Chapter 29 Broken Illusions , Midnight Fruit , and a Night Owl's War … Chapter 29 Broken Illusions , Midnight Fruit , and a Night Owl's Warmth The villa gates slowly shut behind them , and the tall and short figures inside disappeared from view . Ethan turned around . " Come on. I'll take you home . " Tina nodded and headed toward the driver's side . " I'll drive . Mr. Ethan , " Ethan waved her off calmly . " No need . I don't feel like getting out . " Soon , the black Bentley pulled up outside an old residential complex . +5 Free Cons Ethan rested his hand - bracelet and all - on the steering wheel , brow furrowed. " Why are you living in a place like this ? " A personal assistant's salary , plus annual bonuses , was more than enough to afford a down payment on a mid - to - high - end . apartment in Ashford . Tina smiled . " I live with my parents . Thank you for the ride , Mr. Ethan ." Ethan didn't pry He just gave a small nod . Tina was about to leave , but then paused , leaned slightly toward him , and said , " Mr. Ethan … I'm sorry . " And then she walked off , her tall , cool silhouette stretching long under the dim streetlight . Ethan was stunned for a moment . Then he realized - she meant sorry about Hannah . She'd been referring to the fact that Hannah had used him . And yeah , he had really liked Hannah . He didn't even know what had come over him - he'd been utterly fixated on her , thoughts full of her day and night . But hearing her admit today that she'd only used him to provoke Lucas … Yeah . That hurt . His face darkened slightly , thick lashes lowering . He took out his phone and opened WhatsApp , tapped into Hannah's chat Top right corner . Delete contact , He was only twenty - six . Love could wait , It was time to focus on building his career . Nathan's already wildly successful , he thought . And I've never seen him distracted by some roman He should take a page from Nathan's book . Just then , a new WhatsApp message came through . From a contact named " Learning Lesson by Fourth Marriage . " " If you're feeling down , talk to me . I'll bring the booze , you bring the cash , and we'll drink ' til we forget ! " The cold - faced man smiled despite himself and typed : " No need . Your little brother's not that fragile ." Learning Lesson by Fourth Marriage : " True . You're not like me . I'm a delicate emperor ! " 1/2 Chapter 29 Broken Illusions , Midnight Fruit , and a Night Owl's War … Seeing the ellipsis pop up on Ethan's end , Stella burst out laughing from where she was lounging on the couch . ere she was lounging on the couch . " Poor guy . Got dumped before he even started dating " She shook her head dramatically . " Who got dumped before dating ? " The voice dropped from overhead - mellow and clear . Stella looked up and was met with a jawline so perfect it could've been carved . +5 Free Coins Nathan stood above her , still in a crisp white shirt , the collar slightly loosened , a sleek black Patek Philippe on his wrist . In his hand was a fruit planer - an elegant watch paired with a rainbow - colored plate . A strange kind of harmony . He bent over slightly , placing the platter on the coffee table before sitting down beside her , his laptop resting on his knees " You're such a gossip . " Stella muttered , even as her hand automatically reached for the fruit . " What kind of fruit needs Mr. Nathan himself to go fetch it ? Guess I'd better do you a favor and destroy it . " She popped a few raspberries in her mouth - sweet , tangy , and bursting with flavor . Delicious Last night she'd gotten home late and gone straight to bed . But tonight , she'd arrived back before nine and , as usual , planted herself on the couch with her phone . It had become a habit during her senior - year summer break . No school , so she'd just curl up here with a book or her phone . The couch was soft and plush - sinking into it felt like being swallowed by a cloud . She hadn't noticed it last night , but now that she was here in the evening , something stood out . During the day , the house was full of staff bustling around . But now - nothing . " No housekeepers ? " she asked offhandedly . Nathan didn't look up from his screen . They all clock out at eight ." Stella grabbed a slice of orange and asked curiously , " This villa has staff rooms . Why not have live - in help ? Wouldn't that make your life easier ? " Nathan's deep , dark eyes flicked over to her from behind his glasses . " I've got two hands and two feet . I can take care of myself A flicker of admiration flashed through Stella's eyes . Nathan might be wealthy now , but his lifestyle hadn't become flashy or wasteful . He still lived in this old villa , grounded and simple , " That's all well and good ," she said , chewing , " but what if you get hungry at midnight ? Who's going to make you a snack ! " " You want a midnight snack ? " Nathan adjusted his glasses with a single finger , voice smooth and crisp .