Chapter 543 Joy

Ashley didn't know how she managed to get home.

She had been wandering around in a daze, but somehow she made it. She managed to stumble home on instinct, like some damaged craft on autopilot.

Ashley wandered towards the bedroom. Claire immediately noticed that Ashley was walking around in a daze, and could not let it pass.

"Are you all right, my lady? You look tired," Claire said. Ashley nodded and smiled at Claire. She was grateful for Claire's loyalty and concern. "I'm fine, Claire. Please fix me some dinner."

After dinner, Ashley decided to go for a walk. "I'm going out for a walk, Claire."

Ashley was in such a daze that she did not even feel like telling Claire, but she decided to do so, anyway. After all, she didn't want her to worry.

Ashley walked alone on the street and watched the people around her come and go. There were children, elderly people, young people and couples. They were all busy doing their thing and living their own lives.

They all seemed to be very busy. Ashley took particular notice of the things the people were doing around her.

Ashley noticed a couple was talking about something in front of her. She could not catch what they were talking about, when they suddenly broke into an argument.

In the heat of the argument, the woman was about to leave the man. The man noticed the woman's intent, and grabbed her arms, pulling her towards him.

The man whispered something in the woman's ear. It seemed to console her, and she had a sudden change of heart. The woman smiled at the man, and they both walked away in each other's arms. Their sweetness had returned in an instant.

Watching them disappear in the distance, Ashley couldn't help smiling.

The scene was not unusual for young couples and just about anyone madly in love.

Ashley was not surprised at what she had seen. It warmed her heart, and gave her some hope.

Ashley then took a taxi. The driver asked her where she wanted to go. Ashley did not have a destination in mind, and for a while, there was an awkward silence. "Where do you want to go, lady? I don't have all day, you know," the taxi driver said in an irritated tone.

The answer just came to Ashley, and she blurted it out instinctively. "The sea." It was where Duncan once took her.

"I don't know what you're talking about! You need a submarine not a damn

ay. The words came out, unrehearsed. Duncan hoped he didn't look stupid struggling to say them, like a schoolboy speaking to his first crush.

"Hi! I just stopped here to catch the sea breeze. You know how it is. This place calms me, a lot.

How about you? What are you doing here?"

Ashley smiled and said, "I was just taking a walk when I found myself coming back here. I guess I just remembered it. You're right. It is pretty peaceful, isn't it?"

"What a coincidence!" he exclaimed.

Duncan sat beside Ashley and glanced at her from the corner of his eyes.

She looked tired.

She was not as happy and energetic as she was when she stayed in his villa before.

Was she affected by what was happening on the Internet?

Duncan noticed that Ashley was quite distressed, and he dialed his enthusiasm down a bit. "I mean, yeah. Yeah, it is pretty peaceful all right."

Ashley noticed that Duncan had been staring at her from the moment they came upon each other here.

Ashley turned to look at Duncan, "You have been staring at me since you sat down. What's wrong? Do I have something on my face?"

Duncan was more than a little embarrassed at what Ashley had said. He was so happy to see Ashley that he had been staring at her the whole time! Duncan couldn't help it, and he was already blushing, but it was getting dark, and the approaching nightfall made it hard to see that his face was flushed.

"No, No. It's nothing like that. I just noticed that you look a little troubled. You look like something's on your mind. What's been bothering you?"