncing at the screen, he saw that it was the daughter of the Walker family, Julia. ¡°Seth, are you still in Seacisco? I want to see you.¡± Chapter 589 Chapter 589 Upon seeing the message, Seth frowned slightly. He had almostpletely forgotten about this woman already. Julia was the eldest daughter of the Walker family. When Seth came back to Seacisco a month ago, he held a party with his friends. At that party, Julia had asked for his phone number. Seth was the most outstanding Lester in his generation, and ever since he took over the family business, many youngdies wanted to get close to him. But Seth never gave them the light of day. Moreover, he was married, and if he was ever caught cheating on his wife, the reputation of the Lester family would be affected. However, the Walker family¡¯s wealth and power was growing fast now. After all, they were one of the first enterprises to start implementing emerce in their business in Seacisco. Seth reread Julia¡¯s text. He knew exactly what was on her mind. Although he didn¡¯t hold a grand wedding back then, it was no secret to all that Seth was married. Even though Julia knew that he was a married man, she still came at him. Women from the Walker family were really bold and reckless. Unfortunately, Seth and his wife, Tasha Javis, had been married for years. Although he didn¡¯t really love her, as they had only gotten married for the sake of their families¡¯ mutual interests, he wasn¡¯t interested in having an affair with other women either. All Seth cared about was his work. So, whenever Julia asked him out during the past month, he neither refused nor went. He simply ignored her. Upon seeing the message, Seth frowned slightly. He had almostpletely forgotten about this woman already. Upon saaing tha massaga, Sath frownad slightly. Ha had almosttaly forgottan about this woman alraady. Julia was tha aldast daughtar of tha Walkar family. Whan Sath cama back to Saacisco a month ago, ha hald a party with his friands. At that party, Julia had askad for his phona numbar. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Sath was tha most outstanding Lastar in his ganaration, and avar sinca ha took ovar tha family businass, many youngdias wantad to gat closa to him. But Sath navar gava tham tha light of day. Moraovar, ha was marriad, and if ha was avar caught chaating on his wifa, tha raputation of tha Lastar family would ba affactad. Howavar, tha Walkar family¡¯s waalth and powar was growing fast now. Aftar all, thay wara ona of tha first antarprisas to start immanting amarca in thair businass in Saacisco. Sath raraad Julia¡¯s taxt. Ha knaw axactly what was on har mind. Although ha didn¡¯t hold a grand wadding back than, it was no sacrat to all that Sath was marriad. Evan though Julia knaw that ha was a marriad man, sha still cama at him. Woman from tha Walkar family wara raally bold and racss. Unfortunataly, Sath and his wifa, Tasha Javis, had baan marriad for yaars. Although ha didn¡¯t raally lova har, as thay had only gottan marriad for tha saka of thair familias¡¯ mutual intarasts, ha wasn¡¯t intarastad in having an affair with othar woman aithar. All Sath carad about was his work. So, whanavar Julia askad him out during tha past month, ha naithar rafusad nor want. Ha simply ignorad har. That was his way of doing things. However, the Walker family was far-sighted enough to know that emerce was the future. Moreover, they were one of the most powerful families in the entire country. In Seth¡¯s eyes, their help mighte in handy one day. Therefore, he had never rejected Julia with harsh words, lest he offend her and potentially lose the Walker family¡¯s support one day. So Julia¡¯s message this time gave Seth an idea. He quickly sent her the address of a restaurant. ¡°I¡¯ve already booked a table. See you there at six o¡¯clock.¡± Julia replied secondster. It seemed that she was waiting for him to text her back. ¡°Okay, see you there.¡± Seth put his phone aside and rubbed the spot between his eyebrows. Things were looking up. ******* In a Michelin-starred restaurant, Julia had arrived first. She checked herself out in herpact mirror and frowned. After applying a little more lipstick, she finally smiled in satisfaction. ¡°Sorry to have kept you waiting.¡± Seth arrived in a brown windbreaker over a white shirt and tie and a vest, making him look particrly casual yet put-together. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I just arrived, too.¡± Flustered, Julia blushed and lowered her head in embarrassment. She wondered whether Seth had seen what she was doing just now. With a faint smile, Seth handed the menu to Julia and winked. ¡°Ladies first.¡± Julia shyly took the menu from him. She was a little surprised that he had showed up. Seth had always been indifferent to her, and he seldom answered her calls or texted her back. She had been disappointed for a long time because of this. But now, here they were, in a restaurant together. Seth wasn¡¯t in the mood to flirt with her. After all, he was indifferent when it came to women. The only thing that could make him excited was the idea of power and money. And right now, the only thing on his mind was the need to defeat Ethan. As long as he thought about that he had the chance to trample him under his feet, he was trembling with excitement. Since Julia liked him so much, surely she¡¯d be open to the idea of marrying him. If they could join forces, he would have the Walker family¡¯s help and support, which would finally make him a match for Ethan. Seth touched the silver ring on his ring finger absentmindedly. His wife¡¯s family used to be a prominent one in the country. However, it was pretty much down and out now. The Javis family failed to keep up with the ever-changing business trends, and in Seth¡¯s eyes, they had already lost the gamepletely. Throughout the course of the meal, Seth was more enthusiastic to Julia than before. Julia was delighted. Soon, she grew bold and started to rub his shin with her foot under the table. Chapter 590 Chapter 590 Because the Lester family lived in Seacisco, in order to deal with them, Ethan now often stayed there, and so did J. On the days Ethan didn¡¯t go to the office, he stayed in the study at home. It was as though he was always in a never-ending video conference. Holding a tray with a cup of coffee and a te of pastries, J knocked on the door lightly. ¡°Honey, may Ie in?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Ethan¡¯s voice was low. He was scolding his subordinates just now, and there was still a trace of anger in his eyes. Ever since he dered war on the Lester family, he had been on edge every day, always on the verge of snapping. Only when J was around did he have a smile on his face. ¡°The servant told me that you haven¡¯t had dinner. I make some chicken soup, and I can bring it to you later.¡± After setting the coffee on the table, J put a biscuit into Ethan¡¯s mouth and pouted. ¡°If this keeps up, your body will break down.¡± She tugged at Ethan¡¯s wrinkled shirt and narrowed her eyes at him disapprovingly. Ethan looked back at her in silence. Then he stood up, leaned his back against the desk, and pulled her into his arms. Swallowing the biscuit, he then kissed her on the lips. ¡°I never told you off when you were working nonstop.¡± J almost rolled her eyes, but stopped when she saw that there seemed to be something off about Ethan. He looked restless, like a bloodthirsty beast out to hunt his prey. Because the Lester family lived in Seacisco, in order to deal with them, Ethan now often stayed there, and so did J. Bacausa tha Lastar family livad in Saacisco, in ordar to daal with tham, Ethan now oftan stayad thara, and so did Janat. On tha days Ethan didn¡¯t go to tha offica, ha stayad in tha study at homa. It was as though ha was always in a navar-anding vidao confaranca. Holding a tray with a cup of coffaa and a ta of pastrias, Janat knockad on tha door lightly. ¡°Honay, may Ia in?¡± ¡°Of coursa.¡± Ethan¡¯s voica was low. Ha was scolding his subordinatas just now, and thara was still a traca of angar in his ayas. Evar sinca ha darad war on tha Lastar family, ha had baan on adga avary day, always on tha varga of snapping. Only whan Janat was around did ha hava a sm on his faca. ¡°Tha sarvant told ma that you havan¡¯t had dinnar. I maka soma chickan soup, and I can bring it to you latar.¡± Aftar satting tha coffaa on tha ta, Janat put a biscuit into Ethan¡¯s mouth and poutad. ¡°If this kaaps up, your body will braak down.¡± Sha tuggad at Ethan¡¯s wrind shirt and narrowad har ayas at him disapprovingly. Ethan lookad back at har in snca. Than ha stood up,anad his back against tha dask, and pud har into his arms. Swallowing tha biscuit, ha than kissad har on tha lips. ¡°I navar told you off whan you wara working nonstop.¡± Janat almost rod har ayas, but stoppad whan sha saw that thara saamad to ba somathing off about Ethan. Ha lookad rasss, lika a bloodthirsty baast out to hunt his pray. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m worried about you.¡± Wrapping her arms on his neck, J started to kiss him back, deepening the kiss. Soon, Ethan¡¯s palm slid from her waist to her buttocks. It wasn¡¯t until the both of them were out of breath that Ethan finally let J go. He lowered his head, resting his forehead on hers. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m going to seed.¡± In his deep voice was a strange mix of calmness and madness. Fearing that Ethan would fall into an irredeemable pit of hatred, J hugged him anxiously. ¡°Tomorrow is Saturday. Let¡¯s go out on a date, okay? We haven¡¯t hung out for a long time.¡± ¡°But I have work¡­¡± Ethan started to say. J pouted like a spoiled child. ¡°I don¡¯t care! You have to go out with me. The Larson Group won¡¯t be destroyed with you gone for one day.¡± ******* In the end, Ethan had no choice but to go with J to the beach. ¡°Look! It¡¯s a beautiful day!¡± J eximed happily. Wearing a bikini and a straw hat, she faced the beautiful sun and sea and took a deep breath. Ethan raised his hand to block the dazzling sunlight. Looking at the crowded beach, he couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°We should go to my private beach.¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . J sat down on a folding beach chair and sunbathed happily. The wind was blowing, whipping at her hair. ¡°No, thanks. I like it here. The crowd is what makes this ce so lively.¡± Ethan frowned unhappily, but he had no choice but to sit down with her. It was already summer, which exined why the beach was crowded with tourists. Adults lounged around and swam. Children yed in the sand and then they cried because the tide would wash away their sand castles. Seeing the children wipe away their tears and proceed to build another sand castle, Ethan couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Wow. Mr. Larson, the man who has been depressed for a week, is finally smiling.¡± Cupping Ethan¡¯s cheeks, J made him look at her. Grinning from ear to ear, she kissed him hard on the lips and murmured, ¡°It¡¯s a sight to behold.¡± The smile on Ethan¡¯s face became brighter. He did feel much more rxed and his mood was nowhere near as heavy as it had been. Later that afternoon, J was so tired that she threw herself onto the bed as soon as they returned to their hotel room. Ethan climbed on top of her and kissed her gently, but his hands moved fast. In a matter of seconds, he took off her bikini. Chapter 591 Chapter 591 Ethan¡¯s fingers moved down and gently stroked the spot between J¡¯s thighs. His rough fingertips drew circles around herbia. After feeling the moistness in between her lips, he stuffed one of his fingers into her wet cave. ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± J arched her back and let out a low, pleasured moan. Ethan kissed her lips and made his way down her neck, corbone, and finally, her breasts. The second Ethan¡¯s lips wrapped around her sensitive pink nipple, J¡¯s whole body tensed up. Ethan then parted her legs, lowered his head, and licked herbia gently. At the same time, he stroked her thighs and inserted another finger into her vagina. ¡°Ethan, I want you¡­¡± With her fingers entangled in Ethan¡¯s thick hair, J moved her other hand down and stroked his ear. She knew that Ethan¡¯s ears were sensitive, and her touch made him go crazy. He propped himself up, ripped off his clothes, and pressed his erect penis against J¡¯s wet vagina. Just as he inserted the tip inside, J moaned and her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Ethan held J¡¯s chin and after a slight pause, he thrust the rest of his thick stick into her vagina. J couldn¡¯t help but let out a yelp. She wrapped her legs around Ethan¡¯s waist, trembling slightly. Ethan¡¯s fingers moved down and gently stroked the spot between J¡¯s thighs. His rough fingertips drew circles around herbia. After feeling the moistness in between her lips, he stuffed one of his fingers into her wet cave. Ethan¡¯s fingars movad down and gantly strokad tha spot batwaan Janat¡¯s thighs. His rough fingartips draw cirs around harbia. Aftar faaling tha moistnass in batwaan har lips, ha stuffad ona of his fingars into har wat cava. ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± Janat archad har back andt out a low, asurad moan. Ethan kissad har lips and mada his way down har nack, corbona, and finally, har braasts. Tha sacond Ethan¡¯s lips wrappad around har sansitiva pink nip, Janat¡¯s wh body tansad up. Ethan than partad hargs, lowarad his haad, and lickad harbia gantly. At tha sama tima, ha strokad har thighs and insartad anothar fingar into har vagina. ¡°Ethan, I want you¡­¡± With har fingars antand in Ethan¡¯s thick hair, Janat movad har othar hand down and strokad his aar. Sha knaw that Ethan¡¯s aars wara sansitiva, and har touch mada him go crazy. Ha proppad himsalf up, rippad off his clothas, and prassad his aract panis against Janat¡¯s wat vagina. Just as ha insartad tha tip insida, Janat moanad and har ayas rod into tha back of har haad. Ethan hald Janat¡¯s chin and aftar a slight pausa, ha thrust tha rast of his thick stick into har vagina. Janat couldn¡¯t halp butt out a yalp. Sha wrappad hargs around Ethan¡¯s waist, trambling slightly. Ethan held her very tight, and their bodies pressed against each other. J was immersed in the sense of security that Ethan gave her. She ran her fingers over his defined chest muscles, stretched out her tongue, and kissed him passionately. After making love in this position for a while, Ethan made J sit on top of him. With her hands on Ethan¡¯s abdominal muscles, J slowly moved her hips. Now it was Ethan¡¯s turn to moan with pleasure. He squeezed her buttocks and said in a low voice, ¡°Do it slowly.¡± They actually had sex in this position many times. However, J found it a bit painful to sit on him. Moreover, she knew that in this position, Ethan would save his strength so as not to hurt her, but as a result, he would fuck her harderter when they changed positions and he wouldn¡¯t let her go even if she was exhausted. With his fingers touching J¡¯s hair, Ethan¡¯s breath became a little short. He waspletely immersed in pleasure and desire. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± As J moved, Ethan watched eagerly as her breasts bounced up and down from underneath her long hair. At some point, she paused to tie her hair, exposing her breasts even more. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Ethan couldn¡¯t hold himself back any longer. He grabbed J¡¯s waist and pulled her close to him, making her speed up. J felt pleasure shooting up from herher region. She raised her head and moaned loudly, arousing Ethan even more. She held the back of Ethan¡¯s head as his penis started poking her sensitive point. She begged him, ¡°Honey, faster¡­ Give it to me¡­¡± Ethan¡¯s face reddened. The lust in his eyes was unmasked. He put his hand on her lower back, bowed his head, and sucked on her nipples gently. With his other hand, he pped her on the buttocks. The sound of them panting breathlessly in bed became more and more intense. The sea wind blew up the white curtain by the window, and palm leaves swayed in the wind. There was no one on the beach that night and there were only the light from the lighthouse and the sea in the distance. After a while, J¡¯s face turned red from the effort, and her voice became hoarse. She could clearly feel that Ethan¡¯s testicles pping against her buttocks and soon, an itch came from between her legs. With a low moan, Ethan felt that he was going toe soon. He held her as tightly as he could and speed up again. ¡°Yes, yes, yes¡­!¡± J started to scream and atst, tears of extreme pleasure fell from her eyes. Chapter 592 Chapter 592 J didn¡¯t sleep well that night because of their sex marathon, and she looked listless when she woke up. She theny back in bed again, naked, with only a duvet draped around her body. Ethan, on the other hand, had the best night of the past weeks. He casually buttoned up his ck shirt, walked to the bedside with his coat, and stroked J¡¯s waist gently. ¡°Would you like to sleep in a little longer?¡± ¡°Yes. Could you order a sandwich and ck coffee for me? I¡¯ll eat itter,¡± J said, peeking at him under her heavy eyelidszily. With a gentle smile, Ethan tucked her hair behind her ear, leaned over, and kissed her soft earlobe. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll wait for you in the dining room downstairs. Take your time.¡± The resort by the beach in Seacisco had always been famous for its exquisite breakfast. Ethan didn¡¯t order J¡¯s food right away. Instead, he waited a little, thinking that J would get up after a while. Finally, he asked the waiter for a sandwich with ham and a cup of Americano for J and a cup of Blue Mountain for himself. When the waiter left, he lowered his head to read today¡¯s morning newspaper. Half an hourter, J finally climbed out of bed and went downstairs. Looking at the steaming coffee and sandwich, she smiled and praised him, ¡°Honey, great timing!¡± Ethan put down the newspaper and took a sip of coffee, smiling gently as J wolfed down her breakfast. It wasn¡¯t until he met the eyes of another woman sitting at a table near them that the tender look in his eyes disappeared. J didn¡¯t sleep well that night because of their sex marathon, and she looked listless when she woke up. She theny back in bed again, naked, with only a duvet draped around her body. Janat didn¡¯t ap wall that night bacausa of thair sax marathon, and sha lookad lisss whan sha woka up. Sha thany back in bad again, nakad, with only a duvat drapad around har body. Ethan, on tha othar hand, had tha bast night of tha past waaks. Ha casually buttonad up his ck shirt, walkad to tha badsida with his coat, and strokad Janat¡¯s waist gantly. ¡°Would you lika to ap in a lit longar?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°Yas. Could you ordar a sandwich and ck coffaa for ma? I¡¯ll aat ittar,¡± Janat said, paaking at him undar har haavy ayalidszily. With a gan sm, Ethan tuckad har hair bahind har aar,anad ovar, and kissad har soft aarloba. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll wait for you in tha dining room downstairs. Taka your tima.¡± Tha rasort by tha baach in Saacisco had always baan famous for its axquisita braakfast. Ethan didn¡¯t ordar Janat¡¯s food right away. Instaad, ha waitad a lit, thinking that Janat would gat up aftar a wh. Finally, ha askad tha waitar for a sandwich with ham and a cup of Amaricano for Janat and a cup of Blua Mountain for himsalf. Whan tha waitarft, ha lowarad his haad to raad today¡¯s morning nawspapar. Half an hourtar, Janat finally climbad out of bad and want downstairs. Looking at tha staaming coffaa and sandwich, sha smd and praisad him, ¡°Honay, graat timing!¡± Ethan put down tha nawspapar and took a sip of coffaa, smiling gantly as Janat wolfad down har braakfast. It wasn¡¯t until ha mat tha ayas of anothar woman sitting at a ta naar tham that tha tandar look in his ayas disappaarad. ******* Today, Charis had brought her employees to the beach for some rest and rxation. In the dining room of their hotel, she saw a man leisurely reading a newspaper. She could only partially see his face from behind the newspaper, but she felt that his eyes and brows were very simr to Ethan¡¯s. Sure enough, when the man lowered the newspaper, she saw that it was indeed Ethan. She couldn¡¯t help but smile, first surprised, and then confused. She didn¡¯t expect to see Ethan back in Seacisco. After their altercation, Charis had been concentrating on managing the family business, and now she had be the vice president of theirpany. Putting all her time and energy into her career had helped her temporarily forget about Ethan and J. But that didn¡¯t mean that Charis had given up. She was just biding her time and gathering strength before she would take the next step. Recently, she heard about the news that the Lester family had been engaged in awsuit against Ethan, which had caused a great stir in Seacisco. Almost everyone in the business world was excited to watch a good show. Would the Larson Group defeat the Lester family or would the Lester family trample over the Larson Group? Too many things had happened during this period of time, and it seemed that the business world of Seacisco was about to change greatly. Charis thought that Ethan would be too busy to care about her, so she continued to focus on her career. She also learned from Luke that some time ago, Ethan had put Elissa behind bars. It was said that Elissa had poisoned J, nearly killing thetter. Charis felt bad that J survived the whole ordeal. Charis shook her head, burying those messy thoughts in the back of her mind. She hadn¡¯t seen Ethan in a long time. When she saw him again, her suppressed feelings surged up all of a sudden. She couldn¡¯t resist approaching him and striking up a conversation. ¡°Brandon, when did you get back to Seacisco?¡± Charis walked over and greeted the man with a decent smile, as if nothing had happened in the past. Ethan¡¯s first reaction was not to respond to her, but to stand up and step in between her and J. He carefully protected J behind him, as if Charis were a man-eating demon. Charis smiled bitterly. ¡°Is this really necessary? Brandon, we¡¯ve known each other for years, but now you see me as an enemy. Am I so terrible in your eyes?¡± She felt ridiculous. She used to be Brandon¡¯s ssmate and business partner. She had thought that their rtionship wouldn¡¯t have be so strained even if they had a falling out. Standing over Charis domineeringly, Ethan said in a cold voice, ¡°I¡¯ve told you very clearly that you¡¯re dead to me. Who knows what you¡¯ll try to do to my wife again?¡± Chapter 593 Chapter 593 ¡°You¡­¡± Charis stepped back subconsciously. She felt her heart shatter into a thousand pieces and tears rolled down her cheeks. She felt wronged and helpless. She had done so much for this man, yet he hated her to the core. Ethan frowned, his good mood ruined by Charis. Ignoring Charis, he turned and patted J on the back. ¡°There¡¯s a really nice seafood restaurant here. Do you want to go there?¡± After swallowing thest of her sandwich, J nodded obediently. While Ethan took her away, she looked over her shoulder and nced at Charis. Thetter¡¯s eyes were burning with hatred and jealousy. J would probably never forget the look in Charis¡¯s eye for the rest of her life. Charis stood there and watched as Ethan and J leave. She feltpletely and utterly powerless. She knew that no matter what she did, she wouldn¡¯t be able to turn back time with Ethan. But she refused to give up. Getting Brandon was her dream for the longest time. Although she had reached rock bottom now, she couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch J being happy. Just then, a harsh ringtone interrupted Charis¡¯s thoughts. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . She wiped her tears away and picked up the phone. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Miss Turner, something bad happened! It¡¯s one of our employees! She suddenly fainted on the beach!¡± It was another employee of Turner Group calling. Her voice sounded particrly anxious. Charis quickly calmed down and started giving orders. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a heatstroke. Take her to the seaside medical station first. I¡¯ll be right there.¡± ¡°No, no, it¡¯s nothing like that, Miss Turner. I think she encountered some poisonous fish or something!¡± The employee was so panic-stricken that she couldn¡¯t speak coherently. ¡°Alright. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Charis tried tofort the employee. Smoothing her hair, she rushed over to the beach. It was just a little past ten o¡¯clock. The sun was getting higher and the sand was already scorching hot. When Charis arrived at the scene, several people were trying to give the unconscious employee CPR. She rushed headlong into the crowd. When she got a closer look at the unconscious employee¡¯s body, she saw all the angry rashes on her arms and legs, which made Charis¡¯s skin crawl. Taking a deep breath, Charis took off her coat to cover the unconscious employee¡¯s body while giving instructions to the others. ¡°It seems she¡¯s been stung by some kind of jellyfish. We have to rush her to the hospital. Contact the rest of thepany; tell everyone to gather here after packing their things. I¡¯m sorry but the rest of the trip has to be canceled. I promise we¡¯ll select a safer spot next time. You can also rmend a ce you¡¯d like to see, if ever. Now go!¡± Thepany trip had to be canceled because of this ident, which naturally disappointed the employees. They all reluctantly collected their things and regrouped at the hotel. Charis also noticed that everyone was in low spirits, so she asked her assistant to book enough tables in the hotel restaurant to treat all her staff to a hearty lunch to cheer them up. After dealing with this matter, Charis suddenly thought about how Elissa had attempted to poison J. It was said that J nearly died at the time because the poison had caused a cardiac arrest. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that her colleagues had taken action in time, she wouldn¡¯t have survived that ordeal. At first, nobody suspected foul y. They all thought that her heart attack was due to stress and exhaustion. Perhaps poisoning was the method to go¡­ Charis began to contemte this n. If she could poison J and get her to die of natural-looking causes, no one would know that she was the murderer. If she couldn¡¯t be with Ethan, nobody could¡ªnot even J. But she didn¡¯t know where Elissa had gotten her hands on such a poison, nor if there was anything else on the market that had the same effect. Thinking of this, Charis drove back home in a hurry. Before she enacted this n, she had to first try asking Elissa about the poison. Chapter 594 Chapter 594 Charis had once taken a chance and visited Jeff Gillian in prison but she waster discovered by Ethan. She had learned her lesson back then and knew much better now, so she was certain that it was unwise for her to personally visit Elissa in prison this time. The Lester family members could pay Elissa a visit in jail most naturally, without raising much suspicion, and now was the best time. The Lester family and the Larson Group had reached an impasse. If she wanted to deal with Ethan¡¯s wife, the Lester family would definitely support her. As soon as Charis thought about that, she went to Lester Silk Fabric. ******* In the Lester Silk Fabric office building, Seth had temporarily taken over the business since Ritchie had been paralyzed. Too many things had happened this past month, which made Patrick actually feel physically and mentally exhausted. Seth was one of the most promising young men. Hispany in Sugden had developed steadily in a positive direction. It would be helpful to stabilize the board if he took over Lester Silk Fabric in Seacisco. When Seth was informed that there was a beautifuldy waiting downstairs, he thought it was Julia. He wondered why she hadn¡¯t given him a heads up in advance that she was going to stop by. Seth was a little surprised to see that his visitor was not Julia but Charis. The Turner family was well-known in the entertainment and fashion industries. Although these were not the major economic businesses, capitalundering in recent years always had something to do with the entertainment industry. ¡°Nice to meet you, Miss Turner,¡± Seth said in a gentle and easy-going manner, while he squinted slightly from his curious, thoughtful frown. ¡°What brings you here today? Thest time I saw you, you were still in college.¡± Seth remembered that thest time he met with Charis was before he went to Sugden. At that time, she was a simple, young girl who was infatuated with Ethan to the degree of obsession. Charis made her way straight into the office and took a seat opposite Seth. ¡°Mr. Lester, I indeed have my agenda here, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be interested in my proposal. So let¡¯s just cut to the chase, shall we?¡± She then exined everything to him and requested that he assisted her. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Seth was wary of Charis because he knew full well that she loved Ethan. Even though her love now seemed to have turned to acidic hatred, no one knew what a woman driven crazy by love like her would do the next second. With desperation in her eyes, Charis said, ¡°Ethan is too ruthless to me. He can¡¯t see how well I treat him. All he cares about is J. I¡¯m nothing to him. Maybe he even hates me now.¡± Thinking of the indifferent look in Ethan¡¯s eyes that morning, Charis almost couldn¡¯t breathe. ¡°I don¡¯t care what Ethan will do. All I want now is to kill J. As long as she is dead, I will feel much better,¡± Charis said with firm, determined resolve. ¡°The Larson Group and the Lester family are now fighting. Think about it. If something happens to J, it will definitely distract Ethan and make him panic. Let¡¯s do this together. And as a token of our sincerity, the Turner family will always give priority to the Lester family in all future projects.¡± Seth thought her proposition over in his mind. He leaned back in the leather chair, picked up the lighter, and lit a cigarette. ¡°Let me think about it.¡± Seth¡¯s jaw was tightened. His face was soft and harmless. At this moment, however, he looked a bit insidious despite the softness of his expression. His eyes were calm yet menacing at the same time. In Charis¡¯ memory, Seth had always been the most excellent child in the Lester family. He was modest, polite, and decent. She had never seen this side of his character until this very moment. ¡°I will help you ask my mother, but Miss Turner, I still want to remind you that if affection bes an obsession, it will harm both others and yourself.¡± Seth peered at Charis quietly through the hovering smoke. Charis stood up and looked back at him with a faint smile, but the smile was so faint that itpletely disappeared almost as soon as it appeared. Her voice was calm and even as she replied, ¡°There¡¯s no turning back already. I want people to go to hell with me. The more, the better.¡± After saying that, she left. Seth smiled, took another drag of his cigarette, and snuffed it out in the silver ashtray. If Charis seeded, he would also benefit from it. It was good for the Lester family if J were to die. If something happened to her, Ethan would definitely have no time to take care of Larson Group. The next day, Seth made his way to the prison facility. Being incarcerated had caused Elissa to look much more haggard than ever. Now she hated Ethan to the core. ¡°How are you doing?¡± Seth was born to be indifferent and collected. Even though he saw Elissa is such a haggard state, he still maintained his expressionlessposure. ¡°You can see for yourself. Anyway, did you just say that the girl of the Turner family wanted to do something to J? Isn¡¯t it great news that she wants to do the dirty work for us?¡± Elissa sneered and continued, ¡°There is the contact information of the seller on theputer in my room. Give it to Charis.¡± Chapter 595 Chapter 595 Soon, Seth came to Charis with what she had asked for. ¡°Is this real?¡± She didn¡¯t expect things to move so fast. It had only been two days. Seth smiled at her, but his eyes were devoid of warmth. ¡°You can pay my mother a visit in person and ask her if it¡¯s real or not if you don¡¯t believe me. Anyway, I¡¯ve upheld my end of the deal. I hope you will, too.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already talked to my father about your¡­ ¡®plight¡¯. He¡¯ll know what to do.¡± With a snort, Charis turned around and left. She went back home, opened herputer, and logged in to the website that Seth gave her. She had to input several passwords and answer countless questions, but in the end, she made it to the dark web. Back when Charis was still in college, she had logged into the dark web once out of curiosity. There were indeed all kinds of people in it¡ªpsychopaths, murderers, escaped convicts, drug addicts, and so on. Illegal transactions such as human trafficking and organ selling were rampant there. With Seth¡¯s help, she was able to find the poison seller on the dark web. The web page was still the same, but a very simple dialog box popped up. Charis described the poison that Elissa had bought and asked the seller if he still had it or anything simr to it. Soon, she received a reply. ¡°No. That person you mentioned has already asked me for that poison twice. It¡¯s something that was developed twenty years ago. Where¡¯s the fun in studying something simr?¡± Charis sighed in disappointment. Was this opportunity about to slip through her fingers? Just then, another sentence popped up in the dialog box. ¡°Who¡¯re you trying to get rid of? I can check if there are any other drugs that¡¯ll meet your requirements. Quality and low price guaranteed.¡± Charis rolled her eyes. Clearly, this seller just wanted to make some money off of her. But Charis decided to tell the seller her situation without scruples. After all, IP addresses were untraceable in the dark web and she didn¡¯t have to worry about censoring anything. ¡°I need to get rid of a woman. She took my man away from me.¡± The seller replied quickly, ¡°It¡¯s easy to kill a person. But if you kill the lover of your loved one, he¡¯ll only miss her. You¡¯ll never be able to defeat a dead person. Isn¡¯t that more annoying? It¡¯d be better to make your loved one forget all about his lover. I have something that can help with that.¡± Charis¡¯s eyes widened when she read this. How could there be such a good thing? ¡°You have a drug that can erase one¡¯s memories?¡± ¡°Of course. Not only that, you can also urately control how long the effect willst by manipting the dosage.¡± It sounded too good to be true¡­ So Charis started to suspect that the seller was lying. But the drugs Elissa had bought off of him were indeed effective. Thinking of this, Charis decided there¡¯d be no harm in trying. Anyway, she had plenty of money. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . She wanted to erase all of Brandon¡¯s memories of J, which meant erasing everything in the past two years. As long as he forgot J, he could go back to himself from two years ago. Charis believed that based on their deep friendship before, she would have a bigger chance to win his heart if J was out of the picture. If she could get her hands on those drugs, she¡¯d finally be able to have Brandon all to herself. Chapter 596 Chapter 596 Charis typed in the dialog box, ¡°I need him to lose about two and a half years¡¯ worth of memory. Is that possible?¡± ¡°Sure thing. I¡¯ll send you a link. You pay and leave me the address. I¡¯ll deliver the drug to you in three days.¡± Before long, the dealer sent her a link that allowed her to make an online payment. The cost of the drug was considerably high. Charis sneered at the blood-sucking dealer in her mind for charging her five million. In truth, five million was just a drop in the ocean for Charis. The cost was not a matter of concern for her, she only cared about whether it would work or not. She had no choice but to take the risk, no matter what the cost. Just as long as she could make J suffer, she didn¡¯t care about the money. It would all be worth it as long as she could be with Brandon in the end. ¡°Are you sure the drug will work? I am not someone to be trifled with. If you dare to trick me, you will definitely regret it.¡± Charis wasn¡¯t going to ept any cheating. The seller reassured her, ¡°The people who deal with me are not ordinary people. If I were a liar, I wouldn¡¯t have been in this business for more than twenty years.¡± Charis paused to think for a while before she agreed. After all, this was the same drug dealer Elissa had dealt with twenty years ago. The fact that he was still in business convinced her that he must have been a man of his word. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t havested this long in this business. Those who lurked in the dark web were not ordinary people after all. When Charis paid and filled in the address, out of caution, she gave the address of an empty vi near her home. The owner of the vi had emigrated to Canada, and Charis also left a note stating that the package should be ced at the gate of the vi. Two dayster, when she was jogging past that vi, she saw a parcel in front of the gate. She cautiously picked up the package and brought it home when no one was around. As soon as Charis got back home, she opened the tightly wrapped package. Finally, she had the drug and an application guidance booklet. The drug was to be taken orally. Although she had received the drug in hand, the hard part would be getting Brandon to take it. Moreover, she would have to carry out this operation without arousing any suspicion. After all, Brandon was a male in his prime. He wouldn¡¯t just lose his memory out of the blue. An orchestrated ident would have to do the job. Charis patted herself on the head and sat back on the chair, trying to calm herself down. She had to think it over in great detail. Brandon losing his memory would only be the start as her path to sess entailed far more troublesome things. The whole world knew about Brandon and J¡¯s marriage. Even if he were to lose his memory, Charis couldn¡¯t go back to the past and change that. How could she take J¡¯s ce and be with him? After all, she couldn¡¯t make everyone lose their memories, so she had toe up with a solution really quick.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Charis carefully read the manual that came inside the package. The drug had a shelf life of six months, which meant that she still had time to n for it. She breathed a sigh of relief slowly. This time, she had to be prepared for anything in case something unexpected were to happen again. Chapter 597 Chapter 597 Initially, J had only nned to stay one night at the beach. However, the seaside was so beautiful, and Ethan hadn¡¯t rxed in so long, so they decided to stay the whole weekend. Come Monday, J went back to Barnes. She felt bad for asking for a week¡¯s leave. Moreover, she hadn¡¯t been able to contact Laney ever since she left her house. J was worried that something might¡¯ve happened to Laney, but Ethan kept reassuring her that Laney was a tough woman and a bodyguard. If anyone could protect her from harm, it would be herself. Still, J went directly to Laney¡¯s apartment when shended in Barnes. She rang the doorbell a couple of times before the door was finally opened. N?velDrama.Org content rights. ¡°Laney, you haven¡¯t replied to any of my texts. Did you ever stop to consider how worried I¡¯d be?¡± J pulled a long face. She had brought with her two bags of groceries. Laney was by no means a good cook, so J knew that Laney hadn¡¯t been taking care of herself while she was gone. Laney stepped aside and let J in. She was still in low spirits, but she managed to force a smile. ¡°Sorry. My phone¡¯s screen broke the day you left, so I had it repaired and didn¡¯t get it back until today.¡± Looking at the dullness in her eyes, J didn¡¯t have the heart to scold her again. Instead, she went straight to the kitchen and got busy. Soon, the sound of vegetables being chopped echoed in the apartment. Laney stood by the kitchen counter and watched J cook absentmindedly. Seeing how listless she looked, J sighed. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind? Tell me. Maybe I can help.¡± ¡°Garrett used toe to me all the time, with all kinds of excuses. But ever since I rejected him, he has never showed up,¡± Laney said in a low voice. J stopped what she was doing and looked at Laney seriously. ¡°If you feel sad without him, then be with him. Don¡¯t worry about what might happen in the future and just enjoy being with him.¡± Laney shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t do that. J, when will the sadness go away? I¡¯m just not used to the fact that Garrett¡¯s not in my life anymore. But I¡¯ll get used to it someday, right?¡± J looked at her sympathetically. ¡°I can¡¯t give you an answer. If I chose to break up with Ethan after finding out that he was actually Brandon Larson, I have no idea what my life would have been like now. Maybe I would¡¯ve felt bad about it for a while, but I just know I¡¯d find another guy, get married, and have children. I can¡¯t make a mess of my life just because of a single man.¡± Laney took a deep breath and smiled with relief. ¡°I see.¡± After preparing dinner and sharing it with Laney, J left. She hade to check how Laney was doing. Seeing that Laney was going to be fine, she was relieved. As for the issue between her and Garrett, J believed that Laney would find the answer herself. ******* Laney knew that the only way she could get rid of her rambling thoughts was to bury herself in work. Fortunately, the new members of Pole Shadow trained by her finally got their first order. They were tasked to get the financial statements of a club. However, this club was protected by local gangs, thus Laney¡¯s subordinates suffered a setback on their first mission. One subordinate was even captured. Given the gravity of the situation, Laney went to the club disguised as a bar girl to rescue him. The rescue mission went smoothly. With Laney¡¯s help, the subordinate managed to escape through the back door. But just as Laney was about to slip away through the entrance, the door to a private room next to her was suddenly opened from the inside. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± A crazed-looking Garrett jumped out of the room and threw himself at Laney. ¡°What the hell are you doing, Garrett?¡± Laney wanted to push him away, but she soon noticed that there was something wrong with him. His face was flushed and his body was burning hot. Suddenly, she heard a woman¡¯s voice from inside the private room. Laney frowned and asked, ¡°Did¡­ Did someone drug you?¡± Before Garrett could respond, a middle-aged, heavily made-up woman came out of the private room. She pulled a long face and whined, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that Mr. Harding would be really difficult to deal with. I¡¯ve never seen anyone so stubborn even after being drugged. Is he gay? Why does he run away as though my girls are monsters?¡± She wiped the sweat on her neck with a silk scarf and nced at Laney approvingly. ¡°You came at the right time. He seems to like you. Go and get a room upstairs. Take good care of Mr. Harding, understand?¡± After saying that, the woman left with acent look on her face. Laney pursed her lips tightly. Before she could refuse, Garrett hugged her tightly, pressing his burning face against her neck. He breathed in Laney¡¯s scent and said hoarsely, ¡°You smell just like the woman who dumped me.¡± Chapter 598 Chapter 598 Garrett was also having a hard timetely. After being rejected by Laney, he knew he couldn¡¯t keep pestering her, but he couldn¡¯t forget about her either. Tonight, he was supposed to meet a client in the club. In low spirits, Garrett nned to leave as soon as the contract was signed. The woman he was meeting with was the representative of the partneringpany. During the negotiation, she deliberately stood up and poured tea for Garrett. At first, Garrett didn¡¯t notice anything out of the ordinary. However, as she bent over to pour him some tea, she deliberately pulled down her cor, revealing the top half of her plump breasts. Garrett couldn¡¯t help but feel disgusted. He turned his face away, took a sip of tea, and said irritably, ¡°If you want to talk business, go straight to the point.¡± The woman probably didn¡¯t catch the anger in his voice. She batted her eyshes at him coquettishly and said, ¡°Mr. Harding, don¡¯t you remember me? We met in a business meeting three years ago, and I¡¯ve never stopped thinking about you since then¡­¡± In that moment, Garrett lost any semnce of patience he had left. He stood up, sshed the tea on the woman¡¯s face, and scolded, ¡°If you wanted to talk about cooperating, you shouldn¡¯t have yed these little tricks. Since you¡¯re clearly not here to talk business, I¡¯ll take it as a sign that you¡¯ve given up the opportunity to work together with us.