Hearts in Turmoil

Chapter 7: Lena

The girl was confident and enthusiastic, her body language suggesting a strong physical attraction. Her confidence radiated in every movement, a woman who was used to getting what she wanted.

Ethan Li didn't push her away, but he didn't reciprocate either. He looked at her body, but it wasn't admiration he saw, just a cool detachment. "I'm not really into drinking," he said calmly, without any real interest.

"You're not exactly turning me down very firmly," the girl replied, a knowing smile playing on her lips as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. "You'd have to push me away pretty hard for it to count as a rejection."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, but his expression didn't change. "Like this?" he enquired, peeling her off him with casual indifference, his hands precise and practised as if this were a routine action.

The girl's face showed a mix of shame and anger. Her eyes narrowed and her lips tightened. "Ethan, you're not even interested in someone who comes to you willingly?" she asked, sounding a bit surprised.

"You should think about your father's reputation," Ethan replied calmly. "There's no need to act like those women who don't respect themselves."

His words were more hurtful than any outright rejection could have been, leaving her visibly shaken. But Ethan remained unmoved, his eyes giving nothing away.

Lily Zhao could be fun for a while, he thought. But this girl – someone like her would expect more. If he got involved with her, it would almost certainly lead to marriage. And Ethan had no intention of getting tied down like that. Not now, not ever.

The girl left, her eyes brimming with unshed tears, but she was too proud to say more. As she turned on her heel and walked away, Ethan was already thinking about something else. He didn't dwell on these moments – there was no point.

However, nobody expected her to quickly get back to her usual self. The next time they met, she was a different person. She was full of righteous determination, and her resolve and intentions were clear. "Ethan, you were right," she said, her voice steady. "I shouldn't tarnish my father's name. I've thought it over and I've decided that, since I like you, I should pursue you properly.

Ethan raised an eyebrow at her bold declaration.

"I'm going to win you over," she said, her confidence unwavering.

Ethan had been pursued by many people in his lifetime, but no one had ever been so bold as to claim they would definitely succeed. He was intrigued. He wanted to see how long she could keep it up and what she was capable of.

Ethan was momentarily distracted and replied, "Is that so?"

If you listened closely, you could hear a hint of temptation in his tone, as if he were inviting her to try. He liked seeing people try to play his game, knowing full well he always had the advantage.

When it came to seduction, there was no one better than Ethan. It was up to him whether he indulged or restrained her, depending on what he wanted at the time. And right now, he was intrigued, but not interested enough to take the bait.

The girl was still full of confidence, her eyes sparkling with determination. "One day, you'll be asking me to sleep with you, asking me to marry you."

Like Ethan, she was also in the medical field, and she decided quickly to return to China with him. Her father, who is a well-known professor, was totally on board with her decision.

"Take care of Lena for me," her father had told Ethan, with a proud look on his face. "She's really quite capable in her field – you might be pleasantly surprised."

Ethan could see straight away that Lena was really talented at her job. A capable woman is always someone to admire. Ethan had respect for women like that – women who had more to offer than just their looks. But admiration didn't mean attachment.

When the training period was over, Lena came back to China with Ethan. She was determined, and Ethan knew it wouldn't be long before she made her next move.

Lily Zhao found out that Ethan had returned to China a week later.

It was Grace who brought it up in passing during lunch. "I bumped into Ethan at the airport when I was coming back from a business trip," Grace said, her tone light but her words carrying more weight for Lily than Grace likely realised.

Lily had sent Ethan a WeChat message herself, asking, "Are you there?" As she'd expected, she hadn't received a reply.

People like Ethan, she'd heard, didn't have time for trivial questions – they only responded when there was something important to discuss.

Lily wasn't one to beg, but she couldn't help feeling frustrated. She really wanted Jason Chen to pay for what he'd done to her and her family. The thought of her father's near-suicide after going bankrupt made her feel really angry.

She was struggling to keep her anger in check.

Lily decided to track down Ethan on Monday. She needed his help, and she had to act fast.

On her way to see Ethan, she bumped into Daniel.

"You're here to see Ethan?" he asked, his usual grin on his face. "He's in surgery at the moment."

"Thanks," she replied with a smile, trying to keep her tone light despite the tension.

"Why are you even trying with Ethan?" Daniel asked, in a straightforward manner. You should know that just because you were with Jason, there's no way Ethan would ever consider making you his girlfriend. "Their families would never be happy with two brothers fighting over the same woman," Daniel pointed out. "Ethan is just playing with you – he's not that into it."

Lily didn't reply straight away. Daniel's words stung a little, but she kept her cool. She'd always known that Ethan wasn't that emotionally invested, but hearing it said aloud made it harder to ignore.

"Has he been in touch since he got back?" Daniel carried on. "That means he doesn't even want to play with you anymore."

Lily started to reply, but then a woman's voice echoed down the corridor.

Ethan, you looked great doing that surgery. "I'm looking forward to getting you into bed," the woman said in a familiar tone.

Lily looked up and saw a tall, curvaceous woman standing next to Ethan. They were standing close, almost touching, which made Lily feel a bit uncomfortable.

Lena, Lily thought.

Lena asked playfully, "How about when I was assisting you? Did I look good then too?"

A woman who was focused on her work could be very attractive, Ethan mused. He replied casually, "Very sexy."