Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 160 The Taste of Home

Ethan dropped the ice pack, leaned back on the couch, and pulled out a cigarette. But he didn't light it right away.

He stared at the cigarette for a long time before finally saying, "I took that bet, risking Skyline International Corporation, not because she was Faye. I would've done it for anyone. That video going public would've wrecked her life. I knew it." He wouldn't just stand by and do nothing for anyone else either. He's not cold-hearted.

When we first met, he could've ignored me, but he helped because he's a passionate guy.

He lit the cigarette and continued, "When I got the USB drive back, I thought about destroying it right away. But I hesitated because I was afraid you'd ask me about it one day. If you didn't ask, I wouldn't have told you because knowing wouldn't make you happy."

He was right. Even though I understood him, I still felt a bit upset.

"Later, when you said the USB drive was lost, I didn't want you to feel guilty. So I told you it was okay. The reason I went looking for it afterward was that I was afraid it would fall into someone else's hands and still ruin Faye. But I didn't find it. It probably fell into the sewer, which is as good as destroyed."

He explained everything honestly.

Ethan's thumb gently traced circles in my palm. "Do you trust me?"

I was silent for a long time, then I looked at him and said, "It's not that I don't trust you; it's that you don't trust me. You don't believe I can handle all of this."

He tilted his head, the soft light outlining his features. "Honey, do you know why people get conflicted? Why they get scared? Why they worry?"

After asking, he suddenly looked at me, his gaze intense.

"Because they care," he answered himself.

My heart was pounding. He suddenly climbed over and pinned me on the couch, kissing me hard until my lips went numb. He finally stopped, panting as he looked at me.

Ethan said, "Next time you want to play hero, call me along. We work better as a team, got it? You freaked me out."

I felt a mix of gratitude and relief.

I whispered, "I wanted to bring you along. But the situation was urgent. There wasn't time."

Ethan gently rubbed my lips with his thumb.

His gaze fell on my lips, and his smile at that moment was indescribable-not too intense but utterly captivating.

"I married a kind-hearted wife."

Hearing his emotional words, my eyes suddenly welled up.

In that moment, I finally got it-his smile was pure happiness.

After that whole mess, I hadn't heard a peep about Faye.

Ethan came home on time every day and never mentioned her. I had no clue if he'd met her privately or tried to comfort her. I figured that incident must've reopened old wounds and hit her hard. She needed time to heal. A few days later, I bumped into her on the street.

Lacey had told me that Sophie found a cleaning job at a kindergarten. The principal felt sorry for her and let her bring Abby to work as long as she got her tasks done.

I was thrilled to hear that. Even though it was a low-level job, it showed she was fighting back against fate with her own efforts.

She couldn't rely on men anymore; she had to stand on her own. No matter what the job was, as long as she integrated into society, she'd learn and grow.

with a child, she still had plenty

with

but the daycare still had some kids, so there wasn't much

found a

relied on for survival, had given her new

the kindergarten, Lacey and I went our separate

woman carrying large

mask and tried to

there for ten minutes until she came out

in a hurry and didn't notice me. When she reached the street, she took out her phone to make a

slightly, and an advertisement board conveniently blocked me from her view.

heard

call was to her family. She shared good news and reminded them to

hanging up, Faye walked past me. Her eyes were red, like she'd been crying. She walked quickly with her head down and still didn't see me.

surprised that I suddenly brought up Faye, but he answered

for years, so Fiona dropped out of school

out, they were all equally

like no one was born as God's favorite. We all had our own share of misfortune. Just being alive was tough

do a deep

cleaning such a big house would be exhausting. I turned him down because

got up pretty early. After

through, I took a break on the sofa and

like trouble. But thinking

really heartless, aren't you?" His voice came

got injured for you, and it's been days. You haven't

already healed? Don't tell me that

the old injury hasn't healed, and there's a new one. I'm lying at home all day, with

and his laugh sounded off to

for you at home. Remember to bring some groceries to

so angry I almost couldn't

the rag, went upstairs to change clothes, grabbed my bag,

first went to the market to buy some groceries, then took a

the hill

Faris lying on the

looked up and smiled broadly.

'No kidding! You threatened me; how could I

didn't say anything; I just faced him

didn't see my expression and patted the seat next to him. "Come

over but

my hand and muttered, "Corn,

smiled at

ignored him and looked at his leg. "How's

"It's like this.

really be that

at his leg again,

might have been eating takeout

looked a bit surprised and smiled.