Chapter 217 Cut Ties
As Ashton's phone rang with suddenness, her brows furrowed in bewilderment. It was rare for Justin to reach out first, and she had a hunch as to why. After a moment's hesitation, she ended the call.
"What's up?" Kenny's voice was soft, his presence steady beside her.
Ashton shook her head, "It's nothing, Mr. Kenny, please."
He caught her eye, said nothing more, and with a gentle hand on her back nudged her forward. "You go ahead."
Ashton couldn't help but notice: his hands were massive.
Just a few steps later, her phone buzzed with a message from Justin. She glanced at it, and froze.
"Ashton, you need to come to the First City Hospital right away. Your mom passed out at home, and we're taking her there!"
"Guys, something's come up at home. I won't be able to join you for the site visit," Ashton quickly informed the others. To Kenny, she added, "I'm really sorry, Mr. Kenny, I..."
"No worries."
Kenny turned to the lawyer at his side. "Mr. White, please accompany them to the land. Collect their feedback if any, and we'll reschedule to discuss the price."
Not going anymore? Ashton felt a twinge of guilt for causing a delay.
Yet, nothing was more important than her mother.
"I'll drive you," Kenny casually offered.
"Mr. Kenny, that's okay, I brought my own car!"
"You're shaking; you can't drive like this. Let's not waste time, come on."
Reflecting later on the day's events, Ashton would harbor suspicions that if they'd been alone, Kenny would've surely taken her hand.
When they arrived at the hospital over forty minutes later, Ashton bolted from the car and raced inside, with Kenny, carrying her forgotten purse and phone, striding behind her.
She burst into the ward she had memorized earlier, on the verge of tears, calling out, "Mom!"
But in the next second, Ashton stood rooted to the spot. The spacious ward buzzed with several visitors—Chris, Crystal, Justin, Crystal's parents, along with others she didn't recognize but seemed related to Crystal’s side of the family.
Indeed, there lay Maria on the hospital bed, her complexion a bit pale but otherwise seemingly fine.
"Is this Ashton Carey? You're such a darling," gushed a relative from the Ayre family, showering her with compliments.
Gasping for breath from her sprint, Ashton could barely catch her breath. She stood there, the weight of the 800-meter dash nearly crushing her lungs.
Her gaze almost instinctively lingered on Chris.
His brows were furrowed, a clear sign he had no clue Ashton would show up.
Just as he was about to speak—
A knock echoed on the hospital room door.
All eyes turned.
There, standing at the threshold in immaculate attire, was Kenny, the epitome of a gentleman.
Ashton, too, turned her head.
It wasn't until she saw Kenny that reality hit her.
She'd been deceived...
Her mother's reassurances were nothing but lies.
In that moment, Ashton felt her world crumbling.
Sensing her distress, Kenny furrowed his brows and approached, "What's wrong?"
"Why didn't you leave?" Ashton's voice trembled as she asked.
Why?
Why would she do this?
Just for Chris to get married?
But she was her own flesh and blood...
"My phone was taken," Kenny murmured.
"Oh..."
Ashton reached for the phone.
Kenny glanced at the others, then whispered, "Want me to get you out of here?"
"Wait..." Ashton clutched the phone and, inadvertently, Kenny's hand as well.
Her hand was cold and shaking.
"Ashton, who is this?" She heard someone ask amidst her haze.
Her grip on Kenny's hand tightened.
Ashton...
Stop living in lies.
Admit it, Chris just doesn't love you enough.
Admit that you're not important to your mother, either.
Lies.
They're meant to be exposed.
She let go of Kenny, turned around, and disregarded the disorderly crowd.
She walked up to Maria.
Those few steps seemed to flood her mind with memories of happier times when her father was alive and the family was whole and joyful.
Back then...
Her mother doted on her.
She was meek and often bullied by other children.
Her mother would always rush to her defense.
"Mom," Ashton called out, "Are you feeling okay? Have you been checked?"
Maria looked at her daughter, whose face was pale, cheeks flushed, lips devoid of color, and felt a sudden panic, avoiding Ashton's gaze instinctively.
"Mr. Shaw," Ashton looked at Justin next.
"Ashton, don't worry. The doctor said it's just a bit of overexertion," Justin replied.
"It's mainly stress over your grandmother's situation," interjected Crystal's mother, with a hint of culpability in her tone, almost as if she were on the verge of scolding Ashton for being irresponsible.
"Of course, since you're all here, I might as well address it. The deleted surveillance footage has been recovered," Ashton announced, her voice detached.
Just as expected.
All this fainting and being sick...
The plan was simple: Lure her in and then have everyone confront her, driving her to acknowledge her mistakes and, amidst sobs and on bended knee, agree to reconcile.
But how could that possibly work?
Even if she tore the heavens apart, she'd never let her grandmother swallow such a bitter pill.
"Sweetheart, your brother and his fiancee are getting married soon, and your grandma's not seriously ill—why dredge up this bad blood?" the aunt who had just complimented Ashton crossed her arms, her face suddenly souring.
"So, Miss Ayre, you're saying that to seek justice for my grandma, you won't marry Chris?" Ashton asked.
"Ashton, why are you being so aggressive? You slapped Chris just yesterday. Could I perhaps sue you for assault?" Crystal fired back with rising fury.
"Sure," replied Ashton, without hesitating. "If you need the security footage, just say the word. Not only will I not have it deleted, but I'll provide it to you in full."
"My word, your daughter really knows how to dish it out," Crystal Robbins' mother suddenly turned to Maria, "with such a sharp-tongued, ruthless little sister-in-law, I worry about how much distress my daughter will have to endure at your household."
"Don't worry," Ashton laughed softly.
"Ashton!" Chris, seemingly anticipating what she was about to say, interjected in an attempt to stop her.
Yet...
Ashton turned to look at her mother.
Why was she silent?
Why didn't she speak up while her own daughter was being bullied?
After a moment of vain hope...
Ashton finally withdrew her gaze: "From this moment on, I officially sever the mother-daughter relationship with Mrs. Maria. From now on, I have absolutely nothing to do with the Shaw family."
With those words...
Ashton's eyes dropped.
With a determined expression, she turned and headed for the door.
Kenny was still standing there.
Holding her phone and bag.
Somehow, when their eyes met...
All of Ashton's pent-up emotions erupted.
Tears streamed down as she lowered her lashes.
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