"Dinner is ready, Mr. Wilson. Please take a seat!" Uncle Thomas waved, a very polite grin on his face despite his deep discomfort. He never imagined that he'd have to be so humble in front of this useless guy!
It wasn't Ethan who scared him; it was Miss Beverly, the powerful Wilson family member who was covertly backing him. Now, Ethan had to beg Beverly to stop repressing and condemning the Thomas family in order for them to get out of this dilemma.
"No need. I assume you invited me over for something, no? Just tell me directly," Ethan gestured with his hand. He was certain that the Thomas family would never make such a scene without a purpose.
"Actually, Sharon is the one who'd like to talk to you. Sharon!" Uncle Thomas gave an obedient grin, gesturing to Sharon and Gabriella behind his back.
Sharon nearly bled from biting her red lips. Despite her intense discontent, she moved forward and inhaled deeply. "Ethan, it was my mistake. I apologize. Please accept my apologies and implore Miss Wilson to protect our family."
"I was wrong as well, my son-in-law. I was the one who treated you badly in the past. Please, be kind to Thomas Group and spare us. It's only a matter of you sending Miss Wilson a message. If not, the Thomas family will drive Sharon and me out to the streets. You don't want us in such a condition, do you?" Gabriella moved closer to beg as well, seeking to touch his feelings while shedding tears.
However, Ethan said silent, a sensation of sorrow washing over him. There was a glimmer of hope in his eyes when he came here, hoping that the Thomas family would truly turn around and apologize to him.
However, it appeared as though he was only there for them to formally apologize, since it was in their best interests to do so. They didn't feel guilty about what they'd done to him.
Sharon was enraged when she saw Ethan's reaction. "Ethan, you've already received an apology from us. What more are you looking for? Will you not let the Thomas family go? Do you wish to totally destroy us? We've been there for you over so many years; are you truly that cruel?"
Tears filled her eyes as she spoke. Her expression held a sense of determination mixed with resentment.
After wiping away her tears, she turned to face Ethan and said, "Is my body all you want? As long as you keep the Thomas family safe, you can do whatever you want to me right now. Is that enough?"
Her voice grew cold, and she cast an even colder, almost disgusted glance at Ethan. Ethan felt an ache in his heart upon seeing this. Was this how Sharon saw him, after all these years of living with her? Was he really that awful of a person?
"Forget it, you don't need to beg me," he said, waving his hand in place, "I'll ensure that Cloud Group once more collaborates with The Listening, and I'll release all of the pressure on your company."
Feeling a chill in his heart, Ethan turned to face Sharon and said, "Oh, and please don't get me wrong, I no longer have any interest in or thoughts toward you. That applies to your body as well."
"What did you say?!" Anger filled Sharon's face, a mixture of embarrassment and rage. His words were even more degrading rather than violating. Infuriated, she was about to say something, but Uncle Thomas stopped her in her tracks.
"Enough, Sharon! Now that you've gained Mr. Wilson's forgiveness, you should leave!" He scolded her, saying, "Stop causing trouble here!"
He then feigned a grin and added, "Mr. Wilson, please make the call right now," to Ethan.
At first, they had assumed that Ethan would give Beverly a call. However, they were shocked when he called Jayden instead.
The Thomas family felt at ease when they soon learned that the businesses that had severed their links with them were suddenly returning. Just as they were ready to lavish more praise on him, Ethan turned around and left, not wanting to spend any more time with them.
"How dare you disrespect me like this, Ethan! You better believe I'll make you pay!"
"May you die a horrible death! I'll make sure there's no happy ending for you!"
Sharon watched Ethan's disappearing figure, bitterness welling in her eyes. Her nails penetrated her palm deeply, red blood pouring through the wounds.
Ethan's phone started ringing not long after he left the residence. Beverly was calling.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Ethan answered the call, talking in a cold tone.
"Do you even have any idea what you're doing, Ethan? You were treated horribly by the Thomas family, and now you're letting them off the hook? Do you deserve to be the Wilson family's successor with such a weak attitude?" Beverly angrily reprimanded.
She found it unbearable how cruel the Thomas family had been, and she thought Ethan's actions were simply self-destructive!
"I don't need you to judge or point fingers—it's my own business. Furthermore, I never had intentions of becoming the Wilson family's successor at all." Ethan gave a chilly response.
"You..." Too angry to speak clearly, Beverly clenched her teeth.
Many people in this society desired to be wealthy and powerful like the Wilson family, but Ethan had no interest in any of it!
He even turned down the family head role that was offered to him!
"Ethan, you're really wasting away your life! You've been utterly charmed by the Thomas family! Do you not think that I can command the Thomas family to be destroyed at this very moment? Can you stop me?" Beverly made a threat.
"Destroy the Thomas family?"
A spark of intense rage appeared in Ethan's eyes. "Go ahead and try if you have the courage to! I'm not sure what I'll do if you do that."
Beverly was furious and clinched her teeth. "Ethan, it appears that you've really fallen under the Thomas family's spell!"
She was aware of Ethan's temper; there was no knowing what horrible things he may do if he went insane. Besides, they couldn't push things too far since the Wilson family needed him in the future.
"All right, then. Go ahead and defend that family; one day, you'll look back and regret it!"
Beverly's warning lingered in the air as her voice faded.
"You'll regret your foolishness and stubbornness one day!" she clenched her teeth.
Ethan said coldly, "Whether I regret it or not is my own business; I don't need your involvement," and he hung up.
He let out a deep sigh. He had clearly seen the Thomas family's true colors, but even after spending so much time with them he couldn't quite let go of one aspect of himself.
Ethan sighed.
It was noon now with the sun up, and he was beginning to feel a bit hungry. He received a call just as he was going to choose a place to eat.
He pondered for a second before choosing to pick up.
"Hello, handsome, do you remember me?" A cheerful girl's voice came from the other end.
"Who is this?" Ethan was surprised.
This voice was somewhat familiar.
"Hi, I'm Chloe—the person you helped yesterday!" Chloe grinned in response.
"Oh, it's you," After pausing briefly, Ethan remembered, "What's the matter?"
"As thanks, I'd like to take you to lunch tomorrow at noon. I've reserved a restaurant in advance, so will you come?" There was a tinge of cleverness in Chloe's tone.
"All right." Ethan laughed pitifully. How could he refuse when the restaurant was already reserved?
"Then tomorrow, meet me at the intersection, and I'll come get you. Be on time!" Chloe happily said before hanging up the phone.