Justin rose from his seat and walked around the table to Jane Sullivan, cradling her face in his hands, "It's not too late, just say the word, and I'll take you away."
Jane Sullivan knew Justin was serious.
The fact that he could carry her away in front of Ethan that night showed he was not afraid of Ethan at all.
But remembering Ethan's words, "Three years is too long, one year is enough."
It's only a year, she could endure it, there was no need to ruin the brotherhood between them.
She didn't want to be a disaster.
"Justin, I appreciate your help, but like you said, I've chosen my path, and I will follow it, whether it's right or wrong. This is my choice, even if I end up hurt all over, it's my own fault."
After hearing Jane Sullivan's words, Justin's extended arm slowly fell,
Because he felt the girl in front of him was too unfamiliar, not the Jane Sullivan who used to show her emotions.
Now, she was too good at pretending.
"Jane, remember, whenever you speak up, no matter where I am, I'll come back to take you away."
Then, he handed her a lighter with a pattern of the other shore flower, "This, is our promise."
Jane Sullivan only felt that the lighter looked quite expensive and had a unique floral pattern, but she didn't associate it with the other shore flower island mentioned before.
She took it as a normal lighter, nodded her head and took it, "Thank you, Justin."
Seeing her accept it without refusal, Justin rubbed her forehead, "Little girl, be happy."
If you're not happy, I'll definitely take you away.
——***
Justin first dropped Jane Sullivan off at Jade Garden, then returned to the Capital.
Benjamin specially arranged this meeting to resolve the misunderstanding between Justin and Ethan.
Justin pushed the door open and frowned slightly at the pungent smell of smoke, seeing Ethan exhaling smoke, his lips curled slightly, "Starting your nightlife early today?"
"Brother, you weren't busy today, so we invited him over early. You know, it's been a while since we three brothers gathered," Benjamin said as he poured a full glass of wine and handed it to Justin, "I heard you're planning to return to France?"
"I'm considering it."
Justin took the glass, sipped it, then glanced at Ethan, who was silent beside him. Seeing the scratches faintly visible under his collar, he felt a blockage in his heart.
He drank the whole glass in one go, picked up the bottle to refill, and approached Ethan, "I'm about to leave, won't you toast me?"
Ethan stood up, holding an empty glass, and as he bent over to pour the wine, he smelled the faint scent of jasmine on him, a familiar scent.
When the owner of this scent flashed in his mind, his smile suddenly stiffened,
"Before I leave, let me honor you with a toast, I'll go back first, you guys take your time."
Seeing Ethan leave, Benjamin also stood up, "Brother, where are you going? It's not even dark yet."
Ethan didn't answer and walked out with his coat.
Watching his hasty departure, a smug smile appeared on Justin's lips. He tilted his head back and drank, "Come on, Ziyan, fill it up, let's continue drinking."
Benjamin was puzzled. Normally Ethan would stay out late, but today he returned quite early. Justin, who usually resisted such gatherings, seemed happy this time.
What's wrong with them? Why have they changed roles?
**
When Ethan returned to Jade Garden at seven in the evening, he stood outside the courtyard smoking, hesitant to enter.
Looking through the fence, he saw Jane Sullivan sitting in a hanging chair, staring into the distance with an indifferent expression.
Ethan remembered the first time he met Jane Sullivan when she was about eight or nine years old.
At Doreen's birthday party, Jane Sullivan wore a princess dress and stood next to her, smiling innocently.
At that time, she and Doreen both followed him around, calling him "Uncle Four."
Especially Jane Sullivan, who shyly told Doreen, "Sweetie, your Uncle Four is so handsome."
Later, this shy little girl often came to the Grayson's house to play with Doreen, occasionally wandering around him.
But now, the maturely dressed Jane Sullivan with her nails painted red, her originally ear-length hair now permed into fluffy waves, heavily made up, and lazily resting her cheek in her hand while looking into the distance, stirred great annoyance in Ethan.
Especially, remembering the scent of Justin's cologne, which was the same scent that Jane Sullivan often wore, made Ethan's heart clench.
