Chapter 873 They Have Been Almost Eight Years

Chapter 873 They Have Been Almost Eight Years

Ashley emerged from the bathroom to find Ethan placing her phone on the nightstand.

"Who called?" she asked.

Ethan shrugged. "Atticus. He just arranged my 'funeral,' so when he called looking for you and heard my voice instead, he nearly had a heart attack."

Ashley burst into laughter. "Well, you're supposed to be dead! Anyone would be shocked to hear your voice."

"Not you," Ethan pointed out with a raised eyebrow.

"That's different," Ashley replied with a playful huff. "We've been married for years—I know everything about you. When I first saw your 'body,' I was devastated. I even held it while crying, which is how I realized something was wrong. The feel of that body was nothing like yours."

Ethan grinned. "So our intimacy paid off. We know each other down to the smallest details—even the location of every freckle."

"Stop it," Ashley said, blushing.

Her expression grew serious. "Promise me you'll never play with your life like that again. I still get chills thinking about it."

"I promise," Ethan said tenderly.

He pulled her into his arms, and they nestled together, gazing out the window. In this moment, free from intrigue and danger, they savored a rare pocket of peace.

"Darling," Ethan said, "Atticus didn't ask why I faked my death, and I didn't explain. We should meet with him and clear things up."

Ashley nodded. "Let's go now. We can discuss the wedding details too."

"Perfect."

They rose and put on their jackets, preparing to leave. Just then, the hospital room door opened.

Ashley, assuming it was a doctor making rounds, paid no attention and continued adjusting Ethan's tie. Ethan's eyes remained fixed on her.

The men who entered locked the door behind them.

From their angle, they could only see Ethan's back and mistook him for the man with the prosthetic face they'd seen earlier.

"That's them—get them!" one growled.

The hostile tone instantly alerted Ashley and Ethan. They turned to see several menacing figures advancing toward them.

"Who sent you? What do you want?" Ashley demanded, instinctively stepping in front of Ethan.

Ethan paused, his expression a mixture of exasperation and affection. He gently pulled Ashley behind him and faced the intruders with a cold stare.

"Talk. Who sent you?" he demanded.

The men froze in shock upon seeing Ethan's real face.

"That's Prince Totti..."

"And Princess Ashley..."

"These aren't the people we saw in this room before."

"What do we do? Kill them anyway?"

Their leader's eyes hardened. "Totti is still the Queen's target. Taking him down will earn us the same bounty!"

"Attack!"

From their exchange, Ethan and Ashley immediately recognized these were Kelsey's men.

As they advanced with weapons drawn, Ethan's eyes flashed dangerously. "You're dead."

He instinctively prepared to fight, but just as he was about to throw a punch, Ashley shouted, "Ethan, your wound! You can't strain yourself!"

She grabbed a chair and swung it at the attackers with surprising force.

Screams filled the air as Ashley unleashed her fury, using the chair as a weapon until the men were writhing in pain.

"Come on!" she urged, grabbing Ethan's hand.

Ethan, being protected by Ashley for the first time, didn't feel emasculated—instead, he found it endearing.

They fled the hospital wearing baseball caps pulled low to conceal their faces. After hailing a taxi, they headed for the Grayson Mansion.

In the car, Ethan gazed at Ashley adoringly. Her face was flushed from exertion, her breathing still rapid from their escape.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" she asked. "Is there something on my face?"

She touched her cheek self-consciously.

"Yes, there is," Ethan said, leaning over to place a soft kiss on her cheek. "But I just kissed it away."

The driver nearly swerved at overhearing this.

Ashley blushed deeper. "We're in public, behave yourself."

Ethan just smiled.

"Darling," he said more seriously, "next time there's danger, let me protect you. Don't put yourself in front of me, all right?"

The image of Ashley wielding a chair against armed men had been both impressive and terrifying to him.

"Have you forgotten what the doctor said?" Ashley scolded. "You can't exert yourself until your wound heals completely!"

Ethan sighed with a tender smile, gently tapping her nose. "You're getting bossy."

"Do you mind?"

"Not at all. I love it."

He pulled her close, and she nestled against him contentedly.

The driver glanced at them in the rearview mirror. "You two must be newlyweds. Your affection for each other is beautiful."

With their caps and downturned faces, the driver hadn't recognized them.

Ashley and Ethan exchanged amused glances.

"Darling, how long have we been married?" Ethan asked.

Ashley pretended to be annoyed. "You've forgotten? After this year, we'll have been married for eight years!"

The driver looked surprised. "Eight years? I thought you must be newlyweds! Your relationship is enviable."

Ethan squeezed Ashley's hand. "Seven years and nine months, to be exact."

He turned to Ashley. "I remember every day I've spent with you, darling. How could I forget?"

Ashley smiled sweetly. "That's better."

"Sir, ma'am, we've arrived," the driver announced.

After paying the fare, they stepped out of the taxi and headed toward the Grayson Mansion when someone called out to them, "Ashley! Ethan! Look who I've brought!"

They turned toward the voice, their eyes widening in shock at who they saw.