Chapter 446 If Ethan Isn't a Rogue, Who Is?
Time seemed to stand still, the world around them fading away as their lips touched. The warmth between them was electric, sending ripples through the calm lakes of their hearts.
Though it was an accident, Ethan found himself reluctant to pull away. Almost involuntarily, his tongue traced her lips briefly.
The intimate gesture shocked Ashley back to reality. She pushed herself off him abruptly, clutching Andy to her chest as she fled.
From within the crowd, Mary witnessed their accidental kiss, her face contorting with jealousy.
"Totti!" she shouted.
Without Ashley's warmth against him, without the softness of her lips, Ethan felt an inexplicable sense of loss. Mary's voice snapped him back to reality as he pulled himself up.
During the commotion, Angela had been safely caught by another adult—thankfully avoiding any accident.
"What was that all about?" Mary demanded. "I saw you kissing that woman!"
Ethan frowned, his eyes flashing with warning. "Mary, since when are my actions your concern? What gives you the right to question me?"
"Totti, I thought we were getting married!" Mary fumed.
Ethan looked genuinely surprised. "When did I ever agree to marry you? Even when the Count suggested it to my father, he never consented. You've misunderstood the situation entirely."
Mary's expression fell. Everyone assumed she was Ethan's fiancée, yet in his mind, he'd never considered her that way at all.
"Is it because of her that you've suddenly changed toward me?" Mary snapped.
Wearily, Ethan replied, "I don't want to argue here. What happened was an accident. I don't even know that woman's name. If you continue being this disrespectful, you should stop following me around."
Was he really cutting ties with her?
Mary's demeanor shifted instantly. "Totti, I'm sorry. I overreacted..."
Ethan took Angela's hand. "Come on, Angela. Let's go."
As they were about to leave, a teacher approached. "Sir, I believe this is Andy and Nate's mother's phone. It fell during the commotion. We're quite busy—could you possibly return it to her?"
Ethan examined the phone. "Their mother's name is...?"
"Pearl," the teacher supplied.
Ethan nodded, accepting the phone. "Please give me her address. I'll deliver it."
Mary quickly offered, "Totti, let me handle such a small errand."
Ignoring her, Ethan asked, "Angela, you like playing with Andy and Nate, don't you? Would you like to visit them?"
Angela nodded eagerly. "Yes!"
"Mary, you should head home," Ethan said firmly. "I'll take Angela to visit her friends."
Though he claimed they were going for a playdate, Ethan's true intention was to see Ashley again. He couldn't understand why she consumed his thoughts, but his restlessness eased whenever she was near. And despite his uncharacteristic behavior around her, he needed to make sense of these feelings.
He simply had to see her once more.
As Ethan walked away with Angela, Mary stared after them, her eyes glittering with malice.
Pearl? What chance did a married woman have against a noble like herself? Surely Totti was merely toying with her.
After Atticus was taken to the hospital, Ashley brought the twins back to the farm. Upon arriving, she realized her phone was missing—likely left at the kindergarten.
"Andy, Nate, I think I dropped my phone at school. Be good while I go look for it, okay?"
"Okay!"
Just as she was about to leave, a luxury car pulled up outside. Ethan and Angela stepped out, leaving Ashley frozen in place.
Ethan approached with casual elegance, producing her phone. "Pearl, you dropped this. The teacher asked me to return it."
"Auntie, I'm going to find Andy and Nate!" Angela announced, running off to find her friends.
Left alone together for the first time, Ashley felt inexplicably nervous. When she instinctively turned to escape, Ethan stepped forward quickly, catching her wrist.
"Let me go!" Ashley exclaimed, struggling against his grip.
"Pearl," Ethan said earnestly, "I need to apologize for what happened earlier."
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