The Last Time I Loved Him (Autumn and Ryan)

Chapter 2

The convoy arrived smoothly at the airport. Tonight, the entire Smith family airport had been shut down; all other private aircraft would only be available starting tomorrow.

Bodyguards surrounded me at the elevator entrance as we brushed past guests being politely escorted out. A familiar voice drifted over:

"Dad, I heard the Smith family's only daughter is arriving tonight, and all our planes had to make way for her."

I turned my head slightly and saw Alice on the phone, her back to us. Her usual entourage wasn't with her.

"I've never met Ms. Smith. Is she really that low-key? Dad, have you ever seen her?"

It sounded like she was speaking to her father, Mr. White. Like her, every time he visited the company, people swarmed around him, eager to curry favor -after all, they were major investors in the company.

"Ethan Spencer is almost mine! Don't worry about it," she said smugly, her laughter ringing out. "We've made real progress today."

So, she had managed to insert herself between us-and her father had tacitly approved.

But I didn't expect them to be so deliberate and calculating. Is Ethan really that irresistible to them?

"Is it true he's the Smith family's illegitimate son?"

What? What is she talking about?

She paused briefly, then continued, "You're right. Mr. Smith did once say Ethan was like half a son to him. That's not something you'd say lightly."

"Mr. Smith has secretly supported him for years- there's no way it's just a coincidence! When I marry Ethan, our family will soar!"

I couldn't help but laugh quietly.

Mr. White must be ecstatic hearing them talk about marriage, right?

The so-called Mr. White was merely a branch manager for the Smith family in the north. If not for my father, who had remotely directed Mr. White to assist Ethan all these years, how could such a minor branch manager have gained the chairman's favor?

Alice ended the call, and moments later, Ethan appeared, eagerly chatting with her. His eyes briefly scanned in my direction; his expression tinged with suspicion as he glanced toward the cluster of bodyguards.

But we had already stepped into the elevator. He probably assumed he had mistaken someone else for me.

Still, in that fleeting moment, I caught a glimpse of what he was holding-and my breath hitched.