Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar

The note was clear: I saw you put in a lot of effort just now, so I thought about paying you. But it’s not like you’re short a few hundred bucks, so never mind. Instead, I’m gifting you this set of underwear, worn by yours truly. The quality and value are top-notch—it’s a one-of-a-kind, limited edition. I’m taking the bank card. You can consider this huge sum of money your way of showing me some respect.

He placed the note inside a book, then put her underwear into a bag.

He sat there, savoring the feeling from a moment ago.

Zoe Ellsworth wrapped her coat tightly around herself as she left the school, driving straight home.

Mrs. Ellsworth was sitting alone in the living room.

”Mom, what’s wrong?”

”It’s just one thing after another. It looks like Lillian Bancroft has taken your sister-in-law’s brother.”

Upon hearing this, Zoe Ellsworth said bluntly, ”Is Lillian Bancroft a psycho? He’s not even interested in her, yet she’s still pestering him relentlessly. There’s something seriously wrong with her.”

”Crazy or not, we have to rescue him.”

”What’s my brother planning to do?”

”He’s going to discuss it with Quentin and Herman tonight before deciding.” After speaking, she looked at Zoe. ”I called for you to get up early this morning, but you were already gone. Where did you go?”

Zoe Ellsworth gave an awkward laugh. ”A friend called me out early. We hung out for a while, had breakfast, and then I went to the shop.”

Mrs. Ellsworth retorted, ”A friend? Which friend? How come I don’t know about any friends you’ve been in contact with recently?”

”Jeez, Mom, I can’t tell you everything, can I?”

Seeing her get flustered, Mrs. Ellsworth grew even more suspicious. ”I just want to know which friend. What are you getting so worked up about?”

”It was just a friend who called. I’m not worked up.”

”Then call that friend of yours right now.”

Zoe Ellsworth stood up. ”I’m going upstairs to take a shower.”

After meeting with Quentin Grant and Herman Hawthorne that evening and listening to their suggestions, Ethan Ellsworth had a plan forming in his mind.

Herman Hawthorne and Quentin Grant promised him that if Zeke Marshall was in the Imperial Palace, they would definitely help him get him out.

Currently, two groups were investigating the situation at the Imperial Palace. If any leads came up, they would act immediately.

This matter obviously couldn’t be reported to the authorities. Even if they did, they might not be able to rescue him at all.

They had to take matters into their own hands.

After returning from Tempting Lips, Ethan Ellsworth took several of Quentin Grant’s men and several of Herman Hawthorne’s men and boarded a private jet to Harrowin.

Quentin Grant couldn’t go just yet. He was tied up with some minor company matters and had to handle them. He could only head to Harrowin after Jean Grant’s wedding.

It was already two in the morning when they left.

Before he left, Chloe Marshall handed him a packed bag and said, ”Ethan, since I won’t be by your side, please take good care of yourself.”

He nodded and stepped forward to hug her. ”Chloe, once I get Zeke back, we’ll live a good life together.”

She nodded.

He gave her a kiss. ”I love you. As long as you and Dorothy are safe at home, I can rest easy.”

”Mhm, I will. Ethan, don’t worry.”

He boarded the plane.

Before leaving, he called Nora Ainsworth and told her he would arrive in Harrowin around seven or eight in the morning.

The weather in Harrowin had been bad for the past few days, with constant rain. This morning was no different, with a continuous downpour.

Nora Ainsworth made breakfast that morning and waited for her two boys to get up and eat. After waiting for a while, she still hadn’t seen the two kids come out of their bedroom.

She had no choice but to open the door and go in to wake them.

”Dylan, Elmer, time to get up.”

The two boys threw off their blankets and climbed down from the bed. Dylan was the first to speak. ”Mommy, my brother and I don’t want to go to school anymore.”

Hearing this, Nora Ainsworth was a little surprised. ”What’s wrong? Don’t you two usually love school? Mommy has even praised you for it. Are you starting to hate school?”

Elmer Grant replied, ”Mommy, we got into trouble.”

”What kind of trouble? Tell me about it.”

Dylan spoke up, explaining how they had beaten up Fatty and put super glue on Fatty’s Mom’s chair.

After listening, Nora Ainsworth immediately scolded them. ”You two are too naughty! How could you beat someone up and then do that to Fatty’s Mom?”

Elmer looked rather wronged. ”Mommy, but... we hit Fatty because he called my brother and I bastards! He said we don’t have a dad, and he said you’re just an actress, that people in the entertainment industry are all... with directors and people like that. I hate him, so I hit him! Who says we don’t have a dad!”

When Nora Ainsworth heard this, her intention to scold the children instantly vanished, replaced by guilt.

”Sweeties, I’m sorry. Mommy shouldn’t have blamed you. You... did a good job hitting him! We’re not to be trifled with. You two are coming with me to the kindergarten. Fatty’s Mom definitely won’t let this go. We’ll apologize if it’s our fault, but we won’t admit to anything that isn’t.”

After breakfast, she took her two boys to the kindergarten.

Just as they arrived at the entrance, she saw Fatty’s Mom standing there, just as she’d expected.

Seeing the two Grant children, she dragged her fleshy body a few steps forward and stood in front of Nora Ainsworth.

She snorted contemptuously. ”So you’re the mother of these two bastards?”

Nora Ainsworth’s face was stern. ”No wonder your child is so ill-mannered. The mother has no class. I am Elmer and Dylan Grant’s mommy.”

”My child is ill-mannered? I have no class? So your kids are the well-behaved ones, are they? Pouring glue on a chair! My pants are ruined! Do you have any idea how much those designer pants cost? The price would scare a pauper like you to death!”

Nora Ainsworth remained calm and composed. ”How much were the pants? I’ll compensate you. But first, let me be clear: your child insulted my children, and my children hit your child. We’ll call that even. Any objections?”

Fatty’s Mom sneered, ”My son just said a few words. Your two sons beat him so badly he ended up in the hospital. You’ll have to compensate for the medical bills, too.”

”Fine. I have no objection to that. But your son must apologize to my two children in front of the entire class. That’s the bare minimum. Otherwise, there’s nothing more to discuss.”

Fatty’s Mom thought for a moment. ’What’s the big deal about an apology?’ she figured, and immediately agreed. ”Fine. First, pay me for the pants—9,600—and the medical bills, 3,800. That’s a total of 13,400.”

Nora Ainsworth had brought 20,000 in cash with her, knowing she would definitely have to pay.

She pulled a wad of cash from her coat, counted it out, and handed it to Fatty’s Mom. ”This is 13,400. Count it.”

Fatty’s Mom immediately took the money and counted it. Her anger subsided significantly. ”I’ll have my son apologize.”

”That’s good.”

Nora Ainsworth looked down at her two children, who had their heads bowed for getting into trouble. ”Sweeties, hurry inside for class.”

”Okay, Mommy, we’re going in! Give us a kiss! Mwah!” They each kissed one of her cheeks, then, their cheerfulness restored, ran into the kindergarten.

Watching their small figures, Nora Ainsworth couldn’t help but think, ’If I never reconcile with Quentin, the harm done to the children will be immense. No amount of money could ever compensate for their lack of a father’s love. From now on, no matter what difficulties we face, I will never allow anyone to try and tear our family of four apart.’