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.

and even with a child, she still had plenty of time to find her life's

arranged with Lacey

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

few-month-old Abby, had found a decent job. She looked way

this job, which she relied on for survival,

leaving the kindergarten, Lacey and I went

away, I saw a tall woman carrying large

and tried to stay

for ten minutes until she came

didn't notice me. When she reached the street, she

me from

heard her

to her family. She shared good news and reminded them

like she'd been crying. She walked quickly with her

I suddenly brought up Faye, but

mom's been paralyzed for years, so Fiona dropped out of school early to work and support Faye's

they were

was born as God's favorite. We all had our own share of

to do a deep clean of

saying that cleaning such a big house would be exhausting. I turned him down because I had nothing else

early.

I took a break on the

didn't want to answer. He always seemed like trouble. But thinking

aren't you?" His voice came through the line.

"I got injured for you, and it's been days. You

your leg already healed? Don't tell

injury hasn't healed, and there's a new one. I'm lying

say anything. Faris chuckled, and his laugh sounded off

at home. Remember to bring some groceries to cook. If you don't come, I'll

angry I almost couldn't

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

the market to buy some groceries, then took a cab to the

halfway up the hill was the place Faris had taken me

I walked in and saw Faris lying

he looked up

kidding! You threatened me; how could I

didn't say anything; I just faced him with a cold

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

walked over

my hand and muttered, "Corn, pumpkin, steak, all my

shamelessly smiled

at his leg.

"It's like this. Anyway, I

really

again, feeling a pang of

have been eating takeout all this

bit surprised and smiled.