Chapter 283: Chapter 283: Concealment
That’s it—
Warren Prescott clearly knew there would be danger coming to the airport today, yet he didn’t mention a word to her, nor did he say anything to prevent her from going to the airport. Instead, he had her waiting early at the Spectator Tower.
This meant he didn’t care at all about whether she lived or died.
The color drained abruptly from Ashley Shaw’s face.
She had long known that, whether in the past life or now, in Warren Prescott’s heart, she weighed less than a colleague at the company, perhaps even less than a passing stranger.
But still, she was a living person, and Warren Prescott should never, ever, disregard her life.
Even the life of a cat or a dog is precious, let alone that of a human?
How could he throw her into danger without her knowing?
Did he really hate her that much?
But she had already moved out of the Prescott Family, so she wouldn’t be in his way anymore.
Ashley Shaw felt a hole open in her heart, where a nameless chill seeped through, leaving her cold inside.
She thought she wouldn’t be hurt by Warren Prescott anymore, but at this moment, her heart was bleeding.
She felt not just sadness, but anger.
What gives him the right to do this!
Warren Prescott saw Ashley Shaw’s deathly pale face, her fingers gripping the seatbelt so tightly that her knuckles turned white, thinking that she was just having an aftershock.
In as light a tone as possible, he said, "Don’t worry, apart from those dangerous people, there are also many of our own at the airport. If something were to really happen, we’re on Veridian soil, our own turf. No matter how capable they are, they can’t touch us. Moreover, we’re already safe now."
Even if something did happen, he would definitely stand in front of her.
But Ashley Shaw didn’t feel any comfort; instead, her face became even more distressed.
If it were as simple as Warren Prescott said, the military wouldn’t have hidden it even from Xavier Quincy.
Moreover, it seemed even the two guards with Xavier Quincy weren’t privy to the information Warren Prescott had.
"You..."
"Don’t say anything, I don’t feel like talking right now."
Ashley Shaw closed her eyes, refusing to communicate with Warren Prescott.
She wasn’t one to confuse right and wrong, but offering help and being used are two different things.
If she had known in advance, she would surely have agreed to help, but not like this.
Warren Prescott furrowed his handsome brows, wanting to say something more, when he saw Xavier Quincy approaching with the senior commander.
Xavier Quincy gave a slight bow to the commander before opening the car door and getting in.
After watching Xavier Quincy get in the car, the commander stepped over to the window.
"How did it go? Three minutes, I didn’t go overtime, did I?"
Warren Prescott smirked.
"In that case, I’ll take them away then."
"Go ahead." The commander stepped back, paused, and added, "Thanks."
Warren Prescott was about to hit the gas when he suddenly said, "Besides me, there’s someone else you should thank."
The commander looked puzzled, following Warren Prescott’s gaze to the passenger seat.
Because Warren Prescott was in the way, the commander had to lower his head a bit to see Ashley Shaw.
Noticing another person in the passenger seat, the commander showed a trace of surprise, then smiled and said, "Young lady, you’ve really helped us today. I owe you a favor. If you ever need anything, feel free to contact me."
Warren Prescott laughed, "Don’t just say empty words. She’s about to go study in Aethelgard soon. If something happens, I will really have her come find you."
The commander chuckled, "That would be great. Coincidentally, my grandson is also at Briarcliff University in Aethelgard. When you both get there, give me a call, and I’ll arrange for you young folks to dine together and get to know each other."
Ashley Shaw knew Warren Prescott was trying to expand her connections.
But she didn’t need them.
Why give a sweet date after a slap on the face?
But she couldn’t snub the commander’s kindness; it was only polite.
Ashley Shaw tried hard to show a smile that wouldn’t reveal her displeasure.
"Okay, it would be my honor."
"I don’t know your name yet?"
"Ashley Shaw."
"Nice name! I like simple and memorable names like this. Not like my grandson, whose name is hard to write and remember; he’s called..."
"Hey, old man, we have other things to do, no time to chit-chat with you here."
The commander shook his head in resignation, his eyes holding a trace of affection for the younger generation.
"You’re the one who told me to say thanks and now you’re the one stopping me from talking. I really can’t deal with you. Off you go! You young ones have fun."
"Let’s go."
Warren Prescott raised his left hand, then gripped the steering wheel with his right, stepped on the accelerator, and the car passed through the observatory gate, speeding onto the main road.
Tonight, there wasn’t a single star in the sky as the car sped through the night.
Ashley Shaw was used as their "shield" to transport important documents, so she was in a bad mood, unwilling to speak.
But she noticed that Xavier Quincy remained silent as well.
She glanced at the car’s rearview mirror.
She saw Xavier Quincy’s face, rare without expression, with what seemed like a layer of frost.
Ashley Shaw soon understood that Xavier Quincy was feeling the same way she was.
Being used without knowing left him upset too.
Moreover, he was different from her; he and Warren Prescott were childhood friends.
It was understandable that Warren Prescott didn’t care about her life, but to hide it from Xavier Quincy was inexcusable.
If something had really happened today, she and Xavier Quincy wouldn’t even know how they died.
It was truly suffocating.
But Ashley Shaw didn’t know what to say either.
The car was shrouded in an eerie silence, completely different from the joyous atmosphere when they left the airport.
At that moment, Xavier Quincy suddenly spoke.
"Got a cigarette?"
Warren Prescott glanced at the car’s rearview mirror.
"No smoking in my car."
"Then pull over, I’ll have a smoke."
Warren Prescott was also annoyed; suddenly Ashley Shaw stopped talking to him and he didn’t even know why, so he immediately found a convenience store, parked in front, and bought a pack of cigarettes.
Ashley Shaw didn’t get out of the car; she was feeling sleepy again and couldn’t stop yawning.
So when Xavier Quincy asked if she wanted to get some fresh air, she declined.
At the convenience store entrance, two tall figures, one in black and the other in gray, caught the eye.
"Here!"
Warren Prescott handed over a cigarette.
Xavier Quincy reached out to take it, and seeing Warren Prescott light one up for himself as well, he was a bit surprised.
"Since when did you start smoking?"
"Last year."
"Picking up bad habits instead of the good ones." Xavier Quincy said as he reached out for a lighter.
Warren Prescott tossed the lighter over.
"Didn’t you also take up smoking? I remember you didn’t touch this stuff before going abroad."
"When I first went abroad, the language barrier left me with no one to talk to all day long, so I slowly picked it up."
With a click, Xavier Quincy lit the lighter, enveloped in smoke, and continued, "I’m not like you, picking up things fast, especially with languages. You have a natural talent."
"I’m not used to you praising me."
Xavier Quincy chuckled and said, "Just stating the truth. Without you working with me on last year’s research, I wouldn’t have gotten results so quickly."