Chapter 18
Chapter 18:
“I’ll do it,” Brenna said.
She ended the call just as the car pulled up in front of a mansion.
Ethan didn’t move to get out. Instead, he turned and stared at Brenna. There was something unreadable in his expression, something that made her uneasy. Then, he asked, “Did you know there’s a marriage arrangement between the Mitchell family and the Harper family p>
Inside the car, Brenna met Ethan’s steady gaze, her fingers tightening around her phone before she slipped it into her backpack. Without directly addressing his question, she kept her tone polite as she said, “Thanks for the ride home p>
She reached for the door handle, but when she pushed, the car door didn’t budge. A flicker of unease passed through her as she turned back to him. “Mr. Mitchell, would you mind unlocking the door p>
Ethan remained seated, unmoving. His presence felt imposing, not just because of his stature but in the way he carried himself. His long fingers rested lightly on the steering wheel, while his other hand stretched across the console, casually placed on the back of Brenna’s seat.
A wary feeling crept over Brenna, and she instinctively leaned against the car door, studying his face.
She regretted her decision now. If she had known he had ulterior motives, she never would have accepted this ride.
Noticing her discomfort, Ethan slowly withdrew his hand from the back of her seat, his movements deliberate. “Miss Harper, relax. I just wanted to discuss something with you,” he said.
To Brenna, his words did little to ease her suspicion. A man who refused to let her out of the car even after they had arrived at their destination? He must be up to no good. Her fingers tightened around the pepper spray in her bag. She wasn’t the type to start trouble, but if he so much as moved inappropriately, she wouldn’t hesitate to make him regret it.
She maintained her poise, reminding herself that resorting to force was a final option. Ethan wasn’t just anyone—he was the world’s wealthiest man, wielding immense power. It was wiser not to offend him without cause. Besides, he had just kindly given her a ride home.
Updates loaded now at gαℓησνeℓs․com
She said, “Mr. Mitchell, I appreciate the ride today. I’ll be sure to return the favor with a meal sometime p>
Ethan’s voice was calm, almost amused. “That’s not what this is about.” He stared into her eyes and spoke evenly. “There’s something you should know—our families have a longstanding marriage agreement. It was arranged by my grandfather and yours. For the past two years, my grandfather has urged me to fulfill that promise and marry a daughter from the Harper family. Given his declining health, he hopes I’ll settle down soon. So, Miss Harper, I’d like you to consider the matter p>
Brenna blinked, processing his words. So that was what this was about. She wasn’t just another Harper daughter—she was the Harper daughter he was expected to—
marry. The way he phrased it made it sound like she had a choice, but his assertive tone suggested otherwise. He wanted her to consider it, but it was clear he expected her answer to be yes. So cocky.
What if she turned him down? Would that put her in danger? Brenna wasn’t someone who backed down easily, but Ethan looked strong—both in influence and sheer presence.