Quinn Gardner followed him into the living room and stepped forward to block Ethan Yardley’s path.
He was smiling, gloating a little. "Jealous?"
Ethan Yardley’s face was cold and grim. Fuming, he went and sat down in the living room, an unbearable tightness constricting his chest.
Quinn Gardner followed him over and sat down beside him, patting his shoulder. "You have to learn to accept it," he advised. "After all, in her subconscious, she thinks Julian is you. Just pretend all her actions are directed at you."
"How am I supposed to pretend it’s for ? Julian Thorne is a living, breathing person, and I have to stand here and watch them be intimate right in front of . If it were you, would you be okay with it?"
Now, Ethan Yardley finally understood what it felt like to see the person you love with soone else.
’This feels so damn awful.’
Quinn Gardner snorted. "I think you should be thanking your lucky stars. At least she’s alive now. Think about what you were like when you couldn’t find her."
Ethan Yardley was speechless.
He was grateful that Serena was alive, of course.
But who could possibly understand how he felt right now?
It was one thing that she rembered everyone but him.
The problem was that she had completely mistaken soone else for him and was now habitually clinging to that person.
This was sothing Ethan Yardley could not accept.
’And when night cos, is she going to sleep with Julian Thorne?’
’Serena has always been pretty forward about... certain things. What if she makes that kind of demand on Julian Thorne?’
The more Ethan thought about it, the worse he felt.
His heart ached as if it were about to explode.
"If nothing else works, we could have Julian pretend to break up with her. Then you can swoop in and win her over?"
Quinn Gardner was full of terrible ideas.
But it seed Ethan Yardley thought it might work.
Just then, Julian Thorne walked over, alone.
He seed to have overheard their conversation. "I can leave her," he said lightly, "but let’s first take her to do the things she wants to do."
Julian Thorne knew he had wronged Ethan Yardley.
If he didn’t choose to step away soon, he would end up in too deep.
"So how do you plan to handle things with her for the next few days?" Ethan Yardley asked in a cold voice.
He had already been enduring this for days. If Serena insisted on Julian Thorne living with her, he’d probably explode with rage.
"I’ll do my best to avoid her, using work as an excuse. After we get back from our trip, I’ll leave her. You can use that opportunity to show up and win her over."
Serena Yardley’s condition wasn’t very stable right now, so they could only take things slowly.
They couldn’t afford to rush anything.
Ethan Yardley agreed.
"Alright. I’m going back to my room. Let know if anything happens with her."
He stood up and went straight upstairs, planning to stay the night at Quinn Gardner’s place.
「That evening.」
Julian Thorne led Serena Yardley back to Ethan’s villa next door.
After helping Serena settle into bed, Julian Thorne sat on its edge and said, "I have to rush back to the set tonight for a shoot. I probably won’t be back for two days. If you get bored, go hang out with my sister. I’ll take you to the beach this weekend."
Serena clung to Julian Thorne’s hand, unwilling to let go. "You’re leaving? This late at night?"
"Yeah, it’s a night scene."
"So you won’t have any ti for for the next two days?"
Serena was disappointed.
Without Julian Thorne around, she felt insecure.
Julian Thorne raised a hand to ruffle her hair and smiled. "Serena, you’re a grown woman now. You’re not still afraid of ghosts when you’re alone, are you?"
Serena pouted and retorted stubbornly, "Who’s afraid of ghosts? I just think it’s tough on you, having to go out and work so late at night."
"It’s not tough at all. Just be good and stay ho so I don’t have to worry. I’ll co right back to you as soon as I’m done with work, alright?"
Julian Thorne’s voice was exceptionally gentle.
And his eyes, as he gazed at Serena, were brimming with affection.
Serena looked back at him and nodded. "Okay. Be safe on set, then. I’ll wait for you at ho."
"Mm, go to sleep. I’ll leave after you’ve drifted off."
Not wanting to delay his work any longer, Serena quickly closed her eyes and tried to sleep.
When she opened her eyes again, it was the next day.
As expected, Julian Thorne was gone.
After freshening up and going downstairs, Serena was surprised to find that man, Ethan Yardley, sitting in her living room. He was sharply dressed in a suit and looked surprisingly charming.
Still, her guard was up as she walked into the living room. "What are you doing in my house?" she asked.
Ethan Yardley looked up from his laptop, eting Serena’s gaze. "I ca to discuss so work matters with Julian Thorne. Isn’t he up yet?"
Serena frowned. "He went back to the set last night to film. If you were looking for him, why didn’t you just call him?"
’Is this guy really the big boss of Serene Empire?’
’His intelligence seems questionable.’
"I see. Well, the work matter will just have to wait."
Ethan Yardley closed his laptop and prepared to leave.
From a short distance away, Mrs. Miller’s voice called out, "Miss Serena, ti for breakfast."
"Okay."
As Serena walked toward the dining room, Mrs. Miller reminded her, "Shouldn’t you ask Mr. Yardley to join you? He’s been sitting here since early this morning."
Seeing that the man was about to leave, Serena called out casually, "Hey, have you had breakfast? If not, feel free to stay and have a bite."
’Since he’s a friend of Julian’s, I should treat him well, of course.’
Of course, Ethan Yardley wasn’t going to refuse. He set down his briefcase and walked toward the dining room.
"Thank you. I’m actually quite hungry."
Mrs. Miller quickly set out breakfast for the two of them.
As he ate, Ethan Yardley occasionally glanced at the person across from him.
Serena, however, kept her head down, looking at her phone.
A mont later, she dialed Julian Thorne’s number. "Julian," she said softly, "where are you filming? Can I co keep you company? It’s so boring being ho alone."
Julian Thorne refused. "It’s pretty far from here. You just got out of the hospital, so don’t go running around. Just be good and wait for at ho."
Serena was a little dejected. "Oh, okay then. Co back soon. I miss you a lot."
"I know. I’m busy right now, gotta go."
Before Serena could reply, Julian Thorne imdiately hung up the phone.
He’d noticed that he hadn’t been himself lately.
He was always thinking about Serena in his spare ti.
If this continued, sothing was bound to happen sooner or later.
That was why he had to cut ties with Serena quickly.
Serena hadn’t expected Julian Thorne to hang up so quickly.
She was disappointed and lowered her head, picking at her food listlessly.
Across from her, Ethan Yardley’s mood wasn’t any better.
He broke the silence. "Serena, have you thought about where you might want to work after graduation?"
Serena wasn’t in the mood. She glanced at Ethan Yardley but didn’t answer.
She stood up and looked toward Mrs. Miller. "Mrs. Miller, I’m done eating. I’m going to see Nina."
Mrs. Miller called back in acknowledgnt from the kitchen.
Seeing Serena leave, Ethan Yardley also got up and followed her.
"Are you in a bad mood?"
Serena remained silent.
Ethan tried again. "If you’re bored, you could..."
"Are you always this annoying? Do I know you that well? Why do you keep talking to ?"
She thought about how Julian Thorne hadn’t stayed with her last night and had just hung up on her today.
It seed he hadn’t been as affectionate these past few days as he was at first, and Serena felt a prickle of resentnt.
As her temper flared, she vented all her frustration on Ethan Yardley.
When had Ethan Yardley ever been yelled at like this?
Still, he suppressed the pain in his chest, pursed his lips, and said, "I’m sorry. I won’t bother you anymore."
He walked around her and left, his heart feeling like it was being sawn in two.
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