Chapter 402: Chapter 402: Owen Sinclair’s Home
The magnetic field between girls is indeed very subtle.
At that time, he thought he was mistaken, as he didn’t think these girls would know each other.
But looking at Ariana Grant and Ashley Shaw’s reactions now, it’s clear they know Noelle York and her friends, and... they don’t seem to like each other very much.
Owen Sinclair opened his mouth, intending to ask in detail, but he swallowed his words.
Even though he hasn’t spent more than 48 hours with Ashley Shaw, there’s a deep-rooted certainty in his heart that even if he asked, Ashley Shaw wouldn’t tell.
So he simply decided not to ask for now.
Chatting casually along the way, Owen Sinclair said, "I might not have the time to take you out over the next few days. Once I’m done, I’ll take you around..."
Ashley Shaw quickly said, "It’s okay. You do your work, and we’ll explore by ourselves."
Owen Sinclair nodded and asked, "Are you going back for the holidays? If not, I’d like to invite you to visit my company."
"Has the company location been decided?"
"Yes, it’s right across from the old company."
Although Owen Sinclair’s contract had expired, his relationship with his previous employer was great, and even his new company’s location was suggested by them.
Upon hearing, Ashley Shaw said, "I probably won’t go back either. And Ariana..."
"I’m not going back either."
Ariana Grant answered out loud, but inside she thought: I no longer have a home; there’s no place to go back to, so I might as well stay here.
Then Ariana Grant remembered Joyce Sutton.
Joyce sent her a message today, saying that in a few days she would come to Aethelgard to discuss matters, and by that time she and her dad would drop by to see her.
A heavy mood instantly turned more cheerful.
But this fleeting change in expression didn’t escape Ashley Shaw’s notice.
With Owen Sinclair in the car, she wasn’t convenient to talk about Ariana Grant’s family matters, so she tightly held Ariana’s arm.
Using this gesture told her: no matter what, I’m here with you.
Ariana Grant felt a warmth in her eyes and held Ashley Shaw’s arm tightly as well.
But this time, the warmth wasn’t for herself but for Ashley.
Even though her parents divorced, they were still alive and well.
Yet Ashley... she didn’t have a single true blood relative left in this world.
All alone, yet she was there comforting herself.
Ariana felt she shouldn’t be like this.
The heavy atmosphere subsided as the car stopped in front of a private villa with great privacy.
Ashley Shaw recognized the neighborhood; many veteran entertainers in Aethelgard bought houses here.
Thus, the security of this neighborhood was even higher than others with similar housing prices — the celebrities paid extra to hire more personnel in addition to the regular property management.
Entering through the villa’s pretty fence gate, two dogs immediately wagged their tails and ran over.
Ashley Shaw and Ariana Grant were startled by the sudden footsteps.
Owen Sinclair immediately said, "Sit."
The two dogs, one a Golden Retriever, the other a West Highland White Terrier, obediently sat down.
Ashley Shaw and Ariana Grant had recovered by now, seeing it was two dogs, they walked over smiling.
"Can we pet them?" Ashley Shaw asked Owen Sinclair.
Owen nodded, "They’ve both been to school, have great temperaments, are very obedient, and don’t bite. The golden one is Lily, and the white one is Augie."
The two completely relaxed and started playing with the dogs.
Ashley Shaw pet Lily’s slightly balding head, and inexplicably remembered the one Warren Prescott brought back.
Also a Golden Retriever.
He adopted it because of her.
Thinking of the dog inevitably led to thoughts of people, leaving a strange emptiness inside.
Fortunately, her eyes were downcast, and no one could see her change.
Seeing the two enjoying themselves with the dogs, Owen Sinclair felt relieved that he didn’t need to worry about them being afraid of dogs.
"Feel free to play and explore wherever you like, except for the top floor attic... there’s a lot of clutter there, not suitable for entering. I’ll go to the kitchen to prepare some food."
In reality, the attic held many "evidences" of his time with "her."
Including a portrait of Ashley’s Mother.
That’s why he said it like this.
Ashley Shaw never considered the possibility of any blood relation to Owen Sinclair, so she simply thought the attic was indeed full of clutter.
As for Ariana Grant, she was already playing crazily with that white "fluffy little dog," and wouldn’t think much of it either.
Ashley Shaw raised the hand petting the Golden Retriever and said, "I can cook too, let me give you a hand?"
"You can cook?" Owen Sinclair blurted out, "Your mom has no talent in that area whatsoever."
After saying that, Owen Sinclair’s expression subtly changed, feeling as though he wanted to bite his tongue.
Ashley Shaw didn’t notice Owen’s fleeting change in expression and simply asked curiously, "How do you know my mom isn’t good at cooking?"
Owen quickly dodged the question, saying, "Didn’t you tell me? Or am I remembering wrong?"
Ashley Shaw leaned towards Owen remembering wrongly.
But by chance, Owen got it right.
She laughed, "Maybe you mixed it up with someone else, but my mom’s indeed not very good at cooking, haha."
Ms. Shaw’s cooking skills were even worse than Ariana Grant’s.
Her grandmother always said her mom had the illness of a spoiled girl but not the life of one.
As for herself... though her cooking skills were the result of continuous study and practice, she was totally different from her mom. Michelin chefs at home in her past life always praised her talent.
Not sure why it was this way.
Perhaps she inherited that... that father who "passed away" before she was born.
Neither was inclined to continue this topic; Owen felt guilty, Ashley afraid of feeling sad about Ms. Shaw, so they quickly moved on.
Owen said, "You’re guests today, no need to say you’ll help me. Next time when you come for a meal, I’ll leave the kitchen to you."
Ashley took it as Owen being polite, because she didn’t think she’d come over again.
Owen Sinclair was a huge star, her mom’s generation’s idol, coming here once was fortunate, unlikely there’d be another chance.
But she went along with his words, "Then we’ll wait to eat today?"
"Just wait to eat, that’s why I invited you over."
Owen waved his hand, indicating they can play freely, and went inside the house.
He first instructed the servants to prepare some tea and snacks for them, then called over a trusted old servant.
The old servant had taken care of his needs since he was very young.
After he got married, the servant came along with him from the Sinclair Family to here.
Though a servant, Owen always treated him as an elder, calling him "Uncle Redding."
In a voice only the two of them could hear, Owen softly said, "Lock the attic door."
Uncle Redding had a slightly startled expression.
At that moment, Ashley Shaw and Ariana Grant walked in, and upon seeing Ashley’s face, Uncle Redding’s face showed a "shocked" expression.
For no other reason, it was truly because Ashley Shaw looked so much like that woman from the younger days... the woman who almost made Owen sever ties with the Sinclair Family.
Fortunately, Ashley didn’t notice this.
Uncle Redding quickly composed himself and tentatively asked, "She, she is..."
Owen quietly replied with a "Yes," causing waves of shock inside Uncle Redding.