CHAPTER 2: CHAPTER 2: ETHAN GRANT’S TRUE LOVE

Ethan reflexively brushed off the hand of the woman beside him that was resting on the crook of his arm, causing her expression to freeze.

"I’m also Autumn’s friend. Is it strange that I came to her birthday party?" Talia looked at him with a half-smile.

"No, I just thought you didn’t like attending these kinds of parties, so I didn’t mention it to you beforehand."

Talia sneered internally. Was it really because I didn’t like them that you didn’t tell me?

Or did you deliberately not mention it while planning to bring someone else?

After Ethan explained, he scanned the room coldly.

His gaze seemed to ask, who invited her?

Autumn guiltily averted her gaze, avoiding eye contact with him, pretending it wasn’t her concern.

"Hello, you must be Talia Rhodes? I’m Vivian Coleman. You might have heard Ethan mention me." The woman who came with Ethan proactively approached to greet Talia.

Oh, so she’s Vivian, Ethan’s first love, the untouchable dream.

Talia felt a pang of discomfort in her chest—it was suffocating. After all, she had been in love with Ethan for three years; those feelings couldn’t just vanish overnight.

But she masked her emotions well, her lips curling into a smile, nodding back, "Miss Coleman, it’s a pleasure to meet you."

Vivian looked at her with a playful smile, "Miss Rhodes, has anyone ever told you that we look a bit alike?"

At those words, Ethan’s face suddenly darkened.

Amused, Talia glanced at him, then shifted her gaze to meet Vivian’s slightly challenging look.

"Oh? Really?" Talia blinked her glistening almond eyes, innocently saying, "But I don’t think so, you’re not as pretty as me."

The onlookers were dumbfounded.

Wasn’t Talia always the gentle and obedient type? Why were her words today so combative?

The awkwardness in the air was palpable; Autumn quickly changed the subject.

"Don’t just stand around, come and sit."

Vivian forced a smile despite her annoyance with Talia, handing over the gift she was holding to Autumn, "Happy birthday, Autumn. Here’s a gift for you."

Autumn took it and looked inside, noticing it was identical to the gift bag Talia had just given her.

She opened the gift box and exclaimed, "Wow, I’ve wanted this necklace for a long time, thank you, Vivian."

Talia’s gaze froze for a moment—why was it the same model as the necklace she had given?

Autumn then opened the gift bag Talia had given her earlier, "Wow! Talia, you gave me the same necklace!"

"It must be a fake."

A friend behind Autumn didn’t even look before declaring, "This necklace costs over fifty thousand dollars per piece; Talia is just a junior lawyer, how much could she possibly earn in a month? How could she afford such an expensive necklace for you?"

The room fell silent.

Strange gazes converged from all directions onto Talia.

Clearly, they all agreed with the person’s assessment.

She, an obscure little lawyer, wouldn’t spend that money to buy genuine gifts for Autumn.

Ethan’s expression became grim, "Talia, if you’re short on money, just tell me. I can help you prepare the gift too, why did you..."

Why did you give a fake gift.

Ethan couldn’t bring himself to say the remaining words, but everyone understood.

Talia looked at him coolly, "Ethan, do you also think I gave a fake gift?"

Ethan remained silent with a darkened face.

He consented.

Autumn laughed awkwardly, stepping in to mediate, "No way, Talia and I are close; she wouldn’t give me a fake one. You shouldn’t talk like that, it’s so hurtful."

Despite her words, Talia still saw a hint of disdain in Autumn’s eyes.

Talia’s heart sank halfway.

The reason she spent over fifty thousand dollars on this necklace for Autumn was to thank her for a bit of care she once showed her.

Three years ago, Talia had a falling out with her family for refusing an arranged marriage and ran off to Mirehaven alone.

Shawn Rhodes cut off her card, leaving her with no financial support. She relied solely on her own efforts to secure a job at a law firm without tapping into any of the Rhodes Family’s connections.

In the first year, as an intern lawyer, Talia earned only around four thousand dollars a month. After obtaining her lawyer’s certificate a year later, her salary increased, though not by much—among this crowd, she’s considered a pauper.

