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Chapter 103
The hallway was empty and quiet as usual when Ashton made his way downstairs. The hands of the big clock in the hallway pointed eight past ten. Unusually for him, today he was several minutes late for breakfast. He got into the large dining room to find no one waiting for him at the table. Hubert greeted him and he headed to his chair. Apparently he wasn't the only one who was late this morning.
"She isn't here yet?"
He asked as he occupied the seat drew back by Hubert.
"Miss Banks has gone early in the morning, Sir. She asked me to tell you not to wait for her."
"Gone?"
Ashton turned abruptly, startling Hubert who was going to set up the napkins on his lap. The butler regained his composure swiftly.
"For a morning walk, I suppose..."
A sudden alarm surged up within him.
"Is Brock or Garrison with her?"
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Disgraceful Chapter 104
His voice was not loud, but being in close proximity to the staff behind them, obviously they could hear him very clearly."Keep your voice down, for goodness sake. You don't need to humiliate me in front of your staff."She whispered under her breath.Glancing down at her, for a moment he turned silent. A few seconds later, he released her and muttered for her ears alone."From now on, you will stay within the grounds of the castle. One step over the gate, and I'll have you locked in your room for a full month. Do you hear me?"For a moment, Ava could only stared at him in utter bewilderment. The current incident had showed her the bloody possessive side of him."I haven't the slightest intention of running away."She tried a softer tone in hopes that he would come to his senses. She didn'
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A soft rustling voice from behind stirred him from his musings. He turned to see her feminine form in a short distance, wearing a long, ruffle-laced nightdress. The hem of her gown trailed along the dampened grass as she walked across the lawn.Storming over her in a flash, he grabbed her arm in an iron grip. Flinched, she opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something but he ignored her."Blast it! Garrison!!"He called out, hauling her with him as he started for the house."Wait! What are you going to do?"She exclaimed, struggling in his grasp."I'll have him fired."She stopped abruptly and wrested her arm free, forcing him to take a halting step."He does nothing wrong. He is right outside my door."His brows furrowed as he sent her a suspicious gaze."T
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The following day after the unexpected reconciliation that was initiated by her, Ashton secluded himself in the quiet privacy of his study. He had a lot on his mind, he needed some time to get accustomed to the new situation, and to contemplate the sudden swing of emotion that overtook him lately.For the first time in a very long time, he felt truly alive, and he was glad for the chance to live life like he had never felt before. But along with joy and happiness, he was also bedeviled by the fear of losing her, and the long-ago heartache caused by painful parting. It had long gone, and he thought he had buried it in the pit of his being, but the ghost of the past wouldn't let him send it away.Yesterday morning when he thought he had lost her, a sudden burst of recollection flashed through his mind, and he was taken back to his youthful days, almost a decade ago.Vermont
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Ignoring him, Ava quickened her pace. Brock, misunderstood her reaction as fear, stormed toward Freddie."Blast your eyes, bastard! Get out!"Startled, Ava opened her mouth to stop him, but the hefty man already clasped Freddie's collar."Brock! No!"Ava darted toward them, gasping in shock when Brock hauled the poor Freddie up into the air."Let him go!"Brock seemed reluctant, but finally he jerked the scared, breathless man free from his clutch."Thank you, miss..."Freddie panted, stumbling several steps back."Please tell His Grace, Lord Carlton sent for him. There's an urgent matter in the estate. His presence is required immediately.""How come he could find this place?"Before long, Ava stood by the window in his study, staring idly at the garden outside. She was completely perturbed by the fact that someone who knew her, no matte
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The kinder woman sputtered in clear indignation."Don't be so quick to judge. What if she is really his relatives?""For heaven's sake. Only a fool would believe that."Ava turned around and left as quietly as she came, unable to take it no more. Later when she told it to Polly, her friend didn't look a bit surprised."Everybody knew about you and him, from day one." Polly said. "I was going to tell you, but later I decided not to. For the first time in a long time, you looked really, really happy and I didn't want to spoil it."Polly stopped momentarily from doing her job, regarding her with a reassuring gaze."It must be difficult at first, but you'll get used to it. You'll come to a point where it can't hurt you anymore."Ava flinched at her friend's casual remarks."What do you mean?""Your mother has gone through this, and she survives and thrives
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"Rest assured that I don't plan a future in which you have no share."The deep, solemn note in his voice stunned her. She watched unblinkingly as he dipped a hand into his pocket to extract a small velvet box. Her heart leaped at the very sight of it."I believe it's yours.""What is it?"She asked, her voice quivering a bit.Instead of answering with words, he flipped the lid open. Ava caught her breath, for a long while, she forgot to blink.Before her was the most breathtaking jewel she had ever seen. It wasn't extravagant or ostentatious in size or design, but it was just perfect. It was beautiful in its classic simplicity, a timeless, oval-shaped emerald ring adorned with little diamonds around it. The brilliant stone sparkled as he held it between his fingers, studying the ring with a look of reverence."It has belonged to my family for several generations. Ev
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The last morning before the day of departure, Ava and Ashton took a stroll along the orchard behind the castle. The weather was perfect for a long walk around the immense field. Ava gave one last look at every corner of the estate. Tomorrow she would leave it all behind, along with her old life. Consumed by the prospect of seeing her father and her mother again after a good long while, she felt a mixture of fear and longing. She wondered how her father would take this unpredictable turn of events.Will her father allow this union? He has no reason to object. But she suspects her father would prefer a lesser, more manageable candidate. From his previous choice, Ava supposed her father would like to have his son-in-law eating out of his hand, for he assumed a man of some sort would be easier to control.After going around the orchard, they turned back for home, but as they reached the edge of the orchard, he asked her to rest a while under a m
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Ava tore her mouth from Ashton's and opened her eyes abruptly when he was hauled away from her with a brutal force. The attacker swung Ashton around and the next second, a sharp, heavy thud rang out as his head spun from the force of the sudden strike."Oh God!"Ava gasped, covering her mouth with both hands. A sudden chill seized her as she caught sight of the intruder. It was Magnus, as she had never seen him before. His face was contorted with rage.A hot blush spread across her cheek, as it occurred to her what Magnus had just witnessed a moment ago. Shaking with mortification, Ava wished the ground beneath her would split open and swallowed her. She knew it was only a matter of time before Magnus found out about them, but she never imagined that he would come upon them in such an embarrassing situation.With a grunt of effort, Ashton managed to shove Magnus backward several steps. Watching Magnus with a stony
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