Chapter 8: Alexander Rothwell
1222 Words
Ever since arriving in this world, Ashley regretted one thing more than anything else.
She should have written her novel in greater detail.
The entire story revolved around Charlotte's perspective.
Most of the supporting characters were little more than passing mentions.
Especially Ashley Hawthorne.
A foolish villainess with no brains.
Ashley had never thought she'd need to know that much about her.
Which meant that now, faced with the obvious delight on Logan Prescott's face, she felt like crying.
"Ashley, it's been forever since I've seen you."
"What have you been busy with lately?"
"I've asked you out so many times, and you never come hang out with us anymore."
Seeing Logan reach toward her shoulder, Ashley instinctively took a small step back.
His hand paused.
A flicker of surprise crossed his face.
"I've just been busy with some things lately..."
Logan quickly recovered.
His expression returned to normal.
"Looks like Ashley doesn't like her big brother anymore."
"We've grown distant."
Big brother?
Ashley immediately became suspicious.
Was this actually the normal kind of big brother?
Despite her confusion, she maintained a polite smile.
"No, that's not it."
Logan laughed and ruffled her hair.
This time, Ashley resisted the urge to dodge.
She had already endured enough to keep Ashley Hawthorne's personality from seeming completely out of character.
One more time wouldn't kill her.
Leaning closer, Logan lowered his voice.
The next words hit her like a bolt of lightning.
"Did you really have someone beat up Lucas Rothwell?"
"Did they finish him off?"
Ashley froze.
What?
What?
The smile on her lips nearly cracked.
How was this connected to Logan too?
"That i***t deserved it."
"Who told him to look at you?"
"If they didn't kill him, I'll find someone else to teach him another lesson."
Ashley secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, Logan clearly didn't know Lucas was the missing Rothwell heir.
Otherwise, he never would have spoken so casually.
The relationship between the Rothwells and Prescotts was already tense.
Years ago, the Rothwell family's eldest son, Alexander Rothwell, married Logan's younger sister, Sophia Prescott.
Unfortunately, their marriage had been miserable.
Eventually, Sophia filed for divorce.
Alexander refused.
The entire situation became the biggest gossip in Westhaven City.
In the end, Sophia got her divorce anyway.
Since then, relations between the two families had remained awkward.
And Logan adored his younger sister.
He blamed Alexander entirely for the failed marriage.
As a result, his dislike for the Rothwell family extended to all of them.
Ashley looked at him.
If Logan ever discovered she had saved Lucas...
No.
She wanted no part of that conversation.
Grabbing the sides of her dress, she prepared to escape.
"Thanks, but really, that's not necessary!"
"Oh!"
"My mom was just looking for me."
"I'll see you later!"
Without waiting for a response, she fled.
Logan watched her retreating figure thoughtfully.
Something about Ashley felt different tonight.
But as he watched her pink skirt disappear around the corner, the suspicion faded.
Actually...
Isn't this version of Ashley more interesting?
—
Ashley tried to sneak back to her room.
She didn't make it very far.
A woman in a red evening gown blocked her path.
A wine glass dangled lazily from her hand.
Her eyes brimmed with mockery.
"Well, if it isn't Ashley Hawthorne."
"Now that Charlotte's back, is there still any place left for you and your mother in the Hawthorne family?"
Ashley stopped walking.
The woman continued mercilessly.
"Charlotte's mother was a real heiress."
"Unlike certain people who married into a wealthy family and suddenly think they're high society."
Ashley immediately recognized her.
Bianca White.
The spoiled daughter of the White family.
Two people with identical personalities rarely got along.
Bianca and the original Ashley had been sworn enemies.
Ashley smiled sweetly.
"Charlotte and I are family."
"Why would I let you drive a wedge between my sister and me?"
The smile on her face remained gentle.
The words coming out of her mouth were anything but.
"What about you?"
"Isn't your father's mistress about to move in?"
"Your own family is falling apart, yet you still have time to worry about mine?"
Bianca froze.
Shock filled her eyes.
The White family had kept that secret hidden.
How did Ashley know?
Her hand trembled.
The wine inside her glass sloshed violently.
"That's nonsense!"
"Who told you that?"
Ashley reached over and steadied the glass for her.
Then she leaned close and whispered in her ear.
"I also know you're about to get a younger half-brother."
After delivering the fatal blow, Ashley walked away.
Bianca stared after her.
Her fingers nearly crushed the stem of her wine glass.
A child?
That mistress was pregnant?
—
Unfortunately, Ashley still didn't make it back to her room.
Halfway there, Camille intercepted her.
The banquet hall was now crowded with guests.
Camille dragged Ashley from group to group, introducing her to the city's young elites.
"Yes, Ashley has such a wonderful personality."
"She's incredibly gentle."
"Ashley was accepted into Westhaven University."
"We're all very proud of her."
Ashley watched in disbelief as Camille marketed her like a product.
At this point, she wasn't even sure whether tonight's banquet was meant for Charlotte or for herself.
Only when Camille led her toward a particular man did Ashley finally pay attention.
Alexander Rothwell.
The eldest son of the Rothwell family.
Most of the family's business empire was already under his control.
Dressed in a white suit, Alexander appeared refined and elegant.
Every movement reflected years of perfect upbringing.
Nothing about him seemed arrogant.
But Ashley knew better.
Alexander was a master at hiding his true nature.
A wolf in sheep's clothing.
Sophia Prescott had only divorced him after seeing who he really was.
Still, Alexander cared deeply for his younger brother.
He believed the Rothwell family had failed Lucas.
The thought immediately sparked an idea.
Ashley greeted him enthusiastically.
Camille's smile widened.
It was rare to see her daughter take such initiative.
Alexander was handsome, successful, and influential.
Yes, he was divorced.
But in Camille's eyes, that hardly mattered.
The more she looked at them together, the more suitable they seemed.
Alexander politely shook Ashley's hand.
After she left, however, his gaze lowered.
He calmly removed a handkerchief and wiped each finger clean.
Ashley never saw it happen.
—
Using the restroom as an excuse, she finally escaped Camille's grasp.
Standing on the second-floor balcony, she looked down at Alexander effortlessly mingling with the guests below.
A dangerous thought entered her mind.
What if she simply told him she had found Lucas?
Wouldn't that make her a benefactor of the Rothwell family?
If Lucas wanted to kill her in the future, surely Alexander would protect her.
Unfortunately, there was one problem.
How was she supposed to explain how she knew?
Was she supposed to drag Lucas directly to the Rothwell estate?
Ashley shook her head.
Forget it.
Besides—
Lucas was still lying in the hospital.
Returning to her room, she collapsed onto the mattress.
She was so exhausted that she skipped the rest of the banquet entirely.
That night, she dreamed Lucas died from his injuries.
The dream was so vivid that she jolted awake in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat.
No.
She had to go see him.
She needed to know he was still alive.
- Writer