Maybe
noticing someone watching her, Jane Sullivan glanced towards the courtyard gate. Ethan's gaze met hers for a second before he looked away, returning to his usual indifference.
Chang Auntie was cooking. Seeing the usually late-coming young master return so early, she hurried to take out more ingredients from the fridge to cook.
"Chang Auntie, I've eaten in the afternoon," Jane Sullivan called from the stairway, telling her not to cook for her.
Ethan, carrying his coat, passed by her without intending to speak. But upon smelling the faint jasmine scent, he frowned deeply, took a few steps back, and looked down at Jane Sullivan, "Where have you been today?"
"Shopping, spending money," Jane Sullivan replied nonchalantly: "Splurging, after all, there's plenty of time and money."
"Who did you see?"
Confronted with Ethan's continued questioning, Jane Sullivan guessed he must have found out about her meeting with Justin.
So, with a hardened heart and clenched teeth, she bluntly answered, "Justin."
"Heh," Ethan chuckled coldly, his eyes filled with contempt. "So quick to forget my words? I told you not to have any contact with him!"
"Uncle Four, I'm sorry, I can't do that. You know, Justin has helped me a lot recently; he's a good person."
"Justin is a good person, so I'm the bad guy?" Staring straight into her unhidden bright eyes, he asked again: "Am I always just a bad man who thinks with his lower half, someone who can't resist any woman, in your eyes?"
"I didn't mean that."
Jane Sullivan knew Ethan was bothered by her previous claim of liking Justin and her deliberate ambiguous relationship with him.
"Uncle Four, rest assured, I will take care of my heart and body for these three years, unless our relationship ends, I will not maintain any ambiguous relationship with anyone I like."
"Again with the damn 'like'!" Ethan couldn't help but curse, "You've only met him a few times! And you keep talking about liking! Do you understand his background? Do you know his past? Blindly saying you like him is irresponsible towards your own feelings! You're being shallow! Understand?"
☆, 038 You Know What? Your Mouth Isn't Meant for Talking
Shallow?
That's truly laughable!
"Am I not shallow? If I weren't, would I trade my body for money?"
Jane Sullivan raised her chin, disdainfully glancing at Ethan, "But Uncle Four, you're only half right. To have a shallow girl like me serve you every night proves that you and I are the same kind of people."
Is this another way of saying he's shallow?
Looking at her constantly moving lips, his hand, which was resting on her chin, suddenly moved down, encircling her slender waist.
"You know what? Your mouth isn't meant for talking."
"Then what is it for?"
Ethan leaned down, his strong alcohol breath spraying on her face, "It's for kis—"
"Kiss my ass!..."
Jane Sullivan's intended curse was abruptly stopped by the man's domineering and forceful kiss, followed by him carrying her to the bedroom, channeling his pent-up anger into forceful conquests.
No matter how much she cursed or struggled, Ethan physically demonstrated how much he disliked her talking.
Because what he least wanted to hear now was Jane Sullivan talking about liking Justin.
And constantly reminding him of their relationship being just a transaction with money.
Thus, in his anger, the only way to deal with her was in bed!
...
The next day when Jane Sullivan woke up, Ethan had already left. Although he wasn't there, the nauseating scent lingered.
She got up, opened the window, and let the cold wind blow.
Blow, blow, may it blow away all her memories.
In the bathroom, she brushed her teeth five times, then used mouthwash, and back in the living room, she chewed gum. Breakfast had already gone cold, and she had no appetite.
Because last night Ethan actually forced her to...
She thought about biting down, but before she could, the revolting taste surged up her throat, and then she ran to the bathroom to vomit.
But Ethan, he leisurely poured himself a glass of red wine and tasted it, looking at her annoyed face and said, "If you're sharp-tongued in front of me again, I promise you'll be speechless."
What a way to be "speechless," unable to argue with her, he resorted to such a low method.
Thinking she would give in like this? Dream on!
You like obedience, Ethan? I'll be anything but obedient!
I'll be a nuisance every day! Let's see who can last!
——