Chapter 51: In Love and War

Ashley's POV

Had I known this was how my day would turn out, I would have never left the house. I would have stayed home and told him the truth then, maybe we would have had the chance to talk this out instead.

I was dreaming, that is what I told myself to try and make sense of this whole thing. There was no way this was happening. Soon, Katy would start jumping on my bed and I'd wake up and find that it was all but a dream to teach me never to lie. But this was too real.

If he knew this all along, why wouldn't he just talk to me about it? Why do this? And here?

Right now, Ihad two options. I could either stand here and cry, further embarrassing myself or confront him about it. Now wasn't the time for me to cry or act emotionally.

I hadn't realized I had been frozen on the spot. Tristan was already near the exit.

I hurried off the stage and walked towards Tristan. Everyone seemed to create a clear path for me as they continued to murmur.Choosing not to look anywhere else, I walked straight ahead.

Tristan was more in a rush to leavehere but I caught up with him halfway down the corridor.

I grabbed his arm, spinning him around to face me with all the strength I had.

He was taken aback. His face was filled with confusion at first, which quickly turned into anger.

I think at this point I was equally angry as he was. I know what I did was terrible, but this was far too low. I just hope Mom doesn't die from a heart attack after all this.

"Why did you do this?" I managed to ask. I looked into his cold stare. My voice must have squeaked but I managed to get a sentence out.

His anger worsened, his cheeks turning into a brighter shade. "Let go of me," he demanded, his voice forceful. If it was possible, I would have grabbed his arm even tighter. I had avoided this conversation for a long time, but it was about time it happened.

Some of the guests had left the hall and were now watching Tristan and me as the murmurs continued. But I didn't care. I needed an explanation from him, and I was going to get it. Maybe he'd finally hear mine too.

Tristan pulled his arm away from mine forcibly. I thought he'd walk away but he didn't. Instead, he grabbed a hold of mine and pulled me away towards a door that I hadn't noticed had been there earlier. It blended in perfectly with the wallpaper.

We stepped into the room. It looked like a study, with a desk and bookshelves. I didn't bother taking in the rest of the room.

He let go of my arm as I stood behind the door.

He leaned forward to push the door close, closing the gap between us. It left almost no space between us, leaving me trapped between the door and his arm.

We were close, well too close. I could feel his heart beating just as fast.

I needed to accept and get it through to my head that there was no chance of us ever being together. Especially after all this. If I was going to think straight, I couldn't have him this near.

With all the strength I managed to master, I pushed him back causing him to stumble.

"Why did you do this?" I repeated, this time more forcefully. I understood how he must have felt but that was just pretty low for anyone to do.

He took a moment to balance himself, then walked away towards the open window. It was as if he couldn't stand to be around me. I took some steps closer, just so I wouldn't have to shout. I could tell his anger had resurfaced, but he somehow appeared calm. "You really have a lot of nerves considering what you've done. You are only angry because I played by your rules, stabbing people in the back." He retorted.

"This was far too low. You didn't have to do this, we could have talked about this." I answered.

"And you had to do what you did?" he asked sarcastically. "You chose to do what you did yet when I do the same thing, I'm the bad guy. I guess I made my choice too." He answered.

He was angry, with every right to be. He was right. I started this whole thing and maybe it was my job to end it. Considering this was probably the last time I would ever speak to him, maybe I'd finally have the courage to tell him what I could not before.

I let out a deep breath hoping it would calm me down. It wasn't helpful having two angry people in a room. We just might kill each other. "I know I shouldn't have done what I did and things got a little too far but I never meant for any of this to hurt you," I said.

"Got a little too far?" He answered sarcastically. "How do you think I felt when I heard you and my mother talk about how they both planned this whole? Both of you are seriously demented and sick." He answered.

Was that how he found out? I tried to thank back on the day. The only time that I could think of was possibly the day Tristan and his parents came over for dinner. Other times we were far too careful. Layla and I were speaking in my backyard, not loudly but with enough effort, I'm sure he could have heard. Anyone could have easily walked in that day without Layla or me realizing it. It's no wonder he looked upset later that day. He overheard Layla and I talking.

That meant that all of those days, he pretended not to know anything. That explains why Waylen was there that day and was so comfortable. Worst of all, it meant the baby room he prepared was never because he was excited for the baby, but because he wanted to torment me.

