Chapter 173 No Suspicion at All
Ashley's bar party ended after Damian's "kiss".
The cocktails made her feel hot all over. She was not drunk but definitely tipsy.
Returning to the hotel with a tired body, Ashley was lost in thought and couldn't make sense of it all.
Checking the time, Amelia should not be busy at this point, so she made a video call.
On the screen, Amelia's sweaty face appeared, with a gym in the background where people were training hard.
Amelia wiped her sweat. "Wait, I'll go to the rest area."
Watching Amelia walk to an empty area, Ashley said, "Amelia, you may not believe it when I say this. I'm not sure myself, but my intuition tells me it's very likely true."
Amelia poured a cup of warm water and took a few sips. "What's bothering you so much that you're tangled up like this? Tell me, I can handle it. Wait. Are you pregnant?"
"Damian might be pursuing me."
Since Amelia's acceptance was so strong, there was no need to beat around the bush.
Amelia blinked her eyes a few times, putting down her cup. "Who are you talking about? Damian is pursuing you? Ashley, you've only been in Dreamvale for one day. Has your brain gone bad already? I could believe it if you said Damian hung you on Elvin Clock Tower to swing, but I can't believe he's pursuing you."
Amelia would never believe it!
Maybe Damian was flirting with her for fun, sleeping with her, making her as a tool to vent.
Ashley sat cross-legged in front of the hotel floor-to-ceiling window. The rain had stopped. The moon was hidden behind thick clouds, lights lighted up the city, and in the distance, you could see the neon lights of Dreamvale shining brightly, as beautiful as a scene from a movie.
But she was very clear-headed. Considering Damian's actions and body language, she could basically confirm. "This business trip was originally supposed to fly to M City, but he had business in Dreamvale, so we took a commercial flight to Dreamvale together.
"It doesn't seem strange at all. It could just be a coincidence. Otherwise, as a CEO, he's busy. He wouldn't just leave a big mess in the country and fly to Eirondia for no reason.
"And, the way he interacts with Trinity looks like a show. There's no lover's atmosphere at all."
Amelia expressed disdain and contempt. "The man like Damian, don't expect him to be good to anyone. Women are just decorations and spices of life to him. I would never believe he’ll love anyone!"
Although Amelia didn't have much contact with Damian, she was absolutely convinced in her heart that he was heartless and unfaithful.
Ashley didn't argue with her, continuing. "But he's very attentive to me, especially inviting me to play, covering me with a coat when it rains. And to verify his intentions, I deliberately accepted the flirtation of a stranger at the restaurant, he got angry. In the evening, we went to the bar, I picked a hot dance, he got very angry, helped me put on my clothes, and scolded every man who flirted with me. If this isn't pursuit, I didn’t know what is."
Ashley made a swallowing motion, still able to taste the flavor of his lips.
Rather than saying alcohol confused her mind, it was more like the dangerous atmosphere he created that seeped into her bones.
Amelia, on the other end, was pounding her chest and stamping her feet, wanting to come over and give her good friend a punch. "Ashley, pursuit and possessiveness are not the same thing. Have you had any men around you being attentive and Damian found out?"
Ashley propped her chin on her hand. "It seems like it."
Amelia pursed her lips. "That's the problem. Men are animals. Hunting is their nature, especially when they see the prey targeted by others. They strike faster and harder, not to mention he's Damian."
It was late at night. After a day of turmoil, Ashley was overwhelmed by drowsiness and yawned. "So you mean, all he's done for me is just possessiveness?"
"You finally come to your sense, big lawyer. Besides, even if he's pursuing you, you wouldn't agree. Don't forget how you chased after him in the beginning, humbling yourself to the dust. If he is nice to you a little, you'd like to marry him because a little gesture touches you. How many times have you made this kind of mistake!"
Ashley smiled bitterly. "I won't marry him. We won't have a future."
"Good. If you have no expectations of him, you have nothing to fear. His attentiveness declares his sovereignty. You should reject him coldly to show your stance. Remember, a good woman won't go after a man who's already taken."
Ashley rubbed her eyes wearily, too exhausted to sort out all the messy thoughts in her mind, and nodded. "Remind me more if I forget. You know, my brain isn't very useful when it comes to love."
"Alright, I've got this covered. Next time you start fantasizing about him again, remember how he forced you to leave with nothing, then come to me and report it, I'll scold you to death!"
Ashley pouted playfully. "Love you. Good night, sweetheart, I'm going to bed."
Even without reporting to Amelia, just Damian’s ruthless cruelty during the divorce was enough to dispel all her illusions.
The next day, Ashley woke up naturally and found it was already nine o'clock.
She sat up, opened her phone, and to her surprise, Mr. Moretti and Cheryl hadn't messaged her.
Someone in the M City work group asked about today's schedule.
Mr. Moretti replied: [No rush, have lunch before setting off.]
Ashley scratched her head, slipped on her slippers, and got out of bed to freshen up, wondering why they had said nine o'clock departure yesterday.
At half past nine, Ashley changed into her clothes, packed her suitcase, and called Mr. Moretti, "Mr. Moretti, how come the itinerary has changed?"
After Ashley's display of power yesterday, Mr. Moretti's attitude had improved somewhat. "Mr.Hearst had a last-minute arrangement, so the departure time was delayed. Ashley should have received a notification."
Mr. Moretti was surprised. Damian had informed him late last night that they would leave at one in the afternoon the next day, and he had volunteered to inform Ashley personally.
From Ashley's tone, it seemed she was unaware.
Ashley scrolled through her phone, confirmed there were no messages from Damian, and to avoid being underestimated by Mr. Moretti again, she smiled. "Just saw Mr. Hearst's message. See you later."
The doorbell rang as she put down her phone.
Ashley thought it was Cheryl, but when she opened the door, she saw a dark figure.
"Mr. Hearst!"
Last night, when they returned by car, she had hidden herself carefully to avoid acquaintances, even deliberately taking a different elevator from Damian, fearing more gossip, yet he showed no suspicion at all.
Damian held a food box in his hand. "This is breakfast."
The speculations from last night hit her brain even more intensely, and Ashley was completely sure that Damian was pursuing her. "Thank you, Mr. Hearst, but I'm not hungry."
Damian took her hand and hung the food box on her slender finger. "Skipping breakfast can lead to dementia."
"I'll make sure to finish your lawsuit before I go senile."
Damian frowned. "A sip of alcohol made you sleep until now. I'm not sure if you can handle such a big case."
Ashley was suddenly inspired. "Did you deliberately postpone the departure time?"
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