Ethan's POV:I have read somewhere that anger is the worst parasite you can allow to live inside your body; without your knowledge, it has the power to not only keep you burning you from the inside, but also set fire to your entire world.And I am angry… extremely angry, but with no clue as to why I’m angry! I have no right to be angry with her, because even though she is bound by the contract, she can still have her own life.I have no rights on her, no more than a hundred nights… and even while I am saying all those things to her, I know it is anything but true, there is no such clause mentioned in the contract.It's just that I happened to notice her signing the contract without reading it, and back then too, I knew that I could profit off of it. So now, I'm just taking the benefit of something I tucked away in my memory earlier.But it still doesn't justify my anger, nor the loss of control that I have experienced almost after three years… three years since Emily left me for someo
Ethan's POV:“Shoot, can't you see it's an emergency?”I blurt out without realizing that I haven't been sharing this place with anyone else, and no one is supposed to be here, apart from the two of us.I lift my eyes for a fraction of a second to see who the hell has dared to turn their steps towards my property, and that too, when I'm in a time of crisis.It is goddamn Robert! But how… and most importantly why?“What are you doing here-”“What happened to her?”He ignores my question very calmly, like he isn't an employee on my payroll but a guardian assigned to me, and shifts his entire concern towards Ashley.“You made her eat green bell peppers, didn't you? I knew you were up to something, or probably, you've ignored the fact that she is allergic to peppers. I guess, that's why it is advised that if you can't care for anyone apart from yourself, you should not take on responsibilities, either.Thank God, I noticed the peppers in the kitchen, and happened to have extra medicine in
Ashley's POV: I slowly come to my senses, finally waking up with a heavy pain weighing my body down… I blink… then blink again, until the room comes into view, and it still takes me a few minutes to remember where I am, and how my life is playing a prank on me.It takes another few moments of me staring at the roof, to realize my exact location… the Devil's dungeon!!!‘Oh God! I have to leave… I have to leave now!!’This thought is enough to inject a high dosage of panic into my body, and my heart starts the marathon it was never prepared for.I remember eating green bell peppers… then somehow, Rob was here, giving me the epinephrine shot, and I asked him to leave… but then, how did I end up here?Even though there are some faint glimpses where Ethan was carrying me to this room, but… I don't think it could be true.Anyway, the best thing I can do for myself now, would be to sneak out of his room before the devil spreads his wings again and catches me red handed, ready to punish me
Ethan's POV:Sweet dreams are something that make you forget all the pain you are going through… take you to an entirely new land of desires, buried under the stone that has replaced your muscular heart. And that's just the kind of dream I was lost in, a sweet dream… about the life I wanted, about the person I needed beside me… the feeling that I craved in her absence. The dream has everything I once wanted, until the bubble bursts all of a sudden; and I realize that I'm most probably dreaming. Opening my eyes the next moment, however, I do find my body entangled with a small stature. Shit! Once again, I have replaced her with Emily in my sleep.My actions start to flash in front of my eyes, playing like a movie that makes me remember that just last night, I gave her a loving forehead kiss, wishing her a good night.This obsession of mine, of being with Emily… it is really getting out of hand these days. I need to remember that she isn't Emily… she is even allergic to the food she
Ashley's POV:Am I going to behave as he says, even if he is not around… and follow each and every word that he has said to me?It's not like someone is here, who will snitch on me!These two thoughts arrive in my mind, simultaneously and I toss both of them out of the window while drying my hair… just when a third question starts to peep into my mind.‘If I won't use my phone, how will I know where he is, and when he will be back? Or even about the people he was talking about, who are going to teach me–’The thought goes on an infinite hiatus before it can be completed, as soon as I hear the loud chime of the doorbell.My heart somehow misses a beat because of panic. I am well aware that even if it is Ethan on the door, he can never know what I have been thinking to myself… But still, the color of my face is giving a tough competition to that of a thief, who has been caught red handed in the easiest theft of his career after being a pro in the world of thievery! I rush towards the
Ashley's POV:Never had I thought before today that I would ever be capable of seeing time fly like a bird and disappearing into thin air in no time… especially after the accident that has changed my world.Somehow, I have been struggling to just get through the days, whenever I am alone. The time between every sunrise to sunset stretches to infinity, and the night is an ordeal in itself; because this loneliness is running after me like a fierce tiger, ready to eat me alive.But today is different.Today, I don't even know how we all are already sitting in the dining area, waiting for dinner to arrive and it is 8:30 at night.Ethan is still not here, and the unusual thing is… I am missing him.I can't miss him, I know as much. He is not the person I should be missing; if he is helping me on one hand, then he is taking a huge payment for it… a payment that he wouldn't be able to get– even if he had spent his entire wealth— if my parent's business wasn't in question.“Ashley! Here is yo
Ashley's POV:I would be lying if I say that I didn't mistake that voice for my imagination. It has been seven days… seven days since I last saw him, seven nights since I have been sleeping alone in this unknown house. The only relief is that my almost- military level training has been wearing me out and making me fall asleep at night… or more like pass out as soon as I feel the relief of another day being over. Otherwise, there was never a chance that I would be able to survive this loneliness, in these terrifyingly lifeless surroundings where I don't even hear the sound of a single breath after everyone leaves for the day. But still I know that I must be hallucinating, because no matter how much I want someone to be here with me… how much I want to talk to someone and feel their company, still… There is no way I would imagine them saying this to me, especially not Ethan! Mainly because he doesn't even know me well enough to compare me with anyone else.Clueless about why he woul
Ethan's POV:It has been seven days since I last visited her… seven days since I left her alone in my huge farmhouse, and this action of mine has indeed caused the guilt of not being a proper gentleman and a good host.In fact, it is downright embarrassing how I keep putting it off for later, thinking that if I can avoid seeing her for long enough, I will somehow manage to get rid of the feelings and impulses associated with that face and that place. I also agree with the fact that I'm being a bad host who has left his guest to fend for herself, at least while I'm thinking with my heart.However, my sane mind is keeping me in check so far, by revealing the harsh reality that I was not caring for her because I really am a good man… but because I was helpless and compelled by my own sinister heart. No matter who she really is and where she is from, she has the face that I can't see in pain.And apart from all that, I have been monitoring her progress with the classes and also keeping
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