?Chapter 938:


    In the break room, Ethan grabbed three lemon wedges from the cupboard, dropped them into a ss, and gently muddled them with a citrus press. He then reached for a jar of honey, drizzling a small amount into the mix before filling the ss with water. With a smile, he handed the drink to Brenna. “Try my handiwork,” he said. “When I was studying abroad in Norview, my family was dead-set against it. They wanted me back home, pushing me to enlist in the military. To pressure me, they refused to give me any money. I took on all sorts of jobs to make ends meet, picking up skills like making lemon water and brewing coffee.”


    Brenna studied Ethan’s proud expression before taking a sip, her face lighting up with surprise. “Wow, this is actually really good. Who knew a CEO like you could whip up something like this?”


    Ethanughed softly. “I can make any drink you’d find at a café. Back in the day, I worked at a beverage shop owned by the Wilson family’spany. I was just a broke student, barely scraping by, working for myndlord to cover rent. Whatever I earned went straight to tuition. If it weren’t for Gracie stepping in to help me out, I don’t know how I would have managed to survive.”


    Brenna sipped the lemon water slowly, her thoughts shifting. A realization hit her—Ethan might not want her getting involved in his and Gracie’s matters.


    The drink suddenly lost its appeal.


    “Do you not want me to be around when you’re meeting Gracie?” Brenna asked coolly, her tone edged with suspicion, her eyes narrowing slightly.


    “No, that’s not what I meant at all. Gracie’s in a tough spot. She just got engaged to Hector Nicolson, the son of a mafia boss, but it’s not what she wants. Her father’spany is struggling, and he’s pushing her into this marriage for a financial bailout. She came here to take on the role of the Wilson Group’s Vand district CEO to get away from it all. Seeing us happy together might be hard for her.”


    Brenna’s lips tightened; she was unconvinced by Ethan’s exnation.


    “You’re awfully considerate of her feelings,” she said, setting the ss down with a forced, cold smile. “You know what? I’ve got work to do. I’ll leave now.” She walked out before Ethan could say anything.


    After leaving the building, Brenna spotted Thiago lounging against her car, a sly smirk on his face, looking like he was mocking her.


    “Rough moment up there?” Thiago asked, opening the passenger door for her.


    He slid into the driver’s seat after she got inside the car and started the engine. Brenna’s face was stone-cold, her mood dark. “Are you here to mock me?” she snapped.


    “As a man, I can tell you men love to impress women; it’s just how we’re wired. Ethan’s no different. When two women he wants to impress are around, he’s bound to feel caught in the middle.” Thiago gave a soft chuckle, noticing Brenna’s frustration with a man for the first time.


    Brenna shot him a re. “So you’re saying Ethan cares a lot about Gracie? But he told me there’s nothing romantic between them.”


    Thiago shook his head. “You trust him too much. It’s clear he cares about her. Why else would he go all out—picking her up from the airport, throwing a wee dinner, letting her crash at his ce? Would he do all that if their rtionship were just ordinary? Only someone as innocent as you would buy his words.”


    Brenna bristled, unwilling to ept it. “I don’t believe you.”


    “Then just wait and see. You’ll encounter more disappointing thingster,” Thiago said. “But hey, I could be wrong. You can just observe the situation for a while.”


    .


    .


    .