Chapter 215 At Daggers Drawn

Chapter 215 At Daggers Drawn

Pushing open the glass door of the studio, Ethan walked in with one hand in his pocket, then suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Someone was lying on the couch.

Augustus was napping on Diana's sofa.

Ethan's brow immediately furrowed.

A couple days ago, to get Augustus out of Rosewood City, he'd deliberately had Derek leak dirt on that top celebrity from Augustus's company.

That mess should've been enough to keep Augustus's PR department busy for a while.

He didn't expect the guy to move so fast and roll back to Rosewood City already.

Ethan smirked and walked straight to the easel.

Diana was mixing paints with her head down, not even looking up.

"Diana." Ethan deliberately slowed his tone, his voice just loud enough for the person on the couch to hear. "The kid's been safely dropped off at kindergarten."

Diana's hands didn't stop moving. She just gave a flat "Mm."

There was movement from the couch.

Augustus sat bolt upright.

He stared at Ethan, his mind instantly on high alert.

Dropping a kid off at school?

Ethan knew about Liv's existence? And Diana actually let him take her?

Augustus's internal alarm bells went off, crisis mode kicking in immediately.

He knew Ethan's tactics all too well—give him even a crack, and he'd tear down the whole door.

Augustus stood up and walked to the other side of the easel.

"Diana." Augustus's tone was familiar. "Is Liv adjusting okay at the new kindergarten? If you run into that kind of thing again, don't handle it yourself—let me deal with it."

Sure enough, after hearing this, Ethan's expression darkened.

Diana put down her palette and wiped her hands. "It's fine. Liv can handle things herself, no need to trouble you."

Augustus smiled. "Come on, what's this talk about trouble between us?"

Ethan let out a cold snort.

"You really have nothing better to do." Ethan looked at him with a sneer. "Things are on fire back in River City, and you still have time to worry about other people's family business. Got that PR crisis handled yet?"

Augustus turned to face Ethan.

So it was this bastard who did it!

Augustus ground his back teeth and forced out a cold laugh. "No need for Mr. Grant to worry. This little storm is nothing my company can't handle. On the other hand, Grant Corporation—the CEO's hanging around Rosewood City every day. The River City board doesn't have a problem with that? Or is Grant Corporation going bankrupt, and Mr. Grant's planning to beg for scraps in Rosewood City?"

"I'm spending time with my daughter. That's perfectly natural." Ethan stepped closer. "What business is it of yours, an outsider?"

"Outsider?" Augustus didn't back down an inch. "Liv calls me uncle. Why don't you ask her if she even recognizes you as her dad who showed up out of nowhere?"

The distance between them was less than half a meter, the air crackling with tension.

"Smack!"

Diana slammed her paintbrush down hard on the table.

They both shut up and turned to look at her.

Diana pointed toward the door, her voice cold. "If you want to fight, get out and do it. This is a studio. I need to work."

Augustus immediately dropped his fighting stance and softened his voice. "Diana, don't be mad. I'm just worried about certain people disturbing your work. I'll go make you some flower tea right now."

With that, he turned toward the break room, but not before shooting Ethan a vicious glare.

Ethan ignored him.

He walked over to a spot by the window like he owned the place.

There sat a separate desk with a silver laptop on it.

This was the "workstation" he'd shamelessly installed for himself a few days ago, using the excuse that he had urgent documents to handle.

Ethan pulled out the chair and sat down, opened the laptop, and tapped a few keys.

Augustus, walking out with the flower tea, caught sight of this scene.

Augustus stopped dead in his tracks.

A dedicated desk? Even his computer was here now?

Just a few days without keeping watch, and this bastard had already made himself at home!

Augustus set the cup down heavily next to Diana.

He stared daggers at Ethan sitting by the window typing away, grinding his back teeth audibly.

He had to think of something.

Absolutely couldn't let this bastard keep hanging around Diana.

Ethan caught Augustus in his peripheral vision and smirked.

Want to kick him out?

Not a chance.

Now that he knew about Liv's existence, knew Diana was still in Rosewood City, he'd never let go again in this lifetime.

Diana sat at her easel, listening to the deliberately suppressed commotion behind her, feeling her temples throb.

She picked up her paintbrush, forcing herself to focus on the canvas.

As long as she ignored them, these two would eventually get bored and leave on their own.

But she underestimated just how thick-skinned these two men were.

All morning, the studio was filled only with the soft sound of brush against canvas and the crisp clicking of Ethan's keyboard.

Augustus tossed and turned on the couch for ages before he couldn't take it anymore.

He stood up and walked over to Diana.

"Diana, what do you want for lunch? I'll go get takeout from that private kitchen restaurant across the street."

Ethan's fingers stopped typing.

"Derek already ordered from Peninsula Hotel. It'll be here soon." Ethan didn't look up, his tone flat.

Augustus sneered. "Peninsula Hotel food is greasy and heavy. Diana's not used to eating that anymore."

"Derek specifically told the kitchen to go light on oil and salt." Ethan closed his laptop and turned his chair around. "No need for you to run errands."

Diana's fingers gripping the paintbrush turned white.

"I'm not eating either." Diana suddenly stood up, pushing back her chair. "I'll order delivery myself."

She grabbed her phone and walked into the back rest room without looking back, slamming the door with a "bang."

The two men outside looked at each other.

Augustus pointed at Ethan's nose. "Look what you did—you pissed her off!"

Ethan swatted his hand away. "If you weren't here yapping, would she be annoyed?"

"Ethan, don't push your luck." Augustus lowered his voice. "You really think just because of some blood relation, you can erase all the shitty things you did before? Diana doesn't even want to look at you right now!"

Ethan stood up and straightened the hem of his suit jacket.

"Still better than you." Ethan shot back without mercy. "Four years, and you haven't even gotten a title. All you can do is play the caring big brother. You think Diana can't see through your little act?"

That hit Augustus right where it hurt.

Augustus grabbed Ethan by the collar, his fist already raised.

Ethan stood there without dodging, even leaning forward half an inch.

"Go ahead." Ethan raised an eyebrow provocatively. "Punch me in the face. Perfect timing for Diana to come out and see how a big company CEO throws a tantrum in her studio."

Augustus's fist froze in mid-air.

He knew Diana's temper too well. If they actually got into a fight here, Diana would kick both of them out for sure.

And all the good impressions he'd worked so hard to build would be gone.

Augustus abruptly let go and shoved Ethan hard.

"You just wait." Augustus adjusted his collar. "We'll settle this score slowly."

Ethan brushed off his wrinkled collar and sat back down, opening his laptop.

"Anytime."