¡± After saying that, he took his coat and left directly, ignoring the woman¡¯s shocked expression. Now, Garrett was even more annoyed. Not knowing where else to go, he decided to book himself another luxurious private room and ordered some wine. After all, he was a VIP at this club. He had nned to get stered, but soon, he felt an indescribably heat all over his body. Coincidentally, a middle-aged woman entered the room with two bar girls. All of them were wearing heavy make-up and skimpy clothes. Garrett¡¯s eyes shed in annoyance. Why did they all have to wear such heavy makeup? Laney never put on any makeup at all. She had a natural beauty about her. Garrett imagined her delicate face must be very soft, but he couldn¡¯t know for sure because he hadn¡¯t kissed her yet. The middle-aged woman kept pushing the two girls into Garrett¡¯s arms. This only served to anger him even further. He pushed them away and rushed out the door. Without looking where he was going, he ran straight into a woman. Smelling the familiar scent, he looked up and saw that it was indeed Laney. Gradually, his eyes became clear. ¡°It¡¯s you¡­¡± ¡°You can let go of me now¡ª¡± Laney frowned and was about to push him away, but Garrett held onto her more tightly. Without warning, the man pressed his lips against hers and kissed her forcefully. Garrett was too immersed in his sexual desire to care. The second he realized that it was Laney in his arms, thest ounce of his self-control disappeared and he kissed her crazily, sucking the tip of her tongue hungrily. Laney had never kissed someone before, so she didn¡¯t know how. She went stiff and just let him kiss her, her legs going weak. Before she knew it, Garrett had pulled her into the elevator. The top floor of the club consisted of rooms for the guests. Garrett was a VIP member of this club, so the presidential suite was always reserved for him. The two stumbled into the suite, entangled in each other¡¯s arms. Garrett scooped Laney onto the bed andN?velDrama.Org holds ? this. hurriedly tried to take her clothes off. Trembling slightly, Laney closed her eyes. She could¡¯ve knocked Garrett out with the snap of her fingers, but it never even crossed her mind to resist his advances. She had never been so intimate with a man before, but she was willing to give herself to Garrett. He was the only man she had ever liked, and she had been missing him a lottely. Laney knew this was wrong, but she suddenly remembered what J had said to her. Since she couldn¡¯t forget him, she should just cherish what she had with him now and simply enjoy herself. His touch lit her up like a fire. She wrapped her arms around Garrett¡¯s neck instinctively, closed her eyes, and indulged herself in his kisses. ¡°Well, it¡¯s just one night¡­¡± Laney tried to convince herself in her mind. Chapter 599 Chapter 599 It was as though Pandora¡¯s Box was opened. Garrett kissed Laney tenderly all over her body, igniting her desire endlessly. His touch was enough to make her tremble. With her arms around him, Laney could feel Garrett¡¯s fingers reach for the zipper of her dress. Everything around her made her feel horrible. The dazzling light, Garrett¡¯s naked body, and the desire in his eyes¡­ Suddenly, Garrett seemed to notice that she was scared. He had had several girlfriends before, but he had never slept with a virgin. Almost all the women he had been with were masters of sex. They had the power to make men obsess over them in bed. He nibbled on Laney¡¯s neck as his hand slowly reached towards the spot between her thighs¡­ But Laney mped her legs tightly and suddenly opened her eyes, her heart racing. ¡°Garrett, get your hand away from me!¡± Garrett pinned her wrist down with his other hand. He licked her earlobe and whispered, ¡°Why? This is how to make love. Don¡¯t you know that?¡± Laney shook her head nkly. She never had any female friend until she met J, and her male friends always avoided her when they talked about sex, telling her that they didn¡¯t want to lead her astray. Laney had focused solely on training herself and practicing fighting skills over the past twenty years. She indeed knew nothing about sex. Garrett didn¡¯t say anything more. He had no patience left in him and forcibly separated her stiff legs. ¡°Garrett, it feels weird¡­¡± Feeling his rough fingers slid inside of her, Laney panted out in a low voice. However, when she heard how lustful her voice sounded, she immediately covered her mouth in embarrassment. As Garrett took off his trousers, he sobered up slightly. He had loosened up her vagina with his fingers. Feeling it get wet, he held his penis and rubbed it against her entrance. He didn¡¯t try to insert his penis until there was some sticky liquid covering the tip. However, as soon as he thrust inside of her, Laney yelped in pain. ¡°Uh¡­ It hurts¡­¡± ¡°Raise your legs¡­ Rx¡­¡± Garrett whispered in a hoarse voice, sweat breaking out on his forehead. Enduring the pain, Laney obediently raised her legs. With his hand cupping her cheek, Garrett kissed her lips and thrust himself deeper. His scorching hot penis seemed to have ripped something as it made its way to the deepest part of her body. Laney felt as if her whole body was torn apart. She held Garrett tightly, her fingernails digging into the muscles on his back. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. When Laney gradually rxed, Garrett began to move in and out of her slowly. Her tight and warm vagina wrapped around his penis like a glove, making him want to go deeper every time he moved. Laney had no choice but to allow him to do whatever he wanted to her. She didn¡¯t know how much time had passed. Garrett pinched her pink nipple and moved faster and faster. Just as she felt she was going crazy from the pain and pleasure, a stream of hot semen shot into her vagina. After resting on top of her for a few minutes, Garrett gently kissed her lips and cheeks. He reached for the tissue on the side table and gently wiped Laney¡¯s pussy. As he moved, his softened penis gradually swelled up again inside her, making her cry out in pain. Perhaps it was because the effect of the drug had worn off, but Garrett became much gentler and slower this time. He called her intimately in her ear as he moved, his voice filled with passion. Chapter 600 Chapter 600 Summer season was just around the corner, and the first heavy rain this year finally came. The heavy raindrops pattered against the window loudly, waking Laney up. Despite the chilly weather, she felt warm, because she was nestled in the man¡¯s arms. Garrett¡¯s steady breathing brushed against her burning ear. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Laney tried to move her body slightly and then felt a sharp pain in her lower body. She couldn¡¯t help but gasp. Noticing that the woman in his arms was awake, Garrett frowned, rubbed his eyes, and turned over. He murmured, ¡°Baby, let¡¯s sleep a little longer.¡± Laney slipped on her underwear and nced at the man coldly. Feeling her gaze, Garrett reluctantly opened his eyes. When he saw the coldness in Laney¡¯s eyes, he instantly became sober. He hurriedly got up and stuttered nervously, ¡°W-why don¡¯t you sleep a little longer, Laney? I¡¯ll drive you backter. I¡¯m sorry. I was druggedst night and couldn¡¯t control myself. I promise I¡¯ll take responsibility.¡± Laney lowered her head and kept silent. She put on her dress quietly and stood by the bed. After a long time, she said, ¡°I know you were drugged. I could have stopped you, but I didn¡¯t. It¡¯s not entirely your fault.¡± Garrett was stunned again. Now that he thought about it, it was true that Laney didn¡¯t refuse himst night. Did that mean she really liked him? Complicated emotions surged in his chest. Garrett looked up at Laney, not knowing what to say. After a long silence, he suddenly blurted, ¡°Be my girlfriend, Laney.¡± As if she didn¡¯t hear him, Laney unhurriedly zipped her dress in silence. Finally, she sighed. ¡°Do you say that to every woman you¡¯ve slept with? No one was forcedst night. I couldn¡¯t control myself, either. How about we just pretend that nothing happened and move on with our own separate lives?¡± Garrett leaped out of bed and cried indignantly, ¡°How can I forget what happened between you and me?¡± It was the first time that he had encountered a woman so indifferent after having sex with him, and this made him even angrier. He grabbed Laney¡¯s hand and pulled her toward him. ¡°Why are you doing this to me? You can¡¯t just dump someone after sleeping with them! Am I so cheap in your eyes?¡± Laney closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Why didn¡¯t she realize sooner that Garrett could be so annoying? ¡°Stop yelling, okay?¡± Laney looked at him impatiently. The more Garrett behaved like this, the more her heart softened. After thinking for a few seconds, she decided to throw caution to the wind. ¡°Free meals are always cheap. I already said that we should forget this ever happened and just move on. Don¡¯t you understand?¡± Garrett put his dignity aside and forced a smile. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you think I¡¯m cheap. Let me escort you before my ¡®value¡¯ increases.¡± Laney didn¡¯t like hearing this from him. She frowned and said resolutely, ¡°We can¡¯t be together, okay? If you keep pestering me, I¡¯ll get sick of you.¡± Hearing this, Garrett fell silent. After a while, he asked in a low voice, ¡°Are you saying that this was nothing but a one night stand?¡± Laney pulled her hand back, picked up her things, and turned around without answering him. Finally, when she reached the door, she paused for a second and said, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m saying. I hope we never meet again, Mr. Harding.¡± After saying that, she walked out of the room and mmed the door, leaving a dazed Garrett alone inside. Chapter 601 Chapter 601 It still rained heavily outside. The second Laney stepped out of the club, the cool breeze chilled her to the bone. She rubbed her arms and ran to the nearest convenience store to buy an umbre. As she was about to pay, she saw a mother with her child nearby. The child seemed to want to buy the candy bar on the shelf, so he reached out to take it. However, the mother immediately patted his hand and shook her head. ¡°You already have a cavity, little one. You can¡¯t have sweets until the dentist fills it.¡± Having been stopped, the child immediately burst into tears. The mother shot Laney an apologetic smile and pulled the little tyke out of the store. The cashier smiled helplessly. ¡°Kids, am I right?¡± Laney smiled back subconsciously, but then the smile froze on her face. It suddenly dawned on her thatst night, Garrett didn¡¯t wear a condom. After paying for the umbre, she headed to the pharmacy to buy emergency contraception. They had sex less than a day ago; she couldn¡¯t take the risk. As soon as she got home, she quickly took the pills and then sat there, not knowing what to do next. If she stayed in Barnes, she¡¯d inevitably run into Garrett. After thinking for a while, Laney soon came to the conclusion that she had to leave. Last night had made it clear that she couldn¡¯t control herself around Garrett. It was best if she removed herself from the situation literally. And the best way to put some distance between them was for her to go far away. Anyway, she knew she¡¯d have a job anywhere given her prestige as a bodyguard. Thinking of this, Laney felt a bit better. That very night, she packed up all her things. When she went to Ethan to tender her resignation, thetter didn¡¯t have any reason to object. Ethan simply asked, ¡°Are you sure that this is what you want? Your sry here is way above average.¡± Laney nodded firmly. ¡°And I appreciated that, sir. But it¡¯s not that I¡¯m dissatisfied with the pay. I¡¯m just not used to life here in Barnes and I want to try going abroad. Plus, I have too many enemies here. I live in constant worry of being ambushed.¡± Well, at least what she said was half true. Seeing that Laney had made up her mind, Ethan didn¡¯t force her to stay and simply signed her resignation papers. Before leaving the city, Laney went to J to say goodbye. When J saw Laney at her door, she was pleasantly surprised. She smiled and teased, ¡°What brings you here?¡± She stepped aside, letting Laney into the house. Fidgeting with her hair, Laney looked a little uneasy and embarrassed. ¡°Actually, I came here to say goodbye. I¡¯m leaving the country tonight.¡± ¡°What?¡± J gasped in shock. ¡°You never told me that you were leaving. Is it because of Garrett?¡± Laney nodded. After she told J about what had happened between her and Garrett, she didn¡¯t know what else to say. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°You guys moved way too fast¡­ But I¡¯ll support you no matter what choice you make. Take care, okay? I¡¯ll visit you when I have the time, or perhaps you cane back to see me.¡± J sighed heavily, clearly reluctant to part with her friend. Laney stayed with J until it was time to go to the airport. J drove her there herself. The atmosphere was depressing. Neither one of them knew what to say. It wasn¡¯t until Laney was about to depart that the two looked at each other with silly smiles, their eyes filled with tears. Holding the flight ticket tightly in her hand, Laney suddenly threw her arms around J tightly. ¡°I¡¯m lucky to have you as a friend. But I never thought we¡¯d be separated so soon.¡± Patting her on the back, J smiled through the tears. ¡°We¡¯ll meet again.¡± Just then, the airport announced that Laney¡¯s flight was about to depart. Wiping her eyes, Laney took onest look at the cityscape in the distance and then turned around to walk towards the boarding gate. Chapter 602 Chapter 602 Two dayster, Garrett found that Laney had left. He had been staying in the presidential suite of the club. When he finally checked out, he went straight to Pole Shadow to see Laney. Only then did he find out that Laney had resigned. As for where she had gone, nobody at Pole Shadow knew. It was as though she had vanished into thin air. Garrett knew that if anyone knew where Laney was, it was J. ******* As soon as J got off work, she saw Garrett¡¯s car parked in front of W Marks Studio. She wasn¡¯t surprised at all, though. Ignoring the man in the driver¡¯s seat, she started walking towards her home. Garrett released the brakes slightly and followed J. He honked several times and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Laney? I can¡¯t get in touch with her. She won¡¯t answer my calls. You must know where she is, right?¡± J stopped and nced at Garrett indifferently. ¡°Obviously, she doesn¡¯t want to see you. And even if you knew where she was, what¡¯re you going to do? Get her back? And then what? You can¡¯t give her what she needs, can you? So what¡¯s the point?¡± Garrett wanted to say something but stopped on second thought. J was right. He bit his lower lip, at aplete loss. But even so, he couldn¡¯t just lose Laney forever like that. He didn¡¯t even get to say goodbye to her before she left.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Seeing that Garrett had fallen silent, J sighed and softened her tone. ¡°Anyway, you think it over. No one can help you but yourself. If you really want to be with her, you should be prepared for a fallout with your family.¡± After saying that, J turned to leave. The next second, she paused and warned him, ¡°Don¡¯t follow me!¡± With a long face, Garrett didn¡¯t say anything. He refused to listen to her and followed her to her house. Seeing that she was about to enter the vi, he jumped out of the car and caught up with her. ¡°Just tell me where Laney is, and leave the rest to me.¡± Ignoring him, J entered the house and mmed the door shut. Annoyed, Garrett rang the doorbell incessantly. Unexpectedly, it was Ethan who came to the door. ¡°What do you want?¡± Garrett was still on edge. He pointed a finger at Ethan and hissed, ¡°I need to talk to your wife. Let me in.¡± Ethan reached out one hand to block Garrett¡¯s way. He gave him a warning look and said, ¡°You¡¯re a grown man. You have to think before you act. If you really want to be with Laney, you should get prepared to face the consequences. Make sure that you¡¯ll be able to protect her no matter what before you go after her. If you can¡¯t do that, don¡¯t go. You¡¯re not strong enough now. Even if Laney agrees to be with you, you can¡¯t protect her. In the end, you¡¯ll only make her suffer. Is this the kind of love you want to give her?¡± After hearing what Ethan had to say, Garrett stopped in his tracks. His anger was suddenly extinguished. Dejected, he returned to his car with his head lowered and drove away. The second he got home, Garrett sought sce in alcohol. He drank one bottle after another. A few dayster, he had finally calmed down. Nobody knew how Garrett had managed to get all his ducks in a row, but one day, he went back to the Larson Group and started to work hard, devoting himself to his career. Seeing him like this, Ethan had a new impression of him. At lunchtime, he asked, ¡°Do you still want to look for her?¡± Garrett unhurriedly pushed his sses up the bridge of his nose. There was a calm look about him. ¡°I respect Laney¡¯s choice. The reason why she refused me was very rational. Besides, she doesn¡¯t want to be with me. If I forced her back, we wouldn¡¯t be happy. I can only let her go.¡± He smiled and looked into the distance with a trace of sadness in his eyes. ¡°The earth is round. If I keep on walking forward, I can eventually meet her again in the near future, right? I have to prepare for that moment. When that dayes, I will definitely be ready with my own choice, and by then, I¡¯ll never let go of her.¡± Ethan raised his eyebrows and looked at Garrett quietly. After a while, he patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, ¡°That day wille. I¡¯m sure of it.¡± Chapter 603 Chapter 603 In the Lester family. Recently, Seth and Julia had been getting along well. Julia even moved into his vi in Seacisco. The media made a big deal about it, and their love affair instantly became a hot topic. Leaning against Seth¡¯s chest, Julia drew circles on his chest with her fingertips. Her voice was soft, almost angelic. ¡°Are you nning to make my live with you like this for the rest of my life? Hiding here in your vi? Like I¡¯m a vampire who can¡¯t go out in the sun?¡± Being flirted with like this, Seth felt a little turned on. He grabbed her restless hand and pointed at the teeth marks on his arm. ¡°Look at all these bite marks. You must be a vampire, since you have such sharp teeth. Come on, show me your fangs!¡± Then he tried to pinch Julia¡¯s chin yfully. ¡°Meanie!¡± Julia turned her face away, hammered his chest, and giggled. Then she batted her eyshes at him bashfully. ¡°My parents have been asking about our rtionship. What should I tell them?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m going back to Sugden this week to make it clear to my wife.¡± Seth coaxed Julia softly, rubbing her shoulder dotingly, but the warmth in his voice didn¡¯t reach his eyes. Now that he had this silly woman wrapped around his finger, it was time for him to go back to Sugden to divorce Tasha. ******* Ever since Seth had gone to Seacisco to temporarily take charge of the Lester family¡¯s business, he had seldome back to Sugden. The few times he dide home, he was only there to fulfill his duty as her spouse and have sex with her. He and Tasha had been married for so many years, but they didn¡¯t have any children. Before, Elissa used to urge them to have a baby. Now that Elissa was in jail, it was the Javis family¡¯s turn to urge them. As soon as Seth stepped foot inside the house, Tasha walked up to him and took his coat and suitcase, smiling tenderly. ¡°You must be tired after the long flight. Go get a shower and get changed. The dinner will be waiting for you when you¡¯re done showering.¡± Tasha¡¯s tone was gentle and considerate. As she spoke, she patted the dust off his coat and hung it on the coat rack. Seth nodded coldly. He had never felt attached to anyone in his life, including his own wife. To put it bluntly, he didn¡¯t feel an ounce of love for Tasha. After taking a shower, he jogged downstairs. Tasha had already served several dishes on the table. She was the textbook definition of a good wife. While she wasn¡¯t particrly stunning, she was charming in her own way, not to mention kind. After they got married, Elissa had always praised Tasha as a good wife to Seth. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Over dinner, Seth nced at Tasha, who was sitting next to him. She looked particrly excited. The smile on Tasha¡¯s face became brighter. Shyness shed across her face. She put down the fork and started to say, ¡°Here¡¯s the thing¡ª¡± Seth actually didn¡¯t give a damn about whatever she had to say, nor did he have the patience to listen to her. He interrupted her abruptly, saying, ¡°Whatever it is, it can wait. Let¡¯s have a divorce.¡± All the color instantly drained from Tasha¡¯s face. ¡°Why?¡± Seth didn¡¯t bother to make up some excuse. He put down his utensils, crossed his arms over his chest, and asked frankly, ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen the newstely? Do you really want to hear it from me? Alright. I¡¯m having an affair.¡± Tasha couldn¡¯t believe her ears. Tears welled up in her eyes and a lump formed in her throat. ¡°The media always makes stuff up. I thought that the news was fake¡­¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Her voice trailed off. She stood up, went back to their bedroom, and brought a piece of paper to Seth. ¡°I¡¯m pregnant. That was what I wanted to tell you just now. It turns out I was ovting thest time you came home.¡± Seth took the pregnancy test report and looked at it with a frown. After a moment of silence, he said, ¡°Then we¡¯ll divorce after you give birth to the baby. I¡¯ll raise the child andpensate you for your trouble.¡± Tasha was dumbfounded. ¡°It¡¯s my child, too. How could you suggest such a thing?¡± She couldn¡¯t believe what was happening. Was Seth out of his mind? Chapter 604 Chapter 604 Before Tasha could graduated from college, her family had arranged for her to marry Seth. Although the Lester family held a certain level of prestige in Seacisco, Tasha initially was against this arrangement. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to marry a total stranger. However, after meeting Seth several times, Tasha found that he was a handsome man with a gentle personality. He had always treated her well, like a proper gentleman. As she admired both his good looks and personality, Tasha gradually developed feelings for Seth. Ever since they got married, Seth had been devoted to his work. On the other hand, he thought that Tasha¡¯s main duty was to be a good housewife. Moreover, he wanted a child as soon as possible, so he asked Tasha to stay at home and focus on getting pregnant. At the time, Tasha was about to graduate from college. She didn¡¯t want to have a baby so soon. She was still so young and wanted to work for a few years. If she had a child, she would be restrained in all aspects of life and her career nning would also but put to an abrupt halt. Tasha had voiced her opinions to Seth, but he seemed a little unhappy to hear them. After thinking for a long time, she finally decided to give up on her dreams and devoted herself to the family. She pulled out of fashion design, which surprised even her parents. Truth be told, Tasha was gifted when it came to fashion design. In her pursuit of such a career, she had even given up on the chance of studying business management abroad. Now, she just gave up her dream for Seth. It seemed that she really loved him very much. At the time, Tasha was so absorbed in the joy of finding her Mr. Right that she felt it was worth it to sacrifice so much for Seth. Some time ago, Seth went to Seacisco to take care of his family¡¯s business. He only came back once a month. Given the circumstances, she had thought it would be difficult to get pregnant, which worried her. But a few days ago, she suddenly felt sick and vomited a lot. After getting checked at the hospital, she was told that she was in fact pregnant. The news brought Tasha endless joy. Little did she know that Seth was nning to divorce her as soon as he came back home. And even after she told him that she was pregnant, he didn¡¯t change his mind about the divorce. Ever since they got married, Seth had been consumed with his work. He was ambitious and only cared about his own career. Even after they got married, he didn¡¯t really spend much time with Tasha. She used to think that Seth valued his career too much, but she understood him in a way. She also believed that after they had a child, Seth would slowly change. He would learn to be a good husband, a good father. It never urred to her that Seth was such an unfeeling person. ¡°Are you really going to do this to me?¡± Tasha looked at Seth with tearful eyes and asked in a trembling voice. Seth plucked a napkin from the table and dabbed at his mouth slowly. Then he tossed the napkin and said, ¡°Have I not made myself clear? This is not a discussion. I¡¯m just informing you.¡± Tasha was rendered speechless. She was too shocked to even cry and simply stared at Seth nkly. Seeing that she had gone silent, Seth stood up to leave.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. He took his coat from the rack and nced at Tasha indifferently. ¡°That¡¯s all. Take care of yourself and the baby.¡± Then he left, closing the door behind him. Tasha sat there in a daze for a long time. After what felt like an eternity, she slowly stood up and was about to go back to the bedroom. However, as soon as she stood up, the sudden weakness in her legs made her stumble. Her vision went ck as she fell to the floor. Chapter 605 Chapter 605 Since then, Tasha had been deeply depressed. Seth had arranged for several doctors and nutritionists to live with Tasha in the house. They were responsible for her diet and the health of the baby in her belly. Save for the divorce and the affair, he was no different from a considerate husband, but he seldom went home. One day, Tasha was watching the gossip news on TV. There, stered on the big screen, were Seth¡¯s and Julia¡¯s pristine faces. The man was calm and elegant, while the woman was beautiful and charming. They looked like a perfect match. ¡°Mrs. Lester, why¡¯re you watching that?¡± When the maid saw what Tasha was watching, she grabbed the remote control from Tasha¡¯s hand and turned off the TV. ¡°It¡¯s all fake news. Don¡¯t take it to heart, ma¡¯am.¡± Smiling wryly, Tasha subconsciously touched her belly and murmured, ¡°He openly goes out with his mistress now. They¡¯re like a real couple now.¡± Tasha had seen several news segments iming that the eldest son of the Lester family had a new girlfriend and was about to divorce his wife. The servant was worried that the bad news would worsen Tasha¡¯s mood, subsequently affecting the baby in her belly. She tried to put on a smile and consoled her, ¡°But you are the one and only Mrs. Lester. Just ignore that woman. Your health should be your priority now.¡± Hearing this, Tasha smiled bitterly. ¡°I won¡¯t be ¡®Mrs. Lester¡¯ for long.¡± She had beenpletely deste ever since Seth broke the news to her. She knew it was impossible to make him change his mind because he was a soulless, heartless psychopath. He didn¡¯t love her. He didn¡¯t even treat her like a normal human being. In his eyes, she was just a baby machine. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. As for the child, Tasha didn¡¯t intend to keep it. If the child was born into such a broken family, her child was destined to live an unhappy life. However, Tasha had been pondering over this for days on end, and she still couldn¡¯t make up her mind to abort the baby. This was her first child, and while she was only a few weeks¡¯ pregnant, she already loved it very much. Besides, Seth would never allow her to have an abortion. The servant sighed. ¡°What about the child, ma¡¯am? You have to be strong for the child.¡± ¡°I can raise the child by myself.¡± Tasha spoke with fierce determination. Even if she ended up giving birth to the baby, never in her wildest dreams would she leave it to Seth. Seth clearly had no love for her, nor would he for the child. It was painfully obvious that he only wanted the child for the sake of carrying on the family name. With an indifferent, unloving father and a stepmother who used to be a home-wrecker, Tasha couldn¡¯t help but shiver at the thought of what kind of life her child would live in such a household. Eyes wide with worry, the servant whispered, ¡°Mr. Lester would never allow it! Besides, how can you raise a child by yourself? Are you going to move back to your parents¡¯ house?¡± Tasha smiled faintly. She had thought it over. ¡°Please call Mr. Lester and ask him toe back. Tell him that I need to talk to him about the baby.¡± When Seth received the phone call from the maid, he felt reluctant to go back. However, when he heard that Tasha was going to talk about the child, he flew back to Sugden right after work. Tasha knew that Seth woulde back that very same night, so she had been waiting in the living room. When Seth opened the door and entered the house, he saw Tasha sitting on the sofa. The lights were off. The only thing illuminating the room was the TV screen. Seth shrugged off his coat and said with displeasure, ¡°It¡¯s sote. Why haven¡¯t you gone to bed yet? Don¡¯t you ever think about the baby in your belly?¡± Unfazed, Tasha continued to eat the fruit on her te, watching TV. ¡°For a psychopath, you really care about your child, Seth.¡± Seth didn¡¯t want to waste his breath with this woman. He sat on the sofa next to Tasha, crossed his long legs, and asked straightforwardly, ¡°Why did you ask me toe back?¡± Tasha turned her head to look at his face¡ªthe very same face she hade to fall in love with. ¡°You proposed a divorcest time you were here. Here¡¯s the thing. I will divorce you, and I want nothing except full custody of the child.¡± Chapter 606 Chapter 606 Seth met Tasha¡¯s gaze and said expressionlessly, ¡°Not a chance.¡± Seth was indifferent by nature, but the child in Tasha¡¯s belly was still his. A big and prominent family in Seacisco like the Lester family attached great importance to offspring. Moreover, it was his first child. Seth would never allow his firstborn child to live with anyone else but him. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. It was his child. He simply wouldn¡¯t let others take it away from him. He believed Tasha foolishly thought highly of herself. A woman was just a tool for having children. The child would carry on his surname, not hers. What right did she have to take the child away? ¡°The baby is also mine, Seth. Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being too selfish? Oh, never mind. You¡¯ll never understand anyway.¡± All of a sudden, Tasha got worked up. Her dted pupils reflected the movement in the TV. ¡°If the child lives with you, it¡¯ll be impossible for it to ever be happy. I can only imagine how badly you¡¯ll treat our child. The child will be ruined, or worse¡ªit¡¯ll be another soulless machine, just like its father.¡± Tasha squeezed her eyes shut and shuddered. If that was the child¡¯s fate, she¡¯d rather not bring it into this world. Seth reached into his pocket for his lighter and cigarette case. ¡°Ruined? The Lester family will provide nothing but the best for the child. That¡¯s better than the child living with you, a divorced woman.¡± Tasha was speechless. She knew beforehand that it would be useless to reason with such an unreasonable person. She put the te of fruit down and stood up to go upstairs. ¡°Either the child stays with me or no divorce. It¡¯s as simple as that.¡± Seth grabbed Tasha¡¯s wrist. His tone was domineering and unusually sharp. ¡°The child will stay with the Lester family. There is no room for discussion. If you don¡¯t agree to the divorce, I actually have plenty of ways to make you do it.¡± ¡°What¡ªwhat do you want?¡± Frightened by the crazed look in his eye, Tasha¡¯s face turned pale. Noticing that she had gone pale, Seth turned to the servant and barked, ¡°Take Mrs. Lester back to her room and ask the doctor to check on her!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he released Tasha, turned around, and left the vi. The servant helped Tasha to her room. The doctor rushed in to examine her body, only to find that she was fine. She just needed to lie down and have some rest. After the doctor left, the servant brought a bowl of tonic soup for Tasha. Tasha drank it up and sank into bed in a daze. The horrible look in Seth¡¯s eyes just now kept resurfacing in her mind. She closed her eyes and patted her chest to calm her racing heart. It took a long time before she finally fell into a restless sleep. ******* The following morning, Tasha nned to pack up her things and move out. Since Seth didn¡¯t want to leave the child to her, she had toe up with another solution. Just as she brought her packed luggage to the gate of the vi, she was stopped by two bodyguards ¡°Mrs. Lester, please stay in the house. Mr. Lester said that you can¡¯t go anywhere before you agree to let the child be raised by the Lester family.¡± The bodyguards directly pushed Tasha and her luggage back into the vi. Tasha was so angry that she felt suffocated. Upon looking around the living room, she found that there were more surveince cameras installed. She immediately understood what was going on. She pointed at a camera and shouted hysterically, ¡°Seth, you¡¯re such an inhuman bastard! How dare you imprison me?¡± She couldn¡¯t believe that Seth not only sent people to watch over her but also installed surveince cameras to monitor her every move at any time. Chapter 607 Chapter 607 Tasha couldn¡¯t let things go on like this. She needed to talk to Seth again, but he had nevere back again since that night when she told him she wanted to raise the baby alone, nor could she contact him however she tried. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°Can you help me reach Seth?¡± Tasha turned to the servants, doctor, and nutritionist in the vi angrily. She felt like a prisoner, and she was in desperate need of help. But everyone ignored her request since they didn¡¯t dare to go against Seth¡¯s orders. After all, their only job was to make sure that she was alive and the baby was safe. Their indifference made Tasha feel more desperate. She knew that this was what Seth meant when he said he had other ways to force her to give in. This vi was now her prison. As soon as she delivered the child, he¡¯d take the child away from her. And then he would force her to sign the divorce paper and drive her out of the Lester family. As the days went by, Tasha¡¯s mental health gradually copsed. She had to get out of here at all costs. She hated that Seth dealt with the problem in such a violent way. Every day, the news kept broadcasting photos of Seth and that other womaning in and out of a hotel. Every time Tasha saw these photos, she¡¯d grit her teeth in hatred. What the hell did Seth think of her? A baby machine that he could lock up at home to give birth to his child? Tasha¡¯s affection for Seth was instantly wiped out and reced with seething hatred. She was the daughter of the Javis family! Even if their glory days were over, she had never been treated like this. She couldn¡¯t just sit still and wait for her doom. She had to get out of here, for the sake of her child. Tasha climbed out of bed. Seth had asked someone to seal the windows with iron wire. As if that wasn¡¯t enough, over half a dozen bodyguards were on patrol outside the vi. Looking at all the men outside, she felt helpless. She was the weaker party now, and she knew that the Javis family could notpete with the Lester family. After the stock market turmoil a few years ago, the Javis family had slowly plunged into a decline. Otherwise, Seth would never have dared to bully her like this. Seth was certain that the Javis family wouldn¡¯t want to fight against him¨Cnor would they be able to, so he didn¡¯t hold back when pushing Tasha to the wall. Tasha bit her lip and held her belly, feelingpletely and utterly powerless. With a heavy heart, she headed downstairs to the living room. She was still pregnant. No matter how hopeless her situation was, she had to cheer up. The baby needed her. The news was broadcasting financial news, telling the legendary story of the Larson Group. It became one of the leadingpanies in both Barnes and Seacisco within only a few years. Tasha pursed her lips. She remembered that the reason why Seth had gone back to Seacisco was because of the war between the Lester family and the Larson Group. Under the attack of the Larson Group, the Lester family¡¯s stock price had fallen sharply. If there was anyone who could beat Seth, it had to be Brandon Larson, CEO of the Larson Group, who was also known to have another identity as a Lester¨CEthan Lester. After mulling over it for a long time, Tasha finally decided to cooperate with Ethan in secret. She was still Seth¡¯s wife. Maybe she could make a deal with Ethan. The Lester family had made tons of money over the years. How could their hands be totally clean? Since Seth was so cruel to her, she decided to respond in kind. Tasha turned off the TV and hurried back to her room, clutching onto the railing for support. She was locked up here. If she wanted to contact Brandon, she had to get out first. Fortunately, Seth didn¡¯t take away her IDs. During dinner, Tasha deliberately knocked over all the dishes on the table. When they heard the shattering of the tes, the bodyguards burst through the door and rushed in. When they got to the dining room, they found Tasha sitting at the table calmly. She wiped her mouth elegantly and said, ¡°Tell Seth that I¡¯ve made up my mind. I¡¯ll give up custody of the child, but there are some other things about the divorce that I have to discuss with him face to face. Tell him toe here himself. Otherwise, I¡¯ll do everything in my power to get rid of this child, even if there¡¯re dozens of bodyguards watching over me.¡± Chapter 608 Chapter 608 When Seth heard from the bodyguard that Tasha was willing to divorce, he rushed back to Sugden from Seacisco that weekend. It had been a month since thest time they met. Tasha was wearing a tight dress today. Her limbs were still slender, but her belly looked a little more round. There were dark circles under her eyes, and she looked very haggard. But Seth didn¡¯t give a damn about her; he just cared about the health of the baby in Tasha¡¯s belly. After all, he had no feelings for the baby¡¯s mother. As the eldest Lester child in his generation, he shouldered the responsibility of carrying on the family name. Seth wouldn¡¯t have even gotten married if it weren¡¯t for this responsibility. In his opinion, marriage was nothing but troublesome, and he would lose some of his assets if he divorced his wife¨Cjust like what was happening now. ¡°I¡¯ve brought mywyer here. If all goes well, we can draw up a divorce agreement now.¡± Seth sat on the sofa leisurely, looking very arrogant. Thewyer stood behind him, with a thick wad of documents in his hand. It seemed that he had prepared for this long before they came here. Tasha sneered with disdain. ¡°No problem.¡± She nced at thewyer and said in a rxed tone, ¡°I don¡¯t want any shares in yourpany. It¡¯s too troublesome. I just want money. I want a third of your estate¡ªall your cars, antiques, jewelry, and so on should belong to me. Lastly, I want five hundred million in cash.¡± Seth¡¯s nostrils red. ¡°That¡¯s a bit too much, don¡¯t you think? You haven¡¯t contributed a cent to this family, yet you want to rob me blind.¡± When Seth heord from the bodyguord thot Tosho wos willing to divorce, he rushed bock to Sugden from Seocisco thot weekend. It hod been o month since the lost time they met. Tosho wos weoring o tight dress todoy. Her limbs were still slender, but her belly looked o little more round. There were dork circles under her eyes, ond she looked very hoggord. But Seth didn¡¯t give o domn obout her; he just cored obout the heolth of the boby in Tosho¡¯s belly. After oll, he hod no feelings for the boby¡¯s mother. As the eldest Lester child in his generotion, he shouldered the responsibility of corrying on the fomily nome. Seth wouldn¡¯t hove even gotten morried if it weren¡¯t for this responsibility. In his opinion, morrioge wos nothing but troublesome, ond he would lose some of his ossets if he divorced his wife¨Cjust like whot wos hoppening now. ¡°I¡¯ve brought my lowyer here. If oll goes well, we con drow up o divorce ogreement now.¡± Seth sot on the sofo leisurely, looking very orrogont. The lowyer stood behind him, with o thick wod of documents in his hond. It seemed thot he hod prepored for this long before theye here. Tosho sneered with disdoin. ¡°No problem.¡± She glonced ot the lowyer ond soid in o reloxed tone, ¡°I don¡¯t wont ony shores in yourpony. It¡¯s too troublesome. I just wont money. I wont o third of your estote¡ªoll your cors, ontiques, jewelry, ond so on should belong to me. Lostly, I wont five hundred million in cosh.¡± Seth¡¯s nostrils flored. ¡°Thot¡¯s o bit too much, don¡¯t you think? You hoven¡¯t contributed o cent to this fomily, yet you wont to rob me blind.¡± Truth be told, the money wasn¡¯t that big a deal to Seth, but he was currently in the middle of a fierce fight with Larson Group. He didn¡¯t want to let go of five hundred million for no good reason. Tasha put forward these exorbitant conditions on purpose. She had taken into ount Seth¡¯s cold- blooded and selfish personality. The bigger the request she put in, the more convinced Seth would be that she really was willing to give up the child. ¡°You¡¯re the one who asked for a divorce, not me. Won¡¯t it be worth it to buy your freedom with a little money? I mean, I¡¯m sure your mistress can¡¯t wait to see us divorced.¡± Tasha smiledcently. Seth fell silent, thinking it over. Tasha only requested for money, property, et cetera. Although it was by no means a trivial amount, he could afford it. Besides, she didn¡¯t wantpany shares, which made things a lot easier. Seth sneered with disdain on the inside. On the surface, however, he wore his usual smile and said simply, ¡°As you wish.¡± Seth studied the woman in front of him. She probably pretended to want the child at first in order to deliberately quarrel with him. That way, she could demand more in the divorce. ncing at thewyer behind him, Seth asked dryly, ¡°Did you hear Mrs. Lester¡¯s demands? Draw up an agreement now.¡± Thewyer quickly did as he was told and showed the divorce agreement to Tasha. Tasha read through it carefully twice. Then, she smiled. ¡°Looks good. Let¡¯s sign it.¡± Seth took the document and scanned through it briefly. Before signing it, he warned Tasha again, ¡°Remember to take good care of yourself. If the child doesn¡¯t survive, I¡¯ll kick you out of the LesterN?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. family without giving you a penny.¡± Caressing her belly, Tasha said with a particrly rxed expression, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. With so much money at stake, I have to give birth to a healthy baby. I¡¯m in my twenties. A child would only slow me down. I¡¯d rather leave the child to you and leave with the money. The money will be enough for me until I find another young handsome man.¡± Hearing this, Seth couldn¡¯t help but frown slightly. Without saying anything more, he stood up and left with thewyer. Now that she was alone, Tasha slumped over the sofa as though her soul left her body. The adrenaline wore off and she panted slightly, patting her belly gently. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my baby.¡± Over the next few days, Tasha killed time at home by baking desserts, arranging flowers, painting, reading, and watching TV. It could even be said that she was enjoying herself. Whenever the doctor checked her, he¡¯d dere her healthy. Seth had been monitoring Tasha¡¯s situation through the CCTV cameras. Seeing her like this, he was completely relieved and removed the bodyguards inside and outside the vi. Now that Tasha had decided to give up custody of the child, there was no need for him to imprison her. Chapter 609 Chapter 609 One day, Tasha woke up to an especially quiet vi. It turned out that the all bodyguards had left. It seemed that Seth had finally let down his guard against her. Tasha got out of bed and found a servant. ¡°Tell Seth that I¡¯m going back to Seacisco to visit Grandma. I heard that she had gotten sick some time ago, but I wasn¡¯t able to go back to visit her.¡± When the servant informed Seth about this, thetter didn¡¯t think too much about it. It was true that Nora was seriously ill. Maybe the news of Tasha¡¯s pregnancy would cheer her up. With Seth¡¯s permission, Tasha arrived at Seacisco by ne that very evening. Just a few years ago, she used to study in a famous design school in Seacisco. However, in a rush to marry Seth, she left Seacisco as soon as she graduated and hadn¡¯t been back since. Ever since Nora fell ill, she had been bedridden at home. When Tasha arrived and announced that she was pregnant, Nora was so ecstatic that even her cheeks turned a little ruddy. She held Tasha¡¯s hand and smiled happily. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful news. You¡¯ve been married to Seth for so many years. Finally, I¡¯m going to have a great grandchild!¡± Tasha smiled faintly. ¡°Seth and I have talked about it, and we¡¯ve decided to let you name the child when it¡¯s born. Grandma, you must do your best to recover so that you can be there for your first great grandchild!¡± Not wanting to spoil Nora¡¯s good mood, Tasha decided not to mention anything about the divorce. Nora was so happy that she squeezed Tasha¡¯s hand tightly. Tasha kept chatting with Nora until thetter fell asleep from exhaustion. After Nora¡¯s breath steadied, Tasha pulled out her phone and made a call. ******* As soon as Ethan got home from work, he received a call from a stranger. The woman on the other end of the line said that she was Tasha Javis, Seth¡¯s wife. She wanted to cooperate with Larson Group to defeat the Lester family. Ethan didn¡¯t believe that Tasha would side with him. After all, this woman was Seth¡¯s wife. The Lester family and the Larson Group were in the middle of a fierce fight. Why would Seth¡¯s own wife want to help him at this critical moment? Tasha seemed to realize that Ethan didn¡¯t believe her, so she added anxiously, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, we can talk face to face. I¡¯m currently staying with the Lester family, but I don¡¯t have much time. Seth may send me back to Sugden any day now. How about we meet tomorrow afternoon at the Seacisco Resort?¡± Ethan didn¡¯t answer right away. Recently, news that Seth was having an affair with the daughter of the Walker family had been spread all over the Inte. It made sense that his wife hated him. Still, it might be a trap. Therefore, Ethan didn¡¯t make any promises. ¡°If I have time, I¡¯ll meet you there.¡± Then, without waiting for a response, he hung up abruptly. ¡°Who was that? It sounded like a woman.¡± When Ethan answered the phone just now, J was right next to him. She reached up and pinched his cheek yfully. ¡°Tell me. Who was she? How do you know this woman?¡± Ethan scooped J in his arms and exined, ¡°It was Seth¡¯s wife, Tasha Javis.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± J responded perfunctorily, fiddling with Ethan¡¯s cor. Then, something clicked and her eyes widened in shock. ¡°Tasha?¡± she gasped. Seeing her strange reaction, Ethan chuckled. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do you know her?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I knew a Tasha Javis back in college. She was two years older than me and she also majored in fashion design. Actually she¡¯s also from Sugden. In my freshman year, we teamed up in a designpetition held by the school. She was awesome. I thought she¡¯d work as a fashion designer after graduating, butter I heard that she got married right after graduation. What a pity.¡± J had a good impression of Tasha, her quiet and reserved friend. Tasha was very talented when it came to fashion design and was very meticulous with details. ¡°That should be her. Seth¡¯s wife is from Sugden. He was eager to expand the family business to Sugden at the time, so he married the daughter of the powerful Javis family,¡± Ethan recalled. J couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°So why¡¯d she call? How¡¯s she doing? She¡¯s from a rich family and she married into another rich family. I doubt the Lester family would treat her badly.