Ashley's POV: I continue feeding Ethan the soup and pasta, taking a few bites myself whenever he insists. Until finally, the bowls are empty and I exhale a sigh of relief. “I'll be right back." I get my purse from the bar counter. I am sure I had some medication in there… After rummaging through it for a moment, I find what I need and bring it to him with a glass of water "You'll feel better if you sleep for some time," I say softly. Ethan hums again, his eyes already drooping as he puts his head on the pillow. Within minutes, his soft breathing tells me he is already asleep. I stand there for a moment, unsure of what to do next. He had clearly asked me to come here for some reason, so how could I leave? But it doesn’t seem appropriate to stay here like this either, while he is asleep. At the very least, I know I can't stay in the same room, that would be unimaginably creepy, right? So, I wander out of the room, but still, there is no sign of anyone else being present
Ashley's POV:“Get out!”These words are enough for me to leave this place, and never turn my head back ever again… or abandon any way in the direction of which Ethan Johnson has ever looked towards. But then I hear his last sentence, that I am hundred percent sure, has been thrown on my face like a verbal slap. "But remember! If you take even a single step out of this house, consider it to be the last day of our arrangement. I will call off the deal, and then you can have fun dealing with your succession drama."I don't know what happened to me at the moment, but I feel my anger boiling in my veins.I turn around and without wasting a second, I take three large strides towards him, crossing the distance between us before giving him any chance to react to what I am doing. It's only fair, he didn't give that chance to me, either; I pulled him closer by his collar and put my lips on his.I hear a low, annoyed growl in his throat, thinking that he would hesitate or object. But the very
Ethan's POV:I don't know what happened to me the moment I saw tears in her eyes… the eyes that resemble so much to the ones I want to see crying badly. But I guess I had previously overestimated myself in the imagination of hating Emily. No matter what she has done to me… what her presence, name, and even resemblance is doing to me… I still care about her.I know I was swayed away by the kiss and my mind had become blank for a moment, making me realize that I wasn't completely sober yet. Otherwise, there was no way I would have let her stay here, had I been in a completely composed state.After that point, everything just started to act on its own, and I was just going with the flow. But after I saw the tears flow from her eyes, it was really hard for me to continue without knowing the reason behind it… even though stopping myself was the more difficult task to be done.“Nothing, it's just… it's just.”I return back to reality when she tries to mumble something, as I feel a hand cla
Ashley's POV:My eyes open with a sharp pain in my waist, like I have somehow landed on the cold hard ground after falling from the soft cushions of clouds.And within a few seconds, I realize that my thoughts are not completely false; moments ago, I had really landed on the rough ground from the soft bed, sending a jolt of pain up my back and jerking me awake. But the question plaguing me isn't just how it happened… there is yet another clause attached to it- why? And just like the other surprises– or say, shocks– going on in my life one after another, I don't have to wait for the revelation of this one either. Because the moment I touched my waist and let out a squeal because of pain, I heard a slightly sleepy yet deep and clear voice coming from above.“Miss Waverly, who told you that after we are done with our business… you are allowed to stay here at night, with me? Wasn't I clear enough on my terms that I don't like to see the person I have spent the night with, in front of m
Ashley's POV:Only after I sit in the taxi, do my panting breaths finally find a reprieve and my mind starts to function normally again. And it is then that I realize that the person whom I just saw was probably the same butler named Peter, whom Ethan was searching for yesterday, shouting his name all over the house.Not just that, but I think Peter was also trying to call out to me in a similar fashion, that is, while screaming something at the top of his lungs. I try to remember what he was saying, but now, everything is blurry… his words, his face… the seat on which I am sitting, the driver who is driving the car; making me realize that there are tears in my eyes.But why am I crying? Just because my life's in hell now, or because this is my very personal hell, which I have selected by myself?I pay the driver and step inside the completely lonely house, which once used to be my safe and happy place… Nobody who has ever met me or seen me with my parents could have ever imagined t
Ashley's POV: Aunt Claire’s commotion has gathered the attention of my other relatives, and the one standing right in front of me is Mrs. Iris Waverly. My dad's mother and my grandmother; although she has never done anything to show me the affection and familiarity associated with that title. Despite her short stature, grandmother still manages to overshadow everyone else with her commanding presence. Her back may be stooped due to her age, but she believes in holding her head high enough where she is looking down upon the mortals. This is the posture of dignity she has clung to stubbornly over the years. However, there is something different about her today… I can’t help but notice that her eyes, usually so sharp and unforgiving, seem clouded, and her gaze is distant. Maybe… somewhere deep, deep down, under the mask of this woman who has always pretended to have it all together, there is a mother mourning the untimely loss of her son? Yes, she might have been unkind to me in
Ashley's POV : “Grandma, it is not fair… you are telling me to drop the rights to something that solely belongs to me-” I say this, in spite of knowing that I'm just trying to make the impossible possible. As far as I know my grandmother, she has always been a gatekeeper of the patriarchy; seemingly unaware of the fact that as a woman, she, too, is affected by it. “You brat! You really think that you have the authority to tell me what you own and what not? My words are not mere words, but they are my verdict, which no one in this family can change, or even challenge!” This time, I can see that she is spitting out every word after chewing it completely, making her red face turn crimson. I know that if I argue with her now, it is only going to fuel her anger to greater heights. But now, I don't care; one day, maybe she will realize that I was right. Perhaps, she will understand me one day, when she realizes that I'm doing everything for my parents’ sake. After all, we are famil
Ashley's POV: I have never been an aggressive person, nor could I have ever imagined myself shouting at someone, or refusing anyone after they have asked me for something, so many times.I mean, I could have given them my own kidney without a single question, or even before letting them ask for it… but this is not about giving away something that solely belongs to me.This company, everything related to it belongs to my parents, and their wish to keep this company running on their practices and principles. Then how can I just keep quiet and let it be ruined in front of my eyes, at the hands of someone whom I know is good for nothing? I decide to try one last time, thinking that they are just supporting Liam because they think he is capable. They are not familiar with his reality, and if only I can make them believe in my credibility, they might trust me too and understand me… probably then, the beliefs held by my grandma will change.Clearing my throat and swallowing the lump that h