"To play with!" Ethan answered without hesitation.
"Play? You keep them in the office?" Evie asked, stunned.
"Is there a problem? They inspire me. They're treasures!" Ethan replied with a grin.
"You really have some weird hobbies," Evie muttered under her breath.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing!" Evie said quickly, then glanced at the toys and asked, "Where do you want them?"
"In the next cabinet. Arranged from biggest to smallest. Looks great!" Ethan said.
"Fine. Whatever makes you happy," Evie replied.
What a mess!
Evie started organizing the dolls. As she worked, she commented, "This one's ugly! The proportions are all wrong!"
"Auntie, are you here to criticize me?" Ethan looked up, annoyed.
"No, I'm just being honest. Where did you even get these?" Evie asked.
"I collected them."
"All at once?" Evie pressed.
"Of course not. I've been collecting them since I was a kid."
"So you've been this... special since childhood."
"Auntie, I feel like you're implying something," Ethan said with a smirk.
"No, you're overthinking it," Evie smiled and kept organizing.
"Auntie, I need to ask you a favor."
"What is it?"
"Can you tell my uncle I need two days off?"
"Why don't you ask him yourself?"
"I did. It didn't work. That's why I'm asking you."
"Please? You're begging me?" Evie looked down at the doll in her hand, almost thinking she misheard.
"I'll treat you to dinner."
"Not interested."
"What do you want then?"
"Give me these dolls."
"You said they were ugly!"
"They are ugly!"
"Change the terms. Please, Auntie!"
"Forget it." Evie's face showed no room for negotiation.
Truth was, she didn't really want the dolls. She just wanted to mess with him.
"Don't be so heartless! I helped you and my uncle get together. Now help me!" Ethan begged.
"Are you sure you were playing matchmaker, not trying to break them up?" Evie turned to face him.
"How could that be? I went on blind dates for my uncle. If I hadn't, you wouldn't have met him. And if you hadn't met him, you wouldn't have agreed to marry him. See how useful I've been!"
"But you told me he was gay!" Evie rolled her eyes.
"Did I?" Ethan asked innocently.
"..." Evie was speechless.
She stared at him. He stared back, his face full of flattery.
"If you won't help me, I'll tell my uncle you only married him because you thought he was gay. That you planned to divorce him and take his money," Ethan said with a sly smile.
Evie froze. After a long moment, she snapped, "Ethan, are you tired of living?" She cracked her knuckles and glared at him.
"No, no! I just want my dear auntie to help me!" Ethan replied, grinning.
"I'll talk to your uncle. But he doesn't have to listen to me, okay?"
"You can trick the beauties!"
"You can handle the beauties yourself!" Evie turned and walked toward the door.
"Hey, you haven't finished yet!"
"Do it yourself!"
"I'm going to report you to Secretary Harper!"
"If you mess up my internship, you're dead!" Evie threatened.
Ethan looked at her with innocent eyes. "Help me finish, and I won't say a word."
"Wait here. I need the bathroom." Evie walked out of his office.
Ethan sighed.
This aunt was too stubborn. She wasn't good enough for his uncle.
She wouldn't help him at all. So stingy!
He had to find a way to make his uncle give him those two days off.
Otherwise, he was doomed.
Ethan sat at his desk, tearing at his hair like straw. When Evie returned, she thought a wild man had taken over his office.
"Are you sure this look attracts girls?" Evie asked.
"Of course! You don't know how many I've charmed!" Ethan snorted.
"Are you sure they're not after your money?" Evie smiled.
Ethan's face fell. "No matter how rich I am, I'm not as rich as my uncle. He's the top dog."
"Who said you'd never get married? Forget it. Just help me finish these!" Ethan stopped mid-sentence and pointed angrily at the box of dolls.
Evie glanced at him. Without another word, she continued organizing the box.
As she worked, she slowly realized the dolls were actually quite cute.
The craftsmanship was exquisite. The colors were well done.
"Ethan, if you like dolls so much, why don't you work in this field?" Evie asked.
"I want to. But my uncle won't let me," Ethan said, resting his chin on his hand.
"Why?" Evie turned to look at him.
"He says I'm the future heir of Sterling Group. It's cruel. I'm young, promising, ambitious. And he traps me in this small company!" Ethan complained loudly.
"Sterling Group isn't small," Evie replied.
She wanted to call him young and ambitious.
But those words didn't fit Ethan at all.
"Well, being trapped in such a big company is still painful!"
"It is a bit painful. But if you really don't want to, your uncle can't force you," Evie nodded.
"The problem is, I grew up under his thumb. I don't dare to resist! He's only ten years older than me, but he's a whole generation ahead. It's so unfair!" Ethan continued.
Evie looked at him and remembered what Alexander had said when they went to his sister-in-law's place for dinner and returned to Sterling Manor.
She still couldn't fully accept it, but her view had shifted a little.
Ethan wasn't as carefree as he seemed. He used this wild image as a shield.
Maybe it was because he lost his father when he was young. He had no sense of security.