Chapter 21 Family


    Ashley arrived at the curb and immediately hailed a taxi. She boarded the cab and gave some


    instructions to the driver. They exited the heavily trafficked downtown and headed towards a tree-lined


    road. Ashley guided the driver until they had finally reached Splendor Gardens. The driver raised his


    eyebrow and looked at Ashley curiously when he saw their destination.


    The residents of this area were usually business tycoons and social elites. They were wealthy enough


    to afford their own car and a driver. This made the driver curious about Ashley''s status.


    Ashley dismissed the driver''s inquisitive look. They had arrived in front of the Mus'' vi. She got off the


    car and told the driver to wait for her at the curb. She let out a deep sigh topose herself and


    walked towards the vi.


    She had to make the driver wait or she wouldn''t have a ride backter. The people in the vi wouldn''t


    let her spend the night. It would take her all night just to walk back home.


    "Tinkle, tinkle." Ashley pressed the doorbell. She stood in front of the door and waited.


    Even though Ashley was an adopted daughter of the Mu family, she was never given a key to the vi.


    She only entered the vi when she ran errands for the family or when she was med for Lena''s


    misbehaviors. The Mu family didn''t really care for Ashley. They wouldn''t even be fazed if she was sick


    or even if she died.


    Ashley epted this fact about the Mu family. She was aware that they didn''t love her. The thought


    that she would leave the Mu family uplifted her spirits.


    A few seconds passed by and a servant opened the door. Ashley then walked towards the living room,


    but to her surprise, a cup almost hit her in the face.


    A loud sound echoed in the room as the cup hit the floor and broke into pieces.


    Ashley was shocked by what happened. Her furious eyes searched for who threw the cup. It was a few


    inches from her face and she was grateful that she dodged the assault.


    Ashley raised her head and saw Lena. Ashley felt creepy and confused by the pitiful look Lena gave


    her.


    ''Why does she look at me with pity?


    She is regretful because the cup didn''t hit my face?


    Or she feels sorry that I wasn''t disfigured?


    Ah!''


    Ashley sneered.


    "How dare you move away? Shame on you! Do you have any idea what you did in the Luo Group?"


    Peggy began her barrage of insults and abuse towards Ashley. Her rage and disgust with Ashley were


    felt in her words.


    She didn''t even feel guilty when she threw a cup to her adopted daughter. Peggy never actually treated


    her as her child in the first ce.


    Meanwhile, Spencer sat on the sofa with a nk face. It was hard to figure out whether he was happy


    or angry. He was silent and no one else in the room could tell what was on his mind. His dignified aura


    was developed from being the president of apany. He was noble as a knight while he sat


    impassively.


    However, Ashley wasn''t scared by Spencer''s look. She stared at him politely as she waited for his


    opinion regarding this event.


    Spencer didn''t pay attention to the maltreatments Ashley received from Peggy and Lena. He didn''t care


    for all the beatings, bruises and scars they had given Ashley. Spencer had ignored their behavior


    because it didn''t break his bottom line.


    Spencer''s bottom line was that no one could ruin hispany.


    Therefore, did Ashley ruin thepany when she sabotaged Lena''s reputation?


    Ashley blinked as she imagined what might happen to her.


    She was surprised when Spencer finally talked. He said with a deep calm voice, "Is what they''re saying


    true? Did you do it?"


    "No!" Ashley denied the ims against her. Her voice was adamant while her eyes were steady and


    committed. She tried her best to appear innocent.


    It didn''t matter if she was the one responsible for that.


    She couldn''t admit the truth to her family now.


    Furthermore, even if they doubted her and had her investigated, they wouldn''t be able to find out the


    truth.


    "No one else would dare to do it! You are the only one in thepany who doesn''t get along with


    Lena. You always try to take away the things Lena likes. Youpete with her for thepany


    positions she wants. You have always antagonized her ever since you were young." Peggy screamed


    as she med Ashley.


    She had already convinced herself that Ashley was the culprit.


