《Broken Memories, Intertwined Hearts》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 B City. The man''s hand held hers tightly as they left the city hall marriage registration window. Ines Galeana looked at the marriage certificate with both their names on it. It felt unreal like she was dreaming. The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. "Mr. Meyer, have you ever been divorced? Or do you have any secret problems?" Women were really into him because of his looks. She couldn''t figure out why he was still unmarried in his 30s and why he fancied her. She was just an ordinary girl. It didn''t make any sense. Ethan paused for a second and smiled, "Isn''t it a bitte to ask that question now? You''re legally my wife. Are you already thinking about getting a divorce?" This was the first time in Ines¡¯ life that she had done something so unbelievable. At this moment, she was tense all over, her mind in chaos, unable to think. She almost couldn''t catch her breath when she heard the man''s response. Impulse really is the devil. She must have lost her mind. She married a man she had known for less than a day! However, since she chose this path, she had to keep going. Ethan understood her worries andforted her, "Mrs. Meyer, don''t think about it too much. No need to make wild assumptions and worry. I won''t be abusive. I won¡¯t have affairs or divorce you. As for the secret problems you mentioned, I can prove I have none." Ines''s face instantly turned red. This man really knew how to tease! Wait a minute. "What did you just call me?" She seemed to have heard "Mrs. Meyer." "Mrs. Meyer. Did I... get it wrong?" The man''s mouth slightly raised. Ines coughed lightly and turned her head silently. There was no mistake. She was indeed married and now had her husband''sst name. It was such a formal name. It sounded awkward, no matter how she said it. Calling her by her name seemed more direct. "Give me your phone." Ines knew what he wanted to do and handed him her phone. He quickly entered his phone number and then used her phone to call himself. "I have a business meeting tonight and will be busy for the next two or three days. Once I''m done, I''lle to pick you up and visit your family to discuss our rtionship." When it came to their rtionship, Ines was stressed and immediately got a headache. She really didn''t know how to exin it to her family. Who got married unexpectedly? They would definitely make a fuss. "I live with my aunt and uncle. They are my family. I don''t have any other rtives." Ethan didn''t ask any more questions. He just responded with, "Hmm."This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Ines breathed a sigh of relief. She really didn''t know how to exin herplicated past. She initially wanted to go back on her own, fearing that her aunt and uncle would discover her marital status. Ethan insisted on taking her home. He stated a very legitimate reason, "Now that we''re married, how can I let you go home alone at night? What would people think of me as a husband?" Ines had no words to respond. She was unable to find a reason to deny his proposal. This man always hit the nail on the head with simple words. It left her speechless each time. Ines couldn''t help and wondered, would he control her in the future? The two drove all the way to an old neighborhood. Ethan couldn''t help but frown at the dark alley, "Do you walk on this street alone at night?" Ines gripped her purse slightly, "Not exactly. If I workte, my uncle or cousin picks me up and takes me home." Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Since her cousin started dating, Ines tried not to bother her too much. She was used to handling things independently and didn''t want to trouble others. ¡°It is really dangerous for girls to be out at night. Alright, you go ahead. I''ll stay and watch you until you''re inside safely." Ines nodded and walked up a few steps before turning back to remind Ethan, "Tell me beforehand when you will pick me up. We can have a proper discussion about our ns." Ethan looked helpless, "Do I really look that unreliable?" Why was she so worried? He knew that today''s events were unexpected for both of them, and they needed time to process everything. Ines didn''t answer his rhetorical question, but the corner of her mouth lifted slightly as she turned around and walked toward her house. She knew someone was watching over her closely; this time, she wasn''t scared and strode confidently. It seemed like things were already changing. Ethan left when Ines safely entered her house. He returned to his usual coolness. The hazy lights shed on his face, making it difficult to figure out what he felt. Ines tossed and turned all night. She constantly thought about the marriage certificate in the drawer and Ethan''s handsome face; she couldn''t forget. She admitted she was a sucker for good looks and was mesmerized by Ethan''s stunning face. If someone with a weird and horrid face had proposed to her, she would''ve pped them. She only knew basic information about Ethan. His parents were alive, and he had a grandfather. Ethan ran a smallpany in A City with a 90 square-meter two-bedroom apartment. He lived comfortably but not luxuriously either. However, he was a resident of A City, while she lived in B city. They had to live together after getting married because they didn¡¯t have an emotional foundation yet and already had their marriage certificate. This meant that one of them had topromise. Ethan was a small business owner, while Ines was an ordinary employee. Comparing the pros and cons, there was no way she could ask Ethan to stay in B City with her. The only option was to quit her job and return to A City with him. A City was where she grew up but escaped. She wasn''t sure if going back was a good choice. Ines pped herself on the head again, annoyed. She usually dealt with serious matters sensibly but was too reckless with her marriage. She didn¡¯t take many issues into considerations. The next day. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Ines came out of her room with dark circles under her eyes. Aunt Rita had already set breakfast on the table and looked at Ines with worry. "Izzy, your dark circles are bad. Did you work overtime against night?" Ines didn''t know how to tell her aunt that she had married a stranger, so she scratched her head and said, "No, I just didn''t sleep well." Rita gently patted Ines'' shoulder and sighed, "Child, why do you work so tirelessly? Girls your age should dress up, go on dates with their boyfriends at night, and enjoy life. You spend all your nights working instead. I don''t know how to help you. Work is never-ending, but your body isn¡¯t. If you ruin your health, how will you enjoy life?" Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Ines stuck out her tongue. She liked the nagging. It reminded her of her mother, "Auntie, I like living like this; I am fulfilled. Besides, I am pretty enough. I don¡¯t need to dress up." "Well, that''s true. You inherited the Page family''s beautiful features. If your mom was still here, she wouldn¡¯t let you live like this." Rita''s face showed a hint of pain.- Rita thought of her sister. She had a strong character, only for her life to end tragically. After her husband betrayed her, shemitted suicide. Ines'' smile faded as her uncle Zander Payne came out of the kitchen, still wearing his apron, "Old woman. You''re getting more muddleheaded, always bringing up the past. We need to live in the present. How don''t you understand that after so many years? It''s gettingte. Why don''t you hurry up and pour some milk for Izzy? If Izzy''ste and gets scolded by her boss, will you take the me?" Rita red at her husband, "Alright, enough nagging. You sound more like a broken record as you age. It''s so annoying." Ines looked at her aunt and uncle in admiration. She longed for such a simple married life. A couple staying true to each other and walking hand-in-hand forever. This was great love. For some reason, Ethan popped into her mind. Ines rubbed her temples, took the milk from her aunt, and teased Rita, "Auntie, you should be content. Look at how Uncle has been cooking for you all these years." "He''s only good for that." Zander and Rita taught at the same school, so their schedules were simr. However, Zander took care of all the household chores and always chased Rita out of the kitchen. Rita was a terrible cook even in her 40s. They hadn¡¯t been through many ups and downs, and their love stayed strong for decades. "Exactly, my niece is so considerate. Some people take advantage and still act ungrateful. Where can you find a perfect husband like me?" Zander chimed in with Ines as he pulled out a chair to sit. He remembered to ce Rita¡¯s breakfast in front of her. Rita tapped Ines'' forehead, "You sweet girl, I''m your aunt." Ines took a bite of toast, "I''m just stating the facts." "You always take his side, but I know what you mean. You like men who can cook, so I''ll make sure your future husband can cook too. Otherwise forget about him." "That''s right, a good husband won''t let his wife stay in the kitchen every day. She shouldn¡¯t turn into a bitter woman. Izzy, you must find a man who can cook." Rita and Zander agreed on this, surprisingly. Ines suddenly shuddered, almost dropping her toast. She couldn''t help but think of Ethan. She figured a man like him probably couldn¡¯t cook. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. She forced a smile and said with a dryugh, "There probably aren''t many men who can cook nowadays." Rita red at Ines and said, disappointed, "Can''t you be a bit more ambitious? Find a good boyfriend. Anyway, you can''t just settle for anyone. This determines your happiness for the rest of your life. I disagree with the idea of getting married by a certain age. I won''t rush you, but if you find someone suitable, get to know them better. Even though he might not reveal his true nature, it''s still better than getting married hastily." Chapter 4 Chapter 4 "Nowadays, sh marriages are bing moremon, and they often lead to divorce. Getting a divorce is like buying groceries. No wonder some people are banned from divorce before their kids reach a certain age. Men have it easy. They can just walk away. They can find a pretty young wife as long as they have the money. Mostly women just get hurt; they have to raise the kids, and it affects their whole life. Izzy, don''t me me for nagging, but you gotta be careful about this..."- Ines was getting a headache as she listened. If her aunt knew that she was married to a man out of the blue, would she faint from anger? "Auntie, let''s allow things to happen naturally, especially regarding feelings." "I know that. I''m not worried. Your uncle and I are watching out for you. Just don''t do anything terrible." "You know Izzy''s character. She¡¯s always been very careful with what she does. How could she possibly do anything crazy? Just rx," Zander said. Ines felt the air around her get thicker, making it hard for her to breathe. She quickly finished her breakfast and left home. She couldn¡¯t mention her marriage now. She could still hear her aunt and uncle''s voices as she ran out the door. "This child ran away so fast. Does she think I nag too much?" "You do nag a lot." Before Ines reached the bus stop, she saw the No. 12 bus parked at the tform, so she had to run to it. There were still empty seats because it was the starting station. Ines found a seat near the back. As soon as she sat down, her phone rang in her bag. The name "Ethan" shed on the screen. She was at a loss for words. This would have been a dream if not for the marriage certificate in her drawer. How else could someone be a wife in just one day, especially to a man she had only met once? Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. She wondered why he was calling so early. Ines hesitated and picked up the phone before it stopped ringing. She was unsure of how to start the conversation. She resorted to talking like she spoke to a stranger, "Hello, this is Ines." "No need to introduce yourself. I know you''re Mrs. Meyer." The man''s low, teasing voice made Ines flush with embarrassment. She timidly asked, "What do you need from me?" "I wanted to speak to Mrs. Meyer, and remind her that she¡¯s a married woman. Don¡¯t take so long to answer her husband¡¯s call." Ines was taken aback, wondering how this man could be so perceptive. He knew she hesitated. "Um. When youe, make sure to let me know first. Don''t visit when I¡¯m not there. It¡¯s better if we are there together," Ines said, changing the subject. "Mrs. Meyer, I''ll finish work as soon as possible, pick you up early, and take you home." What was the reason for this? She was worried about him showing up unexpectedly, catching her off guard. It was clear she was against the idea of a rushed marriage. They needed to carefully figure out how to tell her parents. This man seemed different from the one she sawst night. Yesterday, Ines met a calm and elegant gentleman. Why did he now seem frisky? The two continued to chat, nearly half an hour went by before they knew it. Ines hung up when she arrived at the firm. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 The beginning of the year was usually the busiest time for the firm. Many listedpanies had their annual audits during this time. Ines had been working overtime almost every day. A week had passed, and before she knew it, she hadn''t received any calls from Ethan that morning. When she finished her work, it was almost 10 o''clock. Her colleagues were packing up to leave. "Ines, are you going home?" "Wait a sec. I''m almost done." Ines shut down herputer and joined Martha in the elevator. "By the way, weren''t you looking for a house the other day? I have a rtive who works in a real estatepany, and they''re having a promotion right now. He has a few properties that can be sold for an internal price. They''re in the city center, close to the subway, and they¡¯re not expensive. If you''re interested, I can give him a heads up to save you a good one." Ines smiled, "Thanks, Martha, but my aunt doesn''t want me to live alone, so I¡¯ll buy a houseter." "No worries, it''s unsafe for ady to live alone. Let me know when you need it, and I''ll help you inquire. We''ve been colleagues for years, so don''t feel shy." "Alright." Ines almost missed thest bus. She got off the bus and headed straight for the alley. She had taken a few steps when she felt someone following her. She felt nervous and quickened her pace. The footsteps behind her didn''t stop. They got closer. Ines quietly reached into her bag. Her shoulder was tapped, and Ines swung out her folding baton. She sprayed pepper spray at the same time.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. "Ines, stop." The voice made Ines freeze; it was familiar yet strange. She turned on the baton shlight and followed the light, only to see a handsome face. The man looking at her was her newlywed husband. He stood there with a solemn expression. "What are you doing here? Instead of staying at home, you''re out here scaring people in the middle of the night." Ines was a bit angry, putting down her baton, her fingers still tense, obviously not recovered from the nervousness just now. Ethan looked at her with a wry smile. He was impressed by her fighting ability. However, he felt a sudden pity for her. He only needed a week to understand her past. Ethan stayed silent and took the bag from her hand. Inside, there were all kinds of self-defense essories. He picked up a round keychain-like object with a button on it. Before he pressed it, Ines grabbed his wrist and shook her head gently. "Don''t press this. You¡¯ll disturb the neighbors." Ethan ignored her and pressed it anyway. A piercing rm rang. "Why are you so stubborn? I told you not to press it." Ines snatched her bag angrily and walked away. Ethan felt his emotions change as he watched her walk away stubbornly. A sharp but also soft feeling. He couldn''t tell what the feeling was, but it felt very ufortable. Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Ethan caught up with her. He put one hand on her shoulder and ruffled her hair with the other, sounding helpless, "Alright, you''ve got quite the temper, huh? I didn''t even pick on you and you''re already pissed off at me." Ines struggled, but the difference in strength between him and her was obvious. His big hand was like a steel bar, and she couldn''t move. She turned her head away, feeling suffocated, "What the hell, what have I done for you to pick on me?" Ethan held her hand and exined as they walked, "Now, let me tell you the three big mistakes you made. First, as ady, you shouldn''t be out sote alone. Do you know how poor the security is in these old neighborhoods? ¡°Second, as a married woman, you shouldn''t be inconsiderate. You have a husband. You should call me to pick you up when you get off workte. You don¡¯t need to act like a female warrior. It''s my duty to protect you. Ignoring me today was the worst rule you could break. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. ¡°Third, you shouldn''t have kept this from me. I asked you about this, and what was your answer? You said your cousin and uncle would pick you up, right? ¡°What''s all this now? You''ve got so many self-defense tools in your bag. I bet this isn''t the first time this has happened. It''s a good thing you ran into me. What if it was a bad guy? Don''t give me any excuses. You never thought of asking me for help." Ines looked nkly at the man in front of her, her mouth twitching, Ignoring her husband? Suddenly he¡¯s making this bigger than what it was. Also, she walked with only a few self-defense tools. Which white-cor woman didn¡¯t have a few decent self-defense tools in her bag? When he said it, it sounded like an unforgivable sin. The worst rule she could break? What crazy logic that was. She felt like she had found a nagging husband. But he did guess one thing right, she''d gotten used to walking alone at night. Why would she ask him for help on such a small matter? He was a husband, a legal title on paper. They weren''t close friends. With these three charges he mentioned, Ines felt offended. "Why aren''t you responding? Am I wrong?" The man used a harsh and critical tone, but Ines felt strangely impressed, and her voice softened reluctantly. She pointed to the self-defense tools in her bag and patiently exined, "I have enough tools, and I can take care of myself." Ethan got even more annoyed when she mentioned them, "Those crappy things might work on ordinary guys, but if you run into really aggressive men, they¡¯ll be useless. Seems like everything I said earlier was a waste." This girl thought she''d be safe with those crappy gadgets. Ines pouted and said, "The people around here are just regr thugs." "You mean situations like this have happened many times?" Ethan''s gaze at Ines became even more somber. Ines suddenly realized she''d said the wrong thing and tried to change the subject, "By the way, why did you decide toe over today?" "Ines, don''t try to change the subject. Let''s continue our previous discussion." Ethan wasn''t so easily fooled. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 "That¡¯s in the past. No need to talk about it anymore," Ines said. She thought to herself, why was this guy so persistent? He was more stubborn than her. "We got married on a whim, not knowing each other well. I''m trying to learn everything about you, Mrs. Meyer, so please cooperate." Ines felt annoyed. She never thought of herself as a dull person. She wasn''t particrly eloquent but could persuade tricky and annoying customers. But why was she left speechless of all days? Ines had a growing feeling of unease. She knew she would lose to this man. Ethan stared at her, and she had no choice but to answer, "It happened a few times, I guess." "How many times exactly?" Ines looked at Ethan, "Mr. Meyer, is it good to dwell on the past?" "Indeed, it''s not good, except for things that harm a couple''s rtionship. For things that can strengthen our bond, it doesn''t matter." Ines reluctantly said, "Three times." It had been a long time since she had encountered any troublemakers. There were a lot of attackers in the first two years. Once, she kicked a guy''s balls so hard that he couldn''t walk. Since she became quite famous in the area, very few dared to harass her. Of course, she wouldn''t tell Ethan about these things. It wasn''t something to be proud of. She was afraid it would lead to another lecture. Ethan didn''t say anything. He quietly looked at Ines briefly, then put his hand on her shoulder, applying gentle pressure, "Trust me, I won''t let you go through this again. You''re not alone anymore; you have me." Ines felt the unfamiliar masculine scent in her nostrils, a hint of cool mint. The sudden intimacy made her body stiffen. She remembered they were married and rxed. "Are you done with your work?" "Yeah, I''m done. I''lle back home with you tomorrow to meet your family. Now let''s go eat something together." "Haven''t you eaten?" Ines looked up from his embrace. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. There was a sh of light in Ethan''s beautiful eyes, "Can I take this as your concern for me?" Ines wanted to say it was just a polite greeting. Seeing his hopeful expression, she couldn''t bear to, so she just nodded and asked, "What do you want to eat?" "I''m not picky, and I''m not familiar with this ce, Mrs. Meyer. Just take me to eat whatever you like." It was the perfect time for the food vendors. Ines thought for a moment, then unconsciously took the man''s hand and walked towards a small alley. Ethan looked at Ines holding his hand, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned. After several turns, Ines took Ethan to a taco stand. The owners were a Mexican couple, and their tacos were very authentic. The stand was always packed every night, and Ines often had to have hers as take-out. Today, they were lucky; there was still a small table avable. "Izzy, did you work overtime again tonight?" the owner asked enthusiastically. Ines smiled, nodded, then asked Ethan, "Can you handle spicy food?" "So-so." "Boss, give us a mildly spicy dish." The owner''s wife looked at Ines, then Ethan, and smiled mischievously, "Alright, you two have a seat. It¡¯ll be ready soon." Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Ines sat down and couldn''t help but feel that the man in front of her didn''t quite match their surroundings. He looked the same as he did when they first met. A tall figure wearing a high-end tailor-made suit exuding an air of arrogance and nobility down to his bones. He looked pretty awkward sitting on the small stool. Ines regretted her decision, "Sorry,we only have stall like this around here." Ethanughed, "No problem, I can handle it." Ines breathed a sigh of relief, seeing his non-judgmental attitude, "That''s good then." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org In a couple of minutes, their tacos were ready. The owner asked Ethan, "Do you want some cornbread?" "Yes," Ethan replied. Ines went to get Ethan¡¯s cornbread because the owner was upied. When she returned, she saw Ethan adding lemon juice to his taco. She asked, "You''re pretty good at seasoning?" Ethan looked up, his handsome face confused, "Isn''t it supposed to be sour and spicy to be tasty?" Inesughed, "It depends on your preference. Some people don''t like lemon juice." After dinner, they walked side by side. Ines noticed that Ethan was very considerate, slowing down his pace. "By the way, are youing to my house tomorrow?" Ines suddenly stopped and looked up at Ethan. Her dark eyes shone brightly under the moonlight. Ethan felt his heart stir, and he pulled her into his arms. Ines was startled by his sudden move. Her nose hit his chest, causing her eyes to water. She rubbed her small, round nose,ining softly, "You''re as hard as a rock." Her eyes looked quite miserable. Ethan chuckled, pressing her head against his chest. Ines felt her face burn as she listened to his steady and strong heartbeat. She heard Ethan''s voice above her, "Of course, I''ming. I eloped with their young, beautiful niece. I''llplicate things If I don''t visit soon." Ines was slightly annoyed, "Do you think it''ll be easy to get my family¡¯s approval? My uncle said I must find a man who can cook, and my aunt has a bit of a temper. I haven''t even told them about us yet. You won''t have an easy time tomorrow." They seemed to be getting closer. Ethan''s perfect lips turned to a smile, "Mrs. Meyer, that''s something Mr. Meyer ¨C me ¨C should worry about. Just be patient." Ines looked at his confident expression, and didn''t know what to say. The next day was a weekend. A week of overtime had left Ines feeling exhausted, and she had azy morning and slept in. Her aunt''s knocking awakened her, "Izzy,e out quickly!" Ines was still heavy-eyed. She opened the door, "Auntie, is there an earthquake or a fire? What''s all the fuss?" "Isn''t there? If you don''te out and exin, I''ll be ready to set fire to you." Rita''s voice was low; she was serious. Ines saw her aunt''s concerned face, which was rare, and asked cautiously, "Who made you angry?" "Izzy, good morning." Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Ines''s sleepiness waspletely gone when she heard the familiar voice. She stared at the man behind her aunt with wide eyes. Wasn''t he the one who promised to visitst night? Didn''t they agree on himing over at noon? Why did he show up at her doorstep so early? Ines nced down at her pajamas. Her hair was messy; she quickly closed the door. She felt scared. Ethan touched his nose and smiled slightly. Rita hesitated for a moment. She felt angry but couldn''t deny that Ines had good taste. The guy was handsome and had a good temperament. No wonder Ines hadn''t been dating; she set her standards too high, and none of the previous guys were up to par. Rita was usually a bit hot-tempered. She had been a teacher for decades and was good-mannered and kind to others. "Mr. Meyer, please take a seat on the sofa. Izzy will be out soon." "Auntie, Izzy has been working overtimetely. Let her rest for a bit longer." Rita nced at Ethan but didn''t say anything. Ines paced around her room angrily, filled with bitterness. It was so embarrassing. The man outside was so calm and confident. Her aunt called him Mr. Meyer, but he deliberately ignored the boundaries it implied and shamelessly called Rita "auntie." And he called her Izzy, which gave her goosebumps. When Ines went out, Rita looked at her with an unhappy smile that sent shivers down her spine. "Izzy, hurry up and introduce your aunt to this Mr. Meyer. Who is he to you?" Ines heard Rita gritting her teeth and red at Ethan. She had nned to discuss the details of this meeting today, but this guy didn''t y by the rules and showed up early in the morning, catching her off guard. "Rita, don''t you already know? What else do you want me to say?" Ines replied, trying to gloss over it with a smile. As soon as she spoke, Rita got angry and stomped her foot. She and her husband were going to the market early in the morning when they met a man iming to be Ines¡¯ husband. If it weren''t for his tidy appearance and handsome face, Rita would have kicked him out like a lunatic. What kind of nonsense was that? Was he trying to ruin Ines¡¯ reputation? The more Rita thought about it, the angrier she got. She loved Ines like her own daughter and was thest to know about her marriage. What was going on? Ines quickly walked over and sat next to Rita as she saw her face getting darker. She tried putting her arm around Rita¡¯s. She gestured for Ethan to cooperate, "Auntie, I was going to tell you today. We''ve been dating for half a year and got caught up in the momentst week and got married legally. I wanted to tell you right away, but I was too busy with work. You know I''m a workaholic, totally devoted." This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. "If I were more understanding, I''d probably be meeting my future grandchild right now," Rita said sarcastically, looking at Ines. Ines wished she could bite off her tongue. What was she even saying? She was asking for trouble. She wasn''t afraid of her aunt''s tough attitude but felt ufortable with her cold demeanor. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 "Auntie, my dear auntie, you know I''m not good at talking. It¡¯s all my fault; please forgive me." Ines shook Rita''s arm, looking pathetic. Rita''s hand smacked her hard on her forehead, making a crisp sound, "Alright, get off. You can''t pull off this cute act. Not only does it not work, it also makes people want to smack you." Ethan''s gaze shifted as if a hint of pain shed through his eyes. Rita caught his gaze from her peripheral vision. Rita was not buying her act, and Ines had no choice but to let go of her arm and step back behind Ethan. She pushed him in frustration, "You deal with the trouble you''ve caused. I''m not helping." Rita watched the two interact. It was so natural, and she felt a surge of emotions. Ethan sat down next to Rita, his eyes sincere, "Auntie, I want to apologize to you. I made Ines my wife without your knowledge and hurt your feelings. Our meeting was somewhat idental, and we both acted out of impulsiveness. Our marriage may have been quick, but it was the result of deep consideration from both of us. I know that my words seem empty, but I still want to make my position clear. I''m taking this marriage and Ines very seriously, and I hope you''ll support us in the future." After his speech, Ethan handed a document to Rita, then stepped back to Ines'' side. Ines looked at Rita''s face nervously and tugged at Ethan''s sleeve. Ethan patted Ines'' hand reassuringly. Rita returned the document to Ethan and said calmly, "Fine, I can''t meddle in your affairs. You''ll have to walk down your own life path." Ines didn''t expect to get the approval so quickly. She breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn''t help but wonder what was written on Ethan''s document. Just as she leaned over to take a look, Ethan put it away quickly, and she didn¡¯t see a single word. When Zander came back with groceries, Ethan got up to take the bags from him, smiling and greeting, "Uncle, you''re back." Zander was stunned for a moment, but he saw his wife''s softened expression, and everything became clear to him. He handed the bags to Ethan with a smile, "Just put them in the kitchen. I''ll deal with themter." "I''ll do it. Today I get to show some of my skills to you." Ines pouted and nced at Ethan, finally realizing what ''making oneself at home'' meant. Auntie had just calmed down, and he was already pushing his luck. No one invited him to stay for dinner, but he took it upon himself to offer to cook, to save face, and to show off. Hopefully, he wouldn''t mess it up. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. "Alright, let''s do as Mr. Meyer says." Rita agreed. Besides, someone offered to help her husband. Ethan went into the kitchen while Ines stayed worried. She looked slightly anxious. "Alright, you''re not rxed at all. If you''re worried, go in and help." Rita said. Inesughed awkwardly, "Auntie, you know my culinary skills are poor. I''ll be a burden if I join them." Rita stopped being warm for a moment and crossed her arms over her chest. She gave Ines a serious look, "Tell me, does your marriage have anything to do with your cousin''s wedding?" Zander''s hand rested on Rita''s shoulder as he looked at Ines, waiting for an answer. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 "Aunt Rita, Uncle Zander, you guys are overthinking. My marriage has nothing to do with my cousin Jeffery. I''m not getting any younger, and when I met the right person, I decided to get married." Ines said, feeling a bit guilty. "Come on, I know you better than you think. Your Aunt Rita and I aren''t as poor as you imagine. We''ve worked for decades and can afford a house in A City. We''ve been staying in the school welfare housing because it''s close to the school, and we know all our neighbors. We like the lively and convenient location. After your brother gets married, we''ll help him buy a house, and he''ll move out, but you''ll still live with us. If you''re rushing to get married because of this, just end it. Not many people know about your marriage anyway." Zander disagreed and tugged at Rita''s arm, "What nonsense are you saying? You can''t ask a child to get a divorce." "I don''t care. I only have one niece, and I can''t let Ines be cheated." Rita''s eyes were red. Ines pursed her lips and leaned gently on Rita''s shoulder, "Aunt Rita, I know that you''re worried. You''re afraid I''ll follow in my mom''s footsteps. People''s hearts are fickle, whether they''re men or women. Men can be just as ruthless as women. Even if the rtionship is great now, who can guarantee that things won''t change in the future? You¡¯ll never know whether someone will abandon you someday. We both know this all too well. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. ¡°I didn''t believe in love at first, but you and Uncle Zander have always reminded me that people are different. I don''t believe in fate, but I have to admit that love is not the only passport to marriage. Nothing is certain in this life. I have made my choice, and I won''t give up easily." Rita sighed deeply and pinched Ines''s face, "When did you get so bold?" Zander smiled slightly, "You know this confidence is unique to the Page family. You had a big fight with your parents when you wanted to marry me. Everyone advised you to give up on me, but you never looked down on me for being poor." Mentioning the past, Rita red at Zander, "Stop ttering yourself. I regret it now." "Izzy, Aunt Rita doesn''t want to say anything else now. Since you''ve made your choice, cherish it. Love is the foundation of marriage, but marriage also needs to be managed. After marriage, you''re no longer alone, so you need to think things through. You¡¯ll be going to A City. You might have to meet his family. Did you think about that?" Ines''s heart warmed up, "Aunt Rita, don''t worry. I have no impression of them and won''t do anything shameful." Rita smoothed Ines''s hair, "Silly girl, don''t mind those rumors. Aunt Rita believes you''re not that kind of person. B City is your home. Call us if you''re ever mistreated, and we''ll have your cousin Jeffery pick you up. You''re not alone; you have us." "I know that now. Thank you for taking care of me all these years." "We''re all family; it''s our duty to take care of you." Ines was worried about Ethan and went into the kitchen to check on him. She was surprised when she entered; his sleeves were rolled up, and he was chopping vegetables quite well. "Can you really cook?" "I''m not stupid. I wouldn¡¯t expose my weaknesses on the first meeting." In other words, not only could he cook, but it was also his forte. Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Ines made a face as she looked at him. He didn''t seem like someone who could cook. "Is there anything I can help with?" Ethan looked at her seriously for a few moments. He looked doubtful. "Can you wash vegetables?" Ines shot him a re. "I''m not that useless." In the living room, Rita and Zander listened to their conversation, their faces showing a hint of a smile. Zander, "Why did you suddenly change your mind? When I left, you were still gritting your teeth in anger. I thought I had toe back quickly to diffuse the situation. I was afraid you would do something." "Am I that difficult?" Rita asked. Zander justughed as he avoided answering his wife¡¯s question. "Actually, I think the kid has a good character. He speaks and acts decently, isn''t impulsive or frivolous. Not many young people are like him these days. He''s got a trustworthy gut; we just don''t know about his family background." "You don''t have to worry about that. He''s part of the Meyer family." "The Meyer family?" "How are you getting more confused? How many Meyer families are there in A City?" "You mean the Meyer family in A City that has a major influence in the military, political world, and prestigious business circles?" Rita nodded. "This kid really knows how to choose. He''s found another wealthy family." Zander looked a little worried. "I''m not worried about that. Our Page family also started in A City before moving overseas. I''ve met people from the Meyer family, and they''re different from your typical rich family. They don''t have too manyplex rtionships. They are a strong family unit. I believe they will treat Izzy well. The important thing is that she will be protected. I don''t think Hunter Galeana and that mother-daughter duo will do anything to Izzy." This was an important reason for Rita¡¯s change in attitude. With the support of the Meyer family, Ines would no longer be helpless. Zander and Rita''s only doubts about Ethan disappeared after tasting his cooking; even Zander couldn''t help but give Ethan a thumbs up. Ines didn''t expect a man like Ethan to cook so well. "Ethan, let me be honest with you." Rita looked at Ethan, her tone bing noticeably more affectionate. Ethan nodded, taking Rita''s words seriously. "Aunt Rita, please go ahead." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org "Your sudden marriage to Izzy caught us off guard, and your uncle and I did have some opinions about it. She''s not our biological child, but we''ve always treated her as our own daughter. She''s been living with us for years, and your decision really surprised us. We can''t take care of her forever; she''ll eventually have to leave our side. I hope that your family treats her well. Since she was little, she hasn''t had an easy life, and I hope the second half of her life can be lived peacefully." Rita sounded a bit sad. Listening to Rita''s words made Ines feel emotional. A City was her hometown. She had no memories of it. However, she was more familiar with B City. She had many memories here. Ethan seemed to sense her emotional fluctuations and tightly held her hand. "Aunt Rita, please don''t worry. You don''t have to worry about my parents. They''re very open-minded; and will treat my wife as their own daughter. As for me, I''ll take good care of my wife." "So, what are your ns for the wedding?" Zander joined the conversation. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Ethan was about to say something, but Ines stopped him, "I don''t really want to have a wedding right now. I''ve been away from A City for a long time, and need time to adjust. Plus, I have to find a job there first, so I don''t have much time and energy to n a wedding. Let''s just leave it like this for now, and we''ll make up for itter." Ethan stared deeply into Ines'' eyes, seeing her determination, and decided not to say anything else. "Alright, we respect your decision. When are you guys nning to leave?" Both elders had experienced a lot and seen all kinds of people, so they didn''t care about formalities; they just wanted them to be happy. Ines gestured for Ethan to speak, and he said, "I''ve already sorted things out on my end, so it mainly depends on when Izzy can resign from work." "I''m almost done with my current project. I¡¯m left with some finishing touches. My leave won''t affect thepany. I''ll write my resignation letter tomorrow, and it shouldn''t take more than three days." Ethan spent the whole day at the Payne family''s house. In the afternoon, he helped Ines pack her things. Ines didn''t have much stuff, just two suitcases, one of which was mostly filled with books. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Rita was pleased to see Ethan packing things so carefully. Rita let Ethan stay at their house. Ines tried to object but was shut down by Rita, "We have plenty of room here. How can you let your husband stay at a hotel?" Ines was speechless, and didn¡¯t understand what the big deal was. Aunt Rita''s displeased look made her swallow her words. She saw Ethan looking at her with a yful smile when she turned around. She was annoyed and red at him, "What''s so funny? My cousin Jeffery has been helping out my sister-inw for the past week, so you can stay in his room for now." Ethan spread his hands, pretending to be innocent, "Izzy, aren''t you overthinking things? Aunt Rita just told me, and I heard her clearly say, you don''t need to repeat it." Ines helplessly grabbed the TV remote from the coffee table. Watching the young couple bicker, Rita couldn''t help but smile. She then went out for a walk with Zander, giving the couple some space. Ethan sat down beside Ines and said, "Izzy, you don''t have to give up everything you''ve worked so hard for in this city. You can stay in A City with peace of mind, and I''ll handle things at home. A City and B City aren''t that far apart anyway; it''s just over half an hour by ne. Mypany is doing well, and I don''t need to be there every day; I can work remotely." Ines stared at Ethan for a few seconds and noticed he wasn¡¯t joking. She couldn''t help but ask, "Are you really serious?" Ethan couldn''t help butugh, "So marrying an auditor means I''ll have to face suspicion often." "Well, now that you know, you''d better not lie to me. You can¡¯t get away with lying when you live with an auditor." Ethan noticed that Ines'' eyes always sparkled when she spoke about work. The awkwardness from before seemed to have vanished. "Mrs. Meyer, I''m serious. I don''t want you to give up too much because of me." Ethan repeated earnestly once again. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Ines thought for a moment, "Nah, I''ll go with you to A City. It''s not a sustainable solution to have you moving back and forth all the time, and I don''t n on divorcing you, either. Being together is always a good thing. With my skills, finding a job I like in A City won¡¯t be hard." N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. She, like him, took marriage very seriously. Ines didn''t know that A City''s Meyer family was abuzz because of her. Ever since the old man of the Meyer family received a call from B City, he had been ecstatic. Normally, he would have been resting by now, buttely, he couldn''t sleep from excitement. He called his granddaughter, son, and daughter-inw home to y mahjong with him every day. "Dad, Trenton, and I are nning to go to A City tomorrow to meet our daughter-inw and pay a visit to her family," said Erica Meyer. Phillip Meyer raised his eyebrows and pondered for a few minutes before saying, "Yeah, it''s time to go over there and meet the inws. We epted their daughter through marriage. It¡¯s only right we give them an exnation." Ashley rolled her eyes. She was a beautiful 20-year-old girl, cute and charming. "What''s the rush? She''s already married into our family, are you still worried she''ll run away? Ethan finally decided to get married, and it was a quick wedding. Their feelings for each other may not be deep, so let them develop their rtionship more. What will you guys do, going over there and causing a ruckus? Aren''t you afraid of scaring your daughter-inw? There''ll be plenty of opportunities to visit the in- lawster." "Okay, Ashley''s right," Phillip changed his mind. Monday. Ines looked at the familiar office, feeling a bit reluctant. She had been with the firm for six years, and it was impossible not to get emotional about leaving. As Ines was lost in thought, her colleague Martha''s arrived, bringing her back to reality. "Martha, what can I do for you?" Martha came in and sat down on the chair next to her, looking a bit embarrassed. "Ines, I have a favor to ask of you." "Martha, we''re colleagues. Just say it, and I''ll try my best to help you." "Well, we recently hired a few audit assistants, one of whom is my niece. I was wondering if you could let her learn from you. You know, it''s easier for neers to learn if they have a good mentor. My niece is quite talented and smart, so she won''t be a burden to you." On any other day, this wouldn''t be a big deal. Ines would''ve agreed without hesitation. She was happy to help neers, as she had been guided by others when she first started. Seeing Ines hesitating, Martha said awkwardly, "Ines, if you feel it''s too much, just forget it. I know you have an intern under you and might not have that much energy." "Martha, actually, I submitted my resignation to Mr. Swanson today. In a few days, I''ll be leaving for A City." There wasn''t much difference in having two internsl it wasn''t an issue ofck of energy. Martha was shocked. "Why? You''re doing great at your job, so why resign? Mr. Swanson values you." Ines smiled, "It''s not because of work issues, but personal reasons. I''m married now, and my husband is from A City. We can''t live in separate cities forever, so I''ll follow him to A City to develop..." Before Ines could finish, a deep voice came from outside the door, giving a sense of a looming storm. "Ines,e to my office for a moment." Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Martha got spooked too. Mr. Swanson wasn''t much of a joker, but he''s usually pretty chill unless someone messed up big time. He rarely got this pissed off. Martha said, a bit worried, "Ines, be careful." Ines nodded. She could guess that it was because she handed in her resignation letter in a sneaky manner. "Mr. Swanson, you wanted to see me?" Aaron Swanson nced at her coldly and said, "Ines, have I ever treated you unfairly all these years?" Ines shook her head. If she had to pick someone she felt sorry for leaving, it would be this man. In their line of work, training someone to be really good at their job wasn¡¯t easy. Aaron pointed at the resignation letter on the table. "Then you owe me an exnation." "I got married, sir." Ines changed the way she addressed him. He wasn''t just her boss but also her mentor, a fellow alumnus, and her best partner. When she first started, his guidance helped her find her way around thepany quickly and saved her from making a bunch of mistakes. Aaron''s eyes froze in disbelief. His hand under the table clenched, and his face turned ugly. "What did you just say?" C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org "Sir, I got married," Ines repeated. Aaron felt a dull pain in his chest. He saw the resignation letter the moment he walked in. He thought up countless excuses for her, even considered the idea that anotherpany might¡¯ve headhunted her. Maybe she became ungrateful. He never guessed it would be for this reason. He was toote, just a few days toote. Why did everything change the moment he went on a business trip? Aaron felt a headacheing on and couldn''t help but massage his temples repeatedly. "Are you okay? Have you not been resting well recently?" Ines asked with concern. Aaron waved his hand, took a minute to find his voice, and looked up at Ines. "You don''t have to quit your job just because you got married. I know you love this job. If you want to spend more time at home, I can lighten your workload and try not to send you on many business trips. You can stay at the firm without worries." "Sir, I won''t give up my job easily. I quit because my husband is from A City, and I''ll be moving there with him soon." "A City, huh? Are you ready to face that?" Aaron knew a part of Ines'' past. "Sir, I''ve been avoiding it for so many years. I can''t run away forever. I have to face it eventually." Ines said with a smile. Aaron looked at her smile and felt it was like a p in the face. But he couldn''t help but ask, "Why so sudden?" Ines felt a bit bitter inside. "Sir, I''m not getting any younger. Many people my age are doing the same. It''s not that sudden. My husband is a pleasant person, and my family has met him. They''re quite content. He will be a good husband." Ines spoke casually, but Aaron understood the hidden message in her words. His eyes narrowed slightly. "You''re not close with him, are you?" Ines shook her head. "Not really. We met on a blind date a few days ago." Since they had a good work rtionship, Ines had always been pretty open with Aaron. Aaron''s pen suddenly dropped to the floor, and his voice involuntarily became sharp. He looked at Ines angrily, "You''re not young anymore. Why are you so careless with this? It was a blind date. You shouldn''t be so hasty. You should at least take some time to get to know each other. And why not find someone you''re close to instead of a stranger? Will this be a happy marriage?" Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Ines was shocked and looked at Aaron in confusion. Aaron noticed his outburst and tried to suppress his anger. "Sorry, I got carried away." Ines shook her head. "I know you mean well, but I trust my judgment. He''s someone I can trust." Aaron felt like his heart was being squeezed by a giant hand, making breathing hard. Someone once said the same thing to him, but how did it end? A mocking smile unconsciously appeared on his lips. Ines had never seen Aaron like this and felt hopelessness. She thought he was reminded of his past. "The past is in the past. It''s time to move on." Both of them had their fair share of misfortunes. She knew he once had someone he deeply loved, and he knew she had been betrayed. "I''m fine. When are you leaving?" N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. "The day after tomorrow." Aaron''s grip on the pen suddenly tightened, but eventually, he signed his name on that ring resignation letter. Ines took the resignation letter from Aaron. "Thank you." Aaron waved his hand. "No problem. I''ll exin everything to the boss. You go ahead and hand over your current work." As Ines was about to leave, she heard Aaron''s voice. "Ines, have you ever thought about the people around you?" Ines stopped, turned her head, and looked at Aaron. The morning light made his handsome face flicker. He looked lonely. Seeing the surprise on Ines'' face, Aaron said, "Forget I said anything." It took Ines all morning to finish handing over her work. When it was time to leave, her coworkers gathered around her. They were all surprised by her sudden departure. "Martha told us you''re getting married." "Why so sudden?" "You¡¯re really getting married? So soon?" "I''ve been on so many blind dates without sess, and you nailed it on your first try. So unfair." "Finally, one less singledy in the firm. You girls better hurry up." Marthaughed and pointed at a few beauties nearby, who all helplessly looked at Martha. "I wish. But all the ones I''ve met are weirdos, not even a single normal one." ... With all the chatter, Ines didn''t know who to answer first. She shook her head and smiled. It''s said that gossip is always present where there are women ¨C it seems to be their nature, even for these sharp and intelligent career-focused women. A one-time sess ¨C it really was like that. Some people go on dozens of blind dates without sess, but her first blind date, began with a "let''s give it a try" attitude, and ended up in marriage without even a transition period. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 "I thought you''d end up with Mr. Swanson. I didn''t expect you to get married so suddenly," someone in the crowd suddenly said with a sigh. At this remark, many people agreed, "I also thought Ines and Mr. Swanson were a perfect match." Hearing this, Ines''s looked ufortable. She looked up and saw Aaron''s gaze from a distance. Their eyes met before they both looked away. Martha pretended to cough, covering her mouth with her hand, and said, "Let''s not talk about that anymore. Ines is married now, so let''s leave those things in the past." "Oh, Ines, when are you guys having the wedding? Don''t forget us when the timees. The single ladies need to catch the bouquet, so that we can get married too." Just as Ines was about to reply, her phone rang. It was a call from Ethan. Ines apologized and answered the call, "Hello?" "Have you finished handing over your work? I''m here to pick you up for lunch," Ethan''s voice was so deep and charming. Whenever she heard his voice, Ines''s heart would beat uncontrobly, "Almost done." "I''m already downstairs." "Wait a moment. I''ll be down in five minutes." A group of people suggested going down to meet Ethan when they figured out it was him on the phone. Ines couldn''t refuse and let them follow her. Today, Ethan was dressed casually in a beige long coat. He looked cool and stylish.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Despite the distance and the bustling crowd, Ines spotted him as soon as she looked up. Ines''s colleagues also saw Ethan and couldn''t help but exim. "Oh my god, Ines, is that your husband? He''s so handsome." "Now I understand why you got married so quickly. If it were me, I''d have made a swift decision too. Such handsome guys are hard toe by." Ines''s ears turned slightly red when she heard "husband." She didn''t reject the title but felt a strange emotion stirring in her heart. She was not quite sure what it was. Ethan saw theming and instinctively took the bag from Ines''s hands. This action seemed well- practiced. Ines felt warm inside. She smiled and introduced her colleagues to Ethan. Ethan nodded politely to everyone, not overly enthusiastic nor rude, "Hello, everyone. I''m Ines''s husband, Ethan Meyer. Nice to meet you all." "Mr. Meyer, now that you''ve taken the firm'' beauty away, shouldn''t you express your gratitude?" someone half-jokingly said. "Yeah, yeah, Mr. Meyer, we want to celebrate with drinks." "The wedding banquet might still be a while away, but today I''d like to treat you all to a meal to thank you for taking care of Ines." So, what was meant to be a lunch for two turned into a group gathering. Ethan booked a table at a nearby restaurant. Someone suggested inviting Aaron, and Ines felt too embarrassed to refuse. She couldn''t get through to Aaron¡¯s phone; she was relieved. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 She wasn¡¯t a fool, and she understood Aaron''s behavior today. However, there were many things that you could only pretend not to know. Since everyone had to return to work in the afternoon, no one drank alcohol, and they just had a simple meal together. Ethan chatted with everyone at the dinner table easily because he was well-traveled. Ines saw another side of him today. Ethan went outside to answer a phone call during the gathering, and the group gathered around Ines, "Ines, we heard your hubby owns apany... Is he loaded? How''s the cash flow?" These people were all experienced CPAs, whose questions were straight to the point. "I''m not really sure about those things." Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. No matter what they asked, Ines'' answer was always, "I don''t know." Her colleagues joked around, saying that handsome guys always have the best market value. "Cough, cough." Someone saw Ethaning back and coughed to cover their face. The group dispersed when it was time to go back to work. Ines finished handing over her work and went down to the firm to get her belongings. Ethan took her things with one hand and pulled her with the other, hailing a taxi. "What were you guys talking about when I went out to answer the phone during lunch? It looked like you were having quite a good time." Ines nced at Ethan and told him everything her colleagues had asked. Ethan shook his head with a smile, "Now I know why there are so many single women at the firm." Ines looked puzzled, "Why?" "If you use your auditing methods to find a boyfriend, even a rich guy would be scared. If you meet those top-quality men, they''d definitely get rid of you before you even have the chance to audit them." Ines pouted, feeling a little annoyed, "You make us sound so terrible. Let me tell you, every girl, whether she loves money or not, is a natural-born auditor, especially when looking for a boyfriend. Asking about houses and mortgages is like checking fixed assets, and evaluating character and educational background is like checking intangible assets. Worrying about bad habits is like fearing an increase in other payables. Asking about parents'' financial situation is like hoping for asional financial support to increase capital reserves. Asking about gray ie at work is like non- operating ie, not to mention asking about bank deposits, expenses, and cash. They''re subtle. We¡¯re professional, there''s essentially no difference." Besides, when ites to love, no matter how many rules you set in advance, they would all be ignored when you meet the right person. She was like that. She never asked for anything and somehow got married to this guy. "Hehe." Ethan couldn''t help butugh. He was in a good mood, raising his hand to ruffle her hair. His eyes showed indulgence, "You sharp-tongued girl, I say one thing, and you refute me like this." "I''m just telling the truth, correcting your misunderstanding of women." "So what''s your auditing results about me?" Ines raised her hand, blinked, and looked a bit yful, "The result is that I need to apply for a return." "Goods sold cannot be returned." "Aw, I feel like I''ve been cheated." After saying this, Ines couldn''t help but feel emotional. She was an introvert, but she had never thought she could joke with a man like this. Yet alone a man she had known for a little over a week. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Winter in A City was super cold. As soon as Ines got off the ne, she felt a chilly, damp breeze hit her face, a bone-chilling cold that made her huddle up. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Ethan noticed her difort, helped her adjust her cor, and then hugged her close, chuckling softly, "Are you that afraid of the cold?" Feeling the warmth emanating from him, Ines felt warmer inside and whispered, "Yeah." She didn¡¯t like the cold. Her hands and feet felt icy and sometimes turned her nails purple. His body heat was undoubtedly what she craved most at the moment. Too many people were around them. She wasn''t used to being affectionate in public. She peeked out from his embrace, only to shrink back when a gust of wind blew. She lookedical. Ethan found it amusing and ruffled her hair, "You need to get used to this kind of intimacy sooner." Ines pursed her lips and muttered, "The more you show off your love, the easier it will be to break up." "Silly girl." It wasn''t until they got into a taxi that Ines wriggled out of Ethan''s arms. Skyscrapers shed by outside the window. Ines thought she would feel like a stranger in this ce, but everything around her felt so familiar, that she could almost call out their names. Ethan saw her frowning and asked, "Remember anything?" Ines shook her head, "No, but it feels familiar." Ethan''s apartment was in a great location, not far from the city center. A 90 square meters ce with two bedrooms and a living room. The ssic ck, white, and gray d¨¦cor was clean and tidy, not the messy bachelor pad she had imagined, but the style was a bit not warm and cozy. As soon as they entered, Ethan moved their luggage into the master bedroom. Ines watched his movements, hesitated for a moment, and hurriedly followed him in. He had already opened the lock on the suitcase and was about to unzip it. "Um... Ethan, I can sleep in the second bedroom," Ines''s voice trembled a bit. She knew they were a normal married couple, and her request was unreasonable. She couldn''t bear the thought of sharing a room and bed with a man she barely knew, at least not yet. Ethan nced at her, his mouth curving slightly, "There''s only one bedroom here." Meaning she didn''t have a choice. "How can that be? Isn''t there another empty one?" Ines'' eyes widened. She had clearly seen the two bedrooms when she entered and had secretly rejoiced. Ethan saw her widened eyes and knew what she was thinking. He said seriously, "That''s my gym." He knew she wasn''t used to it, and neither was he. But since they had decided to live together, they would have to deal with this sooner. There wasn''t much difference between now andter. Ines didn''t believe him and went to check for herself, not noticing the smug smile in the man''s eyes behind her. Ines wanted to cry but had no tears as she stared at the gym equipment in the second bedroom. After a while, she returned to the master bedroom, dejected. Just as she returned, she caught Ethan hesitating over something in the suitcase. His hand was raised, but he hadn''t put it down yet. Following his gaze, she saw her neatly arranged underwear, colorful and eye-catching. Ines''s face turned red instantly, and her breathing quickened. She hurried over, quickly crouched down, and grabbed Ethan''s hand, stammering, "Ethan, I can sort this out myself." Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Ethan wasn''t embarrassed at all, nodding with a straight face. He didn¡¯t want to leave a bad impression on his new wife, so he stood up. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Having a man by her side, even her husband, made Ines uneasy. She couldn¡¯t sort out her private stuff in front of him. Ethan noticed her difort and decided to give her some space, "Are you hungry? I''ll go make you something to eat." Ines nodded eagerly, "Yes, I''m starving." As soon as Ethan left the room, there was a loud "bang" from behind. He shook his head and laughed, looking at the closed door. It was the first time he thought that having such a cute person at home would make life quite interesting. Ines held her face. The heat lingered on her cheeks. She couldn''t imagine this man helping her sort through her stuff. She scratched her head, annoyed at herself for being too careless and leaving her private belongings on top. Ines took a while to calm down and then began sorting through her things. Ethan''s wardrobe was huge, but he only had a few clothes. He upied only a third of the space. Most of them were dark-colored uniforms, with only a few casual outfits. It took Ines more than ten minutes to finish organizing her stuff. She stared nkly at their neatly hung clothes side by side. Ethan hadn''t been home for half a month, so there wasn''t much in the fridge. He could only make a simple pasta. "We don''t have much food at home, so let''s just make do with this for lunch. We''ll go to the supermarket this afternoon to buy some groceries." Ines was still embarrassed about the earlier incident. She kept her head down and picked at the pasta in her te absentmindedly. After a long moment of silence, Ethan asked, "Izzy, what are you thinking about? Did you hear me talking to you?" Ines looked up nkly, "I''m sorry, what did you just say?" "Is the pasta good?" "There''s too much, I can''t finish it, and it''s too sour," Ines blurted out, then realized her words were a bit inappropriate. He had made an effort to cook her a meal, and she was being picky, which wasn''t right. "No worries." Ethan casually grabbed Ines'' te, took some pasta from her te, ced it on his, and then poured most of her sauce into his bowl. He did this carefully, seemingly unaware of the intimacy of the action, "I haven''t started eating yet, so it shouldn''t be too sour now." Ines watched him, feeling a wave of emotions well up inside her. In today''s society, very few people would ept eating someone else''s food, except those in intimate rtionships. They hadn''t reached that level yet. They were husband and wife, but were still strangers because it was a rushed marriage. "Um, Ethan, I''ve already eaten from it." Ethan just smiled, "I don''t mind. Hurry up and eat." He then started eating enthusiastically; he didn''t mind. He ate gracefully, which was very pleasing to the eye. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Ines chuckled and started to enjoy the delicious food. She had known for a while that his cooking skills were top-notch. A simple bowl of pasta he made was incredibly tasty. The bathroom mirror was fogged up, and Ines wiped it a few times. Upon closer inspection, she wrote impulsive consequences on it. Her emotions were all over the ce ¨C no regrets, but also a bit anxious and frustrated. She was mad at herself for marrying a man she had just met without being fully prepared for their life together. Ines pinched her cheeks in annoyance and forced a smile; it looked worse than a frown. She was grateful it was winter. She could wear long sleeves and pants as pajamas and wouldn''t seem awkward. When she returned to the bedroom, Ethan had finished showering and was half-lying on the bed, flipping through a book. His short hair was still a bit fluffy and was notpletely dry. His pajama top was unbuttoned, revealing a part of hisrge tanned chest. His chiseled features and the scenery were alluring, causing Ines'' face to turn red. Such a scene only appeared on TV; she had never experienced it in real life. Ethan noticed her figure standing at the door and looked up. He ced the book on the bedside table. He was surprised she had finished showering so quickly; he was prepared to wait for an hour. The fact that she took only half an hour caught him off guard. "Come here," Ethan waved at Ines. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Ines hesitated for a moment before walking straight toward him. Ethan instructed her to sit down with her back facing him. Inesplied without understanding why. Suddenly, she felt a man''s warm body press against her back, and his hand touched her hair. She stiffened and instinctively wanted to stand up but was held down by his hand on her shoulder, unable to move. Ines felt as if the skin on her back was being burned through her pajamas. "Ethan..." Ines felt her heart trembling, unaware that her shaky voice was tempting to a grown man. Ethan''s heart tightened, and he gently tugged at her ear. "In winter, you need to dry your hair properly to avoid getting sick," he said seriously. He didn¡¯t sound frivolous or casual. He never thought helping his wife blow-dry her hair would scare her like this. As the hairdryer hummed, Ines realized he was just trying to help her dry her hair. She rxed a bit and couldn''t help but smile faintly as she thought of their afternoon shopping trip. All the items they had bought were from their supermarket trip earlier that day. The salesperson was very enthusiastic and carefully introduced items like kneepads, earmuffs, hats, scarves, heated shoes, hand warmers, hot water bottles, and other trinkets she had never seen before. She thought he wouldn''t be so obedient, but to her surprise, he bought everything and put it all in the shopping cart. The salesperson was delighted, but she stood aside with a stiff smile. These were all things younger girls liked. She felt embarrassed using them as a woman approaching 30. She never thought she would have time to buy and use these items. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Ines pictured herself wearing heated shoes, and ear muffs with a hand warmer next to herputer while working, and that image was just too ridiculous to imagine. She wanted to stop her imagination from going wild. There were people around, so she couldn''t embarrass Ethan so soon. Ethan didn''t get it, "What are youughing at?" "I''m not telling you." In the quiet bedroom, only the sound of the hairdryer could be heard. Ethan''s fingers carefully moved through Ines'' long hair, treating it like a precious treasure. However, for Ines, it was a different feeling. Ethan''s fingertips asionally scraped her scalp, causing a tingling sensation. His hot breath hit her neck and ears when he lowered his head. The manly scent mixed with the shower smell made her feel hot all over. The few short minutes were undoubtedly torturous for her. As soon as the hairdryer stopped, Ines immediately jumped away and slid into bed. Shey in a corner of the bed, rolled a few times, and took two-thirds of the nket to wrap her body tightly. Then she muttered, "I''m...too tired today. I¡¯m going to sleep. Good night." Ethan looked at the remaining third of the nket and couldn''t help butugh, his tone mocking, "Mrs. Meyer, are you sure this isn''t mistreating your husband in the middle of winter?" Ines puzzled by hisughter, sat up and saw the entire nket on her body, leaving Ethan with nothing. She felt embarrassed and silently pulled the nket back, "Sorry, I''m used to sleeping alone." Ethan didn''t tease her further. Hey down and turned off the light. In the pitch-ck room, only a faint light was near the curtains. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Lying under the same nket with a man. Ines felt ufortable hearing each other breathe, even though Ethan was far from her. She unconsciously moved towards the edge of the bed, making loud rustling noises in the quiet bedroom. "If you move any further, you''ll fall off," Ethan couldn''t help but remind her in the dark, fearing she would actually fall. She was caught. Ines felt uneasy and whispered, "I won''t. I know my limits." "Thud!" The room''s light turned on, illuminating the entire room. Ines curled up with her back to him, most of her body almost falling off. Ethan couldn''t tell how she was, immediately got out of bed, walked around to her side, and saw her holding her forehead, slightly frowning. Ethan found the first aid kit, brought some ointment, and chuckled. Ines felt embarrassed and annoyed, wishing she could crawl into a crack in the ground. She red at him stubbornly, lips pursed, saying nothing. Ethan squatted down, rubbed her long hair, pulled her hand away from her forehead, and carefully applied medicine to the swollen area, gently rubbing it in, "Stop sulking. I''ll move it out and throw it away tomorrow to avenge you, okay?" Ines couldn''t help butugh. This man''s way offorting people could be more sophisticated. She wasn''t a child. "Still able tough, you seem fine." Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Ethan could be quite bossy sometimes, and Ines knew all too well. Right now, she was being hugged tightly from behind, pressed against his half-naked chest, feeling his deep and strong heartbeat. "Ethan, can you not hold me so tight? I''m ufortable." Ines squirmed in his arms, trying to create some distance. "Stay still," Ethan said sternly, tightening his grip around her waist, leaving her unable to resist. Ines was close to tears, "But I can''t sleep like this." She had no experience being with a man. Sharing a bed was too much for her. Her mind could ept it, but her body couldn¡¯t control itself. "Izzy, just get used to it. We didn''t go through the normal dating steps before getting together, so we must adjust soon. Please don''t reject me. Try to get used to my presence. I''m not just an ordinary man. I''m your husband, the man who will be with you until we''re old. Trust me. I won''t do anything without your consent." Ines was shaken but still resilient, "Ethan, I get what you mean. I''m just not used to it. Give me some time, and I''ll adjust." Ethan rested his chin on her head, sighing softly, "Silly girl, you don''t understand men. If a man wants to do something to you, you can¡¯t avoid it by hiding at the edge of the bed. Go to sleep. That performance was enough. No need for more. It won''t be funny." His words sounded a bit like he enjoyed her misery. Ines elbowed him but hit his bare chest instead. She quickly pulled her hand back as if she got electrocuted, muttering, "Can''t you just wear proper pajamas? Why do you have to show off your skin?" Ethan whispered, "You might not know, but I like to sleep naked, no matter the season." He implied that he waspromising to make her feelfortable. Ines'' heart raced as she felt his hot breath close to her. She decided to stop talking, knowing she wouldn¡¯t get the upper hand. She was better off keeping her mouth shut. Even with his promise, Ines didn¡¯t dare to fall asleep immediately. She forced herself to keep her eyes open until she heard his long, steady breaths, then finally rxed. She closed her eyes, followed his breathing, and slowly drifted asleep. She thought she''d have a restless night, but surprisingly, she slept deeply. She never imagined that she''d sleep so sweetly in the arms of a man she hardly knew. She wouldn¡¯t have woken up if it weren''t for Phoebe Wagner''s call. She reached for her phone by the pillow, but didn¡¯t find it. She opened her eyes and realized she was not in B City but in A City, and her phone was on the bedside table. "Izzy, many days have passed since youst called me." Phoebe sounded angry on the phone. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. "Miss Phoebe, please forgive me this time. I know I messed up. Is there something you need?" Ines apologized in a pleasing tone, knowing how to make her best friend happy. "Hmph, I don''t want to argue with you. I just wanted to ask, are you''re still receiving shipments? This time, I asked my mom to find you some good stuff. I''ve also helped you by selecting only excellent young people. They definitely won''t be those insecure and narcissistic weirdos. You can trust me and ept them. They won''t disappoint you." Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Ines'' brain hadn''t fully awakened yet, and it took her a few seconds to understand what Phoebe was talking about. She found the nickname quite amusing, so she yed along, "You can keep those good catches for yourself. No need to worry about me anymore." "Izzy, you''re giving up way too easily, chickening out after just one try. How do you think I feel as a singledy fighting on the dating battlefield for two years? Are you even worthy of being called my bestie? Hurry up and go forth. I''ll be behind you, cheering you on silently." "Come on. You go forward yourself. I''m not qualified to do that anymore." Phoebe didn''t catch the deeper meaning of Ines'' words at first, but she noticed that Ines'' voice sounded a bit nasal, "Wait, Ines, are you still sleeping, or do you have a cold?" Ines replied irritably, "You woke me up with your call." "Wow, it¡¯s Tuesday, 9:30 AM, and you, a workaholic, are still sleeping? Something''s off!" It''s a long story, not something that can be exined in a few words, "Phoebe, I quit my job, moved to A City, got married, and we should meet up somewhere, and soon." There was silence on the other end of the line after Ines said this, and all she could hear was Phoebe''s deep breathing. She knew she had shocked her friend. She hesitantly called out, "Phoebe." On the other end, Phoebe seemed unable to ept what Ines had just said, "Ines, what nonsense are you talking about this early in the morning? Are you still dreaming?" "I''m very awake right now. If you''re free at noon, let''s meet, and I''ll tell you everything that''s happened recently." "Why wait until noon? Let''s meet at Summer Caf¨¦ in the city center. I''ll leave the office right now, and we''ll meet there in 40 minutes." Phoebe hung up right after saying that. Ines listened to the sound of the call ending and rolled out of bed, helpless. There was no sign of Ethan in the room, but Ines wasn''t surprised, as it was already past the time for work. There was a note on the fridge with a scribbled handwriting. "I went to work. There''s porridge and buns in the fridge. Heat them before eating." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Ines knew she wasn''t far from Summer Caf¨¦, so she had breakfast before heading out. As soon as she arrived, she saw a womaning out of the underground garage, hurrying towards Summer Caf¨¦. A knee-length red coat, a tight mini skirt, ck knee-high boots, and slightly curly long hair - fashionable with a touch of yfulness. Who else could it be but Phoebe? A gentledy when calm but ready to fight the world when riled up. "Phoebe," Ines called out to her. Phoebe turned to look at Ines, walked over, and dragged her into the caf¨¦, grinding her teeth menacingly, "You better exin what''s going on, are you married? If you don''t have a satisfactory exnation, watch out, I''ll deal with you." Ines couldn''t help but smile as Phoebe dragged her inside, "Miss, please don''t put on such a fierce face, or people around us might think you''re trying to kidnap me and call the police." Phoebe realized she was being dramatic, so she loosened her grip, "Ines, you''re really something." They each ordered atte and a mocha, and with her arms crossed, Phoebe assumed the posture of a judge, "Now, exin everything to me. How did you get married?" Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Ines took a sip of coffee and began to tell the story of her first blind date half a month ago. At first, Phoebe listened with a bit of skepticism, but in the end, she was so angry that she trembled and said excitedly, "Ines, are you crazy? Did you agree to marry that guy after just one meeting? Is an unmarried man in his thirties normal? Does he have any bad habits? Any hereditary diseases? Domestic violence? Mental issues? Does he participate in porn, or gambling? Are his parents picky? Is he a total scammer...? Have you figured all these out?" Phoebe was indeed a blind date expert, raising many questions all at once, leaving Ines speechless and a bit dumbfounded. "No way, he said he didn''t." "You just believe him because he said so? Can you trust what a man says? Where did your intelligence go? Why are you so careless? This is a lifelong situation. Couldn¡¯t you be more cautious?" Phoebe''s voice was a bit loud, and although the coffee shop was quiet in the morning, a few people still gave disapproving nces as if ming them for disturbing their leisure time. "Phoebe, calm down." Phoebe realized she was too emotional and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "My aunt Rita and uncle Zander have met him. At first, they were against it, but after getting to know him, they greatly praised him. Don''t worry. I''ll be happy. If the marriage isn''t good, I''ll leave. I don''t want love, just a pleasant partner." She knew she wasn''t the type who couldn''t let go, and it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to leave a loveless marriage. But people''s hearts are unpredictable and difficult to control. You could guess the beginning, but the end was not easy to predict, right? "Ines, you''re so naive. Can a loveless marriagest? Can it bring happiness?" Ines thought of her recent days with Ethan, and a smile appeared. The man was an impable husband, and she hadn''t regretted her impulsive decision. Wasn''t that a good start? "I''ll try my best to make myself happy." Phoebe''s eyes reddened, knowing that there was no way back now. She couldn''t ask Ines to get a divorce right away. The best thing she could do was pray for her happiness and hope that she would meet someone who would spoil her for a lifetime. Ines sat beside Phoebe and wiped the corner of her eye with a tissue. "Come on, I just got married. Can you, as my best friend, not be so gloomy and give me a smile?" "Ines..." Phoebe hugged Ines tightly. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Ines hugged her back, feeling warm in her heart. She knew that besides Rita''s family, the person who cared most about her was the one in front of her. After hugging for a while, they separated, and Phoebe looked at Ines unhappily. "Alright, alright, go back to your seat. I still attend blind dates regrly, and I often hang out at this coffee shop. I don''t want others to misunderstand my sexual orientation." Ines returned to her seat and saw Phoebe still frowning, so she stopped smiling. "Phoebe, you should trust my taste." "I''d love to, but I hope your taste is like before, when you only liked people like Ethan." Chapter 26 Chapter 26 There was a moment when Ines felt her heart skip a beat. Her hand froze as she held the coffee cup, and looked at Phoebe in confusion. "Ethan?" Seeing her reaction, Phoebe knew that Ines'' memory hadn''t improved even after so many years. She still couldn¡¯t recall that man she liked from college, the one she couldn''t have. Since they were both married now, Phoebe thought there was no need to hide anything, so she exined, "Ethan, the man in charge of the Meyer Group, one of the top ten outstanding entrepreneurs in the world, the guy every woman in A City is dying to be with, and the man you had a crush on in college." Ines was shocked. "I had a crush on someone?" And his name just happened to be Ethan, the same as her new husband. "Of course! He was our schoolmate. When we were freshmen, he was already an outstanding entrepreneur and gave a speech at our alma mater. You fell for him instantly; it was love at first sight. Oh my, you were so crazy back then! You even secretly interned at the Meyer Group during summer break without telling your family, just to get closer to him. Unfortunately, you followed his shadow the whole summer and never even saw his face. I teased you for a long time about that. Anyway, you did a lot of crazy things for him back then. I could probably talk about it all day and night." Phoebe thought it was all in the past and didn''t need to go into detail. "But didn''t I have a fianc¨¦?" A mocking smile appeared on Phoebe''s lips. "You said it yourself, just a fianc¨¦. That scumbag wasn''t worth your love." Phoebe''s words were too much for Ines to take in. She had always thought her previous emotional entanglements were all about that fianc¨¦ who betrayed her, but she never expected this twist. However, if she were to deny her feelings for her ex-fianc¨¦pletely, she would know it wasn''t true. She knew he would always be dear to her. Phoebe''s tone didn''t seem like it. Phoebe wouldn''t be so vexed if her ex-fianc¨¦ were an insignificant person. Ines changed the subject when she saw that Phoebe didn''t want to talk about her ex-fianc¨¦, "So, what''s up with that Ethan now?" "That''s exactly what I wanted to tell you. My mom had arranged for me to go on a blind date with him, and I had already nned how to introduce you to him. But a few days ago, my mom suddenly informed me that the blind date was canceled. I even got scolded for it, saying my infamous reputation made the Meyer family unhappy. How unfair is that? I regretted it for a long time. It wasn''t until recently that I got to clear my name. It wasn''t because of me, but because Ethan had already found a suitable partner." Only she coulde up with such a bizarre idea of endorsing her best friend on her blind date. If she were Phoebe''s mom, she''d be incredibly annoyed too. "You should worry less about me and find someone suitable for yourself." Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. "Hmph, I won''t be doing any matchmaking for you anymore. But I heard that Ethan has been refusing blind dates for years, and I don''t know why he suddenly changed his mind recently. His family was overjoyed, and they immediately arranged for A City''s socialites to line up for blind dates. This has been a hot topic in many circles." "Oh," Ines responded casually, but a bold guess arose in her heart. Could the man Phoebe mentioned be the same person she married? Were the blind dates canceled because he got married? The timing matched, and the names were the same. Chapter 27 Chapter 27 The daring thought crossed her mind, but Ines immediately pushed it away, chuckling and shaking her head. How could that be possible? Her husband came from an ordinary family and ran a small business. Besides, he always took a taxi when he went out. How could he be connected to the dazzling Ethan? But she couldn''t help feeling a bit disappointed and bitter deep down, pressing her hand to her chest. Seeing Ines frowning, Phoebe worriedly asked, "Izzy, are you feeling upset?" After all, she had once been so infatuated with him. Even if she had forgotten, there would still be some feelings left, right? Ines didn''t want her friend to worry about her, so she forced a smile and said, "It''s nothing, don''t overthink it. I just thought it was a funny coincidence that the man I married also happens to be named Ethan." N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. "What a coincidence! Could it be the same person?" Phoebe eximed. Ines shook her head. "No, it''s just a namesake." Phoebe wasn''t convinced, "What are the odds? They''re both from A City. Let me search." She pulled out her phone and started searching. The results made her give up on the idea. "There are 10 other Ethans in A City, besides the one from the Meyer Group. 3 are small business owners, 2 are regr employees, and 1 is an engineer. It''s just that Ethan is so elusive, never epting interviews. Otherwise, we wouldn''t have to go through all this trouble." Phoebe said. Seeing Ines visibly affected by this, Phoebe regretted impulsively telling her about Ethan. "Alright, let''s not talk about this anymore. I won''t go to work this afternoon. I''ll go shopping with you and help you pick out some wedding gifts." Phoebe said. Ines got herself an A City phone card and sent messages to her friends and family. After thinking about it, she also sent a message to Ethan, telling him that she and her friend were out shopping. Ethan replied immediately, asking her to call him when she was done shopping, and he woulde pick her up. There were many famous malls in the city center. The two of them had only been shopping for an hour, and their hands were already full. Most of the stuff was Phoebe''s, and Ines had to remind her, "Phoebe, I''m bing your freebor." Ines spread out the shopping bags in front of Phoebe. Phoebe raised her eyebrows and sighed, "I only wish I had a boyfriend at times like this. Oh, why didn''t I think of this? Let''s get your husband toe out at lunchtime, and I can take advantage of his freebor, too." The term husband made Ines blush and she said, "He''s at work, he doesn''t have that much time." "Look at you, just got married and already thinking about your man. So, how far have you two progressed? How''s married life?" Phoebe nudged her with her shoulder, grinning mischievously. Caught off guard by the question in the middle of the busy street, Ines was a little annoyed. She lowered her voice, "Let''s talk about this stuff at home." In the end, Phoebe dragged Ines into a lingerie store. She put the shopping bags on the counter and pushed Ines in front of it. Turning to the salesperson, she said, "My best friend just got married. Can you help her pick out some sexy lingerie that will catch a man''s attention? You know, the kind that makes them nosebleed at first sight." Chapter 28 Chapter 28 If it weren''t for Phoebe tightly grabbing her shoulder, Ines would''ve bolted. That girl really had no filter. The saleswoman seemed experienced. Seeing Ines looking a bit awkward, she exined with a smile, "Don''t be embarrassed, ma''am. Newlyweds need some spice too, and many people buy sexy lingerie as a wedding gift." As she spoke, she sized up Ines'' figure, her gaze asionally lingering on her chest. Ines couldn''t stand the scrutiny and shot Phoebe an angry re as she grinned from ear to ear. "Your shape is great, and as for the fabric, I personally rmend these few." The saleswoman rmended three options, and Ines, looking at the skimpy materials, picked one at random. As soon as Phoebe paid, Ines grabbed her, eager to leave the store with the lingerie. "Izzy, I love seeing you grit your teeth but powerless against me," Phoebeughed loudly. "Bad friend," Ines grumbled. "Targeting you." Phoebe said. Phoebe had to leave halfway through, and Ines noticed it was already past five. Just as she was about to call a taxi, Ethan called and told her to wait at a coffee shop, and he''d pick her up shortly. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Ines didn''t have to wait long for Ethan to arrive, driving a Volkswagen this time. Sheughed at her absurd thoughts from before. Ethan took the bag from her hand like a gentleman. Without thinking much, she handed it to him. Once in the car, Ethan asked, "Howe you shopped for so long and only bought this little thing? It''s so light." And with that, he opened the bag. It was toote for Ines to react. She watched as Ethan''s face changed colors, and his gaze turned a bit strange, as if there was a hidden me. Ines'' face turned red, and she mentally cursed Phoebe countless times, "Don''t get the wrong idea. My friend bought it, not me." Ethan suddenly leaned closer, his hand gently caressing her face, a slight smile on his lips. "But you epted it, didn''t you? Is it a subtle way to tell me that we can actually get closer?" Ethan asked. Ines awkwardly turned her head away, not knowing how to respond. Just as she was about to speak, his lips covered hers. Her mind went nk, forgetting to resist or even react, just staring wide-eyed at his handsome face that suddenly appeared so close. He seemed quite satisfied with her response. Afterward, he held her waist and deepened the kiss. Ines suddenly came to her senses and tried to refuse. "Mmm, no." She mumbled. However, her refusal only gave him more opportunity, boldly invading her mouth and stealing her breath without any hesitation. Kissing was foreign to Ines, especially such a deep kiss. Soon, she felt dizzy and closed her eyes involuntarily, her hands that wanted to struggle gradually dropping. Ethan only intended to try a light kiss, but she seemed to have a magical effect on him, making him desire more. But at this moment, the untimely sound of a phone ringing startled Ines, who abruptly opened her eyes and pushed Ethan away. Ethan looked at the caller ID on his phone screen, filled with frustration, and reluctantly answered the call. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Ines lowered her head, she couldn''t believe that she''d just kissed Ethan in the car, and even more unbelievable was that she actually enjoyed it. If the phone hadn''t rung, things might have gotten out of hand. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. With her face burning up, Ines rolled down the car window. "Ethan, do you think you''re all grown up now? Getting married without even giving me a heads up? I''m still alive, you know. Don''t you care about me anymore? Is this how I raised you? When you get back, you''re running 100ps around the field! I¡¯ll write my name backwards if I can¡¯t deal with you!" The voice on the phone was full of authority and sounded a bit scary. Ines'' embarrassment was instantly gone, and she looked at Ethan with a worried expression. Ethan rubbed her long hair and signaled with his eyes that everything was fine. "Don''t pretend, I don''t believe you didn''t know I got married. Ending things quickly is what you taught me since I was a kid," Ethan said with a slight smile. Although his words were a bit rude, his smiling face was always hard to resist. Ines thought that his smile was a big part of the reason she agreed to marry him in the first ce. The person on the phone hesitated before scolding again, "You naughty grandson! I had to know about my own grandson''s wedding from others! How is that eptable? You never used what I taught you about ending things quickly, but you had to use it now." "I only use it when it''s appropriate." Ethan said. "Stop changing the subject! You came back to A City without telling me. Where''s your wife? Why didn''t you bring her home? Are you trying to hide her?" The person asked. "I just got back," Ethan replied helplessly. "Just got back? Don''t think I don''t know you arrived yesterday. I called you so many times this morning and you didn''t answer a single one!" Phillip was very angry on the phone. "I was in a meeting." Ethan said. "Is the Meyer family so poor now that you have to work so hard you don''t even have time to answer a call? Kid, I watched you grow up, I know what you''re up to as soon as you raise your tail. Don''t make excuses. You must bring your wife home for dinner tonight. If you''rete by even a minute, I''ll have your head." Phillip said. "Grandpa, careful with your image. Please not to scare her with your loud voice." Ethan said. There was a pause on the phone, and then Phillip said unhappily, "Don''t try to fool me with that. It''s not even off-work time yet. How can she be with you?" Ethan touched his nose. Why no one believed him when he spoke? He looked helplessly at Ines beside him, "Izzy, say hello to Grandpa." "Hello, Grandpa. I''m Ines. I''m really sorry. I should have taken the initiative to meet you." Ines was a little nervous inside, but tried to make herself rx. Their marriage hadn''t been discussed with the family beforehand, so it was understandable that he was upset. Hearing her soft voice, Phillip paused for a moment before realizing Ethan had tricked him. His tone immediately became gentle, "Izzy, I''ll call you that for now. I''m not trying to me you, I''ve just been looking forward to Ethan settling down for years now and I''m a bit impatient. You two just arrived yesterday, so it''s understandable that you need to get some rest first." Chapter 30 Chapter 30 If it weren''t for her being by Ethan''s side just now, she really wouldn''t have been able to imagine that they were the same person. Ines looked up at Ethan, only to see him looking helpless, and she couldn''t help but find it amusing. "Grandpa, I''m not tired." Ines said. "That''s good. Tonight,e home and have dinner with Ethan. I''ll personally cook something delicious for you. Let me know what you like and dislike." Phillip said. Hearing that the old man would cook for her, Ines was ttered, "You don''t have to go through so much trouble, anything will do. I''m not picky." "No, that won''t do. It''s your first time visiting, we must make it special." Phillip said. Ethan watched as his new wife was easily taken in by his grandfather, shaking his head helplessly. Ines and Phillip chatted for a few minutes before hanging up. After the call, her face immediately crinkled into a worried expression, "What should we do, Ethan? Grandpa wants us to go home for dinner?" Ethan smiled, seeing that she was quite clever and knew that his grandfather was trying to win her over, "Well, let''s go. You already agreed." This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. "It''s all your fault! I didn''t want to agree, but I couldn''t refuse such a request from an elder. Oh well, we have to visit eventually, so let it be today." If it weren''t for him making her greet them, she wouldn''t be in such an awkward position. Ethan looked at her "bravely sacrificing" expression and found it quite amusing. He pinched her cheek and said, "Don''t worry, my family is easy to get along with. They won''t give you a hard time." Ines pouted, thinking about what his grandfather had said on the phone, and looked at Ethan unhappily. "Why didn''t you tell your grandfather about our marriage yourself?" She had honestly told her family, but he hadn''t even mentioned it. Ethan shrugged. "Whether I say it or not, they''ll find out eventually." "Indeed, you''re the rascal your grandpa mentioned. Can you really say the oue would be the same if you told them yourself?" Ines said. "No one''s in charge of me, so I''ve be a bit of a rascal. From now on, you''ll be in charge, and I''ll do whatever you say." Ethan said. Ines chewed him out for being smooth-talking. Actually, Ethan knew he wasn''t really a fun-loving person. People around him always saw him as cold and aloof. However, when he looked at her, he couldn''t help but want to tease her and found her embarrassed expressions amusing. It had been years since hest felt this way, so long that he couldn''t remember. "What does your grandpa like? And what about your parents?" Ines waspletely focused on the issue of meeting the elders, not noticing Ethan''s unusually good mood. Ethan smiled at Ines, "Grandpa likes to collect antiques, but the antique shops are probably closed now. As for my parents, they don''t have any particr hobbies, so you can just pick something casual. However, you may need to buy an extra gift, as other rtives might be present at tonight''s event." Ethan said. Chapter 31 Chapter 31 The two of them went shopping at a nearby mall. Ines picked out a massage chair for Ethan''s grandpa, bought a tie for his dad, and cufflinks for his uncle. For thedies, she got different patterned silk scarves and a set of skincare products. When it was time to pay, Ines insisted on using her own card. Ethan knew how stubborn she was, so he didn''t argue with her. The car drove towards the suburbs. The closer they got to their destination, the more nervous Ines felt. Ethan noticed her anxiety and said, "You don''t need to be so nervous." "I''m not nervous," Ines stubbornly denied. Ethan just smiled and didn''t say anything more. "Ethan, why don''t you tell me what your family does for a living?" Ines thought it was time to learn more about his family. Know herself and know her enemy, and she would never be defeated. "My grandpa is a retired militarymander, my dad is a military officer. My mom is the chairwoman of apany, but she doesn''t really manage it anymore, only getting involved in big decisions. My uncle is the mayor of A City. My aunt is a painter and runs her own art gallery, and my cousin is a sophomore in college." Ethan said. Ethan''s words were concise, but the amount of information contained was overwhelming for Ines. She looked at Ethan in disbelief. Although she wasn''t familiar with military matters, she understood the concepts of militarymanders and officers, not to mention a mayor and a painter. His family was undoubtedly prominent, far from an ordinary family. Something shed through Ines'' mind, and she held her breath as she asked Ethan, "What''s the name of yourpany?" "The Meyer Group," Ethan replied, seemingly not realizing how shocking the name was to Ines. Ines felt as if her brain had short-circuited and couldn''t help but raise her voice, "Ethan, do you get a sense of aplishment from lying to me?" She felt like a fool forying everything out in front of him, while he hid even the most basic information about his family. The Meyer Group was a top-tierpany and a sessful multinational corporation, with branches all over the country. And this guy had initially told her that he was running a smallpany. If a company like that was considered small, then the otherpanies in A City wouldn''t need to exist. Ethan looked at her angry face, feeling surprised. Then heughed and said, "I never intended to deceive you. In my eyes, it''s just a smallpany. There are many more like it around the world." Most women would be secretly celebrating upon hearing about his family background, not getting angry. For some reason, he felt relieved. He was d that he hadn''t told her the truth back then, or else he wouldn''t have found such a wife who didn''t care about money. Ines was speechless. "But do you have to exaggerate it so much?" Ines asked. He actually called it a smallpany. If he had said it was a decentpany, she wouldn''t have felt so ufortable. Ethan looked at Ines innocently, "If I said the scale of mypany was okay, I was afraid you would think I was exaggerating. It''s better not to mention it in the first ce." Ines didn''t miss the amusement in his eyes, and she felt both annoyed and amused, cursing, "Sly guy." "Since you''ve already chosen me, there''s no turning back now." Ethan said. Ines didn''t respond, continuing to digest the shocking news. Suddenly, she remembered something and said, "You should have reminded me when I was buying gifts earlier." With such a family background, the gifts she bought were too modest and not presentable at all. Ethan knew what she was thinking and reached out a hand to pinch her face, "Don''t put too much pressure on yourself. My family has been desperately looking forward to me getting married. They knew I had this n and told me to seize the opportunity and marry someone I found suitable right away. They wouldn''t care about your gifts. To them, you''re already the biggest gift, and nothing else canpare to you." His family members weren''t superficial people, and they mainly valued a person''s character, not the so-called matching of social status. Ines suddenly understood and couldn''t help butugh. "But you deserve it," Ines continued. "Happy now?" Ethan caressed her face. Ines immediately put on a serious face. The stories she had heard about people being forced into matchmaking were nothingpared to this. How troublesome could he be, making his family come up with such a n? Ethan touched his nose and pretended to ponder, "Actually, it''s not that bad. At least I got a wife in one shot." "Are you implying that I was too easy to hook?" Ines narrowed her eyes. Ethan raised an eyebrow, "Of course not. My wife has great taste and incredible luck. Otherwise, where would you find someone as tall, rich, and handsome as me?" "Narcissist," Ines said angrily, then started worrying about her gifts again, "But I feel like the gifts I picked aren''t quite suitable. Your dad is a military man, and I got him a tie." "It''s okay. Dad asionally goes to business events with Mom, so he''ll be able to use it." Ethan said. As they chatted along the way, Ines found herself less nervous. Since it was winter, it was already dark by the time they arrived at their destination. There was a guard at the gate who smiled and let them in without hesitation. "Ethan, Phillip has alreadye out to check several times and told me to let you in directly." The guard said.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 32 Chapter 32 After getting off the car, Ethan carried the gifts they bought today with one hand and held Ines'' hand with the other as they walked towards the house. The long corridor was lined with all kinds of flowers and nts, emitting a faint fragrance that was refreshing. The main house was at the front. There seemed to be an old man standing at the door, very eye-catching. He was stretching his neck to look in their direction. Before they even got close, they heard him say loudly, "This kid finally brought his wife home." At the same time, Ines saw a few more people at the door, and their gazes instantly fell on her. Just as Ethan said, the family was really looking forward to him getting married, or else the elders wouldn''te out to wee the new bride personally. Ethan tightened his hand on her waist and whispered in her ear, "It''s okay, don''t be nervous." As they approached, Ines greeted the old man, "Hello, Grandpa." This "Grandpa" made Phillip''s heart blossom with joy. He had been looking forward to this day for many years, and today it finally came. He couldn''t help but smile and praise, "My granddaughter-in- law is so well-behaved, much more than Ethan." As he spoke, Phillip kept staring at her. Ines felt a little shy under his gaze and could only smile. The more Phillip looked at her, the more satisfied he became, nodding non-stop. Without caring that they hadn''t entered the house yet, he pulled out a gift from his bag and said, "Here, this is a little something from Grandpa." Ines hesitated and looked at Ethan. Ethan nodded at her, "This is Grandpa''s sincerity, just ept it." Ines smiled and took the gift from Phillip''s hand. Sheughed and said, "Thank you, Grandpa. I also bought a massage chair for you. When you have time, you can use it to rx. The massage chair is a bit big, so I left it in the car. I''ll have Ethan bring it inter." Erica had been observing Ines secretly. Her manners were also quite graceful, so her initial impression of Ines was perfect, "You shouldn''t have brought any gifts. Just hurry inside, it''s really cold out here." Phillip pped his forehead, "What a scatterbrain I am. Listen to your mom, hurry in." As soon as Ines entered, Phillip immediately ordered someone to bring a hand warmer. It was obviously prepared for her in advance, and Ines felt warm inside. "This is Mom," Ethan introduced. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. "Hello," Ines said with a blushing face. Erica smiled and pulled Ines'' hand. Ines smiled and handed over the scarf and cosmetics she had bought. Seeing that Ines was unfazed by the situation, Erica became even more satisfied. Inside the house, there were two middle-aged men. One looked very dignified, somewhat resembling Ethan, but with a different temperament, probably Ethan''s father. The other seemed very gentle, with a woman standing beside him who was well-maintained and had an extraordinary aura. Ines roughly guessed their identities. Ethan introduced each family member one by one. Having experienced it before, Ines directly said thank you and then distributed the gifts she had bought for everyone, "I didn''t know what to buy, so I just picked some small things based on my preferences. I don''t know if everyone will like them." "Of course we like receiving gifts," Ashley chuckled. "You little girl, always thinking about gifts," Lauren Nelson yfully tapped her daughter''s forehead. "Hello, Ines, you can just call me Ashley," Ashley winked at Ines. "Hi, Ashley." Ines said. Ashley yfully stuck out her tongue and tiptoed to whisper in Ethan''s ear, "Bro, you''ve got good taste." Ethan looked at Ashley indulgently, "Don''t go too far." Ines just happened to hear this and her ears turned red. She thought it would be awkward, but everyone had a smile on their faces. Feeling their warmth, Ines gradually rxed. Ethan noticed her rxation and gently stroked her palm. Ines responded with a smile. Seeing the interaction between the two, Erica''s heart rxed a little, and she pretended to be angry while looking at their sped hands, "Alright, Ethan, since you''re home, stop holding your wife''s hand all the time. Don''t let everyone feel constrained. We''re all family here, and we won''t eat her up. Let your wife chat with us while you go do your stuff." With that, she enthusiastically pulled Ines'' hand, and Ethan had no choice but to let go. Ashley also pushed Ethan and patted her chest, "Don''t worry, bro, I''ll take good care of her and won''t let her be bullied." "You better remember what you said. If she''s unhappy, I won''t let you off the hook." Ethan said. "I suddenly feel like my position in the family is threatened. I have to treat Ines well," she said, then turned to Ines with a pitiful face, "Ines, you have to back me up. He is threatening me." Hearing this, Ines''s face turned red. She saw Ethan looking at her and nodded to let him know it was okay for him to go and do other things. Erica gently rubbed Ines''s hand to warm her up, and Ines felt a warm feeling inside, "Thank you." "What are you thanking me for? We''re family. Ethan doesn''t know how to take care of people. Did he not turn on the heat in the car? How did he let you get so cold?" She red at Ethan, who was not far away. "He did turn it on, I''m just more susceptible to the cold," Ines exined quietly. "Such newlyweds, so eager to defend that kid," Erica smiled ambiguously. "From now on, my cousin also has a wife to care about. If you casually talk about him, Ines might not be happy." Ashley said. Ericaughed, "You little rascal, always talking about me. Be careful. Your cousin will get mad if you talk like that about Ines." "I''m so scared," Ashley made a frightened expression. "Ashley," Ines pleaded a little. "Alright, alright, we won''t talk about that. Let''s sit down and chat." The three women chatted about gossip and other topics. They all avoided the subject of Ines'' background, which saved her some embarrassment. There were many things she didn''t know how to exin. After chatting for a while, they heard Phillip''s voice, "Time for dinner." Chapter 33 Chapter 33 The atmosphere at dinner was super chill and fun, with a bunch of different dishes, including some of Phillip''s specialties. Ines took a bite and found the taste to be really amazing. "How is it? How''s the taste?" Phillip looked at Ines expectantly. Ines nodded and sincerely praised, "Yummy." She had already eaten a lot of stuff while shopping with Phoebe today. At this moment, she looked helplessly at the ever-growing pile of dishes on her te. But she couldn''t refuse, so she could only eat in small bites. Suddenly, she noticed that the te in front of her had disappeared. Ines looked up to see Ethan transferring her food to his own te. He said, "Izzy had ate lunch, so she''s not hungry yet." The atmosphere at the table became a bit awkward because of his actions. Erica looked at her son in shock, then squeezed Ines''s hand affectionately, "You silly girl, if you can''t eat, just tell me. No need to be so restrained at home." Ethan had a cleanliness obsession, which was no secret in the Meyer family. Since everyone had some drinks that night, they had to stay over. Ethan was called to the study by Phillip, while Ines stayed in Ethan''s bedroom. The decoration style of the bedroom was the same as the house in the city center, simple and somewhat cold. There were many books on the shelves, mainly about finance and ounting, as well as military books, biographies of famous people, and best-selling fashion magazines, covering a wide range of topics. Ines casually picked up a biography, which was about a CEO of KPMG who wrote the book during thest three months of his life while battling cancer. She had read this book many times, so she flipped through it quickly. When she reached the middle, a delicate line of handwriting caught her attention.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org ¡°When you turn around and our eyes meet, I can sense the tenderness in your eyes.¡± No doubt, it was written by a woman. Ines couldn''t describe the feeling in her heart. But considering that the man was already 32 years old, it wasn''t strange that he had been with other women before. With this thought in mind, Ines quickly let go of the issue and continued reading. When Ethan came in, Ines waspletely absorbed in the book. Under the orange tablemp, her long hair was casually spread around her shoulders, and the strands of hair on her forehead were tucked behind her ears. Ethan couldn''t help but hug her, resting his chin on her shoulder. "What are you reading? You look so serious." Ethan said. Ines was a bit startled, still not quite used to this level of intimacy. She shifted in his arms and said somewhat unhappily, "Can''t you make some noise when you walk? You scared me." Ethan nced at the book in her hand and casually said, "I got this many years ago from someone else, just flipped through it a few times, didn''t really read it." "You haven''t read it?" Ines looked at him in surprise, tilting her head. She didn''t realize how close they were at the moment, and all she could think about was whether he knew about the line of text in the book. Ethan shook his head, smiling as he took the book from her hand and put it aside, "Not really interested. Right now, I''m only interested in one thing." "What?" Ines looked at him with innocent eyes. "Just like this. Let''s continue what we were doing this afternoon." Ethan didn''t give Ines time to react, and kissed her directly. Ines stared at the man in front of her with wide eyes, thinking of the scene they shared in the car earlier that day, her face turned red again. This shy appearance was undoubtedly a huge temptation for men. Unlike the passionate kiss they shared in the car earlier that day, this kiss was gentle, barely touching her lips. Ines could clearly feel his eyshes brushing against her eyes, tickling her. She could also feel his grip on her waist tightening. Ines felt as if she was drunk, all her senses disappeared, and she could only helplessly lean into his embrace, epting his kiss. Not feeling any resistance from her, Ethan became even happier. He pulled her hand around his neck, gradually deepening the kiss. Just as the two were lost in the moment, the bedroom door was pushed open. The sound from the doorway startled them, and Erica stood at the door holding a cup, her gaze a bit knowing. Ines''s face turned red instantly, feeling extremely shy. Ethan was a bit annoyed, pressing Ines''s face into his chest. He said helplessly to Erica, "Mom, why didn''t you knock beforeing in?" Thinking about it, he was really unlucky today, being interrupted twice. Erica felt a bit embarrassed for disturbing her son and daughter-inw, andughed awkwardly, "Next time I''ll be more careful, and try not to bother you guys. You two carry on, ande have some watermelon juiceter." Although embarrassed, Ines didn''t forget her basic manners. She mustered up the courage to lift her head from Ethan''s embrace, blushing and whispering, "Thank you. For your kindness." "It¡¯s fine. I like to do these little things." Erica said. Erica was pleased to see her daughter-inw and son getting along well. After speaking, she turned to leave, then suddenly said, "If you don''t have time toe downter, it''s fine." Ines''s forced smile almost broke, and she understood the meaning behind Erica''s words, thinking that they were up to something naughty. As soon as Erica''s figure disappeared, Ines red at the culprit and angrily pounded his chest a few times, "It''s all your fault, now I''ve embarrassed myself big time. Why didn''t you lock the door?" She was already caught off guard by meeting his family today. Now that her mother-inw had seen such a scene, it was just too embarrassing. Ethan held her fist in his hand, gently kissing it as an apology, "It''s all because I couldn''t resist the urge. It''s my fault. Next time when we do something like this, I''ll remember to lock the door and not let anyone disturb us. If necessary, I''ll remind everyone not toe upstairs." What did he mean by "next time" and "reminding everyone not to disturb"? What was he thinking? Ines choked up and hit him again, "You still dare to say it." "Alright, I won''t say anything, I''ll shut my mouth." Ethan''s face turned serious as he closed his mouth. Ines looked at his innocent expression, and for a moment, she didn''t know whether to be angry or amused. This man looked nothing like the noble and restrained man she had first met. No, he had never been restrained. What kind of restrained person would propose marriage right away? Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Trenton was reading a newspaper in the living room. He saw his wifeing downstairs with an uncontroble smile on her face. He asked, puzzled, "What''s making you so happy?" Erica handed Trenton some watermelon juice, "Here, our daughter-inw and son are too busy to drink it, so consider yourself lucky." Trenton frowned, clearly not too pleased, "What are they so busy with thiste? They don''t even have time to drink juice." Erica red at Trenton, "Dummy. You''re 50 years old and still so clueless. Of course, newlyweds are busy together." Seeing Trenton still looking confused, Erica exined the situation again. Trenton found it somewhat amusing, "What''s the big deal? Look how happy you are." Erica''s eyes reddened slightly, "You don''t understand. I''m finally at ease now. That kid has had such a tough time these past few years, and I''ve been suffering along with him as his mother. I''ve been waiting for him to finally open up and be willing to find someone to date. But then we heard about his shotgun wedding to a woman he only met once, and my heart was unsettled. I was afraid he just picked someone randomly to appease us, which wasn''t our intention. But now I see them loving each other, and it doesn''t seem like what I imagined. I can finally at ease." "You worry too much. Ethan knows what he''s doing. You and dad are just too controlling." Trenton said. Erica snapped, "Don''t give me that. I don''t believe you haven''t been anxious these past few years." Trenton rubbed his chin and stopped talking. "Drink the watermelon juice." Erica said. Trenton frowned but obediently drank it. What could he do when his wife liked to fuss over such things? "But I still feel like I''ve seen Izzy somewhere before. I just can''t remember where." Erica said. "Stop thinking too much. Anyway, Ethan is married now. If he doesn''t want us to investigate Izzy, we''ll respect his wishes." Trenton said. The next day, Ines was awakened by the rm clock. Ethan was already gone. Ines finished washing up and went downstairs, only to find Erica eating breakfast alone. She smiled and waved when she saw Ines. Feeling a bit embarrassed about the previous night, Ines asked, "Where are Grandpa and Trenton?" Erica was growing more and more fond of Ines and replied with a smile, "They''ve gone out for morning exercises." Ines suddenly realized she had overslept, "I''m sorry, Erica. I slept in." "Don''t worry, we don''t have that many rules in our house. Just sleep until you wake up naturally. You don''t need topare yourself to those men. They have very regr routines. They get up at six, rain or shine. Morning exercise is an indispensable part of their lives, with the same rhythm every day, no fun at all." Erica said. Ines felt very rxed seeing such an easy-going mother-inw, "Is Ethan also a soldier?" A trace of sadness shed in Erica''s eyes as she replied, "He''s not a soldier. But his grandfather and father have always demanded him to meet military standards." Just then, Ashley came downstairs yawning and greeted them sleepily. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. "Good morning, Ashley," Ines smiled. Erica looked at Ashley affectionately, "Why didn''t you sleep in more?" Ashley replied, "I didn''t want to get up early either, but I have ss this morning, and my dad ordered me not to skip. He''s going to personally drop me off at schoolter." "Your dad just wants what''s best for you. Skipping ss all the time doesn''t look good." Erica also frowned when talking about Ashley''s frequent skipping, as everyone had the same attitude about it. "I know. Some college sses are just so boring." Ashleyined. Ines smiled at Ashley''s aggrieved look. She found that this family was nothing like she had imagined, and it was apparent that the members were very close. "Izzy, did you and Ethan know each other before?" Erica knew her son very well. He wouldn''t marry someone he had only met once. Ines hesitated for a moment, then shook her head, "No." ording to Phoebe, her past self was just unrequited love, and Ethan didn''t know her. There was no interaction between her and Ethan. "Wow, how did you conquer my cousin then? He''s like a woman-repellent. Ever since that woman..." Ashley said. "Hmm..." Hearing Erica''s cough, Ashley quickly changed the subject, "My cousin is emotionally immune. All these years, people have introduced him to countless women, but he never even nced at them. Everyone was afraid of his dark face. If he didn''t find a woman soon, I would''ve thought he had problems with a certain organ." Ines could vaguely guess. Since everyone didn''t want her to know, she didn''t pursue the matter. As for Ashley''s question, Ines didn''t know how to answer either. She had asked Ethan, and his answer was that she was suitable. This answer couldn''t even convince her. At the time, her image wasn''t good, but rather a bit harsh. She didn''t know why he found her suitable, and she didn''t know why she agreed to his marriage proposal out of the blue. In short, their marriage could only be described as starting very chaotically. "It was just a normal blind date, no different from anyone else." Ines said. "Really? There must have been something that happened, right? Can you tell me some details? That way, I can trick boys in the future too." Ashley obviously didn''t give up. Erica also looked at her curiously. Ines blushed but still recounted the situation in detail. Ashley burst intoughter, pping the table, "So my cousin pretended to be poor to win you over? Saying he ran a smallpany and was barely making ends meet. That''s quite the lie, not afraid someone would feel depressed hearing it." Ines nodded in agreement. If she had known Ethan''s identity at the time, she would never have messed with someone like him. Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Ashley kept asking questions non-stop. Seeing Ines struggling to keep up, Erica kindly interrupted, "You sure have a ton of questions! Love is all about fate, girl. You''ll understand when you meet the right person." Ashley yfully stuck her tongue out and changed the subject, "Just a heads-up, my cousin may seem all nice and friendly on the surface, but he''s actually quite sly. Those things he said don''t mean anything. And have you noticed he drives a pretty ordinary car?" Ines thought for a moment, then nodded, "Yeah, he always took taxis when he was in B City." This was something Ines couldn''t understand. How could the owner of a business empire drive such a common car? It was baffling. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. "You probably don''t know this, but my cousin often puts regr license tes on his fancy cars." Ashley said. Ines smiled and said, "Really?¡± No wonder his car always looked so fancy to her. He''s really thought of everything, huh? "That''s just how sneaky he is. That''s his way of dealing with the paparazzi. It''s super effective. He''s rarely been caught by them over the years. Most people only know of the Meyer Group, but very few have seen the real face of its president." Ashley said. Footsteps came from the entrance as Ethan walked in wearing a gray tracksuit, the soft sunlight casting on his handsome face, making him look years younger. He walked straight up to Ines, put his hands on her shoulders and asked, "What were you guys chatting about? Seemed like a fun convo." Being so openly embraced by him in front of the family, Ines felt a little ufortable. Before she could say anything, Ashley chimed in, "We were talking about how Ethan got married." Ethan raised an eyebrow at Ines, probably guessing what they had been chatting about. Ines couldn''t take his gaze. She didn''t look at him, only heard him casually say, "Whatever method I used, the result is I got a wife. I''m a businessman, I only care about the oue, not the process." "Shady businessman," Ines muttered softly. Her voice was quiet, but everyone could still hear it. They allughed. Before long, everyone else entered the room, looking refreshed and energetic. Phillip enthusiastically began asking about the couple''s wedding ns, "Izzy, what kind of wedding do you like? Your mom and I have some free timetely, we can start nning for you guys. I n to invite a lot of guests, and have my oldrades join us to show off my granddaughter-inw. So they''ll stop teasing me for not having one. I have to let them know that my grandson is a hundred times better than theirs." Ethan seemed to know what Ines was thinking and told Phillip, "Grandpa, Izzy and I don''t n on having a wedding for now." Phillip frowned, showing signs of anger, but he held back and asked them seriously, "What''s going on? Is it your idea or Izzy''s?" "It''s a decision we made together. Izzy just arrived in A City and is still getting used to life here. We want to wait a while." Ethan said. "Izzy, do you agree?" Phillip looked at Ines. Ines nodded, knowing that Phillip had been waiting for Ethan to get married for a long time. She didn''t want to hurt his feelings. She exined honestly, "Grandpa, Ethan and I getting married was indeed sudden. We both need time to adapt to the changes in our roles and identities. The wedding is an important ceremony in life. I think it might be more meaningful if we wait until our rtionship gets deepen." "Come on, Dad. Let''s respect their thoughts. They already have the marriage certificate, so there¡¯s no rush for a ceremony." Erica chimed in. As someone who had been there, she knew how important a wedding was for a girl. Their current rtionship was already beyond her expectations. She believed that day wouldn''t be too far off. Phillip pondered for a moment and finally agreed, "Alright, let''s do it your way for now. Izzy, remember, marrying Ethan makes you part of our family. You''ll get everything you deserve." Ines knew what Phillip meant. He didn''t want her to feel hurt. She was touched and said, "Thank you, Grandpa." Phillip replied, "If you really want to thank me, give me a great-grandchild to y with soon. My friends keep showing off their great-grandchildren, and I''m fed up with it." Ericaughed, "Dad, you don''t have to worry about that. It''ll happen sooner orter." Mentioning having a baby naturally reminded Ines of the previous night. She knew Erica must have misunderstood, but there was no way she could exin it. She couldn''t tell them that she and Ethan hadn''t done anything yet, right? Ines shyly said, "These things can''t be rushed." Phillipughed heartily, "Well, we should keep reminding them. With enough reminders, it''ll happen eventually." "I''ll do my best." Ethan said with a straight face, but his eyes never left Ines. Ines was annoyed and pinched his waist, giving him a re. This man was not only unhelpful, but also causing trouble. "Oh, by the way, you married such a great girl. You should arrange a meeting between both families soon." Phillip said. Ethan nodded and said, "Zander and Rita are in B City. They''re both still working teachers and don''t have much free time. But I''ll personally pick them up during their time-off." Trenton chimed in, "Married life is different from before, you''ll need to consider a lot more things." In Ines'' impression, Trenton was a man of few words, mostly quiet and reserved. Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Ines practically blushed through breakfast. She was in a great mood on her way back, with a smile on her face the whole time. Ethan, seeing her happy, asked, "Do you believe me now?" Ines nodded, "Erica seems really gentle." In her mind, people like the chairman were high and mighty, giving off an untouchable vibe. Ethan chuckled and shook his head, thinking that she hadn''t seen Erica in action. When she was younger, she was known as the Iron Lady in her circle. When she was in thepany, everyone was on their toes. "Mom''s just easier to get along with at home. She''s not what you think at work. But since you passed her test, she''s all in for you." Ines looked at Ethan, confused about when her mother-inw tested her. She hadn''t noticed anything. Ethan ruffled her hair, "Your every move is watched by mom.¡± Inesughed, then suddenly thought about what Ethan had said and felt the check be heavy, "How did your mom test me? Was she checking if I''d spend money recklessly?" Ethan shook his head and gave her a hint, "Mom gave you the gift after grandpa. Compared to grandpa''s, hers was the lightest, but your expression didn''t change." Ines was shocked. With Ethan''s reminder, she understood his mom''s intention. She was testing whether Ines was greedy. If she''d shown dissatisfaction, things might''ve turned out differently. "Your mom is really..." She couldn''t find the right word to describe her. Erica¡¯s actions were so secretive and hard to guard against. It was a simple method, but it was indeed the best way to test someone''s greed. "What should I do in the future?" Ines''s smile disappeared. "I told you this not to burden you, but to help you understand mom better. Don''t worry, she''ll only test you once. Since you passed, you''re part of the family. She''ll treat you as her own and won''t test you again. Just be yourself around her, no need to hide your true self. People like her trust their own judgment, and only feel secure after personally verifying things," Ethan exined. Ines nodded and felt relieved. She looked at the money andughed, "Who would''ve thought that one visit home with you would make me a millionaire? Not bad.¡± Ethanughed at her greedy expression. He knew she wasn''t really like this, otherwise, he wouldn''t have hidden his family background. She wouldn''t have been so calm facing his mom''s test. He handed her his bank card, "Add this, and you''ll definitely get a cramp. Take my sry card. I''ve changed the password to your birthday." Ines never thought this man would so willingly hand over his sry card. After all, he wasn''t an ordinary person but the CEO of a multinational corporation. She didn''t like owing anyone favors or money, it didn''t feel right. And especially not for a couple with no emotional foundation. Before she could refuse, he''d already stuffed the card in her hand. "Ethan." Ines wasn''t used to his domineering style. "This isn''t for you, it''s for both of our living expenses. We''re married now, and you''re thedy of the house. If we need to buy things for our house, we can''t expect you to use your own money." Ethan said. With Ethan''s words, Ines couldn''t refuse. She couldn''t help but ask, "How much is the sry of a CEO?" "Don''t worry, you''ll be satisfied," Ethan said. She looked at him seriously, poked his shoulder and said, "This should be a big number. Aren''t you afraid I''ll take the money and run away?" Ethan was very pleased with her little action. Heughed happily, "For a guy like me, if I can''t even control my own woman, I deserve to lose everything." Hearing him say that, Ines was more touched than anything. She felt lucky to have a man''s complete trust. She smiled softly and whispered, "You''re always so arrogant. But I must''ve had good luck when leaving the house today." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Ethanughed, "It''s not that you had good luck when leaving the house, it''s that you had good luck when marrying me." Chapter 37 Chapter 37 The car drove all the way to the city center, and Ines was led by Ethan into a shop. Once inside, she realized it was a jewelry store. The diamonds in the disy case sparkled with dazzling light. She had a vague idea of what was happening and looked at Ethan. Ethan looked at Ines seriously and said, "Izzy, our marriage may have been a bit rushed, but we can''t miss out on anything important." He initially wanted to wait until the wedding to consider it. But his father''s words this morning reminded him. The wedding could be postponed, but a diamond ring was a must. She had given up everything she had worked for over the years toe to A City with him, and he couldn''t let her down. Ines said, "Ethan, I don''t care about these things." All she wanted was love. She didn''t care about money. Ethan''s fingers gently pressed on her lips and whispered, "Izzy, don''t refuse." Ines felt a bit emotional and followed him into the store. The salespeople in the jewelry store were all very astute. When they saw a young couple walk in, both looking quite impressive, they immediately weed them, "Wee to our store. What would you like to purchase?" "Wedding rings. Bring out yourtest designs," Ethan said. "Please follow me this way." The salesdy rmended several styles, all of which looked quite valuable. Ethan looked at Ines and asked, "Which one do you like?" The dazzling diamonds shined brightly, each one cut with exquisite uniqueness. The diamonds were so big that Ines felt a bit overwhelmed. To her, they were all too ostentatious. If she wore such a ring to work, who knew what kind ofmotion it would cause. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. "Don''t like these styles?" Ethan asked. Ines smiled and said, "I feel like they''re too shy, not for me." The salesperson caught on quickly and led them to another area, pointing to a pair of diamond rings in the disy case and introducing them earnestly, "These just arrived by air from our headquarters this morning. If madam doesn''t like the previous styles, you can consider this one. It''s simple, elegant, and very well-made, with high-quality diamonds." This was indeed much better than the previous ones. It was delicate and small, with a standard design that wasn''tplicated at all. She nced at the price and was a bit shocked. The price was not cheaper than the previous styles. Ethan said, "Let her try it." The salesdy put on gloves, carefully took out the diamond ring, and was about to let Ines try it on when Ethan suddenly interrupted, "I''ll do it." "Alright." Ethan put on the special gloves, held her fingers reverently, and slowly pushed the diamond ring onto her finger. The ring fit perfectly and didn''t need any adjustments. "It''s amazing; it fits so well. It seems like you two have a strong connection with this ring. Madam, why don''t you put one on your husband as well?" The salesdy said and ced the male ring from the box in front of Ines. Ines was a bit shy, but she followed Ethan''s earlier actions and carefully put the ring on his finger, which also fit perfectly. Their eyes met, and both couldn''t help but smile slightly. Seeing that both were satisfied, the salesdy''s smile grew even brighter and continued, "There''s also a matching set of jewelry. Would you like to take a look?" Ethan nodded, "Bring them all out." The salesdy happily took out a box and slowly opened it, "This just arrived half an hour ago, and we haven''t even had a chance to disy it yet. It''s a set with the diamond rings on your hands. It consists of a ne and a pair of bracelets, suitable for attending various banquets." Ethan took it and put it on Ines. Her neck was slender and long, as if born to wear such a ne. Ines felt a bit uneasy under his gaze, "Doesn''t it look good?" "It looks beautiful." Ethan smiled and then bought everything. As they left the store, Ines couldn''t help but say, "Ethan, you spent too much." She only roughly nced at the price but didn''t see it clearly. However, she was sure it was millions. So much money for just a few pieces of stone. "To me, my wife is worth much more than this. My wife wearing these things is absolutely the most suitable." Ethan said. Ines blushed and smiled, "Where did you learn to say so many sweet things?" Ethan said, "It''s not fair. It''s absolutely true. I''m speaking from my heart; I don''t have to learn." Ines couldn''t help butugh, "I don''t believe it. But maybe if you turned them into cash and gave them to me directly, I''d be even happier." Ethan pinched her cheek, "Be careful not to get robbed." Ines shook the ring on her hand, "This is the real robber ma. I won''t dare to wear it out easily in the future." "You can''t take off your wedding ring. You have to wear it all the time. If I find out you''re disobedient, I''ll punish you." Ethan said. "How are you going to punish me?" Ines asked. "I can''t tell you that. You''ll find out when you make a mistake." Ethan said. Ethan sent Ines home. She didn''t want to join the Meyer Group, so she submitted her resume online during her free time in the past few days. Of course, she was still looking for a job rted to her expertise. She received several interview notices, and from which she selected two: one was from the Big Four ounting firm, Bnce Point ounting, and the other was a thriving domestic one. The interviews were scheduled for the afternoon. At noon, she went to the interview location as agreed. The interview process was quite simple. Both firms decided to hire her on the spot and told her she coulde and sign the contract at any time. Ines said she would go back and discuss it with her family before giving a reply. In fact, she was more inclined to choose Bnce Point ounting. However, beforeing to A City, Rita had talked to her a lot about reducing her workload after getting married. She was not young anymore and needed to start nning for having children. She also learned from the Meyer family that they were looking forward to having grandchildren. In the past, she wouldn''t have given a damn about these issues. But Ethan and the Meyer family had been so good to her that she didn''t wanna let them down. If she chose Bnce Point ounting, she would definitely be all in for the next couple of years. While she was thinking about this messy stuff, Ethan''s call came in. Ines was all caught up in her thoughts and just hopped onto the elevator when it arrived. The elevator was packed, and Ines could only squeeze in at the front, not noticing theplicated expressions of a guy and a girl when they saw her. The elevator reached the ground floor, and Ines walked straight out, only stopping when she heard an angry voice from behind, "Ines, you''ve got some nerveing back to A City?" Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Ines definitely would not forget these two people. When she woke up from her car ident, knowing nothing about the world, everyone was ming her and even wanted to call the police. The woman in front of her, sitting in a wheelchair, was begging for her with a pitiful look. Emma Galeana, her half-sister. And the man beside her was her ex-fianc¨¦, Aiden Ramos. She clearly remembered Emma saying, "Ines, I don''t me you for hitting me with your car. It''s my fault that I''m now disabled and in a wheelchair. It''s all because I fell for Aiden. I deserve it. But Aiden and I truly love each other. I just hope you can let us be together." At that time, Emma was in a wheelchair, with others standing behind her. They couldn''t see her expression, but Ines saw her smile. She didn''t know why, but she struggled to raise her hand and pped Emma hard. She saw her father''s angry eyes and her stepmother''s gloating smile on her face. When she woke up again, only Zander and Rita were by her side. Rita''s eyes were red as she looked at her. Later, she found out that her father had cut ties with her. She couldn''t describe how she felt at the time. She just felt awful. After a long time, she said, "I don''t need a father like that anyway." Later, she went to live in B City with Zander and Rita, and five years passed in the blink of an eye. She had been prepared to meet these people again, but she didn''t expect it to happen so soon. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org "I''lle back whenever I want; you have no right to interfere." Ines said. Emma was even more angry looking at Ines''s calm expression. She gritted her teeth and said, "Ines, don''t forget what you did. If I hadn''t chosen not to call the police, do you think you''d still be standing here? Aren''t you afraid I''ll make you pay?" "I don''t care." Ines turned around and walked away, not wanting to see these two people at all. She had been avoiding this situation for too long. Maybe facing it now wasn''t a bad thing. Over the years, she had consoled herself countless times. If she had really done something like that, she should have faced the legal consequences, instead of running away like nothing had happened. If she had really done something like that, she wouldn''t even respect herself in her dreams. But if someone was deliberately ndering her, she would never ept it. Since she dared toe back, she was already prepared to face everything. "Ines!" Emma shouted angrily. She could handle anything calmly, but she couldn''t stand Ines''s cold attitude. Since Emma joined the Galeana family, Ines had always been like this. It was as if Ines was the unattainable cloud in the sky, while she was just the lowly mud on the ground. But they both had their father''s blood. Every time she saw Ines like this, she felt a surge of nameless anger in her heart, wanting to tear Ines apart. This feeling hadn''t changed at all even after so many years. Ines left directly, but Aiden caught up with her and blocked her way. "Izzy, wait." Ines looked at the man in front of her. She thought she would feel at least a little bit sad, but at this moment she knew she was calm, as if the person standing in front of her was aplete stranger, not the fianc¨¦ who had betrayed her. Aiden was hurt by her cold expression and smiled bitterly, muttering, "Actually, I saw you and Phoebe yesterday. At the time I thought I was mistaken, but you really came back." Ines still didn''t speak, just looking at him. "I''m sorry," Aiden choked up. He found that he had a thousand words in his heart, but facing Ines like this, he couldn''t say a word. That apology was way toote. Ines scoffed, "Sorry for what? For cheating with my sister the night before our engagement? Or for staying silent when I was being used by everyone after the ident?" "Izzy, under those circumstances, I couldn''t say anything. Emma''s legs were almost amputated, and the doctor said she might be disabled." Aiden said. Ines sneered. Emma had almost lost her legs, but Ines wasn''t much better off. She had been in a coma for a whole month before waking up. She said, "Shut up. Don''t tell me this stuff. I don''t want to hear it at all. The only thing I''m sure of is that your betrayal was a lucky thing for me." Over the years, she had thought a lot and felt more relief than frustration. She was d that she had seen a man''s true colors early, avoiding deeper hurt. Ines looked indifferently at Aiden, who had a terrible expression, and felt a thrill of pleasure, "I have left the Galeana family, and I have nothing to do with you. If you don''t want to humiliate yourself, stay away from me in the future." Ines walked past Aiden and headed straight for the bus stop. Phoebe called at that moment. Phoebe''s mom had found out she was back and invited her to dinner. Ethan had an engagement that night, so Ines epted Phoebe''s invitation. Aiden stood there in a daze. Emma came over and saw him like this, her anger burning like a raging fire. She knew that although this man had been with her all these years, he had never forgotten the woman named Ines. Aiden saw Emma''s angry eyes and closed his eyes wearily, "Emma, she''s still your sister after all. Let bygones be bygones. She''s had a hard time these years too." "Aiden, be fair. She''s had a hard time, but what about me? You know what my life has been like these years." Emma said. Aiden didn''t know what to say. As Emma said, she hadn''t had it easy either. The long rehabilitation process wasn''t easy, and she wouldn''t have made it without great determination. Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Ines was waiting for Phoebe in the city center. After work, Phoebe drove straight to her and rolled down the window, waving at her. Ines got into the car and couldn''t help but ask, "I''ve always wondered, howe a rich and beautiful girl like you can''t find a suitable boyfriend?" "Don''t even mention it." Phoebe said. "I really find it strange." Ines said. Phoebe said, "It''s not that hard to understand. Since I''m notcking in any way, I don''t care about a man''s money or power. I despise men who only like me for my money. I can''t stand those who are on my level, and they''re just too flirty. Plus, I like handsome guys. You tell me how many men are left for me to choose from." Ines actually agreed with most of Phoebe''s views. However, thinking of Ethan, she countered, "Don''t jump to conclusions too soon. Not all men who match your background are necessarily yboys. If you find one you like, try to get along with him." "Whatever." Phoebe didn''t take it seriously. As the car turned a corner, the setting sun shone in, and Phoebe suddenly felt her eyes dazzled. She turned her head and saw the sparkling huge diamond on Ines'' finger and couldn''t help but exim, "Wow, Izzy, your husband is really generous. I bet that diamond is almost three carats." Phoebe was amazing, she could tell the carat of the ring at a nce. Phoebe kept waiting for Ines'' answer, but instead saw her smiling brightly, and was shocked, "Ines, did my eyes deceive me just now? Who was that radiant person?" Ines blushed and red at Phoebe, "Speak properly." Phoebe grabbed Ines'' hand, carefully examined the ring on it, and couldn''t help but gasp, "HARRY WINSTON, so your husband is actually pretty rich?" Ines knew Phoebe wouldn''t give up until she got an answer. She exined, "I went to their house yesterday, and he''s the Ethan you talked about." Upon hearing this, Phoebe mmed on the brakes in shock. Ines quickly held onto the seat to steady herself and said, "Phoebe, drive carefully. My heart can''t take you scaring me like this." Phoebe was stunned for a long time and then hugged Ines tightly, excitedly and solemnly saying, "Ines, congrattions. You''re going to make me so envious; marrying Ethan is the dream of every girl in A City. You make me so proud." She was envious, but not jealous. Ines could feel her sincerity. It was really lucky to have such a good friend in life, "I''ll be good to him." Phoebe drove and called her mom, her rxed tone was like she had found a treasure. Ines was also affected by her, and the gloom from seeing Emma and Aiden was swept away. The Wagner family was also wealthy. Although the Wagner Group couldn''tpare to the Meyer Group, it was still pretty good in A City. They lived in Paradise Cove, a gathering ce for the rich in A City. As they arrived at the front door, she saw a woman standing there. Ines didn''t actually remember her, but there was a feeling of familiarity in her heart, and she was sure that it was Meg Wagner. She couldn''t help but speed up her steps and ran towards her with a smile, "Meg." Meg immediately held Ines'' hand kindly, "Izzy is finally back. You''ve been away for years, and I''ve missed you so much. Hurry up ande in. Your uncle heard you wereing and came back right after work." "Alright." Ines said. In the living room, Grayson Wagner was wearing sses and reading a newspaper. When he saw Inesing in, he showed a smile. Ines greeted him happily, "Grayson." "You''re finally back. Meg has been missing you all these years. Phoebe often goes to B City too. Now we can finally be at ease." Grayson said. Meg pulled Ines onto the sofa to chat, "Have you been working hard these years? You still don''t seem to have gained any weight." Ines liked this motherly concern and smiled, "It seems my weight hasn''t changed much in these years." She belonged to the type that didn''t have much weight fluctuation, but once she gained a pound or two, it was hard to lose it. Meg tapped Ines on the forehead, "Tell me, are you really married to Ethan? I was shocked." Ines nodded and smiled, "Yes, we got married half a month ago, but I didn''t know his identity until I went to their house yesterday." This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Meg patted Ines'' hand, "You don''t have to worry anymore. Everything will get better after you marry him. With the Meyer family as your backup, you won''t have to leave home anymore. Your heartless father won''t be able to do anything either. I''ve always wondered which daughter of A City''s prestigious family would marry into the Meyer family, and it turns out that the lucky one is you." "If I didn''t know any better, I would have thought Izzy was your daughter. I''ve never seen you so enthusiastic when Ie back. You always seem to want to kick me out." The speaker was Phoebe, who had just parked her car and entered the house. Meg red at her, displeased, "You''re always like this. If you could be half as reassuring as Izzy, I''d wee you home every day. You''re always acting crazy, and your emotional intelligence isn''t high either. You''re so old and still don''t have a boyfriend, it''s embarrassing." Phoebe was used to Meg''s nagging and rolled her eyes unhappily, "Ines, you''re really too enviable. My mom has liked you since we were little. Poor me is just trash in front of you. What are you going to do topensate for my emotional loss?" "I''ll keep helping you find a good boyfriend," Ines imitated Phoebe''s tone. Chapter 40 Chapter 40 "Izzy, are you my mom''s daughter or my best friend? Where''s your dignity? You just met her for a few minutes and now you''re ganging up on me with her." Phoebe''s eyes widened in anger. Megughed, "I''ve always liked Izzy''s personality. It''s about time someone got you all riled up, you little troublemaker." Grayson, who was reading the newspaper nearby, looked up at the chatting women and shook his head with a smile. The Wagner family dinner was all set, and they started serving the dishes as everyone arrived. Phoebe''s outgoing nature, inherited from Meg, made the atmosphere at the table very pleasant. After finishing dinner, it was already dark outside, and Phoebe invited Ines to spend the night at their house. Ines thought about it and decided to call Ethan since they were married, and it was only polite to let him know she wouldn''t being home that night. In their marriage, Ethan was serious, and her sincerity was no less than his. Phoebe shook her head, "Married people have no freedom, always needing to get permission from their spouse." "Don''t worry about me now, you won''t be any better off in the future." Ines red at Phoebe. There seemed to be a lot of people on Ethan''s side, making it quite lively. As soon as the call connected, she heard Ethan''s deep voice, "Izzy." "Ethan, am I interrupting your work?" Ines asked. "No, I''m out working right now. Are you home yet?" Ethan asked. His words were short and clear, but Ines knew he was exining to her. She smiled and said, "No, I''m still at my friend''s house. I''m nning to stay here overnight and just wanted to let you know." "Alright, give me a call if you need anything. I''ll pick you up tomorrow." Ethan said. Ines vaguely heard someone calling "Mr. Meyer" on the other end and knew he was busy, so she said, "Alright, I''ll call you if I need anything." After thinking for a moment, Ines added, "Don''t drink too much. Don''t drive yourself after the socializing is over; find a designated driver." There was a low chuckle from the phone, and Ines'' cheeks flushed, feeling like she was being too nosy. Before she could defend herself, she heard Ethan''s voice, "Thanks for your concern, darling." "Alright, I''m hanging up now." Ines said. Ethan hung up the phone and stood outside in the cold wind. A man walked out from inside and looked at Ethan with some concern, "Mr. Meyer, he''s deliberately causing trouble tonight, you don''t need to pay attention to him. Besides the Meyer Group, they can''t find a better partner. Your stomach has always been sensitive; you can''t drink anymore." Ethan rubbed his temples and said, "It''s fine." After hanging up the call, Ines found Phoebe staring at her, "What are you looking at?" Phoebe frowned, then shook her head, and finallyughed, "Ethan is really amazing. In such a short time, he''s captured your heart. I haven''t seen this side of Ines in a long time. Women in love are all the same." "You''re talking nonsense." Ines wouldn''t admit it. "Don''t pretend, you''re falling for Ethan, right?" Although Phoebe had never met Ethan, some people were just born with a maic charm, attracting attention without even trying. Without a doubt, Ethan was one of those people. Inester exined, "You''re overthinking it. We may not have love, but we both want to make this marriage work. It''s normal for a married couple to care about each other." Phoebe didn''t continue on the topic, thinking that it would be a good thing if Ines and Ethan could fall in love. After all, a loveless marriage was not only short-lived but also quite sad. But if they could respect each other, that was something to be happy about. Ever since Ines moved to B City, they rarely had time to chat like this. That night they went to bed at eight o''clock and unknowingly chatted until midnight before sumbing to sleepiness. Ines was in a daze when her phone rang by her pillow. She answered the call, hearing a strange man''s voice, "May I speak to Mrs. Meyer?" "Yes, who is this?" Ines asked. "I''m Mr. Meyer''s secretary, Lucas. Mr. Meyer''s stomach has always been sensitive, and he drank a lot tonight. When I took him home, he was already feeling unwell. He''s now unconscious, could you pleasee over right away? I''m preparing to take him to the hospital." Lucas said. Ines agreed without hesitation and immediately got up and got dressed. Phoebe was also awakened and asked, "Izzy, what happened?" "There''s a problem with Ethan, I need to go back right away." Ines looked panicked. Phoebe, worried about Ines, also got up quickly, "Don''t panic. I''ll go with you and let our family driver take us." Ines nodded, and they quickly got ready and left. Fortunately, Paradise Cove was not far from their home, and they arrived quickly. Ethan had already been carried to the car by Lucas. Ines saw Ethan''s pale face, one hand clutching his stomach, his eyes half-closed as hey on the car seat, looking terrible. She had never seen Ethan like this. In her memory, he had always been in good health. Even in winter, he only wore a suit, casuallyyered with a base shirt. He was like a heater. She had never seen him so weak. Her hand, hidden in her sleeve, unconsciously clenched and trembled a little. At that moment, Ethan seemed to sense her emotions and opened his eyes. He saw that she seemed to be frightened. When Lucas saw Ines, he was a bit surprised. But time was of the essence, and seeing her standing there motionless, he couldn''t help but remind her, "Madam, please get in the car quickly, Mr. Meyer can''t wait too long." Hearing this, Ines immediately got in the car, letting Ethan''s head rest on herp, tightly holding his hand, and looking at Phoebe outside the car, "Phoebe, go home. It''ste at night, I have Lucas with me, it''ll be fine." Phoebe nodded worriedly, knowing she couldn''t help and said, "Alright, just call me if you need anything." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Ethan looked at the hand holding him tightly and felt happy, turning to hold her hand in return, "I''m sorry, Izzy, for making you worry." At this moment, Ines was totally focused on him, not in the mood to listen to his apology. She anxiously asked, "How are you feeling now? Any better?" Ethan shook his head with a smile, looking pretty chill, "I''m fine. Just a minor hup, I''ll be all good in no time." Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Ines was in a good mood, but when she saw Ethan still managing tough, she instantly got annoyed. Her tone suddenly raised, "Ethan, shut up! Do you think I''m an idiot? Is this a minor issue that could make someone faint? I told you this afternoon, but you didn''t take it seriously. If you do this again, I''ll never speak to you." This was the first time Ethan saw Ines like this; she really looked like his parent. For some reason, being scolded by her didn''t make him feel embarrassed in front of his secretary. Instead, it seemed to lessen the pain he was feeling. "I got it; I''ll be more careful," Ethan said softly. With Ethan''s attitude, Ines didn''t know what to say. She wasn''t an unreasonable woman; on the contrary, she understood things well and knew when to leave a man some dignity. Seeing him sweating profusely, she couldn''t help but use her sleeve to wipe the sweat off his forehead. Then she said to Lucas in front, "Lucas, please speed up." Lucas, who was driving, was already stunned by the interaction between the two in the back seat. Their boss had never been treated like this before, and he was always the one to leave others speechless. Yet, there he was, looking submissive. If the situation were different, Lucas would definitely burst intoughter. Hearing Ines''s words, he immediately sped up. Ines''s body instinctively stiffened. Although she tried to restrain herself, Ethan still noticed. Seeing her almost biting her lip, Ethan tightened his grip on her hand and said to Lucas, "I''m fine, slow down a bit, safety first." "Keep the current speed," Ines also said. "Izzy, I''m really okay." Ethan said. "I''m fine too, Lucas, just listen to me." Ines''s tone couldn''t help but be more assertive; sometimes she was stubborn. Lucas had been by Ethan''s side for many years and had always been trusted. Naturally, he knew whose words to follow at critical moments. After what just happened, he was well aware that his boss was now under Ines''s control. It was only natural to listen to the boss''s wife at this time. And so, the car sped up, and Ethan''s gaze at Lucas instantly changed. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Ines noticed it too and red at Ethan, "This was my idea." Ethan smiled at Ines and said, "Then I''ll listen to you." It had to be said that Ethan was indeed handsome, and even being sick didn''t diminish his charm. Ines couldn''t help but turn her head slightly. Ethan was taken to the emergency room for an X-ray. The result was severe acute gastric ulcer. If they had arrived anyter, it could have developed into a perforated stomach. When Ines heard these words, her face turned pale. Although she didn''t know how serious this illness was, she could understand some of it from the literal meaning. What would happen if the stomach ruptured? "The symptoms have probably persisted for several years. In the future, try to drink less alcohol, especially don''t mix different types of alcohol, as it''s very harmful to the stomach. Even if you''re young, you can''t treat your body so poorly. The stomach needs careful care; once it''s damaged, it''s difficult to recover," the doctor said to Ines. Ines didn''t respond, but she was upset. She knew that the man''s body was ruined by work. His mother said that he often flew around for work and didn''t return to the manor for half a year. It was obvious that his diet was irregr; otherwise, how could he have ruined his body like this? Seeing Ines''sck of response, the doctor continued, "Pay more attention to his diet." "Alright." Ines said. After receiving fluids, Ethan was transferred to a regr ward. For safety reasons, the doctor suggested observing him in the hospital for a few days. After Inespleted the hospitalization procedures, she returned to the ward to find Ethan already asleep. The hand that had been covering his stomach was now rxed, indicating that his pain had been alleviated. Ines breathed a small sigh of relief, seeing Lucas at the door, she couldn''t help but ask, "Lucas, what happened today?" Lucas exined directly that they had encountered a difficult client, and Ethan had reluctantly mixed alcohol and drank several sses. Ines frowned slightly, "Are there many asions like this?" Lucas shook his head, "Actually, there aren''t many. Nowadays, no one in the country dares to persuade Mr. Meyer to drink. Tonight''s client is from abroad, and the representative sent to negotiate has had some personal grievances with Mr. Meyer in the past, and he''s a bit extreme. Today, he took the opportunity to force Mr. Meyer to drink, and I''m sure he won''t feel good when he goes back. Even their bosses wouldn''t dare treat Mr. Meyer like that." With the current status of the Meyer Group, manypanies wanted to cooperate with them. They were also afraid of losing one or two resources, and Mr. Meyer''spliance tonight was more because he was feeling displeased. Lucas, of course, wouldn''t tell Ines about this. However, Ines wasn''t so easy to fool. She frowned, "Ethan is not a fool. Did something else happen tonight?" Facing Ines''s gaze, Lucas felt a little guilty, "I''m not quite sure about the specifics." Not knowing how much Ines knew about Mr. Meyer''s past, he chose to say less in case he said something wrong. Ines saw Lucas''s hesitation and knew it was something inconvenient for her to know. She nodded and felt there was nothing else to do, so she let him go first, "Lucas, you''ve worked hard tonight. You can go now; I''ll stay here with him." "Thank you, ma''am. It''s my job. I''ll leave now." Lucas said. After Lucas left, Ines went to the bathroom, filled a basin of water, and dampened a towel to wipe Ethan''s forehead. Then she gently smoothed the wrinkles between his eyebrows. At this moment, Ethan looked a bit disheveled. His dark hair was wet from sweat and appeared somewhat fluffy, making him look somewhat childlike. Ines couldn''t help but smile. However, her inner frustration couldn''t be dispelled. She didn''t understand what could make Ethan let go and drink to drown his sorrows. There were only two reasons for someone to drink to drown their sorrows: pressure from life or pressure from emotions. And it was clearly thetter for Ethan. But she knew nothing about his past. This feeling made her very ufortable. She found herself getting a bit greedy, originally just wanting a suitable marriage partner, but now she was actually starting to care about his past and getting bothered by his feelings for other women. Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Ines was too worried about Ethan waking up in the middle of the night, so she couldn''t fall asleep. She could only doze off while holding Ethan''s hand. When Ethan woke up in the middle of the night, Ines opened her eyes almost at the same time and immediately held him down. "Don''t move. What do you need? I''ll help you. Is there any difort right now?" Ines asked. Ethan shook his head with a smile. His stomach wasn''t hurting anymore, but his throat was super dry. "I''m thirsty. Can you pour me a ss of water?" "Sure, just wait." Ines said. Since the doctor had mentioned that the patient might be thirsty after waking up, Ines hadn''t turned off the water dispenser and directly poured him a ss of water. Ethan''s throat was really ufortable. After drinking two big sses of water, his dry throat finally felt better. He checked the time and realized that it was already past 4 am. Seeing how tired Ines looked, Ethan felt bad and patted the spot next to him. "Izzy,e up and sleep for a while. You must be exhausted tonight." Ines tucked him in and said, "I''m not sleepy. There are only three hours left until daylight. I can hang in there. I''ll sleep after mom arrives. You''re still on an IV, so I''ll keep an eye on it." There was no way to hide Ethan''s hospitalization from the Meyer family. Ines had already called and reassured Erica that Ethan was fine, which stopped her froming over in the middle of the night. "There are nurses who regrly patrol the wards at night, so you don''t have to keep an eye on me all the time. Hurry up and get some sleep. I can''t sleep well without holding you." Ethan said. Ines hesitated for a moment, looking at the empty space beside Ethan. Since it was a VIP ward, the bed was quite big. She was worried that the nurses might have too many patients to look after and there might be negligence, so she felt more at ease taking care of him herself. "Izzy, the VIP ward has dedicated nurses. One nurse is responsible for one ward, so you can rx." Ines went out to give the nurse some instructions before climbing into bed. Ethan immediately embraced her in his arms. In just a few days, Ines had gotten used to sleeping with Ethan. Being held like this didn''t make her feel ufortable; she just reminded him to be careful with the needle in his hand. Her body was exhausted after a long night, but it wasn''t easy for her to fall asleep. She couldn''t help but remind Ethan again, "Ethan, you''re not allowed to drink like this again." Compared to the excitement in the car earlier, Ines was much calmer now. She felt scared just thinking about it. If she hadn''t been home tonight and Lucas hadn''t been worried about Ethan and returned, no one would have known that Ethan was sick. When they arrived at the hospital, the doctor said he was close to going into shock. Ethan was well aware of her concerns. He rubbed his chin against the top of her head, gently stroked her face with his free hand, and whispered with a hoarse voice, "I know. I won''t do this again. I won''t scare you like that." "You better remember what you said. Don''t do this again, or I''ll teach you a lesson," Ines said, pretending to be angry and waving her fist. Ethan caught her fist and said, "Okay, if I make a mistake again, you scold me as much as you want. I won''t argue." Ines was a little embarrassed, and she muttered softly, "You''re just a smooth talker." The next day, Ines was awakened by the sound of talking in the ward. Since she was lying in Ethan''s arms, she didn''t want to face her mother-inw in such a position, so she pretended to be asleep. "You''re in your thirties, and you still make people worry. You know you have a severe stomach condition, and you still dare to drink recklessly. I''ve told you so many times, but you never listen. You''re also dragging down your wife. Do you want to drink yourself to a stomach perforation or stomach cancer before you''re satisfied? I really don''t know what to say to you." Although her voice was low, Ines could hear the anger in her words. "It''s not that serious," Ethan said, rubbing his temples with a headache. He had just been scolded by his wife, and now his mother was scolding him, making his head hurt. Erica red at her son. "Don''t think the doctor is wrong. I''ve consulted with experts in this field. If you keep messing around, anything is possible." "I understand," he replied. "I didn''t want to tell you this, but I''ll remind you onest time. You need to be fair to your wife. You can''t let Ines bear the burden of the body you ruined because of other women. Do you understand what I''m saying?" Erica didn''t want to push her son, but she needed to make her point clear, or he wouldn''t understand. She was very satisfied with her daughter-inw and couldn''t afford to lose her. Ethan suddenly looked up, showing a hint of sadness in his eyes, followed by a smile, "Thank you, Mom. I know what I should do." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Ines''s heart skipped a beat when she heard her mother-inw mention other women. She didn''t know whether to open her eyes or keep them closed. At that moment, Erica mentioned her name, "Ines, are you awake?" Ines had no choice but to get up from Ethan''s arms, blushing, and greet Eric,. "Good morning, Erica." Erica found her shyness amusing. Ines was so embarrassed, but it was cute. "You don''t have to be shy. There''s nothing wrong with sleeping in your husband''s arms. Hurry up and freshen up. I brought breakfast. You guys left in a hurryst night and probably didn''t bring any spare clothes, so I brought some for both of you." Erica said. Ines nodded and went to the bathroom. Erica sat by her son''s bed and put a cushion behind his back so he could sit up. After all, he was her son, and she was still worried about him. Ethan leaned against the cushion and rubbed his numb shoulder. Erica couldn''t help butugh. "You still remember to spoil your wife even when you''re sick. That''s worth encouraging." "It''s what I should do." Ethan said. Erica immediately asked, "So can you tell me what you really think about Ines?" Ethan showed a satisfied smile. "She''s even better than I imagined. I can''t help but like her." Hearing this, Erica felt much better, "That''s good that you''ve fallen for her. Regarding your past, find a suitable time to exin it to her. She''s a good girl, and she''ll understand." "I will." Ethan never intended to hide anything; he was just waiting for the right time. Ines happened toe out just then and overheard what Ethan said. For some reason, her mood suddenly got better. Maybe in marriage, loving each other was enough. She waited for his exnation about the past. Thinking about her wild imaginations before, Ines found it kinda funny. Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Erica left after spending the whole morning, leaving Ines alone in the hospital ward. "Izzy, can you run a bath for me? I really need one." Ethan said. Ines disagreed, "You have to bear with it for a couple of days. Your body is weak; you can''t catch a cold." Ethan touched his hair, "I feel so gross. I smell like alcohol and sweat, and my hair is all damp from the sweat." Ines knew he was a clean freak who took a shower every night and another one in the morning, no matter the weather. But now was an exceptional time, so she thought of a good idea, "How about I get you a basin of hot water to wipe yourself down?" Ethan paused and then smiled at Ines, "Are you gonna wipe me down personally?" Ines suddenly realized what she had said and got annoyed, "I''m not doing it for you, do it yourself." She felt so stupid. He hadn''t had surgery, he didn''t need anyone to help him with this. Seeing Ethan enter the bathroom, Ines was worried and reminded him again, "Ethan, don''t you dare take a shower." Ethan found her expression amusing, "You can supervise me if you want, I don''t mind." Ines blushed and just red at him without saying anything. Not long after, Ines heard the sound of water running non-stop, and itsted for quite a while. She suddenly had a bad feeling. There was no need for the water to keep running if he was just wiping himself down. Without thinking, she pushed open the bathroom door, and the scene before her made her freeze. Ethan''s upper body waspletely undressed, and he was only wearing underwear on the lower half. For a moment, Ines forgot to look away. He seemed skinny, but there was not an ounce of extra fat on him, exuding a kind of powerful beauty. "Mrs. Meyer, are you satisfied with what you see after studying me for so long?" Ethan asked. Ines silently turned around and mmed the bathroom door shut, falling onto the bed. She had gone crazy, barging in like that. At noon, Ines went out to buy some food. When she came back, she saw the door of the ward slightly ajar, as if someone hade to see Ethan. Just as she approached the door, she heard a strange man''s voiceing from inside, "Ethan, I can''t believe you got married so fast. I regret it too. If I had known back when we went to B City, I would have brought that girl back with me. I thought about it carefully, and I don''t have anyone like that in my life. Lately, I''ve been hearing a voice in my head. Do you think I could find that girl again if I tried?" Ethan''s face darkened a bit, but the daydreaming Noel Yates didn''t notice. "Who are you talking about?" Ethan asked. "That girl, do you remember? The one we met at the coffee shop when I apanied you on a blind date. She was ying with her blind date at the time, and I encouraged you to go and date her, but you never made a move." Noel said. "Then you''ve missed your chance." Ethan said, narrowing his eyes. He actually wanted his wife. "How do you know?" Noel looked at Ethan puzzled, only to find that he had been staring at him. "Ethan, why are you looking at me like that? I haven''t done anything to offend youtely." They had grown up together, so he knew the meaning of each other''s expressions. "Some people are off-limits." Ethan said. "Don''t be so serious, man. You''ll make me think I''m after your woman. Don''t worry, I''m not interested in my friend''s wife." Noel took a sip of water from the cup. Just then, Ines walked in. Noel stared, dumbfounded. She had long, dark hair and bright, clear eyes. She also had a naturally flushed face, exuding a fresh and clean aura. Although they had only met once, he recognized her right away. Wasn''t she the girl he had just been talking about? Hepletely forgot about the water in his mouth, and it wasn''t until it choked him that he put down the cup and started coughing. If he still couldn''t figure out who she was at this point, he would be really stupid. Ethan''s ward wasn''t a ce any stranger could casually enter, let alone her walking in so calmly and naturally. Without a doubt, she was Ethan''s newlywed wife. No wonder Ethan looked so angry just now. It turned out that the person he cared about wasn''t someone else, but his own woman. Ines looked at Ethan in confusion, not understanding why Noel reacted so strongly to her presence. Ethan said leisurely, "A single man, naturally very envious and jealous of me." Ines looked at Ethan coldly, finding it hrious. As far as she knew, he hadn''t even had a girlfriend in the past few years. How dare someone who had just gotten married talk about others! He was just too much. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Upon hearing this, Noel almost fell over. He retorted, "Ethan, I''ve had plenty of women following me around." "None of them are yours. Thew doesn''t recognize them." Ethan said. Noel was pissed off, deciding not to argue about this topic any longer. He turned to Ines and extended his hand, "Hello, I''m Ethan''s good brother, Noel. It''s nice to see you again." Just as Ines was about to shake hands with Noel, Ethan pulled her away. Noel awkwardly withdrew his hand, "Ethan, is that really necessary? I was just kidding earlier." "Sometimes careless words can reveal a person''s true inner thoughts." Ethan was clearly on guard against Noel. But Ines took Noel''s words seriously. She had only heard some vague snippets outside the door earlier, and she hadn''t heard them clearly. "Have we met before?" She couldn''t remember when she had met Noel. "It was a month and a half ago when you were on a blind date, and Ethan and I were sitting behind the screen next to you. I even encouraged Ethan to go on a date with you, but he seemed calm on the surface. As soon as I left, he took action right away." Noel hadn''t finished when Ethan interrupted, "If you''re bored, I can suggest to your dad to have you work abroad." Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Noel immediately stopped talking, not daring to say any more. Ethan had always been the young man that the elders in the family admired. If he suggested it, they''d definitely let him go abroad, and he didn''t want to go to that kind of ce. "You got a wife, and now you don''t need bros. You really went all out when looking for a wife," Noel sighed. Ethan snorted. Feeling outmatched, Noel decided to leave. "Fine, I''m out of here." As he turned to leave, he suddenly remembered something and looked back at Ines. "Ines, do you know any other interesting girls like you? If so, introduce me." "You''ve already got a bunch of girls behind you, how dare I introduce my friends to you?" Ines thought of Phoebe. Noel''s eyes lit up as he grinned at Ines. "So you do know someone like that?" Ines didn''t say anything. She wouldn''t introduce anyone without understanding Noel''s character. Noel quickly said, "I really need a gentle and kind girlfriend like you right now. It''s all because Ethan married you, and now my dad wants me to get married ASAP too. He''s been pushing me into blind dates these days. I never knew there were so many weirdos out there, and I can''t stand this life. I need a girlfriend now." The thought of the woman he met yesterday made Noel feel ufortable. He''d rather die than live with those women. Actually, Noel was three years younger than Ethan, and he had always had many women around him, so the Yates family hadn''t been in a hurry. But seeing Ethan get married so quickly, they naturally started to worry. Noel wasn''t afraid of anything, but he was afraid of his dad and Ethan. Gentle and kind ¨C this was the first time Ines had heard someone describe her like that, "If you can get rid of all the women around you, maybe I''ll change my mind." Hearing that, Noel sat down beside Ines, "You''re always so good to me. Do you know any nice girls you can introduce me to?" Ines observed Noel secretly, thinking he was good-looking too. He must have a good character if he was best buds with Ethan. It would be great if he didn''t interact with so many women privately. "I don''t know any rich girls." She didn''t even realize she hadpletely trusted Ethan''s character. Noel immediately understood Ines'' meaning, "Okay, I admit I was wrong. Actually, I don''t like spoiled women either. The Yates family doesn''t discriminate against girls from poor families. As long as I like her, that''s enough." Ines thought for a moment and said, "I only know one person like that, but I need to see if she''s willing. If she agrees, I''ll arrange it for you." "Great, I''ll wait for your good news," Noel happily replied. Watching the two of them chat so happily, Ethan said casually, "Noel, you seem pretty idle staying in A City." People who didn''t know him well wouldn''t notice his mood changes, but Noel knew him too well. Even Ines thought Ethan seemed a bit odd at the moment, but she couldn''t pinpoint exactly why. Noel immediately stood up and said to Ines, "Ines, goodbye. Remember your promise and arrange it for me soon." He left the ward, mming the door behind him. As soon as Noel was gone, Ethan pulled Ines into his arms, and she fell onto the bed without any warning. Ethany beside her, one big hand possessively wrapped around her waist, his head buried in her neck. After a few days of sharing a bed, Ines had gradually be ustomed to their physical contact. At the moment, she just felt a little ticklish and yfully poked his arm, "What are you doing?" "Do you have a crush on Noel?" Ethan''s voice was cold, filled with indescribable emotions. Ines was stunned, "What crush?" "You two seemed to be having a great time chatting." Ethan stated the fact, grabbing her hair and tickling her cheek. "Isn''t it a good thing that I can get along with your friend?" Ines asked. "But you pay too much attention to him, even staring at him for a while. I''m the patient here." Ethan comined. The implication was that her attention should be on him, the patient. Ines couldn''t help butugh, then stared at Ethan. She was used to observing people''s every move during conversations, a habit from her profession that she couldn''t easily change. She had been misunderstood by Austin during a blind date, and now she was misunderstood by Ethan. Was this what they call jealousy? Could this man be any cuter? This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. "Is it that funny?" Ethan felt a bit unnatural under her gaze and turned his head away. Seeing his awkwardness, Ines couldn''t help but smile. "So, Mr. Meyer, are you jealous?" Ethan pretended to pinch her nose hard, but his touch was gentle, "Is it not allowed? I''m your husband, and I have every right to be." Ines red at him and then teased, "Of course, you have that right. It''s protected byw." Ines'' words were full of sarcasm. Ethan obviously liked this yful side of Ines, like a carefree child without any guard up. He couldn''t help but lightly tap her nose, "You''re so mischievous." "Am I as bad as you? Weren''t you enjoying yourself hiding there and eavesdropping?" Ines looked at Ethan angrily, feeling annoyed that another person hadughed at her expense. Ethan hugged her, his arm around her waist. "We weren''t eavesdropping, we were openly listening. At the time, I thought, ''how can this girl be so cute?''" "You sure know how to talk. I wonder who you learned that from." Ines said. Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Ines took off her shoes andid down quietly with Ethan. She exined, "Ethan, don''t overthink it. I have a good friend who''s single, and I think Noel is quite a catch, so I wanted to introduce them. That''s why I was staring at him. Besides, he''s your friend, so naturally, I want to get along with him and fit into your life sooner." "I wasn''t overthinking it, I just don''t like it when you give too much attention to other men. Even if that person is my friend, it still bothers me." Ethan said. "You''re so domineering," Ines muttered softly, but remembering his recent confession of irresistible affection, she couldn''t help but chuckle. She figured she felt the same way about him, unconsciously getting used to his presence. "Aren''t young girls nowadays into domineering CEOs?" Ethan ruffled his hair. "You said it yourself, young girls. I''m 27 already, not a young girl anymore." Ines rolled her eyes at Ethan. Ethanughed, "I beg to differ." He noticed her spacing out while looking at him several times ¨C he felt lucky to have handsome looks for the first time. Ines said, "Of course, I want to marry someone easy on the eyes. If I don''t even have the urge to hold hands, how am I supposed to spend the rest of my life with them?" At that, Ethan rolled over, covering Ines with his body, propping himself up on his elbow, "Izzy, are you telling me you have urges for me?" Ines pushed him away, ncing nervously at the door, "Stop taking things out of context! Get off, what would people think if they saw us?" "What''s there to be afraid of? I''m just being affectionate with my wife," Ethan smirked like a rascal. She pushed him again, and this time, he let her, holding her tightly from behind. At first, Ines found such hugs tiring, waking up sore the next day, but now she found them comforting. "By the way, what''s Noel like? How does he handle rtionships?" Ines asked. "His family is great, but he''s had quite a few women around him over the years. However, I know he''s not the type to be unfaithful in a rtionship. If he falls in love, he''ll treat that girl well." Ethan said. Little did Ines know, as she was investigating Noel''s character, he had already encountered her friend outside the elevator. As Noel stepped out of the elevator, someone bumped into his chin. He felt a sudden pain and looked up to see a woman with a guilty expression who then bolted away. His eyes flickered, as if recalling a distant memory. Heughed and immediately chased after her. Phoebe regretted running only a few stepster, berating herself for being foolish. With her current appearance, even her parents might not recognize her, let alone him. There was no reason to run upon seeing him. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Realizing this, she stopped and found another elevator, intending to visit Ethan. The thought of being up close and personal with the CEO of the Meyer Group made her giddy with excitement. The elevator stopped on the first floor, and as she was about to step in, arge hand grabbed her shoulder. She turned to see Noel looking at her with an amused expression, "Why aren''t you running anymore?" Startled, Phoebe asked, "Sir, who are you?" Noelughed, "You''re running from me, and you don''t even know who I am?" "Boring," Phoebe muttered under her breath. Noel''s eyes narrowed, "Repeat what you just said." Phoebe cleared her throat, her smile sweet and innocent, "I said sir, you''re being way too sensitive. I''m just timid and ran when I saw a big bad wolf behind me." "You." Noel choked, realizing she was referring to him. He couldn''t help but tighten his grip on her shoulder, "I never thought you''d be so good at insulting people after all these years." Phoebe was about to retort when she realized what he meant. So he hadn''t recognized her from their blind date yesterday, but rather from years ago? Why didn''t she remember meeting him before? Phoebe asked, "Who are you?" "I have a name, Noel." Noel said. Phoebe nodded, "Noel, huh? I''m pretty sure I''ve never met you before. Are you sure you''re not mistaking me for someone else?" "Of course not. I could never forget someone who kissed me out of the blue and cried her eyes out in the men''s restroom after a breakup." Noel said. The reason he remembered so vividly was that she had taken his first kiss. Back then, he was stunned and didn''t react in time, and by the time he did, she had already disappeared. Later, he found out that a group of college students in a private room were ying a game, and he had unwittingly be the target of her dare. "You." Phoebe was furious. She would never forget the things that happened with that person, let alone the miserable days that followed his silent departure. But hearing it from someone else now made her feel weak, as scenes from the past shed through her mind. Noel looked at her, feeling inexplicably annoyed. His eyes gleamed, "Now that I''ve jogged your memory, do you remember?" Noel''s deep voice brought Phoebe back to her senses. She looked at him with disdain, "You''re acting like you were hurt. It seems like I was the one getting the shorten end of the stick, not you." Wasn¡¯t he still holding a grudge after all these years? Although she had drunk a lot that night, she was sober and knew what she had done. As for crying in the men''s restroom, that was the most foolish thing she had ever done in her life. She never thought she''d bump into the same person, let alone that her blind date yesterday was him. She was speechless at her own "luck." Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Noel said seriously, "That was my first kiss, which should have been saved for my future wife. What should I say if my wife asks me who I gave my first kiss to in the future? Should I tell her it was to a drunk stranger? You think that exnation would be convincing?" Phoebe felt like the world was absurd. A grown man came to tell her that she had taken his first kiss years ago, making it hard for him to face his future wife. What the hell was going on? Phoebe showed her signature smile, "So, what does this gentleman want to do?" "Since I can''t exin it to my future wife, I guess I have to make the one who ruined my innocence into my wife. What do you think?" Noel said in a negotiating tone. Phoebeughed mockingly, "Can I take that as a marriage proposal?" "Feel free to use your imagination." Noel said. Noel shrugged nonchntly. The seemingly frivolous action seemed elegant on him. Noel looked at the woman in front of him. For a moment, the face in his mind merged with Phoebe. He suddenly reached out to pull her hair by her ear. Phoebe didn''t expect Noel to make such a move. By the time she reacted, her hair had been lifted. She immediately swatted his hand away and said angrily, "Sir, are you not afraid I''ll call the police for treating a woman like this in public?" Noel''s smile deepened, "So it is you. You look good without makeup too, right, Phoebe?" Noel deliberately emphasized thest few words. Yesterday, the girl had thick makeup on, but he didn''t miss the tiny mole on her ear. Thanks to this little feature, he might not have recognized her otherwise. Phoebe cursed her bad luck for being recognized by him. "Sir, are you mistaking me for someone else? Who is Phoebe?" Phoebe wondered how to escape. In the hospital room, Ines had no idea what was going on. She just received a text from Phoebe saying that she had something urgent to deal with and wouldn''t be visiting Ethan. They''d have dinner together some other time. Ines smiled and shook her head, apparently used to her behavior. "What''s up?" Ethan asked. "My friend said she has something urgent and won''t being to see you. She''ll invite you to dinner some other time." Ines said. Ethan nodded, sounding a bit disappointed, "Looks like I missed the chance to see a beauty again." Ines red at him, "You look so regretful." "Of course, I appreciate all beautiful things." Ethan said. Ines didn''t want to talk to this man. She could never win an argument with him. Ethan stayed in the hospital for three days. The doctor said his condition had stabilized and he could be discharged as long as he paid attention to his diet and rest. After a few days away from home, the house was dusty. Ines changed clothes and started cleaning. Ethan stopped her, "You''ve been taking care of me these days. Just rest at home and don''t worry about these things. I''ll call the housekeeper." "I can handle these small things myself. I''m bored when I''m idle." Ines wasn''t tired. The hospital room had everything she needed to eat and sleep well. Ethan didn''t stop her. He wasn''t used to strangers entering his private space. He didn''t go to the study but had Lucas put the documents on the coffee table for processing. He looked up at the busy person in the living room from time to time. When their eyes met, they just smiled at each other. Just looking at her like this, he suddenly felt that his home, which he had lived in for several years, was surrounded by warmth. Ines spent an hour tidying up the house. Ethan waved her over, and she sat down next to him. He naturally took her hand, and she looked at him puzzled, not knowing what he wanted to say. "When do you start work?" Ethan asked. "Next Monday." She had already replied to the firm. "Then let''s find a time for me to apany you to a counseling session. The therapists there are top-notch." Ethan said. Ines was taken aback, and Ethan pinched her face and smiled, "Don''t be afraid, okay? I''ll be with you." N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. He noticed it the day they went to the hospital. She seemed to be afraid of fast cars. When the car sped up, she became stiff and even turned pale. It was obviously a sequ from the car ident years ago. Ines felt a little emotional but mostly touched. After all these years, she had been living like an ordinary person, but he noticed so quickly. It probably because he did put her in his heart and observed her so carefully. It felt like countless emotions were drowning her. For a moment, she couldn''t help but choke up, "You knew?" Ethan nodded and gently touched her forehead with his, "Do you want to talk about it?" With such a caring husband, Ines naturally wouldn''t refuse. She leaned on his shoulder, and he held her waist. She said, "I think I told you before that I lost part of my memory in a car ident a few years ago, and it left some seque. One of them is that I''m scared to ride in cars, let alone drive. Later, when I went to B City, I also saw a psychologist. The doctor said it was because the memory of the ident was too horrible, which caused me to be traumatized. After years of treatment and adjustment, I''ve almost recovered and can ride in cars like a normal person, but I still can''t go too fast. The doctor said that maybe only when I fully recover my memory can I ovee the fear caused by the trauma." She spoke simply and calmly, but Ethan could imagine the tragic scene and couldn''t help but frown, "Do you want to recover your memory?" "I''m not insisting on it. It won''t affect my life now anyway." Ines said. "It''s good that you can think like that. Attitude is important in these matters. Maybe you''ll remember it unconsciously. But for now, I''ll make an appointment for you. This expert is a world-renowned psychotherapist. He only has two weeks a year to practice in A City. In two months, it''ll be his time to visit here. I''ll take you to see him and hear what he has to say." Ethan said. Ines nodded and smiled, "I''ll listen to you." Ethan pinched her face, "When did you start listening to me so obediently?" Ines retorted, "When did I not listen to you?" Chapter 47 Chapter 47 On Monday, Ines officially started working at EM Enterprises. The director was a not-so-tall man with a friendly smile, looking easy to get along with. Since it was recruitment season at the end of the year and she had abundant experience, she was directly assigned to a project team. "Ms. Galeana, I''ve looked into your previous work experience, and you''re an excellent auditor. I believe you won''t let me down." The director said. "Thank you." Ines replied. A colleague from the HR department took Ines straight to meet the project manager, who would be her direct supervisor. She was a woman in her forties, dressed in a ck suit that couldn''t hide her attractive figure. Despite her heavy makeup, the fatigue on her face was evident. Her desk was full of documents, and she was sketching on them with a pen. She only looked up at Ines when she came in. For some reason, although she was smiling, Ines felt the hostility behind the smile. The project manager nced at her and then continued looking at her work, talking to Ines at the same time, "Ms. Galeana, I know you have work experience and have been an ountant before, but since you''ve joined my team, you need to follow mymands. That''s the rule in our group." Ines nodded, "I understand." She was mentally prepared for a fresh start. "Our project team mainly audits the financial statements of Eclipse Industries. Everyone in the team has been assigned specific tasks. The most urgent task at the moment is to send out confirmation letters. You need to personally go to the major banks to follow up on them. The time is ticking, since we have to submit the draft audit report this month, I hope you canplete all confirmations within the next two days and give me a detailed report." Ines looked at the thick pile of confirmation letters on the table, slightly frowning, but still epted the task, "I got it, Ms. Young. I''ll do my best toplete the task." Amelia Young looked up at Ines, her voice bing serious, "I think Ms. Galeana didn''t hear me clearly. I want a guarantee that the task will bepleted, not just an attempt. Can you take the responsibility if it affects the report''s deadline?" "I understand, Ms. Young." Ines said. "Then start your work. Other colleagues will give you more detailed instructions, and your desk is in the second room on the left." Amelia said. Ines picked up the pile of confirmation letters and left Amelia Young''s office. As soon as she sat down, her colleagues gathered around, introducing themselves, much friendlier than she had expected. "What did the manager assign you to do?" Ines pointed to the confirmation letters on the table, "These." Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to say. Experienced colleagues knew that this workload was huge and not something one person could handle. An older man said, "Ines, don''t argue with her. She''s always been a hard worker." "It''s not without reason. I heard her husband cheated on her, and they''re getting a divorce. He wants custody of the kids, but she doesn''t agree. They''ve taken it to court, and she''s probably agitated and taking it out on the new girl," said a young girl in her early twenties, Kelly. "Kelly, don''t spread such rumors. If she hears you, there will be serious consequences." Kelly lowered her voice, "It''s true. I have a rtive who works at the courthouse, and she told me." ... Everyone was discussing the situation, but Ines remained silent. She was no longer a rookie and wouldn''t casually criticize her boss. People''s hearts wereplicated, and no one could see through others'' thoughts. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Seeing that Ines didn''t say anything, everyone left and began their work. Ines roughly sorted out the materials at hand, nned a time-saving approach, and started running to different banks. She didn''t even have lunch, and by the end of the day, she hadpleted half of the task, finally breathing a sigh of relief. As soon as she entered the house, she smelled something delicious. Ethan''s suit jacket and briefcase were on the sofa, and following the aroma, she found him in the kitchen, wearing a white shirt and dark blue suit pants, cooking. This was the second time she had seen Ethan cook. His movements were as elegant as ever, and Ines felt very happy. The frustration she had experienced at work during the day instantly dissipated. She really was lucky to have the CEO of a multinational corporation personally cook for her. Hearing footsteps, Ethan turned and saw Ines standing at the door. His mood instantly improved, and he said softly, "Go wash your hands first, dinner''s almost ready." Ines nodded, "Okay." "It''s time for dinner." Ethan said. Ines smiled, "Thanks to our Mr. Meyer." Somehow, they had both gotten used to calling each other Mr. Meyer and Mrs. Meyer. The words sounded pleasant to Ethan, "Since you know I''ve worked hard, you better eat more." "Thank you." Ines said. "We''re husband and wife." Ethan said. "I understand, Mr. Meyer. I''m hungry. Can we start eating now?" Ines asked. Ethan ate gracefully, slowly, and very pleasingly. Ines was really hungry, and most of the food on the table ended up in her stomach. She felt a bit embarrassed and asked, "Have you always eaten so little, or are you still having stomach issues?" Her face showed embarrassment and deep concern. Ethan smiled and exined, "My stomach is fine, I just don¡¯t eat that much." Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Ines got even more embarrassed when he said that, sounding a bit down, "Howe you, a big guy, eat so little?" "I usually eat less at night, I''m used to it. I''m just d you have such a good appetite." Ethan said. Ines blushed, "Well, since you made it yourself, of course I have to eat more." Ethan smiled, not exposing her, "Then I have to thank Mrs. Meyer for her support, and I hope Mrs. Meyer will always be so supportive." Ines was stunned for a moment, then couldn''t help butugh, "Does Mr. Meyer mean he''s going to cook for me for the rest of my life?" Ethan frowned in annoyance, looking helpless, "Damn, I wanted to be subtle, but I didn''t expect Mrs. Meyer to be so smart and guess it right away." After dinner, Ines took the initiative to clean up the table and went to the kitchen to wash the dishes. Ethan followed her in, and after she washed them, he wiped them dry and put them away. They worked together seamlessly. After tidying up the kitchen, the two went for a walk in the neighborhood, hand in hand, like a long- married couple. Ines really enjoyed their life now. "How did you feel about your first day at work today?" Ethan asked. "It was fine, just a little rusty after not working for more than half a month, but I adapted quickly." Ines said. "That''s good. If you ever feel tired or don''t want to do it anymore, you''re always wee to join the Meyer Group, and you can choose any position you like." Ines stopped in her tracks and looked up at Ethan, "Is Mr. Meyer nning to let me work there without an interview? I heard that the Meyer Group has very strict standards for hiring people." Ethan couldn''t help but touch her face, "Doesn''t Mrs. Meyer have confidence in herself?" Ines pulled his hand away, "Of course, I am a graduate of a prestigious school and have been in the workforce for a few years. I should be given special consideration." On their way back, they ran into a middle-aged man who, seeing their intertwined hands, looked surprised, "Mr. Meyer, is this your girlfriend?" Ethan smiled and said naturally, "Not my girlfriend, but my wife." "When did you get married?" "Not long ago." Ethan said. The man was stunned and thenughed, "Congrattions to both of you." "Thank you." Ethan said. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. After the middle-aged man left, Ines couldn''t help but ask, "Someone you know?" "I guess so, I''ve seen him a few times before, but it''s the first time I''ve seen him in this neighborhood. I didn''t expect him to live here." Ethan watched the man''s back, a hint of darkness shing in his eyes. At night, Ethan was busy in the study until 11 o''clock. When he entered the bedroom, Ines was already asleep, looking very adorable. Ethan couldn''t help but smile, shook his head, then lifted the covers andy down, embracing Ines in his arms. Ines seemed to sense this, naturally leaning into his chest. He remembered the first time they shared a bed, Ines was so scared she hid on the bedside table. It didn''t take long for her to get used to his presence, so his decision back then was right. Couples couldn''t get along in a muddle-headed way; sometimes he had to be strong. Thinking about this, Ethan smiled slightly and then turned off the bedside light. The next day, Ines woke up in Ethan''s arms. She carefully picked up Ethan''s hand from her waist. As soon as she moved, Ethan woke up, and the big hand that was tightly wrapped around her waist tightened even more, bringing the two of them even closer together. Ines struggled and said, "Let go of me, I need to get up and make breakfast." Ines knew her cooking skills were not good, but she could still make a simple breakfast. Ethan had already made dinner, and she couldn''t let him get up early to make her breakfast too. Both parties needed to contribute in a marriage. If she always took her partner''s kindness for granted and did nothing herself, one day he would get tired too. "It¡¯s fine, I prepared breakfast before I went to bedst night." Ethan''s deep voice came from above, low and pleasant. Ines''s face turned red instantly, wanting to struggle to get up, "You can lie down for a while, I''ll get up first." "Be good, don''t move." Ethan''s voice deepened a few notches, and Ines could clearly feel his body stiffening, as if something was pressing against her from behind. Although Ines had never experienced such things, it didn''t mean she didn''t know about them. Thinking about what it was, her face turned red, and she didn''t dare to move. She whispered, "Ethan, you really are..." Ethanughed and kissed her cheek gently, "It''s a normal physiological phenomenon for a man. Holding a beautiful wife in his arms, one¡¯s not a man if he can resist." "When will it stop?" Ines asked. "I don''t know. After all, I''ve never underestimated the charm of our Izzy." Hearing Ines''s words, Ethan couldn''t help butugh. Ines almost bit her tongue, what was she asking? "I''m not talking to you anymore." Ines hadn''t finished speaking when suddenly a shadow came over her, and she felt a chill on her lips. Ethan had urately kissed her. His kiss was light and gentle, and Ines, as if bewitched, began to respond. What was originally a simple good morning kiss turned into a passionate make-out session. They didn''t know who stopped first, but it didn''t make themte for work. Ethan dropped Ines off at work, and Ines couldn''t helpughing, "Thank goodness you drive a cheap car, otherwise I wouldn''t dare to let you drive me to work." Ethan said slowly, "It seems that being low-key has its advantages." Inesughed, "You''re actually quite proud." "Being able to drive my wife to and from work is, of course, a good thing. I should take a good look and see if there are any handsome guys in your office." As Ethan spoke, he even rolled down the window to look outside seriously. Ines was amused by his actions, patted his shoulder, and said, "Okay, I''m going to bete." Ethan waited until Ines entered the building before driving away. Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Ines had just arrived at the elevator when she saw Kelly and a few colleagues looking at her curiously. "Ines, is that your boyfriend dropping you off at work?" The car window wasn''t fully open, so Kelly only saw the car but not Ethan''s face. "Not boyfriend, husband," Ines replied with a smile, feeling there was no need to hide such a thing. Sometimes hiding things could cause unnecessary suspicion. Some people looked surprised, while a few men seemed slightly disappointed. "Ines, you''re so young to be married already." "I''m not that young. I''m 27." Ines said. "Oh my gosh, you don''t look 27 at all." Just then, someone said, "Good morning, Ms. Young." Ines noticed Amelia had joined them, also greeted her with the other colleagues. Amelia just nodded coldly; she always had this aloof expression, making her hard to approach. Her presence made the elevator atmosphere a bit awkward. Today, Ines still went to various banks for confirmations. When she returned to the office, her colleagues were about to leave. They showed sympathy when they learned she would be working overtime, but Ines didn''t mind. The work wasn''t difficult for her, just a bit tedious. Shepleted the analysis report in half an hour, checked it, and printed a copy and put it in the drawer to give to Amelia Young tomorrow morning. Then, she shut down herputer and prepared to leave. As she passed Amelia''s office, she saw her still working. Amelia seemed to notice Ines and suddenly called her in, "Ines,e to my office for a moment." Ines entered Amelia''s office, and Amelia stopped her work to calmly ask, "Have you finished the tasks I assigned to you?" "Yes, I have. I''ll give them to you now." Ines said. Ines handed the report to Amelia, who briefly skimmed it and then said, "Alright, you can leave now." Ines nodded with confidence, knowing this kind of thing wouldn''t be difficult for her. As she turned to leave, Amelia asked, "I heard you had several years of experience in B City and even became a project manager. Why did you choose to resign ande to a smaller-scale company like EM?" "My husband is from A City. After we got married, I moved here with him." Ines said. Amelia smiled, but Ines sensed infinite bitterness in it. All she said was, "It''s best for a woman not to pin all her hopes on a man." Ines felt puzzled, but thanked Ms. Young. As soon as Ines left the building, she saw a Lamborghini parked in the small square across the street, very eye-catching. A man strode towards her, and Ines frowned, wondering why Aiden was waiting here. "Izzy, let''s talk." He said. Ines replied coldly, "Aiden, I think I made myself clearst time. We have nothing to talk about, so why do you keep bothering me?" "Izzy, my family has been pressuring metely. They want me to marry Emma as soon as possible." Aiden said. Ines paused, feeling a bitter taste in her mouth for a moment, "Aiden, marry whoever you want, it has nothing to do with me. You two betrayed me, isn''t that what you wanted? Who are you trying to impress with your current attitude? Feeling wronged? Guilty? Regretful? Just don''t tell me you want to back out, because that would make you aplete joke." "Izzy, can''t we stop being so hostile every time we meet? You know you''ve always been in my heart. If it weren''t for that, Emma and I wouldn''t still be unmarried." Aiden said. Love? Did this kind of person even know what love was? Would true love mean betraying someone? Ines felt like she heard a joke, "Aiden, drop the hypocrisy. I won''t be deceived by you again, and don''t insult me with your so-called love. Being liked by someone like you makes me sick." "Izzy, why do you always misunderstand me? I told you that what happened with Emma was an ident. We were both drunk, but I''ve always seen her as a sister, with no romantic feelings." Aiden recalled the past, covering his face with his hands in pain. Seeing him like this, Ines felt a sense of satisfaction. She smiled and said, "So are you telling me you don''t want to take responsibility for my sister now?" "Izzy." Aiden immediately grabbed Ines''s hand, raising his voice. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Ines looked at the hand gripping her own, veins bulging, and spoke in a low voice, "Let go." "Izzy, let''s find a ce to talk properly. I won''t marry Emma. The girl I want to marry has always been you." Aiden said. It had been that way since they were young. Ines was getting annoyed and was about to curse when she saw Amelia passing by. She held back, and Amelia just nced at her before walking towards the underground garage. "Aiden, what do you want? Why cause a scene at my workce?" Ines asked. "Izzy, Emma''s leg has recovered, and your father still cares about you. You can still return to the Galeana family. As long as youe back, we can be together again." Aiden said. His parents only cared about the Galeana family''s fortune, not who he married. As long as Ines returned to inherit everything, they could start over. Aiden referred to her father, whom she knew well - her biological father, who shared her blood. He had announced in the newspaper that she cut ties with her parents, so there was no way she''d go back. The truth was, she was doing just fine without that family, so why would she wanna screw herself over like that? Ines looked at him mockingly, "Didn''t anyone tell you I''m already married? Are you trying to get me charged with bigamy or something?" Aiden was holding Ines'' wrist, shaking his head in disbelief. He nced at her fingers and suddenly burst outughing, "Izzy, why bother with that kind of excuse? You''re not even wearing a wedding ring." Ines felt a headacheing on. If only she''d worn the ring, she could''ve avoided all this misunderstanding. "I told you, I''m married. There''s no need for me to lie to someone I don''t care about. Believe it or not, my husband''sing to pick me up soon, and I don''t want him getting the wrong idea, so let go." Ines said. "No, I don''t believe you. Not unless he shows up in front of me." Just as Aiden finished speaking, he saw Ines start tough. He instantly got excited, but before he could say anything, he felt a pain in his arm and a gloomy voice rang out, "Excuse me, sir, but what do you think you''re doing holding my wife''s hand in front of all these people?" Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Aiden looked up and saw a man in a suit standing in front of him, with fine features and a strong aura emanating from his body. Just looking at him quietly, he''d feel an invisible pressure. He thought he had seen all kinds of people, including those from high society, but couldn''t find anyone with the same charisma as this guy. Aiden felt a bit flustered, but when he saw the man''s arm around Ines'' waist, he got pissed off and shouted, "Who are you? Let go of my fianc¨¦e, I mean, my friend." Aiden was about to say fianc¨¦e, but changed his words after seeing Ines'' disdainful look. Ethan chuckled lightly, "What does it have to do with you that I''m holding my wife?" No, it could''t be. Aiden felt like he took a huge blow and stepped back involuntarily. He looked at the close pair, the woman slightly smiling and the man incredibly handsome. As much as he didn''t want to admit it, he felt they were a perfect match. Aiden''s eyes caught the sight of the car behind Ethan, and he felt relieved, "Izzy, you don''t have to lie to me. We grew up together, and I know you''ve always been proud. You would never go for a guy who drives a cheap car." Ethanpletely lost patience with the man in front of him. He didn''t want to waste another word on him and turned to leave with Ines. Aiden saw them about to leave and hurriedly stepped forward, trying to grab Ines, but he didn''t expect Ethan to react so quickly, effortlessly blocking his wrist. With a slight force, Aiden felt a piercing pain and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He had been training since he was a child, but he didn''t have time to fight back in this man''s hands. This guy was too good. "You..." He was in so much pain that he couldn''t finish his sentence and looked at Ines unconsciously. Ines looked at everything expressionlessly, not nning to intervene. Ethan nced at Ines and coldly said to Aiden, "Let me give you some advice. Before you try to fight someone, please measure your own strength first. Don''t do such things. It only makes people look down on you." After that, he let go of Aiden''s hand. Aiden watched Ines leave with a strange man. On the way home, they didn''t speak. Ines wanted to exin, but seeing his expressionless face made her hold back. She thought he was angry because no man would tolerate his wife arguing with another man in public. When they got home, Ethan went straight to the study. Ines looked at his back, feeling hurt, and tears welled up in her eyes. She sniffed, trying to suppress the sourness in her eyes, but it didn''t help. Ethan came out of the study and saw Ines standing still, her lips slightly closed, and her dark eyes shimmering with tears. She looked like an abandoned kitten on the side of the road, pitiful. Ethan''s heart tightened, and he held her in his arms, gently patting her frail shoulders, "Izzy, that kind of person is not worth your distress. It''s all in the past." Ines still didn''t say a word, showing no reaction, as if she was petrified. Ethan sighed, shook his head, and thought this girl had terrible taste in the past, fancying such a man. Although they only had a brief encounter today, he could easily guess from their conversation that the man was her ex-fianc¨¦, a disgusting person not worth her time. Ethan took Ines to the sofa, carefully applied ointment to the red marks on her wrist. Ines looked at the man squatting at her feet, unable to control her tears and silently streaming down her cheeks. She immediately wiped them away, not knowing what was wrong with her, feeling unlike herself. She hadn''t cried in a long time, but for some reason, she couldn''t help it today. Her actions startled Ethan. He looked at the stubborn girl, who even tried to hold back her tears, felt tender inside, and gently touched her face. "Izzy, crying is not a sign of weakness. It''s just a way to vent. Cry when you''re wronged, hurt, and upset. You don''t have to worry about so much in front of me. If you want to cry, just cry, okay?" Ethan said. Ines looked at the man with concern and tenderness in his eyes, lowered her head in shame, "I''m sorry." Ethan paused, "What are you talking about?" "His name is Aiden, my ex-fianc¨¦. I thought I made it clearst time, but I don''t know why he''s still bothering me. I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to cause you trouble." Ines said. "Izzy, did you misunderstand something? I''m not mad at you." Ethan looked seriously at Ines. Ines nced at Ethan and frowned slightly, "Then why did you ignore me the whole way?" He was always in control of their conversations. He always had countless topics, but when he suddenly went silent, she couldn''t get used to it. Ethan smiled, finally understanding the problem. He had been quiet on the way home because he thought she was in a bad mood and didn''t want to disturb her, giving her some space to adjust. He didn''t know she thought he was mad. Luckily, they both weren''t the type to keep their thoughts bottled up, or else there would be misunderstandings. "Izzy, you''re overthinking. I''m not mad. From the moment we got married, I knew we both brought our own pasts into this marriage. It''s impossible for me not to care about your past at all, but I know my limits. I won''t get mad at you for no reason. Everyone can see your disgust and irritation towards him. You weren''t willingly held by him, so why would I be mad at you? I just thought you were in a bad mood and wanted to give you some space to calm down." Ethan exined patiently. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. After a pause, Ethan continued, "I''ll try not to care about your past, and I''ll be serious about our future." Realizing she had misunderstood him, Ines blushed and tried to stand up, but was held by Ethan and sat on hisp. She felt uneasy in this position and pushed him a little, "You really scared me." "When did you be so easily frightened?" Ethan teased. "I don''t know." Ines said, a bit embarrassed. She always thought she was a tough cookie, but somehow, she became all soft and mushy and let his mood swings get to her. Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Ethan brushed her hair gently with his chin and let out augh. His voice was still captivating, "Well, being cherished by Mrs. Meyer is indeed a blessing." "Stop it," Ines couldn''t help butugh as well, though she kept her eyes on Ethan seriously. "Ethan, before I came to A City, I might still have a bit of lingering feelings and attachment to that guy. But after seeing him twice, I''ve calmed down. I can''t understand why I was so crazy about him in the past." Ines said. Ethan shook his head, "Your taste in men was really bad back then." Ethan was delighted and believed what Ines said. He hade to understand Ines'' character after spending time together. She was opinionated, stubborn and sometimes even obstinate. She didn''t tolerate any nonsense. He was sure if he ever let Ines down, she would leave him without hesitation and never give him another chance. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. But he certainly wouldn''t give her the opportunity. Ines pouted, "I wouldn''t say it''s much better now." Being head over heels in love with this cunning guy, she was absolutely under his control and couldn''t break free, yet she was willing to be. How contradictory! Ethan stroked his chin, "You''re just being stubborn. Ah, it''s true that you only know what''s good after comparison. Don''t you think your husband is far superior to him now? Be it in terms of family background, appearance, temperament or cultivation, I''m streets ahead. He''s nothing in front of me." Inesughed, "You''re so full of yourself. Get up, I''m hungry." "Hold on, one more thing. Where''s the wedding ring?" Ethan pulled away Ines'' hand and found her finger was bare. She was being disobedient. He had told her to wear it all the time. Ines dodged his gaze, pulled her hand back and confessed, "I put it in the drawer." "Do you n to hide it? From tomorrow on, wear it. Don''t try to fake being single when I''m not around." Ethan''s tone was firm, even a bit angry. Ines twitched her mouth. How could men and women think so differently? She didn''t think like that at all. But hearing him speak like this, she felt sweet inside. She couldn''t help but wiggle her finger, saying, "With the society being so dangerous, are you sure I won''t get my finger chopped off if I wear it? I really cherish my fingers." Mainly, the diamond was too big, she didn''t want to draw too much attention. Ethan tapped her forehead gently, somewhat bemused. Other women loved diamonds, but the woman he married didn''t care about it and wouldn''t even wear it out. He didn''t know whether that was a good or bad thing. "Don''t think I don''t know what you''re thinking. Just wear it on a ne. If any sleazy guys approach you, just show them." Ethan said. He heard it clearly. That guy named Aiden didn''t believe she was married because she wasn''t wearing a wedding ring. Ines pursed her lips and wrinkled her nose, "Wearing it around my neck feels like having a dog leash, it''s weird." Seeing her adorable expression, Ethan couldn''t help butugh, "No more excuses." "Alright, alright." Ines gave up. "Since you''re being so good, I''ll take you out for something delicious tonight." Ethan said. After changing their clothes, they left the house hand in hand. Ines called Phoebe who then rmended a few restaurants that they used to visit frequently back in their student days. In the end, considering Ethan''s taste, Ines chose a restaurant that served light dishes. It was a bit off the beaten path, but it was bustling with business. The restaurant was packed with mostly young student couples. Even the street outside was lined with tables. Just when they arrived, a table was being vacated, so they got seated without a hitch. Their outstanding presence attracted quite a few nces, especially from some young girls who loudly asked for a group photo. Ines found it amusing. As she stared at Ethan across the table, her mind started to wander. He was just wearing a simple coat. The style was in but paired with his exquisite features, he stood out from the crowd. She couldn''t help but marvel inwardly. He was a natural heartthrob who could attract attention wherever he went. Ethan looked at Ines, puzzled, "Why are you staring at me?" Ines thought for a moment, then said earnestly, "Turns out Mr. Meyer has the potential to be a pretty boy." Ethan was taken aback, then yed along, "Actually, I think Mrs. Meyer is pretty good-looking too." Ines was amused by him. She found herself smiling a lot more after getting married. While this man might seem aloof most of the time, he always managed to tickle her funny bone. She wondered if her sense of humor had lowered. "Mr. Meyer, you better shut up, I don''t want people to think we''re both narcissists." Ines said. Ethan said nonchntly, "Isn''t what I said the truth?" Inesughed again, "If everyone knew the CEO of the Meyer Group is sitting in a small restaurant having a student meal, I wonder what they''d think." "I''m just an ordinary person, what''s so strange about this?" Ethan asked. Ines thought to herself, indeed, this man had impressive cooking skills and was willing to apany her to eat all sorts of snacks. Apart from his status, he was just like an ordinary person. After dinner, they strolled around the nearbymercial street. The evening breeze was gentle, just enough to cool down the heat. It felt extremelyfortable. Walking side by side, they made a beautiful scene. Ines overheard whispers from behind, "Doesn''t that guy look like a celebrity?" "He''s definitely handsome." Hearing thements, Ines'' lips curled into a smile. She was just thinking he was naturally handsome, and now people were saying the same thing. It seemed everyone had the same taste in beauty. Ines was startled when two girls blocked their path. With flushed faces, they looked at Ethan and said in a coquettish voice, "Can we take a photo with you, please?" Ethan was obviously taken aback, he looked at Ines for guidance. Ines gave him a re, as if ming him for being too attractive. These two little girls sure had some wits about them. They noticed Ethan looking at Ines, and figured out real quick that buttering her up would be the most effective. They sweet-talked her, their eyes pleading, "Pretty please, could you get your boyfriend to take a picture with us?" "We don''t mean anything by it, we''re just straight-up fans." Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Did all little girls these days know how to sweet talk like this? They were really good at it. Ines just couldn''t resist, she nudged Ethan and said, "The little girl wants a photo with you, why are you zoning out?" The two little girls handed their phone to Ines when they saw her take the initiative. They grinned and said, "We''re counting on you." The girls positioned themselves on either side of Ethan, who stood there expressionless and a bit stiff. Ines, feeling helpless, looked at Ethan''s aloofness and couldn''t help but say, "Mr. Meyer, at least sh a smile when a beauty is taking a photo of you." Sure enough, Ethan couldn''t help but curl his lips after hearing that. Ines quickly snapped a photo, capturing the man with a slight smile on his face, which made her chuckle. The two little girls ran over excitedly to check out the photo and were very satisfied. They thanked Ines profusely and then offered to take their photo in return. Ines couldn''t refuse, so she went over. This time, Ethan''s attitude waspletely different, he naturally put his arm around her. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. She leaned slightly against him, their chemistry was palpable and they looked perfect together. "You two are a match made in heaven, wish you happiness forever." "May you two grow old together happily." After the girls left, the pair looked at the photo together. Ethan was very pleased, thinking he should take more photos in the future. Just then, he heard Ines spoiling the mood by mumbling, "You really look like a star, but I''m only into Justin now." Justin, that sounded like a guy''s name, didn''t it? "Who''s Justin?" Ethan red, his eyes filled with a hint of danger. Ines had another man she liked besides her ex-fianc¨¦ Aiden? He had never heard her mention this before. Ines pulled out a photo on her phone, pointing at a man and started introducing him, "This is Justin, mytest idol. He''s low- key, dedicated, principled, not shy, and his acting skills are top-notch. He has a unique style and a deep, sexy voice." So, he was an actor , and he was getting such high praises? Ethan looked at the excited Ines, his handsome face gradually darkened. What was even more annoying was he found out that even her phone wallpaper was Justin. "Is he really that great?" Ethan''s voice sounded off. Ines was too busy admiring the photos on her phone, "Yeah, I haven''t had a celebrity idol in years, but recently I became a fan of his. Not just me, all the girls at the firm love him too." "Look at him in this ck suit, isn''t he super handsome?" Ines showed him a few more photos. Ethan nced at them, then shook his head and nonchntly said, "He looks a bit old." "No way, this isn''t old, this is mature and stable." Ines continued to look at the photos, a faint smile on her lips. "Who do you like more between him and me?" The jealousy in his voice was pretty evident now. "Of course it''s." Just as she was about to say Justin, Ines suddenly noticed the icy atmosphere next to her. Looking up, she saw Ethan looking at her with a wicked smile. This kind of smile was all too familiar to her, and it definitely wasn''t a good sign. "Of course I like Mr. Meyer more, otherwise why would I agree to marry you after just one meeting?" Inesughed and changed the subject. Ethan scoffed and raised an eyebrow, "Is that the truth?" "I''ve never been a liar." Ines replied calmly, mentally kicking herself for bringing up this topic in front of him. This man was easy to rouse jealousy. "What to do? Mrs. Meyer, I want to kiss you." Ethan said. "What?" Ines was surprised. Without giving her time to react, Ethan pulled her close with one hand on her waist and the other on her chin. His hot kiss came down, not tender like usual, but punishing and a bit rough. Even though she had gotten used to his demanding kisses at home, this was the first time he had done it in public. Her struggle and displeasure only provoked a deeper punishment from him. Not until she was out of breath did Ethan let her go. She leaned against him, her legs weak and her cheeks burning like fire. She felt all eyes on them and could only bury her face in his chest. "If you dare to praise other men in front of me again, see how I deal with you." He emphasized the last few words. Thinking about his unique way of punishment, Ines couldn''t help butment. She wouldn''t dare to do it again. This man didn''t care about the ce or time when he got jealous. He was absolutely despicable. Good thing no one here knew her, otherwise she would die of embarrassment. Ines kept her head down as Ethan led her forward. Seeing her ostrich-like behavior, Ethan was in a good mood. He finally found a way to deal with this sharp-tongued girl. Her bashfulness was her Achilles heel. If she disobeyed in the future, he would use this trick. When they finally escaped the crowded shopping street, Ines grumbled at Ethan, "Mr. Meyer, you''re way too jealous. Don''t you know celebrities are just our spiritual sustenance?" Ethan said, "Whether it''s physical or spiritual, no other men are allowed. All the qualities you mentioned, I possess them. If you want to admire someone, admire me." Ines was speechless as Ethan took her phone. He quickly deleted all the photos of Justin, set their recent photo as her wallpaper, and sent a copy to himself, setting it as his own wallpaper as well. Ines watched his actions with a dumbfounded smile. She found his serious face quite cute at the moment and couldn''t help but tease him. "Ethan, you''re fighting a losing battle. I can always download the photos again." Ines said with a smile, linking her arm with Ethan''s. Ethan lightly pinched her cheek, a charming smile on his face, "Mrs. Meyer, feel free to try. Let''s see if you can download faster than I delete them. From now on, I''ll check your phone every day after work." "Ethan, do you really need to do this? Justin is married too." Ines widened her eyes. "All the uncertainties gotta be nipped in the bud. Entertainment business is one hell of a mess." In other words, there was still a chance someone might try to snatch his wife away. "Mr. Meyer, your wife ain''t no rare gem." Ines said. "Well, to me she is, and I won''t allow any mishaps to happen." Ethan confirmed. Chapter 53 Chapter 53 The two of them went to the supermarket. Ethan pushed the shopping cart with one hand and held Ines with the other. Ines picked out a set of porcin tes and a sewing box, while Ethan chose some fresh vegetables and daily necessities. In half an hour, the cart was full. When they were checking out, an embarrassing situation urred. Ines said to the cashier, "Did you miscalcte? It should be 770 bucks, not 791, where does the extra 21e from?" Ines had always been good with numbers, especially after working in auditing for several years. She could always urately calcte how much she spent at the supermarket. She had confidence that she didn''t miscalcte. Thedy at the cash register, who wasn''t very experienced, felt a bit unsure after seeing Ines''s confidence. "Hold on, let me recalcte it for you." She said. Ethan pulled at Ines¡¯s clothes, looking a bit uneasy, "Izzy, let it go. It''s gettingte. We should head back." Ines lowered her voice, "No, we need to clear this up." "Izzy, it''s not necessary to recalcte. It''s correct. I just put something else inside." Ethan said. Ines looked puzzled at Ethan, "What did you put? Howe I didn''t see it?" Ethan coughed, not knowing how to exin. Just when he was about to speak up, the cashier interrupted, "I didn''t miscalcte. You have a box of condoms in there, which is exactly 21." The cashier was also a bit embarrassed but she had to exin to prove that she didn¡¯t make a mistake. "Pfft." A man in line behind them couldn''t help butugh. And then there was a woman scolding him, but she couldn''t hide her own amusement. "What are youughing at? Shut up." Boom, Ines felt her face turn red and she lowered her head. Ethan was momentarily embarrassed but soon regained hisposure. He calmly said to the cashier, "I''m sorry for the misunderstanding. My wife just likes to keep track of things." "It''s okay. These things happen. You''ll get used to it and won¡¯t feel embarrassed in the future." The cashier meant tofort Ines but instead made her more embarrassed. Ethan hugged Ines''s head into his chest and paid the bill with a straight face. He then led her out of the supermarket. Ines gave Ethan an annoyed re and stepped on his polished shoe, leaving a footprint. "You sneaky guy, when did you put that in the cart?" Ines asked. They didn''t need those right now! And she couldn''t believe that she didn''t notice when he put it in. She made a fool of herself in front of so many people. This was just not her day. "Just before checking out." Ethan said sheepishly. He had intentionally put it in when she wasn''t looking, thinking he could get away with it. He didn''t expect this girl to be so precise with her calctions. She could urately add up the price of so many items, something he didn¡¯t anticipate at all. "You really pissed me off." Ines was about to jump with anger. "Don''t be mad. It''s always good to be prepared. We can''t wait until we need it. It''s right to have it ready." Ethan said. Ines grabbed her hair in frustration and headed for the parking lot. Ethan quickly followed her. On the way back, Ethan couldn''t help butugh thinking about the incident. It was clear Ines was also thinking about it, both angry and amused. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. By the time they got home, it was already 11 o''clock. Ethan still went to his study to work, and Ines felt a little guilty. He was already busy, but now he was spending a lot of time with her, and then he continued to workte into the night. Ines made him a cup of coffee and brought it to his study. When he saw hering in, he gave her a smile. Ines put the coffee on the table and said, "Ethan, you don''t have to spend so much time with me. I''ll learn to do the housework slowly. Try to finish your work earlier. You just recovered, and the doctor said you should rest more and not overwork." Ethan pulled Ines''s hand and let her sit on hisp, "It''s okay. After a day''s work,ing home to cook and hang out with you is a good way to rx. I''ve been dyed for a few days in the hospital, so I''ve got some work to catch up on. You go to bed first, I''ll be done in about half an hour." Ines nodded, seeing that it waste, she prepared to leave the study. Suddenly she remembered something and said to Ethan, "Can you take off your clothes?" Ethan grinned, "Hmm?" Ines rolled her eyes, "What are you thinking? I mean take off your wool sweater. Didn''t you notice that a button fell off?" Ethan finally understood. She had bought the sewing kit to mend his clothes. He felt warmed and quickly took off his sweater and handed it to her. "Thanks, darling." Ines blushed and took the sweater before leaving the study, not wanting to disturb Ethan''s work. In the bedroom, Ines started to thread the needle. Because she had never done it before, it took her several attempts to get the thread through the eye of the needle. She sat cross-legged on the bed, holding Ethan''s sweater and carefully sewing the button back on. The sweater still carried his body heat and even the fresh mint scent of his body. As he said, Ethan only stayed in the study for half an hour before returning to the bedroom. Ines was still struggling with the button. She had her hair tucked behind her ears, revealing her slender neck. Her eyebrows were furrowed and her lips were tightly pursed. It seemed that things weren''t going smoothly, but he was already satisfied with her effort. It was always said that a man who was serious was the most attractive. The same went for women. She was so focused on her work that she didn''t even notice hime in. It wasn''t until the bed dipped slightly next to her that she looked up and asked, "Are you done with work?" "I''m done. How about you?" Ethan asked. Ines looked up and smiled, "I''m done. Just onest stitch." Under his gaze, Ines made thest stitch. Ethan couldn''t wait to take it from her. Looking at the uneven stitches, his smile grew wider. "Uh, Ethan, this is my first time doing this, if you don''t like it, I can take it to someone else to fix tomorrow," Ines said, trying to snatch it back. Ethan immediately grabbed it tightly and hid it behind his back, chuckling, "I''m ttered that Mrs. Meyer gave me her first time." Ines naturally caught the joke in his words, gave him a yful re, theny down to sleep. Chapter 54 Chapter 54 These past few days, Ines had been relieved from her banking errands as Amelia assigned her back to the task of spot-checking ounting documents - still a rather low-skilled job. But Ines didn''tin; she epted her tasks with a calm demeanor. Right before lunch break, Jaime suddenly came in to check on the work progress. Ines was so focused she didn''t even notice there was a person standing behind her until she heard a voice. "Hey Jaime." Ines stood up to greet him. Jaime nodded, nced at the work in her hands, and frowned slightly, "This is all you''ve been doing these past few days?" Ines got up with a smile, dodging his question. "Actually, I feel pretty fulfilled. Some of this stuff I was a bit rusty on, so doing it again feels like I''m learning a lot." Jaime knew this was just Ines being polite and rubbed his forehead in slight annoyance, "You were rmended by Aaron, as his trusted sidekick. He''s been looking forward to you joining us, and you''re a priority to cultivate. It''s a waste to have someone with your experience doing an audit assistant''s job, it shows ack of confidence in your ability." Ines blinked in surprise, "Aaron Swanson wrote a rmendation letter for me?" She had no idea about this. Ever since Aaron confessed his feelings, she felt awkward around him and hadn''t contacted him since she arrived in A City. She hadn''t expected him to write a rmendation letter for her. Jaime shook his head with a smile and an unspoken admiration in his eyes, "It''s typical of Aaron to do things quietly. He''s got a lot of connections in A City, so as long as you''re in this field, he''ll know your whereabouts." It was clear that he and Aaron were close. Ines finally understood, feeling a bitter sweetness in her heart. She couldn''t respond to his kindness anymore. Jaime went straight into Amelia''s office. Seeing his serious demeanor, Ines couldn''t help but feel helpless. It seemed Amelia was in for a rough time. She could guess Amelia''s feelings towards her, probably worried she might take her ce. To be honest, Ines wasn''t that ambitious. She was just a restless person looking for something to do. As Jaime left, her colleagues started to gather around, "Wow, Ines, you''ve been keeping a pretty low profile. So young and yet with years of experience." "Having you do an audit assistant''s job is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut." "No wonder you couldplete so many bank confirmations in just two days." N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. "Jaime seemed pretty upset. Ms. Young is in big trouble now." Some were gloating, others showed pity. Ines just smiled. Inside Amelia Young''s office. Jaime sat on the sofa, Amelia poured him a ss of water, and sat opposite him, "What brings you here today?" Jaime didn''t look happy, "Amelia, you''re not usually petty, so I don''t understand why you''re being so shortsighted this time. I told you when Ines came, but you had her doing audit assistant work. You''re a veteran, surely you understand basic task delegation." Amelia looked surprised, "Did shein to you?" Jaime shook his head, "You''re overthinking; I noticed it myself. Ines seems like a hard worker, she didn''t even notice me standing behind her for ages. If I hadn''te today, I might not have noticed how you''re treating the person I hired with a high sry." "I''m not used to working with strangers. If she wants to be my partner, she has to earn my trust. I need to observe her for a while longer," Amelia stated firmly. Jaime said, "I don''t know what to say to you anymore. Look at your dark circles. You''re a woman; you don''t need to be this workaholic, and so serious. Delegate some of your work to others so you can spend more time with your family. That''s what you should be doing right now. The issues at home are directly rted to your work attitude; you should reflect on yourself and not treat work like it''s your life." Jaime saw Amelia''s face change and quickly stopped talking. He had a helpless feeling towards his subordinate, and a bit of sympathy. She was good at her job, but too stubborn, career-oriented, and didn''t understand how to care for her family. Most men liked gentle and mature women, so how could they stand someone so strong-willed for long? "If that''s what the director wants, I''ll do it," Amelia said calmly. Jaime looked at her, not sure if his words had sunk in. He sighed, "Amelia, it''s best if you can understand. I might be your boss, but I''m also your friend. I''ve seen youe a long way over these years, and I just hope you can sort out your personal life without letting it affect your work, or using work to torture yourself." He paused before adding, "I may have been a bit harsh just now, don''t hold it against me. I''ve been holding these words back for a long time, and took this opportunity to say it all. You should think it over. Only when both career and family are sessful can one be considered a winner in life." "I know, I''ll handle it," Amelia Young nodded. Having said all he needed to, Jaime didn''t say anything else. He just left after saying goodbye to Ines. As soon as he left, Ines'' phone rang. It was Amelia calling her to her office. She pointed at a pile of documents on the table, "After you finish your current tasks, take over these. Look it over, if there are no questions, you can leave." Ines stared at the pile of work materials with a little dismay. It was clear this was no longer just simple grunt work but tasks that were meant to be on Amelia''s te, and now they were dumped onto her. She asked a bit uncertainly, "Am I supposed to do all these?" Amelia gave her a sarcastic nce, "Isn''t this what you wanted? Losing your nerve now?" Ines shook her head, "No problem, I''ll get it done." She opened her mouth to say something, but swallowed her words seeing Amelia''s cold demeanor. She knew she was misunderstood, but she really didn''t know how to exin herself. Sometimes, exining didn''t always make people believe her, and it was better to keep mum. She sighed silently. It seemed that sometimes, attention from the boss wasn¡¯t necessarily a good thing. Amelia was already biased against her, and now her impression of her was probably worse. Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Around noon, Ines went to grab some lunch with the gang. Looking at the yellowed and dry veggies, Ines lost her appetite after just a few bites. All of a sudden, she found herself missing the meals Ethan used to cook. His cooking was top- notch, a feast for all senses. In her mind, she thought maybe Ethan had spoiled her taste buds, as she never used to be picky about food. Thinking about Ethan, her mind naturally drifted to the crappy things that happenedst night. She had never experienced such a disaster before. Facing that guy, she waspletely clueless about what to do. Kelly, sitting beside her, was captivated by the slight smile on Ines'' face. Blinking her eyes, she sincerely said, "Ines, you''re really pretty, you know." Deep eyes, adorable dimples when she smiled, and a calm aura around her. The more time they spent together, the more Kelly found her beautiful. The charm of her personality seeped in with time. Ines snapped out of her thoughts and yfully red at Kelly, "Stop pulling my leg." Kelly touched her heart, "Ines, you better not smile like that at guys, you''ll have them lining up." Ines just shook her head in amusement. Kelly stuck out her tongue yfully, "By the way, Ines, did that woman give you any trouble? I bet Jaime gave her a piece of his mind this morning." "Nope, not really," Ines replied with a light smile. Seeing Ines reluctant to share more, Kelly dropped the subject. Ines excused herself to go to the ladies'' room. As she was about toe out, she heard a shrill sound of high heels approaching. The woman was clearly upset. Then she heard a familiar voice, "Leo, dream on if you think you can get custody. There''s no way I''m handing Naomi over to a father like you! Your family''s wealth and power mean nothing to me. I''m financially independent and can provide for my child. Even if we go to court, the judge will consider Naomi''s opinion. I won''t necessarily lose." That voice belonged to Amelia. The man on the other end of the phone was also heated, so much so that Ines could hear everything clear as day. She suddenly remembered what Kelly had told her a few days ago about Amelia going through a divorce. Turned out it wasn''t just a rumor. Judging by their tone, things seemed pretty serious. They were arguing over custody. "Amelia, don''t think too highly of yourself! You only gave birth to her, but you never took on any responsibility. How many of Naomi''s birthdays did you attend? How many gifts did you remember to buy? How many times did you pick her up from kindergarten? Every time, Naomi was left standing alone in the cold with her backpack, waiting. And every time, she was disappointed to see me alone. At first, she would ask why her mom didn''te. Butter, she stopped asking. The few times you did pick her up, she was so happy she was jumping all over the ce." Amelia seemed struck by his words and fell silent for a moment. Ines stood awkwardly in the bathroom, unsure whether toe out. After a while, Amelia''s voice rang out again, "Leo, I won''t deny what you''ve just said. I did put a lot of my energy into work over the years. But don''t use that as an excuse for your infidelity. It''s you who betrayed our marriage first. I admit I neglected Naomi, but from now on, I''ll shift my focus back to her." The man on the other side of the phone seemed to find this hrious, he sneered, "Amelia, we''ve known each other since college, that''s ten years now. I know you better than you know yourself. Work has always been your top priority. I once thought you could be a good wife, but you''ve disappointed me time and time again. You always have an excuse for working overtime, for not spending time with me and Naomi. You always say you''ll be free after this period, then you''ll spend more time with us. But your busy times never end. I can hardly believe your words anymore." "Regardless, I''m Naomi''s mother. I won''t hand her over to another woman. And I don''t believe a man who cheats in marriage can be a good father." Amelia was firm. "Amelia, if you insist on making things difficult for everyone, going to court won''t do you any good. Think about it." The man seemed to have run out of patience. His tone was harsh, even threatening. "I don''t care. I don''t want a penny of your money, just my daughter. I won''t back down on this matter. There''s no room for negotiation." The argument outside went on and on, only quieting down after quite a while. Ines let out a sigh of relief. She had been in the same position for too long and her legs were starting to feel numb. She squatted down and lightly massaged her calf, nning to wait until Amelia left beforeing out. But unexpected things always happen. Her phone rang. It was Ethan. She had no choice but to quickly hang up. Amelia naturally heard the ringtone. Her face changed and she asked suspiciously, "Who''s in there?" Ines reluctantly put her phone back in her bag, steeled herself, and walked out of the bathroom, "Ms. Young, it''s me." Amelia''s face darkened instantly, "I didn''t know Ms. Galeana had a habit of eavesdropping on other people''s phone calls." "Um, Ms. Young, you''ve got the wrong idea. I didn''t mean to listen in on your call. I just happened to be..." Ines started to exin. Amelia let out a coldugh, staring at Ines, "Happened to be here, huh? Don''t you think that''s a weak excuse? This is a workce. I don''t want to hear any rumors about my personal life in the company. No matter how much you heard, you better forget it all. It''s for the best." This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Ines was at a loss for words, "Ms. Young, don''t worry. I won''t say a word." "You better remember what you just said." Amelia said. Amelia Young fixed herself up in front of the mirror, then slipped back into her usual cool demeanor, walking out of the restroom as if nothing had happened, a stark contrast to her previous emotional outburst. If it wasn''t for today''s incident, Ines would never have imagined that Amelia had such a side. Ines heaved a sigh, feeling like she really drew the short straw today. She''d managed to piss off Amelia in the morning, and identally overheard her private matters at noon. If any rumors were to spread around thepany, she''d certainly be the first one under suspicion. Feeling a bit down, she pulled out her phone and dialed the number of that bolt from the blue call. If it wasn''t for that sudden call, she could''ve made a clean getaway. Chapter 56 Chapter 56 The moment the call connected, Ethan''s gentle and pleasing voice came through, "Izzy, it''s lunch time. You''re not still busy, are you?" Lately, they had formed a habit of calling each other at noon. Most of the time, Ethan was the one to make the call. Listening to his caring words, Ines''s little annoyance vanished, "I''ve already eaten. I had to hang up on you earlier because of somethinging up." "That''s good. Just make sure to eat on time." Ethan said. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. "I know." She thought to herself, that he was like a nagging old man repeating this every day. Hearing how she dragged out her answer, Ethan knew she was probably scoffing in that way she did. He couldn''t help butugh, "Are you annoyed with me?" It was just one of those things he couldn''t control. He knew she was all grown up, but he just couldn''t help but worry. "I wouldn''t dare to be annoyed with Mr. Meyer." Ines said. "Don''t just say it."Ethan said. "Ha-ha." Ines chuckled and then became serious, "Ethan, do men not like it when women put too much energy into their work?" Amelia''s situation had made her feel somewhat reflective. A rtionship that started from college, lasting for a decade, ending with betrayal and divorce. Such a conclusion was disheartening. She didn''t know what Amelia was like in her personal life, but from their time together, she considered Amelia to be a bit cold, yet impable in her work. She thought that such a diligent worker would not be irresponsible in life. "What happened?" Ethan could tell something was off in Ines''s tone. "Nothing much, I was just feeling a bit reflective and wanted to hear a man''s perspective." Ines said. Ethan paused for a moment before saying, "There''s no absolute answer to that. What''s needed in a marriage is tolerance and understanding. If the person I love enjoys her work, I don''t think I would oppose." Ines spent the afternoon pondering Ethan''s words, feeling quite pleased. As usual, Ethan came to pick her up from work and cooked her favorite dishes for dinner. Her appetite was unusually strong, and she felt she made up for her small lunch. Just as they were about to finish dinner, Ethan suddenly announced, "Izzy, I have to go on a business trip for a few days." Ines paused, feeling the food was suddenly hard to swallow. She asked in a daze, "So sudden, when are you leaving? How long will you be gone?" "10 o''clock tonight with flight, probably a week." Ethan said. Seeing that it was already 8 o''clock, with only two hours left before the flight, she immediately put down her cutlery, "Why didn''t you tell me earlier?" The guy had the nerve to cook dinner and eat with her as if nothing was happening. "It''s not a big deal, no rush." To him, business trips were routine. "Did you pack your luggage?" Ines asked. Ethan''s eyes brightened, then shook his head, "Not yet." Ines gave him a re, then got up to retrieve a silver suitcase from the storage room. She started packing his clothes in the bedroom. Ethan followed her in,zily leaning on the bed, watching the woman bustling about in the walk-in closet, a smile curving on his lips. Ines was used to packing for her business trips, so she was efficient. In just over ten minutes, she had packed everything, and while zipping up the suitcase, she said, "London''s pretty humid and windy at this time. I''ve put two wool sweaters inside. You can wear them under your suit. And the scarves, they''re useful as long as it''s not too formal." As Ines rambled on, she looked every bit the dutiful wife. Ethan couldn''t help but get up and hug her from behind. Her soft body was irresistible, and smelling the soft rose scent from her hair, he had the urge to cancel his trip. Perhaps because they were about to part, Ines felt a bit down. She leaned into his embrace, "Ethan, did you hear everything I just said?" "Sure thing. Having a wife really makes a difference." Heughed softly, resting his chin on her neck. He always disliked chatty women, but at that moment, his wife''s nagging felt like the most wonderful melody. Ines''s cheeks flushed, even her ears turning pink. Despite their nightly cuddles, they were usually in the dark. This was one of the rare times under bright light. Seeing her shy reaction, Ethan gently kissed her earlobe, causing her to shudder. Taking advantage of this, Ethan started nibbling her ear, and Ines, unable to resist, moaned softly, "Ethan..." Just then, the phone rang. "Damn it." Ethan cursed under his breath, then gruffly answered, "What is it?" Lucas, who was already waiting outside, was startled. He carefully replied, "Sir, it''s time to head to the airport." "Got it." Ethan said. Ines had already risen while Ethan was on the phone. She quickly straightened her clothes and felt ufortably hot. Ethan looked at her with a smile, his eyes full of reluctance and fondness. Feeling his gaze, Ines pushed him slightly, "Hurry up, don''t keep Lucas waiting." "I really don''t want to leave." Ethan held on to Ines, unwilling to let go. Ines had never seen this side of Ethan before, he seemed a bit childish. She found it amusing and managed to pry his hands off her waist, urging him, "Come on." Ines apanied Ethan downstairs, where Lucas and the driver were already waiting. As she watched the car slowly drive off, she suddenly felt a prickling sensation in her eyes. Chapter 57 Chapter 57 The room seemed terrifyingly cold, with just one person missing. Izzy was shivering in her bed. No matter how long she stayed under the covers, she couldn''t seem to get warm. She was all curled up, tossing, and turning but couldn''t fall asleep. She felt a bit pissed off. She used to be alone all the time, right? How did she get so used to having someone else around in such a short time? Suddenly, she remembered the hot water bottles she bought with Ethan at the supermarket not so long ago. Izzy got out of bed to heat up two of them, one for her feet and one to hold in her arms. Now she felt much warmer and gradually began to fall asleep. The next day, when Izzy woke up, it was already nine o''clock. She was startled for a moment but soon realized it was Saturday. Since she spent the whole night curled up, she felt sore all over and didn¡¯t want to get out of bed. Just then, Ethan''s call came in. She quickly answered, and her voice was tinged with an excitement she hadn''t noticed herself, "Ethan, are you in London?" A softugh came from the other end. Izzy blushed. She must have been too excited just now. "Izzy, you weren''t waiting for my call all night, were you?" His voice was teasing. Without thinking, Izzy knew he was making fun of her again. He always annoyed her like this. A popr term on the Inte came to her mind: flirting. Wasn''t that exactly what he was doing? She pouted, "You called this early to disturb my beauty sleep. If you don''t talk, I''ll hang up." Ethan had a good sense of when to go along with his beloved. His voice softened, "Izzy, I''m here." Izzy sat on the bed, the sunlight streaming in from the window casting a gentle light on her face. She pursed her lips, and her face was serene, "Good." "I''ll call the Meyer Mansion in a bit. If you''re bored, you can go to the Meyer Mansion. I''ve arranged for Dane to pick you up and drop you off for work. You can eat at the Meyer Mansion while I''m not home." Izzy pouted, somewhat unhappy. She was just a bit more of an eater than most women, why was he so concerned? "I''m not a pig, why are you always worried about what I eat?" Ethan couldn''t help butugh, "I''m not worried about anything else, just that you might go hungry." "Actually, I just want to tell you that I miss you a lot." Izzy''s fingers tightened unconsciously on the phone, a warm current seemed to flow into her heart and spread quickly throughout her body, "Okay, don''t worry about me not eating well. But you have a bad stomach, you should eat regrly and quit drinking." "Okay, Mrs. Meyer." They talked for a long time. Finally, Izzy remembered that it should be one or two in the morning in London and hung up the phone, telling Ethan to rest early. Izzy''s heart gradually settled down, and she turned over and went back to sleep in bed. --- London Airport. Lucas stared at Ethan in astonishment. Was this still Mr. Meyer? He couldn''t wait to make a call as soon as he got off the ne, cracking jokes and giving detailed instructions to his wife. He remembered clearly howpliant he was with his wife when he had a stomachache that day. He threw him another curveball. If he wasn''t his personal secretary and always by his side, he would suspect that the Mr. Meyer in front of him had been reced. It''s been a long time since he saw him being like this with a woman. He thought his heart had died after that incident. He didn''t expect to see him so happy now, which made him quite relieved. After hanging up the phone, Ethan returned to his usual self. Seeing his secretary staring at him nkly, he couldn''t help asking, "Why are you staring at me like that?" Lucas thought for a moment and said, "Mr. Meyer, you''ve changed a lot recently." This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Ethanughed, "People can''t live in the past forever." It took him several years to figure that out. "Does Miss Silvia know you''re in London? Are you going to visit her during your trip?" Lucas asked. Ethan frowned a bit, his voice was somewhat heavy, "Tell her if I can''t spare the time, I won''t go. I''ll visit her when I have time next time." Lucas nodded, "Okay, I will let her know. The hotel arrangements are all set. We can head there now." Izzy slept all morning at home and didn''t wake up until Dane came to pick her up, "Sorry for making you wait, Dane." Dane used to be Phillip Meyer''s bodyguard. After Phillip retired, he retired too. He was used to military life and couldn''t stand being idle. Now he serves as Phillip''s driver in the Meyer family. "No need to be sorry, Izzy." Dane gave her a kind smile, "Izzy, let''s go now. Phillip knew you wereing home this weekend and specially ordered the kitchen to prepare your favorite dishes. It should be about time for lunch." Izzy had thought she''d feel out of ce at the Meyer Mansion without Ethan there. But everyone at the Meyer Mansion treated her well, giving her a sense of warmth, like she wasing home. She spent her days happily helping Phillip trim the nts. It was just the nights that were hard Because She couldn''t help but remember all the times she spent with Ethan. She remembered a line she read in a book, "I didn''t know what it was to miss someone until now, and now I''m tormented by it." She used to be indifferent to this line, but now she could understand the poet''s feelings. When you''re into someone, they really do haunt you. Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Lately, Izzy has been feeling all over the ce. Ever since Ethan called her the day he arrived, there has been radio silence. A bit peeved, Izzy decided if he wasn''t going to call her, she wasn''t going to call him either. She didn''t even know why she couldn''t stop thinking about the guy. One day, as Izzy was packing up her stuff to leave work, her phone on the desk buzzed. She picked it up quickly, only to feel a bit let down to see it was Aaron, not Ethan. Aaron asked her out for dinner. At the restaurant, Aaron spotted Izzy the moment she walked in. Her long hair casually cascaded over her shoulders, her face was lightly made up, and her pale pink coat made her look youthful. He felt there was something different about her, but he couldn''t quite put his finger on it. "Izzy, over here." He waved to her. Izzy saw Aaron and gave him a small smile as she took the seat opposite him. She set her bag down and said, "Sorry, Aaron. Kept you waiting, huh?" "I just got here too." When the waiter came over, Aaron ordered a meat dish, and Izzy took the menu and ordered a veggie dish and soup. Their old rapport was still there. "It feels like old times, workingte with my senior." Izzy said with a deepening smile. The overtime pay at Foresight Financial Services was strictly regted, only 20 per person. Anything exceeding that had toe out of their own pockets. So they got used to grabbing a bite at a restaurant outside, which could conveniently be reimbursed. And it just became a habit over time. Aaron also felt a bit nostalgic and said reflectively, "Yeah, feels like just yesterday. Except you went and betrayed our auditing career halfway through." Izzy felt a twinge in her heart but rxed when she heard the word ''career''. She said jokingly, "Aaron, you scared me. I''m not that kind of person. I haven''t given up. I''m still working in auditing." "How''s the new job?" "Thank you for your rmendation letter, Aaron. Don''t worry about me. I adapt pretty quickly. I''ve already gotten the hang of the new job, and my colleagues are easy to get along with." Aaron had always thought he knew Izzy well. She was a rational and restrained woman, not the type totch onto anyone. But when she suddenly quit, he realized he had made a fatal error. He didn''t really know her at all. Turns out she could be impulsive and was willing to throw everything away for love. "Is he treating you well?" Aaron didn''t directly mention her husband. Maybe he was still having trouble epting it. The day she quit, she called him. He saw the missed call but never returned it. Later, he heard from others that it was her and her new husband''s wedding dinner. From them, he learned her husband was a handsome man with a great demeanor. The mention of Ethan brought a small smile to Izzy''s lips. Aaron noticed it and felt a sudden sadness. "He''s great. Just the kind of man I''ve always dreamed of." "That''s good. I''m relieved. I''ve been in A City these days. If you have time, bring him out and we can have dinner together." "Aaron, your timing is off. He''s on a business trip and won''t be back for a few days." Aaron felt a bit disappointed. "Well, no rush. I''ve also submitted my resignation. Once I wrap up my current work, I''lle to A City, probably in about a month." "Aaron, you''reing to A City?" Izzy was surprised. She hadn''t heard about his ns before. ¡°Foresight Financial Services won''t be the same without you. It took the fun out of my work,¡± Aaron thought to himself. But he said out loud, "Well, not really ing¡¯. More like returning home. After all, A City is where I grew up, and my family is here. I''ve been in self-exile for too long. It''s time to face my past bravely. You''re right. Running away doesn''t solve anything." N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Izzyughed. She was genuinely happy for Aaron. She had no choice but to leave A City when she was abandoned by her biological father. But he had chosen self-exile. "Aaron, I''m happy for you." "Thank you." The food arrived shortly. By the time they finished, it was nearly eight. Aaron paid the bill. He didn''t feelfortable letting her go home alone, so he walked her home. As she was about to enter her apartmentplex, he called out, "Izzy, you probably forgot what I said a while ago. I hope I can still be your Senior. You don''t have to feel burdened around me. Let''s act like we used to." Under the dim light, Izzy gave a soft smile. "Got it, my senior." Aaron gave a satisfied smile. "Alright, go on up. It''s cold out." He wasn''t used to her being so reserved. It would be better if they just went back to how things were. Izzy felt lighter as she walked home. It was as if she had let go of a burden. But the moment she walked through the door, her face scrunched up. That man was unbelievable, just up and disappearing like that. She threw her bag onto the sofa in frustration and downed a ss of water. She turned on the TV and habitually took out her phone, only to see two missed calls and two unread messages. All from the same person, Ethan. Izzy smirked. He finally couldn''t resist. She opened the first message. The message read, "Called twice but you didn''t pick up. Don''t tell me you''re on a date with some guy behind my back." Izzy rolled her eyes. Did this man have eyes in the back of his head? How did he guess what she was up to tonight? She opened the second message. "Don''t tell me I guessed right. You really went on a date?" It was followed by two crying emojis. Izzy couldn''t help butugh as she looked at the emojis. She quickly typed a response. "Hmm, that''s right. Never underestimate Mrs. Meyer''s charm." She added two smug emojis. After sending the message, Izzy put her phone aside. The moment she set it down, it started buzzing. The familiar voice she hadn''t heard in days came through the phone. "Izzy, did you really go on a date with a guy?" Izzy kicked off her shoes, bent her knees, and slouchedzily on the couch. "What''s up? Are you getting antsy now?" "You little troublemaker, wait till I get back, you won''t be able to run away from me." Ethan''s voice had a hint of grinding teeth. Although he didn''t spell it out, she instantly caught his drift, and her cheeks flushed deeply, as if she had applied intoxicating rouge. Meanwhile, Ethan, not hearing any retort from Izzy, was feeling on top of the world. Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Ethan hadn''t given a specific time for his return, but just the uncertainty alone was enough to set Izzy on edge. She was told to expect something and was a bundle of nerves, her emotions was all over the ce. One day after work, as soon as Izzy opened the door, she was hit with a rich aroma wafting from the kitchen. Her legs acted on their own, changing shoes at the entryway and heading straight to the living room. Sure enough, Ethan''s suitcase was still there. A smile crept up on her face when she thought about him rushing to cook before even unpacking. Lady Luck had finally cut her some ck and she had managed to nab him out of the sea of men. "What are you grinning at? Hurry up and wash your hands, dinner''s ready." Izzy looked up at the man standing in the kitchen doorway and responded softly, "Okay." Just as she turned on the faucet to wash her hands, a warm body pressed against her back. One hand assertively wrapped around her slender waist and the other gave her nose a yful pinch. "You cold-hearted girl, not a single call from you all this time, and you even went on a date with a stranger behind my back yesterday." Izzy snorted silently. He''s one to talk, she didn¡¯t get a single call from him either. A wave of annoyance rose in her chest at the thought. Acting on impulse, she gripped the hand around her waist with her wet and cold hands, as if to punish him with the chill. One hand was rugged and bronzed and the other was delicate and slender. The mismatched colors didn¡¯t seem out of ce at all, instead, they gave off a warm vibe. Ethan didn¡¯t call her out on her little scheme. But the cold touch made his brow furrow. He immediately dried her hands with a towel, reminding her as he did so, "I''ve told you multiple times, we have hot water 24/7. Even when you''re washing your hands, use hot water." They continued to hold each other. Izzy leaned against his warm chest, and after watching his actions, her annoyance dissipated significantly. "I forgot." Ethan has made spaghetti and steak, both looking delicious. Izzy¡¯s stomach growled at the sight. She blushed, instinctively ncing at Ethan across the table. But Ethan didn¡¯t react, so she rxed. Izzy had a very satisfying meal. For the past few days, she had been having lunch in the office cafeteria and either eating out with Phoebe or having a simple meal at home for dinner. She was tired of it. After they finished eating, Ethan cleaned up the table while Izzy helped him unpack his suitcase. Clothes that hadn''t been worn are put back in the wardrobe, while the worn ones were put in the laundry basket in the bathroom. Just as she was about to start washing them, Ethan grabbed her hand. "Leave them, I''ll have someone pick them up forundry tomorrow." Izzy looked at Ethan. "It''s okay, I''ll do it." She couldn¡¯t cook, but doingundry was something she could handle. She had to do some sort of housework or she wouldn¡¯t be able to stand herself. A glint of amusement shed in Ethan''s eyes. He pulled her into his embrace. "But now''s not the time. That''s not your main priority right now." "Huh?" Main priority? Izzy couldn¡¯t think of anything she had forgotten. She looked at him in confusion. Ethan looked at her long eyshes and kissed her slightly parted lips. A loud boom went off in Izzy¡¯s head and she finally remembered what he was referring to. The thing that had been bothering her the past few days. She didn¡¯t know whether to feel embarrassed or nervous and pushed him lightly. Ethan frowned slightly, making the kiss a bit more forceful. His intense presence enveloped her and Izzy got dizzy. She closed her eyes in a daze and slowly responded to him. Seeing her response, the frown on Ethan''s face smoothed out and the initially punishing kiss became gentler. He lifted Izzy onto the washing machine. The sudden coolness brought Izzy back to her senses. She opened her eyes and identally saw her flushed and dazed reflection in the mirror. "Ethan..." Izzy breathed heavily, not knowing what to say, just calling out based on her feelings. But she froze when she heard her own voice. Her eyes widened in shock. Whose soft voice was that? Ethan chuckled at her innocent appearance. His chest moved slightly. Being so close, Izzy could naturally feel his chest vibrating. She forced herself to calm down, feeling embarrassed and annoyed. "What''s so funny? Stopughing." "Izzy, it¡¯s time to keep your promise." "I didn''t promise you anything." She hadn¡¯t agreed to what he mentioned a few days ago, right? Ethan affectionately rubbed his nose against hers. "I took your silence as consent." Suddenly, he lifted her up. Izzy was caught off guard and can only wrapped her arms and legs around him.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Ethan''s eyes lit up all of a sudden. Though he''d spected on her innocence, the surprise he felt upon confirmation was beyond imagination. He ced her hand on his back and kissed her again, letting her lips loose and transferring all the passion onto him. Izzy found Ethan''s actions extremely tender. There was a bit of pain thatsted for a while, but it turned into a pleasure that was indescribable. She''d never felt this in her twenty-something years. The room was filled with a suggestive atmosphere. They cuddled side by side, and he stroked her smooth back over and over, nting gentle kisses by her ears. Izzy was so exhausted that she didn''t want to move at all. She closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep as exhaustion overcame her. Hearing her faint breathing, Ethan''s lips curled into a smile filled with satisfaction and relief. He had always wondered why his cold and lonely heart was captivated by her at first sight. Why did he, in such a short time, determine that she was his life partner? What could be the reason? Perhaps it was because she silently endured eating desserts she disliked. Perhaps it was because of the faint smile that yed on her lips when she teased others. Or perhaps it was because of her confidence and spirit when she spoke eloquently. After the events that just unfolded, coupled with her rigorous workload recently and theck of a good night''s sleep without Ethan by her side, she was truly exhausted. Even when Ethan carried her to take a bathter, she didn''t wake up. When Izzy woke up, it was already the next morning. The smooth touch behind her made her eyes fly open. Her hazy consciousness slowly returned and the events ofst night reyed in her mind like a movie. She had truly be a woman, Ethan''s wife. With this thought, her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. N?velDrama.Org content. Realizing she was still in Ethan''s arms, she blushed profusely to avoid the awkwardness upon waking up. She moved therge hand that was resting on her waist and tried to get up, but the moment she moved, she felt a searing pain and couldn''t help but gasp. "Shhh." Ethan was a light sleeper. He was awake the moment Izzy opened her eyes. He just wanted to see her reaction, so he stayed still. Sure enough, Her shy self wanted to escape as soon as she woke up. But she was his legitimate wife, where could she escape to? He pulled her back into his arms, imprisoning her tight, and whispered into her ear, "Does it still hurt?" Izzy''s face turned beet red, then she shrank back, curling up in his arms, not saying a word. Ethan turned her face towards him, with his eyes full of teasing, staring fixedly at her, "Does it really hurt that much?" Her soft chest pressed against his firm one, and Izzy awkwardly turned her head a bit and said, "Ethan, stop making fun of me." He knew she was shy, but he still enjoyed teasing her. Ethan touched his chin with a serious expression, his voiceced with amusement, "So, does that mean it doesn''t hurt anymore? I was very carefulst night, it shouldn''t hurt a lot." Annoyed, Izzy hit Ethan''s chest with her head and snorted, then kept quiet. Why did she have to discuss this first thing in the morning? She''d had enough. Seeing her adorable reaction, Ethan couldn''t help butugh. Hearing Ethan''s joyfulughter, Izzy couldn''t help but smile faintly. At this point, she didn''t realize that her emotions were being easily swayed by one person. She pushed him, "Ethan, let me go, I want to take a bath." "I already helped you bathest night. I know you''re exhausted. You still have plenty of time before work, sleep a little more. I''ll wake you up, I promise you won''t bete." Ethan emphasized the word "exhausted." Izzy felt like hitting her head against the wall. She was so tiredst night that she didn''t even wake up when Ethan bathed her. The temperature of her body increased a few degrees when she thought about being carried to the bath, stark naked, by him. "Why didn''t you help me put on a nightgown?" Izzyined softly, making the situation even more awkward. Ethan pinched her nose, "Your memory is really poor. I remember telling you that I prefer to sleep naked." In other words, he had been considering her feelings all this time, but from now on, he would return to his habits. Izzy was speechless. What kind of habit is this? He didn''t feel cold, even in the deep winter. However, it was veryfortable to hug him in the winter because it seemed like his body was always warm, much like a furnace. Ethan initially wanted Izzy to sleep a little more. He was aroused by holding a soft woman. How could he resist his own wife? The two were so close that Izzy could naturally feel it. In her shock, Ethan suddenly kissed her. At first, Izzy resisted a bit, but soon she surrendered, responding to his dominant yet tender kiss. She liked his kisses, it always felt like she was on top of the world when he kissed her, as if they were deeply in love with each other. By the time they finished, Izzy was truly tired and didn''t want to move. Her eyes were half-closed, she was panting, and her heart was pounding from the passion as if it was about to jump out of her throat. Seeing her so tired, Ethan suggested, "Izzy, why don''t we take the day off? I can call in sick for you." Izzy looked at the energetic man before her, feeling a bit resentful. Howe he was still so spirited? Indeed, men¡¯s and women''s stamina were onpletely different levels. She firmly rejected his suggestion, "No, I just started working recently. Foresight Financial Services is also very busy these days, I can''t take off work right now." It would have been fine if she was really sick, but she was too embarrassed to take leave for this reason. Ethan found it amusing when he saw Izzy''s determined look. He had no doubt about her attitude toward work, she was incredibly responsible. "I''m worried you''ll feel tired." Izzy red at him a bit unhappily. Didn''t he feel any shameto say such things? Wasn''t her current state all because of him? Izzy got out of bed but her legs gave out and she almost fell. Then she suddenly realized she waspletely naked, so she quickly covered her chest with her hands, and darted into the bathroom. Ethan crossed his arms behind his head, staring at the ceiling in a daze. After thinking for a while, he also got up. Chapter 61 Chapter 61 In the bathroom, Izzy looked at the marks on her body, and her resentment toward Ethan deepened, especially when she noticed marks on her neck too. Thank God for winter scarves, she thought, or she wouldn''t know how to face colleagues today. When she emerged, Ethan was also done freshening up in the guest bathroom. He looked puzzled when she gave him a disgusted nce, but then it dawned on him when his eyesnded on the scarf around her neck. He scratched his head, his handsome face full of amusement, "Sorry for getting carried away, Izzy. I''ve been feeling pretty neglectedtely by you. Please try to understand." "Bullshit," Izzy muttered under her breath. They had only been married for just under two months. She definitely hadn''t neglected him for long. But thinking about that he hadn''t had any women around him in years, her mood improved slightly. So, under Izzy''s disgusted gaze, Ethan dropped her off at Foresight Financial Services, just in time for her to clock in two minutes before work started. In the days that followed, Izzy led a fulfilling life. If she had anyints, it was that Ethan sought her affection every night. His sexual needspletely exceeded her expectations. Ever since they became intimate, except for the time she was on her period, they had barely taken a break. Sometimes even she didn''t know what to call their current situation. Before they knew it, the winter holidays had arrived. The Meyer family had been keen on meeting each other''s parents, and Ethan had already booked flights for Rita Page and Zander Payne as soon as he knew the holidays wereing. Early in the morning, Ethan and Izzy went to the airport to pick them up. Ethan couldn''t help but ruffle Izzy''s hair as he saw her anxiously looking down the airport corridor. She was a rich girl, yet she was living amoner''s life. She couldn''t go home and only had two people who genuinely cared for her. "What''s up?" Izzy blinked in confusion, not knowing why Ethan was suddenly ying with her hair. Ethan just smiled and said nothing. Izzy seemed to read something in his eyes, but before she could figure it out, she heard Rita''s voice. "Izzy." Izzy saw Rita and Zander and immediately went up to them. She affectionately linked arms with them, calling them sweetly, "Aunty Rita, Uncle Zander." After Ethan greeted the two, he took Zander''s suitcase. As they walked side by side, Ethan looked at his cheerful wife and felt inexplicably happy. Rita also felt relieved to see her niece''s happy face. As a woman who had been through it all, she could tell at a nce whether a woman was happy after marriage. She saw that her nephew-inw''s eyes were always on her niece. How could he do so if he didn''t care for her? Clearly, her gamble had paid off, and the marriage was going just as she had expected. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. "Naughty girl, you only called me three times in such a long time. Now that you''re married, you don''t even care about your own family." Rita lightly poked Izzy''s forehead, pretending to be angry. "I''ve been too busy," Izzy exined softly. Rita red at Izzy, "Busy? Ethan is the CEO of a corporation, and you''re just a worker. You can''t be busier than Ethan. Ethan''s called us more often than you have." Izzy looked surprised at Ethan. When did he make these calls? Why didn''t she know about them? She had never heard him mention it. Seeing Izzy''s gaze, Ethan raised his eyebrows with a smile. Izzy red back at him. How could he be such a people-pleaser? He made her look like the unfilial one. "You have the nerve to re at Ethan? You''re a grown woman, can''t you learn from him? Don''t tell me you''re also like this with the Meyer family too." Izzy was taken aback. If Rita hadn''t reminded her, she probably wouldn''t have realized it. She had only visited the Meyer Mansion twice during this time and had rarely called them. Most of the time, it was Phillip or her mother-inw who called her. Seeing Izzy like this, Rita understood and shook her head in resignation, "Really, you..." Her niece wasn''t ungrateful, she just didn''t know how to express it. Often, she would keep her feelings hidden. Zander chuckled and nced at his wife, "We''re still at the airport. Let''s talk about this at home. You''re going to make yourself sound like a nagging olddy." Grateful, Izzy looked at her uncle. Rita red at Zander, "You''ve got some nerve. You didn''t do a good job of teaching her in all these years." Zander stayed quiet, secretly exchanging a nce with Izzy. Ethan had converted the home gym into arge bedroom and thoughtfully moved their luggage there. Rita''s fondness for Ethan, her nephew-inw, grew, "Ethan, if you have work, go do it. We''ll be fine with Izzy." "Aunty, uncle, rest up at home for the afternoon. We''ve arranged to meet my family tonight." Rita was a bit worried, "Are you sure we won''t be a bother? We could just stay in a hotel." "Aunty, you don''t have to be so formal with me. How could I let you guys stay in a hotel? Izzy''s been looking forward to you guysing for a long time. She doesn''t have many rtives or friends here, so your visit will give her someone to talk to. I can also show you around. A City has changed quite a bit over the years." Rita sighed sadly, "Yeah, I hardly recognize it anymore. It''s nothing like the city I grew up in." "You both rest for now, I''ll go make lunch." Rita looked a bit surprised, then chuckled and nodded, "Just whip up anything, no need for a feast or anything." Ethan nodded and headed out, with Zander tagging along into the kitchen. Rita grinned at Izzy, "Izzy, who''s the cook when you two are at home?" Izzy made a face, a bit embarrassed, and said honestly, "Ethan does the cooking. You know very well that I can''t cook." Ritaughed knowingly and gently tapped Izzy¡¯s forehead, "You can''t cook and yet you say it so boldly. But you''re one lucky girl, to have a CEO cook for you. When we were at home a while ago, I thought Ethan was just trying to impress me and your uncle by cooking. Turns out he''s genuinely caring." Izzy muttered under her breath, "He''s no Gordon Ramsay, his cooking''s just okay, I guess." Rita shook her head and chuckled, thinking, ¡°Sometimes couples like to nitpick at each other, it''s not real criticism, just a kind offort and joy.¡± Chapter 62 Chapter 62 "But Aunt, how did you figure out Ethan''s identity?" She had originally nned to tell them this time, but they seemed to have known all along. "You identally revealed yourself. I knew since the day Ethan first came over, otherwise, how could I trust him and let you go to A City alone? That mother- daughter duo has been eyeing you like a hawk, only with Ethan''s status would I trust him to protect you. And Ethan even showed me a property transfer document, half of his wealth is now yours. Although I am not a gold digger, I¡¯ve always understood that a marriage needs a solid financial base, especially in your unique situation." Izzy was shocked! Half of Ethan''s wealth? That amount was beyond her imagination. For a moment, she didn''t know how to describe what she was feeling. He had transferred half of his wealth to her without letting her know. They had only met a few times back then, was this him being overly confident, or was it his trust in her? She wasn''t just rich, she had be a millionaire. "Didn''t Ethan tell you about this?" Izzy shook her head, tasting the sweetness in her heart, "He never mentioned it." He would call her aunt and uncle, and secretly transfer half of his wealth to her name. What else had he done behind her back? Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Rita patted Izzy on her shoulder, and said earnestly, "Izzy, live a good life with Ethan. I can tell he''s a good guy." Izzy looked at Rita and said seriously, "Aunt, I know, I''ve never treated marriage as a game." "That''s good." After a long catch up, they finally stopped when Ethan called them for dinner. After dinner, Zander and Rita rested in the room while Izzy pulled Ethan into the master bedroom, which took him by surprise. "What are you up to, Izzy? You missed me?" Izzy looked at the man in front of her with a slight smirk on his face, and for some reason, she felt a sting in her eyes and rubbed them. Ethan noticed her sad expression and gently stroked her eyes when he saw them turning red, "What''s wrong?" "Ethan, you didn''t have to transfer half of your wealth to me." This was his pre-marital property, ording to current marriagews, even if they divorce in the future, these properties have nothing to do with her. But if he transferred all his properties to her, it meant something different. Ethan sighed in relief, "Silly girl, I thought it was something serious. It turns out it''s just about this." "This is not a ''small issue''." Only the man in front of her could treat this as a small issue, this was half of his worth! How could he be so generous? Ethan pulled Izzy to sit next to him and said seriously, "Izzy, I married you and I don''t n on ever getting divorced. It doesn''t matter whose name the property is in, if this can show my sincerity for this marriage, why wouldn''t I do it? Do you still have second thoughts?" "Of course not." Izzy said firmly. "Then why are you bringing this up? Are you still treating me like an outsider?" Ethan patiently coaxed. "No." Ethan smiled, his extremely charming eyes twinkled with starlight, "That''s good then, it''s all ours anyway." "Ethan..." Izzy didn''t know what to say, her emotions wereplicated and couldn''t be expressed in words. "Shh." Ethan gently put his finger on Izzy''s lips, "Izzy, don''t say anything. In my heart, you deserve all of this." He didn''t know why, but, he was sure. Izzy was startled, then smiled helplessly. This man, why was he always able to so easily stir her emotions? Ethan looked at her rosy lips, picked her up by the waist, and gently kissed her. The hot kiss was full of love as he gently wrapped her tongue around hers. Romance filled the room. Izzy didn''t know how long she had slept. When she woke up, she felt sore all over. Thinking about what had happened not too long ago, spending the day with Ethan in such a way made her feel hot and restless. Arge hand was tightly wrapped around her waist, every time she moved, he would hold her tighter. He was obviously already awake. "Ethan, what time is it?" "It''s almost five o''clock, you can lie down a little longer and then we can get ready to leave." When Izzy and Ethan came out of the bedroom, Rita and Zander were watching TV in the living room. Facing their gaze, Izzy''s face turned red, always feeling that they knew what she and Ethan had just done. Ethan whispered in her ear, "Don''t be shy, they will understand. Besides, our room is soundproof." She didn''t speak, but once he did, Izzy became even more uneasy and could only re at Ethan again. Chapter 63 Chapter 63 The meeting spot was set at the "Ambrosia Eatery", a ce decked out in old world charm and tranquility, with secluded private rooms. From the rooms, you could take in the stunning view along the corridor, and you could even catch whiffs of the faint floral scent. All the Meyers were present except Ashley Meyer. Phillip was in a deep blue suit, looking like he''d knocked a few years off his age and seemed full of vim and vigor. Trenton Meyer was still in his military uniform, Jacob Meyer was in a suit, and Erica Meyer and Lauren Nelson were also dressed smartly, exuding an air of refinement and elegance. By the time Ethan turned up with Rita and Zander, the Meyer n was already there. Clearly, they were giving this meet-up between the two families the seriousness it deserved. Rita and Zander were a bit taken aback when they saw them dressed so elegantly. Ethan did a quick introduction, and everyone took their seats. "Sorry to drag you folks all the way to A City," Phillip, the patriarch of the family, began. "We the Meyers have snagged such a great daughter-inw, it should''ve been us paying you a visit in B City, but we didn''t want to drop in on you unannounced. I hope you can understand." "Nah, don''t sweat it," Rita replied with a smile. "Even though Izzy is our niece, she''s like a daughter to us. Seeing kids tie the knot is a joyous asion. As parents, all we want is their happiness, all the other stuff is just a formality. It doesn''t matter who visits who, it''s all about family get-togethers." Rita herself hailed from a prominent family. Even though she''d married Zander and was leading a simple life, she still carried herself with grace. Phillip chuckled in agreement. "Rita''s got it spot on. That''s what marriage and life are all about, we don''t fuss over superficial protocols." "To be honest, I was a bit nervousing to A City, given the disparity between our family backgrounds. Izzy''s a straight shooter, and I was worried about her adjusting to married life. It wasn''t until I saw how happy she is now that I finally put my mind at ease," Rita admitted. "Rita, we don''t fuss over ''marrying within the same social ss''. I''ve told Izzy this too. I¡¯m going to sound a bit cocky here, but we don''t need to cement our status with a business marriage. Ie from a military background, I don''t like fair-weather folks, I prefer down-to-earth kids like Izzy." "Rest assured, Izzy is not just a daughter-inw to us. Trenton and I always wanted a daughter but never had one. We''ll treat her like our own, and Ethan will be a good husband," Erica assured. "I''ve got no doubts about that. Ethan''s cooking skills are something else. It''s rare to find boys who can cook these days, especially with Ethan being such a busy bee." Erica gave Ethan a sideways nce. She knew he could cook, but she''d never tasted his food. She used to be content if he visited home a few times a year. "Maybe it''s a family trait, my husband, my father-inw, and my brother-inw can all cook. Izzy''s impressive too, she''s a certified ountant and has been practicing for years. That''s not an easy certificate to get." "Absolutely, bing an ountant means going through tons of textbooks, each a few hundred pages long. I''ve been a teacher all my life, and those books give me a headache. But Izzy aced the exam in a year. When she enrolled, the school even rewarded her and asked her to share her experience with others." Izzy blushed and muttered, "Auntie..." There was no need to mention such trivial matters. From what she knew, Ethan was also a top student, and her aunt praising her like this would make her feel awkward in front of him. Just then, arge hand was ced on her shoulder. Izzy blushed and fell silent. The dishes started to arrive, and everyone chatted while eating. It was like a cozy family gathering, with no awkwardness. Erica and Rita chatted away, one praising Izzy, the other praising Ethan. Izzy felt embarrassed while listening to them. She never knew she had so many good traits. Zander was also having a conversation with the two Meyer brothers, asionally clinking sses. Although Zander was a teacher, he was also quite worldly. Trenton and Jacob, despite their high positions, were not arrogant, and they chatted without any barriers. The atmosphere was surprisingly good. Izzy and Ethan locked eyes and couldn''t help but smile, feeling like outsiders who were unable to join in. Izzy excused herself to use the restroom, but on her way past the service counter, she overheard a haughty female voice, "What on earth is going on here? I clearly made a reservation. Why do we still have to wait for a table? It''s my mom''s birthday today, and you''re making us wait to celebrate. How will youpensate us for this?" A waiter was trying to pacify her, "I''m sorry, Ms. Galeana. I told you yesterday that business is booming at Ambrosia Eatery. Even with a reservation, we have to amodate customers on a firste, first-served basis. Your dining time is scheduled for tomorrow evening.¡± ¡°My mom¡¯s birthday is today! You lot gotta find us a private room somehow, my parents are on their way." Emma Galeana was relentless. "I''m really sorry, Ms. Galeana, we just can''t squeeze you in today. We apologize for the inconvenience." Izzy didn''t want to deal with Emma at all. She gave her a quick nce, then made a beeline for the restroom. But some people just wouldn''t let her off the hook. "Haha, Izzy, I heard from Aiden that you''re hitched now, and to a regr Joe at that! When did your taste be so... ordinary?" Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Izzy kept walking, ignoring the chattering behind her. Seeing Izzy indifferent, Emma rushed up to block her path, ring at Izzy with venom. "Izzy, I don''t get how you''re still acting all high and mighty. You think you''re still the little princess of the Galeana family? The only Galeana princess people in A City know about now is me. You''re just a cast-off daughter who got disowned by your own dad in the papers. A few years ago, you had to slink off to another city with your tail between your legs." Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Upon hearing this, Izzy flicked an eyelid, her lips curving into a mocking smile. "To me, the title of Ms. Galeana means nothing. I didn''t give a damn about it before, and I care even less now. If you''re so fond of it, feel free to hold onto it for dear life, or even shout it from the rooftops if you want." Being ''Ethan''s wife'' held more value than ''Ms. Galeana''. Besides, the wealth she held in name already surpassed the Galeana Group by a mile. She cared less about a trifling entity like the Galeana Group. "If you don''t care, why did youe back? Don''t think I''m clueless. You''re eyeing the Galeana family''s fortune and you''re still carrying a torch for Aiden. You even had a private meeting with him . He''s someone else''s fianc¨¦, how can you not have the decency to keep your distance? You''re just begging to bebeled as a home wrecker." Izzy watched the furious Emma with a frown, her expression shifting from indifference to icy cold. Her ability to frame others was eye-opening. It was Emma who stole her fianc¨¦, yet she had the audacity to say such things. "Emma, honesty is the best policy, don''t forget what you promised back then." "Sis, why did youe back to ruin my happiness? Why couldn''t you just stay in B City forever? Because of you, my wedding with Aiden was postponed. What on earth did you tell him?" Emma was clearly deeply affected and was on the verge of breaking down, with tears streaming down her face non-stop. The thought of it drove her crazy. She had finally waited for Aiden to agree to marry her, but the moment Izzy came back, the wedding date was indefinitely postponed. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Aiden had been drinking heavily every day, treating her coldly, and when he was drunk, he would only mumble "Izzy". Emma, petite and with a delicate face full of grievance, looked pitiful as she cried her heart out. In contrast, Izzy stood with her arms crossed and a mocking smile was on her face, radiating an air of indifference. She looked like the bully in this scenario. Despite having a private booth, their quarrel still attracted some attention. Even those who initially found Emma unreasonable began to change their minds. Which woman could remain calm when faced with her husband''s mistress, especially when that woman is her own sister? No one genuinely sympathizes with a mistress. All sorts of strange looks began to fall upon Izzy, making her feel ufortable. "Emma, if you still care about the Galeana family''s reputation, it''s best to keep your distance from me and stop making a scene here." Today was the day her aunt and uncle were meeting with the Meyer family. She didn''t want this to affect the meeting between the two families, nor did she want to be exposed in front of everyone for a false crime. She would find an opportunity to confess to the Meyer family, but not in this way. Rumors could be terrifying, and she didn''t want her past to affect the Meyer family''s reputation. "Izzy, you didn''t meet Aiden behind my back, did you?" Izzy''s retreat and warning did not calm Emma down, but instead made her more agitated. Emma couldn''t understand. Izzy had disappeared from Aiden''s life for so many years, and she had apanied him for a long time. Why did everything return to square one the moment Izzy came back? Even Aiden, who was already married, could not let go. "You should be asking your fianc¨¦ why he wanted to see me, not questioning me like a lunatic." "I don''t believe it. You must have been pestering him." Emma red at Izzy. Just as Izzy was about to respond, a familiar voice beat her to it. "Are all these so-called high societydies crazy now? Biting everyone like a mad dog, unable to even keep their men in check, and shouting in public. Look at yourself, what a disgrace. Any man who isn''t blind wouldn''t give you a second look. You should go home and reflect on yourself, stop making a fool of yourself." Erica crossed her arms in front of her chest, exuding an air of authority. She looked at Emma with disdain and contempt. Izzy''s face turned pale, and she awkwardly lowered her head, not expecting her mother-inw to see this. From their time spent together, she had always found her mother-inw to be very kind and gentle. Looking up, she saw Erica looking at her with concern, without the me and anger she had expected. "Mom..." Izzy wanted to speak but found her throat choked up, unable to make a sound. Erica, observing Izzy''s lip movements, knew what she wanted to say. She squeezed Izzy''s hand, as if giving her support. Upon hearing Erica''s words, Emma couldn''t help but blush. She had grown up in a rural area until she was 18, when she returned to the Galeana family. Even though she had been trying to change her temperament over the years, she knew that some things were innate. However, being pointed out by a stranger made her feel extremely embarrassed as if she had been pped in the face, her face burning with shame. "Who are you?" Erica snorted, immediately seeing through Emma''s thoughts. "You''re not in a position to know who I am. If only you had recognized your own faults sooner." Even in designer clothes, she couldn''t hide her true nature. Protecting Izzy like a mother protecting her child, Erica made Emma feel jealous. She gritted her teeth and said, "There is something between me and Izzy, it''s none of your business." "I''m aw-abiding citizen who despises those who create chaos in public ces. Naturally, I have to step in to maintain order." Erica said seriously, her face bearing a faint smile, but it didn''t make people feel happy, instead, it created an invisible pressure. "Hehe" "Haha" The onlookers couldn''t help butugh. Izzy also couldn''t help but smile slightly. She didn''t expect Erica''s words to be so sharp. It seemed like Ethan was right. Erica was kind in front of her family, but she was not easy to get along with in front of strangers. Under Erica''s watchful eye, Emma felt a constant buzzing in her ears. She stomped her foot in frustration and bolted. The onlookers, feeling the intense vibe from Erica and seeing Emma''s departure, felt too awkward to stick around for the show. Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Erica led Izzy out into the corridor, a faint grin tugging at Izzy'' lips. She was fond of this level of trust. At the couch reserved for guests in the corridor, Izzy hung her head low, a hint of guilt creeping in, "Mum, thank you, but I''m really sorry." Seeing Izzy like this, Erica couldn''t help but chuckle, ruffling her hair with a sigh, a bit worried about her character. "Izzy, I''m your mother. What I said in front of your aunt and uncle was from the heart. I truly see you as my own daughter. You don''t have to thank me, okay?" Hearing "I''m your mother", Izzy was moved beyond words. It''s often said that mother-inws are naturally biased and can''tpare to a real mom. But that wasn''t the case for her. Even when people used her of being a mistress, Erica still trusted and defended her unconditionally. She really was lucky. Izzy nodded slightly and said in a soft voice, "Alright." "That''s my girl." Erica ruffled Izzy''s hair and sat her down. Her heart was warm. With a mother-inw like this, why hide the past? "Mom, I don''t know if Ethan told you, but I had a car ident a few years ago. I can''t remember the past clearly, just vaguely. The woman just now is my half-sister, my mommitted suicide because of my dad''s betrayal. And on the night before my engagement party when I was 22, which was five years ago, I saw my fianc¨¦ cheating on me with my sister. I was so hurt and angry that I ran her over on the day of the engagement party, leaving her legs crippled. My stepmother insisted on suing me, but my aunt reached an agreement with them. I cut ties with the Galeana family, and they dropped the charges and stopped bothering me. After that, I went to B City with my aunt, then met Ethan." Even if Izzy didn''t tell her the rest, Erica knew that it was nothing more than marrying Ethan and then moving to A City with him. Looking at Izzy, with her clear and innocent eyes, Erica thought she didn''t at all seem like a scheming person. Although it was quite a coincidence that everything happened five years ago. She chose not to delve into the past anymore. She was satisfied with the situation. Erica held Izzy''s hand, with her eyes full of worry, "Izzy, how''re the injuries you got back then?" Unable to hold back her tears, Izzy started crying. Erica took out a handkerchief and wiped them away for her, "Silly girl, why are you crying?" Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Emma was seriously injured in the legs. It was obvious that the ident was severe. How could she be unscathed? She had been in aa for over a month due to severe blood loss and even had a cardiac arrest, but she was sessfully resuscitated. Even the doctors said it was a medical miracle that she survived. Regardless, it was all in the past. Izzy didn''t want to worry Erica, so she shook her head and said, "I was in aa for over a month. When I woke up, I had only lost my memory. I have some trauma from the ident, but everything else is fine." "That''s good." Erica was relieved. Her son finally found someone he liked, and she didn''t want him to bear the pain of loss again. Seeing that Erica didn''t mind her past, Izzy felt the pressure that had been building up in her heart for some time finally dissipated. But she was somewhat curious, "Mom, aren''t you worried about what I''ve done before? Aren¡¯t you doubting my character?" Erica smiled, "You''re not a bad kid." Regardless of the truth, she had lived long enough to see it all. This kind of thing was toomon. Izzy cutting ties with the Galeana family meant she had given up everything that should''ve been hers and let Emma take her ce. She''s been away from home for years, and Emma is safe now. Nobody owes anyone anything. In this circle, are there any real secrets? At the time, the suicide of the General Manager of the Galeana Group due to her husband''s affair was a hot topic, and Erica knew about it. But she never thought she would be connected with Izzy now. "After I came back, I encountered Aiden twice. Once was by ident, and the other time was when Aiden deliberately waited for me outside ourpany." Izzy also told Erica about her encounters with Aiden. "Any woman who''s met Ethan won''t hold onto the past, as long as she''s not crazy." Erica said confidently, knowing how excellent her son was. After being loved by him, which woman would choose to hold onto a cheating man? "Haha." Izzy couldn''t help butugh. She finally understood why Ethan was asionally so narcissistic. It turns out he inherited ''narcissism'' from his mom. Not long ago, after Ethan saw Aiden, he also said to her, "You have bad taste in men." His attitude towards her ex-fianc¨¦ was one of disdain. "Laughing at what?" Erica looked at Izzy, puzzled. Izzy told Erica what she was just thinking. After hearing it, Erica also couldn''t help butugh, "That''s definitely my son." Those were indeed words her son would say. "Alright, Izzy, don''t feel burdened about the past. If Emma bothers you again, you don''t have to put up with it or worry about tainting our family''s reputation. Some people are just naturally lowlifes. They don''t appreciate kindness and force you to get serious. You should be more assertive, make her back off when she sees you so she will never dare approach or insult you again." Izzy smiled and nodded, "Okay, mom." Erica patted Izzy''s hand with a teasing smile on her face, "Alright, let''s go back in. We can''t keep Ethan waiting too long." She saw how agitated her son was when Izzy was gone for just a while, constantly ncing at the door, which made here out to check. "Mom." Izzy blushed slightly. Erica hoisted Izzy up, with Izzy willingly looping her arm through Erica''s. A hint of a smile tugged at the corner of Erica''s lips. When they returned to the private room, everyone was still chatting away. Yet, Ethan''s eyes immediately zeroed in on Izzy''s slightly red eyes, his brows furrowing in concern. Once Izzy had settled down, he couldn''t help but whisper, "What happened just now?" Shaking her head subtly, Izzy responded quietly, "Nothing much, just bumped into some jerks. Don''t worry, your mom was there, I didn''t get the short end of the stick." Ethan exhaled in relief, "That''s good to hear." Chapter 66 Chapter 66 On the way back, Phillip warmly invited Rita and Zander to hang out at the mansion. They couldn''t say no, so they just tagged along. Naturally, Izzy and Ethan joined in. Just after they arrived, Ethan dragged Izzy upstairs. Phillip couldn''t help but chuckle, "Look at this lovey-dovey pair. They''re so sweet." Rita joined in with augh, "Yeah, young folks these days love their own space. Unlike us oldies, who prefer a bit of a crowd and a bit of buzz." Once in the room, Ethan couldn''t help but wrap his arm around Izzy''s waist, furrowing his brows, "What''s up?" Izzy blushed, ncing at the door to make sure it was shut tight. She still remembered vividly thest time they got caught in a heated moment. That was a disaster she did not want to repeat. She shot Ethan a look, "Why''d you drag me up here? The oldies are downstairs. They might get the wrong idea." "They''ll understand." Izzy was in a good mood and let it slide. She told Ethan about what happened with Emma, which only seemed to make him upset . Izzy couldn''t help but reach up to touch his face, and then her other hand followed suit. She pped his face lightly, "Stop frowning, you look like an old man." Ethan blinked, seemingly taken aback by her action. When he finally caught on, he squinted, "Old man?" Realizing what she had just done, Izzy jerked her hand back as if she had been electrocuted. She stared at Ethan, not even understanding why she did that. It felt like something she had done a million times and just acted on instinct. "Uh... just a slip of the tongue." Izzy tried tough it off. The hand Ethan had around her waist made a slow suggestive move, then he asked with a teasing tone, "Have I been acting like an old mantely?" Izzy was all too familiar with that tone, she quickly shook her head, "No, no, that''s not what I meant, Ethan, don''t get me wrong." Izzy was naive in some ways, not knowing guys could be sensitive about certain things and wouldn''t tolerate the slightest doubt. "Oh?" Ethan''s voice rose slightly, he had a smirk on his face, looking incredibly attractive. "Where is your hand going?" Izzy suddenly squealed. Realizing where Ethan''s hand was heading, Izzy moved to swat it away. But it backfired, Ethan''s handnded squarely on her soft spot. She could feel his heat even through her clothes, and she let out a shout while she was frozen in ce, looking at Ethan. Izzy was a looker, which had a lot to do with her smooth skin. She was 27, but her skin was still fair and smooth with no marks or pimples, just a faint fuzz visible. "Izzy." Ethan''s voice dropped lower. Izzy tensed up, remembering everything that happened earlier. Her body started to soften, she was on the verge of tears, "Ethan, don''t." "Don''t do what?" His hand remained on her chest. Izzy was so irritated with him that her face turned red. She thumped his chest and turned her head slightly, "You know exactly what I mean." Ethan chuckled lightly, saying something that almost made Izzy flip, "I have no idea. All I know is that it''s gettingte and it¡¯s time for bed." Well, you can guess what happened next. Izzy was so worn out that she could barely move. In her daze, all she could hear was Ethan asking over and over, "Do I still feel like an old man now?" She didn''t answer, so he kept teasing her. How could she resist? Finally, she shook her head reluctantly, "No, not at all." Around 11, Izzy''s phone suddenly rang. Ethan shifted a bit and turned on the bedsidemp. Izzy scrunched her brows. He rubbed her back gently with one hand while grabbing the phone from the bedside table with the other. It was from an unknown number, he quickly hung up, then put the phone on silent. Not long after, the phone buzzed again. Ethan quietly got up and took the phone out to the balcony. "Hello, who''s this?" Ethan''s face was stoic, his earlier tenderness nowhere to be seen. The man on the other end of the phone was probably in his 50s or 60s. He was holding the phone in one hand and a cigarette in the other. He couldn''t help but furrow his brows upon hearing a man''s voice on the phone. The voice sounded familiar, but he couldn''t ce it, "Who are you? I''m looking for Izzy." Ethan''s face remained emotionless, and his voice revealed no emotion, "I''m Izzy''s husband. She''s asleep. Please refrain from calling at this hour in the future." After saying that, Ethan hung up and blocked the number. He had business dealings with the Galeana Group, but most of the dealings were handled by Lucas. But he had met Hunter Galeana before and had investigated Izzy''s past, so he recognized the voice. The person on the other end of the call was none other than Izzy''s father, Hunter, the CEO and manager of the Galeana Group. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Ethan nced at the peacefully sleeping Izzy, who had a small smile and a pink face from their lovemaking. Since she didn''t want to interact with the Galeana family, there was no reason for him to tell her that her father had called, so as not to add to her worries. He would protect her and prevent history from repeating itself. What''s the point of this man trying to reconnect after he cruelly severed their father-daughter rtionship? After the call got disconnected, Hunter tried calling again but couldn''t get through. He frowned, if Emma hadn''t mentioned it casually, he wouldn''t have known that she had quietlye to A City, and even got married. His own daughter got hitched and he was thest to know about it. Seriously, it was downright infuriating. And today was supposed to be the day for the families to meet. Rita and Zander were the ones who showed up, but he was her real dad. The kicker was, he had people digging around, but they couldn''t find a scrap of info on her husband. Hunter was getting angrier by the second. He swept his hand across the table, sending documents and a teacup crashing to the floor. The cup shattered instantly. A middle-aged man quickly stepped in, crouching down to clean up the mess. He looked up at Hunter with concern, "Chairman, what happened?" Hunter shook his head, "I''m fine, you can go." The middle-aged man gave him a worried nce, opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, he kept his peace and left the room. Chapter 67 Chapter 67 In the middle of the night, Izzy woke up with a rumbling tummy. Dinner got a bit cold because she had to deal with Emma''s tantrum outside the private dining room, so she didn''t eat much. She nced out the window; everything was still pitch ck. Her stomach started grumbling, and she couldn''t help but toss and turn. Ethan was a light sleeper, and he woke up at her slightest move. He rubbed his chin against her head and pinched her face, "What''s up, Izzy?" "Sorry for waking you," Izzy said, a bit embarrassed to exin why. As soon as she finished speaking, her stomach growled loudly and clearly in the quiet room again. Izzy felt embarrassed and her face became flushed. This wasn''t the first time that her empty stomach was this noisy. "Ah, you''re hungry," Ethan chuckled. He switched on the light, and got out of bed in one fluid motion. Izzy quickly grabbed his hand, confused, "What are you doing?" "I''m going to check what''s in the fridge and cook something for you." Izzy shook her head, "No need, I can bear with it, it''s almost dawn." Ethan ruffled Izzy''s hair, "Silly girl, why bear with it when you''re hungry? I''ll go first, youe down after ten minutes." He got up, put on a set offortable clothes, and left the room. Izzy stared nkly at his retreating figure, and a small smile tugged at her lips. She checked the time, it was only three in the morning, and dawn was still a while away. Izzy got out of bed after a while and went downstairs. Ethan had switched on the hallway light, concerned that she might trip. When she arrived in the living room, Ethan had already prepared a bowl of pasta. The aroma quickened her steps. "You''re just in time, I was about to go upstairs and get you." Under the dim light, Ethan, in his comfortable clothes looked soft and gentle while watching her with tender eyes. Izzy found herself lost in his gaze and quickly looked away, trying to cover it up by saying, "I usually can''t resist delicious food." Ethan didn''t say anything about her slip-up. He served her a te of pasta and poured her a ss of water. Izzy felt warm inside. She twirled the pasta on her fork and started eating. Ethan just sat across from her, watching her. Her hair was loose, and she held it back while eating pasta. She would blow on the pasta before taking a bite, looking utterly satisfied. Ethan was lost in her actions, it felt like d¨¦j¨¤ vu. He shook his head, pushing these thoughts away. Feeling his gaze, Izzy asked, "Are you hungry too?" "My stomach isn''t that great; I can''t digest food as quickly. Of course, I''m not as hungry as you." Izzy rolled her eyes at him, "I''m hungry because of you." Ethan chuckled and nodded, then said seriously, "I know, that''s why I cooked pasta for you as compensation." Izzy nodded slightly and continued eating. "Actually, Izzy, I''ve always wanted to ask you, most women eat little, especially in front of men. Why do you eat so much?" Izzy put down her fork and pondered for a few seconds, "Like you said, women only eat less in front of men, I don''t like to torture my stomach. I don''t need to do that in front of my husband, it''s my habit. I''m not a bird that only needs a grain of rice." Ethan smiled a little, "You do have a point." She always had a clear mind and was very open to ideas. Izzy took another bite of pasta and mumbled, "Because I''m not worried you''ll dislike me." She owned half of his wealth, if he dared dislike her, she would run away immediately. Ethan shook his head. It seemed he made the right decision back then, material things can indeed provide a sense of security. Just then, a voice came from the stairway, "Izzy, Ethan, what are you guys doing?" Izzy recognized Rita''s voice and exined somewhat embarrassedly, "Auntie, I got hungry, so I came down to make some pasta." Rita walked over, took a look at the pasta, and knew that it wasn''t Izzy''s work. She felt happy but didn''t show it, she scolded Izzy, "You should eat properly at meal times. Now you''re making Ethan cook for you in the middle of the night." Izzy shrugged and continued eating her pasta. Ethanughed, "It''s okay, Auntie, I wouldn''t trust her cooking anyway. You woke up because of us?" Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. "I''m fine, I just heard voices and thought we had a thief, so I came to check." Rita chuckled. "Don''t worry, Auntie, the security here is very good, outsiders can''t get in easily. You can go back to sleep." "That''s good." Rita nodded and was about to leave when she remembered something and warned Ethan, "You shouldn''t spoil her too much. This bad habit of eatingte at night is because of her frequent overtime at work. It burdens the stomach and isn''t good for her health. You should help her change it." Izzy used to work overtime a lot. It wasmon for her to work till the wee hours of the night, which led to thiste-night eating habit. Ethan''s eyes flickered, he nced at Izzy and smiled, "Got it, Auntie, I''ll keep an eye on her." Rita didn''t rx until she finished giving her instructions and headed off to her room. Watching her retreating figure, Izzy pouted in dissatisfaction. She turned to Ethan,ining, "Ethan, I feel like Auntie doesn''t love me anymore.Doesn''t she know that hunger keeps me awake?" Seeing her huffy expression, Ethan couldn''t help but get up, walk over to her, and gently pinch her nose. "Silly goose, your aunt is just looking out for you. It''s my fault, eatingte at night is indeed bad for the stomach." "I know, you must think I''m a pain in the neck," Izzy said confidently. Ethan didn''t argue with her. He quickly washed the dishes and put them away in the kitchen. When he came back out, Izzy was propping her chin up with one hand, and her eyes was almost closing. She looked like she was really full. Ethan suddenly picked her up which startledIzzy, and made her eyes wide. When she saw it was Ethan, she wrapped her long arms around him, nestled comfortably against his chest and closed her eyes. Chapter 68 Chapter 68 The next day was business as usual, with Izzy oversleeping again. By the time she stumbled down the stairs, the family was already having breakfast. As soon as they heard her footsteps, they all turned to look at her with mysterious smiles stered across their faces. Izzy felt a bit awkward but tried to tough it out and continued down the stairs. "Izzy,e down for breakfast. Don''t let my sweet grandchild starve," the old man''s voice rang out loudly and firmly. The mention of "sweet grandchild" made Izzy wobble a bit, almost losing her bnce. She held onto the handrail, slowly making her way down. Rita was taken aback, looking at Izzy in disbelief. "Izzy, are you pregnant? Howe you didn''t tell me about such a big deal?" Was herte-night snackst night because she was pregnant? Izzy gave a helpless shake of her head towards Rita, then blushing, she sat down at the table. She scrunched up her nose and whispered to her grandfather, "Grandpa, what''s this about a sweet grandchild?" a hint of annoyance slipping into her voice. Perhaps because there were fewer girls in the family, Phillip tended to spoil them. Seeing Izzy''s cute demeanor, the old man couldn''t help but chuckle, his eyes fixed on her belly as if she really did have a baby inside. After a while, he exined, "I meant a future grandchild. You and Ethan are so ''lovey-dovey'', it''s only a matter of time before you have kids." Izzy finally understood Phillip''s words and her face turned an even deeper red. "Grandpa." N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. "Alright, Grandpa, let''s eat," Ethan broke in after seeing Izzy''s shy look. "You little rascal, always ying devil''s advocate," the old man red at Ethan, deciding not to tease Izzy anymore. Erica and Rita exchanged a nce, both with smiles on their faces. Over the weekend, Ethan and Izzy apanied Rita and Zander to a small vige near the river close to City A for a visit. Izzy walked arm in arm with Rita and Zander. Ethan, dressed in casual clothes, followed behind them like a photographer, with his camera hanging around his neck. He would asionally lift his camera to capture candid shots of the people in the distance. Ethan noticed that Izzy seemed a bit stiff when being photographed, so candid shots yielded the best results. If Lucas saw Ethan now, he would probably be shocked. Izzy knew that Ethan was intentionally creating opportunities for her to chat with her aunt and uncle. Rita caught sight of Ethan and couldn''t help but nudge Izzy, "Look, you found a reliable husband. He''s a big boss, but here he is acting like your personal photographer. If the media got wind of this, who knows what they''d say." Seeing her niece so happy made her feel like her sister could finally rest in peace. Izzy followed Rita''s gaze, her eyes meeting Ethan''s, resulting in both of them breaking into a grin. What she didn''t tell Rita was that most of the media in City A didn''t know Ethan. He always kept a low profile, so there was no need to worry about ending up in the papers. Zander alsomented, "Ethan is indeed a good guy." Izzy turned her gaze back, casually saying, "He''s alright." Rita didn''t point out the sweet smile she saw on her face. She suddenly remembered something from dinnerst night. Izzy''s mood seemed off when she returned from the restroom. She''d wanted to ask about it but didn''t have the chance. Now, she finally had the opportunity to ask, "What happened at the restaurantst night? Did you cry?" Izzy didn''t deny it. "I ran into Emma. She was there to make a reservation. She stopped me and rambled on about how I was a home wrecker, and questioned what I''d said to Aiden, asking why Aiden had called off their wedding." "Those Galeana women are so annoying. You''re not even a member of the Galeana family anymore, and they still won''t leave you alone. I wonder how Hunter disciplines them," Rita said, with her face full of indignation. Zander was a bit moreposed, but his expression shifted slightly at her words. "Did your mother- inw find out?" He didn''t believe the past rumors, but the Meyer family hadn''t been with Izzy for long. They might not fully trust her yet. Izzy nodded. "Mom came out to find me when she heard." "What was her reaction?" Rita asked anxiously. "Auntie, Uncle, you don''t need to worry. Mom isn''t someone who just goes with the crowd. She''s always on my side and even helped me chase Emma away. After that, I confessed my past to her. I''m not sure what she really thinks, but her attitude toward me hasn''t changed. It seems like she doesn''t mind." Izzy recounted the entire incident in detail. Rita let out a sigh of relief after hearing this, and Zander also rxed, remarking, "The Meyer family really is different from other wealthy families." Izzy couldn''t help but chuckle, teasing Zander, "So you must have had a hard time when you married my aunt back when." She had heard about her aunt and uncle''s past. Her grandparents had disapproved of her uncle, viewing him as a poor schr. They didn''t agree to their marriage at first, and her aunt even ran away from home over it, nearly severing ties with her parents. "Yeah, it was quite a struggle back then," Zander agreed, reminiscing about the past with a hint of nostalgia. Fortunately, they eventually came to an understanding. Rita yfully shoved him, "Don''t make yourself sound so pitiful. My parents raised me for over twenty years and then I ran off with you. Of course they had to give you a hard time." She had been resentful towards her parents back then, but after bing a parent herself, she understood their concerns better. Zander rubbed his nose, "I was just reflecting, I wouldn''t darein about my inws." "That''s good," Rita added. "Haha, so how did my grandparents end up agreeing to the marriage?" Izzy was really into their old- school love story. "All credits go to your cousin. Back in the day, your grandparents adored kids. But, because they didn''t like your uncle-inw, your cousin didn''t like them either. To win their grandson''s heart, they gradually changed their attitude. Plus, they saw that even though I didn''t be filthy rich after marriage, I was always happy. Over time, they came around. Parents will always give in for their kids," Rita exined, with a touch of sadness as she remembered her deceased parents. Rita and Zander saw that Izzy was doing great, so they stayed in A City for a few days and then hit the road back to B City. Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Ever since bumping into Emma and Aiden, Izzy knew her return to A City couldn''t be kept under wraps. Tonight, Ethan had some socialmitments, so Izzy nned to take a cab home. Just as she arrived at the taxi stand, a ck Mercedes pulled up beside her. The window rolled down and there was Hunter. Years had flown by and he barely seemed to have changed, except he looked a lot more worn out as the wrinkles around his eyes seemed to have deepened. She froze for a moment, then turned and walked away. She remembered the ring headline from the newspaper five years ago: The Chairman of the Galeana Group had made a public statement early in the morning, proiming that Izzy, the eldest daughter of the Galeana family, had behaved disgracefully. Hunter nned to sever all father-daughter ties with her, and her future actions would have no connection to the Galeana family. Years had passed, and her memory had not returned, but she remembered thpse sentences clearly, like a curse reminding her of the fact that she was someone discarded by her own biological father. She hadn''t walked far when Hunter''s Mercedes audaciously blocked her path. Hunter''s deep voice came from inside the car, "Get in. Don''t make me repeat myself." As soon as he finished speaking, two men in ck suits got out of the car, along with Ss, Hunter''s secretary, and the butler of the Galeana family, someone she had met once before. "Miss, please listen to the Chairman and get in the car," Ss looked at Izzy, his voice was low, but there seemed to be a hint of warmth in his eyes. Izzy gave Ss a cold nce, then said sarcastically, "Who''s the one with amnesia here? Have you forgotten that I cut ties with the Galeana family five years ago? My actions have nothing to do with the Galeana family. What''s this about?" Ss was taken aback but quickly replied, "Miss, blood ties can''t be severed no matter what." "What a joke." Izzy scoffed, her eyebrows furrowed revealing a fierce look. She stepped past Ss, turned to Hunter, and said defiantly, "Well, I have something to tell you, blood is not the only thing that binds a family since some people can just cut it off without a second thought.¡± Hunter¡¯s face turned dark. Looking at the face that was a spitting image of his ex-wife, he gritted his teeth, ¡°It¡¯s been years, and you¡¯re still like a porcupine, always ready to prick anyone whoes near you. Can''t you speak nicely?" "Nice words are for nice people." The implication was clear. In her eyes, he was not a nice person. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. She couldn''t bring herself to say a few nice words to a man who let his mistress drive his wife to death, let his mistress openly be his son''s wife, and then drove his own daughter out of the house. "Izzy, don''t forget I am your father." Hunter''s veins were popping out on his hand resting by his side, he seemed to be on the edge of rage. "Thanks for the reminder. Maybe I should change myst name. I''ve always been ashamed of it. I''m sure I''ll get used to my new name quickly." Hunter was shaking with anger and he couldn''t help but cough. His coughing got worse and soon his face turned red. However, Izzy didn''t see any of this because she was looking into the distance. Ss quickly stepped forward and patted his back, "Chairman, don''t be angry with Miss, she''s still a child." "A child? She''s 27." Hunter had nowhere to vent his anger, he couldn''t help but smack the car window a few times. Ss sighed heavily and was at a loss for words as Izzy looked ruthless when she stood aside with her skinny figure, slightly pursed lips, and back straight. She was indeed not the warm girl he remembered. "Ms. Galeana, this isn''t a good ce to talk, let''s get in the car." "No need, if you have something to say, say it here. I need to get home." Izzy was resolute and determined not to have anything to do with the Galeana family. Hunter rubbed his temples and was completely out of patience. He waved at the two bodyguards, who stood not too far away. The two bodyguards quickly approached, each grabbing an arm of Izzy¡¯s. Izzy''s face turned gloomy, she made a slight move and the bodyguards tightened their grip. She waspletely immobilized. "Get her in the car," Hunter ordered in a deep voice. Izzy red at Hunter, her eyes seemed to be burning with a me. Ss looked at the resolute father and daughter, not knowing what to say. He had taken care of Izzy as she grew up, he knew how stubborn she was. If they wanted her to willingly go with her father, they had to use force. Izzy knew her resistance was futile, she couldn''t break free from the two burly men by herself, so she gave up struggling and let the bodyguards put her in the car. Once the car door was closed, they let go of her. She sat in the middle, with the bodyguards on both sides, presumably worried about her escaping. Once Izzy was in the car, her gaze stayed outside. Hunter nced at her through the rearview mirror, "I heard you got married?" On hearing this, Izzy''s eyelids twitched slightly, but she said nothing. Since Emma knew about her marriage, it was not surprising that he also knew. "I called youst night, but a man answered, iming to be your husband." Izzy leaned back, closing her eyespletely. She hadn''t seen any unfamiliar numbers in her call log. So, it must have been Ethan who deleted the call log, knowing that she didn''t want to have anything to do with the Galeana family. He always put her first in everything he did. Maybe the world is fair. Although she never received the love of her parents, she had a husband who cherished her and put her first. Ss looked at Izzy, who remained silent, feeling anxious, "Miss, the Chairman is just worried about you, at least respond." No matter what Hunter bbed about, Izzy just kept her lips sealed. After a while, even Hunter got bored and stopped talking. After some time, Izzy suddenly remembered she needed to call Ethan. She opened her eyes and was just about to take out her phone when the bodyguard sitting next to her swiped it. Izzy shot him an angry re. Hunter gave the bodyguard a meaningful look, and he got the hint. He nodded, popped open the back of the phone, took out the battery, and casually tossed it in his own pocket before handing the phone back to Izzy. Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Back in the day, when Izzy walked out the door, she thought she''d never see the ce again. Yet she ended up back here after all. The Galeana family owned a standalone vi. Even though Izzy couldn''t remember a lot from the past, stepping into the vi brought back a wave of familiarity. She stared at the flower bed, lost in thought. Hunter followed her gaze, a flood of memoriesing back to him too. ¡°There used to be a ton of roses there, all colors of the rainbow. Your mom loved them. You used to be a little rascal, always pulling out the newly nted roses just to see your mom lose her cool." Izzy finally reacted. She looked at Hunter with an indifferent smirk. If there was anyone who had no right to mention her mom, it was him. Seeing her expression, Hunter''s face fell, and his expression hardened. Just then, a middle-aged woman ran out. Seeing Izzy, she immediately grabbed her hand, with tears of joy streaming down her face. "Miss, you''re finally back. I thought I''d never see you again." Izzy felt a bit ufortable with her reaction, but she recognized the woman. It was Ss''s wife, who took care of the Galeana family''s household chores. She was one of the very few who treated Izzy with genuine kindness. When Izzy left years ago, she held her and cried. "Eda.¡± Izzy called out. Eda responded with a joyous nod. Ss told his wife, "Let''s not keep thedy standing at the door. Whatever needs to be discussed can be done inside." Eda led Izzy inside. As soon as they entered, a woman blocked their way. She was heavily made up, but she couldn''t hide the wrinkles around her eyes. Her strong perfume hit them like a wall. "Eda, who have you brought home?" Shirley''s words died on her lips when she saw Izzy. She pointed at Izzy in anger, "Eda, have you forgotten who''s the hostess of this house? How dare you bring her back?" Izzy shot Shirley a sharp look. All the happiness in her former home had been shattered because of this woman. She had to use all her self-control to not get up and p her. She reminded herself to stay calm, but her rage was ring up. She clenched her fists until her nails dug into her palms, snapping her back to reality. Shirley shivered under Izzy''s icy gaze. After not seeing each other for years, Izzy seemed colder and more intimidating. Her harsh eyes seemed to strip Shirley bare. Just then, Hunter''s cold voice filled the room. "I brought her back. Got a problem with that?" At the sight of Hunter, Shirley''s anger and surprise were quickly reced by a smile. She stepped forward and took Hunter''s arm, with her tone softening. "Hunter, this is your house. You can bring back whoever you want. I''m not in a position to disagree. I was just taken aback and couldn''t control my emotions." Izzy stood by Eda, noticing the disdain for Shirley on her face. It was clear that Shirley hadn''t won anyone''s heart in the Galeana family during her years here. Hunter was irritated. He shook off Shirley''s hand and strode toward the living room. "Eda, let''s eat." Shirley''s face fell as she awkwardly withdrew her hand. Her fingers tightened, but she kept her smile and sat next to Hunter. Eda nodded, gently patting Izzy''s hand. "Ms. Izzy, have a seat. The kitchen prepared your favorite dishes today. I''ll have them brought up shortly." Izzy didn''t sit in the living room, not wanting to face Hunter and that woman. She headed straight for the dining room and took a seat. Just as she sat down, Emma walked in from outside. Upon seeing Izzy at the dining table, her eyes instantly reddened. She was about tosh out, but a look from Hunter silenced her. She forced a smile at Izzy, "Sis, why did you suddenlye back?" Izzy found it amusing. Was this a normal family conversation? Half an hour ago, her so-called father had asked her, "I heard you got married?" Now her so-called sister was asking, "Why did you suddenlye back?" Didn''t they find these questions awkward, even ridiculous? "Ms. Galeana, please get your facts straight. I''m not your sister. My mom only had one daughter, that is me. My husband''s name is Ethan. You can refer to me as ''Mrs. Meyer''." Izzy reminded her. Emma wanted tosh out, but with Hunter nearby, she didn''t dare. She red at Izzy and took a seat across from her. The food was served and then Hunter and Shirley joined them. The whole meal was filled with silence. Since Izzy returned to A City, Emma had been on edge. Now that Izzy was actually back in their house, Emma couldn''t hold back her words any longer. She looked at Hunter tentatively. "Dad, why did you bring sis back?" Hunter gave Emma a cold look, making her shudder. She mumbled, "Never mind, I didn''t ask anything." Emma thought Hunter wouldn''t answer, but to her surprise, he put down his cutlery and turned to Izzy. "Izzy, starting tomorrow, you''ll be working at the Galeana Group." Three voices chimed in at once. "No way." Izzy was the first to object. "No!" Emma shrieked. "No." Shirley whimpered. With a ''tter,'' Hunter dropped his cutlery, the impatience in his eyes was hard to miss. "It''s my company, I''m the CEO. I don''t need your permission on who I want to bring in." "Hunter, you promised me!" Shirley was on the verge of tears. "Dad." Emma bit her lip, looking utterly aggrieved. Hunter hadn''t been feeling welltely, and Izzy had only added fuel to the fire today. Looking at the tears on Shirley''s face, he couldn''t shake off his irritation. "Is crying the only thing you know how to do?" At some point, when he looked at this woman who was his childhood friend, and her tears, he no longer felt the pity and guilt he once did. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Izzy said,"you don''t have to act like this. Even if the Galeana Group begged me, I wouldn''t go over there." Chapter 71 Chapter 71 "Ms. Ines." Eda muttered anxiously as Ines said this. Eda saw this as a golden opportunity. But Ines didn¡¯t budge, she just kept eating her meal at a slow pace. Hunter watched Ines, then turned to look at the two greedy faces beside him. A wave of sadness swept over him, had he really made a mistake? Shirley and Emma breathed a sigh of relief. "Hunter, if Ines doesn''t want to, we shouldn''t force her. Let''s just drop the matter." Shirley suggested. "Yeah, Dad, you promised me you wouldn''t let Ines join thepany." Emma pouted. "Do you remember what you promised me? Have you ever kept our agreement? What''s with all the shouting in front of everyone? Are you trying to embarrass us even more?" Emma immediately lowered her voice, "I''m sorry, Dad. I''ll be careful next time." "If you can''t keep your word, don''t me me for not keeping mine. I''m only going to say this once." Hunter said coldly. Upon hearing this, Shirley quickly signaled Emma to behave. Emma obediently reassured, "I promise it won¡¯t happen again." Hunter picked up the dinner napkin from the table and wiped his mouth, "Come to my study with me, Ines." Ines pretended not to hear him. Hunter looked at her and reiterated, "Or do I have to call the bodyguard?" Having experienced his tactics before, Ines knew he was capable of doing it. She got up, wiped her mouth and followed Hunter to his study. Eda, worried, said behind them, "Ms. Ines, be nice with your father, don''t fight with him." Eda might not agree with Hunter''s actions, but she was all in for Ines joining thepany. After all, why should the mother-daughter duo get all the benefits? Hearing Eda''s words, Shirley and Emma red at her unhappily. Eda headed straight for the kitchen. She couldn''t stand the mother-daughter duo who were always scheming to divide the Galeana family''s wealth. Once in the study, Hunter took a seat and said directly to Ines, "There are two vacant positions in thepany, Purchasing Manager and Marketing Director. You can choose either one." "I''ve told you, I won''t join the Galeana Group." Ines said firmly. "You''re not a child anymore, stop being so stubborn." Hunter''s hand twitched on the pen. "Don''t think the Galeana Group is so good that everyone is trying to get in, it¡¯s only your wife and daughter who want it so much. I''m not interested at all." Emma, who was eavesdropping outside the study, clenched her fists so hard that her nails dug into her palms. She had managed to climb from the bottom to the position of PR Manager in the Galeana Group over the past two years. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. But the positions Hunter offered to Ines, Purchasing Manager and Marketing Director, were much higher. Both positions had huge potential for promotion if performed well. As far as Emma knew, Ines had been working in auditing for the past few years and had no experience in either of the roles. How could she suddenly be offered these positions? "Dad, why are you so biased?" Emma thought bitterly. "That ce also contains your mother''s hard work, don''t you want it at all?" "The only thing I want right now is to have nothing to do with you guys." Ines said in a deep voice. Hunter tried to suppress his anger, after all, he was the one who had wronged them in the past. But Ines'' repeated provocations finally made him lose it, "For what? For that man you married?" "My husband naturally doesn''t want me to have such rtives." "Husband? You mean that poor guy you married? I don''t care what happened between you two, divorce him immediately." Even considering how he spoke to himst night, he wouldn''t allow her to marry such a man. Ines couldn''t help butugh as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world. She looked at Hunter and said word by word, each one like a needle stabbing into Hunter''s heart, "Hunter, I can''t believe you would say such a thing. Aren''t you embarrassed? Aren''t you ashamed? How can you say this with a straight face? Weren''t you a poor guy once too? It was my mom, my grandparents who supported you, and that''s how you built the Galeana Group. You sat on top of the world and had the means to cheat and find a mistress. Shouldn''t you feel a kinship towards him? Or are you afraid he might be the next Hunter, using his wife and inws for his own benefit, then discarding his wife, even driving her to death, angering his inws, and then finding his old lover again?" "You..." Hunter pointed at Ines, trembling. His whole body swayed a little. Ines looked at his dark old face, feeling a sense of satisfaction she had never felt before. She continued, "What? Are you speechless? Do you think I hit the nail on the head?" A crisp p rang out, and Ines'' face was pped to one side, a bit of blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. Hunter must have used a lot of force. Hunter was stunned by the p. His hand was still trembling in the air. He remembered that he had never hit this daughter, even when she did something crazy years ago, he neverid a hand on her. The clear imprint of five fingers on her face served as a reminder of what he had just done. Ines felt a buzzing in her head, the pain in her heart was much worse than the pain on her face. She smiled and looked at Hunter, "Hunter, I severed our father-daughter rtionship five years ago. This p is repayment for your nurturing. From now on, please don''t show up in front of me." Ines swiped the blood off the corner of her mouth and made a beeline for the door. After a few steps, a loud bang rang out behind her, but she didn''t miss a beat, pushing the door open without hesitation. "Dad, are you okay?" Emma, standing at the door, caught sight of Hunter who had already hit the deck and let out a scream. Ss and Shirley rushed up from downstairs as soon as they heard the noise. Shirley bolted straight into the study, while Ss froze for a moment when he spotted the finger marks on Ines'' face. Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Ines hobbled down the stairs, faintly hearing the chaos behind her. Ss was calling the ambnce, while Emma and Shirley were calling out non-stop. "Ms. Ines, what happened?" Eda heard the noises upstairs and emerged from the kitchen, but Ines was already out of sight. Ines was walking like a marite, unsure of where she was headed. She thought she heard the sound of an ambnce. It was only after she had walked a considerable distance that she realized she had left in such a hurry and forgotten her bag. She was in a familiar yet unrecognizable ce. In this city, the only people she could rely on were Ethan and Phoebe. She let her mind wander and walked aimlessly. After a while, she heard the sound of a ferry and realized she had ended up by the river. Many people were enjoying themselves by the water. She found a seat among the many benches by the river. After a while, a young couple sat down next to her. The girl was petite and sat on her boyfriend¡¯sp. They were college students on a date. At first, they were just whispering sweet nothings to each other, but gradually the sounds of their kissing became more conspicuous. Out of the corner of her eye, Ines saw the guy''s hand slide under the girl''s shirt as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Ines gave a bitter smile and stood to leave. Ethan didn''t get home until after 11 p.m. He noticed it was pitch dark as soon as he opened the door. Usually, Ines would leave a small light on in the living room. Could it be she hadn¡¯te home yet? Ethan strode into the bedroom to find the bed made and no sign of Ines. She clearly hadn''te home. He checked his phone but there were no missed calls or messages. He tried calling her several times but couldn''t get through. This was unlike her. Even when they first got married, she would always let him know if she was changing her number or going to see friends or workte. What could have happened that she''d ignore himpletely? Frustrated, Ethan browsed through his contacts only to find he didn''t know much about her, not even one of her friend''s number. He ended up calling Noel Yates, who seemed to have already gone to bed andined when he picked up the phone. "Ethan, I thought you''dpletely forgotten about me since you got married. Did your wife kick you out tonight? Is that why you''re calling?" Ethan had no patience for Noel''s banter and cut him off. "The daughter from the Wagner family, could you find her contact information for me?" Noel suddenly perked up and sat up in bed. "What do you need her for?" "I''m looking for my wife, so cut the crap and find her number for me." Ethan was in no mood for jokes. Noel could tell his friend was upset and didn¡¯t ask further about Phoebe and Ines'' rtionship. "No need to look it up. I have her number. I''ll send it to you right away." Ethan dialed the number, but was disappointed to learn from Phoebe that she hadn''t heard from Ines either. Ethan grabbed his coat and drove to Ines'' workce, the firm. The office building was dark and deserted. A clock in the distance chimed midnight. He rolled down the car window and let the cold wind blow in, but it did nothing to alleviate his anxiety and frustration. Ethan checked every ce he could think of, then decided to head home in the hope that Ines would return on her own. As he pulled into theirplex, the security guard on duty looked up sleepily. "Mr. Meyer, why are you home sote? Mrs. Meyer seemed to have forgotten her keys tonight." Ethan''s eyes lit up. "When did shee home? Do you know where she went?" The guard pointed in a general direction. "About two or three hours ago. She seemed to want to leave, then changed her mind and headed that way." Ethan drove off like a shot, leaving the confused guard behind. He parked haphazardly and started searching the area, calling out her name. Just as he was about to give up, he spotted a pair of silver shoes. He remembered them clearly; they were a pair he had specially ordered for her. She wore them often. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. His heart leapt. He turned on his phone''s shlight and moved quickly. Ines was sitting on a stone bench, leaning against a tree, her hair a mess. She was sleeping soundly with her arms crossed over her chest. His initial anger quickly turned to worry when he saw the clear handprint on her face. He scooped her up in his arms. She woke up at his touch and stared at him for a moment before speaking uncertainly. "Ethan?" "Yeah, it''s me." Ethan''s voice was low as he carried her. Ines stayed quietly in his arms, her cold body pressed against his chest, her icy arms wrapped around his neck. She murmured quietly, "Ethan, can we not fall in love?" Ethan''s face changed drastically. But when he looked down, Ines had already closed her eyes, making her words seem like a figment of his imagination. The cold wind continued to blow outside. Ethan quickened his pace and carried Ines straight to the bathroom to run a warm bath. She remained still, like a lifeless doll, allowing him to clean her up. He noticed that in addition to her face, her ankle was scraped. She winced when he touched it, so he tried to be as gentle as possible, avoiding the scrape. After getting her tucked into bed, Ethan went to the kitchen to brew some tea, given that she''d been out in the cold for so long and was likely to catch a cold. On the big bed, Ines was curled up into a ball, her eyebrows knitted together, sound asleep with her eyes tightly shut. Her long eyshes cast a shadow beneath her eyes that made him shake his head. "Izzy, wake up. Have some tea before you go back to sleep," Ethan gently patted her cheek. "I feel cold." Ines barely moved her lips. Ethan''s eyes flickered as he touched her forehead, which was scorching hot, rmingly so. Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Ines¡¯s sickness was severe this time. Ethan not only fed her medicine to bring the fever down but also used alcohol to wipe her body down. It took some doing, but he managed to stabilize her condition. N?velDrama.Org content. She was restless all night, mumbling away in her sleep. Ethan couldn''t make out what she was saying at first, but after listening intently he finally got it. She kept saying, "I''m not going back to the Galeana family, absolutely not." It wasn''t hard to guess that tonight''s episode had something to do with the Galeana family. Thinking back to a phone call he had received a few days ago, he could pretty much guess why. Probably only Hunter could make her emotions swing like this. It wasn''t until just before dawn that Ines'' body temperature finally dropped. Ethan could finally breathe a sigh of relief and managed to get some shuteye. When Ines woke up, she felt like her head was about to split open and her throat was dry as a bone, as if it had been burned. Instinctively, she reached out only to find that the spot next to her was empty. So, she opened her eyes. She saw Ethan sitting on the bed, asleep against the headboard. Her gaze traced from his firm jawline to his well-defined nose, and finallynding on the dark circles under his eyes. Memories of the previous night slowly came back to her. She remembered getting to her front door but not being able to get in because she didn''t have her keys. She had sat on a stone bench in the complex and had fallen asleep there. Later, Ethan had carried her home. She had developed a high fever in the middle of the night, and he had taken care of her the entire time. "Ethan," Ines gently shook his arm. Ethan woke up and immediately ced his hand on her forehead, asking worriedly, "Izzy, are you feeling unwell anywhere else?" Ines shook her head, her eyes welling up with tears. "I''m fine,e to bed and get some sleep." Ethan touched his forehead to Ines'' face, making sure she no longer had a fever before finally rxing. He got up to pour her a ss of water. "Your throat must be ufortable, have some water to soothe it." After she finished the water, he went to the kitchen and brought back a bowl of cereal. "Eat something before you sleep." Ines watched Ethan''s every move, thinking to herself, why does she need a father or family when she has a husband who loves her so much? Ethan touched her forehead before lying down next to her. She leaned into him, her head buried in his chest, hisrge hand wrapped around her waist. Neither of them said anything, and they fell back asleep in each other''s arms. Having slept for quite a while the night before, Ines woke up not long after. Seeing that Ethan was still sound asleep, she didn''t want to disturb him and just watched his face. Eventually, she couldn''t resist the urge to touch his handsome face. His skin felt smooth to the touch, so perfect that she couldn''t even see pores. She couldn''t help but marvel at how good his skin was despite never seeing him use any skincare products. It was enough to make any woman jealous. Seeing that Ethan showed no signs of waking up, Ines became bolder and touched the stubble on his chin. The prickly sensation made her withdraw her hand as if she had touched electricity. Just as she was about to pull her hand away, Ethan caught her wrist. He slowly opened his eyes and smirked, "Satisfied with how I look?" Caught red-handed, Ines felt a little awkward but still nodded her head and said seriously, "yes." How could she not be? Be it his looks or his background, and even as a husband, he was performing excellently. She couldn''t find any faults. Ethan was taken aback and then burst outughing. He knew this girl had a stubborn streak and it was rare to see her so serious. Ines had slept for too long and was feeling a little groggy. Suddenly, she remembered that it was Tuesday and tried to get up, "Oh no, I have to go to work." Ethan immediately pulled her back, "I called in sick for you this morning. Just rest at home today." Ines looked at Ethan and then nodded. She knew she was in no condition to work and probably wouldn''t be able to concentrate anyway. Seeing that Ines'' mood had improved, Ethan sat up against the headboard and wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace. Ines rxed and found afortable position to lean against him. The two of them cozied up together in silence, the sunlight streaming in through the window warming the room. "Izzy, what happenedst night? You know I was worried about you, right?" Ethan looked at Ines, his expression serious. Ines'' expression changed slightly before she pressed her lips together, "I''m sorry for worrying you. I won''t do this again." "Izzy, do you know what it felt like when I came homest night? I knew you weren''t home, and I couldn''t reach you on your phone. I suddenly realized how little I knew about you. I didn''t know how to contact your friends, and I didn''t know where you would go when you''re upset. The only thing connecting us was our phones. Without it, I felt helpless. I drove to your workce and circled the area. Then I drove the route you usually take home. I even turned on the radio, afraid I would hear some bad news. In the end, I had to gamble on my luck and hope that you woulde home. It was lucky that the security guard on duty told me he saw youe back. Otherwise, I would have called the police." He was so afraid of hearing news about a car ident. He couldn''t bear the possibility of losing her. But what hurt him the most was her saying, "Ethan, let''s not fall in love, okay?" Even if she was just mumbling in her sleep, he knew that it was what she truly felt. It was probably what she was thinking when she agreed to marry him in a hurry. She didn''t want love, she just needed a husband. At this moment, Ines was nestled in Ethan''s embrace. She could clearly feel the tension in his body and his barely concealed emotions. She felt a lump in her throat and couldn''t help but cover his clenched fist with her hand. Ines swallowed hard, gave Ethan a puzzled look, then sighed and said softly, "Ethan, stop being so good to me. I''m afraid I''ll fall for you." She didn''t know if it was because of the fever or something else, but when she said those words, they left a bitter taste in her mouth. She''s got feelings too, man. She couldn¡¯t just not care, but she really didn¡¯t want to get into the whole dating thing, didn¡¯t want to end up like her mom one day. Love, that word, it hurts like hell, not everyone can handle it. She liked her life the way it is now, kinda low-key liking, a gentle reliance between two people. Chapter 74 Chapter 74 "Then just fall for me." Ethan was staring at Ines, his eyes full of determination. "I''m a bossy guy. I don''t want just a wife, I want someone I love and who loves me to be by my side." "Ethan, can we not do this? Let''s just keep things the way they were when we got married." Ethan held Ines by her waist and pulled her closer. "No, Ines, that''s not happening. I don''t want to go back to how things were." "Did you know? My dad was once my grandfather''s favorite student. He was from a humble background, and at first, my grandparents didn''t agree to them being together. They knew my mom was too proud, not someone who could tolerate anything, easily hurt. It was not until three years ago when my grandparents'' health deteriorated, and my aunt took me to see them that I learned from them. The reason they opposed their rtionship was not just because of his background. The most fatal reason was that the man didn''t have pure intentions towards her. They were afraid my mother would fall too deeply in love and ultimately get hurt." Ethan listened quietly as Ines paused before continuing, "Sure enough, she chose to end her life by suicide after learning that he had cheated on her after their marriage. I saw in her diary her naive love during her teenage years, and the growing distance between them after marriage. She cried because of his indifference, and finally lost controlpletely when his mistress and daughter came to her door. That man didn''t even know that his wife had unknowingly developed depression. For six years, as her husband, he didn''t notice at all. If he had discovered it earlier, maybe things wouldn''t have ended like this." Ines felt a chill at the corner of her eyes and realized that tears had unknowingly fallen. She didn''t know what was happening to her. Back in B City, she could stay calm, even treating the events recorded in the diary as just a sad story. But everything changed when she got to A City. She seemed to have lost control over her emotions. Seeing Hunter and Shirley, the rage from the bottom of her heart surged like a tidal wave, quickly drowning her. The hurtful words just slipped out of her mouth, and she found herself wanting tough at their pain, feeling an unprecedented relief. For a moment, she even had the illusion that maybe the car ident seven years ago was really her doing. Ethan leaned down to gently kiss the tears off Ines''s face. "Izzy, don''t do this. You can''t doubt me because of what happened to your parents. We''re not them. It won''t end like that for us. Have some faith in me, give it a chance, okay?" Regarding Ines''s mother''s suicide, he only knew the basics, but not the details. He certainly didn''t know that the main reason for her suicide was six years of depression. Ines didn''t respond, just buried her face in Ethan''s chest, sobbing silently. Soon, Ethan felt a wet spot on his chest. Ethan didn''t force her. He believed that one day he could help her move past the shadow of her parents. He gently patted her back, his eyes full ofpassion. Not until he felt the person in his arms stop crying did Ethan speak again. "One night, I took a call for you. It was him. I know you don''t want anything to do with the Galeana family anymore, so I didn''t tell you, and I blocked his number." Knowing Ines didn''t like Hunter, Ethan used ''him'' instead. Ines nodded, indicating that she understood. She didn''t feel repulsed by Ethan''s actions, but rather relieved. "What did he want?" Ines smirked coldly. "He wanted me to go back to work at the Galeana Group. I could choose between the positions of purchase department manager and marketing director." Ethan''s eyebrows raised slightly, his eyes deepening. "He''s quite generous, offering you such good positions. What did you say?" Ines stiffened. "I refused and said some other things that pissed him off." Ethan suddenly understood. The handprint on her face must have been left then. After that, she must have left the Galeana family in a fit of anger, forgetting her bag and phone. "So you walked back?" No wonder her heels were rubbed raw. Ines nodded, and Ethan couldn''t help but pinch her nose in anger. Ines, in pain, looked at him with innocent eyes. Ethan scolded her softly, both angry and helpless. "How could you be so silly, walking such a long way. Didn''t you meet anyone on the way? Couldn''t you borrow a phone and call me?" Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Listening to his scolding tone, Ines felt a long-lost feeling. The first time they met after getting their marriage certificate, he also lectured her like a head of the family. Her heart was instantly filled, a sense of satisfaction she had never felt before. She wasn''t unloved, there was still someone who cared and worried about her. Just as Ines was about to speak, Ethan cut her off. "Don''t tell me you don''t remember my number. I know how good your memory is and how sensitive you are to numbers." Ines pouted. This man seemed to have mind-reading abilities, guessing exactly what she was thinking. "You could''ve taken a taxi back home. Even if you didn''t have money, you could''ve asked the guard to pay for you temporarily. Even if you reached home and didn''t have a key, you could''ve called me from the guard''s ce or waited for me in the duty room. Why did you have to go out in the cold?" "I just wanted to clear my head." Ines murmured defensively, hanging her head. Ethan wanted to say something, but seeing her hanging her head, looking as if she had been greatly wronged, he couldn''t bring himself to. In the end, he sighed, "Are you trying to torture yourself or me?" It had been many years since hest worried so much about someone. He really fell hard this time. But falling for his own wife, that''s actually a blessing. A long sigh echoed from above, and Ines found herself totally incapable of arguing with what he had just said. Her mind was aplete nk at that moment, refusing to think ormunicate with anyone, even the simplest things didn''t cross her mind. "Izzy, sometimes you''re sharp as a tack, but other times, you''re so clueless it worries me. Can you promise me to never let something likest night happen again? Can I be the first one you think of when something''s up? Can you run to me first when something''s wrong?" Ethan gently stroked her face, his eyes filled with indulgence and tenderness. Can you run to me first when something''s wrong? This passionate question hit her heart like a violent rainstorm, and wrapped around her heart like a curse. So much so, that yearster, she still remembered this sentence and stayed true to it. Chapter 75 Chapter 75 "Ethan." Ines, her eyes red, was at a loss for words, so she just softly called his name. The better he treated her, the more wayward she felt. On one hand she was enjoying his kindness, on the other hand, she was making an unreasonable request, asking him not to love her. Ethan held Ines tightly, "Mmm, I''m here, remember my name, let it be your instinctive reaction." "Don''t be so nice to me, I don''t deserve you, I might not be able to give you what you want," Ines choked out. "Don''t talk like that, you''re my wife, of course I should treat you well. Or do you want me to be nice to other women?" "No," Ines immediately responded, the thought of him being nice to another woman made her feel suffocated. Ethan watched as she slightly pursed her lips, her small eyes stubbornly defiant, he couldn''t help but smile softly, "Silly girl." How could he possibly be nice to other women, after all these years, it was her who awakened his heart that had long been frozen. He thought he would spend his life alone, but he didn''t expect that he would fall for a woman, making him uncontrobly want to treat her well. Whether it was her mischievous side or her stubborn and obstinate side, he liked them all. Ethan spent the entire day at home with Ines, even Ines''s repeated assurances that she could take care of herself didn''t dissuade Ethan from going to work. Eventually, Ethan even grandly dered, "Mrs. Meyer, as my grandpa said, our Meyer family isn''t so poor that we can''t afford to eat, there''s no need for me to work so hard." "Excuses, you just don''t want to go to work, huh?" Despite saying this, Ines felt a wave of sweetness in her heart. She naturally knew that he was trying to make her happy. With hispany, it seemed as though yesterday''s sadness was gradually fading. Ethan gently rubbed his chin on top of her head, a gleam of mischief in his eyes, "Oops, Mrs. Meyer has figured me out." He was cooking while she helped. After dinner, they went to bed early. Ethan didn''t go to his study, but leaned against the headboard, working on hisptop on hisp. Ines curled up on the other side of the bed, using her cold feet to warm herself against his leg, holding a tablet and reading a web novel that was rmended to her by Kelly a few days ago. The plot was so appealing that she couldn''t stop reading, much more exciting than the current domestic dramas. This was a lifestyle she had never thought of before, she once thought that young people reading novels in bed was very decadent, but it felt pretty good to experience it once in a while. Keeping the same posture for a long time can be ufortable, so Ines would move around asionally. Suddenly, she heard Ethan''s hoarse voice, "Izzy, if you keep moving, I can''t guarantee that I''ll be able to control myself." She looked at Ethan in confusion, and when she saw the flicker of desire in his eyes, she immediately behaved and muttered, "Bad guy." After being together for so long, they could understand each other''s intentions with just one look. Ethan didn''t care, he put down hisptop, and in the instant that Ines''s eyes widened, he leaned in, swallowing her gasps in a kiss. His hot lips and tongue descended, his kiss heavy and urgent. Ines clutched at his clothes, tilting her head back slightly, her eyes filled with seductive allure. Even though they had been intimate many times before, she still couldn''t help but feel her heart pound and her nerves on edge whenever he kissed her like this. Before long, she felt soft and warm, as if she had drunk a bottle of aged wine and was drunk. A smile flickered in Ethan''s eyes, and he murmured in her ear, "And you said you didn''t want love." "Hmm?" Ines didn''t quite catch what he said. Ethan just smiled and didn''t exin, instead he proved everything with his actions. Just then, the phone rang. Ines regained her senses and pushed him away, "Answer the phone." Reluctantly, Ethan let go of Ines, ruffled his hair, and grumbled, "What a mood killer." This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Watching him ruffle his hair, the smile on Ines''s lips deepened. She suddenly remembered the first time they kissed, and how his expression was the same when they were interrupted by Phillip. He looked like a child who couldn''t get candy,pletely different from his usual cold and noble demeanor. She had heard people say that men are always children in front of the women they love. As soon as this thought crossed her mind, Ines was startled, and instinctively shook her head to dispel these chaotic thoughts. Just then, Ethan handed the phone to Ines, "Izzy, it''s for you." As soon as Ines took the phone, she heard Phoebe''s using and dissatisfied voice, "Izzy, you''re an adult but you''re still ying hide and seek. What are you up to? You didn''t even tell me when something happened, do you even consider me your best friend? Are you trying to make me mad? Tell me honestly, did Ethan take advantage of you?" Ethan had only asked Phoebe if Ines had contacted her when he called, and she said no. Then he immediately hung up, and she had no idea what had happened. Ines''s phone was unreachable, so she had no choice but to call Ethan again. Ines instinctively looked at Ethan, and saw him standing by the bed, watching her with a half-smiling expression. It was clear that he had heard what Phoebe had said. "He didn''t take advantage of me," Ines said quietly. Hearing Ines''s weak voice, Phoebe became even more convinced of her suspicions, "Izzy, don''t be afraid. Even if the Meyer family rules A City, I''ll do my best to help you." Ines felt helpless, but also deeply touched. Sheughed softly and said truthfully, "Don''t worry, Ethan has been very good to me. I was taken back to the Galeana family by Hunter yesterday, and I left my phone there. Ethan knew you''re my best friend, and when he couldn''t reach me, he called you." Hearing this, Phoebe let out a sigh of relief. Even though she had always believed in the integrity of the Meyer family, this emotionless union had always been a concern. Love is such an unpredictable thing. After a brief pause, Phoebe suddenly got angry again, "What does that old man want from you now? It was him who personally cut off your father-daughter ties in the newspapers." If she hadn''t seen it all with her own eyes, Phoebe could never imagine that the person who had doted on Ines since childhood would end up like this. What''s even more shocking is that he even had an illegitimate daughter who was less than a year younger than Ines. Anyone with half a brain could tell that this was obviously the result of his infidelity while his wife was pregnant. His wife bore him children, risking aging, getting ugly, and losing her figure, while he couldn''t control himself from seeking thrills outside. This kind of man is simply unforgivable. "He wants me to join the Galeana Group." Ines was calm, and after a day of contemtion, her mood had gradually improved. Chapter 76 Chapter 76 "Hmph, who does he think he is? He''s nothing but a hypocrite. If he''d kicked you out in the first ce, why is he stirring up so much trouble now? You don''t need the Galeana Group with your current status and position." Phoebe was really peeved. Ines didn''t say anything, and Phoebe, feeling tentative, said, "Izzy, I''m sorry, I..." After all, that man was Ines''s father, and Phoebe realized she might have overreacted. "Phoebe, I''m fine. I haven''t seen him in years, so I got too emotional yesterday. I''ll be cautious in the future." As Phoebe rambled on, Ines reluctantly agreed. She knew her friend''s personality was like this, always having endless things to say to her true friends, like a mother hen. If she didn''t care about someone, she wouldn''t say a word, acting all high and mighty. After hanging up, Ines handed the phone to Ethan. Ethan''s eyes were dangerously narrowed, staring at her. Ines felt a chill down her spine, "Why are you looking at me like that?" "I really want to correct something you just said." Ethan sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze still fixed on her, watching her intensely. "What are you talking about?" Ines could already hear her voice shaking, and unconsciously stepped back a bit. "I really do want to take advantage of you." Ethan spoke slowly, and Ines wanted to escape, but it was toote. Ethan pulled her into his arms, and a passionate kiss fell again, followed by tender touches. Out of consideration for her physical weakness, Ethan finally let her go. She liked to press her ear against his chest, listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat. It always gave her a sense of security and made it easier for her to fall asleep. Just as she was about to close her eyes, she heard his melodious voice, "Izzy, go to sleep, he''s okay now, he''s out of the hospital." N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Even though he didn''t specify, she knew he was talking about Hunter. At this moment, her taut nerves finally rxed, she closed her eyes in relief, a faint smile on her lips, and fell into a deep sleep in his arms. The next day, after Ines finished her work, a clear voice came in. A tall, thin young man walked in holding a bunch ofvender, asking, "Is Ms. Galeana here? Here are her flowers, please sign for them." As soon as the young man spoke, everyone''s eyes were on her. "Wow,vender!" "Ines, someone sent you flowers!" "Who''s so romantic to send such a big bunch ofvender?" The voices of her colleagues were all around. There were envious ones, and those who were just stirring the pot. Ines took the flowers from the young man in everyone''sughing eyes and signed her name on the receipt card. There was a small card on it, Ines picked it up gently. It was written with a few words in a vigorous and powerful style, it was the handwriting she was most familiar with. [Izzy, I''ll pick you up after work, let''s officially start our first date.] In the morning, Ethan dropped Izzy off at work, and suddenly said to her when she got out of the car, "Izzy, let''s have a proper date." Izzy was a little surprised at the time, thinking he was just joking. After all, they were already married, and it seemed a little strange to date again. Sheughed and walked away, not thinking about it anymore. Who would have thought Ethan would move so fast and send Izzy flowers. Although it''s a bit clich¨¦, this is the first time Izzy has received flowers from a man, and she was instantly in a good mood. Ethan always keeps his word, so it seems he''s serious. Kelly came over, winking at Izzy with a suggestive look, "Wow, Ines, who''s the admirer who sent the flowers? So romantic." Izzy replied with a smile, "Stop talking nonsense, I''m already married. They were sent by my husband." Kelly looked incredulous, "Really? The flowernguage ofvender is to have a good romance, longing for love." Ines was taken aback, not expecting the flowers to have this meaning. Thinking of the effort Ethan had put into this, she thought it might not be a bad thing to try dating him. She thought, the reason most girls get married is simply because they''ve found a reliable man for now. As for the future? Who can say for sure. Whether she loses or wins, she''s okay with it. After all, the chances of winning or losing are equal. "Who says you can''t date after you''re married? Marriage also needs dating to keep things fresh." Izzy said with augh. "Wow, hearing you say that, I feel like getting married too. After all, you can still date after you''re married." "What are you all doing? Have you finished your work yet?" The stern voice of Amelia came over. Kelly stuck her tongue out at Izzy and ran back to her desk. Ines also put down the flowers and started dealing with her work. Amelia nced at Izzy and said indifferently, "Now that you''re married, don''t destroy other people''s rtionships." Ines was taken aback and looked up at Amelia. Her face was still indifferent, as if the words she''d just said were just Ines ¡®sillusion. Ines felt that some things needed to be exined, "Ms. Young, did you misunderstand something?" "Just forget what I said." After saying that, Amelia headed straight to the bathroom. Ines watched Amelia''s retreating figure, feelingplicated. Ines frowned and checked the new phone Ethan had given her in the morning. It was a text from Ethan. [Izzy, did you receive my flowers?] Ines pouted and replied, "All because of your flowers, I got scolded by my boss." After sending the text, Ines put the phone aside. On the other side, in the president''s office of the Meyer Group. After sending a text, Ethan tossed his phone aside and looked up at Lucas, "How''s the digging going?" "Mr. Galeana''s main doc is this guy named Kermit, seems like they''re old pals. Keeps his lips sealed tight, told the family it was just a case of ''sudden stress causing fainting'', and as long as he doesn''t get too worked up or pissed off, he''ll be just fine. I tried to get some info out of the young docs under Kermit, but they all say they didn''t have a hand in any of Mr. Galeana''s check-ups or prescriptions. Kermit''s been calling all the shots. But one of the young guns did spill that he''s seen Mr. Galeana in Kermit''s office quite a few times, and it seemed like they had a bit of a row." Lucas reported his findings truthfully. Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Ethan''s hand paused above his desk for a moment. Even if the patient was his good friend, there was no need for a doctor of his caliber to get his own hands dirty. You see, most medical examinations these days depend on advanced technology. As long as you can operate the machine, the results are pretty much the same, regardless of the doctor''s medical skills. Kermit personally conducting the examination was unnecessary and could only mean one thing - he was hiding something. Ethan had been suspicious ever since he heard Ines''s words. Hunter had been the CEO and chairman for so many years, his ambition for power was clear. Why would he suddenly let his publicly disowned daughter into thepany, and put her in such a crucial position? The job was a golden goose and a training ground, able to groom someone quickly. It was clear he was looking for a sessor. He always knew his wife had potential, her future was limitless. Apparently, Hunter might share his view. Ethan had a bad feeling about this. The situation must be moreplicated than it seemed. He wondered if Ines could ept the truth when it was revealed. Although she seemed to hate her father, she cared about him deep down. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have lost control after him passing out. After work, as soon as Ines turned on her phone, she saw Ethan''s ambiguous text, "My bad. Let me make it up to you tonight." Her mind instantly wandered to some explicit scenarios, and her face turned red. She picked up her bag and left the office. Ethan''s car was already waiting outside, she quickly walked over and got in. Ethan chuckled at her eagerness, "Can''t wait to see me, huh?" Ines rolled her eyes at him, helpless at his asional shamelessness. "I just don''t want to run into any colleagues." This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. "Am I embarrassing you?" Ethan seemed unhappy. He was a catch, it was an honor to be seen with him. But somehow, he was something to hide from her colleagues. Seeing his discontent, Ines teased, "Not at all. I''m just worried that Mr. Meyer''s irresistible charm will dazzle all the girls in our office, and they''ll be ready to steal you away from me." Ethan nodded seriously, furrowing his handsome brows, "Well, it''s a good thing Izzy finally realized her fate as Mrs. Meyer." His words implied his undeniable charm. Even though she was used to his asional narcissism, she couldn''t help butugh. Then she remembered their date and asked, "What are we doing tonight?" "Dinner, movie, shopping." Ethan listed. Ines was taken aback and blurted out, "That''s so clich¨¦d. You didn''t just copy the tricks you used to date girls when you were young, did you? Times have changed, why don''t you keep up?" Sending flowers, dining, watching movies - these were all ways boys pursued girls a decade ago. She didn''t expect him to use the same old tricks. She had high hopes, thinking he would be different. But he turned out to be just like everyone else. Young? Was she insinuating he was old? Was he really that old? Ethan''s tone darkened, his eyes narrowing, he emphasized, "I''m not even 33 yet." Ines raised an eyebrow, recalling his birthday was not long after Christmas. Women don''t like discussing their age, and it seemed men were the same. The man before her was particrly sensitive about it. "Oops, my bad, Mr. Meyer. Don''t be mad. And stop frowning, it makes you look..." like an old man. Of course, she didn''t voice thest part, instead she added with a smirk, "it ruins your dashing looks." Ethan knew her unsaid words were nopliment but decided to let it slide. He nodded and asked, "You don''t like my ns?" His hand tightened on the steering wheel as he asked. Ines snorted, "Of course not, it''s obvious you didn''t put in any effort, using such outdated tricks on me." "Lucas said that''s what he does on dates and my online research confirmed it. We can change the ns anytime if you''re not satisfied." Ethan sounded serious. Actually, after Lucas gave him the advice, he went online to double-check. Other people were suggesting the same things, iming women are emotional creatures, the cheesier the better. Why didn''t it work on Ines? He shouldn''t have believed them so easily. "Did you get thevender idea from the inte too?" Ethan didn''t respond, just shifted his gaze away from Ines. "Ha." Ines knew the answer from his reaction. The thought of Ethan asking his secretary and scouring the inte for advice made herugh. This man was always meticulous. As sheughed, Ethan felt more frustrated, "do you not like it?" Ines looked at him with a faint smile, "Mr. Meyer, I''ll go along with your ns." What mattered was his sincerity. The fact that this high and mighty man was willing to do all this for her showed he cared. Ethan scratched his head, confused, "Are all women this fickle?" One minute she wasining, the next she was all smiles. Ines giggled, "You''re just figuring that out?" They continued their date like a normal couple, starting with dinner at a steak house. Ethan was the perfect gentleman, cing a napkin on herp and cutting her steak into small pieces. Ines enjoyed his thoughtful service with a smile. Midway through the meal, a waiter brought a bouquet of roses to their table, bowed slightly and said, "Madam, these are your flowers." Ines shot a nce at Ethan, catching a smirk on his face. She didn''t need to guess twice, it was obviously his doing. After thanking the waiter, Ines took the flowers from him. Ines lowered her head to take a whiff of the flowers. The refreshing scent of roses instantly filled her nostrils, making her feel super rxed. She looked up at him and asked, "Didn''t you just give me flowers? Why again?" To which Ethan asked, "Do you like them?" Ines nodded, her smile bright as a flower, "I love them. Exactly seventeen. What''s the meaning behind them?" Ethan casually replied, "To be with you for a lifetime." Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Ines was taken aback. This wasn''t some cheesy romantic proposal, but the most ordinary and warm promise: to be with her for life. It was the promise that every couple made in front of the priest when they stepped into the alter. At this moment, a sense of satisfaction she had never felt before surged in her heart. After dinner, they went to see a movie as nned, which was aedy. The audience around them wereughing their heads off, but the two of them, who had a high threshold for humor, didn''t even crack a smile. They had no idea what was so funny but still, they watched it until the end. When they walked out of the cinema, they both startedughing simultaneously, feeling like they had just sat through two hours of nonsense. Later, they went for a walk by the river, until they were tired and went home. Ines had thought that such a deliberate date would be awkward, but it turned out surprisingly well, judging from the satisfied smile on her face. Ines fell asleep in the car. After carrying her into the house, her phone in her bag rang again. Ethan immediately picked up. The person on the other end of the line stopped when they heard a man''s voice, only speaking when Ethan was about to hang up. ¡°I''m the butler of the Galeana family. Could I speak to Ms. Ines?" said Ss. ¡°My wife is asleep. Whatever it is, you can tell me," said Ethan coldly. The thought of them taking her back to the Galeana family against her will, making her go through so much, made him angry. If it weren''t for the fact that Ines still had some affection for them, he wouldn''t even bother communicating with them and would just deal with it his own way. Ss had spent most of his life by Hunter''s side and had met many distinguished people, but the young voice on the phone, even through the line, gave him an inexplicable pressure. He steadied himself and said, ¡°Ms. Ines left her phone and bag at the Galeana family. I was wondering when she would be free so I could return them to her." ¡°No need. Please tell Mr. Galeana that since he didn''t want this daughter five years ago, he should let go of her now. She''s my wife now. Don''t take her away again without my consent, or I don''t know what I''ll do. I mean what I say." After saying this, Ethan hung up the phone. ¡°Hello? Hello..." Ss called out twice, but all he heard was the hang-up tone. He had put the call on speaker, so Hunter, who was standing next to him, heard everything clearly. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Hunter couldn''t help but m the table and raise his voice, ¡°This arrogant man, how dare he threaten me. What on earth did Ines see in him? Why would she marry someone like this?" ¡°Chairman, I think the man Ms. Ines married is not an ordinary person," said Ss. Some people exude an aura of respect just from their tone and attitude. Without a doubt, Ethan was one of them. ¡°You don''t have to tell me that. I know," Hunter said in a deep voice. If the guy wasn''t something special, how could he not find out anything about him? Just from this fact, he knew that the guy wasn''t someone to be underestimated. Plus, he addressed him as Mr. Galeana, clearly showing his audacity even after knowing his identity. ¡°What should we do now? It seems that Ms. Ines has decided not toe back to the Galeana family. She''s so stubborn, it''s going to be a problem." Hunter snorted dismissively, ¡°We''ll see who''s more stubborn." That was his daughter, whom he had watched grow up. He didn''t believe that he couldn''t handle her. Ethan turned around and saw Ines standing behind him, quietly looking at him. He smiled, ¡°Did you hear all that?" Ines nodded. Ethan walked up to her, lifted his hand to ruffle her hair, ¡°Do you want me to get you a new phone number?" Ines shook her head and calmly said, ¡°No need. No matter how many numbers I change, as long as he won''t let go of me, I can''t be at peace." Ethan looked at her with tender eyes, ¡°If you don''t want to face them, you can leave these matters to me in the future." ¡°Okay." ¡°You should go to bed early. You have work tomorrow." Early in the morning, Ines received a call from Jaime asking her toe to his office. When she arrived, she found Amelia was there too. ¡°Ines, you''re here. Please, have a seat," Jaime said. Ines nodded and sat down on the sofa next to Amelia Young. ¡°Amelia, Ines, I''ve called you here so early because there''s a task I need to entrust to you." He handed them two invitations. Ines opened hers to find it was an invitation to a cocktail party. The chairman of Evergreen Ventures, Luis Dotson, was celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary. ¡°As you can see from the invitation, this is something we worked hard to get. Ines, since you''re new to A City, let me give you a brief overview. Evergreen Ventures is the secondrgestpany after the Meyer Group. What''s more noteworthy is Luis''s rise to sess. He held various government positions when he was young, before he entered the business world and founded Evergreen Ventures. Hiswork is very extensive, and tonight''s party will be brimming with celebrities. Our leaders ce a lot of importance on this event and have high hopes for us. You two wille with me. I believe you both know what to do, so I won''t repeat it. Ines, you can follow Ms. Young. She has attended many such parties and is experienced." Although Ines didn''t like it, she nodded in agreement. The reality was that whether it was negotiating contracts or securing business, it often happened over the dining table. Especially for the firm, auditing financial statements was their main business. If they could secure more annual audits frompanies, the bonuses and benefits would undoubtedly be substantial. Not to mention that Luis had connections in the SEC. If they could get to know these people, it would greatly facilitate their future work. Ines had rarely been to such cocktail parties before. Aaron was good to her, knowing she didn''t dig ces like this. She usually wasn''t stuck with the job of schmoozing for business deals. "Alright, that''s all I''ve got for you guys. You''re off the hook from the office this afternoon. Amelia, take Ines to our go-to boutique and pick out some suitable clothes. As usual, the office will pick up the tab. We''ll meet up at the hotel entrance tonight." After leaving Jaime''s office, Amelia halted, spun around to face Ines, and after a few seconds of silence, asked, "How''s your booze tolerance?" Ines answered honestly, "I don¡¯t usually drink alcohol." Amelia responded with a poker face, "Then be careful." Ines felt a warm glow inside and her eyes crinkled a bit at the corners, "Thanks, Ms. Young." Amelia was taken aback at hearing this. It seemed she hadn''t expected to receive gratitude from Ines, given she wasn''t usually very friendly to her. Amelia nced at Ines, then took off. Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Ines has always been an easy-going person. Amelia''s words lifted her spirits a bit, as she appreciates genuine people over two-faced phonies. Amelia was just that kind of person: a bit aloof maybe, but her character was top-notch. That''s why she kept grinding, even when she was getting the cold shoulder at the firm. She truly believed that one day, Amelia would see her in a different light. These kind of parties were a mixed bag, with plenty of shady deals going down behind the scenes. A woman getting sloshed would surely end up on the short end of the stick. In the afternoon, Amelia took Ines for a makeover. During a break, Ines rang Ethan to check in, something that had be a sort of unspoken agreement between them: they''d always let each other know if they weren''ting home. Ethan''s end of the line was a bit noisy, so she quickly hung up after a brief chat. The Diamond Hotel, a five-star joint built by the river, was an absolute stunner, always packed to the rafters. Every room had a killer view: you could take in the beautiful river scenery, the neon lights on the opposite bank and the ferries gliding by. Close the windows and you wouldn''t hear a peep from the traffic on the river. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. If you wanted to throw an event there, you''d have to book at least a month in advance. The A City government often hosted their big-shot foreign guests there. And of course, big spenders like Evergreen Ventures held their annual gs and banquets there. At the entrance, staff were strict about checking invitations. No invite, no entry. Ines wore a subtle purple strapless evening dress, with a shawl draped over her shoulders and light makeup, looking ssy and elegant. Amelia went for a fiery red bodycon dress, iting her killer curves. She was all smiles from the moment they stepped in, a stark contrast to her usual icy demeanor. They ran into Jaime who just exchanged pleasantries and went on his way. Ines, not used to such events, sipped on her red wine and stuck close to Amelia. Amelia bumped into a lot of acquaintances and engaged in easy banter, often raising her ss for a toast. She was clearly a pro at navigating these kind of events. The men were mostly in suits, with a woman beside them - some were their wives, some secretaries, and some even mistresses. Their frivolous behavior was a bit much. It was all a blur to Ines, her polite smile almost frozen on her face as she struggled to tell if they were government officials or business tycoons. Suddenly, an old geezer blocked their path. With a double chin and a belly that looked like he was a few months pregnant, he was talking to Amelia but his lecherous gaze was fixated on Ines, especially her chest. His yellow teeth, in stark contrast to the young beauty on his arm, were on full disy every time he opened his mouth. "Ms. Young, since when did the firm get such a looker? Why didn''t I know that? Mind introducing us?" Ines'' skin was delicate, and the purple dress made her look even younger, like a fresh college grad. Ines couldn''t stand his creepy gaze, it made her skin crawl. She felt like puking, but didn''t want to make a scene. She just furrowed her brows and turned her head slightly. The man misinterpreted it as shyness, and it only fueled his twisted fascination. Amelia saw the old man''s reaction and thought, ''As if I would introduce you to pretty girls, you dirty old man.'' She didn''t let it show, though. Instead, she justughed it off and waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, Mr. Farrar, you''re as humor as always. I feel like you''re giving me the cold shoulder. Is it because Ms. Galeana makes me look old standing next to her? She''s actually married and is almost 30, just a few years younger than me." Hearing Amelia''s exnation, Ines breathed a sigh of relief. From Amelia''s words, she gathered that the old man was a long-time client of Foresight Financial Services, named Stoner Farrar, who was in real estate. He started off as a small contractor andter started his own real estate company. The guy was lucky as hell. He hit it big when the city government started heavily supporting private enterprises. With the government pulling strings for him, his business took off. And with his knack for brown-nosing and exploiting loopholes, he became a nouveau riche. But the guy was a notorious womanizer, especially fond of young-looking women. His wife couldn''t control him, and didn''t dare to. So he shamelessly showed up at various events with different women. Amelia had warned her before to avoid him as much as possible. But today, her luck was out. The moment she walked in, she was in his sights. Upon hearing that Ines was married, Mr. Farrar looked disappointed, "Are you married, huh? But you just look like a young girl." The reason this old guy could get by was because he knew the score: he usually steered clear of married women. "It''s my fault, I should have told you in advance. I owe you an apology, and a drink. You can drink as much or as little as you want." Amelia raised her ss and downed it in one, while Stoner Farrar took just a small sip. After the toast, Stoner turned his gaze to Ines again, his face tense. "Ms. Galeana, your boss is drinking, but you''re not. Are you disrespecting me?" Hearing this, Ines hesitated and instinctively looked at Amelia, who gave her a nod, indicating she should take a sip. Ines knew Stoner was just stirring up trouble for the previous incident, and she had no choice but to drink up. She forced a smile and said, "Mr. Farrar, you must be joking. I''ll drink to that." "Drinking alone is no fun, Mr. Farrar. Let me toast you one more." Amelia said with a smile, and chugged down the drink in her ss. Ines was not sure about her alcohol tolerance, but she didn''t feel ufortable after one drink. She just nced at Amelia with some worry, as it seemed like she had been drinking a lot since she came in. After the drinks, the young girl next to the old man couldn''t stand him constantly ogling other women, so she coquettishly shook his arm and said, "Mr. Farrar, let''s go. I came specifically to dance with you tonight." The old man nced at the woman on his arm, a smug smile spread across his face, "Oh yeah, let''s go dance." With that, his big hand moved to the girl''s backside. Watching them leave, Amelia''s smile gradually faded, revealing a look of disgust, and she muttered under her breath, "Disgusting old bastard, he''s bound to get hiseuppance from some woman sooner orter." Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Ines naturally overheard Amelia''s words, a faint smile ying on her lips as she seemed to catch a glimpse of another side of Amelia. "Ines, if you''re not a fan of these events, you can find a ce to chill for a bit. I''ll call you when it''s time to leave." Ines nodded her agreement. She felt like she wasn''t much help to Amelia, but rather a bit of a burden, needing her to help her out constantly. Ines found a secluded sofa and couldn''t help but text Ethan on her phone. [At a party at Diamond Hotel. So bored being here alone.] After waiting a while without receiving a reply from Ethan, she assumed he was busy and didn''t bother him further. She scrolled through Instagram, seeing Phoebe, the foodie, sharing loads of delicious food posts. Suddenly, Ines felt a little peckish and got up to grab some food. Just as she turned around, she saw Jaime waving her over from not too far away. Ines had no choice but to put down her te and walk over to him. As she approached, she noticed Hunter standing beside him, with Emma clinging to Aiden''s arm. The moment they saw her, their expressions went through a series of changes. As an employee under Jaime, she always took her job seriously. Despite her extreme dislike for the Galeana family, she steeled herself and approached Jaime. Jaime grinned warmly at her, "Ines,e let Mr. Galeana have a look at you. He was just saying you look familiar." Ines looked at Hunter, who seemed a bit pale, as though he hadn''t fully recovered yet. She felt a twinge of nervousness, but she was good at hiding her emotions. She pretended not to recognize the man before her, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Galeana." Listening to her tone, Hunter felt a bit ufortable, but he didn''t say anything in front of so many people. He just nodded slightly. The atmosphere was a bit weird, Jaime tried to smooth things over with augh. "Now Mr. Galeana, you can take a good look at Ines and see if she looks like someone you know. Maybe a long-lost rtive?" Ines smirked, her words dripping with sarcasm, "You''re joking. I just happen to share a surname with Mr. Galeana. Maybe he got the wrong person. My family for three generations are all country folks, still living in the countryside. Even when we move out of the countryside, we can''t shake off our rustic manners. How could someone like me ever know a big shot like Mr. Galeana?" As Ines spoke, she nced at Hunter and Emma. Emma was visibly upset. Growing up in the countryside was something she never wanted to bring up. Her current friends were only interested in her because of her status as the heiress to the Galeana Group. Behind her back, they mocked her for being a bumpkin. This was actually Emma''s problem. The reason Ines said those words was partly because she was able to face her own background with no prejudice against her ancestors; and partly to provoke Emma, who always despised her own past. Sure enough, this really got to Emma. She reacted like a cat with its tail stepped on, her anger ring up as she red at Ines, "Ines, don''t you forget, my..." My ancestors are your ancestors too. Emma was about to say something, but Hunter and Aiden''s looks stopped her. She pouted in dissatisfaction. The smile on Jaime''s face froze, he seemed a bit annoyed with Ines, as if he was ming her for crossing a line. Ines had given Hunter a hard time recently, he had seen worse from her, and his mental endurance had grown stronger. Looking at the face that resembled his ex-wife, he did not get angry, instead, he felt a bit dazed. His ex-wife also loved purple, always wearing a purple dress when apanying him to any event, her radiant smile lighting up his world. In business battles, she was sharp- tongued, leaving others defenseless, a truly worthy partner. However, the person before him was cold, reminding him that she was not his wife, but a daughter he had disowned. Regaining hisposure, Hunter said, "I must have mistaken you for someone else." Aiden looked at Ines, sighing helplessly. Seeing Aiden''s dispirited expression, Emma''s anger completely took over hermon sense, she stamped her foot, let go of his hand, and stormed off. Jaime''s face changed, he made a gesture of apology towards Hunter, "Mr. Galeana, sorry about that, seems like I upset your daughter." Jaime was a smart man, he could tell the rtionship between these people wasplicated. He had been trying to secure the Galeana Group''s annual review project, so he approached Hunter when he saw him. But he saw Hunter gazing thoughtfully at a woman''s figure, as if lost in distant memories, and that woman was his employee, Ines. He naturally assumed the best and invited Ines over. But seeing the current situation, was it really a good idea to call Ines over? "Don''t mind her, she''s spoiled, always been like this." Hunter said grumpily, then turned to Jaime, "What exactly does Ms. Galeana do at the firm?" Jaime''s eyes flickered, unsure of Hunter''s intention. His daughter seemed to really dislike Ines, but he was quite lenient with Ines. Even his future son-inw seemed hesitant when looking at Ines. Others might not notice Ines'' impatience, but he had interacted with her a few times. Usually, she was polite and well-mannered in her words and deeds, showing great upbringing. But today, her tone seemed a bit excessive. What exactly was going on between these people? Jaime pondered for a few seconds, then grinned, "Ines just got back from B City. She worked in a buddy of mine''spany, a real whiz at her job. Despite her young age, she''s already an auditor with a few years of experience under her belt. She''s one of the young guns we''re grooming in our company." Hunter took a nce at Ines, an indescribable feeling welling up inside him. He faintly remembered many years ago, probably when she had just started college, she came back from school, threw her arms around his neck from behind, and cooed about her dislike for business management. She wanted to switch her major to ounting and aim for a career as a certified public ountant. Back then, he was hell-bent on having her take over thepany and didn¡¯t think twice before rejecting her idea. She pulled at his beard in annoyance and stormed off, her brows furrowed. He found it both irritating and amusing at the time and didn''t take it seriously. Who knew that after she left the Galeana family, she really did steer her career in that direction. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Aiden also looked at Ines curiously, but once their eyes met, they seemed glued together, unable to look away. Ines maintained a poker face the whole time, not looking at Hunter, let alone Aiden, as if the person standing in front of her was a stranger who had nothing to do with her. Hunter sighed, "I didn''t expect yourpany to be such a talent ce, even boasting a young yet seasoned auditor like her." Chapter 81 Chapter 81 "Mr. Galeana, you''re too kind. Having Ines on board is nothing short of a godsend. She''s taken a lot of weight off my shoulders. Even our ever-so-picky Ms. Young can''t stop singing her praises." Jaime was well aware of Ines'' value to Hunter, therefore, he made a point to highlight her merits. "Oh? Ms. Young, as in the infamous workaholic Amelia Young?" Hunter raised an eyebrow, seemingly familiar with Jaime''s reference. "That''s her. Amelia is a tough cookie, but she''s always held Ines in high regard. We have a bunch of top-notch talents at our firm, Mr. Galeana. Would you consider a partnership?" Jaime asked gingerly. To his surprise, Hunter agreed in a heartbeat, "Sure, why not? You guys can give it a shot this year." With that, he cast a casual nce at Ines. Jaime took the hint, extended a hand to Hunter with a grin, "Thanks for your trust, Mr. Galeana. Here''s to a sessful partnership." Ines felt a shudder run through her. Hunter shook Jaime''s hand, "To our sess." Thereafter, Hunter and Jaime had a long chat while Ines stood quietly on the sidelines, holding back her anger. "I almost forgot, we''re here to celebrate tonight. Let''s drop the business talk. Ines, feel free to mingle. We don''t need you here." Hunter seemed to consider Ines a stranger. Ines found his tone grating, the irony in her smile deepening. "Well, if that''s what Mr. Galeana suggests, I''ll take my leave." Nodding briefly, Ines walked away. The banquet hadn''t officially started. She headed for the balcony to get some fresh air. Just as she stepped out, Emma followed, snidely remarking, "Ines, I thought you were some big shot. Turns out you''re just a bean counter." "How narrow-minded. No wonder you''ve been stuck in the same ce for so long. If you spent less time chasing men and more time improving yourself, you wouldn''t be in this mess." Ines retorted with a derisiveugh. She realized that being a pushover would only encourage Emma to push her boundaries. The best way to handle it was to fight fire with fire, to send Emma packing. She might have a cool demeanor, but she was in no way a pushover. She had avoided arguing with Emma before, fearing that her scandalous past would tarnish the Meyer family''s reputation. But aftering clean with her mother-inw, she was reassured that they were not afraid of any rumors. Emma''s face changed. The old fearless Ines was back, leaving her speechless. Emma red at Ines, "What the hell are you talking about? I''m good at my job." A smirk tugged at Ines'' lips, "Are you out of your mind? Even a barmaid wouldn''t brag about her work skills." "I''m the PR Manager." Emma corrected. "So, you''re in a hurry to tell me you''re a high-ss barmaid?" Ines rubbed her temples, coldly retorting. Emma held her head high, "Ines, you''re talking nonsense." Ines gave Emma a once-over. Despite her short height, Emma had a good figure. "To be honest, I gotta hand it to our chairman. He sure knows how to pick pretty ones." Ines'' suggestive gaze was not lost on Emma. Emma knew exactly what Ines was implying.N?velDrama.Org content. "Ah!" Emma shrieked, raising her hand to p Ines. But Ines caught her wrist, staring down at her, "Biting off more than you can chew, aren''t you? You think you cany a hand on me with your height?" Ines was only 5''5", but Emma was even shorter, at 5''1". The 4-inch difference gave Ines the upper hand. Emma was roughly shoved away by Ines, causing her to fall to the ground. As she knelt there, her skirt left little to the imagination. She looked around and sighed in relief when she saw no one was watching. Ines gave her a resigned look before turning to leave. After catching her breath, Emma got up and limped away, refusing to admit defeat. Upon exiting, she bumped into Stoner Farrar, who was cozying up with a pretty girl, his eyes glued to Ines'' retreating figure. Emma suddenly had an idea. She walked up to him, greeting him cheerily, "Yo, Mr. Farrar, who''s caught your eye this time?" Stoner knew Emma. He had once been interested in her but refrained due to her status. He gave a nonchnt smile, "I''m sorry if I''ve embarrassed you, Ms. Galeana. I''m aware she''s a married woman." "No way, she can''t possibly be married." Emma whispered incredulously. She spoke softly, but Stoner was close enough to hear her. His interest piqued, "Do you know her, Ms. Galeana?" Emma nced around hesitantly, sparking Stoner''s curiosity. He eagerly asked, "What do you know, Ms. Galeana?" Emma feigned reluctance, then leaned in to whisper, "Well, Mr. Farrar, I think we''re close enough for me to share this. I wouldn''t tell anyone else. The woman you saw isn''t a married woman. She''s just a fresh college graduate who came to interview for a hostess position at ourpany not long ago." "She was charming and likable, and I was considering hiring her. But I heard she didn''t have a good reputation. Apparently, she had a sugar daddy in college. I decided to not hire her. I couldn''t risk tarnishing ourpany''s reputation." "Really? Someone told me she was married." Stoner''s eyes lit up. Emma shrugged, "I''m not sure about that. My informationes from reliable sources. Maybe someone''s tricking you." "That wicked woman, she''s totally out of line." At this point, Stoner was blinded by malicious thoughts swirling in his head, fooled by Emma into believing it was Amelia who had tricked him. With that, he excitedly strode off in the direction Ines had left. Watching Stoner''s confident swagger, Emma''s lips curled into a cold, sinister smirk. Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Ines found a quiet corner to sit down, pulled out her phone, and continued reading her novel, only to be interrupted by a direct gaze. She looked up and saw Stoner standing a meter away, grinning at her with clear desire in his eyes, a look of intention to score on his face. Ines instantly tensed up and felt uneasy, subconsciously looking around. She was in a secluded spot, she could hear the noise of the banquet in the hall, but could hardly see anyone. As she got up to leave, Stoner grabbed her wrist and said flippantly, "Pretty girl, you and Amelia really fooled me. You''re so beautiful, yet you imed to be married. Why work so hard? Stick with me, I''ll give you whatever you want." Ines could smell his bad breath and felt like puking. Suppressing her nausea, she calmly said, "Mr. Farrar, please behave yourself. I''m really married." "Hmph, still ying hard to get. Don''t think I don''t know about your past. It doesn''t matter who you sleep with anyway." As he said this, he reached out to touch Ines'' face. Ines jerked his hand away, forced herself to calm down, and nced at her bag on the sofa. "Mr. Farrar, I don''t know who you''ve been listening to, but I''m really married. And, my husband isn''t someone you can mess with." When Stoner''s hand was shaken off, his mood immediately darkened. His voice also grew heavier, and his grip on her wrist tightened. "You think I''m easy to bully? You wouldn¡¯t want to mess with me." "My husband is the president of the Meyer Group. Are you sure you can afford to mess with him?" Ines narrowed her eyes, emanating an invisible pressure, perhaps from associating with Ethan for so long. Facing her gaze, Stoner felt an inexplicable sinking feeling. He naturally knew about the Meyer Group, a mythical entity with a powerful background, whose president rarely made appearances. But he''d heard that he was not married, and although the woman in front of him was good-looking, she didn''t look like a woman who married into wealth. Her dress was obviously not a designer brand. Thinking of these, he smirked evilly, "Daydreaming isn''t good, you think you could marry into a wealthy family? Does the president''s wife of their family need to work? Don''t try to fool me." "Alright, let''s have a proper talk after the banquet ends." Seeing that Stoner was not easy to fool, Ines had to make a concession and raised an eyebrow at him. "That''s better. No need to act like a prude." Stoner slightly loosened his grip. "I''m afraid of messing up this banquet, I can''t handle the consequences." Ines forced a pleasing smile. She was dressed carefully tonight, her hair loose, and when she smiled, her big eyes were especially charming. Stoner felt his heart flutter, as if the beauty in front of him was within his grasp. Just as he was distracted, Ines quickly took out a retractable self-defence stick from her bag and swung it hard at his lower body. Stoner''s eyes widened, and he let out a scream, falling to the ground and unable to get up for a while. Watching Stoner in pain, Ines felt no sympathy and kicked him hard, "scumbag, see if you dare to bully women in the future." She then quickly grabbed her bag and left the scene. Stoner was in so much pain that he was sweating profusely. He stared at Ines'' retreating figure and managed to say, "You..." Even when she reached the hall, Ines'' heart was still pounding. She was relieved and scared at the same time. Ethan had taken all her self-defence gear, but habits are scary things. Not having that stick in her bag made her feel insecure, so she hid one in her bag behind Ethan''s back. She was lucky to have it tonight, otherwise, she might not have been able to escape safely. Thinking about the stick touching that man''s body, Ines unhesitatingly threw it into the trash can. Just as she was thinking about "restocking", a woman''s voice came over. "Are you sure it''s her?" C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Ines looked up and saw a woman in her early twenties in front of her, dressed in a white dress, looking as delicate as a doll, but now looking at her angrily. Ines was a bit baffled, she didn''t remember offending her. The woman pointed to another girl next to her, whom Ines recognized as the girl Stoner had been holding, who was also looking provocatively at her, and said, "Yes, I saw her go to the balcony just now." Be Dotson raised her hand and pped Ines unexpectedly. The p grazed her mouth, she even felt the nails scraping her chin, and it stung. Ines was instantly filled with anger, her face immediately darkened, she had never been a pushover, so she immediately pped Be back. Be clearly didn''t expect anyone to dare p her, her head buzzing, it took her a while toe around. Ines''s p quieted the crowd, everyone looked at Ines sympathetically. Be said angrily, "You bitch, do you know who I am? How dare you hit me!" She stared at Ines furiously after recovering. Ines wiped her mouth and said in a deep voice, "I don''t know who you are, but I really want to know why you went crazy when you saw me." Be said, "You secretly took the gift I gave to my grandma, it''s light for me to just p you." Chapter 83 Chapter 83 "Miss Dotson, when did I ever steal your stuff? You gotta have evidence when you''re throwing out usations." Ines shot Be a cold nce. "Evidence? Do you have evidence proving you''re innocent?" "I got a witness. I wasn''t alone on the balcony, there was someone else... It was..." She stopped short of naming Emma. She knew Emma too well. Emma wouldn''t vouch for her, she''d probably just add fuel to the fire and nder her. Besides, she wasn''t keen on revealing her connection with the Galeana family. "What? Are you out of excuses? You''ve got no evidence, but I do. It''s her." Be pointed at the girl from earlier. Following Be''s point, all eyes turned to the girl. Ines squinted at her, baffled as to why she would frame her. It didn''t take long for her to figure it out. The girl was Sybil, a college student from a third-rate university in A City. Sybil was clearly shaken, she had no beef with Ines. She was just bitter because her sugar daddy, Stoner, had dumped her for Ines. Be happened to be looking for her missing item, so, in the heat of the moment, Sybil blurted out that she had seen a womane from the balcony. She thought she could just slip away, but Be had her brought over. How would she know if Ines took the item or not? She just wanted a petty revenge, but didn''t anticipate Be''s explosive temper. Be pped her, but Ines was no pushover and pped her right back. Fear flickered in Sybil''s eyes as she saw the situation escte. She was too scared to speak up. "What are you scared of? Repeat what you said earlier." Be red at Sybil, clearly dissatisfied. "I...I just saw here from the balcony, I didn''t see anything else." Sybil stuttered. The onlookers were whispering amongst themselves, piecing together the story from Sybil''s words. Be had left her item on the balcony, Ines had been there, but no one saw her take anything. Be pped Ines without investigating the truth, which was a bit over the top. But they were just spectators, not about to scold this spoiled princess. "Useless." Be sneered at Sybil, then turned to Ines, "Open your bag, let me search it. If I don''t find anything, I''ll let it go." C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Ines frowned, baffled at how such a bratty girl could be raised. She wanted to search her bag without any evidence. Didn''t she know that was insulting? Keeping her cool, Ines replied, "Miss Dotson, I did go to the balcony, but I didn''t see or take anything. I won''t let you search my bag." "You''re just a thief." Be retorted. Thief. Such a harsh word. Ines was ufortable, she stared at Be, seriousness in her voice, "Don''tbel people before the truth is out." "I don''t care, I must search your bag today." Be was used to getting her way. Ines took a step back, "If you don''t find your stuff in my bag, you need to apologize to me." "Hmph." Be looked at Ines with contempt, "Who do you think you are, asking me to apologize? What a joke." Implied: even if she didn''t find anything, Be wouldn''t apologize. She was certain. Ines had never met someone so unreasonable, she argued back, "Then you can forget about searching my bag." Not far away, Jaime and Hunter heard their argument. Seeing Ines''s swollen corner of the mouth, but her straight posture showed no sign of backing down. Hunter approached, about to speak, when a rough but authoritative voice rang out, "What''s going on? What''s all this noise?" Everyone made way for the group approaching. Not just one person, but five. Speaking was the host, Luis Dotson, arm in arm with his wife. There was also a kind-faced man, the familiar mayor of A City, Jacob. Beside him was a man with delicate features, emitting an aloof aura. But his gaze stayed on one person, a gaze as warm as the sun. Seeing him, Ines felt a lump in her throat. She was just wishing Ethan was here. And now, he really was. Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Ethan quickly spotted Ines and couldn''t help but frown. He cut through the crowd, casually wrapped his arm around her waist, and brushed away the loose hair on her face. The swelling on one side of Ines'' face was ringly obvious. His eyes were filled with concern. "Izzy, what happened? Does it hurt? Do you want to go to the hospital?" Ines was deeply moved by his unconditional support and could clearly feel that he was not ming her for causing a scene in public, but just worried about her injury. She shook her head and smiled, "I''m fine, don''t worry about me." Sheughed, but the pain in her mouth corner was unbearable, making her gasp. Ethan''s eyes turned colder. Jacob timely walked over, looking at Ines'' disarray, couldn''t help but frown, his voice still gentle, "Izzy, are you okay?" Ines slightly curled her lips towards Jacob, "I''m fine, thank you for your concern." As soon as she finished speaking, everyone was a bit stunned, realizing that the usually overlooked Ines carried some clout, as the mayor seemed to favor her a lot. But they never heard that the mayor had a niece. Then there was only one possibility... Some people seemed to have caught a whiff of something unusual. Be was always carefree and indifferent to everything around her. The moment she saw Luis, she rushed over and hugged him, "grandma, grandpa, she hit me." She pointed to the shocking handprint on her cheek. Luis, although doting on his granddaughter, understood her character very well. She was always doing as she pleased. It seemed that this time the other party did not want to back down. What concerned him more at the moment was the identity of the woman in Ethan''s arms. Old Mrs. Dotson did not pamper her granddaughter like her husband Luis did, she sighed, shook her head, and knocked Be on the head a few times, "You little troublemaker, always stirring up trouble." Be was extremely aggrieved and looked pitifully at Old Mrs. Dotson, "Grandma, why are you never on my side?" "If I were on your side, you would have turned the world upside down." Old Mrs. Dotson said sternly, looking genuinely angry. Luis ordered a waiter to bring some ice, then apologized to Ethan and Jacob, "Jacob, Ethan, I''m really sorry, I spoiled my granddaughter, she''s very willful. I will look into this matter. May I ask who this is?" Jacob had a warm smile on his face, looking at Ethan, "Let''s have Ethan tell you himself." His purpose was to let everyone quickly realize Ethan''s identity. People naturally understood, this was so-called intimidating the opponent. Hearing this, Ethan lifted his head, a forced smile on his handsome face, "This is my wife, Ines. Izzy, this is Old Mr. Dotson, Luis Dotson and his wife, Adeline Dotson." Ines nodded, her mouth slightly upturned, and greeted the two old people, "Old Mr. Dotson, Old Mrs. Dotson, hello." "Hello, youngdy." Adeline said affectionately. Luis, although he had been through ups and downs, did not react for a while. It wasn''t until Adeline tugged at his sleeve that he came back to his senses, "Hello, Izzy." After Jacob and Ethan spoke, everyone at the scene was stunned, and the venue became incredibly quiet. Many people knew about Ethan''s identity, but as the president of the Meyer Group, Ethan was always mysterious and rarely attended events in person, only a few people had seen him. Aiden''s eyes widened, he had seen this man before, but he was driving a normal car, how could he be the president of the Meyer Group, and a man of such status was Ines'' newlywed husband. Jaime was also stunned, he felt that Ines was very professional and experienced during her job interview, he also found out that she was Aaron''s partner by chance, and treated her differently. He knew from her resume that she was married, but he didn''t expect her husband to be so influential. Amelia was equally shocked, her face full of disbelief. Emma hid in the crowd and clenched her fists, of course she knew what Ethan''s identity and status represented, why could she regain such a high position after she had embarrassed her, jealousy, unwillingness, and resentment surged up. The person with the biggest emotional change was Hunter, the poor guy he took for granted, turned out to be of such stature, thinking of how he asked Ines to leave him not long ago, she must have beenughing at him in her heart. "Ethan, I don''t seem to have heard your grandfather mention that you''re married." Luis asked, feeling regretful. The two families had a good rtionship, and he had watched Ethan grow up. He was always satisfied with his character and abilities. Even if Ethan was thirteen years older than his own granddaughter, he still wanted to match them at this banquet. