Chapter 105: Because I Love Her

Ashton's POV

I know my responsibilities as the CEO of my dad's company, and I needed to balance my work and personal life. Still, after I met Megan again, I realized I needed to be with her and Axel most of the time, but this client who called me is one of my favorites, he was here in Majuscule for personal reasons, and he wanted to meet me. I only tell Megan I had an important meeting even if I felt guilty about it because I don't want her to think that she is last on my list of priorities.

I had dinner with Raul at one of the finest restaurants in the city, and he is one of our valued charterers; his cargoes are mostly all over the world.

"It is good to see you again, Ashton, and nothing has changed; you still looked the same. I heard the latest news, and congratulations, son!" He said, and since his age is twice my age, he usually calls me son when we are together.

"Thank you, Raul," I responded with a wide grin on my face.

"I couldn't believe you would break up with Claire, and I was shocked when I learned you have a son." He said.

"Yeah, and I had always been in love with the mother of my son, Raul, but things got complicated when I went pro in football." I lied because I didn't want him to know I left Megan when she was pregnant with our child.

"No wonder when I asked you to meet my daughter, you turned me down." He said, and I shyly smiled at him since I couldn't stop feeling so guilty; he told me once that his daughter was one of my fans.

"It was okay, at least; now, I could see that you are happy with your engagement to this woman, and I couldn't wait to see your beautiful fiancee and adorable son one of these days." He said, and I smiled at him.

We talked about so many things, mostly about personal life, and I couldn't say no to him when he asked me to have a drink in the nearest bar; I was looking at my watch from time to time, and I realized it was getting late, and I got so worried because I know Megan was waiting for me. I am glad I briefed my secretary to call her so she will not be waiting for me to pick her up from her office.

I didn't drink much because I wanted to have a nice conversation with Megan when I got to her house, and it would be nice cuddling her in my arms. At the same time, I was thrilled to talk about our wedding, and I felt so excited as I said goodbye to Raul after I sent him to his car while his driver was waiting for him. I was wearing a wide grin on my face as I got inside my vehicle, but before I could even start the engine of my SUV, I could hear the ringing of my phone.

"Hello, Belle, why are you calling me?" I asked right away after I received my sister's call.

"You need to come home right now, Ashton." She said, and I could feel the worries in her voice, and I suddenly felt alarmed about what was going on with my sister.

"Are you alright?" I asked, and it took her a while before she answered me.

"I am fine, just come home. I needed you to be here," Isabelle said, and before I could ask her why she had already hung up the phone. I drove away from the bar straight to my house. And I was shocked when it wasn't Isabelle who opened the door for me, but it was Gregory Pritzgold.

"Dad!" I mumbled, and I could see over his head that Belle was standing in the living room looking so worried.

"Why do you look so sad that I came to visit you here in your house, Ashton?" He asked, looking at my face; I didn't know why he was here inside my home, and this was the first time my father had visited me in my place.

"I am not sad, Dad; I am just surprised that you are here since you never visited me ever since I bought this place, and you didn't inform me so I could have come home earlier," I responded.

"Well, there would always be a first time for everything, Ashton; besides, I knew you were having dinner with Raul since he called me this afternoon. And I came here to have a word with you and meet Claire's father tomorrow at the Majuscule Country Club, and you will be joining me in having breakfast with them." He said, and my face fell. After all, I was planning to go to Megalopre even though it was already late because I wanted to be with Megan and our son, but I knew I couldn't say no to my father.

"But, I didn't know something interesting would happen tonight, which made me realize I was right after all," he added. I cocked my head at him, but before I could ask him what he meant, my dad walked closer to me and showed me his phone; I could feel my heart shattered in an instant as I saw the pictures of Gael and Megan kissing each other, and her hands were on his chest. 

I could tell the picture was taken at her house, and it hurt me so much that she was still wearing the same clothes she wore earlier today when she came to my office, and I couldn't believe Megan was kissing Gael.

"How could you propose to a woman who would be kissing another man, huh? I already told you, son, she isn't worth your love, and you can never convince me that you are the father of her son. She is a two-timing bitch." My father declared while I was holding my anger at bay, and I wanted to release the pain and outrage that I felt, and I was curling my fists on my sides.

"I was disappointed when my friend showed me your social media post; you were so proud to be engaged with that woman, I have tried my best to separate you from her ever since you were in your senior year in high school, but you never listened to me." My father added, and no words came out of my mouth as I bowed downed my head feeling so defeated and confused.

"You hurt Claire by cooling off your engagement, and right now, you have become the laughing stock in our society and all over the country. I hope this will teach you a lesson that someone like Megan will never belong in the elite society, Ashton, no matter how you will dress her up. I couldn't imagine how can she betray you knowing Gael is also a celebrity; she was only playing with your heart, son." He said, and he tapped my shoulder before he turned his heels away from me.

Isabelle escorted our father to one of the guest rooms while I made my way to the bar; I poured some drinks, and I couldn't take away the image of Megan kissing Gael, and I wanted to punch Gael until he could no longer walk, I could still imagine his hands on Megan's waist, and I couldn't stop my heart from hurting. I was cursing and grunting under my breath until I smashed the glass on the wall. It shattered, and the debris scattered on the floor. And I became angrier when I received a text message from Gael.

"If you have seen the news on the internet, Ashton, I am sure you should know by now that Megan loves me, and not you, and we schemed everything, and she asked me to bear with her even if it pained me so much to see her with you; pretending to be so happy and in love, but it is over now, buddy, I told you, Megan is mine." He said, and the last hope I had crumbled.

"It is about time you should experience the same pain when you left Megan eight years ago, and you don't deserve her, Ashton, and you should let Megan go because we are happy and in love." He added, and I turned off my phone before throwing it on the wall.

I realized Megan did this to remind me what a fool I had been. I hurt her, and how can I believe that she had already forgiven me. My fiancee planned everything with Gael to make me look like a fool, and I know how Megan concocted everything together with him. She nailed it because even after seeing her kissing Gael, I am still longing to see and kiss her, and I should have asked her forgiveness and stopped myself from loving her, but I just can't, and right now, I am in too much pain. I don't care about the showbiz news; all I can think of is Megan.

And now that I know she loves Gael, I should give way, all I ever wanted for Megan was to be happy even if I am not part of her happiness, and I could no longer stop my tears from falling on my cheeks. Everything felt so real as we made love in my office earlier, and I couldn't believe Megan would become such a good actress; she even gave herself to me again to make everything convincing enough to make me fall into her trap.

"Hey, Ashton, you had enough," I heard Isabelle's sweet voice.

"Have you seen it too?" I asked my sister after I raised my head from the bar counter, and I could see the pain on my sister's face as she nodded her head.

"I don't think Megan will play with your heart, Ashton," she responded, and I shook my head.

"I wanted to believe that, Isabelle, but you have seen the pictures, they looked so sweet together, and I received a text from Gael telling me they plotted everything, and do you know how painful it is for me, Belle? I fucking love her, and it hurts me so much that she played with my heart." I said, and my sister took me into her loving arms, and I let go of all the pain I felt inside; I didn't know if I would learn to live my life without Megan, but I needed to let her go because I love her.