"Herman! Let go of !"
Herman Hawthorne dragged her out of the ballroom, his face taut. Just as they were going down the steps, a shout ca from behind them. It was Jason Irving. "Let go of my girlfriend!"
Zoe Ellsworth’s expression flickered. She waved a hand at the people behind her, but it was clear her classmates thought she was signaling for help.
They all moved to block Herman Hawthorne’s path.
"What are you doing?"
"Let go of my girlfriend, now," Jason Irving said, glaring at him with a childish look on his face.
"I’m her brother."
Jason Irving scoffed. "Who are you trying to fool? Zoe’s brother is the famous celebrity Ethan Ellsworth. You think I wouldn’t know that?"
Herman Hawthorne snorted. "That’s her biological brother. I’m her brother, too."
Zoe Ellsworth nodded. "He is. You guys go on back. I’m going ho for the night."
Since she said so, Jason Irving could only agree. Her classmates couldn’t help but shoot her another glance before they returned to the ballroom.
Once in the car, Herman Hawthorne fastened his seatbelt, then looked at her. "Put on your own seatbelt."
"I won’t."
Herman Hawthorne had no choice but to lean over and fasten it for her. He looked at her. "I heard from your brother a long ti ago that you got a little wild while studying abroad for high school. It seems you’re more than just ’a little.’ If I hadn’t pulled you out of there, were you going to keep taking your clothes off?"
Zoe Ellsworth replied, "Herman, I’m not actually that wild. Look, when I was abroad, everyone was smoking marijuana and doing stuff like that. I never touched drugs. I just have a cigarette once in a while, drink a little, go dancing... It’s all perfectly normal."
"And you got a boyfriend? That little kid from just now?"
"Just for fun," she answered, not seeming particularly attached to the boy.
"Zoe, a girl needs to have so self-respect. Don’t spend all your ti with a bad crowd."
Zoe Ellsworth retorted, "Herman, co on. If it weren’t for girls like us who don’t have ’self-respect,’ how would you ever get to have fun with won?"
The car fell silent. His lips twitched, and he had no choice but to start the car and drive her ho.
Seeing his silence, Zoe Ellsworth continued, "Herman, can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead."
"Are you still a virgin?"
The car screeched to a halt. He looked at her, exasperated. "Then let ask you the sa thing. Are *you* still a virgin?"
Zoe Ellsworth nodded. "I am. You can test it if you don’t believe ."
Herman Hawthorne nearly choked on his own spit. "How are you exactly like your brother?"
Zoe Ellsworth shook her head. "I can already tell you’re not a virgin anymore. You’re not even as good as my brother. He and I are the faithful types."
Herman Hawthorne broke into a cold sweat. ’This girl was so innocent when she was little. How did a few years abroad turn her into this?’
"What are you, so kind of mind reader?" he asked, starting the car again.
"I am. So, Herman, how many won have you been with?"
"Ahem. Why do you keep asking such profound questions? You’re making blush."
Zoe Ellsworth burst out laughing. "Herman, what do you think of ?"
"Hm, you’ve grown up," he said with a slight smile. ’Zoe is nineteen this year,’ he thought. ’I’m a full six years older than her.’
"Grown up where?" she asked, tilting her head to look at him.
An image flashed through Herman Hawthorne’s mind. He cleared his throat again. "Everywhere."
Zoe Ellsworth giggled. "Herman, why are you blushing? I didn’t say anything."
"Who’s blushing, you little brat?"
"I’m just teasing. You can’t take a joke, can you?"
She stuck her tongue out at him and then sat quietly, waiting for the car to stop at the Ellsworth Family’s main gate.
They got out of the car.
Zoe Ellsworth looked at him with a grin. "Herman, I rember when we went hiking when I was fifteen. I couldn’t walk anymore, and you carried on your back. I wonder if you can still carry now?"
His expression softened. He crouched down. "Hop on."
Zoe Ellsworth wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. "Let’s go."
Lying on his back, Zoe Ellsworth felt that old sense of security return. She spoke from his back, "Herman, how many won have you carried like this?"
"Just one. And only you are this mischievous."
Zoe Ellsworth chuckled. "I always thought you were different from my brother. He never carried ; he’d just lecture . Young Master Grant would never do it either. You’re the only one who would."
Herman Hawthorne didn’t say anything, just walked toward the Ellsworth residence.
It wasn’t until they reached the door of the Ellsworth ho and were seen by Mrs. Ellsworth that Zoe Ellsworth finally got off Herman Hawthorne’s back.
"Mom, Herman brought ho."
Mrs. Ellsworth was all smiles, but she shot her daughter a look. "I have eyes, don’t I? You’re a grown woman. How could you still make Herman carry you? It’s improper. Get inside."
After saying that, she looked at Herman Hawthorne. "Zoe is used to being wild. Don’t mind her."
"It’s alright, Mrs. Ellsworth. I just happened to run into her tonight, so I brought her ho. I won’t co in. I should get going."
Mrs. Ellsworth saw him off. "Alright. Co by often when you have ti. You’re family."
After seeing Herman Hawthorne off, Mrs. Ellsworth hurried into the living room. She saw Zoe Ellsworth casually watching TV with her legs crossed, remote in hand. She imdiately sat down next to Zoe and began her interrogation.
"I can see your relationship with him is far from ordinary. Are you and Herman dating?"
Zoe Ellsworth shook her head, her expression indifferent. "I’d like to be, but Herman clearly isn’t interested in soone like ."
Mrs. Ellsworth could have beaten her chest and stamped her feet. "If you were to date Herman, I would be a thousand percent for it!"
Zoe Ellsworth glanced at her. "Even if we dated, it’d be ** dating him. What does your willingness have to do with it, Mom?"
Mrs. Ellsworth patted her shoulder. "You child. If you date him, not only will I have zero objections, but I’ll even give you a massive dowry—more than what Grant gave Jean!"
Zoe Ellsworth’s eyes widened. "Mom, does that an I wouldn’t have to go to school anymore? I could just be a housewife, and you wouldn’t have to manage ?"
"Of course! If you can marry Herman, Mom won’t have to worry about you ever again. You’re grown up, you can fly on your own. Your mother can only see you off this far."
Zoe Ellsworth sat up straight. "Mom, are you serious?!"
"When have I ever lied to you?"
"Mom, other mothers are heartbroken when their daughters get married. Why do I get the feeling you can’t wait to marry off? I’m only nineteen."
Mrs. Ellsworth laughed. "You have to get married sooner or later. Besides, that boy from the Hawthorne Family is about your brother’s age, a few years older than you, so he knows how to dote on soone. He’s good friends with your brother, and his mother and I are good friends, too. If you marry into their family, you won’t be at a disadvantage in the slightest. On the contrary, I’d be very relieved. You give a headache every day. If you really got married, I’d finally have so peace and quiet."
Hearing her mother’s words, Zoe Ellsworth thought about it. ’She has a point. But... could he and I really get married?’
’What would it take for us to get married?’
’This is a tough one.’
’I can’t do sothing stupid like drugging him. That’s a tactic for despicable people. What I need to do is take the initiative and try to get closer to him.’
With that thought, Zoe Ellsworth looked at Mrs. Ellsworth. "Mom, where are my car keys? I’m going out for a bit, I’ll be right back."
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