Chapter 281 The Unyielding Kenny

As he pondered whether to drive straight to the hospital, Ashton looked despondent. "But now, I definitely can't go home like this. If Janna and Burl see me, there'll be hell to pay."

Janna would likely have the Shaw family begging on the street corners within days.

And Burl...
Despite his pale, frail appearance, Burl had once taken up a baseball bat and lurked for two days to confront someone who'd harassed Ashton. That guy ended up getting beaten so badly he was nearly hospitalized in the ICU.

"And there's Charles and Chicago to worry about..." Ashton fretted. "Looks like I'll have to stay at a hotel for a few nights!"

"Don't we have any other place you could stay? Why a hotel?" Kenny gently wiped a tear from Ashton's eyelashes. "I'll go grab your essentials later."

"What?" Ashton, momentarily distracted from her distress, questioned, "I'm staying at your place?"

"Where else did you think, Mrs. Walker?" Kenny leaned back in his chair and asked seriously.

"I guess that's true. Hotels are pretty expensive," Ashton mumbled. "But how do I explain this to Janna?"

"We're married; living together is pretty normal, isn't it?" Kenny finally cracked a smile. "Don't worry, I know just what to say to Grandma Rhoads."

"Alright then."

Ashton herself didn't fully realize just how much she had come to trust Kenny.
Ashton didn't even bother to press for what Kenny might say.
"I'm sorry," Kenny said, looking at Ashton with eyes that had shifted from anger to contrition. "I swear; you won't be walking around this late on your own again."

"It's Chris; he's insane!" Ashton frowned, "It's so messed up. How could he become like this? No... I was blinded by love before, maybe this is who he's always been. Kenny, do you know what he approached me for?"

Kenny didn't particularly want to know.

But Ashton didn't wait for his response and slapped her thigh, venting, "That jerk said he needed the technical support from the Crystal family, so he has to marry Crystal. He told me to wait for him for three years, and after his divorce, he'll marry me! What garbage! What a loser!"

Hearing Ashton so passionately curse at Chris made Kenny feel a whole lot better.

"So, are you going to wait?" Kenny asked.

Ashton stared at him in disbelief, "Kenny, I feel like you're insulting me!"

Kenny chuckled, "Honestly, Mrs. Walker, when I saw Chris's car by the roadside, I was scared. Afraid that you still held deep feelings for him, that if he turned around, you'd leave me and go with him. That's why I haphazardly parked at the entrance and ran into the complex like a madman..."

He spoke with a light tone, as if it were all just a joke.

"I wouldn't do that," Ashton said earnestly. She gazed at Kenny, then casted her eyes down sheepishly, "I can't lie and tell you that I've fallen for you... but I really like having you as my husband. I truly hope we can make it last and I..."

Ashton wanted to say that she would work hard, that she'd fall for Kenny as fast as she could.

But Kenny didn't let her finish.

"We'll make it last," he said softly yet with certainty, "From the moment I first saw you, I've imagined us many, many years from now, with silver hair and the same love."

Ashton looked at him, her eyes welling up with tears.

She pouted and opened her arms, "Hug..."

Kenny wrapped her up gently and kissed the top of her head, his chin brushing against her hair.

Afterward, Kenny made sure to escort Ashton back to her own house.

Before arriving, he had the staff prepare the guest room with fresh bedding and a hot water bottle ready for use.

As they entered the home, Ashton was amazed by the spacious yet tastefully decorated house.

Kenny took her hand and led her to the living room, gently pushing her to sit on the couch. "Let's apply the hot compress first, then I'll get you whatever you need."

"I've already sent a list to the staff," Ashton replied.

She would have sent it to Kenny, but there were some private items.

So, she messaged the household staff instead.
"Sure," Kenny said as he patted her head, "I'll grab the heating pad."

"Okay."

Ashton watched Kenny's retreating figure. He had shed his coat, revealing a crisp white shirt and dress pants that accentuated his broad shoulders and slender waist. Ashton swallowed hard.

Quickly, she averted her gaze, chastising herself softly, "Snap out of it, you old flirt!"

Before long, Kenny returned.

He pulled up one leg and sat across from Ashton, gently pressing on the bruise on her face. Their proximity allowed their faces to be so close it seemed they could feel each other's breath.

Ashton lowered her eyelids, careful not to show any sign of the turmoil within.

She didn’t mind the idea of something happening between her and Kenny. After all, they were married, and such a day was inevitable. But Ashton hoped it wouldn't be today. Otherwise, all future memories could be tainted by this impurity.

The thought flashed through her mind, and for a moment, she was stunned.

Impurity... was she thinking of Chris?

Ashton had been head over heels in love with Chris once; she used to be joyous and carefree whenever they were together. But those four years seemed to have dried all her tears.

Breaking up had torn her apart. She'd thought the ache Chris left might take half a lifetime to heal. Pessimistically, she believed she might never be able to let go of such profound love.

But how many days had it been since then?

Had she already relegated Chris to the ranks of an unpleasant memory?

It was Chris’s own doing. Had he not made such a scene today and disappeared from her life, he might not have ended up classified as such.

"What's making you smile?" Kenny’s gentle voice, laced with curiosity, interrupted her thoughts.

Ashton blinked back to reality, looking at Kenny before shaking her head, "Nothing, just feeling a bit happy."

Kenny gave her a look, still somewhat displeased, "You almost got smothered, and you're happy? You scared the life out of me."

"I'll tell you about it later!" Ashton blinked playfully.

Ashton had always known her eyes were her most striking feature. Her sister, Fiona, used to rave about them, even joking about getting insurance for Ashton's eyes. Yep, she was definitely flirting with Kenny.

"Mrs. Walker, that’s the second time you've promised to tell me something later. Don't forget," Kenny said patiently.

"Mr. Walker, whether I forget or not is honestly beyond my guarantee. Maybe you should jot it down in a little notebook?" Ashton teased again with a flicker of her eyelashes.
Kenny seemed as unshakable as a mountain, his face showing no trace of red even after applying the heat pack for about half an hour. Ashton was starting to feel sleepy.

"Alright, that should do it," Kenny suggested, seeing her drowsiness. "Why don't you press on it a bit more while I go grab your things?"

"Mm-hmm," Ashton agreed with a nod.

Patting her head affectionately, Kenny then headed out the door.
The Substitute's Revenge: From Secretary to Queen
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