"I thought you had a conscience, that underneath that calculated person there was someone with a heart. But, when I said I never read that letter, you probably thought, 'Just great, now we can continue fooling him again'. It was probably a slip-up you made, and you never intended to be honest. I guess you decided that you weren't bored of playing your little game after all." He snarled.

"I didn't mean for things to end up this way, I wanted to tell you. If you already knew, what else did you expect from me?" I answered, my voice low and in a whisper.

"That you'd at least have an ounce of decency to say it to my face. That's the least you could have done right?" He answered. "I realized something. It's not that you are just a coward, but you would happily continue lying to my face." He paused. "I don't even know if anything about you was ever real, every moment we spent together. I now realize that it was all just a part of your act." He added.

I didn't know if his words hurt because they were coming from him or if it was that there was a small chance that what he said about me may have been true.

I shook my head. The tears somehow found their way back to my eyes.

It hurt me more knowing that this was what he thought of me. By then, all I could manage to do was to stare at my feet on the ground. He was right, I was a coward, and I shouldn't have done this. If I could turn back time, I would never have agreed to Layla's plan and I would not have allowed Waylen to manipulate me. He had to know I didn't mean for any of this.

"I just did the world a favour and exposed a poisonous snake like you. Now everyone will know just exactly who you are. You deserve everything that is coming your way." He continued.

"Tristan!" I heard someone yell behind me.

With a blared vision, I looked up to see Vincent who had somehow entered the room, I hadn't even realized.

Tristan turned to look at me disgusted before matching out of the room.

Vincent's face softened, as he looked at me concerned. "Are you okay?" he asked.

I don't think I was ever going to be okay. "I'm fine," I answered trying to assure him.

He nodded. I could tell he didn't believe it either, but I don't think anyone would ever be okay after all this. He then walked out of the room, trailing behind Tristan.

I was left alone. It felt much more awful being left with my thoughts than listening to Tristan. Maybe he was right, I deserve all this. I couldn't help but wonder what else he'd be willing to do.

Just when I thought I was free to drown myself in my pathetic tears, I heard some footsteps approaching.

I would have expected and preferred anyone else than Maddison who walked into the room.

I should have known she'd be here too since Tristan's grandfather was here earlier. I wouldn't doubt if he was in on it too just so he could see me miserable considering he failed the last time.

She stared at me with cat-like eyes, crossing her arms. A smile slowly appearedon her face. "Who would have thought that miss self-righteous and pathetic would turn out to be more pathetic after all?" She chuckled.

I tried to control myself.

I've already lost a lot of my dignity today. I couldn't have another video going around of me slamming Maddison's head against the table.

I needed to avoid her. Hopefully, she'd leave soon or I'd gather the courage to leave this place after facing everyone.

Despite me turning away and showing just how uninterested I was. Maddison decided that she wasn't done talking. "I'm glad that Tristan put you in your place today. That way you and all the other street rats will learn to stay in your lane the next time." She snarled.

I heard a loud clap that nearly rattled me. I turned around to see Maddison's face which had gone pale then flashed into a bright red. My mother's hand had just landed on her left cheek, and I'd never seen Maddison look this afraid.

"Don't you ever speak to my daughter like that again?" Mom yelled, pointing a finger in Maddison's face.

Maddison stepped back as she held her hand on her cheek. She looked like she was still processing that she had just been slapped. "You low-class savages! How dare you hit me?"Madison yelled.

"I will slap you again if I hear another word from you." Mom threatened.

All it took was a stare from Mom to send Maddison out of the room. Her face looked like it would soon swell.

With Maddison gone, I braced myself. I'd be ready for whatever lecture she was about to give me and tell me how disappointed she was.

I hadn't even realized I had sunk to the ground as I sat in a corner.

"Ashley, you have to get up now."

"I can't," I answered.

"You have to," she insisted. "This is going to be hard and it's going to take all of your strength, but you are going to be just fine." She assured me.

I hope she was right.

***

Tristan's POV

I rushed out of the building and went straight to my car. I couldn't stand to be around here anymore.

This place was far too small to contain Ashley and me. Despite seeing Vincent right behind me, I walked even faster and hopped into my car. I knew exactly what he would say with that judgemental look he had.

I don't know why I felt this way. I thought I'd feel much better after this, that I'd feel liberated, and be able to smile again. Instead, I felt sick to my stomach. I tried to assure myself that this feeling would soon pass.

