Chapter 154 Just Another Labor Day
Another Labor Day came and went.
It was the second one Olivia had spent with Ethan. By their original two‑year agreement, they should be separating at the end of this semester—but with everything that had happened, leaving him before graduation felt impossible.
Ethan spent the holiday at the Bennett estate.
Olivia stayed at Oakwood with Walter, Sarah, and the rest of the staff.
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At the Bennett estate, Ashley had invited Emily Sullivan and her family. She clearly already considered Emily her future daughter-in-law. During dinner, she not only had Emily sit beside her but continuously served food onto Emily's plate with enthusiastic warmth.
Emily had a sweet way of speaking, calling Ashley "Mrs. Bennett" with such warmth that Ashley grew increasingly pleased, smiling as she praised Emily for being so thoughtful.
Ethan said nothing, his entire demeanor radiating cold indifference.
Ashley glanced at him. "Ethan, after dinner, why don't you take Emily to see a movie?"
Ethan set down his utensils and dabbed his mouth with a napkin. "I have a meeting this afternoon with an investor flying in from Australia."
Ashley immediately frowned, but before she could speak, Ethan cut her off: "I can't cancel."
With that, Ethan stood up and looked toward Emily's parents. "Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan, please enjoy your meal. I'm afraid I need to leave."
Just as Ashley was about to scold him, Emily quickly intervened: "Mrs. Bennett, please don't be upset. Ethan is just dedicated to growing the family business and maintaining the Bennett legacy."
Though she knew Emily's words were mere flattery, Ashley was pleased.
Ashley took Emily's hand, smiling as she turned to Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan with an envious expression. "You're so fortunate. Emily is such a thoughtful girl."
Mrs. Sullivan laughed. "She was quite mischievous as a child. She's only become more controlled as she's grown older."
"Mom!" Emily protested playfully.
Ashley laughed. "Emily seems so gentle. Unlike my son—he was the wildest kid in the whole estate."
Jonathan jumped in, "She's right, Mrs. Bennett. Ethan wasn’t just wild here—he was probably the biggest troublemaker in all of Beverly Hills."
Natalie tapped Jonathan’s arm. "Please. You were just as bad as he was."
Jonathan grinned, set down his utensils, and took the chance to escape. "On that note, I think I'll excuse myself. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan, enjoy your meal."
As Jonathan left the dining room and walked toward the West Wing, he spotted Ethan under a sycamore tree, smoking.
Jonathan walked over. "Not staying to entertain your future in‑laws? Hiding out instead?"
Ethan glared at him, took one last drag, then dropped the cigarette and crushed it under his boot.
Jonathan laughed. "Ethan, your fundamental problem is that you're too exceptional. Grandfather and your father have placed enormous expectations on you. Look at Mason—nobody manages him. He can fool around however he wants as long as he doesn't break the law."
Ethan lowered his head, letting out a cold laugh.
Jonathan glanced around to ensure they were alone, then lowered his voice. "Grandfather is already eighty-nine. You're only thirty. He can't outlast you. Once Grandfather passes, you'll finally have freedom in your personal life. Uncle Richard himself defied Grandmother's wishes to marry a maid. He can't possibly force you to marry Emily. As for your mother—you're her only son. Would she really cut ties with you over someone else?"
Ethan clapped Jonathan on the shoulder. "Cut it out. Don't talk like that. You should be praying Grandfather lives a long life. He's the pride of this family."
---
Ethan had drunk a bit at lunch and couldn't drive himself. A chauffeur from the estate drove him back.
Before lunch, Emily had secretly taken a photo of Ethan's profile when he wasn't paying attention. She posted it on social media with the caption: "Labor Day mood."
Within three minutes of her post going live, Zoe had screenshotted it and messaged Justin: "Should I send Victoria this post from Emily?"
Justin replied: "Yes. But don't be too obvious about it. Be tactful."
With Justin's approval, Zoe shared the screenshot in a group chat that included Victoria.
"Emily, congratulations! Looks like things are getting serious between you and Mr. Bennett."
After a minute and a half, precisely timing it to appear accidental, Zoe followed up in the group:
"Oh no, so sorry! Wrong chat, wrong chat!"
---
At the Pearson mansion, Victoria had already broken two vases in her rage.
When Ethan had started seeing Olivia, she hadn't been particularly angry. She'd never tried to make things difficult for Olivia.
Olivia's car accident hadn't been her doing either. She'd even urged her father not to harm innocent people.
But her father hadn't listened, and there was nothing she could do.
Now, seeing Ethan with Emily, possibly even heading toward marriage, Victoria was furious enough to kill Emily.
Ethan being with anyone else had never bothered Victoria this much. Only Emily was unacceptable.
Victoria called Silas: "I need a favor."
---
Back at Oakwood Estate, Olivia and Sarah strolled to the rose garden and sat down on a bench to rest. Sarah fanned herself with her hand, looked up at the bright blue sky, then down at the vibrant green grass beneath their feet.
Olivia smiled, "What are you looking at? Glancing up and down like that?"
Sarah replied with unexpected seriousness, "I want to take in as much of this place as I can."
"Are you going somewhere?" Olivia asked.
Instead of answering, Sarah posed her own question: "Olivia, every holiday, Mr. Bennett can't spend it with you. Does that make you sad deep down?"
Olivia maintained her smile, though her eyes suddenly glistened with unshed tears.
She nodded. "Yes, a little." Then she pinched her thumb and index finger together, demonstrating a tiny space. "But really, just this tiny bit of sadness."
In truth, it wasn't just a little. It was overwhelming sadness. But what good would acknowledging that do?
Sarah's brow furrowed with concern. "What will you do? For every holiday in the future, Mr. Bennett will go back to be with his family. What will you do?"
Olivia leaned back on the bench, supporting herself with her hands as she gazed up at the sky. "What can I do? This is just how it is. Everyone has their own path in life. Even a blade of grass might dream of becoming a mighty tree, but it was born as grass. No matter how hard it tries, it can never become a tree."
Sarah pressed her lips together. "Olivia, honestly, you're so beautiful and college-educated. If you hadn't met Mr. Bennett, you might have found an even better boyfriend who truly loves you, and his parents probably wouldn't look down on you."
Olivia's lips curved in a sad smile as she lowered her head. "Too bad there are no 'what ifs' in life."
What she didn't know was that Ethan stood behind the rose bushes, hearing their conversation with perfect clarity.
He lowered his head, holding an unlit cigarette between two fingers. Eventually, he twisted the cigarette until it broke, tobacco scattering across the ground.