Chapter 144: Chapter 142: He Really Wanted to Slap This Idiot to Death (Part 1)
"Alright. Since it’s come to this, if she wants to get married, then let her have her wish."
Mrs. Grant said nothing, closing her eyes in silence.
After arriving at the beverage company in Breyfall, they immediately signed the contract. They shot a series of scenes in the studio and then moved to an outdoor location. Although it was her first time working with Ethan Ellsworth, the two had excellent chemistry.
The day’s shoot wrapped up, and around five or six in the evening, they took a flight back to Alveria.
By the time they deplaned, night had already fallen, cloaking the city in a hazy gloom.
Ethan Ellsworth suggested they all grab dinner before heading home. They went to a hotel, booked a private room, and gathered around the table.
"Nora, once this commercial with you and Boss Ellsworth comes out, I guarantee your popularity will shoot up."
"That’s because your Boss Ellsworth is just too popular," Nora Ainsworth said with a smile. While they waited for the food, she opened two bottles of red wine and filled everyone’s glasses. "Cheers."
Everyone clinked their glasses together and downed their drinks.
After eating, Ethan Ellsworth, Chloe Marshall, and Nora Ainsworth left first, leaving the assistants and agents to continue the meal.
As they walked out, who should they run into but Jasmine Walsh.
"Nora Ainsworth!"
The trio stopped in their tracks. Nora retorted, "What is it?"
"You’ve got nine lives, don’t you? Anyway, is this Ethan Ellsworth?"
Nora confirmed it. "Yes, it is. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving now."
She turned to leave, but Jasmine Walsh grabbed her arm. "Nora Ainsworth, wait a minute."
"If you have something to say, then say it."
"So Ethan Ellsworth is the man backing you? No wonder you got into the Devil’s Training Camp. I’d heard he and the Boss were good friends. So that’s how you... Hey, wait! Don’t go! I’m not finished!" Jasmine Walsh shouted, chasing after the trio as they walked away.
The trio stepped into an elevator, and Jasmine Walsh followed them inside.
"I knew it," she prattled on. "Everyone said you got in through connections, and it looks like they were right."
Nora glared at her. "Jasmine Walsh, don’t you ever get tired of hearing yourself talk?"
"I’m not annoying. I just wanted to ask, have you seen the Boss in the past few days?"
"No!"
"Then do you have her phone number?"
Nora’s answer was still a flat, "No!"
She reached for Nora Ainsworth’s purse. "Let me check and see."
Nora struck first, aiming a blow at Jasmine’s chin. Jasmine dodged, and Nora quickly handed her purse to Chloe Marshall. The two of them started fighting right there in the cramped elevator.
Finally, Ethan Ellsworth stuck out his foot and tripped Jasmine Walsh, who landed with a THUD on both knees in front of Nora Ainsworth.
"It’s not New Year’s yet, Miss Walsh. You don’t get any gift money for kowtowing right now."
Jasmine Walsh scrambled up from the floor, seething with rage. "Who just tripped me?!"
Nora shrugged, looking over at Chloe Marshall and Ethan Ellsworth. "Who tripped her?"
Smiling, they both shook their heads in unison.
To Jasmine Walsh, this looked like they were all ganging up on her.
"Nora Ainsworth, I’ll dig up all your dirty secrets sooner or later, and then I’ll expose you to the press!"
"I don’t need to do any digging to know all about you," Nora said calmly. "Your little stunt of joining the Devil’s Training Camp just to get to the Boss would probably make a nice headline, too."
Jasmine scoffed. The moment the elevator doors opened, she strode out quickly on her high heels.
The three of them exchanged glances, then broke into smiles. They got out of the elevator, walked through the hotel lobby, and saw Nora to the door.
"Aren’t you two going to come up for a bit?"
Ethan waved her off. "I’ll come by tomorrow. I’m too tired today."
Nora nodded. "Alright then. Drive safe."
She turned around and saw a tall figure standing by the main entrance.
