“Three years, Ethan. Isn’t it time this charade ended?” I heard the words from behind the partially ajar emergency exit door. “Pretty much. Her birthday is in ten days. I plan to make it unforgettable for her. Let her experience what it’s like to fall from heaven to hell at the peak of her happiness.” That was Ethan’s voice. He was my husband. The man who knelt beneath a sky of fireworks and told me his feelings for me were real. “The cruelest part is, you’re playing the loving husband while secretly teaming up with her ex-fiancé to dismantle the Davis Group’s foundation.” Blake was there too. My ex-fiancé who betrayed me, the same guy now having an affair with my husband’s sister, was casually chatting and laughing with Ethan. “Watching her treat her enemy as a savior, blindly devoted… Chloe, when you humiliated me back then, did you ever imagine this day?” I bit my lip hard, tasting blood. So from start to finish, I was just a pawn on their chessboard, waiting to be slaughtered. If that’s the case, then don’t blame me for being ruthless.
Chloe’s POV When I was twenty-three, I witnessed my fiancé’s betrayal firsthand. I didn’t yell or make a scene. I calmly gathered evidence and, the day before our families were set to merge through marriage, I publicly tore up the engagement contract, leaked a video of his infidelity, and made Blake and his family the laughingstock of our social circle. For the next three years, I stopped believing in any promises or genuine feelings. I poured all my energy into my family’s business, becoming a respected, even feared, figure in the corporate world. I thought my life would go on like this forever. That I would never have another weakness. That I would never fall for anyone again. Until Ethan appeared. The city’s most mysterious and low-key financial magnate. He patiently pursued me, a woman known for my cold demeanor and detached nature. He understood me, tolerated me, and slowly melted the icy wall around my heart. The day he proposed, he lit up the entire city with fireworks for me, kneeling before me with eyes only for me. He said, “Chloe, I can’t promise to heal all the pain you’ve suffered, but I will spend the rest of my life proving that my love for you is real.” I believed him. I carefully placed my long-sealed heart into his hands. It was a lavish, “wedding of the century” affair. The media said I must have saved the galaxy in a past life to have someone like Ethan devote everything to me. I transitioned from a powerful businesswoman to Ethan’s cherished wife. I gradually let down my guard, feeling incredibly fortunate that after freezing myself off, I could be enveloped by such fervent love. Until one day, Ethan took me to a charity auction. I had a headache from days of exhaustion, so I left early to wait for his driver in the underground garage. When I reached the car, I realized I had left my handbag, which contained my mother’s heirloom necklace, in the lounge. I went back to retrieve it, but as I passed the partially ajar emergency exit door, I heard hushed voices from inside. “Three years, Ethan. Isn’t it time this charade ended?” “Pretty much.” Ethan’s voice was as steady as ever, but it carried a coldness I had never heard before. “Her birthday is in ten days. I plan to make it unforgettable for her at the party I’m throwing. Let her experience what it’s like to fall from heaven to hell at the peak of her happiness.” I froze, my mind suddenly blank. Isn’t my birthday in ten days? Are they talking about me? “Heh, you spent three years setting this up. First, you secretly shorted the Davis Group’s overseas projects, causing her father to fall critically ill. Then, when she trusted you most, you had her sign that flawed betting agreement. The cruelest part is, while you played the loving husband, you teamed up with her ex-fiancé to dismantle the Davis Group’s foundation. Ethan, you have played a grand game to avenge your sister.” “She publicly broke off the engagement and leaked that video, ruining my sister’s reputation. It led to public humiliation and ultimately drove her to suicide.” Ethan let out a cold laugh. “How could I ever let her off easy?” Every word, like an ice pick, stabbed into my limbs, instantly freezing my blood. The woman my ex-fiancé cheated with was Ethan’s sister? And he approached me, married me, all to avenge his sister? While I was still in shock, the conversation in the emergency exit continued. I heard someone ask again, “And after that? Once the Davis Group is taken care of, will you finally rekindle your relationship with your little darling, Serena?” Serena… The dancer, so delicate and ethereally beautiful, like she didn’t belong to this world, whom I’d met several times at parties, always looking at Ethan with a hesitant, unsaid longing in her eyes? So, Serena was the woman he truly loved? “Of course.” Ethan’s answer held no hesitation. “I’ve made her suffer enough these past years. Once this is over, I’ll marry her.” “Right. If it weren’t for your sister, you and Serena would have been married long ago.” There was a pause. Then the accomplice turned to another person, a hint of playful mockery in his smile. “But Blake, aren’t you bothered by playing this act with Ethan, pretending in front of your ex-fiancée?” “Does it feel good, watching the woman