Chapter 44
Chapter 44:
As Ashton secured the bracelet, signaling the culmination of the auction, the crowd began to disperse. Phillip lost interest in the remaining items. His thoughts swirled in a storm of rage and disbelief. Phillip was utterly baffled by the apparent wealth Ashton displayed.
He recalled how Ashton had relied on Emalee financially during their two-year marriage and had lost his sole property in their divorce settlement. Even Phillip, with all his resources, couldn’t access such large sums on short notice. He wondered how Ashton could have amassed such wealth.
As Phillip pondered, a suspicion crept into his mind. Could Ashton have taken money from the James family? This thought seemed to cast light on his earlier perplexities. It suddenly made sense why Ashton had so readily agreed to the divorce, and it clarified why he had easily surrendered the house. Furthermore, it explained why Ashton had kept away from Emalee after their separation.
It seemed entirely plausible to Phillip that Ashton had taken a significant amount of money from the James family secretly before his departure. This revelation energized Phillip as he pieced together his theory. The more he considered it, the more everything appeared to fit perfectly.
When the auction concluded, Phillip hastened to the venue’s entrance, where he found Tristan already waiting. He quickly shared his suspicions with Tristan, and together, they intercepted Ashton after he bid farewell to Ivan.
Ashton’s expression turned into a scowl as he spotted Phillip and Tristan blocking his path, irritation swelling within him.
“What do you want now?” Ashton asked coldly.
Interpreting Ashton’s defensive attitude as an admission of guilt, Phillip taunted him.
“What? Are you scared that we’re onto you?” Phillip grunted. “Admit it, did you steal from the James family? How else could you afford such extravagance p>
L𝑎t𝑒st ch𝑎pt𝑒rs in
Ashton maintained a composed expression as he noticed Emalee approaching from behind Phillip.
“Do you also doubt me?” he asked.
Emalee paused briefly, her uncertainty visible as she bit her lip and chose to stay silent. This meant that she was aligning herself with Phillip’s suspicions. Considering Ashton’s past as a stay-at-home husband for two years without employment, her skepticism about the origin of his newfound wealth was inevitable.
Disheartened, Ashton sighed and shook his head, his disappointment in his ex-wife profound. The respect he once held for her, grounded in the memory of her saving his life, disintegrated completely in that moment.
Emalee’s tacit approval only increased the confidence of Phillip and Tristan.
“Why are you not speaking? Are you feeling guilty, perhaps?” Tristan growled.
Phillip chimed in with a sneer. “There’s no point in asking further. He obviously took it from the James family! He squandered nine hundred thousand on a bracelet at the auction, clearly because it wasn’t his own money p>
He warned Ashton, “Now that we’ve caught you, you’re not escaping. Give back what you stole p>
He then looked at Emalee and pressed her to take action. “Emalee, don’t just stand there. Call your finance team. Check for any discrepancies. He won’t confess until we present undeniable proof p>