Ashley's POV:“Hey, Ash! You okay?!”Robert's voice knocks on my eardrums and I quickly open my eyes, partially in disbelief and shock. “Yeah!”I manage to say, gulping as I realize that he is indeed standing in front of me. “Come on! Get up, we need to leave right now!!”He says with urgency, pointing towards the man who was wailing in pain and is now lying sprawled on the floor. He is unconscious, thanks to the unexpected attack on his head, with the help of the vase lying shattered in the corner.“Yes! But the girl–”I point towards the chair, bringing Robert's attention towards the poor girl who still seems to be unaware of what is going on around her. She is close enough to be seen, but far enough to not feel or understand whatever is going on.“Think about yourself first, darling! We could always come back here with help.”He replies, giving me his hand and pulling me back on my feet.I feel the room tilt on its axis before I manage to stabilize myself. I remember I have never
Ashley's POV:I know that if I disconnect the call after this, it is going to be the start of the third world war– right here, right now.So I decide to put the phone on speaker and place it aside on a table or something, from where it can catch my words and at the same time, I will also be able to hear him without any disturbance.But before I can move towards the table to do exactly that, Robert speaks up.“Ash, I don't think he is going to remain unconscious for too long, so tell me, what is the next plan? Are we going to escape from here, take the girl with us… or are we going to stay here and wait till he gains consciousness again? To ask him who he really is, what he is doing here, and what he really did to Mr. Hopkins?”“I think we should call the police.”I blurt out in reply to his question, and Robert opens his mouth to say something in reply. But he stops abruptly, seeing my hands fly to my face as a sudden realization hits me: I had completely forgotten until seconds ago
Ashley's POV:It takes me a moment to realize that the man has managed to free himself from the makeshift ropes we have put around him, and has pulled out an iron rod from somewhere, wanting to hit me with it. The man had swung and struck, aiming to hit me on the back of my head; which Ethan has taken on his right shoulder, completely shielding me.And now, he has turned towards him, wrestling the iron rod from the man's weakened hands. Putting it down by his feet, Ethan proceeds to punch him so hard on his nose that he stumbles two steps backwards, losing his balance.But Ethan has no mercy, he pulls my attacker up by his collar before punching him again, and again, and again… until he falls to the ground, completely unconscious once again.He turns to me, panting slightly. “You okay? Let me see, are you hurt somewhere–”“I am okay–”He doesn't even let me complete my statement before he roars at Robert.“What the hell were you doing! Where the hell was your attention, what would
Ethan's POV:I reach Mr. Hopkins’ residence in record time, although I never imagined it was even possible to cover half the distance between my office and this place, in that duration.And thank God that I reached there when I did! The thought of me being late by a single second and her getting hit by that rod makes me so angry with myself, that I ignore everything about that place and the people present there, which seemed off at first glance. I would be looking into that later, but right now, I have to focus on taking her out of this situation.And seeing the rage she is currently feeling after hearing this monster speak, it is really making me want to kill this person… But again, I am not going to take anything into my hands just because the face Ashley possesses. Yes, if Emily was in her place… Just this thought alone makes me so angry that I kick him twice in the stomach, even after he faints after saying that I have to protect her if I dare. Of course I have to protect her
Ashley's POV:For a moment, I can't believe my ears due to the sheer improbability of what they have reported to my brain. Did Ethan really say that I have become important to him?My heartbeat starts to pound so hard in my chest, that I can literally hear its sound through my ears.He also hops into the car, and suddenly turns towards me without any warning.That's it! This is my last day on the planet, there is definitely something wrong with my heart.But before I can figure out exactly what ailment I'm going to die of, he reaches across and grabs the seat belt from the side.My eyes follow his hand as he pulls it across, latches the seat belt and then twists the key to start the engine. It doesn't take us more than an hour to reach Ethan's house, or probably, it is even less than that.But the array of contradictions going on inside my head is telling me otherwise, as it is adamant on making me believe that the whole day has passed since we left Mr. Hopkins’ place… that Time has
Ashley's POV:I woke up to find the bed empty and Ethan nowhere in sight.This is the reality of my life, but I don't know why the hell my heart has to make it otherwise by protesting against it every single time.Realizing that I haven't even taken a shower since yesterday, I decide to step down and complete my morning routine.My right foot has barely touched the floor, when I hear the door creak open, and there he is– Ethan, storming back into my room with exasperation etched across his face.“You are seriously something, Ashley! Please tell me honestly, have you been sent by one of my enemies from my past lives? With the goal of making my life miserable by making me take care of you like a toddler?”“Huh?”“What huh!? Five minutes ago, I left you sleeping peacefully, and just five minutes later, you are up for adventure once again. What else do you want me to think?”“I have to use the washroom…”I shift uncomfortably under his intense gaze. But he doesn't reply or say anything to
Ashley's POV: Although I have started to notice Ethan getting increasingly protective towards me, I have been trying to ignore it till now… knowing very well that it might just be a thought that exists only within the bubble of my imagination, which can burst at any moment! But today, I can't deny it anymore.We have finally reached the location that one of his men had mentioned, saying it was the last place where Mr. Hopkins was seen.The place is indeed shady and dark, damp and dense at the same time. There is a disgusting stench in these packed alleyways, and yet, nobody can exactly pinpoint where the smell is coming from.It's like the entire place is covered by this rotting smell, to the point where they can't be separated from each other; almost suffocating any outsider who dared to step in.Broken windows, with their jagged edges glinting like teeth, stared down at us from the worn down buildings around us, or whatever remained of them… making anyone question why someone in t
Ashley's POV:The entire journey back to the house is spent in dense silence.Neither am I in the mood to say something, nor has Ethan tried to initiate a conversation.But the moment we step inside the house, he picks me up in his arms again. I look at him questioningly, but he simply lowers his head, his lips brushing against my cheek as he whispers in my ear.“Babe, we are going to be busy for two whole days, starting tomorrow. So let's make up for those two days, and let's try something new.”I want to protest, saying that I am not in the mood or that I'm still too sad to think straight right now… but I remember that I don't have any real say in this situation.I am the one who has given all rights to him, with the contract.So now, I can't do anything apart from waiting for him to make me see heaven or hell, as per his wish.Still immersed in my thoughts, I feel his warm lips grazing my neck, softly at first, and then they proceed to mark their territory roughly.I inhale sharply