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:“As you order, ma'am.”The designer replies without delay, snapping to attention as soon as the words have left Emily's mouth. Sure enough, the room has been emptied out within a minute. I watch the last of the shop assistants scurry out before I around to notice that Emily's face has gotten significantly redder than before.I didn't even get a chance to address that or say something else, before she opens her mouth and spits out her question.“Do you really think that you are a princess or what?”“What do you mean?”I was prepared for her questions regarding what I do in my company, or how I managed to meet Ethan… but this is something I would never have been prepared for, ever.“Do you really think Ethan is marrying you because he loves you?”“Excuse me!”I get it that she is Ethan's friend and she is important to him… but she is crossing a lot of limits at once and I am absolutely flabbergasted! But if I thought that question was unexpected, Emily's next words catch
Ashley's POV:I snap at Emily and dash out of the store like a tornado of a typhoon, without looking back at once– or without caring that I am still in their dress and I haven't paid yet.I know all these things are manageable and will be taken care of– so all I need to do right now is take care of my mental health before I end up completely destroying the already- fractured dam of my patience, and start raging. I stop at the edge of the pavement and raise my hand to call a taxi, having forgotten that Peter would be waiting for me.I wouldn't have remembered this detail until putting at least four miles between me and Emily, if I hadn't felt a pat on my shoulder just then.Peter's concerned voice rings sharply in my ears. “Ashley! What happened? Where are you going like this! Has that bitch said something to upset you?”His words are painted in the coat of frustration and anger, as he directs a sideways glance towards the store, making me realize that it makes two of us who don't li
Ethan's POV:“Fuck!”I let out a scream the moment I enter the car and finally get the alone time that I have been needing desperately, ever since I dropped Ashley to the studio.Those idiots… did these foreign clients have to arrive today, of all days? It's all because of them shifting their plans forward by two days, that I have to miss this opportunity to meet Emily in person today.And this fact is killing me, but I know; whether I go there or not, everything is already settled. The payment has already been made in full, Ashley has reached there and I know Emily is going to ask her about our love story, tooBecause the way I know her, her over- excited self can't control herself from asking personal questions from other people she meets and likes.And this time, it is not the case of her liking Ashley. On the other hand, I'm sure she must have been dying out of jealousy. And the more jealous she is going to be, the sooner she will accept my love for her… and vice versa.Thinking t