He Watched Me Shine Without Him novel Chapter 134

“Ethan, please forgive my mom. I’ve already convinced her—we can get married now,” Vivian pleaded. “Look at me, I’ve recovered so well. I can wear a wedding dress now. Let me be your beautiful bride.”

Ethan glanced indifferently at the child in her arms. “Vivian, you’re materialistic. I can’t give you the life you want. As for the baby—you carried her for nine months. I won’t fight you for her. Don’t worry, I’ll send child support every month.”

Vivian stared at him in disbelief. “You’re abandoning your own daughter? Ethan, how can you be so heartless?”

He didn’t flinch.

She dropped to her knees in front of him, crying her eyes out. “Ethan, I really love you. I was willing to stay with you even though you had no car or house. Please come home.”

Colleagues began leaving work, casting sympathetic glances. Ethan, always concerned about appearances, sighed.

“Vivian, get up.”

“I won’t, unless you agree to come home with me.”

He clenched his jaw. “Fine. I’ll come home tonight.”

Vivian finally breathed a sigh of relief.

…

Clarke Group

Daniel was sweating bullets. Houston was staring at him with that look again—that subtle, calculating gleam that always spelled trouble.

“Daniel, get changed. You’re coming to dinner with me.”

Daniel’s face twisted. “Sir, Lina invited you. It wouldn’t be right if I—”

“Lina is the Isolde family’s darling. If we want a strategic alliance with them, she’s our in.”

Daniel’s mouth fell open. “You’re not… using a beauty trap?”

“Why not?”

“She’s into you, not me!”

“But I have a partner now.”

Sir, why does this sound like we’re in a drama?

Lina’s face turned a mix of green and pale. Just yesterday, she had strutted in front of Rose like a conquering queen. Now she felt like a soaked stray cat.

“Houston, stop lying to me. I know your marriage was a flash decision. There’s no way you love her,” she pouted.

Houston had seen his fair share of women over the years. The ones throwing themselves at him were a dime a dozen. Lina likely believed her wealthy background and powerful relatives made her his perfect match.

He used to let her cling to that fantasy—for strategic purposes.

But now he had Rose. If he didn’t set boundaries, Rose would be the one to get hurt.

He leaned forward, gaze solemn. “Lina, do you honestly believe I’d marry a woman I don’t love, just to display her at home like furniture?”

Her whole world shattered like a thunderclap over her head. She stared at him, stunned.

“But what do you see in her?” she whispered. “She’s plain. She has no powerful family to support you. Marrying her means fighting the Clarke family alone. Your father and uncles will never let you rise.”

Houston leaned back. “Maybe I’m just twisted. I get repulsed by women who throw themselves at me. But Rose? I like the way she acts indifferent. Makes me chase her.”

Lina’s face flushed with humiliation. That sentence felt like a slap across her cheek.