Terminal Diagnosis and My Last Stand for LoveChapter 3

After my shower, I originally wanted to go back to my own room.

But I remembered Ethan's eight-pack abs; they were so firm.

So, I went back to the guest room.

Ethan wasn't asleep yet; he was staring wide-eyed at the ceiling.

Like a frog waiting to be dissected in an experiment.

Seeing me enter, he cursed through gritted teeth: "Let me go!"

I shook my head: "No."

"Do you have no shame?!"

"What exactly do you gain from doing this?"

"Didn't your mother teach you to have some self-respect?"

He struck a nerve.

On purpose.

I pursed my lips and said nothing, just silently walked forward.

I kicked off my slippers, got straight onto the bed, and straddled him.

He frowned and was about to curse me again, but I reached out and covered his mouth.

"Shut up and listen to me.

"I've known you for eleven years and liked you for ten. I've thought about giving up, but I just can't accept it.

"I know you don't like me. People say whoever loves more should take the initiative, so I'm taking the initiative.

"I just want you, and struggling is useless!"

With that, my eyes red, I lowered my head and kissed him.

Ethan's lips were thin and cool, like they tasted of mint.

I was already exhausted, but I clearly felt a change somewhere on him.

I lifted my head, looked at his face, and smiled.

"Why pretend to be some pure, untouchable CEO? You're just like any other guy!"

The sounds Ethan made throughout the whole process made me blush, and... extremely satisfied.

When I opened my eyes again, Ethan was already awake.

But thankfully, his expression didn't show that he had "suffered great humiliation."

Seeing me awake, his voice was raspy as he called my name.

"Let me go."

"No."

He looked somewhat resigned and started trying a different approach.

"Harper, what exactly is wrong with you? How long do you plan on keeping me tied up?"

I counted on my fingers, then flashed a number at him.

"7 days."

Ethan was completely speechless: "Why are you doing this?"

"No reason," I said calmly, throwing on my robe and getting out of bed. "I just insist on staying with you for a full seven days."

I thought Ethan would be angry, but he laughed.

"This is illegal imprisonment. You know how many things I have to do every day, how many people will be looking for me. If I just disappear like this, do you think you can keep me here until the seventh day?"

I stood by the bed, unable to move a single inch.

It was true. He was a grown man. If he didn't cooperate, how long could I actually keep him here?

"Harper, untie me, and I promise I won't leave."

I froze for two seconds, then stubbornly shook my head.

"I don't believe you."

"Harper, I have very important things to do. You can stay by my side, but you have to let me out."

Ethan thought I would definitely agree if he made a concession.

But I refused without a second thought.

I told him very stubbornly: "Until the police bring people to break down my door, you can only stay here."

Ethan knew it was a dead end.

His dark eyes scanned me from head to toe several times.

Finally, he unexpectedly compromised.

"If you keep me tied up like this for seven days, my hands and feet will be ruined. Is that what you want?"

"No."

"But I have no other choice. I can't fight you off, and I can't stop you, so I can only inconvenience you like this. Harper, I swear on my grandmother's name, I won't leave for seven days."

Grandma Vance.

I knew how important she was to Ethan.

I also knew she was genuinely good to me.

When she passed away, Ethan and I hid in a corner and cried our hearts out together.

That was the first time I ever saw Ethan cry.

"You need me to cooperate, otherwise it's highly likely your door will be forced open by this afternoon."

Ethan's attitude was very sincere.

I also knew he was telling the truth.

The CEO of his company going missing—how could that not be a major incident?

I wanted to keep him, but I didn't want to leave a bad reputation behind after I died.

I could guess with my toes how nasty and outrageous the media would make the story out to be.

I compromised.

I threw his clothes at him, then freed his hands and feet one by one.

He gritted his teeth, flexing his stiff hands, and ruthlessly criticized: "I never realized before what a crazy woman you are."

I kept a straight face: "There's a lot you never realized."

He stared at the messy pile of ties on the floor and turned to look at me in disbelief: "Where did you get all these ties?"

"Whenever I saw one I thought would suit you, I bought it. I accumulated this many without even realizing it."

Well, at least I didn't buy them for nothing; they finally found their use on him.

"Why didn't you just give them to me?"

I sneered: "I don't make a habit of chasing after someone who acts like I don't exist."

Ethan's face turned slightly cold.

"So you just forced yourself on me?"

I blushed from my face all the way down to my toes.

When I was acting crazy, I didn't care about the consequences. But now that I was calm and hearing him say it, I suddenly felt incredibly embarrassed.

To get a man, I actually tied him up.

But I quickly let it go, telling myself that doing something like this in my lifetime made it all worth it.