[6] A promise

ASHLEY

‘You’ve lost, Ashley,’ Lilian's taunting words haunted me as I sat in the bathtub, drowning in tears and the stinging cold water that filled the bathtub.

After ‘shamelessly demanding for divorce’ like the media tagged it, I rushed out of the hall and locked myself up in my room all day.

I had neither eaten, washed up, nor stripped out of the dress I was wearing last night.

I barely slept either, and the only thing that I had done was cry, even though that was not going to stop the smear I was receiving from the internet. I had been called all kinds of names in comment sections and news outlets. 

And Alex? He has never shown up since last night. I guessed he was celebrating with his mistress on their successful accomplishment.

I was burning up and dying in sorrow. If anyone would betray me, I never thought it could be Lilian. We had been friends for so long, yet she chose to hate me this way.

I lost my career, my family, my dignity for the sake of Alex and Lilian, but this was what I got in return…betrayal.

No amount of crying could redeem my name or save me. It was over. I had to accept it.

I stopped crying and stood up, then stepped out of the bathtub.

The drenched dress I had on was so heavy that I could barely stand, but I didn't mind. There was nothing to care about anyway. I raised my heavy, reluctant feet and limped out of the bathroom. I walked gingerly to the door and pulled it open, squinting my eyes as sharp lights from the windows in the corridor pierced into my eyes.

I looked down at my feet and found a file on the ground.

I didn't need a seer to tell what was in the file before picking it up.

I closed the door, then limped to the drawer and took out a pen. I took out the document containing the divorce and input my signature in the spaces needed.

I cancelled the alimony and carefully put the document back into the file and dropped it on the bed.

I took a deep breath to ease the pain weighing my chest down, then picked up my phone and dialed my father's number.

His voice came out rough and hostile when he accepted the call.

“Father?" I called in a shaking voice.

He paused, then scoffed when he recognized my voice.

“Are you looking for a place to run to after ruining your reputation and dragging our name through dirt?" He spat, and pain coursed through my body.

“Please, can I come home?" I pleaded, and silence sneaked in. I prayed within me that he would give me another chance, but his next response shattered me beyond recovery.

"Home? You don't have a home here. The moment you married that poor scum, your home stopped existing!" He spat, and the line went dead.

The phone dropped from my hand, and I gripped the edge of the drawer as pain and sorrow dealt with me.

After crying for long minutes, I stared at my ghostly face in the mirror and chuckled in agony.

Everything I had worked for was gone. Everyone I loved had deserted me. I had no one else aside from myself.

I walked into the closet and changed my dress, then packed my bag to leave.

As I dragged my suitcase to the door, it burst open, and Alex trudged in with his hand wrapped around Lilian.

They paused at the door and stared at me, smirking in satisfaction.

“I cancelled the alimony, you can have it all," I muttered, and he scoffed.

"No one will agree to help you out, you'd better take the money and leave,”  Lilian chipped and I looked up at her.

“I am not a cheap beggar like you," I sneered at her.

Alex growled in anger and rushed towards me to hit me, but Lilian drew him back.

“There is no need, honey, we shouldn't stop the joy we're feeling right now," she said as she rubbed her belly.

My eyes darted to the stiletto on her feet, and I chuckled.

“You did a great job in hiding it perfectly, you're an actress anyway,” I muttered, and she grinned.

“Right? It's so sad you're so dumb you couldn't even suspect me, even after seeing the heels," she replied and puked my head.

I turned and faced Alex, a deep frown on my face.

“Alex Montgomery, I was the reason behind your success. Now I will be the reason for your downfall," I blurted out a promise.

He exchanged glances with Lilian and burst into laughter.

“Oh my God, I'm so scared!" He mocked.

"You don't even have a cent on you! You're so delusional!" Lilian laughed hysterically.

I joined in their laughter, and they stopped, staring at me like I was crazy.

“I hope you survive it," I muttered and continued my walk to the door. I paused and craned my neck back, “You two deserve each other. I wish you the best in your marriage." 

And with that, I walked away from a house I once called home, with no hope of survival.

I dragged my suitcase behind me while limping down the street of the estate. The glares and whispers kept coming whenever someone walked past me. Some even stopped to take a picture of me, but I cared less.

“I will survive, I swear I will survive it all," I kept whispering to myself as I walked with no idea of where I was headed.

“Ashley?" Someone sounded a horn that blared behind me.

I stopped and turned around, sighing loudly.

I looked at the man before me with eyes that had no life in them.

“If you're here to ask me any questions…”

“I'm here to take you to my master," the man interrupted, and my brows shot up.

I scoffed loudly, twitching my lips in disgust.

“Your master?" I asked.

"Yes…” The man paused and narrowed his eyes over me.

“Your father wants you back, Miss Ashley Carter.”