The Ex-Wife's Triumph novel Chapter 149

As soon as Bacchus stepped out of the dining room, he stopped a nearby servant and asked in a low voice, "Where is Mr. Kingsley?"

The servant hurriedly replied, "Mr. Bacchus, Mr. Kingsley has already left."

Bacchus nodded upon hearing this. His face betrayed no emotion as he started up the stairs. However, after just a few steps, he pulled out his phone and quickly typed a message: [Do what you want to do. I've got your back..]

At that moment, sitting in the back seat of a black Rolls-Royce Phantom, Kingsley glanced at the message on his phone. A nearly imperceptible emotion flitted through his eyes. He tossed the phone onto the empty seat beside him, leaned back against the headrest, and slowly closed his eyes to rest.

Not long after, the phone vibrated again. It was a call from Ethan. Kingsley swiped to answer.

"Mr. Sherwood, come out for a drink?" The voice on the other end was casual.

"Tired. I need rest," Kingsley replied, his voice thick with fatigue, concise.

"I can understand Thurston being tired, but what is a lonely man like you tired from?" Ethan's voice was full of teasing. He paused, then deliberately jibed, "Don't tell me you're lacking stamina? I can prescribe some supplements to tune you up."

"Get lost."

Kingsley spat out the words coldly, then hung up immediately and switched his phone to flight mode.

The car drove into The Vista Gardens. Paula saw him return, surprise written all over her face as she hurried forward. "Mr. Kingsley, are you just back from your trip? Have you had dinner?"

"I've eaten. Don't worry about me," Kingsley answered faintly, walking straight upstairs.

Back in his room, he went immediately into the bathroom. Twenty minutes later, Kingsley emerged wrapped in a white bathrobe. The hair wax had been washed away, leaving soft strands falling across his forehead, perfectly concealing the lingering gloom between his brows. In this moment, stripped of his cold, outer armor, only an unshakable loneliness remained.

He lifted a lighter from the table. His fingers slid over it thoughtfully, then sparked the flame. It bloomed orange, lighting the stillness in his eyes and illuminating a ghost of a self-deprecating smile.

Thurston immediately looked at him askance. "Are you even human? One is your brother, the other is your sworn brother. What show are you watching?"

Ethan instantly bristled. "Get lost! acting like you're so noble. Don't go when the time comes then."

Thurston stood up, adjusting his lapels, his tone nonchalant. "My legs are my own; you can't control where I go." He glanced at Ethan. "Enjoy yourself. I'm leaving."

"Boring. I'm leaving too." Ethan stood up as well, turning at the door to shout at the waiter, "Put this table on Kingsley's tab!"

As Thurston passed him, he patted Ethan's shoulder, teasing, "It's impressive you can be this broke and still come out drinking."

Ethan rolled his eyes, taking it as a matter of course. "So what if I'm poor? You guys have money."