Save Myself From Desperation by Cara Agnes novel Chapter 223

Ashley stepped into the corridor to answer Lester's call.

"Hey, Ashley, I just watched your variety show livestream. It was brilliant, and I had learned a lot from you." Lester's voice came through, tinged with amusement.

Ashley had a moment of realization. "No wonder you called right after I finished the show. You were watching the livestream and timed your call perfectly?"

He confirmed, "Of course, I had to watch your show."

"Thank you." Ashley scratched her head, feeling somewhat embarrassed, and then asked, "By the way, does Cara have any connection with the Pliskin family?"

Lester didn't hide anything, replying truthfully, "I checked Cara's background. She grew up in an orphanage, and her age matches my sister's, but we haven't done a DNA test yet.

"Besides, when I saw Cara, I didn't feel that kindred familial connection..."

So, he was inclined to think that Cara probably wasn't related to the Pliskin family and not the sister he lost in his childhood.

"I see." Ashley paused and continued sincerely, "Regardless, I hope you find your sister soon."

Lester chuckled, "I'll take that as a good omen from you."

Ashley also chuckled. She then chatted with Lester for a while longer before hanging up.

Just as she ended the call, Joseph's call came through.

Ashley swiped the screen to answer, asking, "Hey, what's up?"

"Ashley, who were you talking to? I tried calling you, but your line is busy!" Joseph sounded like a know-it-all. "My sixth sense tells me you definitely weren't talking to Valentin. Am I correct?"

Ashley was genuinely surprised, her eyes widening slightly. "Your sixth sense is that accurate?"

Joseph smiled smugly, "Ashley, just admit how accurate I am! Am I not like a clairvoyant?"

She sighed, "Alright, alright, you got it right. But how did you know I wasn't talking to Valentin?"

"Because Valentin has been right next to me since a while ago, and his phone hasn't rung once!" Joseph laughed so hard that his mouth almost reached the back of his head, and if he had a tail, it would definitely be wagging joyously.

Ashley was rendered speechless and almost rolled her eyes, thinking, 'Darn it, I fell for such a simple trick! And here I thought Joseph's sixth sense was really that sharp!'

Joseph was laughing uproariously, his stomach nearly aching from it. "So, Ashley, who were you talking to just now? I have the speaker on. Let Valentin hear, too."

Ashley sighed and pondered, 'I can't believe this guy.'

"It was nobody special, just Lester calling to chat," Ashley replied, seeing no reason to hide it from Valentin.

"Oh, so it was Lester," Joseph said cheerily. "Now that you're done with the show, come on out. Valentin and I are here to pick you up. We're waiting outside the studio."

Ashley was shocked, pondering, 'What? Valentin came to pick me up? There are so many people here right now. What if we get seen?'

"Why did you guys come?" Ashley asked while hurrying to the dressing room to gather her things before heading out to meet them.

"Oh, you know, Valentin wanted to come pick you up. He's been missing you..." Joseph began but was cut off mid-sentence as the phone seemed to be taken away. Then, she heard Valentin's low, magnetic voice saying, "Joseph and I are waiting for you outside, Ashley."

"Okay, I got it. I'll be right out," Ashley replied before hanging up.

As she reached the dressing room door, she encountered Cara smiling warmly.

"Hello, Ashley."

"Hello." Ashley was a bit puzzled. She wasn't close with Cara, yet Cara always addressed her so familiarly.

Cara gracefully brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, continuing, "Ashley, I've seen your stuff online before. I must say, you're very impressive and knowledgeable."

"Thank you, you're quite knowledgeable yourself," Ashley responded, understanding the art of mutual flattery. "The landscape painting you posted on Twitter the other day was very well done."

Cara then lowered her gaze as she smiled gently. Then, she suddenly looked up and asked, "Do you dislike me because of my relationship with Charlie?"

Upon hearing this, Ashley smiled with a hint of amusement, "Your relationship with Charlie is your business. I don't concern myself with it."

Cara remained smiling even after hearing her.

Only after Ashley went into the dressing room did Cara's smile gradually fade. Cara then took out her phone and dialed a number.

The call connected quickly.

Cara softly said, "Mr. Morgan, I have met Ashley in person today."

A middle-aged man's voice came through the phone, asking, "So, what do you think?"

Cara's eyes lingered on the direction of the dressing room, recalling Ashley's performance on the show today, as well as her past deeds and various secret identities.

"She indeed knows a lot, but..." Cara's voice trailed off into a laugh, her tone enigmatic. "This just makes me more interested in her."

The middle-aged man said, "Cara, I've trained you for many years. You are no less than Ashley. It will be easy for you to surpass her. Go on, make her pay the price she deserves."

Haton thought excitedly, 'My idol is the best in the world! I must protect the world's greatest Ashley!'

"Thank you. I'll keep an eye on you, too," Ashley said with a smile.

As they spoke, she suddenly felt a dark, resentful gaze on her back.

Turning sharply, Ashley saw Joseph running toward her while anxiously wiping sweat from his brow. "Ashley, what are you doing? Why are you talking so much to that handsome young man? Hurry up, get in the car."

He pondered nervously, 'Valentin's going to be jealous!'

Ashley glanced toward the car's back seat, and even though she couldn't see through the window, she could almost picture Valentin sitting inside.

She wondered in disbelief, 'Really, he's jealous over this?'

Haton, of course, recognized Joseph as the CEO of Royal Entertainment and Ashley's boss, but Haton didn't expect Ashley's boss to come pick her up personally.

'She truly lives up to the expectation as my idol. Even the boss values her so much!' Haton innocently thought.

Turning to Haton, Ashley said, "I have to go now."

"Okay, Ashley, take care on your way!" Haton waved reluctantly, and his innocent puppy-dog eyes filled with longing.

"You take care, too," Ashley replied politely.

Once they said their goodbyes, Joseph hurriedly pulled Ashley away.

After Ashley got into the car, she sat next to Valentin and immediately felt his cold, resentful gaze, making her swallow nervously.

Tom drove while Joseph, in the passenger seat, craned his neck to look back, asking, "Ashley, what's going on with you and Haton? Why were you talking for so long? Valentin was watching the whole time when you guys were chatting."

Ashley was at a loss for words after hearing that.

Meanwhile, on the road outside, Jeremy, Ryan, and Matthew, who had been hiding in a corner and saw Ashley and Joseph get into the same car, quickly got into their own vehicle.

Jeremy drove stealthily, following the car Ashley was in.

Feeling conflicted, Matthew asked, "Jeremy, is it really okay for us to secretly follow Ashley like this?"

Ryan responded, "This way, we can find out where she's living now."

While keeping his eyes fixed on the car Ashley was in, Jeremy followed it stealthily. "Yeah, since Ashley isn't fond of us, this is the only way to find out where she lives."