A Cold Marriage with a Cruel Husband

“...Mr. Grant, if that’s the case, do you have any instructions for me?”

Ethan was momentarily speechless. After a long pause, he finally replied, “Go charge the phone in my office and set it to forward calls to this one.”

“Got it.”

After hanging up, Ethan seemed to lighten up a bit. He hummed a tune as he headed to the shower, occasionally glancing at his phone.

But instead of receiving a call, he was interrupted by a knock at the door.

Ethan wrapped a bathrobe around himself and opened the door to find Lily bursting in, wrapping her arms around his waist. With tears in her eyes, she said, “Ethan, the thunder outside is so loud and I’m really scared. Can I sleep here with you?”

Ethan frowned and, after a moment, gently pushed her away. “Lily, this isn’t appropriate. I’m a married man.”

Lily's face flushed red, but she quickly tried to justify her actions. “I’m sorry! I just remembered that stormy night when my mom left me at the orphanage… Ethan, you wouldn’t just abandon me like that, would you?”

“...Mr. Grant, if that’s the case, do you have any instructions for me?”

Ethan fell momentarily silent and after a long pause, he finally said, “Please charge the phone in my office and set it to forward calls to this one.”

“Understood.”

Once Ethan hung up, his mood seemed to lift a little. He hummed a tune as he headed to the shower, occasionally glancing at his phone.

However, instead of receiving a call, he was soon interrupted by a knock at the door.

Ethan wrapped a bathrobe around himself and opened the door to find Lily rushing in, her arms wrapping around his waist. With tears glistening in her eyes, she said, “Ethan, the thunder outside is so loud and I’m really scared. Can I sleep here with you?”

Ethan frowned and, after a moment's hesitation, gently pushed her away. “Lily, this isn’t appropriate. I’m a married man.”

Lily's face turned crimson, but she quickly tried to explain herself. “I’m sorry! I just remembered that stormy night when my mom left me at the orphanage… Ethan, you wouldn’t just abandon me like that, would you?”

“Come a little closer.”

Ethan shifted an inch.

Lily frowned and suddenly lunged forward, wrapping her arms around him from behind.

Ethan’s body tensed up.

Lily leaned in closer, her breath warm against his ear. “Ethan, do you hate me?”

Ethan quickly turned his head to the side. “Why would you ask that? Of course, I... don’t hate you.”

“Then do you like me?”

“...Yes, I like you.”

Lily's face lit up with joy as she tilted her head, trying to kiss his ear. But Ethan abruptly pushed her away. “Lily, when I say ‘like,’ I mean like a younger sister.”

“But I don’t want that kind of affection.” Lily’s voice quivered, thick with emotion.

“Lily...”

Before Ethan could finish his sentence, Lily lunged at him and pressed her lips against his.

Ethan’s entire body jolted at the unexpected contact. He instinctively tried to push her away, but when he caught sight of the tears glistening in Lily's eyes, he hesitated and let his hand rest gently on her waist instead.

A sly smile flickered across Lily's face as she suddenly pushed Ethan down, straddling his hips.

Just as she was about to unfasten his belt, Ethan's phone rang, cutting through the tension at the worst possible moment.

Startled by the ringtone, Ethan sprang up and shoved Lily away.

“Ah!” Lily gasped in surprise.

But Ethan didn’t have time to explain; he hurried out of the room to answer Alex’s call.

“Mr. Grant, there’s been an incident involving your wife…”