Chapter 5 Lila handed the man his promised five hundred thousand dollars , satisfied . Clinging to Ethan Campbell's arm , she returned to the center of the ballroom , the crowd naturally following in their wake . Wherever they went , they drew every eye - bathed in attention , wrapped in praise . No one noticed Ashley , still crumpled in the bed of cacti . No one noticed even when she passed out . It was a janitor who eventually found her and called an ambulance . It took several hours to remove the thorns from her body . There wasn't a single patch of uninjured skin left . When she woke up , the first thing she heard was the nurse's concerned voice . " Miss Whitmore , were you assaulted ? Do you need us to call the police ? You're pregnant , by the way . Thankfully , the baby's okay . " " Pregnant ? " Ashley's heart skipped a beat . She repeated the word , a sharp mix of ache and disbelief twisting in her chest . She had been married to Ethan for almost two years . She had always wanted a child with him . Ethan had even picked out names already . Regardless of the gender , the nickname would be " Love " -short for " Love Ashley . " But now that the child was here , there wasn't a trace of joy in her heart . " Six weeks along , " the nurse confirmed softly . " Would you like me to contact the baby's father ? " " No need , " Ashley murmured , her eyes reddening . " The baby's father is gone . No one's waiting for this child . " " What pregnancy? " Ethan's voice cut through the room like a blade , startling both Ashley and the nurse . She looked up in alarm . He was dressed in a white suit , two buttons undone at the collar . The Y tattoo on his chest stung her eyes . His brows were furrowed , his dark eyes cold and irritated . Chapter 5 t HABLAY CONECTATE OR VIDEO EN DIRECTA Tango- Live Stream , Vide … .. 92ml 1 Tango 25.00 % Learn More " You're pregnant ? I haven't laid a hand on you in forever . " " The nurse was talking about the woman in the next bed . She told me to keep quiet , " Ashley replied quickly , giving the nurse a pleading glance . The nurse understood and quietly stepped away . Ethan visibly relaxed . He walked over to her bedside , a document in his hand . " Until you sign this , you're still mine . If I catch even a whiff of betrayal , you walk away with nothing . " Ashley's chest ached at his words . She took the file . A bank card slipped out . And so did her tears . He said he hadn't touched her … but just days ago , he couldn't keep his hands off her . That was the last night he came home . He had looked just like the man she married - bursting through the door , unable to wait , pinning her to the wall and taking her right there in the entryway . In that dizzying moment , he had clung to her , whispering her name over and over . " Ash … Ash , stay with me … " He held her as if begging for his life . She had been so frightened by his desperation that she kept asking if something had happened . He said nothing . Just kept holding her , again and again , like he couldn't bear to let go . She had thought it was love - a wordless confession torn straight from his soul . But now … he wouldn't even admit it happened . Her heart tightened , aching so badly she could hardly breathe . " I added another half million . Consider it compensation for how Lila treated you . Sign the settlement . I don't want any scandals about her ." " I know how you - you've always been the type to settle scores when the dust has long settled , " Ethan said sternly , changing the subject . Chapter 5 25.00 % IHABLAY CONECTATE OR VIDEO EN DIRECTO Tango- Live Stream , Vide … ( 4.92m ) | Tango Learn More Ashley's hands froze . She looked up at him , her vision blurry with tears . His words pierced her like a blade . A memory flashed through her mind - back when she was treating a young boy with autism . Ethan had been waiting in the lobby when the boy suddenly began to cry . A panicked parent slapped Ethan across the face . Ashley had filed a report and pressed charges . She demanded an apology for Ethan . Back then , Ethan had held her tightly , kissed her , and told her she was the most caring , loyal woman he had ever met . And now ? He used that same incident to accuse her of being vindictive and petty . Ashley gripped the pen tightly . Her knuckles turned white as she forced herself to swallow the pain . " Don't worry , Mr. Campbell ," she said quietly . " I've changed . I won't trouble you - or Miss Bennett - ever again . " Because she didn't love him anymore . She would never waste so much as a heartbeat on him again . She would leave soon - and never come back . She signed her name at the bottom of the agreement and handed it back . When their eyes met - hers calm and repressed - Ethan's heart skipped a beat . Something about her expression unsettled him . Had he gone too far ? After all , she had once saved his life . Maybe … just maybe , he'd let her linger in his world a while longer . Chapter 5