My Clingy CEO Husband

### Chapter 20: The Dutiful Mr. Hawthorne Who Helps His Wife Remove Her Makeup

The CEO’s Office, Hawthorne Group.

As dusk fell, the city lights began to glitter outside the window. Ethan Hawthorne finished the last of his paperwork. He had planned on picking his wife up from work for dinner, but Maxine Rhodes had told him she had a company dinner tonight.

’It made sense,’ he mused. ’It’s her first day in the new position, so of course she’d have to treat her colleagues to a meal. She’ll inevitably have a few drinks, and she might not feel well afterward. More importantly, that eyesore, Benjamin Sterling, will most likely be there...’

Ethan Hawthorne frowned and immediately grabbed his jacket.

"Erza Sinclair," he said, pressing the intercom button. "Find out the exact location of the dinner party for the Sterlings’ project department tonight."

"Of course, Mr. Hawthorne." Erza Sinclair was highly efficient, replying a moment later. "They’re at Riverwatch Pavilion. Shall I have a car prepared for you?"

"No," Ethan Hawthorne said, his tone even. "I’ll drive myself."

「Fifteen minutes later, outside Riverwatch Pavilion.」

Ethan Hawthorne remained in his car. He didn’t go upstairs, nor did he call to rush her.

’He knew Maxine. She wouldn’t want him to make an abrupt appearance in front of her colleagues. He was only here to make sure she got home safely. Nothing more.’

After the dinner party ended, Maxine paid the bill and saw her colleagues off into their cars before finally grabbing her jacket to leave.

Just then, Benjamin Sterling reappeared, as persistent and unwelcome as a ghost.

He had been about to leave with Rose Joyce, but the more he thought about it, the more resentful he felt. He was determined to wait until her colleagues were gone so he could demand a clear explanation.

Benjamin’s tone was forceful. "I’m taking you home. You’ve been drinking. It’s not safe for you to be alone."

Rose Joyce, sitting in the passenger seat, leaned out the window. "That’s right, Maxine. Let Benjamin take you home. This place is pretty remote; it’ll be hard to get a ride."

Maxine’s voice was cold. "That won’t be necessary."

Benjamin lowered his voice, but it was laced with anger. "Maxine Rhodes! Are you enjoying this? Trying to get my attention like this, don’t you think it’s childish? Are you just going to throw away our five years together so easily?"

He leaned in close, the stench of alcohol from the restaurant clinging to him. Maxine frowned in disgust. "Benjamin Sterling, are you delusional?"

"You..." Benjamin’s face turned livid with rage. Just as he was about to lose it, a pair of blinding headlights suddenly bathed the three of them in light. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

A darkly tinted window slid halfway down, revealing the sharp, chiseled profile of the man in the driver’s seat.

His gaze bypassed Benjamin Sterling and Rose Joyce entirely, settling on Maxine. "Get in."

Benjamin’s pupils contracted. He recognized the car—a top-of-the-line Maybach S680! Hardly anyone in Kingsland could afford a car like that!

While he stood there, stunned and suspicious, Maxine was already walking toward the car.

"Wait!" Benjamin snapped out of his daze and lunged forward to grab her arm. "Who is that?! When did you start running with people like him?"

Maxine sidestepped his touch, not even bothering to spare him a glance.

As the door shut, she icily spat out the same phrase for the second time that night: "None of your damn business."

The car pulled away smoothly, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Seeing this, Rose Joyce tugged on Benjamin’s sleeve. "Why did Maxine just get into some man’s car? It’s so late, and that’s so dangerous..."

Benjamin stared daggers at the back of the luxury car as it drove away. The windows were darkly tinted, and in the dim light of the evening, he couldn’t make out the driver’s face at all. He only had the nagging feeling that the man’s voice sounded familiar.

He was instantly filled with an inexplicable rage!

’So that’s why Maxine dared to humiliate me today, embarrassing me in front of everyone. She’s found a new sugar daddy!’

’Was she doing all this just to provoke him? To make him jealous?’

"Heh," Benjamin laughed, seething. "Maxine Rhodes, you’ve really outdone yourself! To think you’d resort to such tricks just to get my attention!"

"Benjamin, don’t be angry..." Rose said, seeing her chance. She leaned against him, feigning weakness. "I feel so dizzy... Can we just go home? Maxine was probably just confused. You can talk things over with her tomorrow..."

He wrapped his arm around Rose’s waist, his tone softening. "You’re still the most sensible one, Rose. Come on, let’s go home."

