Chapter 20: Chapter 20: The Victor’s Smile
At the instant she saw the surveillance, Rosalind Lynch’s eyes widened, and the color drained from her face.
There’s actually surveillance...
She suddenly remembered that she had called out to Ashley Shaw twice just now, but Ashley only walked faster, as if deliberately looking for some position before stopping.
So, that’s the spot she was looking for where the surveillance could capture her?
She had anticipated all along what she was going to do!
Ashley Shaw looked expressionlessly at Rosalind Lynch, who was staring at her in shock.
Although she didn’t record any audio or video, coincidentally, when she stopped, she happened to see the surveillance on the wall.
This is called being prepared.
After becoming Mrs. Prescott, her days were dull and tedious, but she loved watching melodramatic TV dramas, never expecting they’d actually come in handy.
Rosalind Lynch looked at the clear, cold eyes hidden behind the thick glasses, feeling a panic in her heart, breaking out in a sweat.
When did the once trampled Ashley Shaw develop such a venomous mind?
She couldn’t help but glance guiltily at Warren Prescott.
"Warren, I-I didn’t... I didn’t mean anything by it, I just didn’t want you to misunderstand, so I said earlier that she didn’t push me."
With her explanation, Warren’s supporting hand loosened from her arm.
"Can you stand up on your own now?"
"Y-yes..."
Rosalind Lynch held onto the wall and stood up, her legs shaking as if she were struggling to stand.
"I think I might have twisted my ankle."
Warren Prescott crouched down: "Come on, I’ll take you to the hospital."
Rosalind Lynch’s heart, which had been hanging, relaxed, a smile emerging on her face.
"Okay."
She bent down, wrapping her arms tightly around Warren Prescott’s neck.
With a push of his foot, Warren easily lifted Rosalind Lynch onto his back.
As they brushed past, Rosalind Lynch gave Ashley Shaw a triumphant smile.
This kind of smile is the exclusive mark of a victor.
In her previous life, she had never won against Rosalind Lynch, even after she had already died, let alone against a living Rosalind Lynch.
She had long predicted that even if Warren Prescott knew about Rosalind Lynch’s malicious intentions, it wouldn’t change his feelings for her.
So on the bus, she had deleted that audio recording.
So at this moment, she only defended herself with a single statement without further comment.
But losing to Rosalind Lynch once more wasn’t so bad, she shouldn’t come causing her trouble again after this.
Their figures quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor.
Ashley Shaw withdrew her gaze, just about to leave when Cillian Xavier spoke: "Shall I take you back?"
Ashley Shaw wanted to refuse.
She thought that since she wouldn’t reciprocate Cillian Xavier’s feelings, she shouldn’t lead him on.
But the dull pain in her shoulder throbbed, and in the end, she nodded.
"Alright, thank you."
Cillian Xavier’s eyes lit up, and he quickly led the way.
His car was parked in the cinema’s parking lot.
As Ashley Shaw opened the car door, she saw the Prescott Family’s car speeding away.
She hesitated slightly, then quickly got into the car.
"Young master, where to?"
The driver turned his head to ask, his gaze occasionally flicking over to Ashley Shaw.
Ashley Shaw provided her address, and the driver smiled slightly, stepping on the gas.
The car cut through the night, arriving at Ariana Grant’s apartment building.
Ariana Grant lived in an old-style tube apartment building, and as Ashley looked up, she saw the window was dark, indicating Ariana hadn’t returned yet.
"I live at a friend’s house, so I won’t invite you up for tea. Thank you for bringing me back."
"No problem."
"Then... goodbye."
"Wait." Cillian Xavier stopped her, his expression somewhat conflicted.
"Are you referring to what happened at the cinema?"
"Yes. Rosalind, she was spoiled growing up, so she can be thoughtless. Don’t take it to heart."
"I won’t."
"That’s good. Go on up, I’ll leave after seeing you inside."
Cillian Xavier demonstrated his gentlemanliness, and Ashley Shaw went upstairs to the window, indeed seeing Cillian still downstairs.
"Ding dong."
A phone notification chimed.
It was a message from Cillian Xavier.
"Are you in the room?"
"I’m here."
After replying, she saw Cillian put away his phone and get into his car.
The night breeze blew in through the window, clearing Ashley Shaw’s head a bit more.
She and Warren Prescott had no future together, and the same applied to her and Cillian Xavier.
On the other side.
Cillian Xavier happily got back into the car, suddenly feeling like he was sitting on something.
Looking down, he found a hundred-dollar bill.
Without a doubt, it was left by Ashley Shaw.
The smile on his face vanished instantly.
He thought her agreeing to let him drive her back meant she accepted they could start as friends. He didn’t expect she would still draw such a clear boundary.
So, has she not let go of Warren yet?
Cillian Xavier thought back to the incident at the cinema.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Rosalind Lynch was trying to frame Ashley Shaw then.
But Warren said nothing.
His heart felt incredibly conflicted, as if a heavy stone was pressing down on his chest.
"Drive, go home."
"Yes, young master."
...
Ashley Shaw lay awake all night, only falling asleep as dawn broke.
Yet early in the morning, she was woken by a call from Ariana Grant.
"Hello?"
"Ashley, I probably won’t be back for a few days."
"What’s wrong?"
Ariana Grant’s voice was nasal, as if she had just been crying.
Ashley Shaw’s drowsiness vanished instantly.
"What happened? Are you alright?"
"I’m okay, it’s nothing... it’s just that my dad wants to split the house with my mom, and my mom disagrees, saying the house is all mine and nobody should touch it. Both sides plan to meet tomorrow to talk it over in detail."
Ashley remembered that in the previous life, the house eventually got sold.
Both sides gave Ariana Grant twenty thousand, then no one took care of her anymore, until she died.
She remained silent for a second, tightened her grip on her phone and said, "Ariana, do you want this house?"
It took a moment for Ariana Grant’s voice to come through.
"That house is my only memory of this family."
"Alright, then don’t worry. Wait for my news, I will give you an answer in two hours."
"Huh?"
"I’ll hang up now. I’ll call you later."
Ashley Shaw immediately ended the call, quickly washed up and went downstairs.
Forty minutes later, Ashley Shaw walked through the doors of Shane Coleman’s law firm.
...
The door to Shane Coleman’s office was pushed open by the assistant.
"Attorney Coleman, someone is here to see you."
Shane Coleman put down his pen.
"Who is it?"
"A female student, I don’t recognize her."
Shane Coleman pushed his gold-rimmed glasses in puzzlement.
"A female student? Let her in."
"Alright."
The door was pushed open again just a second before, and Shane Coleman placed the collected photo materials into a manila envelope.
"Attorney Coleman, hello."
Shane Coleman looked up at the voice.
A girl who looked very well-behaved.
He didn’t recall having such a client since he specialized in divorce disputes.
Could it be the child of a client?
As thoughts swirled, the girl spoke first: "I need you to help me with a lawsuit, but I have no money."
Shane Coleman was taken aback, then laughed.
"Little friend, this isn’t a playground."