<h4>Chapter 276: Rivals in Love Everywhere</h4>


    Leah’s smile faltered slightly, and she let out a soft sigh. "E, honestly, you don’t have to hold onto the grudges from the previous generation. We don’t want your shares—really!"


    E was speechless. How could she not know the Carter family’s greedy ambitions?


    Without a word, she sidestepped Leah, refusing to give her another nce. The Carter Group had suffered plenty of setbacks already, so Leah wasn’t likely to make any rash moves. But that didn’t stop her from showing up now and then just to irritate E.


    Meanwhile, Chloe had be inseparable from Mason since that night. No matter how much E tried to warn her, Chloe wouldn’t listen.


    August.


    Eric had been on a business trip for five days now.


    E was beyond frustrated; every day felt like an eternity. She missed him so much she felt like she was going crazy! She longed for the sound of his voice, craved the warmth of his embrace.


    During a break between sses, E called Eric. He told her he’d be back the day after tomorrow.


    "Baby, can’t sleep at night because you miss me, right?" Eric’szy, sultry voice flowed through the phone. E could picture his throat bobbing as he spoke, his seductive eyes, and she sighed softly. "Yeah, I miss you a lot."


    E wasn’t the type to hold back, and she admitted her feelings without hesitation.


    Ericughed like a giddy kid, and E’s own sour mood lifted just hearing him so happy.


    "Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you when I get back."


    "Eric!" E said with amusement, "Alright, I won’t bother you anymore. I’ve got ss soon."


    She stood by the window, gazing at a nearby tree. It wasn’t the same tree from her high school’s back hill, but whenever she saw trees, her heart softened with memories.


    "You hang up first," Eric teased, his voice smooth and sweet like a breeze over a piano.


    "Okay, goodbye, Eric... I love you," she whispered thest three words, and after hanging up, her face flushed red.


    "E, someone’s here to see you!" Lauren called from outside.


    E looked toward the door and frowned.


    A man, dressed in a white casual outfit, was standing there, looking at her longingly.


    Her ssmates immediately started teasing her. "E, your charm is off the charts again!"


    "Yeah, E, it’s so unfair! You already have Mr. Nelson, and now you’ve got another handsome guy after you!"


    The jokes were all in good fun, but E rolled her eyes. "Well, if he’s so great, he’s all yours!"


    Her ssmates burst intoughter, but E stayed put, refusing to go outside.


    Brandon’s eyes were filled with hope as he stared at her, but E simply turned her back, not even sparing him a nce.


    Realizing he wasn’t getting anywhere, Brandon handed a letter to Lauren and walked away silently.


    Lauren, clearly excited, ran over with the letter, acting as if she were the one receiving it. "E! That cute guy wrote you a letter! It’s gotta be a love letter!"


    "You took the letter, so it’s yours to read or tear up," E replied with a cold smirk. She knew that the painting Brandon had gifted Sean wasn’t even his own work; she had secretlymissioned a friend of hers, a professional painter, to create it.


    She had no intention of seeking Brandon’s help for anything ever again. If he thought he could pull some trick, she wouldn’t let him get away with it so easily.


    "Ohe on, E, that’s so heartless! He worked hard to write you a letter!" Lauren said, sounding a bit disappointed.


    Before Lauren could say more, Damien from their ss snatched the letter. "E, if you’re not gonna read it, I’ll read it for you!"


    E’s face turned red with anger, imagining the cringe-worthy, cheesy lines Brandon had probably written. She shot up from her seat. "Damien, give me that letter right now!"


    "Oh, didn’t you say it wasn’t yours? Since Lauren received it, it’s hers, right? Why should it matter to you if I read her letter?" Damien teased with a sly grin.


    E snorted coldly. "Damien, aren’t you into Chloe? If you keep messing around, I might just tell her all your embarrassing secrets!"


    Damien’s face turned red, and he quickly handed the letter back to E, obediently falling silent.


    But before E could even grab it, another boy snatched the letter away, and the group of boys started egging him on to open and read it aloud.


    E was caught betweenughing and crying. A whole group of boys against her—there was no way she could get the letter back by force.


    "Sorry about this, E... they’re just being mischievous," Damien said sheepishly, scratching his head.


    "You’re the mischievous one!" E retorted, her face darkening with frustration. Damien, seeing her growing anger, rushed over to try and wrestle the letter from the other boys.


    But he was outnumbered, and before long, he was pushed aside. The boy with the letter had already torn it open and began reading aloud.


    "’Dear E, I actually returned from Country W just to see you, but you haven’t even given me a chance to talk...’"


    The ssroom erupted inughter.


    "Hahaha... what a sad, lovesick puppy!"


    "E, he sounds so pitiful!"


    The ssmates continued joking, but E decided to let it go. Whatever Brandon wrote had nothing to do with her anymore—it wasn’t like this was a love letter from Eric.


    The bell rang, signaling the start of ss, and everyone calmed down. The boy handed the letter back to E. "E, if he’s not up to your standards, maybe give me a shot!"


    "Get lost!" E replied, her voice sharp, sending the group into another round ofughter.


    Before the teacher arrived, E quickly pulled out her phone and sent Damien a message: "Chloe has a boyfriend now. If you’re serious about her, it’s time to step up and confess."


    Damien’s eyes widened as he read the message,pletely dumbfounded.


    Chloe, his Chloe, had a boyfriend? How could that be? Who would dare make a move on her?


    Sometimes, love really is about timing and luck.


    ...


    Meanwhile, far away in another country, Eric had just finished dinner and was leisurely walking back to his hotel.


    A stunning blonde woman approached him and asked if he’d like to join her for a movie.


    Eric smiled politely and pointed to the ring on his finger. "Sorry, miss, I’m married."


    The woman smiled, a little disappointed, and bid him a friendly farewell.


    This kind of thing happened to Eric seven or eight times a day, and it reminded him that he still owed E a proper wedding. Spurred by the thought, he went to a famous jewelry store to pick out a special diamond ring. It was a token of his love for her now, but for their wedding, he wouldmission a more unique design for their wedding bands.


    When Eric returned to his hotel, he opened his suitcase, getting ready to take a shower. As he pulled out his pajamas, a piece of paper gently fluttered to the ground.


    "Eric, no flirting with other women! Or else I might find someone new myself!"


    Seeing the note, Eric burst intoughter.


    That mischievous girl! Alwaysing up with clever ways to remind him that she was his wife.


    And there, nestled in his suitcase, were some of E’s clothes—her underwear and all. Every time he took a shower, memories of her would flood his mind. It was like drinking fine wine—sweet, fragrant, and lingering long after. Happiness filled his heart, as the thought of her left him feeling content and loved.