All Chapters of He Asked for an Open Marriage, I Walked Away: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Ashley unlocked her phone and swiped to the trending headlines. There it was, photos of Harvey at a charity gala, with Cindy Hart on his arm. The caption read: The perfect power couple? Harvey West and Cindy Hart spotted again, insiders say they're inseparable.Ashley's stomach dropped. She could already imagine the murmurs and commentary, people talking about how she had overreacted, about how Harvey had traded up, about how she had lost.By the time classes were over for the day, the pictures had spread like wildfire, social media, gossip blogs, even the campus newsfeed.Nathan walked her back to the parking lot, jaw set. "Stay in the car," he said."What? Where are you going?""Take care of something," he said simply, already striding away.Ashley watched him from the passenger seat, heart pounding, as he approached a familiar figure near the gates — Harvey.The sight of him made her chest ache. He was dressed casually, bu

I saw her first. Before Harvey. I thought I would talk to her later. At least ask her name. But I had to leave before the speech had even finished. When I came back a few weeks later, my uncle told me Harvey was seeing someone. When I heard who it was, I said nothing. I do not hate Harvey. I never have. He has always measured himself against me, grades, sports, everything. But I never saw him as competition. Until then. Because this time it felt like he'd won at something that actually mattered to me. I was... jealous. I do not like to think that, even about myself. But it was like I lost something I never got the chance to win. But I stayed away. I let it go. And then Harvey made his choice. He broke something that should have been holy. I did nothing to drive them apart. I did not meddle.But now that I have this opportunity. I'm not giving up. She deserves someone who won't break her heart. And I'm not about to let Harvey get the chance to do that to her again.Not while I

Nathan's eyes flicked open slightly wider. He studied Ashley, her face, her raw voice, the way her shoulders shook even as she maintained such poise. He wanted to speak, to ease the air that he could feel pressing on her like a weight, but his body reminded him of the wreck with every painful inhalation. He held his silence, allowing her words to say what neither Harvey nor Dr. Hart wanted to face.Dr. Hart cleared his throat. "Ashley," he said. He paused, choosing his words carefully. "I know I don't deserve your forgiveness. I know I can't change the past. But I am still your father. I am still here."Ashley's head bowed slightly. She took a long breath, holding it in, and then she lifted her eyes to him. "You are here now," she said. The words were heavy. "But where were you when my mother needed you? Where were you

Nathan's head snapped up. "No. She has already done more than enough.""I am not asking what she has done," Alexander replied. "I am asking what she can do. You told me she uncovered the key faster than our entire department could. If she is able to assist, if she is able to shorten the timeline, why are we not utilizing her?"Nathan's voice grew clipped. "Because she is not part of the military. She is a student. It is not her fight. She should not even have been drawn into this."Alexander's lips pressed into a thin line of impatience. "This is not a matter of what is fair, Nathan. Do not let your emotions cloud your judgment. If someone has a skill set, we use them. That is the principle of war. Efficiency over comfort."

Miranda raised an eyebrow and her daughter pursed her lips in thought. "You are not your stepfather's real daughter. You cannot inherit his properties."Cindy slammed her phone down on the coffee table, her emotions boiling over. "I have lived with him more than the five years he lived with Ashley. I am more of a daughter to him than she is. So why do I not get a share?"Miranda sat back in her chair, her voice calm but no less stern. "If you are intent on doing that you will have to make him sign a legal document to adopt you.""I have been using his surname since I stepped into Hollywood," Cindy snapped. "Does he still not want to give me his name?""His father will not allow it," Miranda said. "They are very part