Chapter 234: Chapter 226: I’m Doing This for Your Own Good

“Why should I be merciful to you?” Ashton Marshall directly questioned.

Nina Sutton opened her mouth but didn’t know how to respond to Ashton’s words.

“Today, seeing you is the last chance I’ll give you to talk things over. From today onwards, if I discover that you’ve harassed Bella Woods or done anything to harm her.”

Ashton Marshall squatted down to level with Nina Sutton, “By then, not only will you face the consequences, but the entire Sutton Family will be implicated because of you.”

Nina Sutton looked at Ashton Marshall in shock.

The Sutton Family already disregarded her. Given the tense relationship between the Suttons and Ashton Marshall, if they learned that they suffered because she offended Ashton, they would never let her go!

Ashton Marshall wouldn’t even need to lift a finger; the Sutton Family would exhaust every means to torture her.

What a ruthless Ashton Marshall!

All for Bella Woods, he could treat her this way.

By now, Ashton Marshall was already standing up: “I’ll give you ten minutes, disappear.”

…

Bella Woods left Cascade Court, walking alone on the pitch-black road, unsure of where to go.

She didn’t want to stop. Walking on the road, the streetlights stretched her shadow, inexplicably adding a sense of loneliness and desolation.

She kept taking deep breaths, adjusting her emotions, calming down with deep breaths.

“Bella Woods.”

The shout from behind rang out, but Bella didn’t want to stop and even quickened her pace forward.

“I know you don’t want to talk to me right now, likely because I’ll bring up Nina Sutton and Third Young Master’s matters, which makes you unhappy.”

Bella stopped and faced him: “Ethan Marshall, what’s the point?”

“You keep going on and on, basically wanting me to leave Ashton Marshall. But if you’re going to be the love protectors for Nina Sutton and Ashton, why don’t you just go talk to Ashton directly.

What do I matter? Leaving Ashton Marshall is just a word from him. Is it necessary for you all to come to me repeatedly? What’s the point?”

Bella was also full of anger and grievances.

Ethan Marshall looked at her, opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.

After a moment, he finally said, “I know. But some things require you to leave willingly. Seeking out Ashton might hurt you.”

“So, should I thank you all for coming to me repeatedly to prevent me from getting hurt?” Bella laughed.

“Isn’t that the case? As a girl, waiting until Third Young Master tells you it’s over is damaging to you. And you know what my brother is like; when he’s ruthless, he’s very ruthless.”

“Rather than waiting for the breakup talk when you can’t let go or understand why, I’ve investigated it; you’re not inherently a confident girl. You’d definitely become self-conscious and doubt yourself.

Instead of letting you be beyond redemption, I’m here to give you a chance to save yourself. Letting you end this stand-in relationship that shouldn’t have been.”

Ethan Marshall spoke with righteous conviction, looking at Bella with a very earnest expression, without a shred of insincerity.

Precisely because of this, Bella couldn’t help but find it laughable.

These people truly believed they had her best interests at heart.

So anything she said now seemed pointless.

“Well, thank you for reminding me. But my stance remains the same: nobody should come to me about the matter between Ashton Marshall and me.

If it needs to end, let Ashton talk to me himself.”

“Additionally, I’m not self-conscious. I’ve never been self-conscious.”

Having said this, Bella walked forward, unwilling to communicate further with Ethan Marshall.

Ethan also didn’t say anything, simply following quietly beside her.

Wherever Bella walked, he followed.

Step by step.

Bella was quite annoyed and simply stopped: “If you have anything left to say, just say it. After that, we’ll go our separate ways.”

“I have nothing to say,” Ethan Marshall replied.

“If you have nothing to say, why are you following me?”

“I just want to protect you. You’re a girl, and this stretch of road doesn’t have many cars or people, plus it’s nighttime; it’s easy to encounter danger.”

“Thank you for your kindness, but I’m not in any danger because my friend will soon come to pick me up.”

As soon as Bella finished speaking, Calvin Marshall arrived with her motorcycle.

As the motorcycle approached Bella and Ethan, there was no intention of stopping but rather circled them, seemingly about to rush toward Ethan, forcing him to retreat repeatedly.

Finally, the motorcycle stopped between Bella and Ethan.

Calvin took off his helmet: “Ethan, what are you doing?”

“I saw Bella was alone and wanted to protect her,” Ethan replied. “Also, tonight, Oliver and I have a race. Would you like to join us?”

When Ethan asked, he looked at Bella with anticipation.

Bella wasn’t interested, especially since it involved Oliver Hughes, making her even less interested.

However, just as Bella was about to respond, her phone rang, displaying a call from Ashton Marshall.

Bella didn’t want to answer, so she hung up directly.

“Alright, let’s go play.” Bella got on Calvin’s bike.

Her phone was set to silent. Although Ashton called again and sent messages, Bella didn’t check her phone again.

Ethan didn’t expect Bella to join him, but he was still delighted: “Sixty, you know the race location; you go first, and I’ll catch up soon.”

Although Calvin didn’t quite understand, she simply nodded and drove towards the racetrack.

However, midway through the journey, Calvin stopped the bike by the roadside.

She took out her phone, glanced at the caller ID, then looked at Bella: “A call from Ashton.”

“If he asks, just say we’re together. Ethan and Oliver are racing today and invited me over,” Bella stated directly.

Calvin didn’t really understand; she remembered that when she left the Woods Family, Ashton and Bella seemed quite happy together.

Now, Bella’s actions felt like she was trying to draw a line with Ashton.

Despite not understanding, Calvin did as asked.

On the other end of the call, Ashton was silent for a few seconds before finally responding, “Got it.”

Ashton hung up the phone and remained quiet in the silent room.

“She wouldn’t be interested in these things for no reason.”

To Ashton, Bella was a smart and well-behaved young girl who clearly understood the issues between him and Ethan and never voluntarily got involved with Ethan; she kept clear boundaries.

Moreover, she wasn’t the type to get involved with Oliver Hughes.

Something must have happened that upset her and caused her distress.

Thinking of this, Ashton grabbed his car keys and left.

Driving, Ashton kept thinking, something must have upset the girl. Regardless of the scene, he couldn’t lose his temper. He needed to take her away first and then talk things over.

However, when Ashton arrived at the scene, all thoughts of calm conversation were thrown out the window.

He only felt the urge to kill.