Chapter 57
Chapter 57:
Emalee’s rebuke seemed entirely ludicrous to Ashton. They ended things amicably? He was being petty? Once more, Ashton felt let down by Emalee. Shaking his head in dismay, he chose to overlook the confrontation and shifted his focus to the cars on display.
Seeing Ashton’s lack of rebuttal, Phillip sensed an opening. He took Ashton’s silence as an indication of residual feelings for Emalee and decided to exploit the situation. Indeed, how could Rosalie genuinely have an interest in Ashton? Likely, she was merely amusing herself with him. Convinced that Rosalie had no real connection with Ashton and that he still harbored feelings for Emalee, Phillip’s smugness returned, erasing his embarrassment from the previous day.
Even though his recent interactions with Ashton had been less than favorable, Phillip took comfort in the fact that Emalee, clearly still significant to Ashton, was aligned with him. Buoyed by this thought, Phillip couldn’t help but throw another taunt. “Hey, Ashton. Fancy seeing you here checking out the cars as well! I know quite a bit about them. Need some recommendations? They might be budget-friendly, but they’re perfectly suited to your needs and social standing p>
He pointed toward a regular car dealership across the street. “Look over there—that’s where you should be shopping. Any of those cars would fit you just right. As for these luxury cars here, you can gaze all you like, but they’re beyond your means, and they’re not meant for you to drive p>
Ashton could easily decipher the subtext. As Phillip spoke about the luxury cars, he would occasionally glance at Emalee, insinuating that she was beyond Ashton’s reach. Unable to suppress a scornful chuckle, Ashton responded, “If I set my mind to it, there’s nothing I can’t buy. How about we make a bet? I can afford what you cannot p>
Phillip experienced an unsettling twinge of unease at Ashton’s words. He couldn’t quite tell if Ashton had grasped the full weight of his taunts or if he was hiding something deeper.
After several humiliating encounters with Ashton, Phillip opted for a more cautious approach this time. Perhaps Ashton had a trump card he was yet to reveal. Still stung by the embarrassment of the previous day, Phillip glanced around anxiously. His relief was palpable when he noticed Rosalie wasn’t in sight. It appeared that Ashton had not caught on to his barbs and was merely posturing to maintain his dignity in front of Emalee.
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That made perfect sense, of course. Ashton was nothing more than a moocher. Without his wealthy benefactor by his side, there was no way he could afford one of these luxury cars. The money he earned from treating Rosalie’s sister was likely no more than one million. He might’ve squandered it by now after his previous expenditures. Even if he had some funds left, it surely wouldn’t cover the cost of a car here.
Bolstered by this realization, Phillip decided to puff himself up. “Fine! Let’s make that bet. I’m not scared. I don’t think you have the means to buy a car here!” With those words, Phillip edged closer to Emalee, offering her a look he believed to be full of love. He was eager to showcase his relationship with her in front of Ashton.
With a tone dripping with affection, Phillip said, “Emalee, you’ve really endured a lot these past years with Ashton, driving a flashy car that lacks substance. Now that I’m here, it’s time we got you a new, beautiful, and comfortable car to compensate for everything you’ve been through p>
Emalee’s face lit up with a warm smile at Phillip’s affectionate gesture. At that moment, any lingering doubts she had due to Ashton’s sudden return were washed away completely.