Chapter 183

Chapter 183

Cornelius glanced at him. "Not going."

Ethan looked at him with a smile. "Really not going? This client—maybe you’d want to meet him. Don't regret it if you don't go."

"I'm not interested in your clients."

Though their companies had business dealings, their core directions were different, as were their management philosophies. Ethan's clients had nothing worth discussing with him.

The car stopped in front of Ethan's house. Ethan got out and looked back at Cornelius.

"I asked you, at least."

The remark was cryptic. Cornelius instinctively sensed something off. "What exactly are you trying to say? Just say it directly. You know I hate it when people beat around the bush."

Ethan smiled meaningfully. "There are lots of things you hate. Deception and betrayal—aren't those things you hate too?"

Yet Elizabeth had done so much of both.

"But you're still protecting her now, aren't you? Your boundaries stopped existing a long time ago."

His words dripped with mockery. Cornelius's expression remained calm. "That's between us, Ethan. I've told you—don't drag her into this."

Ethan sneered and turned away.

He wasn't the type to take his anger out on others. He’d always followed one principle: a grudge for a grudge, revenge for revenge.

Elizabeth had wronged Daisy. Daisy couldn't take revenge herself, but as her fiancé, he could.

Cornelius watched his retreating figure for a long moment before looking away.

The next day, Elizabeth left early, stopping by the company first. The moment she arrived, she was summoned to Sam's office.

Elizabeth closed the door and met Sam's gaze, bowing first. "I'm sorry. There's been a lot going on recently. I've been neglecting work."

Sam looked surprised. "You think I called you in here to scold you?"

Elizabeth didn't respond, but that was indeed what she'd thought.

Sam sighed, tapping his desk. "You've misunderstood. That's not what I meant. I called you here to ask you about something. There’s a major streamer competition coming up that’s getting quite a bit of attention.

Elizabeth's first instinct was excitement, but she quickly calmed down. "Flora would be more suitable than I am."
"In terms of follower counts and popularity, yes, she would be." Sam was frank, not trying to deceive Elizabeth. "But I have more faith in you."

He turned his computer screen toward Elizabeth.

Actions spoke louder than words. It was better for her to see for herself.

On the screen were Elizabeth's live stream stats—viewership, engagement rates—all quite high. The shopping links in Elizabeth's streams had solid sales numbers, and the donations were countless.
"Right now, your overall popularity and viewership don't match Flora's. But your fans are real."

The value of ten thousand active fans—Elizabeth understood without Sam needing to explain.

It represented support and purchasing power.

"So I'm hoping you'll participate. Of course, it's just a hope." Sam handed her the registration form. "Think it over. Give me a call when you've decided. Of course I won't force you. But if you're willing, I'll give you my full support."

Elizabeth looked at the form in her hands. "Even if I'm divorcing Cornelius?"

Sam said, "Whether you divorce or not is your freedom. I won't interfere. But you're an employee in my department. If you do well, the department does well, and I look good."

Elizabeth took a deep breath. "All right. I'll think it over carefully."

Carrying the registration form, Elizabeth left Sam's office and returned to her own. She shared it with Flora. When she walked in, Flora was live streaming and immediately noticed the form in Elizabeth's hands.

Flora froze, then told her stream she was pausing the broadcast and ran over to talk to Elizabeth.
"Are you going to enter?"

Seeing her, Elizabeth felt uncertain. "Do you think I should?"

She wanted to know Flora's attitude. Though they were friends, if she entered, they'd be competitors. Even if they were from the same company, the competition format might still end up pitting them against each other...

Flora clapped her on the shoulder. "What are you thinking? Of course I want you to go. You need to work hard and return to your peak!"

Elizabeth laughed.

She'd had some fans once and sung a few songs, but "return to her peak"... that was really overselling it.

Flora wrapped an arm around her shoulders and shook her. "No matter what, I want the best for you."

Elizabeth felt touched and gave her a hug. "Thank you, Flora."

"I should be thanking you." Flora closed her eyes. She'd never forget that in her darkest moment, Elizabeth had stood up for her, supported her, stayed with her—support and protection even her parents hadn't given her.

At noon, Elizabeth left the company and went to the address on her phone.

The hallway was very quiet. Elizabeth stood at the doorway and slowly pushed open the private room door. As it opened, the scene inside gradually came into view.

Just an ordinary room. Elizabeth looked around but didn't see anyone.

On the left side was a dining table with chairs. On the right was a sofa. Elizabeth noticed a plate of pasta on the table.

Half-eaten.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind her—the sound of slippers on the floor.

"So you came after all."

That voice...

Elizabeth whipped around. Ethan stood not far away in slippers and a white bathrobe.

He looked like he'd just finished eating and taken a shower.

Elizabeth instinctively stepped back. "What are you doing here?"

Ethan casually dried his hair with a towel, then walked to the sofa and sat down, picking up the coffee in front of him for a sip. "I should be asking you that. This is my room. I'm staying here. Why are you here?"

Elizabeth glanced at her phone. "Angelina told me to come."

Ethan narrowed his eyes, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "She tells you to come and you come? Don't you think you're a bit too obedient?"

Ever since Daisy’s accident, this had been Ethan’s attitude toward Elizabeth.
Cold mockery, full of hostility.

Elizabeth had long grown used to it. "My cousin was hurt. I need to investigate. Angelina gave me a lead—this room. Now that I see... the lead is you, isn't it? Do you know something?"

"Yes. I know." Ethan admitted it openly.

He was being so cooperative it didn't seem like him. Even though Elizabeth had her suspicions, she'd expected him to deliberately stall or claim ignorance. He'd always hated her.

"What do you know?"

Ethan crossed his legs, propping his chin on one hand, his narrow eyes cold. "Not only do I know, but I can guarantee you—no one knows better than me. Because..."

He deliberately paused. The door was pushed open.

Samuel led Isaac, Gavin, and several others into the room, then stopped in the doorway.Cornelius stood behind Samuel.

Elizabeth saw him immediately.

She noticed him immediately because Cornelius’s expression was particularly ugly.

"See, I told you. Our Mrs. Habsburg is getting bolder by the day. Meeting men—and with Ethan of all people. Are you that desperate to line up your next guy?" Samuel walked up to Elizabeth, a mocking smile on his face. "If you're looking, you can't pick Ethan. Do you even care about your husband anymore?"