"Leave me alone, Shantal!" ash said annoyed to me. He's my husband, actually I'm probably the only one who calls him husband because he never once considered me his wife. And his family just forced him to marry me, so he followed it against his will. I smiled at myself in front of the mirror and wiped my tears. I know that he didn't love me, because he still hopes that his ex girlfriend or let's say ex fiance will come back to him. Our scene at the mansion is always fighting, sometimes he ignores me like I'm just wind by his side. And most of all we have different rooms, I laughed at what I thought because the other couple had only one room but we didn't. "Let's eat ma'am" I heard the knock in my room."yes manang" I said. I stood up and went downstairs and saw my husband done with his meal and ready to go. "Are you going to leave?" I asked, he just looked at me and left, not even an answer. I ate quietly by myself and just ignored it. After I ate, I decided to go to mom's mansion, but I was just outside the gate when I felt weak and I could barely handle what I saw. I saw ashton leaning in his car while kissing with someone. __________
Chapter 1 1
"Are you and Ash okay?" my mom asked, I nodded and smiled bitterly.
"Of course, he's sweet and gentlemen" I answered, mom smiled at me.
If they know what Ash wants from me, they might keep me away or force me to file for divorce, that's what I don't want to do because I love him so much no matter what pain he puts me through.
After I went for a walk, I first went to the cemetery and visited my grandmother, she was the only one I told about my problem when I was a child, but she was taken away.
I knelt down and lit a candle on his grave.
"I'm here grandma" I started and took the dry leaves from her tombstone.
"So you know why the first question you always ask me is, am I okay? Actually, I'm not okay grandma," I said weakly.
After all, there's no one and I'm alone here in the cemetery, I'm free to drama now, chos!!
"Then you'll ask me, why and what is the reason why I'm sad, grandma? My answer is about a-ashton"
I feel like a fool talking to the grave but it doesn't matter.
"When mom finds out what Ash always wants in the mansion, I'm sure she'll force me to file a divorce so don't tell her, I love him so much I don't want to lose him grandma....I love him so I can handle it" I smiled bitterly.
"Oh it's a handkerchief"
I looked behind me and my jaw almost dropped now.
"A-Ash.."
---
"Are you and Ash okay?" my mom asked, her concern evident in her voice. I nodded, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace.
"Of course, he's sweet and a gentleman," I replied, hoping to quell any suspicions. Mom's smile reassured me momentarily, but beneath the facade, fear gnawed at me.
If only they knew the truth about Ash's desires, they might intervene, urging me to distance myself or worse, pressuring me to file for divorce. But I couldn't bear the thought of losing him, despite the pain he inflicted.
After excusing myself for a walk, I found solace in the cemetery, where I sought counsel from my late grandmother, the only one I had confided in as a child before she was taken from me.
Kneeling before her grave, I lit a candle, the flickering flame casting shadows on the worn tombstone.
"I'm here, grandma," I began softly, brushing away dry leaves. "You always asked if I was okay. The truth is, I'm not okay."
Alone amidst the silent gravestones, I allowed myself to speak freely, unburdening my heart to the one person who had always listened without judgment.
"And then you'd ask why I was sad," I continued, my voice trembling. "It's about Ashton."
Feeling foolish yet strangely liberated, I poured out my fears and insecurities, confessing the secret that weighed heavy on my soul.
"When Mom learns of Ash's true intentions in the mansion, she'll demand I leave him," I confessed tearfully, my heart aching with the prospect of losing him. "But I love him too much to let go. I'll endure whatever pain comes my way."
As I wiped away my tears with a trembling hand, a rustle behind me caused my heart to skip a beat.
"Ash..." I stammered, turning to face him, my emotions laid bare before him in the flickering candlelight.
---
Ashton's presence loomed before me, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity as he approached.
"I didn't mean to eavesdrop," he began, his voice soft, "but I couldn't help overhearing."
