The return of General Ethan: The Miracle doctor.

Betrayal.

Chapter four.

Ethan's eyes widened in surprise as he took in the sight of Rose standing before him. He hadn't expected to run into her, and her presence left him momentarily stunned.

It wasn't until someone cleared their throat that Ethan realized Rose wasn't alone. His gaze shifted to the man standing beside her, who eyed Ethan with disdain.

“Who's this?” the man asked, his tone dripping with disgust.

Rose's response was laced with venom. “No one significant. Just my sister's ex-husband.”

Ethan's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with the implications. He knew that Rose's sister, Maria, was still married to him, so why was Rose referring to him as her ex-husband?

Ethan's eyes locked onto Rose, his voice laced with urgency and confusion.

“What do you mean by 'ex-husband'?” he demanded.

Rose's expression turned icy, and she refused to answer. Ethan's gaze shifted to the man standing beside Rose.

“And who's this?” he asked, his tone neutral.

Rose's anger flared, her face reddening. “How dare you refer to him like that?” she spat, her voice venomous.

Ethan's eyes rolled in exasperation. “Rose, who the hell is this man?” he barked.

The stranger stepped forward, his eyes flashing with anger. “You dare not scream at her,” he growled.

Ethan's gaze snapped to the man, his voice cold. “I wasn't talking to you. This is between me and my sister-in-law. Stay out of this!”

Rose's laughter was like ice. “Sister-in-law, my foot,” she sneered, stamping her foot.

Ethan's eyes narrowed, confusion etched on his face. He couldn't recall ever having a clash with Rose before his imprisonment. What has changed?

Ethan's calm demeanor remained intact as he called out to Rose. She smirked, seeming to relish the moment.

“This is Caleb, the youngest master of the Swayne family,” Rose announced, her voice dripping with malice. “And just so you know, he's my sister's fiancé.”

Ethan's eyes narrowed, confusion etched on his face. “Fiancé?” he repeated.

Rose nodded, a hint of satisfaction in her voice. “Yes, you heard me right, convict.”

Ethan felt a jolt of shock at the label. Rose, of all people, knew why he was in jail, and yet she was throwing it in his face.

But that was the least of his concerns. His mind reeled as he struggled to comprehend how his supposed wife could be getting married.

“Rose, can you listen to yourself?” Ethan asked, trying to make sense of the situation.

But Rose ignored him, her eyes blazing with anger.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she demanded. "You're supposed to be in prison. The last time I checked, you still have two years to serve. So, what the fuck are you doing here?”

Ethan's frustration boiled over, his anger and confusion reaching a breaking point. “Stop playing games, Rose,” he said, his voice high.

Rose's laughter sent a chill down his spine.

“Do I look like a joker?” she taunted.

Ethan's eyes locked onto Rose, his voice low and urgent.

“How's Maria? Where's my child? Is it a boy or a girl?” he demanded.

Memories came flooding back. Maria had been pregnant when he left. He had taken the blame for her mistake, a desperate attempt to shield her from a six-year prison sentence.

The weight of that decision lingered, a constant reminder of the sacrifices he had made for the woman he loved.

And now Rose had the guts to tell him that she's getting married, after everything they had been through.

During his four-year incarceration, Maria never once visited him. She claimed to be working tirelessly, day and night, to provide for herself and their child.

Instead, she sent him letters with her regards. Ethan didn't question this, feeling like a failure for not being able to provide a comfortable life for them before his imprisonment.

In her letters, Maria also lamented about the difficulties she faced, claiming that her family had neglected her. Ethan's heart went out to her, and he felt a deep sense of regret and responsibility.

He became determined to turn his life around and make a better future for himself and his family.

It was during this time that Ethan met an old man in prison, who became a mentor to him. The old man taught Ethan valuable skills and knowledge, which Ethan eagerly absorbed.

The old man, sensing his mortality, had been searching for a worthy successor to inherit his knowledge.

He found that person in Ethan, and over time, passed on all his wisdom and expertise. When the old man eventually passed away, Ethan was left with a treasure trove of knowledge that would change his life forever.

As Ethan's skills and reputation grew, so did his fame. He became renowned for helping the country train the world's most elite warriors.

His expertise also made him a sought-after protector for billionaires, and he saved countless lives.

Despite his success, Ethan's heart ached with the desire to help his wife, Maria. However, his imprisonment limited his access to his bank accounts, and he had no idea how much wealth he had accumulated.

The last time he checked, he had a couple of billion dollars, but he couldn't access it from behind bars.

Ethan's dilemma was compounded by his concern for Maria's safety. If he were to ask someone to help her, it would mean exposing her to potential danger, which was unacceptable to him since he was still in prison.

Ethan's decision not to intervene on Maria's behalf was rooted in a deep sense of responsibility and guilt. Her actions had led to someone's death, and he felt obligated to serve his full prison sentence as a way to honor the dead.

As he stood there, reeling from the news of Maria's impending marriage, Ethan couldn't help but feel a sense of betrayal.

“Maria getting married?” he muttered to himself. “Who would have thought that's how she'd repay me after everything I did for her?”

Rose's response was mocking laughter that sent a chill down Ethan's spine.

“You're a foolish,” she said, shaking her head. “You're a fool to think you actually slept with Maria that day.”

Ethan's eyebrows shot up confused. “What do you mean?” he asked, his voice laced with a growing sense of unease.

Ethan's eyes widened in stunned silence as Rose began to speak.

“There was no child,” she said, her voice devoid of emotion. “You didn't have sex with Maria that night. We only forced you to marry her, and the only way we could do that was by lying to you.”

Ethan's mind reeled as he struggled to process the enormity of Maria's deception. But before he could respond, she dropped another bombshell.

“It wasn't Maria who pushed someone off the cliff,” Rose said, her eyes glinting with a cold light. “It was Rowan who killed someone. But we knew how much you were willing to do anything for her, so we decided to ask her to take the blame, knowing you would not watch her go to jail.”

Ethan felt like he had been punched in the gut. He was shocked, his entire world turned upside down by Rose's revelation.

He had been played like a fool all these while, manipulated into taking the fall for a crime he didn't commit.