Ethan's POV"I want to see her." I'd repeated this sentence countless times since my return to Idalia at 16. My siblings never took me seriously. They couldn't fathom that my mother, the scorned "mistress," had sent me to the US when I was 5, where I was connected to Edward, the head of the Aesthete family. Had they known, they might have wished for my demise during that flight to the US. They would have whispered my name at the Christmas table, masking their smirks behind false sympathy.However, it was Edward I encountered first.My only skill was fighting. So when Edward inquired about my abilities, I promptly replied, "I'm Sicily's finest fighter, Sir."His eyes crinkled with amusement. "How old are you, kiddo?"I proudly declared my age as five."Well, young lad, would you like a new responsibility? Your mother entrusted me with your care before her passing. It seems you're quite capable of looking out for yourself."With a sense of pride, I stood tall. "Ye
Hailey's POVAs the door swung open, a hushed silence befell us. I took a step to the side, allowing Ethan to enter without a word. Accustomed to seeing Ethan donning a bright smile, his serious gaze now felt both unfamiliar and dangerously alluring."I brought wine," he murmured in a low tone, presenting a bottle of red wine. His eyes roamed from my forehead to my eyes and then to my lips. My heart raced, and my breath hitched as our gazes locked once more."Just one bottle?" I inquired.His unwavering gaze met mine as he replied suggestively, "I can fetch more if you'd like."My tolerance for alcohol remained dismal. By the time the bottle was drained, I found myself barefoot with a wine glass in hand, transitioning from the sofa to the floor-to-ceiling window."I remember how much of a little troublemaker you were when we were kids," I remarked, settling by the window with my robe loosely draped, fixating on my complaints. "You'd ignore my pleas, show off in front of the
My vacation ended here. After having breakfast with Ethan, I went straight to the hospital.Truly professional doctors must ensure they aren't swayed by emotions. I did well, maintaining a convincingly high level of performance. The blissful sex last night and the smooth work today kept me in a good mood all day until I finished work.I received an overbearing phone call. The woman on the other end rudely ordered me. "Come home for dinner after work."Considering the call was from Leo's mother, it naturally referred to her house.I had no intention of seeing her. Since our marriage, Leo's mother had shown clear disdain for me numerous times. She always believed I wasn't worthy of her precious son.At that moment, I received an email from Duncan. He had obtained videos taken by guests on my birthday night. Unlike the blurry footage from the banquet hall's surveillance cameras, this video captured Leo and Elisa's despicable behavior in high clarity. The funny declarations of tr
Ryan was still in the hospital, and he asked me to wait at a nearby coffee shop.My hesitation was evident on my face, prompting the waiter who brought my coffee to ask cautiously, "Is there anything I can help you with?"I glanced at the coffee shop's slogan. [Satisfaction Guaranteed or Free Replacement.]"No, it's fine."If I wasn't happy with my coffee, I could tell the staff without any questions, and they would immediately make me a new one. The whole process was straightforward and quick. There was no need to report to the manager or consult the CEO of the coffee chain, nor would nearby customers with half-baked opinions get involved. 'Hailey, why didn't you do it that way?' I asked myself.If only marriage were as simple as this coffee shop.During the divorce from Leo, my biggest concern was Ryan. Five years ago, he was my mentor, two years ago, he became my father-in-law, and now he was my superior. It was so complicated. Anyhow, among all of Leo's connections, he
As I exited the operating room, my fellow cardiac surgeons congratulated me. "What's going on?" I asked, completely puzzled. "Guess what? Your paper on the application of pulmonary artery catheters in cardiac surgery has been accepted by Ann Thorac Surg. It's even indexed on Medline!" My colleague's words made my eyes widen slightly. Getting indexed on Medline was expected, but being accepted by Ann Thorac Surg, a particularly selective surgical journal, was quite the recognition. He patted my shoulder, looking more excited than I was. "By the way, now that your paper is settled, aren't you preparing for your promotion? If you delay any longer, the dean will have another chat with Dr. Ryan. Holy shit, don't you know your reputation in Cardiovascular Surgery Department? Mr. Aesthete specifically requested you and Dr. Ryan for his care, and you didn't disappoint him. It was perfect!" "I won't deny my expertise, but most of Mr. Edward's recovery is thanks to Dr. Ryan." "Oh, co
It took me a week to prepare all the documents the lawyer needed. During this time, I also managed to sell my house and move to a penthouse close to the hospital, which was one of Grandpa's properties that Uncle Tommy urgently arranged for me.I left all the furniture in the old house for the new owner and had the housekeeper throw away my cheap clothes, shoes, and bags that I had been frugally saving. The only thing I really took with me was myself, a happy Hailey.After moving, the first person I notified wasn't Ethan."Darling, I'm planning a huge shopping spree, and I need someone with impeccable taste to guide me. Who else but you, Lily?"Lily's understanding of the whole situation was stuck in the last century, as she put it herself."We've developed a generation gap."So much had happened to me, and she knew nothing about it. Lily couldn't accept it. "You know, Hailey, I feel like one of Grindelwald's followers who went into hiding after the leader's defeat. And then you s
