Ethan's POV:I finally breathed freely, relieved to see it with my own eyes that Ashley's father was not as dumb as I imagined him.Maybe, I had judged him way too hard before this, for leaving his pampered princess of a daughter alone in the world, without any plans regarding her protection, even after raising her exactly like a fairytale princess in a completely protected and sheltered environment. At least, this deal is secured now, and I am not going to lose it… otherwise, I was afraid of getting the first blot on my name and reputation, for losing a bet that had almost been won already.But now, there is only thing that I am missing. I won't be able to see Emily tomorrow, as I am going to be stuck with Ashley here.Not that I am complaining, because the girl is really good in bed and her face indeed keeps me entertained. Apart from that, I don't really care much about her or her character, they are of no use to me. But seeing Emily is the salvation I get in my life.I sigh inwar
Ethan's POV:The feeling of extreme happiness peaks through my heart and shines through my eyes as I notice Emily entering the church.She had discovered this place during our college days; ever since then, she used to come to this church in search of some peace, which she finds while sitting here.I know that even now, she always visits on Sundays.And as per her usual habit, she is here!Her eyes light up for a moment as she notices me standing in front of the crucifix, and she starts to walk towards me.But the moment she happens to notice Ashley's back, she pauses, realizing that I am not alone.I notice the change in her emotions and feel the pain in her eyes, as she turns her back towards me and rushes outside.I want to run behind her, to tell her the truth… to explain everything to her; and most importantly, to tell her that I have always belonged to her with my heart and soul. But at the same time, I also want her to feel the pain that I have felt all these months without he
Ethan's POV:I have finally already gathered all the information that I should have gathered earlier, but because of my stupidity, I failed to do so.Emily and Jordan collectively hold 2% shares in the Waverly Group, and they have decided to transfer it to Liam. It all makes sense now, that's why I saw Emily there that day. Now, my first aim is to get those shares transferred to Ashley's name, but I’m well aware of the fact that Jordan won’t sell them to me, even if I offer him three times their value… just my name attached to the offer is enough to make him reject it.And he will most definitely turn it down, much like the time he didn't care about hurting me and stomped on our friendship when he blackmailed my Emily to leave me! When he can do that, being blinded by his hatred of me, then he can surely hold on to the shares just to see me lose.And my former friend’s petty and spiteful nature is exactly what I had in mind, before planning my perfect masterstroke.I have stayed out
Ashley's POV:I stand in my room, staring at the clothes hanging in the large white wardrobe which contains all the fancy dresses and clothes that I don't wear in my daily life. I’ve got to pick something for tonight, and fingers hurriedly push a series of hangers to one side, these dresses are out of the running. Nothing seems quite right, it's either too casual, too formal, too revealing, too ballroom-ey… until I stop at one I almost forgot I had. It’s an old dress, pastel green, bought for a party thrown by Aunt Claire that we never ended up going to. I almost snort at the memory of how disappointed I felt back then, but now I’m just glad that I found it.I pull it out and survey it up close. The corset is strapless, with a draping detail and a sweetheart neckline that looks sophisticated. The skirt is smooth silk over a layer of tulle, giving it a gentle flow that’s neither body-fitted nor overly fluffy. It has a matching chiffon scarf, which gives the perfect finishing touch.
Ashley’s POV:That single message makes me think about everything that is going on in my life… everything that has finally started to look up even a little, after I have finally started to move from the bitterest part of my life, no matter how slowly. Who could this person be, and what truth are they talking about?Is there any truth that I am not aware of?My mind starts to rush back towards the past, and the days that have been blue due the heaviness of emotions… but then, with a jerk, I suddenly jump into the days that have started to introduce the touch of vermillion over the blue sky of my life, signaling the arrival of the sun….And somehow, Ethan has been a big part of both– the blues and the vermillion in my sky.Ethan… if someone had told me two weeks ago about how much he would change, I would have considered it a prank! Because the way Ethan is now, is even beyond my wildest dreams. He has become jolly, of all things! It is really a far cry from his usual serious demeanor
Ethan's POV:I'm still here, waiting inside a cafe for Emily to walk into the flower shop in front of it, any moment now… except, there has been absolutely no sign of her coming here today.God is definitely testing my patience! Otherwise, there is no way in hell that she has suddenly stopped visiting the flower shop, for the sake of which I have almost become a regular in the worst coffee shop in the world. And while I don't fancy myself a connoisseur of coffee, I can say with absolute confidence that not just coffee, but every other thing also tastes disgusting!I don't know why Ashley likes the taste of this coffee and the desserts here; when all I have found is that every single item here is just directly dipped into the fountain of sugar– extra sweet!“Sir! Do you want something else?”The waiter asks, drawing my attention back to the coffee that is lying on the table, completely untouched.“No! Thank you, I would like the bill please.”I finally give up and stand from my place,
Ashley's POV:I get down, giving Mr. Brown a reassuring smile. As the car turns in front of my eyes, I clutch my purse a little more tightly in my hands as I decide to take the first step on the path leading up to the building.Even though every instinct in me is telling me to turn around, my curiosity keeps pushing me forward until I enter the building… Even I don't know what exactly I'm hoping to find here, but it has been almost fifteen minutes since Mr. Brown left, so I don't have any way to go but forward. Everything is pitch black, and by the time my pupils adjust to the darkness, I see spider- webs hanging from the ceiling.Seems like my lie about the meet and greet will end up coming true if someone with a penchant for horror really finds this place! It is perfect for shooting horror movies as well as hosting halloween parties… “Hello? Is anyone here!? I have arrived–”I tried to call out to someone in the dark… to the unknown person who messaged me.But there is no reply a
Ashley's POV:The whole car ride is like a journey to hell for me, but I somehow manage to keep my calm and maintain my composure.I know I need to let everything out of my heart, or the fire inside me is going to destroy everything around me… But as much as these feelings are suffocating me, I also know that I can't do anything right now… I have to wait till I reach a place of solitude and silence.Or else, the scream of my pain has the potential to deafen everyone, who might come in contact with it.I step into the house, thinking that loneliness will be the one to greet me… but to my surprise, Ethan's presence is the one to welcome me, accompanied by the sharp smell of alcohol. “Ash… Ashley… sweetheart! You know how special you are for me? Without you, I won't be able to find my love back… no back… yes back–”“Ethan!? You okay??Not really …I need…I need…”He stood up from the chair, grabbing the bottle from the counter with one swipe of his hand, and started to walk towards me w