Chapter 137 Empty Toast
Ethan answered the phone, his face revealing nothing. Olivia watched as he listened briefly to the caller. After less than a minute, he said, "I understand. I'll be there soon," and ended the call.
When his eyes met hers, his Adam's apple bobbed once. His voice was slightly hoarse as he said, "Liv, I have something urgent to handle. I can't stay with you tonight."
Olivia forced a smile, trying to look as understanding as possible.
"Oh, don't worry about it! Go handle your business. Comes with the territory, right?" The words tumbled out quickly, her voice growing unsteady by the end.
She rushed the words out before emotion could overwhelm her.
Ethan leaned down and kissed the corner of her lips. He grabbed his wool coat from the door hook and the scarf from the sofa arm, then left.
When the door closed, the house fell silent except for the soft hum of the heating system.
She cut into the perfectly grilled steak Ethan had made. As she took a bite, tears streamed down her face.
"It's really delicious..." she mumbled through tears. "I didn't know you could cook like this. You're good at everything—smart, quick learner, perfect at whatever you do."
She raised her wine glass toward the empty chair across from her.
"Ethan, Merry Christmas," she said, her voice breaking. "I hope everything goes well for you. Stay healthy and... may your work go smoothly too."
The door wasn't completely shut. Through the small gap, Ethan stood in the hallway with his back against the wall, listening to everything she said.
He hadn't left right away, concerned she might break down after he was gone. He wanted to give her time to compose herself.
But hearing her talk to the empty room, her voice quiet yet trembling with tears, felt worse than if she'd simply cried.
Yesterday, he'd promised to celebrate Christmas with her early. Even that simple promise, he couldn't keep.
His grandfather was sick again, and Ethan had to return to the family estate. If he refused, the Bennett family would take out their frustration on Olivia.
Maybe he never should have dragged her into his family's complicated politics.
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On Christmas Day, Olivia slept until after ten in the morning.
When she woke up, she reached for her phone and unlocked the screen. Her messages were filled with Christmas greetings from various group chats and friends.
After replying to everyone, she finally checked her conversation with Ethan. There was nothing from him. Not even a simple "Merry Christmas."
What Olivia didn't know was that after Ethan returned to the Bennett estate last night, his grandfather, using his illness as leverage, had demanded that Ethan get engaged early next year and marry in October. The bride had already been selected: Emily Sullivan, the second daughter of the Sullivan family who had recently returned from studying in France. She was two years younger than Ethan—a suitable age, with a matching background and social standing.
His grandfather coughed weakly a few times, feigning frailty. "The Sullivan family will visit in a few days. You are not to go anywhere that day. You will stay home and properly entertain Emily."
Ethan clenched his jaw, barely containing his anger. "Grandfather, didn't you say you'd give me two years?"
His grandfather had indeed said such a thing, but he couldn't withstand his granddaughter's persistent lobbying.
"Grandfather," Hannah had pleaded, tears in her eyes, "now that Nathan is gone, Blake is his only child. You need to make Ethan bring him back home. Blake is your first great-grandson—don't you want him safe with family?"
She whispered these concerns relentlessly into her grandfather's ear, playing on the old man's sense of family legacy and guilt.
And so Grandfather Bennett took on the role of the villain. He summoned Ethan to the family estate on Christmas Eve and delivered his ultimatum about the engagement.
When Ethan refused, his grandfather decided to push further.
"You can refuse, but consider your company and that student's academic future. If you're willing to gamble with those, then go ahead and test whether I can defeat you or not."
This was no longer a negotiation. It was a threat.
Ethan's jaw tightened so much his back teeth ached, his face darkening with suppressed rage.
His grandfather continued, "Ethan, if you had fallen for any other woman, even another student, I wouldn't have objected. But this woman—she was with Blake before you, and now she's with you, and you two nearly killed each other over her."
The old man paused to catch his breath.
"As long as I'm alive, I absolutely forbid you to be with her. After I'm dead, whether you rekindle your relationship with her is your business."
"But right now, you must break it off with her and get engaged to Emily. After what happened with the Pearson family, you should have learned your lesson!"
"Emily's father is currently a key figure in the Senate. In matters of personnel changes, he has significant influence. If you marry Emily, even if the Pearson and Hammond families want to move against you, they'll have to think twice."
Grandfather Bennett patted Ethan's arm. "Son, I'm thinking of your future."
After leaving his grandfather's study, Ethan went to the back courtyard and sat exposed to the wind, cigarette in one hand and whiskey bottle in the other.
The typically rebellious third son of the Bennett family found himself lost on Christmas Eve, staring into the darkness. Should he compromise or stand by his principles?
His life philosophy had always been simple: defy expectations and live on his own terms. But tonight, a harsh reality hit him - without the Bennett name behind him, he would be just another ordinary man. Though his success came from his own efforts, the Bennett family had been his foundation and springboard.
Born into privilege, he'd reaped its benefits. Now that he wanted freedom, how could his family possibly allow it? Even if he gave up everything - his career, name, and wealth - they wouldn't permit it.
And if he did, they wouldn't just come after him. His grandfather would target Olivia first.
The only reason no one in the family dared touch Olivia now was fear of Ethan's reaction.
So he decided to temporarily agree to his grandfather's demands, buying time.
This approach went completely against Ethan's character and felt suffocating.
The pain drove him to drink heavily all night until he became sick and was hospitalized.
When he woke up at the hospital the next afternoon, he immediately checked his phone. No calls or texts from Olivia.
Ethan laughed bitterly. He'd made himself sick over her, and she hadn't sent even a word of concern.
As he prepared to get dressed, someone knocked on the door frame.
"May I come in?" a female voice asked.
Ethan looked up to see a brown-haired woman in the doorway.
The woman smiled. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Emily Sullivan."