Chapter 35
Chapter 35:
The warmth lingered in the room, stubbornly refusing to dissipate. Feeling the awkward tension, Ashton quickened the pace of his massage, and soon enough, the swelling in Rosalie’s ankle had lessened significantly.
Upon testing her foot and finding it much improved, Rosalie muttered a quick thank you and swiftly exited the room, her face tinted with a blush.
Ashton, his face warm with embarrassment as well, followed her out. Side by side, they left the store, both avoiding eye contact and ignoring the knowing looks from the store clerks.
Since Ashton was without a car and the concert venue was a significant distance from the mall, Rosalie drove them. The journey there was engulfed in silence, with neither daring to break it. Ashton kept his gaze averted, fearful of giving Rosalie the wrong impression.
When they reached the concert venue, both began to relax slightly. Yet, with the concert scheduled for later in the evening, they found themselves with time to spare.
Rosalie, looking more composed, said, “Ashton, please wait here. I need to go home to change into my dress and bring Selena.”
Her face was calm, but her eyes flickered with an unspoken tension. To alleviate the discomfort, Ashton simply nodded his agreement.
After ensuring that the concert manager would attend to Ashton, Rosalie departed swiftly.
The charity concert, spearheaded by the Campbell family, was the talk of the town in Inewood. Although the official event had yet to commence, musicians were already filling the nearby streets with their tunes.
Feeling it improper to enter before the Campbell sisters arrived, Ashton declined the manager’s offer to lead him inside and chose instead to explore the area around the venue.
Acknowledged as a special guest by the manager, who was appointed by Rosalie, Ashton was granted the freedom to roam. He found a bench along the street and sat down, closing his eyes to better appreciate the music playing in the background.
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He had a deep interest in music and was as skilled in it as he was in medicine. But he had put many of his interests on hold to support Emalee. It had been too long since he last immersed himself in the world of music.
With the soothing melodies as his backdrop, many passersby took notice of Ashton. His exceptional appearance, enhanced by the outfit Rosalie had chosen for him, made him look remarkably distinguished. At that moment, Ashton’s appearance and aura were flawless, leading many onlookers to wonder about his identity.
Indifferent to the curious glances, Ashton remained with his eyes closed, savoring the deep connection he felt with the music. He lost track of time until Phillip, Emalee, and Tristan arrived at the concert venue.
The trio spotted a crowd gathered around a street performer and, driven by curiosity, they approached to see what was happening. To their astonishment, the crowd wasn’t focused on the performer at all. Instead, all eyes were on Ashton, who was absorbed in the music nearby.
Having not seen Ashton for several days, Emalee experienced a sudden flutter of emotions upon spotting him. What struck her even more was how he had transformed. His entire presence seemed altered. He resembled a nobleman indulging in life’s simple joys.
Emalee stood there, her eyes wide, frozen in place. Could this really be Ashton?
Noticing Emalee’s fixed gaze on Ashton, irritation surged within Phillip. He pulled Tristan closer without a second thought and jeered, “Ashton! Why do you keep tailing us? No matter where we go, there you are. Emalee is no longer your wife; she has no ties to you now. Just stop wasting your time, will you?”
Ashton, initially in high spirits, opened his eyes reluctantly at the sound of Phillip’s voice.
His frown deepened when he saw Phillip standing there with Emalee and Tristan.
“I’m here for the charity concert. Don’t flatter yourselves,” Ashton retorted, his voice icy.
Deciding to avoid any further confrontation, he rose and began walking toward the entrance of the concert venue. Watching Ashton’s retreating figure, Phillip sneered and said, “What? Feeling anxious now that we’ve caught you red-handed? Running off, are you? How dare you even say you’re here for the concert? You think you deserve to be here? You’re just a nobody. Staying would only bring you embarrassment. Just get lost and spare us the sight of you!”
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