Five Years Wasted Now They Beg Her Back novel Chapter 343

At two in the morning, in the corner of a 24-hour convenience store.

Ethan sat by the window, reading a book.

The title was ironic—*Intimate Connections: How to Mend a Broken Love*.

Beside it was a stack of other books: *Criminal Psychology* and *Reading People Through Microexpressions*.

"Ethan! That shelf is empty, get over there and restock it!"

The manager was a young man in his early twenties with bleached-blond hair.

A cigarette dangled from his lips as he walked over and kicked Ethan in the shin.

Ethan stumbled, nearly falling off his chair.

He bit his lower lip, slowly closed his book, and answered, "Right away, sir."

As he turned, he felt for the business card in his pocket.

Amelia's assistant had given it to him.

***

The next afternoon, at a private club.

Amelia leaned back on the sofa, looking at the man across from her.

Ethan had made an effort to wear a decent suit, but he still looked down on his luck no matter how you sliced it.

"I hear Mr. Ward has something to show me?" Amelia got straight to the point.

"Yes."

Ethan sat up straight, diving right in. "Years ago, Damien used some unsavory methods to take over a few smaller companies. I have something that, while not enough to send him to prison, is certainly enough to shake the Clarke family's stock price for a while."

In reality, this was all just Ethan's speculation, completely unfounded.

The so-called "evidence" was nothing more than gossip he'd heard at bars, cobbled together with his own fantasies.

But Amelia was no fool.

She was the eldest daughter of the Cross family, the sole heir to the Cross Group.

***

Three days later.

Grace had just finished a four-hour-long technical seminar and was wearily rubbing her temples.

"Mrs. Hart, there's a personal letter for you." Her secretary, Caleb, walked in holding a light blue envelope, his expression a little odd. "There's no return address, but it looks… quite exquisite."

Grace paused.

Who even writes letters anymore?

She took the envelope. The familiar handwriting on it made her hand tremble instinctively.

Inside, tucked between the pages, was a dried ginkgo leaf.

[Grace, I hope this letter finds you well.]

[How have you been? I passed by Ginkgo Avenue yesterday and was suddenly reminded of how you used to follow me around like a little shadow. I didn't know how to cherish you back then; I always thought you were annoying… Looking back now, that was actually the most peaceful time of my life.]