Isabella had thought Ethan might point out a hidden birthmark or mention a small scar from a childhood fight. But… "White Tiger?!"
Ethan's comment about her being a "White Tiger" struck Isabella harder than any revelation about a tiny scar could. It was a deeply personal trait, one she'd known about since her early teenage years and had never shared with anyone. Her face tightened in shock as her chopsticks slipped from her hand and clattered onto the table.
How could Ethan know something so private, so impossible for anyone else to discover?
Picking up her fallen chopsticks, she looked at Ethan with a stare that was both intense and slightly unnerved. The expression in her eyes made it clear that, at this moment, she viewed him as something close to a stalker.
"How long have you been following me?" she asked, her tone cold.
For the first time, she genuinely wondered if he had snuck into her home, hidden in the shadows, watching her every move. The thought sent an unsettling chill down her spine.
"I'm twenty-two years old," Ethan began calmly. "I only just graduated college. I spent my high school years back home, came to Sea City for my studies, and I've been here for seven years. Four years ago, you were still abr pursuing your master's degree. You only returned to Sea City recently…"
He continued, "I was busy studying, maintaining top grades to get into a prestigious school, and working on my skills. There's no chance I would've wasted time with amateur methods like 'following' people around. My approach is much more advanced—far more effective than mere surveillance."
Isabella silently placed her chopsticks down again. She was taken aback by how sensible his reasoning sounded. Given Ethan's age and his accomplishments, there was no way he had been observing people in such a conventional way. If he had gathered so much information about so many people, he had to be employing a much more sophisticated method.
"You're becoming quite fascinating, Ethan," Isabella remarked, her lips curving into a slight smile, her eyes shining with intrigue.
Meeting him today had already piqued her interest, but now, that curiosity was elevated to a new level. It was rare for anyone to make her feel off-balance, and even rarer for her to find herself wanting to delve deeper into their mysteries.
Isabella's natural resilience and competitive spirit wouldn't allow her to rest until she knew as much about Ethan as he seemed to know about her. This was exactly the response he had hoped to elicit—a potent combination of fascination and curiosity.
"Cheers?" Ethan raised his glass with a smile.
Isabella examined him thoughtfully before raising her glass to meet his in a toast. She was already formulating a plan to uncover his secrets, and Ethan welcomed it—each layer she peeled back would draw her closer, building a connection that she wouldn't easily sever.
Their first "date" ended without further incident, marked by a mutual understanding of the game they were both playing. They left the restaurant arm in arm, with Isabella driving Ethan back home.
As they neared his place, Isabella's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, frowned, and answered curtly, "Yes?"
"Ma'am, there's a car following us," reported one of her bodyguards from the SUV trailing them.
"I know," Isabella replied, irritation evident in her voice as she hung up and told Ethan, "We're being followed. Probably by Dylan's people."
"How can you be sure it's him?" Ethan asked.
"Who else would have the time to tail me at all hours?" Isabella replied dismissively.
Ethan chuckled, knowing she'd misunderstood the situation. He was aware of the people tailing them, but he knew their motives were focused more on him than on her. Still, he let her continue believing it was Dylan's doing.
Finally, Isabella's Bentley Continental slowed to a stop at the entrance of Ethan's neighborhood.
"Here's fine. Get a good night's sleep," Ethan said as he opened the car door and stepped out.
Just as he began walking away, Isabella's voice called out, "Darling!"
Her tone caught him by surprise. Turning around, he saw her leaning out the car window, beckoning him back with her hand.
Curious, he walked back to the driver's side.
"Come closer," she said, motioning with a finger, as if she wanted to whisper something.
Ethan leaned in, wondering what she had in mind.
Without warning, Isabella wrapped an arm around his neck, leaned out of the window, and kissed him firmly on the lips.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]