Chapter 20

Ethan stopped in his tracks.

Janet’s words infuriated him. He had specially asked Garrett to deal with the issue, and the man had laughed at him for that. But in the end, she thought her schoolmate had helped her.

Ethan sneered at her. “Christopher’s family isn’t powerful enough to influence the company’s decision.

What makes you think the Larson Group hired you because of him or whatever he had said?”

“Whoa! Calm down. How could you be so sure? Do you know the Larson Group well?” Ethan’s remarks amused her. She looked up at him and saw the unhappiness on his face.

Her questions had rendered Ethan speechless. A frown lined his forehead — he couldn’t reveal more information. “I often hang out with people who work there so I know a thing or two about it,” he said, trying to hide his disappointment. “You’re a married woman. Even though we’re only a nominal couple, you still have to maintain a distance from other men.”

Ethan’s possessiveness surprised her.

“Chris and I were schoolmates; now, we are colleagues. Our relationship won’t go beyond that.” Biting her rosy lower lip, Janet looked into Ethan’s eyes. Thinking that he might misunderstand her dynamic with Christopher, she explained, “I just met him when I walked out to get some coffee. We just hung together for a while — that’s it.”

Looking down at her head, Ethan smiled and touched her silky hair. “All right. I see. Don’t keep your head down. Look at the road.”

Janet’s flushed cheeks somehow made her look prettier.

The two walked to the bus stop. Janet fumbled inside her bag, looking for coins.

Ethan glanced at the rows of buses in front of him and asked, “Are we going home by bus?”

“Of course. Our home is a long drive from here. It’s too expensive to take a taxi home.” Finally, she took out two coins from her wallet and placed them on Enoch’s palm. “Here you are.”

Ethan’s brows furrowed as he looked at the coins. “You are the precious daughter of the Lind family.

Why are you hesitant to even take a taxi home?”

Sensing the suspicion in his tone, Janet clutched the wallet tightly. She had almost forgotten that she was playing the role of spoiled Jocelyn now.

“I used to spend whatever money I have, so I don’t have any savings. I’ve been at odds with my parents lately, so I don’t want to ask them for money. I’m broke now,” she lied, hiding her nervousness.

Her eyelashes fluttered as she averted her gaze.

Ethan stroked the coins in his hand. He remembered seeing Janet quarrel with her parents when he went to the Lind family’s house. They didn’t seem to get along with each other.

“What happened? Why are you nervous? Why do you freak out every time I mention your family?”

Ethan ruffled Janet’s hair tenderly. “How can I spend a woman’s money? You better use my money first.”

After a moment’s thought, Ethan took out his wallet from his jacket pocket and placed it in Janet’s hands. “I’ve made some money working part-time in a shop for the past few days.”

Janet looked at the wallet, and her bangs covered her pretty face.

Just as the two looked at each other in silence, they heard a voice dripping with sarcasm. “It looks like you really have been living a miserable life. You can’t even afford to take a taxi and have to take a bus home.”