who once rejected you now blindly devoted to her ‘current’ man?” Blake scoffed, the malice in his laugh undisguised. “Bothered? I’m loving it.” Blake said gleefully. “Watching her get played by Ethan and me, treating her enemies as saviors, as her redemption, loving him blindly, completely unaware that she is about to be devoured until there’s nothing left. Chloe, when you humiliated me back then, did you ever imagine this day?” I clenched my jaw, tasting the metallic tang of blood on my tongue, my nails digging hard into my palms. My entire heart felt like an invisible hand was squeezing it, mercilessly crushing it. I didn’t dare move until their conversation stopped, and their footsteps faded away, finally disappearing from the emergency exit. Only then did I slide down the wall, utterly drained. Unbelievable. My most trusted husband was the brother of the person I indirectly caused to die. He approached me, married me, to destroy me! He sabotaged my family’s business, causing my father to fall critically ill! He tricked me into signing a deadly agreement, making me personally bury our family’s legacy! He even involved my most detested ex-fiancé in his revenge, turning me into a complete joke! And I, utterly unaware, was immersed in the beautiful dream he wove for me, believing true love had finally found me. A chill enveloped my body and soul. I don’t remember how I left. I stumbled back to the parking lot, each step feeling like I was walking on knife-edges. I pulled open the car door and sat inside. “To the mansion.” My voice was hoarse. The driver acknowledged and started the car. However, just as the car was about to pull out of the parking space, the other car door was pulled open. A tall, upright figure got in, closed the door, and instructed the driver, “Drive.” “Yes, Mr. Kingston.” Seeing Ethan sitting beside me, my breath hitched, my hairs stood on end, and I instantly froze.
Chloe’s POV Ethan turned his chiseled face towards me, looking at me quizzically. “What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?” “The auction isn’t over yet,” I struggled to steady myself, pulling the corners of my lips into a slight smile. “Why did you leave too?” “You weren’t there, so I had no desire to stay.” Ethan’s eyes were filled with tender affection and obvious concern. “You look so pale. Are you feeling unwell?” As he spoke, he leaned closer, raising a hand to feel my forehead. His touch, at that moment, felt like a snake’s tongue licking my skin. I fought the urge to push him away, forcing out a strained smile, and lowering my gaze to avoid his scrutinizing eyes. “I’m fine, probably just tired from the past few days.” Ethan examined me closely. Just as I thought he was about to press for more, he suddenly spoke. “Let’s have a baby.” I looked up, startled, meeting his deep, unfathomable eyes. A baby? Before I could recover from the shock, Ethan suddenly lowered the car’s partition. The next second, he cupped my chin with one hand and leaned in to kiss me. His kiss was as forceful and tender as always, carrying his familiar possessiveness. In this moment, I knew exactly what he wanted. My hands instinctively pressed against his chest, pushing him away with repulsion. Ethan paused. “What’s wrong?” My breathing was a little unsteady. I turned my face away, hastily fabricating an excuse. “I’m a bit tired. I’m not in the mood today.” “You’ve never refused me like this before, no matter how tired you were. What’s gotten into you today?” Ethan’s deep eyes stared intently at me, his scrutinizing gaze making my heart skip a beat. He raised a hand, his fingertips gently tracing my lips. “Did I do something wrong to upset you?” He paused, then his gaze, sharp as a hawk’s, captured my dodging eyes. “Or… did you hear something?” My heart nearly stopped in that instant. He can’t find out! He absolutely cannot find out that I heard their entire conversation! If I confront him now, I’ll be utterly defeated, and the Davis Group will be completely ruined. I have to keep up the act. Just like him, I have to play it perfectly. I desperately suppressed all the churning emotions. When I looked up again, my face showed a thin layer of annoyance and embarrassment. “I just feel… doing this in the car isn’t quite right.” “After all, the driver is still up front.” Ethan chuckled. “Don’t worry, the partition is down; he can’t hear us.” Before his words finished, he lowered his head and kissed me again. My body stiffened for a moment, then I forced myself to relax, trying to respond to him as naturally and passionately as usual. Ethan seemed satisfied with my compliance. He kissed me deeper, more intensely. In the height of passion, his scorching lips pressed against my ear, his husky voice softly whispering my name. “Chloe… I really like you, I love you.” Every word was like poison-laced honey, pouring into my ears, seeping into my bloodstream. I closed my eyes, letting him take what he wanted. Like me? Love me? If I hadn’t heard his conversation with someone else firsthand, I might still have been deceived by his exquisite acting, drowning in this false affection, believing how genuinely and devotedly he loved me. My body temperature was rising, but my heart was chilling, inch by inch. My thoughts drifted back three years. At that time, I publicly