Chapter 6

Charlotte POV

Ethan's face instantly turned deathly pale.

"You didn't answer my calls because you were on the phone with Ivy the whole time, right?" I continued.

Ethan shook his head desperately, his eyes full of panic, his lips trembling but unable to form a complete sentence.

"Do you know how to handle this?"Ethan was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly. "Don't worry, Charlotte! I absolutely won't cover for her!"

"I just felt sorry for her struggling alone in the big city. She reminded me of you from before. She doesn't know anyone here. She called me, so I went. I really didn't expect the person she hit would be you!"

"Don't worry! There's absolutely nothing else between us, I promise!"

Ethan kept explaining.

I could no longer hear him, nor did I care.

Before Ethan arrived, I'd already called the lawyer and had them contact a private investigator to look into this accident.

I didn't believe this was just a coincidence.

Even less did I believe Ethan truly wouldn't cover for Ivy.

For the next two days, Ethan put off all his work and stayed at the hospital taking care of me full-time.

He didn't go to the next room even once.

That day, I was eating the grapes Ethan had peeled for me when my phone suddenly rang.

It was the real estate agent.

The house had been successfully sold. All procedures were complete, and the full payment had been transferred to my account.

Ethan overheard part of the phone conversation.

He immediately became tense, his brow furrowing. "Charlotte, what house? What agent? You're selling a house? Which one?"

My expression didn't change. "An agent asking if I had any houses to sell. They said the market's good right now, could get a good price."

Ethan let out a long breath, then immediately objected. "They're talking nonsense. The market's bad right now. Lots of people are lowering prices to sell."

"Just keep the house your parents left you. That's your home."

My heart ached.

I no longer had a home.

To leave him, I could only leave my home behind.

On the other end, Ivy finally lost all patience. She sent me several emails a day.

One moment saying Ethan thought I was old. The next saying I couldn't get pregnant. Then showing off the luxury apartment Ethan bought her near the company.

Ivy seemed very anxious but never dared appear in front of me.

It seemed Ethan didn't allow her to appear before me.

Ethan's phone kept ringing those days too, but he never answered once.

He was determined to maintain his image as a devoted husband to the end.

On the day I was discharged, Ethan specially threw a small celebration party for me.

I didn't have many friends in New York. Those who came were all Ethan's friends.

Because of Ethan, everyone had always respected me.

At the party, they competed to congratulate me on my safe discharge.

I smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries.

Midway through, I got up to use the restroom.

When I returned, the door to the private room was ajar.

I walked to the door, about to push it open, when I heard clear conversation coming from inside.

"What were you thinking? You obviously love her so much, can't bear to leave her. Why did you have to cheat?"

Ethan was silent for a moment before speaking. "Ivy reminds me of Charlotte from before. Back when Charlotte first came to New York to make it on her own, no one helped her. She had it rough. I wanted to compensate her."

He wanted to compensate me, but the one who got the compensation was Ivy.

I laughed bitterly.

Someone else asked, "Aren't you afraid Charlotte will find out and divorce you? That car accident was so dangerous. She almost discovered the truth!"

"She trusts you, that's all!"

Ethan's face looked somewhat dazed. He must have been thinking of my trust in him.

"Yeah, Charlotte trusts me. I won't hurt her. But Ivy is also wonderful. I can't give her up."

"Charlotte won't divorce me. Not unless I die."

That person lowered his voice and continued probing. "Tell me, is Ivy... more tempting in bed than Charlotte? Otherwise I can't believe even a devoted man like you would cheat."

Ethan glanced at him with displeasure. "Why are you asking so many questions?"

But then he added, "Ivy is indeed more tempting. Charlotte can't compare to her in that regard."

I stood outside the door, trembling with rage.

This whole group of his friends actually knew about Ivy's existence!

And he was discussing bedroom matters in front of so many people!

Just then, someone got up to leave.

The door was pulled open, and the person came face to face with me standing in the doorway.

"Charlotte...?"

That person's face instantly turned deathly pale.

The private room immediately fell silent.

Ethan shot to his feet, his face ashen. "Charlotte, when did you get here?"

I looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"I just arrived."

"What, were you all talking about some secret? Afraid I'd hear?"

Everyone immediately covered for Ethan.

"We were all praising Ethan for having such a wonderful wife!"

I laughed bitterly to myself. Even at this point, they thought I didn't know anything.