Chapter 16

Chloe sprinkled the chopped green onions into the soup on the cutting board, turned to grab a kitchen towel to prepare to serve the soup, and noticed Ethan had returned. She didn't know how long he had been standing there, and his expression seemed somewhat unnatural. "Dinner is almost ready. You can wait outside," she said. Ethan didn't say anything but still walked outside. Watching Ethan's back, Chloe had a moment of trance, as if everything had returned to the way it was 5 years ago. Back then, they often left cooking halfway and ended up in the bedroom together. When they returned to the kitchen, it was already hours later. After a moment, she snapped out of her memories. Twenty-something minutes later, Chloe brought all the dishes to the table. However, there was no sign of Ethan in the living room. Seeing that the bedroom door was closed, she guessed Ethan should be inside. She took off her apron and knocked on the door. "Knock, knock, knock—" Chloe knocked several times, but there was no response from inside. Just when she thought he wasn't there and was about to leave, the door opened from the inside. Ethan walked out with wet hair, wearing casual home clothes. He went to the dining table, pulled out a chair, and sat down, looking at the dishes on the table with a faint gleam in his eyes. They were dishes he used to love. Ethan chuckled, "I didn't expect that you still remember my preferences so clearly after so many years. Could it be that you find it hard to forget our past?" Chloe's expression remained unchanged, "The meal is ready, give me the money." Ethan's expression slightly changed. He looked at Chloe standing in front of him, suddenly pulled her over, and lifted her onto his lap. Chloe shivered all over, immediately trying to get up, but Ethan held her waist, rendering her immobile. "What are you doing!" Chloe exclaimed. Ethan's warm breath brushed against Chloe's cheek. "Of course, having dinner." Saying that, he picked up his fork, grabbed a piece of meat, and put it into his mouth. Chloe was very uncomfortable with such an intimate gesture. She struggled to get up, but in Ethan's cold gaze, she became motionless. The money was not in her hands yet, and she had to endure it! Chloe stopped struggling, her eyes staring at the clock on the wall. She cleared her mind, forced herself to shift her focus, and tried to ignore the presence of the man besides her. Ethan noticed Chloe had quieted down, and a hint of amusement crossed his lips. For the duration of the dinner, he took nearly half an hour, and he practically finished all the dishes on the table. He glanced at Chloe, whose expression somewhat vacant, making her look cute. Suddenly, he touched her waist, making her tremble. Chloe's expression instantly became alert. She found that Ethan had finished his meal and immediately got up, asking, "Is it okay now?" Ethan shook his slightly stiff legs and looked at Chloe with flirtatious eyes. He got up, picked up his coat from the sofa, and took out his phone. In just a moment, Chloe received a text message confirming the payment. Now that she had received the money, she naturally didn't stay any longer. She picked up her bag from the coffee table, turned around, and left Ethan's home without a word. Watching Chloe leave without looking back, Ethan's expression darkened. Receiving the money, Chloe was momentarily excited, taking the elevator down to the first floor. Walking toward the exit, she suddenly realized that there seemed to be someone following her from behind. Judging from the shadow, it seemed to be a man. —— Ethan stood on the balcony, staring at the exit of the parking lot, his brows slightly furrowed. The balcony of his bedroom faced directly towards the parking lot exit. After a while, he still hadn't seen Chloe's car coming out of the exit. He suddenly remembered the last time he ambushed her in the parking lot, his face turned cold, and he immediately turned around, leaving the room and going downstairs.