¡± Ethan wasn¡¯t as optimistic as J. ¡°Seth doesn¡¯t give a damn about her. You never heard that Tasha was Seth¡¯s wife, right? That¡¯s because Seth has never shown up with her in public, nor does he ever mention her. Clearly, she isn¡¯t important to Seth.¡± Hearing this, J frowned and fell silent. It turned out that living in a wealthy family didn¡¯t automatically trante to happiness. ******* Tasha wasn¡¯t sure whether Ethan woulde or not. His answer on the phone the previous day was vague and inconclusive. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. But this was her only chance at teaming up with him. So the following day, Tasha told Nora that she wanted to go shopping and then left the house without a hitch. So as to not arouse suspicion, she did go shopping. Toting several shopping bags, she went to the Seacisco Resort and walked into the private room she had booked in their restaurant. Inside, at the table sat a very beautiful woman. A tall, handsome man with a noble air sat next to her. Tasha had seen Brandon Larson¡¯s photos on TV and in magazines before. While he looked good in photos, Tasha had to admit that he looked even better in reality. His pronounced facial features gave him an unapproachable, god-like aura. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯mte. Seth has a bodyguard watching me, so I had to make up an excuse: shopping.¡± Tasha put down the shopping bags and smiled at the couple apologetically. After taking her seat, she took a deep breath and said firmly, ¡°Mr. Larson, I promise that this won¡¯t be a waste of your time. I can definitely help you deal with Seth once and for all.¡± Chapter 610 Chapter 610 Ethan wasn¡¯t in a rush. He took the menu and leafed through it unhurriedly. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk business at the table. Let¡¯s have dinner first.¡± Tasha¡¯s mouth snapped shut instantly. Embarrassed, she picked up the ss on the table and took a sip of water to calm herself down. This man was different from what she had imagined. Even though he was just sitting there, he had an overwhelming aura about him. The delicate and beautiful woman next to him, on the other hand, looked very approachable and even a little familiar. Tasha couldn¡¯t help but steal a few more nces at her. Just then, the woman looked at her, and the two¡¯s eyes met. Tilting her head to the side curiously, J asked with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t you remember me? We studied at the same university.¡± Tasha put down the ss and shook her head in surprise. ¡°Mrs. Larson, did you also major in fashion design?¡± Such a beautiful woman should¡¯ve been one of the campus belles. Why didn¡¯t she remember her at all? J chuckled. ¡°We joined the same designpetition, remember? Well, my name at the time was J Lind. Do you remember?¡± N?velDrama.Org content rights. As Tasha stared at the smiling face of the woman in front of her, the memory of the innocent young girl gradually surfaced in her mind. ¡°You¡¯ve changed!¡± Tasha smiled in pleasant surprise. What a small world! How could she have forgotten about the J Lind? At the time, J¡¯s knack for fashion design had impressed her greatly. It was just that J didn¡¯t wear make-up back then. Now she wore light makeup, but it made all the difference. Tasha had seen clips of J¡¯s and Brandon¡¯s wedding, but she hadn¡¯t recognized her at all. It could only be said that a woman living happily in love would really bloom. And this was definitely true for J. Tasha sighed heavily. ¡°I never thought we¡¯d meet again, J. You studied so hard back in the day, all the while bncing studies with a part-time job. Now, you¡¯re the wife of a big-time CEO. Looks like all your hard work paid off!¡± She smiled bitterly, thinking that life was really unpredictable. ¡°You married into the Lester family. Your husband is also rich and powerful. Isn¡¯t that good?¡± J tried tofort her. Tasha was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Why did she envy her now? ¡°I¡­ Well, to put it simply, I married the wrong person. Even if he¡¯s rich and powerful¡ªwhat does that matter if he¡¯s cold and heartless?¡± Tasha looked down sadly. J reached across the table and held Tasha¡¯s hand. ¡°Tasha, why¡¯d youe to us? Is there anything we can do for you?¡± Looking at J¡¯s concerned expression, Tasha couldn¡¯t help but burst into tears. ¡°Seth is a jerk. I¡¯m pregnant, but he forced me to divorce him. As if the divorce isn¡¯t enough, he ns to take the baby away once it¡¯s born.¡± J was shocked to hear that. She had heard that Seth had a new girlfriend in Seacisco, but she had no idea that he also had a pregnant wife! She nced at Ethan and then turned tofort Tasha. She said through gritted teeth, ¡°Seth has gone too far. You can¡¯t give the child to him!¡± Tasha shook her head firmly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve thought it over and there¡¯s no way I¡¯ll let him raise my child. But I don¡¯t have the power to fight him, and the Javis family is no longer what it used to be. That being said, I had no choice but to ask you guys for help.¡± Only then did Ethan put down the menu. He was not too surprised. He didn¡¯t have many interactions with Seth before, but he knew for a fact that Seth was not as nice and gentle as he looked. In fact, Seth was proud and conceited. He had been regarded as the best heir of the younger generation in the Lester family ever since he was a child. He was sent abroad at the age of five or six, and as a result, he had never experienced the love of a parent. Maybe it was because of this that he eventually decided to shut himself off. In Ethan¡¯s opinion, Seth was the most unfeeling person in the Lester family, bordering on psychopathic. He was even crueler than Elissa and Ritchie, and his means were more ruthless than that of Patrick. Ethan looked at Tasha steadily and asked, ¡°What are you nning to do?¡± Tasha looked at him and pleaded, ¡°I wanted to cooperate with you to defeat Seth, but you have to promise me that in the end, I¡¯ll be able to escape the Lester family with my child.¡± Chapter 611 Chapter 611 Ethan¡¯s eyes were immediately drawn to Tasha¡¯s slightly bulging belly. While he believed Tasha, he also knew that Seth was a cunning man. There was no way he could be sure if this was a trap or not. Frowning slightly, he figured he should tread lightly. ¡°If you really want to help me defeat Seth, then good. But what exactly can you do for me?¡± Ethan leaned back and spoke in a businesslike manner. ¡°Seth has made a lot of money in Sugden over the past few years, but his hands are not so clean. His business is booming because of nasty, under-the-table deals. Unlike Elissa and Ritchie, Seth is good at hiding his true self¡ªwhich only makes him more dangerous. When he encounters tricky problems, he pretends that he doesn¡¯t care about them on the surface, but then he¡¯ll secretly deal with them by illegal means.¡± The more Tasha revealed, the more worked up she became. ¡°Do you have any proof?¡± Ethan looked at her sharply. Tasha paused hesitantly. Most of what she said was just spection. She didn¡¯t have any substantial evidence now. Ethan read her mind. As a cautious man, Seth was likely to cover his trail. If Tasha really had evidence, she could¡¯ve negotiated with him by herself. Why would shee to the Larson Group for help? ¡°You want my help, but you can offer nothing useful to me. I don¡¯t like to engage in risky business. While I do feel sorry for your miserable marriage, there¡¯s nothing I can do about it. I think what you need is a goodwyer, not me.¡± Ethan was a businessman after all. If he was the kind of person who helped anyone in need, he¡¯d be running a charity instead of a business. Tasha bit her lip anxiously. ¡°I don¡¯t have dirt on Seth now, but I can dig around. Now that Seth has dropped his guard against me, I¡¯m sure I can get my hands on some of his dirty secrets. Besides, I¡¯m still a Mrs. Lester; if anything happens, I¡¯ll be the first to know.¡± J quietly listened to their exchange. It wasn¡¯t appropriate for her to side with Tasha. Ethan wanted to take the Lester family down for good, and this was something he had been preparing for years. He just couldn¡¯t afford to make mistakes. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Ethan thought that this cooperation was a huge risk, but perhaps it was a risk was worth taking. What Tasha said made sense. She could be a spy in the Lester family and keep an eye on Seth for him at all times. Of course, he still had to be careful. Ethan took out a business card from his suit pocket, wrote down his number on the back, and handed it to Tasha. ¡°This is my other phone number. If you find anything, just call this number. Remember to delete all traces ofmunication between us. Seth is very smart. If he catches on, it won¡¯t affect my n, but he won¡¯t let you off that easily.¡± Tasha took the business card from Ethan and held it tightly, as if she was grasping at a life-saving straw. Seeing that the negotiation hade to an end, Ethan stood up and took J¡¯s hand to leave. Before stepping out of the private room, J looked over her shoulder and waved at Tasha. ¡°Bye, Tasha.¡± Tasha forced a smile and waved back. After leaving the private room, Ethan asked softly, ¡°Do you feel bad for her?¡± J hesitated for a while. ¡°Tasha not only did well in school, but she¡¯s also from a rich family. She should¡¯ve had the perfect life, right? If I hadn¡¯t seen it with my own eyes today, I would never have imagined that she was living such a hard life. While her husband bullies her, her family can¡¯t help her. Now, she barely has anyone to turn to.¡± Looking at the sad look on J¡¯s face, Ethan pinched her cheek and kissed her hard. ¡°I thought you were going to say that I¡¯m ruthless. Tasha just didn¡¯t choose the right path in the beginning. Now that she wants to start over again, better times may be ahead.¡± ******* Exhausted, Tasha returned to the Lester family home with her shopping bags. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of Seth in the living room. Clenching the bags she was holding, she asked tentatively, ¡°What¡¯re you doing here?¡± If Seth found out that she had gone to meet Ethan, she was screwed! Seth sat cross-legged, leaned against the sofa. After taking a sip of the tea, he exined indifferently, ¡°Grandma¡¯s condition is getting worse, so I sent her to a private hospital. Dad practically lives in the office, Mom¡¯s in prison, and my brother is still in a sanatorium. I can¡¯t allow this house to stay empty, so I moved back.¡± Tasha felt a little relieved. Just as she opened her mouth to say something, she heard a woman¡¯s voice coming from the stairs. Julia, who was dressed to a tee, came downstairs and cried, ¡°Seth, this house is huge! Which room should I take? Yours?¡± Chapter 612 Chapter 612 Tasha was stunned when she saw Juliaing down the stairs. She turned around and sneered at Seth in disgust. ¡°You bastard. How dare you bring your mistress into the house of the Lester family? If word gets out, you will humiliate your family name!¡± Before Seth could say anything, Julia spoke up for him. She looked at Tasha and smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, Miss Javis. I was the one who asked Seth if I could move in. Because his vi is so empty at night, and I was scared to live alone there¡­¡± Julia had fallen head over heels in love with Seth. She had thought that Seth was just toying with her. After all, he was a married man. However, she soon found out that she was his only girlfriend, and he didn¡¯t get along with his wife. Julia was overjoyed. Now, she felt more confident than ever that she would soon rece Tasha and be the new Mrs. Lester. She had heard that Tasha hade to Seacisco and was living in the Lester family¡¯s house. Julia had never seen Tasha before, not even in photos. Seth had never brought her to important asions, so there were no photos of her on the Inte or in magazines. Julia was then desperate to see what Seth¡¯s wife looked like. She figured that Tasha was getting old and would go crazy with jealousy after seeing that Seth¡¯s new girlfriend was so young and beautiful. So she proposed to move into the Lester family¡¯s house with Seth. Seth really couldn¡¯t care less. There were many vacant rooms in the Lester family¡¯s house anyway. Besides, if he didn¡¯t agree, Julia would keep begging him like a spoiled child. So it didn¡¯t take long for him to cave. Tasha knew that Julia was deliberately trying to provoke her. She averted her gaze and didn¡¯t say anything more. Now that Seth was the head of the family, she couldn¡¯t object to his decision. Julia looked at Tasha and continued to pester her. ¡°Miss Javis, you don¡¯t mind, do you?¡± Tasha smiled calmly. ¡°You¡¯re the daughter of the famous Walker family, but you disgrace yourself by bing the mistress of a married man. Since you don¡¯t mind it, why should I?¡± Her voice was as gentle as usual. Julia didn¡¯t feel ashamed of her behavior at all. Seeing that Tasha was unfazed, she sneered in disdain. ¡°Why should I mind living here? I¡¯ll be the new hostess of this house soon anyway. Miss Javis, please pack your things and leave as soon as possible. You¡¯ll only dy my wedding with Seth.¡± N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Tasha knew that Julia was a shameless woman, but she didn¡¯t think that she¡¯d be this shameless. She raised her head and studied Julia¡¯s proud expression. Suddenly, Tasha¡¯s anger dissipated. She only felt disgusted and even a bit sorry for this woman. Undoubtedly, Julia¡¯s behavior was appalling. How could the daughter of a decent family settle for being a mistress? But at the same time, Tasha felt pity for her. Julia had fallen in love with a cold-blooded, heartless man. She was destined to be unhappy. The second she was no longer of use to Seth, she would be ruthlessly abandoned. Tasha¡¯s experience was living proof. Such a bright and charming woman would soon wither and decay. Tasha couldn¡¯t help but be reminded of herself from a few years ago. She was so crazy about love at that time that she was willing to sacrifice everything she had for Seth. The quarrel between the two women gave Seth a headache. Annoyed, he warned Tasha unhappily, ¡°You¡¯ve been talking a lot today.¡± Tasha fell silent immediately. If she wanted to dig up evidence of Seth¡¯s crimes, she had to get as close as possible to him. However, while she was in Seacisco, Seth didn¡¯t stay in the Lester family¡¯s house, so she didn¡¯t get a chance to glean anything from him. Now, since Julia had brought him here, perhaps Tasha had a chance now. So Tasha decided to seize this opportunity and pretended to be angry. Snorting loudly, she ran upstairs in a huff. Juliaughed loudly and said to Seth, ¡°Your wife is really something.¡± Seth replied emotionlessly, ¡°Why do you bother to argue with her?¡± ¡°I just like seeing her face when she¡¯s being bullied. It¡¯s so funny!¡± Suddenly, Julia batted her eyshes at the man coquettishly. ¡°I¡¯m going to live here from now on. How exciting!¡± Unamused, Seth nodded absentmindedly. Chapter 613 Chapter 613 From that day on, Seth and Julia lived in the Lester family¡¯s house. Tasha stayed at home most of the time, but unfortunately, so did Julia. Thetter didn¡¯t have a job after all. She¡¯d get up very early every day, st music on loudspeakers, and sing at the top of her lungs in the living room. Tasha was prone to drowsiness now that she was pregnant. Being awoken by the ruckus in the living room, she went downstairs gloomily. Of course, Julia noticed. smiledcently and said, ¡°Do you feel ufortable living here, Miss Javis? We young people need to stay active. If you feel that I¡¯m too loud, why don¡¯t you just move out?¡± Julia spoke half-heartedly. If Tasha moved out, it would knock some joy out of her. She enjoyed humiliating and bullying Tasha at home every day. If this had taken ce in the past, Tasha wouldn¡¯t have tolerated such bullshit. But now, she simply looked at Julia with an indifferent attitude, She saw Julia as a clown¡ªa hateful, ridiculous, and pathetic clown. One day, when Julia was no longer of use to Seth, he would show her his true colors. It¡¯d be toote for Julia by then. ¡°It¡¯s fine by me. There¡¯s no one else at home, so it¡¯s nice to bring a little life into this house.¡± Tasha smiled at Julia, unfazed. ¡°Well, as long as you don¡¯t mind.¡± Julia wanted to see how long Tasha would be able to put up with her shenanigans. Things were getting more and more interesting. In order to keep Julia from leaving, Tasha talked to her every day while secretly keeping an eye on Seth. Ever since Julia had moved into the Lester family¡¯s house, Seth hade home every day to have dinner with her, which meant that now he was spending a lot more time at home. Tasha couldn¡¯t help but think about their past, when they still lived in Sugden. After getting married, Seth always said that he was very busy and stayed at the office 90% of the time. He only ever came home when he wanted to have sex. Tasha felt it ironic. This was the first time that she and her husband had lived under the same roof for so long, but it was only because he had brought his mistress home. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. What a good actor! If Tasha hadn¡¯t already known that he was a heartless man, she really would¡¯ve thought that Julia was his true love. After dinner, Seth usually went to the study to deal with the rest of his work. ¡°Please excuse me. I have some work to finish in the study.¡± Seth stood up and stroked Julia¡¯s hair gently. Then, he went upstairs with hisptop bag. He didn¡¯t even cast a nce at Tasha the whole time. The old Tasha would have felt absolutely crestfallen. The new Tasha however, didn¡¯t even give a damn. What she did give a damn about was how to get her hands on evidence of Seth¡¯s crimes. She noticed that theptop that Seth brought back home every day was the same one, and he never let anyone get close to it, not even his assistant. He always carried it himself. Not wanting to arouse suspicion, Tasha tore her gaze away from theptop bag in Seth¡¯s hand. There had to be something important in hisptop¡ªsomething so important that he didn¡¯t let anyone else touch it. The problem was, how was she going to get it? Noticing that Tasha had been staring at Seth¡¯s back, Julia sneered smugly. ¡°No matter what you do, Seth will never look at you. He loves me, not you. He even said it in bedst night.¡± What a silly, naive girl! She had no idea what wasing to her. Tasha was really tempted to tell her that Seth was a psychopath who loved no one but himself. However, seeing the triumphant smile on Julia¡¯s face, Tasha couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. She took a piece of tissue to wipe her mouth and murmured a half-hearted apology, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± The following morning, Tasha sneaked out to see Ethan in secret. Chapter 614 Chapter 614 Tasha, J, and Ethan met up at a cafe. ¡°I think Seth is hiding something in hisptop.¡± Tasha went straight to telling Ethan her theory. ¡°Do you know how to hack aputer? I¡¯ve been a housewife for so long and don¡¯t know anything about tech. One time, I saw Seth type in two passwords to unlock hisptop. I wouldn¡¯t dare to try unlocking his laptop without professional help!¡± Tasha said with a crooked smile. She had been married to Seth for several years now. It took a lot of courage for her to admit to outsiders that she knew nothing about her husband. ¡°Piece of cake.¡± After pondering for a while, Ethan said, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone send you a sh drive in a few days. As long as you¡¯re able to plug it into hisptop, virus in the sh drive will automatically crack the firewalls and copy all the data in theptop. But, depending on how much data is in hisptop, it might take a long time, so you have to find the right opportunity to do this.¡± ¡°Oh, my God! Thank you.¡± Tasha bobbed her head up and down enthusiastically. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Then, she lowered her head and looked at the delicate peach-shaped cake in front of her quietly. ¡°How have you beentely? I heard that Julia moved into the Lester family¡¯s house. Didn¡¯t anyone in the Lester family object?¡± Seeing that Tasha looked depressed, J was reminded of the gossip on the news this morning. The paparazzi in Seacisco had to thank Seth for all the material he was feeding them. They even had a column about his affair with Julia now. Tasha let out a long sigh and scooped up a forkful of cake. With a lump in her throat, she exined, ¡°There¡¯s no one living in the Lester family¡¯s house now except us. Nora¡¯s in a private hospital and Patrick practically lives in the office because of everything that has happened. Seth¡¯s the actual master of the house now.¡± J fell silent. She had no idea how to console Tasha. Perhaps it was because Tasha was a mother now that J felt that Tasha was a lot stronger than she was at school. When they were still in school, J had held a good impression of Tasha. Thetter was a quiet, soft woman. She didn¡¯t put on any airs as a richdy at all. ¡°Be careful. If Seth finds out that you¡¯re betraying him, he won¡¯t let you go unpunished.¡± Worry was written all over J¡¯s face. She reached out to pat Tasha¡¯s hand gently. She sympathized with Tasha, and she couldn¡¯t help but want to look out for her. Tasha smiled faintly. She would stay cautious and try her best, and then leave the rest to fate. Two dayster, Tasha received a sh drive from Ethan. She kept it hidden and paid close attention to Seth whenever he was at home, waiting for an opportunity to strike. ******* It was a cloudy day and dewy raindrops still littered the window pane after the torrential rain. In a hotel room somewhere in Europe, Laney was pacing back and forth inside the bathroom anxiously. She kept looking at the pregnancy test stick on the washstand. Her throat seemed to be blocked by cotton and she could not breathe. She couldn¡¯t have been pregnant. After she had sex with Garrett that one time, she took emergency contraception the following day. But her period hadn¡¯te yet. Laney¡¯s menstruation was always punctual, so she immediately knew that something was wrong. At first, she had simply chalked it up to stress. However, when she ordered a medium rare steak one day, she felt like vomiting at the sight of blood oozing out of the steak. Suspecting that she was pregnant, she immediately bought a pregnancy test stick and rushed back to the hotel. The rm clock on her phone interrupted her train of thoughts. Five minutes had passed. Laney hurried to pick up the pregnancy test stick. Two lines gradually appeared in the originally colorless grid. Staring at this terrible mark, Laney felt as though her soul was leaving her body. Chapter 615 Chapter 615 In a daze, Laney squatted beside the bathtub and hugged herself, burying her face in her knees. Listening to her beating heart, an indescribable fear began to take over her. She didn¡¯t know how long she had squatted there, but her legs and feet started to feel numb. Then she staggered and stood up with the help of the edge of the bathtub. Her first instinct was to check the Inte for answers. Sure enough, it said that sometimes pregnancy tests were inurate, although it was a small possibility. Laney thought that maybe it was a fluke, so she went to the hospital to have herself checked. The hospital was full of foreigners, which scared Laney a little. This was even scarier than the first time she was sent to a hospital after she was injured in a mission. Aftering out of the examination room, she sat on a bench and waited for the results in a trance. Thirty minutester, a woman in ab coat came out to confirm her worst fears: she was in fact pregnant. All of a sudden, Laney felt that her whole world was overturned. ¡°Miss, are you okay?¡± The doctor asked worriedly when she saw that Laney was shaking. ¡°Yes, yes. Thank you.¡± But Laney was so shocked that she couldn¡¯t even force a smile. She sat down on the bench, not even daring to think about what she should do next. The only thought in her mind at the moment was to abort the baby. She didn¡¯t want to be tied to Garrett. Moreover, she wasn¡¯t ready to be a mother! In fact, she had never even thought about bing a mother before. Moreover, Laney¡¯s parents had died when she was very young. How could she be a good mother if she never had one herself? She wandered around the hospital aimlessly before finally deciding to grab something to eat. However, before she even knew it, she subconsciously considered only food that was suitable for pregnant women, avoiding that which wasn¡¯t. When she finally realized what she was doing, she ran her fingers through her hair in distress. She really wanted to abort the child, but she found that she didn¡¯t have the heart to do it. A new life was growing inside her body. She didn¡¯t want to kill it with her own hands. But if the baby was born, it would be fatherless¡­ ¡°This is your own fault. You shouldn¡¯t have had sex with him in the first ce!¡± She scolded herself ruthlessly. What should she do? Lost in thought, she didn¡¯t even notice the man standing behind her. The young man was Corey Finch, a new member of Pole Shadow. Quite recently, when he was on his first mission, the enemy captured him and held him hostage in a club. It was Laney who had rescued him. He wanted to thank her in person, but Laney left the day after he was saved. It seemed that they were destined to meet again. He was on a mission here, and by sheer coincidence, he ran into Laney again. Corey was pleasantly surprised to see Laney. When he was about to go up to her to say hello, he remembered that this was the OB-GYN Department. Was she pregnant? Corey¡¯s eyebrows shot up in surprise. He quickly ducked his head and deliberately avoided Laney, wondering who the father of the child was. To be honest, although Laney was a beautiful woman, she was one hell of a fighter. No man in Pole Shadow dared to flirt with her. There was only Garrett who managed to stick around Laney. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. So was the child his? Garrett was the one who recruited Corey into Pole Shadow. Thus, he was steadfastly loyal to Garrett and the two men were close. He guessed that since Laney hade to the hospital alone in a foreign country for a pregnancy test, it was very likely that Garrett didn¡¯t know about her pregnancy. Therefore, Corey promptly called Garrett and told him about this. Chapter 616 Chapter 616 Garrett was stunned when he received the phone call. Afraid that he might¡¯ve heard it wrong, he rified in a trembling voice, ¡°Did you say that Laney¡¯s pregnant?¡± Hearing Corey¡¯s affirmative answer, Garrett was so ecstatic that he nearly pumped his fist in the air. He was absolutely sure that the baby was his. He was going to be a father! It took Garrett a long time to calm down. Now he absolutely had to see Laney. She was pregnant¡ªwith his child, none the less. He couldn¡¯t let her live alone in a foreign country. After getting the details from Corey, he flew to Europe at once. Thanks to his subordinates¡¯ due diligence, he soon found out where Laney was staying. ******* Laney had racked her brains all day long but she still hadn¡¯te up with a solution. On the contrary, she only felt more conflicted and frustrated. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. While she didn¡¯t have the heart to abort the child, she couldn¡¯t let the child be born into an iplete family. Laney was an orphan. She knew how hard it was to have no family. She never considered having a child of her own before, but now that she was pregnant, she felt the need for her child to haveplete family¡ªwhich meant having a father. Just then, there was a sudden knock on the door. All Laney could think about was the baby. In a daze, she went to open the door. When she saw Garrett standing outside, she waspletely stunned. Garrett had on the biggest grin and he held up a bag of tonics. ¡°Let me in first.¡± Before Laney coulde to her senses and shut the door, Garrett had already squeezed past her. He put the tonics on the table and shrugged off his coat as though he owned the ce. Rubbing his hands vigorously, he whined, ¡°It¡¯s freezing out! Europe is nowhere near as good as home. Let¡¯s go back. I¡¯ll book a flight for tomorrow morning.¡± Laney was speechless. Rage and fury pumped through her veins. ¡°Why the hell are you here? And how¡¯d you know where I was?¡± Garrett was thest person Laney wanted to see right now. Garrett clicked his tongue and made Laney sit down on the edge of the bed. ¡°You can¡¯t get too emotional. You¡¯re pregnant after all. That¡¯s why I came, by the way. It¡¯s my child, isn¡¯t it?¡± Laney was stunned. ¡°How did you know I¡¯m pregnant?¡± She didn¡¯t even tell J that she was in Europe. In fact, she deliberately told J that she was going to America to throw Garrett off her trail. And she only found out that she was pregnant yesterday. She hadn¡¯t told a soul, yet Garrett somehow heard about it and found her here. How was this even possible? Garrett squatted in front of her, held her hand, and said gently but firmly, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everythingter. Now answer me this one, were you nning to tell me that you were pregnant?¡± Laney pulled her hand out of his and shrugged helplessly. ¡°Even if I told you, what could you do? It wouldn¡¯t have solved the problem. In fact, it¡¯d only make things worse.¡± Garrett almostughed in exasperation. ¡°So you were nning to solve this all by yourself? Well then, what were you going to do?¡± Chapter 617 Chapter 617 Laney lowered her head, shrinking under his intense gaze. Smiling gently, Garrett straightened up and sat down next to her. He stroked her back and murmured, ¡°Haven¡¯t you made up your mind? Take your time. If you can¡¯t figure it out on your own, you can share the burden with me. It¡¯ll be easier for two people to solve a problem than one.¡± Laney wondered how he could still be so calm. She looked at him and voiced her thoughts. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be bothered at all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I already know what I have to do,¡± Garrett answered simply. ¡°Obviously, you haven¡¯t made up your mind. But I know that you¡¯re too soft to abort the baby.¡± Laney red at him. ¡°What do you ¡®have to do¡¯? Do you want me to have an abortion?¡± Garrett looked at her quietly and suddenly broke into a wide grin. He hadn¡¯t told Laney that on the way here, he had already decided on the names of the children. Yes, children. He hoped that Laney was carrying twins, even though there were never any twins in his family tree. ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Laney. I¡¯ve never considered you or our unborn child a burden. I would never ask you to have an abortion. What I meant was that we can face this together.¡± Garrett spoke sincerely. He seemed to want to say something more but stopped on a second thought. After thinking about it for a while, he eventually decided to say it. ¡°You like me, right? And I like you. So why can¡¯t we be together? How would we know that we¡¯re a bad fit if we don¡¯t even try? Besides, we¡¯re having a child together. It wasn¡¯t in our ns, but it was God¡¯s will. Do you really want to kill it?¡± Laney fell silent. She was having all sorts of feelings right now. Could they really be together? She already had enough problems on her ce. And now, a baby? Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Laney suddenly felt that nothing she did would be the right decision. Seeing the cogs in her brain turning, Garrett knew that she was hesitating. ¡°Since you haven¡¯t decided yet, why don¡¯t youe home with me first? Let¡¯s take baby steps. You¡¯re alone in a strangend; how will you take good care of yourself and the baby?¡± Laney was still silent, at a loss as to what to do. ¡°Laney, I¡¯m serious. If someday you really feel that you can¡¯t live with me, then I¡¯ll respect your choice and walk out of your life forever. But before that, can we at least give us a try?¡± Garrett sighed. How stubborn she was! He had said everything he could, yet he still couldn¡¯t get to her. Laney kept silent for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, she nodded slowly. Seeing this, Garrett was so ecstatic that he leaped up from the bed at once and jumped up and down happily, and then he pulled her up and held her tightly in his arms. Before she could protest, he kissed her madly. Heart racing, he soon began to pack up her things excitedly. ¡°Just rest. I¡¯ll take care of everything. We¡¯re going home!¡± Chapter 618 Chapter 618 The very next day, Garrett and Laney flew back to Barnes. Now that she was back, Laney asked J if they could meet up. The two reserved a table at the Beasley Restaurant. ¡°You¡¯re only been gone a few weeks but I missed you so much!¡± J threw her arms around Laney excitedly. ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t leave again, okay? You¡¯re pregnant now. Garrett will definitely follow you to the ends of the earth from now on!¡± Even after Laney left, she had kept in touch with J. Before she flew back to Barnes, she had told J the news about her pregnancy. ¡°Stop teasing me, J. I¡¯m scared out of my wits.¡± Laney pouted anxiously. ¡°The baby is all part of God¡¯s n. Now that it¡¯s here, just love it with all your heart and leave the rest to Garrett. I¡¯m sure he¡¯s really happy about the baby.¡± Life was unpredictable at times. Laney and Garrett had already parted ways, but now, the baby had once again brought them together. They were just meant to be together! ¡°If there¡¯s anything I can help you with, just tell me. Don¡¯t worry about anything else. I just know that things will work out between you two.¡± J patted Laney¡¯s hand, wishing her happiness. Laney smiled bitterly. ¡°I doubt it. I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t help but feel like the world is about to end. I¡¯ve never felt like this before. If only someone could tell me where this road will take me.¡± Laney sighed heavily. The future felt so uncertain and daunting, and it scared her.N?velDrama.Org content rights. Noticing the restless look on Laney¡¯s face, J held her hand tightly. ¡°Don¡¯t try to leave again. You¡¯re looking out for another human being now, not just yourself.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve made up my mind and I¡¯ve decided to give me and Garrett a shot. For the sake of the baby,¡± Laney patted her tummy gently and smiled. ¡°Have I ever told you that you are one brave woman?¡± J smiled. Laney rolled her eyes and chuckled. ******* That day, Laney moved into Garrett¡¯s house. ¡°I haven¡¯t changed anything in your room since you left. You can stay there if you like. Also, I¡¯ve hired two nutritionists, both of which have worked in Michelin-starred restaurants before. They¡¯ll be here by tomorrow.¡± Garrett hugged Laney from behind, gently cing his hands on her belly. Pecking her on the cheek, he whispered, ¡°I promise I¡¯ll be a good husband and a fantastic father.¡± Laney pursed her lips and looked down at his hands on her belly. Then she turned to look at him and mumbled, ¡°What if I can¡¯t handle the pressure and chicken out? Will you hate me?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be silly.¡± Garrett held her tightly, nting several more kisses on her neck and shoulder. Laney didn¡¯t say anything more. Strangely enough, although she had lived in this house before, this time, she felt as if she had embarked on a whole new journey. But nheless, she looked towards the uncertain future with fierce determination. Chapter 619 Chapter 619 In the Lester family home, Tasha had secretly been keeping watch on Seth these days. Every night, he was always on hisptop in his study. Tasha also noticed that he would routinely take a shower at night, leaving the door to the study unlocked and unguarded. Generally, his showerssted about twenty minutes. Seeing Tasha loitering at the door of Seth¡¯s study one night, Julia thought that Tasha refused to give up on him. She walked over angrily and pulled Tasha to the stairs. ¡°What¡¯re you doing outside Seth¡¯s study? You¡¯re nothing but an ugly pregnant woman and Seth doesn¡¯t like you anymore! Even if you take off all your clothes and stand in front of him naked, he won¡¯t be interested in you!¡± Julia spat arrogantly, crossing her arms over her chest. ¡°Rx. I just happened to pass by the study.¡± Tasha didn¡¯t want to argue with Julia nor did she want to arouse Seth¡¯s suspicion. ncing at Julia¡¯s t chest, she smiled haughtily. ¡°Didn¡¯t Seth tell you that he likes big boobs?¡± Julia subconsciously nced at her own t chest. Only then did she realize that Seth seldom ever touched her chest in bed. Thinking of this, her face turned red in both anger and embarrassment. Tasha let out a chuckle and left. ******* After retreating to her room, Tasha texted Ethan to inquire how long it¡¯d take to copy the data on Seth¡¯s laptop. Ethan confirmed that as long as there wasn¡¯t too much data in theputer, twenty minutes was ample time. Even if she unplugged the sh drive before copying everything, the part of the data that had been copied would still be left in the sh drive. Most importantly, there would be no trace of the hacking left on theputer. Tasha was relieved to hear this. That night, Seth finished dinner and went to his study like clockwork. Tasha went back to her room and waited. Soon enough, she heard footsteps outside the door, which meant that Seth had gone back to his room to take a shower. When Tasha passed by the stairway, she saw Julia watching TV downstairs. This was it¡ªthis was the opportunity she had been waiting for! Tasha cautiously tiptoed into the study. She went straight to Seth¡¯sptop and plugged in the sh drive Ethan gave her. The screen of theputer blinked for a few seconds. It seemed that the system had been cracked by the program on the sh drive. Soon, a progress bar popped up on the screen. Tasha gnawed at her lower lip anxiously. Every second of waiting was torture. A few minutester, she heard Julia¡¯s voice from outside the study. ¡°Seth, she¡¯s inside. I saw her go in!¡± All the color drained from her face. She moved fast and yanked the sh drive out of theptop. She looked around the study in a panic, but there was no ce to hide. The sound of footsteps approaching made Tasha¡¯s heart race. At her wit¡¯s end, Tasha squatted down and pretended to be looking for something in the drawer. At this moment, the doorknob turned. The door swung open and Seth and Julia strode in. Seeing Tasha stand up in a hurry, Julia looked at Sethcently and waited for his reaction. Narrowing his insidious eyes, Seth¡¯s gaze darted between theptop and Tasha. Cold sweat broke out on Tasha¡¯s forehead, but she managed to maintain a calm expression as she secretly slipped the sh drive into her trouser pocket.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Chapter 620 Chapter 620 ¡°I told you! I saw her sneaking into your study just now and I was sure that she was up to no good. Miss Javis, what the hell are you doing here?¡± Julia felt that she had caught Tasha red-handed, which delighted her. Seth walked towards Tasha slowly and then rested his hand on the desk. ¡°What were you doing?¡± he asked coldly. Julia quickly cut in smugly, ¡°She¡¯s probably trying to set you up! A few days ago, I saw her sneaking around outside the study. At first, I thought that she was going to try to seduce you, but when I thought about it further, I realized that she had to be up to something.¡± Tasha¡¯s heart was banging against her chest, but she decided to y along. ¡°Julia¡¯s right. I wanted to dig some dirt on you.¡± She nced at Julia and snorted, ¡°You thought I wanted to seduce Seth? I¡¯m sorry. I never take back any men I¡¯ve broken up with.¡± Seth¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°What do you want, Tasha?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Tasha gritted her teeth and acted like she couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. She pointed at Julia and shouted, ¡°You have the nerve to ask me that? Seth, you¡¯ve crossed the line. This bitch has been unting her status as your mistress every day since you brought her here! I used to think that the money was enough, but now, I¡¯ve realized it¡¯s far from enough! I¡¯ve endured so much suffering, so I deserve more!¡± Hearing this, Julia was furious. She rolled up her sleeves and stomped towards Tasha. ¡°What did you just say? Didn¡¯t I tell you to move out a long time ago? You refused to go and now you¡¯re saying you can¡¯t stand it anymore? Please! Seth hasn¡¯t had feelings for you for so long! Why the fuck are you still living here? And how dare you ask for more?¡± ¡°Oh, please, Miss Walker. You provoked me first. Your family might be noble and wealthy, but they raised such an immoral child! Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s shameful at all to be someone¡¯s mistress? You should feel embarrassed about it instead of unting it! You¡¯re practically just begging to be humiliated!¡± Tasha rarely ever swore, but she was an expert when it came to sarcasm. Although she didn¡¯t raise her voice just now, her words were as sharp as daggers. ¡°Ah! You fucking bitch! How dare you say that about me!¡± Julia was so angry that she cursed at Tasha like a sailor. ¡°Seth had long wanted to divorce you! The only reason why he didn¡¯t is because you got pregnant! You should even thank him for allowing you to stay here! Plus, he already agreed to give you a lot of money after the divorce! And you have the audacity to ask for more?¡± Julia¡¯s shrill screaming were like nails on a chalkboard to Seth¡¯s ears. It suddenly urred to him that her high-pitched voice was simr to that of a bird¡¯s squawk he had heard somewhere before. ¡°Enough, both of you! Stop fighting!¡± Seeing that Julia was about to hit Tasha, he stopped her with a warning look. Tasha was pregnant with his child. He wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to hurt her. Chapter 621 Chapter 621 Julia was frightened by Seth¡¯s re and didn¡¯t dare to make a scene anymore. Biting her lower lip, she tugged Seth¡¯s shirt and said piteously, ¡°Don¡¯t get mad at me. Get mad at her. She¡¯s the one who provoked me first.¡± Seth looked at Julia quietly. He was well aware that Julia had been bullying Tasha ever since she moved in. It was only normal that Tasha couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. But Seth needed the support of the Walker family. Even if Julia was an annoying little bitch, he couldn¡¯t afford to do anything to her right now. ¡°I¡¯m not mad at you. Why would you waste your time on such a shallow and stupid woman?¡± Seth softened his tone tofort the aggrieved Julia. Julia instantly cheered up, shooting Tasha a smug smile. Tasha forced a smile but said nothing. She knew that this was probably what he really thought of her. They had been married for so many years but Seth had never given her the light of day. Tasha used to think that it was because of his pride. It was true that she wasn¡¯t as excellent as him. Now, Tasha realized that Seth looked down not just upon her, but everyone. Indeed, Seth had never thought highly of his wife. In his eyes, she was an ipetent and stupid woman who only cared about money. For the sake of money, she was willing to abandon her own child. But on second thought, that made things easier for Seth. A greedy woman like Tasha was simple and easy to control. At least, she didn¡¯t pose a threat to him. Seth nced at the drawer that was opened by Tasha just now. Insidey several pieces of gold jewelry that had been gifted to him. Seth sneered and nced at theptop on the table. It looked untouched, so he didn¡¯t think too much about it. ¡°Come with me,¡± Seth said to Tasha coldly. Tasha clenched her fists to calm herself down and followed him to the corridor. ¡°How much more do you want?¡± Seth asked abruptly. He didn¡¯t even bother to beat around the bush. ¡°You opened two restaurants in Sugden after we got married, right? I want them both.¡± Tasha answered without missing a beat. Truth be told, she wasn¡¯t interested in Seth¡¯s restaurants at all. She had never even been to either of them. It was just an excuse she came up with on the fly. ¡°You¡¯re insatiably greedy, aren¡¯t you? Those restaurants have always done well. Howe I never knew you were so obsessed with money before?¡± Seth sneered in disdain. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll give you the two restaurants, but from now on, you should behave yourself. I¡¯ve given you a lot of money. That¡¯s it. If I find out you tried to go through my things again, I won¡¯t be as nice.¡± Knowing that this was hisst and final warning, Tasha nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Lester. Don¡¯t worry. I promise I won¡¯t do it again. And I know that what I¡¯ve asked for is just a drop in the bucket for you.¡± Seth rolled his eyes and then left with Julia. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. The very next day, Seth moved out of the Lester family home with Julia. Just as they were leaving the vi, she yelled, ¡°You little bitch! You greedy, fucking slutty bitch! You¡¯re already getting a divorce yet you still ckmail Seth for money!¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Seth frowned in disgust. He really couldn¡¯t take Julia¡¯s shrill voice. Patrick had said that he was going toe back home recently, so it wasn¡¯t decent for Julia to continue to live here. Moreover, Julia always quarreled with Tasha at home. Seth didn¡¯t want to give Tasha another chance to ckmail him again. Tasha stood on the balcony and watched their limo drive away, feeling anxious. Now that Seth didn¡¯t live at home, she would have no chance to get her hands on hisptop. Tasha took out her phone and texted Ethan promptly, asking him if he had any ideas as to what she could do next. Chapter 622 Chapter 622 A few dayster, Ethan asked Tasha to meet him in a cafe near the Lester family home. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°Have you seen Julia recently?¡± Ethan asked as a thought suddenly urred to him. In Ethan¡¯s eyes, the only person who could connect Seth to Tasha was Julia. Resting her chin on her palm, Tasha sighed heavily. ¡°Not really. Before they moved out, Seth warned her not to provoke me. She looked scare of Seth, so I don¡¯t know if she wille to me again.