Elora was taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise as she saw Ethan by the door. She stammered, "Brother-in-law, you're here? How long have you been standing there?"Ethan replied, "I've been here for a while, and I heard everything you guys were talking about."Elora lowered her head and asked, "You mean you heard even the discussion about Aureus?"Ethan let out a sigh and responded, "Yes, I did."Elora nodded and said, "Sister didn't want you to know, but since you do, I'm going to plead on her behalf."Thud!"Suddenly, Elora fell to her knees, surprising Ethan. He quickly reached out and lifted her back to her feet, saying,"Why are you kneeling for such a matter? I hate it."Elora nodded, her eyes filled with sincerity. "I'm sorry, brother-in-law. I just wanted to help."Ethan reassured her, "It's okay. Now that I know, I'll make a call and get everything fixed."Elora couldn't contain her relief and gratitude. "Really? You'll do it?"Ethan smiled and said, "Why not? I love Soph
"I wanted to have cooperation with Aureus, but no matter how hard I try, it's not working out." She saidEthan pretends to be shocked and asks, "Aureus Group of Conglomerates?"Sophia nods and says yes.Ethan asked, "Hmm, what kind of cooperation?"Sophia replied, "I wanted to have a distribution partnership with them. I envisioned my megastore boutique becoming an authorized distributor for Aureus Group's products or brands. This partnership would have allowed my boutique to offer a wider range of products to our customers while benefiting from the established reputation and customer base of Aureus Group."Ethan nodded in understanding and said, "That's a fantastic idea, Sophia. You would have been able to offer premium products to your customers and boost the reputation of your store. It's a shame it didn't work out."Sophia sighed and said, "I tried speaking to the manager myself, but nothing seemed to work. I was starting to lose hope."Ethan pulled her closer and said reassuringl
Ethan, understanding the situation and finding it amusing, gently pulled Sophia's hands away from her ears and reassured her, "It's alright, Sophie. I don't hate you. It was just unfortunate timing. Let's forget about it and join your family for dinner."At the family dinner, the atmosphere was warm and filled with the delicious aroma of the meal. As everyone settled in and began enjoying their food, Sophia's mom cleared her throat, signaling that she had something to say. All eyes turned to her, including Ethan, who wore a gentle smile.With a motherly glint in her eyes, Sophia's mom addressed Ethan, her voice filled with curiosity and anticipation. "Ethan, dear, I wanted to ask you something. When do you plan on marrying Sophia?" The question hung in the air, causing Sophia to choke on her food in surprise.Reacting quickly, Ethan sprang into action, rushing to Sophia's side with a glass of water. He gently supported her, soothing her coughing until she regained her composure. Sop
Ethan was taken aback by her request, his eyes widening in surprise. "What did you say?" he managed to utter, his voice laced with astonishment.Fearful that she had crossed a line, Sophia's voice trembled as she hurriedly replied, "Forgive me if I'm overstepping, Ethan, but I don't know... I badly want to kiss you."Ethan's hand found its way to her waist, pulling her closer, his eyes fixed on her. "Look at me in the eye," he gently urged her.Sophia slowly raised her head, her gaze meeting his, her shyness palpable. Ethan, his curiosity piqued, inquired once more, his voice filled with tenderness, "Do you really want to do that?"Sophia nodded, her shyness mingling with a newfound boldness. "Yes, I want to," she whispered, her voice filled with longing.Without further hesitation, their lips met in a passionate embrace, and their kisses were deep and intense. They surrendered to the moment, their connection growing stronger with each lingering touch.Ethan's hand cupped Sophia's che
Lily's eyes widened in shock as Charlotte's words sank in. "What do you mean by that? How can the CEO of Aureus be the one?" She exclaimed, her voice trembling with disbelief.Charlotte quickly reassured her, saying, "Lily, I'm not entirely certain. It's just speculation at this point."Lily nodded thoughtfully, her mind racing with possibilities. "But why do you think it could be him? Share your thoughts with me, Charlotte."Charlotte leaned in closer and said, "Think about it, Lily. This anonymous CEO is rumored to be a billionaire, possibly even more. Who else could send such a significant amount of money without a second thought?"Lily's expression changed from disbelief to contemplation. "You're right," she admitted. "It does make sense when you put it that way. Sending $5 million is no small gesture."Interrupting their conversation, Charlotte said, "That reminds me, have you seen the trending news this morning?"Lily shook her head. "No, I haven't had a chance to check. What's
Sophia playfully tapped his arm and replied, "Then I would give you a tight kiss lip, hit you on the chest, and say congratulations. But then I would leave."Ethan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Why would you leave?"Sophia's smile faded slightly as she responded, "Because you kept it from me, and I would feel heartbroken. So, I'd need some time alone."Ethan, who had asked the question in hopes of revealing his true identity, swallowed his words with a sigh. He realized that the truth would be bittersweet, and it wasn't the right time to share it.Sophia noticed Ethan's change in demeanor and asked, "Why the frown? Are you angry? It's not like you're the CEO, so no need to be mad, right?"Ethan chuckled, trying to mask his disappointment. "Oh, come on. I'm not angry at all. I was just thinking about how nice it would feel to be one."Sophia nodded, understanding his sentiment. "It's a nice thought, indeed," she replied.Meanwhile, Maxwell Carson's phone rang, and he swiftly answered,
Ethan frowned and turned to Sophia, his expression serious. "Wait for me here, Sophia. Let me find out why he stopped us.""I'm coming too; wait for me." Sophia said as she also got down, following him. Seeing Ethan and Sophia walking over, Maxwell smiled. "Here come the two lovebirds." He saidEthan walked towards Maxwell, his steps purposeful. He approached him with a determined look on his face. "Maxwell, what is the meaning of this? Why did you stop us?"Maxwell laughed, his voice dripping with amusement. "Ethan Nightingale, right? Congratulations on your successful purchase of a $30 million bracelet," he taunted, extending his hand to shake Ethan's. But before their hands could meet, Ethan swiftly swatted Maxwell's hand away, his expression filled with disdain.Sophia, unable to contain her frustration any longer, stepped forward, her eyes blazing with anger. "Maxwell, enough with your nonsense. If you have something to say, say it clearly and be done with it."Maxwell's smirk
On the way, Sophia couldn't shake off the thought of Maxwell's intentions to create trouble between her and Ethan. She looked at him with a concerned expression and said, "It seems Maxwell was planning a way to get things to roughen up between us, but..."Ethan interrupted her, his voice calm and dismissive. "Why bother about him? Just leave it," he said, trying to brush off any lingering worry.Sophia smiled faintly, appreciating Ethan's nonchalant attitude. "Okay," she replied, understanding his perspective. Then she asked, "Ethan, we'll reach Boston Hills soon. Where is your house so I can drop you there?"Ethan was caught off guard by the question, his mind racing to find an appropriate response. He stammered slightly and replied, "Don't worry, just drop me at the station, and I'll go myself."Deep down, Ethan didn't want Sophia to see his luxurious villa, which could potentially create misunderstandings or complications. Shaking her head gently, Sophia insisted, "It's not a pro