Chapter 2: Engagement over

Ashley couldn't hear anything. Not even her own breathing.

The only words echoing through her mind were Anna's.

"I'm pregnant with Travis's baby."

Travis took a step toward her. "Ashley, stop being dramatic."

Her head snapped up. "How dare you call me Dramatic?"

"Let's go back downstairs," he said impatiently. "We'll deal with this later."

Ashley stared at him in disbelief.

He had cheated on her with her own stepsister, and his biggest concern was getting back to the party.

A hollow laugh escaped her lips. "You're unbelievable."

Without breaking eye contact, she pulled the diamond engagement ring from her finger.

She threw it and it struck Travis squarely in the chest before bouncing onto the floor.

"It's over." She turned and walked out.

The elevator ride felt suffocating.

When the doors opened, the ballroom was still buzzing with laughter, music, and champagne.

Nobody knew her entire life had just fallen apart.

"Ashley!"

Charlotte Blackwood hurried toward her in designer heels.

"Where have you been? The reporters are waiting. You need to apologize for slapping Vivian."

Ashley looked at her coldly. "This engagement is over."

Charlotte frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"It's over."

Several nearby guests turned toward them.

Charlotte forced a smile. "Don't be ridiculous. You're making a fuss over a stained dress."

Ashley raised her voice. "I caught your son sleeping with my stepsister."

The music seemed to disappear beneath the collective gasp that swept through the ballroom.

Every camera immediately swung toward them.

Charlotte's face went pale. "Lower your voice."

"No."

The elevator doors opened again. Travis and Anna stepped out together.

"Perfect timing."

Her father, Dr. Carter, pushed through the crowd alongside her stepmother.

His sharp eyes swept across the room. "What is going on?"

Anna burst into tears before Ashley could answer. "Dad... Ashley misunderstood."

She wiped fake tears from her cheeks. "Travis spilled wine on himself upstairs. I was helping him change his shirt."

Ashley blinked. The lie was so effortless.

Anna shook her head pitifully. "I would never betray her."

Ashley looked at Travis. He said nothing.

Ashley's stepmother and Anna's mother, Gaby, folded her arms. "Ashley, you've embarrassed both families enough tonight."

Charlotte nodded immediately. "Exactly. Stop these ridiculous accusations."

Ashley looked from one face to another.

No one believed her. Or perhaps they simply chose not to.

"You seriously expect me to believe I imagined them having sex?"

The ballroom erupted into whispers.

Dr. Carter's expression darkened. "Enough."

"Dad..."

"I said enough."

Ashley took a shaky breath. "Anna is pregnant with Travis's child."

The room exploded with murmurs.

Anna began sobbing harder. "How can you say something so cruel?. It's a lie."

Travis finally spoke up, "Ashley has been under a lot of stress. She's just imagining things.” 

Ashley stared at him. He was making her look insane.

Charlotte stepped forward. "My son would never do something so disgraceful."

Ashley's laugh was almost painful. "I've made up my mind. This engagement is over."

The slap came without warning.

Her father's hand struck her across the face so hard her head snapped sideways.

The ballroom fell silent.

"I will not tolerate this behavior, Ashley," Dr. Carter said coldly. "You will apologize right now."

Ashley slowly looked back at him.

Her cheek burned. Tears filled her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "I'm not apologizing."

"You will."

"No."

His face hardened.

"Then from this moment forward, you are no longer my daughter."

Gasps echoed throughout the ballroom.

Ashley's chest tightened.

For a second, she couldn't breathe. Then something inside her broke. She smiled but it wasn't a happy smile.

It was the smile of someone who had finally lost everything.

"Fine." Her voice was calm. "If I'm no longer your daughter..."

She looked directly at her father.

"...then I'll leave with everything Grandpa left me."

Her father's expression finally changed. There was fear in his eyes. 

"I'll keep my inheritance, my shares, and every single thing that legally belongs to me."

She looked around the ballroom. "As for this engagement..."

She turned toward Travis. "...consider it officially broken."

She walked away while hundreds of cameras captured every second.

Outside, the cold night air hit her face.

She climbed into her car, locked the doors, and drove away from the hotel.

Tears blurred her vision. Eight freaking years!. 

She drove aimlessly through the empty streets until headlights appeared in her rearview mirror.

A black sports car was trailing after her. 

Ashley frowned as she changed lanes but the car followed.

Her pulse quickened. She accelerated. So did the other driver.

*** 

Inside the ballroom's ladies' room, Anna washed her trembling hands while Vivian leaned against the marble counter, applying fresh lipstick.

"You idiot," Vivian muttered.

Anna glared at her reflection. "It wasn't my fault."

Vivian scoffed.

"It was Travis's. All he had to do was wait until Ashley signed the inheritance papers before she caught us."

Anna slammed her hand against the sink. "Now everything is ruined."

Vivian smiled. "No."

Anna frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I have another plan." She snapped her lipstick shut and slipped it into her purse.

"By tomorrow morning, Ashley won't be a problem anymore."

Anna slowly turned toward her. "What are you going to do?"

Vivian's smile widened. "Make sure she never gets the chance to claim that inheritance."

Minutes later, Vivian climbed into her black sports car parked outside the hotel.

She spotted Ashley's sedan disappearing onto the highway.

"There you are." She pressed hard on the accelerator.

The distance between them disappeared within seconds.

Ashley glanced nervously into her mirror.

The car was still behind her and getting closer.

Vivian gripped the steering wheel tightly. "This is goodbye."

She slammed her foot onto the accelerator. The sports car crashed into the back of Ashley's vehicle.

Ashley's car fishtailed violently.

"No!" She fought the steering wheel. The tires screamed against the asphalt.

Vivian rammed her again. This time the sedan spun across the highway. It smashed through the guardrail.

For one horrifying second, the car hung over the edge.

Then it disappeared into the darkness below.

A massive explosion lit up the night. Vivian watched the flames from the roadside. A satisfied smile spread across her face.

"There goes your inheritance, bitch."

She drove away before anyone arrived.

Far below, the burning wreckage disappeared beneath thick smoke.

Was Ashley Carter dead?