RedNovelChapter 545: The atmosphere changed the instant Ethan and Brenna entered the private room. They spotted Elsa already inside, seated across from a beautiful young woman in a beige dress. The two were chatting and laughing as if they were old friends.
"Minna?" Ethan froze in place, caught between stepping forward and leaving with Brenna.
Brenna's intuition was razor-sharp as she caught the tension in the air. "Who is she?" she inquired, her gaze turning cold.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtEthan's jaw tightened in frustration. He turned to Elsa, his voice low but clearly tinged with anger. "Why didn't you mention you invited someone, Mom?" Ethan locked eyes with Elsa's self-assured smirk, and for a fleeting moment, the overbearing figure from his childhood merged with the woman now seated across from him.
Growing up, his sole ambition had been to dive into finance and carve out a career in business. Yet, his parents, steadfast in their conviction, had insisted he pursue a military path through an academy.
This clash of visions defined his school years, marked by relentless punishments from his parents. In his mind, his parents loomed as strict enforcers, their iron grip fueling his defiance, which often led to grueling punishments-standing at attention, endless push-ups, and squats. He still remembered these moments clearly. After graduating from high school, Ethan covertly altered the military application his parents had prepared, securing a spot at one of the nation's top universities to study finance.
His parents had erupted in fury. His father had meted out punishment and warned him he would have to take the exam for a military track the next year. He had even vowed to cut off all financial support if he studied finance.
Fueled by sheer resolve, Ethan had clutched his acceptance letter, enrolled independently, and gotten his four- year degree without a cent from his family. He hadn't even returned hfor the holidays. Only in his graduation year did a tentative reconciliation begin to take root.
Now, that old spark of rebellion surged again. Ethan instinctively fortified his heart, his gaze toward Elsa turning icy as if he were looking at an enemy.
Keep reading gVlnovesElsa, with a subtle, knowing smile, held his stare in a quiet challenge. She hadn't anticipated Ethan arriving with Brenna.
Standing confidently by the circular table, she clasped Minna's hand, subtly signaling her intentions to Ethan. His clear discomfort only deepened her sense of triumph.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Cjoin us. Minna made tto be here, so be sure to make her feel welcome." Ignoring Brenna entirely, Elsa pushed to pair Ethan with Minna.
Minna, however, caught the intimate way Brenna's hand rested on Ethan's arm and realized that Ethan already had a girlfriend. Moreover, his girlfriend was stunningly beautiful, a hundred times prettier than her.
Minna forced a smile, longing to m escape the awkward situation.
Ethan's expression grew frostier. Without acknowledging Elsa's words, he guided Brenna back a few steps and shut the door. "Brenna, I'm so sorry. I had no idea my mom would invite someone else. Let's eat somewhere else."
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