Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Penniless
"No... This is all the money I have left. I have some more in the bank..."
Ashley Shaw hurriedly explained, her face flushed red.
She was afraid that the woman might once again think of doing something desperate, which would leave her feeling immensely guilty.
Just as Ashley offered to take the woman to the bank to get the money, Cillian Xavier came out of the shop.
"What’s going on?"
The woman saw Cillian’s attire and demeanor and instantly knew he was someone with influence, someone she couldn’t afford to mess with.
She had come today to confirm if Ashley Shaw was working here, just scouting in advance.
Getting some benefits was just incidental.
Anyway, these thousands of bucks were easy to take.
She hadn’t expected this girl to be so easy to deceive.
As for the injury on her neck, it wasn’t from trying to hurt herself, but from being too passionate with her lover.
If this guy had come out a bit later, she might have fleeced Ashley Shaw and absconded with the money, leaving her current man.
Not wanting any trouble, the woman immediately said before Ashley Shaw could speak: "Forget it! This is enough. In the future, stay away from me. I don’t want to see you again."
Saying that, the woman strutted off in her high heels, carrying her cake proudly.
Cillian Xavier stepped forward to inquire about the situation.
Ashley Shaw didn’t feel like explaining much, anything involving Warren Prescott made her reluctant to say more; even an extra word felt exhausting.
"It’s nothing really, just someone I met while working part-time at a convenience store. I owed her a favor, but now that’s settled."
Cillian Xavier nodded.
"That’s good. I thought she was coming to give you trouble."
"No..."
"Hmm. I came over today to tell you that Aunt Talbot has agreed to meet you. When is your friend available?"
"Anytime is fine. She’s at home with nothing to do, so whenever Dr. Tate can see her."
"How about the afternoon two days from now?"
"Okay."
"I’ll tell you the exact time later. I’ll come and pick both of you up."
"Isn’t that too much trouble for you? We can go by ourselves."
"Aunt Talbot doesn’t know you two, so it might not be convenient for you to go alone. It’s better if I lead the way."
This reason left Ashley Shaw unable to refuse, so she thanked him gratefully, "Thank you, Cillian."
"No problem, we’re friends. Helping is what friends do."
Just then, Claire Xavier came out.
"Ashley, we’ve run out of materials today. Everyone gets off early; you can head home directly. I’ll have Archie send you the payment, my card hit the limit."
"Okay."
Ashley Shaw watched Cillian Xavier and Claire Xavier drive away, then rode a shared bike home.
As she reached the entrance of her residential complex, Ashley Shaw received a transfer notification from Cillian Xavier.
A thousand total.
Her pay was settled daily, and she had earned over four hundred today. The extra five hundred...?
Before Ashley Shaw could send a message to inquire, Cillian Xavier sent one first.
[My sis said the lobster meal was on her.]
[But it doesn’t need that much.]
[My sis said the extra is for the cooking fee; eating out for lobster costs even more.]
Cillian Xavier kept saying "My sis said," which made Ashley Shaw reluctant to refuse, so she simply replied with "Thank you."
[No need to thank me, I’ll come to pick you up in two days; remember to tell your friend.]
[Okay. Thank you.]
Ashley Shaw clicked to accept the payment.
The wallet that originally had a balance of 0 now had a thousand deposited.
Initially, she had earned over four thousand, all transferred to that female employee.
But this was good; if she saw her again, she wouldn’t feel guilty then.
The convenience store’s monthly salary wasn’t even over four thousand, what she’d given was already enough.
Actually, she wasn’t stupid; she could tell the woman was extorting her. But she felt that by giving the money as the woman wanted, the matter would be resolved, and her mind could rest easy.
The other party had taken the money, and she had overcome her own mental barrier, no longer owing the woman. Why not be happy?
Ashley Shaw entered her password and pushed open the door, seeing Ariana Grant sitting cross-legged on the couch, laughing.
Seeing Ariana Grant’s smile lifted the clouds of her gloomy mood.
"What are you watching? Why so happy?"
Ariana Grant only then noticed Ashley Shaw had come home.
"Ah, it’s already this late, I’ll go cook..."
"No, I’ll do it."
"Are you saying my cooking isn’t tasty?"
Ashley Shaw couldn’t outright say that Ariana Grant had no talent for cooking, so she solemnly shook her head and fibbed.
"No, I’m already living here for free, I should at least do something."
"Come on, why be polite between us?"
Ariana Grant had gastrointestinal issues, causing her weight to exceed the normal range greatly. Nobody in the class liked hanging out with her due to her size until Ashley Shaw transferred and became her first friend.
She always remembered that day in PE class when the teacher instructed everyone to pair up, leaving her all alone and at a loss, until Ashley Shaw chose to pair with her.
At the time, Ashley Shaw was quite popular and had no shortage of partners.
She had saved her from embarrassment.
That’s when their friendship began.
In her opinion, Ashley Shaw weighed even more heavily in her heart than her parents.
Ashley Shaw smiled slightly, "It’s not being polite; it’s what I’m supposed to do. Don’t you always say you love my cooking?"
"Yes! Your dishes are indeed delicious. How did you get so good at cooking?"
Ashley Shaw thought to herself: By being a housewife for three years.
But she only said, "Let me go cook then."
Turning to head to the kitchen, she was stopped by Ariana Grant.
"Wait! Ashley, did you see the apology letter online?"
"What apology letter?"
"Knew you hadn’t seen it!"
Ariana Grant spoke, eagerly presenting her phone to Ashley Shaw.
Ashley Shaw took it suspiciously and saw the apology letter posted by Rosalind Lynch on a social account with over 400,000 followers.
Ariana Grant had been laughing so happily because of the witty comments from netizens.
Rosalind Lynch’s image as a rich, pretty girl had attracted a large following, and paired with the recent spotlight on Lynch Group, the comments had soared to over ten thousand.
But Ashley Shaw didn’t feel like reading them, only focusing on the content of the apology letter.
It clearly stated how Rosalind Lynch had planned to publicly embarrass her, and in very sincere words expressed regret, promising not to repeat her mistakes.
It was so sincere that Ashley Shaw immediately knew the letter hadn’t been written by Rosalind Lynch herself.
Based on her understanding of Rosalind Lynch from two lifetimes, she knew Rosalind couldn’t write something like that; it wasn’t her nature, nor did she have the wit.
But the apology letter being posted from Rosalind Lynch’s account signaled something.
The apology letter was forced out.
And as for who forced it, she could only think of one person.
Warren Prescott.
Ashley Shaw closed her eyes, wondering what he was doing.