CHAPTER 563: CHAPTER 551

With those words, Ethan scooped Clara up in his arms, brimming with a boyfriend’s energy.

They headed to the bedroom-the night was still young, and there was still much to be done.

The next day, Clara woke up feeling reinvigorated in heart and spirit, finding it a little unreal to see the handsome face asleep beside her.

In reality, they did not do anything at all-Ethan’s heart bled for her after she was bulliednthoroughly in prison, and he tended to her wounds, then held her in his arms as they slept.

She was the one who was getting restless with her dainty hands, caressing him all over as if challenging his resolve.

Still, he did not give in to her flirting at all and held her in his arms with his eyes closed.

"Calm down," he said with some detachment. "There’s no need to jump into action-we have years ahead of us."

And now, she stared at him as he lay sound asleep, complaining inwardly about how he was usually a Casanova that bedded every woman he met, but he turned out to be so... chaste when it came to her.

She could not help lowering her gaze at her loose pajamas, wondering if she was too plain to whet his appetite.

The thought alarmed her, and she mustered her courage to lean in and kiss Ethan’s lips, waking him right then.

"Ugh..." Ethan was still in a daze when he found the cutie throwing herself into his arms.

And who could resist such temptation? He turned and moved on top of her. "You’re a little inexperienced, Clara. Let me give you a few pointers."

It was a lazy weekend, fit for relaxing. Even the sun seemed languid.

However, just as they were about to go right down to business, Clara sharply said something.

’Wait!"

"Wait? Why? Don’t you know that men get particularly hungry in the mornings-"

"Shut up! You’re the one who told me to calm down last night!"

"Last night was last night. It’s morning now," Ethan retorted, clearly eager to get going.

"No, that’s not it! I think someone just opened the door!" Clara snapped. She gathered all her ability for restraint and reluctantly pushed him away.

Her hearing was sharp as ever, and she definitely heard the front door open.

"Is that your mother?" She suggested and promptly sat up to straighten her hair and clothes she did not want her future mother-in-law to think her unseemly.

"Fine, I’ll check," Ethan’s head cleared up just then, and put on a pair of trousers while his hair remained disheveled-a fact that did little to curb his charm.

Having calmed down, that aloof demeanor that returned to him became so bewitching once again.

His towering figure soon stepped out of the bedroom, though his relaxed expression soon turned cool and contorted when he saw the woman sitting in the living room.

"What are you doing here?" He demanded, his hands in his pocket while his gaze was as cool as ice.

"I missed you," the woman’s eyes were red as she threw herself into his arms. "Don’t you want to know how much?"

Ethan stood stiffly in place as she told her coolly, ’You should have known better. What’s the point of saying all that now?!"

"I made a mistake, Ethan. Can’t you forgive me? I’ve already made it clear to the old man that I would be with you... even if he’s going to cancel me!"

The woman grabbed his waist like her life depended on it and cried a river— she was none other than Shirley White, the star actress whom Ethan brought to stardom and the one who occupied a part of his heart-and the reason he had a chip on his shoulder!

Their story was one you would find in romance novels-the rich showbiz tycoon falling in love at first sight with the young actress with modest roots. He then broke the bank to push her towards stardom, even keeping himself chaste for her, as if Casanova himself decided to reform...

In fact, anyone searching for Ethan’s name online would always yield results for Shirley as well. Countless netizens fawned over them, wrote fanfiction, and shipped them to kingdom come.

And yet, this heartwarming ship suddenly capsized as they drifted apart. They were never seen together since last year, and they now seemed to be complete strangers. Ethan once again regained his reputation as a Casanova.

Even so, Shirley’s career was unaffected-in fact, it even rose to new heights. It was, therefore, inevitable that rumors of Shirley finding herself a new backer started circulating she betrayed Ethan after all he did for her, who in turn reverted to his old ways...

"Ahem!"

Clara cleared her throat awkwardly even as she stayed in bed, having seen them hugging at the door.

’There’s... someone else?"

Shirley did not seem to panic as she looked up from Ethan’s arms, looking past his shoulder to the woman on the bed.

She was no idiot—she knew there was another woman in Ethan’s bed the instant she stepped through that door.

"Ethan, if this is how you wanted to get back at me, congratulations.

You’ve succeeded. It hurts so much I could die, but I won’t blame you..."

Shirley wept uncontrollably, her fair face that looked like something out of a poster now looking utterly miserable. "You’ve now hurt me just like how I’ve hurt you, so we’re even. Can we stop this now?"

She stood on her toes, her rosy lips pressing against his as she let her tears roll. "Let’s not hurt each other anymore, alright? Or involve an innocent person..."

Ethan scowled as he pushed her away, completely devoid of warmth. "I believe I’ve made it clear I’ve no intention for revenge. Clara and I are in a normal relationship."

"Hah! A normal relationship?"

Shirley snorted and strode up to Clara, snapping haughtily, "I’m sorry, but my boyfriend has been rather inconsiderate, using you to upset me. We have some personal issues to sort out right now, so do you mind leaving?"

"Why? Didn’t you just hear that we’re in a relationship? You’re the one who should be leaving."

Clara got out of bed in Ethan’s t-shirt, which stretched all the way to her thighs and made her appear indescribably relaxed.

Shirley felt like she was cut to the quick.

"Y-You’re letting her wear your clothes?"

Her voice choked with tears. "Weren’t you a clean freak who wouldn’t let women touch your clothes?"

Clara was delighted to hear that, and did not hold back. "Yes. As you can see, I’m special to him. So I suggest you show some tact, leave, and perhaps you might just not humiliate yourself."

"You’re just wearing his clothes, and you think you’re special? Don’t be so full of yourself you may be special to him, but there are plenty of special people around him. They all came and left, but I’ve remained his one-and- only. I’m irreplaceable."

"What..."