Chapter 100 

“Do you remember nothing? In Evercrest Town, I was the one who stayed by your side during the most difficult times! I was the one who advised you to cooperate with the doctors, encouraged you to seek treatment for your eyes, and pulled you out of the abyss!” Cathy shouted, her voice full of emotion. 

“If it weren’t for me, you would still be abandoned by the Thorne family, still blind!” She continued, her words like whips lashing at his heart. 

“So many years of staying by your side, is it not enough to outweigh a pair of corneas?” 

“Now, I’m forced to pretend to donate my corneas to beg for your love. I have become the person I despise the most. Isn’t that enough?” 

“Do you only feel satisfied when you’ve pushed me to the point of death?” 

After venting her feelings, she embarrassingly covered her face, tears streaming down relentlessly. It was not sadness, but 

embarrassment. 

Cathy had fallen to such a state that she was willing to snatch the most abhorred person’s credit just to keep a man. 

Hale stood silently, looking at her. Although he didn’t say anything, the coldness in his eyes gradually dissipated. 

Cathy’s words felt like lashes on his heart. Indeed, she had done many things he couldn’t accept. 

However, she was also the one who accompanied him through his most difficult times. They had promised to be together for the rest of their lives and to keep this matter a secret in their hearts. 

Now she was willing to break their promise for him… 

Guilt washed over him, and he slowly reached out his finger to gently touch her head before pulling her into his embrace, 

saying, “I’m sorry.” 

Ethel couldn’t stop missing Karina and her biological father, so she soon set off back to Evercrest Town. 

As she was driving, her phone pinged with a notification. She glanced at it when she stopped at a service area to refuel. 

It was a notification of a deposit into her bank account, with a long string of zeros. 

Ethel’s lips curved slightly as she dialed William’s number. “Mr. Ripley, didn’t we agree that what I did for Mr. Anderson was to repay you? Why did you transfer such a large sum of money?” 

William’s voice sounded helpless from the other end of the line. “This is something Hale insisted I do. You know his temper. If I hadn’t done it properly, he would’ve been furious and might have even canceled the project.” 

Hale’s intention? 

Ethel’s lips slightly tightened. It seemed that he wanted to settle things with her and didn’t want to owe her anything. 

“But what should I do? I did what I did because of you, and I have no connection with him at all. By transferring this money, is he trying to humiliate me?” Ethel half–jokingly said. 

 

 

 

William: 

He couldn’t help but wipe his forehead. How could he handle this situation? One person insisted on giving, while the other insisted on not accepting. What should he do? 

“Keep it. What I did before was just a small favor, nothing worth mentioning.” Ethel spoke sincerely, her eyes dimming. “If it weren’t for you, I would no longer be Ethel, and Karina wouldn’t exist either.” 

William was taken aback by her words. His heart suddenly clenched, followed by a sharp pain. 

He couldn’t help but recall the scene when she was lying in the snow, barely breathing. Her face was paler than the snow, her lips were cracked. At that time, she was extremely disheveled and on the brink of death. 

And in the hospital, she was covered in blood, yet she was crying and begging the doctor to take her blood. 

The more he thought about it, the more his heart ached. 

“How about… you marry me?” The words almost slipped out of his mouth without thinking. 

“Don’t joke, Mr. Ripley,” Ethel didn’t take it seriously, her tone light. “You’ve been so kind to me. How could I repay you by disgracing you? How about this, I’ll give you half of the money. Consider it as accepting Hale’s gratitude.” 

William really wanted to say that he wasn’t joking. He also wanted to tell her that if she was with him, it wouldn’t be a disgrace but a blessing. 

and 

However, he couldn’t bring himself to say it. After spending some time with her, he had come to realize that once she made up her mind, she wouldn’t change it. 

If he confessed his feelings, she might never see him again. 

“Alright,” he could only force a bitter smile and nod. 

Ethel quickly transferred half of the money to William and then started her journey back home. 

In the evening, after having dinner, Lin Suye took Karina out to play again. The little girl said she wanted to catch butterflies, so Arthur took her to a wildflower patch to catch butterflies. Knowing that her father spoiled her, Ethel didn’t bother stopping 

them and let them have their fun. 

She lay on the reclining chair in the courtyard, enjoying the rare tranquility of the dusk. 

Knock, knock, knock. 

Suddenly, a knocking sound came from the door. Ethel thought it was a customer coming to pick up their shoes and quickly opened the door. Outside, standing before her, was Jagger. His BMW SUV was parked at the entrance, looking quite impressive. 

“Jagger, is there something you need?” Ethel asked. 

Jagger nodded and took out a basket of fresh fruits from the orchard. “These are the new varieties just harvested from the orchard. Try them.” 

Ethel looked down at the basket of fruits, each one large and smooth, obviously carefully selected. 

Jagger’s family managed many agricultural products, and he had a keen eye, exporting many fruits directly abroad. The appearance of these fruits indicated that they were intended for export and had a high price. 

Ethel smiled as she saw it but didn’t immediately accept. “How about I pay you for these?” 

 

“Are you trying to humiliate me with money?” Jagger looked at her face. 

Ethel: ” 

She knew exactly what Jagger meant. He was just leaving without finishing things between them. 

However, after finally getting out of the marriage that had been like a tomb, she had no intention of getting involved in another relationship. 

Jagger was a clever man and knew that if he gave her something else, she would definitely refuse. So he chose to give her fruits, something that neighbors would give each other, not too abrupt but enough to convey his feelings. 

Ethel understood his intentions but didn’t reject the fruits. She took them from him. Then, she casually grabbed a few bags of special products she brought back and placed them in his basket. “This is a token of appreciation. You should try these.” 

Jagger’s red face showed a hint of discomfort. Although Ethel hadn’t said anything, her actions made it clear that she wouldn’t give him any chance. 

He silently accepted the bags of special products, his lips already showing a bitter smile. “You really don’t like me. You have someone in your heart, don’t you? If I guess correctly, is it that man over there?” 

He pointed outside. 

Ethel followed his gaze and saw a figure standing by the side of the door. 

The person stood silently, adding a touch of color to the dimly lit alley 

He had a deep blue aura, mysterious yet captivating. His face was outstanding, his fair skin making the surroundings pale in comparison. 

“He’s better–looking than me and drives a better car,” Jagger expressed his sense of defeat. Even as the wealthiest man in the town, he was feeling a strong sense of inferiority. 

Ethel recognized the person he was referring to. It was Hale. Shouldn’t he be at home? Why was he here? 

Seeing that Ethel didn’t respond, Jagger assumed he was right and with a resigned smile, he nodded, got into his SUV, and drove away. 

Hale was standing not too far away, and Ethel wasn’t sure if he had come to see her. 

Not wanting to be presumptuous, she acted as if she hadn’t seen him and turned to go back inside to close the door. 

But a hand reached out and grabbed her hand firmly.