Chapter 26: A Late Night Revelation

Chapter 26: A Late Night Revelation

Ethan stared at his phone for a moment before setting it on the bedside table. The instant his hand left the phone, Emily instinctively reached for the nearby pillow, clutching it tightly as she slept. It was a habit of hers to hold onto something for comfort while she slept.

The warmth of Ethan's body often woke him in the middle of the night; he would find her wrapped around him like an octopus, her sleeping position far from the dignified one expected of a socialite. He dimmed the bedside lamp, casting a soft, yellow glow over her sleeping figure. The warm light highlighted her usually bright, polished features, giving them a gentle, almost tender appearance. Her long, dark lashes rested against her cheeks, casting a faint shadow.

Up close, her face was flawless, pale as porcelain. Ethan watched her for a while, slowly blinking and then moving to sit at the edge of the bed.

The first time he saw her asleep like this was three years ago in Paris, on a night he happened upon her. She had been very drunk, and when Ethan helped her up from outside the bar, she stared at him blankly before suddenly bursting into tears.

"I don't want to get married! I don't want to marry someone with the last name Zheng! I don't like him!"

"There are several girls with the last name Zheng. Marrying him would mean being his mistress. I don't want that!"

She refused to go home, crying on the street until she couldn't stand and clung to his neck. "Brother Ethan, do you like me?"

"Ah! Why don't you like me, such a cute and pretty girl?"

"You have to say you like me. I'm a fairy, and you must like me!"

Pressured by her, Ethan reluctantly said, "I like you." Only then did she cheer up and get into the car with him.

In the car, Emily fell asleep instantly against Ethan's shoulder. The car's lights cast a glow on her delicate skin, making her appear like a radiant painting. Ethan, gazing at her, felt a jolt as if he had been touched by something warm. He unconsciously reached out a hand but wasn't sure where to place it, eventually only brushing her long lashes with his fingertip.

Emily stirred, mumbling in her sleep, and then, groggily, leaned back into him. Ethan thought she had gone back to sleep.

A moment later, Emily asked in a barely audible voice, "Brother Ethan, do you like me?"

Ethan, a bit taken aback, replied as before, "Yes, I like you."

Emily remained still against his shoulder. "Then let's get married."

Her voice was barely a whisper, but it struck Ethan like a thunderclap in his heart. He held her shoulders and gently pulled her away to look at her.

"Do you know what you're saying?"

Emily blinked, innocently nodding. "You don't want to marry Zheng, so you want to marry me?" Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Emily nodded but then shook her head quickly. "I don't like James."

Ethan laughed. "So you like me?"

Emily nodded vigorously. "Yes."

Ethan was stunned. He stared at her, her cheeks flushed from the alcohol, and couldn't tell if she was speaking drunkenly or sincerely.

"What do you like about me?" he asked, though he knew it was a silly question. People like them were used to having their marriages decided for them from a young age. Yet, he found himself longing to hear an answer he had never received before.

Emily tilted her head and answered confidently, "Liking is just liking!"

Ethan chuckled. "You're so young. Do you even know what liking means?"

Emily's face reddened with indignation. "I know!"

She pointed to her left chest with a small, pale hand, "Liking is here."

Ethan was taken aback again. "So, do you like me like that?"

"Of course," Emily said, smiling with her eyes crinkling at the corners. "You have to like with your heart!"

Seeing her, Ethan was overwhelmed by emotions he couldn't easily describe. A place in his heart felt like it had collapsed, only to start beating anew.

After a moment of silence, Ethan spoke deeply, "Okay, I'll marry you."

He took Emily's hand in his. "I won't let you marry Zheng. I'll marry you."

Emily looked at him, momentarily stunned. After a short pause, she suddenly pulled her hand away.

"Do you have other girlfriends?" she asked seriously. "Will I be a mistress if I marry you?"

Ethan laughed, shaking his head lightly. "I don't have any girlfriends."

He embraced her. "If you marry me, you'll be my only wife."

Ethan exhaled slowly, lowering his hand from his forehead. He glanced back at the sleeping Emily, his expression growing more complex. The image of her saying "like with your heart" remained etched in his mind, a vivid memory he clung to during many sleepless nights.

Despite knowing it might have been a lie, he still wanted to marry her, unable to bear seeing her with someone else.

Emily stirred slightly in her sleep, her brow furrowing as if disturbed by a dream. Ethan adjusted the blanket over her and leaned closer to observe her.

Since her amnesia, she had changed significantly, almost like a different person. It felt as though she had reverted to the girl who cried and stomped her feet at the bar entrance—headstrong, capricious, but also more vibrant and sincere in her emotions.

Ethan found himself drawn to her once more, just as he had been before. He smiled wryly, perhaps she was right. He was indeed flawed.

"I should trust my feelings," Ethan spoke quietly to the sleeping Emily, as if asking himself, "or should I trust my eyes?"

The Emily he experienced felt rich in emotions, fervent, and genuine. Lately, he questioned whether she might have truly cared for him back then, despite the reality he had witnessed.

Ethan sighed. "Should I trust you or my own judgment?"

He reached out a finger to lightly brush her closed lashes. Emily, disturbed in her sleep, furrowed her brow even more but then relaxed.

Ethan watched her for a moment longer before turning off the lamp and leaving the room in darkness.

---

Jason, upon arriving in the morning, quickly noticed that his boss had likely not slept well.

"Chairman Harrison," Jason pointed towards the inner office, "Mr. William arrived early."

Ethan raised an eyebrow in surprise. He nodded and walked toward the office.

William, seated on the sofa and seemingly lost in thought, greeted Ethan with a nod. "Ethan."

Ethan returned the nod. "You're here."

Their interaction was anything but familial. Ethan had never called William "Dad," and William still addressed him as "Ethan," previously "Little Ethan."

William, straightforward as always, got straight to the point. "Emily told me you want a divorce?"

Ethan froze, his actions pausing. He didn't look at William, merely replying, "No."

William privately doubted him. "Then what about yesterday…"

Everyone had noticed Emily's cold demeanor at the birthday party.

Ethan looked up, "Are you here today as Ms. Qi's representative, or as Emily's father?"

— Are you concerned about the marriage between the two families or about their personal relationship?

The pointed question made William's expression darken.

William paused, then spoke slowly, "Over the years, I admit I've been somewhat neglectful of Emily."

He looked at Ethan. "After her mother's death, it was a huge blow for her. Then, when I remarried, she became unwilling to speak to me properly…"

Ethan watched him calmly, noncommittal.

"She had that accident a while ago, remember?" William sighed. "She's been through a lot. I really hope… there won't be more problems between her and you."

A hint of pleading appeared in William's eyes. "She likes you so much. I'm afraid she won't handle it well."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "She likes me so much?"

William nodded. "Yes, hasn't she always liked you?"