Chapter 129 Jasmine is Ethan's Exception
Harper paused, then spoke up in a soft voice. "You said you would take responsibility for me... Uncle Douglas agreed to the merger of our families through marriage, and the media has already covered it. They interviewed Uncle Douglas, and he confirmed it."
To Harper, it seemed like a done deal; an engagement between her and Ethan would be beneficial for both parties.
Ethan, after all, had no substantial reason to outright refuse, especially since Howard had agreed and even publicly acknowledged the engagement.
If Ethan were to disagree or deny it, it would be a direct slap in the face to Howard, his father.
Ethan's position at Stellar Enterprises was far from secure—it was indeed hanging by a thread. What belonged to him could easily be taken by Clara and Daniel. Only a business marriage could strengthen Ethan's position and his commercial value within the company.
So, unless Ethan was a fool, he would never deny it.
Jasmine, clutching her laptop, felt her fingers tighten.
She had seen the news.
Howard had indeed confirmed the business merger with Stellar Enterprises.
The media were now all over the story. They were calling it the wedding of the century.
Many claimed that the Brown family had struck the jackpot.
The eldest daughter to marry Ethan, and the second to Henry.
The intentions of the Brown family were clear as day to the public.
But there was no helping it—a marriage with the Browns was extremely advantageous for Ethan in his current situation.
This was something Jasmine couldn't assist with.
All she could do was her best in her role, managing the company's internal affairs for Ethan.
"My father agreed to a merger between our families? Is he planning to divorce and remarry?" Ethan asked with a hint of sarcasm.
Harper's breath hitched, and she forced a smile. "Ethan, stop joking around."
Ethan snorted and boarded the plane.
Jasmine followed Liam, stepping aside to let Harper go through to join Ethan.
In truth… Jasmine understood that Harper could offer Ethan benefits far greater than anyone else could.
"Let me take that." Liam took the computer bag, gesturing for Jasmine to sit inside.
The seats in business class were spacious and quiet.
Jasmine settled in, turning to look out the window of the plane.
It had been... six years since she'd last flown.
Liam had just finished settling in when Ethan pushed him aside. " Sit over there; it's more convenient to take care of Harper from that spot."
Liam looked perplexed, as if wondering who he was and where he was.
Why should I be the one looking after Harper, huh?
‘Mr. Douglas, shouldn't you be the one taking care of her?’
Liam shouted in his mind, blinking furiously, but it was futile; Ethan wasn't paying any attention, having already taken his seat and peacefully closed his eyes.
Jasmine kept her gaze fixed on the window, oblivious to Ethan and Liam switching places.
Next to her, by the window, Harper was barely holding back her tears.
With humiliation, she bit her lip and clenched her fists tightly.
What was Ethan thinking? What did he reject her like this?
"Harper, if you need anything, just tell me! See, Mr. Douglas cares about you—he's asked me to personally look after you..." Liam's brain was overheating, it took him ages to cough up that line.
Harper snorted and turned her gaze away.
With Howard around, Ethan was bound to marry her anyway.
Once married, she could take her time to cultivate affection with Ethan.
There's no way Harper believed a man as outstanding as Ethan could fancy a tainted woman like Jasmine, who was clearly nothing but a smokescreen, a decoy.
She wasn't in a rush; things would unfold in good time.
...
Lying by the window for what seemed like an eternity, Jasmine never noticed that Ethan was the one sitting beside her, even as the plane took off.
"Liam, are you still booking a room for Miss Harper? Or... will she be staying with Mr. Douglas?" Jasmine leaned back in her seat, head down, and mumbled a question.
"What do you think?" Ethan asked without opening his eyes, his brow furrowed.
Ethan's voice startled Jasmine, causing her to jerk upright. However, the seatbelt restrained her, pulling at her groin and nearly bringing tears to her eyes.
Ethan opened his eyes and sighed. "Are you that afraid of me?"
Jasmine bowed her head and shrank toward the window.
