Ashley's POV:I stand in front of the mirror, turning slightly to the left, then to the right. My dark blue velvet dress shimmers subtly with every movement due to the small silver sparkles woven into the fabric, making me feel like I have wrapped myself in a piece of the starry sky. Ethan’s words from yesterday echo in my mind, making me feel the weight of today's event. He had mentioned we were supposed to attend an engagement party for someone, and he made it very clear: I need to look my absolute best.Because now that we’re officially together, it is time for him to do what’s necessary. I smooth the fabric of my dress as a faint smile pops up on its own, remembering what he said next. "You have promised to stay beside me until I achieve my biggest goal in life, so I have to honor that agreement and introduce you as my partner to the entire world… and also, someone in particular." The thought sends a small jolt through me, my heartbeat quickening. Who could it be?I bite my lo
Ethan's POV:In my plans to introduce Ashley to the world, how could I have forgotten the fact that if I decide to go to Emily and Jordan's engagement, then I will definitely run into the old crowd of our college… our old tribe, the people who once used to be a very part of my life. Neil called me, seeing me there with Ashley– and my heart was immediately filled with the fear of what would happen if anyone told Ashley about Emily before my announcement. This fear covered my logical thinking and I left her there, instructing her not to move from her place.My attention is pulled away from Ashley when I feel someone roughly pulling me into an aggressive hug. “Is it real? Am I dreaming!!! Ethan! My friend, where have you been?”“Yes! Is it a way to treat your friends, you turned your face away from each one of us after your breakup with Emily.”Ray and Steve, two of my old friends, speak up, and just then, Neil pokes them with his elbows. Stepping into his usual role of the pacifist, h
Ashley's POV: If I were to say that I'm shocked, I guess it is going to be the understatement of the century. The more I keep trying to pick out the differences between me and the girl standing in front of my eyes– completely unaware of my existence till now– the more similarities I keep stumbling on. And even if I pull up the list of all the differences that I have found in her, still, there are way more similarities than the differences… Just when I feel like this confusion is going to kill me, Ethan is back by my side. I spill the cause of my dilemma to him, but what he says catches me off guard.Is he… did he just say that I can meet her?Of course, I don't need to think before saying yes, but what does he mean by saying that it is the time for his past to meet his present? What… what exactly is his past?My thoughts are interrupted when I hear Ethan's voice; but it isn't coming from somewhere close to me at all. Instead, his voice is ringing through the speakers.We have alre
Ethan's POV:I notice everything… every single detail of the expressions present on all three of their faces: Jordan, Ashley and of course, my Emily.I notice how Emily's face sours when I have deliberately hailed Ashley as the most beautiful woman in this world, inside and out. Because I know that if there is one thing Emily is extremely confident about, then it is her beauty… and I agree with it completely.Indeed, she is extremely beautiful, she is absolutely perfect! But I haven't lied, either. Ashley is definitely beautiful, in and out… and I have simply announced it publicly, to let everyone know the reality.All I have done is just hidden a single fact– even though Ashley Waverly may be one of the most desirable women in the world because of her beauty, she isn't my desire.Even being the most beautiful, she isn't my Emily… the girl I love from the core of my heart… the girl who is just perfect in everything she does.And also the girl whom I never want to hurt, but have to… j
Ashley’s POV: Ethan's hold around my wrist is so tight that for a few moments, I forget I have a voice too– which I can use to call it out, apart from my feeble attempts to struggle under his strength.But the pace he is walking with doesn't give me the attention or time to ask him to stop and look for Tiffany.Because the moment he knelt down to propose to me, I saw her… I saw Tiffany standing in the crowd.Looking towards me with concern… in fact, not just concern, but anger. She was very angry… more than I have ever seen her. I know she has a bad impression of Ethan in her eyes, and neither of us has done anything to mend it either. Tiffany doesn't know anything about the confession Ethan has made on our date that day, and the commitment I have given to him.Because even though I have been trying to contact her, she has once again gone out of my reach. Eventually, I stopped trying as well, deciding that I wasn't going to break this huge news to her on the phone- how could I have
