CHAPTER 457: CHAPTER 457: MEETING AGAIN

Elders always think this way, frugality is ingrained in their bones.

Ashley Shaw remembered how Ms. Shaw used to like wearing her winter school uniform, saying it was of better quality than regular clothes.

Her eyes couldn’t help but redden a bit.

It must be the large sandstorms of Aethelgard that blurred her vision.

She left her contact information with the shop owner and turned to head towards the hospital.

Ariana Grant sent a message on WeChat at this time, saying Claire Xavier was delayed by some matters and asked Ashley to wait for them at the 711 convenience store in the hospital.

Ashley replied with an "OK," and was in no rush to head back, walking slowly towards the hospital entrance.

As she passed the ER building, an ambulance happened to be reversing towards her.

She was standing right in the vehicle’s blind spot; the vehicle couldn’t see her, and she assumed it could see her, afraid that if she moved suddenly, it wouldn’t know how to maneuver, so she stayed still.

Unexpectedly, the ambulance kept getting closer, seemingly about to hit her. Just as Ashley realized something was wrong and was about to dodge, a large hand suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her back with a reverse grip—

In the next second, Ashley’s back was pressed against a broad chest, and the ambulance narrowly missed her face as it reversed out.

Ashley was so frightened she stopped breathing for a moment. It wasn’t until a doctor who witnessed the situation ran over to ask if she was okay that she snapped back to reality and jumped out of the stranger’s embrace.

Ignoring the face of the person who helped her, she turned to express her gratitude.

"Thank you. If it weren’t for you, it might have been me on that ambulance..."

After speaking, she looked up, giving the person an appreciative smile.

Her eyes widened suddenly upon seeing the person’s face.

Thick eyebrows, black eyes, a prominent nose, thin lips... and a bandage wrapped around the head.

Though he looked a bit thinner, the person before her was indeed Warren Prescott, who had been missing for nearly two weeks.

For a moment, she was stunned, even the doctor’s voice asking if she was okay became a blur.

Warren Prescott was also staring straight at her.

It wasn’t that he remembered who Ashley Shaw was.

But the brief smile she showed made his heart inexplicably race for a moment.

Then, a strange sense of familiarity surged up.

He couldn’t help but blurt out, "Have I... seen you somewhere before?"

Ashley’s eyes, already wide, grew even rounder.

Her eyeballs almost popped out of their sockets.

Before Warren Prescott returned, she had imagined many possible first words he might say to her, such as: Why are you here? Thank you for keeping it from Grandpa; or I’m back safely... things like that.

She never expected this sentence.

Was it a joke?

Or did she mistake him for someone else?

If it was the latter, was it really possible for someone to look so similar in this world?

But indeed, he was much thinner than the last time she saw Warren Prescott...

Cautiously, Ashley tried probing, "Are you Warren Prescott?"

This dialogue was downright absurd, but the scene indeed unfolded this way.

The doctor who ran over to check on them was completely ignored by the two, felt awkward, and left with a touch to his nose.

In fact, he knew this beauty was fine before he even ran over, but since she was beautiful, he couldn’t help but come to show concern.

However, it now seemed the beauty needed someone else’s care.

He decided to step back.

But honestly, Ashley wasn’t in the mood for any concern. She just wanted to find out if this person was in fact Warren Prescott.

If he was simply messing with her...

She, she wouldn’t let it rest!

Because of Warren’s disappearance, how long had it been since she had a good sleep?

On one hand, she had to keep it from Elder Prescott, and on the other, she had to find ways to assist Assistant Lowell in finding him... She was already thin, and now, she’d lost more weight.

When bending over, Jocelyn Hayes said she could see the sections of her spine.

Yet he dared to toy with her!

So she had to figure it out.

Warren Prescott’s brows relaxed when he heard her call his name.

No wonder seeing her brought about such an... unexplainable feeling.

His heart inexplicably beat faster.

So she was someone he knew.

"It’s me. I am Warren Prescott."

Ashley squinted her eyes and immediately delivered a heavy punch to his chest.

She was utterly infuriated.

She was so worried about him, and he dared to mess with her!

Warren felt a sharp pain in his chest from the unexpected punch, completely confused about what had happened.

He was about to speak when Ashley began scolding him nonstop.

"Warren! I thought going through these experiences would mature you a little, but I didn’t expect you to still be as bad as before! Is it fun to mess with others? Does playing with others’ hearts really bring you joy? People like you, with no heart, deserve to never find happiness!"

Warren’s face turned pale.

Her words were harsh.

But strangely enough, he wasn’t angry at all.

Instead, a blunt pain filled his chest—oh, it must have been from her punch.

He pressed on his chest, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, "When did I mess with you? You need to speak sensibly."

"Speak sensibly? Who exactly isn’t being sensible here? How can someone doing bad things have the face to ask others to be sensible?"

Ashley was aggressive, and Warren opened his mouth, attempting to retort, but couldn’t find any words to counter her.

Finally, after a long pause, he squeezed out, "What’s your name?"

First, he needed to find out who she was, then go back and ask Assistant Lowell.

Ashley went silent.

He still asked who she was?

"I’m your daddy!"

After saying that, she turned and left in anger, not wanting to say another word to him.

How laughable she was, worrying for so long over someone without a heart.

Did she really need to care whether he lived or died?

His death would make her feel more at ease!

She had already died once; he deserved to die once too!

Thinking of this, Ashley spat lightly, muttering, "Kids say the darndest things, it’s just my anger talking, God, please don’t take it to heart..."

After saying it, she was annoyed.

Why did she have to say these things?

Was there anything wrong with what she was thinking?

She was just too kind, allowing herself to be bullied!

Fuming, she entered the 711.

Ariana Grant had just asked the clerk to make an unsweetened Americano and quickly greeted her when she came in, "Ashley, do you want some coffee?"

Ashley quickly adjusted her facial expression, forcing a smile as she approached.

"I won’t have coffee; give me a hot chocolate."

Ariana looked envious, "I also want to drink hot chocolate..."

Warren Prescott was still standing dumbfounded at the ER exit.

"I’m your daddy..."

Those words echoed repeatedly in his head like a haunting melody.

This woman, this woman was truly something else.

No matter what, this woman left a deep impression on his mind.

He had to go back and ask who this audacious person was, so lacking in manners.

Yet... so strangely endearing.

Could it be that his former self was superficial, losing all temper upon seeing a beautiful woman?

But Assistant Lowell had said his personality hadn’t changed much from before.