Chapter 113: Chapter 111: He Loves Her More Than He Imagined (7)
Nora Ainsworth wore her usual smile. "Hello, beautiful."
Charlotte Young greeted her enthusiastically. "You’re very pretty too. Come, let me toast you."
The two clinked their glasses. In this war without gunpowder, Ethan Ellsworth, the instigator of it all, smiled with particular delight. While others might not have seen it, he saw everything with perfect clarity.
When Herman Hawthorne had introduced Nora as his girlfriend, Young Master Grant’s gaze was practically murderous. Though he tried to conceal it, Ethan Ellsworth, ever the keen observer, had seen it plain as day.
’Young Master Grant, let’s see how long you can keep up this act.’
Ethan Ellsworth then asked, "Miss Young, how did you and Young Master Grant meet? I’m quite curious. It’s not easy for most people to get acquainted with him."
Charlotte Young spoke with ease, "It was Mrs. Grant who introduced us. We just met yesterday. I’m very pleased with President Grant; he’s exactly the type of man I’ve been looking for."
Ethan Ellsworth let out a meaningful, "Oh?" before asking, "In that case, do you know Catherine Callahan?"
Charlotte Young chuckled. "Oh, you mean Catherine? Yes, I know her. She’s Mrs. Grant’s goddaughter."
Nora Ainsworth, Ethan Ellsworth, Herman Hawthorne, and Chloe Marshall exchanged bewildered glances. Since when had Catherine Callahan become Mrs. Grant’s goddaughter?
Once the conversation reached that point, there was little else to say.
Ethan Ellsworth turned his gaze to Herman Hawthorne. "So when are you two getting married? I’m still waiting for my wedding invitation. You should hurry up and tie the knot, then have a cute baby."
Nora Ainsworth simply smiled, while Herman Hawthorne replied unhurriedly, "Soon. Just you wait. It’s a shame, though. You’ll be at our wedding soon enough, but who knows how long we’ll have to wait for yours."
Ethan Ellsworth paused. "It’ll happen eventually. What’s the damn rush?"
Nora Ainsworth shot a look at Chloe Marshall, then leaned in and whispered softly in Herman Hawthorne’s ear, "Boss, thanks for this. I’m going to head back now. I have class tomorrow."
As she prepared to stand, Herman Hawthorne gently pressed the back of her head, leaning close to her ear to whisper, "Don’t you want to stay and see Young Master Grant’s face turn as black as ink?"
"I’m tired."
"Nora—" His face was almost touching hers. "He cares about you. It would be a shame for you two to miss your chance."
"Us? We were just playing around. Why take it seriously?"
"Sometimes turning fiction into fact isn’t a bad thing." Herman Hawthorne finally pulled away, a smile playing on his lips.
"Hey, hey, you two! Are we invisible over here? What are you doing right in front of everybody?" Ethan Ellsworth hollered.
"It’s nothing. Nora has a class tomorrow, so she’s heading back. I’ll just see her out."
"Me too." Chloe Marshall stood up. "I’m heading back as well."
Charlotte Young spoke in a soft, gentle voice, "In that case, we should all head back together, shall we?"
"Mm," Quentin Grant responded. He rose gracefully to his feet and walked off without a single glance back, covering a good distance in moments.
Charlotte Young hurried after him. The remaining four exchanged a glance and left the bar as well.
The sky, which had been overcast when they arrived, was now filled with flashes of lightning and rumbles of thunder as a light rain began to fall.
They expected Quentin Grant to just drive away, but to their surprise, he pulled his car to a stop right in front of the four of them.
He rolled down the window. "Get in."
Since Ethan Ellsworth had brought his own car, the offer was clearly not for him and Chloe Marshall.
Herman Hawthorne took the initiative and opened the car door. "Nora, get in. We can hitch a ride."
Nora Ainsworth knew better. Quentin Grant’s villa and her apartment were in completely opposite directions. How could this possibly be considered "hitching a ride"?
