Arlington Heights
Ethan sped Lila to the hospital, holding her so tightly as she cried the whole way there, murmuring
reassurances the entire way.
He was furious with himself. For once, the man known for his sharp instincts had been outmaneuvered.
He thought his uncle was going after the family patriarch–only to realize, too late, it had all been a
diversion. The real attack had been on the villa.
If Ashley hadn’t been there to take the brunt hit, he couldn’t bear to imagine what might have happened to
Lila…
“Thank God you’re safe, Lila.” Ethan still couldn’t calm down. Even with her in his arms, an overwhelming
fear of losing her gripped his chest.
He didn’t know why it felt so strong–only that he couldn’t stop holding her tighter, to the point where Lila started gasping.
“Baby, you’re… crushing me!” she gasped, wriggling against his iron hold.
Startled, Ethan quickly loosened his hold.
“Sorry. I just… I was so scared of losing you.”
“Do you really not love Ashley? You said all those things to protect me?” Lila sniffled as more tears rolled
down her cheeks.
“When I heard you say you loved her, it shattered my heart…”
Ethan opened his mouth, but his throat clenched shut.
Ashley’s eyes from earlier flashed in his mind–empty yet pleading, a quiet kind of desperation.
It made something in his chest tighten.
When he’d said those words… maybe they hadn’t been entirely fake…
“Ethan?” Lila’s voice rose again. “Why aren’t you saying anything? Were you lying to me?!”
She pounded on his chest and tried to wriggle free.
Out of nowhere, a surge of irritation rose in him.
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For the first time, he actually wanted to let her go.
The thought startled him.
He had known Lila since he was eight and she was four–a tiny doll in a pink princess dress, barking orders
at other heiresses like they were her maids.
He’d been drawn to her pride and temper from the start.
He was born at the top of the world–and only a girl like her, a princess among elites, could match his
status.
Back then, he had chosen her as his future wife.
For two decades, he had indulged her every whim, spoiled her until no one but him could stand her. She
belonged to him, and only him.
Ethan had always believed he loved her. Only her.
Even the brief affection he’d felt for Ashley during his amnesia couldn’t change that.
After all, Lila was the kind of woman who fit his world.
So why, now, did he suddenly find her too loud?
Why did Ashley–the quiet, gentle Ashley–suddenly seem so… peaceful by comparison?
“You don’t love me anymore, do you? You’ve changed!” Lila whimpered, cradling her belly.
“Our baby’s upset–my stomach hurts so much!”
Her cries yanked Ethan back to the present.
He quickly pulled her close again.
“Don’t think like that. Of course I love you.”
But even he didn’t notice–the conviction in his voice was gone.
The hospital confirmed it was just stress. The baby was fine.
Ethan finally relaxed.
He coaxed Lila to sleep. Yet when he closed his eyes, it was Ashley’s face that appeared.
Especially the way she had grabbed his pant leg, her voice trembling in pain-
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“Ethan… help me… help my baby…”
Ethan rubbed his temples. A strange feeling crept up his spine.
What had she said? Help her… what?
He glanced at the now–sleeping Lila, then stepped out of the room with his phone.
He instinctively opened his contacts and scrolled.
Nothing.
He suddenly remembered–he’d never added Ashley on WhatsApp.
During those three months he lost his memory, they were always together. No need for messaging.
After regaining his memory, he had avoided using WhatsApp at all, afraid Lila might discover something.
Ashley never pushed.
For the past two years, they only used calls or the occasional text.
He hadn’t even saved her number with her name.
Staring at that string of digits, so familiar and distant at once, his hand trembled.
He remembered telling her he’d taken a job as a trucker.
Back then, she called and texted him every day, eager to share every little thing in her life.
But he was already back with the Campbells, disgusted by her modest background. He ignored her completely–sometimes leaving dozens of her messages unread.
Eventually, the calls and texts stopped.
No more little weather updates. No more rambling, heartfelt paragraphs.
And then, one day… she disappeared from his inbox altogether.
Time froze for a moment.
A sharp ache pierced his chest. His fingers trembled.
Was that… heartache?
No. Impossible.
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He didn’t love Ashley. Why would he feel pain for her?
Ethan forced a laugh.
He’d only kept her around to repay a debt. Now he was just checking in to make sure she didn’t die in his villa. After all, it was technically his fault she’d been caught in the chaos.
His gaze darkened.
He moved to press the call button–when a voice behind him interrupted.
“Eth… there you are. I woke up and didn’t see you. I got so scared…”
Lila’s voice was hoarse and fragile. Her words laced with quiet hurt.
Ethan quickly put his phone away and rushed to her side.
“I just stepped out for a smoke. Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere,” he murmured, scooping her into his
arms.
She curled against him like a kitten, clinging tightly to his shirt.
Ethan stayed and rocked her back to sleep, temporarily pushing Ashley from his mind.
He could always give her more money.
That would be enough to make up for everything.
That night, Lila’s sleep was restless. She kept waking up, looking for Ethan.
He barely slept at all.
It wasn’t until daylight that he finally dozed off.
When he woke, it was nearly noon–and the first thing he saw was Lila holding his phone.
As soon as their eyes met, she scoffed and turned away.
“Hmph. And you say you don’t love Ashley. Why do you still have all your messages with her?!”
Ethan frowned and reached for his phone. But Lila beat him to it–pressing delete with a flourish.
“I wiped all your texts and call logs. From now on, you’re not allowed to contact her!”
A cold glint flashed across Ethan’s eyes.
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For the first time ever–he got angry at Lila.
“Lila Bennett, you’ve gone too far. Who the hell said you could go through my phone?”
Lila stared at him, stunned.
Tears welled up instantly.
She opened her mouth but couldn’t say a word, too hurt to speak.
She looked so fragile and wounded–it made Ethan feel guilty.
Had he seriously just yelled at her… because of Ashley?
He must be losing his mind.
And yet, he couldn’t stop thinking about the face he’d never see again.
All those messages he’d never read.
The thought of never seeing them again made something inside him twist, sharp and aching.
Chapter 8
