Save Myself from Desperation

An hour later, Ashley followed Valentin out of the City Hall, holding the marriage license in her hands, deep in thought.

She thought, ‘How did | suddenly get married?

“How did | suddenly have a husband?”

Confused, Ashley tugged at Valentin, her face full of bewilderment. “Why did you suddenly agree to get married?”

Valentin glanced at her hand holding his, his voice low and casual.

“When Grandpa suggested we get married, you looked at me. Wasn't that your way of agreeing?”

Ashley was speechless. “When did | ever ask you to agree to get married? | wanted you to reject his proposal.”

It seemed to dawn on Valentin then, his expression filled with regret. “I see. | misunderstood. But you won’t blame me, right?” Ashley was stunned.

She thought, ‘He sounds a bit too manipulative.

“| really can’t figure it out. Is Valentin deliberately targeting me again?”

Before going to bed that night, Ashley was arranged by Zain to sleep in Valentin’s bedroom.

Ashley looked at the only bed in the room and felt a headache.

Fortunately, Valentin had an urgent video conference and went to the study to work.

Taking advantage of his absence, Ashley decided to take a shower, mainly to treat the cuts on her calf from the glass shards. She hadn't properly. treated the wounds yet.

Entering the bathroom, she turned on the shower.

The small cuts on her calf, on

still unhealed, stung painfully with wa them, but she had no choice. Her band-aids weren't waterproof, so she had to endure it. The warm water from the showerhead melted away the day’s weariness. with each drop.

115

12:26

After showering, Ashley realized she had forgotten to bring her change of clothes into the bathroom.

Luckily, Valentin wasn’t there, so she could go out and get them.

Picking up and wrapping a towel around herself, Ashley opened the bathroom door.

The next second, she froze, unable to move, still holding the door open

She thought, ‘Is Valentin standing by the floor-to-ceiling window?

“When did he come back?’

Probably during the shower, she didn’t hear him due to the sound of the

water.

The instant Ashley opened the bathroom door, Valentin, hearing the sound, instinctively turned his head.

Then he saw Ashley, barefoot, with wet hair clinging to her cheeks, making her skin look even more smooth and delicate. The towel was loosely wrapped around Ashley, revealing her elegant collarbone, and the curvature of her chest was subtly alluring.

The length of the towel was barely to her thighs. Her long legs could attract anyone’s gaze.

She captured all of Valentin’s attention.

Seeing voluptuous Ashley, Valentin, usually composed, slightly startled, then raised his eyebrows slightly.

Realizing what had happened, Ashley slammed the bathroom door shut and hid inside.

She thought, ‘Oh my! How embarrassing!”

Ashley wished she could hide away!

Just then, Valentin’s deep, husky voice came through the door. “Do you need any help?”

Ashley fell silent.

She thought, ‘He must have guessed, right?

“He knew that I didn’t bring my clothes in.

25

12:26

Swallowing hard, Ashley awkwardly asked, “Could you pass me my clothes, please? They’re by the bed. Thank you!” Valentin looked over and saw them on the chair beside the bed.

Her black silk nightgown, bra, and underwear were all there..

Valentin’s eyes widened slightly, but he calmly picked up her clothes and handed them to her.

After changing, Ashley emerged from the bathroom awkwardly. Valentin looked nonchalant as if nothing had happened. This eased Ashley’s embarrassment somewhat.

While showering, Ashley had been pondering over something. She felt she and Valentin were truly incompatible, having always struggled to get along.

Taking a deep breath, Ashley said slowly, “Valentin, we should not get married.”

Hearing her words, and after a long silence, he spoke, his eyes narrowed. slightly. “Are you still in love with your high school classmate?”

His words choked Ashley again.

She thought, “What?

“High school classmate?”

It took her a moment to realize he was referring to the time she asked her grandfather to call off the future marriage arrangement with Valentin, claiming she liked a boy in her class.

She thought, | can’t believe he still remembers that!”

Valentin’s face darkened, his voice cold. “So you really don’t want to marry me?”

Confused, Ashley thought, ‘Do you want to marry me?”

His gaze fixed on her. She couldn't figure out what was on his mind. Valentin said, “Fine, I'll have someone draft a divorce agreement, valid one year later. We can divorce after a year.”

She thought, ‘A year?’

Ashley was initially startled, then realized. She believed that if they lived

12:26Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

together based on the divorce agreement and then divorced, Zain would probably be less opposed to their divorce. “Fine!”

She would fulfill their one-year marriage, then part ways with Valentin.

“Where should we sleep tonight?” Ashley looked at the only bed in the room, wondering how they were going to sleep. Valentin’s gaze darkened, and he walked out after looking at her intently. “I'll sleep in the guest room.”

With a slam, he left the room, leaving Ashley alone.

She remembered the way

Valentin had looked at her before do

thinking, ‘It’s just like when we were kids. He always seemed to do everything so intriguing and meaningful, but | couldn’t get it. “It looks like | can’t peacefully coexist with him.’

Soon after, there was a knock on the door.

Ashley went to open it.

The old butler of the mansion, Gavyn Holmes, stood outside.

Wearing a tailcoat and with a kindly face, he handed her a tube of ointment. “Ms. Ramos, your leg is wounded. This ointment is very effective, and it won’t leave scars after using it.”

Ashley was touched that Gavyn noticed her wounded leg. “Thank you!”

Gavyn smiled kindly, “Ms. Ramos, Mr. Kingsley prepared this for you.”

She thought, ‘Mr. Kingsley? Is he referring to Valentin?”

Ashley was taken aback.

Gavyn, ever so straightforward, relayed. “Mr. Kingsley told me to give the ointment to you, but he didn’t allow me to tell you it’s from him.”

Ashley didn’t know what to say at the moment.

Gavyn left promptly after delivering the message.

Stunned, Ashley looked at the ointment in her hand, feeling a mix of emotions. She was surprised that Valentin had prepared it for her.

1996

Her phone vibrated. She got a text from Jessica.

[Ashley, are you okay? Where are you staying tonight? Are you at the Kingsley Manor?]

Reading the message, Ashley scoffed inwardly.

She thought, ‘Is she still pretending to be sincere?

“| used to tolerate Jessica out of a desperate need for the family bond, but look where that got me.

“From today, | won’t make concessions for Jessica!

“| won't give up anything for the Ramos family anymore. I'll live for myself!’