Chapter 701: The Thing I Worried About Still Happened

Despite it being late at night, Century Grand Hotel was still bustling with people.

The crowd here consisted of those with high incomes.

Although many recognized Ethan Cole and his party and were excited, no one approached to disturb them; they merely watched from a distance, and nobody took photos.

They chose a corner spot.

Ethan Cole sat down, while the four of them went to get food.

Upon looking, he saw a youthful and beautiful waitress with a standard figure pushing carts around.

The carts were filled with drinks.

The alcohol here had to be purchased separately.

Ethan Cole ordered two bottles of red wine.

At that moment, Ethan Cole’s phone rang.

Upon seeing the caller ID, he immediately became solemn.

It was that elderly man calling.

At this time of night, he should have already been asleep.

He pressed answer: “You’re looking for me so late at night, is there something you need?”

Ethan Cole held the elderly man in high regard.

“There’s a very serious matter I need to discuss with you.”

One sentence from the old man immediately made Ethan Cole straighten his back subconsciously.

When he talked about a serious matter, it was definitely something earth-shattering.

“Hmm, Princess Amira Zahar has told her father that she has taken a fancy to you and wants to recruit you as her consort.

And Amira Zahar’s father has already submitted this suggestion to us.

Our cooperation is very close, and we still rely on purchasing products from their side…”

The old man’s intentions were clear.

For the greater good, he hoped that Ethan Cole would agree.

Ethan Cole sighed in his heart.

In the end, Amira Zahar had taken this step.

Actually, Ethan Cole had already prepared for the worst.

Originally, he had thought that if it really came to this, he would stand firm against Amira Zahar’s family to the end.

But now there was no need.

He now had ample confidence.

Naturally, it was the 14nm smartphone chips.

So he merely asked the old man one question: “How long do I have to prepare?”

If there was plenty of time, he could stall first and wait until the yield rate of the 14nm chips improved before confronting the issue.

“Ah, I knew you would do this,” the elderly man sighed: “I can’t intervene in this matter; it’s up to you now.

I hope you don’t hold any grudges against me.”

“Not at all,” Ethan Cole hurriedly said: “You have already helped me so much, I can handle this matter on my own.”

“Ah, then it’s all up to you,” the old man said with a sigh: “You have half a month’s time.”

No sooner had the call ended than they came over with platefuls of food.

“Wow, the dishes are so diverse today.”

“They even have top-quality sea urchin; outside it sells for over five hundred for just one.”

“Grace, do you want some sashimi?”

“No thanks, Sister Isabelle.”

---

Ethan Cole gathered his thoughts and began to chat with them with a smile.

Originally a bit sleepy, he became more alert as it got past midnight.

After eating, Isabelle Whitfield suggested going to a bar.

Daphne Reyes hesitated: “Can I choose not to go?”

She had never been to such a place before.

Moreover, she had heard it was dirty and vile, with many girls getting drugged while drinking there.

For some reason, she felt an aversion to that place.

Grace Bennett understood her cousin’s mentality the best.

Because she had felt the same way at first.

It took several visits to get used to it.

She told Daphne Reyes that they were going to a bar without all the chaotic mess.

Daphne Reyes only followed grudgingly.

Ethan Cole had wanted to head back to rest right away, nourishing his energy to tackle the current problem.

But seeing their high spirits, he didn’t say anything to dampen the mood.

They went to the pub and drank quite a bit again.

Especially since Isabelle Whitfield saw that Daphne Reyes was there for the first time.

To help her get familiar and comfortable quickly, she kept teaching her various bar games and things to watch out for.

At first, Daphne Reyes was not quite used to it.

But under Isabelle Whitfield’s continuous ‘temptation’, she gradually… seemed to like it?

Without realizing it, the group played until after six in the morning.

Well, it was already six o’clock, so they might as well go for breakfast.

Having indulged once more, Ethan Cole silently told himself he couldn’t do this again in the future.

Yeah.

Whether he could pull it off was one thing, but the necessary contrition was still required.

After breakfast, everyone went their separate ways.

To save time so he could sleep earlier, Ethan Cole pulled Grace Bennett into the shower with him.

Just after the two had finished showering and were lying on the bed with their hair blow-dried, Amira Zahar called Ethan Cole.

Ethan Cole immediately set it to silent.

He didn’t want to deal with it, better to sleep full first.

Grace Bennett, with her keen intuition, asked, “Ethan, did something happen?”

Actually, she had sensed something back at the Century Grand Hotel already.

But since Ethan Cole hadn’t mentioned it, she too suppressed her curiosity and didn’t ask.

“Just a small issue,” Ethan Cole pulled his darling wife close.

The two clung tightly to each other.

Smelling the faint fragrance coming from the beauty in his arms, Ethan Cole felt his mind calm down: “Let’s sleep first, we’ll talk when we wake up, it’s nothing important.”

“Okay~”

The girl in his arms gently tapped on his forehead and then closed her eyes.

As they slept soundly, Amira Zahar was disturbed because she couldn’t get through to Ethan Cole’s phone.

After she made the twelfth call that Ethan Cole didn’t answer, she slumped into the couch.

Her mind buzzing with thoughts, she suddenly felt a tinge of regret.

Was she being too pushy?

Was it unethical?

Was it… a bit shameless?

But she quickly shook her head.

No, I’m not wrong.

I’m just pursuing what I want.

The world is a jungle where only the strong survive.

I am stronger than Grace Bennett, have a background, so I should be more entitled to Ethan Cole than she is.

Thinking this way, Amira Zahar felt entitled to everything she was aiming for.

She looked out the window, her eyes shimmering with an uncertain gleam: “Ethan… you will come to me on your own.”

---

Ethan Cole slept until past noon before waking up.

His stomach was growling.

Grace Bennett was no longer by his side, presumably preparing food.

With her, Ethan Cole didn’t need to worry about the trivial matters.

He checked his phone and saw many missed calls and messages.

The first thing he did was to block and delete all of Amira Zahar’s contact information.

‘Investing’ in Amira Zahar was one of Ethan Cole’s rare failures.

Now that he’d decided to burn bridges with her, he couldn’t be bothered to keep up appearances.

He called Preston Kessler: “What’s the quality rate at now?”

Preston Kessler responded irritably, “It’s only been a few days, what do you think this is, playing with mud? We’ve only improved by three percent.”

Ethan Cole said sternly, “In half a month, increase the quality rate to sixty percent, any problem with that?”

“No problem,” Preston Kessler said calmly, “Just give me the system from a novel and I’ll get it done for you in minutes.”

Chapter 702: I’m a Man with Connections

Ethan Cole smiled.

This guy actually knew about the system.

He didn’t bother with small talk and went straight to the point, “Tell those engineers.

For every five percent increase in yield rate, I’ll give them a hundred million to split among themselves.

But they only have half a month.

How much money they can get depends on themselves.”

With limited time, Ethan Cole couldn’t think of a better solution.

He could only use the most old-fashioned method: generous rewards bring out brave men.

If the yield rate was higher, then his confidence would be stronger.

---

Over the next half-month, Ethan Cole devoted himself entirely to his work.

Amira Zahar didn’t contact him again; it was as if she had forgotten about him.

But Ethan Cole knew it was just the calm before the storm.

That afternoon, Ethan Cole received an invitation.

It invited him to attend a banquet that evening and to bring a family member or girlfriend.

It was an invitation he couldn’t refuse.

The venue was at Empire City’s premier restaurant.

This was not a place that just anyone had access to.

Ethan Cole and Grace Bennett had prepared early.

Ethan Cole, unusually, wasn’t wearing a suit but instead wore a set of slightly youthful Tang clothing.

Grace Bennett wore a cheongsam.

To avoid drawing too much attention to Grace Bennett,

well, mainly the blaze, Ethan Cole didn’t want her to be scrutinized by others, so he asked her to wear a small vest over it.

It didn’t look abrupt. On the contrary, it added a different kind of beauty.

They arrived at the premier restaurant.

They got out of the car.

Grace Bennett, looking up, reached out to touch a few snowflakes.

She murmured to herself, “It’s snowing again tonight.”

Sensing the worry in her voice, Ethan Cole grabbed her hand.

Her hand was cold.

He wasn’t sure if it was due to the weather or because she was overly anxious.

Ethan Cole smiled calmly, “Don’t worry, I have everything under control.

