Chapter 303: Chapter 303: Who Are You Calling the Homewrecker?
Ashley Shaw was accustomed to being scrutinized by such gazes when reporting her birth date, and she smiled gently at the nurse with a peaceful mind.
The nurse probably felt a bit awkward, coughed dryly, and quickly handed her the medication.
"Take these after meals, three times a day."
"Thank you." Ashley Shaw took the medication. Just as she was about to return to the wound care room on the first floor to find Ariana Grant, she encountered a familiar face coming up the stairs.
Her steps involuntarily halted.
It was Ivy Bond.
Ivy Bond was in hospital attire, and because she was so thin, even the smallest size was loose and baggy on her.
She didn’t look frail. Perhaps because she wore makeup, she appeared healthier than even the caregiver following behind her.
At that moment, she was on the phone with someone, looking extremely agitated.
Upon closer listening, there were even a few curse words thrown in.
Ashley Shaw hesitated for two seconds between "going to greet Ivy Bond" and "pretending not to see her" and ultimately chose the latter.
However, just as she was about to pass by Ivy Bond, Ivy suddenly stopped.
"Hey? You, stop right there."
Ashley Shaw pretended not to hear and continued walking downstairs.
Yet urgent footsteps sounded behind her.
The next second, Ivy Bond quickly rushed ahead of her and blocked her path at the stair landing.
She stared at her for a second and said, "It’s really you!"
Ashley Shaw’s eyes fell on Ivy Bond’s face in surprise, showing a look as if she had just noticed her.
"Miss Bond, what a coincidence?"
Before the last note of her sentence completely fell, Ivy Bond suddenly raised her hand and slapped her hard across the face.
Today, the elevator in the hospital was under maintenance, and since most people preferred not to use the elevator, they all took the stairs on this side, making it exceptionally crowded.
Upon seeing this scene, everyone turned their attention to them.
When they saw that the two women involved in the "altercation" were both exceptionally beautiful, even more people paused to watch.
For a moment, Ashley Shaw was bewildered and shocked by the fiery pain on her face, and feeling the curious glances from the bystanders, she was immediately embarrassed and angry, her rage rising.
"Are you crazy? What are you doing?!"
"What am I doing? I should be asking you what you’re doing! Taking advantage of my concussion and hospitalization to seduce my boyfriend. You deserve to be slapped to death!"
"Are you out of your mind? Who seduced your boyfriend? Who’s your boyfriend? Do I know him?"
Ashley Shaw looked completely bewildered.
Had she not known that Ivy Bond was a patient, she might have slapped back by now, but she held back, merely questioning aloud.
"Do you really not know who my boyfriend is? Do I need to spell out who you were with last night?"
The bystanders included those who loved a spectacle and those with a strong sense of justice or simply enjoyed meddling.
Hearing those words, their gazes towards Ashley Shaw instantly changed from amazement to disdain.
Especially the women present.
No sane woman could look kindly upon a "mistress."
Ashley Shaw, naturally thin-skinned, originally had a red face only on the side that was slapped. Now, seeing the disdainful or contemptuous looks from the crowd, both her cheeks flushed.
Partly due to anger, partly due to embarrassment.
Not wanting to make a fool of herself in front of Ivy Bond, she took a step to leave.
However, there was no way Ivy Bond was going to let her go, coldly commanding, "Grab her!"
Two tall figures emerged from the crowd.
They were Ivy Bond’s bodyguards.
In addition to a caregiver, she had brought two bodyguards.
Sensing trouble, Ashley Shaw moved, trying to squeeze into the crowd.
However, she overestimated the crowd’s tolerance for a "mistress." Before Ashley Shaw could "dive" into the crowd, a somewhat burly hand grabbed her by the back of her collar.
"I’ve got her!"
It was a middle-aged woman exuding a fierce aura.
Ashley Shaw struggled to break free from the woman’s grip, but her strength was overwhelming, and Ashley Shaw couldn’t break free.
Using too much force, the fabric of her clothing made a "tearing" sound, ripping a small hole in her shirt.
The shirt had been a gift from Ms. Shaw, and Ashley Shaw’s expression changed immediately. Somehow finding the strength, she pushed the woman away.
"Ah—" The woman fell back, letting out an instinctive cry.
Thankfully, there were enough people there, and the human wall cushioned her, preventing her from falling flat on her back.
Pushed like that, the woman got angry too.
"A mistress still dares to push people! I hate mistresses the most; my family was ruined by one. I was just looking for someone to vent on, and here you are. You little bitch, you’re done for today!"
"Who are you calling a mistress?"
Ashley Shaw’s gaze sharpened, staring straight at the woman with a blade-like intensity.
For a moment, the woman was startled by Ashley Shaw’s aura, momentarily less impulsive.
"You’re not a mistress?" she asked.
"I don’t even know who her boyfriend is. You tell me if I’m a mistress or not?"
So, it was a misunderstanding?
"I, I..." the woman stammered.
"What do you mean, ’I’? You tore my shirt. I have the right to call the police and ask you for compensation!"
Now the woman had lost her moral high ground and was flustered, standing still.
However, Ivy Bond’s two bodyguards managed to squeeze through the crowd at that moment.
They blocked Ashley Shaw’s way, one at the front, one at the back.
The woman used the chaos to quickly make her exit.
Ashley Shaw was stuck with the bodyguards and couldn’t chase after her. Besides, the shirt wasn’t worth much.
She took a deep breath and resigned herself to her bad luck.
"Ashley Shaw! Don’t think you can run!" Ivy Bond’s voice came through.
Ashley Shaw looked over at Ivy Bond on the stairs through the crowd.
"Miss Bond, why don’t we talk privately? There’s no need to make a scene like this," she said.
Ivy Bond sneered and said, "You’ve hooked up with my boyfriend and you’re worried about making a scene? Your heart’s already dirty; are you afraid of people talking?"
With extreme patience, Ashley Shaw asked, "Is there some misunderstanding? Who exactly is your boyfriend?"
"Archie!"
A flicker of astonishment crossed Ashley Shaw’s eyes.
Cillian Xavier... was he now Ivy Bond’s boyfriend?
When did this happen?
But in an instant, Ashley Shaw’s mind cleared like a mirror, understanding the gist of the situation.
She remained expressionless, saying, "Cillian and I are just friends; you’ve got it all wrong."
"Wrong?" With the caregiver’s help, Ivy Bond easily squeezed through the crowd and came face to face with Ashley Shaw.
She was slightly shorter than Ashley Shaw, looking up and glaring at her.
"Be honest. Were you with Archie last night?"
Ashley Shaw didn’t blink. Her heart was clear, so she was fearless.
"Yes."
"You bitch!" Ivy Bond raised her hand to slap Ashley Shaw again.
This time, though, Ashley Shaw was prepared and caught Ivy Bond’s wrist just before her hand could land.
Ivy Bond frowned, trying hard to pull her hand back.
But with an IV in her hand, even a slight movement sent a sharp pain shooting through her.