Chapter 215:
The screen displayed several photos of Ashley caught in tender embraces with another man. The accompanying text hit like a cold blade.
“Ashley has been deceiving you.”
The message’s neutral tone made it hard to discern whether it was sent by a man or a woman. Kristian, his curiosity piqued and a knot of anxiety in his stomach, immediately dialed the mysterious number to unearth the origins of these unsettling photos and to understand the implications behind them.
He examined each photo with meticulous attention, confirming to himself they were genuine, untouched by digital manipulation.
Upon making the call, he was met with the cold, impersonal announcement from a mechanical female voice declaring the number was invalid.
A crease formed between his eyebrows as he pondered this dead end, his mind racing back to a similar scenario that had been the talk of the town not long ago.
Driven by a sudden urge, Kristian snatched his phone and jacket from the back of his chair and stormed out of the office, determined to confront Ashley directly at her place.
Meanwhile, Ashley was in the midst of a tense conversation, her face a mask of fear, her voice quivering with nervous energy.
“I never thought he’d side with Liam Shaw over me. You can’t hold this against me,” she stammered into the phone, her words dripping with worry and regret.
The voice on the other end rebuked her sharply.
“You know well the repercussions of jeopardizing my plans.”
Ashley’s grip on her phone tightened, her entire body shaking as tears streamed down her face, fear manifesting more palpably than ever before.
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She opened her mouth to plead her case when a sudden, insistent knock at the door interrupted her.
The sound reverberated, persistent and ominous.
For reasons she couldn’t fathom, her heart hammered against her chest, threatening to burst.
“I have to hang up. Someone’s at the door.”
“Make sure you don’t reveal the truth about your illness.”
“Okay…” Her voice trailed off as the call disconnected. Swiftly, she erased the call history and dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.
She then took a deep, steadying breath to calm her nerves before she approached the door.
Only a select few knew of her current hideaway—her friend Kristian and Gerard. Regardless of the visitor, it was crucial that her secret remained just that—a secret.
As she opened the door, Kristian’s tall, daunting silhouette filled the entryway.
The sight of him sent a jolt of tension through Ashley, her body stiffening involuntarily. Despite her anxiety, she managed a smile, masking her nerves with feigned surprise and warmth.
“What a surprise! What brings you here at this hour?”
“I need to talk to you,” Kristian stated, his voice a low murmur, his lips barely parting as he clutched a stack of urgent-looking documents.
“Please, come in.” She stepped aside.
“Can I get you something to drink? Maybe some coffee or tea?”
.
.
.