Chapter 7: The Rescue
1349 Words
In a world without sound, the remaining senses become sharper.
Lucas could smell the faint sweetness and warmth coming from Ashley.
He stared at the girl in front of him.
A jagged piece of broken glass was clenched tightly in his hand.
Even in his weakened state, he was confident he could drive it straight into her throat.
The only reason he didn't move was because of the three bodyguards standing behind her.
He forced down the violent rage boiling inside him.
Ashley felt chills run down her spine beneath his dark, hostile stare.
Goosebumps prickled across her skin.
She knew he could read lips, so she spoke slowly.
"Are you okay?"
"I came here specifically to find you today."
"I shouldn't have hired those people to hurt you."
"I regretted it as soon as I got home."
Lucas's entire body remained tense.
Watching her lips move, he didn't believe a single word.
He could never forget the way she had looked at him.
The disgust.
The contempt.
The way she had stared at him as though he were a filthy stray dog everyone wanted to kick aside.
Ashley noticed one of his hands was still bleeding.
Her eyes widened.
Why was it bleeding so much?
Only then did she spot the glint of broken glass hidden in his clenched fist.
Ashley swallowed.
A cold numbness spread from her scalp down her spine.
Now she knew why the back of her neck had felt cold.
She shifted slightly farther away while keeping her voice gentle.
"Can you stand?"
"If not, I'll call an ambulance for you."
An ambulance?
The look in Lucas's eyes turned mocking.
After having him beaten half to death, she wanted to play the savior now?
Ashley wasn't expecting an answer.
After assessing his injuries, she immediately stood up.
Calling an ambulance seemed like the safest option.
And it would put some distance between her and that piece of glass.
Blackthorn District didn't have proper clinics.
Most residents either endured their illnesses or died on the streets.
When a body started to smell, someone would eventually come to collect it.
The collectors would inspect the corpse.
If any organs were still usable, the body would be transported out of Blackthorn District and delivered to hospitals throughout Westhaven City.
For the benefit of wealthy patients.
So when the sound of an ambulance echoed through Blackthorn District, almost everyone who heard it looked shocked.
After Ashley contacted security at the entrance, the ambulance was allowed inside without delay.
It drove directly to Lucas.
Claire Watson was also drawn outside by the siren.
Stepping out of her apartment building, she saw the ambulance parked on the street below.
Charlotte followed behind her.
With a single glance, she spotted Ashley helping a blood-covered man toward the vehicle.
Charlotte frowned.
Claire had met Ashley before.
The sight surprised her as well.
"What's Ashley Hawthorne doing here?"
"Since when did she become so kind?"
She pointed toward the ambulance.
"Nobody gets an ambulance into Blackthorn District without permission."
Claire continued,
"See that guy?"
"His name is Lucas Rothwell."
"Everyone around here knows him."
"He's completely fearless."
"If someone messes with him, he'll beat them half to death the next day."
She clicked her tongue.
"Though apparently he offended your little sister somehow."
"Yesterday she hired a bunch of people to pin him down and beat him."
"There was blood everywhere."
"I honestly thought he was going to die."
Claire paused.
"But now she's calling an ambulance?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"He's pretty handsome."
"Did Ashley fall for him?"
"Or did she suddenly grow a conscience?"
Charlotte found herself wondering the same thing.
Thinking back to breakfast, Ashley had seemed different.
Softer.
No longer sharp-tongued and arrogant.
No longer acting like a spoiled heiress.
So this was why she wanted to come to Blackthorn District?
Because of this man?
"I'll handle what you asked me to do."
Charlotte turned toward Claire.
"You be careful."
"I'll come see you again in a few days."
After saying goodbye, Charlotte headed directly toward the ambulance.
By the time she arrived, Lucas had already been loaded inside.
Ashley hesitated beside the open doors.
Then decided to climb in after him.
"Ashley."
Charlotte's voice stopped her.
She looked back.
Charlotte was standing behind her.
"What's going on?"
Only then did Ashley remember Charlotte was still there.
Right.
In the original story, if Ashley hadn't intervened, Charlotte would have been the one to save Lucas.
But Ashley had her own reasons.
The original novel hadn't ended well for either of them.
Charlotte never loved Lucas.
Reducing their interactions now wasn't exactly destroying a great romance.
More importantly—
Ashley really wanted to stay alive.
She needed to become Lucas's savior.
After seeing the broken glass in his hand, she became even more convinced.
This favorability score had to be earned.
"I..."
Ashley hesitated.
"I just felt sorry for him."
"I wanted to help."
Charlotte grabbed her wrist, preventing her from boarding the ambulance.
"Then let the ambulance take him to the hospital."
"Why do you need to go too?"
Ashley: "..."
Because I'd like to increase my survival rate, thank you very much.
In the end, she could only watch the ambulance disappear into the distance.
Her head drooped in disappointment.
Charlotte silently observed her reaction.
Claire's earlier words resurfaced in her mind.
Either Ashley had suddenly become kind.
Or she liked him.
Charlotte didn't believe the first possibility.
Which left only one conclusion.
—
The sisters returned to the Hawthorne Estate together.
To celebrate Charlotte's return, Camille had organized a grand party.
Every influential family in Westhaven City had been invited.
Luxury cars lined the estate grounds.
But Ashley knew the party wasn't merely a welcome celebration.
Camille wanted to find Charlotte a suitable husband.
The sooner Charlotte married and left the Hawthorne family, the better.
The moment they arrived home, both sisters were ushered into separate dressing rooms.
Charlotte stood like a white camellia untouched by the storm.
Her fitted white gown emphasized her elegant and graceful beauty.
When it came time to style Ashley, however, the makeup artist noticed something surprising.
She had worked with Ashley Hawthorne many times before.
The old Ashley had always been beautiful.
But her face carried traces of arrogance and superiority.
The Ashley sitting before her now felt completely different.
A touch of makeup highlighted the natural softness in her features.
Her rose-pink gown shimmered beneath the lights.
If Charlotte looked like an untouchable goddess—
Ashley resembled a fairy who had wandered into the mortal world.
Ashley stared at her reflection.
The face was almost identical to her appearance in reality.
After their styling was complete, the contrast between the sisters became even more obvious.
As they left, the makeup artists couldn't help whispering.
"Doesn't Miss Ashley seem different?"
"Right?"
"I was thinking the same thing."
"She seems so much friendlier today."
"It's strange."
"She suddenly looks gentle."
Charlotte descended the grand staircase alone.
Ashley had intentionally stayed away.
After all, Charlotte was tonight's guest of honor.
Ashley had no interest in stealing the spotlight.
Instead, she used a private elevator on the other side of the mansion.
Only a few people occupied the hallway there.
One man stood in a corner, speaking quietly on the phone.
His voice wasn't loud.
But Ashley heard enough.
"I heard the Rothwell family is still searching for their youngest son."
A cold laugh followed.
"I don't believe he's still alive."
"But keep watching."
"If anything changes, I want to know immediately."
Ashley slowed her steps.
Only a wall separated them.
From his words, she guessed his identity.
Logan Prescott.
The second son of the Prescott family.
In the original novel, he and Lucas would eventually become bitter enemies.
Of course...
His ending hadn't been pleasant either.
Ashley lost interest and prepared to leave.
Then a voice stopped her.
A young man's warm tone reached her ears.
"Ashley?"
The familiar intimacy in his voice made her freeze.
Oh no.
She had forgotten.
Ashley Hawthorne and Logan Prescott had an ambiguous relationship in the original novel.
- Writer
