Chapter 406: Chapter 406: Revived Hearts
On the other side, Claudia Jennings returned to the card table with a dazzling smile.
A few card friends teased, saying her husband came to check on her.
Claudia’s smile deepened.
"Oh, my husband is getting clingier the older he gets. He wasn’t like this when he was younger... Just the other day, he canceled a business trip on purpose because he didn’t want me to be bored at home alone, and let our son go instead."
The ladies all showed similar expressions of envy.
To be card friends with Claudia, their families were naturally either rich or noble, but their husbands weren’t like Lars Prescott, a perfect husband.
Either they had women outside, or at home, they acted like big shots and needed to be served cautiously.
How could anyone be as happy as Claudia?
"You must have done a lot of good deeds in your past life to have such a wonderful husband and son."
"Don’t mention it, both of them are workaholics cut from the same cloth. My son hasn’t been home for days."
"When you’re young, you should strive hard, of course."
Claudia certainly thought that too; she was just complaining for the sake of it.
Warren has aspirations and is willing to endure hardship. As a mother, she couldn’t be happier.
"Alright, alright, let’s continue playing! My husband said he’d be busy until very late today."
"Ugh, you’ve flaunted your love so much that I can’t concentrate on cards! Come on, let’s agree on what you’ll treat us to for a late-night snack when we’re done?"
A bunch of women chirped and laughed together.
...
Aethelgard.
The Sinclair Family.
Ashley Shaw and Ariana Grant stood to say their goodbyes after Owen Sinclair finished his call.
Though Owen treated them as younger, they didn’t plan to stay too late.
Owen initially wanted to keep them for a movie in the family theater, but since he had an appointment with Lars, he didn’t insist.
"I’ll have the assistant take you back."
The two were about to politely refuse when Owen said, "I brought you here, and if I can’t ensure you get back safely, I won’t sleep well tonight."
Hearing this, they had no choice but to agree.
"Go on then, remember to keep one day open on the eleventh, and I’ll take you to tour my company," Owen said.
Ashley thought Owen was just speaking offhand at the time, but it turned out he meant it.
Before she could speak, Owen added, "Shane will also come, and we’ll have a gathering."
Hearing this, Ashley no longer stood on ceremony and agreed right away.
"Then we’ll give him a good run for his money when the time comes!"
"Alright. So you two head back early and don’t leave the hotel when you arrive. Even though it’s Aethelgard, two young ladies should still be cautious."
"Got it, Uncle Owen."
"Bye, Prince Charming!"
The two waved goodbye as Owen watched them get into the car.
Once the car was far away, Owen then turned back inside.
As he entered, Uncle Redding came to meet him.
His cloudy eyes had a noticeable redness.
"Young Master... are you sure?"
Owen knew what he was asking, whether he was sure Ashley was truly his biological daughter.
Owen nodded gently, and Uncle Redding’s tears began to fall.
"That’s great, truly great..."
Owen’s face remained expressionless, only saying, "Don’t tell my parents just yet."
Uncle Redding hesitated for a moment and said, "Sir and Madam are not the same as before. If they knew you had a daughter that’s already grown, they’d surely be very happy."
Owen just said, "Don’t tell them."
Uncle Redding couldn’t push further and nodded.
Owen let out a small "hmm" and said, "Prepare some tea; there will be guests coming shortly."
"Yes..."
After Uncle Redding went to prepare, Owen stood by the window and lit a cigarette.
He knew Uncle Redding was right; the parents would certainly be happy to find out.
They had waited eagerly for him to have a child, but he... never laid a finger on his ex-wife, so how could there be a child?
Now divorced, his parents had completely given up hope in that regard.
But if they knew, surely their extinguished hope would reignite.
Yet, he just didn’t want to tell them.
Call it revenge or not wanting Ashley to be disturbed, either way... he didn’t want to say it just yet.
At least until Ashley acknowledges him as her father before telling them.
About half an hour later, Lars Prescott’s people arrived.
He did as they suggested and quickly got in contact with the CEO of a cruise company.
The CEO was delighted to hear from him, and after Owen explained his purpose, he readily agreed to help find someone through satellite communication.
Once Lars learned of this, he repeatedly expressed his gratitude.
While thanking him, he also asked from when Owen owed the Prescott Family such a favor.
Owen didn’t elaborate, diverted the topic, and then ended the call with Lars on the excuse of having more matters to attend to.
In truth, it’s not that he didn’t want to say; he couldn’t.
Because he owed the Prescott Family that favor, having relied on them to take care of and raise Ashley for a year.
...
After Ashley and Ariana arrived at the hotel, the assistant fetched a beautifully wrapped box from the trunk.
"This is a humidifier Mr. Owen instructed me to buy, with the manual inside, so you can use it once you’re back."
Ashley was surprised once more.
Owen really had the assistant buy it...
Thanking him repeatedly, the two carried the humidifier back to their room.
Ariana checked on her phone and covered her mouth in shock.
"Ashley, do you know how much this humidifier costs?"
"How much?"
"Eighteen thousand..."
Ashley’s eyes widened in astonishment and embarrassment.
Because they also brought a gift to the Sinclair Family today, a tea set worth over two thousand.
A gift worth over two thousand isn’t exactly cheap, but compared to eighteen thousand... it was hardly comparable.
"Did we give too cheap a gift?" Ariana asked.
Ashley gave her a "what do you think?" look.
But soon, both were at ease.
Because their two thousand and Owen’s eighteen thousand were different concepts.
For Owen, eighteen thousand might be just... a buck eighty?
Even thinking this way, the two had already started browsing on their phones for what gift to bring Owen next time.
The night quickly passed, and the next day Elder Prescott arrived.
He refused to tell the two his flight details, fearing they would get lost and go to pick him up at the airport.
He only called once he reached the hotel downstairs.
After meeting, Ashley pretended to complain that he didn’t let them pick him up, and soon cheerfully took Elder Prescott to a nearby restaurant for lunch.
The restaurant Ariana had found was a famous mutton hot pot place in Aethelgard.
As it turned out, Ariana’s choice of restaurant was spot-on, so tasty that all four of them ate quietly, only reminded by the family doctor Donovan Zane, which made Elder Prescott eat a little less.
With Donovan Zane around, Ashley felt much more at ease.
In two days, the four toured many sights in Aethelgard.
At first, Ashley worried that Elder Prescott might tire out, but in the end, it was Ashley and Ariana who were exhausted first.
Ariana collapsed onto the bed as soon as they returned to the hotel.
"I am never giving up my seat to elderly gentlemen and ladies again; I can’t even climb the Great Wall, yet Elder Prescott was more sprightly than the two of us!"
Ashley stifled her laughter and was just about to say that Elder Prescott had just sent a message about taking them to The Sovereign’s Court tomorrow when she received a call from Jensen Hayes.
"Ashley, do you still recognize my voice? It’s Jensen Hayes."