Ethan was right, nothing is more important than freedom, especially now when life is not too harsh for Aoife, as long as she is not hungry, the whole family does not have to worry.
Moreover, life now is much better than before, doing various farm work in the countryside, or being a numb doll next to Finn.
As Ethan squatted next to Aoife, looking at the clouds in the sky, he said, “In this unfamiliar place, with just the two of us knowing each other, can we consider ourselves dependent on each other?”
Aoife remained silent, stood up after resting enough, and said, “Let’s go, I’ll make fried rice for you when we get back.”
Without a second thought, Ethan picked up the guitar case and followed Aoife to her place. The house may be small, but it had everything they needed.
However, there was only one bedroom. When Aoife lived alone, it was not an issue, but now with Ethan, sleeping became a problem.
Since he had already agreed to take care of him, he couldn’t just leave him unattended.
After looking around, Ethan finally settled on the sofa. Although it was small and he had to curl up his body to sleep on it, Ethan, being tall with long arms and legs, tried lying down on it and said, “This sofa is quite comfortable. I’ll sleep here tonight.”
With that, Ethan resolved the current awkward situation.
Wearing an apron, Aoife said, “I’ll go cook now. After dinner, we’ll go to town to buy a bed and some mats for sleeping on the floor.”
Upon hearing this, Ethan understood that Aoife was considering accommodating him for the long term. He not only had a place to stay but also a long-term meal ticket.
After frying the rice, Ethan sat down and picked up his bowl, saying, “Aoife, I am easy to take care of. Just think of me as taking care of a dog. I will help you with housekeeping, laundry, and dishes. I will even go earn money, and whatever I earn, I will give it all to you to save.”
With his mouth full of rice, cheeks puffed up, Ethan’s appearance reminded Aoife of a hamster.
Chuckling, Aoife said, “Eat properly, don’t talk with food in your mouth… be careful not to choke.”
“Okay… *cough*…” Ethan’s words were cut short as he choked on his food, prompting Aoife to quickly hand him a glass of water.
“Eat slowly.”
“Aoife, your cooking is so delicious. With your skills, you could easily open a restaurant. The restaurants here don’t even come close to one-third of your expertise. If you were to open a shop, you would surely make a lot of money.”
Aoife paused for a moment, then fell into contemplation. It indeed seemed like a profitable idea. How had she not thought of it before?
Although she had some money with her, it would eventually run out. She couldn’t rely on it forever and needed to plan for the future.
After dinner, Ethan voluntarily washed the dishes, showing his unfamiliarity with the task but managing not to break any. Aoife went to town and bought several sets of bedding and mats for sleeping on the floor. Luckily, the store could deliver the items to their home.
After buying these items, Aoife shared her idea of starting a street food stall with Ethan.
“If you want to do it, I’ll help you.”
Agreeing on this, the two quickly found people to customize a food cart, bought ingredients in bulk, and spent days perfecting the flavors until they were satisfied.
Ethan somehow got hold of a map of the town. With no city management, they could park the cart wherever they wanted.
Pointing to a spot, Ethan suggested, “Let’s set up here, near the school. I’ll handle the connections in case of complications.”
Even though Ethan came from a wealthy background and was groomed to handle businesses since childhood, he knew more about certain aspects of the trade than Aoife.
Concerned, Aoife asked, “What if we fail?”
Confidently, Ethan patted his chest, “With your skills, failure is out of the question. Even if we do fail, I’ll be here to ensure you don’t starve.”
By the time they returned home, it was already late. Aoife and Ethan worked together, Aoife cooking in the kitchen while Ethan organized the newly-bought items.
During dinner, Aoife said, “Ethan, you seem different.”
Perplexed, Ethan questioned, “How so? Am I handsomer?”
Shaking her head, Aoife replied, “You are completely different from when you were on set. Back then, you seemed distant and uninterested in others. Now, you appear to be a good person, reliable and grounded.”
Taking a sip of soup, Ethan said, “So, am I better this way?”
Nodding in agreement, Aoife replied, “Yes, you seem very capable.”
Grinning proudly, Ethan shrugged, “Of course. I am meant to be astonishing as Ethan.”
In his eyes, there seemed to be a galaxy full of stars, shining brighter than the lights in the room, infecting Aoife with his vitality, causing her to smile along.
With the ingredients ready, Aoife and Ethan spent two nights perfecting the flavors to perfection before calling it a day.
The food cart arrived late, requiring some parts to be assembled on-site, which took about half a month to complete.
Unable to drive, Aoife entrusted the task to Ethan. They opened at ten in the morning, took a break at one, and reopened at four. The first day was exceptionally busy, with a constant flow of customers, especially at night.
This was Ethan’s first experience in such work. Initially struggling and feeling out of place, he gradually became more proficient, and the drawer was filled with money by the end of the day.
Closing at 9:30 PM, having sold out all the food, the two sat on the mats at home, pouring out a box of coins to count.
Counting until they were tired, Ethan praised, “You are the reason we made so much money today.”
Blushing shyly, Aoife nodded in agreement.
With a successful opening day, their work became more efficient, leading to increased profits. Understanding the need for additional help, Ethan suggested hiring two more people to keep up with the demand, ensuring they didn’t overwork themselves, especially with the late-night preparations and early mornings.
Although the earnings were good, Ethan was more concerned with Aoife’s health. She had been busy with the ingredients, losing weight and not gaining any despite eating nourishing soups and eggs every day.
“You’ve lost weight again; this isn’t good,” Ethan expressed, worrying about Aoife’s well-being more than their financial gains.
“I haven’t lost weight; look, my belly is a bit bigger than before. I’m gaining weight,” Aoife retorted.