Even in the worst-case scenario, we’d just be settling on Terrapin Isle.”

Long ago, Ethan Cole had prepared extensively.

He had people buy properties and shops in many places overseas.

He also placed a portion of his money, about five or six billion, in other regions.

Even in the most severe circumstances, he could ensure that everyone close to him had nothing to worry about.

His hand was large and warm, immediately calming her heart, and a faint smile appeared on her face.

The two walked side by side toward the inside.

Someone was waiting inside to escort them to the top floor.

There was only one room here.

As they pushed open the door, everyone else had already arrived.

The room had over twenty people, many of whom were often seen online.

Ethan Cole was somewhat taken aback, “I’m sorry, we are late.”

He had actually arrived half an hour early.

The man in his fifties sitting in the middle smiled, “No problem at all, we came early. Have a seat.”

This man’s surname was Zhang, named Holland Chastain, with considerable personal charm and outstanding work ability.

Ethan Cole led Grace Bennett to the remaining two seats.

They were directly opposite Amira Zahar’s family.

It was obviously intentional.

Amira Zahar was exceptionally eye-catching today.

Dressed in incredibly lavish clothes, her face was painted with makeup that was exquisitely refined.

She looked infinitely charming, as if she were glowing.

This was a stark contrast to her usual cute and innocent look.

At that moment, Amira Zahar’s gaze was burning as she looked at Ethan Cole.

After tonight, Ethan Cole would belong to her completely.

So seeing Ethan Cole so close to Grace Bennett, she felt a bit uncomfortable inside.

Amira Zahar’s father, Faisal Zahar, and her mother, Layla Zahar, were also watching Ethan Cole.

It had to be said, even though they had seen countless young talents.

They still had to admit that Ethan Cole was truly exceptional.

Their daughter indeed had very good taste.

The only downside was that Ethan Cole had already announced publicly that he was going to marry Grace Bennett.

But that wasn’t too big of a problem.

When the time came, they would simply have Ethan Cole release a statement, saying that the relationship between the two of them had broken down.

“Hehe,” Holland Chastain chuckled, “Let’s eat first, we can talk while we eat.”

The minds of everyone present were elsewhere.

Faisal Zahar had barely eaten a few bites when he took the initiative to speak to Ethan Cole, “Mr. Cole, do you think the wedding should be held here, or should we go back to Zaharia to do it?

Or we could even hold ceremonies in both places, that’s possible too.”

Amira Zahar’s face immediately turned red.

She glanced at Ethan Cole twice, too embarrassed to lower her head.

Then she sneakily raised her head to take another look.

Her coy demeanor made Faisal Zahar and Layla Zahar burst into hearty laughter.

The others at the table quickly joined in the laughter.

Only Ethan Cole remained calm.

Grace Bennett’s lips had turned a bit white.

Her hands were under the table, clenched unconsciously.

Faisal Zahar looked at Grace Bennett and said, “You’re innocent in this matter as well.

We wouldn’t let you suffer for nothing, so we will compensate you with twenty billion dollars.”

True to the moniker of big-shot, he spoke of twenty billion as if it was a mere two hundred dollars in the eyes of ordinary people.

Not even blinking an eye.

“Heh,” Ethan Cole let out an inappropriate cold laugh, “When did I ever say I agreed to this?”

As soon as he said this, the room immediately fell silent.

Amira Zahar looked at Ethan Cole in disbelief.

She wanted to say something, but the circumstances didn’t allow her to speak.

She simply stared at Ethan Cole with a gaze full of confusion and a touch of anger.

What’s the point of struggling now, when it’s impossible to resist?

Faisal Zahar’s expression darkened, “This matter has been decided by everyone; you have no room to resist!”

To be honest, with his status, even talking about this matter was already giving Ethan Cole a lot of face.

To dare say such things at this meeting was a severe slap to his face.

If not for his daughter’s deep affection for Ethan Cole, he would make things very difficult for him.

Holland Chastain took a sip of tea, his expression mild as he looked at Ethan Cole, “Amira Zahar is a truly fine woman.

If you marry her, your future prospects will be boundless.

I know you value loyalty and righteousness, but sometimes as a man, you should prioritize your career and the bigger picture.”

Coming from him, these words carried significant weight.

The room was filled with a heavy pressure, and everyone’s face bore a profoundly serious expression.

Grace Bennett remained silent throughout, keeping her breathing as low as possible.

Unexpectedly, Faisal Zahar looked at Grace Bennett again and said, “If you truly love Ethan Cole, you shouldn’t bind him.

Instead, you should let him go; he is destined to soar across the sky.

Not to be trapped by your side, only able to be a little sparrow. You’re hurting him, don’t you understand!”

Chapter 703: Ethan Cole: No More Pretense, Laying the Cards on the Table

After Faisal Zahar finished speaking, he stared at Grace Bennett with an incredibly sharp gaze.

This was pure moral coercion!

Ethan Cole felt extremely displeased and was about to retort.

But he didn’t expect the one who had been silent the whole time to suddenly lift her head.

Those soft eyes, like gemstones, were now emitting an unrivaled brilliance.

It seemed the entire room brightened a bit at that moment.

She looked at Faisal Zahar and said, “Mr. Faisal Zahar, I have personally witnessed Ethan grow from nothing to a net worth of hundreds of billions.

He achieved this entirely through his own effort.

And to top it all off, it took him only about three years.

To put it less pleasantly, even without your help,

it wouldn’t be long before Ethan becomes one of the wealthiest people in this world.”

The underlying message was: Don’t think too highly of yourselves.

Don’t take yourselves too seriously.

Ethan Cole couldn’t help but want to applaud when he heard this.

That’s my Grace for you.

She may seem gentle on ordinary days, blushing after speaking just a few words,

but I didn’t expect her to stand up and join my side at a critical moment. It was incredibly supportive.

When we get back later, I’ll definitely have to ‘reward’ her properly.

Faisal Zahar was taken aback.

He hadn’t expected this seemingly weak and slightly socially anxious girl to speak such strong words.

His expression darkened on the spot: “Who gave you the permission to speak to me like this? Get out, you’re not welcome here!”

Grace Bennett bit her lip and stopped talking.

She had already made her stance clear.

It was better to leave the rest for Ethan Cole to handle.

Ethan Cole held her hand, his eyes looking sharply at Faisal Zahar: “She is my fiancée, the woman I’m going to marry. By what right do you speak to her like this!”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone at the scene was shocked, looking at Ethan Cole in disbelief.

This kid is really bold; does he understand what he’s saying?

Holland Chastain frowned slightly, his voice growing a bit heavier: “Ethan Cole, don’t be rude!”

Ethan Cole shrugged: “It’s not my fault, who asked this guy to disrespect his elders.”

Faisal Zahar was so angry he nearly slammed the table.

If this had been in Zaharia, Ethan Cole’s grave grass would have been several meters tall by now.

“Ethan Cole!” Amira Zahar couldn’t hold back anymore: “Don’t be so willful.

This matter is no longer just about the two of us, it affects the relationship between two…”

Looking at Grace Bennett, she pleaded earnestly, “Sister Grace, I know you might be a bit unhappy right now.

But please take my advice, Ethan can only advance his career further if he is with me, and his future prospects will be much broader.

Moreover, you two have been together for so long and still have no children.

I’ve heard that even if someone is healthy, there are certain couples who just can’t have children no matter what.

You better persuade him to let go, or else he might lose everything he has now.”

Given Amira Zahar’s capabilities, as long as she gave the money, she could naturally find out that Grace Bennett had made many trips to the hospital for checkups over the years.

Then, with a bit of analysis, she could figure out what was going on.

Grace Bennett couldn’t help but lower her head.

Ethan Cole, however, was filled with disgust towards Amira Zahar.

He didn’t try to hide the revulsion in his gaze when he looked at her.

This woman had no sense of boundaries.

To say such things in public.

In addition to embarrassing him and Grace Bennett, it also made people feel that Amira Zahar was not a good person.

Layla Zahar nudged Amira Zahar under the table, giving her a look.

Amira Zahar turned pale.

She had spoken without thinking just now.

Now realizing what she had done, she was instantly filled with regret.

But the words had already been spoken, and there was no taking them back.

Amira Zahar simply decided to play the villain to the end.

After all, things had already come to this, and the matter must be resolved today.

