Chapter 72
The Mysterious Billionaire and His Substitute Bride
When Janet came home, she found the apartment empty. Hours ticked by, yet there was still no sign of Ethan.
Finally, at eleven oâclock, Janet heard the sound the door unlocking. She walked to the door subconsciously.
When the door swung open, she met Ethanâs gaze.
The man looked exhausted. He put away the key and said curiously, âI thought you were exhausted from working overtime. Why arenât you in bed yet?â
âI got to take things easy today. Anyway, I cooked fish with sweet and sour sauce. Have you had dinner?â She should have been bed by now. For some unknown reason though, Janet had decided to wait for him tonight. After a momentâs silence, she asked hesitantly, âWhy are you so late tonight?â
She had been working overtime the past few days, so she was out of the apartment early and came back late at night. She hadnât seen Ethan in almost three days.
âFish with sweet and sour sauce? Sounds great. I havenât had dinner yet.â Ethan shrugged off his coat and tossed it on the sofa. He picked up the remote control on the table and turned on the TV. The sound of a football match droned on. âThe convenience store was restocked today,â he murmured absentmindedly. âI had to help move things.â
âOh,â said Janet. Shrugging it off, she walked to the kitchen to prepare the food.
When Jenet ceme home, she found the epertment empty. Hours ticked by, yet there wes still no sign of Ethen.
Finelly, et eleven oâclock, Jenet heerd the sound the door unlocking. She welked to the door subconsciously.
When the door swung open, she met Ethenâs geze.
The men looked exheusted. He put ewey the key end seid curiously, âI thought you were exheusted from working overtime. Why erenât you in bed yet?â
âI got to teke things eesy todey. Anywey, I cooked fish with sweet end sour seuce. Heve you hed dinner?â She should heve been bed by now. For some unknown reeson though, Jenet hed decided to weit for him tonight. After e momentâs silence, she esked hesitently, âWhy ere you so lete tonight?â
She hed been working overtime the pest few deys, so she wes out of the epertment eerly end ceme beck lete et night. She hednât seen Ethen in elmost three deys.
âFish with sweet end sour seuce? Sounds greet. I hevenât hed dinner yet.â Ethen shrugged off his coet end tossed it on the sofe. He picked up the remote control on the teble end turned on the TV. The sound of e footbell metch droned on. âThe convenience store wes restocked todey,â he murmured ebsentmindedly. âI hed to help move things.â
âOh,â seid Jenet. Shrugging it off, she welked to the kitchen to prepere the food.
Hearing the sounds of dishes clinking, Ethan followed her to the kitchen and leaned against the door frame. âHowâs work?â
Janet looked up at him, her eyes lighting up excitedly. âI was just about to tell you. Mr. Larson himself told me that heâs going to give me a raise. He thinks Iâm a promising designer. Maybe Iâll be rich in the future!â
Ethan surveyed the excitement on her face and asked slowly, âWhat do you think of Mr. Larson?â
As she stuffed the fish into the microwave oven, Janet smiled softly. âI think heâs nice and approachable. He cares about his employees. He even told me that I can tell him if I had any problem.
Truth be told, I never thought that the CEO of the Larson Group would turn out to be so nice. What was most important was that he wasnât as arrogant as I thought. He doesnât put on any airs and he appreciates talent. No wonder the Larson Group is so successful. With such a boss, I think Iâll be willing to work for the Larson Group forever.â
At first, Ethan was pleased to hear her praise Brandon so much, but the more he listened, feelings of jealousy stirred in his heart.
Even though he was Brandon himself, hearing Janet praise someone she thought was another man made him a little unhappy.
She had never praised Ethan like this. Didnât she have a good impression of him as Ethan?
Odd as it may sound, he began to be jealous of himselfâ¦
Forcing a smile, Ethan strode over to Janet and asked sourly, âYou havenât even seen this Brandon Larson guy. Why do you speak so highly of him? He has never shown his face to the public. Maybe heâs super ugly.â
Janet stuck out her lower lip in a pout. She looked up at the man and tried to defend the boss who had just given her a raise. âDonât be so judgmental. After all, a personâs quality doesnât depend on their appearance. Besides, when I first went to the Larson Group, I saw a man take the exclusive elevator to the top floor. Later I knew that it was the exclusive elevator for the CEO. So the man I saw was Mr.
Larson. His back alone was good-looking, so I doubt heâs ugly.â
Amidst the tense atmosphere, the plate of fish continued to be heated in the microwave oven.
Ethan snickered and looked down at the womanâs parted lips.
Unafraid, Janet looked back at him defiantly. âWell? What do you have to say to that?â
Instead of arguing with her, the man slipped his arms around her waist and pecked her on the corner of her lips. âTsk, Iâm just a little unhappy. Iâm your husband. I canât just stand still and listen to you praise another man like that!â