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. It seemed that there was no chance now. Thinking this, his gaze wandered between his own granddaughter and Ines. Both had a look of disarray on their faces, but one was full of anger and grievance, while the other stood tall and clear-eyed, calm andposed, even when her rescuers arrived, she didn''t show any sign of triumph, not arrogant or impetuous, just standing there quietly. Compared to other girls, his own granddaughter had a lot to learn. Ines was the one who was fit to stand by Ethan''s side. "It''s been a while, my wife and I never had a wedding." Ethan exined. Be looked at Ethan holding Ines all the time, being very loving towards her, she was very upset, and softly called out, "Ethan." She had always liked Ethan and knew that her grandfather nned to match them at this banquet. She had even dressed up for this, but it didn''t earn her a nce from Ethan. Ethan just nodded without any expression, then asked, "Be, what happened just now?" Chapter 85 Chapter 85 Be felt utterly wronged. Ethan had always been a man of few words, but he used to greet her with a warm smile and a "Hey, girl." Now he was addressing her by her name, causing her tears to flow uncontrobly. "Stop crying, what happened?" Luis''s voice dipped as he saw his granddaughter in such a state. Be, sobbing and under the scrutiny of everyone, exined the situation and emphasized, "Those were the jewels I prepared for grandma. They were her favorite style. I left them on the balcony when I was on a call. Only she went in after me, someone can vouch for it." Upon hearing Be''s words, Old Mrs. Dotson''s anger subsided slightly. She took Be''s hand and sighed, "When will you grow up? You''re making a mountain out of a molehill." "Grandma..." Adeline turned a deaf ear to her granddaughter, deciding that Be needed to learn a lesson. "Ethan, on behalf of my thoughtless granddaughter, I apologize to Izzy. It''s all a misunderstanding, please don''t take it to heart," Luis said diplomatically. "Sir, we should check the surveince video. Although I don''t show myself often, I don''t want to leave an impression that my wife is covetous," Ethan''s words were gentle but the message was clear. Their family was wealthy and influential, nothing was beyond their reach. Luis looked a bit ufortable. It was hard for him, as an elder, to apologize to a junior who seemed indifferent to the apology. But he knew that the men of the Meyer family spoiled their wives, family was their line in the sand, not to be crossed. Now, Ines had be his line in the sand. But if someone falsely used his granddaughter, he would not let it slide. Jacob nced at the crowd and chimed in, "Yes, it''s best to clear this matter up. We don''t want anyone to have doubts. With so many people here, let''s have it witnessed, to avoid any rumors." Ines knew Ethan could be domineering and stubborn, so she didn''t try to persuade him. Her gaze inadvertently met Hunter''s, he was looking at her with aplicated expression. Ines gave a cold laugh and turned away. Luis had certainly shown his magnanimity in handling this situation. Swiftly, he made a wise decision. He whispered something to a man next to him, who immediately stepped away to make a phone call. Soon, a hotel manager rushed over, leading everyone to the surveince room. But Ethan stopped him, "Turn on the multimedia, we''ll watch it here." Clearly, he wanted everyone to see the whole process. Luis nodded at the hotel manager, who turned on the projector in the center of the banquet hall, connecting it to the surveince room. Soon, the footage of Be going to the balcony appeared. She left a dark blue box aside, then stepped away to make a phone call. After the call, she turned and left, her elbow knocked the box onto the carpet as she turned. Not long after, Ines appeared on the screen, followed by Emma. The two seemed to be arguing about something, Emma tried to hit Ines but was thrown off and fell. The crowd''s attention was all on them. Ines left the scene, followed by Emma, both seemingly didn''t notice the box in the corner. At this point, it was clear that Ines had nothing to do with this. Finally, a cleaning staff entered the scene, found the box during cleaning, and took it away. The hotel manager was sweating profusely, he quickly called the front desk to confirm that the box had been returned. Emma felt extremely embarrassed, everyone had seen her embarrassing situation clearly. Taking advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention, she quietly prepared to leave the hotel. Just as she was about to drive off, Ss blocked her way, "Miss, the chairman wants to see you." The ones who also wanted to sneak away in the chaos were Stoner Farrar and Sybil. Be''s face was flushed and she looked at Ethan anxiously. The most awkward person on the scene was Luis. This minor issue that could be rified by checking the surveince footage had turned into such a big deal. Not only had he offended a big shot, but he had also disrupted his and his wife''s wedding anniversary. Suppressing his anger, he scolded Be in a low voice, "Look what you''ve done! Now apologize to Izzy!" Be, scolded by her family, shuddered. She pursed her lips and obediently apologized to Ines, "I''m sorry, I apologize for my recklessness." Old Mrs. Dotson also said, "Izzy, this kid is just sensitive and takes things to heart, but she''s not a bad apple." Ines was not the kind of person who would hound others when she''s in the right. She felt that Be was not a bad person by nature, just naive and spoiled by her family. It wasn''t a big deal, there was no need to escte it further. She smiled at Old Mrs. Dotson and shook her head, then said to Be, "Don''t worry about it. I was a bit impulsive earlier and shouldn''t haveid a hand on you." C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. "Alright, alright, you need to learn not to be so impulsive. You''re already twenty, you need to learn to control your emotions. We''re all friends here, if we hadn''t met today, we wouldn''t have known Ethan has such a beautiful wife." Someone else stepped in to lighten the mood. Ethan didn''t say anything more, but Be wasn''t ready to drop the matter, she raised her voice again, "Where''s the woman who falsely used Ines? How dare she mislead me?" Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Ethan never really enjoyed these kinds of parties. When Luis sent him an invitation, he had no intention of showing up. If he hadn''t known that Ines would be there, he surely wouldn''t have bothered toe. Now with all this weird stuff happening, he really wasn''t in the mood to stick around. He turned to Luis and the others and said, "Well, I''m gonna take off with my wife." Everyone nodded. Ethan took Ines by the hand and walked over to Jaime, "Jaime, I''m gonna take Ines home, alright?" Jaime was taken aback by Ethan''s greeting but quickly replied, "Yeah, you guys should get going. I''m really sorry about all this, I was the one who brought Ines here and all this happened." Ines shook her head, indicating it had nothing to do with him. As soon as Be saw Ethan was about to leave, she quickly moved forward and weakly called out, "Ethan." Ethan didn''t bother responding. He gave her a nk look, took Ines''s hand, and left. Before leaving the hotel, Ethan reviewed the surveince footage. He''s a sharp thinker and had already noticed something off in Be''s story. The way that girl used so confidently, it was obviously premeditated. Nothing in this world happens without a reason. Ethan watched all the footage rted to Ines. The great thing about big hotels is that the surveince covers everything, no blind spots. Even areas people think are off-camera are actually filmed. Of course, the hotel wouldn''t readily reveal this information, but if Ethan wanted to see it, he certainly could. And so, Ethan saw Stoner harassing Ines. Seeing her own violent side through her husband''s eyes, Ines was a bit taken aback. She sneaked a nce at Ethan and saw his calm expression, which eased her nerves. Thinking about how she had kicked Stoner and left him unable to get up filled her with a sense of satisfaction. She turned to Ethan and said, "I always say it''s good for a woman to carry self-defence gear. Men are naturally stronger, so having a weapon is better than going in bare-handed." Ethanughed at her spiritedmentary. However, thinking about what had happened still upset him, causing him to furrow his eyebrows. Unable to resist, Ines reached up and smoothed his brow, softlyining, "I''ve told you so many times, don''t keep frowning like that, it''s scary." At her words, Ethan quickly forced a smile. However, his hands continued their task, applying an ice pack to her bruised cheek. "I was too arrogant, always thinking I could keep you safe. I forgot that I can''t be with you all the time. Izzy, I''m sorry for letting you go through this." Thankfully, Ines was stronger than she appeared. She was resilient and smart, knew when to bend and when to stand firm, and how to protect herself to the fullest. Ethan''s words warmed her heart. But she didn''t like the guilt in his voice and disagreed, "Mr. Meyer, you''re overthinking it. I''m a capable and thoughtful person. You can''t be with me all the time and I''m not a child anymore. I can take care of myself." Ethan nodded, but Ines could tell he was still troubled. He was clearly still upset about what had happened, even though it wasn''t really his fault. This man was oddly sensitive about such matters. What Ines didn''t know was that this night marked a turning point for Stoner''spany. Within a month, hispany was pulled out of A City''s business circle. No one knew who he had offended, but they guessed it was rted to the incident at the party. After all, the woman who had usedN?velDrama.Org content. Ines was brought in by him. But only he knew the truth, that it was because of his ill intentions towards Ines. Rumors of Ethan''s affection for his wife also spread like wildfire. By the time she found out about this, several months had passed. She shook her head, feeling no sympathy for the old man. "Why did youe here?" Ines changed the subject. "You said you were bored, didn''t you?" Thinking about how this man rushed over just because of her message, Ines couldn''t help but smile, "So you''re saying, Mr. Meyer, you came specifically to see me?" Ethan nodded, "Yes." Ines had no reason to doubt him. This man obviously wasn''t a fan of these kinds of events. Otherwise, he wouldn''t keep such a low profile. With his status, many people in the circle had never seen his true face. He even went to great lengths to disguise his luxury car as a regr one. Thinking about this, Ines couldn''t help butugh. "Why are youughing?" Ethan looked at her, puzzled as to why she suddenlyughed. "Of course, it''s because of you. I''ve always been curious, how did youe up with all those disguises?" It was hard to believe that such a serious person coulde up with such methods. Ethan coughed, "Those are all in the past. Let''s not bring it up anymore, okay? I don''t need to go to all that trouble to disguise myself anymore." After tonight, even if he wanted to keep a low profile, he wouldn''t be able to. Plus, it was more beneficial for them for Ines''s identity to be public. Any smart person wouldn''t dare to provoke them. Hearing Ethan say this, Ines thought of something else. She looked at Ethan seriously and said, "You''re almost 33, and yet young girls are addressing you so intimately." Ines was well aware of Be''s intentions, and how Luis had looked at Ethan when he didn''t know who she was. Luis clearly saw Ethan as a potential son-inw. Be was probably only around 20, while Ethan was in his thirties. The age gap was over a decade, yet they didn''t seem to mind. After thinking about it, Ines felt ridiculous. She was upset over a young girl''s form of address. Her previous thoughts were correct: she should keep this kind of man to herself. Ethan watched Ines''s changing expressions, a charming smile ying on his lips. He quickly leaned in and kissed her cheek, "So, Mrs. Meyer is jealous?" "Is there anything to be proud of for attracting others?" Ethan''s eyes were filled with amusement, "when I attract you, I''m very proud." Inesughed and pushed him away. Chapter 87 Chapter 87 "Ethan, be honest, have you ever had a thing for that girl?" Ines raised her delicate fingers and gently poked Ethan''s arm. A girl like Be is young and adorable, quite a head-turner. If she were a guy, she''d definitely take a second look at her. Men are suckers for beautiful things. But she hasn¡¯t noticed Ethan eyeing her like that, and that made her a tad happy. Ethan''s eyes were deep, his smile hardly contained. "Mrs. Meyer, are you getting green-eyed?" "I''m asking you a serious question, no joking." "If I had fancied her from the start, you wouldn''t be in the picture," said Ethan helplessly. Ines pouted and huffed lightly, "That''s not necessarily true. Maybe you didn''t make a move on her back then because she was underage." "You silly girl." "Ethan, do you regret marrying me? After all, I''m already 27, I can''tpete with these young and pretty girls." For some reason, Ines suddenly felt insecure. Ethan chuckled, realizing she was feeling insecure. He was willing to spend time to exin, to ease any doubts in her heart. "Izzy, my intent has been to find a spouse, not a ward. The appeal of youth doesn''t resonate with me. Our slight age difference of five to six years is the perfect equilibrium. Just take Be as an illustration, still an innocent girl, grappling with her own emotions and requiring guidance to wade through life''splexities. I, unfortunately,ck the stamina and the patience for that task. However, you, Izzy, stand in stark contrast. A woman touched by life''s experiences grows into rational maturity. This, in turn, allows us toprehend and bear with each other more effectively, reducing disagreements. Thest thing a marriage requires is disputes; irrespective of the depth of the love, it risks dissolving amidst the din of arguments. Do you understand my perspective?" Ethanid out his thoughts with a sense of gravity. Ines was visibly moved. Reflecting on their shared past, his words appeared to hold true. Their disagreements had been few and far between. The infrequent squabbles they had were born out of care and worry, and these only served to fortify their bond rather than destabilize their marriage. This was indeed the kind of marriage she had in mind. "Alright, I ept your exnation." It was still early, so they didn''t rush home. The Diamond Hotel was right by the river, a popr spot at this time. They decided to take a walk by the river. The evening breeze was refreshing. Although a bit chilly, it felt nice. Ines was a bit tired from the day''s activities. She pulled Ethan to sit on a bench, leaning her head slightly on his shoulder. Her gaze was fixed on his side profile, clear and sharp, but not rigid, giving a soft feel, matching his reticent personality. A scene of a boy and a girl kissing on a chair not long ago shed in her mind. Ines suddenly raised her arm, wrapped it around his neck, leaned into his face and gave Ethan a peck. Ethan was stunned. Ines was usually quite reserved in this aspect, and such initiative was rare. He was always good at seizing opportunities. How could he stay indifferent to his wife''s kiss? He immediately embraced her, and let her sit on hisp. Before she could react, his passionate lips pressed down. Although the position was a bit bold, Ines was very cooperative, willingly opening her mouth to let him in, her small hands gripping his suit jacket tightly as she sumbed to his kiss. He was skilled, firmly in control, yet knew how to make her revel in the moment. In no time, Ines was weakly leaning in his arms,pletely at his mercy. For adults, especially newlyweds, a pure kiss is impossible, and soon it became more intimate. Ethan''s hand began to explore downwards following the curve of Ines¡¯ body. As he moved lower, Ines'' body trembled sensitively. Hoooooot... Just then, the sound of a ship''s horn from the river disrupted their intimate moment. Ethan let go of Ines, his forehead touching hers. Ines was panting heavily, lying on his shoulder. The spark in their eyes gradually faded. However, the tension in their bodies was not so easily dispelled. Ethan found it hard to bear, but there were many people around, he couldn''t get intimate with his wife in public. Feeling the heat from the man below her, Ines''s face turned red. She leaned quietly in his arms, not daring to move. Ethan pinched her face, smilingly scolded her, "Naughty girl, you started it, and now you''re shy." The two embraced each other, trying to calm down. Suddenly, Ethan pulled her up and rushed towards the parking lot. Ines nced at a certain part of his body, finding it both funny and helpless. They were all adults, she knew what he was eager for. On their journey, Ethan maneuvered the vehicle with a deft foot on the pedal, Ines, her cheeks flushed, kept a silent vigil, apprehensive of inciting his temper. As they crossed the threshold of their house, Ines found herself pressed against the wall by Ethan, his fervent kiss descending upon her once more. Once inside their sanctuary, Ines found her tension dissipating. He expertly unzipped her dress, leaving her bare in the ambient chill. As a reflexive shiver crept up her spine, she reached to shield her exposed chest, but before she could do so, he was there, his warmth radiating through the barrier of their clothing as he pressed against her. Ines thought, this must be the difference between men and women. Women are naturally cold while men always seem warmer. Ines followed Ethan''s lead, helping him off with his clothes. They quickly made their way from the hallway to the bed, in the bright moonlight, their entwined shadows cast on the wall. Compared to their sweet time, Emma''s life was a bit tough. Ss had cornered her. She had waited in the car for several hours before Hunter arrived. Hunter got in the car, mming the door shut. Emma was startled and shivered. "Dad." Emma said softly. Hunter didn¡¯t respond, just looked at Emma with heavy eyes, which made her feel a tingling sensation on her scalp. After a while, Hunter finally said, "Have you forgotten what you promised me before? I warned youst time, what exactly do you want? Are you still not satisfied with everything now?"This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Emma felt really hard done by. Even though she''d been back with the Galeana family for years now, she never really got Hunter''s love. His heart had always been set on Ines, that had never changed. "Dad, we''re both your daughters, and I''m the product of your love with mom. But to you, there''s only Ines. Even when she makes serious mistakes, she gets your forgiveness. But no matter what I do, it''s always wrong. You think everything I want is too much. Even when ites to my wedding with Aiden, you can just postpone it. Dad, you''re so unfair!" Hunter was downright steaming. He thought he''d been good to this daughter, even if he wasn''t super affectionate ¡ª she hadn''t exactly grown up by his side. He couldn''t believe this was how she saw him. Her usual good behavior was just a front ¡ª this was what she really thought. "Don''t forget who brought you out from our hometown, who''s been providing for you. As for the wedding dy, that''s on you. You managed to snatch him up with some tricks, but you can''t hold his heart. If Aiden doesn''t willingly want to get married, should I force him? Are you going to be happy in a marriage like that?" Ss chimed in, "Emma, the chairman''s just looking out for you." Emma turned her head, "I don''t believe it. In his heart, Ines is always first, I''ll always be second." Ss sighed and shook his head. Emma was too stubborn, she was in too deep. "If that''s what you want, then fine. But if you''re unhappyter, don''t me me." Hunter was beyond pissed. This daughter was hopeless. He wouldn''t get involved anymore. She could deal with the consequences herself. The next day, when Ines woke up, her body immediately started to ache all over. She was familiar with this feeling. Maybe because she was so into itst night, she experienced a kind of pleasure she''d never had before, so much so that she couldn''t help but cry, begging him to let her go. Thinking aboutst night, Ines just wanted to crawl into a hole. What on earth had she said in her embarrassment? After getting out of the bathroom, breakfast was already set on the table. It was clearly takeout, and Ethan was bringing two cups of milk from the kitchen. Seeing Ines looking at the breakfast, he gave a knowing smile, "I woke up a bitte today, so I didn''t have time to cook. I had to buy from outside." Ines felt a bit flustered, and simply nodded, pulling out a chair to start eating. Ethan waking upte was unheard of. She knew better than anyone how regr his schedule was, regardless of howte he slept, or whether it was cloudy or raining outside, he always got up on time. And she knew exactly why he woke upte ¡ª they''d gone wildst night, not stopping until 3 in the morning. Upon her morning arrival at the firm, Ines was promptly summoned into Jaime''s office. She didn''t need to specte to realize it was tied to the events of the previous night. Nursing a throbbing headache, she was not in the mood for any preferential treatment on ount of her connection with Ethan. "Ines, you''re here. Come have a seat." Ines noticed that Jaime was a bit more enthusiastic towards her than usual. He was generally nice to her, but never to this extent. "Jaime, you wanted to see me?" Jaime quietly looked at Ines for a while, and suddenly realized that she was actually quite attractive. Not immediately stunning, but definitely a looker, with an attractive aura. No wonder Ethan, who had been single for years, chose her. He casually asked, "Ines, why didn''t you ever mention your husband is the president of the Meyer Group?" If he''d known earlier, he definitely wouldn''t have given her the task of pulling in business. If anything went wrong, he couldn''t shoulder the responsibility. Ines sincerely said, "Boss, I don''t think my husband''s status has any direct connection with my work. It won''t change the fact that I''m your subordinate, a regr employee at Foresight Financial Services. I hope you can treat me the same as before, Jaime." His current attitude made her feel really ufortable. Jaime was a bit torn. He had basically reached a verbal agreement with Hunterst night, but without a signed contract, he couldn''t fully rx. It was clear that Hunter wanted Ines to take care of the details of the contract. He couldn''t figure out what Hunter was thinking. Now that Ines was in this position, he couldn''t afford to offend her. "Is there something troubling you, Jaime?" Ines asked. Jaime looked at Ines again, seeing her serious attitude andck of arrogance. He thought it might be better to discuss the situation with her. If she disagreed, he could always back out. With Ethan''s connection, they wouldn''t have any trouble getting business. "Ines, here''s the thing. Yesterday, I basically reached an agreement with the Galeana Group. But we haven''t found the right person to discuss the contract details. Mr. Galeana seems to think highly of you." Jaime asked cautiously, closely observing Ines'' expression. Ines slightly furrowed her brow. From the moment Hunter agreed to coborate with Foresight Financial Services in front of herst night, she had already guessed his intentions. Not having her past memories was really inconvenient, she couldn''t figure out what Hunter was nning. Seeing Ines deep in thought, Jaimeughed, "Ines, don''t worry too much about it. If you feel ufortable going, I can have someone else do it." Ines sighed in her heart. Hunter was her biological father. If he kept bothering her, there was nothing she could do. This was something she couldn''t avoid, she might as well face it head on. Besides, this was her job. She had no reason to bring her personal issues into it. "That''s okay, I''ll go talk to him." "Are you sure it won''t be too much trouble?" Jaime confirmed again. Ines simply shook her head, replying with a brief, "No." As she made to exit, Jaime expanded on his thoughts, "Ines, I invited you to the partyst night because of your exceptional skills, and not due to any ulterior motives. Introducing you to Mr. Galeana was a move dictated by my professional role, with certain unavoidable necessities." Ines knew this, of course, and didn''t make a fuss about it. She said, "I get it."C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Amelia nced up at her when Ines passed by Amelia''s office, and Ines, as usual, smiled and nodded at her. Ines knocked on the door of Amelia''s office and walked in: "Ms. Young, here''s the contract I just drafted." After going through it, Amelia only pointed out some minor issues. She handed the contract back to Ines and said nonchntly: "I always thought your husband was just an average Joe." C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Ines was somewhat taken aback, not expecting her direct boss to delve into such personal matters. She smiled wryly and answered, "In my heart, he''s just my husband, indeed a very ordinary role." No matter what kind of person Ethan was out there, at least at home, he was a loving husband. Amelia didn''t overthink it and asked again, "Then what was the deal with the man I saw the other day?" Ines had always felt that Amelia had a misunderstanding about her rtionship with Aiden, but she never found the right opportunity to exin. Since it came up today, Ines had nothing to hide: "In my heart, my husband is the best. With such a good man, any woman who can''t keep her heart in one ce would either be a fool or a nutcase." Ines received a call from Ethan at noon, asking her toe to hispany and go shopping with him after work. Ethan insisted that their love nest shouldn''t be too dull. It was Ines'' first time at the Galeana Group. Looking at the building, she couldn''t help but think: "I''ve really married into thep of luxury." It was then that she finally realized the gap between them. She couldn''t help but smile to think that such a wonderful man was her husband. Ines walked into the building and was about to head towards the elevator when the receptionist at the front desk stopped her: "I''m sorry, miss. This is the Meyer Group, and we don''t allow strangers to enter freely. Who are you looking for?" "I want to meet Ethan." The receptionist was taken aback, looking at Ines with wide eyes. Many women hade looking for him, but none had ever called Mr. Meyer by his name. This was the first one. "Do you have an appointment?" "Nope." "I''m really sorry, but I can''t let you go up without one." "Then could you please call your CEO and tell him that Ines is here?" Ines smiled and didn''t make things difficult for the receptionist. After all, it was her job. The receptionist was going to refuse at first, but Ines had a pleasant demeanor and an aura different from others, so she called Lucas, who told her to keep the visitor. Soon after, Lucas hurried down, smiling at Ines: "Mydy, I''m sorry. I got busy this morning and forgot to notify the front desk." Ines smiled, "It''s okay." The receptionist was dumbstruck. There had been rumors recently that the CEO had got married. The general reaction was of dismissiveughter, nobody taking the notion seriously given the CEO''s longstanding celibacy over the years. However, the truth was indeed contrary, and she had just encountered the CEO''s spouse in the flesh. She patted her chest, thanking her lucky stars that she hadn''t offended anyone with her attitude just now. Lucas reiterated, "Next time, take thisdy directly to the CEO''s office when shees." "Got it, Lucas." Ethan was still in a meeting. After Lucas took Ines to the office, he went back into the meeting room. Ines was alone in Ethan''s office, which was designed top-notch from the inside out. But it was a bit sparse, with not much stuff, just a desk, bookshelf, and sofa. Ines casually pulled out a book from the bookshelf and sat on the sofa. After a while, Lucas came in and said the meeting might take a while longer to finish, and he could take her for a tour. Ines thought it was boring to read alone, so she agreed to take a walk. Lucas led Ines through the CEO''s office, and just as he was about to reach for the elevator, a long- forgotten memory surfaced. If it weren''t for the girl''s stubbornness, he probably wouldn''t remember it so clearly. If he remembered correctly, it had been eight years. Back then, a female university student came to work at the Galeana Group just to see Ethan. She came early and leftte, all just to catch a glimpse of Ethan. At that time, the secretarial department was short of staff, and the HR department rmended her, saying she waspetent and flexible. But when he found out she was the one who was always following Ethan around, he decisively rejected her. She didn''t seem disappointed and continued to stand in the same spot every day, either looking up or down, silently watching Ethan whenever he appeared. He initially nned to let her leave the Meyer Group, but seeing her obedience, he didn''t want to make things difficult for her. However, things always get out of control. One day, she couldn''t hold back and suddenly rushed out from the corner, only to see Ethan holding another woman''s hand. He saw the disappointment in her eyes, and she turned around and left. From then on, she left the Meyer Group. He felt a bit sad. He knew the ins and outs of the matter, but he never told Ethan. Ethan was oblivious to the fact that there was a girl silently watching over him. Later, Mr. Galeana publicly cut ties with his biological daughter, and people dug up the reasons and even released photos. He recognized her at a nce and even felt sorry for her for a while. He originally thought they would never cross paths again, but to his surprise, she became Ethan''s wife yearster. Life is indeed unpredictable. Chapter 90 Chapter 90 "Lucas." Lucas had been fervently discussing the Meyer Group when he abruptly fell into silence. Ines noticed his absent-minded demeanor, which had persisted for a significant duration. Concerned about his unusual quietness, she found herself involuntarily calling out his name. Lucas, snapping back to reality, smiled and said, "Sorry, I was lost in thought." "You look a bit worn out. If you''re not feeling well, you should ask Ethan for a day off." Ines didn''t want Ethan''s secretary falling ill. Shaking his head, Lucas gazed at Ines for a moment before asking, "Does anything look familiar to you? I''ve seen you here before." "I''ve been here before?" Lucas paused beforeughing, "I forgot. The boss told me you lost your memory in an ident." "I''ve forgotten a lot about the past." Ines sighed heavily. It seemed Phoebe was right. She had been very fond of Ethan before, so much so that even Lucas remembered her. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she asked, "Lucas, I didn''t do anything inappropriate back then, did I?" Lucas just smiled, "No, you never officially met Mr. Meyer." "So, he''s never met me?" For some reason, Ines felt a bit disappointed. "No." He had only once seen her from behind. When Le Caldwell told him she was one of his admirers, he justughed it off. "Then please don''t tell Ethan about this." She felt embarrassed even though it was her past self who hadn''t been seen properly. "Sure." Lucas gave Ines another tour around the ce. She felt an indescribable sense of familiarity with the Meyer Group. Shaking her head, she became increasingly certain that she had worked here before. Ines excused herself to the restroom and told Lucas to go ahead with his work. After all, the president''s office was just one floor up and she could find her way there herself. Lucas remembered he had a lot of work to do and didn''t stay with Ines. While in the restroom, Ines overheard two women talking and paused before leaving. "Did you hear? The boss''s wife was here. Mr. Meyer really is married." "Yes, I heard it. They say she''s quite nice and easy to get along with." The other woman chimed in. Ines couldn''t help but smile. She didn''t mean to eavesdrop, but she always seemed to stumble upon these conversations. Since she was the topic of discussion, she didn''t mind listening in. "I thought Mr. Meyer''s heart died when that woman left. I didn''t expect it to be revived." "What woman? Did Mr. Meyer get hurt by a woman, and that''s why he hasn''t married for so many years?" The woman sounded surprised. After a moment of silence, the other woman warned, "You have to keep this a secret. This is a taboo topic in the Meyer Group. If Lucas hears about it, you''ll be packing your bags." "Don''t exaggerate. I wouldn''t dare mess with my job." "The former love interest of Mr. Meyer was reportedly the chief secretary of the Meyer Group. At the time, Lucas was positioned within the second rank while she was the preferred candidate. However, her sudden disappearance led to Lucas filling her vacated role. The circumstances surrounding whether she betrayed Mr. Meyer remain shrouded in mystery, but his subsequent destion was evident to all. He devolved into a workaholic, shying away from any female interaction." "So that''s how it was." "Did you notice? The secretarial department is all men now. I think it has something to do with that woman. How could someone like Mr. Meyer make the same mistake twice? He got burned by a female secretary once, he wouldn''t hire another one." C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Leaving the restroom, Ines felt a bit down. She hadn''t expected Ethan''s past lover to be his chief secretary. It was a ssic case of falling in love over time. As she passed the secretarial department, she gave the people inside a nce. Just as the women had said, it was all men. That was definitely Ethan''s style. He wouldn''t make the same mistake twice. She had known all along that he had a past, but hearing about it still stirred up feelings of unrest that she couldn''t shake off. She lingered outside for a while longer, trying to convince herself not to care, before going to find Ethan. She knocked on the door, trying to act professional. "Come in." Ethan''s deep voice came from inside. Ines tiptoed in to find Ethan sitting in a leather chair, his suit jacket hanging behind him, dressed in just a white shirt with the cuffs rolled up. He was engrossed in his paperwork, the setting sun casting a glow on his handsome face. He looked so charismatic that even though she had seen him at work many times, Ines still couldn''t help but be attracted. She couldn''t help but think, no wonder her naive past self had been so smitten. "Mr. Meyer, is there anything I can assist you with?" Ines pretended to be his secretary. Ethan jolted, looking up in disbelief. Two faces blended in his sight, making it hard for him to tell reality from dream, past from present. Years ago, there was also someone like that... Ines approached Ethan and waved her hand in front of his eyes, "Did I scare you?" Ethan pulled Ines into hisp. His grip was so tight it was almost ufortable, but seeing his distressed state, she didn''t resist. Only with her in his arms could he clearly understand that this was his wife, the woman he loved. "Izzy." Ethan murmured. "Hmm, Ethan, what''s wrong?" Ines was confused about what was happening. "I missed you." Ethan said seriously, his chin rubbing against her neck and his hand exploring her body. Ines blushed. This man... They had just separated in the morning, and it had only been a day apart. In a fleeting moment, Ines registered his body''s reaction, a realization that left her feeling a combination of embarrassment and irritation. She found herself eximing, "Ethan, let''s not cross the line, okay?" After all, this was a professional environment, a ce that called for gravity. She couldn''t afford to let him treat it frivolously. Chapter 91 Chapter 91 She wasn''t sure if every couple was like them, as her only bestie hadn''t tied the knot yet, so she had no one to ask advice from. In certain aspects, Ethan seemed to be overdoing it. At first, she thought it was because they were newlyweds, but now they had been married for almost three months, and apart from when she was not feeling well, they were making love almost every day. She had looked it up online, and it said that it was healthiest for a couple to make love 2-3 times a week, and that doing it too often was not good for the body. Although he was great at caring for her emotions, and she generally enjoyed it, she just didn''t have his energy. After a while, she would inevitably feel tired, feeling as if she had backaches from working every day. "Izzy," Ethan drawled. Ines was rendered speechless. Was this man trying to act cute? But even acting cute wouldn''t work, she couldn''tpromise on this matter, or she would be the one to suffer. Ines tried to get off Ethan''sp, but Ethan wouldn''t let her. "Ethan, let me go, I have something to talk to you about." "Just say it like this." Ethan''s hand was still dominantly on her waist. Ines didn''t understand when Ethan had developed this hobby of holding her in hisp while he worked. However, it wouldn''t be long before he was aroused and, as you can imagine, one thing led to another. Today was no exception. Ines said helplessly, "Are you sure we can have a proper conversation like this?" Ethan looked a bit embarrassed, but he let her go. Ines sat in the chair next to him, thought for a few seconds, and then started, "Ethan, can you be a bit more mindful about that thing?" Discussing this kind of issue in a serious ce like the office made Ines feel quite ufortable. Ethan chuckled lightly, looked at her, and feigned ignorance, "Mrs. Meyer, what are you talking about? What thing are you referring to?" Ines red at him and turned her head, "Don''t y dumb with me, you know exactly what I''m talking about." Ethan naturally pulled her into his arms and hugged her by the window. The view was great from here, overlooking the entire A City. The sunlight was a bit ring, so Ines closed her eyes and leaned on him. He said, "Mrs. Meyer, I thought that was how I express my love for you. I can''t control myself when ites to that." After a pause, he added, "If you want to me someone, I can only say that you''re too beautiful." Women lovepliments, especially from the ones closest to them. Ines was no exception. She put on a tiny smile. Although it wasn''t noticeable, she was indeed smiling. However, she soon came back to her senses and muttered, "Don''t you ever get tired of having sex every day?" Everything has an expiry date, including marriage. Ines wasn''t sure if they would get tired of each other one day if they kept this up. Would they get tired? Ethan raised his eyebrows, he wasn''t sure what was going on with himself either. He was nearly 33, no longer a youngd, but he couldn''t help himself when it came to her. This kind of thing just couldn''t be stopped. N?velDrama.Org content. "If you''re worried about that, I can tell you seriously, I won''t get tired of it, not in a lifetime." "You''re really good at cheering me up." "I''m serious." So, when Ines and Ethan left the Galeana Group to go grocery shopping, Ines suddenly realized that the issue she had raised with Ethan hadn''t been resolved at all. She had been led astray without even realizing it. She felt both amused and annoyed. That man was truly a master of deception. Ines, having never embarked on a solo mission for holiday shopping, was at a loss about what to purchase. Ethan also appeared to be a novice in this endeavor, so they essentially mirrored what others were buying. Upon their return home, they discovered their haul to be predominantly filled with superfluous items. They couldn''t resist exchanging amused nces and bursting into shared laughter. On the day of the holiday, they arrived at the old house early. Jacob''s family also came over, and the house was bustling. The men were sent to cook in the kitchen, and the women were chatting in the living room. Ines had been married to Ethan for a while now, and she knew that the men in the Meyer family could cook, so she didn''t offer to help in the kitchen. The women were sitting on the sofa chatting, and Ethan brought over some fruit for them. Ines saw him wearing an apron and couldn''t help but laugh. He never wore an apron when he cooked at home, saying it looked ridiculous. Ashley also joked, "Bro, I really want to take a picture of you like this and post it online, you''d be an inte sensation overnight." Ethan ruffled her hair, "Don''t mess with me, or I''ll have to beat you." Ashley immediately hid behind Ines and hugged her waist, "I''m not afraid of you now, I have Ines to back me up, you can''t do anything to me." Then she winked at Ines, "Dear Ines, you''ll help me, right?" Ines was amused by her cute behavior and didn''t hesitate to nod, "Of course." Lauren whispered to Erica, "I think you can rest assured this time, I feel Ethan haspletely moved on from the past, the way he looks at Izzy is full of love." Erica affirmed with a nod, "Indeed, I feared he would never bounce back, but he seems to be faring well now." Ethan had scarcely been in the living room for a moment when Phillip''s disgruntled voice echoed from the kitchen, "Ethan, you young scamp, how dare you vanish for such a stretch and not return, don''t even dream of cking off, get back here this instant." A former soldier, Phillip''s propensity for vocal admonishment persisted into his old age. His resonant voice reverberated through the house. "Grandpa''s calling you." Ines nudged Ethan and reminded him in a low voice. Ethan raised an eyebrow helplessly and returned to the kitchen. "My god, I''m so jealous of my brother and sister-inw''s rtionship." Ashley leaned back on the sofa. "Comining here won''t help." Lauren teased her daughter. "That¡¯s all because I have such an outstanding brother. The guys at college are just too immature, I don''t even want to hold their hands, how can I date them?" Ashley said helplessly. Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Erica exined, "Izzy, you may not know this but although it''s not rocket science for a girl to find a guy these days, good men are like unicorns. So you''d better snag a boyfriend while you can." "Absolutely! You gotta train the good ones early on. If it doesn''t work out, cut your losses and move on," Lauren added. Ines was shocked by the Meyer family''s perspective on rtionships, but then she thought about Ethan. He didn''t get hitched until his thirties and he turned out pretty great, right? So she said, "Ethan''s not really in that category, is he?" He wasn''t a bad guy, just a very eligible bachelor. Ashley burst intoughter, pping the couch in an udylike manner, "Ines, my bro was wrongly used!" Lauren and Erica exchanged a knowing smile. "I''m not gonna follow your advice. Why should I waste my time training a guy? I want a man who''s already been trained by someone else," Ashley retorted, with Ines in her mind. With four master chefs in the kitchen, the food was bound to be fantastic. The long table was filled with visually appealing dishes. In the Meyer family, hierarchical divisions were absent. Even the domestic staff participated in their shared meals. This egalitarian approach seemed to be universally appreciated, eliciting reciprocal expressions of gratitude in the form ofughter and smiles. The festive ambiance was enhanced by the sizeable gathering. Ines, who typically abstained from strong beverages, found herself indulging more than was habitual for her. When Ethan eventually assisted her back to her quarters, she was mildly intoxicated, her face adorned with a rosy flush. Her blurry gaze locked onto Ethan, nearly pushing him towards the brink of self-restraint. Once Ines was settled in bed, Ethan fetched her some water and carefully wiped her face and hands. Ines looked at Ethan, hooked her arm around his neck, nted a kiss on his face, and said, "Ethan, I''m not drunk. I''ll take a bath after resting for a bit." Ethan pinched her cheeks, "I''ll carry you to the bath, we''ll bathe together." "No." Ines instantly refused. Even though they had done this many times, it was always when she was not sober. She couldn''t do it when she was fully conscious, plus, she knew very well what would happen if they bathed together. Ethan understood her concerns. It seemed she was exhausted. He decided to let her off the hook for the night. Ines went to the bathroom after resting for a while. But not long after she entered, her phone rang. However, shortly after entering, her phone started ringing. Ethan nced at it and answered the call, but before he could say anything, he heard Phoebe''s voice on the other end. "Izzy, Merry Christmas! After all these years, you can still be with your first love. That''s a fortunate thing, and you should cherish it. But I also want to remind you that your manes from an extraordinary family. There are many women outside who like him. You should have a baby with him soon to secure your position in the Meyer family. Do you understand?" Ethan looked at it and answered, "Ms. Wagner, this is Ethan." Phoebe nearly dropped her phone in surprise, "Oh, where is Ines?" Ethan nced at the bathroom, "She''s taking a bath. Ms. Wagner, were you saying that I was Izzy''s first love?" Phoebe was taken aback, but she saw no reason to hide it. Without thinking, she blurted out, "Yes, didn''t Ines tell you? She had a crush on you in college and even joined the Meyer Group to be near you." When Ines came out of the bathroom, she saw Ethan leaning against the bed, smiling at her. She thought she had dressed inappropriately and instinctively looked down at her outfit. To avoid tempting him, she had chosen a rather conservative nightgown. "Why are you staring at me?" Ethan didn''t reply, just beckoned her over. As always, he patiently dried her hair. As soon as the hairdryer turned off, Ethan started kissing her. Ines was always weak when it came to his kisses. She soon found herself melting under his touch. "Izzy, why didn''t you tell me that I was your first love?" If Phoebe hadn''t told him, he wouldn''t have known. Ines sobered up a bit and looked at Ethan, "How do you know?" "So, it''s true?" Ethan was surprised. Why didn''t he know about this? Seeing his reaction, Ines knew that Lucas was right. Ethan really didn''t remember anything about her from the past. Annoyed, she turned away from him, "I don''t know, I don''t remember anything." If it wasn''t for Phoebe, she wouldn''t have known that she had crossed paths with Ethan in the past. Hearing Ethan''s softughter, Ines couldn''t resist turning around and punching him a few times, "What''s so funny? So what if I had a crush on you? That was a long time ago. Don''t forget that you were the one who proposed to me recently. I wasn''t the one who took the initiative this time." Ethan smiled at the fuming Ines in his arms. This girl only appeared mature and steady in front of strangers. Once she wasfortable, she waspletely different, rarely hiding her true self. He gently rubbed her head and said softly, "Izzy, I''m not making fun of you. I just feel lucky that you liked me so early on." "But I was not your first love." Ines sighed heavily. As soon as she said this, Ethan''s body noticeably stiffened. She instantly regretted her words. That woman must have been extremely important to him, so much so that he ignored everyone else and took years to move on from that rtionship. Every time she thought about this, she felt more and more dejected. She couldn''t help but wonder, how deeply in love was he to have been content with nothing for so many years? She suddenly realized that she was very jealous of that woman, who had left such a profound mark in his life. The spacious bedroom fell silent. After a while, Ethan finally said, "Let''s leave the past in the past, Izzy. From the moment we got married, I let go of everything from my past." His voice was calm and steady, Ines couldn''t detect any emotional ups and downs, she softly responded, "Mm-hmm." No use crying over spilt milk, living in the moment is what matters most. As Ethan spoke, he gently kissed her ear, her neck, he knew all her sensitive spots. Ines tried to keep herself under control but her mouth betrayed her, letting out a soft moan.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 93 Chapter 93 "Ethan, don''t!" Ines clutched onto his clothes tightly. "Alright." Ethan let go of Ines, only to hug her close from behind, as if trying to make her a part of him. Ines was slightly touched. Sometimes Ethan seemed so resolute, like now, even with his strong physical reaction, he could still calmly hold her and sleep. But at times, this man was just a troublemaker, one that she couldn''t handle if provoked. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Ethan''srge hand traced circles on her stomach, whispering, "Your girlfriends are all urging you to have kids, do you think we already have one on the way?" Ines blinked, momentarily startled by his statement. Their rtionship had been progressing for some time, and while they had utilized contraception in the initial stages, no preventative measures had been implemented ofte. Her question emerged somewhat tremulously, "Are you suggesting we should have a baby now?" Ethan chuckled, "I''m almost 33, by the time the child is born I might be 34 or 35, you tell me if I''m in a rush?" Ines frowned slightly, "If you''re going to be a father at 35, it does seem a bit old." "So, we both need to try harder." They hugged each other, then Ethan handed Ines her phone, "Your phone''s been ringing non-stop when you were showering, lots of messages. Check if there''s anything important." Ines checked her phone, she had received a lot of congrattory messages from her current and former colleagues from B City, and of course, a text from Aaron. Also, a recent phone call from Phoebe. She knew Phoebe must have spilled the beans to Ethan. "Your friend thought you picked up the phone, she started talking before I could say anything," Ethan exined. "Mmm." Ines nodded, knowing Phoebe''s character better than anyone else. No wonder Ethan knew about her past crush on him. Ines replied to the messages one by one. Ethan put her phone on the bedside table and asked her to get some sleep early as there was something important tomorrow. Ines was very tired and didn''t ask much about it. Early next morning, Ines was woken up by Ethan. Ethan was already dressed, in a ck suit, not his usual style, looking rather serious. Ines put on the clothes Ethan had prepared for her. When they went downstairs, everyone was already there, all dressed in dark colors, including Phillip. It was only when they arrived at the cemetery that Ines found out they were visiting Ethan''s older brother, the eldest son of the Meyer family, Beasley Meyer. Today was his birthday, he was a soldier who died in a car ident on a mission. He was only 29 when he passed away, very young. The sky was filled with drizzling rain, everyone holding an umbre. Ines looked at the young face in the photo, who looked a lot like Ethan, the brothers were only a little over a year apart. If not for the people who knew them well, they might have mistaken one for the other. She used to wonder why, for a military family like the Meyer''s, there was no one serving in the military in Ethan''s generation. Turns out there was. Five years had passed, and the Meyer family had gradually moved on from the pain. They simply paid their respects to Beasley and then went home. On the way back, Ethan seemed a bit down. Ines didn''t ask what happened, she just held onto his arm tightly. "Izzy, I think maybe I should have been a soldier. If I had been the one to enlist, I might be the one lying in the grave now." Ines clung more firmly to his arm, an unspoken tension constricting her chest. Yet, she found herself at a loss for words. Given the close age range of the Meyer siblings, she surmised that their bond must have been quite profound. Ethan''s speech was punctuated with pauses, and through his scattered disclosures, Ines learned about Phillip''s unusual method of determining their futures¡ª through a lottery system. Beasley, aware of Ethan''s proclivity for business, manipted the draw by marking both chits with ''business''. Thus, irrespective of Ethan''s draw, he was destined for his preferred path. Once one individual''s fate was sealed, there was no requirement for the other to examine the remaining chit. "Ethan, it''s not your fault. It was your brother''s choice, he won''t me you." Ines didn''t know how to comfort him, and only managed to say this after a while. Ethan pulled a slight smile, nodding, "I know. I just had some things pent up for too long, and couldn''t help saying them now. Don''t worry about me." The Meyer household was a bit somber in the morning, but by the afternoon, it seemed everyone had gotten used to this kind of day and the mood gradually improved. Erica suggested ying poker at home. Erica''s suggestion was unanimously approved by the women. Ashley kept losing round after round, and she cried out desperately, "Grandpa, I need your help!" Phillip, hearing his granddaughter''s cry for help, rushed over. He confidently said, "Dear granddaughter, who dares to bully you? I''ll beat them till they''re down!" Ines hadn''t yed much poker before, so she was a novice. But she was incredibly lucky, and with Ethan giving her tips on the side, she won a good amount of money. In the end, Ashley couldn''t stand it anymore and cried out, "I quit, all my pocket money is gone! Grandpa, why do you always make me lose?" Ashleyined to Phillip, who didn''t back down, "You, howe your luck is so bad? There''s nothing I can do about it!" Ashley mmed the table, looking very serious, "I''ve decided, I''m adding a new requirement to my dating standards, must be good at poker." Pointing at everyone present, "Don''t get smug, I''ll get my revenge one day." Everyoneughed at her antics, Phillip rolled his eyes at her, "Useless, what''s so great about being good at poker? That''s for gamblers." "Haha, grandpa, are you saying sis-inw is a gambler?" Ines, caught in the crossfire, looked at Phillip with a pitiful expression, "Grandpa, I''m not a gambler." "No worries, as long as that rascal Ethan doesn''t mind," the old man patted Ines on the shoulder. Ines She was speechless. "Darling, rest assured, I don''t mind at all," Ethan immediately pledged his devotion. Ines couldn''t help but smile, she liked this warm and cozy family atmosphere. Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Dayster, Phillip''s oldrades came to visit one by one. An energetic old man, radiating zeal, showed up in the evening, and Noel was with him. So Ines could guess who he was - Noel''s grandfather. The two old men snorted coldly at each other as soon as they met. Noel was speechless. "Come on, grandpas, you''re both getting on in years. Why are you still acting so immature?" "Little rascal, have you found a girlfriend yet?" Robin Yates red at Noel. "Yeah, when are you going to bring your girl over? Look at our Ethan here, he quickly brought me such a wonderful granddaughter-inw. Beautiful and smart." Phillip said with a smile. Ines listened to Phillip''s praise. For some reason, she felt there was a hint of schadenfreude in Phillip''sughter, and Robin was both jealous and annoyed. Ethan whispered in her ear: "Grandpa was often teased by Robin because of me. He won''t let this opportunity slip." "Is it okay for them to do this?" Ines was slightly worried. "Don''t worry. They have been bickering like this for decades. Their rtionship has only grown stronger. Look, Robin knew he would be teased, yet he still came to visit. If Robin didn''te, Grandpa would go to the Yates''." Ethan exined. Ines found it amusing. She thought the two men''s way of interacting was quite interesting. Phillip watched Ethan and Ines whispering to each other with satisfaction and waved them over. "Ethan, Izzy,e over and chat with us." Hearing this, Ines smiled. She knew Phillip was doing it on purpose. Most of the time, he called Ethan a jerk and rarely used his real name. Ethan took Ines''s hand and they sat down opposite the two old men. Phillip started bragging again: "What do you think, Robin? How''s my granddaughter-inw?" Robin''s face wasn''t looking very good, thinking, "Phillip is actually asking such a childish question." At the moment, he seemed to forget that he himself was incredibly childish. Robin nced at Ines and Ethan, and although he wouldn''t admit it verbally, he did approve of Ines in his heart. Ethan was really more capable than his own grandson, with good character and taste. Ethan was always well-behaved and acted quickly once he made up his mind. He heard they got married on a whim, which was quite impressive. He reluctantly nodded, grudgingly answering, "Not bad." "What do you mean by ''not bad''? Isn''t Izzy a superior choicepared to the past beaus of your grandson?" Phillip observed the altering expressions on his friend''s face with a sense of gratification and satisfaction. Robin''s eyebrows raised high, his tone also elevated, "So what?" Phillip shrugged, smiling like a sly fox, unusually soft-spoken, "No big deal, I just happened to have a great-grandson before you. You''re always a step behind me in these big things." "Don''t speak too soon, we''ll see who has a great-grandson first!" Robin snorted. Phillip was shocked, "Oh dear, Robin, you can''t think like that. The so-called gic inheritance is important. If Noel''s illegitimate children were born to those women he''s been with, oh dear, their quality is definitely not up to par. It will affect your family''s genes. That won''t work! Besides, if your future granddaughter-inw knows you''ve been okay with those illegitimate children, she will surely me you!" Seeing Phillip like this, the smile on Ines''s lips spread even more. She finally figured out who Ethan got his annoying habits from - a good part was inherited from his grandpa. Ines had very beautiful eyes. When she smiled, they were like a bright crescent moon. Robin nced at the striking granddaughter-inw positioned before him, and his ire increased the more he contemted the situation. He shot his grandson several reproachful res. Noel felt himself teetering on the brink of a breakdown. He had foreseen this oue. Had it not been for certain queries he wished to pose to Ines, he would never have voluntarily subjected himself to such reprimand. Noel turned to the two old men and said, "Grandpas, please spare me." "You can''t get a wife, and now you''re making excuses?" The two old men were in sync, saying in unison. Noel ruffled his hair and promised, "Grandpa, I will surely get a wife this year." "Better remember what you just said." Robin red at his grandson again, then looked at Ines. "Izzy, do you know any eligible girls? Maybe you could introduce one to this jerk of a grandson." "Robin, that''s not fair. Noel is such a yboy. You''re asking Izzy to introduce a girlfriend to him. It''s not only unfair to Izzy but also unfair to the girl. I won''t agree to Izzy being the middleman." Robin was furious. He used to think it was a good thing that his grandson was so popr with women. Now he found it embarrassing. It was a disgrace. "Grandpa, I''ve turned over a new leaf. There are no women around me now." Although Noel was speaking to Robin, he was looking at Ines. Ines was somewhat puzzled, while Ethan raised his eyebrows, presumably guessing something. "Ethan, can I talk to your wife for a bit? I have some questions for her." Noel looked at Ethan with a pleasing expression. "Only ten minutes." Ethan said coldly. Ines followed Noel to the yard. Noel got straight to the point: "Ines, I know that you and Phoebe are best friends. I want to know about her situation." N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. "How do you know Phoebe?" Ines couldn''t hide her surprise. She hadn''t introduced them yet. How did they know each other? Noel dropped his usual jokey demeanor and nodded seriously, "Yeah, I know her, and I''m trying to win her over. Now, I need your help." Ines stared at Noel, at a loss for words. Truth be told, she barely knew Noel, as they were only meeting for the second time. Though Ethan vouched for him being a decent bloke, she still had her doubts, considering this involved her best friend. Chapter 95 Chapter 95 "I actually encountered Phoebe a few years back, and again more recently at a blind date dinner. I have developed a certain fondness for her¡ªit''s not precisely love, but my intentions towards her are indeed matrimonial. However, the challenge lies in the fact that she evades me as though I were a pestilence, making it impossible for me to establish any proximity," Noel elucidated. "What do you want to know?" "Has she been hurt in love before?" He couldn''t figure out why she was so opposed to love and marriage. Hurt in love? Ines pondered for a moment, "You should know that I lost my memory in a car ident, so I don''t know much about the past. I only know that Phoebe had a boyfriend in college, they were pretty tight, but then I don''t know what happened, the guy dumped Phoebe and went abroad." Rita and Zander had recently visited and insisted that Ines spend Christmas with the Meyer family, so she and Ethan spent the entire holiday with the Meyers. Time flew by, and before they knew it, the holiday was over. Ines and Ashley had grown quite close during this time, and as she was leaving, she quietly told her that Ethan''s birthday was in a couple of days. Ines was struggling to think of how to celebrate his birthday. She realized that Ethan didn''t really need anything, so in the end, it was Phoebe who suggested she make something herself. After some thought, Ines decided to cook Ethan a meal to show her sincerity. After work, Ines didn''t wait for Ethan to pick her up, instead, she took a cab straight to the supermarket. She bought the ingredients ording to the recipe she had prepared in advance, worrying about time, she changed clothes as soon as she got home and got down to cooking. It was her first time doing this, and even with the recipe, she was all over the ce. Luckily, Ethan called saying he had toe back an hourte, which gave her a sigh of relief. Ines first washed the veggies she was going to use, then looked at the fish in the basin that was jumping around, her eyebrows knitted tightly. Why hadn''t anyone warned her about the slippery nature of a fish''s body? The moment she gripped the fish, it flicked its tail, resulting in a ssh of water dousing her. On Ethan''s return, he found Ines''s bag and coat resting on the sofa, but her presence was elusive. The kitchen light illuminated the room, and as he ventured in, he encountered his kitchen awash with freshly rinsed vegetables, and Ines wielding a bloody kitchen knife, her eyebrows drawn into a frown. She stood at a short distance, absorbed in her intense scrutiny of a fish on the cutting board. So immersed was she that she hadn''t registered his arrival. The entire tableau struck him as amusingly peculiar. "Izzy, what are you doing?" Ines''s face turned red, "Why are you back so early? Didn''t you say you''d be backter?" She hadn''t even started cooking yet. "I finished up so I came back. So, why do you want to cook today?" "Just felt like it." Ines didn''t n on telling him the truth, she wanted to keep the surprise a little longer. Ethan raised an eyebrow, rolled up his sleeves, "Let me do it. You go and rest for a bit." "No, I want to do it myself today." Ines insisted. Ethan nced at the kitchen that was soon to be a battlefield, randomly picked up a piece of potato that was cut into an unrecognizable shape, "Are you sure you don''t want my help?"N?velDrama.Org content. Ines felt a bit nervous, she had memorized the recipe, but the actual operation waspletely different from what she had imagined. She had spent half an hour on just one fish. And there were so many more dishes to prepare, if she did it all by herself, it would probably take her a few more hours. "You can stand by and guide me," Ines said, not very confidently. "Okay." Ethan responded with a smile. Ines approached the cutting board with the knife again, extended a finger to poke at the fish, seeing no reaction, she grabbed the fish''s body with a shaking hand, the other hand raising the knife high, she looked quite intimidating. Ethan watched anxiously, worried she might hurt herself, he quickly stopped her, grabbed the knife from her hand, "Izzy, the fish is already dead, you just need to clean it thoroughly." "That''s impossible." Ines looked at Ethan confidently, exining, "When I was scraping the scales off just now, it moved." That''s why she was scared and backed off. Ethan shook his head with a smile, "The fish is indeed dead, it''s just that its nerves are still excited and tense. The blood in a freshly killed fish still has nutrients, which can supply nerve activity. When the nutrients in the fish''s blood are all used up, the fish won''t move anymore." "So that''s how it is. Howe you know everything?" Ines was a bit upset, she couldn''t even handle such a small thing. Ethan smiled, went over to help her clean the dead fish, his movements were smooth and efficient, he finished everything in less than five minutes. Ines was astonished, she couldn''t help but exim, "There really is a gap between people." She had to admit it. Ethan teased with a smile, "Izzy, what do you n to do with this fish?" "Fry it." "You should start with something simple for your first time cooking, this is tooplicated. Frying a fish isn''t as easy as it sounds, if you''re not careful, the fish will fall apart. Why don''t you prepare the other dishes, I''ll handle this one." It''s easy to get sshed with oil when frying fish, and for a beginner, it''s easy to get burnt. "I''ll go make the soup first then." Ines had set her sights on preparing cream of mushroom soup, a traditional favorite. She had alreadymenced by adding butter to the pot when she abruptly realized that she hadn''t prepped the mushrooms. With a jolt of panic, she switched off the stove and hastened to wash the mushrooms. Ethan watched her chaotic actions and couldn''t help butugh. He didn''t expect this girl to be so ambitious, daring to try suchplicated dishes on her first attempt. Just as Ines started, she cut her finger on the sharp knife and couldn''t help but cry out, blood quickly seeping out. Just as she was about to rinse her finger under the faucet, Ethan had already taken her hand and was sucking on the wound. His long eyshes brushed against her finger, she didn''t feel any pain at all, she just watched Ethan''s actions in a daze. A person''s reaction in an emergency is the most genuine, this man really cared about her. Chapter 96 Chapter 96 "How''s that? Still hurting?" Ethan lifted his head, looking at her with concern. Ines felt a sting in her nose and shook her head at him. Ethan fetched another band-aid from the medicine cab, patched her up, and shooed her out of the kitchen, refusing to let her lift a finger. Ines leaned against the doorway, her eyes glued to the man bustling about in the kitchen. She suddenly moved forward, hugging him from behind and breathing in a faint minty scent that was refreshing and pleasant, causing her lips to curve into a smile. She never quite understood why Ethan always liked to hug her from behind, but having experienced it herself now, she realized it was a rather nice feeling¡ªwarm and secure. Caught off guard by her initiative, Ethan stiffened for a moment. Recovering, he leaned back against her, pressing his face into hers and rubbing it gently. "What''s up?" Ines felt a ticklish sensation and involuntarily shrunk her neck. "Ethan," she began thoughtfully, "I feel like I''m good for nothing. I can''t even manage something as simple as cooking, and I''m always causing trouble for you." "You''re doubting yourself?" Ines nodded honestly, "A little." She couldn''t help feeling outssed around a person like Ethan, male or female. Ethan ruffled her hair, teasing, "Who said you''re worthless? You''re pretty good at messing with your blind date prospects! That''s not something everyone can do, you know. I certainly can''t." "Seriously, why do you always bring that up? I exined it to you already," Ines regretted that incident more than ever. Had she known that messing with her blind date would be a dark spot in her history, she would''ve never done it. "Because that''s the most attractive thing about you," Ethan said quietly. At his words, Inesughed and pretended to swing a punch at him, "Anyway, you''re stuck with me now. "There''s no backing out, and there''s certainly no room for disliking me." Ethan ensnared her petite fist within hisrger palm, her hand nestling into his seamlessly. His smile dissolved into a serious expression as he chastised, "Why this propensity to overthink everything? You''re not a professional chef; it''s irrelevant if you can''t cook. Also, refrain from suggesting that I could grow to dislike you¡ªit''s utterly improbable. You must cultivate confidence in yourself, and in me too. Understand?" Ines replied sweetly, "You''re so naggy. I just feel like I''m in a soap opera, it all doesn''t feel real." In her mind, men like Ethan only existed in TV shows¡ªmen born into enviable circumstances, men with extraordinary abilities, the true definition of a domineering CEO, yet doting and considerate towards their wives. He was too good to her, so much so it felt like a dream. She was afraid that when she woke up, it would all be gone. "Silly girl, are you so easily moved?" Ines denied it, "Of course not. I''m just skeptical about what you said earlier, about never having pursued a girl. How''s that possible?" Calling him a Casanova wouldn''t be an exaggeration, for he seemed to win her over effortlessly with the simplest of gestures. "Izzy, are you saying you''ve fallen for me?" "Not so easy." Ines let go of his hand, pushing him slightly, "Get back to cooking, I''m starving." Ines prepped the ingredients, Ethan cooked, they were a seamless team. As Ethan was cooking the last dish, Ines sneaked out of the kitchen. When Ethan brought out thest dish, he noticed the main light in the dining room was off, only a dim wall light was left on. Besides the abundant dishes on the table, there was also a birthday cake. The cream on the cake was unevenly spread, it looked a little ugly, obviously her handiwork. Ethan looked up to see Ines'' gentle smile. Her back against the light, enshrouded in a soft halo, she looked even more tender. She opened her mouth slightly and whispered, "Happy birthday, Ethan." At that moment, Ethan''s heart pounded. The sorrow he had been harboring seemed to have evaporated, dissolved in her softughter. He hadn''t celebrated his birthday in years. His birthday was close to his older brother Beasley''s. Neither of them were keen on birthdays so their family and friends would celebrate their birthdays together. This went on for many years, and then he had a woman. But after Beasley passed and he lost his lover, birthdays lost their meaning. Afterwards, his family and friends still prepared birthday celebrations for him, but he never attended, scared of the memories it would bring. Over time, he stopped celebrating his birthday. If it weren''t for Ines'' preparations, he would''ve even forgotten that today was his birthday. "Ethan, what''s wrong?" It wasn''t until his hand was grasped by a cold, small hand that Ethan came back to his senses. He saw his wife looking at him worriedly, he forced a smile, "I''m fine." "You don''t look happy." Ines pointed at his face gloomily. If she knew this would make him so unhappy, she would never have done it. "Izzy, I''m really fine, I''m not upset." "Are you upset because I nned a birthday celebration for you without asking? If you don''t like it, I''ll clean it up right away." Ines looked at the cake on the table. Ethan put down the te in his hand, walked over to her, pulled her to sit down, and calmly exined, "Actually, I haven''t celebrated my birthday for many years. Every time this dayes, I would be reminded of some unhappy past, and I''ve been running from it. But when I see you standing not far from me, I feel... I feel that I want to celebrate my birthday. Seeing you smiling and wishing me a happy birthday, I realized it''s not as painful as I thought." N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Celebrating her birthday was not a big deal to Ines either, but she didn''t want Ethan to live in the sorrow of losing his brother. His brother was no longer alive, and he shouldn''t run from it. However, her approach seemed a bit rash. "I''m sorry, it''s my fault." Ines admitted her error. Ethan was a bit helpless, "Silly girl, why didn''t you understand what I said? What I meant was that I''ve let go of the past." "Really?" Ines asked uncertainly. "I hope that every birthday in the future, Mrs. Meyer will be with me." Ethan hugged her, smiling, "Thank you, Mrs. Meyer, for remembering my birthday." Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Ines had a conscience. If it hadn''t been for an offhand reminder from Ashley, she wouldn''t have known about his birthday. "Actually, Ashley was the one who told me about your birthday." "But you were the one who prepared the cake and ingredients. You put so much thought into it, I¡¯m really happy." Ethan didn''t care how she found out. With the knowledge that Ethan wasn''t upset, Ines felt a sense of reassurance. She serenaded him with a birthday song, encouraging him to make a wish. When Ethan remained nonpliant, she assumed a pouting expression and sent him a stern re. Eventually, Ethan capitted and made his wish under her insistence. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. "What did you wish for?" Ines asked Ethan with a smile. "I won¡¯t tell you." "Fine, then." Ines pretended not to care and cut him a big piece of cake. "Here, try this. I made it myself at the bakery during my lunch break today. Let me know if it''s good?" Ethan wasn¡¯t a fan of sweets. Nheless, seeing his wife in such high spirits, he took a big bite and praised, "Not bad." He then used his fork to lift a piece to Ines. Holding onto his wrist, she ate straight from his hand. "Hmm, it¡¯s okay, just a bit too sweet." Ethan was pretty cooperative that night, eating a big piece of cake and a lot of the food she prepared. He insisted it would be a waste not to eat what she made. Before bed, Ethan went for a workout in their home gym. After Rita and Zander had moved out, the spare room had been converted back into a fitness area. When he entered the bedroom, Ines had juste out of the bathroom after a shower. She noticed that his forehead and face were covered in a fineyer of sweat from the intense workout. No wonder he had such a good physique - he was very disciplined when it came to maintaining his shape. "You''re all sweaty. Go take a shower," Ines said,ughing. As she turned around, Ethan hugged her from behind, intentionally rubbing his sweaty body against hers. He then leaned in to kiss her face. Ines chuckled and pushed him into the bathroom. Perhaps because she had been so busy, Ines didn''t dry her hair thoroughly before lying down on the bed. She was aware that he hade out of the bathroom, but she was too tired to even open her eyes. She vaguely felt him ce her head on hisp and then heard the sound of a hairdryer. She smiled slightly, enjoying his thoughtful service. When he was done and climbed into bed, she found afortable position and quickly fell asleep. Just before she drifted off, she thought she heard him say something. "Izzy, I made a wish that we would always trust each other and apany each other until we''re old." She remembered that the flowers he had given her on their recent date had the same meaning. She was too tired to think about why he had made that wish. The next morning, the legal department sent back the contract with the Galeana Group. There weren''t many modifications. Even though she was reluctant, Ines took the contract to the Galeana Group. Ss personally came down to greet her. "Ms. Ines, you''re here." "Ss, just call me Ines," she said indifferently. Ss chuckled, "Ms. Galeana, please follow me." Just as they approached the lift, they ran into Emma. She was wearing a smart suit and delicate makeup, talking to someone behind her. Ines had never seen Emma at work before. Now that she saw her, she wasn''t as bad as she had imagined. After the person behind her left, Emma looked at Ines, frowning. "Ines, what are you doing here?" "Miss, Ms. Galeana is here to discuss cooperation with the Galeana Group," Ss exined. "Did my dad really hand over thepany''s annual review to Foresight Financial Services?" "Mr. Galeana is considering it, but the contract hasn''t been signed yet." Emma nced at Ines and said, "Well, good luck, Ms. Galeana." With that, Emma turned and left. Ines was surprised by her friendliness. Ss led Ines directly to Hunter''s office. As soon as they entered, Ines was hit with a strong smell of smoke. The whole office was hazy, and Ines could barely keep her eyes open. Hunter was holding a cigarette. Seeing theme in, he pressed it into the ashtray. "Mr. Galeana, the doctor told you not to smoke. Why are you smoking again?" Ss asked, looking worried. "I couldn''t resist," Hunter replied indifferently, his gaze sweeping over Ines. Ss sighed and went to open the window. Fresh air blew in, and Ines could finally open her eyes. Ines sat down in the chair across from him and handed him the contract. "This is the contract proposed by Foresight Financial Services, Mr. Galeana. Please review it. If you have any questions or conditions, you can discuss them with me directly. I can make decisions on some aspects. If I can''t, I will report it to mypany as soon as possible." Hunter took the contract, nced at it, and put it aside. Instead of discussing the contract, he asked, "How''s Ethan treating you?" "I''m only obligated to rify the terms of the contract. If you''re interested in my personal matters, I''m afraid I can''t help you," Ines said coldly. Hunter didn¡¯t beat around the bush anymore. He made a call right in front of her. "Abel Page, you cane to my office now." Before long, a man in a suit strolled in, looked about fifty-ish. He pulled out a document from his briefcase and handed it to her. "Ms. Galeana, my name''s Abel, your mom''swyer, in charge of handling her assets. Your mom left instructions that once you tied the knot, I''m to transfer the assets to you. She had two pieces ofnd, a shop, and 20% stock in the Galeana Group. If everything looks good to you, just sign on the dotted line. It''s effective immediately after you sign. You''ll be the second biggest shareholder of the Galeana Group. I''ll take care of the transfer of shares and properties for you as soon as possible." Ines didn''t take the papers from Abel but looked at Hunter, puzzled, "What''s the deal here?" "That''s your mom''s wishes. I only found out about it today," said Hunter. He really had no clue what Abel wanted with Ines before. "Ms. Galeana, this was indeed your mom''s wish. I had a duty to keep it under wraps until you got hitched, only then did I inform Mr. Galeana." Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Ines found herself mildly touched as she reflected upon her aunt''s words from the past. She had spoken of the Galeana Group''s ascension to sess being closely tied to her grandparents'' unwavering support. The Page family had not only offered financial aid but also expanded their network of connections. Furthermore, her mother was an aplished woman who functioned as Hunter''s right-hand confidante. These elements,bined, fostered an environment for the Galeana Group to flourish and evolve into the powerhouse it is today. Hunter held 52% of the shares, while her mother held 20%. After her mother¡¯s death, her aunt had questioned Hunter about the ownership of the shares, but he imed ignorance. Her aunt had always thought that Hunter had secretly transferred the shares to his name. Little did they know, her mother had made arrangements a long time ago. Ines had always had mixed feelings towards her mom, a blend of resentment and love. She despised her mother¡¯s selfishness in seeking such a violent escape, leaving her alone in this world. Yet, she also pitied her mother for giving her all for a man, only to be rewarded with cold-hearted betrayal and infidelity. ¡°What¡¯s the point of all this now?¡± Ines said with a mocking smirk. She was capable of earning her own living. Plus, with everything Ethan had given her, she wasn¡¯t exactly strapped for cash. ¡°Ines, this is your mother¡¯s will. If you want her to rest in peace, you should respect her wishes.¡± ¡°Rest in peace? I think the thing that would let my mother rest the most peacefully is seeing you, the traitor, getting what you deserve,¡± Ines retorted. Hunter went pale at her words, and he trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly. Ss quickly stepped forward to steady him, frowning at Ines, ¡°Ms. Ines, Mr. Galeana just got discharged from the hospital a few days ago. The doctor said he can¡¯t be stressed out anymore.¡± Ines scoffed, mming the documents on the table before grabbing her bag and storming out of the Galeana Group. Ss turned to Abel, ¡°Sorry for wasting your time, Abel. Ms. Ines might need some time to ept this. I¡¯ll get in touch with you once she¡¯se around.¡± Abel nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for years. A little more time won¡¯t hurt.¡± He gathered the documents on the table into his bag and left the Galeana Group. Hunter clutched his chest and leaned on the table to slowly sit down. Ss poured him a ss of water and handed him two pills from a drawer. Hunter swallowed the pills with the water. ¡°Mr. Galeana, the hospital called again. They said you can¡¯t put off your treatment any longer. You need to be admitted immediately for chemotherapy, or your condition will be unmanageable.¡± Hunter waved his hand dismissively, ¡°How can I go to the hospital under these circumstances? There¡¯s no one in the Galeana Group that I can fully trust to take over. If news of my illness gets out, the Galeana Group¡¯s stock price will definitely be unstable. I won¡¯t let my life¡¯s work go down the drain.¡± Ss shook his head, ¡°Ms. Ines is just as stubborn as you. Once she sets her mind on something, no one can change it.¡± Ines ran into Emma at the door who was waiting for her with a smirk, clearly in a good mood. Ines frowned, a bad feeling creeping up on her. ¡°Sister, let¡¯s find a ce to talk. You married into such a great family, and I haven¡¯t had the chance to congratte you yet.¡± Ines detested her fake expression and turned to leave. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°Sister, how did you muster up the courage to marry Ethan? Aren¡¯t you afraid of ghostsing for their debts?¡± Emma revealed her true intentions when she saw Ines leaving. Emma¡¯s question stopped Ines in her tracks. Ines froze, and Emma¡¯s smirk grew wider. ¡°I almost forgot you lost your memories, so you can simply dismiss the past as if it never happened and y the role of Mrs. Meyer with a clear conscience.¡± Her words made Ines¡¯s head spin. She hadn¡¯t noticed the connection between the two incidents until Emma reminded her. Right, Beasley also died in a car ident five years ago, in the fall. The timing of the two incidents matched perfectly, but what did that have to do with her? Beasley¡¯s ident happened while he was on duty. Ines turned around, trying to hide her stiffness, ¡°If you continue to spout nonsense, I won¡¯t hesitate to sue you for defamation.¡± Emmaughed, ¡°Ines, don¡¯t joke around. Don¡¯t forget, if I hadn¡¯t dropped the charges against you, you¡¯d still be in jail.¡± Ines was sick and tired of being reminded of her past sins. Ines¡¯s eyes widened, turning slightly red, like a demon from hell. She suddenly yelled, ¡°Emma, I¡¯m warning you, don¡¯t push me. I won¡¯t hesitate to hit you again.¡± This side of Ines reminded Emma of the past, the shrill sound of brakes, the approaching car, the fear of imminent death. She suddenly couldn¡¯t breathe, her lips turned white, and she began to tremble. Ines''s sustained patience over the years had nearly caused her to lose sight of the fact that she was engaged with a madman, one who could resort to the unthinkable when backed into a corner. ¡°I...I¡¯m not making things up. It was a chain collision. You suddenly drove towards me, hitting not only me but also a soldier who was on duty.¡± Emma stuttered. The incident had made the news, but all the newspapers were soon withdrawn, and the report about the ident waspletely suppressed. If she hadn¡¯t snuck a nce at Erica crying her eyes out in the hospital, she wouldn¡¯t even know that the other car belonged to a soldier, and the eldest son of the Meyer family, no less. ¡°There¡¯s no way my car could¡¯ve hit a military vehicle. If you¡¯re going to lie, at least make it believable.¡± Ines was very resistant to the idea. "That day, the guy was driving an ordinary sedan, supposedly an undercover cop chasing a criminal, speeding like crazy. Your grandma-inw, the soldier''s mom, passed out once because of this. I only found out the guy''s identity by eavesdropping on their chat." "You better be telling the truth." Ines red at Emma, trying to spot a hint of lying from her face, but came up empty. "Sister, if you really want to know the truth of the matter, the easiest way is to ask the Meyer family. I believe they''ll give you a straight answer," Emma suggested. Chapter 99 Chapter 99 Ines turned away, knowing that no matter how much she held back in front of Emma, her words would inevitably affect her. Her words may not be entirely trustworthy, but she spoke with such conviction that they must hold some truth. If all these usations held truth¡ªif Beasley''s car ident bore any connection to her¡ªhow would she ever confront the Meyer family? They had treated her with nothing but kindness, had the means to probe into her past, yet refrained from doing so, honoring her with their respect. Last time, she confessed her rtionship with the Galeana family to her mother-inw. Did her mother-inw know that she might be linked to Beasley''s death? And then there was Ethan. How was she supposed to face him? He may seem cold on the outside, but he wasn''t like that on the inside. His family meant everything to him. He respected and loved his brother so much. If he found out she was the cause of everything, what would be of their rtionship? Would he regret his hasty decision, regret proposing to a stranger? She originally thought there were no feelings between them, that it would be easy to walk away. But why did the thought of them parting cause her heart to ache so much that she couldn''t breathe? She felt as if a giant hand was squeezing her heart, leaving her breathless. She suddenly realized, that man was like quicksand, and she had been sinking into him since the day she entered his life, unable to extricate herself. Maybe her aunt knew the truth. In a panic, Ines pulled out her cell phone and dialed Rita''s number. Her heart pounded as she listened to the dial tone. After a few rings, Rita picked up. Her cheerful voice came through the phone, "Izzy, what''s up? Why are you calling me out of the blue?" Listening to her aunt''s familiar voice, Ines trembled, her lips moved a few times but she couldn''t ask anything. She was terrified of knowing the truth. "Izzy, Izzy?" Rita called out a couple of times. "What''s up with this kid, did she identally dial the wrong number?" Rita muttered to herself. After a pause and still no response, she had no choice but to hang up. Ines covered her face with her hands, slid down and curled up against the wall. Tears slipped through her fingers. She didn''t know how long she sat there until her legs went numb. She stood up and watched the traffic go by with a vacant expression. For the first time, she felt a sense of destion, even more than when her biological father abandoned her. She realized she was truly in love with Ethan, not just a casual liking. In less than three months, she had fallen for a man. If someone had told her this before, she would have denied it. But now, she had to face the fact. Ines hailed a taxi to return to the firm. Emma''s revtion about the ident¡ªmaking headlines initially only to be swiftly withdrawn¡ªimplied that the news piece had been released and there ought to be lingering traces of it. Upon arriving, she headed straight for the dispatch room at the firm, which was responsible for collecting newspapers. However, it had been quite a while, and she was uncertain if they still had them. "Sir, I am new to the firm. Could I check out all the newspapers from A City from five years ago?" "Oh, it''s you. I''ve seen you around. We haven''t discarded the newspapers from five years ago. Just sign in here and you can find them over there, at the very bottom shelf," the dispatch worker said cheerfully, pointing to a bookshelf not too far away. Ines signed her name in the register with trembling hands and began to leaf through the papers. The papers wereyered with dust from the years. Ines didn''t care and continued to leaf through them, coughing as she did. She went through all the papers from the day of the ident but found nothing. Just as she was about to give up, a headline caught her eye. Serious traffic ident on Elm Street. Ines continued reading. The paper said: "Today at noon, a serious traffic ident urred on Elm Street, resulting in one death and two injuries. The two injured women are reportedly the daughters of the Galeana Group. The identity of the male casualty is yet to be confirmed. Experts deduced from the scene that the two women were saved by the man from the car, who exhausted himself and died in the destroyed car. The preliminary cause of the ident is suspected to be a crime of passion, but the exact reason is still under further investigation." Ines was ovee by a wave of dizziness upon hearing the report. Herplexion turned ashen, her teeth tightly clenched, and her body trembled with unbridled intensity. Unaware of her actions, she unknowingly crumpled the newspaper in her hand. The realization struck her like a bolt of lightning¡ªthere had been another individual injured in the ident, yet no one had ever divulged this information to her. She had mistakenly believed it was solely her and Emma involved in the collision. Could that person be Beasley? "Miss, are you alright?" N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. The dispatch worker called out several times before Ines responded. She shook her head dazedly and stood up, almost falling as she did so. Thankfully, the worker caught her in time. "Miss, are you sure you''re okay? You don''t look so good," the worker asked with concern. "I''m fine. Are there any more reports on this ident?" The worker took a look at the paper and scratched his head, a surprised expression appearing on his face after a few seconds, "Huh, how is there still a copy of this paper here? I remember all of them being recalled. The person in charge of the recall even repeatedly emphasized not to keep any private copies. It was quite serious, which is why I still remember it." There are so many businesses in A City, not to mention some citizens still have the habit of reading newspapers. This recall was a big deal, he had been working here for many years and this was the first time he had encountered such a thing. "Why was it recalled?" Ines asked, puzzled. "I''m not exactly sure. This report was pulled not long after it was published. I guess the chairman of the Galeana Group felt embarrassed by his daughters'' dispute and had it recalled. As for what really happened, I''m not sure," the worker replied. "So, do you remember what those folks who recalled the report looked like?" "I have a vague memory of them; two young dudes, but I can''t say for sure who they were. They were pretty polite, but they spoke in a very serious tone." Ines realized that the staff here didn''t have much useful information to offer, so she thanked them and took off. She hopped straight into the elevator, took the contract she signed with the Galeana Group to Amelia Young, and asked for a week''s leave. Amelia just gave her a look, didn''t ask any questions, and approved it right away. Chapter 100 Chapter 100 At the same time, in the president''s office of the Meyer Group. "Mr. Meyer, I have obtained the results you requested me to investigate. Mr. Galeana is indeed unwell, suffering from a grave illness¡ªlung cancer. His time is rapidly dwindling. Without immediate initiation of chemotherapy, he may not even have a year left," Lucas conveyed the information. Cancer, such a dreadful disease. Ethan furrowed his brows, put down the pen in his hand, and tapped his fingers on the table repeatedly, "Is the information urate?" "The source of the news is very reliable. Mr. Galeana was diagnosed with cancerst year. His personal doctor has been concealing his condition, and apart from his private secretary, no one else knows." "I see." Just as he had suspected, Hunter''s reason for sending Ines back to the Galeana Group wasn''t simple. He was trying to groom her to take over the Galeana Group. The man who had ruthlessly kicked her out before, was now trying to rope her back in knowing he was dying. How was she supposed to bear the burden of the Galeana Group alone? But what about his Izzy? He knew she still cared about her father, otherwise she wouldn''t harbor so much resentment. If the silly girl found out about this news, she would probably be heartbroken again. "Don''t tell Izzy about this yet." Lucas nodded, "Understood." Just then, Ines called. After a pause, he answered casually, "Izzy." Hearing his gentle voice, Ines felt a sting in her nose and took a moment before speaking, "Ethan." Ethan immediately noticed her unusual tone, "What''s wrong? Did you have trouble negotiating the contract with the Galeana Group?" Ines watched the bustling crowd, trying to calm her emotions, and replied, "No, he didn''t cause any trouble. I''m at the airport right now." "Why are you at the airport?" "Ethan, I''m going to B City for a business trip. I''m at the airport now and wanted to let you know." "You silly girl, you gave me a scare. I thought something happened to you. Have you packed your things?" Ines forced a smile, "No, it was quite urgent. Don''t worry about me. I''ll go to my aunt''s ce in B City. I have some clothes there." "Alright, be careful. Call me when you get to B City." "Got it." "Good girl." Ethan chuckled. There was a long silence on the phone before Ines finally said, "Ethan, I don''t want to leave you." Ethan was taken aback for a moment, then his lips curled up into a smile, "Hmm, our Izzy is improving. She''s finally letting her emotions show." They chatted a bit more before hanging up. After handling her boarding procedures, Ines looked at theyers of clouds outside the ne, her emotionsplicated. Upon arriving in B City, Ines went straight to her aunt''s ce. It was lunchtime. Rita and Zander were eating when Zander opened the door and was surprised to see her. "Izzy, why did you suddenlye back? Have you eaten? Come in." Ines had alreadyposed herself and smiled, "I''m here on business and just dropped by." "My goodness, you scared me. I thought you had a fight with Ethan." Rita handed Ines a fork. "There''s no such thing. Don''t overthink." Ines felt bitter inside, but kept her smile. "Izzy, did you call by mistake this morning? I picked up and you didn''t say anything." Rita asked. "No, I was about to call you but then I got busy." Rita nodded, "I see." In order not to worry them, Ines took a bite of her food and tried to hide her sadness. She casually asked, "By the way, aunt, uncle, can I ask you something?" "Of course, dear. Just ask." Rita replied nonchntly. "Aunt, I want to know the details of the car ident years ago. Please tell me honestly, was there another person who died because of it, besides me and Emma?" Ines clenched her fists under the table. Rita''s hand holding the fork trembled, her expression changed abruptly. She looked at Zander, who also looked at her. They exchanged a nce. Ines saw their expressions and felt a growing sense of unease, "Is it true?" Rita avoided answering, "You lost your memory, and your uncle and I weren''t at the scene. How would we know the details of the ident?" Ines stared at Rita, not letting the issue go, "Aunt, don''t evade my question. I want to know, did another person die back then?" "Who''s been filling your head with nonsense?" "Aunt, I just want to know the truth. No one can stand the void of memory. Please answer me seriously." Zander sighed, "Izzy, the past can''t be changed. What does it matter whether you know it or not?" "Uncle, I just want to know the truth. Can''t you really tell me?" Rita took a deep breath, struggled for a moment before saying, "Since you want to know, we won''t hide it from you. We really don''t know the specific details of the ident. Only you and Emma might know the truth. But it''s true that another person died trying to save you and Emma." "We didn''t tell you because we didn''t want you to carry the burden of guilt. No matter how much you regret it, that person won''te back to life." Zander added. Ines felt her heart sink, "Do you know what that person''s job was?" "He was said to be a soldier, doing an urgent mission at that time." Rita added. ng. Ines felt the fork slip from her grasp, ttering onto the floor. Her body stiffened, frozen in ce. The realization struck her with startling rity. It had to be Beasley. The individual involved in the ident, the one who hade to her rescue, was none other than Beasley himself. She was the one who caused the death of Ethan''s brother. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Even if we go way back, even if the car ident wasn''t her fault, Ethan''s bro still bit the dust trying to save her. In a nutshell, she was the spark that ignited the explosion. "Izzy, what''s up with you? Don''t freak me out." Rita worriedly held Ines in her arms. "Why did it turn out like this?" Ines mumbled, her eyes dry as a bone, a bitter smile creeping onto her lips. She thought she could easily snatch happiness, but now it was nothing more than a pipe dream. Waking up from a daydream only to face the harsh reality. Life is seriously one hell of a drama. "Izzy, none of this is your fault, you didn''t want any of this to happen. Could you stop overthinking?" Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Both of them were highly worried at the sight of Ines. They had initially kept the truth from her due to her emotional nature. If she were to know that someone died because of her, the burden would haunt her for life. However, she did find out the truth in the end. "Aunt, uncle, do you know? The person who saved me was Ethan''s brother." Ines'' smile was bitter, filled with pain. "What?" The two of them raised their voices simultaneously, seeming shocked by the revtion, looking at Ines in disbelief. "I just found out that Ethan has a brother, named Beasley. He was an aplished soldier, the pride of his grandfather. But he died in a car ident during a mission, and the time and location of his ident were exactly the same as mine. Emma also mentioned she saw his grandmother fainting from grief in the hospital and overheard her conversation with his grandfather." "How could this be such a coincidence?" Rita was shocked. Zander''s face darkened at the unfortunate coincidence. epting someone associated with the death of their own son was too much for any family. Ines raised her head from resting on Rita''s shoulder, striving to maintain an air ofposure. "Aunt, uncle, let''s refrain from informing Ethan about this matter at the moment. I will find the appropriate opportunity to discuss it with him." However, the moreposed Ines seemed, the greater Rita''s concern grew. Ines had always been reticent about her troubles, and this silence unsettled Rita deeply. Rita couldn''t help but warn her again, "Izzy, don''t do anything rash in your emotional state. It''s not easy to find a decent guy like Ethan. Have a good talk with him and listen to what he thinks. Don''t make any unteral decisions about your future, it''s unfair to both of you, you know?" Ines looked up at Rita seriously, "Aunt, if a woman caused the death of one of your sons, could you still ept her as the wife of your other son?" Ines posed two questions in a row, leaving Rita speechless. She didn''t even dare to contemte such a scenario. It would definitely be impossible to not hold a grudge in such a situation. Ines had always thought her aunt to be a very open-minded person, but seeing her at a loss for words, she understood that very few people could ept such a situation, "See, you also couldn''t ept it." "Izzy, don''t be so hopeless. Maybe the truth isn''t as you think." "Alright, aunt, uncle, I know. I''m a bit tired, I''ll go rest in my room." Ines clearly didn''t want to say more, and went straight into her bedroom after speaking. Her room was always kept the same, with very little changes to the decor. Worried, Rita followed her in, changed her bedding, and watched her lie down and cover herself with the nket before leaving the room. As soon as Rita left, Ines broke into tears, all her pretenses gone. In the living room, Rita and Zander were equally worried, creating a tense atmosphere. "Sigh, why does Izzy have to be so unlucky, finally finding a husband who truly cares for her." Rita lamented. Zander held her hand, "Let''s not panic, there may still be a chance." "I''m starting to regret, if we had known more about the Meyer family back then, maybe Izzy wouldn''t be like this. Ethan is a good man, he might ept Izzy, but Izzy can''t just pretend nothing happened." "Alright, alright, don''t say such negative things in front of Izzy, she must be feeling terrible." "Izzy is in a bad shape right now, shouldn''t we tell Ethan?" Even though Rita was usually full of ideas, she still sought Zander''s opinion on this matter. Zander thought for a few seconds, then said: "Let''s wait and see what Izzy thinks. Telling Ethan rashly might backfire." Due to Ines''s situation, Rita temporarily suspended her academic pursuits and arranged for a substitute teacher. She stayed home to closely monitor Ines, fearing that she might resort to extreme measures. Ines always felt groggy, as if she were sleeping but also awake, trapped in a state of chaos until her aunt''s voice woke her up, "Izzy, your phone has been ringing, check who it is." It was Ethan who called. She felt a bit upset, and had to take a moment to calm herself before picking up, "Hello, Ethan." "Izzy, what''s wrong? Why didn''t you pick up my calls? Haven''t you reached B City yet?" "Sorry, I''m at my aunt''s ce, I was sleeping." The person on the other end chuckled lightly, "You''re always so drowsy, you always scare me." "I''m fine, don''t worry." After hanging up, Ethan frowned. He had a vague feeling that something was off with Ines today, but he wasn''t sure what it was. In the evening, Ines came out to eat dinner as usual, acting as if nothing had happened. And she even ate more than usual, finishing three bowls in a row. Rita and Zander were anxious but helpless. "Izzy, why don''t I go out with you to rx? Staying at home alone, you''ll tend to overthink things." Rita suggested. Zander agreed, "Yes, Izzy, go out for a walk, you might be able to clear your head." Ines thought about it, then said, "Alright, I''ll go out tomorrow. But aunt, you don''t have to go with me. Continue with your sses. I''m an adult now, I know how to control my emotions." "No way. How can I go to ss knowing you''re not safe?" Rita was determined. "Aunt, uncle, even though I''m not as old as you, I''ve been through a lot. I know how to take care of myself. If you''re still worried, I can call you in the morning and evening. What do you think?" With her continuous reassurances, Ines finally convinced Rita and Zander to let her go out alone to rx. At night, Inesy on her bed, thinking about the day''s problems, but still couldn''t find a good solution. Ines couldn''t leave Ethan, so she left the decision up to him. If he hated her for it, she would leave and give back everything that belonged to him.N?velDrama.Org content. Chapter 102 Chapter 102 In the next few days, Ines didn''t reach out to Ethan unless he called her first. When Ethan''s father invited them to dinner, he tried calling Ines again, only to find her phone switched off. Ethan started to feel that something was off and called Ines''s office, learning that she''d taken a few days off. She''d told him she was on a business trip, but he suspected something had happened at the Galeana Group. Could it be that her trip to B City was also bogus? Ethan immediately had Lucas check the flight records from A City to B City, and was relieved to see Ines''s name. He figured that if Ines was in B City, she''d probably visit Rita and Zander''s ce. He called Rita, only to find out that Ines had returned home that day and left for a trip the next day. They didn''t know where she''d gone because she hadn''t told them. It was at this point that Ethan realized things might be serious and had someone track Ines''s whereabouts. By the time they found her, a whole day had passed. Ines was in Hawaii. Ethan immediately booked a ticket to Hawaii. He arrived therete at night and after some searching, he found the hotel where Ines was staying. But the receptionist wouldn''t let him in, so he had to exin that he and Ines were having a marital spat and she''d run away from home, and he''d traced her here. The receptionist eyed him skeptically but decided he seemed sincere and not a bad guy, so she personally took him to Ines''s room. Ethan rang the bell several times before Ines opened the door. She just got out of the shower, was drying her hair with a towel, and was taken aback to see him. She stood there gaping, then finally asked, "What are you doing here?" Before Ethan could reply, the receptionist said, "Ms. Galeana, I''m really sorry for the intrusion. This gentleman here ims to be your husband, so I brought him over." She asked Ines to confirm whether this man was indeed her husband or a scammer. Ines smiled at the receptionist and said, "It''s okay, he is my husband." After verifying Ethan''s identity, the receptionist left. As soon as he entered, Ethan pinned Ines against the wall. Before she could react, he kissed her hard. Her mouth hurt, her hands were firmly held by him, and she couldn''t move at all. After a while, Ethan let her go. Seeing her swollen lips and teary eyes, he finally felt at ease. She leaned against his chest, panting, and after a while, she spoke, "Ethan, why are you here?" "Why did you run away?" Ethan asked, irritated. This little girl had just up and left without any exnation. "I didn''t run away, I just needed some rxation. I was nning toe back tomorrow." She never intended to sneak away. She just needed some time to digest the heavy reality that had hit her. It was then that Ethan noticed a yellow suitcase in the corner with bags on top that seemed like local souvenirs. Clearly, she was nning to return. He couldn''t resist tapping her forehead lightly, "It''s good that you didn''t run away, but you lied to me about the business trip." Ines lowered her head slightly, "I''m sorry." Seeing her like this, Ethan''s anger dissipated, and he pinched her cheek affectionately. He took the towel from her hands and began to dry her hair. Ines savored this moment. She hadn''t slept well in days, and now, in his familiar embrace and sounded by his unique mint aroma, she fell asleep within minutes. Ethan looked at her carefree face, shook his head with a smile, and carefullyid her on the bed, theny down beside her. Ines slept for a long time, waking up at noon. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Ethan smiling at her. The thought of possibly parting ways made her heartache, so she kissed his lips lightly. "Good morning, Mr. Meyer." Ines said. Ethan took control, making the kiss more passionate. The innocent kiss quickly escted to a lustful lovemaking session. With Ines''s enthusiastic participation, Ethan was also fired up. They didn''t wake up until 2 or 3 in the afternoon. Ines didn''t want to get up and stayed in Ethan''s arms. Ethan knew she was hiding something but didn''t ask, hoping she would tell him when she was ready. "Izzy, get up. Let''s go for a walk." Ethan said. N?velDrama.Org content. Ines rolled over and wrapped herself in the nket, "I don''t want to move. I want to sleep." She''d been having sleepless nights, and one good sleep wasn''t enough to recover. Noticing her dark circles, Ethan stroked her face affectionately and whispered in her ear, "Izzy, if you don''t get up now, we''re going to spend the whole day in bed. You were quite impressive earlier." Ines blushed, remembering how she''d ripped off his clothes. She red at Ethan, expressing her displeasure. "C''mon, it''s rare for us to get some time off. We''re in Hawaii, let''s enjoy the sun and the beach." Ethan said. Ines gave in and got dressed, with Ethan''s gaze following her the whole time, making her put on her clothes in a hurry. The hotel where Ines was staying was right by the beach, and since they left quitete, Ines decided to go to the beach rather than venture far. As they stepped out of the hotel hand in hand, the beach was bustling with activity. Ladies were wearing all types of bikinis and men were in shirts and shorts. Some were lounging on recliners, while others were ying on the beach. The ce was filled withughter and chatter. The sky was clear blue, and the sea breeze was refreshing. In this atmosphere, Ines let go of her worries. Looking at their outfits, she suddenly was not satisfied, "Ethan, let''s buy some swimwear first. It''s not appropriate to wear these clothes on the beach." Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Ethan nced around, noticing everyone was dressed pretty skimpy. He felt a tad hot in his clothes but he wasn''t thrilled about his wife parading around the beach in a bikini. However, he couldn''t resist Ines'' adorable eyes. So, he gave a nod and lead her to a nearby store. Ines picked out a bathing suit for herself, and he let her pick out a set for him as well. When it was time to pay, Ethan grabbed a long skirt and a beach hat, obviously for Ines. She frowned slightly, she wanted to sunbathe, and how could she have fun in such clothing? But, she kept her thoughts to herself, knowing that Ethan wasn¡¯tfortable with her walking around in just a bikini. Seeing his tense face, Ines didn''t stop him. Instead, she took the skirt from his hand, praising, "Mr. Meyer knows me so well; this is my style." Hearing her words, he chuckled. Ines found him rather cute. After applying sunscreen and changing into their new clothes at the hotel, they headed out. Ines realised that her bathing suit waspletely hidden by the long skirt. ncing at the man next to her, she saw he was grinning, obviously in a good mood. Ashley was right. He was such a sly fox, everything nned out perfectly. She usually used to him in suits; seeing him now in a shirt and shorts was a refreshing change. Ines thought, he looked good in anything. Looking at him, Ines couldn''t help but break into a satisfied smile. She took out her phone to snap a photo, capturing the moment. Ethan didn''t expect her to do this, by the time he saw, the photo was already taken. He leaned in to see, but found the man in the photo unattractive, void of expression, and wearing cheap clothes. "Ugh, so ugly. Izzy, delete the photo," he frowned. Ines looked at the photo closely, asking confusedly, "What do you mean by ugly? I think it''s pretty good." N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Ethan pointed to the photo on the phone, a bit upset, "It''s not ugly? I don''t have any expression here, it doesn''t look like me at all." Ines gave him a strange look, replying, "Isn''t this what you look like when you''re not smiling? I think I caught your natural look." She liked this cold and arrogant side of him. The warmth only revealing itself when he was with her. "Aren''t you supposed to smile for photos?" At least that was how he was, he liked seeing her smile. "Whatever you look like, it''s you, and I like it." Ines looked at the Ethan in the photo, smiling. She thought the man she liked was really good-looking, even the photo was handsome. It was only when she came back to her senses that she realized her attitude might have been a bit off. Ethan raised an eyebrow at Ines'' words, "When did Mrs. Meyer learn to speak such sweet words? Isn''t this something I would say?" Ines blushed slightly, rolling her eyes at him yfully, "Who do you think I learned it from?" Seeing her like this, Ethan was in a good mood, continuing, "You''re right. It does seem so." There were many sun loungers on the beach, and they each found one to lie on. Ines loved the sun here. It felt so good on the skin, and she fell asleep in no time. Knowing Ethan was by her side, she could sleep soundly even outdoors. She wasn''t sure how long she had slept, but she seemed to hear a woman''s voice. "Hey, handsome, it''s so boring toy here alone,e and y with us." It was a sweet and cute voice. Ines felt nauseous, she didn''t need to guess to know it was one of those annoying pick-up artists on the beach. But she knew the man''s temper, and she trusted him completely, not worried at all about him being lured away by women. "Handsome, don''t be so cold. We''re all here to have fun, lighten up. Besides, your wife isn''t here, it''s okay." "Don''t waste your time in a ce like this." "A handsome guy like you, we are willing to y with you for free." Ethan found it noisy, he nced at Ines who was several feet away; she was sound asleep, looking adorable. A tender smile appeared on his face, seeing his smile, those women went crazier and tried to hit on him again. "Handsome, don''t look at that sleeping woman. She''s overdressed and her figure isn''t great." One of the women said, twirling her curly hair, striking a seductive pose. Ethan remained silent, the woman swiveled her hips in frustration and backed off. Then another woman stepped forward, all trying to seduce Ethan with their words and gestures. Ethan clenched his fist, if it were a man standing in front of him, he wouldn''t hesitate to punch him. But his upbringing and principles taught him not to raise a hand to a woman easily. So, he simply closed his eyes, ignoring the women standing in front of him. Ines didn''t want to wake up. She felt like she hadn''t had enough sleep, but when she heard the voices of these women, she realized the situation might be serious. She squinted her eyes open, seeing a group of women in bikinis standing in front of Ethan. At least a dozen women, all with sexy figures, were taking turns chatting up Ethan. Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Her anger was growing, but when she nced at Ethan, she was relieved that he kept his eyes closed. If he hadn''t, she would have definitely flipped out. Ines pushed down her rage and shut her eyes again, curious to see how Mr. Meyer would handle the situation. Would he just pretend to sleep through it all? She doubted the women would leave that easily. Just as she was thinking about it, his calm voice rang out. "I''m HIV positive, if you all don''t mind, then it''s no big deal to me." "Handsome, your excuse is just too outrageous," one of the women refused to believe him. "Do you think we''re all idiots?" This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. "Handsome, you''re so funny." Ethan waved at them, "Come on, this ss of wine is for you girls." He elegantly raised his wine ss, took a sip, and then pushed the ss towards them. Everyone withmon sense knew that saliva wasn''t a way to transmit HIV, but no one wanted to risk their lives. Thedies gave Ethan a dirty look before storming off. Ethan walked up to Ines, who had somehow changed her sleeping position. She had been facing him, but now she was facing away, covering her face with her hand andughing. It was clear she knew what had just happened. "Ines, stopughing," Ethan said, trying to remove her hand from her face. Even though he pulled her hand away, she continued tough. "Ethan, how in the world did youe up with that line? I can''t, I''m dying ofughter," Inesughed out loud. Ethan just shook his head at her. He was just trying to keep these women from disturbing her sleep. He knew she had been having a rough couple of days, and if he could make herugh, then it was worth it. Ines finally stopped, but when she saw Ethan looking at her, she couldn''t help butugh again, patting his shoulder, "Mr. Meyer, I really admire you." Ethan gently pinched her nose, "Izzy!" Ines swatted his hand away, "Stop pinching my nose." Ethan pulled her close, and Ines tugged at her long dress, beginning toin, "It''s all your fault. I was looked down upon because of this dress; my figure is not as bad as they said." Ethan raised an eyebrow, "Let me check for you." His hand reached for Ines''s chest, catching her off guard. She shrieked, covering her mouth and ring at Ethan. Ethan said seriously, "Izzy, I think they''ve grown quite a bit." Ines looked down unconsciously and realized that her pre-marriage bras did feel a bit tight now. "Pervert, you had plenty of beauties to admire just now. Haven''t you had enough?" Ines said a bit awkwardly. "No, I''ve been closing my eyes all along. And when I opened my eyes, I was looking at their faces. I didn''t look where I wasn''t supposed to." Ethan said. Ines said, "Alright, alright, I don''t want to argue with you about this anymore." After a good nap, Ines felt much better. The two of them walked hand in hand along the beach, finally stopping at the shallow waters. The cool seawater washing over their feet was incredibly refreshing. Suddenly, Ines felt lively and asked Ethan to take some photos of her. Ethan did, snapping quite a few pictures. Spotting a young couple joyfully sshing water at each other in the distance, she got an idea. With that, she looked at Ethan, scooped up some water, and threw it at him. Ethan,pletely unprepared while taking her photo, got a face full of water. She felt a sudden pang of guilt, hoping she hadn''t hurt him. His hair was instantly soaked, sticking to his forehead. The droplets trickled down his face, matching his stunned expression. It was just too adorable. While Ethan was still in shock, Ines quickly squatted down to scoop up more water, but she moved too fast and fell over, letting out a scream. Suddenly, his arm reached out, wrapping around her waist and supporting her head. But she still got drenched by the seawater. Ethan picked Ines up, asking anxiously, "Are you hurt?" Ines replied hurriedly, "I''m fine. But that scared the hell out of me, I thought I was going to end up in the sea." Ethan chuckled, ruffling her hair, "If Mrs. Meyer enjoys water fights, I can just stand still and let you ssh me all you want." Ines giggled at his words, "No way, that''s too boring." Even though she said that, she quickly scooped up a handful of water and threw it at Ethan''s chest, then burst intoughter, "I knew I''d get you again." Ethan looked at her with affection. If he had wanted to dodge it, Ines wouldn''t have stood a chance. Chapter 105 Chapter 105 It wasn''t till nightfall that the two of them returned to the hotel. Ines''s long skirt was soaked through, revealing the contours of her figure. Ethan had no choice but to wrap her in his arms. At first, Ines didn''t understand why he was doing this, but then she noticed Ethan guarding her from passing men like he was warding off thieves and it clicked. "Ethan, why were you ring at that guy who just walked past? Do you know him?" Ines asked, puzzled. "I don''t know him, but he was ogling your boobs." Ethan said. Upon hearing this, Inesughed, "I didn''t know I was so irresistible." Ines had a st that day and woke up the next morning, raring to go diving with Ethan. The coral reef underwater was beautifully preserved, teeming with schools of tropical fish. They took a lot of pictures. Ethan and Ines found a photo studio to develop the photos and even bought a lovely album to organize them. By the time they returned to the hotel, it was almost dark. Ines couldn''t stop flipping through the album, looking at the photos. The thought of having toe clean to Ethan about Beasley made her incredibly sad. Facing an unknown oue was nerve-wracking. When Ethan came out of the bathroom, he saw her looking despondent. He frowned. Ines looked up at him and said, "Ethan, there''s something I need to tell you. It''s about your brother." She looked so serious, which was rare for her, leaving Ethan wondering what was bothering her. He sat down next to her, looking at her intently, "Izzy, what''s up?" Ines looked into his eyes and gave a bitter smile, "I found out a few days ago. Your brother''s ident was the same one I was in. Regardless of whether or not I caused the ident, in the end, it was my beef with Emma that led to his misfortune. He had a chance to escape, but he died trying to save me and Emma. I''m truly sorry for causing so much pain to you and the Meyer family. I can''t face them." Ethan stared hard at Ines, and after a while, he finally said, "So that''s why you''ve been acting strange these past few days?" Ines nodded, "If I didn''t know, I could pretend nothing happened. But now that I do, I can''t stay by your side peacefully." "So, you''re saying you want to break up with me? All this time, you''ve been preparing to leave me?" Ethan kept his cool. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Ines couldn''t bear his gaze. She turned away and said softly, "Ethan, don''t be like that." She was just as heartbroken to say these words. She''d been thinking a lot these past few days. If they continue to live with this rift between them, it will only grow wider. She didn¡¯t want their future to be like that, so leaving him now would be best, at least they had loved each other. But she couldn''t bring herself to leave him. She had lost the courage she had before. After thinking it over for a few days, she decided to leave the decision up to him. If he truly believed they needed to break up, she would set him free, no matter how reluctant she was. But if he decided not to break up, she was willing to give it a shot, even if it meant their future would be difficult and potentially end in tragedy. Because her Mr. Meyer was worth it. "Ines, is this really what you want?" He changed the way he addressed her. He''d never done this before; even when she had upset him with her ordeal in the Galeana family, his gaze was always warm. This time was truly different. She had hurt him. Tears welled up in Ines'' eyes. She raised her hands to cover her face, "Ethan, I don''t want to do this, I just¡­" Seeing the tears on her face, Ethan felt a pang of sadness. She hardly ever cried, and when she did, it was mostly silent sobs. Very rarely did she cry out loud, but either way, it hurt him to see her like this. Even though he knew she would be upset, he interrupted her, "You just want to ease your own conscience, but have you ever considered my feelings? I''m your husband, not some stray cat you picked up on the street that you can just abandon." With that, Ethan walked out and mmed the door behind him. Ines copsed onto the bed, sobbing loudly. That wasn''t right, she had considered his feelings. She just didn''t want to put him in a tough spot between his parents and herself, and she especially didn''t want him to feel guilty towards his own brother. Just then, thunder and rain could be heard outside. Ines was startled, remembering that Ethan had run out without taking anything. She quickly wiped her face and ran out too, borrowing two umbres from the hotel lobby before rushing out. But as soon as she reached the door, before she could even open her umbre, someone pulled her back inside. "Ethan?" Ines startled. "Yeah." He rested his chin on her shoulder and spoke softly. "I thought you ran out into the rain." Ines said. "I wouldn''t do that." No matter how angry he was, he wouldn''t put himself in danger. "That''s good." Ines slowly smiled. As long as he took care of himself, she wouldn''t have to worry about him. Chapter 106 Chapter 106 "Silly girl, I am not not a fool to let go of my wife just like that. We''re gonna sort this out today, and I''m gonna make sure we have a good talk about it tonight. Even if I have to leave, I''ll be somewhere you can easily find." Ethan said. He initially wanted to make her anxious, to have her confront her own feelings, but it started to rain when he stepped out. He had to drop the idea because he knew she would be worried and he would be the one hurting in the end. "Ethan, you?" Ines looked at Ethan in surprise, not expecting him to leave with such thoughts. She thought he was really angry and ready to let go of her. Ethan, knowing what she was thinking, pinched her face a few times and said, "Did I scare you?" Ines nodded slightly. "Ines, you do care about me. You can''t deny that," Ethan said with certainty. Ines rxed into his arms, confessed her feelings, but still looked a bit sad, "Yes, I do care about you, more than I ever imagined." Ethan smiled faintly, "And you still want to break up with me?" "That''s not what I intended." Ines said. "Izzy, what if I told you I don''t care, and I knew long ago that my brother and you were at the same ident, would you take back what you just said?" Ethan said. Ines quickly pulled away from Ethan''s arms, looking at him in disbelief, as if to confirm what she just heard from his eyes, "What did you say?" Ethan smiled, "I said, I knew long ago that you two were at the same car ident, the day after we got married." He had checked her out, although it was a rough check, but he knew about this. "Then why did you still...¡± Ines said. "Why could I still pretend not to know, right? Why could I still get along with you calmly, right?" Ethan looked at Ines seriously. Ines nodded. "Because I always believed Izzy wouldn''t do something like that, there must be some misunderstanding. And saving people is a sacred duty of a soldier, and it''s the choice my brother made. I should support his choice unconditionally and be proud of him for such actions. He is worthy of the country''s training and is a qualified soldier. I think he wouldn''t regret such actions, nor would he get angry about it. It''s you whoplicated things, but I''m also happy, all your actions indicate that you care about me." Ethan said. "In my heart, you would consider my feelings." Ines bit her lip, "Ethan, don''t trust me too much. I used to believe that I wouldn''t do such a thing. Even though I lost my memory, when I saw Hunter and that woman, I could feel a strong hatred in my heart. I can imagine that if I hadn''t lost my memory, it''s entirely possible that I would have done such a thing." "No, you''re overlooking one thing, that is, you didn''t love Aiden at all. Didn''t you say that the person you like is me? Without love, how could you possibly harm Emma for him and choose to sacrifice yourself? With your character, if you wanted to teach them a lesson, you would definitely let someone else do it." Ethan analyzed calmly. Ines realized that seemed to be the case. The way of hitting someone with a car was too stupid; indeed it didn''t seem like something she would do. "Why build your whole life''s happiness on your own guess? Before the truth of the matter is clear, let''s not be so arbitrary, okay?" Ethan advised patiently. "Ethan, I¡­" Ines said. Ethan held Ines tightly in his arms, and feeling his warm embrace, Ines was speechless for a moment. "Mrs. Meyer, from this incident, it seems that your trust in me is really not enough. You actually think that I would give you up, don''t you think you should reflect on yourself?" Ethan asked. "How?" Ines had been on an emotional roller coaster that night, so she just blurted out the question. "You write a three-thousand-word essay and give it to me in a week, not a word less." Ethan said. "I''m not a kid, why should I write an essay?" Ines said. It had been many years since she had written an essay, and to give it to him in a week was simply impossible. "Whether you''re an adult or a child, you should reflect when you make a mistake. Not being able to fully trust your own husband is a very bad mistake, writing an essay is a light punishment. Considering that you''re usually busy with work, I''ll give you a month. You''re not allowed to copy from the inte, you have to write based on your own situation." Ethan said. Ines didn''t say anything. She thought he was always busy and wouldn''t remember such things so clearly, so she reluctantly agreed. Seeing that his wife''s mood had calmed down, Ethan let go of her and led her into the hotel. The front desk saw them walking in hand in hand and said with a smile, "Mr. Meyer, Mrs. Meyer, congrattions on your reconciliation. Whatever misunderstandings there may be between a husband and wife should be discussed calmly. Don''t ever act impulsively." Ethan smiled, "Thank you." Back in the room, Ines was still not at ease, and asked again, "What about grandpa and your parent?" "Don''t worry about it. I''ll talk to them personally." Ethan squeezed her hand. "Ethan, I don''t want you to struggle." Ines said. "Dumbbell, it''s not difficult for me. I don''t want to bear the pain of losing you." Ethan looked at Ines seriously, a plea in his eyes. Ines thought for a moment, then nodded, "Okay." N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Ethan gently patted her head, "Remember, we''re married, don''t say things like ''break up'' to me again, and don''t make decisions for me on your own." Ines felt a bit of pain from the pat, rubbed her head, and said in a hurtful tone, "About that, I need to rify, I didn''t make any decisions for you, and I didn''t say the word ''break up'', that was you. All I did was telling you the truth, and then I nned to let you take the initiative. If you want to give up, I definitely won''t cling onto you." Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Ethan looked at Ines seriously, "Is that really what you think?" "Of course, I''ve told you before, I''m serious about marriage. I know what it means." Ines said solemnly. "Izzy, my Izzy..." Ethan whispered. Ines looked up at him with a smile. Ethan''srge hand held her waist tightly, lifting her onto hisp and quickly leaning in for a kiss. He admired her rationality and cool head, always knowing exactly what she was doing. His heart was so full of joy that his kiss was intense. Ines could even feel his heart pounding. She also smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck and responding actively. They simply held each other and kissed, slowly, gently, losing themselves in the moment, only pulling away when they were both breathless. Ines leaned against him in silence, calming her heartbeat. Ethan gently stroked her cheek and said seriously, "Izzy, whatever anyone says to you, don''t just believe it. If you want to know the truth, just ask me." Ines nodded, "I understand." She realized she had been too quick to believe Emma''s words. She didn''t know that what she thought was a big deal was nothing to him. After a while, Ines yawned, "Let''s go to bed early tonight. We have to catch a flight early tomorrow." She quicklyy down, and Ethan knew she was avoiding something. Heughed andy beside her, letting her head rest on his arm and his hand rest on her waist. Ines quickly found a comfortable position and closed her eyes. Her face was peaceful. Ethan smiled, gave her a gentle kiss, and fell asleep with her. The next day, they booked tickets back to A City and went straight to the Military Base. It turned out that a few days ago, grandpa had invited them to dinner at the Meyer Mansion. Ethan had said she was on a business trip, but grandpa sensed something was wrong. He thought they had had a fight. If grandpa knew, the rest of the Meyer family would also know. To reassure the family, they had to make a personal visit to the Meyer Mansion. Even seeing them hand in hand, Phillip was still worried, "Izzy, why did you suddenly go on vacation? Did Ethan treat you bad? You tell grandpa, and grandpa will teach him a lesson." Ines shook her head and smiled at Phillip, "No, grandpa, I just needed a break." "You guys really didn''t fight?" Phillip asked. Ethan looked helplessly at his grandpa, "Grandpa, are you hoping for me and Izzy to fight?" At this point, Erica came down from upstairs, gave him a re, and said to Ines, "Izzy, I bought you a new coat a few days ago. Try it onter, and if it doesn''t fit, I''ll have someone bring a different size." "Okay, mom." Ethan scratched his head and whispered to Ines, "Am I really their grandson and son? They all seem to have a problem with me. As soon as you came back, they started calling you Izzy. Why has it changed?" Ines looked at Ethan, "Are you jealous?" "No, you''re overthinking." Erica stood next to them, overheard their conversation, and said, "Before, I was hoping you''d get married. Now it''s different. You''re married and no use to me. I want Izzy to have a baby, so naturally, I have to treat Izzy better. Is that right, Izzy?¡± Ines nodded, her face red. Ethan looked at Erica disapprovingly, "Are you sure I''m no use? Without me, could Izzy have a baby on her own?" "Do I not know you? No matter how I treat you, you''ll always try your best. So why should I waste my energy?" Erica said confidently. Ethan was stunned and found himself unable to argue. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Ines couldn''t help butugh. Ethan was finally at a loss for words. Phillip had been standing to one side, observing Ines closely, when he suddenly said, "Izzy, have you lost weight again?" Ines walked over and linked arms with him, "No, grandpa, I''m actually a pound heavier than I was before our wedding." "That''s not good enough, you''re still too skinny. I''m going hunting with some friends in the mountains soon. I''ll get you some wild chickens to help you build up your strength." Phillip and his friends had a tradition of hunting in the mountains every year. "Don''t go to all that trouble." Ines was worried about her grandpa exerting himself too much at his age. "No, it''s settled. When I catch them, I''ll make some soup and have it sent to your office." Phillip insisted. After lunch, Ines was called into Erica''s room to try on the new coat. It was a pink coat that cinched perfectly at the waist, highlighting her fair skin. "Thank you." Ines said. Erica signaled Ines to sit down. Ines knew her mother-inw had something to say, so she sat down on the edge of the bed. "Izzy, Ethan told me why you two were fighting. I know everything." Erica said. Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Ines was taken aback, then lowered her head and apologized, "I¡¯m sorry, Mom." Erica shook her head. "Kid, this ain''t your fault. Beasley was a soldier, he just did what a soldier should do." "Izzy, we Meyers are a military family, no one knows better about the duty of a soldier than me. We''d rather they live a peaceful life than die as heroes too soon." Erica said. Ines''s heart started beating fast. She understood Erica''s perspective all too well, but what she feared more was what Erica might say next. Seeing this, Erica couldn''t help but chuckle. "Izzy, don''t freak out. I just want to chat about what''s on my mind. Usually, I don''t have anyone to talk to about this. I wouldn¡¯t dare to talk about this to your grandfather and father. In their eyes, ideals and beliefs are above all else." Erica continued, "Izzy, I consider you family, which is why I''m telling you all this. It''s been a long time since everything happened, and I''vee to terms with it. I''ve lost one son; I can''t afford to lose another. Even if I break you and Ethan up, it won''t bring his brother back. Ethan has finally moved on from his past and found someone he genuinely likes. He can''t handle another loss." No wonder Erica thought Ines looked familiar when she first visited, it was because they had met in the hospital years ago. Back then, Erica was nearly broken from the loss of her son. She wanted to see who had put her son in that state, but when she saw Ines with her head wrapped in bandages, tubes all over her body, and her pale face in the ICU, she felt sympathy. Looking back, it was all fate. She saved her other son. Ines looked at Erica emotionally, "You''re a great mother." Truly a woman who considered her son''s needs. Erica shook her head, "Izzy, if you feel guilty, just be extra good to Ethan, okay?" Ines nodded, "I will." Erica patted her shoulder, "Let''s put this behind us. No matter what the truth of the ident is, don''t mention it anymore. Just live a good life with Ethan." "What about Dad and Grandpa?" Ines asked. "We discussed this before you guys came back. We all agreed on this." Erica said with a smile. Hearing this, Ines couldn''t help but burst into tears. Erica wiped her tears and said, "Don''t cry. If Ethan sees this, he might think I''ve been hard on you." Ines quickly wiped her tears. Seeing this, Erica chuckled. Ines blushed, but still asked the question lingering in her mind, "Mom, what exactly did Ethan go through? Why did he break up with his ex-girlfriend? Was it because of betrayal?" Erica paused before saying, "I wish it was because of betrayal. With Ethan''s personality, he wouldn''t wallow over a woman not worth it. The truth is, they didn''t break up. That woman was his most trusted secretary, but she died because of Ethan. That''s why Ethan has been living with guilt and regret all these years." Erica didn''t tell Ines the details. It was better for Ethan to tell her. Ines was shocked beyond words. She thought Ethan didn''t ept another rtionship because he broke up with his ex-girlfriend for some reason. But it turned out to be like this. They didn''t break up; it was death. This word was too cruel. No wonder he was always worried that she would leave him. He had already experienced aplete loss. "I heard two women talking about this at the Meyer Group not long ago. I guess rumors can''t be trusted." Ines sighed. "Ah, it''s better to let Ethan tell you the details. It''s my ce to say. Give Ethan some time, and trust him. He''s a responsible man. Since he has decided to marry you, he must have made preparations. How he''s been to you all this time, I''m sure you can feel it." Erica said. Ines whispered, "I know what to do next. Thanks." Ines left Erica''s room, still in shock from what she just learned. Ethan had been waiting outside the door. As soon as he saw here out, he rushed forward. Seeing her unusual expression, he touched her face, "What''s wrong? Did my mom say something?" "Why are you so nervous? What could possibly happen?" Erica walked away with a smile. Ines looked at Ethan, suddenly feeling a pang of sympathy for him. She tiptoed to touch his face, just like he did, and smiled at him, "I''m fine. Mom and I talked everything out. I won''t overthink anymore." From now on, she would apany him, and everything would get better. Ethanughed, "If I knew this would work, I would have let my mom talk to you a long time ago." "Yeah, I think your mom is very wise and great." Ines said. N?velDrama.Org content. No one noticed Phillip not far away, watching Ines with a deep sense of guilt in his eyes. Ines''s vacation was down to thest day, and Ethan had things to arrange for tomorrow. So, the two of them returned to the city right after lunch. Ethan personally called Rita and Zander, for the first time sincerely talking about the car ident, and told them about the Meyer family''s decision. Rita and Zander both breathed a sigh of relief after hearing the Meyer family''s attitude. Chapter 109 Chapter 109 As their car rolled into downtown, a little girl darted across the street, paying no heed to the red light. Ethan stomped on the brakes, the car screeching to a halt just a few feet away from her. The little girl ended up on her knees on the ground, frozen in fear. Ines, equally startled, jumped out of the car and scooped her up from the middle of the street while Ethan pulled over. "Hey kiddo, are you hurt?" Ines gave her a once-over, finding only some scraped skin on her knees. Tears welled up in the little girl''s eyes as she bit her lip, silently looking at Ines. "How''s she doing, Izzy?" Ethan asked. Ines shook her head at Ethan, "Not sure. I saw some scrapes on her knees, but I can''t tell if there''s anything else. She won''t talk to me." Ethan gave her head a little pat, "Honey, can you tell me if anything else hurts?" The girl nced from Ethan to Ines, then bowed her head. "Do you think she can''t speak?" Ethan looked at Ines puzzled. "Maybe we should just take her to the hospital? Let the doctor give her a full check-up." Ethan suggested. Before Ines could respond, the girl burst into tears, "No hospital, no shots!" Seeing her upset, Ines immediately cradled the girl in her arms and started to soothe her, "Okay, we won''t go to the hospital. But you gotta tell me if anything else hurts, okay?" Through sobs, the girl stuttered, "N-nothing else... just my knee." Ines let out a sigh of relief, "If it doesn''t hurt, no shots. But we still need a doctor to check on you, okay? Your mom and dad need to know you''re okay. We can''t have them worried. Can you tell me where you live? After the check-up, we can drop you off." "My parents won''t worry. They''re getting a divorce. I hate them!" The girl scrunched up her nose, clearly upset. Ines and Ethan shared a look. Ethan said, "For now, let''s just take her to the hospital for a check-up. Once she''s calmed down, we can ask her where she lives." "No, I won''t go to the hospital." The girl shook her head as soon as she heard ''hospital''. "Sweetie, I promise we won''t let the doctor give you a shot, just a check-up." Ines said. She nodded through her tears, "Okay, but you can''t lie to kids." Ines nodded in agreement, "I won''t lie to you, promise." Ines tried to lift her up, but was surprised by how heavy the girl was. Ethan took the girl from her with augh, "I got this." The girl nced at Ethan and quickly pecked his cheek, saying softly, "Thank you." Ethan was taken aback by the sudden kiss, his cheeks flushing a little. Though it was his first time holding a child, he seemed quite adept. Watching him, Ines had a feeling he''d make a great dad someday. On their way to the hospital, Ines tried a few more times to ask the girl about her home and parents, but all she got was that she was six years old, her name was Naomi, and she was in first grade. They took Naomi to a nearby hospital, and aside from her scraped knee, she was perfectly fine. It was getting dark by the time they left the hospital. Naomi had fallen asleep and was now being carried on Ethan''s back. Ethan and Ines were now in a bind. If they took her home without her parents knowing, they''d be worried sick. But the girl wouldn''t tell them her parents'' names or address. "Ethan, what do we do now?" Ines asked. Ethan thought for a moment, "Let''s take her back to where we found her and try our luck. She came from across the street, where there are a bunch of office buildings. I bet her parents work there." Ines nodded, "Guess it''s our only option now." Just then, Naomi woke up, rubbing her eyes. In a small voice, she said, "I''m sorry I made things difficult for you. You can take me back to where you found me. My mom works nearby." Ines gently said, "If you remember where your home is, we can take you there directly. Your mom might be off work now." "I don''t know where my home is. I''ve been staying with my mom these days. Don''t worry, she won''t be off work yet." Naomi said. Ines sighed, remembering the girl''s earlier words about her parents divorcing. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Ethan and Ines had barely arrived back at the scene when they saw a man and a woman arguing. Ines instantly recognized the woman as her boss, Amelia. She nced down at the girl in her arms, who was on the verge of tears watching the arguing couple. By now, Ines was certain that Naomi was Amelia''s daughter. No wonder the name sounded familiar, she''d heard Amelia mention it on a phone call. "Izzy, you know her?" Ethan raised an eyebrow. "She''s my boss at work." Ines said. Ines looked at the quiet girl and said, "Naomi, there are no parents who don''t love their child. Your mom must love you very much, and she''s working hard to give you a better life." Naomi didn''t respond, just pursed her lips and remained silent. Ethan parked the car and got out with Naomi. "Amelia, is this how you take care of your daughter? Naomi''s been with you for just one day and she''s already gone missing. What do you have to say for yourself?" A man named Leo used her. "Right now, the most urgent thing is to find our daughter, not argue." Amelia said frantically. "And where do you suggest we should search first? You never pay any attention to her." Just then, a clear voice rang out, "Mom, Dad, I''m here." Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Amelia Young watched the little girl not far away, tears streaming down her face. She squatted down and opened her arms, "Naomi,e to mommy." Naomi nced at her dad, then turned her head to look at Ines and Ethan. Ines nodded to her. The little girl thought for a moment before running into Amelia''s arms. Amelia held her daughter in satisfaction, crying even more. Naomi lifted her hand to wipe her mother''s tears, "Mom, don''t cry. I¡¯m back. I shouldn''t have run off. They helped me." Amelia looked at Ines with aplex gaze, smiled, and said sincerely, "Thank you, Ines." Ines was a bit surprised. Amelia had always referred to her as "Ms. Galeana". This sudden change made her a bit taken aback, but she figured it was because of what happened today. "Ms. Young, I didn''t do anything. Naomi is a very sensible child. Her knee is a bit scraped, you might want to clean it with some antiseptic when you get home." Ines said. "Anyway, thank you." Amelia said. Ines smiled faintly. Amelia began to inspect Naomi. After confirming that Naomi was okay, she completely rxed. Leo on the side was not calm at all, he couldn''t help but sigh. He hadn''t expected Amelia to know such people. If their family could get a connection with the Meyer family, they would definitely make a lot of money. Leo immediately stepped forward, pulled out a business card and handed it to Ethan, with a proper smile on his face. "Mr. Meyer, thank you so much for today. My name is Leo, I''m Naomi''s dad. Thank you and your wife for taking care of her." Ethan slightly frowned, but didn''t take the business card in his hand, just nodded extremely reluctantly. Seeing Ethan''s cold attitude, Leo awkwardly took back his business card. Ines actually despised this kind of adulterous man. "Naomi, you should go home with dad for the next few days. Your mom is busy with work and can¡¯t take care of you." Leo turned and reached out to the little girl in Amelia''s arms. As soon as Amelia heard this, she got angry, "Leo, we agreed that Naomi would stay with me for the next few days. You can''t take away my rights." Leo''s face turned cold, "I''m stating the facts. I don''t trust you with the child." Naomi looked at her dad, then at her mom, "Can''t I live with both mom and dad anymore? I want to be like before, sleeping between mom and dad." At those words, both adults fell silent neither of them spoke. Ines felt a bit ufortable, her grip on Ethan''s arm gradually tightening. Seeing her parents both silent, the little girl''s eyes filled with disappointment, she lowered her head and said, "If that''s not possible, I''ll just stay with mom for the next few days." Amelia listened to her daughter''s words, crying softly. Because there were other people present, Leo didn''t want to make things too extreme, finally he smiled at Ethan and Ines, then drove away. Amelia wiped the tears off her face, "I''m sorry that you and Mr. Meyer had to see this awkward scene." Ines shook her head, Ethan spoke up at this point, "Ms. Young, it¡¯s fine. You''re Izzy''s colleague. If you need anything, you cane to me." Amelia looked at Ethan in surprise. She saw his attitude towards Leo; he didn''t want to deal with him at all. Her status was far less than Leo''s, but he was willing to say these words to her. Besides Ines''s rtionship, she couldn''t find any other reasons. "Then I''ll thank Mr. Meyer in advance." Amelia said. On the way back, Ines asked Ethan in confusion, "Why did you say that to Ms. Young?" His status was there, even an inadvertent promise could bring a series of chain reactions. Ethan chuckled and joked, "Isn''t she your boss? This is me trying to get you some benefits." ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Ines felt warm in her heart, "Ethan, you don''t have to do this." "Izzy." Ethan said. Even if she didn''t say it, he knew her situation at work. If he could help her, and he naturally wouldn''t be stingy. On the way back, Ines leaned on Ethan and said somewhat gloomily, "Ms. Young and her husband have been dating since college. They''ve been together for more than ten years, but now they''ve reached this point because she''s too busy with work." Sighing, Ines continued, "They''re together for 10 years and can still break up. What about us? Ethan, if we really get to the point of divorce, we must never let our children see our quarrels." Looking at her, Ethan ruffled her hair, knowing she felt sorry for the little girl, "People are different. Rtionship matters are not suitable for generalization." "From dating to marriage, it only takes about three months for a man and a woman to understand each other''s personality. Even if one party is very good at pretending, at most half a year, they would know what kind of person the other party is. I don''t believe that Leo didn''t know before marriage that the woman he was marrying was a career-minded person. A man nitpicking his wife''s personality after more than ten years of marriage. Don¡¯t talk about unbearable and intolerant, because that''s not a matter of a day or two, but over 10 years. All the reasons are purely excuses, for not being able to resist temptation." Ethan analyzed calmly. Ines looked at Ethan in surprise, thinking that what Ethan said made sense. Weren''t many people like this nowadays? She had always thought she was rational enough to analyze things calmly in any situation, but compared to this man, she didn''t seem so rational. "Then, we''ve been married for three months; how much do you know about me?" Ines wanted to know more about how she appeared in Ethan''s eyes. Chapter 111 Chapter 111 "Well, from a diet perspective, Izzy is not picky overall, but she''s a veggie lover, especially leafy greens. If she has pasta, she always likes to pile on the veggies and broth." Ethan said. Ines paused for a second, then realized what he was referring to. These were indeed her favorites. Ethan chuckled, then continued, "As for personality, Izzy is quite principled. She mighte off as casual, but she tends to keep things to herself. She loves her work, partly due to ack of security, and partly because she can''t stand being idle. But luckily, she has her own way of self-regtion. So, no matter howplex a problem is, after she''s done overthinking, she''ll give herself some pep talk. Overall, she''s pretty chill." Take this "runaway" incident, for example. It was basically his fault for not providing enough security, which made her feel that he might change his attitude towards her because of this. But ultimately, she chose to give him the initiative. This showed her sense of responsibility, and that she understood the profound meaning of the word "marriage". Her not-so-perfect but rational personality was something he couldn''t resist. Actually, he didn''t me her at all. After all, they hadn''t been married for long. It was only natural that she couldn''t fully trust him in such a situation. "Oh, by the way, Izzy has a bit of OCD in daily life. For instance, when hanging clothes, the hangers all have to face the same direction. When baking, she likes everything neatly arranged. Plus, she is particrly fond of rose scent, her body wash, shampoo, skincare products, you name it, all have to be rose-scented." Ethan said. Ines looked at Ethan with surprise, her eyes filled with emotion. Everything he said was on point, even some details she hadn''t noticed herself. Ines didn¡¯t know how to react but said, "Ethan, you''re so thoughtful." "That''s because I care about you a lot." Ethan said. Inesughed, "You''re such a smooth talker." "But Izzy, you seem to be overthinking a bittely." Ethan said. "Maybe it''s that time of the month." She had been feeling a bit unstable emotionally these past few days, easily getting irritated. Ethan was taken aback and raised an eyebrow, "What time of the month? Are we expecting anyone to visit us?" "Pfft." Ines couldn''t help butugh out loud. Did this man ever have a romantic rtionship before? How could he not even know about something as basic as the menstrual cycle? "Ethan, I''m talking about the menstrual cycle, you know? It''s those few days when women experience emotional fluctuations." Ines added. Ethan shook his head gently and said nonchntly, "Mrs. Meyer is still not humorous." Ines¡¯s smile suddenly froze, and she looked at Ethan angrily, ¡°Are you teasing me?¡± Ethan helplessly spread his hands and casually replied, "I do know this basicmon knowledge." ¡°Mr. Meyer, you are just so bad!¡± Ines couldn¡¯t help but raise her hand to hit Ethan. This man was simply too wicked, and yet he had the audacity to act all serious and im to be someone he clearly wasn¡¯t. It was hard for anyone to believe him. Ethan grasped her finger and gently kissed it against his lips, causing Ines to react sensitively, flinching slightly. A hint of a smile flickered in his eyes as he held her waist and pressed his lips onto hers, gradually deepening the kiss. He whispered softly in her ear, "Izzy, let''s have a daughter." Seeing Naomi today, he wanted more than ever a little girl who looked like Izzy. "Whether it''s a boy or a girl, it''s not up to me. It depends on you." Ines''s voice was shaky, but she still managed to say it with a blush. "Then, let''s have a few until we get a daughter." Ethan said. Ines twitched her lips, grumbling, "Ethan, I''m your wife, not a machine. I only want two. If we have too many, I''m afraid we won''t have enough energy to love them equally, and they might me us." "Let''s talk about itter. Now, let''s proceed to our ''mandatory family course''." Ethan said. Ines was no longer an innocent girl; she knew full well what he meant by ''mandatory family course''. Her cheeks turned crimson. As Ethan''s hot kiss descended again, his hand began to wander on her body. Ines responded to his kiss by wrapping her arms around his neck. Her initiative was the best catalyst. Ethan''s movements became somewhat rushed, and soon he had stripped her naked. But at that moment, Ines suddenly felt a warm flow under her. Realizing that her period had arrived, she pushed Ethan away. Ethan, however, was too engrossed to care. As he continued to kiss her, he mumbled, "Izzy, we can''t stop now." Ines couldn''t help butugh, knowing that her words would have no effect at this point. As expected, in a short while, she saw Ethan looking at her with a dejected expression, reluctantly pulling away from her. Seeing him like this, Ines couldn''t help but smile even more, "Mr. Meyer, you should take a break. I''m afraid I can''t keep up with you." Ethan pinched her nose, "I''ll let you off for now, but we''ll make up for itter." Ethan went to the bathroom, and it was a while before he came out. As soon as he got into bed, Ines felt a chill. Clearly, he had taken a cold shower. She rolled into his arms, feeling a bit guilty. She found afortable position in his arms and touched his face, "Are you okay?" Ethan held her tightly, not saying a word. After a while, he released her, saying gloomily, "Izzy, you should stay away from me tonight." Ines was taken aback, "Why? Are you mad? I can''t control my period." "Silly girl, why would I be mad about that? I''m just worried I won''t be able to control myself." Ethan said. "But I can''t sleep if I''m not in your arms." Ines blurted out without thinking, her face turning red after the words left her mouth. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Ethan''s eyes lit up; he pulled her into his arms again. It was rare to hear her speak so sincerely. Even if he couldn''t sleep well tonight, he still wanted to hold her. Lying in his arms, Ines could feel his body tension. Chapter 112 Chapter 112 "Ethan, how did you live your days before getting married, huh?" Ines couldn''t help but ask the question which had been bugging her for a while. This guy seemed quite chill on the outside, but his needs in that department were way beyond her imagination. He wasn''t a youngd in his twenties anymore, but a mature man in his thirties. Working his butt off during the day and not knowing how to slow down at night. She sometimes worried that he would wear himself out. But afterst time''s lesson, she had sworn to herself to keep these thoughts inside. Ethan chuckled, "Is Mrs. Meyerplimenting me?" Ines rolled her eyes; men''s and women''s trains of thought really were worlds apart sometimes. But seeing his good mood, she didn''t feel like arguing. "Guess so." Ines said. Ethan¡¯s mood visibly perked up and he wrapped his arms around her, stealing a few more kisses. Ines gave him a little shove, "Ethan, stop changing the topic. You still haven''t answered my question?" She had wanted to discuss the frequency of their sex life for a while, but he had managed to dodge the issuest time. Tonight, she was determined to get to the bottom of this and hopefully find a solution to their situation. "Can I not answer?" Ethan frowned. "No, you can''t keep pulling the wool over my eyes.¡± Ines said. "Izzy, there was never a woman that caught my eye before. I never thought about that stuff, but now isn''t the situation different?" Ethan said. No woman before marriage? This guy had some self-discipline, huh. Ines felt a bit happier, but still delicately asked, "They say a man doesn''t need love to, you know. You didn¡¯t find someone to help you out?" At her words, Ethan pinched her side a bit roughly, grinding his teeth a little as he said, "Izzy, do you want your husband to be ''used goods''?" He had once had a sincere love, but the woman had been practical, and they never took the final step. She looked at Ethan incredulously, her joy seeping into her eyes. Without considering any shyness, she asked outright, "So, you''re saying it was your first time?" It was hard to believe a man in his thirties was still a virgin, especially when he had a past love that had left a deep impression on him. But hearing her husband say he had never been with another woman before, she was thrilled. Ethan nodded, admitting without any embarrassment, "Yes, it was my first time. So, Mrs. Meyer, you really need to cut me some ck, I''ve been holding it in for years." "But you don¡¯t look like it," Ines muttered. Everyone said the first time would be rough, but their first time seemed to go smoothly. He was like a skilled teacher, guiding her gently in her transition from girl to woman. Ethan, always sharp-eared, especially when they were this close, gave a light smile, "Mrs. Meyer, there''s a saying, ''Born with talent''." Ines liked to tease those close to her, so she replied with a scoff, ¡°Always tooting your own horn, what¡¯s there to be proud of about a thirty-something man finally losing his virginity?¡± "Maybe not proud, but pretty lucky, lucky to give my best to you." Ethan''s voice was soft, his emotions hidden. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Hearing his words, Ines felt a sweetness in her heart that she couldn''t describe and stopped pressing him. She kissed him on his handsome face and closed her eyes, ready to sleep, "Mr. Meyer, good night." "Izzy, the psychologist I mentioned to you before ising to A City tomorrow. I''ve made an advance appointment. We''ll go see him in the morning." Ethan said. About the truth of the car ident, he had already started investigating, but it seemed like something was blocking him, something even he couldn''t move. It was hard to figure out in such a short time. Now, the best way was to find out the truth from the person involved, but Emma wouldn¡¯t easily reveal anything. So, it¡¯s better to start with Ines. "Wasn''t it supposed to be a month? Howe it''s so soon?" Ines asked. "I also want to clear up the mystery from five years ago, so you can stop overthinking. I have some connections with the doctor, and I asked her toe to A City a month early." Ethan said. Ines understood, "Okay." She wanted to know what had happened five years ago more than he did. She didn¡¯t want the past to hold her back. The next day, they went to Renaissance General Hospital early in the morning. This was where the psychologist was practicing. Ines originally thought this psychologist would be an old man. She didn''t expect him to be a middle-aged multiracial man in his forties, only a few years older than Ethan. His features were sharp and handsome. His mother was Asian, so he had a special interest in his mother''s homnd and would take some time each year to practice there. "Everyone who sees me has this expression, and your wife is no exception." Dr. Andrew said to Ethan, with a warm tone. It seemed like he and Ethan were good friends. Ethan smiled, "Ines, this is a friend I met when I studied abroad in E Country. He¡¯s a star in the university''s psychology department. He''s had a special talent since he was a kid. By 25, he was already internationally known, and now he''s a world-renowned psychologist that countries are fighting to invite." "Oh, no, Ethan, don''t praise me like this, I''ll be arrogant." Andrew quickly waved his hand. "Nice to meet you, Ethan''s wife." Andrew was about to hug Ines, but was stopped by Ethan, who said stiffly, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Here, we shake hands." Andrew scratched his head and extended his hand to Ines. Ines smiled and shook his hand, "Nice to meet you, I''m sorry to trouble you today." Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Since there were still loads of people waiting in line, there was no time for small talk. Ines had a new check-up, but the results were just like the ones from a few years back. No blood clots were pressing on her brain nerves, the preliminary judgment was still selective amnesia. Andrew decided on hypnosis therapy for Ines without missing a beat, which was currently the hottest trick in the book for treating mental disorders. But the depth of hypnosis varied depending on individual susceptibility, the credibility and skills of the hypnotist, and other factors. Ines had tried hypnosis before, but it was like pulling teeth. The moment the car ident was brought up, she would shake her head in agony. She even woke up from the hypnosis on her own, pushing her limits. Andrew first ushered Ines into a private office. It was a hypnotism room specially designed for Andrew at Renaissance General Hospital. The room was dimly lit but warm and cozy with soundproofing that could block out any disturbances. The room was simply furnished with only a wooden table and two chairs, exuding a faintly eerie vibe. A thinyer of sweat formed on Ines''s palms. Ethan, unable to hold back, held her hand tightly and whispered, "Izzy, don''t worry, I''ve got your back. No matter what your past is, you''re my wife, so don''t stress about it." ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. At these words, Ines nodded and gave him a reassuring smile, "I know." To hypnotize a patient, the most important thing was to understand her personality to determine the best approach. Of course, the desired oues of the patient and their family should also be considered. All these things Ethan had already discussed in detail with Andrew. So, there was no need for Andrew to waste time asking Ines these questions. Once Ines had gotten used to the room, Andrew started the hypnosis. Ethan was worried, so Andrew allowed him to stay in the room, but with strict orders to keep quiet, otherwise it could disturb the patient. Ines looked at him, his expression was a bit stiff. She couldn''t help but find it funny - he was the one telling her not to be nervous, yet he looked more nervous than her. Andrew pulled out a silver pocket watch and held it in front of Ines''s eyes, "Alright, Izzy, we''re starting. Stretch out your arms, palms facing each other, focus on the pocket watch in my hand. Imagine I''m someone close to you, a good friend you can tell anything to." Ines cleared her mind and focused on the pocket watch in Andrew''s hand. "Good, you''re doing it right. Are you feeling sleepy, like you haven''t slept in ages, and your eyelids are heavy? I''m a good guy, and your husband Ethan is here too, so you can close your eyes without any worries." Andrew guided her step by step. Ines just felt a soft voice in her ear. It seemed toe from nowhere, like a celestial melody that made her want to close her eyes and listen attentively. And then, slowly, she closed her eyes. Ethan couldn''t help but frown. He didn''t believe in hypnosis before, but seeing Ines like this made him believe a bit. "You''re doing great, Izzy. Imagine you''re in a boundless sea of flowers right now. Lie down slowly, stretch out your hands and legs, rx. Look up and you can see the blue sky and white clouds.." Andrew really was a world-ss expert. Before long, Ines fell into a sleep-like state, lying quietly. Tick tock... Tick tock... The room was so quiet that only the ticking of the pocket watch could be heard. Ethan raised an eyebrow as if to ask him, "Is that all?" Andrew nodded lightly, then turned to Ines and asked, "Izzy, do you know who I am?" "You''re the one my husband and I trust the most. You''re here to help me." Ines said. Andrew confirmed that Ines had entered a deep sleep and began to ask, "Izzy, what exactly happened in the car ident five years ago? The engagement banquet was clearly at the big hotel in the city center, so why did you go to such a remote ce?" Almost as soon as Andrew''s question came out, Ines''s eyebrows furrowed tightly and her eyelids twitched non-stop. Andrew frowned, and repeated the same question, "Izzy, don''t be afraid, think carefully, and answer me when you''re sure, why did you go to such a remote ce?" Ines didn''t answer and her body trembled slightly. Sweat beads started to form on her forehead and nose; she looked distressed. Ethan furrowed his brows, struggling not to interrupt. "Izzy, why did you go there?" Andrew asked again. Ines moved her lips with difficulty, it took a long time before she said, "I went there by myself." Her voice was too soft, Andrew didn''t hear it clearly, so he repeated, "Did you go there by yourself? If yes, move your eyelid. If not, don''t blink." Hearing this, Ines''s eyelids moved slightly, although not very obvious. Andrew then asked the next question, "Did you drive there yourself?" "Yes." This time Ines answered directly, but her face turned pale suddenly. "Did you hit someone?" Almost as soon as Andrew asked this, Ines''s body and eyelids started shaking violently. Andrew frowned, "Not good, she''s going to wake up." Sure enough, at that moment, Ines suddenly opened her eyes. Ethan rushed forward and held her hand. Her palms were all wet. "Izzy, is there anything ufortable?" Ethan asked nervously. "My head feels stuffy, and my heart is beating very fast." Ines said. "Andrew, is this okay?" Ethan asked. Andrew looked very serious. This was the biggest challenge he had faced since his career started. Ines had a very strong will, enough to break through the hypnotic state and wake up on her own. He thought he had hypnotized her deeply, but in fact, she was only in a light sleep. "It''s not a big problem, she''ll be fine after a night''s rest. But she can''t use hypnosis therapy anymore. Her will is so strong that it''s impossible to get any useful information. Forcing hypnosis could harm her body, so I don''t rmend continuing this treatment." Andrew said. Ines looked at Ethan with disappointment, "Did you not find out anything?" Ethan shook his head, "Nah, we just asked why you drove the car over there, and you said you did it yourself." Ines frowned, a heavy feeling creeping up for no reason. "Izzy, don''t rush, we''ll take it slow, you''ll get back to normal in no time." Ethan assured her. Chapter 114 Chapter 114 "Mrs. Meyer, the human brain is an amazing thing, but at the same time it''s pretty fragile, it takes a long time to heal from an injury. You were injured in a car ident before, and it''s a miracle you¡¯re recovered as much as right now. There are things I don''t know how to exin to you, but all I can tell is that everyone has their own psychological bottom line, a line you can''t cross. And obviously, we''ve crossed it this time. The only thing we can do for you now is conservative treatment; let nature take its course. You shouldn''t receive any more psychological treatments. Anyway, you have only lost some of your memories, and it doesn''t affect your daily life. Plus, the memories you have suppressed are pretty messed up, forcing you to remember could lead to unpredictable dangers," Andrew exined. Ines couldn''t help but ask, "What are the chances of danger?" "Seventy percent." Andrew said. Leaving the hospital, Ines was a bit bummed out. At first, she didn''t care much about the part of her memory that was missing. But things that happenedter made her desperate to solve the mystery of the car ident. "I wouldn''t joke about your health, Izzy. Andrew is the best in the psychological field, listening to him won''t lead you astray. I''ll figure out the truth about that night, no matter how long it takes or how much effort I have to put in." Ethan said. "Alright," Ines responded, but she couldn''t hide her disappointment. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. When they got home, it was around noon and Ines, feeling tired, decided to take a nap. Ethan didn''t head straight to the office, but stayed in the study to work. Not long after he sat down, he heard a scream of fear and panic from the bedroom. Ethan''s heart tightened, and he rushed to the bedroom. He found Ines curled up in pain, her eyebrows furrowed tightly and her face covered in sweat. She was trembling uncontrobly. "Izzy, wake up. You''re having a nightmare, everything will be okay when you wake up," Ethan shook Ines forcefully. But Ines didn''t respond, her body was stiff and tense. Ethan climbed onto the bed and held her in his arms, kissing her face and patting her back rhythmically. His voice, soothing and calming, repeated, "Izzy, it''s Ethan. Don''t be scared, I''m here. Nobody''s going to hurt you." After a while, Ines finally calmed down. Her lips were moving, and as Ethan put his ear next to her mouth, he heard her mutter over and over again, "Save me." Ethan felt a pang in his heart. It seemed that the car ident from years ago had deeply traumatized her. Under Ethan''sforting, Ines gradually rxed, and the creases on her forehead smoothed out. Ethan stayed with her for a while until she waspletely calm before he went to his study to call Andrew. "You''re saying she started having nightmares the moment she got home?" Andrew somewhat disbelieved. "Yes, she said she was tired and went to take a nap, but not long after she fell asleep, she started having nightmares.¡± Ethan said. ¡°I''ve never seen a case like Izzy''s. During hypnosis, I found that her memories seemed to be completely blocked. But you''re saying that she''s having nightmares, which means today''s hypnosis triggered some of her memories. These aren''t simple dreams; they''re probably rted to her missing memories. Don''t try to probe into her memories when she''s dreaming, you might cause her brain to suffer a second trauma. It''s fine when she wakes up, though I doubt she''ll remember much." Andrews said. Ethan felt a chill run down his spine. He was d that he had only tried to soothe her fear earlier and had forgotten to ask her who she was calling to save her. "So, you''re saying there''s a chance for her to recover her memories?" "Yes, it''s just a matter of time. It could be a month, a decade, or even two decades. She needs a trigger. Situations like this may happen again in the future, but it''s normal, so don''t worry too much." Andrews exined. After hanging up, Ethan turned around to find Ines standing at the door, one hand on her stomach, looking a bit under the weather. "Izzy, what''s wrong?" Ethan asked. "Don''t worry, it''s probably because I''ve been emotionaltely, my belly''s a bit upset," Ines blushed slightly. Ethan paused for a moment, then realized she was talking about her period. He smiled slightly, walked over and pinched her cheek, "Go back to the bedroom and wait for me, I''ll make you hot tea." Ines nodded lightly and then went back to bed. When Ethan returned to the bedroom, he saw Ines curled up in bed, like a little shrimp. He couldn''t help but smile, "Izzy, have a drink before you sleep." Ines crawled out of bed and took the hot tea from Ethan. Ethan, still concerned, went to find a thermometer. "Mr. Meyer, I''m on my period, not running a fever, why are you taking my temperature?" Ines asked. "You look a little off." Ethan said. Ines shook her head, "I''m fine, probably just sweaty from sleeping too long. I feel all sticky and ufortable." Ethan sat on the edge of the bed, brushed her hair back from her forehead and asked, "Izzy, did you have a nightmare?" "How did you know?" Ines asked. "Did you remember anything from your dream?" Ethan asked tentatively. Ines shook her head, thought for a while but still couldn''t remember, "I don''t remember. I just vaguely felt a moment of breathlessness; it was terrible." Ethan ruffled her hair, "If you can''t remember, then forget it. I asked Andrew earlier and he said it''s a good sign that you started having nightmares, it means there''s a chance your memory coulde back. Just take it slow and you''ll remember." Ines'' eyes lit up, hope reignited in her heart, "Really?" "That''s what Andrew told me." Ethan said. "Then it must be true. He''s definitely better than the other psychologists I''ve dealt with before," Ines smiled. Ethan stayed with Ines as she slept. He held her waist and his hand slowly slid down to her belly. Ines'' face instantly turned bright red, but she felt veryfortable with the continuous warmth. "Izzy, sleep well, I''m here with you." Ethan said. "Don''t you have to deal withpany matters?" Ines always felt that Ethan spent too much time with her, and she was a bit worried for him. "It''s okay, there''s not too much work." Ethan said. Chapter 115 Chapter 115 In the days following, Ines continued with her usual routine of going to work, however, Amelia''s attitude towards her had changed significantly. Although she still seemed aloof as always, there was now a hint of amusement in her eyes, and she even invited Ines out for coffee, which Ines didn''t turn down and agreed with a smile. During their lunch break, they headed out for coffee and upon arriving, Ines saw Naomi there too, apanied by what looked like her nanny. Upon seeing Ines, Naomi excitedly ran over, calling out, "Izzy." Ines hoisted her up onto herp with some effort, bumping her forehead against Naomi''s while laughing, "What''s Naomi doing here?" Amelia exined, "Ever since she met you, she''s been mentioning you all the time. With not much going on at work today, I figured it''d be nice to meet up. Hope you don''t mind that I didn''t give you a heads up." Ines replied, "Not at all, I love kids." As Naomi chattered away about the fun stuff happening at school, her cheerful demeanor had Ines chuckling in delight. Amelia watched with a hint of envy as her daughter never talked this much around her. When Amelia went to order for them, Ines took the opportunity to ask Naomi, "Naomi, did Izzy tell the truth? Your mom really does love you a lot, right?" Naomi nodded after a moment of thought and said, "Izzy, don''t tell my mom, but I don''t actually hate her. Even though she''s often busy with work, she always spends a lot of time with me when she''s home. She helps me pack my school bag, tidy up my clothes, and even gives me kisses. The truth is, I''m just pretending to be asleep, and when she turns around, I secretly watch her. I actually quite like her." Naomi let it all out. After a while, Naomi was taken away by her nanny as she had school in the afternoon. Once Naomi left, Amelia said, "Izzy, I need to apologize to you first." Ines asked, "Why?" Amelia exined, "That time at the party when I told you to stay away was mainly because I was worried you would steal my clients, not because I genuinely cared about your well-being." Ines was taken aback, thenughed, "Amelia, I know. But I also know you genuinely care about your subordinates.¡± A woman getting drunk in such a setting was asking for trouble. If she really had that intention, she could''ve just left Ines to her fate. This was one of the reasons why Ines didn''t dislike Amelia. She had her own pride and would never stoop low. Even though she was cold and asionally gave Ines a hard time, it was all work-rted. She wouldn''t nitpick if Ines did well. It was hard to hate someone as sincere as Amelia. Amelia chuckled, saying understandingly, "Izzy, you really are different from others. No wonder someone like Ethan treats you so well, you truly deserve it." "Amelia, I''m not as good as you think." Ines shook her head, letting out a relievedugh. "Jaime was right, my family matters have indeed been affecting my worktely. I''m in the midst of a divorce with my husband who''s from a well-off family. I need to keep this job to ensure I have the right to care for my child and to be able to fight in court. I knew you were capable, so I saw you as a competitor right from the start, thinking my position would be threatened. But I slowly came to respect your work abilities. To be honest, I may not have done as well as you at your age." Amelia said. "I understand your situation, but it''s not as exaggerated as you make it seem." Ines said. "Izzy, I want to formally apologize to you today for being so narrow-minded." With Ethan''s status, buying the firm for her would have been a piece of cake. If she had wanted to, why would she have hidden her husband''s identity and started from scratch as a licensed CPA? "Amelia, you''re making me feel awkward." Ines said. "Izzy, right is right, wrong is wrong. There''s nothing to it, as long as you correct your mistakes." Amelia said. This was probably a concept that every child had been taught growing up, but not many could actually live up to it. Hearing Amelia say this, Ines couldn''t help but like her even more. "Alright, Amelia, since we''re being frank today, there''s something I''d like to exin to you. The man you saw was just my ex-fiance. He betrayed me with my half-sister when we were about to get engaged. That was just him harassing me." Ines said. Upon hearing this, Amelia couldn''t help but exim, "I always thought this kind of plot only happened in novels, I didn''t expect it to happen in real life." "Well, don''t novels draw inspiration from life?" Ines asked. "That''s true." Amelia said. "Your rtionship with your husband seemed quite good, so I was hoping to get some advice." "Eh, me?" Ines was surprised. Amelia nodded, "Yes, you and Mr. Meyer seem to get along really well, even a single nce from you two can make people feel warm." This was something she was unable to achieve with Leo. Ines felt a bit awkward as she wasn''t really knowledgeable about marital advice. Given that she had only been married to Ethan for a short while, she couldn''t really give others advice. "Amelia, Ethan and I only met once before we got married, and we''ve only been married for less than three months." Ines said. Amelia stared at Ines in surprise, then as if she realized something, she had an epiphany. The rumors about the president of the Meyer Group going on blind dates had been circting for quite some time. Counting the time, it did coincide with about three months ago. "But the vibe you and Mr. Meyer give off doesn''t seem that way. It feels like you''ve known each other for a long time." Amelia said. "Do we seem like a couple that''s been married for a long time?" Ines asked. "That''s exactly what it feels like." Amelia replied. Ines couldn''t help but burst intoughter. Actually, she often felt the same way, "I used to think I''d never rush into marriage, but after meeting Ethan, I realized there are some things you just can''t control."C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Chapter 116 Chapter 116 "Izzy, can I ask what''s the deal between you and the Galeana family? You looked a bit off at the party." Amelia asked. Ines knew Amelia was tight-lipped, so she freely admitted, "I was once Hunter''s daughter, but we''ve cut ties now." "Ah, I see." Amelia nodded, tactfully changing the topic, "Izzy, do you think I work too hard?" "Not really," Izzy said, "Our job is to churn out auditing reports for listedpanies in time. Working overtime, especially around year-end, is par for the course. I''m just like you, burning the midnight oil this time of year." "I¡¯m the only college graduate from my vige, my parents are farmers. I knew I couldn''t rely on them, so I''ve always worked hard. I was determined to get out of my small vige and put down roots in A City. When I married Leo, I felt the gap between us even more, so I doubled my efforts to stand on the same level as him, to gain his parents'' approval. I thought I had seeded. All these years, every time I attended a reunion, I was the envy of my ssmates. But reality pped me in the face." Amelia talked to herself, letting off some steam. Ines listened quietly, she could tell from Amelia''s tone that she hadplicated feelings for her husband and seemed unable to let gopletely for the sake of their daughter. "Amelia, things will get better." Ines said to her. "I believe so." Amelia responded. As they were about to part, Ines learned from Amelia that Leo had an affair with a woman from work. Leo had met this woman when he frequently picked up Amelia from work. Just as Ines let out a sigh, Phoebe called. Ines answered the phone with a smile, "Phoebe." "Izzy, have you knocked off work?" Phoebe sounded unusually excited. "What''s up? You sound hyped." Ines asked. "Tell your husband you won''t be home for a while, then wait for me at the entrance. I''ming to pick you up. I want to take you somewhere. Remember, wait for me at the entrance." And with that, Phoebe hung up. Ines was puzzled but she called Ethan to tell him she would be out with Phoebe. Ines packed her things and headed to the entrance. Phoebe''s car was already parked there, and she was waving at her to hurry up. Seeing Phoebe''s urgency, Ines jogged over. No sooner had Ines gotten into the car than Phoebe sped off, causing Ines to grip the chair tightly, her face turning a little pale. Phoebe immediately slowed down, guiltily saying, "Sorry, Izzy, I forgot you get queasy in fast- moving cars." "Where are we going?" Ines asked. Phoebe pointed ahead, "See that taxi in front?" Ines looked up and saw a taxi pulling away, "Yeah, I see it." "Shirley''s in that car. I overheard her in the restroom talking to a guy on the phone. They''re meeting at a club. Seems like there''s something fishy going on between them." Phoebe said. Ines frowned slightly, "Phoebe, I don''t want to get involved with the Galeana family right now." "Izzy, it''s not up to you. Hunter took you away against your willst time; it''s clear they won''t let you go. You weren''t in A City these past few years, but your sister has been ying the victim card, boasting about being the Galeana Group''s heiress. It''s time for payback." Phoebe was fired up, and Ines didn''t want to kill her enthusiasm, "Alright, let''s follow them." Phoebe nodded, "That''s the spirit." The taxi stopped at a high-end spa center. Phoebe parked the car and tossed Ines a bag from the back seat, "Put on a hat. We need to disguise ourselves." Ines chose a ck hat and put it on, chuckling. Phoebe chose a red one, and they rushed after Shirley as soon as they got out of the car. But they were stopped by two security guards, "Only VIP members are allowed in here. Please show your membership card." Phoebe took off her hat and batted her eyshes at the young man, "Does being a pretty woman count?" C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. "I''m sorry, miss, but that''s the club''s policy, and I can''t break it." One of the security guard said. Ines chuckled, pulling Phoebe''s sleeve and whispering, "Phoebe, if we can''t get in, let''s just go back. Maybe we''re overthinking this." Phoebe gritted her teeth, watching Shirley disappear into the lobby, "I won''t give up that easily." "There''s nothing we can do about it." Ines said. Phoebe let go of Ines''s hand and turned back to the security guard, "How do I get a membership card?" "The club operates on a tiered membership system. We have tinum, gold, silver, bronze, and regr membership. You can be a regr member by spending 50,000 on the same day." Phoebe waved her hand, "I want to go wherever that woman can go." The guard thought for a moment and said, "Mrs. Galeana is a tinum member. If you want the same privileges, you''ll need to spend 5 million and your consumption is limited to the basement, the area you just passed. So reaching that amount might take a while." Phoebe felt disheartened. By the time they spent enough to be tinum members and get in, they wouldn''t be able to find Shirley anymore. "Let''s go." Phoebe had only taken a couple of steps when she suddenly remembered something. She quickly opened her bag and pulled out a card holder, "Izzy, what was the name of that club we just came from?" Ines looked up, "Revive & Renew." "Got it!" Phoebe gleefully pulled out a card from the holder and nted a kiss on it. Looked like her mom really came through for her in a pinch. This was a card her mom gave her a while back, specifically for her blind dates, telling her to spruce herself up before meeting any potential suitors. Chapter 117 Chapter 117 "Where did you get the membership card from?" Ines looked at her in confusion. "Ah, in a pinch, my mom''s always the reliable one." Phoebe said. With the membership card, Phoebe and Ines quickly and smoothly made their way into the club. However, there was no trace of Shirley. Phoebe darted her eyes around, grabbed a nearby attendant and said, "Excuse me, do you know where Mrs. Galeana is? I''m Emma, her daughter. I have an urgent matter to discuss with her." "Mrs. Galeana is in private room 408. You can find her there." "Thanks." Phoebe smiled. As soon as the attendant left, Phoebe raised an eyebrow at Ines, "Izzy, let''s go." Ines chuckled, "You''re really something." "I wouldn''t bother pretending to be Emma if it wasn''t necessary. Let''s go, we can''t let Shirley get away." Phoebe said. Phoebe led Ines to the elevator and up to the fourth floor, straight to room 408. Room 408 was located in a corner with only one box, separated from the other boxes. There was no one loitering in the hallway, making it very convenient for them to move. Phoebe showed a sly grin, "Izzy, look, this woman is so cunning. She chose a room that''s so secluded, it''s clear she''s got something to hide and it''s convenient to do sneaky stuff." N?velDrama.Org content. Ines looked helplessly at Phoebe, "Have you been spending too much time as an editor? You''re full of conspiracy theories." Phoebe shook her head, feeling her bestie was a bit naive in this respect, "Izzy, I admit you''re better than me at work stuff, but you should listen to me on this one. You better believe it." The room door was tightly closed, the soundproofing was excellent, and nothing could be heard from outside. "What do we do now?" Ines whispered. Phoebe blinked, pulled out a thin, pen-like object from her coat pocket, then squatted down, slightly lifted the carpet on the floor and slid the pen through the gap. "What is that?" Ines asked. "Obviously, it''s a recorder. I''ve roughly estimated the area of this room. If they talk, this pen will pick it up." Phoebe said. Ines looked surprised, "You''re really prepared." "Of course." Phoebe pointed to the opposite room, "Let''s wait for them to leave, then we''ll go in to check the results." "Won''t they notice?" Ines asked. "Don''t worry. I ced it under the carpet, they won''t find it." Phoebe said. They quickly handled the procedures and ordered a spa package, lying down to enjoy. To keep track of the movement in the hallway, they didn''t close their room door tightly. After a while, faint footsteps came from the hallway. Phoebe quickly got up from the lounge chair, signaled the attendants to leave, then said to Ines, "Izzy, let''s go." "Isn''t it too soon? What if they notice us?" Ines asked. "They should''ve left by now. If we don''t go now, I''m afraid the room door will be locked by the staff. Let''s hurry." Phoebe said. "Alright." Ines replied. Ines didn''t leave the room, but waited at the door for Phoebe. On one hand, she was worried about running into Shirley since Shirley knew Ines, but only saw Phoebe once or twice and wouldn''t necessarily recognize her right away. On the other hand, she was standing guard for Phoebe. Soon after, Phoebe came out from Shirley''s private room with the recorder. "How did it go?" asked Ines. Phoebe had a smug smile on her face, "Sess." Ines finally breathed a sigh of relief. To be honest, this was her first time doing something like this. Eavesdropping on someone''s private conversation wasn''t honorable, but she didn''t feel it was wrong to do it to someone like Shirley. Back in the car, Phoebe excitedly pressed the y button on the recorder, turning the volume up. The sound from the recorder made Ines tense. She was anxious, worried that Shirley was actually seeing men as Phoebe suspected. If that woman was really like that, she felt it was a waste for her mother tomit suicide for such a person. After a while, a woman''s voice came from the recorder. Ines recognized it as Shirley''s. "Why are you looking for me again? Do you know how risky it is for me to meet you like this?" Shirley said. "Don''t worry, one of the security guards here is my brother. I used his card to get in, and there are few people on this floor. No one noticed me. But I''m out of money again." Carlos said. "Carlos, what do you want? Didn''t I just give you 50 grandst time?" Shirley asked. Carlos said, "I spent that in two days. I don''t care; I want 3 million this time." Shirley''s voice seemed to shake, she was angry, "3 million is not a small amount. Where do you expect me to get it? Why can''t you just live a decent life with the money I give you? Why do you have to gamble? Have you forgotten why you were in jail? Have you forgotten how your dad died? 50 grand is enough for you to start a small business. You wouldn''t have to worry for the rest of your life." "Don''t talk to me about that. I''ve been inside for more than ten years, it''s about time I enjoyed life. Why should I live a stifled life while you and your daughter live in luxury? Things aren''t like they used to be, 50 grand might have been a lot ten years ago, but it''s nothing now." Carlos said. "I don''t have any money left. I may look well-off, but I don''t actually have much money." Shirley said. The man let out a strangeugh, "Don''t y the victim. I''ve done my research. You''re a tinum member of this club, which means your spending has reached 5 million. You spend so much on your maintenance, yet you only gave me 50 grand. Do you think I''m a beggar? Even if you don''t have money, your current husband does. You can ask him for it." "I really ain''t rolling in dough like that, or else I''d give you a million right now." Shirley said. Carlos immediate interrupted, "No can do, I want three million, or I''m spilling your secrets to Hunter. I''d love to see if you can still live high on the hog then. I''ve had a secret meet up with Emma. Would you believe it, she was a puny little thing when she was little, but now she''s blossomed into a real looker. If it wasn''t for someone calling her by her name, I wouldn''t have recognized her, she''s so darn adorable, it''s got my heart all aflutter." Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Shirley seemed to be riled up by that guy''s words: "Carlos, I can''t believe you''ve got those ideas about Emma." "Why can''t I have feelings for her? I''ve known her since she was a kid. I''ve seen her growing up. Are you overreacting?" "You beast, I won''t allow you to harass Emma." "That''s up to you then." He sounded casual, like he was sure of himself, knowing that Shirley''s weakness was Emma. With a resolute tone, Shirley dered, "Dare to proceed, and not a cent shall you receive from me." The recording echoed with a resounding crash, akin to a hand''s fierce impact on a table. The man''s voice returned, "I couldn''t care less. If the money eludes me, we all tumble into the abyss. Choose wisely." An undercurrent of threatced his words, hinting at drastic measures should he be pushed to the edge. "Carlos, are you really going to make us both lose?" "I just want money, 3 million." "Fine, take your money and get out of A City, don''t disturb our lives again." There was silence for a moment, Shirley gritted her teeth. Ines seemed lost in thought, her brow furrowed. She knew Ines was pondering, so she didn''t interrupt, also starting to think. Ines knew there were many secrets hidden here, only known to the mother and daughter and this man. Even Hunter was kept in the dark. That guy''s tone suggested he was close with Shirley and Emma, even iming that he raised Emma. What was their rtionship? "Izzy, did you figure something out?" Phoebe asked. Ines shook her head, "I''m not very clear about the mother and daughter''s past. I can''t make sense of it. I''m not sure who''s ckmailing her?" Phoebe scoffed, "Whoever it is, seeing Shirley in such a state is satisfying. It''s worth spending so much time on her today." "Phoebe, thank you." Ines looked at Phoebe gratefully. She had no grudge against the mother and daughter. Her outrage was all because of her. N?velDrama.Org content. Phoebe thought for a few seconds, "ording to the usual drama, there are only two things that Shirley fears Hunter discovering. One is that she has a man outside. The other is that Emma is not his daughter." Ines shook her head decisively, "Emma is definitely his daughter. He''s not a fool. If he didn''t even check whether Emma was his daughter, that would be too much of a failure. And have you noticed? Emma''s eyes look a lot like mine, just like Hunter''s." Phoebe looked at Ines seriously, thought about Emma''s appearance, "I didn''t notice until you mentioned it, your eyes do look alike." "That man named Carlos clearly just got out of jail, and he''s obviously here for the money. They''re probably not in that kind of rtionship now. Their ents suggest they''re from the same ce. If I''m not wrong, that man might be Shirley''s hometown friend or ex-husband." A faint smile traced its way across Ines'' lips. The recovery of her memory remained a source of concern, yet a clue had been unexpectedly gifted to her. Perhaps Carlos would serve as the crucial turning point. After all, a covetous man without a job can easily be swayed, given the right temptation. She''s not good at this, better leave it to Ethan. "Izzy, why are youughing like this? Thinking about your hubby?" Phoebe waved a hand in front of Ines'' eyes. "No, I just thought that man might be a breakthrough." "That''s certainly possible." "When you go home, send me a copy of this recording. I''ll let Ethan listen to it." Ines said, not even realizing how much she relied on Ethan. "Izzy, you''re learning to depend on a man, that''s a good sign." Studies have shown that one reason for women staying single is their strong independent nature, not knowing how to rely on a man. This makes men feel unneeded, inferior, and even insecure. They feel less than a woman, and in the long run, it makes men back away. Hearing this, Ines smiled lightly, "Of course, I should rely on my husband." Phoebe originally wanted Ines to join her for dinner, but Ines got a call from Ethan saying that dinner was ready at home. "Izzy, did I hear that right? Ethan made dinner and is waiting for you?" Phoebe gaped at Ines in surprise. Ines shook her head, almost used to people''s surprise when they found out Ethan cooked at home, "Yes, he often cooks. I can''t." "So what do you do?" Phoebe was curious about their dynamic. "I usually just do the dishes and stuff like that." Ines thought for a moment and added: "Oh, and laundry." To be honest, she really didn''t do much. Phoebe joked, "With a washing machine, you''re probably just in charge of throwing the clothes in and hanging them up." "How did you know?" "I told you, I''ve known you since we were kids. How could I not know you?" Phoebe red at Ines. "Oh, and Ethan invited you over for dinner tonight." Phoebe pointed to her nose, "Ethan wants to invite me to dinner?" Ines nodded, "Yes, he just told me himself." Chapter 119 Chapter 119 "Can I bring my camera? I wanna snap a shot of Ethan for my magazine cover. It''s gonna skyrocket my next issue''s sales. What should I call it... How about ''The CEO of the Meyer Group is a Sweetheart''?" Ines shivered at the thought, but had to respond, "Ethan never does interviews, he''s never gonna be on your magazine cover." Phoebe patted Ines'' shoulder, giving her a charming look, "Izzy, considering I brought you along for this investigation today, let''s make your hubby my cover star. I''ll share my bonus with you." Ines blinked, "I''m not exactly short of cash, you know." "Ah,e on." Ines gave her a push, "Hurry up, Ethan''s dinner must be ready by now. I''ll mention the magazine cover thing to Ethan, but no guarantees he''ll agree." The man was always low-key. As his wife, she respected his decisions, and wouldn''t force him to do anything. Hearing this, Phoebe''s eyes lit up, "As long as you ask, I bet your hubby will agree. He cares about you so much." On their way back, they hit traffic. Apparently, there was an ident up ahead. The driver who caused the ident fled the scene, and the traffic police had closed the road for investigation. Looking at the long line of cars ahead, Ines felt restless. Ethan had a sensitive stomach. Although he had only had one attack in her presence, she remembered the doctor''s advice about regr meals. With this in mind, she immediately called Ethan. "Izzy, are you guys back yet?" Ethan''s deep voice came through the phone. "Ethan, we''re stuck in traffic. There''s been an ident up ahead, we''ll be stuck here for at least half an hour. You don''t need to wait for us, go ahead and eat." "I still have one dish left to prepare. By the time it''s ready, you guys should be back." Ines nced at the time, it was already seven. Her tone became stern, "Eat now. We''ll be waiting here for a while. You can prepare that dish after you eat. Don''t mess with your stomach, or I''ll make you pay." Ethan, holding the phone, raised an eyebrow in surprise. He was pleased by her concern. After not hearing Ethan''s voice for a while, Ines asked again, "Ethan, are you listening?" "Izzy, it''s okay. I''ll wait for you." "Illnesses, whether minor or severe, build up over time. If I return to find that you haven''t nourished yourself, I assure you, I''ll be upset," Ines admonished, her tone underlining the seriousness of her words. Ethan responded helplessly, "I got it, Mrs. Meyer." After hanging up, Ines finally rxed a bit. Phoebe looked at her in surprise, "Izzy, when did you be so fierce? You were really scary just now." "Was I scary?" Ines pointed at herself, not realizing how stern she had sounded. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Phoebe nodded, "Very. It''s not like you at all." "Ethan''s stomach isn''t good. It''s serious, but he doesn''t take it seriously. If I''m not stern, he won''t listen." Seeing Ethan and Ines like this, Phoebe felt genuinely relieved, "Seems like what I said not long ago hase true. You''ve fallen for Ethan." Ines smiled and didn''t deny it, responding openly, "Yes, he''s someone easy to fall in love with. Falling for him so quickly was unexpected, but it makes sense." Phoebe showed a relieved smile, then nudged Ines with her elbow, "So you guys have... you know?" Ines blushed and answered firmly, "We''re married, it''s normal, okay?" "Looks like I''ll be a godmother sooner thanter." By the time Ines and Phoebe arrived home, it was already eight, half an hourter than expected. Ethan was the one who opened the door. Phoebe stared at Ethan in his light-colored house clothes. She had seen Ethan a few times before, always in a crisp suit, and from a distance. This was the first time she had seen him up close. His looks and aura outssed Aiden by a mile. It was a good thing Ines didn''t end up with Aiden, otherwise this handsome, rich guy would have been someone else''s husband. "Ms. Wagner, hello." Ines, seeing her friend in a daze, poked her arm. Phoebe quickly shook hands with Ethan, exining, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Meyer. I was just admiring everything beautiful, please don''t mind." Ethan shook his head, "It''s okay. You''re Izzy''s good friend, which makes you my friend, too." After ensuring Phoebe wasfortably settled in the dining room, Ines joined Ethan in the kitchen to aid with serving the food. Her first line of inquiry, showing her concern, was to ask Ethan if he had already taken his meal. Ethan gave a softugh, "With such a formidable wife, how dare I disobey?" Ines was stunned, she red at Ethan, punching his chest, then grabbed his shirt, gritting her teeth in discontent, "Ethan, did you just call me a formidable wife?" Every woman wants to be seen as beautiful in a man''s eyes, and being a formidable wife isn''t exactly a ttering description. Ethan raised an eyebrow and gave a meaningful nce at the wrist that was gripping his shirt. Ines realized that she did look a bit like a formidable wife at the moment. Although she admitted it in her heart, she would never admit it out loud. Chapter 120 Chapter 120 "I kinda like it when you go all macho on me sometimes." Ines could clearly feel that ever since she confessed to himst time, their rtionship had gotten a lot closer. Sometimes, a bit of a jolt could do a marriage good, too much smooth sailing could lead to stagnation. "This time I''ll let it slide, but remember to eat on time next time, don''t need me to remind you." "Got it." Ethan mimicked the way she spoke, dragging thest syble out. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Hearing this, Ines couldn''t help butugh and gave him a yful re, "Don''t mimic me." Watching the warm and sweet interaction between the two, a hint of sadness shed through Phoebe''s eyes, unnoticed. Suddenly a mischievous face popped into her mind, startling her enough to shake her head. Phoebe was a true gourmet, even resorting to cooking sses to satiate her love for good food. Still, she couldn''t resist expressing her admiration for Ethan''s culinary prowess. After Phoebe''s departure, Ines shared her ns and the recording with Ethan. After hearing it, he chuckled and responded nonchntly, "Simple enough. We just need to ascertain the nature of the rtionship between Shirley and this man. A quick investigation into their hometown should reveal the necessary details. I''ll get Lucas on it." "Ethan, thank you," Ines said sincerely. This man truly spoils her, it seemed like he would agree to anything she asked for without any conditions. He even did a lot of things for her behind her back. Many times, she felt like she was just dragging him down, causing more trouble than help. "Didn''t we agree not to say ''thank you'' to each other anymore?" "I just feel useless, so at least let me thank you verbally." Ethan chuckled, "Feeling inferior?" Ines made a face, "Maybe a little." Ethan unfurled his hand and gently did the same with hers. "You see," he began, "a man''s hand is naturally robust and broad, while a woman''s is refined and soft. We are each born with distinct roles to y." His hand enclosed hers effortlessly, warmth spreading from his palm to hers. She relished the sensation of his hand enveloping hers, a feeling that instilled an unfamiliar sense of security within her. She gave him a puzzled look. He said, "Just like now, a man is born to protect the woman in his palm from all the elements." Ines was touched, a smile flickered in her eyes, "That''s so chauvinistic." "Izzy, I know you don''t want to be a woman who relies on a man, but what''s wrong with relying on your own husband?" Ines was convinced by his words, yeah, what''s wrong with relying on her own husband? "You better not get fed up with me, you know, I still have a lot of problems to sort out." Ines said while looking at Ethan. Ethan nodded, then suddenly seemed to remember something, he frowned and asked, "So it''s just the two of you going?" Ines was a bit afraid of his reaction, but she didn''t dare to lie to him, "Yes." "You two are too brave, have you even thought about what would happen if they found out? That guy has been in prison before, people like him have no fear of death. And you two women actually went to eavesdrop on their conversation." "Phoebe is very experienced in this area." Ines''s voice was a bit weak. To be honest, she too thought it was too risky now. "Don''t be so reckless, disasters are the most unpredictable things in the world. We can never know when they will strike. A slight mishap may lead to disaster. You must be careful. Every day there are so many girls, even college students, being kidnapped or held captive. They never thought they would experience such a tragedy." Ethan''s eyes were red. Ines could tell that Ethan was upset, she knew it must be rted to his past love. He once had a lover and a respectable big brother, but everything turned out to be an illusion. This kind of pain is not something everyone can bear. In this moment, Ines felt sorry for him. She hugged his arm and whispered, "Ethan, I understand. I will be careful in the future and won''t do anything to make you worry." Ethan knew he got carried away, because the terrible past made him scared of making the slightest mistake. He can''t bear to lose anyone again. Ethan embraced Ines, nuzzling his chin into her neck, causing Ines to squirm,ughing and saying, "Stop, you''re tickling me." The more she protested, the more he teased her. Ines was ticklish and ended upughing so hard that she almost couldn''t breathe. In the end, she was so worn out that she would have fallen if Ethan hadn''t been holding her. After catching her breath, she looked up to see Ethan smiling again, and couldn''t help but give him a little push, "They say a woman''s mood is as fickle as the weather, but I see men are no different, you sure change your mood fast." Ethan didn''t respond, he just held her quietly. Later, he moved them to the lounge chair on the balcony, both of them holding each other in silence. The night was still a bit chilly. Ines couldn''t help but shudder, Ethan went to the bedroom and fetched a nket, wrapping both of them tightly. Ines recognized that he was reflecting on his sorrowden past. This man always exuded strength and confidence, seemingly unshakeable, standing tall as though he could endure eternally, provided he didn''t stumble. However, beneath that facade, he was no different from anyone else, susceptible to vulnerability and capable of being wounded. Ines tightened her hold on him, whispering, "Ethan, I will always be with you, I will never leave you." Ethan''s body stiffened, he knew that Ines now knew about his past. Then he heard Ines continue, "Ethan, don''t make me wait too long. I''ve already confessed my past to you, naturally, I hope to know about yours." Even though Ines didn''t say it directly, Ethan knew what she was referring to - his past. "Alright." Ethan''s answer was simple and straightforward, but he said it very seriously. Chapter 121 Chapter 121 Ines was still guessing who Amelia''s husband was cheating with, but, lo and behold, in a few days, someone was spilling the beans right at the doorstep of the firm. Here''s how it unfolded: Upon Ines'' arrival at the office, she was met with an unusual gathering, a surefire sign of something amiss. Not one to indulge in idle curiosity, she was ready to leave when a face within the crowd caught her attention. Marred by scratches but still unmistakably familiar, it was Kelly. At that moment, Kelly was getting wrestled to the ground by another young woman. The two were going at it, and Ines, with a furrowed brow, walked over. This was the first time she''d seen two women throw down in the streets. "You little temptress, you dared to seduce my man, you''ve got some nerve. I''m going to scratch that pretty face of yours!" The woman had long nails, and with one swipe, she left a bloody mark on Kelly''s delicate face. "Ah!" Kelly shrieked, clutching her face. "Bitch, just look at the way you dress! Isn''t it to seduce men?" The woman tried to rip Kelly''s clothes off. Kelly was always one to stay abreast of fashion trends. Even in the face of the nippy weather, she wore a ck leather crop top and skinny jeans, entuating her slender waist and elongating her legs, exuding an undeniably sultry allure. With one pull, the woman had undone the buttons of Kelly''s top, revealing a cool tank top underneath. One hand clutching her face, the other trying to keep her tank top from falling off, Kelly yelled, "You lunatic, who''s your man? Who seduced him? Get your facts straight before causing a scene!" Kelly was certain this woman had the wrong person. She had no idea who she was. The womanughed. "Bitch, I knew you wouldn''t admit it. But I trust my own eyes, I saw you in his arms." She threw a stack of photos at Kelly''s face, scattering them everywhere. Ignoring the pain, Kelly picked up a photo and looked at it. Her face turned pale. "Well, cat got your tongue? Isn''t that you in the photo?" "You, you, you..." Kelly pointed at the woman in disbelief. Seeing her admit it, the woman didn''t hold back and pped her again. Five red finger marks appeared on her delicate face, added to the scratch from before, it was a sorry sight. The crowd started to throw insults. "These young girls nowadays have no shame, ruining their bright futures by seducing other people''s husbands." "People like her deserve to be beaten." An older woman even spat on Kelly and said, "The world is going to hell. I detest people like her the most." Just like that, Kelly became a public enemy, everyone was ready to throw stones at her. Voices full of usations echoed in the crowd, with all kinds of nasty words thrown in. Ines finally managed to squeeze to the front, wanting to break up the fight, but the photos on the ground left her stunned. She recognized the man in the photos, it was the husband Amelia was divorcing, little Naomi''s father, Leo. Amelia had spected that Leo''s paramour was likely a woman from his workce, the firm. Initially, Ines was skeptical, but the unfolding situation suggested that the woman in question was, indeed, Kelly. No wonder Kelly often mentioned Amelia, Ines first heard about Amelia''s divorce from her. So that''s what was going on. Ines hadn''t been at the firm for long and wasn''t very close with the other colleagues. The only one she was somewhat familiar with was Kelly, a lively and likable girl. But who would''ve thought she was the homewrecker in Amelia''s marriage. But now, it was hard to tell who was the mistress and who was the other woman. After all, Leo and Amelia hadn''t officially divorced yet. Kelly also saw Ines, pausing for a moment, but she didn''t have time to care about that now. She wasn''t one to be trifled with either. Realizing Leo was ying both sides, she was livid. She started fighting back with all her strength, tripping the woman to the ground and pping her. The two went back and forth, neither gaining the upper hand. But it was clear that Kelly was at a disadvantage. The other woman was dressed in casual clothes and sneakers, clearly ready for a fight. Kelly, on the other hand, was wearing high stilettos. Once she fell, it was hard to get back up. Added to her petite frame, it was clear who had the upper hand. Kelly''s tank top was now off her shoulders, her ck bra peeking out. Ines couldn''t bear to watch and said in a deep voice, "Mistress fighting the other woman, other woman fighting the mistress, and you even brought the fight to the wife''s workce." Some people in the crowd also worked at the firm and had seen Amelia''s husband before. They just didn''t recognize him immediately. But with Ines''s reminder, they began to realize the man''s identity in the photos. "Wow, Kelly, you''re the one who wrecked the home of Amelia, the she-devil." A colleague from the firm couldn''t help butment. "How could you do this? You''re colleagues! Have you no morals?" "And you, you''re also a mistress, and you have the audacity to make a scene here." The other woman, having been called out, stiffened and said, "I''m not a mistress, he''s separated from his wife, and they''re about to divorce." Even so, the government and thew would always recognize the original wife. With this statement, the woman confirmed her role in breaking up a marriage and causing a divorce. Those who were once hurling insults at Kelly swiftly redirected their animosity towards Ines, a barrage of offensive remarks now bombarding her. As the clock in time neared, the crowd gradually thinned out, leaving the troublemaker to hail a cab in an awkward haste and take her leave. Kelly was left alone, sitting on the ground awkwardly. Her clothes had been ripped by that woman and she would definitely be exposed once she stood up. After a moment''s hesitation, Ines took off her coat and draped it over Kelly. Kelly lifted her head, choking back tears, "Why are you still here? Are you sticking around to watch me make a fool of myself? Don''t think I''m grateful. If it wasn''t for you, I wouldn''t be in this mess." Ines frowned, picking up where she left off, "If it weren''t for me, you''d still be that annoying mistress. That woman is the wife, you wouldn''t have had a good life anyway." She took out a tissue from her bag and handed it to her, "Clean yourself up, your nose has been bleeding since that ruckus."N?velDrama.Org content. Chapter 122 Chapter 122 Ines initially wanted to turn a blind eye, but seeing Kelly''s nose bleed non-stop, and it looked pretty bad, she just had to step in. With Ines'' help, Kelly managed to stand up, nearly falling over again as her vision blurred. Ines quickly grabbed her, suggesting, "Let me take you to the hospital." Ines hailed a taxi and rushed Kelly to the hospital. The medical verdict was a nosebleed and numerous abrasions on her face and body. The doctor promptly initiated an IV drip and enlisted a nurse''s help to tend to her injuries. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Ines was already half an hourte. She had to call in sick to her boss, Amelia. Luckily, their rtionship had eased up recently, so Amelia didn''t ask any questions. After hanging up, Ines popped into a nearby shop to grab some clothes. When she got back, Kelly was just finished getting patched up. Ines handed her the clothes. Kelly nced at her, took them, and quietly changed. She returned Ines'' coat, asking, "Thanks, how much were the clothes? I''ll pay you." Ines shook her head, "Don''t worry about it, it''s nothing fancy. Just take care of yourself." With that, she turned to leave. She had just reached the door when she heard Kelly exin, "Ines, I just couldn''t stand Amelia. She''s so cold and boring, yet she''s married to a sweetheart from a rich family who personally drives her to and from work every day. So, I took advantage of those car rides to ''randomly'' bump into him and subtly seduce him. Who knew he''d fall for it so easily." Ines turned around in surprise. She thought Kelly would confess something genuine and heartfelt. Instead, she heard a petty reason: she was just annoyed at Amelia and, out of jealousy, decided to be the other woman. Kelly continued, "Later, I found out he''s quite generous and doesn''t mind spending on me. It''s definitely better than being an audit assistant at the firm and earning peanuts. Besides, I didn''t steal or rob anyone, I''m just hustling." Ines shook her head, not sure if this was an isted case or if many people thought this way nowadays. This twisted set of values, "not stealing, not robbing, hustling for your own living," Since when did bing the other woman be a way to hustle? "You''re only 22, you have plenty of opportunities to seed in the future, why would you want to be someone''s mistress? This is a stain you''ll never be able to wash off. Do you want your future kids to be pointed at and whispered about, being the child of a mistress?" Kelly looked lost, "I never thought about it that much." "Kelly, of all the roads in life, why pick the one that''s despised? I can''t stand mistresses." "Then why did you help me?" Kelly asked in confusion. "Because of your other identity: you''re also my colleague." Kelly bowed her head, listening. Ines continued her narrative, "Once upon a time, I had a happy family. Yet, an extramarital affair led to my mother''s demise, estrangement with my half-sister, and expulsion from my father''s life. My roots lie not in B City, but in A City. Your actions could potentially inflict harm on Amelia''s daughter. I was already an adult when I endured such a hardship, and it left deep scars. Naomi, however, is merely a child, dependent on her parents. The consequences of your actions could leave asting imprint on her life." Kelly seemed to look guilty. Ines knew she wasn''t inherently bad, or else she wouldn''t have bothered talking to her so much. "Your life is just starting. It''s not toote to turn back. You''re in no shape to work right now, I''ll help you apply for leave when I get back." Kelly was taken aback, "Are you going to tell Amelia?" "What, you think you can keep this a secret from her? She''s been suspecting someone from the firm is messing with her husband. There aren''t many young women at the firm, you''ve been a suspect for a while. Plus, this morning''s incident happened right outside the firm. It''s probably not just our colleagues who know, all people in this building must have heard." With that, Ines left the room without another word. The room was on the fifth floor. The elevator was crowded, so she took the stairs. As she turned a corner, she saw a familiar figure. It was Hunter. When he turned around, Ines saw his face was ghostly pale and he looked miserable. Ines'' heart sank, without thinking, she started following him. But by the time she caught up, he was gone. He''d gone into the men''s restroom, which she couldn''t enter. She waited outside for a while. After a long time, a middle-aged man came out. She couldn''t help but ask, "Sir, is there anyone else inside?" The man shook his head, "Nope, just me." Ines was stunned, she shook her head with augh, thinking she must''ve seen wrong. But as soon as she left, Hunter came out. He was leaning against the wall, looking incredibly weak. As he turned around, Ines saw him. He''d seen Ines too, knowing she had been waiting outside for him. So he''d asked the middle-aged man beforehand to say the restroom was empty if anyone asked. Ss ran over from a distance, supporting him, "Boss, why did youe out on your own? Is your chemo over?" Hunter nodded, "I just saw Ines at the hospital. Can you find out what she''s doing here?" Ss nodded, "Alright, you go back to your room first. I''lle to get youter." After leaving the hospital, Ines hopped into a cab and headed straight for the firm. As she passed by Amelia''s office, Ines couldn''t help but sneak a peek at her. Amelia was still working as usual, seemingly unfazed by the morning''s events. Ines felt a twinge of respect for her. If she were in Amelia''s shoes, she''d be anything but calm. Ines knocked on the door, and Amelia looked up at her, gesturing for her toe in. "Sorry for beingte, Ms. Young." Amelia shook her head, "No worries, how is she?" "No major issues, just some surface wounds. She''ll recover with some rest." Amelia nodded nonchntly. Ines was at a loss for words - she was never good atforting others. Chapter 123 Chapter 123 Amelia, seemingly seeing through her thoughts, responded with a gentle smile, "It''s been some time since it all transpired, I''vee to terms with it. Initially, I believed his infidelity stemmed from momentary weakness. I clung onto a sliver of hope for his redemption, for the sake of our child. However, I''vepletely relinquished that hope now. There''s a third woman, a fourth... who knows how many more there might be in the future. He''s simply not worth it. I intend to proceed with a divorce at the earliest opportunity." "Don''t worry, I''ll have Ethan find you a goodwyer. You''re financially independent and in a good position. Coupled with the child''s wishes, I believe you can definitely win custody." "Thank you, Ines." Ines waved it off with a smile, "Don''t mention it, Amelia. I really like Naomi and I want her to be happy." "I''m just worried about Naomi. We''ve never been that close, and I''m afraid she''ll choose her father over me." Amelia said helplessly, her eyes filled with guilt. She had indeed neglected her child over the years. "You''re overthinking it, Amelia. Naomi is your child. Even if you didn''t spend much time with her, she still loves you. And I had a chat with her the other day, she actually prefers her mother." Upon hearing this, Amelia''s face lit up, "Really?" "Yeah, she said she really likes her mom. She said you''re very beautiful and she knows you always kiss her goodnight when youe home. You help her tidy up her clothes and spend a lot of time in her room before you leave... "Ines ryed Naomi''s words to Amelia verbatim. Amelia had always been a strong woman. She never cried even when she found out about the third and fourth women in her husband''s life. But her child''s words brought tears to her eyes. Children are most mothers'' Achilles heel. "Amelia, rest assured, Naomi is a very sensible child." "Mhmm." After leaving Amelia''s office, Ines had barely sat down when a bunch of people rushed over, "Ines, what''s up with Kelly?" "Never judge a book by its cover. Who would''ve thought we had a home wrecker right under our noses? She seduced her boss''s husband, so heartless." "Girls, keep your eyes on your husbands, or they might get snatched by your colleagues." "Especially you, Ines. Your husband is pretty young. For us old gals, it''s no big deal. Our husbands are old and ugly." Regardless of what they said, Ines just yed along. She didn''t want to engage in endless gossip. Finally, it was time to clock out. Ines went to the supermarket to buy groceries, and Ethan came to pick her up. As soon as she got in the car, Ethan noticed the blood on her clothes. He looked worried and pulled at her shirt, "What''s this blood on your clothes?" Ines nced at it, it was just a small spot. If he hadn''t pointed it out, she wouldn''t have noticed it. It must have happened when she lent her coat to Kelly. Because he was so concerned, she felt good and smiled, "Mr. Meyer, you''re too tense. This is my colleague''s blood." Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Ines briefly exined what had happened at the entrance to the firm in the morning. Hearing this, Ethan frowned, "What a mess." "Oh, by the way, I need a favor..." Ines felt a bit embarrassed. She had impulsively promised Amelia awyer without consulting Ethan first. Amelia had looked so hopeful. What if Ethan didn''t have the resources? She would be letting her down. Ethan raised an eyebrow, "What is it?" "It''s about Amelia. She''s definitely divorcing her husband and she wants to have Naomi by her side as soon as possible. I told her impulsively this morning that I would find her awyer. Do you have any good resources?" "You looked so serious, I thought it was something big. There''s awyer in mypany''s legal department who''s pretty free recently. He''s good at handling divorce cases. I''ll have him get in touch with Amelia as soon as possible tomorrow." "Did I jump the gun? I didn''t cause you any trouble, did I?" Ethan ruffled Ines'' hair, "Mrs. Meyer, the Meyer Group''s legal department has 35 people. We can spare one, no problem." "Wow, so manwyer! Isn''t that a waste of resources?" Ines was surprised. the firm only had about 20wyers, and smaller firms even fewer. The Meyer Group had so manywyers, it seemed like a waste of talent. "Not at all. The Meyer Group has a wide range of businesses, and the legal department rarely has downtime." Ines squeezed Ethan''s hand sympathetically. As the head of the Meyer Group, he had to handle all kinds of business. He must be the busiest one. Ethan smiled, "I''m used to it." That night, Ines casually mentioned running into Hunter at the hospital. Ethan''s expression was a bit strange when he heard this, but she couldn''t quite put her finger on what was off, so she asked him: "What''s with that face?" Ethan felt a slight twinge of anxiety. This girl was a former auditor, her observational skills were top- notch. If he wasn''t careful, he''d spill his guts in front of her. Ethan exined, "You''re overthinking it. I was just thinking about taking you to get your eyes checked. The hypnosisst time might have affected your brain, and I''m worried it might affect your eyesight." Ines red at him. She didn''t believe hisme excuse for a second. She knew he was always deep in thought. If she tried to understand everything, she''d just tire herself out. Seeing that Ines didn''t press the issue, Ethan breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe it was time to have a serious chat with Hunter. The mention of Hunter prompted Ines to recall a recent event. The revtion Emma had delivered that day had almost caused her to overlook it. "Ethan," she began, "I''ve recently discovered that my mother bequeathed me 20% of the Galeana Group''s shares. This information came from the attorney responsible for handling my mother''s estate." Although the Galeana Group isn''t as big as the Meyer Group, it''s still doing pretty well. Hunter''s character might need some proving, but his business acumen is unquestionable. The Meyer Group had a solid foundation from the previous generation, so when Ethan took over, it was already thriving. But the Galeana Group was built from scratch by Hunter. Even with the support from the Page family, it wouldn''t have been possible if he didn''t have the skills. 20% is a huge fortune. "Izzy, it all depends on what you want. Whether you decide to ept or reject it, I''ll respect your decision." "Ethan, I was hoping you could give me some advice, not throw the ball back to my court!" Ines looked at Ethan, a bit annoyed. Seeing her cute petnt face, Ethan pinched her nose, "This is your call, you need to follow your heart and make your own decision." He didn''t want his words to unduly influence her choice. Chapter 124 Chapter 124 "This isn''t just about me, aren''t you my husband? Are you seriously trying to make us make our own decisions respectively now?" Ines said, exasperated. Ethan had to admit defeat. This girl either didn''t speak at all or her words were razor-sharp and hit the nail on the head, leaving him no room for retort. "I apologize, Mrs. Meyer. We''re two peas in a pod." There was a yful glint in Ethan''s eyes. Ines blushed, knowing full well what he meant. "Ethan, I''m trying to have a serious conversation here, quit ying the fool." "A good husband is one who ys the fool with his wife." Ethan said, trying to keep a straight face. Ines found her more bold over time spent with him. She grabbed his handsome face, "Answer my question seriously." She really didn''t know what to do and wanted to hear his thoughts. Ethan took her hand, staring intently at her face, not missing any of her expressions. "Izzy, can you tell me what you''re truly feeling right now?" Ines was taken aback, then said, "Honestly, I don''t care about the wealth thates from the shares. You''ve given me so much more than that, more than I could ever spend. And I can''t forget what Hunter did. I don''t want any ties with the Galeana family. But I also can''t stand the thought of just letting it go. If I don''t ept, the shares could end up back in Hunter''s hands. Sooner orter, everything will belong to that mother-daughter duo, and it''s rightfully my mom''s. Why should I just hand it over to them?" C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Ethan''s gaze deepened, his thoughts wandering: the ultimate fate of those shares, whether they would indeed fall into the hands of that mother-daughter duo, was yet undecided. Yet, this girl seemed to have made up her mind. "It seems," he mused aloud, "you''re seeking my counsel when you already possess the answer." "I..." Ines was lost for words. "Actually, you''re overthinking it. epting the shares doesn''t mean you''re tied to the Galeana family. You just have to sit back and enjoy the dividends. If there''s a shareholders'' meeting and you don''t want to face those people, just send someone else to represent you. It''s really that simple, you''re just overthinking it and making itplicated." Ethan fully supported Ines owning shares, but if Hunter wanted to burden her with the responsibility of managing thepany, he would definitely oppose it. Her thin shoulders can''t bear such a heavy burden. She hadn''t had a good life in the previous years, and he wanted her to livefortably in theing years. It seems it''s time to meet with Hunter and rify some things. After Ethan finished speaking, he noticed that Ines'' eyes, which had been heavy, had lit up. She looked straight at him, and he knew she had made up her mind. "Why am I so stupid that I didn''t think of this?" "Silly girl." Ethan murmured. She was too close to the situation to see clearly. "I''m not silly." Ines snuggled into his embrace, hugging his lean waist, feeling incredibly calm. Ines remembered Phoebe''s repeated requests and tentatively asked, "Ethan, would you be opposed to appearing on a magazine cover?" Ethan looked at her andughed, "What are you trying to say?" "As you know, Phoebe is the editor of the entertainment section of a magazine. The economy is on the decline, and their industry is no exception. All the major magazines areing up with new tricks, and thepetition is fierce. You''re rarely in the public eye, could you make an appearance for her? I believe with your help, it would be a great boost for her. She''s my best friend and she''s helped me a lot." Ines exined earnestly, her eyes pleading. Ethan raised an eyebrow, "Why doesn''t she ask Noel?" Ines paused, "Do you know something?" "Didn''t Noel try to pursue her a while ago?" "I forgot to ask Phoebe, but judging by her state, I don''t think Noel seeded." "With such a good resource, why doesn''t she use it? If she asked, Noel would definitely be willing. Noel is also more suitable to be on the cover of an entertainment magazine than me." Ethan chuckled. Ines pouted, "Is it really okay for you to use your good friend as a stepping stone like this all the time? Besides, I''m the one asking you now, stop bringing other people into this. Are you going or not? I need to give Phoebe an answer." "I''m serious, Noel is better at creating buzz. And Phoebe would have more creative freedom writing about him." Catching the subtle shifts in his countenance, Ines had a sudden realization. Entertainment magazines catered to an audience that thrived on gossip, predominantly women. If Ethan were to attend, he would undoubtedly face inquiries about his personal life, particrly the emotional chill that characterized his demeanor a few years prior. A question, no doubt, on the minds of all the women in A City. Registering this, Ines nodded and replied softly, "Alright, we won''t go then. I''ll inform Phoebe. When she transitions to the finance section of the magazine, we''ll extend our support." She understood his troubles and naturally didn''t want to stir up his painful past, especially in public. It would be too cruel for him. Seeing the change in Ines'' attitude, Ethan furrowed his brows. After thinking for a while, he said, "If you can go with me, maybe I''ll consider it." Inesughed and pushed him slightly, "Stop joking around. I''m a nobody, not a celebrity. What use would I be? Everyone''s focus would be on you, not me." "You''re my wife, are you sure they''re not interested in our story? After all, it''s rare for people to get married so quickly after meeting." While Ines thought Ethan had a point, she still didn''t want to pressure him. After thinking carefully, she decided to let it go, "Ethan, don''t push yourself, I really don''t want to put you in a difficult position." Ethan pointed to his cheek, "Then how about you give me a kiss? Maybe then I won''t feel so bad." Inesughed and lightly patted his chest, "You''re too old to be acting so childish." "Are you really not going to kiss me?" Ethan squinted. Ines chuckled, casually wrapping her arm around his neck and nted a passionate kiss on his cheek. Ethan, contented, said, "Izzy, don''t sweat it. It''s not like this magazine interview is a live broadcast or something, the ball''s totally in Phoebe''s court. I trust her to handle it. You can ring her up now, see if we can do the interview together. If she''s cool with it, let her pick a date." "You sure you''re okay?" Ines asked, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "I''m fine." With the reassurance, Ines dialed Phoebe in front of Ethan, and Phoebe burst intoughter at the other end,mending Ines for still being such a go-getter, and the idea of them doing the interview together was right up her alley. Chapter 125 Chapter 125 Ethan has always been a man of his word. The next morning, Ethan asked Lucas to contact Ss. With Hunter''s approval, Ss immediately responded that they could meet in the afternoon. The duo agreed to convene at a coffee shop selected by Hunter. Both were timely, entering the caf¨¦ nearly simultaneously. This marked the first formal encounter between Hunter and Ethan. Hunter held a measure of admiration for the young man who emanated an incredible allure with his exceptional good looks and charisma. He couldn''t shake off the thought that, if circumstances with Ines hadn''t taken a bitter turn, Ethan could have been his son-inw. As Hunter looked Ethan over, Ethan was also observing Hunter. Ines had mentioned that she had seen Hunter in the hospital, and it was clear that he did look a bit pale. "Mr. Galeana, I suppose you know that I asked you here today because of my wife," Ethan said. His speech was always like this, only bing more intimate when dealing with his family and Ines, asionally showing a casual side. N?velDrama.Org content. Hunter, who was still fantasizing about Ethan being his son-inw, felt a bit jarred by his cold tone. He couldn''t help but lower his voice, "Is this how you talk to your elders?" Ethan raised an eyebrow, simply saying, "This is how I treat strangers." This caught Hunter off guard. He couldn''t help but emphasize, "I am Ines'' father." "Wait until she acknowledges you before you say that," Ethan retorted, not seeming to care at all. Seeing the tension between the two, Ss quickly stepped in, whispering to Hunter, "Chairman, let''s get down to business." Hunter''s body really couldn''t handle the burden of the Galeana Group any longer; every day was consuming his life. Ethan naturally heard their conversation. Before Hunter could speak, he made his stance clear, "If by business, Mr. Galeana, you mean persuading Izzy to join the Galeana Group, to work her tail off for you, I suggest you save your breath. I won''t persuade her. I married my wife to cherish her. I respect her choice to work, but that doesn''t mean I''m willing to let her work her tail off for the Galeana Group. Of course, if she is willing, I won''t stop her." In other words, the breakthrough lies with Ines. Their only chance of getting her to work for the group is if she forgives them. Hunter was taken aback, clearly not expecting Ethan to know his intentions. But every time he tried tomunicate with Ines, he either passed out from anger or his blood pressure skyrocketed. There was no way tomunicate with her. With her stubborn personality, he wouldn''t have to go through Ethan to get to her. But having his intentions exposed by a younger man, Hunter felt a bit embarrassed, "I''m offering her wealth and status that she won''t be able to achieve in her lifetime." Ethan looked at the man in front of him, feeling a bit pathetic. He shook his head and sighed, "Mr. Galeana, you still don''t know your daughter. She doesn''t pursue wealth and status." All she ever wanted was simple: financial independence, a simple and happy life. If it weren''t for the ident that led to their marriage, she''d still be living a simple life in B City, probably pulling some pranks during a few blind dates. Thinking about this, Ethan couldn''t help but smile. That woman, five years younger than him, had quietly rooted herself in his heart. Every time he thought of her, he felt a strange warmth, as if she had a magical power. "I know, but after marrying a man like you, she needs that status even more." Living in a powerful family like the Meyer family, she needs the backing of her own family to avoid being bullied. "There''s no need for concern. Half of my assets, which surpass the value of the Galeana Group, are registered in her name," Ethan affirmed with a light-hearted smile. Both Hunter and Ss stared at Ethan in disbelief. They had investigated before this meeting. The Meyer Group, a multinational corporation with a diverse portfolio including hotels, catering, jewelry, cosmetics, and more, conspicuouslycked a footing in real estate. The reason why the Meyer Group had steered clear of this sector remained an enigma. The mostmon rumor was that the Meyer Group had had problems with its real estate development a few years ago, its business was severely impacted, and it never recovered. Real estate happened to be the main business of the Galeana Group, which held a significant position in A City. The two had racked their brains toe up with a strategy, nning to use the real estate business as bait to get Ethan to persuade Ines. Even if the Galeana Group was eventually swallowed by the Meyer Group, at least his hard work wouldn''t be wasted. Ines could get a piece of the pie. But hearing Ethan say that he had given half of his property to Ines, Hunter realized they didn''t need the Galeana Group. He had offered a lifetime of hard work, but was met with indifference. That was incredibly frustrating. Hunter felt a pain in his chest that radiated throughout his body. Ss quickly took out a pill bottle and poured a pill into his hand. Hunter quickly swallowed the pill and it took him a long time to recover. "With an illness like this, Mr. Galeana, it''s better to seek medical help sooner rather thanter. Don''t try to gain Ines'' sympathy with your condition," Ethan said casually. Hunter was stunned. He thought he had hidden his condition well, but Ethan had spotted it so quickly. "I have no such intentions." Ethan smiled, "Good. Because right now, other than ying the sympathy card, there''s nothing you can do to make Ines give you a second nce." Hunter was dumbfounded, but Ethan hit him with another punchline, "Now that you know your daughter has potential, you want to acknowledge her. Where were you before?" After confirming Hunter''s thoughts, Ethan left. Ss heaved a sigh and said to Hunter, "Boss, why didn''t you tell him that you had your reasons for cutting ties with Ms. Galeana? If it weren''t for her and her daughter constantly clinging to Ms. Galeana, you wouldn''t have made such a heartless move." Hunter gave a bitter smile and didn''t say anything, his eyes gazing nkly into the distance. He remembered the days when Ines was small, the times when they were a family of three. What''s the point of saying anything now, he had made too many mistakes. After a while, he finally said, "If Emma wants to marry Aiden, let her have it. I don''t want to worry about it anymore." Ss nodded, "I''ll find a chance to mention this to Aiden''s parents. I''m sure with their pressure, he''ll cave in soon." Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Ines heard the news about Kelly quitting her job while she was at work. She shook her head, thinking it was the best decision for Kelly. If Kelly stayed, she''d probably get swallowed up by the office gossip, considering the skeletons in her closet. Around noon, Ines got a call from Phoebe, asking her to discuss an interview for a magazine. Ines couldn''t help butugh and shake her head, thinking Phoebe was jumping the gun, almost as if she was scared that Ethan and she would back out. It was justst night that they agreed to it, and now she''s pushing for the details. Upon reaching the designated rendezvous, Ines found Phoebe absorbed in her notebook, pen dancing fervently across the page. It was characteristic of her, perpetually armed with a notebook for those unexpected moments of inspiration. Phoebe was so focused that she didn''t even notice Ines. Ines knocked on the table in front of Phoebe and jokingly said, "Hey, bossdy, your interviewee has arrived." Phoebe responded with a ''do not disturb'' hand signal, not even lifting her head from her notebook. Ines had no choice but to sit across from her and order a drink. About half an hourter, Phoebe finally looked up, letting out a long sigh, "Alright, I''ve got the questions sorted out." Ines jokingly asked, "Phoebe, is your magazine on the brink of bankruptcy or something, for you to be this anxious?" Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Phoebe capped her pen, "I''m interviewing Ethan, many girls¡¯ prince charming in A City. Time is of the essence, I have to buckle down." "Oh," Phoebe gave Ines a ttering look, "Ms. Galeana, please forgive me for something." Ines had a bad feeling about this, "What did you do?" "Humph, it''s not really something bad." "C''mon, Phoebe, cut the chase and spill the beans," Ines said. "As you''re aware, our magazine and the TV station are sibling entities, both falling under the umbre of Kaleidoscope Publishing. Last night, I mentioned to the editor-in-chief about the prospect of you two featuring in our magazine. Deeming it significant, they ryed the matter to the upper management. This spurred an urgent meeting, resulting in a new strategy. The executives felt that confining your appearance to our magazine, given its restricted readership, would not fully capitalize on your influence. Consequently, they decided to include a television interview in the n as well," Phoebe expounded. "A TV interview? You mean we have to be on TV?" Ines frowned. Phoebe nodded enthusiastically, snapping her fingers, "Exactly, Izzy, sharp as always." Ines gave her a look, "Don''t butter me up." It seemed like she was going to do something she didn''t like. "Haha, so what do you think?" Phoebe was unsure about Ines''s reaction, not knowing if she agreed or disagreed. "I''m not keen on appearing on TV, but it seems like I don''t have a choice." "Don''t worry, I''ll be there too. The host of the show you''re going on has a nice personality, they won''t make things difficult for you." "You''re not the host?" Ines asked, surprised. "Of course not, I''m a magazine editor, I''ve never hosted before. The show you''re going on has a fixed host. They might give me a special guest seat, where I''ll be writing and maybe join in on the interactions asionally." Ines gave a slight smile, trying to drag Phoebe into this, "If you''re not hosting, then we''re not going on that show." After all, she and Ethan agreed to do this to help Phoebe, there was no need to give other hosts a chance. "Izzy, are you doing this on purpose?" Phoebe''s eyes widened. "I don''t care, I have my conditions. If we can negotiate, we''ll do it, if not, forget it." Ines was firm. Phoebe gritted her teeth, mming the table slightly, "Alright, it''s settled. I''ll start learning about hosting from tonight, you can tell me what we need to pay attention to." She wasn''t afraid of the higher-ups refusing now that they were at her beck and call. Looking at Phoebe, Ines couldn''t help but chuckle. After a while, she said, "I hope you can avoid Ethan''s past rtionships in the interview, mainly focusing on our current affairs. Ethan''s past is a bit traumatic, I don''t want to bring up his painful memories." "Okay, I''ll send you a draft with the questions we''re going to ask. You and Mr. Meyer can think about how to answer them. Of course, you can also improvise, it''s all up to you." The magazine interview turned into a TV show. After meeting with Phoebe, Ines immediately told Ethan about the details. Ethan simply responded, "You can decide everything." He didn''t seem to care about the change. Ines was a bit upset and kept saying, "We''re going on TV, it''s not just an interview, are you really okay with it?" She was worried that the recording would be awkward since he was always quiet around strangers and she had never done this before. "Izzy, don''t worry, just follow my lead. If you don''t want to answer, just stay silent and throw the question to me." "I''m not nervous." Ethan chuckled, not pointing out her lie, merely joking, "Good, you can start thinking about how to confess to me on the show then." Even through the phone, Ines could feel his good mood. She snorted, "Don''t make it sound so easy, we''re going to support the show, we can''t mess it up." The interview was ted for the day after next. To afford them ample preparation time, Phoebe dispatched the interview outline that very night. At that juncture, Ines, fresh from a shower, received Phoebe''s document. Ines opened it up and saw that Phoebe had listed 20 questions, touching on their lives, work, and most notably, a lot about Ethan''s love life. These questions were clearly for thedies in the audience, they even asked about the number of abs he has, leaving Ines a bit speechless. Just as she finished browsing through, Phoebe called up: "Izzy, hurry up and check out the questions I sent you. The ones in bold might be a bit touchy, ask Ethan first if he''s cool with answering them. If not, loop back to me and we''ll tweak them." Chapter 127 Chapter 127 Ines was fixated on one of the questions, [What''s the reason Mr. Meyer didn''t want to get hitched before, can you spill the beans?] When Ethan came out, Ines said to him with some concern, "Phoebe''s interview questions are a bit tricky. Give it another look, and if it''s a no-go, I''ll have her make some changes." Ethan tossed the towel in his hand to Ines, "Izzy, dry me off first, then we''ll talk." Ines nodded, and Ethan, as usual,id his head on herp, half-closed his eyes, looking a bit beat. She didn''t disturb him and gently dried his hair. His hair was thick and shiny. After drying him off, she found out he had dozed off, which made her chuckle. Usually, she was the sleepyhead, but today the tables have turned. Ines gently moved her leg and nudged Ethan, "Ethan, sleep on the pillow, otherwise, you''ll be sore tomorrow." Ethan moved a bit, and Ines put the pillow under his head. She rarely saw Ethan so drained, not knowing what he had been up to. She turned off the light, carefully lifted the nket, and instantly felt his warm and strong arm around her waist. His voice, heavy with sleep, asked, "Izzy, go over the question again." Ines squeezed his hand and gently said, "Ethan, get some rest, we can talk about it tomorrow, there''s still time, no rush." "There''s always something tomorrow, tell me now, I''ll just listen." In that moment, Ines felt a pang of sympathy for him. She had nced over his office itinerary before, every week meticulously nned with little to no room for unnned events. Her spontaneous assent to Phoebe''s proposal likely caused a disruption in his tightly-packed agenda, hence his seeming haste that day. At this moment, Ines felt a bit guilty. Since their marriage, it seems he''s always been amodating her, and she couldn''t do anything in return. Ines nodded and softly said, "The other questions are fine, some are about how we met and fell in love, that''s no biggie. The tricky one is about why you didn''t marry before but suddenly decided to marry me." "I thought it was something serious, let them ask, I know how to answer." Ethan was nonchnt. After saying this, he fell silent, and Ines could only hear his steady breathing. She had to stop mid- way. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. The next day, Ines sent him a copy of Phoebe''s questions, reminding him to go through them when he had time. She also spent some time researching celebrity interviews online, thinking even if they can''t be outstanding, they shouldn''t embarrass Ethan. The day of the interview came quickly. Upon arriving at the TV station, Ines found that all the top brass from Kaleidoscope Publishing were there, waiting for them in full force. Ethan, as usual, had a brief exchange with them before sending them off. ording to the TV station''s schedule, they were to shoot the magazine cover in the morning and record the show in the afternoon. Since they were going to edit the footageter, the station didn''t make Ethan rehearse, nning to cut out the less desirable parts. The photoshoot went smoothly, as the two had experience from previous shoots and they were a couple in love, so they naturally produced stunning shots, much to their surprise. Even the photographeruded their performance, acknowledging that, despite theirck of professional training, their authentic expressions surpassed any technical prowess. Ethan was pressed for time, and the TV station prioritized this interview. As soon as they arrived, all the prep work was done and a staff member immediately led them to the makeup room for a touch- up. Ines did her homework in advance, so she wasn''t as nervous as she thought she would be. But Ethan''s words made her tense again, "Izzy, are you ready? I didn''t have time to read through the questions, I''ll have to wing it." Ines almost fell when her legs gave out, but Ethan caught her. When they entered the studio, Phoebe and a young woman were already waiting. The woman was Olivia, the host of the show that Ines researched beforehand. Olivia was taken aback when she saw Ethan, but quickly regained her composure and greeted them, "Mr. Meyer, Mrs. Meyer, I''m Olivia, the host of the show. This episode will be different from my usual shows, I''ll only be introducing, the real interviewer will be Ms. Wagner." Phoebe, dressed in a simple and elegant dress today, looked nothing like her usual free-spirited self standing next to the professional host. If not for her winking at Ines secretly, Ines would have thought she had transformed in a couple of days. The talk show was different from the usual entertainment shows, the set was simple, with a sofa each for the guests and the host. The 300 audience members also began to arrive, Ines saw all sorts of people, surprisingly many young women who seemed well-off from their attire. She couldn''t help but tug at Ethan''s clothes andined, "Look at you, drawing bees and butterflies wherever you go." Ethan squeezed her hand and raised an eyebrow, "Shouldn''t you feel aplished? Such a catch is yours now." Ines was amused by him, her tension eased because of his words. They really were the perfect match. Once everything was ready, the show started recording. "Hello everyone, I''m your host, Olivia. I''m delighted you''re joining us today. That''s right, you''re not mistaken. Our guests today are the CEO and his wife from the Meyer Group. But you might not recognize them because the CEO likes to swap his luxury car''s logo for ordinary ones. This is their first official interview. A little birdie told me that they''re doing this to shoo away the pests hovering around Mrs. Meyer." The host''s humorous and clever opening remark elicited a surge of enthusiastic screams from the audience. Among the cacophony, Ines discerned a voice from below eximing, "Mrs. Meyer rocks!" Chapter 128 Chapter 128 The opening was actually cooked up by Phoebe after hearing their story, and she spotted it that night. She thought it was kinda fun, but was afraid Ethan wouldn''t be into it, so she kept it under wraps. When the host read it out, she couldn''t help but sneak a peek at Ethan. He just cracked a smile, apparently not turned off by the opening, which put Ines at ease. After the host got the crowd jazzed up, they handed it over to Phoebe. Phoebe, with a grin, said, "Hi y''all, I''m here to steal Olivia''s job today. She said Mr. Meyer''s aura is too powerful for her to handle, so she sent me, the young gun. I don''t mind if you guys give me a hard time, so here I am." The moment Phoebe dropped this bomb, the room went ballistic. Because the host, Olivia, is just 23, and Phoebe looks older than her, not because she looks old, but because she has a certain charm thates with age. The vibe in the room didn''t take a hit despite the sudden switch in hosts. Under Phoebe''s lead, Ethan and Ines greeted the audience one after another. Both are strikingly beautiful, especially when Ethan opened his mouth, all the female audience members went nuts, some even couldn''t help but stand up and apud. Phoebe then said, "Everybody chill. I''m not hosting today, just thought I''d crack a few jokes. I got a box here with a bunch of questions about Mr. Meyer and his wife''s work and love life. We''ll let a lucky audience member draw a question, whatever they draw, I''ll ask. What do you guys think?" Many of the female audience members are socialites, naturally, what they care about most is Ethan''s love life. They all raised their hands to draw. What was originally a somewhat serious talk show today has be more like a live event. Phoebe chose the lucky audience member by tossing a flower wreath backward, facing away from the audience. The first lucky duck was a woman who excitedly ran up and drew a piece of paper from the box in Phoebe''s hand. Phoebe, with augh, said, "Beautifuldy, please read out loud the question you''ve got." The woman looked at Ines and asked, "Mrs. Meyer, how many abs does Mr. Meyer have?" N?velDrama.Org content. Hearing this question, Ines''s mouth twitched, and Ethan instantly gave her a look that was hard to read. Ines felt her scalp tingle, and it took her a while to whisper, "Eight." The room immediately burst intoughter. Phoebe quickly tried to smooth things over, "Everybody calm down, Mrs. Meyer must be feeling shy." The next question was for Ethan, exactly the one Ines was worried about. Why hadn''t he married before, and suddenly registered a marriage with her? Just as she feared. She lifted her gaze to Ethan, only to find him not returning her look. He wore a furrowed brow, seemingly contemting the right way to articte his response. After a brief silence, he voiced, "I''ve always maintained that stumbling upon a soulmate is a matter of great fortune. Should you not cross paths with her, there''s no need to forge a bond in the name of marriage with someone for whom you harbor no feelings. Equally, there''s no requirement to conform to societal conventions that dictate what should be done at a specific age. If one can lead a fulfilling life, then that is sufficient in itself." His deep voice was like the slow flow of cello notes, without fancy rhetoric, neither exaggerated nor direct. Yet everyone could feel his seriousness at this moment. The room fell silent, but Ines felt a soft pang of sorrow, feeling sorry for his past experiences. Phoebe pursed her lips, nced at Ines with teary eyes next to her, and then said, "Mr. Meyer, I bet Mrs. Meyer next to you has questions. It''s said that you met her at a blind date dinner, and you didn''t know each other before. How did you know she is your other half?" "Love at first sight." Ethan said bluntly, with no extra words. It seemed that this alone was a good enough answer to the question. Ines didn''t know how the rest of the interview went. She just answered Phoebe and the audience''s questions ording to the answers she had prepared beforehand, with Ethan''s words echoing in her mind. Not until Phoebe''s voice came did she fullye back to reality. "That''s it for today''s interview. For more exclusive coverage on Mr. and Mrs. Meyer, stay tuned for tomorrow''s magazine''s fifth issue entertainment cover story." Once ensconced in the car, Ines''s emotions finally steadied. She turned to Ethan with a solemn look and voiced the question that had been lingering in her heart, "You''ve mentioned before that our marriage was born out of suitability, haven''t you? Was that merely a performance for our audience?" She had posed this question more than once before, his response unwavering each time. Ethan cupped her face, touched her forehead with his, and whispered against her slightly cold face, "There''s no need to y to anyone, I always tell the truth. If I didn''t fall for you at first sight, how could I possibly let you marry me? When I agreed to go on that blind date, it was actually just to appease my grandfather. But it''s you who made me think that way." Ines remembers reading an essay before. It described a kind of love: just catching up among millions of people, neither a step early, nor a stepte. Their paths had not beenpletely separate. But when she liked him, the timing was not right. There was another woman by his side, his eyes never lingered on her. When she gradually drifted away, even the traces of her once liking him were erased, time flowed, and in the moment of turning around, she became his right person. She likes this kind of just right, it''s so good. She is also grateful that she seized him in time, did not waste the chance to meet after so many twists and turns. The interview video was broadcast on the TV station the next day, and Ines received many blessings that day. People from the firm didn''t know her identity before, but once the interview video was out, they immediately surrounded her. She kept responding until her mouth was stiff and dry, and then she managed to get rid of them. Even the always strict work discipline of the Meyer Group became noisy, with employees gathering in groups to discuss. The key is that someone was discovered by Mr. Meyer while discussing, but Mr. Meyer just smiled and said, "Don''t forget your work after the discussion." Living it up in B City, Aaron turned on his t screen during his lunch break, sipping his coffee while channel surfing. However, when he came across an interview on a particr channel, he was totally gobsmacked, staring in disbelief at the man and woman sitting shoulder-to-shoulder. Equally shocked was a youngdy from E Country. She was a rare beauty with delicate features, currently with her long hair flowing freely, sitting rigidly on her chair, her eyes glued to the handsome face on herputer screen that she had been missing, her expression shifting continuously. Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Ines and Ethan''s interview video made quite a stir online. Underneath there were a lot ofments, some positive, some negative. Some said she was sooo lucky to deserve Ethan''s affection in this one. Others imed that there''s no true love in wealthy families, and she''s bound to meet a tragic end. Ines just chuckled at these. Marriage and love are like drinking water, you know yourself if the water is warm or cold. As long as she''s happy, she doesn''t need to be bothered by what others say. Just before knocking off, she got a call from Aaron. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. "Aaron? Are you back in A City?" Her voice was cheery because she was in a good mood. Although it was subtle, Aaron could tell. Having worked together for years, he picked up on her mood quickly. "Yeah, I got back the day before yesterday. We should catch up when you''re free." "Sure thing, just let me know when. I''m free most evenings." "I saw the video of you and your husband." Aaron said calmly over the phone. Taken aback by Aaron''s remark, Ines brushed it off with augh, "I didn''t set out to put myself in a spot. A dear friend of mine is the editor of that magazine. We essentially attended to lend our presence and assist in bolstering her sales." "Ines, do you believe in love at first sight?" Aaron''s question seemed to have a deeper meaning. "Why do you ask? Did something happen recently?" "Nothing. Just a random thought." Ines chuckled, "I didn''t before, but I do now." She found all the proof she needed in Ethan. With his personality, the only reason he''d marry her after just one meeting would be love at first sight. "Ines, you''ve changed. You used to be indifferent about these things." Indifferent? So that''s how she seemed to others. She smiled, "Every experience makes us grow. It''s normal for me to change." She wasn''t cold by nature. It was her parents'' issues that cast a shadow over her heart. But now, Ethan brought sunshine into her life. After hanging up the phone, Aaron turned around and walked into a private room where Noel was waiting. "Aaron, are you nning on staying this time?" Noel asked. "I am. I quit my job overseas. My parents are getting old, so I''ll be working in A City from now on." Noel smiled and tentatively asked, "Can I invite Ethan over? It''s been a long time since the three of us hung out together." Aaron nodded, "Sure, I have some things to ask him too." Noel was pleasantly surprised and failed to notice the unease in Aaron''s eyes. He patted Aaron on the shoulder, "It''s good that you''vee around. It''s been years since Le Caldwell passed away, there''s no need topete with Ethan over her anymore. We''ve been friends since childhood. It''s not like we can avoid each other forever." After Noel finished speaking, he called Ethan, who was just about to knock off. Ethan was stunned for a moment before agreeing toe. When Ethan entered the room, Aaron and Noel were drinking and chatting. Both of them had a cigarette between their fingers. "Ethan,e on in. We''ve been waiting for you." Noel waved at Ethan. Ethan walked in. Aaron looked up at him. They just looked at each other, neither saying a word. Noel tried to lighten the mood, "Ethan, Aaron''s staying for good this time. It''ll be like old times." Ethan just nodded, saying nothing. Aaron remained silent. Noel was frustrated, "You two haven''t spoken in five years. What more do you want? Another five years of silence? Aaron, Ethan has moved on from the past. He''s even married now. You should look forward too." Aaron seemed to be provoked by Noel''s words. He looked at Ethan with a fiery gaze, "Why did you suddenly step into B City? Don''t tell me you didn''t know Ines and I were at the firm together. It was different with her." Noel was taken aback, "Aaron, you know Ines too?" "She''s the newbie I personally trained. The woman I fell for. How could I not know her?" Aaron downed his drink after saying that. Noel felt a headacheing on. He nced at Aaron and then at Ethan, who didn''t refute Aaron''s im. He felt a chill, realizing that Aaron was telling the truth. He couldn''t help feeling a sense of irony. How could these two friends have such simr taste in women? They had a huge fallout over Le years ago. And now they''re about to start again because of Ines. Ethan also took a swig from his drink. He looked at Aaron calmly, "Believe it or not, on the night we got married, I had no idea she was your subordinate. I only found out when I looked her upter." "Absolutely, Aaron, don''t harbor any resentment. I can attest to his intentions. I was present on the night of the blind date. His decision to marry Ines came after meeting her merely once. He was completely oblivious to any previous connection between you two." Noel quickly stepped in, apprehensive that their reunion could devolve into another dispute. "No way, out of all three of us, if there''s anyone whose mind is aplete mystery, it''s definitely him." Aaron''s eyes were glistening with tears as he pointed at Ethan. "Say whatever you want, I just got one thing to say, I really didn''t know about her and you." Ethan stated with a poker face. If he had known, there''s no way he would''ve gone after the girl his friend was into. "Now that you know, don''t you think it''s about time you did something? I want you to divorce her." With that, Aaron mmed his wine ss on the table so hard it shattered into tiny pieces, sshing red wine all over Ethan and Noel. Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Hearing those words, Ethan''s face darkened instantly. His hands clenched under the table, suppressing a wave of anger ready to explode. Noel''s face was also serious. He said to Aaron in a dissatisfied tone, "Aaron, we''re all best friends here, don''t spoil the mood. You''ve had too much to drink, watch your words next time. Marriage isn''t a game, you can''t just call it quits." A mocking smile shed in Aaron''s eyes, he looked exceptionally bitter, "Noel, ask this man here if he even considers me a friend. This is the second time, the second time he''s stolen the woman I love from me." He could ept Ines''s husband being anyone else, but he couldn''t ept it being Ethan. "I''ve told you, it was an ident." Ethan kept repeating the same words. He wasn''t good at exining, always resorting to such phrases. "Don''t sugarcoat it! Love at first sight, huh? Did you just think Ines and Le looked somewhat alike? You were just looking for a recement for Le." "Aaron, I''m not that petty." Ethan forced a smile. The recement theory wasplete nonsense. Noel also thought Aaron was being obstinate. Ines and Le hardly looked alike. Even if their personalities were slightly simr, Ines was more yful and lively, while Le was a mature and steady professional woman, always serious. Besides, Ethan only met Ines once, it was unlikely he could have noticed any simrities in their personalities. "They''re both auditors, isn''t that enough?" Noel shook his head, "Aaron, you¡¯ve be increasingly paranoid over the years. Ethan has interacted with many auditors, those aren''t reasons." Why did he have to go after Ines? Ethan frowned at Aaron, carefully pondering his words. He hadn''t thought about any of this at the time. He just found Ines interesting, so he strangely wanted to marry her. "I''ll tell Ines everything. I want to see what she will do." As soon as Aaron finished speaking, Ethan punched him. Anger shed in Ethan''s eyes. Ines was his bottom line, but Aaron had been crossing it repeatedly tonight, he couldn''t tolerate it any longer. Taken aback, Aaron fought back, and the two began to brawl. For a while, they seemed evenly matched. Noel chose to stand aside, refraining from interceding in the brawl. After all, both were full-grown men, as tough as theye. A few bruises wouldn''t cause them any significant harm. Eventually, the fight subsided. Aaron slumped onto the sofa, his energy spent, while Ethan, though equally battered and covered in bruises, maintained his poise. He straightened his rumpled white shirt, collected his coat, and directed at Noel, "I''m heading out, ensure he gets home safely." Noel nodded, "You okay? You drank quite a bit, can you drive? If not, I can call Lucas to pick you up." "No need, I''ll get a designated driver." With that, Ethan left without a backward nce. Noel sighed and turned to Aaron, who seemed to have fallen asleep. After a while, Noel reluctantly carried Aaron out of the private room. When Ethan got home, the lights in the living room were off, only the TV was on. Ines was sound asleep on the sofa, wrapped in a nket. Her mouth was slightly open, making a faint breathing sound. Looking at her face, he once again confirmed that she was the one, not anyone else, but the woman he had chosen at first sight. He lifted her into his arms, and she immediately clung to his neck, pressing her face against his chest. This reliance made him smile, his irritation from meeting Aaronpletely disappeared. Just as he was about toy Ines on the bed, she stirred and like a puppy, started sniffing him. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Ethan cursed inwardly: I forgot to shower first. Seeing Ines about to wake up, he quickly turned off the lights, leaving only the dim wallmps on. Ines asked sleepily, "Ethan, when did you get home?" Ethan hadn''t looked in the mirror, but he could feel the burning pain on his cheek and lips. He knew he must look a mess. He turned his face away slightly, not wanting Ines to see his bruises, "I just got back, I''m gonna shower first, you go back to sleep." Ines wasn''t fooled that easily, her eyes narrowed at Ethan''s evasiveness, "Ethan, why are you hiding from me?" "No..." Ethan denied, trying to get up and go to the bathroom. Seeing him trying to escape, Ines quickly got up on her knees, pushed him back down, and forcefully turned his face towards her. Her eyes widened in surprise, then she turned on all the lights. Ethan had always been a gentleman in her eyes, the idea of him fighting was preposterous. Under the bright lights, Ethan''s usually perfect face was bruised, especially his lips, looking like he''d been punched hard. Ines looked at him sympathetically, "Ethan, who did you fight with? Look at yourself!" Ethan gave her a sheepish smile, "It''s nothing, just an old friend, he''s no better off." "Was it Noel?" Ines asked. Ethan shook his head, "Not him, a friend from a long time ago." Seeing that Ethan didn''t want to talk about this person, Ines didn''t press further, she just said exasperatedly, "You''re in your thirties and still fighting with people, isn''t that childish?" "He said things that were too offensive, I couldn''t hold back." He finally married his wife, but Aaron was talking nonsense and insulting him. Besides, he seemed to have not given up, wanting to snatch Ines from him. This was absolutely intolerable, even if he was a good friend. "Who threw the first punch?" Ethan touched his nose, gave an embarrassed smile and admitted, "I think it was me." "I had no clue, you got a rough side too, huh? Well, today''s been an eye-opener that''s for sure." Ines shot him a look, then leaned in again, taking a whiff of him. She could smell smoke and booze, pretty strong, definitely not from someone else. He must have had his fair share. Chapter 131 Chapter 131 No wonder she had a bad taste in her dreams, turns out this dude is making all sorts of trouble. And he''s got the balls to drink again, didn''t he learn his lessonst time? She was so pissed off that she couldn''t even hold it in, "Mr. Meyer, not only are you fighting, but you''re also smoking and drinking, what''s next? Are you going to start chasing skirts?" "No way, if I wanted to do that, I would have done it years ago. Why would I wait till now?" "Who knows? Maybe you were bored before, but now you find it interesting. Who knows what the future holds." "Absolutely not. I''m only interested in my wife." Ethan Meyer hugged Ines Galeana around the neck with a smile, deliberately getting close to her, "Izzy, I only had a bit of booze, didn''t smoke. It might just be the smell from the private room, smell again if you don''t believe me." Ines waved her hand, gently nudging him away, mindful of his injured face. "Step back, you reek. Don''t attempt to be charming in my presence; your current appearance is far from attractive," she retorted. Observing that she hadn''t exerted much force in her push, Ethan smiled, perceiving that she still held concern for him. In a gleeful mood, Ethan swiftly nted a kiss on her cheek. "I''ll go shower first, I won''te to you until I''m freshened up," he dered before making his way to the bathroom. Ines shook her head helplessly, put on her slippers, and went to the living room. She found the family first aid kit, which had medicine and cotton swabs to treat bruises. When Ethan came out, Ines was not asleep, but sitting on the bed with a serious face, clearly still mad. It was quite unusual for her to be like this. However, he soon saw the cotton swabs and medicine in her hand, his eyes lit up, and quickly walked over to her, saying, "Thanks, Izzy." Ines responded coldly, "Sit down." Ethan did as he was told. Ines stood up, first wet the cotton swab with medicine, then lifted his chin with one hand, and carefully wiped the bruises on his face with the cotton swab in the other hand. Ethan kept staring at Ines, her lips tightly pursed together, her long eyshes casting shadows on her face. She was very serious in her movements and expressions, probably the same when she was working. Ufortable under Ethan¡¯s gaze, Ines said, "Tell me if it hurts." C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Ethanughed and said in a pleasing tone, "It doesn''t hurt, you¡¯re very gentle." Ines red at him, thinking that this was not going to be the end of it. Although Ines was not happy, she was very gentle with her hands. It took her five minutes to treat his injuries, then she handed him a ss of water, "This will help you sober up." Knowing he had done something she didn''t like, Ethan obediently drank arge ss of water, then looked up at her, like a child eager for a reward. Ignoring his look, Ines thought of something and asked, "Have you had dinner?" Ethan didn''t say a word, and Ines understood from his silence that he hadn''t eaten. Such a rational and restrained man as him, he would not resort to violence unless he lost control in anger. He must have been too upset to remember to eat. "Wait, I''ll make you something." Ines is not a good cook. Half an hourter, Ethan looked at the food on the table, hesitating to pick up his fork. Seeing his silence, Ines got a bit annoyed, "You don''t like it?" A smile crept onto Ethan''s face, "Of course not! I would never dare toin about food made by Mrs. Meyer." He just hoped he wouldn''t get an upset stomach after eating. Ethan indeed started wolfing down the food, whether it was because it tasted good or he was just being nice to her. Ines watched him carefully but couldn''t tell anything. She couldn''t help but ask, "How''s the taste? If it''s not good, just forget it." Ethan smiled and held up his fork to her, "Why don''t you taste it?" Ines took a bite, apart from a bit too salty, it was actually not bad and wouldn''t make people gag. Ethan ate everything gracefully, then took the te to the kitchen, washed it and put it away. When he came out, he saw Ines standing at the door, holding a pillow and a nket. Seeing him coming, she stuffed the things into his arms, "Reflect on your actions tonight on the couch." With that, Ines extracted the spare key from the bedroom door lock and mmed the door shut, leaving Ethan outside. It was at that moment that the weight of the situation dawned on him. He had been unceremoniously expelled from their shared room by his own wife¡ªa first in their entire married life. Ethan quickly knocked on the door a few times, then said, "Izzy, open the door, let''s talk things through. I''ll tell you everything you want to know." There was no sound from the bedroom. Ethan continued, "Izzy, we need tomunicate as a couple, otherwise it will affect our rtionship." "Izzy, how about I write a self-criticism like you?" "Izzy, darling, I was wrong. I''ll never drink again." "Izzy, don''t be like this, you won''t sleep well without me." Ines could hear Ethan''s intermittent voice from outside the door, but she had decided to teach Ethan a lesson, so there was no way she would open the door easily. Ethan said a lot at the door, but the person insidepletely ignored him. He looked helplessly at the couch, in the end, he had to walk over to the couch and prepare his bed. He would rather have Ines hit him a few times than ept this punishment. As the outside world gradually grew tranquil, Ines, confined to the bedroom, found herself devoid of sleep. Night after night, she had grown ustomed to drifting off in Ethan''s embrace and awakening to his presence each morning. Suddenly bereft of hisforting presence, it became a form of torment for her. Yet, despite her longing, Ines remained resolute, refusing to relent and allow Ethan back into the room. She curled up, restlessly tossing and turning throughout the night, before eventually sumbing to sleep. The following day, she awoke to a stiff and achy back, a testament to her night of contorted rest. Chapter 132 Chapter 132 Because she didn''t sleep well, she got up 20 minutes earlier than usual today. She stepped out of the bedroom to find the usual whole wheat bread on the dining table in the living room. Ethan was bustling about in the kitchen, and from the smell, he was frying eggs. Soon enough, Ethan came out with the eggs, looked at her, and poured a cup of coffee in front of her. "Eat up, Izzy, I still have another egg to fry." As soon as he spoke, Ines sensed that his voice was slightly hoarse, showing signs of a cold. She just took a nce at him and bowed her head to eat her breakfast. Ethan chuckled and went back to the kitchen to fry eggs for himself. At that time, his phone on the table rang. "Izzy, can you answer the phone for me?" Ethan''s voice came from the kitchen. Without even looking, Ines picked up. A soft voice came from the phone, "Hello." A woman''s voice? Ines couldn''t help but frown. She remembered that Ethan had few female contacts in his call history, and besides Ashley Meyer and his mother, she had never seen him call any other woman. The person on the phone didn''t hear a response and continued, "How''s my brother-inw been doing recently? I haven''t been back to A City for a long time. I miss home and n toe back in a few days." Brother-inw? Ines was stunned. She exined, "Miss, I think you dialed the wrong number. There''s no your brother-inw here." She didn''t have a sister. Hearing a stranger woman''s voice, Silvia Caldwell was also taken aback. Afraid that Ines would hang up, she immediately said, "I didn''t dial the wrong number. My brother-inw is Ethan. Are you his new wife?" Ines found this very strange and felt a little uneasy. She frowned and replied, "I am indeed Ethan''s wife." "Where is he?" "He''s in the kitchen making breakfast." Ines answered truthfully. After she finished talking, there was no sound on the other end of the phone. Just when Ines thought she had hung up, she heard her say, "Then tell him that I''ll call him when I have time." Ines couldn''t help but mutter under her breath, "This is so weird." She knew Ethan''s number and could call him whenever she wanted. Why did she need to go through the trouble of rying the message? When Ethan came out of the kitchen, he found Ines holding his phone in a daze. "Izzy, what''s wrong? Who was it?" Ines nced at him and said a bit annoyed, "I don''t know. It seemed to be an international call from E Country. The person called you ''brother-inw'' and said she would call back when she had time." Ethan understood and gently ruffled her hair, "Don''t overthink it, Izzy. That was my ex-girlfriend''s sister. After her sister passed away and she was left alone, I sponsored her education. She got used to calling me that and hasn''t changed it. I''ll remind her to be more cautious next time." Ines was taken aback by his candidness. The woman had once been an untouchable territory for him, yet now he could effortlesslybel her as his "ex-girlfriend." Such a transformation was truly remarkable. Did this mean he was gradually getting over his past? Ines pressed her lips together and didn''t say anything, but looked at Ethan seriously. Ethan suddenly got nervous, "Izzy, don''t get me wrong. No matter what others say, you should always ask me first. Don''t believe other people''s words easily, okay?" Ines clearly noticed his nervousness and couldn''t help but ask, "What are you nervous about? Have you done something to betray me?" "Totally not! Let''s finish our breakfast. It''s gonna get cold." Ethan didn''t go to thepany that day, but asked Lucas to bring the work home early in the morning and also drop Ines off at work. When the door opened to receive the documents, it was Ines. After thinking for a moment, she vaguely understood why. Ethan probably thought that his injured appearance was not suitable for the public. Ines couldn''t help butugh and shook her head. After work, Ines went to the hospital to get some cold medicine. When she got home, Ethan had already cooked a table full of dishes, all her favorites. Of course, she knew what he meant. But she wasn''t going to forgive him that easily. The two of them ate dinner as usual. After dinner, Ines cleaned up the dishes, and Ethan also went into the kitchen, dried the washed dishes, and put them in the disinfection cab. Ethan still had some work to finish, so he went straight into the study after dinner. When he came out, he found the nket that he had brought back to the bedroom when Ines was not home at noon was back on the couch in the living room,plete with his clothes for shower and even cold medicine. It was clear that Ines was still upset. Ethan could onlyugh and cry. He knocked on the door again, but no matter what he said, Ines ignored him just likest night. In the dead of night, Ines was abruptly roused by a forceful pounding on the door. It took her a moment to register that it must be Ethan seeking entry. Amidst the muffled echoes, she discerned his feeble voice pleading, "Izzy, could you please unlock the door? I''m feeling rather unwell." Anxiety surged within Ines as she recalled his deteriorating condition earlier that afternoon. Without a moment''s hesitation, she leaped out of bed and hastily swung open the door. She saw Ethan leaning against the wall wrapped in a nket, his eyes slightly open, looking very weak. "What''s wrong? Do you have a fever?" Ines immediately reached out to feel his forehead. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Ethan leaned against her, his arms around her waist, "I''m not sure, I just suddenly felt ufortable and woke up. My head hurts a lot, my chest feels stuffy, and my limbs are weak." Headache, chest tightness, and limb weakness are all main symptoms of a cold and fever. Ines''s attitude softened, and she helped him to the bedroom. As soon as his body touched the bed, he fell down, his eyes tightly closed. Ines frowned and then went to find a thermometer. As she turned around, the man who had seemed weak on the bed suddenly opened his eyes, full of amusement. Chapter 133 Chapter 133 When Ines returned to the bedroom, she found Ethan lying in the middle of the bed with a frown on his face, eyes closed tight, and looking a little worse for wear. It was a sight that tugged at her heartstrings. She gave him a nudge, but when he didn''t respond, she gently tapped his face, saying, "Ethan, wake up. We need to take your temperature before you go back to sleep." He seemed disturbed by this and grumpily rolled over so his back was facing her; his voice was hoarse as he said, "Leave me alone; I''m fine. I just need some sleep." Ines scowled, not expecting Ethan to be this stubborn when he was ill. She sternly said, "Your voice is so hoarse; how much worse do you want it to get? Are you trying to make me worry on purpose?" Maybe it was her brusque tone, Ethan rolled back over to face her, still with his eyes closed. Frustrated, Ines climbed onto the bed and boldly lifted his arm to tuck a thermometer under his armpit. As she withdrew her hand, it brushed against his feverishly hot chest, causing her to flinch back as if she''d been shocked. After a while, Ines checked the thermometer and found his temperature was 37.5 degrees. He had a mild fever, but it was nothing too serious. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. She went to the living room and found the medicine she''d brought back when she got off work. Ethan hadn''t taken any of it; no wonder his condition hadn''t improved. Ines shook her head helplessly, wondering how this man had managed to survive on his own when he clearly couldn''t take care of himself. She returned to the bedroom with the medicine, making Ethan take it. This time, he didn''t resist and quickly fell asleep after taking it. Though Ines was still a bit miffed, she wouldn''t jeopardize his health and let him stay in bed. After turning off the lights, Inesy down beside him, reminding him in a concerned tone, "Ethan, if you feel unwell during the night, wake me up." Ethan responded, "Don''t worry, I''m as fit as a fiddle." Hearing this, Ines wanted to curse. This man had given her so many reasons to worry. After a while, in the darkness, a hand suddenly wrapped around Ines'' waist. Ines, who had been struggling to fall asleep, immediately woke up. Before she could react, she was pulled into Ethan''s arms. One of his hands cradled her head while the other held her waist, pressing her face against his chest in their usual sleeping position. Ines found this amusing; even in his sleep, this man''s possessiveness of her didn''t lessen. She quite liked this, so she didn''t push him away. After a while, she started feeling sleepy, and her eyes grew heavy. But this didn''tst long; Ethan''s hand started to roam, lightly tracing circles around her waist. Even more audacious, his hand slipped under her pajamas, boldly wandering over her body. The breath fanning her cheek was incredibly hot. Ines, who was just starting to feel sleepy, was immediately wide awake due to Ethan''s actions. She held his wandering hand still and said, "Ethan, behave yourself when you''re sick." "Izzy." His voice was soft and different from usual as if he were talking in his sleep. Ines was unsure whether he was asleep or not. After a while, seeing that he didn''t make any further moves, she decided to leave him alone. But this didn''tst long. Suddenly, she felt an all-too-familiar force on her body, a feeling she recognized even in her drowsy state. "Ethan, are you faking your illness?" "Izzy, I have a fever; you took my temperature." This time, Ethan didn''t remain silent; he quietly exined. Then he pressed a hot kiss on her; even in the darkness, he managed to perfectlynd on her lips. It was so sudden that Ines was caught off guard, and he kissed her right on the mouth. All Ines could think was, What the hell? How could he be so energetic when he was sick? She thought he was just taking some minor advantage of her, but soon she felt a chill on her body. She clenched her teeth and said, "Ethan, I haven''t forgiven you yet; get off me." By this point, there was no stopping the man. All he said was, "Izzy, I''ve heard that doing this sort of thing is very effective for treating a fever; why don''t we give it a try?" Before she could refute it, he was kissing her again, intruding into her mouth, sometimes wild, sometimes gentle. Her resistance gradually melted away, and she even wrapped her arms around his neck, returning his fervor. The two were a couple in love, so the oue was inevitable. The next day, Ines looked at the countless marks on her body and was pretty sure Ethan was just using his illness as an excuse to take advantage of her. He had intentionally not taken his medicine for this purpose. Ines was bummed. She had decided to stand up to him, but she surrendered after just one day and ended up being a willing captive. Since it was the weekend, Ines was still upset and didn''t want to get up early. As shey in bed thinking about the previous night''s events, she grew angrier and couldn''t help but grind her teeth, muttering, "Ethan, you''re such a jerk." At that moment, Ethan came in from outside. He''d changed into a suit, looking sharp. The bruise on his face had faded, and only a small spot was left at the corner of his mouth, barely noticeable if you weren''t looking for it. He looked refreshed, not sickly at all. "Izzy, stop staring at me. I''m off to work now; you can get up and eat when you''ve had enough sleep." Ines grunted in response, then asked, "It''s the weekend; do you still have unfinished work?" Ethan nodded. "There are some things that need to be dealt with at the office. I fell behind schedule yesterday." "Serves you right; who told you to go pick a fightst night?" Ines couldn''t help but say: Ethan merely smiled, not taking her words to heart. He bent down to kiss her forehead lightly and said, "I''m off to work. Stay at home and wait for me. Don''t sneak out to meet any men, regardless of who they are." Ines gave him a push, saying, "Enough with the nagging; get going. Don''t waste any more of your time." As Ethan left the room, Ines watched his retreating figure, and despite everything, she couldn''t help butugh. Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Ines and Aaron Swanson agreed to meet at noon. They bumped into each other at a coffee shop. When Ines arrived, Aaron was already there. She immediately noticed the bruise at the corner of his mouth and frowned, "What happened to your mouth?" "Got into a fight," Aaron didn''t bother to hide it, blurting it right out. Ines shook her head, chuckling. She didn''t connect the dots between him and Ethan, just thought it was a coincidence, "My husband also got into a fight a couple days ago. You guys are in your thirties, why are you fighting like teenagers?" Aaron scoffed, "I fought with him." "What did you say?" Ines thought she heard wrong. "I knew he didn''t tell you anything. Me, him, and Noel, we go way back. We grew up together, but we just drifted apart," Aaron exined. Ines was shocked. She knew Aaron was from A City and came from a good family, but she didn''t expect him to have this kind of rtionship with Ethan. That man should have known about Aaron and her, so why hadn''t he told her? "Alright, enough about this, let''s eat," Aaron changed the subject. Ines nodded, seeing that Aaron didn''t want to talk more about it, she didn''t ask further. While eating, she asked, "Did you finish handing over your work in A City?" "Yeah, I''m gonna stay in A City now." "That''s great, you''ll get to spend more time with your family." "Izzy, I want to ask, if I did something that hurt you, would you still consider me a friend?" Ines was taken aback, she looked at Aaron, confused. This meeting, she felt like he changed a bit, but she couldn''t quite put her finger on it, "You''re joking, how could you hurt me?" "The truth that you don''t know, about me, Ethan, and Le Caldwell, I can tell you." Ines had a horrible feeling and frowned, "Who is Le?" "Ethan''s ex-girlfriend, also the woman I like." Ines was shocked. Even though Aaron put it simply, she could probably guess. She knew there was a woman in Aaron''s heart and it was because of that woman that he left B City for five years. She didn''t expect that woman to be the same person as Ethan''s ex-girlfriend. Without thinking, she asked, "Is your rtionship with Ethan strained because of her?" Aaron nodded. Ines suddenly understood. Erica once mentioned that Ethan''s ex-girlfriend had passed away and seemed to have some connection with Ethan. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. After a pause, Ines said, "Even though I don''t know the specific reason, that''s all in the past. Le has passed, you should look forward, not dwell on the past." "You know about this?" Aaron looked at Ines, surprised. "Erica told me a bit, but I don''t know much." Aaron''s eyes brightened, he stared at Ines, not missing any subtle expressions on her face, "Izzy, do you want to know?" The implication was that he would tell her if she wanted to know. Ines shook her head. She remembered Ethan once said, if she wanted to know anything, she could ask him directly and not to easily believe what others say. She thought Ethan was just saying it at the time, now she understood, He probably knew this day woulde. "Izzy, you''re avoiding this. If I said you and Le have simr personalities, even both being auditors, would you still remain indifferent?" Ines paused, then looked into his eyes, "Are you saying I''m a substitute for Le?" Aaron didn''t answer, but Ines justughed, seemingly unaffected, "There are many people with simr personalities in the world, and there are many auditors as well. I don''t resemble her. It would be wrong to jump to that conclusion." Ines paused, then continued, "I''m not that stupid. I can tell if someone truly cares for me. All I know is when I''m with Ethan, I''m the only one in his heart and eyes. He never treated me as another woman. Even in his sleep, he calls my name. Maybe he asionally feels something because of the past, but I think that''s a normal emotional fluctuation. If he werepletely cold and unfeeling, then I''d be worried. Maybe one day he''ll treat me like that." Aaron couldn''t believe these words were coming from her. He always knew she was very firm about her feelings, otherwise he wouldn''t have been so hesitant back then, which allowed Ethan to take advantage and caught him off guard. "What if I said he once loved that woman very much, to the point he was willing to sacrifice our friendship for her ?" Ines''s expression changed slightly, then she said, "I trust him. Since I married him, I ept his past." Just like he and the Meyer family didn''t care about her past. A sarcastic smile appeared on Aaron''s face, "Ethan''s really powerful, he brainwashed you in such a short time, you believe him just like that? If he didn''t have a guilty conscience, why hasn''t he told you the truth?" Ines didn''t like Aaron talking about Ethan like this, she lowered her voice, "You''re overlooking one thing. We''ve only been married for three months, not even half a year. He didn''t keep me in the dark for ten years, just a little over three months." That man didn''t deliberately hide it from the start, he just didn''t know how to bring it up. She believed that every wound needed time to heal, and after healing it took time to forget. Only after many years can one possibly forget that past wound. Yes, just three months. But in these short three months, Aaron saw in her eyes her unconditional love and trust for Ethan. That''s what he couldn''t ept the most. "You''ve fallen in love with him, haven''t you?" Aaron''s tone was unpleasant, clearly pressing. Ines was a bit angry at Aaron''s aggressive attitude. If he wasn''t the one who brought her up, she would have fallen out with him long ago. How could she still talk to him calmly? "He''s someone who''s very easy to fall in love with." Chapter 135 Chapter 135 Aaron cracked a sad smile at Izzy''s words: "Izzy, I''m going to ask you onest time, and I hope you can be real with me. We''ve been hanging out for almost five years, you know. Don''t tell me you haven''t caught any sort of feelings for me." Ines didn''t know about the beef between Aaron and Ethan, but she felt that Aaron had a big chip on his shoulder. She thought it wouldn''t hurt, to be honest: "Sure, I had a soft spot for you. You were my beacon in the darkness. But I know you''ve got someone else in your heart, so even if I wanted to, I would have forced myself to stop because I didn''t want to repeat my mother''s mistake of being with a man who had another woman in mind." "What about Ethan? Isn''t he the same as me?" "Yeah, he''s just like you. But when we tied the knot, I had no clue. If I knew, I would''ve kept my distance." Inesughed. "What about now? You know the truth, don''t you?" "Aaron, I have no idea what you''re trying to get at by saying all this. I hope you''re just trying to clue me in, not keep me in the dark. But things are different now. I''ve chosen him; there''s no turning back. That''s how I see marriage. You get that?" Ines stared back at Aaron, not hiding her anger anymore. Aaron was shaken, thinking, "Ethan, how lucky are you to have her love? How many gals could stay so cool after hearing all this? She''s only 27 but is way more mature than her peers. Her words were clear: If he kept going after Ethan, they wouldn''t be friends anymore; she wouldn''t leave Ethan; he should let go of that idea sooner orter. Aaron looked at Izzy with sadness in his eyes and asked, "Is this fair to me, Izzy?" "All I know is that he is my Mr. Right." Izzy''s voice softened a bit. Ethan was worried about Ines today. After their fight that night, both of them were pretty beaten up. He was almost healed, and he figured Aaron must be too. He knew Aaron would look for Ines after recovering. When he called home and no one answered, he knew Ines must''ve gone out to meet him. He rushed over and heard thest few lines Ines said. "I''ve chosen him; there''s no turning back. That''s how I see marriage." "He is my Mr. Right." What could be sweeter than these words? His wife was even more open-minded than he thought, always surprising him. Ethan grinned and walked towards them, saying, "Izzy." Ines turned at his voice. Seeing Ethan smiling, she asked, "Are you so worried about me that you came chasing after me the moment I left?" There was a hint of teasing and chiding in her voice. "I trust you, but not others," Ethan said, ncing at Aaron. "Have you eaten?" Ines asked. Seeing his wife still caring about his meals, he knew she wasn''t affected by Aaron, and his mood lightened. "I haven''t eaten yet; I was nning to invite you." Aaron watched their interaction nkly. His hands under the table were clenched. They weren''t being sappy or anything; it was just the usual couple talk. But it felt like a punch to the gut. From the moment Ethan walked in, she only had eyes for him,pletely ignoring Aaron. Aaron felt out of ce. He got up and left without a word. Ines didn''t try to stop him; she didn''t know what to say. Ethan watched his friend walk away with mixed feelings. He hadn''t expected things to turn out this way, but he wouldn''t risk losing his wife, even if he felt a little guilty about his friend. As soon as Aaron left, Ines'' smile faded. "Ethan, do you still want to sleep on the couch? It''s sote, and you haven''t eaten yet." C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. "I was going to; Lucas had already ordered food for me, but I rushed out." Ethan''s smile never faded, and his good mood was obvious. "Then sit down and eat; we just started." She let the waiter add a bowl, took away Aaron''s, and thoughtfully ordered two hot dishes. Ethan sat down right away, eating with a smile. Ines watched him, joking, "If I didn''t know you, I''d think you hit the jackpot or something." "Didn''t I just find a rare gem?" Ines looked at him, not bothering to argue, and continued eating. But she couldn''t help thinking about what just happened and sighed. Aaron was one of her few male friends who always looked out for her. She was looking forward to seeing him today, but it ended on a sour note. "Izzy, don''t be like this," Ethan said. Ines nodded. "I just can''t ept his behavior. That''s not the Aaron I know." "He''ll understand sooner orter," Ethan said casually. Ines looked at him but didn''t ask about his rtionship with Aaron. After lunch, Ethan took Ines to the Meyer Group. Ever since their interview video went viral, all the staff knew Ines. As soon as they walked in, someone greeted them, "Mr. Meyer, hello, Mrs. Meyer." Ines smiled in response and followed Ethan to his office. As soon as they entered, Ethan pinned her against the wall and kissed her without giving her any time to react, making her lose herself in the moment. Chapter 136 Chapter 136 After a while, Ethan finally let go of Ines, and the two embraced tightly. All Ines heard was Ethan saying, "Izzy, thank you." Ines was taken aback. She pushed him lightly and chuckled. "I didn''t do anything. What are you thanking me for?" "Thank you for trusting me unconditionally." For the first time, Ines realized that her husband was actually a very simple man who didn''t demand much. What she did for him was far less than a tenth of what he did for her. He unconditionally believed that she was not the mastermind behind the car ident, even though he knew that Beasley''s death was connected to her. He never gave up on her. As her husband, he gave her all the respect and tenderness she deserved. He helped her ovee the shadows cast by her parents. He did so many things for her that she couldn''t possibly count them all. In fact, she should be the one saying thank you. "Well, we don''t have to say thank you between us. You''ve taught me that." Ines disagreed, looking at Ethan. "Izzy, Aaron was my best friend. Noel is younger than me, so our lives aren''t as aligned. But Aaron was different. Our life paths were almost identical. We grew up studying together. He studied finance in college, while I chose business management because I was to inherit the Meyer Group. But because we were in the same faculty, we had a lot of interactions. After graduation, he came to work at the Meyer Group and became the CFO, my right-hand man," Ethan said quietly, his emotions unfathomable. Ines was startled. She could tell that this time, Ethan was really opening up to her. Her heart raced. She had been waiting for this day. She listened quietly, waiting for him to continue. "All of our conflicts started because of a woman named Le. She was a year younger than us. After graduation, she worked at a no-name ounting firm. Aaron became the CFO of the Meyer Group and thought she had talent, so he recruited her to work in the finance department. Then one time, my personal secretary was temporarily out, and she filled in for her. I found out that she was very thoughtful, so I had her transferred to the secretarial department. Aaron came to me upset, but I didn''t want to lose a good seedling, so I insisted that she make her own choice. She chose to stay in the secretarial department, and for a long time, Aaron ignored me." The rest was pretty much as Ines had guessed. Le climbed the corporatedder and ended up as his chief secretary. They spent all day together and eventually fell in love. Ines didn''t know if Ethan was deliberately suppressing his emotions or if he simply didn''t have a knack for telling stories. What should have been a sweet love story came out dry and vorless from his mouth. She understood: Le was someone Aaron had intentionally brought close, but he ended up stealing her away. For a moment, she couldn''t help but poke his chest. "So you''re saying you stole the woman Aaron was interested in right from under his nose?" Ethan gave an embarrassed smile. "Yeah, that''s about right. But you can''t control these things. I was young and impulsive, and didn''t think things through. All that mattered was that we liked each other. Le had no romantic feelings for Aaron, so I thought it was right for us to be together." Ines shook her head. "No wonder he hates you so much. He went to all that trouble to get the woman he liked close, and then you swooped in and stole her away." She then thought of herself: Aaron definitely had feelings for her, but somehow, she ended up marrying another man. She still remembered his hurt expression. Discovering that the man who stole his woman away again was his former best friend...what man could ept that? This man, it seems, wasn''t such a good guy after all. "Ethan, I really don''t know what to say about you." C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. It''s hard to judge matters of the heart. After all, Aaron and Le were never in a romantic rtionship. It wouldn''t be urate to say he broke them up, but he wasn''tpletely innocent either. Seeming to know what she was thinking, Ethan exined, "Izzy, I really didn''t know about you and him when we got married." How could he hurt Aaron again after what had happened before? It was all a series of unfortunate events. He didn''t expect that his hasty marriage would involve the woman Aaron had fallen for again. "I know," Ines nodded. Even though they had fallen out, she could still hear from his tone that he cared about Aaron. It''s just that he was too good at hiding his emotions, so others couldn''t see it. "In fact, Aaron had alreadypletely let go. He was willing to bless us." Ethan''s words once again caught Ines''s attention. "Then what happenedter?" "Because Le died, he med me." Ines looked at him intently. Ethan gave a bitter smile and squeezed her hand. "Tired of standing? Let''s go to the resting room." Ines was led by him to the resting room. They held each other quietly. He thought he would never bring up this matter to anyone again, but he didn''t expect this day toe. Ethan''s thoughts suddenly went back to that year. The night in Aelston was a bit stuffy. Ethan had been working on branch affairs for two days and nights without rest. But when hey down, he couldn''t sleep at all. He felt uneasy. He got up and took a shower. When he came out, he found his phone on the bed ringing. He nced at the caller ID and a smile appeared on his lips. "Isn''t it work hours now? Why would you call me?" "Mr. Meyer, do you really have to keep such a tight leash?" Leined. "Alright, alright. You''re about to be Mrs. Meyer anyway. You''ll own half of the Meyer Group. If you want to ck off, then ck off. If the Meyer Group goes under, you''ll just have to suffer with me." Ethan''s gaze locked onto the ring box not far away, unable to stop grinning. Chapter 137 Chapter 137 He was eager to get things wrapped up so he could pop the question at her. There was a silence on the other end of the call before he heard Le say, "Mr. Meyer, what do you mean?" "Le, can you stop calling me Mr. Meyer? Don''t forget, you''re not just my secretary; you''re my girlfriend; we''re not at the office." Ethan raised his voice slightly, looking exasperated. His girlfriend was truly a hard nut to crack, still addressing him formally after being together for so long. "It''s just a title; why are you so hung up on it? I think Mr. Meyer suits you perfectly." Le pouted, mutteringints. She just couldn''t figure out men. It was just a title; what''s the big deal? Calling him "Mr. Meyer" made her feel unique; it brought her a subtle sense of happiness. "So, after we''re married, are you still going to call me Mr. Meyer?" Ethan quirked an eyebrow. Le paused before asking, "Are you proposing to me?" "If you think a proposal is too clich¨¦, we can skip that part and go straight to getting married." Ethan joked. "No way, you never courted me, and now you want to skip the proposal? I won''t agree." Le didn''t hesitate to refuse. She felt hard done by. She had been made his girlfriend without warning, and in three years, she hadn''t received a single flower. She worked with him every day, with little time off. The image of him on one knee proposing had already formed in her mind, and just thinking about it made her happy. "What are you nning to call me then?" Le chuckled a bit, then seriously said, "Maybe I''ll still call you Mr. Meyer, or just by your first name. But I''m not going to call you ''dear'' or anything cheesy like that." "Le, why are you so stubborn?" Ethany down on the bed, phone in one hand, the other resting behind his head. He looked very casual. But then he justughed. This chick hade a long way since she started working for him. Back then, she was always frosty and had no sense of humor. Le rolled her eyes, feeling like he was getting annoyed with her. "I''m not yours yet; we can break up any time. There are plenty of guys who like me; you can always find a new Mrs. Meyer." "No going after Aaron." Ethan''s tone dropped a few notches, feeling that Aaron was a major threat. With him around, the uncertainty was too high. "Well, that depends on how you perform." "Le, did you call just to piss me off?" Ethan was grinding his teeth. Where did the dull girl he first met go? Why is she always trying to get on his nerves now? "Alright, you''re too jealous; I''m not talking to you anymore. I think something''se up here; take care of yourself in Aelston." "Okay, when Ie back, we''ll get married," Ethan said with a smile. "When are youing back?" "In a few days." Ethan was full of smiles. He had booked a flight for tomorrow, nning to surprise her. After hanging up, Ethan felt sleepy and closed his eyes. But he was woken up by a loud knock on the door. Opening it, he saw Lucas standing outside, looking grave. "What happened?" "Mr. Meyer, we''ve received news from A City. There''s been an ident on the Hillcrest Heights construction site. The roof copsed, and several workers were badly injured; two even died on the spot. It''s serious." Ethan''s face darkened. Hillcrest Heights was a project the Meyer Group had invested in for the second half of the year. It was aimed at developing high-end residential areas, and everything had been going smoothly until now. "Did anyone from the project department go over?" Ethan asked. "We couldn''t reach the chairman, so someone reported it to Le. Le asked Ms. Young from the project department to go with her." This was what Lucas was worried about. He had been working with Le for a while and knew about her rtionship with Ethan as well as her health condition. "Nonsense! How could Le go to a ce like that? When did they leave?" Ethan felt a tight grip on his heart, leaving him almost breathless. He initially thought Le was always wearing a poker face because that was just her personality. Later, he found out that she had severe asthma. She couldn''t get too emotional, and this had be a habit. So, whenever there was a business trip or a visit to a construction site, he would have Lucas go with her. "They left about an hour ago," Lucas said. Ethan nced at the time; it was exactly when she had called him. So she must be almost there now. As he spoke, he started to frantically dial Le''s number, but no one answered. Ethan turned to Lucas, his voice trembling. "Call Ms. Young right now; tell her not to let Le go to the construction site. No, contact everyone you can; Le must not go to the construction site." He remembered researching asthma. Pollen and dust would affect asthma, and if there was a lot of dust at the construction site, she wouldn''t be able to handle it. No one answered Lucas'' call either, and Ethan was frantic. The two of them booked a flight back home immediately. Afternding, Lucas received a call from Ms. Young, saying the families of the workers had calmed down and there were no major issues for now. Le had also returned home. Before he had time to think, he received another call from his mother, saying his brother Beasley Meyer had died in a car ident. His mind was buzzing as he rushed to the hospital. On the way, he received a call from Silvia, who was crying, saying her sister Le had had an asthma attack and had been taken to the hospital, her life hanging in the bnce. The two hospitals were far apart, and he was torn, not knowing which one to go to first. "Mr. Meyer, stop dilly-dallying; your brother¡¯s got the bigwigs with him. Go check on Le first; she''s only got little Silvia with her," Lucas blurted out. Ethan froze for a second, then hightailed it to the hospital where Le was. Le was still in surgery, with Silvia crouched in the corner, pale-faced and shaking uncontrobly from crying and fear.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Chapter 138 Chapter 138 Just as he steadied himself, Aaron''s punch came flying. His eyes were bloodshot, and he roared loudly, "Ethan, you told me to let go, but is this how you take care of her? Where were you when she needed you the most?" Ethan waspletely stunned, oblivious to Aaron''s words, just staring nkly at the operating room door. The waiting was excruciating. After what felt like an eternity, the operating room door opened, and two doctors came out. The words they spoke broke everyone''s hearts: "We''re sorry; we did our best, but the patient''s lungs were severely infected with dust. You came toote. If she had been brought in 10 minutes earlier, she might have survived. She doesn''t have much time left. If you have anything to say to her, say it now." Ethan stood there like a statue. "Le!" Silvia''s heart-wrenching crypletely snapped him out of it. He rushed in to see Le, her body full of tubes, smiling at him as if she had been waiting for him all along. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. He moved forward, pushing aside Aaron and Silvia, and held her in his arms. She was cold to the touch, and he croaked out, "Le, I''m here." She whispered, her smile weak and pale, "Mr. Meyer, you...you''re here." "Le." Ethan brushed aside the hair on her face. There was so much he wanted to say, but words failed him. Le looked at the man in front of her, her eyes full of longing and reluctance. She knew she wasn''t going to make it this time, but she managed a weak smile. "Mr. Meyer, I''m sorry, I can''t be your bride. You''ll have to find someone else to be Mrs. Meyer; don''t be sad." With that, her head tilted to the side, and the beeping of the machine next to her, indicating the loss of life signs, filled the room. He closed his eyes in despair, unable to imagine that the person who wasughing and chatting with him on the phone not too long ago was now lying lifelessly in his arms. "Ethan, it''s all your fault! You knew very well how demanding a secretary''s job is, having to deal with all sorts of emergencies. You knew she was in poor health; why did you selfishly keep her by your side? I knew about her health condition, which is why I tried to get her to quit her job at the firm and come work for me as a simple financial worker. It''s all because of you. All of this is because of you. If it wasn''t for dealing with your emergencies, she wouldn''t have died!" Aaron hadpletely lost control. He remembered Le saying, "Aaron, I know you mean well, but I''ve been living a repressed life since I was young; I long for a love that belongs to me." It was those words thatpletely made him let go. He shouldn''t have let go. If he had known that letting go would cost her her life, even if she hated him, he would have held on to her hand. Ines listened to him recount that long-buried past. Although he deliberately simplified the descriptions and glossed over some details, she could still feel the sadness. The couple who were about to get married, but then this happened, is really a shame. Losing both his lover and brother on the same day¡ªtwo very important people to him¡ªhe must be heartbroken. No wonder he never wanted to bring up this matter. Because lying in his arms, Ines could feel his body''s stiffness. She felt sorry for him and gently touched his face, whispering, "Ethan, don''t me yourself; none of this is your fault; you couldn''t have predicted any of this." " No, Aaron was right. Le had actually had a few episodes in front of me, which were triggered by attending events with me. I had considered having her stop working as a secretary, but in the end, I selfishly kept her by my side. "If I had transferred her away from the secretary position earlier, maybe none of this would have happened. I''m the one who killed her." Ethan spoke in a low voice. "Ethan, you mustn''t think like that. She never med you until her death; she wanted you to live a good life." Ethan nodded. There was a look of relief in his eyes. "I know; that''s why I came out. I will try to make myself happy." "Don''t worry, I''m here; I''ll make you happy." Ines confidently patted her chest. After making this gesture, she realized she had exaggerated a bit. Her cheeks turned red, realizing that she actually couldn''t do anything for Ethan. The only thing she could do was to be by his side. After a long silence, Ethan suddenly said softly, "Izzy." "Hmm?" "My Mrs. Meyer, it''s so good to have you." Ines smiled. At this point, all of Ines''s questions had been answered. She thought that when she heard about Ethan''s love story with another woman, she would feel a bit lost, but in reality, she didn''t at all. All she felt was sympathy for Ethan and relief¡ªrelief that she was the key that opened his heart. "So, is that why Aaron left for B City?" Ethan nodded. "Aaron''s love for Le was no less than mine. After Le''s death, he quit his job at the Meyer Group and went to B City by himself." Ines suddenly thought of something and asked nervously, "I feel like Le''s personality is simr to mine; did you choose me based on her as a model?" "Izzy, you''re thinking too much. I only met you once and decided to marry you. How would I know you''re simr to her? Your love for ying pranks is not like Les; she was always very serious. It took more than two years of dating for her to loosen up a bit. But she''s still cold to outsiders. What Aaron said was all nonsense; don''t be fooled by him. I think he''s been so good to you because he feels you''re simr to Le after spending time with you." Ines couldn''t help butugh. "You really hold a grudge; even when you''re defending yourself, you don''t forget to step on others." "As a guy who can''t give up on my wife, I have to be on guard all the time." "Ethan, you can rest easy. If I could be with Aaron, we would have been together years ago; what does it have to do with you?" Ines also candidly expressed her inner thoughts. Hearing this, Ethan laughed, saying, "It does seem to be the case." Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Ines really dug the honesty between her and Ethan. Although she had always trusted him, not knowing his past had left her feeling a bit uneasy. Now, she''s chill. She hung around Ethan''s office for an afternoon, then tagged along with him to the Military in the evening. "Izzy,e on in. Grandpa made you some soup; he''s been simmering it since morning. Bet it''s a bomb." Phillip Meyer waved her over as soon as she arrived at the Meyer Mansion. Ethan, standing behind her, raised an eyebrow. He was used to being invisible whenever his wife was around. Ines moved forward, linked arms with Phillip, and said with a smile, "Grandpa, you''re too sweet." "You shouldn''t be so formal; we''re family." Phillip patted her hand. A servant brought the soup up. Ines happily took it. The weather was a bit chilly, and the soup felt warm in her hands. Ines felt a warmth in her heart and downed a big bowl. The soup was as delicious as Phillip had promised. Soon, the others came in. The Jacob Meyer family, Erica¡ªthey were all back. It seemed like an unspoken rule of the Meyer family to gather on the weekends, no matter how busy they were during the week. Ines stood up to greet them. "Sis, what''s Grandpa been brewing up for you this time?" Ashley''s voice rang out. "You just got back, and you''re already nagging. I''ll have them serve you a bowl too," Phillip said. Ines was totally stuffed today, having downed two big bowls of pheasant soup. Ethan tried to say something a few times, but seeing how much she was enjoying the soup, he backed off. After dinner, they went upstairs. Ines remembered a biography she read a while ago, Chasing the Sun. There was a woman''s handwriting in it, and now she knew it was Le''s. Ines handed the book to Ethan, asking, "Did you notice these words in the book?" She flipped to the page with the sentence and showed it to Ethan. Ethan nced at it, his eyes flickering. He remembered that it was the first time he confessed to Le, but she rejected him without hesitation. Not long after, she gave him a book. He flipped through a few pages and lost interest, so he didn''t continue. He didn''t expect to find such a message in the book. So Le epted his confession long ago. He looked at Ines beside him, gave a slight smile, pinched her cheek, and asked, "Are you jealous?" Ines shook her head, then pouted at Ethan, saying, "If I were jealous, I wouldn''t show you this." "Izzy, you''re so generous," Ethan teased. Ines thought for a moment, then said seriously, "I don''t know why; maybe because she''s just someone you can''t hate." She was a bit jealous before she knew the truth, but after understanding what happened between them, she gained respect for Le. Ethan was taken aback, then held Ines tightly. Discussing his youthful love with another woman was something he had never thought of. Held so tightly by Ethan, Ines felt a bit hot and pushed him away, saying, "Don''t hold me so tight; I''m hot." Ethan''s big hand could not help but gently knead her waist, and he deliberately breathed a hot breath on her face. Ines shivered sensitively and pushed him again. "I told you to back off; can''t you understand?" Ethan slowly said with a smile, "Izzy, I have a way to cool you down. Wanna try?" Ines didn''t hesitate: "Sure, what is it? Tell me." "This is your own choice." Ethan''s tone was full of joy. He caught Ines off guard, picked her up, and threw her onto the bed. As soon as shended, his hot body was on top of hers, his desire evident in his eyes. Ines suddenly realized what he meant and tried to struggle, but he held her hands tightly. Looking at his face so close, Ines felt her mouth dry and unconsciously licked her lips. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. "Ethan, let me go." She was so foolish to trust this rascal. "Madam, stop struggling." Ethanughed softly in her ear, his voice low and charming. Ethan held her in his arms, kissing her deeply. Ines felt her body trembling and couldn''t help but moan softly. Before long, she let go of all her restraint and reason. Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Ines was roused bright and early by Ethan, and she was not happy about it. "Where on earth are we going? It''s the weekend; can''t a girl catch some extra Z''s?" Ines was barely awake. She wasn''t one for sleeping in, but Ethan was just too much of a morning person. "Go back to sleep. I''ll wake you up when we''re there." Two hourster, Ines was woken again by Ethan. She saw a window disy featuring wedding photos, and suddenly everything clicked. "Ethan, are we here for a wedding photo shoot?" Ethan nodded with a gentle smile. "Didn''t you say we should wait until our rtionship stabilizes before nning a wedding? I think it''s about time we get the ball rolling. Let''s get our wedding photos done today." Ines felt a warmth spread in her heart. She''d mentioned it offhand because it seemed like a hassle, but he''d taken it to heart. Now that they''d confessed their feelings, she was truly in love with him, so it didn''t seem awkward anymore. Ines checked her appearance in the rearview mirror. She had dark circles under her eyes and looked tired overall. She put on a long face and said, "Why didn''t you tell me? Look at the state I''m in." "Don''t worry about it. The makeup artists will fix you up," Ethan reassured her. Ines nodded, and they walked into the studio arm in arm. It was a private wedding studio with only six or seven employees. Upon their arrival, the manager promptly greeted them, saying, "Mr. Meyer, Mrs. Meyer, your wedding dress has arrived. We''re just waiting for Mrs. Meyer to try it on." Ethan nodded, and some staff brought over the wedding dress. "Mr. Meyer, we''ve passed on your requirements to our headquarters. Our design team has been working overtime for several days, and they''vee up with three different designs for Mrs. Meyer to choose from." Ines was immediately drawn to a light purple dress among the options. It was a strapless dress with slight pleats at the waist and a fishtail design at the bottom, simple yet elegant. Ethan smiled and pointed at the purple dress, saying, "Let her try that one on first." "Mrs. Meyer, right this way." An employee led Ines to the fitting room. It took half an hour to get the dress on. When she looked in the mirror, she couldn''t believe her eyes. The dress fit perfectly and complemented her skin tone. Even without any makeup on, she felt beautiful. "Everything was prepared ording to Mr. Meyer''s instructions. Mr. Meyer was very responsible andmunicated with us many times. It seems like the results are pretty good." "We''ve been in this industry for many years and rarely see a dress that fits so well." Ines was deeply moved. It was clear that Ethan had been nning this for a while. Because he knew her better, he made several revisions. She was very satisfied with the color and style of the dress. "Mrs. Meyer, Mr. Meyer is waiting outside. Why don''t you go show him how you look?" At the suggestion, Ines''s heart started to race. With the help of an employee holding her train, she walked out, feeling out of breath from nervousness, until she felt a burning gaze fixed on her. She looked up to see Ethan wearing a white suit, his eyes filled with undisguised amazement. His suit captivated her. He usually wore dark suits, but he looked just as good in white. Ethan walked over to her, wrapped his arms around her slender waist, and said softly, "You look stunning." "So do you." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Ines heard some employeesughing softly, and her cheeks turned even redder. Ines tried on the other two dresses, and they all looked great, but in the end, she chose the purple one. The shooting schedule was to do indoor shots in the morning and outdoor shots in the afternoon. After getting her makeup done, Ines started the photo shoot. Ethan was a bit nervous at first but gradually got the hang of it. They finished the indoor shots in about two hours. Ines was sitting on the sofa, her back and waist aching. Ethan couldn''t help but hug her and gently massage her shoulders. "Feel better?" Ines pulled his hand away, nced at the photo editing team not far away, and whispered, "Mind your manners; we''re in public." Ethan chuckled unconcernedly, "Who cares? All I know is that you need me right now." With that, he continued massaging her. Ines felt sweet inside. After an hour''s rest at noon, they went to a nearby park for the outdoor shoot. There were quite a few couples taking wedding photos, probably because it was the weekend. Seeing the smiles on the faces of the other couples, Ines felt blissful too. The afternoon shoot went smoothly. After it was over, Ines was exhausted. She changed into her clothes andid on a reclining chair, not wanting to move a muscle. Ethan was nearby, discussing something with the photographer. "Sis, what are you doing here?" Ines had just dozed off when a female voice woke her up. Opening her eyes, she saw Emma Galeana and Aiden Ramos standing in front of her. They were still in their wedding outfits, with their personal makeup artists trailing behind them. Clearly, they were also here for a wedding photo shoot. They''re getting married? Ines was only slightly surprised, then turned her head and ignored them. Aiden looked a bit awkward and pulled at Emma''s hand. "Emma, let''s go. We still have one more set of outdoor shots to take. If we dy any longer, it''ll get dark." "It''s okay; I just want to talk to my sister for a bit. After all, my only sister should know that her little sister is getting married." With that, Emma had an employee bring her bag over. She pulled out a card, wrote a wedding invitation on the spot, and handed it to Ines. "Sis, please be sure toe on time." Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Ines didn''t bother picking up the wedding invitation. Emma didn''t seem to mind, simply leaving the invite next to her and saying, "Sis, hold onto this." If it wasn''t for Aiden''s sour face, Emma would probably have wanted to chat with Ines more. Ines just gave a sarcastic smile, speechless. "Izzy, there seemed to be quite a crowd over there just now," Ethan mentioned as he walked over. "Emma and Aiden seem to be getting hitched. They''re here for their pre-wedding shoot and even gave me an invite," Ines said. Ethan nced over to where Ines was looking, spotting a pink card. He opened it to find the date set for a weekter. "Feel like going?" Ines snorted, "I''m not that bored to waste my time on these insignificant folks." She was indifferent now when facing these people. "Alright, if you don¡¯t wanna go, then we won''t. Let¡¯s head home." Ines was really tired that day. After having dinner outside, they headed home. The moment she stepped inside, she kicked off her shoes, changed into slippers and headed straight for the bedroom. Ethan chuckled at her childlike behavior. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Although Ines was exhausted, she was also a little excited. She called Phoebe Wagner while lying in bed. It seemed Phoebe was also in bed as her voice was a bit hoarse, "Izzy, what''s up?" "Can''t I chat with you if there''s nothing up?" "Of course, you can, Izzy. I''m always here for you." "Phoebe, Ethan and I had our pre-wedding shoot today." Phoebe suddenly sat up, "Send me a few snaps quickly. I wanna see Mr. Meyer in all his glory." Ines chuckled and sent her a couple of photos, saying, "These were taken with my phone. Other photos aren''t ready yet. I''ll send them over when they are." Soon, Phoebe responded, "Wow, these are great. Who knew your aloof Mr. Meyer had this side to him." Inesughed. He actually didn''t like taking photos, but when taking them with her, he was a different person. Ines changed the subject, "Enough about me. I''ve been meaning to ask, how''s it going with Noel Yates?" Phoebe was surprised, "How do you know Noel?" Ines was a bit guilty as Phoebe didn''t know she knew Noel. Ines exined, "He''s Ethan''s good friend. At first, he asked me to introduce him to someone. Before I could, he told me he was interested in you. That''s when I found out you guys knew each other." Phoebe was annoyed, "So you told him about my past heartbreak and why I''m hesitant to ept men?" No wonder he said those weird things. It was all because of her best friend. "No, I didn''t. I can''t remember the past. I just told him you had a boyfriend once that''s all." Ines''s exnation was a bit weak. Phoebe huffed over the phone, "Anyway, you better be on my side. Don''t tell him anything about me or we''re no longer friends." "Isn''t that a bit extreme?" "Just remember it." After chatting with Phoebe, Ines called Rita Page. Aunt Rita was ted to hear about their pre- wedding shoot and urged them to get married soon. Inesughed and said she would follow Ethan''s ns. After the call, Ines took a shower. Coming out, she noticed Ethan hadn''t returned to the bedroom. She went to his study and saw it was empty. She was about to leave when she noticed the window was open and papers were rustling on the desk. She closed the window and identally saw a chat box on Ethan''sputer. It was a conversation with an expert about lung cancer. The chat mentioned that 60% of lung cancer patients are diagnosed in the advanced stages, many of whom can''t undergo surgery. Even if they do, survival isn''t guaranteed. The person they were discussing was in the advanced stage of lung cancer. The exact situation would depend on meeting the patient, but even with surgery, the patient might only live one or two more years. The family needs to be prepared. Suddenly, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist. "Did you see everything?" Ethan''s deep voice sounded from behind her. Ines came back to her senses, "I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to look. I came in to find you, noticed the wind and came in to close the window. I saw it identally." "Silly girl, I don''t me you. We''re husband and wife; there''s nothing you can''t see." Ethan said, relieved that he had put away Hunter Galeana''s medical records before going to the kitchen to make coffee, or else it would all be out in the open. "Who''s sick?" Ines''s heart was hanging in the bnce. Ethan exined, "Don''t worry. It''s a ssmate''s father. He knows I have resources in this area, so he asked me to help him find a good specialist." Ines felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders and leaned against him, whispering, "These diseases are really scary. There are all kinds. I''m d you don''t smoke. I saw a 20-year-old guy with rectal cancer at the hospital recently. So Ethan, please take good care of your stomach. Don''t make me worry, okay?" Ethan was taken aback. She had always been worried about his irregr diet, and now he understood why. He couldn''t help but ruffle her hair, "Don''t worry, I haven''t be a father yet, nor have I had a beautiful baby with you. I''ll take care of myself. I won''t make you worry." Chapter 142 Chapter 142 "By the way, Izzy, there''s something I''ve been meaning to tell you. I''ve got some news about that guy Carlos you asked me to look into." Ines perked up, grinning, "That was quick! What''s the deal between Carlos and Shirley Dave?" "He''s her ex-husband." Ethan filled Ines in on what he''d found out. Carlos was Shirley''s ex-husband. He came from a well- off family in their town, but he was azy bum. He dropped out of middle school and started loafing around. He fell for Shirley, but at the time, she was already dating her childhood sweetheart, Hunter, who was a penniless college student. He''d been out of college for two years and was barely scraping by in A City, let alone being able to afford to bring Shirley there. Meanwhile, Carlos started hotly pursuing Shirley. When Shirley''s mom fell ill and had to be hospitalized, Carlos'' family paid off her medical bills. They continued to help out Shirley''s family, and Shirley was torn between enjoying Carlos'' small acts of kindness and looking down on him for hisck of culture. Hunter was the one she loved, but he couldn''t provide the life she wanted. For a long time, Shirley was indecisive between Carlos and Hunter. Hunter was too busy with work and trying to make something of himself to give her the attention she needed. They could only meet once every few months, and gradually, they grew apart. Later on, Hunter started working at the Page family''spany and met Ines'' mother. But he never forgot about his girlfriend back home until one day he received a call from Shirley, telling him she''d chosen to leave him and quietly marry a rich man''s son in their town. After marrying Carlos, Shirley followed him to A City to start a small business. That''s when she found out that Hunter had also gotten married. Not long after, she discovered she was pregnant. But Carlos turned out to be a total screw-up and got hooked on gambling. At first, he won a little money here and there, and even when he lost, it wasn''t too bad since his family could afford it. But eventually, he neglected his business, sneaked back to their hometown, cleaned out all their savings, took anything valuable from their home, and disappeared without a trace. To make ends meet, Shirley had to work at a hotel. A few monthster, Shirley''s belly started to show, and she had to quit her job and return home. She soon gave birth to a daughter. Carlos, having lost everything, had no choice but to return home. He fought and argued with Shirley for a few years, but in the end, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison for a robbery that resulted in a death. His parents were so upset they died, and he was only recently released. Ines listened closely, but she couldn''t find anything suspicious. Instead, she felt dizzy from all the information. She knew Hunter was aware that Shirley had been married before and that the man was Carlos. Logically, an ex-husband shouldn''t present any threat to Shirley. "Ethan, you''re making my head spin. Are you trying to tell me that Emma isn''t a Galeana?" But that didn''t seem possible either, given how much she resembled Emma. "I had someone look into Emma''s birthdate. She''s actually a few months older than you, so she should be your older sister, not your younger one. She was conceived before Shirley married Carlos. She kept this a secret from everyone, but Carlos found out and used it to ckmail her." Hearing this, Ines finally started to piece things together. She had read in her mother''s diary that Shirley had shown up with a DNA report iming that Emma was her sister. This greatly upset her mother and, coupled with her depression, led her tomit suicide. If Emma was conceived before Shirley and Carlos got married, then Shirley was intentionally misleading her mother. Her mother was a proud woman; how could she tolerate the fact that her husband had an affair during their marriage and while she was pregnant? This means Shirley had a hand in her mother''s death. Realizing this, Ines suddenly looked up at Ethan, who nodded and said, "She did spend a night with Hunter at the hotel while she was working there, but she was already pregnant then." Ines was shaking with anger. No wonder Shirley sumbed to Carlos''s ckmail. If these two matters were exposed, the first person who wouldn''t let her off would be Hunter. Hunter cared about his reputation his whole life, but because of her deceit and concealment, he wasbeled a cheater. Ines got up to leave, but Ethan quickly pulled her back into his arms and asked, "Izzy, where are you going?" "I''m going to see Hunter. I want to see how he deals with that woman after finding out the truth!" Ines was trembling with anger, unable to ept the truth. "Izzy, calm down. It''s sote already; what can you do?" Ethan tried to reason with her. Ines nced out the window and realized it was already dark. But she couldn''t control her anger. She had always thought there was some beautiful love story between Hunter and Shirley, but the truth was so ugly. A woman who abandoned him because he was poor and married someone else; he actually epted her and even married her. It was simply disgusting. The more Ines thought about it, the more it irked her. "Ethan, what the hell is Hunter thinking? How could he fall for a woman like that?" "Yeah, yeah, his taste is crap. But Izzy, let''s not get into this right now. No point crying over spilled milk; you rushing over there won''t do any good." Ethan himself couldn''t stand that woman, but Hunter was in no shape to handle any drama. If Ines got him all worked up and something happened, she''d be the one left feeling guilty. Listening to Ethan''s words, Ines gradually calmed down. She knew he was right; charging in now wouldn''t solve anything, but the pain and hatred in her heart just wouldn''t budge. "So what do we do?" Ines asked, furrowing her brow. "First, cool your jets, then we''ll figure something out. I''ve got your back, whatever you decide," Ethan said, gripping Ines'' hand tightly, boosting her confidence. Looking into Ethan''s resolute eyes, Ines knew that with him by her side, she could weather this storm, despite her chaotic emotions. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. "Ethan, what do you think I should do? When I found out what she did to my mom, I just lost it. Why does that bitch get to live while my mom had to check out early?" Tears filled Ines'' eyes. Ethan knew Ines was in a bad ce, but there was nothing he could do other than hold her andfort her. "Don''t worry, they''ll get what''sing to them." Chapter 143 Chapter 143 "Alright, you go to bed first; I''lle out in a bit." Ethan gave Ines''s hand a little squeeze. Ines nodded and said, "Okay." She then stood up and stormed out of the study. In her haste, she bumped into the door and let out a muffled "ouch". Ethan quickly went over, pulling her hand away from her forehead. She had a swelling bump already. He recalled the first time they shared a bed, when she had also banged her head on the bed frame. He felt both annoyed and amused. "Girl, watch where you''re going." "I''m so pissed!" Ines kicked the study door again andined, "Even you''re against me." Ethan chuckled and hugged her, saying, "Silly girl, don''t kick the door when you''re angry. What if you hurt yourself?" "If I get hurt, I''ll tear it down." Ethan pinched her face and led her out of the bedroom with a sigh. After applying some ointment on her forehead, he returned to the study. Ines, having made up her mind and being exhausted, fell asleep soon after. When Ethan returned to the bedroom and found Ines sleeping, he shook his head. This girl''s mood came and went so quickly. The next day, Ines remembered her recent decision and found thewyer appointed by her mother''s will. She officially signed the document and became the secondrgest shareholder of the Galeana Group. This news quickly reached Hunter. He asked Ss, "What''s up with Ines? Why has she suddenly changed her mind and agreed to ept the 20% shares?" "Mr. Chairman, this is good news. Ms. Ines must have finally seen the light. Those shares are rightfully hers after all." Ssughed. This was a good sign. Ines had taken the first step, and there was now hope for the future. "ng!" Shirley dropped the thermos in her hand onto the floor. She might not know much about business management, but she understood that 20% of shares was a significant number. "Who''s there?" Hunter''s low voice came from the office. Before Shirley could leave, Ss was already standing in front of her. "Ma''am, the Chairman is asking for you." Shirley picked up the thermos from the floor and headed for the office as if nothing had happened. "Hunter, you look a bit offtely. You''ve been working too hard, so I made you some soup." "Stoping to the office for no reason. It doesn''t look good." Hunter spoke sternly. "I''m just worried about your health. You always eat at the office, and I can''t help but worry." Shirley poured a bowl of soup for Hunter. Hunter nced at her and took a sip. "You didn''t juste to deliver soup, did you?" "Hunter, here''s the thing. Emma and Aiden''s wedding ising up, but there are still many things that need to be arranged. I don''t really understand these things, so I thought I''d discuss them with you." Shirley said it with a smile. "Weren''t you already working with a professional wedding nner? If you have any issues, talk to them. I don''t have time for such trivial matters." Hunter frowned. He didn''t like her behavior. His ex- wife would never bother him during work hours. "Hunter, this is not a trivial matter. It''s about the Galeana family marrying off a daughter. It only happens once." Shirley was a bit upset, but she dared not show it. "Hunter doesn''t only have one daughter." Hunter blurted it out. However, thinking about Ines ignoring him, he started to feel irritated again. Shirley turned pale, as if she had been hit. Even she, who was used to hiding her emotions, couldn''t help but say, "Hunter, I know you don''t like Emma marrying Aiden. But since Emma likes him, I, as her mother, can only support her unconditionally. She only returned to you at the age of 18. I understand that it''s hard for you to open up to her, and I don''t me you. But please, show her some concern. That''s all I ask." "Unconditional support? That''s how you, a mother who can''t tell right from wrong, raised such a daughter. I''ll let it go this time, but I''ve made it clear. Don''t bother me if anything happens in the future." Hunter''s hand hit the table hard. "Hunter, I know you''re still angry that I forced you to let Ines leave A City. But I can''t ept someone who hit Emma and left her crippled. I couldn''t possibly let her off so easily. If it weren''t for me dropping the charges, she''d still be in jail. How could she have lived these years peacefully and even married into the Meyer family? She should be thanking me." Shirley was still angry about the interview video she saw a few days ago. She couldn''t hold back her resentment anymore and let it all out. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Over the years, she had been trying to please Hunter in various ways, but she could never find the way they used to get along when they were young. "Get out." Hunter couldn''t help but growl. Shirley picked up her bag and left the office. Emma happened to pass by and saw her leaving. She pulled Shirley aside and whispered, "Mom, why are you at the office? Didn''t dad tell you not to "Now you''re saying the same thing? This is my husband''spany. Why can''t Ie?" Shirley was fuming. "You''re so angry. Did dad upset you?" Emma put her arm around Shirley and giggled. "If I hadn''te, I wouldn''t have known about this big news. Did you know? That woman left a will, giving 20% of the shares to Ines." Emma was currently too engrossed in her uing wedding to care. Sheughed it off, saying, "That doesn''t matter. Once Aiden and I are married, both the Galeana Group and the Ramos Group will be mine." Shirley smiled and said, "Anyway, keep your eyes open when you''re at thepany. Your dad has been acting strangetely. It''s like he''s hiding something from us. I''m afraid he might give the Galeana Group to Ines." "Mom, chill out about this. Dad''s still a spring chicken; he''s not going to hand over thepany just yet. As for the future, we''ve got plenty of time to hash it out with him," Emma assured. She was dead sure about this. Shirley mulled it over, thinking her spection was a bit off the wall. "Yeah, I also doubt he''d throw in the towel this soon." After all, the Galeana Group was his blood, sweat, and tears. "Alright, don''t get all bent out of shape. I''m free this afternoon, so meet me at the cafe outside. I''ll grab my bag, and we can hit the shops," Emma coaxed. With that, Shirley''s mood picked up. She left the Galeana Group and found a cafe to wait for Emma. Chapter 144 Chapter 144 On Monday, Ines received a notice when she arrived at thew firm saying there was an urgent meeting because a new colleague had joined the team. Ines couldn''t help but ask Amelia Young, "Amelia, do you know who it is?" Amelia looked at Ines in surprise. "You don''t know?" Ines shook her head; she hadn''t received any news. Amelia smiled and said, "It''s Aaron, the guy who wrote you a rmendation letterst time." Ines'' face stiffened for a moment. After the unpleasant partingst time, she didn''t know how to face Aaron. Out of all thew firms, he chose the same one as hers. She didn''t think this was a coincidence. She didn''t know what he was up to. Seeing Ines looking upset, Amelia frowned. "What''s going on? You guys had a fallout?" Amelia and Ines had be pretty good buddies by now, often going out for meals and shopping together. Of course, little Naomi was always part of the fun. Thewyer Ethan introduced had started liaising with Amelia, promising a 90% chance of helping her gain custody of Naomi. Ines didn''t know how to exin theplicated rtionship between them: "We had an unpleasant dinner a few days ago." Seeing that she didn''t want to talk more about it, Amelia patted her on the shoulder and said, "Don''t overthink it, Izzy; our team is already full. It''s enough with you and me leading. Aaron has such a high status in the industry that he definitely wouldn''t join our team as a regr auditor. As long as he''s not on our team, even if we''re in the same firm, we won''t see each other much due to our busy schedules."C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org "Yeah, I''m probably overthinking it." Sure enough, the new employee was Aaron. He didn''t look too good; his already thin face looked even more angr. Seeing him like this left Ines with a bitter taste in her mouth. During the meeting, he simply introduced his basic information, didn''t say much else, and seemed cold and distant. Just as Amelia predicted, Aaron was assigned as the manager of another project team. His office was a fair distance from theirs, so they probably wouldn''t bump into each other much. At the end of the meeting, Aaron blocked her way. Ines had no choice but to stand there. Aaron had seen the look in Ines'' eyes during the meeting. He knew she had breathed a sigh of relief when Jaime announced that he would be joining another project team. "Izzy, are you that unwilling to see me?" "I made myself clear that day; please don''t waste your time on me," Ines said calmly. She was never good at ying coy, and she disliked emotional entanglements. "Izzy, I just don''t want the past to repeat itself," Aaron said, running his fingers through his hair in frustration. Ines felt a pang of sympathy. She figured Le''s death had left a mark on him. So she softened her tone a bit. "Aaron, I know about your feud with Ethan. You and Le weren''t boyfriend and girlfriend. Ethan''s interference wasn''t anything unforgivable; it was just fairpetition. As for you and me, he had no idea." She paused before continuing, "Perhaps you don''t understand women. Most women are simple and stubborn when ites to love; you could say they are obstinate. Didn''t Le know about her health condition? She stayed by Ethan''s side because she loved the time they spent together. Everything she did, she did willingly. You can''t me everything on Ethan, thinking his selfishness caused it all." "Izzy, do you think that?" Ines nodded. "You''re too obsessed; you need to move on." After saying that, Ines left. At noon, Ines took advantage of her free time to call Ethan, who was having lunch, "What''s up, Izzy?" "Ethan, if one day I''m unhappy with my work and don''t want to work anymore, would you despise me?" Ethan was taken aback, then said, "Why would I despise you? If you still want to work, just switch to a differentpany; if not, juste home and be a full-time wife. Mr. Meyer will provide for you." "You said it; no take-backs." "Silly girl, didn''t you get on good terms with your boss? What trouble have you run into now?" "It''s not exactly trouble; I''m just worried you''ll feel ufortable." She knew his possessiveness better than anyone. Ethan raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why would I feel ufortable? Is there a guy at your firm who dares to hit on you?" "No, it''s just that Aaron has joined ourw firm. He and Jaime are old friends. I only found out this morning," Ines said cautiously. Sure enough, the line went silent for a moment. After a while, Ethan said, "Izzy, you don''t need to inconvenience yourself for me. You''re just getting the hang of this job. As long as you''re happy, that''s all that matters. I trust you." "But you''re still ufortable, aren''t you?" Ethanughed, saying, "I told you not to worry about me." After thinking for a moment, Ines said seriously, "Ethan, if you''re unhappy, I''ll be unhappy too." The smile on Ethan''s lips deepened. If he was the guide to marriage, then Ines was a gifted student. She was originally someone who feared marriage, but now she had slowly learned to consider him and was so attentive and thoughtful. She brought him one surprise after another. It was hard not to love her. "Izzy, I feel the same way." Ines gave a faint smile. "Hopefully I''m just overthinking; maybe he''s not here for me." "That''s right, wait for me to pick you up tonight; we''ll go on a date." "Another date?" "Mrs. Meyer, what''s with that tone? Don''t you want to go on a date with me?" "No, I''m just surprised. We''ve already been on one, haven''t we?" "What a silly girl. I''ve been too busy before. I''ll try to make more time to be with you during this period. I''m a man who sees things through." After chatting with Ethan on the phone, Ines was clearly happier. Chapter 145 Chapter 145 This time, Ethan didn''t have any special ns. They just grabbed a bite to eat and went for a stroll. Ines was drawn to a street food cart selling meatballs. She gave Ethan those puppy-dog eyes, but he didn''t even hesitate before shaking his head. He grabbed Ines'' hand and started to move away, "Let''s go, that stuff isn''t clean." "It''s not you eating it. Give me the money and I''ll buy it myself." Ines stood her ground. Ethan reluctantly handed over some cash. She dashed over to buy a portion, then handed it to him, "Hold this for me." Ethan rolled his eyes but took it anyway. As Ines was eating, she suddenly tiptoed up and shoved one into his mouth. Ethan was caught off guard and swallowed it whole, staring at her with a comically surprised expression. Ines pouted, "You''re such a drama queen. It''s just food." As she said this, she popped another one into her mouth. She looked so cute munching on the meatballs. Ethan couldn''t resist, he pulled her close and kissed her, stealing the half-eaten meatball from her mouth. After a few satisfactory chews, he swallowed it andughed, "I don''t mind eating it this way." Every time Ines ate one, Ethan would steal it the same way. Ines was so outraged her face turned red, "You''re such a jerk, doing this in public." "I just love it this way." Ethan grinned, wrapping his arm around Ines as they left. Ines stood at the entrance of the alley while Ethan went to get the car. But before he got very far, he heard the screech of tires. He spun around to see two cars squeezing through the narrow alley, one half on the sidewalk, heading straight towards Ines. She was frozen with fear, her eyes wide as she stared at the oing car. Just when Ines thought she was a goner, a strong arm wrapped around her, pulling her safely into his arms. "Izzy, are you hurt?" Ethan quickly checked her for injuries, relieved to find only a slight scrape on her arm. "I...I''m fine." Ines stammered, clearly still in shock. People were so careless when they drove, even standing on the sidewalk wasn''t safe anymore. Ethan held her tightly, the adrenaline still pumping through his veins. It was a close call, too close. He was just grateful he hadn''t gone too far, he couldn''t bear the thought of losing her again. Ines could feel Ethan''s rigid posture and his shaking. She patted his back gently, "Ethan, I''m really okay, don''t worry." "Okay." Ethan scooped Ines up into his arms and carried her to the car. Understanding his fear, she just wrapped her arms around his neck and let him take her to the hospital. The doctor checked Ines thoroughly and confirmed she just had a scrape on her arm. She was a bit dazed, her memories a bit scrambled, but she remembered Ethan''s terrified expression. "Sir, let me take care of you too, your arm is bleeding." Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. The nurse''s words snapped Ines back to reality. She jerked her head up to look at Ethan, "Ethan, where are you hurt?" Ethan replied, "It''s nothing, just a minor wound." "Sir, your clothes are soaked with blood, it''s not a minor wound. Take off your jacket and let me see it," the nurse suggested. Ethan gave the nurse a cold look, clearly not in the mood for her meddling. "Ethan, why are you ring at the nurse? Take off your jacket, let me see." Ines knew by Ethan''s reaction that the nurse was telling the truth. She raised her voice and tried to remove his jacket herself. Worried she would touch his wound, Ethan finally relented and took off his jacket. It was then that Ines noticed his right sleeve was soaked with blood. She felt tears welling up in her eyes. He had been acting so nonchnt, carrying her around when he was even more hurt than she was. The nurse chuckled, "Ma''am, your husband has quite the presence. But you sure know how to handle him." Ines gave the nurse a sheepish smile, "I''m sorry, don''t mind him. Please take care of him." "No worries, I''ve seen it all before. He''s just trying to protect you. It''s not serious." After cutting off Ethan''s sleeve, the nurse finally revealed his bloodied arm, causing Ines'' tears to fall. She asked in a panic, "Are you hurt anywhere else?" Ethan shook his head, "Don''t worry, it''s just this one spot. It''s a superficial wound, I''ll be fine in a few days." It looked like his arm was scraped by something on the car, the wound was rather deep. The nurse spent a while cleaning and bandaging it up, then reminded him, "Remember, keep it dry, don''t touch water. And don''t forget to take your antibiotics to prevent infection." Chapter 146 Chapter 146 When they got back to the apartment, they found Ss pacing anxiously near the entrance, looking like he had been waiting for them. The moment they appeared, he rushed over. "Ms. Galeana, Mr. Meyer, you''re finally back. I''ve been waiting forever," Ss blurted out, clearly agitated. Ines was in a foul mood and didn''t have the patience to deal with Ss. She asked in a low voice, "What are you doing here?" "Ms. Galeana, I need to talk to you." Ethan felt a pang of anxiety, guessing what might being. But judging from Ss''s tone, it couldn''t be as bad as he imagined. Annoyed, Ines retorted, "I''ve got nothing to say to you. Get out of our way." It was then that Ss noticed the bandages on Ethan''s arm and the rolled-up sleeve on Ines''s arm, revealing minor scrapes. He couldn''t help but ask, "What happened to you guys?" Ethan shot Ss a disgruntled look. He thought he had made himself clearst time, but here Ss was, still bothering Ines. "Just a minor mishap, Ss. If it''s not something really important, you should leave." Ethan stressed the word "important", and Ss got the hint. But his news was indeed urgent. Hunter had gone through several rounds of chemotherapy; not only was it excruciating, but it was also completely useless. So, he had decided to stop all treatments and simply wait for death, and Ss couldn''t talk him out of it. "Ms. Galeana, the chairman is sick," Ss blurted out, ignoring Ethan''s attempt to deflect him. Ines stiffened, then snorted at Ss, "So he should go to the hospital. I''m not a doctor. What''s the point of telling me?" "The chairman refuses to ept any treatment. I can''t convince him," Ss said, clearly upset. "And you think I can? I''ve cut ties with him. Please leave. Don''t bother me anymore," Ines snapped back. "Ms. Galeana, there''s no such grudge between a father and daughter. It wasn''t entirely his fault; he had to cut ties with you. After the car ident, the doctors determined that Emma would be disabled for life. Shirley wanted to sue you. If the chairman hadn''t intervened, you would probably be in jail," Ss exined. "I said I didn''t do it, didn''t need his help, and wasn''t scared to go to jail. Why did you all make decisions for me without asking me, leaving me with such a stain on my reputation?" All Ethan could do was wrap his uninjured arm around her, trying to calm her down. "Izzy, don''t get worked up." "Ms., no parent wants their child to go to jail. You had just graduated from college. If you went to jail, your future would be ruined. How could the chairman let it happen? His decision hurt him as much as it hurt you. He watched you grow up as a child; his love for you is real." Ines didn''t want to listen to Ss defend Hunter. Even if he had difficulties when he cut ties with her, he brought his mistress and daughter to A City, and that led to her mother''s death, which was unforgivable. "Ss, you better stop talking." But Ss ignored Ines''s impatience and continued, "Miss, we wanted to believe you too, but the experts determined from the scene that it was your car that hit Miss Emma''s. Her car had already backed up, but there was nowhere to go, so that''s why the ident happened." Ethan lowered his eyes. He knew what Ss was saying. The official report did say that Ines''s car deliberately hit Emma''s. He had checked the experts'' credentials. They were renowned domestic authorities whose findings could serve as legal evidence. Unfortunately, Ines''s car had exploded, leaving no clues. "I don''t believe it. What kind of experts are they? They didn''t even thoroughly investigate the incident; just based on some traces, they determined it was me." Ines''s lips trembled. She vaguely recalled something: she did drive her car towards Emma. She always thought she wouldn''t be capable of such a malicious act, but the truth was right in front of her, which she found hard to ept. "Ms. Ines, it''s all in the past. The chairman and Shirley signed an agreement that they can''t sue you in this life, so let''s not think about it. I just hope you can persuade him considering the circumstances." After a pause, Ss added, "There''s something else you should know. His marriage to Shirley was one of the conditions at that time. Shirley and her daughter could never have entered the Galeana family without your situation." Ethan was taken aback, not expecting this. "What''s the difference between admitting them into the Galeana family or not? Didn''t he bring them to the City anyway? What''s the difference between keeping them at home or outside? Everyone knows the chairman of the Galeana Group has an illegitimate daughter. Admitting their identity is probably his long-standing wish, so he schemed and dared to say it was for my protection. What a hypocrite." Ss sighed helplessly: "Ms. Ines, your prejudice against the chairman is too deep. Maybe he''s not a good husband, but he''s a good father. He''s done a lot for you and Miss Emma. I''ve been with him for many years. I know this better than anyone." "I don''t want to hear it anymore. Just go," Ines waved, signaling him to leave. "Ms. Ines, Hunter''s health is going down the tubes." Ss once again brought up Hunter''s condition, knowing he''d catch hell for itter but feeling it was necessary. He had been a nobody once, and Hunter lifted him up all the way. He''d been by Hunter''s side for decades and just couldn''t stand by and watch his health go to hell in a handbasket, especially knowing he may never receive his daughter''s forgiveness before he kicks the bucket.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 147 Chapter 147 "I won''t go. He can take care of his own body. If he doesn''t care about it, what can anyone else do?" Ines was stubborn, just like Hunter. "Miss, the chairman cares about you. Even if he''s cut ties with you, he still wants to leave the Galeana Group to you. By then, Emma would only get a tiny bit of the inheritance." Said Ss. Ines got even more worked up. "I don''t give a damn about the Galeana Group. He can give it to whoever he wants. It''s none of my business." "Miss, it''s the chairman''s lifelong effort. It''s a fortune that can''t be underestimated." Ss found it hard to believe that Hunter could make such a decision. Inesughed it off, saying, "Don''t treat me like a fool. He''s just trying to get me to protect his life''s work. He just thinks Emma can''t keep it safe. If Emma could handle it, would you guys still be trying to get me into the Galeana Group? The answer is no." At first, she didn''t get why they were all over her, but she soon figured it out. The man valued the Galeana Group above everything else, but why should she take on this responsibility? She didn''t care. She just wanted a simple life. Ss was speechless. Undeniably, this was the main reason, but Hunter''s love for her was real. Hearing Ines say this, Ethan wasn''t surprised. He knew his wife was smart. Ss, worried and anxious, couldn''t think of a better solution, so he just knelt in front of Ines, his knees hitting the ground with a thud. Ethan was taken aback; he never expected Ss to kneel out of loyalty to Hunter. "What the hell are you doing? Get up!" Ines yelled at Ss, her face showing a mix of emotions. "Ms. Ines, I''ve watched you grow up. I''m begging you; please go see the chairman. You''re the only one who can persuade him now." Ss''s voice was shaky. Ines saw the tears in his eyes and bit her lip. Ethan looked at Ss, clearly unhappy. "Ss, you''re Izzy''s elder. What''s with the kneeling? You''re making her feel bad and pressuring her. It''s too much. What would others think of Izzy if they saw this?" Ss was taken aback. Seeing people looking their way, he realized his action was thoughtless. He bowed to Ines and said, "Ms. Ines, I was just desperate. Please forgive me." Ines stayed silent. Ss continued, "Ms. Galeana, if one day you want to see your father and he''s no longer there, you''ll regret it. Please consider it." Ss left after saying his piece, each step heavy. Ines was stunned by his words, unable to move. Ethan sighed. It seemed Hunter''s condition couldn''t be kept from her after Ss''s outburst. It took Ines a while toe back to her senses. She looked at Ethan, confused. "Ethan, what did he mean by all that?" Ethan didn''t answer immediately. He fixed her clothes and softly said, "Izzy, it''s getting windy. Let''s go home and talk." Ines''s heart sank at Ethan''s words. Her bad feeling was getting stronger.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Ines was pulled by Ethan into the elevator, Ss''s words still echoing in her mind. She felt she was getting closer to some ufortable truth, but she was resisting it. Ethan held Ines tightly. Back home, he sat Ines down on the sofa and went to his study. He returned shortly with a yellow file. Ines was calmer after the scene with Ss, but she was taken aback by hisst words. "Ethan, you knew all along?" Ines looked at Ethan, her eyes empty. Ethan nodded. "Ever since they forced you back to the Galeana family, I had my suspicions. The positions he offered you weren''t simple. I asked Lucas to dig into it. It took him a few days to find out. Do you want to see it?" He handed her the file. Ines didn''t take the file from Ethan. Instead, she just looked at him with a bitter smile on her face. She gathered her courage to ask, "What is the illness?" Ethan was taken aback. He sat down on the sofa and held her in his arms. Ines was trembling like a leaf in the autumn wind. Ethan felt a pang in his heart. After a few seconds, he softly said, "It''s lung cancer." Hearing the news, Ines froze. She curled up in Ethan''s arms like a newborn baby without any sense of security. Lung cancer. It was utterly devastating. Every year, countless people die from cancer. Very few could survive and live peacefully into old age. After a while, Ines found her voice. She asked stiffly, "When was it discovered?" "It''s been a while. He probably kept it a secret to stabilize the stock price of the Galeana Group. Besides Ss, the others probably don''t know yet. I wouldn''t have suspected if they hadn''t suddenly said those things to youst time." "So, it''s pretty far along, huh?" Ines recalled a conversation she''d seen between him and a specialist in his study a few days ago. She knew this kind of disease was sneaky; the early signs are vague and easy to miss. But once you''ve caught it, it''s often toote, and surgery didn''t do much good. Ethan couldn''t read Ines''s emotions, but he nodded, Yeah, it seems like it." Ines sat upright in Ethan''s embrace, trying to cool her jets. She then took the file bag out of his hand. It was full of Hunter''s medical records, all neat, from his first visit to the current state of his disease, including the treatment n. Thetest entry showed that he''d recently started chemo, but it wasn''t clear if it was doing any good. Chapter 148 Chapter 148 Ines had a sudden realization. Not long ago, she took Kelly to the hospital and saw Hunter, who looked very weak. The floor they were on seemed to be a chemotherapy room for cancer patients. She went back and told Ethan about it, but he brushed it off, saying that she must have seen wrong and then deliberately changed the subject. He probably knew the truth back then. Ines stared at Ethan, her tone emotionless, "Ethan, when were you nning on telling me if Ss hadn''t said anything tonight?" Ethan gently touched her face and whispered, "Izzy, I''m sorry. I didn''t know how to tell you." Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Ines shook her head, "I''m not ming you. If you don''t want to answer, that''s fine." "Izzy, to be honest, I don''t know. I just thought if I could keep it from you for a while, I would." After all, there was no hope for a cure, so what could be done? He would do whatever he could for her. There was no need for her to be constantly on edge. Ines gave a bitter smile, holding Ethan''s hand and said thoughtfully, "Ethan, I know you''re trying to protect me, to keep me from worrying and being upset, but I''m not as fragile as you think. If something like this happens in the future, tell me. I don''t want to be kept in the dark like a fool. It makes me feel helpless." Ethan hesitated for a moment, then nodded gently, "I understand." "Izzy, no matter what you decide, I''ll support you unconditionally." Ethan made his stance clear in advance. Ines shook her head, looking troubled, "I haven''t decided yet. Let''s see how things go." "Don''t rush. We''ll take our time." He patted his chest, "Rest on me for a while. You must be tired." Hearing this, Ines leaned back into his arms. The two of them sat on the couch in an embrace, neither saying a word. After a while, Ines'' emotions began to calm down. Suddenly, she remembered something and asked, "Last night, you didn''t want me to look for them. Was it because you were afraid I''d upset him?" "That was part of the reason." Realizing it was gettingte, Ines stood up and urged Ethan to shower. Ethan was worried about leaving her alone, but Ines reassured him, "Ethan, don''t worry, I''m okay. Go shower. Just remember not to let your arm get wet." After a moment, she added, "Never mind, I''ll help you. I don''t trust you to do it yourself." Ethan smiled. Usually, he would have enjoyed such treatment, but tonight his wife was in a bad mood. He squeezed her hand and said, "Izzy, it''s okay. I can manage by myself. You go rest." Ines nodded and walked over to the window, staring nkly at the night outside. Even at midnight, the city center was still brightly lit, unaffected by anyone''s mood. It was only when the bathroom door opened that Ines turned around. She took the towel from Ethan''s hand and began to dry his hair, saying, "Ethan, I think I remembered some things tonight." "Izzy, have you regained your memory?" Ines pressed his shoulders, "Ethan, don''t get too excited. I just remembered some fragments. I''m far from recovering my memory. The moment I was almost hit by a car tonight, I suddenly remembered Emma''s terrified face. It must have been when the ident happened. I think I was driving the car towards her." Ethan mulled it over and decided to tell Ines what he had found out, so she wouldn''t get any wild ideas from what Ss had said. "Izzy, I nned on talking to you about this today. No matter what you remember, try not to overthink it. I''ve been investigating your car ident, but there seems to be some mysterious force that is preventing me from finding out more. That''s why I''m convinced there''s more to this." "Someone''s trying to stop you?" Ines looked at Ethan in disbelief. With the entire Meyer family''s support, who could stop him? "If the truth were as it appears, no one would be trying to stop me. There would be no need. I''ve always suspected that the mother and daughter had something to do with this, but they don''t have the power." Ines involuntarily furrowed her brow, feeling like she had fallen into a whirlpool, caught up in someone else''s scheme. "It can''t be them. They don''t have the means." "This whole thing is a bit strange," Ethan nodded, "There are too many unanswered questions. The area where it happened might be a bit remote and surrounded by old neighbourhoods, still I consulted with nearbymunities, and they said there were security cameras around there. After the incident, the surveince footage disappeared and the police couldn''t find where it went. The community came up with the excuse that they might have remembered wrong, which is a far- fetched exnation." After hearing what Ethan had to say, Ines felt a spark of hope. She frowned in confusion and said, "I don''t understand. Emma and I are just ordinary people, we don''t have any status or importance. If it was just a dispute between the two of us, there''s no reason for anyone to stop your investigation. Plus. we haven''t offended anyone. Who would go out of their way to keep us from knowing the truth?" Ethan suddenly looked up, "Izzy, what did you say?" "Huh?" "Repeat what you just said," Ethan said excitedly. Ines was puzzled but repeated what she had just said. Ethan''s eyes lit up and, he smiled, "Maybe I''ve been looking at this all wrong. What kind of trouble could the two of you possibly stir up?" But his brother Beasley was a different story. He had risen rapidly in the military and reached the rank of lieutenant colonel at a young age. There must be many who were jealous of him. If there were anyone who could attract trouble, it would undoubtedly be him. If he started his investigation from Beasley''s side, maybe he could find the answers he was looking for. "Ethan, did you think of something?" Ines looked at Ethan in confusion, not understanding why he suddenly started smiling. "Izzy, I''ve been thinking. My brother''s car ident may not be as straightforward as we thought. I was always looking at things from your and Emma''s perspective,pletely forgetting about him." He''d been deliberately dodging memories of that day five years ago and had neglected to dig deeper into the ins and outs of his big brother''s ident. As a result, he got hoodwinked by some surface-level stuff. Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Ever since learning about Hunter''s illness, Ines seemed calm but was nervous. Ss''s voice echoed in her mind from time to time. Ethan knew what was eating at her. In reality, she was just a tough cookie with a marshmallow center. Apart fromforting words, he couldn''t do much else for her. She was in the thick of it, having experienced the pain firsthand. She had toe to terms with it on her own, no matter how much others might try to help. "Ethan, do you think I''m heartless?" Ines suddenly asked Ethan, her eyes somewhat nk. If a stranger had a disease like this, she would not hesitate to help if she could. But when faced with someone she shared blood with, her feelings wereplicated, and she couldn''t be entirely at peace. "Izzy, don''t get your knickers in a twist. Just do what you want to do and follow your heart," Ethan said with a faint smile at the corner of his mouth. "If I go, I''m bound to argue with him. I can''t guarantee that I can speak calmly to him," Ines said, looking down in the dumps. Ethan couldn''t help but chuckle, ruffling her hair, "Now I know where you got that temper from. It''s in your genes, just like his." When he visited Hunter, it was the same story. A few offhand remarks and the man was up in arms. "What do you mean I''m like him?" Ines retorted. Ethan didn''t continue to debate with her, saying, "Go, Izzy, don''t leave yourself with regrets. After all, he''s your biological father. Try to control your temper and have a proper chat with him." Ines twirled her fingers in her lengthy hair, looking torn, "I don''t know what to say to him. You don''t understand. He''s a man who values face. He doesn''t want others to know that he''s sick." "You''re not ''others.'' Just go and give it a shot." Ines mulled it over all morning, psyching herself up. She headed to the Galeana Group at lunchtime, dropped her name, and walked straight into the chairman''s office. As she approached the office door, she heard Hunter''s booming voice. The door was ajar, and she saw the mess on the floor, papers scattered everywhere, even a smashed teacup. The person bearing the brunt of Hunter''s rage was Ss. Hunter flicked his wrist, sending the ashtray on the table flying towards Ss, hitting him square on the forehead, blood flowing immediately. Ines felt a chill run down her spine, not understanding how Ss could still stand. "Why did you go behind my back to find them? Don''t you listen to me?" Hunter yelled at Ss angrily. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Ss didn''t defend himself, or say a word, just stood there taking Hunter''s wrath. He knew this was coming when he went to find Ines. "Speak! Are you mute?" Hunter growled again, the veins on his forehead throbbing. He looked somewhat intimidating. Ss finally lifted his head, saying calmly, "Chairman, I did it for your sake." "If you cared about me, you would listen to me, not act on your own without my orders! I don''t need anyone''s pity, especially not that girl''s!" Hunter''s voice was still loud. If it wasn''t for Ethan confirming his illness, Ines might have thought this was all an act between him and Ss, a y to bait her. How could he be someone with a terminal illness? Ines couldn''t hold back and pushed the door open, saying sternly, "Are you sure you''re not acting like this to get my sympathy?" A glimmer of light shed in Ss''s eyes, and he looked at Ines with surprise. He knew Ines wouldn''t be so heartless. Hunter was taken aback, and then his eyes turned red with anger. Pointing to the door, "Who permitted you just to walk in? This is the Galeana Group, not a ce you can just barge into, get out." "No wonder you''ve got lung cancer with all this anger," Ines said with a stoic face, a hint of mockery in her eyes. "Ines, is this how you talk to your father?" Hunter pointed at Ines, his face beet red, trembling, seemingly on the edge of exploding. Looking closer, Ines realized he had lost weight in just a few days. His eyes were sunken, and he looked pale. Even that flushed face looked rather sickly. Her heart skipped a beat, not realizing his health had deteriorated so much. "I told you, the day you cut ties with me as your daughter, I ceased to be your daughter. How I speak is my business, you have no right to discipline me. It would be best if you reflected on yourself first. It''s your failure to raise me properly in the first twenty years that resulted in my current personality," Ines retorted, not intimidated by Hunter at all, just with a slightly softer tone. Ss looked worriedly at them, not knowing how to mediate, and could only plead with Ines with his eyes, signalling her not to provoke Hunter too much. "Since you don''t consider me your father, why are you here? Get out!" Hunter kicked her out again. "I don''t want to be here in this hellhole, but don''t act like you''re at death''s door. Are you hoping everyone knows you''re dying? Knows you''re sick? If you''re sick, you should seek treatment, not deliberately let it drag on and annoy people." Originally, Ines wanted to talk well with him, but seeing him so stubborn, she got angry and couldn''t control her emotions. "I''m not sick." Hunter was adamant, his face alternating between red and white. He was hard as nails, and Ines could not back down. Neither side was willing to give in. "You know whether you''re sick or not and whether you''re making a spectacle of yourself by refusing treatment and looking so miserable to gain others'' sympathy. Stand up properly in front of people if you''re capable , don''t make Ss worry. I wouldn''t be here if it wasn''t for him finding me. " "Ines, have you said enough? If you''re done, get out!" Hunter reached for the teacup on the table, but his hand was shaking so much he couldn''t even lift it. Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Ines noticed his movements, her pupils shrank instantly, but in just a moment, she quickly calmed down. "I was right. Are you angry? I''m not even done yet. Don''t bother leaving your stuff to me. Take it to your coffin if you can. If you insist on giving me the Galeana Group, I''ll sell it and donate the money to charity. Don''t expect me to help you keep an eye on it.." "Ines, get out, just go..." Hunter sat on the chair angrily. His chest rose and fell violently, but his voice became weaker and weaker. Seeing Hunter in distress, Ss quickly tried to calm him down. "Chairman, don''t be mad at Ms. Ines. She''s always been like this and didn''t mean any harm." Hunter closed his eyes in pain, and took a long time to recover. Ines felt she had already said what she needed to say and walked straight out of the office. As she left the Galeana Group building, Ines found the sunlight ring. A tear rolled down her cheek as the image of Hunter''s frailty refused to leave her mind. She had barely taken a few steps when she bumped into a woman walking towards her. Looking up, it was Shirley. Shirley frowned and asked, "Ines, what are you doing at thepany Ines gave her a disdainful look and said, "I don''t need to tell you where I''m going.¡± ¡°Ines, you''d better not expect the Galeana Group. Although I promised your father not to reveal what you did in the past, I''m sure I won''t regret it, "Shirley said coldly. Ines raised her eyebrows and looked at Shirley disapprovingly, "Are you threatening. As long as you keep yourposure, I won''t argue with you Shirley, there are some things that I don''t want to argue with you for the time being. You''d better not provoke me, either. By the way, hasn''t Carlose back to you for money recently? Don''t say I haven''t reminded you. That kind of man doesn''t have much credibility and will identally reveal your secret.¡± Shirley''s face turned pale, and she suddenly felt a bit flustered. She looked at Ines incredulously, "What do you know? ¡°I know everything I should and shouldn''t know. I advise you to be polite next time you see me so that I can keep your secret. Also, Emma''s wedding is approaching, and if you want to watch her get married safely, you''d better stay away from me. I feel nauseous when I see your face. "You..." Shirley trembled as she pointed at Ines in anger. Ines swatted her hand away, her gaze icy. "I don''t like people pointing at me. It''d be better if you didn''t do it again." C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Ines returned to her office half an hour before her shift in the afternoon. Throughout the afternoon, she had no intention of work, and Hunter''s weak appearance always appeared in her mind. She couldn''t help but search for information about lung cancer online, and everything she found, in the end was despairing and made her feel more hopeless. Seeing her in such a state, Amelia suggested she take the rest of the day off to go back and rest early. When Ines arrived at the elevator entrance, she heard two people talking, " "Did you see? Mr Swanson was with a pretty girl on his arm. If I''m not mistaken, that''s Mr. Meyer''s daughter. I saw her in the news reports before." "Are you sure? She looked pretty young. Mr. Swanson is in his thirties." ¡°Nowadays, it is popr to have old husbands and young wives. There are plenty of couples with more than a decade''s age difference." Ines knew that the only mayor from the Meyer family was Jacob, and his daughter was Ashley, right? Ines couldn''t help but interrupt,"Excuse me, may I ask who you saw just now?" Ines'' identity was no longer a secret in the office. Both were a bit embarrassed to be caught gossiping about her family members. One of them, who was in the same project group as Ines, quickly exined, "Ines, it was your sister-inw. She came to see Mr Swanson at noon. They talked for a while and left together. We didn''t mean to gossip. It just came up in conversation." Aaron and Ashley? Ines was puzzled about what could be going on between them. Just as she was leaving the office, she saw Aaron and Ashley walking towards her, their hands intertwined, and Aaron carrying quite a few shopping bags in one hand. Ashley waved at her excitedly, "Izzy!" Ashley was so enthusiastic, Ines can''t even pretend not to know each other. She didn''t go to see Aaron, just walked up to Ashley with a smile and asked, "Ashley, why are you here? Ashley smiled and said, "Aaron just came back. I haven''t seen him for a while, so I didn''t think he was very busy today. I took him with me to go shopping. Look, these are all my trophies.¡± Aaron''s gaze asionally rested on Ines, and he could see that her face was a bit off-colour. However, with Ashley present, he didn''t ask much. "By the way, Izzy, let me introduce you. This is Aaron, Ethan''s friend. He''s been working in B City and recently came back to A City," Ashley introduced enthusiastically. Aaron looked at Ashley affectionately, "Ashley, we''re colleagues now. She knows me." "Oh, right! I forgot Izzy is an auditor too," Ashleyughed. Ines nodded, "Ashley, I have to go, but if you''re free, you cane and visit me at work." After Ines finished speaking, she left. Ashley had an unusual look in her eyes,as she kept her gaze on Aaron. "Aaron, what''s the deal with you and Ines? Why are you always staring at her?" Aaron gently tapped her forehead, "You observe so carefully, do you want to change your career to be a detective again?" Chapter 151 Chapter 151 "Of course, I''m helping Ethan prevent wolves. You better not have any ideas about Izzy. Ethan finally found someone he truly likes. But, it might be worthwhile if being a detective can make money." "You girl, why is your heart so biased? Have I ever treated you worse than Ethan? You never say a kind word about me." "That''s not the same. No matter how nice you are, you''re not my brother. I have to stand on Ethan¡¯s side. If you want a girlfriend, I can hook you up, but you absolutely cannot have inappropriate thoughts about Izzy, got it?" "So, are you threatening me now?" "Absolutely! If you dare to mess things up, I''ll be the first to make you pay!" Ashley growled. Ines didn''t want to go home and face the cold, so she went directly to the Meyer Group. Ethan was in a meeting, so she sneaked into the restroom. The bed in the restroom still had Ethan''s unique scent. It was soforting that she fell asleep without realizing it. Until Ethan came to wake her. "When did you get here?" "In the afternoon. I''ve been here for an hour or two. I met up with Hunter at noon." Ethan furrowed slightly, "How did it go?" C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org "We argued again. He was already mad at Ss when I got there. I just couldn''t control my emotions." Ines regretted it. She intended to have a good talk with Hunter, but it ended like this. ¡°The two of you have very simr personalities, and when you meet each other, you''ll be on fire." Ethan said helplessly. Ines was like a porcupine, hurting others with her spikes until they had earned forgiven her. "By the way, how''s the expert you contacted a while ago? Is heing to A City?" "Don''t worry. I''ve arranged it with him. He''ll be in A City next week. Even if he can''t cure, Allowing him to live for a few more years should still be possible." Just then, Ines''s phone rang. Even without the contact saved, she knew it was Ss. Thinking about how she left the Galeana Group, she dared not answer the call. "Who''s calling?" Ethan asked, puzzled. "Ss." Ethan understood what she was thinking, "I''ll get it." "It''s me, Ethan." He introduced himself as soon as he picked up the call. "Mr. Meyer, is Ms Ines not there?" "Tell me if you have anything to say, and I''ll pass it on to Izzy." "The chairman said he would start treatment again after Miss Emma''s wedding. Please thank Ms Ines for me. It''s all thanks to her." "I''ve contacted a foreign expert and will arrange for him to meet you at the right time. But remember, don''t tell Mr Galeana that I arranged this." "Understood, Mr Meyer." He knew Hunter''s temper well. If he found out it was Ethan''s arrangement. He would be upset. After hanging up, Ethan noticed that Ines, looking worried, was now smiling. He couldn''t help but pinch her nose, "It seems your words worked. Hunter agreed to start treatment again." "Hunter''s temper requires a good scolding rather than gentle persuasion." "Maybe that only works on him." Ethan still had some work to do, so he made Ines sit on hisp. Ines had no words for his bad taste and let him have his way. With nothing to do, Ines nced around and noticed a red circle marked on the calendar on the desk. She couldn''t recall any special asion today, "Ethan, what''s today? Why is it marked on your calendar?" Ethan paused momentarily, then smiled at Ines, "Mrs. Galeana, have you forgotten today?" "Should I remember?" "Today is the day you''re supposed to hand in your assignment. How''s your 3000-word reflection going? I can''t wait to read it." Ines flinched instinctively. If she knew it was about this, she wouldn''t have reminded Ethan. It was like shooting herself in the foot. She hadpletely forgotten about it. After a brief thought, she came up with an excuse, "Mr. Meyer, let''s skip this. My trust in you has already been shown through actions. I''ve done my assignment physically, so let''s not stick to the form." Ethan thought about it. She had indeed been behaving well recently. Even with Aaron''s instigation and his concealment of Hunter''s illness, Ines had given him 100% trust, which was beyond his expectations. But letting her off the hook so quickly wasn''t his style. "So, you didn''t write a single word?" Ines knew she couldn''t finish it overnight, so she didn''t hide it, "I''ve been too busy recently, so I didn''t have time to write." "Is it that you didn''t have time, orpletely forgot?" "Ethan, what''s the point of dwelling on this?" "What do you mean, no point? If youpletely forgot, that means your attitude is not right and needs to be punished. If you didn''t have time, I might forgive you and let you make it up some other way." Ethan coaxed. Ines noticed his teasing smile and felt was up to no good like he was setting a trap for her. After thinking for a while, Ines said firmly, "Of course, it''s not about attitude, butck of time. You can ask forpensation in another way." "Then you''ll take the initiative in bed tonight," Ethan said seriously. Ines red at him angrily and punched him in the chest, "Can''t you stop thinking about that?" No matter what, he always managed to bring up that topic. It was beyond herprehension. Ethan grabbed her hand tightly, "Since you chose it, there''s no turning back. You haven''t been spending quality time with me these days." Chapter 152 Chapter 152 At night, Ines could only be pinned down by Ethan. After a round of teasing, Ethan rolled over to let her be on top. Ines had no experience in this area and she could follow how he kissed her to kiss him. But it was only limited to kissing. Apart from that, she couldn''t seem to do anything else. Unfortunately, at that moment she felt an intense difort throughout her body, desperately wanting relief. All she could do was to stare at Ethan with blurry eyes for help. At this point, Ethan wasn''t feeling too good, looking at the helpless girl on top of him. "Ethan, I don''t understand," Ines said softly. "Silly girl." Ethan rolled over and pinned her down again, quickly moving straight to the point. Ines was frustrated, feeling incredibly stupid. Emma''s wedding arrived quickly. Ines didn¡¯t pay much attention to it, but she still heard from people around her that the wedding was quite grand. She thought Phillip would be quiet for a while, but she was wrong. Phillip had people deliver the pills to her office on weekends when she and Ethan didn¡¯t return to the Meyer Mansion and on weekdays. Ines lost her taste for the pills, but she¡¯s not got pregnant yet, which made her anxious. At noon, she couldn''t help but ask Amelia, "Amelia, how long did it take for you to get pregnant with Naomi after you got married?" Amelia was taken aback, "Is the Meyer family expecting a baby?" Ines shook her head, "Not exactly;not only does the Meyer family want a baby, I want one too. I''m 27 now, almost 28. I want to have my first child early so I won''t be too old when I have my second child, which would make it easier to recover." "I didn''t want to have babies when I got married, so we took precautions. After a while, when we thought the timing was right, I got pregnant in two months." "That quickly?" Ines was surprised. She and Ethan had been married for nearly five months now. They had been going with the flow and hadn¡¯t taken any precautions, and Ethan had been very committed. Amelia smiled, "Izzy, don''t rush things. Just let nature take its course. It has a lot to do with a person''s mood. The more anxious you are, the less likely you are to get pregnant. You''re not old, so don''t worry." Ines didn''t see it that way. They hadn''t had a pre-marital check-up, and she didn''t know her health status. "I think I should get a health check-up." "If you want, I can rmend a ssmate of mine. She specializes in obstetrics and gynaecology and has made some achievements in this field." Amelia gave Ines a business card. After work, Ines asked Phoebe to apany her to the hospital. On the way, Ines was filled with indescribable tension, fearing there might be something wrong with her body. ¡°Ines, you''re making me nervous too. Don''t be scared, it''s just a check-up,¡± Phoebeforted. Ines nodded because Amelia had called her ssmate in advance, her friend arranged for an examination immediately after they arrived at the hospital.. The doctor was a meticulous middle- aged woman with a warm smile. However, after the check-up, the doctor didn''t tell them the result, which made Ines sweat. "Mrs Meyer, don''t be nervous. Sit down and answer a few questions for me," the female doctor said with a smile. Ines nodded and sat down. "Do your hands and feet often feel cold?" "Yes, especially in winter. It takes a long time to warm up under the covers." The doctor nodded and asked, "What''s your diet like? Do you like to eat cold food?" "I like to eat cold food in summer." "So, you''re here for a check-up because you and your husband are eager to have a child?" Ines''s heart tightened, "Doctor, is there something wrong with my body?" "Ines, don''t scare yourself. Let''s listen to what the doctor has to say," Phoebe, holding Ines''s hand, gently patted it. "Mrs Meyer, your friend is right. This is not a big problem. Many women have this kind of trouble. You just take a little longer than average to get pregnant. If you guys are nning to have a baby, pay attention to your diet and daily schedule, stay warm, and try not to eat cold food. Also, don''t stress too much and keep a happy mood." "When can I get pregnant?" Ines asked nervously. "That''s hard to say. If it''s fast, it''s only about two years; if it''s slow, it''s only four years. It''s not a big problem, don''t worry. Maybe you''ll have a baby very soon. These things are sometimes unpredictable. The baby wille when he or she wants toe." After leaving the hospital, Ines felt a little ufortable. "Ines, stop looking like the world is ending. It''s not infertility. You''re just slower than normal. And no one in your family is pressuring you. Chill out," Phoebe couldn''t help butfort her. "It''s too slow." "Oh no, I don''t know what to say about you anymore. The doctor said to rx. Look at you, you''re under so much pressure. It''s no wonder you can''t get pregnant faster. The doctor said these things are unpredictable. Maybe the baby wille anytime." "That''s just what people say tofort me. You really believe it." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org "Nowadays, there are many women who have children in their thirties. Look at me, I don''t even have a boyfriend, and I''m not worried. Why are you worried?" Phoebe couldn''t helpining. She really felt that Ines was under too much pressuretely. She was prone to over thinking, and she didn''t know why. "My physical condition is different from yours." Phoebe admitted defeat, "If you do this again, I will call Ethan and ask him tofort you." "No, he''s at work. Don''t bother him with these trivial matters." When Ethan came home, he found that Ines was not in the living room but in the study. When he walked in, she waspletely focused on searching for something online and didn''t notice his arrival. "Izzy, what are you doing?" Ines quickly closed the web page, but Ethan still saw it:te childbirth. He couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow. "You''re back." Ines forced a smile and greeted him. Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Ethan sensed something was wrong with her mood, "Izzy, what''s up? You seem a bit down." "Ethan, I went to the hospital today for a check-up. The doctor said I might take longer than most to get pregnant, so you might have to wait longer to be a father." Ethan chuckled, "It''s all Phillip''s fault, always stirring up stuff. Izzy, we''re not in a hurry about this. It''s just a matter of time. Don''t put too much pressure on yourself." "But the doctor said it might take a few years." "That''s okay, i can wait. In the meantime, we can enjoy our time as a couple. Once the babyes, we won''t have as much time for each other." Ines huffed, "You''re so annoying." "That''s just something all newlyweds are into. I''m no exception." Ines wasn''t in the mood to banter with Ethan. She understood Phillip. Ethan''s family was rtively small, with just him and Ashley. It was only natural to want a child sooner rather thanter. Ines felt a bit guilty, "Ethan, won''t Phillip be disappointed?" "Don''t worry. Phillip''s a sensible man. Do you know why Jacob and Ashley only have one daughter?" "Why?" "When Ashley''s mom gave birth to her, there wereplications, and everyone was terrified. The doctor said they''d have to take care of her health and wait a few years if they ever wanted another child. But there was still a 30% chance ofplications during childbirth. Everyone went quiet, but Phillip immediately said they wouldn''t have another child. Phillip may seem silly at times, but he''s clear-headed when it matters. He would never let his family take such a risk." Ines sighed, "Phillip really is a good man." "Yeah, so don''t overthink it. Late pregnancy is not a big deal in our family. Let me call Phillip and tell him to stop messing with those potions. Once he understands the situation, he won''t bother you anymore." Ethan called Phillip in front of Ines. Phillip sounded like he had just woken up but quickly sobered up when he heard Ethan''s words. He asked to speak to Ines. "Izzy, don''t feel burdened. I only made those drinks for you because I was bored at home. Don''t stress about the baby. Just focus on getting better, okay?" "I understand, Grandpa. I feel a little guilty." "Why would you feel guilty about this? We have such advanced technology now, it''s not a big deal." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org If not for knowing Phillip''s usual tone, she might have thought he was angry. Whether it wasfort or sincerity, Ines was moved, "Thank you, Grandpa." "Being with that rascal Ethan for so long, you still haven''t picked up his shameless ways. Your skin is still as thin as ever," Phillip joked. Ines chuckled and said, "Grandpa, I was just being polite. You''re the one overthinking it." Phillip couldn''t help butugh, "Alright, I won''t give you any tonic. Just let me know when you''re coming over next time, I''ll make something tasty for you." As he hung up, he mumbled, "Such a small matter, was it necessary to wake me up in the middle of the night? Izzy, you need to keep that brat in check." "Okay." After hanging up with Phillip, Ines finally felt a little better. Having mentioned Ashley, she suddenly thought about Ashley and Aaron. "Ethan, are Ashley and Aaron close? I saw them together a few days ago, and they seemed to get along really well. Aaron even went shopping with her." Ethan nodded, "Ashley gets along well with my brothers. She''s always liked hanging around me, so naturally she and the guys are close. Everyone spoils her." "Mr Meyer, it seems your brain isn''t working right now. I''m asking if she has feelings for Aaron." Ethan was taken aback, "I really don''t know about that." "How can you not know about this?" "Don''t underestimate Ashley. She''s quite cunning. Sometimes I can''t even guess what she''s thinking. However, I haven''t seen her and Aaron together often. They probably just missed each other and decided to hang out. Despite her innocent appearance, she''s quite the troublemaker. Noel, Aaron and I have had to clean up her messes countless times, especially during her rebellious phase. We even had to attend parent-teacher conferences in ce of her parents. Initially, we thought it was because her parents were busy, but then we found out that she was causing trouble at school and didn''t want her parents to know, so she used us as shields. There was no trick she wouldn''t try, even convincing her teachers that her parents didn''t have time to educate her. Shepletely fooled the teachers..." Hearing Ethan''s words, Ines thought she might have been overthinking things. "Your family, the Meyers, seems quiteplex." "Once we have a daughter, we''ll treat her like a princess. We won''t let her get into trouble like Ashley." "Forget it. I don''t want to raise a child as willful as Be Dotson. Ashley''s personality is quite good. She won''t be bullied in the future." "Alright then, our child will be the one doing the bullying." "Give me a break. Who would let you teach a child? You''d either spoil them or turn them into a bad egg." Chapter 154 Chapter 154 After work, Ethan went to pick up Ines, and the two of them went to the supermarket to buy groceries together.. Ethan pushed the shopping cart while Ines threw her bag into the cart, her arm linked with Ethan''s. A slight smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as she thought back to the funny incident that had happened at the supermarket not long ago. "Feels like we haven''t been shopping at the supermarket for a long time. Been bogged down with all sorts of odds and endstely." "If you like, we can cook our meals after work from now on." Ethan said with a smile, he too enjoyed this kind of life. "No need to do it every day; you''ll get bored. Besides, your time is precious as a big boss. I wouldn''t dare waste it." Ines joked. "Izzy, I''m seeing the wisdom in Grandpa''s words. The Meyer family isn¡¯t exactly broke. I don''t need to spend so much time at work. Should spend more time with the family." Ines nodded and said, "Of course, grandpa''s life experience is definitely richer than ours." "You let Grandpa win you over just like that?" Ethan knew she was moved by what Phillip had said the night before. "I really admire Grandpa. I still feel like it''s not real. Someone like me would probably face discrimination even in an average family, but I''ve received so much love in your family. I''m so lucky." Ines sighed. "Izzy, watch your words. What do you mean ''someone like you''?" Ethan looked at Ines somewhat displeased, not liking the self-deprecating tone in her voice. She might not be perfect, but she was the one he happily held in his heart. "Alright, alright, my bad. Just got a bit emotional." She believed she wasn''t a bad, and God wouldn''t be so cold-hearted. One day, her dreams woulde true. "Silly girl." Ethan chuckled. "Do you know? Some people who watched our interview video said that I must have saved the world in my past life to have met someone as perfect as you in this life." Ines said with an indescribable warmth in her eyes. Ethan was in a fantastic mood when hearing her words, "Now that''s something I like to hear." "No, I don''t think so. I think all the trials and tribtions I''ve faced in the past few years were tests from God. If I can make it through, God will open another window for me." All hardships were meant to lead to the right person at the right time. Not a step too early or toote, just right.. "You''re feeling quite philosophical today, huh?" Ethan couldn''t help but pinch her cheek. "Just had a moment of realization, feeling pretty lucky." Back at home, Ethan was ready to roll up his sleeves and cook, but Ines, ncing at the recently healed wound on his arm, stopped him, "Ethan, let me do it. I want to learn how to cook." "Izzy, I can cook for you. You don''t need to learn this." "Your wound just healed, you should avoid doing such work. Besides, I can''t always let you take care of me; I''d feel guilty." Ethan knew Ines'' personality. Once she decided to do something, she would definitely do it, "Alright, then it''s your show today. I''ll be your taste tester." "Great! Let''s keep it simple today. Anything tooplicated, I might not get it." Ethan nced at the groceries they bought, "I''ll teach you a few simple dishes tonight ." ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. "Alright." Ethan leaned against the kitchen door, giving Ines instructions. The recipes he chose were simple, so Ines didn''t have much trouble. The only challenge was cutting the meat, which took her over ten minutes to get right. She boasted, "See, cooking isn''t that hard. If I''m willing to learn, nothing can stop me." Ethan couldn''t help but walk over and wrap his arms around her waist, pulling her into his embrace, "You''re right, Izzy. You''ve got talent." "So don''t underestimate me, always thinking I can''t do anything. I''ve always been someone with potential, capable of big things." Ethan smiled, didn''t burst her bubble, and continued, "Add a little meat tenderiser to keep the meat tender. If you want more vor, you can add some seasoning and mix it in..." Under Ethan''s guidance, Ines'' cooking went smoothly, and dinner was soon served. Ines looked at Ethan expectantly, "So, how is it?" Ethan deliberately didn''t answer, prompting Ines to kick him a little, "Come on, spill it. Don''t keep me hanging." "It''s good, really delicious. Mrs Meyer''s cooking hase a long way." "Let me try." Ines happily picked up her utensils, took a bite, and found that it was indeed delicious. After dinner, the two snuggled on the couch watching TV. Ethan leaned back on the couch, with Ines'' head on hisp and arms wrapped around his waist, a nket draped over her. She was watching aedic variety entertaining. The show had been on the air for over a decade, and the hosts were funny, making Inesugh out loud. Ethan had never imagined he would ever spend time watching such mindless variety shows. Ethan looked at Ines with amusement. Ines, realizing she might haveughed a bit too loudly, asked, "Did Iugh too loudly? Was it silly?" "Not at all, Mrs. Meyer. You always look good, no matter how youugh." "Ethan, do you like this kind of married life?" Ines suddenly looked up at Ethan, asking seriously. Ethan didn''t hesitate, "I do." He loveding home every day, seeing the light she left on for him by the bed after finishing work in his study, and even more, having a woman he loved sleeping in his arms, all of which made him feel incredibly at peace. "I do too. This simple and ordinary life can also be a joy. I don''t like those filled with ups and downs, passionate rtionships." Every woman yearned for a passionate love affair, and she was no exception. But now, she found she preferred this feeling of being a loving couple with Ethan, a sense of mutual support, peaceful and warm. Chapter 155 Chapter 155 "Ines, there''s no such thing as endless passion," Ethanughed. "Every marriage bes mundane, and it''s the mundane ones that stand the test of time." Ines nodded and said, "Lately, I''ve been feeling very restless inside. I suddenly feel like an idiot. Each day is just another day, why not just take it easy." "You''re doing great, Izzy," although she hadn''t been back in A City long, she''d been through a lot. The uncovering of unknown truths, baseless usations, even her once despised rtive falling ill with an incurable disease. Each was a significant challenge. "Hmm, I''ll try harder." Ethan really admired her spirit of self-encouragement. It seemed like nothing could knock her down. The following day, Ines got a call from Ss when she woke up. He said that Emma wasing home and wanted to invite her and Ethan over for dinner. Ines frowned, she knew this was Ss'' idea. Seeing that Ines was silent, Ss continued, "Ms Ines, Mr Galeana''s treatment is pretty risky. If anything goes wrong, he might not make it back. Please consider it as hisst wish. He''s been waiting for this day for a long time." The expert that Ethan rmended had arrived in A City. After examining Hunter, he suggested that Hunter should go abroad for treatment. Hunter had agreed. Ines pursed her lips without directly refusing. "I''ll let you know by noon." After hanging up, Ines looked at Ethan with frustration and went to help him with his tie. Ethan lowered his head to cooperate with her. It was Ines'' first time doing this, but she did it smoothly. In a while, a beautiful tie was ready. "What happened? Didn''t you sayst night that you''vee to realize you need to stay calm and face everything? What did Ss say that upset you so much?" "These people are paving the road to hell with good intentions. I just eased up a bit, and he''s asking me toe home for dinner because Emma''sing home. What''s it to me?" Ines was indignant. "You didn''t refuse, did you?" "I didn''t want to upset Hunter anymore." "Izzy, we''re just going over for dinner. I''ll go with you if you want. If not, that''s okay too." Ines made up her mind, recalling Ss'' words. "Let''s go then." Hunter was due for his second treatment in a few days, she wanted to check on his condition. "Okay, I''ll pick you up after work." Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Ines called Ss back. He was thrilled and quickly told Hunter, "Mr Galeana, Ms Ines agreed. She said she''lle over for dinner with Ethan." Hunter''s eyes flickered with happiness, but he didn''t show it. Ss knew Hunter had been waiting for this day for a long time. That evening, Ethan brought Ines over. This was her second visit to the Galeana family. Unlike her previous visit, this time she felt lighter with Ethan by her side. Ss was waiting at the door. When Ines got closer, she noticed Hunter was also there, standing behind Ss and not easily noticeable. "Ms Ines, Mr Meyer, dinner''s ready. Pleasee in," Ss greeted them warmly. Ines didn''t acknowledge Hunter, just nodded at Ss. Ethan managed a smile and handed Ss a package. "Mr. Meyer, you didn''t have to bring a gift. We''re just having a family dinner." Ethan smiled and didn''t say anything. He took Ines'' hand and walked in. Upstairs, Emma was pouting. "Mom, what''s dad up to? Why would he invite Ines and Ethan for dinner just because I''ming home? It''s a total buzzkill." Shirley tugged at her sleeve, preupied with why Ines knew about the secret she''d been hiding for over twenty years. "Just endure it for dinner, we''ve endured for years for this moment. We can''t mess it up now." "I''m tired of always having to endure." "How are Aiden''s parents treating you?" "They''re okay,I guess. They''re not very satisfied with me, but they''re drawn to everything the Galeana Group has to offer. So far, they''re being nice. Who knows what they''re really thinking." "Put some of the efforts you''re putting into Aiden into them. After all, they''re his parents. And Aiden isn''t in control yet, so you need to curry favour with them. Keep your temper in check." "I know, Mom. I just got back and you''re already lecturing me. Can''t you let me rx for a bit?" Emma was unhappy. "Ungrateful girl, I''m just looking out for you. Okay, let''s go down for dinner." Shirley shook her head with a smile. When Ethan and Ines entered the living room, Shirley and Emma were justing down from upstairs. Emma''s eyes lit up when she saw Ethan. She felt a pang of jealousy toward Ines. She was so lucky to marry a rich guy like Ethan just by chance. Despite her dissatisfaction, she didn''t show it on her face. "Hi." Ines didn''t respond, Ethan just nodded slightly. Emma knew they didn''t like her. She didn''t like them either. After saying hello, she went to the dining room on her own. Shirley smiled, "You two are here. Please sit." Hunter looked around, noticing someone was missing. "Where''s Aiden? Why isn''t he here yet? Are we supposed to wait for him?" "Emma said he had to dash off to the office for a bit, but he''s on his way back now, should be here any minute, we can start the grub." Shirley exined, then hollered towards the kitchen, "Eda, let''s get the food out!" Chapter 156 Chapter 156 Aiden ran a bitte, and dinner was already served by the time he showed up. Seeing Ines and Ethan there, he was taken aback for a moment. Emma couldn''t help but move towards the seat next to her, "Aiden, sit here." Eda was very considerate of Ines, cing all of Ines'' favourite dishes in front of her. With Hunter being unusually silent, the dinner was eerily quiet. Ethan, wearing gloves, was peeling shrimp and crab for Ines, seemingly unaffected by the sombre atmosphere. Ines was just focusing on her food. Seeing the couple, Hunter felt a sense of relief, "Ines has a weak constitution, don''t feed her too much of this." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Ines remembered the doctor''s advice and put the crab meat she had taken a bite into Ethan''s mouth. Ethan smiled and directly swallowed it. Emma watched Ines and Ethan enviously. As a couple, Aiden wouldn''t even help her pick up food, let alone peel shrimp, crab, or eat the food she had eaten. Comparing the two, Emma felt very upset. But Aiden was still eating, not even giving her a nce. She chuckled bitterly,"Ethan is such a thoughtful man." Ines raised an eyebrow, assuming Ethan wouldn''t respond, but to her surprise, he said, "I only treat my wife this way." Emma¡¯s face turned awkward and she stopped talking, quietly eating her food. The sounds around the dinner table were strange, even the sound of chewing was almost inaudible. Heavy rain began to fall outside at some point,, with thunder echoing in the distance. Ines worriedly nced out the window, unsure of when the rain would stop. After a long silence, Hunter finally spoke, "I have to go overseas for work tomorrow; it might take two or three months. Ss will take care of things at home and thepany, I will turn off my phone, don''t bother looking for me if there''s nothing important." Ines'' hand tightened under the table, and Ethan gently held it. Experts had advised Hunter to temporarily abandon his work and focus on treatment for the best results. "Hunter, why so sudden? You didn¡¯t mention it before." Shirley forced augh. "Yeah, how can Uncle Ss handle bothpany and household matters alone? I have quite some free time recently; I can help and so can Aiden." Emma tugged at Aiden''s arm. Aiden was taken aback, "Yeah, if you''re really overwhelmed, I can help out too." "Are you sure you can handle these matters?" Emma choked up. She had been treating her legs for years and hadn''t been in thepany for a long time. She had been in the public rtions department since she joined and hadn''t dealt with majorpany affairs. "Hunter, can''t it be learned? No one seeds overnight. Everyone goes from the relentless effort to sess." Seeing Emma being questioned, Shirley couldn''t help but chime in. "By the time she learns, it''ll be toote. I don''t have that much time to let her learn. There''s no room for error in my work." Emma pouted unhappily, "But you can''t just hand over thepany to an outsider." At this, Ss'' face changed slightly, and even Eda was not much better. They had spent their lifetime in the Galeana family, working hard, and now, in the eyes of others, they were still outsiders. They felt very bitter. Hunter mmed his fork on the table and told Emma in a deep voice, "Repeat what you just said." Ines nced at Emma, not understanding whether she was really brainless or just spoke out of turn. Ss had been in the Galeana family for so many years and was the most trusted person of Hunter, yet she called him an outsider. Wasn''t this just asking for trouble? Ethan also paused, feeling that Emma was not as discreet as Shirley. He wondered how she managed to be the manager of the public rtions department. "Dad, I''m sorry, I misspoke." Emma quickly apologized. "Hunter, don''t take it to heart with Emma. This girl is just simple and straightforward, there''s no malice in her words, she definitely didn''t mean to disrespect Ss, right Ss?" Shirley hurriedly said, then looked at Ss. Ss didn''t want Hunter to be angry, "Miss Emma is usually not like this, she might have just not thought before speaking today, I won''t take it to heart." Hunter was clearly in a bad mood. Seeing that Ss didn¡¯t mind, he didn¡¯t bother to argue, but he felt very suffocated. He¡¯d be away for such a long time, and none of these people cared about his health, nor reminded him to take care, but instead showed dissatisfaction with his arrangements for thepany. The greedy and hypocritical faces were really chilling. He nced at Ines and Ethan and found that the ones who truly cared about him were them. After dinner, Hunter told Ines and Ethan,"The rain is too heavy, you guys should stay here tonight." Then he went upstairs directly. Ines was very angry. If it weren''t for him to focus on treatment, she wouldn¡¯t want toe here and see his face. Ethan squeezed her hand, signalling her not to bicker with a sick person. Indeed, it was still raining heavily outside until eleven o''clock at night. Ss and Eda, who were the happiest, immediately arranged rooms for them. Eda quickly led them upstairs, "Ms Ines, I didn''t expect you to return one day. I''ve kept your room for you. It''s been cleaned every week and locked on normal days. No one can enter except me. The stuff inside is almost the same as when you left." "Thank you very much, Eda." Ines smiled. "You''re too polite, it''s my duty. You don''t know, your room has great lighting and venttion, Emma has always liked it. If it wasn''t for your father''s refusal, she would have moved in long ago." Eda could barely conceal her anger. The greediness of that mother and daughter was really annoying. "What''s the point of keeping the room when the person is gone." Ines said nonchntly. "I totally disagree with you there. Some things are just yours, and you can''t just hand them over to them, even if you don''t live there anymore. Plus, that''s the ce you''ve lived since birth, filled with all your sweet memories. How can you just let them in to wreck it?" Chapter 157 Chapter 157 Ines didn''t respond, her attention absorbed by the top floor. "Who lives on the top floor?" She remembered from herst visit that it was a study room, but she didn''t notice any bedrooms. She did, however, notice Hunter heading up there. "That''s Hunter''s bedroom and study room." Ines raised her eyebrows. When she came up, she noticed that Emma and Shirley seemed to live on the second floor, and her room was on the third floor. Her bedroom was the quintessential European princess style, with pure white furniture from the bed frame to the wardrobe and vanity. Delicate pictures hung on the wall, making the room incredibly warm. Ethan''s attention was immediately drawn to Ines''s photos on the wall. Eda quickly changed the bedding, her movements swift and neat. Seeing that Ethan''s attention wasn''t on them, she quietly pulled Ines''s hand. "Miss, your taste in men is much better than Emma''s. I saw it just now, he''s so considerate. In contrast, Aiden always looks so indifferent to Emma, not caring at all. Marrying such a man will definitely lead to regrets." Ines justughed, as many people had said the same to her. Eda talked to Ines for a while longer before reluctantly leaving the bedroom. "Mr Meyer, Ms Ines, you can rest here tonight. If you need anything, just call me." They both nodded. Ethan realized thatpared to B City, this ce was truly Ines''s home.He saw traces of Ines everywhere he looked, so he waspletely attracted as soon as he came in. There were several large photo albums of her on the table, he sat on the edge of the bed, carefully flipping through them. They contained photos of her from birth to adulthood. Almost every photo had a smiling face, indicating that the young Ines was a happy child. It was herter experiences that made her more reserved and calm. As he looked at the photos, Ethan couldn''t hide the smile on his face. "Izzy, you haven''t changed much from when you were young. I can recognize you at first nce. Your body hasn''t gained weight, you''ve always been lean." Ines, however, was thinking about Shirley and Hunter not sleeping in the same room. When did that happen? Did they separate to hide an illness? For a moment, Ines had countless guesses. It wasn''t until Ethan specially called her over to look at the album that she returned back to reality. Ines leaned in to look and sure enough, she saw many mini-versions of herself. Each one wasughing, posing in various funny ways. She found it quite amusing. She rested her head on Ethan''s shoulder, nning to take a good look. Ethan carefully flipped through the photos, spending a long time on each one. Ines urged, "Ethan, can you go a bit faster? What are you thinking about?" "I''m wondering what you were thinking about when these photos were taken." Ines couldn''t help butugh. "You''re so boring, pondering over such things." "I didn''t realize you''ve always been a beauty." Receiving apliment from her husband, Ines was in high spirits. "Of course." Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Suddenly, Ethan let out a soft exmation. "Is this bare-bottomed chubby girl also you?" Hearing that, Ines immediately leaned in to look. Indeed, there was a photo of her around the age of one or two, bare-bottomed. She quickly covered the photo. "You''re not allowed to look at this one." "I don''t know who it is." Ines whispered, but the child''s round face in the photo clearly hinted at her shadow, and her sophistry seemed so weak. Ines wanted to snatch the album away immediately. Ethan was flipping backwards from her eighteen-year-old photos, and she was worried that there might be even more embarrassing photos further back. Ethan held the album high above his head, out of Ines''s reach. She could only re at him. "Ethan, you don''t need to look at the ones behind. What good photos can be taken when I was one or two years old?" Even if she weren''t bare-bottomed, she would still be in diapers, which was embarrassing to think about. "That''s not necessarily true. The ones behind might be more exciting." Ethan was determined to look at the rest of the photos. Ines could only sit on the bed, pouting. Ethan nced at her with a smile. "Izzy, what are you afraid of? I''ve seen every part of you, there''s no need to hide anything from your own husband." "It''s not the same." Ines felt embarrassed, as if she was being choked. Ethan shook his head with a smile and continued to flip through the album. He noticed that the person who arranged the photos was very careful. Photographs were taken every one or two months, from one month old to three months, to six months. There were photos of Hunter holding her, and also of her deceased mother. There were family photos of the three of them, but mostly solo shots of her. For example, the moment she lifted her neck while crawling on the ground, or sitting in a car, or wobbling while learning to walk. He saw almost all of Ines''s baby years and was incredibly moved. He decided that he would make several photo albums for their children in the future, as they were very meaningful. "Izzy, nothing is revealing in the ones behind, don''t worry." "Really?" "I''m not lying." Ines came over to look at the photos again. She was a bit chubby at one or two years old, especially her hands and face, so chubby that people would want to pinch them. "You were quite cute when you were young. But why are there no photos after you became an adult?" Ethan suddenly asked. "That was when I found out about the existence of that mother and daughter." Her mother committed suicide that year, so how could she take photos during that time? Even if she asionally did, she definitely didn''t have the mood to arrange them. Ethan gently hugged her shoulder and changed the topic. "You used to enjoy taking photos, which is somewhat different from now." "Well, I didn''t know anything when I was young." "When we go back, let''s bring these photos with us. That way, I can look at them when I''m bored." "You''ve already looked through them, what''s there to look at." Chapter 158 Chapter 158 Ines hadn''t lived here for a while. The ce smelled a bit musty. They opened the window for a period of time before hitting the bed. Ines was tossing and turning in the unfamiliar bed. "Ethan, I never thought I¡¯de back here." "Izzy, this is your childhood home, after all. It''s natural for you to return. There''s nothing to overthink." They were silent until Ines asked, "What did the expert say? How long can we extend our lifespan?" "He''s doing a bit better. As long as we don''t stress him out and he takes good care of himself, five or six years is not a problem." The next day, Ines woke up very early. Eda had breakfast ready for everyone, but only she and Ethan were at the table. Eda had made Ines''s old favorite, meat sauce noodles, but Ines had little appetite. "Ms Ines, why have your tastes changed so much now? You used to love this dish. But because it''s a bit greasy, Madam only allows you to eat it once in a while." "Really? My stomach isn¡¯t as strong as it used to be. I prefer lighter meals in the morning." "I see. Then I''ll prepare more light things for you next time. Greasy food isn''t the best for you." Eda couldn''t help but mutter in a low voice, "Have I remembered it wrong? Last time you came home, I noticed that you weren¡¯t as keen on many things you used to love." Ethan seemed confused by her changed taste too.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Hunter and Ss came down from upstairs, Ss carrying a huge suitcase. Eda knew Hunter was undergoing treatment and asked, "Did you pack everything? Did you forget anything?" "It''s all good. I can get whatever I need there." "Let''s get going then," said Hunter. Ines''s hand clenched. Ethan smiled and said, "Izzy and I also have time today. Let''s go to the airport with you." At this, a glimmer of light sparked in Hunter''s eyes. He nced at Ines, who avoided his gaze and looked away. "Let''s get a move on then. I have work in the morning." "Alright, I''ll load the luggage onto the car right away," said Ss, cheerfully carrying the luggage to the car. Hunter followed quickly. Ethan and Ines also left the house. They drove out of the Galeana familypound one after another. Ines grumbled, "Why did you have to offer to drop them off?" "Izzy, a patient¡¯s mood is important. The treatment process is painful. Giving him hope is more important than anything." Ines sighed lightly. "Alright." The airport was bustling early in the morning. Seeing the nes took off, Ines felt a twinge of bitterness. "I wonder if he can take care of himself." "Don''t worry. I''ve arranged for someone to look after him." Ss''s eyes were a bit red. He had always been with Hunter and was used to having him around. "Ms Ines, Mr Meyer, thanks foring today. Mr Galeana is pleased. I''m sure he''ll get better." Ethan nodded. "If you need help with anything at thepany, just let me know." "The chairman has arranged everything. As long as nothing major happens, it should be fine." Ethan and Ines left. Just as they were about to drive off, Silvia called. "Mr Meyer, guess where I am?" Ethan frowned, "You didn¡¯t sneak back, did you?" "Your memory sucks! I''ve finished all my courses. I''ve officially graduated. How could you call it sneaking back?" Silvia sounded a bit hurt. Ethan seemed to have forgotten about this. "Hey, I''m at the airport now. Could you pick me up? I have quite a lot of stuff." Ethan didn''t hide this from Ines, who recognized Silvia''s voice. It was Le''s sister, Silvia. "I''m at the airport now too. Wait for me at the entrance." "Okay." After hanging up, Ethan looked at Ines. "Izzy, Silvia''s back in the country. She''s at the airport now. Would youe with me to pick her up?" Ines nodded. "Sure, just make it quick. I don''t want to bete for work." "Don¡¯t worry. It''s not rush hour yet. We won¡¯t bete." "Ethan, are you close with her?" Ines couldn''t help but ask. "Izzy, don''t overthink it. She''s like a little sister to me. Le died because of me. She has no family left, so I must take care of her. But I don''t have any other feelings for her. You can think of it as me sponsoring a poor girl." "Okay." "Are you upset?" "Not because of her." It was because she was worried about Hunter. Ines had never seen a picture of Le and didn''t know what she looked like. But Silvia was a gorgeous girl. Very beautiful. Perhaps because of her youth, Silvia was full of vitality and had a certain charm. She had tworge suitcases next to her, which were packed with a lot of stuff. As soon as she saw them, she waved vigorously. Before Ines could say anything, Silvia spoke, "Ms Ines, hello, I''m Silvia. You can call me Silvia." Chapter 159 Chapter 159 "Hey there." Ines greeted with a smile. " As Silvia was about to respond, "Calling you Mr Meyer feels too unfair, I''d rather treat you like a big brother. please help me carry my luggage?" Ines felt a little ufortable with such familiarity, but looking at Silvia''s innocent smile, she was at a loss for words. Ethan noticed the change in Ines''s mood, "No need to treat me like your big bro, just call me Ethan." He didn''t have any unnecessary thoughts towards Silvia but didn''t want Ines to misunderstand anything. Ines nced at Ethan, as if to say, ''good on you for catching on''. Ethan slightly curled his lips and was in a good mood.. "Anyway, it''s just a nickname, no big deal. Now, Ethan, could you help me with my luggage? I don''t fancy freezing my butt off this early morning." Silvia spoke without care. Ines didn''t notice any change in Silvia''s expression. This made her feel uneasy. Even if Silvia only saw Ethan as a brother, his blunt attempt to set a distance should have elicited some reaction. But now, her expression remained unchanged, indicating two possibilities: either she was good at hiding her feelings or she was incredibly open-minded. Realizing what she was pondering, Ines chuckled. Her tendency to overthink was acting up again. Ethan loaded the luggage into the trunk of the car. Silvia took the initiative to pull Ines to the back seat. "Ms Ines, I''ve seen the interview video of you and Ethan. I''m really happy for Ethan. He''s had a rough couple of years." Ines, not being a naturally outgoing person, felt slightly ufortable with Silvia''s closeness. "Thanks." "You''re not freaked out by me, are you? I''m just an extrovert." Seeing Ines''s difort, Silvia let go of the arm she was holding. Ethan started the car and nced at the two in the rearview mirror. "Izzy, Silvia has always been like this. You''ll get used to her." Silvia pouted, "Ethan, I''ve noticed that you''re bing more and more of a wife ve. The moment Ms Ines seems ufortable, you''re all over it." "Wait until you get married, then you''ll know." "Marriage? I don''t even have a boyfriend." "Well, you can start looking for one when you return home." Silvia pouted again and fell silent. Ines tried to lighten the mood, "Silvia, what did you study abroad?" "I studied Psychology." "Why did you choose Psychology? I heard it''s quite a difficult field." Ines looked at Silvia with surprise, not expecting such a free-spirited girl to choose such a major. Silvia sheepishly exined,"It''s not that I was particrly interested, it''s just that I found the other majors even harder. And by coincidence, my test scores just made the cut for Psychology." "Izzy, she was an average student." Ethan added. Ines smiled, "Doing well in school doesn''t guarantee sess. As long as you''re not doing terribly, it''s fine." Ines was a top student, but now she was just an average office worker. Of course, she did strike gold when choosing a husband - she identally picked a rich one. When Silvia heard Ines''s words, she felt like she had found a kindred spirit and immediately comined to Ethan, "See, Ethan, even Ms. Ines agrees with me." Ethan''s face darkened slightly, "Was I wrong to push you to study hard? If I hadn''t pushed you, you wouldn''t have made it abroad with your barely passing grades. When Izzy says ''not doing terribly'', she means maintaining an above-average level." "Alright, alright, I owe my sess to you, okay?" Silvia deted. Ethan shook his head and continued driving. From their conversation, Ines could tell that they had a good rtionship. Otherwise, Ethan, who was usually cold, wouldn''t speak in such a tone. "So, what job are you nning on getting?" Silvia scratched her head in frustration, "That''s a big question. My education is not enough to teach at a university, but working for the Meyer Group seems like a stretch. So, I don''t have any concrete ns yet." "At least you''re aware enough not to expect me to find you a job." Ethan stated. "Can you continue your studies?" "Oh my god, I''d need to be capable of that. I barely achieved my bachelor''s degree because of Ethan''s pushing, let alone further studies. The exams abroad are much harder than at home, and I can''t even pass them. My world is just that sad." "Then you might as well be a jobless bum." Ethan conceded. "Humph, don''t underestimate me. I studied abroad after all. My professors all said I have a knack for Psychology and if I dedicated more time, I could be a great counsellor. In fact, I''ll start sending out resumes online tomorrow. I''m going to be a counsellor." Silvia handed Ines a notebook. Ines flipped it open to find a certificate for a world-ss counsellor. Ethan couldn''t help butugh, "And here you were saying you couldn''t find a job." "I was just messing with you. I''ve had ns for a while." Silvia shrugged. Ines was amused by her and found her somewhat simr to Ashley, both being cheerful and hard to dislike. After a while, Silvia suddenly opened up, "Ethan, you and the Meyer family have helped me for so long, I''m really grateful. It wouldn''t be right to keep relying on you guys in my twenties. From now on, I''ll take care of myself and not bother you." Ethan fell silent upon hearing this. Ines didn''t know why, but she also felt a pang in her heart.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Ethan dropped Silvia off at home - it''s a tiny apartment, but good enough for one. He helped her with her luggage but didn¡¯t go in himself. "You came back without notifying me in advance, so I didn''t have time to let someone clean it up for you. The ce hasn¡¯t been lived in for a while, so I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a lot of dust. If you''re tired, I can get a cleaner to tidy it up. You can move back in when it''s clean." "No worries, Ethan. I''m not the little girl I used to be. I''ve been living on my own for years now. I can take care of myself. You better hurry and take Ms Ines back to work, or you''ll bete." "Alright, if you need anything extra, Lucas can help out. His contact is still the same." "Got it, I will." "Alright, we¡¯re leaving then." Silvia nced at Ines and said politely, "Ms Ines, the ce is a mess, so that I won''t invite you in. I''ll have you over when it''s tidier." This was the ce where she and Le once lived in. Le had bought the apartment after years of hard work post-graduation. Silvia didn¡¯t want Ines to stay in it. After leaving the apartment, Ines couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Ethan, does she not have any family?" Ethan shook his head. "Her parents passed away a long time ago. When I met Silvia and Le, they were living together, just the two of them. They don¡¯t have contact with any rtives." After hearing this,Ines felt a bit down, but she was in a hurry and had to return to the office. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. After work, Ines got a call from Phoebe, who was waiting for her at a barbecue ce and wanted her to foot the bill. By the time Ines arrived, Phoebe was already eating. She was rather brutish, far from elegant. Her mood was not good. Ines pulled out a chair and sat down, "What¡¯s wrong? Who upset you?" "It''s the bloody blind dates. Seriously, there¡¯s no justice in this world. A guy who¡¯s 167cm had the nerve toin that I''m only 165cm. It¡¯s so infuriating. Today was an exception, I wore t shoes. If I had worn high heels, I could have easily looked down on him. Let''s see him try to wear heels..." Ines couldn¡¯t help butugh. Noel had been trying so hard to woo her, but she wasn¡¯t interested at all, and even went on blind dates. Poor Phoebe, she must be frustrated after all these years of unsessful blind dates. "You''re unusually vulnerable today. I''m not used to it." Ines teased. Phoebe shot Ines an annoyed look. Ines was amused by Phoebe¡¯s reaction. "So today you can eat freely,. It''s on me." "You''re not short of money now, and I can''t see your pain" Phoebeined. "You''re such a bad friend." Ines retorted. Ines prepared her dipping sauce and started eating. Phoebe was still concerned about Ines'' health check-up and couldn''t help but ask, "Did the Meyer family give you trouble after they found out you have difficulty getting pregnant?" "No, Grandpa told me to focus on getting better." "Ethan''s grandpa sounds fun." "Yes, the Meyer family is pretty nice." "Ines, you seem to be in a better mood today. You were off for a while. Did something happen?" Ines told her about Emma being her sister and the deal Hunter made with the mother and daughter. She even mentioned Hunter''s illness. "He left for treatment abroad this morning. Even if the treatment works, he only has a few more years to live." Phoebe was shocked and sighed, "No wonder you¡¯ve been out of sorts. I don¡¯t know what to say about your father. His cleverness was ruined by that mother and daughter. Otherwise, your family could have lived a good life." "Let''s not talk about him. Let''s just enjoy our meal." "Ines, next time something like this happens, don''t keep it to yourself. Tell me right away. I may not be able to help much, but I can be there with you to stir things up." "Okay." Not long after, a man quietly sat next to Phoebe. It was none other than Noel. "Noel, what''s wrong with you? Why are you following me?" Phoebe was immediately annoyed when she saw him. Noel nodded at Ines and then looked at Phoebe with a yful smile, "I told you to stop going on blind dates and just be with me. Why do you insist on wasting your time? As long as I¡¯m here, you won¡¯t have a sessful blind date." Phoebe had a lightbulb moment and red at Noel, "Was the guy I met tonight arranged by you?" No wonder the date felt odd. The guy spoke as if he was reciting a script, which irritated her. It turned out it was all Noel''s doing. "Of course, how was his talk? I had to test it first. If it was too bad, I wouldn¡¯t dare let him meet you." "So you''re the reason why my blind dates have been so frustrating?" Phoebe forced a smile. Ines knew this was a sign that Phoebe was about to explode. After Noel admitted it, Phoebe threw a ss of water in his face. Unsatisfied, she poured another over his head. "Go to hell." Phoebe shouted angrily. Noel sat there with his eyes shut, allowing the water to flow down his face and soak his clothes. His suit was unbuttoned, revealing a white shirt now stained with water. He looked pretty miserable. Phoebe''s shout also sessfully attracted the attention of those around him, with many people looking towards him and some even starting to point out. Ines was worried, she felt Phoebe was overdoing it in public. Chapter 161 Chapter 161 But things didn''t go as she expected. She thought Noel would blow his top, but instead, he just kept his cool, wiping off his face with a tissue from the box,pletely unfazed by the res from others. He stared at Phoebe, "If you''ve got more tricks up your sleeve, bring it on." "Noel, don''t you have any shame?" Phoebe red at Noel, disgusted by his calm demeanour, feeling helpless against his relentless pursuit. "Can shame feed me or get me a wife? Not having a wife is the real issue." Noel said solemnly, looking at Phoebe with conviction. Ines couldn''t help but chuckle at Noel''s audacity. She wouldn''t believe it if she didn''t see it with her own eyes. She could already predict the oue between Noel and Phoebe ¨C they would soon be a pair of lovebirds who enjoy bickering. "Why are you so fixated on me when there are so many other women out there?" Phoebe was fuming, her chest rising and falling with each breath. She had no idea why she had to deal with a man with skin thicker than a city wall. It was utterly bad luck. "Because I''ve found that you''re the only one who''s right for me." Noel said, referring to their matching backgrounds and her personality, which he found appealing. "I can introduce some to you." Phoebe was grinding her teeth in anger. Her workce was teeming with female editors, mostly old maids. "But I''m only interested in you now." "Noel, have you had enough fun?" Phoebe suddenly raised her voice. Noel was startled by a rare sight. He reigned in his smile and exined earnestly, "Phoebe, I''m not messing around. I''m not one of those young kids, I''m already thirty, I''ve had my fun, now I''m ready to settle down." "Just because you''re ready to settle down, why do I have to suffer?" Phoebe remained unyielding, completely dismissing Noel''s sincerity. Noel was almost begging for mercy, looking to Ines for help. "Ines, tell me, how do I deal with someone as stubborn as her who isn''t willing to give me a chance?" Ines didn''t know what to say. She saw Phoebe picking up her bag and heading out. She quickly gave Noel a meaningful look, signalling him to follow. Noel immediately ran after her. Watching them leave one after another, Ines thought that Phoebe''s stubbornness was just what Noel needed to handle. She wasn''t worried about Phoebe at all, and went to settle the bill after having her fill. Ethan came to pick up Ines soon after, "Why did it end so soon? Where''s Phoebe?" "She got pissed off by Noel and left. Noel went after her." "Noel really takes his time, he''s been at it for so long and still hasn''t won Phoebe over." Ines gave him a shove, "Don''t always think you''re so great. It''s just that I have good taste and chose you." Ethanughed and checked the time. It was still early. The bridal photography studio called them several times to tell them that their wedding photos were ready. They went to the studio to pick up the retouched photos. The photos were simply perfect, without a single w. The photographer had selected the two best photos and erged them into framed pictures to be hung. Although Ethan wasn''t grinning, his smile was charming. She looked just as stunning in her wedding dress standing in front of him. "Izzy, let''s hang these photos up." "Where should we hang them?" Ethan thought for a moment, "How about on the wall above our bed? We can also put one in the living room." "I don''t think we should put one in the living room, it feels a bit odd." Ines disagreed. "Those whoe to our house are all close friends and family. It''s okay for them to see." Ethan was adamant, and Ines had no choice but to agree. By the time they finished hanging up the photos, it was already past 10 pm. Ethan had a flight at 6 am the next morning for a business trip. Ines thoughtfully packed his luggage for him, and they went to bed after washing up. The next day. Since there was no rush, Ethan dropped Ines off at the Military before leaving. By the time he left, it was already bright outside. Erica Meyer and Phillip were having breakfast. They were surprised to see Ines, "Izzy, when did you get here? We didn''t know." "Ethan had a business trip this morning. He dropped me off." "Well, sit down and have breakfast. Erica and I just started eating." Despite the hearty breakfast, Ines didn''t have much appetite because she hadn''t had a good rest in the morning. Seeing this, Phillip felt sorry for her and med his grandson. "Izzy must not have had a good rest. Ethan shouldn''t have taken you here so early. He could have had the driver pick you up in the morning, so you wouldn''t be so tired." Ines smiled, "It''s my fault for not being able to sleep, not his." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Erica gave Ines a knowing look. As a woman of experience, she immediately understood, "It''s really Ethan''s fault, leaving Izzy to sleep alone. They must''ve gotten used to sleeping together, and it must feel strange without one another." Embarrassed by Erica''s straightforwardness, Ines blushed and tried to exin, "Mom, it''s not like that. I think it''s because I had a few cups of coffee while working yesterday." "So that''s why. That little rascal, always on business trips." Phillip grumbled, clearly believing Erica''s exnation. Ines''s cheeks turned even redder. She hadn''t expected Erica to be so observant and see right through her. Erica smiled knowingly, "There''s nothing to be shy about. Your dad and I were the same when we were young. I was busy running thepany, spending most of my time in the city, and your dad was always on the move, either training or on a mission. We rarely got to see each other, and when we did, it was always short-lived. When we got used to being together, we had to part again. I had trouble sleeping during those days too, and getting used to this lifestyle took me a long time." Chapter 162 Chapter 162 Listening to Erica''s love story with Trenton Meyer, Ines couldn''t help but get curious. She remembered Trenton as always being tight-lipped, only expressing his opinions on important matters. Ines asked, "Mom, how did you meet Trenton?" "Ah, we weren''t free to fall in love as you guys do nowadays. Trenton and I were introduced to each other. At first, I didn''t like him because I was into humorous and witty guys, and Trenton wasn''t that kind of person at all. But he seemed to like me after we met, he asked me out for dinner twice. I epted his invitations mainly to save his face. I was nning to clear things up with him but unexpectedly, on our third meeting, he told me he had already proposed to his superiors for marriage and asked when would be a good time for us to get married." Ines burst outughing, "He asked you when to get married on the third date?" There was no such thing as a shotgun wedding back then, and the process of getting married took quite a while. Erica nodded and said, "Yeah, I was thinking, is this guy out of his mind? Then he asked me, why would I ept his invitations twice in a row if I weren''t interested in him. I exined that I didn''t want to embarrass the person who introduced us. But he said, feelings can be cultivated over time and since the marriage proposal was already submitted, we had no choice but to get married. He didn''t care about my feelings, he just took me back to my house. Those days weren''t as open- minded as now, my parents were shocked when they saw a man holding my hand. They probably wouldn''t have let him in the house if it weren''t for his military uniform." The moment he stepped in, he told my parents he wanted to marry me, they were scared out of their wits. I was also shocked by his forwardness. I thought he was reserved guy, but he talked to my parents for two hours, leaving me stunned. In the end, even my parents were moved by him, saying that such a man is hard to find and insisted that I marry him." Phillipughed, "I thought Ethan was the reckless one, proposing to Izzy the first time they met. Turns out Trenton wasn''t much better. Looks like this ''strike fast'' approach is a tradition in the Meyer family." He wouldn''t have known about this story between Trenton and Erica if it weren''t for today. Ines was even more surprised to hear about this exciting story. "So when did you start to like Dad?" "Trenton is actually a really good man, other than being a man of few words and spending less time with me, he was great in every other aspect. He was very understanding, tolerating my asional willfulness. It wasn''t hard to fall for a man like that. Before I knew it, I couldn''t live without him. That''s how love grows." Talking about the past, a gentle smile unconsciously appeared on Erica''s face. She was initially very reluctant, especially after marriage when they were often apart. Their time together was always short, and just when they managed to get together, they had to separate again. There was a time when she felt life was unbearable. But as time passed, she suddenly found someone in her heart who she was always looking forward to and missing, life wasn''t so tough anymore, it had be a habit. "Ethan and I are okay, we''ve been married for almost half a year now, and this is only his second business trip." Ines defended Ethan. Erica smiled slightly, "That''s because Ethan changed after marrying you. Before marriage, he was not like this, being able to stay in the office for three days a week was a good thing. In five years, I could count the days he came home on two hands. Now he''s probably tasted what it''s like to have a complete family, and has learned to be more family-oriented." Speaking of aplete family, Ines hesitated, thinking about her own health conditions not being suitable for having a baby immediately. Erica also realized she had misspoken andforted, "Izzy, your health condition is not a big deal, don''t worry, you''ll have a child eventually." "I know, thank you forforting me." Just then, a clear voice came over, "What are you guys talking about? Laughing so happily." Ines looked up to see Silvia dressed in a white dress, dignified and graceful, smiling and walking over. Phillip spotted Silvia at a nce, his eyes filled withughter, waving at her, "Silvia,e in quickly." Erica was about to introduce Silvia to Ines, but Silvia warmly greeted Ines, leaving Erica a bit surprised. Silvia exined, "I''ve met Izzy already, she and Ethan picked me up from the airport yesterday." Silvia walked up and linked arms with Phillip, sweetly saying, "Why is it that every time I see you, you look younger and younger?" Phillip patted her head, "You little rascal, always teasing me. Didn''t you even bring me a birthday gift when I was celebrating my birthday? By the way, I really like the gift you brought." "I''m d you like it. It''s just something I made when I was bored." "But it shows that you put a lot of thought into it." "Looking at your energy, you seem to be getting younger." Phillipughed heartily at Silvia''s teasing, "You little rascal, you haven''t grown a bit physically while abroad, but your mouth has certainly improved. If I really were to age backwards, wouldn''t I be an old monster?" "Not an old monster, but an old immortal." Ines sighed. She could never emte Silvia''s personality, it was just too likeable. It was clear to see that she had a good rtionship with the Meyer family. Phillip gently patted Silvia''s hand, "Tell me, are you going to go abroad again after youe back this time?" "Grandpa, I''ve graduated, so I don''t think I''ll be going abroad anymore. Life abroad is really tough. I waspletely unustomed initially and only gradually adjusted after a while. Because I missed home food, I had to figure out how to cook it myself. I''m not the little girl who knows nothing anymore, my cooking skills have improved a lot, maybe sometime I can learn from you." "Really? You even learned how to cook? Back when your sister just passed away, poor you would have starved to death if it weren''t for Lucas finding you." Mentioning the past, Phillip sighed. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. "That''s all water under the bridge. I''ve been living on my own abroad since I was 18, and now I can do anything, even cook up a storm." Silvia''s eyes started to well up a bit. Chapter 163 Chapter 163 "Alright then, when you''re free, let''s check out handcraft together. Let''s see if she''s trying to pull a fast one on me," Phillip said with augh. "Even if you gave me a hundred guts, I wouldn''t dare," Silvia pretended to touch her heart. Not knowing whether Ethan had exined everything to Ines, Erica decided to change the subject. "Let''s not dwell on the past. Things are looking up for everyone now. Silvia''s return from school is a good thing." "Yeah, I was confused for a while." Phillip alsoughed. ""I can take that to mean you''re too excited to see me back," Silvia said, yfully winking. Ines felt like a third wheel, unable to join in their conversation, and she sat quietly. Unexpectedly, Silvia shifted the conversation to her. "Izzy, you were busy working yesterday and we didn''t get to chat properly. Let''s have a good talk today, if you''re free." Ines pursed her lips, "Sure, Ethan is away on business, I''ll be here for the next couple of days. You cane over anytime." Erica looked at Ines approvingly, finding her calm andposed nature to be a good thing. There wouldn''t be any unnecessary jealousy drama. "Silvia, if you have nothing else to do, stick around for dinner. Chat with Phillip, he''s been thinking about you for a long time," Erica suggested to Silvia. "Sure thing," Silvia agreed with a smile. Ines looked a bit tired, so Erica suggested she take a break. After chatting with Silvia for a bit, Erica went upstairs to check on Ines, knocking on her door, "Izzy, had a good nap? It''s me." ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Ines was already awake, reading a magazine at the moment. Hearing Erica''s voice, she quickly got up to open the door, "I''m rested,e in." Erica walked in and saw a lounge chair by the window with a book on it. It was evident that Ines had been sunbathing while reading. "Izzy, it''s May already. The sun can be quite harsh. Don''t sunbathe too much and avoid reading in the sun, it''s bad for your eyes." Ines chuckled and sat next to Erica, unconsciously leaning on her shoulder. They looked like a real mother-daughter pair, "Got it." Erica felt happy seeing Ines being so close with her, "By the way, I came up to ask if Ethan has told you about him and Le?" Ines knew Erica was worried about her feeling ufortable because of Silvia''s presence, who is Ethan''s ex-girlfriend''s sister, "Ethan already told me about his past some time ago. Don''t worry, I can understand. I won''t be silly enough topare myself with someone who''s gone and push my husband away, living in the present is what matters most." "I''m d you can think this way. As a woman, I understand how picky we can be when ites to the one we love. It''s not easy to let go of all resentments," Erica patted Ines'' hand. "In this day and age, who hasn''t had a rtionship before marriage? It''s rare for one''s first love to be their spouse. I won''t be jealous over this." "I must say, you''re quite remarkable," Erica said, a sense of unspeakable pride in her eyes. She initially didn''t like Le, as she caused a rift between Ethan and Aaron. But she learned to ept their rtionship as she realized how capable and kind-hearted Le was, despite her poor health. However, Ines was no worse than Le. "Le passed away when Silvia was still in high school. She felt incredibly lonely and the Meyer family was too immersed in grief over losing Beasley and no one cared about Silvia. When they finally noticed, Silvia had lost a lot of weight and became rather gloomy. The doctor said she was mildly autistic. The Meyer family felt guilty as Le died due topany matters, they couldn''t let anything happen to her sister. So, Phillip took her in. They lived together for about a year and, under Phillip''s guidance, she gradually became more lively. That''s why she and Phillip are so close." Ines had no idea about this story. "When Silvia moved in, Phillip had already retired. They were often the only ones at home. Silvia''s likable personality made it easy for them to bond. Besides Ashley, Phillip dotes on her the most. He was always worried about her when she went abroad, often calling to check up on her." Erica finished her story and noticed Ines staring at her in puzzlement, "Why are you looking at me like that?" "I think you have the talent to be a psychologist," Inesmented. Every time she felt ufortable, talking to Erica would make her feel better, even more so than a psychologist. Erica yfully pped her hand, "Now you''re starting to tease me like Ethan does, huh? I''m just worried about you two. You finally came together and shouldn''t be arguing over trivial matters. A mother''s worry for her child never ends. Don''t think I''m nagging, you''ll understand when you have kids." "I could never think you''re nagging. I love this feeling," Ines giggled. Erica looked at Ines seriously, her eyes filled with sincerity and amusement, "Ethan is lucky to have you, and so are we, the Meyer family." "You''re too kind." "Oh, forget it, let''s not tter each other anymore. It''s kind of pointless." Chapter 164 Chapter 164 When Ines and Erica came downstairs, Phillip and Silvia were ying chess. Silvia was comining in dissatisfaction, "Grandpa, you''ve tricked me again. You set a trap for me to fall into. You don''t even give me a break. How can I ever win against you like this?" "That¡¯s because you¡¯re so stupid. You must have not practiced while you were abroad. You returned all the skills I taught you," Phillip huffed, but Ines could hear the fondness in his voice. "Silvia, Izzy and I are going shopping. Do you want to stay at home with grandpa, or do you want to come with us?" Erica asked. Without a second thought, Silvia said, "I''ll stay at home with grandpa. You guys can go ahead. I''m going to start looking for a job soon, so I probably won''t have much free time. I should spend these free days with grandpa." At this, Phillip frowned, "Why look for a job? You could just let Ethan arrange a position for you at the Meyer Group. Is Ethan not willing to help you?" "No, I want to do something rted to my major. I don''t want my years of studying to be wasted," Silvia quicklyforted Phillip. Phillip nced at Silvia, "I didn''t expect you to be so ambitious. Alright, don''t apany me for today. Since you''re going to work, go shopping with them. Let them pick out some work clothes for you. You need to look the part." "Silvia, you can alwayse and spend time with grandpa on the weekends. Let''s go shopping today," Erica also chimed in. Silvia finally agreed to go shopping. "Alright, I''lle to visit you another time, grandpa." The three of them headed to the mall. Ines didn''t really have anything to buy since she had clothes regrly delivered to her house. Her closet was still filled with clothes with tags on them, so she focused on picking out outfits for Silvia, and selected two sets of professional attire for her. Erica was quite satisfied, "Not bad, Izzy has good taste. This style really suits Silvia." Looking at Silvia dressed like this, Erica couldn''t help but think of Le. The two sisters really did look alike. If it weren''t for their different dispositions, people who didn''t know them well could easily mix them up. Looking at herself in the mirror, Silvia also couldn''t help but be a little dazed. She seemed to see her sister, Le, who also looked gorgeous in these types of clothes. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Seeing Silvia in a daze, Ines thought she didn''t like the outfits, "What do you think, Silvia? If you don''t like them, we can choose others. We have plenty of time today." "No, I really like them, and they fit me well. Let''s get these two. Can you hand me my purse?" Silvia had given her bag to Ines when she was changing. "Silvia, consider these my wee gifts to you. I''ll pay," Ines said, pulling out her credit card from her own bag. "No, I can pay. I made some money when I was studying abroad, enough tost me for a while." Silvia tried to retrieve her purse from Ines, but Ines was quicker and had already handed her card to the cashier. As Ines tried to push Silvia''s purse back into her bag, she identally dropped it. When she bent down to pick it up, a picture inside caught her attention. The two women in the picture were standing side by side, one in a school uniform with a big smile on her face, the other in a pale blue suit with a cold expression. The simr faces made Ines pause. She knew it was a picture of Le and Silvia. The younger Silvia was much younger than she is now, but the current Silvia looked more mature and more like Le, as if they were cut from the same cloth. So this is what Le looked like. She was quite beautiful. How does Ethan feel seeing someone who looks so simr to his ex-girlfriend all these years? Ines felt something strange in her heart. It was an odd feeling that she couldn''t quite describe. Realizing she was daydreaming, Ines quickly picked the purse up and handed it back to Silvia: "Hurry up and put it away. Don''t be shy, everyone''s watching." Silviaughed a little awkwardly, "Thanks for treating me, I''ll repay you next time." Ines smiled slightly, "You and your sister look very alike." Silvia paused, knowing that Ines had seen the picture in her purse, "We didn''t look alike when we were younger, but we look more and more alike as we grow older." "Izzy, Silvia, what are you guys talking about? Come help me pick out this dress," Erica''s attention was caught by a dress, so she didn''t notice what was happening between them. The two walked over. After taking a serious look, Silvia said, "It suits you." Ines also nodded, and Erica happily paid for the dress. After a round of shopping, Erica noticed that Ines hadn''t bought anything and couldn''t help but ask, "Izzy, didn''t you see anything you liked? Why didn''t you buy anything?" "Ethan has the store send a bunch of new styles to the house every couple of months. I have so many clothes with the tags still on, I can''t wear them all. Let''s go to the front, I want to buy Ethan a couple of shirts." Erica didn''t say anything more after hearing Ines''s exnation. They went into an Armani store, where Ines was drawn to a striped shirt. All of Ethan''s shirts were white, and it felt like he wore the same one every day. "Can I see arge one, please?" Ines asked the saleswoman. Silvia couldn''t help but walk over and look at the shirt Ines had chosen. She hesitated a bit, but finally couldn''t resist saying, "Ethan might not like this style, it''s a bit shy." Inesughed, "His shirts are really too in. He should try some new styles every once in a while. I''ll buy it and let him see. If he really doesn''t like it, he won''t have to wear it." A smile tugged at the corners of Silvia''s mouth, "True, Ethan''s clothes are really too in. He only likes to wear white shirts and dark suits. He should change his style asionally." For some reason, Ines felt a bit ufortable, so she chose two shirts that were not pure white. Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Silvia was originally nning to head straight home, but Phillip called her and insisted shee over to the Military for dinner. Unable to refuse Phillip, she had no choice but to follow Erica and Ines home. At this moment, Phillip was busy in the kitchen. Silvia went in to help, and Ines, not wanting to sit idle, followed suit. Phillip was a bit surprised to see them both. "What are you two doing here? You''ve been out all day, take a break. I don''t need your help." "Grandpa, didn''t you want to see my cooking skills? I''m here to put on a show for you," Silvia said flirtatiously. Phillip raised an eyebrow, suddenly interested. He shooed everyone else out, leaving only Ines and Silvia. Ines didn''t know much, so she washed some vegetables and picked up a few cooking tips. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. But Silvia was a natural. Her cooking skills were smooth and efficient. It was clear she wasn''t bluffing about her cooking skills. Phillip, watching her, couldn''t help but feel touched. "You''ve really grown up. Now I can rest easy knowing you can fend for yourself. When I first taught Ethan and Beasley to cook, they were so clumsy. But they gradually improved." Ines was taken aback. She didn''t realize their cooking skills were taught by Phillip. "Beasley and Ethan don''t have many chances to cook at home, so naturally, they''re a bitcking. But as for Beasley''s cooking, I don''t know. Ethan''s cooking, on the other hand, I do know. My sister and I both love his dishes," Silvia said with a smile, adding with a hint of nostalgia. " You are a greedy cat, you only know how to eat. No wonder you''ve gotten so good at cooking. Otherwise, you''d be the one going hungry," Phillip teased, tapping her on the head. Silvia''s casual words and actions made Ines feel ufortable. She had always thought she was the luckiest woman, but Ethan had cooked for other women before, and she wasn''t the only one. Phillip was so wrapped up in his conversation with Silvia, he forgot Ines was in the kitchen. It wasn''t until Ines spoke up that he realized his conversation with Silvia might be making her ufortable, but he didn''t know how to exin. Seeing Phillip casually mention Beasley, Ines knew he had alreadye to terms with it. She decided not to hold back anymore, and turned to Phillip, "Grandpa, can I ask you something?" Phillip hesitated, feeling a sense of foreboding, but still smiled warmly, "What is it, Izzy?" "Grandpa, did Beasley have any enemies?" Phillip looked ufortable, "Why would you ask that, Izzy?" "It''s about my car ident. Ethan said there''s a mysterious force preventing him from finding out the truth. These people might be rted to Beasley''s death. Beasley''s car ident probably wasn''t as simple as an ident." Phillip was silent for a while before he said, "There''s a possibility. Beasley''s quick promotion affected a lot of people''s interests, but it wouldn''t count as a big grudge. I''ve looked into your car ident, Izzy, it really was just an ident. You and Ethan should stop obsessing over it." "I can''t give up, grandpa. The truth is really important to me. Some people have decided I''m the culprit. Sometimes I feel suffocated, and it hurts to think about it," Ines voiced her feelings, making herself look as pitiful as possible, while watching Phillip''s reaction. As expected, this worked on Phillip. He raised his voice, "Nonsense, how could you be such a person? Whoever dares to gossip about you behind your back, tell me and I''ll teach them a lesson." Ines looked intently at Phillip, her eyes pleading, "I know you fully believe in me. But the only thing that can stop the rumors is the truth. If too many people say it, you can''t teach them all a lesson." "It''s not that I know something and don''t want to tell you. I''ve been retired for years, so I don''t know much. I really didn''t find anything," Phillip said. Ines saw that Phillip didn''t really want to talk about this, so she didn''t press further. She and Silvia then served the dishes they prepared. Phillip watched Ines'' back, mumbling to himself, "This little girl has be smart, trying to trick me. Good thing I reacted quickly." In the living room, Ines pulled Silvia aside and quietly asked, "From your professional perspective, do you think grandpa''s reaction was normal?" Silvia thought for a while, seemingly pondering, then said, "Izzy, I was facing away from grandpa, so I didn''t see his facial expression clearly. But I did notice his hand twitch slightly. He didn''t seem to want to answer your question. It felt like he was dodging it." "So you think grandpa is hiding something from me too?" ""ording to my observation, it is like this." "Thank you, Silvia." "Don''t worry about it. But it won''t work if you try this method again. Grandpa is a smart man and he probably knows you were testing him. He''ll keep whatever he doesn''t want you to know a secret." Ines looked a bit embarrassed, "You noticed?" Silviaughed, "I am a psychology major, if I couldn''t even see that, how could I do business in the future?" "That''s true." "Did you ever have a car ident?" Silvia asked nervously. Ines nodded, not hiding it, but not nning to go into detail, "Yes, it was the same one as Beasley''s." Silvia seemed relieved, "I''m d you''re okay." The Meyer family originally nned to have Silvia chill out at their ce, but Silvia was hell-bent on going home. She said her house cleaning wasn''t finished yet and she needed to get back to it. The Meyer family didn''t push her anymore. Chapter 166 Chapter 166 After dinner, Ines went for a walk with Erica before going back to her room. As soon as she got into the room, her phone rang. Ines looked at the caller ID and couldn''t help butugh. "Why did it take you so long to answer the phone? Weren''t you at home just now?¡± ¡°I just went for a walk with Mom, so I didn''t bring my cell phone. Hey, I''m beat.¡± Ines kicked off her shoes and flopped onto the bed. Her feet were a little sore after spending the afternoon shopping. A chuckle sneaked into Ethan''s voice, "What have you been up to today?¡± ¡°I went shopping with Mom and Silvia this afternoon. By the way, I forgot to ask, do you only wear white shirts and not any other colors?¡± ¡°Generally speaking, this is the case. But if you got me clothes in other colors, I¡¯d definitely wear them to save your face.¡± Listening to his teasing voice, Ines felt a boost in her mood. "By the way, I tried to sound out Grandpa today. He seemed a bit off, I don''t think he wanted to talk about Beasley¡¯s car ident. I asked him if there¡¯s anyone who might harbor resentment against my brother. He vaguely told me that a person who gets promoted too quickly might arouse envy, but not exactly enemies.¡± A shadow passed over Ethan''s eyes. He fell silent for a moment, ¡°I see.¡± "What do you mean, ''you see''? I don''t understand at all.¡± Ines felt a bit frustrated, unable to keep up with Ethan''s train of thought. ¡°What I meant was that I understand what you''re saying, not that I know the truth about the matter.¡± To give Ethan a clearer picture of Phillip''s reaction at the time, Ines recounted her probing process in detail. Ethan found it amusing. Ines was usually quite normal, but sometimes she had a wicked sense of humor, even trying to y the sympathy card with Phillip. ¡°You little devil, I bet Phillip was totally caught off guard, wasn¡¯t he?¡± This was totally out of character for her. ¡°That''s the funny part, it was pretty effective. I could tell that Phillip was about to spill the beans. But he caught on in the end, so all my efforts went down the drain. I finally had such a good opportunity, and it¡¯s just wasted.¡± Regret tinged Ines¡¯ voice. As she chattered on, Ethan suddenly interjected, ¡°Izzy, I visited Hunter in the hospital when I landed. Everything is set up on his end, he will officially start the treatment tomorrow. He seemed more peaceful, not as moody as before. You don''t have to worry so much.¡± Ines felt a lump in her throat when Ethan brought up the subject abruptly. She had just expressed her worry, and he had rushed to the hospital as soon as he was on a business trip. Obviously, he wanted to put her mind at ease. Ines'' voice softened, "Why did you go see him when you just arrived here and haven''t had a good rest yet?¡± ¡°I can sleep on the ne, so I''m not tired. It felt inappropriate not to visit him since I was in town.¡± ¡°What''s with all the formalities.¡± Ines knew she had softened, but she still found thest step hard to take. After chatting for a while longer, she started yawning and couldn''t help but say to Ethan: ¡°Mr. Meyer, what sort of magic have you cast on me? Your voice seems to have a hypnotic effect.¡± She hadn''t realized this when she was alone, but now that she had gotten used to spending every night in his arms, she couldn''t sleep well without him by her side. Ethan couldn''t help butugh, his voice still deep and pleasing, ¡°Then I''ll talk to you whenever you can''t sleep.¡± Suddenly, Ines had an idea, and her drowsiness was all but gone, ¡°Ethan, sing me a song.¡± She had never heard him sing before, but she was sure his voice would be enchanting. ¡°I can''t sing.¡± Ethan refused immediately. ¡°I don''t believe you don''t know any songs, just sing anything, I won''tugh even if you''re out of tune. Anything you sing will do. No, I''m not sleepy anymore, you must sing me a song tonight, otherwise I will definitely suffer from insomnia.¡± Ines acted spoiled. Ethan couldn''t help butugh and shake his head, his heart full of longing. He really wanted to see her acting spoiled and coquettish. No sooner had Ines finished her sentence than a man''s deep singing voice came from the phone. She recognized the song; it was the ssic hit Yesterday Once More. Ethan''s voice was husky, like the notes of a cello, which was very suitable for this kind of song, giving it an indescribable rhythm. Ines smiled and she listened intently to his singing, not wanting to miss a single note. Ethan didn''t stop until the whole song was over, he called out to Ines twice, but when she didn''t respond, he knew she had fallen asleep and hung up the phone. His lips curved into a smile, his eyes showing no impatience, clearly enjoying his wife''s deep dependence on him. Ethan was not in a hotel at the moment, but in a lounge. When Lucas came in from outside, he heard Ethan singing, seemingly to lull Ines to sleep. Lucas could only stand at the door for a while, wanting tough but not daring to. He had been with Ethan for many years and never knew Ethan could sing. After Ethan finished singing, he said to the door, ¡°Come in.¡± Lucas then entered the room and handed a contract to Ethan, ¡°This is thetest contract response from the partner. I''ve looked at it, it¡¯s pretty decent. You go through it again.¡± ¡°Leave it there,e back in an hour to get me.¡± Lucas nodded, and as he turned to leave, he suddenly said, ¡°Mr. Meyer, you actually sing quite well.¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Ethan''s gaze shifted, ¡°If you don''t want to work for me, you can choose a different position.¡± Lucas quickly waved his hands with a smile. Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Ines spent her entire weekend at the Military, and was driven home Sunday night. Looking at the wedding photo of her and Ethan in the living room, she was deeply moved. That night, Ethan still called to talk to her, and she wound up pestering him to sing a song before she let him off the hook. The next morning, when Ines arrived at the firm, there were a few troublemakers standing outside the office, arguing with the security guards. Listening carefully, they were cursing the firm. "I''ve always trusted you guys, but all you do is pull the wool over our eyes. Now the Huner Corporation is bankrupt and I''ve lost all the money I''ve worked hard for over the past twenty years. The financial fraud of Huner Corporation is so severe, yet you guys have the nerve to say their financial reports are fine." "Yeah, don''t say that you didn''t notice anything, where''s your professional skepticism?" "You guys are just turning a blind eye,pletely disregarding the interests of us investors." ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. The speakers were very emotional and the situation was chaotic. Ines vaguely heard that it was some stock market losers causing a ruckus, but she didn''t know the specifics. A security guard who knew her quickly ushered her upstairs, "Ms. Galeana, you better get upstairs. These people are very upset right now, I''m worried they might do something rash. Go up and tell your colleagues not toe down." Ines nodded and without hesitation, headed for the elevator. As she passed the conference room, Ines noticed many unfamiliar faces- some higher-ups she didn''t often see. Jaime and several project managers were there, all with serious expressions, apparently in an emergency meeting. Ines also felt that the atmosphere at the firm was unusual today. Everyone looked downcast and spiritless. She asked her colleagues, "What the hell happened today?" A female colleague handed her a newspaper, looking equally grim, "Ines, just read this and you''ll know." Ines read yesterday''s paper and found out that Huner Corporation was involved in the most serious financial fraud scandal in the country. The management was used of neglecting their duties over the past three years, consistently manipting financial statements, and misleading investors for personal gain. Huner Corporation was their long-term audit client. Now that the scandal had broken, the firm was facing the threat of awsuit. Ines was also silent after reading. This kind of thing had never happened before. Most firms, when faced with dishonest clients, would choose to terminate the business agreement to reduce their own risk. Huner Corporation, which Ines was familiar with, was arge domestic gas production group. In recent years, it had been growing rapidly, its stock price soaring, attracting many investors. After a while, Amelia came over after the meeting, "Everyone, just keep your cool, and don''t go downstairs." Then, she gave Ines a look, Ines knew she had something to say, so she followed her to her office. "Izzy, did you watch the news yesterday?" "I didn''t read the newspaper, I just found out about the situation." Amelia nodded. Ines couldn''t help but ask in a low voice, "Amelia, did our firm know about this?" The audit team is made up of professionals. They should have noticed such obvious issues. How could they let things get this far? Amelia sighed, "Huner Corporation''s finances have been problematic for a few years now. It''s rted to their corporate culture. Their management is too eager for quick sess and instant benefits, pursuing high profits, high stock prices, and high growth as their business goals, aligning everything with profits. In recent years, there''s been a lot of turnover among the managers. It was only a matter of time before something went wrong." Ines frowned, "Then why would the firm take on such a client, why not terminate the contract earlier?" ording to domestic bankruptcyw, after Huner Corporation''s bankruptcy, taxes and employee wages should be paid first. The assets, which were already worthless, couldn''t possibly be distributed to ordinary investors. No wonder people were making a scene at the firm. Amelia sighed, "It was the decision of the senior management. We had no say in it. Initially, they probably thought it was mutually beneficial, but seeing the problem getting bigger, they probably got scared and nned to terminate the contract this year. Unfortunately, they didn''t make it over this hurdle." After a pause, "Izzy, you''re still new here, so you might not know. Our firm also handles the ounting work for many of Huner Corporation''s subsidiaries, and was hired as Huner Corporation''s internal auditor, fully responsible for Huner''s consulting work. Even the audit manager of our project group used to be the CFO of Huner Corporation." Ines gasped when she heard this, she couldn''t believe her firm would dare to do this. This was a serious vition of the independence provisions in the auditing standards. The consequences were unimaginable. If these could be proven, it would surely mean that the firm colluded with Huner Corporation in fraud. This would not only lead towsuits andpensation, but the entire firm could also face bankruptcy. Thispletely destroyed the atmosphere in the auditing industry and the credibility of auditors in the eyes of the public. "Izzy, I''m telling you this as a friend. If you still want to work, you might want to start looking for a new job. The bankruptcy of the firm is inevitable." Amelia was not worried about Ines''s future, she just felt it was necessary to give her a heads up. Ines was a capable worker, not to mention her husband and father''s status. She wouldn''t have any problems finding a new job. Ines wasn''t worried about this, she just felt a bit ufortable. She had chosen this firm because of its strong growth, but she didn''t expect such dirty dealings behind the scenes. "I''m fine, Amelia, you have to be careful. You''re currently fighting Leo for custody of your child, you can''t afford any mistakes." Ines looked at Amelia with concern. Amelia gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder, "Don''t sweat it, I''ve got this covered. I''m clued up about this stuff and I''ve got some strings to pull. I''ve already struck a secret deal with some other companies. I want to focus more on Naomi in the future, so I''m nning to jump ship to another company as their CFO. The sry¡¯s about the same as now, so it won''t impact Naomi''s child support. Thewyer your husband rmended is top-notch." Hearing this, Ines breathed a sigh of relief. Chapter 168 Chapter 168 The crowd outside the office building seemed to growrger, and their excited and angry quarrels could be heard inside.. Ines stood outside the window and saw that there were only a few people making trouble, but now dozens of people had gathered, which was quite spectacr. Jaime was up high, megaphone in hand, apparently trying to exin something. But his exnation was pointless, it only stirred up the investors even more. "Looks like we''re stuck in the office today. We can''t go anywhere," Ines said. "We can''t work as usual in the office either, it is safe for us to stay inside. I heard it''s worse at Huner Corporation, with more people causing a scene. We''re lucky byparison, things will settle once the cops arrive," Amelia said, trying to cheer up the disheartened Ines. "Plus, our team never got involved in Huner Corporation''s audit. Otherwise, all the qualifications we earned over the years could be revoked, and that''d be it for our auditing careers," Ines sighed and felt a little lucky. She joined the group Amelia at the time. "Izzy, don''t overthink it. They had choices, they probably got tempted by the benefits, and they deserve the consequences for their mistakes. They''re aplices in this mess, causing damage to investors nationwide," Amelia said, having little sympathy for those involved. She thought they had brought this upon themselves, choosing the path of greed over integrity. Ines nodded, ncing at her dispirited colleagues outside. The economic situation wasn''t improving, and the downfall of Huner Corporation and EM Enterprises would likely mean more people out of jobs. Just then, someone knocked on Amelia''s office door. Looking up, Ines saw Aaron standing at the door. Amelia blinked and said, "Come in." Aaron nodded at Amelia, then turned to Ines. "Is Ethan not in A City?" he asked. Ines, puzzled by his question, simply nodded. Aaron frowned, "Don''t rush when it''s time to leave. I''ll take you home. Given the vtile state of the investors, I don''t feelfortable with you going alone." Ines didn''t know what to say. Before she could respond, Aaron had already left. She let out a long sigh. Amelia, seeing Ines''s reaction, joked, "So you and Aaron had a falling out because he''s into you. Izzy, you sure have a way with men. You''ve attracted both Ethan and Aaron, and even after your marriage, they can''t let go. Aaron even came to make sure you get home safe." Ines wasn''t in the mood for Amelia''s teasing. "Amelia, stop making fun of me. I don''t know what to do." She didn''t want to hurt Aaron, but she didn''t want to upset Ethan either. To make Ethan happy, she had to stay away from Aaron. It was a vicious cycle. Seeing Ines''s frustration, Amelia couldn''t help but tease her a bit more, "You must''ve owed them something in your past life, and they''vee to punish you." "Amelia," Ines said, amused and exasperated. She hadn''t expected Amelia to be such a joker. Amelia, seeing Ines was about to lose her patience, stopped teasing. "It''s not a big deal, just go with the flow. Love isn''t always steadfast, everything will pass with time." Ines paused, pondering Amelia''s words. Aaron had been madly in love with Le, but that had faded over time, and his attention had shifted to her. Maybe time would heal all wounds. With that in mind, Ines felt less troubled. Perhaps she should just take things as theye. Byte afternoon, the crowd outside the office had dispersed. Jaime notified Amelia that they could go home for now, and they would be informed when to return to work. As Ines was packing up, Aaron arrived. "Ready to go?" Ines nodded, "Thanks for your help, Aaron." Aaron didn''t say anything. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Downstairs, the crowd had been dispersed, with only a few remaining police officers. Seeing no immediate danger, Aaron told Ines, "Izzy, wait here. I''ll go get the car." "Okay." As they were talking, a man suddenly lunged at Ines without warning. She felt a sharp pain in her abdomen, and before she could react, Aaron pulled her into his arms. He yelled at the nearby officers, "Arrest that man, he has a knife!" The two officers quickly snapped back to reality and pursued the attacker. Looking down, Ines saw her abdomen was bleeding, quickly soaking her clothes. There was also a cut on Aaron''s shoulder, tearing through his shirt. Aaron was so shocked he could barely speak. "Izzy, are you okay?" Ines slowly came to her senses. The area around her abdomen was numb at first, but now it was excruciating. She was sweating, her face turning pale. With great effort, she managed to utter, "It hurts." "Damn it." The sight of her blood triggered Aaron''s panic. He cursed and swiftly picked her up, hailing a taxi. When the taxi set off, Ines was already unconscious and was held in his arms unconsciously. With tears in his eyes, Aaron covered her wound with his hand, but the blood wouldn''t stop. His heart was filled with fear like he''d never felt before. His voice shaking, he said, "Izzy, hang in there. I''m taking you to the hospital." Then, unable to contain himself, he yelled at the driver, "Drive faster!" The car was zooming towards the hospital, and Aaron was back on his phone again, ringing up the hospital to tell them to get their act together and be ready for an emergency. He also put in a call to the Meyer family. Chapter 169 Chapter 169 On the way, Ines kept frowning, her lips moving as if she was saying something. Aaron leaned over and listened for a long time before he could barely hear what she was saying. "Ethan, don''t worry, I''ll be fine, I won''t leave you." She kept repeating this sentence. Aaron was stiff, his emotions a tangled mess. He watched Ines'' pale face without blinking. Even at this point, all she thought about was Ethan, afraid of making him worry. Should he really stop meddling in their rtionship? Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. When they got to the hospital, everything was prepared. With the help of several medical staff, Ines was quickly taken into the operating room. Aaron sat at the door, pale and distraught trying to grab something but couldn''t. It was as if he was back to that year in his memory, sitting and waiting, only to be met with the doctor''s helpless reply. He suddenly felt useless. He knew that today would be chaotic, he was right by her side, but he still let this ident happen to her. When Erica and Phillip arrived, Ines hadn''te out of the operating room yet. Only Aaron was sitting at the door. Phillip asked anxiously, "How''s Izzy?" Aaron looked up, nced at Phillip, and said with a pale face, "The doctors are still operating, we don¡¯t know the details yet.¡± Erica immediately noticed the blood on Aaron, patches of it, ringly red. Her body trembled involuntarily, and she couldn''t help but think of Beasley and Le, who had already passed away. She didn''t know what Ethan would do if another ident happened. Ethan had finally found someone. "What exactly happened? She was fine when she left the Meyer Mansion yesterday, how did this happen today?" "It''s about the Huner Corporation. They''re a client of our firm. The news of their stock crash and bankruptcy caused public panic. This morning, many people surrounded the firm''s entrance. The police were called to disperse the crowd. When we came out, the rioters were gone, but a man suddenly rushed out from behind and stabbed Ines." Aaron exined. Erica had also heard about the Huner Corporation. It was currently the biggest financial fraud scandal in the country, but she didn''t expect it to involve Ines. "Oh, poor Izzy, always encountering such disasters, it''s like a bolt from the blue." Phillip sighed deeply. "Is Izzy seriously injured?" "I don''t know, just that she lost a lot of blood." Erica swayed. Phillip held her shoulder to steady her, "Don''t panic; let''s see the situation." Erica gave a weak smile and a slight nod, struggling to say a word, "Ok." After a pause, Erica asked Aaron, "Did you tell Ethan about this?" "I called, but Lucas picked up. I told him to notify Ethan immediately." Aaron said emotionlessly. Erica looked deeply at Aaron, and then said nothing more, she had no mood to explore anything at the moment. Half an hourter, the operation room light went out, the doctor came out. Aaron immediately stood up, walked over to the doctor, and asked anxiously, "Doctor, how''s the patient?" The doctor took off his mask, his brows rxed, and he smiled slightly, "We were lucky toplete the surgery. The patient is now out of the danger zone. If the stab had been a bit deeper, her spleen would have ruptured. Luckily, an external force blocked the knife. Now it''s just a spleen injury, plus a lot of blood loss leading to unconsciousness. After a period of rest, she should be fine. Her anesthesia is still in effect, she should wake up in a couple of hours." Hearing this news, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, especially Aaron, his eyes slowly lighting up. Thank God, no idents happened. Just as the doctor finished speaking, a few nurses wheeled Ines out. Erica looked at her pale face, and her heart ached. Seeing her injured like this, was unbearable. After seeing that Ines was okay, Erica remembered the wound on Aaron''s arm and immediately found a nurse to help with the bandaging. "I''m fine." Aaron just wanted to see Ines, he didn''t want to waste time here. "Aaron, let the nurse disinfect and bandage your wound. It''ll heal faster." In the end, Aaron had to sit in the chair and let the nurse bandage him. After the bandaging, Erica said to Aaron, "Aaron, Izzy won''t wake up for a while, you should go home. Phillip and I will be here." "I want to wait for Izzy to wake up." Aaron looked towards Ines in the ward, his eyes filled with longing and reluctance, he didn''t want to leave. Erica naturally saw his look and said sternly, "Aaron, I don''t know how you and Izzy met, and what kind of involvement you had before. But she is married to Ethan now. Izzy just had surgery, and needs someone to take care of her. It''s not appropriate for you to stay here. Besides, you''re covered in blood. You should go home, clean up, change your clothes. When Izzy wakes up, I''ll notify you. Then you cane and see her." A bitter smile appeared on Aaron''s face. He nced at Ines, who was sleeping, and he finally left. Watching Aaron''s lonely figure, Erica couldn''t help but feel a pang of sympathy. Phillip wasn''t a fool either. He saw the way Aaron looked at Ines and understood. He shook his head, "What''s going on with Ethan and Aaron? Is it because they grew up together that they have such simr tastes in women? They always fall for the same person. The resentment that finally faded over the years because of Le is probably going to start again." "It''s such a tragic rtionship." Ines woke up two hourster. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw the white ceiling. Her consciousness slowly returned, and the scenes from not long ago shed in her mind. Then a sharp pain came from her abdomen. "Izzy, you¡¯re awake?" Erica looked at Ines with surprise and delight. Chapter 170 Chapter 170 It took Ines a moment to register the faces in front of her, a smile spreading across her face. "Mom, grandpa, what are you guys doing here? Where''s Aaron?" She remembered it was Aaron who took her to the hospital, his arm was also injured at the time. "Phillip and I rushed over when we got his call. He''s fine, just a minor cut on his arm. The nurse has already bandaged it up. I sent him home to change clothes. Don''t worry about him, just focus on getting better," Erica said with a smile. "Sorry for the trouble." "You silly girl, what are you talking about? Why is this troublesome?" Phillip said with a stern face, clearly disapproving of her words. Ines chuckled and asked, "Mom, I''m not in serious trouble, am I?" "Luckily Aaron took some of the hit for you. You lost a lot of blood but with some rest, you''ll be back on your feet." "Since I''m not in grave danger, let''s not tell Ethan about this just yet. I don''t want him to worry," Ines told Erica. Erica appreciated Ines'' consideration for Ethan but knew if she hid this from him, he would not take it well. "Izzy, you just rest easy. Aaron''s already informed Ethan. He probably knows by now and is on his way home." "I guess I''m causing him trouble again," Ines said, sounding a bit down. "Silly girl, no one wants to get hurt. You had no control over this. Don''t overthink it. I''m here with you. If you''re tired, just get some sleep." Ines nced out the window, noticing it was already dark. "Grandpa, it''ste. You should go home. Mom can stay here with me." "I''m fine. You just rest. There''s a family room in this ward, I won''t be tired." Seeing Phillip''s determination, Ines didn''t insist. Right now, she was simply too drained to argue. Her eyelids felt heavy and she soon drifted off to sleep. Phillip stepped out of the room and dialed the chief of police. As soon as the call was connected, he started yelling, shaking the receiver with his voice. "What the hell is your police department doing? You sent all those officers and still couldn''t handle the situation. A menace was right under your noses and you didn''t even realize it. I''m livid! Mr. Chief, maybe you should consider resigning. With your leadership skills, who knows how many innocents will suffer?" After hearing about the incident, the chief immediately identified Ines and had been on edge since early morning. Recognizing the caller, he broke out in a cold sweat. He had always known Phillip Meyer had a fiery temper, and today he was experiencing it firsthand. Although Phillip had retired, his prestige and influence were still strong, not to mention his son was the mayor and his grandson was the CEO of the Meyer Group. All these positions were far above what he could handle. If he mishandled this situation, his superiors would not let him off the hook. "Please calm down, it''s not good for your health to be so angry. You''re right, it''s our negligence. I will punish the culprit severely and bring justice to Mrs. Meyer." "Now you know to reflect. Why weren''t you more careful when doing your job? Ines was left in such a mess because of you. Can your apology make up for that? Do you have any idea the toll surgery takes on a person''s body?" If anything major had happened, he would''ve turned the police station upside down. What a bunch of ipetents. "Yes, you''re right." Phillip didn''t bother wasting any more words with him. "Have you caught the culprit?" "Yes, he''s currently in custody, waiting for your decision," the chief said, trying to please him. "How the criminal is handled is your duty. We have no right to interfere. This is absolutely ridiculous. Are we, the Meyer family, some kind of pushover?" Phillip was clearly unimpressed. The chief was left breathless by Phillip''s scolding. He felt like everything he said was wrong and could only agree, "Yes, yes, you''re right." "What''s the criminal''s identity and what grudge does he hold against our Izzy?" Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. "He imed to be an investor of Huner Corporation and lost all his money in their stocks. He took his anger out on the office." "Absurd. How is this Ines'' fault?" Phillip vented his anger on the chief once again, and after a while, hung up the phone. Ethan arrived at the hospital around five the next morning. As soon as he got off the ne, he rushed to the hospital and ran into Phillip. "Is Izzy badly hurt?" "She''s okay. Her spleen was almost ruptured. She woke up a while ago but she''s exhausted and fell asleep again." As soon as Phillip finished speaking, Ethan ran off. Watching his retreating figure, Phillip muttered, "You really have some rotten luck. Why can''t you be there when the one you love is in trouble? Aaron got there first." Standing in the doorway, Ethan watched Ines lying on the hospital bed, looking pale and lifeless. The hospital gown made her look even more frail. Ethan stood there, rooted to the spot. His heart felt as if it was being tightly squeezed. Each breath he took felt like a pull at his heart, the pain gradually spreading throughout his body. Luckily, she was okay. But, he waste again. He wasn''t there for her when she was scared and worried. Erica felt a gaze on her and turned to see Ethan standing there, looking stunned. "Ethan, why are you standing at the doorway? You''re not scared stiff, are you?" Only then did Ethan walk into the room. He nced at Erica, "Mom, you''ve been taking care of Izzy all night. Go home and rest, I''ll stay with Izzy." Seeing how worn out Ethan was, Erica said with concern, "I''m fine. You just got back from abroad. You should go rest. I''m here with Izzy, nothing will happen." Chapter 171 Chapter 171 Ethan just shook his head at Erica, "I''m good, I won''t be able to sleep even if I go back now, I''d better stay in the ward. Don''t worry, I can take care of her." Seeing Ethan so insistent, Erica breathed a sigh of relief and instructed, "In a few hours the doctor will do the rounds, they might arrange for Izzy to have an IV, you need to take good care of her." Ethan nodded in response and Erica tucked Ines in, feeling reassured, she left. When Ines woke up, she found her hand being held by a warm hand, a touch that she was familiar with. Opening her eyes, she saw Ethan looking at her with concern, "Ethan, howe you''re here so early?" "With such a big thing happening to you, of course I had toe early. Do you feel ufortable anywhere?" Ethan caressed Ines''s face. Ines shook her head and gave him a reassuring smile, "I''m good, feeling much better now." Ethan frowned, which Ines didn''t like. She reached out to touch his forehead, but identally pulled her wound, causing her to wince in pain. "Izzy, don''t move. Just lie down and rest." Ethan reprimanded her, holding her down gently. Seeing her like this, he felt extremely distressed. "Then you stop frowning. How many times have I told you, frowning makes you look old." Ines red at Ethan. Ethan, unlike his usual self, didn''t get angry at Ines'' agement, instead heughed. In a good mood, he nodded, "Alright, I won''t frown." Ethan''s reaction made Ines want tough, but considering her wound, she held it back. Ethan kissed her hand, "Are you hungry? I can have some food brought over." "I''m not hungry, I don''t have much of an appetite right now. I''ll let you know when I want to eat." Ethan nodded, his eyebrows furrowing instinctively, but remembering Ines'' words, he held back. Inesughed, "Alright, Mr. Meyer, it''s not like I''ve contracted some incurable disease. You look so down in the dumps, it''s making me ufortable. Can you cheer up a bit?" "You''re like this, how can I be happy?" "What am I like? I think I''m quite lucky. I''ve been talking about wanting a baby recently, but thinking about it now, it''s scary. If I had this ident while being pregnant, I probably wouldn''t be able to save the baby. So this is the best oue." Ines tried tofort him. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Ethan stared at Ines, and after a while, he rxed, "You really know how tofort yourself." Ines shook her head, "Our lives are already full of unhappiness. If we can''t figure out how to live our lives well, then wouldn''t we be even more miserable?" Ethan knew Ines was saying this to keep him from feeling sad and guilty. Feeling her good intentions, Ethan tried to rx, "Mrs. Meyer is right." At ten in the morning, due to the Meyer family''s status, the head surgeon and relevant experts personally came to check on Ines. After re-examining her wounds and finding nothing abnormal, they reassured Ethan, "Mr. Meyer, don''t worry. Mrs. Meyer is doing well. There''s no infection at the wound. After a few days of IV and stitches removal, she can be discharged." Ethan nodded, "She doesn''t want to eat anything right now. Will it affect her condition?" "It''s not a big problem. The patient may not want to eat due to emotional changes. Try to feed her some easily digestible liquid food for these three days. After discharge, give her some blood enriching foods, take care of her body, and she can recover as before." The doctor''s conversation with Ethan was in front of Ines. She couldn''t help but ask, "Doctor, will my condition affect my ability to have children in the future?" "Mrs. Meyer, don''t worry. It won''t have any impact. You just had a spleen injury, it did not hurt your uterus, it won''t affect you at all." The doctor replied with a smile. Upon hearing the doctor''s words, Ines waspletely relieved. As soon as the doctor left, Aaron arrived. He was surprised to see Ethan, but nodded at him and walked into the hospital room. He put the nutritional supplements on the cab, "Izzy, are you feeling better?" "You don''t have to worry about me, I''m not in any serious condition, and I don''t feel ufortable." Aaron nodded, saying gently, "That''s good." Ethan saw that it was hard for Ines to talk lying down, so he patiently adjusted the bed and helped her sit up slowly on the pillows, then left the room, giving them some space. Ethan''s behavior surprised Aaron. He knew Ethan''s character well, his possessiveness was strong. The fact that he could do this showed that he had learned to respect Ines. Ines knew that this was a way for Ethan to show respect. He was a person who knew how to appreciate others. When it was time to give back, he would do his best. Aaron saved her, so he was willing to do this. Ines nced at Aaron''s arm, but he was wearing clothes, so she couldn''t see anything, "How''s your arm?" Aaron shook his head, "It''s just a minor wound. Nothing to worry about." "Well, try not to get it wet and avoid spicy food, as they''re not good for your wound''s recovery." Ines instructed earnestly. Aaron smiled, he liked Ines'' straightforward concern, "Ok, I''ll keep that in mind." Their interaction reminded them of the time when they were working together. Whenever one of them was unwell, the other would always show concern. But they were not nagging types, they didn''t say much, but the sincerity in their words made the other feel it clearly. "Thank you," Ines said out of the blue. She knew that if Aaron hadn''t been by her side today, her injuries would have been much worse. "Izzy, we don''t need to get all mushy on each other," Aaron looked at Ines seriously. "Don''t get me wrong, I''d say the same to Ethan or anyone from the Meyer family. It''s not like I''m treating you as some outsider, this is just how I express my feelings. Don''t overthink it." He''d been so considerate of her despite her previous coldness, and she really appreciated him for that. "By the way, what''s the scoop with the firm?" Ines still had thew firm on her mind. "The SFC formallyunched an investigation into Huner Corporation this morning. The firm is also the subject of the investigation. The situation is not optimistic, and it will go bankrupt sooner or later." Chapter 172 Chapter 172 "That is fine; I didn''t want to work at that firm anymore anyway. It also means I don''t have to prepare a resignation letter. So, what are your ns now?" Ines asked. "I really like being an auditor, I''m not giving up on this career. I think next, I''ll probably start up my own firm," Aaron replied. "You''re going to start your own firm? Do you have any partners lined up?" Ines thought this was a great idea. "I have two friends who are also interested. We haven''t started talking yet. You''re wee to join us if you want," Aaron said with augh. Ines thought for a moment. She decided to shift her focus to her personal life for the time being. She had several small matters at home that needed sorting out. Right now, she didn''t have the energy to start a new firm with others, "I don''t have the energy for this right now, but I''d be very happy if you could hold a spot for me." "No problem, you can join us anytime. Just promise you won''t look down on our little firm when the timees." "It doesn''t matter how big or small the firm is, as long as we get to call the shots." This was a lesson she learned from EM. She''d rather be her own boss and decide what kind of business to take on, rather than working for someone else for the rest of her life. They talked about work for a bit more, before Aaron suddenly asked, "Izzy, are you really happy with Ethan?" Ines looked at Aaron seriously and replied, "Yes, I''m very happy with him." "Then I know what to do." Aaron said with a bitter smile. Even though he had made up his mind not to miss out on his loved ones again, hearing her murmuring in her sleep, "Ethan, don''t worry, I''ll be okay, I won''t leave you." left him not knowing what to do. They haven''t known each other for long, but they already had such deep feelings. He had no reason to stand between two people who genuinely loved each other. After talking a little more, Aaron left the ward. Ethan was smoking around the corner. Aaron couldn''t help but stop for a moment. He remembered that Ethan didn''t have a smoking habit. Even under work pressure, he preferred coffee. Aaron walked over and Ethan offered him a cigarette, "Fancy a smoke?" Aaron took it naturally and Ethan lit it for him. They smoked quietly for a while. They had once been the closest of friends, and it had been many years since they stood together in such silence, let alone chat. "Feels like it''s been ages since we had days like this." Aaron remarked. Ethan nodded, "Yeah, it''s been six or seven years. Ever since Le and I got together, we''ve grown apart." "I could never understand. We both loved Le so deeply, but a few yearster, we both fell in love with another woman. I often wondered if our love was not as deep as we thought. Otherwise, why would we forget about Le?" Aaron said quietly. Ethan had thought about this too, but he really couldn''t exin it. Sometimes, someone just catches your attention unexpectedly, and you simply can''t let go or overthink. "I don''t know. All I know is that the moment I saw her, I wanted to hold onto her tightly." Ethan said expressionlessly. "Ethan." Aaron called his name, a name he hadn''t uttered in a long time. "Hmm?" Ethan paused and looked at Aaron. "Do you know why, after working with Ines for so many years, I never expressed my feelings?" Ethan shook his head, "It''s not that I didn''t want to, but I could never clearly tell if she was Ines or Le. They both made me feel the same. I didn''t want to just drag her into my life. It wouldn''t be fair to her. And a major reason is that I never wanted to admit that I had forgotten Le so quickly. It would make my past persistence seem like a joke." Ethan paused, then said, "Aaron, you''re overthinking. She really is Ines. She''s only slightly simr to Le." "I know she''s Ines. I saw her back before. She was with Le. The moment she came to B''s company, I recognized her. I decided to help her out of sympathy for what she went through. I never expected to fall for her." If he had known it woulde to this, he would never have helped her. "So you both met her, and I''m the only one who hasn''t." Ethan couldn''t help but sigh. "I''ve figured it out, Ethan. I''m willing to bless you guys." Aaron said suddenly. Ethan was taken aback, looking at Aaron in disbelief. He knew Aaron hade back for Ines and was prepared for a long struggle. He didn''t expect Aaron to give up so quickly. "Why?" "Because Ines only loves you. If I continued, it would only make her more upset. Once I take a step topete with you, I might not even have a chance to greet her." Aaron paused, then said, "At this point, I don''t me anyone but myself, for not being as decisive as you. I had such a good opportunity and didn''t appreciate it." Ethan patted him on the shoulder and smiled, "I always knew you''de around. I just didn''t expect it to happen so soon." Aaronughed and the two bumped chests, just like old times. "Thank you for saving Izzy." "It''s what I should do." Aaron replied. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Men aren''t as open about their feelings as women. But once they say it, there''s no turning back. When the two entered the ward, Ines immediately noticed a change in their atmosphere. They seemed closer, and she couldn''t help asking, "Did you guys make up?" The two men looked at each other and smiled, nodding in unison. Ines couldn''t help but smile, "Looks like my ident had some use after all, if I had known..." Before Ines could even finish her sentence, the sharp gazes from the two guys swept over, forcing her to obediently shut her trap. But then, she caught a whiff of smoke, "You both smoked?" Both of them chuckled and nodded. Ines spoke up, "Since you guys have officially made up today, I''ll let this smoke thing slide. Ethan, if you''re going to smoke next time, don''t even think about getting near me. I can''t stand the smell of smoke." Ethan justughed and shook his head, "Alright, whatever you say, Mrs. Meyer." Chapter 173 Chapter 173 After the police station received the news that Ines was sober, they came with a photo of the criminal and asked Ines to make a statement and identify him, but Ines said that she did not know the criminal. News of Ines''s injury spread like wildfire, and loads of people came to visit in the morning. Some were her colleagues from the firm, but most were Ethan''s business partners. Ines didn''t know most of them and she was feeling out of sorts, getting zonked out easily. Ethan barred most of them, only letting the Meyer family and a few close friends into the ward. Ashley''s family also swung by, but Jacob had to split after a bit due to work. Lauren and Ashley stayed to take care of Ines, telling Ethan to go home and get some shut-eye beforeing back. Ashley was quite the crack-up, andughter would often fill the room. Poor Ines had to hold in her laughter, which was a bit of a pain. Lauren couldn''t stand it any longer, so she gave Ashley a good knock on the forehead, saying, "Stop running your mouth, your sis-inw is having a hard time holding in herughter. She just had surgery,ughing might make her stitches hurt." Ethan didn''t go home, but went straight to the police station. As soon as he got there, Mr. Brooke was all smiles, saying, "Mr. Meyer, good to see you." Ethan just gave a small nod, "Where''s the guy? Take me to him." Mr. Brooke led Ethan to the interrogation room. Before long, a cop came up with a man. The guy looked scared shitless, trembling in his seat. He tried to get up but was pushed back down by the cop. The guy got so scared he was shaking like a leaf, trembling on the table. The cop forced Toni''s head up. Toni kept shaking his head, his eyes filled with fear. Ethan took one look at him, he was pissed. Seeing Ethan''s expression, Mr. Brooke quickly exined, "Mr. Meyer, the perp''s name is Toni. He''s not a local, but from a vige nearby. He has a criminal record, did time for assault a few years back. He was released three years ago and was selling fruits in the city. We took Mrs. Galeana''s statement this morning and she confirmed she doesn''t know him and there''s no bad blood between them. Toni imed he put all his earnings into Huner Corporation''s stocks and lost everything, and his mental state is bad due to this resentment, which led to the assault." Ethan frowned. This ridiculous exnation didn''t convince him at all. ording to this, Toni''s main enemy should be Huner Corporation. He didn''t believe that an illiterate person could understand the rtionship between thew firm and Huner Corporation, let alone that the firm hadn''t done its supervisory duty. There were many executives in thew firm, but he only attacked the clerk Ines. And he rushed at her after the cops had dispersed the crowd, clearly he had been lying in wait to kill Ines. "Do you guys buy his story?" Ethan looked at Mr. Brooke. Mr. Brookeughed, "It does seem a bit far-fetched. We''re not ruling out the possibility of a hired hit, so we''ll keep investigating. Mr. Meyer, think carefully, have you pissed anyone off recently?" Ethan gave it a thought, but he didn''t have any leads. He had so many enemies in the business world, he couldn''t narrow it down at all. "I don''t care how you investigate, just give me an answer ASAP." Ethan red at Mr. Brooke. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. "Of course, we''ll definitely give you an answer as soon as possible." Mr. Brooke was sweating bullets, his superiors had already put pressure on him first thing in the morning to crack the case. Ethan nced at Toni, asking, "Have you confirmed whether he was mentally unstable at the time of the crime?" "Well, not yet. His family has a history of intermittent mental illness, but we''ll have to wait for the mental health experts to examine him to know for sure. His current state doesn''t allow us to continue the interrogation, as we keep getting the same excuse." Ethan scoffed. Thew has a lot of protections for the mentally ill. If Toni is found to have been having a mental breakdown at the time of the incident, he won''t be charged with intentional assault, at most he''ll be forced to undergo treatment. Even if the truth is indeed so, it''s not the oue he wants. If not, then someone behind the scenes has set up an borate trap. Just a day after the Huner Corporation incident, they had already set this up, showing their meticulous nning. But even if Toni is punished, if the person pulling the strings behind him isn''t caught, Ines could still be in danger. Ethan walked up to Toni and after a pause, said, "Toni, the mental health experts are very smart. They''ll find out if you''re mentally ill. If you''re willing to rat out the person behind this, you might get a lighter sentence. Otherwise, you might have to spend a few more years in the mmer." At Ethan''s words, Toni started shaking, but he still pretended to be dazed. Before leaving, Ethan turned to Mr. Brooke, "If you guys figure out who''s pulling the strings behind this, report to me immediately." Ethan went home for a shower before returning to the hospital. Ashley and Lauren had already left, and Phoebe and Noel were now by Ines''s side. Phoebe was chattering away, "Izzy, why''ve you been having such bad lucktely, with such a serious incident happening. Should we go to the church to pray?" "I guess I really should go to the church." As soon as Noel saw Ethan, he came over, "I heard from sis-inw that you and Aaron made up?" Ethan nodded, "You could say so." "That''s great, we should all go out for a drink sometime. I''ve been waiting for this day for so many years." Ethan was just about to nod when he caught Ines''s gaze. He had no choice but to say, "I''m on the wagon now." "Since when? I didn''t know about this." Noel asked, puzzled. "Not long ago." Thest thing Ethan wanted was to be kicked out to the couch by Ines again. Once was enough. Following Ethan''s gaze, Noel caught sight of Ines''s amused smile. He instantly understood and couldn''t help but mutter under his breath, "Is being married really that terrifying?" Chapter 174 Chapter 174 Once Phoebe and Noel left, the ward fell silent again. Ines sat there, a look ofughter in her eyes as she watched Ethan. Unable to help himself, Ethan asked, "Why you staring at me?" "Feels like it''s been a while since I''ve had a good look at you," Ines said sincerely. Ethan smiled slightly then, sat down in front of the hospital bed and said solemnly: "Then please ask Mrs. Meyer to take a good look at me." Ines traced the contours of his delicate features with her hand. Ethan closed his eyes, enjoying the tranquility of the moment. Noticing Ethan''s tiredness, Ines patted the bed and suggested, "Ethan, why don''t you join me for a nap? I''m a bit tired." Holding her hand, Ethan replied, "If you''re tired, just sleep. You have a check-up this afternoon, and I''m not tired." Ines quickly said, "Mr. Meyer, don''t worry. I''ve had my IV this morning, so I won''t need one this afternoon. If there''s an examination, the nurse will let us know. You don''t need to watch me all the time." Upon hearing this, Ethan teased, "Aren''t you embarrassed? What if the doctors and nurses see us sleeping together?" Ines blushed, but quickly replied, "Even if I feel shy, I can''t let my husband get tired. I will care about myself if others don''t, and we are a couple, sleeping together is pretty normal." "Izzy, what did you just call me?" Ethan asked, since Ines usually just called him by his name, without any other terms of endearment. Ines paused, realizing what she had said, her face turned red, and she raised her voice, "Ethan, are you getting in bed or not? If not, then leave. I don''t want to see you anymore." Ethan knew she was angry and found her adorable. He pinched her cheek, "Mrs. Meyer, I''ming up right now." Ines found the dynamics of their rtionship fascinating. Ethan kicked off his shoes and climbed onto the bed. The VIP ward was spacious enough for two. Since Ines was injured, Ethan didn''t dare to hug her, so he justy next to her. Ines, who had been disturbed by visitors since the morning, was exhausted. Curling up against Ethan''s warm body, she fell asleep in no time. Listening to her soft breathing, Ethan also drifted off to sleep shortly after. Ines sleptfortably, and so did Ethan. Neither of them noticed Phillip and Silvia entering the ward. Phillip, seeing them sleeping together, stroked his chin and smiled contentedly, while Silvia''s expression changed. Phillip nced at Silvia and they both left the ward. Silvia sighed and said, "Never thought Ethan and my sister-inw are so close. They''ve only known each other for less than half a year, right?" "Indeed. Even though Ethan and Izzy haven''t known each other for long, their hearts are already together," Phillip replied. "That''s good. I hope my sister-inw could take good care of Ethan in ce of my sister. That would put my sister at peace," Silvia said, looking mncholic. Phillip patted Silvia''s shoulder, "Silvia, don''t hold any grudges against Ines. What happened has nothing to do with her. It''s just that Le wasn''t meant to be with your brother." "I won''t resent her. I just hope my brother is okay. His happiness with my sister-inw is also my sister''s wish." Seeing Silvia said this, Phillip felt reassured. Ethan, a light sleeper, woke up upon hearing Phillip and Silvia''s conversation. Looking at Ines'' cheeks flushed from deep sleep, he couldn''t help but bend down to kiss her lightly. Ines fluttered her eyshes in response. Ethan got out of bed and opened the door of the ward, whispering to Phillip and Silvia, "Grandpa, Silvia, you''re here." Phillip nodded, "How is Izzy feeling today?" "She''s in good spirits today. She spent the morning chatting with everyone, only fell asleep in the afternoon." Just then, Ines'' voice came from the ward, "Grandpa, is that you?" Ethan smiled, "Grandpa, Izzy is awake. Let''s go in." After a nap, Ines felt refreshed. Silvia walked up to the bed and said with a smile, "Sister-inw, do you feel ufortable anywhere?" "Thank you for your concern, Silvia. I''m fine now." "That''s good. When I heard the news, I got a real scare. You were perfectly finest weekend when you were helping me choose clothes." Phillip turned to Ethan, "I heard you went to the police station. Did they find anything?" "The perpetrator has a family history of mental illness. When I went there, the psychiatric assessment team hadn''t arrived yet, so it''s uncertain whether his mental state is really problematic. From what I saw, he seemed fine. I suspect he was purposely targeting Izzy," Ethan said gravely. "Indeed, it''s not as simple as it seems," Phillip said with a coldugh. Ines couldn''t help asking, "Wasn''t it an ident?" Ethan shook his head, "Izzy, it wasn''t an ident. There are no such coincidences. This was specifically targeted at you." "Why would anyone target me? I don''t think I''ve offended anyone recently. Could it be that mother and daughter?" Ines could only think of Emma and Shirley, but there hadn''t been any major conflicts with them recently. They wouldn''t want her dead, would they? Ethan helped Ines tidy up her hair, "It''s not yet clear. There''s no conclusive evidence to link them to it. The police should have answers in a few days." "Izzy, don''t think too much about it. Just leave it to Ethan. Your main task now is to recover." Ines nodded, "I understand, grandpa." "Good, let''s not talk about these upsetting things anymore. I''ve brought you some soup, you should drink more." Just as Silvia was about to hand the soup over to Ines, Ethan swooped in, "I will do it."Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 175 Chapter 175 Ethan didn''t immediately feed Ines the soup, but meticulously wet a cotton swab to moisten her chapped lips. In front of Phillip and Silvia, Ines felt a bit awkward, whispering, "You really don''t have to go to all this trouble." Ethan replied, "Your lips are dry, It will be ufortable when you eat, it''ll mess with the taste." Seeing Ethan take such good care of Ines, Phillip chuckled a bit. He didn''t want to stick around and be a third wheel, so he left with Silvia. Ines couldn''t help butugh, "Ethan, you scared grandpa away." Ethan said, "They just came to check up on you, I didn''t want anyone else disturbing us. It''s rare we get a bit of peace and quiet." Ines red at him with a grin, "Did you do that on purpose?" Ethan shrugged, "Nah, not really." Since her surgery, Ines hadn''t taken a shower. She felt a peculiar odor on her, a mix of blood and sweat. Her hair was sticky and clinging to her neck. She couldn''t stand it so she looked at Ethan pleadingly, "Ethan, can you ask the doctor if I can wash my hair or wipe down my body? I feel like I smell bad." Ethan sniffed her, "You don''t stink, and you still smell like roses." Ines pushed him a bit and jokingly scolded him, "Ethan, I''m serious. Can you ask the doctor? If it''s not okay, I won''t insist on it." Ethan pinched her nose, "Okay, Mrs. Meyer, Mr. Meyer is going right away, just wait here for a bit." Ethan asked the doctor, who said that Ines'' immune system hadn''t fully recovered yet, so she couldn''t wash her hair for fear of catching a cold. If it was really ufortable, she could wipe down her body with hot water. Ethan fetched some hot water, closed the ward door, and started to take off Ines'' hospital gown. Even though they''d done more intimate things, being undressed in broad daylight under his gaze made Ines blush. She squeezed her eyes shut. Ethan shook his head, sighing softly, "You blush too easily." Ethan gently wiped down Ines. Seeing her wound made his heart ache. Ines looked at him and softly said, "Ethan, I''m fine. Hurry up and wipe down my body, I''m feeling a bit cold." Ethan nodded and sped up his movements, still being very careful. Just wiping down Ines got Ethan sweating bullets. He was so nervous. Ines saw this and chuckled. Ines stayed in the hospital for ten days. It felt like an eternity. She was bedridden for the first few days, butter she got better and could walk around the small hospital garden. During this time, Ethan stayed by Ines'' side and took good care of her. He even moved all his work to the hospital room, holding meetings over video calls. Other executives of the Meyer Group also reported to the hospital room. The room was like a small office. Rtives of the Meyer family and Ss came to visit her more than once, but only during the day. Ethan didn''t allow anyone to apany her at night. Ines didn''t tell Rita and Zander Payne about her hospital stay. Rita only found out when she heard a nurse speaking over the phone. As expected, Ines got an earful from Rita. In the end, Ethan repeatedly assured them that she would be discharged soon, so they didn''t fly over to see her. Early in the morning, the doctor did a thorough examination of Ines. Her wound was healing well and she could be discharged after the stitches were removed. Ines was ecstatic. She immediately went to the bathroom to shower, changed into clean clothes and hurried Ethan to pack up. She was sick of this ce and couldn''t wait to leave. Seeing her so excited, Ethan quickly packed up. Lucas was already waiting outside the door. He took the stuff from Ethan and said to Ines, "Congrattions on your discharge, ma''am." "Thank you, Lucas. I''ve been a real bother these past few days." Ines responded with a smile. The moment she walked into her home, Ines felt a long-lost sense of familiarity. After walking around the house, she flopped onto her bed and didn''t want to get up. Ethan also took off his coat andid down beside her. He asked, "Izzy, what are you nning on doing next?" With the Huner Corporation bankrupt and EM Enterprises dissolved, Ines looked at Ethan with a grin, "I''m not nning on going back to work for now. I''ll stay at home and recover. You''re gonna have to take care of me for a while." Ethan pinched her face,ughing, "Mr. Meyer is honored." "Now you say that but if I stop working, I''ll be hanging around you all day. Don''t me me if I get annoying." Ines kicked him with her foot. Being kicked, Ethan rolled over and pinned Ines under him. Seeing the heat in his eyes, Ines'' heart pounded so hard she could hear it. "Izzy, have you missed me?" Ethan looked down at Ines, a yful smirk in his eyes. Ines knew exactly what he meant. She grumbled, "No, not at all. You''ve been with me every day, always fussing over me. It''s been really annoying." Ethan pinched her face, "Do you know how fast your heart is beating?" "No..." she started. Before she could finish, Ethan''s hot kiss took her breath away. Unlike the light kisses in the hospital, this one was intense. Being at home, Ines was able to fully immerse herself in it. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. However, just as they were about to lose control, Ethan rolled over and held her from behind. He patted her back gently to steady his breathing. He whispered in her ear, "The doctor said we have to wait a few more days for this. We can''t be too hasty." Ines''s face turned beet red and she thought to herself, this guy can be as shameless as Noel at times. "Did you really go and ask the doctor that?" Ethan chuckled lightly against her neck, dodging her question. Instead, he said seriously, "Can''t let you get hurt anymore, not even for my own sake." Chapter 176 Chapter 176 Ines was woken up early by the smell of food cooking. When she got up and ready, she found Ethan bustling around the kitchen, humming a little tune. He seemed to be in a good mood. Ines had never seen Ethan like this. She couldn''t resist slowing down her steps, quietly walking up behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist. She deliberately asked loudly, ¡°What are you up to, Mr. Meyer?¡± She was trying to startle him, but instead, he quickly spun around, pushed her on the fridge, and gave her a passionate French kiss. Ines leaned against his chest, ying with the buttons on his shirt. "Why weren''t you scared?" She asked. "I recognized your footsteps. I knew it was you the moment you stepped out of the bedroom." He deliberately didn''t turn around because he wanted to see what Ines was up to. He certainly didn''t expect her to try to scare him, but he was not someone who got easily frightened. However, since she was the one who initiated it, he wasn''t going to let her off easily. Ines followed his gaze and saw a bunch of snacks on the table. She asked, "You didn''t leave the house after we got homest night, when did you get these things? " "I had Lucas bring them over early in the morning." What he didn''t tell her was that he remembered he wanted to get her something to eat in the middle of the night and ended up calling Lucas. Ines couldn''t help but shake her head, thinking that being Ethan''s secretary must be tough. Not only doing secretary work but also ying babysitter. "I think you should give Lucas a raise," Ines suggested seriously. "Lucas''s sry is adjusted annually. He is already well paid." Ines stared at Ethan in disbelief. A secretary''s sry was so high. She always thought that being a certified public ountant was a high-paying job. If the firm she worked for was doing well, she could make a lot of money in a year. However, she never expected that the secretary''s sry at the Meyer Group was several times higher. "Had I known that being a secretary was so lucrative, I would have studied that. Does the Meyer Group hire non-professionals? I might change careers once I recover." "There are only a few secretaries at the Meyer Group. No matter what profession, there are people who excel and those who don''t. Lucas happens to be at the top of his field." "With a secretary''s sry being so high, I wonder how much a CEO earns?" Ines asked curiously. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Ethan chuckled. They had been married for half a year, and she had never touched his bank card. "Mrs. Meyer, have you forgotten something? I gave you my bank card a long time ago. You can check the bnce anytime you want." "I really am clueless." Ines suddenly remembered. Not long after they got married, he had already handed her his bank card. If it weren''t for this conversation, she would havepletely forgotten about it. Ethan served some soup for Ines and brought the dishes to the table. She suddenly remembered the person who stabbed her. "It''s been over ten days. Is there any progress on the case? Is that person really mentally ill?" "I received a call from the police stationst night. He does indeed have intermittent mental illness. The police station where he was previously detained has confirmed this. He was once put in solitary confinement for attacking other inmates during a psychotic episode. After being released, he lived in a mental hospital for a while. The hospital still has his treatment records. Experts determined that he was indeed having a psychotic episode at the time of the incident. He is now undergoingpulsory treatment." Ethan didn''t want to believe this. It seemed too coincidental. "Do you think we might be overthinking it? Maybe it was just an unfortunate ident." "Izzy, I am convinced this is not as simple as it seems. You should stay at home and rest for now. If you''re bored, you cane to the Meyer Group with me." "Don''t worry, I''m not that frail. Even if someone is plotting against me, they wouldn''t dare to make another move so soon. It would expose them too easily." Just then, Ethan''s phone rang. It was Phillip. "Ethan, if Izzy is not working for the time being, you can send her over to me. I''ll help her recuperate." Upon hearing Phillip''s words, Ines quickly shook her head at Ethan. Ethan knew exactly what she meant and told Phillip, "Grandpa, don''t worry. I have everything sorted out. I''m in my thirties, I know how to take care of my wife. There''s no need for her to stay with you over this little matter. It''s been a busy few days at thepany, and I don''t want tomute back and forth every night." Phillip said loudly, "I''m thinking of Izzy''s well-being. Don''t overthink it. I just said Izzy shoulde over, you don''t have to." "That won''t work. I won''t sleep well if I''m not hugging my wife at night." Ethan said with a slight smile. Hearing this, Phillip said, "Now you have the courage to refute me." "Thank you for thepliment, grandpa." Ethan replied shamelessly. He only heard Phillip snort coldly, thenined a few words and hung up the phone. Chapter 177 Chapter 177 After hanging up the phone, Ethan chuckled at Ines, "Are you scared of going back to grandpa''s now?¡± Ines shook her head, "I¡¯m not afraid of staying with grandpa, but It''s because I''m afraid that I can''t stand the various vors that my grandfather cooks for me.¡± At her own home, she could eat less, but she didn''t have such freedom with Grandpa. Moreover, Ethan understood her preferences and made things that were more in line with her taste. The food Ethan cooked was always eptable, but it was not necessarily the case with grandpa. She had no idea what ingredients grandpa would use. "So, you aren¡¯t scared of the food I cook?" Ethan asked. Ines chuckled, "Mr. Meyer, your cooking is pretty normal, I¡¯ve been fine with it so far.¡± After Ethan went to work, Ines was alone watching TV, cleaning the house, and sorting out the winter clothes she could no longer wear in the closet. At noon, Ethan came back and said he was going to take her somewhere. Ines followed him curiously and found out it was a newly developed residential andmercial property in the city center - Maplewood. "Why are you bringing me to look at houses?" Ines looked up at Ethan. "We need to start nning our wedding. I n to hold it in October, so our guests will have time to attend, and your friends in A City can also make time toe. Since we''re getting married, of course we need a new house. The Maplewood houses have greatyouts and locations. I''ve got my eye on two houses, you can take a look and see if you like them. If you do, I can book them right away and start decorating. That way, it¡¯ll be ready by the time we get married.¡± Ines felt like crying, this man had quietly arranged everything, "We already have a house, I really like it there.¡± It was very cozy, she had lived there for half a year and had developed feelings for it. ¡°That house is too small, it¡¯s barely enough for the two of us, but it¡¯ll be inconvenient once we have children. So we need to choose a bigger one, where friends and rtives can also stay.¡± Ethan had considered all the factors, and Ines didn''t know what else to say, so she followed him into the residential area. Since Ethan was very familiar with the ce, the sales consultant gave them the keys directly and went to attend to other customers. Ethan held her hand and showed her which room was the master bedroom, where the view was good, suitable for a study, so they could gaze into the distance when they were tired. Listening to his ns, Ines felt good. ¡°I think the smalleryout is better, it¡¯s enough for four people. The other one is too big, if you asionally go on business trips, I¡¯ll be scared staying there alone.¡± Ethan thought for a moment, then said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, once the baby is born, we¡¯re definitely going to hire a nanny. If you give birth to two kids, we¡¯ll have to hire two nannies, and your mom and grandpa mighte to stay from time to time, so theyout can''t be too small.¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Inesughed and said, "Mr. Meyer, you¡¯re overthinking.¡± "This kind of thing needs to be nned in advance. If we find it unsuitableter on, it''ll be more troublesome to change houses. My mom and her sister are twins.¡± "Your mom has a twin sister?" Ines looked at Ethan in surprise, she had never heard of this. "Yes, she doesn''t live in A City now, because we haven''t had our wedding yet, there are many rtives from the Meyer family and my mom''s side that you haven''t met. You¡¯ll probably meet them all at the wedding.¡± "Got it.¡± Ethan looked at Ines seriously, "So, Mrs. Meyer, it would be great if we could have twins, that way you would suffer the pain of childbirth one less time.¡± Ines understood, so this man was hoping for this so she could suffer one less time from childbirth. She couldn''t help butugh: "Alright, Mr. Meyer''s dream might juste true unexpectedly.¡± "Yes." Ethan pinched Ines''s face, feeling that her already small face seemed to have grown thinner after her ten-day hospital stay. "the Meyer Group doesn''t have any real estate business, so which real estatepany does King''s Landing belong to? Ines asked. It was well known that the Meyer Group didn¡¯t have any real estate operations. She had been confused about this before, but after learning about Le''s situation, she figured it was probably because Ethan didn''t want to recall the past and feel sad. Ethan didn''t answer her question immediately, which made Ines alert, "Is this the Galeana Group¡¯s house?¡± "Izzy, don''t overthink it, this has nothing to do with Hunter. In fact, in A City, real estate is the Galeana Group¡¯s main business, and I can''t guarantee the quality of otherpanies'' houses, I n to buy this with my own money." "Why are you so nervous? I didn¡¯t say anything, just asking.¡± "I was worried you would think too much, so I didn''t tell you at first." Ethan said with a smile. "Alright, you don''t need to worry about me." Ethan signed the contract on the spot, paid the money, and let Lucas follow up on the rest. Ines also felt relieved. She was willing to persuade Hunter to ept treatment, but it didn''t mean she hadpletely forgiven this father, nor did it mean she could casually ept his kindness. Chapter 178 Chapter 178 News about Ethan and Ines house hunting quickly reached Ss, who immediately called Hunter. After nearly half a month of recuperation, Hunter was feeling a lot better. He was chilling on a bench, soaking up the sun. "They want a house from the Galeana Group? I could just give them one. Why does Ethan have to fork out his own money?" "Mr. Galeana, it seems Ethan had his eyes on a specific property. They signed the contract and paid up right after they found it. I only noticed when I was going through the ounts. He probably wants this house as their marital home." Hunter was taken aback, then asked, "So they''re nning a wedding redo?" Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. "Seems like it. That''s my guess. Their current ce isn''t big, just a small apartment Ethan used to live in alone. They probably need a bigger ce if they''re thinking of having kids." Hunter grinned. "Ines isn''t getting any younger. They should really consider having a kid. I had several kids when I was her age." Ss, noticing Hunter''s good mood, filled him in on Ines''s recent happenings. Hunter was quiet for a while before speaking. "This is a golden opportunity. Let her recuperate, then talk to her about returning to the Galeana Group. Working for the family business is better than working elsewhere." "I''ll talk to her. By the way, Emma seems to suspect something. She''s been grilling me about where you''ve been." "We have to keep them in the dark. Knowing Emma, she''ll kick up a fuss if she finds out the truth. Plus, we can''t let those restless board members know I''m in the hospital. Not a single word can leak, or we''ll have a whole lot of trouble." Ss didn''t mention that the board members were already stirring trouble. He updated Hunter on work-rted matters before hanging up. Ines had been staying home for a full week, living a rxed andfortable life. She would also asionally spend a few days with her grandfather. Ines was gradually getting better. At the very least, she could feel that her hands and feet were not as cold as before. Around noon, Ines received a call from Phoebe, asking her to help pick out a gift. Meg Wagner''s birthday wasing up soon. Ines agreed right away. "Phoebe, what kind of gift do you have in mind?" Ines asked, arm in arm with Phoebe. "I have no clue. I''ve given her everything she likes over the years. I honestly don''t know what to choose this year. That''s why I brought you along to help." Phoebe was a bit vexed. Ines chuckled. "Do you want me to give you some advice?" "Spill it. My mom adores you. She''ll definitely love any gift you choose." Phoebe looked at Ines eagerly. Ines thought for a moment before saying seriously, "If you bring Noel back, Meg would definitely be happy. Her biggest worry right now is your marriage." "Enough, Izzy. Don''t mention that man again or we''re done." Ines shook her head, amused, at Phoebe''s aversion to Noel. "Alright, forget I mentioned it." Phoebe dragged Ines into the mall. Not long after, they overheard two women chatting. Turning around, they saw Emma and Shirley standing in front of a baby boutique, while Aiden stood behind them, stone-faced, carrying bags. Ines was growing more and more indifferent towards her ex-fianc¨¦. "Mom, do you think this looks good?" Emma held up a pink baby outfit to Shirley. Shirley pinched the fabric and smiled. "It''s cute, not bad." "Izzy, is Emma pregnant?" Phoebe pulled on Ines''s clothes and whispered. Ines shook her head. "I''m not sure. Given the situation, I''d guess so." Phoebe was about to leave with Ines when they were intentionally stopped by Emma. "Ines, why are you leaving in such a hurry after seeing us?" Phoebe couldn''t stand Emma''s attitude. Just as she was about to retort, Ines stopped her. "Don''t bother with her. It''s pointless." "Ines, I just wanted to share the good news of my pregnancy. Don''t read too much into it." Emma feigned innocence. Ines calmly said, "Congrattions then." "Thank you, sis." Emma touched her still-t belly, her face filled with happiness. Her words sounded somewhat sincere. Ines was slightly taken aback, but nodded. However, she was soon proven wrong when Emma continued, "Sis, you''ve been married to your husband for almost half a year now, right? Howe you''re not pregnant yet? Is there something wrong with your health? If there is, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. After all, both you and your husband aren''t getting any younger anymore, you can''t dy." Ines paled slightly, her grip on Phoebe''s hand tightening unconsciously. Aiden didn''t look too good either, and said to Emma, "Emma, that''s enough. We''ve done enough shopping for today, let''s go home. You''ve just gotten pregnant, you shouldn''t be out for too long." He realized that the person in front of him wasn''t the same one he had known. Only after marriage did he see her true colors. "Aiden, why are you pulling me? I only said those things for my sister and brother-inw." Emma said. Phoebe''s face turned stern. She couldn''t hold it back any longer. "Emma, you should focus on yourself first. You just got pregnant. Whether you can sessfully give birth is another matter. Showing off like this, don''t you think it''s too early?" "Are you suggesting that you want to harm my child?" Emma covered her belly, looking at Phoebe in fear. Phoebe was speechless. She didn''t know what was going on in Emma''s brain to think that she wanted to harm her baby. "Do you have paranoia, or did you do something guilty and now you feel remorse? I have absolutely no interest in you." Phoebe retorted. Shirley shot Ines a nce, then tugged at Emma, saying, "Zip it, Aiden''s got a point, let''s go." Emma red at Phoebe with a pissed-off look when suddenly, a voice wafted over. Chapter 179 Chapter 179 "If I heard right, you should be more careful." Ines looked up to see that the person who had approached her was Silvia. She was wearing a suit jacket and short skirt that Ines had picked out for her a few days ago, and a pair of silver high heels about five to six centimeters high, the whole look screamedpetence. At this moment, she was looking at Emma with a gentle smile. Emma looked at the young woman in front of her, puzzled, and asked: ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a psychologist. If I¡¯m not mistaken, Miss Emma, you seem quite worried about the baby in your belly.¡± Silvia said, her gaze falling on Emma¡¯s belly. Emma¡¯s hand was resting on her stomach, her arm slightly bent, a protective stance. Silvia continued: ¡°But I reckon it¡¯s a waste of time. Your husband doesn¡¯t love the baby as much as you think. He just took you out for a stroll and his eyes were filled with impatience. He just held your hand, but a husband who truly loves his wife would subconsciously wrap his arm around her waist after knowing she¡¯s pregnant, since it¡¯s a better way to protect both wife and child.¡± Silvia paused, then went on: ¡°I can¡¯t figure out why you¡¯d want to have a child for a man who doesn¡¯t love you. As a woman, it¡¯s hard for me to sit back and watch. I think it¡¯s pointless to have a child for such a man. That¡¯s why I thought I¡¯de over and give you a heads up.¡± Silvia¡¯s words left Aiden and Emma in an awkward position. They didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m just saying. Don¡¯t take it to heart. Maybe I¡¯m wrong. Everyone expresses love differently.¡± Silvia had a light smile on her face, not a trace of malice in her eyes, as if she really had their best interest at heart. Emma felt a chill in her heart, and silently walked away. Shirley and Aiden quickly followed. Silvia watched them leave, then turned to Ines and said: ¡°Ines.¡± Ines gave a slight smile, knowing that Silvia had said those things for her sake. ¡°Thanks, Silvia.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to thank me. I haven¡¯t done anything. I wanted to visit you after you were discharged from the hospital, but I¡¯ve been busy looking for a job. Today I happened to pass by, saw someone who looked like you, and decided to check it out. I didn¡¯t expect to witness this.¡± ¡°Howe you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°I''ve found a job. I started working as an intern psychologist at a hospital yesterday. I¡¯m here with my patient who¡¯s shopping. She has depression, it¡¯s a special case. I¡¯m responsible for apanying her throughout the day, giving her psychological counseling.¡± Silvia pointed in a certain direction. Ines followed the direction of her pointing and saw a woman trying on clothes in a store not far away. The woman was dressed exquisitely, clearly from a well-off family. ¡°That¡¯s my patient.¡± ¡°I see, congrattions on your new job.¡± Ines gave a small smile. ¡°Alright, I should go. I need to keep an eye on her at all times, observe her every move. We¡¯ll catch upter.¡± ¡°Okay, go ahead, don¡¯t let me keep you from your work.¡± After nodding, Silvia left. Phoebe watched Silvia¡¯s retreating figure, and couldn¡¯t help but ask Ines, ¡°Izzy, where did you meet her? So young and already a psychologist, pretty impressive. She spotted the problem between Emma and Aiden after just one nce. She seems soft-spoken, but her words can be cutting.¡± Ines answered truthfully: ¡°I don¡¯t know her very well. She¡¯s close to the Meyer family, she¡¯s the younger sister of Ethan¡¯s ex-girlfriend. The Meyer family has been sponsoring her overseas study. She just got back not long ago, majoring in psychology. I only met her a few times recently.¡± Phoebe had heard Ines talk about Ethan¡¯s love history, but she didn¡¯t know there was a sister of an ex-girlfriend involved. ¡°I see, something feels off though.¡± ¡°What feels off?¡± Ines looked at Phoebe. Phoebe couldn¡¯t pinpoint what was off, it was just a feeling. She shook her head, ¡°Maybe I¡¯m overthinking. I just feel like people who study psychology are hard to read. They can easily see through your thoughts, but we can never tell what they¡¯re thinking. It¡¯s unsettling, I always try to avoid these kinds of people.¡± Ines thought back to her previous interactions with Silvia, and it was indeed the case. Silvia might be young and Ines thought she was good at reading people, but she couldn¡¯t really tell what Silvia was thinking. It always felt like she was hiding her emotions deep down, impossible for anyone to guess. ¡°I feel the same way, it¡¯s really ufortable.¡± ¡°Anyway, I just want to remind you to be careful with your husband.¡± Phoebe said, this wasn¡¯t the first time she had given Ines this reminder. ¡°I trust Ethan.¡± Ines said firmly. Phoebe said, ¡°I¡¯m not doubting Ethan, but you just need to be alert.¡± Ines suddenly asked, ¡°Do you think Silvia might like Ethan too?¡± ¡°Whether she likes him or not, Ethan is so charming that even a cold woman like you was easily attracted to him, let alone a young girl like Silvia.¡±Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Hearing Phoebe say this, Ines couldn¡¯t help but ask: ¡°Do you really think Silvia might like Ethan?¡± Phoebe gave a small smile and said carelessly: ¡°It¡¯s quitemon for a brother-inw and sister-in- law to have feelings for each other, just like you and Emma. Didn¡¯t she steal your fianc¨¦?¡± Ines couldn¡¯t help butugh, ¡°There can¡¯t be that many people like Emma in the world.¡± ¡°If you want to find out, why not flirt with Mr. Meyer in front of her? This might expose her true feelings. No matter how well she controls her emotions, she¡¯s a woman after all. She¡¯s bound to give something away when faced with this sort of situation. Once you figure it out, perhaps you¡¯ll feel more at ease.¡± Ines and Phoebe continued shopping, Ines pondering over Phoebe¡¯s words, feeling increasingly uneasy. Chapter 180 Chapter 180 Ines didn''t go home, but instead headed to the Meyer Group to look for Ethan. She marched straight into the CEO''s office only to find Ss there, who seemed to have just arrived too. Ines'' face changed, and she frowned at Ss, "What are you doing here?" Ss chuckled, "Ms. Ines, I came to discuss some matters with Ethan. The chairman''s treatment is divided into three stages. The first stage is almost over, and the chairman''s condition has visibly improved. We''re about to start the second stage. If it continues to be effective, he can return to the country in about two weeks and then we''ll proceed with the third stage after a month." Ines retorted, "You don''t need to exin all this in detail. I don''t understand it anyway. Make the decisions yourselves. Ethan is busy, don''t bother him with this stuff." Ss fell silent for a moment, then said, "Ms. Ines, my visit to Ethan was not solely for this matter. Since you''re here, I might as well tell you both. The other board members aren''t idiots. They''ve noticed the chairman''s prolonged absence, and some have started sniffing around and causing trouble. This is a critical stage in Mr. Galeana''s treatment, and I haven''t dared to tell him in fear that he might choose to return home, missing the optimal treatment period." Ines frowned, "Since he handed hispany over to you, you can do as you wish." "Ms. Ines, although I am the chairman''s personal secretary, I don''t have real power in thepany. My influence is waning due to the chairman''s absence. Those board members won''t listen to my decisions on important matters." Ines knew that Ss was beating around the bush, hoping to coax her back to the Galeana Group. She cut to the chase, "Just spit it out. What should I do?" "Ms. Ines, I am at my wits'' end. You''re the only one who can calm them down." Ss directly stated his intentions, cautiously watching Ines'' reaction. Ines sneered, "You''re overthinking it. My work these past years has nothing to do with corporate management, no board member would trust me." She was always realistic. Even if she had potential in this field, she would need time to grow. She couldn''t just step in and take over. "You''re thergest shareholder besides the chairman, and his biological daughter. The board members trust you because they watched you grow up." Ines shot a mocking look at Ss, "You forgot to mention the most important thing, I''m Ethan''s wife. They wouldn''t dare give me a hard time because of that." Ss nodded awkwardly, "Indeed, as Ms. Ines said, your current status is a significant factor for my considerations." Upon hearing his words, Ines'' face turned grim. She shoved Ss out of the office, angrily saying, "Get out! Don''te to the Meyer Group again. I won''t agree to this." "Ms. Ines, please consider what I''ve said. Don''t rush your decision. Everything I did was for the chairman''s sake." Ss urged. Ines turned to Lucas andmanded, "Lucas, see him out." Lucas nodded, then said to Ss, "Please, Ss." Ss didn''t move. Lucas repeated, "Ss, don''t make this hard for me." Ss sighed, ultimately leaving reluctantly. Ines mmed the door shut. Lucas, who had been about to step in to report something, was startled by the loud noise and withdrew his foot. Ethan watched the furious Ines and couldn''t help butugh. She really did have the air of a leader, impressive. Ines red at Ethan, "You''re being fooled, and you''reughing?" "Mrs. Meyer, you do have a leader''s demeanor. No wonder they want you as chairman." Ethan voiced his thoughts honestly. Ines was still fuming. She sat on the couch across from Ethan, "Don''t make fun of me. I''m just pissed." "I think the one who should be angry is Hunter. He wanted you to inherit hispany, but you don''t want it." Ethan continued to handle his work while chatting with Ines. Ines scoffed, "He''s always put his career above everything else. Even his illness is due to his excessive concern for his business." Ethan put down his pen and looked at Ines seriously, "Izzy, don''t be upset yet. Things haven''t escted to a severe point. You still have time to think, don''t rush your decision." "I can''t think of any perfect solution. If the Galeana Group really gets into trouble, I will definitely take care of its affairs." Ines knew she didn''t have any better options. Acting as the chairman was something she would have to do sooner orter. It was precisely because Ss understood this that he hade to Ethan. Ethan chuckled, "Since you have everything figured out, there''s no need to fret." Ines got up and wrapped her arms around Ethan''s neck from behind, saying sullenly, "This is all for your sake. You''re already tired from managing the Meyer Group. If I go to the Galeana Group, you''ll definitely have to help me with my current capability. So you''ll still be the one bearing the responsibility for the Galeana Group. I can only apany you." Ethan pulled Ines into hisp, "It''s okay, I can handle it. It''s no big deal for me, just a bit more work each day." Ines stayed silent. The situation wasn''t as simple as Ethan made it out to be. Being apany''s decision-maker was never easy for anyone.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 181 Chapter 181 Ethan noticed that Ines was feeling down, so heforted her. "Izzy, whatever decision you make, I''m with you all the way." Ines was twiddling Ethan''s hand. His fingers were distinct and strong. She said, "Ethan, I wish I could hear your opposition. I want to hear your righteous refusal. But you always support me unconditionally. It doesn''t make me feel any better." ¡°Isn''t that what couples are supposed to do? Understanding and tolerating each other." "But I don''t want you to amodate me. It makes me feel like I''m taking advantage of you, enjoying everything you give me with peace of mind." Ines felt that no matter what she did, he never opposed, and this indulgence sometimes made her quite worried. ¡°I really don''t know what you''re thinking. I''m your husband, it''s only natural for me to treat you well.¡± ¡°I''m afraid you''ll get tired of me one day.¡± Ines was in his arms, her voice was very small, but Ethan heard it. Ethan gently rested his chin on top of her head, "I won''t, Izzy." He didn''t know if it was because of her memory loss, but sometimes she felt very insecure. Ines nodded slightly. To prevent Ines from overthinking, Ethan leaned down and kissed her lips. Ines lifted her slender arms and circled his neck, kissing him passionately. Ever since Ines was injured, they only shared a light kiss each day. Ethan was always considerate of her physical condition and didn''t dare to take it further. He was worried that he would be the one who would ultimately suffer. He roughly counted the days; the doctor said her body was fine now. Ethan became more intense. He even forgot that this was his office. He swept the files on the table to the side, let Ines sit on the office desk, and they continued to kiss. Ethan held her entire body in his arms. Just as the two were passionately kissing, the office door was pushed open. Noel looked at the two people engrossed in kissing, was stunned for a moment, then when he saw that the person in Ethan''s arms was Ines, he whistled and teased, "Ethan, you usually seem so aloof, I didn''t expect you to be so wild in private." Upon hearing Noel''s voice, Ethan immediately held Ines in his arms, looked at Noel unhappily, and said seriously, "Why didn''t you knock on the door when you came in?" Noel shrugged innocently, "I did knock. You guys were too engrossed and didn''t hear the knock. I thought you were asleep, so I just pushed the door and came in." At this time, Lucas ran in, and said to Ethan somewhat guiltily, "I''m sorry, Mr. Meyer. I couldn''t stop Mr. Noel." Ethan said, "Your performance bonus for this month is cancelled. If there is a next time, your bonus for the quarter will be canceled." Lucas looked at Noel with a look of grievance. Noel smiled innocently, patted Lucas on the shoulder, and said, "It''s okay, Lucas. If Ethan ever fires you, you cane to me. I always need a capable secretary like you." Lucas was speechless, nced at Noel, then told Ethan, "Mr. Meyer, you have a meeting at five o''clock that will take about twenty minutes of your time. The sales manager from the branch is coming to report the first quarter sales performance to you." Ethan nodded, showing that he already knew this, and Lucas left the office. Noel added to Lucas''s retreating figure, "Lucas, next time you talk so much nonsense, just tell me Ines is inside and I definitely won''t just barge in." Lucas staggered a step when he heard his words. Ines''s face was very red, and she kept her head down, not daring to lift it. Ethan looked at Noel, "If you have something to say, say it quickly, if not, please leave." Of course, Noel knew that Ethan was angry at him for interrupting them, said, "You didn''t answer my call, so I came over. I booked a private room tonight, and Aaron will alsoe over. We three can have a good time." Then he nced at Ines in Ethan''s arms, "Of course, you can bring your family." Ethan looked at Noel impatiently, "Got it. You guys go ahead first. I wille over after I handle my things. I might be a few minuteste." "Alright, then I''m leaving." Noel went straight out the door, and even mmed the office door on his way out, as if reminding them of something. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org After Noel left, Ethan lifted Ines''s head. When he saw her blushing face, he couldn''t help butugh. He pinched her face, "This isn''t the first time, why aren''t you used to it?" Ines hit him angrily and grumbled unhappily, "It''s always embarrassing. It''s all your fault, I''m so embarrassed now." Ethanughed and consoled her, "Don''t worry. Noel may not seem reliable, but he won''t gossip. And Lucas will definitely never leak it out." Ines red at Ethan. In her memory, this wasn''t the first time she lost control in his office, but this was the most embarrassing time. "Alright, don''t be angry. Go to the lounge and rest for a while. I have a meetingter, and we will go out for a gathering tonight." Ines nodded. She had heard Lucas mention the meeting earlier, so she went to the lounge to rest. As soon as Inesy on the bed, she received a text message from Noel. Ines looked at it, it read: Ines, I was a bit impulsive today. Can you please bring Phoebe tonight? Otherwise, it will be awkward for us singles with just you and Ethan. Ines was speechless, but she still called Phoebe. But Ines didn''t tell her that Noel would be there. Phoebe, who enjoys having fun, didn''t suspect anything and immediately agreed toe. Chapter 182 Chapter 182 It was Izzy¡¯s first time at a ce like this. She''d expected a bustling scene, but it turned out to be far from her imagination. The ce was peaceful and free ofplications. "This isn''t what I''d expected." She said. "Did you think all men''s hangouts are messy?" Ethan asked. Izzyughed and said, "Let''s go. We shouldn''t keep them waiting." By the time they got to the private room, everyone had already arrived. Phoebe gave Izzy a dirty look upon her entrance. Izzy knew exactly why she was upset. She had deliberately tried to set Phoebe up with Noel. Izzy was happy and wanted her only best friend to find a good boyfriend soon. "You guys finally made it£» we''ve been waiting forever." If it weren''t for her voice, Izzy wouldn''t have noticed Ashley sitting next to Aaron. Before she could ask, Ethan beat her to it, "What are you doing here? Aren''t you supposed to be in school?" "Please, my dear brother. I''m a college student now. I can go wherever I want." Ashley rolled her eyes. "This isn''t a ce for you." Ethan said to Ashley. "Oh, cut the crap. I''m an adult. Can you stop treating me like I''m a prisoner?" Ashley pleaded. "Ethan, you don''t need to worry about her. I''m going to take her back myself tonight. She bumped into me earlier, found out I was meeting you guys, and begged me to bring her." Aaron said. To Izzy, Aaron, with his eyes full of fondness, seemed to be more of a gentle and caring brother to Ashley than Ethan was. Ethan''s face remained glum. Noel spoke, "Ethan, you know Ashley. She''s always been like this." Izzy tugged at Ethan''s clothes, signaling for him to sit down. Ethan finally took a seat on the couch, pulling Izzy to sit next to him. Ashley made a snidement, "As expected, his wife has the final say." Aaron patted her hand, "You better keep quiet, or else your brother might throw you out, and I won''t help you." "You''re too much. If I hadn''t been worried about you being lonely, I wouldn''t have bothereding to this boring old man''s gathering." Ashley said, loud enough for everyone to hear. The three men exchanged nces, their faces turning sour. Izzy couldn''t help butugh. Phoebe finally rxed, smiling at Ashley, "Girl, I like your spirit. It''s bold." "Sis, I like you too. Let''s have a drink." Ashley proposed, lifting a can of beer to clink with Phoebe, but Aaron intercepted, recing her beer with a Sprite. Ashley red at him, "Another thing about old men is that they love to boss people around." Aaron just shook his head and smiled. Noel initially wanted to swap Phoebe''s beer too. But after hearing Ashley''sment, he hesitated and withdrew his hand. He didn''t want to annoy Ashley. After all, he was there to take care of her. Izzy felt content seeing everyone interact naturally. She tugged at Ethan''s clothes, "Ethan, I want to have a drink too." "No. We haven''t eaten yet, no drinking." Ethan was firm on this. "Why not? I''m healthy. What''s the harm in a little drink?" Izzyined. Ashley and Phoebe gave Izzy a sympathetic look. Then Ashley handed Izzy a Sprite, "Just pretend this is beer. We won''t stoop to the level of these childish old men." "Ashley, you''re asking for trouble tonight." Ethan gritted his teeth. "I''ll stop if that makes you happy." Ashley shrugged. Aaron was amused by his sister. She hadn''t changed a bit over the years. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Ashley then turned to chat with Phoebe. Like Ashley, Phoebe was lively, and age was no barrier to their conversation. Izzy joined them, seeing how much fun they were having. The men, on the other hand, started discussing business. "Aaron, Izzy mentioned that you''re starting your own venture. How''s the preparation going?" Ethan asked. "Almost ready." Ethan nodded, "If you need anything, just ask. Noel and I can help." Noel raised his ss, "To celebrate us being together again, cheers." Ethan nced at Izzy, "My stomach isn''t doing well and Izzy won''t let me drink." "I have to take Ashley back to school, so no drinking for me." Aaron declined. Noel was slightly annoyed, "I invited you guys for drinks. If none of you drink, it''s no fun for me." "Drinking isn''t a good habit. If it''s not necessary, don''t do it. It''s not good for your health." Ethan advised. Noel couldn''t help but retort, "Ethan, don''t you feel embarrassed? You were the one who used to make me drink all night. Now are you really giving me advice?" Chapter 183 Chapter 183 "Cause I''ve been there and done that with the whole drinking too much and wrecking my stomach thing, I''m just giving you a heads-up not to go down that road. Alright?" Ethan said earnestly. "Aaron, you''re not drinking either?" Noel asked, a bit miffed. Aaron shook his head firmly. Ashley''s school was a long way off so he couldn''t afford to drink. What if something happened? How would he ever exin it to the Meyer family? He wouldn''t let anything go wrong ever again. Noel sighed inwardly. Back when Le had just passed away, Aaron and Ethan were in pieces. Their rtionship had shattered, and as their mutual friend, he was caught in the crossfire. They kept dragging him out to drink, day and night. He was constantly stumbling home, drunk as a skunk. His family was so disgusted with him that they almost kicked him out multiple times. He really gave it his all for them back then. Noel felt a lump in his throat. Why did he have to get stuck with these two? He thought, "Ethan, just a little won''t hurt, especially if you don''t mix. And Aaron, I''ll book a designated driver for you and Ashley. No worries." "Izzy really doesn''t want me to drink." Ethan said, throwing up his hands helplessly. Habits sure were a bitch. He used to think alcohol was great, but now he couldn''t care less. Aaron was just as stubborn. Seeing that nobody was going to join him, Noel decided to drown his sorrows alone. Ashley happened to walk by and frowned at him, "You''re acting really weird tonight. Why do you want them to drink so badly? Do you have some scheme in mind?¡± Noel waved her off, ¡°Beat it, kiddo! Don¡¯t mess with your brother.¡± Ashley eyed him warily, then said bluntly, ¡°You¡¯re frustrated because things aren¡¯t going anywhere with Phoebe, so you¡¯re trying to drink to gain some courage. You¡¯re probably hoping something might happen between you two when you¡¯re drunk.¡± Noel immediately mped a hand over Ashley¡¯s mouth. He nced nervously at Phoebe and only rxed when he saw she was engrossed in conversation with Izzy. He muttered to Ashley, ¡°If you know, then you know, but why say it out loud?¡± Ashley shook her head, ¡°You guys are so childish.¡± ¡°Ashley, don¡¯t discriminate against us because of our age.¡± Aaron couldn¡¯t help but retort. Sure, she was young, but were they really that old? They certainly didn¡¯t look like it. Ashley shot back, "It''s not discrimination; it''s a fact. You guys are in your thirties." "Ashley, you need to show some respect." Noel said. Ashley grabbed two drinks and went over to Izzy and Phoebe. "Do you think I want this? You have no idea how hard it is to win that woman over. I''ve been trying for months with no luck. You''ve all seen it. And she''s still so cold to me." Noel said. "It''s only been a few months, don''t rush it. Take it slow and build a rtionship." Ethan advised. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. "That won''t work. What if she finds someone and gets married?" Noel was dead serious, not joking at all. "Not everyone rushes into marriage." Ethanughed; he and Izzy were a fluke. "I didn''t know you were going to pull a shotgun wedding either." Noel grinned, "You guys need to give me some advice." Aaronughed bitterly, "You should ask Ethan. I''m thest person you want to learn from. You''ll end up nowhere." Whether it was Le or Izzy, he had the first chance but always screwed it up. Ethan simply said, "There''s no one-size-fits-all for this stuff. You have to figure it out on your own. I can''t help you." Seeing that no one was willing to engage, Noel reluctantly dropped the subject. Chapter 184 Chapter 184 As everyone was deep in conversation, the waiter came in and unfolded the coffee table in the middle. It quickly transformed into a square dining table. Everyone gathered around it, and the six of them paired off in threes. Noel looked at the dishes served and couldn''t help but say, "If I knew you guys were only going to eat and not drink, we should have just picked a restaurant outside. The food here is nowhere near as good.¡± ¡°Shut it, Noel. Can''t we eat in peace?¡± Ashley snapped. Noel red at Ashley, "I wasted my time being nice to you. You always favored Aaron. Are you into him or something?¡± Thatment made everyone feel awkward. Even Ashley was stunned into silence and only managed to retort after a while, ¡°No one will think you''re mute if you don¡¯t say dumb things.¡± Aaron nced at Ashley, and Ashley shot him a re, ¡°What¡¯s that look for? You think I like you? You¡¯re neither as rich nor as handsome as my brother.¡± It was only after she finished speaking that Ashley realized that she seemed to be defending herself too vehemently. Seeing Ashley like this, Ethan was almost certain that Izzy¡¯s guess was right. Ashley was indeed hiding her true feelings. When did this happen? Izzy gave Aaron a look, unsure of what he thought of Ashley. Aaron avoided her gaze. Noel asked, ¡°What the hell happened? Did I say something wrong again? Ashley, I was just making a casual remark. Why are you so worked up?¡± Izzy finally understood why Noel had been unsessful in pursuing Phoebe for so long. Noel could be really clueless sometimes. Phoebe shot Noel a disgusted look, ¡°Idiot.¡± Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. The mood soured because of Noel¡¯s thoughtlessment. As they were leaving, Ethan turned to Aaron and said, ¡°Aaron, I hope you¡¯ll always be just Ashley¡¯s elder.¡± The meaning behind his words was clear to Aaron, and it left him shocked. He thought back to his interactions with Ashley and realized they might have been too close. He had always thought it was harmless. After all, he had watched Ashley grow up. But he overlooked one crucial fact - they were not rted by blood. ¡°Ethan, don¡¯t worry, I know what to do.¡± After finishing his sentence, Aaron turned around and saw Ashley standing not far from him. ¡°Ashley.¡± Ashley raised her hand to stop him, ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me. I don¡¯t want to talk to you right now, and I don¡¯t need you to take me school. Just go.¡± Once they were in the car, Izzy couldn¡¯t help but jab Ethan¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Why did you say that? You don¡¯t like the idea of him and Ashley together?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not suitable.¡± Ethan said, his expression stern, like a strict parent considering his daughter¡¯s future. ¡°What''s not suitable about them? I think they¡¯re great together.¡± Izzy disagreed. Ashley and Aaron always seemedfortable around each other. Ethan said, ¡°Aaron is the same age as me.¡± Izzy burst intoughter, ¡°No one said you guys aren''t the same age. But what does that have to do with whether Aaron is suitable for Ashley?¡± ¡°Their age difference is too big.¡± Ethan argued. ¡°They are only 12 years apart. You¡¯re being too rigid. It¡¯smon for older men to marry younger women these days. Some couples even have a 20 or 30-year age gap. Ashley may be young, but she¡¯s way more mature than Be. She¡¯s not going to cause Aaron any trouble. He won¡¯t need to spend much time teaching her anything. The real gap between them is not as big as you think.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t have a romantic rtionship.¡± Ethan seemed reluctant to see them together. Izzy looked at Ethan and said earnestly, ¡°If by rtionship you mean romance, then that¡¯s not a problem. You and I got married after just one meeting. Did we have any romance then? We cultivated our feelings for each other gradually. They¡¯ve been in each other''s lives for many years. Their bond is strong. Aaron dotes on Ashley. If they end up together, I¡¯d support them.¡± Ethan said, ¡°Not every couple can be like us, meeting once and realizing the other is the one and gradually cultivating their feelings over time.¡± Izzy felt Ethan was being a bit stubborn tonight. Maybe it was because he, being a brother, always wanted the best for his sister. But love is like drinking water, only the person drinking it knows how hot or cold it is. As long as the people involved arefortable, the judgment and scrutiny of others don¡¯t matter. ¡°And your main reason is that you know Aaron very well. Isn''t it better to let Ashley be with someone you know than with a stranger? You guys can be more at ease.¡± Ethan¡¯s expression didn''t change, so Izzy dropped the topic, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk about it anymore. Let the two of them figure it out. I¡¯m saying all this because if they do want to be together in the future, as a brother, you shouldn¡¯t stand in their way.¡± ¡°We''ll see. You, of all people, should know who Aaron likes. I don¡¯t want my only sister to get hurt.¡± Izzy was taken aback, then said, ¡°Ethan, life is long, and anything can happen. You should know that better than I do.¡± Even the deepest of feelings could fade with time. Chapter 185 Chapter 185 Hearing that, Ethan wentpletely silent. Izzy found it hrious seeing Ethan like this and whispered, "Just your sister having a crush got you this riled up. You''ll be driven nuts when your daughter gets married someday." ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. "No one is going to take my daughter away." Ethan spat out. "Then you better pray all your kids are boys. Daughters are bound to get married." "No way, I want daughters, not sons." Izzyughed seeing his inner conflict, "You stole me without even breaking a sweat and now you''re looking to me someone else? You''re the one who should be scolded." Ethan contemted and found some truth in Izzy''s words. He did get Izzy way too easily. As the car pulled over, Ethan went to park. Just as Izzy turned on the lights at home, Ethan suddenly pushed her against the wall. Izzy''s back got a bit knocked. She pushed him away. This guy, who was just sulking a minute ago, had suddenly changed his tune. "Ethan, what are you doing?" Izzy asked. "All the drama earlier made me forget the most important thing." Ethan chuckled softly. Izzy found it amusing. His mood swings were really unpredictable. She asked, "What important thing?" "Making babies, of course. Nothing''s more pressing than this right now." Ethan squatted down and picked Izzy up by her legs. Izzy was caught off guard and her heart started racing. Worried she might fall any second, she clung onto his shoulders for bnce and her hands tightly gripped his shirt. "Ethan, you scared me." Izzy lightly hit him. "Don''t worry, I won''t let my wife fall." Ethan kicked open the bedroom door and gentlyid Izzy on the bed. He turned on the bedsidemp, hastily removed his jacket, and nted a kiss on her lips. Recalling their afternoon in the office, Izzy was equally excited and did her best to reciprocate his kiss. Their passionate kiss was unhindered, leaving Izzy gasping for air by the time it ended. Ethan, looking at his wife underneath him, couldn''t help but pinch her nose, "After all this time, you still don''t know when to breathe." Izzy''s heart was beating so fast it felt like it would jump out of her throat, leaving her gasping for air. Ethan chuckled before leaning in to kiss her again. Izzy could feel his burning desire like a raging fire roasting her, leaving her unable to resist. Eventually, he carried her to the bathroom for a shower and imed her again. Izzy''s only thought before she drifted to sleep was that men truly couldn''t be left unsatisfied for too long, or else she''d be the one suffering in the end. The next day, Izzy woke up in Ethan''s arms. Knowing she didn''t have to work, shezily stayed in bed. However, Ethan''s hand began to roam her body again. Annoyed, she grabbed his hand, "Ethan, you''re really pushing your limits." Ethan lightlyughed, "How long has it been since west made love? You should do the math." "I''m not counting." Izzy knew he was shameless. She didn''t want to talk to him. "Then let me tell you, it''s been a whole month. You owe me, and it''s time to pay up." "Ethan, you really are a businessman." She was surprised he could actually say such a thing. After some bickering, Izzy eventually surrendered. Later she was indeed too tired to move. Ethan contentedly got up to take a shower, nting a kiss on her face, "Izzy, just rest at home today. I''ll have lunch delivered and I''ll cook dinner for you myself when Ie back." Izzy responded, "I don''t want to see you right now." He was such a rogue. Izzy slept until noon, and if it weren''t for lunch being delivered, she wouldn''t have gotten up at all. Every cell in her body was protesting. Looking at herself in the mirror, she saw new marks all over her body. That man really was twisted for enjoying leaving all sorts of marks on her. Having no ns to go out, she didn''t bother applying any ointment. After lunch, she went back to bed. She thought to herself about how she was really letting herself go. She wouldn''t have spent the whole day in bed in the past. Izzy loved fresh mangoes. Today, Ethan brought some home for her. She was still in bed when she smelled the mangoes and immediately got up. "Ethan, did you buy mangoes?" Izzy asked. Ethan nodded, "Your nose is really sharp, you smelled them as soon as I walked in." Izzy smiled, "Then make me a mango smoothie for dinner." Ethan nodded and went to the kitchen to cook. Izzy was wide awake after a day''s rest. She watched TV in the living room, asionally ncing at the busy man in the kitchen, thinking life was good. Chapter 186 Chapter 186 Meg Wagner''s birthday wasing up soon, and Izzy was definitely gonna show up. Phoebe would pick her up personally, and she asked her to bring Ethan along. Ethan said it was cool and that he''d head over after work. Meg''s birthday isn''t a big deal or anything. It''s just a family dinner at home and Izzy is the only one invited. When Izzy heard about Meg''s birthday, she got a present ready. It was this cool ne made of agate and diamonds. It was Ethan''s idea. He thought they couldn''t show up at the Wagner¡¯s empty- handed for the first time, so Izzy had to listen to him. Phoebe got a look at Izzy''s gift and couldn''t help saying, "Man, rich people are different, they are always so generous. I bet my mom''s gonna give me an earfulter." "Afraid of Meg, are you?" Izzyughed. "As if! I''m not scared of her at all." When they got to the Wagner''s, Meg was just sitting in the living room knitting. She spotted Izzy and waved her over right away. Phoebe was already used to this kind of treatment. "Meg." Meg took a serious look at Izzy and finally said, "Izzy, you look good. Seems like you''ve put on some weight." ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. "Really?" Izzy pinched her own face. She hadn''t noticed until Meg mentioned it. Phoebe chuckled and said, "Izzy, you''ve definitely gained a bit. Your hubby''s doing a great job. You''ve recovered so well in such a short time after being discharged from the hospital. But be careful, keep this up and you''ll lose your figure." Meg gave Phoebe a re and told Izzy, "Don''t listen to her nonsense. You''re great now. I''ve seen you grow up. You were chubby for a while when you were little and then you''ve been pretty skinny. From my experience, people with your body type won''t get too fat." Izzy didn''t take it to heart and just nodded. Phoebe was giggling on the side, and Meg said to her, "Aren''t you ashamed of yourself? You seem to have high EQ, howe you''re still single?" Phoebe stood up and said, "I''m not hanging out with you guys anymore; I''m gonna prep the meal." Phoebe''s cooking skills were pretty dope. She usually took on the role of head chef when they have guests over, with the household staff helping out. Meg shook her head helplessly, "She''s such a wildcard. She hasn''t found a husband who can cook, but she''s learned how to cook herself. Just don''t let someone else benefit from it." "Meg, you don''t have to worry too much. From what I understand, there are actually guys chasing after Phoebe, she just hasn''t said yes yet." Izzy said. Meg looked at Izzy in surprise, "Do you know something? Share it with me." Izzy patted Meg''s hand, "I''m only telling you because I see you worrying so much. If Phoebe knew I was talking about this in front of you, she''d definitely get mad. I can''t reveal too much yet. But I think the guy is pretty good. Don''t worry, she''ll get married soon." "Really?" Izzy nodded confidently. Meg has always seen Izzy as a reliable kid. She showed the half-finished pink sweater on her hands to Izzy, "Do you think this little sweater is cute?" Only then did Izzy realize that the sweater Meg was knitting was for a child. She couldn''t help asking, "Who is this for?" "It''s for your baby of course. I have to prepare this sweater in advance, otherwise, it''ll be toote when the baby is born." Izzy was so moved that she choked up, and it took her a few seconds to say, "Meg, there are so many clothes like this on the market, you don''t have to strain your eyes making it by hand." "It''s okay. The quality of the ones on the market can''tpare to the ones I make. Your aunt and uncle live far away and they''re still working, so they can''t take care of you all the time. Leave these little things to me." Meg said. Izzy nodded, knowing that Meg truly had her best interests at heart. "I''m not pregnant right now. You don''t have to rush, just take your time." "I know. I''ll take care of myself. Anyway, I''m not working now, I have nothing to do all day at home; doing this is also a way to kill time." "Okay." Meg started knitting the sweater again, saying, "You''ve been busy and haven''t been to my house for a while. I didn''t get to ask you how you''re getting along with your husband''s family." Izzyughed and shared some stuff. Meg was quite pleased to hear that. Chapter 187 Chapter 187 Meg said, "Getting married is like joining a new family and starting a whole new life. This applies to them as well. You need to take the initiative to blend into their lives. But from what you''ve said, I can tell that your husband''s family is pretty cool." Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Izzy thought Meg made a lot of sense. "You haven''t been married for long, so don''t think I''m trying to nag you. I''m just telling you the truth." Izzy shook her head with a smile, "I don''t have many elders in A City that I can really talk to. I''m happy you''re willing to chat with me." "Only you would listen to me. Phoebe always blocks her ears when I start preaching, saying my words are like a curse and she can''t take a word in or else she¡¯d get a headache." "Phoebe must be joking. She''s actually quite sensitive." Izzyughed. Izzy helped Meg in the kitchen for a while. Phoebe had already prepared a table full of mouth- watering dishes. "Your cooking skills seem to have improved." "That''s a given." Izzy saw Ethan and Grayson Wagnering in together and having a chat. Sheughed and said, "Ethan, howe you''re hanging out with Grayson?" Ethan smiled at Izzy, "I ran into Grayson at the doorstep." "I just got out of my car and saw him. I thought I was seeing things, then I remembered he''s your hubby." Graysonughed and told Izzy. "Ethan,e in and have a seat." Meg called out warmly when she saw Ethan. When everyone was present, Meg also helped bring all the dishes from the kitchen. Phoebe brought out the birthday cake and everyone sang the birthday song. Phoebe urged Meg to make a wish. Just as Meg was about to make a wish, Phoebe cut her off, "Your birthday wish can''t be hoping I get married soon." Everyoneughed at her joke, and Meg shook her head helplessly, "Already traumatized?" "It¡¯s all your fault." Megughed, "Alright, today I''ll abide by your request and make no such wish." ... Phillip had called several times, urging them toe home. Each time, Ethan declined with various excuses and Izzy understood why he did that. Seeing Emma pregnant made her want a baby of their own. But Phillip had urged them so many times that Izzy felt bad for refusing, so she had Dane pick her up. Phillip was in the yard pruning flowers, and unusually, he didn''t even nce at her when she came in. Izzy looked at Dane curiously, "What''s up with Grandpa? He seems upset, who pissed him off?" Dane smiled, "He''s probably upset because you didn''te home, so naturally he¡¯s not happy." "I see." Izzy walked up to Phillip and asked, "Grandpa, what are you doing?" Phillip turned and continued pruning the flowers,pletely ignoring her. Izzy was not upset, she hugged Phillip''s arm and said, "Grandpa, don''t you like me anymore?" Sure enough, as soon as she said that, Phillip red at her and said, "What nonsense, it''s you who doesn''t like me. Think about it. How long has it been since youst came home?" Izzy knew that Phillip was being childish. His temper res up quickly but also cools down quickly, she couldn''t help but say, "Grandpa, that''s not fair, how could I not like you? It''s Ethan who won''t let mee." Izzy quickly med everything on Ethan, after all, in Phillip''s eyes, he was already a jerk, she didn''t need to "show mercy" to him. "That jerk''s absolutely outrageous, even forbidding you toe and see me." Chapter 188 Chapter 188 Izzy didn''t feel sorry at all. She followed Phillip''s words and said, "Yeah, I''ll help you get back at him next time." Phillipughed, put down the big scissors in his hand, looked at Izzy, and said, "Long time no see, you''ve be a sensible girl, knowing right from wrong rather than always siding with that jerk." Izzy cuddled Phillip''s arm, "Grandpa, I''ve always been sensible." Phillip gave a cold snort, clearly being skeptical of her words. Not having seen Izzy for a long time, Phillip couldn''t help but take a few more nces at her, only to find that she had put on some weight and looked healthier. "You''ve been looking a lot healthier recently, and you''ve gained a bit of weight," Phillip looked at Izzy and said seriously. Izzy was a little stunned, this was the second person in a few days who had told her she had gained weight. Had she really gained that much weight? Why was everyone saying that? "Is it that obvious?" Izzy asked. Phillip nodded in satisfaction, "He''s finally got some skills. Seeing that you look so healthy£¬I''ll stop cursing him for now ." He was originally worried about Izzy¡¯s health, so he had been urging Ethan to bring her back. Now that he saw Izzy was well taken care of, he was more relieved than angry. Izzy went into the house with Phillip. There was only Phillip in the house, no one else was in sight. Izzy couldn''t help but walk into the kitchen and ask Eda, "Eda, where''s the scale in the house?" Eda looked at Izzy in confusion, "What kind of scale are you looking for?" "The one that can weigh people." "Oh, I think there is one." Eda pointed to a corner in the yard, "I think it''s there, it''s used by thedy of the house for weighing herself." Izzy nodded and walked in the direction Eda pointed, and sure enough, she saw an electronic scale. She took a deep breath and nervously stepped on it, and the result scared her. She weighed herself three times up and down, still not believing the number in front of her: 49 kilograms. It was a bolt from the blue. She had been maintaining around 40 kilograms for many years. When she was discharged from the hospital, she weighed herself and it was only 45 kilograms. In just one month, she had gained a full 4 kilograms. She didn''t think she had eaten anything special. She just thought that what he cooked was to her taste, and she ate a little more every day. Thinking of this, Izzy immediately called Ethan. As soon as the call was connected, Ethan heard Izzy''s frustrated voice. "Ethan, what the hell have you been feeding me this month?" C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Ethan was confused, "What do you mean, what have I been feeding you? Isn''t it just the regr diet?" Izzy couldn''t control her emotions, her voice getting louder and louder, "Are you sure you didn''t add any hormones to the food? This is too much, I''ve gained four kilograms in a month." Ethanughed. He knew why she was angry, "I thought it was something serious, isn''t it just a little weight gain? It''s not a big deal." He had noticed this a long time ago. It seemed that whenever she gained weight, it went to her face and waist. Recently, when he held her in his arms to sleep, he clearly felt that her body had be much softer, and he couldn''t help but hold her more. "On average, gaining one kilogram a week is very normal. Don''t worry, what I''ve been feeding you is definitely not harmful to your body. There''s no need to worry too much." Ethan patiently exined. "Ethan, I hate you. I''m noting back. You can eat alone." Izzy hung up the phone with a "pop". Ethan put away his phone with a smile, if she didn''te back, he would go find her. Without her, the house was cold, and he definitely wouldn''t go back alone. The more Izzy thought about it, the angrier she became. He was the closest person to her, and he must have known that she had gained weight, but he never told her. Phillip also saw Izzy making a fuss on the phone in the yard. When he saw here in, he couldn''t help but ask worriedly, "What''s wrong? Did you have a fight with Ethan?" Izzy forced a smile that was uglier than if she were crying, "No, I just asked him what he''s been feeding metely. Why did my weight suddenly skyrocket?" Phillip looked at her and couldn''t help but burst intoughter. Izzy said unhappily, "Grandpa, what are you all thinking about all day?" "I think you look much better now than before." Phillip''s words were absolutely heartfelt. He thought the current Izzy looked much healthier. "Don''t go getting any crazy ideas. Don''t even think about losing weight, I won''t allow it. If youe back thinner next time, I¡¯m going to give you trouble." Phillip raised his voice. Izzy hung her head dejectedly and said, "I know, Grandpa." Chapter 189 Chapter 189 Phillip looked at her, struggling to hold back hisughter. After a while, heforted her, "It''s okay, as long as Ethan doesn''t mind." "But what if I mind?" Izzy looked at Phillip. They chatted in the yard for a while, then went back to their rooms for a nap. When she woke up, it was already four in the afternoon. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Ashley peeking out from the opposite room, looking a little haggard. "Ashley, didn''t know you were here too. I thought it was just Grandpa." Izzy said with a smile. "I sneaked back inst night. They don''t know I¡¯m here." Ashley looked a bit under the weather and talked weakly. "Were you asleep fromst night till now?" Izzy was worried. She had a hunch that this had something to do with Aaron. Ashley nodded, "I won''t talk to you now. I''m kinda hungry and gonna find something to eat." "Dinner probably isn''t ready yet, I''ll go with you." Izzy looked in the fridge and found some leftovers. She heated it up in the microwave and served it. Ashley smiled, "Thanks." "It''s almost dinner time. You can''t treat your body like this. You need to eat before you sleep, no matter how tired you are." Ashley nodded, and before she started eating, she said, "You''ve definitely been around my brother a lot, you''re starting to sound like him." After eating, Ashley''s face lit up with her usual smile, and she seemed much more lively. At this moment, Phillip walked in and looked surprised to see Ashley, "Ashley, when did you get here? I''ve been outside the whole time and didn''t see you." "Grandpa, I camest night. You were all asleep, of course, you didn''t see me." Ashley replied yfully. Phillip shook his head helplessly, "Did you sneak out of school again? Watch out, your Dad might be pissed." "I don''t care. I''m used to it and no longer scared." Ashley said nonchntly, then turned on the TV and sat down to watch. If Izzy hadn''t seen how she looked when she first came out of her room, she would have been totally fooled by Ashley''s carefree facade. Phillip looked at Ashley helplessly. Izzy walked over to Ashley and said, "If you don''t mind, you can talk to me about it." At this, Ashley looked at Izzy seriously and asked, "Aaron likes you now, right?" Izzy didn''t know what to say. Ashley was too perceptive, she couldn''t hide anything from her. All she could do was nod. "I noticed a long time ago. That time when we bumped into you while shopping, he couldn''t stop looking at you. And at the party that night, he was suppressing his emotions, so he never let his gaze linger on you." Ashley said. "Ashley, I don''t know how to exin our rtionship to you. Back when we worked at the same company in A City, he was like my mentor. In my heart, he''s just a dear friend." When Ashley saw how nervous Izzy was, she smiled and said, "Don''t worry. I didn''t mean anything by it. I know he''s the one with the unrequited love." Ashley was so sensible. Izzy didn''t know what to say. All she heard was Ashley saying, "When I was 13 and found out he liked Le, I cried all night. I was so angry that I was too young to even have the right to say I liked him. Later on, when Le had an ident and he moved to B City, I thought he would eventually move on. But then he fell for you, and you ended up marrying my brother." Izzy was shocked. She hadn''t realized that Ashley had liked Aaron since she was thirteen. It had already been seven years. Seeing Izzy''s surprised face, Ashleyughed, "You think it''s funny, right? That a thirteen-year-old could really understand what it means to like someone." Izzy shook her head and said earnestly, "No, it''s not funny. There''s nothing funny about it." Maybe the feelings of a thirteen-year-old were impulsive. But it had been seven years. Her persistence must mean she really likes him. A happy smile appeared on Ashley''s face, "Thank you, you''re the one who understands me best." Izzy shook her head. Ashley asked, "Is my brother particrly against this?" Izzy nodded, "It''ll be fine. Don''t worry, I''m here. I won''t let him hold you back. Be brave and do what you want." Ashley said discontentedly, "Besides, Aaron only sees me as a sister. Didn''t you see how pale he was that day? As if being liked by me is a terrible thing. I get angry every time I think of his expression then."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. "Maybe. I think he was just too shocked. Suddenly finding out that a girl twelve years younger than him, whom he had watched grow up, likes him, he probably couldn''t ept it at first. Give him some time. But, how are things between you two now?" Chapter 190 Chapter 190 Ashley couldn''t help but chuckle. Looking at Izzy, she said, "You enjoy good gossip, don''t you?¡± "Women are just like that. Now spill it. What''s going on between you two?" "What''s going on? Did he seem like he could make any progress with me the other night? Honestly, I haven''t called him since that night. He hasn''t contacted me either, I''m not sure what to make of this." Izzy thought for a moment and then whispered, not wanting Phillip to overhear, "I think it''s just a bit of a grey area, it''ll pass.¡± "You don''t understand his personality. He seems gentle and easy-going, but he''s actually very stubborn, he won''t change his mind that easily. But I''m still young, I can wait for him, even if it takes a few years. By the time he''s an old man, I''ll still be young.¡± Ashley said confidently. Izzy had tough at Ashley''s attitude, thinking that members of the Meyer family were all a bit cocky, and Ashley was no exception. Then Izzy said,"You''re right, it''s not that hard.¡± "I thought something happened between you two. Why did you suddenlye back?" Ashley pped the table, "I want him to miss me and make him anxious." Hearing this, Izzy couldn''t help butugh. It seemed her concern was unnecessary, Ashley was more open-minded and full of ideas than anyone else. Izzy had a mixed day. Each family member who got home saw her and paused, even the usually silent Trenton smiled at her, saying, "You look good." Erica reached out and pinched her cheek. Izzy could only sigh, "Mom." She was nearly thirty. Erica couldn''t help butugh, "Ethan really does have some tricks up his sleeve." When Ethan returned, he could clearly feel that his status at home had improved. If he had brought Izzy home after a month, he would''ve been scolded. But today, everyone looked at him kindly, and no one med him. Only Izzy was treating him like he was invisible. Just as he was puzzled, Ashley whispered in his ear. He finally understood and sat down next to Izzy. Izzy ignored him as she ate her meal. He added food to her te, but Izzy didn''t even look at him and gave it all back, saying, "I can do it myself." She thought back and realized that Ethan had always been adding food to her te recently, saying that these foods were nutritious and good for her body. As it wasn''t oily, she didn''t think much about it and just ate it, but it led to this result. Everyoneughed, and Phillip directly said to Ethan, "You''ve done it now. You''ve upset your wife. You deserve to suffer a bit." Ashley said, "Bro, you better pull out all the stops, or you''re sleeping on the couch tonight." Izzy finished her meal and went for a walk with Erica before heading back to the bedroom. Ethan was on the bed reading some documents, and he smiled at her when he saw her. She wasn''t in the mood to admire his good looks and thought, "Jerk." "Izzy,e here." Ethan beckoned. "Ethan, I''m telling you for thest time, don''t talk to me tonight, I''m really mad." Izzy turned and went to the bathroom. Ethan shook his head and smiled. He really made her mad this time; she''s been angry for so long. When Izzy came out of the bathroom, Ethan was looking at her. "Izzy." Ethan called again. Izzy ignored him and went straight to dry her hair,pletely ignoring Ethan. Ethan put down the documents, walked behind her, and hugged her waist, burying his chin in the crook of her neck. Izzy was ufortable and said, "Get up, or I''ll burn your hair." "Burn it, do whatever you want, as long as you''re not mad." Ethanughed quietly. Izzy always had no resistance to his rogue behavior, sheughed and pushed him a bit, "Stop it, get up." Ethan wouldn''t let her go so easily, he took the hairdryer from Izzy''s hand and dried her hair for her. When Izzy realized she had given in so easily, she was annoyed again. Ethan pinched Izzy''s face, "Don''t be mad; I think you''re even prettier now." Izzy was unhappy and asked, "Wasn''t I pretty before?" ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Ethan said seriously with a smile, "Of course you were, but recently I''ve seen you transform from a beauty into a fairy." Izzy couldn''t help butugh, she gave Ethan a push, "Where did you learn to talk like this? You''ve be so slick." He really knew how to tter people. She was not denying it and quite liked thepliment. "I don''t like lying. Everything I say is true." Ethan cheered up Izzy''s mood. Then he continued holding Izzy and said, "You''re not short, 49kg is just right. Even if you gained a few more kilos, it wouldn''t be a problem." "Ethan, stop. Don''t think like that anymore. I think I''ve reached my limit, I can''t gain any more weight, or it will be a problem when I get pregnant." Ethan nodded, "Okay, we''ll eat normally from now on." Hearing Ethan say this, Izzy finally felt relieved. She looked up at Ethan, realizing that even though they had been eating the same food, he seemed to have no changes; his face was still as handsome as ever, and he had no extra fat on his body. Chapter 191 Chapter 191 Izzy was a bit bummed, ¡°Ethan, howe you never put on any weight?¡± ¡°Because I work out every day. You could try getting up early and jogging with me.¡± ¡°Nah, I prefer doing some yoga or something at night when I have time. It¡¯s way more rxing.¡± ¡°That works too.¡± Ethan said with augh. When they were getting ready for bed, Ethan had his arms around her. Izzy started to worry again and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Ethan, you won¡¯t get sick of me, will you?¡± Ethan replied, ¡°Silly, what are you thinking? I feel sofortable holding you, not like before.¡± Izzy responded, ¡°If you wantfort, why don¡¯t you go buy a piece of meat to cuddle with? Wouldn¡¯t that be morefortable?¡± Ethan didn¡¯t say anything and just chuckled lightly in her ear. It was a sound that could make one intoxicated, and Izzy quickly became drowsy. Ever since Ss had told her about the unusual movements among the directors of the Galeana Group, Izzy knew her day to join the group wouldn¡¯t be too far off. She just didn¡¯t expect it toe this quickly. Near dawn, Izzy¡¯s phone suddenly rang. Ethan woke up immediately, and Izzy opened her eyes in a sh, saying, ¡°I think that''s my phone ringing.¡± She always kept her phone on when she slept. Ethan turned on the light, picked up the phone from the bedside table, and said, ¡°It¡¯s Ss.¡± Izzy¡¯s heart clenched. Ethan had already answered the call. ¡°Ethan, it¡¯s bad. The news of the chairman¡¯s illness has leaked. It will probably be public by tomorrow morning. This news will definitely cause panic in the stock market. I wonder what Ms. Galeana is thinking now? It¡¯s time for her to join the Galeana Group.¡± Ss sounded rmed. ¡°Who leaked it? Find a way to control this news.¡± Ethan furrowed his brows. He didn¡¯t really want Izzy to take on the responsibilities of the Galeana Group. It would be tiring. He hoped to postpone this for as long as possible. ¡°Ethan, I¡¯ve been trying to control this news these past few days and also had Mr. Galeana contact the directors who were making unusual movements. The news was under control, but someone took a photo of the chairman receiving treatment in A City. By the time I found out, it was toote. The news will be public soon.¡± Izzy saw that it was already past five in the morning. It was indeed toote. The newspapers must have already been printed. Ethan put the call on speakerphone. Izzy could hear Ss¡¯s voice, and she just nodded at Ethan. Ethan¡¯s eyes flickered, and he told Ss, ¡°Prepare a press conference immediately to announce that Izzy will be acting as chairman. I will take Izzy to the Galeana Group as soon as possible. Try to hold the press conference before the stock market opens to minimize the impact on the Galeana Group¡¯s stock price.¡± ¡°What about the rtionship between Izzy and Mr. Galeana?¡± Ss asked cautiously. Ethan replied, ¡°Do you think we can continue to hide it?¡± Ss smiled with relief, ¡°No, there¡¯s no way to hide it anymore. I know what to do now.¡± After hanging up, Ethan looked at Izzy¡¯s gloomy face and said with augh, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about gaining weight anymore. With the Galeana family¡¯s responsibilities on your shoulders, it won¡¯t be so easy.¡± Izzy mumbled, ¡°I feel like this was all nned by Hunter. Him suddenly agreeing to get treatment doesn¡¯t seem like his style.¡± Especially after being away for such a long time, he must have used this opportunity to unload his responsibilities. Ethan chuckled, ¡°Whether or not he nned it, his illness is a fact. He knows your character and has ways to push you to this point.¡± Izzy looked at Ethan seriously and asked, ¡°Ethan, am I too kind-hearted? Is that why I¡¯ve ended up in this situation?¡± Ethan pinched her face, ¡°I like you just the way you are. Get up and get ready to leave. If we¡¯re any later, we¡¯ll miss the press conference.¡± Izzy nodded and got up to wash up. Phillip saw theme down together and asked puzzled, ¡°Izzy, why are you up so early today?¡± ¡°Grandpa, there¡¯s some trouble with the Galeana family. I need to hurry over.¡± Phillip nodded and sighed, ¡°Go on then. Your father didn¡¯t have it easy either. It¡¯s his life¡¯s work. As his daughter, you must help him protect it.¡± Hearing this, Ethan nced at Phillip, but they were pressed for time, so he quickly left with Izzy. When they arrived at the Galeana group, Ss had already arranged everything. Emma Galeana looked at her angrily. Izzy quickly realized that Emma was now the manager of the PR department, so her being at the press conference was normal. Izzy spoke before Emma, ¡°I don¡¯t want to argue with you now. If you want what¡¯s best for the Galeana group, then calm down. Otherwise, if the Galeana group falls, you won¡¯t even have a ce to cry.¡± Emma red at her fiercely but didn¡¯t say anything and went to do her own thing. Seeing her so understanding, Izzy oddly felt out of ce. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Watching her back, Izzy couldn¡¯t help thinking that it was so dangerous to wear such high heels while pregnant. "Ready, Ms. Izzy?" Ss approached. Izzy nodded, Ethan tightened his grip on her hand, "Chill out, just throw out there the stuff I taught you in the car. You don''t have to answer all the reporters'' questions, just pick one or two to answer. If they ask about you and Hunter, just let the cat out of the bag, don''t hide anything. Because the news about Hunter cutting ties with you is already out in the open, you can''t hide it even if you want to. Just say your mom left you shares and you''re now the secondrgest shareholder of the Galeana group; taking over as chairman makesplete sense." Izzy nodded, "Yeah, I got it." "Don''t sweat it too much, we''ve got friends among those reporters, they''ll guide public opinion, it won''t be a big mess." Knowing Ethan was nearby, Izzy felt unusually calm. Without any hint of nerves, she and Ss walked towards the temporary stage. "Ladies and gents of the press, there have been some rumors floating around that are not so favorable for our Galeana Group. Today, we''ve called this press conference to clear the air and give you guys the real scoop, so you''re not swayed by the rumor mill." As soon as Ss finished speaking, murmurs began to ripple through the crowd. "Ss, why hasn''t Mr. Galeana shown up yet? Is it true, as the rumors suggest, that he''s seriously ill and there''s no cure?" A reporter cut straight to the chase, voicing everyone''s burning question. Chapter 192 Chapter 192 Ss fired back harshly, "That''s total hogwash. The chairman has been in this position for decades, and he''s just got a bit of a stiff neck. The physiotherapy facilities in the U.S. are better, so he''s gone there for a bit of a break." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org "But what about the photos of Mr. Galeana entering a cancer treatment room?" "I''ve seen the photos you''re talking about. It is indeed Mr. Galeana himself, but just his going into the treatment room doesn''t mean he''s sick. He might have been visiting someone. I''m not just Mr. Galeana''s secretary, but also the personal butler of the Galeana family. I know Mr. Galeana''s health like the back of my hand. He''s absolutely fit as a fiddle. You guys are painting our chairman with a terminal illness based on a photo? What''s your game? Are you spies for ourpetitors or do you have other motives?" Ss''s words were so forceful that the people he questioned didn''t dare speak up. A brief silence fell over the scene. After a while, a daring reporter continued to ask, "Ss, there''s no need to get all riled up. We''re just a bit worried because Mr. Galeana has been away from thepany for so long and we''re concerned about the operations of the Galeana Group." "If that''s what you''re worried about, you can chill. Mr. Galeana has made arrangements. He authorized Ms. Izzy to step in temporarily as chairman and handle all thepany''s affairs. The Galeana Group''s operations won''t skip a beat." Ss said, pointing to Izzy next to him. Izzy just gave a slight nod. These were all well-known domestic media, and they already knew that Izzy was the wife of the president of the Meyer Group, but her presence here was surprising. They didn''t dare ask questions before confirming her identity. Now that Ss had brought the topic to her, they wouldn''t pass up the opportunity. "May I ask, what is the rtionship between Ms. Izzy and Mr. Galeana? Why does he trust you so much to hand over all thepany''s affairs to you? Are you two family?" The sh of the spotlight was blinding, and Izzy felt a bit ufortable. She raised her hand to shield her eyes, nced at the person who asked the question, and slowly answered. "He is my biological father, but we have not been in contact in recent years. I joined the Galeana Group because I hold 20% of the shares left by my mother. I am the secondrgest shareholder of the Galeana Group." The crowd was in an uproar at Izzy''s words. The big screen also disyed the will of Izzy''s mother, confirming the truth of Izzy''s words. The fact that Hunter had cut ties with his daughter from his first wife once caused a media storm. Now, his estranged daughter was stepping in to run hispany. "Ms. Izzy is Mr. Galeana''s daughter?" Ss nodded, "Yes, Ms. Izzy is the daughter of Mr. Galeana and thete Ms. Page." "Ms. Galeana is so young, can she take on such a big responsibility?" Someone raised a question. Ss responded coolly, "The Galeana family has more than one daughter. The chairman must have thought long and hard before making his decision. I think Mr. Galeana''s influence in the industry is proof enough of that. What Mr. Galeana values is capability. Other irrelevant factors are not within his consideration." This implied that Hunter had considered the capabilities of both his daughters before making his decision. Even though one of his daughters had been kicked out, he was willing to let her take on this important role for thepany. The Galeana Group had indeed been on the up and up under Hunter''s leadership, without any major incidents. Emma, standing below, was watching Izzy on stage with anger. She clenched her fists at her sides. She believed that one day she would have the same abilities as Izzy and would never lose to her. "May I ask, Ms. Galeana, what is your rtionship with Mr. Galeana now? Have you reconciled?" Izzy answered indifferently, "I''ve said it before, I am the secondrgest shareholder of the Galeana Group. The rumors have seriously damaged my own interests. As for other questions, they are not the theme of today, and so I cannot answer." Izzy didn''t say it outright, but everyone understood that there was no progress in their father- daughter rtionship. "Ms. Galeana, does Mr. Meyer support your decision to join the Galeana Group?" The speaker was a middle-aged man wearing sses. Izzy had noticed this man before. He always seemed to steer the conversation purposefully; he was probably one of Ss''s insiders. Although she didn''t like to involve Ethan every time, she still maintained a polite smile. "My husband supports any decision I make." The middle-aged man chuckled and joked with the reporters and media, "You don''t need to worry. With Mr. Meyer as Ms. Galeana''s strategist, the future development of the Galeana Group will definitely go smoothly." "That''s true." Many people agreed. Knowing that Izzy didn''t like this approach, Ss quickly took over the conversation. "So, the public''s concerns are unnecessary. Everything is going smoothly within the Galeana Group, there are no problems at all. Now, I''ll let Mr. Galeana speak with you all." After Ss finished, they went live with Hunter. Soon, Hunter''s face appeared on the screen, and his deep, powerful voice started to speak. "I was initially against having this press conference. I''m just getting my health back on track in the U.S., not at death''s door like the rumors suggest. But, thinking about the situation at Huner Corporation and wanting to reassure our shareholders, I made this decision. While I''m recuperating, Izzy will temporarily take over my position for about two months. After that, I''ll be back. So don''t buy into the gossip and mess up the market. Lastly, I hope the reporters here will urately report today''s press conference." Izzy didn''t know beforehand that they would be connecting with Hunter live. But seeing that his complexion was much better than before he left for the U.S., she felt relieved. The treatment must be working. "Mr. Galeana, will Ms. Izzy leave thepany after you return?" "That mainly depends on her decision. If she wants to stay, there are plenty of positions avable in the Galeana Group. If she doesn''t, I won''t force her," Hunter calmly said. Hearing Hunter say this, Emma looked slightly relieved, but Izzy just smirked. The whole press conference went smoothly without any major hups, and they timed it perfectly to finish right before the stock market opened. In the conference room, Ethan was standing not too far away, smiling at her, and Izzy returned the smile. Ethan said, "You did a great job. You spoke with confidence, showed no sign of nerves, and truly demonstrated your leadership qualities." Izzy couldn''t help but give him a re, "Cut the crap, I won''t fall for your sweet talk." Chapter 193 Chapter 193 Izzy and Ethan made their way back to the chairman''s office. With a sense of urgency, Izzy fired up herptop to check out how the Galeana Group''s stocks were doing. Just as she expected, the stocks hadn''t taken a major hit thanks to her swift debunking of the rumors and only took a slight dip. Izzy let out a sigh of relief, shing a grateful smile at Ethan. "Thanks for that." Ethan ruffled her hair, "No need for thanks. It wasn''t just me." Izzy knew that without Ethan''s guidance, things wouldn''t have gone so smoothly. As they were chatting, Ss walked in, "Ms. Izzy, the other board members have arrived. They''re in the conference room waiting for you to start the meeting." Izzy had been out of the office for over a month. Being suddenly called back to work made her feel a tad out of sorts. She frowned, "Do I need to start working already?" Ss nodded, "The other board members already know you''re taking over. You have to meet them today. We can''t afford to drag our feet." "Alright, got it." Ethan saw the reluctance in Izzy''s eyes. He knew she didn''t really want to take on this job. He chuckled, "Okay, go have your meeting. I''ll stick around here and wait for you. I''ll leave after you''re done." Ss knew Ethan was just worried about Izzy. That''s why he decided to wait. He assured Ethan, "Don''t worry, the board members understand the gravity of the situation. They won''t give Ms. Galeana a hard time. They probably just want to meet her." "They won''t, but some others might." A meaningful look shed across Ethan''s eyes. The mother and daughter duo might stir up some trouble when they hear the news. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org "Ethan, I''m not a pushover. I won''t let them take advantage of me." Izzy''s eyes were filled with determination. "Don''t worry, I''m here. I won''t let Emma stir up trouble." Ss made his stance clear. Ethan nodded, "Alright, you guys go have your meeting. I''ll wait here." Seeing Ethan''s determination, Izzy decided to go along with it. She left for the meeting room with Ss. As they walked, Ss exined, "Most of the Galeana Group''s shares are held by a few people. Only 28% of the shares are in other hands. The board is made up of 153 members, with none holding more than 5% of the shares. Arge chunk of shares is held by the general public. Thepany''s rule is that a change of chairman requires the approval of more than two-thirds of the shareholders. Your voting rights with the chairman have already exceeded this ratio. So, even if some are unhappy with you, they can''t call for a re-election." Izzy nodded, understanding the value of Hunter''s tight grip on the shares over the years. "To keep you from getting distracted, I''ve gathered the board and management together. Some of them are both directors and managers of thepany. If you want to know about a particr department, you can directly ask the head of that department for information. As far as I know, the head of finance isn''t too pleased with you joining. He might stir up some trouble for you." Izzy listened carefully to Ss''s words, already formting a n in her mind. She didn''t know much about the other aspects of thepany, but she was very familiar with finances. She wasn''t afraid. She was used to causing trouble for others, not the other way around. The moment Izzy walked into the meeting room, she could feel many eyes on her. A quick nce revealedplex looks, including those of doubt and even some filled with contempt. Izzy took her ce at the center, Ss announced, "I''m sure everyone''s seen the press conference this morning. I won''t repeat it. Ms. Izzy is thepany''s secondrgest shareholder. She has also been authorized by the chairman. Starting today, she will be acting as chairman." Izzy gave a small nod to everyone, calmly saying, "I look forward to working with all of you." "Ss, this is the chairman''s decision, and we can''t oppose it. She has the Meyer Group backing her, which can stabilize the shareholders. But managing apany takes more than just stabilizing people''s hearts. I think you haven''t considered this thoroughly by letting her take over as chairman." The one speaking was a man, not too old, in his thirties, with a sharp look in his eyes full of hostility. Ss looked a bit impatient, but before he could speak, Izzy beat him to it, "What department are you from?" "Ms. Galeana, I am the director of finance, Gentry." The man replied confidently. A glint appeared in Izzy''s eyes. It seemed Ss was right. He was not pleased with her. "You''re also a director of thepany?" Gentry nodded, "I hold 3% of thepany''s shares." Izzy nodded in understanding, then turned to the others, "As directors, what you care about is the value of your shares. As long as the stock price is stable, your earnings won''t decrease. As for how I manage thepany, it doesn''t affect you much. Would you rather have a chairman who''s all talk and no action, or someone who can stabilize the stock price in the short term?" This sparked a discussion among the directors. After a while, one of them stood up, "The chairman is right, what thepany needs most right now is a chairman who can stabilize the stock price." Seeing some of the directors easily swayed by Izzy, Gentry spoke up, "Mr. Vicente, have you considered what happens after?" "After? Mr. Gentry, didn''t you hear what I just said? Mr. Galeana will be back in two months. I''m just temporarily filling in for him. It''s not for long." Izzy retorted with an icyugh. "You only have two months in thepany. You don''t understand thepany well enough to make decisions." Gentry always had some dissatisfaction with this young woman. If she were to command him, he wouldn''t be pleased. "Mr. Gentry, how long have you been with the Galeana Group?" Izzy suddenly popped up with this question, leaving Gentry a bit puzzled about her intention. All he could do was answer, "I''ve been here for like four years now." "And do you think you''re up to speed with stuff in the Finance department?" Izzy pressed on. "I reckon I''m pretty clued up on the Finance department," he replied. "Well, let me ask you this. Suppose I decide to buy out some raw materialspany, let''s say one in A City. Could you tell me what factors we need to focus on in a financial acquisition n? Roughly how much liquid capital would we need? And how should thepany go about getting the funds?" Chapter 194 Chapter 194 Gentry was taken aback, "I need to analyze the asset structure of the acquiredpany in detail before I can give you a clear answer." "So, what do you think the ratio of cash flow to stock payments will be this year? Considering the current pace of development, what kind of dividend distribution n should thepany adopt to maximize the interests of shareholders and thepany?" Gentry seemed a bit ill at ease, "I need to study these issues in detail before I can give you an answer." "You im to have a deep understanding of thepany''s financial situation, but I''ve asked you several questions in a row and you can''t give me an immediate answer, is this your so-called deep understanding?" Izzy retorted, her tone growing stern. With Izzy''s question, the other directors and senior managers of thepany all turned their gaze toward him, with some doubting him and some disappointed and distrusting him. Gentry''s face becameplicated, he was unable to control his emotions, "Izzy, you''re deliberately making things difficult for me. All this data can''t be obtained immediately, it needs time to be calcted carefully." This is something Izzy certainly knows, it''s the nature of finance work. Unlike sales and purchasing, where familiar situations can be talked about fluently, finance is both rigorous andplex, and any miscalction could potentially affect thepany''s development strategy, causing an incalcble loss. Any experienced finance personnel wouldn''t dare speak carelessly, all they could offer was a development idea. "You said it takes time, so what''s the problem if I need some time to understand thepany''s situation? Why do you assume that I can''t handle this job?" "Izzy, you''re muddying the waters, we''re not discussing the same issue." Gentry firmly retorted. Izzy scoffed, her tone firm, "Whether it''s muddying the waters or not, you know it yourself. I am giving you two days to organize thepany''s financial reports for the past three years and the quarterly report for the first quarter of this year. I want to see them the day after tomorrow." "Two days is too short." Gentry said. "I''m already being lenient by not asking you to have those reports on my desk by tomorrow morning. It''s almost June now, the reports for the past three years should have beenpleted long ago, and the quarterly report for the first quarter should also be out. If you can''t get them out in two days, what kind of work efficiency is that? Or are there some signs on the reports that you''ve tampered with? Do you think the time I gave you is too short and not enough for you to cover up?" Izzy''s words left Gentry speechless. If he dodged any further, he might be suspected of tampering with the reports. This young woman was really sharp. Gentry''s face turned sour, he clearly knew that Izzy was deliberately making things difficult for him, but he couldn''t refute her. "Ms. Galeana, please don''t nder me without evidence." "This is just a reasonable assumption; it''s your attitude that aroused my suspicion." Gentry gritted his teeth and epted the task Izzy had set for him, "I understand, I will hand in the report on time in two days." Ss was pleased with Izzy''s performance, thinking that Mr. Galeana''s judgment was indeed correct and that Izzy really possessed the ability to manage thepany. Although she was not talkative, once she spoke, she could leave people speechless, even picky Gentry couldn''t stand against her.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org "Does anyone have any other questions? If so, please raise them all at once." Izzy asked the crowd again. After Gentry''s lesson, the directors of the other departments, although dissatisfied, didn''t dare speak out at the moment, they simply replied, "No, we will follow the chairman''s arrangements." Izzy nodded, "Then you should do the same, directors of each department. Write a detailed report on the situation of each department over the past three years and submit it to me within a week." All the directors nodded one after another, feeling that a week was much more rxed than two days. Fortunately, they didn''t speak out just now, otherwise, they might be the ones crying now. Gentry felt oppressed, he didn''t expect to meet such a talkative person. He couldn''t help but look up at Izzy, only to find that Izzy was also looking at him. She gave a slight smile, "Mr. Gentry, I forgot to tell you. I''ve been a practicing CPA for five years, so you''d better be meticulous in your financial work, don''t think you can pull one over on me." Gentry stiffened, feeling like he had really bad luck. He had rashly asked questions before looking into her background, only to encounter an expert. Looking at the expression on Gentry''s face, someone next to him couldn''t help butugh. Izzy also gave a slight smile, "I know I might look young, but I''m actually almost thirty and have been struggling in society for several years, I''m only a few years younger than you." Izzy''s self-praise made everyone present burst intoughter, even Ssughed and looked at Izzy with a few more appreciative nces. After the meeting, a man in his fifties stayed behind, walked over to Izzy, and looked at her carefully with a friendly smile on his face, "I didn''t expect the little girl from back then to be so capable. Not only does she look like her mother, but her way of doing things is also simr." Izzy didn''t remember the man in front of her, so she looked at Ss, who exined with a smile, "Ms. Izzy, this is Mr. Clifton; he''s always been in charge of logistics. You used to love messing around in his department when you were little, always making a mess of the whole logistics department." Hearing Ss say this, Izzy gave a slight smile, "I''m sorry, Mr. Clifton, I had some idents in the past few years and my memory was somewhat damaged, so I don''t remember some things." Cliftonughed and waved his hand, "It''s okay, I''m relieved to see you doing well now. I''m sure the company will get through this difficult time with you here." Izzy nodded, and after Clifton left, Ss exined, "He''s an old employee who co-founded the company with Mr. Galeana; he''s very loyal to thepany and a trustworthy person." "Ss, could you do me a solid and sort out a list of thepany staff, you know, like who''s a hundred percent and who''s maybe got bad vibes for thepany? Just so I know what''s what." Ss nodded, "Sure thing." "Alright, let''s get outta here then." "Ms. Galeana, there''s something I want to get off my chest. Even though you''ve had some beef with the chairman, I''ve watched you grow up, you know, and I''d like it if you could still call me Ss like before." Izzy was taken aback for a moment before nodding and saying, "Gotcha." Ss''s face broke into a satisfied grin. Chapter 195 Chapter 195 Ethan was idly flipping through a book in the office, but he couldn''t concentrate and felt a bit uneasy. He didn''t feel better until he saw Izzy and Ss walk in together. Judging by their expressions, Ethan had a hunch things went well, but he couldn''t help asking, "How did it go? Everything went smoothly?" Izzy walked over, smiling at Ethan like a kid who aced a test and couldn''t wait to show it off to her parents. "It went pretty well. Those folks weren''t as tough as they seemed." Ss had always seen Izzy as cold and aloof, always either making Hunter blow his top or ending up in a fight. This was the first time he saw her like this, reminding him of how she used to be, a jovially happy girl. "Did you stir the pot again?" Seeing her like this, Ethan couldn''t help but ask. "Nope, just that the head of finance was a bit too cocky. I just put him in his ce and made him a cautionary tale. Tough luck for him." Ethan shook his head with a grin. He knew she was a whiz when it came to finance. "You always call me a narcissist, but you seem to be even more of a narcissist than me." "It''s all because of you! I''ve picked up your bad habits." Izzy shot back, ring at him. Ethan nced at the time. It was gettingte, and he had other matters to attend to with the Meyer Group. Just as he was about to leave, the office door swung open, and in walked Emma, her high heels clicking loudly against the floor. Her face was stern, clearly demanding an exnation. "Izzy, what the hell is going on?" Emma stared at Izzy, her voice unconsciously rising in volume. Ss'' tone was stern. He had put a lot of effort into getting Izzy to take on this responsibility and he wouldn''t allow anyone to mess it up, especially Emma. "Ms. Emma, we''re discussing important matters. If you don''t have anything important, please leave." "Important matters? I don''t see you guys discussing anything important. My father is being hit with these horrible rumors. As his daughter, don''t I have the right to know the truth?" "The truth is exactly what was said in the press conference. Do you need me to repeat it?" "Ss, you can fool outsiders with those excuses, but you can''t fool me. I just want to know if those rumors are true or not!" Emma was getting emotional. Ethan rolled his eyes, turning his gaze to Emma. Emma felt chills run down her spine under his gaze. She felt like she couldn''t breathe under his oppressive stare. It wasn''t menacing, just a calm gaze that made her feel ufortable all over. