Capítulo 14: Don't You Remember Me?

Ashley went back home, gloom in her eyes. She tried to keep her cool, to remain calm. She hated that she couldn't do anything to Felix.

"Do you always have to come home so late? Since you asked for a divorce, you've been unruly." At these words, Ashley snapped. She turned to look at Nathan, an impassive look that screamed annoyance on her face.

"What's your problem, huh?" Nathan furrowed his eyebrows. "You've been nagging me for the past week. Can't you give me a break?" Ashley's hands rested on her waist. "Ashley, stop working. Ashley, take your medicines. Ashley, take care of yourself. Blah, blah, blah. For goodness' sake, please leave me alone. I know you're just feeling guilty because you triggered my asthma."

Ashley did not give the man a chance to speak. She just stormed upstairs, leaving a dumbfounded Nathan standing there pitifully.

The already infuriated woman cursed when she saw blood in her underwear. She couldn't afford to deal with all the problems at a time. She plopped herself on the bed right after getting into her pajamas. With her left cheek pressing against the pillow, she stared into the distance.

Her phone buzzed with a notification. It was a message from an unknown number What greeted Ashley was a picture of two girls. One girl had chestnut brown hair with azure eyes, the other auburn haired with gray eyes. The two wore white shirts, that had 'BFFs' written on it, and dark blue jeans. They posed with an arm around each other, making a piece sign with another hand.

Ashley's pupils shook, her lips trembled. She hurriedly sat up on the bed, fear spreading throughout her entire being. The picture was of her and Penelope in college.

At that time, she and Penelope were the best of friends.

How?

Well, Ashley had no idea that Penelope was the little girl from years ago who had framed her. Neither did she know that her mother had ruined Penelope's family. Ashley just knew of her as a normal girl. Penelope Denvers and not Penelope Coleman.

And Ashley sure was wrong to think that.

Ashley met Penelope Coleman during her last year of high school, when she was fifteen. In Richardson High, a school for the wealthy, Ashley was a nobody Mostly because her identity was kept a secret. All the students and even most of the teachers thought of Ashley as a scholarship student, especially when she was so smart. Ashley rarely attended elite events due to Leticia's overprotectiveness, so it was plausible that not a lot of people knew of her identity.

She had only a few friends, but they were not really close to her. And her closest friends were in other schools. Ashley was termed as a loner back in high school. It was so until she met Penelope in a music club. The brunette was incredibly talented at playing the piano and Ashley was simply amazed by her performance.

The two shared a similar interest for music and gradually, they became friends. Later on, they became the closest of friends. Isabelle used to nag and blame Ashley for ditching her, to Ashley's exasperation.

The incident happened was eighteen and in her third year of college. At that time, Ashley and Simon were not together.

There was a party that day and Simon was admitted to the hospital after getting hit by a car. Luckily, he sustained only a few injuries.

Ashley remembered what happened that day.

She had gone to the rooftop of the hospital to get some fresh air and clear her head then Penelope appeared behind her.

"You're worried, aren't you?'

Ashley gasped, placing her hand over her chest with widened eyes. "Oh my God, Penny. You scared me." Penelope laughed, her azure eyes glowing in the dark. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. Or did I?" Her eyes flashed before she let out a giggle. Ashley stared in nervousness, laughing awkwardly with her. "I'm joking, babe." Ashley only nodded and Penelope move to stand next to her.

Ashley stared at the view below. The entire place was bright, and the streets were buzzing with cars. "Of course, I'm worried. What if something worse happened."

"But nothing happened." Penelope tore her gaze from the view below and stared at Ashley with her head tilted.

"You know," Penelope's gaze went back to the view. "When I was thirteen, I accidentally triggered a classmate's cousin's asthma. And her mother destroyed my entire family as payback."

"That's horrible.", Ashley said. Penelope's mood turned gloomy as she continued to speak. "After my dad's business went bankrupt, we sold everything and move away to a small town far away from here. My dad tried to start all over, but every time he did, he failed. My dad then gave up. He took on a job working in a supermarket and my mom…well she resorted to being an escort to earn money. Since dad benefitted from it, he never spoke of her outside relations."

Penelope lowered her head. "I was depressed. And to kill of that depression, I got a bunch of boyfriends, joined gangs and took drugs. I was pathetic, wasn't I?" A smile appeared on her face. It was a mocking smile.

"And them, I saw her. The girl who ruined my life." She turned to look at Ashley, her expression contorted. "I wanted revenge. I wanted her to suffer. I wanted her to die an even more painful death.", she spat out venomously.

She neared Ashley, the dress she had worn to the party fluttering in the wind. Ashley backed away, somewhat shocked by Penelope's expression. "I got plastic surgery done and then got myself into her school. I approached her, became friends with her. I lied to her, manipulated her but…now, I'm tired."

"I want to see her die now, Ashley." Penelope took a strand of Ashley's hair between her fingers. Penelope's voice was soft. Ashley used to tell her how much she loved her voice, but right now, it just felt unpleasant.

"Don't you remember me, Ashley?"

Everything Penelope said then registered in Ashley's mind. "I had no idea that-that my mom did that to you.", Ashley whispered, loud enough for Penelope to hear.

"Yes, you did!", she yelled. "You knew! You knew everything!" Tears began to fall from Penelope's eyes. "You ruined my life, Ashley! I hate you! You should just die!"

Penelope reached out to push Ashley. However, the eighteen-year-old ducked with Penelope missing her. Penelope, on the other hand, tripped over a steel pipe and fell off the rooftop. Ashley's eyes widened and she rushed to reach for the female. But it was too late.

"Penny!"