Chapter 142 Really Lost Something Precious
Daisy figured she must be cursed with bad luck lately.
That venomous face—tolerating him on set was bad enough, but how could she run into him on her one day off?
Furious, she whipped off her sunglasses and glared at him. "Whether I get married or not is none of your damn business! Even if you were the last pig on earth, I still wouldn't pick you! Look at your ugly mug, making nasty assumptions about me. I could just as easily assume you slept your way into that male lead role!"
After her rant, she flipped Ethan the middle finger and rolled up her window.
Classic hit-and-run strategy.
The traffic ahead started moving just then, so Daisy seized the opportunity and peeled out.
Ethan gripped his steering wheel, so angry he nearly had a heart attack. What made it worse was that Daisy's lane was flowing while his remained completely gridlocked!
He tried to merge over, but the cars behind him formed an unbroken line. Before he could squeeze in, Daisy's car had vanished from sight.
"Fuck! Fuck! FUCK!" Ethan stared murderously in the direction she'd gone, grinding his teeth. "If I wasn't—"
He cut off his threat mid-sentence, remembering his current situation. What right did he have to teach anyone a lesson?
Even mighty Ethan Green had fallen on hard times and gotten kicked around!
His manager in the passenger seat watched his explosive rage and said carefully, "Actually, we're not in competition with her. Whatever she does can't affect you. Just treat her like air from now on."
He genuinely couldn't understand why these two had such incompatible frequencies. They went at each other's throats the moment they met, sparks flying without warning.
Can't affect him? Ethan laughed coldly.
He'd never forget that first day on set when he'd met Daisy.
He'd gotten up extra early that day, carefully styled his hair, and chosen his outfit with care. This production was the first he'd taken after breaking away from his family. He wanted to prove through his own efforts that he could make something of himself, show his grandfather that he didn't have to follow the path of taking over the family business—that he could support himself doing what he loved!
He'd wanted to make a good first impression on his new colleagues.
So he'd arrived at the set first and helped the crew prepare props, working hard all morning. It wasn't until after nine that the director and others trickled in. Only the female lead was missing.
When he'd asked about her, a crew member had raised a finger to his lips, hinting that the actress had serious backing and not to ask questions.
Ethan had always despised people who used privilege to break into entertainment. He considered it a desecration of the craft. He'd already formed a negative impression of Daisy before meeting her. Then when she finally showed up and saw him, her first move was to saunter over and casually grope him.
"Well, well, where'd this pretty boy come from? So gorgeous—bet you're making bank in this industry, huh?"
Her tone had treated him like a toy. Or worse—like beefcake on sale.
He absolutely hated being called pretty. His delicate features had subjected him to judgmental looks his entire life. Everyone assumed that beneath his attractive exterior was an empty head. He loathed those presumptuous stares.
Ethan had coldly pushed her away and slapped her hand.
From that moment on, they'd been sworn enemies.
"Treat her like air? No way." The anger still simmered in Ethan's eyes as he snorted. "I'll tolerate her for this production. But once we wrap, I'm finding paparazzi to expose her sugar daddy situation!"
The manager opened his mouth, wanting to say "what does that have to do with us?" and "isn't that how the entertainment industry works?" But the words died on his tongue. He swallowed them back down.
Whatever. How the guy wanted to mess with people was none of his business.
This was the young master of Seaside City's Green family, after all.
"The young master of Seaside City's Green family?"
At the Watson Villa, Jennifer's eyes lit up at Anthony's words. She quickly set down her water glass and asked carefully, "The Green family's status isn't any lower than the Tucker family's. They're a whole tier above the Watson family. Are they really willing to form a marriage alliance with us?"
Anthony had just returned from outside. He hadn't slept all night, and faint shadows darkened his eyes. An aura of violence and bloodthirsty coldness clung to him, though Jennifer noticed none of it. Her attention was completely absorbed by Seaside City's Green family.
Rachel also watched him expectantly.
Seeing both his mother and sister thrilled about this potential match, Anthony's lips twisted slightly. He sat down on a nearby sofa and told Leo, "Show them the file."
Leo immediately placed the information they'd just compiled about the Green family's young master in front of Jennifer and Rachel.
