Chapter 296: Chapter 296: Are You Shameless or What?
Ashley Shaw received Xavier Quincy’s call ten minutes before Warren Prescott and Elder Prescott walked through the door.
Her phone was left in the living room, and Ariana Grant initially thought Elder Prescott had arrived, and was about to go downstairs to greet them when she saw the caller ID, "Leo."
Xavier Quincy was several grades ahead of them, but there were plenty of legends about him at school.
Even in their current class, there were people who prayed for Xavier Quincy’s blessing before exams.
So, seeing Xavier Quincy’s call, Ariana Grant hurriedly took the phone into the kitchen.
"Ashley, phone!"
"Did they arrive?"
"No, it’s your Leo."
"Your" wasn’t quite the right word, Ashley Shaw felt that Xavier Quincy was naturally like a brother; he was always amiable to everyone.
So, Xavier Quincy was everyone’s brother.
The message she sent Xavier Quincy yesterday hadn’t received a reply by morning, so while she was lying on the couch directing Ariana Grant in preparing dishes, she sent another message urging him to respond quickly upon seeing it.
If Xavier Quincy happened to miss the message and was still expecting to meet her for lunch, that wouldn’t be good.
Yet, after sending the message, it seemed to vanish into thin air.
Unexpectedly, he’s now calling.
Ashley Shaw quickly turned off the stove and wiped her hands clean on her apron before answering the call.
She hadn’t had the chance to speak when a voice came through on the other end.
It was a brisk female voice.
"Hello? Ashley?"
Ashley Shaw paused and lifted the phone to check the screen.
It was indeed Xavier Quincy’s number.
Ashley Shaw put the phone back to her ear: "Who’s this?"
"I’m Anna." The person on the other end spoke in somewhat awkward Veridian, like a foreigner.
Ashley Shaw became even more puzzled.
"Isn’t this Leo’s phone?"
"Yes, he’s in the shower. I saw your message and guessed you might have something urgent, so I called to ask."
Shower...
Ashley Shaw suddenly recalled the conversation with Warren Prescott in the car last night.
So this Anna, is she the princess from an influential family?
Did Leo really spend last night...
So, Warren Prescott wasn’t lying?
Leo was really sixteen when he...
Ashley Shaw’s face heated up, turning red.
Only now did she clearly realize that Xavier Quincy was a young man full of vigor, with physiological needs.
Prior to this, she had never viewed him as a "man," merely as a "brother."
"Hello? Are you listening?"
Anna’s voice came again.
Ashley Shaw replied uncomfortably, "I’m listening."
"Do you have something urgent? I’ll convey it to him when he’s done showering."
"No, nothing urgent. I just wanted to let him know I have plans this afternoon and can’t have lunch with him, so please relay that message."
"Okay, got it. Anything else?" Anna’s voice sounded lazy, seemingly fatigued.
Why was she tired?
Ashley Shaw, being married, certainly understood.
Her face turned even redder.
"Nothing else, goodbye."
After hanging up, Ashley Shaw took a deep breath.
She couldn’t shake the feeling of a child who had stumbled upon adult secrets.
In any event, she doubted she’d be able to look Leo in the eye again.
"Ashley, why is your face so red? Are you running a fever again?"
Ashley Shaw shook her head and said, "I’m fine, just accidentally interrupted someone’s business, feeling a bit embarrassed."
Ariana Grant was completely baffled.
"What business?"
Since it wasn’t a dignified matter, Ashley Shaw casually deflected the question, quickly changing the topic and instructing Ariana Grant to serve the dishes she’d just prepared.
As soon as Ariana Grant caught a whiff of the aroma, all thoughts of "business" were forgotten, and she sneakily grabbed a fried chicken leg, stuffing it into her mouth, then carried a plate of food out with one hand each.
Meanwhile.
At the grand manor.
Xavier Quincy had indeed slept there last night, but there was no so-called princess involved; he simply had too much to drink, and didn’t want to go home at two in the morning to disturb his family, so he stayed over.
He stepped out of the shower, only to find a blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman in a sizzling tight black dress standing by his bed, holding his phone.
Xavier Quincy’s face darkened, and he strode over, snatching back his phone.
"Why are you here?" he said in English.
Anna replied in her clumsy Veridian, "I missed you."
Anna spoke while deftly sliding open the belt of the robe wrapped around Xavier Quincy’s waist with her slender fingers.
As those hands were about to strip off Xavier Quincy’s robe, his large hand clamped down on Anna’s wrist.
The grip was not gentle, and Anna, being Caucasian, had her wrist quickly turn reddish from Xavier Quincy’s firm grasp.
Anna winced in pain, furrowing her brows.
"Rain, it hurts..."
Rain was Xavier Quincy’s English name.
He ignored her, pushing Anna aside with a cold expression.
"Anna, we’re done."
"I won’t let you say it’s over! If it’s not over here, then it’s not over there!"
Anna’s retort was followed by her stepping forward, one hand wrapping around Xavier Quincy’s neck while the other eagerly attempted to strip off his robe again.
At the same time, she tilted her head, trying to kiss Xavier Quincy’s lips.
Xavier Quincy’s patience was already wearing thin; now, seeing Anna like this only fuelled his disdain.
"Anna, are you cheap?"
Anna’s actions halted.
She was mere centimeters away from kissing him.
But Xavier Quincy’s words felt like a knife cutting into her chest, letting the chill breeze rush in, and she instantly lost the courage to kiss him.
Tears poured down like beads from a broken string.
"You can’t treat me like this, Rain. How can you do this to me... I love you, I really love you... I can’t leave you, if I leave you I’ll die..."
Sobbing, she gradually squatted down, her hands covering her face.
Yet, tears continued to seep through her fingers, dripping onto the carpet.
Where she squatted, the beige carpet darkened in color.
Xavier Quincy watched Anna break down and cry emotionlessly.
After a long while, Anna’s sobbing finally waned.
Xavier Quincy then spoke: "I’ll book you a ticket, back to the institute or to Corinthia?"
Anna replied in a husky voice, "I’m not going back; wherever you are, that’s where I’ll be. Even if you’re as cold as ice, I’ll warm you until you thaw. You have a saying in Veridia, ’Water droplets wear away stone,’ I believe if I keep persevering, you’ll change your mind someday."
Xavier Quincy acted as if he didn’t hear Anna and said, "I’ll book you a ticket back to Corinthia. In your current state, returning to the institute isn’t suitable. I’ll inform your advisor, getting you a few months leave."
"I said! I’m not going back!" Anna’s voice suddenly escalated.
Xavier Quincy continued to ignore her, focusing on his phone.
It was then his gaze fell on the call log on his phone.
It was during his shower that a call was made to... Ashley Shaw.
Xavier Quincy’s usually emotionless eyes suddenly darkened.