    "It wasn''t me! My dear mother, could you please tell me how I could do this to Lena when I don''t know


    that person''s ount and password of the forum?" asked Ashley with an innocent smile on her face.


    Honestly, she really did it. However, the family wouldn''t be able to find out that it was her. They couldn''t


    do anything to her without any evidence.


    "I don''t know how you stole the ount and password. You must have bribed her or threatened her so


    that you could frame Lena! How dare you do this to her! You are so young but already so evil!" Peggy


    lashed out to Ashley. She was filled with disappointment because Ashley didn''t live up to her


    expectations.


    Peggy got more furious when she saw Ashley''s innocent smile. She rolled her eyes and turned her


    back on Ashley.


    "How could I do something like that? I am not aware of who that person is. Additionally, you guys know


    I don''t have enough money to bribe anyone. That person wouldn''t be interested in a small amount of


    cash that I possess," Ashley said politely. She still denied everything. She then nced at Lena who


    was distressed in Peggy''s arms.


    Lena grew anxious when she noticed Ashley''s gaze. Her heart trembled restlessly.


    ''Did she find out the truth? Did she know I sent the pictures? Did she figure out what I did?


    No! That''s impossible! She couldn''t have possibly known the truth!'' Lena grew scared. The doubts in


    her mind made her panic.


    Lena began to sob. Her eyes reddened as tears flowed down her cheeks. She cried, "Mom, how could


    I face the people outside! I would rather die than live with this kind of embarrassment!"


    Lena thought of the people in thepany who stared at her lewdly. It was as if she was naked as she


    walked in that corridor. Lena wanted to gouge their eyeballs out as punishment.


    Lena continued to cry helplessly. Her charming eyes grew red and moist. There were some moist parts


    in her blouse as the tears flowed down her rosy cheeks. She gasped in between sobs to catch her


    breath. She looked like a princess, delicate and charming. Any man would offer his life to save her from


    her current trepidation.


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    "Hush now, my angel. Mom will find a way to fix this." Peggyforted her with a gentle voice. She


    stroked Lena''s hair to provide sce.


    Afterward, Peggy turned her attention to Ashley. She screamed at her, "Did you hear what your sister


    said? Look at what you did. Do you realize what kind of agony you''ve caused her? You should''ve


    supported her in thepany, but instead, you framed her and ruined her reputation! Is this how you


    show your gratitude to the people who gave you a home?" Peggy didn''t even give Ashley a nce.


    She was very furious with Ashley that she might throw something to her again!


    Ashley snickered at her mother''s words. She started tough as if to mock Peggy. Anyone could tell


    she was being sarcastic. She turned to her and asked, "Mom, are you deaf or something? I already told


    you I do not know the identity of that person, so how could I frame Lena? As for the posts, it must be a


    punishment for someone whomitted many wrong things or maybe it''s just God''s will."


    Lena was infuriated by Ashley''s mockery. She red at Ashley with eyes filled with rage and disgust.


    Both she and her mother hated Ashley from the bottom of their hearts.


    ''I''m going to make you confess, '' Lena thought.


    Of course, Lena knew that person. It was one of her ounts. She nned to discredit and humiliate


    Ashley with the use of this ount.


    However, she never imagined that things would go out of her control.


    Lena didn''t know who hacked into the ount and changed her password. She vowed to torment the


    person responsible if she ever learned who it was.


    "Enough! The three of you, shut up now! Take a look at yourselves! You act like noisy women in the


    street. Don''t forget your positions!" Spencer yelled at them. He was silent the whole time. This was only


    the second time he spoke ever since Ashley arrived.


    He looked at Ashley from head to toe, as if to investigate her. His wise eyes tried to search for the truth.


    No one could tell whether he trusted Ashley or not.


    However, Ashley didn''t care if Spencer trusted her words.


    She grew hungry during these arguments. Her mind started to think about home and food. All she


    wanted was to end this confrontation, go home and eat the dinner Ellie made.