Ashley's POV:She steps inside the store and stands straight in front of me, facing the assistant, completely ignoring my existence… or probably she hasn't noticed me yet.Her dress is bouncing around her knees, swishing around her with every step that she is taking with the perfect mix of attitude and style; making it look like she is a supermodel and the whole world is her ramp. “Okay, so is Mr. Ethan Johnson here yet–”“Ma'am, Mr. Johnson has informed us that you and his fianceé shall be the only ones here for the trials. She is already here and waiting for you.”Finally! Someone has cared to introduce me, and Emily graces me with a half- glance in my direction. I paste a smile on my face, remembering how Ethan used to be the same cold person when I first met him. So, there is actually someone on the Earth like him! That's incredible, both to see and believe. “Hi! I am Ashley Waverly. Ethan's fianceé.”I say as I stretch my hand towards her for a handshake, seeing that she is no
Ashley's POV: Peter raises his hand and gestures for the staff to wait for a moment before he turns his attention back to me. “Ashley! Dear, I will be waiting in the car since I don't want to disturb you, so just be relaxed and select whatever you like. And again, if you don't like anything or if they are not up to your taste, then you must not feel burdened on behalf of Ethan. You know that he cares for your happiness more than anything, right? He won't mind it at all.”“I get it, Peter!”I smile, hoping that my reassurance is conveyed to him. “Okay then, I will be taking my leave. Take care.”He leaves, waving his hands in the air. I turn towards the staff and Emily, who is standing there with a sour face. I don't why that is, but clearly there is something that she did not like at all.Ignoring her expression, I also start to follow the staff towards a completely new room. It would be better to call it a studio- type setup, and I have to admit… it isn't as bad as I have started
Ashley's POV:I twist my body in front of the mirror in the trial room, trying to inspect myself from all angles after the assistant has buttoned up the dress from the back and left. Honestly, I feel like I have been dressed up as a show stopper for the London fashion week. With a final glance in the brightly lit mirror, I decide to finally walk outside; gathering my courage with the thought that I just have to step out into the studio– not on the road! And this is when I hear some gasps around me. “Wow, ma'am… you are looking so pretty!”“We have always known that everything you wear would look great on you.”“There is no one who can beat your figure and your grace, you are perfect ma'am.”A smile appears on my face– probably, these words will be good to lighten up Emily's mood. She might become less bitter, finally, and the rest of the day would be easy for me.With some sense of relief, I turn my steps in the direction of the sounds.Everyone who has been praising her pauses th
Ashley's POV:I take a glance at the clock, I have a few minutes to myself before we have to leave for lunch. After saying goodbye to Mike, I plan on finally telling my feelings to Ethan when he is sober… judging by the state he was in last time, he probably isn't going to remember anything about our conversation. Just as I lift the second earring from the dresser, my phone rings, vibrating with an urgency. It is a call from my assistant, and I receive it quickly. “Yes M–”“Ma'am, did you see the news? The quotations from Mr. Johnson's bids are all over the place just before the bid is due to start, and everyone is speculating that it is you. News agencies are reaching out for an interview ma'am, what are we supposed to do?”“Okay… I will see what I have to do.”I disconnect the call, feeling a pit in my stomach. Of course, the public opinion will be against me now, as he has just said over the call. But not only that, Ethan might doubt me too… because I am the single person he ha
Ashley's POV: Although I have mentioned to Mike that I have to pick Adrin up, I still drive towards the church, knowing that I have lied to him.But why do I have to lie to him? Because if we are going to marry each other, it should be normal… a normal gesture of affection between couples, right? I gulp, realizing that the answer is painfully obvious. I know I am not being honest with anyone… neither him, nor with my own self. Caught up in this dilemma, I reach home, knowing that today is scheduled as Ethan's turn with Adrin.To my surprise, I find Adrin sleeping peacefully on his bed, having changed out of his uniform. And Ethan's car is still parked by the entrance…Finally, I notice Ethan… sitting on the floor, beside the couch, which is probably why I missed him in the first place. I walk around the couch with careful footsteps, until he comes fully into my view… and so does the drink in his hand, which he is chugging like no tomorrow. Rushing towards him, I quickly snatch t
Ashley's POV:Nobody can imagine the pain and frustration I have spent my night with… aside from stomping on my own pride and having to call off the engagement for the second time, the papers of the custody were something that I was fearing the most.But now when I have them in my hands, the only emotion I have left inside me is anger.Pure rage running through my veins like molten lava…It is in this anger that I rush to his house to confront him, the house I'm extremely familiar with. And without any consideration, I make a beeline for the stairs, directly barging into his room without even knocking or waiting.But the moment I step inside, I realize what a mistake I have made, because Ethan is in there… half- dressed as he is changing his clothes. It takes me a moment to process, and I have probably been staring at him for a few minutes straight before I spin on my heel, facing the door. The word “sorry" is on the tip of my tongue, but he chuckles before that;“Umm… hey Princess!
