At that moment, Ellsworth knelt on one knee on the bed, leaned in to trap her in his arms, and said with a smile, “Reginald? In a few years, he’ll start to smell old. Are you sure you want to be

with him?”

Staring at Ellsworth, Harriet thought his mouth was really

vicious.

Reginald was a bit older than him, but he was only thirty-four

this year.

Looking straight at Ellsworth, just as Harriet was about to call him out for his sharp tongue, Ellsworth grabbed her wrists, leaned down, and trapped her in his arms.

Then, before she could react, Ellsworth kissed her again.

Faced with Ellsworth’s domineering attitude, Harriet turned her face away sharply, refusing to look at him, and stopped

struggling.

Her reaction sent a chill through Ellsworth’s heart.

He froze in the middle of kissing her.

Holding her motionless in his arms for a while, Ellsworth

suddenly got up from her quickly and said, “You reek. Go take a

shower.”

Without looking at him, Harriet pulled up her disheveled clothes,

got out of bed, and went to the bathroom in silence.

In the room, Ellsworth nced at Harriet, then walked over to

the coffee table, bent down to pick up a cigarette and a lighter,

lit one for himself with a hint of impatience, and walked over to

the floor-to-ceiling window.

Is Harriet really looking for someone else, determined to leave

him?

Impossible. When she schemed her way into the Townsend

family, she should have known this marriage was inescapable.

Exhaling a heavy puff of smoke, Ellsworth’s thoughts were as

heavy as the smoke rings.

Meanwhile, Harriet spent two hours in the bathroom taking a

shower.

Later, Ellsworth couldn’t sit still any longer. He walked straight

over and knocked on the door, calling out, “Harriet.”

“What is it?”

After Harriet’s voice came from inside, Ellsworth shoved his

hands into his pockets and said coldly, “It doesn’t take this long

to process a crime scene. Don’t make me kick the door down.

Hurry up ande out.”

She really went to great lengths just to avoid his touch.

For the moment, Ellsworth lost all interest in that regard.

In fact, the moment Harriet turned her face away so harshly,

looking utterly disheartened, he lost all desire.

***

At this moment, the restaurant downstairs was still lively.

Even though she was always the center of attention, with

Ellsworth absent, Kelsey still felt a bit down.

She didn’t stay long before heading back to her room.

***

The next morning, when Harriet woke up, her head was groggy,

and her back and neck ached.

Her limbs were weak, and her whole body felt ufortable.

At the desk, Ellsworth was already up.

Seeing Harriet awake, he said emotionlessly, “It’s gettingte.

Get up and change your clothes.”

With her arm draped over her eyes, Harriet said weakly, “I’ll go

downter. You go ahead.”

Still typing on the keyboard, Ellsworth replied coolly, “There’s an

interview today.”

With that, Harriet understood.

He had an interview today, so she had to stay by his side and

y along.

Letting out a long sigh, Harriet said nothing more. She pushed

herself up from the bed.

She didn’t tell Ellsworth she was unwell. She simply tidied

herself up and left with him.

As usual, Ellsworth walked in front, and she walked beside him,

only today Ellsworth walked much slower.

He walked much more slowly.

Soon, the elevator doors opened.

Seeing this, Ellsworth raised his right hand and naturally

reached out to take Harriet’s hand.

But Harriet instinctively pulled back her left hand, cing both

hands in front of her chest.

She avoided him quickly, not letting Ellsworth hold her hand.

Beside her, Ellsworth’s movement froze as well, his right hand

suspended in midair, just watching Harriet.

Meeting Ellsworth’s gaze, Harriet looked away, her right hand

gripping her left wrist, gently squeezing it. She said calmly,

“There’s no need to be so polite.”

Being pushed away by him once was enough; there was no

need for a second time.

Ellsworth swallowed, his hand in midair shrinking back, his gaze

turning cold and heavy.

“Mr. Townsend.” At that moment, someone came over to greet

him.

Chapter

Ellsworth snapped back to reality, quickly curling his suspended

right hand into a loose fist and shoving it into his pocket,

pretending nothing had happened.

“Good morning, Mr. Townsend.” Noticing Harriet beside him, the man quickly smiled and greeted her as well: “Ms. Chavez.”

Harriet smiled politely in response.

Then, the three of them entered the elevator together.

The middle-aged man chatted enthusiastically with Ellsworth, who responded nonchntly, but his gaze often drifted to

Harriet, his mind full of her avoidance.

As the two talked, the elevator doors opened.

The restaurant was much livelier than the suite upstairs.

Chapter