Chapter 20 Chapter 20
Chapter 20
“I honestly didn’t know he didn’t like garlic powder. I was just being kind because I noticed he didn’t take his orders today, and it was already past three,” Celine said quietly, still sounding worried.
Ariana looked up from her cup of juice, smiling softly. “That’s nice of you, Celine. It’s good to be kind. Even if he had an allergy, he wouldn’t forget this little gesture.”
Celine sighed and sat back in her chair. “I just didn’t expect him to react that coldly. I thought he’d maybe say ‘thanks’ properly or something.”
Ariana chuckled lightly. “That's how some people are naturally you just have to learn how to cope with him so your stay at the office would be peaceful."
Celine smiled a little. “I guess not. He’s always calm and distant. I just feel… embarrassed, you know? Like I did something wrong even when I didn’t mean to.”
Ariana placed a hand on hers. “Don’t overthink it..I think it's his nature. I'm sure you aren't the only one he act that way with, that's how most of this rich people are.”
Celine laughed faintly. “Then I guess I’m not alone.”
“You’re definitely not,” Ariana said, smiling. “Forget it already. Just be yourself.”
Celine nodded, trying to shake the awkwardness away.
\---
That same evening, Ethan sat on his bed. His room was quiet, the low mumur of the city outside barely reaching the villa.
A package had been sent to him earlier while he was still at work. The butler had received it on his behalf and placed it neatly on the table in his room.
When he got home, he had barely taken his tie off before the butler spoke.
“Sir, someone dropped this. They said it should be given directly to you,” the butler said, handing him the package.
Ethan frowned slightly. “Did they say who sent it?”
“No, sir. The person only said it was from someone you know,” the butler replied.
Ethan collected it with a nod. “Alright. You may leave.”
He walked upstairs to his room, tossing his car keys on the table. The day had already drained him. He loosened his shirt and took a long shower before returning in a dark robe, his hair slightly damp.
The small box sat there, wrapped neatly in gold paper. He sat down, pulled the ribbon loose, and unboxed it.
Inside was a fancy decorated card with glittering edges and perfume scent on it. His brows pulled together when he read the words on the front.
Would you be my boyfriend?
He blinked, half in disbelief.
It was signed Ella Walls.
Ethan leaned back against his headboard, shaking his head slowly. He knew who she was. Ella Walls — daughter of Donald Walls, one of Monterey’s wealthiest families. Their family had business connections with the Castellans for years.
She was known for her confidence, charm, and high status in the city’s social circles. But Ethan had never seen her as anything more than a polite acquaintance.
He dropped the card on the bed, unimpressed.
He wasn’t in the mood for anyone. He didn’t want to love or be loved. Not anymore.
Not after everything that had happened.
Love, for him, was a distraction — a weakness he didn’t want to feel again.
He leaned forward, picking up his phone to check his mails, when a new message popped up.
Ella Walls: Dinner?
He stared at the screen for a few seconds, expression blank.
He wasn’t surprised. Ella had always been bold. Even when he ignored her calls or changed topics, she’d find her way around.
He placed his phone down, walked to the balcony, and stared out into the dark sky for a while.
The air was cool. The quietness helped him think straight.
He remembered the card again and exhaled quietly through his nose.
He didn’t owe anyone affection. He didn’t even owe himself that space again.
After a few minutes, he walked back to his bed and picked up his phone.
He typed slowly —
Sorry, not interested. Have a nice life.
He hit send and dropped the phone beside him.
He didn’t wait for her reply.
\---
Rejection had become something Ethan Castellan no longer struggled with — both giving and receiving it.
He had once been that man everyone wanted — the charming, confident, perfectly dressed billionaire who could have any woman with a look.
But that man was gone.
He no longer chased feelings. He no longer played the game of emotions.
Now, every time someone tried to get close, he pushed them away before they even had a chance.
It wasn’t arrogance. It was defense.
People saw his silence as pride, but it was just emptiness — the kind that came after losing something you couldn’t replace.
He wasn’t cold because he wanted to be; he just didn’t know how to be warm anymore.
He poured himself a glass of water and sat quietly again.He had more serious things to focus on — the board meeting, the company’s expansion, and the charity audits that needed his signature.
He opened his laptop again and got back to work.Ethan finished replying to some company mails before shutting down his laptop.
He stood up, stretched a little, and walked to his window.
The city lights of Monterey looked peaceful from up there.
Sometimes he wondered if peace was even real for people like him — people who had everything yet they weren't still leaving a happy life.
He didn’t know what it was. He just knew it wasn’t love.
He didn’t want it. Not anymore.
\---
The phone buzzed again — another message from Ella.
Ella Walls: You don't have to be rude I just asked for a dinner together.
He ignored it.
Instead, he turned off the phone completely and went to bed.
He lay there staring at the ceiling for a while, his face was blank, his
thoughts somewhere far away.
The world saw him as the untouchable Castellan — calm, confident, and in control.
But deep inside, he was just a man running from memories he never spoke about.
And he intended to keep it that way.