Chapter 61
Chapter 61:
Ashton had already purchased the store’s premier car, and he was now demanding compensation for the damages? Phillip couldn’t wrap his head around such absurdity. Confronted with Ashton’s self-satisfied grin, Phillip retorted, “That’s ridiculous! There’s no way you could afford a luxury car like this. You’re lying through your teeth!”
Unruffled, Ashton tapped the receipt against Phillip’s chest. “See for yourself the details of the transaction,” Ashton suggested, his smile sharp as ice.
Chloe, barely holding back tears, confirmed, “He’s telling the truth. He bought the car outright. It’s his now.”
The color drained from Phillip’s face when he heard her confirmation. With Phillip rendered speechless, Ashton went on, “Given that we have both a witness and proof, you agree the car is legitimately mine, don’t you? So, it only makes sense that I had it driven off the platform.”
Phillip, overwhelmed, remained silent, thoughts swirling in his head. Ashton didn’t let up. “And it would be only fair for you to pay for the damages to the cars you wrecked, wouldn’t it?”
Phillip’s gut reaction was to refuse. The potential costs for repairs could run into the millions! But Ashton was relentless.
Flashing a knowing smile, he added, “If you object, feel free to involve the police. But as a lawyer, you’re aware of how they’ll handle this situation, aren’t you?”
Phillip hesitated, the words he was about to utter catching in his throat. Should he involve the police, he’d face not just financial repercussions but also public embarrassment. Backing Ashton was Aaron, a top-notch attorney. And Phillip, clearly in the wrong, stood no chance in a legal showdown with Aaron.
Meanwhile, Mia’s expression flickered with regret as she watched Phillip falter under Ashton’s assertive demeanor.
It dawned on her that Phillip was merely posing as affluent, whereas Ashton was genuinely wealthy. Chagrined by her earlier behavior, Mia hastened to make amends. She adopted an obsequious grin and approached Ashton quickly.
“Sir, please forgive my earlier oversight. Should you have any additional inquiries regarding the car purchase, do not hesitate to ask,” she said, brushing her chest subtly against Ashton’s arm. She leaned closer, her breath tickling his ear. “As an apology, how about I take you out for dinner tonight? Afterward, we might even enjoy a coffee at my place.”
Ashton recoiled, his expression one of revulsion. “I don’t need your apology. If you want to do your job properly, get someone to stop them now. Don’t let them get away. Ensure they don’t leave without providing me adequate compensation,” Ashton instructed icily.
Phillip’s expression soured. He couldn’t believe how swiftly the table was turned. The moment the security guards Phillip had asked Mia to summon earlier arrived, they heard Ashton’s commands and swiftly encircled Phillip and Emalee. In a panic, Phillip and Emalee began making desperate calls to scrape together some money.
After a strenuous effort, and even dipping into the funds Phillip had set aside for a new car, they finally gathered enough to settle the repair costs. Phillip was seething with anger after the payment. He had felt Emalee’s bitterness toward him after the recent events. That was why he had planned to soften her by gifting her a car. Now, not only was the money for the car gone, but he was also saddled with a hefty debt. The thought of his father’s inevitable scolding loomed over him.
Emalee’s expression was one of deep misery. Accustomed to a life of ease, she found the humiliation unbearable. She was shocked to find herself trapped in a store, begging for money to pay off a debt before she could leave. Ashton, who had once been at her beck and call, was now the source of her predicament.
As she glared at him, a swirl of resentment and acknowledgment of her own fault crossed her face. Yet, she remained silent, her face stormy as she and an equally mortified Phillip hurriedly left the store.
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