Chapter 11 Gone Without a Trace
Lina reached toward Ethan.
Before she could touch him,
Ethan stepped back, keeping a clear distance.
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“You know exactly what happened,” he said coldly.
“If you want to stay in the Hale family, be a proper wife to your husband. Don’t let your thoughts wander.
“I’ll give you one chance, because you once saved me. Tell Jacob or Grandma the truth yourself. Otherwise, don’t expect me to show you any mercy.”
He could still hear Lina’s words from the video, mocking the Hale family as fools.
He would not have been kind at all if not for her being his cousin’s wife.
“Ethan.” Lina stared at his cold expression, then spoke in a low, sharp voice, “You’re really going to be this final about it?
“I’ve told you–you’re the one I’ve always loved. You’d still throw me into a miserable life? Force me to live with someone I don’t love?”
Ethan stepped back again.
A
The woman in front of him felt like a total stranger to the Lina he once knew.
Before Ethan could reply, the door swung open.
Jacob rushed in from abroad, looking worn out.
Lina froze for a second, then covered her face and began to sob quietly. “Jacob… everyone’s hurting me. No one believes me. Mia framed me on purpose.”
Ethan watched Jacob coldly, curious about his reaction.
Jacob dropped his luggage and sat by the bed, full of pity.
He held Lina’s face gently.
“Baby, I’m here now. No one can hurt you. I’ve got your back in this family.”
He spoke those words for Lina–and for Ethan, standing coldly at the door.
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Chapter 11 Gone Without a Trace
After Ethan took control of the family business, Jacob had been sent abroad.
He had been bitter about it for a long time.
He secretly believed the rumors that Ethan had feelings
feelings for Lina.
When Mia married into the family, he worried Ethan would be drawn to her beauty.
He feared his own wife would be bullied alone in the country.
Now that Lina was hurt, his suspicions felt confirmed.
Ethan was simply targeting them out of spite.
Jacob
grew even more resentful of Ethan.
Once Lina was settled, Jacob quietly closed the door.
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He spoke directly as soon as he stepped out, “I don’t care what you think. Mia is the one in the wrong. I don’t even need to see that video to know it’s fake. Mia attacked Lina because you’re powerful now. You fix this. If you don’t, don’t blame me for going after your wife later.”
That was all Ethan got from Jacob after waiting so long.
Take. Mia a
7
He frowned in annoyance, dropped his cigarette, and let out a cold laugh.
“Fine. Let’s see how you plan to deal with Mia.”
Ethan left without another word.
Jacob stared at his back with a dark look, then spat in disgust.
The scandal around Lina stayed at the top of every trend for over two weeks.
No matter how the Hale family panicked and pulled strings, the heat would not die down.
People who had once mocked Mia began to feel sorry for her.
During that time, Ethan used every connection to find Mia, but found nothing.
Her phone went from switched off to completely disconnected.
The woman who had been so present had vanished completely, as if she had never existed.
Late one night, Ethan returned home exhausted.
The housekeeper stood downstairs and bowed politely.
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Chapter 11 Gone Without a Trace
“Mr. Hale, the guest room Mia used is clean now. What should I do with her things?”
Ethan looked down at the small suitcase by the steps and paused.
supial suitcase
In three years of marriage, all she owned had fit into one tiny suitcase.
It was as i
she had been ready to leave at any mor
cen ready to leave at any moment,
Ethan’s eyes flickered.
alipha
But when he thought of the men who had stood up for Mia, his anger flared again.
m
m
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The housekeeper bowed and left.
He was alone in the huge, quiet house.
Against his better judgment, Ethan walked into the room Mia had occupied.
The servants had cleaned it thoroughly.
No trace of her remained, only the sharp smell of air freshener.
Fine.
If she were gone, she could stay gone.
Even if she came back begging, I would not care at all.
Three months later.
Lina’s heart condition suddenly worsened.
None of the experts at Mercy Hospital could help.
The next day, top foreign specialists consulted–with no success.
Lina clutched her chest and lay on the bed, her face as pale as paper,
Sweat poured down her forehead.
This time, she really was desperately ill.
A head nurse set up an IV and let out a cold laugh.
“Good people get good rewards. Somebody escaped a bad marriage and found freedom. Bad
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Chapter 11 Gone Without a Trace
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people get what they deserve. Her heart was almost better–and now it’s back, worse than before.”
Lina was so angry she could barely breathe, but she was too weak to argue and collapsed back onto the bed.
11:45 Tue, 5 May
