Chapter 190
After reading the email, I felt nothing. I closed it immediately.
If I hadn't run into that Leo impersonator, if I didn't know Ethan had been secretly driving a wedge between Leopold and me, perhaps I would've believed him.
But now, circumstances were entirely different.
Before the fake Leo incident, Leopold had repeatedly warned me that Ethan wasn't a good person.
Initially, I hadn't believed it. But now... with all the evidence laid out before me, I had no choice but to believe.
I was grateful for Ethan's support and help during this time. But it was only gratitude—nothing more.
After breakfast in the restaurant, I began wandering this city aimlessly.
Ancient, majestic castles bathed in gentle morning light radiated a soft golden glow.
The nearby river sparkled with rippling light, its surface clearly reflecting the castle's silhouette.
Immersed in scenery as beautiful as a painting, something suddenly clicked.
Dreams don't disappear with the flow of time.
But some opportunities only come once in a lifetime.
I gently placed my hand over my stomach, gazing into the distance.
All this time, I'd hesitated because I couldn't let go.
Since I couldn't let go, I'd honor my own wishes and have this baby.
After making that decision, I suddenly felt the future held even more promise.
After wandering a while longer, I prepared to return to the hotel.
Just then, my phone screen lit up with another email.
The sender was Ethan again.
But this time, the email included an image.
[Cindy, our teacher had an accident. She's very worried about your safety and wants to see you.]
In the attached photo, Victoria lay unconscious in a hospital bed wearing an oxygen mask.
My heart clenched painfully.
Last time I'd seen Victoria, she'd mentioned coming for an interview. How had she suddenly fallen so ill?
And so seriously at that.
Uneasy and not daring to delay, worried Victoria had something important to say—I quickly bought a ticket to the capital and rushed to the station.
The capital was only half an hour away.
Soon, I arrived at the capital's station.
Walking to a public phone booth, I dialed Ethan's number. It rang once before being answered instantly.
Immediately, Ethan's gentle voice came through.
"Cindy, is that you?"
I responded coolly. "Ethan, which hospital is our teacher in?"
Ethan paused before replying. "Did you change your contact information? Why don't you give me your new number? I can send you the location directly. Otherwise, you might have trouble finding it."
"No need. Just tell me the hospital address and room number."
"Alright. Ms. Salazar is at..."
After memorizing the hospital name and room number, I hailed a cab.
Arriving at the hospital, I didn't head straight to the inpatient ward. Instead, I verified Victoria's admission information first.
Learning that a patient named Victoria Salazar had indeed been admitted, I circled back to the entrance and bought some fruit.
I asked my way to the room.
As I approached, I heard voices inside.
Was Victoria already awake?
I'd just raised my hand to knock when I heard Victoria mention me.
"I wonder where Cindy went. Now, Leopold has people searching everywhere for her. She's all alone, hiding here and there—I don't know if she's safe..."
Victoria's worry touched me while also making me feel guilty.
I blamed myself for constantly wavering, making everyone around me worry themselves sick.
"Ms. Salazar, Cindy..."
"Ms. Salazar."
Before Ethan could finish, I smiled and pushed the door open.
"Cindy!" Seeing me, Victoria grew extremely animated. "Come here, let me look at you."
I hurried over.
As I passed Ethan, I heard him say gently, "Cindy, seeing you're safe puts my mind at ease."
I responded politely. "Ethan, I'm sorry to have worried you."
Hearing the distance in my tone, Ethan's expression shifted slightly.
"Just coming is enough—why bring gifts?"
Noticing the fruit basket in my hands, Victoria quickly had Ethan take it.
Then she looked at me with mock reproach. "Don't do this again. You're in a delicate condition—you need to take good care of yourself."
"I was worried you'd be bored in the hospital. Some fruit would help pass the time." I offered the casual explanation.
"You silly girl." Victoria scolded, though her face was all smiles.
Seeing she wasn't nearly as weak as the photo suggested, my worry finally eased somewhat.
"Ms. Salazar, how did you end up hospitalized?"
"Old problem." Victoria made it sound trivial. "Just twisted wrong and aggravated an old ligament injury. Hit my head and passed out."
My brow furrowed with concern. "How could you be so careless? What did the doctor say?"
"Ms. Salazar's head is slightly swollen. Nothing else serious." Ethan chimed in.
I glanced at him. "Then why the oxygen mask?"
"Because when Ms. Salazar was brought in, she showed symptoms of respiratory distress."
The moment Ethan finished speaking, Victoria interrupted.
"The doctor was making a fuss over nothing. I'm fine now."
"Really fine?" I remained unconvinced.
A head injury plus breathing difficulties—this was serious.
"Really, truly fine." Seeing my skepticism, Victoria's smile grew more open. "If you don't believe me, ask Ethan."
Ethan also assured me that specialists had examined her—Victoria had no other health issues.
Only then did I relax.
I'd only kept Victoria company for one morning when she started shooing me away, saying hospitals were full of germs and she worried it would harm my health.
Unable to argue with her, I had to leave.
I'd just reached the entrance to the inpatient building when Ethan caught up.
"Cindy."
I had no choice but to stop. "Ethan, is there something else you need?"
Ethan seemed stung by my coldness. The warmth on his face shifted to uncertainty.
"Cindy, did someone say something to you? You're treating me so much colder than before."
"No. I've caused you enough trouble already. I don't want to impose on you anymore."
"It's no trouble." Ethan's voice turned urgent. "I've never thought of you as trouble. Don't think of it that way."
"Ethan, I'm truly grateful for all your help. But we should keep our distance now. Leopold hasn't given up searching for me. I really don't want to cause you more problems."
Ethan grew more anxious. "But I don't think it's a problem! Being able to help you—you have no idea how happy it makes me..."
"Ethan." I frowned, cutting him off. "If you really care about me, don't force this. I've always seen you as an older brother. That won't change."
Ethan froze abruptly, wanting to say something but unable to get the words out.
I seized the opportunity to leave.
Just as I stepped outside the hospital, I stopped dead in my tracks.
Across the street stood the clock tower—Gravenford Kingdom's most famous historical landmark.
Sunset was descending now, gilding the ancient tower's edges in gold and making it appear even more solemn and majestic.
But what made me stop wasn't the tower's beauty.
It was the people beneath it.
Leopold, dressed in a black coat, was physically restraining Sophia. To keep her from leaving, he'd grabbed her arm and pinned her in front of him.
From a distance, they looked like a couple in the middle of a lover's quarrel.
What were Leopold and Sophia doing here?
Had my whereabouts been exposed?