Chapter 656: The Third Miss is a Girl with Her Own Ideas

Chapter 656: Chapter 656: The Third Miss is a Girl with Her Own Ideas

Those words were like needles, stabbing into Ethan Kingsley’s heart with excruciating pain.

At the same time, a sudden realization dawned on him, leaving him utterly astonished.

"Claire Sinclair asked you to come?" ’What on earth is that woman up to?’

Lucas Rhodes simply smiled and nodded, saying nothing.

Ethan Kingsley frowned. "Why would she have you do this?"

Lucas Rhodes smiled. "Claire Sinclair has her reasons for the things she does. If you want to know why, you can ask her yourself."

"Do you know where Claire Sinclair is?" Ethan Kingsley asked.

Lucas Rhodes shook his head lightly. "I haven’t been able to reach her for over ten days."

Ethan Kingsley instinctively looked up at Ivy Tanner, who wore an innocent expression. He wanted to ask if she knew why Claire Sinclair was doing this, but he figured she couldn’t possibly know, so he decided against it.

His gaze returned to Lucas Rhodes. "How long will you treat Little Cutie well?" he asked in a low voice.

"Until our marriage ends," Lucas Rhodes replied, his tone full of meaning.

"You mean you might divorce her in the future?"

"That will depend on the Third Miss. You may think she’s naive, but to me, she’s a young woman with a mind of her own, and she has my respect."

Hearing him say this, Ethan Kingsley’s animosity subsided a little, and his opinion of the man began to change.

He made his final decision. In a grave voice, he said, "Since Claire Sinclair was the one who sent you, I’ll agree to let you take Little Cutie for now. But if I find out you’ve mistreated her in the slightest or caused her any grief, I’ll make your entire Rhodes Family pay."

Lucas Rhodes gave a small smile. "If you’re that worried, you can post your own people at my home until your concerns are put to rest."

"I’ll do just that, of course." After speaking, Ethan Kingsley turned to the servants waiting for orders outside the door. "You will go with Little Cutie. If even a single hair on her head is harmed, I will hold you all responsible."

"Yes!" The servants shivered in fear.

Just then, Ivy Tanner spoke up timidly, "Brother Kingsley, can I go with my husband now?"

Ethan Kingsley suddenly reached out, grabbed her hand, and pulled her straight toward the backyard, tossing a single sentence over his shoulder: "Give me a few minutes."

Lucas Rhodes watched them go, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

Once they were in the backyard, Ethan Kingsley gripped the girl’s shoulders tightly. "Little Cutie," he said, his voice earnest, "if you’re unhappy over there, call me. If anyone bullies you, you have to call me. The moment you’re not happy, I’ll come and bring you right back."

Ivy Tanner stared blankly at his handsome face. She saw that his eyes were filled with reluctance and worry, which she found utterly ridiculous.

’Ethan Kingsley, you’re reluctant to let me go, too?’

’But it was only reluctance. He didn’t try to make me stay. The moment he heard it was Claire Sinclair’s arrangement, he was ready to let me go.’

’So this is how easy it was to get away from him. All it took was a single word from Claire Sinclair.’

’So... my place in his heart really was just that of an obstacle.’

’Fine. Let it be this way.’

Ivy Tanner’s heart felt like it was being twisted by a knife, the pain so overwhelming she didn’t know what to do. She tried to hold back, but this time, she couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

She just cried. Silently, without making a scene.

Ethan Kingsley panicked. He hurriedly wiped away her tears. "Little Cutie, why are you crying?" he asked frantically.

Ivy Tanner pretended to rub her eyes in discomfort. "Something got in my eye," she said, her voice full of grievance. "It really hurts."

"Here, let me blow it out for you." Ethan Kingsley held her by the shoulders and gently blew on her eye.