Chapter 508: Chapter 508: The Grand Finale
Hearing Owen Sinclair say this, Ashley Shaw’s face showed obvious surprise.
She thought Owen would be angry at her sudden departure, but unexpectedly...
After the shock, it felt as if it was always meant to be.
Owen was still the same Uncle Owen she knew before, not changing just because he became her dad.
The father-daughter relationship, because of this small episode, finally returned to how it was before.
...
Time flew by, and another week passed.
The fact that Ashley Shaw is Owen’s biological daughter had long spread all over the internet, let alone at school.
Everyone looked at her with eyes full of amazement and envy, except for Evelyn Vaughn, who never caused any more trouble, but looked at her with even more malice.
When the scandal broke out, who knew how happy she was back then.
Yet she never expected that, in just a few days, Ashley Shaw’s identity turned out to be Owen’s biological daughter.
A biological daughter would naturally not have conflicts with Owen.
For a while, public opinion shifted. Whether it was the same class, or the neighboring class, everyone greeted Ashley Shaw with smiles and flattery.
Also, someone revealed that Professor Quill was surprisingly Ashley Shaw’s mentor, which made Evelyn even more unable to tolerate it.
The seed of jealousy had no clear starting point but had now transformed into hatred.
A twisted mind sees everything as dark.
And Warren Prescott, whenever he had time, would head to The Medical University so often that one might think he was attending there.
Every time he came, it was met with admiration.
Ashley Shaw alone remained consistently calm.
Finally, one day, Ashley Shaw had an open and honest talk with Warren Prescott.
She admitted she still had feelings for him, but compared to Warren, she now loved herself more.
She did not want to become a housewife from her past life, a mere shell revolving around Warren Prescott.
Warren Prescott listened, said nothing, and turned to leave.
At that moment, Ashley felt a trace of regret in her heart.
But soon she was even more determined.
Having been given a second chance, she wanted to become a better version of herself—this process involved both loss and gain, but she would no longer change her original intention.
Unexpectedly to Ashley Shaw, Warren Prescott came back the next day.
He held a bouquet of blazing red roses.
"I said, I will support every decision you make."
"If you want to study hard and become a great doctor, I can wait for you."
"You don’t want to be a housewife, I’ll support you to shine in your field."
"Just, whenever you’re tired, you can look back at me. I’ll always be here waiting for you."
"And... it used to be you chasing me, now that you aren’t pursuing me, it’s my turn to chase you... But don’t worry, I won’t bother you. In the future, if you want to see me, I’ll come, if you don’t, just say you’re busy, I won’t mind. But please give me a chance to chase you."
Ashley Shaw was silent for a long time, and finally, she accepted the roses from Warren Prescott.
"Alright." She said, "Then we’ll meet at the summit."
Not long after, the news of Ivy Bond’s death came.
Because she had roughly guessed the outcome, Ashley Shaw wasn’t too surprised, but couldn’t help but feel sentimental.
Jocelyn Hayes, who was always straightforward and even a bit sharp-tongued, was silent for a long time at this moment.
However, Ivy Bond ultimately did not bring too much emotional impact to everyone, and Cillian Xavier... followed the pre-set path of his previous life and went abroad shortly after.
Before going abroad, he had a meal with Ashley Shaw.
He did not mention a word about his feelings for her, only wished her well.
Soon after Cillian Xavier went abroad, Claire Xavier’s cake shop opened in Aethelgard.
At the press conference for Ashley Shaw and Owen Sinclair, Shane Coleman was also present, and it was then that Claire Xavier found out that Shane was surprisingly her match-made partner.
On the opening day, Shane Coleman also came.
Ashley Shaw wasn’t too surprised until she accidentally saw the two holding hands, which just shocked her.
Notably, Ariana Grant also confirmed her relationship with Leon Zeller that day.
Ariana Grant’s illness was completely cured, yet she continued to control her appetite and exercise.
Not for Leon, but simply to become a better version of herself.
Everyone was heading towards a better future.
And that day, the only one absent was Warren Prescott.
He made a different choice than in his past life—in his sophomore year, he decided to study abroad, leaving for four years straight.
When he returned, it was already four years later, by then, Ashley Shaw had become a competent doctor.
She worked at Concordia; Ariana Grant and Jocelyn Hayes joined her there as well.
In their dormitory, Lynn Redding was the only one who did not work in a hospital.
She had become a full-time housewife and a game streamer; her husband was Leon Zeller’s teammate, nicknamed "Iceberg."
...
One day, a malicious car accident targeting society occurred, and more than thirty people were taken to major hospitals for rescue.
