More Than A Favor
Chapter 33
I let out a sigh. “No, just in my dream.”
“Listen Elaine, you’ve got great taste. You’ll kick yourself if you let Ashton slip away. Shoot, if I was 50 years younger, I’d be after him myself,” Chloe joked.
I cracked up. Chloe was such a riot.
“I’m not kidding! Better move fast before that widow snatches him up,” she
warned.
Since it was just me and Chloe at the table, I had to ask, “Mrs. Sutton, where’d Ashton go?”
“Out having drinks with a buddy.”
I sipped some chicken soup, savoring it. “Isn’t drinking bad if he’s driving?”
“Oh, he just helps out with the taxi sometimes. It’s not his regular thing,” Chloe explained. Then she gave me a look. “So are you really thinking about marriage?”
“No, that was just the dream,” I clarified. Chloe rolled her eyes at me again.
I didn’t see Ashton for the rest of the evening. But just as I was drifting off, I
heard him come in.
Chloe’s voice followed: “Make sure everything’s locked up. We’ve got a young lady staying with us now.”
“All locked. Get some sleep.” Ashton’s voice was deep and clear – especially nice to hear at night.
I smiled, then heard Chloe add, “Ashton, better hurry up. Elaine’s already dreaming about marrying you.”
I bolted upright in bed. I never said that!
Chloe was such a gossip, spreading stuff around like that.
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Chapter 17
Now I’d never be able to face him. While I was still processing this, I heard Ashton’s response: “Got it. I’ll hurry.”
I was speechless.
That night, I slept deeply and peacefully. Suddenly, I was awakened by no ises outside. It wasn’t Ashton’s voice but a woman’s, speaking with a local
accent.
Judging by the tone, it wasn’t a young lady. Young women’s voices were usually soft and clear. A woman’s voice, on the other hand, tended to be deeper and rougher.
I had a knack for recognizing people by their voices. Yet somehow, I had failed to realize that the man I loved for ten years had turned out to be a jerk.
People said you’d forget someone once you stopped thinking about ther constantly. But it seemed I hadn’t reached that point. I still found myself thinking about Logan–though not out of love, but resentment. I thought of him more often than I cared to admit.
I stayed in bed, listening intently to the conversation outside.
“Mrs. Sutton, where’s Ashton?” the woman asked.
“He left early this morning,” Chloe replied, her voice accompanied by the sound of running water.
“He left? I thought he hadn’t gotten up yet.” The woman’s voice carried a hint of laughter.
“Synthia, why do you care whether Ashton’s up or not? He’s not interested in you, so stop wasting your time,” Chloe said bluntly.
Most people wouldn’t be able to handle such directness, but the woman outside didn’t seem fazed. Instead, she laughed. “Mrs. Sutton, what do you know? Men like to play hard to get.”
I chuckled under the covers. This woman was certainly confident.
“All I know is that he tossed you out like a rag doll, Chloe retorted
Chapter 31
mercilessly.
“You’re old. What do you know?” Synthia shot back, clearly annoyed.
“I know enough to be ashamed and understand that people need dignity,” Chloe said sharply, earning my silent applause once again.
“Mrs. Sutton, we’re neighbors. I’ve taken care of you quite a bit. You don’t. have to help me, but don’t mock me,” Synthia said, trying to play the morality card.
But Chloe wasn’t having it. “Yes, you’ve helped me, but only because you wanted to see more of Ashton.”
I laughed quietly under the covers. Chloe’s sharp tongue was truly impressive.
“Alright, enough of that. I heard you took in a pretty lady. Is that true?” Synthia shifted the topic to me.
“Yes. She’s fair and delicate. Plus, she’s a proper and decent lady. I’m quite fond of her,” Chloe said, praising me to the skies. Instinctively, I touched my face. My skin was indeed smooth and soft.
“Is that so? I’d like to meet her. Where is she?” Synthia asked.
I quickly sat up in bed. It seemed she was here for me, probably worried I’d steal her beloved Ashton away from her.
I slipped my dainty feet, with their neatly painted toenails, into my slippers and stood up. I was wearing a white silk nightgown, its thin straps looking as if they could snap at any moment.
My hair was tousled and voluminous from sleep, giving me a lazy yet alluring appearance.
I opened the door, yawned, and stepped outside. “Mrs. Sutton, your place has terrible soundproofing. I get woken up every day,” I said casually.
I
As I spoke, Synthia turned to look at me. Her eyes filled first with amazement, then quickly with jealousy and envy.
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mercilessly.
“You’re old. What do you know?” Synthia shot back, clearly annoyed.
“I know enough to be ashamed and understand that people need dignity,” Chloe said sharply, earning my silent applause once again.
“Mrs. Sutton, we’re neighbors. I’ve taken care of you quite a bit. You don’t have to help me, but don’t mock me,” Synthia said, trying to play the morality card.
But Chloe wasn’t having it. “Yes, you’ve helped me, but only because you wanted to see more of
Ashton.”
I laughed quietly under the covers. Chloe’s sharp tongue was truly impressive.
“Alright, enough of that. I heard you took in a pretty lady. Is that true?” Synthia shifted the topic to me.
“Yes. She’s fair and delicate. Plus, she’s a proper and decent lady. I’m quite fond of her,” Chloe said, praising me to the skies. Instinctively, I touched my face. My skin was indeed smooth and soft.
“Is that so? I’d like to meet her. Where is she?” Synthia asked.
I quickly sat up in bed. It seemed she was here for me, probably worried I’d steal her beloved Ashton away from her.
I slipped my dainty feet, with their neatly painted toenails, into my slippers and stood up. I was wearing
a white silk nightgown, its thin straps looking as if they could snap at any moment.
My hair was tousled and voluminous from sleep, giving me a lazy yet alluring appearance.
I opened the door, yawned, and stepped outside. “Mrs. Sutton, your place has terrible soundproofing. ! get woken up every day,” I said casually.
As I spoke, Synthia turned to look at me. Her eyes filled first with amazement, then quickly with jealousy and envy.
