His Masked Bride

Ashley let out cold hum. It seemed the position of Mrs Andrew was indeed a hot seat.

Nelson felt a wave of embarrassment. The boss hadn't come home last night, which will sure lead the Young Mistress to have all sorts of suspicions. She was probably to overthink things.

"Young Mistress, the Young Master wouldn't do anything inappropriate. Please don't worry too much."

Ashley nodded for a moment, then turned around and gave a slight nod.

…..

At the hospital.

Last night, Old Madam Andrews returned to the country and was targeted halfway.

The assailants was aggressive, ramming their call into hers. Mabel quickly got the old woman out of the car while the driver sped off to hake off the attackers.

Mabel and the Old Woman hid in an alley, anxiously waiting for Richard to come to their rescue.

During the escape, Mabel scrapped her knee. Now, a doctor was treating her wound with Richard present.

The doctor finished bandaging her knee and looked up.

"President Andrew, rest assured. Miss Anderson's injuries are not serious and she will be fine."

Richard nodded, his eyes showing signs of fatigue. He had spent the entire night at the hospital with his grandmother. Who had being so frightened that her blood pressure had skyrocketed.

After the doctor left, Richard spoke up, "Thank you for protecting Grandma yesterday. If there's anything you want as compensation, just let me know."

Compensation? Mabel's heart raced oth excitement. She wanted to voice her deeeoesr desire, but she wisely suppressed the thought.

"Brother Richard, you don't need be so polite. Protecting Grandma in a time of crisis wasy duty. By the way, my injury is minor. I can be discharged and take care of Grandma.

Mabel made a move to get out of bed.

Richard quickly stopped her. "Grandma is fine. You need to rest and heal. If you need anything ask the doctor am heading back to the office."

"Okay, you can go ahead."

As Richard reached the doorway, Ashley happened to be passing by and they nearly collided.

Seeing Richard, Ashley's eyes widened in surprise, but Richard spoke first.

"What are you doing here?"

Ashley was momentarily speechless.

That exactly what she wanted to ask him. However, a clear feminine voice from inside the room made everything clear to her.

"Brother Richard, is Miss Weston here?"

Ashley glanced at the frail Mabel standing behind Richard, then met Richard's scrutinizing gaze with disdain.

"Good, Mabel is injured so keep your schemes to yourself. I can't stand women who are always plotting."

"Don't flatter yourself a slong as no one messes with me, I don't have energy deal with them. Running into the two of you is just my bad luck."

With a proud lift of her chest, Ashley walked into her grandmothers hospital room.

Richard's face turned dark with anger, did she just looked down on them?

With a flick of his hand, he stormed off as well.

Mabel bit her lips in frustration, grabbed her phone and send message to a certain n number.

"You did well last night I will transfer the money to your account."

Yes, the car accident that injured them last night was her own doing, all part of her plan to gain favor from the old lady.

The Old lady had a strong dislike for her and was the only one in the Andrew's family who least wanted her around.

Richard was walking past a hospital room when the conversation inside made him stopped on his track.

"Ashley, why are you visiting me at the hospital? There's nothing wrong with your Old Grandma. You are newly married; you should be spending time with your husband and building your relationship. Don't worry about me all the time."

Ashley sat by the hospital bed, holding her grandmother's hand, and pouted playfully.

"Grandma, I miss you, I want to be with you all everyday. Besides, Andrew's family is so big, and Richard has to manage the company. He doesn't have time to be with me at home."

In front of her grandma, Ashley was always a child.

Ashley had only told her grandmother that she was marrying the Young Master of the Andrew's family, but she hadn't mentioned the rumor that Richard was disabled.

Her grandmother pulled her hand away and gently tapped Ashley's forehead.

"You stop coming to the hospital so often. Andrew's family is wealthy. If they find out you have an Old Grandma like me. They might have a problem with. Tell me the truth, is the Andrew's family treating you well? You seem like you have lost some weight."

Ashley pinched her cheeks, making a face of disbelief.

