While being in the car, when she pulled her hands away, I shamelessly grabbed her waist. Her playing hard to get only fueled my desire. When I had her on my lap, I wanted her there for the entire journey. But as soon as those hooligans ran off, she slipped back into her seat. The distance between us was unbearable. "I was still stranger to everyone. Isn't too awkward to bring this topic..." Before she could say anything else, the door behind swung open. Alex and Vini walked inside. Ashley immediately pulled away from me as if she was guilty of something. "Mr. Dylan, are you okay? I heard about the accident. I hope everything's fine," Vini asked, her face was full of concern. Alex's eyes were fixed on Ashley. I clenched my jaw. The way he looked at her made me want to rip him apart. "Yeah, I’m fine," I barely aknowledged Vini. My eyes stayed fixed on Alex, silently warning him to back off. But he didn’t. He approached Ashley and placed his hands on her shoulder "Are you alright?" he a
Ashley POV"Stop it, Dylan.." I pushed him away, not because I didn't want his kiss but because I liked it too much. The way his lips claimed mine stirred something deep within me. A spark that I hadn't felt in years and it terrified me. I turned away, guiltily, I had just divorced not a month before, and Dylan's touch sparked in my heart. He stormed into my heart. "Ashley.." Dylan called me, I avoided looking at him. He is about to touch my face. "Don't.." I shook my head. "Don't do this to me.." My body was turned hot, he might have felt it if he tried to touch it. I didn't want him to know that his touch melted me right now. We are just bound by the deal. I shouldn't raise much hope. When I loved Alex deeply, he gave me pain. If I dared to love a person like Dylan, he would shatter my heart into small pieces. I climbed into the car and fixed my gaze out of the window to avoid his piercing stare."We should go back to the mansion, Alan must be worried about us."I said."Okay.
Dylan POV The warm water cascaded over me and washed away the drowsiness but the memories of last night clung to me. Even a blink takes me back to her room, her face appears again. *** Flashback I was restless and couldn't sleep. Just because Ashely was just a wall away. She was too close, yet impossibly far. I resist the urge to see her, fighting a battle within me. I finally made up my mind and walked to her room. She lay asleep on her bed. The soft glow of moonlight illuminated her skin. A purple satin gown clung to her body and outlined the curves that haunted my dream. I knelt beside her hesitatingly and reached her for her face. My fingers brushed her cheeks. She stirred slightly. My thumb ran across her lips, the kiss we had in the evening felt the same as eleven years before. Her lips tasted sweet and juicy, I clenched her waist tightly so that I was scared I might hurt her. I couldn't control myself and brought my face close to her. But then I recalled
Ashley POVAs I descended the stairs, Dylan's gaze locked into me as if the rest of the world didn't exist for him. His expression held something intense. Almost predatoryA nudge from an elderly woman beside him pulled him back to reality. "Go and get her." She whispered. She must be his grandma. He is the only person in his family and also his most lovable person. Without hesitation, Dylan approached me. His confidence was outstanding.I was still on the last two stairs when he held my hand firmly. He helped me step down the remaining stairs."You're late.” His voice was still rough. His hands lingered on mine. “Everyone is waiting." I braced myself. I expected a single compliment from him but his arrogant ass won't let him do that. Yesterday at the same time he was kissing me and now I am engaged to him, what's next? Marriage or honeymoon? I really couldn't understand where my life was going.He gripped my waist as we walked to the stage. Everyone's eyes stuck on us. I could
Dylan POV"Boss, here is the footage of the event management team. They said the person who appeared in the video is not a part of their team.." Fred handed me his tablet. My eyes stuck to the screen. A masked figure slipped into the hall and replaced the balloon with a swift. He left with the calculated move without being noticed. Within a second he disappeared from the crowd. "Fuck!" I scoffed and ran my hand through my hair. “How are we supposed to find him now? More than two thousand people attended the engagement. Identifying the real culprit in that chaos is next to impossible.”Fred hesitated a little bit. “Could it be Alex?" Fred assumed. "Not likely. He doesn’t know enough to pull this off. But…” I said. “ If my engagement with Ashley falls apart, he was the one who benefited from it."I scratched my head."Have you found out about the people who attacked Ashley?" I couldn't help but find the connection between these two incidents. "They are dead,” Fred replied firmly.
I shook my head and was unable to find a word. How could I admit that the nervousness was eating me alive?We were going to meet his grandma and I heard the old lady was cold. She doesn’t like people that much. What if she pushes Dylan to break off an engagement? The Weber group just had stable shares and all because of the news of rumours of our engagement last evening. People gathered trust in the group because of Dylan’s involvement. If Dylan breaks off the engagement, the Weber group falls from grace and all because of my stupid game. Why did I decide to hide my identity in the first place? I snapped my head.“Are you alright?” Dylan asked me, and I nodded. “Have you seen how much loss I had to bear because of you?” He asked me coldly. I shook my head but his expressions already gave me the picture of it.I braced myself and turned my phone on. I was scared of looking into my screen knowing the backlash I was facing.I checked Dylan Marcov's group shares and it was unaffected.
