Harem Investment System: Getting Money And Women-Chapter 185: Jealousy

She clicked her tongue. "I don't. Just making conversation."

Ethan smirked, resting an arm on the back of the couch. "Had dinner with Riley."

Vanessa blinked. "Riley?"

"Yeah, She's a co-worker," he said, completely nonchalant. "We grabbed dinner after work."

Vanessa wasn't sure why, but something in her chest tightened.

She forced herself to remain casual, nodding as if it was no big deal. "Huh. That's nice."

Ethan tilted his head slightly. "You sure you're okay?"

She scoffed. "Why wouldn't I be?"

He studied her for a second longer before shrugging. "No reason."

Vanessa exhaled through her nose, shifting her attention back to the television.

She didn't care. She shouldn't care. But damn it, why did she feel like this?

Ethan, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease. He stretched again, looking like he was finally starting to unwind after a long day.

"You seem tired," Vanessa muttered, still not looking at him.

"I am tired," Ethan admitted. "But it was a good night."

Something about the way he said that made Vanessa's fingers twitch. She didn't know what she wanted to say — if she even had anything to say.

Instead, she let out a quiet sigh. "Whatever. Just don't make it a habit of coming home late and making Marianne worry."

Ethan chuckled. "Noted."

Another silence settled between them, but this time it was different.

Comfortable, maybe. Or maybe Vanessa was just too tired to dwell on it anymore.

Eventually, Ethan stood up, stretching one last time. "I'm heading to bed. You should sleep too, unless you're planning to sit here all night overthinking things."

Vanessa shot him a glare. "I'm not overthinking anything."

Ethan smirked. "If you say so."

He turned to leave, but before he could, Vanessa — without really thinking — reached out and grabbed his wrist. It was instinctive, something she didn't even register until Ethan stopped and glanced down at her hand.

She hesitated for a second before letting go, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Just… get some rest," she mumbled.

Ethan watched her for a moment before a small, knowing smile played at his lips. He didn't say anything, but the look in his eyes said enough.

"Goodnight, Vanessa," he said before heading upstairs.

Vanessa remained on the couch, staring at the screen but not really watching. Her mind was a mess, her emotions tangled up in something she wasn't quite ready to acknowledge.

She sighed, leaning back against the cushions.

"Stupid Ethan," she muttered under her breath.

But even as she closed her eyes, she knew that whatever this was, it wasn't going away anytime soon.

Vanessa paced around her room, arms crossed, her lips pressed into a thin line. She hated this feeling. This annoying, gnawing, stupid feeling.

Who was Riley?

What did she look like?

Was she really that important?

She knew the answer to that last one, or at least she thought she did.

Ethan didn't talk about women often, and when he did, it was never with that easy, relaxed tone he'd used tonight.

It was just dinner — nothing special. She knew that, but why did it feel like a thorn lodged in her chest?

Vanessa scoffed under her breath.

'Since when do I care?'

She threw herself onto her bed, lying on her back and staring up at the ceiling. Maybe she was just overthinking things.

Maybe she was just in a mood today. But no matter how much she tried to push it away, the feeling lingered.

The last time she went out with Ethan had been… a while ago. It wasn't that she wanted to go on a date with him or anything — no, that wasn't it.

It was just… They used to do things together all the time. Dinner, hanging out, anything. And now? Now he was out with some woman she barely knew, and Vanessa hadn't even crossed his mind.

The thought irritated her more than it should have.

She rolled onto her side, punching her pillow in frustration. This was ridiculous.

She wasn't jealous.

She wasn't.

'But you are,' a little voice in her head whispered.

Vanessa groaned and sat up, running a hand through her hair.

The house was quiet now. Ethan had gone upstairs already, probably asleep by now.

Marianne had disappeared into her own space, and the distant hum of the refrigerator was the only sound in the darkened hallway.

Before she could even register what she was doing, she was on her feet, making her way to the door.

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Her steps were slow as she climbed the stairs, but her heart was hammering a little harder than it should have been.

What was she even doing? She didn't have a plan, didn't have a reason. She just… didn't want to be alone right now.

That was it.

That was all it was.

She found herself in front of Ethan's room before she even realized it. The door was closed, a soft glow of light escaping from underneath. He was probably still awake.

Vanessa hesitated for a second, then inhaled deeply and pushed the door open.

Ethan was sitting on the edge of his bed, scrolling through his phone. He looked up as soon as she entered, one eyebrow raising slightly.

"Vanessa?" His voice was groggy, as if he was just on the verge of falling asleep. "What's up?"

She froze.

Crap.

Now that she was here, what was she even supposed to say?

"I — " She cleared her throat, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. "I, uh… I want to sleep with you."

Ethan blinked.

Silence.

Vanessa's face burned.

"Wait! No! I mean — " She waved her hands frantically, her words stumbling over each other. "I meant I want to sleep in the same bed as you! Not — ! Ugh!"

Ethan just stared at her for a second before a slow, amused grin spread across his face.

"Vanessa," he said, voice laced with pure amusement. "Are you blushing?"

"No!" she snapped, quickly covering her cheeks.

He chuckled, setting his phone down. "That was the worst way you could've said that."

"I know!" She groaned, rubbing her temples. "Forget it! I'll just — "