###Chapter 6: Mr. Hawthorne Is Married, and He’s Whipped
"Huh?!"
Maxine Rhodes was caught completely off guard. Her eyes widened slightly as she instinctively tried to refuse. "We don’t need wedding rings, do we? It’s just an agreent..."
"A contract marriage still requires the necessary props." Ethan Hawthorne’s reasoning was sound and irrefutable. "A wedding ring can save us from a lot of unnecessary speculation and trouble. Or does Mrs. Hawthorne want people to see right through our marriage of convenience?"
Seeing her fall silent, Ethan Hawthorne struck while the iron was hot. "Besides, I’ve been feeling like sothing’s been missing here lately."
He raised his well-defined left hand, his gaze falling on his long ring finger. "It feels like it’s missing sothing important."
Maxine Rhodes’s gaze involuntarily followed his, landing on his clean, long fingers, which emanated a sense of strength. ’A hand like that, wearing a ring...’
She abruptly cut off the thought, feeling like she was being led astray by his rhetoric. Her cheeks grew slightly warm, and she could only turn her gaze to the street scenery flashing past the window.
A brief silence fell over the car, filled only by the soft patter of raindrops against the window and the flow of warm air.
A few monts later, the car arrived at a world-renowned brand’s jewelry store. A uniford employee was already waiting respectfully at the entrance, holding an umbrella.
Ethan Hawthorne got out of the car swiftly, walked around to her side, and opened her door, one hand holding the umbrella steady. He tilted the umbrella imperceptibly, completely shielding her and exposing half of his own shoulder to the rain.
"Let’s go." He extended a hand to her. The hazy mist added an air of cool nobility to his deanor.
The staff bowed in unison. "Mr. Hawthorne, good morning."
The lead sales associate’s sharp gaze landed on Maxine Rhodes. After a brief appraisal, her expression imdiately shifted to one of deeper respect. "And this is..."
"My wife, Maxine Rhodes," Ethan Hawthorne said, his tone perfectly natural.
"Mrs. Hawthorne, good morning!" The sales associate’s smile brightened considerably. "What would you two like to see today?"
"We’re choosing wedding rings," Ethan Hawthorne said concisely.
"Please follow to the VIP room." The sales associate bowed and led the way with an elegant posture.
Maxine smiled and sat down on a velvet stool, watching the sales associate bring out one black tray after another. The rings displayed within glittered with a cold, expensive light under the spotlights.
The diamonds ranged from one carat to several, with designs both intricate and simple. The number of zeroes on the price tags made her a little dizzy.
She subconsciously curled her fingers.
"This one is our brand master’s limited edition design for the year. It’s flanked by rare pink diamonds, making it very unique..." the sales associate explained enthusiastically.
But Maxine’s mind was wandering, until her gaze was drawn to a pair of relatively simple matching rings in the corner.
The bands were smooth platinum curves. The woman’s ring was set with a row of tiny diamonds, like stardust, while the man’s was a plain band, with what seed to be a delicate, hidden engraving on the inner wall.
The sales associate, perceptive as ever, imdiately took out the pair. "Mrs. Hawthorne, you have excellent taste. This ’Starlight’ set may seem simple, but the craftsmanship is very complex. The hidden engraving on the inner wall of the n’s ring, in particular, is our exclusive technique, symbolizing protection."
Maxine tried it on and was surprised to find it was a perfect fit.
Her skin was fair and her fingers long and slender. The band of tiny diamonds didn’t look gaudy on her hand at all; instead, it complented her fingers, making them look like jade—cool and noble.
She looked at the ring on her hand, a barely perceptible flicker of fondness in her eyes.
"We’ll take this one."
Ethan Hawthorne’s deep voice sounded beside her ear without a hint of hesitation. He didn’t even ask for the price.
Maxine looked at him in surprise, but he had already pushed the velvet box with the man’s ring in front of her. His gaze fell on her face, tinged with a hint of expectation. "Mrs. Hawthorne, would you help put it on?"
Maxine’s heart skipped a beat. She carefully took out the plain band. Its cool touch made her fingertips tremble slightly.
