As soon as "Claire Xavier" was ntioned, all three present were stunned.
Ashley Shaw couldn’t help but confirm, "Is it the ’Claire’ from clarity and the ’Xavier’ from river Xavier?"
Shane Coleman nodded and said "yes," just about to ask what’s up with the na, wondering if they knew each other. He suddenly recalled how Owen Sinclair called her "Brooke" when the lady walked in, and Ashley Shaw called her "Ms. Grant."
Grant, Xavier, Claire Xavier...
Shane Coleman’s eyes suddenly widened.
"Is she Claire Xavier?"
Ashley Shaw couldn’t really smile, nor could she sympathize, so she just squeezed out a dry laugh.
"Yes, unexpected, isn’t it? Ms. Grant is your matchmaking partner."
Shane Coleman felt a bit of a headache.
"Ashley, does this an I had a breakup before I even started?"
"Seems...like it?"
Owen Sinclair chid in, "It’s perfect that she’s here today, you should show her what you got. She probably didn’t want to et you initially because she didn’t know who you were, but what if she finds you appealing today?"
Shane Coleman thought this made sense, too.
He’s a man, and facing challenges, n should be brave enough to take them on rather than retreat when things don’t appear favorable.
"I’ll tell the boss I’ll pay for her table."
After saying this, Shane Coleman didn’t waste words and went straight to speak with the restaurant owner.
Unexpectedly, all dishes on their table were served and nearly consud, yet Claire Xavier still hadn’t returned.
Instead, the restaurant owner ca over, saying Claire Xavier had canceled her reservation last minute.
Ashley Shaw told Shane Coleman not to worry and went to the entrance to call Claire Xavier herself.
Claire Xavier’s side was very noisy; Ashley Shaw asked and found out that it was because Ivy Bond had suddenly fainted.
The Bond Family parents were obviously too distracted to eat and rushed to the hospital with Claire Xavier.
Ashley Shaw clutched her phone, looking bewildered.
"How did she suddenly faint? Wasn’t it said...the situation was stable for now?"
Claire Xavier sighed and said, "She argued with a nurse, and the nurse couldn’t hold back, revealing her illness to her. She fainted from the shock, not from her condition."
Ashley Shaw breathed a sigh of relief but then tensed again.
"Has she woken up yet?"
"Not yet, we’re still on our way there."
"Oh, okay," Ashley Shaw said quickly, "I won’t disturb you then, let’s reschedule."
"Okay."
Claire Xavier really seed in a hurry, and with a brief response, she hung up.
Ashley Shaw returned to the table and briefly described the situation, causing Shane Coleman to look disappointed.
"Well, there’s no helping it, a patient’s needs are urgent."
Ashley Shaw served Shane Coleman a chicken drumstick.
"Here, eat more, you’ll need the energy to pursue soone."
Shane Coleman managed a smile, quickly regaining his composure.
After all, it’s just love at first sight, and not so intense that the absence of the other party would lead to emotional breakdown.
Everyone had been waiting for Claire Xavier, but in truth, they’d already nearly finished eating. Now knowing Claire wouldn’t co, Owen Sinclair stood up to pay and returned with a small jar in hand.
Inside were hogrown radishes given by the owner, albeit not large ones, but rather tiny, finger-length radishes.
Ariana Grant’s eyes sparkled as she held the jar happily, saying, "Perfect match with porridge in the morning."
Ashley Shaw chuckled, "They are delicious, but you should eat less pickled foods."
Ariana Grant turned to Shane Coleman imdiately to complain.
"Lawyer Sterling, can I sue her for dampening my enthusiasm?"
Shane Coleman laughed, "I’d be thrilled, another case for . You two fight more often, so my firm won’t run out of business."
Ariana Grant quickly switched sides.
"Don’t think of driving a wedge between us, Ashley and I are the world’s best mother-daughter duo!"
"Mother-daughter?"
"Yes, I’m the daughter, she’s the mother."
Ashley Shaw said, "There’s no need to announce to the world that I’m a woman; everyone can see that."
Owen Sinclair listened with amusent, his eyes smilingly crinkled.
"Listening to you talk is like watching a sketch, it’s rejuvenating. Spring Festival should invite you guys, it’d definitely restore past viewership ratings."
The three laughed heartily, going with Owen Sinclair to his house.
These old residences had no elevators, and Owen’s ho was on the top floor, so they huffed and puffed their way up to the fifth floor.
Once there, Ariana Grant leaned against the wall, saying, "Today’s exercise goal achieved, I’m going to lose weight."
Owen Sinclair said, "Next ti I’ll invite you to my Aethelgard ho, there’s no climbing required."
"Yay!" Ariana Grant cheered, feeling lucky to visit the film star’s two residences.
The interior had been cleaned, and when the door opened, it didn’t look like no one had lived there for ages.
"Feel free to sit, I’ll boil so water for you."
Owen Sinclair spoke as he headed to the kitchen.
Just as he was entering the kitchen, he suddenly rembered sothing, his expression changed, and he hurried back to the living room, his gaze fixed on the TV cabinet.
There was a photo fra on it, with a picture of him and "her" in their youth.
Yet now, that spot which held the photo fra was empty, the photo missing.
Confused, he turned to see Shane Coleman erging from his bedroom, giving him a knowing wink.
Owen Sinclair understood instantly; Shane Coleman had stowed it away for him.
Feeling relieved, Owen returned to the bedroom, locked the door, and then went back to the kitchen.
Owen’s penthouse had an added open-air garden compared to the lower floors, where Ashley Shaw and Ariana Grant were, hence missing the earlier scene.
The garden’s plants were hardy against cold and drought, remaining lush.
From here, one could see the old streetscape of the antique residential district.
"Feels like going back to childhood," Ariana Grant said.
Ashley Shaw, having grown up in the countryside, didn’t find the scene particularly nostalgic but felt the pace here admittedly seed slower compared to the CBD area.
"Ashley, when shall we go to Aethelgard?" Ariana Grant asked.
Ashley Shaw thought for a mont, "I want to head over soon, and you? I’ll follow your lead."
"Shall we go tomorrow?"
Ashley Shaw raised her eyes, "I don’t mind, I don’t really have much to pack, but do you have everything organized?"
Ariana Grant spread her hands, "I don’t have much to pack either, just so clothes, the rest I can give away or discard. So things are rely irritating to look at anyway."
Ashley Shaw nodded, "Alright, let’s pack after the lawsuit."
"Mm!"
With that settled, the two went back to the living room.
The water had just boiled but was too hot to drink, so they sipped carefully.
Owen Sinclair added goji berries and dates; it felt quite rejuvenating to drink.
Owen said, "This is all I could find at ho, but don’t worry, it’s not expired."
"We know you wouldn’t poison us," Ariana Grant joked.
Owen Sinclair asked, "When are you planning to head to Aethelgard?"
"Tomorrow."
Owen Sinclair asked in surprise, "In such a hurry?"
Ariana Grant nodded, "Yes, once things are settled, I don’t want to stay here a minute longer."
Owen instantly offered, "Even if you go tomorrow, there’s a week left before school starts. Where will you stay during that week? How about staying at my Aethelgard ho?"
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