AshleyHow could she have forgotten those eyes. Those enigmatic green eyes, that held the power of drawing her in and scaring her away at the same time. A mystery that she itched to unravel but was too afraid to get close to. Something in her was always tempted to measure the depth of these oceans but was also afraid of drowning in them. Regardless of the time passed, these distinctive orbs still haunted her dream and invaded her thoughts. So many times they had flashed before her unannounced. So many times she had found herself comparing other people's green orbs with his. How could she have forgotten those gems?The world had stopped spinning as her eyes focused on his green ones. What unnerved her, even more, was that those intimidating orbs were trained on her. She didn't need to hear his voice or see his face to confirm. She knew it was him. Daniel Smith. With the realization came some questions. What is he doing here? What is she doing here?

ASHLEYHer groggy eyes snapped open to be met by a boundless ocean of darkness. Confused, she whipped her head around to catch a single shred of light but in vain. There wasn't a single ounce of light penetrating through the pitch-black surrounding that had engulfed her. Trepidation seeped into her veins sending her heart racing. She tried to get up from the chair she was sitting in. However, her movements got restricted causing a realization to strike her like lightning. She has been tied down with the chair. A skin-chaffing rope snaking around her waist and wrists. Her eyes widened in shock and her mind turned numb. As if on autopilot, her body began thrashing violently to get free from the bound.Sweat broke across her forehead and tears rolled down her cheek as she heard the sound of footsteps coming closer. "You really thought you can escape me," a menacing voice reached her causing hair to spike on the back of her n

AshleyThe days followed by the "note incident" flew by in peace. No further threats were received. But that didn't mean she was not afraid anymore. The threatening words of the note were etched painfully in her memory that kept repeating themselves again and again in her head. Daniel didn't tell her much and his guarded expression revealed nothing, but she knew better. Ashley was suspicious that Michael was not alone in it. There was someone aiding him.She wanted to ask Daniel but she hadn't seen much of him since that day. Like a true workaholic, Daniel was always out of the house coming back only late at the night to leave again early the next morning. One silver lining was that Ashley had recovered to a great extent. She was able to walk on her own now. However, running was still out of question.That night she asked Dayna not to prepare her dinner as she wanted to make it by herself. It had been days since she had made something and her hands were itching to coo

The car came to a halt in front of a grand door. Two muscular guards were posted on either side of the door. Ashley had to crane her head to see the top of the lofty building. She realized they were in front of a hotel. The driver opened her door removing the glassy barrier between her and the outside world. She twisted her neck to her side and realized that Daniel had already alighted from the car. She gulped back her apprehensions and climbed out."Thank you," she uttered to the driver and walked towards Daniel who was standing just a few steps away from her. Daniel was typing something on his phone. They begin walking towards the entrance once she caught up with him. Her heart was threatening to jump out of her chest as they padded towards the entrance. Daniel looked indifferent. Maybe bored.The guards greeted them with a bow before drawing the door open for them. Ashley let Daniel take the lead but Daniel wanted her to walk beside him. This is why he would stop every

DANIELDaniel was furious. The compulsion to raze the whole world to the ground bit him hard when he saw handprints on Ashley's cheek. Her beautiful hair had been manhandled into a mess. Her eyes had swollen due to constant crying. She was terrified to the bone. Her trembling form and the way she was holding onto him explained how unsettled her state of mind was. He held her in his arms not caring what people would label them as. He tried to cool her nerves down while himself boiling from inside. And the message that doodled on the mirror didn't make the situation better.The incident had shaken her to the core. Her body craved protection. Yearned assurance. But was he in a position to give her assurance when he had failed her twice? Ashley placed her faith in him and he failed her yet again.Daniel and Ashley stayed like this for a while until Ashley felt a little less bad. She detangled herself from him and brushed her tears off. Daniel scooted over allowing her more spac