Ethan’s face turned an rming shade of green with fury.
He red at Ste, gritting his teeth. “Ste!”
“Shout louder! Go ahead. Without hesitation, Ste pped him hard across the other side of his <b>face</b>,
<b>Ethan’s </b>anger boiled, but he couldn’t even manage a sound.
Seeing that he wasn’t shouting <b>anymore</b>, Ste crossed her arms <b>and </b>looked at him with a steady gaze. “What’s wrong with you? Now, the whole of Rivermount knows we’ve called off the engagement, and you stille looking for me? And why do you care about how many men I have? What does it matter to you? From here to Rome, there’s no chance for you. What, do you want to eat me up or something?”
<b>Ethan’s </b>anger surged to a boiling point.
Ste added, “Besides, marriage is about freedom, right? What’s all this? Just because we were engaged, does that mean I lose my right to choose freely?”
She kept talking, and Ethan couldn’t get <b>a </b>word in. She just wouldn’t stop…
Wait, why does it feel like her lips were swollen? Ethan wasn’t some <b>naive </b>young man <b>a </b>what had happened with her lips.
anymore, and he immediately understood
The fire in his eyes grew even more intense. “How long have you been with that man? Did you sleep together? What did you do?
Ste answered, “Hey, what’s wrong with you?”
He was throwing filthy usations at her. Without <b>a </b>second thought, Ste kicked at Ethan. This time<b>, </b>Ethan was quick enough to dodge and didn’t let her seed.
Ten minutester.
Ethan followed Ste into the studio, ncing around. He could immediately tell the studio had been running for a while. It was a sizable operation–definitely more than just a small project.
He <b>hadn’t </b>expected this woman to have such connections behind the scenes. Seven million in one year?That isn’t small change. Especially for someone in their early twenties like Ste.
Kimmy poured Ethan a cup of coffee<b>, </b>sensing the tense atmosphere, and quickly excused herself.
Now, it was just Ste and Ethan. She <b>crossed </b>her arms and looked at him, unbothered
Ethan spoke up, “This studio <b>is </b>closing down<b>.” </b>
“<b>What</b>? Closing down?”
Ethan said, “Cut ties with that man”
“What do you mean? Ste <b>looked </b><b>at </b>him, <b>confused </b>by his words.
“I mean exactly what <b>I </b><b>said</b>. Neither the Keene family nor the Reed family needs <b>you </b><b>or </b>yourself.”
out there trying to make a name for
“Close it down<b>‘ </b><b>Just </b>so these two families can <b>support </b>me? 20 thousand a month? <b>How </b><b>generous</b><b>. </b>
That 20 thousand might be enough in a smaller city. But <b>Rivermount</b>? It was <b>a </b>ce wherend was valuable, and everything. including prices, was high. Living frugally didn’t even begin to cut it here.
Ethan, now frustrated, lit a cigarette. Don’tpare yourself to Lillian. Our personal issues have nothing to do with her
10:08 AM c
through her.
“I’ll marry you. You’ll be Mrs. Keene.”
Ste was stunned. Wait, what? is this guy out of his mind after taking two ps earlier?
“You’ll marry me?”
“Isn’t <b>that </b><b>what </b>you’ve always wanted?”
+8 Pearls
At that moment, Ethan cast aside all his doubts. There was a voice inside him saying that he needed to marry Ste. He <b>had </b>to marry her. Nothing could stand in their way.
Ste hissed, “I thought you were here to talk to me about Lillian.”
Marriage? Is this guy for real?
Ethan was speechless.
The mention of “Lillian‘ <b>snapped </b><b>him </b>back <b>to </b>reality. Oh right, he was here to talk about Lillian.
Eddie, Rianne… These two were crucial to Lillian’s situation, and it seemed like everything was in Ste’s <b>hands</b>. <b>Ethan </b>gripped his cigarette harder.
“Eddie and Rianne, what will it take for them to join the medical team?”
Ste smiled.
There it was. Now, that is why he came to her.
Ste took a sip of her water. “You’ve been threatening me all along, and now what is <b>this</b><b>?</b>”
Ethan remained silent.
His eyes narrowed. He knew Ste was bringing up old issues.
Ste <b>said</b>, “First, you cut off my finances. Then, you made sure I couldn’t find a job. <b>Now </b>let me guess, if you don’t get what you want from me today, the next step is to use this studio to threaten me, right?”
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