Humoring her, Ethan looked over as she suggested, only to notice her slimmer figure. Seeing her thin waist contrast with a slightly bulging abdomen, he grew concerned.
“Aoife, how about we take a day off tomorrow and go to the hospital for a check-up?” Ethan suggested.
“Why?” Aoife’s pale face showed her reluctance to go.
“I’ve noticed you haven’t been looking well lately, and sudden bloating in the abdomen isn’t normal. I’m worried you might have some health issues.”
Aoife’s silence and anxious expression hinted at underlying concerns. Clutching her hands tightly, she avoided eye contact, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of going to the hospital.
Seeing her wear a disguise and take precautions to avoid being recognized, Ethan suspected the reason behind her secretive behavior – Finn.
While Ethan had not cut off from social media, his feed had been flooded with news of the Burns and Dankworth families’ merger, with Finn abandoning his fiancee at a critical event, leading to strained relationships between the families. Finn was reported to have left the country.
CHAPTER 645: THIS CHILD MIGHT BE AN ILLEGITIMATE CHILD
One thing after another connected, making it hard not to think there was no relation to Aoife.
What Aoife didn’t know was that Ethan had already figured out her hidden secret.
In this world, everyone has their own struggles. After learning about Aoife’s relationship with Finn, Ethan felt a sense of loss and regret, but he also thought, no matter what, Aoife was Aoife. She was the gentle Aoife, the shy Aoife, and the strong Aoife.
In his eyes, Aoife was the best.
Ethan was feeling a bit restless, as when he confessed his feelings to Aoife, she hadn’t given him a definite answer yet.
Does she know how he feels? If he confesses again, will Aoife accept him? Or will she be scared off?
Aoife was reluctant to go to the county town to visit the hospital, fearing that Finn might find her.
Knowing the reason, Ethan couldn’t just sit by and watch, so he made two fake documents through his connections.
Aoife was afraid of going to the hospital for two reasons: the psychological trauma from her previous visit to the mental hospital and a genuine concern about her health.
If they had just started to make money, what if she accidentally developed a tumor in her body? Surgeries cost tens of thousands, where would they get the money?
Aoife was worried all the way, until someone grabbed her hand. She flinched, but didn’t pull away, and Ethan held her hand tightly.
His hand was warm, unlike hers which always remained cold regardless of the weather.
The warmth from his palm seemed to spread to every corner of her body through her bloodstream.
Ethan held her hand tightly and said, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”
Her anxiety subsided with his words.
Upon arriving at the county town, Ethan used his phone for navigation, holding Aoife’s hand tightly as there weren’t many people on the street. He was afraid that in this unfamiliar place, Aoife might get lost.
At the hospital, Ethan communicated in the local language, while Aoife stood by listening, feeling even more impressed by Ethan’s capabilities. If she had been alone, she wouldn’t have dared to come to the hospital.
The doctor handed Ethan a form.
Aoife leaned over to see, but the handwriting was illegible.
“Go get an ultrasound.”
Soon enough, Aoife was lying down for a abdominal ultrasound. Ethan seemed more anxious than Aoife, and when he saw a shadow on the screen, he froze, as if he had seen a tumor.
Ethan’s face turned pale as he stared at Aoife, unsure how to broach the topic.
Aoife was already a little nervous, and now with Ethan’s anxious gaze, she started to panic. She wondered if she had a serious illness that required surgery.
“What’s wrong?” Aoife raised her head to look at the screen.
Ethan felt a sharp pang in his heart, as if it had been struck by something. The pain spread through his body, even causing his fingertips to tremble.
After pausing for a moment, Ethan reassured her, “Don’t worry, if it’s a tumor, it’s benign, surgery will take care of it, it’s not a big problem.”
A tumor? A real tumor?
Aoife’s mind went blank in an instant, her whole body weakened, unable to even stand.
She looked at the screen from a distance, not really understanding, but feeling a bit scared by the small shadow.
Both of them were clueless about the results.
Ethan asked the doctor, “Doctor, what kind of tumor is this?”
To their surprise, the doctor looked puzzled and furrowed his brows, a clear question mark appearing on his forehead. “Your wife is pregnant, about 12 weeks along.” As an afterthought, the doctor added, “How can adults not distinguish between pregnancy and a tumor? Didn’t you notice her missed periods?”
Ethan was stunned for a moment, a bitter feeling creeping up inside him. Aoife was pregnant… whose child was it, there was no need to think about it.
Seeing Ethan’s somber expression, Aoife thought she was seriously ill. After the examination, she stood up and carefully tugged at Ethan’s shirt.
“What did the doctor say?”
Ethan remained silent.
Aoife’s voice broke, “Tell me, whether it’s life or death, I’m prepared for it, I can handle whatever it is, I’m not scared.”
Ethan forced a smile, “You are pregnant, about three months along.”
Aoife had been abroad for exactly three months, and considering the timing, it must have been when Finn frequently did something, leading to the accidental pregnancy.
Aoife looked at the small image on the screen, her eyes losing focus, as if she had lost her soul.
She reached out to touch her abdomen, trembling all over.
Should she keep this child?
Her mind was blank, unable to focus.
If she were rational, she would have an answer quickly: this child shouldn’t come, and she couldn’t have it. The right thing to do would be to terminate the pregnancy.
She was on the run, how would she take care of a child if born? Her documents were fake, how could she provide an identity for the child? The cost of childbirth was a minor issue, but who would provide the love that was missing?
If this child were born, it would be an illegitimate child, and as Finn’s mistress, the shame would be nailed firmly to her soul for life!