Ethan Hawthorne extended his hand at the right mont. His palm was broad, his knuckles distinct, and his hand exuded a sense of power.
As her cool fingertips supported his hand and she slowly slid the ring onto his long ring finger, their skin touched, and a subtle electric current seed to crackle in the air.
The two rings shone, reflecting each other’s light under the brilliant lamps.
Ethan Hawthorne looked down at the rings on their hands, a profound satisfaction passing through his eyes.
"It suits you perfectly. And from now on, it’s yours."
By the ti they left the jewelry store, the rain had begun to subside.
Ethan Hawthorne glanced at his watch. "I have a eting at the company this afternoon. Should I have Erza Sinclair take you ho?"
"There’s no need." Maxine Rhodes shook her head. "I’d like to walk around the area for a bit."
Ethan Hawthorne nodded and handed her the umbrella. "Alright. Be safe."
He watched her turn and walk away, not getting into the car until her figure disappeared around the corner.
「Hawthorne Group.」
The doors to the CEO’s private elevator opened with a DING. Ethan Hawthorne strode out with his long legs, deliberately taking a long detour through the employee area today. Everyone thought Mr. Hawthorne was there for a surprise inspection and hurried to greet him.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Hawthorne!"
"Good afternoon." Ethan Hawthorne nodded without breaking his stride.
He casually raised his hand, pretending to adjust his already pristine collar.
The uniquely designed platinum ring on his finger caught the bright hallway lights, leaving a conspicuous trail of light.
The employees’ eyes went wide as saucers. They still hadn’t recovered by the ti Ethan Hawthorne’s back disappeared into the CEO’s office.
"Did... did I just see things? On Mr. Hawthorne’s hand... was that a ring?!"
"And on his ring finger!! It’s a wedding ring!"
"Oh my god! All those beautiful won who threw themselves at him never got a reaction, and now he’s suddenly married?!"
"AHHHH, who is the lucky woman?!"
During the afternoon eting, Ethan Hawthorne made quite a few small gestures with his hands. Every executive in the conference room noticed the detail: their CEO, a man who had always been impervious to won and so strict he seed almost inhuman, was wearing a wedding ring!
The eting concluded in a subtle and shocked atmosphere. Ethan Hawthorne was the first to rise and leave, with Erza Sinclair following close behind, holding a stack of docunts.
"Mr. Hawthorne," Erza Sinclair whispered with a smile, "I’m afraid no one’s going to get any work done today. They’ll be too busy studying your ring."
Ethan Hawthorne didn’t break his stride, only letting out a soft "Mm," but the corner of his mouth curled into a tiny, almost imperceptible arc.
Just then, Mr. Langdon arrived to discuss a partnership.
During a break, Mr. Langdon made his usual enthusiastic small talk. "Mr. Hawthorne, you’re so young and successful, you should really take care of your personal life too. My niece..."
Ethan Hawthorne rose calmly and proactively extended his hand to Mr. Langdon. "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Langdon."
He extended his left hand just so, putting the wedding ring directly in the other man’s line of sight.
Mr. Langdon’s words died in his throat, his expression a fascinating picture.
Ethan Hawthorne smiled slightly. "I haven’t had the chance to inform you, Mr. Langdon. I’m married."
Mr. Langdon snapped back to his senses and quickly shook his hand, laughing awkwardly. "Oh! Congratulations, congratulations! Mr. Hawthorne, you certainly... work fast! I wonder which family’s daughter is so fortunate to marry soone as young and successful as you!"
Ethan Hawthorne withdrew his hand, his fingertips brushing over the band of his ring. "No, I’m the fortunate one to have married her."
That day, two shocking pieces of news circulated among the top executives of Hawthorne Group:
First, Mr. Hawthorne was married.
Second, Mr. Hawthorne was completely whipped.
And at that mont, the man who had caused this storm was sitting alone in his office, looking at the ring on his finger. As he recalled the scene of putting the ring on her that morning, he finally couldn’t help but let a gentle smile grace his lips.*****
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