tore up my engagement with Blake, trampling on the dignity of Blake’s family and that scoundrel couple. A month later, Blake seemed like a changed man, appearing remorseful, relentlessly pursuing me. He tearfully confessed that he had just been foolish and made a mistake, that he loved only me, begging for my forgiveness. But I only felt immense disgust and extreme annoyance. Just as Blake blocked me at a restaurant entrance yet again, Ethan appeared and rescued me from Blake’s persistent harassment. That was our first meeting. But back then, I only saw him as a helpful stranger. To my surprise, the next day at an important project collaboration meeting, I attended as the Davis Group’s representative, only to discover with astonishment that the mysterious, low-key major shareholder and decision-maker of the other company, who had never appeared in the media, was none other than him. In the meeting, he was composed and incisive, with unique insights, offering fair and strong support for my proposed plan. After the meeting, he specifically walked over to me and said, “Ms. Davis, I’ve heard much about you. I hope the previous incident didn’t cause you too much trouble.” He was courteous and charming, a stark contrast to the cold sternness he showed when he drove Blake away. Later, due to business dealings, we interacted more frequently. He gave me admiring glances, timely assistance, and concern that went beyond professional partnership. And Blake continued to haunt me. Every time Blake came to bother me, Ethan just happened to be there. For my sake, he didn’t hesitate to get into conflicts with Blake. Once, outside a club, two men of significant status even came to blows, disregarding their dignity. Ethan’s eye was injured, but he successfully made Blake much more restrained afterward, no longer daring to approach me easily. At the time, I thought Ethan and Blake were truly two completely different kinds of men. One was composed and powerful, offering me respect and protection; the other was despicable and shameless, only capable of harassment. My frozen heart was slowly pried open by Ethan, little by little. I began to believe that there might still be true feelings in this world, and someone worth trusting. I thought I had finally emerged from the shadow Blake cast, and found true salvation and love. But today I learned that everything, absolutely everything, was just a grand play they put on for me, together! One pursued me relentlessly, annoying me; the other appeared just in time, acting as my protector. All for the purpose of making me fall deeply for Ethan, winning my trust, so they could slowly devour the Davis Group.
Chloe’s POV In the car, Ethan seemed intent on devouring me whole, leaving me utterly exhausted. The car stopped steadily outside the mansion gates. Ethan scooped me up in his arms, carried me directly upstairs, and laid me on the large bed in the bedroom. “Still tired?” He leaned over, his hands braced on either side of my body, his thumb caressing my slightly swollen lips. I turned my head away, my voice a little hoarse. “I want to take a shower.” “Together?” He raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with a hint of seduction. My heart tightened. Just as I was about to find an excuse to decline, Ethan’s phone, tucked into his suit pocket, rang. He frowned, a fleeting look of annoyance at being disturbed crossing his face. “Hold on, I need to take this.” But as he pulled out his phone and glanced at the caller ID, I clearly caught the receding tide of desire in his eyes. “What is it?” Ethan turned and walked towards the floor-to-ceiling window, lowering his voice as he answered the call, his back to me. I don’t know what the person on the other end said, but he responded, “I’ll be right there.” He hung up and walked back to me. “Something urgent came up at the company. I’ll probably be back very late. Get some rest, don’t wait up for me.” He leaned down, pressed a kiss on my forehead, and then, without giving me a chance to speak, turned and left in a hurry. I pushed myself up on the bed, watching his retreating back coldly. When he answered the phone just now, that soft murmur was indistinct, but I heard it clearly. It was “Serena.” Serena. She was indeed the woman he cherished most; one phone call was enough to make him abandon me instantly, rushing impatiently to her side. Yet, just moments ago, he was still insatiably demanding on me. The aches in my body were everywhere, reminding me of what had just happened, and also reminding me what a meticulously designed deception there was between us. No, I can’t just sit here and do nothing. I have to do something. Otherwise, in ten days, an endless hell awaits me. The next day, I did three things. First, I went to the pharmacy and bought an emergency contraceptive pill. I absolutely could not get pregnant with Ethan’s child. Second, I retrieved the betting agreement from the safe in the study and went to a reputable law firm for consultation. The lawyer carefully reviewed the agreement, his expression grave. “Ms. Davis, the terms of this agreement are extremely unfavorable to your side, almost entirely predatory clauses. The other party clearly hired a top-tier team that cleverly hid all the loopholes.” “Is there still room to salvage it?” “According