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org "Ethan, is it true or not? Is my father really sick?" Emma finally managed to ask. Izzy shot Emma a nce. "I don''t know anything about what you want to know." Despite Izzy''s response, Emma tried to restrain her emotions. "Izzy, I''m also Dad''s daughter. I have the right to know the truth." "If you have any questions, you can ask him yourself. I don''t know anything about it." Izzy said coldly. "Izzy, if I could reach Dad, do you think I woulde to you?" She had been trying to contact Hunter but failed, so she rushed to find Izzy regardless of Ethan''s presence. "That''s your problem, not mine." "Ms. Emma, the chairman has already said that he will be back in two months. If you have any questions by then, you can ask the chairman directly. Ms. Izzy is just temporary help, she doesn''t know anything about these matters. You''re pregnant now, try not to worry too much and try not to wear high heels." Ss spoke again. "Ss, do you know anything about Dad''s health? Dad is not the type to go to hospitals, and no one around him has this disease." Emma looked to Ss, hoping for answers. Izzy wasn''t sure if Emma really cared about Hunter''s health, but she didn''t mention the fact that she was acting as the chairman, which made her feel a little better. "Ms. Emma, I really don''t know. The chairman went abroad for therapy due to a cervical spine issue." No matter how Emma prodded, Ss didn''t reveal anything. Emma, not getting any answers, turned to leave. Ethan called her back. Emma turned to look at him, puzzled. Ethan said sternly, "Go back and tell your mother, if she wants everyone to live in peace, she better not do anything to Izzy. Otherwise, I won''t hesitate to expose her secrets." Emma froze for a moment, looking at Ethan in confusion. She nodded, "I will tell my mother." After Emma left, Izzy tugged at Ethan''s clothes. "I already warned Shirley Dave about this." "People tend to forget things when they''re upset. Just reminding her again to avoid any trouble." Ethan said with a slight smile. Ss was puzzled and asked, "Do you guys have something on them?" Ethan figured there was no point in hiding it anymore. He told Ss that Emma was actually Izzy''s sister and that Shirley drove Izzy''s mother to suicide. Ss'' face darkened after hearing this, obviously unaware of the whole thing. "Is this true?" Ethan nodded, "I have evidence, and a guy named Carlos knows it too. I''m telling you this because I hope you can find a good time to tell Hunter sooner. If this is suddenly revealed, I''m not sure he can handle it." "I had no idea that woman could do something like this and hide it. The chairman will definitely not ept this. He always thought his wife had chosen to end her life due to extreme stress. He had no idea that Shirley had approached her." "It''s your call,; I''ve alreadyid it out for you. Izzy is not the one to spill the beans; it will definitely kick off a fuss if she does." Ethan knew Izzy like the back of his hand. Unable to help herself, Izzy tugged at Ethan and whispered, "Ethan, you''re so crafty! Weren''t you supposed to help keep the peace? Instead of keeping the secret under wraps, you''re pushing Ss to spill it to Hunter sooner rather thanter." Chapter 196 Chapter 196 A twinkle of amusement shed in Ethan''s eyes as he pinched Izzy''s cheek, "Can''t you use a nicer word to describe your husband?" Izzy, a bit embarrassed by Ethan''s tease, pouted and said seriously, "You''re too sly." "When dealing with someone who might back out at any moment, talking about trust just gets you hurt. You need to handle this kind of situation flexibly," Ethan chuckled. "Alright, I will listen to you." Seeing that there was nothing major going on with Izzy, Ethan prepared to return to the Meyer Group, but he instructed her with concern, "Call me if you don''t understand something, okay?" Izzy pushed Ethan out, "Mr. Meyer, please leave. You being here just makes me look incapable. Go away." "You cheeky girl, I''m getting in your way just by being here a bit longer?" "Yes, you got it right. You''re in the way. Off you go." Ss was very pleased with the way they interacted, although they had a shotgun wedding, their rtionship was definitely better than that of Emma and Aiden Ramos. Their every move was filled with love. As soon as Emma came out, she immediately called her mother, "Mom, have you seen the Galeana Group press conference?" Shirley''s voice sounded weak, "I just saw it." "Do you know what happened to Dad? Why did he suddenly let Izzy take over as chairman?" Emma was worried sick. "I wouldn''t know. Your father never tells me about thepany''s affairs." "You should at least know about his health, right?" Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. "I don''t know about that either." "You don''t know anything. That''s your husband. How can you not even know about his health condition? What kind of wife are you?" Emma was angry and had nowhere to vent but to her mother. There was silence on the other end of the phone for a while. Emma realized her attitude was bad and softened her voice, "I''m sorry Mom, I didn''t mean to target you, I just couldn''t hold it in. If Izzy bes chairwoman then what ce will I have in thepany? She called all the department directors for a meeting today, except for my PR department." Actually, Emma was ming Izzy unfairly. This was all arranged by Ss alone. He was afraid that Emma would cause trouble, so he deliberately ignored her. Izzy had no idea about this. It took a while for Shirley to find her voice, "You know, even though we moved here, your father has always slept alone in a room. He spends two-thirds of his time at thepany. I really don''t know anything about his health condition." Emma was both angry and annoyed, and her eyes were red involuntarily. "What did they say?" Shirley asked again. "I asked them, but they wouldn''t tell me anything. They insisted that the truth of the matter was just like what was announced at the reception." Shirley kept silent, her eyes burning with resentment. After a while, she said, "Let''s wait a bit longer. We''ll discuss it properly after hees back in two months." Emma felt uneasy, "Mom, I''m afraid Dad is deceiving us. What will we do if he doesn''te back in two months?" "We can''t do anything right now. We have nothing in our hands. Everything is still under your father''s control." Listening to Shirley''s words seemed to confirm what Ethan had said. Emma frowned, "Mom, do they have something on you? Ethan said if you dared act on your own, they would expose your secret. What''s going on?" Shirley''s eyes flickered, "Don''t worry about that, just follow my instructions. Whatever I do is for our own good." "How can I listen to you if you don''t tell me anything?" Emma stomped her foot in anger and suddenly felt difort in her lower abdomen. She got scared and quickly covered her belly. It took her a while to recover. Shirley was worried when she couldn''t hear Emma''s voice, "Emma, are you okay?" Emma was a little scared, she took a few deep breaths before saying, "I''m fine, just a little difort in my stomach. It''s okay now." Shirley advised, "Emma, listen to me, don''t get involved in this for now. Stay in thepany and take good care of your baby. Don''t overwork yourself. I''ll handle things here. If they push us into a corner, we''ll have to fight back." Shirley''s voice was cold at the end. Emma shivered. This was a side of her mother she had never seen before. "Mom, what are you nning to do? The car ident five years ago was barely covered up, you can''t take risks this time." To reassure her daughter, Shirley''s voice softened, "Don''t worry, Emma. I won''t do anything unless they cross the line. We''vee so far, it wasn''t easy." Even though Shirley said that, Emma wasn''t reassured. She had a feeling her mother was hiding many things from her. Ss let Izzy familiarize herself with thepany''s situation first. After a few hours, Izzy felt her eyes were sore. No wonder Hunter couldn''t handle it, even a healthy person would feel overwhelmed dealing with these things. "Ss, although I''m in this position now, it will certainly take some time to get used to the work. For now, you''ll still need to make some of the important decisions," Izzy told Ss. Ss smiled, "I know; I will still help for a while." Izzy spent the whole day reading documents and barely moved. Ss couldn''t help but say, "Ms. Izzy, take a break. Your eyes will get ufortable if you keep reading like this." "I know what I''m doing." When she was off work, Izzy ran into Emma again. Emma looked pale, "What did my mother do that gave you the material to threaten her?" Her mother''s behavior was too abnormal. Izzy could tell from her face that Shirley hadn''t spilled the beans. Frowning, she said, "You know damn well I won''t spill. Why even ask? Just remember, if this gets out, you and your mom could be kicked out on your asses." Emma''s face turned even paler, and seeing her in such a state, Izzy didn''t push it. Emma was pregnant now. If something happened because of the stress, Izzy could end up with the me. There was no point in stirring up unnecessary trouble and bad luck. Chapter 197 Chapter 197 The Galeana and Meyer families live not too far from each other. After work, Ethan went straight to pick up Izzy. As soon as she walked in the door, she immediately kicked off her high heels, sat on the couch, and started rubbing her calves. She let out a sigh, "People really arezy. I''ve only been off work for a month and I already feel out of sync. I''m beat, like totally drained." Ethan came over and gently massaged her shoulders, "Yeah, it''s a bit tough getting back into the swing of things after a break. You''ll feel better once you get used to it again." Izzy nodded andfortably leaned back on the couch, enjoying Ethan''s massage. Sheughed and asked, "Ethan, did you learn how to give massages yourself? It''s really nice." "Yep, you''re the first one to experience it." "Oh, I''m so honored to be your first." Izzy said with a hint of coyness in her voice. After a while, Ethan realized Izzy had actually dozed off on the couch. He carefully picked her up and put her in bed. He sighed. She was always so dedicated and gave everything her all. Once she started working, she waspletely invested. She had already exhausted herself after just one day back at work, and he could only imagine what the future held. By the time Ethan was done cooking, it was already 7:30. He walked into the bedroom and saw that Izzy was still asleep. He couldn''t help but gently pat her cheek, "Izzy, wake up. Time to eat." Izzy opened her eyes, "How did I fall asleep? What time is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s half past seven. Eat something before you go back to sleep." At his words, Izzy sat up suddenly, moving so quickly that she hit Ethan''s nose. She winced in pain, "Your body''s so hard, even your nose?¡± Ethan looked at her andughed, "You''re the one who got up too quickly." He noticed that she was always mature and calm in front of others, but behind closed doors, she was apletely different person. "It''s half past seven, we should eat quickly. You can''t neglect your stomach." "Okay, okay. Let''s get up, Mrs. Meyer." After dinner, Izzy went to bed early. Ethan held her in his arms, even if he had other ideas, he couldn''t bear to see her working so hard. The next day, Izzy went to the Galeana familypany early. When she arrived at the office, Ss was also there. "Ms. Galeana, why are you here so early?" "I didn''t finish some documents yesterday, so I came early to continue." Shortly after, Izzy received a phone call. Although she hadn''t saved the number, the caller ID showed it was Aelston, and she immediately knew it was Hunter. Ss saw that Izzy hadn''t answered the call and reminded her, "Ms. Galeana, it''s the chairman calling." Izzy muttered, "I know." She wasn''t sure what to say to him, so she didn''t want to answer the call. "Ms. Galeana, you should answer it. The chairman might have something important to tell you, probably about work." Ss suggested. Izzy thought for a moment and eventually answered the call. However, there was no sound from the other end. Izzy was getting impatient, "Start talking or I''m hanging up." "You little firecracker, you''re still as hot-tempered as ever. Are you mad?" Hunter grumbled. "You''re the one who called me. If you don''t speak, why should I start?" Izzy didn''t know why, but whenever she encountered Hunter, she felt irritated and couldn''t talk properly. N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. "Do you have a bit of an understanding of the work now?" Hunter asked. "Do you think I''m a superhero or something? I just started working yesterday; it would be weird if I had already mastered everything." Ss had gotten used to the way they interacted. If they could have a peaceful conversation, that would be strange. ¡°The Galeana family''s primary business is real estate. Currently, the most important project is a vi that must be delivered in September. You must pay attention not to rush and affect the quality of the project, otherwise, it will be a problem if the project fails the inspection.¡± "I know. Ss already told me." "I heard you bought a house in Maplewood as your marital home." Hunter suddenly changed the subject. "So what?" Izzy scoffed. "That''s our family''s house. Why would you and Ethan waste money buying it? I''ll have Ss help you refund the money and you can just use that house as your marital home." Hunter said calmly. "That''s your family''s, not mine. The one thing Ethan and I aren''t short of is money. I don''t need your charity." Hunter seemed to have gotten used to Izzy''s straightforward way of speaking, ¡°If you don''t want it, forget it. When do you n to hold the wedding?¡± Izzy paused and firmly said, "That''s none of your business." "How can it not be? When you hold your wedding, your father needs to walk you down the aisle." Hunter said unabashedly,pletely unaware that his words might cause a dispute. Izzy felt a bit choked up. Now he knew he needed to be a father? Then why did he decisively cut off their father-daughter rtionship in the first ce? She hadn''t really thought about this. Ethan was the one preparing for the wedding and he hadn''t told her the details. She couldn''t possibly get along with this man, so all she could do was say coldly, "I have Uncle Zander. Uncle Zander will walk me in." In her heart, Uncle Zander and Aunt Rita were like her biological parents. "What nonsense are you talking about? Zander Payne is not your biological father. I''m still alive. What does it mean to let him walk you into the church?" Hunter was infuriated when he heard this. "That''s my business. It has nothing to do with you." Ss couldn''t help whispering to Izzy, "Ms. Izzy.¡± Izzy was upset. She couldn''t genuinely deal with Hunter, but she also couldn''t say anything too harsh to him. She was close to breaking down. "When is the wedding?" Hunter asked the same question again, as if he wouldn''t give up until he got an answer. Izzy didn''t feel like arguing anymore, so she gave a nomittal answer, "Not sure, probably in October." Hunter was quiet for a bit, then said, "By then, I should be back home. I don''t really have any special requests now. I just want to hand you over to Ethan personally." Izzy didn''t answer, then she heard Hunter say, "Thank you, Izzy." Chapter 198 Chapter 198 After ending the call, Ines was still hung up on Hunter''sst words. It was a big deal for a tough cookie like him to say "Thank you". Their father-daughter rtionship was definitely one for the books. In the past week, Ines had been getting the skinny on the Galeana Group. Gentry''s financial report had also been released, and it was pretty much what she had expected. Gentry was a straight shooter, but his picky nature was a real buzzkill. The report was pretty top-notch, even better than she had expected. "Ms. Galeana, is there something wrong?" Ines shook her head, asking somewhat awkwardly, "Does Mr. Galeana have a soft spot for Gentry?" Ss nodded, "Yes, Gentry often locks horns with Mr. Galeana, but Mr. Galeana has never considered sacking him." Ines reviewed the reports for the past few years and found that everything was on the up and up. There was no heavy make-up on the report, which was in line with the chairman''s joke: "Reports can wear light make-up, but never a full face." Gentry''s approach was just right, making him the perfect fit for the CFO position. "In finance, we sometimes need people like that." Ss chuckled, looking at Ines, "That''s exactly how Mr. Galeana describes Gentry." Ines''s face changed slightly, "I didn''t say that." At lunchtime, Ines received a call from Amelia Young, Naomi''s voice could also be heard. Ines hadn''t seen the little girl in a while and missed her, so she made time to meet them. Today, Naomi was dressed in a pink princess dress, her mid-length hair was smooth and she wore a fine crystal hairpin, she looked like a littledy. Naomi was over the moon when she saw Ines and squealed, "Izzy." Ines crouched to embrace Naomi, but her increased weight thwarted the effort. Amelia''sugh echoed, "Ms. Galeana, refrain from lifting her; she''s gained pounds beyond your strength." Ines observed Naomi''s fuller face. She yfully pinched her cheek, finding it pleasantly soft; no wonder Ethan relished pinching her rosy cheeks. "She''s put on a bit of weight." Naomi huffed, pouting at them, "Mommy, Izzy, I''m not fat. My teacher and ssmates all say I look better now, and my desk mate says I''m cuter now." "Your desk mate is a boy, isn''t he?" Inesughed. Naomi nodded seriously, "Yes, he even says I''m his girlfriend. He gave me a box of choctes yesterday." Hearing this, Ines thought kids these days are growing up too fast, already talking about girlfriends. Amelia yfully messed up Naomi''s hair, "You''re still young, don''t ept things from others so casually. If you want something, I''ll buy it for you." "Mommy, the things you buy and the things others give have different meanings. Thetter represents their care." Inesughed, "So, Naomi, do you know what a boyfriend and girlfriend are?" Naomi answered seriously, "I do. If a boyfriend and girlfriend have a good rtionship, they can get married. They live together and then they have children." Looking at her innocent face, Ines suddenly thought, if she had a daughter in the future, Ethan would have to be on guard against little boys from an early age. She noticed that Naomi and Amelia seemed much closer now, she even shared her little secrets with Amelia. "Amelia, what''s thetest with Naomi?" Ines asked. "Izzy," Amelia began, a softer tone tinging her voice, "I meant to discuss this with you today. When might your husband be avable? I wish to host a meal in your honor. I''ve triumphed in thewsuit against Leo, securing custody of Naomi. Leo is only granted visitation rights." There was a noticeable warmth in Amelia now, a departure from her previous frostiness. "Congrats, Amelia. I''ll let Ethan know. You don''t need to be formal with him, he really likes Naomi." "Izzy, why didn''t Ethane with you? I feel like I haven''t seen him for a long time." Naomi looked up at Ines. "Ethan has been busy recently. When he''s not as busy, I''ll bring him to see you." "Okay, Izzy, you''re not lying to me, right?" Ines tousled her hair, "Of course not, I won''t lie to you." The three of them went to eat fried chicken. Amelia only allowed Naomi to eat it once a month. Naomi ordered a lot of chicken, Ines got a meal deal, Amelia looked a bit embarrassed, "Izzy, I invited you out for a meal and ended up choosing a fried chicken joint." "Amelia, don''t worry about it, as long as Naomi''s happy." However, after eating a small piece of chicken, Ines felt nauseous. Amelia quickly noticed something was up, "Izzy, are you okay? Are you feeling sick?" "I''ve been eating pretty light recently, I think I''m just not used to fried food anymore. The smell is making me nauseous. You guys go ahead, I''m going to the bathroom." With that, Ines got up to go to the bathroom. Amelia watched her leave, suddenly a light bulb went off in her head. Ines washed her face and felt a little better, then came back to the table. As soon as she sat down, Amelia asked, "Izzy, how long have you been feeling this way?" "What do you mean?" "The feeling of wanting to throw up but can''t, and your chest feeling tight." "I haven''t felt like this before, it only started after eating the chicken. I''m fine now." As Ines said this, she took a sip of the tomato vegetable soup. It was a bit sour, but it tasted good. Watching her, Amelia couldn''t help but voice her suspicion, "Izzy, I think you might be pregnant." Hearing this, Ines was stunned for a moment, but then she shook her head firmly, "I don''t think so. Thest time I went to the hospital, the doctor told me that my womb wasn''t in the right condition to get pregnant. I need to take some time to recuperate." "Hey, there''s no way to know for sure, but when we head outter, I''ll go with you to snag a pregnancy test from the drugstore. Whether you''re knocked up or not, it''s always better to check." Amelia said. "Forget it, knowing something''s impossible only ends in disappointment." Ines didn''t hold out much hope. "How''s your sleep beentely?" "I''ve just taken over the Galeana Group stuff recently. It''s been all go, really exhausting. I''m practically out like a light not long after dinner."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 199 Chapter 199 "Is your period normal?" Ines was taken aback. She had been so busytely that she hadpletely forgotten about her dyed period. "I think it''ste." "Do you usually have stomach issues?" Amelia continued to ask. Ines shook her head, her stomach had always been good. She didn''t have the typical minor ailments that many young white-cor workers suffered from. Even Ethan said she was lucky. Amelia''s eyes were filled with amusement. "Izzy, trust me and take a testter. Based on my previous experiences, you''re probably pregnant." Seeing Amelia''s confidence, a glint of hope ignited in Ines''s eyes, her heart pounding. Departing from the bustling KFC, Ines sought out a neighboring pharmacy to procure a pregnancy test. Amelia and Naomi hovered outside the restroom, their anticipation mounting. When Ines'' silence lingered longer than expected, concern crept in, prompting them to knock softly on the door, their voices gently piercing the silence, "Izzy, what''s the verdict?" Ines, still in shock at the reality before her, was staring at the pregnancy test in her hand. Two red lines. One was faint, but there were definitely two lines. It was only upon hearing Amelia''s knock that Ines came back to her senses. Opening the door, the joy on her face was too fresh to hide. Her lips curling up slightly, she was so excited she couldn''t even speak. "Too happy?" Amelia asked, waving her hand in front of Ines''s face. It took Ines a long time to ept the sudden news. She had thought it would take longer to get pregnant, and had prepared for a long wait. But as it turns out, that was a misunderstanding. Everything happens when it''s meant to. It was incredible. There was a child inside her, a child she and Ethan had made. Soon, she would be called "mom". Thinking of this, Ines couldn''t help but touch her still-t stomach. "Amelia, I''m really pregnant," Ines said, her eyes welling up with tears that refused to fall. "The uracy of pregnancy tests is 90%. Coupled with your recent symptoms, it''s pretty much confirmed. Congrattions, Izzy," Amelia sincerely said. Some things only be precious when you experience them yourself. When Ines was at her lowest, this person had helped her. She truly considered her a friend, and was genuinely happy for her. "Thank you, Amelia." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Naomi blinked her big eyes, took a while to understand what the adults were talking about. "Izzy, what are you and mommy talking about? Is there a baby in your tummy?" Ines was so excited she squatted down to hug Naomi, but was quickly stopped by Amelia. "Where''s your usualposure? You''re pregnant now, you should avoid any sudden movements or it might affect the baby." Ines paused for a moment, then gently stroked Naomi''s hair. "Yes, Izzy has a baby in her tummy. In a few months, you''ll have a little brother or sister." Naomi scrunched up her nose unhappily. "Can I have a little brother and a little sister at the same time?" Ines couldn''t help butugh, kissing Naomi on the cheek. "I hope so too, sweetie." Witnessing Ines'' youthful exuberance, a ripple ofughter escaped Amelia. Ines'' pregnancy announcement had sparked a radiant joy within her, transforming her demeanor into that of a gleeful child. Yet, amidst the tion, she seemed to overlook a crucial detail. Amelia gently nudged, "Izzy, it''s your husband who should hear this news first." Ines pped her forehead. "Right, Ipletely forgot." Ines took out her phone, but just as she was about to make the call, she put it back. "No, I''m going to The Meyer Group. I want to tell him the news in person." He had wanted a child for so long. He knew getting pregnant wasn''t easy for her so he hid his emotions, acting like it didn''t matter. He would definitely be ecstatic if he knew. She was excited to see his reaction. "Alright, let''s go then," Amelia said with a smile. Worried about Ines, Amelia called her a taxi and reminded her to be careful. "Okay, Amelia." When Ines arrived at The Meyer Group, she went straight to the CEO''s office. Lucas, the secretary, was talking to someone and didn''t notice her. When he finally did, Ines had already pushed open the office door. The moment she did, more than a dozen pairs of eyes turned to look at her. The smile on her face froze. She recognized these people. They were all high-ranking executives of the company. Clearly, Ethan was having a meeting with them. Embarrassed, Ines said, "Sorry to disturb your meeting, please continue." She was about to leave when Ethan stopped her. "Izzy,e in first." Ines nced at the executives, noticing the suggestive smiles on their faces. She blushed, but walked in anyway and sat on the couch, waiting for Ethan. After a few minutes, Ethan let the executives out and turned to Ines with a smile. "What brings you here?" Ines didn''t respond, just looked at Ethan with a soft smile. This made Ethan somewhat uneasy. "What''s up with you today? You seem really happy." Ines remained silent, her smile deepening. Ethan felt that something was off about Ines today. He walked over to her, pinching her cheek. "What''s gotten into you? You''re grinning like a fool. If you''ve got good news, let Mr. Meyer in on it too. What''s the point of keeping it to yourself?" Annoyed, Ines retorted, swatting his hand away. "You''re the fool." Ethan justughed, not at all offended. He sat next to her and said, "I thought you weren''t going to talk today, just sit there and smile at me." Ines decided to cut the crap and looked at Ethan, saying, "Ethan, I''m preggers." After she said that, Ines carefully observed his expression. His handsome face froze for a moment, his eyes first went nk, then slowly filled with amusement. His lips moved slightly, then curved into a nice smile, as if doubting what he had heard. After a while, he asked, "Izzy, what did you just say?" Ines responded with a chuckle, her yful scolding falling lightly on his ears, "For someone who calls me a dimwit, you''re not too sharp either..." Her words hung iplete in the air, cut short by his strong arms drawing her into an embrace. His chin nestled in the crook of her neck, while his deep, seductiveughter filled her ears, resonating for what seemed like an eternity. Chapter 200 Chapter 200 Ines was amused by Ethan''s antics and whispered, "Ethan, we''re really going to have a baby." She used to be down in the dumps because she couldn''t get pregnant, but now, she was in for a pleasant surprise. From the rush of newlywed life, to riding the emotional roller coaster, to falling in love and getting pregnant, all this happened in less than six months. These months were nothing extraordinary, even a bit mundane. But Ines was really content and more than once, she had patted herself on the back for choosing to face life¡¯s challenges with him. "Great, great, great." Ethan seemed at a loss for words and repeated the same word thrice. Ines noticed his hand, which was gently ced around her waist, slowly tightening and she couldn''t help but remind him, "Ethan, you''re holding me too tight, I can hardly breathe." Ethan was taken aback and quickly loosened his grip on Ines. "I''m sorry, I got too carried away. I didn''t hurt you, did I?" Ines shook her head, "No, it''s okay." After the initial burst of joy, Ethan started to worry about Ines'' health, "Izzy, are you feeling okay?" Ines understood he was referring to her pregnancy, "Don''t worry. I''m fine so far. I did feel a bit off while eating fried chicken this morning, but I was fine afterwards." Ethan was relieved. He couldn''t resist and started making circles on Ines'' belly with his hand. Ines felt ticklish and stopped his hand, "What are you doing?" "I wonder if it''s a boy or a girl." Ethan said casually. "Do you want a boy or a girl?" "A girl, of course." Ethan didn''t hesitate and then realized Ines was giving him a stern look. He quickly corrected himself, "I got it wrong. I''ll be happy whether it''s a boy or a girl." Ines understood his feelings. She knew he was just sweet-talking her. He actually preferred a girl. Such thinking was wrong. Ines frowned and scolded, "Mr. Meyer, your bias towards girls is wrong. You can''t think like this anymore." Ethan immediately agreed, "Okay, I''ll listen to you on this." Ines was in high spirits that day. She didn''t tell Ss she would not be going to the office in the afternoon. Ss couldn''t find her and had to call her. "Sorry, Ss, I forgot to tell you. I''m at Ethan''s now, so I won''t be at the Galeana Group this afternoon." Ss could hear the joy in Ines'' voice and couldn''t help but ask, "Sounds like you''re happy. Anything good happen?" Ines paused slightly, thinking there was no need to hide anything, she said with augh, "I just confirmed that I''m pregnant, so I came to Ethan''s." "Congrattions." Ss, unable to contain his exuberance, began to prattle on the phone, causing Ines to reel in his torrent of words, her head bobbing in continual affirmation. Post-call, Ines discovered a flurry of missed calls and unread messages on her device. One caught her eye, an unopened message from Phoebe Wagner. "Izzy, congrats on bing a mom. I hope you''ll consider me as the baby''s godmother. I''ll prepare a gift soon and you''ll definitely like it." Aaron Swanson kept his message short and sweet, "Congrats". Noel Yates'' message was the most amusing, as he managed to link everything to Phoebe. "You and Ethan are expecting, can you help me out too? I''m still single." Everyone was congratting her on the pregnancy, and Ines was a bit puzzled as she didn''t understand how the news spread so quickly. She hadn''t told them yet. She looked at Ethan, who was holding his phone with a slight smile and quickly scrolling through it. She couldn''t help but ask, "Ethan, how did they find out about my pregnancy?" Ethan continued scrolling on his phone and replied, "I told them when you were on the phone earlier. I sent a group message." Before she could say anything else, Ethan had already dialed another number and the first thing he said was, "Izzy''s pregnant." Ines was a bit confused and didn''t know who he was talking to. When she came over to take a look, she realized he was calling Aunty Rita and couldn''t help butugh. She watched Ethan, who was so excited that he even forgot to use proper titles, which was unlike his usual style. Ines wanted to talk to him, but Ethan made several calls in a row and she didn''t get a chance to interrupt him. By the time he finished his calls, it was already an hourter. Ines looked at him helplessly, "Ethan, I just took a home test. I haven''t been to the hospital yet for confirmation. What if I''m not pregnant?" Ethan looked at Ines firmly and said, "That won''t happen. These tests are usually urate. You must be pregnant. It''s me who was slow to notice. You''ve been sleeping welltely, so I didn''t notice." Despite what he said, Ethan still decided to take Ines to the hospital for a check-up to see how her body was doing and to find out what they should be mindful of. "Ethan, there''s no need to rush. You should finish your urgent paperwork first." Ethan shook his head, quickly put on his suit, grabbed his car keys, and left the office with her. Lucas, seeing them about to leave, immediately stopped them and said urgently, "Mr. Meyer, your afternoon schedule is packed, you have a meeting soon..." Ethan waved his hand, "Cancel all my appointments for today and reschedule them for tomorrow. Izzy is pregnant, I need to take her to the hospital." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Lucas nodded with a smile, "Alright, I''ll arrange it immediately. Congrattions, Mrs. Meyer." "Thanks, Lucas." Ines was speechless at Ethan''s actions. The news had spread like wildfire in such a short time. Ines detected an unusual sluggishness in Ethan''s driving that day. His face, etched with grave concern, signaled a foreboding atmosphere. Compelled to break the ominous silence, she lightly prodded, "Mr. Meyer, at this rate, the hospital might shut its doors before we arrive." Ethan then slightly increased his speed. Seeing that he was driving faster than before, Ines didn''t say anything more. When they arrived at the hospital, there were only 20 minutes left until the hospital was supposed to clock out. Ethan immediately took Ines to the second floor, where the doc did a pee test on her. While waiting for the results, Ines''s palms were all sweaty, with Ethan holding her hand tightly. Ines could tell that Ethan was definitely more on edge than she was. The test results didn''t let them down, Ines was really pregnant, just a month in, or four weeks. Ines quickly did some mental math and realized that this was a home run right after their first try after she got discharged from the hospital. Seeing their happy faces, the doc asked with a smile, "Is this your first baby?" Usually, people only get this excited and nervous when it''s their firstborn. If it''s their second, they wouldn''t be this wound up. Ethan nodded, then fired off a whole load of questions, "Doc, what should we be careful about? What foods are no-gos? When does morning sickness kick in? When should we have prenatal check-ups?" Chapter 201 Chapter 201 Ines frowned slightly at Ethan, tugging at his shirt lightly, "You''re bombarding him with questions, how''s the doc supposed to answer all that at once?" The doctor chuckled, "Madam, your husband is just overly concerned about you. It''s rare to see a couple as loving as you two. Don''t worry, I''ll answer all your questions one by one." Ines nodded awkwardly. The doctor continued, "You''ve just gotten pregnant, you won''t feel any difort. Usually, symptoms of early pregnancy appear around 6 to 8 weeks. You don''t have to stress, just keep a positive attitude." "Can I still continue working?" "Pregnancy won''t affect your work but you need to take care of yourself and not overwork. By the way, it''s too early for prenatal checks. We rmend having the first check around the third month of pregnancy, the results will be more urate then." Ethan then asked the doctor a series of questions. Ines was getting a bit annoyed but luckily, the doctor was patient and answered all his questions. As they left the hospital, Ines couldn''t help saying, "Mr. Meyer, you''re freaking out. You can''t learn all this stuff overnight, you gotta take it slow." "We bothck knowledge in this field, we need to be extra careful," Ethan said seriously. Ines chuckled, "We might not have experience, but our families do. We can just ask them." "You''re right." Upon their return home, they were greeted by the glow of interior lights. Erica Meyer and Phillip had already arrived, and they rushed forth to meet them, their faces alight with eager anticipation. "Mom, grandpa, why are you all here?" Ines asked awkwardly. "How could we note when something this big happened?" Ines red at Ethan, knowing that this was his idea, as if he wanted to announce to the world that he was going to be a father. "I''ve just gotten pregnant, you all don''t have to freak out." Erica held Ines'' hand, looked at her seriously for a few seconds, "You''re pregnant, it must be Ethan''s achievement, I take back what I said before." "I''ve always said, this achievement is the result of my efforts," Ethan said. Erica rolled her eyes at her son, "Alright, we get it." Ethan kept quiet. "Izzy, the first three months of pregnancy are risky. It only stabilizes after three months. Ethan doesn''t have experience, we came to check up on you because we''re worried. Izzy,e stay with us at the Meyer Mansion." Ines was in a difficult position. Ethanforted her, "Don''t worry, mom, I''ll take good care of Izzy. She''s just started handling the Galeana Group''s affairs and needs to work. If she stays with you, she''ll be tired. If there''s anything we need to be careful about, just tell me." Phillip agreed, "It''s better for Izzy to stay here. Erica, you better find a good nanny for them. They both work and need someone to take care of them." Erica looked around their house, "Alright, we''ll use the fitness room as the nanny''s room for now." Ines thought they were all overreacting. She had just confirmed her pregnancy and they were already hiring a nanny. It was unnecessary, "Mom, there''s no rush." "Izzy, listen to your mom and grandpa. Nowadays, nannies are professionally trained. Having someone around will make you feel more rxed and we can rest easy. You can stay here on weekdays ande to the Meyer Mansion on weekends when the nanny is off, I''ll take care of you." Ethan thought Erica''s words made sense. He was feeling a bit lost in this area. He might not be able to take good care of Ines, so he agreed, "Alright, we''ll leave this to you. Find us a good nanny, preferably an older one with good cooking skills, who can take care of our meals." Erica agreed with a smile, "Leave it to me, I won''t let my grandchild down." Phillip looked around and said to Ethan, "Ethan, you should also make some changes to your house. Cover sharp corners of furniture andy non-slip mats in potentially slippery areas like the bathroom." Ines felt like an outsider. She couldn''t get a word in as they discussed back and forth but she was happy and content. Having a family like this was really nice. Erica and Phillip kept reminding Ethan even as they left. After they were gone, Ines hugged Ethan''s arm and said, "Mom and grandpa are really nice." "They''ve been looking forward to this day for many years." At night, Ines woke up in the middle of the night to find that Ethan wasn''t by her side. She curiously got up and found that the study room light was on. Ethan was sitting in front of theputer, looking at some information with a serious expression, not noticing her approach. Ines hugged him from behind andughed, "Ethan, what are you doing up sote?" N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Ethan pulled Ines onto hisp, holding her close. Ines nced at theputer screen which showed information about pregnancy. She asked, "Grandpa and mom have already taught you so much, do you still need to study?" Ethan looked at her seriously, "Mrs. Meyer, you need to change your mindset and prepare to be a mom. This is the most important thing right now." Looking at his slightly tense handsome face, Ines wanted tough but didn''t dare to. She thought this was just the beginning, he wouldn''t be this excited after a while. "Alright, I get it, can we go to sleep now?" Ines obediently apologized. She didn''t know if all men about to be fathers were like this, but Ethan was definitely very tense. Seeing her good attitude, Ethan chuckled and lightly pinched her nose. He shut down theputer and carried her back to the bedroom. Ines sumbed to slumber swiftly, entirely oblivious to the man behind her who remained absorbed in hisbyrinth of thoughts. Chapter 202 Chapter 202 The next morning, when Ines woke up, Ethan was no longer by her side. Thinking back to everything that happened yesterday, it felt like she was in a dream. She couldn''t help but gently touch her belly. When Ethan entered the room and saw that Ines was awake, he couldn''t help but walk over, bent down and gave her a kiss on the cheek, "Mrs. Meyer, you''ve been through a lot. Did our little one cause you any difortst night?" Ines pushed him away with augh, "Did you forget everything I taught you yesterday? The baby is only one month old, there''s no way it could have made me ufortable." Ethan knew this, of course. He just couldn''t resist asking. N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. After breakfast, Ethan drove Ines to the Galeana Group as usual. He insisted that she wear ts, even though she insisted she could wear heels and even tried to sweet-talk him into it, but Ethan was not to be swayed. This man could be stubborn about certain things. When they got out of the car, Ethan handed Ines a box of food. Ines looked at him questioningly, "What''s this?" Ethan smiled, "It''s some fruit I prepared for you. From now on, I''ll prepare it for you every day." Ines recognized the handiwork of Lucas, delivered undoubtedly at dawn''s first light. She turned to Ethan, shaking her head lightly, "I believe mom has a point; our home truly requires an additional pair of hands." Lucas shouldn''t be burdened with such trivial tasks; it seemed an inefficient use of his time and energy. "Mom will take care of it, it''s nothing we need to worry about. Remember, you need to rest now. Every half hour of reading documents, you should get up and move around. Don''t stay in one position for too long, it''s bad for your cirction. Also, no more coffee for you, you need to drink more water..." Ethan was saying a lot, and Ines quickly cut him off, "Ethan, I know. I will take care, I won''t be irresponsible with my health." Ines noticed that there were several more potted nts in her office, making the room feel fresh and vibrant. When Ss saw Inesing in, he smiled and said, "Ms. Galeana, I asked the flowerpany yesterday, and they said these nts are beneficial for pregnant women, so I had them send some over." In reality, this was Hunter''s idea, but Ss didn''t dare say so, in case it ruined Ines''s good mood. "You really didn''t have to do that. I won''t be staying here for long." Ines nned to hand over her work to Hunter when he returned and then go home to rest. "No matter how long you''re here, we have to take care of things like this. Especially since it''s the first three months. If thepany waspletely stable now, I wouldn''t let youe to the office, I''m really sorry." Ines shook her head, "Don''t say that, it wasn''t something you could have predicted, it''s just a coincidence." Who could have predicted she would be pregnant now? It was a surprise, to say the least. Ss nodded, "Chairman is recovering well from his treatment, he''ll be back on time and then you can go home and rest, Ms. Galeana." The Galeana Group was actually running smoothly internally, even without Hunter being around recently. Ines started dealing with the documents at hand, and she found it wasn''t as difficult as she thought it would be. It felt like she''d done this many times before, and she was veryfortable with it. Even Ss was taken aback by Ines'' elerated learning curve, "Ms. Galeana, you truly possess a ir for this. Your progress over these few years is remarkable." Ines gave a small smile, "It seems running apany isn''t as hard as I thought." By the time Ethan called at lunch, Ines had already started eating the food the Galeana family had sent. "Ethan, don''t worry, Eda has already brought me food. She has experience with raising children." Ines was eating and talking to Ethan on the phone at the same time. Ethan frowned, he knew Eda from Ines''s description. She was one of the few people in the Galeana family who treated Ines well, but he still couldn''t rest easy, "Ines, apart from telling Ss, don''t let anyone else know about your pregnancy." Hearing this, Ines paused, "Are you worried they''ll do something to harm me?" "It''s a special time now, and they''re bound to be anxious without Hunter. They might do something to harm you. Don''t touch anything the Galeana family sends in the future, and don''t let them prepare anything either." Ethan exined in detail. "Ethan, you''re being too nervous." "Ines, listen to me. We need to be careful at times like this. Once the nanny arrives, you can leave your diet to her. I''ll have her bring you meals on time." Ethan said seriously. Ines could only agree. After hanging up, she couldn''t help but look at Ss, "Please keep my pregnancy a secret, don''t let them know." "Don''t worry, Ms. Galeana, I know what I should do. I won''t let them find out." Ss had already made up his mind. "That''s good." Ines sighed in relief. "Don''t worry, I won''t let Eda cook for you anymore, in case Shirley finds out about your pregnancy." "That''s probably for the best, so they don''t get suspicious." "Ms. Galeana, if you''re tired, you can go to the rest room for a while. I''ve had it cleaned up already." "I''m fine." Upon uttering those words, Ines noticed the box Ethan had presented her that morning. A small smile graced her lips as she lifted the lid, revealing pristine cherries. Selecting one, she savored its vor - a delightful fusion of sour and sweet that tantalized her taste buds. After eating one cherry, Ines realized that Ss was still in the office. She felt a bit embarrassed and turned to Ss, "You should try some cherries, they''re really fresh." Ss shook his head, "You enjoy them, Ms. Galeana. My teeth aren''t too good, I can''t eat sour food." "Oh, then I''ll eat them myself." Ss took a look at her and couldn''t help but say, "Miss, you''re thinking is pretty thorough. Cherries are packed with vitamins, you should totally eat more right now." "This was prepared by Ethan." Ss paused for a moment, thenughed, "Ethan really has an eye for detail, even caught on to this little thing." Chapter 203 Chapter 203 When Ines came home, she found that her entire house had transformed in just a day. Every corner of the furniture was all wrapped up, and even the original carpet was reced with a non-slip one. "Ethan, you''re pretty quick." Ines couldn''t help but tell Ethan. "That''s all Lucas'' doing, he''s always super efficient." Ines noticed that dinner was already prepared on the table. A woman in her fifties emerged from the kitchen, smiling at them, "Sir, Ma''am, wee home. I am Cam, a nanny hired by the Meyer family. I''ve prepared a meal for you, hoping it suits your taste." Erica had already informed Ethan about this at noon. Cam had been in this line of work for over a decade, her cooking skill was top-notch, and she had high praises from many families. Ethan nodded, "Thanks, Cam." Cam chuckled, "I came in a rush today, didn''t have time to buy groceries, so I made do with what was in the fridge. Have a taste, I got to get back to work." With that, she returned to the kitchen, leaving the two of them alone. Cam''s culinary prowess truly shone. As Ines savored the vors, she turned to Ethan, "Her food is exceptionally good." Ethan voiced his agreement with a nod. When Cam emerged, Ethan queried her about childcare. Her responses, adept and assured, impressed them thoroughly. The decision was made then ¨C Cam would join their household. Until the baby''s arrival, she would have weekends off. Post-birth, she''d work through the weekends but would receive a few discretionary days off each month. Cam had no objections to this arrangement, and so it was settled. After dinner, Cam cleaned up the table and began tidying up the living room. Ines wasn''t quite used to having a stranger in her home, so she retreated to the bedroom after a while. She remembered the photos she had brought back from the Galeana family not too long ago and couldn''t help but look through them again. Looking at her own growth in the photos, she began tough. Soon, she would be documenting a child''s growth journey as well. Ethan was infected by herughter. He still had some work to finish, but seeing Ines, he also becamenguid, and sat down next to Ines to look at the photos with her. Even though he had seen the photos before, Ethan looked at them very carefully. Ines leaned against him, this time she was particrly patient, not urging him to flip through them faster. Ethan gently touched the people in the photos, unconsciously saying, "Our daughter will be as beautiful as you." Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Ines really couldn''t understand his obsession with a daughter. This was not the first time he had said this. Suddenly, she remembered what Naomi had told her yesterday and couldn''t help but tell him, "Ethan, do you know what the kid told me yesterday?" Ethan raised his eyebrows slightly, "What did the little girl tell you?" "She said there''s a boy chasing her now, even gave her choctes." "No way, she''s so young." Ethan looked at Ines with some doubt, as if questioning the truth of her words. "Ethan, what''s with that face? Let me tell you, times have changed, you can''t look at kids today with your old-fashioned view. Today''s kids mature faster, they''re clever, they know everything. They face many temptations, even in ordinary families, they won''tck phones andputers, the inte is full of information, they can easily be influenced." "I''m not that old." Ethan shot Ines an unhappy look. Inesughed. There was indeed a six-year age gap between them, but she wouldn''t tell Ethan that. Back to the topic, "Don''t try to change the subject, I''m telling you, boys are easier to raise." Ethan said, "Our daughter will be beautiful, she''ll be our precious darling." "But that''s just your ideal, the safety issues for little girls in this society are really serious. Every day there are all kinds of news reportsing out, those psychopaths specifically target little girls. The thought scares me, boys are better in some ways, they won''t be at a huge disadvantage." Even though Ines was a bit vague, Ethan understood the meaning of her words. He frowned and said directly, "That kind of thing won''t happen to our daughter. I will protect her well. No dating allowed before 18, I will strictly scrutinize all the men that appear in front of her. I will raise her to be a devout Christian from a young age." Listening to Ethan, she gently poked his chest and whispered, "There are some things you can''t control, certain things naturally happen when young people are together." Ines continued, "Aren''t you worried about your daughter''s behavior?" "Should she dare to step out of line, watch as I mete out strict discipline," Ethan dered, his tone lending credence to his intent. Ines smiled softly, "Don''t talk so tough now, when the timees I want to see if you really have the heart to punish her." "Indulging a daughter is right, but principles must never change. Boys aren''t entirely safe either, we have to worry about them being used by girls." Chapter 204 Chapter 204 Ines thought they were being dead boring, getting into this discussion. "Alright, Mr. Meyer," she said, "chill out. Let''s not talk about this anymore. It''s not gonna happen right now anyway." "That''s indeed an important issue. I need to seriously think about how to handle it," Ethan said, still mulling over the issue. "Mr. Meyer, you take your sweet time with your big issues. I''m off to bed." With that, she curled upfortably in his arms. Ethan saw she was tired, so he put down the photo album andy down with her. He ced a kiss on her lips and gently positioned her under him, careful not to put pressure on her stomach. Ines could smell a refreshing mint scent around her nose. Unable to resist, she wrapped her arms around his neck and responded to his kiss. His hand wandered under her dress, exploring her skin. They both got a bit excited, but Ethan always remembered the doctor''s warning - no intimacy in the first three months. He turned to the side and held her tightly, burying his head in her neck, trying to regte his breathing. Ines, with her eyes closed and breathing lightly, couldn''t help but chuckle, "Now you know being a dad isn''t a walk in the park." "It¡¯s definitely not easy. It''s just the start, what am I gonna do," Ethan said, sounding a bit down. Hearing his tone, Ines couldn''t help butugh out loud, "Toote for regrets now." "Don''t get too cocky, you''ll have your challenges too." "That''s a problem for future me," Ines said nonchntly. After a while, Ines fell asleep. Ethan, on the other hand, couldn''t sleep. He helplessly shook his head, watching her peaceful breathing. Probably from now on, it would be sleepless nights for him alone. Neither of them had the habit of turning off their phones at night. Ethan couldn''t turn his off because of his job. But considering it was the weekend, Ethan put both of their phones on silent, not wanting to be woken up by calls. But of course, some people just wouldn''t let him have his way. When nobody picked up their phones, the call was forwarded to thendline in the living room. Hearing the harsh ringing, Ethan groaned and got up from the bed, carefully moving Ines out of his arms and went to answer the call. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Seeing it was Grandpa''s call, Ethan felt incredibly frustrated, "Grandpa, why are you calling so early? Can''t you let me rest a bit?" There was a pause on the other end, "It''s already half past nine. I didn''t disturb Ines, did I?" "Indeed, Ines has been working at the Galeana Group all week. She''s got a lot on her te. And now you''re disturbing her on her day off." "I tried your cell phones and no one answered. I was just worried you guys weren''ting back to the Meyer Mansion for the weekend, as we agreed. I didn''t know you both were still sleeping. I''ll keep that in mind next time," Phillip said, his voice lower than usual. Ethan couldn''t help but smile, understanding that Grandpa''s weakness was the baby in Ines'' belly. "Alright, Grandpa, no rush. I''ll bring Ines over when she wakes up naturally. Don''t wait for us for lunch, we might not make it." "Okay, take your time. Silvia Caldwell and your uncle''s family are here too. You guys are the stars today, everybody''s here for you. If you''re not here by three, I''ming to get you myself," Phillip said, sounding unusually gentle. "Got it," Ethan responded. After hanging up, Phillip noticed Silvia was staring at him, "Grandpa, are Ines and Ethan noting today?" Phillip mustered a gentle smile, patting her shoulder reassuringly, "They''ll be here. Ethan mentioned Ines is still slumbering. He''ll escort her once she rouses. However, we shan''t dy lunch for their arrival, as their attendance is yet uncertain." Silvia felt ufortable, but maintained her perfect smile, "That''s fine, I was hoping to congratte them today." Ines slept until half past ten in the morning. When she woke up, she saw Ethan working next to her. He was leaning against the headboard, flipping through files with one hand, and the other arm around her waist. His position looked really ufortable. "Ethan, why don''t you go to the study? You must be ufortable." "I''m fine. Did you sleep well?" Ines nodded with a smile, "I haven''t had such a good sleep in a long time." "Grandpa called and said we should go over. You can get up and get ready. We might be able to make it for lunch." As soon as they got out of the car, Ethan swooped in and put his arm around her waist. Ines laughed and dodged him. She was always shy and not very good at showing affection, even in front of family. Holding hands with him on the way home used to make her blush. Now she was even more shy. "Ethan, what are you doing? There are so many people here." "I only feel safe when I''m holding you," Ethan said seriously. "Stop it, there are so many people here. I don''t need you to take care of me like this yet," Ines said and walked away. But Ethan didn''t care, he went ahead and pulled Ines into his arms. Ines wanted to break free, but seeing Silvia standing not far away from the door, and remembering what Phoebe said that day, she didn''t resist anymore. Chapter 205 Chapter 205 Ethan was clueless as to why Ines suddenly changed her attitude, but seeing her like this, he was naturally thrilled. Silvia, watching the two approaching from a distance, felt even more ufortable, but still greeted them, "Ines, Ethan, you guys finally made it, congrats." Ines gave a faint smile, "Thanks, Silvia." Ethan only gave a light smile towards Silvia, leaving her feeling bitter inside. Entering the living room, Ines realized everyone was already here. Everyone''s gazes were gentle, all directed towards her tummy. Feeling a bit shy, she greeted them. Lauren Nelson noticed Ines''s attention on the gifts on the coffee table and exined, "These were sent by your grandpa''s friends." "You might not know, but we''ve had a lot of visitorstely. These are just some of them, there''s a lot more in the storage room," Erica added with a chuckle. Phillip just came out of his room, spotted Ines, and immediately ordered Ethan, "Ethan, quickly help Izzy to the sofa." "Grandpa, I''m not that weak. I can walk there myself." "That''s not the point." Ines felt her status in the house had suddenly escted, she couldn''t help but whisper to Ethan, "Did my status increase just because I''m pregnant?" Ethan nodded, "Exactly, and because of you, my status has also improved. Grandpa was really gentle when he called this morning." "So, I''m the savior of your status." "So just enjoy it now, you''ve made a huge contribution. Mr. Meyer will definitely take good care of you." The Meyer family watched the loving couple and also felt really happy. Ashley Meyer made her entrance slightly tardy. Spotting Ines, she dashed over with an enthusiastic mor, eager toy eyes on her young nephew. Ethan stopped her, rebuking coldly, "You''re grown up now, how are you still so rude? Are you asking for a beating?" Ashley shook her head, "You don''t even love your sister anymore." Ethan looked at Ashley discontented, "Stop talking nonsense, I want a daughter." "Got it, you''re so childish." Ashley sat down next to Ines, hugging her arm, "So, sis, is the baby behaving?" Ines couldn''t help but lightly pat her forehead, her voice low but everyone could hear, "You call your brother childish, but you''re not much better. I just got pregnant, how could the baby possibly be causing trouble?" C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Ashley shouted at the people in the living room, unhappy, "Look, sis is mad at me. Just because I called my brother childish, she said I''m clueless." Ericaughed and said to Ashley, "Ashley, maybe you didn''t realize the situation. Your brother and sister-inw are very close now. How could she be happy if you speak about her like that?" Ashley immediately said, "Oh, so that''s how it is. I must have misunderstood." With that, the entire living room was filled withughter. Phillip burst outughing, "Erica is right, Ashley, you can''t badmouth your brother anymore, he''s also someone''s sweetheart now." Silvia was sitting alone on the side, like aplete outsider, unable to join the conversation. After lunch, Ines called Ashley into her room. Ashley looked at her curiously, "Sis, do you have something to tell me?" "Ashley, I think you''re about the same age as Silvia. I want to ask you, do you think she has special feelings for your brother?" Ashley was taken aback, quickly realizing Ines''s meaning, "Ines, do you mean romantic feelings?" Ines nodded, "Yes." Ashley thought for a moment and said, "I''m not sure, I don''t spend much time with her. I don''t spend much time at the Meyer Mansion. I just remember her being quiet and moody, always staying alone in the corner, not talking to anyone. Only grandpa could get a few words out of her. Then she went abroad, and I had even less interaction with her. But since she came back, she seems much more outgoing." "What about her rtionship with Ethan before?" Ashley looked at Ines, asking uncertainly, "Ines, you really don''t care about Le?" Ines smiled, "Whether I care or not, I don''t want topete with someone who''s already passed. It''s pointless. As long as I know Ethan has me in his heart, that''s enough." Keen to alleviate any difort for Ines, Ashley prefaced her truth-bearing words with a disimer, "You''re familiar with my brother''s demeanor ¨C typically aloof, yet hevishes affection upon those he truly cherishes. That''s the reason for his indulgence towards Silvia." Ines nodded. She didn''t know if she was overthinking, but every time she saw Silvia, she felt a bit uneasy. Instead of guessing in her heart, she might as well take this opportunity to find out for herself, "Ashley, sis wants to ask you for a favor." "Say it, sis." Ines shared her thoughts. Ashley agreed and jokingly said, "Your concern for my brother is deeper than I thought. Don''t worry, I''ll definitely take care of this little thing for you, consider it done." "You don''t need to make it too obvious. I just want to do a simple test, otherwise, I''ll always feel uneasy." "But if Silvia really has other thoughts about my brother, how will you deal with it?" Ashley looked at Ines curiously. Ines red at Ashley, "That''s something your brother needs to consider. If he can''t handle it, I''ll take his daughter and leave." "Haha, that method will definitely work on my brother. He''s really dependent on his wife and child now." Chapter 206 Chapter 206 While the two were having a pleasant chat, Ethan barged in, grinning, "What''s the big secret, you guys seem to be having fun." Ashley chuckled, "Why on earth would a big guy like you care about girl talk, bro? Were you eavesdropping outside the door?" "Give me some credit. I wouldn''t be interested in your girly chit-chat," Ethan ruffled Ashley''s hair in amusement. Ines sighed in relief hearing Ethan''s words. A re shot from Ashley''s eyes towards him. As she was about to rise, Ethan gently pressed her back into her seat, "Stay, I have queries." Her recent evasion of his calls had not gone unnoticed. "Bro, if it''s about love advice you''re after, don''t bother. I''m not spilling anything." Ashley made to leave again. "Ashley, stay put. If you storm out now, I''ll spill your secrets to everyone at home," Ethan''s tone went cold. Defeated, Ashley slumped back onto the bed, "Why are you always threatening me, bro? Even your own sister isn''t safe from your strictness." She was just harboring a crush and didn''t want her family to find out. Ethan cut to the chase, "How have things been with Aarontely?" "Bro, you know Aaron''s personality. He''s not exactly Mr. Affectionate. We haven''t even talked recently," Ashley responded, despondent. "Really?" Ethan asked skeptically. "Really. If I''m lying, may I never get married." Ashley retorted, growing irritated. Ines couldn''t help but tug at Ethan''s arm, "Ethan, you''re always busy with work and worrying about me and your unborn child. Now you''re fixated on Ashley too. Take a break, will you?" "Izzy," Ethan frowned at Ines, he didn''t like her taking Ashley''s side. "I know you mean well, but we can''t control these things," Ines tried to reason. Ethan sighed, ncing between the two before huffing, "I didn''t realize you two were so chummy now." "Bro, I''ve been saying since Izzy came back that I wanted to get closer to her. You all just thought I was joking." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Ethan shot her a re before storming out of the room. Ashley chuckled, "Let''s go, Izzy. He probably came to call us down to join everyone. They''re likely about to start a card game." Downstairs, Erica, Lauren, and Silvia were already seated, waiting for one more yer. "Ashley, did you upset your brother again? He didn''t look too happy," Lauren looked up at her daughter, smiling. "Why is it always me? Maybe Izzy upset him," Ashley replied, sounding wronged. "When has your brother ever been upset at Izzy?" Lauren countered. Ashley was at a loss for words, "Whatever, I''m already the ck sheep here. Say what you want." Silvia had been silent, her face changing at Lauren''s words. "Izzy, Ashley, who wants to y? We''re short one person," Erica interrupted. "Let Izzy y. I''m broke," Ashley said. Ines wasn''t very good at cards, and without Ethan by her side to guide her, she felt nervous. Ashley seemed to know what she was thinking, calling out to Ethan, "Bro, your wife needs your help here. Otherwise, Izzy''s going to lose for sure." Erica shot Ashley a disapproving look, "Ashley, don''t scream. Last time Izzy was the biggest winner. She won most of your money and you''re still helping her." At Ashley''s summoning, Ethan, Jacob Meyer, and Trenton Meyer joined the gathering. Phillip, following an unspoken ritual, stationed himself behind Silvia. Ines was having a bad luck streak, losing three rounds in a row. The biggest winner turned out to be Silvia. Ashley shot Phillip a disgruntled look, "Grandpa, are you ying favorites? When you were coaching me, I lost horribly. But when it''s Silvia''s turn, she''s winning all the time." "You dare to bring up that embarrassing loss? That''s just your bad luck," Phillip grumbled. Suddenly, Ashley turned to Silvia, "Silvia, you should take advantage of your good luck today and win some for Izzy. They''re about to get married and there are a lot of expensesing up." Ines had known about Ashley''s n all along, so when she said this, she watched Silvia''s reaction carefully. Silvia''s face stiffened, but it was only for a moment before she regained her usual composure. "So Izzy and Ethan are getting married, huh? Guess I better seize the opportunity today, or I''ll be in a tight spotter," Silvia maintained her usual cheerful expression. "Ethan, Izzy, howe we didn''t hear about this from you?" Erica asked. Ethan couldn''t help but give Ashley a light knock on the head, his tone somewhat grim, "Why do you to spill the beans?" "You''re nning a wedding and not telling your family. What were you thinking?" Ashley shot back. Ines thought Ashley really had a knack for drama. She hadpletely controlled the conversation. If Ethan didn''t rify, Erica and their grandpa would definitely misunderstand him. As expected, both Erica and their grandpa gave Ethan disapproving looks. Erica said sternly, "Ethan, what''s going on? Didn''t I tell you I''d take care of everything for your wedding with Izzy? You''ve been keeping this from us. What are you trying to pull?" Chapter 207 Chapter 207 "Mom, it''s not that I''m being picky about you guys, I just want to n my own wedding, the only one in my life, as a token of my love for Izzy. If you guys handle it, what''s left for me to do?" Ethan exined helplessly. Erica''s face softened slightly upon hearing this, but she was still uneasy, speaking in a low voice, "Ethan, you should have told us about this earlier, didn''t you know I''ve already nned out the details of your wedding?" Ethan kept silent, fearing exactly this reaction, which was why he hadn''t told them. But the issue had been brought up by Ashley now, and he suspected she did it on purpose. "When is the wedding?" Phillip asked heavily. "It''s still a while away, in October, which is why I haven''t mentioned it to you yet," Ethan exined. Lauren chuckled, "Sister, dad, let Ethan handle this. We should give him this chance to express his love for Izzy." Trenton, typically a man of few words, cast a nce at Ethan, "If you''re orchestrating this yourself, ensure you deliberate meticulously. Let no crucial detail slip through the cracks." "I got it, dad," Ethan grinned. Erica shot a dissatisfied look at her husband but didn''t say anything else, apparently giving her tacit consent. Phillip didn''t object either. Ashley pouted, "Bro, expressing your love is one thing, but don''t forget to make me a bridesmaid or something. Hurry up and get me hitched, or I''ll just keep bullying you here." "Ashley!" Ethan red at Ashley. Unfazed, Ashley continued, "Bro, here''s a suggestion, you don''t just need one bridesmaid, you need a team. Izzy''s best friends are a must, and I should be considered too. Maybe we can invite Silvia, she should be free, right?" Mentioned out of the blue, Silvia felt ufortable but suppressed her feelings and seemed lost for a moment. "Silvia?" Ashley called again. Silvia clenched her fist under the table, her face beaming with a smile, "Of course I''d be happy to be Izzy''s bridesmaid." At this point, Ashley was fully convinced of Ines'' suspicion. To avoid raising Silvia''s suspicion, she dropped the subject. But, the topic Ashley brought up wouldn''t just end like this, the family started discussing it. Ines nced at Silvia, feeling uneasy. Without Ashley''s help, she might have been fooled by her innocent facade and mistaken Ethan as just a brother to her. Ines couldn''t focus on what the Meyer family was saying, her mind was upied with this issue. Ethan noticed Ines seemed upset, he gently stroked her hair, nervously asked, "Are you tired?" Ines replied, "I am, I can barely keep my eyes open." "That''s normal, Ethan, you should take Izzy upstairs to rest," Erica suggested sympathetically. "Sure, I''ll apany Izzy upstairs, you guys continue discussing the wedding, it''s important too," Ashley volunteered. Once secluded in their bedroom, Ashley bubbled with excitement, "Ines, your ploy unfolded beautifully. Silvia''s emotions for my brother extend beyond friendship. Her countenance hardened at your wedding news, and she appeared disoriented when named as a bridesmaid." "I owe it all to your inspiration, you''ve always been good at hiding, until Noel identally revealed it," Inesughed. Ashley protested, "Ines, I can''t believe I unwittingly became your teaching material." Ines just smiled and didn''t say anything. As a woman, she knew very well that women often have a hard time concealing their true emotions when ites to love. "Ines, what''s your n? Silvia is very good at hiding. Without this test today, we wouldn''t have known about her feelings, or how capable she is of having such an idea. If she''s been in love with my brother all this time, then women are trulyplicated." Ines grinned at Ashley, "Look who''s talking, haven''t you been hiding for years too? I just realized how deep you young girls can be." Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Ashley huffed, "Ines, I''m different, I never deliberately hid it, they just didn''t notice. I''ve always been sticking to Aaron, can''t believe they never caught on, can I be med for that? Plus, I''m younger, I couldn''t confess at such a young age, I would have been scolded by dad." "Alright, I got it," Ines chuckled, nudging Ashley''s shoulder. "So, Ines, what''s your n? I''ll fully support you." "Right now, I''m not sure what her feelings for your brother are. If it''s just a crush, I don''t want to make your brother feel awkward." Ashley shook her head, "Ines, howe pregnancy makes you dumb? Hear me out. Based on my experience, I think Silvia came back because of my brother. The timing is too coincidental. As far as I know, she never came back during her years studying abroad, but she returned right after your interview video with my brother was released. Isn''t that obvious? Think about it, if she just likes my brother, without any ulterior motives, she wouldn''t need toe back. She could just keep her love hidden. So, I believe her return is not a good sign," Ashley spoke earnestly. "Your analysis makes sense," Ines thought Ashley had a point. Chapter 208 Chapter 208 "It''s not a maybe, it''s a definite." Ashley stated with conviction. "Alright, I got it. I just wanted to figure out her real thoughts. Once I do, I''ll naturally be on guard. Now that I understand, I know what to do." Ashley nodded, "Ines, you''re pregnant now, you gotta be careful. Should we tell my brother about this now? I''m kinda on the fence." Ines had mulled over this question before in the living room. Even if Ethan knew Silvia had a thing for him, he wouldn''t act on it due to his guilt towards Le Caldwell, unless Silvia posed a threat to her and the baby. "If Silvia wants to keep ying innocent, then let her keep up the charade. I shouldn''t tell Ethan, but if she dares to provoke me, I''ll let Ethan see the truth with his own eyes." "That sounds good. Letting my brother see for himself is more convincing than anything. Otherwise, he might be overly suspicious because you''re pregnant. Guys usually don''t trust our intuition." Ines chuckled, "You''re right." Feeling tired, Ines dozed off after chatting with Ashley for a while. Ashley closed the bedroom door and went downstairs, where everyone was still discussing the wedding. The original n needed to be adjusted due to Ines''s sudden pregnancy. By October, Ines would be nearly six months pregnant and couldn''t be busy anymore. They could simplify the wedding, but they felt it would shortchange Ines. Everyone argued about it. "No way, Ethan, even a simple wedding has some necessary procedures." Erica insisted. Ethan didn''t want to drag this out, "Mom, if we wait for the baby to be born before Izzy and I get married, it''s gonna be a long wait." "We, the Meyer family, only marry one bride, it has to be grand." Erica reprimanded Ethan. Ethan shoved the responsibility onto Ashley, "Don''t we still have Ashley? You can n her wedding when the timees." "Bro, don''t try to dump this on me, I''m still far from getting married." Ashley said helplessly. "Ethan, your mom is right, it would be better to hold the wedding after the baby is born." Phillip also angrily chimed in. "But that doesn''t seem right. The baby is born and then we have the wedding. It''s too unfair to Ines." Ethan didn''t want to let Ines suffer any grievance. He had been preparing for so long and really didn''t want to dy any longer. He wanted to settle this matter as soon as possible. Trenton inquired, "Ethan, how''s your preparation progressing? If readiness is a month away, we might consider advancing the wedding." Ethan replied, "Dad, the wedding preparations arergely on track, barring a few details. However, renovations of our marital residence have just begun; hastening the wedding wouldn''t be ideal." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Jacob, seeing everyone arguing, suggested, "Stop arguing. We have seven people, including Ashley. We can decide by voting." Everyone agreed to this suggestion, and the voting result was predictable. Only Ethan insisted on having the wedding in October, while everyone else suggested postponing the wedding until after the baby was born. Ashley said to him, "Bro, I think Ines also hopes to have the wedding after the baby is born. Otherwise, she''ll worry about the baby in her belly during the wedding and won''t be able to fully enjoy it. I''m not against you, but your wedding really isn''t suitable to be pushed forward." Lauren joked, "Looks like our Ashley is growing up, learning to analyze things." Ashley gave a small smile. She suddenly realized Silvia was missing and asked, "Where did Silvia go?" Phillip answered, "She just got a call. It seemed to be from a patient''s family. They wanted her to come over immediately." Ashley didn''t buy it at all. She believed Silvia made an excuse to leave because she was sick of everyone talking about the wedding. Speaking of Silvia, Phillip said to Ethan, "Ethan, Silvia is out there alone now. She has no rtives. You should help her more. After all, we, the Meyer family, owe her and her sister." Ethan nodded, "I got it, Grandpa." Hearing this, Ashley teased, "Bro, you can take care of her more often, but don''t get yourself involved identally, Ines definitely won''t let you off." Ethan red at Ashley, "What are you talking about?" "You can just treat me as talking nonsense. But man, you''re so amazing, which woman wouldn''t want you? My heart flutters just looking at you. If you weren''t my real brother, I would''ve chased after you long ago, without any other women in the picture." Ashley joked. Jacob knocked on his daughter''s head, his usually kind face turning serious, "What are you thinking about all day? Ethan is your brother, stop having these confusing thoughts." Ashley hooked Jacob''s arm, "Dad, don''t be mad, I was just joking. I know my rtionship with my brother can''t change. I was just making a reasonable analogy. Silvia is at the age where she should be looking for a boyfriend. She''s alone without any rtives, it''s normal for her to have feelings for people around her." Chapter 209 Chapter 209 Erica has always been a sharp cookie. She wasn''t entirely sure if Ashley was spot on, but her words hit home. The young girl had been single for years, which raised some eyebrows. So, she nudged Ethan, "Ethan, I think Ashley''s onto something. I didn''t want to be a helicopter mom before you tied the knot, but now that you''re hitched, and with Silvia being a special case, you need to think about Izzy''s feelings too, don''t step on her toes." Lauren chimed in, "I second that. You can''t be hanging out with Silvia like the good old days, you need to tread lightly." Ethan acknowledged their concern with a nod and an easy smile, "Mom, Auntie, fear not, I''ve got this well in hand." He knew how to navigate these waters. Since Silvia''s return, Lucas had been his go-to for managing her affairs. Their worry was unfounded. Seeing them take her advice, Ashley was over the moon. Ines was out like a light and didn''t wake up until Ethan called her name way too many times. She was a bit miffed, turned over, and hit the hay again,pletely ignoring Ethan. Watching her cute face, Ethan whispered, "Izzy, time to grub, you''ve been sawing logs for too long, you''ll be counting sheep tonight." Ines begrudgingly opened her eyes andined to Ethan, "I don''t feel so hot, quit bugging me." Hearing this, Ethan couldn''t help but knit his brows, "What''s wrong?" Ines mmed up. "Izzy, you gotta tell me what''s wrong, or it might affect our little bun in the oven." Ines immediately said, "Just a bit of chest tightness." Hearing this, Ethan let out a sigh of relief, "You can tell me these things straight up. It''s no biggie, I''ve read about this, it''s totally normal." Ines looked at Ethan in surprise, "How do you know so much?" Just a few days ago, he was as clueless as her, how did he learn so much in such a short time? Ethan pinched her face and hummed, "It''s those boring things you were talking about before, I''ve been hitting the books recently." Ines wrapped her arms around his neck andughed, "Then keep cracking the books, with you around, I can rest easy." Ethan slipped his hand under Ines''s pajamas and ced it on her stomach, he gave a small smile and whispered, "Did you hear that, girl? Your mom''s azybones, she''s not up to snuff, your dad''s the one who''s got your back, you should get chummy with dad once you''re born." Ines didn''t want to argue with Ethan''s strong desire for a daughter, "Ethan, you''re so annoying." Ethan didn''t pay any mind and continued, "See, your mom doesn''t want to deal with dad anymore, you should get close to dad ASAP, so dad will protect you in the future." "Ethan, don''t overstep," Ines warned, her teeth gritting in mild annoyance. "Your little princess is still nestled in my womb; for now, she''s obliged to heed my word." Just then,ughter echoed from outside the door. Erica and Ashley were standing there, their eyes filled with amusement. Obviously, they heard their conversation. "Ethan, Izzy, dinner''s ready. You guys didn''te down, so I came to get you." Erica exined earnestly. Erica was in high spirits. If she hadn''te up, she wouldn''t have known that her usually calm son had this side to him. He was even more excited than most soon-to-be dads. "Brother, Ines, I''ve never seen you guys fight before, but now I know, your future fights will definitely be about the little princess who hasn''t been born yet." Ashley teased. Compared to Ines''s embarrassment and shyness, Ethan didn''t care one bit. They were in front of their family, they didn''t do anything wrong, there was nothing to worry aboutmunicating with their unborn child. After Erica and Ashley left, Ines couldn''t help but throw a punch at Ethan''s chest, "Why didn''t you close the door?" Ethan caught Ines''s fist with a smile, "It''s no big deal, let''s just say it''s a heads up for them, so they won''t be shocked in the future. This kind of thing will be amon sight after my daughter is born." Once they got downstairs, everyone was already seated. They seemed to be chatting about something, their faces all full of smiles. Ashley said, "Brother, Ines, I thought you were going to have a longer chat with my niece, how come you came down so quickly? Did you ask her if she''s hungry? What she wants to eat?" Lauren shook her head with augh, "Ashley, pipe down. Wait until you have kids, let''s see if your brother will let you off the hook." Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Ines didn''t need to think to know that Ashley had already spilled the beans about what happened just now. She lowered her head in embarrassment. Ethan shot Ashley a warning nce, "Say another word, and your secrets will be an open book." Hearing this, Ashley shut up and quietly ate her food. Phillip was very interested, "What secret does your brother know about you?" ¡°I''m not telling you.¡± Ashley whispered. ¡°You''re bing less and less like a kid, you won''t even tell me anything.¡± Phillip grumbled discontentedly, feeling a bit upset. The Meyer family saw Ines''s shy expression and quickly changed the subject. After a while, Ethan suddenly asked Grandpa and Trenton, ¡°Grandpa, Dad, did you guys really investigate my brother''s car ident?¡± Chapter 210 Chapter 210 Phillip red at Ethan with a look that could kill, growling, "Hasn''t this matter been settled already? Ines mentioned it to me not long ago, and now you''re bringing it up again. What are you trying to pull? Are you suspecting something?¡± Ines maintained herposure, opting to stay out of the escting discussion. "Grandpa, I was merely inquiring without intent to provoke. No need to be so agitated," Ethan interjected, his intuition whispering of an underlying unease. During the revtion of Hunter''s illness, Phillip had uttered words to Ines that bore a weightier significance. However, consumed by the intensity of the moment, Ethan had dismissed it as inconsequential. Now, as he dwelled on it further, an unsettling sensation gnawed at him. Hunter was not someone who deserved sympathy, yet Phillip seemed to care a lot about him. That was definitely strange. "I''m not angry, I just hate bringing up this topic again. Your older brother was my pride and joy, raised with my own two hands. His downfall was my worst nightmare, and you just have to bring it up again?" Trenton, sitting next to him,id aforting hand on his back. "Dad, don''t get so worked up. Ethan means well, he just doesn''t want any loose ends." "For thest time, I don''t want to hear about Beasley Meyer in this house anymore." Phillip hit the table several times for emphasis. Trenton also told Ethan, "Ethan, don''t bring up this matter anymore. I''ve looked into what happened back then, and it was indeed an ident." Upon hearing his father''s words, Ethan said, "Alright, I won''t mention it again." Because Ethan suddenly brought up Beasley, the atmosphere at the dinner table was a bit tense. But it was only temporary. After so many years, their wounds have healed. Erica said to Ines, "Izzy, get some sleep early tonight. Tomorrow, you, me, and your aunt are going to the church nearby." Before Ines could reply, Ethan frowned and asked, "Church? Why didn''t you mention this earlier?" "I didn''t have time to bring it up today." "That ce is too far away, Izzy isn''t up for such a strenuous journey." Ethan was clearly protective of his wife. "Don''t worry, I have more experience with this. Izzy can''t overexert herself, but she still needs to get out and about. If you''re still worried, you cane with us." Ines squeezed Ethan''s hand, "Let''s just go with mom''s n." She felt her daystely were either spent at work or at home resting, which was getting rather dull. She wanted to go out. "Alright, let''s go together tomorrow." Ines nodded. Since Silvia wasn''t around, she felt particrly rxed and her appetite seemed better than at lunch. The next day, everyone got up early. Ashley didn''t really like going to church, but since everyone else was going, she tagged along. Ethan kept Ines close, making sure no one bumped into her. Erica and Lauren couldn''t help butugh at how protective he was. Seeing him so anxious, they instinctively stood close to Ines, essentially surrounding her. Looking at the crowds, Ashley tugged at Ines'' arm and asked quietly, "Ines, do you believe in religion?" Ines smiled, "I''m an atheist, but sometimes I use religion tofort myself." "Izzy''s approach is right. These things are uncertain, but they can offer psychologicalfort." Erica chimed in after hearing their conversation. Meg Wagner also liked to pray at the church, but it didn''t seem to help with Phoebe''s love life. That didn''t dampen her enthusiasm though. Ashley was thirsty and seeing a small shop, she quickly bought some water bottles. Just as Ines was taking one, Ethan snatched it away, saying sternly, "You drink the water I prepared for you." Ines held her tongue, knowing he meant well, and didn''t argue. She knew if she didn''t listen, he would lecture her again, and that would only give her a headache. Ashley was fanning herself due to the heat, "If I knew it would be this crowded, I wouldn''t have come. I could have had a good sleep at home. I have to go back to school tomorrow, what a bummer." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Ethan told Ashley, "You''re always so fleeting with your passions. You can''t handle any hardship." "Bro, stop lecturing me, it''s annoying." Ashley retorted. Then, her gazended on a corner, "There seems to be a psychic over there. Can we go check it out?" "Don''t you not believe in this stuff?" Ethan countered. "Can''t I just take a look?" Seeing that it seemed cooler over there, Ethan gave in. Chapter 211 Chapter 211 This ce only had one table and no sign, talk about bare-bones. Maybe it was his attitude and setup that made it different from other bustling ces. It was stone- cold dead around him, no customers in sight. Even when the three of them approached, he remained sound asleep, totally oblivious to their presence. Ines gave Ethan a smile. This was the first time she had ever seen someone so indifferent. Ashley waited for a bit, lost her patience, and tapped the table impatiently, saying, "Hey man, if you wanna nap, you can go home. What are you doing dozing off here?" At her words, the old man lifted his eyelids and red at Ashley, his eyes piercing with sharp insight, "I think sleeping here is morefortable than at home, is that a problem? Why are you poking your nose in my business?" After saying that, he closed his eyes again andy back in his chair, starting to snore lightly as if to provoke Ashley on purpose. Ashley was left speechless for a moment, finally managed to say, "We want a fortune reading." "Pick a tarot card for yourself, let me know when you''re done," the old man said impatiently. Ashley was seething. But she was more curious about what this old man was capable of. She mmed the tarot cards in front of Ines, "You pick one first." Ines didn''t believe in this stuff, just thought of it as entertainment. She picked a card, and just as Ashley was about to give one to Ethan, the old man, who was supposedly asleep, spoke up again, "If it''s about marriage, only one person in the couple needs to draw." Ethan''s movements came to an abrupt halt.Ashley red at the elderly man feigning slumber. The card drawn wasn''t so good. It depicted rtionships bing distant after being close, suggesting the unpredictability of life. Ines''s face turned a bit pale. Ethan tightly held Ines''s hand,forting her, "Don''t take it to heart, it''s no big deal." Ines nodded slightly, trying tofort herself, but she was still somewhat affected. Seeing their gloomy faces, Ashley pounded the table several times, "What''s this gibberish you''re saying." "Young girl, you''re so impatient, be careful or you might end up single." The old man put his feet down from the table, sat up, and said to Ashley, "Hand it over." Ashley stared at him, "You need to think before you speak, don''t just blurt out whateveres to your mind." The old man still chuckled, looking up at Ashley, "Is this the one you picked?" "Weren''t you awake just now? Didn''t you hear our conversation? It''s not my card, it''s my sister-in- law''s," Ashley pointed at Ines. The old man nced at Ines, didn''t say anything, and then turned to Ethan, "You try it again." Ashley found herself rendered speechless. Her conviction that this individual was a chatan solidified, leaving her bewildered by his assertion. "What do you mean by ''try again''? What kind of nonsense is this? Can such a thing even be attempted again? Didn''t you just say that only one person needs to draw for the questions of marriage?" she demanded, her voice tinged with incredulity. Ethan didn''t know what the old man was up to, but he still did as he was told. His card was much better than Ines''s. The old man took a look and read out loud, "A happy ending." Almost as soon as he said it, Ethan and Ines''s faces lit up. Ines smiled and said, "Could you exin this?" N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. The old man looked at Ines deeply and said seriously, "Stop kidding. You''re obviously educated, you can''t possibly not understand such simple words and need me to exin, right?" Ines was silenced, Ethan asked, "You misunderstood my wife. We don''t really understand these things. We''re afraid of misunderstanding, that''s why we asked you." The old man nodded, "Your attitude is good, but it''s exactly as it says, there''s no other meaning. You two just missed a bit of luck in the past, but everything''s perfect now." His words meant nothing. Ines and Ethan exchanged a nce and smiled. Regardless of whether they believed it or not, it was much better than the previous result. Ashley still thought the old man was a scammer, she asked again, "Do you know if there''s any good news for my brother and sister-inw recently?" "If you think I''m a fraud, why do you keep asking me questions? Even an idiot would know they''re about to have a baby, do you really need to ask that?" Inesughed. The affairs of a young couple were easy to guess. It could only be one of two things, either they wanted a child or a happy marriage. Ashley was a bit annoyed, she picked a card too, just going with the flow. The old man took a look, his eyes circled her face, and asked, "Do you understand?" Ashley sneered, "If it''s literal, of course I understand." The old man nodded, and didn''t say anything else. Ashley couldn''t help but ask, "You''re not gonna tell me this is also just literal, right? There''s no other meaning? These are universal truths, they apply to anyone, are you messing with me?" "I don''t have the time to y with you. Get out of here, stop pping around in front of me. You''re giving me a headache." After saying that, hey back in his chair and started sleeping like before, Ashley was so angry she almost flipped out. Ines gave her aforting look, indicating her to calm down, Ashley took a deep breath, suppressed her anger, and didn''t say anything else. Ethan was about to pay, but the old man who was pretending to sleep started rushing them out, "I''m not doing business here, I''m just here for fun. Now scram." He doesn''t want money? Ashley uttered a few words, "That''s odd, let''s go." Ethan didn''t say anything else, he held Ines''s hand and they left. Once they were far enough, Ines couldn''t resist chiming in, "That old man is quite intriguing. No wonder he spends most of his time in slumber; it seems money holds no sway over him." Chapter 212 Chapter 212 "I always think he''s talking nonsense." Ashley was skeptical about what the old man said. Ines replied with augh, "We do fit the bill. There''s something I never told you. I actually had a thing for your brother back in college. I even took a job at the Meyer Group just because of him. But back then, he only had eyes for Le. He didn''t give a damn about me. I was there for a while and he never even saw my face. Then I lost my memory in a car ident. I went to B City, forgot my past feelings, and unexpectedly ended up rushing into a marriage with your brother. I only found out about all this after I moved to A City with him." Perchance due to their established bond, Ines no longer concealed the narrative from others. Instead, she regarded it as a stroke of fortune, feeling grateful for the unique circumstances they shared. Their past encounters were the beginning of fate, but it never developed further. Meeting again was another start of a new fate. And in the end, they were happily ever after. Regardless of whether it was true or false, Ines felt much better. "Is that really true?" Ashley looked at Ines in disbelief. Ines nodded, turned her head and saw Ethan smiling at her like a charming nobleman, and she couldn¡¯t help but re at him. "Your story sounds like a soap opera, howe you guys encounter all these coincidences," Ashley eximed. "Actually, your fortune suits your current state. Just go with the flow when ites to matters of the heart, don''t push it." Ashley looked seriously at Ines, "Do you think I''m that kind of person?" Inesughed, Ashley was definitely not that kind of person. That was the pride of the Meyer family. "Alright, I''ll stop saying these things from now on." Erica and Lauren walked over from a distance, seeing them having a st, they couldn¡¯t help but ask, "You guys are all smiles, what''s the good news?" Ashley chuckled and briefly exined what had just happened, Laurenughed, "Where''s that quirky old man? I want to see him too." "You artsy types always love these weird people and incidents." Ericaughed. "He''s over there." Ashley pointed. But there was no one there anymore. "Where''d he go? He was just there." Ethan and Ines also looked over, and found that the old man was indeed gone. There was nothing there, not even a table. Lauren shook her head, "Never mind, I just wanted to take a look." Ashley didn¡¯t mind, and repeated the story she heard from Ines to Erica and Lauren. After listening, Erica looked at Ines for a while and said, "So it was you." Ines looked at Erica somewhat awkwardly and said, "Mom, did you see me at thepany before?" Erica nodded, "Yes, I''ve been working at thepany for many years and heard a lot. Whenever a woman shows interest in Ethan, someone would tell me. I knew you were an intern, very well-behaved, so I didn''t pay much attention to you. Later, I asked my secretary and she told me that you had resigned." Ines felt a bit disappointed, she held Ethan''s arm involuntarily andmented, "I thought I hid it well. I didn''t expect so many people at the Meyer Group knew. This is so embarrassing. I don''t know if there are still people at the Meyer Group who recognize me." Ethanforted her saying, "Actually, I didn''t tell you, Aaron saw you at the Meyer Group too." "What?" Ethanughed and said, "Silly, there aren''t that many coincidences. Do you know why he helped you, a little girl who just joined thepany, out of the blue?" Ethan asked with a smile. Even if Ethan didn''t say it explicitly, Ines had guessed that she must have reminded Aaron of his late lover, which was why he gave her so much attention. Erica consoled her saying, "Don''t worry, Izzy. Besides these people who are closely rted to Ethan, others probably won''t associate you with the Meyer Group." Ines nodded, but Ashley wasughing so hard she bent over, teasing, "You were really embarrassing back then." Lauren tugged at Ashley''s hair, "Stop being cheeky. Why are you always joking?" "Her reactions are just too fun." "Ashley, you''re bing naughtier." Ines pretended to hit Ashley. Ethan immediately held her back saying, "Izzy, you''re pregnant, you can''t be messing around." Then he turned to Ashley and said, "No more jokes from now on." Ashley pouted, looking indifferent. Erica and Lauren shook their heads helplessly at her attitude. Ashley stopped a nun, "Does that psychic old man really have powers?" The nunughed and replied, "You must be talking about Micah. He''s a bit quirky, not very popr. But his predictions are urate, many peoplee back after seeking his help once. However, he doesn''te often, only once or twice a year. It''s lucky for you guys to bump into him, I wouldn''t have known he was here today if you hadn''t told me." Ashley said disappointedly, "It doesn''t look like it." As they departed, Ines sumbed to slumber in the car. Aware of their impending work commitments the following day, they opted to head directly back to the city without dy.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Chapter 213 Chapter 213 Ines sobered up the moment she got out of the car. She''d had a st all day and was in high spirits, but also a bit worn out. As soon as she walked in the door, she flopped onto Ethan, burying her head in his chest, "I''m beat." Ethan gently smoothed her hair, "Did you enjoy your day out?" "Definitely. I used to be so busy at the firm but still managed to squeeze in two trips a year. Even if I couldn''t get time off, I''d at least go once. Traveling helps me chill out. I don''t like being cooped up at home all day." "Did you go by yourself?" "Yep. I like flying solo. It can be a bit lonely, but I don¡¯t have to tiptoe around anyone else¡¯s feelings. It''s liberating." Ines reminisced about the past. Ethan frowned, "From what you''re saying, it seems you enjoy traveling alone. Aren''t you afraid of running into trouble?" "I am capable of looking after myself. With sufficient financial resources, I feel secure. I am adept at managing my needs, being cautious about food and lodging. During the day, I can explore and enjoy myself, while finding sce in afortable hotel at night. It suits me just fine," Ines exined, outlining her self-sufficiency. Ethan was a bit uneasy. This girl, who clearly had no sense of security, oddly enjoyed traveling alone. "Why don''t you invite Phoebe or your colleagues?" "I have gone out with Phoebe a few times, but our schedules hardly match. And I definitely don''t want to go with my colleagues. I don¡¯t want my alone time to be disturbed. Besides, colleagues are just colleagues, they won''t ept me unconditionally like Phoebe." "I will go with you next time." Ines looked at Ethan, seemingly hesitating. After a while, she didn''t say anything, and Ethan''s face gradually changed, his eyes squinting. "Don''t you like the idea of me traveling with you?" Ines found his expression amusing and suddenly said, "We may be married and together every day, but I need some me-time asionally. If I have time to travel, I''d like to go alone." "Ines, isn''t it nice to havepany? I''d follow your lead, won''t affect you at all." "Alright, don''t scowl now. I was just messing with you. Thest time we went out together, I realized that two''spany." He would arrange everything and all she had to do was enjoy. She could even sleep on the beach without a care in the world, something she''d never dared to do when she was alone. At this thought, Ines broke into a smile. "Really?" Ines nodded, "To prove I''m not lying, I''ll give you a kiss." With that, Ines nted a kiss on Ethan''s lips. He thought it''d be a quick peck, but she kissed him for quite a while. He nced at the shoes on the rack, hesitated for a moment, and deepened their kiss. When they pulled apart, Ines clung to Ethan, like she couldn''t bear to let go. It was rare for Ethan to see her acting so clingy, heughed and shook his head. However, when they entered the living room, Ines''s smile froze. Cam was standing not far away, watching them with a grin on her face. Ines shot Ethan a re. He didn''t seem surprised at all, clearly knowing that there was a third wheel in the house. "Dinner is ready, enjoy." With that, Cam retreated to the kitchen. Ines asked, "Did you know Cam was home?" "I asked her toe over and cook dinner. Her shoes were on the rack, you just didn''t notice." Time flew and two months passed in the blink of an eye. Ines''s days at the Galeana Group were going smoothly. Ethan''s words seemed to have worked. Emma didn''t bother her. Although they asionally ran into each other, Emma would just re at her and never initiate conversation. Silvia, who she had been worried about, also didn''t show up. The only downside was that Ines started having morning sickness, and it was pretty severe. She would vomit whatever she ate, and even lost some weight. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Ethan was really worried seeing her like this. He tried his best to cook for her, but nothing worked. The doctor told him not to worry. This was temporary as the baby was currently in the organ formation stage, not the growth and development period. There was no need to worry about the baby''s nutrition. It''s just the mother who had to bear the difort. "Rinse your mouth quickly." As soon as Ines finished vomiting, Ethan handed her warm water. Ines was touched and rinsed her mouth. "How are you feeling, any better?" Ethan helped her up. Ines looked at Ethan, suddenly realizing that he seemed to have lost quite a bit of weight. She forced a smile, "I''m fine. What about you? You look like you''ve lost weight." "I haven''t lost any weight. I weigh the same as before." Ines touched his face seriously, "Your face feels different." Ethanughed, "You can actually tell I''ve lost weight just by touching my face." "Stop changing the subject. I want you to eat more these days." Ines said. "Okay, I got it. Are you feeling unwell? Want me to peel an orange for you?" During her pregnancy, Ines was nauseous and vomited a lot. She would vomit whatever she ate and only had an appetite for oranges after vomiting. But Cam did not rmend Ines to consume a lot of oranges, saying that too many oranges could affect the digestive system. "Never mind, I won''t eat. We''ll listen to Cam." Overhearing their exchange, Cam couldn''t contain herughter. Initially, she had addressed them as Sir and Madam, but Ines had found it disconcerting, reprimanding her multiple times until she began using their names instead. After nearly two months of residing with them, Cam had grown acquainted with their individualities. Contrary to their lofty social statuses, they were down-to-earth individuals, far from being pretentious. Chapter 214 Chapter 214 Cam couldn''t help but say, "You two have the best rtionship I''ve ever seen." Ines chuckled and said to Cam, "Cam, how about making some pizza tonight?" Cam was taken aback, "That''s way too greasy, Izzy might not be able to handle it. She might get ufortable." Looking slightly embarrassed, Ines exined, "Cam, it''s not for me. The pizza is for Ethan, he''s been losing weight recently." Cammented, "Ethan''s weight loss is inevitable. Watching you slim down day by day, it''s a wonder he can eat at all. Don''t worry though, morning sickness usually fades after three months. Once that''s gone, your appetite wille back naturally." "Cam, don''t listen to Izzy. I can''t eat greasy food at night either. The calories are just too high, I''d have to spend too much time working them off." C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Ines was firm, "We have to do things my way. Only by eating greasy food at night will you gain weight." Ethan patted Ines on the head, "Have you lost your brains because you''re pregnant? My stomach can''t handle greasy food at night, it would only make it worse." Ines facepalmed, "I totally forgot about that." "Don''t worry. Once your morning sickness is gone and I stop worrying about you, my weight will go back to normal. My weight has been pretty stable over the years, this is just a special case." Ethan chuckled and took her hand, wiping it with a wet tissue. All Ines could do was nod and express her sympathy for those with stomach problems, "Alright then." After dinner, Cam reminded them, "Izzy''s about three months pregnant along now, it''s time for a prenatal checkup." "Three months already? Time really flies." Ines couldn''t help but exim. Ethan looked at Cam, asking seriously, "Can we find out the baby''s gender yet?" Ines yfully pped Ethan. He really wanted a daughter. For the past two months, he''s been constantly talking about his little princess, as if saying it more would make the baby in her belly a girl. Cam smiled, understanding Ethan''s concerns about the baby''s gender and whether they were having twins. She exined, "Ethan, we can''t determine the baby''s gender at three months. At the earliest, it''s at four months. However, we can check the gestational sac to see if you''re having twins." Ethan seemed a bit disappointed, "That''s fine too, let''s go to the hospital tomorrow and have the doctor check if we''re having twins." The following day, they both arose early for the prenatal checkup. Ines stirred awake almost simultaneously with Ethan as he opened his eyes. With a tender affection, he greeted her with a loving morning kiss. Ines was already used to Ethan''s morning kisses. It wasn''t until they were both short of breath that Ethan let go of Ines, saying, "Izzy, time to get up. We''re going for a prenatal checkup today." Ines nodded, and when they went out, Cam had already prepared breakfast. After breakfast, they went to the hospital full of anticipation. Ines thought Ethan would have made an appointment with the doctor to save time, so they could start the checkup as soon as they arrived. She didn''t expect him to take her to wait in line. "Aren''t you bothered about wasting time? It''s not the weekend today, there''s a lot of work waiting for you at the Meyer Group," Ines voiced her doubt. "No amount of work is more important than you and our baby. This is a part of being a father that I want to experience fully." Despite getting up early, there were people who arrived earlier than them. Ines noticed that among the people waiting in line, some were apanied by mothers, some by friends, but not many were apanied by their husbands. Ines couldn''t help but lean against Ethan, holding his arm and smiling. Ethan held her tightly, his face full of the joy of bing a father. After about half an hour, their names were called. Ethan led Ines into the room where the checkup would be conducted. The female doctor conducting their checkup was someone Ines knew, a doctor that Amelia had introduced to her. The doctor was surprised to see her, "You''re Amelia''s friend, are you pregnant?" Ines nodded, "Yes, I''m three months pregnant." The doctor smiled happily, "That''s wonderful, it seems that you and the baby have a strong bond. Lie down and I''ll do an ultrasound for you." Ines looked nervous as she looked at the equipment. Ethanughed, "Izzy, it''s okay, rx." To distract Ines, the doctor also started a conversation with her, "Thest time you and Amelia were here, I thought you looked familiar, but I couldn''t remember where I''d seen you. Once, I was talking to Amelia and she mentioned that you and your husband had recently appeared on TV, which I happened to have watched." The doctor began the ultrasound, and Ethan helped adjust Ines'' clothes. The doctor gave Ethan a smile, then applied the ultrasound gel to Ines'' abdomen. As Ines felt the cold gel and the circr probe gliding over her abdomen, a sense of unease settled within her. The doctor''s silence only intensified her nervousness. Unable to contain her curiosity, she inquired, "Doctor, what are the results of my examination?" The doctor replied, "Don''t be nervous, let me take a closer look." Ethan''s gaze also turned to the monitor, but all he could see was darkness interspersed with some bright spots, and he couldn''t make out anything else. The doctor didn''t answer immediately, which made both Ines and Ethan anxious. Ethan frowned, asking, "Doctor, how are the results of the examination?" Chapter 215 Chapter 215 The female doctor put down her tools, smiled and said, "Congrats guys, your baby is developing really well, no problems at all. No ectopic pregnancy or anything like that, and most importantly, there are two sacs. I checked thoroughly , and they''re definitely twins." Hearing this, Ethan was stunned. He always joked about wanting twins, thinking it would be less painful to have two at once, but he knew the odds were slim. Now that his dream hade true, he was caught off guard. Ines was just as excited, she even tried to sit up and said, "Ethan, it''s twins, it''s really twins." The doctor gently held Ines down,ughed and said, "Don''t get too excited yet, let me clean up your belly first." Ethan snapped out of his shock, took the tissue from the doctor, and carefully wiped the gel off Ines''s stomach. His eyes filled with deep love and tenderness. After Ines sat up, Ethan held her in his arms and whispered, "Izzy, thank you." Before Ines could even start celebrating, she pushed him away and whispered, "Let go of me first, this is a hospital. Don''t disturb the doctor''s work." Ethan then let go of her and apologized to the doctor, "Sorry, I got a bit too excited when I heard the good news." The doctor brushed it off, "Mr. Meyer, you''re nothing like the rumors say. Everyone says you''re cold, but all I see is a loving husband." Ethan chuckled, "Right now, I''m just a regr husband, not the CEO of the Meyer Group. It''s only natural for me to take care of my wife." The doctor patted Ines''s shoulder, "You''re lucky, you found a husband who truly loves you." Ines just smiled, "I suppose." The doctorughed, "The hospital is the best ce to test a person''s heart. There''s always something happening here. To us doctors, true love is someone who stays by your side when you''re sick, not someone who just puts on a good show in public." Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Today was a happy day for Ethan. He squatted down to help Ines put on her shoes. Ines blushed and quickly got off the bed. Ethan turned to the doctor and asked, "Doctor, what should we be careful about next?" The doctor smiled and asked, "Have you taken folic acid?" "We''ve been taking it for about three months now." Ethan said. The doctor nodded, "Three months of folic acid is about right. Pregnant women need to supplement with calcium and iron at five or six months. Remember to have light meals more frequently. Don''t overeat." Ethan was a little confused by the doctor''s words and frowned, "If it''s twins, don''t we need to add extra nutritional supplements?" The doctorughed, "No need. The nutrition a pregnant woman needs can be fully obtained from a normal diet. Although nutritional supplements are health products, in the end, they are also drugs, and drugs always have some side effects. So if your constitution isn''t too weak, there''s no need to take them. Also, over-supplementing can lead to excessive weight gain in pregnant women, which increases the risk of difficultbor." Ethan nodded, "I understand." The doctor asked, "Have you hired a nanny yet?" "We have." Ethan said. "Then don''t worry too much. Today''s nannies are experienced and can help with many problems. But remember, although having twins is exciting, it''s much harder than having a single baby. The pressure on the mother is also greater. You must keep her in a good mood." Ethan listened patiently to the doctor''s instructions, and when she was done, he and Ines left the hospital. He saw the smile on Ines''s face and couldn''t help but smile as well. Just as they reached the ground floor, someone called out to Ines, "Izzy, is that you?" Ines turned to see a man standing not far away. Ethan''s gaze lingered on the man. He looked somewhat unfriendly as he had never heard of this man in Ines''s life. The man seemed to notice Ethan''s gaze and gave him a faint smile. Ines searched her memory but couldn''t recall when she met this man. She frowned, "I''m sorry, my past memories are a bit hazy, I can''t remember who you are." The manughed, "So that''s why, no wonder you didn''t notice me in the hospital. We used to be good friends, do you still keep in touch with Phoebe? How is she doing?" Ines suddenly realized that this might be the man Phoebe has been thinking about. Judging by his appearance, he was definitely Phoebe''s type. "I still keep in touch with Phoebe. She''s doing well," Ines said. Seeing that the man was concerned about Phoebe, not Ines, Ethan rxed a bit and introduced himself, "I''m Ethan, Ines''s husband." The man seemed surprised, "We''re not young anymore; it''s about time we settled down. Has Phoebe gotten married?" Ines didn''t answer, just said, "You should ask Phoebe about that yourself." She wasn''t sure what had happened between them; she only knew that he suddenly went abroad without telling Phoebe anything. The man gave a bitter smile, and was about to speak when a young woman''s voice cut in, "Samuel, let''s go. I''vepleted the discharge formalities for mom." The man nodded and turned to Ethan and Ines, "Izzy, Mr. Meyer, I have some things to do, I''ll be leaving now." After the man left, Ines grinned at Ethan, who was once again being irrationally jealous. If it wasn''t for overhearing them talking about Phoebe, he''d probably still be frowning. But it didn''t affect their good mood. Chapter 216 Chapter 216 After leaving the hospital, Ethan pulled out his phone and immediately called home. Thus, the news of Ines'' twin pregnancy spread like wildfire among the Meyer family. Over the phone, Ines heard Phillip''s joyfulughter, clearly thrilled by the news. "Man, I''m lucky to be getting two grandkids at once." Phillip said. Ethan, always fond of debating with his grandpa, retorted, "Grandpa, it''s not about your luck, it¡¯s about my genes. I''m just too powerful." "You cheeky devil, can''t you let me have my moment? Technically, it''s not about how great you are, it''s about how amazing Ines is." Phillip didn''t buy into Ethan''s argument. Ines, listening to their banter, broke intoughter, not interrupting them. After a lengthy chat, Ethan finally hung up the call. Suddenly, Ines remembered something and promptly reminded him, "Ethan, you can''t st a group text this time around. Thest time was just too awkward." Considering the status and reputation of the Meyer family, their friends and rtives would surely come knocking with presents. Their storage room was already packed to the brim, more stuff would just be a waste. Ethan chuckled, "Alright, this time they''re in for a surprise." Originally, Ines was supposed to work today, but Phillip insisted they head home immediately to meet his unborn grandkids. Ines was helpless; it was as if the kids were already born. But she couldn''t argue with Phillip. Seeing that there were no emergencies at the Galeana Group, she went home with Ethan. From afar, they saw Phillip anxiously pacing at the front door, waiting for them. "Grandpa." Ines greeted. Upon seeing Ines, Phillip worriedly said, "Izzy, walk slowly. Be careful with my grandsons." Ines smiled, walked up and linked arms with him, "Grandpa, don''t worry, I''ll be careful." Phillip patted her hand and looked at Ines seriously, "Izzy, I really want to thank you. You''re bringing two grandsons into the Meyer family at once, it''s fantastic." Seeing Phillip''s hands trembling slightly, Ines knew he was worried and reassured him, "Grandpa, everything will be fine." Ethan parked the car and walked over, hearing the word "grandsons" from Phillip, his face darkened, "Not grandsons. Grandkids." Phillip, who also favored granddaughters, quickly corrected himself, "Granddaughters are just as good, but it would be best if it''s a boy and a girl. A little sister with a big brother to protect her, that''s the real deal." Ethan chuckled, "Yeah, that would be great actually." Ines smiled, watching the two of them specte. She too hoped for a boy and a girl, but the chance of having twins was already quite slim, let alone boy-girl twins. She was already very content, not daring to wish for more. Seeing Ines, Erica immediately grasped her hand, constantly saying, "We, the Meyer family, are so lucky." "Erica." Ines was a bit shy. She was just pregnant, but her family made her feel as if she''d aplished some great feat. Erica led Ines to the couch, asking, "Izzy, how are things at the Galeana Group? If possible, you should take a break now. Carrying twins is hard. You may look slim now, but in a month or two, your belly will swell. With the Galeana family''splicated situation, I hope you won''t get involved anymore to avoid getting hurt." "Don''t worry, Erica. I will talk to Ss about thister. The recovery there has been going well, they should be back soon, so my leaving will only affect things for a few days." Ines said. "That''s a relief. We have plenty of bedrooms at home, you can just move in after wrapping up your work. Also, bring Cam with you, we''ll take care of you together. I''ll hire a nanny in a few months." Erica said. "Thank you." Ines said. Erica let her lean on her shoulder. Naturally, Ethan overheard their conversation and stepped out into the yard to call Ss. Ss was also thrilled to hear the news, and said he would contact Hunter right away to arrange for his early return. When Ines arrived at the Galeana Group, Ss had juste in from outside. Seeing her, she smiled, "Congrattions, having twins is no easy feat." "Thank you." Ines said. "Izzy, I¡¯ve already contacted the chairman. He''s almost fully recovered and will be back the day after tomorrow. You can let go of the reins now and go home to rest." Ss said with a smile. ¡°So soon? Alright, I''ll hand over the work to you now and stoping from tomorrow." Ines finished handing over her work in an hour. She had only been at the Galeana Group for a short two months and didn¡¯t have much personal stuff. She packed everything into a small bag. When she was leaving, she bumped into Emma. Her belly was noticeably protruding, and she had switched to t shoes,pletely looking the part of a soon-to-be mom. Emma was about to leave, but seeing the bag in Ines'' hand, she asked in confusion, "What are you up to?" N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. "I was only the interim chairman, and now that my time is up, I should step aside." Ines replied. Emma looked at Ines excitedly, "Does that mean my dad ising back?" Instead of answering, Ines walked away. After leaving the Galeana Group, Ines went straight home. Cam had already started tidying up and brought out a prepared fruit tter when she saw Ines return. "Izzy, have some fruit." Cam said. Ines took it with a smile and then lounged on the couch, munching on fruit while watching TV. Phoebe called just then, "I saw your text. You''re amazing, having two babies at once. I''m about to be the godmother of two kids, it feels like a dream. I was so excited at lunch today, I couldn''t rest properly." Inesughed happily, "I''m not even that pumped up." "Aww man, my wallet is about to take a serious hit, feels like I''ve gotta buy two of everything now. No way, I need to hustle and make some extra dough before the babyes." Phoebe started to grumble after the excitement. Chapter 217 Chapter 217 "You could always opt for n B, you know - snag yourself a reliable hubby. That way, you won''t have to slog away on your own anymore." Ines said. "Can you stop with that? Is it a prerequisite for all knocked-up women to be this naggy? If I were really strapped for cash, I''d rather mooch off my folks back home than bust my hump out here." Phoebe said. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Ines knew Phoebe hadn''t asked her parents for help in years. To Phoebe, taking money from them meant kissing her freedom goodbye. At least now, she was making her own dough and still had some semnce of freedom. And just as she''d hoped, her parents could huff and puff all they want, but they couldn¡¯t put an economic squeeze on her. All they could do was watch helplessly as she made a spectacle of herself at matchmaking dinners. "I know you''ve got your pride." Ines mulled over how to broach the subject of the man she saw at the hospital earlier. She tentatively asked, "Phoebe, have things not progressed with Noel?" At that moment, Phoebe was loungingfortably on a deck chair. Upon hearing Ines''s question, she grumbled, "Why are you always harping on about Noel? Did he pay you a wad of cash to be his mouthpiece or something?" "I ask because I''m worried about you. Stop dodging the question." Ines retorted sternly. "Ines, Noel and I haven''t known each other for very long. We''re not exactly going to be making leaps and bounds here." Phoebe said. Upon hearing this, Ines bluntly said, "I saw someone at the hospital today with Ethan. He was asking about you." Phoebe''s heart suddenly clenched. It took her a while to respond, "Enough, Ines." Ines felt that the only reason Phoebe hadn¡¯t moved forward was because of that man. Now that he was back, it was time to untangle the past so she could begin anew. "Phoebe, you probably already guessed who I''m talking about. His name is Samuel." Ines said. Phoebe closed her eyes in anguish. It took her a while to speak up. Ines knew she hadn''t hung up; Phoebe was just trying to regain herposure. Eventually, she heard her chuckle bitterly, "You know what? The reason I haven''t taken that step is that I know once I do, there''s no turning back. There''s no room for what-ifs." She wasn¡¯t heartless. She could feel Noel''s affection, but she couldn''t get past her own barrier. Ines understood. All these years, Phoebe had numerous suitors, including the eligible bachelors her mother set her up with, yet she never wavered. Ines wasn''t sure if it was stubbornness or a deep- seated love that couldn''t be shaken. "You should meet him and clear things up so you can make a decision. Don''t let the people around you down." Ines said. "Okay." Phoebe muttered reluctantly. After hanging up, a worried look washed over Ines''s face. Seeing her like this, Cam couldn''t resist saying, "Izzy, you need to keep your spirits up. Don''t overthink it. Your friend''s problems are for her to solve." "It''s alright, Cam. I''m just unsure of how tofort her. I feel like I can''t do anything for her. She''s my best friend. Even though I''ve forgotten her, she''s always stuck by me." Ines replied, "Ethan always says I''m too soft-hearted. Matters of the rtionships can''t be meddled with by outsiders. Once we get through this rough patch, everything will fall into ce. You''ll understand when you reach my age. Love isn''t the be-all and end-all. What''s important is having someone to chat with and stroll with when you''re old and frail." Cam advised earnestly. "Perhaps you''re right." Ines said. Seeing Ines rx, Cam resumed packing. Suddenly, Ines asked, "Cam, can you bring the photo albums from our bedroom too? I''m afraid we might not be able to return until after the baby is born." Cam agreed with a smile, "Sure." Ines pondered again, then asked Cam to pack some of her usual items as well. Cam emerged from the bedroom with the photo albums, saying with a grin, "Izzy, your parents really love you. They''ve done a great job of coting and organizing your photos from over the years. I flipped through them briefly just now. Each picture was meticulously chosen. They might not document any major events, but it''s the little things that are hardest to keep up with. And they''ve done it for over a decade. It''s really something. When my daughter was little, even though times were tough, we often took her to get her picture taken. But we just tossed the photos aside. Now, when we want to find them, we can barely scrape together a few. Who knows where we lost them. Seeing your neatly organized albums now, I can''t help but be amazed." Cam was busy packing the albums into a box and didn''t notice Ines''s change in mood. Ines was stunned for a moment. When Cam looked up, she noticed Ines''s dazed expression and couldn''t help but ask, "What''s the matter, Izzy? Did I say something wrong?" Ines knew Cam was unaware of her rtionship with Hunter, so she wasn''t angry. She shook her head, "It''s nothing, Cam. I was just lost in thought." Cam chuckled, "That''s a relief. I''m old and tend to ramble. I was afraid I might have said something that upset you." Ethan came home from work to find Ines dozing off on the couch with her hand under her chin, while Cam was cooking in the kitchen. He walked over and gently tapped Ines''s face, chiding her, "I''ve told you countless times, why are you napping on the couch again? Aren''t you afraid of catching a cold?" "You''re back." Ines opened her eyes and smiled, wrapping her arms around Ethan''s neck. Ethan put down his briefcase and sat down next to Ines, asking, "Howe you''re back so early today?" "Ss wanted me to hand over my work to him today. That person ising back the day after tomorrow, so there''s not much left for me to do. I asked Cam to start packing in advance. I''m nning to move to the Meyer Mansion tomorrow. With them around, you won''t have to worry so much." Ines said. Ethan nodded and affectionately pinched her face, "No matter where you are, I''ll always worry." "You''re such a worrywart," Ines crinkled her nose. "Well, it''s inevitable. How could I not worry about my own wife and child?" Ethan said. "By the way, I told Cam not to take your stuff. When you''re busy, you can stay here, and when you''re not, you can go back to grandpa''s. I saw some of your clothes there, should be enough for you.¡± Ines said. "I''ll go with your n." Ethan said. Chapter 218 Chapter 218 Ines was supposed to move in with the Meyer family, but Ethan wasn''t satisfied with the facilities there. So, he decided to refurbish the ce. Anti-slip carpets wereid everywhere necessary, and even the stairs got a new makeover. As such, Ines had to spend a few more days at their city home. At lunchtime, Ines was dozing off when she heard Cam knocking at the door, "Ms. Galeana, there''s ady named Phoebe looking for you. Shall I let her in?" Ines woke up a bit and replied, "Cam, she''s a good friend of mine. Let her in." Ines quickly got out of bed and got dressed. As she came out of the bedroom, Phoebe just came in. Looking at her messy hair, Phoebe was surprised and said, "Won''t Mr. Meyer be turned off by you looking like this?" "I''m not like you, always needing to be all dolled up whether at home or out and about." Ines said. "I just care about my image. You, on the other hand, don''t need any makeup." Phoebe said, pinching Ines''s face. Inesughed and brushed her hand away, looking at her helplessly, "What brought you here all of a sudden?" Phoebe told Ines, "I''m here to see the baby, it has nothing to do with you." Ines looked at Phoebe''s empty hands. Since they were best friends, they were pretty straight with each other, "You didn''t bring any gifts, why are you here?" Phoebe shook her head, looking at Ines speechlessly, "Since you''ve be ady of leisure, you seem to have developed a fondness for pinching pennies. You weren''t like this before." "This is not pinching pennies, it''s your sincerity as a godmother." Ines said. "Well, I''m off to see the baby then." Phoebe was about to lift Ines''s clothes. Inesughed and pped her hand away, "You can''t just touch me like that. I''m a married woman now." "I don''t care about that. We''ve known each other since we were kids, I''ve seen every part of you." Phoebe grabbed Ines''s hand, pressed it against Ines''s belly over the clothes, and said seriously, "Babies, whether you''re little princes or princesses, I''ll love you all the same. Remember, I''m your godmother, Phoebe. Be sure to remember my name. You have to smile at me when you''re born, then I''ll give you presents, got it?" "Phoebe, the babies are still too small. They can''t understand what you''re saying." Ines said. "Even if they can''t understand, they can get used to my voice. Have you started prenatal education for them?" Phoebe asked, looking up. Ines shook her head, they seemed to have forgotten about this, "Not yet." Phoebe showed a satisfied smile, as if she had nned everything in advance. She took out two CDs from her bag and handed them to Ines. Ines took a nce, they were collections of world- famous ssical music, "Is this your gift?" "Of course, if it''s a boy, he can grow up to be a reserved pianist. If it''s a girl, she can be a ssy little princess." Phoebe said. A reserved pianist, Ines thought better of it. She didn''t like boys being too reserved. She liked the type like Ethan, sometimes gentlemanly, sometimes domineering. "You can make your future son a pianist, but I don''t like it." Ines said. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. "What''s wrong with being a pianist?" Phoebe asked, looking at Ines puzzled. "Such people are usually introverted. I prefer children who are cheerful." Ines said. Ines didn''t think Phoebe was just here to give her prenatal education CDs, so she asked, "Do you have anything else to tell me?" "You''re overthinking it. I really just came to see you. Didn''t you say you''re going to live with the Meyer family soon? It''s not easy to get in there, and once you''re in, it''s hard to get out. Your life will be confined there, I came to chat with you to prepare in advance." Phoebe said. "I''m going there to enjoy life, not to be imprisoned." Ines gave Phoebe a re. Phoebe looked at Ines seriously for a while, "Don''t say things like that casually. It''s not just a day or two, but half a year. You, who likes to keep busy, might feel bored when you''re idle." "Don''t instill negative thoughts in me, you''re scaring me. Have you seen Samuel?" Ines asked cautiously. Phoebe reluctantly said, "Not yet, we haven''t been in contact for so many years, how could we meet so soon." "Every time I mention him, you look reluctant. Let me remind you, I heard grandpa say the other day that Noel''s grandpa is still pushing him to go on blind dates. You better watch out." Ines said. "I got it. You''ve been influenced by my mom, always lecturing me. I actually came to invite you to go shopping. I wouldn''t just give you two CDs. Today, I''ll personally take you to pick out gifts for my little ones. Don''t be shy, buy whatever you like." Phoebe said. "Are we going now?" Ines asked. "Yes, there aren''t many people shopping at this time." Phoebe said. Ines thought for a moment and said, "I need to tell Ethan first." "I knew you would say that, so I''ve already spoken to Ethan. He agreed; he told me to take you and bring you back safely, and to bring Cam along." Phoebe said. Ines smiled and said, "Alright, I''ll go change my clothes." The three of them went straight to a mall in the city center, where Phoebe took Ines to a jewelry store. Inesughed and looked at her, "You''re really going all out, bringing me to a ce like this." "Come on, let''s go in. This ce is nothing special." Phoebe urged. Ines had one foot in the door, but stopped when she saw the people inside. Phoebe followed her gaze and saw Hunter and Ss standing in front of the counter, a man holding an antique was exining to them, "Mr. Galeana, this is something our president specifically had me find for you. There are two of them, said to be gifts from a nobleman to his son and daughter in the 16th century. Heter sold them due to financial pressure. If it''s for twins, it couldn''t be more perfect. Antiques like this are notmon on the market." Chapter 219 Chapter 219 Hunter took a closer look and felt it was indeed pretty good. The man saw Hunter didn¡¯t respond for a while and added, ¡°Mr. Galeana, this is a rare find. Many people have asked us to keep an eye out for such antiques. They''re so scarce that it usually takes a long time to find the right one. To get one in just a few days is pretty lucky.¡± ¡°Do you have a certificate of authenticity?¡± Hunter asked. ¡°Yes, ourpany has had it professionally appraised. It¡¯s the real deal.¡± The manager handed the certificate to Hunter. Hunter cracked a smile after looking at it, ¡°Wrap it up for me then, I''ll take this pair. Pack it nicely. It''s a gift for my grandson,¡± Hunter instructed, his voice filled with cheer, clearly in a good mood. ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Galeana, we''ll make sure you''re pleased.¡± The manager said. Ss was also satisfied and smiled, ¡°Chairman, I think it''s pretty good too. Ines should like it.¡± ¡°As long as you don¡¯t say it¡¯s from me, she¡¯d refuse it otherwise with her stubbornness.¡± Hunter said. Ss nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know the drill.¡± ¡°Is Emma confirmed to be having a single baby?¡± Hunter asked again. ¡°Yes, the baby''s gender has been confirmed. It''s a girl.¡± Ss said. Hunter''s expression grew serious, ¡°How did the Ramos family react?¡± ¡°The elders of the Ramos family were naturally not very pleased, but they didn¡¯t say much.¡± ¡°I told her not to marry into that family, but she insisted. What good cane out of a family that favors boys over girls?¡± Hunter said. Seeing Hunter getting worked up, Ss advised, ¡°Please don¡¯t worry too much. She¡¯s already married, and you¡¯ve tried to talk her out of it. She didn¡¯t listen.¡± Ines watched the people not far away with mixed emotions. Ss had said he woulde back today, she hadn¡¯t expected to run into him here. He looked much better, but seemed to have lost some weight. He started shopping as soon as he got back. Phoebe also overheard their conversation. The twins Hunter was talking about were obviously Ines. Hunter was picking out gifts for the kids. He was quite sincere, hunting for antiques with such a big budget. Phoebe looked at Ines and asked, ¡°Izzy, are we going in?¡± Ines slightly lifted the corners of her mouth, ¡°Let''s go somewhere else.¡± Cam had never met Hunter and didn''t know he was Ines''s father. She just felt that the atmosphere was a bit off and curiously nced at Hunter a few more times, but didn''t ask any questions. To avoid running into Hunter, the three of them didn''t go to the jewelry store. Instead, they went straight up to the fourth floor, which specialized in baby products. Phoebe said somewhat helplessly, ¡°Looks like we can''t splurge today. I''ll have to pick some cheaper stuff.¡± She had originally nned to give jewelry, but Hunter had beaten her to it. Besides, as an elder, he was more suited to give such gifts, symbolizing good wishes. Ines didn''t say anything, but based on her understanding of Ines and her acting as the interim chairman of the Galeana Group, her attitude towards Hunter had begun to soften. Forgiving Hunter might just be a matter of time. Phoebe pointed at a baby crib nearby, ¡°What about this one?¡± Ines''s eyes lit up. It looked pretty good, but it seemed to be two connected together. She couldn''t help but ask the salesperson, ¡°Why are they connected?¡± ¡°This is a twin crib designed specifically for twins. Twins are used to being together in the womb and they might not be used to being separated at first. Our store is the only one that sells these cribs. If it''s twins, this one is perfect. If it''s a single baby, please walk further down, there are more suitable options there.¡± The salesperson exined with a smile. ¡°It is twins.¡± Phoebe said excitedly. Cam alsoughed and said, ¡°Izzy, some twins are indeed like this. They like to be together at the beginning, and you can''t separate them, or they''ll fuss all day.¡± Ines smiled slightly, ¡°I see.¡± Seeing a glimmer of hope, the salesperson continued to exin, ¡°This crib is made of the best natural wood. If you smell it, there''s a subtle fragrance. It''s breathable and can regte temperature and humidity. The paint on it is also lead-free and non-toxic. It won''t harm the baby''s health.¡± Seeing Ines was interested, Phoebe immediately bought it and picked out a stroller in the same store. Ines left the Meyer family''s address, asking the store to deliver it in a few days. When they came out, they ran into Emma arguing with ady in her fifties. The two of them were having a heated discussion and both looked extremely upset. Phoebe sneered, ¡°This hypocritical sister sure has a knack for running into us. We bumped into her while shoppingst time, and here she is again. You should remember that woman, she''s Aiden''s mother.¡± Ines watched their interaction, which didn''t seem to be pleasant. N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. ¡°Let''s go and ignore them. They''re annoying to even look at.¡± Phoebe said, linking arms with Ines. Just as the three of them were about to leave, they saw thedy rudely push Emma, who was pregnant. Emma was caught off guard and fell to the ground, one hand propping her up and the other clutching her belly. Thedy bent down to help Emma up. But Emma, clearly furious, jerked her hand away. Thedy, not one to be trifled with, red at Emma and walked away in annoyance. Chapter 220 Chapter 220 Phoebe shook her head, "Seems like her life isn''t as peachy as we thought." Just as she finished speaking, someone chimed in, "Thatdy looks like death warmed over." Ines was about to split, but she froze in her tracks, unable to resist a nce at Emma. Emma was in pain, her belly hurting so bad that it twisted her face, forcing her to double over in an attempt to ease the difort. She was suddenly hit with a wave of panic like she''d never known, her hand instinctively moving to her belly, "Can someone give me a hand, please? I can''t stand up." But, unbelievably, nobody stepped up to help. Emma was all over the ce, unable to keep her bnce, and she ended up hitting the deck, clutching her stomach, "My baby, my baby..." Ines couldn''t help but ce her hand over her own belly, feeling unease at seeing Emma''s situation. After all, a child shouldn''t be caught in the crossfire of adult grudges. She was torn over whether to step in or not. "Izzy, she''s probably having severe contractions. We need to get her to a hospital immediately, or the baby could be in danger," Cam chimed in. "Izzy, don''t feel sorry for them. They''re not the good guys. If you help, that awful mother of hers might pin everything on you. Let''s just bounce." Phoebe said. Just then, Emma caught sight of Ines and hollered for help, "Ines, save my baby, it hurts so bad." Ines was torn, to help or not to help? Emma''s pleading eyes never left Ines, causing a pang of guilt in her. Phoebe, however, stepped forward, facing Emma, "Emma, only now you remember she''s your sister? When you stole her fianc¨¦ and teamed up with your mother to kick her out, even out of the city, did you remember she''s your sister then? Did you ever think you might need her help one day?" Phoebe pointed at the people around them, "Look at these people, they couldn''t care less about you. Who would want to help you? They won''t even give you a second nce." Emma''s plea for help was met with averted gazes. Her heart turned cold. A few people dialed 911, but by the time the ambnce arrived, things could be much worse. "Phoebe." Emma whimpered. "You should understand, if something happens to you today, it''s just karma. You can''t me anyone else." Phoebe said sternly. Emma paled even more, turning her gaze back to Ines. She knew Ines was her only hope. No one else would want to get involved. Without Ines'' help, her baby wouldn''t make it. "Ines, I know I was wrong. Please, help my baby, she''s your niece too." Ines took a deep breath. She didn''t want anything to do with Emma, but as a soon-to-be mother, she couldn''t ignore her plea. She knew Ss and Hunter were nearby, so she dialed Ss. Ss rushed over as soon as he got the call, taking the stairs two at a time. Hunter was right behind him. He paused when he saw Ines, but quickly turned his attention to Emma. Emma, spotting Ss, grabbed onto his clothes, "Save my baby." "Hush now, I''ll get you to the hospital right away." Ss said. Ss scooped Emma up and turned to leave. Emma looked at Hunter, her eyes welling up, "Dad, save my baby." Hunter simply nodded, leaving with Ss. "Izzy, you''re too soft-hearted. Why did you call him?" Phoebe looked at Ines disapprovingly. If it were her, she wouldn''t have given a damn about Emma''s fate. She didn''t know if she would have helped if it were only Emma lying there. But she couldn''t stand to see a life slip away in front of her. If she walked away, she would never find peace. "I don''t know why, maybe because I''m about to be a mom, I''ve be softer." Ines said. Camughed, patting Ines'' hand gently, "That''s how it is when you''re about to be a mom, you can sympathize with others'' pain. Izzy, you did the right thing. That woman was worried about her child; she must love it." Ines nodded, "I just want to build up some good karma for my child. I hope they can be born safely, without suffering like this." Hearing Ines say this, Phoebe had nothing more to say, "Alright, I don''t really care about Emma, I just think you''re selling yourself short." The trio hung out a bit more before Phoebe dropped Ines and Cam off and left with a clear conscience. As soon as Ines got home, Ss was on the phone, "Ms. Ines, what happened at the mall today? How did Ms. Emma fall?" N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Seeing Ines remain silent, Ss quickly said, "Please don''t get the wrong idea, we''re not using you of anything. It''s clear from the scene that you had nothing to do with this. Mr. Hunter and I just want to know what really happened." "I''m not entirely sure myself. I just saw a woman push her. But Emma seemed fine at the time. After the woman left, Emma started having stomach pains and fell because she couldn''t stand up," Ines recounted truthfully. Ss'' voice hardened, "Who was the woman?" "I can''t remember, Phoebe said it was Aiden''s mother." Ines said. "Thank you. The doctor said your timely help saved her condition. She''s only showing some signs of miscarriage; she''ll be okay after some rest." Ss said. Ines was at a loss for words. Despite growing closer to Ss recently, she never liked talking about anything rted to Hunter and his ilk. Ss had gotten used to her attitude, but he couldn''t help but say, "The president is only getting back this afternoon. The doc said if he can avoid any more major shocks, he''s got a few more years in him." "Alright." No matter what Ss said, Ines always replied with this. Chapter 221 Chapter 221 At the hospital, Hunter Galeana looked at Emma Galeana lying in bed, his brows furrowed. He asked Ss, who had just ended a phone call, "Did Ines respond? Who pushed her?" "Ines said it was Mrs. Ramos. They apparently had a verbal fight, and Emma was pushed by her." Ss said. Hunter''s face darkened, "I knew that woman was no good. Didn''t expect her to act so quickly." "Maybe it''s because Emma is expecting a girl." Ss said. Hunter scoffed. Emma slowly opened her eyes, seeing Hunter brought tears to her eyes, "Dad, you''re finally back. I thought I was seeing things. How is my baby?" Hunter wanted tosh out, but seeing her pale face, he swallowed his words, "The baby is fine, just showing some signs of miscarriage. You need to stay in bed for the next few days." Emma managed a light smile, then asked, "How have you been? You haven''t been answering our calls. Mom and I were worried." "I''m fine, nothing serious." Hunter didn''t want to discuss further. "That''s good, that''s good." Emma repeated twice, then started to look around the room. When she realized there was no one else, her eyes dimmed. Seeing her like this, Hunter knew what was on her mind, "Ss has informed Aiden. He should be here soon." "Okay," Emma obediently replied. "What were you arguing about with your mother-inw? Why did shey hands on you?" Hunter asked. Emma''s face fell, and she spoke quietly, "It''s nothing; she just doesn''t like that I''m having a girl. We were shopping together, and she keptining. I couldn''t help but talk back, and we ended up fighting." Hunter''s frown deepened, "Do you get it now? Marrying into this family, your life won''t be peaceful." Emma remained silent. Hunter, both angry and worried, said, "Go home after you''re discharged. We''ll talk about things after the baby is born. Who knows what would happen if you return there." "Okay," Emma agreed. At that moment, Aiden hurried in, catching sight of Hunter, he paused, "Mr. Galeana, you''re back." "If I didn''t return, what were you nning to do with my daughter? She''s carrying the Ramos family''s child, and your mother dares to treat her like this?" Hunter suppressed his anger. "My mother did this?" Aiden didn''t dare question Hunter directly but turned his questioning gaze to Emma. Hunter scoffed, "This isn''t what Emma said, but what Ines said. Do you think Ines would lie for Emma and frame your mother?" Aiden understood that Ines wouldn''t help Emma. He apologized to Hunter, "I''m sorry, I''ll have a serious talk with my mother." Hunter replied, "Aiden, even though you never wanted this marriage, you agreed to marry my daughter. No one forced you. You know what you wanted. I don''t want to be blunt, but my daughter isn''t someone you can abuse. If this is how you treat her while I''m alive, what will you do when I''m gone?" N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. "I''m sorry." Aiden hung his head. Seeing Aiden like this, Hunter felt his blood pressure surge. He was clueless about what Emma saw in him. He once thought highly of Aiden, but at some point, Aiden had be weak and indecisive, always following his parents'' orders. Emma couldn''t stop her tears hearing Hunter''s words. This was the feeling of being cared for by her father. She was no longer the child who was bullied and had no one to help. Shirley arrived soon after. Seeing Emma in bed, she rushed over, gripping Emma''s hand anxiously, "Emma, what happened? How did ite to this?" "Mom, I almost lost the baby." Emma cried to Shirley. "It''s okay, don''t think too much. The baby is safe, that''s all that matters." Shirleyforted Emma. After calming Emma down, Shirley turned to Hunter, "Hunter, when did youe back? Why didn''t you tell us?" Hunter replied, "I came back in the afternoon." Shirley said, "As long as you''re back. I''ll get Eda to make you something good to eat right away." Hunter said, "Don''t bother, let her make something nutritious for Emma." Shirley agreed and immediately called Eda. Ines spent two days at home, then took Cam back to the Military Base. In the afternoon, she turned on the TV to watch the news and saw a report about Hunter taking over the Galeana Group again. Ines frowned. He indeed put his business first, immediately throwing himself into work without any rest. "Izzy, Ethan told you not to watch too much TV before he left. Come y chess with me." Phillip called out, after watching Ines glued to the TV. Ines was unhappy, even when he wasn''t around, Ethan still had people watching over her. She was just pregnant, and they wouldn''t even let her watch TV. "Grandpa, I don''t know how to y chess. Just let me watch for five more minutes." Ines said. Phillip frowned and said sternly, "If you don''t listen, I''ll tell Ethan tonight." Ines pouted, "You''ve been close with Ethantely." Phillip replied, "It''s not about being close but forming a united front. We must take good care of you and the baby. Come here. If you don''t know how to y, I''ll teach you." Ines reluctantly agreed and went over to y chess with him. At that moment, the phone next to them started ringing. Ines picked it up and saw that it was Hunter calling. She had no intention of picking up, so she just hung up. But not long after, the phone started ringing again. Phillip took a nce at Ines''s face and guessed what was going on. "Is it Mr. Galeana calling?" he asked. Ines nodded. Phillip looked at Ines seriously and said, "Pick it up, let''s see what he''s got to say." Chapter 222 Chapter 222 Ines felt helpless, so she picked up the call. As soon as Hunter spoke, he interrogated, "Where did the photo album in your room go? Why is it gone? Did you and Ethan take it?" His tone was as if he was interrogating her, which she found utterly distasteful. "Nope." Ines answered coolly. "That room has always been locked and recently only you guys have been in there. It couldn''t have been anyone else." Hunter said. Ines clenched her phone with a stern face, "Those are my pictures, I don''t need your permission to take them." "I organized those photos, so you can''t just take them without my consent." Hunter retorted forcefully. If he hadn''te home this time, he wouldn''t even know the album was gone. All organized by him? Ines felt a bit uneasy but remained firm, "So what? The person in the pictures is me, so they''re my stuff. I¡¯ll take them if I want to." "Ines, I don''t want to argue with you, just have someone bring the album back at some point." Hunter didn''t want to get into it with Ines; they were two peas in a pod. "No way." Ines firmly replied. She and Ethan loved those pictures, often flipping through them, imagining their future child through her childhood photos. "Ines, are you really being this heartless?" Hunter''s voice rose. Ines didn¡¯t care, "Anyway, I''m not giving it to you." "If you don''t have someone bring it back, I''lle get it myself." Hunter said. Ines wasn''t scared. But as she was about to retort, she suddenly felt a tightness in her chest and felt very ufortable. She quickly tossed her phone onto the sofa and bolted to the bathroom. Phillip quickly called out to Cam, "Cam, go check on Izzy, she''s throwing up again." Cam immediately left what she was doing and rushed to the bathroom. Ines was hunched over the toilet, tears streaming down her face as she retched but nothing came up. Cam patted her back and massaged her shoulders. As soon as Ines lifted her head, she handed her a cup of water to rinse her mouth. After rinsing her mouth, Ines stood up, feeling weak. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Seeing her like this, Cam said sympathetically, "This morning sickness issting too long." Ines was also frustrated, rubbing her belly, "When these twoe out, I''m going to give them a good scolding. They''re too troublesome, not letting me eat or sleep well." "That''s usually what Ethan says, now you''re stealing his lines." Camughed at Ines''s words. N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Seeing Ines''s pale face, Phillip was deeply worried, "She can''t keep throwing up like this." "Don''t worry too much, it''s a phase every pregnant woman goes through. Ines might just be more sensitive than most. She''ll bounce back soon." Cam reassured with a smile. "Grandpa, I''m fine, don''t worry." Ines said. Cam made Ines sit down, then picked up some dried plums from the coffee table for her. After eating one, Ines felt the difort in her chest ease a bit, but she still felt unwell. "Cam, isn''t there a better way?" Phillip asked, frowning. "Every pregnant woman is different, I''ve tried many methods that work for most, but none seem to work for Ines. Don''t worry too much, this is a stage every pregnant woman has to go through. She''ll get through it." Cam said. Leaning on the sofa, Ines noticed her phone screen was still lit. She remembered that she had left in such a hurry that she forgot to hang up the call. She picked up her phone, about to hang up, when she heard Hunter''s deep voice from the other end, "Are you still throwing up?" Just having finished throwing up, Ines was in no mood to deal with Hunter, so she hung up the call. Hunter was used to the sound of being hung up on. Looking at Ss next to him, Ss exined, "Ines has been throwing up quite severely recently, and it''s been going on for a long time. Mr. Meyer has tried everything but can''t seem to help." Hearing this, Hunter thought for a moment, then reopened his phone and quickly texted Ines. He then asked Ss, "What else did the girl take from this room besides the album?" "I''ve checked carefully, there should be nothing else. They probably just thought the album was valuable." Ss said. "Of course the album is valuable. It took me over ten years to organize, and they just took it." Hunter said discontentedly. "Mr. Galeana, if they like it, just let them have it. I see you still have some photos on yourputer, I can organize another album for you when I have time." Ss said. Hunter waved his hand, "No need, it won''t have the same value as the original. Oh, I remember Delh used to keep a diary, but I haven''t found it since she passed. Go look in the bedroom again." "Okay." Ss said. Ines happened to open her phone and saw a text from Hunter. The text read: [You can try soaking cantaloupe in yogurt for a few hours and then eat it. Your mom used this method to stop vomiting. After a few days, she stopped throwing up. You can try it. It might work.] After reading the text, Ines was a bit dazed. Seeing her strange look, Cam asked, "Ines, what''s wrong?" "Cam, do we have yogurt and cantaloupe at home?" Ines asked. "We do." Cam said. "Can you cut the cantaloupe into small pieces and soak them in the yogurt? I suddenly want to eat it." Ines said. Ines''s appetite had been poor recently, and she only asionally requested something specific to eat. Hearing her say this, both Phillip and Cam were delighted. "Cam, go prepare it now. Start soaking it, and it''ll be ready by tonight." Phillip said. Cam nodded in agreement, "Okay, I''ll prepare it right now." After Cam left, Phillip looked at Ines, "Was that his suggestion?" "No, I just suddenly wanted to eat it." Ines said. Phillip shook his head, "You''re always such a weirdo, no wonder Ashley loves to tease you. Seeing you like this, I can''t help but want to tease you too." Ines wrinkled her nose, "Grandpa, I''m not a pet, why would you guys want to tease me?" Phillip burst intoughter. Chapter 223 Chapter 223 Ines couldn''t fathom why Phillip was cracking up so much. She quietly yed chess with him for a while, spending her first day at the Military Base. Before dinner, Cam brought Ines a serving of cantaloupe and yogurt prepared in the afternoon. The taste wasn''t bad and Ines found herself wolfing down the whole thing. Seeing Ines''s hearty appetite, Erica Meyer chuckled, "Izzy, how¡¯s the taste?" Ines gave a nod, "Not bad, it''s tastier than I expected." After dinner, Ines went for a stroll with Erica. The Base was bustling at night. Whenever they bumped into acquaintances, Erica introduced Ines with a glowing smile and heaps of praise, making Ines blush a bit. A couple around Erica''s age approached them. The man asked, "Erica, who''s thedy you''re arm in arm with?" Erica replied with a smile, "This is Ethan''s wife, Izzy. Meet Ryan and Aubrey, Aaron''s parents." Ines''s eyes twinkled before she greeted them with a smile. Aubrey gave Ines a good once-over and nodded, "Nice, she¡¯s a pretty girl. Erica, you''re lucky to have such a beautiful daughter-inw." Feeling slightly embarrassed, Ines felt aforting pat from Erica, "Izzy is a bit shy. Don''t stare at her all the time." Aubreyughed, "Ethan''s married and has a kid on the way while Aaron doesn''t even have a girlfriend. It''s driving me nuts." Ines''s pregnancy had been made public by Phillip, so everyone at the Base knew. Even though many hadn''t met her, they knew the Meyer family''s daughter-inw was pregnant. "Ethan and Izzy met through a blind date. You could set Aaron up on one too," suggested Erica. "Are you kidding? Thest thing we want is him getting pissed and leaving home for years, that''d be a total nightmare," Aubrey was visibly worried, clearly distressed about Aaron''s marriage situation. Ines couldn''t help butugh at this. "Izzy, do you have any suitable friends? Introduce them to Aaron. He''s good-looking and has a nice personality, so you don''t have to worry about your friend being mistreated." Aubrey said. Ryan felt a little awkward seeing his wife trying to y matchmaker for their son in front of others, but he didn''t say anything. Ines felt a bit awkward too, but she still managed to say with a smile, "Ryan, Aubrey, don''t worry. When ites to marriage, it''ll happen when it''s meant to happen." "I can''t help but worry when I see Ethan''s kid is almost here, and Aaron doesn''t even have a girlfriend. Izzy, we have a great rtionship with the Meyer family, so don''t hold out on us. If there''s a suitable girl, introduce her to Aaron," Aubrey said in a mock-angry tone. Ines was at a loss whether tough or cry. Her only good friend was Phoebe, who was currently being pursued by Noel. How could she introduce her to Aaron? Moreover, she knew Ashley had a crush on Aaron. Even if she found someone else suitable, she would have to consider Ashley''s feelings first. "Aubrey, all the people I know are already taken. But I''ll keep an eye out. If I find someone suitable, I''ll bring her directly to Aaron and introduce her myself." Ines said. Aubrey couldn''t help but ask, "Do you know Aaron?" Ines didn''t hide anything and replied, "I only moved here from B City after marrying Ethan. I used to work in the same firm as Aaron." Aubrey paused, looking at Ines with a strange expression. Just as she was about to say something, Aaron''s voice came from behind, "Dad, mom, you''re here?" Aaron walked over from not far away. Seeing Ines and Erica, his expression changed slightly, "You guys are here too." Ines gave him a smile, "Aaron." Aaron nodded and then said to Erica, "I have something to discuss with Izzy, is that okay?" Ericaughed, trusting her pregnant daughter-inw, "Sure, you two can go chat over there. I will take a walk with your parents." "Erica, I once probed Aaron, and it seems he has a crush on a girl from the same firm after moving to B City. It wouldn''t be your daughter-inw, would it?" Aubrey asked. Erica chuckled, "It seems so, I''ve heard about it too." "Ah, what a coincidence! Why do these two always have the same taste in women?" Aubrey''s eyes were filled with worry, but more than that, heartache for her son. "Don''t worry, ording to Ashley, Aaron and Ethan have made up and won''t quarrel over a girl again." Erica said. N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. "Good, we can''t afford to repeat the past." Aubrey said. The evening breeze blew gently. Since theirst encounter, Ines hadn''t seen Aaron. Now walking side by side, they fell into silence. Aaron looked at Ines''s noticeably thinner face, feeling a pang of concern, "Is the baby making you ufortable? You''ve lost a lot of weight." Inesughed, "I''m okay, mostly dealing with morning sickness. It should get better after this phase." "That''s good. Have you been to the hospital for prenatal check-ups? How''s the baby''s development?" Aaron asked. "Our kiddos are healthy and yup, it''s confirmed they''re twins." Ines only texted Phoebe that day. She was not like Ethan who would deliberately text Aaron about such news just to ruffle his feathers. But since he asked, she wouldn''t hide it. Aaron felt a sour taste in his mouth, and after a while, he barely managed to spit out, "Congrats, Izzy." "Thanks. I hope you appreciate the people around you." Ines said. Chapter 224 Chapter 224 "You mean Ashley?" Aaron forced a smile. Ines nodded. Unexpectedly, Aaron spoke up, "Izzy, Ashley''s just a kid. She can''t tell what real love is, we can''t be together." "Aaron, I know it might not be the right time to say this, but Ashley told me she''s fallen for you. When she found out you loved Le, she felt she was too young to even express her love. Maybe it was just a crush back then, but she''s held onto it for almost ten years now. She''s twenty, she''s not the little girl you remember. You can try to ept her as more than a sister, and understand your own feelings." Ines said. Aaron was taken aback. The little girl had developed feelings for him so early on and acted as though nothing happened. None of their friends had any clue about it. "Izzy, I''ve never thought about it that way." Aaron said. "Then start now. You missed out on Le, you missed out on me, but don''t miss out on Ashley. You and I both know Ashley. If she decides to let go, there would be no second chance. She''s young and has many good people around her." Ines said. Aaron was silent for a while, and Ines didn''t speak either. They just walked in silence. After a while, Aaron said, "I''ll give it some thought." "That''s good." Ines smiled, then asked, "How''s the business going?" "It''s up and running. Got a few contracts, but we''re short-handed for now. Even with all my connections, I can only take on smallpanies'' annual audits. Mainly doing management consulting for now, will expand as we get more staff." Aaron said. "I believe you''ll make it." Ines said. "I don''t really like the feeling of being the boss, too many things to worry about. I prefer crunching numbers, just focusing on my own work." Aaron said. "You''ll get used to it. Being your own boss gives you freedom, you can choose what business to take on, and stick to your principles. By the way, how''s Jaime doing? Did the Huner Corporation mess affect him?" Ines asked. "He''s the director, couldn''t dodge the responsibility. Even though it wasn''t all on him, he knew about it and got three years in prison. I visited him a few days ago, and he looked a lot better. The bald spots are growing hair again. Seems life in jail isn''t so bad." Aaron said. Ines chuckled lightly, "Then just imagine it as a three-year long vacation. It might be long, but time flies. He can start over when he gets out. Even if he doesn''t continue auditing, his experience can land him a job in finance." They chatted as they walked, and before they knew it, they arrived at the shooting range at the Base. Several kids were lying on mats, focusing on their targets. The oldest one was about ten, many were only seven or eight, but they all shot with great uracy, hitting the nine ring, some even hit the bullseye. Ines saw them aiming and was ready to cover her ears, but the expected gunshots never came. "Why is there no sound?" she asked. "These kids are using modified silencers. This is a residential area, so we do it this way to avoid causing disturbances." Aaron said. Ines looked over and saw a kid reloading, his arm was just a tad thicker than the gun barrel. Watching him, she felt a pang of worry, "They''re so little. Won''t their arms get hurt?" "No, they won''t. These kids are all from military families, and they''ve been training their arm strength from a young age. They''re expected to join the forces in the future. We went through the same thing when we were kids. Ethan and the Beasley brothers were all sharpshooters in our group of kids." Aaron looked back on those days with a happy smile. "Ethan can shoot?" she asked. "Of course, all kids who grow up at the Military Base can. He just prefers the business side, so only Beasley ended up enlisting. If Ethan had, he''d be just as good." Aaron said. Ines looked at the kids in the distance, imagining a young Ethan with a furrowed brow, shooting with precision. Without a doubt, he must have been charming. Seeing her smile, Aaron felt a pang of bitterness. Just as Ines was about to say something, Ethan''s voice came from behind, "Izzy, Aaron." She turned around to see Ethan standing behind them. Aaron gave a light smile, "Ethan, you off work?" Ethan nodded, stepped forward, and wrapped his arm around Ines'' waist, "Why aren''t you wearing a coat? It''s still a bit chilly." "I''m not cold, if anything, I''m a bit hot." Ines said. Ignoring her protest, Ethan took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. Ines red at him, but with Aaron there, she didn''t say anything more. Aaron nced at them, "Ethan, now that you''re here, I''ll leave Izzy with you. I''ll head back first." Ethan nodded, and Aaron turned and left. Ines yfully hit him a few times, "Ethan, you did that on purpose, didn''t you? I don''t need a coat in this weather." Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Ethan''s eyes twinkled with amusement as he simply said, "Kill two birds with one stone." "Why do you always cause trouble for Aaron?" Ines asked. "Stop bringing him up, or I''ll get mad." Ethan said. Ines ignored him and walked on. Ethanughed and wrapped his arms around her from behind, "Izzy, I know you don''t want to hurt his feelings, but if he can''t let gopletely, he won''t be able to move on. I''m sure you don''t want to see him like that either." "I don''t want to talk to you. I can''t win against you." Ines said. Ethan didn''t mind, he just tightened his grip around her waist, "Cam told me you ate two tes tonight, feeling better?" "I still feel a bit unwell, but much better than a few days ago. I feel a bit stuffy in the chest, but no vomiting." Ines said. "Seems like it''s doing some good then. I''ll have Cam prep some more melons for you in the next few days." Ethan said. Ines nodded, leaning half into him. She was watching kids y in the distance and feeling pretty chipper. She asked, "Ethan, you got any photo albums back at the house?" Chapter 225 Chapter 225 Ethan pondered for a moment, "Should be some, but not many. I''m not sure where they are, I''ll need to ask my mom or grandpa when we get home." Ines'' eyes lit up instantly, grabbing Ethan and heading home, "Let''s hurry and check then." By the time they arrived home, Trenton was already back. Seeing them rushing in, he thought something happened, "Why are you back? Where''s your mom? Didn''t she go out with you?" Ines'' face changed, awkwardly exining, "Oops, I might have forgotten about her." Trenton chuckled, "No worries, she will find her way back if she can''t find you." Ethan added, "Mom''s probably chatting with her friends. She knows I went to find you, so don''t worry about her." Ethan had someone fetch the family albums. Holding an album, Ines pulled Ethan into the bedroom with a satisfied look. The Meyer family seemed to take a family portrait every year. Ines slowly flipped through the album, her attention caught by two little boys, they were Beasley and Ethan. Both of them had very delicate features, both dressed in little camo outfits, both smiling, almost indistinguishable from each other. Ines couldn''t help but marvel, they used to look so alike when they were little, even more so than now. Ethan smirked, "Mrs. Galeana, now''s the test, let''s see if you can recognize your own husband."Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Ines pretended to scrutinize the photo, then looked at Ethan, finally saying hesitantly, "They look so much alike, I can''t tell. Is it this one? I think he looks slightly more handsome than the other boy." Ethan didn''t respond, Ines saw his face suddenly darken, and sheughed teasingly, "Mr. Meyer, did I get it wrong? Is it not this one, but this one?" Ines pointed at the photo, without waiting for Ethan''s reply, she mumbled, "This one looks quite alike too, but a bit uglier, not as handsome as the one on the left." Ethan didn''t want to entertain Ines anymore. She actually called him ugly! "But can''t help it, I seem to have a natural problem with my eyes, I actually like the uglier one." Ines mumbled quietly. Ethan couldn''t help but pinch her nose hard, "You mischievous girl, how dare you talk about your husband like that." Ines giggled and snuggled into Ethan''s arms, "I was just joking, why are you mad? I could tell which one was you right away, you''re the one on the right. You and Beasley have different characters, so even though you''re both smiling, the feeling is different. Beasley''s smile seemed forced, yours is gentle. And didn''t you notice? When you smile, your right eyebrow lifts slightly." Ethan looked at the two people in the photo in confusion, he found that when he smiles, his right eyebrow does lift slightly. He never noticed this detailbefore, and no one around him had ever pointed it out. Ethan''s mood instantly improved, "Izzy, when did you notice this detail?" Ines smiled faintly, after thinking for a moment, she said earnestly, "I''m not sure, it just came to me when I saw your photo." Ethan''s face changed slightly, he looked at Ines, seeming a bit unsatisfied, "Izzy, your answer is too perfunctory, you can''t even remember." Ines shifted slightly, "I really don''t know, it just came to me when I saw your photo." This feeling was strange, it seemed like she knew it all along, but when did she find out, she couldn''t say. Ethan didn''t press further when he heard what Ines said. Ines continued flipping through the photos. She was attracted by one handsome photo of Ethan after another, the smile on her lips getting wider, "Never thought Mr. Meyer would be this handsome since he was little." "Of course." Ethan said. Ines giggled, then continued flipping. After they turned 12, there were basically no more photos of Ethan, reced by Ashley''s baby photos. "Why are all the photos of Ashley?" Ines asked in confusion. "Obviously, grandpa favors Ashley, after her birth, Beasley and my status were threatened." Ethan said. Ines looked at Ethan seriously, "I think it might be because you and Beasley didn''t like taking photos." She deduced, they should be in junior high at the age of twelve, with their personalities, and they probably didn''t often have photo opportunities. Ethan''s face showed an embarrassed expression when Ines saw through him. Ines smiled and continued flipping through the photos, finally seeing a photo of the two brothers, one in military uniform, the other in a neat suit. They no longer looked alike as they did when they were little. No, their faces were still very simr, but their personality had clearly differed. "This is thest photo my brother and I took together, he just got promoted to colonel, and I started to take over the family business and gradually got on track. This photo was taken by our uncle during the New Year, we just returned home from outside and didn''t have time to change." Ethan exined. Ines gently tugged Ethan''s hand, Ethan rubbed his chin on her face, "I''m fine." "That''s good, I believe our child will be as outstanding as you and Beasley." Ines smiled and said. "Now I feel, we really don''t have many photos together." Ethan said. Upon hearing this, Ines felt a bit unhappy, she said, "Ethan, that guy called me this afternoon, as soon as he opened his mouth he was interrogative, as if I stole something precious from him. He even threatened me, saying if I don''t return the album, he wille and get it himself. The person in the photo is me, why do I have to give him the photos?" Ethan looked down at Ines in his arms, her small mouth pouting slightly, her nose wrinkled, she was clearly annoyed. Ethan shook his head. People always said there was not so much hatred and resentment between parents and children, this saying was absolutely right. From Ines'' condition, her inner resentment had quietly disappeared, it was just that she was not willing to admit it. "Yeah, that''s right. We don''t n to give it back at all. The thing is originally yours. If he reallyes to get it, we''ll see how Ms. Ines is feeling," Ethan said. Hearing Ethan tease her, Ines couldn''t help but shoot him a dirty look. Chapter 226 Chapter 226 "Alright, he''s definitely noting, so don''t sweat it," Ethanforted. "How are the little ones doing today? Let me feel." Ethan reached into Ines'' clothing, gently rubbing her belly. Ines felt a ticklish sensation, but she was used to Ethan''s actions. Ever since she got pregnant, he would touch her belly whenever he had the chance, trying to sense the babies'' movements. Ines suddenly thought of something, "Ethan, we don''t need to find out the gender of the babies in advance. It''ll be a nice surprise when they''re born." Ethan stared at Ines for a moment, then chuckled and pinched her nose, "Silly girl, whether it''s a boy or a girl, I''ll love them all the same." He was sure he had already told her this, why didn''t she believe him? Ines lowered her head, feeling slightly guilty, "I didn''t mean it that way, I just wanted to keep it as a surprise." "You can''t fool me, your thoughts are written all over your face. But you''re right, let''s await the arrival of our little ones together." Ethan said. Ines didn''t speak, she just stared at Ethan as heughed. Looking at her face, he couldn''t resist and leaned in for a kiss. Ines gripped his clothing, passionately reciprocating his kiss. After a while, Ethan gently shifted her beneath him, being careful to avoid her belly. The air conditioning wasn''t turned on in the bedroom, and Ines felt her face heat up. Seeing this, Ethan, with a grin on his face, began to kiss her again. "Don''t worry, the doctor said after the first trimester it''s safe. I''ll be careful, I won''t hurt the babies." Ethan said. Hearing him say this, Ines'' tense bodypletely rxed, and she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. Being pregnant wasn''t as dull as she had imagined. Ines led a very regr life, eating breakfast on time, taking a nap at noon, and reading when she was bored. She had been busy with work for the past few years and didn''t have much time for herself, so Ines nned to use her pregnancy as an opportunity to read the books she had always wanted to read. At night, she would take walks at the Base with Erica. She had a good memory and recognized many people at the base. She spent about the same amount of time with Ethan as when she was working, but maybe because of the pregnancy, she often missed Ethan and wanted him to be by her side. She missed Ethan during the day, but when he came home at night, she would fall asleep in his arms after just a few words. Before every meal, Ines would eat some cantaloupe, which had significantly alleviated her severe morning sickness. Phillip and Erica''s faces were also filled with smiles. Cam said, "Izzy''s morning sickness phase should be over now." Ines also felt much better, and her appetite had increased. One day, Ines was reading in her room when Cam suddenly knocked on her door. Her door was open, so she saw Cam right away, "What''s up, Cam?" "They''ve sent more stuff." Cam had been at the Military Base for a while and knew that Ines and Hunter didn''t get along. Ines'' expression changed slightly. Hunter hadn''te to retrieve the album as he had said, but he kept sending stuff over. At first, Phillip would ept the deliveries, butter, Ines found out about it from an offhandment he made. Naturally, she was angry and no longer allowed her family to ept the deliveries. Hunter stopped after a few days, but unexpectedly he started again. "Don''t ept it. I don''t need it." Ines said coldly. Cam nodded and then went downstairs. When Phillip saw hering down, he asked, "Is Izzy still refusing the gifts?" "Yes, as soon as she hears it''s from him, her face changes." Cam said. Phillip shook his head, "That kid is really stubborn. I don''t know how long it''ll take for her to cool down, but let her handle it. Their father-daughter issue will be resolved one day. Just do as she says. We don''t want these things, send them back." "Okay, I''ll go do it right away." Cam said. At noon, Ines received a call from Emma. Since Ines hadn''t saved her number, she didn''t know who it was, so she picked up without suspicion. There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, and Ines couldn''t help but say "hello" twice. Just as she was about to hang up, she heard a voice, "Ines, it''s me." Emma. Ines furrowed her brows and asked in a calm voice, "What do you want?" "I just wanted..." Emma stuttered on the other end of the line, and Ines had no idea what she was trying to say, "Spit it out, or I''m hanging up." Hearing her threat to hang up, Emma quickly said, "Don''t hang up yet, I have something to tell you." "Then spit it out." Ines said. Emma took a deep breath and quickly said, "Thank you." Ines was taken aback for a moment, then realized it was because she had helped make a call a few days ago. She was somewhat surprised that Emma would personally call to thank her, which was quite unexpected. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. "I''m back home resting now, and I really appreciate what you did." Emma seemed to find it easier to speak after getting the first sentence out of the way. "Don''t thank me, you were just lucky. If Ss hadn''t been nearby that day, I wouldn''t have been able to help you even if I wanted to." Ines said. "Oh." Emma responded coldly. "If there''s nothing else, I''m hanging up." Ines said. "Mm." Emma didn¡¯t speak anymore. Ines looked at her phone and chuckled, what kind of attitude was that? It seemed like she wasn''t the one who had initiated the call. Just as she was about to hang up, Emma seemed to remember something and suddenly called out to her, "Wait, I forgot something." "What is it?" Ines asked. "Well. Father has been home for half a month now, and Ss wants us to have a family dinner. Can youe tonight? I promise it won''t be ufortable likest time." Emma said. Chapter 227 Chapter 227 Ines didn''t want to go at all. "Ines, you gotta make it, I want to thank you in person, but I can''t get into the Base, so I have to bother you toe over." Emma said. "Nah, you guys eat up. I''m not going." Last time she was helpless, this time she really didn''t want to go. "Ines!" Emma yelled out loud. "Enough, I''m hanging up." Ines hung up after she said. At the same time, Ethan got a call from the States. After the phone call, he seemed a bit dazed, his eyes dull. After Emma hung up the phone, she noticed Shirley was giving her a cold stare. The chill in Shirley''s eyes scared her. She had never seen this kind of look from her before. It seemed like Shirley''s gaze had been strange for a few days, as if she was trying to control something. "Mom, don''t look at me like that, it scares me." Emma frowned. "Why did you call Ines and invite her over? You need to know your ce. You''re the only daughter of the Galeana family now, Ines was kicked out by your father." Shirley seemed to be hit hard, she couldn''t control her emotions, her voice involuntarily raised. "Mom, what''s going on with you?" Emma''s voice was weak, but she was also worried. Shirley took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, "I''m fine. I''m asking you, did your father ask you to invite Ines over?" "Mom, why would Dad ask me to do that? I invited her over because she helped me that day. I told you what happened, I fell and nobody around wanted to help me. It was her who called Ss at the crucial moment, otherwise I wouldn''t have been able to keep my baby." Remembering what happened that day, Emma was still a little scared, her hand covering her belly. "Baby? You only think about the baby! Don''t forget you''re Ms. Emma of the Galeana family. If one day you lose this title, you''ll lose everything." Shirley said. Emma''s face changed when she heard this, she stared at Shirley seriously, "Mom, do you know something? Aren''t we doing well now? I think Dad still cares about me. When I almost had a miscarriage, Dad scolded Aiden." Shirley scoffed, her coldugh hanging in the air, "Your father is not the man I used to know. He''s been running the Galeana Group for so many years, his methods are beyond our imagination. If he''s nice to you, there must be a reason." "Mom, what''s going on? If you know something, tell me. We can think of a solution together. I''m really worried about you." Emma said. Shirley didn''t say anything, just gently patted her shoulder, "Don''t worry, what''s ours is ours, no one can take it away. I won''t let us be left with nothing." In the afternoon, Ines was ying chess with Phillip when a car sound came from outside. Who woulde at this time? Ines was wondering when she heard Camughing, "It''s Ethan coming back." N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Hearing this, Ines paused with the chess piece in her hand, turned her head and saw Ethan walking in with his car keys in one hand and his coat in the other, a faint smile on his face. Seeing him like this, Ines also smiled. Phillip couldn''t help but poke Ines''s forehead, "I spend every day with you and I never see you this happy; Ethanes home a day early and you''re all smiles." Cam alsoughed on the side, "I''ve been living with them for a while now, I''ve seen a lot of their sweet moments. They''ve been married for over half a year and they''re still like newlyweds. It''s really rare." Ines was a bit embarrassed by their words, she wanted to stand up, but in the end she just sat there. Ethan walked over and put his hand on her shoulder, "Did your chess skills improve?" "It''s okay, a lot better than when I first started." Ines said. Phillip looked at their sweet appearance and shook his head with a smile, "I think I''ll go back to my room to sleep. You''re not in the mood to y chess with me anymore; your heart is with someone else." "Grandpa." Ines blushed and protested. Phillip rubbed his chin and walked to his room, Cam also got up and went to the kitchen. "Ethan, why did youe back so early today?" Ines looked up at him, frowning slightly. Ethan sat down beside her, naturally wrapping his arm around her, "Because I missed Izzy and the babies, so I came back early to see." Hearing her husband missed her, Ines felt good. She lightly pat his chest, "We won''t run away secretly, you can see us when you get off work." "I miss you every minute I don''t see you." Ethan said. "Stop talking nonsense." Ines''s eyesnded on the clock on the wall, and she became serious, "Mr. Meyer, it''s only four thirty now, so you must have left thepany at three thirty, you left really early." She didn''t really like him doing this; he was always so busy. Leaving thepany today didn''t mean he didn''t need to work. He still needed to work overtime to make up for it, and in the end he would be the one getting tired. Ethan held her hand and gently kissed it, "Izzy, let''s join the Galeana family for dinner tonight. Ss just called me and said Eda specifically prepared your favorite dishes." Ines was stunned, she felt Ethan was a bit strange, she looked at him with a puzzled look, "Why would I go there for dinner when Cam can make whatever I want to eat? Not only am I toozy to go, but I also won''t be happy seeing those people." Chapter 228 Chapter 228 Ethan snuggled Ines close, grinning, "We''re grabbing dinner with the Galeana fam tonight, then crashing in the city. I''m about done with staying at the Base." Ines felt Ethan skirting the issue. She distanced herself, pinning him with a look, "Ethan, you''re always sidestepping with distractions. You think I don''t notice? I just don''t want to argue. If you don''t come clean, I''m done." Ethan looked at Ines'' resolution, couldn''t help but stroke her hair, "What if I told you, I was bought out with a wad of cash, would you believe that?" "Ethan." Ines raised her voice, feeling a sense of powerless defeat. This man, when he didn''t want to spill, there was no way to pry it open from him. She really didn''t know whether to call him principled or just stubborn. "Izzy,e with me, would you? You and your dad might need to sit down and have a serious talk. Plus, you haven''t seen him since he got back. Don''t you want to see how he''s doing?" Ethan was inching closer to convince Ines. "I''ve seen him already." Ines muttered. She didn''t tell Ethan that she had bumped into Hunter and Ss shopping for the baby. Ethan frowned, "When did you see him? Howe I didn''t know?" Ines was a little miffed, ring at Ethan, "Why should I tell you? You keep secrets from me." Ethan chuckled, hands on Ines'' frail shoulders, looking at her earnestly, "Izzy, have you ever wondered why you don''t care about other things I don''t tell you, but when ites to Hunter, you care so much?" Ines turned her head, lips sealed tight, her mind in turmoil. She could feel her resolve softening. Maybe since she found out that Hunter was trying to protect her, she stopped hating him as much. But she was subconsciously avoiding facing it. "Izzy, stop running from your feelings, okay?" Ethan said. "Ethan, can you give me some time? Don''t push me. I''m not ready to think about this." Ines this. "Alright, but you have toe to dinner with me tonight. It''s his birthday." Ethan said. At this, Ines looked up at Ethan, "Who told you?" "Ss did." Ethan said. "He called you?" Ines asked. Ethan looked at Ines, nodding slightly. "He didn''t tell me. Only Emma invited me for dinner. But she didn''t mention it''s his birthday." Ines said, slightly bewildered. "He hasn''t celebrated his birthday for years. Only when your mom was alive. But they were mainly focused on the Galeana Group, so birthdays weren''t a big deal. Ss said they''d just have a simple dinner together. If they were too busy, they''d skip it. He probably didn''t call you, feeling a bit sheepish. Seems like he''s always troubling you whenever something happens." Ethan said. Ines stayed silent, pondering for a while, then said, "Alright, let''s go." Excited, Ethan took her upstairs to change. She put on a slightly loose pale green dress, concealing her slightly protruding belly. Ethan told Cam, who just emerged from the kitchen, "Cam, Izzy and I are having dinner with the Galeana family. We won''t be back tonight and are staying at the house in the city. I''ll bring her back tomorrow. Let the others know." "Do I need toe with you?" Cam asked, concerned. Ethan shook his head, "No need, Cam. It''s just one night. I can take care of Izzy." Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. "Alright then." Cam said. Ethan took Ines to the city. Regardless of their father-daughter rtionship, they couldn''t show up empty-handed for a birthday celebration. But Ines wasn''t exactly enthusiastic. Ethan asked her what gift to buy, and she said, "Whatever." "Izzy, you should show some sincerity, pick out a gift with care." Ethan said. "Why bring a gift? My presence is the best gift." Ines said, slightly irritated. Ethan chuckled, stroking Ines'' hair, then pointing at an antique shop, "How about we get him an antique decoration?" Ines nced at the items in the shop, then pointed in the direction of themercial street, "No need to go in, he might not like those things. We might as well go there and get a fishing rod. That might be more his thing." He needed to unwind a bit. Ethan thought Ines made sense. He had no clue what Hunter liked. Might as well take Ines'' suggestion. Even though she lost her memory, her intuition was still intact. "How do you know he doesn''t like antiques?" Ethan asked. "I''m not sure, but I feel like he might not." Ines said casually. Ethanughed, "I can''t think of anything better, let''s go get a fishing rod. That way we can save some money." Ines didn''t object, so they went to the nearbymercial street, and bought a full set of fishing gear on the seller''s rmendation. Ethan looked at the gift in his hand, frowning slightly, "This gift is some, I''m embarrassed to present it." "Then give it to me. I''ll hold it." Ines said tly. "I was just kidding, I know you mean well, Izzy. You don''t want him to work all the time; you want him to take a break." Ethan said. "I just didn''t want to spend money." Ines pouted. Ethan pinched her face, saying helplessly, "Alright, cheer up. We''re going to celebrate a birthday." Hearing this, Ines looked at Ethan, shing him a big grin, showing off her pearly white teeth, looking like she was about to bite him. She growled, "How''s this?" Ethan was amused by her childlike antics, couldn''t help butugh. He gently pinched her cheek, "Izzy, you''re a real character." Ines swatted his hand away, "Stop making fun of me. I''m not in the mood. Let''s go once we''re done shopping, it''s too hot." Once in the car, Ines was out like a light in no time, her face going back to its peaceful and serene state. She looked like apletely different personpared to the one who was just throwing a fit. Ethan could only chuckle helplessly, his eyes, however, were filled with deep worry. Chapter 229 Chapter 229 They arrived at the Galeana family''s house around six-thirty in the evening. Emma was munching on some fruit in the living room when they walked in. She paused for a moment before saying, "Izzy, Ethan, you guys made it." Both Ines and Ethan sensed a change in Emma''s tone; it felt more genuine than theirst encounter which seemed pretty phony. "Take a seat, guys. Dad and Ss are upstairs handling some stuff. Dinner will be ready soon." Emma said with a smile. The change in Emma''s demeanor caught them off guard, so they just plopped down across from her. Emma nced at Ines, struggling to find the right words. After a moment, she managed to say, "Thanks, Ines." Ines didn''t respond, so Emma dropped the subject. After a while, Shirley sauntered in. Her attitude was a stark contrast to their previous encounter when she greeted them with a fake smile. This time around, she didn''t say a word, just shot them a nce before heading upstairs to fetch Hunter and Ss. Ines couldn''t help but re at Ethan. She knewing here would only ruffle her feathers. They would''ve been much better off chilling at the Base. Ethan brushed it off, patting her hand to signal that she shouldn''t sweat the small stuff. Soon enough, Hunter and Ss descended from upstairs. Hunter didn''t seem surprised by their presence, just gave Ines'' belly a quick nce. "Thank you foring," Ss said with a smile. They both nodded. Hunter turned to Ines and asked, "Still dealing with morning sickness?" Ines didn''t reply, creating an awkward atmosphere. Ethan quickly chimed in, "After taking your advice, the morning sickness has subsided and her appetite has improved." Ines was a bit irked by Ethan''s friendly exchange with Hunter, shooting him a disapproving look. "That''s good. Your mom had severe swelling in her limbs during theter stages of pregnancy, Ethan. Make sure to give her plenty of massages, or she''ll get cramps at night," Hunter advised. Ethan nodded. Hunter was in an unusually good mood today, patiently offering advice even though Ines remained unresponsive. This sudden change got Ines'' heart pounding. Before Hunter could continue, Eda announced that dinner was ready. She walked over to Ines, studied her for a moment, then said with a smile, "You''re looking good, Ms. Ines." Ines responded with a quiet "Thank you." Ethan handed a prepared gift to Hunter, "This is a gift Izzy picked out for you. We hope you''ll find some time to rx by the river." Ines shot Ethan a disapproving look, but he didn''t mind. Ss took the gift, nced at it, then turned to Hunter with a smile, "Mr. Galeana, it''s a fishing set." A sh of excitement crossed Hunter''s face, "I''ll definitely need to find time to learn fishing and enjoy theid-back lifestyle." Tonight''s dinner was avish spread. However, there was no birthday cake, nor did anyone mention it was Hunter''s birthday. Hunter invited Ss and Eda to join them for dinner, and they graciously epted. Unlike their previous encounters, Hunter was more talkative this time, either chatting with Emma or Ines, much like a typical father. He bbered on about his pregnant daughters while Shirley quietly ate her meal without uttering a word. "Pour me a drink," Hunter suddenly asked Ss. Ss frowned at the request, "Mr. Galeana, perhaps you should refrain from drinking." Hunter chuckled, "It''s alright. I''m in a great mood today. Both of my daughters are pregnant, I''m about to be a grandpa. I''m ecstatic. Fill my cup, but just this once." Upon hearing this, Ines nced at Hunter. She had seen him a few times since returning to A City, but she had never seen him smile, let alone appear so genuinely happy. Clearly, he was truly ted tonight. Despite his reluctance, Ss poured Hunter a drink. Hunter took the ss and downed it in one gulp. A hint of worry crossed Ss'' face, even Emma couldn''t help but chime in, "Dad, you should take it slow. This is strong." "I know, it''s just been a while since I had a drink. I couldn''t resist." Hunter said. Afterward, he asked Ss to fetch the gifts he had previously purchased. Ss put down his utensils and went upstairs. He quickly returned with two beautifully carved wooden boxes, which Ines recognized from the day he had returned to the country. Hunter handed one of the boxes to Emma. Emma looked at Hunter in disbelief, "Dad, is this for me?" "It''s not for you. It''s a pair of pearl earrings for my granddaughter. They have a history of several centuries, so handle them with care." Hunter said. Emma was beaming with joy, "Thank you, Dad. I''ll thank you on behalf of my baby. Speaking of which, we haven''t named the baby yet. Would you like to give the baby a name?" Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Hunter paused for a moment, then said, "Let''s call her Jasmine." "Jasmine, that''s a beautiful name." Emma softly repeated the name, then broke into a smile. Ines watched Emma and found her more endearing than before. It was clear that she truly loved the child growing inside her. Hunter nodded slightly, then handed the other box to Ines. Ines knew the box contained a pair of gold rings, but she didn''t take it right away. Hunter didn''t seem bothered, he stared at Ines and said, "These are for your twins. They are heirloom gold rings." Ethan was also gazing at Ines, a hint of something deeper in his look. Ines was dragging her feet on taking it, and Hunter wasn''t about to put the box down either, so the father and daughter were locked in this silent standoff. After a while, Ines finally caved and took the box. She was a bit ticked off, so she grabbed the box a little too hard, identally hitting the spring button on the box, and bam, a pair of gold rings popped out in front of everyone. Emma''s smile froze on her face, and Shirley''s temples started to throb, her hand gripping tight under the table. Chapter 230 Chapter 230 Hunter nced at them and then exined, "Each kid in our family gets one, and you will be no exceptional when you have another child." Emma appeared somewhat embarrassed and answered softly, "I get it." After the gift-giving, Hunter had everyone raise their sses and take a sip together. Only he and Ss drank wine while Ethan, who had to drive, and the other women drank non-alcoholic beverages. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. After dinner, Hunter called Ines into his study, "Sit down, I got something to say to you." Ines was reluctant, but sat down as Hunter instructed, "If you got something to say, spit it out. It''s gettingte, and we need to go home." "We haven''t had a good chat in years, seems like since your mom passed away, you''ve been kinda pissed at me, preferring to stay at school rather thaning home." Hunter''s voice choked up, thinking about the past. "Just spit it out." Ines urged, slightly frowning. Hunter didn''t answer right away, but after a moment he said softly, "Izzy." At the sound of this nickname, Ines felt her heart being squeezed, making it hard to breathe. He''d always called her by her full name, never as tenderly as this. Seeing Hunter like this, Ines realized he was about to have a heart-to-heart and said impatiently, "If you got something to say, just say it." Hunter chuckled, "Your asional impatience, you got that from your mom. And me." Ines didn''t react, nor did she look at Hunter. At this moment, Ss brought a ss of milk for Ines. She nced at Hunter before epting it and took a sip, realizing it wasn''t pure milk but rich yogurt. It tasted good. "Your mom was like this when she was pregnant with you. Her taste buds were all over the ce. Sometimes she wanted sweet stuff, other times sour." Ines was getting restless, shifting ufortably in her chair. Hunter''s words seemed random and without a point. After a while, he suddenly became serious and said, "Regardless, I''ve never regretted any decision I''ve made." Ines paused the hand holding the cup and smiled mockingly. Any decision, including estrangement from her, and even letting the mother and daughter in? Ines couldn''t hold back anymore, "Ethan always says I''m stubborn, but it turns out you''re the most stubborn one here, not even having the guts to admit your mistakes. Bringing that mother and daughter back to A City was your biggest mistake. If not for them, my mom wouldn''t have died, and I wouldn''t have been used of murder." When Ines said this, Hunter didn''t get angry, he just calmly responded, "Izzy, you''re not a parent yet, there are things you wouldn''t understand. My only regret is not being able to continue developing the Galeana Group, not being able to make myself stronger." Hunter didn''t tell her the real reason he felt this way: he felt powerless, knowing something was fishy but unable to uncover the truth for her, unable to clear her name. Ines couldn''t understand why thepany was so important to him, she said passionately, "In your eyes, that damnpany is your true love, everything else doesn''t matter." "Well, there''s no point exining. Your mom''s diary should be kept by you, you''re her daughter, no one is more suitable to have it than you." Hunter said, taking out a diary from the drawer. Ines nced at the diary in Hunter''s hand, it was the one she had, she had no idea when it fell into his hands, no doubt Ethan gave it to him. "Don''t me Ethan, I kept asking him for it." "You knew my mom suffered from depression for years, you knew that woman harassed my mom, and you could still remain indifferent?" Ines said, infuriated. "What''s the point of regretting now?" Hunter sighed, speaking indifferently. "You..." Ines was once again angered by his attitude. "You''re about to be a mom, you should control your emotions, getting angry all the time isn''t good for the baby." "Seeing you makes me angry." Ines got up and was about to leave. As she reached the door, Hunter said, "Izzy, you can continue to hate me, but I hope you won''t let my grandchild hate me too. I hope to hear them call me ''grandpa'' one day." Ines felt a pang in her heart at his words but without hesitation, she went downstairs. Emma watched her calmly descend the stairs, with a little surprise in her eyes, she couldn''t believe they didn''t argue this time. Ss said to Ines, "Ms. Ines, it''ste, why don''t you stay here for the night?" "No need, we''re not going back to the Military Base, we''ll stay in the city, not far away." Eda wanted to say something but Ss stopped her. He nodded, "Alright, be safe and take it slow on the road." Chapter 231 Chapter 231 After Ines left the Galeana family''s house, she shot Ethan a sharp re. Ethan looked at her in confusion, "What happened, did someone piss you off?" Ines threw her diary at Ethan, ring at him angrily, "Giving my stuff to others without my consent, Ethan, you''ve really let me down!" Ethan furrowed his brows, wrapping his arms around Ines''s waist, "Izzy, don''t be like that, don''t be disappointed in me." "But you did let me down." "Izzy, it''s already awkward enough for me being caught between you two. Whatever he owes you, you can get back at him, but I''m different, I''m your husband, I need to keep a cool head for your sake. He''s already talked to me a few times, I can''t just ignore it." Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. "Then you should''ve asked me." "If I asked, would you have agreed?" "Of course not." "So I can''t ask you." Ines didn''t want to argue with Ethan over such a small matter, so she said helplessly: "Ethan, I don''t want to talk to you tonight, can you stay away from me?" Ethan stroked his chin, "Are you sure you can sleep without me holding you?" Ines red at Ethan, seriously warning, "Ethan, don''t push me, I''d rather have insomnia than keep this habit. Habits can be formed and they can be broken." Ethan tightened his hold on Ines, whispering, "Alright, I apologize, it''s my fault. I won''t touch your stuff without discussing it with you from now on. I was too presumptuous, thinking that since we''re a couple, what''s yours is mine, and overlooked that there should still be boundaries between a husband and wife." Hearing this, Ines stared at him speechlessly, her face still tight, she said in a low voice: "Let go of me." "Izzy, don¡¯t be angry, okay? If you''re upset, it''ll affect our babies too. They''re still so young; we can''t let them be affected." At this, Ines stopped talking. Ethanughed, not feeling the slightest bit guilty for bringing their children into the matter. After Ines and Ethan left, Emma was called into the study by Hunter. Emma looked at Hunter in confusion, "Dad, you called for me?" "Sit down." Hunter pointed to the chair opposite him. Emma obediently sat down. Hunter looked at Emma for a while, and said: "Emma, you''ve been with the Galeana family for quite a few years now, but we''ve never really had a proper talk. Today, feel free to tell me anything you want." Emma stared at Hunter in surprise, for all these years, Hunter really hadn''t had such a good talk with her. "Dad, what do you want me to say?" "You can say whatever you want, just say what''s on your mind."Emma kept her head down, not speaking, and Hunter didn''t rush her, just sat quietly watching her. After a while, Emma tentatively began, "Dad, can I really say anything? You have to promise not to get mad at me." Hunter nodded, "You can say anything, I won''t get mad at you." Emma bit her lip, then said in a small voice, "Dad, I''ve always wondered why you treat Ines and me differently even though we''re both your biological daughters. Even after I returned to the Galeana family, you still don''t treat me as well as her." "Are you referring to me letting her take over as the chairman?" Emma was taken aback by the question, and Hunter knew he had hit the nail on the head when he saw her reaction, "Emma, I''ll only say this once, the bigger a person''s abilities, the bigger their responsibilities." Emma, although unwilling, could only keep her discontent to herself, not daring to voice it out. "Don''t misunderstand, I''m not belittling you. You should know your own capabilities. You''ve been treating your leg for several years, during which time you haven''t participated in any work or study, and you''ve only been with the Galeana Group for a short time. Aiden''s intentions towards you are also clear. If I let you take over the Galeana Group, he won''t help you, he might even take advantage of you." Emma knew this too, if it weren''t for the Galeana family, the Ramos family definitely wouldn''t have let Aiden marry her. Emma didn''t speak, and Hunter knew she understood. "Ines is different, she''s been out there on her own for several years. Ever since she was a child, her mother and I have focused on nurturing her abilities. The Meyer family can also support her." "That''s because I returned to your side toote." Emma mumbled. She also wished she could have had her parents''panionship and careful upbringing from birth, but she had lived in that backward ce all her life, enduring much ridicule. "That''s because I didn''t know about your existence, otherwise I wouldn''t have let you stay like that for so long. Since I knew about you, I''ve treated you well, you should know that." Emma lowered her head, although she was unwilling, she didn''t dare to say anything insincere. Hunter had indeed treated her well, he personally negotiated with the doctors during her leg treatment, and he made sure she was well taken care of in terms of food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. The only shoring was that he spent very little time with her. She had seen him interact with Ines, that was the kind of father-daughter rtionship she yearned for. Ines would unabashedly act spoiled with him, argue with him. Even when he was angry, as long as Ines hugged his neck and whispered something in his ear, he would instantly startughing again. But he never acted this way with Emma, and she didn''t dare to act spoiled with him easily. ¡°I always feel like we''re not like father and daughter, I don''t dare to act spoiled with you.¡± ¡°I knew about you when you were already past the age that most needed a father''s love. The bond between people is slowly nurtured, our rtionship is bound to be different from other father- daughter rtionships, but think about it, who would treat you like I do, besides your own father?¡± Emma was taken aback, then said: "Mom said you and her were childhood sweethearts, and it was that woman who ruined your rtionship." Chapter 232 Chapter 232 Hunter let out a sarcastic smile, "The truth of the matter is that she was married before me, and my wedding was after her." Emma was stumped, "Then how do I fit in? If you both were already hitched, why was I born?" Hunter took a moment, seemingly in thought, then said, "I don''t want to dredge up the past; it was all an ident, for which I paid a heavy price." "Dad." Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Hunter continued, "I don¡¯t have any hope for your mom; some of her ideas can¡¯t be changed. But you''re young, soon to be a mom yourself. You can''tpletely listen to her, you must have your own opinions and do it yourself." "Dad..." Emma seemed to disagree with Hunter''s words. "Don''t bother denying it, I''m just reminding you, you have a long road ahead, I can''t always be there for you. If you''re so concerned about your child and are ready to give birth, you can''t ignore these things. The Ramos family won''t be that good to her, only you can truly care for her." Tears welled up in Emma''s eyes, she choked out, "Dad, why would you say that? Doesn''t Jasmine still have you, her grandfather?" "I can protect you for a while, but not you and the child forever." Hunter stepped forward, gently stroking Emma''s hair. Tears streamed down Emma''s face, she looked up in disbelief at Hunter, this was his first time being so affectionate towards her. She whispered, "Dad." "Emma, did you understand what I just said?" Emma nodded, "I understood everything." "Only with the Galeana Group, you have support, without it, you''ll be in a world of trouble, do you get that?" Hunter looked at Emma seriously. "I''ve always understood that." Because she understood, that was why she wanted to fight for it. "I know you and your mom have always wanted the Galeana Group, but you don''t get one thing: keeping what you have is harder than getting something new. The Galeana Group seems calm on the surface, but over the years it''s been a big fish in the real estate pond, attracting a lot of jealousy. Many are just waiting for it to show a chink in the armor to strike it down." This was news to Emma, she looked up at Hunter sharply, "Dad, is thepany really in danger?" "In a few months, you should stop going to the office, stay home and focus on giving birth. Your position will be kept for you. You can return whenever you want. If you don''t like your position as director of public rtions, and want to learn more, I can arrange for you to rotate positions. Of course, I won''t put you in a director''s position, you need more practice, that''s my bottom line." Hearing this, Emma''s eyes lit up, "Can I really change my job?" "Of course, you''re a mother now, even for your child, you should be stronger. If you want to show your abilities, I''ll give you the chance." Hunter nodded. "Thank you, as long as you give me the chance and guide me, I won''t let you down." "Aiden is too weak, I hope after this time, you can let go of him a bit." Thinking of this, Emma felt a bit heavy. During her convalescence in the hospital, he only visited her after work and hardly stayed. Hunter patted her shoulder lightly, nced at the time, and said, "Alright, it''ste, you can''t stay up late when you''re pregnant, go back and rest early." Emma was happy tonight, but also felt a bit uneasy. Ines didn''t speak to Ethan on the way home, and she sat quietly on the sofa when they got home, her mind a mess. "Izzy, what''s wrong?" "I''m fine, just a bit uneasy." "Did he say something to you tonight?" Ines nodded, "He said some confusing things, with no clear point, I don''t know what he was trying to say." Ethan gently stroked her hair, "Alright, don''t overthink, it''ste, go take a shower and rest." Ines got up and went to the bedroom. Ethan called Hunter, and it took a while for someone to pick up. "Why are you calling me thiste?" Hunter''s voice was sleepy, clearly just woken up by his call. "Izzy is worried about you." Ethan stated directly. "Do you think I don''t know what kind of girl she''s been since she was young? Tell her to go to bed early." Hunter''s voice was back to its usual tone, as if his gentleness tonight was just an illusion. Ethan thought for a moment, then said, "German''s doctor called me, I know." "I knew those people were unreliable, they said they wouldn''t leak anything, it''s only been a few days and now the whole world knows." Hunterined. Ethan couldn''t help butugh, Ines''s temper was just like his. "That doctor is a good friend of mine, of course, he wouldn''t hide from me. Izzy still doesn''t know about this." Ethan frowned. Hunter had deceived everyone, his treatment was not going well, the final stage had no effect, his days were numbered. "Don''t tell her, or she''ll say I am ying tricks again." "As long as you don''t do anything stupid." "I, Hunter, am not that kind of person, my illness is not bad enough to need suicide." Anyway, death is inevitable, why rush it? Ethan didn''t say anything, Hunter continued, "Anyway, I will hang on until my grandchildren are born, it would be even better if I could hear them speak." "You just can''t let go of yourpany, waiting for Izzy''s child to be born so they can continue working for you." Ethan said bluntly. Hunter said somewhat displeased, "Some things you should just know, there''s no need to say them out loud." "Do you still care about what others think?" "Let me tell you, mypany is not bad, if you started from scratch, you may not be able to reach my current position when you''re my age." Ethan didn''t argue with him, "Alright, you get some shut-eye, I won''t bug ya." Hunter didn''t respond, just sighed and said, "Ethan, you better treat my Izzy right, or I''ll haunt you from the grave." "I know," Ethan seriously answered. Chapter 233 Chapter 233 Ethan hung up the phone, turned around, and found Ines standing right in front of him, her long hair wet and disheveled. She was staring at him intently, her face serious. Ethan couldn''t handle her gaze, and for a moment was taken aback. He quickly took the towel in her hand and started drying her hair, "Dopey, you''ll catch a cold like this." Ines said nothing. Ethan felt a pang in his heart. He wiped her hair roughly with the towel, then made her sit on the bed and started blow-drying her hair. The noise of the hairdryer filled the room, but Ines''s mind was a mess. The more she thought, the more she felt that Hunter''s behavior tonight was just too odd. Ethan finished drying Ines''s hair and noticed that she was still staring nkly at one spot, her face a picture of bewilderment. "Izzy, what are you thinking about?" Ines forced a smile, raised her head, and looked at Ethan seriously. "Do you know why he''s acting so strangely? You tried so hard to convince me to meet him today. Does it have anything to do with his strange behavior?" Ethan gently held Ines''s shoulder. "Izzy, don''t overthink things, it''s not good for the baby." Ines jerked away from Ethan''s hand. "Ethan, stop treating me like a fool. You''re acting strange today. He''s acting strange. You think I wouldn''t notice? Can''t you just tell me the truth? I just need a clear answer. Is it really that hard for you to be honest with me?" "Izzy." Ines''s eyes turned red, and she was on the verge of tears. She roughly wiped her eyes, lifted her head slightly, and asked in a small voice, "Is it because the treatment isn''t working and he doesn''t have much time left?" Seeing that Ines had guessed it, Ethan could only nod gently. Ines swayed, but Ethan was quick to react. He caught her and held her tightly in his arms. "How much time does he have left?" Ines asked, her voice trembling. "A friend of mine said he has about half a year, provided he stays cheerful and doesn''t get stressed." Half a year, only half a year left? He might not even live to see their child''s birth. Ines began to tremble. "So tonight, he was..." Ines couldn''t finish her sentence, but Ethan knew what she was trying to say. He held her tighter and said, "I just called him. Don''t worry, he said he has no thoughts of suicide. He wants to see his grandson born with his own eyes, and hear them call him grandpa. He''s a strong person. He''s made it through so many difficult years, and he can make it through this as well." Ines said nothing. Ethan lowered his head to see that her eyes were tightly shut, her eyshes trembling. "Ines, don''t be like this. He''ll worry about you. He asked me to take good care of you." Ines was deeply upset. She rested against Ethan, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Seeing her like this hurt Ethan more than anything else. He gently patted her back and said softly, "If you want to cry, just let it out. Don''t keep it inside. It''s not good for you." Ines didn''t respond, but just held onto him tighter. Ethan let her hold him. She didn''t say anything, and he didn''t disturb her. After a while, Ines straightened up and said softly, "Let''s go to bed. I''m a bit tired." Ethan looked at her, worried. He would rather she cried in his arms than pretend that nothing had happened. Perhaps because she now knew about Hunter''s condition, Ines had a restless night, full of nightmares and sleep-talking. Ethan, a light sleeper, was also in and out of sleep until he was woken by Ines''s scream. Ethan turned on the light. Ines was sitting up, her face pale, her forehead and face covered in sweat. Ethan held her in his arms. "What happened? What nightmare is it again?" "I dreamed..." Before Ines could finish her sentence, the phone on the bedside table started ringing. Ines''s face turned ashen, and even Ethan looked grave. Ethan picked up the phone. Ines was staring at the phone in Ethan''s hand with an intensity that made him take her hand involuntarily. He said, "Ss." "Ethan, you and Ines need toe quickly. Mr. Galeana isn''t doing well." Ss''s voice was hoarse. Ethan was taken aback. "How did that happen?" "Bring Ines quickly. It might be toote if you dy." Ss urged. Ethan understood the urgency of the situation. He quickly dressed Ines and rushed her out of the house and into the car. Ethan couldn''t believe it. Just a few hours ago, he had been talking to the man who now was in critical condition. Ethan held onto Ines''s hand with one hand and steered the car with the other, driving as fast and as steady as he could. Ines stared at the road ahead, her nails digging into Ethan''s flesh. But Ethan made no sound, and she didn''t even realize. Her eyes were unfocused, her brain had stopped thinking, and her entire body was rigid. As soon as she got in the car, she froze and didn''t move at all. They had just reached the hospital entrance when Ss called again. "Ethan, have you arrived?" "We''ve just reached the gate of the hospital. We''ll be at your ce shortly." After hanging up the phone, Ethan noticed that Ines still looked lost. He immediately picked her up and ran towards the ward. When they arrived at the door of the ward, Ethan put Ines down. Emma and Shirley were already there. Emma was sobbing so hard she couldn''t speak, and she leaned on Shirley, mother and daughter holding each other tightly. Ss''s eyes were red and swollen. He said, "Both of you should go in. You might be able to say a last word to him." Upon hearing this, Ines broke away from Ethan''s hold but lost her bnce and nearly fell forward. Ethan broke out in a cold sweat and quickly caught her. "Izzy, be careful." Chapter 234 Chapter 234 Ines couldn''t think of anything else, and stumbled into the hospital room with Ethan half-hugging her waist, afraid she might identally fall again. In the room, Hunter was hooked up to all sorts of medical tubes, eyes tightly closed. Ines''s heart tightened as she watched him in silence. Hunter seemed to sense her, slowly opened his eyes, held a steady gaze with her, and smiled a little. Then he looked at Ethan. Sensing something was wrong, Ethan led Ines to sit down beside the bed. Hunter opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He managed to lift his hand, and Ethan immediately ced Ines''s hand in his. Hunter''s deep and long gaze lingered on Ines''s face, as if he was reluctant to let go, yearning, yet relieved. His focus gradually blurred, and his lips moved slightly, but no one could hear what he was trying to say. Ines watched him quietly, suddenly panicked and pressed his emaciated face tightly against his own, gently whispering, "Dad." The sound was not loud, but Ethan heard it, and Ss and Eda on the side also heard it. Emma, standing at the door of the ward, started to cry even harder. Hunter was first startled, then he slowly smiled. "Izzy... Daddy''s Izzy..." His words came out slowly, with great difficulty, but each word was pronounced so everyone could hear clearly. Ines felt as if she had been struck by lightning, a voice echoing, "Daddy''s Izzy." The voice was filled with helplessness yet full of affection. A memory shed in her mind. Hunter tightened his face and prepared to teach her a lesson. His hand was raised, but in the end, he just lightly swatted her butt. She knew it was just to scare her, it didn¡¯t hurt that much, and she giggled and ran away. After saying those words, Hunter''s face suddenly turned to one side. Ines felt her heart stop. She was suffocating, tears unconsciously streaming down her face. The rm indicating the end of life sounded in the room. Ines couldn''t hear anything, she just held her chest and clung tightly to the hand in hers. Doctors and nurses rushed in, their voices clinical, "The patient has passed away. The time of death is 4:30 am." "Dad!" Ines didn''t speak, just stared nkly at Hunter, looked at his face, Which usually made her very irritable. Now hey quietly there, no longer shouting at her or calling her fiercely. Emma standing at the door, also rushed up. Ines was knocked by her, and fallen onto Hunter. Ethan felt heartbroken and leaned forward to help her up, anxiously asking, "Izzy, are you okay? Are you hurt?" Ines didn''t speak, just stared nkly at Hunter, at the face that usually annoyed her so much. Now hey there quietly. He would never yell at her again, never call her in that fierce tone. Tears had stopped flowing at some point., Ines stared at Hunter, yelling angrily, "Didn''t you say you wanted to hear your grandson call you grandpa? What are you doing lying here? Get up!" "Didn''t you care so much about yourpany? What happened when you suddenly gave up like this? Don''t expect me to save the Galeana Group for you!" "Didn''t you say you never regret your decisions? Stand up and prove you''re right. Show me!" "Didn''t you say I can hate you? How can I hate you if you don''t get up? Who can I vent my anger on ,or who can I argue with when I''m angry? Get up, get up!" Ines''s voice got louder and louder, herst words almost a crazed roar. She suddenly tried to pull Hunter''s hand, "Get up, don''t you dare leave like this. How will you repay what you owe me? You took my mom from me, and now even you''ve left me, you too, you''re all leaving me..." Hunter''s body tilted with her pull, half hanging off the bed. Emma held onto his legs, yelling at Ines, "Ines, Dad is gone. You were mad at him every day when he was alive, what''s this for now? He can''t hear you anymore. He won''t ever hear you again. Just a few hours ago, he said he wanted to help me be stronger and protect Jasmine with me." It was clear Emma couldn''t ept the reality either. She started crying on the bed, "I never got to enjoy Dad''s love. I grew up with a gambler, a murderer. My ssmates always made fun of me. It wasn''t untilter that I found out my real dad was a very powerful man, the CEO of apany, living in a mansion. The first time I saw him, I was so excited I couldn''t sleep..." Shirley stood behind Emma, gently ced a hand on her shoulder, "Emma, stop crying. Your dad is gone. You showed signs of a miscarriage a few days ago. You can''t get too upset." "Mom, I''m a child without a father again." Emma clung to Shirley''s legs, still crying her heart out. Ethan hugged Ines at some point in his arms, looking seriously at him, her voice hoarse, "Ethan, even if I hated him, even if I lost my memory, I''ve always known I didn''t want him to die, really." Ethan patted her back, "I know, Izzy, I know you''ve actually forgiven him a long time ago. Otherwise you wouldn''t have helped him so much." Ines started crying in Ethan''s arms, "I shouldn''t have been mad at him. I argued with him tonight. If I had known this would happen, I would have talked to him nicely." Ethan looked at Ines, feeling heartbroken, "Izzy, no one can predict these things. You can''t take everything on yourself." Ss had tears in his eyes, and Eda started to sob. Ethan held Ines tightly, and suddenly realized she had stopped moving in his arms. He looked down to see her eyes still wet with tears, but she had fainted. He immediately called for a doctor. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. In a while, the doctor and nurses hurried over. After a preliminary examination, they said, "She fainted due to excessive grief. There''s no major issue. She will wake up in a while. She''s pregnant now. Try to avoid getting her too emotional." Chapter 235 Chapter 235 Ethan settled Ines into the hospital bed next to him. She was out cold, but tears still flowed silently down her cheeks, just as if she was wide awake. All Ethan could do was continually wipe away her tears. He wished he could take all her pain for her, but all he could do right now was talk to her, trying to soothe her emotions. But it didn''t do any good. Her tears just wouldn''t stop, and her shoulders twitched slightly. Frightened, Ethan quickly called for the doctor again. The doctor, after examining her, could only shake his head. They couldn''t control a patient''s emotions. They could only wait for her to calm down on her own. "Will there be any issues if this continues?" Ethan asked, frowning. "She''ll definitely be dehydrated. If she doesn''t improve soon, call me back. I''ll have a nurse give her a saline drip. It would help if you kept talking to her. Even though she''s unconscious, look at her current state. She must still be aware." Ethan nodded, took off his shoes, climbed into bed, held her tightly and talked to her. Hisforting words didn''t seem to help. Within a short time, his entire sleeve was soaked with tears. Her hair was sticking to her face with tears. Fearing it was making her ufortable, Ethan got up and fetched a basin of warm water. He gently wiped her face and nted a soft kiss on her forehead, saying, "Izzy, stop crying. You''ll ruin your eyes. I''m really worried about you." Maybe she had cried herself out, or maybe she''d run out of tears, but Ines finally calmed down, and lay quietly in his arms. Ethan breathed a sigh of relief. At that moment, Ss quietly pushed open the door. He looked at Ines on the bed and asked, "How''s Ms Ines doing now?" "She''s been crying non-stop. She must''ve tired herself out. She''s finally stopped." "Mr Meyer." Ss called softly. Ethan knew he had something to say, so he slowly stood up. As soon as he did, Ines furrowed her brow. Ethan had to gently pat her back for a while, waiting until she had adjusted before he got up. Ethan quietly closed the door. Before Ss could speak, he couldn''t help but ask, "What happened? Everything was fine tonight. I even spoke to him on the phone when I got home. He seemed fine then. How could he just suddenly pass away?" "Mr Galeana fell down the stairs when he got up to take his medication in the middle of the night. The doctors said it was a cerebral haemorrhage caused by high blood pressure. It happened very quickly." Ethan eyed him suspiciously. "He got up in the middle of the night to take his medicine?" Ss nodded. "Yes, I found him lying at the foot of the stairs when I got up to use the bathroom. He was unconscious by then. I found a few pills on the table in his room." N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. "What kind of medicine was he taking?" Ss showed him the medication in his hand. "I had my doubts at first, but I just confirmed with the doctor that these are indeedmon blood pressure medicine." "Did he usually have high blood pressure symptoms?" Ss nodded. "Mr Galeana has had high blood pressure for many years, and he always had medication on hand at home." Despite Ss''s exnations, Ethan couldn''t help but furrow his brow. Normally, unless feeling particrly unwell, a sleeping person wouldn''t wake up to take blood pressure medicine. For Hunter, the most likely scenario was that he woke up due to pain and took some anti-cancer drugs. "Ss, we should call the police. This may not be a simple ident. Called your home and tell the staff not to clean today. Don''t touch anything." "Do you think Mr Galeana''s situation was man-made, not an ident?" Ethan nodded. "Either way, letting the professionals investigate will put our minds at ease." Hearing Ethan''s words, Ss didn''t ask any further. He immediately called the house staff and then the police. Ethan returned to the hospital room. Ines was having a nightmare again, crying out for her "Daddy" and shaking slightly. Ethan quickly went over, holding her body still,forting her, "Izzy, it''s okay. You''re just having a dream." Ines seemed to hear him and gradually calmed down. Erica''s call came in at that moment. "Ethan, it''s nearly 8 o''clock. Why haven''t you brought Izzy back yet?" Ethan said, "Mom, Izzy and I are at the hospital. Hunter had an ident and passed away." Erica was taken aback, thinking she had misheard. She asked again, "What did you just say? Who passed away?" "Ines''s biological father, Hunter," Ethan said calmly. Erica clutched her chest, still a bit stunned. "How could this happen? Didn''t you guys just have dinner at their housest night? How could things happen so suddenly? How''s Izzy doing now?" "Izzy''s not in a good state. She cried until she fainted. She just managed to fall asleep. I''m not quite sure about the specifics yet." "Ah, she''s always been bad at expressing her emotions. You need to guide her and not let her overthink." "I know, Mom. Don''t worry too much. I''ll take care of her." Even though Ethan reassured her, Erica still couldn''t fully rx. "No, I''lle over right away. I don''t trust you two on your own." Ethan thought for a moment, then stopped Erica. "Mom, you don''t need toe. Just go to the office. Thepany will need you to hold the fort for a while. After Hunter''s departure, the Galeana Group will definitely be in a mess. Izzy''s not in a state to handle intense work right now, so I''ll definitely go to the Galeana Group to help her out." "Don''t worry about me. Although I have not regrly handled thepany''s affairs these past few years, I can manage. What I''m most worried about is Izzy. I''ll call Lauren Nelson and ask her and Cam to look after Izzy. She''s not just one person now, but three. We can''t afford any idents. You''ll be busy dealing with the Galeana Group''s affairs. How can you spare the energy to take care of her?" "Mom, you''re very considerate. I don''t have the energy to spare right now." Chapter 236 Chapter 236 After hanging up the phone, Ethan Meyer returned to the hospital room. Ines was awake, stared nkly at the ceiling, totally oblivious to his presence. It was a stab to Ethan''s heart. He approached her, "Izzy, don''t be like this. I''m really worried about you." "Ines," Ethan softly called her name. "Izzy, what do you want to say?" Ethan held her hand. "Ethan, I forgot to ask him a question. What kind of feelings does he really have for my mom? He should know my mom''s character. She can''t tolerate ws. Why would he bring the children of another woman to A City, knowing well that my mom couldn''t ept this? Why on earth would he do this? I didn''t get to ask him clearly before he left. I still have so many questions!" As Ines spoke, she became more and more agitated. All Ethan could do was hold her tightly, "Izzy, don''t overthink." "I can''t help it. My heart hurts. I want it to stop hurting, but I can''t control it. It hurts so much here," Ines pressed her hand over her heart, her face lost. "Izzy, you need to calm down for our two children. We can''t afford any idents." Ethan ced Ines¡¯s hand on her slightly swollen belly. Her hand trembled. Eventually, she calmed down. Ines looked up at Ethan, her face pale, "I haven''t recalled his good sides, everything about him. Why did he have to leave." "Izzy, you''re doing great. Even though you resent him, you stepped up whenever he needed you. That''s already pretty remarkable. He smiled when he left. He heard you call him ''Dad''." Ines smiled weakly, then suddenly asked, "What happened to him? Wasn''t he supposed to have six months left?" Ethan ryed everything he had heard from Ss. "Ethan, you might be overthinking. He probably wanted to die. Otherwise, why would he take hypertension medicine in the middle of the night and fall down the stairs?" Ines gave a bitter smile. "Izzy, if it weren''t forst night''s call, I would have thought that he found out from the diary that Shirley Dave once forced your mom and felt remorseful. But when I called himst night, he told me he wasn''t that fragile, not enough tomit suicide." "Perhaps he lied to deceive you, said that on purpose. His demeanourst night was almost like he was leaving hisst words. Emma Galeana said so too. She had a deep talk with himst night." "Izzy, he was a firm man. He might have said that because he was happy. Both his daughters are pregnant, and you''re expecting twins. Older people love children. You should know this from the behaviour of our family members." Ines thought for a moment and found Ethan''s words reasonable. Hunter Galeana had bought gifts when hended, indicating he valued her children. He wouldn''tmit suicide. And a man who knew he was dying wouldn''t do anything unnecessary. "Ethan, I think it has something to do with that mother and daughter. They''re the only ones in the house with a motive." "Don''t worry. I''ve already asked Ss to call the police. They''ll be here soon to investigate. You take care of yourself. Whoever it is, we won''t let them off easily." The police arrived soon after, gathering everyone for questioning. After hearing this, Ethan helped Ines out of the room. "What are you doing? Dad just passed away, and you''re calling the police. What are you trying to achieve? Can''t you let dad rest in peace?" Emma protested hoarsely. Emma''s eyes were red and swollen as if she had been crying for a long time. Ines didn''t respond. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. "Ms Emma, we just received a report. Mr Galeana''s death may not be a simple ident. It could be a deliberate murder," the police officer told Emma. Emma staggered and Ss quickly supported her. She muttered, "No, maybe dad didn''t want to live anymore. He said a lot of thingsst night that we would never say. I knew something was wrong, but I was careless, I just went to sleep after showering." Ines looked at Emma seriously, "He hadte-stage lung cancer. He went for treatment a while ago, but it didn''t work. He only had six months left. Why would hemit suicide?" There was no point hiding it now that he was gone. Emma gaped at Ines in disbelief, "You said it was just a neck difort. How could it be lung cancer?" Ss also looked surprised, "Ms Ines, you''re saying the overseas treatment didn''t work?" Ines nodded, "He hid it on purpose, but his primary doctor is Ethan''s friend. He couldn''t help but tell Ethan." "I should''ve guessed it. I was so stupid to let him go back to work at the Galeana Group," Ss gave a bitter smile. "He probably hid it because he feared you would stop him." The police officer, a man around Ethan''s age, had dealt with him before. "Officer Lin, it''s not that simple. You should investigate," Ethan said. n Lin nodded and asked Ss, "Aside from you all, are there any other people in the house?" "We have a few servants. They''re all at home now." n Lin nodded and told the other officers, "Find a ce to question them and take notes. Some of you go to the Galeana family, question the remaining people and take notes. Don''t miss anyone and question them thoroughly." "Understood, Officer Lin." The hospital didn''t have a special ce for questioning, so the officers just found some simple ces to sit down. Ines and Ethan had finished their questioning, Emma had also finished, but Shirley was nowhere to be seen. Ines couldn''t help but ask, "Where''s Shirley?" Emma seemed a bit out of it like she hadn''t quite bounced back from the news just yet. After a bit, she finally said, "My mom said I can''t starve. She went to grab me some breakfast." No sooner had they finished talking than Shirley walked in from outside, carrying some food, and handed it straight to Emma. "Eat up. We can''t let Jasmine starve. Your dad is super pumped for her arrival, don''t let him leave with a worried mind." Chapter 237 Chapter 237 Emma''s eyes immediately welled up after hearing this. She held back her tears and took the thing from Shirley''s hand. Shirley turned to Ines and Ethan, frowning, "Mr Meyer, Ms Ines, what''s the deal here? Why the hell did you bring the police to the hospital?" "About Mr Galeana''s sudden death, we got a call saying it wasn''t an ident, so we need your cooperation in our investigation." Shirley let out a smallugh and corrected, ¡°Officer, let''s get this straight. I''m Hunter''s wife. Please call me Mrs Galeana.¡± n Lin hesitated, then said, ¡°My apologies, Mrs Galeana, we need your cooperation in our investigation.¡± "Who gave you the right to do this? I am Hunter''s wife. Who called the police? I don''t recall making any calls. Please leave. I don''t want my husband to be disturbed. He just wanted to leave quietly." Shirley said coldly. "It was the butler of the Galeana family, Mr Galeana''s secretary Ss who called us. We came here after receiving the call." Shirley nced at Ss and told the police, ¡°I am Hunter''s wife, and let me make this clear, we don¡¯t need your investigation. I know my husband''s health condition very well. He has been suffering from hypertension for many years. There''s nothing unusual. Please leave.¡± n Lin looked at Ethan with difficulty. This case was unlike other criminal cases where they could proceed with the investigation forcibly. If the family did not want the police to interfere, they could not start their work. Upon hearing this, Ines couldn¡¯t help but step forward, and red at Shirley: ¡°Shirley, if you have nothing to hide, why are you afraid of an investigation? Officer Lin, I am the deceased''s daughter and want you to investigate this thoroughly.¡± Shirley looked at Ines as if she had heard a joke, mocking, ¡°Did I hear that right? Are you his daughter? Since I married him, I¡¯ve never heard you call him dad. Now that he''s gone, you suddenly appear. What''s your motive? You know it very well.¡± Emma, still thinking about what Hunter told herst night, pulled Shirley¡¯s arm, ¡°Mom, just let them investigate. If it¡¯s an ident, it¡¯s good, but I sincerely hope no one did this on purpose.¡± ¡°Emma, have you lost your mind? Don¡¯t you know why they are here? Isn¡¯t it obvious they are after the Galeana Group¡¯s fortune? When have you ever seen them this proactive before? Even when we invite them for dinner, Ss has to call several times.¡± Hearing her mother say this, Emma looked at Ethan and Ines, choosing to remain silent. Ines was shaking with anger, ¡°Shirley, stop talking nonsense.¡± Ss stood up: ¡°Officer Lin, I can confirm that Ms Ines is indeed Mr Galeana''s biological daughter. You can act ording to her instructions.¡± ¡°Ss, you¡¯ve always been close to them. Who can be sure you guys haven''t teamed up to take over the Galeana Group¡¯s fortune? Your words are not convincing.¡± ¡°My words may not count, but Mr Galeana left a letter. If anything happened to him, he wanted me to send it to all the newspapers, telling everyone that he had misunderstood his daughter, Ines. He thought she made a serious mistake, so he kicked her out of the house. He wanted to exin this situation to the public.¡± As Ss spoke, he took out a letter from his pocket. Ines quickly took it. It was indeed Hunter''s handwriting, and it was an apology letter. He apologized to her in public, saying he had misunderstood her. Thest sentence was, ¡°My Izzy, she has always been my most beloved daughter, and I want to apologize to her.¡± Tears rolled down Ines¡¯s cheeks; then..... Tears rolled down Ines¡¯s cheeks. Shirley''s face turned ugly, and she remained silent with her lips tightly sealed. Seeing the situation, n Lin asked Shirley, ¡°Mrs Galeana, where were you when this happened?¡± ¡°I was sleeping.¡± Shirley''s hand tightened slightly. ¡°You were sleeping? Didn''t you notice when your husband got up?¡± Shirley chuckled, ¡°You should ask him. He should know better than anyone.¡± Shirley pointed at Ss. Ss''s face also turned pale. It was difficult to say, but he confessed, ¡°Mr Galeana and Mrs Galeana have not been sleeping in the same bedroom. Their bedrooms are on different floors.¡± Ines¡¯ hand also tightened. Even though she already knew this, hearing Ss say it made her sad. Ethan held her hand tightly. n Lin paused for a moment and then continued to ask, ¡°So you live on the second floor. Did you hear any noise?¡±N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. ¡°No, when I heard the noise and came out, Hunter was already lying on the floor. Ss was standing beside him.¡± Shirley was expressionless, showing no emotion on her face. No matter what n Lin asked, Shirley always said she didn¡¯t know.. The Galeana family didn''t have any surveince, and Shirley insisted that she was sleeping in her room the whole time and didn''t hear any noise. n Lin couldn''t get any helpful information out of her. He said he would have to go back topare the statements of others before deciding what to do next. Ethan patted Ines''s hand, ¡°Don''t worry. If there is any hidden truth, it will be revealed.¡± ¡°Ethan, Shirley''s attitude is very unusual. After such a big thing happened, she didn''t cry or make a fuss. She was so calm.¡± Ethan''s eyes flickered. He always felt Shirley was moreplicated than Emma, ¡°Don''t worry. If she did it, there will always be traces to find.¡± At that moment, Lauren Nelson and Cam rushed over. Ethan handed Ines over to them and went with Ss to take care of Hunter''s affairs. The two brought Ines straight back to their ce in the city. Ines clutched her father''s letter, not uttering a word, and seemed somewhat lost. Lauren gently brushed her cheek, "Izzy, you can''t be like this. You have got to keep it together, especially now. The Galeana Group''s business is all on you and Ethan now. But Ethan. He''s not an employee, he can''t get involved in the Galeana Group''s business. So, you need to step up. He''ll be there backing you up. The Galeana Group was your father''s pride and joy. You gotta protect it for him, got it?" After hearing this, a faint glimmer sparked in Ines''s eyes. She silently stared at Lauren, her face void of expression, making her feel as if all the sadness in the world was welling up at once. Lauren felt a tightness in her chest. She lifted her hand to cover Ines''s eyes, "Izzy, don''t look at me like that. It breaks my heart." Chapter 238 Chapter 238 Cam looked at Ines with a heavy heart. She''d been in this family for a while, and they were nothing like the arrogant, high-and-mighty types she''d worked for before. The atmosphere was warm and pleasant. But now, with everything that had happened, she felt gutted. "Lauren, I''m fine. Go and do your thing. Cam''s here to keep mepany," Ines didn''t want to hold up Lauren. Lauren squeezed Ines''s hand with a smile, "You''re still being polite now? We''re family, you know. How could I go to work knowing you''re going through all this? Missing a few days at the gallery is no big deal." "Lauren," Ines looked at her. "Sweetheart, have a bite to eat. You haven''t had anything all day. Your two little ones must be starving," Lauren persuaded. "Okay," Ines nodded. With her agreement, Cam happily brought out the food she had prepared from the kitchen. Ines began to eat, but it was as if she was going through the motions, not really tasting anything. Halfway through, she suddenly felt nauseous and rushed to the bathroom to throw up. Lauren quickly followed, rubbing her shoulders and patting her back. After throwing up, Ines felt weak, barely able to walk. Lauren helped her to bed and asked Cam, "Why is Izzy experiencing morning sickness again?" "It stopped a while ago. I''m not sure why it''s starting up again today. It might be because of the emotional ups and downs she''s been on," Cam exined. Lauren, gently stroking Ines''s hair, asked, "Izzy, is there anything you feel like eating? I can go get it for you." Ines shook her head, "I''m not hungry. I''m tired. I want to sleep." Lauren nodded, not pushing her further. She tucked Ines in, "You just get some rest, Izzy. Don''t worry about a thing. Cam and I are right outside if you need anything." Ines, knowing they were worried about her, gave them a reassuring smile, "I''ll be fine, guys. I''m a mom to two now. I won''t torture myself." She cherished the lives she was carrying dearly. Feeling slightly relieved, Lauren and Cam left the room, giving Ines some space. "Cam, what can Izzy eat to help with the morning sickness?" Lauren asked. "Mr Galeana gave me a secret recipe. Cut some papaya into small pieces and soak it in yogurt. She had that for a few days before, and it helped." "Can you run out and grab some groceries? Just checked the fridge. We''re pretty much out of food." Cam nodded and left to go shopping. By noon, Erica Meyer, Phillip Meyer, and Jacob Meyer had all arrived. Lauren, surprised, warmly invited them in. Entering the living room, a photo of Ines and Ethan''s wedding caught everyone''s eye. Everyone sighed regretfully that Hunter would not be able to attend Ines''s wedding or witness the birth of their children, leaving their wedding iplete. "Why are you all here? I''ve got this," Lauren was taken aback. "With something this big, how could I note?" Erica replied. She had wanted toe in the morning but had to deal with things at the Meyer Group and only managed to sneak away during her lunch break. She had been worried about Ines all day. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. "How is Izzy? Is she okay?" Phillip asked, unusually serious. Lauren shook her head, "She''s not doing too well. She''s really out of it. We managed to get her to eat a little bit, but then she threw up. She''s resting now." Upon hearing this, Phillip sighed, "That poor kid. Just as she was getting back on her feet in A City and reconciling with her father, this happens." "Let''s not worry too much since the matter has already happened. We just have to face it," said Jacob, who had just returned from work, still carrying his briefcase. Erica couldn''t help herself and quietly sneaked into the room. Seeing that Ines was not sleeping, her eyshes fluttering slightly and her eyes moist, she softly asked, "Izzy, can''t you sleep?" Hearing Erica''s voice, Ines couldn''t help but open her eyes. Her voice was hoarse and a bit painful. Erica immediately poured her a ss of water, "Izzy, drink some water if your throat is ufortable." Ines took the water and drank it down. Watching her, Erica''s eyes welled up with tears. "Do you need another ss?" Ines said, "No, I feel much better now." "Izzy, I don''t know how tofort you. I just hope you can recover soon and stop worrying us all." "I''m sorry for making you all worry." "We''re family, Izzy. Don''t say things like that. From now on, you can always rely on the Meyer family." With that, Erica hugged Ines. Feeling the warmth of her embrace, Ines''s nose tingled, and she started crying again. Erica gently stroked her hair, "Just let it all out, Izzy. Cry it all out." Ines sobbed, "I don''t have a mom or dad anymore." "Honey, how can you possibly be without a mother? I''m your mom, Ethan''s dad is your dad, we''re all your closest family. You''re not alone, you''ve got a hubby, and soon you''ll have two little lovely children, and there are plenty of people around you backing you up." Ines nodded vigorously in Erica''s arms. With Erica whispering into her ear, Ines drifted off to dreand without realizing it. Erica knew Ines was really out this time. She gently wiped her face with a damp cloth, tucked her in, and left the bedroom. Lauren looked at Erica, "Erica, you''ve got the magic touch. She''s out like a light in a short time." Chapter 239 Chapter 239 Lauren looked at Erica, "Erica, you''re a real lifesaver. You''ve got her asleep in no time." "Ines may seem tough as nails on the outside and likes to keep her emotions under wraps, but in reality, she''s soft as a marshmallow andcks security. We can''t let her bottle up her feelings. We need her to let it out and have a good cry. Otherwise, it might mess up her mental health." Lauren nodded in agreement. Erica told Jacob and Lauren, "You guys hurry off and do your thing. I can keep an eye on Izzy." "Erica, don''t you have to sort out stuff for the Meyer Group? You go and do what you need to do. I''ll take good care of Izzy. I promise you''lle back to find her safe and sound." Lauren said. "I''ve already sorted out the office stuff this morning. If there are any new files, Lucas will send them straight over. I n to stay here for the next few days, with Izzy." Erica insisted. Her mind was always elsewhere at work and worked at a snail''s pace. She was better off here with Izzy. Lauren wanted to say more, but Jacob cut her off. "Alright, we''ll take your word for it. Give us a shout if you need any help." Erica nodded and said with a smile, "Sure, I won''t hold back." After Jacob and Lauren left, Erica told Phillip to head home too, "You head home too. I''ve got it covered here. I''ll bunk with Cam tonight. There''s no spare room here. You''ll have nowhere to sleep if you stay." "I''ll hang around for a bit longer until Izzy wakes up," Phillip said. He was restless without seeing Izzy. Ethan came back in the evening. Hunter''s send-off was nned for three dayster. The burial plot was one Hunter had picked out for himself a long time ago to be buried with Ines''s mother. When he entered the door, Ethan asked about Ines''s condition. Hearing Erica say she''d had a good cry, a small smile appeared on his face. Seeing the exhaustion written all over her son''s face, Erica said tenderly, "Ethan, you''ve been running around all day. Go and rest up a bit. I''ll be here the whole day." Ethan nodded and entered the bedroom. Ines was sleeping peacefully this time, with no crying, no frowning, just like she usually did. Ethan bent down and kissed her forehead gently, then held her as he fell asleep. When Ines woke up, she found Ethan lying next to her. His brow was slightly furrowed, and the dark circles under his eyes were noticeable. She gently stroked his face out of concern. She stirred slightly, causing Ethan''s eyshes to flutter. Ines whispered, "Ethan, go back to sleep, don''t worry, I''m okay." Ethan didn''t move, continuing to sleep soundly. Ines lost her sleepiness and closed her eyes to think about stuff. She reflected on her experiences since returning to A City half a year ago, realizing she had been in denial. Where there''s no love, there''s no hate. All the resentment she felt toward Hunter was really rooted in the love she deliberately downyed and ran away from. In fact, she had forgiven him a long time ago. Ethan opened his eyes and saw Ines looking at him intently, "When did you wake up? Why didn''t you say anything?" "I didn''t want to disturb your sleep. You look exhausted," Ines answered truthfully. Ethan sat up and gently pinched her face, "Let''s get up and eat something. Mom told me you haven''t eaten much today." Ines smiled, "I think I am a bit peckish." Before eating, Ines had some fruit and a small bowl of soup, but her morning sickness was severe, the fruit didn''t do much good, and she threw up everything she had eaten. For the baby''s sake, she forced herself to eat some vegetables, but no matter what she ate, she threw it up, which made her feel really sick. N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Ethan felt really bad for her and felt helpless. He was infuriated and cursed the little one in her belly, regardless of whether they were his little princesses. Seeing him all huffed and puffed, Ines tried to calm him down, "Ethan, don''t worry. I''ve been through this before. It''ll be alright. Cam says it might have to do with my emotions. Maybe it''ll get better once I''m in a better mood." Seeing that Ines was doing okay, Phillip returned to the Meyer Mansion. A City has strict burial regtions, no burials are allowed, only cremations, and the ashes are then buried. On the day of the cremation, Ss notified them. Ethan took Ines to the funeral home. Hunter was lying there peacefully, dressed in a deep blue suit, still handsome and dashing, as if he was just sleeping. Seeing him like this, Ines covered her mouth, trying hard not to let her tears fall. Ines looked at his peaceful face and couldn''t help but reach out to touch him. The stiffness and coldness under her hand reminded her again that he was gone. Her gazended on the top of his head, where a lot of his hair had fallen out, revealing a bald spot. She had never noticed it before. "That''s from the chemotherapy a while ago. Some more might have fallen out during treatment." Ss told her. Ines couldn''t hold back any longer. Her tears fell like rain. She sobbed, "Dad, I forgive you, I really do. Can''t you stay? You haven''t walked me down the aisle yet, and you haven''t seen your grandchildren born. You haven''t even named them yet. How could you just leave like this?" Ines choked up, "You haven''t taken the Galeana Group to its peak. How could you just leave like this?" Seeing Ines like this, Ethan felt a deep pain in his heart. He held her tight, "Izzy, don''t do this. Let him go. He won''t suffer from the disease anymore after he''s gone." When Ss caught sight of Ines'' condition, he couldn''t help but let the tears fall again. He handed the tie to Ines, "Ms Ines, could you do Mr Galeana a solid and tie his tie onest time? He was always used to you doing it for him. When you left A City, he kept saying his tie never looked as good when he did it himself. He wishes you could tie it for him one more time." Chapter 240 Chapter 240 Ines lifted her tear-streaked face and looked at Ss before taking the tie from his hand. The tie seemed heavy, her movements slow. The tie in her hand was old. Its colour faded as if it had been washed many times. It was one of Hunter''s personal items, not brand new. Seeing her hesitation, Ss exined, "Ms Galeana, you bought this tie for him with your first paycheck from your part-time job when you started college. You spent a whole month''s sry on it. He scolded you but was genuinely happy, saying you were bing sensible and would be a dutiful child in the future.¡± Ss sighed, ¡°It must have been ten years now. He kept it all this time, only using it on special asions and kept it nicely in the cab otherwise. Hearing this, Ethan had an ''aha'' moment. No wonder she tied his tie perfectly the first time. She must have been used to doing it for Hunter. There was no doubt about it. She and Hunter must have been very close. Ines was visibly shaken, clutching the tie tightly and trembling. She looked drained as if she had aged decades in an instant. Ethan couldn''t help but step forward and wrap his arms around her waist, supporting her. Ines bent over to tie Hunter''s tie, her hands shaking. She took ten full minutes toplete a simple task, adjusting it over and over, unable to let go. A staff member came over to inform them that it was time to cremate the body and bid their final farewells. Aiden Ramos apanied Emma. She buried her face in his chest, clearly crying. Aiden kept patting her backfortingly. Hearing what the staff member said, Emma pushed Aiden away and cried, "Daddy!" Seeing her lose control like this, Ethan was sure that Emma had nothing to do with what happened to Hunter. Shirley must have been the only other possibility if this wasn''t an ident. But why would Shirley suddenly act this way? Her life might not be after Hunter''s death. Emma''s high-pitched wails were heart-wrenching, making Ines feel even worse. The staff walked over to take Hunter''s body for cremation. Emma growled, "You can''t take my dad away. I won''t let you." All Aiden could do was hold her tight and soothe her, "Emma, stop it. He''s gone. Let them take him." Ines watched as Hunter was pushed into the cremation chamber, tears streaming down her face. Ethan held her face against his chest, trying to shield her from the gruesome sight. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Not long after, Hunter''s urn was brought out. Ines attempted to hold the urn, but Emma beat her to it. Ines stared at the small urn, unable to believe that the once vibrant man was reduced to nothing but ashes. Ethan gently patted her hand, and Ines didn''t argue with Emma, who took the urn away. Hunter''s death was sudden, so the funeral was kept low-key. The attendees were mostly his business associates, close friends, and members of the Meyer and Ramos families. The day of the funeral was sunny with a light breeze. The photo of Hunter showed him smiling, looking peaceful. Ines was dressed in ck, with Ethan by her side. Emma and Shirley were also dressed in ck, with Aiden standing next to them. Seeing them approach, Shirley couldn''t help but question Ines, "What are you doing here?" "Shirley, I don''t want to argue with you right now. It would be best if you watched your manners. Don''t embarrass Dad even when he''s gone." Shirley wanted to retort, but Emma stopped her, "Mom, let''s not make a scene now. It''s Dad''s funeral, and people are watching." Shirley nced at the crowd and chose to remain silent. The five of them bowed slightly to show their gratitude to the attendees. Ever since the press conference, it was no secret that they were all connected. Most people offeredforting words to Ines. The smell of the incense was making Ines nauseous. She couldn''t stand it and ran outside for some fresh air. Shirley sneered at her, "She''s so spoiled. She couldn''t even stand here for a while and yet pretended to be strong." Having stood all morning, Emma was also feeling it. She rubbed her belly and patted her back, "It''s tiring to stand all morning." Shirley nced at Aiden, "You take Emma home. It''s not good for a pregnant woman to stand for too long." Emma waved him off, "No, I''ll rest outside on a chair. I''m not going home. I want to send my Dad off myself." "Since when did you be so close to your father? You two weren''t that close before." "Mom, he''s my dad. It''s only right that I mourn him. You''ve been acting weirdtely. Ever since dad returned from abroad, you''ve been different. Did something happen between you two that I don''t know about?" Emma looked at Shirley, clearly confused. "Don''t be absurd. There''s nothing between your father and me. I''m just worried about your health. Your dad wouldn''t want you to hurt Jasmine because of him." Emma didn''t think more about it and leaned on Aiden to rest. Ines came back after getting some fresh air. There weren''t many mourners, so by 4 p.m., they were done and headed to the cemetery. Chapter 241 Chapter 241 Shirley was livid when she saw Lilian Page, Ines''s mother, buried beside Hunter. She shouted in a low voice, "Who chose this spot? Why would they bury her next to him?" Ines was immediately ticked off, unable to stand anyone belittling her mother. "Shirley, watch your mouth. The woman you''re referring to was his first wife. What''s wrong with burying him here?" "The first wife, in this era, Who cares about that these days? She''s his ex-wife. I''m his wife now. His every move is my call, and I won''t let him be buried here," Shirley eximed. When Ss heard her words, his face became serious, and he thought this woman was shameless. She didn''t worry about the funeral at all, and when others had arranged everything, she was dictating. It was really annoying. He always found her too worldly. Seeing her true colours now, he couldn''t hold his tongue anymore. He said coldly, "The president chose this ce himself. Your words now are pointless." "No way, I won''t let them be buried together. She stole my husband when she was alive, and I won''t let them be together after death." Shirley blurted out, regardless of the people around. Ss trembled with anger and pointed at Shirley, "Don''t talk nonsense here. You''re the gold-digger. You were pregnant with a man''s child but chose to marry another. After marriage, you found out the man you looked down on had married a rich girl, and you started to create havoc, even ndering the president had a one-night stand with you, and forced thedy to death. How dare you talk here?" Emma also understood Ss'' words, trembling and looking at Ss, "Ss, what are you talking about? Am I, not my dad''s child?" "Of course, you''re the president''s child, but not from an extramarital affair. Your mom was pregnant with you before their marriage. She didn''t like your dad because he was poor and married another man, the gambler you mentioned. You''re not Ms Galeana''s little sister, but her big sister." Ss couldn''t hold it anymore and revealed the truth to everyone. He felt sorry for Hunter. This woman had deceived him.for many years and didn''t know the truth until his death. Emma''s lips trembled, looking at Shirley incredulously, "Mom, is what Ss said true? You abandoned Dad, but you told me another woman stole him. You lied to me?" People around were whispering and even pointing fingers. Ines felt so embarrassed and buried her face in Ethan''s chest. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Angry and embarrassed, Shirley yelled at Ss, "Ss stop talking nonsense. That woman stole everything that was supposed to be mine." "Yours? Everyone in A City knows our chairman started from nothing. Before marrying the Page family''s daughter, he was a nobody. He had nothing back then. What could possibly be yours? Tell me." "Mom, is it true? Are you really like what Ss said?" Emma looked at Shirley. Shirley red at Emma furiously, venting all her anger on her, "Emma, I''m your biological mother. Watch your tone. How can you doubt me just because of what others say? I''ve raised you for so many years, and now you believe a stranger." Emma stepped back, "But you can refute it. Tell me you''re not like that." She might not be a good person, but she couldn''t stand her mother''s deception. She felt like a chess piece being manipted. Shirley was speechless. Ss ordered the staff to put Hunter''s ashes into the prepared hole because it was gettingte. Shirley tried to stop it, but Ss grabbed her arm tightly. Naturally, men are stronger than women. Shirley couldn''t break free and threatened Ss, "Ss, you''re too much. Hunter just passed away, and you''re showing your true colours. Don''t forget, I''m your boss now. I can fire you anytime." Ss wasn''t bothered. He was Hunter''s secretary, technically a senior manager. To fire him would require a strict process. It wasn''t up to her. As for being the Galeana family''s butler, he didn''t care. He wanted to stay to take care of Hunter as a way to repay his kindness. Now that Hunter was gone, he would leave ,too. He didn''t want to see her disgusting face anymore. Hunter had never mistreated him over the years. He had a lot of savings and several properties under his name. Leaving the Galeana family, he could support himself and his family. Seeing Ss''s indifferent face, Shirley gritted her teeth and cursed, "Now you''re showing your true colours. You''re the wolf of the Galeana family. Hunter was so good to you, and you''re bullying us the moment he''s gone. You even dared to call the police. Maybe you were the one who pushed Hunter down the stairs to seize his property. When I woke up, I only saw you standing next to Hunter. No one else could prove your innocence." Ss''s face turned red with anger. His loyalty to Hunter was not to be questioned by anyone, "If you don''t have concrete evidence, don''t make wild guesses. I''ve let the police investigate the truth of the matter. I, Ss, am upright and fair. I''m not afraid of your sinister intentions. You''re the one with a guilty conscience. One day, you''ll be exposed." Ines couldn''t be bothered with their bickering. All she did was watch as the urn was slowly swallowed by the earth, a tombstone eventually erected over it. Looking at the two tombstones before her, Ines felt a lump in her throat. It was only now that it really hit her, and he was truly gone. Ethan saw the photo of Ines''s mom too. Ines was her spitting image. Only there was a big age gap which anyone could spot in a heartbeat. Chapter 242 Chapter 242 When Ethan and Ines returned from the cemetery, it was already dark. They got home and found that Cam had dinner ready and Erica was sorting out paperwork in the study. Hearing their voices, Erica also came out of the study. "Mom, you''re still here? I thought you''d gone back to the Meyer Mansion," Ines said. Erica came over and put her arm around Ines, saying, "I might stay here for a bit. I''ll help Ethan with some stuff from the Meyer Group. Staying at the Meyer Mansion isn''t very convenient for me. You and Ethan can focus on the Galeana Group. Don''t think I''m bothering your style by being here." "Mom, how could you be a bother? I''m just worried about you and Cam sharing a room. You might feel ufortable." "Don''t worry about it. We''re in a unique situation right now. I''ve been through tough times before. This isn''t a big deal." Cam had already served the dishes. Ines smelled the food and felt nauseous again, so she ended up not eating anything. Ethan looked at her, feeling worried. "Izzy, is there anything specific you feel like eating?" Ethan asked. Ines didn''t want them to worry too much. She took his hand and said, "Ethan, could I have some sd? Maybe with some lettuce, spinach, and tomatoes?" Ever since Ines got pregnant, she hadn''t dared to eat any cold food she used to enjoy. Ethan wasn''t sure if she could eat it now. Camughed and said, "Ethan, it should be fine. Ines is in a special situation now, but her digestion has always been good. Eating food like this once in a while shouldn''t be a problem. I''ll go make it right now." Hearing what Cam said, Ethan didn''t insist anymore and let Cam make a sd. Ines called out to Cam''s retreating, "Cam, could you put extra peppers in it? I want it spicy." Ericaughed and shook her head. Ethan couldn''t help butugh too. They felt relieved when Ines was doing better than a few days ago. "Mom, Ethan, you guys go ahead and eat, don''t wait for me. I''ll be fine with the sd in a bit," Ines told them. They both nodded. Ethan took a few bites and then put down his fork. Cam was quick and soon had a sd ready. Seeing the sd, Ines was practically drooling. But before she could eat, Cam had her drink some hot soup, just in case her stomach couldn''t handle the cold food. Strangely, this time Ines didn''t throw up after eating. She breathed a sigh of relief. The news of Hunter''s death was quickly made public. Phoebe Wagner found out about it on TV and then rushed over from home. Ines was staring nkly at the sofa until Phoebe came over and hugged her. She looked up at Phoebe, "Phoebe, what brings you here?" "Duh, something this big happened, and you didn''t tell me. I wouldn''t have known Mr Galeana passed away so suddenly if I hadn''t seen the news on TV," Phoebe was a thoughtful girl. She had changed how she referred to Hunter upon seeing that Ines had forgiven him. "There''s been too much going on recently. My mind is a mess. I can''t think straight. Ethan took care of everything for the funeral. I didn''t have any involvement," Ines said. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Phoebe hugged Ines tight and gave her a small smile, "I''m not ming you, you don''t have to exin. I feel disappointed that I couldn''t be there for you when you''re feeling down." "How did you find out?" "Don''t you know? The news was on TV and even in the newspapers. I found out from the newspaper. I thought I was seeing things at first and had to double-check to ensure it was true." Ines sighed, "The news spread so fast. It must have been the people who attended the funeral yesterday. Most of them are his business partners, not close friends." "What are you guys nning to do now? With Hunter gone, Galeana Group is going to be in big trouble," Phoebe said worriedly. Last time, even the news of his illness caused a lot of panic, let alone his death. "Ethan is handling the transition with Ss right now. I might officially start working at Galeana Group." Phoebe nced at Ines''s stomach. There was worry in her eyes, but she didn''t say anything to discourage her. At this point, it would be useless to say anything. Ines couldn''t just sit back and watch the Galeana Group go under. The two of them sat in silence for a while, and then Ines suddenly asked Phoebe, "Nora, can you tell me some things about me and Dad?" Seeing that Ines looked calm, Phoebe began to speak, "Actually, before those two people showed up in A City, your family was very happy. The kids at school were all envious of you. We always went to the best middle schools, which emphasized moral education, so parent-child activities were frequent, about once every two weeks." Phoebe observed Ines''s face carefully as she spoke, making sure she was okay before continuing, "Hunter was always busy, but he took the parent-child activities organized by the school very seriously and never missed one. Unlike my dad, who always promised toe but then called ten minutes before the activity started to say he couldn''t make it. You guys were everywhere. In the end, I just followed you, brazenly telling the teachers that I was your parent''s goddaughter and wanted to participate in the activities with them. So your family often went from three people to four." Phoebe''s words jogged Ines''s memory. She remembered the pictures in the photo album. A lot of them were of the four of them together, so that''s what happened. "You''re really bold, considering it was a parent-child activity," Ines said to Phoebe helplessly. Phoebe shrugged, cracking a small smile, "I don''t give a hoot. I wouldn''t miss this free ride for the world. You don''t know, back then. My ssmates were all envy that I had godparents." It was because she had seen their happy family life with her own eyes, so when she heard the news of Hunter''s affair, she was livid and thought Hunter was aplete hypocrite. "Did my mom and dad ever acknowledge you as their goddaughter?" Ines asked out of curiosity. Phoebe shrugged again, opening her hands, "Even if they don''t, I can''t squat about it. If I don''t care about losing face, any problem can be solved. I''ve decided to throw my image to the wind." Seeing Phoebe''s cheeky attitude, Ines found it amusing, and her mood lightened considerably. Chapter 243 Chapter 243 "Ms Page ended up being really sweet to me. She treated me like your mom treats you. She said I was a clever and adorable little girl," Phoebe said with satisfaction. Ines gave her a sideways nce, "And that''s something to be proud of? Don''t all parents tter other people''s children just to make themselves feel better? But deep down, they love their own kids the most." Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. "I can win over adults. That''s my talent, get it?" Phoebe said nonchntly. Ines was left speechless and continued asking about their past. Phoebe thought for a bit and said seriously: "Maybe because of some things you''ve been through, you''ve be more reserved. The old you weren''t as enthusiastic as me, but you were a naughty kid. You''d often annoy Hunter, but you knew how to sweet-talk him. I remember there was a time when you had a crush." "A crush? How''s that possible?" Ines looked at Phoebe doubtfully, questioning the validity of her words. Phoebe winked, "Alright, maybe not a crush. When we were about thirteen, a boy had a thing for you. He wrote you a love letter and gave you a box of choctes. You didn''t tell me who gave you the choctes. You said that as long as there''s something to eat, it''s all good. We ate the choctes together. Then you quietly put the love letter on Hunter''s desk and left a note saying that someone was deliberately disturbing your studies." Phoebeughed as she reminisced about the past, "As expected, Hunter was pissed and went straight to our head teacher toin. The teacher ended up scolding the boy. I heard that the boy got in trouble at home and might have even been beaten. He didn''te to school for several days. No one ever dared to mess with you after that." "Who was the unlucky kid?" Ines touched her nose. "It was Aiden. You felt a bit guiltyter and started to treat him a bit better." Ines had an epiphany, so that''s how her rtionship with Aiden started, "Seems like I was quite a tyrant back then." "The more tyrannical part cameter, when we were in the first year of high school. A new math teacher joined our ss. He wasn''t experienced enough and often couldn''t answer your questions. You got angry, wrote a petition to change the teacher, and even got the whole ss to sign it. This ended up with the principal, and you sessfully got the new teacher out. He left in tears. The school reced him with an experienced teacher, whom you discreetly gave a gift with a note that said, ''Dear teacher, if you don''t perform well, you''ll be the next one to leave in tears. Be careful.''" "Haha," Ines couldn''t help butugh, looking at Phoebe, she said: "Stop making things up. There''s no way I did that. I wouldn''t do something like that." "That''s nothing. There was another time when you saw a bonfire party on TV and thought it was fun. You deliberately walked up to the most rebellious boy in our ss while watching it on your tablet, mumbling about how the northeast corner of our school was perfect for a bonfire party. How exciting it would be to have such an eventte at night. Your casual tone and demeanour almost made meugh out loud." Ines was interested in what happened next, "And then?" "It went exactly as you nned. That boy loved causing trouble, and of course, he wouldn''t miss this opportunity. He started to rally everyone. At that time in A City, such events weren''t popr. Everyone said they wanted to go, only you insisted we couldn''t because the school didn''t allow fire. But in the end, they dragged you along. We all had a barbecue, sang and danced around the bonfire. After you had your fill, you quietly texted to the teacher. As a result, half of the ss got called in by their parents, except for us. During the parent''s meeting, the teacher even praised us." "Actually, you were the one who secretly told the teacher and made her promise not to tell. You''re so cunning. You wanted to have fun but let so many people take the me for you. I thought to myself then. I want to be her friend for life, definitely not her enemy, or else I''ll get screwed over." "It sounds like I was really cunning. I feel like a little tyrant." Ines couldn''t help but exim. Was the cunning person that Phoebe described really her? Phoebe looked quite pleased, "Don''t you think that''s very you? Otherwise, how could you have tricked your blind dates? That''s because you were used to doing these things since you were little. Even after losing your memory, you could still pull it off. Fundamentally, you''re still cunning, no better than me. That''s why we became good friends." Ines smiled faintly. She wished she could remember those days. "But your father found out about this. Hunter knew it was you after the parent meeting, because you''ve asked him more than once to take you to such an event. The teacher even mentioned you. It was obviously not normal." Ines was curious about her father''s reaction, "So, did I get a beating?" Phoebe waved her hand, "Of course not. Hunter was very pleased. He even said you had potential and he should nurture you. The next day he put everything aside, and took you and Ms Page to the western area to attend a real bonfire party. You were very smug when you came back and called mete at night to tell me about it. I was so sleepy then, I really wished you''d go to sleep. You talk too much." Ines couldn''t help butugh, it seemed that her personality was spoiled by her father. Most parents would have given a naughty child like her a good beating. "You did so many things like this. I don''t want to continue. I''ll save them to tell my godsonster. Let them know about their mother''s dark history." Ines looked at Phoebe seriously, "Don''t tell them. You''ll spoil them." Phoebe pondered for a moment, then pointed to Ines''s belly and said, "Do you think with the bad kid genes from you and Mr Meyer, your kid even needs to learn how to be like that? It''s already in their DNA. No extra training needed." Hearing this, Ines also raised her hand to gently stroke her belly, her face beaming with happiness. Chapter 244 Chapter 244 Erica had been busy in her study room when she knew Phoebe was there. Eventually, she got caught up in their conversation, unconsciously dropping her work and paying attention to their conversation. Finally, she couldn''t resisting out of the study room. Seeing here out, Ines felt embarrassed, "Mom, did we disturb you with our loud conversation?" They were speaking a bit loud. She was so excited that she forgot Erica was busy in the study room. "No, I''m d to see you so happy." Erica saw Ines with a face full of smiles and felt pretty good herself. She walked over and patted her on the shoulder. Phoebe immediately stood up politely to greet her, "Hello, I''m Izzy''s good friend, Phoebe. You can call me Nor." Erica looked at Phoebe and suddenly realized, "I remember you. You''re thedy from the Wagner family. I remember someone tried to set you up with Ethan, but he was already married to Izzy, so it was cancelled." Phoebe nodded and said generously, "Auntie, you have a good memory. It was indeed me. I nned to introduce Izzy to Ethan, but they were already together." Erica sat down on the sofa, "It seems fate is something destined." "Yes." Phoebe smiled and said. "I just heard you guys talking about Izzy''s childhood. Was she really such a troublemaker?" "Mom." Ines looked at Erica shyly, looking like she was coy. knowing they had a good mother-daughter rtionship, Phoebe got the hint and said, "She was mostly normal, just asionally a bit mischievous, and when she was, everyone would have to suffer with her." "I guess I don''t have to worry about my grandchildren being bullied. Their parents are not to be messed with," Erica said happily. "Auntie, you can rest assured that will never happen." Erica looked at Phoebe, who was generous and proper, and couldn''t help but say, "Nor, do you have a boyfriend now?" Phoebe was taken aback, then shook her head, "Not yet." Hearing this, Erica became interested, "I have a guy here. Would you like to meet him? He''s much like Ethan, definitely a good choice." Ines was amused. It seemed that older people were particrly keen on these things, and even Erica was no exception. She knew without thinking that Erica was referring to Aaron Swanson. Receiving a plea for help from Phoebe, Ines whispered something into Erica''s ear, and Erica immediatelyughed, "So Nor has been spotted by Noel Yates. That boy has good taste this time. I''ll have to praise himter." Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Phoebe was somewhat shy, "That''s his business. I haven''t agreed yet." Ericaughed happily, "Noel has met his match this time. Women should make men work a bit harder. We can''t always let them get us easily. Let them know we''re not easy to get. They''ll cherish us more." Ines looked at Erica with a glum face, "Mom, then I''m at a loss. Ethan didn''t even chase me much, and I just easily married him." Seeing Ines able to joke around, Erica knew she had epted the fact of Hunter''s departure. So she was in a good mood and keptughing. Phoebe said gleefully, "Izzy, who told you to be so impulsive? It''s toote to regret it now." Ines hummed lightly, "I have no regrets. I''ve always been happy." Phoebe looked at Erica with a wounded expression, "Auntie, some people just love to torment us. Single people. It''s too much." The living room was filled withughter. Ines''s phone rang at that moment. It was Ethan calling to say that Shirley had gone to thepany with awyer, demanding to inherit all of Hunter''s property. Ethan asked her to stay at home. He woulde to pick her up and go to thepany. Erica also heard Ethan''s words and frowned, "Shirley is really shameless. Instead of stabilizing the Galeana Group at this time, she went to thepany with awyer. What on earth is she thinking? Does she have no brain?" Ines also frowned slightly. Only then did she calm down and think about a problem. Hunter was already dead. Even if she wanted to help him manage the Galeana Group, it wouldn''t be easy. Shirley would definitely try to obstruct her. Phoebe couldn''t resist saying, "She''s always been a bad one. Her whole purpose in getting into the Galeana family was for the inheritance. It''s just her style to stir up trouble at this time." Ethan arrived soon, and Ines had already changed her clothes and was waiting for him. When Ines got in the car, she asked Ethan about the situation, "What''s going on? What does she want?" "She wants the Galeana Group''s shares." Inesughed sarcastically, "Her? If she takes over thepany, it will be bankrupt within a year." "Ss was busy dealing with branch affairs this morning. His phone has been busy. I can''t contact him for now. I left him a message asking him toe back as soon as possible to see if your dad had any arrangements for thepany before he died. If he did, it would be easy to deal with, if not, things would definitely be difficult." Ethan''s expression was also heavy. Seeing him like this, Ines felt more worried. In the chairman''s office of the Galeana Group. Emma was dealing with some urgent matters when she was suddenly called into the office by Shirley. She felt a bit annoyed, "Mom, what are you doing in the Galeana Group? Didn''t you see that the Galeana Group''s stock price is already falling? What mess are you here to add now?" Her intuition told her it wasn''t anything good. "I''m not here to cause trouble. I just want to get what''s rightfully ours. Haven''t you noticed? Ethan''s been hanging around the Galeana Group these past few days. If he keeps this up, where does that leave us in the Galeana Group?" Shirley disagreed with Emma''s point of view, growing more disillusioned by her actions. Emma''s voice wasced with fatigue. One hand on her stomach, the other massaging her temples, "Mom, I''ve been busting my hump these past days, doing my best to keep thepany''s image steady. Things are just starting to stabilize today. Can''t you wrap your head around the current situation?" "This can''t be put off any longer, the sooner it''s resolved, the sooner I can have peace of mind. I need to get hold of your father''s shares today." Shirley brushed off Emma''s words. Chapter 245 Chapter 245 "So what if you got it? Can you even manage it? The state of thepany right now can''t be solved by just the two of us." Maybe Hunter''s words had some effect, as Emma still had some sense left in her. Sure, she wanted the Galeana Group, but she knew if she handled things worse, the Galeana Group would be toast. Even if she got it, it would just be a worthless shell. Only a little use really. "We can hire people to manage it. If we don''t know how. Is there anything money can''t do?" Shirley retorted angrily. "We need to wait until thepany stabilizes a bit first. Dad recently said that a lot of people have been eyeing the Galeana Group like hungry wolves. We can''t let them take advantage of our situation." "Emma, what''s with youtely? You always go against me now, not listening to anything I say. Everything I do is for your own good!" Shirley looked at Emma, her heavily made-up face twitching with anger. "Mom." Emma felt a deep sense of helplessness, not knowing how to exin to her. "Dad, that''s all you''ve been sayingtely. He''s already dead. From now on, I''m the only one you can rely on, alright?" Emma touched a nerve with those words and couldn''t help but ask, "Can I really rely on you?" Perhaps due to her pregnancy, she''s been able to think more calmly than before for the sake of her child. She''s also realized a hard truth: her mother wasn''t reliable. She wasn''t able to give her a sense of security. "I see now, you''ve been brainwashed by your father. He''s pretty crafty. He managed to change your mind overnight. You underestimated him. Can''t you see? Everything he did was to pave the way for Ines. You''re being too naive." Emma didn''t say anything, just said, "Mom, I thought about this for several days before deciding. Let''s not fight for now. Let''s wait until thepany stabilizes." "Father, family, think about how he''s treated you over the years. He''s never shown you kindness. You''re always walking on eggshells around him. Didn''t you find his sudden kindness strange?" Shirley continued to try to brainwash Emma. "Mom, you just don''t understand. Dad knew his time was running out, so he wanted to tell me as soon as possible. People tend to speak kindly when they''re about to die. I choose to believe him." Shirley didn''t look surprised at all. Instead, she scoffed, "Good for him, even knowing he''s about to die, still fooling you." "Mom, aren''t you sad to hear this news at all? Or did you know all along?" When Ines told them the news that day, Shirley wasn''t there. She''d thought Shirley didn''t know. "Sad, why should I be? He deliberately hid his illness. It''s none of my business. Everyone dies. What''s the difference between dying early orte?" Shirley said ruthlessly. Looking at Shirley like this, Emma felt like she didn''t know her anymore. Her previous gentleness and kindness disappeared, reced by a greedy face. It was as if she''d be apletely different person. "Mom, how could you be like this? Didn''t you say Dad was your childhood sweetheart? How can you have no sentiment towards him at all?" "Sentiment? I''m not young anymore. My love for him disappeared more than twenty years ago. After you''ve experienced what I''ve experienced, you''ll know that men are the least reliable thing in the world. The only thing you can rely on is money in your hand. Without money, you''re nothing." The thought of the will she saw in Hunter''s drawer ignited her anger. He didn''t leave her anything. How could she bear that? Hearing this, Emma was shocked. No wonder Dad said such things. He must''ve known her true colours long ago. That''s why he told her not to trust Shirley''s words blindly. A bold thought suddenly crossed her mind. Maybe Dad''s ident wasn''t an ident, but as they suspected, a murder. And the only one with a motive seemed to be her own mother. She harboured a lot of resentment in her heart. Emma''s lips trembled as she looked at Shirley and asked nervously, "Mom, did you have anything to do with dad''s death?" Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Shirley was taken aback. Looking at Emma, she said excitedly, "Do you even know what you''re asking?" "Mom, I just want to know the truth." "So what if you know, will you send me to jail yourself?" Shirley looked at Emma angrily. "Mom, did you really do it?" Emma pressed on. In her agitation, Shirley couldn''t hold back and said, "Emma, what''s the point of knowing so much? I''ll tell you, the will your dad left had pitifully little for you, less than a tenth of his wealth. The rest all went to Ines and her unborn child. If he truly cared about you, he would never have done that." After saying those words, Shirley regretted it, feeling she was too impulsive and immediately shut up. But Emma had heard clearly and understood one thing. She looked at Shirley nervously, "Dad left a will?" "No." Shirley denied it tly. "Mom, do you think I''m three years old? You just said you saw dad''s will, that what was left for me wasn''t even a tenth of it. Where''s the will?" "Nothing. There''s no will, you heard wrong." "Mom, stop lying to me. There''s so many things you''ve been lying to me about." "What do you want to know so much for. I''ll tell you, the will''s already been destroyed by me. Nothing was left for me, and what was left for you and Jasmine was only 10% of the Galeana Group''s stocks. He held 52% and only left you so little. The rest all went to Ines. What good would that will do you?" Shirley growled. Emma seemed unable to ept this fact, slumping weakly onto the couch. There was a knock at the office door. Shirley took a breath to steady herself,posed her emotions, and went to open the door. The visitor was a man who said, "Ma''am, the things you asked for, I''ve prepared them all." Shirley shed a smile, looking as prim and proper as always, as if it wasn''t her that was just tearing her heart out, "Sir,e on in. I''ve already sent word to the others. They should be here any minute now." The man nodded, "Alright then." Chapter 246 Chapter 246 When Ethan and Ines arrived at the Galeana Group, Shirley sat in Hunter''s seat with a smug grin and a suited-up gentleman standing by her side. Emma was on the couch, looking a bit down in the dumps, seemingly not quite over the news from the funeral. As soon as they walked in, Shirley gestured to the man beside her. "Counsel, would you mind exining the matter I''ve entrusted you to them?" Thewyer nodded and addressed Ethan and Ines, "Mr Meyer, Ms Galeana. I¡¯m Mrs Galeana''s attorney, handling the division of Mr Galeana¡¯s assets. Per my client¡¯s request, I have a few things to tell you. Since Mr Galeana didn''t leave a will, ording to our inheritancew, his spouse, parents, and children are the first to inherit, followed by his siblings and grandparents. After the inheritance process begins, it''s the first in line who inherits. Mr Galeana and my client both own half of the joint property. The other half of the estate will be divided among the first in line." Ethan asked, "Can you specify which assets under Mr Galeana''s name are considered joint property?" Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Ines couldn''t help but clench her fists. Shirley was pushing her luck, wanting half the assets and a piece of the remaining half. Ethan''s gaze made thewyer break into a cold sweat. "Mr Meyer, I have prepared a detailed inventory, which I will provide shortly." Ethan scoffed, and Shirley turned to thewyer, "Sir, please get my message across fully." Thewyer continued, "As Ms Ines has been absent from Mr Galeana''s side for many years and has not fulfilled her duty of care, Shirley requests that her inheritance rights be stripped and she not be allocated any part of the estate." Ines immediately retaliated, "Shirley, who gives you the right to make such a decision?" Shirley responded, "Because I''m Mr Galeana''swful wife, that''s enough." She was utterly smug. Ethan then turned to thewyer. "You''re a professionalwyer, you should know how unreasonable this request is. Ines, Hunter''s daughter, that can''t be changed, and she wouldn''t lose even if this went to court." He reminded thewyer that even a public disowning would be invalid. Let alone the fact that Hunter had left behind a letter of rification. Shirley smiled, "Well then, I guess we''ll see you in court, let''s see how the judge rules." Ethan gave a coldugh, quickly understanding Shirley''s intentions. She just wanted to use the Galeana Group''s predicament to pressure Ines into giving up her inheritance. Awsuit could take months, and the Galeana Group was already in a bad state. If dyed for a few more months, the Galeana Group would be hit first. It was a clever strategy. But too bad, she was too confident and failed to see the truth. If the Meyer Group wanted to take over the Galeana Group, it would be a piece of cake. All he needed was a good n, and he could make the Galeana Group''s stock price plummet and then buy it outright. Ethan looked at Shirley and said, "I don''t really care about the Galeana Group. If you want to go to court, I''ll go with you. But don''t expect to gain anything. All you''ll get is a worthless piece of paper. If you don''t believe me, just wait and see." Shirley was a bit uneasy. She hadn''t expected Ethan to be so tough, "What do you n to do?" "Make the Galeana Group part of the Meyer Group." "You can''t do that! The Galeana Group was Hunter''s most cherished aplishment. Ines, if you dare to do this, you''ll pay for it." Ines understood Ethan''s intention from his words. She was an expert in this field and instantly got it. She wasn''t willing to be threatened by Shirley or let the Galeana Group fall into Shirley''s hands and go down the drain. She would rather have the Galeana Group be part of the Meyer Group. Even though it was a different form, at least it could save Hunter''s hard work. "Ethan, no matter what you want to do, I''ll support you all the way," Ines said firmly to Ethan. "Ines, how could you?" Shirley pointed at Ines angrily. "What can''t I do? Hunter is gone. He won''t see what I do. Everything is up to me." "You..." Shirley was so angry that she was at a loss for words. She didn''t quite understand what was going on, but her intuition told her that things seemed to be deviating from her original n. But the real kicker was yet toe. Suddenly, Ss barged in and announced loudly, "You guys don''t need to worry. Shirley can''t inherit the chairman''s estate." Hearing Ss''s words, Shirley went pale, "Ss, what the hell are you talking about? I''m hiswful wife. Why can''t I inherit everything?" "I''m not talking nonsense. You''re not the chairman''s wife at all. Everything you''re nning is just a pipe dream, totally meaningless," Ss said word for word. Hearing this, Ines and Ethan looked at Ss curiously, not understanding what he was talking about. "Howe I''m not his wife? We''re legally married!" Shirley held her head high, still looking all high and mighty. Ss gave a contemptuous smirk, "You think the chairman is a fool? He saw right through you a long time ago. Why would he let a single penny of his fortune fall into your hands? He knew this day woulde, so he prepared in advance." "The marriage certificate you hold is worthless. It''s a shame I had specially made. The stamps are all fake. There''s only one Mrs Chairman, and that''s Ms Ines''s mother." Ines mouth dropped open in shock, unable to believe what she had just heard. What did it mean the marriage certificate was invalid? "This can''t be. You''re lying to me." Shirley was shaking all over, hit hard by this unexpected bombshell. "Did the chairman ever take you to the civil affairs bureau? Did you personally see the official seal on the marriage certificate?" Ss shot back. "I signed the marriage application and received the marriage certificate. How could it possibly be fake?" Shirley went pale, her lips quivering, refusing to believe Ss''s words. Chapter 247 Chapter 247 Ss looked at her, and felt incredibly amused. "You thought you could pull over on the chairman with your tricks? When the chairman first brought you into the Galeana family, it was partly out of guilt for Ms Emma. He''s taken care of her for years, especially given her condition with her broken legs. The doctors even said she might end up disabled. The other reason is he didn''t want mishaps to threaten Ms Ines. He''s a proud man. After you betrayed him, you think he''d put your name on a marriage certificate? That''s a dream. His daughters have always been his top priority. You''ve never been in the picture. That''s why he hasn''t shared a bed with you in years. He''s disgusted by you." Shirley seemed to take a huge hit, shaking her head continuously. "No way, Hunter wouldn''t be this heartless to me. I don''t believe it." Ines, on the other hand, was holding back tears,pletely clueless about this. She never understood why Hunter, who''s not a fool, would let Shirley into his family. Now everything made sense. He had nned it all along. "As for the legal implications of the marriage certificate, you can look it up yourself. I wouldn''t lie about this, ma''am," Ss said, emphasizing thest word. Thewyer needed rification. He thought he had this in the bag, but a huge twist just came out of nowhere and turned out Shirley wasn''t Hunter''s wife. Ethan chuckled. This was just like Hunter, all right. Ines''s asional slyness was totally a reflection of him. He dug a big pit, and Shirley just jumped right into it. Ss turned to thewyer, "I suppose you know what to do now. Shirley and the chairman were never legally married. They weren''t even co-habitating. She has no right to participate in the distribution of the chairman''s inheritance." Thewyer wiped the sweat off his forehead, "I''m sorry for interrupting. I know what to do now." He left in a hurry after saying that. Ss looked at Shirley again, "It''s time for you to leave too. You''re not an employee of the Galeana Group, and you''re not the chairman''s wife. You have no reason to stay here." Shirley waspletely shattered, "No, I don''t believe a word you said. I don''t believe it." "Believe it or not, that''s the truth. Since you returned to the Galeana family, I''ve been waiting for this day. Who knew it would take this long." Shirley pointed at Emma, "Even if I don''t get anything, Emma will. She''s Hunter''s daughter." Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. "That''s Ms Emma''s business. It has nothing to do with you." "How does it have nothing to do with me? She''s my daughter. What''s hers is mine." Ss hadn''t met anyone as unreasonable as Shirley, "Ms Emma is an adult. She can handle her property. You have no right to interfere." "No, you must tell me today, how much inheritance will Emma get?" Ss wouldn''t give Shirley the time of day. Seeing her being persistent, he dialled the security team to have her escorted out. Upon receiving the call, the security team arrived and grabbed Shirley by the arm. Enraged, Shirley yelled, "What are you doing? I''m the chairman''s wife. I''ll have you fired." The security guards, recognizing Shirley, looked towards Ss for confirmation. Ss waved his hand, "Remember, as of today, she''s no longer the chairman''s wife. If she dares to show up at thepany again, kick her out. Don''t listen to her." Shirley turned to Emma, "Emma, help your mom. They''reying their hands on me." Emma looked up at her and said, "Mom, you should go and calm down. You don''t belong here." "Take her away," Ss instructed the security guards again. The two guards nodded, grabbed Shirley and forcibly escorted her out of the office. Shirley''s angry shouts echoed in the hallway, "Ss, you can''t do this to me. You''ll get what''sing to you." "Emma, I''m your mother. Why aren''t you helping me?" After Shirley left, the office finally returned to peace. Ss rubbed his temples, feeling a headache. Seeing his exhaustion, Ines couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Ss, are you okay? If you''re tired, just go home and rest." Ss shook his head, "I can''t leave now. There are issues at the branch office that need to be handled. I came as soon as I got the message. I didn''t expect her to be this desperate to divide the chairman''s assets." Ines couldn''t help but ask, "Ss, everything you said just now, is it true?" Ss nodded, "This was the chairman''s business, and nobody knows it better than I do. My wife and I have stayed with the Galeana family all these years because we knew the truth. Otherwise, my wife can''t stand someone like Shirley." Ines remembered that Eda was never fond of Shirley. She initially thought they stayed due to ack of better options, but there was more to it. "Ethan told me that you and Eda haven''t been back to the Galeana family since the funeral. Where are you staying now?" "Ms Ines, don''t worry about us. I''ve saved enough over the years to support us. It''s more rxing living outside, not as tiring as living with the Galeana family." After chatting with Ines for a while, Ss realized Emma was still sitting on the couch, in silence. He didn''t know what to say. Ss saw her silence and gave her shoulder a gentle pat, "Emma, you''re you, and your mom is your mom. Your and Jasmine''s future has already been sorted out by the chairman. He''s written his will with very detailed arrangements. You don''t have to worry." Hearing this, Emma looked up at Ss, "When did Father write a will?" "He wrote it after he got back from the States. It should be in his study room. I already told Eda, she should have gone to the Galeana family to get it by now. We''ll settle this today." Emma didn''t say anything. If she guessed right, that will have been destroyed by Shirley. There''s no will now. After Ss finished, his phone rang. The caller was Eda, "Did you find it?" "Ss, did you remember wrong? There''s no will in that cab. It''s empty." Auntie Wang''s anxious voice came through the phone. Chapter 248 Chapter 248 "No way, I saw the chairman put it in that drawer with my own two eyes. Only he and I have the keys. How could it be missing?" Ss''s face turned serious. "I''ve looked everywhere and turned every drawer upside down, but it''s still not there." Eda confirmed again. Ines instantly got nervous. The will disappeared. Ethan frowned, tightly holding her hand and whispered: "It''s gonna be okay." Emma remained silent, not uttering a word. "Okay, Shirley should be back any minute. If you still can''t find it, better scoot before she returns and gives you a hard time." Ss instructed. After hanging up, Ss looked serious. He turned to Ethan and Ines, "Mr Meyer, Ms Ines, don''t panic. I''ll go back and take a look myself. The will couldn''t have just vanished." Ines knitted her brows and asked, "Is there only one copy of the will? Are there any copies at the notary''s or thewyer''s?" "No, the will was just drafted. I haven''t had a chance to get it notarized or give it to awyer. The chairman just drafted it when he got back from the States." Ss answered calmly. "Then this matter will be troublesome," Ethan said. Ss looked at them worried, "Actually, you don''t need to worry too much. There''s another will at thew firm. Both wills are the same, except one was made when Ms Ines just returned.. The chairman wanted to revise the will when he found out you and Ms Emma were expecting, considering his unborn grandchild, but apparently, he didn''t get around to it." Upon hearing this, Emma''s eyshes fluttered. She carefully weighed Ss''s words. The revision was because of the babies, which meant there was a share for the children. But if it were thest will, it would have nothing to do with the children. Mom, you''ve really screwed me over. Emma closed her eyes helplessly. Upon hearing Ss''s words, Ines felt relieved. Hunter had nned for her to return to the Galeana Group. He must know what to do. Just then, Rita Page called and said she and Zander Payne were already home. She suggested theye over when they had time. "Ss, when will you deal with the branch office?" Ethan asked. "I''ll go there first thing tomorrow morning. You guys can head home if you have stuff to do." Ss smiled. Ethan nodded and left with Ines. As soon as they got in the car, Ines threw herself into Ethan''s arms, holding him tightly around the waist. Ethan couldn''t help but lightly tug her ear, "What''s up? What happened?" Ines didn''t say anything, just held him tightly. Ethan didn''t disturb her, knowing she neededfort. After a while, Ines said: "Ethan, thank you." Without him, she would have fallen apart with all that was happening. With him by her side, she felt secure and wasn''t afraid of the road ahead. "You silly goose, always saying silly things. I''m your husband. No matter what happens, I''ll always be by your side." Ethan gently brushed Ines''s hair. Ines looked up, her dark eyes staring at Ethan, a small smile on her lips. Her smooth and delicate face looked especially charming. Ethan couldn''t help but stroke her head, gently kissing her lips. Ines wrapped her arms around his neck, slowly responding to his kiss. She loved the feeling of being held by him. It filled every cell in her body with happiness. After a while, Ethan let go of Ines. Ines leaned against him, slowly regaining her breath. She yed with his hand, "Mr Meyer, did I ever tell you?" There was a twinkle in Ethan''s eye, "Tell me what? The three words "I love you"? Ines blushed slightly, pinching his hand, "Less of the cheesy talk. I meant to say you make me feel safe." Ethan chuckled, resting his chin on her head, rubbing it gently, "I''m d I can make you feel that way. It means I''ve been a decent husband so far." Ines sat up straight, looking at Ethan seriously, "Decent, you''ve always been more than decent." Ethan looked at her serious expression and couldn''t help butugh. He was d she could recover from her pain so quickly. He always knew she was strong inside. Given time, she would bounce back. But he also felt sorry for her. It''s tough for someone who''s used to being strong. "Ines, you can let yourself be weak sometimes. Leave the rest to me." Ines disagreed, "Even though you''re a man and want to shoulder everything, I don''t want you to overwork. If you copse, who''s going to protect me and the baby? I''m thinking of a long-term strategy. For the future of our family, I''ll start recovering and start a new life from today." Hearing her words, Ethan was touched. Ines went on to share some funny stories she heard from Phoebe today. Ethan was first taken aback, then his beautiful eyes filled with amusement, "You and your dad are alike. Both have simr ways of handling things. Ss''s words today are funny. Not exactly fair, but I agree. That''s the way to deal with shameless people." Even marriage could be used as a means. Although it damaged his own image, it achieved the desired effect in the end. For a person who always valued his own image, it''s not an easy thing. If he encountered such a problem, he might not handle it better than him. N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Ines gently tapped Ethan''s chest, "Okay, Ethan. You sly fox, now you''re talking in circles." Ethan held Ines''s hand tightly,ughing, "I''ve always respected his way of doing things and his abilities." As for his performance in life? Well, he can''t fully agree with that. Ines shot Ethan a suspicious look and said disdainfully, "Quit your bullshitting. You''re like a weather vane, always bending whichever wind blows. You only changed your tune because you saw I changed my attitude towards him." Ethan didn''t bother to exin much. In fact, what he just said was from the heart, "Being with you, I feel delighted." "Stop talking nonsense, always just trying to butter me up," Ines retorted yfully, a small smile unconsciously tugging at the corners of her mouth. Chapter 249 Chapter 249 Emma stormed out of the chairman''s office, trying to reach Shirley on the phone, but it kept ringing incessantly. After a few tries, Shirley even switched off her phone. With a slight frown, she knew her mom was ticked off because of the events of the day. But it was an emergency, she had to hightail it home. The moment she stepped in through the door, the living room looked like it had been hit by a tornado, with broken antique vases and shards of ss scattered everywhere. Even the LCD TV had a hole in it. The whole room was a hot mess. It didn''t take a rocket scientist to figure out that this was Shirley''s doing, no one else would go off the deep end like this. She went upstairs to look for her, but Shirley was nowhere to be found in the house. Finally, she spotted a maid poking her head out of a room, "Where''s my mom?" "Ms. Emma, she came home in a huff, wrecked the ce, and then stormed out. Seems like she went to the garden," the maid informed. Emma went outside and immediately spotted Shirley in the garden. She was frantically uprooting every flower in the garden and stomping on them. The garden was filled with a strong fragrance of flowers. "Mom, what on earth are you doing? What''s the point of all this?" "Your father was a real piece of work, had me all figured out from the start. The marriage certificate he gave me was a fake, how do you expect me not to be mad? I thought I was thedy of the Galeana family. Turns out it was all a sham. He made my life a living hell. I''m going to destroy that woman and everything he loves," Shirley vented angrily. Emma knew that this garden was Ines'' mother''s favorite thing. Many of the flowers were nted by her. Hunter cherished this ce, and Eda took care of it every day, ensuring that very few flowers died over the years. Shirley''s eyes were red as she continued to stomp on the flowers like they were her archenemies. Only by crushing them could she quell the hatred in her heart. Due to her pregnancy, Emma didn''t dare to step forward, she could only plead from the side, "Mom, please calm down, I have something very important to tell you." "Don''t call me mom, I don''t have a daughter like you." Shirley growled at Emma, deeply disappointed in her daughter. "Mom, dad left another will, you better get your hands on the will you have now or it''ll be toote." Seeing that Shirley was far from calming down and continuing to ignore her pleas, Emma had no choice but to yell at her. Shirley didn''t stop what she was doing, Emma continued, "Mom, the first will was made when Ines just came back, it has nothing to do with Jasmine, can''t you think of your granddaughter for once?" Shirley suddenly stopped, she looked at Emma, "What did you just say?" "I''m telling you, dad left two wills, the first one was made when Ines just returned to A City, the second one was made when he came back from treatment in the States, the one you destroyed should be the most recent one," Emma said, crying. "Where did you get this news? Hunter left two wills?" Shirley looked at Emma in disbelief. Emma nodded, "When Ss rushed to the Galeana Group today, he also asked Eda toe back and get the will from the drawer, but Eda said there was nothing in there. Ss told Ines and Ethan not to worry, even if this will was lost, there''s still another one. You''d better find the will you have now, if it''s the first one, we''re in deep water." "I already destroyed the will, how am I supposed to find it." Shirley started to cool down. Emma looked upset, she felt like this whole thing was a lose-lose situation. Shirley had managed to lose something that belonged to Jasmine. Shirley didn''t see it that way, she asked again, "The will your father left was really from over half a year ago?" Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Emma nodded with a bitter smile, but Shirley cracked a smile. Half a year ago, she and Hunter hadn''t had their falling out yet, he didn''t know that she was the one who drove Lilian to her death. They hadn''t split up for good yet, there should be something in there for her. Seeing her change in demeanor, Emma asked in confusion, "Mom, what are you smiling about?" "There should be something for me in the first will, looks like there''s still a glimmer of hope." "But there''s nothing for Jasmine, I wasn''t married to Aiden back then." Emmained. "As long as there''s something for me, Jasmine''s still young, what does she need those things for." Shirley said instinctively, only realizing how inappropriate her words were after she said them. Emma felt a chill in her heart, this was her mother, only thinking about herself at a time like this, not even caring about her own granddaughter. Her lips trembled as she looked at Shirley, "Mom, how could you say something like that." "Why are you panicking, it was just a slip of the tongue. We have money, you''re worried about Jasmine missing out? Besides, she''s a Ramos, she''ll have the Ramos family to rely on in the future, there''s nothing to worry about." Shirley said nonchntly. Seeing her like this, Emma turned around and went back to her room, grabbed her sheets, and started crying her heart out. Just when she was in deep thoughts, her phone rang. It was Aiden. She hurriedly answered, but even before she could say "Aiden," his voice came through, "Emma, how''s Hunter''s assets getting split? How much are you getting?" Emma''s tears suddenly stopped, and she felt a sharp pain in her chest. It''s times like this when you really see people''s true colors. She''s pregnant for God''s sake, and had been busy dealing with the Galeana Group stuff. The first thing her husband asked wasn''t about her health but about the inheritance. What a joke! On the other end of the line, Aiden waited for her response. When he didn''t hear anything, he continued, "Emma, I think you know my parents have always had a bias against you. And it''s not just because you''re carrying a daughter. A big part of it is because you don''t have shares in the Galeana Group. If you get control of the Galeana Group this time, they''ll surely wee you back home." The Galeana Group''s control? The moment she got it, the Ramos family will probably snatch it away. She had always thought that even if Aiden didn''t love her, he wouldn''t be this cold-hearted. Since when did he only have eyes for the Galeana Group? Chapter 250 Chapter 250 ¡°Long time no see, shouldn''t you check up on Jasmine?¡± Emma''s voice was a bit hoarse, she had stopped crying. Aiden put on an awkward face, ¡°She¡¯s just a kid, she should be fine, right?¡± Emma sneered inwardly, ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s so young, she probably doesn¡¯t feel anything.¡± She doesn¡¯t feel what¡¯s happening outside, nor her father¡¯s indifference. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Emma, what¡¯s up with you? You¡¯re talking kinda weird today.¡± Aiden couldn¡¯t help but say. ¡°Am I the weird one? It should be you guys. I''m just a runaway daughter, but you all seem more concerned about my father''spany.¡± Emma retorted coldly. ¡°Am I not showing concern for you? Why are you being so cold to me?¡± Aiden didn¡¯t like Emma¡¯s attitude. ¡°My father left a will, I''m not sure about the details yet. I''ll let you know when it''s public. If you want to know, you cane listen to it yourself.¡± With that, Emma hung up and continued to cry alone in bed. Ethan and Ines got home a bitte due to some dy on the road. Cam breathed a sigh of relief when she saw they were okay, then couldn''t help but say, ¡°Weren''t you already on the way? How come you¡¯re stillte? Your aunt and uncle were worried sick about you.¡± Hearing their voices, Rita immediately went to the door, and as soon as she saw Ines, she rushed to hug her, ¡°Izzy, how could you not tell us right away when something this big happened? Are you trying to worry me to death?¡± Ines smiled and withdrew slightly from Rita¡¯s embrace, ¡°Auntie, I didn¡¯t want to disturb your work, so I didn¡¯t call you right away.¡± Rita yfully smacked her, ¡°Where did you get this habit of only sharing good news, not bad news? You didn¡¯t even tell us about something like this, I don¡¯t know what to say to you.¡± At this point, Zander also came over tofort Rita, ¡°Let go of Izzy first. We can talk about itter. Let¡¯s not block the door and give the neighbors something to gossip about.¡± Hearing her husband say this, Rita finally let go of Ines and led her to the couch. Before they could even settle, Zander also sternly said, ¡°Izzy, this time, I can¡¯t cover for you, what you did was way out of line.¡± Ines ran a hand through her hair, lowered her head slightly, and apologized sincerely, ¡°Yes, I was wrong this time. I really forgot. I was so out of it those days, my mind was a mess, I even forgot about this.¡± Ethan was standing beside Ines, used to watching her every move. He couldn¡¯t miss the slight curve of her lips. He shook his head, she seemed to like this trick. Whenever she did something wrong, she would put on a pitiful face and apologize sincerely. Who could bear to see her like this if they truly cared about her? As expected, Rita, seeing her obedient look, couldn¡¯t say anything more. She embraced her and said passionately, ¡°I¡¯ve been so worried about you, you shouldn¡¯t have to suffer alone. Hunter was even younger than me, how could he have gotten such a terrible lung cancer. His sudden death really hit me hard.¡± Zander nodded, feeling the same way as Rita. Ines looked a little sad. She said to Rita and Zander, "I''ve forgiven him. He cut ties with me to protect me. His marriage to Shirley was fake. He didn''t do me wrong, he just did wrong by my mom." Ines roughly recounted the events of the past few days to Rita and Zander. After hearing it, they couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°Oh well, there¡¯s no such thing as so much hatred between a father and a daughter. He¡¯s dead now, let bygones be bygones. You should take us to his grave sometime. We¡¯d like to see him too. We used to get along pretty well before your mom passed away. Since your grandparents weren¡¯t in the country, we would gather every holiday.¡± Rita said. ¡°He and my mom are buried together, you should know the ce. But I¡¯ll take you there tomorrow.¡± Ines said. They both nodded. Zander looked worried, ¡°Izzy, taking over the Galeana Group is too much for you, I don¡¯t feelfortable with it.¡± ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t worry. Ethan will guide me. Ss is very experienced in this area. With him by my side, I''ll definitely be able to handle it.¡± Ethan also said, ¡°Rest assured, I will take care of Izzy and the kids.¡± ¡°Ethan, you already have the Meyer Group to deal with, how can you handle the Galeana Group on top of that.¡± Rita looked worried. Erica came from the kitchen, ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t worry too much. I''ve given Ethan full control of the Meyer Group for the past few years. I¡¯ve had enough of being idle at home, my brain still works, so I will go to the Meyer Group and help Ethan share some of the workload, so he can have time to help with the Galeana Group.¡± Rita¡¯s eyes reddened slightly, ¡°Izzy really married into the right family. We¡¯ll have to trouble you guys to help out more. Zander and I are not only far away, but we also know nothing about running a business. We can¡¯t help out at this critical moment, we can only worry.¡± ¡°Yeah, we can only trouble you guys.¡± Zander agreed. ¡°Don¡¯t say that, I¡¯ve always treated Izzy as my own daughter, so it¡¯s natural for me to step up in times like this.¡± Ines saw Rita and Zander were a bit down, she couldn¡¯t help butugh, ¡°What are you guys doing? I just managed to get out of my gloomy mood, are you trying to make me sad again? You are my family, knowing that you care about me is enough, I don¡¯t care if you can really help me or not.¡± "Yeah, yeah, let''s all lighten up a bit. Think about it, in a few months, the two little ones will be born." Mentioning the kids, the atmosphere suddenly turned cheerful, a smile appeared on Rita''s face, "I specifically sent Zander to the suburbs of B City to get you two chickens raised in the forest, all natural. We had Cam start making soup as soon as we arrived, you should have more tonight, it''s really good for the little ones. I noticed you and Ethan have lost some weight." Chapter 251 Chapter 251 "Ethan, you need to rx a bit and have a drink, you''re too caught up in your duties." Ethan simplyughed, "Thanks, Rita." Since Ines'' mood had improved, she didn''t experience any morning sickness during dinner and even had two bowls of chicken soup and a lot of bread. Rita was pleasantly surprised, "Ines, your appetite seems to be much better than before." Erica chuckled, "You have no idea. Yesterday, Ines was retching from morning sickness. She couldn''t even bear the smell of chicken breast, let alone chicken soup. But today, probably because you guys came over and she''s in a better mood, she didn''t have morning sickness." Rita responded, "Oh, I see. It seems your uncle and I are notpletely useless after all. Our grandkids are really giving us face." Everyoneughed at her remark. After dinner, Phillip sent a car to pick up Rita and Zander for an overnight stay at his ce. Although they had initially nned to stay at a hotel, Erica managed to persuade them to hop in the car. The next morning, Ss called to inform them that the second will had been lost. He had already notified thewyer in charge of Hunter''s will who was due to visit the Galeana family in the morning. He asked them to be at the Galeana family home by 9:30 am. Upon receiving the call, they didn''t waste any time and arrived at the Galeana family home early. Emma and Shirley were seated in the living room, both looking rather downcast. Ss stood by the window, seemingly busy with phone calls. Upon seeing Ines, Shirley sneered, "You never acknowledged your own father when he was alive, but you sure rushed over fast after he was gone." Ines ignored Shirley, and Ethan simply nced at her with aplex expression, not willing to stoop low enough to engage in conversation with her. Shirley was somewhat intimidated by Ethan''s gaze and shrunk back slightly, choosing not to say anything more. Not long after, Aiden and Mrs. Ramos arrived. Upon seeing them, Shirley immediately frowned, "What are you doing here at this time?" Aiden gave a slight smile and exined, "Mom, I came to check on Emma." Shirley snorted, "Your words sound nice. Everyone can show up at the critical moment. Everybody knows your intentions at this time, why bother pretending?" Mrs. Ramos was about to retort when Emma nced at Shirley and interjected, "Mom, less talk. I was the one who invited them over." She then gestured for Aiden and Mrs. Ramos toe and sit, "Thewyer for the will won''t be here for a while." Shirley red at Emma, thinking about how stupid her daughter was to invite them over at such a critical time. Wasn''t this just like revealing their wealth to others? She was too dumb. Ines couldn''t help but nce at Aiden. Aiden felt her gaze and looked somewhat stiff and awkward, but eventually he still sat down next to Emma with his mother and started whispering with her. Ethan held Ines'' hand, and she gave him a small smile in return. After a while, a man with a briefcase hurriedly walked in. Ss put down his phone and introduced him to everyone, "This is thewyer in charge of handling the Chairman''s estate. He will announce the distribution of the Chairman''s estate." Thewyer nodded to everyone, took out a yellow folder from his briefcase, and began, "I was entrusted by Mr. Galeana on February 1st this year. However, a few days ago, Mr Galeana called me to say that he wanted to change his will, but the final will did not reach me. Ss also said that the draft of the will was lost. ording to the currentw, Mr Galeana''s will shall be distributed ording to the one that I have here." Shirley''s eyes were glued to the will in thewyer''s hand, as she prayed fervently. Emma was also looking eagerly. Ines and Ethan''s expressions were the calmest, as they were not as concerned about this matter. They could ept whatever the oue would be. Thewyer took in everyone''s expressions. He had been in this profession for many years, and he could gauge everyone''s attitude with just one look. He nced at Shirley, thinking that she might be the most disappointed. Unable to contain her excitement, Shirley urged, "Lawyer, please announce the results quickly." Thewyer confirmed once again that all those people rted to the estate were present, then began, "Mr Galeana held 52% of the shares in the Galeana Group, owned five shops in the downtownmercial street, seven properties, including where we are currently, a current bank ount bnce of 15 million dors, and investments in futures and securities valued at about 30 million dors. However, ording to the current market value, it may have shrunk. This is all of Mr Galeana''s assets." Shirley''s eyes lit up, she hadn''t expected Hunter to have so much in his possession. Any one of these would be enough to tempt people. "Mr Galeana left this vi to Ms. Emma. Out of the other six properties, Ms Emma recieved four. The remaining two belong to Ss, with one given to Ss, and the other given to Ss'' son, Steve. Until Steve starts a family, this property will be managed by Ss, as a token of appreciation for his many years of hard work in the Galeana Group and the Galeana family." Tears welled up in Ss''s eyes. He already had plenty of assets, enough for him to enjoy his twilight years. He didn''t need any more. Emma let out a small sigh of relief. With these properties in her hands, she and Jasmine shouldn''t face too many trouble in the future. The eyes of the Ramos family shone brighter, gazing at Emma with an added touch of warmth. Some rejoiced, others worried. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Shirley was dumbfounded. Howe she didn''t get a slice of the pie with all these properties? Even Ss''s son got something, but she got nothing. What was going on? "What about me, counselor?" Shirley couldn''t help but interrupt thewyer, her trembling hand pointing anxiously at herself. Chapter 252 Chapter 252 Seeing Shirley''s anxious demeanor, thewyer gave an awkward chuckle. "Easy there. Let''s first clear the air about the properties. We can''t mess this up." Ines shot Shirley a disgusted nce, finding her behavior quite unbearable. Shirley, however, didn''t see anything wrong. She gave a small cough and continued to look at the lawyer with anticipation. Thewyer continued, "Mr. Galeana''s five shops: one will go to Shirley, two to Emma, and two to Ines. All cash, stocks and futures will be inherited by Emma." Shirley felt a bit bitter, but upon seeing her daughter Emma as the main beneficiary, she swallowed her dissatisfaction and kept listening. Ines was very calm, she neither needed nor desired to squabble over these assets. She wasn''t here for the inheritance. Emma, however, could hardly conceal her surprise. She thought she would only get the properties, but now she also had shops and cash. It seemed that her father truly loved her. Aiden and Mrs. Ramos couldn''t hide their grins, but they were more interested in the Galeana Group''s shares. "As for Mr. Galeana''s 52% stake, it will be divided as follows: 5% will go to Ms. Emma, and the remaining 47% to Ms. Ines." On hearing this, Shirley sprang up from the sofa. In her haste, she knocked over a teacup on the table, creating a loud noise. Pointing angrily at Ines, she said to thewyer, "All 47% to Ines, and only 5% to Emma? Are you out of your mind? Shouldn''t it be 15%?" Only after she spoke did Shirley realize she had made a mistake. She was filled with regret. The will she had destroyed hadn''t left her anything, but the distribution of the other assets was almost the same, except Emma and Jasmine were given 15% share. She might not understand these things, but she knew the difference between 5% and 15% was massive. The most valuable thing Hunter had was his shares, and now almost all of them where given to Ines. Ines was also taken aback. She already held 20%, and she thought Hunter would give her about 30%, just enough to maintain her controlling stake. She didn''t expect him to give her 47% and leave only 5% to Emma. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. To her surprise, she suddenly understood Shirley''s words. Her face darkened, and she demanded, "You''ve seen the second will, haven''t you? Did you hide it?" Shirley looked flustered, "I don''t know what you''re talking about. I just overheard your father mention that he left 15% to Emma." Her words might fool others, but not Ines. Ines was filled with rage. She sternly warned, "Shirley, you''d better pray I don''t find out that you were involved with my father''s affairs. Otherwise, I won''t let you off easy." Seeing Ines''s rage, Ethan couldn''t help butfort her, "Izzy, don''t get too riled up. If she''s involved, she won''t get away with it." Ss also gave Shirley a stern look, "You''ll have to answer for your actions, I won''t let you off the hook easily." Emma, somewhat confused by the distribution, quickly realized after hearing Shirley''s words that her father initially wanted to leave her 15%, not 5%, but her mother had messed it up. Whom could she me? She found herself too drained to argue. Aiden and Mrs. Ramos''s initially rxed mood became tense. They hadn''t expected Emma''s shares to be so few. Upon seeing Emma''s downcast face, Aiden felt a pang of sympathy. He comforted her, "It''s okay, Emma. Even 5% is still quite a bit." Emma just looked up at Aiden without saying a word. Mrs. Ramos gave Emma a harsh re and left in a huff. Thewyer, watching this scene, was unsure of what to say. He turned to Shirley and exined, "I''m just managing Mr. Galeana''s assets ording to his instructions. As for why he chose to distribute them this way, I really couldn''t say. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of the will, you can have it verified by experts or pursue your rights through legal means." Shirley had already checked. She was never Hunter''s legal wife. Hunter''s household registration only ever listed one wife, Lilian. If she pursued legal means, she wouldn''t stand a chance. With this in mind, Shirley''s face twisted in anger. She burst outughing, "Nice one, Hunter. I thought you might''ve left me something. But you''ve been ying me this whole time. After all these years, not a shred of affection in your heart, just leaving me with one shop, just one shop. You''re heartless, what am I supposed to do with one shop?" Ss interjected, "Shirley, your behavior deserves this oue. The Galeana family has been more than generous to you over these years. If you don''t want the shop, you can simply refuse the gift. Thewyer can handle that for you." "Yes, if the beneficiary chooses to refuse the inheritance, I can handle all the necessary procedures," thewyer said, looking at Shirley seriously. But Shirley justughed and cursed, "Hunter, you''re heartless. You deserved that disease. You died at fifty and now you''re stuck with Lilian as your ghost wife. I regret even going to your funeral, I should''ve just bought you some fireworks instead. I gave birth to Emma, I''ve given so much, and this is how you repay me. You deserve to be dead..." Ines really couldn''t take it anymore, she jolted up, but Ss beat her to it. He pped Shirley across the face, his hand shaking uncontrobly, clearly pissed off. He didn''t hit women, but this woman was pushing him to his limits. "You ungrateful, crazy bitch, have you ever stopped to think about how much you''ve taken from the Galeana family over the years? Without the Galeana family taking care of you, you''d still be in that godforsaken holler, living a life of misery." Chapter 253 Chapter 253 Shirley froze, then lunged at Ss like a madwoman, "You dare to hit me? We''re going to fight to the death." Ines massaged her temples, and Ethan frowned. Ss, caught off guard, got a scratch on his face from Shirley''s nails, but he quickly grabbed her arms, disabling her. Ines, unustomed to such violent scuffles, watched as Shirley, with a twisted expression, started kicking Ss since her hands were restrained. Soon, Ss''s pants were covered in footprints. Unable to bear the sight, Ines turned to the nearby servants, "You guys,e over and take her to her room. She''s acting like a rabid animal." The servants hesitated to step forward. Ss couldn''t hold back anymore, "You lot,e and take her away." Ss had always been the housekeeper of the Galeana family. Despite his temporary departure, his authority remained. With some hesitation, the servants obeyed Ss. Shirley red at them, "Don''t you dare, I''m the mistress of this house. If you dare, get lost." "The will was clear. This property is now Ms. Emma''s, and it has nothing to do with you. You can stay here only if Ms. Emma agrees. If she doesn''t, you should leave," said Ss. "Ridiculous! I''m her mother. How could she kick me out?" gloated Shirley. Then she turned to Emma, "Emma, hurry up and kick them out. You''re the boss now." Emma didn''t even bat an eyelid. Aiden nced at her but said nothing. "Emma, I''m talking to you. Are you deaf? You don''t listen to me now?" shouted Shirley. Emma was just experiencing a throbbing headache and didn''t want to deal with Shirley. She had never thought deeply about many things before, always assuming that her mother should want the best for her. But now thinking about it, she realized that she had beenpletely misguided. Everything her mother did was for herself. Shirley was escorted to a room by a few servants and locked up. She continued to curse inside, but thanks to the soundproofing of the house, peace was finally restored. Ss dusted off his pants and apologized to thewyer, "Sorry you had to see this." Thewyer shook his head, "I''ve seen a lot of this in my line of work. There''s always someone unsatisfied with the inheritance." Ss nodded. Thewyer handed out some documents for them to review. If there were no issues, they could sign and he would handle the procedures. When thewyer presented the documents to Emma, she frowned but didn''t take them. Ss nced at her, "Ms. Emma, you were originally given 5% of the shares by the chairman, and Jasmine 10%, which you were to manage. So, in fact, you got 15%. However, the will was lost. You can''t me your father. He really cared for you two. It was just an unfortunate ident." Ines also nced at Emma, noticing her off mental state and wondering what had upset her. Aiden gently patted Emma''s hand, "Emma, sign it." Emma was momentarily stunned but still made no move. Ss sighed deeply, "If you don''t want to ept these assets, you can tell thewyer. He will take care of the procedures." Upon hearing this, Emma finally looked up, took the documents, and signed them. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Ss breathed a sigh of relief. Hunter loved his daughter dearly, and he didn''t want to force her to do anything. Emma lifted her head and calmly said, "Ss, I have no objections to this allotment. I was just thinking about some things." What she received far exceeded her expectations. Her current assets were enough to support her and Jasmine. Ss was slightly taken aback. He didn''t understand why she suddenly became so understanding; she usually showed some discontentment at times like this. Patting her shoulder, Ss said, "I''m d you feel that way. Your father was good to you. If you need my help, just let me know. Your mother''s been unstabletely. Be careful and protect yourself and your child." Emma nodded, "Don''t worry, I''ll go to thepany during the day ande home at night." Seeing Shirley''s erratic antics earlier, Aiden suggested to Emma, "We should move back home for a while." Emma smiled, "No, I''ll stay in my own house. If your mom impulsively shoves me again, I may not be so lucky." Aiden''s face darkened at Emma''s public remarks, and he said tly, "Suit yourself then." Although Ss didn''t like Aiden, he felt better knowing Emma had someone to take care of her. So, he told Aiden, "You should stay here for a few days, until Shirley calms down." Aiden nodded. Seeing that the documents were signed, thewyer handed out his business cards in case they had any questions, then left. Ines and Ethan were also about to leave when Ss pulled out a ck notebook from his bag and handed it to Ines, "Ms. Ines, I found this while sorting your father''s belongings. He kept it with him in his briefcase during hisst days, always writing something in it when he had the time. I guess it might be his words to you. You can check what he wrote." Ines was slightly shaken and took the notebook, "Is this his diary?" Ss shook his head, "Nah, he didn''t have the habit of keeping a diary. He wrote this when he realized his time was running out. It''s probably stuff he couldn''t bring himself to say out loud." Ines took it and left with Ethan. Checking the time, they realized it was gettingte. They decided to ditch work and instead nned to take Rita and Zander to see Hunter. Chapter 254 Chapter 254 Ines couldn''t help but feel a bit down because of the heavy notebook in her hand, but the smile blossomed on her face as she thought about the resolved management issue at the Galeana Group. "Ethan, let''s skip lunch at home today and just grab something outside, it''ll save us the hassle of going back. We''ll have Dane bring Uncle and Auntie to meet uster." N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Ethan looked at her, knowing full well she must be craving something special. Her diet at home was strictly controlled by Cam, and seeing her so excited, Ethan agreed, "What do you fancy?" Ines replied with a grin, "There''s a new pizza ce downtown, let''s go there." Ethan thought it was a good idea, so he didn''t object. Ines was so happy she tiptoed to nt a kiss on his cheek. Ethan was taken aback for a moment, then burst intoughter. Ines turned to see Aiden, Emma, and Ssing out from the Galeana family''s ce, her face flushing instantly. Ethan chuckled and asked Ss, "Heading to the office now, Ss?" "No, I''m off to the airport. I''ve got some urgent business at the branch office that can''t wait. Oh, by the way, I might be gone for four or five days, so I''ll need you guys to handle things at the company." Ss said with a smile. Ethan nodded, "No problem, Izzy and I will keep an eye on things. You just focus on your business." Emma, having witnessed Ines'' earlier disy of affection, felt a pang of bitterness. She and Aiden never had such interactions. If she tried, Aiden would either be indifferent or cold as ice. Seeing Ines a bit embarrassed, Ethan refrained from saying more and just led her to the car. Ss turned to Emma once more, "Ms. Emma, why don''t you rest a bit before heading to the office? You''re pregnant, you shouldn''t overwork yourself." Emma shook her head, "Ss, you''re no longer the Galeana family''s butler, and my father has passed away. You don''t need to call me Ms. Emma anymore, just Emma is fine." Ss nodded, "Alright, just take care of yourself. Izzy isn''t one to nitpick. As long as you don''t cause her trouble, she won''t be harsh on you. Just do your job without worrying about anything else." Emma nodded and left with Aiden. Ss looked at Emma now and felt a sense of relief. It seemed that this incident had made her grow up a lot, no longer as impulsive as before. He hoped that her maturity wasn''t temporary, but a genuine desire to start anew and live up to the chairman''s expectations. Once in the car, Ines grumbled to Ethan, "Why do I feel like I''m jinxed? I always get caught doing these things." Ethan watched her pout and shook his head with a chuckle, "It''s not a big deal." "I disagree, I need to be more careful. No more public disys of affection." Ines said seriously. Ines called the Meyer Mansion from the car, asking Phillip to arrange for Rita and Zander to join them. Phillip said they were having lunch and would be leaving the Meyer Mansion soon. The pizza ce Ines mentioned was rmended by Phoebe. She''d never been there before. It was a small shop, but business seemed good. Many people were already eating even though it was still a while before lunchtime. Ines smiled, "The food must be good." Ethan nodded. He wasn''t picky about food, as long as it was edible. Seeing Ines happy, he was content too. The shop''s specialty was pizza, but they also served some sds and pies,.Everything was prepared in advance, so the service was fast. Ines looked at the fresh sd, her appetite whetted. She was about to take a bite when Ethan stopped her, "Izzy, have some pizza first." Ines pouted but followed his advice, taking several bites of pizza before starting on the sd. Ethan watched her, his smile growing wider. Ines took a bite of the sd and waved to the owner. The owner was an older woman who came over immediately in response to her beckoning, "Madam, would you like to order anything else?" "No, could you add a bit more vinegar to the sd? It''s a bit nd." "My apologies, I''ll fix it right away." After the owner left, Ethan turned to Ines, "Izzy, I didn''t think you were so fond of vinegar. I thought it was already quite sour." Ines raised an eyebrow, "I don''t think it''s sour at all." Just then, the owner came over, smiling, "Judging by your taste, you must be pregnant, right? Your taste buds do change during pregnancy. In our hometown, there''s a saying that those who crave sour food will usually have a boy." Ethan nced at Ines'' food and said, "She also likes spicy food a lot." The owner looked a bit embarrassed, clearly misunderstanding Ethan''s words, "That''s just an unscientific folk saying, don''t take it seriously." A glint appeared in Ethan''s eyes, "My wife is carrying twins. ording to this saying, is it possible that she''s having a boy and a girl?" Realizing her mistake, the ownerughed, "Twins? Congrattions! You two are really blessed. ording to our hometown saying, it''s indeed possible to have a boy and a girl." Ethan''s face lit up with a warm smile, "Thank you, I hope it turns out as you said." After the owner left, Ines was puzzled by Ethan''s behavior. She''d thought his recent obsession with having a daughter had lessened, but clearly, she was wrong. The owner merely suggested she might have a son, but it instantly brought a smile to his face, leading the owner to specte carrying a boy and a girl. "Ethan, I''ve noticed you''ve be even more childish since you found out you''re going to be a father." Ethan didn''t buy it, "Childish, me? That''s her words, not mine." Ines just chuckled, not bothering to argue with him. She knew him too well. With his icy demeanor, there was no way he''d spill to a stranger that she was carrying twins. All he ever wanted was to have a daughter. Chapter 255 Chapter 255 They had just left the small shop when Rita called, telling them she had reached downtown and asking them to meet up. When they arrived at the cemetery, it was past one in the noon and the sun was zing hot. Ethan held up an umbre for Ines. Rita and Zander ced the prepared flowers on the grave. Even though Ines had regained her composure, her heart still ached as she looked at her parents'' pictures. Rita also wore a serious expression, gazing at Hunter''s photo on the tombstone and saying, "When Ms. Page died, I really hated you. She sacrificed so much for you, only to end upmitting suicide. Then you distanced yourself from Izzy, pushed her and her mother into the Galeana family, and made her face criticism at a young age. Finally, she had to leave for B city and start over. Seeing her struggle like that, my resentment towards you grew stronger." After a pause, Rita continued, "I''ve heard about what you did for Izzy. Even though I don''tpletely agree, I''m deeply moved. If my child had to choose between enduring prison or enduring rumors, I guess I would also choose to let her bear the rumors, rather than ruin her future. Izzy has also let go of her hatred for you. She will guard what you care about." Content ? N?velDrama.Org. "You can never repay the debt you owe Lilian in this lifetime, and you''ve paid with your life. My sister was a foolhardy woman who loved you deeply. All she cared about was your betrayal. If she knew the truth, she would certainly forgive you. Rest in peace." Zander, always a man of few words, did not say any emotional words like Rita. He simply ced a pack of cigarettes in front of the tombstone, "I know you liked smoking. This is for you. If you feel lonely, you can smoke one." Upon hearing Rita and Zander''s words, Ines couldn''t help but bury her face in Ethan''s chest. Ethan whispered in her ear, "Everything will pass. From now on, our children and I will be with you. You won''t be alone." Ines nodded solemnly, "I know." Since Ines was pregnant, they didn''t stay at the cemetery for long. Rita and Zander didn''t have any vacation days and had taken a leave toe here. Seeing that Ines was doing well, they didn''t n to stay in A city any longer and went straight to the airport. Knowing she had to go to work at the Galeana Group in the afternoon, they told her to get some rest and insisted on not being sent off by them, which Ines disagreed with. Dane promised to safely send them to the airport, Rita said she would call Ines when she arrived at the airport and when she got home. Only then did Ines give up on the idea of seeing them off. Ethan and Ines went to the Galeana Group together. Since Ines had recently acted as the chairman, and with Ethan by her side, the executives didn''t have any objections, even the directors chose to keep quiet and let them handle this issue. With Ethan''s help, and her familiarity with the Galeana Group''s work, they managed to handle most of the backlog within an afternoon. When they finally took a break from work, they realized it was already gettingte. Ines'' shoulders were sore. Just as she was about to massage them, Ethan walked behind her and started to gently knead her shoulders. Ines closed her eyes in enjoyment, feelingfortable like a little kitten. "It seems our Izzy has the potential to be a powerful woman." Ethan said unconsciously. Upon hearing this, Ines'' expression slightly changed, "Ethan, do you want me to stay in this position?" "It depends on you. If you like this kind of work, I won''t object. I won''t make you stay at home as a full-time housewife. That would only make you bored when I''m at work and have too much idle time to overthink. Izzy, do whatever you want." Ethan said seriously. Even though he liked seeing her as soon as he got home, he knew she won''t be happy that way. When their child grows up, they will definitely go to school. She would be bored staying at home alone. Ines nodded, "Hmm, I''ll try it first. If it''s too hard, I won''t tolerate it. I might choose to leave." Ethanughed, knowing that she wasn''t that kind of person. "Alright, let''s eat first and then continue working." Ines held Ethan''s hand. Ethan opened the thermal lunch box that Cam had sent not long before. The food was still warm. They put the food on the table and started eating. Emma originally had something work-rted matters to discuss with Ines, but seeing the cozy scene, she hesitated on whether to go in. Just as she was about to leave, Ines called out to her, "Do you need something?" Emma braced herself and walked in, handing the n in her hands to Ines. She was about to call her "sister", but remembered what Ss said, that she''s actually a bit older than Ines, so technically she''s the older sister. Emma didn''t add a title, instead she said directly, "This is the n for the official announcement of your appointment as the chairman of the Galeana Group. Take a look and see if there''s anything that needs to be modified. If there is, point it out and I''ll correct it right away." Ines took it, not looking at the details of the n or at her, and casually asked, "Have you eaten? If not, sit down and eat with us." Emma nced at the lunch box that only had enough food for two people and shook her head, "I''ve already eaten." Ines knew she hadn''t eaten, but since she said so, she didn''t say anything more. She was just being polite, their rtionship hadn''t reached that close yet. "I''ll look at the n after I finish eating. You can go off to work now. If I have any changes, I''ll let you know first thing tomorrow morning." Emma nodded and left the office. Ines couldn''t help but frown, nudging Ethan''s arm with her elbow, "What do you think is going on with Emma? I feel like she''s changed over these past few days, I can''t tell what she''s thinking anymore." "After all she''s gone through, I feel like she''s grown up a bit. I sense some shred of conscience in her, not entirely devoid of humanity like Shirley. Judging from how she acted at the funeral, she seemed really torn up about her dad, didn''t seem like she was faking those tears," Ethan said. "I''m not exactly a forgiving person. Just thought she''s been acting decently recently, so I decided to cut her some ck. If I were to go by how she treated me in the past, I wouldn''t even give her the time of day," Ethan chuckled. After they had dinner and handled some work, it was almost eleven o¡¯clock when they got home. Chapter 256 Chapter 256 Erica emerged from the study and said, "Ethan, the States are asking for a video conference. You''ve been handling their stuff, so you go take care of it. It may not be very appropriate for me to step in." Ethan nodded and said to Ines, "Izzy, you rest up first. Make sure to dry your hair after showering. Don''t wait up for me, I''ll hit the hay after this meeting." Ines nodded. Ethanughed a little and headed into the study. Ines looked a bit worried. Erica patted her shoulder, "Don''t fret, he''s a man, they''re built tougher than us. He''s had high-stress jobs before, it''s actually rare for him to be home this early." "Ever since my dad¡¯s incident, he hasn''t been resting well. I worry his health won''t hold up. He seems to have lost a bit of weight." Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. "Don''t worry, you''re expecting now. As long as he gets some decent sleep at night, he''ll be totally fine." A hint of a smile flickered in Erica''s eyes. Cam, tidying up in the living room, overheard Erica and burst intoughter. Ines blushed, "Mom, what are you talking about?" But then again, Erica did have a point. Ethan was always full of energy. Even if he had to workte into the night, he''d still be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed the next day. This thought relieved Ines. "No need for the shy act, we''re all adults here. I know my son. It''s actually a rare sight to see him quiet down." Erica was straightforward. Ines didn''t have the guts to discuss such topics with Erica, "Mom, you''re so mean. I''m not talking to you anymore; I''m going to rest. I''m really tired today." Watching Ines leave, Erica chuckled, "She''s shy, must be a lot of love between her and Ethan." Camughed, "I''ve been a postpartum do for a decade now, but I''ve never seen a couple as great as Ethan and Ines. Most couples have their little spats, but I''ve never seen Ines and Ethan fight. I was taken aback when Ines said she and Ethan had a shotgun wedding. Who''d have thought such a marriage could be this loving." "Well, you never know. Ethan was always against the idea of blind dates, but just the one time he goes on one, he brings me back a daughter-inw. I was worried at first; afraid he got married because of family pressure. That would have been our fault as parents." As Cam and Erica chatted in the living room, Ines went to the bedroom, a little smile curling at the corners of her mouth. But then she remembered the ck notebook Ss gave her and went back to the living room to get it. Erica thought Ines was still dealing with work, so she reminded her, "Ines, you''re pregnant now, you can''t overwork yourself. You can handle work stuff tomorrow." "Mom, I''m not working, just some odds and ends. I''ll take a look and then go to sleep." Erica didn''t suspect anything. She nodded, "That''s good then. Get some rest as soon as you can. Don''t wear yourself out." Ines tossed the notebook on the bed and went to take a shower. Afterward, she felt much more rxed. She dried her hair with a hairdryer, turned on the bedsidemp, propped herself up against the headboard, and started flipping through the notebook. The first thing she saw was a scrawl. This was a familiar sight to Ines, as all of Galeana Group''s documents had this kind of handwriting. Despite the scrawl, the words were full of energy and didn''t interfere with readability. Ines could tell what it said at a nce. Izzy, by the time you read this notebook, I might have already departed this world. I''m sorry that I can''t do anything more for you and instead left you with such a heavy burden. There were things I couldn''t say to your face, so I''m telling you this way. Ines''s grip on the notebook tightened a little. She was a bit scared of what she might see next. After a pause, she moved her eyes back to the pages. Perhaps you''ve always been puzzled about my feelings for your mother. I only realized recently that she was not just a lifesaver when I was down and out, but also the love of my life. Your arrival was a beam of light in my life. You two are the most important people in my life, but I ended up hurting you both deeply. I was born into a standard farming family. My father, however, was not ambitious at all. He was a genuine alcoholic. He would spend any money he earned on alcohol and often came home in the middle of the night, and then often blew up at my mother. I was young at the time and couldn''t do anything about it. I would always rush to stop him, but he would grab me by the cor and toss me aside. My mother could only hold me and cry. I was sick of that life. From a young age, I was determined to take my mother and leave, go as far away as possible, and never see that man again. I started studying hard. When my mother found out about my n, she was very supportive. She often worked to pay my tuition fees, while my father would stille home drunk every night. I couldn''t stand people who let poverty beat them down, so my rtionship with him became more and more distant. The education conditions in the countryside were poor at that time; there wasn''t even a primary school. I had to walk a long way to school in the city every day. From primary school to high school, that was more than ten years of walking. There were dorms in high school, but my family couldn''t afford it, so I still had tomute every day. I would review my lessons while walking. Forplicated physics and math problems, I would solve them repeatedly in my head. Over time, I found that my academic performance was not falling behind, and my memory and mental arithmetic were even stronger than others. Ines covered her mouth lightly. She had no idea about his past, that he had to walk several kilometers to school every day for twelve years. That''s not something an ordinary person could endure unless they had extraordinary perseverance. When I was in junior high, my father died of excessive drinking. I didn''t feel sad at all, but rather relieved. Shirley was a friend I met in primary school. Her family was a bit better offpared to mine at the time. They lived in the city, so she didn''t have to rush like I did. But in that era, her family was still quite poor, and the living conditions weren''t great. Later on, I got into a university, but she didn''t. She went back home and did farm work with her mother. The time we really spent together was mainly during my university years. Chapter 257 Chapter 257 After entering university, I juggled both studying and part-time jobs on the side. By then, A City was thriving and my living conditions gradually improved. The school set up schrships for students with financial difficulties. I didn''t need much money for myself, so I sent all of it back home, which helped improve my family''s situation. However, that year, my mother passed away, as her health deteriorated due to years of overworking. From then on, I had no family left back home. In my junior year, I started an internship at the Fantasy Group; your grandparents''pany, where I met your mother. She was my age, and in her third year of college. Funnily enough, we were at the same school, in the same college, just different majors. I knew she had a soft spot for me, but as you know, I had nothing to my name back then, so I pretended to be clueless about her feelings. On the other hand, I had a childhood sweetheart, Shirley, back home. When your mother realized I wasn''t interested, she dropped the subject. She even saw through my avoidance and had an honest chat with me, telling me to focus on my work at thepany. If I performed well, I could stay after graduation. Before she left, she told me, "Being poor is not a disgrace, but it''s no honor either." That really hit me. Took me a while to snap out of it. I didn''t expect her to see right through me. I was indeed feeling inferior. How inferior? So inferior that I always associated myself with the poor. Whenever someone mentioned the poor, I felt like they were talking about me. I resented it, but I also knew it was a reality I had to face. I was indeed poor. Back then, I was desperate to seed, to stand out, to shake off thebel of being poor. My dear Izzy, you''ve never been through it. You will never understand the feeling of helplessness and powerlessness. Ines felt a sting in her eyes. She rubbed them hard until she could see clearly before continuing to read. After graduation, I stayed with the Fantasy Group. But in a bigpany like this, fresh graduates like me were a dime a dozen. Many of them were more worldly than I was. I struggled on my own in thepany for two years, but I was always just a small fry. Shirley''s life was going from bad to worse, so I brought her to live with me. We started cohabiting. But because she didn''t have a degree, it was hard for her to find a job in this city. I didn''t allow her to work in hotels or bars, so she stayed at home. Initially, we were happy, but over time, conflicts arose more frequently over small things. Our home, which should''ve been a ce for me to rx and rest, gradually became a ce I didn''t want to return to. I felt this couldn''t continue, so I had a serious talk with her. She decided to return home first and woulde back when my living situation improved. I epted this arrangement. I remember that day was the day of my promotion and raise. I wanted to share this good news with her, only to find out she had secretly married a man in town without giving me any exnation. I was devastated then, but my pride made me not go back to her for an exnation. Instead, I just worked harder. Your mother re-entered my life at this time. She was beautiful and smart, with remarkable business acumen. After graduation, she started learning from your grandfather. She began to notice me. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Sometimes we would go out to eat together. I identally mentioned my breakup with Shirley once, and she didn''t say anything, just ordered a bottle of wine for me and drank with me. Because of her, I caught your grandfather''s attention. He thought I was down-to-earth, so he gave me a different job. The work was hard, but I got to see your mother more. After a while, we became good friends. But rumors began to spread in thepany that I was cozying up to the boss''s daughter for a promotion. Your grandfather soon found out about this and made me choose: either cut ties with your mother and stay in thepany or leave. I was torn. I had achieved some sess in thepany. If I left now, I would have to start over. Plus, I had feelings for your mother. I admired her talent and character. Seeing my struggle, your mother frankly told your grandfather that she was sure we would get married. If I had to leave thepany, she would leave too. By then, your aunt had fallen out with your grandparents and gone to B City with your uncle. Your mother was their chosen sessor. They had already lost one daughter and couldn''t afford to lose another. So they decided to give me a chance. As long as I was sessful, they would agree to my marriage with your mother. They gave me a million dors to start my own business. I was already studying architectural design. With the capital, I quickly started an architecturalpany, the predecessor of the Galeana Group. Our business was mainly providing design drawings for constructionpanies. I was talented in this field. Coupled with your mother''s knack for networking, our business status gradually rose. I was responsible for creating the design drawings, and your mother was responsible for contacting the developers. In just a month, we earned three million, far exceeding our expectations. Despite this, your grandparents never really liked me. I could sense their unwillingness in their eyes, but I''m not sure why even to this day. However, your mother, like you, was very stubborn. No matter what, she was determined to be with me. In the end, your grandparents agreed to our marriage, and that''s how your mother and I got married. After the wedding, your mother didn''t choose to return to the Fantasy Group. Instead, she chose to stick with me at the Galeana Group. Ines felt her eyes bing sour again. She knew why her grandparents were against them being together. Her grandparents had told her in person. It was because they knew that apart from liking her mom, he had other intentions. No parents wouldfortably hand over their daughter to a man like that. Chapter 258 Chapter 258 After tying the knot with your mom, life had been pretty sweet. Your mom was a real powerhouse out there, but at home, she bame totally reliant on me. Her cooking, well, it''s a real train wreck. But she''s not picky about my food at all, no matter what I cook, she eat it and always gave me a big thumbs up. Every day, we worked together, fighting for our family. Our bond had grown stronger day by day. You were born pretty soon, and man, I was over the moon! Watching you grow in your mom''s belly day by day, I was even more excited than her, sometimes I couldn''t even sleep. Every day when I got home, I''dy down on your mom''s belly and talk to you. You were a lively little thing, always stirring up a fuss. Your mom had a sweet tooth in the early days of her pregnancy, and you were always moving around in her belly, which made herin a lot. Sometimes, I''d lose my cool and give you a piece of my mind, asking why you gotta be such a hand full, from day one, warning you that if you were too naughty, I''d give you a spanking. You seemed to understand me, every time when I said I was gonna spank you, you''d quiet down. Your mom always said that I was grinning like an idiot every day. Almost thirty years have passed, but thinking about those days, I still feel pretty darn satisfied. Ines was gently flipping through the notebook in her hands, a smile on her face. She could see the same happiness in Ethan, he was that happy too. Guess that''s what it feels like to be a new dad. As for cooking skills, she was a lot like her mom, a total disaster. If it wasn''t for those years living abroad, she''d probably be at the same level. But during your mom''s pregnancy, something happened that really threw me off. Your mom couldn''t join me at the banquet because of her pregnancy, I had a few too many drinks that night, and when I woke up, I saw thest woman I wanted to see in my life, Shirley. She was lying naked next to me, I didn''t know if I had done anything to her. But she insisted that something happened between us, but she said that she was a married woman, so this should be treated as if nothing happened. I took a good look at her, she had be frail in just a few months, looking nothing like when she left A City. I just frowned, realizing that I no longer had any sympathy for her, my heart had already moved on to your mom and you. Your mom didn''t sleep well that night, for the first time I lied to her, saying that my phone was out of battery, and I forgot to charge it. Your mom always trusted me, she didn''t ask any more questions, just turned over and fell asleep. That matter slipped my mind pretty quickly as your birth was on the horizon. When I took your tiny body from the nurse, I got so emotional that I burst into tears. I was super excited, tears just started streaming down my face. You were very quiet in my arms, the doctor said that newborns usually don''t open their eyes right away, but when I took you, your eyes were already open, they were so pure, just like mine. I made a silent vow, I would never let you experience what I went through as a child, and I would make sure you feel the love of a father, I would give you all the things I didn''t have when I was a kid. With your arrival, the rtionship between your mom and me got even better. We didn''t hire a nanny, partly because we didn''t trust anyone else, and partly because we weren''t in the best financial situation, so we, ourselves, took care of everything for you, we even brought you to the office during the day. Back then, thepany was still small, with just a few employees, you were very well-behaved, at such a young age you were already observant of your surroundings, when your mom and I were busy, you never cried, just quietly looked around with your eyes, and fell asleep when you were tired. But when your mom and I were free, you would be very active, always crying at us, tears rolling down your face like pearls, and as soon as we picked you up, you would immediately start laughing, that crying andughing look always left us in stitches. Ines sniffled, from Hunter''s words she could tell, he must have had a great rtionship with her mom, those days of starting a business together must have left a deep impression on him. No matter how busy we were, every year we would take time out to take a photo of you, every time I organized your photos was my happiest time, I always thought my little sweetheart was the best no matter how you look at it. N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Ines couldn''t help but murmur, "Dad, you''re so vain." You started talking and walking earlier than kids your age, some kids your age couldn''t even talk, but you could already say a lot of words, even curse. One time I wanted to take a nap because I stayed upte the night before, you got up early and started knocking on my door, yelling "Dad", I was actually already awake, but I deliberately kept quiet, just to tease you. You seemed to get pissed and started banging the door with your butt, even kicking it, the noise was louder than before, but I still kept quiet, you started mimicking your mom calling my name, even calling me "Hunter". I wasughing and crying in there, just as I was about to say something, I heard you grumbling outside, "Lazy bones! Are you deaf or something?" It seemed to be mixed with your disgruntled hum. In the end, I heard your momughing outside, she couldn''t hold it in anymore, then she carried you away. You grew up bit by bit, although you were sometimes naughty, you always acted as if nothing had happened when you did something naughty, sometimes you would act pitiful, but you always knew when to stop, never did anything too outrageous. Time flew by, you started school, your mom and I started to devote all our energy to thepany, but every time there was a parent-child activity, no matter how busy we were, your mom and I would always apany you. I want you to know that even though your parents are busy, you are always the most important thing in our hearts. After the company took off, your mom and I were not satisfied with just providing design solutions for other companies but started to engage in real estate business, developing properties. It didn''t go smoothly at first, due to the small size of thepany, even though the houses were of high quality, we often encountered sales difficulties. But, we gradually overcame all the difficulties, achieved sess, gradually gained a foothold in the real estate industry, and even developed into a leading position in the industryter. As thepany continued to expand, a lot of problems arose. Engaging in real estate business, it was inevitable that we would have to deal with some government departments. If they put pressure on you at some approval stage, you would be in big trouble. You may even suffer heavy losses. Chapter 259 Chapter 259 Back then, I was all in, busting my chops just to do my job right, pouring most of my energy into work. I learned to navigate the waters of social interaction, learned how to y the game, and learned to tailor my words to different people. Social events came thick and fast, and I started to spend less and less time with your mom. When I got home, she was always already asleep, and when I woke up, she was already out working. We lived like this for a long time. Your mom was always confident and independent, and I didn''t realize there was an issue with her mood. Looking back, your mom probably started suffering from depression around that time. If I''d noticed sooner, she wouldn''t have taken that road to nowhere. One day, Ss noticed something was up with your mom and gave me a heads-up. I nned to go home and sort things out. But then Shirley dropped a bombshell on me, and told me she had a kid, my kid, who was already more than ten years old. I was startled. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. I didn''t believe a word she said, but she came prepared. She showed me photos and brought along some of the kid''s hair. The kid''s eyes in the photo hit me like a punch to the gut. They were like mine, and like yours too. We three had incredibly simr eyes, and I couldn''t deny it. I got a paternity test done, and just as I thought, the kid was indeed my daughter, a result of me stepping out while your mom was pregnant. I couldn''t wrap my head around it. I was repulsed by the truth. Knowing your mom''s temperament, I couldn''t bring myself to tell her. I gave Shirley loads of money and told her not toe around again. This secret began to weigh me down, and I started to dread seeing your mom. I was afraid to face her unconditional trust in me. I used work as an excuse and only went home after she was asleep. A few times, I realized she was only pretending to sleep. We used to be a couple who shared everything, but this secret created a rift between us. Your mom must have sensed that I was avoiding something, but she never asked, and I sure as hell wasn''t going to tell her. I felt that our marriage was heading for the rocks, so I started treating her even better, and tried to get back to how we were when we first got married. We did get back to the way we were, but the peace didn''tst long. News of Emma fighting at school reached me. Despite knowing she was hurt, I had the nerve to ignore her. In the end, I couldn''t help but sneak a peek at her, which ended up opening a whole new can of worms. That time when Ss and I went to see her, we ran into Emma. She looked painfully thin, clearly malnourished. Even though she was already in high school, she was as short as a grade-schooler. She had a bandage on one hand, and she was also surrounded by a bunch of boys who were hurling all sorts of insults at her, mocking her for being the daughter of a murderer, for not having a father. She got really pissed, ignored her injured hand, and started fighting back. She ended up on the ground, crying and exining that the man they were talking about wasn''t her real father, that her real father was apany CEO, a very good man. I was torn inside. I''d been in her shoes, knew how much it hurt. I swore I''d be a good father and not let my child go through that, but what had I done? I let my other daughter walk the same path I had. In the end, Ss had to step in. Emma thought Ss was her real dad and immediately clung to his leg, crying out, "Daddy, save me." She then passed out, and Ss and I had no choice but to take her to a hospital in A City. I realized I couldn''t ignore this girl, so I left her in A City. Shirley wouldn''t let Emma stay here alone, so she followed soon after. She acted very calmly and promised not to disrupt my family. After thinking it over, I figured Emma still needed someone to look after her, so I decided to set them up in a house a bit farther away. A year and some changeter, I realized I couldn''t keep this a secret any longer and prepared to exin everything to your mom. But I never saw iting. Your mom chose to take her own life before I could exin anything. The person I''ve wronged the most in this world was her. She was the love of my life, but I failed her. She never heard an apology or an exnation from me before she died. If I could turn back time, I''d communicate with her as soon as I found out I had another daughter, even if she hated me and wanted a divorce. I just didn''t want to see her dying in front of me, covered in blood. She was the warmth of my life. I''d rather hurt myself than hurt her. After reading her diary, I found out that Shirley had approached her and that she''d been suffering from depression for a while. But I knew her, and these weren''t the main reasons she killed herself. She was just using this extreme method to get back at me, to get back at my infidelity and betrayal. Ines couldn''t help covering her mouth and sobbing quietly. The words on the paper were written heavily, almost tearing the paper, as if the person who wrote them used a lot of force. After your mom died, I fell into a rut. If I wasn''t working, I was smoking. Not long after, the incident between you and Emma happened. You were on the brink of death, and Emma lost her legs. If I hadn''t insisted, she''d be spending her days in a wheelchair now. During that time, I was totally lost. I only dared to linger outside your hospital room and talk to you when it was quiet at night. When I heard that you woke up, I was over the moon! Shirley decided to sue you, but I couldn''t believe that you''d nned the car ident. I watched you grow up and knew your character like the back of my hand. You might make minor mistakes now and then, but you''re always rational when ites to big issues. I''ve tried my best to use all my connections to find out the truth, but unfortunately, I found nothing. The power behind the car ident was way beyond my expectation. Only then did I realize that I didn''t have enough power to clear my daughter''s name. Chapter 260 Chapter 260 You probably got the lowdown from Ss by now. Shirley threw down some terms, wanting you out of the Galeana family. She and Emma wanted a legit spot in our family, I was backed into a corner and had to make a cruel call. Sweetheart, I always believed in you. I was just too weak, so you had to shoulder the crap that you weren¡¯t supposed to. You had to go solo and leave your hometown. I knew your aunts and uncles would look after you, so I didn¡¯t dare to set foot in B City, scared that I¡¯d lose it the moment I saw you. I have no clue what kind of mess you got tangled up in, the unknown freaks me out. All I could do was to get you out of A City, hoping you could have a good life elsewhere. The words on the paper didn¡¯t make much sense, Ines was just writing down whatever popped into her head. She was in deep pain, tears streaming down uncontrobly. I let your mother down, and I let you down. I''m officially saying sorry. I wanted to be a good husband, but life''s a bitch. I wanted to be a good dad, but I flunked it, I failed to make your and Emma¡¯s life beautiful. Looking back, my self-proimed sess in life was nothing. I let too many people down, especially the people I loved the most. I used to think Shirley was just a penny pincher, but boy was I wrong! This woman''s heart was ck. We had a hell of a fight after she saw my will. That''s when I found out that nothing happened between us that night, she lied! She even altered Emma''s birth date. She was up to no good since she arrived in A City, besides barging into our ce, she engineered all sorts of chances to run into your mom, even showed her pictures of my every visit to Emma. I guess your mom was waiting for an exnation from me all this while. But I didn¡¯t make a move, and she lost hope, choosing to leave in such a way. Baby, your dad was a stubborn fool, always aiming for the top. But once I got there, I realized it was lonely as hell. I lost the people I loved, the person who was supposed to be by my side. I¡¯m not trying to justify myself by saying all this. I just had these words bottled up for too long and it was suffocating. So, I¡¯m letting it out this way, because I want to tell you, I always loved you. In fact, when I found out I had lung cancer, I wasn¡¯t sad or anything. I was relieved because I could finally go find your mom, without being seen as weak or pitied. That''s why I initially refused treatment. The only thing I couldn''t let go of was you and Emma. Just as I was about to fetch you from B City, you came back on your own. On top of that, you got hitched. Back then, I was super anxious, scared that you¡¯d end up with a good-for-nothing like me. Luckily, Ethan turned out to be a trustworthy guy. Hope lit up my heart again. I wanted to see if you could stay happy, so I agreed to go to the States for treatment. When I heard the news that you and Emma were both expecting, I was euphoric! I couldn''t wait to see my grandkids being born, to hear them call me "grandpa". You and Emma are like a mirror reflecting me, showing both my good and bad sides. Emma reminded me of my younger self, feeling inferior and always ready to fight whenever her background was brought up. And you, you¡¯re confident, more like me when I was on top of my game. You believe you can get whatever you want by working hard, nothing can stop you. But Emma, she¡¯s a tough cookie too. She almost lost her legs in the car ident, yet she braved through the rehab that even men can¡¯t handle and stood up again. I don¡¯t ask for much, if Emma can turn over a new leaf, not being swayed or provoked by Shirley, I hope you can give her another chance. I don¡¯t expect you guys to get along, but please don¡¯t fight among yourselves, I don¡¯t want to see that happening. Of course, if she continues to stray, you do what you gotta do. I won¡¯t me you. Ines trembled as she turned to another piece of paper. There wasn¡¯t much written on it, just a few lines. I regret it. If I¡¯d known I couldn''t be a good husband, I wouldn¡¯t have chased after your mother, such a beautiful woman. But I don¡¯t regret bringing Emma into my life. No matter whether her mother was the one I loved, she¡¯s ultimately my daughter. I couldn¡¯t stay indifferent knowing she exists, I just couldn¡¯t! It was already 1 a.m. when Ethan came out of the study. He thought Ines was asleep, but instead found her muffling her sobs with a nket, tears streaming down her face, panting and on the verge of passing out. He saw the ck notebook on the floor and immediately guessed that her breakdown was rted to its contents. He rushed over and pulled her into his arms, "Izzy, it''s okay, it''s okay." Ines clung to Ethan tightly, her heart aching so much it was hard to breathe. "Ethan, my dad said, he always believed in me. He was also trying to find evidence, but he wasn''t strong enough, he couldn''t find the evidence. But he believed me, he actually believed me. I always thought he didn''t believe me¡­" Ines was losing control, but Ethan understood her, "Yeah, I got it. He did believe in you, he believed in you." "I should have forgiven him sooner. He told me he lost the will to live after my mom died, but he couldn''t let me go." She, too, didn''t realize he was in so much pain. If she had known, she wouldContent held by N?velDrama.Org. have forgiven him sooner. She would have apanied him during hisst days, instead of letting him go abroad for treatment alone, and die alone in a foreignnd. "He told me he wanted to grow the Galeana Group just so he could be stronger, so he could protect me when problems arose, instead of making me leave my hometown and bear the unjust." "He told me he loved my mom. He loved her, deeper than he had ever imagined." As Ines rambled on, Ethan didn''t interrupt her. Instead, he gently patted her back, offering silent comfort and support. "Izzy, calm down, take a deep breath. You''re too worked up right now." Chapter 261 Chapter 261 Ethan kissed her forehead, her face, and in his arms, Ines gradually stopped crying, burying her head deep in his chest. After a while, Ines lifted her head from Ethan''s arms, with tear marks all over her face, and said hoarsely, "Ethan, you go freshen up first, I''ve messed up your clothes." "I''m fine, you need to wash your face too, or you''ll feel ufortable when you sleep, let''s go together." Ethan didn''t want to leave Ines alone, fearing she would fall into chaotic thoughts again. Ines nodded, and Ethan led her to the bathroom. She was like a puppet, letting Ethan wash her face, not until Ethan wiped her face with a towel did she react, saying, "I can do it myself, you go take a shower, it''s gettingte." With that, she took the towel and left the bathroom. Ethan immediately took a shower, probably the fastest one in his life,ing out of the bathroom in about five minutes. Ines was already lying on her side in bed, her back to him. Ethan dried his hair, lifted the quilt and lay down, holding her in his arms. Ines turned around, her face against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, and slowly closed her eyes. "Izzy, sleep well." Ethan kissed her forehead lightly. Ines was probably tired from crying, and soon fell asleep. Ethan, however, was curious about what was written in that book, so he didn''t turn off the bedsidemp and started flipping through the book gently. Reading the bits and pieces recorded in the text, Ethan felt a sting in his eyes, filled with emotions. It''s not advisable for couples to not express their doubts in time. Much of the tragedy between them was for this reason. Luckily, he and Ines were both people who would speak out when they had problems, rather than suppressing them all the time, otherwise it would definitely affect their marital rtionship. He couldn''t judge Hunter as a person, but he was sure, Hunter wasn''t a good husband, but he was indeed a good father. Everything he did for his two daughters was beyond reproach. Ethan nced at Ines in his arms. Her breathing was steady and there were no signs of nightmares. He turned off the bedsidemp and fell asleep holding her. The next day, as soon as Ines woke up, she felt difort in her eyes. Ethan woke up too, noticing her unease, he couldn''t help asking, "What''s wrong?" "My eyes feel ufortable like I can hardly open them," Ines said quietly. Ethan took a look and found that her eyes were terribly swollen, especially her upper eyelids. "It''s okay, it''s just swollen from crying. Close your eyes, I''ll give you a massage." Hearing this, Ines closed her eyes, and Ethan pressed on her eye sockets with his middle and ring fingers, repeating several times from the inner corner to the outer corner of her eyes, but the effect was not significant. So, he got up and prepared some saline in the kitchen, soaked a gauze in it and applied it to her eyes, waiting for quite a while before removing the gauze. "Try and see, how do you feel now?" He asked. Ines slowly opened her eyes, only feeling cool around her eyes, with no difort, "Much better." "Your body is in a special state now, you have to take care of it. Even amon cold can be troublesome," Ethan said seriously. "Don''t worry, I know." When the two of them got up, Erica was already having breakfast. She saw that Ines'' eyes were still a bit swollen, "Izzy, what happened to your eyes? Did you stay upte again without sleeping? They look swollen." Ines didn''t know how to exin, but Ethan found an excuse for her, "I was dealing with some things latest night, she couldn''t sleep well alone, she had insomnia." Erica didn''t suspect anything, she just said, "Then you go back to sleep for a while, go to the office later. With Ethan here, you don''t need to rush." "It''s okay, mom, I''m not sleepy now, and I might not be able to sleep. I''ll go to the office first, there''s a restroom in the office anyway, I can sleep anytime I''m tired." Hearing Ines say this, Erica didn''t say anything. With her own son there, she could rest assured, "That''s fine too, Ethan you pay more attention to Izzy, don''t let her get too tired, or I''ll deal with you if you tire out my grandson." Ethan shook his head, "As expected, with a daughter-inw and a grandson, I''m no longer important to you." Ericaughed, "Of course." Ines also smiled a little, in order not to worry her family, even though she had no appetite, she still tried to eat some. Before leaving, Ines put the ck notebook in her bag. Ethan saw her move but didn''t ask anything. When they arrived at the office, it was already nine o''clock. Just as Ines was about to start work, she hesitated for a moment and called Emma toe up. Emma came up quickly after receiving the call, knocked on the door, and Ines let her in. "Chairman, you called for me?" Emma asked formally. Hearing the word "Chairman" from her mouth, Ines was a bit surprised, handed her the n in her hand, and said, "There is no major problem overall, I deleted some of the less important processes and shortened the time by fifteen minutes. I can''t work for too long given my current situation." "I overlooked that, I''ll make the changes right away," Emma said. The atmosphere between the two was a bit heavy. Ines shifted the topic and asked, "Did your mom give you a hard time when you went home yesterday?" Emma looked at Ines deeply, not understanding why she would ask this question. She had actually released Shirley in the afternoon. She thought she would face her mother''s me when she got home, but she just red at her and didn''t say anything. Her mood was much better than in the afternoon. When asked why, she sarcastically said, "No one can hold their head high on someone else''s turf. She has lost everything and can only depend on her daughter in the future." "No, her mood has improved a lot," Emma said truthfully. Ines nodded and as she was about to leave, she handed her the notebook from her bag. There were no unnecessary emotions in her voice, "This was written by dad. You''re his daughter too. Take it and have a look but remember to read it quickly and return it to me as soon as possible." Emma was startled for a while before epting the item from her hand, her eyes full of surprise, as if she couldn''t believe that Ines would let her read this notebook.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 262 Chapter 262 When the office was left with only the two of them, Ethan chuckled, "Do you really want to let her have it?" "Dad didn''t want us to hurt each other. If that''s his wish, I''ll do my best to fulfill it. But my attitude towards her will depend on her actions. As long as she behaves well, I''m willing to let bygones be bygones and live in peace with her." "Yeah, that''s the right thing to do," Ethan said, grinning. He liked her personality: strong yet gentle, not easily forgiving others on request. She had her own way of handling rtionships. Ines gave a bitter smile, and couldn''t help but ask a question that had been on her mind, "Ethan, do you value your children more than your wife?" Upon hearing this, Ethan frowned, "Why would you ask that?" "Nothing, I just wanted to hear your thoughts on this issue, nothing more," Ines smiled at him and exined earnestly. Ethan thought for a moment, then said, "No, I probably will never be a father like him. These things can''t be generalized, everyone''s experiences shape the way they handle things. I didn''t have a childhood like his, I don''t ce too much importance on fatherly love. If something like this were to happen to me, I definitely wouldn''t bring an illegitimate child home, I wouldpletely ignore them." "Isn''t that a bit too cruel?" "I don''t care. If I must choose between my wife and my child, my wife will always be my first choice. I won''t hurt my wife for a daughter who suddenly appears. No matter what happens, my wife will always be my number one." He''s not that noble of a person, if he had to hurt one party, he would never choose to hurt his wife. Ethan''s expression was resolute, there wasn''t a hint of joking. Getting such an answer, Ines was speechless for a moment. In the following days, Ethan proved to her through his actions that what he had said was not empty words, he truly put her first. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. "I won''t pretend to be profound and only act without speaking. I can keep silent on insignificant matters, but anything that could affect our rtionship, I''ll definitely speak out," Ethan said casually. Hunter''s fatherly love was too profound, although not wrong, it sometimes caused problems. Ines understood he was referring to Hunter doing many things for her behind the scenes, but never speaking about it. At noon, Ethan received a call from n Lin, saying there was a new development in the case of Hunter''s fall. The police only allowed the two of them to go, no one else was allowed to be informed. Ines and Ethan rushed to the police station. "Please sit down," n Lin invited them to sit. "Officer Lin, have you found any new clues?" Ethan asked. "A few days ago, we cross-checked everyone''s statements, and we found that one of the maids was vague and seemed to be hiding something, she also looked very flustered. Our colleague had been observing her, and yesterday she suddenly resigned and was in a hurry to leave, our colleague immediately brought her back to the police station for detailed interrogation, she then revealed that Mr. Galeana''s daily life was taken care of by Ss, but she asionally helped. Ines frowned, she knew that Ss was responsible for a lot of things, and when he was too busy he would have other maids help him out. n Lin continued, "She said that before Mr. Galeana went to bed, he had her pour a ss of water and prepare some pills, she watched Mr. Galeana take the pills before leaving. We know that Mr. Galeana had already taken his blood pressure medication before bed, so it''s impossible for him to take it again at night. ording to your descriptions, Mr. Galeana was a lung cancer patient, if he got up in the middle of the night to take medication, it should have been anti-cancer drugs." Ines, her hand tightly clenched on her knee, analyzed calmly, "My dad is always careful, he wouldn''t let these maids see his anti-cancer drugs. He might have really gotten up to take medication, but the killer couldn''t find those drugs after the act and could only hurriedly put some blood pressure pills on the table." "Our initial spection is the same," n Lin nodded. Ethan frowned, sensing other implications in n Lin''s words, "Did you find any other clues?" n Lin signaled a man brought over an item wrapped in a stic bag, "This was found by the maid at the staircase." Ines looked up, she had a good memory and recognized the diamond earring, it was the same one she saw on Emma''s ear the first time she returned to A City and met Emma. Emma always liked diamonds, almost all her jewelry was studded with diamonds. Phoebe once told her, "Your sister loves to show off her wealth, she always wears diamonds, looking at her hurts my eyes." "Ms. Galeana, do you recognize this item?" n Lin asked. Ines''s teeth trembled slightly, "I may be mistaken, but I remember seeing these earrings on Emma." n Lin said, "The maid said the same thing, she said this is one of Emma''s favorite pairs of earrings, a gift from Aiden, she loved them very much." Ines instinctively shook her head, "Impossible, it couldn''t be her!" After Hunter''s death, her grief should have been real, if it was fake, then her acting was too good. Ethan gently patted Ines''s shoulder, "Izzy, try to calm down first." "So, we called you here to ask, do we need to continue investigating this matter? Emma is a pregnant woman after all, we won''t casually ask her toe to the police station for questioning without solid evidence." "Please wait a moment, I''ll call her." n Lin nodded, Ines tried to calm her emotions, then dialed Emma''s number and put it on speaker. The phone was quickly picked up, and Emma''s somewhat anxious voice came through, "Chairman, why aren''t you in the office? There''s an urgent document from the marketing department that needs your signature." Ines replied, "I received a temporary notice from the police, I''m currently at the police station." "Has there been any new developments in dad''s case?" Chapter 263 Chapter 263 Ines asked directly, "Do you have a star-shaped blue diamond earring?" "Yeah, it was the first gift Aiden gave me. I''ve always loved it," Emma replied instantly. "Do you still have it?" "Yeah, I do. But I haven''t worn it since I got pregnant. I keep it in my jewelry box and haven''t touched it in a while. Why?" Emma asked, feeling puzzled. Ines said with a poker face, "After dad''s ident, someone found your earring by the stairs. You know our house is cleaned three times daily. They wouldn''t miss something so noticeable. It must have fallen after the incident." With her earring found at the scene, it all started to make sense. Emma turned pale. She had a hunch, but it still stung when it was confirmed. Her mom did wear her earrings that night. Maybe others didn''t notice because her hair covered them, but they were her favorite, and she could recognize them instantly. She really had the guts to do it. Normally, her belongings were locked, and only herself knew the password. But recently, Shirley said she wasughed at for looking old when she went out to y cards and wanted to borrow her jewelry. So Emma gave Shirley the password without a second thought. Hunter had been cold to her but was always generous materially, bringing her gifts every time he returned from a trip. Knowing she loved jewelry, every piece that he gave her was unique. Over the years, she had amassed a box full of jewelry. It was unknown whether her mom nned to frame her or had other motives. It were the former, it was truly heartbreaking. The more Emma thought about it, the more terrifying it seemed. No, it must have fallen identally. Why would she deliberately leave evidence? There was silence on the phone. Ines frowned and said seriously, "Emma, this is no time to be clueless. If you know something, tell us. Dad has never mistreated you. Don''t let him..." Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Before Ines could finish, Emma hung up. Ines called again, only to find the line busy. "Officer Lin, what do you think?" Ethan asked. "Emma must know the truth and she might be close to the perpetrator." "Besides her mom, Shirley, no one else would touch Emma''s stuff. It''s either her or her mom," Ines said calmly. "Don''t worry, we''ll bring Shirley in for questioning immediately," n Lin said. After hanging up, Emma immediately called Shirley, but couldn''t get through. A sense of foreboding surged in her heart, and she called home again. The housemaid answered, "Miss, I haven''t seen the madam all morning. I knocked on her door at lunchtime, but there was no answer. I think she may have gone out." Shirley should have taken her phone if she went out, but no one answered despite her repeated calls. "Can you check her bedroom?" The maid hesitated, "I''m not sure. If the madam is in the room, she might scold me." Shirley had a bad temper, and everyone in the house generally avoided upsetting her. Emma, anxious, raised her voice, "I''m the head of this house now. Do as I say. If there''s any problem, I''ll take responsibility. She won¡¯t do anything to you." While waiting, Emma was anxious. After a while, the maid said nervously, "Miss, the madam is not in the bedroom. Her room is a mess. I don''t know what happened." Emma''s heart sank. She didn''t hesitate, took a taxi home immediately, and saw the maid waiting for her. "I don''t know what happened. You can go up and see for yourself." Emma rushed into the house. Seeing her rushing in with her pregnant belly, the maid had to remind her to be careful. Emma seemed to hear nothing. She was particrly anxious and hurried upstairs to Shirley''s bedroom first. Just one nce and she felt like a bucket of cold water poured over her. The room was a mess, all the drawers were opened, and Shirley''s jewelry and bank cards were gone. She rushed to her bedroom and found her belongings were also gone, including her most precious diamond, her bank cards, and even the bank cards left by her father. Her ID and other documents were also missing. She left home at six in the morning, and it was already half past three in the afternoon. That was plenty of time tomit the crime. She quickly checked her ount bnce, only to find a small amount left. Emma felt weak, cold, and sat on the bed helplessly. She never wanted to believe that a mother could treat her own child like this. In the taxi, she was still making excuses for Shirley, saying perhaps she messed up the room because she was upset. But the reality was right in front of her, leaving her no room for doubt. Her mother, after killing her father, had run away, taking most of her property with her. Had she ever considered her predicament? Her rtionship with her inws was bad, her husband didn''t care about her, she was pregnant, and she might have to take care of Jasmine alone in the future. She even took her property. How was she supposed to live now? "Are you okay?" The maid noticed something wrong with Emma, and was at a loss. Emma was stiff and couldn''t recover from the shock for a long time. No matter how the maid called her, she just stared nkly at the wall. Until she felt something wrong with her belly, which scared her back to her senses. She said to the maid with a trembling voice, "I don''t feel well. Call an ambnce." Hearing this, the maid hurried downstairs to make the call. Chapter 264 Chapter 264 By the time Ethan and Ines got the message, it was alreadyte at night. The news came via a phone call from Eda, who said she was on her way to the hospital but didn''t give any details, only mentioning that Emma had been admitted. The two didn''t waste any time. They got dressed and rushed to the hospital. In the hospital room, Emma was lying alone on the bed, d in a hospital gown, hugging her knees, her eyes vacant. Seeing her like this, Ines felt a twinge of worry. Her eyes instinctively went to Emma''s stomach. It wasn''t until she saw the still-prominent bump that she breathed a sigh of relief. "Where''s Eda? I thought she was on her way here. Howe she hasn''t arrived yet?" Ines asked. Hearing Ines'' voice, Emma lifted her head, looking a tad surprised. After a few seconds, she replied calmly, "Eda went out to get me some food. You guys have a seat." "What happened? Weren''t you fine this afternoon?" Ines didn''t sit down immediately, but stood by the bed, frowning. "My mom took off with all my money, including the savings my dad left, and then she left." Emma''s voice was calm, as if she had already epted this harsh reality. Ines was taken aback, she swallowed her anger and asked, "So, she''s responsible for your dad''s death?" Emma gave Ines a long stare, and then nodded, no longer hiding the truth. "Only she knew the password to my jewelry box. She recently started wearing my jewelry to go out and y cards. The night you guys came over for dinner, she was wearing the pair of blue diamond earrings. After my dad passed away, I identally learned from her that she knew about his will all along. She''s been acting strange for a while now, and she destroyed the will because there was nothing left for her. She''s the only one with the motive to kill." She must have had a backup n: one, to acquire as much of the estate as possible, and two, to take as much of it with her when she left. When she saw thepany falling into Ines'' hands, and knowing her plot was about to be exposed, she decided to take the second route. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have asked for the jewelry box password so early. From the time the will was announced to now, it had only been a day, and she had already disappeared. Clearly, this was all part of her n, and her own daughter was just a pawn in her scheme. "This woman is utterly shameless." Ines couldn''t help but mutter. Emma gave a bitter smile but said nothing. Seeing Emma like this made Ines angry. "If you''d told the police what you know earlier, it wouldn''t havee to this. You just let her walk off with your stuff." "She is, after all, my biological mother who raised me on her own. I spent the first part of my life with her, I can''t be so cold to her." Emma said sorrowfully. She couldn''t bring herself to put her own mother in jail. Hearing Emma''s words, Ines didn''t know what to say. No matter how terrible Shirley was, she was still Emma¡¯s mother. It felt cruel to ask Emma to turn her own mother into jail. Upon hearing the news, Ethan immediately stepped out to call n to inquire about the situation. The rtionship between Ines and Emma was already awkward. After Ines asked her questions, she didn''t know what else to say. Luckily, Eda hurried in at that moment, carrying some freshly bought milk. "Ines, you''re already here?" Ines nodded, "I just got here." Eda handed the milk to Emma, saying, "Please eat something. You haven''t eaten much since this afternoon. Your body can''t take it. The doctor says you should eat light foods now, so all I could buy was some milk." Emma nodded and took the milk. "Thanks, Eda." Seeing Emma like this, Eda felt a pang of sympathy. She''d always seen Emma and Shirley as bad people, intruders who''d disrupted the peaceful life of Ines'' family. But seeing Emma in this state, she couldn''t help but feel bad. "Eda, where''s Aiden?" Ines noticed Aiden''s absence and found it inappropriate. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. "After the emergency call was made, the housemaid called him. I also called him when I was out buying things. He said he was at an important dinner and couldn''t leave. He asked me to look after Emma for a while and said he''de over once he''s done." Eda sounded annoyed. Ines frowned, seeing Aiden as unreliable. What dinner could be more important than his wife and child, to the point where he''d ask someone else to look after them? "Ugh, I don''t even know what to say. That man''s no good, no sense of responsibility at all. It''s a good thing you didn''t get engaged to a guy like that. Otherwise, you''d be the one suffering now." Eda said angrily. Ines caught a glimpse of the change in Emma''s expression and gave Eda a look. Eda got the hint and shut up, changing the subject, "Ines, have you and Mr. Meyer had dinner? If not, I can go get something for you. You''re pregnant too, you can''t go hungry." Ines shook her head with a smile, "No need to trouble yourself, Eda. Ethan and I already had dinner. We''ve got a maternity nurse at home, so we have meals waiting for us when we get home. We had just finished eating when we got your call." "That''s good. Having a maternity nurse will make things easier for you and Mr. Meyer. It''s quite a hassle having to cook every day after work." Ines nced at Emma, then lowered her voice to ask Eda, "Is she okay?" "I just talked to the doctor. He said it''s nothing serious. It''s just that she suddenly experienced some distress during her pregnancy, which caused her to feel ufortable. The doctor will check on her again in an hour. If she''s doing well, she can be discharged tonight." Eda ryed the doctor''s words to Ines. Ines nodded and chatted quietly with Eda in the room. After a while, Ethan came in. Ines immediately asked him, "How''s it going? Did they find the suspect?" Chapter 265 Chapter 265 "We haven''t found her yet. Actually, when we left the police station at noon, n already started his search, but we were still a step behind. She''s already on the run." Ines'' eyes held a hint of scorn. "She sure knows how to make a quick escape." "The police have pulled the surveince footage from the neighborhood. She left at around seven, and there was a man waiting for her not far off." "Who?" "Ines, you know him too. You and Phoebe have had your eye on him before. It''s Shirley''s ex- husband, Carlos." Ethan stated casually. Ines scoffed. Of all people, Shirley had to team up with a desperado like Carlos. This was definitely not going to end well for her. Emma''s lips trembled slightly as she hesitantly asked, "Isn''t he still in jail? How could they have gotten back in touch? My mom has always hated that man, saying he ruined her happiness. How could she possibly be involved with him again?" Seeing Emma''s reaction, Ines realized that Shirley hadn''t told her. "Shirley didn''t tell you, did she? Carlos was out of jail a long time ago. They''ve been in contact multiple times secretly. We wouldn''t have even reopened the investigation into your background if their meeting hadn''t been discovered." Emma lowered her head in anguish, and Ines decided not to press on. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Picking up where he left off, Ethan said, "The police have thoroughly checked all exits and entrances of A City, but they haven''t found any trace of them. There are three possibilities: one, they used someone else''s ID; two, they bought bus tickets to the countryside, which don''t require ID; or three, they''re still in A City." Emma interjected, "Could they have bought tickets to my hometown?" Ethan shook his head. "They wouldn''t be that reckless. Going back to their hometown would just expose them." Ines frowned, also thinking that Emma''s guess was unlikely. How could Shirley possibly choose to go back to her hometown at this time? It¡¯s still managable if she was still in A City, but the countryside was too vast. If she found a secluded ce, it would be really hard to find her. Seeing Ines'' worry, Ethan reassured her, "Don''t worry. She''s used to her cushy life in A City, she would never ept going back to her old life. Plus, she took a lot of money. If she started splurging in the countryside, it would raise suspicions quickly. The police have issued a nationwide warrant and distributed all her information to all points of entry and exit. She can''t leave the country; we''re just waiting for her to walk into our trap." Ines sighed, "I never thought we''d encounter such an overbearing and shameless woman." "The bank also sent us an update. Shirley took Emma''s ID and all valid documents. The money withdrawal process was all legal, and the money that''s already been taken out cannot be retrieved. The bank doesn''t take responsibility for this. But they''ve frozen Shirley''s ount based on evidence provided by the police. There''s only a few bucks left in it, and the rest has been withdrew by her." Emma felt a cold chill in her heart. She never thought she''d be betrayed by her own mother like this. Seeing Emma''s reaction, Ines couldn''t help asking, "Do you still have money?" Emma didn''t respond, prompting Ines to press harder, "Be honest, you can''t hide it from me." Emma didn''t deny it, and simply said, "I only have money in my sry card right now. But it''s almost the start of the month. The rent from the shops dad left me wille in soon. I can support myself." Ines knew that the locations of Hunter''s shops were all prime real estate, and they could generate a significant ie every month. Emma should be able to get by, just not asvishly as before. Knowing Emma''s pride, she wouldn''t ept her help, so Ines didn''t offer, simply saying, "Once I''m done with some of my business, I''ll transfer 10% of my shares back to you." Emma looked at Ines in surprise, not expecting her to so generously give back the shares she''d already acquired. But under the current circumstances, she couldn''t bring herself to ept, "I don''t want them. I can support myself." "It''s not me giving them to you. It''s what dad''stest will says. It''s for Jasmine. I don''t want to take advantage of you. You can hold onto them for her. But you need to keep it a secret. Don''t let anyone from the Ramos family know, or it might cause a fight. And don''t touch the properties and shops in your name easily. A City is only so big; the appreciation potential for real estate is still huge." As long as the Galeana Group didn''t go bankrupt and can distribute dividends normally every year, 15% of the shares was already a lot. Even if she fell out with Aiden in the future, this would be enough for her and her daughter to live on. This must have been what dad originally intended. He left Emma a bunch of properties and shops that would appreciate in value without any effort, and gave most of the shares to Ines, but also left Emma some. This was all to ensure her livelihood. She hadn''t thought about it deeply these past few days, but now that she thought about it, this arrangement was really meticulous. Fatherly love was so vast and deep, he''d considered everything so carefully. Listening to Ines'' words, despite her harsh tone, Emma could feel her concern and felt a bit of warmth in her heart. She felt a bitter taste in her nose. At this moment, the ones by her side were the people she once despised the most. It was them who rushed to her side the moment they heard about her misfortune, nning for her future. In contrast, her husband hadn''t even shown up yet. Busy, could he be busier than Ethan and Ines? It was just that he didn''t care enough. Emma didn''t say a word. She was afraid that if she opened her mouth, she wouldn''t be able to stop the tears. It was only now that she realized how deeply she''d misunderstood them before. Chapter 266 Chapter 266 When it came to the shops, Ines nced at Ethan, "What about the shops under Shirley''s name?" Ethan replied, "She wanted to transfer them, but there wasn''t enough time, so they were frozen. I''ll get them moved to Emma''s ountter." Ines nodded, looked at Emma, and continued, "If you''re not against it, I''ll take it as a yes. Take some time off at home, I''ll keep your position open for you. We''ll see when you want toe back after the baby." Eda, who was watching, knew Ines was doing this all for Emma''s good, although she wasn''t smiling and her tone wasn''t exactly warm. If Hunter were here, he''d be happy to see the sisters like this. Just then, the doctor came in and gave Emma a check-up. He found no major issues and said they could leave now or in the morning. Eda asked for Emma''s opinion, "Ms. Emma, you want to stay in the hospital or go home?" "Eda, just call me Emma. I don''t want to stay here, I want to go home right away." Emma''s voice was a bit hoarse, she was tired of the hospital, especially withoutpany. At least home was familiar. Eda nodded, checked the time, it was already half past ten, Aiden still hadn''t shown up, and no one answered her many calls. Ines frowned, Ethan knew what she was getting at and said to Eda with augh, "Eda, you pack her stuff, I''ll take her home." Emma looked at Ethan and said seriously, "No trouble, I''m fine, I can take a cab home."Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Ines didn''t like Emma pretending to be strong, so she told Eda directly, "Help her pack up quickly. It''s gettingte, I need to get back." Eda smiled, feeling that both of them were just like Hunter, caring about maintaining their images in public. Eda followed Ines''s suggestion. Since they moved into the hospital in the afternoon, there wasn''t much to pack. After Emma changed her clothes, they left the hospital. When they were close to the Galeana family, Eda was a bit worried. Now it was just her and two servants, and she couldn''t help but say, "Emma, if you don''t find me annoying, I''ll go back to the Galeana family with you, and take care of you for a while." Hearing this, Emma''s eyes suddenly reddened. She hadn''t been nice to Eda in the past, feeling that Eda liked Ines more. Even though she didn''t show it, she''d talked trash about her many times behind her back, sometimes deliberately in earshot. She didn''t expect Eda to be willing to take care of her at this time. Emma nodded quickly, saying happily, "Now that my mom''s gone, I hope you and Ss cane back, and we three can live like before." Eda smiled, they''d been living in the Galeana family for decades and were used to it. Seeing Emma say this, she agreed. After all, they were old and it didn''t matter where they lived, "Okay, I''ll talk to Sster, I believe he''ll agree." "Thanks, Eda." Emma smiled. Eda patted her shoulder lightly, "No need to say thanks. You''re not bad by nature, just too influenced by your mother. You''ll gradually understand who really cares about you." Eda felt that Shirley''s leaving was a good thing, reducing the negative impact on Emma. Emma nodded. Hearing this, Ines, sitting in the passenger seat, smiled slightly. Eda and Ss were trustworthy, with them at home, Emma''s life would be much easier. They soon arrived at the Galeana family. Eda helped Emma out of the car, who hesitated, then said, "Thank you." Ines didn''t say anything, just nodded. Eda invited her in for a while, but Ines said it waste. Erica was at home, and she didn''t want her to worry, so she didn''t go in. On the way back, Ines was sleepy and yawned constantly. Ethan stroked her hair, "If you''re tired, take a nap, I''ll wake you up when we get home." Ines shook her head, "No, if I fall asleep, I''ll have to take a shower when I get home, that''ll be hard. I''ll just bear with it. We''re almost home anyway." "No need to worry, I''ll help you." "I don''t need it, I am afraid if a certain someone can''t control themselves, I might not get any sleep tonight." Ines said with a teasing smile in her eyes. "You''re doing this on purpose." Ethan pinched Ines''s nose. "You saw through me." Ethanughed, feeling that Ines''s mood changed quickly, she was crying in his armsst night, now she could joke with him. "You''re not any slower at emotion changes." Ines sighed, "What''s done is done, I can''t be sad forever and make you worry. Today, seeing Emma''s situation, I feel pretty lucky. My parents may not be here, but I know they loved me, and they never schemed against me. Everything they did was for me." Here, Ines looked at Ethan, smiling, "Most importantly, I have a great husband, no matter what happens, he''s always there for me. Compared to Emma, I''m already very lucky, what else could I ask for?" "You really know how topare." Ethanughed. Then Ines stopped talking, just sat there quietly smiling. Erica and Cam were still up, sitting in the living room chatting and watching TV. When they saw Inese in, they asked worriedly, "Nothing happened over there, did it?" Seeing them like this, Ines was deeply touched, "I''m fine. My dad''s fall from the stairs wasn''t an ident, but Shirley''s doing. That woman has now bolted with all of Emma''s valuables, seriously hurting her own daughter and granddaughter." Chapter 267 Chapter 267 Erica couldn''t help but shake her head, "That woman was truly unbelievable, to do such a thing to her own flesh and blood." Cam too, couldn''t hold back her exmation, "Killed her husband, and stole from her daughter, I''ve never seen such a shameless person." "Don''t worry, she won''t get away with this. Karma''s a bitch, and it wille for her. She won''t end well being with her ex-con husband. Let her enjoy her freedom and the thrill of the outside world for a while. The real torment will be the long days in jail." Seeing Ines speak like this, Erica''s eyes twinkled withughter, "You''ve been hanging out with Ethan too much, you''re getting a bit cheeky." Ines blushed a bit, "Nonsense, I''m just stating the facts." "Alright, it''s gettingte. You and Ethan should get some rest." Ines nodded, "Erica, Cam, you don''t have to wait up for us. Go to bed when you''re tired. Ethan and I will be fine." A smile shed across Erica''s face, "Well, don''t expect me to keep youpany tomorrow. It''s the weekend, I''m going to spend it at the Meyer Mansion. Cam will be heading home too." Seeing Erica like this, Ines couldn''t help but joke, "You look so happy. Missing Trenton, are you?" Seeing her inws'' affection for each other made Ines extremely happy. Such a loving family was truly rare. "Of course, me missing him is just like you missing Ethan''s arms. I haven''t been sleeping well these past few nights," Erica said without missing a beat. Ines pouted, chastising herself for her mistake. She wanted to joke with her mother-inw, but her level of wit was stillcking. Ericaughed, "If you''re free tomorrow, why not visit the Meyer Mansion? Trenton and the old man are missing you." "Alright, we''ll handle things at the office in the morning and head to the Mansion in the afternoon." When Ines entered the bedroom, Ethan had already showered. He was justing out of the bathroom, shirtless, and Ines couldn''t help but blush, her eyes darting around. "Izzy, help me dry my hair." Ines walked over, a bit annoyed, and quickly threw his pajamas at him, "Put on your clothes before you catch a cold." Ethan put his pajamas on carelessly, without buttoning them up. Ines rarely saw him like this, and sheughed as she buttoned him up, then stood behind him to dry his hair, and even gave him a shoulder massage. Ethan''s lips curled into a smile. He turned around and said, "Our Izzy is really thoughtful tonight, even knowing my shoulders are sore." Ines didn''t say anything, just smiled and patted his shoulder, signaling him not to move. They both had the same daily routine, and Ethan always remembered Hunter''s advice to give her a massage every now and then. Knowing how tired he was, she naturally wanted him to rx. Ethan''s shoulder muscles were quite hard, and Ines was soon out of strength. She rested her entire body on his shoulder, hugging his neck and not wanting to move,ining softly, "I thought massaging you would be easy." Ethan gently patted her hand, "You said you''re tired, go take a shower, then go to sleep." Ines nodded, then walked into the bathroom. Seeing her tired, Ethan couldn''t help but remind her, "Izzy, be careful, don''t slip." "I know. You go to sleep first. Don''t disturb me." She replied. The house was carpeted everywhere to prevent slipping, so the probability was almost zero. Ethan casually picked up a book and read it in bed until Ines came out. Seeing him still awake, she handed him the hairdryer, "Could you do me a favor?" Seeing her take this for granted, Ethan''s smile deepened. Leaning against Ethan, Ines said, "Mom suggested that we visit the Mansion tomorrow if we have time?" "Do you want to go?" "It doesn''t matter to me. I n to sleep all weekend, regardless of where I am. I''ve been feeling sleep-deprivedtely." Ethanughed, "Then let''s just stay home. I don''t want to make the trip. It''s too far. We can rest at home for a few days, and I''ll cook something for you." "Can I have spicy chicken? Cam''s dishes have been a bit ndtely. I love your cooking, and you haven''t cooked in a while. If you don''t practice your culinary skills, they''ll get rusty. Cook something tomorrow. You know, don''t waste your talents." Ines said softly. Her voice was always softer when she was tired, sounding more like a sweet whisper. Ethan raised an eyebrow, "With suchpliments, how can I refuse?" "Of course not, it''s settled then. We''ll go to the supermarket tomorrow to buy ingredients and cook ourselves." Ethan affectionately pinched Ines''s nose, "Alright, but I can only make it mildly spicy. Too much spicy food can give you heartburn." "No problem, as long as you cook it, I''ll love it." Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Ethan thought Ines was particrly sweet tonight, "You''re in a good mood tonight?" Ines nodded, "We''ve found out the truth about dad''s case. Although she escaped, Emma finally saw her true colors. Maybe that was dad''s wish. Thinking about it this way, the money we lost doesn''t seem so important." After these experiences, she felt that money really didn''t matter. Nothing was more important than family. "You''re talking like money is no big deal, but that''s quite a sum. I estimate it to be millions." Ethan joked. Ines pinched his arm hard, but there was no excess fat to pinch, "Ethan, stop teasing me." "I wouldn''t dare to mock you, or else you''ll kick me to the couch if you''re not pleased," Ines recalled the time when he had to sleep on the couch and tricked her into opening the door by pretending to be sick. A smirk crept onto her face, "Maybe I should do that again, see what other tricks you have up your sleeve to fool me." Chapter 268 Chapter 268 Ines had a solid sleep through the night; she woke up the next morning charged and ready. After breakfast, Cam left early. Erica also headed out quite early, so when they woke up, it was just the two of them in the house. Ines checked the time and it was 9 in the morning, they did have a bit of a lie-in. There was still piping hot oatmeal in the cooker. Ethan served a bowl and ced a te of sour radish in front of Ines. It was something Cam had prepared specially for her; it was delicious but might be a bit too sour for the others. The sight of the food made Ines''s mouth water. She started eating, blowing on the hot food. Ethan couldn''t help but chuckle at her childlike enthusiasm, then he turned to heat up some cold buns in the microwave. When he returned, Ines had already eaten half her oatmeal and finished the radish. Ethan served her some more. "Thanks," said Ines, eating and talking at the same time. Ethan thought his wife was really easy to satisfy, she never fussed over food. Even the simplest dishes, she would eat with gusto, as if it was the most delicious food in the world. Ines noticed Ethan hadn''t started eating yet, she nced up at him to see him looking at her affectionately, a smile ying on his lips. "Mr. Meyer, you better start your breakfast. We''ve still got work to do at thepany," Ines reminded him. Ethan smiled and began eating. By the time they reached the Galeana Group, it was already ten. The work they nned to finish in the morning was dyed, so they could only order takeouts for lunch and continued working till three. They took a break in the lounge and didn''t leave until five. Ines was thinking about her spicy chicken. They went to the supermarket together. Ethan had one hand on Ines and the other pushing the shopping cart. All dressed up in his suit and shiny shoes, looking protective of his wife, he was quite the spectacle in the supermarket. Many people were looking at them. Ines noticed and couldn''t help but lightly tug at Ethan''s sleeve, whispering, "Ethan, I just realized, it feels really good to be envied by others." "You cheeky thing," Ethan thought to himself. She used to be shy and ufortable with public affection, but now she seemed to enjoy it. After they got the ingredients for the spicy chicken, Ines dragged Ethan to the snack section. Ethan looked at Ines curiously, "You don''t usually snack, do you?" Ines blushed, she didn''t know if other pregnant women had such drastic changes in their tastes. She usually didn''t like snacks, but she found herself craving for some recently. "Mr. Meyer, you''re right, I don''t usually snack. But your little princess and prince want some, aren''t you going to help them pick some?" Ines said, pointing to her belly. Ethan put down the shopping cart, one hand around her slim waist, the other gently rubbing her belly, he asked seriously, "My little princess, whatever you want to eat, just tell me and I''ll get it for you." Ines blushed at his sudden gesture, lightly pushing him away, "Ethan, what are you doing? People are watching." Ethan''s eyes were full ofughter, but he kept a straight face, "My little princess told her mom to pick, so whatever mom picks, she''ll eat." Inesughed at his childish antics, she moved towards the snack aisle, her hand lightly rubbing her belly and said quietly, "Alright, babies. Since it''s your wish, I won''t hold back." Silvia watched the affectionate couple chatting not far away, in disbelief. The supermarket shelves were lined up in rows and she was standing not too far behind them, close enough to hear their conversation. She wouldn''t have believed it if she hadn''t heard it with her own ears. Ethan''s adoring and warm demeanor was something she had only seen him disy towards his sister. No, now, he treated Ines even better than his sister. His sister was not one to joke around, and years of dealing with asthma had made her somewhat subdued. She rarely acted spoiled towards Ethan like Ines did. Suddenly, she felt that their rtionship was much deeper than she had imagined, and it would not be easy for an outsider to interfere. Ines was looking at the wide variety of snacks; she didn''t really know what to get. She randomly picked a few to put in the shopping cart, as she didn''t fancy any of the sweet stuff. Ethan nced at the snacks she picked, most of which were rtively healthy, so he didn''t say anything. He just asked, "Is that enough?" Ines looked at Ethan in confusion, "Have you changed?" He was usually very strict about her diet, but today he allowed her to snack and even asked if she had enough. Ethan lightly pinched her face, "What''s with that look? It''s like I abuse you or something." Ines stuck her tongue out. She didn''t dare to say that out loud, or else Ethan would scold her. She reached out and grabbed his arms again,ughing, "Nonsense, you are always gentle and refined. Youwould never do something like that." "I believe you...not," Ethan said, word by word. Inesughed and leaned into Ethan, "Alright, I''m not arguing with you, I know I can''t win. Let''s go home, or else dinner will bete." "You..." Ethan didn''t know what to say to Ines''s nonchnt attitude. Just as they were about to leave, they saw Silvia standing not far away, smiling warmly. Ines was a little taken aback, she had been so absorbed in her grief over Hunter''s incident that she almost forgot there was this petitor" in her life. "Ethan, Ines, what a coincidence, you guys are shopping too," Silvia said, her face breaking into a wide smile. Ines looked at her, realizing that Silvia seemed to have matured a lot after a period of not seeing each other, brimming with energy. It seemed like she''d adapting pretty well to her new job. Ethan took a nce at her shopping cart, noticing that aside from veggies, there were heaps of snacks. He couldn''t help but blurt out, "You''re still a snack addict, huh? Try to cut back on those puffy foods, they ain''t good for your health."Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 269 Chapter 269 Hearing this, Silvia shot Ines a sympathetic look, her eyes twinkling with yful amusement and still maintaining a kind demeanor. "Ines, I finally get a glimpse of what your daily life is like. Seems like Ethan has be more of a chatterbox after he gets married, and he''s fond of poking his nose into others'' business." Seeing Silvia acting this way, Ines didn''t know how to respond. But actually, she secretly thought, I actually enjoyed this life. "It''s not so bad," Ines not very enthusiastically replied. Looking at Ines, concern filled Silvia''s eyes, ¡°Ines, I heard about your father''s situation on TV. You must''ve been having a hard time. I called Ethan a while back, he said you weren''t doing too well. I wanted toe see you but he said there was no need. I know he''s just looking down on me." There was a hint of petnce in Silvia''s voice when she said thest sentence. Ines couldn''t help but nce at Ethan. Silvia had called him and he never mentioned it? Seeing her look, Ethan just smiled and didn''t respond. Ines remained polite towards friendly people, "Thank you for your concern, I''ve recovered now." Silvia stepped forward, seeming a little mindful of Ines''s physical condition, and lightly hugged Ines from the side. Ines was startled by her sudden move, yet held back from pushing her away. Silvia put away her smile, softly saying, "Ines, I know the pain of losing a loved one. I once lost my dearest sister. It was the hardest time, but once you get through it, it gets better. No matter how deep or heavy the emotions are, time will always wash them away. Look at Ethan and me, aren''t we doing well? I''ve be someone I could never have imagined, and he found his true love again." Ines always felt that Silvia''s words carried a deeper meaning. She knew Ethan had deeply loved Le, Silva¡¯s sister. She didn''t want to nitpick about things that happened before their marriage, nor did she need topete with someone who had passed away, but she always felt a bit ufortable when reminded of it. "Don''t worry, I''m going to be a mother, I won''t let my emotions affect me," Ines said with a smile. "That''s good." Silvia nced at their ingredients and couldn''t help but exim to Ethan, "Ethanr, are you making spicy chicken?" Ethan nodded, "Yes, she said she wanted to eat it, so while I have time, I came to buy some ingredients to make it myself. You can never fully trust with food bought from restaurants." Ines frowned slightly, worried that Silvia would invite herself to dinner, but it seemed she was wrong. Silvia just said, "Ines and the kids are lucky. I know Ethan''s cooking skills are excellent. Alright, I won''t disturb you guys any longer, I still need to go buy some cakes and such." "I better get going. You guys should head home and start cooking, if Phillip knew I was holding you up and his great-grandson went hungry, I''d be in trouble." Hearing her say this, Ines felt a bit guilty, as if she had been misunderstanding Silvia all along. "Alright, visit Phillip when you get a chance, he''s always worried about you," Ethan told Silvia. Silvia nodded, waved at Ines, then hurriedly left with her shopping cart, as if afraid Ethan would say more. Ethan watched her quickly receding figure, a warm smile on his lips.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Ines, seeing his smile, said somewhat stiffly, "We should also get going; your children are protesting." Ethan didn''t notice the unease in Ines''s voice and, with a smile, led her home. Once home, they quickly changed into their house clothes. The unease Ines felt when she saw Silvia earlier had disappeared. Seeing Ethan enter the kitchen, she followed him in with a bag of chips, leaning against the doorway as she watched Ethan cook. Ines even thought Ethan''s movements while cutting the chicken were elegant, pleasing to the eye, not crude at all. Ethan nced at Ines and said, "Go watch some TV, standing there like that will make your legs hurt tonight." "It''s fine, I''m just watching for a bit, learning from you." Just as Ines finished speaking, her phone rang. She went to the living room to get her phone, saw that the caller ID showed Phillip, and didn''t answer right away. Instead, she brought the phone to the kitchen and handed the problem to Ethan, "Ethan, it''s Phillip''s call. You can exin to him." Ethan nodded. Since his hands were busy cooking, Ines had no choice but to press the answer button and hold the phone to Ethan''s ear. Ethan chuckled and said, "Grandpa." "What''s going on? This is Izzy''s phone, why are you answering?" Ethan deliberately lowered his voice and said, "Izzy''s sleeping, I took the call on the balcony." The voice on the phone indeed quieted down, "What''s the matter? Your mom said you guys would be at thepany for a bit in the morning and that''s it. But you guys haven''te home, it''s almost time for dinner." Ethan replied, "There was some unexpected business at thepany, and we just got home after dealing with it. Izzy was a bit tired, and she fell asleep in the car. I thought it''d be too much trouble to go to the Meyer Mansion so we just came back downtown." "Can youe over tomorrow?" "Probably not. The situation at the Galeana Group isn''t very stable, and there could be unexpected problems at any time. Izzy and I can''t be too far away; we need to keep an eye on it. Plus, if we go over in the morning and have toe back at night, Izzy won''t be able to handle it." After hearing this, Phillip was silent for a moment, then said somewhat disappointedly, "Well, you guys focus on the Galeana Group''s issues first, you have to help Izzy carry some of the burden. All the responsibility of apany is on the shoulders of a pregnant woman. Just thinking about it makes me tired." "Yeah, I''ll take good care of her." After hanging up the phone, Ines felt a pang of guilt. "Ethan, did we go a bit too far by keeping Phillip in the dark like this?¡± It felt like this isn''t the first time. "Eh, it''s not really lying. We did work until afternoon today, so we didn''t make anything up. Besides, the Galeana Group is kinda shaky right now, and it''s best we stick around," Ethan said with a grin. Ines felt a bit more at ease hearing Ethan''s words. But remembering how serious he looked while fibbing just now, she felt a mix of amusement and worry. She stared at Ethan hard. "I noticed you''re pretty good at lying. How long have you been practicing? Ever used it on me?" Ethan got a little embarrassed. "You''re reading too much into it. I''ve always been honest with you, never pulled one over you." Chapter 270 Chapter 270 "You''d better keep your word, Ethan. If I find out you''re backpedaling, you''ll be in hot water!" Ines warned, shooting him a stern look. Ethan felt a pang of unfairness. This girl didn''t want to handle Phillip and dumped the problem on him. So, he helped out, and now she was not pleased and started questioning his way of handling things. "Izzy, you''re bing more and more bossy." Ethan said, a mix of helplessness and amusement in his voice. Ines just scoffed, "I''m just trying to get a feel for how to be a badass boss." Ethan couldn''t help butugh, "You''ve got quite an imagination." Because it was time to start preparing the meal, Ethan nudged Ines out of the kitchen. To prevent the smoke from choking her, he closed the kitchen door. Ines took off her shoes andid down on the couch, not bothering to turn on the TV. She just quietly gazed at the ceiling with a satisfied smile. Ethan cooked two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes. Ines was very satisfied with the meal. After she finished, she lounged on the couch, patting her noticeably rounder belly and said, "You two definitely take after your godmother. All foodies!" After cleaning up the dishes. Ethan looked at Ines, who was sprawledzily on the couch, and couldn''t resist reaching out his hand, grinning, " Mr. Meyer formally invites you to take a walk with him. Would you do him the honor?" Ines gently ced her hand in his, "Seeing as Mr. Meyer has been on his best behaviortely, I ept."Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Ethan pulled Ines up. The neighborhood was wellndscaped, so they didn''t walk far. They just strolled around hand in hand for a bit before they stopped at some exercise equipment. Ines sat down on a bench, chin in hand, watching Ethan use the exercise equipment. She finally remembered. The gym at home had been converted into Cam''s bedroom, and Ethan hadn''t had the time to work out at night recently. "Ethan, when will our house be ready?" Ines asked. "It should be done soon, but we can''t move in right away. There will be harmful materials inside that need some time to dissipate." Ethan said. "You haven''t been working out recently. Will your physical condition decline?" Ines asked. Ethanughed, stepping down from the parallel bars and wrapping his arm around her, "No, I''ve only not been working out these past few days. It won''t have an impact." After they had walked around a bit more, they returned home. Ines felt much morefortable compared to after dinner, although her legs were a bit sore. She held onto Ethan as they walked home. After taking a shower, Ethan pulled a book off the shelf and said he wanted to do some prenatal education for their children. When Ines nced at the book, she couldn''t helpughing. The book Ethan had chosen wasn''t a storybook, but a fun economics book that used simple examples to exinplicated economic principles. "Ethan, let''s forget about this book. We''ll buy some suitable storybooks for themter. The one you have is tooplicated and not suitable for them." Ines said. Ethan had a different opinion, "Whether they can understand or not is not important. We just want them to get familiar with some basic concepts. The future of the Meyer family and the Galeana family needs them to carry on." Hearing this, Ines also felt the pressure. Their families were indeed short-handed, and their children were their biggest hope. "That''s true." Ines answered. "Therefore, we must start training them now. Otherwise, if theyck talent in the future, it would be a disgrace." Ethan looked very serious, his sincerity genuine. Ines didn''t say anything more, letting him do as he pleased. Ethan began, "Today, I''m going to teach you the first chapter, Rational Economic Man. It is a basic assumption in economics." But Ethan was not good at telling stories, especially when he was holding an economics book, even a fun one. The way he spoke made it soundpletely different. Ines couldn''t help butugh, but every time she saw his serious face, she had to hold back her laughter and curled up quietly in his arms. In the end, she fell asleep without realizing it. Little did Ines know, Shirley had left a trap for her. The next day, she was awakened by Ethan making a phone call, "Get someone to buy that magazine ASAP." After saying this, Ethan quickly hung up the phone. Ines looked at him with confusion, "What''s got you so worked up this early? What happened?" Ethan said, "Shirley exposed your past. It''s already made the papers. I''ve sent people to retrieve them, but it''s toote. Some have already been distributed. Hopefully, we can still control the situation." Ethan''s face was dark. He had already warned the newspapers and magazines, but they didn''t take him seriously. Ines had never seen Ethan like this. Seeing his face, she knew the situation was serious, and she couldn''t help but frown. Shirley was truly despicable. She ran away but still caused trouble for her. This was purely disturbing her peace. Just as Ines was about to speak, Ethan''s phone rang again. He growled into the phone, "I don''t want to hear your excuses. If you can''t even manage your own staff, what''s the point of being a CEO. You''d better leave soon and stop making a fool of yourself." Ethan hung up directly after speaking. Ines saw his clenched fists and pulled his hand over, patting it lightly, "Which magazine was it?" "Sunny Day Magazine, a magazine that specializes in digging into celebrities'' private lives. Most of their reports are about celebrities'' love lives. They have no professional ethics and like to overstate things. They have a bad reputation in A City, and most of their peers don''t like them. But their reports appeal to women, so they''re doing well in A City." Ethan said. "What just happened?" Ines asked. "The CEO of Sunny Day Magazine rang up, saying that their new editor-in-chief made some unteral decisions just to one-up the other editor." Ethan said. The magazine was now all over the ce. The CEO stormed into the office and gave both editors a dressing down, "Look at the mess you''ve made. I''ve told you before, some people you just can''t mess with. If you want to stir up trouble, then go ahead, but don''t drag me into it." One of the editors couldn''t help but break out in a cold sweat. The magazine operated a dual-editor system, each leading their own team, for the sake of healthypetition and to push thepany forward. He red at the guy across from him, "All this crap is your doing. Have you lost your mind? How could you go ahead and publish news about that girl?" "Is this Ines really that big of a deal? She''s just the chairman of the Galeana Group, isn''t she? What''s so special about that?" The other guy said nonchntly. On hearing this, the CEO, in a fit of rage, hurled a cup at his head, yelling, "Why on earth did I let someone like you be an editor? You can''t even be bothered to check out people''s background before making decisions." Chapter 271 Chapter 271 Ethan''s intervention may have been just in the nick of time, but the power of inte buzz was immense. The firstizens to catch wind of the story quickly posted it online. Ines, being both the chairman of the Galeana Group and Ethan''s wife, immediately drew attention. Within half an hour, the story had spread far and wide on the inte, getting reshaped and repackaged with a variety of clickbait titles. Phoebe was the first to see the news and she quickly rang up Ines. Ines checked the articles on her phone and got a headache just looking at the messy headlines. "Ms. Galeana''s Path of Revenge" "How One Woman Controls Two Empires" "Heiress Turns into Year''s Most Cunning Woman" The headlines were all over the ce. Ines picked a random article to read. It imed that the current chairman of the Galeana Group was a ruthless individual who had intentionally run over her half-sister five years ago, leaving her disabled and leading to her banishment from the family. Years later, she returned and took control of the Galeana Group. The previous chairman''s sudden fall down the stairs was also her doing. Upon taking over, she quickly ousted her stepmother and took firm control of the Galeana Group. The article even included a picture of Emma visiting the hospital the day before, implying that this was also Ines''s doing. Comment sections were filled with insults, with some even warning the CEO of the Meyer Group to see her true colors soon or hispany would also fall into her hands. Ines found the articleughable. Shirley had somehow managed to pin her own deeds on her, completely omitting her own infidelity. She couldn''t believe Shirley had the audacity to do such a thing. Ines wasn''t upset, but rather calm, "Ethan, do we need to hold a press conference immediately?" Ethan nodded, "We do, but it might be more effective if Emma exins. Our exnation might not bepelling enough. Also, the ident from years ago has records in various departments. The apparent facts are not in your favor and may even put you in the hot seat. The most important thing now is to get Emma to tell the truth about the ident." Ines immediately prepared to call Emma, but before she could dial, Emma called in. She said, "I saw the stuff online. I''m at home waiting for you guys,e over now. I''ll tell you everything I know." Upon hearing this, Ines''s eyes lit up, hope burning in her heart. She felt that the problem that had been troubling her for years was finally about to be cleared up. Ines felt extremely excited, completely unaffected by the rumors. Ethan, seeing her like this, felt slightly relieved. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. When they arrived at the Galeana family home, Emma was sitting on the living room sofa, deep in thought. Aiden was sitting across from her, with Eda also standing nearby. Everyone''s faces were somber, and the atmosphere was chilly. It wasn''t until Ethan and Ines walked in that Emma looked up, forcing a smile onto her face, "Sit down, I''ll tell you the truth about the ident." Ethan held onto Ines''s hand as he sat down, not letting go. Emma kept it brief as she was busy rifying facts. She started by looking at Aiden and said calmly, "Our rtionship before the engagement was actually a plot by my mother and me. You''ve always known, I''ve liked you since the first time I saw you. But I''ve never dared to tell you. I couldn''t ept you getting engaged to someone else, so I listened to my mother''s advice and drugged your drink. That night was aplete ident, Ines was intentionally brought in by me." Aiden looked at Emma in shock. He had drunk a bit that night and had always thought he had mistaken her for Ines. He never imagined all of this was nned by Emma and her mother. Ines was unaffected by this revtion as she had no feelings for Aiden. Aiden, on the other hand, hadpletely severed ties with Ines because of that night. Upon hearing Emma''s words, Aiden looked at Ines but met Ethan''s gaze. He withdrew his gaze, but his eyes held a hint of anger when he looked at Emma. Emma gave a bitter smile at Aiden''s reaction, saying lightly, "We''ll deal with our issuester. Right now, that''s not the most important thing." "What really happened on the day of the engagement?" Ines only cared about that. "You were very calm when you found out about Aiden and me. I thought you didn''t care at all, but I heard you calling Phoebe in the restroom, saying that you would quietly leave on the engagement day to give Aiden a shock. I was so excited that I immediately told my mother, who told me not to worry and that she would handle it." Emma said. "What does ''she would handle it'' mean?" Ines''s lips trembled slightly. She felt she was one step closer to the truth and was somewhat anxious. Emma quietly looked at Ines. She saw the urgency on her face, but what she knew might disappoint her, "I''m not exactly sure. I just know my mother did something bad to you. After you drove away quietly, I followed, wanting to find out what was going on. But you were driving aimlessly, wandering around until you ended up in a run-down neighborhood. I don''t know when you spotted me, but you suddenly turned around at a fork in the road and drove straight towards me. I didn''t expect you to do that and didn''t have time to react. I could only watch helplessly as your car charged towards me." Emma still felt her body stiffen whenever she thought of that moment. The scent of death was terrifying. Ethan furrowed his brows. He had visited the site of the ident more than once. It was a very narrow ce, only slightly wider at the fork in the road. If Ines had turned around and charged towards Emma, Emma really would not have had any way to avoid it. Looking at Emma, Ethan felt that this could not have been made up. Did he miss anything else? Ines wasn''t the type to rush into things. "No way, I wouldn''t do such a thing." Ines said with a re. She had waited for so long and she didn''t want to hear that kind of response anymore. Ethan grabbed her hand, "Chill Izzy, just chill." Chapter 272 Chapter 272 "Right at the moment we collided, another car hit us too. I was already starting to faint, with only a faint sense of what was happening." Emma said. Even if the Meyer family didn''t take things further about this ident, she wished it hadn''t ended this way. Eda, standing nearby, couldn''t help but interject as she lost herself in thought, "Emma, think carefully. Is it possible that Ms. Ines was just pulling your leg and deliberately tried to scare you with her driving?" Upon hearing this, Ethan seemed to have an idea. He quickly turned to Eda, ¡°Eda, why would you say that?¡± "Because Ms. Ines is a good driver. She was taught by an old friend of Mr. Galeana. This guy lived in the Galeana family for years and was close to her. He was once a professional racer in his youth and won many awards at home and abroad. Butter he was framed and ended up with a somewhat crippled leg, and had to tearfully bid farewell to his racing career." Eda thought for a moment and continued, "There was a time when Ms. Ines really wanted to learn to drive. Having such a good resource at home, she naturally wouldn¡¯t waste it. She started to learn from him, but at some point, she started enjoying scaring people. Once, she was caught by the chairman and his wife and got a serious scolding. I was there at the time, so I know. ording to Ms. Ines at the time, she had be quite adept at this game and there would absolutely be no problems." Upon hearing this, Emma''s face instantly turned pale. She recalled what Shirley had told her at the time, "Don''t worry, I''ve arranged it. She won''t leave unscathed." But her mother watched Ines drive away and did nothing to stop her. She said nothing, and even had a smug smile on her face. At the time, she thought her mother had arranged something on the road and was curious to know what it was. So she quietly followed, only to experience such an incident. Afterwards, the police determined that Ines had intentionally hurt someone. She even heard Ines thump her chest and say, "Thank goodness the car is totaled, otherwise it would have been a big trouble." No one interrupted her, only seeing Emma shaking her head non-stop. Ines quickly asked, "Emma, have you found something else?" Emma lifted her tear-streaked face and said, "Your car. There must have been something wrong with your car. You couldn''t brake at the end." As she also had seen the horror on Ines''s face, it seemed she was also scared. Over the years, every time she went through rehab, her hatred for Ines would deepen a little. She thought Ines was the root of everything, but didn''t expect that this was just karma. They had plotted against others first and both sides ended up injured. Emma closed her eyes in pain, tears flowing down her cheeks, unable to ept this reality. After Emma''s exnation, Ethan could clear up the whole incident. Ines, finding out about her fiance''s affair with his half-sister, chose to run away from the engagement party the next day to get back at Aiden. Emma, knowing Shirley must have done something, followed out of curiosity. Ines, in a bad mood, wanted to scare her but didn''t expect the car''s brakes had been tampered with, and ended up hitting Emma. Ethan could understand, and so could Ines. She didn''t expect that a problem that had gued her for years would be so simple. Shirley intended to harm her but ended up hurting her own daughter. In this incident, Emma was the most unfortunate,pletely dragged into this by Shirley and sacrificed. However, she and Emma were lucky to run into Beasley who was on a mission. He saved them on the way, otherwise they might have lost their lives there. Knowing that all this was not her own doing, Ines felt a weight lifted off her chest. The living room fell silent. Eda became anxious and Aiden was also confused. They both didn''t know much about the ident. "What on earth happened?" Eda couldn''t help but ask Ethan. Ethan retold the sequence of events. Upon hearing this, Eda covered her mouth in shock, "Shirley is downright inhuman, she was plotting against Ms. Ines so early." Aiden also fell silent after hearing this. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. "So what should we do now? Rumors are everywhere outside. If this continues, Ms. Ines¡¯ reputation will be ruined." Eda thought of this most important problem. Emma wiped away the tears on her face, "You guys should hold a press conference. I''ll attend and tell the truth about everything I know." Ines and Ethan both paused, apparently not expecting Emma to volunteer. Ines bit her lip lightly and said, "You don''t have to do this. You''ll ruin your own reputation as well." Having such a shameless mother, plus the thing she did to Aiden, these things wouldn''t look good if they got out. "I don''t care." Emma said firmly. "I don''t care about you either, but you have to consider the child in your belly. It''s already bad that she has such a disgraceful grandmother. What you did to Aiden can''t be exposed anymore, otherwise how will people treat this child?" Ines¡¯ face turned cold. She didn''t agree with Emma''s approach. Although her personal exnation would be effective, it wouldn''t be good for her. "I''ve thought about this. You can be honest about the car ident, but you don''t need toe forward. You just need to exin the whole sequence of events through a recording. Also mention that Shirley destroyed the will and plotted against your father. But I''ll let the police handle this mainly, as their investigation results would be more credible. As for Shirley embezzling your assets, this is your private matter. You can consider whether to announce it." Ethan said to Emma. Emma agreed with Ethan''s analysis and nodded in agreement. "Hurry up and finish the recording. Hand it over to me when you''re done, and don''t sweat about the rest. I''ll handle it smoothly." Because of the urgency, Ines and Ethan didn''t hang around the Galeana family for long. The Galeana''s front door was swarming with reporters. So they opted to sneak out the back door, where Lucas was already waiting with the car. Chapter 273 Chapter 273 Emma gave Aiden a long look. She still harbored feelings for him, but their rtionship was beyond saving. It finally clicked what her father once told her, "You can''t force a square peg into a round hole," and why he had been so against their marriage. She used to think her father reluctantly agreed to their marriage because he was just tired. She found herself craving for more in ways she didn''t even realize. Before the marriage, she just wanted Aiden to pay a bit more attention to her. But after getting hitched, her desires weren''t that simple anymore. She craved his constant presence, his unwavering support, and trust, especially when she was down. None of which she got. They''d been married for a few months now, but his time with her was scarce. Even when she was pregnant, he didn''t show any sign of joy. Ethan and Ines, on the other hand, despite a rushed marriage, were so blissful. Ethan was always there for Ines,e rain or shine. She used to believe time could change everything. But, how wrong she was. Some men were just cold-hearted. No matter how much she gave, they just didn''t give a damn. If only she knew this earlier, she wouldn''t have put herself in this awkward situation. "Aiden, let''s get a divorce." Emma said calmly. It was a well-thought-out decision. Better to set each other free than both be miserable. She had been too stubborn, blinded by her own emotions, and deaf to others'' advice. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Aiden thought he misheard and looked at Emma in disbelief, "Emma, what did you say? I didn''t catch that." "I said, let''s get a divorce. My father''s gone, and me being the heir to the Galeana family is just in name. I''m useless to you. I''m willing to let go, so you can find your own happiness." Emma said calmly. "Do you even know what you''re saying?" Aiden looked at Emma, his gaze involuntarily fell on her baby bump. "Aiden, let''s get a divorce." Emma repeated with a determined look in her eyes. "What the hell are you talking about? You''re pregnant. What would people think if we divorce now?" Aiden said, Hearing this, Emma felt even colder. He finally acknowledged her pregnancy, but how about his attitude towards her two near miscarriages? He waste the first time, and wasn''t there when she was recovering in the hospital. The second time, he didn''t show up at all until the next day. As for his so-called reputation, she was willing to sacrifice hers, let alone his. All she wanted now was to give birth to her baby peacefully and raise the child on her own. "I''ll take the me publicly. You don''t have to worry about any bacsh." She assured him. Eda, who was listening nearby, sighed deeply. While it was often encouraged to make amends in a marriage, she didn''t think it was necessary for Emma and Aiden. If a man could abandon her while she was pregnant, how could she expect him to treat her right in the future? Without saying anything, Eda walked away. "What are you on about? I''ve already exined about that night. I was drunk as a skunk, how could I possiblye to you? Going would''ve been more trouble than it''s worth." Aiden snapped at Emma. He hadn''t even settled old scores with her, and here she was with all this nonsense. She surely knew how to stir the pot. "Your parents don''t like me, nor do they care about our baby. Neither do you. Do you think a woman should stick with a marriage like this?" Emma wasn''t as heated as Aiden. She was calm, like she truly got it. She was tired and didn''t want to keep trying. Aiden was at a loss for words. Emma was right. After Hunter''s will was made public, his parents disliked her even more, thinking she wasn''t good enough for him. Plus, the whole Shirley ordeal woulde to light eventually. Even if he didn''t want to divorce, his parents would definitely force him into it. Seeing Aiden''s silence, Emma continued, "I''m sorry for what happened five years ago. My mom and I were wrong. It''s probably toote to apologize, but I want to say it anyway." Looking at Emma, he felt like she''d changed. It was the same face, but she wasn''t the person he once knew. This unnerving change caught him off guard. Without saying a word, he left. After a while, Emma heard the car start. She knew he was gone. The tears she''d been holding back finally flowed freely. Deciding to divorce was painful. She still remembered the first time she met him, his gentle smile, the way he said, "This girl is a bit skinny, but she''s pretty cute. Especially when she smiles." Such a simple line had her head over heels. He was the first gentle boy she''d ever met. People in her vige either mocked her or avoided her like the gue. No one ever approached her willingly. His kindness was the first she''d ever received from a stranger. And then the time he spent with her during her recovery was precious. Even though part of the reason he came was to prevent his mother from suing Ines, she was content. Pain and pleasure seemed to coexist. Eda only came out of the storage room when she heard the crying. Emma was already sobbing on the couch, her face buried in her hands. Aiden was nowhere to be seen. Eda sighed deeply. Emma''s life was really ruined by her own mother, who taught her daughter to drug a man to keep him. Nothing good coulde out of such immoral actions. Eda stepped up and gently tapped her shoulder, "Emma, since you''ve chosen to get a divorce, you gotta stay strong. Your kid''s gonna need you." Emma fell into Eda''s arms, bawling her eyes out. Chapter 274 Chapter 274 As soon as he got home, Ethan locked himself in the study to organize a meeting for the tech department of the Meyer Group on hisputer. Feeling helpless, Ines could only make him a cup of coffee in the kitchen and bring it to him in the study. Ethan gave her hand a pat andforted, "Izzy, don''t sweat it. I got this. You go chill out for a bit." Ines nodded with a smile, "Alright, I know. I''ll go watch TV while you sort things out." She left the study, but instead of heading to the living room to watch TV, she went to the kitchen. By now it was afternoon, their morning had been consumed by a piece of news and they had hardly eaten anything. Now that things were quiet, Ines felt a bit peckish. Seeing Ethan busy, she decided to whip up something for herself. Although her cooking skills were nothing to write home about, she could manage a simple stew. There was leftover beef fromst night in the fridge, and she swiftly rustled up a tomato beef stew with what she had on hand. Shedled it into two bowls and the delicious aroma filled the room. Ines took a deep whiff and thought it smelled pretty good. Just as Ines was setting the bowls of stew on the dining table, Ethan emerged from his study. He caught sight of the food, his eyes lit up, and he came over to the enticing stew. He couldn''t help but ask with a grin, "Hungry?" Ines nodded, "Yeah, I am." Ethan gave her cheek a yful pinch, "Well, you better sit down and eat then." Ines smiled and pushed one of the bowls towards him, "You too, it''s past lunchtime." Despite being in a bind herself, she still looked out for Ethan. Ethan felt touched as he looked at her. She always said she couldn''t do anything for him. What he needed wasn''t her skills, but this warm concern. He thought back to his stomach issues. Since their marriage, he only had one re-up. And he had been fine ever since, without even a minor difort. This was all thanks to her. Ethan took a bite andplimented, "This is good, Mrs. Meyer''s cooking skills have improved." Ines gave a slight smile, knowing that the vor was mostly due to the high-quality beef, "If you like it, eat up." Ethan nodded while eating, "Today''s an exception, I won''t nag. But you can''t just barge into the kitchen and cook in the future. You''re pregnant now, if you''re hungry just tell me. No matter how busy I am, I''ll find time to whip up something." The kitchen was smoky. Although the floor was cleaned daily, there was no anti-slip mat, making it unsafe. "I get it, I''ll be careful." Ines assured earnestly. Seeing her attitude, Ethan didn''t push it further. Otherwise, he might get on her nerves. "What did you discuss with the tech team at the Meyer Group?" Ines asked. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. "I alerted them to work overtime and keep tabs on online news. If there''s any false report about you, they''ll delete it immediately to prevent things from getting worse." Ethan said. Ines nodded, feeling that this course of action was sensible. It might be tough, but it was the only way to quickly stem the tide. The Meyer family. After lunch, the family was hanging out in the living room when Ashley dashed downstairs from her room in her PJs, her hair in a mess. Even though Phillip was doting on Ashley, as a military man, he was strict about dressing and grooming. Every bedroom had to be neat with the bedspread folded like a block. Seeing Ashley in such a state, Phillip was slightly annoyed, "Go change, you look like a mess. Even at home, a girl should look presentable." But Ashley was in no mood to worry about these things. She rushed over to Phillip and blurted, "Grandpa, there''s a serious situation. Your grandson is being bullied. It''s really bad, who cares about appearances?" Everyone knew Ashley wasn''t one to panic easily. Seeing her like this, they knew it was serious. Phillip was the first to react. He snatched the phone from Ashley''s hand, but the text was too small for his eyes. Ashley quickly ryed what she saw in the news, "Let me give you a quick rundown. Izzy''s private life from a few years ago has been exposed, including Mr. Galeana''s death. They''re ming Izzy, saying she pushed her dad down the stairs for inheritance, kicked out her step-mom after getting the inheritance, and even went after her pregnant sister." Hearing this, everyone''s faces turned solemn. Phillip was the first to burst out, "Who''s the bastard behind this, framing Izzy like this? This is a load of bull." Erica''s face was also grim. She immediately called the tech department of the Meyer Group, only to be told that Mr. Ethan had already informed them. They were working full throttle to delete the false reports. The two of them were on the same page. They knew that the scariest thing in this information age was public exposure, as it spread quickly and left traces. Jacob continued to question his daughter, "When did this news break?" "It''s been a few hours; it started this morning around nine. First leaked from a magazine then was intentionally spread online, which triggered a massive spread." Ashley said. Jacob took Ashley''s phone and went through the news again. Like Erica, he made up his mind, stepped outside and dialed a number on his phone. Phillip was pacing anxiously in the living room, heaving a sigh from time to time. He was worried and didn''t know what to do. Seeing his dad like this, Trenton furrowed his brows. He felt his dad was acting strange, like he was hiding something. It seemed to have something to do with Ines. "Dad, chill out. We''re all gonna pitch in and sort this out." Lauren reassured Phillip, who was clearly on edge. "What do you think?" Phillip asked Erica, anxiety written all over his face. Chapter 275 Chapter 275 "Dad, no need to fret. Ethan is swamped right now, barely has time to breathe. Let alone call us. He''s got this under control, I''m sure. He''s probably knee-deep in sorting out the mess as we speak. We gotta have faith in him, he''ll figure out the best way out of this." Erica said, sporting a grin. She tried hard to sound casual, but was actually worried sick. She dialed Ethan''s number and went straight to the point, "Ethan, how''s it going with Izzy''s issue?" In order to keep everyone in the loop, Erica put the call on speakerphone. Ines picked up and recognizing Erica''s voice. She knew they were aware of the news, but was in the dark about the specifics, so she said, "We just finished cooking, Ethan''s elbow-deep in dishes. He''s working on the issue. I''m not really sure about the specifics." Seeing Ethan drying his hands, clearly done with kitchen duties, she said, "Hold on a sec, I''ll pass the phone to Ethan." Ethan took the phone, "Mom." "How''s it going? Have you sorted things out?" Erica asked. "Yes, you must handle this properly." Phillip chimed in from the side. Ethan knew the whole family was listening in on speakerphone. He took a deep breath, sounding a bit exasperated, "Everything else is okay. I''ve got evidence to clear the mud they''ve slung at us. But the car ident is a tough nut to crack. I''m clueless about the real deal back then, and Emma hasn''t spilled any beans. If we can''t handle this properly, Izzy might still face public bacsh." Hearing Ethan''s words, Ines was puzzled. She knew Emma had admitted to the ident, and Shirley was the real criminal. She and Emma were just the innocent victims. Seeing Ines¡¯ perplexed look, Ethan motioned for her to stay quiet. Ines paused for a moment, then nodded in understanding. "Emma seemed to have turned over a new leaf, why wouldn''t she spill the truth?" Phillip asked. "If the ident wasn''t Ines¡¯ fault, then it''s gotta be Shirley and Emma''s. Do you think Emma would be dumb enough to drag herself into this? Even if she''s turned over a new leaf, there''s no way she''d make peace with Izzy." Ethan said. "So what''s your game n?" Phillip asked. Ethan rubbed his temples, sounding helpless, "I''m not sure yet, I need more time to mull it over. I gotta do some heavy thinking this afternoon and evening." "Alright, tread carefully. Don''t let the rumors harm Izzy." Phillip said. Ethan grumbled inwardly. He had been clear enough, but Phillip still kept his cards close to his chest, not revealing a thing. What on earth was he keeping secret? Even in such a situation, he was still unwilling to spill the beans. The more secretive Phillip was, the more curious Ethan became. He was determined to squeeze some info out of him. Then, others started to offer Ethan some advice, and Ethan acknowledged their suggestions. "Ethan, why aren''t you telling Phillip and the family that we actually know the truth about the ident?" Ines asked. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Ethan gently stroked Ines¡¯ hair, "Don''t worry, I''ve got a n. We''ve got a lot of info now, it''s just a matter of how we use it. I won''t let you suffer." Ines nodded, then looked at Ethan intently, "Do you still think the truth is not that simple?" Ethan chuckled, "You really have a knack for seeing through things." "I''m no fool, what Emma told is just part of the truth, and just happens to be what we need to know. But the whole Beasley thing is still a mystery. You haven''t found a shred of clue, which is highly unusual." Ines said thoughtfully. "Mmm, that''s exactly what I think. Right now, Phillip is my prime suspect." Ethan said, furrowing his brows. He had had his suspicions. But without a confirmation from Phillip himself, he kept telling himself it was just his imagination. Ines wrapped her arms around Ethan''s waist, leaning into him, whispered, "Don''t overthink it. Phillip is your grandpa, he would never harm Beasley. He''s just withholding some info, so don''t fret over it. When it''s time for us to know, Phillip will tell us. Don''t anger him again, he made it clearst time that he doesn''t want anyone in the family to bring this up." Hearing this, Ethan reluctantly nodded, but he was reluctant to let such a golden opportunity slip by. He was already making ns. Ethan spent the entire afternoon in his study, either on video conferences or having discussions. Ines was curious about his next move, but she didn''t disturb him. Instead, she went back to her room to sleep. But because all these things were weighing on her mind, she had a restless sleep, even started having dreams. In her dreams, she saw Emma''s terrified face and the nkness of losing consciousness. Cam arrived around 4:30 in the afternoon. She got a call from Erica toe over and cook dinner for them, as the ce was crawling with reporters. Erica wanted toe over, but couldn''t, because their ce only had one entrance, and everyone knew about her rtionship with Ines. Ines was justing out of her room when she saw Cam, she was taken aback, "Cam, why are you here so early?" "I got a call from Erica, only then I learned about the troubles you guys are in. I''m here to cook dinner for you. I don''t believe a word of those news reports. I know you and Ethan are good kids, not like that at all." Cam said. "Thanks a bunch, Cam. I''ve been a real pain in the neck, asking you to trot over here early every weekend. You hardly have time to chill with your own family." Ines said. "Ah, it''s all in a day''s work. We hashed it out when we signed the contract. My kids aren''t in A City. The only one I could hang out with is my husband, but he''s always on the go. He''s off fishing or traveling with his buddies every day. Even if I head home, I wouldn''t catch a glimpse of him. So I don''t need to keep himpany." Cam said. Ines gave Cam a nod and a smile, before waltzing into the study. She found that Ethan had put the brakes on his work. He was deep in those news articles. The tech department of the Meyer Group had been busting their humps trying to scrub the news. But it was a Herculean task, and the results weren''t instant. Chapter 276 Chapter 276 Ines snuck up behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck, "Aren''t you the one who said I shouldn''t look? Why are you hiding and reading it alone?" Even though Ethan quickly closed the webpage, Ines caught a glimpse of the insulting words about her. It was really hurtful and stung a bit, but she quickly reined in her emotions. Ethan pulled Ines onto hisp, kissed her forehead, and took a deep breath in her neck. He was greeted by the familiar elegant scent of roses, "Are you awake now?" His action tickled Ines a bit. She touched his face and answered with a chuckle, "Yep, I took a nap and I''m all refreshed now. Stop reading these pointless news, you should get some sleep too. Cam''s back, so you don''t have to worry about dinner." "Alright, thene sleep with me for a bit." Ethan said. "Nah, I just woke up, not sleepy at all." Ethan didn''t care and pulled Ines towards the bedroom. Ines found it amusing but had no choice but to follow. When this guy got assertive, there was no dealing with him. Seeing the two of them hand in hand, Cam couldn''t help but smile. She went into the kitchen to start cooking. Ines thought she wouldn''t be sleepy, but as soon as she snuggled into Ethan''s arms, she was out like a light. Hearing her soft breathing, Ethan opened his eyes to find her fast asleep. Her long eyshes cast a shadow on her eyelids, and she looked stunning. Her face looked so young, nothing like a woman about to turn 28 and soon to be a mother of two. Sleeping, she was as peaceful as a child,pletely different from herposed awake self. Ethan chuckled and nted a light kiss on her lips. Soon, he too fell asleep to the rhythm of her breathing. It wasn''t until Cam noticed dinner time had passed and they still hadn''t emerged that she knocked on the door, waking them both. While responding, Ines let out adylike yawn and felt a bit dizzy - typical signs of oversleeping. She turned to find Ethan grinning at her. It was funny how she was the one who had just woken up, yet who fell asleep first and slept the best. "You get it, pregnancy does that to you." Ines said, a bit embarrassed. Ethanughed, leaned in for a deep kiss. The sudden affection sent a jolt through her, making her body shudder. She ran her fingers through his hair, savoring the kiss. After a while, she started kissing him back. These intimate moments had been rare between them recently. Once they started, it was hard to stop, but they managed to pull themselves together. Seeing her blushing, Ethan teased, "Maybe you should reward me properly once I take care of this?" Ines knew what he was implying, but she changed the subject, "Now''s not the best time for business. In due time, if you bring a contract to the Galeana Group, I''d be more than happy to amodate you." Seeing her serious expression, Ethan pulled her up, "Fine, as long as you keep me happy. I''ll make sure to include you in future business deals." "Why should I have to please you to do business?" Ines retorted. "If you don''t please your clients, who''s gonna work with you?" Ethan replied patiently. Ines wanted to respond, but she caught on to the implication and shot him a re. That was Ethan for sure, always steering serious conversations his way.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Good thing she was quick on the uptake. The next day. A bombshell news story took over A City - the so-called "Doting Husband" incident. Ethan filed awsuit against Sunny Day Magazine and several other sites that reposted the defamatory articles about Ines. With 152panies named as defendants, it was an unprecedented case domestically. Such cases were usually difficult due to the challenges in verifying the identities of the defendants and gathering evidence. However, Ethan made the list of the 152panies public. The announcement was made by the Galeana Group''s PR department, but it wasn''t Ines who made the announcement - it was Ethan. The press conference was scheduled for the afternoon, with only the announcement being made in the morning. The usedpanies were all taken aback. Such incidents weremon, but nobody had ever responded this drastically. Suing 152panies was no small matter, most people would just sue the firstpany that published the news. Those on the list were scared, regretting their actions. But at the time, not reposting and getting involved would have cost them. As they worried, they also prayed that the court wouldn''t ept the case. Some websites started to change their tune, voluntarily deleting the news. But with the ongoing judicial reform, the previous review system had been reced by a registration system, greatly speeding up the process. The Galeana Group announced the news in the morning. And by afternoon, Lionel, the Meyer Group''s topwyer, announced that the court had epted the case and that the defendantpanies would receive awyer''s letter. This statement shocked thepany CEOs, who never expected their actions would lead to a lawsuit. They weren''t afraid of thewsuit per se, but facing Ethan was a different story. Ines didn''t go to the Galeana Group. The whole incident didn''t upset her as much as she thought it would. Maybe it was because she had mentally prepared herself over the years, or maybe it was because Ethan promised her that morning that he would fight for her. She trusted him, so she was calm. But she didn''t watch TV or go online, afraid to see the unpleasant news, until Phoebe called. "Izzy, I''m totally stoked today." Phoebe''s excited voice came through the phone. Ines had no idea what was going on, only that Phoebe''s tone pissed her off a bit. Angrily, she said, "I''m being dragged through the mud right now. Instead offorting me, you''re all happy. I really don''t know how I ended up with a great friend like you." Chapter 277 Chapter 277 Phoebe startedughing out loud, realizing that Ines hadn''t heard thetest news about Ethan. "Izzy." she chuckled, "I finally get the idea that rich folks can do whatever they want, all thanks to your hubby. Turn on the TV, your husband is in it." At this, Ines felt her heart speed up a bit, but she still asked, "What has he done now?" "Go see the romantic thing he did for yourself." Phoebe said, "It won''t be a surprise if I tell you. Izzy, you''re so lucky. I regret not getting set up with Ethan earlier. Maybe he would''ve liked me, considering how simr our personalities are." Ines thought Phoebe''s words were getting more and more ridiculous. But knowing Phoebe, she didn¡¯t overthink it. "What big thing has my husband done that¡¯s got you so worked up?" Ines asked, truly puzzled. "Sigh, I¡¯m not going to say anything more. Just turn on the TV and see for yourself. Oh, and get some tissues ready. You might burst into tears." Phoebe said. "That¡¯s a bit of a stretch." Ines replied. "Just watch and you''ll see." Phoebe said. With that, Phoebe hung up. Ines calmed herself down and turned on the TV. Seeing Ethan on the news, still in his suit, with the tie she had tied for him that morning, she was taken aback. He was giving off a cold aura, looking nothing like when he was with her. He was such a sight to behold, drawing all the attention to him. The camera shed from the crowd kept hitting him, but he remained unwavering, like a tree offering shelter. Ines felt her heart beating faster again. This man, her husband, belonged to her and nobody else. And that filled her with immense pride. He said solemnly, "Today, I¡¯m not here as an employee of the Galeana Group or as the president of the Meyer Group. I''m here as an ordinary husband. Regarding the false rumors circting online, I have filedwsuits against 152panies. My wife, Ines, is the chairman of the Galeana Group and is also pregnant. Their actions have severely damaged her reputation, affected her personal and the Galeana Group''s image, and caused adverse effects on the stock price of the Galeana Group. The losses are incalcble." When Ethan announced this, Ines was taken aback. He had told her in the morning that he would use legal measures to protect her rights. She thought it was only Sunny Day Magazine, but he had taken all websites spreading false news to court. Ethan''s move stunned her, and the only word she could think of to describe it was "willful". She was moved beyond words. She smiled, feeling overjoyed and content. She finally understood why people admired the bigpany bosses so much. They were decisive. Ethan always spoke simply and straightforwardly, stating the facts as they were. Cam came out of the kitchen and saw Ines engrossed in the TV, smiling happily like she wasn''t disturbed by the news at all. Following Ines'' gaze, she saw Ethan on the TV and stopped to listen to what he was saying. Although she didn''t understand much aboutw, Ethan''s words still amazed her. Disbelief was evident in her eyes. "Ines, Ethan is really amazing." She said. Ines was, of course, very pleased to hear this. But she was also a bit worried. Ethan''s action was a bit over the top, and he would definitely offend many media outlets in A City. Ethan''s move immediately won the hearts of many women in A City. Some of these women had previously criticized Ines, but after hearing Ethan''s speech, they all began to support her. Ines, who had temporarily turned off her phone earlier to avoid harassment, couldn''t help but turn it on again. Although there were still some harassing calls, there were also calls from rtives and old friends of the Meyer family. They were all worried about her, so she sent a mass text message to them. The message was simple: [I''m fine, don''t worry.] It was very in line with her usual gentle and elegant personality. As Ines browsed the previous websites on her phone, she found that many news articles about her had been deleted. Even if one or two were still there, all thements below were supportive of her, and the previous maliciousments were all gone. At this time, a piece of news also appeared in front of her. The title was: "The President of the Meyer Group Defends Ines Against 152 Companies." The title was a bit surprising, but the content was very truthful. It objectively and impartially narrated the issues between Ines, Shirley, and Emma, and even reported on Hunter''s incident. There was even a certificate from the police station. All in all, the content was very objective without any bias. Ines was curious about who wrote this article that knew so many details. She quickly scrolled down to the end of the article and couldn''t help butugh when she saw the author''s name. It was Phoebe. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Ines smiled, feeling indescribably happy. One was her husband and the other was her good friend. Both of them stood firmly behind her at all times, giving her the greatest support. She was truly satisfied. Once Phoebe''s article was published, it was quickly reposted by major websites. The previous websites also apologized for their impulsive actions. Ines casually read a few articles and then turned off her phone. She was no saint. If she didn''t have her current status and position, this news would definitelynd her in hot water. Now they were willing to apologize, they were just trying to settle things before it hit the courtroom. Ethan was a cool cucumber, his decisions were always well thought out. At this point, she would respect his call and wouldn''t stir up trouble for him. Chapter 278 Chapter 278 Ines picked up her phone and quickly texted Phoebe: [Thanks, Phoebe.] There was a lot she wanted to say, but it all boiled down to these simple words. As soon as Ines sent the message, Phoebe called her. "Izzy, did you cry for what happened?" Phoebe asked. Ines gave a slight smile, "Are you referring to Ethan or yourself?" "Both of us, of course." Phoebe said. "Why would I cry? I''m thrilled." Ines leaned back on the couch. "Izzy, you''re so boring. Shouldn''t you call Ethan now and say something like, ''Thank you, you''re my hero, marrying you is the greatest fortune of my life. I think I''m falling for you more and more?'' You should say that to Ethan." Phoebe said. Phoebe''s tone was overly dramatic, but that only worked on men. For women, it was just annoying. Ines felt a chill down her spine and said seriously to Phoebe, "Watch your mouth." Phoebe sounded a bit disgruntled, "Izzy, I''m teaching you how to please a man. Men love to hear their women say these things. Don''t you get it?" "Save it for your husband." Those words were too embarrassing for her to say. But if Phoebe hadn''t brought it up, she might not have realized it. Although they had been married for a while, she was always addressed him as Ethan. There was not even a more intimate nickname. "I won''t say it to him. It''s more like he should say those things to me. I''ll make sure he turns into that kind of person." Ines said "Alright, you''re amazing." Phoebeughed on the other end, then said, "Speaking of which, you need to discipline your husband. Don''t let him call me in the middle of the night. Women over 25 can''t pull all-nighters. Do you know what it feels like to be woken up at 3 a.m. to write an article? Do you know how sad it is for me, a single woman, to know in advance what he''s about to do? Do you know what it''s like to be happy for you and curse jim at the same time? I feel like I''m going schizo." Phoebe went on and on but Ines got the gist. Ethan was up and aboutst night while she was asleep, and she didn''t realize it at all. Turned out Phoebe knew about Ethan''s n all along. They conspired to leave her out of the loop. "Why are you so obsessed with your sleep schedule? It''s not a big deal if it gets disrupted for a day." Ines admired Phoebe''s strict sleep schedule. Phoebe seemed to consider anyone who disturbed her sleep as her enemy. "Izzy, I''m not married like you. I need to maintain my beauty before I get hitched." Phoebe grumbled. This girl was really something. She never failed to take a jab at Ines. But Ines knew without asking that Phoebe''s magazine must have made a killing this time, "Don''t tell me your magazine''s sales haven''t gone up at all." Just as Ines finished, Phoebeughed heartily on the other end, "Izzy, I''m officially announcing that I''m now the editor-in-chief. I finally managed to kick out the person I hated the most. Your Mr. Meyer helped me out again. Since he did a good deed, I won''t hold a grudge against him anymore." "Congrattions, Phoebe." Ines said. "I hope you will grace my magazine with her presence more often in the future. I would be very grateful." Phoebe said. Hearing her strange tone, Inesughed, "Come over for dinner tonight. I''ll ask Cam to prepare more dishes that you like." "Nah, I don''t want to see you two lovebirds. My heart can''t take it. You should celebrate alone with your husband today. This issue is pretty much resolved. All you need to do now is wait for the court hearing. With all the evidence you have, winning the case is inevitable. Have a good celebration. But Ethan is now the man every woman in the country wants to marry. I just heard a cleaner at our magazine office say she wishes she could be decades younger when she sees a man like that." Phoebe said. "Phoebe..." Ines frowned. "Sigh, you''re now a madwoman who protects her husband. I''ve decided not to talk to you for a while. I don''t have a ce in your heart anymore." Phoebe said. They chatted for a while before hanging up. Ines felt her ears getting hot. She knew she had been on the phone for too long without even checking. Sure enough, Cam reminded her from the side, "Izzy, cell phone radiation is pretty strong. You should cut down on your usage." Ines chuckled, "I know, Cam. I''m just in a good mood today. I''ll be careful next time." "It''s indeed a day to be happy. Now all the women in the country want to marry Ethan. I heard people talking about it in the neighborhood just now when I went out to take out the trash." Cam said with augh. All the girls in the country. Ines was taken aback for a moment, then she smiled at Cam and said, "Cam, prepare more dishes that Ethan likes for dinner tonight." "No problem. I''ll go out and buy some groceriester. I''ll cook you guys a delicious feast tonight." Cam said. Ines went straight into the bedroom andy down on the bed. She tossed and turned but couldn''t fall asleep. The scenes from Ethan''s press conference this afternoon yed in her mind like a movie. Her heart was pounding, and she pped her forehead in frustration. They were already an old married couple, but she still got butterflies in her stomach like it was their first love. Ines had no choice but to read a book. She picked one from the shelf, but she couldn''t focus. Ethan came home from work more than an hour earlier than usual today. When he walked into the bedroom, he saw Ines in her pajamas, sitting on the bed with a book in her hand. But her gaze was fixed on the ceiling. He didn''t need to ask to know she wasn''t actually reading. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Ethan walked over quietly and pulled her into a tight hug. Ines shivered, then she smelled the faint scent of mint and his unique masculine scent. She smiled slightly and pretended to be angry, "You scared me." Chapter 279 Chapter 279 "Were you terrified?" Ethan leaned his head on her neck. Ines didn''t answer. She just leaned into his arms and asked, "Why did youe back so early today?" "I rushed back to report my work to you. You must have seen the press conference. Don''t you want to see me? Don''t you have anything to say to me?" Ethan said, making her turn around, then gently holding her petite face, looking at her seriously, and a sly smile appeared on his lips. Ines felt her heart beat faster. This feeling of heartbeat made her body tremble slightly. For a moment, she couldn''t even utter a word. Her tongue seemed tied up, and she could only slightly turn her head away. But Ethan was unwilling to let her avoid his gaze. He once again gently turned her head around, making her look straight at him. "Didn''t I move you?" He asked. Ines was speechless. She felt that Ethan was not the same as when they had just got married. Now he would so directly ask her for a reward. "What do you want me to say?" Ines looked straight into his eyes, frowning. Ethan gently touched her face, "I want to know what you were thinking at that time." Ines thought for a moment, then seriously said, "I felt that you were like a big tree, sheltering me from the wind and rain." Her tone sounded very serious, not like she was joking at all. Hearing this, Ethan was obviously shocked by Ines'' answer. His face turnedplex for a moment. He pinched her nose in a flustered manner, "Are you sure your Spanish is up to par?" Inesughed, and lightly hit him, "Why not investigate properly when we got married? I''m a science student. I just chose a major in university that both science and arts students can study." She had been a top student since childhood, but her only weakness was Spanish. Even after so many years, she was still the same. Compared with Phoebe, her scores were far worse. Phoebe was the exact opposite of her. Apart from Spanish, all other subjects were terrible. Ethan couldn''t help but chuckle. Hearing hisughter, Inesughed as well. After a while, Ines repeated, "I really feel that you are like a big tree. You can shelter me from the wind and rain. This is my real thought at that time." "Hasn''t anyone told you that hiding under a tree from the rain is the most dangerous?" Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. "Oh, are you deliberately trying to pick on me?" Ines deliberately put on a stern face. "Izzy, you really are not funny at all." "You are now a nationally famous person. If you want a fun wife, go find one outside. Why did you come back?" Ines said sarcastically. "What do other people''s spouses have to do with me. I only care about my own partner." With those words, Ethan hugged her waist and passionately kissed her. Ines felt a bit dizzy. Ethan gradually became unsatisfied with simple kisses. His hand slid into her clothes, teasing her sensitive and soft spots. His kisses moved to her earlobe, gently biting it. Ines felt a strange sensation throughout her body. She was so stimted that she immediately raised her head, and her face seemed to be in pain and ecstasy. Seeing her expression, Ethan felt particrly satisfied. He whispered in her ear, "Izzy, you seem to be getting more sensitive. I''ve read in books that pregnant women are indeed more sensitive, and their needs will also increase. Do you feel the same?" Ines felt her face turn red instantly. She felt like a cooked duck. "What''s there to be shy about? It''s necessary tomunicate about these things between spouses, I want to know exactly what you''re thinking." Ethan continued to ask. They hadn''t been intimate for a while. How could Ines bear this torment. Her chest was heaving quickly in no time. This man kept asking these messy questions, and she couldn''t help but bite his nose. Ethan felt her actions had said it all, and heughed. He raised her arm, stripped off her pajamas, and quickly took off his own clothes. Ines felt a bit chilly. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Ethan''s eyes, like they were on fire, staring at her. She could only retreatpletely into his arms. "Izzy, don''t worry. I won''t hurt you and the baby." He said as he entered her. Ines was caught off guard, and felt a bit ufortable. She rested on his shoulder and asked in a low voice, "Did you lock the door?" They hadn''t been intimate for a long time, she missed him too, but she didn''t want anyone toe in and disturb him. Ethanughed, "Don''t worry, I locked it a long time ago." Oddly enough, Cam hadn''t knocked on the door all day, and they didn''t see her when they came out. Ethan led a blushing Ines out, Ines didn''t see Cam and breathed a sigh of relief. Thinking of the scene not long ago, Ines felt both shy and annoyed; on the other hand, Ethan didn''t look like a person who had been busy all night. The table was already set with hot food. Just as they finished eating, Cam came in from outside. It was obvious that she had gone for a walk. Seeing that they had just eaten, she couldn''t help but smile. Ines knew she must have known. She felt embarrassed to look at her. "Izzy, you should be able to work normally tomorrow. The reporters outside have all disappeared," Cam said. "Yes, I need to go to work tomorrow. There must be some work piled up in thepany these two days." The next day, Ethan sent Ines to the Galeana Group, Ss was already in the office, as soon as he saw theming in, he immediately asked, "Izzy, is everything okay?" "I''m fine, Ss, why did youe back early, wasn''t it supposed to be a week? Are things over there all sorted out?" Ss nodded, "I''ve dealt with the most urgent matters, other rtively simple tasks have been handed over to a trustworthy person over there. You had such a big incident, I couldn''t rest easy over there, I didn''t expect Shirley to be so shameless. Even after running away, she distorted the facts and smeared you." Chapter 280 Chapter 280 "Don''t sweat it. It''s just a temporary hup." Ethanforted, patting Ines'' shoulder. "Hope the Galeana Group''s stock prices bounce back today." Ss sighed. At this, Ines also seemed a bit uneasy. Yesterday, due to her incident, thepany''s stocks took a nosedive as soon as the market opened, causing a lot of people to dump their shares and resulting in a major loss for thepany. Ethan wasn''t worried at all, "Don''t worry, today we might see more than just a recovery. We might have to worry about a spike." Ethan saw Ss returning, iming he needed to head back to the Meyer Group to handle some stuff. Ines didn''t suspect anything until a call from the Base came in, revealing the severity of the situation. Ethan hadn''t returned to the Meyer Group. He had returned to the Base and was now arguing with Phillip in his room. She didn''t need to guess what the argument was about. Apart from the car ident, she couldn''t think of anything else. "What''s going down, Ashley?" The one on the phone was Ashley, who had been hanging around the Base, sneaking behind Jacob''s back as she didn''t have many sses recently. Phillip spoiled her a bit, so he didn''t mind. Ashley, staring at the closed door, whispered, "I''m not really sure what''s up, Ethan stormed back all pissed off, grabbed Grandpa and headed into the study. They''re having a massive row now. I can hear stuff getting tossed around inside. I tried knocking, but they were totally ignoring me. Izzy, you might need toe back. I can''t think of anyone else who can calm them down." Hearing Ashley''s words, Ines started to fret. She handed her work over to Ss temporarily and had thepany driver take her straight to the Base. Ashley was pacing anxiously near the staircase when she saw Inese in. Rushing over, she said, "Izzy, finally, I didn''t know what to do. They''ve never blown up like this before. It''s really freaking scary." "How long have they been in there?" "About half an hour now." On hearing this, Ines frowned and quickly headed upstairs. Ashley, noticing Ines'' pregnant belly, quickly followed suit. Due to the Meyer family''s special status, the study was designed for utmost privacy. It was specially decorated using imported materials. The soundproofing was top-notch, so even if they were shouting inside, one couldn''t hear anything from outside. Ethan was staring at Phillip, mockingly smiling, "Grandpa, you really have a heart of stone to stay calm at a time like this." "What do you mean by that? Did you rush back just for this? Didn''t I tell you already? I know nothing about it, and didn''t hide anything from you." Phillip red at Ethan, his eyes burning with fury. "Pete, you remember him, don''t you?" Ethan raised an eyebrow at Phillip. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Phillip''s face changed slightly, he hadn''t expected Ethan to dig up info on Pete so quickly, but he quickly regained hisposure, "It''s impolite to call him by his name so casually. You''re bing more and more reckless." Phillip raised his voice, Ethan''s was even louder, "Reckless? I think you''re the most reckless one here. You clearly knew the truth but yed dumb in front of us. Do you think that''s alright? You know, Izzy barely sleptst night because of this. She kept having nightmares about the moment of the ident. She''s lost her memory, has no sense of security, and it took me a lot of effort to get her to trust me, but you just go and do this. Don''t you feel guilty?" Phillip felt ufortable. He huffed, "I don''t know what you''re talking about, don''t try to influence me with your words. You think I didn''t see your press conference yesterday? The evidence you have is enough to clear Izzy''s name." "Izzy''s dad felt weak till the end, unable to protect his daughter, had to let her endure rumours at such a young age, and leave her hometown alone. Even in his dying moments, he had regrets. He probably didn''t know that the real person stopping him was you. You know what you represent. He''s just a businessman. Regardless of how hard he tried, he couldn''tpete with someone like you. So it''s not that he was too weak. It''s just that his opponent was too strong." Phillip didn''t respond, his hands shaking slightly. "Grandpa, I can understand that you have to look at the bigger picture. But have you considered that your decisions implicated an innocent person, causing her life to turn upside down in an instant. Did you ever ask her if she was willing to bear these consequences, how she lived these past few years? She''s just an ordinary person. She doesn''t have to cooperate with your actions." "Ethan, I told you before. Don''t make assumptions. The things you''re saying are baseless." Phillip mmed a tea cup onto the floor, causing a loud noise. Ethan didn''t flinch, "I found out about Pete. You think I don''t know that he was at the ident scene? He''s your right-hand man, and has a significant position in the military now. Don''t tell me he was just passing by or was chasing a fugitive like my brother. Such exnations are not convincing at all. The people who quickly gathered up the newspapers after the incident included Hunter''s people and some from the military. Do you really think your actions have no ws? There''s no wless crime in this world. As long as you did it, it''s just a matter of time before it''s exposed." "I know nothing about this. If you want to know, you should ask Pete yourself. I don''t know anything." Phillip was tense, but still kept his silence. Ethan stared at Phillip, his expression slowly shifting from anger to disappointment. "I finally see your true colors. On the surface, you care about Izzy, constantly calling her when she''s not home, but it''s all for the show, to make others think you''re a loving grandpa. But in reality, it''s all an act, all because of your vanity." "Ethan, are you asking for a smack?" Phillip''s fury totally blew up upon hearing Ethan''s nderous remarks. His mouth was getting out of line. "Go ahead and hit me, and we''re done for good. From then on, I have nothing to do with you, and I''m no longer a part of the Meyer n," Ethan replied without hesitation. Chapter 281 Chapter 281 "How dare you defy me! How could you say such uneptable words? All the years the Meyer family has spent raising you have gone to waste!" Phillip, in a fit of rage, hurled the ashtray from the table. Ethan didn''t dodge, and the ashtray hit him straight in the corner of his eye. He immediately felt a sharp pain, blood started trickling down his eye corner, and his head felt momentarily dizzy. Phillip looked at his grandson''s state, his hand slightly shaking, "Are you an idiot? Can''t you dodge?" Ethan was very calm, looking seriously at Phillip, "Hit me if you must. No matter what, our rtionship will break because I cannot tolerate a man who schemes against my wife. If Izzy knew the truth, do you think we could still live in peace? If I had to choose between my wife, child, and you, my choice would be my wife and child." Phillip, enraged by Ethan''s words, his chest heaving up and down, "Stop spouting nonsense. Who schemed against your wife? It''s obviously..." "Obviously what? Don''t tell me it was just an ident. She was just a pawn to you." Ethan stepped closer to him, determined to get a conclusion. "You ungrateful son! I don''t want to talk to you. Get out!" Phillip pointed towards the door. Ethan felt blood streaming down his face, cold, and slightly ufortable, but he didn''t care. He casually wiped it with his hand, making his entire face bloody and shocking. Phillip sat in his chair, not saying a word. Both of them were stubborn, creating a stalemate. The entire study instantly became eerily quiet.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Ashley had her face pressed against the door. Suddenly, the arguing inside stopped. She turned to Ines and chuckled, "Izzy, It seems like they''ve quieted down." "I''ll listen." Ines also pressed her ear against the door. There was indeed no sounding out. "Do you think they''ve stopped arguing? Otherwise, we should be able to hear them yelling," Ashley said. However, as time ticked away, Ines'' legs were numb from standing, and there was still no sound coming from inside. Ines felt uneasy for some reason. She could hear nothing from inside, and this anxiety was unbearable. Ashley also felt something was off but still reassured Ines, "Izzy, you''ve been standing for quite a while. Go to the living room and rest for a bit. Grandpa and Ethan should be fine, Grandpa was just talking nonsense." "Have they been like this before?" Ashley thought for a moment, "Actually, no. Before, sometimes grandpa would yell at him, but Ethan would never argue back, always acting indifferent. This is the first time I''ve seen them argue like this." Ines understood, Ethan cared about her deeply. When it involved her, he would definitely do something, even if it meant going against their grandfather. Ines couldn''t stand it anymore, so she knocked a few times on the door, raising her voice, "Ethan, calm down, don''t argue with Grandpa." "They''ll only know someone is knocking, but they won''t hear your voice. I don''t know if Ethan has his phone. You can try calling him," Ashley suggested to Ines. Ines immediately took out her phone and dialled Ethan''s number, but no one answered. He didn''t pick up, so she kept calling. Inside the study, Phillip finally couldn''t stand it and yelled at Ethan, "Answer the phone. It''s been ringing for a while now! You''re driving me nuts!" Ethan took out his phone and nced at it. The name "Izzy" shing continuously made him immediately pick up the call. The tense atmosphere suddenly turned soft, "Izzy." "Ethan, what are you doing? Aren''t you at the Meyer Group?" Ines tried to probe. Ethan nced at Phillip. At this point, he didn''t want to hide from Ines, "I''m not at the Meyer Group. Something came up. What''s going on over there?" "Nothing happened here, just outside the study. You bettere out and open the door." Ethan was stunned for a moment. He just realized she hade to the Meyer Mansion. It must have been Ashley who informed her, "Izzy, don''t worry, I''m inside talking to Grandpa about something. It''s okay. I''lle out in a bit. You go rest for a bit, and we''ll have lunch at the Meyer Mansion and then leave." "Ethan, don''t argue with Grandpa. It''s all in the past. I don''t want to know what happened anymore. Everyone believes Emma''s version and knows I''m not the killer. The real culprit is Shirley." Even though it was like this, Ethan didn''t want her to be attacked with this matter again. Once was enough. It absolutely couldn''t happen a second time. "Really, don''t worry, I''lle out in a bit. You wait outside." Ethan still remained unmoved. No matter what Ines said, Ethan refused toe out, so she had no choice but to hang up reluctantly. Phillip looked at his smiling face, gave a cold snort,pletely changed for a woman, such a disgrace. "Choose. Do you want a great-grandson, or do you want to keep a secret?" Ethan said to Phillip again. "You little bastard, do you really want to push me this far?" Phillip''s suppressed anger red up again. "This is fair. You neither help Izzy nor want a great-grandson, you take everything good, do you think there''s such unfairness in this world?" Phillip abruptly opened the drawer, threw a discover, and growled, "Isn''t this what you wanted? Take it and get lost." This time, Ethan slightly turned his body and caught the object Phillip threw over. He only nced at it and knew what it was, this thing was indeed in Phillip''s possession. "Is my brother still alive?" Ethan looked at Phillip, his brows furrowed as he asked again. Phillip paused, then threw a teacup, growling, "Go away, stop causing trouble here." Seeing Phillip like this, a hint of a smirk crossed Ethan''s face. Even though he didn''t say it out loud, he knew his hunch was right. Beasley was indeed still kicking. These past few days, he''d been lost in his own conjectures. The more he thought about it, the more pumped he got. But he never dared to let it show easily because he feared that the bigger the hope, the bigger the letdown. Chapter 282 Chapter 282 "Is Beasley still alive?" Ethan repeated this question again. At this point, Phillip didn''t want to see Ethan, so he said coldly, "Beasley''s luck wasn''t too shabby. He didn''t die in the car ident, but whether he''s still alive now, I''m not sure. If anything happens in the future, it''s definitely connected to your recklessness today." With the answer he wanted, Ethan didn''t stick around in the study. He opened the door. Because his move was so sudden, Ines, who had been leaning against the door, fell straight down. Ethan''s expression changed instantly. He quickly caught her around the waist, asking anxiously, "Izzy, are you okay?" Ines'' heart raced. She lightly touched her chest, but when she looked up to see Ethan''s bloodied face, she was startled. "Ethan, are you hurt?" Ines touched Ethan''s face anxiously, identally pressing on his wound. Ethan didn''t show pain, but Ines noticed him frowning and felt bad. "I''m sorry. Did I hurt you?" Ethan shook his head. "I''m fine." Then, he took her hand and headed for their bedroom. Ines saw the smile on his mouth and knew he''d made some big gains today. He must know everything. But he needed to take care of that wound on his face, or else he might have a scar. Just as she was about to find some antiseptic, Ashley had already fetched it and handed it straight to her. "Izzy, could you take care of Ethan''s wound? It''s making me a bit queasy." "Thanks, Ashley." Ines took the antiseptic and followed Ethan back to the bedroom. As soon as they were inside, Ethan hugged her tightly from behind, his arms avoiding her protruding belly, holding her tighter and tighter. She could even feel his chest rising and falling as he was clearlyughing. "Ethan, what on earth happened?" Ines asked curiously. She couldn''t figure out why he was so happy, considering he''d been hit by his grandfather today. Ethan didn''t say anything, just chuckled softly. His lowughter made Ines even more anxious. She pounded on his shoulder a few times, "Ethan, are you going to tell me or not? Are you trying to make me anxious?" Ethan let go of her, looking at her seriously, "Izzy, my brother is not dead." Ines was so shocked she could hardly speak. She opened her mouth wide, considered the news, and then covered her mouth with her hand, stuttering, "What exactly happened that year? If Beasley''s not dead, where is he now? Why did Grandpa hide all this from the family?" Ethan sat Ines down and was about to exin, but Ines stopped him, insisting, "First, take care of your wound. Otherwise, it''ll affect the healing." Ethan nodded, unable to hide his smile. Ines patiently applied an antiseptic to his wound. On closer inspection, the wound was quite deep. Ines couldn''t help but chastise, "Ethan, stopughing. You look like a fool. This wound''s so deep it might need stitches. If it was a bit off, you could''ve injured your eye." Her tone became reproachful towards the end. What if he had injured his eye! Ethan, seeing Ines'' serious face, smiled at her, "It''s okay, Izzy, I''m tough. Just put a band-aid on it after you disinfect it." "Really?" Ines hesitated. "No worries. I was aware of Grandpa''s strength, so I tilted my head back a bit to lessen the force." Ines stopped tearing the band-aid, looking seriously at Ethan, a hint of dissatisfaction in her voice, "Ethan, are you saying you could''ve dodged, but you didn''t on purpose?" She didn''t know what to say. He had actually used this approach to deal with his own grandfather. Realizing he had said the wrong thing, Ethan could only smile at Ines, trying to appease her. "Don''t worry. He''s my own grandpa. He wouldn''t really hurt me. In our kind of family, we look good on the outside, but because I didn''t join the military, I have fewer injuries. Everyone else has injuries, Grandpa has been through wars, he has a lot of injuries too. It''s all okay." Ines was helpless but mostly moved. She knew he did it partly for her, so how could she me him? She just felt sorry for him. Ines quickly took care of the wound, saying, "You can''t do this again in the future." Ethan knew she wasn''t mad, held her on hisp, andughed again, "Izzy, I''m really happy today." He and Beasley were so close. Ethan had been unhappy over Beasley''s presumed death, so this news must have been thrilling. "I know. Can you tell me what happened now?" "Hold on, I''ll find aputer that''s never been connected to the inte, and we''ll check out the surveince footage." "There''s really surveince footage?" Ethan stood up, ruffling Ines'' hair, "Of course there is, and it''s always been with Grandpa. He even burned the contents onto a CD. If it weren''t for you being in the media spotlighttely and me pressuring him, he might not have been willing to bring it out." Ines sighed, "Grandpa really knows how to keep secrets. He''s kept it for over five years." Ethan quickly brought aptop from outside, and inserted the CD. This direct truth was even more exciting than what Emma had said. Ethan was a bit nervous, too tightly holding Ines'' hand, both of their eyes glued to theputer screen. Soon, theputer screen showed a clear image. First, a white car appeared. Because the window was half-open, one could vaguely see the person inside. Ines from that time was very different from now. She''d just run away from her engagement party, her face still meticulously made up. She nced at the car following her through the rearview mirror, a yful smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. Then she quickly drove up the forked road, and made a U-turn, all in one smooth motion.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 283 Chapter 283 In the footage, Ines'' car was closely followed by a red one not too far behind. Ethan paused and zoomed in on the video, and to his surprise, Emma was in the trailing car. Ines'' car did a U-turn, heading straight for Emma''s. Suddenly, another car bolted from a side street, drawing their attention. It was Beasley, dressed in civvies, looking flustered. He was driving so fast, it was clear he couldn''t stop in time. Ines saw her car heading towards terrified Emma, fear etching on her own face. The three cars collided in a brutal crash. Even though there was no sound from the footage, Ines felt a heavy weight in her heart. It was as if she was reliving the ident, the impact still palpable. The tension gripped her whole body, causing a headache. Ethan''s face was grim. The reality of the situation was much worse than he had imagined. In the video were his beloved brother and his newfound lover. Ethan held Ines tightly as he noticed her shaking. Heforted her, "It''s alright, Izzy. It''s all in the past. I won''t let anything like this happen to you again." Reassured by Ethan''s words, Ines rxed. They kept their eyes on the screen, afraid to miss anything. The crash site was shrouded in smoke, and all was still for a while. After a while, Beasley crawled out of his car, bloodied and barely able to stand. He steadied himself against the car. All three cars were severely damaged. Beasley inspected the vehicles and after a moment''s thought, decided to pull Emma from her car. Emma was unconscious, her legs seemingly trapped by the wreckage. Then, Beasley went over to Ines'' car, trying hard to open the door. In the end, he had to find a rock nearby and smash the car window to open the door. Ethan frowned at this, realizing that Beasley was trying to decide who to rescue first. The screen went still for a long while before unconscious Ines was pulled out. Her head was covered in blood, her face stained red, and her clothes were unrecognizable. Her condition looked even worse than Emma''s. It was a horrific sight. Ethan''s hand tightened around Ines'' waist. He was grateful she made it through. Ines looked at her bloodied self on the screen and covered her mouth, stuttering, "Ethan, where''s Beasley? Why isn''t he out yet?" Hearing this, Ethan furrowed his brows. His heart raced as he stared at the smoke-filled car. It was clear it was about to explode. "Don''t worry, he''ll be safe," Ethan tried to reassure Ines, but he was just as nervous and scared. Suddenly, a man in a military uniform appeared in the frame. He quickly opened the car door and pulled unconscious Beasley from the wreckage. Beasley, like Ines, was out cold. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. As they watched in shock, the man pulled out a lighter from his pocket, lit the me, and tossed it towards the car. The car quickly caught fire and exploded not long after. "Ethan, who''s that?" "That''s Pete, Grandpa''s confidante. He''s a former special forces soldier, now a key figure in the military. If all goes well, he''s set to be the next military chief." In the video, Pete hoisted Beasley into the car, then quickly cleaned up the scene. The skid marks left by the faulty brakes were quickly dealt with, making it look like a regr car ident. He nced at unconscious Ines and Emma, did nothing else, and drove off. Soon after, ambnces and police cars arrived at the scene. Both women were taken away. That was the end of the footage. They both let out a sigh of relief. A lot of things started to make sense, like why it was concluded that Ines intentionally crashed into Emma. It was because Pete had concealed the evidence. "If Pete hadn''t called 911, I wouldn''t have known there were others at the crash site," Ethan said. "Ethan, where did Beasley go? If he''s alright, why would grandpa tell everyone he''s dead? Even his family thought so." Ethan gave a bitter smile, "He''s a soldier. This could mean he''s recovered and been assigned a covert mission. These missions require him to erase all traces of his past. If he''s presumed dead, all the better." Ines paused, then asked, "So, he''s a mole?" She thought these things only happened in TV shows. She couldn''t believe she was involved in such a situation, covering for a mole''s whereabouts. Ethan nodded, "You could say that. There''s no other exnation that makes sense." "What kind of undercover mission takes this long? It''s been almost six years." A glimmer of sadness shed in Ethan''s eyes, "That''s the sad reality of being a soldier. Whatever the mission, you have to obey." Ines had always been wise in crucial moments. Hearing Ethan''s exnation, she quickly understood. The reason Phillip led the family to believe that Beasley was dead was firstly to protect Beasley''s identity and secondly to demonstrate the difficulty of the mission. It could be one that didn''t allow for a return, which was why he decided to erase all information about Beasley. "Ethan, Beasley is okay, right?" Ines asked tentatively. Ethan smiled and replied, "Don''t worry, we can at least confirm Beasley''s safety. He''s definitely safe. If anything happened to him, Grandpa would have handed over the surveince footage a long time ago. He wouldn''t have let me worry." This was also why Grandpa hadn''t told him. He knew Beasley was fine because he knew their working well. Ines thought for a moment and agreed with Ethan''s reasoning. Grandpa''s persistence till this point was likely for this reason. Chapter 284 Chapter 284 "Ines, I''m really sorry. We the Meyer family are sorry for you.." Ethan held Ines'' face, saying earnestly. At first, this girl thought she was responsible for Beasley''s death, but he didn''t. The Meyer family had caused her to endure so much she shouldn''t have. If the video had been released sooner, Shirley and Emma wouldn''t have set foot in the Galeana family''s house, and Hunter would not have broken off their rtionship to protect her. All of these problems stemmed from the truth that was deliberately hidden. When one get down to it, the Meyer family screwed her over. Ines knew Ethan was apologizing to her, but it had been so long since those events, Hunter had passed away, and she was living well after leaving A City. After marrying into the Meyer family, they were genuinely good to her. Only Phillip knew about all this. Nobody else did. But they were willing to ept her despite all the misunderstandings. Their sincerity was obvious. How could she find reasons to me the Meyer family? Besides, without Beasley, she and Emma might have died at the scene. At the time, her car door was locked, and judging from the situation in the video, the car was bound to explode. That guy Pete just made it explode ahead of time. Since Beasley saved their lives, any mistakes were cancelled. Ines shook her head at Ethan, gazing at him seriously, "Ethan, don''t apologize. We just had bad luck getting dragged into this mess. And without Beasley, if we had an ident in that remote ce, Emma and I would probably be dead by now. We wouldn''t have lived to see today." Ethan kissed Ines'' forehead, saying, "Thank you, Izzy." "We''re husband and wife. No matter what happens, we face it together." Ines looked at Ethan. Ethan nodded, his eyes full ofughter, and kissed Ines. But just then, there was a knock at the door. Ethan quickly shut down hisputer and went to answer it. Ashley was standing outside the door. She chuckled at the sight of the band-aid at the corner of Ethan''s eye, "Bro, you totally ruined your image. Have you seen yourself? You look like a hot mess." Ethan wasn''t in the mood to joke around and didn''t care about his appearance. With a frown, he asked, "What are you here for?" Ashley pointed in the direction of the study and curled her lip, "Grandpa wants Izzy in the study, said he has something to say." Ethan was a bit annoyed. He knew it wasn''t Grandpa''s fault but was pissed off. He snapped at Ashley, "Tell him to hold on. Izzy will be there." Ashley retorted unhappily, "I''m not your messenger, don''t take your anger out on me. If you and Grandpa aren''t done arguing, go ahead, I''m not joining you. I didn''t do anything wrong, I''m not delivering messages." Just now, grandpa had been angry when he asked her to call for someone. Everyone today was being unreasonable. After saying that, Ashley stormed off to the bedroom across the hall and mmed the door shut with a bang. "What happened? You pissed off Ashley. She looked really angry." Inesughed as Ethan entered the room. Ethan raised an eyebrow. "I''m not sure. Maybe she got in trouble with Grandpa. I was a bit short with her, and she got pissed off. She really has a temper." "You should talk to her nicely. Ashley cares about you. She called me as soon as she heard you were arguing with grandpa." Ines defended Ashley. "That''s her being nosy, making you, a pregnant woman, rush over." Ines knew the siblings were close, so she didn''t say anything more. Ethan was silent for a while before saying to Ines, "Grandpa wants you in the study. If you don''t want to face him, you don''t have to. We can leave right now." Ines chuckled, "I can''t avoid it forever. I''ll have to face this sooner orter. I''ll go now." "Izzy." Ethan held Ines back, not wanting her to face Grandpa just yet. "Don''t worry. I won''t argue with Grandpa like you do. He won''t treat me the way he treats you. I want to hear what he has to say." Ines patted Ethan''s hand. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Since Ines had said that, Ethan couldn''t object. He simply handed the disc to Ines, asking her to take it to grandpa for safekeeping. In the study, Grandpa sat in his chair. When he saw Ines enter, he quickly said, "Izzy, have a seat." "Grandpa, you wanted to see me?" Ines said with a faint smile. Grandpa looked a bit awkward. Seeing the disc in her hand, he sighed and asked, "Have you seen everything on the video?" Ines nodded and put the disc on the desk, "I just finished watching it." "Izzy, I''ve been holding back this apology for a long time. I wanted to face you and say sorry." After finishing his sentence, Grandpa stood up and bowed to Ines. Ines was startled and quickly helped Grandpa up, "Grandpa, what are you doing?" Philip patted Ines'' hand, saying seriously, "I have to do this. I owe you and Hunter an apology. Your bad rtionship with him isrgely my fault. Ethan was right. My decision changed your life and caused you to suffer a lot." In fact, when Ines first saw that video, she had a lot of mixed feelings. But, after thinking, she got it, "Grandpa, you don''t have to say it like that. I know you didn''t mean it. The whole situation came out of left field. I bet you didn''t see what wasing when you made the decision. So, it''s all just a coincidence. I owe my life to Beasley for getting me through all this. Without him, I might''ve kicked the bucket. I guess my dad wouldn''t me you either. His two girls owe their lives to you, which is no doubt his biggest wish. Grandpa, you don''t need to carry this burden anymore." A glimmer of relief passed through Phillip''s eyes, "You''re really big-hearted. Ethan hit the jackpot marrying you." Chapter 285 Chapter 285 "Maybe it''s destiny, some unbreakable bond I have with the Meyer family. Beasley saved me, and then I ended up marrying Ethan identally. My grandpa feels guilty towards me, but he also has a chance to make amends." Hearing this, Phillip said, "Surely it''s destiny. When Ethan brought you back, I recognized you right away. Boy, did that frighten me!" Ines wrapped her arm around Phillip''s, winked at him and said, "Grandpa, did you get scared? I didn''t notice at all. You''re such a good actor. You fooled us all." "Don''t tease me anymore. I had no other choice." Phillip sighed deeply. Ines thought to herself that what Phillip did was indeed tough. Sending his own grandson to an unknown ce was not something just anyone could do. Ines moved her chair close to Phillip to listen to him in detail. "There''s arge criminal gang in the south involved in illegal activities. But those guys are really cunning. For over a decade, we haven''t been able to find any evidence of their crimes. The police and the army have sent a lot of people out, but all to no avail, causing us to lose dozens of talents, a heavy loss. A few years ago, ourst informant went missing, leaving all our operations directionless. So, the leaders nned to select and send suitable people over. Beasley is a rare talent. The leaders noticed him a long time ago and also discussed it with me." Phillip paused and then added, "Of course, I wouldn''t refuse such a mission. I couldn''t just stand by and watch those guys harm the people''s interests. I talked to Beasley. He is very responsible and quickly agreed. But we waited for a long time, and couldn''t find the right opportunity until that ident happened. Beasley sent me a text message when he was barely conscious, telling me that the time was ripe, so I sent Pete over." Ines listened carefully. What Phillip said weren''t detailed, just a general situation. She also knew that some things were not convenient to disclose. But hearing all this, she couldn''t help but ask, "Grandpa, Beasley has a high military rank. If he suddenly died, and a new person appeared beside those guys, wouldn''t it arouse suspicion?" Phillip was taken aback for a moment, thenughed, "You sure know a lot. You thought of this problem right away." Ines smiled, "Maybe because I like watching this kind of TV show and movies." "You and Emma were seriously injured back then. How could Beasley possibly be unscathed? His injuries were no less serious than yours, but because he is a soldier, and his constitution is better than yours, he woke up after being unconscious for more than half a year, but it took him a year to fully recover. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. This perfectly matched our operation n, just in time, without arousing too much suspicion." "This is why I kept it a secret. Your rtionship with Hunter has been stagnant, while he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I wanted to tell him the secret a few times, but I gave up in the end because the cost was too high." Ines nodded. She could understand this. A trapid for so many years. How could it be easily destroyed? But Ines was a bit curious about what Ethan had said to Phillip, which made him reveal the secret, "Grandpa, what did Ethan say to you? Why are you telling us the secret now?" Hearing this, Phillip couldn''t help but snort, his face full of dissatisfaction with Ethan, "He actually threatened me, saying he would sever ties with me, and asked me to choose between the child and the secret. I don''t care much about him, but I''m looking forward to my grandchildren." Hearing this, Ines couldn''t help butugh. This was definitely Ethan''s style. Once he decided to do something, he often did whatever it took, only caring about the result. People really shouldn''t have weaknesses. Phillip''s biggest one was his hoped-for peaceful life. Otherwise, he wouldn''t always give in to Ethan. "Grandpa, Ethan is just too anxious, don''t mind him," Ines said with a smile. Phillip''s face was still a little gloomy, but he still seriously instructed, "This matter should only be known by the two of you, don''t let a third person know. Although Ashley is a bit curious, she definitely won''t think of Beasley. If she asks, just make up a lie to fool her." "Grandpa, don''t worry, I won''t tell anyone." Phillip nodded, "Good, you can go now. If you stay here any longer, Ethan wille looking for you soon." Ines smiled and walked out of the study. Sure enough, Ethan was already looking for her. As soon as he saw her, the first thing he asked was, "What did Grandpa say to you?" Ines looked around. Even though they were at home, she still felt uneasy, so she pulled Ethan into the bedroom and told him in detail what Phillip had said. After listening, Ethan nodded. Even if Phillip didn''t say it, he had already guessed some of it. Seeing that Ethan still looked a bit upset, Ines held his hand, "Alright, whether you''re upset for me and Beasley or angry at Phillip for hiding from everyone, at least Beasley is still alive. This is already something to be happy about. Let''s just wait for his victorious return." "Okay." Ethan nodded. Looking at the band-aid on Ethan''s face, Ines joked, "If others see you, they might think we had a fight. How about taking a day off at home? Don''t go to thepany today. You''ve been working too hardtely." Ethan didn''t care. He said, "No problem, let them think whatever they want." At lunch, Ethan and Phillip still didn''t say a word. Ines looked at them and found it funny. Ashley took pleasure in their difort and said a lot of sarcasticments. Chapter 286 Chapter 286 Time flies. In a blink of an eye, half a month had passed, and the trial for the case was about to start. Ines had never been to a court before. She thought she would have to sit at the intiff''s bench like in the TV shows, and she felt a bit nervous. Ethan found this amusing. "Don''t worry. You''re pregnant. How could I let you get stressed out? I''ve handed everything over to Mr. Lionel. He''s now your legal representative. You and I just need to sit in the audience like everyone else." Ines red at him, "You should have told me earlier so I wouldn''t have spent the whole morning worrying." "You''re now the chairwoman of apany and have attended many important events. How could you still be nervous?" "That''s different. The courtroom is a very solemn ce. I''ve often dreamed of being taken to court, and it scares me." Just like everyone else, she had a certain amount of reverence for such a serious ce. Ethan shook his head, leading Ines to the front row. Ines had been busy with the Galeana Group recently and hadn''t had a chance to formally discuss this matter with Ethan. She then whispered, "Ethan, won''t this cause trouble for you? There are too many defendants and a lot of media." The media can either raise you up or pull you down. Dealing with them required careful handling. "Don''t worry. I know where to draw the line. I won''t let things get too awkward. I just want to teach those irresponsible media a lesson. They shouldn''t let short-term profits cloud their judgment and report anything." Ethan said nonchntly. Ines nodded. Before she could say anything, someone on the stage knocked on the table, signalling everyone to be quiet. The trial officially began. Due to therge number of defendants, the court wasposed of a judge and jurors. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. The audience was packed. On the court, it took a full hour for the judge to read and verify the information of 152 defendants. Ines was once again impressed by Ethan''s audacity. No wonder the news caused such a big stir in A City. It was truly a rare sight. The Meyer Group''swyer, Lionel, had an excellent reputation. Every time he spoke, he left the opposing party speechless. Ines was quite thrilled. "Ethan, where did you find such a powerfulwyer? He''s incredible," Ines couldn''t help but whisper to Ethan. Ethan leaned in her ear and chuckled, "Actually, my mom found him. When he was young, he was very fond of my mom. Even after she got married, he never gave up and pursued her." "Really?" Ines'' eyes lit up. She never imagined anyone keeping their admirer close. If it were her, she would certainly keep her distance. "You know how silver-tongued my mom can be. She may seem friendly on the surface, but she''s actually quite strategic." Ines had a deep understanding of this. Every time she and Ethan had a slight issue, Erica would persuade her with just a few words, like a sage. Ines felt that she still had a lot of room for improvement and needed to learn more about how to handle things from her. The morning session took three hours, and the afternoon session took another three. It took a total of six hours to conclude the sensational case. Given that the case was clear and Ethan had carefully collected evidence, virtually all the defendant companies were subjected to legal sanctions. After a brief recess, the judge announced the verdict. Winning the case was expected. The court ordered Sunny Day Magazine topensate Ines. Other defendants were also ordered to pay damages based on the severity of their cases. Those who had embellished their false reports were fined more, while those who had simply reposted were fined less. Major websites were also required to publish an apology to restore Ines'' reputation. Hearing the heftypensation amount, Ines was taken aback. She couldn''t help but whisper, "I''m really lucky. This is about half a year''s profit for the Galeana Group, and a lot of it is on credit, so the cash flow isn''ting in." But Ethan didn''t look pleased at all. He didn''t need the money. If he could, he wouldn''t want this to happen at all. He said indifferently, "Izzy, it''s what you deserve." Silvia Caldwell, sitting in a corner, clenched her fists. She truly was sick. Knowing the oue would be this, she still came to attend the trial, her gaze unintentionally lingering on them, seemingly enjoying the heartache. Their case was being tried, but their moods seemed unaffected. Ethan was always smiling, whispering something into Ines'' ear. Even though she couldn''t see Ines'' expression, she could imagine that she must be feeling great. A man doing so much for her was rare. Ethan, your heart changed too quickly. Silvia said to herself. She should havee back earlier, and expressed her feelings earlier. That way, Ines wouldn''t have had a chance. Aaron Swanson was also emotional. He didn''t know why, but he wanted toe and see, perhaps to find a reason to give up. In a short period of time, he knew that she had gone through immense pain. Her father had passed away, and the Galeana Group relied on her alone. But aside from sending her aforting text, he couldn''t do anything. But Ethan was different. He could always be by her side, even going as far as to make enemies with most of the media in A City for her. After some careful thought, if he were in Ethan''s position now, he wouldn''t be capable of doing such a thing, even if he wanted to. When the judge announced a recess, Aaron was the first to leave through the side door. To his surprise, he heard a familiar voice. Turning around, he saw a face under the setting sun that looked a lot like Le Caldwell. Although it was somewhat blurry, he knew clearly that it wasn''t Le because Le seldom smiled so happily. "Silvia? Howe you''re here?" Aaron was stunned for a second before he reacted. A warm smile appeared on his face. "Aaron, I knew today was Ines'' court day, so I thought I''d pop by," Silvia said with a chuckle. "When did you get back? Why didn''t you hit me up?" "I got back about two months ago, but I''ve been swamped with work, and couldn''t find the time." Aaron nodded, nced at his wristwatch, and said, "Do you have time now? If so, we could grab a bite somewhere. It''s about time for a meal." Silvia nodded, "Sounds good. I''m game if you are, Aaron." Chapter 287 Chapter 287 After the trial, Ethan and Ines didn''t bolt right out of there. They hung around until most of the crowd cleared out before making their exit. At the door, Lionel was waiting for them. Seeing Ethan being all protective around Ines, he had a warm smile on his face. "Ethan, you''ve got quite the guts. I''ve been in the industry for a bunch of years, but I''ve never had a debate with so manywyers before." Ethan grinned and introduced Lionel to Ines, "Izzy, meet Mr. Lionel." Ines smiled at Lionel and said, "Mr. Lionel, I''m Ines. I''m really bothering you these days. Thank you very much. I''m really grateful." Lionel chuckled, "Thanks to all the drama, you''ve be a big shot in A City. Everybody knows your name. Some people even found the courage to step up because of you. I found this whole experience. I find it pretty meaningful. When Ethan first told me what he was nning, I was gobsmacked." Ines looked a bit awkward. Ethan took over and said, "Mr. Lionel, you should pop over to ours sometime. My grandpa hasn''t seen you in a long while. He was talking about you the other day." Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Lionel replied, "Sure, but make sure your dad''s not around. I can''t handle his jealousy. He''s been guarding me like a watchdog all these years." Ethanughed and agreed. Lionel then nced at Ines'' belly, "How far along are you? Your mom mentioned it not too long ago, but it wasn''t that noticeable then. Now it''s pretty obvious." Ines answered, "I''m over four months along. Since it''s twins, I''m showing sooner than most moms- to-be." Upon hearing this, Lionel chuckled and gave Ethan a friendly pat on the shoulder, "You lucky boy, you''re gonna be a dad soon. All your mom''s worries were for nothing. You sure work fast, getting hitched and having kids in just over a year." Ethan responded, "You''re too kind, Mr. Lionel." After some chit-chat, Ethan took Ines home. Erica Meyer was packing up, now that things at the Galeana Group were pretty much under control, Ethan needed to return to the Meyer Group. Erica felt relieved and was preparing to go back to the Meyer Mansion. Ines couldn''t help but ask, "Mom, are you heading back to the Meyer Mansion now? It''s getting prettyte." Erica replied, "Yes, I''m used to staying at the Meyer Mansion. I can''t get used to this house of yours. I don''t know anybody around here." All Ines could do wasugh, "Mom, I just found out today that Mr. Lionel had a thing for you when he was younger. He seems like a decent guy, gentlemanly. Did you ever like him?" Erica put down what she was holding, gave Ines a yful smack on the head and said, "You cheeky girl, where did you learn to gossip like this? You''re about to be a mom, and you''re still interested in other people''s stories." Ines persisted, "Come on, Mom, just tell me. Did you ever like him?" Ines clung to Erica''s arm. "What''s the point of liking him? Once you meet a stubborn soldier, nothing else matters," said Erica with a hint of resignation. A smile spread across Ines'' face. After the trial result was out, it made headlines in the newspapers and online. The hefty compensation Ines received once again shook the people of A City. Aaron asked about Silvia''s life abroad over the past few years, and Silvia was more than happy to share some interesting stories. Before they knew it, two hours had flown by. As they were about to leave, Silvia suddenly looked Aaron in the eye and asked, "Aaron, do you have a thing for Ines too?" Aaron''s smile froze, and the atmosphere turned a bit awkward. Aaron forced a smile, "Silvia, why would you ask that?" "Aaron, I told you, I study psychology. I can see right through you if you don''t hide your feelings well enough. I saw you at the trial, but it wasn''t the right time to say hi. You were sitting somewhere at the back, quite a distance from Ines, but you kept ncing at her. If you like her, why not go for it?" Silvia said seriously. At first, she thought Aaron was looking at Ethan, but then she realized she was actually looking at Ines. Aaron calmly said, "She''s already married. Do you think I still stand a chance?" Silvia was silent for a moment before saying, "I''m fair and unbiased. The human heart is a mystery. Like you and Ethan, you both loved my sister back then, but things changed. Life is long. Why let a fleeting moment blind you and give uppletely? You already missed my sister. Why miss the one you love again? If you love someone, you should fight for them. Even a child knows that." After a pause, Silvia continued, "I''ve seen a lot of cases like this abroad. Couples deeply in love split up after a few years and start new families. At first, I thought they were heartless, but after seeing it many times, I understood. I don''t oppose it." Aaron studied Silvia for a moment. He found that he couldn''tprehend her at all. She was no longer the happy-go-lucky little girl she used to be. It was as though she was hiding all her true emotions. "Silvia, you''ve probably been abroad for too long. Your views have been influenced. Even if I still have feelings for Ines, I won''t do anything. Ethan is my good buddy, and they''re expecting. I won''t ruin their family. Don''t bring this up again," Aaron said sternly. "I got it, Aaron. Why so serious? I''m a psychologist at the hospital now, and I like saying things that cheer people up when they''re feeling down. Just take it as me talking nonsense," Silvia said. Aaron chuckled lightly, not taking it too seriously, "Silvia, you''ve really stepped up your game over the years, bing a shrink at such a young age." "It''s all for making ends meet," Silvia replied, looking slightly down. Chapter 288 Chapter 288 When Ines woke up, she found that the person who had been up early was still by her side. She reached out in confusion and touched him, feeling his skin hot as a fire. It scared her enough to make her open her eyes and touch his forehead, finding it was also burning hot. "Ethan, wake up. You seem to have a fever," Ines shook Ethan. Ethan, feeling parched, opened his eyes to see Ines looking worriedly at him. He frowned slightly, "What''s wrong?" "Don''t you feel unwell? You have a fever." "Oh, I see. Then stay away from me so I don''t pass the cold to you. You''re in a special period. If you get sick and can''t take medicine, it''ll be a big hassle." Ethan said in a hoarse voice. Actually, he had been feeling a bit under the weather sincest night with a slight headache, but he rarely fell ill, so he didn''t take it seriously. "No worries. We''ve slept together all night long. If it''s contagious, it should have spread by now. You justy down for a while. I''ll go find some fever reducers." Ines insisted. There were always some medicines in the house. Ines quickly found some fever reducers. Ethan took them and fell asleep soon after. Ines called Lucas and reported the situation. Then she went to the Galeana Group. With Cam at home, she was quite relieved. She was handling thepany''s affairs just fine on her own, and with Ss guiding her, there were no issues. Just as she sat down, someone knocked on the door. Ines called out, "Come in." After getting permission, Gentry pushed the door open.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Ines didn''t look up, thinking someone hade to report work. But when no one spoke, she looked up to see Gentry standing not far away, looking at her with aplex expression, seeming to have trouble speaking. He didn''t carry any documents either clearly, he wasn''t here for work. Was it personal? Ines put down her pen, looking seriously at Gentry, "Mr. Gentry, what''s up?" Gentry looked a bit embarrassed, and a careful look could reveal an abnormal redness on his dark face. Ines found it somewhat amusing, "Mr. Gentry, just spits it out, it''s just you and me in the office, no need to worry too much." "I want to ask why Ms. Emma hasn''t beening to work recently?" Gentry spoke quickly, then lowered his head. Ines raised her eyebrows in surprise. At first, she didn''t think too much, but seeing Gentry''s peculiar face, she quickly realized. Was he smitten with Emma Galeana? This was unexpected, as Gentry and Emma didn''t seem to have much interaction. "Mr. Gentry, do you have any work-rted issues with Ms. Emma?" Ines smiled slightly, curious about what was going on. "It''s not about work. I just want to know how she''s doing." "Do you really think I''m that close with her? As you know, she was pushed out of thepany by me. Isn''t it inappropriate for you to ask me this now?" Gentry''s face turned slightly red. When Ines'' news first broke out, he had approached Ines once. But then he saw the positive reports and how she was working overtime for thepany while pregnant, and this changed his impression of her. "I''m sorry, my mistakest time. I was too prone to believe the rumours on the inte." Ines didn''t just want an apology. She was testing his feelings for Emma. And she confirmed that he did have feelings for Emma. But unfortunately, Emma only had Aiden in her heart. Even if she broke up with Aiden in the future, it would be difficult for her to start a new rtionship. "She''s doing alright. She''s at home waiting to give birth." Ines didn''t beat around the bush. "I heard her husband is not good to her?" Gentry asked, then realized he might have crossed a line. He didn''t have the right. Ines smiled slightly, "That''s her personal matter. I don''t know the specifics. If you''re close to her, you can call and ask her directly." "No, you misunderstand. I don''t have any personal rtionship with her. I''m just concerned as a colleague, I just want to ask about her situation." He and Emma didn''t interact much. How could they have a personal rtionship? If this got out, it could ruin her reputation. In fact, he knew she only appeared strong but meant no harm. "You''re the first colleague to ask me about her." "I really just care about her." Gentry''s eyes were turning red with urgency, feeling somewhat helpless. Seeing him so anxious, Ines didn''t n to tease him anymore. "Alright, I know there''s nothing between you two. But what I said is the truth, we are no longer as antagonistic as before, but we''re not close enough to often inquire about each other." A few days ago, she heard from Eda that Emma seemed to be preparing to divorce Aiden, but Aiden disagreed. But she was pregnant. The divorce was a bitplicated. "Oh, then I''ll leave first." Seeing that he couldn''t get any useful information from Ines, Gentry''s eyes showed a hint of disappointment. When Ss came in, he saw Gentrying out of the office and couldn''t help but frown, "Izzy, is Gentry giving you a hard time again?" Ines shook her head, "No, he came to ask about Emma. Seems like he has feelings for her." "Really? They don''t seem to interact much." Ss said doubtfully. "We don''t need to bother about them, and these things depend on fate. We can''t force it." "True." Ss ced a thermos box on the table and smiled, "This is a soup your Eda cooked for you. It tastes great." "She''s really thoughtful." "Now the Galeana family doesn''t have those pain-in-the-ass people anymore, and Emma has be super nice. We''re living in peace there. You shoulde to visit when you can, after all, that''s where you grew up. Your room is still there, untouched." Ines nodded, "I got it. It''s just that it''s a hassle to go anywheretely. Ethan''s been keeping a close eye on me." Chapter 289 Chapter 289 Ines was all jittery that day, worried sick about the sick one at home. Even though Ethan had reassured her over the phone that the condition had improved, she couldn''t help but worry. So, she decided to knock off early and head home. As she stepped into the house, she saw Ethan emerging from his study, looking like he had just wrapped up his work and was a bit off. She tossed her bag onto the sofa with a huff, "I told Lucas not to hand you any paperwork today. Why did he still do it?" "I am not seriously ill, just a minor cold. It''s not like I can''t work. Have you ever seen anyone skive off work just because of a cold?" Ethan said. "Alright, alright, workaholic. I can''t win against you." Ines pouted. Ines had this healthy, pinkishplexion. And now that she had just walked in from outside, her face looked baby soft. The way she was pouting made her look like a girl in her early twenties, making Ethan''s heart flutter, wanting to pinch her cheeks. Thinking so, he actually moved to do it. But before he could reach her. He sneezed, which startled him into retreating. "You said you''re getting better. I knew I couldn''t trust you. Does this look like you''re getting better to you?" Ines scolded. Ethan ruffled his hair awkwardly. "Guess I''m not fully recovered yet." "Izzy, I told Ethan to go to the hospital for an IV, but he insisted he''s fine. I couldn''t convince him. Can you talk some sense into him?" Cam popped her head out from the kitchen upon hearing Ines''s voice. "We''re going to the hospital now." Ines said. Ethan waved his hand dismissively, "It''s okay, let''s eat dinner first." Ethan''s cold hit him hard. By nightfall, it had worsened. He was coughing, and had a runny nose. Still, he refused to go to the hospital, insisting on taking medicine instead. Ines had to nag him quite a bit before she finally convinced him to go. Lucas came to pick them up. At the hospital, Ethan made Ines put on a mask before allowing her to apany him for the IV. Ines felt helpless, thinking that Ethan was being overly cautious. But she knew he was doing it all for their child, so she indulged him. Ines sat by his side the whole time, holding his hand. "Looks like you''ve been overworking and not exercising enough. Your health is deteriorating." "Catching a cold during this season is normal. I haven''t had a cold in years. This one might be a good detox." Ethan chuckled. "You''re just making excuses." Ines said. They chatted idly as Ines''s voice slowly dwindled, responding less and less. Ethan knew she was tired but couldn''t send her back. He sped up the IV to the fastest setting. Looking at her peaceful face, his heart softened. The old him would never waste time on an IV, as it was too time-consuming and he didn''t have the patience to see the drip slowly enter his bloodstream. Plus, he was always in peak health, a cold was nothing a few pills and some grit couldn''t fix. But now with her by his side, he didn''t find the time passing slowly. The two hours flew by.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. By the time they got home after the IV, it was already past 10 p.m. Ethan''s symptoms had improved. But when it came to bedtime, Cam insisted on keeping Ines away from Ethan. She had to sleep with Cam in her room. However, Ethan''s cold came and went quickly. The next day, he was back at full energy, only a bit hoarse. Early in the morning, he woke her up for a prenatal checkup. Confused, Ines asked, "Is it time already?" "Yes, I checked with Cam. She also said it''s time." Ethan said. "Alright." Ines said. This time, they arrived half an hour earlier than thest time. The doctor hadn''t even started his shift, but there were already a few people in line. Ines leaned against Ethan with a smile, "Everyone bes diligent when ites to their children. Look at them lining up so early." "Indeed, we''re not even that early." Ethan said. "As long as there aren''t too many people, it''s fine." Ines said. They whispered to each other. Then, a pregnant woman behind them excitedly said to Ethan, "Aren''t you Mr. Meyer who sued 152panies for his wife?" Caught off guard by being recognized, they both felt a bit awkward. They didn''t expect to be recognized in a hospital. Ethan nodded slightly at her. The woman covered her mouth and giggled, "It''s rare to see a man who loves his wife so much these days." Ethan just smiled without saying anything, the woman was about to say something else when a man hurriedly ran over, "Honey, why did you run so fast?" The woman''s face darkened immediately, "Look at the queue. Even busy Mr. Meyer woke up early to apany his wife for the prenatal checkup. Still, he''s ahead of you." "Okay, okay, my bad. I''ll wake up earlier next time." The guy said. "It''s obviously your fault. You don''t earn much, and you''re not considerate towards me and the baby. You always procrastinate on prenatal checkups, and you even missed one." The woman comined. The man''s face fell at being scolded in public, but he didn''t say anything. It was clear that he was a tolerant husband, "I''m just trying to earn money." He exined with a chuckle. The woman huffed, "That''s your son. Everything you do for him is your responsibility. If you think it''s too hard, you shouldn''t have gotten me pregnant. Comining now doesn''t help." "Right, right, right. I''m wrong. Everything you said is right." The man''s words were full of appeasement. Ines hadn''t meant to eavesdrop on their conversation. But since she was standing right behind them, she heard everything clearly. She gave Ethan a silent smile. Every couple had their way of getting along. As long as they were happy, it was the right way. Even though the woman. Ethan pinched Ines''s nose gently, and theymunicated silently. Lately, even though Ines had been running around like a headless chicken, thanks to Cam and Ethan having her back, she had been eating like a horse. All her health check-ups were looking peachy and her kid was growing like a weed. Chapter 290 Chapter 290 Ethan wasn''t actually a fan of being the center of attention, and he hated being disturbed. He was not doing all those things to draw attention to himself. He just thought that was the best solution for now. But turned out, it was just causing a lot of trouble for others. Ines was all smiles. Seeing her grinning like an idiot, Ethan couldn''t help but pinch her hair yfully. Then, he picked up the ultrasound images in his hand, "Stopughing, it''s time to prepare their photo album. Put all the pictures from each prenatal checkup in there. When they grow up, they can see how they looked inside mommy''s belly. Let them know it wasn''t easy for mommy to give birth." In a soft voice, Ines said, "No wonder that guy said so, he was spot on." Her husband was so perfect that she sometimes doubted if she was dreaming, or if he was merely a figment of her imagination. "What did you say?" Ethan asked. "Nothing, let''s go. We still need to buy some photo albums." Ines said. When they came out, they bumped into Emma and Eda, arm in arm, looking more like family. a far cry from how they used to be. It seemed like it had been a while since Inesst saw Emma, not since their encounter at the Galeana family gathering. After the scandal involving Shirley broke out, Emma took some heat too, with lots of online bacsh. But she seemed fine now, apparently not too affected by all the drama. However, she seemed to have lost some weight, except for her belly. She was not tall to begin with, and with t shoes and a pregnant belly, she looked extra petite. For some reason, Ines felt a bitplicated. Emma saw them and greeted, "Are you guys here for a prenatal checkup too? Why so early?" "If weete, it''ll be crowded. Also we have to go to work." Ines said. Emma gave a slight smile, "Then I won''t keep you, I need to get going too." Ines called out to her, "Rest up this afternoon. I''ll have someone send over the equity transfer document, just sign it." Emma bit her lip, "Actually, my life is not too bad right now." "I''m not joking. What I owe you, I''ll make sure you get." Ines said. "Alright." Emma could only nod in response. Ines added, "Gentry asked about you this morning, he seems quite concerned. If you have time, you can give him a call." Hearing this, Emma looked a bit surprised, "Gentry? That Mr. Gentry from the finance department?" Ines nodded. Judging from her reaction, Gentry was right. They didn''t really have anything going on, otherwise, she wouldn''t have looked so surprised. "I see." Emma said. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. After saying what she had to say, Ines left with Ethan. Edaughed and asked Emma, "Emma, is that guy Ms. Galeana was talking about into you?" Emma blushed, "Eda, you''re such a gossip. He''s just a friend. He''s probably just being polite since I haven''t been to work for a while and stuff happened." "That might not be the case. If it was just a polite inquiry, Ms. Galeana wouldn''t have mentioned it." Eda had a good understanding of Ines''s character. She felt if Ines mentioned it, there must be something out of the ordinary. "Oh, let''s just go in, or we''ll have to wait in a long line." Emma said. Ines was doing well at work, and she had been super busytely, so Ethan thought about taking her for a trip to a nearby city over the weekend. When Lucas came in, Ethan asked him for advice, "Lucas, if I remember correctly, you''ve been dating your girlfriend for several years, right?" "Yes, but she''s not my girlfriend anymore. We got marriedst month." Lucas said. Ethan was taken aback, "You''re married? I''ll get you a wedding giftter." "Thank you, Mr. Meyer." Lucas gave a smile. "So, any fun ces you can rmend for a weekend getaway?" Ethan always left his social activities to Lucas. After thinking for a few seconds, he made a suggestion, "Considering Mrs. Meyer is pregnant, it''s best not to go too far. I suggest staying in A City. In A City, there''s a ce called Mar County where there''s a Spring Ecological Park. They have hotels, hot springs, and recreational facilities, perfect for a one or two-day rxation. It''s autumn now, and it could be a bit chilly at night. A hot spring bath can help ease fatigue, rx muscles, and improve blood cirction in the lower limbs." "Is it safe for Izzy to soak in a hot spring? Isn''t the water temperature quite high?" Ethan asked. "Yes, it''s safe. But each soak should be kept within 15-30 minutes, not too long. If well-regted, it can actually be very beneficial for her lower limb blood cirction." Lucas said. Chapter 291 Chapter 291 Hitting the hot springs, Ethan thought that was a great idea. Just to be on the safe side, Ethan gave a ring to a doc he knew, double-checking that the activity wouldn''t have any effect on a pregnant woman before deciding to tell Ines. Ines was stoked when she heard about the weekend getaway. She told Ethan, "It would be a total snooze-fest if it''s just us. We should invite more people. We''re gonna be there for two days, and we can''t be soaking in the hot springs the whole time. It''ll be more fun if there''s a crowd." Ethan thought Ines'' idea was solid, so he shot off invites to Noel and Aaron right away. Noel was always game for these kind of shindigs, especially knowing Phoebe might be there. He shot back a text pretty quick, saying he was in. Aaron was a bit slower to respond but he also said he was in. Seeing that Ethan had already invited them, Ines also let Phoebe and Ashley know, both of whom showed great interest. Come Saturday morning, Aaron seemed a bit taken aback when he saw Ashley in her casual outfit. This ticked Ashley off a bit, "Don''t give me that look. I didn''t want to exin because you might say I''m making excuses, but I didn''te here for you. I just wanted to have some fun." Aaron just chuckled, looking at Ashley with the same adoring gaze as he always did, "I didn''t say anything." "Good." Ashley replied curtly, before dering, "Just so we''re clear, I''m over older guys. I''m going for younger guys now. Don''t try to pair me up with Aaron anymore, got it?" Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Ines wasn''t sure if Ashley was ying or being serious. She nced over at Aaron, whose face seemed to shift a bit, but he didn''t say anything. Ethan suddenly changed his tone, "Who is it? How old? Is he reliable?" Ashley just rolled her eyes at Ethan, "Don''t even think about snooping around. He''s not in our ss, but he''s in our school. We''re just in the dating phase now. I''ll bring him to meet you when I n to get married." "Just make sure you''re careful." Ines said. "Got it." Ashley replied obediently. Phoebe put an arm around her shoulder, "Good for you, you''ve found your target already." "My mom always told me to find a good man early, so I can switch him out if things don''t work out. Otherwise it''ll be hard to find someone when I''m older." Ashley said. Ines thought Ashley was being pretty blunt, and it seemed to sting someone else. Since Mar County wasn''t that far from A City, just a two-hour drive on the highway, they decided to drive there. Phoebe was also nning on driving herself, but she felt too tired. So she hopped in Ethan''s car with Ashley. Aaron and Noel were at a loss, but they couldn''t really force them out of the car. The three women were chatting in the back, and with Ines'' voice included, Ethan didn''t find it annoying. "Ashley, you really got a boyfriend?" Ines asked curiously. "Would I lie about that?" Ashley replied, flipping out a picture on her phone. It was a photo of the two of them, one in front of the other, looking very close. The boy was handsome, not as mature as Aaron, but definitely notcking in the looks department. He and Ashley looked really good together. "He''s pretty good looking." Phoebe chimed in. "Of course, I''ve always been surrounded by good-looking guys, so naturally my boyfriend can''t be subpar. Otherwise I wouldn''t be able to ept it." Ashley said. Ashley flipped through more photos. There were a lot of photos of the two of them, and their rtionship seemed really good. Ines was both happy for Ashley and felt a pang of regret for Aaron, because he had missed out on a girl who truly liked him. The hotel was located in an eco-park, which was huge. When their cars entered, they were handed some brochures. They would be staying at the Serenity Lake Hotel which was a five-star comprehensive hotel integrating amodation, conference, catering, and entertainment. The drive had been tiring. After a meal together, they each went back to their rooms to rest, agreeing to meet upter in the evening. The temperature here was a bit cooler than in the city, probably due to the eco-park''s temperature regtion, and it wasn''t as dry. Ines fell in love with the ce right away. Opening the window, a moist breeze blew in, refreshing Ines. Ethan wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, "Do you like it here?" "It''s great, not inferior to those coastal cities at all." Ines couldn''t help but smile; she really liked this ce. It felt like the pace of life had slowed down, without the hustle and bustle of the city. "I think it''s more like you haven''t been on a vacation for a long time. Once these two kids are born, I''ll make time every year to travel with you." Ethan said. "It''s not like before, I can''t let go of the Galeana Group." Ines said, a bit depressed. "Don''t worry about it, I''ve already thought about it for you. I''ve started looking for a professional management team. After you go home for maternity leave, I''ll have them temporarily manage it for you. If you want to be a non-executive director in the future, that''s also possible." Ethan said. "Really?" Ines looked at Ethan in surprise. "Of course, what would you do when you give birth otherwise?" Ethan countered. "I was nning on asking Ss to act as a proxy for a while." Ines said. "Ss does know thepany well, but he''s also getting old. We can''t have him working hard all the time. If we find a professional management team, you both can rx a bit." Ethan exined. "You really have thought of everything, I''ve never even considered this." Ines felt warm inside. This man had everything arranged for her. Chapter 292 Chapter 292 Ines was snoozing away the entire afternoon, only getting up when the sun was about to set. When she woke up, the whole room was bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, looking unbelievably gorgeous. At that moment, Ethan was busy snapping photos, first of her, then of the view outside the window. Just as they were about to head out, there was a knock on the door. Ashley and Phoebe were inviting them downstairs for dinner. After dinner, they strolled along a small path in the hotel grounds. After a while, they discovered a lake, with a sandy beach where the sand was incredibly soft. "Someone told me earlier that this is a man-madeke. It was dug out." Ethan exined with a grin. "Wow, they really went all out to build ake here." Ashley kicked off her shoes and made a beeline for theke, leaving Aaron to pick up her shoes so they didn¡¯t have toe back for themter. Ines was tempted to join them by theke, but considering her age and the people around, she didn¡¯t run over like Ashley did. Ethan patted her on the shoulder, saying with a smile, "Izzy, you can take off your shoes and walk on the beach too. It should feel pretty good." Encouraged by Ethan, Ines took off her shoes. Ethan naturally picked them up, and they walked hand in hand on the beach. The sun was setting, and they enjoyed a leisurely stroll by theke. Walking on the soft sand was indeed a wonderful experience. Noel said to Phoebe, "You can do the same, I can hold your shoes for you." Phoebe scoffed. Just when Noel thought she would walk away, a pair of shoes were thrown at him. Noel caught them. After a round, Ines and Ethan found Phoebe and Ashley not far away. She let go of Ethan''s hand and went to join them. So, all three guys ended up holding a pair ofdies'' shoes, looking a bit awkward. They nced at each other and couldn''t help butugh. Ethan watched Ines having a good time and instinctively captured her every move with his camera. Ashley and Phoebe also asked for photos. Seeing Ethan so well-received, Noel couldn''t help but say to Aaron, "Ethan''s changed a lot over the past year, he''s be more outgoing, and he knows how to please women. If I''d known a camera could make women happy, I would''ve bought one myself." Aaron just smiled and didn''t say anything. He knew it was because Ethan truly cared about Ines. If it were someone else, he probably wouldn''t have done the same. Noel patted Aaron on the shoulder, "Bro, you should at least try to look happy. Your smile seems so forced. I can''t tell anymore if you''re still hung up on Ines, or if you''re upset because Ashley found a boyfriend." "Look who''s talking, you should sort out your own stuff first. You haven''t managed to win over any girl after all this time." Aaron said. Noel red at Aaron, thinking how naive he had been. Unlike Ethan who was always respectful with women and didn''t want any marriage expectations imposed on him, he chose to ignore the baseless rumors. The ironic thing now was that when he finally found a woman he liked, she already pegged him as a yboy. But it would be wrong to say he had no women in his life, after all, he was already thirty . After the girls had yed to their heart¡¯s content, they sat down on the beach. Ethan came over and Ashley snatched the camera from him to check out the photos. After a while, she frowned at Ethan, "Why did you take such unttering photos of me and Phoebe, but Ines looks so good in her photos. You''re ying favorites." Hearing this, Ines blushed and looked at Ethan, who just smiled and didn''t exin. Phoebe patted Ashley''s hand,forting her, "Don''t be mad, your brother''s lens was focused on Ines. We were just the background, what did you expect? Next time, bring your own boyfriend. Only he would take the effort to make you look good." Ashley pouted, then suddenly said to Ines, "My brother even took a picture of you drooling." "Where is it?" Ines immediately tried to snatch Ashley''s phone. Ashley quickly got up and held the camera high above her head. She was a few inches taller than Ines, who couldn''t reach it and could only re at Ethan, "Ethan, did you really take a picture like that of me?" Ethan''s lips curled up slightly, "No, Ashley''s just messing with you." But Ines didn''t believe him. Because when she woke up, she did see Ethan taking photos, suspecting that he took some photos of her sleeping. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Ashley raised an eyebrow at Ethan, her expression saying, ''you favor me, I''ll mess with your wife''. Finally, Phoebe couldn''t stand it anymore and pulled Ines over, "Pregnancy really does make you gullible, it''s obvious that little missy is just teasing you." Ashley burst outughing, then showed Ines the photo she''d been looking at, "Look, this is the picture of you drooling, you look so good." Ines looked down, she was sleeping soundly in the photo. Her hair scattered around, and her face was rosy and cute, there was no sign of drooling. Ines couldn''t help but smack Ashley on the head, "You were just messing with me." "If I can''t mess with my brother, then I''ll just have to mess with you." Ashley said, looking smug. The two of them started to y around, and Ethan couldn''t help but remind her, "Ashley, be careful, Ines is pregnant." "I know, I''m not that thoughtless. Now, hurry up and take some good photos of me." Ashley hugged Ines and put her hand on Ines''s belly. Ines gave a sligtht smile and ced her hand on Ashley''s, the two of them leaning closely together. Ethan looked at them in this position, and couldn''t help but feel a twinge of pain. That was supposed to be his ce, but now it was upied by his sister. Despite the slight difort, he still picked up the camera and took photos of them. Otherwise, Ashley would find other ways to make trouble. Chapter 293 Chapter 293 After taking a few photos, Ethan handed the camera over to Phoebe, who was sitting restlessly beside him. "Let me take some pictures of you and Izzy. We don''t oftene out to y, so let''s not waste this opportunity," she said. Ethan smiled slightly, "Thank you." Ashley knew when to be yful and when to be quiet. Seeing Phoebe take the camera from Ethan, she understood her intentions and let go of Izzy. Izzy was momentarily stunned, but Ethan had already embraced her from behind. As she inhaled his familiar scent, her lips involuntarily curved upwards, unable to express her satisfied emotions in words. She leaned back lightly against his body, a feeling ofplete reliance and trust. Ethan''srge hand gently encircled her waist, and his usually cold facial features seemed especially gentle. Phoebe understood Izzy very well and, seeing the curve of her lips, could somewhat guess at her emotions. She immediately pressed the shutter button, capturing the moment. Although Ethan and Izzy hadn''t intentionally posed for the photo, the sight of two people in love standing together, even with just a nce or a small movement, made for a heartwarming scene. Phoebe, as the photographer, was a bit at a loss. She crouched, stood, and eveny down in various poses to take pictures of the couple. Enhanced by the iparable natural scenery around them, the effect was surprisingly good. Most men didn''t like taking photos, but Ethan eventually came over to take a group photo. Afterwards, they all sat together and chatted. Ashley looked through the photos on the camera and couldn''t help but exim, "Looking at the photos I took, I realized how much of a difference there is between me and Izzy. Izzy, why do you look even more lovely in my brother''s arms when you''re smiling?" Ashley''s words drew the attention of everyone present, and Izzy''s face blushed slightly. "That''s because Phoebe''s photography skills are good," she said. Phoebe''s job sometimes required her to take photographs. Although she still had a ways to go compared to professional photographers, she was definitely better than Ethan, who was just an amateur. Phoebe smiled but didn''t say anything, and Ethan stroked Izzy''s hair and said lightly, "It''s okay, I''ll improve slowly in the future." Izzy''s face grew even redder, and she pressed her whole face against Ethan''s arm. After taking the photos, they went straight up the mountain. The hot springs here were all natural, with pools halfway up the mountain and at the summit. The ones at the foot of the mountain were mostly public pools, which were quiterge. Everyone was a bit peeved and didn''t like too many people, so they went straight up the mountain. During the weekends, there were always many people who came here to enjoy the hot springs. In the end, there were only three small pools left. The six of them had to share, two people per pool. Ethan needed to keep an eye on Ines, so he naturally chose a pool. Noel originally wanted to share a pool with Phoebe, but both Phoebe and Ethan red at him. He had no choice but to go find Aaron. Ines couldn''t help butugh, feeling sorry for Noel. Most women would have given in by now, but he happened to meet Phoebe, a girl who liked to tease. "What''s the problem with Ethan? Why is he ring at me? I''m not interested in Ines." Noel comined as he got out of the pool. Aaron shook his head and patiently exined, "He''s just guarding against me, not trusting me to take care of Ashley." Noel suddenly understood and red at Aaron, "So it was you messing around." Aaron simply smiled and didn''t answer. Natural hot springs contained various trace elements such as sulfur and potassium, and people could add things like essential oils and milk ording to personal preferences. Ethan considered Ines''s special situation and chose a milk pool. The water temperature was a bit high, and Ines wasn''t used to it at first. After a while, she began to feelfortable and leaned against the side of the pool with her eyes closed. Ethan took the opportunity to massage her calves, strictly timing it so that Ines got up after twenty minutes. Although Ines wanted to continue enjoying the hot spring, she didn''t dare to take risks with her unborn child. She got up and sat on the side, watching Ethan. Feeling a bit bored, she asked him to come over and gave him a towel to rest his head on while she massaged him. Ethan closed his eyes slightly and whispered, "Izzy, it''s so good to have you." Ines''s hand paused for a moment, and she smiled and said, "I feel the same way." When she was single, she thought she could live a happy life alone, and happiness wasn''t necessarily less than those who were married. Plus, with her parents'' failed marriage as an example, she didn''t have much faith in marriage. So while the people around her were busy going on blind dates, she was still busy with work. If it weren''t for her cousin''s uing wedding, she wouldn''t have taken this step. Let alone realized that there was someone she liked, someone so different from everyone else. When they were heading down the mountain, it was still early, around 9 o''clock. Phoebe suggested that since they were all together, she had booked a private room and they could all go singing. Since they were out for fun, no one would refuse such a proposal. Ines didn''t realize that a few people had unknowingly walked behind her, and she became the first person to enter the private room. When she pushed open the door, her attention was immediately drawn to the central birthday cake. Before she could turn around, the song "Happy Birthday" started ying behind her. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Ines turned around and saw everyone pping and singing the birthday song together. Phoebe shoved a gift into her hand and hugged her tightly, "Izzy, happy birthday. Congrattions on getting one year older." "Thank you." Ines lightly curved her lips. Ashley yfully winked and handed her a blue gift box, "I didn''t prepare a gift in advance, so it might be a bit rushed. I hope you don''t mind." Aaron also smiled and handed his gift to Ines. He said seriously, "Izzy, I thought I would miss your birthday this year, but luckily I still have this opportunity. Happy birthday, and may you always be happy." "Ines, happy birthday. But if you can help me win Phoebe, I''ll be even happier." Noel said. Ashleyined to Noel with dissatisfaction, "Today is my sister-inw''s birthday. Your happiness is not something we need to consider." Chapter 294 Chapter 294 Ines watched the flickering candlelight, observing the smiles on everyone''s faces. A hint of a smile tugged at her lips, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Ethan pulled her into a hug and said, ¡°Ines, it''s your birthday today, why the waterworks?¡± She had been so busy with all the recent events that she almost forgot about her own birthday. Without this surprise tonight. she might have completely forgotten about her own birthday. Ethan''s words made Ines unable to hold back her tears, and he immediately reached out to wipe them away. In front of everyone, Ines felt a little embarrassed. She gently pulled Ethan''s hand away and whispered, "I''m okay." Phoebe watched their interaction with an amused smile, not noticing about the strong arm that had somehow found its way around her waist. By the time she realized, several minutes had passed. Ines sat down to cut the cake after handing out the gifts. After making a wish, Ines cut the cake herself and distributed it to everyone. The cake was a matcha vor ordered by Phoebe. Although Ines wasn''t a fan of sweets. she still ate a big piece tonight. With thest bite she couldn''t finish, she stealthily stuffed it into Ethan''s mouth when he wasn''t looking. Ethan was taken aback for a moment, then swallowed it down. Aaron saw their little interaction and felt a mix of emotions. Ashley, however, slyly kicked Aaron and said in a low voice, "Serves you right.¡±Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Seeing his pants dirty, Aaron felt even more downcast. He looked at Ashley and said, "Can''t you talk properly? Do you have to kick people?¡± Ashley pouted and said, "That''s just how I am." Seeing her childish behavior, Aaronughed and said, "You have cream on the corner of your mouth, wipe it off." Ashley casually wiped it off, making Aaronugh even more. He couldn''t resist helping her clean up. His fingertips were a bit rough, making Ashley''s heart beat faster. Seeing this, Ethan sighed. He knew that girl''s heart still belonged to Aaron Since it was still early, everyone started singing. Phoebe was great at it, and Ashley didn''t want to be outdone. Even though there was an age gap between them, they managed to sing in syne. Ines leaned on Ethan''s shoulder, feeling more refreshed than usual. She liked this kind of life and couldn''t stop smiling Eventually. Ashley conceded, "Phoebe, your singing is too good, I can¡¯t keep up.¡± Ashley finished speaking and leaned back on the couch, chugging a bottle of water. Then she handed the microphone to Ines, ¡°Ines, it''s your birthday. You can''t just sit there, get up and sing a song.¡± "I don''t think I can sing.¡± Ines was surprised, touching her nose. "Stop ying coy. Ines. I know you can sing. Let''s do it together.¡± Ashley said. Ines felt a headacheing on, but when the familiar backing track yed, she found she could sing and she was in tune Ethan had never heard Ines sing before. only asionally heard her humming when she was in a good mood. Her singing voice was different. more husky. The other guys also knew the song and couldn''t resist joining in. The mix of male and female voices gave the song, originally a duet between two men, a unique twist. Ashley had never heard this song before. Looking at Aaron, who was alone notfar away, she realized the? age gap between them. A hint of sadness shed in her eyes as¡®she mutt¨¦red, "Guess we really are e from different worlds." 4 Ines sang for a while, then couldn''t help looking at Ethan. He was smiling, his gaze locked on her. When they returned to the hotel, it was just half past eleven. But Ines wasn''t sleepy at all. She felt a bit down. Everyone had given her gifts, but Ethan hadn''t shown any sign of having one. She''d thought that Ethan would give her the gift when they got back to the hotel, but they''d been in the hotel for a while and Ethan hadn''t mentioned it Ines was more upset. There were no outsiders around, so she let her lips droop, looking upset "What''s wrong?¡± Ethan noticed the change in Ines''s mood and couldn''t help pinching her face. "Ethan, did you forget something?¡± Ines asked "Oh, right. I forgot to apply the oil for you. Lie down first, I''ll be right back after washing my hands." After saying that, Ethan went into the bathroom. Ines was even more upset andy down on the bed feeling gloomy. After a while, Ethan came out of the bathroom, drying his hands. When Ines was slightly showing, Ethan would pply the oil for her every n ight ¡®pefo e bed. Usually, Ines. would feel\ very content at this time, but today she was ina bad moog. She Jez ly lifted her shirt, and Ethan bent down, carefully applying the oil omher belly. It was cool afd comfortable. Ines couldn''t help asking, "Ethan, everyone gave me gifts, why didn''t you? Don''t you know it''s my birthday today? Did you only realize after Phoebe decorated the private room?¡± Ethan scratched his head and gave a lightugh, "Seems like you''ve found out. I''ll make it up to you when we get home." Ines turned her back to Ethan ina huff, ignoring him. Her good mood was gone in dn instant, and she felt resentful towards Ethan. This man. had actually forgotten such an ~ important moment. "Izzy, actually I didn''tkhow what to buy you. All could think of was jewelry, but you don''t seem to like that. You don''t even wear our wedding ring on your finger, but hang it around your neck. And then one day, it was gone." Ethan said. Chapter 295 Chapter 295 Ines was thinking to herself, just because she didn''t like it, didn''t mean he couldn''t buy it. "Or we can go shopping together when we get back. I''ll buy whatever you like, otherwise I''m afraid I might get something you don¡¯t like again." Ethan said. Upon hearing this, Ines finally couldn''t help but speak up. This guy was not romantic at all when he should be. Who ever heard of a birthday present being chosen by the recipient? Wouldn''t it be more sincere if he chose it himself? It was their first birthday together after getting married. She hadn''t thought about it before, but now that it hade up, of course she wanted more. "Who says so? I think you''re just making excuses. As long as it''s from you, I''ll love it.¡± Ines said. Just as Ines finished speaking, she felt a cool touch on her face. She reached up to touch it and found a blue crystal pendant lying in her palm. It was simple yet very beautiful.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. A smile spread across Ines''s face and she sat up, looking at Ethan with a grin, "Is this for me?" Seeing her change in attitude, Ethan couldn''t help but chuckle. Women really were fickle creatures, there was no denying it. Ethan nodded, "You just said you''d love anything I give you. Once you put this on, you can''t take it off.¡± As he spoke, Ethan lifted Ines''s long hair and put the ne around her neck. It suited her slender neck perfectly. Ines, lips curling into a smile yed with the ne for a while, clearly very pleased. But remembering what had just happened, she couldn''t help but reprimand Ethan. "Mr. Meyer, when did you be so naughty? You had the gift ready all along, why did you trick me into thinking you didn''t prepare anything?¡± "It was supposed to be a surprise. I was going to wait until midnight, but it seems I was a bit early." Ethan nced helplessly at the time. It was five minutes to midnight. "It doesn''t have to be exactly on time.¡± Ines couldn''t help but grin. She hadn''t expected him to be fussing over such a detail. Ethan held her from behind, whispering yfully, "If I hadn''t prepared a gift tonight, would you have ignored me?¡± ¡°Absolutely! Everyone else would have prepared a gift. You''re my husband, it wouldn''t be right if you didn¡¯t. You''d feel embarrassed too.¡± Ines said ¡°But I think all the gifts in the world can''tpare to me. I''m the best gift." Ethan said. With that, Ethan nted a kiss on Ines''s neck. His fervent breath caused her to shiver slightly. Ethan was very pleased with her reaction, leaving a trail of kisses on her fair skin, trapping her. He kissed her for a while before he lifted her up onto hisp and began to kiss her lips, invading her mouth and messing up her breath and heartbeat. This domineering yet gentle affection was irresistible. Ines could only wrap her arms around his neck and respond. In the quiet room, faint sounds could be heard. Ethan''s hand gradually slid under her clothes, teasing her sensitive spots. Ines felt a thrill, her face flushing. Just as Ethan was about to take things further, Ines abruptly pushed him away. He looked at Ines in confusion, noticing her excited yet nervous expression. "What''s wrong. Izzy? Are you feeling unwell?¡± Ines pointed to her belly with a hint of surprise in her voice, "! think they just kicked me.¡± "Hm? Whe kicked you?" Ethan asked. "They did, your little princess and prince.¡± Ethan often referred to their unborn twins like this, so Ines used the same terms. "Let me listen." Realizing what she meant, Ethan immediately leaned his head on Ines''s belly. But as soon as he did, the two little ones inside her quietened "Izzy, they''re not moving." Ethan looked up at Ines. Ines insisted, "They did move just now, gave me a kick. It was quite a big movement." As she spoke, she pushed Ethan''s shoulder away, only to realize his shirt was already on the floor and he was half-naked. She herself wasn''t any better. Her outer clothes were gone and her bra was unhooked, half hanging off her. Coming to hexgenses, Ines quickly tried to fix het-bra. But in her haste, she was elumsy. Ethan chuckled at. her. Shetwas always like this, ? <> maintajning her girlish shyness-in sucttsituations. Little did she know, this-only made her more attractive tmen. . to Interrupted as they were, and given the unusual circumstances, Ethan naturally didn''t continue. "Let me help you." He offered, catching her hand. Ines nodded, her face red. Ethan thought better of it and fetched her pyjamas instead, saying, "It''s not worth the hassle. We''re going to sleep anyway.¡± It seemed like the little ones in her belly were ying a game with Ethan. Every time Ethan moved away, Ines felt a kick. But when Ethan put his hand on her belly, they quietened down. This happened several times. Ines couldn''t help but yawn. "Let''s sleep. I''ll call you when they move again. Your little prince and princess don''t seem to like you very much. They quiet down as scon as youe around.¡± "That''s impossible. I''m always good to them. They have no reason not to like me." Ethan didn''t buy it. "They''re still young, they don¡¯t know what liking and disliking are. They probably just go by instinct." Ines said. Although Ethan wasn''t willing to ept it, seeing it was alreadyte, he could only lie down, holding Ines. His hand remained on Ines''s belly, unwilling to leave. She was a bit helpless but couldn''t resist him, so she let him be The next day, Ines was awakened by a series of s@unds. Opening her eyes, she found Ethan''s head resting on her belly y, cainesty talking to their unbormwin s, ¡®I''m your dad. If you can ear me, respond to me. But nothing too harsh, or your nom will feel ufortable. If youtbehave, I''ll reward you after you''re born." Ines couldn''t help but burst into laughter, surprised to find Ethan chatting with the two kids early in the morning. She affectionately stroked his¡®face, "Ethan, why are you so dog ged¡± Take it easy for a bit, ¡°As Ethan was about to lift his headva smaltbump suddenly appeared fol Ines¡¯ belly. Ethan''s eyes nearly papped out of his head. He was stunned for a moment before gritting his teeth and saying, "These two little rascals are really doing it on purpose. They know how to mess with people even at this young age. Who on earth do they take after?" Chapter 296 Chapter 296 "This has nothing to do with me.¡± Ines dered firmly, but she knew deep down that her wordscked conviction. "And who else if not you?" Ethan asked. "Of course you. Don''t forget, you''re no angel either. You had me wrapped around your finger right from the start." Ines said Ethan eventually gave up trying to get the kids to settle down. After ying with them for a while, he reluctantly got out of bed. When they got up, it was still early, and the others were still in bed. Ines knew that Ashley and Phoebe werete risers, so she didn''t disturb them. She sent them a text message and then left the park with Ethan to wander around the town. The town was not crowded in the morning, especially since it was the weekend and there were no office workers, making it perfect for a leisurely stroll. After a while, Ethan suddenly said, "Oh, by the way, Izzy, Lucas got marriedst month. We''ve been busy, so he didn''t bother us. We should pick out a gift for him.¡± "Lucas just got married? I thought he was already hitched.¡± Ines looked at Ethan curiously. Ethan shrugged, looking like he wasn''t quite sure about the details, "That''s what he said. They''ve been dating for many years. it seems.¡± "Have you met his bride? What does she like?¡± Ines asked "I haven''t met her. How about we call Lucas and ask?" Ethan said. Ines gave Ethan an unhappy look, "You really don''t care about your employees, do you? Lucas has been with you for so many years, and you don''t even know his preferences. You''re not doing a great job as a CEO.¡± Ethan looked at Ines, seemingly finding her opinion a bit odd, "I don''t see the problem here. Why should I be interested in a man''s likes and dislikes? And as for other people''s girlfriends, I''m even less interested.¡± Ines shook her head helplessly, unsure of what to say about Ethan. He really seemed to care about very few things. As for Lucas, Ines was quite pleased with him and took great care in picking out a gift. However. after wandering around for a while, she realized she didn''t know what to buy because she wasn''t sure what the couple would like. In the end, they decided to y it safe and chose a set of jewelry. When they got back, it was just in time for lunch. However, only Phoebe and Noel were in the restaurant. Ashley and Aaron were nowhere to be seen, apparently still asleep. They first went back to their room to drop off their things. To their surprise, they saw Aaroning out of Ashley''s room. Seeing them. he looked a bit flustered. Ines was surprised and didn''t know why that would be, while Ethan simply nced at Aaron and asked, "Aaron. where''s Ashley?¡± "She''s still asleep, won''t wake up." Aaron said Ines couldn''t help but cough, and Ethan''s face immediately darkened. Aaron was about to say something when Ashley came out of her room, her hair in disarray, ¡°What are you all doing standing outside my room? Are you here to wake me up too? I don''t want to eat now, just get me a takeout, I''ll eat it in the carter. I stayed up tootest night." Upon hearing this, both Ethan and Ines breathed a sigh of relief. "You should get up now, it''s almost noon. Not eating is bad for your stomach. If we miss the mealtime, the hotel won''t serve lunch anymore.¡± Ethan said sternly. "I got it. You''re so annoying. You guys go first, I''lle downter." Ashley said. After Ashley went back in, Ethan and Aaron went qutside. Ines knew they had something to discuss, so she ~ left her stuff in the room and went: down testhe restaurant to join ~ Phoebe. Phoebe and Noel were already eating, and they seemed to bein a rare state of harmeny, without their usual bickering. Because Phoebe and Ashley shared a room, Ines couldn''t help but ask Phoebe, "What was Ashley doingst night? Why can''t she get up now?" "Young people have so much energy these days. She was apparently talking to her boyfriend on the phe into the night. I don''t even know when she went to bed.¡± Phoebe said "She was on the phone untilte at night?¡± Ines asked. Phoebe nodded and then said to Ines, "I think Aaron has some special feelings for Ashley. When I mentioned her talking to her boyfriend untilte at night, his face changed. He said he was going to go up and get her toe down for lunch." "I see. That''s why we saw himing out of Ashley''s room earlier.¡± Ines said. Ethan and Aaron went out to the balcony. Ethan looked at Aaron seriously and said, "Aaron, I''m starting to not understand you. What''s going on with you and Ashley?" Aaron chuckled, ¡°Ethan, what do you want me to be with her?¡± Ethan said, want, it''s aboutwha Youre my brother. E can''t quite-ept th between you two. If fee ings for her, how youtwo apart? But ifContent held by N?velDrama.Org. your own heart, I keep your distance f you understand wha f it really came to th nterfere too much. first time Fihan had ¡°It''s not about what I you want. ven though I . e age difference you really have could I force you capt see just hope.you''ll rom Ashley. Do t I''m saying?" o at, he wouldn''t This was the clearly expressecMiis stance to him. Aaron was taken aback, then admitted, > Ethan)! don''t know. I just felt.abit ufortable when I hearcdshe has a boyfriend. I don''t know what I feel for her. I''ve been thinkingabout it, but I still can''t figure it out." "Then think about it some more, and we''ll talk when you have an answer." Ethan said. ¡°But I''m afraid of missing out. It was the same with Izzy. I couldn''t distinguish her from Le, so I didn''t dare to act rashly.¡± Aaron said. After lunch, they prepared to go home. Ines was a bit reluctant to leave, feeling like she hadn''t had enough fun yet. Ethan pinched her face, "We can stay here for a while when we have more time. The air is really nice.¡± Since the route home was not direct, Ashley chose to go with Aaron, while Noel took Phoebe home. On the way, Ines couldn''t help but ask Ethan, "What did you and Aaron talk about?" "Why are you still so concerned about him?¡± Ethan countered, his tone clearly dissatisfied. Ines grinned, not quite sure how to exin this feeling to Ethan. There were some people in her life, not quite lovers, nor purely friends, far from romantic partners, yet they had a ce in her heart. No matter what, she hoped they were doing well, and she couldn¡¯t help but care about them. This man, so easily prone to jealousy, she was carrying his child for heaven''s sake. What more did he want? Was he not confident in himself, or was it her he doubted? Ines smirked, "You can just think I''m daydreaming.¡± "What more can I say to him? Our rtionship has been through rough patches and just managed to mend. We can''t afford another crack.¡± Ethan said. Chapter 297 Chapter 297 Once they got back to A City, their lives got busy again. They were hustling and bustling from dawn till dusk, only getting to spend time together at night. At noon, Ethan gave Ines a ring. telling her he had a dinner party to attend in the evening and she shouldn''t stay up waiting for him. She had the company''s driver drop her home. Ethan didn''t often attend these kinds of dinners, but once every couple of months, he couldn''t avoid it. Ines, in her current position, understood and gradually got used to it. After waiting for Ethan for a while and not seeing him return, she washed up and hit the hay. She had no clue when he got back. In the middle of the night, Ines woke up with a muscle cramp in her leg, her whole body shaking. She couldn''t help but sit up. The moment she stirred, Ethan was one step ahead. He switched on the light, and from her expression, knew something was wrong. He immediately started massaging her leg. Ines grimaced. and every time Ethan touched her, she flinched. ¡°Hang in there, Izzy. Cam said you''re expecting twins, so your symptoms might be a bit stronger than a singleton pregnancy." Ethan said After a bit of massage from Ethan, Ines felt a little better. She couldn''t help but ask, "When did you get backst night?¡± "Somewhere between midnight and 1. How are you feeling? Any difort?¡± Ethan asked, a frown on his face. Ines shook her head, not saying much, "I''m fine, you should get some rest too.¡± The next day, while sorting out Ethan''s clothes, Ines found a bright red lipstick mark on his white shirt. She was stunned at first, then couldn''t help but laugh. She wasn''t sure if this was an ident or someone deliberately ying a tacky prank. This kind of trope had been overdone in TV dramas, and any decent show wouldn''t use it anymore. She knew what kind of man her husband was: there was no reason to make a big fuss over something so trivial Ethan came out of the bathroom and seeing Ines holding his shirt andughing, he was puzzled, "What''s up? Why are youughing at my shirt?" Ines pointed at the lipstick mark, ¡°Someone''s trying to mess with you and rattle me." Ethan was standing a bit far and couldn''t see clearly. He walked over, saw the lipstick mark and furrowed his eyebrows, "No idea when this happened.¡±Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. He thought hard. There were no women atst night''s dinner, and his shirt was on him the whole time. He couldn''t figure out who''d have the chance. If there was one possibility, it would be when he bumped into a woman unintentionally on his way out of the restroom. That might be when it happened Ines tossed the shirt lightly, and itnded perfectly on Ethan''s head. She said, a bit upset, "Are you still reminiscing?" Ethan removed the shirt from his head, pulled Ines into his arms, and kissed her face, "Mrs. Meyer, are you jelly?¡± Ines looked away and said, "Well, Mr. Meyer is out there attracting other women all day. so I''m jealous. The consequences will be severe. How do you n to appease me?" "How about gifting myself to you?" Ethan teased, pinching her cheek. "You''re already mine. How do you n to give yourself to me?¡± Ines said. "How about this?" Saying so, Ethan held Ines''s head and kissed her deeply. His breath was minty, and Ines couldn''t hide her smile. When Ethan let her go, Ines was panting. He held her softly, allowing her to calm down. But she was still serious and unaffected. "Do you need me to teach you how to avoid other women?¡± Ethan looked at her with a light smile and replied setously, '' ¡®Please do tell. f your advice is good, I''ll consider ite nes smiled ¡®faintly, "Start with your appearance. Starting from today,> ain 20 pounds, especially a beer elly> Go bald, don''t brush your teeth, shower and don''t change your clothes for a month. Look¡¯ as unkempt as possible." swnovel.ne 12 2 Ethan imagined himself fat and bald and felt a chill run down his spine. He tapped I fes''s head. This little one had a wicked sense of humor to x come up with such suggestions?: "Whatdo you think about all day? You ¨¦learly want to turn mento a pig. If I really became like-that, it wouldn''t be me straying, but you." nes remembered what Phoebe told her before anckecouldn''t help but say . ¡®Lower a.atyan¡¯ s attractiveness, and othepwomen will not be ? terested. To prevent other mens rom making a move, a woman''s attractiveness should be increased, So£¤or our marriage tost, Wise Mr. Meyer, you should now think about how to increase my attractiveness and decrease yours." ?N Ethan was both amused and speechless. He didn''t know where his wife heard all these truths from, leaving him with nothing to say. But seeing her happy, he was willing to chat with her. Ethan, sounding genuinely interested, said, "So, what do you think I should do next?" "Of course, think about how to make me more beautiful, and how to keep me faithful to you." Ines said with a smile. She liked this yful banter with Ethan; it lightened her mood. "Isn''t that something you should worry about?" Ethan said. Ines blinked innocently, "I thought we were discussing you worrying about me straying." Ethan was speechless; he had inadvertently been led by her. "You." He pinched her nose with an indulgent sigh. After a while, Ethan looked at Ines seriously, ¡°Izzy, do you need me to exin?" Ines nonchntly replied, "Whatever you want. If you want to exin, go ahead. If not, that''s fine too." "I was meeting a few male friendsst night, no women were present. I bumped into a woman when I was in the restroom. It probably happened then.¡± Ethan said. "Oh my, someone made a move on you. How did it feel? Warm andfortable?" Ines lightly poked Ethan''s arm, a friendly expression on her face. Ines was joking. But to her surprise, Ethan frowned as if he was seriously contemting, then said, "Nothing special, just smelled a strong cheap perfume. It made me want to puke. I didn''t like it.¡± Seeing Ethan in this state, Ines couldn''t help but burst intoughter, "! was just pulling your leg, no need to answer that question so seriously.¡± Ethan nodded, "I know, but I gotta make things clear. I don''t want you to feel ufortable about anything.¡± Chapter 298 Chapter 298 Probably due to his military upbringing, Ethan was always a stickler for principles. "Ethan." Ines tugged gently at his face. Ethan gripped her hand tightly, looking into her eyes, "Izzy. I Know you trust me. But your parents trusted each other too much too, leaving many things unsaid, which led to unexpected events that they couldn''t handle. We should avoid such situations. Even though we trust each other, we mustmunicate in time to understand what''s going on in each other''s minds.¡± Hearing him mention herte parents, Ines felt a pang of sadness, but agreed with his view. She chuckled lightly, "Alright. from now on. If I have any doubts, besides trusting you, I''ll turn to you for answers. If you can''t clear things up. you''ll be sleeping on the floor." Despite all couples having their arguments, they, almost a year into their marriage, rarely bickered. Now, she understood why they rarely fought. Because Ethan alwaysmunicated with her in time whenever a problem arose and kept reminding her. How could they have major fights with suchmunication? Ethan broke into a smile, "Alright, it''s settled then."Owned by N?velDrama.Org. As they left the bedroom hand in hand, Cam, ustomed to their disy, smiled and prepared breakfast. Just as they were about to head for work after breakfast, Ethan¡¯s phone rang. He nced at it and answered, "Hello, Silvia.¡± Hearing Silvia''s name, Ines paused slightly, looking up at Ethan. Her pained voice came through the phone after a while, "Ethan, I fell down the stairs. I called Lucas, but he''s not in A City. I think you sent him on a business trip." "What happened? ls it serious?¡± Ethan frowned. "I overslept, rushed to work and fell. I can¡¯t even stand up now, and there''s no one around I know that can help.¡± Silvia sounded a bit aggrieved. "Stay put, don''t move. I''lle right away and take you to the hospital." Ethan said Ethan hung up after saying this, then told Ines, "Izzy, Silvia fell. I need to go check on her, can''t drop you at thepany. I''ll call the driver to pick you up." If she didn''t know about Silvia''s feelings for Ethan. Ines would surely justugh it off and let him go. But knowing changes things, she wouldn''t allow her husband to be alone with a woman with ulterior motives. Ines smiled, "No problem, there''s not much going on at thepany recently. I''ll go with you to see her. Wouldn''t feel right otherwise.¡± Ines''s response made Ethanugh. He held her hand and said, "Alright, let''s go check on her." When Ethan arrived, Silvia was still sitting on the stairs, apparently quite injured as she couldn''t stand up herself. Seeing him, her eyes reddened, looking quite pitiful, "Ethan." Ethan nced at her thin high heels, frowning, "Running in these high heels, it would be a surprise if you didn''t fall.¡± Silvia pouted, but seemed in good spirits, "I was rushing to work. You know I just started and didn''t want to bete.¡± "Why can''t yothwake up a few minutes earlier? Why always get up at theswminute?¡¯ Ethan was rather stern. Hecouldn''tprehend why women y nowadays like to wearthese thinsbigh heels that looked so" ufortable. Content beings to 4 Ines used to do the same before her pregnancy, but she had gotten used to it and managed well. "I just wanted to sleep a little more, getting up in the morning is really hard." Silvia said. Ethan, feeling helpless, supported her arm, asking. "Can you stand up on your own?¡± Silvia was about to answer when she noticed Ines standing not far away. Her gaze shifted slightly and her smile was somewhat forced, "Ines, you came too? I''m sorry for bothering you so early.¡± Ethan initially let Ines wait in the car, but upon second thought, she decided toe down. Little did she expect to see a sh of surprise and resentment on Silvia''s face. Clearly, she didn''t want Ines toe. "Yes, Ethan and I were about to go to work. When we heard what happened to you. I was a bit worried, so we came over to see.¡± Ines said. "Sorry to trouble you so much." Silvia said. Ines figured that if Silvia wanted to y, she''d y along. There was no reason for her to lose, "Silvia, don''t be so polite." Then, Ines turned to Ethan, "Ethan, we should hurry and take Silvia to the hospitalWe can''t dy. A sprain isa smalhmatter, but if it''s serious, ~ it''ll be troublesome.¡± Ethan raisecdan eyebrow. After being together for so longxthey could easily senseeach other''s emotions. He felt that Ines was somewhat odd today: her enthusiasm for Silvia was a bit over the top. ¡°Ethan, what are you thinking about? Let''s go." Ines looked at Ethan and smiled. "Can you walk?" Ethan asked "I''ll try." Silvia said. Ethan supported Silvia as she took a step, but her legs gave way the moment she put weight on it. With no other choice, Ethan had to carry her. Seeing Silvia¡¯s arm around Ethan''s neck, Ines felt ufortable, a sense of distress grew within her. Silvia seemed excited. This was the first time Ethan had helped her so intimately. His broad back gave her a great sense of security. Once in the car, Ines naturally sat in the passenger seat, and Ethan asionally engaged in conversation with her, mainly about their two children. Silvia felt like an outsider, unable to join their conversation. Ethan took Silvia straight to the hospital where she worked, found a nurse to wheel out a wheelchair, and helped her into the hospital with it. Seeing Ethan do this, the displeasure Ines feltfrom Ethan helping Silvia earlief gradually faded, and she codn''t help but smile. She felt that Ethan was indeed consid¨¦rate enough to avoid causing her dissatisfaction. Otherwise, she would really get angry. Chapter 299 Chapter 299 Silvia took a nasty fall this time, her ankle all swollen up. The doctor did an X-ray and then cheerily said, "Don''t fret, Dr. Caldwell. Your foot might look like a balloon, but luckily your bones are intact. Just take it easy for a couple of weeks and you''ll be back on your feet. And try not to do anything too strenuous during this period." "Thanks." Silvia replied "No worries, just watch your step next time." The doctor said. Just then, a nurse came running over and said to Silvia, ¡°Dr. Caldwell, we''re swamped with patients in the counseling department today. The head doctor was hoping you could stick it out and see some of them. I''ll be with you the whole time.¡± Silvia nodded, then told Ethan and Ines, "You guys go ahead, I can handle this. We''re understaffed today and I need to lend a hand.¡± ¡°You''re still gonna work in this condition?" Ethan asked, furrowing his brow. "My department is a bit special, I mostly just listen and talk to patients. so my foot won''t affect my work. Don''t worry about me, Ethan." Silvia said with a smile. Ethan nodded, then pushed Silvia''s wheelchair and escorted Ines as they left Silvia at her workce. Watching their retreating figures, Silvia gritted her teeth. The nurse behind her couldn''t help but ask, ¡°Dr. Caldwell, were those two Ethan and Ines from the news?" Silvia shot the nurse a look, a hint of annoyance in her voice, "You know them too?" ¡°Of course, they''ve been all over the news." The nurse said A strange smile formed on Silvia''s face as she heard this. After they left the hospital, Ethan couldn''t help but ask Ines, ¡°Izzy, do you not like Silvia?" Ines looked at Ethan and remembering their conversation that morning, candidly said, "No woman would like a woman who has feelings for her husband, unless she''s off her rocker.¡± Ethan chuckled, "Izzy, you''re overthinking this. Silvia wouldn''t have feelings for me. She sees me as a brother." Ines stayed silent, just gave Ethan a knowing look. Ethan felt uneasy under her gaze, ¡°Izzy, don''t look at me like that.¡± Ines said, "I believe you don''t have feelings for her, Ethan. I didn''t want to bring this up because I knew you wouldn''t believe me even if I did. But I promised you this morning to be honest about my doubts. So, I decided to tell you. As a woman, I have a better understanding and insight into the way a woman looks at the man she likes. I''m sure, Silvia''s feelings for you aren''t simple." After a pause, Ines continued, "Ashley and I had tried to test her before, and even though she hid it well, we still found some clues. You know, she''s a psychology student herself, much better at hiding her emotions than usymen. I don''t believe you can see through her easily.¡± Seeing the surprise on Ethan''s face, Ines decided tortell him all the details about their probing. After hearing \nes, Ethan furrowed his < brows.H¨¦ had a simr feelingthat Silviawas different from a few''years ago. She used to be bub bly. and happy, now she seemed complicated, not so simpile anymore. Ethan nodded, "Yes, I''ll be careful to maintain a proper distance from her. Unless necessary, I''ll try to avoid contact with her." "Do you believe me now?" Ines asked with a small smile. "I believe you, but I''ll be extra careful to see if your judgment is correct." Ethan said. Ines felt satisfied hearing this, at least her words had an impact on Ethan, which was what she wanted. Ethan wasn''t a fool. As long as he was cautious with Silvia, he would eventually see through her. "You''re not allowed to carry her anymore." Ines grumbled. She remembered Ethan had never carried her before, but he did it for another woman, which made her unhappy. Ethan''s eyes were full of mirth, he leaned in and took a sniff, "I was wondering why you looked so glum, turns out someone''s a little jealous." After saying that. he nted a few kisses on her face. Ines pushed him away, "Behave yourself, we''re in public. As a married couple, we should keep a proper distance. We don''t want to make people ufortable." Ethan chuckled, wrapped his arm around her waist, and exined, ¡°Today was an exception. I had twe> choices ¡é ¡®st that time, either carry fer or ho dher. Holding her seemed mor¨¦ intimate so carrying her seemed better." 4 Hearing his words, Ines was taken aback, then she rxed andughed, "So you did think about this.¡± "Of course, I know I''m married. No matter who the woman is, I''ll try to keep my distance. I don''t want to make my wife ufortable.¡± Ethan said. Hearing his exnation. Ines felt a warmth in her heart. She was very satisfied about this considerate man. "Who knows if you''re just saying this because I''m here, just to make me happy.¡± Ines said. Ethan shook his head, dead serious, "Definitely not, you don''t have to doubt it." Inesughed at his words, then they got in the car together.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. When Ines argived at the Galeana Group, Sgtvas waiting at the door with a stern expression. Just by => looking-at his face, Ines knew. . ~ something was up, and it might ¡®be tricky"Ss, what''s wrong with the corfipany?¡± & Ss sighed, then started to exin the problems thepany was facing. Ines frowned slightly. If these issues weren''t resolved, thepany would face hefty penalties for breach of contract, which would also damage the image the Galeana Group had built over the years. Chapter 300 Chapter 300 "That chief who used to deal with the Galeana Group was being vague, but I got his drift. It must be a decision from higher-ups. Clearly they are out to make things difficult for us." Ss grumbled helplessly. Ines looked upset but tried topose herself, ¡°Have we encountered this kind of problem before?¡± The sudden issue with the project that was going smoothly before was quite disturbingBelongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Ss said, "Yes, but that was ages ago. We''ve been getting along well with the relevant departments in recent years. Our CEO is super strict about quality control, as he personally reviews all purchases. The houses produced by the Galeana Group are top-notch, and they have a good rep in the industry, so they wouldn''t usually give us grief in this regard." As long as the product quality was not an issue, they could actually apply for re-inspection from the quality inspection department. However, Ines roughly calcted the time, the whole process would certainly dy the delivery of the houses. "Who was the person we used to contact frequently? I''ll give her a call." Ines asked. Ss shook his head, "I''ve already touched base with her. She hung up after a few words. Clearly, she''s avoiding us. But this also proves she can''t do anything for us now. It''s her superior''s decision. It''s no use reaching out to her." That was the thing. It was not a big deal, but someone was deliberately making it difficult. leaving them at their wits'' end. When Ethan came to have lunch with her, he clearly sensed that something was off. She only picked at her favorite food. He couldn''t help but ask. "What''s wrong? Is there a problem at thepany?¡± Ines looked sad, "Is my mood that obvious? You saw right through me." Ethan pointed at her face, ¡°Your mood is written all over your face. Tell me what happened, maybe I can help." Ines exined the details to Ethan. After hearing it, Ethan said. "Izzy, ording to your description, clearly, someone is gunning for the Galeana Group.¡± The Meyer Group also used to be involved in real estate, and Ethan recently handled the Galeana Group''s affairs with Ines. He had a good grasp of the real estate situation and was able to pinpoint the problem. "So what should we do now?" Ines asked. Ethan said, "Finding out who is behind all of this is currently the most crucial thing. We can only fix the issue once we figure it out. But you''re really silly, why don''t you use the resources at hand and insist on fighting alone. ll call Jacobter and ask him to help us snoop around. Don''t worry too much, this is not an insurmountable issue.¡± Actually, Ines had thought about asking Jacob for help. But she didn''t want to disturb him unless it was absolutely necessary, so she didn''t call. After thinking all morning, she couldn''te up with a good solution, so she said to Ethan, "Okay, you talk to Jacob." It was almost time to leave work in the afternoon-when Ines received a call from Jacob, "Izzy, Ethan told me about it aNunch. I''ve got my ear tq?> the g ourd for you guys. I can''t get involved directly, but I''ve founde: someone who might help. I''ll''send yor his contact info ina bit-You guys snould reach out tohim when possible. He might have some leads." "Thank you." Ines said apologetically. "No need to say that, we''re family." Jacob said. After hanging up, Jacob''s contact information was sent over quickly. Ines handed her phone to Ss, "Ss, check out this guy. Have we had any contact with him before?" Ss looked at it and nodded, "This is the guy we''ve been dealing with. I called him this morning.¡± Ines thought for a moment and said, "Call him again, invite him out for dinner. We need to have a good chat.¡± Ss made the call in front of Ines. After expressing his intentions, the person on the other end of the line became much more serious. But he remained silent about meeting them, neither agreeing nor declining. "Can you give me a clear path?" Ss was getting impatient. The person on the phone sighed helplessly, "To be honest, I''not sure who''s blocking youguys. ¡®ve had a long SS history ofeeoperation with the ¡ª < Galeana ¡®Group, and we''re old > friends) I''m very clear on the quality of th houses you develop. There''s definitely no issue there. But some hings I say don''t necessarily count, and I can''t call the shots. Your best bet now is to apply for re-inspection as soon as possible, shorten your breach time, and avoid bigger losses. Think about it, did you guys offend someone recently? Or does yourpetitor have some kind of background?" N Te Hearing these words, Ines couldn''t help but feel that these people were crafty. They pushed the problem back to them with a few words, giving Jacob respect while clearly stating they couldn''t help. This official statement still revealed some useful information. Competitors? Ines really had no idea who it could be. The Galeana Group had always been outstanding in the real estate industry; there were many people who were green with envy, so she couldn''t pinpoint who it might be. "Ss, any ideas?" Ines asked Ss thought about it seriously for a while, then said, "There are four companies that have been doing pretty well. [heir properties¡¯ locations.and designs are quite =~ simr t@ours, but they''ve always~ been left in the dust by the Galeana Group because they can''t keep up with our reputation and quality. If you ask who''s most likelyto wish for trouble for us, without a doubt, it would be one of them." Ines revisited the data of thesepanies online, and found that any of the four could be possible. This was truly a sticky wicket. Chapter 301 Chapter 301 "Izzy, I Suggest we should have a n B, try to reapply for the eptance and secretly investigate at the same time. Even if the problem can''t be solved, we should minimize the dy of default." Ss suggested Ines and Ss shared the same thought. If it came to this, each day of dy would increase the loss, which would be extremely detrimental to the company. Ines nodded, "Alright. Ss, you start preparing. Let''s n for the worst." After Ss left, Ines called over the directors of the finance department and the marketing department, asking them to bring over the cost budget for the project and the purchase and sales contracts. The three of them spent two hoursing up with several ns. Even if they counted the maximum default days, they wouldn''t lose money. It was just that the project that could''ve made a 40% profit would only make a 10% profit now, a significant decrease. "The big drop in our profit isn''t the biggest issue. it''s our cash flow that''s the real killer. If we pay the default money and can''t sell the houses, the remaining avable funds won''t be able to sustain our operations for the next few months.¡± Gentry said. This issue was something Ines had considered long ago. The real estate industry''s funds could easily get trapped, especially when the houses had met the pre-sale conditions but couldn''t start pre-selling. It was a very tricky problem to the point where it was even restricted to get a mortgage loan from the bank. "I''ll find a way to solve the cash problem. The first issue we need to solve is the most important one. Otherwise, this will turn into a long and complicated ount. with problems piling up." Ines said. The two nodded and then left the office. Ines felt that the Galeana Group''s business was still too singr. Despite it already being a leader in the industry. the risk also increased. Once any problem urred in a project, it would cause a fatal impact. Over the weekend, Ethan and Ines returned to the Meyer Mansion. They hadn¡¯t been back for over a month, and Phillip had been urging them multiple times; they simply couldn''t resist. What Ines didn''t expect was to run into Silvia here. Silvia was ying chess with Phillip and smiled when she saw theme in, "You''re back." Ines smiled and asked, "How''s your ankle doing?¡± "Thanks for asking, Izzy. It''s almost better now, just can''t walk too much. It still hurts if I walk a lot." Silvia said. Seeing Ines, Phillip was overjoyed and started urging, "Silvia, take a break and let Izzy y with me. I want to see if her chess skills have gotten rusty.¡± "Phillip, you''re too quick to change your mind. As soon as Izzyes, you start telling me to leave. I''m not ying chess with you anymore.¡± Silvia comined, limping towards the sofa. Phillip chuckled and warned, "Watch your step, you little rascal. Don''t sprain your ankle again." Ines'' chess skills weren''t very good. She even forget the chess strategy Phillip taught her not long ago, which amused and frustrated Phillip. "Izzy, is your memory not that good? I taught you so much recently, but you haven''t improved at all. You even forgot what you learned before.¡± Ines chuckled awkwardly, "It might be because of the pregnancy, my memory has been declining." Lately, she had been noticing her memory getting worse. Sometimes when she left the office, she couldn''t remember if she locked the door or not, often having to go back to check. There was even one time when she was holding the keys but was still rummaging around in her bag for them. "That''s normal. Pregnant women''s memories do decline at a certain stage.¡± Phillip said. Ines lost to Phillip in three rounds of chess, and seeing that it was gettingte, Phillip told Ines to go rest in the living room. When she sat on the sofa, Ethan naturally wrapped his arm around her. "Grandpa''s dissing me.¡± Ines said "It''s okay, I won''t." Ethanforted her while gently stroking her hair. Silvia was eating snacks on the side, but only she knew the jealousy in her heart. "Izzy, Silvia, what do you want to eat? I''ll make it for youter.¡± Phillip asked at that moment. "Spicy chicken wings.¡± Ines and Silvia answered at the same time. Silvia looked at Ines, "Izzy, do you like spicy chicken wings too?" "It''s okay. I didn''t like it that much before, only ate it asionally. But since getting pregnant I crave it often, I like to eat things with vor." Ines EW rtcre Phillip chuckled, "You two have the same taste today. Well, I''ll just make a bigger portion, that''ll be easier." After saying that, he went into the kitchen "That does make it easier. My sister didn''t know Row to cook before, so she oftersbought pre-made = seasonings from the supermarket and fgttowed the instructions." Silvia saicNeisurely, a trace of sadness on herface. onBelongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Ines caught her words and her eyes dimmed. She looked at Ethan, but he was engrossed in the financial news on TV. ¡°Izzy, how many months pregnant are you? When''s your due date?¡± Silvia changed the subject. "It''s been over six months. The due date is probably after Christmas, still a few months away.¡± Ines replied. Time flew, there was only a little over three months left. Silvia smiled, "Both Izzy and Ethan are very lucky." By noon, everyene came back. Erica hadn''t seendthes for a while and asked hera lot of questions. Even - the norrtally taciturn Trenton a ked many questions about the habahe waslearly very interested inthe baby I in Ines¡¯ belly. to¡¯ 4 Ines was a bit surprised but smiled and answered their questions Erica shot a disgruntled look at her husband, "Before when I urged you to let Ethan get married so I could=> have a grandchild sooner, you didn''t care. Now it seems like you''re the onewho''s the most eager tahave a graridchild, you talked a lot today." Trenton chuckled, looking at Erica with a soft gaze, "You can''t rush matters of the heart, they''re all unknowns. But a grandchild is different, it''s right in front of us. Can''t you let me look forward to it?¡± Lauren alsoughed and said, "He just doesn''t want to be the bad guy. He wants to pass the buck to you.¡± Chapter 302 Chapter 302 The family sat around shooting the breeze. time flew by quickly. Something suddenly crossed Erica''s mind, she turned to Silvia, "Hey, Silvia. You started working, and you''re not getting any younger. It''s about time you think about finding someone." Silvia¡¯s smile remained polite, ¡°I''m not in a rush. I''ve just started working and I want to focus on that for now. Once I get settled, I''ll start thinking about that." "That won''t do. Both finding a partner and work are important. While you''re young and have a lot of options, you should be meeting more guys. Give it a shot, if it doesn''t feel right. there are plenty of other fish in the sea. But after 25, you''ll be the one getting picked over." Ashley, who had been absorbed in her phone, nced up mischievously, "Exactly! Silvia, date around. How will you know what''s out there if you don''t try? I used to think only my brother is good, but once I gave others a chance, I realized it wasn''t so bad.¡± Ines found it amusing that Ashley was so invested in Silvia''s love life. "Yeah, Ashley has a point. Silvia, one of these days Phillip can introduce you to some young guys from the Meyer Mansion. They''re all top-notch, and a good match for you. But if you''re into military guys. your aunts here can set you up. They know a ton of people from all walks of life, and they''ll surely find someone right for you." Phillip said. Silvia¡¯s smile finally faltered, and she looked helplessly at Phillip, "Phillip, don''t add fuel to the fire, I can look out for myself." Phillip. looking like a world-weary soul, said, "You''re just like the rest of the single folks under 25. Wanting to find someone on your own, not into matchmaking. But once you start working, your social circle limits. You''ll get tired of seeing the same faces, and there won''t be any potential for rtionships.¡± "Phillip''s got a point. Starting tomorrow I''ll set you up with someone under 28. Can''t have them much older or you might run out of things to talk about." Erica said. Silvia was speechless. Before she could muster a response, Lauren threw another question at her, ¡°Silvia, just spit it out, do you already have someone you like?" Quickly, Silvia responded, "No, I just got back to the country. There''s no way I could possibly have anyone I like." "If Silvia doesn''t have someone on her mind and she''s not against matchmaking, then I''ll start looking for suitable guys for her tomorrow. I''ll exhaust all resources I can find, hoping that our family can hold a wedding soon.¡± Lauren said, her face lighting up with joy. "Also, Silvia, I want to give you a heads up. I''ll be nning your future wedding. I''ll treat you like my own daughter and make sure your wedding is a showstopper.¡± Erica was very much concerned about this, because Silvia''s position was somewhat awkward. Her constant presence around Ines made her ufortable "We also have a lot of talented young men at our office, I can introduce you to some of them if you''d like." Jacob chimed in. Upon hearing Jacob''s words, Ines burst intoughter, not expecting him to join in on the conversation. "What''s Izzyughing at?¡± Phillip frowned, looking at Ines puzzlingly. Ines smiled, "Now I get why Ethan went on those blind dates. If you guys were setting him up every week, he''d have no choice but to give in.¡± Silvia wasn''t their blood rtive, but they cared for her so much. It would be much more interesting if it was Ethan.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Ethan gently stroked Ines¡¯ hair, whispering in her ear, ¡°Izzy, that was my life not toong ago, it was truly torturous.¡± Erica was sitting next to them, so she heard hiny~Ethan, how could you describett as ¡®being stuck between axrock and a hard ce¡¯? If we didn''tpush you to go on blinds dateschow would you have met: zzyRHow would you have twins ye) soon? This only proves thatwe made the right decision. Regardless of the method, single people should meet more. Izzy, don''t you agree?" Ines smiled, "Yes, you''re absolutely right." Erica beamed at Ines'' response. Ashley, not ofie to shy away from stirring the pot, knowingly said to . Ines, ¡®Izzy, you canugh, but yous should:know that being single I isa problem. We''re all trying so hard ite) set Silvia up, you should helpras her frend. Otherwise, she''ll be-calling you friend for nothing.¡± NS She turned to Ethan, "Bro, you should act like a big brother and help your sister solve her personal problems.¡± Since Ines had told him about it, he understood what Ashley was implying. He said resignedly, ¡°Got it, you''re the only chatterbox in the family.¡± "How am I a chatterbox? I''m just concerned about Silvia. If it were some stranger, do you think I''d bother saying a word?¡± Ashley rolled her eyes, but her features were so delicate that any expression only added to her charm and yfulness. ¡°Alright, no matter what we say. it''s up to Silvia. If she doesn''t agree, all our efforts are in vain.¡± Erica said, her smile fading. "So, Silvia, what do you think?" Phillip, finding Erica''s words sensible, decided to ask for Silvia''s opinion directly. Silvia looked a bit off. But with everyone''s eyes on her, if she rejected outright, it would only raise suspicions about her intentions. So, she smiled and said, "Then I''ll have to trouble you all.¡± "Silvia, do you have any specific hopes or demands for your future better half? If yes, spill the beans, so we can do a better job finding your Mr. Right.¡± Erica said. Silvia pondered a bit before answering, ¡®Shope he won''t go overboard with smoking and ¡° drinking Chapter 303 Chapter 303 Ashley was a bit miffed. Her brother had all those traits, so were they choosing based on his image? Talk about calcted! "By the way. your friend Aubrey mentioned that Aaron is still single. Silvia, you know Aaron, right? What do you think of him? Would you consider him?" Erica suddenly remembered someone fitting the bill. Upon hearing this, Silvia looked troubled and Ashley seemed embarrassed. Ines was struggling to stifle herughter, thinking Ashley really dug herself into a hole here. Ethan noticed Ines trying to hide her amusement and pinched her waist. finding the whole situation rather funny. Before Ashley could say anything, Phillip quickly dismissed the idea, "Aaron isn¡¯t bad, but he''s almost 10 years older than Silvia. That''s too much of an age difference. Not suitable." Lauren agreed, "Yeah, that kind of age gap is too much. It''s not ideal." ¡°It''s not that bad, though, is it? As long as Silvia and he like each other, why not?¡± Ashley pushed a bit further. "What do you know? Women typically live longer than men. If the man is 10 years older, he''ll likely die first, leaving the woman alone for more than a decade." Erica pondered and agreed that the earlier suggestion wasn''t appropriate. ¡°You guys are thinking way too far ahead! These things are unpredictable. Plus, they''ll surely have kids to keep thempany by then." Ashley blurted out. "Kids to keep thempany? Do you see how many kids in today''s society can keep their elderly parentspany? Kids have jobs and they will have their own children. Nothing can rece thepany of a spouse. In our case, we only get to visit grandpa on the weekends.¡± Lauren countered Ashley fell silent, and Phillip chimed in again, "Aaron is indeed too old. You guys should find a more suitable match for Silvia. Once you''ve found him, arrange a meeting as soon as possible. No more dys.¡± Ines noticed Ashley''s crestfallen expression and thought that if she and Aaron really got together, their family would likely disapprove due to the age difference. It was gettingte, so Phillip asked the staff to serve lunch. Everyone''s favorite dishes were prepared, except for Ines, who had several dishes she loved. Ashley seemed down and imed to be full after a while, retreating to her room to rest. Phillip shook his head, "This kid, eats like a cat. Eats a little bit at a time, then gets hungry again very soon." Once Ashley got to her room, she texted Aaron. As soon as her message was sent. Aaron called back, "What happened?" Ashley rolled her eyes, "Just trying to set you up with someone.¡± "Why didn''t you stop it?" Aaron sounded quite upset. "How could I stop it? It''s not within my power. You only promised to consider me, but I already have a boyfriend. How could I possibly interfere?¡± Ashley sat on her bed, swinging her legs back and forth, a faint smile ying on her lips. "Don''t y innocent. I''ve watched you grow up. I know you could stop it if you wanted to.¡± Aaron said. Ashley sighedMy family made it clear that they. won''t approve of an older mam They were actually = => nningto set you up with Silvias todaycbut they think you''re tooold andworry that you''ll die befgre her, leaving her alone.¡± to oswnovel. & She had initially nned to help Ines by getting rid of Silvia, but it wouldn''t be right to push her onto Aaron. So she held back her thoughts, otherwise, Silvia might have to start dating as early as tomorrow. But if Silvia agreed, then her days of freedom would be numbered. There was a long silence on the phone. Ashley faked annoyance, ¡°What are you thinking? Speak up. If you''re interested, it''s not toote. I can still arrange a meeting for you." "Stop messing around.¡± Aaron finally responded, sounding resigned. "I thought you were going to keep silent. Hearing this, don''t you have anything to say?" Ashley asked. "Ashley, let''s leave this matter aside for now. You break up with your boyfriend first.¡± Aaron said. "I''m not breaking up. I''ve finally found someone suitable. If we can''t work it out, all my efforts will be wasted. I won''t do such a stupid thing." Ashley said. Aaron felt like his head was about to explode. This little devil was definitely here to torment him.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You''d better figure out your feelings scon. If my rtionship with my boyfriend gets too deep, you''ll miss your chance." Ashley said ¡°Break up first." Aaron insisted Ashley was firm, "I won''t break up. I won''t do such a foolish thing.¡± "You little brat.¡± Aaron said, both annoyed and amused. They chatted for a while longer before hangisg up, leaving Ashley lying on herbed, staring atthe ?? ceiling aad reminiscing about their heart- Agheart talk during their trip to Mar.County. Aaron had prornised ike) consider her as a potential mate, a DOssible future wife. Cont¨¦nt That was enough. The worries that Ashley had earlier evaporated during her call with Aaron. After lunch, Ethan had something to discuss with Jacob, so Ines had to go back to her room alone for a nap. Just as she was about to lie down, she heard a knock on the door. Thinking it was Ashley, she called out for her toe in, only to find Silvia entering instead. This made Ines¡¯ smile freeze on her face. Since Silvia wag already in her room, it would be rvde to ask her to leave. However,nes didn''t feel N comfortable with Silviaing and going ffeely i in her private space> especial y knowing Silvia stil I-had feetings for Ethan. The whole sifuation felt awkward. Cgntent The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!