Chapter 135: Chapter 135

The top-floor private room at the Alice Club has been taken over by hedonistic wealthy heirs. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel·fire.net

With a blonde beauty on each arm, Ethan Hawthorne vents his frustration at the card table: "Damn, why is my luck so bad today? Am I sitting in the unlucky seat?"

As he speaks, he glances at Henry Willow and Finn Grant, who have beaten him ten times in a row, and refuses to accept defeat as he accuses, "Are you two ganging up on me?"

Finn Grant throws his cards: "Me partner with him? Are you blind or just brainless?"

Finn Grant’s disdain for Henry Willow is apparent both in private and in public. But because Henry is currently dating Sarah Grant, Finn’s sister seems unable to do without him, and many expect they’ll eventually become a family.

This is exactly what annoys Finn Grant the most!

Someone as useless as Henry Willow isn’t even worth his notice. Every time Finn thinks of this kind of person touching his cherished sister, he gets infuriated enough to want to kill.

But seeing how obsessed Sarah Grant is with Henry Willow now, if the useless one dies, she’d surely follow him to the grave.

Finn Grant thinks Henry Willow’s face is simply begging for a beating, especially with those alluring eyes that make anyone want to hit him, whether he’s smiling or not. Yet, he can’t really beat him up because if he injures or disables him, his sister would be the one crying while taking care of him. Even if he scratches him slightly, Sarah Grant would come looking for him to settle scores.

So whenever Finn Grant sees Henry Willow, isn’t he always boiling inside? Anyone who gets in the way is unlucky.

Everyone knows the temper and quirks of Young Master Grant, so Ethan Hawthorne doesn’t dare backtalk when Finn snaps at him.

Seeing the tense atmosphere at the card table, fortunately, there’s someone else to break the ice: "Young Master Hawthorne, they say luckless at the gambling table means lucky in love. Look, you’ve picked the prettiest girls at the club today, you’re not in the unlucky seat, you’re on the throne."

Ethan Hawthorne loves hearing things . He kisses each of the blondes next to him, instantly forgetting his gambling losses.

"You all, I have a VIP guest coming soon. You need to make sure to entertain him well."

Just as Ethan Hawthorne’s words fall, the door of the private room is pushed open from outside.

The guest he invited arrives, and it is Conrad Sterling!

Ethan quickly gets up to greet him: "President Sterling’s here, please, have a seat."

In fact, Conrad Sterling and Ethan Hawthorne don’t really have any sort of friendship.

Last time they met, Conrad Sterling barely acknowledged him.

Ethan Hawthorne hadn’t imagined he’d actually get President Sterling to come for a social call today.

He promptly shoves the two beauties in his arms over to entertain, only to be glared back by a look from Conrad Sterling that radiates authority.

"Shoo! President Sterling is a world-class gentleman; he doesn’t look at any woman other than Miss Ford. You two better leave, come back when you’re summoned."

The two blondes cast a mournful look at Conrad Sterling, then reluctantly leave.

Actually, Ethan Hawthorne is also reluctant, but with Conrad Sterling’s intense vibe being like a principal, who dares cause a scene?

Ethan offers up his previous seat to him. Conrad Sterling sits down without glancing at his good buddy Henry Willow, first exchanging a disdainful look with Finn Grant instead.

Neither expected the other would be here.

Finn Grant is primarily here because he heard Henry Willow would be here, intending to keep an eye on him for his sister to prevent him from messing around.

Or rather to catch Henry in the act of fooling around, so he can quickly alert his sister about the betrayal and break them up once and for all.

As for why Conrad Sterling is here...?

Finn Grant sneers, he long saw through this secretive facade of moral righteousness.

Whenever Conrad Sterling came to this club before, it was always for unavoidable business engagements; today is the first time he’s here without any particular aim, just to play around.

Other spoiled heirs are regulars here, they play freely, but today, with these two big shots present, the atmosphere is subdued.

"President Sterling, why not play a few hands? Cards?"

"How about some drinks then."

Ethan Hawthorne gets him a drink poured, smoothly sits down next to Conrad Sterling, lighting a cigarette for himself.

Not being able to hold onto a woman, Ethan Hawthorne inevitably feels uneasy.

After just a couple of puffs, he can’t resist suggesting: "President Sterling, if those two didn’t please you, how about we call in a few prettier ones?"

"Whatever suits you guys, no need to include me."

With Conrad Sterling’s words, the other wealthy heirs lose their qualms, each immediately tearing off their gentlemanly masks, indulging in the revelry.

Only Conrad Sterling, Finn Grant, and Henry Willow remain separate from the debauchery, thus naturally sitting together.

But in terms of looks, they are the highest among those present. Some scantily-clad, alluring women intentionally hover with wine glasses, but because of President Sterling’s and Young Master Grant’s notoriously bad tempers, they dare not approach.

Only Henry Willow’s ever-alluring eyes seem constantly inviting. Based on his nature, he shouldn’t be ’huddling for warmth’ with Finn Grant and Conrad Sterling.

Yet if Henry Willow dares flirt or cast them a glance, the ashtray in Finn Grant’s hand would unhesitatingly smash a hole in his head.

"Right, Young Master Hawthorne, how’s that troublesome lawsuit of yours lately?"

"Don’t mention it, even settling privately with money doesn’t work. Haven’t seen such a stubborn woman."

"That little actress named Riley Osborne, wasn’t it just a bit of drugging? Didn’t even succeed, is it worth holding onto and even refusing money?"

"Hmph, she dares oppose me, I’ll send a few guys to make her learn the hard way... Speaking of which, I don’t know why the women I meet lately are each tougher than the last?"

"Which other woman? Are you talking about Anna Thornton?"

Conrad Sterling had no interest in any of the conversations in the room, yet upon hearing them mention Anna Thornton, he pauses slightly, gripping his wine glass, and both Conrad Sterling and Finn Grant look towards the speaker.

Ethan Hawthorne, mindful of Finn Grant, clears his throat and says, "I just recorded a variety show with Anna Thornton, no hard feelings. She’s the one Young Master Grant is interested in, I wouldn’t dare touch her!"

Hearing this, Finn Grant satisfactorily withdraws his gaze, even giving Conrad Sterling a provocatively raised cheek.

Meaning: "See? This woman is under my protection now!"

Conrad Sterling can’t be bothered, he takes a sip of his drink.

And with that, the topic of Anna Thornton is brushed aside.

Later, as the drinking session nears its end, noticing that Conrad Sterling and the others have only been drinking without engaging with women, Ethan Hawthorne, as the host, proposes a game.

"Do you know why men pursue power and money? Isn’t it for having more beauties flocking around them? But sometimes, too many women aren’t interesting either, quantity doesn’t equal quality. Those who don’t fancy outsiders, why don’t we compare our own women instead? See whose woman is the most obedient, sensible, and caring!"

"I propose, since we’re all pretty much intoxicated now, let’s call each of our women! Wives are fine, girlfriends are fine, mistresses third, fourth, fifth, whatever... Once the call goes through, you can say just one sentence, then report this address, no extra words! Let’s see whose woman arrives first, how about it?"

Ethan Hawthorne’s game completely satisfies the men’s vanity-driven perverse pleasure, earning them all round praise: "Great!"

It’s already past midnight, the men have indulged fully in eating, drinking, and playing; having their woman come to clean up, take them home, and care for them, what more could one ask for?

If one’s own woman arrives first and behaves graciously and obediently, that’d be a significant boost in front of everyone.

Conrad Sterling initially had no interest in such games, but he sees Finn Grant pulling out his phone, already flipping to Anna Thornton’s number.