Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Get Out of My Sight
Warren Prescott smirked, just about to say no one borrows money to treat others, when Ashley Shaw’s phone in his hand started vibrating.
He casually glanced down at the phone; it was a call from Grandpa Prescott.
Wasn’t Mrs. Chase supposed to have taken his phone away?
But now it didn’t matter.
"It’s my call, please return the phone to me..."
The moment Warren looked at the phone, Ashley Shaw also saw the caller ID, and she panicked, taking a step forward to grab the phone from Warren’s hand.
Warren didn’t dodge this time, easily letting go of the phone.
Ashley successfully retrieved her phone, immediately took two steps back, fearing Warren would snatch it away again.
Seeing he made no move, she relaxed slightly and walked a few meters away before answering the call.
"Ashley, I apologize sincerely."
Grandpa Prescott’s voice came through the phone, "I just fell asleep, and when I woke up to use the bathroom, I realized they took my phone while I was sleeping, so I missed your call."
"It’s nothing, Grandpa Prescott. I’m the one who should apologize for disturbing your rest."
"By the way, did you need something from me?"
Before Ashley could speak, Grandpa Prescott asked again, "Could it be that Warren forgot to transfer the money to you while having too much fun?"
Ashley’s face changed, her eyes quickly flicked to Warren.
He still wore that smirk, as if seeing right through everything.
Ashley felt as if her blood was flowing backward all of a sudden.
She heard Grandpa Prescott on the other end rambling on, "Oh dear, what’s wrong with that boy? I reminded him over and over not to forget, to transfer the money to you as soon as possible, but he actually forgot! Hold on, let me call him now."
Ashley suddenly snapped back to her senses and hurriedly said, "No need, Grandpa Prescott, he’s right next to me."
"Oh, oh, is that so? Then quickly tell him, don’t feel embarrassed, I’ve already given him a heads-up."
Ashley held her phone with a stiff expression.
"Okay, get some rest. I’ll hang up now."
"Alright then."
The call ended, and Ashley saw Warren standing leisurely nearby, feeling only amused.
She laughed at herself for frantically grabbing the phone back earlier, fearing Warren would know that when she confidently said she could cover the bill during truth or dare, her confidence came from Grandpa Prescott.
Yet she didn’t expect Warren to know from the very beginning.
He knew but said nothing, quietly watching her performance like a clown.
Her insistence on paying, her pretense of ease, her respectful dignity, all already shattered without her knowledge.
He did it on purpose!
Purposely watching her make a fool of herself!
She was foolish to think Warren had changed for the better now.
A leopard can’t change its spots; he used to enjoy watching her stumble, and now it’s the same, just with new tricks.
He learned to give her a taste of sweetness before hitting her hard.
Those inexplicable words he said to her when pinning her against the wall in the private room were probably a setup before delivering a heavy blow, making her mistakenly believe he was genuinely regretful, not knowing how to mend their relationship.
Now thinking about it, Warren doesn’t intend to mend the relationship at all; he is born with arrogance and would never admit to being wrong.
Perhaps due to anger, the more Ashley thought, the more her breathing quickened, and even her vision became blurry.
Strange... what’s happening...
Why does she feel dizzy? And there’s this nauseous feeling?
It feels terrible.
Is she really going to be "angry to the point of vomiting" because of Warren?
Meanwhile, Warren stood waiting for Ashley to finish the call before approaching her.
As Ashley put away her phone, he was about to walk over when he unexpectedly saw Ashley suddenly clutch her chest, her face pale as a sheet.
He frowned and walked over.
"Finished the call?"
Ashley didn’t bother acknowledging him and brushed past Warren, heading outside.
Warren quickly caught up.
"Aren’t you settling the bill?"
He wanted to express concern, but the words came out wrong.
He was annoyed too.
He gave her several chances to back down, but she stubbornly refused, insisting on distancing herself with this ’treating’ excuse.
How could he endure that?
So after everyone left the private room, he lost control.
Thinking back now, he regretted it a bit.
Worried she might have been frightened.
When he asked, "Aren’t you settling the bill?", Ashley did stop.
She turned her head, an unspeakable expression on her face.
"You clearly knew I borrowed money from Grandpa Prescott, yet you deliberately told him you transferred it, but never intended to. Now you’re asking me to pay the bill? With what, my head?"
She nearly shouted, startling Warren.
And Ashley immediately regretted yelling.
She still lacked composure, letting her emotions be affected by Warren.
It was she who owed him a favor, yet she was venting her anger on him.
Put bluntly, she had no right to get angry at Warren.
Besides this drink today, she still owed Warren for the 1,070,000 worth brooch.
Thinking of this, Ashley shattered her own dignity and gave a deep bow to Warren.
"Sorry, I lost my temper earlier. Please don’t mind."
Warren stood there, stunned.
He was just about to explain when Ashley preemptively apologized.
How did she change her demeanor in a second?
Just as Warren was unsure of how to react, he saw Ashley sway slightly as she bowed.
Alarmed, he took a step forward just to see Ashley suddenly collapse headfirst toward the ground.
Warren was startled, his body reacting quicker than his brain, almost flying over to her side.
He caught her waist just a second before she hit the ground face-first.
"Ashley?"
Warren held her waist with one arm and gently shook her shoulder with the other.
"Ashley, are you alright? Can you hear me?"
In the shaking, Ashley’s head lolled back.
Warren saw Ashley with her eyebrows furrowed, eyes shut tight, looking completely unconscious.
"Warren..."
The front desk manager quickly stepped over, tentatively asking, "Warren, is she pretending to be drunk to avoid paying?"
Earlier, he found it a bit strange how the girl’s expression seemed weird when asked to pay, and now her reaction confirmed his suspicion.
"I have an idea!" the manager said, "I’ll get a bucket of ice water and pour it on..."
"Get lost!" Warren glared over, "She’s with me!"
With Warren? Warren’s... woman?
Damn, he actually suspected she was pretending to avoid paying.
As the front desk manager worried whether Warren would be angry with him, he noticed Warren was already walking away with Ashley cradled in his arms at some point.