Chapter 233


    Ethan hung up the phone, turned around, and found Ines standing right in front of him, her long hair


    wet and disheveled. She was staring at him intently, her face serious.


    Ethan couldn''t handle her gaze, and for a moment was taken aback. He quickly took the towel in


    her hand and started drying her hair, "Dopey, you''ll catch a cold like this."


    Ines said nothing. Ethan felt a pang in his heart. He wiped her hair roughly with the towel, then


    made her sit on the bed and started blow-drying her hair.


    The noise of the hairdryer filled the room, but Ines''s mind was a mess. The more she thought, the


    more she felt that Hunter''s behavior tonight was just too odd.


    Ethan finished drying Ines''s hair and noticed that she was still staring nkly at one spot, her face a


    picture of bewilderment.


    "Izzy, what are you thinking about?"


    Ines forced a smile, raised her head, and looked at Ethan seriously. "Do you know why he''s acting


    so strangely? You tried so hard to convince me to meet him today. Does it have anything to do with


    his strange behavior?"


    Ethan gently held Ines''s shoulder. "Izzy, don''t overthink things, it''s not good for the baby." Ines


    jerked away from Ethan''s hand. "Ethan, stop treating me like a fool. You''re acting strange today.


    He''s acting strange. You think I wouldn''t notice? Can''t you just tell me the truth? I just need a clear


    answer. Is it really that hard for you to be honest with me?"


    "Izzy."


    Ines''s eyes turned red, and she was on the verge of tears. She roughly wiped her eyes, lifted her


    head slightly, and asked in a small voice, "Is it because the treatment isn''t working and he doesn''t


    have much time left?"


    Seeing that Ines had guessed it, Ethan could only nod gently.


    Ines swayed, but Ethan was quick to react. He caught her and held her tightly in his arms.


    "How much time does he have left?" Ines asked, her voice trembling.


    "A friend of mine said he has about half a year, provided he stays cheerful and doesn''t get


    stressed."


    Half a year, only half a year left? He might not even live to see their child''s birth.


    Ines began to tremble. "So tonight, he was..." Ines couldn''t finish her sentence, but Ethan knew


    what she was trying to say. He held her tighter and said, "I just called him. Don''t worry, he said he


    has no thoughts of suicide. He wants to see his grandson born with his own eyes, and hear them


    call him grandpa. He''s a strong person. He''s made it through so many difficult years, and he can


    make it through this as well."


    Ines said nothing. Ethan lowered his head to see that her eyes were tightly shut, her eyshes


    trembling.


    "Ines, don''t be like this. He''ll worry about you. He asked me to take good care of you."


    Ines was deeply upset. She rested against Ethan, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist.


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    Seeing her like this hurt Ethan more than anything else. He gently patted her back and said softly,


    "If you want to cry, just let it out. Don''t keep it inside. It''s not good for you."


    Ines didn''t respond, but just held onto him tighter.


    Ethan let her hold him. She didn''t say anything, and he didn''t disturb her.


    After a while, Ines straightened up and said softly, "Let''s go to bed. I''m a bit tired."


    Ethan looked at her, worried. He would rather she cried in his arms than pretend that nothing had


    happened.


    Perhaps because she now knew about Hunter''s condition, Ines had a restless night, full of


    nightmares and sleep-talking. Ethan, a light sleeper, was also in and out of sleep until he was


    woken by Ines''s scream.


    Ethan turned on the light. Ines was sitting up, her face pale, her forehead and face covered in


    sweat. Ethan held her in his arms. "What happened? What nightmare is it again?"


    "I dreamed..."


    Before Ines could finish her sentence, the phone on the bedside table started ringing. Ines''s face


    turned ashen, and even Ethan looked grave.


    Ethan picked up the phone. Ines was staring at the phone in Ethan''s hand with an intensity that


    made him take her hand involuntarily. He said, "Ss."


    "Ethan, you and Ines need toe quickly. Mr. Galeana isn''t doing well." Ss''s voice was hoarse.


    Ethan was taken aback. "How did that happen?"


    "Bring Ines quickly. It might be toote if you dy." Ss urged.


    Ethan understood the urgency of the situation. He quickly dressed Ines and rushed her out of the


    house and into the car.


    Ethan couldn''t believe it. Just a few hours ago, he had been talking to the man who now was in


    critical condition.


    Ethan held onto Ines''s hand with one hand and steered the car with the other, driving as fast and as


    steady as he could.


    Ines stared at the road ahead, her nails digging into Ethan''s flesh. But Ethan made no sound, and


    she didn''t even realize.


    Her eyes were unfocused, her brain had stopped thinking, and her entire body was rigid. As soon


    as she got in the car, she froze and didn''t move at all.


    They had just reached the hospital entrance when Ss called again. "Ethan, have you arrived?"


    "We''ve just reached the gate of the hospital. We''ll be at your ce shortly."


    After hanging up the phone, Ethan noticed that Ines still looked lost. He immediately picked her up


    and ran towards the ward.


    When they arrived at the door of the ward, Ethan put Ines down. Emma and Shirley were already


    there. Emma was sobbing so hard she couldn''t speak, and she leaned on Shirley, mother and


    daughter holding each other tightly.


    Ss''s eyes were red and swollen. He said, "Both of you should go in. You might be able to say a


    last word to him." Upon hearing this, Ines broke away from Ethan''s hold but lost her bnce and


    nearly fell forward. Ethan broke out in a cold sweat and quickly caught her. "Izzy, be careful."