Chapter 60 Through the Night
Henry's eyes opened slowly, his gaze deep and contemplative. "Why would Ethan bother with Daniel's affairs?"
He didn't see Ethan as the type to meddle in his brother's business.
Ben was worried. The animosity the Douglas and Wilson families harbored against Jasmine in Silverlight City seemed relentless. "Mr. Patrick," Ben started tentatively, "are you sure you want to get involved in Jasmine's troubles with the Douglas and Wilson clans? They've been pretty ruthless with her."
Henry scoffed. "What can they possibly do to a woman under my protection? Besides, Ethan is not one to meddle in others' affairs."
"But Mr. Douglas is still out there, searching for her," Ben explained, unsure of the best course of action.
"Let him search," Henry said dismissively before hanging up the phone.
Casting his phone aside, Henry stood and walked to the guest room door. His hand hesitated on the doorknob. He rubbed his temples and then turned, retreating to his own bedroom.
She needed a good night's rest, after all.
...
The next morning, Jasmine was already awake at dawn. It was her first week on the job, which required her to work early shifts to manage the handover.
Rummaging through the fridge, she realized that Henry's place lacked any signs of domestic life, seemingly devoid of any groceries except for some eggs.
Clearly, Henry didn't bother with a nanny and rarely, if ever, ate at home.
Heading out, Jasmine used Henry's card to shop for groceries at the upscale supermarket near the gated community. The prices were outrageous—one cabbage costing sixty-eight dollars. But shrugging and telling herself it wasn't her money that was being spent, she paid the bill.
Back at Henry's, she prepared breakfast and set it on the dining table.
"Ding-dong."
The doorbell rang.
Awakened by the noise, Henry emerged from his bedroom in a bathrobe, a mix of laziness and defiance in his posture. "Who's there?" He grumbled.
Catching sight of the breakfast Jasmine had made brought a fleeting surprise to his eyes. Reflecting on it, the once pampered Wilson family heiress, who never lifted a finger in her own home, had made breakfast.
It actually looked quite appetizing.
For the first time, Henry, who never cared for breakfast at home, felt an urge to eat.
At the doorstep, Jasmine opened the door and froze at the sight before her.
Speechless and shocked, her throat tightened.
Ethan...
What on earth was he doing in Boston?
Ethan's presence was imposing, his face dark with exhaustion as if he hadn't slept the entire night.
Panicking, Jasmine instinctively turned to run.
She feared that Ethan was in cahoots with the Douglas family and was out to capture her.
"What's the rush?" Ethan furrowed his brow, grabbing Jasmine's wrist.
Jasmine blanched with fright, her entire body trembling.
She couldn't go back. She couldn't let herself be taken back to Silverlight City.
It would be the death of her.
"Mr. Douglas, quite the surprise you're giving me this early in the day," Henry quipped, leaning against the dining table with a smirk. "Come all the way to my place, have you?"
Ethan's face was set in stone. "I'm taking her with me."
"Mr. Douglas, coming to my house bright and early to take my woman seems a bit inappropriate, doesn't it?" Henry stepped forward, pulling Jasmine into his arms.
Jasmine kept shaking, unable to bring herself to meet Ethan's gaze.
She feared seeing the disappointment in Ethan's eyes.
In the end, she had chosen this path...
Being kept by a man? Or even worse... selling her body and soul.
But she had no other choice; Henry was Justin's father.
Ethan indeed looked at Jasmine with disappointment. He hadn't expected her to choose this way out.
"I've already taken care of Justin's school matters, and I will sort out the issues with the Douglas and the Wilson families too. Think it over," Ethan said, fully aware of the implications of Henry bringing a woman home.
Henry frowned slightly. Would Ethan really help Jasmine out of the kindness of his heart?
But Ethan, in Henry's eyes, was a cold-blooded beast with no feelings, not one to easily be smitten with anyone.
Jasmine didn't speak; she was almost burying her face into her chest.
"Mr. Douglas, haven’t had breakfast yet, have you? Jasmine made it. Would you like to try some?" Henry embraced Jasmine tighter, his smile deepening as he asked.
Jasmine stiffened as her eyes reddened.
Ethan glanced unconsciously at the table; even from a distance, he could catch the aroma.
Oddly, he found himself wanting to taste Jasmine's cooking.
Henry's smile carried a deeper meaning, a sudden sense of urgency creeping up on him.
If it were Daniel... he wouldn't be concerned.
But Ethan was different.
"No, thank you," Ethan said in a deep tone, giving Jasmine one last look as if offering her a final chance.
Jasmine kept her head down, remaining silent.
"Take care. I'll play host tonight and will have my assistant contact you in advance," Henry said as he watched Ethan leave.
Ethan's face was grim, and his eyes held a complex mix of emotions.
He was momentarily seized by an irrational urge to compete with Henry for her...
He wondered what kind of offer Henry had made to Jasmine—he was prepared to double it.
But as the words approached his lips, reason triumphed over rashness.
Why should he bother a woman who had seemingly chosen her path...
Ethan massaged his temples and spoke in a grave tone. "Look into Henry and Jasmine's situation."
Henry was not the type to take someone home with just a single glance, especially not to his own house. It was common knowledge in their circles that Henry didn't bring women home.
Liam looked at Ethan, his face etched in shock. "Jasmine... she's involved with Mr. Patrick?"
So, she's come to Boston for shelter. "That Jasmine is a clever one, knowing full well your indifference to women's charms—she's run off to Boston. True enough, aside from you, Henry's about the only one who could protect her. Staying in Boston puts her out of Daniel and the Wilson Family's reach."
Ethan's expression darkened as he glanced at Liam. "You can shut up now."
...
In the living room.
After Ethan had left, Jasmine stood silently with her head bowed, refusing to look up.
"You've got some nerve, seducing even your old fiancé's brother," Henry said, his hand lifting Jasmine's chin.
His words carried a hint of jealousy, making them sound crude.
But as he tilted Jasmine's chin up, Henry instantly regretted it.
Tears streaked down her face—her eyes rimmed red with sorrow.
"What are you crying for?" Henry's brows furrowed in annoyance.
Was it because Ethan had misunderstood her, or because she was disappointed by Ethan's judgment of her?
"You've fallen for Ethan?" Henry grew more agitated.
Jasmine shook her head.
She knew she wasn't worthy...
"The breakfast... it's gone cold," she murmured, glancing at the untouched meal on the table and then at the clock, trying to make a quick exit.
"Where do you think you're going? Sit down and eat," Henry insisted, wanting her to have breakfast before leaving.
"I have work, and I'll be late," Jasmine said uneasily.
"Take your phone with you." Henry nodded toward the mobile on the table.
Jasmine hesitated, then it dawned on her—Henry had bought her a phone.
After quickly grabbing the phone and examining it, Jasmine turned back to Henry. "Thank you..."
Henry's grip tightened around his chopsticks.
Once Jasmine dashed out the front door, Henry threw the chopsticks aside in frustration.
What in the world was he doing?
...
At the club.
It was a slow day at work. Jasmine mainly oversaw the checkout process for VIP guests in private rooms or hotel suites upstairs.
Chloe breezed in, flashing Jasmine a smile. "Jasmine, is that a new outfit you're wearing?"
Caught off guard, Jasmine glanced down at her dress, a gift from Henry.
"Looks like that dress didn't come cheap."
Jasmine nodded subtly.
"Jasmine!" Emily burst in, all fire and energy, grabbing Jasmine's arm and whisking her away to the restroom. "What's going on between you and Ethan? He's a top CEO, the richest guy around! He dragged me all over Boston looking for you last night. He was scared something had happened to you... He seems really concerned about you."
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