Chapter 333: Chapter 333: Mediation
Speak of the devil, Ashley Shaw had just finished watching the live stream when Warren Prescott sent her a message on WeChat.
With a grim face, she replied: [Too busy, haven’t watched it yet.]
Warren quickly sent another message: [You can log in to see the highlights on the official livestream, let me know after you watch it.]
Ashley’s expression turned even more unpleasant.
[It’s too late, I’m going to sleep, I’ll watch it tomorrow.]
On the other end of the phone, Warren looked at his screen, a smile playing on his lips.
It seemed she had already watched it.
But it’s okay, she wouldn’t be able to avoid it tomorrow.
He had already thought about the wager.
And that is... to make her his girlfriend.
If she’s willing, great, if not, well, she won’t have a choice.
A bet’s a bet!
The next day came in a flash.
Ashley’s first instinct upon waking up was to check the live stream.
The official site was considerate enough to upload highlights every hour, saving her a lot of time.
While she slept last night, things had taken a complete 180-degree turn.
Members of the Stardust Team were attacked by a bear at night!
Leon Zeller arrived just in time and managed to scare the bear away.
And at this moment, Leon was "having breakfast" with the Stardust Team.
Breakfast was wild yam Leon found, high in starch and nutrition, with immune-boosting properties.
The Stardust Team, having eaten nothing but fruit for two days, were moved to tears by the yams.
"Wolves Team, if we knew you were eating so well, we wouldn’t have bothered sending you fruit!"
As soon as these words spilled out, the teammate instantly regretted it.
He’d unintentionally spilled the beans.
The other teammates shot him annoyed looks, but moments later, everyone laughed.
One teammate spoke first: "Wolves Team, look at us, we can only eat fruit without you, why not be kind and keep us with you?"
Another chimed in: "Yeah, Captain, come back, otherwise we’ll starve sooner or later."
"See, if you leave, we have to rack our brains to send you fruit. If you stay, not only can you be our encyclopedia, delivering fruit to you gets easier."
Leon looked helpless.
"Just don’t worry about me, I have enough to eat, although not much, but more variety than you guys."
"That’s why! Captain, just come back! We can eat more types of food too. My stomach’s already full of fruit, I’m scared if I keep eating, I’ll become a fruit spirit."
Outside of the live stream screen.
Ashley wanted to see if Leon would agree to stay, but then Ariana Grant knocked on her bedroom door.
"Ashley, are you up yet? We have to leave for the courthouse in half an hour."
Ashley sprang up.
"Coming right away!"
Time flew by while watching the live stream. She had woken up an hour earlier than planned, yet an hour had passed in the blink of an eye.
Time for important business, Ashley didn’t waste a second, quickly changing into a white tracksuit, then swiftly washing up and tying her hair in a simple bun before heading out.
Ariana was having breakfast, she’d gone out earlier to buy buns, and when she saw Ashley coming out, she quickly held up a bun.
"Come over, I got your favorite string bean buns."
Ashley walked over, indeed spotting her favorite string bean buns and a tea egg.
While on Ariana’s side, there were two meat buns, two vegetable buns, a bowl of rice rolls, and a cup of soy milk.
It wasn’t that Ariana was stingy with her, just that Ashley usually had no appetite in the morning.
The tea egg had to be forced down.
"Did you sleep late last night? You’re waking up later than me today? Or are you still feeling unwell? If you’re not well..."
"No," Ashley cut off Ariana, "I was up early, just lounging and playing on my phone."
Ariana finally relaxed.
However, seeing her outfit, Ariana couldn’t help but laugh, "What’s up with you? People might think you’re going for a morning jog with that on."
Ashley smiled without saying anything.
She needed to be prepared.
Since the incident where Mrs. Grant hit Ariana, she was still on edge.
She was worried a similar situation might occur during this negotiation, so she wore something more flexible.
Though Ashley said nothing, Ariana guessed why she dressed that way, feeling a warmth in her heart.
"Want some rice rolls?" she asked.
"No need, you eat up, fill yourself up."
"Huh? Didn’t you always tell me seven or eight tenths full was enough?"
Ashley wanted Ariana to be full since she might not have an appetite for lunch later. Also...
"Breakfast is fine to fill up on, unlike dinner. Hard to digest."
Ariana shrugged and continued eating breakfast.
Both quickly resolved their hunger but found out at court that Mrs. Grant, Jade Coleman, wouldn’t attend mediation today.
She’d only come out tomorrow for the official trial.
Shane Coleman explained: "She’s still in custody, but has appointed a lawyer."
Ariana nodded, feeling relieved.
She didn’t want to deal with a scene today anyway.
Mediation lasted an hour. Jade didn’t come, but Ariana’s father, Justin Grant, did.
Alongside him was an elegantly dressed middle-aged woman.
The woman carried an orange Hermès bag, and Ashley could tell with one glance that it alone cost more than the house Ariana wanted.
Sure enough, after sitting down, before Justin even spoke, the woman spoke first.
"Since she’s not here, there’s not much to say. We don’t want the house, let the child have it. If there’s no objection from her side, there’s no need for a court case tomorrow."
Jade’s lawyer said, "My client suggests splitting the house 50-50, then giving half of each share to the child after it’s sold."
Upon hearing this, Ashley’s eyes turned cold.
In her previous life, Jade had said the same, and Justin agreed.
Later, Justin didn’t take a cent and didn’t bother with the issue, leaving Jade to handle the sale entirely.
As a result, Ariana never received a penny.
Even her own university tuition had to be gathered herself.
Ashley, with a blank face, said, "That won’t happen."
Before coming, she had spoken to Ariana; Ariana promptly said, "This house was bought by my dad’s down payment. When he bought it, he said it was for me. So I don’t agree to split it halfway."
Jade’s lawyer mechanically repeated, "My client can only accept a 50-50 split."
Mediation naturally ended without a conclusion; they’d still have to go to court tomorrow.
Everyone expected this outcome, so it didn’t affect their mood.
Shane had other matters and left after the mediation ended, while Ariana voluntarily invited her dad for a meal.
Justin was about to accept, but the elegant middle-aged woman interrupted, "We have matters at noon, you both go eat by yourselves."
Then, she generously took out $10,000 in cash from her Hermès and stuffed it into Ariana’s hand.
"Here, consider it my treat for lunch."