Chapter 67 The Person That Night Was Me

Chapter 67 The Person That Night Was Me

She instinctively wanted to deny it, to quickly refute, but when she met Ethan's eyes—eyes that saw straight through her—all her prepared excuses died in her throat.

Did she like him?

The man who had forcibly kissed her, the man who had protected her first in that car accident, the man who humiliated her yet gave her a way out.

She closed her eyes, and all that surfaced in her mind was Valentin's cold, dangerous face.

"I don't know." Her voice was hoarse and low, carrying a helplessness on the verge of breaking down. "All I know is that between him and me, there's Stella, there's the Montague family, and there's a lie that can never be undone."

Ethan watched her nearly lose control, his heart sinking.

What he feared most had finally happened.

The air felt heavy. The warm yellow light fell on her downcast eyes, casting fractured shadows across her face.

Ethan's words were like a cold scalpel, precisely cutting through what little dignity she had left. Giselle clutched at her clothes, her fingertips white from the force, her chest tight with pain.

"Ethan," she took a deep breath, her voice terribly hoarse, carrying a desperate resolve, "between him and me, it's not just those complications. The woman at the Grand Crest Hotel that night... was me."

The water glass in Ethan's hand slipped, water splashing across the table. His gaze locked firmly on her face.

He had thought Valentin's pressure on Giselle was a power play, but he never expected there to be such a deep, inseparable connection between them.

Giselle smiled bitterly, her eyes reddening. "I always thought if I just didn't admit it, if I stayed far enough away from him, it would all pass... but I was wrong. The more I hide, the deeper I sink."

She raised her head, tears pooling in her eyes but stubbornly refusing to fall. "You ask if I like him? I don't know. I only know that every time he gets close to me, underneath the fear... there's something I don't even want to admit to myself."

Ethan's chest felt hollowed out, aching and suffocating.

He knew her too well. If she hadn't truly fallen for him, she would never show this expression of near collapse.

He lowered his eyes to hide his emotions, and when he looked up again, he had regained his usual calm.

He reached out, his hand hovering near her shoulder in a gesture of silent comfort.

"Giselle, that's not your fault." Ethan's voice was steady and low. "Valentin didn't recognize you. So what are you planning to do now?"

Giselle wiped away her tears, her eyes gradually becoming firm. "I've already sent my resume to Fuller Corporation. That's the only place that can avoid the Dobbins Group's influence. I want to start over... completely leave that circle."

Ethan had just nodded when out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the crack in the entrance door seemed to move slightly.

He frowned and quickly walked over.

Meanwhile, in the shadows outside the door, Stella pressed a hand over her mouth, feeling as if she'd been plunged into ice water.

She had originally just come to borrow some money from Ethan and humiliate Giselle a bit, but she never expected to stumble upon a secret that could destroy everything.

"That bitch..." Stella cursed through gritted teeth in her mind, her nails digging into her palms. Jealousy spread through her body like poison.

Why? Why did all men revolve around Giselle? Valentin was lost and distracted, and even a gentle, reliable man like Ethan was willing to protect her.

Hearing footsteps from inside, Stella's breath caught in fear, and she fled toward the stairwell in panic.

Downstairs, Susan was waiting anxiously. Seeing Stella rush down with a pale face, she immediately went up to her. "How did it go? Will Ethan lend us money? Our expenses now—"

"Lend?" Stella was nearly frantic, grabbing her arm with surprising force. "Mom, that woman Giselle is going to ruin me! She's going to tell Valentin the truth!"

Susan's eyes widened. "What? She wouldn't dare!"

"Of course she would!" Stella's voice was extremely low, razor-thin with tension. "Since she insists on blocking my way, I don't need to show mercy either. Mom, she can't stay alive. Only when she's gone will this secret disappear forever."

Susan was frightened by the madness in her eyes, but couldn't say a word of dissuasion. The two dragged their luggage and quickly disappeared into the night.

Inside the apartment, Ethan opened the door to see only an empty corridor, the lights flickering automatically. He frowned, closed the door, and locked it.

"What's wrong, Ethan?" Giselle walked over.

"Nothing, probably just a stray cat passing by." Ethan shook his head. He was about to turn around when pain suddenly shot through his chest.

He groaned, leaning against the wall as cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"Ethan!" Giselle quickly supported him. "Is it your stomach again? Where's your medicine?"

He pointed with difficulty toward the living room drawer.

Giselle quickly found the stomach medicine and poured a glass of warm water, bringing it to his lips.

After a long while, his expression finally eased slightly.

Seeing her face full of worry, he looked away somewhat embarrassed. "It's an old problem. Sorry you had to see that."

"Still trying to act tough when you're like this." Giselle frowned, helping him to the sofa. "You didn't eat anything today, did you? Of course your stomach can't take it."

Ethan smiled weakly. "I was busy looking for you and forgot."

Her heart softened, her throat tightening.

She covered him with a blanket and said softly, "You rest first. I'll go cook you something. Consider it... repayment for letting me stay here."

Ethan watched her walk toward the kitchen without stopping her.

Soon, the sounds of cooking came from the kitchen.

Giselle, wearing an apron, busied herself in the rising steam, her movements clean and efficient, carrying a quiet tenderness.

Ethan turned his head, his gaze following her figure.

The warm light caught her profile—this was the peaceful life he had always dreamed of.

If only time could stop at this moment, if only there wasn't another man in her heart, how wonderful that would be.

He watched her, as if wanting to memorize every detail.

He knew he shouldn't hope for more, but in this silent night, that long-suppressed love finally overwhelmed him like a tide.