Otherwise, she would be utterly humiliated.

“Impossible, get that thought out of your head,” Ethan Cole’s tone was as cold as frost, “I will never marry you!”

Amira Zahar bit her lip.

She bit so hard that she even broke the skin.

She felt humiliated!

In front of so many people, Ethan Cole repeatedly refused her, which was extremely embarrassing for her.

She decided not to pretend anymore, her face became gloomy, “You have no choice, unless you want to have nothing at all!”

Holland Chastain took a sip of tea and rubbed his eyebrows.

He felt a tremendous headache.

How did things get to this point?

“Ethan Cole, this is not the time to be temperamental,” he looked at Ethan Cole and said, “I still say the same thing, we must consider the bigger picture.”

Ethan Cole was now too important; he couldn’t simply use his power to pressure him.

In the absence of a last resort, persuasion was still the main approach.

Having said that, he turned to Grace Bennett with a pleasant expression and said, “Miss Bennett, I know you two are very close.

But… I hope you can also make a small sacrifice.

In this world, there are many things much more important than love.

Like money, status, fame, and the like.

If you agree, you can have these things immediately.”

Grace Bennett suddenly laughed.

With that laugh, the entire room seemed a few shades brighter.

Men and women present were all shocked by her beauty.

The thought ‘so beautiful’ involuntarily flashed through their minds.

Even when not smiling, Grace was already stunningly beautiful.

With that smile, she truly turned all heads.

Many eyes were fixated on her.

It’s no wonder Ethan Cole was so fond of Grace Bennett.

Just a smile alone emitted a charm so strong that it was irresistible.

Amira Zahar couldn’t help but feel defeated.

She admitted that just in terms of appearance, she was far inferior to Grace Bennett.

But in this world, looks are important, but they’re not everything.

The advantage was still on her side!

With this thought, Amira Zahar calmed down again.

Then they heard Grace’s soft and delicate voice, “If he says himself that he doesn’t want me, then I will leave immediately.

But… if you expect me to leave him of my own accord, sorry, I can’t do that.

Even if you… kill me right here and now.”

Her voice was gentle, but her tone was filled with unwavering resolve.

The expressions of everyone present changed repeatedly.

No one had expected that what seemed to them at first a simple matter would eventually escalate to this point.

Amira Zahar could no longer hold back.

She stood up, “I’ve tried to reason with you nicely, don’t be ungrateful!”

A dangerous aura emanated from her.

Clearly, the young woman’s patience had run out, and she was about to resort to some unconventional means.

Faisal Zahar and Layla Zahar did not speak; their silence was an evident agreement with Amira Zahar’s words.

“Alas,” Ethan Cole sighed, “I really didn’t want to reveal this so soon.

But since you insist on acting this way, fine then.

Let’s lay all our cards on the table. Now… let’s have everyone witness the moment the Faisal Zahar family bows their heads to me…”

Chapter 704: Shocking the Entire Audience!

“Pfft!”

Upon hearing Ethan Cole’s words, Faisal Zahar, Layla Zahar, and Amira Zahar couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Ethan Cole’s remark was indeed quite amusing.

Have us beg him?

Are you alright?

Holland Chastain’s patience had already run out.

Just as he was about to speak up and tell Ethan Cole to stop messing around and settle the matter,

he saw Ethan Cole suddenly take out a document from the briefcase he was carrying.

He stood up and walked over to Holland Chastain, “Please take a look at this before we continue.”

Holland Chastain gave Ethan Cole a puzzled look, then turned his attention to the document on the table.

As he picked it up and glanced at it,

he instantly felt his pupils dilate.

He quickly looked up at Ethan Cole.

Ethan Cole smiled, “Really, I wouldn’t joke about something like this.”

After saying that, he sat back down in his original seat.

Holland Chastain struggled to contain the shock in his heart and continued reading.

As for the others present, their curiosity was also intensely piqued.

What exactly did Ethan Cole give him that provoked such a strong reaction?

The entire scene suddenly became deathly quiet.

Everyone could feel an intimidating aura emanating from Holland Chastain, and they didn’t dare to speak.

Holland Chastain spent more than ten minutes and read the document twice before closing it.

Without a word, he handed it to Faisal Zahar.

Amira Zahar and Layla Zahar also hurriedly leaned in.

At the top of the document, it read, “On the Successful Development of Our Company’s Latest Chip – The Fourteen-Nanometer Chip” – in both Eagle language and Chinese.

“This is impossible!” Layla Zahar exclaimed instinctively.

But he quickly shut his mouth.

Amira Zahar’s head was buzzing.

Fourteen-nanometer chips?

It’s a fake, right?

This country, does it have the capability?!

No, it doesn’t, it absolutely doesn’t!

Faisal Zahar flipped through the pages with a dark expression on his face.

After the three of them had read the document from beginning to end, they felt a chill all over.

The others present had long since been enveloped by great curiosity.

It’s not.

What is this thing that’s causing you all to cry out in alarm?

Holland Chastain’s gaze was piercing as he looked at Ethan Cole, “Fourteen-nanometer chips, you’ve really developed them?

You better not be deceiving me, or the consequences will be severe!”

“Boom!”

A roar erupted from the scene all at once.

Apart from the few who had seen the document, everyone’s faces showed a look of shock.

Fourteen nanometers?

What kind of joke is this!

Even the top companies overseas have only recently developed the forty-eight-nanometer chips.

And it’s well known that our country’s chip development has always been several generations behind that of foreign countries.

It was only the last time that Ethan Cole used some strategy to purchase a batch of lithography machines from abroad that the gap was somewhat closed.

But chips are not just about having lithography machines.

There are many other aspects involved.

It’s not something that can be broken through so easily.

However, now,

Ethan Cole was telling him that his company had even managed to manufacture fourteen-nanometer smartphone chips.

And what’s more, the yield rate was as high as sixty-five percent!

That’s the charm of money.

Under Ethan Cole’s generous spending, the results were surprisingly good.

Those engineers were willing to work overtime for twenty-four hours a day, desperately pushing to increase the yield rate.

The results were obvious.

“Is this for real, Mr. Cole?”

“Fourteen nanometers? This isn’t a joke!”

“I… I don’t even know what to say anymore.”

…

Ethan Cole said with a smile, “That’s right, it’s true.

Last month, we successfully developed the 14-nanometer mobile chip.

Initially, the yield rate wasn’t high, but now it’s about there.

And the performance of this chip is several times that of the 48-nanometer one, everyone!”

Suddenly, Ethan Cole stood up and spread his arms wide.

With passion and fervor, he said, “In the past, we heavily relied on foreign countries for mobile chips.

They would sell us something that cost ten dollars for a thousand dollars, and they had the nerve to act like we should be grateful.

Over the years, they must have made a fortune off us.

But now, that situation is gone forever.

Starting today, we will no longer be on the defensive, but sound the horn of offense!

We will sell our own chips all over the world and reap the benefits!”

Although everyone present was no longer young and had passed their fiery youth,

they couldn’t help but feel their blood boil upon hearing Ethan Cole’s words.

The faces of Faisal Zahar’s family were uglier than ever before.

Who could have imagined that Ethan Cole would pull out something like this at the crucial moment?

How could they still play the game?

How could they continue the fight?

Their demand for chips in Zaharia was also significant.

Because their country’s resources were quite limited,

they needed to import many things from abroad.

In recent years, in order not to rely excessively on oil, they even started other industries domestically.

And chips were precisely the most crucial core component.

With this move, Ethan Cole had them in a vice grip.

The chips were produced in Ethan Cole’s factory.

If he didn’t want to sell to you, then he wouldn’t.

You had no recourse.

Only now did they recall what Grace Bennett had said before.

This man had walked a path in just a few years that many could not walk in several lifetimes.

The previous intimidation now looked like a joke, didn’t it?

Who would dare to do that now!

This is the 14-nanometer chip!

The most cutting-edge in the world right now.

Apart from Ethan Cole, no other company could produce it!

If they offended him, they could forget about getting the top-tier chips in the future.

Grace Bennett lifted her head and looked at the passionate and eloquent Ethan Cole, a seductive smile appearing on her face.

He was indeed the man she wanted to be with in this life, the next life, and the life after that.

He was just amazing!

After he finished speaking, Ethan Cole sat down.

