Free Web NovelChapter 398: Chapter 395: As Long as You Like It
"Beg me?" Marlon Marshall laughed smugly. "If you want this over with quickly, then hurry up. Stop stalling. If you want your husband to walk in on us, then by all means, keep putting on this little act."
Jean Grant gritted her teeth. "Fine! I’ll cooperate, alright?"
He pulled out of her and held himself to her lips. "Hurry up. Otherwise, I’m not responsible for what happens if your husband sees this."
Gritting her teeth, Jean Grant had no choice but to submit.
It was over in three minutes. Marlon Marshall, likely not wanting to get caught and beaten again, quickly pulled up his pants. He took over a hundred thousand in cash from Jean Grant’s purse, undid her handcuffs, and left the same way he’d entered.
When Nicholas Ainsworth came in, Jean Grant was combing her hair.
"Hurry up, it’s about time."
Jean Grant nodded.
She followed him to go toast the guests.
As the two of them were making their rounds, she intentionally scanned the room for Marlon Marshall, only to find he was already sitting back at his table.
She averted her gaze and started by toasting the guests of their parents’ generation. Next was the table with Quentin Grant, Ethan Ellsworth, Herman Hawthorne, Zoe Ellsworth, Chloe Marshall, Nora Ainsworth, and the two little ones.
Nicholas Ainsworth couldn’t recall the last time he’d seen Nora Ainsworth, and he was a bit taken aback seeing her now.
"You already have two kids?"
Nora Ainsworth nodded.
"So, you’re our sister-in-law now."
Nicholas Ainsworth’s mind was a bit foggy, but he smiled. "In that case, Sister-in-law, please share a toast with me."
Nora Ainsworth stood up, drained her glass in one go, and placed it on the server’s tray. "Wishing you both a happy marriage and a long life together."
Jean Grant nodded. "I hope you and my brother get married soon, too. You already have children; it’s about time you got married."
When Nora Ainsworth remained silent, Quentin Grant stepped in. "That’s a matter of course. But today is all about you. Come on, go toast the other guys."
Her face wreathed in a smile, Jean Grant turned to Ethan Ellsworth and Chloe Marshall.
The atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing.
Ethan Ellsworth hadn’t wanted to attend her wedding at first, but Mrs. Ellsworth had told him that not going would mean he was still holding a grudge. She had returned, and no matter how grave her mistake, it was time to let it go.
"Ethan Ellsworth, Chloe Marshall... I... I’m so sorry. I hope you can forgive my foolishness. Here, I’d like to toast you both." With that, Jean Grant picked up a glass and drained it.
Ethan Ellsworth said nothing. Chloe Marshall sat there, stunned for a moment, before finally speaking. "I will never forgive you. At least, not in my heart. I can’t forget, and I’m not that benevolent. But what’s past is past. I’m just thankful I’m still alive; otherwise, I wouldn’t even be here to hear this apology."
Jean Grant downed another glass, her eyes turning red. "I was wrong. I was so foolish. I may not have your forgiveness, but I know that I wronged you."
After speaking, she moved on to toast Herman Hawthorne.
Once she finished toasting them, she moved on to the other tables.
Nora Ainsworth took Chloe Marshall’s hand and said in a low voice, "Chloe, you... you handled that incredibly well. To stay so calm in front of the person who almost ruined you, who made you suffer so much these past few years."
Chloe Marshall pressed her lips together. "What good would it do to not be calm? Her status is what it is. What can we possibly do to someone like her?"
A helpless expression appeared on Nora Ainsworth’s face. "If you can’t change the world, you can only try to be your best self."
The banquet soon ended, and the group left the hotel together.
Standing at the hotel entrance, they noticed paparazzi taking photos, but none of them paid any mind.
Ethan Ellsworth spoke in a casual tone, "I should get married too. I should hurry things up. How about in three days?"
Hearing this, Chloe Marshall swung their clasped hands. "Then three days it is."
Quentin Grant snorted. "Getting married without waiting for me? That’s cold."
Ethan Ellsworth laughed. "I’m not marrying you, so why would I wait for you? Besides, I’m not getting any younger. It’s time. And as long as you’re willing, isn’t your bride right here and ready to go?"
Quentin Grant gave Nora Ainsworth a mournful look. "It’s not a question of whether I’m willing. It’s a question of whether *she* wants to get married or not."
Herman Hawthorne interjected, "You’re a complete idiot. If it were me, I’d just throw her over my shoulder and haul her off to get married."
Quentin Grant shot him a look. "Yeah, and you got divorced anyway."
That successfully shut him up.
Ethan Ellsworth rubbed his nose. "As long as two people can be together, getting married is just a formality. But the title of ’Mrs. Ellsworth’ is still something you have to give her."
Seeing that Quentin Grant’s expression was thunderous, Nora Ainsworth stepped forward to explain. "It’s not that I don’t want to marry Quentin. It’s just... there’s something I have to do before we get married. Once that’s done, it won’t be too late. I hope that day will come."
"What is it?" everyone asked in unison.
Nora Ainsworth gave a gentle smile. "It’s a secret for now. I don’t have any real leads yet."
Zoe Ellsworth emerged from behind them and said her goodbyes. "Brothers, sisters-in-law, I’m heading to my shop."
"Okay, Zoe. Drive safe."
Zoe Ellsworth nodded, slung her bag over her shoulder, and walked toward her car. For some reason, Herman Hawthorne immediately jogged after her. Ethan Ellsworth nudged Quentin Grant. "What’s he doing?"
"Chasing after your sister, what else could he be doing?"
Ethan Ellsworth jutted out his chin. "Think he’ll succeed?"
"That depends on Young Master Hawthorne’s skills. But with his brains, is there anything he can’t figure out? They might even get back together."
But Ethan Ellsworth had a different opinion. "Knowing our Zoe’s personality, I’d say it’s highly unlikely."
Quentin Grant lifted his wrist to check his watch. "Let’s go. Come hang out at my place. It’s not like you have anything better to do."
He had just finished speaking when Ethan Ellsworth’s assistant, Alice, came walking briskly toward them.
"Boss Ellsworth, you have the costume photoshoot for the new drama this afternoon. It can’t be postponed."
Ethan Ellsworth frowned. "Don’t I still have an hour?"
Alice replied in a businesslike tone, "But you need to be there early."
"You drive back to the office now. I’ll meet you there in an hour, and we’ll go together." ’He didn’t want a moment to himself; he just wanted to be with his little fool.’
Alice glanced at Chloe Marshall, whose fingers were intertwined with his, and felt a pang of jealousy. But with Ethan Ellsworth right there, she could only answer sullenly, "Okay. I’ll wait for you at the office."
The group then got into Quentin Grant’s stretch Lincoln and headed back to his upscale apartment complex.
Once inside, the four adults chatted in the living room.
The three children, with plenty to talk about, scampered upstairs together.
"Wow, Dylan, your house is so big!"
"This is nothing," Elmer Grant said with a grin. "When we grow up, I’ll have my brother buy you a house even bigger than this."
Dorothy Ellsworth shook her head. "I don’t want a big house. It’s just like the Imperial Palace back in Harrowin. It was so big, my legs would get tired just from walking."
Dylan Grant looked at her with a smile. "Whatever you like is fine with me."
Dorothy Ellsworth toddled over on her chubby legs and pushed open Nora Ainsworth’s bedroom door.
"Is this Auntie’s room?"
