MasukChapter 69Aniya left a little before six, pressing a kiss to the top of Iris's head on her way out, promising to call the moment she heard more about the shooting.Riley was clearing the mugs off the table when a knock came, lighter than she expected. She opened it to find Ashton standing there, tie loosened, a bag of takeout dangling from one hand like he hadn't quite decided whether he was staying for dinner or just checking in."I wanted to check on Iris," he said. "See how she's doing.""She's good," Riley said, stepping aside to let him in. "Better every day.""I missed her." He said it plainly, like it cost him nothing, but his eyes stayed on her a beat too long when he said it, something in his face soft and unguarded, like the words had someone else they were meant for. And that someone was het.She felt her face heat and turned toward the hallway before he could see it. "Iris! Uncle Ashton's here!"There was a thump from the bedroom, the sound of a tablet dropped mid-show,
Chapter 68Riley set the eggs off the burner before they burned, her hand not quite steady, and dialed Ashton before she'd even decided to.He picked up on the second ring, his voice low, like he was somewhere he had to keep it down. "Riley?""Did you do this?" The words came out faster than she meant them to. "The callback. Diane said it's for the lead, Ashton. I sent that tape months ago. Nobody calls back months later unless somebody made a phone call."There was a pause, the kind that told her he was choosing his words. "I didn't get you the role, Riley.""Ashton.""I mean it. I didn't call anyone and ask them to cast you." He let out a breath, and she heard him moving, a door closing somewhere behind him, the sound going quieter, more private. "A few hours ago I got a call from someone at the production company. They were clearing out old submission files, about to toss a stack of tapes nobody had gotten to. One of them had your name on it."Riley's grip tightened on the phone.
Chapter 67"Say it again," Ashton said quietly."Which part?""Any of it." A small laugh slipped out of her, surprising them both. She pressed the back of her hand to her mouth, like she could stop it, then let it go. "I've forgiven you, Ashton." He exhaled like he'd been holding his breath since she opened the door. His hand came up again, slower this time, and he tucked a loose curl behind her ear. His fingers stayed there a second too long against her cheek."I don't deserve that," he muttered, lowly."Probably not," Riley agreed. "But I'm tired of carrying it. Carrying it doesn't punish you. It just makes me heavier."Something moved across his face, fast and hard to name. He dropped his hand and stepped back, putting a careful foot of space between them, like he didn't trust himself not to close it again if he stayed close.The microwave beeped a second time, forgotten. Riley turned and pulled the plate out, it was hot enough that she hissed and switched hands halfway to the t
Chapter 66The microwave beeped once, a loud sound in the heavy silence of the small kitchen, but neither of them moved.Ashton's hands remained locked around her waist. Riley stood frozen, her hands resting flat against his chest to keep a fraction of space between them. She could feel the steady, heavy thud of his heart beneath her fingers and could perceive his unique smell."Your kitchen is nice," Aston murmured, staring at her lips and not her kitchen."Your apartment is pretty." She couldn't tell if he was actually complimenting her kitchen, while looking at her like he wants to do things to her.Her heart was beating against her ribs, her eyes darting everywhere except his face. Because how could she stare at him when she's feeling this way?"Thank you... yours too," she blurted out instead without even thinking about it.A small smile tugged at the corner of Ashton’s lips. "But you haven't been to my kitchen before. So how do you know it's nice?"She went rigid. A deep,
Chapter 65Riley glanced at the small digital clock on the microwave for the hundredth time.12:48 AM. She sat alone at the small wooden dining table, her fingers wrapped around a mug of tea that had gone entirely cold hours ago.She knew it was late. She knew he was probably buried in the ER but he had looked her in the eye before leaving and said he was coming back tonight. And if there was one thing she had learned about Ashton over these terrifying few days, it was that he didn't make promises he intended to break.A faint, hesitant knock brushed against the front door.Riley stood up so fast her chair scraped loudly against the floorboards. She caught her breath, then hurried down the narrow, dimly lit hallway. She unlocked the deadbolt with a quick flick of her wrist and pulled the door open.The corridor was quiet and empty, save for a tall, broad-shouldered figure already five steps down the steps, a dark suit jacket slung loosely over one shoulder."Ashton?"He stopped inst
Chapter 64 Standing near the desk was Erica... Frederick’s girlfriend. She looked stressed, clutching a large handbag. Next to her stood a little girl, maybe ten, quietly looking at the floor.Riley stared. There was something strangely familiar about the girl's face, a sudden tightness settling in Riley's chest.Erica took a step forward, pulling the girl along. "Riley, wait..."Ashton stepped directly in front of them, his broad frame blocking them off completely."That's enough, Erica," he said, his voice flat and quiet.Erica stopped, pulling the child behind her. "I just want to talk for two minutes, Ashton.""Turn around and leave," Ashton replied simply.Julian stepped up beside him, staying silent but firm.The little girl peeked around Erica's coat, her dark eyes looking straight at Riley with quiet curiosity. Riley couldn't take her eyes off her, a cold knot forming in her stomach.Erica realized she wasn't getting past them. She let out a frustrated breath and pulled the g
Chapter 5Riley didn't hesitate. The woman who had fiercely slapped him the night before disappeared under the crushing weight of a mother’s desperation. Slowly, agonizingly, she lowered her battered, aching body onto the gravel driveway, her knees digging into the sharp stones right beside his dr
Chapter 4The heavy smell of cheap disinfectant, sweat, and old plastic chairs filled the crowded emergency room waiting area. It was completely different from the freezing, rainy night Riley had just escaped.The nurses had rushed Iris through a set of double doors into a separate treatment room t
Chapter 3The moment they stepped out the front door, a sudden, loud crack of thunder shook the whole sky.The clouds burst, and a massive downpour slammed into the ground. The rain fell in heavy, blinding sheets, completely soaking the perfect, neat driveway.Iris gasped, shivering from the biting
Chapter 2The silence that followed his words wasn’t just quiet; it was deafening. It felt as though the air had been entirely sucked out of the room, leaving Riley gasping. Her mind spun violently as she tried to process the horrible words that had just left Fredrick’s mouth.Bastard child.“Say