I tensed, my defenses rising instinctively. "How much did you hear?" I asked, my voice betraying a hint of fear.
He sighed, his gaze gentle yet penetrating. "Enough to know you're hurting, and that you're keeping something from me."
I hesitated, torn between the desire to confide in him and the fear of his reaction. But as I met his unwavering gaze, I sensed a sincerity that thawed the walls around my heart.
"It's about the mansion," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. "What do you want from it, Ash?"
His expression softened, remorse flickering in his eyes. "I should have been honest with you from the start," he admitted, his words heavy with regret. "The truth is, I inherited the mansion from my late grandfather, but it's burdened with debts I can't repay."
I listened in stunned silence, the pieces of the puzzle slowly falling into place. "So that's why you've been distant, why you've been avoiding me," I murmured, a mixture of hurt and understanding coursing through me.
He nodded, his gaze searching mine for forgiveness. "I didn't want to drag you into my mess," he confessed, his vulnerability stripping away the barriers between us. "But I realize now that keeping secrets only drives us further apart."
Tears welled in my eyes as the weight of his confession lifted the shadows from my heart. "I'm here for you, Ash," I whispered, reaching out to him. "No matter what challenges we face, we'll face them together."
In that moment, amidst the silent gravestones and flickering candlelight, we found solace in each other's embrace, united by the promise of honesty and the enduring strength of our love.
---
---
The morning sun cast a warm glow over the mansion as Ashton and I sat in the elegant dining room, savoring a rare moment of tranquility amidst the chaos of our lives.
"I never imagined owning a place like this," I remarked, tracing my finger along the intricate patterns of the tablecloth.
Ashton smiled, his eyes distant yet filled with a hint of nostalgia. "It holds a lot of memories," he admitted, his voice tinged with both sorrow and longing.
I reached out to him, sensing the weight of his emotions. "Tell me about it," I urged gently, eager to unravel the mysteries of his past.
He hesitated, as if wrestling with demons long buried beneath the surface. But as he met my gaze, a flicker of resolve sparked in his eyes.
"It wasn't always like this," he began, his voice tinged with bitterness. "When my grandfather was alive, the mansion was a place of joy and laughter. But after he passed away, everything changed."
I listened in rapt attention as Ashton recounted the tumultuous events that had shaped his childhood, the betrayal of trust and the shattered dreams that had driven him to the brink of despair.
"I thought I could escape the past by leaving this place behind," he confessed, his voice thick with emotion. "But the past has a way of catching up with you, no matter how hard you try to run."
Tears welled in my eyes as I reached out to him, offering comfort and understanding in the face of his pain. "You don't have to face it alone, Ash," I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion. "Together, we can confront the past and build a future filled with hope and love."
In that moment, amidst the faded grandeur of the mansion and the echoes of bygone memories, we made a silent vow to confront our demons and forge a new path forward, bound together by the unbreakable bonds of love and resilience.
---
End of Chapter
This chapter delves into Ashton's troubled past and the scars that continue to haunt him, while also highlighting the protagonist's unwavering support and commitment to their shared journey of healing and redemption. It emphasizes themes of resilience, forgiveness, and the transformative power of love in overcoming adversity.
Chapter 1 1
02/04/2024
Chapter 2 2
02/04/2024
Chapter 3 3
02/04/2024
Chapter 4 4
02/04/2024
Chapter 5 5
02/04/2024
Chapter 6 6
02/04/2024
Chapter 7 7
02/04/2024
Chapter 8 8
02/04/2024
Chapter 9 9
02/04/2024
Chapter 10 10
02/04/2024
Chapter 11 11
02/04/2024
Chapter 12 12
02/04/2024
Chapter 13 13
02/04/2024
Chapter 14 14
02/04/2024
Chapter 15 15
02/04/2024
Chapter 16 16
02/04/2024
Chapter 17 17
02/04/2024
Chapter 18 18
02/04/2024
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