Chapter 224 The Boastful Golden
Speaking of which...
Fiona checked her phone for the time. Today marked the memorial service for Mrs. Solomon. A titan of her era, the service was expected to be a grand affair, with many dignitaries and business leaders in attendance.
If what Darwin revealed about his past that day was true...
Fiona didn't allow herself to dwell on it, her mind slamming on the brakes.
Falling for a guy, that's a one-way ticket to heartache, she reminded herself.
Steeling her resolve, she headed straight to the garage and drove home.
The night's events had drained her, and Fiona fell into a deep sleep the moment she hit her bed after a shower.
The next morning.
As Ashton woke, he stared blankly at the ceiling.
Then it hit him—he was getting married today!
He sat up, confusion giving way to sudden anxiety.
None of the excitement he'd felt while preparing the night before remained.
Am I really ready to get married?
The question popped into his head, unsolicited.
Before he could muster an answer, Kenny's call came through.
Ashton nearly flung the phone across the room when he saw the caller ID, but ultimately, he took the call.
If nothing else, for the sake of the land deal, he couldn't ignore it.
"Are you up?" Kenny's voice was as appealing as ever.
It was disarming to hear such a captivating tone on such a conflicted morning.
"Just woke up," Ashton replied.
"Come outside," Kenny instructed.
Ashton paused, then hurried out of bed and downstairs.
He briefly considered tidying up but figured if they were really going to be married, Kenny would eventually see him in all his just-woke-up glory anyway.
Besides, if Kenny regretted his choice after seeing him like this, he could save himself the trouble.
Opening the door, there stood Kenny, looking sharp in a sleek black suit, his hair perfectly combed, seemingly a different man from the one with the casual golden locks.
"You..." Ashton eyed him with mixed emotions, "you didn't come here worried I'd get cold feet and bolt, did you?"
"Thinking of bolting?" Kenny's eyebrows arched slightly.
"Not really," Ashton mumbled.
"This is for you." Kenny handed over a bag adorned with a shiny gold logo.
Ashton took it, "What's this?"
"Matching outfits," Kenny said, his voice laced with a pride Ashton couldn't quite grasp.
Why be proud of matching outfits?
"I might need a moment," Ashton indicated himself from head to toe.
Kenny nodded, "Take your time, but no runaway brides, Mrs. Walker."
There it was again — Mrs. Walker.
Honestly, Kenny could be so infuriating.
Of course, Ashton didn't let him inside.
She told him to wait in the car and then scurried upstairs to quickly fix her makeup. She was too accustomed to being punctual, not liking to keep anyone waiting.
After her makeup and hair were done, she opened the bag Kenny had brought.
Inside was a white dress.
Describing Ashton would be an understatement; she was simply stunning.
Upon closer inspection, I noticed there were patterns on her dress.
They were identical to the designs on the tie Kenny had just chosen.
This was...
Her very first time owning matching couple’s clothing.
Her love affair with Chris had been a well-kept secret; naturally, they couldn’t flaunt matching outfits in public.
But it seemed imperative to Kenny, hence his early morning visit.
Wait a minute! How did Kenny know where she lived?
She had returned on her own the previous day.
She hadn’t shared her address with anyone!
She hurriedly slipped into the dress and stealthily stepped outside.
Kenny's car was parked nearby.
She was terrified of being spotted.
She darted into the vehicle, instinctively settling in the back seat.
Kenny turned and caught her breathless gaze, “Mrs. Walker, you belong in the passenger's seat beside me.”
“Oh,” Ashton came to her senses, quickly got out, and switched seats.
Finally, Kenny drove off contentedly.
“Mr. Kenny…” Ashton began.
“Mrs. Walker, you might want to try calling me 'husband', or at the very least 'Kenny',” he interjected kindly.
Ashton was at a loss for words.
She couldn’t bring herself to say either. She had been swept up in the moment yesterday!
“Don’t change the subject!” Ashton glared at him, “How did you find out where I live?”
“Mrs. Walker, surely you don’t think I’d marry someone without knowing a thing about them?” Kenny replied.
"You investigated me?” Ashton frowned.
“Yes,” Kenny nodded, “and I found out you're an exceptional person. I wanted to marry you before some other guy scooped you up.”
Ashton didn’t know how to react.
To her, Kenny had crossed a line, yet there was an inexplicable... pride in his reasoning?
“What if I had bad character?” she murmured.
“I never considered it.”
Kenny was resolute from the moment he met Ashton; he was determined to make her his wife.
The thought of her being anything less than perfect never crossed his mind.
Even after discovering her ties to Chris, his resolve didn’t waver.
Of course, he couldn’t let Ashton know that just yet.
What if she thought him obsessive, even frightening?
Kenny had been prepared for a long-term courtship.
But as fate would have it, things accelerated much faster than expected. Not seizing the moment would’ve been madness!
"Kenny," Ashton said, her gaze steady, "have you really thought this through? With the kind of background you come from, shouldn't you be looking for someone from a similar world? Power couples are the way to go, right? I'm just...a small business owner."
Hearing Ashton modestly call herself an entrepreneur made Kenny want to pull over and shower her with kisses. She was just too adorable!
"The family values back home are pretty sound. When it comes to marriage, we look at character above all else," Kenny confidently praised without restraint. "Mrs. Walker's character, appearance, and capabilities are all impeccable."
Ashton looked at Kenny, feeling a sudden warmth around her eyes. "You're lying, aren't you?" she asked.
Kenny met her gaze, earnest and unwavering. "Cross my heart, I'm as honest as a pup."
Ashton burst into laughter. In her mind, she teased, You're already a pup, Kenny!
Kenny watched her laughing but wasn't entirely happy. His compliments were heartfelt, without a shred of insincerity, yet she instinctively hesitated to believe them. Was it because she'd been shot down by others for so long? Who was it? Maria? Or Chris?
Feeling uplifted, Ashton gazed at the beautiful sunrise ahead and said, "You know, my best friend always sings my praises too. I used to think she was over the top. Now that you're joining the chorus, it seems I've been underestimating her – and myself! I really am pretty amazing, huh?"
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