Save Myself from Desperation

Ashley didn’t spare Tyler much attention, her gaze instead falling on Lester and George, her eyes shimmering beautifully. “Have you been here long?”

“Not really, we just arrived not long ago,” Lester replied, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

He thought, ‘Well, actually, we have been here for quite a while. But it can’t be helped. Mom and Dad were so eager to meet Ashley. Still, better not to mention it and stress her.’

Spotting Valentin and Joseph beside her, Lester raised an eyebrow playfully. “Oh, there’s my little Joseph, still love to stick around others, huh?”

Joseph's expression instantly darkened. “Stop calling me little, will you?!” He pondered irritably, ‘I’m clearly all grown up!’ George looked at Lester calmly. “Alright, Mom and Dad are waiting.”

“Ashley, let's go. They're upstairs in the private dining room. My parents have been looking forward to meeting you,” Lester said, skillfully squeezing George out of the way and happily taking the spot next to Ashley. Lester then affectionately led her upstairs, not even bothering about Valentin.

George, having been pushed aside, was immediately speechless. Valentin, who was left behind, was also speechless.

Joseph, watching Ashley and Lester chatting as they walked away, scratched his head in confusion and grabbed Valentin to follow them upstairs. “Valentin, come on, I'll go up with you!”

Valentin glanced at Joseph.

Joseph pursed his lips a little. “I know you only want to be with your wife, but she doesn’t even care about you right now.” Valentin narrowed his eyes slightly but didn’t respond.

After teasing Valentin, Joseph turned to George, sarcastically saying, “She doesn’t care about you right now either.” George frowned a little but also didn’t respond.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

Lester suddenly felt two icy stares drilling into his back as he walked upstairs.

He turned around and saw Valentin and George with not-so-pleased expressions.

Lester was a bit taken aback, wondering, ‘What's the matter? Trying to get close to Ashley is a matter of wits, isn’t it fair?’ However, faced with the cold glares from George and Valentin, Lester couldn’t help but feel a shiver run down his spine. Joseph chuckled smugly, thinking, ‘Serves you right Lester! Call me little again, | dare you!”

Upon reaching the third floor, Lester led Ashley around the corridor, grinning. “My parents were so excited. The moment they heard you arrived, they wanted to come down to meet you.”

Ashley quickly shook her head. “No, no need.”

She felt that it wasn’t quite appropriate for the elders to come downstairs to meet her personally.

Lester smiled, “I convinced them to wait. | was afraid their enthusiasm might make you feel uncomfortable.”

Ashley just smiled faintly and pondered, ‘Too much enthusiasm, huh?’

The next second, as they entered the private room, Ashley experienced the overwhelming warmth Lester had mentioned. “Ashley, we've been looking forward to meeting you, we finally get to see...”

Upon seeing the door open, Karen immediately stood up and walked forward, but after clearly seeing Ashley’s face, she slightly trembled, and the word “you” stuck in her throat.

Karen mused, ‘This girl... Her features resemble mine so much... Seeing her in person feels even more similar than in photos!’ Her heart clenched, and her eyes nearly bored into Ashley.

Karen felt an inexplicable sense of closeness and wanted to hold Ashley’s hand but hesitated, fearing it might be too forward. Karen's trembling hand reached halfway, not daring to grasp.

Not just Karen, even Brian was initially taken aback after seeing Ashley in person, and then a glint sparkled in his eyes. He thought, ‘She looks very similar to Karen... Could Ashley possibly be our daughter who went missing when she was young?”

Ashley then observed Karen as she walked over. Karen was dressed elegantly and exuding a dignified charm, her wrist adorned with a diamond bracelet. Her well-maintained appearance made it hard to guess her actual age, and she radiated a graceful and affable presence.

Ashley immediately recognized her as Lester and George’s mother, Karen. Beside her, the gentleman with a refined demeanor and a hint of sharpness in his eyes was Lester and George's father, Brian.

Seeing Karen’s hesitation to shake her hand, as if afraid of being rejected, Ashley inexplicably felt a sense of inexplicable compassion.

Without even stopping to think, Ashley instinctively reached out and held Karen’s hand, greeting her warmly. “Hello, Mrs. Pliskin!” As Karen felt her hand that was suspended in mid-air suddenly enveloped in a soft warmth, it moved her nearly to tears.

She eagerly held Ashley's hand, her face beaming with joy. “Ashley, please sit down! This is our first meeting, so we’ve prepared some gifts for you. | hope you like them.”

After Karen finished speaking, the assistants and bodyguards entered one after the other, each holding an exquisite gift box. Ashley was startled by the sight of so many gifts, wondering, ‘Isn’t this a bit too much?’

