Chapter 24

When night falls, the brightest lights on Fleet Avenue are always found at the gentlemen’s club Avandonasser.

The tallest building in the area also serves as a hotel, so it’s always bustling with gentlemen and visiting businessmen from other countries.

A place built for men’s entertainment would usually host card games or drinking parties, but tonight was different.

A gathering themed “Businessmen’s Night” was being held here.

Under the dazzling chandeliers, men in formal suits removed their hats and exchanged handshakes.

Since it was a formal event, reporters had been invited to take photos. Flashes popped everywhere, capturing the hypocritical scenes of gentlemen pretending to be friendly.

Amid the busy exchange of greetings and information, Ethan sat leisurely, resting his chin in one hand.

“Sir.”

Despite Jayde’s urging, Ethan’s gaze remained fixed on the dark sky outside the window.

As the host, Ethan should have been mingling, but he was lost in thought. Jayde’s anxiety grew blacker by the minute.

Ethan was always unpredictable, but he was a man who knew his place. Even when socializing with women, he drew clear boundaries with anyone who crossed the line. He was meticulous with his priorities, especially in business, earning everyone’s respect.

But Ethan Inglebert was different tonight.

“This is strange.”

Muttering to himself, Ethan replayed the events from an hour ago in his mind.

‘You didn’t show up for our appointment, so I came to pick you up. Is something wrong?’

‘Ah… Sorry. I’m not feeling well, so I don’t think I can go out today.’

For days now, every time he tried to meet Yvonne, she refused. Even when he showed his irritation, she claimed she was unwell, refusing both to come out and to let him in.

He’d never experienced this before. Pretending to be lovers, their scandal was splashed across the newspapers, and her sudden change in attitude was bewildering.

“Jayde, what did the people watching Yvonne say?”

“Huh? That question again? Nothing much. Since Earl Sellus and his wife visited five days ago, she hasn’t gone out.”

“Really?”

He’d checked several times, but the timing was odd.

It was right after the Earl and Countess visited that things changed, suggesting something was said.

“Maybe she’s changed her mind now. I didn’t expect her to…”

His voice was tinged with annoyance as he brought the glass to his lips. He’d made things clear, but now it seemed all his effort was wasted.

“If there were raised voices, maybe the Earl scolded his daughter for filing the divorce papers?”

“Raised voices? That wasn’t in the report.”

Ethan pressed Jayde, who continued as if it were nothing.

“There was some loud noise, but it quickly quieted down. There was a sound like something breaking—maybe they were toasting?”

“What’s there to toast when they’re nagging?”

Ethan’s brows furrowed at Jayde’s reply, and Jayde glanced sideways.

“Tell me everything you left out.”

“It’s nothing, really. The Earl went in first, and the Countess arrived later, carrying a bouquet of lilies.”

“Wait, lilies?”

Ethan, about to drink, turned to Jayde.

“Be precise. Was it really lilies?”

Ethan’s sudden seriousness made Jayde answer, bewildered.

“Yes. She carried a mountain of bouquets. Yvonne’s nickname is Lily, so she must really like them.”

That couldn’t be.

Ethan remembered how Yvonne’s face paled at even a single lily.

If her parents knew she had a lily allergy, why would they bring lilies themselves?

And not just one bouquet, but a mountain—enough to be life-threatening.

He replayed the bizarre report, and a memory flashed through his mind.

For days, Yvonne hadn’t shown her face. She only spoke from inside the door, never letting him in or showing herself.

“In the last report, Earl Sellus and his wife were said to be in Asnesh Kingdom for business. Why did they suddenly return?”

“I don’t know. Maybe they had urgent business.”

Jayde’s casual reply left Ethan deep in thought. Something felt off, nagging at him.

“I’ll pop out for a bit.”

“Huh? Now? Can’t you see everyone’s gathered? Absolutely not.”

“It’ll be quick.”

Ethan patted Jayde’s shoulder, grabbed his coat, and stood up.

Suddenly, the lively atmosphere cooled. Everyone looked at the man entering the doorway. Jayde gasped, mouth agape, and grabbed Ethan’s arm.

“Sir, don’t look back, just run for the back door. Whatever you’re thinking, do it later. Be careful.”

“What’s with you now, Jayde?”

Ethan replied irritably, annoyed at his assistant’s rambling. Jayde shook his head, as if it was already too late.

“You might get hit, so prepare yourself.”

“What are you talking about? There are no women at tonight’s event.”

Ethan turned away from his assistant’s irreverent words, and his face hardened as he saw someone.

Duke Carlisle Polshared.

He was walking straight toward Ethan.

* * *

“This is a bit awkward.”

Facing Carlisle, who sat directly opposite him, Ethan put on his usual smile and snapped his fingers toward the bar.

A staff member, watching the scene, immediately brought an ice bucket and a bottle of whiskey. Glasses were set, and Ethan, holding the whiskey bottle, filled Carlisle’s glass with a smile.

“Let’s have a drink. It’s been a while since you came to my club.”

Carlisle glanced at the golden liquid pouring into his glass and asked dryly,

“Are we the kind to share a toast?”

“Why not? To everyone else, we look like close friends.”

Ethan’s jaw lifted stylishly, and Carlisle let out a breath between his handsome lips.

He ignored Ethan’s offered hand and grabbed the glass, downing it in one gulp.

“See, you really have no manners at the drinking table.”

Ethan, treating him like a stiff soldier, emptied his own glass in one go.

People in the hall pretended not to look but stole glances at the two men. Reporters, blocked from taking photos, listened closely for anything worth reporting.

From the moment Carlisle arrived, everyone expected something like this might happen, but when he sat across from Ethan Inglebert, jaws dropped.

Rumors had been swirling in Aerondo that the Marquis Inglebert had finally settled on one woman. Even though divorce papers had been filed, legally Yvonne was still Duchess Polshared, and everyone wondered how her husband would react. The Duke’s indifferent attitude made people give up on any drama.

But now the Duke was sitting with the Marquis. Eyes everywhere gleamed with anticipation of a scandal.

“Too much attention. The noble you must hate this, Duke Carlisle Polshared.”

“Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?”

“You’re the one who came first, but the crowd is noisy.”

Ethan signaled the bar again, and the music changed to a lively tune.

As if on cue, dancers with slender figures gathered on the stage surrounded by tables.

Each struck a seductive pose, then began dancing in short, frilly skirts to the upbeat music.

Thanks to this, the attention on the two men was somewhat scattered.

“Men are pathetic. No matter how curious, everything is forgotten in front of a pretty woman.”

Ethan’s words earned a cold stare from Carlisle.

“Like you.”

“You must have misunderstood. I’m different.”

“How are you different? You put a lot of effort into approaching Yvonne.”

This time, Carlisle filled his glass with whiskey.

Ethan’s glass was empty.

Childish.

Carlisle’s refusal to pour Ethan’s drink annoyed him, and Ethan scoffed.

He shouldn’t have expected flexibility or courtesy from such a rigid man.

Wasn’t it always like this, even when they were young?

“Carlisle, coming to me was a mistake. You just revealed your weakness—your wife.”

“You’re still as presumptuous as ever.”

Carlisle, mocking Ethan’s smiling face, sat up straighter. Even that small movement radiated the Duke’s innate arrogance.

“Whatever you’re plotting, unfortunately, Yvonne knows nothing.”