Chapter 38
Chapter 38:
Situation
When the Campbell sisters and Ashton entered the venue, Rosalie’s phone rang. After a brief chat, she ended the call and faced Ashton with a look of concern.
“I have to go backstage for makeup; I’m hosting the concert. Could you look after Selena? It’s been some time since she was out,” Rosalie explained, her voice tinged with regret.
Selena pouted and then complained, “Rosalie, you finally took me out, and now you’re ditching me like I’m some sort of inconvenience p>
Worried that Selena might be upset, Rosalie quickly offered, “Do you want to come backstage with me instead?” Selena laughed and shook her head. “Let me finish! But if Ashton takes care of me, I’d be more than content p>
Rosalie still wanted to interject, but Selena gently nudged her away. “You better head off. I’m eager to roam around with Ashton p>
Ashton noticed that Selena was eager not to hold Rosalie back from her obligations, so he quickly wheeled Selena away, playing along with her wishes. It might have been a long time since Selena had been to such an event, as she was noticeably in high spirits.
As Ashton pushed her through the bustling venue, Selena engaged in lively conversations and laughter. As the concert was about to commence, the venue was alive with excitement. Many of the attendees recognized Selena as the younger heiress of the Campbell family, and a few came forward to greet her.
Living up to her family’s reputation, Selena responded with a warm smile and courteous words, exuding grace and refinement.
Eventually, Selena playfully stuck out her tongue, hinting that she was ready to head to the dining area for some refreshments. As they made their way there, a young man obstructed their path at the buffet table.
“Long time no see, Selena!” he greeted, his voice tepid and his gestures somewhat clumsy.
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Breaking from her usual gracious demeanor, Selena gave a cool nod in response.
“Long time no see,” she answered tersely.
The conversation that followed was brief and stilted, soon trailing off into silence. Not wishing to prolong the uncomfortable encounter, the man quickly excused himself and departed.
After he had gone, Ashton asked with curiosity, “Who was that? You two seemed a bit tense around each other p>
Selena sighed and shared, “His name is Theo Campbell. He’s part of a collateral branch of my family. There’s a history of disputes among the elders, so my interactions with him are scarce. It surprised me to see him approach p>
Eager to change the subject, Selena flashed a playful smile. “Let’s forget about him. Ashton, let’s grab something to eat. If I get too hungry, my sister will certainly have words for you p>
Ashton smiled and decided not to delve deeper. Family matters were delicate, and it wasn’t his place to probe.
He then wheeled Selena over to the dining area. Although it was not a grand banquet, the Campbell family had arranged a lavish spread of tasty and well-prepared dishes. The array of food even managed to stir Ashton’s appetite, not to mention Selena’s.
However, just as Selena began to enjoy some pastries, she started coughing violently. She clutched her chest and shook her head, signaling her discomfort.
Ashton, alarmed by her sudden distress, quickly moved to support her, ready to administer first aid. After assessing her condition, Ashton pinpointed the problem.
“You’re having an allergic reaction,” Ashton announced with concern. “There must be something in these pastries causing it p>
Despite her discomfort, Selena managed to respond firmly, “I’ve been tested for allergies. I’m only allergic to certain nuts, and my sister ensured that the chef left those out of the menu for me. I made sure to choose only the foods I’m familiar with p>
Upon hearing this, Ashton’s expression grew serious. The symptoms were undeniable, and if his assessment was correct, there was only one disturbing conclusion.
“It seems like someone might have intentionally tried to harm you,” Ashton concluded grimly.