CHAPTER 5: CHAPTER 5: SHE ONLY SEES ADRIAN JENNINGS AS AN OLDER BROTHER

The visitor was Ethan Grant’s friend, Wyatt Jacobs.

The same man who had mentioned a bit of sympathy for Talia Rhodes during the get-together that night.

Having known him for almost three years now, Talia Rhodes had always had a good impression of Wyatt Jacobs.

She replied, "Just buying some stuff."

Wyatt Jacobs glanced at the bag in her hand, "Is this a gift for Ethan Grant?"

Talia Rhodes found it too complicated to explain, so she simply nodded and admitted it.

"This brand of watches isn’t cheap, even the basic models cost five figures. You really don’t need to buy such an expensive gift, Ethan Grant..."

He’s not worth it.

He’s admitted himself that he can’t let go of Vivian Coleman, and just sees Talia Rhodes as a stand-in.

Last night, he left Talia Rhodes, holding Vivian Coleman’s hand as they exited in front of so many people.

After leaving the birthday party with Vivian Coleman, Ethan Grant indulged at a hotel all night, something Talia Rhodes didn’t know but Wyatt Jacobs was well aware of.

They have a small group, filled with friends from the circle.

Talia Rhodes had been dating Ethan Grant for three years but never got into that group, yet when Vivian Coleman returned from abroad, Ethan Grant immediately added her.

Today at noon, Vivian Coleman inexplicably posted a photo of the two on the bed in the group chat, telling Ethan Grant to keep it as a memento.

Then she deleted it less than a minute later, saying she sent it by mistake.

At that time, Wyatt Jacobs happened to see it, and thought to say something but ultimately held back, since it wasn’t his business, better less trouble than more.

Wyatt Jacobs thought of these things, initially wanting to advise Talia Rhodes to let go, to tell her the truth, but when the words reached his mouth, he changed them.

"Ethan Grant doesn’t lack these things, you don’t have to spend months of your salary on such an expensive gift for him."

After all, Ethan Grant was his good brother, a friendship of over ten years, yet he just couldn’t bring himself to say certain things.

He also wanted to tell Talia Rhodes that perhaps the gift she spent months of her salary on, Ethan Grant wouldn’t even appreciate.

Those words were too harsh, Wyatt Jacobs couldn’t bear to speak them.

Of course Talia Rhodes knew Ethan Grant wasn’t worth it, and the gift wasn’t bought for him. She nodded and smiled absent-mindedly, "Alright, I won’t do it next time."

Talia Rhodes chatted with Wyatt Jacobs for a while before the two parted ways.

Looking at Talia Rhodes’ figure departing, Wyatt Jacobs sighed slowly.

"Ah, what a good girl, how could she be ruined by Ethan Grant."

He opened WeChat, unable to hold back, and sent a message advising Ethan Grant.

[Bro, this girlfriend of yours is really great. I just saw her buying a watch for you, saying she bought it for tens of thousands. It must cost her months of salary, cherish what you have.]

Ethan Grant received this message while dining with Vivian Coleman.

Initially full of anger, it all dissipated the moment he saw the message.

His expression gradually softened.

It seems Talia knows she was wrong today and is thinking of buying a gift as a way to admit her mistake, since that’s the case, then he’ll give her a way out.

When the time comes, he’ll accept her gift, follow it with an apology, say his tone wasn’t good, tell her not to take it to heart, and add some comforting words to appease her, which Talia Rhodes is sure to appreciate.

"Ethan, what’s going on? Whose message?" asked Vivian Coleman sitting opposite.

Ethan Grant put away his phone, and answered calmly, "Nothing."

Vivian Coleman didn’t ask further.

Not long after, Ethan Grant stood up to go to the restroom, and Vivian Coleman took his phone from the table. She had seen him input the passcode before; it was easy to remember as it was his birthday.

Vivian Coleman quickly entered the passcode and opened WeChat.

She first checked Talia Rhodes’ chat log, the conversation still showed messages from a week ago, Talia had asked if he wanted to go traveling during the October break since she finally had time off and wanted to go somewhere.

She had also sent some guides for tourist spots she wished to visit.

Ethan Grant replied after five hours with "So many people in October, what’s fun about that", then Talia Rhodes didn’t send any more messages.

Vivian Coleman casually looked over those tourist spots, her eyes glinting with derision.

It seems their three-year relationship wasn’t really going well, Ethan Grant wasn’t even willing to accompany her traveling.

Talia Rhodes’ WeChat messages showed nothing unusual, Vivian Coleman exited the chatbox and casually browsed, coming across Wyatt Jacobs’ message.