The young heirs and heiresses in Ethan’s circle have always looked down on someone like her, a "poor wretch," and would openly or covertly marginalize and isolate her each time they went out.

Ethan turned a blind eye, but Autumn protected her a few times, even actively chatting with her.

Talia thought Autumn was different from the others, but it turned out she also looked down on her.

How absurd.

The night she agreed to the arranged marriage, Shawn Rhodes restored her card’s usage privileges, and fifty thousand dollars became no different from fifty cents to her.

"Give me the necklace, and I’ll get you a replacement birthday gift later." Ethan Grant said, "Talia doesn’t know any better, sorry about that."

Autumn Sterling glanced at Talia Rhodes, then at Ethan Grant, caught in a dilemma.

If she didn’t hand over the necklace to Ethan, it would be disrespectful to him.

If she did hand it over, it would imply that she also thought the necklace was fake. On the surface, it was Talia who would be embarrassed, but since Talia was Ethan’s girlfriend, in reality, it would still mean Ethan losing face.

"If he wants it, just give it to him." Talia crossed her arms and looked coldly at Ethan.

Autumn had no choice but to hand the necklace to him.

Vivian Coleman suddenly spoke up, "Ethan, don’t blame Miss Rhodes, she meant well."

Ethan said nothing, keeping a sullen expression.

At this point, someone suggested playing games to ease the tension.

Vivian smiled and joined them for drinks and games.

Talia, not fond of such excitement, walked alone to a corner and sat down on a sofa.

Ethan, still with a grim face, walked over and sat next to her.

Talia ignored him, engrossed in her phone.

After a while, Ethan spoke in a low voice, "If you’re short on money, you could give a cheaper gift. It’s better than giving someone a fake."

"If you think it’s fake, just return it to me." Talia’s eyes remained glued to her phone, her tone indifferent.

"Do you realize you’re causing me to lose face?"

Talia closed her eyes, took a couple of deep breaths, and suddenly opened her eyes again.

She turned and looked at Ethan.

"How did I make you lose face? The receipt’s inside. Can’t you check for yourself? Do you need me to take you to the counter to verify?"

Ethan was momentarily stunned before he lowered his head to find the receipt.

Seeing the receipt, Ethan finally believed the necklace was genuine. His expression softened, and his tone became gentler, "Why didn’t you say earlier that you had a receipt?"

Talia snorted, "Couldn’t be bothered."

With that, she continued playing with her phone.

After a while, Ethan beside her finally apologized in a subdued voice.

"Sorry, I misunderstood you today."

Talia pretended not to hear, fully focused on her game.

Ethan stayed by her side without saying another word, but his eyes were fixed on the group playing games.

More precisely, on Vivian Coleman.

Talia finished a round of her game and looked up, just in time to see Ethan watching Vivian.

Vivian had lost a game and was being urged to drink by others.

At first, Ethan restrained himself.

But when he saw Vivian drink a third cup of alcohol and was about to drink a fourth, he suddenly stood up, briskly walked to Vivian’s side, and snatched the drink from her hand.

"Your stomach’s not good and you’re drinking so much? Vivian, are you trying to kill yourself?"

Anyone could see that Ethan was angry.

The room that was previously noisy fell silent in an instant.

All eyes turned to them.

Vivian defiantly met Ethan’s angry gaze, "Why do you care?"

"You’re not allowed to drink anymore."

Ethan coldly scanned the group playing games, his face dark, "Whoever dares to force her to drink again, try it."

The people quickly shifted their gaze, not daring to meet his eyes.

Talia sat on the sofa, watching the drama unfold with cold eyes, a sarcastic smile curling her lips.

Vivian stood up, trying to take back the drink.

Ethan raised the glass high, out of her reach.

Vivian tiptoed, losing her balance and falling into Ethan’s arms.

Ethan instinctively tightened his hold on her with his other hand, "Be careful, after all these years, how are you still so reckless?"

Vivian’s cheeks flushed as she leaned against Ethan, looking up at him with a pouty voice.

"Ethan Grant, you’re really annoying."

The crowd started to jeer again.

Ethan was about to say something when he unexpectedly locked eyes with Talia’s icy stare.