Chapter 498 Confession
Sean's appearance successfully made Scarlett laugh, and Todd was also very happy.
He even rarely opened a bottle of wine and had a drink with Sean.
The Dorian couple rented a small apartment for convenience at work, and when they were busy, they didn't come back. Todd was in a good mood seeing the young and promising junior, and the conversation at the dinner table was very pleasant.
Seeing Todd and Sean having such a good conversation, Scarlett pulled Ashley into the kitchen and whispered, "Ashley, do you really have no feelings for Sean? We've all seen how good he's been to you these past two years. He's so caring!"
Ashley turned on the faucet and started cleaning the vegetable sink, avoiding eye contact with Scarlett, "Mom, I don't want to think about relationships anymore. I want to raise Happy well and spend more time with you and Dad."
"But you're still young, Ashley. Life is long, and it's too hard to be alone. Your father and I hope you can start a family and have someone to rely on."
Ashley smiled sweetly, "Mom, can we not talk about this?"
Outside, when Todd was happy, he clinked glasses with Sean and lowered his voice, "Sean, even though Ashley is divorced and has a child, I know my daughter. Ashley is a good kid!"
Sean understood what he meant and looked towards the kitchen. His slightly tipsy face showed joy mixed with helplessness, "Mr. Astor, I'll try, but her heart can't accommodate anyone else for now."
Todd patted Sean on the shoulder and said nothing more.
After dinner, Sean played with Happy for a while.
Happy wasn't very friendly to him, but Sean was patient and well-mannered, never losing his temper, which made Happy have to remain polite.
Ashley watched the big and small figures assembling toys on the cushion and couldn't help but think, what kind of woman would be good enough for such a good man like Sean?
She certainly wasn't.
Scarlett looked at Sean from every angle and liked him more and more, only to sigh.
Nothing needed to be said; a sigh was enough for Ashley to understand a thousand words.
Indeed, a mother-in-law always finds her son-in-law more pleasing to the eye.
Later, Ashley saw Sean out.
Ashley said, "You seem to have something to say. What is it?"
Sean was very considerate, always thinking twice before saying anything that might make others uncomfortable, preferring to digest it himself rather than burden others.
He was so gentle it made one's heart ache.
Sean stopped, holding his suitcase in one hand and the food Scarlett had packed for him in the other, standing by the desolate autumn roadside. The wind blew his bangs, revealing his deep eyes.
"Ashley, should we give it a try?"
He finally said it.
Knowing it was just a thin layer of window paper, clear even without breaking it, but after saying it, his heart still pounded anxiously.
Ashley's heart was gently stirred, but the thick emotions quickly returned to calm, "I don't want to remarry, whether it's you or anyone else. I've experienced too much in love and marriage, and I'm a bit tired. If it's just for the sake of getting married, it wouldn't be fair to the other person, and it wouldn't be happy. I like my current life, taking care of my child, working hard in my career, and spending time with my parents, so I don't want to start a new family."
Sean smiled to console himself, "At least it wasn't that sentence, or I might not have the mood to go back to work."
That sentence was "I'm sorry."
Luckily, she didn't say it.
Ashley couldn't bear to look into his eyes; they were too devoted, too pure. She feared that looking too long would taint him. "Actually, we're not suitable for each other. You know my parents' situation. I think if they knew your identity, they wouldn't push for our marriage. I joined Sylvania's nationality to leave that country and start anew, so no one would criticize their past. You have a good family, and your identity is too special. Your father is a respectable elder. I don't want you to fall out with him because of me or become a burden to your family. The Ross family has such a good reputation in Rochester City because you cherish it and are always cautious and low-key. Love is just a small part of life. Don't lose the big for the small, especially for a woman like me, not worth it."
In the face of love, all explanations were synonymous with not loving.
Her words were for his sake, just another way of not accepting him.
The gentle explanation, the straightforward rejection.
No matter how it's packaged, the blade is still sharp and won't make the wound hurt any less.
Sean was prepared, but hearing the answer still pained him deeply.
"I understand." Sean smiled gracefully.
Ashley's expression was bitter, "Sean."
Sean said, "Don't feel sorry. Liking or not liking isn't anyone's fault, and there's no need to apologize. I'm fine."
At the right moment, Sean's phone rang. He picked it up, "I'll see you off here. I need to take a call and will take a cab back."
Ashley nodded, "Be safe. Let me know when you get to the hotel. After all, I've lived here for so long."
"We can still be friends, just like before. If what I said just now made you uncomfortable, please forget it."
Ashley's nose stung, "Okay."
She turned away in embarrassment.
Sean answered the phone, "What's up?"
"Mr. Ross, Volcano has sent an invitation, hoping you'll take on their case."
Sean glanced back at Ashley's slender figure, which should be protected in an embrace, not facing the harsh wind and rain alone, enduring life's wild crush.
"The explosion case KM is suing them for?"
"You know?"
"Tell Volcano's vice president I won't take it."
"Okay, Mr. Ross. Where are you?"
Where was he?
He stood on the street of Evercrest City, having just seen off the person he came to meet.
In the past, when he came to Evercrest City, he would always tell Ashley in advance. Today, he deliberately kept it a secret, hoping to create a surprise, but meeting at the airport made him very happy.
Unfortunately, he didn't anticipate the beginning or the end.
He thought that after two years, he had gradually entered Ashley's heart. Even if he couldn't replace Damian, he could at least have a place.
But Ashley's apologetic look gave him a fatal blow.
Yet he stubbornly wanted to hold on to that bit of gentleness, unwilling to leave the field.
He feared he would never meet someone he wanted to love for a lifetime again. He missed Giselle Montague, and God gave him another chance. If he missed it again, he would regret it for life.
Even if her heart remained closed, he would guard outside, ensuring her safety.
Living for over thirty years, Sean knew he was a bit foolish and stubborn. Only this stubbornness made him realize his heart could beat passionately, unlike the dark, lifeless years after Giselle's death.
"I have some things to do. I'll be back in a couple of days."
Putting down the phone, he looked at the food box on his suitcase, his face warming again.
Rochester City, Damian's study.
"Mr. Hearst, we've investigated. Ms. Astor went to the casino to find a defendant named Mac, accompanied by a man named Otis. We found Mac, who said someone privately warned him of trouble and arranged several bodyguards for him. There was a fight at the casino, and Ms. Astor was rescued, but these are all Mac's words, with no surveillance or recordings."
Damian asked, "Who did he meet?"
The voice on the phone said, "He said he didn't see the face. The person wore a mask and hat. We used some methods and can confirm he's telling the truth."
"Where is Mac from?"
"Evercrest City. He's accused of illegal cashing, with a court date next Tuesday. The prosecuting lawyer is Ms. Astor."
Mac was just a pawn. The masked man found him to meet Ashley privately. Perhaps the rescue was a carefully planned setup to make Ashley let her guard down and leave a good impression.
It's certain that Ashley has entered this game, and the masked man has targeted her, just like he targeted Selene back then.
Damian decided immediately, "I'm going to Evercrest City."
"But you..."
"I'm fine."
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