Chapter 220: Ethan's Public Relationship Announcement on Weibo
"You should go back first," Ethan said, raising his hand to his forehead.
Lawyer struggled to speak but after a long silence, Wilson decided to speak up. "Mr. Douglas, you've endured for over ten years, a few more days won't make a difference."
Ethan remained silent.
Over ten years.
Since he was a child, some seeds had quietly taken root and sprouted.
"Ethan, remember, Mom would never commit suicide, never."
"Ethan...Mom has you, she would never harm her own life, you have to remember that. If one day something happens to Mom, it definitely won't be suicide..."
Ethan could never forget that year when he was only eight years old, when Howard got drunk and physically abused his mother, leaving their home in a mess.
On that stormy night, Ethan stood behind the door, watching Howard strike his mother with a golf club, blow after blow.
The door was locked from the outside, no matter how much he cried and shouted, he couldn't open it.
His fingers trembled, and Ethan held his forehead, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
The shadows of childhood can truly accompany one's whole life.
"Ethan..."
On the second floor, Jasmine came out barefoot, her eyes bloodshot.
She cried and called Ethan's name, it was Ethan, not Mr. Douglas.
Ethan's thoughts were brought back to reality, his heart suddenly tightened.
Looking up at Jasmine standing upstairs, Ethan got up and quickly went up.
"Nightmare?"
"I dreamed that you died..."
Jasmine was still crying, crying intensely.
For Jasmine, the most terrifying nightmare was not Ethan rejecting her, but Ethan dying.
Because of her, he was killed.
Ethan laughed and pulled Jasmine into his arms to comfort her. "Have you been watching too many suspense movies?"
"I'm scared. The Browns will be pushed to the edge..." Jasmine was restless and uneasy.
She knew Harper was not a foolish person, unlike Zelda and Aria Harper, those foolish women.
She was patient and good at disguising herself.
Once she was pushed to a dead end, she didn't know what she might do.
"What about if someone else pushes you to the limit?" Ethan carried Jasmine downstairs. "Instead of worrying about pushing those who bully you to the limit, it's better to think about where to attack in order to make a fatal blow and leave them no ability to retaliate."
The poisonous snake, when attacking, always seized the opportunity to strike a deadly blow.
The tiger and wolf, when hunting, also first bit off the opponent's throat.
Not giving the enemy a chance to breathe is the true counterattack.
Jasmine lay on Ethan's shoulder, pondering his words.
A deadly blow... That requires not only means, but also absolute strength and capital.
"The online public opinion... Can't be suppressed, did the Brown family not retaliate?" Jasmine asked Ethan softly, holding onto his neck.
"Aria Harper just posted, saying that being a mistress is purely a personal action and has no relation to the Brown family. She also stated that she and the Brown family are not close, and the two families rarely interact. She is willing to take responsibility for everything she said and exclude the Brown family," Ethan said calmly.
"The netizens don't seem convinced," Jasmine slowly closed her eyes and spoke again. "Actually, no matter how intense the online chaos is, for Mr. Howard, it's just pressure. If he still wants to force you to marry Harper in such a turbulent public opinion situation, it can only mean one thing: the leverage that the Brown family holds is more important than Stellar Enterprises' reputation, it's Mr. Howard's 'life'."
Also Wilson, what Ethan has always wanted, the cause of his own mother's death and the evidence, are in the hands of the Brown family.
This is what Jasmine can think of, Harper's final trump card.
But the Brown family dare not bring out this trump card. They will absolutely not take action until the last moment.
Ethan's eyes flickered, lowering his gaze to Jasmine.
She is truly intelligent.
"The Brown family is in the medical equipment business. Harper's mother used to be good friends with my mother, but they didn't have much contact later," Ethan said in a deep voice, kissing Jasmine's cheek. "Even if the Brown family really has leverage, they won't dare to bring it out now."
Once Ethan's mother's death is related to the Brown family, the people from the Brown family know... Ethan will take their lives.
"Mr. Douglas, Mr. Howard wants you to... attend the press conference this afternoon on time."
Jasmine lay in Ethan's arms for who knows how long when Liam called.
As expected, Jasmine's guess was correct.
Howard still insisted on Ethan and the Brown family getting engaged.
"Are... you going?" Jasmine tightly held onto Ethan's clothes and asked softly.
"Do you want me to stay?" Ethan smiled.
Jasmine sat on Ethan's lap, biting her lip.
She indeed did not want Ethan to go.
Once Ethan and Harper were engaged, it meant that their relationship would come to an end.
"In what way can I make you stay..." Ethan's voice was hoarse as he lazily leaned back on the couch.
Clearly, he had no intention of going, yet he deliberately teased Jasmine.
With her head lowered, Jasmine thought about how she saw Aria Harper acting coquettish towards that man today...
Could she keep him?
With stiff fingers, Jasmine lightly tugged on Ethan's tie and spoke softly. "Can...can you not go? I...I don't want you to go."
She even came up with an excuse for Ethan.
The Brown family was at the center of public opinion, and he didn't want to drag
Stellar Enterprises into it. He would discuss it once the heat died down.
Ethan just lazily looked at Jasmine, as if it wasn't enough.
Apparently, Ethan didn't realize that Jasmine was being coquettish...
"Can you not go?" Jasmine started to get a little anxious.
Ethan remained silent, causing her to feel even more flustered.
Jasmine's anxious appearance was a bit cute, her eyes were red like a little rabbit, and she was restlessly moving up and down in his arms...
Ethan took a deep breath. Every time he teased Jasmine, he was the one who ended up tormenting himself.
"You can not go, but you have to make a sacrifice." Ethan raised an eyebrow and said meaningfully.
Jasmine obviously misunderstood, blushing and looking at Ethan.
In broad daylight, how was he shameless like this?
But she wanted to keep Ethan so badly that she had no choice but to take the initiative and unbutton Ethan's shirt.
"...," Ethan paused as he touched the ring, wondering why he was seeking excitement for himself for no reason.
"Don't tease me," he spoke hoarsely, trapping Jasmine's hand and putting a ring on her ring finger.
"The wedding ring and engagement ring are still being designed. This is a simple couple ring. I personally chose it." Ethan held Jasmine's fingers and looked at them for a while. The sizing was just right.
Jasmine sat stiffly on Ethan's lap, unable to react for quite a while.
Ethan didn't give her a chance to react either. He took out his phone and took a picture of Ethan and Jasmine holding hands, with the two platinum couple rings, understated yet beautiful.
"Douglas...Mr. Douglas, what are you... doing?" Jasmine's heart tightened as she realized something was off.
Ethan smirked, lifting the corners of his mouth, and pulled Jasmine into his embrace.
"Don't worry, I didn't capture our faces in the picture."
He still had to protect Jasmine's privacy from harm.
"You must go public..." Jasmine was nervous.
"Is it not allowed?" Ethan muttered. "Am I not responsible after we sleep together?"
Jasmine bit her lip tightly. "Although announcing our engagement can solve many problems, as I mentioned earlier... If the Browns feel pressured, they might resort to drastic measures. They definitely have something on Howard."
"But it's not my problem," Ethan muttered. "Why should I care?"
"But..." Jasmine grew anxious. But Harper has something on him. "Six years ago, even if Harper schemed, you two... slept together. If Harper exposes that..."
Ethan furrowed his brow.
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