"Huh?" Yvette thought she was hearing things, thinking she misheard. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"You can’t really intend for me to marry into the Bell family, right?" Ethan leaned against the sofa, asking lightly.

Yvette opened her mouth, but it took her a while to speak. "Mr. Grant... as it stands, your... your marriage with the Bell family is most advantageous for your position in the Grant Group."

"Do I need to use marriage to sell my own marriage to secure my position?" Ethan retorted.

Yvette took a sharp breath; it seemed like... that wasn’t entirely necessary. "But... it can solve a lot of trouble."

"Then what is the point of working with you?" Ethan wanted to laugh helplessly, wondering when Yvette would catch on.

Yvette panicked instantly.

Ethan’s meaning was clear: if he married into the Bell family, then she would be without value or meaning.

It seemed like that was indeed the case.

The Bell family offered a one-time solution.

It was something she couldn’t provide.

With eyes turning red, Yvette looked down at her hands. "Then... when does Mr. Grant plan to... divorce me?"

What should she do? Was this the end of her relationship with Ethan?

Yvette was very scared.

Claudia Bell would emerge, and without Ethan, who would protect her?

"If you don’t want to lose value, protect your man," Ethan teased Yvette, urging her to be smarter and to ’protect’ him if she saw Wendy.

Yvette felt like crying even more; was Ethan blaming her for not protecting him last night?

"Okay... Mr. Grant, I understand, understood." From now on, before Ethan drank, she would definitely test for poison first.

Any liquor Ethan might drink, she would intercept.

She would drink it herself.

Ethan looked at Yvette suspiciously, wondering if she truly understood, or if she was just pretending. Why did she look so pained?

Did she get frightened last night?

"Hmm, sleep," Ethan stopped teasing Yvette, letting her sleep.

But Yvette couldn’t sleep... she huddled under the covers, shivering.

She thought she wouldn’t dare sleep out of fear, but as drowsiness came over her, Yvette fell asleep quickly.

The room and bed carried Ethan’s distinctive scent, which made Yvette feel very secure.

Curling up under the covers, Yvette even covered her head and slept deeply.

Ethan was in a video conference, silent throughout.

Not wanting to disturb Yvette, he kept the volume very low.

In the meeting, several executives thought their boss wasn’t feeling well today. "Mr. Grant, there are a few competitive companies in this afternoon’s bidding, please take a look."

"Hmm." Ethan only nodded.

"Mr. Grant, regarding our next quarter’s departments..."

"No..." Suddenly, Yvette tossed restlessly in her sleep, her voice tinged with tears.

Ethan looked over worriedly, signaling for silence to the video conference attendees.

Company headquarters conference room.

All employees were shocked, their Mr. Grant clearly in a hotel...

There was someone in Mr. Grant’s room!

Ethan got up and went to the bedside, pulling the covers a bit, smiling helplessly, teasing softly. "Aren’t you afraid of suffocating under the covers?"

"Please... don’t leave me, brother... don’t go, I beg you."

Over the years, Yvette was often tormented by nightmares.

The most hopeless moment for her was six years ago when Stellan left her, watching her get violated by strangers.

Ethan’s gaze was complicated, his heart aching inexplicably.

Why hadn’t he met Yvette earlier...

Why hadn’t he protected her earlier.

If he had been the one to know Yvette from the beginning and not Jayden Grant, maybe Yvette wouldn’t have gone through all of this.

"Don’t be afraid, I’m here." Ethan comforted softly.

...

Back in the video conference.

None of the executives dared to breathe heavily, though they couldn’t see what was happening there, they could vaguely hear their boss’s soothing voice, incredibly gentle.

Gentle enough to shock them.

Having worked at Grant Group for so many years, they really hadn’t seen Mr. Ethan Grant have this side.

"It was Miss Wendy Bell, we saw it in the news, last night and this morning reporters revealed that Mr. Grant accompanied Miss Wendy Bell to the hotel, entering the same room," whispered one female employee, giggling softly.

"That Miss Bell is truly lucky to be so pampered by our Mr. Grant."

"The Bell family is quite a family, recognized by our chairman as a daughter-in-law after all."

After a while, Ethan returned, his usual cold demeanor back. "All departments submit the reports to their heads for review, Vice President Chase from the operations department is resigning, submit the report directly to me. Regarding the succession of the next deputy vice president of operations, consider who you recommend, we’ll talk when I return."

Ethan spoke with deeper meaning, intending to start cleansing the company when he got back.

Arthur Grant actually wanted to use the company to threaten him.

Heh... just wait and see.

...

Wendy Bell’s room.

"Miss Bell, I’ve already spoken to Mr. Arthur Grant about the situation here, telling him it was you who took care of Mr. Grant all night, the chairman is very pleased," Secretary Carter called Wendy Bell.

"Secretary Carter, you’re doing well. Once I marry into the Grant family and join the company, I will certainly promote you," Wendy replied with a smile.

"Congratulations in advance, Madam President," Secretary Carter said tactfully.

"By the way, I heard from hotel staff that Ethan is thoroughly investigating last night’s incident. It’s only a matter of time before he finds you. Be mindful of what to say... what not to say..." Wendy reminded Secretary Carter.

Secretary Carter was a bit nervous. "Miss Bell, you must help me. I’m doing this for you."

"Rest assured, as long as I’m here, even if Ethan finds out, there’s nothing he can do. You’re associated with the chairman, and if he wants to fire you, he’ll need the chairman’s approval. Besides, as long as I reassign you, it’s only a matter of time before he cools off," Wendy assured Secretary Carter.

"With your assurance, I’m at ease. Madam, get some rest. I need to prepare for the afternoon’s bidding work," Secretary Carter said.

"Yes, monitor Melody Crowe and her daughter’s every move, though Melody trusts you, you must remember who you’re really with," Wendy spoke flatly.

She’s going to marry Ethan, naturally needing to help him consolidate his position in the Grant Group.

Melody Crowe and Jayden Grant were her enemies.

And Secretary Carter was a double agent.

He was placed by Chairman Arthur Grant beside Ethan, ostensibly to help but actually to monitor.

And Melody Crowe had long been in cahoots with Secretary Carter.

Secretary Carter was the type to play both sides, a smiling tiger, naturally accepting all comers.

But he wanted to have it both ways, which wouldn’t be simple or easy.

The outcome of today’s Solara project bid is still unknown.

Jayden Grant and Melody Crowe weren’t pushovers either.

...

Melody Crowe’s room.

Jayden returned, looking displeased.

Ethan actually sent him to oversee a desert project, clearly giving him a hard time.

"Useless fool," Melody scolded coldly. "Fortunately, Scott Aldridge’s mother and I get along, or you wouldn’t stand a chance!"

Jayden kept his head down, saying nothing.

"The afternoon bid, is Ethan bringing Yvette?" Melody inquired.

"Yes..." Jayden nodded. "Yvette is his assistant now."

"Hmph, very well. Today afternoon, as long as Ethan makes a fool of himself, our chances will increase. Yvette, a woman full of stains, is perfect for causing Ethan trouble." Melody sneered, unable to find any dirt on Ethan, they could only target Yvette.

"What are you going to do..." Jayden was a bit anxious.

"I’ve arranged for some men to cause Yvette trouble at the bidding site. Yvette’s reputation and identity are inherently shady. Now that she’s Ethan’s assistant, it reflects poorly on him too. Once there’s a scene, partners will naturally question Ethan’s judgment in choosing assistants. Not wanting to offend the Grant Group, they’ll pick us instead, understand?" Melody smirked coldly.