The kiss gradually became more intense.I had never made love with someone in the wilderness before and felt a bit nervous. I pushed Ethan away and made an excuse to escape.Leaning against a tree, I wanted to calm down.The forest floor was lower than the camping lawn, and in the deep night, I didn't see the path clearly and was tripped by a branch, almost falling. Fortunately, Ethan had come up behind me at some point and caught me just in time. "Be careful, darling." My hands instinctively held onto the tree trunk to steady my breathing, and while I was catching my breath, Ethan's hands, which were originally on my waist, had somehow cupped my buttocks. Ethan didn't undress but simply rubbed the gradually hardening part between his legs against the softness of my inner thigh through the layers of fabric.Although separated by at least several layers of fabric, his hot and hard penis seemed to be pressed against my pussy, grinding me until I couldn't help but meet it with a b
My heart was pounding as I tried to keep myself calm. "Ethan, we can't leave through the main entrance. Come. I know a back way." Ethan nodded, squeezing my hand tightly. "Lead the way, Hailey."We quickly turned around and headed toward the back door along a secluded corridor. I was very familiar with the hospital's layout. This path was rarely used, typically for transporting equipment and supplies. However, as we approached the back door, my heart sank. Someone was there.Several media reporters were already blocking the door, the flash of their cameras constantly flickering, as if they had already smelled the scent of news. I grabbed Ethan's hand and whispered, "We can't go this way. They're already waiting here."Ethan frowned, seeing my anxiety, and squeezed my palm to reassure me. "Leave it to me."Just then, Matteo's voice came from the other end of the corridor. "This way!"I looked up and saw Matteo riding a motorcycle, gesturing for us to hurry up. Ethan and I quick
Ethan sensed my panic and gently embraced me, his warmth and strength reassuring. "Hailey, don't worry. I've always been here," he said firmly.I took a deep breath and leaned against his shoulder, finding solace in his presence. Despite my ongoing efforts to shoulder the family's responsibilities, the tragedy of my parents weighed heavily on me. Tears welled up involuntarily as I began to confide in him about my family's troubled past.I knew my story well, but I needed to tell it to you personally."It all began with my grandma's tale," I said softly, my voice tinged with long-suppressed pain. My grandpa, Edward Aesthete, renowned from a young age, grew into adulthood and immersed himself in the family's affairs, leading the Aesthete family to glory in just a few short years. The only thing Edward did that wasn't quite Aesthete-like was to defy convention and marry my grandma, who had no powerful family background.Ethan furrowed his brow slightly and gently patted my back. He di
"Your anger over this matter seems unusually intense." James noticed my less-than-pleasant expression. "I hope you can calm down, Ms. Hailey. This situation has already occurred. Utilizing it is more efficient than trying to fix it. The Aesthete family has always operated this way.""Always? Even when my mother was alive?" I couldn't help but retort.James showed no sign of being offended. "After Ms. Aesthete's accident, Mr. Edward disbanded the previous PR team. I was recruited then and reassembled the family's PR team.""Sorry..." I realized my emotions were off and explained, "I didn't mean to direct it at you. I want to know your advice.""Lawsuits can't solve everything. There will always be websites that don't care about legal action," James said as he handed out a report to the attendees."I have a sample survey of public opinion. For instance, on Aesthete's own news website, 40% of search records include Hailey, 40% Aesthete, and the remaining 20% are purely driven by the
After the interview, I continued talking with the reporter for quite a while until Ethan, who had returned at some point, walked up behind me and patted my shoulder.Turning around, I saw him holding a bouquet of fresh flowers."Is it over, Hailey?" he asked gently.I took the flowers, feeling a surge of sweetness in my heart. Since Ethan came into my life, I had received more flowers than in the past twenty-eight years combined. "Thank you, Ethan." The reporter, sensing it was time to leave, offered her goodbyes and best wishes for Ethan and me, though she had no idea who Ethan was.After the interview team left, the atmosphere in the house lightened considerably. Matteo peeked his head out from behind the door. "Are they all gone? Thank goodness, so many people."Ethan and I sat on the couch, his hand holding mine."Hailey, I have something to tell you." His tone became serious."What is it, Ethan?"Ethan sighed and said, "Leo sold your identity and the location of Edward
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
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
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