I Married the President

It was the first time Ethan Kingsley had thought so much about a woman. After weighing his options, he ultimately couldn’t bear to have what was his snatched away. "Reporter Sinclair," he said, "rest assured, and please assure the Astoria Daily as well. The Little Idiot is mine, and I will take good care of her."

Claire Sinclair smiled to herself, but her words were perfectly polite. "I hope you keep your word, Mr. Kingsley. Also, please keep your phone on at all times. If you’re not available to answer, you can give me your assistant’s number. Calling your assistant is fine with me, as long as I can get in touch with Third Miss Tanner."

Ethan Kingsley smiled. "You’d better just call me. Around dinnertime would be best."

Claire Sinclair nodded. Then, as if a thought had just struck her, she casually proposed, "Thank you, Mr. Kingsley, for your concern for those with intellectual disabilities. I plan to do a special feature on the topic someday soon, and I may need to interview you and Third Miss Tanner. I wonder if you would be willing to grant me an interview?"

Ethan Kingsley agreed almost without a second thought. "If it’s for a good cause, you’ve come to the right person. I’m more than happy to cooperate."

Claire Sinclair said politely, "Well, I won’t disturb you two any longer. Mr. Quincy, let’s go."

Adrian Quincy said nothing, simply taking her hand and leading her out of the hospital room.

Only after the sound of their footsteps had faded completely did Ethan Kingsley push the drowsy woman in his arms away, his gaze dropping to her pale face.

"Little Idiot, does Claire Sinclair treat you well?"

Ivy Tanner bobbed her head like a woodpecker. "Uh-huh, uh-huh! Sinclair is super nice to me. She brought me congee, and it was so yummy!"

Ethan Kingsley asked again, "Do you like Sinclair?"

"I do!"

"If you do, then I’ll let you call her every day."

"Uh-huh, uh-huh!!!" Ivy Tanner nodded again and again.

Ethan Kingsley chuckled at her silly expression and reached out to pinch her cheek. "My birthday is in a few days. I want you to come to my party."

"Birthday?" A fleeting look of astonishment flashed in Ivy Tanner’s eyes.

’Ever since she’d "turned stupid," she hadn’t been to any of his birthday parties. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go; it was that a fool wasn’t qualified to attend.’

’After all these years, he was actually letting her attend his birthday party. Why?’

’She couldn’t figure it out.’

Ethan Kingsley spoke in a tone of rare gentleness. "She wants me to take care of you, so I’ll strive to become the man she wants me to be. I believe that how she sees things is how the world sees them."

’At his words, it dawned on Ivy Tanner. So, it was all just an act for Claire Sinclair.’

’Claire Sinclair was secondary. His real target was the Astoria Daily, which controlled public opinion in Aridia. In his fight for that position, he had truly mastered the art of hypocrisy.’

’And to think I thought his opinion of me had changed. In the end, it was just my own wishful thinking.’

’He only ever saw self-interest; there were never any personal feelings involved. Why should I harbor any illusions about him?’

Ivy Tanner feigned ignorance, tilting her head and parting her lips as if to speak, but said nothing.

Ethan Kingsley patted her on the head and smiled. "You wouldn’t understand any of this anyway. Just remember to get me a gift. I haven’t received a gift from you in a long time."

"A gift!" Ivy Tanner’s interest was suddenly piqued. "I want to give Brother Kingsley a birthday present!"

’But... I don’t have any money to buy one.’

As if sensing her hesitation, Ethan Kingsley pulled a black card from his pocket and placed it in her hand. "This card can buy a lot of things. How about you ask Sinclair to go shopping with you and buy me a present?"

"Uh..." Ivy Tanner pretended not to understand.