Dressed in formal pants with a crisp, white shirt as usual, Raymond looked clean and handsome.
Ashley, who was sitting opposite him, came to the point immediately, ignoring the milk tea on the table.
"Tell me what happened."
Raymond's lips curved in a charming smile when he looked at her. "Ashley, you are finally here. This is
your favorite milk tea. Come on, take a sip and tell me if it is still as tasty."
Ashley lowered her head and saw the milk tea with ice and lemon—her all-time favorite summer drink.
She used to indulge in a cup every time she came here. Milk, lemon tea and ice were mixed together in
this refreshing. Her face relaxed when she sipped it.
'Well, he hasn't forgotten my taste.'
Instead of taking a sip, Ashley said, "No, thanks. I'm not thirsty now. Please tell me what you want."
Raymond's face fell.
"Ashley, I'm sorry for what happened in the shopping mall. I thought it was you who pushed Lena, but
when I found out that she wasn't hurt at all, I knew it wasn't your fault. I shouldn't have blamed you for
that." Looking into Ashley's eyes, Raymond had the urge to hold her hand. But Ashley dodged him.
She looked at him indifferently, She did love him before, but now everything had changed. He caught a
glimpse of a faint smile on her lips as he apologized to her. "Um," she simply responded.
"Ashley, are you still mad at me? I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't know Lena had done such things..."
Ashley interrupted him mid-sentence. "If this is what you want to tell me, I'm sorry I have no interest. I
have to go now,"
she said dismissively and started to leave.
She had no time to chitchat over the milk tea with Raymond. They were neither lovers nor friends
anymore.
Seeing that Ashley was about to leave, Raymond stood up in haste to stop her. "Ashley, wait..."
Thankfully she sat down again. He asked, "Ashley, do you know Andrew's identity? He is not the
ordinary man he looks like. You told me once that you wanted a simple life. But now you are in a
relationship with him. You have ended up in the opposite direction of the life you want. Do you really
know him? Do you know how powerful his family is? You have got close to him in sheer ignorance.
Have you ever given a thought to your future?"
Ashley pressed her lips and didn't react to Raymond's tirade.
Those questions had troubled her too when she found out who Andrew really was.
She didn't know why she made that request to Andrew back then. Maybe it was out of fear for Peggy's
threat or because of what Andrew had said that night. She was not sure what was the exact reason.
Irrespective of that and the fact he was bossy sometimes, they were both happy in the relationship. 'His
status dictates that he must not marry a woman as per his desire, and his family will never let that
happen.'
Although Ashley had worried about this, she put on a calm and indifferent expression in front of
Raymond.
"This is my private matter. Thanks for your concern," she replied firmly.
Under the table, Raymond's hands were clenched. 'What does she mean? She doesn't care about their
status gap or she doesn't believe that Andrew will divorce her one day?'
Looking defeated, Raymond replied, "Something has happened in the Luo Group."
Ashley was confused. She had no idea why he was telling her this because they were already out of
touch.
"But I have nothing to do with your company. I think you should go back and help instead of telling me
this story."
Raymond shrugged his shoulders. "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
He sounded upset. Ashley was confused, but she still showed no emotion. "That is your problem."
"Don't you want to know who did this to the Luo Group?"
A sense of foreboding overcame her, but she didn't ask him the reason. "I have nothing to do with your
company, and I'm not interested in your story. I have to take care of something. Have fun. I've got to
go."
Just as Ashley was about to leave, Raymond said in a low voice, "It is Andrew. He has done this to us."
Ashley stopped when she heard Andrew's name. Looking at Raymond, she asked, "What? Do you
have any evidence? For all I know, he and the Luo Group are not related."
She was subconsciously absolving Andrew from this when Raymond tried to malign him. She didn't
believe Raymond at all.
The interesting thing was that she didn't realize she was protecting Andrew.
Ashley's words struck Raymond's heart like a knife. He looked sad and disappointed. 'She has never
denied me before.
Why? Did she fall in love with that man? She trusts him instead of me now.'
Raymond shrugged his shoulders and lowered his head. He couldn't help but be jealous of Andrew
when he saw Ashley's face.
"Who would be the culprit except him?"
Ashley laughed scornfully. "Maybe someone in your family has offended some big shot. Business is
unpredictable. What makes you believe that he is the culprit?"
Although she sounded confident, she was not sure if Andrew was really innocent.
Looking into her eyes, Raymond replied, "Our business has gone downhill after that party. Do you
believe it is just a coincidence?
Ashley, don't you know why he went against us?"
Raymond looked at Ashley with a mix of emotions.
"Stop!" Ashley interrupted Raymond as he was about to continue. "Stop talking. This is your problem.
Please don't bother me.
You should talk to him instead of me. I can't do anything to help."
Instead of waiting for Raymond's reply, Ashley took her bag and left in haste.
Raymond watched as she fled.
He clenched his hands and lowered his head. No one knew what was going on in his head.
After leaving the milk tea shop, Ashley called Ellie to tell her that she had to deal with something, and
then she went home directly.
Raymond's words still echoed in her mind.
"Our business has gone downhill after that party. Do you believe it is just a coincidence?"
Raymond's worried face also flashed in her mind. "Ashley, don't you know why he went against
us?"
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