Lahat ng Kabanata ng Claimed By My Father's Best Friend: Kabanata 31 - Kabanata 40

ASHLEY'S POV It was another busy day as I stepped out of the house. The sun was really bright, bright enough that it could be blinding. It did no help in shaking the heaviness in my chest. I barely had any sleep last night. My mind was filled with thoughts. I kept convincing myself that it's just gonna be another day, that nothing had changed, that I was still the same person I was before the incident at the club. I had a lot of work waiting for me at the office, and I had to be early if I wanted to catch up on it.I slid into my car, adjusted my seat belt and gripped the steering wheel before finally starting the car, the soft sound of the car oddly calmed my nerves, and as I pulled out of the driveway, I place my focus on the road. Observing the traffic lights, street signs, and the route to my company. Few minutes later I arrived at the company, by the time I stepped in, everything was moving fast already, my employees were moving in and out of their various offices, some were a

ASHLEY'S POV I woke up to the sound of waves crashing outside. It was very soothing, so much that I found it difficult to get out of bed. so for a moment, I laid there, wrapped up in the warmth of the sheets. I haven't had a good sleep like this in months . It was peaceful, too peaceful.Then I turned over to the other side of the bed, expecting him to be there, but it was empty. Then I perceived it, the faint smell of bacon filled the air. I slipped out of bed and did a little exercise before making my way downstairs.The sight in the kitchen made me pause.Micheal stood shirtless by the counter with his hair slightly messy. He wore grey sweatpants that hung low on his hip, moving around the kitchen as he prepared breakfast. He kept flipping the pancakes like a pro while he had a fresh pot of coffee beside him. The counter was filled with breakfast: bacon, toast, scramble eggs, with some fresh fruits on the side. I leaned against the doorway, crossing my arms against my chest. “S

ASHLEY'S POV I sat on the park bench, waiting for Ryan to be here so we could get this done with. My heart raced in my chest, with different thoughts swirling in it. Was I doing the right thing? Do I really seek closure? But one thing is sure, I wasn't here for him, I was here for me. To prove to him that I wasn't that girl he knew anymore.Ryan showed up exactly ten minutes late. Typical. Some things never changed. He walked towards me in slow steps, his hands shoved into his pockets, his face filled with guilt. He looked the same as ever, but not in a way that stirred anything inside me. There was a time when seeing him would have made me blush secretly, my heart racing. Now, all I felt was stillness. When he finally reached me, he hesitated before speaking.“Hey, Ash.”The sound of his voice had that effect on me, but not in the same way that made my body shake with desire.“Ryan.” I said, my voice soft but firm.He sat down beside me, but i moved aside a bit, creating enough spac

RYAN'S POV REGRET.The only emotion I felt after she left me.She didn't even flinch.She just got up and walked away with him like I was invincible. Like I was a stranger asking for directions in a park she didn't want to be in.I sat there for a while after they left. Still. Quiet. I tried not to let it show that my chest felt like someone had stuck their hand in and twisted it. I wasn't going to chase. I wasn't going to make a scene. But God…it burned.I should’ve never texted her. That's what I told myself. But I didn't believe we were done. Not really. I needed to see her. Needed to look in her eyes and know if what we had was really gone, or if maybe, just maybe, there was still something more there. And for a second…I thought there was.She showed up. That had to mean something.She could’ve ignored me and blocked my number.But she came. And that gave me hope. Dumb, reckless, fragile hope.Until he showed up.The way he said her name. Like he already owned her.And the way

MICHEAL'S POVThe numbers on my screen blurred together. I blinked once. Twice. Still nothing. I'd been staring at the same email for fifteen minutes, maybe even more. I couldn’t even remember what it was about anymore. My fingers hovered over the keyboard like they forgot how to type. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing the back of my head. Ashley.I couldn't stop thinking about her. She'd been off lately. Not cold exactly, just…distant. Her smile didn't reach her eyes anymore. Her laugh, the one that used to hit me right in the chest, now felt forced. Too quick, like she was trying to convince herself that it was real.And ever since she ran into him, Ryan, she hadn't been the same. I hated that name. Hated that I even know it now. Could she possibly still have feelings for him? I shook off the thought as soon as it came to mind.I used to think Ashley was an open book, but now? It was like someone glued the pages shut. Each time I asked, She said she was fine. Tired, distracted, w