CHAPTER 162: CHAPTER 162: REMEMBRANCE (62)

"Anyone who doesn’t know might think you went bankrupt." Ethan Harper walked over and stopped Florence Fuller from downing her glass of wine.

"Ah～～～"

Florence flopped onto the sofa like a child, wailing in agony, "My money, oh."

Ethan took a sip, finding it rather strong.

He looked at Florence’s despondent expression and sighed helplessly.

Since learning about the financial loss, Florence had been turning to alcohol for the past few days.

She got seriously drunk two days ago, prompting Ethan to forbid her from drinking any more, took her out yesterday, and reminded her again before leaving today, "No more indulging."

"Investments come with gains and losses. Let’s look at it another way; you just slipped up once..."

"No..."

Florence, clutching a sofa pillow, looked listless, "The stocks I bought earlier were about to profit, and then today they fell too."

The company encountered a significant problem, causing the stock price to plummet.

Ethan: "..."

He silently finished the remaining half glass, fully aware of Florence’s fierce competitiveness.

"Pour me another glass."

Ethan glanced at the empty bottle, "You really shouldn’t drink any more."

"I’ve lost so much money, my heart aches. Can’t you let me use alcohol to get through this tough time?"

Ethan looked at Florence’s resentful appearance, feeling it was right yet somewhat wrong.

"Then I’ll drink with you, but you have to drink a little less." Ethan suggested.

A mischievous glint crossed Florence’s eyes as she nodded.

Truthfully, losing such a huge sum did trouble her. The wool comes from the sheep itself; she just passed it along. After waiting so long, pouring water into a bamboo basket felt futile, but on further reflection, it wasn’t like it was her own money. Next time, she figures she could just pick better investments to earn it back; she can let it go more easily.

Then she had another idea.

The empty bottle wasn’t consumed by her but poured out, just waiting for Ethan to return and drink what’s left.

She was already feigning drunkenness, leaning on Ethan. The bottle on the table in front of them was nearly empty too.

Florence wasn’t entirely sure of Ethan’s alcohol tolerance, but the wine was pretty strong. Since they shared one glass, she barely drank any; most of it was consumed by Ethan.

And now Ethan leaned over, sticky and attempting to kiss her. She figured he must be drunk by now.

Ethan’s suit jacket slipped off as they both indulged in the passionate kiss.

Florence pulled away first. Ethan looked calm, but his eyes were unfocused. She stood up, "Are you drunk?"

Ethan didn’t reply, just gazed at her.

"Let’s wash up and sleep; I’ll run you a bath."

She dodged Ethan’s reaching hand and entered the bedroom.

Ethan was too restrained, while she was not.

Following her into the bedroom, Ethan’s dark eyes burned intensely, "No need for you to run it. I’ll shower myself."

He needed a cold shower.

Though not drunk, the alcohol’s influence and his beloved woman right before him made self-control uncertain.

Moreover, he felt now wasn’t the right time.

"Let me do it." Florence shoved him onto the bed.

Sinking into the soft mattress, Ethan partially closed his eyes, watching Florence with his disheveled clothes. His handsome face looked akin to a tempting demon fox.

He assumed Florence had turned to run the bath, but in the next second, she straddled him.

The tie around his neck was pulled away by Florence as she coaxed, "Let’s take off your clothes first, shall we?"

Ethan instantly understood; he had fallen for Florence’s trick.

His hands, tied with the tie, were raised above his head, fingers wandering across his body leaving heat in their wake.

His shirt was already unbuttoned, revealing Ethan’s well-built chest and the ridged outlines of his abs. With uneven breaths, he tried to control himself, calling, "Florence."

Florence pretended not to hear and grew bolder in her actions.

She hadn’t tied Ethan’s hands too tightly; he could definitely break free of the tie if he wanted to.

"Florence..." Ethan’s breathing was heavy, his eyes filled with heat waves, "Don’t..."

Florence glanced at him, withdrew her hands reluctantly, "If you don’t want to, then fine."

She was about to get up.

"No." Ethan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his gaze sincere, "I do want to."

Florence regarded him.

Ethan leaned in, kissing her lips with delicate pecks, seeming to gradually expose his desires, kisses trailing down from Florence’s neck.

The shirt was stripped off and tossed on the ground, followed by Florence’s clothes.

The tie seemed to loosen, one end drooping along the bedside. A slender, pale hand grasped it, held it against the sheets, then a larger warm palm covered it.

After a long time, the tie fell to the floor.

The morning light appeared. In the bedroom unshielded by curtains, sunlight poured in.

The man sleeping on his side showed off his well-built back, marked clearly with red scratches. In his arms, a woman lay asleep.

Their hands were intertwined, their bodies intimately nestled under the blanket.

Florence stirred, opening her eyes drowsily.

Ethan sensed it too, opening his eyes in slight confusion with a hoarse voice, "What’s wrong?"

"The sunlight." Florence murmured.

Ethan turned over, found the remote, and closed the curtains, engulfing the room back into darkness.

Ethan pulled her back into his arms. Florence, utterly sleepy, found a comfortable position as they both drifted back to slumber.

The commotion last night went on too long; by the time they fell asleep, it was already dawn.

When they woke up again, it was three in the afternoon.

Ethan seemed to still be asleep beside her; Florence gave him a nudge. His leg was caught by his warm hand, and soon he was on top again.

By the time they left the bedroom, it was already five.

Florence was already famished, so they ordered food. Florence ate with gusto and focus.

"Anywhere uncomfortable?" Ethan asked again.

He had asked once when they got up, Florence sipping her soup, "Not at all."

She finished everything, thoroughly sated.

Her stamina exceeded Ethan’s expectations. However, on second thought, this girl often practiced boxing and occasionally joined him in workouts. Given that she hadn’t been sick much over the years, her physical condition indeed was impressive.

"Eat a bit more." Ethan gave her a meaningful look, feeding her a piece of meat.

"I’ll feed myself, stop feeding me." She didn’t even look at Ethan, focusing only on filling herself up.

But after sleeping the entire day, it wasn’t easy to fall asleep at night.

After dinner, Florence spent time in the living room watching a drama to digest. After cleaning up their meal, Ethan also went to tidy up last night’s "battlefield."

She got absorbed in watching, not realizing when the TV suddenly turned off.

"Hmm?" Florence was puzzled.

"Time for bed."

"I’ve slept all day, I can’t sleep. Turn it back on, I’m almost finished with this movie."