Chapter 106: Hopeful

Megan's POV

"Why are you still awake at this hour, Meg?" My mother asked me the moment she found me in the kitchen drinking fresh milk.

"I couldn't sleep, mom; Ashton promised me that he would be here. I had been calling his phone, but he won't answer, plus what happened earlier this evening made me feel anxious." I said as I looked at my mother.

"Gael used to be so sweet and caring, and I find it hard to comprehend why he turned out that way. I know how much he cared for Axel and me. But what happened tonight made me feel he became so different." I said as I adjusted the tie of my robe.

"My dear, Gael is blinded by his pain and too much love for you, and he couldn't accept you chose to give Ashton a second chance after what happened to the two of you. It will always be your decision, Megan, but your father and I knew Ashton loves you so much." My mom declared as she poured milk into her glass.

"Don't worry, and I know a time will come when Gael will finally accept that you are not meant to be, Meg." My mom added.

"He threatened me, mom, he told me he will never allow Ashton to marry me, and I couldn't sleep thinking maybe Gael came to Ashton and did something to my fiance," I responded.

"I don't think Gael would do something like that, but based on your story, he hit Ashton during Axel's family day; I could tell he tends to lose his self-control, but don't worry, my dear, I am sure Ashton could take care of himself." My mom declared.

"Megan, you can never force yourself to be with someone you don't love. When Ashton came to our house and asked us to give him our blessings to marry you, I could see the sincerity on his face, Ashton was only a victim of his father's manipulation, and he was also young then. I know how much he loves you, Meg." my mom added, and she looked at my face and gave me a wide grin.

"Of course, Mom, I never accepted Gael because I didn't want him to think I was only using him, and he knew how much I love Ashton, and that is why he was so angry with me, and he almost hurt me a while ago, and until now I could still feel the fear," I said, and my mom took my hands and massaged them.

"Don't worry, Megan, he can never hurt you; I am sure he was only under the influence of Alcohol, and the moment Gael becomes sober, that would be the time he will realize what he had done." My mother replied, and we went back upstairs after drinking our milk.

"You should sleep now, Megan; you still have work tomorrow. I will be the one who will prepare Axel's breakfast in the morning, and you don't need to wake up so early, okay?" My mom added, and I hugged my mother.

"Thank you, mom, for being here with us," I said as I released her from my embrace.

"Always, Meg, talk to me whenever you feel alone and confused. I wanted to make it up with you, and I am sorry for the years we lost because of your father's unfair decision." She said, and I held her hand.

"Mom, please, forget about it, I already moved on, and it was in the past now. What is important is I am now happy with my son, and you and dad are here with us, and I couldn't express in words how happy I am being with you." I responded, and she sent me

to my room, and I laughed that my mother insisted on tucking me in my bed.

"I am no longer a child, mom," I said while giggling.

"I know, but you will always be my little girl, Meg," she said after covering my frame with my blanket.

"And I missed tucking you in bed, Meg, you are my eldest daughter, and I could still remember the days when I lulled you to sleep, and giving birth to you was one of the most wonderful feelings I have ever felt, the contentment of being a mother overwhelmed me, and I love you, Meg." She softly said as she looked at me.

"I love you too, mom," I said, and she turned off the lights and switched on my side lamp.

"Go to sleep now, Meg, let your worries be gone by now, and dream of happy things." She declared, and she kissed my forehead before she got out of my room, and I fell asleep with a broad smile on my face. I was awakened the following morning by the loud pounding on my door, and I quickly got up from my bed.

"Coming!" I shouted as I put on my robe over my nightdress.

"Alice!" I was shocked when I opened the door and found my best friend standing on my doorstep.

"Good morning, Meg!" She greeted me, and I could tell she was avoiding my eyes.

"What are you doing here early in the morning? I couldn't imagine what time did you leave from Majuscule." I mumbled as she pushed the door and got herself inside my room.

