Chapter 243: Chapter 243: Mother-Son Argument

Naomi Kenway looked up at him. “Go on, make something up. I’ll listen to you spin your story, and when you’re done, I’m leaving.”

“Liam Sherman was there too. If you don’t believe me, I can get the security footage.” Ethan Shaw’s face was a little pale. He quickly pulled out his phone and called Liam Sherman.

“Liam! Explain what happened the day before yesterday.”

“…What?” Liam Sherman hesitated, hearing the frantic and irritable tone in Ethan Shaw’s voice on the other end of the line.

“We went into the wrong private room the day before yesterday. Recount what happened.”

Liam Sherman had no choice but to comply. Using his extraordinary memory, he recounted the events of that day, more or less exactly as they had happened.

The call didn’t end. Liam didn’t dare hang up, so he heard Ethan Shaw’s voice on the other end, explaining frantically. It was the first time he had ever heard Ethan sound so desperate and helpless.

Ethan Shaw added, “Find a way to get the security footage from that day. And hurry.”

Naomi Kenway had already finished packing her suitcase. Just as she pulled up the handle, a hand grabbed hers. “Nina…”

“Liam Sherman is your assistant. Why should I trust a word he says?” Naomi snatched her hand away again. “I don’t want to hear any more of your excuses. Move. I’ll have the papers drawn up as soon as possible.”

Before her hand could touch the doorknob, an arm wrapped around her waist, forcefully spinning her around.

“Ethan Shaw, you—Mmph…”

It was a fierce and urgent kiss, one that stole the very breath from her lungs.

Naomi was forced to crane her neck back, completely unable to push him away. She felt herself being lifted, and the sudden feeling of being suspended in mid-air made her instinctively wrap her arms around Ethan Shaw’s neck.

With the height difference gone, the kiss became even more passionate and cloying.

She didn’t know how long it had been before she felt her lips and tongue being released, but she was still held in his arms.

Ethan Shaw’s low, husky, and slightly breathless voice was in her ear. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I really don’t want you to leave me…”

For a moment, Naomi didn’t have the strength to curse at him.

A light kiss landed on her delicate eyelid. “I don’t want us to end over a misunderstanding. Please, just have a little more patience. Let me explain, okay?”

A notification chimed. Ethan Shaw sat on the bed, holding Naomi Kenway, who was still limp in his embrace.

Ethan Shaw took out his phone and showed Naomi the security footage Liam had sent over. It was timestamped. “Look, I was out in a minute and a half. I had no idea I’d been set up on a blind date. How could anyone have a blind date in a minute and a half? I’m really not lying to you. You said you don’t believe Liam, so tell me, what will you believe? What will it take to make you believe me? An oath…?”

He raised his hand as he spoke.

Naomi said, “You don’t have to.” She had come to her senses and pulled away from Ethan’s embrace. Thinking about it carefully, Jane Chandler’s words weren’t credible at all. The woman was desperate for her and Ethan to divorce.

The thought gave Naomi a headache. “I believe you. But even if you weren’t on a blind date, I still need to cool down. Jane Chandler is always bothering me.”

“I know you’ve been wronged. Just give me a little time. That’s all I need,” Ethan Shaw promised repeatedly, his eyes darkening.

*

Jane Chandler was in her room, tending to the flowers on her balcony, her mood sour.

After returning, Jonathan Shaw had criticized her again, saying she had gone too far this time.

’But how would it work if I didn’t go too far?’

Lost in thought, she tilted the watering can, and water splashed onto her pale, moon-white cheongsam. Jane Chandler quickly dabbed at it with a handkerchief, feeling a wave of nausea. The taste of champagne came back to her.

A knock sounded at the door. Jane Chandler opened it impatiently, but her eyes lit up when she saw Ethan Shaw. “Son, you’re back? How did it go? Did she agree to divorce you?”

“You want us to divorce that badly?”

Only then did Jane Chandler notice his grim expression.

“Of course. It’s not that I absolutely insist on you two divorcing. I discussed having a second child with Naomi Kenway, but she wasn’t willing. You can’t blame me for that. Mrs. Clementine Coleman called to complain to me. Why were you so clueless? You weren’t even there a minute before you left. What is that poor girl supposed to think?”

Ethan Shaw let out a soft laugh. “So… you arranged that blind date. You had someone secretly swap the information?”

“What do you mean ’secretly’? You make it sound like I’m a thief.” Jane Chandler said, displeased. “It’s because you wouldn’t listen to me, so I had to find another way. Clementine Coleman is sunny and optimistic. She might be a bit dense, but at least she’s obedient and sensible, and she can keep me company. Besides, the Clementine Coleman Family’s financial standing is a good match for ours.”

She seemed not to notice Ethan Shaw’s darkening expression and continued on her own. “You don’t like Clementine Coleman’s type? She is a bit boisterous. I think Miss Lee is a good choice too, the one who plays the violin…”

“Enough!” Ethan Shaw said. “How many times do I have to tell you? I’m not getting a divorce, and I’m not going on any more blind dates. Stop pulling these stunts. She hasn’t provoked you or wronged you in any way. Why are you always targeting her?”

Jane Chandler swallowed, her face full of disbelief. “You’re getting angry with me for her sake again?”

“Yes.”

Looking deeply hurt, Jane Chandler accused him, “Ethan Shaw, have you no conscience? I worked so hard to raise you. When you were a crying infant, I didn’t even dare let the nanny handle you. And now you turn around and yell at me?”

When Ethan Shaw didn’t react, Jane Chandler had to soften her tone. “Son… Ian… I’m doing all of this for your own good! The reason you’ve grown up to be so successful, the reason you have such a brilliant future, is all because of my careful planning. Otherwise, you would have ended up a good-for-nothing like all those other profligate sons of rich families!”

“Everything you claim is for ’my own good’ is just to satisfy your own selfish desires, ignoring my feelings and forcing me to do things I hate?” Ethan Shaw’s expression was faint, betraying little emotion, but his dark pupils were tinged with a hint of numbness.

“Mom, sooner or later, you’re going to kill me.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?!” Jane Chandler instantly became agitated, as if she had just heard the most absurd joke. “You’re my son! My own flesh and blood! How could I possibly kill you?! I’d kill myself before I’d ever kill you!”

Her gaze shifted as she collected herself. “It seems to me you’re the one trying to drive me to my death!”

She turned and rummaged through the things on the table, quickly finding a fruit knife. She pointed the sharp blade directly at herself. “I’m doing this for your own good, for the sake of the Shaw Family! Go divorce Naomi Kenway right now, or else…”

She pushed the knife a little closer.

Ethan Shaw suddenly burst out laughing. He laughed so hard he doubled over.

Jane Chandler was stunned.

“Mom, you always pull this suicide stunt to threaten me. The truth is, you’re more afraid of dying than anyone, aren’t you? You just want me to suffer, to feel guilty, so you can achieve your goal of controlling me emotionally.”

Jane Chandler shook her head. “What nonsense are you talking about?! Don’t push me!”

Ethan Shaw stepped closer, his gaze turning cold. “Weren’t you going to kill yourself? Go on, then.”

Jane Chandler clenched her jaw. Her hand trembled, but she couldn’t bring herself to push the fruit knife any closer to her neck.

Yes. She was afraid of death.

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