Chapter 19: Family portrait
As soon as Michelle pulled Ashley away from the uncomfortable presence of her new uncle, she expressed her desire to return home. Michelle nodded in understanding, and Ashley breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm sorry about what happened with Raphael. I'll make sure he doesn't bother you again," Michelle assured her.
Ashley thanked her, though her mind still raced with the weight of Raphael's words.
Outside, the cars were already waiting, but she needed to retrieve her handbag from Lorenzo. She scanned the room once more, searching for him, but he was nowhere in sight.
As if sensing her search, Greg approached, holding out her bag, wearing his usual expression that suggested he was permanently displeased with life.
"Your handbag, ma'am. If you're ready to leave, I can take it to the car," he said in a gruffly tone. If intimidation was a person, it would be Greg. His brown hair and black uniform contrasted sharply against the vibrancy of the room.
Ashley took the bag from him, frowning slightly. "Where did you find this?"
"Mister Grey handed it to me before he left."
She hesitated, debating whether to ask where Lorenzo had gone, but ultimately decided against it. It didn't matter. His presence had already stirred up too many memories, and she was relieved to finally have some distance between them.
After exchanging brief goodbyes with a few acquaintances, she stepped out of the long hall, thankful to have avoided any further encounters with the Harringtons. They had either left after their earlier fight or were now deliberately avoiding her. Whatever the case, Ashley was glad she didn't have to deal with them again.
As she approached the waiting Rolls-Royce, a scene caught her attention. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Lorenzo engaged in a hushed conversation with four intimidating men dressed in black.