Leaving the hospital, the outside world greeted them with blinding sunlight. Ashton turned to Kenny, "Mr. Kenny, I need to make a call."
"Sure," Kenny responded with understanding and stepped aside.Ashton found a bench, sat down, and called Fiona. She summarized the situation and then spent the next fifteen minutes sobbing uncontrollably. After she had cried enough, her voice shaky and eyes still wet, she sniffled, "Babe, I stopped crying.""Yeah," Fiona replied, her voice supportive. "Good timing, the rugrats just left. Tonight, I'll get your favorite braised dishes, and we'll have a proper drink!""Tonight, huh?" Ashton stuttered, her gaze drifting towards Kenny standing at a distance, a thought crossing her mind that Kenny was too clueless to wait in the car."I have dinner plans with the lord of the manor who’s selling his land.""Is it going to take all night?" Fiona muttered. "You better save some room for when you come back to drink with me.""Got"You guys are too much!" Crystal Robbins looked on the verge of tears.Ashton was getting irritated.He reached out and took Kenny’s hand. "He also hit my Berlin!"My Berlin.Kenny tilted his chin up slightly.Even prouder now.Chris looked on, struggling to breathe, as if he was going to explode with anger."He's your brother, for God’s sake!" Crystal shouted.The words hit Ashton strangely.It was as if… Crystal Robbins was hinting at something."The brother I don't want is not as important as my future husband," Ashton blurted out.Crystal was stunned."You're going to marry him?""Yeah, but don't expect a wedding invitation; I refuse to let you jinx it," Ashton said, tugging at Kenny, “Husband, let’s head out!”In just a few short minutes.Kenny's status went from Berlin to husband.His pride was practically skyrocketing!Watching the figures of Kenny and Ashton grow distant, Crystal came back to her senses.
Kenny's remark seemed playful.But...Ashton massaged her temples.There was truth in his words.Why had she engaged in that verbal spar with Chris and Crystal Robbins?"Hold on!"Ashton was struck by a sudden realization.She turned to Kenny with shock: "What did you just say? Ex?"Kenny looked nonchalant: "I'm not blind, the way he looked at you didn't suggest siblings in the slightest."A chill ran through Ashton's veins.This was the first time their secret had been uncovered."Don't you think..."Before Ashton could finish, Kenny interrupted: "No, I don't think.""Do you even know what I was going to ask?" Ashton's gaze hardened."What else could it be? It's the same lines Chris used before, trying to convince you to secretly date him." Kenny leaned in close, playfully tousling her hair. "Wake up, Ashton. Think about it—do those words really hold up?"Ashton clammed up.Her mind was swamped with the words Chris had
It was much later when Ashton found herself reflecting on the reason behind her hasty decision to marry Kenny. The rationale, in truth, was glaringly simple: a person who had been 'good' for far too long no longer yearned to play by the rules. At that moment, she thought that whatever lay ahead, even if it were an abyss, falling would only mean one thing—a peaceful end.It was well past midnight when Fiona finally completed the first draft of the proposal. Glancing up at the clock, she noted it was half-past eleven. Ashton had yet to come home. Just as Fiona considered calling to check in on her, the door opened. Ashton walked in with her cheeks flushed. "You been drinking?" Fiona approached her, concerned.But when she got close, the anticipated scent of alcohol was absent. "I haven't," Ashton replied, instinctively avoiding Fiona's gaze.A secret wedding wasn't something Ashton could dare share with Fiona—not when she wouldn't allow herself to take her lifelo
