Chapter 43

"Reject any future acquisition offers from Sullivan Group outright."

"Understood."

Colin Keller followed Ethan Sullivan out of MY Fashion Group's headquarters, hesitating before speaking up. "Sir, our offer was already three times the market value."

Ethan didn't break stride, his eyes frosty.

"Compile a dossier on Sullivan Group's apparel subsidiaries."

He'd intended to acquire MY as a training ground for Isabella. Since they refused to cooperate, he'd take a different approach.

"Right away, sir."

Saturday arrived swiftly.

Ethan was reviewing documents on the sofa when Evelyn Sullivan descended the stairs.

The sound made him close the folder.

She wore a pale blue sundress with her hair in a high ponytail, her fresh-faced look reminiscent of a college freshman.

His brow furrowed. Without warning, he tugged her hair tie loose.

"What are you doing?"

Chestnut waves cascaded over her shoulders.

"This suits you better." He tossed the hair tie into the trash.

Evelyn fumed.

"Since when do you care how I look?"

"Let's go." Ethan stood, pausing when she didn't follow. "Why the hesitation?"

"Did my father invite you too?"

"Is that an issue?"

She pressed her lips together.

She should've known. William Jackson never considered her feelings.

An hour later, their car pulled up to the Jackson family estate.

Isabella waited at the entrance, her smile faltering momentarily at Evelyn's appearance before quickly recovering.

"Ethan! Grandpa's been expecting you."

He ignored her, turning to Evelyn instead. "We'll go in together."

The hypocrisy was laughable.

Those intimate photos still lived in her phone, yet here he was pretending to be the dutiful husband.

Inside, Charles Jackson greeted them with obsequious enthusiasm.

"Mr. Sullivan! What an honor! Please, make yourself comfortable."

Evelyn had no patience for the charade. "I'll be in the garden," she told Ethan flatly.

Isabella soon cornered her in the gazebo.

"Don't get cocky. Ethan will always love me."

"Really?" Evelyn smirked. "He barely glanced at you earlier."

Isabella's face darkened.

"We're just having a fight!" She lowered her voice venomously. "Know why your male model scandal never blew up? Ethan buried it for me! He'll always protect me!"