CHAPTER 463: CHAPTER 463: WHY SHOULD I?

Hearing this, a smile finally appeared on Claire Xavier’s face.

"Guess what I wanted to talk to you about this time?"

Ashley Shaw understood Claire well and had already guessed roughly.

"You want to open a cake shop here in Aethelgard?"

Claire snapped her fingers: "Smart! I’m planning to check out some locations in the next couple of days. By the way, if there’s a suitable shop near your school that’s up for transfer, keep an eye out for me. That way, it’ll be convenient for you to come and hang out."

The two immediately agreed.

Then Claire brought up Rosalind Lynch.

"Guess what? Before I left, I heard that Mrs. Bowen is really planning to get a divorce."

Ashley Shaw hadn’t shared the gossip about Rosalind with Ariana Grant. Ariana was confused and quickly asked Claire for details.

As Claire explained, Ariana’s already big, round eyes widened even more.

"Does that mean she’s going to marry this old guy?"

Claire replied, "He’s not exactly an old guy, more like a... greasy bald middle-aged man?"

Ariana gasped.

"Why is she being so shortsighted?"

Claire chuckled, "She’s more clear-headed than any of us. Don’t underestimate Curtis Bowen; he’s the head of a major entertainment company. If Claire marries into the Bowen Family, she’ll either be groomed to become a big star or become an investor herself."

Ariana still couldn’t understand.

"Facing such a face, let alone making money, I couldn’t even eat."

Claire grinned, "Everyone has their own ambitions. She’s just found hers."

Then Claire’s tone turned serious as she said, "I just worry that if she actually becomes Mrs. Bowen one day, she might turn around and make things difficult for you..."

Ashley Shaw knew what Claire was worried about.

She clearly understood what Rosalind Lynch was thinking.

In her mind, reaching this stage was all because of Ashley Shaw.

She’s someone who never self-reflects, and habitually blames others for her own mistakes.

What intrigued Ashley even more was, if in a past life Rosalind only disappeared and wasn’t dead, would she have felt murderous rage upon learning Ashley married Warren Prescott?

But during those years, she’d mostly been at home, so even if Rosalind had murderous intent, she wouldn’t have had an opportunity.

Unfortunately, she still ended up dead in the end.

Died in an accident.

"Alright, let’s not talk about these unhappy things. The food here is not bad. I’ve eaten here before, you guys should try it."

Ariana started eating first.

However, she was on a diet and only picked non-greasy dishes to eat.

The three chatted animatedly, quite happily.

But Ashley and Ariana had to assemble for military training and had to go before they were done talking.

Claire drove them here, so she drove them back.

On the way past the hospital, Ashley picked up her altered training uniform, and when they returned to school, it was exactly twenty minutes before assembly.

There was ample time, but they happened to run into Evelyn Vaughn below the dormitory.

Seeing Ashley return, Evelyn’s eyes harbored obvious displeasure.

"Where did you go? The instructor asked where the class rep was and I had no answer."

Ashley said, "I went out to meet a friend."

Evelyn sneered but was about to say something more when Leo Bell arrived, and she immediately fell silent and quickly approached him.

"What did the instructor say?"

Leo replied, "He just mentioned where we should gather, told us to arrive ten minutes early to line up, and asked about our class situation before letting me come back."

As he spoke, he glanced at Ashley and smiled.

"You’re back?"

Ashley knew Leo had to make an extra trip because of her, and quickly apologized, "Sorry for the trouble of having to make a trip for me."

"It’s no trouble. But we need to gather now. I’ve already sent a message in the group, but I still need to go to the boys’ side to shout. You guys should go upstairs to knock on doors, just in case some dorms didn’t see the group message."

"Okay."

They parted ways. Evelyn glanced at Leo’s departing back, feeling inexplicably displeased again.

How could he smile at Ashley after doing all that work?

Meanwhile, Ashley had already gone upstairs, knocking on each dorm room to get everyone to assemble downstairs.

The girls were already in their training uniforms; Ashley knocked on the doors, then quickly returned to her dorm to change clothes.

The shop owner’s skills with needlework were very impressive, not only adjusting the pant legs but also the sleeves to fit her perfectly—it fit even better than Jean’s and the others’ that were ordered with the right size.

Jocelyn Hayes looked at her and couldn’t help but feel regret.

"Had I known, I would have asked you to take mine for alteration too."

"Yours is just the right length; it looks good without alteration."

Lynn Redding chimed in from the side, "Yes, all of ours fit well."

"Let’s go, we need to gather outside."

...

Downstairs, most people had already arrived.

Aside from their class, people from other classes were also gathering below.

The moment Ashley appeared, she immediately caught a lot of attention.

"Even wearing the same clothes, she still looks so good."

"In our major, she’d be considered the top beauty, right?"

"What top beauty? I think she’s most likely the school beauty."

Ashley herself didn’t hear these discussions, but Evelyn, mingling in the crowd, heard them loud and clear.

Earlier this afternoon, she had deliberately put on a light makeup, yet it didn’t draw any attention at all.

But Ashley, with her plain face, just back, showing signs of fatigue, still captured everyone’s attention the moment she appeared.

Evelyn couldn’t help but clench her hands hanging by her sides.

She wasn’t jealous of Ashley; she just felt it was unfair.

Back at her old school, she was the one who was always in the spotlight. How come at university, just because of Ashley’s presence, everything changed?

Ashley’s feelings were of course oblivious to Evelyn’s frustration. She and Leo led everyone to the gathering point assigned by the instructor.

Upon arrival, they finally saw the instructor.

He looked young and... attractive.

Many young girls blushed at the sight of him.

Ashley, however, felt indifferent. After all, she had seen too many good-looking guys and wasn’t interested in regular handsome faces. Moreover, she wasn’t even interested romantically.

However, when the instructor saw her, he momentarily paused.

Leo brought Ashley to the instructor.

"Instructor, this is our class monitor, Ashley Shaw."

The instructor, surnamed Ford, gave a slight nod, then addressed Ashley, "Ashley, we’ve met before."

Ashley looked surprised.

"When was this..."

"At the planetarium, last time I was beside Chief Hayes..."

As he spoke, seeing Jocelyn, he quickly turned his attention away from Ashley and greeted Jocelyn, "Miss Hayes."

Jocelyn didn’t remember him, but she could guess why he knew her.

She smiled and nodded, "Instructor, you must take extra care of the three of us here."

While speaking, she didn’t forget Lynn, pulling her over too.

Instructor Ford nodded, "Of course."

He was the head instructor but was also assigned a class due to a shortage of staff this time.

Giving Jocelyn face was something he would definitely do.

So during lineup, he paid particular attention to the three of them.

Evelyn had overheard all this, probably feeling even more uncomfortable.

Again with those three words: why should she?