Ethan gulped.He couldn't process what the woman just said.
"I sold myself to the casino, and the casino could do anything it wanted to me.I had already lost the will to live because my fate would be equally torturous no matter which man I ended up with.Thank goodness, God took pity on me and left me in your hands..."
The woman was overly emotional and couldn't help but lean closer to Ethan.
"Wait a second.Don't come near me!"
Ethan, a towering man of over six feet, backed away as if he'd just seen a terrifying beast.He intentionally kept his distance from the woman.
The woman seemed visibly hurt by his response, and she stopped moving.
"Mister, are you disgusted by me? Are you afraid I might keep bugging you?"
"No, that's not it!"
Ethan waved his hands.
"That's not what I meant.I just think that you're a person, not an object.You shouldn't allow others to control your life."
"I get what you mean, but I've already signed a contract with the casino.If you don't want me, I'll fall into their hands once again.I don't want to be tied up on a casino table like an object again while those evil men fight over me."
"Does such a contract exist?"
Ethan frowned and glared at Hank.Hank seemed terrified.He immediately urged his subordinate to hand over the contract.
"H-Here it is...The casino bought her for 150 thousand dollars.She belongs to you now!"
The man retrieved a contract that had the woman's signature and fingerprint from his bag with trembling hands. Ethan accepted it and read the name out softly.
"Shirley White?"
After that, his eyes lit up.He realized something.
"I remember now.You're the girl who danced with Ace in the bar.I knew I'd seen you somewhere!"
"You finally remember me.We met in a bar not too long ago.You left a deep impression on me."
Shirley's eyes welled with tears while she looked gently at Ethan.
Apart from Ace, Ethan also caught Shirley's attention the other night.
That's because she'd always preferred outgoing and handsome men like Ethan.
However, Ace's stoic and depressive attitude had her completely charmed.She couldn't even be bothered to focus on anyone else.By the time she came to her senses, she realized she didn't like men like Ace all that much.
On the contrary, she would occasionally think of Ethan.
When Ethan rescued her earlier, she fell absolutely in love with him...She used to think that life wasn't worth living, and she was prepared to die.
Now, she found a new motivation to live! "Will you take me with you? I promise I won't drag you down.I can work for you or earn money for you..."
Shirley held onto Ethan's arm and put in a serious effort to promote herself.She even told him which college she went to, her major, and what she was good at.
"Fine.I'll take you with me."
Ethan nodded and escorted her out of the filthy casino.
Outside, the sky was blue, and the air was fresh, a world of difference from the foggy dimness of the casino.
Ethan glanced at his watch.It was getting late.
After tearing up the contract, he turned to face Shirley.
"You're free now.You can go."
Shirley was stunned for a moment.She looked at her torn contract.
"I know you don't like me.That's why you don't want me around.However, I don't like owing anyone favors.I'll try my best to repay the 150 thousand dollars...Goodbye!"
Ethan raised his brows.He wanted to clarify something, but he chose not to in the end.
"Goodbye!"
The two bid farewell for good.
Shirley had barely taken a few steps when she suddenly collapsed on the ground...
"Oh no! Someone fainted!"
There was a panicked scream from the crowd.
Ethan had already gotten into his car.He didn't want to get involved with a woman who had nothing to do with him.However, the crowd grew larger and larger, and among them included some men with ill intentions.
Hence, he couldn't resist frowning and walked over quickly.
"Get out of the way!"
Ethan pushed his way through the crowd.His voice was loud and powerful.
The crowd could instantly tell that he was from a rich family, and they made way for him.
However, there was an arrogant goon who didn't think much of Ethan.He tried to carry Shirley, who was now unconscious, back to his place for his own pleasure.
"Let go of her!"
Ethan shouted at the man with a scar on his face, keeping his hands in his pockets while doing so.
"Who the hell are you? Mind your own business.I found this chick first.Don't try to snatch her from me!"
The man exclaimed before openly carrying her over his shoulder and trying to leave.
The surrounding crowd didn't seem surprised by this.
They not only didn't try to stop him, but they even seemed envious.
This was certainly a unique characteristic of Water Dock.
Men tended to bring unconscious women home.
Any woman who found herself unconscious on the streets from getting drunk or fainting from hunger or illness was considered a public resource.
Even the law couldn't inhibit this 'first-come, first-served' practice.
Beautiful women like her were hard to come by.
Anyone who found her wouldn't want to let her go easily.
"I told you to let her go!"
Ethan stood in the man's way.His stern expression was extremely intimidating.
Of course, the man was somewhat well-known in the area.
Ordinary folks wouldn't even dare to offend him.
Despite of all that, however, he didn't think much of Ethan.
"Why do I have to do as you say? Who do you think you are?"
"She belongs to me!"
Ethan uttered before retrieving the contract he'd just torn up.
"I just received this contract from Hank.If you insist on taking her away, I'll have to ask Hank to retrieve her."
"H-Hank?" The man gulped.His eyes went wide.
Hank was the most powerful person around.
Nobody dared to get on his bad side.
"You have three seconds to decide whether you want to let her go...Three..."
"Take her! Take her!"
The man instantly shoved Shirley into Ethan's arms.He then tried to salvage his ego.
"This girl is too skinny.I'm not interested.Whoever wants her can have her.I don't care!"
Ethan carefully held Shirley in his arms as if he was holding a baby, worried she'd fall and hurt herself.She was certainly very skinny.
Only slightly over five feet, she was light as a feather.He figured she weighed less than a hundred pounds.
Evidently, she wasn't getting enough nutrition.
Ethan used to think Joanna was the skinniest woman he'd held.
But, surprisingly, Shirley was even skinnier than her! He looked down at the woman in his arms.She had a face that looked a lot like Joanna's, but her skin was slightly fairer.She also had brows that made her seem gentler than Joanna.
Right then, her brows were furrowed as if she was in pain.
Not knowing what she'd gone through, he felt bad for her...
Ethan subconsciously reached out to rub Shirley's forehead so that her brows would relax.
This was when Shirley opened her eyes a little.
Despite feeling weak, she smiled gently at him.
"Hey, you're awake.There was a mosquito on your face.That's why I..." Ethan explained guiltily.
He'd been with countless women, but he'd never panicked like this before.
It was honestly embarrassing! "I heard what you said earlier..."
Shirley whispered softly in his arms.