Remorsefully, Claire said, "It's my fault...I shouldn't have put it here. I thought it would be easier for you
to grab it if it was kept closer to you. I didn't think you could also knock it down accidentally..."
"Claire, it's okay. I'm not hurt. I am just clumsy sometimes. It's not your fault, don't worry."
"You didn't get burnt, did you?" asked Claire, feeling guilty.
"No, no. It didn't splash on me. Just don't worry about it...
Could you please clean up the place? I'm going to my room for a while," said Ashley with a reassuring
smile.
"Okay, Miss Mu. I'll take care of this..." Claire replied, her eyes still low.
Leaving Claire there, she forced herself to climb the stairs, even though her feet were hurt.
She sat on the edge of the bed once she reached her room and checked her feet. The right one was
alright, but the left one was miserable.
There was a red blotch on the instep. It had already started to swell.
She hissed quietly and walked to the bathroom to run cold water over it. Once the pain and stinging
alleviated a bit, she fished for an ointment in her medical kit.
The ointment cooled down the spot instantly, making her feel much better. She then rested on the bed,
playing a game on her phone.
Every now and then, the large empty bedroom overwhelmed her. She felt bored and lonely.
She never felt like that when Andrew was around. They didn't even have to be talking for her to feel
comfortable. His sheer presence was enough.
Everything felt different now. Her mood these days had changed.
She wasn't used to sitting idly, without having anything to do.
Now that her foot wasn't bothering her so much, she forgot about it completely. She realized that she
hadn't been to the cake shop for a long time. 'I don't have anything to do anyway, so why not go to see
Ellie there?'
She acted as soon as she got that thought. She changed into better clothes and left the house. On her
way out, she told Claire she might not come back home in the evening.
Claire stared at her back, mumbling to herself, "What's the matter? Did she fight with Mr. Lu again? Are
they not getting along?"
She didn't know a fight was often a result of unsolved, trivial matters that piled up over time. They
slowly grow bigger and bigger, finally reaching a stage where they become difficult to handle. That was
the situation they were in right now.
After getting out of the taxi, Ashley stood outside the shop for a long time. She remembered how nice it
used to be to work here and take care of the shop. Why did she agree with Andrew on the idea of
working in his company?
Moreover, they had even broken rules to enroll her. Now they expected her to be grateful to them.
Was it too late for her to change her mind?
On the other hand, she did like her job in the company.
'Well, forget about it for now! Play it by ear, ' she thought, shrugging and finally walking in.
Nina and Cheryl were very happy to see Ashley.
"Ashley, what brings you here today? You haven't visited in such a long time! Where have you been?"
Ellie hadn't told them she had started working at the company.
They thought it was because she had to deal with some personal matters that she hadn't been coming
to the shop.
"Um...I've started working at the company," Ashley said.
"Oh, really?" Cheryl looked at her in surprise. "Work at the company? So you aren't working here
anymore?"
"Yes, but I'll still come here whenever I have time," replied Ashley, feeling like she'd betrayed them.
Cheryl nodded slowly, then muttered, "But why did you suddenly start working there?"
"Well, it was probably a whim," said Ashley sheepishly.
"Ha-ha! You're so cute, Ashley!
But whenever you find the job too stressful, you can come back here! We need you in the cake shop!"
said Cheryl, smiling genuinely. They all missed her terribly.
"Sure. This shop means so much to me...Ellie and I poured our blood and sweat to establish it..."
Ashley said, looking all around her.
"By the way, where is Ellie? Has she not come today?"
"She is resting inside," said Cheryl.
"Okay, I'll go see her. You two work hard! Don't be lazybones."
"Sure thing! You know you can't find anyone more diligent than us in the entire world," Cheryl said,
chuckling and winking.
They continued to banter for a while before Ashley finally walked into the lounge.
Ellie sat on the edge of the couch, lost in thought.
She didn't even notice Ashley come in. Ashley was going to call her out, but the moment she saw her
in that state, she started to tiptoe. She walked over to her back quietly, covered Ellie's eyes and tried to
fake as different a voice as she could. "Guess who this is!"
Ellie was startled! But she recognized Ashley's familiar fragrance, her forced voice and her touch. She
was relieved first, then elated.
"Well, well... I say it's a heartless pig!" said Ellie cockily.
Ashley's mouth fell open. She let go of Ellie instantly and jumped in front of her. "Why am I a heartless
pig? You aren't as kind as you used to be! How could you make that groundless accusation against me,
huh?"
"You tell me, if you aren't heartless, why hadn't you come here even once since you started working at
the company?" asked Ellie, raising one of her eyebrows.
Ashley heaved a sigh and sat down beside her. "Here I am! Right in front of you. I think you are very
good at managing everything on your own! See how well you handle the shop without me!"
Ellie nudged the tip of Ashley's nose with her finger and said, "Oh, you mean you're always right, huh?
Then why did you come here at all?"
Ashley was displeased. "Why, can't I come to see you when I'm free?"
Ellie's expression turned inquisitive. "Aren't you supposed to stay home and keep Andrew company? I
don't see a reason for you to come here..."
Ashley got stiff and uneasy, but soon adjusted herself. Ellie didn't even notice the change. "He has to
work overtime."
"Ah, I see! He's unavailable so you came to see me...well, is that fair?"
Ashley pushed her down the couch. "What nonsense are you talking about? I came to see you on
purpose! I missed you, idiot!"
They fought with each other playfully for a while, pulling at each other's hair and clothes, laughing like
little girls.
When they finally stopped, Ashley happened to take a close look at Ellie's face.
She looked different than usual.
It was difficult to pinpoint, but her features and manners were more graceful than before.
She looked much prettier and more charming.
Ashley continued to stare at her, almost in a state of trance.
Ellie waved her hand in front of her face and asked, "What's wrong with you? Did you lose your soul?"
Ashley snapped back to reality. "No...Ellie, why do you look different?" she asked, while running her
skeptical eyes all over her.
Ellie's heart missed a beat but she managed to maintain her composure. "What is different?"
Ashley sighed. "I can't really say. It's just a feeling. You look much prettier than before!"
Ellie felt relieved. "Oh, I thought you meant I had something on my face. Well, it's probably because
you haven't seen me for such a long time that you've forgotten what I look like!" she said, rolling her
eyes.
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