Divorced, But The Billionaire Flusters!

Chapter 4 Kissing Her

Ethan asked, "Not busy with work?"

Henry quickly shook his head. "No, quite the opposite."

He glanced at the darkened sky and couldn't help but remind Ethan, "Mr. Brooks, it's been a while since office hours ended. Um... I have an appointment with a realtor to see a house. May I leave now?"

Ethan glanced at the clock in the top right corner of his computer screen. It was already past seven.

He nodded slightly. "Go ahead."

"Thank you, Mr. Brooks," Henry thanked him instantly, packed up briefly, and hurried out.

As the office door closed, Ethan finally looked up from his computer, his gaze lingering on the closed door for a moment before shifting to the dim sky outside the window.

It was a time when lights were on in every household, and the neighborhood was brightly lit in the distance.

Ethan thought of the lights at home. Whenever he returned, Charlotte would be sketching on the sofa.

When her face popped into his mind, Ethan's expression softened. He looked away from the window to the computer. His fingers rested on the keyboard when he tried to continue working. But after typing a word, he stopped. The designs and reports that once fascinated him now seemed dull.

He pushed the keyboard away and rose. Grabbing his suit jacket from the coat rack, he picked up his car keys from the desk and turned to leave.

Once he got into the car, his emotions gradually calmed down.

Ethan exhaled lightly, started the car, and slowly drove out.

Outside the car window, the streets were busy with traffic, filled with vibrant lights and sounds. Ethan drove aimlessly, not wanting to go home.

As he drove past Charlotte's neighborhood, Henry's words suddenly echoed in his mind. "Charlotte is selling the house."

Ethan couldn't help but glance at the entrance of the neighborhood.

Charlotte happened to come out at this time. When their eyes met through the car window, her steps faltered slightly.

Ethan saw her too. As he looked over her face, his gaze was calm.

Charlotte smiled at him, but Ethan turned away coldly.

Charlotte felt a bit awkward and smiled self-deprecatingly, then looked away and continued walking.

But Ethan suddenly called out to her, "Going out?"

His voice was still steady and calm.

Charlotte looked at him in surprise and nodded. "Yes, for some groceries."

Ethan nodded but said nothing more.

This had been their norm for the past two years.

Charlotte remained silent as well. After a polite smile, she was about to leave.

Ethan spoke again, "Have you eaten?"

Charlotte nodded. "Yes, I've just finished dinner."

Ethan responded with another nod but showed no sign of leaving.

Charlotte didn't know why he was there, but she didn't bother to return the concerns. Wearing a smile, she walked away.

Ethan didn't say anything more, staying where he was for a while.

Charlotte could see his car still parking there from the reflection on the store's glass window. She frowned in confusion while walking into the nearby supermarket.

The bathroom light was broken, so she went to buy a new one.

When she came out with a new bulb, she found Ethan still there.

They inevitably met eyes again.

Since they didn't part as enemies, she couldn't ignore him, but their marriage had made them strangers, so she couldn't greet him warmly, either. Thus, when their eyes locked again, she smiled lightly in greeting.

Ethan looked at Charlotte with no expression. His calm gaze was oppressive, making Charlotte feel tense.

As she walked past his car, he got out and followed her.

Charlotte felt helpless.

But Ethan didn't speak. He just silently followed her upstairs.

At the door, Charlotte finally couldn't help but turn to him. "Do you... need anything?"

Ethan replied, "No."

Charlotte was confused.

Ethan asked, "Do you have any food at home?"

Charlotte reminded him, "We are divorced."

Ethan said, "As your old friend, can't I come over for a meal?"

Charlotte was speechless for a moment, and she hesitated before opening the door.

Ethan noticed the bulb in her hand, his eyebrows furrowing slightly. "Is the light broken?"

Charlotte nodded. "Yes, the bathroom light burned out."

Ethan reached out his hand. "Give it to me."

"No need. I can handle it..."

Before Charlotte could finish her refusal, Ethan had already taken the bulb from her.

He glanced at the bathroom light, grabbed a chair from the entryway, placed it under the light, and stood on it.

He was tall. Standing on the chair, he easily reached the light.

Charlotte was afraid of an electric shock. "I'll go turn off the power first," she said, pulling down the circuit breaker. The room was immediately plunged into darkness.

Charlotte turned on her phone's flashlight to light the way for Ethan. "Can you see clearly?"

"Yes," Ethan responded in a calm, deep tone as he skillfully removed the light bulb.

