Chapter 0159
As his words hung in the air, Shihua barred Ethan’s path.
Close to him, she could feel his towering presence, facing his striking features, the bitterness in her heart intensified.
They knew each other first, they were childhood friends. How could a divorced woman have taken precedence over her?
Resentment seeped through Shihua’s every pore.
“Years of acquaintance, and this is how you treat me?”
Ethan knew Shihua’s temperament well enough. Without a clear
res
n, her stubborn nature would likely cause a fuss.
ered some patience, “Had we not known each other for years, e out of here by my own hand.”
subtext was clear: she had been given grace.
Shihua’s breath caught, her chest aching with each gasp.
“What’s wrong with me? In what ways do I fall short of her?”
Ethan stepped back, widening the gap between them, then, with his height advantage, he appraised her from head to toe.
“So you ask? In every way imaginable.”
-Humiliation!
Ethan’s words trampled Shihua’s dignity, pride, and face underfoot.
Jealousy and envy boiled within her, but oddly enough, Ethan’s staunch refusal for Madison only heightened his appeal in Shihua’s eyes, making her want him all the more.
+25 BONUS
After a long silence, with pained eyes, Shihua whispered, “Have you forgotten your mother’s dying request?”
Mentioning his mother cast an even darker shadow over Ethan’s face.
“Don’t bother using my mother against me.”
He stood in the darkness, like a towering cliff, “Shihua, you amuse me. Whence comes this childhood friendship you speak of? Is it the kind where we met in our teens and never saw each other after a few years? Do you even know my likes? My character? Are we even close? Your relationship with Mason is better than what we ever had. How do you have the audacity to compare yourself to my girlfriend?”
His words shattered Shihua.
She stood frozen, until Ethan moved to leave. Then, with a hint of desperation in her eyes, she latched onto his arm with surprising strength.
“You can’t leave! How can you not be with me? Weren’t those years we spent together, learning to fly, studying culture, weren’t they happy? I’ve always liked you, and you should like me!”
Shihua’s plea was disjointed, thoughtless of the consequences.
“How does Madison outshine me? I have more flying experience! You say I don’t understand you-does she?”
Ethan methodically pried her fingers loose, his gaze icy.
Her heart raced with the growing distance between them. Driven by emotion, she blurted, “She’s just used goods! An object played out by other men! You…”
“Slap-
Shihua hit the ground with the force of the slap, her cheek numbing
instantly a ringing in her ear
+25 BONUS
She looked up in disbelief.
Facing the mysterious woman in black who seemed to appear from nowhere, Shihua, ignoring the pain, yelled, “Who the hell are you?!”
Evel slowly retracted her hand, speaking even slower, “President Grant refrains from striking women. I, however, do not.”
Fire blazed in Shihua’s eyes as she opened her mouth to retaliate, but
“Slap-”
Another slap left her stunned.
A hint of embarrassment crossed Evel’s indifferent face, “Ah, my apologies. It was a reflex for emergency avoidance.”
“Emergency avoidance?” Shihua was too baffled by the explanation to stay mad.
Evel touched her palm with the fingertips of her other hand, “I anticipated you might insult me, so to prevent myself from being ridiculed, I hit you first. It’s what you call emergency avoidance.”
From a distance, Michael almost tripped over Evel’s rationale.
This attempt at harm, now she’s mastered the art of convoluted speech!
Michael had arrived because the media had already captured their scuffle at the Grant family doorstep. As Ethan’s personal lawyer, he bought off the photos quickly to prevent further issues, bringing Evel along just in case.
No sooner had Evel opened the car door than she overheard Shihua’s shocking outburst.
+25 BONUS
With dead seriousness, Evel replied, “If she had insulted you, I wouldn’t have struck her.”
“So I deserved to be insulted?”
Evel’s wit was on a sharp incline, “That’s what I prefer. I always satisfy my desires, whatever they may be.”
Michael’s expression darkened.
Ethan, turning his head, called out to them, “Let’s go.”
Shihua, having recovered from the dual slaps, scrambled up and ran in front of Ethan’s car.
“She’s lost it,” Michael remarked.
Evel, unfazed, retorted, “Abroad, there are truckloads crazier than her.
“What kind of unit of measure is that?” Michael was baffled.
Evel walked toward the gates, her leather-clad figure exuding cool indifference.
“Flight attendant.”
Yes.
She had picked up phrases while shadowing Madison, listening to Amelia talk, and now she remembered.
Michael clenched his teeth and dialed Amelia.
Half asleep, Amelia answered, “What can I do for you, Counselor?”
“Could you teach Evel something useful?”
Startled awake by his loud voice, Amelia grew alert, “What did I teach her?”
+25 BONUS
a simpleton into someone whose words can strangle.”
Amelia on the other end: “…
Evel, just stepping out: “…”
Had there not been a situation with Shihua that needed Evel’s
attention, she might have returned to inquire about Michael’s comments.
In the car, Ethan clearly saw Shihua blocking his way, disgust filling his gaze.
He no longer wished to engage with Shihua.
But he wouldn’t be ruthless; his mother’s last letter had asked him to look out for her.
+25 BONUS
