Chapter 156: Chapter 154: You Are My Woman, Of Course I’ll Dote on You (Part 5)
The shoot went smoothly. Nora Ainsworth and Ethan Ellsworth had great chemistry, and since they were already friends, they finished filming in a single afternoon.
They watched the footage and were very pleased. Nora stared at the image of herself and Ethan on screen, feeling a little mesmerized.
’Portraying the sweet moments on screen wasn’t actually that hard,’ she thought. ’The real difficulty was the distance between their two hearts.’
Just as they were about to head to the airport, they ran into the actress who was originally cast as the female lead for the music video.
She flew into a rage out of humiliation. "Ethan Ellsworth, you and the director are really something else."
Ethan’s expression turned cold. "Shaw, what’s with the attitude? Just because you won’t do the part doesn’t mean you can stop a newcomer from taking it."
She turned to stand in front of Nora Ainsworth. "A mere newcomer, and you dare to steal a role from me. I hear I’ll also be in your company’s new show. You’d better watch your back."
Nora knew she was a famous actress but couldn’t recall her name.
"Ethan, what was her name again?"
"I bet you’re the only person in Alveria who can’t remember her name. Madam Shaw."
Nora’s mouth twitched. "Madam? I think that’s the name."
"That’s why I never call her by her name. The crew also makes sure to use her surname when addressing her. Choosing that stage name was just disrespectful."
Hearing Madam Shaw’s threat, Nora grew wary. ’Watch my back? We’ll see about that.’
When they traveled out of town for work and returned the same day, it was usually dark by the time they got back.
Nora Ainsworth and Zeke Marshall headed back first, while Chloe Marshall went with Ethan Ellsworth to visit the Ellsworth Family again.
She had gone in a hurry and empty-handed last time. This time, Chloe felt that even though the Ellsworth Family was very wealthy and lacked nothing, she still wanted to show a token of her sincerity.
A few days prior, she had bought several types of yarn and knitted a beautiful scarf that looked even better than the ones sold in stores.
So she made a special trip home to get it before they went.
As soon as Mrs. Ellsworth heard they were at the door, she hurried out of the living room to greet them.
Seeing that she was really there, Mrs. Ellsworth rushed forward and grabbed Chloe Marshall’s hand. "It’s been days! We’ve missed you. Chloe, hurry and come in."
Chloe handed her the gift. "Mrs. Ellsworth, I don’t have much money, but this is for you. I hope you like it. It’s not worth much, but it’s the thought that counts."
Mrs. Ellsworth looked at the scarf, took it, and wrapped it around her neck, praising it effusively. She looked up at Chloe and asked, "This is lovely. Did you knit it yourself?"
Chloe nodded. "I didn’t bring you a gift last time, Mrs. Ellsworth. I know you don’t need anything, so I went to a yarn shop, bought some supplies, and knitted this after work. It might not be as good as a store-bought one, but I hope you like it."
Mrs. Ellsworth beamed. "I love it. It’s much prettier than the store-bought ones. Chloe, you’re so deft and clever with your hands."
Seeing his mother’s excitement, Ethan felt a warmth spread through him. He hadn’t seen the Empress Dowager this happy in a long time. It was just a scarf; he knew for a fact that his mother had at least seven or eight priceless ones in her closet, if not ten. But a simple gift given with heartfelt sincerity was different.
The three of them entered the living room, where Ethan’s younger sister, Zoe Ellsworth, a college freshman, happened to be home.
"Come, Chloe, let me introduce you," Mrs. Ellsworth said. "This is Ellsworth’s younger sister, Zoe. She went to high school abroad, so she hasn’t been around much."
Chloe smiled at Zoe and greeted her, "Hi, Zoe."
Zoe shot her a sidelong glance. "And who are you? Don’t tell me you’re the girlfriend my mom’s been raving about?"
’Looking at her explosive hairstyle,’ Chloe thought, ’she reminds me of my brother. Probably not a big fan of school, either.’
Before she could reply, Mrs. Ellsworth cut in, displeased. "What is that tone? Sit up straight and greet your sister-in-law properly."
Zoe sat up a little straighter and looked at her mother. "Seriously, Mom? This is the daughter-in-law you’ve been praising to the high heavens? She’s dressed so shabbily. Is that stuff from a street stall?"
Chloe felt a little stung and didn’t say anything.
Ethan frowned. "Did you spend so many years abroad that you’ve forgotten how to act now that you’re back home?"
Zoe laughed. "If Mom hadn’t insisted I go to college locally, I wouldn’t have wanted to come back."
Mrs. Ellsworth snorted. "You don’t want to be back? Fine. But true independence means you don’t ask the family for money. You call Chloe’s clothes cheap? I’m telling you, if I exiled you for three days, you’d be so hungry your stomach would be stuck to your spine. You shouldn’t mock people who are working hard to get by."
Zoe protested, "Mom, am I your biological daughter or not?"
Mrs. Ellsworth answered bluntly, "You were adopted. Chloe is my real daughter."
"Mom!" Zoe said, a little angry. "I just said a couple of things about her! Look at you. Your son is so exceptional; you’re not actually afraid he won’t be able to find a daughter-in-law, are you?"
Mrs. Ellsworth picked up a piece of fruit and handed it to Chloe Marshall. "Chloe, here, have some fruit."
Then she glared at Zoe. "I’m not worried about finding a daughter-in-law. Plenty of women want to be with Ellsworth. But I am scared. I’m scared your brother will bring home a woman just like you. I’ve spoiled you rotten. Look at what you’ve become! You don’t know how to do anything, you eat and spend the family’s money, and you can’t earn a single cent, yet you still laugh at other people."
Upon hearing this, Zoe, instead of getting angry, deflated like a popped balloon. "Mom, I’ll change all those bad habits from now on."
Mrs. Ellsworth clearly didn’t believe her. "You’ve said that countless times. There’s a reason they say you’re known by the company you keep. I want you to cut ties with those good-for-nothing friends of yours. Your brother used to be my biggest headache because he wouldn’t find a girlfriend. Now, all I have left to worry about is you. So try to behave."
Chloe could tell that while Zoe’s words were harsh, she wasn’t a bad person at heart.
"By the way, sis, how did you and my brother meet?"
Chloe smiled. "I’m his assistant."
Zoe’s jaw dropped as she stared at Ethan. "Bro, don’t rabbits know not to eat the grass by their own burrows? How could you make a move on your own assistant?"
Mrs. Ellsworth was mortified and gave her a light swat. "This girl! Watch your mouth!"
Zoe giggled. "Sis, don’t take what I said before to heart. I just never expected my brother would get together with you."
"I didn’t take it to heart," Chloe replied. "I can tell you’re a kind person. You just have a bit of a sharp tongue."
Hearing this, Zoe felt a growing fondness for her quiet, future sister-in-law.
"She talks to Mom and Dad like that all the time. Absolutely no filter, and she can insult people better than anyone. Just a little brat, spoiled since she was a kid," Ethan chimed in.
Mrs. Ellsworth suddenly remembered something and hurried into the kitchen.
A moment later, she emerged with two steaming bowls and set them on the table.
Chloe and Ethan were dumbfounded. Just as they’d feared, she had stewed one of her "restorative" tonics again.
"Mom, you’re the best! You made me a tonic soup," Zoe exclaimed, reaching for a bowl.
Mrs. Ellsworth smacked her hand away. "Move aside. There’s none for you. This is for your brother and sister-in-law."
Zoe took a closer look, then burst out laughing. "Oh, it’s a ’kidney-strengthening’ soup. Never mind, I guess I don’t need it."
