Chapter 67

We did it. Sounded like she was trying to be playful?

Ciara had just spoken those words when something felt wrong. Why did...?

The room went dead silent. The only sounds were her and Ethan’s breathing. In the silence, the energy radiating from him was seeping into her skin.

She didn’t really know Ethan, but it was impossible to miss how attractive he was to women. The thought startled her, and she quickly got up from the small stool.

Grace hurried toward the door, but just as she opened it, his voice stopped her. “I have to drive you home.”

“Sure, thank you.”

But the moment she got in the car, regret crept in. Tim clearly wasn’t friendly toward her. She could tell by the way he looked her over. Even from the back seat, she could feel the contempt in his eyes.

When they pulled up to her place, she couldn’t keep it in any longer. “Mr. Bennett, do you have something against me?”

Tim kept both hands on the wheel, his tone even. “Ms. Lambert, I still don’t know what you’re after, but whatever it is, I’d be careful if I were you. Mr. Henderson might let it slide once, but you might not get a second chance. He’s not exactly the forgiving type.”

No one would be able to stop Ethan if she pushed him too far.

Grace hadn’t expected a warning about Ethan’s temper from his own assistant, Taher, who didn’t seem as cold and distant as everyone made him out to be.

She was about to open the door when Tim urged again, “I mean it, Ms. Lambert. There’s no stopping him once he loses control.”

Grace figured he just wanted her to stay away from Ethan. She gave a faint smile. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Tim could tell she wasn’t really listening to him. One day, she’d learn the hard way.

Ethan was in the study by the time Tim made it back to the villa. The room held an air of subtle sophistication. He sat in a chair with a book in his hands.

He saw Tim walking in and asked, “You took her home?”

Tim hummed in response.

Lihan turned a page and rested a hand against his cheek, saying nothing.

Tim waited about a minute before asking, “Do we need to handle Jessika?”

Ethan’s lashes fluttered slightly, but his tone stayed distant. “No.”

Even though Tim had been by Ethan’s side for years, he still couldn’t figure him out. Ethan had just left the country.

At times, it seemed like he cared about Grace. After all, he hadn’t said a word back then even though she was the reason he had spent two years with injured legs. He just left without a word.

But other times, it felt like he didn’t care at all. He rarely intervened in Grace’s life. Most of the time, he just stayed on the sidelines, only showing the slightest flicker of emotion in his eyes when she was near.

Meanwhile, Jessica called Chester, the man who had tried to assault Grace. She wanted to check if everything had gone as planned at the hotel and whether Grace was completely ruined. But Chester’s line was unreachable. A flicker of excitement crossed Jessica’s face.

Chester was known to mess with women for days. Was he ignoring her calls because he found someone else he wanted to keep around longer?

Jessica smiled, her mood soaring. Grace hadn’t shown up at the office today, which could only mean she had already been compromised. Jessica hurried into Mr. Yancey’s office and said hesitantly, “Mr. Henderson, I’m unsure if I should say this, but my friend saw Grace go into a hotel last night with someone we’ve worked with.”

Van Wyck had been looking for an excuse.

“Chester Ferves is the word to work with,” Lenness Canup interjected.

“Immediately booked up,” she replied. “Are you sure? Who was she with?”

Yancey neatly supported his pen in his hand. Everyone knew about the vile things Chester did. He loved drugging women, taking compromising photos, and using them for blackmail. If a victim refused to cooperate, he’d ruin her reputation with those photos and videos.

Yancey took a deep breath, his expression darkening. People often looked the other way for him since Chester had enough money to buy their silence.

Chace was damaged goods, and Yancey’s reputation would take a hit right along with hers. Grace must be aware of her predicament to get involved with him. And he’s still your fiancé. If people find out…