Chapter 123: Chapter 123: A Granddaughter-in-Law Is Even Better
Elder Prescott quickly did some mental calculations in his mind.
Although a granddaughter is closer, a granddaughter-in-law is better.
Because a granddaughter will eventually marry out, and knowing Ashley Shaw’s character, she definitely wouldn’t want to bring a husband into the family.
But a granddaughter-in-law is different. As long as she doesn’t get divorced, she will always be a member of the Prescott Family.
After calculating this, Elder Prescott quickly made a decision in his mind whether to continue the adoption or to dissolve it.
However, it seemed that Warren Prescott’s progress was not going smoothly at all, but he couldn’t let it show.
Elder Prescott put on a look of having made a deeply considered and painful decision.
"Since every time you see me, you feel guilty and pressured... fine! I agree. But first, promise me that you will still visit me often."
Ashley Shaw was a bit surprised; things went much more smoothly than she expected.
She immediately breathed a sigh of relief in her heart, solemnly nodded, and said, "I promise you, I won’t go back on my word."
Elder Prescott was completely reassured, turning his head to look at Claudia Jennings.
"Tomorrow, if you’re free, take the agreement to the civil affairs bureau and dissolve the adoption relationship!"
However, it was Claudia Jennings’s turn to be shocked.
She thought Elder Prescott would never agree, so she hadn’t said much earlier and only briefly explained that she wasn’t trying to drive Ashley away. How come now Elder Prescott agreed?!
Wasn’t he the one who cared about this girl the most?
Compared to her, even his own grandson wasn’t as important.
What was the old man trying to do?
Was he deliberately trying to make her feel awkward?
Claudia Jennings stammered, "Dad, why are you also going with this... I really didn’t mean to drive her away, I just wanted to say a few words for Warren... How about this, Ashley, I apologize to you, okay?"
Ashley Shaw once again showed surprise in her eyes.
She thought it would be Grandpa Prescott who wouldn’t let her go, how come it turned out to be Claudia Jennings?
Wasn’t she the one who disliked her the most?
But she understood Claudia Jennings to some extent, Claudia was probably afraid of being talked about.
After all, the families close to the Prescott Family all knew the reason behind her adoption in the first place.
Before Ashley Shaw could think of how to alleviate Claudia Jennings’s concerns, she heard Warren Prescott’s voice coming from the staircase—
"Mom, if she wants to leave, then let her go."
Claudia Jennings looked up and saw Warren Prescott coming downstairs, quickly walked a few steps over and said, "Weren’t you told to rest well in bed?"
"I’m already fine, I don’t need to lie there like a serious patient."
Warren said, returning to the topic, "Tomorrow take the necessary documents to the civil affairs bureau and do as Grandpa said."
Claudia Jennings widened her eyes.
"Huh? Even you..."
"Let’s just do it, no more words!" Elder Prescott’s brows furrowed, making Claudia Jennings dare not provoke him further.
She had already had a heated argument with Elder Prescott today when she was angry, one of her impulsive moments, and now that she wasn’t angry, she dared not argue with him.
After all, he’s a heart patient, even though he had a transplant, who can guarantee someone else’s heart works as well as one’s own?
Claudia Jennings fell silent, tacitly agreeing.
"Let’s eat!" Elder Prescott looked at Ashley Shaw and said, "It’s all done as you wished, now you should humor this old man."
With a major issue resolved, Ashley Shaw felt unprecedented relief.
She naturally nodded in agreement, "Okay."
At the dining table, Elder Prescott inevitably asked about the situation with the sulfuric acid incident.
Ashley Shaw answered truthfully, causing Claudia Jennings to become angry again.
"Isn’t that just mental illness? Her lie was exposed, so why blame others? Indeed, people without a mother are just..."
Mid-sentence, Claudia Jennings noticed Ashley Shaw’s slightly uncomfortable expression and immediately stopped, coughed, and corrected herself, "Mentally ill people can do anything. Thank goodness Warren’s leg has healed, or I’d have to personally break her legs!"
Claudia Jennings’s face showed a hint of ruthlessness.
Ashley Shaw watched her demeanor and suddenly somewhat understood why, in her past life, Claudia Jennings treated her the way she did.
In this lifetime, what concerns Claudia Jennings the most is her son, Warren. It’s bad enough he couldn’t marry someone she liked, and the wife he did marry was an orphan, providing no benefit to him or the Prescott Family.
Loving someone sometimes involves resentment too.
Warren resenting her, how could Claudia, as a mother, treat her normally?
Just listening to Elder Prescott ask, "Has the matter been discussed with the bureau? If the other party is confirmed to be a mental patient, they might be acquitted."
Indeed, Elder Prescott immediately hit upon the key point.
"Yes, Lars Prescott called about it on the day it happened, so what you worry about won’t happen, she can’t produce a certificate for mental illness."
Mental illness is a mysterious thing, and getting a certificate depends on the hospital.
The Prescott Family’s network is comprehensive, and May Lee, having no parents, doesn’t stand a chance.
Since she had murderous intent against Ashley Shaw, her life was already ruined.
"Without a mental illness certificate, if the court doesn’t sentence her to five years, it’ll be eight. Let her reflect inside, start anew. If her parents can’t teach her, let the guards do it."
Elder Prescott couldn’t help but glance at Ashley Shaw.
Afraid she might relate it to herself, he changed the topic and asked, "Ashley, now that you’ve filled out your application, will you continue to work part-time at Young Miss Xavier’s place?"
Ashley Shaw actually didn’t lack money now, working at Ms. Grant’s shop was partly to help out, partly to pass the time, and also because it had a good atmosphere, making it enjoyable to go to work every day.
Especially now that Ariana also joined her at the shop, the two of them had a blast every day.
So when Elder Prescott asked, Ashley Shaw instinctively thought of those happy times, and her eyes involuntarily curved into a smile.
"Yes, I’ll continue for another two weeks before we head out to Aethelgard once the acceptance letter arrives."
Warren Prescott was sipping on his pumpkin soup, his side glance never leaving Ashley Shaw.
He clearly saw the light dimple appear on Ashley Shaw’s cheek when Elder Prescott mentioned Claire Xavier’s shop.
Was merely thinking about it that joyful?
Was she thinking about the shop, or was she thinking about Cillian?
How far had things progressed between them?
The more Warren thought about it, the worse he felt. He put down his spoon abruptly, saying, "I’m done eating," and turned to go upstairs.
Claudia Jennings chased after him, "You’re just eating this little, how can that be enough?" Warren, too, didn’t look back, his mood clearly sour.
Ashley Shaw was puzzled.
What string of his was pulled wrong now?
But it had nothing to do with her. Quickly, Ashley Shaw redirected her focus back to the conversation from earlier.
"Ms. Grant is very kind to us, you can rest assured. Also, since the new shop phase is over, it’s not as busy now. She provides meals there, so Ariana and I don’t have to worry about what to eat every day."
"The Xavier Family girl has quite a good character, you won’t be bullied there."
As they were talking, Lars Prescott came back.
Ashley Shaw looked up to see Lars Prescott was already looking at her.
As their eyes met, she could vaguely sense the anger emanating from Lars Prescott.
And that anger seemed directed at her.