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' POV:Thud! I hear the noise that echoes in the way my heart starts to hammer frantically against my rib cage, realizing that he has shut the door from outside… leaving his room, and me alone in it.I have made every single effort I could, tried every single method I could, to make him listen to what I was saying. But he still left without listening to me… even without letting me give the explanation he himself was demanding from me, which I know he wanted to hear.After all, I am not wrong… Just a few days ago, he was the same person who was asking me why I hadn't said anything to him, if I was allergic to green bell peppers… when he simply didn't listen to me any time I tried to warn him; forget that, I doubt he even listened to a a single word I was trying to say. And today! Today, he has done the same thing: he left me inside and shut the door from outside, without letting me finish what I was trying to say… or caring to know that I am claustrophobic.Despite the traces
Ashley's POV :Feeling a vice-like grip around my chest, I try my best to divert my mind or at least to put it to some ease, knowing that I have very little time left in my hands. But I fail miserably… I fail miserably in everything I do, try to do, or even hope to do.My claustrophobia starts to kick in, and tears start to roll down my already-wet cheeks; but this time, the tears are caused by fear, not humiliation.I start frantically knocking on the door and screaming for help in my desperate efforts to save myself, hoping there will be some way out… there should be a way out! I can't… I can't die here… not this way…But after a while of screaming, my throat starts to hurt… and I begin to reach a horrifying realization with a somewhat calm acceptance: there is nobody to hear my screams, or set me free.I don't even know if he is still here in the house, or if he has already left me to die here alone… I don't know if someone lives in the neighborhood or not, or whether they can hear
Ashley's POV:I shift, only to feel something velvety soft beneath my back.I don't know if this is the heavenly feeling people talk about… that they are supposed to get after death, if they keep their conduct good during their time on earth.I try to open my eyes, and immediately feel a sharp white light stabbing my eyes.‘That's it! I am definitely dead, and finally, my time has come to roam in the heavenly lanes.’Rubbing my eyes, I try to open them once again; after all, I ain't going to miss the chance of roaming in the lanes of heaven at any cost!But the moment I open my eyes, I find myself sleeping on the soft bed that somehow feels familiar to me… and ironically enough, the room too-Ethan's bed… Ethan's bedroom.I'm lying on Ethan's soft king-size velvet mattress inside Ethan's bedroom …But how is this even possible? I am sure that I died last night… or at least I believe it was last night? I don't know exactly how much time has passed since I died.“Did I not go to heaven,
Ethan's POV:Guilt is something that has found a permanent residence in my heart, and it is not because I have done something wrong… but because this girl has the power to mess up all my plans, without even lifting a single finger.I never thought, or imagined that I would give so much power to anyone apart from Emily, but then again… I was never aware that someone is going to step into my life with exactly her face and mannerisms, while carrying completely different sets of fears and allergies.I accept that I had meant to shut the door in my anger, and somehow ended up locking it too… but again, if Emily was in her place, she would have utilized this time in taking a short, energetic, power nap!But this girl… this girl is built different.Every time… every single time, no matter how badly I want to push her away from myself, I am the one who ends up saving her.After all, I can't just let her die with my Emily's face.And this is why my anger breaks through the roof once again, whe
Ashley's POV:I wake up to the smell of fresh croissants and omelets, along with the delicious aroma of coffee.My nostrils are in heaven, and so am I… I don't know if it was a dream where Ethan had somehow saved me from the jaws of death and also threatened to kill me himself, or was it reality… It did feel like a fever dream, for sure… “If you are awake, then come and finish your breakfast. Hurry up, or you'll only get a few minutes to pack whatever you might need from here. We are moving back.”I hear Ethan's voice from somewhere nearby, and finally open my eyes to find him sitting in the same room. Beside the large window overlooking the farmhouse, there is a small coffee table, and there he is… sitting on the side chair with one leg crossed over the other. So it wasn't fake, then. But, what about the feelings and sensations that I was experiencing… were they true, or were they, too, just a dream of mine…My gaze dips down due to embarrassment, and this is when I notice that I'
Ashley's POV:Although we returned to the city that very day, I still didn't get the chance to meet Tiffany… it has been almost two weeks since I last saw her, and I know she would be feeling as uneasy as I am. But there is nothing I can do about it right now… because today is already the day when we have to head to the party.I know, I know that whatever I am going to say to her, about not why I couldn't meet her, is going to sound like an excuse– but it really isn't!In fact, I feel slightly bad for the naive Ashley who thought that coming back was an occasion to celebrate, because ever since we have come back to the city, my schedule has been even more packed. After our return, not only have I had to prepare for the upcoming meeting while also meeting the small shareholders to convince them to sell their shares to me, but also to rehearse the lines Ethan has handed me as a script for the party.I really don't understand this man, or what does he really want from me! Sometimes, he
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