I Married the President

’Claire Sinclair has the backing of Quincy Manor, yet she still disappeared. This situation must be incredibly difficult.’

’Isn’t Ethan Kingsley going to help?’

’Isn’t Claire Sinclair important to his career? Why hasn’t he shown any reaction?’

At that moment, Ivy Tanner’s heart was in her throat.

’No, Claire has helped me so much. I can’t just stand by and do nothing. I have to do something for her!’

-

Ivy Tanner waited from noon until afternoon with almost nothing to do. She couldn’t eat or sleep and was utterly listless.

She kept hoping something unexpected would intervene, but in the end, the very thing she dreaded came to pass.

Ethan Kingsley arrived at The Golden Brocade Palace right on time and led Ivy Tanner to his car.

For some reason, while she couldn’t sleep at all at home, the moment she got into the car, Ivy started to feel drowsy.

Seeing her dozing off, Ethan Kingsley drew her close, letting her rest on his shoulder. This way, she could sleep more comfortably without her head bobbing around.

The Golden Brocade Palace wasn’t far from the flower market, only about a ten-minute drive away.

The car stopped by the roadside, but Ivy Tanner hadn’t woken up, so Ethan Kingsley didn’t get out.

Seth Payne, who was driving, turned around and asked uncertainly, "Young Master Kingsley, are we not getting out?"

"Let her sleep a little longer."

"Yes, sir." Seth Payne acknowledged, saying no more.

Ethan Kingsley lowered his gaze, looking at the girl’s face, so close to his own. Her lowered eyelids, the delicate bridge of her nose, her slightly parted red lips... Every little detail was so innocent and captivating.

’Little Cutie. She really is cute.’

’If she hadn’t become foolish...’

The thought surfaced again, unbidden, and quickly spiraled out of control.

’If she hadn’t become foolish, perhaps they would already be married by now, maybe even have children?’

Thinking of children reminded him of the call from Adrian Quincy that morning.

Claire Sinclair was pregnant.

’That meddlesome woman was pregnant, and now she’s missing...’

A faint sense of crisis washed over Ethan Kingsley.

’Who did this? What was their motive?’

’If even Adrian Quincy couldn’t find his woman, what if someone around him was kidnapped in the same way? Especially the girl resting on his shoulder... He wasn’t sure he could find her either.’

At this thought, Ethan Kingsley looked up. "Seth Payne, assign a few more men to protect Little Cutie when we get back."

Seth Payne paused, confused. "Young Master Kingsley, why?"

’If Young Master Kingsley is concerned because of Claire Sinclair’s disappearance, shouldn’t he be assigning more men to protect Miss Linden?’

Ethan Kingsley slowly lowered his head, his long fingers combing through the girl’s hair. "Don’t you think Little Cutie is getting more and more adorable?" he asked nonchalantly.

Seth Payne was left speechless.

’Then again, that made sense. The only person in the world who could truly stir Young Master Kingsley’s emotions was Third Miss Tanner.’

Sleeping in a car, especially while leaning on someone’s shoulder, eventually leads to a stiff neck.

And indeed, it was a sore neck that woke Ivy Tanner. She opened her eyes and saw they had arrived. Her mind was a little foggy, but she quickly came to her senses. "Flora!"

She pointed at a giant, fake flower hanging over the market’s entrance, her face lighting up with a hint of delight.

Ethan Kingsley slid an arm around her slim waist and lifted her out of the car. "See which flowers you like. We’ll buy some for you to plant."

"Mhm, mhm!" Ivy Tanner nodded, feigning delight. Inwardly, however, she was exasperated. ’It’s not like I can’t walk! Why does he have to carry me like this? It’s so embarrassing!’

After getting out of the car, Ethan Kingsley gently set her down, then took her small hand and led her into the flower market.

He held her hand so openly, drawing more than a few stares from passersby on their way.