?Chapter 1043:

    After dinner, as everyone exited the restaurant, Brenna turned to Darwin and said, “You should head back by yourself. I’ll leave with Ethan. Sorry about today, but I don’t think we’re a good match.”

    Her words were direct, and Darwin understood the message—her heart was still with Ethan. Even so, she wasn’t married yet, which meant he could still pursue her.

    “I see, Miss Harper. I hope we can still be friends,” Darwin replied, maintaining a respectful tone.

    Brenna gave a nod. “Of course. If I ever need assistance, I may still reach out to you.”

    After all, Darwin’s family had influential ties that could benefit both her and the Harpers if needed.

    Ernst approached and shook Darwin’s hand to say goodbye.

    After that, Darwin departed, and Brenna made her way to Ethan’s car.

    She and Gracie reached for the front passenger door at the same time. Ernst found Gracie’s behavior rather thoughtless. Wasn’t itmon sense that a man’s front passenger seat was meant for his girlfriend?

    Gracie understood that perfectly well, but she didn’t care. “I got to the door first,” she said tly.

    Brenna wasn’t about to let her have her way. She could see that Gracie was trying to make her look petty and force Ethan into an awkward spot. “I’m his girlfriend. The front seat’s mine. You can ride in the back.”

    Without a change in expression, Ethan gently moved Gracie aside, took hold of the door handle, and positioned himself between them. He turned to Brenna and said, “You sit in front.”

    Brenna cast a smug nce at Gracie and slipped into the seat without a word. Ethan shut the door, then looked at Gracie. “Get in the back. I’ll drop you off first. Brenna and I live in the same area, so we’ll head home together.”

    Gracie felt the sting immediately. At that moment, it was painfully clear just how little she mattered to himpared to Brenna.

    She stood by the car for a while, unwilling to get in. She wanted to sit in the front, wanted Ethan to care about her more.

    Waldo had been observing the scene unfold and found it highly entertaining. He strolled over and casually offered Gracie an escape. “Miss Wilson, how about I give you a ride? We might be heading in the same direction.”

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    Seeing Waldo’s unpleasant face, Gracie no longer had time to feel sad. She quickly got into the back seat of Ethan’s car and closed the door. Only then did she feel safe. She rolled down the window and said to Waldo politely, “No, thank you.”

    “Another time, then,” Waldo replied with a smile, though inside, he seethed at the rejection.

    In Vand, he was considered a prominent figure, yet Gracie dared to reject him like that. How outrageous.

    From the moment Gracie set foot on the tennis court, she felt nothing but contempt for Waldo.

    Yet, she knew her reality—once the powerful Wilson family’s daughter, she was now buried in debt, her privileged past stripped away.

    She had be an outcast. If Ethan hadn’t recalled that minor kindness she had once extended and taken care of her, if not for that token stake in hispany offered out of gratitude, she might well have ended up on the street. Ethan’spany was facing some challenges now, and the only way forward meant forging a partnership with Waldo to weather the storm.

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