He looked at Faisal Zahar with a gentle expression, “May I ask if you need to purchase the 14-nanometer chip?”

Ethan Cole was no three-year-old child.

He would not go all out to humiliate the other party.

The other party wasn’t any Tom, Dick, or Harry; doing so would only feel good momentarily, but it would bring Ethan Cole no benefits.

One outcome would be to make Faisal Zahar lose face completely and lose the Zaharia market forever.

The other was that real power players like Holland Chastain were still present.

If they thought Ethan Cole was petty, it would undoubtedly have some impact.

And sure enough.

As soon as Ethan Cole said these words, the expressions of both Faisal Zahar’s family and people like Holland Chastain relaxed.

Then, as if by unspoken agreement, they glossed over the matter of the coerced marriage.

The group at the dining table was all smiles, as if the tense situation had never happened.

In the whole venue, only Amira Zahar kept her head down, incessantly picking at her food without taking a single bite.

The banquet ended.

Ethan Cole left, holding Grace Bennett’s hand.

“Wait!”

Amira Zahar’s voice came from behind them.

Ethan Cole and Grace Bennett turned around, both looking at her with expressionless faces.

What sort of tricks was she up to now?

Chapter 705: A Complete Loss

“I want to talk to you,” Amira Zahar said with a sorrowful expression.

Ethan Cole had wanted to refuse.

But Grace Bennett gently shook his arm.

Ethan Cole changed his mind, “Fine, you have three minutes.”

“I was wrong,” Amira Zahar said with a bitter smile. “And I’ve also lost, utterly defeated.”

Ethan Cole, with a cold face, said nothing.

He now had not a single good feeling for this woman.

If it weren’t for the timely success of the 14-nanometer chip,

providing Ethan Cole a powerful trump card,

he would now be facing a loss of tens or even hundreds of billions.

Hence, after all the years of endeavor, more than 90% would have been lost.

There is a saying: blocking one’s money is like killing one’s parents.

It is an incredibly vile act.

Giving her three minutes was solely out of consideration for Grace Bennett’s feelings.

“Honestly,” Amira Zahar sighed, “you are the most outstanding man I have ever met in every aspect.

Even… if you had been born into a family like mine, then…”

“Stop.” Ethan Cole frowned, not wanting to engage in such a sensitive topic, “If there’s nothing else, let’s leave it at that.”

“Hold on,” Amira Zahar said, biting her lip. “I’ve lost, and there’s nothing more to say.

The money I invested earlier, you don’t need to return it.

Also, if you have any business in the future in Zaharia,

as long as I am able, I will definitely do my utmost.”

Then, she looked towards Grace Bennett.

Without a word, just bowed at ninety degrees.

After pausing for a few seconds, she straightened up and walked away.

“She… is kind of pitiable,” Grace Bennett said, then felt Ethan Cole’s disapproving gaze.

Immediately, she stuck out her tongue, “Sorry, my mistake.”

Ethan Cole, with a stern face, said, “I am very angry right now.”

Grace Bennett shrank her neck and said, “Then I… I’ll stay at Aunt’s place tonight.”

As she was about to run,

Ethan Cole grabbed the collar of her shirt from behind, “Thinking of running? It’s too late, tonight I will show you what ‘luring the snake from its hole’ means.”

Grace Bennett: “…”

The news that Ethan Cole’s chip factory had developed a 14-nanometer chip spread across the globe the next day.

The world was astounded!

But more so, people were incredulous!

No one could believe that Ethan Cole and America had developed the latest model of the chip before the top international tech companies.

However, a few tech companies sent people to personally investigate the news.

If it were true, it would be a heavy blow to many international tech giants.

Ethan Cole didn’t pay much attention to the variable situation of the international tech companies.

He had been very busy these days.

Because New Year’s was approaching.

With only a week left, there was suddenly much to do.

The personnel arrangements before and after the holidays and the distribution of bonuses to employees all required Ethan Cole’s personal confirmation.

Grace Bennett also came to the company to help, even pausing her live broadcasts.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

The door to Ethan Cole’s office was knocked open.

Ally entered from outside.

She placed a document in front of Ethan Cole, “Boss, this is the group’s financial report for the entire year.”

Ethan Cole immediately picked it up to review.

One standard to judge a company’s potential,

is to see if its profit this year exceeds that of the previous year.

And this year, QuickRead Group’s performance was particularly impressive.

After reading, Ethan Cole asked Ally, “Are you sure there’s no mistake?”

“No,” Ally shook her head. “I’ve confirmed all the data at least ten times.”

“Hahaha, very good, extremely good!” Ethan Cole laughed heartily.

This year, QuickRead Group’s growth has been explosive!

Firstly, regarding entertainment.

The total revenue from films, pleasant music, novel websites, and live streaming was one hundred and sixty billion.

The net profit was fifty-five billion!

Then there’s the gaming sector.

Although the number of games the group has compared to other major game companies is only about one percent.

But each game is a masterpiece, a hen that lays golden eggs continuously.

The total revenue for this sector was ninety-seven billion, with a net profit of twelve and a half billion!

Then there are mobile phones (including built-in software), chips, screens, memory, etc.

The total revenue was three hundred billion.

The net profit was just over forty billion.

Finally, e-commerce.

This segment was much less.

The total revenue was ten billion, with a net profit of only over twenty million.

This was because the early investments had been written off.

The last items are the various shops and rents around the country, which together accounted for over five hundred million.

The group’s total revenue was five hundred and sixty-seven billion.

The net profit totaled a staggering one hundred and eight billion!

Even after taxes, it was eighty billion!

Compared to last year, this was a significant increase.

This year’s main growth driver was actually still entertainment.

Particularly with the help of the “School beauty” trend, Ethan Cole made a substantial profit.

Since the group has no shareholders, Ethan Cole can freely distribute the post-tax eighty billion.

And next year, as the 14nm chips are rolled out, the group’s main growth driver will shift from entertainment to the technology sector.

Eventually leading the group through a splendid transformation.

Ethan Cole was in a great mood.

The future potential of QuickRead Group is unimaginable.

Ally then brought another document for Ethan Cole to sign.

The document was thick.

This was this year’s annual bonus.

Ethan Cole examined it carefully.

Some employees had exceptionally large annual bonuses.

The first and second names listed were, notably, Ally and Avi.

Their bonuses were one and a half billion and one and two-tenths billion, respectively.

Note: Annual bonuses are also included in the company’s cost expenditures and are not within the range of net profit.

The third-place was Daphne Reyes with eighty million.

Those whose annual bonuses exceeded a million each had specific reasons, performance, etc., noted.

No need to discuss the performance of Ally and Avi.

Without these two sisters, the group’s earnings would drop by at least fifteen percent.

And Ethan Cole wouldn’t have it so easy either.

So definitely, the money would not be begrudged.

As for why Daphne Reyes also received such a high year-end bonus.

It was because since she had joined QuickRead Group, she had been diligent and made many contributions.

If it weren’t for her short time with the company, she would definitely have been the top bonus earner this year.

After Ethan Cole saw there were no issues, he signed the document.

He said to Ally, “Let Finance distribute the annual bonuses to everyone before they clock out.”

The group was starting their holiday today.

Only a small portion of employees would stay behind.

Those staying here for the new year would be earning four times their salary plus a ten thousand dollars new year bonus.

Many employees were competing to stay and work overtime.

“Alright, I’ll make the arrangements, then I’ll be heading out, boss.”

After Ally left, Ethan Cole also planned to leave.

But just at that moment, his phone began to vibrate rapidly.

Chapter 706: I Really Didn’t Mean to Show Off

Ethan Cole took out his phone and glanced at it.

The message had come from a group chat named “Tranquility and Distance.”

Hmm, such a profound group name, must have been Lawrence Farrow’s idea.

The group itself was created by Ethan Cole.

The members were few, all top tycoons from the domestic market.

Two Ma’s, Old Pruett, Old Winters, and so on, with Ethan Cole included, there were no more than ten people in total.

Upon opening the chat, he saw that Lawrence Farrow had @’ed him.

[Hehe, have a look at something good, Orbit Commerce’s financial statement for this year]

There was an image attached as well.

Ethan Cole clicked on it to take a closer look.

Orbit Commerce’s total revenue for last year was 160 billion, with a net profit of 26 billion.

