Chapter 209 Night Raid

Chapter 209 Night Raid

The IT department called back, with a hint of excitement in their voice.

"Mr. Grant, we found it. There are two IP addresses that hacked into your phone. One is overseas, constantly changing locations, so it's hard to track down right now. But the other one is pretty stable, and it's right here in Rosewood City."

Ethan leaned against the sink, his fingers pausing for a moment.

"Rosewood City?"

"Yes, the IP address is within Peninsula Manor in Rosewood City."

Ethan fell silent for a few seconds.

Rosewood City.

Diana had been in Rosewood City for the past four years.

But this didn't seem like her style.

Diana always did things openly and honestly—she wouldn't stoop to these kinds of tactics.

"Send me the exact address."

"Will do, Mr. Grant."

After hanging up, his phone buzzed and the address came through. Ethan glanced at it, saved the information, and decided to go check it out himself after Diana returned to Rosewood City to see who was behind this.

When he came out of the bathroom, the living room was empty.

The sound of dishes clinking came from the dining room.

Ethan walked over. Diana was sitting on the old man's right side, serving him soup.

The two were chatting and laughing—the scene was so warm it made him feel dazed for a moment, as if nothing had happened in the past four years.

Without hesitation, Ethan pulled out the chair to Diana's left and sat down.

Diana's soup spoon paused.

The old man glared at him. "Who said you could sit there?"

"Grandpa, I'm hungry."

The old man snorted and didn't bother with him.

Ethan settled into his seat, picked up the serving chopsticks, and placed a piece of fish in Diana's bowl.

Diana didn't move.

He added a spoonful of broccoli.

Diana still didn't move.

The third time, he picked up some beef.

Diana finally spoke up. "Ethan, my bowl can't hold any more!"

"The bowl's not full yet." Ethan's expression didn't change as he added a shrimp.

Diana set down her utensils with a clunk and turned to look at him.

Ethan met her gaze, his expression perfectly calm.

Diana couldn't be bothered to argue with him. She picked up her bowl, changed seats, and moved to the other side of the old man.

Ethan looked at her empty spot, paused for two seconds, then picked up his own bowl to move over too.

"Try moving one more time." The old man's cane landed directly on his chair's armrest.

Ethan obediently sat back down.

Even though he couldn't sit next to her, his hands didn't stop moving.

He put food on the serving plate and pushed it toward Diana's side.

Diana didn't touch a single thing he served the entire time.

Ethan wasn't bothered. He kept serving and peeling food, even with a faint hint of a smile on his face.

The old man watched it all and shook his head without saying anything.

After dinner, Diana helped the old man take a walk in the courtyard.

The early autumn evening breeze carried a slight chill. The old man walked slowly, and Diana kept pace with him.

They chatted about everyday things—the weather in Rosewood City, how the old man had been feeling lately.

Ethan followed behind them, keeping a distance of five or six steps, not too far, not too close.

Diana never looked back at him, but she knew he was following.

After their walk, they returned to the living room. The old man was in high spirits and insisted on playing chess with Diana.

Diana agreed with a smile.

The two sat down at the chess board, going back and forth. The old man was having such a good time that he won two games in a row and still wouldn't stop.

Ethan sat on the nearby sofa, holding a magazine, quietly watching.

By the time the old man finally had enough, he looked up to see it was already nine-thirty.

"Oh my, it's so late." The old man patted his knee. "Dear girl, it's too late for you to leave now. It's not safe out there. Just stay here. Your old room has been kept just as it was."

Diana froze.

Her instinct was to refuse, but looking at the pitch-black sky outside and realizing it really wasn't a good time to call someone to pick her up—and she didn't have a car.

She wasn't the type to trouble others.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Diana nodded.

"Alright, I'll stay for one night and leave first thing in the morning."

"No rush, no rush. Stay as many days as you like!" The old man stood up cheerfully and called to the butler, "Go tidy up Diana's room and change all the sheets and bedding to new ones."

The butler went to take care of it.

Diana helped the old man upstairs and said goodnight at his bedroom door.

"Grandpa, get some rest early."

"I know, I know. You get to bed early too." The old man patted her hand and went into his room.

Diana turned and walked toward the other end of the hallway.

As she passed Ethan, they brushed past each other. She didn't stop.

Back in her room, Diana closed the door and leaned against it, taking a breath.

The room was exactly the same as four years ago.

The color of the curtains, the lamp on the nightstand—even the jewelry box she hadn't taken with her was still in its original spot on the vanity.

She walked over, her fingers touching the lid of the jewelry box, then pulled back.

After washing up, Diana changed into the pajamas the butler had brought and lay down on the bed.

The bedding was freshly changed, carrying the fresh scent of laundry detergent.

She closed her eyes, trying to fall asleep quickly and not think about what had happened in the past.

Eleven twenty-three.

The bedroom door was pushed open from outside.

Diana's eyes flew open and she sat up.

Light from the hallway spilled in, and Ethan's figure appeared in the doorway.

He'd changed into dark-colored loungewear and was carrying a blanket and pillow.

"What are you doing?" Diana's voice immediately turned cold.

Ethan closed the door behind him and stood at the entrance without coming further in.

"Sleeping."

"This is my room."

"I know."

Diana sat up straight, staring at him. "Get out."

Ethan didn't move.

He stood there, silent for a few seconds, and when he spoke, his voice was hoarse.

"These past four years, I've never slept through the night. My sleeping pills went from one to three, and eventually even those stopped working."

Diana didn't respond.

"Last night I sat in my office all night, didn't close my eyes for a single minute." He paused. "But just now in the living room, while you were playing chess nearby, I leaned back on the sofa and fell asleep for about ten minutes."

Diana gripped the edge of the blanket tightly.

"That has nothing to do with me."

"It has everything to do with you." Ethan's Adam's apple bobbed. "I can only sleep when you're nearby."

"Ethan, don't..."

"I won't touch you." He cut her off. "I'll sleep on the floor. Just let me stay in this room for one night, okay?"

Diana looked at him through clenched teeth.

"No."

Ethan didn't move.

"I said no."

"I know." He still didn't move.

The two of them faced off across half the room.

Diana looked at the blanket and pillow in his hands and suddenly felt it was absurd.

The head of Grant Corporation, standing at her door with a blanket and pillow, like some pitiful creature who'd been kicked out of the bedroom.

"If you don't agree, I'll just sit outside the door all night." Ethan's voice was flat, but she knew he meant it and would do it.

If Grandpa saw him sitting on the hallway floor tomorrow morning, he'd be furious.