Chapter 266: Chapter 264: A Lifetime of Responsibility (15)

Chloe Marshall was in a foul mood, and seeing him in this state, it was impossible for her to feel any better.

"Boss Ellsworth... don’t be too upset."

He stood up. "You should go home and get some sleep. I’m leaving too."

The car sped away, disappearing from view.

Chloe Marshall couldn’t sleep a wink that night.

First thing in the morning, she went to the office early. She skipped breakfast and waited until eight-forty.

He never showed up.

So, she had no choice but to go to his apartment.

She knocked for a long time, but there was no answer. Finally, she took out her spare key and let herself in.

The moment she stepped inside, she was hit by the overwhelming stench of alcohol.

The living room table was littered with empty liquor bottles. It was impossible to tell how much he’d drunk last night.

She pushed open the bedroom door.

She found him sprawled out on his back, stark naked.

Chloe Marshall pulled a blanket over him.

She tidied up the room, then went to the kitchen to make a hangover remedy and some breakfast.

Finally, she sat down by the bed and called softly, "Boss Ellsworth? Wake up. Time to get up and eat breakfast."

He rolled over, then rolled back again, suddenly wrapping an arm around her waist. "You fool, you came."

Chloe Marshall tensed. "Get up quickly. The food’s going to get cold."

He cracked his eyes open, looking at her drowsily.

"What time is it?"

"It’s already nine-thirty. I went to the office this morning, and when you didn’t show up, I knew you must have been drinking."

He gave a lazy smile. "How are you so sure?"

"Because I’ve snuck a few drinks myself, always when I’m feeling really down."

He sat up, his eyes narrowed. He then got out of bed, still completely naked. "It’s so warm in here. It’s not cold even without a blanket."

Chloe Marshall slapped a hand over her eyes. "Boss Ellsworth, don’t you see I’m here? You could have at least waited for me to leave before getting up!"

He glanced back with a grin. "You’ve seen it all before. What’s the big deal?"

"That was then, this is now. It’s different."

Ethan Ellsworth opened the closet, put on a shirt, and then his pants.

After cleaning up in the bathroom, he walked out to the living room, a faint warmth spreading through his heart.

The once-chaotic living room was now tidy, giving it the feeling of a real home.

Seeing her in an apron, she looked even more like the perfect housewife.

He sat down and said, "You usually seem so air-headed. I never would’ve guessed you were prime housewife material."

Chloe Marshall couldn’t help but smile with confidence. "I might not be great at other things, but when it comes to housework, I’m top-notch. My mom passed away when I was young, and with my dad out working, I was the only one left to take care of the house."

"That’s a good quality, I’ll give you that."

After they finished eating, Chloe Marshall came out from washing the dishes to see him putting on a down jacket.

As they stepped out of the apartment building, he looked up. "It was raining in the middle of the night, and now the sun is blazing. The weather’s always so fickle."

Chloe Marshall nodded. "Nothing lasts forever. Anyone can get by without anyone else—that’s a universal truth."

He turned to her. "Well, I hope *you* can’t live without *me*."

Chloe Marshall was speechless. "I’ve already left you, and I’m doing just fine."

"But you’re still by my side, aren’t you?"

"But is this really the same thing?"

"What’s different?"

"———————"

The first thing Jean Grant did when she woke up was call the team captain at Quentin Grant’s estate and ask him to send ten men over.

After that, she tried calling Ethan Ellsworth, but his phone was off. She had no idea that he had thrown the phone—and the number he’d used for years—into the toilet last night.

The memory of last night filled her with overwhelming shame.

She had no choice but to return to the Grant family’s home.

She told Mrs. Grant about the incident.

When Mrs. Grant heard the story, she was furious enough to burst. "Jean, tell me, are you even my daughter?"

"Of course I am."

"Then why are you so foolish? Even if you have your brother’s men stand guard, don’t you think it’s a little late to be locking the barn door after the horse has bolted?"

Jean Grant grew frantic. "How was I supposed to know it was Marlon Marshall? I thought it was him!"

"Go find him at his company right now! Apologize to him, swear you’ll make it right! What are you doing back here?!"

"Mom, I don’t think he’ll forgive me."

"Whether he forgives you or not is something you’ll find out when you get there! Now go!" Mrs. Grant urged.

Jean Grant had no choice but to agree and drove to Zenith Talent Agency.

The receptionist led her to the door of Ethan Ellsworth’s office and knocked. His voice came from within. "Come in."

"Boss Ellsworth, Jean is here to see you."

Ethan Ellsworth’s hand clenched into a fist. He looked at Jean. "What is it?"

The receptionist exited and closed the door. Jean Grant turned to Chloe Marshall, who was standing to the side. "You can leave."

Chloe Marshall was about to stand, but Ethan Ellsworth spoke first. "Don’t. It’s not like this is some dirty secret. There’s no need to be so furtive. If you have something to say, say it."

A bitter taste filled Jean Grant’s mouth. She could clearly feel Ethan Ellsworth’s coldness toward her.

"Last night... I really thought he was you. Ethan, please forgive me one more time. If you forgive me, I’ll do anything you ask."

Ethan Ellsworth suddenly laughed. "Fine. I forgive you. Jean, save yourself what little dignity you have left. We can still be friends."

His words made the color drain from her face.

"So you... you refuse to forgive me, no matter what?"

He lowered his gaze. "I was the one who started this love, and I’ll be the one to end it. There’s absolutely no chance for us anymore."

"After more than a decade of history... can you really just forget it all in an instant?"

"I don’t want to discuss this any further. Chloe, see our guest out!" His harsh tone made it clear there was no room for discussion.

Chloe Marshall rose to her feet. "Miss Grant—"

Jean Grant’s eyes were red as she stared at Chloe. "You did this on purpose, didn’t you! You’re the one who turned him against me! It must have been you!"

"Miss Grant, how could I have possibly turned him against you? You need to get your facts straight. You’re the one who was with your ex-husband. How can you possibly blame that on me?"

’I may be naive, but I won’t let anyone just walk all over me!’

Jean Grant was already fuming, and Chloe’s rebuttal sent her into a rage. She snatched a book from Ethan Ellsworth’s desk and hurled it at Chloe. "It was you! You’re a twisted schemer, thinking about seducing Ethan all day! You’re a toad lusting after a swan, aren’t you?!" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

It struck her on the forehead. The sharp corner of the book left an angry red mark.

But she wasn’t finished. She snatched up the ashtray and threw that too, before Ethan could stop her.

"Jean Grant! What are you doing!"

Ethan Ellsworth shot to his feet, grabbing a tissue and pressing it to Chloe Marshall’s forehead where the ashtray had cut her and drawn blood.

Jean Grant’s heart ached. "What am I doing? Ethan, who are you to love me one minute and not the next? You loved me for so many years. I made one mistake—why can’t you just forgive me again?"

Ethan Ellsworth’s expression was numb, his eyes filled with disbelief. "Jean... you now... you’re not the person you used to be at all."

"I’m still me! Ethan, don’t leave me." Her voice was choked with sobs. Realizing his words weren’t just spoken in anger, she began to panic.

Ethan Ellsworth said nothing. He turned, retrieved a first-aid kit, and began cleaning Chloe Marshall’s wound.

Seeing him act this way, Jean Grant pulled the door open and left.

「*」