"Why are you calling me and dragging me out? Why?" Lily complained with a dark expression.I couldn't help but smile and look exasperated. "I thought this was our prearranged itinerary? It's just a bit earlier than planned.""That was before Duncan invited you to dinner! Girl, I've been wondering since college. What's wrong with you? Do I need to hold up your face, two inches away from mine, and state clearly, ideally in French because you understand French, which is universally recognized as a precise language, no ambiguity whatsoever, just to let you know someone wants to date you?"I chuckled at her exaggerated tone. "Of course, I'll find time to go out with Duncan. Two meals might not be enough to express my gratitude.""Choosing the word 'date' was my mistake. Let me rephrase. If I say 'intimate relations between a man and a woman', tell me, now do you fully understand what I mean?""I understand what you mean," I blurted out, "but you're mistaken. Duncan is a great friend, a
I didn't know where Ethan got so many 'creative' ideas. His foreplay was overly thorough. When I was dissatisfied with his dawdling and reached out to pull down the edge of his swim trunks, he stood up with me in his arms."Wrap your legs around my waist."I did as he said, and before I could react, his already engorged dick was fully sheathed inside me.I let out a sharp scream, and Ethan also groaned, panting. "Baby, relax, you're too tight."The yacht had four levels, and he maintained that position, carrying me from the top deck down to the second, with each step I could feel the thing inside me hitting deeper, then shallowly withdrawing, without any rhythm to speak of.I couldn't control my breathing, and to ensure my body's balance and not fall off him, I had to tightly hold onto his neck. As a result, my nipples were pressed against his, rubbing continuously.I couldn't stand it anymore. A tingling sensation was accumulating deep in my lower abdomen, hot and itchy. I wante
When I received the hospital notification, even though Ethan would be back soon, I couldn't wait and called Ethan."Hey, sweetheart. I need your help," not only did I hear Ethan's of course, but also a loud howling of the wind, and I faintly heard the sound of waves crashing against the rocks. But every road from home to Lily's house was not coastal.Hesitating for a moment, I stammered, "Are you busy? Maybe I haven't disturbed your important matters."Ethan answered almost without thinking. "You are the only important matter, sweetheart. I can't think of anything more important than you."I heard a very soft sorry, guessing Ethan was covering the phone when he said it. Within a few seconds, there was a muffled sound of a car door closing, and the sound on the phone became clear and clean. Ethan said, "I ran into Nicola. He's with a few Idalian friends.""What's going on?""Nothing, I guess. Back to the point, sweetheart, do you need help?""Uh..."During the fifteen minutes Et
Hailey POVThe facts I could ascertain were these. Ethan and Elisa had no secret connections, nor was there any evidence of Ethan's instigation toward Elisa.When I created a distraction for Leo, Elisa sensed a certain signal from Ethan.It was hard to describe specifically, but it was a certain characteristic of Ethan's. Those who fell into his gaze were in a state of relaxed intoxication, unable to resist entrusting all important decisions to him. When he nodded, it was the right decision. Even without a nod, his silent consent was the greatest affirmation.I could not criticize Ethan for suggesting Elisa take a fatal step. He did it for me.There were all kinds of protectors in the world. Lily would support and encourage me with her soft heart, and Duncan, being considerate and gentlemanly, always found the best solution to problems, ending everything within the stipulated time.What about Ethan?He was a silent executioner, and those subtle clues had long revealed everything
The arrival of the police made Leo even more unstable. I wasn't sure if he realized what he was doing, as his expression was like that of a sleepwalker, yet his hand was getting closer to Elisa.Elisa's neck was nicked by Leo's knife, and blood trickled down her neck. Screams immediately shattered the tranquility of the night, echoing in the empty warehouse.Her clothes were disheveled, her face full of fear, her eyes panicked and helpless, her body trembling uncontrollably from extreme terror. Ethan took this opportunity to pull me out of the warehouse, where we met the police who were ready to spring into action.At that moment, my judgment was to leave the matter temporarily to the police. I thought it was a reasonable decision. Leo had cornered himself, and his evidence of guilt didn't even need me to have Duncan send it to the court. The police had already arrived, and the prosecutors would be eager to take action.If things went smoothly, Leo would vanish like a boiling table