I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Mrs. Marcov get into her bedroom to take a rest. The air felt much lighter. Dylan’s hands found my shoulder again. “Let’s go..” He said, “I want to show you what your future looks like.” My future. Those words stirred something within me. The conversation we just had, I never had it in three years of my married life. Nobody barely talked to me on the dining table, when I was with Alex.My mansion, my house… I was never habitual to such words because Alex and Melissa never called their house as mine or their family as mine. And here with Dylan, it’s different. We just had an engagement. Not engagement, I would say contractual relationship and I feel like I am already married to him."This is our backyard.." He widened his arms. My jaw dropped.“Backyard?” I scoffed. “This is not a backyard, that's a public garden or a national reserve.” I said. The backyard had a helipad behind it and a racecourse. It was absurd. He had everything.He chuc
AshleyThe car pulled in front of Weber Group’s headquarters. I braced myself and prepared for the chaos I had to encounter. I stepped out of the car and what I found was a little shocking. The calm surroundings. The pavilion was empty—no shouting protestors, no reporters blocking the entrance. Just silence.I might be watching this calmness after a long fifteen days. I lowered my sunglasses and approached the security guard."Is the employee on holiday? I thought Sunday was yesterday.” I asked him in disbelief. He chuckled lightly. “No, ma’am. The employees are back. The strike is over.”The words hit me like a melody. The strike is over! I walked inside and found everything in its place. I was greeted by them. Seeing them back at work was a balm to my nerves. I entered my cabin only to see our senior manager Mr. Patel and Alan were engaged in some discussion. “Miss Diana! Have you heard of it? Dylan Marcov approved one of the biggest deals in our history!”He was shocked. Alan
Ashley POV"Hello Teacher Ashley, Are you feeling okay now?" Teacher Eden asked me, and I nodded. He looked a little worried. It was embarrassing that he would ask a bunch of questions about yesterday. "Yes, I am feeling better today," I said.It was strange that since Dylan came, the baby stopped moving. It became calmer as if it found its solace now. It's not causing any trouble inside my belly. "I searched for you in the restaurant but you were not there. You left without saying goodbye. I was waiting for you to drop you home."He said, perhaps he didn't see Dylan carrying me in his arms. If he would have, he wouldn't have asked me this question. "Yeah, My health was not well. I left before it got worse." I added and pretended to be busy with work. But he didn't leave."What about Answers? You didn't give me the answer to my question. Are you interested in me?" He asked, I shook my head."Sorry, Mr. Eden. I don't need any man in my life. I am better at this." I said. It's bette
Dylan POVI could not believe it when I saw her, her tiny belly was now bulging into a huge one. She gained a little weight, but she looked more beautiful. The pregnancy glowed her beauty and she looked amazing."Do you think these chocolates and Gifts could compensate for everything?" She asked me if her anger was justifiable. Even though she was angry, I listened to everything she said. I was dying to hear her voice. But slowly she started getting breathless."Ashley, please. You can curse me as much as you want but first take care of yourself." I said and grabbed her hand. But she jerked my hands away. "Stop it. Stop pretending. You.." She was about to faint again. I held her hand and made her sit on the couch.I quickly ran into the kitchen and brought some water for her to drink.She drank some water and held her chest.I felt guilty for not being there for her. How did she manage everything? How she helped herself when no one was around her."Are you feeling better?" I asked
Ashley POVI arrived at the restaurant and found Sir Eden had reserved a seat in the corner. I was stunned to see him inviting me to such a lavish restaurant. He is a supervisor in the kindergarten and I knew the pay was not much in the village of Hakodate. I went and greeted him."Teacher Ashley, sit here." He gestured, and I sat across from him. I found that most couples came to that place. It was a bit awkward because his age must be a few years older than me and people perhaps mistook us as a couple."Sir, what cultural events do you want to talk about? I am going to take my maternity leave by next month. I doubt I can stay till that time." I said. I tried to sit straight, but I felt heavy kicks in my stomach. Perhaps the dress was too tight for me and the baby might feel uncomfortable inside. Eden seemed a little hesitant, he drank a glass of water before him and started speaking. "Ashley, actually I called you for something else." He said and my brows raised."What sir?""I