Meanwhile, inside the Maybach as it sped away, Maxine leaned back in her seat, relaxing as she glanced at Ethan Hawthorne in the driver’s seat beside her.

His focus was on the road ahead, his profile looking particularly stern and defined in the shifting neon lights.

"How did you know I was here?" she asked, her voice laced with a tipsy languor.

Ethan answered nonchalantly, "If I want to know something, I can find it out."

His gaze lingered on her for a moment. She was wearing a smoky gray pantsuit tonight, her curly chestnut hair tumbling over her shoulders. Her cheeks were flushed, and even the corners of her eyes held a hint of intoxication.

He noticed she’d been pressing a hand to her stomach since she got in the car. "Is your stomach bothering you?" he asked.

"A little," Maxine admitted with a nod. She really had drunk a bit too much tonight.

Ethan said no more. He steered effortlessly with one hand while reaching over with the other to pass her a thermos. "Tea to help with the alcohol. The temperature is just right."

When he saw her hesitate, he added coolly, "Erza Sinclair prepared it."

The warmth of the thermos was a perfect comfort against her palm. She took a small sip. The sweet fragrance of osmanthus and a faint hint of herbs spread through her mouth. It was, surprisingly, her favorite blend.

Maxine’s heart stirred. She turned her head to look at the man in the driver’s seat.

The passing streetlights glided over his sharp features. She suddenly found his presence incredibly reassuring. A faint, tipsy smile touched her lips. "Thank you."

Ethan’s hands tightened on the steering wheel for a brief second.

Her smile was reflected in the rearview mirror. The light in her eyes seemed to hold all the shattered brilliance of a starry sky, outshining even the neon signs outside.

His Adam’s apple bobbed. He forced his gaze away from the mirror and back to the road.

His voice was low, with a barely perceptible rasp. "We still have a little while before we’re home. Get some rest. I’ll wake you when we get there."

Maybe it was the tea, or maybe it was the reassuringly smooth way he drove, but Maxine simply hummed in agreement, shifted into a comfortable position, and let her long, thick lashes drift shut. Before she knew it, she was fast asleep.

「Twenty minutes later.」 The car glided smoothly into the underground garage and came to a stop.

Ethan turned his head, his eyes adjusting to the dim light inside the car as he looked at the woman sleeping beside him.

She was sound asleep, her breathing light and even.

He didn’t wake her right away. Instead, he watched her quietly for a moment before unbuckling his seatbelt, getting out, and walking around to the passenger side.

He opened her door, leaned in, and lifted her from the seat in a princess carry, holding her securely.

Maxine murmured in her sleep, instinctively nuzzling against his neck to find a more comfortable spot. Her warm breath ghosted across his skin.

Ethan’s entire body went rigid. The muscles in his arms tensed for a second before he adjusted his hold, making sure she was secure in his embrace. Only then did he walk with steady strides toward the elevator and back to their apartment.

He placed her gently on the large bed in the master bedroom, his movements soft.

Under the warm light of the bedroom, he noticed for the first time that she was wearing light makeup. Her long eyelashes cast soft shadows beneath her eyes, and traces of lipstick still lingered on her lips.

’Isn’t sleeping with makeup on bad for your skin?’

Ethan turned and walked into the en-suite bathroom.

The wide countertop was covered in an array of bottles and jars. Relying on the few familiar Chinese characters he could spot, he studied them for a moment before picking up a jar of fine-textured cleansing balm.

He returned to the bedside and sat on the edge of the mattress. He scooped a small amount of the balm onto his fingertips, rubbing them together to warm and emulsify it. His movements were clumsy from inexperience, but he was patient.

Following the instructions on the jar, he began to massage her face with his warm fingers, his touch incredibly gentle as he moved in small circles.

From her forehead to her cheeks, and then... her lips.

When his fingers brushed against her lips, his touch grew even lighter, almost unconsciously.

Her lips, which were usually pressed into a firm line, seemed especially soft and full at that moment. Ethan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his breathing deepening ever so slightly.

He quickened his pace, then used a soft face cloth to wipe away the last traces of makeup, revealing the clear, pale skin beneath.

Maxine slept soundly through the entire process. Only when he wiped the corner of her mouth did she murmur unconsciously, like a lazy kitten.

Once the makeup was gone, his gaze fell to the suit jacket she was still wearing.

’Sleeping in a jacket... that must be uncomfortable too, right?’

*****