Chapter 19
Time passed slowly as Ethan tried hard to please.
He had people gather treasures from all over the world, from antiques at auction houses to custom–made fancy dresses, and sent them to Adelia one after another.
But now, even the most precious gift couldn’t stir up the slightest ripple in Adelia’s heart.
She always sat alone in the garden, with her laptop on her knees, her fingers making little tapping sounds on the keyboard.
At first, Ethan just thought this was her way of killing time.
Until one afternoon, the assistant handed over the tablet.
“Mr. Fargeat, take a look at this…”
The assistant looked complicated, like there was something they couldn’t
say.
Ethan glanced over, and sure enough, Adelia was serializing a novel on the screen.
He just looked for a moment, and his face went dark.
The heroine in Adelia’s story actually went through the exact same thing as her!
Turns out, all this time, she had been using the cruelest way–turning her scars into words and putting them online for everyone to judge.
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03:02
Netizens learned about the old stories of the Fargeat family and the Keith family through her novel, from Gwen running away from her wedding, to Adelia marrying in her place, and then to his betrayal…
Every single thing was just amazing.
“Mr. Fargeat, the company took a heavy hit a while ago, and now it got caught up in another public controversy. If we didn’t get things under control, I’m afraid the major partners…”
“Don’t interfere.” Ethan cut in coldly, “Since this is what Adelia wanted, I’ll go along with her.”
The assistant didn’t dare say anything else.
He had followed Ethan for years and knew he was really stubborn about some things.
Just like now.
He didn’t let Vaughn ruin the Fargeat Group, but he was willing to let the Fargeat Group get destroyed bit by bit by Adelia.
Maybe this was his way of making up for it.
***
Adelia’s novel kept spreading online, like a sharp knife, slowly destroying the Fargeat Group’s reputation that had been built up over many years.
The stock price plunged, almost half of the market value was wiped out, board members sold off their shares and left, and the huge business empire suddenly became shaky.
But Ethan just watched all this with a cold eye.
It was another stormy night.
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Chapter 19
When Adelia walked past the study, she smelled a strong scent of alcohol.
She pushed the door open, and the sight in front of her made her catch her breath.
Ethan just sat on the carpet looking defeated, his back against the leather sofa.
The expensive suit jacket was tossed aside all wrinkled, the white shirt collar was wide open, seven or eight empty bottles were scattered by his feet, and amber liquid was soaking into the carpet, leaving a dark stain.
Hearing the noise, he slowly looked up.
The moonlight came through the floor–to–ceiling window and shone on his bloodshot eyes.
Those eyes that used to be as sharp as a hawk’s were now just full of endless exhaustion.
“Why didn’t you stop me?” She gripped her phone, and the screen still showed news about the Fargeat Group’s stock price crashing.
Ethan let out a low laugh, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
He fumbled to stand up, but staggered and put his hand on the coffee
table.
“This was what I owed you.”
Adelia just thought it was funny when she heard that.
“You knew very well, I just wanted to leave here.”
When Ethan heard the words “leave,” something in him was suddenly triggered.
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03.02
Chapter 19
He opened the drawer and took out a delicate Swiss army knife.
With a “snap,” the blade popped out, flashing cold in the moonlight.
Adelia frowned, “What were you going to do?”
Ethan stepped forward in silence, grabbed Adelia’s wrist, and shoved the cold knife handle into her palm.
“Stab here.” He took her hand, the tip of the knife pointing right at his chest. “If I die, you can leave this place.”
Adelia tried to pull her hand away in panic, but he held her tightly.
“I read the novel you wrote. At the end of the story, the heroine stabbed the hero in the chest.” He said word by word, “Now, I’m giving you a chance to make your wish come true.”
“Ethan, you were crazy!” Adelia’s voice was shaking.
The next second, Ethan suddenly jerked his wrist.
The blade didn’t go into the flesh, but warm blood gushed out right away, soaking his white shirt and dripping down the handle onto their clasped hands.
The corners of Ethan’s mouth curved up in a relieved smile.
He lowered his head and pressed his forehead against Adelia’s, his breath heavy with alcohol.
“To die by your hand… I guess that was a kind of relief.”
