The Ashford Name
1481 Words
Xavier’s POV
The message remained on Xavier’s screen long after the phone stopped vibrating.
COME HOME. TONIGHT.
His father’s words had never needed explanation.
When Alexander Ashford summoned someone, they came.
No excuses.
No delays.
No questions.
But the second message was different.
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE GIRL.
Xavier’s fingers tightened around the phone.
The cold evening air suddenly felt warmer.
“Xavier?”
Damien’s voice came from beside him.
Xavier locked his phone.
“Go back to the dormitory.”
Damien stared at him.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“I didn’t ask you a question.”
Damien studied his face.
Something had changed.
Xavier could feel it too.
The moment he had looked into Nora Bennett’s eyes, the carefully controlled world he had built around himself had developed its first c***k.
And now his father knew.
“You’re going home?” Damien asked.
“Yes.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Xavier turned toward him.
“Do you always ask this many questions?”
“Only when my best friend suddenly looks like he’s about to commit murder.”
Xavier’s expression remained cold.
“Then stop asking.”
Damien’s jaw tightened.
“Fine.”
He took a step back.
Then stopped.
“Xavier.”
“What?”
“Whatever this is…”
His voice became quieter.
“Don’t do anything stupid.”
Xavier looked at him.
For the first time that evening, something almost like amusement crossed his face.
“I don’t do stupid things.”
Damien gave him a long look.
“That’s exactly what someone about to do something stupid would say.”
Xavier ignored him and walked away.
But with every step toward the main entrance, one thought remained fixed in his mind.
The girl.
What did his father know?
And more importantly…
How?
…
Nora’s POV
Nora barely spoke as she and Ava walked back toward Silver Hall.
Her mind was still in the garden.
She could still feel it.
That strange pressure in her chest.
The moment her eyes had met Xavier’s.
It had felt as though something inside her had recognized him.
Which was impossible.
She had never seen him before today.
At least…
She didn’t think she had.
“Nora.”
She blinked.
Ava was staring at her.
“Yes?”
“You’ve been quiet for five minutes.”
“Have I?”
“Yes.”
“You usually talk every thirty seconds.”
Nora frowned.
“I do not.”
Ava raised an eyebrow.
“You do.”
“I don’t.”
“You absolutely do.”
Nora rolled her eyes.
“You’re very annoying.”
“And yet you like me.”
“Unfortunately.”
Ava grinned.
“There she is.”
They continued walking.
Nora tried to push the strange encounter out of her mind.
She failed.
It wasn’t Xavier himself that bothered her.
It was the way her body had reacted to him.
The way her heart had suddenly begun racing.
The way her chest had tightened.
The way she had felt an inexplicable pull toward him.
Nora had never experienced anything like it.
And she didn’t like things she couldn’t explain.
“Can I ask you something?” she said.
Ava immediately groaned.
“That depends.”
“Why does everyone fear Xavier?”
Ava’s steps slowed.
“Why are you asking?”
“Because everyone reacts to him like he’s some kind of king.”
“He practically is.”
“He’s a student.”
“He’s Xavier Ashford.”
Nora stopped walking.
“That doesn’t explain anything.”
Ava sighed.
“Okay.”
She looked around the quiet pathway before lowering her voice.
“The Ashfords have been connected to this academy for generations.”
“His family built half the buildings here.”
“They fund most of the school’s private programs.”
“His father is on the Board of Trustees.”
“His grandfather was the Headmaster.”
“And Xavier?”
“Xavier has been raised to inherit everything.”
Nora frowned.
“Everything?”
“The family business.”
“The money.”
“The name.”
“The responsibility.”
Ava looked toward Founder Hall.
“He isn’t just rich, Nora.”
“He’s the heir.”
“Everyone here knows that.”
Nora thought about Xavier’s expression.
His cold eyes.
His calm voice.
The way people automatically moved aside for him.
“So people are afraid of his family.”
“Partly.”
“What does that mean?”
Ava hesitated.
Then she shrugged.
“Xavier has always been different.”
Nora waited.
Ava sighed.
“He’s been at Ashford Elite since he was fourteen.”
“Even then, people stayed away from him.”
“Why?”
“No one knows.”
“That’s not helpful.”
“I know.”
Ava looked uncomfortable.
“Some people say he got expelled from his previous school.”
“Others say he was sent here because of family problems.”
“Some say…”
She stopped.
Nora tilted her head.
“Some say what?”
Ava lowered her voice.
“That the Ashford family is dangerous.”
Nora stared at her.
“How?”
Ava immediately shook her head.
“Forget I said that.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s probably just a rumor.”
“But you believe it.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
Ava began walking again.
“Nora, trust me.”
“Some things at this school are better left alone.”
Nora looked toward the darkened windows of the academy.
She had heard that sentence twice today.
First from Mrs. Collins.
Now from Ava.
And both times, people had looked afraid.
The academy was hiding something.
Nora was certain of it.
The only question was whether she wanted to find out what.
…
The Ashford estate stood beyond the city limits.
It was enormous.
A private road stretched through acres of land, surrounded by tall trees and high iron gates.
The gates opened before Xavier’s car reached them.
He drove through without slowing.
The estate appeared ahead through the darkness.
Massive.
Elegant.
Cold.
Unlike the academy, which had been built to impress people, the Ashford residence felt as though it had been built to keep people out.
Xavier parked beneath the covered entrance.
Before he could reach the door, it opened.
A man in a black suit stood waiting.
“Your father is in the study.”
Xavier removed his jacket.
“How long has he been waiting?”
“Since seven.”
Xavier glanced at his watch.
It was almost nine.
The man’s expression didn’t change.
“He isn’t pleased.”
“That makes two of us.”
He walked into the house.
The study was at the end of the western corridor.
Xavier knocked once.
“Come in.”
His father’s voice was deep.
Controlled.
Xavier opened the door.
Alexander Ashford stood beside the large windows overlooking the estate.
He was a tall man with dark hair beginning to grey at the temples.
His face was sharp.
His eyes were even sharper.
He didn’t turn when Xavier entered.
“You took your time.”
“I was at school.”
“You were summoned two hours ago.”
“I had responsibilities.”
Alexander finally turned.
His gaze moved over his son.
Then stopped.
“What happened?”
Xavier said nothing.
Alexander’s eyes narrowed.
“You felt it.”
It wasn’t a question.
Xavier’s entire body went still.
The room suddenly felt too quiet.
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I asked you a question.”
Alexander walked toward the desk.
“Your mother felt it.”
Xavier’s jaw tightened.
“Felt what?”
“The bond.”
The word seemed to echo through the room.
Xavier didn’t move.
He didn’t breathe.
For years, his family had warned him about this.
The fated bond.
The ancient connection.
The one thing no Ashford could escape forever.
Alexander placed both hands on the desk.
“Tell me her name.”
Xavier’s eyes darkened.
“Why?”
“Because I need to know who she is.”
“Why?”
His father stared at him.
Then said quietly,
“Because the last time an Ashford found his mate at Ashford Elite Academy…”
He paused.
“Someone died.”
Xavier’s blood ran cold.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
“What?”
Alexander looked toward the dark forest beyond the windows.
“Her name was Eleanor Bennett.”
Xavier’s breath stopped.
Alexander turned back to him.
“And if the girl you found tonight is related to her…”
He paused.
“Then Nora Bennett may be in more danger than you realize.”
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