Chapter 349: Chapter 349: Deep and Abiding Love
Owen Sinclair’s words were truly startling to Ashley Shaw and Ariana Grant.
If they weren’t both certain that Owen was a gentleman without any ulterior motives, they would have been frightened enough to get up and leave right away.
Seeing the situation was off, Shane Coleman quickly said, "Owen, you’re having your old problem again."
"Before, you saw your apprentice getting stressed from renting, so you let him live in your house. That person brought women home, causing the media to think you had a tabloid scandal, and it took checking the security footage to calm the rumors."
"Why are you being overly kind-hearted again now?"
"Ashley and Ariana are different from your apprentice, they’re not in the industry. If they get caught by the media, who knows how much trouble they’ll get into."
Shane seemed to be complaining about Owen but was actually taking the opportunity to let the two know that Owen was just a kind-hearted person, with no other intentions.
Owen understood Shane’s intention and followed suit, saying, "I just said it unconsciously. I don’t live in that house anyway, and it seems a shame for it to be empty."
"But it’s not suitable for Ashley and Ariana to live there; even though you’re hardly there for three days a year, it’s still frequently watched."
Owen nodded, "I didn’t think it through, sorry Ashley, Ariana."
The two quickly waved their hands.
"You’re just being kind."
"Yes, please don’t apologize to us, we’re quite grateful."
Ashley said again, "But you don’t have to worry about us. We discussed it before; we’ll stay at a chain hotel near the school before classes start, convenient and close to the school. It’s like going on a vacation."
Owen didn’t dare to say much else, worried that the more he said, the more mistakes he’d make. He merely nodded lightly, "Contact me anytime if you have any difficulties. I’ll be joining a film shoot soon, in Aethelgard, so we might bump into each other."
"Mhm, mhm."
They chatted about other things, and Shane took advantage of Ashley and Ariana going to the restroom to quietly ask Owen, "So, have the paternity test results come out yet?"
Owen gently shook his head, "They said it should be out by around four o’clock."
Shane calculated the time, "Isn’t that right when we finish with the court case?"
"Yes."
"If it’s confirmed, you should give me a hint. I’d like to have an idea."
"What kind of hint?"
"If it’s confirmed, you could make a phone call in front of me."
"Alright, I got it."
Just as they said that, Ashley and Ariana returned.
Shane stood up, "It’s about time. Should we head to the court now?"
"Okay."
Ariana felt inexplicably nervous and didn’t talk much along the way.
It wasn’t long before it was time for the hearing to begin.
Although Jade Coleman was in custody, because of this case, many procedures were expedited in advance, allowing her to appear in court in person.
From Shane, Ashley learned that Jade would make an appearance in court, which didn’t surprise her.
What did surprise her was seeing Warren Prescott there as well.
He even arrived ahead of them and was already seated in the front row early.
In court, no speaking was allowed. As Owen and Ashley walked over, Owen lightly nodded, as a form of greeting.
He wasn’t surprised to see Warren, but Warren looked slightly shocked upon seeing Owen.
Yet his gaze soon settled on Ashley.
Today, she was wearing a plain white cotton short sleeve shirt with no patterns and a fitted pair of jeans, accentuating her already flawless figure.
They say love runs deep without knowing its start.
He couldn’t recall when exactly he started having these feelings for Ashley.
Just deeply regretted not unraveling Rosalind Lynch’s hidden truth earlier.
If he had understood earlier, would things between them not be like this now?
Ashley was also surprised to see Warren; wasn’t he very busy? How did he have the time to be here?
But she soon rationalized, thinking Grandpa Prescott must have sent Warren.
After it’s over, she’ll have to call Grandpa Prescott to thank him.
Before long, another person arrived.
Ashley immediately recognized it was Joyce Sutton.
Joyce recognized her too, smiling as she sat down next to her.
Last time, Ashley didn’t have the chance to take a good look at Joyce, but sitting close now, she really noticed some similarities between Joyce and Livia Sutton.
For example, a small red mole on the tail end of their right eyebrow.
Jade took her seat, breaking the train of thought.
Warren lifted his eyes, glancing at Jade.
Due to his "special attention," Jade looked sallow and emaciated, in very poor condition, as if she had aged ten years in just a month’s time.
This physical state also affected her mental state.
After several negotiations, Jade’s mental state was on the verge of collapse.
In the end, she even tried to break free from the courtroom guards to attack Ariana.
Due to her loss of control, the judge suggested a half-hour recess.
During the recess, the parties were arranged in different rooms.
With Warren present, Ashley, as an "observer," smoothly got to see Ariana in her room.
Ariana was also in poor spirits, but fortunately had Justin Grant patting her back on the left, and Joyce Sutton on the right constantly berating Jade.
Ashley knew she didn’t need to appear, turned and gave a look to Warren, and left the room.
The door quietly closed, Warren asked her, "Why didn’t you go in?"
Ashley spread her hands, "Didn’t you see her parents are there? As a friend, I can only add support in adversity, there’s no need to gild the lily."
"She’s very lucky."
"Hmm?"
"To have a friend like you."
These words touched Ashley, making her smile as she said, "I’m also very lucky, to have a family as good as Grandpa Prescott."
She wasn’t unaware; she had seen at the trial how everyone from top to bottom was helping Ariana.
Warren was puzzled, what did it have to do with Elder Prescott?
"I’m going to the restroom, you go back."
Saying this, Ashley grabbed her phone and went to the restroom.
Phones couldn’t be used during the trial, but during the recess, they could.
So after using the restroom, Ashley called Grandpa Prescott.
Elder Prescott was very pleased to receive her call.
"Ashley, are you coming to my house or inviting me to yours?"
Ashley found it odd, couldn’t help asking, "Grandpa Prescott, didn’t you ask Warren to come to court and support us?"
Elder Prescott was confused on the other end.
"Court? What court? Oh! Right! Is it Ariana’s case? Is she in court today?"
Ashley now understood.
She vaguely moved past it, saying the trial was about to start, and hung up.
After the call, Ashley felt a ripple in her heart.
It wasn’t Grandpa Prescott who sent Warren, there was only one possibility: Warren came by himself.
She couldn’t quite figure out what Warren was thinking.
Could he be interested in her?
In the previous life, he couldn’t be bothered to look her way; it couldn’t be that because things started anew, he suddenly became interested.
This time around, she’s done nothing regarding Warren, except for not loving him anymore.
But, if this is about his previous bullying and the misunderstanding that led to guilt, that event was two months ago; it shouldn’t haunt him for so long.
Neither left nor right makes sense, what does he mean by this?