Chapter 219 You're Marrying Him?
Leaving the hospital, the outside world greeted them with blinding sunlight. Ashton turned to Kenny, "Mr. Kenny, I need to make a call."
"Sure," Kenny responded with understanding and stepped aside.
Ashton found a bench, sat down, and called Fiona. She summarized the situation and then spent the next fifteen minutes sobbing uncontrollably. After she had cried enough, her voice shaky and eyes still wet, she sniffled, "Babe, I stopped crying."
"Yeah," Fiona replied, her voice supportive. "Good timing, the rugrats just left. Tonight, I'll get your favorite braised dishes, and we'll have a proper drink!"
"Tonight, huh?" Ashton stuttered, her gaze drifting towards Kenny standing at a distance, a thought crossing her mind that Kenny was too clueless to wait in the car.
"I have dinner plans with the lord of the manor who’s selling his land."
"Is it going to take all night?" Fiona muttered. "You better save some room for when you come back to drink with me."
"Got it."
"Sweetie, remember, me and the little ones, we're always your family," Fiona said tenderly.
A crooked smile flitted across Ashton's face, her tears threatening to return. "Stop it, or I'll start crying again!"
Fiona laughed, "Okay, okay, I'll stop. Hanging up."
After the call ended, Ashton wiped her tears away and took a deep breath. It felt like the storm had passed, and she was finally able to see clear skies. At that moment...
From a distance, Kenny beckoned to her, pointing at himself and then at her, silently asking if he could come over. Ashton nodded her approval, and shortly after, Kenny was by her side.
"What's with the tears?" Kenny asked with a touch of concern, gently pushing a stray lock of hair from Ashton's forehead. "Do I look that awful?"
Ashton's first instinct was to reach into her bag for a mirror, but Kenny gently stopped her, taking the bag and holding it for her.
"No, you look cute," he reassured her, leaving Ashton at a loss for words.
Was it her lack of experience in love, or were kids these days just so smooth?
"The day's still young. Shall we go check out the property?" Ashton suggested, her eyes downcast and her voice less than spirited.
Kenny was speechless for a moment.
"Ashton, you never can forget about work, can you?" he teased.
"You saw what happened; I've cut ties with my family. It's all on me now!" Ashton sniffled, her determination wavering. "Of course, I have to work hard!"
Kenny just looked at her, silently contemplating. Digging into Ashton's background wasn't difficult. The Shaw family might look like nobility to the average Joe, but to the Walker family, they were just another name. A little digging and everything would be clear as day.
"Let's go," Kenny said, grabbing her wrist and pulling her to her feet.
"Go where?" Ashton asked.
"Anywhere but looking at property," Kenny replied, and after a moment's thought, he added, "I'll give you a discount on the land."
"Really?" A glimmer of hope shone through Ashton's darkest moment at the mention of a discount.
"Yeah," Kenny affirmed.
However, Ashton still had her guard up. "Just so we're clear, Mr. Kenny, I don't mix business with pleasure..."
Kenny stopped in his tracks, turned around, and looked at her, her eyes red and swollen, yet somehow reminiscent of a fluffy little bunny. He couldn't help but laugh. "Coincidentally, Mr. Kenny doesn't mix them either."
She was unconvinced - Kenny was dangerously charming.
"So, what are we going to do?" she pressed on.
"You'll find out when we get there," he said, leading her toward the parking lot.
Upon their arrival, Ashton spotted Chris. She didn't feel much, but instinctively, she tightened her grip on Kenny's hand, and somehow, it didn't seem enough. Kenny responded with a reassuring clasp, their fingers interlacing with perfect synchronicity in a matter of seconds. It was, indeed, an unspoken understanding.
"Ashton," Chris said, shifting his gaze from their intertwined hands, "come with me."
"She's not going anywhere with you," Kenny cut in. "We have a date."
A date? That's the first I've heard of it—it's a date!
Chris ignored Kenny, fixing his eyes solely on Ashton. "I know you're mad, but—"
"Kenny, get me some caramel popcorn later, will you? The really sugary kind!" Ashton said, completely sidestepping Chris and engaging Kenny instead. And she called him by his pet name, no less.
"Sure thing. You can have as much as you want."
They looked set to just walk past Chris when suddenly he reached out and grabbed Ashton's arm. "Ashton, stop playing games with me!" He tried to pull her back to his side.
The next instant, Kenny's fist connected with Chris's face.
Chris hadn't seen it coming. He instinctively let go of Ashton and stumbled back.
"Ashton!" she exclaimed in shock.
Kenny frowned slightly.
And then Chris, who always kept up appearances, suddenly lashed out, charging at Kenny with a retaliatory punch.
After marrying Kenny and seeing his kickboxing championship trophies at his place, Ashton realized he could fight. But at this moment, Kenny managed to withstand Chris's punch.
Chris, veins bulging in his neck, grabbed Kenny's collar. "Everything changed when you showed up, Ashton! It's you who corrupted him!"
As Chris's fist was about to fall again, Ashton rushed over and shoved him away forcefully. "Enough!"
Chris, his eyes red with anger, claimed, "Ashton, he's no good for you!"
"And what about you, Chris?" Ashton fired back, without a shred of sentiment. "Besides, I've already told you, I'm done with the Shaws. Even if I married him today, it's none of your business!"
"You want to marry him?" Chris paused, dumbfounded.
Kenny was equally stunned.
And Ashton, caught in a wave of anger, didn't think before she retorted, "Why not? He's handsome, young, and sweet, caring, and stood by my side without hesitation when everyone else was pointing fingers. That's the kind of person I want!"
"How long have you even known him?" Kenny exploded, reaching out to grasp Ashton's hand. "Stop this nonsense, come back with me, I—"
"Chris!"
It was then that Crystal Robbins's voice rang out from behind Ashton.
Chris's hand hung frozen mid-air.
Ashton chuckled with a mocking sneer.
Seems like the spell of being lovesick is over.
Or perhaps she's utterly done with Chris.
Just days ago, she was wracked with pain over him.
And now…
Ashton's gaze shifted to Chris, feeling suddenly that he really wasn't all that exceptional.
"Ashton, have you been fighting with him again?" Crystal Robbins demanded immediately upon noticing the bruises on Chris's face.
"It was me," Kenny interjected, his voice cold yet carrying an indistinct sense of pride that was hard to pin down.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
