CHAPTER 26The exam was a success, and Ashley was so happy to be going back home. She had finally written her final paper in school and was ready to be back home with her dearest husband. She packed her belongings in the dormitory and was ready to depart after waving off her friends when her phone rang. She checked who the caller was and saw that it was Michael. She hastily picked up the call."I'm outside," was the first word he said immediately she picked up his call. She ran outside, and when she saw Michael, she ran to hug him."I missed you!" She screamed while hugging him tightly, making it seem hard for him to breathe."I missed you too," he finally replied after she released him from her bone-crushing hug, "let's go home to drop your luggage; we're going out tonight to celebrate!""Celebrate what?" She asked him."We're done with school, so we're celebrating that fact. Some of our friends will be celebrating with us.""Alrighty."She entered the car, and off he zoomed to the h
CHAPTER ONE The living room was filled with tension. The words that were spoken by Mr. Walter, her dad's creditor, gave hope to their hearts.It was as if Manna was thrown from above and Mr. Walter was an angel sent from God. As he kept on talking, Ashley moved closer to the last stairs, which were nearer to the living room, hid from their sight, and continued eavesdropping."I'm going to forget about the 10 million dollars you are owing me, and I'm even going to help your company get back on its feet." Mr. Walter said, and she could see her dad smiling."If..." He summoned his lawyer to bring out a file. "Read it out," he commanded the lawyer."Mr. Walter is going to forget about the 10 million dollars you're owing him, and he's even going to help your company get back on its feet and offer you another five million dollars if you allow your daughter to get married to Mr. Walter."Her smile grew broader and broader until it turned into a quick frown when she heard the word after the '
CHAPTER TWO "How dare you talk to me like that? Who the heck are you?" Her father's voice barked through the air as venom spat out of his mouth."Honey, you're being too harsh on her." Her mom inputted, but her father glared hard at her."Will you shut up?" Her father interrupted her mother, "You're the reason she's to this extent; just to do one simple thing that will free us from this debt, she's refusing, all because of you, you!""But honey." Her mom pleaded."Shut up! Shut the heck up before I do something I would regret." He directed his attention to Ashley: "You'll marry him, and that's final, idiot!" With that said, he left the sitting room for his room."Mom! I can't! I can't! I have other things to do with my life.""Honey, just obey your father; he's always right." Her mother said, trying to persuade her."Mom, you know he's the one that made us like this, so he should be the one to pay for his mistakes, not me. Mom, I can't; I don't think I can. Can't you try to persuade h
CHAPTER THREE By 2:35 a.m. in the morning, Ashley woke up to proceed with her plan. She stood up from her bed and walked towards her wardrobe to bring out her luggage from where she kept it. She took it and opened it to remove all the unnecessary dust. Then she began throwing in clothes that she would need for her little escape.She packed little clothes, so carrying them wouldn't be a problem. By the time she was done packing, she picked up her phone to check the time. Good, it was 3:01 a.m. She quickly changed her clothes, and soon she was ready to depart. She was ready to run away, to escape.She tiptoed out of her room towards the sitting room. She looked around to be sure that no one was awake. She was sure that no one would be awake by this time. She didn't say anything to her mother, so her mother wasn't aware of her running away; she had already made up her mind, and that was what she would do. She couldn't get married to that old man; now she preferred getting married to any
CHAPTER FOURMichael stared blankly at his room door, not realizing when tears dropped from his eyes. He cleaned his eyes and sniffed."He collapsed? When?" The next words that were spoken by his elder sister, Michelle, made his phone fall from his hands.He couldn't believe it; he really couldn't believe it. His dad was in a coma. As if just realizing the words that kept ringing in his head, he picked up his car keys from his table, left his room with a bang from the door, and ran out of his house, forgetting to lock the door.He sighted his car, which was neatly parked in his parking lot, entered, and drove out hurriedly towards the hospital with a speed that he'd never driven before.The smell that came from the hospital reminded him of memories he wished not to remember—the smell of drugs, injections, and mostly blood. It reminded him of how and where his mom died. He hated it.On reaching the room that was assigned to his dad, he sighted his sister, his only sister, seated outside
CHAPTER FIVEThe agreement has been made. The contract had been signed. The wedding was over. The young couple made their way to their matrimonial home after the reception. The drive to the house was peaceful and quiet, except for the noise created as Michael rapidly typed on his iPad. He didn't utter a word, and neither did she. The drive lasted for about thirty-three minutes—the longest thirty-three minutes that Ashley could ever imagine. The couple arrived at the mansion, and the golden gate was opened by the gatekeeper. As the driver drove in, she could see the mansion and how magnificent it looked, and then she stepped out of the car.She made her way to the front door and was amazed at the sight before her. She noticed the intricate gold molding on the pillar fixed at the sides of the front door. The glittering color was the perfect accent against the beige building; it added an imperial flair to the neo-classical-style mansion."Welcome home, Ashley." Michael said, which made he
CHAPTER SIXAshley Black rose up from her bed in her matrimonial home, as she was supposed to be in school because her first class of the day was at 8 a.m. She checked her table clock in her elegantly designed room and realized that if she didn't start dressing up, she would definitely be late for her class. She ran towards the bathroom and did her morning routine. By the time she was done, she had quickly dressed up, and soon she was ready to go to school.She walked down the stairs and stopped when she saw him. Her husband, Michael, who was already seated on the dining chair, was eating his morning breakfast, which consisted of tea and three slices of bread with scrambled eggs. She saw that hers was also ready. She made her way to the dining room."Good morning." She greeted Michael as she sat on the chair beside him."Morning, how was your night?" Michael asked her."My night?" She asked to be sure of the question he asked. Because she could remember after the small chat they had an
CHAPTER SEVEN The class came to an end. Ashley and her friend, Suzy, found their way out of the hall and headed towards the lagoon front to rest, as their second class for the day will begin two hours later."So, married woman." Suzy, her best friend, teased her."Stop it, babe." Ashley cautioned her friend. They were back as friends again, and Ashley had apologized to Suzy for yelling at her and calling her a betrayal."Can't I tease my friend anymore?""You can't; I don't even know why I married; if not for my dad, who badly needed the money, I wouldn't even have married.""What happened? But your husband is so handsome.""A husband that I practically know nothing about.""Then try to get to know each other. If I were the one who got married to that handsome man, I wouldn't even care if it was a contracted marriage; I would just throw myself at him. My God! He's so freaking handsome! Sorry, babe, but I have a slight crush on him.""Talking about crushes, I have a crush," Ashley conf