Chapter 175: Chapter 173: Make Do with These 2 Bucks (Part 2)

"Herman! Let go of me!"

Herman Hawthorne dragged her out of the ballroom, his face taut. Just as they were going down the steps, a shout came from behind them. It was Jason Irving. "Let go of my girlfriend!"

Zoe Ellsworth’s expression flickered. She waved a hand at the people behind her, but it was clear her classmates thought she was signaling for help.

They all moved to block Herman Hawthorne’s path.

"What are you doing?"

"Let go of my girlfriend, now," Jason Irving said, glaring at him with a childish look on his face.

"I’m her brother."

Jason Irving scoffed. "Who are you trying to fool? Zoe’s brother is the famous celebrity Ethan Ellsworth. You think I wouldn’t know that?"

Herman Hawthorne snorted. "That’s her biological brother. I’m her brother, too."

Zoe Ellsworth nodded. "He is. You guys go on back. I’m going home for the night."

Since she said so, Jason Irving could only agree. Her classmates couldn’t help but shoot her another glance before they returned to the ballroom.

Once in the car, Herman Hawthorne fastened his seatbelt, then looked at her. "Put on your own seatbelt."

"I won’t."

Herman Hawthorne had no choice but to lean over and fasten it for her. He looked at her. "I heard from your brother a long time ago that you got a little wild while studying abroad for high school. It seems you’re more than just ’a little.’ If I hadn’t pulled you out of there, were you going to keep taking your clothes off?"

Zoe Ellsworth replied, "Herman, I’m not actually that wild. Look, when I was abroad, everyone was smoking marijuana and doing stuff like that. I never touched drugs. I just have a cigarette once in a while, drink a little, go dancing... It’s all perfectly normal."

"And you got a boyfriend? That little kid from just now?"

"Just for fun," she answered, not seeming particularly attached to the boy.

"Zoe, a girl needs to have some self-respect. Don’t spend all your time with a bad crowd."

Zoe Ellsworth retorted, "Herman, come on. If it weren’t for girls like us who don’t have ’self-respect,’ how would you ever get to have fun with women?"

The car fell silent. His lips twitched, and he had no choice but to start the car and drive her home.

Seeing his silence, Zoe Ellsworth continued, "Herman, can I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

"Are you still a virgin?"

The car screeched to a halt. He looked at her, exasperated. "Then let me ask you the same thing. Are *you* still a virgin?"

Zoe Ellsworth nodded. "I am. You can test it if you don’t believe me."

Herman Hawthorne nearly choked on his own spit. "How are you exactly like your brother?"

Zoe Ellsworth shook her head. "I can already tell you’re not a virgin anymore. You’re not even as good as my brother. He and I are the faithful types."

Herman Hawthorne broke into a cold sweat. ’This girl was so innocent when she was little. How did a few years abroad turn her into this?’

"What are you, some kind of mind reader?" he asked, starting the car again.

"I am. So, Herman, how many women have you been with?"

"Ahem. Why do you keep asking me such profound questions? You’re making me blush."

Zoe Ellsworth burst out laughing. "Herman, what do you think of me?"

"Hm, you’ve grown up," he said with a slight smile. ’Zoe is nineteen this year,’ he thought. ’I’m a full six years older than her.’

"Grown up where?" she asked, tilting her head to look at him.

An image flashed through Herman Hawthorne’s mind. He cleared his throat again. "Everywhere."

Zoe Ellsworth giggled. "Herman, why are you blushing? I didn’t say anything."

"Who’s blushing, you little brat?"

"I’m just teasing. You can’t take a joke, can you?"

She stuck her tongue out at him and then sat quietly, waiting for the car to stop at the Ellsworth Family’s main gate.

They got out of the car.

Zoe Ellsworth looked at him with a grin. "Herman, I remember when we went hiking when I was fifteen. I couldn’t walk anymore, and you carried me on your back. I wonder if you can still carry me now?"

His expression softened. He crouched down. "Hop on."

Zoe Ellsworth wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. "Let’s go."

Lying on his back, Zoe Ellsworth felt that old sense of security return. She spoke from his back, "Herman, how many women have you carried like this?"

"Just one. And only you are this mischievous."

Zoe Ellsworth chuckled. "I always thought you were different from my brother. He never carried me; he’d just lecture me. Young Master Grant would never do it either. You’re the only one who would." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Herman Hawthorne didn’t say anything, just walked toward the Ellsworth residence.

It wasn’t until they reached the door of the Ellsworth home and were seen by Mrs. Ellsworth that Zoe Ellsworth finally got off Herman Hawthorne’s back.

"Mom, Herman brought me home."

Mrs. Ellsworth was all smiles, but she shot her daughter a look. "I have eyes, don’t I? You’re a grown woman. How could you still make Herman carry you? It’s improper. Get inside."

After saying that, she looked at Herman Hawthorne. "Zoe is used to being wild. Don’t mind her."

"It’s alright, Mrs. Ellsworth. I just happened to run into her tonight, so I brought her home. I won’t come in. I should get going."

Mrs. Ellsworth saw him off. "Alright. Come by often when you have time. You’re family."

After seeing Herman Hawthorne off, Mrs. Ellsworth hurried into the living room. She saw Zoe Ellsworth casually watching TV with her legs crossed, remote in hand. She immediately sat down next to Zoe and began her interrogation.

"I can see your relationship with him is far from ordinary. Are you and Herman dating?"

Zoe Ellsworth shook her head, her expression indifferent. "I’d like to be, but Herman clearly isn’t interested in someone like me."

Mrs. Ellsworth could have beaten her chest and stamped her feet. "If you were to date Herman, I would be a thousand percent for it!"

Zoe Ellsworth glanced at her. "Even if we dated, it’d be *me* dating him. What does your willingness have to do with it, Mom?"

Mrs. Ellsworth patted her shoulder. "You child. If you date him, not only will I have zero objections, but I’ll even give you a massive dowry—more than what Grant gave Jean!"

Zoe Ellsworth’s eyes widened. "Mom, does that mean I wouldn’t have to go to school anymore? I could just be a housewife, and you wouldn’t have to manage me?"

"Of course! If you can marry Herman, Mom won’t have to worry about you ever again. You’re grown up, you can fly on your own. Your mother can only see you off this far."

Zoe Ellsworth sat up straight. "Mom, are you serious?!"

"When have I ever lied to you?"

"Mom, other mothers are heartbroken when their daughters get married. Why do I get the feeling you can’t wait to marry me off? I’m only nineteen."

Mrs. Ellsworth laughed. "You have to get married sooner or later. Besides, that boy from the Hawthorne Family is about your brother’s age, a few years older than you, so he knows how to dote on someone. He’s good friends with your brother, and his mother and I are good friends, too. If you marry into their family, you won’t be at a disadvantage in the slightest. On the contrary, I’d be very relieved. You give me a headache every day. If you really got married, I’d finally have some peace and quiet."

Hearing her mother’s words, Zoe Ellsworth thought about it. ’She has a point. But... could he and I really get married?’

’What would it take for us to get married?’

’This is a tough one.’

’I can’t do something stupid like drugging him. That’s a tactic for despicable people. What I need to do is take the initiative and try to get closer to him.’

With that thought, Zoe Ellsworth looked at Mrs. Ellsworth. "Mom, where are my car keys? I’m going out for a bit, I’ll be right back."