Ashley Shaw held the document, puzzled, and asked Cillian Xavier, "How did you... get this?"
Cillian’s smile was a bit stiff.
This letter of recommendation wasn’t crafted by him, but rather given to her by Rosalind Lynch.
Her words, "Ashley Shaw belongs to you, Warren to me," left him unable to resist the temptation.
Cillian felt conflicted, unsure whether to speak the truth.
After a moment, he composed himself and said, "I just sensed that you don’t particularly enjoy maintaining ties with Warren’s family. As I was considering studying abroad and filling out applications, I made one for you too. Will you... think about it?"
Personal desires ultimately triumphed over reason.
He didn’t tell the truth.
But he believed it was a harmless lie; not speaking the truth wouldn’t hurt anyone.
"I..."
Ashley was about to respond when Cillian interrupted, "Just hold onto it, no need to answer right away. I’ll give you three days to consider, okay?"
Ashley gazed intently at Cillian.
His face might as well have had "I’m doing this for you" written all over it.
She moved her lips and said, "Cillian... Archie, thank you, but I don’t need time to consider. I can answer you now."
"Please, just consider it my request, don’t answer so quickly, alright?"
Cillian could tell from Ashley’s tone that she was going to decline, yet he preferred to deceive himself rather than hear it.
Ashley had no choice but to reply, "Okay. So this thing..."
"Just keep it with you. After three days, tell me your answer. If your feelings remain unchanged, do whatever you want with it—throw it away, burn it, anything is fine."
"Thank you..."
"No need to be so polite with me. Are we not even friends now?"
"Of course, we’re friends. You’ve helped me so much, including arranging for us to meet Dr. Tate."
"Does that mean I’ve made some progress?"
Ashley’s expression froze, and she lowered her head.
"Archie, we’re friends, yes, but we may only ever be friends."
"Right now we’re friends, but who knows in the future? Before, you said you wouldn’t even be friends with me."
Ashley felt deeply guilty.
As they were getting close to getting out of the car, she couldn’t help but speak again.
"Archie, if I don’t clarify things with you, I won’t feel at peace. I appreciate your kindness, and if there’s ever a time you need my help, I’ll definitely be there, but we can only be friends. I’m likely to remain single my whole life, so I don’t want you to waste your time on me and miss out on other, better girls."
Cillian listened serenely, as if he had long anticipated her saying these words.
When Ashley finished speaking, he curved his thin lips into a gentle smile.
"Ashley."
"Hmm?"
"Could you be a little more selfish?"
Ashley was perplexed.
She heard Cillian continue.
"Look, you say that pursuing you would be a waste of my time, but even if I don’t pursue you, the time will pass all the same."
"You mention it could prevent me from meeting a better girl, but to me, you are currently the best girl."
"Furthermore, everything I do is willingly done, you genuinely don’t need to feel guilty."
"Today, you don’t even need to treat me to a meal. I got in touch with Aunt Tate, all it took was a phone call, hardly a big deal."
"So you really shouldn’t feel like I did you a huge favor, nor feel like you’re using me. I’m pursuing you, so doing these things is part of that."
"Also, not liking me does not mean it’s your fault; it means I haven’t done well enough."
Ashley quickly shook her head.
"No, it’s not that you haven’t done well enough, it’s that I’m not good enough."
Cillian chuckled.
"You see, you’re always searching for faults within yourself, but where do you have issues? You’re doing great."
Ashley’s heart was filled with warm feelings.
Undeniably, Cillian’s words deeply moved her.
Her past experiences frequently led her to doubt and question herself, often seeking faults when problems arose.
Cillian was right; she truly felt guilty, believing she was taking advantage of Cillian’s affections without being able to reciprocate.
But Cillian’s words lightened the burden in her heavy heart.
They made her feel she wasn’t as incompetent as she thought.
"Thank you for saying all this..."
"No need to thank me, I’m just speaking the truth."
The sky darkened, and the lights in the neighborhood illuminated.
The car stopped at the entrance of the unit.
The elderly security guard passed by, curiously peeking inside.
Upon seeing Ashley inside, he instantly straightened up, ready to protect her with a grand air.
Ashley saw and smiled softly.
Perhaps last time when Cillian’s car parked and stayed for a long time, the security guard suspected Cillian, so he called Ariana’s dad.
Additionally, when later she and Ariana delivered some fruits Grandpa Prescott had given to the guard, he became even more friendly to the two young girls.
Seeing her in the car now, naturally he would keep an eye out.
Ashley’s heart warmed.
"Then... should I head up then?"
"Yes. Think carefully about studying abroad; money isn’t a problem, and I can help you out. If you’re uncomfortable, you can apply for a scholarship. Plus, I’ve filled out the major for you—it’s the medical major you mentioned to my sister. The medical industry there is somewhat more advanced than in our country, and the educational level is higher; studying there might let you intern directly at a provincial hospital when you return."
Ashley remained silent.
Undeniably, Cillian’s words moved her.
The university on the application is indeed one of the top-ranked globally for medicine.
But she couldn’t bear the thought of leaving Ariana alone in the country.
"I’ll think about it when I return."
"Alright."
Ashley opened the car door and stepped out; the security guard immediately approached.
"Ashley, you’re back?"
"Yes," Ashley smiled, nodding.
But she noticed the guard wasn’t ready to leave; she realized he wanted to speak to her.
Ashley simply waved at Cillian inside the car, gesturing for him to go first.
Once the car drove off, the security guard indeed began speaking.
"Ashley, over the past few days there have been a lot of unfamiliar cars in the neighborhood. You should be careful."
"A lot?"
"Yes, besides this one, there was another with a license plate of four eights, also an expensive car."
A license plate with four eights—that’s the one Warren regularly uses, right?
Was it the time he came to deliver the check?
She heard the security guard speak earnestly, "The old man knows you’re beautiful, but you’re still young and perhaps don’t distinguish right from wrong. Don’t let some rich family’s young heir deceive you. Right now, preparing for college is most important."
"Thank you, Grandpa..."
"You don’t think I’m being naggy, do you?"
"No, of course not."
She felt traces of Ms. Shaw’s presence from the security guard.
Ms. Shaw was also quite chatty, so listening to the guard’s chatter didn’t bother her; it moved her instead.
In her previous life, she encountered too little kindness; now, even slight kindness felt incredibly precious, especially genuine goodwill like that of the security guard’s?
"Good, then hurry on up!"
"Alright, goodbye, Grandpa!" Ashley waved farewell and headed upstairs under the guard’s watchful eye.
Elsewhere, Warren Prescott was still in the restaurant.