Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Let Me Treat You to a Meal
"Just now... I’m sorry. Does your chin still hurt?"
Warren Prescott’s dark eyes stared at her without answering. Instead, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, extracted one, and held it between his long fingers.
Ashley Shaw noticed that the brand of cigarettes he was smoking now was actually the one Warren would grow fond of much later in their past life.
According to the timeline, he shouldn’t switch from foreign cigarettes to this brand for another two years.
But Ashley quickly realized she was being misled by her own thoughts.
This wasn’t the time to notice what brand of cigarettes Warren was smoking.
If she didn’t want to repeat the same mistakes, she had to make all the apologies she needed to and repay all the debts she owed, to let everything return to the beginning, and redraw the boundaries.
Because an inner voice was telling her: Continuing like this was absolutely not an option.
Across from her, Warren took out a lighter, just about to light up, when he saw Ashley staring intently at the cigarette between his fingers.
He assumed she didn’t like people smoking in front of her, so he reflexively put the lighter away, holding the unlit cigarette lightly amused, he asked her, "What do you think?"
"It should... hurt quite a bit, right?"
He scoffed.
"No kidding!"
"I’m sorry..."
Ashley lowered her head, and Warren could only see the graceful, smooth lines of her bare nape, a section so white that one would be tempted to pinch it to see if it would leave a lasting red mark.
The wind blew past, and he seemed to catch a faint scent of delicate fragrance, causing his throat to move subconsciously.
"Ahem!"
Warren cleared his throat, forcibly shifting his gaze away from her nape, seeing how her curled eyelashes concealed her downcast brows and eyes.
"I’m sorry."
He heard her repeat again, then she continued, "I didn’t know it was you at the time. I thought it was Hailey Hayes’ father—the one who was put in the police car—so I instinctively swung. I didn’t expect it to be you. I’m really sorry."
Once Ashley finished speaking, she deeply bowed to Warren.
Watching Ashley’s actions, Warren found it amusing.
Was she afraid he would get angry now?
He had hurried over to help her handle things, would he really care about that punch incident?
When she used to treat him with a sharp tongue and disdain, almost wanting to draw a line between them, why wasn’t she afraid then?
He realized he truly couldn’t see through Ashley Shaw.
Her attitude towards him changed each time, making it impossible to guess what she was thinking.
"And also..."
Ashley suddenly looked up at him.
Caught off guard, Warren instinctively averted his eyes, uncertain of the guilt he was experiencing.
He only heard Ashley say, "Thank you for what you did today."
Warren’s expression had already returned to being cold as he asked indifferently, "Which thing are you referring to?"
Ashley quickly guessed whether he was asking about helping her settle the bill at The Apex or dealing with the Hayes family.
"Both."
Ashley said sincerely, "Thank you for all of it."
Warren’s lips curved slightly, just about to speak when Ashley continued, "Though the brooch is broken, I’ll transfer the money for it to you as soon as possible. Afterwards, I’ll personally buy a new gift for Leo."
Warren’s gaze suddenly turned cold.
They had already agreed in the afternoon that he would cover the cost, yet now she wanted to pay him back?
What was this? Was she playing him?
Warren couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.
"What you owe me isn’t as simple as a single brooch."
"I know. So... I want to treat you to a meal. Do you have time now?"
"You’re treating? Are you sure?"
Ashley nodded.
"I’m sure. Didn’t we agree on the way out of The Apex that I would treat you to a meal?"
Warren said expressionlessly, "I’ve already eaten."
"Then another day? You can choose the time and the restaurant."
The anger in Warren’s eyes deepened.
He had heard correctly. She intended to clear all the debts she owed him and then draw a complete line between them.
"Get in the car."
He tossed out this command and then stepped into the Maybach behind him.
Ashley was confused. Didn’t he say he’d eaten and that it would be another day?
But since she owed him, she could only comply.
However, just as Ashley was about to open the car door, the Maybach drove away.
Ashley stood in place, bewildered.
Didn’t he tell her to get in the car?
The next second, a white BMW pulled up behind her.
A bodyguard stepped out to open the door for her and said, "Miss Shaw, please."
Ashley nodded, bent down, and got in.
The car quickly started moving, following the Maybach ahead.
It wasn’t until then that Ashley finally realized Warren was angry.
But she wasn’t surprised.
She had hit him quite hard earlier, and given Warren’s temper, the fact that he hadn’t retaliated was already good enough, not to mention sitting in the same car with her.
The car sped down the road.
Since being taken on a high-speed drive by Warren before, Ashley’s tolerance for riding in fast cars had increased significantly.
She pulled out her phone and texted Ariana Grant, telling her that she was treating Warren to a meal and suggesting she head home first.
Ariana’s reply was swift.
[Boo-hoo, Ashley, having money really is nice.]
Ashley’s face was puzzled.
Just as she was about to send a question mark, Ariana sent a picture.
It was the interior of the car Ariana was in.
She had been worried that Ariana would feel troubled by Jade Coleman siding with the Hayes family again, but it seemed her concerns were unfounded.
She sent a giggling emoji and then put her phone down.
Although she was no longer afraid of fast cars, looking at her phone in the vehicle still made her feel dizzy, even a bit nauseous.
But she didn’t know the driver, and the person clearly aimed to keep up with the Maybach ahead, so Ashley didn’t dare to ask them to slow down, only enduring the desire to vomit.
Luckily, after a while, the Maybach in front seemed to have a change of heart and slowed down.
Ashley quickly lowered the window.
As the cool breeze poured in, she finally felt a little better.
Approximately forty minutes later, the car stopped on a familiar street.
Ashley took a glance and realized it was near the convenience store where she had worked part-time before.
Then she saw Warren get out of the front Maybach and head straight to the other side.
Immediately, Ashley guessed where he was headed.
To the KTV across from the convenience store.
The previous times she went with Brooke and them to the KTV, it wasn’t this one; this KTV was a first for her.
"Miss Shaw, please." The driver pulled open the door.
Ashley thanked him and quickly followed Warren.
The KTV’s lobby was on the second floor.
Upon entering, she realized that from the outside, the KTV appeared ordinary, but the interior was surprisingly luxurious.
This could be seen from the gigantic crystal chandelier in the center of the lobby, and the surrounding walls adorned with artwork and refined decorations, each detail expressing an extreme attention to detail.
It must cost a fortune, right?
Yet singing karaoke is cheaper than dining out.
Besides, she hoped Warren would choose a pricier place, so that she’d feel better about repaying the favor.
But soon, Ashley realized just how naive her thoughts were.