Harem Investment System: Getting Money And Women-Chapter 203: Tell Me About Your Family

Riley wasn't quite sure how it happened, but at some point during the movie credits, she had ended up resting her head on Ethan's lap.

It had been gradual, like slipping into a dream.

First, she had curled up against the couch, legs tucked under her, slowly easing closer.

Then, as the warmth of his body radiated toward her, she had let her head fall, just enough to rest against his thigh.

And Ethan… he didn't seem to mind.

His hand absently ran through her hair, fingers threading through the strands, slow and methodical.

She wasn't sure if he even realized he was doing it, but the rhythmic motion was enough to lull her into a daze. She exhaled softly, savoring the moment.

Her cheeks burned as her mind wandered into inappropriate territory.

The warmth of his lap, the feeling of his hand stroking her hair — it was too easy to imagine something more.

She pressed her face deeper into his thigh, hoping to hide the pink tint blooming across her face.

She wasn't supposed to be like this, she was supposed to be a woman… but that didn't matter here.

That was when she noticed him watching her.

His eyes, deep and contemplative, studied her with quiet amusement. The moment stretched between them, unspoken but electric.

She swallowed, trying to will away her embarrassment, before finally speaking. "Tell me about your family."

Ethan blinked, as if caught off guard by the request.

For a moment, he said nothing, his fingers momentarily pausing before resuming their gentle movements through her hair.

"What do you want to know?" he asked, his voice quieter than before.

Riley peeked up at him. "Anything. Everything. I just… want to know more about you."

He exhaled through his nose, a small, thoughtful smile tugging at his lips. "Well… My dad, Harold, is a bit of a hardass. Old-school and knew everything about business. Everything is about discipline and responsibility with him."

Riley hummed in understanding. "Sounds strict."

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"Oh, he is," Ethan chuckled, leaning back against the couch. "But he's not all bad. Just a little intense. My mom, Margaret, she's the opposite. Warm, patient, the kind of person who makes you feel at home the second you step through the door."

Riley smiled at that. "She sounds lovely."

"She is." His gaze softened for a fraction of a second before he continued, "Then there's Claire, my younger sister. She's eighteen — probably even smarter than me but she's also the most stubborn."

"Runs in the family," Riley teased, "Considering you didn't want to let me pay for those dates,"

Ethan smirked. "Maybe."

He tilted his head, considering. "Claire's got big dreams. She wants to travel, see the world. Always talking about moving to Europe or starting her own thing. Dad doesn't approve, of course, but she doesn't care. She's going to do what she wants."

"She sounds amazing," Riley mused, secretly admiring the girl she'd never met. Despite Ethan's overwhelming status as a Multi-millionaire and the owner of ATLAS, he had a normal family… a really normal one.

"She is. A pain in the ass, but amazing."

Riley laughed, feeling herself relax even more. "You only have one sibling?"

Ethan's entire expression shifted, softening into something unmistakably affectionate. "No, the last one's Julia. She's seven. Probably the happiest kid you'll ever meet. Loves drawing, always carrying a sketchbook around. She's convinced she's going to be an artist when she grows up."

Riley felt something warm bloom in her chest at the way he spoke about his family.

It was different from the usual, laid-back Ethan she was used to teasing. There was something deeper, something undeniably real in the way his voice grew softer as he spoke of them.

"Sounds like she takes after your mom," Riley said.

"Yeah," Ethan agreed, a distant look in his eyes. "She's got that same kindness."

Riley didn't say anything for a moment, letting the words settle between them.

It made her realize how little she had thought about Ethan's life outside of work, outside of their interactions.

She had always seen him as this confident, enigmatic man who somehow made her days brighter.

But here, like this, he felt more real than ever. A son. A brother. Someone who had stories and memories, family members who shaped him into who he was today.

And she wanted to know all of it.

Ethan extended his hand toward her, palm up, an invitation rather than a demand.

His expression was relaxed, but there was a quiet curiosity in his eyes as he spoke.

"How about you tell me about your own family?"

Riley stiffened slightly. She hadn't been expecting that.

She had been so lost in listening to him talk about his own family — the warmth in his voice, the ease with which he spoke of them — that she hadn't considered the conversation might turn to her.

Before she could respond, Ethan leaned forward and grabbed a picture frame from the side table. He turned it toward her, his lips quirking into an amused smirk.

"Especially this boy that looks like me when I was in middle school," he added.

Riley's eyes widened, and an immediate blush spread across her face.

"Wha — " She sat up quickly, snatching the frame from his hands. "No, he does not!"

Ethan laughed, leaning back against the couch with that same lazy confidence that always seemed to drive her crazy. "He absolutely does. Same haircut, same awkward smirk. If I didn't know better, I'd think I had a long-lost twin."

Riley groaned, hugging the frame to her chest as if she could somehow make it disappear. "That's my little brother, Ethan."

He raised an eyebrow. "Little brother, huh? So, what's his name?"

She hesitated for a moment before sighing in defeat. "Oliver."

Ethan nodded, settling in as if he had all the time in the world. "Alright. Tell me about Oliver."

Riley pursed her lips, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edges of the picture frame. "He's sixteen now. Annoying. Always in his room playing video games and pretending like the world outside doesn't exist."

"So, a typical teenage boy," Ethan mused.

"Exactly," she said, rolling her eyes. "But he's smart. Way smarter than I was at his age. He's into tech stuff, wants to build apps and make a name for himself in Silicon Valley or something."

Ethan nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds like he's got ambition."