Chapter 496 She Wants to Leave
Unfamiliar yet familiar images rushed through Ethan's mind, too fleeting to grasp, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.
"Your Highness, are you alright?" Seeing Ethan rubbing his temples, Ashley hurried to support him, but moved too quickly and stumbled, falling against his chest.
Mortified, she tried to pull away, but Ethan held her close, burying his face in her shoulder. "Pearl, I thought you'd left me." His voice carried a hint of vulnerability that bordered on tears.
Ashley rolled her eyes. "I'd love to leave, but the palace is enormous, and I'm afraid of getting beaten half to death like last time."
"No one will ever hurt you again," he assured her. "But why are you up so early?"
Noticing the breakfast cooking, he realized she must have been preparing for over an hour. Guilt washed over him at the thought of her using a knife with her still-healing hands. "If you were hungry, you should have asked the maids to cook. Why do it yourself?"
She remained quiet, and Ethan noticed the dark circles under her eyes.
"Those are some serious bags under your eyes. Didn't sleep well?"
Ashley nodded slightly. "Breakfast is for you. You should put on your slippers. I'll be done shortly."
Ethan stared at her in surprise. She'd gotten up early just to make him breakfast? His heart warmed at the thought.
"Give me a moment." He quickly returned to the bedroom, put on his slippers, and hurried back to the kitchen.
Ashley was about to carry the noodles to the table when Ethan stopped her. "Don't. Let me." Concerned about her injuries, he brought all the food to the table himself, then helped her to her seat.
"That's quite a spread," he remarked, looking at the assortment of bread, sandwiches, and noodles.
"I wasn't sure what you liked, so I made a little of everything."
Ethan gazed at her intently. "You claim you don't have feelings for me, yet here you are, making this elaborate breakfast at the crack of dawn. That seems like deep affection to me."
Her heart raced as he read her intentions so clearly. Trying to appear nonchalant, she replied, "Don't flatter yourself. Your sleep-talking kept me up all night, so I had to find something to do when I got up early."
"I talked in my sleep? What did I say?"
Ashley's eyes flickered. "I don't remember."
Ethan sighed in disappointment. "Well, eat while it's hot."
He nodded and bit into a small sandwich that was both soft and flavorful.
"Don't just watch me. You should eat too."
Ashley nodded and focused on her noodles.
Ethan quickly finished his bowl of noodles, then devoured several pieces of bread and waffles. His appetite was remarkable for someone supposedly suffering from an eating disorder.
"Your Highness, is it good?"
"Yes, it's delicious."
Ashley smiled. "Let's make a deal."
Ethan looked at her warily.
"Let me go home, and I promise to be your chef."
Ashley couldn't continue this way with Ethan—sleeping beside him each night while knowing their difference in status made a relationship impossible. She feared falling too deeply for him with no way back.
Ethan stopped eating, the previously delicious food suddenly turning bitter in his mouth.
"You made me breakfast just to convince me to let you leave the palace?"
Ashley nodded. "Yes."
His heart ached. "You're that desperate to get away from me?"
That wasn't it at all.
With a pained smile, she lied, "That's right. I have someone I care for, and being forced to stay here makes me feel like I'm betraying him."
This "him," Ethan assumed, was Atticus.
His chest tightened, making it difficult to breathe.
Ethan's hand trembled as he held his utensils. "And if I refuse?"
"You're a prince with immense power, and I'm just an ordinary woman without influence. If you insist on keeping me captive, I have no way to resist. If you prefer a bird in a cage, then keep me here."
Ashley maintained a stoic expression, though her heart was breaking as she spoke. Her resistance was calculated to make Ethan agree to release her.
Ethan was furious but helpless.
Taking a deep breath to control his emotions, he said coldly, "Fine. I agree. Once your injuries heal, you may leave the palace."
Ashley nodded. "Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness."
With a clatter, Ethan threw down his knife and fork, standing up angrily. "I'm not being understanding. I'm letting you leave the palace, but you're still mine. No other man can have you!"
Ashley bit her lip gently.
Let him say what he wanted—once outside the palace walls, she'd have plenty of opportunities to escape.
The tension between them was palpable.
Just as the standoff continued, a voice called from outside, "Ethan, what's going on in here?"
They both turned to see Doris entering the room.
When Doris caught sight of Ashley, she gasped in shock. "Ashley... you're... you're alive!"
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
