No Sex for Six Years Because of Her? I'm Done novel Chapter 4

Chapter 4 Family Portrait

Rowe Group worked efficiently.
Soon, Ethan saw what had actually happened.
He felt a twinge of regret for blaming Amelia without hearing her side first, and for once softened his tone.
“Isla is still young. I’ll have Hannah teach her well.”
Amelia’s thoughts were entirely on the divorce papers. She couldn’t be bothered to remind Ethan that being young was never an excuse for bad behavior.
She pulled out the property transfer agreement and said indifferently, “This is the Emberfall Villa contract. Sign it. I’ll move there in the next couple of days.”
Ethan glanced at it. It was indeed a transfer agreement in duplicate.
He signed at the bottom of the page.
Amelia took it. One more month, she told herself.
She was about to leave when Ethan suddenly called out to her.
“In the next couple of days, come back with me to the estate. Grandma really misses you. Mom knows Hannah is back and wants to throw her a welcome party.”
Amelia laughed bitterly.
So he was asking her to return to the estate to help welcome his sweetheart?
Amelia had wanted to refuse.
But thinking of Fiona, she still nodded. “Alright.”
Fiona was an elder she truly got along with.
After the divorce, she probably wouldn’t have any connection with this elder anymore.
Forget it. Consider it a farewell.
After agreeing to return to the estate, Amelia quickly left Rowe Group.
She had barely left when Hannah pushed the door open and entered.
Ethan looked up and asked gently, “How is Isla?”
“She was really scared.” Hannah shook her head, her eyes red. “Ethan, I know Ms. Harlow has issues with me, and I don’t blame her. After all, I’m the one who affected your relationship. But Isla is still young, and children her age can’t handle being frightened. Could you talk to Ms. Harlow and ask her not to target Isla?”
Her tone was bitter, her attitude humble.
If it were before, Ethan would have blamed Amelia without question.
But he had seen with his own eyes in the security footage just how nasty a five-year-old child could be.
“Amelia isn’t that kind of person.” Ethan said patiently. “Hannah, even though Isla is only five, she still needs to be taught properly. The things she said were really harsh.”
Hannah’s heart sank, and she smiled bitterly. “You know about Jack’s health. All these years, I’ve been raising her alone. Without a father’s guidance, she’s been a bit unruly.”
Ethan was Jack’s childhood friend.
Even setting aside his past with Hannah, he would still take responsibility for Hannah and her daughter.
“I know. From now on, with me here, I’ll help you raise Isla properly.”
Only then did Hannah smile through her tears.
But Ethan suddenly thought of Amelia.
He had always overlooked her, but recently he’d discovered that compared to Hannah’s gentle and gracious motherly demeanor, Amelia was actually more stubborn at her core.
Only when facing him she was much more docile.
Having Hannah in their lives had still caused Amelia considerable pain.
Ethan felt uncomfortable about it.
Once Isla adapted, he wanted to find an opportunity to have Isla and Hannah move out.
…
Amelia had no idea about Ethan’s thoughts. Her mind was only on the remaining month of the divorce waiting period.
In that month, she only wanted to get through it smoothly and finalize the divorce with him.
As for her future, the possibilities were endless.
Anywhere would be better than being trapped in this marriage.
The next day, Amelia went back to the estate on her own.
Yesterday, Isla had claimed she wasn’t feeling well and fussed all night, making Ethan read her stories.
Ethan hadn’t slept well, so he woke up late the next day.
Amelia couldn’t be bothered to wait for him and simply called her own car to the estate.
Fiona’s health wasn’t good.
She chatted with Fiona for quite a while and coaxed her to sleep before preparing to go downstairs.
Downstairs, Isla was holding up a piece of paper, being adorable toward Grace Rowe. “Grace, look at my drawing! This is Mommy, this is Ethan, and this is you.”
“Isla’s family portrait is really nice.”
Grace smiled for the first time in a while and praised her repeatedly.
A family portrait.
Amelia found it amusing.
Grace had never liked her but easily accepted Ethan playing father.
However, when she came downstairs, she noticed the design sketches scattered on the table.
They were all her previous works.
Even the “paper” Isla had used for the family portrait was no exception.
After marrying Ethan, she’d had no choice but to become a dutiful wife supporting her husband. As for design work, aside from creating something when inspiration struck, she hadn’t continued pursuing it seriously.
But in the end, these designs were all her heart and soul.
One of them was even a wedding dress she’d designed for herself and Ethan.
Amelia’s expression shifted, her tone turning cold. “Who gave you permission to touch my things?”
Hannah looked surprised. “Isla wanted to draw earlier, and Ethan told me to find paper. I thought these were scrap paper, so I took them.”
Grace couldn’t stand Amelia and said unhappily, “They’re just a few rough sketches. What’s the big deal? All these years, you and Ethan haven’t even had children. Hannah raised Isla so well. She’s smart and adorable. What’s wrong with using a few of your sketches?”
“You won’t use them anyway. Amelia, don’t be so uptight.”
Ethan’s voice was gentle as he coaxed her softly.
Amelia looked up, staring into Ethan’s deep eyes.
So all these years, her hard work had been worthless in Ethan and the Rowes’ eyes.
“It’s nothing really.” Amelia said unhurriedly. “That design in Isla’s hands was originally a gift I was going to give you. Fashion Weekly offered eight million dollars for it, and once made, it would be one of a kind in the world. What a shame.”
Grace stared at the ridiculous family portrait in Isla’s hands, her expression shifting drastically.
She could have kicked herself.
Amelia never lied.
An eight million dollar offer!
And it was a one-of-a-kind piece!
And it was ruined by some so-called family portrait!
“Hannah, you really need to teach your child properly. When you’re in someone else’s home, don’t touch things that shouldn’t be touched.”
Grace impatiently let go of her hand, and the warm affection from before disappeared from her face.
“Grace, I’ll be careful next time.”
Hannah’s face paled, looking pitiful.
Amelia gathered up the designs and returned to her room, out of sight, out of mind.
After hesitating, Ethan still followed into the room.
“Hannah didn’t mean it.”
The moment he opened his mouth, it was to defend Hannah.
Amelia’s tone was flat. “Did she not see the signature on the work, or could she not tell they were design sketches?”
Ethan looked at Amelia and suddenly felt she’d lost her former docility and was much more spirited.
“I’ll compensate you. I’ll have Kevin transfer eight million dollars to you in a bit.” Ethan pressed his lips together. “Amelia, be good. Hannah and her daughter haven’t had it easy. Give them some slack.”
Hadn’t she given them enough slack already?
She’d even given away her own husband.
“Fine.” Amelia suddenly felt at peace. “In another month, it’ll be our anniversary. That day, I have a gift for you.”
Hearing this, Ethan suddenly felt relieved.
These past few days, she’d seemed like a different person, and he’d thought …
Apparently he’d been overthinking.
She still couldn’t leave him.
Ethan’s eyes showed a hint of amusement. “Alright. In a couple of days, it’s your grandfather’s birthday celebration. I’ll prepare a gift for him as well.”
Amelia still carried the Harlow name, even though the Harlows had kicked her out.
But the debt of being raised by the Harlows weighed on her, and she had to attend David Harlow’s birthday celebration no matter what.
“Alright.”
She lowered her eyes, but in her heart, she was only waiting for a month from now to arrive.
Their sixth anniversary.
And the time to say goodbye to her identity as Ethan’s wife.