Chapter 135 Ethan Calls Jasmine His Wife
"Come with me, Mr. Douglas is on the warpath," Liam sighed, beckoning Jasmine to follow.
Jasmine wiped away her tears, trying to keep her composure without giving anything away, and followed Liam with her head down.
"What's going on with you? Why did you run off last night? Feeling guilty?" The receptionist from last night spotted Jasmine as soon as they entered the hotel and rushed over angrily. "That work ID is fake, isn't it?"
Jasmine remained silent with her head lowered.
Liam furrowed his brow, about to ask what had happened, when Ethan emerged from the elevator.
The receptionist quickly approached him. "Mr. Douglas, did you have a good night's rest?"
Ethan, with a stern face, kept his eyes fixed on Jasmine.
Jasmine didn’t dare to look up at Ethan, standing there somewhat helplessly.
Ignoring everyone, Ethan walked straight up to Jasmine.
Jasmine, nervous, bit her lip and took a step back, her fingers clenching in a panic.
With a forceful aura, Ethan reached out and lifted Jasmine’s hair, surprising the onlookers.
Jasmine felt his fingertips on her skin, burning hot.
Startled and wanting to pull away, she was caught by Ethan's grip on her wrist.
"Why are you running?" Ethan's voice was oppressive.
Jasmine's eyes reddened, with a look of distress but she dared not cry.
Ethan's gaze fell on a love bite on the back of Jasmine's neck, he raised an eyebrow and spoke again, "Where did you go last night?"
Jasmine, with her head down, responded in a hoarse voice, "I'm sorry... so sorry. I couldn't find you... It's all my fault..."
Jasmine broke into a desperate cry, lying because she didn't dare to let Ethan know, "I'm sorry, can you... please don't fire me."
Jasmine tried hard to stop crying, but she was terrified.
Terrified of losing Ethan's affection, she really needed Ethan now.
"Why would I fire you?" Ethan murmured softly, his initially menacing presence visibly softening.
Could there be a hint of… relief in his demeanor?
Liam was stunned; what had gotten into Mr. Douglas?
"I couldn't find you last night," Jasmine continued to cry and explain.
Ethan seemed unbothered, his tone even gentle, "Alright, go upstairs and get yourself together."
Liam's mouth fell open. Was he hallucinating? Why was Ethan speaking to Jasmine with such tenderness that it seemed almost palpable?
Jasmine nodded and attempted to leave.
Ethan suddenly held Jasmine’s wrist again, openly and without any hesitation. He then touched her forehead to gauge her temperature.
Ethan's expression darkened once more as he looked at Jasmine's flushed cheeks. "Go upstairs and get some rest; I'll have breakfast sent up to you."
"But... but," Jasmine stammered, glancing nervously at the time.
"No rush, we'll head out at two in the afternoon, it's only seven-thirty now," Ethan patiently explained.
Liam raised his hand to his forehead, feeling feverish himself.
Ethan had just been played, and Liam thought he would be on a rampage...
But why was this so strange?
It was even more terrifying than a murderous low-pressure front.
"Go buy some cold medicine," Ethan ordered, turning with a cold tone in his voice.
Liam shivered; there was the familiar Mr. Douglas.
But why was he so icy to him, exuding such murderous vibes, and so gentle with Jasmine? Where was the justice in that?
The reception staff were petrified, exchanging nervous glances. Was this woman really Mr. Douglas's assistant?
Then why did their manager want them to stop her last night?
Wiping her tears, Jasmine lowered her head and approached the reception desk. "My... my badge."
The receptionist, frightened, hurriedly handed Jasmine her badge. "Sor... sorry."
Jasmine didn't say a word, her figure wobbly as she entered the elevator.
Her head was spinning.
Just as Jasmine entered the elevator, Ethan's gentle gaze turned icy.
Liam pinched himself; it wasn’t an illusion.
"Douglas... Mr. Douglas..."
"Why is Jasmine's badge here at reception?" Ethan asked in a stern voice.
"Wilson... Miss Wilson, last night..." The receptionist hesitated.
"Sorry, Mr. Douglas, we... we thought Miss Wilson was..."
"Was what?" Ethan frowned, running out of patience.
"A... an escort," the receptionist blurted out nervously. "Mr. Douglas, it really wasn’t our fault, we had no idea that Jasmine Miss was your assistant."
Seeing Ethan's frosty gaze, the receptionist’s face turned pale, her voice trembling in fear.
"It was the manager who gave us her picture, told us to stop her, said she might be an escort," she said, head bowed in anxiety.
"Heh..." Ethan let out a cold laugh.
Someone was really playing a bold game.
They dared to meddle with his business, and now his own people were being harassed.
"Check everything. Fire those who need firing, sue those who should be sued, issue an industry-wide notice if necessary." Ethan glanced at Liam before turning to walk out of the hotel.
"Mr. Douglas!" Liam gasped, realizing the gravity of last night's incident had genuinely struck a nerve with Ethan.
An industry-wide notice meant the hotel's management wouldn't just face unemployment—they'd be staring down lawsuits and a blacklist ensuring they'd never work in the hospitality industry again.
"Mr. Douglas, your dining area is on the second floor. Where are you going?" Liam asked anxiously as he followed Ethan out.
"To buy medicine." Ethan looked worried, clearly preoccupied with something else.
"What? I can go for you," Liam said, still not fully grasping the situation.
"No need. You handle the hotel." Ethan pointed a warning finger at Liam. "I want a thorough investigation. Whoever mistreated Jasmine last night, see to it they're dealt with."
Liam was slow to process. The CEO of Stellar Enterprises was personally going to buy medicine for an assistant?
"Mr. Douglas... the last time we went on a business trip, I was so sick I almost kicked the bucket, and you didn't get me any medicine," Liam mumbled jealously.
"What? Are you my wife?" Ethan shot Liam a disdainful look and quickly walked away.
Frozen in place, Liam was dumbstruck for quite a while.
Without Ethan's reminder, Liam almost forgot that Jasmine was not only the CEO's assistant but also his contractual wife.
Look at him, muddling his thoughts.
...
In the room.
After a hot shower, Jasmine stepped out of the bathroom feeling groggy and unsteady.
"Good morning, ma'am. Your breakfast is here." Outside the door, the hotel staff rang the service bell.
Taking a weak breath, Jasmine opened the door to see the server wheeling in a sumptuous breakfast.
"Douglas... Mr. Douglas..." Jasmine paused, seeing Ethan also standing at the door.
Ethan instinctively stepped forward to catch her when she wobbled.
There it was, the familiar scent—she was unmistakably in his arms again.
"Please leave," he motioned to the hotel staff, and then he scooped Jasmine up and placed her back on the bed.
Jasmine's heart raced, too nervous to even breathe.
"Why were you out in the cold all night?" Ethan asked, somewhat angry, wondering what Jasmine was up to. It's not like he would eat her alive.
And she lied... If he hadn't been wise to her games last night and marked her with his bite, was she planning to sleep with him and evade responsibility?
Jasmine sniffled, hid under the covers, and wrapped herself up completely, only her eyes peeking out because she felt guilty.
"Take your medicine." Ethan reprimanded gently as he prepared the hot water to help Jasmine take her medication.
Jasmine looked at Ethan through blurred vision.
Why is he being so nice to her?
"Jasmine, drink your medicine, and let's talk, about six years ago..." Ethan was stirring the cold remedy, planning to settle some scores with Jasmine, but when he turned around, he found she had already fallen asleep.
She was just too exhausted and too sleepy.
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