Chapter 343 Henry Wants to Compete with Ethan for Jasmine
“A few days later, I will go through a divorce with Ethan," Jasmine whispered.
Henry's fingers tightened on the steering wheel.
"Alright," he spoke, hesitating.
"My grandfather is thinking about Justin. He's not in good health, and I haven't dared to let him know that Justin isn't my child," he spoke softly.
She remained silent for a while before speaking, "Justin is Ethan's son. If you want to take him to see your grandfather, discuss it with Ethan. Justin's custody is in his hands, not mine."
He fell silent.
They remained in silence, neither speaking.
The car stopped at the entrance of Rosewood Bistro, where a valet took the car keys to park.
"Henry, what a coincidence," Annabelle was also there, having afternoon tea with some socialite friends.
Henry nodded indifferently and escorted Jasmine into the restaurant.
Annabelle stood at the entrance, looking at Jasmine. "You're having dinner with Henry, and Ethan doesn't know, right?"
"Are you free after returning to the Cunningham Group?" His expression darkened slightly, a warning in his eyes as he looked at her.
She pursed her lips and said no more.
With him around, she couldn't do anything to Jasmine.
However, tomorrow, they would be going to Maple Grove.
She needed to find a way to prevent Ethan and Jasmine from leaving.
"Is everything arranged on the Cunningham Group's side?" she asked.
The woman beside her smiled. "Don't worry, everything's arranged. Tonight, you can sit back and enjoy the show."
She smirked and thought, 'This is Jasmine's own doing.'
In the restaurant.
Jasmine had little appetite, playing with her knife and fork.
"Aren't you hungry?" Henry asked.
Jasmine shook her head.
"What are your plans after divorcing Ethan? Would you still want to be with me? Ethan has nothing now; he can't protect you. Starting over will be difficult for him, but I can help," he looked at her, tentatively asking.
He was attempting to use helping Ethan as leverage to be with her.
Yet, he couldn't threaten her as he used to.
"I heard your grandfather is looking for potential suitors for you. Has he found some good matches for marriage?" she looked at her.
He fell silent.
"I can delay things with my grandfather. His health is failing. The doctors say he doesn't have many years left. If you're willing to be with me, I will marry you," he said.
She smiled.
P3
"Do you know why I chose Ethan? Being with you, I always felt like an optional, invisible accessory. You always made me wait, always gave me an uncertain fairytale," she said, looking at Henry.
After a moment of silence, she said, "But Ethan won't. He makes me feel safe, takes me to get hitched, spoils me, shows me the world, strolls with me along endless shores. He'll even help me brush up on my dance moves and let me bask in the sunlight.."
"He will always consider my feelings, he will carefully comfort me, and he is my remedy," she put down her utensils. "Do you know? Someone like me, who is sick, seriously ill, always at risk of relapse and losing control, how much I need someone emotionally stable by my side."
'Unfortunately, there are always people who couldn't stand to see me and Ethan happy.'
'Always trying to disrupt the brief moments of peace I have fought so hard for.'
'How could I not resent that?' she pondered..
Henrytook a deep breath and looked at her. "What he can give you, so can I."
"Okay, I want a fair wedding, and if you can convince your grandfather to let you marry me, I'll marry you." She looked at him.
Her attitude is firm.
Because she knew he couldn't do it.
'Ethan could have made me not care about Howard and Carmen's schemes, not have a business for me, not have anything for me. But he can't..'
'His personality is always to win steadily, and he wouldn’t do things that are uncertain and outweigh the losses.'
'He cherishes his reputation.'
'Ethan, however, is willing to give up everything,' shemused..
"Jasmine," he raised his hand to massage his forehead.
He thought, 'I couldn't understand, nor fathom, why you refused to wait.'
'I'm doing it for her good, too. I know my grandfather's temperament best. If I angered my grandfather, it would bring us more trouble. I am doing it to protect you.'
"I am doing this to protect you." He said.
He thought, 'I want to shield you, fearing you would be harmed.'
She said, "The way you protect me demands that I have nothing left. What you call love is to leave me utterly devoid of pride, to watch as those people throw me bloodied into prison, then adopt a savior's pose, waiting for me to kneel, to beg you on bended knee to save me, and then make you my sole reliance, making it impossible for me to be without you."
"To leave you is like a fish out of water; I would suffocate."
"To spend my life like a pet, you keep by your side forever, never able to leave its master."
"Henry, I have said it before; this isn't love. It's possessiveness."
Her emotions were stirred, and her voice lowered.
"Henry, you cannot do this, so let me go. Why won't you let me go? Must you push me to have nothing, to plummet into hell before you will relent? Can't we both find peace?" She stared straight at him.
She thought, 'Why doeshe have to go after Ethan like that?'
'Why does he have to harm Ethan just to pressure me ?'
"I can give you everything you desire, I can protect you, and even after my grandfather's passing, I can give you a splendid wedding, give you a name, anything you want."
He felt he had compromised enough.
"Jasmine, what more do you want from me? You say Ethan can do so much for you, but what can he do for you now? His situation is difficult; you both can't even secure your basic needs; what love and romance can you talk about at this time? Those are all unrealistic." He felt she needed to be more practical.
He thought, 'What I could offer and what Ethan could offer now were worlds apart.'
'Does she want love or material things? This is a practical question.'
"Then I'd rather climb out of the abyss step by step with Ethan. Even if we are stepped on repeatedly by you, we will still climb out together," she stood up, looking at him. "We won't give up."
"You're still too naive. After five years in prison, you're completely out of touch with society. For Ethan, what's more important, his interests, company, and status, or you? Which one weighs more?" He grabbed her wrist, pulling her back.
"We can make a bet."
"I can fully support Ethan's comeback. With his abilities and the strength of the SHC Group, it's just a matter of one or two years before he rises again. But the condition is, he has to give you up to me. Do you think he'll agree?"
He seemed confident that Ethan would agree to this deal.
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