Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Winning Over Her Best Friend
Ashley Shaw immediately felt a bit guilty.
She was afraid Ariana Grant would find out about her recent kidnapping incident and worry more, so she began to speak hesitantly.
"What could possibly be going on with him and me? You know best, right? He helped you contact Dr. Tate, probably because of Grandpa Prescott. Didn’t he find out Dr. Tate was your attending physician when he was in the gastroenterology lounge?"
Ariana Grant leaned in closer, stared into her eyes, and asked, "Really nothing going on?"
"Of course not..."
"Alright, it better be. Although I really like Grandpa Prescott, as for Warren Prescott, I don’t really like him. This person always feels impossible to understand, and don’t forget, his name is Warren, which resembles ’mourning girl’!"
"In comparison, I support you being with Cillian Xavier. Although Cillian isn’t perfect, with his tendency to keep different options, I believe Cillian Xavier isn’t that type. His reputation at school is way better than ’mourning girl’."
Ashley Shaw always found it both accurate and amusing whenever she heard "mourning girl".
"Just stop mentioning Cillian Xavier, I don’t deserve him either, from such a prestigious family, what am I? As for Warren, rest assured, there’s really nothing between us. Besides, I’m still his nominal sister."
"Oh right, true! How did I forget about that! But being a foster daughter, isn’t much of a big deal. After all, when you turn eighteen, their family won’t be your guardian anymore."
"So you’re supporting us being together?"
"Of course I don’t support it! Now that you don’t like him, I can tell you something, which is... back then when you asked me to hand over the love letter you wrote to ’mourning girl’, he threw it straight into the trash right in front of me!"
That’s precisely why she has no good feeling about Warren Prescott.
By contrast, on graduation day, Cillian Xavier who voluntarily helped them carry books was much better!
Assistant Lowell, who was standing at the stairway corner and overhearing their conversation, silently turned and left.
...
Inside a business car outside the hospital, Warren Prescott sat expressionlessly.
Using the excuse of having company matters to attend to, he had Mr. Coleman take Elder Prescott home first.
And he himself got into the car driven by Assistant Lowell.
Listening to Assistant Lowell rigidly repeating Ariana Grant’s words, Warren’s expression shifted back and forth.
Mourning girl...
He hadn’t realized his name could have this implication.
His name was something Elder Prescott had a fortune teller determine, who said that Lars Prescott, Warren’s father, was too steady in business—in other words, a bit too cautious—which would cause the Prescott Group to stagnate, so the name "Warren" was meant to push the group ahead.
Unexpectedly, this name became a stumbling block on Warren’s path to romance.
But he couldn’t entirely blame the name; it was he himself who acted foolishly and confusedly in the past, doing numerous absurd things, which led Ariana Grant to reject him so strongly.
However, he also concluded from this that perhaps to make Ashley Shaw change her mind, he would have to start with Ariana Grant.
"Look into The Grant Residence, see if there’s anything I can help with."
Mark was a smart one, instantly understanding Warren’s intention.
This was an attempt to win over the best friend.
"Yes, I understand."
Mark nodded, then reported, "I’ve already identified the two people who planned to kidnap Miss Ashley, do you want to hear about it?"
Warren glanced at Assistant Lowell, his eyes showing a hint of approval.
He selected this assistant himself; compared to Uncle Rhodes, while Mark wasn’t as steady and seasoned, he excelled at gathering information—nothing in the company escaped his notice.
He also wouldn’t question any decisions Warren made, nor leak information to Lars Prescott, only recognizing Warren as his sole superior.
So far, he was rather satisfied with Mark.
"Go ahead."
"Yes. The woman’s name is Maeve, and the man is Damon Crawford; they are in a kept relationship. Maeve comes from a small place with no family, and her biggest wish is to marry a wealthy man, nothing particularly special. However, Damon Crawford has some connections."
"Oh?"
"Damon himself isn’t very capable, but his wife’s family is quite affluent, and they have a history of organized crime from years ago. Now, the family is in the food business. He is strictly controlled by his wife but can’t manage his own indulgences. His wife is unaware of the many women he’s kept outside. Maeve did this to capitalize on Miss Ashley, to squeeze one last sum out of Damon Crawford."
Warren listened, expressionless, but the cigarette between his fingers was twisted to a ninety-degree angle.
"Draft a detailed report on Damon Crawford’s situation, and deliver it to his wife, leaving no ex kept by him out."
"Yes!"
"After the report is sent, have Chief Sutton release Damon Crawford. As for Maeve... if she hopes for a life of wealth, then let her stay there and enjoy the worry-free life of food and clothing in prison."
Assistant Lowell’s forehead broke out in a thin layer of cold sweat.
This truly struck at the core.
Compared to imprisonment, having Damon Crawford face his wife would be the most devastating and frightening thing for him.
As for Maeve, there’s nothing more to say; she’ll never realize her dream of ’marrying a rich man’ for the rest of her life.
Every single day in prison would be the darkest moment of her life.
"Yes, that’s exactly what we’ll do."
As they spoke, both of them saw through the car window Ashley Shaw and Ariana Grant coming out of the hospital.
The two seemed to have said something, their faces radiating with smiles.
Warren caught a glimpse of the dimples revealed when Ashley smiled.
He unconsciously smiled along, but soon concealed his smile.
"Let’s go!"
"Huh?" Assistant Lowell was stunned and asked, "Weren’t you planning to take them home?"
"No need."
He remained by the hospital entrance in case Ariana found anything wrong.
If anything went awry, he would step in and propose taking the two home.
But seeing them laugh so heartily now, there didn’t seem to be any particularly severe issue.
"Yes..."
The car quickly sped away, unnoticed by Ashley Shaw.
In no time, two days had passed, and Ashley Shaw’s eye surgery was scheduled.
Ariana Grant volunteered to accompany her, and Ashley didn’t refuse.
Although she could be discharged the day after the eye surgery, right after the procedure, her vision might be blurry, making it hard for her to move around.
Besides Ariana, she couldn’t find anyone else to accompany her in the hospital.
However, when it came to signing the papers, they encountered a problem.
"A family member must sign," the doctor said to Ariana, "She’s just your friend and cannot replace a family member."
Ashley patiently explained, "I’m an orphan, with no family members. And for a minor procedure like this, it should be fine, right? I can sign it myself, can’t I?"
The doctor explained that the hospital recently had issues regarding signing procedures, leading to stricter enforcement, leaving them no choice but to act according to the new regulations.
"It doesn’t need to be a blood relative, a guardian is fine. The main issue is that your friend is under eighteen, and really can’t sign. Maybe you could find a teacher from your school to sign on your behalf."
Ariana was still a month away from turning eighteen.
Ashley was troubled, but then Ariana reminded her, "You could have Grandpa Prescott come."
Ashley had no choice but to nod.
However, after calling, Grandpa Prescott agreed readily, but in the end, it wasn’t him who came, but someone else.