Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Killing Two Birds with One Stone
If she remembered correctly, in her past life, it was because of this phone that the Lynch Family began their downfall.
However, in her past life, the scandal wasn’t exposed by Warren Prescott, but by the victims who spontaneously reported incidents after too many similar events occurred.
The Lynch Group brought it upon themselves, only caring about self-interest and disregarding consumer safety; there was no way they could escape justice.
She was happy, not because the Lynch Group was suffering or because Rosalind Lynch would stumble, nor because it was Warren Prescott’s doing. She was simply glad that potentially hundreds of victims might avoid harm in the future.
"If you’re happy..." Ariana Grant gently tugged at her sleeve, "can we get a late-night snack tonight? I’m really craving crayfish..."
Ashley Shaw frowned and instinctively wanted to refuse.
But when faced with Ariana Grant’s puppy-like, watery eyes, her heart softened.
"Okay."
Ariana was about to cheer when she heard Ashley Shaw continue, "But we can’t order takeout. The crayfish from takeout aren’t cleaned properly. I’ll buy some live crayfish after work tomorrow and cook for you."
Ariana’s eyebrows fell for a moment, but she quickly cheered up.
"Yay! Speaking of which, I haven’t tasted your cooking yet! Then I’ll be in charge of cleaning the crayfish tomorrow!"
"We’ll clean them together."
"Okay!"
...
The next day.
Ashley Shaw received a phone call just before the delivery time ended.
She saw the caller ID, her eyes darkened for a moment, then she pressed the reject button and continued delivering cakes.
Once she finished the last delivery, she pressed the callback button.
The call connected quickly, and Lars Prescott’s voice came through.
"Ashley, are you busy?"
While closing the delivery app, Ashley Shaw replied, "Just finished, is there something you need?"
"Are you free to have dinner tonight?"
"I’m sorry, it’s not convenient. I have other plans tonight. If you have something to say, please just tell me over the phone."
"Do you have time now?"
Ashley Shaw glanced suspiciously to the side, indicating a need for a face-to-face conversation?
What does he want to say? Hasn’t she already left?
Ashley Shaw looked at the time on her phone screen; there were still thirty minutes before she had to meet Ariana at the market to buy crayfish.
It was about ten minutes from here to the market.
After a moment’s hesitation, she turned off the speaker and placed the phone by her ear, "I have about twenty minutes now."
"Where are you?"
"At the Westcroft University gate."
"Okay, I’ll be there in ten minutes."
...
Lars Prescott was very punctual, arriving as promised ten minutes later.
Ashley Shaw parked her scooter and got into the car.
The driver stepped out with an excuse to smoke.
"Uncle Prescott." Ashley Shaw nodded politely in greeting.
Lars Prescott smiled warmly, "Ashley, I haven’t seen you in a while. I haven’t asked you yet, how do you think you did on your college entrance exams?"
"Not bad."
The perfunctory two words clearly indicated her attitude.
— I can come to see you, but I don’t enjoy meeting you, so you don’t need to waste time on small talk.
Lars Prescott’s expression was stiff for a moment but quickly resumed his previous smile.
"Ashley, I thought, living alone isn’t convenient for you. How about coming back for a few days? Since we adopted you, we never formally announced it. Once you return, I’ll host a proper banquet for you."
Ashley Shaw raised her eyes in shock, and after seeing Lars Prescott’s smiling face, she roughly guessed his intention.
She said expressionlessly, "Uncle Prescott, shouldn’t you be happy that I left? This way, the things you worry about will never happen."
Lars Prescott feigned ignorance.
"I don’t know what you think I’m worried about, but last night, when I saw Dad watching TV alone, I suddenly wanted you to come back and keep him company."
Ashley Shaw paused for a moment and said, "Even if I return, it won’t be for long; I’m going to university soon."
"But you can at least accompany him during this period."
Ashley Shaw suddenly ran out of patience.
She wasn’t naive enough to believe Lars Prescott genuinely wanted her back just to keep Grandpa company.
She really disliked Lars Prescott’s manner of speaking; by comparison, Warren’s words might be harsher, but at least they were straightforward, not requiring guesswork.
Ashley Shaw took a deep breath, looked directly into Lars Prescott’s eyes, and said.
"Uncle Prescott, since you dislike stating things plainly, let me clarify for you."
"?"
"You want me to come back, perhaps indeed so I can accompany Grandpa. But more so, after publicly acknowledging me as your adopted daughter, any relationship between Warren and me that you’re concerned about developing will be impossible. It’s essentially killing two birds with one stone."
Lars Prescott frowned, feeling a tinge of displeasure.
The feeling of being seen through and exposed on the spot was unsettling.
He thought Ashley Shaw couldn’t see through his innermost thoughts.
Lars Prescott folded his arms across his chest, a defensive posture from a psychological standpoint.
Ashley Shaw continued, "However, you’re overthinking. Between Warren and me, no matter what you think, neither of us feels that way toward the other. He’s become more polite recently because he realized some of his past actions were wrong and is merely trying to make amends. You really don’t have to go to such lengths to guard against me."
Lars Prescott curled his lips.
"But don’t girls your age feel a little for handsome, academically gifted, well-backgrounded boys?"
He said, suddenly taking out a crumpled letter from his pocket.
Ashley Shaw glanced down, her brows furrowing tightly.
It was the love letter she wrote to Warren Prescott before her rebirth.
When did Lars get hold of it? No wonder he had been watching her closely.
Ashley Shaw’s hands tensed at her sides.
She couldn’t explain away this love letter.
Because she did write it, yet the current her did not.
"You wrote in your love letter that you weren’t sure if you deserved to be a princess. Uncle is telling you now, you do, and this opportunity is right in front of you."
"..."
"Uncle genuinely wants to tell you that being my daughter-in-law and being my daughter comes with the same resources. I can promise to treat you as my biological daughter in the future."
Ashley Shaw closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "Uncle Prescott, if I wanted what you mention, I wouldn’t have left in the first place. If you think I’m playing hard to get, then I have nothing to say. But I believe, over time, you’ll understand my intentions."
Lars Prescott’s eyes showed disdain.
"You don’t want it? Then how do you explain this love letter?"
"I wrote it when I was immature, and everyone has a time when they don’t understand things."
Ashley Shaw’s phone rang at that moment.
She glanced at the caller ID; it was Ariana Grant.
"A friend I planned to meet is looking for me. Uncle Prescott, I’ll say it one last time, you really don’t need to worry about anything happening between Warren and me. Goodbye."
Ashley Shaw opened the car door, intending to step out, but Lars Prescott stopped her again.