¡± Ethan nodded and took a sip of his coffee, lost in thought. Yesterday, Seth hade to him, saying that he wanted to negotiate and make peace. But Ethan knew that it wasn¡¯t in Seth¡¯s nature to simply ¡°make peace¡±. However, this negotiation might be an opportunity in disguise. After thinking about it for a while, Ethan said, ¡°You have to get your hands on the data on hisptop. It seems to me that Seth trusts you somewhat. No one else but you can get close to hisptop. And I think I might have a way for you to do it.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Tasha asked with her eyebrows raised. Ethan then exined his n in detail, which made Tasha felt that perhaps there was hope after all. ******* Although it had been a while since Julia had moved out of the Lester family home with Seth, her hostility towards Tasha never ebbed. On the contrary, she felt depressed now that she couldn¡¯t bully Tasha anymore. She even went so far as to look for Tasha¡¯s number on Seth¡¯s phone. Whenever she felt irrationally angry, she would text Tasha hateful messages to vent her anger. Looking at the string of abuses on her phone, Tasha couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and called Julia. As soon as Julia saw the caller ID, she immediately was on guard. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you focus on your baby? Why are you calling me?¡± Julia sneered coldly. She wasn¡¯t afraid of anything now that Seth was on her side. In her eyes, Tasha was nothing but a bitch who stood in the way of her getting married to Seth. Tasha snorted impatiently. ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything better to do? Seth already moved out with you yet you still kept finding ways to harass me. He can¡¯t keep you under his control anymore, can he? Since he can¡¯t discipline you, I have no choice but to turn to a ¡®higher power¡¯. I¡¯ll send all the texts you sent me to your parents so that they can see how shameless their daughter has be.¡± Then, without waiting for a response, Tasha hung up the phone. Furious, Julia texted Tasha more insulting words. The hostility between the two was only getting more and more intense. Satisfied, Tasha called Seth. During this period of time, Ethan had been working hard to take the Lester family down, and Seth had been busy fighting back. After a meeting, he saw many missed calls from Tasha on his phone. He didn¡¯t think too much about it until his phone started ringing again. Annoyed, Seth answered it impatiently. From the other end of the line, Tashained in an aggrieved tone, ¡°Seth, can you teach your mistress some proper manners? She texts me hateful messages every day¡ª¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Seth hung up impatiently. He was so busy that he had no time to deal with this bullshit. Being met with the busy dial tone, Tasha smiled. Now she had a reason to go to his office. She carefully gathered her things and took a taxi directly to hispany. Chapter 623 Chapter 623 Tasha soon arrived at the Lester Group¡¯s headquarters. As soon as she entered the building, she saw a group of men in suits and leather shoes in the lobby. She saw the side profile of the man standing in the middle. It was none other than Ethan. It seemed that he had felt her gaze because he then turned his head. Seeing that Tasha hade, he nodded imperceptibly. Then he went up to the thirteenth floor with the senior executives of the Larson Group, exchanging pleasantries. ording to his n with Tasha, today was the designated date he woulde to the Lester Group to negotiate with Seth. Seth wouldn¡¯t bring hisptop with him to the meeting. Usually, he would leave it in his office. This was the opportunity that Ethan had created for Tasha. While they were busy negotiating, Tasha would have ess to Seth¡¯sputer. After waiting for a little over ten minutes downstairs, Tasha figured that the meeting must¡¯ve started, so she rushed to Seth¡¯s office. But when she arrived at the door, Seth¡¯s assistant blocked her way. ¡°Mrs. Lester, I¡¯m sorry but Mr. Lester has told me that no one is allowed to enter his office. Please follow me to the reception room. You can wait for him there.¡± Tasha smiled coldly. ¡°I¡¯m his wife. Why can¡¯t I wait in his office? If even I am not allowed into his office, than who is? His mistress?¡± Being scolded like this, the assistant stuttered falteringly. ¡°N-no, Mrs. Lester. I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m just doing my job.¡± Truth be told, Seth had indeed brought his mistress into his office before, which made the assistant feel a bit guilty. With her arms crossed over her chest, Tasha sneered coldly. ¡°I¡¯ll let you go if you get out of my way. I n on waiting for him in his office, nowhere else. I have to see him today to tell him to discipline that mistress of his.¡± The assistant squeezed his eyes shut for a second and took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mrs. Lester. I have to do what Mr. Lester says.¡± Tasha pped away the assistant¡¯s outstretched hand and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be so loyal to him. But you should be careful. Remember, I haven¡¯t divorced him yet! And yet you already refuse to take me seriously? Do you know the consequences of offending me?¡± Tasha still held the prestigious title of ¡°Mrs. Lester¡± now, the assistant couldn¡¯t afford to offend her. Besides, thanks to the way Seth previously treated her, the assistant didn¡¯t think that Tasha was bright nor cunning enough to do anything suspicious inside Seth¡¯s office. After hesitating for a few seconds, he finally stepped aside. Before the assistant left, he asked politely, ¡°Mrs. Lester, are you thirsty? Would you like some water or juice maybe?¡± Tasha sank into the sofa in Seth¡¯s office and started flipping through the magazine on the table. ¡°No, you can go out now. By the way, please turn off the CCTV camera in Seth¡¯s office. I don¡¯t want a video of me and my husband fighting to be leaked.¡± After a slight pause, she added, ¡°If his mistress wants toe inside, stop her. I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t want to see blood in here.¡± ¡°Oh, um, I see.¡± The assistant faltered under Tasha¡¯s cruel gaze. A scornful woman in an unhappy marriage was really scary. He still remembered that the first time they met a few years ago. Tasha was a gentle and elegant woman back then. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. After the assistant bowed and closed the door behind him, Tasha immediately stood up and walked towards Seth¡¯s desk. Theptop was sitting in in sight. Tasha looked around and found that the red light on the CCTV camera was indeed off. She couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at how the assistant was such a gullible young man. Now, she had plenty of time to copy the data on Seth¡¯sptop. She didn¡¯t know how long the meeting wouldst, but since Ethan had seen her just now, she knew he¡¯d try his best to buy her time. Tasha promptly inserted the sh drive into theptop. Eventually, all the content in theputer was downloaded. Chapter 624 Chapter 624 Tasha quickly unplugged the sh drive and shut theptop. Just as she tucked the sh drive into her bag, she heard the sound of footsteps and talking from right outside the door. It was Seth. ¡°Send me the meeting notester,¡± he was saying to someone. The moment he opened the door, his eyesnded on Tasha. He was stunned for two seconds, and then frowned unhappily. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± As he spoke, his eyes were full of scrutiny and suspicion. ¡°Finally! I¡¯ve been waiting for you for so damn long. You hung up on me, so I had no choice but toe here. Can you please keep your woman in line? She won¡¯t stop harassing me! If it weren¡¯t for all the money you promised to give me, I would¡¯ve taught her a hard lesson by now!¡± Tasha seemed so angry that she gritted her teeth and wagged her finger at Seth. When in reality, she was only acting. ¡°She¡¯s still young. Just cut her some ck, will you?¡± Seth put down the documents in his hands and nced around the office. His devices all had passwords. Even if Tasha wanted to do something, she wouldn¡¯t have seeded. Besides, he doubted Tasha would try to do anything sinister, like stealing valuable information from him. ¡°Are you really going to just stand by and watch until she kills my baby?¡± Tasha was very dissatisfied with his dismissive attitude. Seth frowned and pressed the spot between his brows. Women were such troublesome creatures. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to her tonight. Satisfied? Now, get out!¡± he snapped impatiently. This was exactly what Tasha wanted. She sessfully got everything she came for. ¡°You¡¯d better keep your word. I don¡¯t want toe here a second time!¡± Tasha cast him a resentful nce, pretending to be annoyed, and then left in a hurry. Instead of going back to the Lester family home, Tasha went straight to the cafe, where she was to rendezvous with Ethan. When she arrived, Ethan was already there, waiting for her. He was sitting at a table and had ordered a cup of decaftte for her. ¡°All the information in Seth¡¯sputer is here.¡± Tasha handed the sh drive to him. Ethan slipped the small drive into his pocket and nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Thank you.¡± After saying that, he stood up to leave. ¡°If there is really evidence of him doing illegal things in here, I¡¯ll sue him before the month ends. But be warned: he¡¯ll probably feel suspicious of you after receiving the indictment. Be careful.¡± Tasha sipped from her cup of coffee and nodded seriously. ******* Ethan returned to the Larson Group with the sh drive. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. After handing the drive to the technical staff to decode the data in it, they soon found something of interest. Ethan called the senior executives and thewyers to a meeting that night. As expected, they found a lot of evidence of Seth¡¯s crimes. After getting everything ready, Ethan filed a case against Seth. Seth received the indictment from the court exactly three dayster. ¡°Goddammit, Ethan!¡± It was the first time that Seth had lost his cool like this. He went crazy and smashed everything in his office to vent his anger. He knew that Ethan would never sue him without any hard evidence. But both hisputer and thepany¡¯s safe were password-protected, and only he knew the passwords. Of course, someone might¡¯ve be able to get their hands on the data in other ways, but how did Ethan¡¯s men get inside his office? Seth couldn¡¯t figure it out. In the end, there was only one possibility left: there was a mole in thepany. Chapter 625 Chapter 625 With a dangerous look in his eyes, Seth made a phone call. ¡°Call all our senior executives here. Now,¡± he hissed into the receiver. When all the senior executives were present, Seth asked someone to investigate their bank ount records. He thought that he would definitely find the mole. Ethan had collected solid evidence against them, which was extremely disadvantageous to Seth. He had toe up with a n. He refused to lose to Ethan so easily. At the very least, he had to find the mole who had betrayed him. But two dayster, the investigation turned up fruitless. None of their senior executives had anything to do with the Larson Group. Plus, they all knew that it was a sensitive time for bothpanies, so everyone had been avoiding contact with people from the Larson Group. Seth had also checked and double-checked thepany¡¯s surveince footage, but didn¡¯t find anything suspicious. Seth pursed his lips, feeling that he had missed something, but he couldn¡¯t figure out what it was. ******* The in-house nutritionists and servants of the Lester family had been taking good care of Tasha these days. And her belly was slowly getting bigger and bigger with each day that passed. The weather was getting hottely, but she still had a good appetite and had eaten a hearty lunch today. After finishing her food, Tasha went to the garden to rx. No one knew what was on her mind as she stared into the distance, lost in thought, stroking her belly absentmindedly. ¡°Mrs. Lester, have some fruits.¡± The servant brought Tasha a tray full of sliced fruits and set it on the table. However, Tasha was not in the mood to eat. She had heard that Seth already received the indictment from Ethan and was discussing with hiswyer how to deal with it. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to tell me when Sethes back.¡± Tasha reminded, leaning into her chair with her eyes closed. She tried her best not to look nervous and recalled that day step by step, trying to find out if she had left anything that might¡¯ve pointed to her. The only thing suspicious about her that day was that she had asked Seth¡¯s assistant to turn off the CCTV camera in his office. But the Lester family was on the verge of bankruptcy, and that was all the more reason for Seth¡¯s assistant to keep his mouth shut. If word got out that he was the one who had turned off the CCTV in Seth¡¯s office, he¡¯d definitely have to take the fall. Now, there was nothing Tasha could do but wait for the trial. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ******* A weekter, the trial began. Tasha attended the trial as a member of Seth¡¯s family. They hadn¡¯t seen each other in a few days, and Seth looked much more haggard than before. His five o¡¯clock shadow made him age ten years. Tasha was secretly overjoyed to see him in such a mess. Suppressing a smug smile, she inadvertently caught a glimpse of Julia, who was sitting a few rows ahead of her. She too looked like a mess. She was crying so hard that she kept wiping her tears and blowing her nose into a tissue. Seth wasn¡¯t all that unlucky. At least in this trial, there was someone who sincerely hoped he could win. Tasha withdrew her sight and subconsciously ced her hand on her rounded belly. Her fate, as well as the child¡¯s, depended on the oue of today¡¯s trial. Soon, the judge came in and announced the beginning of the trial. Because of all the solid evidence stacked against Seth, Ethan won without a shadow of a doubt. Seth was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment. Of course, Seth couldn¡¯t ept such a fate. He looked calm, but his bloodshot eyes and trembling fingers exposed his panic. Holding onto hope, he filed an appeal, but the original sentencing was maintained in the second and final trial. When the final judgment came, Seth nearly broke down on the spot. Tasha had attended both trials. It was the first time in her life that she had seen Seth bowing his head. He seemed to be much shorter than before. Twenty years¡¯ imprisonment. Seth was already in his 30s, and so he¡¯d be over fifty years old by the time he got out. His life would be almost over by then. On the day of the final sentencing, Tasha went to see Seth. Chapter 626 Chapter 626 When Seth was about to be taken away, Tasha walked up to him and said calmly, ¡°I¡¯m here to say goodbye. Don¡¯t worry about the baby. I¡¯ll raise him well.¡± Seth¡¯s eyes were devoid of life. For the first time, he said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Tasha smiled knowingly. How stupid he was! She leaned closer to him and whispered, ¡°Haven¡¯t you figured out how Brandon got his hands on all that evidence?¡± Since she would never see Seth again, Tasha decided to tell him the truth. At first, Seth didn¡¯t understand why Tasha would ask him such a question, but it soon dawned on him. His eyes went as wide as saucers and his heart was filled with anger and indignation. He opened his mouth and stared at Tasha in disbelief. ¡°It was you! You were the one who used my computer and stole all my files! That was why you went to my study!¡± Tasha raised her chin and smiled triumphantly. ¡°Yes, it was all me. I copied the files from yourptop and gave it all to Ethan. My first attempt was a failure. Julia caught me before I was able to copy all the files. So I went to your office to finish the job.¡± Seth¡¯s jaw nearly dropped to the floor. Who was this woman?! Was she really the Tasha he knew? It was said that the more timid a person looked, the more ruthless they would be when cornered. It was true for Tasha. All of a sudden, a cold smile appeared on Seth¡¯s face and his eyes took on a dangerous light. ¡°I never thought that you¡¯d be the one to deliver the fatal blow. I should¡¯ve taken you more seriously.¡± It never urred to him that Tasha would have the guts¡ªand the intelligence¡ªto pull off such a stunt. Seth had always thought that she was a simple, stupid woman who let others walk all over her. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. In his eyes, Tasha had always bent over backwards for others. ¡°Yes, you¡¯ve always looked down upon me, and it ended up being your downfall. Seth, thanks again for the loads of money. I¡¯ll live lifefortably after our divorce.¡± Tasha sneered in disdain. She knew that she and her child would never be able to use up the money Seth left them. Seth smiled coldly, staring at Tasha, who now seemed to have changed into apletely different person. It was the first time that he realized how much he had underestimated this woman. He was such an idiot! Seeing that Seth had fallen silent, Tasha didn¡¯t want to waste her breath on him any longer. She turned around and was about to leave when Seth suddenly shouted at her. ¡°Stop!¡± Tasha looked back over her shoulder coldly and asked, ¡°What?¡± After recovering from his shock just now, Seth growled angrily, ¡°Tasha! You are my wife and a member of the Lester family. How could you betray me?¡± Chapter 627 Chapter 627 Tasha looked at him as though he had just cracked a joke. She sneered, turned around, and carefully looked into Seth¡¯s fury-filled eyes. She wanted to remember the way he looked when he discovered that she was the one who brought him down, imprinting the shame and embarrassment on his face in her mind forever. ¡°¡®Wife¡¯? When did you ever treat me as your wife? Or as your family even? Seth, you are such a selfish and indifferent bastard. Yet you dare to ask why I betrayed you? You betrayed me first!¡± ¡°You set me up! Tasha, I¡¯ve given you the money you wanted. Why would you go behind me back?¡± Seth demanded. Tasha smiled calmly, but her eyes were devoid of warmth. ¡°Because I hate you,¡± she said matter-of- factly. ¡°I hate you for trying to take away my child. I hate you for marrying me just to use me. And when I was no longer of any use to you, you tossed me aside for another woman, whom you brought into our home to humiliate me. Even after finding out I was pregnant with your child, you didn¡¯t change your mind. You even wanted to take my baby away! Seth, what do you take me for? Some lifeless doll that¡¯ll roll over at your beck and call? No! I am a human being! I betrayed you because you betrayed me first. I have to protect my child, and in order to do that, you have to be behind bars.¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Seth red at Tasha murderously, but he found he couldn¡¯t say anything to refute. The woman standing in front of him with a calm and indifferent expression waspletely different from the Tasha he knew. Tasha took a deep breath and shrugged. ¡°Well, it¡¯s all in the past anyway. It¡¯s meaningless to say anything more. You were good at what you did, you know? You shouldn¡¯t have been brought down by me, a lowly housewife. But that¡¯s precisely how you lost. The biggest obstacle to survival is not weakness nor ignorance, but arrogance.¡± Seth felt as though he was struck by lightning and all the color drained from his face. Arrogance? Seth had never considered himself arrogant. He had always been praised and envied by all, which led him to believe that he was better than everyone. At a young age, he had been sent abroad. He had always been surrounded by strangers. Even at home, the housekeepers and servants were routinely reced, and Patrick never allowed him to get close to any of them. In addition, Patrick always told him that strong men didn¡¯t need feelings. Having feelings was a fatal weakness. As a Lester, he had to be undefeatable. Thus, Seth had grown to be indifferent to everything. Nothing in this world attracted him other than money and power. But in the end, his own arrogance was the death of him. ******* Tasha watched as Seth was taken away by the marshals. She watched him walk out of the court room with his shoulders slumped over in defeat. Suddenly, she remembered the first time she met Seth. Seth was standing by the door of her house, looking at her gently. It was love at first sight for her. Fortunately, she saw things clearly now. Expressionless, Tasha picked up her bag and left the courthouse. It was a sunny day. She breathed in the fresh air and smiled with relief, as if she had been reborn. Chapter 628 Chapter 628 When she returned home, Tasha filed for a divorce. As Ethan had promised her, he hired the bestwyer to assist her with the divorce. It didn¡¯t take long before Tasha sessfully divorced Seth. Because she held an overwhelming advantage over him, she ended up getting more property than Seth had originally promised her. Additionally, since she hadn¡¯t given birth to their baby yet, the court gave her sole custody of the child. When everything was finally settled, Tasha invited Ethan and J to a fancy restaurant for a celebratory dinner. ¡°Cheers!¡± The three clinked sses merrily. Because she was pregnant, Tasha didn¡¯t have wine and instead was nursing a ss of orange juice. With a smile, she sighed in relief and said, ¡°Finally, it is over! I won¡¯t have to worry about him finding me out anymore. These days, I had been worried sick! I could¡¯ve died from anxiety!¡± J was also happy for her. She raised her ss and clinked it with hers. ¡°Cheers to your freedom, Tasha!¡± Tasha grinned from ear to ear. Then she turned to Ethan and said sincerely, ¡°Thank you so much for helping me. Without you, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to take Seth down on my own.¡± Ethan nodded and humbly added, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your help, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to pin Seth down for his crimes.¡± J smiled and reached for Ethan¡¯s hand, squeezing it gently. ¡°We should be the ones thanking you. Without you, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to defeat Seth so easily.¡±N?velDrama.Org content rights. Tasha chuckled. ¡°This serves him right. If he hadn¡¯t been so ruthless, I wouldn¡¯t have done this to him.¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re the biggest winner, aren¡¯t you? The property he left you is more than enough for you and your child to live a happy life, you luckydy!¡± J teased Tasha yfully. ¡°Well, actually most of his assets are under investigation now, so there might not be much left afterwards. I can¡¯t count on the money he left me. Moreover, I feel like a career is calling me. Truth be told, I wanted to treat you two to dinner today because I have one more thing I wanted to ask from you¡­¡± Tasha looked at J expectantly, waiting for her answer. J couldn¡¯t figure out what she was building up to. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I want to go back to the design industry after I give birth to the baby, but I¡¯ve been a housewife for years now, isted from society.¡± Tasha bit her lip anxiously. ¡°I haven¡¯t designed a single thing in years. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll be able to pick up everything I learnt from college.¡± It turned out that her request was no big deal. Without hesitation, J said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll help you. I remember your works back then¡ªthey were all excellent. I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t be that hard to get you started again.¡± Encouraged, Tasha breathed a sigh of relief and said sincerely, ¡°Thank you, J.¡± Life was so magical. Tasha had never thought that J and she would meet again years after graduation and even be friends. ******* After the meal, Ethan drove J to the airport. She had been going back and forth between Barnes and Seacisco recently. Recalling what Tasha had said to her, J couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°Tiffany was right. Men are indeed the stumbling block to a woman¡¯s career.¡± Ethan, who had pulled to a stop at a red light, looked at her sharply. He brought J¡¯s hand to his mouth and nibbled on a finger. ¡°Me included?¡± With a smile, J raised her hand and patted Ethan¡¯s cheek softly. ¡°No, my husband is the only exception.¡± Chapter 629 Chapter 629 During this tumultuous period of time, the Lester family experienced setback after setback. As soon as Seth¡¯s illegal acts had been exposed, many other people were put behind bars as the investigation unfolded. As for the Lester family¡¯s business, most of Seth¡¯spanies in Sugden were shut down, which greatly affected the Lester family¡¯s power. Now, they were no match for the Larson Group. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Even before the trial, Patrick had been running all over the country trying to keep the Lester Group afloat. The stress had aged him ten years overnight, adding wrinkles to his haggard, tired face. When he heard about Seth¡¯s verdict, hepletely broke down. He didn¡¯t even have the strength to try and pull himself together anymore. Before returning to his home, Patrick went to the private hospital where Nora was admitted. ¡°You underestimated Ethan. I¡¯ve always found him to be a smart,posed person. When he was little, Elissa, a grown woman, often picked on him. Yet he still managed to get this far on his own.¡± While Nora had been confined in the hospital the past few weeks, she still caught word of what was happening outside. But at her age, she could no longer meddle in these matters anymore. And she didn¡¯t intend to. Nora sighed sadly. ¡°I don¡¯t have much time left. When your father was still alive, he used to say that people should pursue virtue after they pursued wealth. You¡¯ve used up all the virtue he had saved for the family, and we¡¯re no longer blessed.¡± As she spoke, Patrick poured her a ss of water and handed her the medication on the bedside table. He frowned and said, ¡°Mom, stop talking like that.¡± Nora sighed and pushed the medication cup away with her wrinkled hand. ¡°I¡¯ve been taking this same medicine for years and it has done me no good. You can go back. I want to rest now.¡± ******* Patrick returned to his home alone, despair looming over him like a storm cloud. The house was empty, aside from the servants. In the past, Patrick usually heard the short-tempered Ritchie quarreling with his mother at home. But now, the house was eerily quiet and lifeless. Patrick sank into the sofa wearily, burying his face in his palms. He had no way to fix this. Now Patrick was fully aware of just how terrifying and cruel Ethan was. Thetter had shown no mercy to his own family. Ethan had picked off all of Patrick¡¯s family one by one¡ªfirst, his wife, then his youngest son, and then his eldest. Even the Lester Group, Patrick¡¯s pride and joy, had been destroyed. Now he had nothing. ¡°Sir, Mr. Ethan is at the door.¡± A servant came and report to Patrick. Before Patrick could say anything, Ethan strode into the living room with his hands in his pockets. He looked around the house quietly. ¡°The house is the same as before, yet it feels different. There used to be too many people in this home and it got too crowded. Now it¡¯s empty, which is good. It makes the house look bigger.¡± Ethan walked to the sofa opposite Patrick and sat down, sneering coldly. Patrickughed bitterly. ¡°Are you here to see me at the end of my rope?¡± Ethan remained unfazed. ¡°On the contrary, I¡¯m here to offer you a way out. Whether you take it or not will actually depend on you.¡± Chapter 630 Chapter 630 Patrick doubted Ethan would be so kind, but he was utterly exhausted and desperate. ¡°Ethan, what more do you want? I don¡¯t want to y any games with you anymore.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not up to you,¡± Ethan answered simply, resting his chin on the back of his hand. ¡°As you know, your family is on the verge of copse. One push and it¡¯ll alle crumbling down.¡± Ethan paused for a few seconds and frowned at Patrick. ¡°But if you turn yourself in, admit to the police and the public that you raped and then ndered my mother, and apologize to her in front of her tomb, I will let you and your family go.¡± Patrick¡¯s expression changed. If he did this, his reputation would be ruined and irredeemable. Patrick had enjoyed a certain level of prestige all these years and it¡¯d undoubtedly be a huge shame for him to apologize to a woman he had never taken seriously. He had only ever touched Sylvia Larson because she was beautiful, nothing more. Sylvia was born in a rich family. When she was in school, many boys had chased after her, but she rejected all of them, including Patrick. However, things changed when the Larson family declined, and she was forced to take on a job as a waitress in a hotel in Seacisco. At the time, Patrick had already married Elissa, and the Lester Group reached its peak under his leadership. When they met again under such a circumstance, Patrick wanted Sylvia to be his mistress. Although she looked harmless enough, she was actually a tough woman and refused his offer without hesitation. Patrick was so angry that he raped her in the very hotel she worked at. Afterwards, he attempted to silence Sylvia with money, because thetter was struggling financially. But she refused to ept his money. Patrick was afraid that the scandal would affect his reputation, so he lied to the public and imed that Sylvia had seduced him. After all, he was rich and powerful, and there were many women who wanted to sleep with him. It wasn¡¯t until muchter that Patrick found out that Sylvia was pregnant. Sylvia probably didn¡¯t abort the child because she was afraid that she might not be able to conceive again in the future, so she retreated to the countryside and gave birth to Ethan there. Since she was incapable of fighting against the Lester family and hadn¡¯t stirred up any trouble, Patrick ignored her existence altogether. Unexpectedly, thirty yearster, her son rose from the ashes to avenge her. ¡°It happened thirty years ago! Even if I admit my mistake to the public, it won¡¯t make much of a difference. Your mother is dead,¡± Patrick said desperately. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Ethan expected such a response, so he said in a cold voice, ¡°Quit making excuses. If you do as I say and turn yourself in, you¡¯ll only be imprisoned for a few years at most, but ultimately, you¡¯ll be able to protect your precious Lester family. By the time you¡¯re released from jail, you¡¯ll have another chance to start anew. But if you don¡¯t admit what you did, I¡¯ll make sure you live a miserable life. I won¡¯t stop until the Lester family, which has been around for hundreds of years, ispletely destroyed¡ªand you¡¯ll have no one to me but yourself. Like I said, it¡¯s your choice now.¡± Patrick fell silent for a long time, and suddenly looked much older. The chandelier hanging from the ceiling illuminated his white hairs. Seeing that he wasn¡¯t going to respond, Ethan stood up and was about to leave. ¡°It seems that you don¡¯t want to save the Lester family. That¡¯s fine by me.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Patrick¡¯s voice suddenly sounded from behind Ethan. Ethan paused and looked over his shoulder indifferently. After a long time, Patrick sighed and said hoarsely, ¡°I¡¯ll turn myself in.¡± ¡°For the first time, you¡¯ve finally made a wise choice,¡± Ethan said with a sneer. Patrick smiled bitterly and looked up at him. ¡°Ethan, did you n all this from the very beginning? Was everything¡ªthe court cases, the sentencing¡ªwas everything just a ploy to force me to turn myself in?¡± Chapter 631 Chapter 631 Raising his eyebrows, Ethan turned around and stood facing Patrick. The light from outside the door illuminated his profile, but his face was against the light, making it difficult for Patrick to see his expression clearly. ¡°In a word, yes. Although all the evidence that you raped my mom has been erased, do you honestly believe you can also erase all the crimes you¡¯vemitted? The truth should be¡ªand will be¡ª revealed. My mother is innocent. It¡¯s time for you to take the fall for your sins. We¡¯ve been waiting for this day for a long time.¡± Then, the young man turned around and left. Patrick watched him walk away in silence. When Ethan was gone, Patrick raised his head, stared at the ceiling with his turbid eyes, and suddenly burst into manicughter. In the end, he lost. Ethan had won. The following day, Patrick went to the cemetery to see Sylvia. He had never been there before. The cemetery was located in a decent area. Nearby, there was arge plot ofnd covered in daisies, and the cemetery was surrounded by pine trees. When Sylvia was still alive, she liked flowers very much. It was not difficult to see why Ethan chosen this spot as her final resting ce. Patrick set a bunch of lilies in front of her grave. Looking at the ck and white photograph on the tombstone, he suddenly felt that time had slipped away from him. In the photo, Sylvia¡¯s beautiful and gentle smile was immortalized. Thinking of what had happened in the past, Patrick suddenly found himself unable to look at her photograph. He lowered his head, wrought with guilt. ¡°Get on your knees. What my mother needs is your apology.¡± Patrick heard Ethan¡¯s cold voice from behind him. Feeling humiliated, he squeezed his eyes shut. He hadn¡¯t felt an ounce of guilt for over twenty years, and now he was only here due to Ethan¡¯s ultimatum. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sylvia. I made a terrible mistake. I, Patrick Lester, hereby apologize to you.¡± Patrick had to kneel down in front of the grave. Patrick had been kneeling for over an hour before Ethan finally allowed him to stand up again. ******* After leaving the cemetery, Patrick went straight to the police department and turned himself in. He admitted to his crime of rape from thirty years ago. N?velDrama.Org content rights. Ethan had already arranged for the media to report this matter to the public. Thirty years ago, Patrick ndered Sylvia, iming that she had seduced a married man to sleep with her. Ever since then, the public had thought lowly of her. Now, her name was finally cleared and her innocence was restored. Reading the news on the newspaper, J was still not satisfied. Sighing heavily, she murmured, ¡°It¡¯s been so many years. People have forgotten all about it. Patrick is really lucky.¡± Patrick was already put into prison by the time the paper came out. Ethan sighed and rested his head on her shoulder. ¡°Destroying the Lester familypletely will only dirty my hands, which is something my mom wouldn¡¯t want to see. If she was still alive, she would¡¯ve approved what I am doing now.¡± ¡°Okay, honey. It¡¯s up to you.¡± Turning her head to look at him, J pinched his cheek and kissed it. ¡°You can finally take a break now.¡± Ethan smiled, closed his eyes, and said nothing. Since he had given his word to Patrick, he didn¡¯t do anything to the other members of the Lester family, which gave them the opportunity to regroup. Despite this, they had lost most of their power and were deemed irrelevant now. A few dayster, Ethan held a press conference. He officially announced to the public that he would detach himself from the Lester familypletely and that he would have nothing to do with the Lester family from now on. He was no longer Ethan Lester, but only Brandon Larson. Chapter 632 Chapter 632 After the press conference, Brandon didn¡¯t take J straight home. Instead, he drove all the way to the cemetery again. The two went to Sylvia¡¯s grave together. Brandon had also brought the cake that his mother was fond of. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve finally avenged you and cleared your name.¡± Brandon knelt down and carefully ced the cake in front of the grave. With a gentle look on his face, he touched her photo on the tombstone and murmured, ¡°After this, J and I, we¡¯ll go to Barnes and we won¡¯te back too often in the future. I¡¯m sorry.¡± J knelt down next to him and held his arm, looking at Sylvia¡¯s picture. ¡°Brandon and I are very happy now. The guy who hurt you in the past is now behind bars.¡± Just then, a cool breeze blew past the cemetery, washing over the two refreshingly. It was as though this was Sylvia¡¯s gentle response. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ******* Right when they got home from the cemetery, J began to pack their things. Brandon put his hand on her suitcase and stopped her gently. ¡°There¡¯s no hurry. We still have another day before you have to go back to work, right? There¡¯s something very important we have to do first.¡± ¡°What is it? Does it have anything to do with the Lester family?¡± J looked up at him anxiously. Brandon¡¯s eyes took on a different light. He pulled J towards him, got close to her ear, and whispered softly, ¡°Laney and Tasha are both expecting babies. Don¡¯t you want one too?¡± Hearing this, J blushed, lowered her head, and murmured shyly, ¡°But I want to keep working.¡± Truth be told, when she found out that Laney was pregnant, something sparked in her heart. ¡°I know you want a baby,¡± Brandon said with a smile. ¡°We can just let nature take its course. Now that your work is stable, there¡¯s no reason we can¡¯t have one. I think our child will be very cute!¡± ******* The two of them were naked in bed, making love, when the phone suddenly rang. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s the healthcare worker who takes care of Hannah. Brandon, I have to take this.¡± Blushing slightly, J pushed Brandon gently. She had wanted to take Hannah to Barnes, but thetter was used to life in the vige and didn¡¯t want to leave, so J hired a healthcare worker to look after Hannah. The voice of the caregiver from the other end of the line was anxious. ¡°Mrs. Larson, Hannah¡¯s condition is deteriorating. She¡¯s afraid that you¡¯d worry about her, so she asked me not to contact you. But I didn¡¯t think that was a good idea, so I called. Can you take her to a hospital in the city some time?¡± Hearing about Hannah¡¯s situation, J instantly lost her appetite for sex. She asked Brandon to get off of her and quickly got dressed. ¡°Hannah¡¯s health is getting worse. I have to take her to the hospital right away. And about the baby¡­ Let¡¯s talk about it when Ie back.¡± With an apologetic smile, J buttoned her clothes and bent over to kiss Brandon on the lips. ¡°Be careful on the road. I have a meeting in Barnes tonight. I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t go with you. I¡¯ll arrange a driver to take you there.¡± Leaning against the wall, Brandon eyed J with lingering lust. With her coat and bag in tow, J hurried out of the room as she said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can go there by myself. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be back as soon as I get Hannah.¡± After leaving the house, she headed for the countryside. It was very sultry in the summer in Seacisco, and the mornings felt like a sauna. In the afternoons, however, there were often thunderous rainstorms. As soon as the car reached the mountain road, the wind outside started to howl, indicating the rainstorm toe. ¡°The weather¡¯s really fickle out here,¡± the driver looked at the sky outside the window and couldn¡¯t help butin. After living in Seacisco for so many years, J was already used to the fickle weather. So she just reminded the driver, ¡°Drive carefully.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, she looked ahead and saw a huge boulder on the cliff in front of her suddenly rolling down the hilled¡ªand it wasing straight at them! Chapter 633 Chapter 633 The rolling boulder was huge. If it hit the car, they¡¯d be smashed to pieces! Shocked, the driver couldn¡¯t help but curse, ¡°Fuck!¡± He turned the steering wheel immediately to dodge the stone and the whole car swerved to the right. Sitting in the back seat of the car, J was flung towards the window due to the momentum. Her heart pounded in her chest as she watched the car narrowly avoid the rolling boulder. However, she didn¡¯t have the time to be relieved. Right after they dodged the boulder, the car rammed into the guardrail on the roadside, flying off the edge of the cliff¡ªfalling right into the ocean! The whole world was spinning as J screamed at the top of her lungs. Soon, the car hit the surface of the water. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Fortunately, the cliff wasn¡¯t too high, so the impact of the car falling into the water wasn¡¯t strong enough to knock J out. She had been in this situation before and knew what to do. Panicking was useless. She took a deep breath and held it, waiting for the sea water topletely fill the car. The moment the water pressure inside and outside the car were the same¡­ She seized the opportunity, kicked the window open, and swam out. She swam upward, towards the light. Her surroundings were endlessly blue, but she tried to keep calm and kept kicking and paddling. When her head was out of the water, she spat out a mouthful of sea water and gasped for air. Her vision had gone a little blurry thanks to the saltwater in her eyes. After blinking furiously for a moment, she turned and looked around. ¡°Sir? Are you there? Where are you?¡± She had been so focused on surviving that she didn¡¯t notice if the driver was able to escape. To her despair, nobody answered her. Her heart sank. The driver was most likely dead. The car should have sunk into the depths of the sea by now. It was impossible for her to dive into the water to save the driver¡­ Now, she had to save herself! J looked around and found that she was surrounded by steep, slippery rocks. There wasn¡¯t a ce along the cliff where she could get ashore. The sea wind was getting stronger and stronger, stirring up the waves with it. The sky was also gloomy, and the dark clouds seemed to conquer the world. A heavy rainstorm was about toe. J swam to the edge of the reef in desperation. She tried to climb up the rock, but the rock had been by the sea for countless years and it was covered in slippery seaweed. No matter how hard she tried to find a solid foot hold, her feet kept slipping and she¡¯d fall into the sea. She tried again and again, but it was futile. Her strength was gradually exhausted. She held the rock breathlessly and didn¡¯t know where to go for a moment. At this time, the wind was getting stronger, and streaks of lightning lit up the dark clouds. Thunder roared across the sea, and the waves grew bigger and bigger. There was no time! Staring at the huge waves rushing towards her, J trembled in fear. She took a deep breath when the first huge wave rolled in front of her. Then she squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath. The wind and waves hit the rocks over and over, apanied by terrifyingly heavy rain¡­ By the time the sea gradually calmed down, J was nowhere to be found¡­ Chapter 634 Chapter 634 With great difficulty, J peeled her eyes open. She was still alive! When the storm came, she was swept away by a huge wave. Fortunately, the wave took her to a nearby reef, where she passed out. When she tried to get up from the reef, she found that she couldn¡¯t. Some water rushed into her nose. She coughed violently and spat out the seawater. The reef was isted from the sea, and only a fraction of the road could be seen in the distance. J climbed to the center of the reef and tried to regroup. The reef was quiterge, so she could temporarily settle here. But there was no food nor water here. If no one came to her rescue, she would undoubtedly starve to death, if dehydration didn¡¯t take her life first. J reached into her pocket and her heart sank. Her phone was in her bag, and her bag was in the car, and the car was in the bottom of the sea. There was nothing she could do to seek for help. Squatting on the reef, she looked to the distance with expectant eyes. She had no choice but to hope and pray that boats passing by would see her. ******* On the road by the sea, a huge boulder had rolled down from the mountain and blocked the way. The obstruction caused a traffic jam on the highway, and the drivers kept honking. Someone called the road maintenance personnel, but he was told that it would take at least two days to haul the boulder out of the way. The road that was blocked led to the countryside and was by no means a main road. Most of the people stuck on the road were simply trying to get back to their hometown. Seeing that the road was blocked, most of them just turned around to drive back, failing to notice that the guardrail beyond the boulder was broken. In the evening, the setting sun lit up the horizon, turning the blue ocean an orange hue. Finally, the road maintenance personnel arrived at the scene. ¡°Hey, look at this! The guardrail¡¯s broken.¡± The maintenance man stood beside the guardrail and inspected the damage. ¡°The marks here are new. Could a car have fallen into the sea?¡± ¡°Oh, God. I think so. Call the authorities.¡± Another maintenance man immediately dialed the police. After informing the police, he sighed. ¡°The weather has been terrible these days. I wonder if the police will be able to find the poor souls.¡± As soon as the police received the call from the road maintenance personnel, they immediately sent personnel to search and rescue. The dark clouds became more and more gloomy. The rain, which had stopped momentarily, began to pour once again. ******* In the well-lit building of the Larson Group in Barnes, after his meeting, Brandon looked out of the window at the fierce storm and took his phone from his assistant. ¡°Did my wife call?¡± The assistant shook her head. ¡°No, Mr. Larson. You said that if Mrs. Larson called, I should inform you immediately. But she didn¡¯t.¡±C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Brandon checked his phone and found that there were no notifications from J. Something was wrong. She should¡¯ve made it to the countryside by this time. Brandon tried calling J several times, and then tried calling the driver, but nobody answered. He trusted the driver, which was why he had ordered him to take J to the countryside. Frowning, Brandon found Hannah¡¯sndline number. ¡°J? She¡¯s not here.¡± The caregiver who took care of Hannah answered the phone. Brandon had an ominous premonition and immediately turned to his assistant. ¡°Send someone to check the surveince cameras along the road and the traffic ident records in Seacisco today!¡± After a while, the assistant came to Brandon with a report. ¡°At around four o¡¯clock this afternoon, there was andslide on the highway road near the sea. There was indeed a car ident¡ªa car rammed into the guardrail and fell into the sea.