Several of the tycoons in the group sent their congratulations.

“Congratulations, such impressive results.”

“Orbit Commerce has been established for less than ten years and to have such achievements, its future is limitless.”

---

Lawrence Farrow: Hehe, it’s alright, these results are just so-so.

Then Lawrence Farrow @’ed Ethan Cole again: Ah, I made so much money by accident, feels a bit troublesome, don’t know how to spend it.

“…” Ethan Cole curled his lips.

This Old Ma, wasn’t subtle about bragging at all.

Seeing this, another President Farrow couldn’t hold back, and after @’ing Ethan Cole, he too posted an image.

Titan Interactive’s total revenue for last year was 220 billion, with a net profit of 39 billion.

President Farrow: @Ethan Cole: Last year’s results were also decent, Mr. Cole, with some effort, you can eventually reach this level too.

Ethan Cole: “???”

Thanks a bunch, really.

Following that, the other few business magnates in the group also began showing off their groups’ total revenues and net profits from the past year.

All very remarkable.

In the whole group, only Ethan Cole hadn’t published his.

President Farrow: Mr. Cole, why don’t you show us your group’s report card?

Lawrence Farrow: QuickRead Group may not have been around for long, but I estimate its net profit must also be over 10 billion.

Old Pruett: It should be, Mr. Cole, don’t be shy, it’s understandable if QuickRead Group’s net profit isn’t as much as ours because it’s newer.

---

Hangcheng.

Lawrence Farrow sat in his office, grinning while looking at the chat.

That’s right, he was showing off, flaunting his success to Ethan Cole.

Last year, Ethan Cole had stolen ninety percent of the spotlight in the internet world.

This made Lawrence Farrow considerably annoyed.

Now that he had the chance, of course, he’d want to suppress Ethan Cole’s momentum.

“Ah,” Lawrence Farrow sighed. “The potential of QuickRead Group can’t be underestimated, but after all, it’s still growing.

I guess that a net profit of 10 to 12 billion would be quite astonishing already.”

He was already giving a very high estimate.

The other business magnates essentially harbored similar thoughts.

In the past year, the lion’s share of the limelight had been hogged by Ethan Cole and QuickRead Group.

The most direct consequence was that their own groups were all ranked below QuickRead Group by the major investment agencies.

Ethan Cole, looking at these comments in the chat, curled the corners of his mouth.

He replied: This… isn’t it inappropriate? I’m afraid if I post the financial statement, you won’t be able to eat dinner.

He swore, he meant those words from the bottom of his heart.

But in the eyes of these business tycoons, that was just Ethan Cole being sheepish.

President Farrow: It’s fine, I’ve been dieting lately, just post it.

Lawrence Farrow: Mr. Cole and QuickRead Group are young, surpassing us is only a matter of time.

Old Pruett: Exactly, let’s take a look at QuickRead Group’s strength.

“Sigh!”

Ethan Cole let out a sigh.

These cunning tycoons, they were actually quite nice.

Each one of them offering their face up for him to slap.

Ethan Cole felt it would be rude not to oblige them.

However, in order not to affect the camaraderie, Ethan Cole asked again, are you sure you want me to post it?

All nine people in the group replied with the four words ‘you must post it.’

Since they insisted so much, Ethan Cole wasn’t going to be polite about it either.

He quietly pasted the total revenue and net profit of the group for the past year.

Fifty-six trillion and seven hundred billion in total revenue, with one trillion and eighty billion in net profit!

These two figures were like two giant suns.

When they appeared in the group chat, they shone so brightly that all nine members instinctively closed their eyes.

They vigorously shook their heads, then opened their eyes again.

There was no blurriness.

Indeed, it was over five hundred billion in total revenue and over one hundred billion in net profit.

President Farrow: ???

Lawrence Farrow: ???

Old Pruett: ???

Marlowe Quinlan: ???

---

Ethan Cole saw that all nine people in the group had simultaneously sent question marks and the corners of his lips slightly curved upwards.

Ethan Cole: Sigh, this year’s net profit growth didn’t meet expectations, it’s kind of annoying.

Show off? As if nobody else could do it.

President Farrow: Are you sure these figures aren’t fabricated?

Lawrence Farrow: I don’t believe it!

Old Pruett: Your figures are a bit excessive, haha, please tell me they’re fake.

---

The nine business tycoons in the group were unsettled.

They had thought that among them, Ethan Cole had the least solid foundation.

Even with boundless potential, as things stood, there was no way he could compare with them.

But the image Ethan Cole posted had them utterly dumbfounded.

Ethan Cole: How could these figures be made up? Later, you can check how much tax QuickRead Group paid to see for yourself.

With that said, no one doubted the authenticity of these figures anymore.

The next second…

[President Farrow has left the group chat]

[Lawrence Farrow has left the group chat]

[Old Pruett has left the group chat]

[Marlowe Quinlan has left the group chat]

---

In the blink of an eye, only Ethan Cole was left in the group.

Ethan Cole: “???”

He was somewhat at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

Come on, they’re all grown-ups, how can they not handle a little setback?

Ethan Cole added each of them back to the group.

President Farrow: Cough, cough, the weather is nice today, isn’t it?

Lawrence Farrow @Old Pruett: Shall we go play golf later?

Old Pruett: Sure, bring your secretary along, hehehe.

Lawrence Farrow: My secretary’s a guy.

Old Pruett: I know.

Lawrence Farrow: ???

Ethan Cole: ???

President Farrow: ???

The group chat was fervently buzzing.

But no one mentioned the financial statement anymore.

Damn it.

A miscalculation, it was a serious miscalculation.

So they will absolutely not let Ethan Cole show off again.

However, Ethan Cole was starting to get addicted.

You all ‘provoked’ me first, now you want to just gloss over it so easily. It won’t be that simple.

I haven’t had my fill of fun yet.

So Ethan Cole added another line to the group chat: How about we all announce last year’s financial statement together tonight?

Let the netizens and investors see the potential and strength of our groups, what do you think?

[President Farrow has left the group chat]

[Lawrence Farrow has left the group chat]

[Old Pruett has left the group chat]

---

Ethan Cole: “…”

Chapter 707: Shrimp and Pig’s Heart

These veterans always leave the group at the drop of a hat.

Ethan Cole, speechless, pulled them back in again.

Then…

He sent out QuickRead Group’s financial statement again.

And added a caption, “As a junior just a few years into starting my own business, there’s a lot I don’t understand.”

“I’d really appreciate it if the seniors could give me some guidance—where can I improve in this financial statement?”

Shrimp-brained, pig-hearted!

Shrimp-brained, pig-hearted!

This phrase directly silenced the nine bigwigs.

What can we teach you?

We teach you a fig!

I’ve seen shameless people, but never one this shameless.

Are you asking for advice?

You’re clearly just showing off!

The nine bigwigs were so infuriated they considered leaving the group again.

This crappy group is unbearable even for a second.

Seeing that they weren’t talking, Ethan Cole added, “Why aren’t you saying anything? Were you born not liking to talk?”

President Farrow: I have some issues at my company, I need to deal with them.

Mr. Liu: My mistress has shown up, I need to deal with that.

Marlowe Quinlan: My friend’s wife is giving birth, I’m going to help her deliver… no, I mean, I’m going to buy her baby formula.

…

Before you knew it, no one in the group was speaking, and silence fell.

And it was decided that this year’s company report would not be made public!

Although this would be somewhat troublesome.

It would be enough to show it to the shareholders.

If anyone were to release it, they’d definitely get stabbed in the back by Ethan Cole.

Then he’d step on them on his way up.

This was something Ethan Cole often did.

Ethan Cole, noting the silence in the group, felt a pang of regret.

It was like having a poop that was only half-done, very uncomfortable.

So, he opened his backend on DailyPulse.

He edited a post: “The group’s financial statement from last year is out, sharing it with everyone.”

Ah, the results are so-so, I hope you guys won’t berate us, just give us some more time and space to grow.

@President Farrow, @Mr. Liu, @Marlowe Quinlan, @Lawrence Farrow, @Mr. Whitman, @Mr. Li, @Mr. Chen, @Mr. Wang.

Your companies must surely perform better than QuickRead Group.

Please, seniors, reveal your financial statements so I can worship them.

…

After checking several times and finding no issues, Ethan Cole clicked send.

