Valerie was left with nothing but her newborn baby.
And the baby was sick...
"What's wrong with Valerie? Why aren't you speaking up?"
Ashton sensed a fleeting pain in Nolan's eyes and felt a bad premonition. His heart skipped a beat as he pressed for answers, "Nothing's happened to Valerie, has it? Why does her coming back mean Elaine has to leave? Nolan, tell me, what's going on? Is there something I don't know?"
"You don't deserve to know!" Nolan pushed him away, his eyes darkening with anger, "After all this time, you still can't let go of Elaine. Ashton, I hope one day you'll see just how blind and foolish you've been. To protect that wicked woman, what have you actually lost!"
After his outburst, Nolan stormed into the old mansion.
Ashton's brows furrowed deeply, sensing there was more to Nolan's words.
He had rushed back home, visibly anxious. Was Valerie in some kind of trouble outside?
A sense of unease gripped him, and he turned to follow Nolan for answers.
Just then, his phone rang, the sharp tone piercing through the night. Seeing it was the hospital calling, Ashton hesitantly answered.
"Ashton, are you going to abandon me again? You said you'd catch that thug and come to see me. I... I didn't want to bother you, but the doctor said there's another critical condition notice that needs a family member's signature.
Ashton, you know, I have no one else. I had to trouble you..."
Listening to Elaine's weak sobs, Ashton pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.
"Why is there another critical condition notice?" he muttered.
"Whitney came by this morning, choked me, and I had to go through surgery again because my wound bled. I've just come out..."
"What?" Ashton's expression darkened.
"How are you now?"
"It's critical, so I need you to sign. Ashton, please don't leave me. I don't want to die alone..."
Elaine's voice faded, and the phone clattered to the floor.
"Elaine?" Ashton, hearing the crash, scowled deeply.
His gaze flickered back to the Fuller Mansion's gates and Nolan's retreating figure.
Yet, his steps led him outside, towards his car, to leave quickly.
Elaine had become a burden, weighing heavily on his heart, growing more and more irksome.
Frustrated, he gripped the steering wheel tightly, his mind replaying the argument with his brother, revolving around Valerie. His chest ached dully at the thought of her aloof, delicate face.
He had never felt this pain for her before.
But gradually, the discomfort turned into a profound sense of loss, and now, thinking of Valerie filled him with irritation and resentment. He couldn't understand why she insisted on a divorce over a trivial matter.
But the pain for her grew stronger, tormenting him.
He had to find her and demand answers!
With a storm brewing in his eyes, Ashton dialed the Fuller Mansion's servant, "Keep an eye on Nolan. If he leaves the Fuller family in the next couple of days, follow him!"
He was determined to find Valerie.
-
Inside the Fuller Mansion.
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