"This is a plane, where do you plan to go?" Ethan suddenly realized that teasing Jasmine had become a source of amusement.
Jasmine shivered and glanced at Ethan, then sneakily peered at Liam and Harper.
She saw Liam resentfully sitting next to Harper, shooting Jasmine a glare.
Taking a deep breath and clearing her throat, Jasmine asked, "Mr. Douglas, are you still... booking a room for Miss Harper?"
"It doesn't matter to me," Ethan murmured, closing his eyes to rest.
Jasmine dared not say more; the air around Ethan was already fraught with tension.
After a flight of just over three hours from Silverlight City to Hawaii, Jasmine and Kimberly were anxious, perched cautiously on the edge of their seats, sneaking glances at Ethan.
The man was strikingly handsome.
His looks, physique, even his poise didn't require him to utter a word. Simply resting with his eyes closed, he exuded a natural, commanding presence.
Jasmine had once thought that Daniel was quite the looker, but compared to Ethan, he seemed far too youthful.
Once they landed, a designated driver was waiting for them.
The Bellagio Hotel, part of the Stellar Enterprises nationwide chain, was Ethan's natural choice since he was associated with the company.
Having arrived in Hawaii on an earlier flight, Vittoria had taken care of all the hotel arrangements and had sent the driver to pick them up.
"Mr. Douglas, Harper," the secretary greeted with a smile as she took Harper's luggage.
There was an exchange of knowing looks between Harper and the secretary.
Nodding, the secretary moved on as Harper approached Ethan, assisting him with his tie and suit jacket.
Outside the airport, reporters had gathered, and from this angle, any photo taken would have a suggestively intimate air.
Ethan stepped back with a darkened expression.
He couldn't be bothered to puncture Harper's facade, well aware that the reporters were waiting outside. "Jasmine, come here."
Fumbling with her luggage, Jasmine scurried over to Ethan. "Mr. Douglas, what's up?"
"Straighten my tie," Ethan said with a steady voice.
Frozen in place, Harper maintained a smile despite the awkwardness. "Jasmine, sorry, I've never straightened a man's tie before, and I don't know how to tie a Windsor knot. You'll have to show me sometime."
As Jasmine adjusted Ethan's tie, her fingers stiffened momentarily, picking up on the insinuation in Harper's words.
She must have been with many men to do this so skillfully.
Without a word, Jasmine turned to open the car door for Ethan.
Harper gave Jasmine an inscrutable smile before taking a seat in the back of the car, alongside Ethan.
Jasmine opted to sit up front, and the atmosphere inside the spacious executive van turned icy cold.
She couldn't shake off the feeling of a cold draft on her back, as if spiteful eyes were fixed on her.
"Ethan, our senior brother has already arrived at the Bellagio Hotel. Why not let Jasmine and Liam handle the luggage so we can head over? We're all familiar with each other here; this isn't a business meeting. There's no need for an assistant; it would just create distance," Harper suggested with a smile, evidently preferring Jasmine not to accompany them.
"I'm used to having someone with me; Liam stays, Jasmine, you're coming with me," Ethan said, his gaze deep as he looked at Jasmine.
Jasmine opened her mouth but said nothing.
Harper looked uneasy but couldn't outright refuse.
Once they reached the hotel, Ethan stood behind Jasmine, his voice low. "You seem to have forgotten your responsibilities."
He had Jasmine stay by his side as a shield to fend off the women throwing themselves at him.
Why did Jasmine like to hide?
Jasmine let out a confused noise. Wasn't Harper... an exception?
However, it was inevitable that the Browns and the Douglas family would eventually join their households through marriage.
"I'm allergic to women, keep her away from me," Ethan warned Jasmine coldly, not to shirk her duty.
Jasmine was baffled. Allergic to women? Wasn't she a woman?
"Ethan, I brought two bottles of fine wine, air-freighted from Australia; you're going to love them," Harper told him, having his secretary Michael bring the wine. "We're drinking it tonight."
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