Chapter 28

Ten minutes later, Ethan finished washing the dishes and leisurely walked out of the kitchen. "Hey," Stella called out to him after sitting in the living room for a few seconds pondering. "What's up?" The man raised an eyebrow, casually turning his head, his deep blue eyes staring straight at her. Maybe it was because of his attire today—sporting black and white activewear and leisurely leaning against the wall—that he resembled his high school self. Stella paused for a moment. "If you're going to eavesdrop on my conversations again," she said, "I think I need to change rooms." After some thought, she realized that getting the room soundproofed would require hiring a contractor, so switching rooms would be more convenient. Ethan smirked at her words, averting his gaze slightly as he replied with a light chuckle, "Let me correct you. It's clearly the poor soundproofing of the guest bedroom, not me 'eavesdropping'. Besides, the villa only has the master bedroom and that guest room for people to stay in. Where would you move to?" Stella frowned. "But aren't there two rooms on the west side of the master bedroom?" "Oh, those are reserved for the children's rooms." He casually brushed aside her plans. Stella felt puzzled. "Children's rooms? Where are the children coming from?" "Right now, there are none, but that doesn't mean there won't be in the future. Don't you understand the importance of being prepared?" Ethan lazily replied, his deep eyes looking at her with an unreadable expression. "But wasn't Jessica saying that you—" Stella stopped short, choking on her words. Since Ethan was prepared with two children's rooms, it seemed like he really liked children. However, she couldn't just bluntly poke at his sore spot like that. A probing look brewed in the man's deep gaze as he asked, "Oh? What did Jessica say about me?" He knew that last time Jessica had sought her out, she must have inadvertently revealed something. Her current attitude seemed to imply... some kind of misunderstanding about him. "Nothing," Stella sighed in relief. "Okay then, I won't move. But I'll have the contractor come over later to install some soundproofing in my room." "Suit yourself," Ethan said casually, shrugging, then smirked slightly, adding with a hint of meaning, "As long as you don't mind wasting time." Anyway, even if they did install it, it wouldn't be used for too long. ... The weekend flew by in an instant. After Ethan returned from his business trip, the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the official start of the North City project followed closely. Since Horizon Group was the investor, he naturally needed to attend. The terrain in Seattle City North was a bit undulating, making it difficult for both residential and commercial development. It had always been considered a suburban area. Fortunately, it still had some scenic charm, and the municipal government didn't want to waste the commercial value of it. They eventually planned to develop it into a large resort area. Carlson Group was not only responsible for the development of the resort area but also for the subsequent operational planning. In addition to representatives from Horizon Group, several other cooperating partners who would be entering the resort area also attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Aurora had contacted the local TV stations and media in advance for coverage, but to avoid suspicion, Stella did not attend the event with Ethan. Most of the cooperating partners had arrived, and representatives from the government were also present. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was scheduled to begin at ten o'clock. With just over ten minutes remaining, Aurora walked up to Stella, who was seated in the front row near the stage. "Everything is ready." "Okay," Stella responded with a light nod. Just as she was about to send a message to Ethan, who had not yet arrived, she heard a slight commotion from the back row. Looking up, she saw a man in a sharp dark gray suit walking leisurely towards the front. His rugged features carried a hint of aloofness, and his gaze was distant and indifferent. A few representatives from cooperating partners approached him to shake hands, and they exchanged a few brief words. He nodded occasionally but maintained a dignified stride. Eventually, he stopped beside her amidst the crowd behind him. "Sorry for the delay. Had to handle some last-minute matters," Ethan explained to her, addressing the reason for his late arrival. In the discreet glances cast by those around them, Stella calmly shook her head. "No problem, we're just about to start." No wonder Natalie would think that his current appearance was completely different from before. In this setting, Ethan did indeed exhibit a slightly more distant demeanor. Perhaps it was the difficulties and ridicule he endured over the years that made him shed the arrogance of his youth and become increasingly reserved in front of others. Upon hearing her words, Ethan didn't say much, just nodded slightly before taking a seat beside her. As the ceremony began, the host on stage began to follow the program. However, the minds of those in the audience were still wandering, their gazes lingering on the two in the front row. Ethan sat casually, his demeanor calm and composed, his gaze straight ahead, his tall figure subtly leaning in her direction, hinting at a certain closeness. Representing Carlson Group's and Horizon Group's speeches on stage were Marcel and Simon respectively. As for the government side, the one attending the ceremony from the Planning Bureau was Director Scoffield. Stella and Ethan both sat quietly until the end, when someone finally invited them to symbolically cut the ribbon on stage. Marcel handed the prepared scissors to Stella. Meanwhile, the man beside her remained composed, his warm palm gently enveloping hers as they followed the host's