Chapter 356 Miserable Francis

Ashley nodded in agreement. "Yes, you're probably right."

The girls hung out until it was time to get off work. Ashley meanwhile didn't seem to want to leave.

Ellie looked at her, seemingly puzzled. "Why hasn't he come to pick you up?"

'Isn't he normally punctual? He's always here at five o'clock sharp. It doesn't matter if there's a
rainstorm or a hurricane—he has never been late. Not even a minute late.

Even if he needed to work overtime, he would have asked somebody to come and pick her up.

What's going on?

Did he forget?'

Ashley turned, wanting nothing more than to leave. She really wasn't in the mood to talk about it.

This didn't go unnoticed by Ellie's sharp eyes. She squinted then raised her voice, "Ashley, stop!"

'Ahhh, ' Ashley thought to herself. 'Why do we need to talk about it now? I'm not ready to talk about it
just yet.'

She slowly swiveled and put on a fake smile. "What is it, Ellie? Nina and Cheryl have already left. Let's
get our things and leave too."

Ellie ignored what she said and asked her instead, "What's happening? Isn't Andrew coming to pick
you up? Did you two have a fight?"

Ashley pressed her lips together and said, "Why would we fight?"

"Then what's the matter?" Ellie wouldn't let it go.



"Just forget about it," said Ashley, her face turning ugly.

Ellie approached her so she could hug her. Then in a soft voice, she asked, "What happened? You
used to tell me everything. We never keep anything from each other. Why won't you tell me now?"

She was almost sure that they did have a fight. But they didn't look like the type of couple who would
fight.

As Ashley let herself be enveloped in Ellie's arms, she felt her sadness surge inside her. She
murmured, "Ellie, let's go home first. We can talk there, okay?"

Ellie agreed. "All right. Let's go home first. We can talk there. Don't be sad anymore."

"Okay. I'll sleep over tonight,"

she said glumly as she put her head on Ellie's shoulder.

"Okay," said Ellie, stroking Ashley's hair.

Ellie just listened to her and gave her whatever she wanted.

She was a true friend.

They were best friends for that reason.

Ellie had already forgotten about Francis and had already taken him off her mind. Ashley was way
more important than Francis.

They closed the door of the cake shop and left together arm in arm.

"Ellie, let's take the bus back. We can buy some groceries in the supermarket and cook our dinner at
home. What do you think?" Ashley suggested.



"Sure, anything you want," Ellie replied.

"You're the best, Ellie," she said as she leaned on Ellie's shoulder.

"Of course. You're my best friend."

As they were walking on the street, a red Ferrari that was hard to miss suddenly pulled up in front of
them.

Before Ashley could react, Francis suddenly got out of the car. He looked sexy and attractive as he
stepped out.

He was so focused on Ellie that he couldn't even see that she was with someone else.

He ignored whoever was beside her.

He put on a sweet smile and said, "Ellie, I've come to pick you up."

Ellie took a peek at the distracted Ashley and cleared her throat. "I'm going to sleep over at Ashley's
tonight. You can go home."

'What?' Francis was in disbelief.

Ashley had a look of displeasure on her face. She took a step forward so that she was in between
them. She eyed Francis and said, "What are you doing here?"

Francis could tell that the voice was familiar as soon as he heard it. He turned his head only to see
Ashley. "Oh, Ashley. I didn't see you there.

I came to pick Ellie up," he said nonchalantly.

Ashley frowned and said, "Didn't I tell you to leave Ellie alone?"



She was afraid that Francis might hurt Ellie. Ellie had never held a boy's hand while Francis was a
playboy at heart. He had been with more women than one could count with one's hands.

Ellie would only end up hurt if she gave him a chance.

She had to protect Ellie from him.

She didn't know that they had already been together. They had already slept together once.

If Ashley found out, she would give Francis a really hard time.

Francis hid behind Ellie and looked at Ashley innocently.

Ashley was speechless. "What kind of strategy is this?'

She suddenly forgot about all her problems. She focused on Francis and how to deal with him. She
was so angry that she wanted to strike a punch on his face.

However, that wouldn't solve anything.

"What are you still doing there?" Ashley shouted at him. "Why are you hiding behind Ellie?"

"No. If I come out, I don't know what you'll do to me," Francis said.

Ashley couldn't find the right words. 'Smart boy. He read my mind.'

Ashley rolled her sleeves and tried to catch him, but Francis grabbed Ellie's sleeve so tightly.

The three of them were suddenly entangled with each other.

Ellie looked at Ashley with resignation. "Okay, Ashley, stop fighting with him.



Let's go. Or we won't be able to catch the bus."

Upon hearing this, Ashley released her hand and glared at Francis.

"Okay, let's go, Ellie!"

Francis, meanwhile, looked dumbfounded. 'Catch the bus?'

"Ellie, are you going to take the bus? Why not take my car? I can drive you." Francis tried to stop them
by standing in their way.

He looked at Ellie, trying to gain her sympathy.

While Ellie was moved, she couldn't as she had to be there for Ashley who was having a rough day.
She had promised Ashley she would keep her company tonight.

Ellie turned to Ashley and looked at her as if to ask what her decision was.

Francis couldn't help but blame Andrew. 'Why isn't he taking care of his wife? Now I can't spend time
with Ellie because she's too busy with Ashley!

What's wrong with him? Doesn't he want to be with his wife?

Ever since they had gotten married, he had never allowed her to sleep in Ellie's house. Not even for a
night! Why didn't he pick up Ashley today?'

Francis never thought that Andrew and Ashley ever fought.

'Andrew's just that kind of person. If he loves someone, he'll love them wholeheartedly. He adores
Ashley. He'd never fight with her.'

But this time, Francis was wrong.




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