Ashley's POV:The incident of me falling and Ethan going completely insane because of panic, has done nothing else but to add itself in the list of evidence for something I don't want to acknowledge.His reaction was not only enough for letting me know the feelings in his heart, but his actions were enough to spread this news through the entire office too!And this is what has been keeping me awake at nights… I know that Mike obviously knows everything about that event, but that's not all. What's bothering me more than that, is the fact that he hasn't asked anything from me.At the same time, I haven't asked anything from him, either. But I know we can't go on like this… I need to tell him the truth and ask him the reason for his absence.With this thought, I step on the brakes, snatching my purse from the passenger seat as I get down in front of Mike's house. I step inside without knocking, knowing that he lives alone and my shouts are enough to tell him about my arrival.“Mike!! Mik
Ashley's POV: Even though I have committed to prepone the engagement, to save myself from the great disaster… I don't know what exactly I am supposed to do next.However, before I can do anything, my phone chimes, notifying me that I have received a text from Mike. The text is simple, with several sample invitations attached to it.“Please check these out, and let me know whichever one you like.”I quickly select the one that I have opened the first out of all, and text him back.“Should we announce a party before the engagement?”The text bubbles pop up within seconds, materializing into a reply soon enough. “Yes! I am ready to do everything which makes you happy. If you want to announce a party, then we will call one.”“Thank you!! Can you get me this invitation ready within five minutes, even in digital format? I need to send it to someone urgently.”“Whatever you want sweetheart.”With this message, he signs off and comes back within five minutes. “Here you go! See you tomorro
Ashley's POV:At last, I managed to drop Ethan off after lying to him, only to reach the hospital and find Adrin awake and sitting up on his bed. The moment I walk in, the first question Adrin has asked me is,“Mumma, where is Dadda?”But I am way too caught up in my inner conflict to give him a logical reply, or even think of one. Everything that happened in the daycare is still overwhelming my senses to the extent where I just pull him closer to my chest.Hugging him tightly, as I finally ask him a question which has been bugging me for too long. “Adrin!! Baby, why didn't you tell mumma that the kids in the day care are bullying you–”“Because Dadda has told me that I am a big boy, who has to protect his mother till he is not there to protect both of us, and anyways, I am a brave boy!! Who knows how to protect himself–”“Awww!! Come here my sweetie pie, who taught you all this…?”“Dadda!!!”Adrin exclaims, before the next words tumble out of his mouth without any breaks. “Mumma,
Ashley's POV:Even I wasn't very hopeful at first, but somehow, I have finally convinced Ethan to stand up on his feet, almost dragging him out of the church when he's practically in a waking coma. And knowing his miserable state, I know he isn't going to be able to drive at all. So the best idea that comes into my mind is to drop him to his house first, and then rush back to the hospital.Although, it is the first time I have seen him cry like this… and while seeing him in this state, the logical woman inside me has been compelling me to tell him the truth for a while now.But the mother inside me has been continuously warning me against it; and the best way to deter me is by telling me the consequences of my honesty.Since the moment he has started crying bitterly, the overly logical mother that also lives inside me, who believes in teaching her child the chapter of honesty, has suddenly turned into a bloody hypocrite. Going against her beliefs, she has started to preach another le
Ashley's POV:I have never seen Ethan as angry as he is right now; like he isn't made of bones and muscles, but thunder and rage. I don't have a single doubt in my mind that he is ready to tear down the entire building if Lily wouldn't appear in front of him within minutes.The director understands the assignment and quickly calls Lily Allen to the office; as the policies protecting her staff have gone out of the window real quick.With the summons now being sent for Miss Allen, the fear of Ethan ripping the soul straight out of her body starts to scare me. I mean I want the worst punishment for her in this entire world… I want her as far away as she could from the kids, but I don't want her to become the victim of Ethan's wrath right away! “Ethan, calm down…”I find myself tugging at his sleeve, trying to get through to him. He flashes me a look, glancing at me only through the corners of his eyes. “Calm down? Ash!! You still want me to calm down, even after hearing the crap that
Ethan's POV:The moment I heard the words of Stephanie, I could feel something breaking inside me.In my life, I have come across many monsters disguised in human appearance, and probably, I am also one of them.But none of them have turned out to be so cruel, to be capable of saying these types of things in front of not just one kid, but his entire class… and not only that, but to actually ask other kids to stay away from that poor soul and bully him!And saying that it's all okay because he doesn't have anyone to fight for his rights…“Stephanie, sweetheart! Can you please tell us what happened that day?”Ashley's words bring me back to reality at the critical moment, before my guilt would have killed me with its sharp claws. And as soon as her voice pauses after posing the question, Stephanie chimes in with an enthusiastic yes, and continues with her narration.This is the real bliss of childhood; they don't really understand the things which have hurt them in the past, but now, it