Ethan

"Thomas, take us to my house, and clear my schedule for the day," Ethan instructed, knowing that the conversations ahead might take longer than anticipated.

"Okay sir," Thomas replied promptly, guiding the car along the streets. As he navigated the route, Ethan's thoughts remained consumed by the events that had unfolded.

He couldn't shake the feeling that the path ahead was going to be intricate and time-consuming. Tomorrow was a crucial day with his parents' arrival in the city, and the urgency to discuss matters with Ruth weighed heavily on his mind.

The car pulled into the driveway of his residence, coming to a stop.

"Should I wake her?" Thomas's voice broke through the silence of the car. He glanced at Ruth's sleeping form, a mix of emotions swirling within him. She seemed so peaceful, as if she hadn't slept properly in a while. Yet, leaving her in the car wasn't a viable option.

"Go on," Ethan instructed Thomas, his voice calm as he observed his assistant's attempts to wake his sleeping wife.

Thomas called Ruth cautiously, his voice deliberate so as not to startle her awake. "Ma'am?" he began softly, his tone gentle. But there was no response from her, no sign that she was stirring from her slumber.

Thomas's hesitation was palpable as he turned to Ethan for direction. Ethan merely shrugged, a gesture that conveyed his uncertainty as well. They were both navigating unfamiliar territory, uncertain of how to handle this situation.

"Mam?" Ethan tried, his voice a touch louder this time. He hoped that the sound of his voice might rouse her from her sleep, but Ruth remained undisturbed, her features serene in slumber.

Ethan released a soft sigh, his fingers extending to gently rest on Ruth's shoulder. He applied a light shake, his intention to rouse her from her deep slumber. But what happened next was nothing short of surprising.

In a flash, Ruth's hand moved with unexpected speed, shrugging him off. The abruptness of the motion caught both Ethan and his assistant off-guard.

They jerked back almost simultaneously, their movements fueled by astonishment. However, the shock was eclipsed by an unmistakable sound—a sharp snap that resonated within the confines of the car.

The snap was followed by a swift movement of Ruth's hand, her palm connecting with Thomas's cheek in a resounding slap.

The sound of the impact hung in the air, leaving a moment of stunned silence in its wake. Ethan cleared his throat, his lips twitching slightly in a mixture of surprise and amusement.

As Ruth's hand made contact with his assistant's cheek.

His assistant's discomfort was palpable, and Ethan had to fight back a chuckle. He shot Thomas a sympathetic look, empathizing with the unexpected turn of events. However, he couldn't deny the truth in his assistant's words.

"S-sir, I think she is your wife, so you should be the one to wake her," Thomas stammered, his hand instinctively reaching to rub his cheek as he gingerly got out of the car.

"Wait, Thomas!" Ethan called but his assistant was already out of the car and was not responding to him. Leaving him alone with a still very much asleep Ruth.