Grandma Carey's voice rose with passion as she spoke."When my only son died, all I wanted was to keep Ashton close for emotional support. But knowing the unbearable pain of a mother losing her child, I suppressed my grief and allowed Maria to take him away...""Grandma." Fiona took Grandma Carey's hand in hers. "We know, Ashton and I both know."Grandma Carey looked at Fiona, a glint of guilt in her eyes. "Still, it's my fault that Ashton and the Shaws fell out."She assumed Fiona was in the dark about Ashton cutting ties with the Shaw family and tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke."I'm aware of it," Fiona replied softly, assuring her, "You can believe me when I say that Ashton's estrangement from Maria and the Shaws had nothing to do with you.""How could it not?" Grandma Carey muttered, drowning in her own remorse.Fiona knew then that she had come for the right reasons."Grandma, there's something about Ashton's time with the Shaws that you
Speaking of which...Fiona checked her phone for the time. Today marked the memorial service for Mrs. Solomon. A titan of her era, the service was expected to be a grand affair, with many dignitaries and business leaders in attendance.If what Darwin revealed about his past that day was true...Fiona didn't allow herself to dwell on it, her mind slamming on the brakes.Falling for a guy, that's a one-way ticket to heartache, she reminded herself.Steeling her resolve, she headed straight to the garage and drove home.The night's events had drained her, and Fiona fell into a deep sleep the moment she hit her bed after a shower.The next morning.As Ashton woke, he stared blankly at the ceiling.Then it hit him—he was getting married today!He sat up, confusion giving way to sudden anxiety.None of the excitement he'd felt while preparing the night before remained.Am I really ready to get married?The question popped into his head,
The look of happiness on Ashton's face somewhat eased the discontent Kenny had felt moments before. They soon arrived at the city hall. Their appearance immediately drew many admiring glances.Ashton was a bit nervous.Kenny tilted his head slightly and said gently, "Mrs. Walker, all eyes are on you."She grew more anxious. "Why? Is my makeup smudged?"There was a softly amused smile in Kenny's eyes. "No, you look perfect. They're staring because you're absolutely radiant."Ashton was speechless. Was Kenny carrying around a honey pot or something?"Stop flattering me!" she said in a hushed tone, her ears turning red.Kenny couldn't help but chuckle, his shoulders shaking gently. Perhaps it was his praise that did the trick, for Ashton was all smiles and confidence during the photo shoot. When she looked at the photograph on their marriage certificate, stamped and official, she was amazed. Had she really been that happy a moment ago? Then her eye
Ashton was full of regret.So much regret.She had been way too bold in front of Lilian just a moment ago.And now, was this not retribution?"Kenny?" Darwin spotted Kenny.Ashton had already turned around, jabbing Kenny’s shoulder twice in frustration.That's for keeping it a secret!Kenny, puzzled, caught her hand, then acknowledged Darwin, "Brother."Brother?Ashton was completely bewildered.Kenny seemed to understand her confusion, explaining quietly, "Distant relative, many generations removed, but still, in terms of seniority, I call him ‘brother’.""Oh…" Ashton began to fiddle with Kenny's palm.That’s for keeping quiet!"That’s for keeping quiet!""Darwin…" Lilian’s complexion had turned sour.She didn't want Darwin to encounter anyone associated with Fiona again."What brings you here?" asked Darwin, his brow slightly furrowed.Mrs. Solomon wasn’t fond of Lilian, so he’d made it clear that she didn’t need
Fiona had to admit, she was a bit baffled when she opened the photo.For the years she'd known Ashton, joking was his forte—constantly talking about sweeping this hot guy off his feet or making that one cry in his arms. But Chris had been his only serious thing.And Fiona was still wrapping her head around the Ashton-and-Chris chapter. Now here was Ashton, arm in arm with another handsome guy, heading to Mrs. Solomon's funeral?After a moment’s thought, she dialed Ashton's number.The call went unanswered, but shortly after hanging up, a callback came."Hey, what's up?" Ashton gasped, out of breath.Fiona pictured Ashton, excusing himself from a crowd, and finding a secluded corner to return her call."Just checking in, almost done with the project. Free for lunch?" she asked casually."Can't today, how about tomorrow?" Ashton hesitated."Something came up?" Fiona asked nonchalantly."Yeah, something," Ashton's response was evasive."Alrig