Ethan arrived early and sat in the private box, glancing at his wristwatch from time to time. For the first time, he felt time passing so slowly. Although it was only an hour, it seemed like a century.
Just when he felt like time had come to a standstill, Samantha finally arrived. Upon seeing Ethan, she immediately put on a smile and handed him a small cake, saying, "Thank you for today. This is the cake I made this morning. It's for you."
Seeing the cake so close, Ethan couldn't help but swallow saliva, his stomach growling embarrassingly loud, making its presence known.
Samantha noticed his discomfort and, understanding his reluctance to eat sweets, stuffed the cake into his arms, saying with a smile, "I know you don't like sweets, but consider it a favor for me. Just eat it!"
"Remember, I'm giving you face!" Ethan grumbled, dead set on maintaining his dignity. He picked up a piece of cake and put it in his mouth.
Hmm! Sweet, chewy, and delicious.
It had the fragrance of eggs without the fishy smell, with just the right level of sweetness—neither too much nor too little.
It was the taste of Samantha.
The flavor he had missed for the past few days.
Ethan closed his eyes in satisfaction, and the gloomy mood that had clouded him for the past few days seemed to be bathed in sunlight, bringing a hint of warmth.
Samantha took a seat across from him, hands placed nervously under the table, twisting her clothes anxiously. "Mr. Steele, I've been working at Chelsea Creek these days. Do you remember my initial design? If you could vouch for me, it would resolve all the issues."
Ethan calmly replied, "I won't pry into matters involving privacy."
In other words, he had never taken a proper look at her design.
Samantha understood. Like a deflated balloon, she slumped onto the table.
At that moment, the door to the private room opened, and Ellena walked in, wearing a delicate dress with her long hair tied into a waterfall-like braid with a headband.
Fashionable yet simple.
Upon seeing Samantha, a smile instantly graced her face. "Why are you here?"
Ethan cast a cold glance at her. "I invited her. Any objections?"
Ellena felt a chilling atmosphere, as if she had stepped into Antarctica. She shivered and sat beside Ethan, affectionately linking her arm through his, pouting, "Ethan, she's not a good person. She plagiarized her own sister's work, and I almost fell for her deceit."
"Oh, really?" Ethan raised an eyebrow with an ambiguous expression.
Worried that he might believe her, Samantha quickly explained, "Miss Ellena, there's a misunderstanding in this matter!" She handed a prepared folder to Ellena. "These are my previous works, many of which have won awards. If you carefully compare the styles, you'll see I didn't plagiarize. The real thief is Suzy."
She also presented the collected works of Suzy in front of Ellena.
Ellena glanced at them and then pushed all the works back to Samantha. Expressionless, she said, "I'm an outsider, and I don't understand jewelry design. I don't know how to find a personal style in the works. If you are truly innocent, I believe the law will give you justice. If I have misunderstood you, I am willing to apologize when the time comes."
Samantha became anxious. "Miss Ellena, please..."
The conversation was cut short by Ellena's impatient interruption, "Enough, I really don't want to hear you speak anymore. Suzy is my future sister-in-law. We have no blood relation, so why should I trust you?!"
As her words became increasingly harsh, Ethan's face turned extremely dark.
"Ellena Steele..."
His voice carried a warning tone.
Ellena complained coquettishly, "Ethan, don't meddle in my affairs! This is my dowry, the decision is mine, and you have no right to interfere."
With this sentence, she rebutted anything else Ethan might say.
Ethan's handsome face turned gloomy.
Not wanting his siblings to quarrel over him, Samantha hastily gathered her works, continuously apologizing, "I'm sorry for causing trouble. I apologize!"
After saying that, holding the folder, she awkwardly fled.
Seeing this, Ethan felt a pang of heartache, withdrew his arm from Ellena's grip, gave her a cold glance, and stood up to leave.
"Ethan..."
Ellena called out in a distressed tone.
Ignoring her, Ethan closed the door with force, venting his anger.
Ellena drooped her shoulders, feeling extremely wronged and not knowing where she had gone wrong.
At that moment, her phone inside her bag rang.
It was a call from Suzy.
She answered and reported to Suzy, "Don't worry. I've driven Samantha away. No matter what happens, I'll stand on your side."
Hearing these words, Suzy's suspended heart finally relaxed.
...
Ethan caught up with Samantha at the coffee shop's entrance.
He grabbed Samantha's arm, causing the documents in her hands to scatter on the ground.
Samantha immediately crouched down to pick them up.
Ethan helped her pick them up, awkwardly apologizing, "I didn't mean to..."
Samantha shook her head, still keeping it lowered, her face obscured.
Once the files on the ground were gathered, Samantha continued to walk towards the parking lot, bowing her head.
Ethan caught up again, "Where are you going? I'll give you a ride."
Samantha still shook her head, declining.
Ethan frowned displeasedly, blocking her way, and said sternly, "I don't like repeating myself."
Samantha kept her head down, silent.
Ethan didn't like her attitude, reached to lift her head, but his hand touched something wet.
Realizing what happened, his heart twitched slightly, and he forcefully raised her head.
As expected, she was crying.
Her eyes were teary, and her face was wet with tears.
At the sight of the tears, Ethan's chest felt sour, as if it was being torn apart.
"You're crying again?"
Samantha wiped away her tears haphazardly, shaking her head, "I'm fine, you can go about your business. Don't bother about me..."
After saying that, she tried to pass by Ethan and leave.
"I don't care about your affairs, but you can't drive in this state. I don't want to bear unnecessary responsibility for someone's life..."
Leaving behind these cold words, Ethan grabbed Samantha's wrist, forcefully pulling her towards the company.
Initially, Samantha struggled a bit, but seeing Ethan's firm attitude, she stopped resisting. Under the astonished gaze of the employees at the Emperor Group, she followed Ethan into the CEO's exclusive elevator, heading straight to the CEO's office.
In the office, Ethan closed the door, loosened his tie, and said with a hint of annoyance, "You don't have to seek death. I will let Ellena give you another chance.”
Samantha was taken aback, put down the folder in her hand, and walked step by step toward Ethan, staring into his eyes without blinking, "Why are you helping me?"
Uncomfortable under her direct gaze, Ethan replied with a hidden meaning, "I'm doing it for Noah. Your emotional state might affect your cooking, and that, in turn, will affect him."
The reason sounded somewhat far-fetched, but it improved Samantha's mood.
Suddenly, she reached out, encircling his neck, tiptoed, and kissed his thin lips.
***
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