Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar

”Marlon Marshall is just using you for money! Don’t believe him anymore. If you hadn’t given him my sister’s money, Dad would never have died!”

Mrs. Young scoffed. ”And you’re blaming me? You’re the one who brought him home!”

Carol Young was speechless, at a loss for words.

Mrs. Young turned to Marlon Marshall. ”Didn’t I just give you a hundred thousand? Why do you need more money?”

”I gave that money to my mom for her retirement,” he lied.

Mrs. Young turned and, without another question, said, ”I’ll go get it for you.”

The moment she went inside, Marlon Marshall’s smiling face twisted. He grabbed Carol Young’s hair and viciously dragged her into her room.

He pinned her to the floor, clamping a hand over her mouth. ”You bitch, you dare run your mouth again and I’ll kill you!”

This was a far cry from the tender, loving man she first met. Carol Young lay motionless, just staring at him.

”Drake!” Mrs. Young called from outside.

Only then did he release Carol Young. He stood up and answered, ”I’m here, Auntie.”

The door slammed shut with a BANG.

Carol Young lay there, overwhelmed by her thoughts, tears of regret streaming from her eyes.

But it was too late for everything.

Her sister was dead, her father was dead, her mother treated her like an enemy, and she herself had fallen. A perfectly good family, shattered just like that.

’It’s all my fault.’

’If I hadn’t brought Marlon Marshall home, Dad would still be alive, Mom would still be the same, and even if I was a little rebellious, I would have finished college, gotten married, and found a job.’

’But now... getting married... would anyone even marry me?’

Suddenly, Carol Young lost control, collapsing to the floor and breaking into loud sobs.

After crying for a while, she sat up and lay down on her bed to catch up on sleep.

In the middle of the night, she shot upright.

Trembling, she sat on her bed. Her mind was beginning to fracture; she was having hallucinations.

All around her, she heard Charlotte Young’s weeping and her father’s mournful cries.

Her sister’s piercing wails left her panicked and helpless.

Their blame was driving her to the brink of collapse.

Carol Young, lost in a daze, screamed, ”It wasn’t me! Sis! I’m not the one who got Dad killed! Don’t come for me! Don’t! It was Mom! It was Marlon Marshall!”

She huddled in the corner of the bed, her eyes fixed on an empty spot, filled with terror.

She screamed for a long time, then began to cry her heart out.

But Mrs. Young was out and not at home.

A neighbor heard the crying but paid it no mind. As for the Young family, the neighbors felt they weren’t even worth gossiping about anymore. Their reputation was in tatters.

Carol Young thrashed about in bed for a long while.

In her vision, her sister and father were still sitting there, watching her.

She didn’t dare move a muscle.

”Please, go away. Sis, Dad, I’m begging you. Don’t come looking for me. I’m scared.”

But the two figures only laughed sinisterly. The more they did, the more terrified Carol Young became.

Her emotions were a wreck, and her body trembled uncontrollably.

The hallucinations slowly faded, and by the time they were gone, it was already noon.

Carol Young grabbed her purse, got out of bed, and bolted from the house.

Once outside the building, she gasped for air.

*

Quentin Grant called Yarnia almost every day to check on Nora Ainsworth. Her days were simple—eating, sleeping, and doing chores—but he still wanted to hear about them. Knowing she was safe brought him peace of mind.

Sometimes, when he lay awake alone at night, he desperately wanted to fly over, wrap his arms around her, and get a good night’s sleep.

But things were too busy at the company.

He couldn’t get away, so he could only work as hard as possible to finish everything. He would go see her in three months.

Another thing on his mind was Nora Ainsworth’s physical exam on the twenty-third day of the first lunar month.

He would find out that day whether she was pregnant or not.

After work this evening, Quentin Grant got a call from Ethan Ellsworth, inviting him over to Zoe Ellsworth’s house for dinner.

They were all busy with work, so they always had to make time to get together.

Naturally, Quentin Grant wouldn’t refuse.

He drove back to the upscale residential complex and parked his car at the entrance.

He then walked to Zoe Ellsworth’s house.

Zoe Ellsworth had moved here a while ago, having sold her previous home for a high price.

The key was that living here, they were all close to each other and could look out for one another if anything happened.

He rang the doorbell. A housekeeper answered, and upon seeing him, immediately smiled and greeted him, ”Young Master Grant, please, come in.”

Quentin Grant nodded and stepped inside.

He walked a short distance, went up the steps, and entered the living room.

Ethan Ellsworth was on the sofa, holding half a glass of red wine, gazing thoughtfully into the distance before taking a sip.

Quentin Grant sat down next to him, crossed his legs, and draped his arms over the back of the sofa. He looked at Herman Hawthorne, who was sitting opposite them. ”I saw that news about you a while back. Something about taking your mistress for a prenatal check-up. I haven’t had the chance to ask you about it. Congratulations.”

Herman Hawthorne caught his sarcastic tone and snorted. ”Hasn’t Nora recovered abroad yet? Aren’t you having to run between Fravia and Yarnia? A real congratulations to you too, for having such stamina.”

Ethan Ellsworth found their conversation ridiculous. ”Look at you two. You’ve got too much time on your hands.”

Then he turned to Herman Hawthorne. ”I’m not worried about you showing off a mistress. I’m worried our Zoe will get angry and, while you’re sleeping one night, just snip you.”

Herman Hawthorne burst out laughing. ”It’s no wonder you two are siblings. You think exactly alike.”

Ethan Ellsworth replied calmly, ”Of course. Who knows my sister better than I do? With that temper of hers, she’s merciless when she knows she’s in the right.”

Zoe Ellsworth came over with a tray of tea and set it down, displeased with her brother’s words. ”I mean, seriously, bro? Was I supposed to let his old flame parade her pregnant belly in front of me? And it’s not even his kid. I can’t stand trash like that. She can get as far away from me as possible.”

”Ahem. Your big brother supports you on this. One of the basic moral lines people shouldn’t cross is trying to get with a man who’s already taken, no matter the reason.”

Zoe Ellsworth nodded. ”People like that would have been drowned in a pig cage in ancient times, right? Bro, tell me, how should a man who’s soft on his ex be punished?”

Ethan Ellsworth pondered for a moment before saying, ”First time he’s soft, a lecture. Second time, a scolding. Third time, fists and feet. Fourth time, lock him up. Fifth time... you can consider castrating him.”

Zoe Ellsworth beamed. ”I think that’s exactly right.”

The siblings’ conversation sent a chill down Herman Hawthorne’s spine.

Quentin Grant couldn’t resist rubbing salt in the wound. ”Young Master Hawthorne, remember not to sleep too soundly at night. Otherwise, the rest of your life is going to be miserable.”

Herman Hawthorne rolled his eyes. ”Can you three stop being so alarmist? Feel free to keep coming up with terrible ideas, as long as you’re not afraid of me dying an early death.”

Ethan Ellsworth gave a rare smile. ”Don’t worry. As long as you don’t do anything to betray your conscience, we wouldn’t let you die. I still want to be an uncle, after all.”

Zoe Ellsworth blushed instantly. ”Bro, what are you talking about?”