Chapter 338: Chapter 338: Not Disturbing You
Warren Prescott’s mood had already shifted from overcast to sunny.
And it was an utterly cloudless, bright sunny day.
Hearing the phrase "only a fool wouldn’t take advantage," his eyebrows visibly arched.
"So, are you sure? Are the two of them really cousins?"
Ashley Shaw glanced at Warren Prescott a bit plaintively.
"Didn’t I come up here to find you?"
Warren felt a stir inside, his face showing nothing: "Aren’t you here to see the old man?"
"I... well, aren’t we looking together?"
Warren scrutinized Ashley’s face, clearly making out an expression akin to embarrassment in the dim light.
After a moment, he stood up and said, "Since it’s not confirmed yet, I’ll have Mark check it out for you, see what relation Joyce Sutton and Livia Sutton have."
"No need." Ashley waved her hand and said, "I’ll just find an excuse to ask later."
Warren slightly knitted his brows.
"Who just said only a fool wouldn’t take advantage? Should I call you Ashley Fool from now on?"
Ashley mentally rolled her eyes: "Thank you, for at least keeping my last name."
Warren knew she was joking and realized she had changed her mind.
He immediately called Assistant Lowell.
"You’ve got three minutes to find out how Joyce Sutton is related to Livia Sutton."
Assistant Lowell didn’t know Joyce Sutton, but did know Livia Sutton, and agreed at once.
"Thank you." Ashley expressed her gratitude, then added, "And, sorry."
Warren lost count of how many times she’d apologized over the past two months, so he ignored her words and brought up something else.
"My mom might want to talk to you today."
Ashley’s eyelids lifted, feeling inexplicably afraid inside.
It was an onset of "mother-in-law phobia."
She swallowed hard and asked, "What does she want to talk about?"
"An apology."
Ashley’s eyes widened, briefly doubting her own ears.
"You didn’t mishear. Lately, both Grandpa and I have explained your mom’s situation to her. She used to dislike you so much because she believed your mom was trying to earn gratitude from our family deliberately by risking her life."
"..."
"But now she knows. Your mom’s heart donation to Grandpa was purely accidental, and it was actually our family that cut the queue... Anyway, she knows now that it was all a misunderstanding."
Ashley remained silent for a moment, then said, "It’s all in the past, just let her know there’s no need to apologize to me specifically."
Although Claudia Jennings didn’t like her and often jabbed at her with words, never gave her a good face.
But, to be honest, when it came to living conditions, she’d never been treated unfairly.
Warren shrugged: "I can’t be sure. Knowing her stubborn nature, it’s possible she’ll never say the words ’I’m sorry.’
Ashley thought to herself: In that sense, she’s just like Warren.
Warren added, "When you were downstairs, did you see that woman standing next to my mom? She’s been my mom’s card buddy for over a decade. She just got kicked out."
"Huh? Why?"
"Because that woman bad-mouthed you."
"..." Ashley opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say for a moment.
The misunderstanding about her mom’s heart donation was never resolved in her previous life, so she never got a good look or any protection from Claudia Jennings.
Now, for Claudia Jennings to suddenly break it off with a friend for her sake, she felt a bit awkward and unsure how to face Claudia Jennings.
Just then, Warren’s phone rang, playing "Castle in the Sky."
The timing was just perfect—three minutes exactly.
He picked up the phone from the coffee table and answered it, putting it on speaker right away.
Assistant Lowell’s voice came through the phone: "Mr. Prescott Jr."
"Did you find out?"
"Yes, Joyce Sutton and Livia Sutton are indeed cousins. Joyce’s dad is Livia’s dad’s older brother."
Warren glanced at Ashley, his eyes now adjusted to the darkness, clearly seeing her look pleasantly surprised.
He continued, "Did you find anything else?"
"Yes, I also checked out Joyce Sutton’s basic information."
"Go ahead."
"Joyce Sutton was married early on, but her husband passed away from illness, leaving her widowed. She has a son and a daughter. The daughter is married and settled abroad, and the son is studying abroad. If nothing unexpected happens, he might settle overseas as well."
"What’s her character like?"
"As far as we know so far, she has no blemishes. She’s straightforward and seems strong but is actually quite easy to get along with."
"Alright, hang up."
Warren ended the call and looked at Ashley, "So? Satisfied with this?"
Ashley pinched her right earlobe a bit bashfully.
"Being straightforward is good, better than being overly complicated."
"That’s not what I meant." Warren cut to the chase: "I meant, both her kids are settled abroad, with no one left here, and your friend’s appearance fills that gap. Are you satisfied with this?"
Ashley somewhat resented Warren’s directness.
But on second thought, she realized that was exactly what she was hoping for deep down.
"Ahem!"
Ashley cleared her throat, deciding not to hide her thoughts anymore.
"I’m quite satisfied."
Warren raised an eyebrow: "See, that’s how you should speak. You used to write love letters and directly confess your feelings, but now you beat around the bush eight hundred times before saying anything."
Ashley’s face turned beet red in an instant.
"I was immature before, but now I’ve grown up."
"Oh? Didn’t you just say bluntness is better than convoluted thinking?"
Ashley feigned confusion: "Did I? I don’t remember."
Warren chuckled slightly, about to speak when Elder Prescott’s happy voice came from outside: "Ashley? Ashley, are you upstairs?"
Ashley reflexively answered: "Grandpa Prescott, I’m here."
Two seconds later, Elder Prescott appeared at the doorway.
Seeing the two of them standing face to face in the dark room, from his angle, they seemed to be embracing.
His eyes immediately lit up, and he spoke quickly: "No worries, carry on, I won’t interrupt you!"
Finishing his words, he closed the room door for the two of them.
Elder Prescott’s reaction made Ashley’s face visibly red, even in the dark.
She froze for a second, then quickly opened the door to chase after him.
Who would have guessed, as soon as she opened the door, she almost bumped head-first into Elder Prescott, who was about to eavesdrop at the door.
Ashley exclaimed in surprise and helplessness, "Grandpa Prescott..."
"Hehe, hehe," Elder Prescott rubbed his sparse hair, awkwardly laughing.
Warren followed her out of the room.
"If you’re that eager to listen, I’ll invite you next time we’re having a conversation."
Having said that, he ignored Elder Prescott’s expression and headed downstairs.
Elder Prescott, long used to Warren’s attitude, remained unfazed and said to Ashley, "You caught me already, so what were you doing? We’re all friends, no need to keep secrets."