Chapter 1736:


    When Elsa arrived home and found the living room empty, she knew Ethan was still out. She picked up her phone and called him, but the line rang without an answer. Several attemptster, he finally picked up. Her voice exploded through the line. “Why would you give that house to Shari? Have youpletely lost your mind? Is she your real mother now?”


    Ethan was seated in a private room at dinner with Gerardo when the call came through. His reply was measured and calm. “About the internships for Brindleton Girls’ School—I’ve agreed to arrange them.”


    Some of the fury drained from Elsa’s voice at that. “Do you want to drive me mad? I don’t care if you throw your own money away—but handing things over to your father and Shari feels like a p in the face to me. They don’t deserve it. So tell me: when are you taking that house back?”


    Shari couldn’t shake Elsa’sment about Ethan despising her. It simply didn’t add up. Every time she saw Ethan, he treated her with courtesy—he even brought expensive health supplements whenever he visited. Elsa had probably said it just to get under her skin.


    Noticing how distracted she seemed, Emmett walked over with a te of fresh fruit. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”


    Shari let the thought go. She told herself she shouldn’t care so much about it. Ethan wasn’t her biological child, so did it really matter whether he liked her or not? As long as they kept things civil between them, that was enough. Whenever she needed money and he handed it over without a fuss—that was all she truly cared about. Hoping he would one day treat her like a real mother? That was absurd.


    “It’s nothing,” she said. “The doctor says both babies are doing well. I’m just trying toe up with names for them.”


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    “No rush.” Emmett set the fruit on the table and stepped outside to call Ethan.


    Ethan had only just hung up with Elsa when Emmett’s number appeared on his screen. These two were going to be the death of him.


    “Dad, can we make this quick? I’m in the middle of a meeting,” he said, making clear he had no patience for a long conversation.


    Emmett got straight to the point. “Can you ask your mother to stop showing up at my ce?”


    “That’s your problem, not mine,” Ethan replied without hesitation. “Deal with it yourself. If it’s really that unbearable, just move back to your old house.” He ended the call before Emmett could respond.


    He wanted no part in his parents’ quarrels. They were impossible to reason with, and neither of them ever listened.


    Emmett was left staring at his phone, seething.


    Elsa, meanwhile, was no better off. She had been waiting at home for Ethan, but even by ten at night he hadn’t returned. Brenna was still away on a business trip. With no one to vent to, Elsa sat alone with her anger, and the longer she sat, the worse it got.


    The next day came and went. Even as noon rolled around, Elsa remained in the house, sulking in silence. She had no appetite and skipped lunch entirely.


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