Chapter 520 Outing
"That's your business, Mr. Hearst doesn't need to update me on the progress," Ashley didn't want to discuss it further; she didn't think it was necessary to discuss it with Damian.
Damian's voice was magnetic, and when he lowered it, it had an extreme charm. He looked at her seriously and said, "It was your words that provided me with the direction for the investigation. No matter what, you need to know about this."
Because I want you to understand how much I value your words. I listen to every word you say, remember them, and use them.
That was the message Damian wanted to convey.
Shadows from outside flew in through the window, casting countless branches on the window screen. The glass blocked the wind, making the room warm.
Ashley met his gaze and was inadvertently enveloped by it.
But she quickly chose to ignore it, ignoring his gentle tone and the warmth in his eyes. "Gaining Mr. Hearst's trust is something many people dream of, but I don't feel anything. Besides, I'm not helping you; I'm helping the Astor Group clear their name sooner."
Damian nodded. Her words were undoubtedly harsh, but he didn't mind at all, not even getting angry.
After almost losing her last time, being able to reunite now was the best outcome. He accepted everything about her without question.
Looking at the moon outside the window and then at her somewhat thin coat, Damian said, "It's getting cold. Wear more clothes; it's easy to catch a cold when the temperature drops at night."
Ashley gave him a wooden smile, more sarcastic than moved. "I'm not a three-year-old; I know to keep warm in winter."
Damian didn't like making small talk. He preferred silence and few words, but with Ashley, he couldn't help but find topics to talk about. "You have a cold constitution, and your hands and feet get cold in winter. Let Mr. Collins treat you, or else even sleeping with Natalia won't warm you up."
Ashley couldn't stand his hypocritical behavior and bluntly said, "Mr. Hearst, I brought Natalia here for treatment out of necessity. It doesn't mean there's anything between us. Save your concern for someone who needs it; don't waste it on me."
Damian said, "You mean Jessica?"
Ashley snorted and turned her head away.
How could he have the nerve to say that?
"She's my psychologist. During the years when my insomnia was severe, she helped me with hypnosis, including the time you saw her in my office two years ago. For a while, I had her come to the company to help me with my naps. I admit, my attitude towards you was terrible back then, and I deliberately created misunderstandings. But nothing happened between us."
He explained sentence by sentence.
Damian's voice was slow and serious, his gaze fixed on her without a moment's hesitation.
Ashley sneered inwardly. Lying also has levels; was Damian at the diamond level?
Nothing happened that time, but what about the condoms in the bedside drawer? The hug at Nine Creeks Garden? The late-night visit to her room? The affair in the study?
Forget it, thinking about it just makes her want to curse.
"Mr. Hearst, you don't need to explain your private matters so clearly. You're a single man, and it's your freedom to be with whoever you want. Jessica is great—beautiful, gentle, and considerate. She probably meets all the standards of a perfect lover. I sincerely hope Mr. Hearst and Jessica can become a couple."
Damian said, "Do you have a misunderstanding?"
He could hear the resistance and sarcasm in Ashley's words. She seemed very averse to Jessica.
"No misunderstanding, I'm very serious."
Damian frowned. "She's just..."
The phone rang. He gestured for Ashley to wait a moment and answered the call, "Mom."
"Damian, your grandfather had another temporary memory loss today. If you don't visit him more often, he won't remember you at all!"
Damian's face grew darker. "How is Grandpa?"
"Jessica is with him. It's strange; your grandfather can't remember anyone else, but he recognizes and trusts her. Your grandfather is old, and the people around him naturally gain his favor. Why don't you and Jessica get engaged and married? It would give your grandfather good news, and with his reliance on Jessica, KM would be yours in the future."
Damian said coldly, "No way. I won't marry her."
Ashley didn't know what Nicole said, but she wasn't interested in listening to a mother-son argument, so she got up to leave.
Damian instinctively wanted to get up and follow her, but his legs wouldn't move. Struggling, he remained stuck in his chair, frustration making him extremely angry. "If you like her, you can make her your goddaughter, but don't force her on me."
With that, he hung up the phone.
There was no sign of Ashley in the study.
Damian rubbed his forehead and took a deep breath.
He saw a message from Evelina on his screen.
In the evening.
Ashley held Natalia, telling her a bedtime story.
Natalia snuggled in her arms, her big eyes full of hope. "Auntie, can I get better?"
Ashley kissed her small forehead. "Of course you can. Mr. Collins is making medicine for you; you'll definitely get better!"
Natalia pouted, her fingers sliding over the illustrations in the book. "The little deer has good friends. They run and play on the grass, so happy. But I don't have any friends."
Natalia's little face was full of grievance, frustration, and helplessness.
Ashley felt heartbroken. "When Natalia gets better, you'll go to school and have many friends your age!"
Who didn't like playing with friends as a child? Natalia missed out on many beautiful moments in her childhood.
Thinking about it made her heart ache.
The next day was Saturday. After breakfast, Ashley received a call from Sean.
"Do you have any plans today?" Sean asked gently.
Ashley looked at the calendar. She didn't need to go to the hospital or take medicine today, a rare free day. "Are you inviting me?"
Sean said, "Cleo wants to go on a picnic. I thought if you and Natalia are free, we could go together."
Ashley's eyes lit up. Yes! Natalia and Cleo were about the same age, the perfect friend she had been longing for.
"Give me the address, and I'll come over."
"We've got everything. Just bring yourselves. Drive safely; no rush."
Natalia was thrilled to go out and meet a cute little girl. She rummaged through her things to prepare a gift for her new friend.
An hour later, Ashley's car stopped at the entrance of Rochester City Wetland Park. Coincidentally, Sean's low-key Infiniti was parked next to it.
The two children were like they had met in a century-long reunion, calling each other's names enthusiastically from afar. Cleo, in a pink autumn-winter princess dress, hugged Natalia, who was in a white dress, and their bell-like laughter didn't stop for a while.
"Natalia, this is a gift for you!" Cleo took out a big doll from her backpack.
Natalia also pulled out a cute toy from her bag. "This is for Cleo. You're so pretty!"
"You're pretty too! Your dimples are so cute."
Cleo was lively and cheerful, talkative and sweet. The two quickly became friends in less than ten minutes.
Their quick friendship amazed the adults.
The pure and innocent laughter of the two children quickly healed all the adults' unhappiness, just watching them was refreshing.
As the saying said , It made me want to have a daughter.
Sean and Ashley teamed up to set up the tent and lay out lunch. Sitting on the mat, they watched the children play, both with smiles on their faces.
"Natalia looks much better, so well-behaved and adorable. She's really likable. But taking care of a sick five-year-old alone must be tough. Make sure to take care of yourself, especially with the recent drop in temperature."
Ashley peeled an orange, full of hope. "Natalia is easy to take care of. If she weren't sick, she'd be even happier and more lively. So no matter the cost, I'll find a way to cure her."
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