Chapter 808: Ethan Hawthorne's Disgust

“Mr. Hawthorne is back!” someone called out.

Ethan Hawthorne finally noticed that the usually reclusive neighbors had gathered outside today. Their gazes were thoroughly bizarre. They seemed to be pitying him. This infuriated Ethan; he hardly needed the sympathy of these commoners.

“Are you all having a meeting?” Ethan asked jokingly.

The crowd’s gazes grew even more pitying. Men supposedly had three great joys: a sudden promotion, striking it rich, and a dead wife; and three great tragedies: unemployment, a dead son, and a cheating wife. The metaphorical cuckold’s horns Ethan wore right now were larger than the canopy of the old camphor tree towering above his head.

Ethan frowned. What did these people mean by looking at him like that?

“Mr. Hawthorne, you should come take a look at this,” someone kindly suggested.

Just then, the person who had gone to find a branch ran back with a long stick in hand. Jacqueline Spann was frantic. Her mind was drawing a complete blank. Gritting her teeth, she suddenly turned and sprinted back the way they came at breakneck speed.

She had thought of a way.

The best method to divert attention was to manufacture an even bigger incident. That way, no one would focus on her aunt anymore. Therefore, Jacqueline planned to start a fire.

She grabbed a lighter and a bottle of strong liquor, intending to torch a neighboring house. That family had all gone out to watch the spectacle, and the lady of the house was the exact same woman who had cursed her aunt as a tramp.

With everyone distracted by the commotion, no one noticed Jacqueline’s scheme. She poured the liquor across the courtyard and prepared to light it. Suddenly, a sharp chop struck the back of her neck, and Jacqueline collapsed into unconsciousness. Adrian Hawthorne stood over her, his gaze icy. A viper could never change its venomous nature, no matter where it slithered.

Adrian didn’t touch Jacqueline further. He still had a show to watch. His father’s mood had to be incredibly complicated right now.

Ethan’s mood was indeed far more complicated than his facial expression let on. The messy hair covering Bernice’s face was finally brushed aside, revealing her true identity. The crowd recognized her instantly. She wore a thoroughly ravaged look; anyone with half a brain could guess what had transpired last night.

Bernice could no longer pretend. She stared at Ethan in sheer panic, her body trembling uncontrollably. The stares of the onlookers were sharper than knives, piercing her skin with agonizing pain.

Ethan’s face darkened. His eyes, completely void of warmth, locked onto Bernice. His rare good mood vanished into thin air. The situation was more nauseating than swallowing a maggot. This wretched woman had utterly humiliated him.

“My condolences, Mr. Hawthorne!”

Someone stepped forward to comfort him. After all, Ethan knew how to conduct himself around people. He frequently brought back cheap, reliable electronics and fashionable clothes or shoes for his neighbors, earning him a fairly good reputation in the area.

However, when it came to a scandal like this, any comfort sounded exactly like mockery. Ethan’s expression turned even uglier. Sensing the mounting tension, the rest of the crowd scattered, leaving only Bernice on the ground and a furious Ethan standing over her.

“Ethan… I was set up… I have no face left to live…”

Bernice sobbed pitifully. Given her current predicament, she could only hope that Ethan would take their years of affection into account. Even if he refused to marry her now, she prayed he wouldn’t abandon her. She was willing to serve Ethan alongside other women.

As for Rosalind Green, Bernice genuinely believed that something fatal had happened to her. Vernon Spann had no reason to lie. Right now, she only regretted going alone to pay the final installment yesterday. She still needed to find out who that strange man was and why he had ruined her like this.

Ethan’s eyes filled with profound disgust. “Let’s go home first!” he said coldly.

He took off his overcoat and tossed it over Bernice. Then, he cut the ropes binding her. He let her stumble to her feet and walk on her own, making absolutely no move to support her. She was far too filthy; the mere thought of touching her made him sick.