Chapter 569
569:
With a mischievous grin, Brenna squeezed Ethan’s hand. “You’re absolutely merciless, you know? After all these years she has treated you like family, here you are, so indifferent to her, just watching her walk into a catastrophe.”
Ethan’s smirk widened. “Well, she’s dug her own grave. After the way she treated you in front of everyone, what did she expect?”
The news of Jade’s death barely sent a ripple through the waters of Plieca. All morning, Brenna had been glued to her phone, anxiously awaiting updates. In fact, she had gone so far as to download the most popular local news app, hoping for some word on the incident. Yet, as she stepped into the bustling venue for the economic and trade forum, her phone remained silent, with no news about Jade’s death. It was as if Jade’s tragedy had slipped through the cracks of public consciousness. Instead, the air buzzed with excitement over the presence of various business tycoons, the real stars of the day.
Brenna, a shadow in the international financial scene, had always preferred to operate under the radar. She often used a pseudonym for her significant endeavors, seldom revealing her true identity. This cloak of anonymity had kept her name from circulating widely, resulting in few people recognizing her. As she gracefully entered the venue and took her seat, she commanded attention solely through her striking beauty and young age.
Among the sea of seasoned industry leaders, who had toiled for years to reach their current heights, Brenna stood out as an exception. In her early twenties, she had already earned her place at the table, a testament to her remarkable talent. Ethan settled into the seat next to hers.
People kept coming over to greet Brenna, and they were all men. Ethan wore a dark expression throughout, deliberately resting his hand on the back of Brenna’s chair, a silent declaration of possession. With that simple gesture, the throng of admirers vying for Brenna’s attention sharply dwindled.
Brenna was surprised to discover that Ethan was one of the keynote speakers at the opening ceremony.
On stage, Ethan spoke with unwavering confidence, delivering his entire address without a single note, infused with passion. He dissected the current economic landscape, unraveling the complexities of market trends, and illuminated the innovative economic models set to redefine the future. His thought-provoking speech, which spanned a full ten minutes, culminated in a resounding wave of applause that echoed through the auditorium.
𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗏𝗲𝗋𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝖋𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝗀𝖆𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀﹒𝚌𝗼𝗺
As he returned to his seat, a hint of pride crept into his voice. “So, how did I do? Wasn’t I fantastic just now?”
Brenna said, “Come on, don’t let that ego swell too much. But I can’t deny that you were incredible!”
She flashed him a thumbs-up and quickly pecked him on the cheek.
Ethan was momentarily taken aback. Brenna had kissed him!
He gently brushed his fingers over the spot where her lips had met his skin, a rush of joy coursing through him as he felt like the luckiest man alive.
Recently, both Brenna and Ethan had been caught in a whirlwind of activity. They were either locked in meetings or hammering out project negotiations, often returning to the hotel well past one in the morning.
To secure more deals, Brenna deftly navigated the business world using both her real name and her alias, quickly capturing the interest of several financial titans.
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