Chapter 426
The Mysterious Billionaire and His Substitute Bride
After getting off work, Ethan sat inside his car, staring at everyone leaving the Larson Groupâs building.
He didnât start driving until he saw Janet walking out. He then followed her closely, making sure to tail her at a moderate speed. When he noticed that she wasnât on her way home, he sped up and pulled over beside her.
Janet looked inside the car and saw Ethan.
He was truly dashing in his suit. And the smile on his face made him look all the more charming. Ethan rested his hands on the steering wheel, visibly hesitant before asking, âWanna go home together?â
Janet ignored him and continued walking along the road.
Ethan followed her for a few minutes before she finally stopped in her tracks, frustrated and livid.
Why am I angry with Ethan? Charis is the one who provoked me! This is all because of my pathetic self-esteem and insecurities. Janet thought in distress.
The mere thought of that made Janet feel even sadder.
She and Ethan were like two parallel lines that would never meet in between. If it werenât for his motherâs last wish, they never wouldâve gotten together.
Because Janet stopped walking, Ethan stepped on the brake and pulled over behind her.
It took a few moments before Janet decided to step into the car in silence.
Ethan frowned.
Instead of feeling happy, he sensed that something was amiss.
The reason why Janet wasnât talking to him before was because she was angry with him. But now, he could tell that something else was wrong.
The light in his eyes dimmed, and his heart sank. He quietly turned the steering wheel and drove back to the villa.
Slowly, the black Maybach pulled over at the gate of the villa. When Ethan unfastened his seatbelt, he noticed that Janet wasnât getting off the car. She was staring at an old couple beside the pedestrian crossing.
The old woman was holding the old manâs arm as they crossed the road together. It somehow reminded her of something she always read in fairy tales, âAnd they lived happily ever after.â
âThatâs beautiful,â Janet exclaimed, her face lighting up along with the setting sun.
Ethanâs heart tightened and his voice became hoarse. âSomeday, when our hair greys out and our bones go brittle, weâll be like them.â
Janet shook her head, chuckling under her breath. âI donât think so.â
Ethan clenched the steering wheel, immediately feeling tense.
Thereafter, Janet looked at him intently and smiled. âYouâre much taller than that old man, so I wonât be able to support you like that.â
Just as Ethan felt relieved and was about to say something, she cut him off and added in a trembling voice, âEthan, I want a divorce.â
For the first time ever, Ethanâs mind went blank. Despair and disbelief clouded his thoughts and his heart.
âWho talked to you and what did they say?â he asked.
Ethan had thought that Janet was merely upset.
He had led himself to believe that after a period of time, she would stop getting angry, and by then, heâd apologize to her again. Then, everything would be okay again.
Not once did he think that theyâd get a divorce.
Still shaking her head, Janet looked down while twirling the lace on the hemline of her dress. âI just want a divorce, Ethan. Iâm exhaustedâ¦â
âJanet, why do you suddenly want to get a divorce? Everything was fine before!â The way Ethan narrowed his eyes was daunting.
After casting him a glance, Janet looked down once more. His intimidating appearance frightened her.
âIâm not okay with the fact that youâve been lying to me, Ethan! I can no longer trust you. And in a marriage, trust is the most important thing.â
Ethan knew that he did lie and Janet was indeed mad, but there was definitely more to the story. So he was patient with her. âAre you hiding something from me?â
Janet shook her head again.
No matter what he said, she didnât want to say another word.
Ethan rubbed his temples and closed his eyes as he sat in the driverâs seat in silence for a long time.
When he opened his eyes again, he said, âI will never agree to a divorce, Janet.â
The setting sun finally slid down the horizon, and everything around them turned dimmer. Ethan couldnât see her face clearly anymore.
âIâll pretend that I didnât hear what you said today. Never mention it again,â he said in a soft voice.