¡± Chapter 635 Chapter 635 ¡°I¡¯m going back to Seacisco now. Send out our men and the helicopters immediately.¡± As he gave the orders, Brandon¡¯s heart sank. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. He had a bad feeling that something bad might¡¯ve happened to J. The assistant hesitated. ¡°Mr. Larson, the weather in Seacisco is bad. The wind is terribly strong and the rain is like hail; I¡¯m afraid a helicopter can¡¯t take off under such circumstances. Even if they manage to do it, it¡¯ll be very dangerous.¡± Frowning, Brandon came up with another solution. ¡°Then have someone rent some ships and search the water near Seacisco.¡± An ident that happened in this kind of weather was likely fatal. It was highly probably that both J and the driver had died. Worse yet, it was unlikely they¡¯d be able to find their bodies. As the realization sunk in, for the first time in his life, Brandon felt a sense of suffocating fear. He couldn¡¯t lose J! He just couldn¡¯t! ******* Soon, the Whites learned about the ident from Brandon. The two of them were asleep in bed when they received the news. Johanna, disheveled and unkempt, immediately came to Seacisco with Beal. Johanna had been crying non-stop in the car. ¡°Everything will be fine. I¡¯ve hired a lot ships to look for J. Our daughter wille home safely, honey.¡± However, tears welled up in Beal¡¯s eyes as he spoke, and his voice shook slightly. He couldn¡¯t imagine what would happen to J if she had actually fallen into the sea. When Johanna and Beal arrived at the scene, they happened to witness the car that J was in being hauled out of the water. ¡°Unfortunately, the driver failed to get out of the car and died. As for Mrs. Larson, she¡¯s not in the car and we haven¡¯t found her yet.¡± The rescue personnel reported the situation to Brandon, who had also arrived. ¡°Keep searching.¡± Frowning, Brandon couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief. There was a glimmer of hope that J might still be alive since they hadn¡¯t found her body in the car. ¡°We¡¯re going to search the inds in the area. The waves were huge earlier, so Mrs. Larson might¡¯ve been swept away to a nearby ind.¡± After reporting this to Brandon, the rescuers turned around to head to their ship. ¡°Wait.¡± Brandon called them. He put on a life-saver and followed the rescue team to the ship. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Wiping away her tears, Johanna tried to stop him. ¡°Brandon, you¡¯re not thinking straight. The wind is too strong. It¡¯s too dangerous for you to go with them.¡± However, Brandon shook his head firmly. ¡°I¡¯ll bring J back safely.¡± ******* The waves never ceased. Instead, they became more and more violent, which was a huge roadblock to the rescue team. After what felt like an eternity at the sea, the search and rescue team still got nothing. Brandon asked, ¡°How long have we been looking for her?¡± ¡°Some other boats came here earlier than we did. They¡¯ve been searching for an hour along the coast, but there¡¯s no sign of her yet,¡± the rescue team member said through chattering teeth. It had been raining nonstop and night had fallen. The temperature continued to drop, and everyone was shivering from the cold. Brandon nodded and said nothing more. He continued to stand at the bow of the ship with the binocrs. His white shirt was drenched from the rain, clinging to his broad shoulders. He didn¡¯t hide from the rain. Instead, he stood with his back straight and a determined look in his eyes. The rescue personnel on the ship couldn¡¯t hold on any longer. They even resorted to drinking liquor to warm themselves in the cabin, and one of the crew poured a mug for Brandon. He shouted at Brandon, ¡°Mr. Larson, would you like toe in and have a drink? You might freeze to death out here.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Brandon epted the mug of liquor and downed it in one gulp. A warm feeling quickly flowed through his body, but he was still filled with worry. He couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Any news from the other teams?¡± A rescuer rubbed his hands to keep warm and shook his head. ¡°Not yet, Mr. Larson. Do you want to go inside and rest for a bit? I¡¯ll keep an eye out here.¡± Brandon sighed. He nodded, gave the binocrs to the rescuer, and turned around to walk back to the cabin. However, as soon as he took a step forward, his vision suddenly blurred¡­ The next second, he fainted on the deck. Chapter 636 Chapter 636 All of a sudden, Brandon passed out. Everyone was in a panic and hurried to carry him safely into the cabin. The rescue personnel immediately set out to check on his condition. ¡°Mr. Larson may have fainted from stress and fatigue. Let¡¯s go back to shore and take him to the hospital.¡± ¡°No!¡± A female voice suddenly came from the door of the cabin. Everyone turned to look in the direction of the voice. One of the employees from the Larson Group recognized the woman and gasped. ¡°M¡­ Ms. Turner, what¡¯re you doing here?¡± The ident had happened too suddenly, and Garrett was still in Barnes. Apart from the staff of the search and rescue team, some of Brandon¡¯s trusted employees who were stationed in Seacisco were also here. They had heard about the ident and immediately came to help. ¡°I¡¯ve been friends with Brandon for years. Now that his wife got into an ident, of course I came to help in any way I could.¡± Smiling slightly, Charis exined herself patiently. ¡°Going back will dy the rescue. I brought my yacht here. I can take him back to the hospital myself while you guys carry on with the search.¡± The rain was getting heavier and heavier, and the sails were whipping violently in the wind. A hint of excitement shed through Charis¡¯s eyes as she spoke. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. She had been waiting for this moment for a long time. Not long ago, she found out that Hannah was in a hospital in the countryside. It took her little effort to bribe someone from the hospital to secretly change Hannah¡¯s medicine, which made her health deteriorate exponentially. She did all this to force J toe to the countryside. There was one caveat to her n: the possibility that Brandon woulde along. But even God was on her side this time. She could push through with her n since Brandon wasn¡¯t in the car with J. She had also hired someone to stage the ¡°ident¡±. Charis had thought that J would die in the car after the rock squashed it, but things didn¡¯t go exactly ording to her n, because the car dodged the boulder and fell into the sea. After this little setback, she had to carry out another n. She took advantage of Brandon¡¯s distraction and bribed a man from search and rescue team to let her board their ship. She then managed to spike Brandon¡¯s drink with the drug that would make him lose part of his memory. Everyone present didn¡¯t doubt her when she said she would take Brandon back. However, one employee from the Larson Group did feel that it wasn¡¯t really appropriate. ¡°Ms. Turner, you don¡¯t work in the Larson Group anymore, so I think we should take care of him. There are four other teams searching the area anyway. We can surely go back and send him to the hospital.¡± ¡°Whether I still work in the Larson Group or not, Brandon and I are still good friends,¡± Charis said in a sincere tone. ¡°We can¡¯t waste more time here. I think Brandon passed out from the cold. He¡¯s the backbone of the Larson Group. We have to keep him alive and well. Just let me take him to the hospital ¡ªnow!¡± When Charis was fired from the Larson Group, nobody knew that she had fallen out with Brandon. Everyone present found that what she said was reasonable, so nobody dared to protest any further. ¡°Okay then, let¡¯s help Mr. Larson to Ms. Turner¡¯s yacht.¡± The employees exchanged nces and finally agreed. Chapter 637 Chapter 637 J came back to consciousness to the sound of the ceaseless thunderous ps of the surf against the rocks. She opened her eyes again and looked at the sea. The rain had eased uppletely but the sky was still an ominous gloomy grey. She had no idea of how long she had been there. She was exhausted so she curled up under the shelter of some rocks and slept for some time. She looked in the distance to the horizon and couldn¡¯t spot a single boat or ship passing by. There was no sign of life apart from the asional seagull diving into the reef. J swallowed hard and licked her chapped lips, and her stomach growled ravenously. Now she was parched and starving. Fortunately, since it had rained today, some water had collected in a shallow depression in the reef. Shey on the reef and scooped up some water into her cupped hands. She sipped the water to try to quench her thirst. After sipping some of it, she felt like some life had returned to her body. As for food, J could only look for seaweed and bird eggs on the rocks, which barely filled her stomach. N?velDrama.Org content rights. When a person was extremely hungry and thirsty, food of any kind felt as precious as gold. As soon as she finished eating, a downpour of rain ensued once again. The only thing she could do was curl up under the shelter of rocks to avoid the whipping wind and rain. The night sea breeze was frigid. She took off her wet coat and ced it on the reef. She incessantly rubbed her hands together, desperately trying to keep herself warm. J could do nothing but wait. She encouraged herself to hang on for a few more days. There would definitely be a boating for her. After two days of staying by the reef, the weather finally took a turn for the better. The sun dispelled the dark clouds and stormy haze. She climbed to the highest point of the reef and stared out at the sea anxiously. She desperately hoped that there would be a boat passing by. She imagined countless times that she would stand at the top of the reef and shout when she saw a boat so that the boatman could see her ande to her rescue. Unfortunately, there were only seagulls and endless waves to apany her. On the third morning, J was woken up by the sound of a yacht. She thought it was an auditory hallucination. When she rubbed her eyes and looked ahead, she saw a yacht floating quite nearby! She was thrilled and filled with wild excitement! J climbed to the highest point of the reef, took off her coat, waved it, and shouted at the yacht in the distance, ¡°This way! Help!¡± Without dy, the yacht soon approached her. ¡°Are you J White? We are the rescue team sent by the White family.¡± The muscr man on the yacht reached out his hand to pull J up onto the yacht. ¡°Come on. In order to find you, we have searched almost every inch of this sea!¡± Immersed in the excitement of being saved, J walked toward the yacht and said gratefully, ¡°Thank you! My mom and dad must be really anxious. Where is my husband? Did hee with you?¡± The two people on the yacht looked at each other. The thinner rescuer said, ¡°Yes, they are all waiting for you on the shore. Youe up here first. It will take some time to get you there.¡± J frowned. Seeing their reaction to her question, she could sense something was amiss. She smiled and said, ¡°I want to inform my parents of my safety first. You also need to report the situation, right? Can you give me the phone? I want to talk to them.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± These knights in shining armor who hade to her rescue actually looked flummoxed and as if they couldn¡¯t find the words to answer her. J immediately went on the defensive because she was now suspicious. ¡°Since you im to be sent by the White family, you should inform them as soon as possible that you have found me. Why are you hesitating about making a phone call to them?¡± Chapter 638 Chapter 638 ¡°This isn¡¯t a good ce to talk, Miss White! Why not get on the yacht first?¡± The two men exchanged nervous nces and continued to urge J toe aboard. J¡¯s suspicion only grew. She narrowed her eyes and instinctively took a step back. ¡°Throw me a phone first. I want to call my family to tell them that I¡¯m safe now.¡± The strong man was obviously about to lose his patience. He said in a booming voice, ¡°Get on the yacht first. I¡¯ll give you a phone after youe on board.¡± J gritted her teeth and took another step back. Now she was certain that these two people were not here to rescue her! Seeing that J had seen through them, those two men just dropped the act. ¡°Fuck! She knows! Go and capture her!¡± The strong man roared agitatedly. Thenky sailor jumped off the yacht and rushed toward J. J quickly climbed to the top of the reef. She looked over her shoulder only to find the two men at her heels. Left without a choice, she jumped off the edge of the reef and swam away as fast as she could. ¡°Boss, she jumped! Oh, God! I¡¯m scared of heights!¡± Thenky man stared at J, who was getting away. But the edge of reef was too steep, and the sea seemed so far down below¡­ The muscled man rushed over and smacked him on the head in exasperation. ¡°You coward! Why are you just standing here? Jump and catch her!¡± ¡°But boss, she¡¯s so far away already. How can I catch up with her?¡± The muscled man looked at J, who had already put some distance between her and them. He gritted his teeth and hissed, ¡°Forget it. We won¡¯t be able to catch up to her now. Go back to the yacht and sail to the other side of the reef. We can definitely stop her from there.¡± The thin man nodded in agreement. The two men hurriedly ran to the yacht and drove in the direction J had escaped just now. The yacht sped through the waves and made it to the other side of the reef minutester. However, there was no sign of J. ¡°Damn it! Where did she go?¡± Thenky man scratched his head in confusion and craned his neck to search for J. The muscled man lost his patiencepletely at that point and punched him in the gut. ¡°Look carefully! We might¡¯ve just missed her!¡± The two of them sailed around the reef twice more but still didn¡¯t see J anywhere. ¡°Did she manage to swim away?¡± ¡°Weird. How could she swim so fast? Let¡¯s keep looking over there.¡± Thenky man nodded and drove the yacht farther away. Still, there was no sign of J. Thenky man had sharp eyes. He suddenly pointed at something floating in the distance and shouted, ¡°Look over there! The woman was wearing that coat just now!¡± The muscled man scratched the stubble on his chin and mused, ¡°Is it possible that she drowned?¡±N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. They had searched around the reef carefully, but they didn¡¯t see J. They did find her coat, which was floating far away from the reef. Was it possible that she was too tired to keep on swimming and drowned? Chapter 639 Chapter 639 Unbeknownst to the two men, J was clinging to the side of the reef, panting breathlessly. In fact, she didn¡¯t swim away at all. She was painfully aware that she couldn¡¯t outrun their yacht, so when those men went back to their vessel, she left her coat in the sea, swam back to the reef, and hid in a shallow stone cave. She hoped that they would think she drowned and give up looking for her when they saw her coat floating in the distance. J hadn¡¯t had a proper meal in several days. It took all her remaining strength to escape just now. She squatted weakly in the stone cave, trembling from the cold and hunger. Things couldn¡¯t be that simple. The suddenndslide, the car ident, and now the hit men who tried to kill her¡­ All of a sudden, it dawned on J. Her ¡°ident¡± was no ident at all. ******* Charis waited for what felt like an eternity on the shore when the yacht finally came back. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°How¡¯d it go? Jimmy told me you found her. So where is she?¡± Charis looked around the yacht but didn¡¯t see J. Her eyes went wide in fury. ¡°You didn¡¯t lose her, did you?¡± Thennky man called Jimmy nced at hispanion John and stammered, ¡°We did find her, and we tried to trick her into getting on the yacht¡­ But she somehow figured out that we weren¡¯t from the search and rescue team, so she tried to escape and jumped into the sea. After that, John and I looked for her, circling the area countless times, but we couldn¡¯t find her. We only found her coat floating alone. She¡­ She must¡¯ve drowned. It¡¯s the only possibility.¡± Charis¡¯s eyebrows shot up dubiously. ¡°Really?¡± John nodded seriously. ¡°J should be dead. She jumped off a very high reef and swam for a long time. And I heard there are many white sharks in that area. Even if she didn¡¯t drown from exhaustion, she most likely would¡¯ve been eaten by the sharks.¡± Charis grabbed J¡¯s coat and clutched it tightly in her hands. She felt no sense of relief. Over the past couple of days, she had secretly sent a lot of people to look for J, trying to get rid of this woman before anyone else found her. She had already made Brandon take the drug that would erase his memory. If J showed up again, it would disrupt her n. ¡°You can¡¯t even catch a girl! You losers! Go back to the reef and check again! She isn¡¯t that stupid. I doubt she drowned! Even if she¡¯s really dead, I wanna see her body!¡± Because they only found J¡¯s coat and not her body, Charis wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°The sun¡¯s setting. How can we look for her in the dark? It was you who asked us to drown her. You forbade us to use any weaponry, and that was why she got away. If we could¡¯ve used our guns, we would¡¯ve shot her on the spot.¡± John was angry. He had never gotten a job wherein the method of killing had to be so specific. Charis had ordered them specifically to drown J and then bring back the body. That way, everyone would believe that her death was an ident and no one would suspect foul y. That was why she didn¡¯t allow the hit men to use any weapon of any sort, lest they leave any suspicious marks on her body. ¡°How many times do I have to tell you that you have to make it look like an ident? If there is a gunshot wound on her body, the White family will find out that it was murder. You are all idiots!¡± Jimmy rubbed his temples andined, ¡°But it¡¯s getting dark now. We won¡¯t be able to find her even if we tried. There are only reefs in that area, and there¡¯s no food or fresh water there. Even if J is still alive, she won¡¯tst long.¡± ¡°Jesus Christ! Forget it. Let¡¯s call it a day.¡± Charis still felt uneasy, but she knew that the chances of surviving after jumping into the sea were really low. Besides, she knew that the White family was also searching for J nearby. If her men ran into theirs, things would be more troublesome. Therefore, Charis dismissed most of her men, leaving only a small group to continue searching for J near the reef area. Chapter 640 Chapter 640 When Brandon peeled his eyes open, he saw a in, white ceiling. Then he saw that he was hooked onto an IV. The clear liquid in the infusion bottle slowly but steadily made its way into his body. He wanted to sit up, but found that he didn¡¯t have the strength. What¡¯s more, he felt particrly dizzy and tired, as if something was taken away from his body. Lying weakly in the bed, Brandon tried to recall what had happened and why he was in the hospital. But try as he might, he only felt a splitting headache. The pain was so extreme that it hurt to even think. ¡°Is anyone there?¡± Brandon shouted at the door warily. No one answered him. He reached for the phone on the bedside table to call someone so as to find out what had happened to him, only to realize that the device in his hand waspletely alien to him. How strange! What surprised Brandon even more was the date on the phone. How ridiculous! How could he have been asleep for two years? His first reaction was that the date on his phone was wrong. Maybe Garrett was just trying to prank him. He put the phone down and yanked the infusion needle out of his arm, intending to go find someone to talk to. However, when he looked up at the electronic clock on the wall unintentionally, he was stunned by what he saw. The date disyed on the electronic clock was indeed two yearster. Brandon felt helpless. Who was behind this stupid prank? Did they think he would be deceived so easily? The TV in the ward was still on. Brandon nced at it and found that the date was also two yearster! His expression darkened. What the hell was going on? Had he lost his memory? How could his mind be in the wrong time? Just then, a woman¡¯s voice came from the door. Charis then came in with a tray of food. ¡°You¡¯re awake! The doctor said that you might wake up at noon. It seems that I made the right decision, bringing you some breakfast,¡± Charis joked casually. ¡°Cut to the chase. What the hell happened? Is the clock showing the right time?¡± Brandon demanded anxiously. Charis giggled lightheartedly. ¡°What on earth do you mean? Did you lose your memory just because of a high fever?¡± When she saw the serious look on Brandon¡¯s face, she feigned a stunned expression for a few seconds and suddenly frowned. She rushed to his side and asked, ¡°Brandon? Are you serious? Did you really lose your memory?¡± Brandon¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°What happened? How could a fever erase my memories?¡± Charis sat on the edge of the bed and looked at him seriously. ¡°Hold on. I¡¯ll ask a doctor toe and check on you. Garrett has been in Barnestely. You had a fever and just passed out, and I was so worried about you.¡± ¡°Why is Garrett in Barnes? For a woman?¡± Brandon spat angrily. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Charis smiled and sighed. ¡°You¡¯re suddenly as strict as you were two years ago. Garrett moved to Barnes for work. The Larson Group has developed rapidly in the past two years and we have even opened up overseas markets. These days, you¡¯ve been focusing on the development in Barnes.¡± ¡°What else happened?¡± Brandon soon recovered from the initial shock and quickly epted the fact that he had lost two years of his memory. Now, his priority was to understand what was going on in the present. Charis exined everything that had happened in the past two years to Brandon in brief words. She even admitted that he had been married. ¡°Married? Interesting.¡± Brandon¡¯s tone took on a hint of mockery. ¡°Was it a marriage arranged by my family?¡± ¡°Well, something like that.¡± Charis smiled and added, ¡°But your wife got into an ident. Her car fell into the sea and she disappeared. You passed out during the search and rescue. I was the one who took you to the hospital. That was when we found out you had a high fever. Maybe¡­ Maybe your memory was affected by the high fever.¡± With a worried look on her face, Charis continued, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone lose their memories from a high fever. It¡¯s kind of like a plot in a movie.¡± Brandon nced at her indifferently. ¡°No wonder you suddenly seem more capable. I thought you and Garrett were pranking me.¡± Charis stuck her tongue out at Brandon and grumbled, ¡°Who would do such a thing? We¡¯re not kids anymore!¡± The smile on her face became brighter. She looked at Brandon¡¯s side profile and felt ted. It was so good to see that her Brandon was finally back. Chapter 641 Chapter 641 ¡°What does my wife look like? Howe I don¡¯t have any photos of her on my phone? Is our rtionship bad?¡± Brandon skimmed through his phone and found that it was nearly empty, save for his contacts list. After a short pause, Charis said, ¡°You identally dropped your phone in the sea that day, so I got you a new one. As for your rtionship with your wife, I don¡¯t know. You seldom talk to us about her.¡± Brandon put the phone down on the table and frowned slightly. He was curious about his marriage, but unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t remember his wife at all. Squeezing his eyes shut, Brandon asked in a low voice, ¡°Who is she? Howe I don¡¯t remember anything about her?¡± Charis stiffened slightly. After a split-second, she took a deep breath and handed a bowl of soup to him. ¡°Eat something first. I don¡¯t know the details, but you did mention that you married the adopted daughter of the Lind family because it was your mother¡¯sst wish. Later, after your identity as the CEO of the Larson Group was exposed, and J found out that her biological parents were the Whites from Barnes. Her new social rank was now equal to yours.¡± ¡°J White? That¡¯s a nice name.¡± A faint smile tugged at Brandon¡¯s lips, which made Charis unhappy. ¡°What¡¯s gotten you so interested in her all of a sudden? You seldom mentioned her in front of us before.¡± Charis scooped up a spoonful of soup and held it in front of Brandon¡¯s lips. Hearing her tone of voice, Brandon raised his eyebrows slightly. ¡°Oh? Did I dislike her so much?¡± Charis realized that she was a little emotional just now, so she forced a gentle smile. ¡°I¡¯m no mind reader. How would I know? Anyway, are you going to eat or not? My hands are getting sore.¡± ¡°I can feed my own self, thank you.¡± Brandon took the bowl from Charis, chugged down two mouthfuls of soup, and then put it on the table. ¡°I¡¯m fine now. You don¡¯t need to stay and take care of me. You can go back and get some rest.¡± Even though he had lost two years¡¯ worth of memory, Brandon was still so cold to her. Charis felt a sense of loss. Her smile faded. ¡°We¡¯ve been friends for years, Brandon. You don¡¯t have to be so formal with me. It sounds too distant.¡± ¡°Distant? I don¡¯t think so. Our rtionship has always been like this, hasn¡¯t it?¡± Then hey down and closed his eyes again, ignoring Charis. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder about his mysterious wife. He could tell from the way Charis exined things that he didn¡¯t really like his wife. Brandon didn¡¯t find this surprising. He was by no means a sentimental man, and he had never thought that he¡¯d get married, let alone love his wife. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. However, since his wife was missing, he had to find her. ******* After staying in the hospital for one more day, Brandon went back to the Larson Group. He still had some doubts in his heart and couldn¡¯t fully believe that two years had passed. However, he was forced to believe it when he saw just how big the Larson Group had be. From what he could remember, the Larson Group wasn¡¯t this developed. When he went to the company headquarters in Seacisco and checked the operational status of thepany, he was shocked by how far they had developed in the past two years. ¡°So I can sit back and enjoy the fruits of my own work?¡± Brandon felt ridiculous. He shut theptop and still couldn¡¯t wrap his mind around this change. Charis hade to the office with him and briefed him on the situation of thepany. Looking back at these achievements, she was also very proud. She looked at Brandon with admiration and said, ¡°This is the fruit of your talent and effort.¡± With his chin resting on his hand, Brandon raised the corners of his mouth slightly and said, ¡°About my wife, please keep looking for her.¡± Charis was a little unsatisfied to hear Brandon mention that woman again. She agreed casually and then quickly changed the subject back to business. ¡°By the way, remember to get familiar with our business partners in Barnes today. It¡¯s very important.¡± Brandon nodded and lowered his head, focused on his work. Compared with the wife he couldn¡¯t remember, he was more concerned about the Larson Group. Seeing that Brandon finally wasn¡¯t paying much attention to J¡¯s search and rescue, Charis was relieved. She had even secretly called back many search and rescue personnel sent by the Larson Group. The current so-called ¡°search and rescue operation¡± was nothing but a facade. Chapter 642 Chapter 642 After Brandon finished getting up to speed with matters regarding the Larson Group, Charis took him back to the hospital. Before they arrived at the door of his ward, Brandon insisted on going to the doctor¡¯s office first. ¡°Don¡¯t be in such a rush. Go to the ward and then I¡¯ll call a doctor for you,¡± Charis said, clearly flustered. ¡°No, thanks. I can do it myself.¡± Brandon walked straight to the doctor¡¯s office with a cold expression. Charis had a bad feeling about this and hurried to follow him. ******* In the doctor¡¯s office, Brandon went straight to the point and asked his doctor to discharge him from the hospital. He thought that there was no need for him to stay in the hospital anymore since he was fine. The old doctor adjusted his sses before he looked at Charis, who was standing behind Brandon, and said. ¡°Mr. Larson, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m not allowing you to leave the hospital. It¡¯s just that you¡¯ve lost your memory from that high fever, which is very strange. I think it¡¯s for the better that you stay here for a few more days, so that we can keep you under observation.¡± Putting her hand on Brandon¡¯s shoulder, Charis added worriedly, ¡°The doctor¡¯s right, Brandon. Just stay in the hospital for a few more days. I can take anything work-rted documents to the hospital for you. It¡¯s not far from the office anyway. Besides, you can always go back to the office during the day if you¡¯d like.¡±N?velDrama.Org content rights. Charis had already bribed the doctor. The longer she could keep Brandon here, the more advantageous it would be for her. Brandon was a little hesitant. He then pursed his lips and looked at Charis coldly. ¡°It sounds like you don¡¯t want me to go back to thepany. Why is that?¡± For some inexplicable reason, he felt that something was off about her. Charis put on a hurt expression and said seriously, ¡°Brandon, I don¡¯t want you to go back because I¡¯m worried about your health. I¡¯m also concerned about your image. You can¡¯t expose your memory loss to the public. The more you stay in the office, the bigger the possibility that someone will found out about it. Have you ever thought about how dangerous it would be if your enemies found out about it? Although the Larson Group is very prosperous now, itspetitors will leap at any opportunity to bring it down.¡± Staring at her for a while, Brandon¡¯s cold expression rxed somewhat. ¡°You¡¯re right. What more can I say?¡± Then he stood up and left the doctor¡¯s office. Charis ran after him anxiously. Brandon was acting too willful. He didn¡¯t listen to her at all, which made her feel a little helpless and anxious. But on second thought, wasn¡¯t this exactly how he had acted two years ago? He devoted himself to his work and career without any human-like feelings, just like a robot¡­ Everything seemed to have returned to the way they were two years ago, including their rtionship. ******* Garrett had been in Barnes and only learned about Brandon¡¯s ident recently. He tried to call Brandon, but he couldn¡¯t get through, which was confusing. Finally, he learned from one of Brandon¡¯s subordinates that he had suddenly fainted during the search and rescue operation and had been rushed to the hospital by Charis. Garrett smiled in relief when he heard the news. He had no idea that Brandon and Charis had fallen out with each other, nor did he knew the horrible things she had done. He thought that although the two had some disagreements, their age-old friendship wouldn¡¯t fade away. Charis followed Brandon back to the ward. She handed the file to him and said, ¡°This contains all the project documents over the past two years. You can study them if you like.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Brandon took the file and was about to open it when he suddenly raised his head and asked, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Garrette back from Barnes yet? I need to talk to him.¡± Ever since the establishment of the Larson Group, Garrett had been in charge of domestic businesses whereas Charis headed the oversea businesses. Naturally, Brandon needed Garrett to reorient him with thepany¡¯s local projects. After a short pause, Charis put on a smile and said, ¡°If you need him, I can call him now.¡± Truth be told, Garrett was her biggest concern right now. If he spent too much time with Brandon, he would definitely find out that Brandon had lost his memory. Brandon nodded and proceeded to study the documents in his hands. However, from the corner of his eye, he noticed that Charis was still staring at him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is there anything else?¡± Brandon paused and looked up at her irritably. ¡°Although you¡¯ve lost your memory, there¡¯s still something else I have to tell you. A year ago, there was a business deal that went down between the Lester family and the Harding family. In a word, Garrett helped the Lester family. When you found out about it, you were furious and had a huge fight with him. After that, your rtionship was severed somewhat. What I¡¯m saying is you¡¯d better be careful with him.¡± Charis didn¡¯t say anything more. She just needed Brandon to be on guard against Garrett. The Lester family was his worst enemy. Hearing this, Brandon¡¯s expression darkened. He took what Charis had said seriously. Both Charis and Garrett were his allies as well as friends when he founded the Larson Group. He had trusted them. But two years had passed and people could¡¯ve changed. All in all, he decided to take what she said with a grain of salt. Instead of exposing how he really felt about this, he said in a low voice, ¡°Call him. We haven¡¯t seen each other in a long time.¡± ******* Toting several bags of tonics and healthy food, Garrett arrived at the hospital in high spirits. As soon as he entered the room, he found Brandon lying in the bed with several documents strewn about him. ¡°I heard that you just caught a cold in the rain?¡± Garrett frowned. ¡°But you¡¯ve been staying in the hospital for so long. What¡¯s wrong? Is it not just a cold?¡± Brandon put away the document in his hand and said, ¡°Thank you for your concern. I¡¯m fine. I just have a low fever, but the doctor said I should stay here for a few more days.¡± He didn¡¯t change his attitude towards Garrett, but because of what Charis had said, he remained vignt and didn¡¯t tell Garrett that he had lost his memory. Chapter 643 Chapter 643 Johanna and Beal had been staying in Seacisco ever since they learned of J¡¯s ident. They devoted all the time and resources possible in search of their beloved daughter. Johanna couldn¡¯t sleep or eat, knowing that her daughter was still out there missing. In just three days, the radiant Johanna had grown haggard, aging her several years. The rescue team still couldn¡¯t find J, so they simply put up tents on the shore and took turns resting. In the end, Johanna couldn¡¯t take it any longer and was about to get on a ship to search for J herself, but Beal stopped her. ¡°How can you go in that shape? I heard that even Brandon fainted on one of the search-and-rescue boats yesterday. He¡¯s still in the hospital.¡± Hearing this, Johanna wrung her hands anxiously. ¡°What a series of unfortunate events! How about I go to the hospital to check on Brandon now? I don¡¯t know if anyone¡¯s taking care of him now.¡± Beal forced a smile and wrapped his coat around Johanna. He too was exhausted after days of nonstop worrying. ¡°No need. Just wait here for the rescuers¡¯ news. I¡¯ll send my assistant to check on him.¡± ******* Beal¡¯s assistant headed straight to the hospital upon receiving the order from his boss. When he was about to enter Brandon¡¯s ward, a beautiful woman blocked his way. ¡°And who are you?¡± Charis looked at the strange man coldly. She noticed that he had a gift basket with him. ¡°Oh, good day, ma¡¯am. I¡¯m Mr. Beal White¡¯s assistant. Both he and Mrs. White are worried about Mr. Larson, so they asked me toe and visit him,¡± the assistant exined himself politely. Standing firmly in front of the door of the ward, Charis smiled but didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Brandon¡¯s fine. He¡¯s resting. You¡¯d better not disturb him. I¡¯ll ry the message for you.¡± The assistant didn¡¯t expect that he wouldn¡¯t be allowed to see Brandon, but he had no choice but to hand the gift to this woman instead. ¡°Oh, I see. Thank you.¡± After returning, the assistant reported what Charis had said to Beal and Johanna. Johanna patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°That¡¯s good. If something bad happens to Brandon, I don¡¯t know what I¡¯ll say to J when shees back.¡± Yes, she firmly believed that her daughter woulde back safe and sound. The sky was clear and the sea was calm. They could see the boats and inds in the distance. The boats sent by the Whites had been searching the waters nearby for a long time, but they still found nothing. Fortunately, they didn¡¯t find J¡¯s body either, which was a good sign. Beal and Johanna still had high hopes for their daughter. However, the more time that passed, the slimmer the chances of finding J alive¡­ Both Beal and Johanna knew this, so they could not rest. It was almost dusk. The setting sun reflected on the sea, dying it orange and red. Clenching her hands, Johanna stared at the sea, her eyes sweeping across the search-and-rescue ships. Suddenly, she found that something was wrong. Today¡¯s boats were much fewer than the previous days. Johanna raised her hand and pushed Beal anxiously. ¡°Why are there fewer boats out today? Are those the Larson Group¡¯s boats?¡± Beal carefully counted the number of boats on the sea and murmured, ¡°All of our boats are there. It should be the boats from the Larson Group whose number has decreased.¡± Johanna snorted in dissatisfaction. ¡°What the hell is that supposed to mean? Has he given up searching for J? Has he lost hope already? I have to call Brandon and ask him!¡± Before Beal could stop Johanna, she had taken out her phone and dialed Brandon¡¯s number. However, despite her calling several times, no one came to the phone. Johanna was even angrier. ¡°He doesn¡¯t even dare to answer my calls!¡± She really wanted to rush to the hospital to question Brandon, but considering the fact that J still wasn¡¯t found, she had no time to go see Brandon. Seeing that she was so angry, Beal was afraid that it would take a toll on her health, so he tried to comfort her. ¡°Just let it go for now. We have to focus on the search here. We have to find our daughter first. The most important thing right now is getting her back safe and sound.¡±This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Chapter 644 Chapter 644 The sound of crashing waves drowned everything else. The woman curled up in the reef cave opened her eyes to the sight of ships out in the sea. She had no intention to call for help, though her eyes were bright and alert. It had been six days since J was trapped in this ce. In all that time, several ships had passed by and gone. There was even one instance when a ship had thrown anchor near the cave. The men had alighted and traversed the reef, shouting her name as they went. ¡°Is anybody here? We are the search and rescue team sent by the White family! If you can hear us, please respond or make some noise!¡± They bellowed the same words over and over. But their voices only scared J, so much so that she squeezed deeper into the cave. She never made a sound. After all, she couldn¡¯t be certain whether these so-called rescuers were friend or foe. What she did know for sure was that someone wanted to kill her. J didn¡¯t want to risk running into her enemies, so she thought it would be best to keep silent and hidden. If things turned out the same asst time, she may not be as lucky as to escape again. The rescuers had stayed for a few minutes. When they got no answer, they decided to leave. ¡°Let¡¯s go. There is no one here. I heard that there is an ind just up ahead. Let¡¯s go over there and take a look.¡± With a short re of its horn, the ship lifted its anchor and sailed away. J watched it all happen from her dark corner in the cave. For days on end, the same scenario repeated itself, and she would press tight against the cave walls and observe whoever hade. She couldn¡¯t even begin to guess who all those men worked for. She was careful not to make a peep, afraid that the slightest sound might alert them to her presence. In the end, the ships eventually stoppeding to this area. Only then did J realize that she didn¡¯t know what to do. Thest time it rained was three days ago, and all the freshwater around her had already dried up under the ring sun. Her throat was dry as a parchment. She swallowed and tried to soothe it with what little saliva she had left. She was already showing symptoms of dehydration, and could barely stand up without feeling dizzy. J knew she was slowly dying. Her vision blurred, and a choked sob came out of her mouth. She thought she no longer had tears to shed, but two hot droplets fell from her eyes. Suddenly, the faces of the important people in her life appeared in her mind. She missed Brandon and her parents. It was said that one would recall their most treasured memories just before they died. J¡¯s lips curled into a bitter smile. At that moment, she could only think of one thing¡ªthat she would really perish this time. ******* After the storm died down, a number of small fishing boasts set out to the sea to get some catch off the waters. On the beach, people walked around to enjoy the breeze and pick some shells. And by the reef, a middle-aged woman in a floral shirt hopped off her boat with a basket on her back. She often scavenged for shells near the reef, and when she grew tired, she would climb into the cave to rest in the shade. Today was different, however. When she went into the cave, she saw that someone was inside. The woman was wary at first, but as she approached, she realized that a young woman was lying unconscious among the rocks. Scared out of her wits, she ran out of the cave screaming. ¡°Honey! Honey, hurry ande take a look! There¡¯s a woman inside!¡± she called out to her husband in between gasps for air. Her husband was a fisherman who was just about her age. He had been born and raised by the sea, and fished all year round. As such, he was actually no strangers to situations where a corpse was stumbled upon after a particrly heavy storm. ¡°She must have been swept away in the rain a few days ago. I¡¯ll go and check on her.¡± The fisherman jumped out of his boat and made his way to the cave. His wife was right at his heels. The couple crouched over J, and the man held a finger under her nose. ¡°She¡¯s still breathing. Let¡¯s take her back to the ind first and see if she can be saved.¡± The woman nodded and threw her basket aside.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Together, they hoisted J on the fisherman¡¯s back. As they did, the wife couldn¡¯t help but sigh at J¡¯s young and pretty face. ¡°This girl looks like she¡¯s just the same age as our daughter. I do hope she survives this.¡± Chapter 645 Chapter 645 Swimming in and out of consciousness, J vaguely heard a strange voice. It sounded like a woman speaking in a local ent. J tried her best to open her eyes, but she was too weak. Soon, she passed out again. The next time she woke up, she found a middle-aged woman with tanned, leathery skin standing in front of her. Her cheeks were red from exposure to the sun all year round. The woman¡¯s eyes instantly lit up and she happily waved to the people around her. ¡°She¡¯s awake! Come quick! She¡¯s awake!¡± Soon, a stooping middle-aged man came over. His face was also tanned and red. ¡°Thank God! I¡¯ll get the doctor.¡± The middle-aged man wiped his brow in relief and smiled. He looked very kind when he smiled. J¡¯s eyes darted between the two middle-aged people and was too dazed to say anything. The window in the room was open, letting in the sea breeze. She could still smell the salt in the air. ¡°Hello¡­ Er, where am I? And who are you?¡± J asked warily. ¡°You¡¯re in a hospital. We¡¯re fishermen. Three days ago, we stumbled upon you in a reef cave, and you were unconscious, so we took you straight to the hospital. You¡¯re one lucky girl. The doctor said that your chances of survival were actually slim, but you made it!¡± The middle-aged woman smiled at J. Her words were full of joy, as if she was very happy that J managed to survive. ¡°Oh, my God¡­ Thank you¡­ Thank you so much!¡± Tears welled up in J¡¯s eyes. She felt so lucky to have been saved. The middle-aged woman poured a ss of water for her and asked with a curious smile, ¡°Miss, where¡¯d youe from? You didn¡¯t have an ID or phone when we found you, so we didn¡¯t know who to contact.¡± ¡°I got into a car ident. The car fell into the water but I managed to swim to the reef. Speaking of which, ma¡¯am, can I borrow your phone? I need to call my family.¡± It suddenly urred to J that she had been hospitalized here for three days. Besides, she had already been lost at sea for almost a week. Brandon and her parents must have been worried sick. ¡°Of course. You should call your parents to tell them that you are safe.¡± The middle-aged woman handed her phone to J. J dialed Brandon¡¯s number excitedly. However, no one answered it. She tried him several more times, but still, no one answered. ¡°Could you have dialed the wrong number, miss?¡± The middle-aged woman asked kindly when she noticed that no one had answered the phone. J frowned and shook her head. ¡°This is my husband¡¯s number. I couldn¡¯t have gotten it wrong.¡± Instantly, she felt that something was off. She had been gone for so long, so Brandon should¡¯ve been turning the entire world upside down looking for her. He should¡¯ve kept his line open at all times in case she called. Even though it was an unknown caller, he would have answered it. ¡°Wait a minute. I¡¯ll try calling my parents instead.¡± After calming down, J dialed Beal¡¯s number. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°Dad! It¡¯s me, J!¡± The moment the call connected, a lump formed in J¡¯s throat. And the second Beal heard her familiar voice, he jumped for joy. Johanna, who was right next to him, also heard J¡¯s voice and immediately snatched the phone from him. ¡°J, where are you? How are you? Honey, we were so worried!¡± Johanna cried andughed at the same time, her voice trembling with emotion. She finally felt a sense of relief! When they found out what hospital J was in, they immediately rushed to see her. Beal couldn¡¯t stop thanking the couple who had saved J and gave them a generous amount of money as a reward. Johanna ran into the ward first. Seeing that J was safe and sound, she went straight to the bed and threw her arms around her daughter, sobbing profusely. ¡°What on earth happened? You¡¯ve lost so much weight!¡± After calming down somewhat, Johanna felt heartbroken to see how sunken J¡¯s cheeks were. J exined everything to them. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom, Dad. I¡¯m fine now.¡± Johanna let out a long breath and nodded, hupping from her sobs. ¡°Well, as long as you¡¯re safe¡­ As long as you are safe.