Lahat ng Kabanata ng He Asked for an Open Marriage, I Walked Away: Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

Ashley opened her eyes first to the dim light above her bed. It pulsed weakly against the ceiling. The air was mildly scented with disinfectant, clean and acrid. Her head felt heavy on her neck. Her throat felt dry.She blinked slowly, gathering her senses.For a moment, she wasn't sure where she was. Then she noticed the machines against her bed. The IV line along her wrist. The thin, milky curtains of the small hospital room."Thank God, Ashley," a soft voice said.Ashley turned her head to the side. Mia was sitting at the edge of her bed, her eyes red and swollen. Erick stood by the doorway, arms crossed against his chest. His usual composure was replaced with a rigid weariness."What happened?" Ashley murmured. She forced herself to speak, her voice rough and quiet. "Please tell me what happened."Erick crossed the room to the side of her bed. "You were out since las

The room was still.Harvey hesitated for a moment before he turned abruptly, walking away, his footsteps loud against the hallway.Nathan remained motionless near her bed, his hand still on the railing.Ashley turned her face to the wall, her breathing uneven. "Please, Nathan. Go."He did not budge at first. He regarded her with eyes that softened, his gaze caught between leaving and staying.But finally, he whispered, "Alright."He retreated without a word, his footsteps heavy against the floor, his chest heavy with guilt and something deeper that he could not name.The door clicked shut behind him.Ashley rolled back against her pillow. Her hands were trembling. Her heart ached too much to bear.She didn't know who to believe, but she knew that something in her core had shifted. Nathan's silence pained her more than Harvey's words. And

Ashley's jaw clenched. "Cindy is not biologically related to Dr. Hart."Miranda's smile did not fade, cool and polite. "She was raised by Stephen. She called him father. I think that should count for something."Uncle Raymond sighed. "Miranda, this isn't the time or place for this discussion."Lydia cut in before Ashley could respond. "But why shouldn't it count? Miranda has been part of this family for years. If we're talking about fairness, doesn't she deserve something, too?"Ashley was getting irritated. "Miranda single-handedly broke up my parents' marriage. She has no legal claim on anything. And as for Cindy—she is not a Hart."Miranda's pleasant demeanor finally cracked. She didn't sound angry, but her words were sharp with a bitter edge. "You always did have your mother's arrogance."Joshua shifted in his seat, his expression tight. "Mom, please."

The only thing she learned to do was work harder. If she couldn't win his love, maybe she could win his respect. She studied until her eyes stung and she had to blink back tears, practiced speeches in front of the mirror, and learned to smile even when she was tired. At school, the teachers called her a genius. The neighbors called her gifted. Her classmates idolized her and sometimes envied her. Everyone saw a girl who always excelled, who never made mistakes, who had it all figured out.But no one saw the truth.No one saw the nights she cried into her pillow. They never knew her success was built on pain, not pride. Her every achievement was forged in loneliness, in the silent prayer that maybe, just maybe, her father would look at her and say, "I'm proud of you."He never did.He built a new family. Pretended to be a father to children who were

 Joshua sighed, exhausted. "Mom, please don't. It's not that kind of event. It's a small ceremony, only a few people are coming." Miranda looked offended. "Still, how will it look like if the family isn't there? Everyone will think we're being excluded." Stephen put a hand on his temple, rubbing it in frustration. "We are, Miranda. And for good reason. This is her choice, and we should respect it." Miranda turned away, muttering something about pride and appearances under her breath, but Joshua chose to ignore her. He knew Ashley wanted peace on her wedding day. At the West house, the news of the wedding also reached Harvey's mother. Mrs. West nearly dropped her teacup when she heard the news on one of her friends. "What?" she gasped. "She's marrying Nathan Ford?" Her friend nodded carefully. "It seems so sudden. The