### Chapter 17: Will You Resent Me A sleek black Bugatti crept to a halt outside the yard, its presence an ironic contrast to the dilapidated surroundings. The area was remote, becoming increasingly desolate with only a few ramshackle houses clinging to their last breath in the fading light. A luxury automobile like this carried an air of extravagance that was utterly misplaced amidst the somber scene. Inside the car, Ethan pushed aside a stack of documents he'd been reviewing, his sharp blue eyes surveying the landscape through the tinted windows. He shed his tailored suit jacket for a weathered old coat that seemed to reflect the gloom outside. Sean, his ever-loyal assistant, glanced back at him with a mix of concern and curiosity. "Boss, you used to come here only once or twice a year," Sean remarked, his voice laced with incredulity. "You have villas scattered across the city. Why subject yourself to this place every single day?" Ethan shot him a frosty glare, slicing through the air like a blade. "You’ve become quite the chatterbox lately, haven’t you? If you’re so bored, maybe you should dedicate some time to cleaning my other properties." Sean clenched his jaw and turned his gaze away, a silent agreement forming as he recognized the shift in Ethan's mood. Dismissing his assistant, Ethan exited the car and made his way towards the house. Once out of sight, Sean slapped his cheek lightly, muttering to himself in frustration, "You really should keep your mouth shut." Inside, the familiar sight of Janet on the sofa greeted him. She lay sprawled with her eyes glued to her laptop, cucumber slices decorating her face like nature’s odd beauty mask, while one hand clutched a hefty tumbler, a straw lazily resting against the rim. "You're back? Have you eaten yet?" she asked, an air of nonchalance encapsulating her, despite having heard him arrive. The TV series she was watching had her utterly captivated. With a soft chuckle, Ethan couldn’t help but find her charming. "I had dinner with a friend," he replied, his tone gentle as he noticed her bare, slender legs. Without thinking, he retrieved a gray blanket from the sofa and wrapped it around them both before settling next to her. “How did your job interview go?” Janet’s eyes brightened, her attention shifting from the screen to him as she closed her laptop. Ethan leaned in, his brows raised, eager to hear every detail as she munched on the cucumber slices, eyes sparkling with excitement. “You won’t believe what I’m about to say," she declared seriously. Yet, Ethan already knew the outcome. His laughter was light, sincere, as he encouraged her to share the day's chronicles. When she finished recounting her tale, he offered, “Maybe the company recognizes your talents. I glanced at your resume yesterday; even I thought you had outstanding skills.” Janet had anticipated shock, a glimmer of surprise sparking in his usually stoic demeanor. Instead, she met his calmness, which caught her off guard. “Maybe,” she murmured, uncertainty curling in her stomach. Fleetingly, she brushed aside the moment, convinced that her ambition might be beyond his full grasp. She opened her laptop again, eager to dive back into her show, but hesitated—her curiosity gnawing at her. "Ethan," she ventured after a thoughtful pause, her heart racing slightly. "What exactly do you do?" Beyond his name, she had little understanding of the man beside her—a small house, a mother lost to the shadows of time, and a family that had written him off, deeming him unworthy. Everything about him was shrouded in mystery, particularly the early mornings and late nights that painted a weary expression across his face. He placed the magazine he'd been leafing through down and picked up another one from the coffee table. "I’m a part-time worker, just doing odd jobs here and there," he said casually. Then a sudden glimmer of realization flickered in his eyes as he pinched his brows, studying her. "I don’t have a stable job. Do you think you might resent me for it?" The question hung in the air, her heart sinking at the implication. “Of course not,” she replied instantly, her voice steady and unwavering. “I wasn’t asking to judge you; I was only curious.” The surprise flooded Ethan’s features. Her response washed over him like a soothing balm, his heart softening in ways he hadn’t expected. He opened his mouth, ready to assure her that he would strive for more in the future, but Janet’s words poured out first. “After all, we’re just a couple in name. I didn't expect you to carry all the weight. Don’t feel pressured,” she added, her tone gentle, as she reached out to him momentarily. Ethan tightened his grip on the magazine, the moment heavy with unspoken thoughts. "I see," he finally said, his voice dropping to an icy whisper, a chill sweeping through the room. Janet caught the shift in climate, confusion knitting her brows together. Hadn't he been the one to propose this contractual arrangement? She had only reassured him that his circumstances wouldn’t affect her. Why then, did his mood turn so suddenly? Their world shrank into silence, thick and unyielding, leaving questions swirling between them, unanswered and hanging in the air like the heavy summer heat.