Chapter 117 Ethan's Acting Chops
In a Silverlight City hospital..
Jasmine leaned anxiously over the side of the hospital bed, her eyes swollen and red from crying for hours on end.
Ethan removed his oxygen mask, glanced at Jasmine, and gave a helpless smile. "It's just acting, you know. You cried for real?"
"But you... you were so convincing," Jasmine choked back sobs.
After the meeting, Jasmine had given Ethan the 'peanut brittle' she'd switched out earlier.
It was just plain toffee, but Ethan began to cough violently, gasping for air as if he couldn't breathe.
Jasmine was terrified.
Ethan couldn't help but laugh at her stammering and timid demeanor.
She truly resembled a startled little rabbit.
"Are you upset cause you'd be sad if I had an allergic reaction and died, or cause you'd feel guilty if something actually happened to me?" Ethan was genuinely curious to know if Jasmine was worried about him.
Jasmine wiped her tears away. Did it make any difference which of those fears was haunting her? "I was scared. I thought I took the wrong candy."
Ethan's smile froze for a moment. He had perhaps expected too much.
"The PR folks from the company will take you away soon. Don't be afraid. I'm here for you," Ethan reassured Jasmine.
Jasmine nodded nervously.
They played the drama to its fullest extent. Now, the whole company was buzzing about it, ensuring a difficult resolution.
At that moment, Daria must have been feeling nervous, afraid that Jasmine might accuse her of trying to hurt Ethan on purpose. Daria had prepared her statement because everyone at the company knew Jasmine was a former convict and not trustworthy—nobody would believe her.
"Miss Wilson, there has been a serious mistake in your work. Please come with us to assist with the investigation," the PR team arrived and led Jasmine away.
Liam, who had come back with antihistamines, witnessed the PR team leading Jasmine away. His first instinct was to intervene, but realizing how much attention the situation had attracted, he decided to let the team take Jasmine away.
"Mr. Douglas, are you awake?"
Only after the PR team had left did Ethan finally open his eyes.
Jasmine really blew it this time; she must've been set up. No way, it's a coincidence she handed you those peanut brittle bars." Liam sighed, realizing Ethan had overestimated Jasmine – played like a rookie in just a few days on the job.
She's definitely gotta go.
Ethan sat up, removed his IV, and swung his legs off the bed. "Let's go. Time to head back and watch the drama unfold."
Liam was stunned. "Mr. Douglas, you can't possibly—"
Ethan smirked cunningly, having orchestrated the plan with Jasmine without letting Liam in on it. He had faked an allergic reaction earlier, which had left Liam in tears. The truth hit Liam just then, nearly causing his jaw to hit the floor.
Did Jasmine and Ethan dupe him?
Feeling a bit jealous, Liam grumbled while trailing after Ethan. "Mr. Douglas, I haven't even transferred roles yet. Mind giving me a heads-up before you and Jasmine scheme?"
"You can't act," Ethan said coolly.
Liam rolled his eyes. "You scared me half to death."
Ethan didn't respond, just got into the car. "Don't forget our bet. If Jasmine clinches it with Daria, you're her runner for three months, at her beck and call."
Liam stood still, watching Ethan leave, then rubbed his eyes with disbelief.
Had he seen that, right? The typically aloof Mr. Douglas was he actually joking with him?
Smiling, no less?
Astonishing, downright miraculous.
Ever since Jasmine entered Ethan's world, he'd been acting all sorts of strange.
...
At Stellar Enterprises.
The PR team was conducting a harsh interrogation.
"Jasmine, did you intentionally try to harm Mr. Douglas? As the newcomer, you'd surely know about his peanut allergy – this is sabotage."
"Miss Jasmine, if you don't cooperate with our investigation, we're involving the police," pressed the PR staff.
"I didn't," Jasmine murmured, head bowed, unable to explain anything beyond her denial.
Despite holding onto the hope that Ethan would come to her rescue, Jasmine found herself speechless, battling her social anxiety. The interrogation triggered feelings of breathlessness and a racing heartbeat, reminiscent of a hypoglycemic episode—agonizing.
It was a physical manifestation of depression.
Fearful of being cornered like this, Jasmine remembered the harrowing questions from the police when Daniel and Evan conspired to imprison her on extortion charges.
"Mr. Howard," Howard walked in, his face grave.
"Mr. Howard, I'm telling you, Jasmine did this on purpose. Mr. Douglas is allergic to peanuts. When she started working here, I made a point to warn her about it. She has to know. I think we should just call the cops," Daria said as she followed Howard, setting Jasmine up for trouble.
"Jasmine... I heard you went to jail before because the Douglas family charged you with extortion. Are you still holding a grudge over that... is that why you...?" Harper, who trailed behind Howard, covered her mouth in shock and disbelief, her voice filled with a choked emotion. "Jasmine, what were you thinking? Ethan wasn’t even involved in that extortion case."
Jasmine glanced at Harper with a numb expression before sarcastically lowering her head. Harper had struck Jasmine where it hurt the most, and Jasmine had inadvertently given the PR team their justification.
"Mr. Howard, what do you think... Should we call the police?" The folks from Public Relations also felt Jasmine was getting back at them deliberately.
"You all go ahead and step out," Howard said as he sat across from Jasmine, wanting a private word with her.
Daria, nervous, gripped her hands tightly and left.
Nobody would believe Jasmine.
"Now that we're alone, tell me the truth. Are you trying to get back at the Douglas family?" Howard's voice was low. "Isn’t the relationship you have with Ethan enough for you?"
"The HR department didn't tell me about Ethan’s peanut allergy. They even purposefully hinted that he liked peanuts. Do you believe that?" Jasmine looked up at Howard.
She was reminding Howard of who Daria was aligned with and who had a motive to harm Ethan. Power struggles were rife with deception and covert conflicts. Howard likely knew about Daria's connection with Carmen but chose to ignore it.
"Do you think I would believe your story?" Howard scoffed.
"Mr. Howard, Ethan is your son too. He’s human. He has feelings. He can hurt," Jasmine argued on Ethan's behalf.
Howard was far too biased.
Everyone said that with a stepmother came a stepfather. It appeared to be true enough on Howard.
Howard furrowed his brow, his voice still low. "Jasmine, you don't have a chance here because no one will believe you. If I call the cops and have my lawyers file a lawsuit against you for intentional harm, you know better than anyone what jail tastes like."
Jasmine's fingers clenched one by one, and she lowered her head as her whole body trembled.
Indeed, Jasmine knew all too well the taste of prison.
"If you're smart, you'll quietly end things with Ethan. I'll let bygones be bygones on this occasion, and you'll leave the company," Howard negotiated with Jasmine. "I'll give you a substantial amount to keep this under wraps. Take your son and leave Silverlight City forever."
"I'm sorry, I can't," Jasmine replied, her gaze burning into Howard.
"It seems you won't see reason until you hit rock bottom," Howard rose, ready to instruct the PR department to call the police.
"I need to have a word alone with Daria," Jasmine stood up, glancing at Daria, who was eavesdropping outside the door.
Daria sneered sarcastically. Of course, she would never admit to anything she had said.
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