Natalie sat on the couch nearby, posture upright and impeccably proper.
Ethan, on the other hand, was much more relaxed. He took off his jacket and casually tossed it over the back of the couch before slumping down. Pulling a cigarette from the pack, he lit it up with ease.
His parents, Jonathan Carter and Evelyn Carter's expressions darkened at the same time, but they held back their words.
Ethan was no longer someone who relied on the Carter family for support. In fact, the entire Carter family—along with their extended relatives—depended on him now. They had no right to object, nor did they dare to.
The moment Natalie caught the scent of smoke, a flicker of irritation crossed her brow, but she quickly suppressed it. She sat quietly, waiting for Jonathan and Evelyn to speak.
Ethan t
