CHAPTER 559: CHAPTER 547

Ethan raised his brows slightly and answered calmly, "I didn’t use any connection but spent a bit of money."

"Well, this affair couldn’t be resolved with money alone."

"No, I just transferred 50 million to the bank account of the victim’s family before I asked several men in black to meet them with fruits and knives. After that... they learned that it was their son who had made a scene and harmed himself instead. They then went to the police to settle the issue."

Ethan sounded casual and composed. It seemed as simple as buying an ingredient, but that ingredient came at an eye-watering price.

Joanna patted his shoulders and could not help commenting on their deep relationship. "Well, you’re pretty good. You spent 50 million just like that. If this isn’t considered love..."

Consequently, Clara blushed and tugged at Joanna’s clothes. "Joan, stop the nonsense."

After that, she looked up and said to him stiffly, "Ethan, thank you. I’ll try my best to return 50 million to you."

"Just 50 million?"

Ethan uttered casually, "Do you know how much interest one can gain each day for a bank deposit of 50 million?"

Soon Clara’s face sank.

Tsk! She was used to his annoying behavior. But she was slightly moved just now.

"Well, tell me the total based on the bank interest. I’ll return it to you in a year." Clara gnashed her teeth and stated.

"That won’t do either."

Ethan continued his mischief. "You should know that my family is involved in the high-interest business, too, so the interest can’t be calculated based on what banks usually offer. I should ask for a four percent of interest."

"Four percent? It’s three percent at most, even if it’s a high-interest business. You’re getting way over your head here!"

Clara felt that she had been blackmailed so she turned away and said, "I think I’ll better go back in there. Getting locked up is better than getting blackmailed like this."

"Ha! Ha! Ha! Don’t worry. You can afford the interest. I just want you to be with me."

Ethan held Clara’s arm and quickly gave in.

Standing at the side, Joanna watched them quibble with each other. They were quarreling flirtatiously, and she inevitably smiled happily.

Hmm... Ethan learned from his mistake. He was finally in his character.

"Er... I remember that I have something else to do. I’ll go now."

After that, Joanna left rapidly.

"Hey, Joan. I’ll go with you. I..."

Clara tried to pursue Joanna, but Ethan refused to let her go. As a result, Clara could only watch her bestie get into a cab and leave.

"What’s wrong with the two of you? Did you two plan this?"

Clara turned away and shoved off Ethan’s hand.

"No, it’s my action alone."

With both hands in his pockets, he jokingly quipped, "You don’t know how hard it was to pacify that couple. I was almost driven mad. I pestered them for almost a week before they agreed to write a letter of forgiveness."

Clara could not help but be moved. She bit her lips and stated, "Regardless, thank you. I’ll keep your kindness in mind."

"You don’t have to thank me."

After that, Ethan invited her for a meal. "Let’s go. Let me take you out for something nice to get rid of your bad luck."

"That won’t be necessary."

Clara smoothed her hair, revealing the wound on her eye

"What’s the matter with your eye?"

Ethan found that Clara’s face was hurt. He appeared submissive and silly just now, but now he immediately turned solemn. His body exuded a chilly and frightening aura.

"It’s nothing!" Clara snapped, quickly turning away and hiding her face with her hair, reluctant to let others see her vulnerability.

"Nothing? Your face is already swollen!" Ethan exclaimed as he gently lifted her chin and brushed her hair off, studying her face with a pained look.

Who could have imagined that in just a matter of days, the woman who strutted like she owned the place would end up looking so pitiful?

"Who did this to you?" He demanded, his brow tightly furrowed as if his favorite toy was broken, and he looked bent on cutting the culprit into pieces.

"No one. I fell," Clara said, moving away from his touch and turning her back on him.

She was just like Joanna—she held herself with great pride and would act nonchalant even if she was bruised and battered.

Ethan was not easily fooled, however, and took her hand as he growled. "We’re going back."

"Back? Back where?"

"The detention center."

"No! It took me so much to get out—I’m not going back! That place is hell. It’s not for humans!"

Clara struggled violently, her obstinate carapace peeling off and revealing her fear.

She had not been in the detention center for that long, but she was tormented by her cellmates everyday—having her hair pulled, being spat in the face and slapped.

She tried to fight back, but that would only get her a worse beating—just like today, where she was given the worst beating that left her face bruised!

There was no way she would return to that nightmarish place!

"No, you must go back!" Ethan grabbed Clara’s shoulders and said somberly, "Pull yourself together! Just tell me who hit you, and I will return the favor—what are you worried about? I have your back."

"What..."

Clara’s eyes were welling with tears as she stared at him in surprise.

"What do you mean, ’what’?" Ethan exclaimed angrily. "Am I wrong? You’re the heiress of the Blackwood family. Who do they think they are, doing you dirty like this?!"

To him, Clara was no different from his daughter. He was allowed to ’bully’ her occasionally for her mischief, but he would never allow anyone else to even touch a strand of her hair!

Clara, in turn, gained confidence from that serious look in Ethan’s eyes and clenched her knuckles. "You’re right. I shouldn’t let myself be bullied."

They returned to the detention center, with Ethan pulling some strings with a warden, who brought him to Clara’s cell.

"You may go in. By the way, the cameras are out—I would need around half an hour to fix it," the warden told Ethan and Clara.

"Thanks, beautiful," Ethan flashed his trademark smile at her, even making a heart gesture with his fingers.

"Y-You’re welcome..." The warden blushed, lowered her head, and turned to leave.

"You’re a real embarrassment everywhere you go," Clara snorted, rolling her eyes at him.

Ethan ignored her and quietly entered the cell while Clara followed him closely.

"Who is that?!"

Clara’s five sleeping cellmates were immediately alerted when they heard the door open.

However, the lights were off, and they could only make out their silhouettes.

Clara folded her arms and sneered as she strode towards them, "Hello, cellmates. Did you sleep well?"