< More Than A Favor
Chapter 163
Ashton looked confused. “Hmm?”
I stepped closer to him, so close I could catch the clean, fresh scent of his soap from his recent shower. It smelled nice.
“Are you wearing a disguise?” I asked, studying him closely.
* Mer
He furrowed his brow and glanced down at himself. “How much have you had to drink? You’re acting
strange.”
I’d only had one drink, but he noticed it right away.
His comment made me smirk. I reached out and tugged on the front of his shirt. “Ashton, stop playing dumb. I’m not talking about your clothes. I mean your identity. Are you hiding something? Are you secretly super rich? Maybe even some kind of big boss?”
Ashton’s jaw tightened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He started to step back, trying to put some distance between us.
“Do you really not get it, or are you just pretending? Is this all an act?” I pressed, staying deliberately
close.
He didn’t respond. He just stood there, watching me as I stared back at him.
In the dim light of the stairwell, our eyes locked in a silent standoff.
Images of Alice’s small courtyard flashed through my mind–her illness, my first impression of Ash Finally, I broke the gaze, chuckling softly. “You’re so poor, it couldn’t possibly be you.”
With that, I let go of his shirt and turned to head back to my room. But before I could leave, Ashton stopped me.
“Did you drive yourself?” he asked.
I laughed. “No, I had a chauffeur.”
Then, with a playful grin, I added, “I value my life too much to risk it, and I wouldn’t want to endanger society either.”
The coldness in Ashton’s eyes softened a little. He reached out and gently patted my head. “Good.”
The gesture reminded me of someone soothing a child. I blinked up at him. “Ashton, I envy Alice.”
“Why?” he asked, his voice calm but curious.
I gave him a faint smile. “She must have been so precious to you.”
His gaze darkened slightly, and before I could react, he took hold of my wrist and led me toward his room. “Let me make you some tea.”
I wanted to refuse, but the warmth of his hand was too comforting. Without realizing it, I found myself following him inside. I couldn’t resist.
Before long, he handed me a cup of tea. I noticed it was in a cartoon mug with a cat’s face on it- clearly a cup meant for a girl. But Alice wasn’t here…
“Whose cup is this? I don’t want to use someone else’s things,” I said, testing him with the question.
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< Chapter 163
“It’s yours. I bought it just for you,” Ashton replied.
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His words made my heart skip a beat, and I felt a faint warmth creep up my cheeks. I sipped the tea, and its sweetness made me feel… cared for.
“In the future, don’t drink alone. It’s not safe,” Ashton said after a moment.
“I wasn’t alone. I was with Caleb,” I replied honestly. “I told you before–nothing would happen with him around.”
Ashton’s expression darkened slightly, but he didn’t say anything.
I took another sip of tea and then heard him ask, “Do you trust him that much?”
“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “He’s always been good to me. He treats me like a sister.” I traced a finger along the edge of the cup.
Ashton didn’t respond. His silence made me think of Jeremy, who I’d met earlier that evening. “Guess who I had dinner with tonight?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood.
“Not Caleb?” Ashton’s voice sounded slightly off.
I didn’t dwell on his tone. “I also had dinner with Jeremy–Alfred’s son.”
The moment I said it, Ashton’s expression darkened further. “What are you planning to do?”
I hesitated, debating whether I should tell him that Jeremy had agreed to take me to see Alfred. Before I could decide, Ashton spoke again, his tone stern. “Elaine, I know what you’re trying to investigate, but don’t get involved. I’ll handle it.”
His words made me think of that contact. “Your father’s death might be connected to mine. I have to figure it out. I need to know the truth.”
Ashton’s eyes bore into mine. “Did you find something?”
“What about you?” I countered. “Why are you looking for Alfred? Why are you so suspicious of him?”
Instead of answering, Ashton turned and walked to the window. His tall, strong frame seemed unyielding, like he could bear the weight of the entire world if it came crashing down.
