Chapter 135: Chapter 133: Did You Go Lay an Egg? (Part 4)
After leaving the film set and having a word with his agent, Ethan Ellsworth drove away.
Chloe Marshall watched his car drive off, feeling that something was unusual about him tonight.
Ethan Ellsworth drove to a bar called Eager Lips. Tugging the brim of his hat low, he walked to a quiet corner and sat down. Jean Grant was already sitting across from him.
Seeing him arrive, Jean Grant was a little impatient. "What did you need me for? Just get to the point."
Ethan Ellsworth leaned back, crossing his legs. His expression held a hint of nonchalance. "What’s the rush? I asked you here because there’s something I need to tell you."
Jean Grant took a sip of her drink. "Couldn’t you have said it on the phone?"
He looked at her and answered, "No."
"Then say it."
Ethan Ellsworth felt that under the circumstances, with her so distracted, it wasn’t the right time to say what he’d come to say.
After a moment’s thought, he decided to broach another topic first. "Are you really so dead set on Marlon Marshall? Completely devoted, no regrets, for the rest of your life?"
Hearing him bring this up again, Jean Grant laid it on the line. "Can you please not talk about this every time you ask to see me? What does it have to do with you? Why are you always so concerned with my business?"
Ethan Ellsworth remained perfectly calm. "Answer my question."
Jean Grant sized him up. "Fine, I’ll tell you. He’s the one for me. I want to marry him, have a child with him, and build a happy family together."
Ethan Ellsworth’s pupils constricted. "And what if you can’t?"
"As long as I’m willing, my mom will agree sooner or later."
"I don’t agree."
Jean Grant froze. "If my brother disagreed, he’d at least have a right to an opinion, because he’s my brother. But you? You disagreeing—what does that matter?"
Ethan Ellsworth’s fists clenched. "Jean, we’ve known each other for a very long time. For many years. When I was in middle school, you were still in elementary school. If I remember correctly, wasn’t it you who said back in elementary school that you were going to marry me? You insisted on it, and you even cried when I told you I wouldn’t marry you."
Jean Grant’s eyes flew wide. "Ethan Ellsworth! Why are you digging up stuff from our childhood? That was ages ago!"
"Jean." His gaze flickered. "If... if I said right now that I’m willing to marry you, would you be willing to marry me?"
"Are you—are you pulling some kind of sick joke? Ethan Ellsworth, have you lost your mind? I have a boyfriend now, why would I marry you! My image of you changed a long time ago, haven’t you noticed?" She stood up. "If that’s all, then I’m leaving."
Ethan Ellsworth shot to his feet, stepped forward, and grabbed her hand, yanking her against his chest.
"Ah!" Caught completely by surprise, Jean Grant shrieked. A few people glanced their way.
He gripped her hand tightly, showing no sign of letting go.
No matter how Jean Grant struggled, it was no use.
"What do you think you’re doing? Ethan Ellsworth, are you insane? Let go of me!" she screamed hoarsely.
Seeing her look at him as if he were a demon, his voice grew cold, his eyes bloodshot. "I am crazy! I must be crazy to have been in love with you for so many years! Everyone knows about it, except you! Jean, even if you were made of stone, you should have warmed up by now. Why do you still not know?"
Jean Grant was dumbstruck. Catching her breath, she stared in disbelief. "What did you say? You... you’re in love with me?"
Ethan Ellsworth shot back, "If I wasn’t in love with you, do you really think I’d have the time to meddle in your life so much?"
But Jean Grant didn’t get it. "Are you just looking for a change of pace? I’m sorry, but I don’t like you. So, please, don’t like me, and stop disturbing my life, okay?"
Ethan Ellsworth had prepared himself for this, but hearing the words from her own mouth still hurt him deeply.
The little girl he’d watched grow up since middle school was truly grown now.
Seeing him frozen in a daze, Jean Grant wrenched her hand free. He didn’t chase her. He just stood there, a profound ache seeping through him, coursing to every nerve ending as he watched her figure quickly disappear through the doorway.
He finally ran outside, only to see them kissing. Marlon Marshall had appeared at some point, and Jean Grant was facing him, her back to Ethan.
In that moment, Ethan Ellsworth felt like a pathetic clown. The most ridiculous part was that he just stood there and watched the entire kiss, from beginning to end.
He didn’t know whether to walk past them or stay rooted to the spot.
Finally, the kiss ended. Jean Grant linked her arm through Marlon Marshall’s and murmured, "Let’s go."
The two turned, not sparing Ethan Ellsworth a glance.
Standing behind a car not far away was Chloe Marshall. She watched Jean Grant and Marlon Marshall walk into the distance before slowly stepping forward.
"Boss Ellsworth."
Ethan Ellsworth seemed to snap back to reality. "What are you doing here?"
Chloe Marshall grinned. "I was just taking a walk by myself and happened to end up here."
Ethan Ellsworth reached out and pinched her cheek. "Silly girl, you’ve lost weight. There’s no meat on your cheeks anymore."
Chloe Marshall rubbed her face. "Boss Ellsworth has lost weight, too. Your jawline is so much sharper."
Ethan Ellsworth rubbed his chin and gave a faint smile. "Is that so? I’ve been in a bad mood lately. Since you’re here, come on. Have a few drinks with me."
Chloe Marshall replied with forced cheerfulness, "Okay!"
They went to a private room and sat quietly side by side. They ordered several bottles of wine, poured two full glasses, clinked them together, and downed them.
As they drank more, Ethan Ellsworth’s true emotions started to surface.
He swirled the wine glass in front of him. His eyelids felt as heavy as lead; it looked like they might close at any second, but they never did.
Chloe rested her head on her arms on the table to watch him, her own mind growing fuzzy.
"Boss Ellsworth, do you feel like crying?"
He flicked her on the forehead. "Silly girl, I—I’m—the famous Ethan Ellsworth. How—could I—possibly—cry?"
Chloe Marshall clutched her forehead. "That hurts."
He downed his drink in one gulp. His vision blurred, and the Chloe in front of him morphed into the image of Jean Grant. "Good. It’s supposed to hurt. Do you have any idea how much my heart hurts?"
Chloe Marshall sat up straight. "Boss Ellsworth, I know."
"You don’t know! How could you? If you knew, you wouldn’t have—you wouldn’t have said those things to me! Jean, do you have any idea how much I love you? I love you so much it feels like my heart is about to be ripped in two."
Chloe’s expression sobered. She just looked at him, saying nothing.
"Why aren’t you talking?" Ethan Ellsworth set down his glass and let out a wild laugh. The sight was so jarring that Chloe had to turn her head away, not knowing what to say.
He turned to her—to the woman he saw as Jean Grant. "I’m asking you, why aren’t you talking? What exactly is so good about that kid? How is he better than me?"
Chloe found it hard to speak. "He’s not as good as you."
"Then why do you want him and not me?"
Chloe felt a surge of resentment at being used as a substitute.
"I’ll choose you, not him. There, is that what you want to hear?"
Ethan Ellsworth leaned closer to her. "Then prove it. Show me you want me, right now, and I’ll believe you."
