Chapter 228: Chapter 228: You Apologized to the Wrong Person
Ashley Shaw said helplessly, "What ideas can I have? This is their own personal matter. Besides, studying abroad is a good thing. With a family as large as the Xavier Family, the kids definitely need to go out and gain some experience. I heard that Ms. Grant studied abroad for two years previously."
"No! You didn’t catch the main point of what I’m saying."
"What is the main point?"
"The main point is, Cillian Xavier is going with that... What was it, ’The moon shines on the ditch’..."
"You mean ’A lotus blossoms better than Ivy Bond,’ right?"
"Yes, yes, that’s it! The point is he’s going to study abroad with that ditch person. Together, you see?"
Ariana Grant was too lazy to correct Ashley Shaw.
She said "ditch," so let it be ditch.
"Studying abroad together isn’t bad either, right? They can look after each other."
Ariana Grant carefully examined Ashley Shaw’s facial expression.
The two were so close that Ariana was certain of Ashley’s indifference the moment she raised her foot. She could tell Ashley had no feelings for Cillian Xavier.
But she quickly sensed another intention.
"So you’re saying you’re not interested in Cillian Xavier at all, and the person you care about is the lost girl?"
"What lost girl or boy, I just care about you, about my darling Ariana—" Ashley Shaw said while shaking the unstitched arm of Ariana Grant.
Ariana jerked her arm back, "Don’t disgust me! If I throw up now, the Xaviers wouldn’t be happy."
"...Is it that disgusting?"
"Yes! Wait, how did you sidetrack me again? You actually..."
The sound of the door opening suddenly echoed.
Both fell silent simultaneously.
Claire Xavier appeared from the room, looked at them, and immediately showed a face full of surprise.
"You’re here? Why aren’t you coming in, hurry up!"
Ashley Shaw keenly noticed the reddish whites of Claire Xavier’s eyes; she had obviously cried for a long time.
Without a word, she entered the room and saw that there was a towel-wrapped ice pack at the entrance.
Seems like she used an ice pack on her eyes, keeping them from swelling.
The eyes weren’t swollen, but they were still red.
"Sit down! I prepared a lot of food!" Claire Xavier seemed normal, introducing her room to the two while suggesting they sleep on the same bed together tonight.
She appeared happy.
Since Claire Xavier didn’t bring it up, Ashley Shaw restrained herself from asking.
Anyway, the night is long, there’s plenty of time to talk.
Ariana Grant’s thoughts weren’t as meticulous as Ashley Shaw’s. Seeing the junk food on the table, her eyes lit up instantly, displaying a puppy-like pitiful wanting look.
"Ashley, can I..."
"Go ahead, but it’s either the crawfish or the barbecue."
"Hooray!"
Ariana Grant grabbed a skewer of barbecue and began munching.
She could let Ashley make the crawfish, but for barbecue, she hadn’t had it in ages.
Claire Xavier couldn’t stop smiling.
"I love watching you eat; it makes the food appear more delicious."
"It really is delicious! You don’t know how long I’ve been forced to abstain! More than a month!" Ariana Grant said, almost in tears.
"Then take this chance to eat more."
Ashley Shaw was about to correct Claire Xavier’s "eat more," when her phone rang.
She glanced at the caller ID; it was a local number from Westcroft.
"Hello?"
A middle-aged man’s voice came from the other end.
"Is this Ashley?"
"It’s me. Who is this?"
"I’m Gavin Lynch, the father of Rosalind and Jillian."
Ashley Shaw’s complexion slightly changed, "Please hold on," she then indicated the balcony to Claire Xavier, asking if she could take the call there.
Claire Xavier gestured "OK," so Ashley Shaw opened the balcony door and stepped out.
Once she closed the door behind her, Ashley Shaw spoke, "You may begin."
"Here’s the situation, I just returned from the office only to hear Jillian caused trouble. So I immediately got your number from Rosalind and gave you a call."
"I just scolded her for you recently, hoping that you won’t take it to heart and won’t lower yourself to a child’s level."
"But rest assured, this apology is sincere; I’m genuinely sorry."
"Sorry! It’s my fault for not educating her well and causing trouble for you."
"Moreover, I assure you, there absolutely won’t be a next time. If there is, you can dunk me in the pool, and I wouldn’t say a word against you."
Ashley Shaw patiently listened through it.
She coolly replied—
"Chairman Lynch, didn’t you apologize to the wrong person?"
"You should apologize to the victim, not to me, the victim’s friend."
"You couldn’t even grasp this before making the call. Your sincerity, I just can’t feel it. I think there’s no point in continuing this call."
"Goodbye."
Ashley Shaw hung up the call directly, swiftly blocked the number without hesitation.
The Lynch Family, none of them are normal.
As she returned to the room, the icy demeanor hadn’t melted off her face.
Claire Xavier had never seen Ashley Shaw’s face looking so grim and was startled, asking, "What happened to you? Who upset you?"
"No one..." Ashley Shaw wanted to brush it off, but Claire Xavier relentlessly asked, leaving her to explain the details.
By the time she finished, Ariana Grant just emerged from the bathroom.
Claire Xavier quickly asked her, "Ariana, are you feeling better now?"
Ariana Grant didn’t know if Claire Xavier was referring to Leon Zeller’s matter or the Lynch sisters’ incident.
But soon considered that Ashley Shaw wasn’t the type to casually reveal her private matters, so she answered about the Lynch sisters incident, "All good, just drank a few sips of water, was thirsty, quenched my thirst."
Claire Xavier couldn’t help but laugh.
"You... if I had your mindset, today wouldn’t have been such a breakdown."
Ashley Shaw and Ariana Grant eagerly inquired, "What happened?"
Claire Xavier sighed and narrated the events.
It turned out she’d been forced to meet a divorced man with children today. After the meeting, the man was very pleased and directly discussed marriage with the Xavier parents.
She strongly opposed, but the Xavier parents disregarded her wishes, even saying if she doesn’t marry, the cake shop would have to close.
Just then, Cillian Xavier came down and overheard.
He immediately said he was willing to go abroad for further study, would obediently take over the family business, so their parents wouldn’t force his sister to be a sacrificial lamb.
Previously, Cillian Xavier always wanted to study painting and had no interest in inheriting the family business.
He even resisted strongly.
Upon reaching this point, Claire Xavier’s eyes reddened again, and tears streamed down her face.
"I don’t want to marry him... I don’t want to marry anyone. But, I also don’t want Cillian to give up his dreams just for me."
Ashley Shaw quickly handed two tissues to Claire Xavier.
Claire Xavier wiped her tears, somewhat embarrassedly said, "Sorry, I brought you over to have fun, but ended up making you my emotional trash can."