¡± J finally asked what she had been meaning to ask. ¡°Mom, where¡¯s Brandon? Why can¡¯t I get in touch with him?¡± Chapter 646 Chapter 646 ¡°Well¡­¡± Johanna and Beal exchanged nces. Finally, Johanna spoke up, albeit hesitantly. ¡°You see, Brandon fainted during the search and rescue, and now he is in the hospital.¡± J¡¯s eyes widened and she clutched Johanna¡¯s hand worriedly. ¡°How is he now? Brandon¡¯s always been healthy. How could he suddenly pass out?¡± The more she thought about it, the more anxious J became. She lifted the nket and was about to get out of bed. ¡°We have to go back to Seacisco now.¡± Beal hurried up to stop his daughter. He shook his head firmly and said, ¡°You¡¯d better stay in the hospital for a few more days just to be safe. Anyway, I had already asked my assistant to check on Brandon. He¡¯s fine.¡± But J couldn¡¯t calm down. ¡°Dad, why didn¡¯t you visit him yourself? Is he seriously ill?¡± ¡°Calm down, J. We were so busy looking for you that we didn¡¯t spare time to visit him in the hospital. But I heard that Brandon is fine now.¡± Johannaforted J in a gentle voice. J lowered her head, feeling guilty. This was all happening because of her. ¡°Before I called you, I tried calling him first. But I couldn¡¯t get through to his number. What do you think is going on?¡± At first, J didn¡¯t think too much of it. But now, the sense of uneasiness in her heart was getting stronger and stronger. Johanna scratched her head and averted her gaze, feeling a little embarrassed. ¡°The assistant said he was fine. So that means he should¡¯ve woken up by now.¡± Truth be told, she didn¡¯t know what was going on with Brandon either. When she heard what J said, she also instinctively felt that something was wrong with Brandon. Ever since Brandon was hospitalized, he seemed to stop caring about J¡¯s disappearance. He even withdrew his search and rescue ships, which had pissed Johanna off to no end. Beal knew what was on his wife¡¯s mind, but J¡¯s well-being was their top priority now, so he also tried tofort their daughter. ¡°Your mother¡¯s right. Maybe Brandon just missed the call. He¡¯ll call you back as soon as he sees it.¡± But J couldn¡¯t rest easy. ¡°I have to go see Brandon. If he¡¯s fine, I¡¯lle back and stay in the hospital.¡± Johanna held her hand tightly. ¡°You¡¯re still so weak. Stay in the hospital and recuperate! I¡¯ll ask Brandon toe here instead.¡± Seeing that Johanna sounded a little angry, J hesitated and then reluctantlyy back down on the bed. ¡°Mom, wake me up if Brandones, okay?¡± Seeing the anxious look in her daughter¡¯s eyes, Johanna sighed. ¡°Of course, honey. Get some sleep first.¡± Then Johanna pulled Beal out of the ward.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°Honey, you have to find a way to get in touch with Brandon. I think something¡¯s wrong.¡± Johanna looked gloomy. She felt that something was off, but she couldn¡¯t tell exactly what that was. ¡°Alright. Don¡¯t worry too much. Brandon¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll call someone to find out how to get in touch with him.¡± Beal rubbed Johanna¡¯s backfortingly and then went out to make some calls. After a while, he got his hands on the phone number that Brandon was using now. Without hesitation, Johanna called Brandon. ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this?¡± The man¡¯s voice sounded a little cold. ¡°Brandon, this is Mrs. White. We¡¯ve found J. Would you like toe and see her?¡± Johanna went straight to the point and asked Brandon toe over. She thought that Brandon would be as ecstatic as they were to find out that J was alive and well. Unexpectedly, Brandon¡¯s tone was indifferent. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯ve found her. There¡¯s something I have to deal with in thepany. I¡¯m not avable to see her for the time being.¡± Chapter 647 Chapter 647 Johanna pursed her lips in utter dissatisfaction. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you, Brandon? Your wife is back! Aren¡¯t you happy to hear that?¡± Brandon paused for a few seconds and then said calmly, ¡°Of course I¡¯m happy.¡± Johanna couldn¡¯t feel any semnce of joy in his tone. He was totally indifferent! His tone made Johanna fly into a fit of rage. However, Beal tugged on Johanna¡¯s wrist and said in a low voice, ¡°Something¡¯s not right. Brandon isn¡¯t like this usually. Could something have happened to him?¡± Johanna suppressed her anger and tried to calm down to think straight. N?velDrama.Org content rights. Brandon¡¯s reaction was indeed suspicious. He didn¡¯t seem to give a damn about his own wife now. Johanna¡¯s eyes shed in confusion. She whispered to Beal, ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong with him, but perhaps his illness had an effect on his personality?¡± ¡°Hello? If there¡¯s anything else you want to say, please say it now.¡± After waiting for a while, Brandon grew a little impatient¡ªand it showed. He had no feelings for his wife, nor did he have any respect for the Whites. He had only talked to them in the first ce out of politeness. How did he get along with them before? What response were his inws expecting from him? After mulling over it for a while, he asked, ¡°Where is she now?¡± Johanna coughed and said gruffly, ¡°J is in the hospital of a fishing vige near Seacisco. If you want toe over now, I can send you the location.¡± ¡°Okay. Send me the location. I¡¯ll visit her when I have time. I have a meeting to attend. I¡¯d better go now.¡± Then, without even waiting for a response from Johanna, he hung up the phone abruptly. Johanna and Beal looked at each other in shock. Johanna was furious. ¡°What the hell is wrong with Brandon? He didn¡¯t even say whether he¡¯sing or not!¡± How on earth was she supposed to exin this to J? Beal pondered over their conversation just now. ¡°The Brandon we know would¡¯ve dropped everything and rushed here as soon as he heard the news that J was found. But just now, he said that he¡¯d onlye if he had time.¡± Beal had heard Brandon¡¯s words clearly. Johanna lowered her eyes and fell silent for a few seconds. Then she looked at Beal again and said grimly, ¡°There has to be something wrong with Brandon. But J needs to focus on recovering for now. We¡¯d better not tell her about it for the time being.¡± Beal nodded in agreement. ******* Seeing her parentse in, J sat up in bed excitedly. Worried about Brandon¡¯s health, she couldn¡¯t fall asleep. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to get some rest first? Why are you still awake?¡± Johanna asked helplessly, tucking J under the nket. J looked straight into her mother¡¯s eyes and asked, ¡°Mom, what did Brandon say?¡± The smile on Johanna¡¯s face instantly became a little weird. ¡°Brandon said he¡¯de soon. In the meantime, he has asked us to take good care of you.¡± J frowned slightly. ¡°Then let me call him. I want to talk to him. I¡¯m still very worried about his health. And why did he change his phone number all of a sudden?¡± Johanna hurriedly joked, ¡°My, my, I¡¯ve never met anyone who misses her husband as much as you! Brandon just told us that there¡¯s something wrong with thepany in Barnes and he was in between meetings when we called. As for the change of number, his phone fell into the sea when he was searching for you. Anyway, he¡¯s very busy right now. Let¡¯s stop pestering him for now, okay?¡± Johanna tried to distract J. Hearing her mother¡¯s exnation, J gradually calmed down. Maybe it was because she missed Brandon so much after her near-death experience that she couldn¡¯t help making blind and disorderly conjectures. They had only been apart for a week. What could¡¯ve possibly gone wrong? Chapter 648 Chapter 648 After hanging up the phone, Brandon stood up and was about to leave for the meeting. ¡°Brandon, your wife has been found, right?¡± Charis asked in a seemingly casual tone. She had been standing next to Brandon when the Whites called and had clearly overheard what they said. Brandon had gone straight to work at the Larson Group headquarters as soon as he was discharged from the hospital. He wanted to get his work back on track as soon as possible, but he didn¡¯t want other people to know that he had lost his memory. Therefore, Brandon had asked Charis to brief him on the Larson Group¡¯s affairs over the past two years. So over the past few days, Charis had been by Brandon¡¯s side nearly 24/7. Naturally, she had grown to be the person that Brandon relied on the most. No one else in the Larson Group knew why she had left thepany before, so now that she was back, nobody questioned it either. After all, Charis was a senior executive of thepany, and she was one of the partners who had founded Larson Group alongside Brandon. Everyone respected her very much. ¡°Yes. Just now, the White couple called and said they found her.¡± Brandon picked up a document from the table and spoke so calmly, it was as though the news was irrelevant to him. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful news!¡± A smile appeared on Charis¡¯ face. It looked like she was very happy for J. However, the second Brandon lowered his head to skim through other documents on the table, the smile on her face faded away. Her expression darkened and her eyes took on a dangerous light. What a lucky bitch! J managed to survive yet again! Charis was both shocked and angry. It had rained heavily for two days and two nights after J¡¯s car ident. Given such dangerous circumstances, J shouldn¡¯t have survived alone at sea. Now that J was back safe and sound, she¡¯d definitely screw up all of Charis¡¯ ns. Charis knew that she was in deep trouble now. She had to do something to stop J and Brandon from getting back together. However, she soon managed to calm down. Judging from Brandon¡¯s attitude when he answered the phone just now, it was obvious that he didn¡¯t care much about J now that he had lost all his memories of her. The man who stood before Charis now was the Brandon from two years ago. This was the Brandon who was devoted to his career and couldn¡¯t give a damn about romance. The only thing that tied him to J was their nominal marriage. As long as Charis seized any and every opportunity to put obstacles in their path, she knew she could separate them forever. Brandon didn¡¯t say anything more. Gathering the documents needed for the meeting, he seemed to be deep in thought. After a while, he broke the silence. ¡°After this meeting, you can get off work first. I¡¯m going to the hospital to see J.¡± He thought it was only right that he pay his own wife a visit. After all, the White family held a high position in Barnes. If he acted too indifferent, it would probably piss them off, which could be a detriment to the future development of the Larson Group in Barnes. Smiling gently, Charis said sweetly, ¡°Okay. Please send my regards to J. You don¡¯t need to worry about thepany. I¡¯ll inform you if anything happens.¡± ******* After a busy afternoon, the meeting finally ended. Brandon was waiting in his office for the driver to arrive. All of a sudden, Charis burst into the room and cried, ¡°Brandon, don¡¯t leave just yet.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Brandon frowned. ¡°Thepany¡¯s security system has been hacked, and all confidential information is at the risk of being disclosed. You¡¯d bettere and see for yourself.¡± Charis had ran all the way up, so she was panting and out of breath. Brandon¡¯s expression changed. Hacked? How could such a thing happen all of a sudden?C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Chapter 649 Chapter 649 The Brandon from two years ago waspletely and utterly devoted to the Larson Group. Nothing seemed to be able to affect his focus on work. He had zero interest in women and thought that romance was just a distraction from sess. In a word, nothing was more important than thepany he had started. Even though J was his wife, the Larson Group was still much more important than her. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately decided to stay. Brandon loosened his tie and looked at Charis with his dark eyes. ¡°Call the staff of thework center here.¡± He put down his coat again and sat back in the chair. Just then, Sean knocked on the door and poked his head in. ¡°Mr. Larson, the driver¡¯s downstairs. Shall we go to the hospital now?¡± With his eyes fixed on the screen of theputer, Brandon didn¡¯t even bother to look up. ¡°Go see J on my behalf. If you run into her parents, just tell them that there was an emergency in the company and I couldn¡¯t leave.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Sean replied falteringly. He felt that Brandon had been acting a little strange these days. It was almost as though his boss had changed into apletely different person. Sean scratched his head hesitantly. He seemed to want to say something but stopped on second thought. Finally, he had no choice but to follow Brandon¡¯s orders and left. Charis also walked out of Brandon¡¯s office with acent smile on her face. Earlier that day, she had hired a hacker to attack thework security system of the Larson Group. This attack wouldn¡¯t cause any substantial loss to thepany, but it could stall Brandon. At the very least, J wouldn¡¯t be able to see her husband today. ******* Ever since J awoke, she had been restless, staring at the door of the ward expectantly. Johanna tried to ease the atmosphere and joked around with her, but her voice fell on deaf ears. J was too consumed with waiting for Brandon. ¡°Mom, when¡¯s Brandoning?¡± Over the past few hours, J had asked this question many times. She had felt much better after the rest. ¡°If Brandon¡¯s too busy toe here, I can go back to see him.¡± Johanna didn¡¯t know how to exin the situation. She and Beal had called Brandon already, but the latter said that he¡¯de only if he had spare time. There was nothing she could do but try tofort her anxious daughter. ¡°Be patient. Brandon¡¯s on his way here as we speak.¡± Just then, there was a knock on the door and it slowly swung open. It was Sean who came in. J¡¯s eyes lit up with joy. ¡°Sean! Where¡¯s Brandon?¡± Sean smiled awkwardly and put the flowers and the get-better gift basket he bought on the table. ¡°Mrs. Larson, Mr. Larson said he had emergency to deal with in thepany, so he couldn¡¯te here himself.¡± The expression on J¡¯s face froze and her eyes darkened. She asked Sean in confusion, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Brandon wasn¡¯t like this before. Sean, tell me, is there something wrong? What happened to him?¡± J simply couldn¡¯t believe it. She almost died at sea, yet Brandon didn¡¯t seem to give a damn that she was back now. Even if something important had happened in thepany, howe he didn¡¯t even spare the time to call her? Sean scratched his head falteringly. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know for sure, but¡­ Anyway, Mrs. Larson, are you feeling better?¡± Johanna, on the other hand, was absolutely furious. What the hell was Brandon thinking? J had been waiting for him. Why didn¡¯t hee to see his wife, who was in the hospital, in person? He had crossed the line! She then snapped at Sean, ¡°Make it clear right this instant! What¡¯s wrong with Brandon? Why hasn¡¯t he come himself?¡± Sean felt a little aggrieved. Why did he always have to face the brunt of these situations? He grumbled in a low voice, ¡°It¡¯s not just you. I also get the feeling that there¡¯s something wrong with Mr. Larsontely. After Mr. Larson fainted on the rescue ship, Charis sent him to the hospital. And ever since he came back to thepany, he seems to have changed into apletely different person. I even feel that¡­ It seems that he has be the Mr. Larson from two or three years ago. He¡¯s more devoted to his work than ever and is cold to everyone.¡± ¡°Wait. Did you just say that Charis is back?¡± At the mention of Charis¡¯s name, J nearly jumped out of bed in shock. She knew perfectly well just how much Brandon hated Charis. She highly doubted that the rtionship between the two would ever be repaired. ¡°Yes. Mr. Larson only trusts her now. He¡¯s on guard against anyone else.¡± Sean looked at J helplessly. When J heard this, she was even more shocked. Charis was in love with Brandon. It wasn¡¯t too out of the ordinary that she rushed him to the hospital when he fainted. However, Brandon had already cut all ties with Charis. And thest time they saw Charis, Brandon was clearly disgusted with her and was vignt against her approach. Why did he change his attitude toward her all of a sudden? N?velDrama.Org content rights. ¡°Sean, do you know why Brandon suddenly trusts only Charis?¡± J clenched the nket in her hand. Something must have happened! Chapter 650 Chapter 650 Sean was just Brandon¡¯s assistant who arranged matters that weren¡¯t work-rted. How could he possibly know what was going on in thepany? ¡°I really have no idea, Mrs. Larson. I wasn¡¯t there with them. Besides, I¡¯m just his assistant. I don¡¯t dare to ask Mr. Larson any questions regarding that.¡± Flustered, Sean scratched the back of his head. Unable to sit still any longer, J lifted the nket and got out of bed. ¡°Since you don¡¯t know, I¡¯ll ask him myself.¡± Johanna hurried to stand in front of J. ¡°The doctor didn¡¯t say that you can leave the hospital yet. Don¡¯t worry. Why don¡¯t you try calling Brandon first?¡± J bit her lip anxiously and practically snatched the phone from Johanna¡¯s hands. She dialed Brandon¡¯s number and held her breath. Seconds passed. The phone kept ringing for what felt like an eternity, but no one answered it. ¡°He didn¡¯t even pick up.¡± Tears welled up in J¡¯s eyes. She was growing restless. Now, she was sure that something terrible had happened to Brandon. Otherwise, he would never have treated her like this! Holding back her tears, J gritted her teeth and said firmly, ¡°I¡¯m going back to Seacisco now. Dad, Mom, please understand. I have to find out what happened to my husband.¡± Seeing the fierce determination in her eyes, the Whites didn¡¯t have the heart to stop her anymore. After packing up her things, Beal draped a coat over J¡¯s shoulders and said resolutely, ¡°We¡¯re coming with you. Brandon didn¡¯t visit you in the hospital. He didn¡¯t even answer our calls. We deserve an exnation!¡± Brandon¡¯s behavior was indeed too strange. They couldn¡¯t let things go on like this. Together, the family of three headed to Seacisco. The Larson Group¡¯s building stood in the center of the business district, standing so tall it nearly pierced the sky. It was the dream of countless young people to have the privilege of working in such a prestigiouspany. J and her parents walked straight into the Larson Group building. Just as they were about to enter the elevator, a security guard stopped them. The security guard held an electric baton in his hand and asked warily, ¡°Excuse me, miss, but are you an employee of Larson Group? You can¡¯t juste in like that.¡± J looked at the security guard and said matter-of-factly, ¡°I¡¯m Brandon Larson¡¯s wife.¡± This whole encounter felt strange, so she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Are you new here? I don¡¯t remember seeing you before?¡± J used to work in the Larson Group. She clearly remembered every one of the security guards and the cleaners. The security guard squinted at J suspiciously. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m new¡­¡± He had never seen their CEO¡¯s wife, but he couldn¡¯t just take this woman¡¯s words at face value. In his eyes, if the boss¡¯s wife came to thepany, there should¡¯ve been someone high up to receive her. The security guard stopped J and said firmly, ¡°Mr. Larson is in an important meeting. No one is allowed to disturb him.¡± J pursed her lips helplessly. ¡°I said, I¡¯m his wife. You can ask the employees here about it. They all know me.¡± The security guard insisted on his way. ¡°Then wait in the reception room. After the meeting is finished, I¡¯ll go and ask Mr. Larson if he wants to see you.¡± As he spoke, the security guard ushered the three of them into the reception room. asionally, some employees would pass by the ss walls of the reception room. It wasn¡¯t until then that J noticed that many junior employees had been reced, including the cleaners. This realization made J feel more and more uneasy. N?velDrama.Org content rights. Brandon wasn¡¯t someone who would make such random decisions. Why would so many grassroots employees be reced for no reason? Did it indicate that there was a change of power in Larson Group? Johanna and Beal were highly respected in Barnes, and no one dared to ignore them. But now, they were forced to wait in a reception room for Brandon for over two hours. The amiable smile on Beal¡¯s face gradually faded away as they waited. However, he didn¡¯t want to cause a stir, which might make his daughter even unhappier, so he just pulled a long face and kept silent. Johanna, on the other hand, cleared her throat and tried to ease the atmosphere. ¡°Brandon must be terribly busy. He doesn¡¯t even have the time to see us!¡± J pursed her lips and lowered her head, her heart racing in her chest. She was a little angry. In the past, no matter how busy Brandon was, he wouldn¡¯t have done something so rude. Another ten minutes passed. Finally, footsteps came from outside the reception room. The door swung open and Brandon strode in. Chapter 651 Chapter 651 Brandon walked into the reception room. He was a tall man, and the well-tailored grey suitplemented his figure perfectly. However, his eyes were devoid of warmth as he surveyed the people in the room. ¡°Sorry for keeping you waiting. I was in an important meeting just now.¡± Brandon nodded and sat opposite J. He leaned against the backrest of the chair, looking indifferent and aloof. J stared at him in astonishment. She instantly felt that the man in front of her waspletely different. If he didn¡¯t have the same facial features, figure, and even voice as that of Brandon, she would have thought that the man standing in front of her was a total stranger. ¡°Are¡­ Are you feeling better now?¡± Clutching the armrest of her chair tightly, J tried desperately to calm herself down. ¡°Much better. Thank you for your concern.¡± Brandon put on a polite smile, but it only alienated him further. Feeling ufortable under his cold gaze, J ventured, ¡°I heard that you fainted during the search. What happened? Brandon, you seem¡­ different.¡± What was that supposed to mean? Brandon narrowed his eyes at the woman before him. But even after studying her face for a long time, he still felt nothing. Unfortunately, he just didn¡¯t remember anything about her. Today, J hade with her parents. There was no way Brandon would let her know that he had lost his memory, let alone her parents. He wasn¡¯t sure whether he could trust the White family with his secret. What if they leaked the news about his memory loss? Besides, his marriage with J was just for business. And Charis had told Brandon that J was obsessed with him. He, on the other hand, had zero interest in her and had only married her to fulfill histe mother¡¯s wish. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I was just confined to the hospital the past few days and was discharge only yesterday. I don¡¯t see anything different about myself.¡± Brandon tone was t and lifeless, as though he had no interest in prolonging the conversation. After all, he couldn¡¯t remember how he got along with J before. But he had to keep a distance from her so that she wouldn¡¯t find out that he had lost his memory. He needed to keep it a secret from her until he was sure that he could trust her. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. J didn¡¯t buy it at all and wanted to question him further. However, Brandon¡¯s phone started to ring. Upon ncing at the caller ID, he excused himself. ¡°Sorry, I have to take this.¡± He stood up and walked to the French window with his back to J and the White couple. Brandon spoke on the phone briefly and then put it down. He turned around and looked at J again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I have an overseas video conference to attend. If you need anything else, you can talk to my assistant.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he left without waiting for J¡¯s response. His assistant stayed on and asked them politely, ¡°How can I help you today?¡± bbergasted by Brandon¡¯s cold and indifferent behavior, J felt as though she was on the verge of breaking down. The Whites were also stunned and were at a loss as to what to do. After a while, Brandon¡¯s words finally registered in their minds. Johanna was furious. She looked at his assistant with a sneer and said, ¡°Call him back. We have to talk to him and him alone!¡± The assistant didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°Mrs. White, I am just Mr. Larson¡¯s assistant He tells me what to do and not the other way around¡­¡± Beal also looked grim. He had never been so angry before in his life. ¡°I had no idea Brandon was so arrogant! Does he even take us seriously? How dare he blow us off like that!¡± Chapter 652 Chapter 652 Johanna came from a noble family in Barnes, whereas Beal was a White¡ªone of the most powerful families in Barnes. No one had ever been this disrespectful to them before. The way Brandon had treated them today really pissed Johanna off. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here, J! I refuse to let you be bullied. Since Brandon refuses to exin himself, then so be it. You don¡¯t need a man like that!¡± Johanna took a deep breath and calmed down. Her expression softened and she took J¡¯s hand to leave. J followed Johanna and Beal out of the reception room in a daze. After taking a few steps, she stopped in her tracks and said, ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s as simple as we saw it was. Brandon has never been like this before. Something must¡¯ve happened to him.¡± Under normal circumstances, it was impossible for Brandon to change into apletely different person all of a sudden. Even if there was a huge misunderstanding between them, he wouldn¡¯t have been so indifferent to her. She had noticed that the way Brandon looked at her just now was estranged and cold, as if he was looking at a total stranger. It was as though the love they had cultivated over the past two years had disappeared overnight. Johanna sighed and looked at J helplessly. ¡°Do men need a reason to cheat? J, Brandon¡¯s attitude proves otherwise!¡± Seeing that J was dead serious, Beal looked at her and asked, ¡°My dear, do you really trust Brandon that much?¡± J nodded without missing a beat. She trusted Brandon with her life, as he did with her. ¡°I have to figure out why he is suddenly acting like this. Dad, Mom, you can go back to Barnes first. I¡¯ll take it from here.¡± Johanna clutched her daughter¡¯s hand worriedly. ¡°You haven¡¯t fully recovered yet, and Brandon doesn¡¯t seem to care about you. We can¡¯t just leave you alone in Seacisco!¡± ¡°How¡¯s this? We can investigate together. Your mother and I will send someone to investigate everything that happened to Brandon during the past few days after he fainted. If anythinges up, we¡¯ll call you.¡± Holding J¡¯s shoulders, Beal added, ¡°If you need anything, just tell us. You¡¯re not alone anymore, J.¡± Tears welled up in J¡¯s eyes. She threw her arms around her parents tightly. Yes, she had parents now, and she didn¡¯t have to fight against the whole world alone. ******* After the Whites left, J didn¡¯t waste any time. She headed towards the meeting room, intending to wait for Brandon¡¯s meeting to end. She nned to make it clear to him as soon as possible. However, before she reached the meeting room, she bumped into Charis. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. They hadn¡¯t seen each other in months, and Charis wore long hair now. Her long curly hair fell over her shoulders, making her look sharp yet mature. She looked like a professional officedy. Charis smiled in mock pleasant surprise. ¡°Miss White, long time no see! I heard from Brandon yesterday that you were in hospital. What brings you here?¡± J smiled faintly. ¡°Miss Turner, what a coincidence! I wanted to ask you something.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Charis asked calmly, as if she was willing to help J. ¡°What exactly happened to Brandon?¡± J didn¡¯t know how to trick Charis into telling her the truth, so she just asked straightforwardly. ¡°I knew you¡¯d ask about this.¡± Charis¡¯s eyes shed. ¡°At the time, Brandon thought you were dead and he was devastated. It was I who stood by his side while he went through difficult times. So Brandon and I have reconciled.¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking why Brandon is so cold to me,¡± J said through clenched teeth. She could hardly control her anger. Charis burst intoughter, as though she had heard the funniest joke in the world. ¡°How on earth would I know about your private affairs with Brandon? Miss White, I am afraid you¡¯ve asked the wrong person.¡± Chapter 653 Chapter 653 J fell silent for a long time. She didn¡¯t believe a single word that came out of Charis¡¯s mouth. J knew that Brandon wouldn¡¯t give up on her so easily. He wouldn¡¯t have rested until he found her. Moreover, Brandon was not one to reconcile with his enemies. He was so hostile to Charis previously. J knew he wouldn¡¯t even allow her to be around him. Most importantly, he would never write off what Charis had done so easily. Charis nced at the time on her watch and broke into a smile. ¡°Miss White, if you want to talk, we should do this some other time. I really have to go to that meeting with Brandon now. So sorry.¡± She bowed her head slightly to show how ¡°sorry¡± she was. Then she walked passed J almost arrogantly. ******* Charis had expected that J woulde looking for Brandon. In fact, she had already prepared for her return. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. When Charis heard from Brandon¡¯s assistant that J and the Whites were waiting for him in the reception room, she reminded Brandon in a low voice that he didn¡¯t like dealing with J¡¯s parents before. ¡°If you feel it¡¯s too troublesome to face them now, I can handle it for you,¡± she then added. After a few seconds of silence, Brandon nodded and then walked out. Before that, Charis had mentioned to Brandon more than once that J was head over heels in love with him. Charis made sure to nt an idea in Brandon¡¯s mind that J was nothing but a hopeless romantic who was a disturbance to his work. After all, Charis knew Brandon very well. When the two were in high school, countless girls chased after him. He¡¯d politely refuse them initially, but if the girls kept pestering, he¡¯d grow very impatient. He hated hopeless romantics the most. So the more J tried to get close to Brandon, the more he¡¯d repel her. Charis guessed that the reason why Brandon had a crush on J in the first ce was that she had left a good impression on him when they first met. This time, J wouldn¡¯t be that lucky. ******* Looking at Charis¡¯s receding figure, J had to support herself on the wall. She felt a splitting headache and was at a total loss. Charis was her enemy, but now, this woman somehow became the person that Brandon trusted the most. It was ridiculous! Besides, J knew what kind of person Charis was. After thinking for a while, she decided to keep on waiting for Brandon. Once upon a time, J had believed something that Charis said, which resulted in a fight between her and Brandon. Learning from her past mistakes, J refused to believe anything Charis said now. As long as Brandon trusted J, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult for them to deal with Charis together. But what worried J was whatever Charis had done to Brandon to make him change so dramatically. Not only him, but the Larson Group also changed drastically. The employees had been reced so wantonly. Brandon would never do such a thing. It seemed like Charis¡¯s deliberate arrangement to prevent people from noticing Brandon¡¯s abrupt change in personality. What could Charis be hiding? Brandon¡­ What had happened to him? J¡¯s mind raced as she waited quietly at the door of the meeting room. No matter what it was, she wanted to hear it from Brandon himself. Chapter 654 Chapter 654 Evening fell in Seacisco. The skies turned purple and blue, slowly covering the city in darkness, and the streetlights lit up one by one. J had been waiting outside the meeting room for a long time. She stared out the window nkly. Brandon¡¯s strange behavior earlier kept reying in her mind. Suddenly, someone called her name from behind. ¡°J!¡± J turned around and found Tiffany standing behind her. ¡°When did you get back to Seacisco? And why didn¡¯t you tell me you were here?¡± Tiffanyined, smiling yfully. She had only heard from her colleagues that J was back, so she came to see her as soon as she got off work. However, the second she saw J¡¯s face, she instantly knew that something was wrong. ¡°What happened? You look pale.¡± J forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m just waiting for Brandon.¡± Sensing that J didn¡¯t want to talk about it, Tiffany didn¡¯t press her further. The two of them exchanged a few more pleasantries. Just as Tiffany was about to leave, J suddenly asked, ¡°Has anything big happened in the Larson Group recently?¡± With pursed lips, J looked especially grim. Tiffany squinted slightly as she mulled over J¡¯s question. Then she broke into a smile. ¡°Yes, something did happen somewhat recently.¡± ¡°What?¡± J looked at her expectantly, her heart racing. Perhaps what Tiffany was about to say had something to do with the sudden change in Brandon¡¯s character! ¡°Well, we set up a branch in Barnes, and it¡¯s been prospering. I also heard that Brandon ns to bring thepany to the northwest. That¡¯s something big, isn¡¯t it? Perhaps in the near future, the Larson Group¡¯s branches will be all over the country! You¡¯re so lucky you married such a capable man, Mrs. Larson!¡± Tiffany joked with a silly grin. J forced a smile, albeit bitter. The expectant look in her eyes clouded over. ****** Even after Tiffany left, J continued to wait for Brandon. While she waited, many new employees passed by and looked at her strangely, wondering who she could be and what her business here was. J smiled bitterly. In the past, she never showed off the prestige that came with the title of ¡°Mrs. Larson¡±. But now that she was practically erased from Brandon¡¯s life and nobody seemed to know that they used to be a loving couple, J felt suffocated. Still, she refused to leave. The night went on and her eyelids began to droop, so she leaned against the wall and almost fell asleep. Just as she was drifting off to sleep, she heard the sound of a door opening. When J opened her eyes, she found arge group of people walking out of the meeting room with Brandon. Brandon saw J standing at the door of the meeting room, so after exchanging a few words with several executives, he walked towards her. ¡°Why are you still here?¡± Brandon thought he had already made himself clear earlier. Because he had no memories of J, he saw her advances as pestering and grew a little impatient. ¡°Do you have time to talk now?¡± J asked, firmly standing in Brandon¡¯s way. The man nced at his watch and frowned. ¡°I have a full schedule tomorrow. I have to go to bed early tonight, but I suppose I can give you half an hour.¡± Hearing the coldness in his words, J wished she could p him on the spot. Fortunately, she managed to suppress her anger and followed Brandon to the office quietly. It was already midnight, so his office was quiet and empty. He sank into his chair wearily and loosened his tie with his eyes closed. ¡°What do you want to say? Just say it,¡± he said with a trace of impatience. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Without beating around the bush, J went straight to the point. ¡°There are only us here now. I¡¯ll ask you one more time, Brandon. What the hell happened to you? No matter what happened, we can solve it together!¡± Brandon opened his eyes, which were full of annoyance. ¡°I already told you that nothing happened. There¡¯s nothing I can do if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± J took a deep, shuddery breath. She couldn¡¯t help but raise her voice as she spoke. ¡°We were a loving couple justst week! But look at how your attitude is towards me now! How the hell can you expect me to believe that nothing happened?¡± It never urred to J that she and Brandon would end up like this. Brandon remained unfazed, his face expressionless. He had no idea how he and J used to act around each other. He only knew that J was head over heels in love with him, ording to Charis. Maybe their so-called loving past was nothing but J¡¯s fantasy. He doubted he was ever loving towards her. ¡°Miss White, I hope you¡¯ll stop overthinking things. We¡¯re still a couple and I¡¯ll fulfill my duty as your husband.¡± Brandon chose his words with great care and spoke slowly and emotionlessly. Staring at him quietly, tears started to roll down J¡¯s cheeks. She couldn¡¯t see any emotion in the man¡¯s lifeless eyes. Brandon had be such a stranger that she couldn¡¯t help but feel scared. She cried, ¡°Brandon, are we just a couple on paper now?¡± Brandon frowned. The woman¡¯s tears only served to make him more impatient. He stood up, gathered the documents on his desk, and said, ¡°I¡¯ve said what I needed to say. If there¡¯s nothing else, I will leave first. I¡¯m busytely, so I won¡¯t go home. I¡¯ll move to a ce near the company.¡± Chapter 655 Chapter 655 From outside the window, clouds gathered and the strong winds howled wildly. Lightning lit up the skies. A rainstorm was brewing. Suddenly, thunder roared, and the lightning lit up J¡¯s shocked expression. But Brandon didn¡¯t give a damn. He didn¡¯t say anything tofort her. Instead, he walked out of the office without another word. J watched him leave with tearful eyes. She didn¡¯t even try to stop him. And even if she did, she wouldn¡¯t know what to say to this cold and aloof Brandon. Brandon was like apletely different person now. He would never be so impatient with her before. When she looked into his malicious eyes just now, she found herself unable to even breathe. How could she face her husband, who was now aplete stranger to her? J felt like her whole world was crumbling down. ******* The Whites took shelter in a five-star hotel during their stay in Seacisco. They texted J, telling her not to worry too much. Beal also mentioned that he had asked someone to investigate what had happened to Brandon the past few days. As J¡¯s parents, they couldn¡¯t just go back to Barnes without finding out what happened to her husband. Soon after they checked into the hotel, they received a call from Draco. Draco said that he was calling because he was worried about J. Johanna knew that they wouldn¡¯t be able to solve J¡¯s problem any time soon, so she asked Draco if J could file for a long-term leave from thepany, to which thetter agreed. As the thunder roared outside the window, it rained cats and dogs. With every passing minute, Johanna grew more and more worried about her daughter. Before long, she heard a knock on the door. She opened the door and found J staring nkly into space, drenched to the core. Johanna was taken aback. She hurriedly pulled J inside the room and asked, ¡°It¡¯s raining so hard outside. Didn¡¯t Brandon drive you home?¡± Judging from the expression on J¡¯s face, it seemed that the conversation between her and Brandon didn¡¯t go so well. ¡°It¡¯s okay. You can stay here with us.¡± Johannaforted J softly. Then she looked at Beal and ordered, ¡°Go ask the front desk to get J a presidential suite.¡± Seeing his daughter in this state, Beal also felt terrible. He sighed in his heart. Before leaving, he reminded his wife, ¡°Stay with her. She needs you. If things go on like this, we¡¯ll go back to Barnes¡ª without Brandon.¡± Johanna winked at him. Then she went to the bathroom to fetch J a towel. As she was drying J¡¯s hair, she asked with concern, ¡°Can you tell me what happened?¡± J hadn¡¯t spoken a word ever since she got here. Her eyes seemed to be covered with a thinyer of mist, losing their original vitality. She shook her head bitterly, took the bath towel from Johanna, and started drying herself. ¡°He still didn¡¯t tell me anything.¡± ¡°Your father asked someone to investigate the matter a few hours ago.¡± Johanna could only try her best tofort her daughter. ¡°Mom, just tell me everything you know. Don¡¯t worry. I can take it.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know anything useful yet. Our priority now is to find out what happened to Brandon when Charis took him to the hospital. The Turner family is powerful here, and they own that hospital. We can¡¯t just send someone there to investigate.¡± Johanna was also puzzled. Brandon had turned into apletely different person overnight, but there were no clues as to how or why. After drying her hair, J went to the bathroom to change out of her wet clothes. In desperation, it suddenly urred to her that there might be someone who had answers. ¡°Garrett, are you in Barnes now? Have you noticed if there¡¯s anything wrong with Brandontely?¡± It was past midnight now, and Garrett was asleep when J called. When he answered the phone, he was still foggy and half-asleep. J¡¯s questions only stunned him further. ¡°Hmm¡­ Brandon? Well, yeah. He has been a little strange recently.¡± Garrett yawned sleepily. ¡°What happened to him?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I wanted to ask you. I got into an ident some time ago and I wasn¡¯t in Seacisco the past few days.¡± Garrett was Brandon¡¯s best friend. J figured that he might know something. Garrett gradually came up. ¡°I did sense that there¡¯s something off about Brandontely. His attitude toward me has been very strange. It¡¯s almost as though he¡¯s been on guard against me. But he refuses to tell me why. The most strange thing about him is that he seems to only trust Charis now.¡± J¡¯s expression instantly darkened. She said firmly, ¡°Charis must have done something to Brandon.¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. But what on earth Charis had done to make Brandon be like this? J had no idea¡­ Chapter 656 Chapter 656 Given the current tricky situation with Brandon, J couldn¡¯t just go back to work. She needed to stay in Seacisco until she figured out what was going on with him, so she decided to stay in the same hotel as her parents. Johanna and Beal stuck by her side. Early the following morning, Garrett arrived with breakfast. ¡°Judging from how upset you soundedst night, I assume you¡¯re probably not in the mood for breakfast, so I got you some good stuff. Come on. I brought sausages, bacon, toast, donuts, sandwiches, and coffee. There must be something you¡¯d want to eat.¡± In fact, he had long felt that something was wrong with Brandon. After receiving J¡¯s callst night, now more than ever he was certain that something was amiss. Besides Garrett, Tiffany also came. She was a workaholic, but she actually took that day off for the sake of checking on J. ¡°No wonder you were so pale yesterday we met. Why didn¡¯t you tell me sooner?¡± Tiffany patted J¡¯s shoulder with a pout. ¡°Aren¡¯t we supposed to be friends?¡± Two important figures who were closely rted to the Larson Group and its CEO were present. However, J still had no idea what to do next. ¡°I don¡¯t want to keep you away from work, but I couldn¡¯t do this on my own. Brandon¡¯s cold and unapproachable now. He¡¯spletely devoted to his work and thepany. I can¡¯t even see him, let alone talk to him properly.¡± N?velDrama.Org content rights. Tiffany rested her chin on her hand and mused, ¡°Mr. Larson has indeed been very busy since he came back. It¡¯s really hard to find an opportunity to sit down with him.¡± A thought suddenly urred to Garrett. He warned J, ¡°Don¡¯t hover around Brandon. He hates that kind of thing the most. When we were still in school, many girls chased after him like this, and it really pissed him off!¡± J was at the end of her rope. Exhausted and at wit¡¯s end, shey in bed with a heavy sigh. She had toe up with a way to get close to Brandon. Since it was useless to try to talk to him, perhaps she should adopt something more direct. Suddenly, J got up from the bed. There was fierce determination in her eyes and she seemed to have the will to fight again. ¡°I¡¯m going to see Brandon.¡± ****** Brandon saw the woman standing outside his office. There was an unyielding look in her bright eyes. This upset him a little. He didn¡¯t expect that J woulde to him again. ¡°Miss White, what¡¯re you doing here? I thought I made myself clear.¡± Brandon looked at J coldly. ¡°We still need to talk, Brandon. We¡­ Has there been any misunderstanding between us?¡± J tried to speak in a soft, gentle voice. But as she looked into the pair of cold eyes in front of her, she couldn¡¯t help but feel torn-up inside. Brandon became more annoyed. J would be detrimental to his work if she continued to pester him like this. Indeed, Charis had told him before that J was a clingy woman. At first, he didn¡¯t take her seriously. But now he realized that what Charis said was right. ¡°Miss White, there¡¯s nothing I have to say to you. Don¡¯t waste my time. If youe back here and make trouble out of nothing one more time, don¡¯t me me for being rude.¡± Brandon¡¯s expression darkened. This time, he didn¡¯t even invite J to talk in his office. Just then, Charis heard themotion and came out of his office. She asked with a gentle smile, ¡°What happened? Why are you so worked up?¡± Lately, she had been ying the role of Brandon¡¯spetent assistant who devoted herself to work. She was not in a hurry to develop a deeper rtionship with Brandon. The most important thing right now was to make sure he trusted her. Seeing the unfriendly look on Brandon¡¯s face, Charis realized what was going on. She turned to look at J and smiled apologetically, ¡°Miss White, please forgive Mr. Larson. He¡¯s very busy and doesn¡¯t even have the time to sleep¡ªhence the bad temper.¡± J¡¯s face turned purple from anger. Of course, she could tell that Charis was only stirring up trouble. Compared to Charis, who seemed to be considerate, J looked like an unreasonable shrew who kept pestering Brandon. The winner was obvious. Without saying anything more, Brandon turned around to leave. Charis looked at J with a smug smile. Then she also turned around and followed Brandon. Just then, J¡¯s cold voice sounded from behind them. ¡°Brandon, I need to talk to you for thest time. If you don¡¯t agree, then let¡¯s get a divorce. Anyway, a marriage without trust is meaningless.¡± Chapter 657 Chapter 657 Thest shred of hope in J¡¯s heart disappeared. Charis kept making things difficult for her. J knew that it¡¯d be impossible to curry Brandon¡¯s favor by ying an affectionate wife So J was going to deal with this matter in the way that Brandon liked most¡ªin a businesslike, professional manner. