Chapter 152
Martha turned around.
She immediately put on a bright smile. "I'll leave Ethan in your care, Martha. I'm a bit tired and will retire to my room now."
After speaking, she turned gracefully and left the kitchen.
Martha was stunned.
What was happening?
Didn't she always fight to deliver the hangover remedy before?
Why the sudden change?
Martha ladled half of the soup from the pot into a bowl.
She placed it on a tray and carried it to the master bedroom.
Ethan hadn't drunk much tonight, but he skipped dinner. His stomach was aching again.
Just as Martha brought the warm soup, he didn't refuse. He drank it all in one go.
Martha took the empty bowl and tray, exiting the room and softly closing the door.
Ethan lay on the bed, eyes closed, waiting for the stomach discomfort to slowly ease.
After some time, he felt his stomach improve, but his body grew increasingly hot.
He was about to get up and lower the air conditioning when the master bedroom door was pushed open from outside.
Isabella walked in barefoot.
She approached the bed, looking at the intoxicated man. A smile unconsciously touched her lips.
He must be warm. Two buttons of his collar were undone, his cheeks flushed a light pink.
His arm, hanging off the bed, was solid and powerful. His hand had distinct knuckles.
The dark shirt he wore today added to his aloof aura, making him seem unapproachable.
Isabella remembered their first time.
Ethan was just as drunk then, continuously calling out Sophia Sullivan's name.
Her gaze drifted over the slightly open shirt, past the man's prominent Adam's apple. Her heart stirred, and she pressed her body against his.
Her fingers lightly traced circles on the skin of his chest, subtly moving downward.
Suddenly, Ethan moved. He turned over, his back to her.
Isabella immediately straightened up, startled. A cold sweat broke out on her back.
She looked down at her nightgown, remembering it was wearing Sophia's clothes that initially caught his interest. An idea sparked. She walked to the wardrobe.
This time, she picked a lace nightgown. Modest in the front, but with a large open back.
It would make it very easy for a man's hands to slip inside.
She couldn't help but curse Sophia inwardly. "Bitch!"
Who was any better? Didn't they all use their bodies to tie a man down?
It took Sophia six years to get into Ethan's heart. Even after breaking up, he couldn't forget her. Well, she could do it too!
No, not just six years. She wanted to be the rightful Mrs. Roscente, entangled with him for a lifetime.
With this thought, her eyes gleamed with excitement. She pressed against him from behind, wrapping her arms around him, and began to tease...
The next second, Ethan, who should have been passed out drunk, suddenly opened his eyes.
He harshly yanked her climbing hands away.
Isabella cried out in surprise as she was thrown off the bed onto the floor.
Ethan stood over her, his face expressionless. "Pregnant and still thinking about this? You're truly despicable."
He then averted his gaze, as if looking at her would dirty his eyes.
Suddenly, his eyes paused and snapped back to Isabella.
More precisely, to the nightgown she was wearing.
It was Sophia's clothes.
A memory seemed to surface. His gaze turned sharp and dangerous. "That first time we slept together... did you also wear Sophia's nightgown?"
Isabella sat on the floor, her eyes wide and dazed, completely stunned.
"Answer me!" The man suddenly stepped forward, gripping her chin. His force increased.
"Pain—" Isabella's eyes reddened, tears falling one by one.
Ethan wasn't moved. His large hand was like a vice. Red marks quickly appeared on the woman's pale, tender cheeks.
"Answer me! Was it or not—"
Isabella shook her head. "No... I... I didn't... Ethan, you're hurting me..."
Ethan tugged at the nightgown she wore, a scornful laugh escaping him. "How do you explain this? If you hadn't done it before, how could you be so practiced?"
When they first got together, something felt off. He distinctly remembered holding and kissing Sophia the night before. How did he wake up to Isabella?
He chalked it up to drunken hallucination, mistaking her for someone else. It never crossed his mind he'd been set up!
The thought made his teeth grind with hatred.
"You're testing my limits!" He furiously dragged Isabella up from the floor. "You bitch, get out! Get out of this house right now!"
Rage and something else burned within him. Ethan felt even hotter.
His whole body felt like it was on fire...
He swayed slightly, his Adam's apple bobbing with restrained discomfort.
Wrong!
Ethan's expression turned severe. His current reaction was more like...
"Did you fucking drug me?!"
Isabella's eyes darted away, guilt written all over her face.
"Damn you! Where did you get the nerve?! How dare you?!"
He breathed heavily twice. The fire in his heart burned hotter, his eyes growing redder.
Isabella swallowed, pushing down her fear. She climbed up from the floor, tears still streaming, and moved toward him. "Ethan, I know you must be suffering right now..."
Ethan watched her coldly.
Isabella bit her lip. "I can help you, really..."
As she spoke, she began to remove her nightgown.
"You know I love you. I'd do anything willingly. Even if you see me as a substitute for another woman. Even if you call out Sophia's name while lying on my chest. I don't mind."
Moved by her own words, she might have even moved herself. "Ethan, let me help you, okay? You need me now.