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Novel Catalog
Chapter 35: She Will Beg Him Sooner or Later
When Cason saw who had approached, a fleeting moment of fear passed through his eyes. “When did Mr. Gage arrive? I didn’t expect you to have the habit of eavesdropping,” he said, his voice tinged with irritation.
Manuel’s expression remained calm, his demeanor unshaken. He stood beside Ainsley, his attention directed elsewhere, offering Cason no more than a brief glance. “How can you call it eavesdropping when we’re in public?” He let the words hang in the air. “Besides, Mr. Baldry, you’re Aisy’s ex-husband, aren’t you? Don’t you think you’re overstepping?”
Aisy?
Cason’s face twisted in displeasure. Manuel had always been distant, particularly with women, and there were very few people in Seattle who could even get close to him. But here he was, casually calling Ainsley by such an intimate nickname. Cason’s anger flared, though he couldn’t quite place why.
He glanced at Ainsley, hoping to see some sign of discomfort, some reaction. But there was nothing. Her expression was as serene as ever, and it only infuriated him further.
In the past, Ainsley would have offered an explanation, would have tried to smooth things over. But now, she stood next to another man, completely indifferent to his feelings.
Cason stared at her, trying to read her expression, but all he found was cold detachment. “So, I guess I was wrong to intervene. I didn’t expect that just a few days after our divorce, your relationship with Mr. Gage would be so… close. You’re already getting him to stand up for you.”
Ainsley had spent so many years entangled with this man—how could she not understand what he was implying? But she wasn’t in the mood for a confrontation. She simply let his words hang in the air, offering no response. Instead, she turned to Manuel. “Mr. Gage, it’s getting late. Shall we go?”
Manuel gave a nod, his voice quiet but firm. “Okay. Serina is with her classmate. I’ll send you back first.”
Without another word, they walked past Cason, leaving him standing there, seething with frustration. His hands clenched by his sides, but he made no move to stop them.
Back in the car, Cason’s mood remained dark, a storm of thoughts swirling in his mind.
Kaliyah, sitting in the passenger seat, could sense his unease. She reached over and touched his sleeve, her voice soft with concern. “Cason, what happened? I just saw you and Ms. Easton talking to Mr. Gage…”
“Nothing,” Cason snapped, his irritation rising at the mere mention of Ainsley and Manuel. “Just… nothing.”
Kaliyah’s eyebrows furrowed, surprised by his sharp tone. But she didn’t press him further, instead watching as Cason’s frustration simmered. After a moment, Cason seemed to realize his outburst. He sighed, his expression softening, though his words remained cold. “I’m sorry, Kaliyah. I didn’t expect Ainsley to be such a woman. So eager to latch onto a rich man after our divorce… Even though I never loved her, I at least respected her.” He paused, frustration still clouding his features. “But now… now, it’s clear she’s just looking for someone to take care of her.”
Kaliyah tilted her head slightly, her voice hesitant. “But Cason, you gave her a house, money… logically speaking, she shouldn’t have to worry about anything for the rest of her life. So why is she still chasing after someone like Manuel? I don’t understand.”
Cason’s brow furrowed at Kaliyah’s words. He remembered something from the past—when Ainsley had started seeking him out more often after the Easton family’s property had fallen into Matteo’s hands. It was a subtle thing, but now it seemed so obvious.
Kaliyah continued, her voice soft with sympathy. “If Manuel really does fall for her, we should be happy for her. But what if it’s just a passing fancy? What if he’s just toying with her?”
Cason’s eyes hardened, but he reached over and gently squeezed Kaliyah’s hand, a gesture that seemed to calm her more than anything he could say. “Kaliyah, you’re too kind. Ainsley may have hurt you, but you still care for her. Don’t worry about her. Whatever happens, it has nothing to do with us anymore. Let’s go home.”
Kaliyah smiled, but there was a trace of pity in her eyes. “No, I just think it’s sad. She spent so many years trying to make you fall in love with her, and now she’s looking for a man like Manuel. How could someone like him truly care for her so soon after her divorce? She’s really pitiful.”
Cason’s mood seemed to shift slightly at Kaliyah’s words. It was strange, but hearing her speak like that made him feel better, like he was somehow justified in his feelings. Yes, Ainsley had made her choice, and now she would regret it. Sooner or later, she would have to come back to him.
After all, how could a man like Manuel fall for a woman who had already been discarded?
