Chapter 2 The Dying Husband

Hearing the shouting outside, Cassidy freaked out and instinctively backed away.

"Mr. Easton Cooper! Your father's condition has gotten worse, and the doctor says he might not make it through the night," the servant outside repeated.

Cassidy's face changed as she comprehended the words. Ashton's condition worsened?

Easton's expression turned serious, and he stopped what he was doing.

Cassidy pushed him away. "We need to get to the hospital now!"

"So, you still care about my dad?" Easton's voice dripped with sarcasm. But seeing Cassidy's worried face, he held back further comments and led her straight to the hospital.

During the drive, Cassidy was tense and uneasy. Just thinking about Ashton's condition brought tears to her eyes.

When they were about to enter the ward, the doctor stopped them and said Ashton wanted to see Cassidy alone.

Cassidy walked into the ward, and as soon as she saw Ashton, her tears started falling. She threw herself onto his bed, holding his hand tightly. "Ashton, I can't live without you!"

Ashton lay weakly on the bed, tubes everywhere. His face was pale, but he still looked handsome.

Just three months ago, he was healthy, skilled in shooting and sparring, and looked like a man in his early thirties, full of that mature charm older men have.

But now his eyes had dimmed from the illness, yet they still looked at Cassidy with tenderness.

Ashton looked at his wife, who was 22 years younger than him, and with some effort, wiped away her tears. "Cassidy, don't be sad for me. After I'm gone, make sure to live well."

Cassidy nodded, looking particularly sad, choking so much she could hardly speak.

Ashton reached out to touch Cassidy's soft cheek, gently wiping away her tears.

"I'm much older than you. You've had to put up with so much being married to me," Ashton said. "Cassidy, you're amazing. You might not believe it, but I want to tell you, these years with you have been the happiest of my life." He looked at Cassidy with deep affection.

Cassidy was a bit surprised. Ashton had never said these things to her before.

Back then, Ashton gave her whatever she wanted and never blamed her when she messed up. He'd take her to all sorts of parties, proudly introducing her as his wife.

But Cassidy always thought he treated her well just because she was his wife, and he had no real feelings for her.

"Cassidy, you don't need to worry," Ashton said, smiling slightly. "I know my sons very well, so I've arranged everything. After I'm gone, there will be people to protect you, ensuring your safety. I'm sorry I can't be with you anymore, Cassidy. You're still young, you must live well."

Ashton patted Cassidy's hand, looking at his beautiful wife, and thinking about his current condition, he felt very regretful. If only Cassidy had married him a little earlier.

Hearing Ashton say this, Cassidy was shocked, almost forgetting to cry. Why was he only telling her these things now, when he was about to die?

Her mind went blank. She had never thought Ashton would arrange everything to ensure her safety. "Ashton, you... you arranged for people to protect me?" she asked, her voice trembling with disbelief and confusion.

Under Cassidy's shocked gaze, Ashton nodded. "Of course, Cassidy, you're my most beloved wife."

Cassidy lowered her head, placing her forehead on Ashton's hand, tears continuously falling onto it.

She had been sent into the Cooper family by her father for an arranged marriage, never believing Ashton would have any real feelings for her. This was why she had been eager to find another support for herself.

But now Ashton told her that after his death, he had left people to protect her. Despite suffering from his illness, he still found the energy to think about how she would live after he was gone.

Cassidy couldn't understand why he would do this. Before coming to the hospital, she had even tried to seduce Easton, seeking solace elsewhere.

Looking at Ashton's thin, chiseled face, the tears just kept coming. Thinking about everything Ashton had done for her, and then remembering her sneaking around with Easton, she felt a deep sense of guilt.

Cassidy's face gradually turned pale. Ashton couldn't see the change in her complexion clearly, but seeing her crying so sadly, he could only softly repeat his comfort.

But Ashton's comfort only made Cassidy feel more guilty, and her tears wouldn't stop.

A few minutes later, Cassidy stopped crying. When she looked up again, her eyes were very red.

Ashton looked at Cassidy with heartache. "I'm very sorry, Cassidy, for making you so sad."

Cassidy held Ashton's hand, shook her head, but couldn't say a word.

After a while, when he felt she had calmed down, he spoke again, "Cassidy, help me call them in, okay?"

Cassidy nodded. Outside the ward stood Ashton's two sons, and she let them in together.

Before entering, both of them turned to look at Cassidy, but Cassidy kept her head down, making it hard to tell what she was thinking.

There was no one else in the corridor. Cassidy seemed to have lost all her strength, leaning weakly against the wall.

Every word Ashton said echoed in her mind. She had believed that after Ashton's death, she would have to rely on Easton to survive.

But Ashton had told her he had already arranged for people to protect her, ensuring her safety. Did this mean she didn't need to rely on Easton anymore?

However, she had seduced Easton tonight. Would this affect her future? What if Easton used tonight's incident to pester her?

Cassidy bit her lower lip, the pain slowly calming her down. She had to quickly think about how to live afterward. She couldn't let Easton use what happened today to cause her trouble!

Inside the ward, Ashton looked at his sons and sighed in his heart. Although he knew they wouldn't listen to him, he still gave some advice from a father's perspective.

Finally, Ashton looked at his eldest son, Declan Cooper, "Declan, you are kind and gentle, and you get along well with Cassidy. I hope you can help take care of Cassidy."

"Father, I understand." Declan was not surprised by Ashton's words. Among his brothers, he was the most gentle and considerate, and the kindest to Cassidy. Having him take care of Cassidy was the best choice.

Satisfied with Declan's response, Ashton let him leave first.

When only Ashton and Easton were left in the room, Ashton looked at Easton and said, "Easton, I originally intended to pass the family leadership to you."

After a second's pause, he continued, "But I don't think you are ready to lead the Cooper family right now. However, I have set things in motion. If you can gain the shareholders' approval, you can still become the head of the family."

As the eldest son, Declan should have inherited the position of head of the family, but his legs were disabled, and the Cooper family couldn't have a disabled person as the head.

Although Easton was very capable, his personality was cold and domineering. If he became the head too quickly, his remaining brothers might not even keep their lives.

Hearing his father's words, Easton's expression didn't change, as if he didn't care about the position.

With a provocative smile, he instead mentioned Cassidy, who wasn't there, "Dear father, you don't need to trouble Declan to take care of my stepmother. I will take good care of her."

Hearing Easton's words, Ashton stared at him. "What did you say?"

Sensing Ashton's tension, Easton couldn't help but laugh. He leaned closer to Ashton and whispered in his ear, "Before coming to the hospital, she was already mine."