Chapter 339

Chapter 339

The smile on Ethan's face vanished instantly. "Refuse? Are you sure?"

"I'm sure." My answer was decisive. "Because I know you won't keep your word."

Ethan's expression darkened. He slammed his cup down hard on the table.

Coffee splashed out, scalding the back of his hand red, but he didn't seem to notice. "Is that what I am to you? A worthless liar?"

"Aren't you?" I met his eyes directly. "You said you'd give me Orion's antidote before, but you gave me a fake one instead. Now Orion's life is hanging by a thread again! I don't trust you anymore. Not at all."

Ethan's pupils contracted. "But I've always been sincere with you..."

"Sincere?" I couldn't help the cold laugh that escaped. "Your sincerity is using my son as leverage? Poisoning him? Forcing me to comply?"

Ethan's face turned ugly.

I continued, "Ethan, this is the last time I'll call you that. The person who used to comfort and encourage me—he's gone. The you standing in front of me now makes me sick."

Ethan's anger flared. He shot to his feet.

He overturned the table in front of him.

The coffee pot shattered. Hot coffee spilled across the ground, steam rising.

He grabbed my arm in a vice grip. "Everything Leopold can give you, I can give you too! What is he? He can't even protect his own son! You'd rather stay with a useless man than be by my side?"

Seeing him lose control, I tried to pry his hand off.

But I couldn't budge it.

"Cindy, I'm no worse than Leopold. Is it because I didn't force you like he did that you don't see me? Fine. Then I won't respect you anymore either!"

With that, he grabbed my chin and kissed me without warning.

My mind spun in chaos. In desperation, I slapped him.

The sharp crack echoed through the gazebo.

Ethan's head jerked to the side. He touched his cheek and let out a low laugh.

The sound carried a note of desolation.

"Cindy, why is everything I do wrong?"

His state wasn't right. I instinctively backed away. "Ethan, don't make me hate you."

"Hate me?" Ethan's pupils shrank suddenly. Then his gaze turned dark. "Everything I've done has been for you. You can't hate me."

I couldn't tell what he was planning to do.

The next second, Ethan seemed to compromise. "Fine. I'll give you the antidote. Then you won't hate me, will you?"

I didn't respond. I looked at him with suspicion written all over my face.

Ethan picked up a tissue and wiped his hands methodically. "The antidote is in the safe in the second-floor study. If you don't believe me, you can come with me to get it."

"No need. Just bring it down and give it to me."

Once trust was broken, I couldn't trust him again.

If I went inside and he changed his mind, I'd be trapped in this cage again.

Ethan tossed the tissue aside. The look in his eyes was deep and obscure. "So you don't trust me at all anymore?"

I didn't continue the topic. I pressed him instead. "Orion is waiting. I don't have much time."

"Orion. Always Orion!"

Ethan's eyes turned cold. His pretense of patience ran out completely.

He yanked me out of the gazebo and dragged me toward the entrance.

As he walked, he broke down. "Lucinda, I don't want to force you. So why do you keep forcing me?"

"Let go!"

"Ethan, let me go!"

I struggled desperately, but Ethan ignored me.

Just as I was about to be pulled through the front door, I had no choice but to warn him. "Leopold is right outside. If I don't come out, he'll come in looking for me!"

Ethan's steps faltered. When he turned to look at me again, all reason had left his eyes.

My heart sank. Damn it! I shouldn't have provoked him!

"Lucinda." Ethan's voice was low, like a demon whispering. "I've given you countless chances. If you'd chosen me even once, I'd have given you my life willingly. But you refused. So now I have to do this my way."

"No!" I shook my head instinctively and quickly softened my tone. "Ethan, don't do this. I'm scared..."

Ethan didn't look at me again, but he didn't go inside either.

I was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when he opened the car door beside him.

At the same time, the head of the security team walked out carrying a cylindrical object wrapped in black leather.

"Mr. Guise, here it is."

"Hold onto it. Get ready to leave."

Ethan tried to shove me into the car. I fought back with everything I had.

He probably couldn't bring himself to rough me up, so he had the security captain do it instead.

"Get her in the car!"

Two guards grabbed my arms from either side and forced me in.

"Let go of me!" I roared, but it was useless.

Just as I was being pressed into the back seat, a furious shout—old but full of vigor—came from the direction of the gate.

"Stop!"

I struggled to turn my head and saw Cade striding toward us, hands clasped behind his back.

"Mr. Guise!"

I latched onto him like a lifeline and cried out for help.

Ethan frowned, irritation flashing in his eyes.

But he didn't order them to release me. He turned to Cade instead. "Grandpa, what are you doing here?"

Cade walked closer. When he saw me pinned to the seat, anger flared. "Ethan, what are you doing? Let Cindy go right now!"

"Grandpa, this is my private matter. Stay out of it."

"Private matter?" Cade laughed bitterly in disbelief. "I know everything you've done. First, you kidnapped the Percy family's child. Now you're trying to take Leopold's fiancée. How many more absurd things are you going to do before you stop?"

"Grandpa!" Ethan clenched his fists, his tone cold and hard. "I don't think I've done anything wrong. You're the one who told me to fight for what I want. That's exactly what I'm doing now. Stay out of it."

"Nonsense!" Cade was so angry the veins in his neck stood out. "I told you to fight for what you want—not to take it by force!"

"The Guise family and the Percy family have had ties for years. And if word of this gets out, you'll incite public outrage. Stop this. Stop being so stubborn."

Ethan let out a scornful laugh. "Grandpa, you're old. I'm in charge of the Guise family now. You can't control me anymore."

"You—" Cade pointed at him, his finger trembling. "You ungrateful bastard—"

"Take Mr. Cade Guise back inside." Ethan turned his head and gave the order. Cade immediately barked, "Don't any of you dare touch me!"

The guards didn't move.

Ethan was displeased. He glared at the captain. "Are my orders meaningless now?"

The captain stammered, "Mr. Guise, we... we..."

"Useless, all of you!"

The air froze.

The guards holding me let go.

Ethan laughed coldly in anger. He slammed the back door shut and got into the driver's seat himself.

"Ethan!"

Cade tried to reason with him, but Ethan had already started the car.

The security captain was standing right by my window. The moment the car started, I quickly rolled down the window and snatched the antidote from his hands.

I'd barely closed my fingers around it when the car shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.

Just then, a black Maybach came speeding toward us.

I recognized Leopold and immediately rolled down the window.

"Leopold!"

Leopold heard my shout and rolled down his window too.

As the two cars passed each other, I threw the antidote to him. "Save Orion!"