Chapter 176 Love History
[Is everything going well in Eirondia? Your brother and I have been busy with the shop renovation and haven't checked our phones. Dad's been resting these days due to his back pain, always talking about you when he's free. He says if you were here, you could give him a massage.]
Dad's back pain had recurred.
When he was in the homeland, his back wasn't in good condition. At that time, there was a family doctor who could provide timely treatment and comprehensive therapy whenever he felt uncomfortable.
After moving to Sylvania, he engaged in physical labor for a long time. His body suffered, and without proper medical care, his back pain worsened gradually. Unless it reaches a certain point, he won't rest.
Ashley wanted to call to check on the situation, but then she saw a message from her sister-in-law: [Mom's condition is stable. The doctor said if she remains stable for another week, she can come home. Things are getting better bit by bit in our family!]
A warm feeling filled Ashley's heart, washing away all the sadness and oppression.
She felt content. As long as her family was safe and sound, that was all that matters.
She replied: [I'll come to Sylvania to see you all after I finish up my work.]
Sister-in-law: [Okay. The room is ready for you. Oh, Ashley, Dad mentioned that you sent them ten thousand dollars last time. What kind of case warrants such a high fee?]
Ashley responded: [It's from a rich client. I earn money based on my skills. Impressive, right?]
Sister-in-law: [That's good. Don't ask the Hearst family for money. Even if we're poor, we won't take their charity. We may lack other things, but at least we have our dignity.]
Nowadays, she might not have much dignity.
Cheryl, nibbling on dessert, asked cautiously, "Ashley, do you know Mr.Hearst before?"
Ashley set down her phone. "Why do you ask?"
Cheryl didn't dare talk much about Damian, so she tried to find an exit through Ashley, smiling. "I always feel Mr.Hearst treats you differently. If it's just about the case, we've handled many bigger lawsuits at KM Road before, and he never seemed this concerned. On the day we left, I saw Mr.Hearst stand outside your door. It seemed like he was looking for you."
Was it the day he deliver breakfast?
Ashley calmly replied, "I've handled three cases for Mr. Hearst, so we're acquaintances at best. It's just that Mr. Hearst holds a high position, so we behave polite to each other."
With a few words, she lightly brushed off their relationship.
"Alright. Ashley, you're really amazing. Since I joined the legal department at KM Road until now, Mr. Hearst has never collaborated with lawyers from other firms as much as he has with you."
Cheryl pondered, realizing that apart from official needs, Damian had no other reason to interact with her extensively.
However, Cheryl felt something was off.
Was it because Ashley was too beautiful? At a glance, it was clear her temperament, appearance, and even figure were much better than Trinity's.
‘Stop overthinking it. Trinity is an heiress of the Emperial Avenue group, a gap that can't be bridged just by looks!’
That night, back at the hotel, Ashley finished reviewing the thick files and looked up to find it was already 1:30 a.m.
Standing up from the pile of files, she walked to the window. The moonlight flowed gently like water, illuminating the entire city. It was a rare clear night, revealing a clean and vast sky with stars scattered, clouds drifting by, and a few buildings of Taramila University lit up, one of them being the library that never turned off its lights.
In a daze, Ashley thought back to her days of pursuing a doctorate.
The university library was also open 24/7, with students holding laptops and materials and pulling all-nighters, especially during finals when everyone was anxious.
When Ashley felt exhausted and powerless while writing her thesis, she would drink coffee and think to herself, 'I must finish my studies; it's the only way to change my life.'
In her toughest and most challenging days, she couldn't help but think of Damian. During her Master's thesis writing, she often sneaked out of her study to admire his office from afar. Of course, she didn't dare disturb him, only peeking through ajar door.
Even so, it fueled her with immense motivation.
In the future, Trinity would become his wife. Ashley wondered if Trinity, when burning the midnight oil, would also sneak a peek at the busy figure of that man outside his door.
Her phone buzzed, interrupting her thoughts.
It was a message from Amelia. [I just finished work. Are you asleep?]
Ashley replied: [No.]
Then, Amelia called, venting her frustrations. "I saw it on Facebook. I want to curse that woman. Does she really need to show off like this? Trinity is just flaunting!"
Ashley had grown indifferent to the trending topics on Facebook, having let go of what no longer belonged to her. She didn't even have the right to be sad. "I'm not even angry. Don't get worked up either; getting angry ages you."
"Well, I'm going to get angry! It's all over the news in the country now. Everyone with a phone knows about this big news. The LED screens in the square are playing the news on loop all day. I just can't stand Trinity's smug look, and Damian... I can't believe you said he might be pursuing you. What's he doing now? He's such a fickle man."
Unlike Amelia's anger, Ashley felt relieved. She smiled. "It's good to see things clearly now. It's better than being deceived for a lifetime."
Amelia gritted her teeth, her anger palpable even through the screen. "You're right. It's for the best. At least now you can move on."
"Yes, Amelia. Right now, I just want to win the case and make money!"
After venting her anger, Amelia asked, "Is your case going well?"
"It's progressing smoothly so far. The first trial is the day after tomorrow."
"Good luck! Looking forward to your victorious return!"
After the call, Ashley couldn't resist and absentmindedly opened Facebook. Various social media influencers were discussing the explosive news. Since there were no photos of Damian, Trinity's images were circulating all over the internet. Some even created cartoon versions of Damian to satisfy people's curiosity.
He was dressed in a black suit, with a triangular physique and a cold, sharp face.
Although the aura was quite different, it matched his style.
Finally, Ashley's finger stopped at an inconspicuous comment.
[Does anyone know about Mr. Hearst's romantic history? Trinity isn't Mr. Hearst's first love, right? Can someone spill the beans on Mr. Hearst's first love? ]
This comment was buried under other hot discussions, with only a few sparse replies.
First love?
In reality, Ashley didn't know if Damian had a girlfriend before her. She was completely unaware of Damian's past.
With a heart full of thoughts, Ashley drifted off to sleep.
Until the trial, she didn't check Facebook again.
The first trial concluded without significant progress. The attitude of Eirondia's judicial institutions and courts towards the case differed from their initial expectations.
The team had been working hard for several days, consuming a lot of mental and physical energy. Ashley gave them a day off to rest and recuperate before the second trial.
Holding her phone, Ashley felt excited inside.
The trial results should be reported to Damian by her.
With the news buildup from before, she found that even making a simple phone call was daunting.
What was she conflicted about? Regret or sadness? Resentment or anger?
With her eyes closed, she still called him.
After ringing for about five or six seconds, Ashley heard a distant and unreachable voice on the other end, "Hello?"
