All Chapters of TWISTED AFFAIR: Chapter 111 - Chapter 120

ASHLEY'S POV I didn't expect the tears to come so fast.One second, I was laughing at something stupid Sophie said…and the next, the weight of losing my mum hit me like a truck. The anniversary of my mom's death always did this to me. I could go days feeling okay, functioning like a normal person…until a single moment cracked everything open.I tried to hide it, blinking fast and wiping the corner of my eye like it was nothing.But Jade noticed.She's always the first to notice.“Hey,” she whispered, wrapping an arm around me gently. “Are you okay?”Sophie quieted down instantly. “Ash…”“I'm fine,” I said quickly, voice too small to be convincing. “I just thought of her again.”They didn't say much. They both reached for me, and suddenly, we were in a tangled group hug on the living room couch.“I'm sorry we're not there for you the way we should be,” Jade said softly, her voice tight.“You are here now.” I looked up at them and smiled through my tears. “That's what matters.”Sophie

ASHLEY'S POV The elevator ride to the penthouse felt longer than usual.My fingers were still trembling from the call. Micheal didn't yell—but his voice was cold, sharp, and demanding. The way he said it gave no room for explanation.As the door slid open, I braced myself.The second I stepped into his penthouse, I saw him pacing by the windows, his hands clenched at his sides, his suit jacket tossed on the couch. His tie was loose around his neck, like even that had become too suffocating. His eyes locked onto me the moment I walked in.“Micheal,” I started carefully, dropping my purse on the nearby table. “What's going on? Why are you so upset?”“You tell me,” he said, his voice low but tight. “Do you make a habit of letting men kiss you when you're out?” My mouth fell open. “Are you serious right now? How could you say that to me?”He moved closer. “Don't play dumb, Ashley. He kissed you. On the cheek, yes…but he had no business to stand that close.”I blinked at him. “Were you

ASHLEY'S POV The silence in the car was deafening as we drove back to the penthouse.Micheal had tried to reach for my hand a few times, but I kept mine folded tightly on my lap. I didn’t want to flinch when he touched me, I didn't want to cry either. Not yet. Not here.The event had gone from being magical to humiliating in seconds. And all it took was one woman and one sentence from her mouth to shatter the fragile illusion I'd been clinging onto.Kate.Just saying her name in my mind made my throat close up.I didn't need to be told that she still has a hold on Micheal. The way his jaw locked, the way the colour drained from his face. And the way she looked at me…like I was nothing more than some silly replacement. A toy.And she opened her mouth.“So, she's your new toy? The reason you've been pushing me away?.”She said it like it was so obvious, like she knew everything.And Micheal…his silence hit harder than anything she had said. He didn't defend me. He didn't even react—he

MICHEAL'S POV Her fingers were tangled in my hair when I woke up, her soft breath fanning against my throat, her legs draped over my hip like she owned me. And maybe she did. Of course she did.“Baby,” I whispered, brushing my lips against her forehead.“Mmm?” She mumbled, her eyes still shut. “It's too early to wake up. Let's sleep some more.”I chuckled. “The chef called. Breakfast is ready. He's probably setting the table now.”She groaned. “Fuck the rich people and their routines.”I leaned in closer. “You like my routines just fine.Her eyes opened, then she winked. “Yeah, the night routines especially.”“You naughty spoilt brat.”I kissed her, slow and deep, not caring about our morning breaths, and eventually we dragged ourselves out of bed, more like I dragged her out of bed. She grabbed the paste and toothbrush while I stood beside her at the sink. We brushed in silence, stealing glances at her in the mirror with my shirt on her. My heart still beats too fast around her till

ASHLEY'S POV There was something about returning home after a perfect beach weekend that made everything else feel a little lighter. The salty breeze still lingered in my curls, and now I carried a sun skin glow that made my skin look like I'd just stepped off a magazine cover. I was humming to a Beyonce song as I stepped into my office after a boring meeting, scrolling through a few emails when the glass door swung open.“Surprise!” Sophie grinned, followed by Jade and Austin, all of them clearly up to something.I blinked. “Did I miss an update on the group chat? Why do I feel like I'm about to get ambushed?”“Because you are,” Jade said with a smirk.“We're kidnapping you for lunch. The birthday planning session begins now.”“Oh God,” I laughed, reaching for my bag already. “This would be interesting.”We ended up on a rooftop café just because their snacks are to die for. It was decorated with lights all over them with a full view of the city. Sophie pulled out a notepad from her