The lids of the boxes were open, revealing an array of luxury items like jewelry, watches, clothing, car keys, property deeds for a villa, and even ownership certificates for a private island.

Ashley immediately turned to Lester beside her and conveyed with her eyes. ‘This is too extravagant. How can | possibly accept them?’

Just then, George, Valentin, and Joseph also had arrived.

Seeing the seemingly endless array of astonishing gifts, Joseph was utterly stunned, thinking, ‘Isn’t this the kind of treatment you'd expect for one’s own daughter?’

Lester smiled, “I told my mom to keep it simple, yet she still thought these wasn’t enough... Ashley, my parents really like you. They weren’t sure what gift you'd like, so they prepared a bit of everything. Just accept them.”

George added, “If it's too much hassle, we can have them delivered directly to your home.” Ashley fell silent for a while before responding, “Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Pliskin. I'll accept them.”

“Aha! That's good! | would have been heartbroken if you wouldn't,” Karen exclaimed with a joyful smile, affectionately pulling Ashley to sit down.

Brian wasn’t as expressive as Karen, but the happiness in his eyes and warmth toward Ashley was unmistakable and impossible to hide.

Since they already knew Valentin would be coming, Karen and Brian weren't too surprised.

After a few words of pleasantries, everyone took their seats.

The assistants and bodyguards left the room, and Tyler stayed outside the private room.

Meanwhile, Valentin sat next to Ashley inside the private dining room.

Karen looked at the two and finally asked the question she had been curious about, “Ashley, you and Mr. Kingsley...”

Ashley pressed her lips together, took Valentin’s hand, and declared, “Valentin and | are already married, but we haven't made it public yet, so it’s not known outside.”

Karen thought in shock, ‘Married? Ashley is already married?”

Karen and Brian exchanged glances, and both looked equally astounded.

Then, Karen glared at Lester.

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Lester smiled unapologetically, having waited to see this moment unfold.

“Ashley, was it Valentin who pursued you?” Karen asked fondly, suddenly addressing Valentin with more intimacy. She then thought, ‘Come to think of it, Valentin and Ashley are indeed quite a match.’

Ashley was surprised. “Why do you ask that?”

Karen smiled, “I’m experienced, and after seeing some news about you and Valentin online, | pretty much figured out a bit of it myself!”

Ashley turned to Valentin and smiled.

Valentin raised an eyebrow slightly, thinking Karen, indeed, had guessed it right.

It was he who pursued Ashley. “For years, Brian and | have been searching for our little girl, but unfortunately, we’ve never been able to find her...

“Ashley, | know we've done two paternity tests with you before, and both showing no blood relation, but | always feel a closeness to you... I'd like to do another test today if you’re willing...”

Ashley, so familiar with her own face, couldn't help but notice the resemblance between herself and Karen. Moreover, Valentin had also discovered some issues with Tyler. Looking sincerely at Karen and Brian, Ashley nodded earnestly. “I’m willing. Let's do another test.”

Upon hearing this, Karen’s eyes immediately lit up, and her hand trembled as she grasped Ashley's. “Ashley, thank you, | really appreciate this...”

Ashley quickly reassured her, “You don’t need to thank me for this.”

Brian, equally overjoyed, suggested. “Let’s not do a blood test this time. We can use hair instead.”

They, too, felt reluctant to draw Ashley’s blood repeatedly for the paternity tests.

Karen immediately plucked a few strands of her hair and said, “Use mine.”

Not wanting to be outdone, Brian also pulled out a few of his own hairs. “And mine, mine should be used too!” Lester was even tempted to pull out a few of his own hairs to join in the test.

Since they weren't drawing blood, Ashley also plucked a few strands of her hair.

After Lester and George exchanged a knowing glance, they then acted accordingly with their earlier plan. They stood up, collected the hair samples, and carefully placed each into separate transparent small bags.

After leaving the private dining room, Lester handed the hair samples to Tyler, saying, “Mr. Morgan, please conduct another test for us.”

Tyler, who had been waiting outside the room, took the samples and replied, “Of course, Mr. Lester Pliskin.” As he lowered his head, a sinister glint flashed across his eyes. Tyler pondered, ‘This time, the DNA test between Ashley and the Pliskin family will also show no blood relation!”

Tyler then lifted his head and spoke professionally. “Mr. Lester Pliskin, would you and Mr. George Pliskin like to observe the testing process?”

Lester smiled, “No need, Mr. Morgan. We've worked with you for many years and trust you completely.” Tyler smiled, exchanged a few more words, and then turned to leave.

As soon as Tyler left, Lester’s smile instantly faded.

He pulled out his phone and made a call, summoning another doctor.

This was a top-notch doctor they had contacted in advance. Lester handed the remaining hair samples to this doctor, asking for a separate DNA test to be conducted.