Chapter 177: Chapter 177: She Has to Cook Herself?
Warren Prescott finished speaking, turned around and walked out without stopping.
Ashley Shaw’s expression froze on her face.
Of course, she wanted to repay the favor. Only by settling it, they could leave things neutral, part ways, and pretend they never knew each other upon meeting again.
But sincerity?
She was paying back with money; wasn’t that sincere enough?
That was money.
Several million!
Though she didn’t manage to pay the bill today, at least she initially intended to.
If Warren hadn’t messed it up and she had borrowed the money, she definitely would have settled the bill today.
As she racked her brain to figure out what would count as sincerity to Warren, the door of the hospital room opened again.
Ashley’s heart involuntarily tightened.
Her heart only settled when she saw it was Ariana Grant entering.
She almost thought Warren was back.
Thankfully, no.
"Ashley, are you alright?" Ariana walked over, smiling obsequiously.
Ashley immediately threw a murderous glare at her.
"You’re back? Why didn’t you wait until I was discharged to return?"
"Hehe..."
Ariana’s smile was stiff.
"Wouldn’t it be too late to wait for your discharge? Look at what I brought you!"
As she spoke, she revealed her hands hidden behind her back.
Each hand held a sausage.
No wonder Ashley smelled meat as soon as Ariana came in; she thought it was her concussion acting up.
But with Ariana’s temptation, she indeed felt hungry.
The plain veggie porridge Assistant Lowell bought her was overly bland; she suspected it had no salt in it.
Adding Warren’s presence made it hard to eat, and now her cravings were back.
"What flavor?" Ashley’s expression softened a bit.
"One’s wasabi crawfish, and the other’s original. Which one do you want? You get to choose first."
"Original, please."
Wasabi crawfish... Sausage makers are this intense now? She couldn’t handle it.
"Alright!" Ariana promptly handed her the original-flavored hot dog, seemingly generous.
Ashley sneered, saying, "Next time, if you leave me again, a single sausage won’t solve it."
"Absolutely not!" One doesn’t work; then two will do.
She’d run again next time faced with someone like that.
No choice, Warren’s too scary.
The last time with his "culinary appreciation" bit, she had nightmares for two days straight.
In the dreams, she was copying notes for Warren, and her hands were about to fall off from writing.
The moment he left, Ariana returned.
Ashley could clearly see through Ariana’s thoughts.
But you couldn’t blame her; Warren did seem quite intimidating.
Ashley sighed, then took a big bite of the original hot dog, venting her grievances towards Warren on the sausage.
After finishing it, Ariana curiously asked, "Did he get mad at you? His face looked terrifying!"
"What do you think? Who came up with the nickname ’Doom Girl’? Had me take the blame for you!"
"I didn’t give him a nickname! You did. What did he want from you?"
Ashley wiggled her phone: "He accidentally took my phone with him, and came to return it. But... I fainted today, so I didn’t pay the bill. He said if I want to repay the favor, I should show some sincerity. What does that even mean? Isn’t treating him to a meal sincere enough?"
Ariana thought for a moment and said, "Maybe he wants you to cook for him personally?"
Ashley’s eyelid twitched, suddenly recalling she had mentioned cooking for him before.
Could that really be what he meant?
"Why not just cook a meal for him and see? Buying groceries yourself is cheaper than eating out. If that’s what he wants, you won’t lose out."
Ashley nodded, wholeheartedly agreeing.
"Alright, it’s decided then. I might have to invite him over for dinner at my place; are you okay with that?"
"Why wouldn’t I be? Worst case, I’ll go out for the day."
"You dare!"
"I don’t dare..."
The next day came quickly; Ashley was feeling much better, though bending over or lowering her head made her dizzy.
So, upon doctor’s orders, she had to stay another two days in the hospital before discharge.
In the afternoon, Elder Prescott visited with Claudia Jennings.
Claudia was clearly forced to come by Elder Prescott and left on an excuse after some token concern.
"Don’t mind her, she’s just like that." Elder Prescott worried she might be unhappy with Claudia’s attitude, so he reassured her.
Ashley smiled and shook her head: "It’s okay, it’s not like I’m seriously ill, you didn’t even have to come."
"No way! Don’t think a concussion isn’t an illness. It can be fatal if serious!"
Elder Prescott continued, his face stern, "The one who pushed you was Kevin Hayes, right? Don’t worry, grandpa here will make sure he pays dearly!"
Ashley’s eyes widened immediately.
"Grandpa Prescott, how did you know..."
She barely finished her sentence when Warren’s face popped into her mind.
The only one who could know and tell Grandpa Prescott was Warren.
But why did Warren do that?
Was he trying to harm her?
But Grandpa Prescott would only help her if he knew.
Could Warren really be that kind-hearted?
Ashley had her doubts.
As expected, Elder Prescott explained, "Warren told me. Initially, he wouldn’t say, but when I said I’d have your dad investigate, he spoke up."
Ashley was halfway relieved hearing that.
Forced to speak, that shouldn’t be a trap.
Ashley said, "It’s actually quite complicated, in the future the Hayes family will be merged with Ariana’s mom’s family."
Ariana just walked in with lunch then.
Hearing Ashley’s words, she immediately approached Elder Prescott and said, "Grandpa Prescott, don’t mind Ashley, handle this matter as you see fit, don’t worry about me!"
She already disliked Hailey Hayes, and after what happened that day, she was even more displeased with the Hayes Family.
Moreover, that was a brooch worth 1.07 million!
Hailey took it just like that; she didn’t even care about the largest diamond getting tossed into the flushing toilet, which was atrocious!
"Honestly, Grandpa Prescott, I’m as upset as you are, so I’m not just being polite."
Elder Prescott nodded in approval and said, "Ariana, you’re a just child. Since you’ve spoken, I’ll make sure the Hayes family faces consequences, but I won’t bring trouble to your mom, you have my word."
Ariana opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing.
Though she also detested her mom’s attitude, she is her mother, and years of mother-daughter bond won’t just vanish.
Besides, her mom didn’t actually harm Ashley.
If her mom had hit Ashley, she would definitely stop Grandpa Prescott from being lenient towards her mom.