Chapter 0122
In the kitchen.
The chairman, donning an apron, was cooking with practiced ease.
Hearing footsteps, he glanced over his shoulder.
Madison approached, “Why did you send me all those things?”
Ethan paused his work, leaning against the counter, “First, because you’re my girlfriend and I haven’t given you any expensive gifts yet. Second, you’ve just won a championship-there ought to be a reward for that.”
‘A little reward’?!
Madison’s understanding of extravagance seemed utterly misaligned.
Ethan dried his hands and circled her waist, their foreheads touching tenderly, “Hard work should always lead to something worthwhile. My efforts aren’t just about being superior to others. It’s also about bein able to one day give my girlfriend everything beautiful in the world Besides, you’re worth it.”
He even felt that those gifts were not worthy of Madison’s status.
What was Madison’s status?
The girlfriend of Mukino International’s Chairman!
The champion of the 6th International Civil Aviation Show, both in individual and team events!
The youngest female captain in the country!
So, these gifts were just barely fitting for her.
Madison cleared her throat, “I get your point. But the gifts you sent…
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Aren’t they too expensive?”
She didn’t like being indebted to anyone.
When others gave her gifts, she would reciprocate, but with Ethan’s presents, even selling herself wouldn’t cover the cost.
“How much did you spend?”
Ethan considered for a moment, replying casually, “A little over a billion?”
Madison was expressionless.
Noticing her look, Ethan furrowed his brows, “What’s with that face?”
“You have money, it’s up to you.”
Ethan chuckled, detecting the subtext in her words.
He explained patiently, “Madison, your boyfriend runs an airline. Do you think a billion is hard for me to come by? Do you know how much a plane costs? Moreover, thanks to your championship win, Mukino International’s stock has more than doubled just today.”
“Relax,” Ethan reassured her, “this is just the beginning. I’ll bring all sorts of treasures to you because I like you, and you deserve it.”
An unexpected kiss landed softly on the corner of Madison’s lips.
With an ambiguous smile, the man said, “Go rest. I’ll call you when the food’s ready.”
Madison returned empty-handed.
Back on the second floor, amidst a sea of gift boxes, she felt at a
loss.
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Perhaps it was the first time she had received so many, such expensive gifts.
“Where should I put all these?”
She turned to the flight attendants for advice.
As soon as the topic was broached, Jessica and Amelia eagerly began to help her decide where to place the gifts.
“For the clothes, hang them in President Grant’s room,” Amelia suggested.
Madison glared, “How could I do that?”
Amelia blinked in surprise, “Sis-in-law, please don’t tell me you and President Grant haven’t… you know?”
As someone who’d been married, Madison knew exactly what she was hinting at, and she cleared her throat in slight embarrassment.
Amelia nearly jumped on the spot but restrained herself.
She then pulled Amelia into Madison’s bedroom, and once the doo shut, Amelia lectured, “Look, sis-in-law, I’m not advocating for a messy private life, but you’re President Grant’s girlfriend! Any woman would be over the moon to snag such a catch, and here you are, so pure? Do you really think everyone’s like you, caring only for love and nothing else?”
These words didn’t upset Madison.
She understood that Amelia was describing a harsh reality.
Society dictated that if you didn’t have equivalent capital to reciprocate a gift, you had to sacrifice something else.
“Is that so?” she murmured to herself.
Amelia leaned against the wall, “I’m not saying you have to offer
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yourself. Just don’t be so coy; a natural approach is better. You can tell my brother hasn’t touched you.”
“Can we not mention that man during these good times?” Madison’s gaze turned sharp.
Amelia burst into laughter, “I bet he’s fuming over your championship news.”
As everyone busied themselves and Madison was left to rest, she curled up on the sofa in the second-floor living room, pondering Amelia’s words.
Was it like that?
It wasn’t that she was overly innocent, but…
Madison felt she shouldn’t be too forward; it might lead Ethan to think she had ulterior motives..
On second thought, they were boyfriend and girlfriend, had faced life and death together-engaging in that sort of intimacy shouldn’t be so hard to comprehend, right?
Lost in thought, Madison was noticeably distracted during dinner.
“Don’t like it?” Ethan observed.
Madison quickly shook her head, “No! It’s delicious! Thank you for your hard work.”
The idea of a significant other cooking was once absurd to Madison. The thought of Ethan, the chairman, personally cooking for her made her heart warm.
She raised her
wine glass.
Seeing her with the glass, everyone else stopped eating and raised
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their glasses too.
Madison took a few silent seconds before speaking sincerely,”
Actually, before the competition, I was unsure, I didn’t know if I would win. But fortunately, the heavens favored me, not only granting me victory but also…”
She had Ethan’s rapt attention when she abruptly cupped his chin.
The next second, a tender kiss landed on his lips.
The instigator pulled away with a smile, toasting with everyone, “…led me to him.”
“Wow!”
Amelia and Michael exclaimed teasingly.
Even William beside them blushed a little.
As everyone clinked glasses, Ethan belatedly joined in, still
processing the sudden intimacy in front of others.
For the rest of the meal, it was Ethan who was lost in thought.
“Do you have another woman?”
Out of the blue, Madison uttered such a query.
Ethan whirled around, “Nonsense.”
“Then why are you so distracted?” Madison teased.
“I was thinking about you.”
“Me?” She was taken aback, “I’m right here, what’s there to think
about?”
“Weren’t you nervous when you kissed me just now?”
Madison’s eyes were clear, “Not at all.”
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“Then why hide our relationship? Am I so unseemly?” Ethan was genuinely troubled by this.
He wanted to shout from the rooftops that Madison was his!
Madison leaned back in her chair, looking at him.
After a moment, she smiled, “Do you really think anyone at the competition was left unaware of our relationship after that hug?”
Ethan had forgotten all about that incident.
He quickly pulled out his phone to check F******k, only to find it frozen, overwhelmed by the volume of notifications.
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