to the stipulated deadline, if the project’s profit targets are not met, the controlling stake in the Davis Group will automatically transfer to the other party of the agreement. As for the agreement itself, within the legal framework, it’s impossible to overturn or annul it.” My last shred of hope was extinguished, and my heart turned chillingly cold. Ethan had coaxed me into signing this betting agreement with sweet talk. What did he say back then? “This project has excellent prospects, but there’s a funding shortfall.” “Sign this agreement, and my funds will be immediately available. The Davis Group won’t just overcome its current difficulties, it’ll reach new heights.” “Don’t worry, with me by your side, you’ll never lose.” Looking at this agreement now, those hidden traps and harsh clauses embedded deep within the legal jargon were simply shocking. It seemed the Davis Group couldn’t be saved. I clenched my hands, trying hard to suppress my emotions. Then I proposed the third matter to the lawyer. “Please help me draft a divorce agreement.” Before Ethan realized the truth, while he was still playing the loving husband, I needed to escape this terrifying marriage as quickly as possible. Otherwise, when he finally closed his net, what awaited me might not just be bankruptcy and humiliation. After getting the divorce agreement, I went straight to the Kingston Corporation building. The receptionist recognized me as Mrs. Kingston and respectfully guided me to the CEO’s private elevator, taking me straight to the top floor. I walked to the office door. I raised my hand to knock, but through the crack in the door, I caught a glimpse of something that instantly froze my blood. Behind the desk, a woman in a white chiffon dress with flowing dark hair sat on Ethan’s lap. She was intimately wrapped around Ethan’s neck, her lips pressed tightly against his. They were kissing intensely and passionately, as if everything around them had ceased to exist. Just then, Ethan seemed to sense something. His gaze inadvertently swept toward the door. The next second, his movements suddenly stiffened. “Chloe?” Ethan almost instinctively pulled Serena off his lap, stood up, and hurried toward me, a rare look of panic on his face. “Don’t misunderstand. Serena just accidentally twisted her ankle and stumbled into my arms.”
Chloe’s POV Serena twisted her ankle and fell into his arms, and then they just happened to kiss? Was he trying to fool me with such a clumsy lie? Did he think I was an idiot? Well, in his eyes, I was probably already a fool blinded by love. And now, I had to continue playing that “fool.” “Really?” I nodded. “Oh, I see.” Ethan eyed my eyes suspiciously. “You don’t believe me, do you?” “I do.” I smiled and met his gaze sincerely. “Between a husband and wife, trust is the most important thing, so I trust you.” Ethan’s tense nerves relaxed, and he let out a silent sigh of relief. “Of course.” He stepped forward and took my hand, his touch so gentle it seemed to drip with affection. “It’s good that you understand. I would never do anything to betray you.” Listening to his utterly hypocritical words, my heart filled with cold mockery. Just then, Serena gracefully walked towards us. “You must be Mrs. Kingston? Ethan often mentions you.” She wore a flawless, sweet smile and extended a slender hand towards me. “I’m Serena, Ethan’s friend.” The kind of friend you kiss? I didn’t take her hand. Instead, I raised an eyebrow at Ethan and asked, “You have such a beautiful friend? Why have I never heard you mention her before?” A flicker of unnaturalness crossed Ethan’s face. “Serena is a dancer; she’s often on international tours and rarely comes back. We… haven’t seen each other in a long time, so I didn’t specifically mention her.” After speaking, he turned to Serena, signaling with his eyes. “Didn’t you say you have a rehearsal for your next tour later? If you have something to do, go ahead and take care of it.” His dismissal was obvious, and the smile on Serena’s face faded. But she didn’t say anything in the end, just let out a cold huff and left the office in her heels. Ethan’s gaze unconsciously followed her retreating figure, a quick flash of guilt and helplessness in his eyes. This subtle emotion did not escape my notice. I felt as if my frost-covered heart had been sharply pierced by an invisible needle again. I hadn’t expected that, to get revenge on me, he would even make the woman he loved suffer like this. He truly was a man with a deep and terrifying mind. Ethan resumed his gentle expression, turning back to ask, “Why did you suddenly come to the office to see me?” I lowered my gaze, concealing all emotions in my eyes. Just as I was thinking about what excuse to use to make him sign the divorce agreement, Ethan’s secretary rushed in, looking anxious. “Mr. Kingston, bad news! Ms. Serena was just hit by a car that suddenly swerved out at the parking garage exit downstairs!” “What?!” Ethan’s face changed drastically, filled with alarm and panic. He forcefully pushed me out of his way, like a gust of wind, and rushed out. Pushed unexpectedly, I stumbled sideways, hitting my forehead hard on the doorframe. A sharp, intense pain shot through me, accompanied by waves of dizziness. I held onto the doorframe, barely steadying myself. When I looked up again, Ethan had already vanished from outside the office. See, this is the man who swore his feelings were real, who would spend his life proving how much he loved me. This is the man who said he would never betray me. In front of the person he truly cared about, I, Mrs. Kingston, was nothing more than an obstacle to be casually pushed aside. I didn’t follow to check on Serena’s injuries. I figured Ethan wouldn’t be back today, so I didn’t linger. I drove back to the mansion. However, less than half an hour after I returned to the mansion, Ethan suddenly pushed open the door, radiating a chilling aura. