Still, Denise didn’t open the door.
Carl remained silent for a while, his lips pressed together, before saying, “Mr. Jones has a temper, but you know he will protect his family in public. Do you want him to get angry at you right now?”
Carl’s words did the job, convincing Denise to finally open the door. She looked at Carl and said, “I did something wrong. What should I do?”
Carl frowned as he said, “Correct your mistakes.”
Denise knew that if she didn’t go to that dinner tonight, Nathaniel would punish her severely.
But if she went there, Ashlyn certainly wouldn’t make it easy for her.
She was now in a dilemma.
Denise had never been so scared. She decided to choose the less harmful option.
No matter how angry Nathaniel was with her, he was still her grandfather. If she was lucky, he would only give her a lecture.
But if she refused to go to the dinner…
Denise couldn’t even imagine what would happen. So she followed Carl downstairs. “Grandpa,” she said carefully as she saw Nathaniel.
Nathaniel glanced at Denise unhappily and said, “Don’t waste time.”
Denise knew that she was on the verge of a disaster and didn’t dare say anything.
On the way to dinner, Nathaniel contemplated calling Gordon. He didn’t notice that there was something wrong with Denise.
But he listened to Carl and gave up on the idea of calling Gordon. After all, this was the first time that Ashlyn had invited them to dinner. Only he and Denise were invited. If Gordon ended up coming, it might anger Ashlyn.
If Ashlyn’s temper were to be taken into consideration, Nathaniel thought that she might get angry since she didn’t invite Gordon.
The car soon stopped in front of the hotel. Denise got out of the car but wanted to run away almost immediately. Nathaniel said to her rather irritably, “Look at you. You don’t look like a lady from an eminent family. You are hunching. Straighten your back!”
He glared at Denise, causing her legs to tremble weakly. She gritted her teeth and straightened her back before walking inside.
Ashlyn and Talia were already there. Ashlyn looked through the printed screenshots of the surveillance video that Talia had found.
The evidence that Denise had framed Ashlyn was irrefutable. Ashlyn wanted to see how they would defend themselves.
Once Ashlyn had gone through them, she said, “Put them away.”
She didn’t need them yet. Moreover, she couldn’t show her trump card right off the bat.
Talia had barely finished putting away the pictures when the door was pushed open. A waiter led Nathaniel, Carl, and Denise in.
Ashlyn looked at Nathaniel and Denise.
“Long time no see, Mr. Jones.”
Nathaniel did not smile. He was a serious man who liked to maintain a serious facade at all times. He didn’t look down on Ashlyn now, but he wasn’t warm to her either. “Hello, Miss Ramos.”
He put away his walking stick and sat down.
“Denise, you don’t look well today,” said Ashlyn, glancing at Denise.
Denise began trembling at Ashlyn’s words, almost dropping the teacup in her hand.
Talia poured them some tea as Ashlyn handed the menu to Nathaniel and said, “I didn’t know what you like to eat. Please order for yourself.”
“Don’t stand on ceremony. I’m not that particular,” Nathaniel said.
Although his expression was still serious, his attitude improved a lot.
Ashlyn smiled and handed Denise another menu.
Denise took the menu without a word.
Ashlyn continued to look at Denise with a mocking smile.
Carl knew that Nathaniel and Denise would face a hard time at this meal.
He sighed inwardly. But it was too late to do anything now.
“I’m sorry I refused your invitation last time. I had a really tight schedule,” Ashlyn said apologetically to Nathaniel, which made him more convinced that she was here to make peace.
He had a serious expression. But upon hearing what Ashlyn said, he gave her a smile. “It’s absolutely fine. I understand how busy you must be now. You are a Ramos, after all.”
“Not as busy as you think.” Ashlyn chuckled. “Something unusual happened that day.”
Ashlyn’s statement contradicted her initial assertion that she had a tight schedule.
Ordinarily, Nathaniel would have noticed and questioned her further, but he didn’t.
He was more concerned about the purpose of the dinner.
Unlike Nathaniel, Denise understood what Ashlyn meant. She glanced at Ashlyn and met the latter’s searching gaze. Guilt pricked her heart and she looked away.
Ashlyn made sure to apologize before they ate. After she apologized, Nathaniel felt more comfortable.
In a few minutes, the dishes were served, and Ashlyn suggested that they should eat first.
Nathaniel, who was very keen on getting Ashlyn and Gordon back together, wanted to bring it up as soon as possible. He stretched his hand underneath the table and tapped Denise’s knee. “Don’t you owe Miss Ramos an apology?”
Denise had been nervous since she entered the room. Nathaniel’s touch came unexpectedly, and she trembled. Her spoon fell off her hand and dropped to the floor.
The room fell into silence. The others turned to look at Denise.
Nathaniel fumed at Denise’s clumsiness. He considered it impolite and a lack of good education for her spoon to fall to the floor.
Ashlyn chuckled and said, “You seem nervous, Denise. Is something wrong?”
Nathaniel answered, “I think she is trying to pick her words carefully. She doesn’t want to say something wrong.”
“Is that true?” Ashlyn didn’t take her eyes off Denise.
“I’m sorry, Ashlyn. Everything that happened was my fault. Please, accept my apology,” Denise said, forcing a smile.
Denise picked up a cup of tea and said, “I’m sorry for offending you in the past. I promise not to do it again. Please, let this cup of tea be a sign that I have earned your forgiveness.”
“Wait.” Ashlyn stopped Denise as soon as she started gulping down the cup of tea. “What exactly are you apologizing for, Denise? You have offended me in so many ways.”
This time, Nathaniel wasn’t ignorant of the sarcasm in Ashlyn’s words. However, he didn’t understand what she meant exactly and chose to remain silent.
But Denise understood what Ashlyn was talking about.
She knew tonight wasn’t going to be easy. Bracing herself for whatever came out of this, she said to Ashlyn, “I know I have offended you in so many ways, and this is why I seek your apology. If there is something more I can do to please you, do let me know.”
Ashlyn smiled at her pretense and turned to Talia. Ashlyn took some pictures from Talia and threw them to Nathaniel and Denise. “The horrible stench of your fake sincerity makes me sick. I can still feel the heat of the trouble you caused me in the past, and yet you caused me some more today.” The smile on Ashlyn’s face faded. Now, she looked angry. She looked at Denise, who stared down in shame.
“Denise, you are indeed sincere.” Ashlyn’s sarcasm struck deep into Denise’s heart.
The photos fell before Denise and Nathaniel.
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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