Mr. Coleman, being experienced, quickly masked his expression although he had already noticed Warren Prescott’s feelings toward Ashley Shaw, and he carefully chose his words to speak.
"It was Miss Ashley who called me. She said you drank too much and asked me to come in and pick you up."
Warren Prescott’s furrowed brows slightly relaxed.
"She called you?"
"Yes, young master."
"What else did she say?"
Mr. Coleman, quick-witted, made up a line: "She told me to take you home to rest well and not let you continue drinking here."
Upon hearing this, Warren Prescott extended his hand to Mr. Coleman.
"Phone."
"Oh, oh." Mr. Coleman quickly handed over the phone, cautiously asking, "Are you going home now?"
"Let’s go back. Didn’t she ask me not to continue drinking?"
Warren Prescott said nonchalantly and stood up to steadily walk out.
Mr. Coleman was surprised.
This was being drunk?
That steady stride, he could almost walk on water lightly.
But he didn’t dare say more, praised himself for his quick thinking, and hurriedly followed out.
When they got home, Warren Prescott happened to bump into Claudia Jennings coming downstairs looking for food.
Claudia Jennings had returned to Westcroft on a flight past nine tonight, and fatigue left her with no appetite for food, instead waking up hungry at this hour.
A few days ago, she had gone traveling with her group of girlfriends and only found out about the Lynch Family’s upheaval upon returning at night.
She asked the elder if there was any hope for the Lynch Family to recover, and after getting a negative answer, she immediately instructed Mrs. Chase not to call Rosalind Lynch to the house for a meal the next day.
When she was unaware of the news, Claudia Jennings had instructed Mrs. Chase to call Rosalind Lynch the next day to invite her over to the house.
Now suddenly changing her mind left Elder Prescott looking astonished.
"I thought you liked that girl."
Claudia Jennings chuckled awkwardly, "It’s not about like or dislike; what matters most is if Warren likes her. I think he’s only friends with Rosalind, so we, as elders, shouldn’t interfere in the younger generation’s affairs."
She spoke with seriousness, but in reality, she no longer wanted the daughter-in-law she once fancied now that their family fell from grace.
Elder Prescott said nothing more.
Until now, when Claudia Jennings came downstairs to find food and bumped into Warren coming home.
"Why are you only back now? I thought you’d already returned."
Warren Prescott had little interest in communicating with Claudia Jennings.
"Recently learning company projects, there was a gathering tonight, got late."
"Learning is good, but take care of your health. You’ve just graduated; you’ll have plenty of time to learn in the future."
"Mm. I’m going to sleep."
Warren Prescott stepped forward to leave, but Claudia Jennings mysteriously pulled him back.
"Don’t rush off; I have something to ask you."
"Go ahead."
Claudia Jennings rubbed her hands together, asking, "About Rosalind... you don’t like her, do you? You’re just friends, right?"
"Mm."
His relationship with Rosalind Lynch began as playmates, later seeing her as a younger sister.
As they grew, Rosalind Lynch told others she was his girlfriend, driving other girls away from him.
When he heard, he didn’t find it objectionable to marry Rosalind Lynch someday.
After all, in their kind of families, marriages aren’t self-decided.
Rather than possibly marrying someone he disliked in the future, it was better to choose someone familiar and not objectionable.
So he let Rosalind Lynch say whatever she wanted outside.
With this notion in mind, he acknowledged to others that he liked Rosalind Lynch.
But things are different now.
He genuinely felt what it was like to like someone.
With Rosalind Lynch, it was mere habitual protection, lacking romantic feelings.
Especially after watching those surveillance videos and seeing who Rosalind Lynch really was, that habitual protection vanished.
It turned into aversion instead.
However, it hadn’t reached full-blown aversion; he certainly couldn’t treat her as he did before, indulging her.
Now, Rosalind Lynch to him is no different from Kane King.
Yet, he was too lazy to explain this in detail to Claudia Jennings, just responded with a simple "Mm" to show his stance.
Only to see Claudia Jennings sigh in relief.
"It’s good you don’t like her. The Lynch Family is in trouble now, and you’re learning at the company, probably clearer than I am. Try to minimize contact with their family in the future, to avoid our family being affected."
Warren Prescott looked at Claudia Jennings as if he didn’t recognize her, scrutinizing her from head to toe.
"Mom."
"Hmm?"
"I thought you quite liked Rosalind Lynch."
Claudia Jennings furrowed her brows.
"Not... You’re just like your grandpa with what you say! Do you both look down on my conduct? Don’t you get it? Everything I do is for you, for this family!"
The expressions of the grandfather-grandson duo made her seem like a particularly greedy, cold-blooded woman.
When Rosalind was useful, she greeted her with a smile; when the Lynch family declined, she kicked her aside.
Indeed, she did so, but others can see her as cold, not her family!
"I didn’t mean it that way, you’re overthinking. I know you do this all for me, but, Mom, next time you do something for my good, can you ask me first if I need it? That would make me happier."
Warren Prescott rarely offered Claudia Jennings a smile.
"You rest early, I’m going upstairs."
Claudia Jennings was somewhat surprised by the smile Warren threw her way.
She frowned, pondering the two sentences Warren said.
Ask him if he needs it first?
Isn’t that still implying she was unnecessary?
But Warren rarely smiled at her like this after growing up, so maybe, possibly, it wasn’t meant as disdain for her meddling?
Oh, never mind, she’s starving!
"Mrs. Chase! Mrs. Chase! Cook me a bowl of noodles."
Claudia Jennings, regardless of whether Mrs. Chase was already asleep, knocked on the servants’ quarters door.
Warren heard the commotion downstairs and sighed lightly.
His mother is not exactly an irredeemably bad person, but sometimes her words and actions are indeed annoying.
This is inseparable from how the Jennings Family spoiled their only daughter too much.
Spoiled since childhood, then married into the Prescott Family.
His grandmother passed away early, so when his mom entered the family, she was the only mistress, with no one to check her.
Except for occasionally minding grandpa’s expression, she practically ruled the house, treating herself like a queen.
You could say she’s bad, but after Aunt Shaw got ill, she was the first to propose bearing Aunt Shaw’s medical expenses.
Later, Aunt Shaw’s surgery failed, and she still left; grandpa proposed adopting Ashley Shaw.
She wasn’t thrilled about having an extra daughter, but on the signing day, even with a sour face and before Grandpa Prescott could speak, she signed herself.
But you could say she’s good; after adopting Ashley Shaw, she never treated her well for a single day.
In conclusion, it’s hard for him to evaluate Claudia Jennings.
But one thing is sure, his mom doesn’t know about Lars Prescott’s long-term affairs outside.
Otherwise, with her personality, there’s no way she could hold back from causing a scene.
He doesn’t consider himself particularly filial, but he won’t let Claudia Jennings know about this matter.
Even though he often used it to threaten Lars Prescott.