"No, it’s fine. I’ll just hail a cab. You guys go on ahead."
With that, she flagged down a taxi and got inside.
Herman Hawthorne held up his hands, giving Quentin Grant a look that said, ’Don’t look at me.’
"Is someone coming to pick you up?" Quentin Grant asked him.
"You can go. Someone’s coming."
The window slid slowly upward, and in the blink of an eye, the car was several meters away.
Herman Hawthorne gave Ethan Ellsworth a helpless look. "I think those two are a completely lost cause."
"All the better," Ethan Ellsworth said with a laugh. "This might actually be a good thing for Nora."
"Boss Ellsworth," Chloe Marshall called out unhappily.
"What is it?"
"Don’t ask Nora to come to things like this again. You probably don’t realize it, but for women, the happier we seem on the outside, the more we’re hurting on the inside."
Ethan Ellsworth grew thoughtful. "Alright. Are you seeing someone?"
"No. Why do you ask?"
"It’s like this," Ethan Ellsworth said, taking out his keys and unlocking the car. "If you start seeing someone, you have to let me know. I’ll need to vet him for you."
"Then maybe you should vet yourself," Chloe Marshall retorted reflexively.
Ethan Ellsworth’s hand froze. He turned back. "What was that?"
Chloe Marshall suddenly broke into a smile. "Nothing. Thanks for the ride home, Boss Ellsworth."
"Where else are you going to find a boss as good as me? I pay you well, give you bonuses for odd jobs, and even chauffeur you around in a luxury car. You wouldn’t get this kind of treatment at any other company."
Chloe Marshall leaned back in her seat. "That’s true. I guess I’ll just have to stick with you and keep working hard, Boss Ellsworth."
The car soon stopped in front of Chloe Marshall’s home. She got out. "Drive safe, Boss Ellsworth." Ethan Ellsworth grunted in acknowledgment, turned the car around, and quickly vanished into the misty, rainy night.
Nora Ainsworth got out of the taxi and jogged toward her apartment building.
As she ran, she saw Sharon Ainsworth walking toward her under an umbrella, dressed in fur and a pair of tall, high-heeled boots.
Sharon stopped about two feet away.
Rainwater streamed from the edges of her umbrella. She stared at Nora Ainsworth, her pretty face completely devoid of expression.
"You have Leon Lynch wrapped around your finger, playing him for a fool with no intention of marrying him. At the same time, you’re involved with Herman Hawthorne, the decisive Taekwondo master and university professor. Aren’t you satisfied yet? Why are you messing with my brother?"
"What are you talking about?" Nora Ainsworth asked calmly. "Messing with your brother? Do you honestly think I’m blind enough to want any association with your family?"
"You’re just like your mother—a jinx! Our family hasn’t had a moment’s peace since you two showed up. That’s why I have to crush your arrogance. If you dare see my brother again, I will do everything in my power to destroy you. Nora Ainsworth, we were born to be at odds. You can never repay the debt you owe me!"
"Sharon Ainsworth, do you really think it was my mother who ruined your wedding? Even without her, Quentin Grant would never have married you. Have you really not noticed that he has absolutely zero interest in you? I owe *you*? Don’t be ridiculous. Your brother and I will never have anything to do with each other. Tell your brother to stay away from me. I don’t want to see him." She gave the woman who had once been her sister a disdainful look.
Then she turned and walked away.
Sharon Ainsworth stood frozen in place. She suddenly felt that Nora Ainsworth had changed.
「Back at the Ainsworth residence.」
Sharon Ainsworth’s expression was grim.
She spoke bluntly to Nicholas Ainsworth, who sat across the table from her. "I went to see Nora Ainsworth."
"What for?"
Sharon Ainsworth’s voice rose. "What do you think I went for? Brother, how could you go out to eat with her? Don’t you know that if it wasn’t for her mother, I wouldn’t still be single today?"
