Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Ripple Effects
Until yesterday, Warren Prescott thought his relationship with Ashley Shaw was already strained enough. Only now did he realize there was something called "polite distance."
This kind of politeness doesn’t hurt like a deep wound, leaving you bleeding.
It’s more like a toothache, suddenly stabbing at you in every quiet moment.
He’d rather Ashley Shaw curse him out, but even that seemed like a luxury now.
Warren Prescott stared at his phone screen for a long time before finally returning the money transfer.
Ashley Shaw quickly responded.
Ashley: [ ? ]
Warren: [ I have a friend returning to the country, and I’m just about to pick out a welcome gift for him. ]
Ashley: [ So? ]
Warren: [ Two hundred fifty isn’t a number I like. When you’re free, come help me pick something of similar value. It’s perfect for him. ]
Ashley: [ Sorry, I don’t have time. ]
Warren: [ It’s Leo. ]
After a moment, she replied: [ When’s Leo coming back? ]
Warren: [ Next month. ]
Ashley: [ I’ll get in touch when I’m free. ]
Warren finally allowed a small smile to appear on his face.
Warren: [ Great, I’ll wait for you. ]
Warren: [ smile.jpg ]
On the other end, seeing the smile emoji, Ashley Shaw inexplicably remembered what Ariana Grant said about how sending that emoji usually means the person is upset inside.
Was he upset? Hadn’t she already agreed?
Ashley Shaw shook her head, unwilling to spend any more energy trying to decipher Warren Prescott’s inner thoughts.
As for picking the gift, she could always call upon Ariana to help, avoiding any absurd incidents like that hotel fiasco.
After all, it’s just picking a gift.
And it’s for Leo, after all.
Leo was like the big brother among them. After the pool incident, he was the only one who believed her.
Even after she married Warren Prescott in a past life, Leo often advised Warren to cherish the person in front of him.
Even when her mom had an accident, Leo, who was abroad, sent many comforting emails.
Leo is a good person.
She didn’t just want to help Warren pick a gift; she wanted to get a gift for Leo too.
The taxi stopped in front of the store at that moment.
Ashley Shaw saw a crowd gathered at the store’s entrance, with many holding cameras.
She sensed something was off and was about to get out and inquire when Claire Xavier suddenly ran over from somewhere.
"Ashley, get back in the car."
Without understanding, Ashley Shaw was pushed back into the car by Claire Xavier, who also slid in beside her.
"Sorry, driver, give us two minutes, then please drive off."
The taxi driver was easygoing.
"Sure."
"What happened?" Ashley Shaw asked in confusion, "Those people at the entrance are...?"
Claire Xavier took a breath before speaking: "Did you see Rosalind Lynch’s apology letter online?"
"Yeah."
"Now people are bored and started digging into the victim, and somehow, some have found you, even knowing you work at my store. They’ve been camping out for a while, so take these couple of days to rest at home. No need to come to work. Once this blows over, I’ll call you."
Ashley Shaw found it hard to understand.
"Why are they digging into me?"
"Just to watch the drama unfold! Everyone’s curious about the mysterious girl who made The Eldest Miss Lynch jealous."
"...They’re really bored."
"Don’t worry, it’ll blow over soon, and Archie’s figuring something out."
"But I didn’t do anything wrong; why should I be afraid of them?"
"We all know you did nothing wrong, but online public opinion can’t be controlled. Who knows how the situation will develop?"
Ashley Shaw sighed: "Got it. I’ll take this chance to get that myopic surgery done."
"Good, since you were already planning on it anyway."
Claire Xavier said, cracking the door a little: "You head back, and let me know when your surgery happens. I’ll come to keep you company."
"It’s just a small procedure, no need."
"Just keep me posted anyway."
Ashley Shaw nodded. Claire Xavier quickly exited and shut the door, tapping on the window to signal the driver to go.
"Driver, to Caldera Lodge."
"Sure thing!"
The driver pressed the gas, and the taxi sped away without drawing attention from the gossip crowd.
Meanwhile, Ashley Shaw’s phone chimed with a WeChat notification.
She picked up the phone and glanced at it. It was a call from Warren Prescott.
Frowning slightly, she still answered.
"Hello, Ashley? Where are you now?"
His tone was full of urgency.
"On the way home."
There was a pause from him, and then he asked: "Did you go to the store?"
"Yeah."
"Try not to go out these couple of days. Give me two days, and there won’t be any more digging into you."
"It’s fine," Ashley Shaw replied calmly: "People will forget soon enough, and once they discover I’m just a regular person, they’ll lose interest."
"I’m sorry..." His voice was muffled.
"You don’t have to apologize. Didn’t you help negotiate five million for me?"
To be honest, this situation was for the best. Otherwise, knowing her, she would’ve never left work for surgery.
She might not have even gone to the hospital by the time the semester began.
The voice on the phone said, "I-I wasn’t referring to that."
"Then what?"
"That day at the hotel... I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have acted that way. And before, I’ve done similar things. I’m sorry, just think of it as me being drunk and foolish. It won’t happen again."
Ashley Shaw glanced at the retreating scenery outside the window, more puzzled by Warren Prescott’s thoughts.
But what difference did it make what he thought?
By the time the semester began, their lives would be completely separate.
With this thought, Ashley Shaw unusually replied in a pleasant tone: "It’s okay, I’ve forgotten those things."
"You’re really not mad?"
"No."
Assistant Lowell’s voice echoed in the background.
"Mr. Prescott Jr., the PR department..."
"I’m on a call, I’ll deal with it later."
He must’ve been speaking to Assistant Lowell.
Ashley Shaw took the opportunity to say, "You go ahead, I’m hanging up."
Saying that, she hung up before Warren Prescott could say anything else.
Once the phone screen showed "call ended," Ashley Shaw let out a long sigh.
Talking to Warren Prescott was so exhausting.
Later that evening, Ashley Shaw received a call from Elder Prescott.
He started by scolding Warren for getting Rosalind Lynch to publicly apologize, which inadvertently dragged her into the mess.
Then, out of the blue, he said: "Ashley, Warren isn’t a bad kid at heart. Even though he messed up, his intentions were good. He’s truly repentant now."
Ashley Shaw made a sound of acknowledgment: "I know."
"He... he..."
"Hmm?"
Elder Prescott stammered, unable to string together a full sentence for a while.
Curious, Ashley Shaw asked, "Grandpa Prescott, what do you want to say?"