Just on DailyPulse alone, Ethan Cole now had tens of millions of followers.

Plus, there were many media outlets specifically watching this account.

Anything he posted would be shared and spread immediately as people scrambled for traffic.

So, less than three minutes after Ethan Cole’s post went live, there were already over a thousand comments below it.

[Whoa, net profit in the hundreds of billions, what kind of company is this?]

[I remember QuickRead Group was established less than three years ago, right?]

[I’ve never seen such an outrageous company, less than three years old with net profit in the hundreds of billions]

[To be honest, is Mr. Cole a time traveler?]

…

Ethan Cole was already a hot topic.

With the posting of this financial statement, an intense debate immediately erupted online.

It also garnered many comments from professionals in the field.

A financial blogger with over two million followers had this to say:

Just looking at the numbers, you might not be particularly shocked.

Let me make a simple analogy; it’s like sending a three-year-old child to the battlefield.

Not only do they survive, but they also come back with a first-class merit.

This analysis was shared by many, making many ordinary netizens aware of the formidable capabilities of QuickRead Group.

Then, quite a few netizens also flocked to the accounts of the nine business giants Ethan Cole had mentioned to comment.

[President Farrow, let’s see your group’s financial statement]

[Your group has been established for over a decade now, it must be even more powerful than QuickRead Group]

[Please share it so we all can have a look]

…

The nine business magnates now really wanted to pulverize Ethan Cole.

This guy was simply too hateful.

It was “utter annihilation.”

There was no possibility of releasing it; it would never happen in this lifetime.

If it didn’t come out, they could save a bit of face.

If it did come out, that’d be another slap in the face.

So, facing the onlookers who loved nothing better than a big fuss, they all chose to play dead.

They’d wait until the buzz died down before saying anything.

Ethan Cole refreshed the page.

Yo-ho.

The comment count had hit ten thousand.

The heat was even more intense than Ethan Cole had anticipated.

Since that was the case, he struck while the iron was hot and posted another update.

It was about the year-end bonuses and benefits the company had given to employees this year.

Especially the top ten, highlighted in red, enlarged, and bolded.

QuickRead Group was also looking to hire more talent.

Nothing was more attractive than company benefits.

And when Ethan Cole posted about the benefits, it undoubtedly caused another huge stir.

This time, it took less than two minutes for the comments to break ten thousand.

[May I ask if your esteemed company needs a watchdog? Aside from looking human, I’m pretty dog-like in all other aspects.]

[Holy moly, using ‘billion’ as the unit for year-end bonuses!]

[Stop talking, I’m going to apply for a cleaning job right now.]

[Don’t compete with me up there, I’ve been a lickspittle for twenty years, I can make toilets sparkle clean without cleaning agents.]

…

Ethan Cole’s phone rang.

It was a strange number.

He pressed the answer button.

“Hello Mr. Cole, this is the vice president from Mr. Chen’s Group. If I were to resign and join your company…”

Ethan Cole: “???”

Within half an hour, Ethan Cole had received calls from over a dozen people planning to switch jobs.

And they were all top talents from the country’s leading companies.

Ethan Cole, of course, welcomed them.

With these talents joining, his company would only continue to grow better and smoother.

Yeah.

The only downside might be that the business magnates would be a bit angry?

So Ethan Cole decisively shut off his phone.

When they asked later, he’d just say, “I didn’t know about it, I have no idea.”

When Ethan Cole got home, he found it quite lively.

There were about a dozen glamorous women in their twenties and thirties.

When they saw Ethan Cole, they all greeted him with smiles.

Grace Bennett stood up, walked over, and hooked her arm through Ethan Cole’s saying, “These are the sisters from the Blossom Society; they’ve come to visit our home.”

“Welcome, everyone,” Ethan Cole said with a nod and a smile.

He stayed for a while before finding an excuse to head to the study.

Around ten o’clock, Grace Bennett pushed open the door.

She brought Ethan Cole a bowl of ginseng soup, “Ethan, drink it while it’s hot.”

“Mm, smells good.”

Ethan Cole picked it up and finished it in a few gulps.

Then, in less than two minutes, he got a nosebleed.

This thing was too nourishing.

Ethan Cole tilted his head back, “I need to cool down.”

Grace Bennett turned to leave.

Because she knew what was about to happen.

But Ethan Cole was quicker, closing the door before she could exit.

“…” Grace Bennett: “Ethan, don’t be like this, I have something to tell you.”

Ethan Cole: “Alright, but let’s talk about it later, first help me with my nosebleed…”

“Okay~” Grace Bennett could only help Ethan Cole first.

Afterward.

Ethan Cole wrapped his arm around Grace Bennett’s shoulders, “What did you want to tell me?”

Chapter 708: The Spear Dipped in History, Pierce and Kill!

Grace Bennett’s head rested on Ethan Cole’s broad and solid chest as she whispered, “Just now, some sisters from the Blossom Society came over.”

“Their true purpose, actually, was for my cousin.”

“Hmm?” Ethan Cole frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”

“They came to propose a match,” Grace Bennett sighed. “The suitor is the son of the Blue Horizon Group’s CEO, Rhys Voss.”

Ethan Cole was familiar with the Blue Horizon Group.

Having been established for several decades, its main business was providing parts for numerous well-known car brands, both domestic and international.

It was not listed on the stock market.

However, several institutions had appraised it, and once it went public, its market value would easily exceed a trillion.

It was a true behemoth.

But because they operated in different fields, Ethan Cole didn’t know too much about it.

However, the fact that over a dozen members of the Blossom Society would personally come to act as matchmakers showed just how powerful they were and how extensive their connections were.

“What else did they say?” Ethan Cole asked.

“They conveyed the chairman of Blue Horizon’s words, saying that if my cousin was willing to marry over there, the bridal gift would be quite generous.”

“A villa in the center of Empire City, a large supermarket, twelve sports cars, ninety-nine kilos of gold, and 1.8 billion in cash.”

“Hehe, they really are willing to spend money,” Ethan Cole chuckled somewhat inexplicably.

All those things added together would probably exceed even two billion.

He asked curiously, “Your cousin shouldn’t know Rhys Voss, right? How did he take a fancy to her?”

“Based on what those sisters said earlier, it was during a chance encounter that Rhys Voss fell in love with my cousin at first sight.”

“But at the time, he didn’t approach her, claiming he was too shy and socially anxious to dare.”

Ethan Cole took out his phone from the bedside table and sent a message to Harold Briggs.

The son of a CEO from a trillion-market-value company claiming to have social anxiety was something Ethan Cole found hard to believe.

And besides, the sudden desire to marry Daphne Reyes seemed suspicious in itself.

After putting down his phone, Ethan Cole asked again, “Did you tell your cousin about this?”

“Not yet,” Grace Bennett said softly. “I don’t think she would like to marry into a wealthy family.”

That was indeed true.

With Daphne Reyes’s character, marrying into a wealthy family would probably lead her to be miserably bullied.

Harold Briggs sent a message back.

That guy was getting more and more efficient at his work.

Ethan Cole had come to rely on him completely.

“So that’s how it is,” Ethan Cole understood after reading the message.

“One of Blue Horizon Group’s subsidiaries is preparing for an IPO, and they’re crazily building momentum recently.”

“They’re probably trying to make a big move, which is why they want to marry my cousin.”

Having been with Ethan Cole for so long, Grace Bennett had also learned quite a bit.

She quickly had an epiphany, “Are they trying to use the marriage proposal to my cousin as a way to create the illusion of an alliance with QuickRead Group for the outside world?”

“That’s right,” Ethan Cole pinched her nose. “Clever.”

Blue Horizon seemed very ambitious.

They were essentially investing over two billion to form an alliance with QuickRead Group through marriage.

Given this, the company Blue Horizon was looking to take public must be no small fish.

Perhaps they were planning to make a big splash and then leave the stock investors to pick up the tab?

Eight or nine out of ten times, Blue Horizon had set their sights on QuickRead Group right after Ethan Cole had released its annual financial report.

“Oh, and they also said…” Grace Bennett got up, her waterfall-like long hair cascading down. “If my cousin isn’t willing, Sister Isabelle is also an option.”

“They’re really asking for it!” Ethan Cole’s eyes grew cold. “With so many precedents, they still dare to covet people close to me?”

If it was a normal pursuit, love, and marriage, Ethan Cole would naturally not intervene and would even offer his blessings.

