Chapter 579: Don’t Do Anything Recklessly

Ashley’s heart sank. Fear crept in. She had just gotten out of prison. Could she really end up back there?

But what could she do now? She had no money. If she’d thought more clearly, she could’ve just acted poor and slipped away. Why did she have to argue?

Just when Ashley thought she was trapped, a black car stopped next to the stall. A few men in sunglasses got out.

One of them looked at Ashley, holding a photo in his hand. He turned to the others and said, “That’s her.”

Before Ashley could react, three large men grabbed her and dragged her away.

“Hey! Who are you? Let me go!” Ashley shouted, struggling.

“Wait! She hasn’t paid for her food!” the shopkeeper yelled.

One of the men threw a hundred-dollar bill onto the table without saying a word, then they shoved Ashley into the car and drove off.

The shopkeeper and his wife stood there, confused.

“Is she some kind of fugitive?” the shopkeeper asked. His wife just shook her head. They both had no idea what was going on.

Ashley was no match for the men. They dragged her into the car, and all she could do was scream. She had no idea who she had upset or why someone wanted to kidnap her. But one thing was clear, these men were dangerous. The scars on their faces and arms said it all.

“Please, Miss Scott, no need to panic. Our boss just wants to see you. That’s all,” one of them said calmly as she kept trying to get away. “We’re not here to hurt you. But if you jump out, you’ll only end up hurting yourself.”

His calm voice made her pause. Her fear eased a little as she looked at him, still shaking. “Who’s your boss? Tell me! If you don’t, I’ll jump out the moment I get a chance.”

“You’ll find out soon enough,” the man answered.

She knew there was no point asking more. At least, they weren’t hurting her. They didn’t even tie her up. They just made sure she couldn’t reach the door.

The car was big, and Ashley sat alone in the back seat. She pressed her lips together, thinking hard about who could’ve sent these men. In her mind, it had to be either Bianca or Dave.

“Is Mr. Evans behind this?” she asked suddenly.

The men looked at each other but stayed quiet. Their reaction made her even more suspicious.

“Just stay quiet. We’re almost there,” one of them said.

That confirmed her guess. Ashley sat still, thinking about what Dave could possibly want. After all, if he had her taken right after she left prison, it was clear he didn’t just want a simple conversation.

Could it be… was Dave planning to get rid of her for good? If that was true, she had to find a way to escape before it was too late.

While she was thinking of how to run, the man across from her answered a call. He handed the phone to her and said, “The boss wants to talk to you.”

She took the phone, confused about what this mysterious boss wanted from her. As she glanced out the window, she saw the sea. Her heart dropped. Were they planning to kill her and throw her into the water?

But when she heard the voice on the phone, she froze. It sounded strange yet oddly familiar. And it wasn’t Dave.

“You’re finally free, Ashley.”

“Who are you?” Ashley asked, her voice full of doubt. If it wasn’t Dave, then who was it?

“I’m your father, Ashley. Stacey probably never told you… but I’m your real father.”

There was a long silence before the man added carefully, “My name is Rupert Evans. I’m Dave’s uncle.”

What?

Ashley froze. She couldn’t believe what she just heard. Dave’s uncle? Her father? That would make her Dave’s cousin. It didn’t make any sense.

“You’re joking… That’s impossible! What do you want from me?” Ashley exclaimed.

Not long after her mom, Stacey, lost her mind, this stranger suddenly showed up, claiming to be her father.

But Ashley wasn’t foolish. She didn’t believe him for a second.

She was sure he had another reason for finding her.

“I know this is a lot to accept. But right now, we need each other. We’re both fighting the same enemy,” Rupert said, letting out a long breath.

He closed his eyes for a moment, steadying himself. He wouldn’t have reached out if he hadn’t heard she was trying to run.

“We’ll talk more when we meet. Don’t do anything reckless, okay? Just trust me… my daughter.”

****

The grand villa stood deep in the old forest. It belonged to Rupert. But to him, it felt more like a prison.

In the dim room, where sunlight barely reached, Rupert stared at the daughter he had lost for so long.

“Are you really my father?” Ashley asked quietly. After everything, she didn’t know what to believe. In her darkest moment, this man had appeared like some strange twist of fate.

Rupert smiled and patted the seat next to him. “Of course I am, Ashley. Come sit. Here’s the DNA test. Stacey has a copy too.” He noticed the doubt on her face and smiled softly. It told him she was sharp, just like him.

Ashley slowly stepped closer and reached out for the report. As she looked at Rupert, she felt a strange shock inside her. She didn’t show it, but their faces were too similar. It couldn’t be a coincidence.

“How do I know this report is real?” Ashley asked. Even after flipping to the last page, she couldn’t stop worrying that he might have faked it.

“I thought you’d ask that,” Rupert said calmly, glancing at his subordinate.

The man understood right away. He opened a laptop and brought it over to Ashley.

A video started playing. It showed Stacey and Rupert together. Their entire conversation had been recorded.

“Why won’t you help Ashley, Rupert? She’s our daughter…” Stacey’s voice said from the screen.

That was all Ashley needed to hear. Hearing her mother’s voice brought tears to her eyes, fueling the anger she already felt.

“Where have you been all this time? Why now? Do you even know how miserable my life has been? My mother’s lost her mind.”

She sounded upset, but deep down, she felt a strange sense of relief. At least Peter wasn’t her real father. That alone gave her some comfort.

Rupert was Dave’s uncle. He was also the second-in-command at the Evans Group. Now, for the first time, Ashley had the resources and the courage to fight back.

She let out a soft laugh and looked at Rupert, her emotions spilling out. “Do you think it’s okay to just stand there while your daughter gets crushed by Bianca and Dave?”