Ashley's POV:He opens the door, and throws me inside like I'm some piece of furniture that he didn't even want in the first place… but because of some reason, he can't deny the utility and get rid of it.I stumble into the room and grab the first thing I can to support myself; because my head is spinning in circles. I'm standing, leaning against the back of a couch, still trying to process what has happened in the span of an hour… or even the last few minutes? After so many days, I was finally feeling like I wasn't an oddity, like I didn't only want to remain stuck in the past where I felt safe and cherished, but like I also had something to look forward to. I had finally found someone, after what felt like an eternity, who was ready to hear my voice and was interested in my business ideas, without asking for any favors… I had finally found someone who knew my parents and appreciated their hard work, unlike everyone around me who had seemed to have forgotten them and their contrib
#Trigger Warning: Mention of or*l, v*gin*l and an*l intercourse. I find myself battling with the question of self respect and dignity when he comes dangerously close to me, making me flinch. But to my surprise, he places a kiss on my collarbone next. “Why do girls like you always need to have backups around you… why is there no one in this whole world, who is good enough for you… why can't you be loyal to anyone you ever meet?” “But not anymore… not anymore, sweetheart! Because if you haven't learnt how to be loyal to anyone… Then let me teach who you belong to for the next three months, and why you should not forget this.” He says this as a final warning of sorts, before he starts hurting me in every way possible; both physically and mentally… Meanwhile, confusion and fear start to tangle in my mind. What is he doing to me? The accusation in Ethan's eyes was something I can't comprehend. "Don't try to act innocent! I know girls like you are anything but innocent…” Hi
Ashley's POV:I wake up to find an empty bed, a sore body and broken soul with me.I feel my eyes burning with tears that refuse to be shed, when I'm bombarded by the memories of last night.Last night for me, was what people could compare with being worse than rotting in the hellfire… Ethan's actions and his words have done a great job in breaking my body and soul from the core, perfectly.I look around, trying to find any trace of any human presence there… but there is nothing, apart from my torn dress that I had stripped off myself last night.The silence in the room seems to be taunting me, screaming the reality of how I myself have ruined my life completely… by handing over all the power to someone who knows how to destroy his opponents by shattering them into a million pieces.I get off the bed, and slowly start to gather whatever is left behind; a few tears and the garment that is clearly not able to save me from the burning disgust inside my heart.Ethan… he was really mad at
Ashley's POV:I settle into the cab, barely aware of my surroundings. "Just go straight from Melrose Avenue, then take the first right off 125 and Hayden Park.”I mumble the directions absentmindedly, not even bothering to check if the driver understands. But he doesn't acknowledge my words either, and when I finally look up, I catch him staring at the marks on my arms through the rearview mirrror. His gaze lingers for a moment too long, and I quickly avert my gaze, rubbing my palms along my arms as if I can erase the evidence of what happened… but all I can do for now is distract myself. Turning to the window, I try to focus on the changing scenery outside as the neighborhoods blur together, a mix of old and new, rundown and pristine. I lean my head against the cool glass; the cab ride will be an hour long at the very least, and maybe I'll get a chance to rest on the way?But there is no trace of sleep or rest in my eyes or my destiny, because every time I close my eyes, I feel t
Ashley's POV:The last two days have passed in the blink of an eye, and I did nothing at all in these two days since I returned from Tiffany's home.Has there been a sense of fear and anxiety lurking in my heart, that I'm going to get a call from Ethan at any moment now, summoning me to come and satisfy his needs, his desires and sell my soul in return for the huge favor he is doing to me? Yes, I have barely been able to sleep… not to mention the number of times I wake up gasping and terrified that I have missed a call from him and now, I'll have to pay dearly for it. But have I missed him…? Hell yes! The most painful experience of my entire life is that no matter what happened and what Ethan has done to me, I still can't hate him… forget that, I'm not even able to stop myself from missing him! Although, one thing was certain in my mind: I don't want that night to be repeated, not at any cost… but I also know that it isn't in my hands anymore, because I have signed away the right
Ashley's POV:For a moment, I try to struggle against his grip. I know I am not this weak that I can't fight back; I can at least struggle to free myself from his grip…Or so I thought. But judging by his bloodshot red eyes and the anger that is being reflected in them, lurking somewhere in his mind– all this is telling me otherwise. He is ready to kill me… he wants to kill me. At any cost, and by any means!Until now, I have been under the impression that everyone is putting up this fight against me, simply because I am claiming my rights on the business.But it is at this moment that I'm beginning to realize something else: it's not about the business, it was never about the business… it is just that he never liked me. They have never liked me, or accepted me, from the start. He has never considered me as a part of the family; and till this moment, everything was just a show to try and deceive me into thinking that they care for me as a family… They desperately wanted to pull t
Ashley's POV:I can't… I can't tell him who did this to me. Even though I really want to tell him, tell someone about what happened to me, but I can't. I don't want to make a fool of myself, because I know there is no one who will take me at my word and believe me without any questions. And right now, I'm afraid that if I have to answer just one more question, I'll crumble… So what's the point of telling him anyway…?I muster the courage to speak again, ignoring Ethan's hot breaths against my skin, which are doing a great job in messing with my head; and he knows it. This contract thing has gotten out of hand long ago, and I spotted the first sign of the upcoming disaster back when I first started to feel pleasure in his company.But that night, he made it very clear, about what to expect and what not… and I am not someone to make the same mistake twice.“I can't–”“What can't you do, dear? Is it hurting so much that you can't even decipher it, sweetheart…?”He gently pushes some s
Ashley's POV:“Ethan, I think there was someone there–”“There is no one you should be concerned about.”I try to inform and warn Ethan about the person who has probably seen every moment of our makeout session in complete detail, and might be just one step away from circulating the rumors that the whole city will enjoy for days with tea and tabloids.But he doesn't let me… he doesn't even let me say what I was trying to. In fact, in return for all my concerns, I received just one simple sentence from him. “Don't worry about that person, she is not for you to care about. I will be dealing with that matter myself.”I know that once he has said this, there is nothing in this world I can say or do, to change his mind. And if he is not afraid of the scandals, then I shouldn't be, either.I look up to see why we stopped abruptly, only to find that we have finally reached the room where the meeting was rescheduled for.I know it is definitely Lucas because of whom I didn't receive the new