Chapter 222

Chapter 222

The man listened quietly, his face hidden in the darkness showing no emotion at all.

"Additionally, during this afternoon, Mr. Ethan Carter returned to the Carter estate. Prior to his departure, he disciplined Nolan by forcing him to stay on his knees."

The man's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"Apparently it was because Nolan almost pushed Henry down the stairs."

"What about Emily?" The man looked up and asked softly.

"Ms. Cooper is currently on a temporary release for medical reasons. Today she quietly left the medical facility without permission and traveled to the Carter home. Our agents assisted her." and she already knows you sent them..."

The environment stayed quiet for an extended period. The individual lifted his hand and gestured with it, and the security guard departed without making noise.
The man's eyes grew darker and more sinister. He bit out Ethan's name, whispering word by word: "Ethan."

A wicked smile slowly curved at the corner of his mouth. "We'll be meeting very soon..."

At that same time in Emerald City, Ethan got a phone call from another country. A person spoke on the line: "Mr. Ethan Carter, we have information concerning Mr. Zack Carter." We'll contact you online when the time comes."

That evening, at Garden Vista Estates.

In the master bedroom on the second floor, Ethan pushed the door open and walked in.

Christina, having already taken a bath, was resting against the bed frame with a computer device on her lap, reviewing the work documents that Vivian had sent prior to finishing her shift..

"Has Henry gone to sleep?" When she noticed Ethan enter the room, she set aside the device, positioned it on the small table by the bed, and inquired in a gentle voice.

"Yes." Ethan smiled and replied, walking over to lift the covers and get into bed, naturally pulling Christina into his arms.

"How are you feeling tonight?" Ethan looked down and asked softly.

Christina nodded. "I'm okay."

She suddenly remembered something and looked up at Ethan, asking with surprise: "Why did Henry suddenly start calling you dad today?"

Before, Henry actually knew Ethan was his dad, but stubbornly called him Mr. Carter.

Neither she nor Ethan had forced him, only wanting him to become comfortable with it in his own time. They had not anticipated that this moment would arrive so abruptly.

Ethan took a deep breath and turned to Christina: "It should be because of Nolan..."

"Nolan?" Christina looked confused.

"Yes." Ethan nodded. "This afternoon when we went back to the Carter Manor to get things, I don't know what Rachel said to Nolan. Henry said he heard Nolan say I was his dad, and I guess he got jealous."

When Nolan was brought up, Christina's voice had a bit of irony: "Never mind Nolan and Henry—it's likely that everybody besides you believes that Nolan is the child of you and Emily."

This comment hit Ethan's sensitive spot.

He immediately sat up straight from leaning against the headboard, staring at her intently.

Christina looked back at him without any guilt, chin slightly raised: "Isn't what I said the truth?"

Ethan knew he had no right to argue with her, since he had been extremely close to Emily back then.

He could only draw her close to him, speaking gently to calm her: "What reality are you talking about? I never had any physical contact with her. How could a male child possibly exist!"

"Really? Does Mr. Carter even believe himself when he says that?" Christina said, half-joking, half-serious.

"Really!" Ethan was so anxious he almost swore an oath. "Back then, all I felt for her was gratitude for saving my life. It's true she liked me, and if you hadn't suddenly come into my life, maybe I would have married her. But Christina, you're the one who made me understand what it feels like to care about someone."

"Men are all good at lying. You didn't love Emily, but you were good to her. You married me not because you loved me either, just because the Reed family pressured you..." Christina's tone was teasing, but her eyes were full of hurt.

Hearing her words, Ethan felt helpless: "I guess that's how I made you feel."

"However, Christina, do you believe that if I had not been agreeable, the Reed household could have forced me? That avaricious parent and child belonging to the Reed family"—I could have sent them away with some money."

Christina looked at him with slight shock.

Ethan brought his face down until his nose made contact with hers: "During the initial occasion when you came to the Carter home accompanied by Michael, my attention was drawn to you."

"I was thinking then, where did this silly girl come from, completely unaware she was being targeted."

Christina's beautiful eyes widened as she asked softly: "What?"

"If not for that, what is your explanation for being in my personal space on that day?" Ethan could not resist placing a kiss on her mouth. "As I have said before, you are very unsuspecting."

"It was Michael's mother, Amelia." He said with certainty.

Christina was stunned for a while before she understood what he meant.

She struck him in anger: "Therefore, you were aware the entire time that the individual who put the substance in your drink on that evening was not me, and I did not end up in the incorrect room on my own? Ethan," you knew everything. Why didn't you ever tell me!"

Ethan pulled her tightly into his arms: "That way, you wouldn't know that I took advantage of you, would you?"

He suddenly looked serious: "Christina, turns out I was the one who fell in love first."

The fact that he struggled to communicate his feelings caused their connection to be far more difficult than it should have been.
This surprising remark pierced Christina's composed demeanor and kept her restless for an extended period afterward.

"You're saying nice things now." Christina teased. "You like me? You like me, but were afraid I'd get pregnant with your child? You like me, but let Emily cling to you all day, and even let her wear the shirt I gave you..."

The shirt matter was probably a scar Christina could never move past.

Ethan rubbed his forehead, saying helplessly: "Bringing her to the villa that time was thoughtless of me. I immediately made her change out of it and had Uma send it to the dry cleaners several times. If it wasn't because you gave it to me, I would have thrown it away long ago. Christina, back then, I didn't consider your feelings properly."

"Regarding the matter of having kids..." Ethan's voice was heavy with regret. "You sustained significant harm in that vehicle crash, and it took a severe toll on your physical condition.The doctor recommended not getting pregnant again for two years, to wait until your body fully recovered."

"Christina, marrying you, I never thought about not having children with you."

Remembering how Christina had broken down back then, Ethan still felt heartbroken.

"Christina, tell me, I clearly liked you before, so why did I make our relationship so difficult..."

"When it comes to the subject of having children..." Ethan said in a tone full of remorse. "You were badly injured in that automobile accident, and it caused serious damage to your health.

Before sleep, Ethan held Christina tightly.

When the bedroom fell into darkness and silence, he whispered in her ear: "I've been to many places, and my favorite is Harmony City. When I used to travel alone for business and looked out the hotel window at the riverside at night, I always thought, next time I must bring you with me."

"Christina, when you're better this time, let's take Henry there together, okay?"

The evening breeze blew gently, and the stars twinkled.

Christina looked at the distant lights and suddenly thought of Van Gogh's "Starry Night."

This was the Van Gogh piece that she loved the most. She had always wanted to view it face to face, and Harold was also aware of this desire.
It seemed Harold had also said the same thing as Ethan.