Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar

Nora Ainsworth froze.

She stood there, not moving for a long time, as if all the blood in her body had turned to ice.

That voice was all too familiar.

Turning around, she met his eyes.

She calmly acknowledged him.

”Ethan Ellsworth? What are you doing here?”

”I knew it was you, but—” He paused, looking at her. ”These two children really look like Quentin, don’t they?”

Nora Ainsworth offered a faint smile but didn’t reply. She walked to the kindergarten entrance, said a few words to her two boys, and waited until they went through the gate before turning back to face Ethan Ellsworth.

”I have to go to work soon. If you have something to say, say it here.”

”The children are Quentin’s.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement.

”Are you going to tell him?” Nora Ainsworth asked in return.

”Of course I will. Do you have any idea how miserable he’s been?”

”That’s not my problem.”

Ethan Ellsworth continued, ”And do you know that Catherine Callahan’s child died, and it wasn’t his?”

”I saw the news report.” As she spoke, Ethan Ellsworth was struck by her calm and unruffled demeanor.

She had grown.

”He still loves you.”

Those four words landed in her heart like a nail, leaving a wound.

”How did you know I’d be dropping the kids off at this kindergarten?” ’She didn’t think he could have investigated her; surely he didn’t have the time or inclination for that right now.’

”The fool told me.”

Nora Ainsworth was startled. ”When did you see her?”

He nodded. ”Last night. I laid low for two years just to see her face-to-face once. Needless to say, it wasn’t easy. As of now, I can no longer go to the Imperial Palace. Dorothy, the girl in this kindergarten, is her daughter.”

Nora Ainsworth looked slightly surprised. ”I wouldn’t have guessed. The child looks so much like Chloe.”

”It doesn’t matter if she’s my child or not. I love her.”

Nora Ainsworth nodded. ”What are your plans now?”

”I plan to return to the country immediately.”

”Can you... not tell him about the children?”

Ethan Ellsworth narrowed his eyes at her. ”Nora, some people are fleeting, and if you let them go, you miss them for a lifetime. That’s why you have to hold on tight. Then there are others who know they have a chance to be together, but they hide and run, unable to be brave. You’re the latter type. If I were you, I would fight to be together, not this. You’re both just making yourselves miserable. Look at her and me. We want so badly to be together, but we can’t.”

Nora Ainsworth stood there and said, ”I’m used to being alone now.”

”The peace of being alone can’t compare to growing old together with someone. Think about it. You’ve been running for so long, but that’s not a solution. You have to face what needs to be faced. He still loves you. It’s not too late for you two.”

With that, Ethan Ellsworth turned to leave. ”I’m heading back for now. I’ll be back.”

”Okay.”

Nora Ainsworth stood frozen, her heart suddenly in turmoil.

’If Ethan Ellsworth goes back and tells Quentin Grant, does that mean I’ll have to see him soon?’

’Will he try to take the children away?’

She didn’t dare to think any further. Ethan Ellsworth’s words came back to her, and her resolve wavered slightly. ’Does he still love me?’

’Is it true?’

「Back on set.」

The female lead was late, so the director started by filming scenes with the supporting actors and the male lead.

Lillian didn’t show up until noon. She cast an arrogant glance at everyone before getting ready.

She never mentioned the incident with the hot peppers, nor did she ask to see the surveillance footage. If such an embarrassing thing got out, she’d be a laughingstock. So, she decided to just swallow her pride and suffer in silence.

Seeing Nora Ainsworth, she smiled faintly, her voice gentle. ”I heard you were hit yesterday. I’m so sorry.”

’Such superb acting.’

But Nora Ainsworth was no less of an actress. ”It was my fault for accidentally bumping into you. I’m truly sorry.”

”It’s fine. Let’s all just be more careful from now on.”

On the surface, the two appeared to have made peace, but no one knew what they were really thinking.

The afternoon shoot went relatively smoothly. After wrapping up, she came out of the dressing room and went to the restroom. She had just entered a stall when the sound of high heels clicked in from the entrance. From the sound of it, it was Lillian and her assistant.

”Lillian, why are you being so nice to that woman who hurt you? Do you really need to acknowledge her?”

Lillian’s voice held a sneer. ”You’re still naive. You don’t understand. With some people, you have to smile to their face while hiding a knife behind your back. Anyone can put on a smile.”

The assistant had a moment of realization. ”I get it now.”

The two of them exchanged a few more words and then left.

Only then did Nora Ainsworth come out. Staring into the mirror above the sink, her expression was blank.

To survive in the entertainment industry, you have to be incredibly strong-willed.

She would grow stronger, bit by bit, and climb her way to the top on her own.

Thinking about meeting the Dorothy that Ethan Ellsworth had mentioned, Nora Ainsworth couldn’t help but quicken her pace.

When she arrived at the kindergarten, the teacher told her the two boys were waiting in the classroom. She walked to the doorway and immediately spotted the little girl next to her older son.

Even just from her profile, she could see a resemblance to Chloe.

”Dylan! Elmer!”

Hearing her, Elmer Grant immediately ran over. ”Mommy!”

Dylan Grant packed up his schoolbag, put it on, and walked over as well.

But Nora Ainsworth walked straight toward Dorothy Bancroft.

Crouching down to look at the little girl’s face, she smiled gently. ”What’s your name?”

”Auntie, my name is Dorothy.”

”You’re a good girl. I like you very much. When you have time, you should come over to my house and play with Dylan and Elmer. You’re always welcome.”

But she shook her head. ”Auntie, I can’t. My daddy sends someone to pick me up, and he doesn’t let me go out to play.”

Nora Ainsworth nodded. ”Okay, then I guess we’ll just see each other at kindergarten from now on.”

On the way home, Elmer Grant was very curious. ”Mommy, why did you like Dorothy the moment you saw her?”

”I just do. Do you need a reason to like someone?”

”Haha, but Mommy, did you know? Dorothy is my brother’s chosen bride! He’s going to marry her when they grow up.” Elmer Grant giggled, covering his mouth.

Nora Ainsworth’s eyes lit up with joy as she looked at her older son. ”Is that true?”

”Uh-huh, Mommy. Dorothy already promised me.”

Although Nora Ainsworth was happy to hear it, she also knew you couldn’t take the words of children seriously.

*

Zoe Ellsworth wired the money for opening the store to Herman Hawthorne’s account in full. For the past few days, she had been eating and sleeping at the shop. She didn’t want to go home and listen to her mom’s nagging. Here, at least, it was a little quieter.

She used to enjoy browsing the news online and watching movies, but now, she no longer had the time or interest for such leisure.

A few more days passed. ’Now that I’m single again,’ Zoe Ellsworth thought, ’shouldn’t my social life be a little more interesting?’

So, that evening, she closed up the shop and headed to a place called Lip Tease.