Several hours passed as Alex scoured the internet for the perfect venue for his date with Ashley. After much searching, he finally found an expensive and romantic location that he knew would impress her. Feeling proud of himself for finding such a great place, Alex lay in bed and slowly drifted off to sleep. As he closed his eyes, he couldn't help but imagine how the date would go, picturing every detail in his mind. He hoped that everything would go smoothly and that Ashley would have a great time with him. With these thoughts in his head, Alex soon fell into a deep and peaceful slumber, eagerly anticipating the upcoming date.****As the morning sun shone into Ashley's room, she groggily checked the time on her clock and realized that it was already past 9 am."I'm late!" Ashley exclaimed, jumping out of bed. "How could I have slept so long?" she asked herself as she rushed to the bathroom to take a quick shower. After getting ready, Ashley headed out to a meeting with a company.Af

After spending a lovely afternoon chatting with Larisa and her family, Ashley arrived back at her apartment at 5 pm. She kicked off her shoes and collapsed onto her bed, feeling a little tired from all the socializing.As she lay there for about 30 minutes, scrolling through her phone and catching up on social media, she realized that she needed to start getting ready for her date. With a sigh, she got up from the bed and made her way to the bathroom.The warm water from the shower felt invigorating as it cascaded down Ashley's body, washing away the fatigue from the day. She took her time, enjoying the sensation and letting her mind wander as she mentally prepared for her date.After luxuriating in the warm shower, Ashley emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a fluffy towel, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. She made her way over to her closet and carefully selected the new dress and heels she had purchased at New Huxley's Shopping Mall earlier that day.Slipping into the dress, she

As they chatted about Larisa, Ashley suddenly looked up at Alex with a questioning expression."Alex, can I ask you something?" she said, her voice curious."Sure, what is it?" Alex replied, his eyes meeting hers."I was just wondering," Ashley began, "were you asking about Larisa just out of curiosity, or did Marcellus ask you to ask me?"Alex's smile faltered slightly at her question, and he hesitated before answering. "Actually, Marcellus did ask me to ask you," he admitted, his voice trailing off.As Alex admitted that Marcellus had asked him to inquire about Larisa, Ashley's expression softened. She let out a small laugh and shook her head."I knew it," she said, a playful glint in her eye. "Marcellus can be so nosy sometimes."As Ashley teased Alex about Marcellus's nosiness, he felt a pang of guilt in his chest. He knew that Marcellus still harbored feelings for Larisa, even after their four-year divorce. But he couldn't deny the attraction he felt towards Ashley, and he wanted

After much contemplation, Ashley couldn't decide whether or not to pursue a relationship with Alex. Feeling overwhelmed, she took out her phone and dialed Larisa's number, hoping to gain some clarity on the situation. After a few rings, Larisa picked up."Hey Ashley, what's up?" Larisa asked."I'm good, thanks. How about you?" Ashley replied."I'm doing well, thanks. So, how was your date with Alex yesterday?" Larisa inquired.Ashley's face lit up as she thought back to the romantic evening. "It was amazing. He looked so handsome, and the restaurant was like heaven. We had the best time," she gushed.Larisa smiled. "That's great to hear. Did he pop any questions?" she asked.Ashley chuckled lightly, feeling a sense of nervousness rising within her. "Yes, he did. He asked me to be his girlfriend," she admitted.Larisa's eyes widened with excitement. "Wow, I knew it! So, what did you say?" she asked eagerly."I told him he's a nice guy, but that I need some time to think about it," Ashl

Their conversation changed course as Larisa added, "I need to get a building for my hospital soon."Ashley nodded in agreement. "That's important. Have you found any potential buildings yet?" she asked.Larisa shook her head. "Not yet. I've been so busy with Waylen, I haven't had the time to search properly," she explained.Ashley nodded in understanding. "Well, let me know if you need any help. I know a few people in the real estate business who might be able to help you find a suitable building," she offered, wanting to be there for her friend.Larisa smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Ashley. That means a lot to me," she said, feeling comfortable with her friend's kind gesture.Ashley announced, "I'll be heading to the office now.""Same here, I'll be heading to the real estate agent," Larisa replied, taking a sip of her coffee."Will you be taking Waylen with you?" Ashley asked, referring to Larisa's son."Yes I have no choice for now, I will need to enroll him in a new school soon,"