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me out. “Come with me!” Forcibly put into the car, I was utterly bewildered. “Where are we going?” “Serena has a coagulation disorder. She’s bleeding uncontrollably after the car accident and urgently needs a blood transfusion to save her life, but the hospital’s supply for her blood type is critical.” Ethan’s face was ashen. He started the car and said in a deep voice, “I remember, you’re also AB negative.”
Chloe’s POV The car sped, running several red lights, finally stopping at the city hospital entrance. Ethan pulled me without explanation, heading straight for the emergency blood transfusion unit. “Doctor, I’ve brought her. Give her a transfusion immediately!” The nurse quickly prepared the equipment, motioning for me to sit in the blood collection chair. I looked at the needle and finally spoke. “I had a physical a few days ago, and I haven’t been feeling well recently. My doctor advised me to get more rest and said I wasn’t suitable for blood donation.” Ethan frowned tightly. “It’s just a little blood; it won’t kill you. Serena is in critical condition. You’ll have to bear with it for now.” “A little blood?” I looked up, meeting his gaze calmly. “Are you sure it’s just a little blood? She has a coagulation disorder; she’ll likely need a significant amount.” “Whatever amount can be saved!” Ethan was filled with anxiety and urgency. “Chloe, when did you become so heartless? This is a human life!” I almost scoffed. Heartless? Who was more heartless? “What if I say no?” I asked faintly. Ethan’s eyes instantly turned cold. He took a step closer, lowering his voice. “Don’t throw a tantrum now. Donate blood this one time, and I’ll compensate you. You can have anything you want.” “Anything I want?” I repeated. “Yes, anything.” “Okay.” I changed my attitude. “Then I want a three-month extension on the Davis Group’s betting agreement.” Ethan’s eyes narrowed, scrutinizing me. “Why bring that up suddenly?” “The company project hasn’t been going smoothly lately. I need more time.” I said, “If you agree, I’ll donate blood now.” Ethan was silent for a few seconds, seemingly weighing his options, then finally nodded. “Okay, I agree.” I scoffed inwardly. Sure enough, for Serena, he would agree to any condition. “Then you sign first. I have the agreement all ready.” I slowly took out the agreement from my bag. “Once you sign, I’ll donate blood immediately.” Ethan had always been cautious, meticulously reviewing every contract, big or small, before signing. But today, perhaps anxious to save Serena, he only roughly skimmed the first few pages of this betting extension agreement before signing his name without hesitation. Ethan handed me the signed contract. “Done. Now, donate the blood.” He didn’t know that I had secretly tucked our divorce agreement into this contract beforehand. He had signed not only the betting extension agreement but also our divorce papers. After putting away the contract, I sat in the blood collection chair and extended my arm. The nurse began to draw blood. As the blood slowly flowed from my body, I watched the crimson liquid pass through the tube into the blood bag, and suddenly found the scene utterly absurd. I was his wife, the woman he had meticulously plotted to deceive and relentlessly pursued for three years. But now he needed my blood to save the woman he truly loved. He had played the role of a loving husband for so long in front of me, but with Serena facing life and death, he couldn’t keep up the act any longer. The moment the needle was pulled out, I felt a wave of dizziness. The nurse asked with concern, “Mrs. Kingston, are you alright? Do you need to rest?” I shook my head, pressed the cotton ball to my arm, and stood up. Ethan’s attention was no longer on me; he was anxiously asking the doctor about Serena’s condition. “Don’t worry, Mr. Kingston, Ms. Serena is out of danger. The transfusion was very timely.” The doctor’s words visibly relieved Ethan. Only then did he remember me. He turned to look at me. “I’ll have the driver take you home to rest.” “No need.” I refused curtly. “I can manage myself.” I turned and left, my steps steady, my back straight. Only when I reached outside the hospital and sat in the car did I allow myself to lean back against the seat, close my eyes, and take several deep breaths. The weakness after drawing blood began to set in, but my mind was racing. Three months. I exchanged a blood donation for three months’ time. It wasn’t much, but at least it was a breathing room. I had to find a way to preserve the Davis Group’s assets as much as possible within these three months, to secure a fallback for my father and myself.
