Remarriage Failed Again Today

Now that you mention it... I guess you’re right.

’But if Ashley’s identity gets exposed, I wonder if people will come after her, hahaha.’

Ashley got busy on her device again. "Even if someone else had come up with your brother’s idea, that guy would have stolen it just the same. A brainless, delusional idiot like him deserves to get played. I just pulled a small stunt to teach him a lesson. Now there’s one less moron in the world. That’s a good thing for society, so the public should be thanking me. It wasn’t illegal, and my conscience is clear."

Annabelle Linton was rendered speechless.

She raised an eyebrow and teased, "Isn’t the government cracking down on ’tigers’ these days? If they recruited you, I’m sure all the ones who got away would be flushed out..."

The words were spoken casually, but Ashley took them to heart.

The comment reminded Ashley of how she had tried to be clever, only to be outsmarted by Kiera Keane...

She had found proof and presented it right to Ryan Linton, but he still refused to believe her. He had just left with Kiera Keane...

As Ashley thought about it, she felt as if daggers were piercing her heart. Even breathing hurt.

She suddenly felt like a cigarette tossed into water—instantly extinguished. Her strength evaporated, and nothing seemed to matter anymore.

This whole thing with Ryan Linton... no matter how well she concealed it, the pain in her heart had become an overwhelming flood.

Ashley Grant pulled a large pitcher of beer from the refrigerator and started drinking.

’I searched for him for so many years... and he just left... just like that...’

Seeing her like this, Annabelle Linton suddenly recalled what Ryan had said...

She rubbed her aching forehead and had the sudden urge to smack herself.

Seeing Ashley already drinking, lost in her sorrow, she decided not to stop her.

’Might as well drink and be merry. Life’s too short to be so restrained. Being happy is what matters.’

"Annabelle, you know? I really, really like him. I’ve never liked anyone this much before. I’ve never cast aside my pride to chase after a guy like that, and yet... he still left..."

Ashley downed several bottles one after another, and the flush of drunkenness slowly crept onto her face.

She started to cry. "I thought we would be together forever. I thought we could overcome anything. I thought we’d go from school uniforms to a wedding gown, but he just left! You know? My heart hurts so, so much. It feels like it’s never going to beat again..."

Annabelle Linton sighed and gently pulled her into a hug.

’But Ryan is suffering too, isn’t he?’

Through her tears, Ashley called Ryan Linton and sobbed into the phone for a long, long time.

Ryan Linton stayed silent on the other end, but he didn’t hang up.

But Annabelle Linton knew he must be in just as much pain.

Ashley ended up talking on the phone for a full hour, successfully running the battery—which had only been half-full to begin with—completely dead.

Annabelle Linton looked at her worriedly. "Ashley, how about I find a therapist for you to see tomorrow?"

Annabelle Linton had friends and former classmates working as doctors all over the world.

She felt that something bad might happen if Ashley kept this up. It was better to be safe.

But upon hearing this, the drunken Ashley immediately became indignant. "You meanie!" she huffed. "What’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying I’m crazy? You’re the one who’s crazy! Your whole family is crazy! All of you are crazy!"

Annabelle Linton gave a helpless smile. "No, I’m just concerned about you."

"Well, I’m not going. I’m not crazy, so I’m not seeing a doctor," Ashley declared, taking another swig of beer.

Annabelle took the bottle from her and said with another helpless sigh, "Okay, okay. If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to."

It was meant to be conciliatory, but Ashley only got angrier. "So you’re not going to let me see a doctor? You know I’m crazy and you’re *still* not letting me see a doctor?! What is wrong with you? You’re a horrible person!"

Annabelle Linton: "..."