Chapter 5: Breaking My Heart

Ashton's POV

"Break up with Megan, Ashton. Her parents have already lost their jobs, and soon her brother will also get fired if you do not break up with her." My father said the moment I got inside our living room after I sent Megan home and I didn't expect to see my father at this hour because he usually came home late and left the house early, or else he would be out of town or out of the country most of the time.

I know that my father is a very busy businessman, but even with his hectic schedule, he has the time to intervene with my personal life, and I was curling my fists in my sides as I looked him in the eyes. I hate my father now, but I know deep in my heart I will never listen to him because no matter what he does, I will continue to be Megan's boyfriend.

"You will be leaving soon to WEN University, and you will find girls more beautiful than she is, and of course, the students at WEN came from wealthy families. I am sure you can find your match, son. And you will forget about her sooner than later, and one day you will come to me and tell me that I was right." He said, and I remained speechless.

"Do it, Ashton, or you will regret the next thing I am going to do with his family. I can put her father or brother in jail even if they are innocent." He said flatly, and I couldn't believe he was my father.

"Seriously, Dad? Because I fell in love with a girl, will you do something as sinister as that?" I asked in disbelief.

"Of course, just for your own good, I don't want you to be associated with their family Ashton." He said sternly, and I could feel my blood boiling in my veins because of my anger towards Gregory Pritzgold.

"Just do what I say, son, so there will be no more complications with Megan and her family." He said, and he walked towards the stairs while I was left dumbfounded.

The following day I was so excited to see Megan since I wanted to spend my remaining days with her, knowing I would be leaving soon. The days passed in a blur, and I pretended I hadn't heard my father's warning as I continued to date Megan. I didn't break up with her, but instead, I spent most of my time with her every chance that I could get.

And then, one day, as I picked her up from her workplace, I could tell right away that she was not in the mood when she walked towards me as I was leaning against my car while my hands were in my pockets. I was a little disappointed. After all, I waited for her for how many hours because I thought she would be excited to spend her time with me, and she would leave early, but when I got into the parking lot where she was currently working, she texted me she needed to have overtime for four more hours.

I wanted to offer to pay for her four hours, but I knew she would get angry with me. I know Megan doesn't want me to help her financially even if I am dying to do so, for how many times I attempted to help her, but she will find out at the end that I was the one who was helping her. And I don't want Megan to get angry with me again. The last time I did it, she didn't talk with me for how many days, even if we are together, and it hurts me, and I don't want it to happen again.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked after I came closer to her and kissed her lips, and she shook her head, and I held her hand and helped her settle on the front seat of my pick-up truck.

"Can you take me home now?" Megan asked, and my face fell because I wanted to take her to dinner. After all, it was our monthiversary, and maybe because she was feeling so tired, she had forgotten about it.

"Can we have dinner for a while?" I asked her after I got the bouquet from the back seat and her eyes widened in surprise.

"Happy monthiversary, Meg!" I said as I handed her the flowers, and I could see the tears in her eyes right away.

"I am sorry, Ashton, I forgot about it." She declared.

"It is OK, Megan. I know you are very busy with your work, and that is why I wanted to treat you to dinner and spend some time with you because it is a special day for us." She smiled, and my heart swelled with happiness, and even if I felt a little upset a while ago, I couldn't stop myself from feeling so happy, and I know just one smile from Megan Corteza, everything will be okay; with me.

"Of course, Ashton, we can have dinner and have some time alone at the clearing." She responded, and I grinned at her.

I brought Megan to the newly opened Japanese restaurant in the city, and I know how she likes to eat Japanese food, and I know she was saving some money because she has been dreaming of eating there with Alice, and I am so thankful to the informant.

"Wow!" She exclaimed the moment our food arrived, and I could see the excitement on her face, and I felt so happy that the sadness I saw a while ago when I picked her up was temporarily gone, and I hope she will continue to smile for the rest of our date.

"I am so full, Ashton; thank you for bringing me here." She said, and I smiled at her.

"You are always welcome, Meg, and I am just so glad you like the food." I declared.

"Are you kidding me? I like Japanese food so much. Did my talkative sister talk to you about this Japanese restaurant?" She asked, and I shook my head, but I was controlling myself not to laugh. After all, I didn't want her to reprimand Ava because I didn't want her sister to stop giving me updates about Megan's wants. I want to make my girl happy, which is the least I can do since I know my father hurt her terribly, but Megan didn't complain about it even once.

After eating our dessert, I drove Megan to our favorite place, and I could tell that she was back to her old self again, and I could feel it. Still, she couldn't stop herself from showing what she felt right now, and I could tell that Megan couldn't take it anymore, and I waited until I parked the car and spread the picnic blanket on the grass before I spoke to Megan about what is bothering her.

"I am sorry, Ashton, if I couldn't hide what I feel right now because I am so worried about my parents. Can you believe that they both got fired from their work on the same day last week? I don't know why it all suddenly happened, my parents needed their jobs because we had so many bills to pay, and my mom has medication and that is why I made sure to have overtime hours so I could help them with the bills. And I don't know how we are going to survive if my parents continue to be jobless for a long time." Megan said, and I could see the pain on her face, and I felt so guilty.

"And you know what is funny? They tried to apply to different companies, and when they got hired, they would only last one day, and the HR department would tell them they are not suitable for the job." She said, and Megan is crying now, and I dried her tears with my fingers, and I hate to see her this miserable.

"You love your parents, Meg, and I fell in love with you more," I said because I couldn't stop falling for her more, and she smiled as she cupped my face.

"Of course, I will do everything I can for them, Ashton. I couldn't forget the sacrifices they made for us; that is why I don't care if I will only have a little sleep. I don't want my family to suffer, especially my parents. I want them to realize that I kept my promise when I told them I would do anything I could to help them." Megan declared, and she looked at me in the eyes and smiled.

"I just don't know if I can maintain my scholarship the moment classes will start because I still need to work if ever my parents will remain jobless, I don't want to quit my studies, Ashton, because I wanted to become a chemical engineer someday, but I realized survival and the welfare of my family is more important than my dreams." Megan declared with a heavy sigh.

"So, I decided to quit my studies and work full time to help my parents, especially for my mom's medicines, and I think I need to give up my dreams for now," Megan said. I felt my entire body turn so cold as I realized I needed to let go of Megan because I didn't want her to give up her dreams because of me. My father warned me, if I continued to date Megan, Dexter would lose his job too, and I don't think Megan could support her entire family. And the worst thing my father can do is put Megan's dad behind bars without committing a crime, and I am sure Megan can't take it.

"Don't worry, Meg, I am sure your parents will have their jobs back; maybe there is just some misunderstanding at their workplace," I replied.

"I hope that is the case, Ashton, but I don't think so." She said as I took her hands and squeezed them.

"Believe me, Megan, there is always a silver lining in every situation, and you have to promise me you have to continue dreaming, and whatever happens, you have to finish your college education, Meg," I said, and I can feel the pain in my heart as I realized I need to let Megan go s

o she can have her dreams even if I have to break my own heart.