Chapter 191: Chapter 191: Moving Back to the Prescott Family
Just as the police officers left, a few cleaners called by Warren Prescott arrived.
The person in charge was Mrs. Chase.
The moment Ashley Shaw saw Mrs. Chase, she had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, not long after the living room was restored to its original state and the people were sent off, Ashley Shaw received a call from Elder Prescott.
"Ashley, I heard that your friend, oh yes, Ariana, had some issues at home?"
Ashley Shaw quickly glanced at Warren Prescott.
Warren Prescott met her gaze expressionlessly, and Ashley Shaw knew it was Mrs. Chase who had mentioned it.
"It’s nothing serious, just Ariana had an argument with her mom."
"Is it that woman who helps her boyfriend’s daughter instead of her own?"
Ashley Shaw widened her eyes slightly, feeling lucky that Ariana Grant was boiling water and didn’t hear this, while also surprised that Grandpa Prescott even knew about this.
But she understood that Grandpa Prescott was asking out of good intentions, so she patiently replied, "Yes, that’s her."
"Tsk! What right does such a woman have to be a mother?"
"Why is it that those who desperately want children can’t have them, yet heartless people like her get to be mothers?"
Elder Prescott berated Jade Coleman on the phone for over a minute before finally getting to the point.
"Ashley, I was thinking, even though you and Ariana live at home, there are some inconveniences and safety issues for two girls living alone. So I was wondering, would you consider moving back home with your friend before the school term starts?"
"On one hand, the family can take better care of you both. With so many maids at home, they have nothing to do, so looking after you would give them something worthwhile to do, ensuring my salary isn’t wasted."
"On the other hand, I’m an old man bored at home. If you guys are nearby, you can keep me company."
"Also, living outside involves expenses, but if you’re at home, at least the costs of meals and utilities are saved. Wouldn’t you agree?"
"Of course, the most important thing is safety. You know our place, let alone your friend’s mom, not even a mosquito can get in. There’s absolutely no chance you’d be bullied."
Elder Prescott detailed the benefits of them moving in, almost talking his tongue off.
It wasn’t until Ariana Grant finished boiling water and prepared the unique passion fruit tea she boasted about to the cleaners, that Elder Prescott finally asked her thoughts.
"Ashley, what do you think?"
Ashley Shaw really didn’t want to hurt the old man’s feelings, but she still forced herself to say, "I’m sorry, Grandpa Prescott. We won’t be moving in. It’s too much trouble. And we’re soon moving to Aethelgard, moving back and forth is a hassle."
Elder Prescott paused for a moment on the other end, then asked, "You’re moving to Aethelgard so soon? There’s still over twenty days of summer left."
"Not immediately. We’re planning to go in about a week to get accustomed early."
"Then you could at least stay here for a week! If you’re worried about moving things, don’t move anything! We’ve got everything here ready. If you need anything, just tell Mrs. Chase to buy it!"
"It’s really no trouble, and my friend isn’t used to it."
Ariana Grant beside her was frantically winking, asking: [Not used to what?]
Ashley Shaw pretended not to see Ariana Grant’s excessive winking and said, "I’m sorry, Grandpa Prescott. I’ll visit you before we leave."
"In that case, come over for dinner tonight; I happen to have a gift for you for school."
Having declined moving in, refusing dinner too would be inexcusable.
Ashley Shaw had no choice but to say, "Okay, we’ll come for dinner."
"Alright then, it’s settled. Dinner’s at five-thirty, come early and you can play chess with me. I’ve improved a lot recently; you might not even beat me now."
"Okay."
The living room was very quiet, and even though Ashley Shaw didn’t have the speaker on, Warren Prescott heard the entire conversation with Elder Prescott clearly.
His eyelids twitched gently, his feelings uncertain.
In the past, knowing Ashley Shaw wouldn’t move back home would be cause for celebration with fireworks.
However, times have changed, and just now he really hoped Ashley Shaw would agree to move back with grandpa.
Regardless of the inner turmoil, his face remained expressionless.
"Who was on the phone?" Ariana Grant asked.
"Grandpa Prescott, he wants us over for dinner."
"What? Us?"
"Yes, I accepted on your behalf."
Ariana Grant instinctively glanced at Warren Prescott.
Unlike Ashley, Ashley going back for dinner was going home; for her, it was really being a guest.
Would Warren Prescott find her an intrusion?
Yet she heard Warren Prescott ask, "Where’s the passion fruit tea you mentioned?"
"Here it is!"
Ariana Grant quickly poured a cup for Warren Prescott.
When the cleaners were leaving, she casually asked if Warren Prescott wanted to try her homemade passion fruit freeze-dried tea.
She thought Warren Prescott would dismiss homemade things, but he actually nodded and agreed.
So now they were in this situation.
Warren Prescott lightly blew into the cup, then earnestly tasted the flavor.
His expression froze slightly the next moment.
Ariana Grant, watching his expression the entire time, felt nervous when she saw his sudden change.
"N-not good, right?"
She had the talent for eating but not for cooking; the only thing she could present was these homemade fruit teas.
She even bought a freeze-drier specifically for making these odd freeze-dried items.
The passion fruit freeze-dried tea was her proudest creation.
But... was it still disliked?
However, the next moment Warren Prescott said, "Is this fruit tea really made by you?"
Ariana Grant paused, then nodded and said, "Yes, why ask?"
"I think I’ve tasted this somewhere else before."
"Impossible." Ariana Grant said without thinking, "My fruit tea is unique in the world; it’s not just passion fruit, but also about seventy-eight different ingredients, so it can’t taste the same as anything else."
She had also told Ashley that when they went to Aethelgard, they would run a night market stall together, just selling these fruit teas there.
She tuned each tea’s flavor repeatedly to ensure they were delicious while adding unique innovations.
Especially this passion fruit tea; its taste was exceptionally distinctive.
Ashley Shaw knew this very well too; a trace of doubt appeared in her eyes, and she directly asked Warren Prescott, "Where did you taste something similar?"
Warren Prescott originally mentioned it casually, not expecting them to react so seriously.
He couldn’t help but take it seriously and began to recall earnestly.
"I think it was at... the Spectator Live headquarters."