Hailey POVWhen I woke up, the symptoms I had previously overcome began to resurface. My head was buzzing, and the dizziness made me want to vomit several times.I couldn't take on too much burden. The doctors had warned me repeatedly.My vision was a bit blurry, but I knew I had to see Edward. I remembered trying to calm Edward's anger toward Ethan. I wasn't sure if Edward's emotions had eased because as soon as I tried to say a few words, I passed out...Edward must be very worried about me. I took a deep breath, propping up my weak body, and slowly made my way to Edward's room.As I approached the room, I heard voices inside."We've located Leo." Ethan's steady voice carried through the room, and for a moment, I almost mistook him for Duncan discussing work."I still find it hard to believe." Edward's voice followed. He did not participate in the discussion of Leo. Instead, he focused entirely on Ethan. "Who would have thought? When you came to America from Idalia as a child,
Ethan POVIn the hospital room, Hailey was quietly sleeping. The sunlight streaming through the blinds cast a serene and beautiful glow on her face.Shifting my gaze back to the hallway, I saw a stern, formally dressed man. His suit was immaculate, and the light in his eyes as he adjusted his glasses was one I despised.I wanted to turn and walk away, but I couldn't. I had to deal with this man, Duncan, to solve this mess for Hailey.This was going to be a serious conversation. I could feel the tension in the air, each word cautiously released from our mouths."Your numerous private actions have caused unnecessary complications when I'm handling matters for Mr. Edward," Duncan said in a businesslike tone. "I need to have an open and honest conversation with you.""I thought it would be Edward or Uncle Tommy giving me trouble," I muttered.He nodded. "It was supposed to be them, but Hailey persuaded them otherwise. She believes in you, which I've always opposed."That was one of
"How did you sleep last night, Ms. Aesthete?""Pretty well.""Any discomfort?""Aside from some occasional dizziness, not much. I did some rehab exercises yesterday and felt really good. You know, finally moving again made me feel alive. I've been bedridden for too long.""Did you feel dizzy while exercising?""Not really. It was very light exercise, you know, basically like walking. It didn't feel strenuous.""Your physical condition is truly remarkable, Ms. Aesthete. Many patients experience mild fatigue after being in a coma for such a long time," said my attending physician, a neurology expert at this private hospital. "You seem to have no such issue. In fact, when I passed by the rehab area yesterday, you completely startled me. You looked like you were in better shape than I am."I blinked at him. "Does this mean I can be discharged soon, Doctor? I'm desperate to get back to my shabby nest.""If there's no dizziness, maybe. But it's still a cloud hanging over us, right?"
When I woke up, my head was buzzing, and the pain made it almost impossible for me to think. Every slight movement felt like a bomb going off in my head, making me vomit several times."Hailey, you're awake." Ethan's voice sounded in my ear, filled with worry and tension.I barely opened my eyes, and the glaring light made me reach out to block the view. After recovering, I saw his anxious face, and Duncan's solemn expression next to him.The doctor entered the ward and checked my condition. I was the most relaxed person in the room."How do you feel?" the doctor asked."My... head hurts..." I answered with difficulty. I promise this was the loudest voice I could make, but it was still so weak that it was almost inaudible.God, I saw Ethan's fingernails digging into his fist on the side. He was furious.I tried to relax the tense atmosphere, half-jokingly said, "Who are you... Who are you guys?""Hailey, this can't be true, can it?" Duncan's brows were tightly knitted, his eyes
Ethan's POV.This was my responsibility.When Matteo first asked me what to do, if I had answered "Kill him" instead of "Sicilian way, do what you're familiar with," then Leo would have been dead in some stinking ditch long ago.After Leo's death, Hailey would have been puzzled. She was so upright and kind-hearted that even when she wanted to retaliate, she always used a fair and aboveboard way. Although I didn't want to admit it, I was the only despicable accident by her side, so she would quickly associate Leo's death with me.Even if she wouldn't, the annoying Duncan by her side would remind her. To drive me away from Hailey, I believe that the hypocritical lawyer would do anything.Because I was not willing to take risks, Leo didn't die."He ran into the call girl we arranged at the bar," Matteo reported to me about Leo's whereabouts, and my heart was full of Hailey's sleeping face. She had a busy day and was now sleeping soundly on the pillow, her hair spread out at my finge
Leo's face was particularly haggard, his cheeks sunken in, and his eye sockets deep, his entire state looking very unstable.His fingers gripped the gun tightly, the barrel pressed against my head, his eyes filled with madness and despair, his body trembling slightly, as if on the verge of collapse.It was absurd. Leo had come to Ethan's house to lurk outside, he had taken me hostage, but the one on the brink of collapse was him?I felt the beads of sweat on my forehead sliding down my cheek, my heart pounding violently in my chest, and I instinctively began to struggle."Hailey!" Ethan called in a low voice, his tone deep, containing panic as if conveying more information. My struggle slowed, and I looked at Ethan for a while, then suddenly sighed."Leo, we can talk. Put down the gun, okay?" I tried to keep calm, using a gentle but firm voice to parley with him."Shut up! Don't speak!" I suspected that Leo didn't hear what I said at all. He might have had hallucinations, thinkin