The restaurant had the kind of ambiance that invited slow, intimate conversations.Dim lighting cast a soft glow over velvet seats, and the faint hum of jazz played in the background, setting a relaxed yet elegant tone.It was a little fancy, but not in a way that felt out of place.Katherine ordered a few signature dishes. Nothing too extravagant, but each bite packed a punch of flavor, simple yet unforgettable.Halfway through the meal, her curiosity finally got the better of her.“How did you convince Mr. William? He’s not exactly the type to change his mind easily.”She asked. Tilted her head.Ethan smirked.“Simple. I’m his boss. He listens to me.”Katherine blinked, then burst out laughing.“Oh, come on. You’re funny, but seriously-”She cut herself off, a playful glint in her eyes as she stuck her tongue out, almost as if a lightbulb had just gone off."I just realized I never even asked your name. Mr...?"Ethan smiled, but before he could answer, her phone buzzed on the table,

This explanation put both of Edith and Madeline at ease.It made perfect sense."It's a rent car!"Edith chuckled, shaking her head.“I knew it! There’s no way that guy suddenly got rich overnight!”“Exactly, Mom,” Madeline agreed, smirking.“Think about it—he made such a fuss over a worthless old necklace and a cheap ring. Does that sound like someone with money?”“What skills could he possibly have? Back when he was with me, he relied on me for everything.""You really think he’s capable of turning his life around just like that?”Edith took Madeline’s hand in hers, her tone turning serious.“Maddy, listen to me. You need to get rid of him as soon as possible.”“Look at you—young, beautiful, and talented. And you have Robert, such an outstanding man, by your side.”“You should marry Robert sooner. That way, Ethan will finally give up on his delusions of ever winning you back.”Madeline’s cheeks flushed with a mixture of shyness and satisfaction as she stole a glance at Robert.Rober

“Oh, and by the way,”Madeline added with a triumphant smile,“Three days from now, Robert and I are getting married!”“So, stop sticking to me like a piece of gum, you've missed your chance!”Ethan heard this and simply gave a smile.“You’re getting married? Well, congratulations, then.”Madeline froze for a moment, thrown off by his calm response.She had expected a different reaction, something full of rage or jealousy.Anything but this kind of nonchalance!The emptiness of his response only made her angrier.She was excepting him losing control because of upset.As the exact reaction wasn’t coming.“Keep pretending! Let’s see how long you can keep up the act!”Madeline smirked, eyes brimming with contempt.In her mind, Ethan was just putting on an act—clinging to his last shred of dignity.And the calmer he appeared, the more it irritated her.Ethan frowned.“Do you finally get nuts?”He had been trying to avoid a pointless argument, but her arrogance was getting annoyed.Madelin

Kathrine approached with her usual lively energy. She waved, her lips curling into a playful grin.“Miss Kathrine, fancy running into you here,” Ethan said, his tone laced with amusement.Kathrine rolled her eyes. “Drop the ‘Miss,’ will you? Just Kathrine is fine.” Resting her elbows on the railing beside him, she glanced sideways. "Are you heading to Serantis Island too?"Ethan hesitated for a beat, then nodded. "Something like that."Her face lit up. “That’s great! I’m going there too! For a wedding! My friend Madeline is getting married.”His fingers drummed idly against the cold metal, his expression unreadable. "Is that so? Well... Congratulations to her."Kathrine, oblivious to the shift in his demeanor, continued chatting, her eyes drifting toward the white waves.“To be honest, I don’t really like the guy she’s marrying. Robert’s all talk.” “He is just one of those guys who think a fancy yacht and a garage full of sports cars make up for having an actual personality.”

Ethan let a slow, deliberate gaze sweep over Madeline and RobertHe was done with this drama.The murmurs in the crowd grew louder, buzzing like restless insects.“His ship?”“Isn’t this Lewis Parker’s?”Madeline seized the moment, turning to the guests with exaggerated exasperation.Her lips curled into a sneer as she tossed her hair back, making sure all eyes were on her."That’s right, everyone!" she announced with mockery. "This is my ex-husband. And, as usual, he had a great imagination."She flipped her hair for dramatic effect."You’ve all seen it, right? He just keeps doing this, over and over again!"A sharp laugh burst from her lips. She spread her arms wide as if inviting the whole room to share in the absurdity."His ship. His company. Mr. Parker, and you all his so-called friends!"For a heartbeat, silence stretched across the room. Then the laughter erupted as if on cue.Madeline basked in it, her eyes gleaming as she met Ethan’s calm stare."Ethan, don’t you feel ridicu