Save Myself From Desperation novel Chapter 4

As the car gained speed, she observed the street view outside the window rapidly moving backward.

Ashley noticed that ever since she got in the car, Valentin had stopped looking at his documents. He was gently caressing a not-so-obvious scar on his left wrist. His hands had distinct, pronounced knuckles.

It looked like a bite mark.

Noticing her scrutinizing gaze, Valentin spoke nonchalantly with an implied meaning. "Bit by a stubborn wildcat."

Ashley fell silent.

He seemed to recall something, his eyebrows slightly raised. "Sharp and quite fierce."

Ashley cursed in her mind.

She thought, 'You're the wildcat.

'You're the fierce one.

'That bite mark on his wrist was made by me when we were kids, quarreling, and I bit his wrist in anger.

'I didn't expect he would remember it so clearly after all this time.

'Didn't he use any cream for that scar? Why is there still the bite mark?

'Valentin surely wouldn't look at this scar every day and hold a grudge against me for biting him, right?'

Ashley touched her nose, feeling guilty, and looked out at the street.

Valentin didn't say anything, staring at her fair side profile, repeatedly caressing the bite mark on his wrist with his fingertips as if he was touching more than just the scar...

Ashley could feel his gaze. It made her feel uneasy, awkwardly turning her head, just about to say, "Stop looking at me."

Before she could speak, she met Valentin's eyes.

He slightly raised his eyebrows, his tone playful, speaking. "What? Ashley, do you want to bite me again?"

Ashley was speechless.

When Valentin called her by her name, his voice was enchanting and carried an indescribable lingering charm, making Ashley's heartbeat suddenly skip a beat.

She thought, 'When we were kids, Valentin used to call me so gentle this way.

'Wait! Who wants to bite him?'

Soon, the car arrived at the Kingsley Manor.

The wrought iron gate adorned with carvings slowly opened to both sides, and the car drove into the manor.

Through the car window, Ashley saw that the manor's scenery was exceptionally elegant. There was a vast artificial lake nearby, and beside it was a garden full of precious flowers and plants.

There was also a vineyard and fruit orchard in the distance.

It was much larger than the Ramos Villa.

The car stopped in front of a fountain.

An old man with a cane was surrounded by servants, anxiously waiting by the fountain.

Zain had gray hair, leaning on a cane, but he was still spirited. His eyes were full of the wisdom of the years.

Although it had been a long time, Ashley recognized him at a glance. He was Zain.

After getting out of the car, Ashley immediately approached to greet him, her eyes welled up with tears. "Mr. Kingsley!"

"It's good to have you here!" Zain finally saw the person he had been waiting for, affectionately holding Ashley's hand. "Ashley, I've been eagerly awaiting your arrival!"

"Mr. Kingsley, how have you been lately?"

"Don't worry. I'm still quite good!" Zain looked at Ashley, his eyes filled with compassion. "You've lost weight, but you're still as beautiful as ever!"

Ashley smiled sweetly, beaming with joy, her eyes enchanting.

Ashley had been beautiful since childhood, with delicate and charming features, especially her eyes, pure and clean, like a spring under the moonlight, as if the stars were reflected in them.

Zain adored her, treating her like his own granddaughter. He handed his cane to a servant, holding Ashley with one hand and Valentin with the other. "Come, let's talk in the living room!"

Once in the living room, they sat down on the sofa.

The servant presented freshly brewed cups of coffee.

Zain held Ashley's hand, sighing deeply, "These past few years, I've been sick and went abroad for treatment, constantly unwell. Only recently have I started to recover and could finally return home.

"As soon as I returned, I heard that the Ramos family was treating you poorly, and I couldn't rest easy. So, I asked Valentin to bring you back from the Ramos family.

"Ashley, if the Ramos family treats you badly, you don't have to stay there! From now on, this is your home! I am your family!"

Overwhelmed by the tender affection and care she hadn't felt in so long, Ashley felt a tingling in her nose as her voice became soft, hinting at a sob. "Mr. Kingsley..."

"My dear child! Good girl!" Zain patted Ashley's hand with empathy. "You've suffered a lot these two years!

"Look," Zain changed the subject, introducing to Ashley, "This is Valentin. You used to play together a lot when you were kids. You would often stay close to him, remember?"

Recalling how she used to follow Valentin around as a child, Ashley now felt somewhat embarrassed.

She smiled politely and nodded slightly.

Valentin was sitting next to Ashley, calm and composed.

With his eyelashes cast down, he grasped the cup with his well-defined hands, serving coffee to Zain. A simple action, but done by him, was particularly pleasing to the eye.

Zain probed. "Ashley, what do you think of Valentin?"

Ashley didn't know how to answer, thinking, 'What can I say? We barely talked in the car on the way here, and Valentin probably still holds a grudge over our past falling out.

'That is a good thing. Valentin doesn't like me, and I don't like him either.'

Not getting an answer, Zain asked again, "Ashley, tell me, what do you think of Valentin?"

Ashley had to look down, vaguely responding, "He's a good man."

Valentin, silent until then, heard her answer, his eyebrows slightly raised.

He looked up at Ashley, his gaze calm, lingering on her for a few seconds before looking away.

Hearing Ashley's answer, Zain was overjoyed. "Good! Now I can rest assured about you two being together!"

Ashley was confused. "What do you mean?"

She thought, 'Being together?'

Zain laughed heartily. "Years ago, your grandfather and I arranged this marriage for you two. Now, you seem a perfect match!

"Well, Ashley, there's no better day than today. Why not settle things today and get married? How about that?"

Ashley was startled, blinking her beautiful eyes, filled with astonishment, quickly refusing. "Mr. Kingsley, this isn't a good idea!"

Remembering something, Zain suddenly looked sad. "Ashley, my health is worsening, and I don't know when I'll be gone. If you and Valentin can get married today, I can rest assured when I fulfill my agreement with your grandfather.

"Ashley, don't worry. No matter what, the Kingsley family will always support you. You can always rely on Valentin!"

"

Listening to Zain's heartfelt words, Ashley found it difficult to refuse, and the words of rejection choked in her throat."

She looked up at Valentin beside her, hoping he would reject Zain's suggestion.

She thought, 'He definitely doesn't want to marry me. He's always been inexplicably against me since we were kids, always getting mad at me.'

Seeing Ashley's gaze, Valentin put down his cup and looked up at Zain, particularly focused and serious. "Okay, Grandpa, we'll get married today."

Ashley was stunned.

She thought, 'What is going on here?!'