Chapter 293: Chapter 293: Moving Luggage

The color drained from Nathaniel’s face.

He had coveted this watch for a long time. Not only was it outrageously expensive, but he had asked numerous friends and none of them could even get him on the list to buy one. This watch wasn’t something money alone could buy.

“This…” Nathaniel asked, “Whose watch is this?”

A deep voice sounded from beside him, its tone flat and emotionless. “Is Mr. Lynch interested in my watch?”

Nathaniel looked over, tilting his head up slightly. He wasn’t short—he was five-foot-ten—but he still had to look up to see the man next to him.

“You… This is your watch?”

He recognized him as the husband of fellow guest Naomi Kenway.

Nathaniel glanced back at the watch. He didn’t dare touch it directly, as that would be rude. After examining it several times, he was absolutely certain it was no counterfeit or knockoff.

He’d long heard that many of Naomi Kenway’s career opportunities were funded by her husband. Looking at him now, it was clear his financial power was truly extraordinary.

A hint of eagerness crept into Nathaniel’s eyes. He put on a familiar air and said, “What a coincidence. I’ve studied watches a bit myself. We should chat about them sometime when we have the chance.”

Ethan Shaw chuckled softly. “Mr. Lynch is the expert on timepieces. I, on the other hand, don’t know the first thing about them. I just buy them for fun. My son is calling me, so if you’ll excuse me.”

Nathaniel’s smile faltered. How could he not recognize Ethan Shaw’s rejection?

’I’m a multi-award-winning actor, for crying out loud, with the entire Lynch Family backing me up. The fact that I’m even willing to talk to him is giving him face, and he has the nerve to act all high and mighty? Does he really think he’s some big shot who can order everyone around?!’

Nathaniel seethed with resentment, feeling utterly slighted.

But remembering the cameras, Nathaniel’s unhappy expression vanished in an instant. His professionalism was top-notch; a warm, approachable smile quickly reappeared on his face.

Gene Woods took the longest, handing over his luggage with a sour look. He had a lot of miscellaneous items; there were twelve gold watches alone, not to mention several gold-plated suit clips, gold belts… He seemed to have an intense love for all things gold. The storage bin originally provided couldn’t fit everything, so the director had to get him another one.

After surrendering all his “contraband,” Ethan Shaw picked up his suitcase again and rejoined Naomi Kenway and Ian Shaw. “I believe the room is on the second floor. Let’s go.”

Naomi was still processing Ethan’s sudden arrival. She snapped back to the present. “Okay, let’s go upstairs.”

The other guests headed upstairs one after another. Gene Woods started hauling his suitcase up, but was already huffing and puffing with exhaustion by the time he was halfway.

“Chelsea Raines,” he yelled.

Chelsea turned and looked at him hesitantly. “Can’t carry it? Didn’t you hand over the contraband? How can you still not lift it? If I’d known you were this useless, I would’ve told you not to come. It’s like you haven’t even eaten…”

She grumbled instinctively.

“Chelsea Raines!” Gene Woods exploded. “What’s that supposed to mean? I came on this stupid show for you and our son, and this is the attitude you give me?!”

He kept calling it a “stupid show,” causing the faces of everyone around them to darken. But marital spats always drew eyeballs, and several cameras swiveled to focus on them.

Chelsea had just looked away when she saw Naomi’s husband effortlessly carrying a large suitcase with one hand, while his other arm held their child securely…

Jared Woods came running over. “Dad, I’ll help you carry it! Please stop fighting!”

He gritted his teeth and used all his might, but he couldn’t even budge the suitcase.

Gene felt a pang of protectiveness for his son. “What are you getting involved for? Get up. Let your mom carry it. I provide her with good food and drink all the time, not so she can give me attitude!”

Chelsea was furious, but she walked over and picked up the suitcase. She didn’t want to start a fight with Gene. So many times, she had wanted to just divorce him and leave, but she always forced herself to endure it. ’Gene has so many mistresses on the side. Who knows when one of them will get knocked up? If I leave, there will be no one left to stand up for Jared. All that money could end up going to some bastard child out there! How could I ever stomach that?!’

[The overbearing CEO-type husband? No, wait, Chelsea, did you get the script for ’The Overbearing CEO and His Little Maid’?]

[Yeah, ’overbearing’ is one word for it.]

[I can’t watch this anymore. How can a grown man that big not even be able to lift a suitcase? All that bulk on him is for nothing?!]

[Does this Gene Woods have any class at all, calling it a ’stupid show’ over and over? Who’s a bigger scumbag than he is?!]

[This kind of marriage is suffocating. Gene Woods has zero respect for his wife. I’m not a big fan of Chelsea, but Gene is even more disgusting!]

[Living in that kind of family environment, I hope Jared Woods doesn’t end up like his dad!]

[Jared Woods can be a bit of a handful, but he’s also really kind. In the mountain village episode, he wanted to take off his own clothes and shoes to give to the kids there because he knew his stuff was valuable. The kid’s not bad at heart. I hope he grows up well!]

…

*

She took out the key and unlocked the door. With a CREAK, the wooden door swung open, revealing a splendidly decorated interior.

Naomi Kenway smiled. “What do you think? Not bad, right? Have you ever stayed in a place with this kind of style before? I was pretty surprised when I first got here, too. I was stunned at first sight.”

Ethan Shaw nodded, his gaze sweeping over the room. It wasn’t large, only about a hundred square feet. His eyes were quickly drawn to a vase on the table. Leaning in for a closer look, he noticed its plastic texture. “Is this fake?”

His voice was still laced with amusement, and a hint of surprise.

That was the product of one of Naomi’s sleepless nights. She said proudly, “It looks pretty real, doesn’t it? I saw the materials in the room and just made it for fun. The final result isn’t half bad.”

“It’s beautiful,” Ethan said. “But making fakes takes so much time and effort. Why not just have real flowers?”

“Real flowers? We have some.”

Naomi led Ethan to the balcony. There, on a trellis wrapped in vines, sat several pots of exquisite, beautiful flowers that were clearly very well-cared for.

“This isn’t my doing, though. The flowers were already here when I first arrived. I’ve just been helping out by watering them.”

The smile on Ethan’s face deepened. No matter when or where, the Naomi he saw was always optimistic, positive, and full of a zest for life.

“You’re carrying such a big suitcase. You should unpack your things first.”

Naomi said as she left the balcony.

Ethan followed behind her.

“Oh, right. Have you eaten?” Naomi asked.

Ethan was about to say he had, but then he suddenly realized this was Naomi showing concern for him. Back home, Naomi often cooked, but usually only when Ian was there. He would just get to sneak a bite or two then.

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