"What are you doing standing out here in the middle of the night?"
Quentin Grant pulled her into an embrace. "Waiting for you, of course. When you’re not home, I’m all alone, and it just feels... wrong."
Nora hugged him back. "Can you give me a piggyback ride? I don’t want to walk."
Quentin Grant looked at her with adoration, then crouched down. "Okay."
Nora climbed onto his back and wrapped her arms around his neck, suddenly feeling a wave of happiness wash over her. "Let’s go."
Quentin Grant ran into the living room with her on his back. Hearing the couple’s laughter, the usually stoic Men in Black all broke into wide smiles.
He ran all the way to the second-floor bedroom before putting Nora down. She flopped onto the bed. "I’m exhausted. What if I don’t want to take a shower?"
"It’s fine if you don’t shower, but you should still soak your feet. You’ll sleep better." He took off her high heels and walked into the bathroom.
A moment later, he came out with a basin of hot water and placed it at Nora’s feet.
He crouched down, gently removed her socks, and eased both of her feet into the hot water.
Quentin lowered his head and began to wash her feet with his hands. Nora felt a wave of soothing comfort, her mind growing hazy.
By the time he finished, he saw that she had fallen asleep.
He set the basin aside, gently shifted her into position on the bed, and pulled the covers over her.
Standing by the bed, Quentin Grant felt for the first time that ’just being able to see her is a form of happiness, too.’
Ethan Ellsworth had just parked the car a short distance from Chloe Marshall’s house when his phone started ringing nonstop.
As soon as he answered, Mrs. Ellsworth’s excited, booming voice rattled on without a pause, "Ellsworth! I heard from Grant that she wanted to set you up with their Jean, but you refused and said you already have a girlfriend! One who’s supposed to be even more outstanding than Jean, right? Well, bring her home for your mother to have a look!"
Ethan held the phone away from his ear, his voice taking on an uncharacteristically cheerful tone. "Mom, how about some other day?"
Mrs. Ellsworth wasn’t having it. "You two must be together right now, so bring her home! If you don’t, I’ll send people to drag you both back here!"
Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose. "Mom, do you have to be this impulsive?"
"Of course! Do you know about the bet I made with Hawthorne?"
"What kind of bet?" Ethan braced himself, not wanting to hear anything too dramatic.
"We bet on which of our sons would get married first and who would have a grandchild first!" Mrs. Ellsworth laughed gleefully. "I think she’s going to lose this time."
"Mom, how childish can you be?"
"I don’t care! I’m waiting for you at home right now. If you don’t come back, I’ll kill myself!" The line went dead, leaving a dial tone buzzing in Ethan’s ear.
Ethan put his phone away and looked over at Chloe Marshall in the passenger seat. "You’re coming home with me first."
Since Chloe hadn’t heard the phone call, she was taken aback. "What?"
Ethan pulled a thousand yuan from his wallet. "Be my girlfriend for a night. A thousand for the act."
Chloe Marshall took the money and nodded. "If your mother hates me—"
Ethan gave a casual smile. "She’s supposed to hate you. She always wanted a daughter-in-law like Jean Grant. She was hoping you’d be even more outstanding than her, so she’s in for a disappointment this time."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Chloe Marshall’s face, and she said nothing more.
「At the Ellsworth Residence.」
Mrs. Ellsworth heard the car arrive and, having been waiting with bated breath, immediately came out of the living room.
When the two of them reached the living room, she glanced behind them and then said angrily, "I told you to bring your girlfriend home. So where is she?"
Ethan slung a long arm around Chloe Marshall, pulling her into his embrace. "Isn’t she right here?"
Mrs. Ellsworth’s eyes went wide. Ethan thought she would be angry, but to his surprise, she was incredibly enthusiastic. "So my son’s been hiding a secret lover all this time! You really are my son! And to think you made poor Chloe act as your assistant... you little rascal, you’re too much! Come on, Chloe, hurry inside!"
