Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Be His Girlfriend
"Why say such things? We’re friends." Ariana said.
Ashley Shaw remained silent.
She didn’t know what to say, because she knew the outcome.
In the end, Claire Xavier gave up the cake shop and became a corporate sacrifice.
As for Cillian Xavier... She’s not very clear on his situation but remembers that he finally went abroad.
The current situation seems like the Xavier parents are choosing between the siblings?
But Ashley Shaw quickly realized something chilling.
That is—the Xavier parents have deceived both of them.
So in the end, Claire Xavier married an old man, and Cillian Xavier returned after going abroad and inherited the family business.
With this realization, goosebumps instantly covered Ashley Shaw’s arms.
"M-Ms. Grant..."
Claire Xavier looked at her.
Ashley Shaw opened her mouth but didn’t know how to voice her guess.
"What do you want to say?" Claire Xavier asked.
Ashley Shaw pondered for a moment and said, "Do you know Uncle and Aunt well?"
"Of course. Don’t mention being biological parents; even colleagues who have worked together for over twenty years know each other well, right?"
"Then do you think... they might make both of you lose what you want?"
Claire Xavier was very clever and quickly guessed what Ashley Shaw was trying to say.
"You’re suggesting that even if Cillian goes abroad, they’ll still make me marry that man in the end?"
"It’s just my speculation, but I don’t really know them, so that’s why I’m asking you if you understand them."
Claire Xavier stood up from the sofa and paced back and forth in the room.
Ashley Shaw was also nervous.
She was afraid of thinking too badly of people but also feared Claire Xavier was too optimistic about them.
After a while, when most of the barbecue on the table was almost finished by Ariana, Claire Xavier suddenly walked to Ashley Shaw, grabbed her hand.
"Ashley, you must help me with this!"
Ashley Shaw showed a clear look of shock.
"Help with what?"
Claire Xavier didn’t immediately reply but walked to the door, opened a small gap, and peeked outside.
There was no one in the hallway, but the sound of laughter was coming from the living room downstairs.
Claire Xavier knew Ivy Bond was returning to Westcroft today, guessed it was her, and after listening carefully and hearing her parents downstairs, she closed the door and returned to the living room.
"Ashley, can you temporarily be Archie’s girlfriend?"
"Gulp—" Ariana swallowed a bite of beef cube.
Ashley Shaw was also startled, her eyes wide open.
She even suspected her ears were having problems.
They were clearly discussing the Xavier parents’ matter earlier, how did the topic suddenly change so abruptly?
Claire Xavier tightened her grip on her hand.
"I just thought it over. My parents might really do what you said, sacrificing both Archie and me for the Xavier Group."
"But Archie has decided to sacrifice himself to save me, and he has already bought a ticket to go abroad in two weeks."
"He’s someone who holds onto one idea and won’t turn back, and he’s quite naive, wouldn’t suspect that my parents would sacrifice both of us."
"So, the only person who can stop him from going abroad is you!"
Ashley Shaw slowly understood.
"You want me to stall Cillian?"
"Yes!"
"But... Cillian doesn’t like me anymore. Instead of asking me to stall him, why not discuss it with Miss Bond?"
"Miss Bond? You mean Ivy Bond?"
"Yes."
Claire Xavier couldn’t help but chuckle.
"Her? She’d better stay where it’s cool!"
Ariana finally managed to swallow the beef cube and immediately asked, "Aren’t they a couple?"
"Of course not. Archie’s taste isn’t that bad. That girl, her family background wasn’t good before. My parents supported her brother through college. Later, their dad invested with our family and made some money. Now, except for Finn Bond, no one in their family is normal, they all have nouveau riche attitudes."
"Archie sees her as a little sister, due to his good relationship with Finn Bond, he went to the airport to pick her up today out of courtesy."
Claire Xavier’s tone clearly showed her dislike for Ivy Bond.
She paused and then spoke with certainty, "Ashley, I understand Archie. He definitely still has feelings for you. If you pretend to be his girlfriend for a while, he won’t bear to leave you, and he won’t go abroad."
Ashley Shaw appeared embarrassed.
"Ms. Grant, even if it’s as you say, I can’t help you with this. I don’t want to deceive him, and I’m not good at lying; I’ll be easily exposed."
Claire Xavier’s eyelids drooped.
"Yes, I thought too optimistically, too eagerly. You don’t like Archie, asking you to be his girlfriend is too much."
Ashley Shaw also lowered her head.
It’s not about reluctance but rather the lie being too far-fetched.
Cillian might or might not fall for it, but even if he does, how would the lie end?
Saying she was deceiving him the whole time?
This could cause significant harm to Cillian.
Therefore, it’s not that she doesn’t want to help; she genuinely can’t.
After a moment of silence, Ashley Shaw said, "Leo returns tomorrow, and Cillian will be there too. I’ll find a chance to chat with him when the time comes?"
Claire Xavier nodded.
"Okay! I’ll also have a good talk with him myself. It’s just that he might not believe what I say. He might think I’m deliberately saying it so he won’t sacrifice his dreams for me."
"Hmm, I’ll definitely find a chance to talk to him tomorrow."
"Thank you."
"Between us, I’m the one who troubles you more, so no need to say such things!"
Ariana handed over a skewer of barbecue just in time.
"Are you guys still eating? There’s only a few skewers left; if not, I’ll finish them all."
Ashley Shaw turned her head and saw that Ariana had indeed almost finished three-quarters of the barbecue pile on the table.
Her eyes widened sharply.
"Ariana!"
Ariana "whooshed" up from the sofa and quickly hid behind Claire Xavier.
"What! Are you going to hit me in front of Ms. Grant?"
Ashley Shaw frowned, "You ate too much, starting tomorrow, drink porridge for three days."
Really a handful!
With a little distraction, Ariana went wild.
She shouldn’t have agreed to let her have barbecue.
Ariana immediately tattled to Claire Xavier: "Ms. Grant, look at her!"
"Alright, alright, Ashley, let her indulge just this once, just this once, it won’t be a problem."
"But..."
"No buts. If you’re worried, I’ll call Aunt Talbot now."
Ashley Shaw shrugged helplessly, "Alright, I know, just this once."
Ariana instantly jumped up, "Hooray!"
As soon as the cheers landed, the phone rang.
This time it was Ariana’s phone.
Her phone was right next to Ashley Shaw, and Ashley recognized the phone number at a glance.