Chapter 182: Chapter 182: Unsolicited Kindness
"Anyway, I’m driving, what’s a few more steps to drop you off? I’ll make sure everyone gets home safely, but you’re the patient, so you get priority. Anyone have any objections?"
"Absolutely no objections!" Everyone said in unison.
Ashley Shaw initially felt awkward and feared everyone might bring up what happened earlier, so she wanted to get off the car early.
But Claire Xavier insisted, so she could only ride home in Claire’s car.
"Don’t think about coming back to work for the next few days, just rest well at home." Claire said.
"Okay." She really didn’t have the mindset to go to work right now.
About fifty minutes later, the car stopped at the entrance of the neighborhood.
Claire wanted to get off to see her home, but Ashley politely refused.
"You have a lot of people to drop off today, no need to see us home. Let’s meet at your place next time."
"Sure." Claire waved her hand, reminding her: "Get some rest when you get home. Don’t think everything’s fine just because you’re discharged; you need quiet time to recover from the concussion."
"Got it! Bye!"
Ashley bent down to get off the car, watching as it drove away.
She turned around and saw Ariana Grant staring at a parking space at the entrance of her building.
Ashley followed Ariana’s gaze and saw an old red car parked there.
Curious, she asked: "What are you looking at? Do you like that car?"
Ariana turned back to her, her expression stiff: "Trouble has arrived."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"That car belongs to my mom."
Ashley immediately understood.
She took Ariana’s hand and said: "Let’s go. Whatever comes, we’ll face it. I think your mom isn’t someone completely unreasonable."
Ariana shook her head.
"You’re wrong. She is that kind of unreasonable person. Once she decides on something, she absolutely won’t let go. Now she believes that Kevin Hayes and Hailey Hayes are her real family, so she won’t spare us."
"Don’t think like that, you’re her biological daughter. She won’t be too harsh."
Ariana sighed, pulled her hand out from Ashley’s, and said: "Whether she will be harsh or not, you shouldn’t go up. I’ll talk to her myself. You wait for me at the supermarket across the neighborhood. Also, grab me a roasted sausage from the supermarket. If I get too angry, stuff the sausage in my mouth; fill my stomach, and I’ll be happy."
"But..."
"No buts, go quickly! I bet my mom is here for you. If you’re not here, she should leave soon."
Ashley hesitated for a moment but nodded, saying: "Alright."
She cautioned: "If something seems off or your mom does something extreme, call me immediately. I’m nearby, and I’ll run up as soon as you call."
"Got it! I’m heading up."
Ariana gave her a reassuring look and walked heavily up the stairs.
Ashley stood for a moment before deciding to also head upstairs.
However, she didn’t stop at Ariana’s floor but went straight to the stairwell corner above, crouching there to wait.
She had planned it: if something loud happened inside, she would rush in. If nothing happened, and Jade Coleman came out, she wouldn’t be seen. Hence, waiting at the stair corner was the best spot.
...
Ariana didn’t know Ashley had followed her up.
But she reminded herself to be cautious, leaving the door ajar when she entered.
It’s not that she feared Jade would harm her; with her build, even three Jade-type middle-aged women wouldn’t be her match.
Her concern was that she might impulsively get physical with Jade, leaving Jade no chance to escape.
So before pushing the door, Ariana had already run through countless possibilities.
She even wondered if Jade might be waiting behind the door with a kitchen knife, ready for her to enter.
However, after inputting the door code and opening it, she smelled the aroma of dishes.
Her keen sense picked up the scent immediately: it was her once-favorite spicy duck blood soup.
The reason it’s a past favorite is because Ashley had banned such heavily flavored dishes from her diet.
It’s funny how people work. What you once loved, if you don’t touch it for a long time, you somehow stop loving it.
Just like her relationship with her mom. She once relied on Jade for everything, but now feels unfamiliar having Jade around.
Sounds from the kitchen indicated the exhaust vent was running; her mom should still be in there.
Ariana gathered herself, changed into slippers, and walked inside.
Looking up, she saw, indeed, a bowl of spicy duck blood soup on the table among six other dishes.
Besides those dishes, there was a handheld game console on the table.
It was the one she wanted Jade to buy for her last birthday, but Jade deemed it too expensive and didn’t get it.
Ariana’s eyes brightened momentarily but quickly dimmed.
She has no other hobbies but playing games and eating.
With her most desired items on the table, she still couldn’t feel happy.
"Ah, Ariana’s home?"
Jade’s voice came from behind.
Ariana turned expressionless, seeing Jade holding a bowl of freshly made braised pork.
The shine of the braised pork teased her taste buds, filling the air with its enticing aroma.
Ariana tried hard to control her hunger and coldly said: "Offering kindness for no reason, either plotting or stealing, just say what you want. No need for all this."
Jade frowned, casting a glare at her.
"What nonsense are you talking about to your mom? Sit down, there’s soup in the pot that’s almost done. Eat first. I’ll serve the rice."
Jade finished speaking and glanced subtly towards the door.
Seeing the empty entryway, she turned to Ariana and asked: "Hmm? Where’s Ashley?"
"She went to her own place."
"Oh..." Something quickly flickered in Jade’s eyes, too swiftly for Ariana to grasp.
Seeing Jade place the braised pork and head back to the kitchen, Ariana grabbed Jade’s arm.
"Stop fussing around; just tell me what you really want."
"What do you mean real want?" Jade said with displeasure: "A mother cooking for her child, what else could it be? Isn’t it the most natural thing? You’re just getting more unreasonable as you grow!"
Though it’s scolding, it lacked any anger.
Ariana sneered, grabbing the game console from the table and holding it up to Jade.
"Cooking for your child is natural, then what about this game console? You refused to buy this for me last birthday, claiming our family couldn’t afford such an expensive item. So, did our conditions suddenly improve after the divorce?"
"Oh, you... Mom felt she owed you, that’s one reason. Also, back then, you were in your sophomore year; the game’s price was one thing, but mainly I didn’t want you to get distracted from your studies. Now you’ve finished exams and graduated. Knowing you wanted this, I bought it for you. Is there a problem?"