Chapter 0098
At seven-thirty in the morning, autumn’s presence in Slandon Harbor was brief, and it felt like half the season had already passed in the blink of an eye. The landscape was stripped bare, with skeletal trees standing guard over the desolate vista.
When the wind, like a whimsical old lady, visited the earth, only the withering leaves joined her in her wandering dance.
Madison got into the car driven by William, heading to the Slandon Harbor main training base. Ethan’s remark from the previous night about rewarding him with a kiss popped into her mind unbidden.
It wasn’t their first kiss, and she hadn’t been coy about it then. A tender and hesitant kiss had landed on the corner of Ethan’s lips, but he had taken over, pinning her to the couch.
The heat between them climbed, a wildfire threatening to break free
from control.
Had Jessica not appeared unexpectedly at the door they had forgotten to close, who knows what might have transpired…
Madison rubbed her face, banishing the memory, steadying her nerves for the half-month training looming ahead.
“What’s with your brother?” Michael arrived to be greeted by the chilly atmosphere in the living room.
After Madison had left, Ethan dared to light a cigarette. He sat in the living room while Jessica, like a little sparrow, bustled about preparing his breakfast.
Madison had left after half a bowl of porridge, but Ethan didn’t want
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porridge; he wanted something freshly made.
Was it just because she had interrupted something between them?
Was he really that petty?
Couldn’t he just reclaim the moment next time?
Jessica, though simmering with pent-up anger, had no choice but to endure Ethan’s icy demeanor while she worked.
After Michael’s inquiry was met with silence, Evel, who seemed to materialize out of nowhere, commented dryly, “Frustration leads to blame, and she’s the culprit.”
Jessica was numbed to the accusation.
Michael chuckled to himself, then turned to approach Ethan on the sofa. “Bro, isn’t this a bit much? Even a ghost would tiptoe around this mansion’s vibe.”
Ethan glanced at him without a word.
“I’m resigning.” Michael, intimidated by Ethan’s glare, handed over his letter of resignation.
Ethan took it without hesitation and signed it.
Michael had prepared a litany of responses to dissuade any attempt by Ethan to retain him, but not a single one was needed.
“Bro, can’t you at least pretend to want to keep me here?”
A puff of smoke billowed from Ethan’s lips. “You should know I never force anyone to stay.”
Michael frowned in silence before quickly reverting to his jovial self. “I need to look for a new job. Help me draft a polished resume.”
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“You’re a lawyer and you can’t write your own resume?” Ethan looked. disdainful.
“I just feel it’s tacky to sing my own praises,” Michael said, arms crossed, “so I need your input.”
Ethan took up a pen and began to scrawl with flair.
When Michael leaned in to have a look, Evel snatched the paper first.
Reading the ‘About Me’ section with a deadpan expression, she pointed to the first line in confusion, “Adaptable, with potential for well -rounded development? Him?”
Ethan, slumped in the sofa, translated lazily, “It means he has no discernible strengths.”
Michael: “…”
Evel read on, her confusion deepening, “Good communicator, calm as a maiden? Maiden?”
Ethan elucidated further, “Gossipy and prone to slacking off.”
Michael: “…”
“Frank and straightforward in nature?” Evel couldn’t reconcile this with the Michael she knew, who could spin eight different meanings
into a single sentence.
Ethan spoke with a hint of mischief-
“He has a bad temper and tends to curse people out.”
Michael erupted, “Ethan! I’m going to strangle you!”
Ethan didn’t flinch. “With your careless disposition, only I would employ you. You aim for the stars but are fragile as paper. Still dreaming of working elsewhere? Aren’t you afraid of ending up on the streets?”
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