Chapter 279 Wait for Me for Three More Years
The designer Ashton went to meet was recommended by Kenny for the new office building of her company.
It was to be built on the piece of land that Kenny had given her.
The architect was a well-known master in the industry and a college buddy of Kenny; usually, money alone couldn't lure him to take on a project.
Before starting the design, the architect was meticulous about client requirements, a discussion that lasted until eight or nine in the evening.
After wrapping up.
Kenny had just finished his work and came to pick up Ashton. The couple took the architect and his design team out for a lavish dinner.
After dinner, Kenny and Ashton bid the team farewell.
"Tired?" Kenny looked at Ashton and gently squeezed her shoulder.
Instinctively, Ashton wanted to say she wasn't tired.
Back in the day, when at home with Chris, to prevent them from worrying, she would always act as if she were fine.
But now...
She glanced at Kenny.
He had said she didn't need to be strong in front of him.
"A little," Ashton nodded, "just sat too long, and the air in the office was stuffy. For my company, I must have the best ventilation system to ensure the physical and emotional health of my employees!"
Seeing Ashton so animated and adorable in her speech, created a lingering smile in Kenny's eyes, and his lips curled with satisfaction.
"Oh, right!"
Ashton looked around.
"It seems like we're close to X Avenue. I'd love to go check it out."
"Not tired anymore?" Kenny asked.
"Just a bit of fatigue, no big deal!" Ashton waved it off, then realized something. "What about you? Are you tired?"
Kenny was quite pleased.
"Not at all. Let's go get the car."
A few minutes later.
The car was parked just outside X Avenue.
Parking in the old district was troublesome. Kenny had bought a parking spot from the property manager a few days prior, but the paperwork wasn't through, so they couldn't use it just yet.
They had to use an open-air parking lot a few hundred meters away.
Since Ashton said she was tired, he dropped her off at the entrance of their building. "You go up; I'll join you after I park."
Ashton nodded and looked around.
The old district had quieted down; streetlights were on but for some reason, they didn't seem very bright.
"You sure you don't want me to tag along? It's pretty dark out there; I’m scared you might get the jitters." Ashton teased Kenny.
Kenny leaned in closer to Ashton, her heart skipping a beat with his sudden proximity.
With a playful glance, Kenny flicked Ashton's nose and boasted, "I’m a pro in close combat, mixed martial arts, and taekwondo. I can take on eight guys single-handedly, so there's nothing to fear."
Ashton fell silent, her cheeks inexplicably starting to feel like they were on fire.
"Then go on by yourself!" She muttered under her breath, swiftly opening the car door to get out.
"Take it easy, Mrs. Walker," Kenny called out with a chuckle.
Ashton gave a quick thumbs-up without looking back. Her face was flushed as red as a baboon's behind, so how could she even look at him?
After watching her disappear through the complex gates, Kenny shook his head with a smile, started the car, and drove off towards the parking area. The breeze these days was perfectly temperate; it was quite comfortable indeed.
"Ashton's back?"
As she entered the complex gates, the friendly security guard recognized her and greeted her warmly.
"Working the night shift?" Ashton inquired with a beaming smile.
"Yep, night shift it is. Heard you're done renovating the house, moving back soon?" Asked the security guard.
"Yep!" Ashton nodded. "I'll come by for a chess game when it's all settled."
"Sounds good!"
Waving goodbye, Ashton walked toward her apartment building.
Truth be told, she had seen many people hide their marriages, reluctant to introduce their partners. Perhaps it was because Chris and she weren't allowed to go public when they were together, so she could sympathize with the bittersweet feeling of being kept a secret.
Of course, believing heavily in Kenny's merits, from the moment they tied the knot she never intended to keep him hidden from anyone.
Filled with these sweet thoughts, Ashton arrived at the foot of her apartment building.
The entrance light had been broken for ages and no one bothered to replace it. But now...
From a distance, Ashton could see a newly installed vintage light fixture with a lotus-shaped shade and a round bulb glowing beneath it.
Ashton stood still for a moment, with a single thought on her mind.
Kenny was just so great.
He was truly good to her!
And then she thought, she should be really good to Kenny in return.
With that in mind, Ashton lifted her foot to step inside the apartment building.
That was when, unexpectedly, a shadow appeared beside her. Before she could react, she was grabbed by the arm and pulled into a dark corner.
Her first instinct was to scream, but a large hand quickly muffled her mouth.
A familiar scent, tinged with alcohol, washed over her.
Ashton's heart instinctively tightened with pain.
"Don't be afraid; it's me."
His voice was hoarse and low; he was trying to be gentle, but it was somehow making things worse.
"Chris, what are you doing?"
Ashton pulled away his hand and tried to shake off his grip on her arm, putting distance between them.
But Chris, who worked out regularly and had a tall, strong build, was not someone she could easily break free from.
"Ashton, we need to have a serious talk." Chris's tone was soft, with an unfamiliar plea, "You know my company has always been mediocre; we’ve never able to catch up technically. Crystal’s family can help me with that; I had no choice!"
Ashton stared at Chris.
A chill started at her feet and spread rapidly through her body.
"Chris, why are you telling me this? We broke up!"
"No!" Chris gritted his teeth in denial, "We are not broken up, and we never will be, not in this lifetime!"
Ashton felt like she had just heard a massive joke.
"Chris, listen to yourself. You're married, and you still don't want to break up? What do you think I am?"
Chris had never seen such contempt and disdain on Ashton's face before.
His darling, the one who had always looked at him with unconcealed love and admiration...
"Three years!" Chris embraced Ashton tightly, refusing to let go, "Just wait for me for three more years, Ashton. I'll divorce Crystal, and then we'll get married. No one, not even my father, will stop me... Just three years!"
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