"But, Ethan, that's very risky. What if things don't go as planned? You'll go to jail," my mother grabbed me by the arms and looked at me with pure maternal concern.I leaned in and kissed her on the forehead.After my mother scolded me relentlessly for no apparent reason, I sat down next to her and proceeded to tell her, in great detail, what had happened and what I had planned. Perhaps I was risking a lot legally with that contract, but it was for a good cause. I was going to take MAXCO out of the market for their illegal activities. I was fed up with being manipulated by the death of my father and blindly obeying a man who was obsessively ambitious for money and power.Due to my position as a partner in that company, as the son of the owner who had brought them to the top, I knew what power meant, but it wasn't something that impassioned me like it did George. Besides, I always had very different ideals from his. I was more like my father, something that had been repeated to me ma

It was the first day of classes, and my vacation had come to an end. I still remembered the day my father had told me I couldn't travel with him, and he introduced me to a guy he'd seemingly pulled out of nowhere to be my "bodyguard." It felt like only yesterday, and yet three months had passed since I met him, fell in love, and now found myself heartbroken. Unbelievable, it was like a summer romance.I shook my head and finished my shower. I had spent a good 30 minutes under the water, and my father was getting impatient for me to come out.I dried off, put on warm clothes, as it was still a chilly and windy time of year, and headed downstairs. There, I found my father with a cup of coffee in one hand and struggling to put on his jacket with the other.I rushed over and helped him with it."Good morning, princess," he greeted me with a kiss on the forehead."Good morning, Father," I hugged him and took a sip of the coffee he had in his hands."How did you sleep?" he tried to start a

I approached the counter and bought the dress. Amelia was very happy that I chose it, jumping around as if I had bought a candy just for her.We walked around the mall a little more, carrying our shopping bags.Before long, Ivan appeared. My friend looked at me pleadingly and apologetically at the same time. I gestured for her to go with her boyfriend since she had fulfilled her part of the deal by helping me choose the dress. Now she could spend time with her boyfriend."Are you sure you don't want us to take you home?" Ivan asked me once again."I'm sure, Ivan. Don't worry. I'll look at other things here and then take the bus.""Don't stay out too late, okay?" my friend said, sounding very maternal."Of course not, Mom," I joked.My friend gave me a disapproving look for a moment but then approached me and hugged me tightly."Take care, alright?" I looked mischievously at both of them.I started laughing when they exchanged glances, and both of them blushed slightly.Finally, my fri

"Do you want to know why I accepted Ethan as your bodyguard?" my father said a few minutes after we fell into silence.I nodded slightly. My father took a deep breath before speaking."When you were 3 years old, we had a Christmas in the mountains; I don't think you remember," my father waved his hand dismissively."Very vague memories," I admitted indifferently.It was true; I couldn't recall much. I was only 3 years old, so what could I possibly remember? However, I did have very fuzzy flashbacks."Well, during that Christmas, the Bates family and we decided to spend it together... That's when you first met Ethan, who was 11 years old at the time, he looked exactly like his mother. When I hired him now, at the age of 29, I had no idea he was still with that company," my father held my hand again, waiting for my reaction.So, I had already met Ethan before? I remembered playing in the snow with an older boy, but I had never realized it was him.My, how small the world was; my parents

"Didn't you know it was me?" I asked him close to his ear, getting as close as I could so he could hear me.Chris shook his head and shrugged, downplaying it.When I leaned on his shoulders to talk to him again, I froze in place. A few feet away from us, I saw Ethan dancing with the same woman I had seen in the elevator the last time I saw him.I had to blink several times to believe that I was really seeing them.They were extremely close, moving their hips in a very sensual way, too much, I would say. It looked like they were mating!Out of the sudden rage that consumed me, I squeezed Chris's shoulder hard over his clothes. He winced and looked at me in confusion, distancing himself from me.I stared at him, perplexed, and when I saw him place a hand on his shoulder, I apologized.I shifted my gaze to the side of his arm where Ethan had his hands on the woman's hips. It was strange; instead of feeling sad or something, I was angry.I wanted to punch him.I realized that Chris was tr