Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar

”If you drink coffee this late, you won’t be able to sleep,” Mrs. Ellsworth said.

”I can’t sleep anyway.”

He sat down and said, ”Mom, Dad, it’s confirmed. Dorothy is my daughter.”

Hearing this, the other three were overjoyed.

Mrs. Ellsworth was so excited she sat down next to Ethan. ”Are you absolutely sure?”

Ethan nodded. ”Absolutely. We compared three samples—saliva, hair, and blood. They confirmed our father-daughter relationship.”

Mr. Ellsworth was all smiles. ”That’s wonderful news!”

Zoe Ellsworth asked anxiously, ”So, what’s the plan now, Ethan?”

”Simon Grant is heading to the Capital tomorrow morning. He’ll let me know the second he has any news. I know he has connections there, and he knows a lot of people. It’s not easy to get a message to the highest levels. Besides, I’ve decided to make my comeback tomorrow and leak this story to the media. It’s time to put pressure on Lillian Bancroft!”

Zoe asked again, ”Ethan, do you have any pictures of Dorothy? Oh my god, I’m an aunt! I’m so excited! But it looks like I’m not the most excited one here... Mom, you’re a grandma!”

”You don’t have to tell me! Son, do you have pictures? I’ve seen her on television, of course, but I want to see a proper photo.”

Ethan took out a camera. ”Nora took these.”

Mrs. Ellsworth eagerly took the camera to look. ”You’ve seen her in person?”

”I did. It cost me two hundred thousand.”

”This picture is so clear! Wow, look at her little face! She looks so much like our Chloe! She’s such a cutie!” Zoe gushed.

”Hahaha! I’m a grandmother!”

Hearing her mother’s laughter, Zoe looked a little embarrassed. ”We know, Mom.”

Mrs. Ellsworth then put down the camera, her expression turning stern. ”This Lillian Bancroft has gone too far. It’s a good thing Chloe’s household registration was never canceled. Thank goodness you stopped that from happening, son. Tomorrow, I’m going to get a marriage certificate for you and Chloe, backdated to three years ago. We’ll have reason and evidence on our side. If Lillian Bancroft thinks he can play these games, so can we. Chloe is one of our citizens. The fake household registration he set up for her in Harrowin is completely invalid. Let’s see what kind of man uses his immense power to bully ordinary people like us!”

”That’s right, Mom! I’m with you!”

The Ellsworth family couldn’t sleep a wink for the rest of the night. First thing in the morning, Mrs. Ellsworth went to take care of it, and the matter was settled quickly.

Soon after, Ethan Ellsworth’s management company issued a statement announcing his full return to the entertainment industry.

His Weibo account was then updated, completely exposing the situation.

The media immediately plastered the news across the headlines. The entire nation learned of the explosive story. Soon after, a flood of netizens began condemning Harrowin’s Supreme Leader and demanding Chloe’s release.

In a very short time, the story attracted the attention of foreign media. The whole world was focused on the authenticity of the claims.

By noon, Quentin Grant called Ethan Ellsworth to confirm that Fravia’s supreme leader had been briefed on the situation.

Once the situation was brought to light, it quickly escalated.

At three o’clock that afternoon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release on the matter.

The statement confirmed that Harrowin’s First Lady was, in fact, Chloe Marshall, the assistant and wife of the domestic star Ethan Ellsworth. It stated she had been kidnapped by criminals three years prior, and neither her remains nor any proof of identity had ever been recovered.

Furthermore, it cited the paternity test between Dorothy Bancroft and Ethan Ellsworth, which proved the child was his, and the existence of a valid marriage certificate between Ethan Ellsworth and Chloe Marshall. Therefore, Fravia strongly condemned the immoral actions of Harrowin’s Supreme Leader and demanded the immediate release of its citizen.

The incident caused a significant stir worldwide.

Netizens in Harrowin were also in a heated debate.

Public opinion was almost unanimously on Ethan Ellsworth’s side, and Lillian Bancroft became the target of all manner of personal attacks.

When Harrowin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs learned of this, they immediately went to the Imperial Palace to request confirmation of the story’s authenticity.

Faced with the facts, Lillian Bancroft admitted it was true.

But it was merely an admission. He had no intention of releasing her so easily.

Thus, Harrowin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded as follows: ”Regarding the absurd remarks about our First Lady, our nation heavily condemns Fravia’s capacity for spreading rumors. We hope they know when to stop.”

But clearly, the statement held no persuasive power.

Even the citizens of Harrowin began to express their doubts.

They demanded a joint DNA test between the two nations for Chloe Marshall and the child, or for Chloe Marshall to appear in person and clarify the situation herself.

Diplomatic spokespersons from other countries also urged Harrowin to produce more compelling evidence, stating that the most compelling evidence would be for Chloe Marshall to appear in person.

Lillian Bancroft hadn’t expected things to spiral so far out of his control.

His face dark, he entered Chloe Marshall’s bedroom.

”I’m sure you never imagined Ethan Ellsworth would make the first move. Fravia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has demanded I repatriate you.”

Though Chloe Marshall knew in her heart that Ethan was doing everything he could to save her, not a trace of joy showed on her face.

”You’re not going to be that obedient.”

”As expected of my wife.” He took off his black overcoat, revealing the shirt underneath, and lay down beside her.

”From the moment I first saw you, I knew you had to be mine. No matter the cost, I will force you to stay by my side. Wife, I know I’ve wronged you, but I spend more time thinking about how I can be with you forever.”

”You’re so selfish. Can’t you just, for one second, try to see things from my perspective?” Her heart trembled. ’I never imagined he was such a terrifying person.’

He gripped her hand tightly, his voice devoid of warmth. ”If I had considered your perspective for even a moment, I would have no way of possessing you. And if I can’t have you, then *he* can’t either. Even if it means destroying you, I will never let you find pleasure beneath another man!”

”I already belong to Boss Ellsworth. That fact will never change.”

His pupils contracted. He tightened his grip, making her hand ache. ”But from now on, you can only be mine. Waiting until next month to get you pregnant seems too long... Why don’t we, right now...”

Chloe Marshall tried to move, but he held her fast, pinning her down. Then, he rolled over and pressed his body down on top of hers.

”Get... off me!”

He viciously ripped open the front of her dress.

The expanse of her pale skin was exposed to his eyes.

His gaze was like that of a hunter spotting its prey, making her feel utterly humiliated.

Just as he was about to make his next move, Chloe Marshall bent her knees, catching him completely off guard, and kicked him squarely in the face.

She immediately rolled off the bed. After all, she had once been through hellish training.

He scrambled to chase after her, but she had already pulled the door open and bolted.

She hadn’t been shackled at the ankles for a long time, so running was effortless.

The guards at the door didn’t even try to stop her. And when Lillian Bancroft stepped out of the room, he didn’t order anyone to stop her either.

Just like he always did, he strolled casually after her, because he knew she couldn’t get far. This time, however, he had underestimated the depths of Chloe Marshall’s desperation.