03

ASHLEY'S P.O.V

The side of Kellan's bed dipped with his weight.

I tightened my hold on the comforter, my heart heavy.

“Don’t cry, Ash,” I whispered, afraid that my tears would wake him, and more afraid that it won't. That he wouldn't care if I was crying or not. He certainly didn't care about me. He forgot me. Us. 

The tears slipped out anyway.

The clock ticked midnight, and I listened as his breathing evened out. It wasn't always like this, once upon a time, we were a fairytale. We had something untouchable, something that made us defy fate, society, and everyone who stood against our love.

Years ago, before the money and the power, Kellan would come home early, he'd kiss me like I was his salvation, hold me like I was his anchor.

I closed my eyes tight, the memories from our first year in marriage coming to my mind.

~

“I really hope this deal works out, Ash,” Kellan said to me with that smile and hope on his face. It's been two years being together, four months being married and his smile still did something to me.

It was the way his face lit up, the way those green eyes smiled with bright hope; it was the way he made me believe in him, in love and happiness.

“It will.” I said softly, “You’ve worked so hard for this. You deserve it Kel.”

He reached out and pushed my hair behind my ears. His touch, God his touch, the way it made my body come to life, a simple graze or his finger could make me spark.

I still couldn't believe we were married. It hadn't seemed possible at first, Me, the girl from the upper class, and the boy who mowed our lawn to pay his fees, but we had worked.

I can't imagine a life without him.

“Thank you for believing in me, Ash.” He murmured, kissing the side of my face. We were seated on our floor in our little apartment.

His lips curled into a small smile that had a way of making me ache “Thank you for dimming me fit of your love.”

I shook my head, setting aside the bowl of ramen noodles we were having for dinner, and then I cupped the side of his face, bringing those green eyes to me.

My breath hitched.

My God, Is it healthy for the hearts to be this way, to stutter and flip and jump whenever I'm with him? 

“You, Kellan Langston, are worthy of love,” I said, my voice serious. “You, Kellan Langston, are worthy of my love, and You will succeed, because you are so smart, you are relentless, you are amazing, and I am grateful to have you in my life.”

His eyes turned glassy, when Kellan spoke again; his deep voice was raspy.

“I want to be successful, Ash. I want to give you the world. The most pretty and expensive things. I want you to have anything you want at your beck and call, and you will.” He took my hand in his, kissing my wedding ring.

“And when I do make all that crazy money. I'm buying you the most ridiculously expensive ring there is,” he promised.

Again, those flutters. In my heart and stomach and lower...

“I don't need an expensive ring, Kel. I love this one.”

It was a cheap ring of fake gold, but it held his love, his promises, and everything I wanted.

“I like this one. It's perfect” I confessed. “Just like You”

Kellan's throat worked with a swallow, and he shook his head, laughing lightly.

“I still can't believe you're mine, Ashely Langston” 

I laughed too. “Better get used to it. Kellan Langston.”

His eyes lightened up. Kellan pulled me on top of his lap, and my small body fit into his big one; I felt safe, at home with him. His hands circled my waist, snaking down lower till my eyelids fluttered.

“Have I ever told you I love you?” he purred into my ear.

I bit the side of my lips as his fingers found where I was already dripping for him. “Tell me you love me again..” I rasped, moaning halfway when he dipped a finger into me.

“I don't just love you, Ashely,” Kellan whispered, kissing the fluttering pulse in my neck with a fervor that made my back arch. “I worship you. Everything I do is for you”

A tear slipped out from my eyes. But it wasn't a sad tear; it was the one that came from a full heart.

I was born with a silver, golden, and million-dollar spoon, but none of those luxuries gave me the contentment and joy that came with being Kellan's wife.

“Tell me you'll never leave me,” I whispered,

I could feel his smile behind me. “Not even when I leave this world, Ash. My soul and heart are yours. Has always been.”

My stomach fluttered “Make love to me,” 

And he did. Everywhere Kellan had touched me was like fanning the embers of passion in me, every kiss had been coated in reverence, the way his eyes held mine, the love in them as evident as the green. He was everything.

But that Kellan and this one were two different people. He had made promises to me, and he kept them but broke the ones that mattered most.

I curled into myself. “Don’t cry, Ashely. Don't cry” I kept on whispering, till the cold hands of sleep temporarily drew me into oblivion.

~~~

Kellan was up before the alarm.

He was shirtless, in his tailored slacks, already halfway through getting dressed. His voice was sharp, speaking to someone on the phone as he walked across the room. 

I hadn't turned to look at him. I didn’t register a word. Just watched as the clock stuck 6: 30 a.m.

Not once during the night had he touched me or said a word. 

Kellan ended the call; I heard him dressing up, and I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes.

“Good morning, Ash,” he said absentmindedly as he adjusted his cufflinks.

My throat tightened as I watched him in a hurry to leave. He was always in a hurry. “You forgot,” 

Kellan paused. Those green eyes that I had fallen in love with zeroed in on me. “What?” he asked.

“You promised” my voice cracked, but I was past caring.

Kellan's brows pinched together. “Ashely. What are you talking about?”

“You were supposed to meet me at the restaurant last night,” I whispered.

Kellan's eyes widened. He drew his hand over his face and breathed out a long sigh.

“Shit. I’m sorry, Ash. There was an emergency at work” he strode over to my side and squatted, taking my hand in his.

“There always is” I yelled. Unable to take it anymore.

 Last night was supposed to be the D night. The night I'd revealed that he would become a father in 7 months and two weeks, but he missed it!

“There is always an emergency. Every time you chose Lockra over me. Last night was the one night in a long time that I wanted it to be just us, not your work, not an emergency, but you forgot me.”

Kellan's jaw hardened; he dropped my hand and stood up. “I didn't forget you, Ashely. It's not like I create these work emergencies on purpose. They're... important.”

His words hit me harder than a blow. “So our date wasn't important?” I asked incredulously. 

He closed his eyes and briefly muttered something “We can always go on other dates when I come back.”

Another wave of shock and surprise. “Come back from where?

“Denver. I have this big acquisition pitch. Could make the company another seventy million if it lands.” He said it with so much joy and admiration, I was suddenly jealous of Lockra. Of the place she now held in his heart 

I opened my mouth but he cut me

”There’s this penthouse I know you will love. It's got Two floors. Skyline view. Library, gym, fireplace in the master bath.”

I wanted to scream. Instead, I just clutched the sheet tighter.

“How long will you be gone?” I didn't want to tell him about the baby now. I wanted that moment to be special, not immediately after a quarrel.

“A week or two.”

My neck felt like it was wrapped with wire, but I forced an answer out. “Okay”

Kellan sighed. He leaned down, kissed the top of my head, and for a moment, just one moment, I thought I saw the boy I fell in love with. The one who looked at me, like I was the sun, moon, and Milky Way wrapped in one body, but his phone rang, and the moment was gone.

“See you soon, Ash.” He smiled at me, and then the door shut like a final verdict.