Chapter 198 Ethan Plans to Propose to Jasmine
At the wedding, Ethan took Jasmine as his date, drawing attention from the business community.
There was no chance that this news wouldn't reach Howard's ears.
After the wedding, Howard's calls flooded Ethan's phone incessantly.
Jasmine, holding Ethan's phone, felt uneasy. "Mr. Ethan..."
"Don't answer," Ethan instructed, his brow furrowed.
Jasmine felt a sense of dread but complied, ignoring the persistent ringing.
Until they returned to the hotel, she remained somewhat distracted.
Provoking Howard further was a risky move; Jasmine understood the importance of keeping a low profile and temporarily aligning with either the Brown or Cunningham families. Ethan had to navigate this carefully, gradually asserting control.
Jasmine had faith in Ethan's abilities. Within three years, Stellar Enterprises would undoubtedly be under his firm grasp.
However, Ethan's decision to clash with Howard at this juncture seemed ill-advised.
Ultimately, it was Ethan's call, and Jasmine could do little more than trust his judgment.
"What would you like for dinner?" Ethan asked gently.
"I..." Jasmine was preoccupied, gazing up at Ethan. "Anything... I'm not picky."
"Do you want me to cook for you?" Ethan embraced Jasmine, ready to whip up a meal in the kitchen.
Thankfully, the resort hotel room boasted a well-equipped kitchen.
Jasmine looked at Ethan in surprise. "Mr. Ethan, you're not going to set fire to the hotel kitchen, are you? It would be expensive, and we couldn't afford..."
Her concerns about potential damages dissipated as she remembered Ethan's financial standing.
Ethan chuckled resignedly. "Didn't I make sandwiches for you the other day?"
"Sandwiches don't require cooking," Jasmine pointed out, moving toward the kitchen to inspect the ingredients the hotel butler had provided.
Ethan seemed poised to prepare steaks.
"Are you sure about this?" Jasmine inquired, seeking confirmation.
"I'm quite skilled, you know." Ethan arched an eyebrow, removed his watch, slipped out of his suit jacket, donned an apron, and prepared to cook.
As Ethan began to cook, his phone rang again. This time, it was Lisa.
"Lisa." Jasmine handed the phone to Ethan.
Ethan's expression darkened.
He didn't have much regard for his half-sister, born of his father's mistress.
Yet, Lisa's call intrigued him; she seldom reached out.
"Hello?" He answered with a nonchalant tone.
"Brother..." Lisa's voice sounded cautious. "Ethan, did you upset Dad? I just overheard him discussing freezing the shares under your name. What's going on? Please come back and smooth things over."
It appeared that Lisa was genuinely concerned for Ethan's well-being.
Despite her boldness, she didn't want to see her mother take advantage of Ethan.
However, Lisa was fully aware that Ethan didn't accept her and harbored no affection for her or Jordan.
"Whatever," Ethan replied tersely.
It seemed Howard was using Lisa to convey a message, hoping to intimidate Ethan into compliance.
Ethan scoffed and remained silent.
"Brother... I believe we should resolve this as a family. There seems to be a misunderstanding between you and Mom. Can we sit down together and have a civil conversation?" Lisa urged Ethan to return home promptly.
"Stay out of it," Ethan said firmly, sparing Lisa from further involvement.
After the call, Ethan discarded his phone.
"We're not... going back?" Jasmine asked softly.
Given the circumstances, provoking Howard further might not be wise.
"Just leave him be. He can do as he pleases," Ethan muttered as he prepared dinner for Jasmine. "By the way, we're catching an early flight tomorrow. I have something planned for us."
"Did you arrange the flights yourself, Mr. Ethan?" Jasmine was surprised; it was usually her responsibility.
"I want to surprise you," Ethan replied mysteriously.
Jasmine's heart fluttered with excitement, curious about Ethan's plans for their trip.
Meanwhile, at the Douglas family residence in Silverlight City...
Howard wore a grim expression as he conversed with Lisa, "Did you manage to reach your brother?"
Lisa nodded. "Dad, Ethan's just tired after the wedding. He's staying at a hotel, feeling a bit under the weather. Please refrain from calling him and exacerbating his mood."
Lisa concocted an excuse to cover for Ethan.
Howard snorted. "The wedding's over, and he's still not back here. He's brazen, bringing that Jasmine to the reception, tarnishing the Douglas family's reputation!"
"Indeed, Jasmine's background is concerning. She's a fraudster with a dubious history, masquerading as wealthy. If this gets out, it could damage our family's reputation," Clara chimed in, stoking Howard's ire.
"Ethan has truly lost sight of what's important this time. That wedding had all the major players from the business world, and who knows what they're saying about us behind our backs." Clara knew precisely how to incite Howard's insecurities.
Lisa furrowed her brows, aware of her mother's manipulative tactics. "Mom, if you wish to criticize Jasmine, that's fine, but why involve my brother? As the CEO of Stellar Enterprises, isn't Ethan entitled to bring an assistant to a wedding?"
Turning a minor issue into a major debacle.
"Daniel, we need to bring him back here immediately," Howard ordered sternly, still seething with displeasure.
Daniel's expression mirrored his father's.
Howard didn't simply want Ethan to return to reclaim his shares; he wanted him to resume his position and oversee the handoff of the desert project.
Somehow, Ethan had managed to stipulate in the project contract that his involvement was a prerequisite for Stellar Enterprises to secure the partnership.
Ethan likely felt smug, leveraging his position to exert pressure on Howard.
His refusal to return was a strategic move aimed at asserting dominance over Howard.
With clenched fists, Daniel's eyes brimmed with resentment.
Throughout his life, he had been subjected to criticism from his parents.
Howard would often say, "Look at you, you can't match your brother's achievements, you're inferior to him in every aspect, you're nothing compared to him."
Clara would echo similar sentiments, "Daniel, you must work harder. You must surpass Ethan; otherwise, our family will be doomed."
He had never received genuine recognition.
It felt as though he was perpetually living in Ethan's shadow.
"Dad, what if Ethan refuses to return?" Daniel whispered.
"Can't you handle such a simple task? What use are you to me? You're always one step behind your brother. If you could provide me with some peace of mind, would I be this anxious and upset?" Howard lashed out, redirecting the frustration Ethan had caused onto Daniel.
Daniel bit his lip, his face contorted in frustration.
Criticism from his parents had been a constant in his life.
To him, Howard would say, "Look at you, you can't match your brother's grades, you're inferior to him in every way, you don't amount to anything."
Clara would chime in, "Daniel, you need to work hard. You must surpass Ethan, or else the three of us will be thrown out of the Douglas Family."
No one had ever truly acknowledged him.
It was as though he was forever living in Ethan's shadow.
"Dad, rest assured, I'll ensure he returns obediently," Daniel gritted his teeth, his gaze shifting to Lisa. "Sis, I've heard that Jasmine and that brat Casey are doing quite well lately?"
If anything happened to Justin, Daniel would see how quickly Ethan and Jasmine would rush back.
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