instructions and cut through the bright ribbon. The cameras of the media below froze on this scene. From certain angles, it looked as if Ethan had half embraced her. Stella caught a glimpse of his deep blue tie, the one he had put on in the morning before leaving. Now, it seemed to complement the silky blue shirt she was wearing quite well. After the ribbon cutting, Marcel arranged for people to take the cooperating partners on a tour and explain the planned layout of the park on the design drawings. Afraid that Ethan might have other arrangements, Stella was about to send him off when Marcel, who had just left with the cooperating partners, returned shortly. "Regarding the location change for the hotel in the park that we discussed last time, South Prosperity wants to move it to the east side of Riverside. How do you want to handle this?" Marcel reported to Stella. South Prosperity Group owned several well-known hotel brands, and the location for the hotel's establishment had already been decided beforehand without any hiccups. Moreover, the cooperating partners signing the lease agreements were not involved in investment and did not have decision-making power over the specific planning of the park. But just now, after Marcel took them on a tour, the people from South Prosperity suddenly expressed a desire to change the location of the hotel in the park. Their attitude was quite persistent, indeed unexpected. Upon hearing this, Stella furrowed her brow lightly and asked, "Where are the people from South Prosperity right now?" "They're on the east side of the park." "We'll talk to them. " With that said, Stella glanced at the man beside her. "What about you?" Ethan lowered his gaze to her and said softly, "I'll go with you." South Prosperity group sent Javier Miller from the Business Department, along with two assistants. As Stella and the others walked to the east side of the park, Javier was still discussing his idea of changing the hotel's location with Marcel's team. After a moment of consideration, Stella stepped forward and greeted, "Nice to meet you, Javier." Javier greeted back. "I heard from Marcel that South Prosperity wants to move the hotel's location from the west side to the east side?" Stella continued straightforwardly. Javier just finished speaking with his assistants when he saw the sudden appearance of the group in front of him, his expression barely changing. He had expected Stella and Marcel to come and negotiate, but he hadn't expected Ethan, who should have left, to also come along. Since Ethan had a good relationship with the boss of South Prosperity and was also the largest investor in the North City project, Javier's expression became a bit more modest. After greeting Ethan, Javier looked at Stella and began to discuss. "Mrs. Powers, I'm not trying to cause trouble. But after looking at the design drawings, I think the terrain on the east side is better, and it's a pity to have only a few tourist service centers along the way. Wouldn't it be better to have a hotel with a better view?" Stella understood his meaning. From South Prosperity's perspective, moving the hotel's location to the east side of Riverside would allow for 20% more hotel rooms with better views. "Javier, do you have time to go up the mountain on the east side?" she smiled and suggested, instead of directly refusing Javier's proposal. Though Javier didn't quite understand, he didn't refuse either. Shortly after, following Stella's suggestion, the group climbed up the not very high mountain behind the park. The slope of the mountain was relatively gentle, but Stella was wearing low-heeled shoes, so she found it a bit difficult to climb. Fortunately, Ethan silently held her hand and supported her along the way. Just a few steps into the climb, the assistant who was leading the way, Javier, suddenly slipped on loose soil, causing a nearby rock to roll down as well. Stella, following behind, didn't have time to dodge, and in an instant, the hard rock struck her ankle. A wave of pain shot through her, causing her to lose her balance, and the man holding her quickly reached out with his other hand to steady her. The next moment, Ethan embraced her waist and bent down, his eyebrows furrowing deeply as his eyes focused on the blood-stained wound on her ankle. Although the wound wasn't particularly severe, on Stella's fair ankle, it appeared especially glaring. But she merely furrowed her brows slightly, then calmly turned to Javier, "As you can see, although this mountain isn't very high, the soil quality is poor. On rainy days, guests entering and leaving the hotel might have to tread through quite a bit of mud. I believe South Prosperity should be even less willing to affect the guests' mood. What do you think?" Javier noticed Ethan's increasingly somber expression and realized that his assistant's actions had caused Stella to get injured, which made him feel guilty and uneasy. He smiled awkwardly and said, "Indeed. And so sorry for having caused you to get injured. Do you think we should--" He wanted to suggest arranging for someone to come and help Stella treat her wound first before escorting her down. But before he could finish, he saw Ethan frown and turn away, his knees slightly bending, then he said, "Stella, come up." Stella was dumbfounded for a few seconds, then she realized that Ethan was planning to carry her down the mountain. Although they were in front of others, she felt a bit embarrassed. After a pause, she politely said, "Actually, I can manage. You don't have to..." Ethan chuckled lightly, his calm gaze drifting over, as if saying, "If you're unwilling, I can still carry you." In front of everyone's gaze, Stella sighed inwardly, then reluctantly reached out her hand and wrapped it around the man's neck. Lifting her up, Ethan glanced at the approaching Isaac and said, "I'll take her home. You stay here and work with Marcel to handle