Chapter 602 Nothing Could Be More Absurd
Ashley finally understood why Ethan was upset.
She pulled him close, stroking his back soothingly. "Darling, you don't look well. Please don't get too worked up. I didn't tell you about yesterday because I didn't want you to worry. Besides, I'm perfectly fine."
"If someone else hadn't told me about this, were you planning to keep it from me forever?" he demanded.
"Darling," Ashley resorted to her most endearing tone, seeing his anger. "I won't do it again, I promise."
Ethan tapped her lips in admonishment—though despite his anger, his touch remained gentle. "You better not. There shouldn't be a 'next time' for something like this!"
"You're right. From now on, I'll commute with you. This won't happen again."
Seeing her so docile and agreeable, Ethan's anger gradually subsided.
Noticing his softened expression, Ashley cautiously asked, "Darling, only three people knew about this incident: me, Dexter, and Isabella. Dexter's been arrested. Was it Isabella who told you?"
"No, it wasn't."
"Then who was it?"
Could there have been another witness?
"That's not important. What matters most to me is your safety and well-being!"
As he spoke, Ethan held Ashley even tighter.
Ashley nestled in his embrace, a contented smile spreading across her face.
After a few moments of intimacy, Ashley said, "Darling, I should go now, or they'll start getting suspicious."
"Go ahead."
Ethan reluctantly planted a kiss on her lips, making Ashley blush crimson.
"By the way, since we're having dinner with Isabella tonight, why don't we invite Yaakov and Atticus too?"
Ethan's eyes flickered. "Good idea."
Time flew by, and soon it was the end of the workday.
Ashley's group arrived at the restaurant, ordered their food, and waited for Yaakov and Atticus to join them.
While Ashley and Isabella chatted happily, Ethan observed silently from the side. Noticing Isabella's occasionally shifty glances, he sneered with contempt.
Ethan thought to himself that regardless of Isabella's motives for getting close to Ashley, she would soon be off to Aivalia and no longer pose a threat.
At that moment, Yaakov and Atticus arrived at the restaurant one after the other.
"Ashley."
"Yaakov, you're here! Please, sit down."
Yaakov nodded politely to Isabella, then turned his attention to Ethan, patting him on the shoulder. "Ethan, how have you been lately?"
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "How do you think? Since we rarely get together like this, shall we have a drink?"
Yaakov responded with surprise, "You can drink alcohol now?"
Ashley, overhearing this, immediately objected, "Darling, the doctor specifically told you no alcohol! Have you forgotten?"
She puffed her cheeks in annoyance, looking fierce but actually coming across as more adorable than intimidating.
Ethan couldn't help but smile at her expression, gently pinching her cheek affectionately. "What if I substitute tea for alcohol? Would that work?"
"That's more like it!"
Looking at Ashley's adorable expression, Ethan was tempted to kiss her right then and there.
But with others present, he ultimately restrained himself.
Yaakov laughed, "Ashley, you didn't invite me to dinner—you invited me to watch you two be lovey-dovey!"
"Yaakov, stop teasing me."
"Since Ethan can't drink alcohol, I'll go to the front desk and ask them to prepare some tea," Yaakov offered.
"Thank you, that would be great."
Isabella felt a pang watching their sweet interaction.
The more affectionate Ashley and Ethan were, the more she was reminded of Robbie.
Every thought of Robbie brought her pain.
Isabella said, "Mr. Ford, wait for me. I'll come with you."
"All right."
Yaakov and Isabella walked away together.
As Yaakov ordered tea at the front desk, Isabella's gaze inadvertently fell upon a familiar woman, and her expression immediately changed.
"Mr. Ford, my friend is looking for me. I'll go chat with her for a moment."
Yaakov followed Isabella's gaze to a woman about her age. Thinking nothing of it, he nodded, "Sure, I'll head back to the private room."
Isabella waited until Yaakov had returned to the room before approaching the woman. Her face contorted with anger as she said, "Didn't I tell you not to come looking for me?"
"Isabella, please help me. Before Dexter was arrested, he racked up a lot of debt. Now the creditors are after me. If I can't come up with five million dollars in a week, I'll be sold off!"
"That's your problem, not mine. Stop coming to find me."
"Isabella, please help me. That man you were just talking to—I can tell he's someone important. Take this packet of drugs, get involved with him, and then ask him for compensation afterward. That way, you can help me!"
Isabella laughed bitterly, grabbing the packet and throwing it in the woman's face. "Why would I sell my body for my romantic rival? You're both crazy and stupid!"
Incredibly, Robbie's mistress was none other than the woman standing before her—Elora Garcia.
Even more shocking was that Elora was Dexter's wife!
Dexter had a gambling addiction and owed substantial gambling debts. Whenever he got drunk, he would abuse Elora. Unable to endure it any longer, she had filed for divorce multiple times but was denied.
Eventually, by a twist of fate, Elora and Isabella had struck a deal, manipulating Dexter into harassing Ashley.
With Dexter arrested, Elora had successfully escaped his torment.
And Isabella had successfully gained Ashley's favor, becoming her friend.
Isabella's motivation for getting close to Ashley was simple: she wanted to hear Robbie's heartbeat every day!
"Elora, if you can't pay your debts, just get as far away as possible. I have no obligation to pay them for you!"
Isabella already hated her enough—how could she possibly help her?
With those words, she turned and left.
A look of determination flashed in Elora's eyes. "If you won't help me, I'll create an opportunity for myself."
She picked up the drug packet from the ground and looked toward the front desk, where a server was brewing tea—the very tea that Isabella's group had ordered.
Elora's eyes gleamed as she approached the front desk. "Hello, I'm from room 888. Is our tea ready?"
"Yes, I'll bring it over right away."
"No need, I'll take it myself."
Elora picked up the tray and walked toward the dining area. When no one was looking, she slipped into a corner and poured the powder into the tea.
With a malicious smile, she spotted a server and said, "Excuse me, I suddenly have a stomachache. Could you help me bring this tea inside?"
"Of course, I'll take it right away."
The server, thinking nothing of it, carried the tea into the dining room.
Inside the restaurant, everyone was oblivious to the scheme unfolding. Yaakov poured the tea and said, "Here, Ethan, have some tea!"
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