Chapter67 Chloe's Request
The Harris family's luncheon was a modest affair, comprised of only four members, devoid of any grandeur.
Ethan and Clarence occupied seats opposite each other, while the two women sat on either side. The meal was simple, consisting of six dishes and a soup, nothing overly lavish or gourmet.
It was evident that Clarence was a man of frugality in his everyday life.
"Think of it as a humble family feast. This is our usual fare. I hope you don't mind, Ethan," Clarence addressed Ethan, his smile warm and welcoming.
"Simple is good. It's the simplicity that brings the feeling of home," Ethan responded, ladling a spoonful of soup for Chloe. The gesture caused an involuntary blush to creep up her cheeks in front of the Harris family.
"Chloe, would you mind if I borrowed Ethan for a few days? I'd like him to accompany Sarah to Seattle. Would that be alright?" Clarence inquired, his smile still intact.
"Mr. Harris, you should be asking Ethan, not me. Besides, Ethan isn't an object to be borrowed," Chloe retorted, her cheeks flushing deeper.
"I'm asking you because I don't want you to accuse me later of running off with your sweetheart," Clarence jested, causing Chloe to become so flustered that she nearly dropped her utensils and fled the table!
"Enough, Grandpa. Chloe is a bit shy, so please stop teasing her! When are you planning to send us to Seattle?" Sarah interjected, coming to her friend's aid and steering the conversation back to the matter at hand.
"I've already arranged for your plane tickets. You'll depart tomorrow morning at ten," Clarence informed Ethan.
"That works for me!" Ethan readily agreed, oblivious to the reluctance flickering in Chloe's eyes.
Following the meal, Grandpa retired to his room for a nap. Ethan took Chloe for a leisurely walk around the villa's yard. Chloe clung to Ethan's arm, leaning into him, her reliance on him almost total. Their impending separation hung in the air, and Chloe's affection for Ethan was palpable.
"You seem a bit off today. Are you unhappy about my trip to Seattle?" Ethan asked, noticing Chloe's preoccupied demeanor.
"Yes, especially since you're going with my beautiful best friend, Sarah. If you were to fall for her, I'd be devastated," Chloe confessed, her lips forming a pout.
Ethan chuckled, "Don't you trust me? Even if you don't trust me, shouldn't you trust your best friend?"
"Have you not heard that women need to be cautious?" Chloe retorted, feigning seriousness.
"So, you two have been talking about me behind my back? Why are you being cautious of me? Do you think I'm going to steal your man?" Sarah suddenly materialized behind them, her gaze fixed on Chloe with feigned suspicion.
"Yes, my man is quite a catch. Who knows if you've set your sights on him?" Chloe replied, her tone serious.
"Well, I hadn't considered it before, but now that you mention it, Ethan is quite attractive. Since neither of you are married, why not let me have a shot?" Sarah teased, her expression playful.
"How dare you, Sarah! I thought you were my best friend!" Chloe retorted, chasing after Sarah. Their playful scuffle filled the yard with laughter and vitality.
Ethan settled onto a bench in the yard, watching the two women frolicking before him. He couldn't help but think that this was the kind of life he yearned for.
Ethan watched as Sarah fearlessly tickled Chloe, an inexplicable pang of jealousy gnawing at him. He yearned to cry out, "Release her and let her come to me!"
"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore! Your man can't take his eyes off you!" Sarah, seemingly fatigued, was the first to capitulate, playfully winking at Chloe.
Chloe huffed in response, "Well, let him look. I don't mind my man looking at me. But seriously, since you two are leaving together, please take good care of him!" Her playful demeanor quickly shifted to a more serious tone.
Sarah, seeing Ethan reclining with his eyes closed on a nearby bench, lowered her voice to a whisper, "Your words make me uncomfortable. If he's your man, shouldn't you be the one to take care of him? What do you think I am? I'm accompanying him to handle important matters, don't overthink it! Besides, I'm not his nanny!"
A bitter smile graced Chloe's enchanting face. "There are only two and a half months left, and then I must return. I would love to take care of him in the future, but..."
Sarah fell silent, understanding her friend's helplessness. She knew the influence Ethan’s family wielded. Wishing for Chloe and Ethan to be together was indeed a fanciful dream!
However, Chloe's desolate and helpless gaze was too much for Sarah to bear. She found herself comforting her, "We mustn’t be so pessimistic. You should trust him. If he grows strong enough to confront the entire Wilson family, he might stand a chance against them!"
At these words, Chloe turned her gaze towards Ethan.
Sensing her stare, Ethan opened his slightly squinted eyes, flashed her a smile, and waved his hand.
"Alright, let's not talk about it anymore. If you truly are my best friend, then you must help me keep this secret. Even if I do leave, promise to take care of him for me!" Without waiting for Sarah's response, Chloe walked over to Ethan.
"Silly girl, why must you endure this? Life has dealt you an unfair hand. You two should never have met in the first place!" Sarah sighed, watching Chloe's retreating figure.
Their conversation lingered in the air as Chloe's phone suddenly rang.
Her eyes filled with reluctance as she glanced at the screen. "Ethan, I have to go."
"Is Greg coming to pick you up?" Ethan immediately understood.
"Yes! Can you see me off?" Chloe nodded in affirmation.
They bid Sarah farewell and made plans to head to the airport together the next morning. Chloe left the Harris family villa with Ethan by her side.
Each encounter with Greg left Ethan with a sense of cold indifference and even hostility. Greg's strength seemed to surpass Mike's, yet he always seemed wary of Ethan. Why was that?
As Chloe's car disappeared around the corner, Ethan hailed a taxi and returned to the villa.
There were some things that didn't need to be investigated deeply at the moment. Although Ethan had accepted his relationship with Chloe, he was uncertain about their future.
After all, Chloe's identity was a significant factor, and Ethan found his desire to become stronger growing more urgent.
Previously, it was to uncover the truth behind his parents' accident, and now Chloe was added to the equation!
Back at the villa, Ethan's attention was drawn to the banyan tree in the yard. He went to examine it closely.
The main trunk of the banyan tree was sturdy. It was not an old tree, it was in its prime and shouldn't exhibit such signs of withering and lifelessness.
The varying degrees of withering in the tree's canopy were peculiar, especially considering the behavior of the six trees at the Harris family villa earlier. Ethan became more convinced that the abnormalities in these plants were caused by the bead on his necklace!
Otherwise, it wouldn't be possible for such similar incidents to occur both at his house and the Harris family's villa. This couldn't be a mere coincidence!
However, this was only a hypothesis. Ethan began to ponder how he could prove his theory correct.
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