Mabel was momentarily stunned. Had she really heard correctly? Ashley had cursed, and at a highly esteemed Richard, no less.
Mabel Anderson Hobbled over to Richard Andrew and said softly, "Brother Richard, she has no manners…."
Richard turned away, ignoring Mabel.
"Serve breakfast," he commanded.
The lavish dining table was laden with an array of dishes, even for breakfast. Yet, the atmosphere around was oppressively heavy.
The servants moved cautiously as they served the food.
Mabel tried to speak several times but clammed up each time she saw Richard's stern face.
Imogene took a few bites before closing her appetite. She had plansto meet friends for a game of mahjong and left a parting remark.
"If Ashley stays in the Andrew's family for one more day, it I'll take a day off my life. Richard, you better find a way to get rid of that girl."
Richard took a sip of milk, his face still taut. Mabel, hearing this felt a surge of joy in her heart.
With a loud "bang," Richard set his milk down forcefully. The impact caused a drop of milk to splash on his blue tie making him frown.
Mabel grabbed a napkin and moved to wipe it off, but Richard was already heading upstairs before she could reach him.
Anything dirty, he has to change.
Upstairs, Ashley has been wait for a long time, no one had brought her any food. She touched her empty stomach and searched the room, eventually finding a box of chrysanthemum tea.
She sighed, realizing that she would probably go hungry today.
Tearing open a small packet of chrysanthemum tea, she began to brew herself a cup. She had learnt the act of tea making and she was quite skilled at it. Soon, a fragrant cup of chrysanthemum tea was ready.
She picked it up, closed her eyes gently, and silently chanted to herself, "I'm not hungry, I'm not hungry."
Just then Richard opened the door, witnessing the scene. He clenched his fist, puzzled by this woman. What type of person was she, really?
Richard walked over and glanced at the cup. Pale yellow petals floated on the water, looking rather pleasing to the eye. He sneered.
"Looks like you're really not hungry."
A stubborn streak flared up in Ashley. She retorted, "I never ate breakfast at home. I prefer tea in the morning."
As she said this, Ashley tilted her chin slightly, her clear eyes meeting Richard's gaze. They were as pure as a clear pool of water.
Richard was momentarily stunned. Hoe could a woman this ruthless and cunning possess such innocent eyes?
He was puzzled for z second but quickly snapped back to reality, his face turning cold again.
Yet, the image of Ashley holding her tea and softly saying it smelled wonderful made him want to laugh for some unexplained reason.
Suppressing a smile, Richard walked towards the wardrobe.
Ashley glanced at him sideways. His expression just now was so strange. She her eyes and flipped up a book from her side, flipping it open.
After adjusting his tie, Richard walks to the door and paused.
" When you apology, you'll get food. And don't let me hear you say anything you shouldn't again, or you'll regret ever being born."
"When you apologize, then you will get to eat "
Ashley gripped the book in her hand tightly. That jerk.
There's wax no way she was going to apologize.
Richard waited for a while, but seeing that Ashley showed no sign id admitting her mistake, ge slammed the door shut in anger.
Outside, richigacevitdrd to the maids standing nearby
" Keep this door locked. No food go for her without my permission."
Ashley seethed in anger. Richard wasz denying someone food was outright abuse.
She put down her book and tried the door. But It was kicked. Just as she had suspected. She touched her stomach,which hed being growling with hunger. Was she curse, when it comes to food she had only one meal yesterday, and now she's being denied food today.
Fighting off the hunger, she picked her phone and called her grandmother.
"Miss Weston, your grandmother is asleep should I wake her?" It was Sister Helen,the caregiver she had hired for her grandmother, who answered the phone.
"Let her sleep, Sister Helen. How is she doing?"
On the other hand her grandmother was woken by the sound of the phone. "Is that Ashley? let me speak to her."
Sister Helen handed the phone to Ashley's grandmother.
Grandma spoke with heartfelt concern, "Ashley I'm fine.You just got married and the Andrew's family is a big family with many rules, have you being treated unfairly?"
Thinking about the scar on Ashley's face, grandma's heart ached. She's worried that Ashley might find it hard to fit in the Anderson's family.
Ashley felt a pang of sadness in her heart. See, grandma was always the one who cared about her the most.
"Don't worry grandma, who am I? There's no way I will let my self go be mistreated. I'm doing well and the family treats me kindly, you should focus on getting better."
"That good to hear am fine."
After hanging up her phone Ashley took hf the mask and returned to the tea table. She took up her cup and sip a tea Knowing that tea was all she had to fill her stomach.
At noon in the Andrew's family company, Richard finished his meeting and returned to his office. His assistant Nelson had already prepared a sumptuous lunch for him.
Remembering something, he called Nelson into his office.
"Has there been any call from home?"
Nelson was puzzled why will there be a call from home?.
"No"
A sharp glint appeared in Richard's eyes.
"Leave" Richard commanded.
It seemed Ashley still wasn't willing to apologize. How could such a slender frame endure so much?
Wait a minute, a woman as cunniyas her wouldn't just starve quietly. She might have already pulled some tricks at home to fill her stomach.
Richard picked up his pho e and dialed the number fort the house. A maid answered.
"Young Master."
"Did you give that woman any food?"
The maid trembled with fear. "No sir, you said we shouldn't give the Young Mistress any food without your permission.
Richard pressed his fingers to his temple. "And she's been in her room the whine time and hasn't come out.
"Yes Young Master, the Young Mistress has been in her bedroom till now. Yesterday, she only head one meal and she had fainted from hunger before."
Fainted from hunger? Richard narrowed his eyes. Ashley, with her slender figure didn't seem to have much meat in her bones. She might really have fainted from hunger.
"Then why are you still standing there? Go check on her immediately."