Painful desire

doing here?" I c

you," he rep

said? I hope he d

hear-" he

oming to visit us" she answered and wal

aybe it won't bother me" I sai

l I couldn't stop

issing someone" my voice was bit

Annie

, as if something

e whole way un

greeted by mommy mi

" I smil

he asked, I looked at ash

nthusiastica

our dad's anniversary is on Monday...this is an invi

" I answered, she ki

ng in the mansion a

nday?" I asked when I sa

Annie and I

ary celebration weighed heavily on my mind, particularly knowing that Ashton and his ex-girlfriend Annie had plans of t

made my way to the venue, my thoughts were consumed with questions about Ashton's relationship wi

of celebration and remembrance, with guests sharing fond memories of Ashton's father. D

I searched the crowd for Ashton, finally spotting him in a quiet corner with Annie by

glanced up as I approached, his expression unreadable. Annie smiled warmly at me,

n greeted me, his voi

plied, forcing a smile despit

in. "Shantal, I know this might seem strange, but Annie and

ess. I struggled to comprehend what he was saying, the w

ered, my voice bar

her expression sympathetic. "I'm so

of emotions swirling inside me. With a forced smile, I excused mysel

d at the corners of my eyes as I grappled with the harsh reality of Ashton's decision.

pain of Ashton's betrayal, I knew that I would find the strength to move forward, to carve out a new path for mys

___

ary celebration weighed heavily on my mind, particularly knowing that Ashton and his ex-girlfriend Annie had plans of t

made my way to the venue, my thoughts were consumed with questions about Ashton's relationship wi

of celebration and remembrance, with guests sharing fond memories of Ashton's father. D

I searched the crowd for Ashton, finally spotting him in a quiet corner with Annie by

glanced up as I approached, his expression unreadable. Annie smiled warmly at me,

n greeted me, his voi

plied, forcing a smile despit

in. "Shantal, I know this might seem strange, but Annie and

ess. I struggled to comprehend what he was saying, the w

ered, my voice bar

her expression sympathetic. "I'm so

of emotions swirling inside me. With a forced smile, I excused mysel

d at the corners of my eyes as I grappled with the harsh reality of Ashton's decision.

pain of Ashton's betrayal, I knew that I would find the strength to move forward, to carve out a new path for mys