"Lost weight? No way! I eat gourmet food everyday, four meals a day. I'm so full of it. Grandma, you must be mistaken. My face under the mask have become chubbier."

Ashley silently cursed Richard in her mind, that dog of a man had left her starving for days.

Her grandmother, with a hint of worry, thought to herself that Ashley must believe she was old and frail. In reality, she was just too thin.

It seemed that Ashley days with the Andrew's family hasn't been easy. Her dear Ashley, if only she hadn't have that scar on her face. Such a good child, now disfigured. In a family as prestigious as Andrews, how could they not mind?

Richard standing at the door, was puzzled. The elderly woman leaving here was Ashley's grandmother.

Strange, was this woman meant to be vicious? Yet, in front of her grandmother she seemed so well behaved.

"Grandma what are you looking at? She turned her head but the door was empty."

….

In the hallway, Richard ran into Doctor Caleb, who has just returned from a business trip, Doctor Caleb greeted Richard warmly.

"President Andrew are you feeling unwell or a family member is sick? Let .e know and I will personally take care if it."

Richard smiled lightly, what illness does the elderly lady in room 332 have?

Room 332, Doctor Caleb adjusted his glasses clearly surprised.

"The elderly lady in 323 is someone president Andrew knows? President Andrew please follow me to the office for detailed explanation."

After leaving the office, Richard exited the hospital and spotted Ashley by the lake. She was leaning against the railings, staring up at the cluster of weeping willows.

He let out a cola snort. Wondering what kind of bad luck had him running into this Woman every where he went.

Brian pulled up in his car and hurried over.

"Sis in law, why are we meeting outside the hospital? Are you sick?"

Ashley ignored Brian concern and instead rummage through her bag, pulling out the sketch of a magnolia brooch.

"It's my grandmother who's unwell, take a look at the design."

Brain tookbthe sketch, which depicted a lifelike magnolia brooch with a unique style. His eyes locked up and he looked at Ashley with new found respect.

"Sis in law, your design is amazing. Let go with this,  Grandma will love it."

Ashley nodded.

"Alright once it done, I will hand it over to you."

"You look exhausted, are you mad at big brother?" Brian asked noticing the dark circles under Ashley's eyes.

Last night, their grandmother had a accident, and his cousin stayed at the hospital all night. Now Ashley looks worn out too. Could it be that she was upset cause his cousin didn't return home?

Ashley rolled her eyes, and stuffed her manuscript inside her bag, zipping it with swift motion.

"Why would I be mad at him? Have been up all night rushing to finish this manuscript for you, and that why I have dark circles."

Brian scrutinized Ashley's face closely. Huh, that was strange.

It was the first time he has seen a woman who wasn't interested in his cousin. From childhood till now every girl who saw his  couyacted like butterflies, always wanting to be around him.

Seeing that Brian didn't seem to believe her, Ashley sighed and kicked the pebble in the ground.

"You know what, to me his just like this rock- smelly and hard. There's no way I will be interested in him."

With that Ashley hurriedly lifted he rfeet and kicked the pebble. It flew in beautiful arc and hit the lake.

Brian was stunned.

But moment later, he exclaimed excitedly, "sis you are absolutely right! My cousin is a jerk. I've never liked him either."

"Sister in law, look at this my cousin and I kicked them. See, I kicked mine farther than you, "Brian pointed at apile of stones."

"What! Watch this I can kick farther than you now," Ashley said, clapping her hands with excitement as another slton flew into the lake.

"My turn"

"Haha I kicked farther than you…."

By the lakeside, stone flew back and forth as the playful competition continued, filling the air with lively laughter.

Not far away, a man stood, his body tense and his face darkened with every passing moment.

"Boss are you alright?"

Nelson sneaked a glance at Richard trying hard to suppress his laughter.

His stomach hurt from holding it in. This young lady is quite the character, comparing the boss to stone. Not only saying the stone was smelly and hard, but she also stomped and kicked it repeatedly.

"I'm done, I'm done. I'm tired," Ashley said, clapping her hands and kicking stones for a while.