Vivian Coleman coldly chuckled, recalling Talia Rhodes’ indifferent attitude during their last two meetings, her heart mocking.

She thought Talia Rhodes was about to let go, not expecting her to still attempt to buy gifts to admit fault, trying to reconcile with Ethan Grant.

Vivian Coleman exited WeChat, locked the screen, placed Ethan Grant’s phone back in its original spot, took out her own phone, and called Ethan Grant’s mother, Mrs. Eleanor Madison.

"Hello, Aunt Eleanor, I just went ring shopping with Ethan and ran into his girlfriend. That girl was trying on rings in the store, pressuring for marriage..."

...

Talia Rhodes returned to the villa with the gifts and continued packing her luggage.

She placed Adrian Jennings’ gift in her suitcase, her mind wandering to Adrian Jennings’ cool and handsome face.

She had known Adrian Jennings for a long time.

The family estates were in the same villa community, merely two or three hundred meters apart, they often ran into each other as children.

Adrian Jennings was four years older than her; she first met him at The Jennings Family’s old residence.

Her parents took her to visit The Jennings Family; she was just ten years old then, still an undeveloped child, while Adrian Jennings had alreasy grown into a male lead from a youth campus idol drama.

Talia only remembers her first sight of Adrian Jennings, astounded at his heavenly appearance.

His face was strikingly handsome yet aggressive, while his eyes were as cold as winter snow.

Her mother told her to greet him, so she obediently called out "Brother Adrian."

In her memory, Adrian Jennings remained cold, giving a bland "Hello" in return.

At that time, she thought this brother must be difficult to get along with.

This misunderstanding lasted several years.

Later, when she was in high school and struggling with math, Mrs. Jennings somehow heard about it and cheerfully told Shawn Rhodes, "Let’s have Adrian tutor Talia. His strongest subject in high school was math, he scored over 140 in the exams!"

By then, her mother had passed away, Talia Rhodes’ personality greatly changed from when she was younger.

In five years, Talia Rhodes went from being a carefree, happy child to a silent, rebellious teenager.

"I don’t need your tutoring." This was the first thing she said to Adrian Jennings when he entered.

At the time, Adrian Jennings was twenty-one, tall with an estimated height of over 1.85 meters, wearing a simple white t-shirt and dark gray jeans, his slightly messy hairstyle added a youthful vibe.

"But I insist on teaching." This was his response, his voice carried a hint of a smile, somewhat casual.

Talia assumed Adrian Jennings would be strict and demanding.

However, contrary to her expectations, after reviewing her math test, Adrian Jennings just furrowed his brows slightly and began patiently explaining the problems.

Question by question, Adrian Jennings showed no sign of impatience.

His voice was deep and pleasant, with a soft gravelly tone, and as Talia listened, math didn’t seem as intimidating.

Some problems had two or three potential solutions, all of which Adrian Jennings explained to her.

Talia Rhodes’ gaze transformed from initial resistance and disdain to admiration and respect.

"Wow, Adrian Jennings, you’re amazing. Still remember it all these years after high school?"

"I don’t remember everything, but I looked over the textbooks beforehand."

After saying that, he paused and lightly tapped her head with a pencil, "No more impertinence, remember to call me Brother Adrian from now on."

During the summer of her sophomore year, Adrian Jennings tutored her for two months.

At that time, Adrian Jennings was a junior at Oakhaven University, he spent almost the entire summer without going out, either explaining problems to Talia or grading her papers and assignments.

A high school student’s summer break is short, she started school while Adrian Jennings was still on holiday.

Every day after school, Talia Rhodes could see Adrian Jennings sitting on the sofa in her living room, waiting to tutor her.

Thanks to Adrian Jennings, her math grades soared from failing to scoring 130.

Talia Rhodes excelled in other subjects; with no longer being held back by math, she successfully got into Oakhaven University, becoming Adrian Jennings’ junior.

Back then, Talia just thought of Adrian Jennings as a particularly good neighborhood brother.

She respected and liked him, but held no romantic feelings whatsoever.

So when her father talked about a family alliance marriage with The Jennings and Adrian, she couldn’t accept it.

She only saw Adrian Jennings as a brother, how could a sister marry her brother?

As she was reminiscing, the bedroom door opened and Ethan Grant stood by the door, looking down at Talia Rhodes, "Are you done packing everything?"

"Yeah, almost."

Ethan Grant leaned against the doorframe, "Talia, do you have something to say to me?"