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Chapter 4
Ashley felt the blood drain from her entire body. Her limbs went numb, frozen in place like she had been nailed to the floor. She bit down so hard on her lip that blood flooded her mouth, the metallic taste the
only thing keeping her silent.
She quietly set down the dress in her hands and turned to leave. But the moment she reached the corner, her legs gave out. She doubled over, clutching her chest in agony as tears streamed uncontrollably down
her face.
So this was what it felt like–love carving you hollow from the inside out.
All she wanted now was to get her father’s watch and leave this place for good.
Ashley wept for what felt like forever before she finally pulled herself together and went to the restroom to clean up.
Then she called Ethan.
She was going to get the heirloom back.
“Liar! You disgusting fraud!”
The moment Ashley stepped into the ballroom, a slap landed squarely across her face. She looked up- Lila Bennett’s furious face stared back at her.
“You tried to steal my husband! Were you laughing at me at the clinic that day?” Lila shouted.
“I wasn’t,” Ashley said through gritted teeth, her hand pressed to her burning cheek.
“I didn’t know anything until I saw him. Lila, whatever happened between us–it was a misunderstanding.”
She thought her heart had gone numb. But just recalling her memories with Ethan still made it ache.
“If I hadn’t come to this city and uncovered everything myself, you two would’ve kept this secret forever. Still sneaking around behind my back!” Lila’s eyes flared red, like a child watching her favorite doll get stolen.
Her face darkened, and her tone turned even colder.
“You slept with my husband, and you still have the nerve to show up in front of me? You’re vile. You don’t deserve to keep breathing!”
A chill crept up Ashley’s spine. She instinctively stepped back, but before she could escape, Lila’s people had already surrounded her.
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“Lila, what are you doing?” Ashley’s face went pale.
“I’ve hated people touching what’s mine since I was a kid. Especially my man,” Lila said arrogantly.
“On your knees, Ashley. Right here, where everyone can see you. Slap yourself–hard–and say you’re sorry. Then clean my shoes with that tongue until I can see my face in them.”
She wasn’t singling Ashley out–this was simply how she treated anyone who dared cross her.
Ashley shook her head and dodged the hands reaching for her.
“Lila, you can’t just–this is unreasonable…”
“She can.” Ethan Campbell strolled over at a leisurely pace, sliding his arm around Lila like it was the most
natural thing in the world.
“My baby can do whatever she wants. No one gets to tell her otherwise.”
He gave a slight nod, and the bodyguards stepped in, forcing Ashley to her knees before Lila.
Ashley struggled, looking up at Ethan’s indifferent face from below. Her heart felt like it had been ripped
wide open.
“I did nothing wrong. I won’t apologize. Ethan, I already agreed to walk away-”
Smack.
Lila slapped her again, cutting her off mid–sentence.
“I want you to apologize,” she demanded smugly.
Ashley turned her face to the side but still refused to speak.
Lila, infuriated by Ashley’s stubbornness and pretty face, slapped her again.
Ethan stood by and watched coldly. Only after the third slap did he step in, grabbing Lila’s wrist.
“What? You feel bad for her now?” Lila pouted.
“Your hand’s all swollen. Doesn’t it hurt?” Ethan said gently, blowing softly into her palm.
“You don’t need to deal with this yourself. If you still want to teach her a lesson, let the bodyguards handle
it.”
Lila’s tears instantly turned into a smile. She snuggled into his arms.
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“Then do it. Keep hitting her until she apologizes.”
Ethan smirked slightly and gave the order.
The bodyguard didn’t hold back. Just two blows and blood was already spilling from Ashley’s mouth. But
still, she refused to give in.
Lila stomped in frustration in Ethan’s arms.
Ethan narrowed his eyes and pulled out a worn leather wristwatch from his pocket.
“Still not ready to apologize?” he asked casually, toying with the watch between his fingers.
Ashley’s cheeks burned with pain, tears hitting the floor one after another. She spat out a mouthful of
blood.
“My dad’s watch! Ethan, give it back!”
Ethan stared at her but said nothing.
Her biological father had died early. Her mother had abandoned her and moved abroad when she was just
a child. She was raised by her adoptive father.
The watch was a gift from his first love, something he had worn every day of his life.
Three years ago, when he passed away, he left it to her.
But to pay Ethan’s hospital bills, she had sold it…
When she finally had money again and returned to the pawnshop, the owner told her it had already been
bought.
It had haunted her ever since.
“It’s been with you all this time?” Ashley’s eyes reddened as she asked. Even speaking made her jaw throb
with pain.
Ethan didn’t answer. But his silence said enough.
The light in Ashley’s eyes dimmed completely. The pain spread through her chest, crawling into her lungs-
each breath a fresh wound.
Her strength left her all at once. She collapsed to the floor, unable to even cry.
“I’m sorry, Miss Bennett,” she choked out.
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“I never should’ve saved Ethan two years ago. I never should’ve fallen in love with him. I never should’ve been with him. This is all my fault. I’m sorry… I’m truly sorry…”
Ethan froze, the watch clenched in his hand. His chest suddenly felt tight, uncomfortable.
He wanted to stop her.
But before he could move, Lila snatched the watch from his grip.
“Is that supposed to be an apology? Or are you just bragging?” Lila sneered.
“You want this ugly thing back? In your dreams!”
She flung the watch into a patch of potted cacti.
“No!” Ashley screamed.
She shoved past them around her and plunged into the thorny plants, oblivious to the needles ripping her
skin open.
“Go help her look!” Lila shouted to the crowd. “Whoever finds it first gets five hundred grand! And when
you do–smash it!”
People immediately surged forward.
Ashley had just found the watch when someone shoved her hard from behind. She crashed straight into
the cacti.
Clutching the watch to her chest, she inspected it quickly, then held it tightly against her heart and let out
a sigh of relief.
“She’s got it!”
A group of people lunged at her, tearing at her limbs, piling on top of her.
The cactus needles plunged deep into her skin. Blood seeped hot and fast through her clothes.
Ashley bit down on her lip, refusing to let go. But she couldn’t withstand their frenzy.
One man wrestled the watch from her hands and ran over to Lila, eager to please.
He snapped the strap in half, slammed it to the floor, and crushed it under his heel–again and again–until
the face was nothing but shards.
Ashley’s heart splintered into dust along with it.
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She truly regretted it now.
Regretted ever falling in love with Ethan Campbell.
Chapter 4