Each woman picked up a copy. Moments later, both their expressions changed.
Jennifer set down the file and frowned at Anthony. "This Ethan is apparently skilled at drinking, gambling, whoring—you name it. Last year he got some girl pregnant and made her have an abortion. This year he vanished for over six months. You want to match him with your sister? You're pushing her into a pit of fire! I don't agree to this marriage!"
Anthony looked at Rachel. "What do you think?"
Rachel hesitated before asking with difficulty, "Is the Green family... the highest family I can marry into?"
Anthony nodded without hiding the truth. "You know the conditions the Reeves family gave us. The Watson family doesn't want a mutually destructive war with them, so you can't marry into any elite Majestic City family. The Green family is genuinely the highest match you can reach."
After a pause, he added, "The Green family is a major clan. Plenty of people in this generation hold power and wealth, but those are all branch families. This Ethan is the only legitimate male heir of the main Green line. The family will inevitably pass into his hands eventually."
Jennifer panicked hearing this. "Rachel, don't be foolish! The Green family may be wealthy and prestigious, but we can't sacrifice your entire life for status and riches. Mom wouldn't harm you—this marriage won't work!"
Rachel ignored Jennifer's words, continuing to question Anthony. "What does our family get from this?"
Anthony still didn't hide anything. "The Green family will give us several major projects. Additionally, they'll include the Watson family in all future new projects. This represents enormous benefits."
Rachel's face showed conflict. "Do you want me to marry into that family?"
Anthony smiled. "Yes. I want you to marry him."
Jennifer's expression darkened. Just as she was about to explode, Anthony cut her off with an explanation. "The Green family has survived this long because at minimum, the current person in power isn't stupid. If Ethan takes over, the family won't allow him to squander their fortune. I imagine before the head of the family steps down, they'll arrange a complete team of capable assistants to support him. As long as he's contained within certain boundaries for his wild behavior, the Green family won't collapse. If the Green family doesn't collapse, your status will be the most honored young mistress of the Green family. You'll have everything... Do you really need to care about some mere man?"
After he finished, both Rachel and Jennifer fell silent.
As much as they wanted to object... he had a point.
Marriage wasn't about love anyway. From every angle, Ethan seemed like the most suitable choice.
But Rachel's mind flashed to that figure surrounded by admirers leaving the university lecture hall.
She hesitated for a long time before looking at Anthony with a trace of pleading in her eyes. "Anthony, I want... I want to try one more time. One last time."
Anthony paused. "You're still hung up on that James guy?"
Rachel nodded.
"I've... I've only ever liked one man. I can't accept giving up. Let me try one final time—just three days. Can you stall the Green family for three days?"
Anthony studied her for a moment, watching Rachel's back gradually stiffen, before finally nodding. "Fine. But only three days. After that, regardless of whether you've made progress, we must give the Green family an answer."
Dragging it out too long would anger the Green family, which wouldn't benefit the Watson family either.
Rachel stood up happily. "Okay, I promise I'll have a result in three days."
Jennifer watched her two children, neither of whom had bothered asking her opinion. Her expression soured as she slammed her teacup down hard on the table.
Rachel's heart jumped. "Mom..."
Jennifer glared at her, then looked at Anthony gravely. "Anthony, you're being ridiculous. Is Rachel's marriage something to be traded? Do you have any idea how hard it is for a woman to raise children alone in a marriage? You witnessed it yourself! Haven't you learned enough from my experience? She's your only sister. What's wrong with letting her marry someone she actually likes?"
Her questions made Anthony's face darken.
Rachel also fell silent.
When their mother had married into the Watson family, she'd been just an ordinary dropout, a nobody. Because she'd gotten pregnant and an ultrasound confirmed a boy, she'd leveraged that to force their father's hand. He'd been compelled to marry her.
But his heart had never been in it. Initially, he'd just been playing around. After marriage, he'd paid her no attention whatsoever. The grandparents had old-fashioned attitudes and looked down on their mother, treating her harshly. She'd even had to perform morning and evening greetings like some ancient ritual.
