Ashley's POV:“Your house!? What a joke, Ashley!! Do you somehow have lost your mind, along with your purity?!”Aunt May’s voice screams in my ears, coupled with her hoarse laughter… as if she has cracked the funniest joke in the world. If anything, I really want to slap her hard for the words she has been using for me and my son, but I remain quiet on this insult of hers. Because when I react, I don't want anyone to have any excuses to claim that I didn't give them a chance to speak their mind first. And instead, I decide to reply to her first doubt. “Yes! My house, logically, legally and morally: in all three regards, this house belongs to me. So I don't understand, what do you want to imply?”This seemed to push some specific button for aunt Estie, who jumps in vigorously into the conversation to defend her sister- in- law. “It wasn't that hard, Ashley! May simply wanted to imply that if you have forgotten, then let us remind you, that you yourself have transferred the house un
Ashley's POV:Once he is done with grandma and has made sure that she is maintaining a distance of at least six feet from me, he finally turns towards me and winks, speaking like it is a completely casual meet-up between friends. “Sorry for being late dear! I was stuck in bumper to bumper traffic. Apart from all the good things in this city, I completely forgot that the traffic in this city sucks! I mean it completely sucks!!”“No hard feelings, Stuart. You are right on time, because prior to this, I was just giving them a record of what belongs to whom, and who is the boss here!”“Oh, that!! Old so old grandma, who can easily be classified as an old hag, and you three ugly looking women! Listen to me very carefully, if you– by any chance– have missed Ashley's words.All four of you need to vacate this house within an hour, and after today, you all aren't even allowed even a hundred meters near this property… or any other property that belongs under the legal ownership of Miss Ashley
Ashley's POV: “Ashley!!”The word and the voice, both somehow lock my legs to the exact place where I was standing.I have already left this name in the past, along with the identity attached to it. But the moment this voice knocks against my ear drums, I just can't deny my reality any longer… I can't deny the life that I have once lived.Because I know no matter how harsh the past was on me, this person… the owner of the voice has always been kinder to me. In fact, I have to accept that when everyone else was there just because they were seeking some kind of benefit from me, he was the only person who was genuinely there for me, just because he cared for me.He cared for me like his own family.“Ashley! I knew it… I knew it! It's you, and I just knew you are alive… you have to be alive, healthy and happy! Or else… or else how could I have asked forgiveness for the sins I have committed in the past? The mistakes that I have committed thinking that they are harmless–”“Peter!”I turn
Ethan's POV:I stare fixedly at my reflection in the mirror, fixing my tie, which is just flat- out refusing to cooperate with me today. I've been standing here for the last eleven minutes and seventeen seconds, trying to make myself presentable and attractive. But deep down in my heart, I also know that this effort of mine has been futile from the beginning. Because the ray of hope, which I have been holding on to with all my might, is slipping away slowly– just like this stupid tie which insists on shifting ever so slightly to the left. I had been thinking Ashley won't be able to resist me if we will work in the same set- up in the same office… but man! This girl is really adamant on making me realize just how wrong I can go.It has been five days since we have been sharing the same office building, the same working space, the same common area, the same working plan… and most importantly, we are working on the same project. But for once… she hasn't spared me a glance, even for o
Ethan's POV:Ashley is standing there… just a few feet away from me, and I almost can't believe it.Her head is bowed slightly as she checks something on her phone, her black hair falling around her face like a veil. I don't know if she is wearing this dress on purpose to punish me… and if she is, I'm ready to repent for anything. The deep, cherry red of her dress is pulling all the attention to her…The long puffed sleeves end at her delicate wrists, making her look completely elegant and untouchable. The neckline has this sweetheart shaped cutout that teases just below her collar, and I find my gaze stopping there for longer than I intended. Her lips are painted a deep red, and since I've first seen her, I can’t help but think of when how well her hair would have blended with the deep red of her dress if it was still that same auburn shade… but instead, it's a sharp and bold black, which stands out in contrast. And somehow, I have to admit that the black suits her now.Time feels
Ashley's POV:Everything has been well for the first five days of this collaboration, and I have successfully managed to ignore Ethan as much as I can. Not because I am afraid of him or something, but I just don't want my past to stand in front of me and apologize.For me, every action has a consequence attached to it, and we both have already faced the consequences of our actions taken in the past. So now, there is absolutely no need to come and justify our actions or be sorry for those. But I don't know why I have been feeling a little uneasy since the morning. There is this strange feeling as if I am going to be caught by someone, or like I have made some mistake and today, everyone is going to know about it… how is that even possible?Shrugging all those thoughts as some underlying anxiety, I have decided to go to the office anyway. After all, I'm just supposed to verify the samples today, and then, I will be off work!!But the moment my assistant tripped over his own legs and s
Ashley's POV:My heartbeat, which was already engaged in a race against time to establish a world record, ends up breaking its own personal record. It is showing no signs of calming down, making my heart miss a beat as the sudden warmth of his embrace surrounds me in it with a strong sense of familiarity, like I have always been here and never left this place at all… like it has always been in my heart. As if, for these five years, I have been suspended in the bittersweet realm of hiraeth.Only to find my home again. But I know things are different than what seems on the surface. Everything that I am feeling… everything that I am going through– it is not the real oasis but the mirage, which has started to blind my vision after five years of wandering.I try to pull myself away, to get out of this hug so that I can reach the panel and press the button to open the elevator, as forcefully as I can and frequently as well.But soon after, I realize that it is of no use at all, we are
Ethan's POV:Ashley has closed her eyes all of a sudden and fully passed out in my arms, giving me the reality check of my life: this… this is the person who solely holds the powers of stopping my own body's functions, wrapped around her fingers.And now that she is unconscious and not breathing properly, I don't know what I am supposed to do. Apart from screaming at the top of my lungs, nothing else is coming to mind.Punching the elevator door is also going to be fruitless– and this is something that I come to realize after three heavy rounds of punches, along with a gush of blood rushing out through bruises on my knuckles.Only then do I stop to think; even if I tear down the door, how would we step out? As it is, we are stuck in the middle of two floors.And why the hell is my support team not here yet, why am I paying them so much? When they only have to disappear like they never existed, in the time of need! Just let me get out of this place, and I will solely book personal app
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