Chapter 18: Unveiling the Past

Chapter 18: Unveiling the Past

"Is this what you call reasonable?" Emily said, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "You were the one insisting on a divorce, and now you're saying we shouldn't? Are you playing house?"

Ethan shifted his gaze away, his expression neutral. "I just don't think a divorce is necessary."

Emily looked at him, her face a picture of incredulity. "Are you serious?"

"I need a wife, a stable marriage, and the status of being married is quite important to me. And you—" he glanced at Emily, his dark eyes devoid of warmth, "don't you need a husband to maintain your glamorous image?"

Emily was momentarily speechless.

"Furthermore, the Harrison and Clarke families are already intertwined by mutual interests. If we divorce, both families will face numerous risks and problems."

"Since we have both gained what we wanted from this marriage, and divorce would only bring complications," Ethan concluded calmly, "why should we proceed with it?"

Emily: "......"

His arguments were logical and well-founded.

It seemed he had a point.

She closed her eyes, feeling a chill spread through her. She knew that capitalists are ruthless and that businessmen prioritize profits, but hearing her husband, cold and detached, weigh the pros and cons of their marriage like a business transaction made her shiver.

She forced a smile and gave a derisive laugh.

"Ethan…" Emily began, but found herself at a loss for words.

She realized she didn't want to argue or explain—it was futile.

He was a different kind of man.

They were fundamentally different people.

"I can't remember the past clearly… Believe it or not, I believe my initial reason for marrying you wasn't what you're suggesting."

Emily noticed Ethan's eyes briefly brighten, but his expression soon fell back to its cold, indifferent state.

"Our expectations of marriage are different," Emily said softly, her lips pressed together, "I didn't want just a man to support me and pay for everything…"

Ethan lowered his gaze, a slight movement of his throat evident.

"I don't accept a loveless marriage, while you seem to want a trouble-free husband. Since…" Emily's gaze was resolute, "since you don't like me, we should just get a divorce."

Ethan looked at her in silence for a long moment before speaking quietly, "It's clear that you're the one who never liked me."

Emily didn't catch what he said. "What?"

The man gazed at her with an expression she had never seen before—complex and melancholic.

He repeated softly, "You never liked me."

**

"Here." Jessica placed an envelope-like object in front of Emily.

Emily's eyes lit up immediately. "It's here so quickly!"

She tore open the envelope and examined the invitation several times, unable to hide her delight.

It was an invitation to Ryan's birthday party, which wasn't publicly sold. Fans could only win tickets through a lottery, while industry insiders had started receiving invitations.

A few days ago, Ryan had asked if she could attend his birthday party, and Emily had agreed almost immediately.

"I heard they've invited many people from the industry this time, including partners and actors they've worked with, but—" Jessica looked at Emily suspiciously, "why did he invite you?"

Ryan's high-profile birthday party was essentially a strategic move, filled with intricate relationships.

Inviting a photographer who had only collaborated once seemed odd.

"Come on," Jessica said, patting Emily's arm, "You're not seriously starting to pick a new crush, are you? Just a friendly reminder, legally, you're still married. Are you planning to cheat on Chairman Harrison?"

"Cheat?!" Emily was insulted by the suggestion that her pure and lofty admiration for her idol was in question.

"I'm just going to a birthday party, not on a secret date. What's wrong with being married and still following my idols?"

Jessica raised her hands in a gesture of surrender, "Okay, okay, you're right."

"By the way, let me ask you something. How did Ethan and I end up getting married?"

Jessica looked puzzled. "Huh?"

Emily sighed, "I mean, how did we get married in the first place? Do you know?"

After Ethan had left yesterday, Emily couldn't shake off his words, "You never liked me."

The way he spoke, his tone, and the look in his eyes were all too vivid in her mind…

Emily lay in bed, trying to recall, but she couldn't remember anything from before.

In recent times, she had managed to recall some things, like her mother's death and her father remarrying, and even her school days with Olivia and Jessica.

But her memories of Ethan remained blank, nothing at all.

"I'm not too sure," Jessica said, rubbing her forehead as she tried to think, "Your families were arranged to marry, and arranged marriages are usually like that…"

"What about before? Did we have much contact? Were we close?"

"Uh, not really. You know how your husband is—outstanding to the point of being in a league of his own. Ordinary people in the circle couldn't even reach him… Oh, wait," Jessica snapped her fingers, "I just remembered something."

Emily leaned in eagerly. "What?"

"Back when we were in Paris, the year you were about to graduate, your family was planning a marriage with the Zheng family. But you were very unwilling, and you had a big fight with your family over it."

Emily nodded slowly.

That was right. Refusing the marriage was her natural reaction.

"During that time, you were quite unhappy and often cried or drank with me. One night, you went to a bar alone and got very drunk. I remember Ethan was the one who took you home."

Emily gasped. "What?"

Jessica nodded, "He really did. He even brought you to my house because you refused to go back home…"

"So, what happened then?"

"There's nothing more to it. He just left after dropping you off." Jessica suddenly grinned. "But you were so drunk, your husband had to carry you back."

Emily: "..."

Emily shook her head, murmuring, "I don't remember…"

"When I asked you the next day what happened, you wouldn't tell me. At the time, I guessed—" Jessica gave an evil smile, "—maybe he took your virginity that night!"

Emily: "!"

"Impossible!" Emily looked incredulous, "No way??"

Jessica took a sip of her coffee.

"Why not? Your family ended up marrying into the Harrison Family, not the Zheng Family. They couldn't compare to the Harrisons. To be honest, if Ethan hadn't insisted on marrying you, your family wouldn't have been the chosen one."

Jessica shrugged, "See, he took you home that night, and then he wanted to marry you. It all makes sense."

Emily: "..."

Emily found Jessica's speculation quite plausible.

So back then, did she… end up sleeping with him?

It somewhat explained their current relationship…

Ethan's constant desire for her, his behavior towards her—

—It all made sense now. :)

Emily felt a mix of emotions.

She had always been a romantic, believing that if she ever got married, it would be for pure reasons.

She hadn't expected her marriage to Ethan to be so… pragmatically primitive. :)