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Her firm words seemed to finally get to Brandon. His tall, burly figure suddenly stiffened. At present, the Larson Group was growing stronger and stronger. Divorce would be an unwise move at this time. If the divorce pushed through, J would get tons of his assets in alimony. Brandon turned around and looked at J in unmasked surprise. There was finally a trace of emotion in his usually cold eyes. He had never considered divorcing J. And ording to Charis, J waspletely obsessed with him. Wasn¡¯t it out of character for her to ask for a divorce then? With one hand in his pocket, Brandon narrowed his eyes at J and finally asked, ¡°What do you want?¡± J¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°I¡¯ve told you countless times. All I want is to be able to talk to you. Mr. Larson, since you are so busy every single day, I don¡¯t know when you¡¯ll be avable to talk. I don¡¯t mind making an appointment to fit your schedule, but I only have one request: we need to have enough time to talk.¡± J nced at Charis, who was standing near Brandon, and added sarcastically, ¡°If you leave in the middle of our conversation because of some ¡¯emergency¡¯ again, I¡¯ll divorce you on the spot.¡± What a cold tone! Brandon couldn¡¯t help but look J up and down a few more times. It seemed that he had never looked at her this seriously before. The woman in front of him had a pair of fiercely determined eyes. She wasn¡¯t that tall, nor was she stunning at first sight, but she was still pretty. And she had this magic charm of her that once you set eyes on her, it would be hard to take your eyes off of her. An indescribable emotion suddenly emerged at the bottom of Brandon¡¯s heart. Why did this woman insist on having a talk with him? Did they really love each other deeply before? If that was the case, how could he have just forgotten herpletely? Something seemed to spark within Brandon¡¯s heart, but theplex emotion died down as soon as it came. He couldn¡¯t even understand why he had such a strange feeling for J. He thought for a while and then said, ¡°I¡¯ll ask my assistant to keep my whole morning open tomorrow.¡± J nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± After saying that, she turned around and left without hesitation. ****** The following morning, J, Beal, and Johanna all came to Larson Group. At first, J didn¡¯t want her parents toe with her, but Beal and Johanna were worried that J would be bullied if she went to see Brandon alone, so they insisted oning together with her. The three sat opposite Brandon in a negotiating manner. J spoke up first, her tone unhurried. ¡°You said that you would fulfill your duty as a husband, but you only care about work. You even moved to the hotel near thepany. You turn a blind eye to me and even refuse to talk with me. Youpletely ignore me as your wife. Is this what you mean by ¡®duty¡¯?¡± Brandon answered calmly, ¡°I¡¯ve always put work first. For me, love is¡ª¡± Before he could finish his sentence, J interrupted him. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense with me,¡± J pulled a long face and said firmly. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that work is more important. Before this, even if you were extremely busy, you would always spare time for me. But now, you¡¯ve been so cold to me. You¡¯re practically begging me to divorce you, aren¡¯t you? Brandon, let me tell you this: if I divorce you, I promise I won¡¯t be merciful. Don¡¯t forget that I have the support of the White family now. My parents are no weaker than you. They will support whatever decision I make. We didn¡¯t sign any prenup before we got married. I will use all means to get as much property from you as possible if we are to get divorced. When that happens, do you think you¡¯ll still be able to strengthen the Larson Group smoothly as nned?¡± Chapter 658 Chapter 658 J had a fierce, almost aggressive air about her as she spoke. It surprised Brandon enough that he unconsciously squared his shoulders. Johanna didn¡¯t expect her daughter to straight-up ask for a divorce. But it wasn¡¯t an entirely bad idea, seeing as how indifferent Brandon was to her. At his current state, the man didn¡¯t deserve J at all. ¡°This time, it¡¯s all your fault,¡± Johannamented. ¡°You¡¯ve been ignoring your wife all this time. She has a perfectly healthy husband, but she is forced to live the life of a widow. Let me make things clear for you, Brandon. If you and my daughter get a divorce, the Larson Group will be regarded as an enemy of the White family. The decision is yours. I suggest you think about it very carefully.¡± ¡°J,¡± Beal interjected in a quiet but serious tone, ¡°if you really want a divorce, I¡¯ll call our family lawyer over. He can be here by tomorrow.¡± N?velDrama.Org content rights. Brandon lowered his eyes. With Beal¡¯s words, he could tell that the couple were willing to support J¡¯s pursuit of a divorce. It was no mere threat. However, the White family was a formidable force in Barnes. If he went up against them in any way, it would damage the interests of hispany. Notwithstanding the losses he might incur, he also had to answer to the tens of thousands of employees under the Larson Group. He might be able to shoulder most of the burden, but he couldn¡¯t take the risk of endangering the livelihood of his people. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± Brandon asked, his voice sounding deeper than usual. J took out a folder and tossed it on the table in front of him. ¡°This contract stiptes all the marital obligations you need to carry out as a husband. This is the least you can do for me. We are getting divorced otherwise.¡± She had a cold and distant expression as she leaned back on the sofa and stared at Brandon. Johanna sighed to herself in relief. Her daughter had looked so distraught these past few days as she pined for her absent husband. Johanna had suspected that J might never give up on Brandon to her own detriment. She was d to see her daughter holding up her own during this confrontation. The White family had more properties than they could care for. If J somehow ended up divorcing Brandon, she could just take over the family business. She was smart and talented, and could definitely live a better life. The more Johanna thought about it, the more convinced she was that a divorce would be the best course of action. Brandon wordlessly picked up the documents and leafed through the pages. ording to the contract, he needed to spend the night at home for at least five days a week, and had to stay at least one day for the weekend. On holidays, he had to make time to apany J to whatever event she was hosting or attending. He would also have toe home and tend to her whenever she was sick or injured. There were many more simr instances cited on the paper, but none of them were excessive. ¡°Mr. Larson, I¡¯m assuming that you already know what to do. The terms I¡¯veid down are nothing more than the barest duties a husband must attend to. If you can¡¯t even aplish these, then there is no need to continue this marriage.¡± J spoke slowly. Her voice rang out clearly in the room, and her calm tone only served to make her more intimidating. Brandon rubbed the paper between his thumb and forefinger as he considered his options. Then he looked up and met J¡¯s eyes. ¡°Your requirements are well within reason. All right, let us proceed with this contract.¡± J raised her chin and smiled. ¡°Good. Then we will follow the terms as stipted.¡± She stood up and added, ¡°By the way, I expect you toe home tonight.¡± J and her parents then walked out of the Larson Group building and got into their car. Johanna peered at her daughter for a while before saying, ¡°My dear, what if Brandon refused to agree to your terms? Were you really going to divorce him?¡± A yful smile was dancing on J¡¯s lips. She turned to her mother and said firmly, ¡°I have never considered divorcing him, not even for a second.¡± Chapter 659 Chapter 659 ¡°Mom, I haven¡¯t even figured out what¡¯s wrong with Brandon yet. I can¡¯t let our marriage end just like that. If we get divorced, Charis will have gotten exactly what she wanted. I have to figure out what on earth is going on first. Since Brandon doesn¡¯t want to tell me the truth, I¡¯ll have to find it out myself.¡± As she spoke, J¡¯s voice was soft but firm. ¡°I¡¯m only worried that you¡¯ll get hurt, J. Brandon¡¯s attitude toward you is very clear now. He just wants you to be his wife on paper.¡± Johanna sighed heavily. J lowered her head, trying to hide the sadness in her eyes. ¡°Mom, I know where you¡¯reing from. It¡¯s true. Brandon doesn¡¯t love me anymore. And I don¡¯t know why. But given the circumstances, no matter how hard I try to get close to him, it just doesn¡¯t work. I have to be cold and negotiate with him directly, showing him the advantages and disadvantages of being with me. Maybe that way, Brandon will pay more attention to our rtionship. As long as I can spend more time with him, I am confident that I can bring the previous Brandon back.¡± Johanna knew she wouldn¡¯t be able to change her daughter¡¯s mind. Since J was her precious daughter, she could only support whatever J wanted to do. Finally, she snorted and said seriously, ¡°If Brandon makes you cry again, I won¡¯t let him or the Larson Group go.¡± ¡°Thanks, Mom. I know you¡¯re the best!¡± Tears welled up in J¡¯s eyes again. She couldn¡¯t help but throw herself into her mother¡¯s arms, acting like a spoiled child. Johanna held her tightly and said helplessly, ¡°You were always a smooth talker when you need something from your mother.¡± Beal burst intoughter. ¡°Well, you can¡¯t me her. You know what? J¡¯s temper is just like yours when you were young. She got her stubbornness from you!¡± ******* That night, J didn¡¯t go back to the hotel with Johanna and Beal. Instead, she moved back to the vi she and Brandon had lived in before. This vi was quite close to the Larson Group headquarters. Not long after she stepped foot inside the house, she heard the sound of engineing from the gate of the vi. When J turned around, she saw a handsome but indifferent man standing at the door. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. J immediately stiffened. Brandon was still as good-looking as before, but his cold attitude toward her was extremely off-putting. He was now the most familiar stranger to J. She closed her eyes for a few seconds to gather her bearings and then looked around the almost empty living room. Her voice was a little sad. ¡°Brandon, I got into an ident only two weeks ago, but it seems you¡¯ve been in such a hurry to clear out all my stuff. Any trace of my life in this vi has disappeared, and even our photos are gone¡­¡± Brandon looked around the house and found that it was indeed bare. ¡°I haven¡¯t been back to Seacisco for a long time. Charis was the one who sent people to clean the ce up.¡± He seemed to be exining himself. J walked to the sofa and sat down. Stroking the spotless sofa, she sneered in disdain, ¡°Don¡¯t you think that Charis has interfered too much? Isn¡¯t she just an employee of yourpany? Why is she responsible for your private affairs now?¡± Truth be told, even Brandon felt that Charis had crossed the line. A matter like arranging people to clean Brandon¡¯s house was supposed to be his personal assistant¡¯s job. With Charis¡¯s status, she shouldn¡¯t have been in charge of such trivial things. After a long silence, Brandon replied perfunctorily, ¡°I didn¡¯t take it too seriously. I just recovered from a serious illness. I thought she did it because she was worried about me.¡± He knew that Charis had feelings for him. It seemed reasonable for her to help him with these trifles. J felt a little stuffy in her chest, but she knew that she couldn¡¯t lose her temper now. She took a deep breath and suppressed her anger. Brandon went upstairs as soon as he finished talking, followed by a sulky J. This was just the beginning. She couldn¡¯t admit defeat so easily! Instead of entering the master bedroom, Brandon had nned to stay in the guest room. As he walked, he asked casually though, ¡°What¡¯re our sleeping arrangements? Shall I take the guest room?¡± J couldn¡¯t help but snigger. When she looked at Brandon, a sly smile tugged at the corners of her lips. ¡°We are a couple. Of course we sleep in the same bed.¡± Chapter 660 Chapter 660 Brandon¡¯s whole body tensed up instantly. Seeing this, the smile on J¡¯s face became even brighter. She tilted her head to look at him in a somewhat innocent-like manner, to which Brandon tightened his jaw and pursed his thin lips. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You look flustered. Brandon, you were never like this in bed before.¡± J continued to banter with him. Brandon himself once admitted that he was wild in bed. So why was he so shy now? J found it oddly amusing. Upon hearing her, Brandon¡¯s steps became unsteady subconsciously. Was she telling him the truth? In his memory, he had never slept with a woman. Moreover, J was nothing but a stranger to him now. How on earth could she know what he was like in bed? Seeing the hesitant and uncertain look on Brandon¡¯s face, J suddenly wanted to keep on teasing him. She pulled his suit jacket and led him into the master bedroom. ¡°Why don¡¯t youe inside and look around? After all, we used to sleep here together.¡± Brandon clung to the doorknob subconsciously. Having no reason to refuse her, he walked into the room slowly, as if he was about to face a formidable enemy. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Looking at how cautious he looked, J was amused. She covered her mouth and said gently, ¡°Well, get settled. I¡¯ll take a shower first.¡± ******* The sound of running water from the bathroom brought Brandon back to his senses. For some reason, he felt nervous. However, he shook his head and chastised himself. J was just a woman. What could she do to him? After stepping out of the shower, J saw that Brandon hadn¡¯t left. He was sitting quietly on the sofa, reading a magazine. He had taken off his suit jacket and carefully laid it on the sofa. The top two buttons of his white shirt were unbuttoned, exposing his sharp corbone and pectoral muscles. He looked extremely sexy. Wiping her wet hair, J sat on the edge of the bed and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to take a shower before going to bed?¡± ¡°Well, I was waiting for you to finish.¡± Brandon looked up at the woman in front of him. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down, and his voice was a little hoarse for reasons he couldn¡¯t exin. He had flipped through the magazine in his hand twice or thrice now, but nothing seemed to register in his mind. He couldn¡¯t seem to concentrate at all. Brandon braced himself, stood up, and then walked to the bathroom. He was at aplete loss as to what to do, which was a rare feeling for him. Just now, J was standing in front of him half-naked, as though she was deliberately trying to seduce him. And it worked. His mind went nk and he stayed in the bathroom for a long time beforeing out. He walked out wrapped in a bathrobe. The bedroom was now dimly lit, with only a bedside tablemp illuminating the room in a warm orange glow. The quilt bulged slightly in the middle. J slept on her stomach, taking up most of the bed. Brandon walked over, lifted a corner of the quilt, and quietlyy down, careful not to wake the woman up. He turned his back to J, took a deep breath, and then closed his eyes. J quietly peeled her eyes open. Seeing how stiff and tense Brandon¡¯s back was, she didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry. In the past, Brandon had always been demanding sexually, but now, he was like a nervous husband on his wedding night. She really couldn¡¯t figure out what made him like this. ¡°Brandon¡­¡± Thinking of the past, J stretched out her hand subconsciously. However, just as her fingertips brushed against his bathrobe, Brandon sat up from the bed abruptly. Narrowing his eyes at her, Brandon asked warily, ¡°What are you doing?¡± He had retreated to the edge of the bed. It seemed that he would fall down at any time. In a daze, J¡¯s eyesnded on his reddened earlobes. Chapter 661 Chapter 661 Wrapped in the quilt, J reached out to turn on the light and then sat up to look at Brandon. Smiling brightly, she asked, ¡°Why are you so scared? I¡¯m not going to hurt you or anything.¡± Her lighthearted, euphemistic voice made Brandon¡¯s ears turn even redder. He didn¡¯t raise his head and refused to look at the woman next to him. Clutching the quilt tightly, he felt a little depressed. He had never felt so helpless before. ¡°Did you want to say something to me?¡± J asked curiously, tilting her head to the side. With a tense look on his face, Brandon finally raised his eyes to look at J, albeit hesitantly. He uttered, ¡°You¡­ Please don¡¯t¡­ I¡­¡± Seeing that he couldn¡¯t even finish his sentence, J was amused. She shook her head helplessly, turned off the light, andy down with her back to Brandon. She then said softly, ¡°Alright, I promise I won¡¯t tease you again. You have work tomorrow. Good night.¡± After that, J didn¡¯t say anything more. Brandon breathed a sigh of relief. In the darkness, he looked at J¡¯s outline quietly. Too many doubts shed through his mind. What kind of person was she? And how did they used to interact? To Brandon¡¯s frustration, he still couldn¡¯t remember anything. His head was filled with a thousand questions, but he couldn¡¯t just wake J up and ask her without her finding out about his memory loss. In the end, he had no choice but to lie back down on the very edge of the bed, tucked himself in, and closed his eyes. ****** The rainstorms of early autumn were over, and winter quietly crept in. Brandon awoke to the sound of the strong winds beating against the window. When he got up to close the window, the delicious aroma of breakfast attracted him. He subconsciously nced back at the empty bed. Only then did he realize that J was not in the room. After quickly washing up, he trotted downstairs. It was a windy day, but there was no sign of rain. The sun was still bright outside. With an apron on, J set two cups of milk on the table and then went back to the kitchen to prepare the food. Brandon mindlessly followed her into the kitchen. J was making sandwiches for breakfast. When she heard footsteps behind her, she turned around and smiled, ¡°Good morning, sunshine! Go wash your hands. Breakfast is almost ready.¡± Brandon was stunned for a few seconds. For some inexplicable reason, he felt that this scene was so familiar, as though he was experiencing deja vu. He thought about it long and hard. J¡¯s busy figure gradually ovepped with that of his mother in his memories. Sylvia used to make him breakfast before he got up.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. The smell of delicious food in the early morning, the woman¡¯s blurred face, and the familiar sound of cooking up a storm in the kitchen. This scene felt very familiar to him, but Brandon couldn¡¯t remember anything more. His memory was too blurred. And whenever he tried to make it clear, he¡¯d feel a dull pain in his head. Noticing his absent-mindedness, J waved her hand in front of him and asked, ¡°Brandon? What¡¯s on your mind? Come on. It¡¯s time for breakfast.¡± Brandon¡¯s eyes gradually became clear. He nodded slightly and followed her to the dining table. There were sandwiches, bacon, eggs, and milk on the table¡ªa beautiful breakfast spread. ¡°Here you go.¡± With a smile, J handed him a ss of milk. Brandon epted the ss with both hands and said awkwardly, ¡°Oh, thank you.¡± J gestured at the food on the table and urged him, ¡°Taste it. I hope my cooking skills didn¡¯t worsen while I was away.¡± Brandon nodded. He slowly picked up a sandwich and hesitantly took a bite. The food J cooked was nothing special, but it tasted good. The meaty chicken and the crunchiness of lettuce mixed perfectly. There was no extra seasoning, but it was still a tasty and refreshing sandwich. Brandon¡¯s heart felt warm while he ate it. ¡°It¡¯s delicious.¡± He praised from the bottom of his heart. He hadn¡¯t eaten such a good, home-cooked meal in so long. This made him feel for the first time that the word ¡°home¡± was not so far away from him. The smile in J¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t fade away. After she finished thest of her milk, she winked at Brandon and said lightly, ¡°As usual, I cook and you wash the dishes.¡± Brandon nodded obediently. He didn¡¯t think it was an unreasonable request. In fact, he even felt as though he had done this chore many times. But he had no idea when he did it and why he agreed to do chores in the first ce. Despite the nks in his mind, Brandon truly enjoyed the familiar feeling of a having a hearty breakfast. Suddenly, his phone started to ring. It was Charis calling. ¡°Brandon, why aren¡¯t you at the office yet? Did something happen?¡± Her voice was full of concern. ¡°I¡¯m okay. Don¡¯t worry about me. You go ahead with the work.¡± Brandon took a sip of milk. He gave her brief orders and then hung up. It was the first time that he had put aside his work for something else. Instead of rushing to the company, he finished breakfast with J unhurriedly and even washed the dishes afterwards. Chapter 662 Chapter 662 Clenching her teeth, Charis put her phone away. She couldn¡¯t conceal her jealousy and anger any longer. Brandon had just gone back to live with J for one night, and today, he waste for work. Charis took a deep breath and then proceeded to walk into the office as if nothing had happened. But deep inside, she knew that things were getting out of hand. Previously, Charis was secretly ted when she saw that J kept pestering Brandon. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. She knew that J¡¯s insistence would only push Brandon further and further away. And just as she had expected, the more J tried to reach out to Brandon, the more obvious his aversion to J grew. Everything was going smoothly until J proposed to divorce Brandon. When Charis heard her say this, she was ecstatic. She couldn¡¯t believe her ears. She hadn¡¯t even done anything to separate them yet, but J actually took the initiative to leave Brandon! But when Charis came to her senses, she immediately realized that what J wanted was not that simple. J didn¡¯t really want a divorce. She just wanted to threaten Brandon with it! During J¡¯s negotiation with Brandon, Charis secretly stood outside the door and heard everything clearly. J threatened Brandon with the power of the White family and the potential alimony should they divorce, asking him to fulfill his duty as a husband. This move caught Charispletely off guard. Brandon and J were legally married. It was reasonable for J to ask him to perform his duty as her spouse. As an outsider, Charis had no grounds to interfere. Seeing that Brandon was going to live with J again, Charis grew anxious but didn¡¯t know how to stop it. If things went on like this, everything she worked for would be for naught. Back then, Brandon married J, lived with her, and slowly fell in love with her. Of course, the same thing could happen once more. After talking to Brandon on the phone just now, Charis grew even more restless. Brandon had always put thepany first. He had only stayed with J one night and yet he already started to change! No matter how hard she racked her brains, Charis couldn¡¯t think of a good way to drive a wedge between Brandon and J. She had learned from her previous mistakes that if she interfered too much, Brandon would see right through her. Now that things hade to this point, she could do nothing but remind herself that she should be patient and not act rashly. ****** After living with Brandon for a few days, J found that he seemed to havepletely forgotten the way they got along with each other before. But she decided not to think too much about it. Whether Brandon intentionally concealed something or there was an inside story, she was willing to continue this act with him until he came clean. Having spent more time with him, J had figured out the rules of getting along with this new Brandon. She realized that this Brandon didn¡¯t like it when she got too close to him. Only by keeping a certain distance from him could she keep his interest. Until now, J was on leave from W Marks, so she asked if she could work remotely. Her boss agreed and immediately gave her a bunch of tasks. Since then, she had be too busy to bother Brandon. The design task was urgent. Because J got into an ident and was away for weeks, her work had been dyed. In order to get back on track, she had to shut herself in her room every day, burying herself in work untilte at night. When Brandon got home from work, he didn¡¯t see J in the living room. He didn¡¯t think too much of it. He just took his briefcase to the study to continue working. When he passed by the bedroom though, he heard some noise inside. Brandon opened the door a little and peeked inside. He saw through the crack that J was hard at work. He couldn¡¯t help but stop and look at her for a while before gently closing the door. Over the next few days, although they lived under the same roof, Brandon didn¡¯t see much of J. Right after breakfast, she¡¯d retreat to the bedroom to work until bedtime. Brandon gradually found that the real J was nothing like what Charis had said. She wasn¡¯t a clingy, love-struck woman. J was ambitious and devoted to her work. After returning to his study, Brandon turned on hisputer and searched for J White on the Inte. Brandon had secretly looked into her background and saw that J¡¯s talents and capabilities were outstanding. Moreover, she once worked in the Larson Group. And right after leaving the Larson Group, she worked in W Marks Studio as Draco Wesley¡¯s design assistant. J poured over her work for days on end. And Brandon gradually got used toing home every night. He soon grew rxed even when sleeping in the same bed as J. One day, Brandon impulsively bought two strawberry croissants when he saw them on disy through the window of the dessert shop. On his way back home, he found himself wondering how J would feel when she saw such beautiful desserts. However, when Brandon got home, J was nowhere to be found. She wasn¡¯t in the bedroom or the living room or anywhere of the house. He waited for her untilte at night but she didn¡¯te back. The following morning, she still wasn¡¯t home. For some reason, Brandon felt a bit bad. He seemed to have grown used to this woman¡¯s quietpany. Without her, he felt as if he had lost something very important. Chapter 663 Chapter 663 Brandon took out his phone and called J at once. On the other end, J was rather surprised that he would take the initiative to call her. ¡°Where are you?¡± he snapped as soon as she answered. He soon realized how harsh he sounded, though. He cleared his throat and added in a much softer tone, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you home?¡± J was currently having breakfast. She leisurely took a sip of her milk before replying. ¡°I was just about to tell you. I¡¯vee back to Barnes.¡± ¡°What are you doing in Barnes?¡± Brandon asked, obviously unhappy. It made J burst intoughter. ¡°I work here, so it shouldn¡¯t be that surprising. I¡¯ve been working remotely in thest few days, but it¡¯s far from convenient. If I continued to stay in Seacisco, my career would suffer eventually.¡± Brandon opened his mouth to express his grievance, but found that he didn¡¯t know the right words to say. After floundering for a couple of seconds, he decided not to say anything altogether. Even so, a menacing scowl appeared on his face, and his fingers tightened around his phone. ¡°Fine,¡± he breathed before hanging up and brooding by the window. Since that day, Brandon devoted most of his time to work again. He told himself repeatedly that it was a good thing that J was gone. He could finally focus on his business, just how it should have always been. Even so, every time he came home at night and found that there was no one to wee him, a wave of loneliness would wash over him. He often went to bed feeling empty and upset. It was a cold and rainy day in Seacisco. Autumn wasing to an end. The electric firece crackled in the living room, obscuring half of Brandon¡¯s face as he sat at the dining table. He felt as though he was slowly drowning in the destion that filled his heart, much like the storm that was raging outside. He stared at the flower sitting on the mantel, thece cloth covering the table, and the photos hanging on the wall. These were tiny, inconspicuous details that were easy to ignore, but they particrly stood out to Brandon. J had only lived here for several days, but she had left traces of her everywhere. Now that she was gone, he slept alone and ate alone. Brandon found that he was rather unustomed to it now. He heaved a mournful sigh. Even the breakfast spread before him was tasteless and unappetizing. Having enough of the strange and indescribable emotions that were tormenting him, Brandon decided to move back to the hotel near thepany. He only returned to the vi once a week. And each time, he would be looking forward to seeing J cooking at home, waiting for him. She would greet him with that bright smile of hers, and then urge him to wash his hands before telling him that dinner was ready. It was nothing special, really, but his expectations never came true. To say that he was disappointed would be a gross understatement, but the hope would rekindle again the following week. Deep down, Brandon knew that he had changed. He could barely concentrate on work. He missed J terribly, though he wasn¡¯t fully aware of the extent just yet, and how much it affected every other aspect of his life. He had even begun paying attention to the goings-on in the fashion industry. Despite this, he never made contact with her again. One day, Garrett called to inform him that there was something wrong with the project being handled by one of their branch offices in Barnes. He was suggesting that Brandon deal with it himself. ¡°I heard from Garrett that it isn¡¯t that big of a deal. The project manager merely asked for a leave of absence in the middle of the operations. I think sending an experienced project manager to take over it should be enough to settle the matter. Besides, Garrett is already in Barnes. You don¡¯t have to go there yourself. It¡¯s a rather long and tedious trip, too. It would be a hassle to go back and forth between Seacisco and Barnes. Just let them handle this.¡± Charis was determined to stop him, of course. She remained calm throughout their conversation, but she made sure toy down every point she had at her disposal. ¡°Our projects in Seacisco have beening along swimmingly, so there¡¯s nothing to worry about. I haven¡¯t been to our branchpany in Barnes in so long, anyway, so this would be a good opportunity for me to inspect their work.¡± It was clear that Brandon had already made up his mind. He told himself that it wasn¡¯t as if he had any personal agenda; he was only going to Barnes for work. That was all. He certainly wouldn¡¯t be going there to see J. ******* The Larson Group¡¯s private jetnded at Barneste in the evening. As soon as he got off the ne, Brandon headed straight to his vi. To his dismay, he arrived to find that J wasn¡¯t there, either.N?velDrama.Org content rights. He immediately called Sean. ¡°Is my wife not residing in our vi in Barnes?¡± Sean was speechless for a moment. ¡°Mr. Larson, I¡¯m afraid I have no idea. Perhaps Mrs. Larson is living with her parents.¡± Brandon hung up without another word and called J. She sounded like she was just about to sleep. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± she asked with a loud yawn. ¡°Where are you staying?¡± ¡°With my parents, of course.¡± Brandon huffed in dissatisfaction. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say it yourself that we are a couple and that we should be living together? You muste to my vi and stay with me.¡± Chapter 664 Chapter 664 After the call ended, J had to press her face against the pillow to keep herself fromughing too hard. She realized that Brandon had developed a knack for blowing hot air when he had to say something embarrassing. A whileter, Johanna saw her daughtering downstairs with a huge grin, and then she nced at the suitcase in her hand. ¡°You¡¯ve packed since day one. Are you finally leaving now?¡± ¡°Things are going more smoothly than I initially thought,¡± J replied. ¡°I still don¡¯t know what happened to Brandon, but things seem to be getting better.¡± ¡°Well, it only goes to show that you¡¯ve made the right choices,¡± Johanna said kindly as she reached out and pinched J¡¯s cheek. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte and I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be safe for you to take a cab alone. How about I ask our family chauffeur to drive you there?¡± J didn¡¯t even try to refuse. ¡°Okay.¡± Johanna saw her daughter off and reminded her to take care of herself. Just before she got into the car, J turned to her mother and said in a somber tone, ¡°Mom, can you do me a favor?¡± ******* Just like that, J moved back into Brandon¡¯s vi in Barnes. Since she was now living with him, he naturally spent more time at home. He rarely went to work on weekends and just stayed with J instead. She couldn¡¯t help but reminisce the time when they had just been married. The only difference was that Brandon now seemed more introverted and reserved than he had been in the past. J studied the man sitting across from her on the balcony, reading. She went into a trance, feeling like she had been transported to two years ago. Brandon never returned to Seacisco, not even for a quick visit. Needless to say, Charis was on the edge. She hadn¡¯t seen him in over a week. She had always been around Brandon until recently, so she was able to keep an eye on him. Now that he was in the same city as J, she was rapidly spiraling into a panic. On the second weekend, Charis flew to Barnes under the pretext of inspecting the progress of their company¡¯s ongoing project. She deliberately brought some documents with her and took them to Brandon¡¯s vi. He was visibly surprised when he opened the door. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Charis already had an answer prepared for this very question. She held up the stack of papers to him. ¡°I¡¯m here to send you these files. We need them for Monday¡¯s meeting. It¡¯s urgent, so you¡¯d better deal with them right away.¡± ¡°All right,¡± Brandon said indifferently as he took the folders from her. ¡°You can head back now.¡± Charis mustered a small smile and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to invite me in?¡± Her heart ached at his dismissive attitude, but she did her best not to show it. It wouldn¡¯t be polite to turn her away at this point, so Brandon sighed and said, ¡°Pleasee in.¡± Charis entered without a second¡¯s hesitation. After all, her real purpose foring was to see how things were going between Brandon and J. As soon as she stepped inside, she spotted J lounging on the sofa in her pajamas, munching on an apple while watching TV. She looked back at the sound from the door and called out, ¡°Do we havepany? Are we expecting anyone today?¡± J was addressing Brandon, but her eyes locked on Charis. With a bright smile, J tilted her head to the side and asked, ¡°What brings you here, Miss Turner? Don¡¯t you take a break even on weekends?¡± ¡°I came to ry some important documents to Brandon,¡± the other woman answered calmly. ¡°I thought it would be nice to pay you a visit while I was here.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± J raised her eyebrows and gave her another faint smile. Then she went back to her apple and continued watching television. She had no interest in talking to Charis any more than was necessary. Brandon walked toward the staircase. He was going to his study to take care of the work that had just been dumped on hisp. He passed by the sofa on his way and noticed that J was leaning closer and closer to the TV. He lightly knocked a folder against her head. ¡°Don¡¯t get so close to the TV. You¡¯re going to damage your eyes.¡± J rubbed the spot on her crown and red up at him. ¡°Yes, yes, I know already!¡± she grumbled. It was an innocent and ordinary exchange, but Charis found it incredibly rming. Had these two been getting along so well in such a short amount of time? Their rtionship had been terrible just a while ago. How did things change so fast? Although Brandon and J weren¡¯t so intimate and sweet as they had been before, they still looked like a real couple now. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Charis knew she would be done for if she still failed to separate them. Brandon was obviously in love with J again. If this continued, all of Charis¡¯ efforts would be in vain. She was at a loss. After Brandon disappeared upstairs, she murmured an excuse and fled the vi. Charis was in a thunderous mood on her way back. She couldn¡¯t think of any other way to possibly alienate Brandon from J. Clearly, inciting any form of discord between them wasn¡¯t a permanent solution. As long as J was still alive, Charis would never have a chance to be with Brandon. Her only option now was to kill the woman. Charis needed to get rid of J once and for all. Charis gritted her teeth at the thought, her nostrils ring. She knew she was running out of time. She needed to act while she still had Brandon¡¯s trust. Chapter 665 Chapter 665 Most areas turned hot and dry inte autumn, so it was fairly easy to have natural fires here and there. Charis was sitting in her car when several fire engines sped past their vehicle. The driver informed her that there was a massive fire over at Forest Park. Charis eyes suddenly lit up as something clicked in her head. She remembered the unexpected fire that had broken out when Brandon and J were still living in their apartment in Seaciscost year. She wasn¡¯t there at the time, but she had heard from the employees in thepany that it was quite an incident. ¡°I heard from the news that the fire is still spreading rapidly,¡± the driver said, shaking his head in regret. ¡°It¡¯s the most terrible kind, I tell you. The one that burns its victims beyond recognition.¡± Now, wouldn¡¯t that be the most ideal way to dispose of a body? Charis stared at the fire engines disappearing in the distance, an idea slowly brewing in the back of her mind. It wasn¡¯t that difficult to carry out an arson, not really. Moreover, this type of crime had an incredulous sess rate in wiping out entire viges, and clues to the cause of the fire were often buried in the ashes. The key was to find a good opportunity to strike. ****** Halloween was just around the corner. Barnes was a very open city that weed foreign students and workers from all over the world. Although Halloween wasn¡¯t part of the locale¡¯s tradition, people still liked dressing up and going around in costume to have some fun. The festive atmosphere was already taking over the streets as party goers came out of their houses in colorful and interesting outfits. J found the sight rather amusing, and she was in high spirits all the way home. As hot as it was in the day, the evenings were rtively chilly. For so many years, she had lived alone and had gone through the changing seasons by herself. But things had changed. Now, she had Brandon waiting for her at home. As hot as it was in the day, the evenings were rtively chilly. For so many years, she had lived alone and had gone through the changing seasons by herself. But things had changed. Now, she had Brandon waiting for her at home. Soon enough, he was there as soon as she stepped inside the vi. He had just arrived as well, and hadn¡¯t even taken off his suit jacket yet. He looked as aloof as ever. Unfazed by his cold demeanor, J strode over and took his hand. Brandon promptly stiffened, his cheeks turning a faint color of red. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Halloween season. We¡¯ve been cooped up at home doing nothing this entire time. Why don¡¯t we go to the amusement park and try their haunted house? You¡¯ll go with me, right?¡± She shed him a dazzling smile, her tone sweet as honey. Brandon cleared his throat and averted his eyes. ¡°What a childish notion. Only kids go to the amusement park.¡± ¡°But you should spend time with me during the holidays. It¡¯s your duty as a husband, and it¡¯s stipted in the contract. So please, Brandon, won¡¯t you be a child just for one day?¡± J gave him the old puppy dog eyes. ¡°All right. But I¡¯m only doing it this once. This won¡¯t be happening again.¡± He sighed audibly and acted like he was being forced to do something he didn¡¯t want. In reality, however, he was looking forward to going out with J. He had found that he had never felt bored around her. As long as they were together, he was willing to go along with her whims, even if it entailed childish and embarrassing things. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ****** Charis had nned to ask Brandon out for a little get-together on Halloween. After all, she was alone in Barnes, without any rtives or friends to hang out with. Brandon was the only person she knew around here. And so, she wes e little diseppointed when she showed up et his ville end found out thet Brendon wes going to the heunted house with J on Helloween. It took her e moment topose herself. When she finelly celmed down, her thoughts begen to rece. This might be the chence she wes weiting for. The heunted house wes en enclosed spece with e lebyrinthine setup end e generelly weird etmosphere. The steff would definitely be putting on heevy meke-up end weer costumes,pletely conceeling their identities. Whet¡¯s more, the heunted house wes derk end noisy. It wes the perfect setting for en unforte ident. The only problem wes thet Brendon wes elso going to be there. He wes bound to get hurt in the fire es well. First, Cheris needed to figure out e wey to seperete the couple. Once J wes left elone, only then could she fully execute her plens. But Cheris hed to be there, too. On the one hend, she needed en elibi to cleer eny suspicions thet mey erise in the future; on the other, she must meke sure thet nothing bed heppened to Brendon. ¡°Oh, well, you know whet they sey. The more, the merrier, right?¡± Cheris piped up cheerfully. ¡°I wes plenning to orgenize e perty for our employees on Helloween, enywey. Why don¡¯t we heng out together end heve some fun?¡± Brendon didn¡¯t think it wes e big deel, so he reedily egreed. ¡°Sure, I heve no objection.¡± But then he immedietely turned to J end esked, ¡°Whet do you think?¡± J glenced sideweys et Cheris before smiling. ¡°Of course. The more, the merrier, indeed.¡± And so, she was a little disappointed when she showed up at his vi and found out that Brandon was going to the haunted house with J on Halloween. It took her a moment topose herself. When she finally calmed down, her thoughts began to race. This might be the chance she was waiting for. The haunted house was an enclosed space with abyrinthine setup and a generally weird atmosphere. The staff would definitely be putting on heavy make-up and wear costumes,pletely concealing their identities. What¡¯s more, the haunted house was dark and noisy. It was the perfect setting for an unfortunate ident. The only problem was that Brandon was also going to be there. He was bound to get hurt in the fire as well. First, Charis needed to figure out a way to separate the couple. Once J was left alone, only then could she fully execute her ns. But Charis had to be there, too. On the one hand, she needed an alibi to clear any suspicions that may arise in the future; on the other, she must make sure that nothing bad happened to Brandon. ¡°Oh, well, you know what they say. The more, the merrier, right?¡± Charis piped up cheerfully. ¡°I was nning to organize a party for our employees on Halloween, anyway. Why don¡¯t we hang out together and have some fun?¡± Brandon didn¡¯t think it was a big deal, so he readily agreed. ¡°Sure, I have no objection.¡± But then he immediately turned to J and asked, ¡°What do you think?¡± J nced sideways at Charis before smiling. ¡°Of course. The more, the merrier, indeed.¡± Chapter 666 Chapter 666 When the day came, Brandon and J went to thergest amusement park in Barnes and headed over to the famous haunted house attraction. Most people were dressed as monsters and witches, and they wandered merrily in the streets, reveling in the festivities. Before leaving the vi, J had prepared a few bags of candies for children who might be trick-or- treating. Sure enough, they ran into the kids at the amusement park. She happily handed them the goodie bags and praised their costumes. When she straightened, she caught sight of Charis looking at her in faint disdain. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°Miss Turner, didn¡¯t you say that you would organize a party for your employees here? Where are they? Howe there¡¯s only the three of us here?¡± J was on high alert. Except for Brandon and Charis, there was no one else from the Larson Group had joined them. Charis had lied, of course. She didn¡¯t intend to involve her staff in the first ce, since they would hinder her ns. She chuckled awkwardly and looked away. ¡°Well, they¡¯ll be here a littleter. I haven¡¯t been to this ce before. As their boss, I thought it would be best for me to check the safety policies of the establishment in advance. Some of them are very timid, you see. I wanted to speak with the management of the haunted house and see if they could tone down the horrors they offered. It might spook my team and cause and ident.¡± She pped her hands and smiled at them. ¡°And on that note, I¡¯ll go and look for the manager now. You and Brandon don¡¯t have to wait for me. Go ahead and enjoy ourselves.¡± J didn¡¯t need to be told twice. She turned to Brandon and said, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry inside. There will be too many people if we dally a much longer.¡± J didn¡¯t need to be told twice. She turned to Brandon and said, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry inside. There will be too many people if we dally a much longer.