Chapter 325: Chapter 325: On Purpose
"..."
Ashley Shaw couldn’t help but look up again, but quickly realized that above her was the ceiling, not the sky.
Moreover, it was nighttime, not daytime.
She was trying to see if the sun was rising in the west.
Warren Prescott noticed her reaction and guessed what she was thinking.
He clenched his teeth in frustration, his face like an ice sculpture.
He sincerely apologized, and she thought the sun was rising in the west?
"Ashley Shaw, you’re simply..."
Before he could finish, two groups of performers were switching routines, hastening their movements due to the dim light, dashing straight towards Ashley Shaw.
The crowd surged abruptly.
If one were to fall under such a crush, a stampede could easily occur.
Warren Prescott instinctively pulled Ashley Shaw into his arms, then turned his body to shield her firmly between himself and the wall.
He smelled the jasmine scent on her.
Ashley Shaw was taken aback by Warren Prescott’s sudden action and instinctively wanted to break free, but then heard his voice from above.
"Do you want to get trampled to death?"
Ashley Shaw paused in her struggle, seeing the surging crowd, and could only stand rigidly in place.
The funny thing is, she and Warren Prescott had been intimate numerous times, yet his closeness now made her feel very uneasy.
Was she regressing or something?
Ashley Shaw mocked herself inwardly, telling herself not to be so pretentious.
"Make way, make way..."
The actors were eager to get on "stage", pushing forward aggressively.
Warren Prescott was pushed "unintentionally" closer to Ashley Shaw.
Their proximity was so close that they could hear each other’s breathing.
Ashley Shaw’s heart skipped a beat, embarrassingly fast.
But rationality immediately told her to stop this pathetic display.
Fortunately, the crowd passed through quickly, and Warren Prescott stepped back, his face expressionless.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
Ashley Shaw shook her head, having already calmed herself, she said indifferently, "I’m fine, thank you."
"No need, let’s go."
He turned and walked towards the door, as he turned, the corner of his lips slightly curled upwards, almost imperceptibly.
The Nocturne was vast, Ashley Shaw thought it would take a long walk from The Imperial Hall to the place for treating injuries. To her surprise, just as they exited the hall, she saw a black business car parked there.
A familiar figure got off the car; it was Mark.
"Miss Shaw."
Ashley Shaw nodded slightly, "Hello."
Mark smiled and then said to Warren Prescott, "There’s a first-aid kit in the car, I’ve placed it in the back seat."
Warren Prescott nodded without expression.
Mark continued, "The Hayes Family just left, I’ll get some staff to follow them to prevent them from getting lost and not knowing where the main gate is."
Warren Prescott gave Mark a deep glance.
He knew very well that every alleyway in The Nocturne had "Palace Maids" guiding guests.
But after a moment of silence, he said, "Go on then."
"Yes." Mark responded, told Ashley Shaw "I’ll get busy", and turned away, quickly disappearing from their sight.
A good assistant should act as if they’re dead at times like this.
Mark had a high level of awareness on this.
It was then that Ashley Shaw realized.
They weren’t heading to The Nocturne’s infirmary?
Warren Prescott had already opened the car door and sat inside.
"Aren’t you coming up?"
Since she was already here, Ashley Shaw didn’t hesitate and got into the car.
Once she was seated, Warren Prescott had already opened the first-aid kit, quickly finding iodine and cotton swabs inside.
"Hand."
Ashley Shaw quickly said, "I’ll do it myself."
"Don’t waste time, I’m quick."
With that, Warren Prescott directly took her hand, placing her arm on his lap, and lowered his head to carefully treat the wound.
Ashley Shaw felt a coolness on her wound.
"Does it hurt?" he asked.
Iodine wasn’t as painful as alcohol when applied to a wound.
Ashley Shaw shook her head truthfully, "It doesn’t hurt."
Warren Prescott then started treating the second wound.
There were four scratch marks in total, the second was the deepest and longest.
Ashley Shaw felt a slight sting, her brows furrowed involuntarily, but she quickly relaxed them, making herself look as if nothing was wrong.
She didn’t want to seem too pretentious.
"If it hurts, just say so, no need to hold back, there’s no one else here." Warren Prescott said without looking up.
Ashley Shaw suspected he had eyes on the back of his head. How else could he notice her slight frown?
"It doesn’t hurt." Ashley Shaw said against her will, "Continue."
She just wanted to get it over with quickly.
Hearing her words, Warren Prescott intentionally added pressure with his hand.
"Ah—" Ashley Shaw gasped, glaring at him, "Be gentle!"
Warren Prescott lifted his eyes to look at her.
"Didn’t you say it didn’t hurt?"
"Just because it doesn’t hurt doesn’t mean you can press so hard. I’m flesh, not iron."
"You’re aware you’re made of flesh. Today you’re lucky it was your hand that got hurt. If you were unlucky and your eyes were scratched blind, what then?"
"I’m aware of myself, she’s not my match."
In her mind, she was the adult, Zoe Hayes was the child.
Adults ought to easily best children, right?
Warren Prescott was disappointed in her.
"Weren’t Leo and the others inside? Why didn’t you call for help?"
"I could handle it myself, why ask for help?"
Warren Prescott intensified the pressure while applying iodine again.
"Ouch—"
Ashley Shaw inhaled sharply, reflexively pulling her hand back.
"What are you doing? It really hurts, you know?"
"Hurting you would be best, so you’d remember."
"You..."
Warren Prescott suddenly turned serious, "Today’s incident can only end here, I’m afraid."
Ashley Shaw was slow to understand what Warren Prescott meant.
He couldn’t escalate the matter nor pursue Hank Hayes’ responsibility.
Ashley Shaw said, "I intended to let it end here anyway, after all, I gave as good as I got, I’m not at a loss."
Warren Prescott looked at her and asked, "Aren’t you curious why it can only end here?"
"Because I started it, legally speaking, I’d be more responsible."
"You’re not just more responsible, you’d be fully liable."
"..." Ashley Shaw pressed her lips together, saying nothing.
But given the chance, she’d still fight Zoe Hayes.
An enemy needs to be avenged.
Warren Prescott then took out a jar of green ointment.
"Hand."
Ashley Shaw cautiously said, "No need, I’ll do it myself."
With that, she took the ointment from Warren Prescott, starting to apply it to her wounds.
A light fragrance spread, with a surprisingly pleasant smell.
She turned the ointment bottle to check, it was to prevent wound infection.
Warren Prescott reminded her, "Apply it thick."
Ashley Shaw murmured "Oh," and applied a thick layer of ointment.
It only took about three to five minutes to treat the four wounds, Ashley Shaw opened the car door to get out when Warren Prescott’s voice sounded again.
"It’s not because you started it. It’s because Zoe Hayes’ father is replacing James Langley. Even for us in the Prescott Family, we can’t switch two ministers within a month."