Chapter 249
He nodded, a curt “Got it,” escaping his lips. He rose, a practiced grace in his movements.“I’ll pick up Sam later.” It was a thinly veiled goodbye.
Ashley responded with icy politeness, “Okay.”
Chase didn’t linger. He walked over to Mrs. Sterling, the matriarch of the family.“Grandmother, I have something to attend to. I’ll be going now.”
Mrs. Sterling didn’t bother to rise, her voice as cold as the January air.“Goodbye. Don’t bother
eeing me out.”
Undeterred by her frosty dismissal, Chase nodded curtly to Steve before exiting the ballroom. He emerged from the hotel, his departure noted by Zark, who paused mid–exit from his car. Chase quickly got into his car and drove away. Zark remained seated, watching him go. Nan Zhizhi and Tim left after the event concluded.
Sam, after piling her plate high with appetizers earlier, barely touched her dinner. She’d escaped upstairs to her video games.
With most guests gone, Ashley went upstairs to find her daughter.
Sam
are
you
finished?”
removed her headphones as Ashley entered.“Mommy, “Mm–hmm.” Remembering Chase’s words, she said, “Your father said he’ll pick you up tonight. Call him and ask when he’ll be here.”
The thought of going home and playing with her Aunt Wu the next day brightened Sam’s face.”Okay!”
The call was answered quickly. Moments later, she hung up.“Daddy says he’ll be here in fifteen minutes.”
“Alright, I know,” Ashley replied. “Pack your things; I’ll take you downstairs to wait for your dad,” Sam wanted to ask her mother for help packing, as Ashley usually did it for her. But seeing her mother’s subdued mood, she swallowed the request.
