“Mrs.
Sullivan and Miss Sullivan, this is a birthday gift from Ashley,” Manager Cameron said, handing over the gift box.
Beatrice didn’t even look at it.
“Trash it.
Whatever nonsense she sent can’t be anything good.”
“Wait a sec,” Audrey reached out to stop him, eyes glinting with mischief.
“I wanna see what that woman thinks is worth showing off.”
She popped the lid open—and froze.
Beatrice leaned in for a look.
Her eyes went wide in disbelief.
“Is that…
emerald?”
She might’ve been clueless in many things, but when it came to jewelry, Beatrice knew her stuff.
This emerald bracelet?
Top-tier.
The clarity and shine alone screamed high-end.
Easily worth a few million—if you could even find one for sale.
“No way she could afford something like this!” Beatrice exclaimed, then quickly drew her own conclusion with deadly certainty.
“She must’ve stolen it from the Kings!
Trying to act rich in front of us!”
Classic bumpkin move.
Stealing just to play pretend.
Beatrice sneered viciously.
“Took something from the Kings and still has the nerve to keep a boy toy?
I swear, this time, that girl’s done for.”
Meanwhile, a sleek black Maybach sped down the street.
Ashley sat in the passenger seat, eyes locked on a document tossed carelessly in the backseat—her contract.
For Edwin, that little piece of paper probably meant nothing.
The whole Sullivan Group might as well be pocket change to him.
But for Ashley?
That contract was everything.
Her one shot at regaining control of the Sullivan family’s legacy.
Her one chance at finding her mother.
She glanced sideways at Edwin—it looked like he was focused on driving.
Steeling herself, she quietly stretched her arm toward the backseat, fingers just inches from the document when—
Edwin suddenly curved his lips into a smirk and slammed on the brakes.
The seatbelt yanked Ashley back hard, and the paper flew out of reach again.
She turned to him, eyes blazing.
That had to be on purpose!
“Cursing me in your head?” Edwin asked lazily, resting one hand on the steering wheel.
His eyes, casual yet piercing, locked onto hers like he could see straight through her faked calm.
Ashley bit her tongue and forced a smile.
“Of course not.”
The edges of that smile were practically trembling—but she still kept up the act.
Edwin didn’t call her out.
Instead, he casually reached into the backseat and grabbed the contract, holding it just out of her reach.
“Did I ever say you could have this?” he asked coolly, then nodded toward the side of the road, where a fancy pastry shop came into view.
“Grandma loves their cakes.
Get out and grab some.”
The contract was in his hands, so Ashley had no choice but to obediently push the door open and get out to buy the pastries.
Her twisted ankle wasn’t that bad, but it still hurt with every step.
Standing under the scorching sun, Ashley wiped the sweat off her face.
Luckily, the line wasn’t long, and it was soon her turn.
Inside the car, Edwin narrowed his eyes, staring closely at the woman’s slender back.
He held the Bluetooth earpiece with one hand and gave a quiet but chilling order: “Nathan Ford, drive into her.”
“Yes.” There was no hesitation in his tone—he simply followed orders.
Ashley had just turned around with the pastry box in her hands.
Her leg was injured, so her pace was slow.
She hadn’t gone far when her back tensed—she caught the roar of an engine aggressively racing toward her from the right sidewalk…
And just a few meters ahead, Edwin had rolled down the window.
That cold, devil-may-care face of his held a faint smirk, watching her like he was anticipating some twisted drama.
She was supposed to be deaf.
That meant she wouldn’t hear the car barreling toward her, and naturally wouldn’t dodge it…
But if she didn’t, and the car didn’t stop in time, she’d be just another tragic accident.
Should she move or stay?
People nearby had already started screaming.
Cold sweat soaked Ashley’s back.
She tightened her grip on the pastry box and just kept walking toward Edwin like nothing was happening.
She even tilted her head and gave him a sweet, almost eager smile.
Was she really…
unable to hear?
Edwin’s gaze darkened.
He tapped the earpiece and gave an abrupt command: “That’s enough.
Stop the car.”
Screeeeech—
With a jarring brake, the black car screeched to a halt barely inches from Ashley’s feet.
Life or death—just a few centimeters apart.
Ashley’s body jerked as she turned sharply, her face etched with just the right amount of shock and fear.
The black car peeled away with a sharp turn, speeding off in the opposite lane in a flash.
Her heart, which had been lodged in her throat, slowly began to settle.
She clamped her lips together, opened the car door, and climbed in.
She really wanted to chuck the box of pastries in her hands right at Edwin’s smug face—but she held back.
For the rest of the ride, Ashley just sat there holding the box and staring out the window.
Every once in a while, Edwin glanced sideways at her.
That little thing was radiating anger—even the back of her head was throwing shade.
She could read lips.
With him wearing the headset earlier, she must’ve caught what he said to Nathan Ford.
Still, she kept her cool.
The car finally pulled into Kingsview Garden.
Ashley reached for the door handle, but it wouldn’t budge—it was locked.
She looked back, only to find Edwin lazily watching her.
“Nine million swiped away in a morning…” He propped his head up with one hand and asked casually, “So, where’s all that stuff you bought?”