CHAPTER 170: CHAPTER 170: ETHAN PLANS TO SPOIL YVETTE ASTON

That night, Stephen Sinclair, as a left-behind child, was heartlessly abandoned by his parents, and it seemed like no one in The Sinclair Family cared about him.

It was said that The Sinclair Family’s financial chain had issues, Chase Sinclair’s parents were so busy they couldn’t look after their children.

Chase Sinclair seemed to be drunk, possibly lying on some woman’s bed, unaware of anything.

Chelsea Grant was also drunk and unconscious at the Grant Family home.

Yvette Aston was worried about The Sinclair Family’s servants taking Stephen away, so she carefully pleaded with Ethan Grant to keep the child.

Stephen Sinclair happily held Summers’ hand, excited but too scared to shout out.

Actually, children fear loneliness the most; having friends around makes them quite happy.

"Thankfully, I replaced Summers’ bed with a larger children’s bed." Ethan Grant leaned against the door frame, looking at the newly arranged children’s room, and ruffled Summers’ hair. "Is it convenient now for someone as tall as little Summers?"

Summers cheerfully ran into the bathroom, discovering that the sink and basin were lowered, so he could easily reach them. "Dad is awesome."

Ethan Grant, praised, proudly smiled.

"Alright, now the two little ones need to wash up and go to bed. You have school tomorrow and are about to enter elementary school. You must study well, understood?" Yvette Aston gently coaxed, taking the two little ones to brush their teeth.

Ethan Grant didn’t want Yvette to be busy alone, so he picked up Summers and helped him squeeze toothpaste, taking out a new frog toothbrush.

"I really like the toothbrush." Summers was very fond of it.

Anything given by Dad, he liked.

Stephen Sinclair looked at the toothbrush that Yvette gave him, which was a pink little pig. "Aunt, why is my toothbrush pink? Only little girls use pink, I’m a man."

Yvette was amused by Stephen. "Who says pink is only for girls? Boys can use pink too."

Suddenly realizing, Yvette’s cheeks flushed—Stephen called her... aunt?

Ethan Grant chuckled, pleased with this title.

"I want the frog." Spoiled at home, Stephen pointed at Summers’ frog, wanting the green one.

"Stephen Sinclair, you’re just a guest at my house; guests should be polite and can’t snatch the owner’s things, understood?" Ethan Grant educated Stephen.

Stephen feared Ethan Grant, lowered his head, and prepared to brush his teeth obediently.

"The pink piggy is really cute," Summers said softly. "How about I switch with you?"

Stephen’s eyes reddened, he looked up at Summers. "Really?"

Summers nodded and handed the green frog to Stephen.

Stephen thought for a moment. "I’ll stick with the piggy then, it’s cute."

Standing beside Stephen, Summers brushed his teeth with him. "Remember to brush above and below, or you’ll get cavities."

Summers acted like a little adult, taking care of Stephen, who didn’t know how to do anything without the family servants.

Yvette exited the bathroom, discreetly holding Ethan Grant’s clothes, and they left together.

Let the little ones fend for themselves.

Kids need space to grow independently too.

Ethan Grant saw Summers deep in thought and noticed Yvette pulling his clothes, so he followed her out.

"I’ve made silver ear soup with lotus seeds, goji berries, and dates. Your stomach wasn’t feeling well; have some?" Yvette asked nervously.

Ethan Grant remembered that during dinner, he had excused himself for feeling unwell.

"Okay."

Yvette happily smiled at Ethan and ran to the kitchen to serve the soup.

At least, she believed she was valuable to Ethan.

Ethan Grant sat at the dining table, attempting to speak several times, but stopped short.

Yvette sat beside him, very quiet.

"Yvette... our relationship, Wendy Bell is sure to see you as an eyesore; you should be careful with her. She’s unlike Claudia Bell, who is openly malicious and can be guarded against. Some people do harm secretly, which is hard to defend against." Ethan Grant advised Yvette.

Yvette paused, surprised that Ethan warned her about Wendy?

In other men’s eyes, Wendy was seen as a pure, jasmine-type gentle girl, but to Ethan, she seemed calculative?

"Miss Wendy... actually, she’s quite capable," Yvette said quietly.

Wendy may be scheming, but if she aligned with Ethan, she could definitely assist him.

If their families were to unite, it wouldn’t be entirely without benefits.

"Mr. Grant hasn’t shown any sign, and it’s hard to gauge his mood; he might fear your alliance with The Bell Family. If you were to align with Wendy..." Yvette was almost orchestrating Ethan and Wendy’s match.

Ethan’s expression darkened, he set the spoon down, his voice cold. "Yvette, I’ve already said, there’s no possibility between Wendy and me. If I wanted a marriage alliance with her, then you would have no purpose or value. Since you exist, don’t harbor any fantasies about pairing Wendy and me."

Ethan got up and went upstairs.

He was angry.

Because Yvette was too businesslike, treating him only with the formality between a superior and a subordinate, nothing more.

He knew Yvette didn’t have other emotions towards him right now, so he could only use his purpose and value to keep her around.

He still held value for Yvette’s use, so she wouldn’t leave for the time being.

To keep Yvette bound, he needed to find ways for her to fall in love with him.

To not be able to leave him.

So, starting tomorrow, Ethan planned to spoil and indulge Yvette, letting her feel like she couldn’t breathe without him.

Yvette sat at the dining table, her eyes reddening.

Did Ethan hate her?

Was she too useless?

She had no favorable family background or good reputation.

If she were still the Aston’s daughter, would she really push Ethan to Wendy’s side?

But for Ethan’s sake.

She had to consider things thoroughly for him.

Mr. Grant hadn’t made a move against Ethan yet, but once he did... even if Yvette had skills, she’d be powerless.

In the face of family background and power, her little cleverness seemed too insignificant and weak.

...

Bedroom.

Yvette cautiously opened the door, Ethan seemed to be asleep already.

Yvette sighed in relief, tiptoeing onto the bed, staying at the furthest edge from Ethan, ready to fall off at any second.

Ethan reached out, suddenly pulling Yvette into his embrace, holding her tight.

Yvette’s breath caught in fear, her heart raced, almost letting out a cry.

She feared others’ closeness and touch, so her body instinctively became stiff.

Holding back psychological discomfort, Yvette breathed deeply to calm herself.

Fortunately... the one holding her was Ethan.

Once she heard his heartbeat and felt the warmth of his embrace, she quickly calmed down.

"Mr. Grant..." Yvette called softly.

Ethan didn’t reply, just held her, his arm gradually tightening.

Last night, he dreamt of that night six years ago.

The woman begging beneath him...

He didn’t know if it was Yvette, but guilt unknowingly filled him with fear.

Fearful that the one who harmed Yvette like this, causing severe depression, many suicide attempts, even... severe anxiety and somatization was him.

Fearful of leaving Yvette to raise a child alone, facing controversy, being tormented by gossip for six years was him.

Fearful of pushing Yvette into the abyss, crushing her like a rose underfoot, lying in the mud...not Jayden, not Stellan, not those who hurt Yvette, but him.

Sensing something wrong with Ethan, Yvette anxiously turned, nestling in his arms, reaching up to touch his forehead.

It was burning...

"Mr. Grant, you’re feverish."