Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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“How many men do I have out there, huh?” Ash chuckled, recalling Calvert’s question. “If that’s how you see me, I might as well live up to your expectations.”
Calvert’s expression darkened. After a long pause, he finally muttered, “You’re shameless.”
23)
Ash couldn’t help but laugh. ‘So, this is the famous smooth talker huh? It took him that long to come up with just that. Guess he’s not as sharp as I thought,‘ she mused.
Her smile was bright, with a natural charm she didn’t even realize.
For a moment, Calvert’s anger seemed to waver, but his face quickly turned cold again. “You think this is funny, huh?” he asked coolly.
“A little,” Ash said, unbothered. “But what’s funnier is how quick you are to blame me without knowing the facts. There’s nothing going on between him and me.”
Clearly unconvinced, Calvert replied with a hint of sarcasm, “Is this how you cozy up to your bosses at work?”
Ash thought for a second. She had always been the boss in every company she worked for. She shot Calvert a confused, almost exasperated look.
But in Calvert’s eyes, her silence seemed like an admission. “Weren’t you just full of words earlier? Go ahead, explain yourself,” he said.
Ash rolled her eyes, stifling a laugh of frustration. “For the last time, I don’t have inappropriate relationships with other men. Believe it or not.”
Ash’s patience snapped as she saw no change in his expression. Her eyes narrowed, and she aimed a kick at his groin. To her surprise, Calvert dodged effortlessly, all without releasing her.
“Trying that trick again, huh?” he said with a raised eyebrow. If he hadn’t been prepared, he might’ve fallen for it.
“Can you let
of me now?” Ash pointed at her wrist, now red from his grip. Her eyes flashed with irritation. ‘Does he even know how to treat a woman?‘ she thought.
Calvert hesitated. No woman had ever challenged him like this, and it unnerved him how easily Ash did. But the redness on her delicate wrist softened his stance, and he loosened his grip slightly. He didn’t want to be someone who mistreated
women.
“I’ll be sticking close to you from now on to make sure you don’t flirt around,” he said coldly, still not letting go.
Ash smirked and gestured toward someone behind him. “You might want to rethink that. Your sweetheart just showed up. She’s not going to like this.”
Calvert glanced back and saw Jade standing there, her face twisted with hurt, her eyes brimming with tears, as if heartbroken.
Calvert frowned. No matter what, Jade had once saved his life.
Before he could respond, a sharp pain shot through his hand, and he instinctively let Ash go.
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Chapter 46
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He turned and saw Ash step back, her voice icy. “If you can’t bear to leave your sweetheart, stay away from me. I’ll cooperate for the one–year deal, but don’t expect anything more.”
With that, Ash turned and walked away, her back cold and unyielding.
Calvert looked down at his arm and saw a small silver needle. His thoughts raced. He had seen a needle just like this before, back when he had been injured. ‘What was I even doing? Grabbing onto a woman and refusing to let her go, huh?‘ he thought.
As he pieced things together, Jade approached, head lowered to highlight her long neck and best profile. “Calvert,” she said softly, “I really didn’t mean to upset you before.”
Jade felt a small wave of satisfaction as she watched Calvert release Ash the moment he saw her. She thought Calvert must still care about her.
This gave Jade some hope. She knew she had overstepped last time, drugging Calvert out of desperation. It was a foolish mistake – she shouldn’t have rushed things or used such a drastic method.
–
But she still had her trump card. After all, she had saved Calvert’s life once. He couldn’t just forget that completely.
With this in mind, Jade’s apology became more earnest. “Calvert, I was just so afraid of losing you that I made a mistake. Please forgive me.”
Calvert’s voice remained cold. “I’ll always treat you like family. If you ever need help, just ask. But anything beyond that, I can’t give you.” With those words, he turned and walked toward the auction venue.
–
He had received word that something important would be auctioned today – something rumored to be connected to the legendary doctor, Prunella. If he could acquire it, it might lead him to her.
Watching him leave, Jade felt a pang of hurt. Before Ash came into the picture, even though Calvert wasn’t overly warm to her, he was never this distant. She couldn’t understand what had caused such a drastic change in his attitude.
Just then, her phone rang. “Jade, we won’t be able to make it to the auction,” Caspian said. “Stay with Ash for a bit, and I’ll send a driver to pick you up later.”
“Okay, Caspian,” Jade replied obediently, hanging up.
She glanced at her watch. The auction was about to start. ‘I wonder if Ash will even find her way to the entrance without my help. Even if she does, without a reserved seat, she’ll only embarrass herself, she thought.
Meanwhile, Ash examined the silver needles in her hand with a hint of regret in her eyes.
These needles were rare, handmade by her master from the finest materials. She had originally been given 108, but after using many in treatments and fights, only about half remained.
‘What a waste,‘ she thought, frowning. ‘I’ll have to get that needle back the next time I see him.
As she mused, a crowd started moving toward the auction hall, and Ash followed.
The auction venue was located in the heart of Prime Oasis. At the entrance, attendants were checking invitations. This event was exclusive and only accessible to members of Prime Oasis.
“Miss, without an invitation, you cannot enter,” an attendant politely informed a woman in an evening gown.
Samantha, clearly annoyed, snapped, “I have money! Why can’t go in?”
centila
08:49 Tue, Feb 18
Chapter 46
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The attendant glanced at the balance displayed on her phone and, with a polite smile, replied, “This auction is for Prime Oasis members only. You don’t meet the requirements.”
Embarrassed by the stares from passersby, Samantha huffed, “Do you even know who I am?”
Just then, she spotted someone familiar.
“Jewel!” Samantha called out. She turned back to the attendant, furious. “Why aren’t you stopping her?”
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