Chapter 838 Same Old Place

Ashley wanted to take off the mask. After all, wearing sunglasses indoors felt ridiculous. However, before she could, Elias grabbed her hand and stopped her.

Amidst their bicker, the door suddenly opened, and Elias instinctively turned to see who it was.

Instead of Beathan, it was his housekeeper.

"May I help you?" she asked.

"We're Mr. Collins' colleagues from Xanther. We heard that he's been seriously ill, so we came to check on him," Elias calmly stated.

"Mr. Collins doesn't live here anymore," the housekeeper replied.

"He's not here anymore? Where is he staying now?" Elias was puzzled.

Though Beathan was under medical care, he wasn't supposed to leave Capebatt City.

"I'm... not sure. Mr. Collins hasn't been back for a while now," the housekeeper said. Elias wanted to ask more, but Ashley nodded in thanks and returned to the car.

Elias ran his hand through his short, neatly combed hair, feeling slightly prickly, but in a good mood.

"Who knows where he is now? Since we couldn't see him, let's just head home," Elias said. He was feeling more than satisfied that Ashley didn't have to meet Beathan. Ashley remained silent as Elias hummed and drove back home.

Elias glanced at Ashley from the side. She was cool and distant, as if she was lost in thought.

As they approached an intersection, Ashley suddenly spoke up. "Take me to Rivercrest Lane.

"Why there?" Elias asked.

Ashley didn't explain.

Suddenly, Elias remembered that place. "Rivercrest Lane? The place where you joined your first law firm after graduating?"

It was also the first firm Beathan had joined. He even rented a place nearby and lived together with Ashley.

"So you think Beathan might be there?" Elias asked. He felt a surge of frustration as Ashley nodded.

"No way," he said.

Was he out of his mind? Why would he drive his wife to meet up with her ex-boyfriend at the place where they used to live together?

Ashley calmly replied, "Pull over. I'll take a cab myself."

Elias pulled over, but immediately locked the car doors.

"It's one thing if you want to go to his place. But going to the apartment you two stayed together? Have you ever considered how that makes me feel?" Elias tried to reason with her.

"I'm seeing him for important reasons. What do you think I'm doing? Taking a walk down memory lane? Rekindling old flames?" Ashley said, her voice steady, challenging him.

Any man would get angry at a comment like that. However, Elias responded out of Ashley's expectations.

"ver thought of you like that at all. I just feel uncomfortable, you know? And honestly, a bit hurt," he replied straightforwardly,

Ashley was at a loss for words.

Elias wasn't hiding anything from Ashley and simply spoke his mind plainly. His blunt left her unsure of how to respond. She remembered how his emotions used to be far more volatile.

Elias leaned in closer. "I just can't get over it. But if you really have to go, you could at least try to comfort me."

"You know I'm not good at that. This is who I am. If you can't handle it, go sign the divorce papers, and we'll go our separate ways," Ashley said, turning her head away.

Elias clicked his tongue and restarted the car engine. "You always use those divorce papers against me."

Still, he drove the car to Rivercrest Lane.

Ashley shot a glance at him. For a fleeting moment, she imagined him with droopy dog ears, looking dejected.

She turned her gaze to the window.

The city has changed so much over the years. It had been a decade since she lived there, and everything became different. No matter how hard she searched in her memories, she couldn't find anything familiar.

As the car came to a stop, Ashley unbuckled her seatbelt.

Elias was still upset. Instead of keeping his emotions to himself, he negotiated with Ashley." How about a kiss? Just to make me feel a little better."

Ashley turned and looked at him.

He leaned in, expecting a peck on the cheeks. But the next moment, he felt a soft, warm touch on his lips.

He froze briefly, then quickly looked to see Ashley opening the door and exiting the car.Property © of .

After that near-death experience three years ago, Elias treasured every moment he had with Ashley. He hated ambiguity and wasting time on guessing games. He preferred to push for answers.

He immediately opened his door and followed her out. "Honey!"