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
Ethan's POV: Everything had just started to fall in place slowly, and somehow, this is exactly when she appeared in my life. I'm not afraid to accept that her presence is slowly turning me into a monster that I have never been, but who has asked her to walk in front of me with the face I used to love the most… or I still do? But she isn't the same person whom I may be able to forgive for what she has done, just because I can't see her in pain. On the other hand, she is my perfect revenge plan… by hurting her, I am able to satisfy the fire burning in my heart and guts since the betrayal. But all of this isn't even the worst of it. The worst fact is, I am not feeling the slightest bit guilty after treating her like a garbage bag whose only purpose is for me to dump my trauma revenge on her. In fact, every time I see the lines of pain appearing on her face because of me, it somehow indulges me in some kind of weird satisfaction… I start to crave more of it. This is why, it is
Ashley's POV:“Ashley! Are you okay? Tell me, what happened? She didn't hurt you anywhere else, did she?” I can now identify the voice that is knocking against my eardrums, trying to make sure if I was okay or not… and I can now finally identify the face and the person who is now standing in front of me as my shield, protecting me from everyone and everything… Ethan. Ethan Johnson.But the next moment, it clicks that something is off. How is he here in the first place? I haven't even mentioned anything regarding my parents' memorial in his presence; then telling him anything specifically or inviting him here is a totally different matter. “Mr. Johnson! What a lovely surprise, I never expected that you would really come here.”I hear Liam's voice echo from somewhere behind me, before I can reply to him or say anything at all. I am still lost, everything still seems hazy, and my mind is lagging while trying to decipher what just happened to me.Somehow I'm stuck in a limbo, unable to
Ashley's POV: I don't remember anything about how I walked out of the venue, I don't know if there was any expression printed on the faces of my family members… I don't know if they objected to our departure, or not. All I know is, I have almost been led by Ethan towards his car; and when I still struggle to climb into the high seat of Ethan's SUV, even after three attempts, he simply lifts me in his arms and makes me sit on the passenger seat. He fastens the seatbelt himself, and before I know it, he is sitting behind the wheel and has ignited the engine with a rumble. But all I can feel is the rumbling in my guts, that is making me bawl my eyes out with the thought that after the death of my parents, everyone has suddenly turned their back on me… Everyone who used to show their loving and caring nature for the last twenty one years, has turned out to be a monster in disguise, waiting for me to be left alone. My tears don't take a break throughout the time that Ethan is dri
Ashley's POV:“I… Wh- what?”I stammer in spite of myself, perhaps I was too lost in my thoughts to hear him properly.“You heard me: come forward, unbutton your top and turn around. So hurry, don't waste my time any further.”His words are completely stiff, stern and emotionless, making me question myself again, in the moments when I was thinking that he had actually started to care for me, which is why everything here has been made according to my taste.But in reality, I'm nothing important to him; nothing more than a sex toy or a fuck doll whom he is using to pleasure himself. ‘Ashley, you really need to come out of the fantasy where you're used to imagining yourself to be just as important to people around you, as they are to you…’I scold myself, knowing the reality: I am just like an empty void which everyone wants to use for their own special projects. They associate with me simply to get the most amount of benefit they can get out of me. Just like my family wants me for my
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