Though paralyzed, still radiantly charming!

Chapter 51: That was quite a hit

The last time Ethan saw Henry dressed in drag was in a photo, and he was quite stunned by how impressive it was. Now seeing him in person, he was just as striking.

Henry noticed the change in Scarlett’s expression and spoke apologetically, “Sorry, you started avoiding me out of the blue, so I asked the store owner to let me know if you showed up.”

“It looks like you have company, I can come back another time to chat,” Henry said, his gaze shifting to Ethan with a look of regret. “I hope I’m not intruding.”

With that, he turned to leave.

Scarlett’s expression was sour, but she remained silent.

“Hey, wait a minute,” Ethan suddenly spoke up. “Since you’re already here, it’s pretty presumptuous to just drop some cryptic comment and walk away.”

His voice was calm, but his stare was icy as he looked at Henry.

Running into this man here was an opportunity Ethan wasn’t going to pass up. Confronting him here, rather than his aunt doing it alone, was actually more advantageous for him.

“Ethan…” Scarlett’s face showed worry as she shook her head at Henry, “I’ll explain when I get a moment.”

“Okay,” Henry nodded, then smiled apologetically at Ethan again. “Sorry.”

Ethan clenched his fork and knife. His aunt had spoken,if he said anything more, it would just seem like he was making a fuss.

“You’re not going anywhere,” came a cold voice. Blair, tall and imposing, blocked the doorway with her hands in her pockets, effectively sealing it off.

She held her head high, looking down at Henry with a chilling gaze that was full of pressure.

“Nice one, Blair!” Ethan silently cheered.

“Ah…” Scarlett sighed softly. “Henry, come sit down.”

She knew with Blair there, they wouldn’t be able to brush this off without a clear explanation.

Henry sat down at the side of the table.

The waiter brought the food they had ordered.

But clearly, none of the four were in the mood to eat.

Scarlett introduced Ethan.

“Sorry, let me start with introducing myself,” Henry began, looking at them. “My name is Henry, I’m 34, single, and as you can see, my sexual orientation is a bit unique.”

He was a man dressed in women’s clothing, quite beautiful, and spoke in an androgynous tone that wasn’t unpleasant to hear, though not exactly melodious.

When Henry mentioned his unique sexual orientation, his gaze met Ethan’s.

Ethan shivered and leaned closer to Blair beside him.

In that moment, being next to Blair felt particularly safe.

Scarlett watched his movement, covering her eyes with her hand, not wanting to speak.

Henry smiled kindly, “As for my relationship with Scarlett, I guess you could say we’re friends. She was new at the school where I was working, so I was sort of a mentor to her.”

Ethan frowned. After his aunt and Blair moved back to Capitol City and settled their household affairs, Scarlett’s first job was at the school, so they had known each other for many years.

“As for my relationship with her…” Henry turned to look at Scarlett, seemingly seeking her approval.

“Just tell the truth,” Scarlett said, supporting her forehead with her hand, her expression one of resignation.

“Alright.” Henry turned back to the others. “I hired Scarlett to marry me. Of course, according to our agreement, if she finds someone she truly wants to be with in the future, we can dissolve our marriage at any time.”

Ethan’s brow furrowed deeply at the mention of “hired.” It clearly indicated a transactional relationship.

He looked at Scarlett, who was staring down, avoiding his gaze.

Blair suddenly stood up, gripping her glass tightly, her eyes fixed on Henry like a predator eyeing its prey.

“Blair!” Scarlett hadn’t expected Blair to react so explosively and quickly stood up, her expression panicked, trying to intervene.

“Blair, push me out,” Ethan suddenly said, his voice calm as he reached out and grabbed Blair’s arm, which was still holding the glass. “Trust me.”

Blair hesitated, her eyes conflicted as she looked at Ethan. She put down the glass and began to push Ethan out of the restaurant.

Once they were gone, Henry apologized. “Sorry, it seems I’ve disrupted your family gathering.”

“No, I’m also involved. It would be too selfish to push all the blame away,” Scarlett said, rubbing her eyes and shaking her head.

Outside the restaurant.

Ethan, pushed by Blair, paid attention to the cameras on both sides of the street. “Take me to the corner up ahead and turn right.”

“Okay.” Blair didn’t ask why and did as he requested, turning into a small alley.

Ethan pulled out some plastic gloves he had taken from the restaurant table and put them on. “Auntie didn’t have much choice.”

“I know.” Blair’s expression was complex. They could guess why.

Their financial situation at home wasn’t great, and at her age, Scarlett was better off with someone like Henry, who was decent in many ways, rather than waiting for some elusive love.

It was harsh, but that was reality.

“Even though I understand, that guy still really bugs me,” Ethan said, putting on the gloves and standing up from his wheelchair.

His condition was equivalent to that of a thirteen-year-old girl.

Thanks to his rehabilitation training these days, he could already stand up.

But he had to continue pretending to be paralyzed,otherwise, it would be too shocking.

Blair was in on this secret.

The two exchanged a look, understanding each other’s thoughts.

Ten minutes later.

Henry and Scarlett left the restaurant, not speaking to each other, and went their separate ways at the door.

Henry walked to his car when a tall figure approached him.

“Come here, I want to talk to you,” Blair said, then turned and walked ahead.

Henry frowned, hesitated briefly, and followed Blair into an alley.

Seconds later, Blair emerged from the other side of the alley, standing under a street camera for about ten minutes before turning back into the alley.

Ten seconds later, she reappeared, pushing Ethan in his wheelchair from the other side of the alley. They then appeared together under another street camera.

“Are you okay?” Blair asked as she pushed the wheelchair.

“Of course,” Ethan panted. “I’m ‘paralyzed,’ let him go tell the cops I jumped up and hit him. He got beaten up by some random thug, let’s go home!”

About ten minutes later.

Scarlett rushed out of a taxi and ran into the alley, finding Henry on the ground, clutching his groin, a black plastic bag nearby.

“Are you okay? I’m calling the police right now!”

“No… no need,” Henry managed a pained smile and waved his hand. “That was quite a hit.”

He had been ambushed from behind with a plastic bag over his head, then struck in the groin before he could react.

“I’ve realized something,” Henry said, looking up at Scarlett. “He loves you, that’s for sure.”

Scarlett was taken aback, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and panic. “What are you talking about? He’s just a kid.”

Henry chuckled painfully. “I didn’t say who.”