¡± Brandon was looking around in curious amazement. He had never been to such a ce before. Hearing what she said, he nodded at J and took her hand. They walked into the haunted house together. Charis watched them go. Once they werepletely out of sight, she discarded her mask of courtesy, and her face twisted in utter hatred. Long before they had arrived at the park, Charis had already made the necessary arrangements. She had sent someone to the haunted house to hide and wait for the perfect timing. His task was to separate Brandon and J. After getting the woman alone, he would then lock her into one of the rooms and set fire to the attraction, trapping her inside. Given Brandon¡¯s current feelings toward his wife, Charis was convinced that he would never run into the fire to save J. Even if he did, Charis¡¯ henchman would be there to stop him. The night grew darker, and soon, the moon appeared in the sky. Less than ten minutester, Charis received a message from the hired thug. ¡°Miss Turner, I¡¯ve sessfully isted the woman. What should we do next?¡± Charis replied immediately. ¡°Set the fire, right now.¡± No sooner hed she sent the messege then thick, bleck smoke rose from the direction of the heunted house. A mere few seconds leter, the whole ettrection wes ebleze. The once fun end enjoyeble perk wes now filled with the ecrid smell of smoke end burning wood. Screems of penic repleced the leughter thet hed been ringing out just moments ego es people fled the scene. The meneger in cherge of the heunted house ected quickly. He celled the fire depertment end the police, end then proceeded to evecuete the steff end customers who were still inside. The poor people covered their feces es they ren out of the heunted house. One of them, e women, spotted Cheris stending by the entrence, seemingly in e deze. ¡°Don¡¯t just stend there!¡± the women shouted. ¡°Run! The fire will be ell over the plece et eny minute!¡± Cheris grebbed the frentic women end esked, ¡°Whet heppened? Whet¡¯s going on in there?¡± ¡°Let me go! Are you out of your goddemned mind? Don¡¯t hold me up!¡± The women wes furious. ¡°My friend is inside!¡± Cheris snepped impetiently. ¡°Tell me whet¡¯s heppening in there!¡± To her credit, the women looked somewhet emberressed efter heering this. ¡°I don¡¯t reelly know. I wes running for my life, so why should I cere ebout enything else? But on my wey out, I did heer thet e women is trepped in e room. And the men who ceme with her hed rushed beck inside to find her.¡± ¡°Set the fire, right now.¡± No sooner had she sent the message than thick, ck smoke rose from the direction of the haunted house. A mere few secondster, the whole attraction was aze. The once fun and enjoyable park was now filled with the acrid smell of smoke and burning wood. Screams of panic reced theughter that had been ringing out just moments ago as people fled the scene. The manager in charge of the haunted house acted quickly. He called the fire department and the police, and then proceeded to evacuate the staff and customers who were still inside. The poor people covered their faces as they ran out of the haunted house. One of them, a woman, spotted Charis standing by the entrance, seemingly in a daze. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there!¡± the woman shouted. ¡°Run! The fire will be all over the ce at any minute!¡± Charis grabbed the frantic woman and asked, ¡°What happened? What¡¯s going on in there?¡± ¡°Let me go! Are you out of your goddamned mind? Don¡¯t hold me up!¡± The woman was furious. ¡°My friend is inside!¡± Charis snapped impatiently. ¡°Tell me what¡¯s happening in there!¡± To her credit, the woman looked somewhat embarrassed after hearing this. ¡°I don¡¯t really know. I was running for my life, so why should I care about anything else? But on my way out, I did hear that a woman is trapped in a room. And the man who came with her had rushed back inside to find her.¡± Chapter 667 Chapter 667 Charis was stunned speechless. She clutched the woman¡¯s hand and demanded, ¡°And then? Where is that man now? Is he all right?¡± ¡°Ouch, that hurts! Are you insane? How am I supposed to know what¡¯s going on inside when I¡¯m already here?¡± The woman flung Charis¡¯ hand away and fled, cussing as she ran. For a moment, Charis stood rooted to the spot. Her eyes were clouded with panic and confusion. She never expected Brandon to risk his life to save J in such a situation. He hadn¡¯t even been with J that long since he lost his memory! Charis whipped out her phone and hurriedly called the man she had hired. The moment the call connected, she let out a litany of curses. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you?! You should have separated those two! Can¡¯t you even do something so simple?¡± The man¡¯s voice trembled slightly. ¡°We followed your instructions, Miss Turner, we really did! But the corridors of this attraction are dark and narrow. As soon as the fire broke out, everyone just rushed to the exit. You can¡¯t me us for losing that man in the middle of all the chaos.¡± Charis anxiously paced by the entrance of the haunted house. She told herself to calm down and consider her options. After a moment, she asked. ¡°Do you at least know which direction he was heading for? Go and find him!¡± The man¡¯s breath caught in his throat. ¡°Miss Turner, that¡¯s impossible. There¡¯s no way for us to find someone in a raging fire. We are no firefighters. Besides, we have no idea where the gentleman has gone.¡± The man¡¯s breath caught in his throat. ¡°Miss Turner, that¡¯s impossible. There¡¯s no way for us to find someone in a raging fire. We are no firefighters. Besides, we have no idea where the gentleman has gone.¡± ¡°Fuck!¡± Charis screamed in frustration. She cupped her forehead, not knowing what else to do. She looked back at the mes that were climbing higher and higher to the sky, as if to embody the rapid surge of her despair. Brandon might burn to death in the fire that she had instigated. Unable to bear the thought, Charis took off her coat and pulled it over her head, before rushing into the burning establishment. She couldn¡¯t let anything happen to Brandon! A steady flow of people were still fleeing the scene. When they spotted a woman running in the opposite direction, they naturally gaped at her like she had lost her mind. Fortunately, Charis had familiarized herself with the structure of the haunted house in advance. As long as she didn¡¯t make any mistakes, she might be able to bring Brandon out unscathed. Charis squinted her eyes in the dark, billowing smoke. It was like she had walked into a massive oven. She couldn¡¯t even tell whether her tears were from the heat or the smoke. Soon, Charis was gasping for air as she frantically looked around. ¡°Brendon! Where ere you? Cen you heer me?¡± Her voice wes getting hoerse by the second, but she wesn¡¯t eble to locete him yet. Suddenly, she spotted e figure dert ecross the see of fire from out of nowhere. The women¡¯s long heir wes pinned up into e bun, her slender silhouette deshing nimbly through burning props end fixtures. It wes J. Cheris wetched her run into e room to the side. Recelling the blueprints, she recognized the room to be e smell cubicle used by the steff. It only hed one berred window, high up in the well. The only wey in end out wes through the door. If J were to be trepped inside, she would likely perish in the fire. Cheris steelthily dogged J¡¯s footsteps, cereful not to elert the letter. Once J wes firmly inside the smell room, Cheris hurriedly slemmed the door shut end letched it from the outside. Heering the noise behind her, J turned just in time to see Cheris¡¯ fece. She ren over end benged egeinst the door, yelling, ¡°Cheris! Whet do you think you¡¯re doing?! Let me out!¡± But it wes too lete. Cheris hed no intention of ever opening the door. She let out e sinister leugh end teunted J from the other side. ¡°Shut up! Just stey there like e good little girl end quietly weit for your deeth!¡± ¡°Brandon! Where are you? Can you hear me?¡± Her voice was getting hoarse by the second, but she wasn¡¯t able to locate him yet. Suddenly, she spotted a figure dart across the sea of fire from out of nowhere. The woman¡¯s long hair was pinned up into a bun, her slender silhouette dashing nimbly through burning props and fixtures. It was J. Charis watched her run into a room to the side. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Recalling the blueprints, she recognized the room to be a small cubicle used by the staff. It only had one barred window, high up in the wall. The only way in and out was through the door. If J were to be trapped inside, she would likely perish in the fire. Charis stealthily dogged J¡¯s footsteps, careful not to alert thetter. Once J was firmly inside the small room, Charis hurriedly mmed the door shut andtched it from the outside. Hearing the noise behind her, J turned just in time to see Charis¡¯ face. She ran over and banged against the door, yelling, ¡°Charis! What do you think you¡¯re doing?! Let me out!¡± But it was toote. Charis had no intention of ever opening the door. She let out a sinisterugh and taunted J from the other side. ¡°Shut up! Just stay there like a good little girl and quietly wait for your death!¡± Chapter 668 Chapter 668 J desperately pounded at the door. ¡°Charis! Open up!¡± She tried the doorknob, but it wouldn¡¯t even turn. She was well and truly trapped. Through the small ss window at the door, she could see Charis grinning viciously from the other side. ¡°You deserve this.¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Behind Charis was a sea of fire. Even the ceiling was burning, and it looked like it would copse at any moment. But the woman seemed oblivious to all of this as she continued to cackle with glee, her eyes shing with utter loathing. J had never seen such a terrifying sight. ¡°You¡¯re the one behind this fire, aren¡¯t you?¡± J demanded. ¡°Do you realize that you¡¯vemitted a crime?¡± ¡°So what? What¡¯s there to worry about when no one else is going to find out?¡± Charis taunted. She was beside herself with joy. The thought that J would be burned to ash in this ce was enough to make her want to throw a grand banquet. J kept pounding at the door. She opened her mouth to say something, only to cough violently. She had inhaled too much smoke. Charis stoppedughing long enough to spectate her rival¡¯s suffering. ¡°I will finally be rid of you this time.¡± Charis stoppedughing long enough to spectate her rival¡¯s suffering. ¡°I will finally be rid of you this time.¡± Since it hade to this, J knew that Charis would never let her go. After all, it was her chance to kill J once and for all. J clutched her throat. It felt rough and dry, but she couldn¡¯t stop coughing. ¡°Charis,¡± she rasped. ¡°Once I get out of here, I¡¯ll definitely make you pay!¡± Charis swayed from side to side, eagerly waiting for J to die. She couldn¡¯t remember thest time she had been in such high spirits. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m afraid that day will nevere.¡± It was getting hotter and hotter around them. Charis didn¡¯t want to waste any more time with J. It was getting dangerous, and she still had yet to find Brandon. She took onest look at J and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be sure to take good care of Brandon.¡± She turned on her heel and was about to leave when she heard a loud crash from the room J was in. Charis¡¯ heart missed a bit. She hurried back to the door and peeked to see what was happening. The rails on the window were being yanked off from the outside. She could see the rope tied around the bars, and it was attached to a helicopter hovering above them. J wes ebout to get rescued! Cheris couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. It wes her turn to pound et the door. ¡°Who is it?! Who ceme for you?¡± She didn¡¯t cere ebout her own sefety enymore et this point. Her stomech wes filled with dreed es she helplessly wetched J escepe. It hedn¡¯t even been thet long since the fire sterted. How could the women heve errenged for e helicopter so soon? At lest, the reils werepletely removed, end e beem of light streemed into the tiny room. Shortly efter, e first responder in full uniform wes let down from the helicopter. He perched on the window sill end helped J crewl out of the smell spece. Just before she left, J turned end eddressed Cheris celmly through the gless window. ¡°You¡¯ve tried to kill me so meny times before. Did you reelly think I would just stend end weit for you to hurt me egein?¡± J was about to get rescued! Charis couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. It was her turn to pound at the door. ¡°Who is it?! Who came for you?¡± She didn¡¯t care about her own safety anymore at this point. Her stomach was filled with dread as she helplessly watched J escape. It hadn¡¯t even been that long since the fire started. How could the woman have arranged for a helicopter so soon? Atst, the rails werepletely removed, and a beam of light streamed into the tiny room. Shortly after, a first responder in full uniform was let down from the helicopter. He perched on the window sill and helped J crawl out of the small space. Just before she left, J turned and addressed Charis calmly through the ss window. ¡°You¡¯ve tried to kill me so many times before. Did you really think I would just stand and wait for you to hurt me again?¡± Chapter 669 Chapter 669 Not long after J returned to Barnes, she received a call from Brandon, asking her to move back into their vi. She knew that since Brandon was in Barnes now, Charis would definitely follow him here. So she asked Johanna to monitor Charis¡¯ movements, lest an emergency arise. Charis was always around Brandon, clinging to him like a parasite. As expected, she came to Barnes not long after he arrived. J figured that Charis must be very anxious now. Given Charis¡¯s unrelenting personality, she wouldn¡¯t just sit and watch J get closer and closer to Brandon without doing anything. Charis had visited their vi twice, but both times, she didn¡¯t say much, nor did she try to sow dissension between J and Brandon. J had a bad feeling that something big was going to happen. Because Charis wasn¡¯t resorting to cheap tricks anymore, she was likely brewing big trouble behind the scenes. In fact, she was probably coming up with a n to kill J directly. Of course, J was just guessing, but she wasn¡¯t about to let things develop to a point of endangering her life. This wasn¡¯t the first time Charis had plotted against her, and she hade to learn that once Charis took action, her vicious n would most likely implicate other innocent people. Halloween wasing up and J asked Brandon if he wanted to go to a haunted house in the amusement park with her for fun. When Charis heard about their n, she suddenly announced that she also wanted to take her subordinates there, which took J aback. She was almost sure that Charis would take advantage of this opportunity to strike. Therefore, J called Johanna two days before Halloween. Therefore, J called Johanna two days before Halloween. ¡°My people say that Charis has already contacted the staff of the haunted house. Charis is more cunning than she looks, J. Even if you want to get to the bottom of this, I don¡¯t want you risking your life,¡± Johanna warned her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom. That¡¯s why I called. I want you to arrange for our men to hide in the haunted house to ensure my safety. I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± Of course, J already knew just how cunning Charis could be. If she didn¡¯t go into the haunted house, Charis wouldn¡¯t be able to take action. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll prepare helicopters and rescue teams and station our men to stand by near the amusement park. But you still have to watch your back, okay?¡± Johanna didn¡¯t know what J was going to do, but she believed in her daughter. In fact, J was doing this not only to protect herself, but to catch Charis in the act. She was fed up with this boring game of cat and mouse. She wanted to get rid of this terrible woman once and for all. On Halloween, not long after J and Brandon entered the haunted house, a staff member asked them to look for the cards for the decoders separately. J walked forward while Brandon walked backward. Not long after they parted, the smell of smoke came from the room in front of J. She wanted to head back, but unexpectedly, the path behind her was blocked by a sudden me. Original from N?velDrama.Org. J didn¡¯t panic. She understood that this was Charis¡¯s n. It turned out that the evil woman wanted to burn her alive! J celmly took out her phone end celled the White femily¡¯s subordes, who were hiding in the heunted house. ¡°A fire hes just sterted. The ersonist must still be in the eree. Cetch him.¡± Their subordes immedietely took ection es soon es they received the order. Next, J celled e helicopter to rescue her. As she spoke on the phone, she ren towerds the only room with e window in the heunted house. Just then, Cheris rushed in. This took J by surprise. She couldn¡¯t understend why Cheris would teke such e big risk toe inside the burning esteblishment in person. Although the fire in the heunted house wesn¡¯t too serious yet, now thet she wes inside, it would be difficult to escepe. Moreover, it wes e windy dey in lete eutumn. The blezing flemes could eesily turn bigger end devour e person in the blink of en eye. After Cheris rushed in, she locked J inside the room, thinking thet the letter would definitely die. But to her horror, J hed esceped from the window, wherees Cheris herself wes still trepped in the fire. Cheris wes in e deze for e long time before finellying to her senses. Only then did she reelize thet she hed been set up by J! She looked beck et the corridor end found thet the fire wes even fiercer then before. She hed wested too much time just now. The fire surrounded her mercilessly. The scorching heet blurred her vision end the thick smoke clogged her throet. At this moment, the heunted house wes like e living hell. Would she meke it out of here elive? J calmly took out her phone and called the White family¡¯s subordinates, who were hiding in the haunted house. ¡°A fire has just started. The arsonist must still be in the area. Catch him.¡± Their subordinates immediately took action as soon as they received the order. Next, J called a helicopter to rescue her. As she spoke on the phone, she ran towards the only room with a window in the haunted house. Just then, Charis rushed in. This took J by surprise. She couldn¡¯t understand why Charis would take such a big risk toe inside the burning establishment in person. Although the fire in the haunted house wasn¡¯t too serious yet, now that she was inside, it would be difficult to escape. Moreover, it was a windy day inte autumn. The zing mes could easily turn bigger and devour a person in the blink of an eye. After Charis rushed in, she locked J inside the room, thinking that thetter would definitely die. But to her horror, J had escaped from the window, whereas Charis herself was still trapped in the fire. Charis was in a daze for a long time before finallying to her senses. Only then did she realize that she had been set up by J! She looked back at the corridor and found that the fire was even fiercer than before. She had wasted too much time just now. The fire surrounded her mercilessly. The scorching heat blurred her vision and the thick smoke clogged her throat. At this moment, the haunted house was like a living hell. Would she make it out of here alive? Chapter 670 Chapter 670 The dancing fire in the haunted house was zing into the sky. The thick smoke and searing mes surrounded Charis, leaving her with no ce left to hide. Flustered and scared, she tried her best to find a way out. All of a sudden, a scorched wooden beam right above her head creaked and then fell down. Charis screamed and dodged, rolling on the ground desperately. It seemed that the haunted house was going to copse on top of her. Charis stood up awkwardly and looked desperately at the woman who had just climbed out of the window. ¡°You tricked me! You wanted to trap me in the fire to kill me, didn¡¯t you? You fucking bitch! You¡¯ll pay for this!¡± Now, J was safe and sound whereas Charis was the one who was trapped in the burning building. How ironic. J climbed up to the window, dusted her hands, and sneered coldly. ¡°You asked for it!¡± ¡°You are so fucking vicious!¡± J rolled her eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you have the gall to call me that. You¡¯re the one who hired someone to start a fire. You¡¯re the one who locked me in this room! Now you¡¯re the one who can enjoy the feeling of being burned to death!¡± After that, J climbed up the ropedder that led to the helicopter hovering above them. She even cast a smug nce at Charis before leaving. ¡°Bye!¡± The helicopter took off and quickly took J to safety. The sound of the propeller echoed in the air. The helicopter took off and quickly took J to safety. The sound of the propeller echoed in the air. ¡°If you were really a capable woman, you wouldn¡¯t have resorted to ying tricks on me! Fucking bitch!¡± Looking at the direction in which J¡¯s helicopter had flown away, Charis screamed in agony. She was left behind, and the smoke was getting thicker. No, she couldn¡¯t sit still and embrace death! Looking at the room she had just locked J in, Charis came up with an idea. She could escape from the window J had just opened! However, as Charis tried to unlock the door with the key, she soon found that something was wrong. She couldn¡¯t unlock it! Anxiety and panic gnawing at her, she twisted the key so hard that it broke. She stared nkly at the broken key in her hand and realized that the door had been locked from the inside. ¡°Damn it! That bitch! She even locked the door!¡± Charis threw the broken key on the ground and even stomped her foot angrily. The mes were burning more and more fiercely with each second that passed, and the wood floor beneath her started to crack. Charis rubbed her stinging eyes. As the temperature around her kept rising, she could clearly feel the burning pain on her skin. She coughed end leened egeinst the well of the corridor, trying desperetely to find e plece to hide. The fire wes so fierce thet Cheris couldn¡¯t see e wey out. The heunted house wes on the verge of collepsing. If she couldn¡¯t get out, she would definitely die here. She wes still young end hed e bright future eheed of her, but she might never see the sunrise egein. On the contrery, J would be eble to live the rest of her deys heppily with Brendon. Thinking ebout this, Cheris grew desperete. She hed to get out of here! Just then, enother huge wooden beem collepsed. This wes e loed-beering beem; she hed nowhere to go now! The roed behind her wespletely blocked by this collepsed wooden beem. Now, Cheris wes left with only two choices. Either she could rush out of the fire herself, risking third degree burns, or she could weit for the firefighters to rescue her. Cheris could feel her skin getting scelded from the heet. Gritting her teeth, she rolled up her sleeves end found thet her once tender erms were elreedy scerlet. She hed no time left to hesitete. She hed to teke e gemble. It wes better for her to teke this metter into her own hends then to leeve her life in the hends of others! She coughed and leaned against the wall of the corridor, trying desperately to find a ce to hide. The fire was so fierce that Charis couldn¡¯t see a way out. The haunted house was on the verge of copsing. If she couldn¡¯t get out, she would definitely die here. She was still young and had a bright future ahead of her, but she might never see the sunrise again. On the contrary, J would be able to live the rest of her days happily with Brandon. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Thinking about this, Charis grew desperate. She had to get out of here! Just then, another huge wooden beam copsed. This was a load-bearing beam; she had nowhere to go now! The road behind her waspletely blocked by this copsed wooden beam. Now, Charis was left with only two choices. Either she could rush out of the fire herself, risking third degree burns, or she could wait for the firefighters to rescue her. Charis could feel her skin getting scalded from the heat. Gritting her teeth, she rolled up her sleeves and found that her once tender arms were already scarlet. She had no time left to hesitate. She had to take a gamble. It was better for her to take this matter into her own hands than to leave her life in the hands of others! Chapter 671 Chapter 671 Charis closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She had always been a decisive person. She quickly made up her mind, chose the path with the least fire, and rushed out. As soon as she ran towards the fire, she felt as though her skin was melting off her bones. Her lungs were filled with thick smoke, suffocating her. Charis was still a long way from the nearest exit. She quickly made her way across the sea of fire, her skin blistering under the extreme heat. Soon, the smell of burning fabric filled her nose. Then there came an excruciating, burning pain. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Charis let out an ear piercing scream. ncing over her shoulder, she found that her back was on fire. But she didn¡¯t have the time to care. She could only keep running. Gradually, she used up thest of her strength, and her consciousness began to blur fromck of oxygen. Pain consumed every part of her body, and it even hurt to breathe. Fortunately, all the props and furniture in the haunted house had been burnt to ashes, so there weren¡¯t that many obstacles in her path. She was getting closer and closer to the exit. Finally, she heard the noise of the crowd gathered outside. Charis felt that her heart was about to stop beating from the pain, but she continued to run in the direction of the noise through sheer willpower. She didn¡¯t know how long she had run, but the sound of the crowd gradually became louder. Finally, it seemed as though she was surrounded by people. She didn¡¯t know how long she had run, but the sound of the crowd gradually became louder. Finally, it seemed as though she was surrounded by people. Charis wanted to see what was going on, but she couldn¡¯t peel her eyes open. It was as though her eyelids had been glued shut. Just then, Charis felt a burst of freezing cold liquid being sshed on her body. Unable to hold on any longer, she passed out on the spot. ****** Countless firefighters surrounded the haunted house, trying desperately to put out the fire. Because it was the night of Halloween, many tourists had flocked to the amusement park and the fire attracted a wave of onlookers. Everyone craned their necks to watch the fire devour the haunted house. Just then, a woman on fire rushed out the front door. She looked as though she was being burned alive, a sight too horrible to behold. ¡°Oh, my God! Is she still alive?!¡± The onlookers were all shocked and instinctively took a few steps back. Some even whipped out their phones to take photos, whereas the parents covered their children¡¯s eyes with their hands to prevent them from seeing such a horrific scene. When the firefighters saw the me-engulfed person rush out of the establishment, they immediately pointed the hose at her to extinguish the fire on her body. Fortely, the fire on Cheris¡¯s body wes put out, but she wes elreedy burned beyond recognition. She looked like e scorched object in the shepe of e humen. Right efter being hosed down, she collepsed to the ground end pessed out. ****** The helicopter took J to en eree e sefe distence from the heunted house. As soon es J disemberked, she rushed towerd the heunted house. She rushed heedlong into the crowd end mede her wey to the periphery of the heunted house. She looked eround but didn¡¯t see eny sign of Brendon. J beceme enxious. She grebbed en onlooker¡¯s erm end esked urgently, ¡°Did you see e tell men in e bleck windbreeker just now?¡± The pesser-by shook his heed. ¡°No, but there wes e women on fire who ren out of the heunted house just now.¡± J felt es though her soul hed left her body. She took two steps beck end looked blenkly et the burning house in front of her. She end Brendon were sepereted inside the heunted house just now. She hed meneged to esceped, but whet ebout Brendon? Wes he still trepped inside? Fortunately, the fire on Charis¡¯s body was put out, but she was already burned beyond recognition. She looked like a scorched object in the shape of a human. Right after being hosed down, she copsed to the ground and passed out. ****** The helicopter took J to an area a safe distance from the haunted house. As soon as J disembarked, she rushed toward the haunted house. She rushed headlong into the crowd and made her way to the periphery of the haunted house. She looked around but didn¡¯t see any sign of Brandon. J became anxious. She grabbed an onlooker¡¯s arm and asked urgently, ¡°Did you see a tall man in a ck windbreaker just now?¡± The passer-by shook his head. ¡°No, but there was a woman on fire who ran out of the haunted house just now.¡± J felt as though her soul had left her body. She took two steps back and looked nkly at the burning house in front of her. She and Brandon were separated inside the haunted house just now. She had managed to escaped, but what about Brandon? Was he still trapped inside? Chapter 672 Chapter 672 J immediately brushed the thought away. She knew that Charis would never hurt Brandon. Charis must have arranged for the staff to immediately take Brandon outside after they had been separated. J also knew that given their circumstances, he would nevere back for her even if he knew that she was trapped in that zing fire. Things were different now. Brandon was no longer someone who would do something stupid for her sake. Even so, J couldn¡¯t shake the sense of foreboding looming over her. She took a deep breath and continued asking around. ¡°Have you seen someoneing out of the haunted house just now? Please think about it carefully. Male, about a head taller than me, very handsome but aloof?¡± ¡°No, we didn¡¯t see anyone like that. Go ask someone else. We just happened to be passing by.¡± The person looked impatient, so J didn¡¯t insist anymore. She didn¡¯t give up, though. She shifted her attention to the other onlookers and asked them one by one. Finally, she came across a young couple who seemed to have a clue about Brandon. ¡°I think I saw the man you¡¯re referring to! When the staff told us to evacuate because of a fire, he rushed back inside without a second thought. The staff didn¡¯t get to stop him, and my boyfriend even joked that he must be an idiot who couldn¡¯t even tell where the exit is.¡± The woman nced sideways at her beau before adding, ¡°In my opinion, he ran back inside to get someone important. Maybe his wife, or a child¡ª Hey! I¡¯m not done talking!¡± J was already sprinting back to the haunted house before the woman could finish her words. How could Brandon risk his life in such a big fire? How could Brandon risk his life in such a big fire? J stopped at the entrance and tried calling him first. She tried again and again, but he never answered. No one else emerged from the burning establishment, either. J was beside herself with worry. She wanted to throw herself into the fire and look for him, just as he had done for her. ¡°Hey, youngdy! Do you want to die?¡± The people around her cried out just as she was about to lunge forward. They reached out and pulled her back. ¡°Don¡¯t you see the fire raging in front of you? You won¡¯t even get a few feet inside without getting burned!¡± ¡°No, you don¡¯t get it. Please let me in! My husband is still inside!¡± J struggled against their hold. They didn¡¯t understand! The man she loved might be trapped in there, suffocating, burning¡­ And it was all because of her. J was shaking at this point. She was barely hanging on to her sanity. ¡°Calm down, miss. Leave this to the firefighters. Do you see? They¡¯re working hard to put out the fire and get everybody to safety. They will definitely save your husband. Don¡¯t worry.¡± A kindhearted stranger stroked J¡¯s back in a gesture offort. Another person chimed in. ¡°That¡¯s right; it¡¯s too dangerous to get involved right now. Just be thankful that you are safe.¡± J slumped on the ground, numb to her surroundings. She held her phone tightly and stared at its screen. ¡°Get the helicopter to hover over the haunted house and search for Brandon,¡± she instructed the people sent by the White family. ¡°Call me as soon as you spot him!¡± The helicopter ended up meking two rounds in the eree, still to no eveil. Brendon wes trepped in the fire, end there wes nothing she could do. J¡¯s fingers were trembling uncontrollebly. She could berely see through the teers thet hed welled up in her eyes. She knew thet she wes on the verge of collepse, but she refused to give in before heering news of Brendon. Just then, she felt e tug et her shoulder es the women beside her yelled, ¡°Look, look! Another person just ren out!¡± J¡¯s heed shot up. She sew e tell figure deshing out through the beck entrence of the heunted house. The men discerded the thick coet he hed been holding over his body. His fece wes smudged with soot, but he still looked es hendsome es ever. He wes coughing violently es he drew closer. J¡¯s teers finelly streemed down her cheeks. She could feel her blood rushing through her veins like little bolts of lightning. She scrembled to her feet end met Brendon helfwey, holding him before he fell on his knees. It wesn¡¯t until she felt the steedy rhythm of his heertbeet under her pelm thet she ellowed herself e sigh of relief. And then, she let loose end bewled like e beby. Brendon tried to reeched out to wipe her teers. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. It¡¯s ell right. I¡¯m ell right.¡± But J only cried even louder. It took her e while to celm down. ¡°Brendon,¡± she sniffed. ¡°Why did you do thet? Why did youe beck inside?¡± The helicopter ended up making two rounds in the area, still to no avail. Brandon was trapped in the fire, and there was nothing she could do. J¡¯s fingers were trembling uncontrobly. She could barely see through the tears that had welled up in her eyes. She knew that she was on the verge of copse, but she refused to give in before hearing news of Brandon. Just then, she felt a tug at her shoulder as the woman beside her yelled, ¡°Look, look! Another person just ran out!¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. J¡¯s head shot up. She saw a tall figure dashing out through the back entrance of the haunted house. The man discarded the thick coat he had been holding over his body. His face was smudged with soot, but he still looked as handsome as ever. He was coughing violently as he drew closer. J¡¯s tears finally streamed down her cheeks. She could feel her blood rushing through her veins like little bolts of lightning. She scrambled to her feet and met Brandon halfway, holding him before he fell on his knees. It wasn¡¯t until she felt the steady rhythm of his heartbeat under her palm that she allowed herself a sigh of relief. And then, she let loose and bawled like a baby. Brandon tried to reached out to wipe her tears. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. It¡¯s all right. I¡¯m all right.¡± But J only cried even louder. It took her a while to calm down. ¡°Brandon,¡± she sniffed. ¡°Why did you do that? Why did youe back inside?¡± Chapter 673 Chapter 673 For a brief moment, Brandon had thought he would die in there. He already saw his life sh before his eyes. Fortunately, he was nowhere near the point of origin of the fire, so he had time to gather his bearings. After looking around, he found a back door and was able to escape. He threw his arms around J and held her tightly, burying his face in her hair, taking in her scent. When Brandon looked up at her again, his eyes were as bright as stars. ¡°I don¡¯t know either. Anyway, what¡¯s important is you¡¯re okay.¡± Indeed, even Brandon himself couldn¡¯t answer this question. Why did he rush back in? Towards the fire, no less. The second Brandon learned that the fire started in the same area J was, he feared for her life. At the time, he wasn¡¯t thinking. It was as though his body had a mind of its own. Before he knew what was happening, he was already running in the direction where he and J separated. He had no idea why his body reacted that way. It was as if sheer instinct dictated that he must protect J from any harm. ¡°Help me up.¡± Taking a deep breath, Brandon put his arm around J¡¯s shoulder and braced himself to stand up. J supported him carefully. Wiping away her tears, she asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you answer the phone? I was so anxious that I almost rushed back into the fire to look for you.¡± For a brief moment, Brandon had thought he would die in there. He already saw his life sh before his eyes. Brandon took out a scorched phone from his trouser pocket. There was a big hole on its screen. ¡°My phone got burned in the fire, so I didn¡¯t even receive your call. I couldn¡¯t find you anywhere, and the fire kept spreading, so I had no choice but to retreat first.¡± Brandon raised his hand and pinched J¡¯s cheek lovingly. Thetter couldn¡¯t help but stick out her lower lip like an annoyed child. Only then did he suddenly look her up and down. ¡°Are you hurt anywhere?¡± ¡°No, no, I¡¯m fine. I escaped as soon as I saw the fire.¡± Still pouting, J couldn¡¯t help but turn her face away. This unexpected flirty behavior from Brandon made her blush. ¡°Smart.¡± With a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, Brandon let her go. Seeing that J was safe and sound, he finally let out a sigh of relief. ¡°I thought you were near the point of origin? How¡¯d you manage to escape?¡± J averted her gaze guiltily. She couldn¡¯t tell Brandon that she had been prepared in case of any emergency. ¡°The fire wasn¡¯t too severe at the time. I covered myself with my coat and ran out,¡± she answered perfunctorily. Brandon nodded and straightened out his shirt. Only then did he realize that he was covered in cold sweat. Brandon felt it strange. He hadn¡¯t been with J that long, yet he had risked his own life and rushed into a burning establishment for her. Why was he so worried about this woman? J looked at Brandon quietly. He lowered his head and didn¡¯t say anything. She didn¡¯t know what was on his mind. But he had rushed into the fire to save her. Obviously, he cared about her. J was secretly delighted. It was like a rainbow after a storm. Finally, her efforts paid off! But she still didn¡¯t know why Brandon treated her like a stranger in the first ce. Biting her lower lip, J cautiously started to say, ¡°Brandon, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you¡­¡± Brandon looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to speak. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Just as J opened her mouth, a loud creaking sound came from above her head. J looked up and saw that the mes had climbed onto the roof of the haunted house. The tip of a tower on the roof was leaning precariously to the side, about to fall. She and Brandon were standing right next to the haunted house. With the horrific sound of a crack, the tip of the tower snapped and plummeted towards the ground they were standing on! Chapter 674 Chapter 674 The falling tower looked like a meteor on fire. J screamed and subconsciously pushed Brandon away without hesitation. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Then she spread out her arms and stood in front of him to protect him from any falling debris. Everything happened in the blink of an eye. A blistering heat wave swept over as the tip of the tower smashed into pieces on the ground, sending burning debris flying in all directions. It was like a magnificent firework in bloom. But it was the most deadly firework in the world. While the tower didn¡¯tnd on top of the two people, it did smash into the ground violently, sending burning shrapnel in all directions, many of which struck J¡¯s back. But she was too focused on protecting Brandon to notice. It wasn¡¯t until she was sure that Brandon was fine that she felt a burning sensation on her back. She turned her head and to her horror, saw that the clothes on her back was on fire! Terrified, J let out a blood-curdling scream. ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Brandon reacted quickly, wrapping his arms around J and forcing her to roll around on the grass with him. Soon, the mes were extinguished. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Staring intently at the woman in his arms, Brandon didn¡¯t realize how anxious his voice sounded. He raised a trembling hand and gingerly tried to lift the hem of J¡¯s burnt top, but J stopped him quickly. The falling tower looked like a meteor on fire. J screamed and subconsciously pushed Brandon away without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± J didn¡¯t want Brandon to worry about her, but her voice was shaky and she clearly wasn¡¯t fine. The cold sweat on her forehead and paleness of her face betrayed her true situation. She wasn¡¯t okay at all. The sudden ¡°fireworks¡± caused the crowd to panic. The onlookers around screamed and dispersed hurriedly like mice. The firefighters rushed over, put out the remaining fires on the ground, and began to evacuate everyone in the amusement park. Brandon helped J up. He also took this as an opportunity to lift her shirt gently to check her injuries. Fortunately, Brandon had reacted fast enough just now. The burns on J¡¯s back weren¡¯t too severe. But it was still red and swollen, covered in nasty blisters. ¡°Don¡¯t look¡­ It¡¯s ugly.¡± J almost cried out in pain when Brandon lifted her shirt, but she managed to grit her teeth and didn¡¯t make a sound. She didn¡¯t want to show the man any weakness. But Brandon saw right through her. He couldn¡¯t understand why she was still pretending to be strong. Indescribable,plex emotions surged in his heart. They had nearly died just now, but J risked her life to protect him,pletely disregarding her own safety. As a result, she got hurt, but she didn¡¯t want him to see her cry. What a silly woman! ¡°J, you have to learn to protect yourself first.¡± Upon hearing what he said, J looked up at him and met his cold and distant eyes. She suddenly felt as though her heart was wrenched. When she saw the reproachful look on his face, the tears that she had been holding back almost burst out on the spot. How could he say that to her? She just saved his life! Turning her face away silently, she didn¡¯t want to look at Brandon anymore. Only then did Brandon realize that he could¡¯vee across as too cold just now, but he didn¡¯t know how to salvage the situation. He could only fall into silence as well. After what felt like an eternity, the suffocating atmosphere between the two was broken by the sound of an ambnce¡¯s siren. The paramedics carefully carried J to the ambnce, and Brandon followed them. J quietly looked at Brandon, who was sitting next to the doctor, shoulder to shoulder. His face was still cold. At that moment, she missed the old Brandon more than ever. The old Brandon would¡¯ve held her in his arms, doing everything in his power tofort her. However, everything she missed about the old Brandon was gone. Now, only indifference remained in this new Brandon¡¯s eyes. How did things turn out like this? Chapter 675 Chapter 675 J had a ton of questions, but she couldn¡¯t utter a single word. She could only turn her face away from Brandon, silently wiping the tears from her eyes. As soon as J was wheeled into the ward for treatment, Brandon informed Beal and Johanna. Johanna couldn¡¯t remember how many times J had been hospitalized over the past six months. She felt both sorry and worried for her daughter. Naturally, she wasn¡¯t nning to be nice with Brandon any longer. The doctor was carefully treating J¡¯s back. Standing in the corner of the room, Brandon¡¯s eyes were fixed on the numerous blisters on J¡¯s smooth skin. Finally, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Will it scar?¡± Brandon bit his lower lip tightly. He¡¯d never forgive himself if J¡¯s skin scarred as a result of her protecting him. The doctor replied honestly, ¡°There are two areas here with second degree burns. There¡¯ll be traces left, more or less.¡± After a long silence, Brandon looked at J again and murmured hoarsely, ¡°Thanks for saving me.¡± It was the first time that Brandon had thanked J so sincerely. But she didn¡¯t like it. He treated her too distantly. J had a ton of questions, but she couldn¡¯t utter a single word. She could only turn her face away from Brandon, silently wiping the tears from her eyes. For a moment, J didn¡¯t know what to say. They were husband and wife. There was no need for him to be so formal with her. She forced a smile, but there was a trace of sadness in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re wee. When our apartment was on fire, you also protected me. You still have a burn scar on your back. Now we¡¯re even.¡± Hearing this, Brandon¡¯s expression immediately darkened and a trace of confusion shed in his eyes. He seemed to want to say something, but stopped on second thought. What apartment? What fire? When did that happen? He didn¡¯t remember anything about it. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. When J saw the confusion in Brandon¡¯s eyes, the smile on her face stiffened. Soon, the doctor finished bandaging up J¡¯s wounds. After he left, she took a deep breath and finally asked, ¡°Strange. Why did you have such a weird expression just now? I can¡¯t help but get the feeling that you¡¯ve forgotten everything about our past. Brandon, if you don¡¯t think you¡¯re getting anything out of this marriage, just say so. I won¡¯t hold you back. You don¡¯t have to do this to me.¡± J spoke in a seemingly casual tone, but the thought of breaking up with Brandon made her heart tighten. Brandon averted his gaze hesitantly. After a while, he finally spoke up, albeit with difficulty. ¡°Something happened to me¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m not stupid. I can tell that you¡¯ve changed. In fact, it¡¯s like you¡¯re apletely different person. Are you still not going to tell me what happened?¡± Resting her head on the pillow, J stared at him and said in a tired voice, ¡°Brandon, I¡¯m not a mind-reader. The longer you keep the truth from me, the crazier I get. It¡¯s only a matter of time before I crumble.¡± Brandon¡¯s expression softened. J had risked her life to save him. Wasn¡¯t she worthy of his trust? Sitting next to the bed, Brandon looked into J¡¯s eyes, as though searching for answers. Finally, he said in a low voice, ¡°You¡¯re not stupid. It¡¯s just¡­ Whatever happened to me sounds crazy. Even I can¡¯t believe it myself. When you were lost at sea, they said I suddenly passed out in one of the search-and- rescue ships. It turned out I had a high fever and was incredibly ill. When I woke up again, I couldn¡¯t understand my surroundings. Charis told me what had happened. Then I realized that I had lost my memory of the past two years.¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!