Concordia received seven.
Ashley Shaw worked nonstop from early to late; when she finally completed the last surgery, it was already the next morning.
Ariana Grant, on the early shift today, seeing her return to the department, quickly handed over a bag of breakfast.
"Bought it for you, reheated it several times, see if it’s still edible."
Ashley Shaw shoved a bun into her mouth, mumbling, "Delicious... Didn’t feel hungry in the operating room, didn’t realize until I came out that I hadn’t eaten all day."
Ariana Grant sighed and shook her head, "No wonder everyone calls you ’Desperate Ashley’..."
"Work hard while you’re young."
Ariana was just about to advise her to also take care of herself when Jocelyn Hayes, in her white coat, ran over.
She wasn’t as driven as Ashley Shaw, still an ordinary resident doctor, mainly on clinic duty and seldom entering the operating room.
In her words, she came to retire, not to strive.
The energy for striving was exhausted during the exams to get into Concordia.
"Ashley!"
Jocelyn Hayes quickly ran over, "Did you hear? A new hospital is built and said to be poaching doctors from Concordia. Have they approached you yet?"
Ashley Shaw looked puzzled, "No, I was in the operating room all day yesterday... now all I want to do is sleep."
"Hold on, since you’re already up, stay up a little longer."
Ashley Shaw helplessly dragged a chair and sat down in the office, asking Jocelyn Hayes, "Do you want to switch over? Or have they recruited you?"
Jocelyn Hayes said somewhat embarrassedly, "They did come to recruit me, the salary and benefits are top-notch, far more comfortable than working ourselves to death at Concordia and getting nothing in return. But I’m still considering you two, if you both stay, I’ll stay."
Ashley Shaw shrugged, "I’m used to being here; I’ve been at Concordia since my internship, not too keen on moving. Besides, they haven’t come to recruit me."
Ariana Grant also nodded, "They haven’t come for me, either. But like Robin, if you leave, I’d leave too; if you stay, I’ll continue to retire at Concordia."
Just as they were talking, someone knocked on the office door.
The three immediately sat up straight.
Ashley Shaw said, "Come in!"
The next second, a tall man with a handsome face, dressed in a well-tailored black suit, walked in.
The man’s hairstyle was neat, his deep eyes filled with confidence and composure, standing upright, exuding an aura of calmness and ease in every move.
If it wasn’t Warren Prescott, then who could it be?
All three were surprised.
It was Ariana Grant who first spoke, "Warren? When did you return?"
Jocelyn Hayes walked around Warren Prescott in a circle.
"Oh my goodness...Bro, have you been abroad for a few years to get cosmetic surgery? How did you become even more handsome?"
Warren Prescott chuckled lightly and first responded to Ariana Grant’s question, "I came back last night, didn’t want to disturb you, so I didn’t come over."
Then he said to Jocelyn Hayes, "If I don’t take good care of myself, I’m afraid someone won’t like me even more."
No need to say who "someone" refers to.
Ariana Grant and Jocelyn Hayes exchanged glances, then left the office together, closing the door behind them.
After not seeing each other for several years, Ashley Shaw felt much more reserved seeing Warren Prescott again, and her heart...unexpectedly skipped a beat.
"Are you back for a few days this time, or...?"
"I’m not going away anymore." As he spoke, he pulled his hand from behind and magically revealed a bouquet of fiery red roses: "For you."
"Thank you."
Ashley Shaw’s cheeks flushed as she accepted the flowers and asked, "So do you have any plans now that you’re back?"
Warren Prescott gazed at her eyes, which remained clear but had become more steady, and said, "The most important mission upon returning this time is to pursue you."
"..."
"Secondly, it is to expand the overseas territories of the Prescott Group and...venture into fields where the Prescott Group hasn’t previously explored."
"Which fields?"
"The medical field."
As he spoke, his other hand also stretched out and magically produced a contract.
"Are you interested in joining our Novaport Hospital?"
Novaport Hospital was the high-end private hospital Jocelyn Hayes mentioned earlier.
Ashley Shaw took a look and asked with wide eyes: "Is this one you established?"
"Yes." Warren Prescott nodded, saying: "Novaport Hospital is different from Concordia; Concordia requires years of building experience to climb up slowly, whereas Novaport focuses solely on capability."
Ashley Shaw was moved by the idea of not looking at experience but focusing only on capability.
Warren Prescott continued, "You can propose any conditions you have."
Ashley Shaw flipped through the contract, satisfied with the salary and benefits, yet she indeed had one condition.
"I want to bring Jean and Ariana along."
"No problem, whoever else you want to bring, just tell me. I’ll have someone poach them."
