?Chapter 1568:


    Ethan opened their chat and flicked through the photos, his face betraying no emotion. “Yeah, I see them now. Brenna’s having lunch with Darwin. If that’s all you want to show me, I need to hang up now. My business partners are waiting, and I don’t want to be rude.”


    Elsa was stunned. “You saw your girlfriend eating with another man, and you’re okay with it?”


    Ethan understood her implication but didn’t buy into her concern. The man in the photos was Darwin—someone he’d shared a meal with just the day before.


    Darwin was a gentleman with a sharp business mind, not some yboy.


    “They’re just eating, not sneaking off somewhere private. What’s the issue?” Ethan replied, his voice steady.


    Elsa was shocked. “Brenna is your girlfriend, out with another man! That doesn’t bother you?”


    “No. I have to go.” Ethan ended the call, his brow creasing.


    Elsa stared at her phone, utterly baffled. How could her son be so nonchnt about this? Was he really fine with his girlfriend possibly betraying him?


    Her voice rose in disbelief as she eximed, “He is okay with Brenna potentially cheating? They’re already sharing a meal—what’s to stop them from taking it further?”


    Fuming, she tried calling Ethan again, but Ethan didn’t answer. Her anger boiled over.


    As soon as Ethan stepped through the door of his ce that evening, Elsa walked over, unleashing a torrent ofints.


    “Ethan, I’m telling you, Brenna is no good for you. You two are already engaged, and she’s out having lunch with another man? That is disloyalty! How can you just shrug it off? I went out of my way to discuss the wedding with her today, but she was downright rude to me.”


    Ethan slipped off his coat, passing it to a servant without a hint of reaction.


    Brenna had already filled him in on what had happened.


    And it was obvious Elsa was twisting the truth.


    gα?ησν????s is your fiction sanctuary


    Noticing his silence, Elsa seized his arm, shaking it. “Are you even listening to me?” she asked.


    Ethan remained quiet, striding upstairs to his room.


    Elsa followed, her tirade unrelenting. “I’m telling you, Brenna is trouble. She is headstrong, ignores everyone, and acts like the world should bow to her. Who does she think she is?”


    At his bedroom door, Ethan paused, his tall frame looming over Elsa, the dim hallway light softening his chiseled features. His tone was calm but resolute. “I know what happened today. Brenna is not the stubborn one—I’m the one supporting her decision. I’m not interested in those extravagant, meaningless ceremonies, either. We’re set on the destination wedding. I’ve already spoken with the Harper family, and the matter is settled.”


    Elsa’s anger surged. She had gone to great lengths to convince the Harper family to consider a grand wedding, but now Ethan was dismissing her efforts.


    Not only would the Harper family think she had no influence at home, but Ethan’s disregard was also maddening. All these years, he had never valued her input—it drove her to the brink.


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