Chapter 450 Completely Controlled
Ashley swallowed her anger, not wanting to argue with her any further. Saying more would only give Nova more ammunition to spread the incident around, and in such a setting, her situation would only become more unbearable.
Ashley said, "None of your business. Stay out of it."
Nova wasn't one to be easily dismissed and brought up the most sensitive topic, "I see your legs have some muscle now. Have you been working the sewing machine in prison? How are your sewing skills now? I just bought a pair of pants that are a bit long. Think you could help me hem them, Ashley?"
Ashley, rarely at a loss, was usually the center of attention in such gatherings, with people fawning over her.
"Are you out of your mind?" Ashley looked around and saw that no one was paying attention to her. She cursed under her breath and stormed off.
Nova took a sip of her champagne, and Chris came up from behind, "I've been looking for you. What did Ashley do to upset you this time?"
Nova snorted, "I don't care if she bullies others, but talking bad about my idol behind my back? That's something I can't tolerate."
"Who did she badmouth?"
As they were talking, Nathaniel walked over with Aurelia on his arm.
Nova greeted Aurelia warmly and pulled her away from the men.
"Aurelia, my brother said you agreed to design the jewelry for my wedding. Is that true?"
"Of course, why would I lie? Send me your ideas later—styles, colors, any other requirements. I'll show you the designs first."
"Will it be a unique, one-of-a-kind piece?"
Aurelia smiled, "Designed just for you, so yes, you could say that."
Nova was ecstatic, "That's awesome! I wish you were my sister-in-law."
Nova sighed wistfully, "Seriously, have you considered my brother? Our family has strict values; no one would ever betray their spouse. My brother really likes you, to the point of obsession."
Aurelia coughed awkwardly, "Ms. Sinclair, don't say such things. It's not appropriate if others hear."
Nova looked around; there was no one nearby, but Nathaniel's eyes kept darting over, as if afraid she would steal Aurelia away.
"I'm not making it up. A couple of months ago, my dad almost beat my brother to death for refusing an arranged marriage. My dad was furious."
"Your brother has it rough."
"Really, he's had it tough."
While they were chatting animatedly, Nathaniel and Chris were catching up over drinks.
Chris swirled his wine glass and teased, "You left everything behind to chase her to another city. Did you win her back?"
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. "Winning her back is just a matter of time. She said she only wants to date, not marry, so I'll date her forever."
Chris looked surprised. The news that the CEO of the Heilbronn Group wasn't getting married would surely be a media sensation.
"I never pegged you for a hopeless romantic, completely under her thumb."
Nathaniel clinked glasses with him. "Aren't we all? Have you set a wedding date?"
"Yes, the paperwork is done. The wedding will be in Elvenia in January. I'll send you an invite. Don't forget to bring your girlfriend."
Nathaniel found Chris's smugness over a mere wedding a bit much. It wasn't like he hadn't been married before.
Chris said, "I think your sister is here too."
Nathaniel looked around. He had been so focused on talking to Aurelia when he arrived that he hadn't noticed Ashley. Now that he thought about it, she and Beatrice loved these kinds of events.
If Beatrice hadn't gone abroad, she would probably be here too.
Nathaniel said, "I haven't seen her."
Chris glanced at the crowd. He had seen Ashley mingling earlier, but now she was nowhere to be found.
"She might be avoiding you. You're too strict as a brother, scaring her like this."
"She's afraid I'll scold her. When our mom was around, she always protected her. Now she knows she has no one to rely on and avoids me."
"How long are you staying this time?"
"It depends on Aurelia. Probably not too long. The kids are starting school soon, and we need to attend the opening ceremony."
Chris jokingly cursed, "Bastard," and downed his drink. He had just won a round at the wedding, only to be shown up by Nathaniel bragging about his kids. Heartless jerk.
Nathaniel finished his drink too. "You keep drinking. I'm going to find my sister."
Nathaniel stood up, buttoned his suit, and walked into the crowd, scanning for Ashley.
The socialites chatting nearby noticed Nathaniel approaching and started preening, fixing their hair and makeup.
Ashley had mentioned earlier that her brother hadn't remarried Aurelia and had no plans to. As long as he remained single, they had a chance.
Nathaniel quickly approached and casually asked someone, "Excuse me, have you seen Ashley?"
The socialite looked momentarily stunned but quickly recovered. "She was just here chatting with us, but now she's gone. Would you like me to help you find her?"
Nathaniel's eyes scanned elsewhere, "No, thank you."
"She might be in the ladies' room. I'll check for you."
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. If Ashley was in the ladies' room, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to go in. "Thank you."
Nathaniel led the way towards the restroom, the girl trailing behind. At the door, Nathaniel stopped, and the girl went in. Less than a minute later, Ashley emerged.
Nathaniel put his phone back in his pocket and asked, "Why didn't you answer your phone?"
Ashley, looking timid, mumbled a weak excuse, "My phone died."
Nathaniel grunted in acknowledgment, noticing his once pampered sister had lost weight. He softened a bit.
"I'll arrange a position for you at the company. Prepare yourself these next few days. Starting next week, you'll rotate through different departments to learn the business. Cut ties with those unsavory friends."
Ashley sniffled, wringing her hands, "Nathaniel, did you really send Mom on a trip?"
"Mom wanted to travel for a long time. She didn't go because she was worried about you. But her methods were wrong. You can't continue as you did before. I'll be keeping an eye on you, understood?"
Ashley meekly replied, "Understood."
After a moment, she asked, "Nathaniel, can I work in the department Uncle Marcus used to run?"
Nathaniel considered for a few seconds, "Sure, Uncle Marcus's department handles high-end custom clothing. It's a good fit for your skills."
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