But this was clearly treating the people around him as stepping stones and pawns; of course, Ethan Cole wouldn’t stand for it.

“So, what do you plan to do about it, Ethan?”

“Let’s talk about it tomorrow, it’s not a big deal,” Ethan Cole replied.

Draping his arm over Grace Bennett’s shoulder, he said, “Lie down, I’ll give you a little rubdown.”

Grace Bennett said in a melancholy tone, “Ethan, are you treating me like a fool? You obviously just want to take advantage of me.”

Ethan Cole said righteously, “I’m not, I didn’t.”

Grace Bennett replied, “Then let’s go to sleep.”

Ethan Cole offered, “Your muscles and joints are not loose, let me help you loosen them up.”

Grace Bennett was speechless.

At over three in the morning, the bedroom light was still on.

That was because Ethan Cole, while massaging Grace Bennett’s muscles, had ‘accidentally’ torn off the pocket of Grace Bennett’s clothes.

Grace Bennett looked at Ethan Cole with silent resentment and had him find a needle and thread to sew it back on.

Ethan Cole held the needle in one hand and the thread in the other, “This is really hard to thread.”

Grace instructed, “First moisten it with some saliva, straighten the thread gently, don’t let it twist, aim carefully.”

“Why does this sound a bit strange?”

…

The next morning at ten o’clock.

Megan Price had intended to sleep in.

But she was rudely awoken.

She exuded a chilling aura that threatened to kill anyone in her wake.

The several visitors trembled at her icy gaze.

Megan Price plopped down on the sofa and coldly regarded the several women dressed like ladies of status across from her.

“You’d better have something worthwhile, or I’ll make sure you do.”

The ladies were speechless.

Terrifying.

Did this woman consume gunpowder or something, feeling like she could snap at them any moment?

“Um…” One of the women, who seemed more composed, forced a smile and tentatively began:

“This time, we are representing the Blue Horizon Group to propose a marriage match to Miss Price.”

“A marriage proposal?” Megan Price tilted her head, “Go on.”

Seeing that Megan Price wasn’t angry, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

Then they repeated the entire proposition they had made to Grace Bennett yesterday.

After listening, Megan Price didn’t get angry, nor did she agree.

She simply stood up and said, “Wait here for a moment, I’ll go get something.”

After Megan Price left, the women whispered among themselves.

“This Megan Price doesn’t seem as scary as the rumors suggest.”

“Indeed, she just seems a little low on emotional intelligence.”

“Do you think she will agree?”

“It’s hard to say; she is rumored to be in unrequited love with Ethan Cole, so it could go either way.”

“If she doesn’t agree, we’ll have to persuade her further.”

…

After all, they had received quite a lot of benefits for coming together to make this marriage proposal.

Megan Price returned to the living room.

Everyone was stunned.

She was holding a long plastic spear in her hand.

The tip of the spear was smeared with a yellowish-white substance.

A foul stench began to spread.

“You dogs, you’ve set your sights on me?” At that moment, Megan Price resembled an ancient general.

Furious, she declared, “I’ll put an end to you all today.”

Point the spear at someone, and they’re done for!

A series of screams erupted in the room.

The women, panicked and pale, scattered in all directions.

Megan Price completely lost it, determined to make these people understand the consequences of provoking her.

Chapter 709: Good at Acting Cute, Don’t Do it Next Time

Megan Price squatted outside, with a lollipop in her mouth.

She had summoned the nanny to clean the room inside.

The scene inside had just been extremely intense.

To Megan Price, those women looked no different from ‘pimps.’

So just now, Megan Price treated each one of them equally, basting their faces and bodies.

Those women immediately threw up right there.

Crying while vomiting.

As for the consequences, Megan Price didn’t care at all.

She wanted to see if they dared to get involved in pimping again.

She crushed the lollipop with a few bites and swallowed it.

Megan Price rubbed her face with both hands.

Then she dialed Ethan Cole’s number.

Her fierce expression suddenly switched to one that was pitiful, frail, and helpless.

In a whiny voice, she said, “Wuwuwu, you have to stand up for me, I’ve been bullied, it’s so awful, so pitiful.”

“Stop it,” Ethan Cole said impatiently, “There’s nobody born yet who can bully you.”

“Really, I’ve been bullied, wuwuwu, isn’t everyone just a weak little girl, brother, I need a hug~”

“…” Ethan Cole was speechless, “You’re good at acting cute, don’t do it next time.”

“I’m not,” Megan Price said pinching her nose, “If gaigai doesn’t like it, then why don’t you come and train me~ would that be good~”

“Enough, enough, it’s early in the morning, stop disgusting me,” Ethan Cole said sternly, “Did someone approach you for a marriage proposal?”

He had first let Grace Bennett go inquire if Daphne Reyes and Isabelle Whitfield were willing.

Of course, Daphne Reyes and Isabelle Whitfield would not be willing.

Grace Bennett had rejected them.

Now, with Megan Price calling, Ethan Cole guessed it was very likely that they had considered Megan Price as the third option.

“You’re right,” Megan Price’s voice turned cold, “This Blue Horizon Group is asking for it, daring to covet me?

I belong to you in all my lives, and nobody else can touch me.”

Ethan Cole opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

He could only change the subject, “Leave this matter to me.”

“Okay, you always treat me the best, Ying Ying Ying…” Megan Price continued to feign,

“I’m a bit scared now, will you come and see how I am?”

This girl was always teasing Ethan Cole.

He felt extremely weary.

“The New Year is almost here,” Ethan Cole said, “What are your plans, are you staying with your dad or?”

“Of course, I’m staying with the old man,” Megan Price pursed her lips, “Although he can be annoying, he treats me well. I definitely should spend it with him.”

Ethan Cole wasn’t surprised.

That left only Isabelle Whitfield.

He would ask her later if she wanted to return to Kingsport for the New Year with him and Grace Bennett.

A young girl all alone during the New Year, just thinking about it felt pitiful.

“Let’s switch back to the matter of Blue Horizon,” Megan Price forcefully steered the conversation back,

Speaking in a scheming tone, “How about we take down Blue Horizon as well?”

This guy, aggression coursed through her veins.

“Don’t be rash,” Ethan Cole advised, “It’s not necessary, but we could still manipulate the situation a bit, and carve out some benefits for ourselves.”

Megan Price was intrigued, “What do you mean?”

Ethan Cole briefly explained, and Megan Price got it.

She said gleefully, “You’re so cunning, shouldn’t be with a pure flower like Grace Bennett.

The two of us are a match made in heaven.”

“I’d rather not,” Ethan Cole grunted, “Being with you would lead to absolute chaos.”

“Alright, let’s not talk about this, I have other things to deal with, let’s leave it here.”

End of conversation.

Grace Bennett set a cup of tea in front of Ethan Cole.

Looking somewhat anxious, she said, “We refused the Blue Horizon Group, will they retaliate?”

Though with the scale of QuickRead Group now, they really weren’t afraid.

But avoiding enemies whenever possible is always the best plan.

“No way,” Ethan Cole shook his head, “they aren’t stupid.”

Moreover, if Blue Horizon were so quick to bear grudges, they wouldn’t have grown to this size.

---

Selena Han made a phone call.

“Ethan Cole Ethan Cole, where are you? Come keep me company, I’m so bored.”

As soon as the call connected, Selena Han’s deliberately affected nasal voice came through.

It gave Ethan Cole a full-body case of goosebumps.

“If you’re bored, go have a kid.”

“Okay, come over and help me then.”

Ethan Cole: “…”

The last time he was this speechless was also the time before.

“I don’t care, I’m really bored right now, hurry up and come keep me company, or else I’ll go annoy you at your place.”

Selena Han was being a total pest.

Damn it, Ethan Cole really wanted to punch her.

So annoying.

Wait, what?!

Ethan Cole suddenly had an idea, his lips curling upwards.

“Hold on, I have an important call, I’ll call you back later.”

He said, and without waiting for Selena Han to respond, he hung up the phone.

He immediately called Blue Horizon Group’s Chairman, Palmer Voss.

“Mr. Cole?”

“It’s me, hello Chairman Voss.”

“What can I do for you, Mr. Cole?” Palmer Voss was a bit puzzled.

They had just rejected a partnership, and now he was contacting him again.

