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Novel Catalog
Chapter 93: That Is Called Harassment
Ainsley was silent, then snorted, “If he loves you so much, then why are you here talking to me?”
Just as Kaliyah was about to respond, a Cayenne pulled up by the roadside. Manuel stepped out of the car and locked eyes with Ainsley.
Ignoring Kaliyah, Ainsley walked toward Manuel. “Mr. Gage, what’s going on?”
“Let’s get in the car first,” Manuel said, opening the door for her.
Ainsley hesitated for a moment before getting in.
Kaliyah, visibly frustrated, called out to Manuel, “Mr. Gage, do you know that Ms. Easton has been in contact with Cason?”
Manuel paused, then turned back to face her. “From what I know, it’s actually Cason who has been reaching out to Ms. Easton. And that’s called harassment.”
Without another word, he slid into the car.
Ainsley glanced at Kaliyah, her tone casual. “Well, they really are a perfect match.”
Manuel looked at Ainsley, concern in his eyes. “Did Cason send you?”
Ainsley nodded. “He said Mathew wasn’t feeling well and wanted to see me, so I came.”
Manuel’s expression turned cold. “He’s up to no good.”
Ainsley sighed. “Who knows what he’s up to these days? But I really can’t stand him.”
Manuel’s face darkened. “What if his target is you?”
Ainsley shook her head. “He’s in love with Kaliyah. He won’t care about me. But something’s definitely off with him lately.”
She paused before turning to Manuel. “By the way, why did you call me?”
“Serina’s been crying. She kept saying she wanted to see you.”
“What? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Ainsley asked, now concerned.
At the apartment, Serina was lying in bed, clutching the quilt tightly despite the heat of the day. When Ainsley walked in, she reached in to feel Serina’s feverish body.
“Serina, I’m here.” Ainsley rushed to open the window.
Hearing Ainsley’s voice, Serina immediately crawled out from under the blanket and clung to Ainsley’s arm. “Ainsley, you’re here! You’re finally here!”
Tears still shimmered in her eyes as she nuzzled Ainsley’s arm for comfort.
“Don’t be scared. There’s no danger,” Ainsley reassured her.
“I know, but I needed to see you,” Serina said, her voice trembling with fear.
Ainsley finally realized that something was wrong. Serina wasn’t just clinging to her for comfort; she seemed to be worried about her.
She led Serina to the living room, where Manuel watched them, concern still evident on his face.
“Serina, tell me, are you worried that bad people might hurt me?” Ainsley asked gently.
Serina glanced at the wound on Ainsley’s thigh and spoke with a nervous tremor in her voice. “There are bad people out there. They’ll kill you.”
Ainsley quickly covered her wound, offering a reassuring smile. “Don’t be afraid. There’s no danger here.”
Serina nodded, but her eyes remained filled with anxiety. Despite the reassurance, she still felt an underlying sense of danger.
“Can I go to school with you?” Serina asked, her eyes hopeful as she looked at Manuel.
Manuel exchanged a glance with Ainsley. It was clear that Serina wasn’t in any condition to go to school, but she had become so dependent on Ainsley that it was difficult to say no.
“How about this,” Ainsley said, “You can go to school, but you have to promise to focus on your class. Afterward, you can meet up with me.”
Serina nodded seriously. “Okay.”
Seeing how earnest Serina was, Manuel didn’t object. He knew Ainsley had a point; letting Serina go back to her routine would help her regain some stability.
Manuel sighed, his eyes softening. “Serina is too dependent on you,” he said, glancing apologetically at Ainsley.
“It’s fine. I’m her psychological counselor. I have to take responsibility for her progress,” Ainsley replied.
After that, Ainsley returned to her apartment. Her mind told her to stay rational, but she couldn’t shake the emotions stirring within her. She had to figure out who she really was and what she wanted.
That evening, Kaliyah came home in a daze. Cason had just finished his shower and noticed her distracted state. “Why are you back so late?” he asked, his voice neutral.
“Mom said a lot to me,” Kaliyah replied, forcing a smile.
“Okay,” Cason said, walking past her. “I need to go to the study to finish something.”
Kaliyah watched him go, an expression of frustration growing on her face. She wasn’t ready to let him slip away.
Half an hour later, Kaliyah emerged from her room wearing a silk nightgown that showed off her figure. Her hair was still damp, and she had spritzed perfume and applied lipstick. She entered the study, holding a bottle of wine.
She placed the wine in front of Cason and said in a soft, clear voice, “Cason, it’s been a while since we really talked.”
Cason took a sip of the wine but kept his focus on the computer screen. He glanced at her briefly before returning to his work. “Really?”
“Yes, Cason. You’ve been so busy lately, you haven’t been spending time with me,” she said, walking closer. She placed a hand on his shoulder, her fingers brushing his earlobe.
Cason knew exactly what she wanted. He sighed and pulled her into his arms, his voice tired. “Kaliyah, this document is really important. I need to finish it tonight. Go rest. You don’t have to wait for me.”
“Cason, can’t you stay with me?” she whispered, her hand slipping down to his chest.
He gently took her hand away and said, “Kaliyah, be obedient.”
“Cason, I…” she began.
“I’ll definitely spend time with you tomorrow,” he promised, his voice exhausted.
Cason turned his attention back to his work, and Kaliyah’s expression fell. Disappointed, she returned to her room. The coldness of his response hit her harder than she expected.
This wasn’t the Cason she remembered. The man who used to carry her to her room after a busy day, the one who showered her with affection no matter how hectic his schedule was. She wondered, Does he still care about me? Or has he moved on to someone else?
It’s impossible, Kaliyah thought. He just divorced Ainsley for me. He can’t be abandoning me now.
As she lay in bed, Kaliyah couldn’t shake the feeling that Ainsley was the one standing in her way, even though she was now with Mr. Gage. I won’t let Ainsley take Cason from me.
Meanwhile, Ainsley had long since moved on from the troubles of the day. The burns on her thigh from the Quiz Show were healing, and she was back to her regular routine. Early that morning, she went to the school to meet Raymond.
“Ms. Easton, you played a huge role in the success of the Quiz Show,” Raymond said as they sat in his office. “Though something unfortunate happened, it wasn’t your fault. We all value you. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. By the way, after discussing it, we’ve decided to give Kaitlin a small punishment.”
Ainsley nodded, understanding. Kaitlin had already been detained, but since the Baldry family still had ties to the school board, expelling her was not an option.
Raymond continued, “I just wanted you to know the school’s position.”
“I understand, Mr. Ford,” Ainsley replied.
Raymond smiled at her. “Please, go back to the counseling room. The students are very concerned about you.”
Ainsley didn’t fully understand until she reached the Psychological Counseling Room. When she walked in, she was met with a wall of postcards—each one filled with messages from the students, all expressing their support.