I drove to my country house right outside town. It was the only place I'd be able to be alone for a while and that's what I needed. It took me nearly two hours to arrive.

The house was silent as expected. The house staff only came here twice a week so most of the time it was empty. I hadn't been here in a while, mostly because I'm out of the city most of the time and it's not convenient for me to travel all the way here from work.

I took my jacket off, placing it on the floor. I tried blocking away all the flashbacks of the party, trying to forget everything that had happened. I still couldn't understand why I felt this way.

If there is one thing I hate the most, it had to be betrayal. I couldn't help but think of some old memories from years back. Someone I had once trusted,I would have nearly placed my life on the line for her.

You would think that I would have learnt not to be too trusting.

I looked at my phone to see several texts and calls from my parents.

I at least hoped they would leave me alone. I blocked both of their numbers.

I'm sure that my father was in on it too. Throughout my whole life he has done nothing but enable my mother.

As much as I hate Ashley right now, I hate her more for bringing this side out of me.

At first, I didn't want things to end this way.

After Ashley's accident, my mother continued to play her cards and use them as a chance to claim that the baby was dead. She didn't care that I might have suffered, she was just desperate to get what she wanted.

Overhearing my mother and Ashley talk about their plan was shocking. I thought it must have been some kind of joke, or perhaps a prank. Having the doctor my mother paid off confess everything was world shuttering and the wakeup call I needed. I couldn't believe it.

Despite all that, I decided to stay away. I thought it would just be easier if I kept my distance. But, it only draw me closer and made me more obsessed. I'm stupid, aren't I? I keep going back right back where I get burnt.

That's when I realized something. She had no right to play with my life or anyone else's like that. I wasn't ever going to allow her to use me again or anyone else for that matter. She needed to be exposed. It wasn't fair that she destroyed my life while she continued with her life as normal.

It was my fault for trusting people so blindly. Thinking back on it, the signs were clear. I was far too lost in a fantasy to accept reality.

The worst is that it wasn't her betrayal that hurt me so much but having to realize that I was going to have to learn to live without her.

If I could survive without a heart, I would rip it out of my chest just so I could stop loving her.

I still couldn't help but think that I might have gone too far. I humiliated her in the worst and most public way possible.

I needed to forget about her. Soon she'll be nothing but a closed chapter in my life. I needed to do something else to distract myself.

I was relieved to hear my phone ring. It was a call from Luke.

It was great. Hopefully, he had something urgent at work that needed my attention. It would keep me distracted for a while. I've never felt happier about working.

"Hello," I answered the call.

"The Robbins contract is ready and waiting for you to sign. Should I have someone send it to you?" He offered.

"I'll be at the office tomorrow," I answered lowly.

"And sir, about the investigation." He paused.

"Oh yes," I answered recalling. I had asked Luke to hire a private detective to investigate Ashley's accident. This was after I realized the police weren't doing much to investigate. It's ridiculous to think about how one police department could be this incompetent. She could have died. So far, the detective had found footage of the car, it was only a matter before we caught the culprit.

I tried to convince myself I wasn't doing it for her, but to get one less psychopath off the streets.

"They found the guy," Luke paused again. "He was found badly beaten, he is in critical condition." He explained.

I took a long sigh. If that guy dies, we may never know why he did it or if someone else was behind it. But who would want to kill Ashley? Maybe she pissed off an old boyfriend.

"Let me know if there's anything else I need to know," I replied. "Can you do me another favour?" I paused. "I did something stupid. I'm going to need you to have a lot of pictures and videos deleted," I asked. I proceeded to explain the rest in detail. I wouldn't have any of those pictures and videos spread around that the guests took, I didn't care what he had to do to ensure that. My conscience wouldn't let me live.

I was never going to have the photographers publish any of those photos. I just wanted her to feel the pain I did. But the damage I caused was far deeper than that. I wouldn't have any of the photos or videos the guests took out there either.

"I'm on it," Luke answered before I hung up the phone.

This wasn't me being a pushover, I was just choosing to be better.

My phone beeped in my hand as I received a text from my grandfather.

'I'm so proud of you, you finally proved to be the man I always thought you were' His message read. I've never felt more disgusted after hearing someone say they were proud of me before.

I was more convinced that I might have made the worst mistake of my life.

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A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I'm sorry I've been away for a while. I had exams but I didn't have the chance to write without risking my grades. But with that over, I'll be able to update a lot more.