suspicious call

Ashley's POV

I jerked my hand away from his instantly, the contact breaking like it burned, and turned to my mother.

She stood by the door, her handbag hanging from her hand, brows drawn together, eyes sharp with unasked questions.

Great. I needed a way out of this. If not, she’d start asking questions… the kind I didn’t want to answer. Jake and I’s past had to stay buried.

“Mom, you’re back.” I walked toward her, forcing my steps to stay steady, the milk packet still clutched in my hand. “Jake was just helping me look for the milk. You know how I love to drink it every evening.” My voice came out light, almost casual.

Her gaze slid past me to Jake, who was leaning against the refrigerator, one shoulder resting on it, hands tucked into his pockets like nothing had happened. His expression had softened.

“Is that true, Jake?” she asked, a hint of suspicion in her tone. “Or is she trying to make you feel unwelcome?”

Her face didn’t stay serious for long. The corner of her lips twitched slightly. That’s when I knew she was teasing.

Jake let out a short, quiet laugh.

“She’s going to be the best stepsister,” he said, dragging out the word stepsister just enough for it to land.

I didn’t even spare him a glance.

My mom looked back at me, her eyes narrowing slightly, like she was trying to read something beneath the surface.

“I trust she already is,” she said finally, a proud smile settling on her face.

I leaned in and kissed her cheek, then slipped past her before the conversation could stretch any further.

During dinner, everyone gathered around the long table, wide and polished, almost like a conference table. Plates clinked softly, cutlery scraping lightly against porcelain as we ate the rich, steaming food the cook had prepared, the aroma filling the room.

At first, we were all silent. The only sounds were the soft clink of cutlery against plates and the low hum of the air conditioner. Until Ava decided she didn’t like the quiet.

“So,” she cleared her throat lightly, setting her glass down, “what do you work as, Ashley?”

I paused, my spoon hovering halfway between my plate and my mouth.

Couldn’t she just let us eat in peace?

I lowered the spoon back onto my plate and lifted my gaze to her. My expression stayed calm, almost pleasant. No hint of the tension sitting underneath.

“I work as a corporate strategist.”

“Really,” Mr. Reyes chimed in, leaning forward slightly, interest flickering in his eyes. “That’s actually a great job.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ava asked, her attention dropping to the turkey she was slicing, her knife moving slowly through it.

“They’re the brains behind a company’s long-term game plan,” my mother replied, taking a sip of her juice, her voice smooth and confident.

A faint smile tugged at my lips. I didn’t even have to say anything. That was the best part, when your work spoke for you without you needing to explain it.

“What company do you work for right now?” Mr. Reyes asked, his utensils pausing mid-air.

“Brent Group of Companies,” I replied.

“Impressive.” He gave a small nod, approval clear in his tone. “Maybe one day you’ll come work with Reyes Co., since we’ll all be family soon.”

“I think she’s okay where she is,” Ava cut in smoothly before I could respond, lifting her eyes to me. “Right, Ashley?”

I knew exactly what she was doing. Jake was the CEO there, working with them meant seeing him every day. As if I’d ever put myself in that position.

“It depends on her decision,” Jake said, his voice calm, breaking his silence.

I glanced at him briefly, irritation flickering in my chest. I wanted to tell him I could speak for myself, that I didn’t need him stepping in, but I held it back. I simply exhaled and returned to my food, chewing slowly.

Ava must have noticed the attention shifting too much, because she quickly redirected it. She started talking about herself, how she had always wanted to be an actress, how things didn’t go as planned because her parents wanted her to study something else.

Her voice filled the room, soft but deliberate, pulling everyone’s attention toward her.

I stayed quiet, pushing my food around my plate, watching her without really seeing her.

Jake didn’t say a word either. He just ate, his movements mechanical, like he wasn’t really there.

And I couldn’t help but wonder how news of their child had never gotten out.

After dinner, everyone drifted off to their rooms, the house slowly falling into silence.

I lay on my bed, staring up at the ceiling, the faint glow of the light casting shadows across it.

Sleep wouldn’t come.

No matter how much I tried to push him out of my mind…

Jake stayed there.

The memory of that night, walking in on Jake and Ava, their bodies pressed together like I didn’t exist, still lingered vividly. I had forced myself to move on, built walls around it, but somehow… he never really left my mind.

I let out a long breath, staring into the dimness of the room, and wondered, if things had gone differently, if we were still together… would we have been happy?

The thought sat heavy in my chest.

Then it hit me. I hadn’t taken my milk.

I pushed myself off the bed, the sheets rustling softly, and made my way downstairs, careful with each step so the house wouldn’t creak too loudly.

The kitchen was quiet, dimly lit, shadows stretching across the counters. I reached for the powdered milk, mixed it with water, and stirred until it dissolved. Without thinking too much, I lifted the cup and drank it in one go, the cool liquid sliding down my throat.

I turned to head back upstairs, but a faint voice drifted in from outside, just enough to make me stop.

Ava.

What was she still doing out there?

I hesitated, pretending to ignore it, my foot already on the first step.

Then her voice came again, clearer this time.

“I don’t want her destroying my plan.”

There was a pause. Then she said in a more lower voice.

If she finds out what I did back then… everything will fall apart.”

I froze as her words echoed in my head.

Who was she talking about?

And what plan? What had she done that she didn't want me to know?

I stayed still, barely breathing, straining to catch more as a suspicious feeling settled in my chest.

I leaned slightly, trying to listen harder… but I couldn't hear anymore.