Ashlyn felt a chill creep over her. The hand she had raised to slap Gordon was now trembling.
As a gust of cold wind blew, she closed her eyes and forced herself to calm down.
When she opened her eyes again, there was no anger left in them; only coldness. “People make mistakes when they are young. I was young back then, so I did, too. I did love you, yes, but that doesn’t mean I still do.”
She paused before continuing, “I planned to gift it to you on your birthday four years ago. It’s yours now since you’ve found it. But it is not for you to humiliate me, Gordon Jones!”
Then, Ashlyn looked over at Devin, who was coming toward them with her phone.
Before walking over to him, Ashlyn looked up at Gordon and said, “Don’t make me hate you.”
She didn’t want to hate anyone.
It was not worth it.
The moment Ashlyn finished speaking, she left without another word.
Devin looked at Ashlyn’s retreating figure before turning to Gordon with a cold stare. “I thought you didn’t have feelings for her. Why would you even care about things that happened in the past?”
Devin scoffed before turning around to chase after Ashlyn.
Ashlyn was walking slowly. She hadn’t expected Gordon to mention the sketch that she drew for him in the past. She had made it in secret as a surprise for him on his birthday. She remembered how happy and excited she had been at that time, but now, she only felt cold.
She had never imagined that the person she loved the most would one day stab her in the heart so cruelly.
It wasn’t too painful for her to bear, but she was filled with deep regret.
Right now, her hand that she used to slap Gordon was still shaking terribly, and the trembling spread up to her arm down to her whole body.
She refused to let her vulnerability show in front of Gordon earlier, so she made sure to maintain her pride and dignity.
In the past three years, she had allowed people to step on her. But she was a different person now, and she would never let anybody see her vulnerable side again.
Since she couldn’t lose face here, she had to leave immediately.
Ashlyn just kept on walking absently, moving one foot after another.
She needed to leave as quickly as possible.
However, in her haste, she suddenly stumbled on her feet.
She hated herself at that moment for not being able to leave while retaining her pride, but then someone suddenly grabbed her by the wrist.
Ashlyn’s mind went blank from shock as she tried to register what was happening.
The next thing she knew, she was in Devin’s arms.
The familiar scent of sandalwood instantly wrapped around her body, and she stared up at him with a flash of emotion in her eyes.
“He’s too heartless,” she said in a slightly shaky voice, gritting her teeth.
Devin stared into her eyes and reached out to hold the back of her head, pressing her against his chest. “With me, you don’t have to worry. I’m soft-hearted. You can check for yourself if you don’t believe me.”
Ashlyn had her ear pressed against Devin’s chest and began to listen to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
Along with the scent of sandalwood drifting into her senses, she eventually calmed down.
Since this was an area which was exclusive for VIPs, no other people were allowed to enter.
Devin held Ashlyn in his arms for a while. But then, a bird fell on the tree branch, making a loud, distinctive noise that snapped her out of her trance.
Realizing what she was doing, Ashlyn immediately pushed Devin away and stepped out of his embrace. “Thank you,” she said quietly.
“There’s no need to thank me,” he said, smiling at her softly.
Ashlyn lifted her head to look at him. “Then, shall we have a meal together next time?”
She should be the one inviting Devin to lunch this time, but he was the one who paid for it.
She didn’t suffer any loss.
Ashlyn smiled. “Can you send me back? I have a meeting I need to attend this afternoon.”
Devin nodded. “I can take you home after you get off work if you want.”
Devin’s expression seemed serious with not a hint of amusement or mischief on his face.
Ashlyn only looked at him and didn’t say anything.
She was probably just thinking too much.
The two of them walked out together. Since none of them looked back, they didn’t notice Gordon standing there not too far away behind them, staring at their retreating figures with a frosty expression.
Gordon just stood there without moving or even saying a word.
Eventually, Devin and Ashlyn’s figures disappeared into the corner, out of his sight.
Having witnessed the show of closeness between the two, Gordon felt an unexpected sting in his heart, making him feel strangely uncomfortable.
Ashlyn had turned Nathaniel’s invitation down. News of Raina’s suicide and Ashlyn’s tweet were now forever on the Internet and a lot of people were keeping track of it. With each passing day, more and more people joined the hordes laughing at the Jones family.
Gordon didn’t do anything. It was obvious that he no longer cared about the Jones family’s reputation.
But Nathaniel couldn’t behave like Gordon.
In his eyes, the Morgan sisters were at fault.
If Arabella hadn’t wronged Ashlyn, Ashlyn wouldn’t have divorced Gordon. Now Arabella and her sister were making so much trouble, as if they thought of the Jones family as a massive joke.
Nathaniel calmed himself down because he knew that it would take time for Gordon and Ashlyn to get back together. But he also knew that as long as the Morgan sisters were still in the city, the Jones family would be a laughing stock.
This thought pushed him into asking Carl to drive him to the hospital where Raina was admitted.
Arabella returned from her visit to Ashlyn in low spirits. She hadn’t gotten anything but Ashlyn had caught her trick.
And now, more and more people were talking about Raina lying and framing Ashlyn on the Internet. Arabella had married into the Jones family five years ago and she knew, with everything she had, that Nathaniel hated losing face. If this continued, the possibility of Raina marrying into the Jones family would become even slimmer.
Arabella did indeed know Nathaniel well because Nathaniel came to her, Carl in tow.
The sight of him stunned her, but Arabella recovered soon enough. “Grandpa? What are you doing here?”
Nathaniel spared her a cold glance and said, “Don’t call me Grandpa. You don’t deserve it.”
Arabella’s smile froze. She looked at Raina’s prostrate form on the hospital bed and said as way of introduction, “Raina, this is Mr. Jones.”
“Glad to see you, Mr. Jones,” Raina said, trying to sit up and wincing, as if she were in great pain.
Nathaniel had seen a lot of such tricks as a young man.
He was now old and experienced, and didn’t even blink at Raina’s acting. “I’m not a stranger. There’s no need to act in front of me.”
Raina’s expression shifted at his words.
Arabella had been a part of the Jones family for five years now. She knew that there was a lot more to Nathaniel’s purpose today, judging from his behavior.
Arabella was nervous, but she didn’t dare show it. She pretended not to understand anything. “Gordon said that you were sent to the hospital last night. Raina is fine now. She just couldn’t accept the truth and ended up doing something stupid.”
Nathaniel waved a dismissive hand as he said, “You don’t need to say that to me. You’re right. I was sent to the hospital last night and haven’t recovered yet, so I don’t want to beat around the bush. Let’s cut to the chase. My purpose for coming here today is very simple. If you’re so smart, you should have guessed why I’m here.”
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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