Chapter 146 Blocking the Signal
"She practically volunteered to be the shield," Ethan said, his voice devoid of emotion.
Jackson finally understood the situation. "So you're planning to use Emily Sullivan as a diversion? To draw the attention of the Pearsons and the Hammonds away from what you're really doing?"
"Find everything you can on Emily Sullivan," Ethan ordered, his voice dropping to an icy command. "Every grudge, every enemy she's made since kindergarten."
"And Victoria Pearson," Ethan continued. "I want everything on her from birth until this morning."
Jackson nodded slowly. "I'll get right on it."
After ending the call, Ethan immediately dialed Justin's number. On the third ring, Justin answered, his voice strained against a backdrop of chattering voices.
Justin was currently surrounded by well-meaning relatives at his family's holiday gathering. Middle-aged women had cornered him, bombarding him with unsolicited life advice.
"You're turning thirty next month, Justin," his aunt was saying, wagging a finger at him. "A man at thirty isn't young anymore. You should be married by now! Wait until you're forty, and you'll have a hard time finding someone."
"Having children at thirty gives you energy to keep up with them," another relative chimed in. "Wait until forty, and you'll be too tired! With your career established, you should find a nice wife and start a family soon."
The barrage continued as the group of relatives surrounded him, each offering their own version of the same advice. Justin felt like he was losing his mind. He regretted coming home for the holidays, wishing he'd stayed in his spacious Los Angeles apartment enjoying peaceful solitude instead.
Just as Justin thought his head might explode, his phone rang. Seeing Ethan's name flash across the screen felt like finding a lifeline while drowning. He jumped to his feet, his expression suddenly serious.
"I need to take this," he announced with exaggerated gravity. "It's my boss—must be something important."
A momentary silence fell over the room before his aunt huffed disapprovingly.
"Calling employees during the holidays," she muttered. "What kind of slave-driving boss doesn't respect family time?"
Justin moved away, answering with excessive formality. "Mr. Bennett, what can I do for you, sir?"
Ethan's voice came through crisp and direct. "I'm meeting Emily Sullivan at the Century Plaza Mall at three o'clock. Contact Ella from PR and have her arrange for a few reliable photographers. Tell them to get clear shots of us together, but make sure my face is blurred in any images. Have the PR team work overtime to prepare a press release. Five times the usual rate for the rush job."
"Do you want just your face blurred, or Ms. Sullivan's as well?" Justin asked, calculating the approach.
"Just mine," Ethan replied. "Her face should be perfectly visible."
Justin immediately understood. This was about strategic exposure—making Emily the visible focus while protecting Ethan's privacy.
"For the press release," Justin continued, "should we emphasize your deep affection for Ms. Sullivan, or just announce that you're seeing each other?"
"Stick to the facts," Ethan instructed. "Let the social media team handle the rest."
Justin didn't ask why. It wasn't his place to question, just to execute. Five times the usual pay rate was far more appealing than listening to his relatives' marriage lectures.
Ethan looked up to find Nathan leaning against the doorframe, watching him with amusement. His expression darkened with annoyance.
"Why are you standing there?" Ethan asked sharply.
Nathan casually took a drag from his cigarette, then extended his hand toward Ethan. "Hush money. Name your price."
Ethan's expression didn't change. "The renovation on Olivia's wine bar is finished. It opens after New Year's. You'll teach her how to manage it and provide reliable staff to watch over the place."
Nathan nearly choked on his cigarette. "Wait... I didn't get any money, and now I'm doing free work?"
Ethan clapped a hand on his shoulder. "When our lunar exploration program succeeds, you'll be the first civilian on the moon."
Nathan stared at him. "You're fucking with me, right?"
"Head to Oakwood Estate now," Ethan commanded, his tone shifting to one that expected immediate compliance. "Take a signal jammer with you."
Nathan looked incredulous. "Are you serious? It's broad daylight! How exactly am I supposed to sneak past your girlfriend and plant a signal jammer in your house without her noticing? Please, enlighten me."
-
After Ethan left, Olivia immersed herself in the second-floor study, reading books, solving practice problems, and memorizing vocabulary. After finishing a practice test, she stretched and checked her phone. It was eleven-thirty.
She decided to take a break and watch some videos before continuing her studies in the afternoon. But when she tried to connect, she discovered the internet was down. Even more strangely, her phone only showed 2G signal.
Thinking something was wrong with her phone, Olivia rushed downstairs, calling out as she went.
"Sarah! Sarah!"
The housemaid emerged from the kitchen wearing an apron. "What's wrong?"
"Do you have cell service?" Olivia asked.
Sarah was terrible at lying. She avoided eye contact, looking uncomfortable. "I don't know. I was chopping vegetables, not checking my phone."
"Don't you usually watch cooking shows while you prep?" Olivia pressed.
"I never look at my phone when I'm chopping," Sarah protested. "I'd slice my fingers off."
"Let me see your phone," Olivia insisted.
Sarah wiped her damp hands on her apron, went back to the kitchen, and returned with her phone from the counter. She handed it to Olivia.
One look confirmed Sarah's phone also showed only 2G signal, and the Wi-Fi was disconnected. So it wasn't just her device—something was wrong with the entire house's connectivity.
Olivia called Ethan. "The internet's down, and there's something wrong with the cell signal."
"Yes," he replied matter-of-factly. "I had the signals temporarily blocked."
"Why would you do that?" she asked, bewildered.
"You wanted to study languages, right? You can't focus properly if you're constantly distracted."
"This will prevent you from switching between studying and checking your phone," Ethan continued. "If you're going to study, you should be fully committed."
She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Be good," he added. "When I get home tonight, I'll let you have half an hour with your phone."
Olivia gritted her teeth. "Don't bother coming back!"
After hanging up, Olivia was so angry she wanted to smash her phone. She raised her hand, ready to throw it, but slowly lowered it back to the couch.
Ethan wasn't entirely wrong. She did need to focus without distractions if she wanted to pass her language certification exams on the first try.
Still, this felt less like genuine concern for her studies and more like Ethan hiding something. Why else would he suddenly cut off all communications?
It probably had to do with his fake engagement. But they'd already discussed that last night—what more was there to hide?
Olivia gave up trying to understand Ethan's motives. While Sarah prepared lunch, she took her vocabulary book outside, walking around the garden and memorizing words.
Whatever Ethan was doing didn't matter. She was already preparing for the day she'd leave. All she needed was the right moment.