Save Myself from Desperation

Lester knew that George, a man of few words in their family, wouldn’t say much. So he answered with a mysterious tone. “The story between Andrew and the Pliskin family is long.”

Joseph, eager to know the truth, urged him. “Then make a long story short.”

Lester remained silent, just smiling.

He looked at Joseph teasingly. “Why are you in such a hurry, Joe?”

Joseph was instantly annoyed.

He felt like Lester was making fun of him.

Joseph thought Lester’s teasing was ruining his cool and tough image!

Seeing the conversation drifting off-topic, Ashley quickly stepped in. “Alright, alright, stop teasing him and just tell us.” Seeing Ashley’s eagerness, Lester made a long story short. “Andrew is engaged to my sister.”

Ashley was shocked.

It was like a bombshell had been dropped without warning.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Joseph's face showed utter shock, almost doubting what he heard. “Wait that’s too brief. Give us more details!”

Lester glanced at him and slowly began. “Although Andrew’s identity is complex and his background mysterious, he is indeed my sister’s fiancé. Their engagement was arranged at birth.

“But my sister got lost when she was little and was never found. So, the marriage arrangement was left unresolved and never mentioned again, as if it was implicitly canceled. But it was true.”

Ashley was surprised again.

Andrew was the fiancé of the Pliskin family’s younger daughter.

No wonder Andrew hoped Ashley was the lost daughter of the Pliskin family.

Ashley felt relieved she wasn’t!

14

Luckily, the DNA test results showed she had no relation to the Pliskin. family!

Jaden was surprised. He looked at Ashley and asked, “If you’re the

long-lost daughter of the Pliskin family, does that mean Andrew is your fiancé?”

Before Ashley could reply, Joseph, who was always super protective of his sister, jumped in to argue.

“That’s nonsense! Ashley took a DNA test with the Pliskin family. She’s not related to them and definitely not to Andrew. Stop making up stories!”

Joseph quickly glanced at Valentin after saying this.

Valentin frowned, surprised by the connection between Andrew and the Pliskin family’s daughter.

Ashley agreed with Joseph. ‘What fiancé? | have nothing to do with that!”

After chatting for a while, it was past midnight. Ashley was safe, and everyone felt relieved. They all went to their rooms to rest. Before leaving, Bryce asked, “Should | prepare a new room for Mr. Kingsley?”

Joseph nodded, but inside, he was thrilled. ‘No need for a new room. Valentin can just sleep with Ashley.

‘After all, they are legally married.’

Ashley had something to ask Valentin. When everyone had gone to thei rooms, she quietly pulled Valentin into her room. Valentin raised an eyebrow slightly at her sneaky appearance. “Trying to have a secret rendezvous?”

Ashley was speechless.

She thought, ‘Secret rendezvous? Oh, please.

“| have something to ask you,” said Ashley, picking up a hair tie from the dresser. She tied up her hair and asked, “Why did you suddenly come to Manditus from abroad?”

Valentin leaned casually against the dresser, watching her tie her hair.

Her fingers were delicate and elegant, moving gracefully.

08:51

He couldn't help but find her captivating, even in such a simple act as tying her hair.

After a few seconds, he casually said, “This morning during our video call, | felt something was off with you, so | came to check on you.”

Ashley froze, remembering the DNA test with the Pliskin family at the hospital that morning and meeting Ryan.

Ryan had told her she was from the Ramos family. This unchangeable fact made her feel numb and tired. She had tried to act normal during the video call, but Valentin had noticed.

Ashley could not believe he flew all the way from home to be with her over such a small thing. “But I’m flying back home tomorrow, and you flew all this way to see me. Isn’t that a hassle?”

“Is it?” Valentin didn’t seem bothered at all. He gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and softly pinched her earlobe. “Seeing you a day earlier makes it worth the trouble.”

Ashley’s heart skipped a beat, feeling a lingering warmth on her earlobe. where Valentin had touched. She looked up at him, her eyes shimmering, and gently pressed her red lips together.

“Valentin, is there something you want to ask me?”

Valentin leaned in closer to her, gazing deeply into her clear eyes. “You really popular, huh?”

Ashley’s eyelashes fluttered, understanding exactly what he meant.

“You mean me and Andrew, right? You've looked into Andrew, haven't you? His background is really complicated and probably hard to figure

out...

“As for my relationship with him, to put it simply, he once saved me, but | also saved him later, so we’re even. Nobody owes anyone anything.”

Upon hearing this, Valentin frowned slightly.

Andrew once saved Ashley, and Ashley had also saved Andrew... Was it because of this bond that Ashley trusted Andrew completely, 3/5

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believing he would not hurt her?

Valentin felt a hint of jealousy in his heart, envying this special bond between Ashley and Andrew.

Ashley touched her nose and said, “About Andrew pursuing me, honestly, | don’t think he’s really after me.”

Andrew's way of thinking was unusual. His actions were reckless, and he even tried to keep her by his side against her will. Was that really pursuing someone?

Ashley really wanted to avoid that.

Looking at Valentin in front of her, Ashley blinked. Valentin always respected her wishes and her freedom. She could do whatever she wanted with Valentin, and he would always indulge her...

After everything that happened today, Ashley thought she wouldn't sleep well, but lying next to Valentin, smelling his fresh, comforting scent, she fell asleep quickly.

The next morning.

Ashley woke up really hungry, wanting to go to the hotel restaurant for breakfast, but Valentin was on a call that seemed to be long.

She gestured to him to continue his call in the room and went to the

restaurant.

Starving, she ran out of the room and saw Joseph and Jaden eating breakfast in the restaurant. They were sitting with their backs to her, not noticing her arrival.

Ashley’s eyes twinkled mischievously, and she tiptoed towards them, planning to scare them. But just as she was getting close, she heard them talking about love and heartbreak.

Jaden was bragging to Joseph. “That’s nothing. | have a brother who liked a girl for ten years and never got her. She even married someone else in the end.”

Joseph sighed sadly. “Now that you mention it, | remember my brother. He’s been after someone for over ten years and still hasn't succeeded.”

08:32

Ashley was listening with interest but then frowned..

She thought, ‘What does that mean?

‘Valentin has been after someone for over a decade and hasn't

succeeded?’