Chapter 287: Chapter 287: She Lost
Cherie Crawford turned her gaze towards her again.
Her eyes held an arrogant disdain.
"What? What don’t you understand?"
Ashley Shaw maintained a blank expression, but those familiar with her knew that the more indifferent her face appeared, the angrier she was inside.
Her mother had told her that a hysterical woman was the ugliest, so even in her past life, when she was heartbroken over not gaining even a bit of Warren Prescott’s genuine affection, she never cried, caused a scene, or threatened suicide in front of him.
"Did Damian Ford ask you to tell me this?" she asked.
Cherie let out a scoff, saying, "Damian wouldn’t even bother with you."
Ashley arched an eyebrow slightly.
"So you’re saying it’s just you here telling me these things?"
"What are you trying to do by saying this? Trying to use pillow talk? Seems like I wasn’t clear enough earlier; the more you act like a bully now, the worse your future will be."
Ashley suddenly laughed.
"I never care about the future; as long as I’m happy now, it’s fine. After all, there’s a saying: seize the day."
Cherie’s face turned pale.
"What do you mean!"
Ashley swiftly shifted her gaze, searching for Damian Ford.
Fortunately, Damian was in a booth not far from them, and Ashley quickly spotted him.
She walked towards Damian amidst Cherie’s repeated demands of "What do you want?"
Damian was playing dice with some friends.
These friends were initially unwilling to play with Damian, fearing that Warren would disapprove if he saw.
However, seeing that Warren seemed no longer dissatisfied with Damian, they started associating with him again.
Though it was all fake camaraderie, superficial friendship, these connections were built over one banquet and drinking party after another in Veridia.
Sometimes, this "fake camaraderie" was more important than people imagined.
"Five fives."
As soon as Damian’s voice fell, someone shouted "Miss Shaw."
The tone could be considered reverent.
Ever since Damian was almost kicked out of the circle, everyone knew that crossing Ashley Shaw would not end well.
As a result, they treated Ashley with additional respect.
Damian quickly turned his head and indeed saw Ashley standing beside him.
But Ashley’s expression at that moment seemed... a bit cold.
"Miss Shaw?"
He was about to ask in detail when he caught Cherie rushing over from the corner of his eye.
A sudden emptiness and a bad premonition filled Damian’s heart.
Cherie was his girlfriend, a bit spoiled. When he had once joked with Ashley and it backfired, Cherie complained about Ashley every day afterwards.
He had tried to dissuade her, telling her not to badmouth Ashley as it was his fault and had nothing to do with Ashley, but his efforts failed repeatedly.
He hadn’t intended to bring Cherie to this gathering, but just as he was about to leave, Cherie unexpectedly sat in his car.
He had no choice but to repeatedly remind her, pleading for no conflicts with Ashley that night.
But the current situation seemed... not too promising.
Damian steadied himself and asked, "Miss Shaw, what’s happened?"
Ashley was about to speak when Cherie ran over.
"Ashley Shaw, let’s resolve this ourselves, come with me."
She reached out to pull Ashley’s hand, but Ashley sidestepped.
"Cherie, what’s going on!" Damian’s expression darkened.
"Nothing happened, Ashley Shaw, come with me."
Ashley didn’t spare Cherie a glance, instead looking at Damian with a half-smile and said, "Your girlfriend, Miss Crawford, just toasted me, thanking me for looking after you. She said that without me, you wouldn’t have been so busy lately."
Damian’s pupils dilated briefly, then quickly contracted to a point.
"Cherie!" His voice was filled with hidden rage.
Cherie’s lips moved awkwardly, but before she could speak, Ashley continued, "Your girlfriend said I like stirring up trouble, that the enemies I’m making now will become knives stabbing me once Warren tires of me, advising me to be cautious."
With that, Ashley suddenly smiled and said, "So I thought, with her so kindly reminding me, I should ask you when I became your enemy? How do you plan to stab me later?"
Didn’t she say I liked stirring up trouble, liked to rely on others to act arrogantly?
If I didn’t do as she claimed, wouldn’t these accusations be wasted?
A rush of red appeared on Damian’s face but something unknown seemed to cross his mind, and his face turned pale.
"I’m sorry, Miss Shaw."
Damian’s voice was almost hoarse.
"I never intended to bring her today; this is all my fault."
"What Cherie said wasn’t her intention; she actually doesn’t hold any grudge against you, she just can’t stand to see me unhappy..."
"In any case, if I hadn’t brought her, this wouldn’t have happened, so blame me!"
"However you want to resolve this, direct it at me. Whatever you decide, I’ll accept it, just... please don’t blame her..."
"No!" Cherie exclaimed, "I said those things to her, what does it have to do with you? Whatever happens, it’s on me. I’m not afraid of anything!"
"Cherie! Shut up!"
"No! I refuse to shut up!"
The two of them refused to yield, glaring at each other.
Watching Damian and Cherie, Ashley suddenly felt like a villain.
And a sudden inexplicable sadness washed over her.
Ashley thought Damian, being so timid, likely wouldn’t care about Cherie’s well-being, yet...
Their relationship surprised her and made her envious.
Cherie was a fortunate girl.
And so was Damian.
She had no reason to be against two people chosen by fortune’s goddess.
Damian only spoke again, "Stop talking; if you utter another word, I’ll break up with you!"
The threat of a breakup did indeed silence Cherie.
Damian then turned towards Ashley.
"Miss Shaw, I..."
Ashley had long lost interest in settling scores with Cherie.
She was already the loser.
Ashley interrupted Damian, "Damian, you’re a good man. But a good man should clearly explain the cause and effect to his girlfriend. What do you think?"
Damian nodded.
He’d been embarrassed then, so he hadn’t clearly explained the situation, leading Cherie to mistakenly believe Ashley was causing trouble, harboring resentment towards her.
Indeed, it was his mistake. He indeed should explain everything to Cherie.
"I’m sorry, Miss Shaw, I’ll explain everything to her properly."
Ashley nodded slightly, ready to leave, when she noticed Leo Quincy and Cillian Xavier coming towards them, having seen what was happening.
"What’s going on?"