Chapter 180: Chapter 178: Damn It! Are You an Idiot? (Part 2)

Chloe Marshall choked out, "Let’s talk about this after my dad’s funeral."

Sitting on a hospital bench, she stared blankly into space. "Zeke and I lost our mom when we were little, and now Dad is gone too. It’s just the two of us siblings left."

Nora Ainsworth hugged her, tears streaming down her face. "Chloe, you still have me. I’ve considered you family for a long time."

"Nora!" she cried, burying her face in Nora Ainsworth’s shoulder and sobbing until she was breathless.

Zeke Marshall sat quietly beside them, sobbing softly.

Taking the loose change and cell phone from Mr. Marshall’s clothes, the three of them finally left the hospital.

「Back at the residential complex.」

As their figures disappeared into the stairwell, Quentin Grant pulled his gaze back from the crack in his door and beckoned to one of the men in black.

"Young Master."

"Go find out what’s going on with the fourth floor."

One of the men in black scratched the back of his head. "Young Master, didn’t you order us a few days ago not to meddle in their business? You even said not to tell you if anything happened."

Quentin Grant reached out and smacked him on the head. "Just go when I tell you to! Enough with the damn chatter!"

"Yes, yes, I’ll investigate right away!"

’Our Young Master used to be a man of his word,’ the man in black thought, incredibly frustrated. ’But ever since he met Miss Ainsworth, he’s been doing one unpredictable thing after another, tormenting us half to death in the process.’

A moment later, the man in black jogged back to Quentin Grant. "Young Master, I have the information."

Quentin Grant was lounging by the third-floor windowsill, a pair of binoculars resting beside him.

"Speak."

"It’s Young Master Ellsworth’s assistant—her father died. They just got back from the hospital."

Quentin Grant sat up, his brow furrowed. "Whose? Chloe Marshall’s dad died?"

"Yes, that’s been confirmed."

He waved a hand dismissively. "Alright, I get it. You’re dismissed."

Quentin Grant lay there and picked up the binoculars again. After confirming he couldn’t see a thing, he restlessly made his way downstairs.

After confirming that Nora Ainsworth was at the film studio, Leon Lynch got out of his car with a spring in his step and headed straight for the hotel where she was staying.

Inside the elevator, after pressing the button for the eighth floor, a huge grin bloomed on his face.

The thought of seeing her any second now made Leon Lynch so excited he felt like he could jump for joy.

A thought instantly popped into his head. ’It’s been so long. Will she be thrilled to see me?’

With that thought, Leon Lynch stepped out of the elevator, his face beaming.

He strolled casually to the door of Room 803, rang the doorbell, gave a slight cough, and waited for someone to answer.

But one ring was apparently not enough. He immediately rang the doorbell again and kept waiting.

Still, no one came to the door.

Leon Lynch grew impatient and started pounding on the door with his fists.

He pounded until his palms ached, but the lack of response made it clear that no one was inside.

Finally, sensing someone beside him, Leon Lynch turned to look.

Ethan Ellsworth was standing beside him. They stared at each other, wide-eyed.

"Well, well, Young Master Lynch. It really has been a while. Nora isn’t here. I saw her leave in the company van."

"Young Master Ellsworth, it has indeed been a while. It looks like Room 804 is vacant; I’m planning to stay here." A smile played on Leon Lynch’s lips as he looked at him. "Guess we’ll be neighbors for a bit."

It wasn’t hard for Ethan Ellsworth to guess his intentions. "The news said you were traveling. Back so soon? Why not go tour the world for two or three years?"

Leon Lynch wagged his index finger. "NONO, our Nora coming back from the dead was a huge surprise for me. I hear she signed with your company. Please do take good care of her."

Ethan Ellsworth replied casually, "But of course. Looking after her is what I should do. I’ll let you be, Young Master Lynch."

"Mhm."

As soon as Ethan Ellsworth returned to his room, he quickly dialed Quentin Grant’s number.

"I have some urgent news. Wanna hear it?"

Quentin Grant’s lazy, complaining voice came through the phone. "You’re always such a pain in the ass. If you have something to say, just spit it out!"

Ethan Ellsworth’s lips twitched. "My balls aren’t the ones aching."

Quentin Grant facepalmed. "Mine are. What’s up?"

"If they’re aching that much, you should just get them snipped."

"Damn it! Are you going to tell me or not?!"

Ethan Ellsworth burst out laughing. "Look how worked up you are. But I don’t think I’ll say it. I’m afraid you won’t like hearing it."

Quentin Grant had a feeling he knew what Ethan was going to say, but he still tried to calm himself. "Spit it out already. Keep messing with me, and believe me, I’ll take you out!"

Ethan Ellsworth was doubled over with laughter. At last, he said, "I just ran into one of Nora’s high-quality suitors."

"High-quality suitor? Which bastard?"

"Pfft!" Ethan Ellsworth couldn’t hold back his laughter. "It’s Nora’s ex-fiancé, Leon Lynch. He’s back. He was just here looking for her."

"Leon Lynch? Him? Oh. Got it."

Ethan Ellsworth was stunned. "What kind of reaction is that?"

"There’s no way he’ll end up with her. If it was going to happen, it would’ve happened already. Why wait until now?"

Ethan Ellsworth didn’t see it that way. "Whether they get together or not is their business. It’s not like you care anymore, right? You said you were going to give Nora a taste of her own medicine. I’m a little curious, man. Can you spill? What’s your plan, exactly?"

The other end of the line went silent. Ethan Ellsworth glanced at his phone screen to make sure the call hadn’t ended. "Hey, speak up. Don’t put on an act with me, man. Just say it."

He finally spoke. "After this TV show of yours airs, I will make her come to me, kneel at my feet, and beg me to take her."

Judging by his tone, Ethan Ellsworth felt a chill run down his spine. "Quentin, why not just kidnap her and bring her to your turf? Why make it so complicated?"

"Kidnapping is coercion. I’m going to make her come to me willingly. You stay out of this and keep your mouth shut!"

With that, he hung up.

Ethan Ellsworth’s expression grew serious. Based on what he knew of Quentin Grant, his gut told him that this time, he wasn’t just playing around.

After pacing around his room for a while, Ethan Ellsworth watched a couple of movies. The night wore on, but no one returned to the room next door.

Remembering what she’d said, Ethan Ellsworth couldn’t help but wonder, ’Did she go spend the night with her boyfriend?’

’Didn’t she say she wasn’t coming back tonight?’

’Did she really go?’

He felt a surge of annoyance. ’What was it I told her last night?’

’How can she have so little self-respect?!’

’Should a girl just casually spend the night at her boyfriend’s place?’

’He’s already 25 and he still hasn’t lost his virginity!’

Thinking about it made Ethan Ellsworth feel pathetic.

’Because among him, Quentin Grant, and Herman Hawthorne, the other two were connoisseurs who had savored all that women had to offer. When it came to this subject, he had been left miles behind in their dust!’

’He’d kissed actresses, held their hands, and hugged them. He’d even filmed a few bed scenes that were over in a flash. But in real life, he had never truly had a girlfriend.’

’He had acted out all those flowery, romantic love stories from the movies and TV shows, but he’d never experienced one for himself.’