Chapter 188 Jasmine Resembled Nolan's Mother
Exhausted to the point of drowsiness, Jasmine nestled in Ethan's embrace until early the next morning.
"Ready for breakfast?" Ethan, freshly showered, sat on the edge of the bed to wake Jasmine.
Jasmine rubbed her swollen eyes.
"Good morning, Mr. Ethan," her voice came out hoarse as she spoke.
She hung her head, her eyes rimmed with redness. The night before, she had cried until her voice grew hoarse. Ethan had gone too rough on her.
"I'll take you to the beach later," Ethan said as he lifted her chin and kissed her cheek.
His action made Jasmine wonder why he was so fond of her.
"Can you swim?" he asked, gently tousling her hair.
"Yes, I can!" she eagerly answered, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
It wasn't just swimming she was good at; she had even set a little record in diving.
"That's awesome." Ethan rose and sat on the nearby couch to wait for Jasmine to change into her swimsuit.
Jasmine's ears turned red, caught off guard by Ethan's sudden change in demeanor; he was coaxing her like a child.
Moreover, she was surprised to find that Ethan seemed to be getting closer to her.
He liked to steal kisses when they were alone, to cheer her up, to hold her hand.
It was like… they were a couple deep in love.
Startled by her own thoughts, Jasmine felt a surge of fear. Ethan's newfound interest in her was likely just temporary; she shouldn't let her mind run away with possibilities...
Her heartbeat slowed, and with a calm mind, Jasmine got out of bed, got washed up, and changed into her swimsuit.
She had chosen a simple, one-piece tank suit with a little skirt.
Her skin was pale, and wearing the white swimsuit accentuated her figure beautifully.
Ethan, sitting on the couch, was initially excited, but he frowned when he saw Jasmine in her swimsuit and covered her with a bathrobe. "I don't want anyone else seeing you like this."
Jasmine stammered, "Then, then let's not go."
Ethan could tell she really wanted to join him.
"Let's go diving," he suggested, pulling Jasmine into his embrace and seating her on his lap to eat.
"How did you know I could dive?" Her eyes gleamed with curiosity once more.
"Hmph…" Ethan let out a snort but remained silent.
Of course, he had seen it in the photos and videos that Daniel had kept.
Driven by a jealousy that bordered on madness, yet yearning to know more about Jasmine, he had watched those photos and videos Daniel had made for Jasmine over and over again.
...
The beach was private property, not overly crowded, but it was frequented by the wealthy and elite.
Some surfed, others sunbathed on the sand; it was a lively scene.
As Jasmine applied sunscreen under a beach umbrella, a guy approached her and asked in a foreign language, "Are you alone, beautiful?"
She glanced around nervously, feeling on edge.
Ethan had disappeared somewhere.
Noticing Jasmine's silence, the handsome man thought she might not understand him, so he switched to English. "Can I get your number, gorgeous?" he asked, slightly embarrassed as he scratched his head.
Jasmine hesitated, on the verge of declining, when Ethan's deep voice came from behind her, stating, "She's taken."
The guy was taken aback, his eyes darting to Ethan. "What a coincidence."
Ethan's frown deepened, not finding anything coincidental about it.
"Do you know him?" Jasmine asked anxiously.
"Lance Cunningham, the second son of the Cunningham family, Nolan Cunningham's younger brother," Ethan said with a grim face.
Jasmine nodded in surprise. "That's why he looked familiar."
It seemed the stranger was from the prestigious Cunningham family.
"I didn't expect to meet you here." In contrast to Ethan and Nolan Cunningham's distant demeanor, Lance was considerably more approachable, making an effort to engage Ethan in conversation.
Ethan wore a look that read clear disinterest.
"Since we seem to share similar taste, Mr. Ethan, someone as confident as you surely wouldn't mind if I added the lady on social media, right?" Lance pressed, not ready to give up.
He had noticed Jasmine the moment she appeared, never taking his eyes off her.
For some reason, he found himself inexplicably drawn to her, as if she exuded a peculiar aura that captivated his attention.
"I do mind," Ethan flatly rejected him.
Lance choked on his words for a second, awkwardly touching his nose. "All right then..."
Ethan's hostility was palpable, and Lance had no choice but to walk away.
But as he left, he couldn't help looking back at Jasmine several times, puzzled by his own fascination.
Despite being surrounded by countless women, and although Jasmine was undoubtedly stunning, she didn't fit his usual type. Yet, there was something about her that intrigued him.
"What are you looking at?" Nolan asked when Lance had bumped into him. Nolan frowned, then followed his brother's gaze to where Lance was staring at Ethan and Jasmine.
'What a coincidence...' he thought to himself.
Talk about two ships passing in the night.
"Huh, you have the leisure to take a lover on vacation," Nolan pointed out, his voice hostile.
"Mind your own business," Ethan snapped back, clearly annoyed. He made a mental note to do some research before going out next time to avoid bumping into the Cunninghams.
Jasmine, somewhat intimidated by Nolan , tucked herself behind Ethan.
"Hey, why so fierce? You're scaring her," Edward said, displeased.
"Scared? Are you blind? Have you taken a fancy to her?" Nolan warned his brother. "If she were truly timid, she wouldn't have spent five years behind bars for extortion."
Edward paused and then turned to look at Jasmine.
Jasmine kept her head down, her hands clenched tightly in a ball of nerves.
She thought that being abroad where nobody knew her would mean she didn't have to be afraid...
Turns out, no matter where she went, someone was always there to trample on her wounds and dignity.
"Nolan Cunningham, my upbringing tells me not to use foul language with you, but if I don't cuss, I have nothing to say to you. You'd better back off," Ethan said, his previously good mood spoiled.
Just his luck to run into trouble without taking precautions.
"Ethan, when Pepe went to Silverlight City, what did you promise me?" Nolan asked, equally furious, demanding justice for Fiona. Ethan had promised to look after Fiona, not to marry her.
"What are you talking about, bro?" Edward frowned, stepping between Ethan and Nolan. "What's gotten into you? This is a public place. What are you saying? You know her? Are you close?"
Nolan ignored Edward.
But Edward was relentless. "No, you apologize to her. She didn't provoke you, and this sudden outburst is too much."
"Edward!" Nolan was getting a headache from his brother's nagging.
"If you don't apologize, I'm calling mom right now to tell her you insulted a woman in public. Your behavior right now is too much," Edward blurted out, unsure why he felt the need to defend Jasmine, but seeing her teary eyes made his heart clench.
"Edward, are you thinking straight? Has your brain been filled with water from diving?" Nolan scolded his brother, not wanting to explain himself.
But he realized he might have been too harsh. Whether Jasmine was feigning it or not, the sight of her reddened eyes caused a pang in his heart.
"I insist on an apology." Edward didn't want Nolan Cunningham to just walk away.
Nolan Cunningham frowned. They were there for a wedding too, and his mother was present; he really dreaded his brother stirring things up with her.
"Jasmine, sorry," said Nolan Cunningham as he turned back and apologized to Jasmine.
Ethan didn’t even acknowledge Nolan Cunningham and led Jasmine away.
Jasmine glanced back at Nolan Cunningham, then quickly averted her eyes.
Nolan Cunningham frowned, pondering what exactly attracted him to this woman.
"Bro, doesn't she bear a striking resemblance to Mom?" Edward exclaimed, his realization dawning.
In that moment, Nolan understood why Jasmine captivated him. She bore a striking resemblance to their mother in her youth!
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