Chapter 124 Twist of Fate in the Johnson Family
But Sarah was unfazed. She wrapped her arm around Ethan so effortlessly that she nearly clung to him!
"I don't care! You kissed me and touched me, so now you've got to own up to it! And if you back out now, I swear I’ll make you regret it! Also... you're banned from mentioning Chloe from now on. I'm your girlfriend now!”
Sarah declared with an imperious tone.
"Alright, I agree to your terms. Just hope you won't regret it!”
Ethan had never imagined that only a day after things ended with Chloe, another romance would begin, and with Chloe's close friend, no less!
Even if it was a misunderstanding, like Sarah said, he had kissed and touched her – would he not be a scoundrel to deny it?
Ethan prided himself on not being that kind of guy!
"You have my word, no backing out!”
Sarah’s eyes sparkled, and she planted a kiss on Ethan's lips, steering his cheeks towards her.
Ethan stood dumbfounded but then heard Sarah declare solemnly, "All that happened when you weren't fully aware. Now, I’ve officially sealed the deal with a clear mind. From this day forward, you're my man! No escaping that!”
"Okay, okay... But have you thought about how you're going to explain our relationship to your granddad?”
Ethan asked sheepishly, nodding repeatedly while bringing up the concern that troubled him most.
Upon hearing this, Sarah’s playful expression shifted to a serious one, "I haven't figured out how to tell granddad yet. For now, let's keep it under wraps! Just remember, you can't back out. You're mine, Sarah's man, in this life and beyond!"
Ethan was moved. Sarah's seemingly unreasonable demands were actually declarations of her feelings. Here was a girl who’d forsake everything to stake such a bold claim on him. What kind of man would he be if he refused?
"Okay!”
Having come to terms with the situation, Ethan nodded firmly, maybe, just maybe, this outcome wasn't so bad after all.
"That's more like it! You reek of booze — go take a shower and then come to bed," she said with a smirk, playfully asserting her authority over Ethan as if she were royalty.
"Wait... you mean we're sleeping here tonight?"
Ethan was clearly flustered. Despite agreeing to be with Sarah, he hadn't anticipated things moving so quickly.
"What's the problem? I've booked the room already. You're not seriously thinking of asking for a refund, are you? I'm a woman, and I'm cool with it. Man up, Ethan!"
Sarah scoffed dismissively as she led the way into the room. Before disappearing inside, she shot a warning glance back at Ethan. "If you even think about sneaking off, you'll have me to answer to!"
Ethan was thoroughly outmaneuvered by this woman.
In that moment, with just a wall separating them, one on the sofa and the other on the bed, both were immersed in introspection.
Their relationship had been smoothly orchestrated with just a few words, but the truth was that both harbored profound uncertainties about the future.
"Chloe, if this is the outcome you were hoping for, then so be it. Besides, you're right — I've fallen for him. Perhaps I should thank you for this chance. No matter who's against us, I'll prove to you that I'll stand by this man forever!"
After much thought, Sarah whipped out her phone and shot a message to Chloe.
A twinge of resentment towards Chloe lingered in Sarah's heart, especially after seeing Ethan drowning his sorrows in alcohol today. It wasn't that Sarah lacked sisterly loyalty; she, too, had fallen for the same man.
"Perhaps you're right; we were always meant for different worlds. Best wishes to you!"
Meanwhile, Ethan, sitting in the living room, also sent a message to Chloe.
Miles away in Houston, Chloe, lying in the comfort of her family's plush bed, found her phone buzzing with messages. Tears streamed down her face as she covered her mouth and sobbed into her blanket.
Another night passed and Ethan held his new girlfriend close, yet nothing happened between them.
It had only been a couple of days, but Ethan was astounded that the woman in his arms had so swiftly transitioned from Chloe to Sarah.
It wasn't that Sarah was unwilling, but when Ethan woke up sober, he found himself utterly devoid of desire. Reflecting on the twists and turns of recent events, like scenes from some melodramatic soap opera, he was far too emotionally spent for anything else.
Sarah didn't stir until the cheerful chatter of the birds coaxed open her eyes, long after the sun had claimed the sky. Tossing and turning through a restless night, it had only been the soft light of dawn that finally pulled her out of slumber.
Upon waking, she discovered Ethan's absence; the spot where he'd lain was now devoid of warmth. Heart pounding, she scrambled out of bed and raced to the living room, relief washing over her as she found Ethan settled on the couch, his attention on the morning news.
“You're up! I ordered breakfast for us; it'll be here soon. Why don't you freshen up?” Ethan greeted her with a smile that seemed to erase any trace of yesterday's troubles, be they sweet or sour.
“Sure!” The corners of Sarah's lips lifted on their own as if to mock the whirlwind of thoughts that had plagued her the night before. Why trouble herself with so many what-ifs when they'd chosen to be together?
Post-shower, Sarah snuggled close to Ethan, playfully demanding to be fed breakfast. Ethan couldn't help but laugh, indulging her whims like those of a beloved damsel. He had to admit, catering to her every need was unexpectedly satisfying, bringing a sense of calm to his restless heart—a tranquility he'd longed for, though its lifespan remained a mystery.
Then, a news flash on the TV abruptly captivated both Ethan and Sarah. The stock of the Johnson family's publicly traded company had taken a severe hit as the market opened that day. A combined task force had launched a stringent investigation into all Johnson family enterprises, seizing many companies and arresting a swath of key family members, with over a dozen direct relatives behind bars.
Ethan and Sarah exchanged bewildered glances, mystified by the sudden turmoil. The Johnsons themselves were equally clueless about the reasons behind the chaos; Elijah Johnson promptly rallied the remaining family members for an emergency summit.
But no clarity came from the frantic family discussions. As for Andrew Johnson, the sheer shock of the catastrophe had left him utterly confounded.
In Novaria, the only power capable of pushing the Johnsons to the brink, besides the Cloud Group, would have to be the Harrises!
"Dad... could it be the Harrises pulling strings behind the scenes?"
The memory of Sarah's public declaration at the jewelry exhibition suddenly flashed through Andrew Johnson's mind. But all they did was bar their entry into the jewelry trade; they hadn't threatened to take down the Johnsons, had they?
Elijah Johnson immediately dismissed the notion. He had kept a watchful eye on the Harrises ever since Sarah had made her intentions clear. This was unlikely to be their doing.
"Forget it, it's our own Miss Miller of the Miller family that the Johnsons have crossed! From now on, there'll be no place for the Johnson family in Novaria. That's the price for crossing the Millers!"
Just then, a booming voice erupted from outside the grand hall of the old Johnson estate.
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