Chapter 2

With an indifferent raised eyebrow and a blank expression, Ashley stated, “I reached out to you. That should convey my seriousness.”

Khloe laughed and started the car. “I wanted you to drop Leonard's sorry ass a long time ago. You sacrificed so much to treat his legs. Yet, he’s still fooling with Ava behind your back. What a dirtbag. Men are nothing. You should focus on earning more money.”

Seeing that Khloe was getting worked up and the car was speeding up, Ashley chuckled.

“Calm down. I just left a grave. I don’t want to enter another one so soon.”

Khloe relaxed secretly, noticing Ashley had joked with her. She said suggestively, “What’s your plan next?”

Even if Ashley didn’t contact Khloe, Khloe would go to Ashley sometime later.

“I want to take a break. How is the company doing?”

Ashley had used all her energy on Leonard these years and ignored LEY's Corporation, the fashion company she founded. She entrusted the business to the shareholders and only cared about her dividends.

Ashley didn’t check her bank account. But her company should be doing well if they followed the operating plan she set before leaving.

Khloe's face fell and she sighed, “We’ll talk about it after you return from your vacation…”

Ashley arched her eyebrows. Khloe's tone sounded ominous.

Nevertheless, Ashley's heart wasn’t in her work. She simply nodded and uttered, “Alright. Take me to the airport.”

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t know. I’ll just pick a place randomly.”

Ashley drummed the car door casually, her eyes cold. Yet, she couldn’t hide the tiredness emitting from her b*dy.

Khloe sighed inwardly and thought, “No matter how smart a person is, they’ll lose their minds when it comes to love.”

After arriving at the airport, Ashley got out of the car and said to Khloe, “Drop my suitcase off at my house in Elm Bay.”

“Sure. How long are you leaving?”

“About a month.”

“OK. I’ll wait.”

Ashley waved softly and turned before disappearing behind the gate of the airport.

***

A month later.

In the Anderson Group’s branch office in Setherville.

In the conference room.

Leonard was discussing the business plan for next quarter with the department heads. His phone blared up.

Helen Anderson, Leonard's mom, was calling. Leonard frowned and stood up. “Take five.”

Leonard left the conference room and picked up the call. He immediately heard Helen's grumpy voice.

“Leonard, I went to the house to look for Ashley several times. She was never home. Is she taking it out on me because you have a fight?”

Helen's tone was angry and upset. She never liked Ava. This was another reason for her to dislike Ashley more.

The crease between Leonard's brows deepened. He had been overwhelmed with work since he got to Setherville. In the beginning, Leonard expected Ashley to cave in and phone to say sorry. But he forgot all of it as he was busy.

It wasn’t until Helen call did Leonard realize that Ashley hadn’t contacted him in a month. It never happened before.

“I’ll give her a call. Why do you want to see her?”

Helen answered angrily, “Grandma’s birthday is coming up. I wanted to shop for a present with her. Yet, I never saw her when I visited your house. How I wish you married Ava. Ava wouldn’t…”

Leonard cut Helen off aloofly, “OK. I’ll call her. Talk to you later.”

Leonard dialed Ashley's number after hanging up.

He tried a few times, but the line was always busy.

Leonard's face fell immediately. It was obvious that Ashley had blocked his number.

Leonard suppressed his anger and turned to Noah Gibson, his assistant. “Call Ashley.”

“OK.”

Noah called, but no one picked up.

Seeing that Leonard's expression was becoming more dangerous, Noah said timidly, “Mr. Anderson…she didn’t answer the call…”

Leonard said coldly, “OK. I’ll go back to the meeting. Contact the property management of the house.”

An hour later, Noah greeted Leonard shakily as soon as he left the conference room.

“Mr. Anderson, the property management said that Ms. Walker left the house with a suitcase the next day you went on a business trip.”

Because Leonard and Ashley never came public with their marriage, Noah addressed Ashley as Ms. Walker.

In the past, Leonard wouldn’t think too much about it. Yet, he subconsciously frowned at the title this time.

Leonard pushed the displeasure down forcefully and said coldly, “Find her. Get the tickets for the next flight back.”

“Yes. Is Ms. Ava Walker returning with us?”