The present Ashlyn didn’t look as gentle and obedient as the Ashlyn who was married to Gordon. Instead, her eyes flashed with fierce determination as she spoke with authority.
Nathaniel was so angry that he nearly slapped Ashlyn on the spot. “Since you want to cut to the chase, fine. Look, how much will it take for you to leave Bluepond and stop pestering Gordon?”
“Are you implying that I’m playing hard to get with Gordon?” Ashlyn couldn’t believe her ears.
Nathaniel snorted with disdain. “I know how your mind works. Previously, you dragged the Jones family’s name through the mud and then disappeared. Now you’re back and trying to win Gordon’s heart by behaving in a high-profile manner. Gordon can’t see it, but I do!”
Feeling annoyed, Ashlyn burst into laughter. “Old age has made you delusional. How blind you are!”
Then, she glanced at Talia, who was standing beside her, and said, “Please send Mr. Jones out.”
“Ashlyn Ramos! I came here today to give you a chance to negotiate. If you give up this chance, don’t blame me for what I’m going to do.”
Nathaniel thought that it was more than enough for him to have come here in person. But he didn’t expect that Ashlyn would not only turn a deaf ear to him but also talk back disrespectfully.
“I’ll call security if you don’t leave.”
Ashlyn didn’t want to waste her breath with Nathaniel anymore.
After saying that, she stood up and walked out on him.
It was the first time that Nathaniel had been driven out of a place by force. Consequently, he had been in a bad mood since he returned to his home.
In the past three years, Ashlyn had been obedient and well-behaved. Even if she was born into a poor family, Nathaniel was still willing to bear with her existence in their home.
But today, Ashlyn talked back to him. This pissed Nathaniel off, so when he got home, he immediately called Gordon.
When Gordon saw the caller ID, he frowned slightly. “Grandpa?”
“Gordon, I’m telling you—you can marry anyone in the future. Anyone except Ashlyn!”
Gordon stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows. Rubbing the spot between his brows, he idly watched the passers-by below. “Did you see her?”
“So many things have been circulating the Internet lately because of that woman. I wanted to negotiate with her for the sake of her past marriage to you, but I didn’t expect that she would not only disobey me but also mock me! She even said that I was delusional. Who would want such a woman? As long as I’m alive, the Jones family will never accept her!”
Nathaniel had never been scolded and driven away like this in all his life. He was even more furious than the time Ashlyn posted about Arabella on the internet.
But Nathaniel’s grating voice only annoyed Gordon further. “Grandpa, I’m not married to her anymore. We have nothing to do with each other. Besides, it’s Ashlyn who asked for the divorce.”
“You—!”
Nathaniel was so angry that he hung up on Gordon abruptly. Was Gordon trying to say that Ashlyn had divorced him because she despised the Jones family?
Nathaniel felt that Gordon was out of his damned mind.
After putting the phone down, the pissed-off Gordon threw his phone at his desk.
At about ten o’clock the previous night, Devin had texted him, saying, “Gordon, I’m going to pursue Ashlyn. I mean it.”
Over the past few years, he and Devin had been each other’s biggest competitor in the business world. But personally, Gordon appreciated Devin’s talent and capabilities.
Putting aside the interests of both parties, he and Devin were not as hostile as the rumors claimed them to be.
But that didn’t mean they were friends.
And Devin’s text seemed like more of a provocation than a notice.
However, in Gordon’s eyes, it wasn’t worth it for him to fight against Devin for Ashlyn.
But after all was said and done, he couldn’t shake off the feeling of annoyance and frustration.
Ashlyn, on the other hand, was in a good mood today. It was the first time that she had said such harsh words to Nathaniel. In the past, she was forced to obey the ridiculous family rules and show respect to Nathaniel just because he was an elder. Whenever Nathaniel scolded her relentlessly, she would always endured it meekly.
But things were different now. She had divorced Gordon and was no longer a member of the Jones family. Nathaniel had no right to meddle in her affairs.
Later, Talia told her that when Nathaniel was driven out, his face was livid and purple from anger.
Ashlyn couldn’t be happier at the thought of such a picture.
Ashlyn cheerily signed a document and handed it back to Talia. “By the way, is there any news from Mr. Garcia?”
Talia shook her head. “None yet.”
Ashlyn sighed but she didn’t feel dejected. “Alright. If you really can’t set an appointment with him, forget it.”
Fairway Group wasn’t the only company that wanted that particular piece of land. Plus, Ashlyn was just a manager without any prominent background in his eyes. It was normal that Walton Garcia didn’t want to meet her.
After handing the document to Talia, Ashlyn picked up her handbag and said, “It’s time to get off work, Talia. Don’t forget to have dinner, okay?”
It was rare for Ashlyn to not work overtime, so she invited Jessie out for dinner.
However, it was a small world after all.
At the restaurant, Ashlyn was telling Jessie all about how she had made Nathaniel storm out of her office that day when they bumped into Denise.
Ashlyn was a little surprised to see Denise but she quickly gathered her bearings. “What’s up?” she asked casually.
Denise didn’t like Ashlyn one bit. In the past, Ashlyn might’ve shown a slight rebellious streak when she was with the Jones family, but she never dared to disrespect Nathaniel.
But Denise heard the words “old fool” from Ashlyn’s mouth when she talked about Nathaniel just now.
Trembling with anger, Denise pointed a finger at Ashlyn and shouted, “Apologize, Ashlyn!”
Jessie snorted. “Are you out of your mind?”
Ashlyn gave Jessie a meaningful glance, hinting at her to stop provoking Denise. Then she turned to Denise and asked calmly, “Why should I?”
“Because you just called my grandfather an old fool!”
Ashlyn shrugged indifferently. “I’m just speaking the truth.”
“How dare you!”
In a fit of rage and without thinking, Denise grabbed the pitcher of juice from the table and was about to pour it over Ashlyn’s head.
Ashlyn knew that Denise tended to get violent when she was angry, so Ashlyn instantly knew what the latter was up to when she grabbed the pitcher from the table.
Just as Denise was about to pour the juice over Ashlyn’s head, Ashlyn grabbed Denise’s hand and turned it around. As a result, the whole pitcher of mango juice was splashed on Denise’s face.
As the sticky juice trickled down her face, Denise was too stunned to do anything for a while.
It was Denise’s friend who had to ask a waiter to fetch them a towel.
The mango juice trickled from Denise’s face to her clothes, seeping into her sweater little by little. She could do nothing but stand there, blushing in embarrassment.
Ashlyn withdrew her hands and said coldly, “Leave if you want to keep your dignity.”
Denise was still burning with anger, but her friend persuaded her to leave because the mango juice was going to leave stains.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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