"I only found out about this today. I'm really sorry," the middle-aged woman apologized sincerely.
Ashley and Ellie were displeased with the result, but they had no intention of putting her in an awkward
position. After all, the woman was nice to them.
"It's okay. Now that you are going to sign a contract with someone else, we're fine with that," Ellie
replied.
"I'm really sorry for wasting your time," the woman continued apologizing, with guilt written all over her
face.
Ashley and Ellie bid her farewell and walked out. There was no point in crying over spilled milk.
...
They had come there to sign the contract in good spirits, but neither of them expected this to happen.
"It's so annoying! We have to go somewhere else now to rent a shop. What's going on? We agreed to
sign the contract," Ashley whined in frustration as they left the shop.
"Things change, you know. Never mind. We'll find a good place," Ellie comforted. But there was a tinge
of displeasure in her voice.
The two girls perked up again and started to look around for another suitable shop to rent.
For some reason, they were having a really hard time finding a suitable shop to rent. Even though they
had found a few perfect shops, each time they were about to sign the contract, something would
happen and the owners would suddenly back out of the deal.
The owners of the shops would have a different reason for doing so.
One of them said that they suddenly realized that the shop had already been reserved and that she
had received the deposit for it.
Another said, that he changed his mind and didn't want to lease his shop anymore.
And one even said that he didn't have time to sign the contract since he was going to his hometown
because his wife was due to have a baby.
...
Ashley and Ellie got an array of different excuses and reasons but the end result was always the same.
They had settled everything, but when it came to signing the contract, something would always crop up
and the owner would give them a reason why they couldn't sign it.
After so many refusals and reasons as to why the owners couldn't or wouldn't sign the contracts to
lease their shops out to the two girls, Ashley and Ellie were beginning to be suspicious that something
was going on. After all, it was too much of a coincidence that they couldn't find one single shop to
lease, even though everything was discussed beforehand between the owners and the girls.
After a hectic day of looking for a storefront, Ashley and Ellie dragged their tired bodies back to their
apartment. They trudged towards the couch and collapsed on it. Just then Ashley's phone rang.
She pulled her cell phone out and when she saw the caller ID was, Peggy on the screen, she got
upset.
Ashley's foster mother always felt the need to call Ashley and pester her with instructions.
She was unhappy with Peggy's attitude and behavior towards her. After all, she was an adopted child,
not a servant. The Mus instructed her to do things all the time as if she was their servant.
Reluctantly, Ashley picked up the phone. She had already assumed the reason for Peggy's call.
"Hello," she said acidly.
"What took you so long to answer the phone? You didn't want to take my call, did you? Why did we
adopt an ungrateful child like you? You..." Peggy's shrill voice resounded from the other end of the line.
Ashley had become used to her insults and degradation. Each time she received a call from her foster
mother, the latter would always remind Ashley how ungrateful she was and how she owed them so
much for adopting her.
She remained silent for she knew Peggy would just say even more harsh words if she back-chatted.
Peggy cursed and insulted like she usually did when she would call her. But since Ashley didn't say a
word back, Peggy became bored and cleared her throat finally getting to the point.
"Don't forget the date. You must be there at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. Do you hear me?" Peggy
said in a commanding tone.
"Hmm," Ashley replied flatly.
"Is this how you are taught to speak to your elders? Where are your manners? Your date has a doctoral
degree and he has studied abroad. He is older than you, but he is a promising man. He is also the vice
president of a company," Peggy said.
Ashley was left speechless. 'Why don't you go on that date if he is such an excellent man? You made it
sound like he is the best man in the world, ' she retorted silently.
"Well, I see. I will be there on time. But don't forget your promise to me. After I meet that man
tomorrow, I will have nothing more to do with the Mu family. It doesn't matter if you refuse to admit it. I
recorded our conversation. So you can't back out even if you want to," Ashley returned.
"You wicked girl, you have even learned to threaten me. Rest assured, I wouldn't break my word. You'd
better be on the date on time and behave yourself!" Peggy warned.
In fact, Peggy wasn't certain whether her husband would agree with her. After all, Spencer had only
asked her to talk Ashley into going on the blind date, but he never mentioned disowning Ashley.
She hadn't thought it through too much when she agreed to Ashley's condition. At that time, she
expected that Ashley would marry to the man she introduced once the two met and fell in love. She
was hoping Ashley would forget the promise she made to her when she got married to the man.
Peggy never in her wildest dreams suspected that Ashley would record their conversation.
The more she thought about it, the angrier Peggy got. She started to lecture Ashley. She told her that it
was time for her to return their kindness since she and her husband had adopted her, provided her with
a good life and raised her like their own daughter.
Ashley scoffed inwardly.
'It's time for me to pay them back?
So I should watch Lena steal my boyfriend? I should whore myself out to that old man for their
company? So I should blindly listen to them and do whatever they ask of me? She is being ridiculous.'
Ashley put her phone on speaker, put it on the tea table and settled herself on the couch.
'She has repeated those same words to me over and over again for so many years, ever since I lived
with the Mu family. Isn't she tired of the same old cliche? I have already memorized those words, ' she
sighed inside.
Ashley let Peggy rattle on without cutting in. When she had finally finished with her lecturing, she rudely
hung up the phone. But not before reminding Ashley to be on the date tomorrow.
Ashley lay on the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Since Ellie was with Ashley, she had heard their conversation. With her mouth agape in shock, she
asked in disbelief, "They even arranged a date for you? Are they afraid that you and Raymond would
get back together?"
Ashley nodded, "I guess so. Otherwise, they wouldn't have arranged the date at this point."
"They are so mean to you. Lena stole your boyfriend and now they want to marry you off to some
man," Ellie commented with an indignant look on her face.
"It doesn't matter. It's a win-win. After the date, I will have nothing more to do with the Mu family. No
matter what happens to them, it is none of my business," Ashley replied casually. Ashley didn't think it
was a bad thing. As long as she went on the date, she could get rid of her foster family. But what made
her foster parents think that she would fall for the guy she was going to meet? she wondered.
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