Chapter 540 Forced Marriage
Damian looked back into her eyes, very bright, very clear, with two small reflections of himself in her pupils. "You say it."
Ashley asked, "Was it you who arranged for Theo to pick me up at Blue Star?"
"That's all you want to ask?" Damian tugged at the corner of his mouth, a hint of warmth in his eyes.
"He said you were inconvenienced, and I guessed so too. Otherwise, you would have come personally, beaten Hendrix half to death, and then given me a good scolding. So, Mr. Hearst, what is your inconvenience?"
Thomas suddenly looked up. Damian had said he didn't want Ashley to know about his condition, didn't want to gain her sympathy.
Had Ashley discovered it??
After pretending to be mute for so long, he couldn't keep it up anymore. "Ms. Astor, Mr. Hearst, he..."
Damian interrupted Thomas, his deep gaze lifting. "My legs are not convenient."
Ashley looked at his legs and the feet in house slippers, his long, straight legs in pants showing no abnormalities, just like before. "Are you injured?"
She thought, maybe Damian had some external injury or a fracture, after all, he was a normal person.
But it didn't look like he had a cast on his leg. However, when he had a broken arm before, he only had a cast for a few days for minor adjustments. After the cast was removed, except for not being able to exert force, there was no major issue. She didn't know what kind of miraculous constitution he had. Other people's fractures required a long time in a cast to prevent bone misalignment. Hendrix's leg took months to recover.
Damian said, "That's right, it's been a while, still in treatment."
He avoided the heavy truth, not mentioning the fact of being crippled.
Ashley couldn't guess the truth he was hiding. Out of basic courtesy, she politely said, "Then you should rest well and get good treatment."
Damian nodded, cooperating. "Mr. Collins has been helping me with the treatment, which is why he can't leave for a short time."
So that's it, Martin staying here was not just for hypnosis but also to treat his leg.
Was the injury that serious? Did it need a doctor of Martin's caliber to personally treat it?
Ashley wanted to ask more, but suddenly heard Jasper shouting from outside, "Mr. Hearst, your mother is here!"
Feeling a tight scalp, Ashley hurriedly said, "It's inconvenient for me to meet your mother, I'll leave first."
Damian frowned, "She's at the front gate, you can't leave. Go to the bedroom inside and stay for a while, she won't stay long."
From his tone, it seemed he wasn't very welcoming of Nicole's arrival.
In Ashley's impression, Damian rarely took her to the Bryan couple's place. Even when they occasionally gathered, the atmosphere at the dining table was very strange. Usually, after finally starting a topic, Nicole would become unhappy, then sarcastic, and it would end with Bryan putting down his fork and leaving.
The family atmosphere could even be described as terrifying. If Damian had grown up like that, it wouldn't be surprising that he developed a sharp and cold personality.
At this moment, she thought of a saying: Whenever you want to criticize someone, remember that not everyone has the same advantages as you.
Perhaps, not everyone has a harmonious and happy family, but developing a tolerant character. The traumas they suffered in childhood are deeply imprinted on their hearts, unable to heal for a lifetime, so they don't know how to manage relationships.
Ashley sensibly cooperated, instructing Thomas before hiding, "Please keep an eye on Natalia, don't let Nicole see her. I don't want to cause unnecessary misunderstandings."
Thomas quickly nodded in agreement, "Don't worry, Natalia is in the backyard. Nicole won't go there. I'll go check in a bit."
Confirming there would be no mistakes, Ashley turned and hid in the bedroom inside, closing and locking the door.
Just after finishing the aftermath, she heard Nicole's familiar voice, "In such cold weather, why aren't you wearing more clothes?"
Damian said, "It's fine."
"Are you getting the treatment?"
"Yes, in treatment."
Ashley leaned against the door, her face full of sighs.
This was definitely not a normal mother-son conversation.
Nicole said some more homely words, which Ashley didn't pay attention to. Then she heard Nicole raising her voice, using a commanding tone, "Your grandfather's health is getting worse, his memory often confused. The doctor said all his bodily functions are continuously aging. He might not wake up one day. His wish is to see you married and have children before he closes his eyes."
Ashley's eyes moved slightly, her face expressionless.
So, Nicole had already chosen a marriage partner for Damian?
Damian's attitude was cold, "I will communicate with Grandpa, but marriage is impossible."
Nicole was obviously angry, "What's wrong with Jessica? From the time of your accident until now, she has taken care of you without complaint, stayed by your side without a name or status. Which woman can do that? Her father and uncle are respectable people, which also compensates for the Baldwin family's lack of status. Moreover, the Baldwin family has never actively asked for anything, nor have they used the Hearst family name to act arrogantly. The more this is the case, the more we need to give them an explanation. Your grandfather thinks highly of her, believing she is your wife. Once you get married, KM will definitely be handed over to you. Victor and Nathan, and your grandfather's beloved Doyle, are not your opponents. Otherwise, your grandfather might get angry and promote Victor again. Besides..."
Nicole couldn't bear to directly point out her son's crippled legs, so she said tactfully, "The situation is different now. You need to grasp something beneficial to yourself! Your grandfather listens to Jessica the most. As long as you work together, you won't have to fear anyone in the Hearst family. Damian, I'm doing this for your good, for your future and security. Victor and Trinity are engaged, and their strong alliance will control you. Moreover, what is Jessica's intention? After being dumped by you, she turned to Victor, clearly to show off and seek revenge!"
The air suddenly became quiet. For a moment, no one made a sound.
"Bryan found out that Doyle's business abroad is doing well. If he wants to come back and compete for KM, he is very competitive. After all, he is the eldest grandson of the Hearst family. Your grandfather always feels indebted to them and might use the group's shares to compensate. Your most important task now is to get enough shares from your grandfather and become the chairman. You must not give them any chance to breathe! In a wealthy family, there are no small family sentiments. Either you take the initiative, or you get beaten passively. What will you choose?"
Nicole slowly squatted down, grabbed Damian's hand, and said tearfully, "Damian, I am your mother. Even if you hate me, you should know I would never harm you. Your second and third uncles are not easy to get along with. Bryan was forced to leave the president's position because of their tactics. I don't want to see you suffer, don't want the tragedy to repeat. If someone has to be the bad guy, let it be me! As long as I can protect my son, I am willing to do anything."
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