Chapter 34 Ethan Wants to Keep Jasmine?
Bolting from the hospital, Jasmine eyed the time and sprinted toward the Douglas family's home.
She couldn't afford to be late – she desperately needed that ten thousand dollars to sort out Justin's schooling.
After a few paces, a sharp pain stabbed through her heart.
She paused to catch her breath and leaned heavily against the wall. Jasmine took long, ragged gasps before she forced herself to run on.
Her dying wish was to find the man from the hotel six years ago - Justin's biological father. She needed him to consent to a paternity test.
From a sleek black sedan parked on Hospital Roadside, Ethan watched Jasmine rush by with a food delivery bag, frowning. "Did you find out what I asked you to?"
"Mr. Douglas... Jasmine took the job at the Douglas household voluntarily; I heard it's for the monthly salary of ten thousand and a spot for her son in kindergarten," Liam reported reluctantly, wishing Ethan would stay out of it.
"Mr. Douglas, the woman's quite shrewd; there’s no need for you to worry about her." Liam glanced at the time. "We should be heading to the Browns' now. Remember your promise to Mr. Brown to visit Miss Brown every day before going to work."
Ethan didn't respond and just massaged his temples.
"If you really can't stand Miss Brown, why not just get engaged to a respectable heiress, fulfill Douglas Sr.'s dreams, and at the same time, break free from the Browns?" Liam suggested, always plotting on behalf of Mr. Douglas.
Ethan, unusually, didn't tell Liam to shut up and continued massaging his forehead.
If he had a woman by his side, would Harper finally let go of her bitterness and step back?
He had given the Browns all the compensation he could, barring marriage. He was willing to atone in any way possible.
The one thing the Browns insisted on, though, was marrying their daughter to him.
His phone rang, pulling Ethan from his thoughts. It was Howard, of all people.
Ethan's expression darkened as the phone rang persistently before he finally answered. "Father."
"Ethan, the Browns contacted me. What's the deal with you and Harper Brown? They're interested in a union with us. Think it over, and don't let any rumors that could hurt the Douglas family get out."
Howard cared not for his son but for the Douglas family's reputation.
Ethan listened indifferently. "I'll handle it."
"Ethan, you're at the age to settle down. Your brother is already engaged. How long do you plan to wait?"
"No rush," Ethan replied, still dispassionate.
"Ethan, I admit I haven't been as attentive to you over the years, but you've been mature from a young age. You can't let me down on this."
Ethan scoffed ironically. "Sure."
No matter what Howard said, Ethan's responses remained impassive, making Howard feel even more distanced from his son.
Howard knew Ethan still harbored resentment over his mother's issue, but after all these years, couldn't he let it go?
"Ethan, your mother..."
The moment Ethan heard Howard mention his mother, he hung up in irritation and tossed the phone aside.
"Look into Jasmine. I need to find out who the father of her son is." He needed a woman as a decoy, and strangely, Jasmine came to mind first.
If they both had something to gain, they could use each other with no complications later on.
"Mr. Douglas... You're going to play stepdad?" Liam couldn't hide his astonishment.
"Shut it." Ethan wanted to replace Liam but couldn't since he was a distant relative from his grandmother's side and had been recommended by his grandfather, having been loyal for many years.
"Mr. Douglas, everyone in Silverlight City knows Jasmine's life is a mess; she doesn't even know who the father is—where am I supposed to find out?" Liam murmured under his breath, wondering why Ethan had chosen Jasmine.
But then again, Jasmine, with no family background and ostracized by both the Wilsons and the Douglases, would be easy to control and wouldn't cause trouble later on.
"Don't judge a person just by what you hear." Ethan felt Jasmine wasn't that kind of woman by intuition. "I just need a shield, not a real partner."
"Alright, Mr. Douglas," he hesitated, "but I still feel like this isn't right. Her reputation isn't the best, and it could cause you trouble."
"Zip it," Ethan said, fighting to keep his cool.
"Alright..." Liam clamped his mouth shut again.
But not two minutes had passed before Liam spoke up again. "Mr. Douglas... You're only using her as a decoy for Miss Brown, right? I mean, it's enough if Miss Brown catches wind of it; it doesn't need to be public knowledge, does it?"
Ethan gave a silent nod of agreement.
Catching on, Liam started to mull over drafting a confidentiality agreement.
The big shots of Silverlight City were known for their flings with young stars and models, some even preferring a few college students. Mr. Douglas, having kept himself above such matters for years, was now, for the first time, hinting at the desire for a 'kept' companion. Exciting times indeed.
Though this Jasmine... wasn't exactly someone to parade around in public.
But rare was the woman who didn't trigger Ethan's peculiarities - his allergies, his antipathies. Maybe this wasn't such a bad thing after all.
Ethan's asceticism was such that an unwelcome presence, a mere touch, could flare his allergies. Yet somehow, his body exhibited no such defenses against Jasmine, a woman he had never met or had contact with before.
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