Chapter 234: I Have a Boyfriend
Ethan Austin’s cooking was mediocre at best. He could manage simple, home-style dishes, but the flavors were ordinary. He couldn’t whip up a luxurious feast.
Yet Nina Halloway, the superstar who dazzled on screen, sat at the dining table, happily savoring the simple meal he had made.
He sat across from her, watching the woman eat. She wasn’t the least bit picky. Starving after last night’s exertions, she was devouring her food without a care for her celebrity image. A bittersweet pang went through his heart.
He suddenly recalled all his past misunderstandings and frustrations concerning Nina Halloway. He had initially mistaken her for Alaric Blackwood’s mistress. Coupled with the fact that Nina was a maverick in the entertainment industry who refused to pander to anyone, and the scandalous rumors that constantly swirled around her, she gave off the impression of having a high-and-mighty persona. For a time, he had scoffed at what he thought was an arrogant, insufferable superstar.
But after actually spending time with her, he was stunned to realize she wasn’t arrogant in the slightest.
She didn’t put on the airs of a pampered princess at all; sometimes, she was even endearingly dorky.
"I’m thinking of signing up for a cooking class,"
he said with a smile.
Nina Halloway froze and looked up at him. "Why?"
"So you can eat better."
"Wouldn’t it be easier to just hire a chef? You’d be giving someone a job opportunity."
Ethan Austin considered her point and decided she was right. Still, he wanted to take a cooking class. It wasn’t for any other reason than to acquire the skill, to one day be able to cook a lavish breakfast or dinner for the person he cared about.
After they ate, he helped Nina Halloway into her coat, hat, and mask, as was his habit.
They were silent on the way to the hospital. Neither of them mentioned Jaden’s name.
After escorting Nina Halloway to the door of Jaden’s hospital room, Ethan Austin was tactful enough not to follow her inside, waiting quietly in the hall.
Inside the room, Jaden was awake. Mrs. Garland was with him, but no one else was there.
When she saw Nina Halloway arrive, Mrs. Garland was overjoyed. She quickly got up, pulled Nina to the bedside, and pushed her toward Jaden.
Shoved forward, Nina stumbled and fell toward Jaden, who opened his arms and caught her in a full embrace.
The sudden closeness and the embrace made her freeze.
"Nina, you’re finally here."
Jaden clung to her, resting his chin in the crook of her shoulder and greedily inhaling her scent. It was familiar, yet somehow strange.
His memory stopped shortly after their engagement, a time when he’d still held her in high regard. This was before she was relentlessly trashed by the media, before his parents had started grumbling about the racy scenes in her work.
Now, injured and hospitalized, at a time when he was both physically and mentally fragile, Nina Halloway was nothing short of his salvation.
"Jaden..."
It was the first time Nina Halloway had ever felt such warmth from Jaden, and she was at a loss.
Alaric Blackwood had told her on the phone about Jaden’s amnesia. He had forgotten so much, including his affair and their breakup. All he remembered was that they were engaged.
"Let me go."
She remained calm and rational, but her voice and tone sounded cold to Jaden.
He hesitantly released her, tilting his head back to look at her in confusion. His eyes held a clarity she had never seen before.
For a moment, Nina’s heart fluttered. It was as if she were seeing the innocent, pure-hearted Jaden from so many years ago.
"You’re angry with me."
It wasn’t a question, but a statement of fact.
He was certain Nina was angry with him. He could feel her resentment in her eyes, her body language, and her tone.
"Did I do something to make you mad? I’m sorry, I can’t remember what it was, but if I upset you, I apologize!"
He watched Nina, saw the tears welling in her eyes, and became even more certain that he had done something to hurt her.
She turned away, ready to leave, but Mrs. Garland grabbed her.
"Nina, don’t rush off. I’d like to have a word with you."
Mrs. Garland’s tone was so pleading that Nina found it impossible to refuse.
After calming Jaden down, the older woman led Nina out of the room. They went down a stairwell and found a secluded spot behind the inpatient building.
Mindful that Nina was a public figure, Mrs. Garland didn’t want to be seen, let alone have anyone recognize Nina and cause a commotion. She pulled her all the way into a deserted corner.
Ethan Austin had been following them the whole time. He stopped a few paces away and silently lit a cigarette.
Mrs. Garland glanced at him, and seeing he was her bodyguard, didn’t send him away. Her attention quickly returned to Nina. "Nina," she said, her voice heavy with persuasion, "I have a favor to ask you."
"What is it?"
"The doctor said Jaden has physical brain damage. Even with proactive treatment, his memory might never come back. He doesn’t recognize Stella Yarrow at all right now; he only knows you as his fiancée. I’m hoping you can forgive him for what he’s done, come back to him, and help him get through this."
Before Nina could respond, Mrs. Garland gripped her hand tightly, her voice cracking with emotion. "I know Jaden wronged you. He was a bastard, but he loves you. You two grew up together, you know each other inside and out. I guarantee the place you hold in his heart is far more important than you imagine."
Nina was torn. Her gaze drifted past Mrs. Garland, involuntarily landing on Ethan.
He stood there, a tall and straight figure, not interfering, just quietly smoking.
He wasn’t standing far away; he could probably hear their conversation.
"I promise you," Mrs. Garland continued to plead, "as soon as Jaden is out of the hospital, you two will register your marriage immediately. Get the wedding over with, and then you’ll have nothing to worry about."
Nina’s thoughts were in a turmoil. She remembered Jaden bringing Stella Yarrow to her door for a showdown, asking to break up. She remembered him saying he’d never liked her. And then she remembered the helpless, fragile Jaden in the hospital room, the one with such clear eyes.
The amnesia had changed him, but that change had come too late. She had just gotten together with Ethan.
Just last night, she had given herself to Ethan, completely and entirely.
"Mrs. Garland, I have a boyfriend."
Mrs. Garland froze. A moment later, she started to laugh, not believing a word Nina said.
’How could a woman so hurt by love find a rebound so quickly?’
"Nina, don’t lie to me. I know you have more self-respect than that."
"Is that what you really think? Weren’t you the ones who looked down on me for my provocative roles, saying I wasn’t a ’decent woman’ because I showed my waist and back?"
Struck speechless, Mrs. Garland looked awkward.
"Who told you that?"
"Jaden told me when he broke up with me. He said you all were very unhappy with me."
Mrs. Garland quickly waved her hands in dismissal. "That’s not true! I never said anything of the sort. That boy was just spouting nonsense."
"It doesn’t matter anymore."
Nina didn’t want to argue about who was right or wrong. She repeated, "I really do have a boyfriend."
"Oh, really? And who is it?"
"Him." Nina pointed to Ethan, who was smoking nearby.
Mrs. Garland followed her finger and glanced at Ethan again, utterly dismissing him.
"Isn’t he your bodyguard?"
"He’s my bodyguard, and my boyfriend."
Mrs. Garland scoffed. "Nina, a mere bodyguard is hardly worthy of you. You’re an heiress of the Blackwood Family, worth hundreds of millions, not to mention a household name. A pretty boy like that is just trying to use you to climb the social ladder."
"Just look at him. From head to toe, I doubt a single thing he’s wearing cost more than a hundred dollars. He’s covered in cheap clothes..."
Nina’s brow furrowed. Not wanting Mrs. Garland’s words to hurt Ethan, she quickly cut her off. "Mrs. Garland, stop with the personal attacks. Someone of your standing shouldn’t be saying such things. It’s beneath you and cheapens your character."