ced his expression and

t got here and you're already

pable. Ethan belonged to the absolute top tier, and the men surrounding him s

ed him a gl

d relaxed posture, he exud

e? I heard she's

ecret, and it wouldn't be long before

hem on the table before settling back into the s

nows exactly why this marriage

e subject entirely. Tonight, it wasn

woman he'd met a

rdly in private. She'd acted completely inexperienc

chatting freely, the conversation inevitabl

But this time, despite himsel

innocent card? What did you

the hospital, I would've actually married her. The kid she was carrying wasn't even m

this were nothing n

ou want to see. What's the term... a targeted strategy? And hell, who knows-maybe th

htened slightly

nd, her gaze lowered. The memory of the

l still t

Bryson, still insisting, begging him to come do

y are you ta

back slightly, putting a clear distance b

usiness. And stop trying to pu

circle had particular tastes, but he had always kept his distance. It had never interested him. Yet, in recent years, Bryson seeme

went out of my way to find her. I th

n wasn't opposed to keeping her around for his own projects. Af

le reason, Ethan's

better off taking an internship at the Blackwood Group. Your m

struck speechless. Before he could even

. He turned toward Elena, looking thoroughly annoyed. She didn't

ps Mr. Blackwood already has a specific vision in mind. After all, if this villa i

sighed

e's just like that.

d her professio

how to create the right opportunities. M

to him directly later. And if he really doesn't need you... wou

aint smile and ex

Thank you fo

ther call. After exchanging a

Leave me your number,

tact information. Once it was saved in h

and Barrett remai

for the evening. His face was flushed, and he

r," he muttered, his w

contract for her, and she was deeply grateful. Besides

you, Ba

eeting had faded, the alcohol

n married for a year, and his wife was notoriously j

to his feet, then guided him toward the

ett mumbled incohere

ke that... You exhaust me... Can

was still arguing wit

his weight while maintain

e stumbled, nearly taking a spi

ed hand reached out from inside the

look

ollided wi

about to speak cau

since yesterday, she kept running into him. Was i

e- her practically holding Bar

t fl

his posture was relaxed, but his face remai

f contempt in his eyes. The atmosphere in

to the elevator, then replied in a

nfused complaint, "Money, always money

himself to the bone to keep the studio running, but everythi

ed his outburst felt ev

lance at them, his eyes

cli

dy judging her harshly enough as it was; if he found out the head of the studio was getting bl

ply gave a

ackwood. What

second, Ethan wondered if he had completely misinterpreted the situation,

ing like a statue one wouldn'

wanted to secure the studio's future. Since entering the workforce, she had learned to swallow her pride whe

peals to you," she ventured. "I can adapt to your preferences. And if y

words exactly what he thou

nswering, his question pointedly off-topic,

rised. Was he worried she wa

. "I prioritize quality. If I take on your project, I won't accept anything else for a while. I

without a shred

t inter

a didn't try to stop him. She still had to take care of

istance from her. Aside from his slight misstep ea