Chloe’s POV I contacted my assistant, gave him the signed divorce agreement, and asked him to expedite the process. After that, I drove back to my father’s place. Mr. Davis, my father, had been recuperating at home almost exclusively since his recent critical illness; his health was not what it used to be. “Why are you here?” Mr. Davis looked surprised to see me. “Your complexion looks terrible.” “I have something to tell you.” I sat opposite him. Mr. Davis sensed something serious was amiss and dismissed all the household staff. I handed him a document. Mr. Davis put on his reading glasses and flipped through a few pages, his face growing increasingly grim. “This is…” “This is the betting agreement Ethan made me sign. He tampered with it, intending to swallow the entire Davis Group.” Mr. Davis was utterly shocked. “Why would he do that?” “Because he is the brother of the woman Blake once cheated with.” I said, word for word. “He approached me, married me, all to avenge his sister.” Mr. Davis was struck as if by lightning, looking significantly older in an instant. After a long while, he asked in a trembling voice, “What are you going to do now?” I leaned forward, lowering my voice. “First, you must pretend to know nothing, continue to recuperate, and not let Ethan become suspicious. Second, I will secretly contact a reliable legal team to divest the Davis Group’s core assets as much as possible. Third…” I closed my eyes, then opened them again. “I need to investigate the truth behind his sister’s incident back then.” I never knew that because I exposed the video of Blake cheating with his sister, she actually committed suicide due to depression. I had a feeling something was off about that. “Also, I’ve already figured out a way to divorce him. We can’t stay in this city anymore, or he definitely won’t let us go.” I said seriously, “So, before my birthday, we’ll leave together.” Mr. Davis nodded approvingly. “Okay, I’ll listen to you.” In the following days, I behaved as if everything was normal. I continued to go to the company to handle affairs, continued to attend social events, and continued to play the role of Mrs. Kingston. At the same time, I was also looking for someone to investigate the truth behind Ethan’s sister’s death, and secretly contacting lawyers and accountants to carry out asset transfers and property preservation. Ethan was often not home due to Serena’s injuries, which gave me a lot of room to operate. But I knew Ethan wouldn’t completely let down his guard. Sure enough, that evening at dinner, Ethan casually asked, “What have you been busy with lately? The people at home say you’ve been leaving early and coming home late every day; they rarely see you.” I had already prepared an excuse, responding smoothly, “I’m in talks for an overseas project, so I’ve been quite busy.” “Oh?” He raised an eyebrow. “Is it going smoothly?” “Not very. The other party’s conditions are very harsh, and I’m still considering it.” “Do you need my help?” “No, I can handle it myself.” I looked up and gave him a faint smile. “Didn’t you always say you hoped I could stand on my own?” Ethan gazed at me for a moment, then smiled too. “Yes, my wife is becoming more capable.” His smile was still gentle, but I caught a hint of scrutiny deep within it. I tried my best to maintain a normal, natural demeanor, not letting him see any hint of a clue. After a moment, Ethan seemed to finally dismiss his suspicions and suddenly said, “By the way, Serena has recovered and been discharged. She’s very grateful that you donated blood to save her life that day and said she would like to invite you to dinner tomorrow night to thank you.” He paused, then added, “If you find it troublesome, I can decline for you. After all, you’re not very familiar with her.” I could tell he didn’t want me to have any contact with Serena. He was only relaying Serena’s invitation because she had asked him to. I originally felt there was no need for this dinner. But after a moment’s thought, I smiled and accepted. “No, I should go. Ms. Serena is your friend, and if she has extended such a gracious invitation, I shouldn’t disappoint her.”
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