Back at the masquerade, the man had been wearing a mask, so Ivy never got a good look at his face.

But no, that couldn’t be right. The man she kissed had been perfectly able-bodied, while Ethan had been confined to a wheelchair for years. There was no way they could be the same person.

‘I’m just imagining things,’ Ivy told herself.

Ethan’s piercing gaze made Ivy’s nerves tighten, and she quickly averted her eyes.

Her friend Elena Miller had once shared some gossip about Ethan.

Elena once said, “Ethan may be handsome, but he’s not a good person. I heard he tortures people so severely that they go insane, and then he sends them straight to the mental hospital.”

“I think it’s because of his disability. He probably developed a twisted psyche. If he weren’t disabled, he’d be perfect!” Elena added.

Those words had made Ivy question the polite and refined image Ethan had presented when she’d seen him during a university lecture.

But… could someone with a twisted mind really come to a café for a date?

Her senior colleague’s voice pulled Ivy out of her thoughts. “Ivy, you’ve been spacing out. Did you finish reading Mr. Allen’s profile?”

Ivy quickly pulled out her tablet. “Yes, I’ve gone through it. I drafted a few questions on the way here. Could you take a look?”

Her colleague took the tablet and began reviewing the questions.

As Ivy waited, she overheard the conversation at Ethan’s table.

“Mr. Lancaster, given your physical condition, even if we were to get married, I might end up essentially living as a widow. I’ve just graduated with my Ph.D. from a top university, so I think I’m more than qualified to marry you,” the woman said, her tone sharp.

“I could handle a marriage without sex, but Mr. Lancaster, there would need to be appropriate compensation for my sacrifices.”

‘Is this a marriage proposal?’ Ivy thought, her eyes sliding toward Ethan again.

The woman seemed to be implying that Ethan was… incapable, and for the sake of her future, he’d have to meet her material demands. Ivy’s eyes widened, and she silently marveled at the situation.

“So even someone as powerful as Ethan Lancaster has his own struggles.” Ivy said to herself.

Ethan, sitting only a few feet away from Ivy, caught every flicker of expression on her face, but he didn’t react. Calmly, he raised his coffee and took a slow sip.

“What compensation do you want?”

His indifference only made Ivy feel even uneasier. Why did his voice sound so familiar? She couldn’t help but think again of the man she’d met at the masquerade ball. ‘What’s going on with me?’

Meanwhile, the woman across from Ethan seemed to become more animated. “CE Group is a business empire. I wanna join the upper management, and I believe we could run CE Group together.”

“I have a Ph.D. in finance from Crownridge University, and I won scholarships every year. I’m way more qualified than anyone else.”

Ivy was listening with interest when an assistant walked over to their table, apologizing politely. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Allen had an emergency and had to leave for the airport. The interview will have to be postponed.”

Mr. Allen had canceled the interview.

Ivy smiled graciously. “That’s unfortunate, but we understand. It’s not unusual for someone as busy as Mr. Allen to have sudden obligations.”

The assistant handed them a business card, saying, “Mr. Allen asked me to give you this. Another executive has time for an interview if your station is interested.”

“Thank you. Please extend our thanks to Mr. Allen as well.”

The assistant nodded and left the café.

Ivy grabbed her bag, preparing to leave, but when she glanced up, she met Ethan’s steady gaze.

Those deep, dark eyes seemed to see right through her.

Ivy’s heart raced, and she clutched her bag tighter as she hurried to leave with her colleague.

The woman seated across from Ethan was still chattering away about her accomplishments.

Watching Ivy’s retreating figure through the glass, Ethan chuckled softly to himself.

‘It seems she didn’t recognize me.’

The woman continued to ramble on about her qualifications. Ethan, now thoroughly bored, cut her off abruptly. “If you want to join CE, then apply for a job.”

His handsome, sharp features betrayed a cold indifference. “But if you try using connections to bother my mother again, you might want to consider a future washing dishes for one of CE Group’s restaurants.”

The woman was stunned into silence, completely overpowered by his presence.

Ethan skillfully maneuvered his wheelchair and left the café without another word.

The car door opened, and Ethan got in. After a few moments, his phone rang.

He answered it. “Mom.”

“So, how did it go with that girl?” his mother, Evelyn Jones, asked.

“Not very well.”

“Ethan,” Evelyn sighed. “You’re almost thirty. If you keep this up, where are we going to find a decent girl willing to marry you?”

A vivid image flashed in Ethan’s mind—bright eyes, a lively expression, and a face full of charm. He smiled to himself. “Don’t worry, there’s someone.”

Evelyn’s tone became more forceful. “Your grandparents will be back soon, and they’re hoping to see you married. You’d better bring a suitable girl home soon!”

Ethan rubbed his temples.

‘A suitable girl?’ One came to mind immediately.

The only question was—when would he be able to convince her to come home with him?