"...Then I might consider."
"Alright."
Although she said she would consider, Ashley Shaw merely communicated the situation to Jocelyn Hayes and Ariana Grant.
Neither had any objections, so they switched to Novaport during the first snowfall.
Unexpectedly, Ashley Shaw ran into Evelyn Vaughn, whom she hadn’t seen for a long time, at Novaport.
Evelyn Vaughn came for an interview and her face changed drastically when she saw the work badge on Ashley Shaw’s chest.
"Why are you here too? Weren’t you at Concordia?"
Ashley Shaw had no idea which hospital Evelyn Vaughn was at, and she countered, "Can’t I be here?"
Evelyn Vaughn gritted her teeth, "You’re doing it on purpose, right? Knowing I would switch here, you just followed?"
Ashley Shaw found it amusing.
Just when she was about to speak, a deep voice suddenly sounded from behind her.
"Is there a problem with my wife working at the hospital I set up?"
Evelyn Vaughn was startled, and looked up at Ashley Shaw’s back.
Over the years, Ashley Shaw’s "fiancé" had grown even more handsome.
Just thinking about what the other party said, her eyes widened suddenly.
"Is this your hospital?"
Warren Prescott was too lazy to respond to her and directly instructed Assistant Lowell behind him, "Order that this person is not allowed to step into Novaport."
"Yes!"
Assistant Lowell stepped forward a few steps, reached out to Evelyn Vaughn: "Come on, Miss. If you don’t leave, we’ll have to escort you out."
Evelyn Vaughn’s face turned pale, and though she wanted to argue a few words, Warren Prescott and Ashley Shaw were already gone.
They didn’t even bother to spare her an extra glance.
She didn’t know when, but a great disparity had formed between her and Ashley Shaw.
She didn’t even have the qualifications to be envious anymore.
This was just a minor episode.
Ashley Shaw and her friends quickly formally joined the staff, but to their surprise, Lynn Redding also joined.
"Weren’t you against being a doctor?"
Lynn Redding laughed, "That was my thought before, but after years of live streaming and being a full-time housewife... I’ve decided to switch fields and give it a go. You guys don’t dislike me, do you? I’m only a trainee junior doctor now."
"Of course not!"
Thus, the Four Musketeers assembled.
Meanwhile, Warren Prescott reverted back to his old ways from freshman year, frequently visiting Ashley Shaw’s office.
Initially, department colleagues were surprised, but soon they became accustomed.
It fulfilled the saying: You stopped chasing me then, so now, it’s my turn to chase you.
Finally, one sunny day, Warren Prescott, holding Ashley Shaw’s favorite bouquet of roses, officially proposed.
"What I owed you before, I’ll make up for in the future."
Ashley Shaw smiled and said, "Then I’ll give you another chance!"
...
The wedding was set for June 15th. After the long ceremony process, Warren Prescott, after taking a shower, pulled her into his embrace.
"Wifey, do you know what today is?"
Ashley Shaw rolled her eyes at him: "Nonsense, it’s our wedding day."
Warren Prescott shook his head: "Besides that, today is also the day we conceive our daughter."
Ashley Shaw’s eyes widened in surprise: "Really, today?"
Warren Prescott made a sound of agreement and said: "I remember it clearly... because back then whenever I wanted to find you... I always had to pretend I was drunk. And that day was indeed June 15th of this year."
Ashley Shaw was shocked, and in the next second, she was already picked up horizontally by him.
"Ashley." he said, "Let’s bring our daughter back too."
Ashley Shaw nodded blushingly: "Alright..."
Ten months later, Ashley Shaw gave birth to a lovely baby girl.
And Prescott Group became even more magnificent than in the past.
Not only did they expand overseas, but also became leaders in the medical industry.
Ashley Shaw, in the years following childbirth, also became a renowned medical expert, famous worldwide.
Beyond this, she also managed an entertainment company created by Owen Sinclair for her, becoming undeniably wealthy.
This year, Brooke and Shane Coleman also had a child, a boy.
The two joked about arranging a marriage between the children.
Jocelyn Hayes also found happiness, with a very skilled male doctor from the same department.
Annually noteworthy was during Ashley Shaw’s pregnancy, an explosion occurred in a Glanburn research institute. Though there were no casualties, all scientific equipment inside was destroyed.
Outsiders and higher-ups were deeply saddened by it.
The same year, a batch of officials were taken down for various reasons, and Rosalind Lynch ended her life in prison.
Others are unclear about the reason, but Ashley Shaw knows.
In this life, they can finally live freely and happily ever after.
The End.
