CHAPTER 254


    Chapter 254


    Let’s get rid of this troublemaker first: Gabriel thought as he answered Ashley with a stern face,


    “Okay,”


    With a satisfied smile, Ashley then turned her gaze to Max. Td like to have your contact


    information,” she said.


    “Me?” Max was surprised.


    Ashley nodded solemnly, “Yes”


    “Why?” Max asked.


    As a woman approaching her forties, Ashley felt hesitant to express her intentions directly due to


    her personality. “There’s something I need to discuss. Let’s connect on WhatsApp and chat there,”


    she said.


    Max became even more puzzled, but seeing Ashley’s serious demeanor, he grew somewhat


    curious about what she might want from him. And it seemed that Ashley disapproved of Gabriel


    being with Gina. In that regard, their thoughts seemed to align without the need for discussion.


    Max hesitated for a moment before giving Ashley his contact information. Having obtained it, Ashley


    wasted no time and immediately grabbed Gabriel, “Alright, hurry up and pack up to take me back to


    Norwood.”


    Feeling helpless and eager to get rid of Ashley as soon as possible, Gabriel nced reluctantly at


    Gina. Seeing Gina nod, indicating that he could apany Ashley, Gabriel nced uneasily at


    Max nearby. Max raised an eyebrow nonchntly, seemingly announcing to Gabriel: “While you’re


    away, it’s a good time to poach your potential partner.”


    As Gabriel clenched his fists, restraining the urge to punch Max in the face, Ashley pulled him away


    and followed her towards the elevator. Finally satisfied, she was determined to take Gabriel back to


    Norwood tonight, away from Gina! ncing at Gabriel, she noticed his expressionless face and


    cold gaze, wondering what was going through his mind.


    Gabriel thought, ‘Getting this troublemaker out of here tonight might not be a bad idea.


    Gina and Max waited for the next one. Max was somewhat surprised and said, “I thought you wouldCopyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    take the same elevator as Gabriel.”


    Gina was straightforward. “I don’t want to be around Ashley,” she said. Even if it was just for a short


    while in the same space, Gina maintained her attitude toward people she didn’t want to be around.


    Max teased. “It looks like she isn’t easy to get along with.” Max was confused and muttered, “What


    does she want by adding my contact information?”


    Gina suddenly smirked. “She probably wants you to be her second-time partner.”


    Max’s eye twitched. “Are you joking with me? Very humorous.”


    Gina said thoughtfully, “I happened to hear her say it herself-she’s been looking for someone to


    settle down with again. Otherwise, why would she ask for your contact information the rst time you


    met?”


    Max felt amused and disbelief. “She was over ten years older than me…” He didn’t consider that


    angle when Ashley asked for his contact information.


    Just as his phone vibrated, Max received a straightforward message from Ashley. [Do you have a


    girlfriend?]


    Max frowned and did not bother to reply to her. Instead, he deleted her contact information.


    Entering the elevator, Max rubbed his forehead, and his reaction provoked Gina’sughter.


    Max gave her a sad re and said, “Are you making fun of me?”


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    “I’m not,” Gina replied, tips-pursed in denial.


    Max sighed helplessly. Tm not interested in being someone’s second-time partner.


    “Yeah…” Gina nodded, almostughing out loud again.


    Max feigned dissatisfaction as he approached Gina. “Still making fun of me? Was it really that


    embarrassing?”


    Feeling that he was too close, Gina instinctively distanced herself from Max.


    Max realized that Gina resisted his sudden approach, so he stopped.


    Gina changed the subject. “You mentioned you were returning to find someone. Did you find them?”


    Max shook his head. “Not yet. He’s hiding pretty well. There’s no trace of him in Oriata City. I must


    prepare and head to the next city to look for him.”


    “Is he your enemy?” Gina asked.


    Max frowned and pondered momentarily before saying. “He’s a betrayer of our family.”


    Gina thought of the Atkinson family. Max, the Atkinson family’s youngest son, took his mother’sst


    name. His mother is of local descent.


    Gina asked. “Did your mother return with you?”


    Max nodded. “She did. She came back to visit some of her friends”


    Gina wanted to confirm something, so she asked. “Can I meet your mother?”


    Max wanted to tease her a bit, asking why she was so eager to meet his parents, but he was also


    afraid she might dislike them. “Sure, when I go to Norwood, let’s set up a time for you to meet her.”


    Gina hinted indirectly and said. “I’ve also been looking for someone.


    “Oh? Is that so?” Max questioned with interest. “Is he someone significant to you?” he asked.


    Gina wasn’t sure how to respond, so she changed the subject again. “Why do you always wear


    gloves?”


    “I have a bit of a cleanliness thing,” Max said casually.


    “Can I see your hands?” Gina asked.


    “Of course you can.” Max took off his gloves.


    All ten fingers are intact—no missing ones.


    “What’s wrong? Do my hands look good?” Max teased. Then, he slowly put on his gloves.


    Despite all the signs suggesting Max might not be the child of that knowledgeable couple, his eyes


    made Gina unable to be sure he wasn’t. If Max was indeed the one, Gina didn’t know what he had


    been through, why he had concealed his identity. or why he had erased his past self. Perhaps being


    Max Griffiths was his safest identity. Her probing and indirectness were also due to the many


    uncertainties, not wanting to dig deeper only to find it was all a misunderstanding.


    Gina didn’t respond. Max smiled and said, “Well, I guess they’re not great-looking.”


    As the two arrived at their rooms’ designated level, they ran into Gabriel and Ashley. Gabriel’s


    expression was icy, while Ashley looked displeased.


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    Chapter 254


    Ashley just noticed thar Max,had outright deleted her contact information Seeing Gina chatting and


    laughing with Maxnow. made her angry. However, Max was tactful enough not to reject Ashley’s


    request for contact details outright face to face.


    Max also noticed Gabriel’s unfriendly demeanor. With Ashley present, he felt awkward and decided


    not to provoke Gabriel further. He said to Gina, Tll head back to my room first.”


    “Okay” Gina nodded.


    Gabriel walked briskly up to Gina. “I’lle back to apany you in a few days.”


    Gina smiled. “I might be heading back to Norwood in a few days


    “Then I’lle to pick you up,” Gabriel replied.


    “Let’s talk about it when the timees,” Gina said.


    Ashley urged Gabriel, “Let’s go. I want to get home quickly.”


    Gabriel, impatient, ignored Ashley and walked into the elevator, Ashley nced at Gina, clearly


    showing her displeasure. Gina quickly looked away, avoiding Ashley, and walked towards her room


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