CHAPTER 97: CHAPTER 96: DON’T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF KINDNESS

Michael Fuller gritted his teeth: "The downfall of the Fuller Family does you no good either. If you get bullied in the Gardiner Family, what will you do?"

"In these past three years, even without the downfall, I didn’t see you helping me with anything. In your eyes, I’m nothing but a sacrifice in a marriage-for-benefits exchange. The downfall of the Fuller Family, your downfall, both are a result of your own doing."

Florence Fuller didn’t see the need to perform some kind of dutiful daughter role for him. She stood up: "I’ll have my secretary draft a new stock transfer agreement with you. If you want to see the future of the Fuller Clan, you’ll need to relinquish the holdings in your hand. Think carefully."

After saying this, she took the signed divorce agreement from Michael and left first.

Michael Fuller’s expression turned grim and heavy.

——

Leapstride Equestrian Club.

Inside the semi-enclosed arena, a strong, black horse was being led at a leisurely pace around the field.

The black horse’s coat was shiny, with a fine head and high neck. Its limbs were strong, and its steps light and graceful—it was a prized Akhal-Teke horse. The man leading the horse had a tall and upright figure, and the black equestrian attire outlined his broad shoulders and narrow waist. He led the horse with a composed and noble demeanor, as the horse hung its head and followed at a gentle pace.

"Mr. Harper."

The stable staff ran quickly towards him: "The person has arrived."

Upon hearing this, Ethan Harper turned and looked towards the lounge on the upper floor ahead. Through the glass windows, even from a distance, the gazes of the two men locked, both sharp and intense, silently igniting sparks of conflict.

Ethan Harper handed over the horse’s lead to the staff: "Lead it around the rest of the field."

The staff nodded, taking the lead: "Alright."

Ethan Harper unhurriedly took the elevator to the lounge.

As he walked in, Luke Gardiner was sitting on a single sofa by the window, reclined with an air of lazy arrogance, tapping haphazardly on the armrest, ignoring Ethan Harper’s arrival.

Ethan Harper accepted the hot towel from a server and meticulously wiped his hands. After cleaning them, he glanced at Thomas Jones standing in the room, who understood and ushered all the servers out of the lounge.

The lounge fell into silence, but an air of tension began to spread.

Ethan Harper sat down opposite him, more composed and restrained compared to Luke Gardiner’s exuberant and defiant demeanor, exuding a sense of refined elegance.

"Some things look respectable on the surface, yet the actions are truly despicable. Interfering in someone else’s family—just hearing about it is shameless." Luke Gardiner sneered coldly: "Right, Mr. Harper!"

Ethan Harper showed little expression, simply saying: "Indeed, some people’s actions don’t even count as anything. Cheating during marriage without regard for family and wife’s dignity, playing to their heart’s content, all the shame falls on the wife; truly laughable."

His words were deliberate.

Luke Gardiner could not ignore his meaning; as he mocked Ethan Harper for interfering, Ethan Harper mocked him for his promiscuity despite being married.

Luke Gardiner’s expression turned frosty: "You’re from a prestigious family, yet you engage in breaking up marriages and stealing other people’s wives. Is this your upbringing?"

"Does your marriage need me to ruin it?" Ethan Harper shook his head, smiling softly: "Florence doesn’t even like you."

"Whether she likes me or not, she’s still the lady of the Gardiner Family." Luke Gardiner gritted his teeth: "What do you count as then? The third wheel?"

"Is that how you define your mistresses?" Ethan Harper replied: "That’s where we differ; mine is love, she loves me."

Love!

She loves me!

Those words deeply pierced Luke Gardiner: "How dare you say this, thinking that just because you’ve been in a relationship before you can say this without restraint? She loves you? If she loved you, she wouldn’t have chosen to marry me."

A hint of disdain appeared on Ethan Harper’s handsome face: "She didn’t marry you because of who you are, only because of the family alliance; she was forced."

"Even if she was forced?" Luke Gardiner replied: "She’s my wife; we’re legally married and meant to spend a lifetime together. Why don’t you just stay in France where you went? What’s the matter, having regrets after breaking up and wanting to come back to ruin others’ marriages, interfere in our relationship, and act as a lover to get Florence back to you? Your actions will only bring her shame."

Luke Gardiner’s words were not just unpleasant, they had become sharp and cutting.

Hearing "wife for a lifetime" coming out of his mouth, Ethan Harper secretly clenched his fist.

And bring shame.

Ethan Harper’s smile was taunting: "The one bringing her shame is you, not me. You have the nerve to criticize what I’ve done without considering your own actions after marriage. You’ve never considered Florence while having an affair and keeping mistresses, and now you criticize me. Where’s your face?"

Luke Gardiner’s expression darkened, glaring at him with clenched teeth.

Ethan Harper instead let out a light laugh: "You’ve come to me because you’re scared. You know Florence’s heart isn’t with you anymore. She doesn’t like taking your calls or responding to your messages. Despite being in Cloudsea for such a long time, Florence hasn’t been with you once. Oh~ Right, on her birthday, she was with me. Didn’t you call her then?"

"Ethan Harper!" Luke Gardiner shouted angrily: "Don’t be shameless!"

"Shameless!" He scoffed with a laugh: "Compared to Florence, that’s not worth mentioning."

He wasn’t going to give up on Florence Fuller.

"A head of the Polaris Conglomerate capable of interfering in others’ marriages; you really are shameless. You put on the facade of a gentleman when you’re nothing more than a hypocrite and a base villain." Luke Gardiner said.

"What you think of me doesn’t matter." Ethan Harper was indifferent: "I only care about what Florence thinks."

Florence this, Florence that, all the talk of Florence made the veins on Luke Gardiner’s clenched fists bulge: "I won’t separate from her. Do you expect to just stay by her side like this forever?"

"She’s wanted to divorce you for a long time." As he spoke, Ethan Harper’s eyes were filled with smiles: "I’ll endure hardships and see them through."

"You fucking liar!" Ethan Harper, with his hypocritical, gentlemanly act, truly made Luke Gardiner feel ashamed: "As long as I don’t agree to the divorce, Florence Fuller will always be Mrs. Gardiner, and you can never lift your head, forever relegated to being just her lover!"

Hearing this, Ethan Harper wasn’t upset at all: "No problem, as long as her heart stays with me, that’s enough!"

"Damn, you’re just scum!" Unable to suppress his rage any longer, Luke Gardiner stood up and grabbed Ethan Harper by the collar: "You better leave her side at once, the farther you go, the better. Do you think I’m afraid of the Polaris Conglomerate or the Harper Family? I have plenty of ways to deal with you!"

"Then I advise you too!" Ethan Harper’s gaze was sharp: "Divorce her, or else I have ways to deal with you too."

Luke Gardiner’s veins popped, and he punched Ethan Harper directly in the face. Caught off guard, Ethan Harper received the punch, but then swung a punch back in response.