CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 41: KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN WHEN YOU’RE OUT

Ethan Grant was thrown out by the bodyguards.

Eleanor Madison and Vivian Coleman waited outside.

Eleanor Madison was almost crying from anxiety, "Son, what do we do now? Did we offend The Sterling Family? What about the investments?"

Vivian Coleman was also terrified, "The Sterling Family has such a strong background, will they retaliate against us?"

Ethan Grant turned a deaf ear.

He walked mechanically like a puppet without a soul, his face dull and lifeless.

...

The banquet ended, Adrian Jennings drove Talia back to her apartment.

"About today..." Talia hesitated to speak as they stood downstairs.

Adrian Jennings stood in front of Talia, reaching out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his voice was low and tinged with palpable sadness, "He said today that if you had told him your identity earlier, you might already be married now, and very happy. I admit, at that moment, I got scared. If you..."

"There’s no ’if’." Talia interrupted him, looking up to meet Adrian Jennings’s deep eyes, "Adrian, don’t worry about things that haven’t happened."

"Besides..." the girl’s expression was unusually serious, "I actually never thought about marrying Ethan Grant."

Adrian Jennings’s eyes brightened, "Really?"

Talia nodded with a smile, "Yes."

The night breeze blew by, causing Talia to shrink from the cold, but her eyes sparkled brightly, "Before, I never thought of marrying Ethan Grant, but now, I’m really looking forward to our engagement ceremony."

Adrian Jennings took off his coat and draped it over Talia, pulling her into his embrace, "I’m looking forward to it too."

...

Ethan Grant drove off from the estate alone, whereabouts unknown.

Vivian Coleman drove Eleanor Madison back to the hotel.

In the underground parking lot.

As soon as they got out of the car, they were knocked unconscious and thrown into sacks.

When they woke up again, they were in a dimly lit, noisy private room.

Vivian Coleman and Eleanor Madison were pressed down on a glass bar table.

Opposite them on a sofa sat a man with crossed legs and covered in tattoos.

The man grinned roguishly, "I’m in a good mood today, care to have a few drinks with me?"

Eleanor Madison, who prided herself on being a wealthy socialite, had never suffered such indignities and immediately cursed the tattooed man.

The tattooed man chuckled, "He nodded towards a man in black clothes."

The man in black approached and yanked Eleanor Madison up, slapping her hard twice.

Eleanor Madison was stunned.

Both sides of her face burned with pain.

She clutched her face and glared at the tattooed man, "Who are you people? Why did you bring me here?"

The tattooed man dug in his ear, "Tsk, why do you old women talk so much? If you keep it up, I’ll cut your tongue off."

With that, the man took out a Swiss army knife and toyed with it in his hand.

Eleanor Madison was so scared her legs went weak, she shut her mouth tightly, daring not to make another sound.

Vivian Coleman was still pinned down on the table.

The tattooed man picked up a glass of wine and splashed it on Vivian Coleman, "Finish all the drinks on this table today and I’ll let you go."

Eleanor Madison exclaimed, "I can’t hold my liquor!"

The tattooed man snorted coldly and instructed his men to force-feed them alcohol.

Eleanor Madison and Vivian Coleman were held down and made to drink a lot of alcohol. No matter how they struggled, they couldn’t break free.

Later, nearly all the drinks on the table were poured into their stomachs, their abdomens bulging.

The tattooed man held the Swiss army knife, the cold blade pressed against Vivian Coleman’s face, he squinted his eyes, "Keep your eyes open when you’re out and about, don’t offend people you shouldn’t in the future."

Vera Coleman was shaking with fear, trembling lips, unable to move, her face drained of color.

"Did you understand?" The tattooed man suddenly raised his voice, scaring Vivian Coleman and Eleanor Madison into a shiver.

With their lives in others’ hands, Eleanor Madison and Vivian Coleman dared not resist, they could only nod repeatedly, "Understood."

...

Three days later.

"Knock, knock, knock—" Vivian Coleman stood at the hotel suite door and knocked several times.

"Ethan, are you in there?"

No response.

Vivian Coleman frowned and took out her phone to call.

It rang for a long time without anyone answering, until it automatically hung up.

Since that day from Oscar Sterling’s place, Ethan Grant had lost contact with her.

No replies to texts, no answer to calls, even when she came to the hotel, he didn’t open the door.

She learned from the front desk that Ethan Grant hadn’t checked out.

"Bang, bang, bang—" She knocked on the door forcefully.

"Ethan Grant, open the door! If you don’t open it today, I’ll keep knocking until you do!"

Vivian Coleman knocked for ten minutes, and finally, the door opened.

A thick smell of smoke and alcohol hit her, making her gag reflexively.

"Why is it so strong." Vivian Coleman pinched her nose, her expression full of disgust.

She looked at Ethan Grant, his eyes were dark and sunken, beard stubbly, his face oily, smelling of smoke and alcohol mixed with a sour odor, as if he hadn’t showered in days.

Vivian Coleman suppressed her nausea and asked, "How did you end up like this?"

Ethan Grant’s eyes were dull, filled with desolation, "What’s up?"

"I couldn’t reach you for days, I was worried." Vivian Coleman pushed the door and walked into the room.

The curtains were tightly drawn, no lights on, the room was completely dark even in broad daylight.

Vivian Coleman frowned and turned on the lights.

The large suite had the living room filled with empty wine bottles, the ashtray on the table overflowing with cigarette butts, ashes scattered everywhere.

Vivian Coleman opened the exhaust fan, then walked to the window and drew the curtains to let in air.

"Ethan Grant, do you plan to continue being like this? What about The Grant Group? With no investment from The Sterling Group, Uncle Grant has been running around, yet not a single company is willing to invest in The Grant Group. After several inquiries, we found out that it’s pressure from Talia Rhodes’ fiancé’s side."

Vivian Coleman looked at Ethan Grant, "Do you know who Talia Rhodes’ fiancé is? He’s the CEO of The Jennings Group, the Crown Prince of Oakhaven, Adrian Jennings! Their family background is even harder than The Sterling Family’s, his family has a senior in Kenton, when Adrian Jennings speaks, no company in Oakhaven dares to invest in The Grant Group."

Ethan Grant was like a puppet that lost its soul, his expression was numb, without form, he heard Vivian Coleman’s words but didn’t respond.

Vivian Coleman said a lot but saw no response from him; angered, she stamped her foot and left.

The room returned to silence.

Ethan Grant dragged his already numb body inside.

Having stayed in the dark too long, he couldn’t adapt to the glaring sunlight, feeling dizzy and faint, almost unsteady on his feet.

He stopped by the window, staring blankly outside.

The sun was bright.

After a long time, he picked up his phone.

Tens of missed calls, 99+ WeChat messages, none of which he replied to.

Just then, Wyatt Jacobs’s call came in again.

Ethan Grant thought of something and pressed answer.

"Ethan, where have you been lately? Why can’t I find you?" Wyatt Jacobs answered the call, sounding confused, "Did you see the messages I sent you?"

Ethan Grant spoke, his voice hoarse, "Are you still in France?"

Wyatt Jacobs didn’t expect him to ask this, was stunned for a moment, then replied, "I am, why, I’m only returning home tomorrow."

"Help me buy something."

"Alright, send it to me." Wyatt Jacobs paused, then asked, "What’s with your voice? Why is it so hoarse?"

After a moment of silence.

Ethan Grant spoke softly, "She’s getting engaged."

"Huh?" Wyatt Jacobs was puzzled, "Who? Who’s getting engaged?"