章 4: Who Was That Man?
Ashley had known Simon Richards for fifteen years. She met him when she entered the fifth grade. At that time, she was the only eight-year-old among a class of eleven and twelve years old. Ashley was cute and small. Everyone loved her.
The person she was closest to was Simon. He was funny and adventurous. Ashley enjoyed his company. The two grew up together and it was not until Ashley was nineteen and Simon was twenty-two did the two started dating.
Their relationship was a pleasant one. The two loved each other deeply. Ashley's happiness was unlimited when she was around Simon.
However, everything changed when Leticia threatened Ashley with Simon's life. Their relationship ended on a bad note. Simon's hatred for Ashley increased when he found out about her and Nathan's marriage.
Ashley, on the other hand, had never forgotten about Simon.
The man in a dark blue shirt with blonde hair and light brown eyes turned when he heard someone call out his name. He looked around and confusion, thinking the call was his imagination as the music was too loud.
His eyes then landed on Ashley's figure. The confusion in his eyes faded, coldness makes with a mix of hatred prevailed.
Tears formed in Ashley's eyes. She flung Isabelle's hand away and walked towards the man. A crease appeared on Simon's face upon seeing her approaching. He hurriedly left the club.
After a while, Ashley caught up to Simon. "What do you want?", he asked, disgust in his eyes. "Simon, I need to speak to you. I need to tell you the truth." The alcohol had overtaken Ashley's senses. The urge to tell Simon everything had overtaken her.
"The truth?", he scoffed disdainfully, his tone hurting Ashley's heart.
Simon stared at Ashley. A little girl who wore glasses with her auburn hair tied into two ponytails appeared in his mind. She wore a pink dress and a white cardigan, smiling in the park. He no longer saw Ashley as that little girl anymore.
Ashley reached out to him, her head spinning. Simon jerked his hand away, causing Ashley to lose her balance, falling to the ground and hitting her head on a rock.
…
Nathan's figure came into view once Ashley 's eyes opened.
He sat on the chair next to her bed, his hands holding onto hers and his eyes closed. Ashley stared at him: her mind dazed. Memories of the previous night flashed in her mind.
A thought that came to her; Simon really did hate her.
She felt movement by her side and turned to see Nathan staring at her with an indiscernible gaze. Ashley looked into his eyes. And just like every time, she felt some sort of invisible string of attraction pulling her towards him. It was as though he was trying to tell her something, but the problem was, she didn't understand what he was trying to say.
"Who was that man?", she heard him ask. He took back his hands and folded his arms. Ashley tried to sit up but felt a sharp pain at the back of her head which made her wince. Nathan quickly came to her side and held her. His hot breath sprayed on her neck as he spoke. "Be careful."
He helped her sit up, gentleness in his movement. Ashley thought she saw worry in his eyes, but she then dispelled that thought when she saw the serious look on his face. He repeated his previous question. "Who was that man?"
Ashley tilted her head and shared confusion. "Which man?"
Nathan's gaze turned colder. Ashley believed that he misunderstood that she was lying to him and just as she was about to speak, he beat her to it. "The blonde man who brought you here. Who is he and why were both of you together."
Simon, Ashley thought.
"Why would you think that both of us were together?", Ashley asked, her tone higher.
"He sounded like he's known you forever. He told the doctors to make sure to save 'his Ashley'. When did you become someone else's. Huh?" The man neared her and pinched her chin. Ashley expected to feel pain, but she didn't. "If I remember clearly, I am your husband. Since when did you become someone else's possession?"
Ashley gulped and blinked repeatedly as Nathan lowered his head, his lips trailing her nape. She felt a tingling sensation as he bit on her earlobe. His husky voice entered her ears. "Since the day you married me, Ashley Scott, your entire being became mine."
Ashley was in a trance even after Nathan left. She stared at her reflection in the television opposite the hospital bed.
Her mind went back to Nathan's previous words. Simon was worried and he even addressed her as 'his Ashley'. Her lips curved into a smile. Then, the latter words rang in her head.
He was right.
Her entire being was his ever since she married him. Even if she wanted to go back to Simon, she could never forget that she had been another man's before being his and she knew he would never forget that either.
Ashley was made to stay in the hospital for another round of checkups. The doctors wouldn't risk the life of the only daughter of the Leticia Scott and the wife of Nathan Li.
It was only after a week that Ashley was discharged. She had been in a depressed mood the entire time since Simon had not visited. Not like he was even allowed to. Nathan had gotten three bodyguards to guard and keep an eye on her. Even during walks around the hospital, she needed two bodyguards and a nurse with her. With Nathan's command, she was on the tight security.
About three days ago, before being discharged, she had confronted him about the bodyguards. It was a conversation that left her deep in thought.
"I don't understand why you must have that many people around me. You've never done this before, so why now?"
The man sat in a chair adjacent to the hospital bed and next to the window with a laptop on his lap. He wore a casual t-shirt which outlined his muscles and a pair of glasses, making him look even more attractive than before.
He looked up at her, his glasses had been lowered to the tip of his nose. Ashley was not in a fashionable state like she always was when she was outside. She had a hospital gown on, her hair tied into a loose bun and her contact lenses had been taken off leaving her no choice but to wear her glasses.
"Are you asking this because you are unable to see that man?"
Ashley groaned and covered her face before looking back at him. "Why do you keep talking about Simon? There's nothing between the both of us. And I told you, he hates me."
Nathan scoffed. "That night, I didn't see a single ounce of hatred in his eyes towards you. So, tell me where the hate is?"
Ashley's eyes flickered with a strange light.
"I know you want a divorce, but do not forget that you are still my wife. We're still tied together by marriage." His eyes turned sharp. "Don't get any ideas of bringing another man into your life while I'm still around. You know what I'm capable of."
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