Chapter 177 No One Can Stop You If You Want
His voice was a bit hoarse, as if Damian had just woken up or been awakened.
It was afternoon. He may be taking a nap.
Realizing she was in a state of fantasy about Damian, Ashley pinched her face, forcing her thoughts back to work. "Mr. Hearst,are you available now?"
It had been ten days since the last conversation, and although rumors and news about him were delivered to her ears in different ways every day. His voice and presence in the earpiece still made her heart beat uncontrollably.
It was like a man living in a legend had suddenly appeared in the real world, facing her alone.
There was a rustling sound on Damian's side, and after a while, he said, "Yes. Go ahead."
Then Ashley heard the sound of a door closing. Was he with someone else?
Was it Trinity?
Ashley pinched her face again. She must be crazy. She needed to stop thinking about that person. "Mr. Hearst, the trial is over. Our plaintiff refuses to plead guilty, the opposing lawyer insists on making a plea of innocence, and we need to continue collecting evidence for a second trial."
It was not hard to imagine there will be a third time.
Damian said flatly, "Got it."
Two words left Ashley with nothing more to respond to. Usually, the call could end here, and the rest was all about details that within the realm of lawyers, no need to involve the boss.
But it seemed he weren't ready to hang up on the other end as if waiting for something. Ashley hesitated and said, "I haven't congratulated you yet, Mr. Hearst. I offer you belated congratulations."
Damian coldly said, "Congratulations for what?"
It was a very indifferent response, accompanied by the sound of a lighter igniting, and a very faint sound of smoking.
Ashley rubbed her sore forehead, probably feeling dizzy from staying up late. She felt very weak and tired. "Congratulations to you on the groundbreaking of the Dreamvale project. Mr. Hearst, you are really efficient, finalizing such a big project in just a few days and getting it on track smoothly. Also, congratulations to you and..."
Damian interrupted impatiently, "I'm going to M City tomorrow for a meeting. If you really want to congratulate me, buy me a drink."
"Are you still in Eirondia?"
The groundbreaking ceremony went smoothly, and with his decisive manner, he should have flown back that day.
"Yes."
There was another silence. Ashley couldn't find a suitable topic. "Alright, see you tomorrow."
She hung up the phone, and Damian's face darkened as if a storm was brewing beneath them.
In ten days, Ashley hadn't said a word to him.
He thought the trending topic on Facebook and the overwhelming news would stir her emotions. At least she would call to mock him, even if it was just a casual report on work progress.
But she didn't. She only gave a brief verbal notice after the trial ended, as calm as a third party completely detached from personal relationships.
Damian irritably took a drag on his cigarette, the long tobacco burning to the end, and then threw the butt into the trash.
Moments later, his phone rang again.
Thinking Ashley remembered to care about him for a moment, his face grew darker after he saw the number on the screen. "Grandfather."
Anthony was in the country, always keeping an eye on his grandson in Eirondia, afraid he might do something wrong. "Why haven't you come back yet?"
Anthony asked sternly.
Damian said, "There are some matters in the early stages of the project that need my presence. I'll be back in a few days."
Anthony could barely believed his grandson's explanation. "I thought you have other thoughts. Ashley is in Eirondia, and that is why you don't want to come back!"
Damian said, "It has nothing to do with her. Besides, we're not in the same city."
"Eirondia is a small city, just a three-hour drive between the two cities. If you want to go, no one can stop you. Damian, now that your marriage with Trinity is confirmed, your parents will be back in a few days, we'll finalize it face to face, pull yourself together, and don't have any other thoughts."
Damian fell silent, his cold breath reflecting his indifference and resistance to this.
"It's not me forcing you to make a decision. This is your own choice. If you want to establish yourself in the Hearst family and gain the ultimate decision-making power, this is a concession you must make, just like back then."
Damian furrowed his brow in annoyance. "It's different."
"It's no different. Back then, Astor Group was behind the scenes, indirectly securing your position as CEO. Your uncles and cousins didn't dare to object. Today, Emperial Avenue Groups can help you reach the highest position. I can ignore the criticisms of others and forcibly transfer the largest shareholding to you, but you won't be able to walk steadily in the future."
Damian said, "I don't need a woman to stand firm, not before, nor in the future. What happened back then? Grandfather knows the truth very well. It has nothing to do with Astor Group."
Putting down his phone, Damian stepped out of the room.
Curtis smiled and asked, "Have you considered what I said?"
Before answering the call, Curtis suggested that he introduce Ashley to help him with the lawsuit.
But that wasn't his main purpose.
Damian said, "She's busy."
Curtis frowned. "I'll go to M City and ask her myself!"
Damian didn't say what time he was coming, so Ashley hadn't scheduled any work for the day, afraid this boss with a bad temper would get angry again.
It wasn't until ten thirty in the morning that Ashley received a call from an unknown number.
"Hello."
The voice on the other end was familiar, but far beyond her expectations. "Ashley, are you busy? I heard you're in Eirondia."
Ashley was greatly surprised. "Uncle?"
Since the bankruptcy of Astor Group, her uncle, who held a key position in the finance department, was also implicated and left Astor Group with his family to immigrate to Eurostan. They have had little contact in recent years.
The uncle suffered heavy losses due to Astor Group, and later, when her father encountered difficulties, he was embarrassed to ask him for help. The uncle probably didn't want to get involved in Astor Group's mess again. Gradually, everyone tacitly distanced themselves.
Hearing the affectionate address from his niece, Fred's mood lightened. "It's been a long time since I heard you call me uncle, Ashley. Have you forgotten about me?"
When they were in Rochester City, the uncle's family lived not far from hers. She used to visit her uncle often when she was young. He liked to keep pets, a large group of cats and dogs. Ashley always had a great time there.
Her aunt was also very kind to her, always prioritizing her with good things.
Feeling a tinge of emotion, Ashley was about to cry. "How could I forget, I've always missed you. It's just that I've been too busy, and you're so far away, so it’s hard to see each other."
Fred coaxed indulgently, "Ashley, don't cry! If you cry, you'll look ugly, and no one wants an ugly girl."
Ashley laughed through her tears. "Where are you, Uncle? By the way, I've been on a business trip in Eirondia recently. Do you have time to meet?"
Fred said, "I'm in M City these days. I'll give you an address. Come find me."
Ashley was overjoyed, nodding without hesitation. "Okay! Uncle, wait for me. I'll be there soon."
According to the address given by her uncle, Ashley arrived half an hour later.
It was a cafe near City Hall, an elegant afternoon tea shop. Pushing open the door, a string of pleasant wind chimes rang.
Ashley soon saw the middle-aged man sitting by the window.
Just like in the past, her uncle maintained a good physique and meticulously groomed hair, except for the glaring white hair.
Three years had brought significant changes. Her uncle had aged a lot.
Ashley walked over lightly, ready to surprise her uncle. As she approached, she inadvertently heard her uncle say, "Then, change the lawyer. No matter what, we can't lose."
