CHAPTER 2 The Painful Past

Ashley and I were classmates and neighbors since childhood, yet our relationship was not more of acquaintances than close friends. Our personalities diverged significantly: she was an introvert, shy, and innocent, often struggling to voice her desires, while I, on the other hand, was an extrovert, expressive, and bold, adept at articulating my thoughts.

Our varying temperaments weren't the root of our differences, but rather, a fact that proved challenging to accept.

My grandmother, Evelyn, and her grandmother, Marie, are long-standing enemies who can't bear even the sight of each other.

Every time they encountered each other, it resulted in a clash of taunts and slanders, with neither able to endure without firing back. Their confrontations escalated into massive commotions that reverberated throughout the entire community, leaving neighborhoods exasperated by the perpetual discord.

In the presence of such profound enmity among the elders, fostering friendships among the younger generation becomes an uphill battle.

Despite not being close, Ashley and I consistently exchanged lingering glances, a desire to connect lingering in the air. One day, the reason for this magnetic pull became clear: she was my half-sister.

Residing in the same neighborhood, it took many years before I discovered that Uncle Sebastian, Ashley's father, was my dad.

My parents had once been in love during their youth, but familial interference prevented their marriage, leading to separate arranged unions.

My mom parted ways with her former husband even before I came into this world, and Uncle Sebastian's wife passed away when Ashley was young. Despite these circumstances, neither of them has entered into new marriages all these years. Their lasting love for each other remains the unspoken bond between them.

Considering the enduring love between the two for all these years and the seeming alignment of fate, it felt only natural for them to be together, especially since they both lost their ex-spouses at an early age.

Embracing my bold and expressive nature from the start, fueled by a strong belief in love, I fearlessly articulated my conviction that my parents should embark on the journey of marriage.

Predictably, their elders vehemently opposed the idea. The more resolute I became, the fiercer their opposition to the union. Despite my mom and dad being well into their fifties and parents to grown-up daughters, they found themselves under the control of their own parents. In contrast, I, being younger, refused to succumb to such control.

I swore to bring them together and advocate for my parents' happiness. Growing up without a father, my mother and I faced society's taunts and slanderous comments, which never bothered me personally, but the sense of helplessness in my mother's eyes fueled my determination.

My mom, a single parent, navigated the challenges of life to bring me up single-handedly, never once considering her own happiness. She selflessly devoted herself to my well-being, and now it was my duty to honor and fulfill my filial piety.

Resolute in my decision to proceed with my plan, come what may, I found an unexpected ally in Ashley. The excitement peaked as my sister expressed her desire for our parents to be together, aligning with our shared goal.

Another person stepped forward to offer assistance, and it was Ronald Walter, Ashley's ex-fiancé and my close friend. The three of us united with a shared mission, a decision that would later prove to be the biggest mistake of my life – placing trust in Ashley.

I entrusted Ashley with more than I trusted myself, working together to unite our parents and stand against societal expectations. In this shared journey, we evolved from sisters to best friends. Ashley appeared as beautiful, innocent, and pure-hearted as her face suggested – or perhaps she cleverly deceived, as demonstrated today when she tried to take my life.

Indeed, our parents eventually tied the knot. In the midst of this, Ronald developed feelings for me and expressed his proposal. Initially, I declined, lacking any ambiguous sentiments for him. Despite my rejection, Ashley relentlessly urged me towards Ronald, and he pursued his affections with unwavering determination.

While I never harbored a strong attraction to Ronald, the persistent persuasion from both him and Ashley left me momentarily confused, leading me to eventually accept his proposal.

As the date for our wedding was set, an ominous feeling hinted that someone was relentlessly determined to dismantle this alliance. In pursuit of their sinister motive, efforts were made to portray me with a false character. To my astonishment, I later discovered that the orchestrator behind these attempts was none other than Ashley.

"Stop......"

Sarah's scream caught Stefan off guard, and he slammed the brakes, bringing the car to a sudden halt. The abrupt stop not only jolted Stefan's car but also forced the bodyguards behind them to hit the brakes instantly.

"Sarah, what's the matter? Why did you ask me to stop the car?"

Concern etched across his face, Stefan unfastened his seat belt and turned towards Sarah. Yet, as expected, Sarah offered no explanation, maintaining her usual silence.

"Sarah, if you linger like this, Ashley will execute her plan successfully, and Ronald will end up marrying her. She's a highly cunning woman," Stefan cautioned.

"From the moment our wedding date was set, both you and Ashley have been working tirelessly to undermine it, all for her own agenda. Ashley attempted to sow doubt in Ronald's mind against me. I wanted to witness whom Ronald trusts more—Ashley or me?"

"Sarah, now isn't the moment for such disputes. Ashley has already circulated the news that you willingly abandoned your marriage, and, to salvage the family's reputation, she was going to marry Ronald."

Despite Stefan's persistent efforts, Sarah remained steadfast in her decision. Her opinions were firm, and no one could sway her.

"If Ronald chooses to believe Ashley and marries her, it implies he never had genuine love for me. Love without trust is akin to a body without a soul. Conversely, if he truly loves and trusts me, he will patiently wait for me throughout eternity."

Stefan's face flushed with restrained anger. This girl is irrational. Despite Stefan's earnest efforts to prevent any injustice, her erratic behavior left him exasperated.

Stefan faced a formidable challenge in locating Sarah within just a few hours. As soon as he discovered Ashley's nefarious actions against Sarah, he set his team of detectives, guards, and aides on a mission to comb through the entire city, retracing Ashley's steps to unveil what transpired with Sarah.

Even now, he drives at breakneck speed to ensure Sarah reaches her wedding on time, determined not to let Ashley succeed.

"You're all acting irrationally; I don't care about your opinions."

Stefan shook his head, fastened his seat belt, and accelerated even faster as he started the car.

"Ahh, Stefan, what are you doing? I told you not to drive."

Sarah attempted to stop him, reaching out her hand, but Stefan firmly grasped it and continued driving with determination, using only one hand on the wheel.