"What is wrong, Alice? I know you won't be here this early if nothing is going on." I said.

"There are reporters all over your property now, and I think this time, the news about you will not only cause your personal life trouble, but it will also affect the status of your company." She said, and I could feel my entire body shivering as I digested her words, but I didn't know what she meant.

"Why, what is wrong this time, Alice?" I asked, and she showed me her iPhone, and I could tell my eyes turned as big as saucers as I looked at the images on the internet.

It was Gael and me, and it looked like we were kissing each other intimately; the realization hit me like a bomb as I got down on my knees and slowly sat on the floor. I sat there feeling so angry with Gael.

"I couldn't believe he hired a photographer when he came here last night," I said in more than a whisper.

"I came here because Zach called me last night, but I don't want to worry you, and I wanted you to have a good night's sleep before you deal with this kind of trouble. I was hoping those pictures were not what they seemed." She declared, and I looked at her in disbelief.

"You think I was kissing, Gael?" I asked, horrified.

"If I asked you to describe those photos, Meg, how can you define them?" She asked, and I was speechless.

"Do you really think I will deceive, Ashton? Of all people, you should be the one who knew how much I love Ashton, Al?" I said, feeling so hurt that even my best friend had doubts about me.

But I couldn't blame Alice because the angle looked like Gael was pulling me closer to him without force, and when I put my hands on his chest to push him, it seemed like I was caressing his muscled chest.

"Why do you think I came here this early, Megan? I know something happened to you, and I wanted to ask you how are you doing right now?" My best friend asked while she sat down beside me on the floor, and I narrated everything to her, including my worries that Ashton didn't answer all my calls last night.

"I am sure Ashton loves you, Meg, there is no doubt about that, but I think he is hurting right now because anyone who will view these images will assume you are really a two-timer, Meg; you just say yes to Ashton's proposal one day ago, and last night you were kissing Gael, his rumored rival, and this is not the first time the three of you got the headlines of the showbiz news, and people are getting crazy." Alice declared.

"Fans of Gael and Ashton are fighting over the internet while you become the villain, Meg; they call you names, and if I were you, don't look at the news today, not ever. They don't know you, Meg, and only the people close to you knew what happened." She added while I felt so confused about what to do.

"I needed to speak with Ashton, Al, but he won't answer my call, and I wanted to see him and talk to him; he can't just shut me off like this," I said as I tried to control my tears from falling on my face.

"Everything was perfect, and how could Gael ruin my life like this? I couldn't believe he would do this to me, Al." I added as I remembered his words.

"I think this is what Gael meant when he warned me, he will never let Ashton have me, and he told me no one can have me; and now I realized he will ruin me by having this scandal, and I couldn't believe Gael will do this to me, I don't think he loves me, Alice, I think Gael hated me so much because he is ruining not only my name but including Axel. I loathed him, Al." I continued, and I could no longer stop myself from crying.

"I hate him too, Meg, don't worry; this will pass, and all you need to do is explain everything to Ashton, and I am sure he will understand." My best friend said, and I wanted to believe Alice that everything would be alright between Ashton and me, but looking at those pictures, I don't know how to convince him it was all Gael's scheme.

"We need to leave now, Alice; I need to find Ashton," I said, and my best friend shook her head.

"You can't get out as of this moment, Megan, I know how much you wanted to see Ashton, but I think you should stay here while I go to our office and handle today's transactions on your behalf. Don't worry, Meg, I already asked Zachary's help so that the reporters will go away." She said, and I released a deep sigh.

"Thank you, Alice; I don't know what to do without you here by my side," I mumbled.

"That's what best friends are for, Megan." She responded, and I sent her to the door; and after Alice left, I could feel the worries, and the betrayal of Gael made me want to scream. I didn't know how to leave my house, and I wished the reporters would leave so I could drive and go to Ashton's office; I walked towards my window, touching the engagement ring on my finger, feeling hopeful that Ashton would believe me.