Chapter 97 I Promise You
A feeling of alarm swept through Adeline. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You know exactly what I'm talking about."
Ethan Foster shifted into a graceful lounging position on the couch. "Ms. Wilson, remember, I too was in the jewelry design game before Jasper's mother passed."
"And I must say, I have quite the network in Europe's bespoke jewelry circles." He finished with a smirk, "I've looked into the person you are on paper."
"You've deliberately hidden your true identity. You wouldn't want me to expose you here, would you?"
Adeline’s brow furrowed, and after an initial bout of surprise, she regained a good deal of her composure.
She looked up at Ethan Foster, her voice low and wary. "How did you find out?"
Why had he been investigating her?
"It wasn't a targeted investigation," he said with a light chuckle. "Lauren is a student of the famous Master Y, and naturally, I sought to learn more about her mentor's past creations."
"I discovered Miss Moon was her teacher."
"After some probing, a contact in Europe provided me with first-hand information on Miss Moon." His gaze softened as he glanced at Adeline. "And so, I understand why Ms. Wilson would travel great distances to Blue Bay to be a mere nanny."
"At heart, you probably didn’t want to give up on a promising student like Lauren, right?"
His words made Adeline furrow her brow deeply.
After a moment, she was certain — Ethan Foster didn't know her true identity.
He believed she was just a master jeweler who cherished talent, which was why she had accompanied Lauren back to the States .
The weight in her chest finally subsided.
She took a deep breath. "Indeed, I do see Lauren as a rare talent."
"However," she lifted her gaze, "I've resigned from my position here. I don't wish to oversee her progress any longer."
The truth was Lauren's design skills had already surpassed many. All she needed to do was tap into her potential to become a great designer.
There wasn’t much more Adeline could teach her.
Ethan Foster took a deep breath of his own. "I hope you won't completely turn your back on guiding Lauren. She's only six and has a limitless future ahead of her. She needs the mentorship of a great teacher."
"But I'm well aware that a talent like you, if you just stay holed up here tutoring Lauren and working for the villa's staff, well, it's just wasting your potential."
"So..."
Ethan Foster locked eyes with her. "I'd like to offer you a position at the jewelry division of the Foster Group."
"You could work there and still drop by occasionally to mentor Lauren. That would be enough."
Adeline hesitated, then replied, "Mr. Foster, that's actually a great idea."
"But..."
Her smile was tinged with bitterness. "Jasper will never agree to it."
The man had been on guard since he first saw her this afternoon.
He even blamed her for Lauren attending preschool and for Ethan Foster's decision to hire her as Lauren's tutor.
She doubted Jasper would give his consent.
"Miss Wilson, your agreement is all that matters."
Ethan Foster smiled lightly. "I have my ways of handling Jasper."
Adeline frowned and looked up at him once more.
Finally, she took a deep breath and said, "I accept your offer."
Working for Jasper's company had been part of her plan anyway.
This was simply a change in approach, nothing more.
"Good."
Ethan Foster took a deep breath. "Then, Miss Wilson, please make yourself comfortable here while I go upstairs to talk to him."
After saying this, Ethan Foster stood up and climbed the stairs.
Left alone in the living room, Adeline let out a sigh, closed her eyes, and leaned back on the sofa, but after becoming bored, she got up and walked into the kitchen.
Alice was there, supervising the staff as they prepared fried chicken.
"Miss Wilson."
Upon seeing Adeline enter, Alice offered a smile. "This fried chicken is so greasy."
"I can't understand why kids love it so much."
Adeline frowned at the dish, deducing that it indeed looked quite oily.
She remembered the leftover ingredients from the plum juice she had made earlier in the fridge.
Taking a deep breath, she donned an apron and set about making the plum juice.
"Miss Wilson."
Finally alone with her, Alice exhaled deeply and couldn't help but speak up, "Actually, Mr. Torres –"
"Shh."
Adeline furrowed her brow and swiftly cut her off.
"We're at Blue Bay. You're the new help."
Adeline was deftly preparing a batch of tart plum juice when she lowered her voice and said matter-of-factly, “If people catch wind of your history with Brandon Torres, they’ll think you’re a spy.”
Alice paused, her face losing color.
“Is it that you don’t want to mention him?”
Alice had once been part of the household staff for Brandon Torres, having witnessed firsthand the depth of his affection for Adeline.
Back when Adeline was abroad, her relationship with Brandon wasn’t as close, but it was still quite positive.
But ever since she returned to her home country...
She could count the times she’d reached out to Brandon on one hand.
Remembering how Brandon used to stare at his phone, lost in thought, Alice felt a twinge of sympathy.
He was so lovesick, and this woman who occupied so many of his thoughts and daydreams...
Seemed unwilling even to speak his name.
“It’s not that I don’t want to talk about him,” Adeline sighed, furrowing her brow. “It’s just not the right time.”
With that, she quickly changed the subject. “How’s the fried chicken coming along?”
“We’ve got enough. Don’t make too much; the calories are off the charts, and they’ll only eat it for one meal anyway.”
Alice paused and then turned back, nodding in agreement.
The kitchen resumed its busy rhythm after that brief exchange.
Later, as Adeline moved past Alice, somehow, a splash of hot oil leapt from the pan.
It landed squarely on the back of Adeline’s hand, not missing its mark.
“Sss—!” She hissed, looking down to see a small blister forming.
“Miss Wilson!”
Alice quickly turned off the burner and, while apologizing profusely, ran Adeline's hand under cold water. “You need to be more careful!”
Adeline shot Alice a look.
“Let's just say this was a one-time thing.”
Alice blinked in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“You’ve been upset that I won't discuss Brandon Torres, so let's just say this was your way of expressing it," Adeline said, her accusation clear.
Alice’s movements halted abruptly.
After a moment, she looked up, meeting Adeline's gaze, “Mr. Torres has really done a lot for you.”
“He truly cares about you.”
"Is this how you justify hurting me?" Adeline scoffed as she turned off the cold-water tap. "Do you really think Brandon Torres would be touched if he knew what you've done for him?"
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