Charlotte had never seen Ethan change a light bulb before. His swift and adept movements carried a sort of charm. Her gaze shifted from his hands to his face, and his chiseled profile appeared serious and focused in the dim light.

Charlotte found herself momentarily entranced.

The replacement didn't take long. Charlotte was still staring at him as he stepped down from the chair. Their eyes met, and she smiled awkwardly and hurried to look away, taking a small step back to create some distance.

Ethan's gaze slowly shifted from her retreating legs to her face, resting on her eyes, but he said nothing.

Charlotte felt increasingly awkward with his silence.

"Um, I'll go check if the light works now."

She turned to leave. But suddenly, her wrist was grasped tightly. Her phone fell to the floor, its light flooding the room.

Her heart raced as Ethan pulled her close.

She looked up in surprise as his hand moved from her wrist to her waist. Pulling her tightly against him, he cupped the back of her head with the other hand, lifting her face towards his. His cool breath drew near as he kissed her.

Out of instinct, Charlotte tried to push him away.

To her surprise, Ethan's grip tightened around her waist and head, deepening the kiss with a domineering vibe that left no room for refusal.

She couldn't resist.

The sound of their heavy breathing soon filled the small room.

Ethan pressed Charlotte against the wall, kissing her fiercely.

She had rarely seen this rough, domineering side of him, vaguely tinged with an urgency to vent. It really confused her, but Ethan didn't give her a chance to ponder.

His kiss grew more passionate, nearly spiraling out of control, when suddenly, a phone rang, instantly breaking the intimate moment.

Ethan stopped abruptly, keeping his face hidden from her as he pressed her cheek against his collarbone.

Charlotte could feel his breathing slowly calming.

Ethan released her, picked up the phone that was ringing again, and handed it to her.

"Thank you," Charlotte said softly. Avoiding his gaze, she took the phone and answered, covering it and turning away. "Hello?"

Ethan glanced at her and walked towards the circuit breaker.

Charlotte watched him leave, then focused on the voice speaking in Swedish over the phone. "Is this Mrs. Charlotte Brooks?"

Charlotte's attention returned to the call. "Yes, that's me. Who is this?"

"Mrs. Brooks, congratulations! You have been admitted to the Architecture Department of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich."

Charlotte paused for a moment. Then excitement surged through her. "Really?"

Her joyful voice caught Ethan's attention, and he turned to look at her.

Charlotte felt a bit embarrassed, but she suppressed her excitement and thanked the caller before hanging up. She then opened her phone's email and saw the acceptance letter.

Joy surged through her, and she wanted to express it, but when she looked up and noticed Ethan's gaze, she held it back out of embarrassment.

"What's going on?" Ethan inquired as he reached out to turn on the power.

Charlotte shook her head slightly. "Nothing, just some work stuff."

"Work?" Ethan frowned. He had never seen her this pleased about work. "You're lying to me."

When caught red-handed, Charlotte hesitated. "It's about my studies. I got accepted into the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich."

Ethan's frown deepened. "Applying to a university isn't something you do overnight. How long have you been planning this?"

Charlotte pressed her lips. "Six months."

Ethan's expression turned cold. "So, you've been planning to leave me since then?"

Charlotte didn't respond, but her silence spoke volumes.

Around that time, she began to entertain the idea of divorce. That was when she had applied to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich's Architecture Department, hoping to rekindle the dreams she had shelved following her pregnancy and marriage.

She had studied architectural design in college and always dreamed of furthering her studies in Switzerland. However, her family's financial situation couldn't support her ambitions, so she had been saving money through side jobs since her freshman year.

Her side jobs had been lucrative, and she had saved a decent amount. If not for meeting Ethan at that college reunion, having a whirlwind affair, and getting pregnant, she would have completed her studies as planned by now.

That one night had taken her life on a detour, turning her from a confident and passionate young woman into a frail and bothered housewife. She constantly doubted herself under the pressure of household chores and the disdain of Ethan's family. And now, it was time to end it all.

Her silence was an admission.

Ethan turned away coldly.

"I see," he said. "I wish you all the best."

With that, he opened the door to leave.

Charlotte instinctively called out to him, "Ethan."

Ethan stopped but didn't turn around.

"That day at your parent's place, I overheard your argument with your father in the study," Charlotte said softly. "It was after that day that I decided to divorce you."

Ethan suddenly turned to look at her.