Free Web NovelChapter 219: Knowing oneself is enough.
Meanwhile, back at the training grounds—
Ethan froze for a second.
He stared at Adelyn as though trying to see through her —through whatever scheme he believed she was playing. However, the confusion on her face appeared so genuine, so unguarded, that for a brief moment, even he found himself wavering.
For a moment, he almost believed her.
But then—
His senses snapped back, sharp and alert, and the corners of his lips curled upward in contempt.
"Heh!" he scoffed lightly, his voice laced with obvious mockery. "You sure know how to act arrogant."
Adelyn paused at his words.
His earlier tone hadn’t been pleasant either, but she hadn’t paid it much attention then. She had assumed it was nothing more than a passing remark —something not worth judging.
But now—
Hearing him speak like this again, she realized this wasn’t accidental.
He wasn’t speaking on a whim.
He had approached her deliberately.
Without responding immediately, she dropped the towel onto the nearby bench and reached for her outerwear. Pulling it on, she zipped it up with steady hands before finally lifting her gaze to meet his.
"Arrogant or not —I’m not sure," she said, her voice smooth and composed. "However, I do uphold the basic mannerism of not approaching a stranger without a genuine reason."
Ethan’s brows immediately drew together in a frown.
"Since when did lying become part of mannerism in this society?" he shot back.
"Lying?" she repeated, her tone even.
Ethan crossed his arms, his posture rigid. "Pretending not to know me —isn’t that the same thing?"
Adelyn looked at him —slowly, deliberately —from head to toe, before her gaze settled back onto his face.
"Is knowing you that important in life?" she asked calmly.
Ethan parted his lips, ready to respond.
But before he could say anything, she shook her head lightly and continued,
"I genuinely don’t know you. And if you don’t believe that —you’re free to think whatever you like."
It wasn’t as though his perception would cost her anything.
"You—"
Adelyn raised a brow at him, her expression unwavering.
There was something in her stance —something composed yet distant —that made Ethan hesitate.
For the first time, uncertainty flickered across his face.
"Do you really not know me?" he asked. This time his tone not as aggressive as before.
Before Adelyn could answer, another voice cut in from behind—
"Adelyn, what are you—?"
Amelia’s words stopped midway the moment she caught sight of the man standing there.
Her expression shifted instantly.
"Young Master Grant," she greeted politely, her voice carrying a ... practiced warmth. "You’re here too? Is it for practice?"
She offered him a soft, courteous smile.
But the smile stiffened almost immediately when no response came.
Ethan didn’t even spare her a glance.
His gaze remained fixed on Adelyn.
Amelia noticed it.
A subtle tension crept up into her expression as she turned slightly toward Adelyn, lowering her voice to a whisper.
"Did you do ... something?" she asked cautiously.
Adelyn turned her head and looked at her as if the question itself was unreasonable.
Amelia opened her mouth, about to explain further—
But Adelyn cut her off without hesitation.
"You’re done with the call?" she asked instead.
Amelia blinked, caught off guard, but nodded.
"Yes."
"Then let’s not stay here any longer," Adelyn said calmly. "I still have somewhere to be. Let’s leave."
And just like that—
She picked up her towel, turned away, and walked toward the changing room without another glance.
Amelia stood there, momentarily speechless.
She hadn’t expected that.
Whatever had happened in her brief absence, it clearly wasn’t simple.
And yet, Adelyn had chosen to walk away —leaving her behind to deal with the aftermath.
Now she was left standing in front of someone notorious for his sharp tongue and unpredictable temper.
"Your artiste sure knows how to pretend," Ethan remarked coldly.
Amelia turned toward him immediately.
But before she could ask what he meant —or even respond —he had already turned and walked away, his steps firm and unhurried.
Leaving her there with more questions than answers.
—
By the time Adelyn stepped out of the changing room, Amelia was already waiting for her.
The moment she saw her, she walked up without delay.
"Will you now tell me what exactly happened between you and that ’young lord’ of the entertainment industry?" she asked.
Adelyn blinked.
"Young lord?" she repeated.
Amelia nodded, folding her arms slightly as she explained,
"Yes. Ethan Grant is often referred to like that. He’s known for three things —his exceptional acting talent that surpassed many veterans at a young age, his mysterious background, and his notoriously cold, sharp tongue. He’s one of the top-paid actors under Fusion Entertainment."
She paused, then added with a pointed look,
"So now tell me —how did you offend him?"
Adelyn’s gaze drifted toward the direction Ethan might have left.
She might not have recognized him before.
But now that she knew who he was— frёeωebɳovel.com
She found herself wondering something else entirely.
How had she upsetted shim?
She didn’t recall ever crossing paths with him before.
And yet—
The way he spoke ... the way he looked at her ...
It didn’t feel like he saw her for the first time.
Lost in that thought, she barely noticed Amelia snapping her fingers in front of her face.
"Where did you disappear?" Amelia asked. "I’m asking you something. How did you—?"
Before she could finish repeating her question, Adelyn finally spoke.
"Since when did not knowing someone become an offense?" she asked.
Amelia froze.
Her brows twisting in confusion.
"... What?" she said, trying to process it.
But Adelyn didn’t elaborate.
She simply gave her a brief look before walking past her toward the exit.
Amelia hurried to catch up.
"Wait —did you just say you don’t know Ethan Grant?" she asked, her voice almost thick with disbelief.
"I don’t," Adelyn replied plainly.
"But you’re in the same industry," Amelia pressed. "How could you not know him?"
At that, Adelyn stopped.
She turned back slowly.
Her gaze settled on Amelia —steady, unreadable.
Under that look, Amelia felt a strange sense of unease. Almost instinctively, she reached up to touch her face, as if checking if something was wrong. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
And just as she was about to ask—
Adelyn spoke.
"Do you know who the current assistant to Camelia Jones is?" she asked.
Amelia frowned, immediately shaking her head.
"No. Why would I—?"
"There," Adelyn cut in calmly. "You have your answer."
She turned away again.
"We don’t need to know everyone. Knowing oneself is enough."
And with that ... she resumed walking.
Amelia remained rooted in place for a moment, staring after her.
Her mind struggled to connect the logic.
How was not knowing Ethan Grant even remotely comparable to not knowing someone’s assistant?
It didn’t make sense.
And yet—
For some reason, she couldn’t argue against it either.
—
Outside, Adelyn stopped.
Amelia caught up with her a moment later.
"You can head back," Adelyn said simply. "I need to go somewhere else from here."
Amelia had originally planned to drop her off.
But seeing how decisively Adelyn had already put it, she didn’t insist.
"Fine," she said instead. "Then book a cab."
She reached into her bag and pulled out a face mask, handing it to her.
"Also, put this on," she added. "People might not recognize you yet, but the casting announcement for The Empress’s Grace could come out anytime. Once it does, your face won’t stay unknown for long. You need to get used to this."
Adelyn nodded and accepted the mask without objection.
Soon, a cab was booked.
As it arrived, Amelia gave her one last look before leaving.
Adelyn, on the other hand, slipped into the car quietly.
As the vehicle pulled away from the training grounds, her destination was already set—
The restaurant where she had agreed to meet Charlotte.