Ashley POVI finished the lesson of the kindergarten and walked out. I covered my belly with the coat, the winter here was colder than I thought. I took a bus to the gynaecologist that Auntie suggested to me. It's been a while since I arrived there. "Have you come for a regular checkup?" The receptionist asked me, and I nodded."Yes.""Is this your first baby?" She asked again. "Do you want your delivery to be here?". I stared at my belly.There was no chance that I would go anywhere for delivery for the next three months."Yes."" Fill this form then. You will have to register your pregnancy. We will cooperate with you until your delivery date." She said as she pushed the form to me. I filled it out quickly and passed the form towards her. "Name: Ashley Marcov. Husband's name: Dylan Marcov." She started reading it. "Where is the baby's father? Did he not come with you?" He asked me suspiciously. Surrogacy was not commonly practiced there so I guessed she might be doubting me for
Dylan POV“Mr. Marcov, your uncle proposed that you turn 28 and still could not produce an heir for the Markov group, so according to your grandpa's will, the company Chairman would be your uncle." My uncle's lawyer came forward and put the will before me. I took a deep breath. Even though I used to get drunk every night, I was sober enough by the next day to tackle such problems."Do you even know who established the group? A small venture turned into a multinational business. Who did everything?" I asked him. He gulped and stared at my uncle.“It doesn't matter who grew it, this will matter the most that dad left before leaving the world. And now better you give up on the chairman's seat."Uncle said. He seemed so desperate to lose me. "You didn't even wait for a day, does the Chairman's chair excite you this much?" I asked him. "Alright, we will give two days to Mr. Jonathan Marcov to prove his capacity to handle Marcov's group as a chairman. If he failed to do that, the entire
"Auntie, can I take some flowers from your garden?" A girl knocked on my door. I opened it to find a little girl standing outside with a flower basket."You want flowers?" I asked.She nodded."Which ones? Hibiscus? Tulips? Or lilies?" I inquired. She seemed a bit hesitant."I want all of them," she said. I handed her a few of each flower."Thank you, Auntie," she said and walked away. I turned to look at the small garden I had created. I had moved to Hakodate three months ago, and in that time, the garden had bloomed beautifully. It was filled with various flowers and plants. Looking at them brought me a lot of peace.I caressed my belly; now my swollen belly became more visible. The baby was growing inside. I started living in a small village in Hakodate, far from the chaos of the city, in a place where there was no crowd. Even everything turned dark once it’s six o clock. I usually sit outside my house and knit a baby cap. I was doing the same as the sun set. "Did you not go to
Ashley POV"What is this?" Alan stared at the file and asked me shockingly. "I have transferred all my shares in your name. I don't want to handle the Weber group anymore." I said. His brows arched when he heard that. He fumbled and held my hand."Ashley, listen. You don't have to do this. I never wanted the company. I just wanted you to be happy." Alan said, I shook my head. I was not ready to change my mind again."Grandpa wanted you to lead the Weber group. Do you think he would rest in peace if you do this?" He asked me.I took a deep breath. "I know. But I also think that you are the rightful owner of it. I was already missing for a while, and I think you should carry on this legacy."I stated. "But.." "I would assist you. Anyways you are soon retiring from your sports career. It will be good that you focus on the company."After his knee injury, it was difficult to continue his football game on international level. He wanted to get a small retirement from it. I walked back
Alan POV"What happened? Did he sign?" I asked Lawyer. He placed the divorce papers burned on both corners. He even burned the side where Ashely had signed in the morning."What the fuck is this. What does he think about himself?"I crushed the papers and asked. He placed another letter."Every time you send me the papers, you will find them in ashes. I am never going to divorce you at any cost. You were and you are and you will be my wife. Even when you will be dying, you will die as Mrs. Marcov."I gritted my teeth while staring at that letter. He is so confident that Ashley will return to him. Just because he had power and money he could dominate my sister at any time. "Now what shall we do? If he found out that I did that, he would throw me out of my chamber. I did it because you told me." The lawyer was scared. I took a deep breath."Prepare another paper and sign it in place of Dylan Marcov," I said, he was scared and shook his head."No, you want me to make a fake signature fo
I knew how excited he would be after knowing that. I grabbed the sonography in my hand and walked out of the hospital. My first pregnancy ended so drastically that I didn't want anything wrong to happen this time. I will tell you everything Dylan today. I should inform him about my pregnancy and shouldn’t deprive this child of his father. I took a deep breath and got in my car.I took a tablet of vitamins and folic acid that my gynaecologist gave me. I drove back to the Markov group, as Dylan must be taking out his frustration on the staff, perhaps Fred going through a hard time because of me.As soon as I reached the elevator, I pressed the button. I felt extremely nauseous. The locked room made me feel puke again. The elevator went up and I almost vomited in the dustbin of the elevator. The doctor already informed me about my morning sickness getting worse but I didn't know it would be this bad. I was almost about to feel dizzy but then I bumped into Zina on the next floor."Mrs