Chapter 598 His Highness is Amazed Again
Yaakov and Isabella brought Ethan to the hospital, where doctors assured them he was merely sedated and would recover soon.
While Yaakov went downstairs to get dinner, Isabella remained alone with the unconscious Ethan.
Her gaze lingered on his chest, reminding her of her boyfriend Robbie. Bitterness welled up inside her.
Taking advantage of the solitude, she rested her head against Ethan's chest, listening to his strong heartbeat as if it were Robbie's.
"Robbie, if only you were still alive," she whispered, her voice laden with sorrow. "Everyone says it's normal for men to cheat, that all men are unfaithful. But why did you betray me when I loved you so much..."
Her voice broke, her expression contorted with pain.
Looking at Ethan's face, she recalled how he had firmly rejected Vivienne's advances, declaring his love for Ashley alone. In that moment, she had found him truly admirable.
Isabella had never met such a devoted man before.
His love for Ashley was unwavering—nothing and no one could shake it.
This kind of steadfast, sacred love was exactly what Isabella had always yearned for.
Her beloved Robbie had never been capable of such fidelity.
A tear slid down her cheek as she pressed her ear to Ethan's heart, imagining Robbie was still alive. "Robbie, if you had been as faithful as him, I would have been deliriously happy."
Isabella embraced Ethan, pretending he was Robbie.
Suddenly, footsteps approached from the hallway. "Ashley, what did you do with that awful woman? You're back so soon! People like her need to be taught a harsh lesson to learn their place!"
"It's a long story. I'll tell you all about it later."
Ashley and Yaakov entered the hospital room without knocking.
Ashley's eyes immediately went to Ethan, who lay pale on the bed. "Is Ethan alright?" she asked anxiously.
"Ashley, the doctor said he was just mildly sedated. He'll wake up after some rest," Isabella replied.
Ashley sighed with relief.
She noticed Isabella's reddened eyes. "Isabella, have you been crying?"
Isabella averted her gaze. "I'm fine."
Ashley looked questioningly at Yaakov, who merely shrugged, equally confused by Isabella's tears.
In Ashley's mind, Isabella had helped her twice now and had become a good friend.
"Isabella, if something's troubling you, you can talk to me," Ashley offered gently. "Don't keep it bottled up inside."
Isabella gave a bitter smile. "Thank you, Ashley. I just started thinking about Robbie. I'm really okay. It's late—I should head home. See you tomorrow."
As Isabella rose to leave, Ashley called after her. "Wait. Yaakov, would you mind escorting Isabella home?"
"Of course," Yaakov agreed.
Ever the gentleman, Yaakov held the door open with a courteous gesture. Isabella's eyes lingered on his face for a moment, a flash of admiration crossing her features before she politely smiled and departed with him.
Ashley turned her attention to Ethan, offering a rueful smile. "Darling, we've both had quite similar experiences today, haven't we?"
As she spoke, she noticed a damp patch on his shirt near his chest.
Ashley frowned, puzzled. "What's this?"
She touched it lightly and sniffed. "Are these... tears?"
Ethan was unconscious and couldn't have been crying. Even if he had, tears couldn't have formed such a large wet spot on his chest.
The only possibility was that someone had been crying while resting against his chest.
"Could these be Isabella's tears? Why would she be crying on Ethan's chest? Does she...?"
A sharp pain pierced Ashley's heart.
She had few friends in Gold Valley District, and just as she'd begun to consider Isabella a friend, she discovered this secret. The betrayal cut deep.
While Ashley was lost in thought, Ethan's eyes fluttered open. "Darling," he called, his voice hoarse.
"Darling, you're awake!" she exclaimed.
"How did I end up here? Wasn't I at the reception?" he asked, disoriented.
Ashley replied with exasperation, "You nearly got taken advantage of by Vivienne today!"
"Vivienne!" The memory rushed back to him. "That wretched woman drugged me. Darling, please believe me—I didn't betray you."
Ethan looked anxious, afraid Ashley might be hurt or upset.
Ashley squeezed his hand, her smile warm and sweet. "I believe you, darling. Besides, Vivienne didn't succeed. I arrived just in time and knocked her out."
"You knocked her out?" Ethan's eyes lit up with admiration as he pulled Ashley into an embrace. "You're incredible. Next time she tries anything, I'll handle her myself—make her regret it severely."
Ashley smiled, then gently pushed away from him. "Darling, there's something important I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"After I knocked Vivienne out, I found your keys on her. You told me those keys access a safe with classified information. Why would Vivienne take them? Was she trying to steal secrets?"
At the mention of the keys, Ethan's gaze grew intense. "Vivienne comes from a military family. She should have been raised with values of patriotism and loyalty. If she stole those keys, she must want the contents of that safe. Could Vivienne be a traitor?"
"It's possible," Ashley said gravely. "Her family has served the country for generations, but something went wrong with her upbringing. She's about to destroy a century of her family's good reputation. If she's stealing secrets, someone must be behind her. What if we set a trap to catch whoever's pulling the strings?"
Ethan's eyes sparkled with renewed admiration. "Darling, tell me your plan."
"What if we..." Ashley leaned in and whispered her strategy in Ethan's ear. The more he listened, the more impressed he became, his eyes brightening with each detail.
"Perfect. Let's proceed with your plan."
"Darling, I thought I knew you well, but today I realized there's still so much to learn. You're absolutely brilliant."
Ashley raised an eyebrow playfully. "Of course I am. I'm your wife—you wouldn't have married me if I weren't clever."
"True enough," Ethan said, his eyes narrowing as he moved closer to Ashley. "Though I'd like to get to know you even better."
Ashley, misunderstanding his intention, replied casually, "There's no rush for that. We have time."
"No," he insisted with a mischievous smile. "Right now. I need to understand you more... deeply."
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