ログインASHLEY I didn't know what to do as I stood there, dumbstruck and confused. My heart was racing in my chest, my belly was twisted in horror and I felt a sinking, weakening feeling enveloping every part of me. I gulped hard, my throat still dry and tight as I stared at the necklace. She was the one who had bought the second one. How was that possible? Why didn't I know all this while? I gasped and began to draw closer, slower this time. Before I could get closer to where she stood so I could question her, someone grabbed my hand from behind and dragged me out of the place. My heart dropped into the bottom of my belly and rage sparked through me as I struggled to get the hands of whoever was holding me off my wrist. From the corner of my eyes as I struggled, I saw Margaret turn in the direction of the place I once stood. “Let go of me!" I spat and jerked my hand away from his grip. The person turned and it turned out to be Skylar. I scoffed, disappointed that it wasn't Michae
ASHLEYMichael let go of my hand when his friends came over to greet him. We were back at the funeral party being hosted in my father's garden. That was his favorite part of the garden. It irritated me that that was the part Margaret decided to throw her stupid party. I knew behind those black dresses and small talk, there was happiness and excitement. All I'd heard since I was standing here was the possibility of the inheritance becoming Margaret's and her children's.Everyone at the party had pretended like Michael and I didn't exist. Even though Michael wasn't interested in things like that, he was obviously pissed to see the direction of every conversation we decided to be part of.I sighed and rubbed my wrist, glancing at the flowers my father was watering the day I came to see him. The last day I saw him alive and smiling.“Miss Carter." I turned when someone mentioned my name behind me.The smile that I was about to throw onto my face disappeared when my eyes fell on Mrs. Morg
ASHLEYI watched silently with a heavy heart as they lowered the gold coffin into the ground. Margaret wailed loudly beside me, and Karen followed along with their false cries.I pinned my blurry gaze on the casket, barely batting an eyelid over the people who gathered to console their fake cries.If I should bat an eyelid, tears would definitely slip out of my eyes and expose the weakest part of me.I sighed and closed my eyes, feeling that pain-filled sting in my chest.“To ashes we come, to ashes we return," the priest said, and the people chorused a quivering Amen.I sucked in a deep breath, gripping the hem of my black dress as they began to lay him down in a place I would never see him again.My throat burned in pain and rage, and my heart ached so badly that I feared it would burst out in flames. I shouldn't have stared, but I did anyway. I wanted to watch as they buried him. I wanted to feel that pain, that rage. I wanted to taste that unquenchable thirst of vengeance.I stood
ASHLEY My heart dropped into the deepest part of my belly and shivers washed down my back. I staggered back, the hairs on my skin jerking up in horror.“Kourtney?" I whispered in a quivering voice.I looked at Michael, but he looked away, unable to explain either.I gasped loudly and gripped the hem of my dress.Margaret gripped my arm and pushed me back, glaring hatefully at me.“You made him start digging around for things he shouldn't have dug for," she whispered and my throat knotted.My lips parted and slammed shut, confusion welling up in me.“What do you mean?" I snapped when I couldn't take in the confusion anymore.She wanted to say something else to me but paused and looked back at the people staring at us.She turned and glared at me then hissed and turned around to go back to where she was sitting.I stood there, dazed, as I stared at them.How did my father find out about Kourtney? Why did that name kill him?My heart clenched, and guilt filled my chest with bile rising
ASHLEYAll through the drive to the morgue, I couldn't stop crying. My heart kept shrinking, and tears wet my dress so much that I had to wrap a handkerchief over my chest.“Don't get into a fight," Michael warned as he pulled the car to a stop in the parking lot.I wiped away the tears on my face and nodded as I unlocked the seat belt.I got out of the car and rubbed my trembling arm, then began to walk towards the building.I could barely see the building because of the blurry haze over it. My heart was racing, and my feet ached with each step I forced forward towards the building.The closer I got to that building, the more painful those rare moments I shared with him got.I could barely feel myself, and I could barely hear my own heartbeat as I walked.I paused at the large doors, my heart racing so fast and thumping so hard that I feared my chest might split.I couldnt move again. I wasnt ready to face whatever horror was waiting for me behind those walls.“What's wrong?” I heard
ASHLEYI ran up the stone stairs, almost falling to the ground multiple times. My breath was ragged, my belly kept twisting, and sweat dampened the back of my shirt as my feet moved swiftly through the cold garage.I could hear Lauren's distant scream of my name, but I neither stopped nor did I look back at her.Pain and fear gripped my heart as I grabbed the door handles and pushed the door open. The cold air in the hall hit my face so hard that it froze my breath. I stood still for a moment, waiting to catch my breath, but I never did. Instead, I lost it even more.My body was shaking, my head was on fire, my heart kept shrinking, and cold shivers washed down my soaked back as I stared at the empty hall.The eerie silence was crushing life out of me as I stood in the middle of the empty hall.“Father!” I screamed desperately, but my voice only echoed back to me.My throat knotted, and my heart dropped into the pit of my belly. I stood there, staring up at the staircase, hoping, pray
ASHLEY “I'll head to the restroom now," I blurted out when I saw the rage in his eyes. He didn't say a word or move as I dashed away in the direction of the restroom.There was something about this Kourtney. Something he didn't want me to know and I needed to find out what. He also acted this way
ASHLEY The cafe close to the hospital barely had customers in it and that was exactly how I loved it to be.I sipped my coffee slowly, slow jazz flowing across the background. I had a newspaper in hand– the first time I had ever had one willingly.My eyes were glued to the paper, darting quickly t
ASHLEY Cameras flashed nonstop the moment the doors of the limousine opened. I stepped out with a large smile on my face then tugged my hand around my father's. Jaws dropped in surprise when the people around saw me. I was sure none of the people knew that I would join my father at the business g
ASHLEY My feet slipped, almost throwing me down to the ground. I gripped the handle for support before I reached the ground. The room was tight and much more depressing than it was when I walked in. I could barely breathe when I entered, but now, I was dying from the weight of shock, guilt, and







