I Married the President

Ethan Kingsley was silent for a moment before he suddenly spoke. "Claire Sinclair, I’m only tolerating this tone from you because of who you are. Don’t speak to me like that again. My patience has its limits."

Claire Sinclair scoffed. "You say that as if my patience is limitless. Mr. Kingsley, either get rid of me, or I’m going to see this thing with Third Miss Tanner through to the end."

Ethan Kingsley’s hands tightened into fists, but he remained silent.

Claire Sinclair ignored him and turned to the girl trembling in the corner of the bed. Her voice softened. "Ivy Tanner, I’m heading back now. Remember to call me if anything happens. If I don’t hear from you by midnight tonight, I’ll bring you a phone tomorrow."

Ivy Tanner shrank back, not daring to say a word.

Whenever she saw others arguing, she would instinctively recoil like this, afraid of getting dragged into the conflict.

Claire Sinclair gave Ethan Kingsley one last look, then turned and left.

Once the door to the hospital room clicked shut, Ethan Kingsley walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. He crooked a finger at her. "Little Cutie, come here."

Ivy Tanner hesitated for a moment before obediently scooting over to him. "Brother Kingsley..."

Ethan Kingsley grabbed her chin, his eyes glinting coldly. "I promised Grandfather I would take care of you, but not for the rest of my life. After my birthday, I’ll hold a matchmaking event for you. We’ll see who dares to marry you. That will be my way of fulfilling my responsibility to you. Do you understand what I’m saying?"

"Mhm!" Ivy Tanner nodded, pretending to understand.

’At that moment, her heart felt like it was being twisted by a knife.’

’She never imagined that the extent of his kindness was just to marry her off to someone else. A life like that would be meaningless.’

’She could endure being bullied. She could endure being scorned by everyone. The one thing she couldn’t accept was the future he had planned for her.’

’Ethan Kingsley, you’re truly terrifying when you’re this cruel.’

She lowered her head, feigning obedience as she leaned against his chest. "Brother Kingsley, I’m sleepy."

Ethan Kingsley gently laid her back down on the bed, turning her onto her side. "If you’re sleepy, then get some rest."

Ivy Tanner wasn’t the least bit sleepy. She stared up at his face with wide, pleading eyes. "Brother Kingsley, I don’t want to sleep."

"What do you want to do if you don’t want to sleep?" Ethan Kingsley had only a sliver of patience left.

Ivy Tanner thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I don’t know."

"Close your eyes."

"Uh..." Ivy Tanner obediently closed her eyes.

Ethan Kingsley waited by the bedside for a little while. Once he saw she was still, he stood up and left.

The moment she heard the door close, Ivy Tanner’s eyes snapped open. She stared at the closed door, her heart threatening to break.

’She used to want to live. Now, she found herself wanting to die more and more. She just lacked a bit of courage. She didn’t dare to act rashly, terrified of death itself, but at the same time, she desperately craved release.’

’Who could possibly understand this feeling?’

’Fine, then. After his birthday, she would really leave this place.’

’Maybe she would go somewhere far away. Or maybe, she would go to Paradise.’

’She might not be able to get away smoothly this time, but her mind was made up. She had to leave.’

–

「Three days later.」

Ethan Kingsley held a small birthday party, just as he’d wanted. The guest list consisted entirely of close friends and family; he hadn’t invited a single business associate.

Unfortunately, even though he’d only invited friends and family, it didn’t stop them from bringing countless women along, all hoping to seize the opportunity to marry into the Kingsley Family.

However, these women could never have expected that Ethan Kingsley would appear at his own birthday party with a woman on his arm, the two of them acting as intimate as a couple who had been in love for years.