Could it be that he had changed his mind?

Ethan Cole: “I have a very good collaboration partner to recommend to you—Selena Han.”

Palmer Voss: “Hmm???”

Ethan Cole: “She’s currently in Empire City, I can send you the address.

Blue Horizon Group, in a powerful collaboration with the former Wonshin Group chairman.

Just the news alone will attract countless investors’ attention.”

If Selena Han was going to bother him, he might as well create some trouble for her.

That way, she wouldn’t have time to bother him anymore.

Plus, it would count as doing a favor for Blue Horizon Group.

Two birds with one stone, perfect.

Palmer Voss snapped out of it: “Are you sure?”

Ethan Cole: “Of course, I wouldn’t be bothering Chairman Voss for no reason.”

“Hahaha.” Palmer Voss laughed, “Then thank you, I owe you a meal, Mr. Cole.”

“Sure, that’s it for now.”

After hanging up, Ethan Cole sent Selena Han’s current address to Palmer Voss.

Then he wrapped his arms around Grace Bennett’s slender waist: “Let’s go prepare for the New Year’s shopping.”

“Okay~” Grace Bennett smiled charmingly: “This New Year, I want to invite my cousin over, and also…

We should prepare some gifts for the kids at her former orphanage.”

“Hmm, you always think of everything, my Mrs. Cole.”

The title ‘Mrs. Cole’ immediately thrilled Grace Bennett, causing a blush to blossom on her cheeks.

Internally, she calculated the days.

In half a year, she would officially become Ethan Cole’s lawful wife.

Just thinking about that scenario, she couldn’t suppress her smile.

Ethan Cole said teasingly, “Grace, stop smiling, or I might not be able to let you go out.”

Grace Bennett: “…”

Chapter 710: Tricked Again

Selena Han waited for a while, but when Ethan Cole didn’t return her call, she dialed him again.

However, after several attempts, no one answered.

“Heh,” Selena Han chuckled coldly, “Using that tactic again? Then don’t blame me.”

All she wanted was for Ethan Cole to spend some time with her.

After all, she had helped him so much in the past.

But this damned man refused to comply.

If that was the case, then she would just have to storm over there.

Let him experience what a real hell on earth was like.

So she stormed into her bedroom, furious, and took great care to dress herself up.

Half an hour later, she emerged from the bedroom.

Although Selena Han was getting on in years,

her affluent lifestyle and good maintenance meant she had little to worry about.

So she still looked quite young and charming.

Her eyes were resolute as she carried her purse, as if she was on a mission.

“Ding-dong.”

At that moment, the doorbell rang.

Upon opening the door, she found over a dozen people standing outside.

Selena Han’s eyes darkened slightly, “Who are you?”

Palmer Voss replied with a genial smile, “Miss Han, hello, I am Palmer Voss, chairman of the Blue Horizon Group.”

Selena Han of course knew of the Blue Horizon Group.

She was somewhat puzzled; what did they want with her?

With the visitors already at her doorstep, naturally she could not just send them away.

Selena Han could only reluctantly invite them in, feeling rather vexed.

Once seated, the rest of the staff stood to either side.

Palmer Voss gestured toward the young man sitting beside him, “Allow me to introduce my son, Rhys Voss.”

Selena Han nodded slightly, “What brings you to me?”

“Oh, it’s nothing important,” Rhys Voss’s face was adorned with a pleasant smile, “I just happened to learn where Miss Han lives.

I have admired you since I was young.

So I insisted that my father bring me to meet you, and if this is inappropriate in any way, I hope you’ll forgive us.”

“You’re blocking my chance to meet my lover, which is greatly inconvenient,” Selena Han internally scoffed.

On the surface, however, she said with a smile overflowing with warmth, “Not at all, please have some tea.”

Rhys Voss raised his teacup, “To you.”

The accompanying staff quietly snapped photos.

This person was a master photographer.

From the angle of the shots, the two appeared ‘lost in each other’s eyes,’ as if ‘smitten with each other.’

Selena Han was utterly unaware that she had been played.

---

Ethan Cole and Grace Bennett went to various supermarkets for a major shopping spree.

They also bought a lot of things for the children in the orphanage.

Each child got two sets of clothes for each season and two pairs of shoes,

as well as stationery and some snacks.

They were all quite ordinary items, none too expensive.

It wasn’t that Ethan Cole was unwilling to spend more.

Rather, if these orphaned children dressed too well or used items that seemed too luxurious, they could attract unwanted attention.

After shopping, Ethan Cole even sent a trusted person to deliver all these items by hand,

ensuring that they reached each child directly.

After having dinner outside in the evening,

they went home, where Grace Bennett took a shower.

Ethan Cole casually opened the DailyPulse app.

The first piece of news that popped up was about the Blue Horizon Group reaching a deep partnership with Selena Han.

The article included a photo of the two parties.

Selena Han was beaming in the picture.

However, Ethan Cole could see a trace of annoyance and anger in her eyes.

That anger wasn’t directed at him, was it?

Hmm, definitely not, it had nothing to do with him.

Just as he entertained that thought, Palmer Voss called him again.

The main point was to express gratitude to Ethan Cole.

Additionally, it was an invitation for him to buy into a soon-to-be-listed stock.

Ethan Cole refused.

He did plan to buy, but not openly.

If he had agreed openly, he would’ve been used by Palmer Voss as a promotional tool.

Then, if the company encountered issues, he would also be implicated.

The moment the call was ended, Selena Han called again.

Ethan Cole pressed the answer button and then tossed the phone onto the table.

Without listening, he knew that Selena Han’s words must contain a high dose of scolding about his mother, father, and ancestors.

Ethan Cole leisurely drank a cup of tea and nibbled on some pastries.

Only then did he pick up the phone.

“Ethan Cole, you bastard, you’re scheming against me again, I really want to beat you to death!”

Ethan Cole: “Ah, yes, yes, yes, that’s right.”

“…” Selena Han’s blood pressure shot up: “Spit it out, how are you going to compensate me?”

“Sister, I was wrong.”

Selena Han’s fury abated instantly because of these words.

Her face broke into a sweet smile: “Hmm, I’ll let it slide this time, but if it happens again, I’m going to kick your ass.”

Ethan Cole hung up the phone, smiling.

Indeed, older women are actually easier to handle.

He discovered he had a talent for charming rich women.

“Then accompany me for a meal,” Selena Han said.

Dammit.

Ethan Cole hung up the phone without another word.

Just flattering you against my better judgment is already a stretch, and you still want me to dine with you?

Today was the last day of work at the company.

In the afternoon, Daphne Reyes came over.

Tomorrow, she would return to Kingsport with the majority.

Upon seeing Ethan Cole, Daphne Reyes bowed deeply without a word.

“What’s this for?” Ethan Cole quickly helped her up.

Daphne Reyes, with tears in her eyes, said, “One is to thank you and Grace on behalf of the children from the orphanage.

The other is that I received too much for this year’s bonus, I… I’m overwhelmed.”

Her year-end bonus after tax was over forty million.

It was more than she could spend in a lifetime.

Words of thanks had been said too many times to count.

Ethan Cole laughed: “No need to thank me, you’ve earned even more for the company, it’s all deserved.”

Although he said that, Daphne Reyes knew it was because Ethan Cole was decent.

If it were any other company, even without giving you a penny of a bonus, what could you really do?

Besides secretly swearing to work even harder in the future, Daphne Reyes couldn’t think of another way to repay Ethan Cole.

Oh, when Grace Bennett has a baby, she could help take care of it more.

After that, Daphne Reyes went to help Grace Bennett in the kitchen.

“Ding-dong.”

The doorbell rang.

Vera Lindqvist came in through the door.

She was holding two express boxes, setting them down in front of Ethan Cole: “Boss, your package.”

“Oh, okay, leave it here,” Ethan Cole responded.

Vera Lindqvist set the items down and turned to leave.

Ethan Cole checked the information on the packages.

It was an international express delivery, sent from Nordkren.

The sender was ‘Winters’.

Without guessing, he knew it was from Chloe Winters.

One package was addressed to Ethan Cole, and the other to Grace Bennett.

New Year’s gifts?

Ethan Cole shouted towards the kitchen: “Grace, Chloe Winters sent something over, can I open it for you?”

Although the two of them were inseparable now, it’s still necessary to respect each other