Finally, Jean Grant said, "Ethan Ellsworth, if you dare touch , I’ll bite my tongue and kill myself."
He stared at her for a long mont. "Jean, do you really dislike that much? Not even a little bit?"
She t his gaze. "That’s right. I don’t like you at all. Not one bit. In fact, I’d rather not see you. I hope you’ll stop appearing in front of . I’m absolutely set on marrying Marlon Marshall and no one else, so don’t waste your effort. Just save it."
He slowly released her, his heart numb with pain. His gaze was distant and far-reaching. "Marrying him, betting your entire life’s happiness on him... Jean Grant, are you really sure about this?"
"Ethan Ellsworth, you’ve known my brother for so long. For my brother’s sake, I’m sure you’ll wish us well, right? This is my choice, and I don’t regret it. Even now, I still don’t like you. Forcing to be with you... you must think it’s ridiculous too, don’t you?"
Ethan Ellsworth turned his back to her. "You’re wrong. I will never wish you well."
He opened the door and walked out, only to see Herman Hawthorne and Marlon Marshall standing outside.
He maintained an air of confidence, as if he hadn’t been defeated, and a faint smile touched his lips. "It’s your good fortune that Jean is so devoted to you. Treat her well."
He strode toward the elevators. Although Herman Hawthorne didn’t know what they had said in the room, at this mont, he didn’t know what to say either.
He could only follow him into the elevator.
In the instant the elevator doors closed, Ethan Ellsworth saw Marlon Marshall enter the room, leaving the hallway empty.
The numbers descended quickly from the sixteenth floor. Herman Hawthorne nudged him. "What did you two talk about?"
Ethan Ellsworth looked up at the ceiling of the elevator, a bitter taste on his lips. "She said she’ll marry him and no one else. It’s already co to this. What else is there for to say?"
"I told you a long ti ago, if you can’t find a woman who loves you back, don’t be the man who loves so deeply. But you’ve gone and played the part of the devoted lover to perfection."
Ethan Ellsworth didn’t speak. He was rarely this silent, so much so that it felt like he had beco a different person entirely.
After leaving the hotel, Ethan Ellsworth went ho.
He opened the door to a cold, empty apartnt. He switched on the lights, walked wearily into the bedroom, and collapsed onto the bed, falling asleep without even taking off his clothes.
He slept until a phone call woke him the next morning. Only then did he realize it was day.
The call was from the landline at the Grant Estate.
He sat up and collected himself for a mont before answering. "Hello, Mrs. Grant."
Mrs. Grant’s cheerful voice ca through. "Ellsworth, are you awake?"
Ethan Ellsworth’s voice was a little hoarse. "I just woke up. Is there sothing you need, Mrs. Grant?"
"Well, it’s like this. Jean t with you last night, didn’t she? Did you two spend the night together?"
Ethan Ellsworth replied, "I did see Jean last night, and we talked about the engagent. However, I feel that Jean and I are completely unsuited for each other. Besides, I already have a girlfriend. I’m sorry, Mrs. Grant."
Mrs. Grant sounded embarrassed. "But... didn’t you say you liked our Jean?"
"Mrs. Grant, I see Jean as a little sister. It’s impossible for us to be together. She left after we talked last night. I don’t know where she went."
Mrs. Grant was clearly a little disappointed, but she didn’t press the issue. "Alright then, Ellsworth. I’ll ask her when she gets back. That’s all for now. I’ll hang up."
"Alright, Mrs. Grant."
Ethan Ellsworth hung up and lay back down, thinking, ’She loves Marlon Marshall so much. This is probably all I can do for her.’
He sat up again, took a clean black suit from his closet, and changed. After washing up, he put on a pair of sunglasses and left.
He drove straight to his agency. His manager walked up to him. "Ellsworth, you’re going to Breyfall today for a beverage comrcial shoot. You’ll be joined by Nora Ainsworth, the rookie who fild that shampoo ad for the Grant Group."
Ethan Ellsworth stopped in his tracks. "Wait, who did you say?"
The manager repeated, "Her na is Nora Ainsworth. She fild an ad for the Grant Group once. That ad was her official debut. The client said they contacted her directly today. Apparently, when she heard she’d be working with you, she agreed."
Ethan Ellsworth nodded. "No problem. I’m heading to makeup."
As he walked, he dialed Quentin Grant. "Buddy, why’d you let Nora start filming comrcials again? Are you short on cash?"
Quentin Grant had just finished breakfast. He sounded a bit helpless. "She’s the one who wanted to go. She gets bored sitting at ho and wanted to find so work."
"So Nora really has completely dropped out of school?"
Quentin Grant grunted in affirmation. "It was her decision."
Ethan Ellsworth asked next, "So what did your family’s Empress Dowager have to say when she called you back last night?"
Quentin Grant told him everything that happened. Finally, he couldn’t help but add, "About what Jean said about the engagent... Ethan, don’t take it seriously."
Ethan Ellsworth paused. "You went back for a family gathering last night? Anyway, I’ve already seen her. I won’t get involved in her affairs anymore. Quentin, I told you before, no matter how much I like soone, if she’s not interested in at all, I’m not the type to keep pestering her shalessly. And now, I think... I haven’t managed to get into her heart at all."
Hearing this, Quentin Grant felt his heart relax slightly. "Since you feel that way, I won’t say any more. We’re all adults and should have the right to make our own decisions. As for Nora, sooner or later, I’ll give her a proper status."
"You two are in love, Young Master Grant. Honestly, in that respect, I really envy you. If it were , forced to choose between family and the one I love, I wouldn’t be able to weigh the options either. I think the most effective thod would be for you two to have a child. Your family’s Empress Dowager would naturally co to accept it."
Quentin Grant’s eyes lit up. "That’s a great idea. After you guys get back from the comrcial shoot, we’ll go for a dical check-up together."
Ethan Ellsworth nodded. "Okay. I’m going to get my makeup done. Talk to you later."
Quentin Grant looked at the beautifully dressed Nora Ainsworth, moved closer, and whispered in her ear, "Honey, we haven’t used protection all those tis. Do you think you might already be carrying our baby in your belly?"
Nora Ainsworth was taken aback. "A baby?"
Quentin Grant reached out and stroked her stomach. "Even if there isn’t one in there now, sooner or later, thanks to my skills, there will be a few."
Nora Ainsworth couldn’t help but laugh. "Do you like kids?"
Quentin Grant answered honestly, "I didn’t used to. They’re noisy. But now I’m starting to look forward to it, because it would be ours."
Nora Ainsworth smiled. "What if I can’t have children?"
Quentin Grant tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Are you trying to make the one who ends the Grant family line?"
Nora Ainsworth playfully slapped him. "I was just kidding."
Quentin Grant chuckled. "So was I."
Even though that’s what he said, Nora Ainsworth could feel that he was telling the truth.
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