Free Web NovelChapter 89: Chapter 89: You Want to Keep Me?
"Ethan Lockwood, you really spared no expense this time. But I’m no fool. You can’t deceive me."
Sonia Quincy was convinced Ethan Lockwood was behind this, but he felt incredibly wronged—a victim of a great injustice.
"Sonia Quincy, I’ll tell you one last time—they’re not my people!"
"I only sent Janet Armstrong to cause trouble for you. After Renee Sinclair ran her off, I haven’t made a move on your house since!"
"Hmph..." Sonia Quincy sneered, saying nothing.
Her silence was exactly what made Ethan Lockwood’s composure shatter.
"Sonia Quincy, we had a history, for God’s sake. You really don’t believe a word I say?"
Sonia Quincy simply raised an eyebrow, staying silent.
Ethan was getting agitated. "Sonia Quincy! You’ve known me for so long. When have you ever seen me go to such lengths to explain myself to you?"
"I have," Sonia Quincy said breezily.
"...Seen what?" Ethan hadn’t processed her words.
Sonia Quincy’s lips curved into a sarcastic smile. "Before Cecilia Quincy showed up, you used to pathetically explain every little thing to me, terrified I might get the wrong idea or be upset."
"So yes, I’ve seen you go to great lengths to explain yourself."
Ethan Lockwood froze, completely dumbfounded.
The agitated expression froze on his face. His sharp, almond-shaped eyes stared blankly, his gaze completely vacant.
Sonia Quincy took a step back, putting some distance between them. "Ethan Lockwood, I’ve seen you at your worst. You don’t have to put on an act for me. I know what kind of person you are far better than Cecilia Quincy does."
Her words hit a nerve. Ethan Lockwood pressed his tongue against the inside of his right cheek, a rare look of humiliation on his face.
Sonia Quincy said, "You don’t actually have to explain, because I couldn’t care less anymore. It doesn’t matter whether you did it or not. I didn’t call you here to argue about it. I called you here to warn you: stay far away from my life with Felix Preston. Don’t bother us, and don’t cause any more trouble."
"Tch..." Ethan Lockwood snapped out of it, his eyes instantly turning scornful. "I’m not important to you? Then who is? Felix Preston?"
"Yes," Sonia Quincy affirmed. "To me, right now, Felix Preston is the most important person. I only need to care about his feelings. Everyone else is irrelevant."
"Hah..." Ethan Lockwood laughed with contempt. "Sonia Quincy, has your taste gotten this bad since you left me? A good-for-nothing loser like Felix Preston, and you see him as important? Can he pull seven million out of his pocket to take this house? Can he find you the best obstetrician in Aethelburg to take care of you during your pregnancy? Can he solve all your current problems?"
As he spoke, Ethan Lockwood leaned closer to Sonia Quincy. She glared daggers at him, watching his smug face loom before her, flaunting his power.
She silently clenched her fists as a dangerous impulse grew within her.
Ethan Lockwood continued, "He can’t give you anything. Is there something wrong with you? Why are you protecting a loser like..."
SLAP!
With one slap, Sonia Quincy wiped the smugness right off Ethan Lockwood’s face.
She’d put all her strength into it. Even a man of Ethan Lockwood’s height, well over six feet tall, had his head snapped to the side, his skin burning from the impact.
Sonia Quincy shook out her hand. Her entire palm was numb from the force of the slap.
"You have no right to talk about Felix Preston. Now, get your people out of there. Immediately. Or I’ll expose every dirty little secret you have!"
Ethan Lockwood was stunned by the slap, his gaze on Sonia Quincy completely dazed.
Sonia Quincy continued, "We were together for so long. Did you really think I don’t have any dirt on you? I’m giving you until this afternoon. Get all those people upstairs out of my house! Otherwise, you can wait to see yourself trending online."
With that, Sonia Quincy tore her gaze away from Ethan Lockwood and turned to leave.
"Sonia Quincy!" Ethan suddenly grabbed her hand, stopping her.
"What do you think you’re doing?!" Sonia Quincy yanked her hand away, brushing off the spot he had touched as if it were contaminated.
Ethan Lockwood touched the red mark branded on his cheek, and his eyes suddenly lit up with a strange excitement.
"Sonia Quincy, that promise I made you a few months ago? It still stands."
Sonia Quincy frowned, confused. "What promise? What are you talking about?"
Ethan Lockwood’s lips twisted into a manic grin. "As long as you behave, I’ll let you stay by my side. Even after I marry Cecilia, there will still be a place for you with me."
"But first, you have to divorce Felix Preston."
"...What the fuck are you saying?" Sonia Quincy was stunned. "You... you want to keep me as your mistress?"
Ethan Lockwood said, "I wouldn’t call it that. Didn’t you used to dream of being my lover? Well, I’m giving you the chance now. All you have to do is agree to leave Felix Preston and, while you’re at it, help me with a few things."
"You..." Sonia Quincy was left utterly speechless.
Fearing she wouldn’t believe him, he made a point to promise, "I mean what I say. Just give the word, and I’ll have it all arranged immediately. The baby’s only five months along. You can still get an induced abortion at the hospital. I..."
SLAP!
Sonia Quincy was so furious she could have exploded. She couldn’t hold back and slapped Ethan Lockwood again.
Now both of Ethan Lockwood’s cheeks were red, the handprints a perfect, symmetrical pair.
"Pah!" Sonia Quincy spat in Ethan Lockwood’s direction, her face twisted in disgust. "No wonder you didn’t bring Cecilia with you today. So this was your plan all along!"
"Ethan Lockwood, you’re so fucking shameless!"
Ethan Lockwood’s cheeks stung, but deep down, he felt an inexplicable thrill. He just watched Sonia Quincy and laughed, his expression verging on insane.
"Go fuck yourself! Go to hell!"
The sight of him for even a second longer made her sick. Spitting out the curse, she stormed away.
Ethan Lockwood’s eyes were fixed on her retreating back, a profound sense of pleasure welling up inside him.
’Haven’t seen her in a few months, and her temper has gotten so fiery. She even dares to hit me now...’
"Mr. Lockwood." His secretary scrambled over awkwardly, looking at Ethan Lockwood with alarm. "Are you alright? Should we go to the hospital?"
"No need." Ethan Lockwood pinched his aching cheek, a smile replacing any hint of anger. "Give the order. I want that family upstairs gone by this evening."
"W-Why?" the secretary asked, confused.
Ethan Lockwood shot him a glare. "Just do as I say. Do I need to explain myself to you?"
The secretary hastily bowed his head. "No, of course not. I understand, Mr. Lockwood."
"And find out who sent them to cause trouble at the house in the first place."
"Yes, sir."
In the end, Ethan Lockwood was a step too slow. Before his secretary could act, the group harassing the Preston family had already been driven away.
At the same time, the police released a public statement confirming that the elderly man’s death was unrelated to the Preston family’s house. It was specifically noted that the man had not passed away on the property.
Online, however, the warnings to steer clear of the Preston family’s house didn’t die down in the slightest. Many people still believed the house was "unclean," with some of the more superstitious claiming the old man’s ghost was now trapped inside.
Anyone who dared to live there now would face domestic turmoil and personal misfortune.
