Chapter 493 Does His Highness Like Divorced Women?
Ethan placed the two bowls of noodles on the table, then returned to help Ashley to her seat. They sat close together, sharing a simple yet intimate meal.
Ethan took his first tentative bites, and finding the taste to his liking, began eating with enthusiasm. Despite the humble dish, he consumed it with remarkable elegance, his royal upbringing evident in even this casual setting.
He quickly emptied his bowl and cast a longing glance at Ashley's half-full portion.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Ashley asked. "Don't tell me you're still hungry?"
"I am," he admitted.
Ashley sighed, looking down at her remaining noodles. "I could make you another bowl."
"That won't be necessary," Ethan said with a mischievous smile. "We can share what's left."
"What?" Ashley stared at him incredulously. "But I've already..."
Before she could finish, Ethan twirled some noodles around his fork and held it to her lips. "Open up. Let me feed you."
"I can do it myself."
He still gently pushed the noodles into her mouth, his gesture both tender and commanding. Then he took the next bite for himself from the same bowl.
"Your Highness," Ashley protested, her cheeks flushing. "I've already eaten from this. Doesn't that bother you?"
"Why would it?" Ethan replied smoothly. "We've shared a French kiss. Why would I mind sharing a bowl of noodles?"
Ashley blushed deeper and kept her eyes down as they continued eating.
As they neared the end, they found themselves each holding one end of the same noodle. Ashley was about to bite it off when Ethan smiled wickedly, then quickly slurped the noodle into his mouth, pulling her closer until his lips met hers in a kiss.
Ashley's eyes widened in shock.
This insufferable man! Since his return, he'd been finding every excuse to kiss her!
She struggled against him, but he held her firmly. As the kiss deepened, a strange vision flashed through both their minds simultaneously—an office setting with delicious food laid out, a man and woman embracing passionately.
The image was blurry, the faces indistinct, yet somehow familiar. This strange déjà vu transformed Ashley's resistance into participation as she wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss.
Just as they were lost in each other, voices approached from outside, "Angela, have you been good and listened to your brother while I was away?"
"Yes, Mommy! I've been very good. Did you bring me anything from Aivalia?"
"Of course I did."
The pair entered the great hall only to discover the embracing couple at the dining table.
"Oh!" Doris gasped, instinctively covering Angela's eyes.
The interruption jolted Ethan and Ashley back to reality. Ashley pushed away forcefully, nearly falling before Ethan caught her. "Careful," he murmured.
Mortified, Ashley hid her face against Ethan's chest.
Ethan turned toward the doorway. "Mom, you're back."
"I'm so sorry to interrupt," Doris said awkwardly. "I just came to deliver the gifts I bought in Aivalia. Please, carry on—we'll leave right away." She set down her suitcase and quickly led Angela away.
From her angle, Doris hadn't clearly seen Ashley's face, though something about the woman's silhouette seemed familiar.
Since Ashley's supposed death, Ethan had remained coldly distant from all women. Doris felt conflicted—wanting her son to move on yet feeling uneasy about seeing him with someone new after his supposedly passionate marriage.
"Mommy, what were my brother and Ms. White doing?" Angela asked innocently.
Doris frowned. "Angela, you know that woman?"
"Yes, she's my classmates' mom. My brother took us all to the amusement park today. Andy and Nate even called him 'Daddy'!"
Doris's frown deepened. She had thought Ethan was finally moving past his grief, but to choose a divorced woman with children?
This simply wouldn't do. A prince of royal blood taking up with a divorced woman would become a scandal throughout the kingdom!
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