43

Ethan sat in his office, trying to ignore the lingering irritation Ryan’s disparaging remarks about Jessica had stirred in him.
Ryan, noticing Ethan’ uncharacteristic reaction, stared at him in confusion, while Emily’s lips pressed into a thin line.
Could it be… that Ethan is defending Jessica now?
Emily’s mind reeled. Before Jessica’s return, Ethan had been indifferent to her, treating any mention of his wife as though she didn’t exist. But now, it seemed Jessica was capable of evoking a reaction from him—a development Emily couldn’t ignore.
Her voice quivered slightly as she asked, “Ethan, are you… having second thoughts about the divorce?”
The question hung in the air, heavy with tension.
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A Shadow of Doubt
Ethan’ expression darkened momentarily, and he averted his gaze. After a pause, he replied, “No.”
But his delay didn’t escape Emily’s notice.
Her eyes filled with tears, her voice strained. “Or… could it be that you’ve developed feelings for Jessica?”
Ethan’ jaw tightened. His tone dropped into an icy, decisive register. “Absolutely not! My feelings for Jessica are non-existent.”
But even as he spoke the words, Ethan couldn’t ignore the truth he had been wrestling with internally. When Jonathan had informed him about delaying the divorce, Ethan had felt a strange sense of relief—not because of Jessica, he told himself, but because he was uncertain about marrying Emily after the divorce.
This delay, he reasoned, gave him time to think, to weigh his options carefully.
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Ryan’s Assurance
Ryan, noticing Emily’s distress, jumped in to calm her. “Emily, you’re overthinking things! Just look at Jessica. You’ve seen her before—she’s hardly Ethan’ type. That woman was overweight, plain, and had that unsightly mark on her face. Ethan would never like someone like her.”
Ryan’s words were blunt, but his intent was clear: to reassure Emily that her concerns were baseless.
Facing Emily, he added, “You’re just worried because you care so much about Ethan. But relax. Since he promised to marry you, he’ll keep his word. Jonathan may delay the divorce, but it’s only for a month. Everything will fall into place.”
Although Emily appeared unconvinced, Ryan’s firm look silenced her from arguing further.
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An Uneasy Departure
Ryan turned back to Ethan, forcing a smile. “We’ve delivered the food, so we won’t take up more of your time. Let’s go, Emily.”
Emily, still uneasy, gave Ethan a reluctant nod. “Be sure to drink the soup while it’s warm,” she murmured before leaving with Ryan.
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A Brewing Storm
Seated in Ryan’s car, Emily’s frustration boiled over. “Why did you stop me from questioning him further? Didn’t you see his hesitation? Something is clearly bothering him!”
Ryan kept his composure, his voice measured. “Pressing him now could backfire. If you push too hard, you might drive him away—and what if he actually admits to reconsidering the divorce? Would you be able to handle that?”
Emily fell silent, unable to refute his reasoning.
Ryan inhaled deeply, his tone contemplative. “We need to figure out what’s really going on. Is it about Jessica? Or…” His expression shifted slightly. “Could it have something to do with this Belinie?”
At the mention of Belinie, a flicker of concern crossed Ryan’s face.
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More Competition?
Emily’s expression darkened. To her, Jessica had already been a significant enough obstacle. Now, another woman—Belinie—might also be vying for Ethan’ attention.
“Every woman competing for Ethan is my enemy,” Emily muttered under her breath, her tone sharp with determination.
Ryan gave her a meaningful look and offered a confident smile. “Don’t worry about Belinie. I’ll handle her.”
Emily raised a skeptical eyebrow.
Ryan continued, his confidence unwavering. “Liam thinks highly of me. He even gave me Belinie’s number himself. That’s practically his permission for me to pursue her. Relax, Emily. I’ll win over Belinie—it’s just a matter of time.”
Though Emily nodded, her thoughts remained guarded. Could Ryan truly succeed, or was he underestimating the situation entirely?