Chapter 174: Chapter 172: Just Make Do with These Two Bucks (Part 1)
"You’re a good person, Chloe. Things will work out for you."
Chloe Marshall forced a smile, trying to console herself.
Quentin Grant went to Ethan Ellsworth’s room.
Ethan Ellsworth saw his grim expression and figured he must have hit another wall.
"You seem to get more determined with every setback."
Quentin Grant grabbed a bottle of red wine from the table and started chugging it. Ethan Ellsworth watched, dumbfounded.
"If you have something to say, just say it. What’s with the drinking?"
He put the bottle down and looked at Ethan Ellsworth. "I treat her so well. I’m completely devoted to her. Tell me, what am I doing wrong? She just refuses to be with me properly. I told her I’d marry her. Why is she still like this?"
Ethan Ellsworth sat down. "I know. You treat her very well. You called President Harding to get her smoothly into Zenith. You set her up with the apartment across from yours, and a car. You were worried she’d be overworked, so you even got her a personal driver and assistant. On set, Madam Shaw is about the only one who dares to say anything. No one else looks down on her. You did all that for her. But, Quentin, effort and reward are never directly proportional. It’s just like me and Jean."
After Ethan Ellsworth finished speaking, Quentin Grant fell silent.
Just when Ethan thought he wouldn’t say anything more, Quentin spoke. "I’m not like you. What I can’t have, no one else can either. If I can’t have her, I’ll destroy her with my own two hands and make her come begging to me."
He stood up. Realization dawned on Ethan Ellsworth. "Quentin, don’t do anything rash."
Quentin Grant stopped in his tracks. "I’m never rash. The woman I love can only belong to me."
Ethan Ellsworth watched his retreating back and sighed in frustration.
The next day, Ethan Ellsworth felt a little relieved to see Nora Ainsworth looking as composed as usual.
"Nora, last night Young Master Grant—"
Nora Ainsworth said thoughtfully, "We have nothing to do with each other anymore. It’s over and done with."
Ethan Ellsworth had no choice but to say, "Be careful after this show airs."
Nora Ainsworth was already on high alert. She nodded. "I know."
As she turned, she suddenly saw a long-unseen face: Sharon Ainsworth.
"What is she doing here?"
Ethan Ellsworth replied, "Rumor is she’s the third female lead. The TV station sent her over."
Nora Ainsworth was confused. "No one said anything beforehand."
"I only heard the director mention it yesterday. I just forgot to tell you."
Just as he finished speaking, a heavily made-up Sharon Ainsworth walked over.
"Nora Ainsworth, it’s been a while."
Seeing other people around, Nora Ainsworth couldn’t help but play along with a cheerful smile. "Hasn’t it? It’s only been a few days, but I’ve missed having you around."
Sharon Ainsworth felt a chill and shuddered. "Is that so?"
Nora Ainsworth said with a beaming smile, "Of course. I didn’t expect you to be the third female lead. You could say this role is you playing yourself."
Sharon Ainsworth’s expression changed, but she didn’t lash out. The third female lead was a vicious, evil woman. Wasn’t Nora Ainsworth’s comment a blatant way of calling her an evil woman?
"Whether I’m playing myself or not is unimportant. The key thing is, I’m a little curious." She leaned closer to Nora Ainsworth and whispered, "You haven’t even graduated from college, yet you’re already the female lead. I wonder how many connections you had to sleep your way through to climb this high."
Nora Ainsworth remained unfazed, also lowering her voice. "You don’t need that many connections. You just need one powerful person. Do you have what it takes?"
Sharon Ainsworth’s face turned livid. Although she was still smiling, her voice was practically grinding her teeth. "Nora Ainsworth, don’t get too cocky. Sooner or later, you’ll come crashing down."
"Even if that day comes, it won’t be you who brings me down. You can rest assured of that."
Sharon Ainsworth took two steps back, gave a small laugh, and walked over to sit under an umbrella.
’Before I come crashing down,’ Nora thought, ’I have to prepare an escape route for myself. Otherwise, I have no idea just how miserable my end will be.’
Ethan Ellsworth raised an eyebrow. "What was that sharp exchange about?"
"It’s like a palace drama between women. No matter what’s said, it’s always the same old thing." That’s how she described their conversation.
Ethan Ellsworth nodded in agreement. He glanced casually at Chloe Marshall and noticed she was also looking at him. "Give me that bottle of water."
Chloe Marshall nodded and trotted over to get a bottle of mineral water for him.
Usually, she would say to him with a beaming smile, "Boss Ellsworth, your water."
But since yesterday, she hadn’t been her normal self. Her little face rarely smiled, and she spoke so little it was pitiful. She barely opened her mouth unless it was absolutely necessary.
Ethan Ellsworth took it. Looking at her, he asked, "Idiot, what’s wrong with you?"
Chloe Marshall gave a very formal reply, "Nothing’s wrong. Please drink, Boss Ellsworth. They’re about to start shooting."
Ethan Ellsworth twisted it open, took a couple of sips, and said, "Are you sick?"
She shook her head. "I’m fine. Nothing’s wrong."
Ethan Ellsworth screwed the cap back on and handed it to her. "You’ve been all mopey these last two days. Don’t actually turn into an idiot, or I’ll have to fire you."
Chloe Marshall hummed in acknowledgment and gave him a smile. "I understand, Boss Ellsworth."
Seeing her smile, Ethan Ellsworth quickly averted his gaze. "Good that you know."
In the afternoon, a heavy rain started to fall, so the film crew wrapped up early and everyone returned to the hotel.
「At the entrance of Alveria University」, Zoe Ellsworth and a few friends came out from inside, holding umbrellas, and headed towards a well-known dance club.
As soon as they reached the entrance and closed their umbrellas, the group bounced and scurried inside.
They stopped in front of a table of handsome boys.
The boys were staring at the pole dancers without even blinking.
Zoe Ellsworth smacked one of the boys, who had an afro, on the head a few times. Chewing bubblegum, she said, "Hey, have you had your fill of staring yet?"
The boy turned and grinned at her. "Zoe."
Zoe Ellsworth shot him a disdainful glare. "Why don’t you just gouge your eyes out and stick them on that woman’s face?"
The other girls started to egg her on. "Zoe, go do a sexy dance for Jason Irving! It’s guaranteed to blow his mind."
Zoe Ellsworth was unfazed. "What’s so hard about that? This lady doesn’t make a move often, but when I do, none of you will be able to handle it."
She untied the jacket from around her waist, tossed it to one of her friends, and sprinted to the stage. Standing in front of the pole, she let out a whistle.
The crowd below immediately erupted in applause. Zoe Ellsworth reached up, undid her ponytail, and her hair instantly tumbled down.
Next, she took off her jacket, revealing a small tank top underneath, and began to move. The large hoop earrings on her ears danced along with her long hair.
With her enchanting figure and seductive moves under the flashing lights, it seemed she was born with the power to command attention.
Her lovely, charming face, so similar to Ethan Ellsworth’s, radiated endless allure.
The crowd below roared with approval.
Just as she was getting into it, a tall, slender figure strode toward her.
He grabbed her by the wrist, picked up her jacket from the floor, and quickly left.
A wave of disappointed sighs swept through the crowd.
Zoe Ellsworth’s friends looked at her official boyfriend, Jason Irving. "Who is that?"
Jason Irving stood up abruptly. "I don’t know."
Tossing out that curt reply, he headed in the direction Zoe had been taken. Her classmates exchanged confused glances and followed.
