CHAPTER 111: CHAPTER 110: MEMORIES (11)

Damn it, why did she lick it.

"Ahem, Sister Dawson made some dessert, I’ll go get you some." His tone was notably flustered as Florence watched him quickly leave the study.

A bit abrupt compared to his usual gentle steadiness.

Florence suddenly wanted to see his expression, wondering if he was also flustered.

Florence held her face, feeling an inexplicable urge to laugh.

It was twenty minutes later when Ethan entered again, and the study was very quiet as their eyes met and then both looked away.

There was a small bowl of fruit dessert in front of her. Florence glanced at him.

And their eyes met again.

It wasn’t awkward, but there was a kind of indescribable atmosphere lingering around them.

Florence was taking small bites, and after a few mouthfuls, she wanted to check the time. Her hand shook, and she ended up spilling it all over herself.

"Oops." She set down the bowl to find a tissue, and the next second Ethan had already torn one off and was wiping it for her.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Checking the time."

"Eleven o’clock," he said.

The clothes were also stained, and Florence felt sticky: "I’ll go change."

Ethan: "Okay."

She had a room at the Monrose Family’s house. She cleaned up and changed clothes. Around this time, Sister Dawson came to call them for lunch.

There were only the two of them at the dining table. Florence appeared to be eating seriously but was actually a little distracted.

She thought about so many things and still couldn’t understand how she ended up kissing him just by raising her head.

She even licked it. Ethan was wondering if she was pretending to be asleep on purpose.

Feeling a bit agitated by her thoughts, she stretched her leg, and accidentally kicked Ethan’s shin. She tensed up: "Sorry."

"It’s fine."

Abigail had mentioned Ethan’s leg had surgery and it was the crucial period for walking recovery.

He used to only walk one or two hours before his leg couldn’t handle it. Now that she thought about it, Florence hadn’t seen him use a wheelchair for several days.

"Really, it’s okay?"

Ethan shook his head: "It’s fine."

The meal was eaten with both having different thoughts.

In the afternoon, Florence’s tutoring session began.

Ethan sat beside her. She looked at the questions, silently listening to Ethan’s explanation.

His voice was warm and gentle, low and soft.

Then Ethan asked her: "Do you understand?"

Florence shook her head.

Ethan smiled: "Then I’ll explain it again."

Florence bit her lip: "Do you think I’m dumb?"

Florence had seen Ethan tutoring Eleanor before. Eleanor would usually save up the questions she didn’t understand and find Ethan whenever she had time.

The times Ethan tutored Florence, Eleanor also happened to need him, so Ethan let her wait downstairs.

But Ethan did spend more time on Florence. Unlike Eleanor, who learned quickly, Florence needed Ethan to explain things multiple times, so that day Eleanor waited downstairs for nearly an hour.

After waiting for an hour, it only took Eleanor a little over half an hour to understand the questions Ethan explained to her.

Florence felt a sense of frustration.

Later, whenever Eleanor needed help, she’d let Ethan tutor Eleanor first.

She had guessed Ethan might think she’s dumb but never asked until today, when she impulsively blurted it out.

But Ethan shook his head.

Florence made a small sound of disbelief.

No matter how quietly she muttered, Ethan heard her from that close distance.

He looked over and saw Florence curl her lips.

Seeming like she didn’t believe him.

"Really," he said.

"I know my own limitations," Florence pressed against the book, "My dad isn’t willing to send me abroad. Probably for the rest of my schooling, I’ll only be in Cloudsea."

She couldn’t understand why.

If they could support Clara’s piano, why not her violin, which she played so well?

Was it because they were afraid she’d run away?

But why.

"Have you thought about the reason?" Ethan asked.

"Isn’t it because they want me to inherit the family business!" Florence sneered: "Completely impossible."

Instinct told Florence it was impossible.

Michael Fuller didn’t even care about her, and she never saw admiration or recognition for a daughter in her father’s eyes.

"Have you thought about what you want to do later?" Ethan asked.

Florence recalled how Charles told her about Henry Shaw working day and night to make money for his wife’s treatment and to support his family.

"I want to make money," she murmured, "big money."

The Fuller Family provided her allowance, but it was small, not even a fraction of what Clara received.

If Clara hadn’t flaunted it in front of her, she wouldn’t have known.

She had saved up some, thinking she could send it to the Shaw Family once she had a bank card.

Her eyes suddenly lit up as she looked at Ethan: "I remember Aunt Monrose said in a conversation with you that you played some stock investment thing that made a lot of money. Can you teach me?"

She heard it could double the returns.

With that, she’d make a lot of money, and the Shaw Family wouldn’t have to struggle so much.

And maybe there’d be a chance to escape the Fuller Family afterward.

Thinking about it made her excited.

"That type requires a large initial investment," Ethan explained, "and it’s not a guaranteed win."

"Let’s just try it." Florence looked at him pitifully: "I can’t rely on the Fuller Family my whole life."

If the Fuller Family wanted to control her for life, that couldn’t happen.

She understood Ethan’s temperament, put her hands together, and gave a pitiful look: "Please."

Ethan looked at her: "You need to know, it’s not just about throwing money in and effortlessly making returns. If you want to earn a bit, I can help you buy some stocks, but..."

"I have a bigger appetite," Florence said, looking at him. "I’ll learn slowly, whatever it takes to make money."

Those bright eyes looked at him with determination, her expression showing no room for doubt.

A bit forceful.

It seemed like she was telling him to help or not, she’d find a way regardless.

Ethan compromised: "Then let’s take it slow."

Florence raised her eyebrows and smiled: "See, now how about we play with something small. I’ve saved up a bit, not much, I can give it to you, but don’t lose it all for me. If we make money, I’ll take six and you’ll take four, is that okay."

Ethan felt as if he was borrowing money from her to invest.

"How much do you have?"

"Around a hundred thousand."

Her allowance was transferred by Laura, but she hardly ever spent it. The household provided everything she needed, and she didn’t have a social circle as large as Clara’s. Without anything to spend on, the amount Laura gave wasn’t much, and occasionally, when Michael asked if she had enough money, she’d say no, and he’d transfer some more.

That’s how she saved it bit by bit.

Ethan nodded: "I’ll take a look for you tonight."

Florence smiled and then became serious again: "Don’t tell anyone, okay? Only the two of us should know about this."

"Not even my mom."

"I’ll tell her when I can make money," Florence said.

Ethan chuckled: "Alright."