Chapter 479 I Won't Like You
"Let's date," the words hung in the air. Ashley's heart hammered in her chest.
She lowered her gaze, concealing the emotions swirling in her eyes. Her mind was foggy; everything felt surreal.
A prince wanting to date a divorced woman with two children? Who wouldn't find that laughable?
After a long pause, she began, "I..."
Ethan watched her with nervous anticipation. As she started to speak, he held his breath. Seeing her troubled expression, an inexplicable fear gripped his heart, and he rushed to say, "You can think about it before answering. In the future, I promise to take good care of you."
Ashley kept her head down, tears welling in her eyes.
She knew she was Ashley, and he was her husband—possibly a hypocrite who had killed his wife for personal gain.
Now he had amnesia and felt something for her, but if his memory returned, if he remembered she was his wife, would he try to kill her again?
The thought made Ashley's heart tremble violently.
"There's no need to think about it," she said.
Ethan's breath caught, and he looked at her with hopeful surprise. "You've decided to date me already..."
Before he could finish, Ashley cut in, "We're not right for each other. You should find a noble young lady—someone more suitable than me."
Ethan's face drained of color. He stared at her, as if trying to see through to her true thoughts.
But Ashley met his gaze steadily, her eyes betraying nothing, as if she truly had no interest in him.
Ethan gave a self-deprecating smile but quickly composed himself.
He replied with a hint of bitterness, "That's alright. The more time we spend together, perhaps you'll come to like me."
Ashley's fingers trembled. She wanted to clench her fists, but the pain prevented her.
Steeling herself, Ashley said, "Don't waste your energy. I will never like you."
Ethan looked at her deeply. "So, you have feelings for Atticus?"
Against her heart, Ashley replied, "Yes."
Ethan felt a sharp pain in his chest, a physical ache spreading through his body.
He forced a smile. "That's fair. It's just healthy competition. How will I know the outcome if I don't try?"
Ashley wanted to say something more cutting to discourage him, but Ethan gently placed her hand under the thin blanket. "It's getting late. Let me take you back to your room to rest."
Seeing his pale face, Ashley couldn't bring herself to hurt him further.
Back in the bedroom, after they had both freshened up, Ashley said, "Your Highness, we had an agreement. You... Wait, what are you doing?"
She had been about to send him away when Ethan climbed into bed.
With a mischievous smile, Ethan said, "I'm getting into bed to sleep, of course."
Ashley's eyes widened.
"Don't worry, I won't try anything. I'm exhausted, and I have to take Andy and Nate to the amusement park early tomorrow. Let's get some sleep."
With that, Ethan tucked the blanket around her and lay down beside her, keeping about four inches of space between them. Even so, Ashley felt unsafe.
"Maybe I should sleep in the next room..."
Ethan turned, his arm draped over her in an almost-embrace.
Ashley's face flushed.
"Please be quiet. I just took my medication. Let me sleep a while."
Medication?
Ashley looked at him in surprise, her gaze falling on a pill bottle on the nightstand.
With her sharp vision, she immediately saw the words "sleeping pills" on the label.
"Pearl, I haven't had a decent night's sleep in years. Please stay with me."
Years?
Ashley suddenly realized that this seemingly vibrant man had been suffering deeply—unable to eat or sleep properly. How long could anyone endure that before breaking?
Ashley couldn't help feeling compassion, but she also wondered, 'Why can't he sleep? Is it because of some guilty conscience?'
Lost in her thoughts, she only relaxed her guard when she heard his steady breathing beside her. She closed her eyes and drifted off.
Just as she fell asleep, Ethan opened his eyes.
Watching her sleeping face up close, he felt an unprecedented sense of peace.
Ethan smiled slightly. "Pearl, it's alright if you don't like me now. We have time. I'll win you over eventually. When pursuing someone special, persistence is the key."
He adjusted his position, carefully embracing Ashley. Like a loving couple, both of their lips curved into slight smiles, as if they were sharing the same beautiful dream.
The Grayson Mansion
After Atticus had put the children to bed, he returned to his own room.
What he didn't know was that the children opened their eyes the moment he left.
"Andy, is it safe for us to go out this late?" Nate asked.
"It's not that late yet. Don't worry, we'll be fine. Let's follow the address we found and look for that man called Yaakov."
"Okay."
Hand in hand, they sneaked out of the Grayson mansion and hailed a taxi. As they left, they failed to notice someone watching them from a corner. Seeing them leave, this person followed in a car.
At a small tavern near the research facility
Yaakov drank while cursing, "Damn you, Ethan, you bastard! After everything Ashley did for you, how dare you remarry and have children who are already so grown! It makes my blood boil. Ashley, if you're watching from heaven, don't let him be happy. At the very least, his line should end with him!"
"What kind of drunk are you? A grown man cursing like that—have you no shame?" a voice came through.
Yaakov's tirade stopped. He turned toward the voice and saw a miniature version of Ethan—Andy.
Nate stood nearby, waving mischievously. "Hi there! So even famous doctors curse, huh?"
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