They'd been equally strict with her two children. The three of them had endured over a decade of oppression in the Watson family.
Later, after the grandparents died and Anthony proved himself—so much more capable than their wastrel father—the company had finally passed into his hands.
Only then had their lives gradually improved.
Now hearing Jennifer bring up those old wounds, neither Anthony nor Rachel could find words to respond.
Finally, Rachel spoke. "Mom, if I can't marry James, then marrying anyone else is the same to me. Among wealthy noble families, which sons aren't spoiled playboys? If I'm capable, naturally I can make him devote himself to me. If I'm not, being a rich wife isn't so bad either. At minimum, my status means no one will dare look down on me."
Seeing Rachel's mind remained unchanged, Jennifer sighed and headed upstairs.
Rachel looked anxiously at Anthony. "Is Mom angry?"
Anthony watched Jennifer's retreating back and slowly shook his head. "She's fine. She just can't see reason right now."
Power and wealth—which wasn't more reliable than human hearts?
Rachel had simply made the correct choice... What woman in this world didn't weigh benefits when facing marriage?
He suddenly paused.
A woman foolish enough not to calculate gains and losses—he actually had encountered one.
Arabella. His ex-wife.
Between work and searching for Cassidy, he'd nearly forgotten about that woman.
Thinking about it now, that foolish woman had signed a prenup when they married, quit her job after the wedding to care for her mother and family, endured countless ovulation injections trying to conceive—her belly swollen and bruised—yet never complained.
When they divorced, she hadn't cried or made a scene, hadn't demanded a cent of assets, choosing to leave with nothing.
Was there any woman in the world more foolish? Not caring about a single dollar of profit, as if she'd simply poured everything into him as a person.
Later, discovering he didn't love her, she'd cleanly withdrawn everything.
Anthony suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, because in this moment, he realized he might have truly lost something precious.
His expression shifted through several changes before he finally turned and left.
After he'd gone, Rachel exhaled in relief. Her brother's aura had suddenly become terrifying—she'd thought he was about to explode in anger.
Fortunately not.
Outside the villa, Anthony took several deep breaths but still couldn't suppress the fury in his chest. He quickly got in his car and sped toward a mansion across town.
Cassidy lay sprawled in the dim living room, wishing for death.
This was her second day after Anthony had brought her back.
Last night, Anthony had tormented her all night long. She'd thought he hated her, but he'd tied her up and used her without restraint for hours. Even while taking her, he'd found her dirty, wearing protection every single time, then throwing her into the bathroom to wash after each round.
Her legs hurt too much to straighten. Her throat was too raw to scream anymore.
Every window in the entire mansion had blackout curtains drawn. In the murky dimness, Cassidy lay like spoiled meat on the carpet in front of the coffee table.
That was the scene Anthony walked in on.
Seeing him, infinite panic surged through Cassidy's heart. She endured the pain and desperately tried to crawl backward, but Anthony's steps were swift. Within seconds, he stood before her.
Cassidy thought he was going to torment her like last night and begged in terror. "No more... I can't take it... I can't..."
But Anthony grabbed her throat with one hand and lifted her up. Cassidy's airway compressed, making her cough. Her beautiful eyes filled with fear.
"It's all your fault," Anthony stared down at her, insane rage flashing in his eyes. Gripping her throat, he slammed her head against the coffee table. "All your fault. If you hadn't seduced me, I wouldn't have lost her!"
Cassidy was first stunned, then after processing his meaning, she laughed in horrified disbelief.
"You're blaming me? You're blaming ME?? You're the one who said you'd only love me for life! You said you couldn't forget me all those years I was gone!"
"Are you regretting it? Regretting divorcing Arabella? Ha! Anthony, what do I lack compared to her? Height, figure, looks, education—I'm better than her in everything!"
Cassidy was nearly losing her mind.
Anthony's words were the final straw breaking the camel's back, collapsing her tightly wound emotions completely.
What she found hardest to accept was this: Anthony regretted losing Arabella. Did that mean he'd never laid a hand on Arabella?
This violent man, this person whose moods shifted like a mental patient, had tortured her like this after barely six months of marriage. But in three full years with Arabella, he'd never once hurt her?