Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Past and Present Lives
After being reincarnated, she often wrote in her diary to reflect on herself and remind herself not to repeat the mistakes of her past life.
But after she moved out to live with Ariana, she switched from writing her diary by hand to writing it on her phone.
Her phone’s memo contained some details about her past life.
Although they were just fragments, it was crucial that no one saw them.
Otherwise, she couldn’t guarantee she wouldn’t be sent off as a specimen.
Judging from Warren Prescott’s reaction, he probably hadn’t looked at her phone?
Before she could speak, Warren Prescott explained first: "You hadn’t woken up yet, and your friend called, so I answered for you. Later, I put it in my pocket and forgot to return it."
"I see, thank you."
As Ashley Shaw spoke, she unconsciously unlocked her phone.
Before she could check if the memo had been opened, Warren Prescott’s voice sounded, mild and indifferent——
"Don’t worry, I didn’t look at your phone."
Ashley Shaw’s cheeks grew warm: "I didn’t mean that..."
Her guilty conscience was practically written all over her face.
Warren Prescott’s dark eyes fixed on her, with a hint of mockery beneath them.
But he wasn’t entirely innocent himself.
He indeed had the thought, but ultimately didn’t act on it.
"Whether you meant it or not doesn’t matter." Warren Prescott changed the subject: "Grandpa knows, he wants you to call him back."
"Grandpa Prescott knows I’m hospitalized? He’s still awake at this hour?"
"Yeah."
Without a second thought, Ashley Shaw dialed Elder Prescott’s number.
The beep sounded only twice before it was answered.
Before Ashley Shaw could say anything, Elder Prescott spoke first: "Is that Ashley?"
"It’s me, Grandpa Prescott."
"How are you feeling now? Are you any better?"
Ashley Shaw didn’t know how much Elder Prescott was aware of, so she didn’t go into detail, simply saying: "Much better."
"That’s good, you really gave me a scare. If they hadn’t stopped me, I’d have already taken a taxi over."
"Please don’t come, I’m really okay."
"I understand, knowing you’re alright puts me at ease. I’ll have Warren stay there tonight to look after you; it’s not convenient being in the hospital alone."
Ashley Shaw had the speakerphone on and, hearing this, instinctively glanced at Warren Prescott.
Warren Prescott happened to be looking at her too.
Their eyes met, and Ashley Shaw quickly averted her gaze, gripping her phone tightly, saying: "There’s no need, Grandpa. I..."
"No need to be embarrassed, just treat him like a workhorse; if he doesn’t listen, call me! I’ll teach him a lesson for you!"
Ashley Shaw felt embarrassed.
"Really no need, Grandpa Prescott. My friend has already come to be with me, the one you met, Ariana."
"Oh, then there’s indeed no need."
"Yeah."
"Alright, let me know if anything comes up, I’ll rest now and come by tomorrow."
Ashley Shaw knew that even if she said not to come, Elder Prescott would still visit her, so she agreed: "Okay."
"Then I’ll hang up!"
The call ended, and Ashley Shaw breathed a sigh of relief.
If Warren Prescott truly stayed overnight, she probably wouldn’t be able to sleep a wink.
Ashley Shaw put away her phone and looked at Warren Prescott, who hadn’t left yet, probing, "Well... the call is finished."
Implying, he could leave now.
Warren Prescott’s expression turned a shade colder.
He knew he wasn’t welcomed there, but she didn’t have to be so eager.
Warren Prescott intended to stay a bit longer, hoping to wait until her friend arrived to accompany her.
From his research, with a concussion, it was best to have someone around.
After a two-second silence, he suddenly asked, "Do you believe in past lives and reincarnation?"
"Boom——" Ashley Shaw’s mind seemed to explode, her scalp tingling.
Did Warren Prescott really see the contents of her phone’s memo?
But he had just said he hadn’t looked, was he lying?
Under the white fluorescent light in the ward, Ashley Shaw’s already pale face appeared even more bloodless.
She dared not think about what Warren Prescott would do if he truly knew she was reincarnated.
Given Warren’s extent of dislike for her, he’d likely send her off for scientific research.
He was someone who liked to set traps to see her embarrassed.
Just like tonight.
He went through such a roundabout way, helping her a few times, then giving her a hard blow.
Warren Prescott looked at Ashley Shaw’s exceedingly unpleasant face, his brows furrowing.
He had simply casually brought up a subject, why was Ashley Shaw’s reaction so intense?
He felt a strange unease.
"What’s wrong?" Warren asked.
Ashley Shaw struggled to find her voice and said: "Do you believe in it?"
She didn’t know how to answer in a way that resembled a normal person, someone who hadn’t experienced past lives and reincarnation, so she countered with a question.
"I don’t." Warren Prescott shook his head, "It’s all superstitious."
Warren’s answer brought a trace of vitality to Ashley Shaw’s heart.
So, even if Warren saw the memo’s contents, he wouldn’t believe it?
Her tense nerves relaxed instantly.
But she dared not show an obvious change, merely continued to follow Warren’s lead, asking: "Why ask if you don’t believe?"
Warren Prescott lifted his eyelids to glance at her.
"What do you think?"
Ashley Shaw felt her scalp tingle once again.
He had indeed seen her memo.
At that moment, Ashley Shaw’s anger rose, yet she dared not express it.
She feared that if she did, Warren, who originally didn’t believe in "past lives and reincarnation," might start believing that she was reincarnated, and actually send her for human experimentation.
She couldn’t risk that.
Ashley Shaw held back and said, "I don’t know; sometimes I believe, sometimes I don’t."
"Oh? When do you believe, and when don’t you?"
Ashley Shaw answered: "When I see some people doing bad things, I believe they’ll get their comeuppance in their next life. Other times, I don’t believe."
It was a veiled insult that smoothly shifted the topic away from reincarnation.
Warren Prescott indeed understood, and his face turned dark instantly.
"Ungrateful!"
Wasn’t it him who helped her each time she was in danger!
The next time, she’d better not come to him for help!
However, Warren Prescott understood perfectly well that if he hadn’t happened upon those dangers by chance, Ashley Shaw really wouldn’t have sought him out.
This thought dropped Warren’s mood entirely.
With a solemn face, he turned and walked away.
Seeing him turn and leave, a relieved smile appeared on Ashley Shaw’s face.
Finally, she could bid goodbye to this troublesome presence.
But just as the smile appeared on her face, Warren Prescott unexpectedly turned back.
Ashley Shaw was caught off guard, unable to change her expression quickly enough.
"Heh-heh." She let out two dry laughs, trying to patch things up: "Take care, be careful on the way back."
Warren Prescott ignored her insincere smile and said once more: "I’ll say it again, if you really want to repay me, show some sincerity."