Chapter 21

Ethan stood at the counter, waiting as the cashier scanned the last few items. 

His presence was calm, but there was something about him that made people around him curious, and some of them were still gazing at him. 

The cashier at that moment glanced at Ethan again, a flicker of respect now in her eyes; she couldn't believe what just happened.

Five million dollars was donated so easily as if nothing just happened. She had seen plenty of people come and go through the store, but there was something different about Ethan, and she was curious to know what it was.

Annabelle, who had been quietly standing beside him, couldn't help but feel the same way as the cashier, although she has seen what Ethan can do, but doing all of this in a day says a lot, and she wonders who he truly he's.

She walked closer to Ethan and then faced him, her curiosity finally getting the better of her.

"Ethan" 

She asked softly.

"What family are you from? I mean, you don't seem like just anyone; please tell me what family you're from, and I promise to keep it a secret."

Upon hearing Annabella's words, Ethan chuckled at the question, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. 

"Oh, me?"

 He replied, with a light tone.

"I'm from a regular family. Just like everyone else."

He then paused for a moment, then leaned closer with a grin.

"Or maybe not. Who knows?"

Ethan didn't want to give her any answers; he just wanted her to have the feeling he didn't belong to any family she knew.

But something was troubling Ethan. He prayed no one took any pictures of him; he didn't remember such because everyone was focused on Jay, not him.

Annabelle raised an eyebrow, unsure if he was being serious or just teasing. 

"You're not telling, are you?"

Ethan smiled and shook his head. "Some things are better left a mystery; I'm who you think I'm not special." 

he said with a wink. 

Annabelle couldn't help but smile back nervously, but deep down she knew Ethan wasn't telling her the truth. 

There was something about him that made it hard not to like him, even though she keeps telling herself she has nothing to do with him, but deep down her heart is beginning to fail her. 

Even though she didn't know much about his past or anything about him, she felt safe around him. And he looks bold and confident; that was enough.

Ethan then turned to the cashier, his playful tone shifting back to something more casual. 

"Alright, since I don't want to claim the 30% discount in my suit, how about I use it for something else?" 

The cashier nodded; her respect for Ethan started growing as she faced him with a soft smile, anxiously waiting for what he's going to use the discount to buy.

With a low and soft voice, she said.

"Sir, you can use the 30 percent discount on some of our specified items; please, if you don't mind, please allow me to lead you to the department."

The cashier quickly left her position while another took over.

She pointed in the direction leading to the department.

Annabelle quietly followed. 

Not long after they arrived at the department, the cashier quickly came forward to greet Ethan and Annabelle. She was about to show them around when Ethan suddenly pointed at a necklace and said,.

"I want that."

The cashier immediately went to the necklace and carefully took it out. It was a small diamond necklace. In a soft voice, she said, "Sir, this necklace costs 50 thousand dollars, but with your 30 percent discount, it will be 35 thousand dollars now."

Ethan didn't say anything but just nodded and handed his card to the cashier, paying for the necklace. 

Annabelle was standing quietly; she knew Ethan was buying it for one of his girlfriends. 

However, what Ethan did next surprised her. 

He told the cashier to give the necklace to Annabelle, saying.

"I bought it for you."

"For me?" 

She asked, her voice barely above a whisper, and the look on her face would tell she was shocked to the core.

Ethan simply nodded, with a hint of a smile on his face.

"Yeah. I know it will suit you perfectly."

Annabelle took the bracelet in her hands, feeling the weight of it. She couldn't believe it. No one had ever done something like this for her before, and coming from someone she just knew today was beyond thinking. 

"Thank you." 

She said, her voice soft and full of gratitude.

Ethan just smiled.

"You deserve more. I told you to follow me to see the man that saved my life, and you agreed without thinking twice; you deserve the gift."

Ethan said with a smiling face.

Annabelle was speechless at that moment, and she couldn't say anything but bow her head a little with a soft smile.

"Thanks, I truly appreciate your kind gesture."

Ethan smiled back, then he remembered he had wasted enough time in the store just because of Jay.

without wasting any more time, the cashier said.

"Can you direct me to the place I can change into the suit I bought?"

The cashier immediately smiled brightly at Ethan and said,.

"Sir, please follow me, this way."

She directed Ethan and Annabelle in the direction.

She led them to the dressing room, then stopped and pointed at the door with a smile that was almost covering her eyes. 

"Sir, this is it."

She said and bowed her head a little. Ethan didn't say anything but just nodded and walked inside.

When Ethan was inside the dressing room, the cashier turned her attention to Annabelle.

Her smile faded away immediately; it was replaced by a look of jealousy. 

She couldn't hide it anymore. 

She had always dreamt of meeting a man like Ethan, a handsome, powerful, and kind man. Now that she has finally seen the man, she can't hide it.

She gazed at Annabelle with a jealous face as she was holding the necklace, and the cashier couldn't help but wonder what Annabelle had that she didn't. 

Was it just because she worked in a clothing store? It doesn't seem fair if that is the reason Ethan wasn't looking her way. 

Annabelle, on the other hand, was standing quietly, staring at the necklace box in her hands; she was lost in thought because she wasn't expecting Ethan to give her a necklace this expensive. 

At that moment, the cashier's jealousy grew even stronger; she couldn't stand Annabelle anymore.

She wanted to say something to Annabelle.

Maybe she would ask her a question, something snarky, but before she could say anything.

Ethan walked out of the dressing room.