the matters behind." With that said, the two figures intertwined began to descend toward the foot of the mountain. As for the others, they tactfully didn't follow. Javier stood in place, glancing at Isaac, knowing that he was Ethan's special assistant and trusted aide, so he joked, "Their relationship is really good. Sorry for the trouble, Mr. Chambers." Isaac said lightly, "Of course, they have a good relationship." After Isaac's words, Javier suddenly realized that anyone who could make the boss disregard the shareholders' emotions and marry them without prior notice must be someone cherished deeply. On the other side, not until the figures of the others were no longer visible did Stella finally relax. She whispered to the man beside her, "Maybe you should put me down." In truth, she didn't think the injury was all that serious. Although she had twisted her ankle earlier, it wasn't enough to prevent her from walking at all. Ethan chuckled casually, then replied nonchalantly, "With your weight, you think I'd find you heavy?" He carried her firmly, his arms strong and steady, his steps firm. Stella's hands rested on his broad shoulders as she gazed at the back of his head. After a moment's pause, she decided not to say anything more. ... The driver was waiting at the entrance of the park. Upon learning that Stella had injured her foot, he drove faster on the way back. Over half an hour later, the two returned home. The medical kit was placed on the coffee table in the living room. Stella sat back on the sofa, rolling up her pants. Ethan, who had just insisted on administering medicine to her, seemed a bit clumsy in his movements. Seeing her lips tightly pressed together and her furrowed brow, he asked in a serious tone, "Does it hurt?" Stella was slightly startled and shook her head. Ethan glanced at her a few times, furrowing his brow for some reason. Suddenly, he put down the cotton swab in his hand, raised his eyes, and fixed his serious gaze on her. "Stella." "What?" "We need to talk." Stella couldn't understand why he suddenly became so serious, her expression showing a hint of surprise. "Talk about what?" "In the eyes of others, I am your husband and also the man in the family," Ethan looked at her with a light smile and said. "You need to know, men naturally have physical advantages, so society always expects men to take responsibility for protecting women and children in the family. I won't stop you from demonstrating your excellence, but you don't need to be so strong all the time, never willing to depend on anyone. Okay?" With those words, he furrowed his brow slightly, suddenly remembering the regretful words Thomas had said last time. "Stella has been back with us for so long, but she has never once acted spoiled with me." Ethan didn't like her always enduring and strong appearance, yet she seemed oblivious, stubbornly refusing to show weakness to anyone. Stella was surprised by Ethan's sudden speech. She pursed her lips before asking, "So?" Ethan sighed, "So starting today, you should learn to ask me for help." He paused, picked up the cotton swab again, and added in a low voice, "At least, in front of others." "Don't worry. I'm quite satisfied with our cohabitation so far. As long as your requests are reasonable, I'll give you that respect, and I won't find it bothersome," he gently persuaded, trying to dispel her inner concerns. "In a way, our relationship is closer than with others. You always hold yourself back, and it makes me uncomfortable." Stella met his gaze, feeling that there were emotions brewing in those deep eyes that she couldn't quite understand. Her fingertips instinctively curled up. Closer than with others? It seemed that besides the initial layer of cooperation, there were some unclear connections between them because of this nominal marriage. Perhaps, for Ethan now, the continuation of this marriage was no longer just because of the benefits of the North City project. They needed to show more. And for Stella, Ethan's help during this time was not just about him playing the role of groom at the wedding. This was the first time someone had earnestly told her not to worry too much and to learn to ask him for help. Stella had always been accustomed to avoiding the sense of weakness that arose from dependence, never considering that it might also create pressure on those around her. But now, for some reason, she was like a tightly stretched string suddenly snapped upon hearing his words. "Actually, it does hurt a bit," the words had already slipped out before she could sort out the jumble of thoughts, her eyes dazed. After realizing her response, Stella sighed, furrowing her brow and falling into silence for a while. Finally, with a complex smile, she spoke softly, her voice soft, "Ethan, thank you." Just showing a bit of vulnerability didn't seem so difficult after all. And even after relaxing the tightly wound corner of her heart, she felt a sense of relief. "Uh-huh," the man murmured, his expression unchanged but involuntarily lightening his touch. The atmosphere in the living room grew silent. After Ethan finished treating her wound, stood up to put away the first aid kit, Stella, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke up, "There's something I need to apologize for." "What?" Ethan raised an eyebrow in response. She hesitated for a moment, then lowered her gaze and said, "I shouldn't have accused you of eavesdropping on my conversation with Natalie just because of my emotions at the moment." Just like he had said, the soundproofing in the guest room wasn't great, and she couldn't blame him. "Well," the man's gaze drifted to the first aid kit inexplicably, and he replied lightly, "It's okay." After a moment, he casually spoke again, "So, are you going to add soundproofing to that room or not?" Stella pondered his words for a few seconds before smiling lightly and shaking her head. "Not for now."