Chapter 414 Ashley Once Had Amnesia
Just as the traffic light turned red, Ethan stopped the car and looked at Ashley with earnest anticipation.
Ashley thought carefully, but couldn't find any related memories. "No, I don't think so," she replied.
Ethan had been certain Ashley was the 'Hayes' from his childhood, but now hearing her denial firsthand!
In that moment, Ethan couldn't tell if what he felt was disappointment, dejection, or something else entirely.
From the back seat, Pauline chimed in, "Ethan, you need to be more specific about when. Ashley has no memories from before the foster home. If it happened before then, she definitely wouldn't remember."
Ethan's heart suddenly raced again. "Honey, you lost your memory as a child?"
Ashley nodded. "Yes, Pauline's right. I don't remember anything before I was six."
Six years old?
Ethan had been kidnapped when he was eight, and the little girl had been six!
Another piece of the puzzle fell into place!
Ethan's heart pounded in his chest.
Ashley noticed Ethan's unreadable expression. "What is it, honey?" she asked.
"I was kidnapped once," Ethan explained. "There was a little girl kidnapped with me that day. Her name was Hayes, and she was also six years old. We were tied up in a cave, and she stayed with me the whole time. In the end, she distracted the kidnappers, giving me a chance to escape."
Ethan gazed deeply into Ashley's eyes.
Ashley felt a jolt through her mind, then recalled, "Wasn't that person Ava?"
Ethan shook his head and said tenderly, "I believe you were that little girl."
"What?!" Ashley was stunned. She tried hard to remember, but no matter how much she concentrated, those memories remained elusive.
"I can't remember any of it," Ashley said, wincing from a sudden headache.
Ethan smiled gently. "It's okay, darling. Don't push yourself too hard."
Seeing her in pain made Ethan's heart ache.
With so many clues pointing to Ashley, the truth seemed just out of reach.
In his heart, Ethan had already decided that the little girl was definitely Ashley.
"Ethan, if you still want to investigate, I can have someone look into it around the Rocky Mountains," Pauline offered.
"It doesn't matter anymore," Ethan replied. "What happened back then was my obsession, but now that Ashley is by my side, proving we were meant to be together, I'm completely satisfied."
Pauline shrugged. "Alright then."
As they talked, the luxury car pulled up in front of an apartment building. Ethan spotted a familiar figure.
Ryan was standing by the roadside, waving at him. Ethan stopped the car.
"Ethan."
"Ryan, since when do you live here?"
Ashley glanced at Pauline and stifled a laugh behind her hand.
Pauline blushed. "Ethan, this is my place. Thanks for giving me a ride home."
Ryan flashed a mischievous smile, putting his arm around Pauline's waist. "Ethan, a small apartment is much more comfortable than a mansion. Thanks for bringing my girlfriend home."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "You never told me you had a girlfriend. Not cool. Drinks soon?"
"Absolutely, my treat," Ryan replied.
"See you next time," Ethan said.
Ryan waved. "See you."
Ethan gave him a playful look before driving off.
Once they were some distance away, Ashley laughed. "Looks like my best friend and your best friend are getting married soon."
Ethan nodded. "We'll have gifts prepared for them tomorrow."
They exchanged smiles.
Before long, they arrived at the Yates Mansion.
As it happened, Michael was just returning home with Katherine.
Ashley approached them. "Grandpa, Grandma, you're back from the hospital? How were the test results today?"
Since Katherine had been diagnosed with cancer, she'd been staying at the hospital for treatment, with Michael by her side.
Michael said, "It's truly a miracle. Katherine hasn't even finished one course of medication or started radiation therapy, yet her condition has improved miraculously."
Ethan was surprised. "Grandpa, what do you mean?"
Michael explained in amazement, "Katherine's terminal illness is gone."
Katherine added, "Looking back, it feels like a dream. Weren't they saying this type of cancer takes at least a year to treat? How could it be cured so quickly?"
Katherine was visibly emotional as she looked at Ashley. "Ashley, could it be because of that medicine I took from you last time?"
Ethan, before he could even process the good news, turned to Ashley with confusion.
Ashley's eyes flickered momentarily.
Apparently, the Panacea needed time to reach its full effect.
Ethan had witnessed Katherine's cancer progress from terminal to early stage to complete remission in less than a month—a miracle so extraordinary he could hardly believe it!
Yet, the evidence was right before his eyes.
"Ashley, was it really because of the Panacea?" Ethan asked incredulously.
Ashley replied, "You're doubting again. I told you, my Panacea only boosts immunity; it has nothing to do with curing cancer. God must have known Grandma is a good person and decided to help her. That's why she recovered, right, honey?"
Ethan stood frozen, unsure how to respond.
Ashley changed the subject. "Grandma, are you tired? Let me help you inside and give you a massage, okay?"
Katherine snapped out of her thoughts. "Yes, that would be nice."
As Ethan watched Ashley walk away, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something strange and extraordinary about this whole situation.
Ethan's eyes darkened with determination. It seemed he needed to do some serious investigating!
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