Her head snapped at the sound of the gunshot and suddenly, everything became clear. There was no blood on either her mother or the female cleaner. Neither was there any blood on her with the exception of the blood seeping from the small cut on her finger.
"Ash?"
"Mrs. Li?"
At the sound of the two women's voices, her gaze moved from the cut to them and then, to the side of the room. There was no Penelope. There was no blood. It was all a hallucination.
The young woman shook her head, wondering if she had gone crazy. Maybe, she had. That was the only explanation for whatever had just happened just now.
Glancing at her mother, she stepped back. Her thoughts were all over the place, in a whirlwind. She stumbled back and just as she thought she and the other two women thought she was about to fall, she landed in a warm embrace.
"Ashley?"
The familiar voice made her want to cry but her gaze shook, and she was unable to say a word.