CHAPTER 153: CHAPTER 153: MEMORIES (53)

She leaned against the door, wiped her tears, and walked inside. Ethan was standing in front of her, watching her.

Florence paused.

"Come here." He beckoned her gently.

Florence went over and was embraced by him.

"What’s up?" Her voice had a sobbing tone.

"Nothing." Ethan held her: "I’m a bit unhappy and wanted to hug you."

"What could possibly make you unhappy?" She choked up: "I’m the one who’s unhappy."

"Since we’re both unhappy," Ethan kissed the top of her head, "let’s just hold each other and comfort each other a bit."

Florence hugged him, burying her face in his chest.

Michael’s call came in the evening, asking her why she didn’t want to have a 19th birthday party.

Florence knew that in her biological father’s eyes, everything had to be tied to profit, so she asked Michael if he was in a hurry to marry her off.

Michael, with a tone of kindly persuasion, said, "You’re too young to understand. It’s all for the development of the Fuller Family. But don’t worry, Dad won’t find you a family that would mistreat you."

Florence sneered inwardly: "Dad, I’m your only biological daughter, right?"

Michael replied quickly: "Yeah, you’re my only biological daughter."

"Are you planning to pass down the Fuller Family to Clara?" she asked.

"Impossible." Michael replied without thinking.

An adopted daughter, that’s impossible.

"If you’re anxious to marry me off, then who will inherit the Fuller Family in the future? Or is there another child I don’t know about?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Michael scolded from the other side.

"I’m really curious, you know, you were eager to find a marriage partner for me before. I even thought you didn’t like me, your biological daughter, and intended to give the Fuller Family to Clara, after all, you love her very much, don’t you?"

"Don’t overthink it." Michael said, "The Fuller Family won’t go to her."

Florence sneered inwardly: "Then it must be for me, since I am your only biological daughter, right, Dad?"

Michael fell silent on the other end.

Florence took it as his tacit agreement: "Dad, there’s no need to find a marriage partner. I can find a husband who will live with us."

"No need to look for anything. You should focus on your studies and graduation right now. The previous matter with the Somerset Family was only because they saw potential in you, and I couldn’t refuse." Michael explained.

Saw potential in her?

Florence found it amusing. How could anyone from the Somerset Family notice her when she barely leaves the house?

Did they really think she was so easily fooled?

"Alright then, I’ll just have to study hard and not disappoint your expectations of me, Dad!"

She clenched her teeth on the word ’expectations.’

Michael: "..."

"Studying is important, but don’t exhaust yourself. Make sure to eat well and have fun too."

Florence: "No, I need to study hard, Dad. When the time comes for my internship, can I join the Fuller Clan?"

"We’ll talk about your internship later." Michael said, "I have things to do on this end, so I’ll talk to you later."

As she looked at the ended call, Florence’s lips curled into a meaningful smile.

Ethan noticed the mischievous glint in her eyes and shook his head helplessly.

This girl was really both smart and playful.

___

The year she turned nineteen went by quickly, and she lived quite comfortably and leisurely, with her relationship with Ethan growing even more intense and sweet.

In her third year of college, she applied to study abroad and followed Ethan to one of his investment companies in the USA, interning there.

She was there for more than six months.

At twenty, she still radiated youthfulness, but the honing from the workplace added a sharpness and steadiness, hidden beneath her lovely and charming appearance.

On her return to Cloudsea, Abigail prepared a large table of food for her. Upon her return, Florence saw an unexpected person.

Sister Dawson’s daughter, Eleanor Lane.

Florence heard that she had even pursued graduate studies and was now working at a top 100 overseas company.

"Eleanor finally came back after a few years, making Sister Dawson overjoyed," Abigail explained to them, "she just arrived yesterday."

Eleanor’s gaze swept over Florence and Ethan, settling on Florence. The two exchanged smiles and greeted each other: "Hello."

"Hello."

After a few years of not seeing each other, Eleanor no longer showed the hidden timidity she once had, replaced by a bright confidence.

Eleanor looked at Ethan again: "Young Master Harper."

Ethan nodded.

"Come, let’s sit and eat. Florence, come sit next to me. You’ve been in the USA for more than half a year, let me have a look." Abigail ushered, and after sitting down, inspected Florence carefully.

Ethan was a bit helpless: "Mom, you guys just saw each other two months ago."

Abigail glanced at Ethan and pinched Florence’s cheek: "Oh dear, how did you lose even more weight? You’re skinnier than when I saw you two months ago, and those dark circles, you’ve been up late analyzing projects again."

"I worked hard since I was coming back soon." Florence playfully whined with her: "It’s alright, Aunt Monrose, I picked out a gift for you, I’ll show it to you later."

"Aunt Monrose hasn’t spoiled you in vain."

As the dishes were brought to the table, Florence picked up her chopsticks and started eating diligently, but as Ethan occasionally fed her bits, at first, she didn’t mind it much.

Since being with Ethan, he had been taking meticulous care of her.

Her favorite foods and drinks, the things she disliked for being troublesome, he knew them all perfectly well.

He even occasionally gave her advice on her preferred brands of cosmetics and clothing, all of which he had figured out.

While she was obsessed with her studies, Ethan was obsessed with her in the same way, revolving around her.

The key point was that he also had his own work to do.

Then she exchanged several glances with Eleanor from across the table, inexplicably feeling somewhat odd, recalling that before Eleanor went abroad, she had sought out Ethan. She gave Ethan a little kick under the table.

Signaling him to tone it down.

Ethan handed her a tissue questioningly, and Florence grabbed it, "I have hands, I can do it myself."

Ethan: "..."

After the meal, Florence went to show Abigail the gift.

Ethan came over and called her away, asking her to reply to work emails for the handover from the company in the USA.

Florence, putting work first, went to find a computer.

She replied to emails swiftly, and after finishing, she intended to seek out Abigail. Ethan stopped her at the study’s door, not letting her go.

"Are you staying here tonight or going to Starlight Residence?"

"Here." Florence, hugged by him, replied: "I’m staying with Aunt Monrose."

Ethan lowered his head and gave her a light peck on the cheek: "Then later, can we sleep together?"

In principle, after a year and a half together, their relationship had progressed rapidly. In the USA, they lived in a suite, but in different rooms.

That night, Florence herself held a pillow and wanted to start living together with him.

Of course, he didn’t refuse.

But that night, things almost got out of hand, but Florence got her period.

Ethan went to sleep in the other bedroom himself.

The next was in the second month in the USA, Ethan had a bit to drink; the two of them entered the room and began to kiss, expecting things to naturally progress, but at a critical moment,

there were no condoms, so they stopped.