The last Ashford

PROLOGUE I always felt like an unwanted child. Well… I am. I was never enough, even for the one I loved. My life was so saddening. Until… I found out that the life I was living was the best one yet. It’s so funny how I would’ve chosen that life over this one a million times. The lies, the secrets, the deception—these were the things I would rather have lived without knowing. But since it couldn’t go that way, I just have to learn to survive in this new world, filled with monsters and predators. CHAPTER ONE– The first step Sayrah’s pov It was a rainy night. I stood by my bedroom window, watching the rain fall heavily outside. It had always been a nice, calming sight for me, even though I was scared of the dark. Listening to the raindrops was one of the beautiful gifts nature gave us. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t notice someone entering my room. “Boo!” said Lily. I jumped, nearly knocking onto the window. Lily burst out laughing. “Oh my gosh, that scared the heck out of me! It’s not funny, Lily,” I rubbed my chest, still trying to calm my racing heart. “You know you are impossible, right.” I couldn't stay mad at her for long. That's just lily. Lily was my younger sister. She had always been the prettier one. Or so I believed. Her light brown hair fell around her heart-shaped face structure with a softly defined jawline, a fair complexion with a light, natural dusting of freckles across her nose and upper cheeks, a small, straight, and subtly upturned nose, naturally full lips with a well-defined Cupid’s bow, and gently arched, well-groomed eyebrows that match her long, light brown hair. I had been adopted, so the Hayes name was the only family I'd ever known. I know nothing about my birth parents, but never actually found the need to search for them. I love my adopted parents and my sister, even though they could be a little overbearing, but they were still my family, and that is all that mattered to me. “Hey, what are you thinking about?” Lily asked, pulling me from my thoughts. “Nothing, just trying to listen to the rain.” “Okay, that’s weird,” Lily said. Lily scrunched up her nose. “Come over to the bed, I have a lot to tell you.” She grabbed my arm and tugged me towards the bed. “Fine, what is it?” “It’s about Noah,” and immediately I heard that name, my attention sharpened. “What? What is it?” I asked, suddenly eager to hear what she had to say. “Then you have to promise me one thing if I tell you.” “What is that?” “Do you promise to give whatever I ask for?” “Tell me, and if I’m able to do it, then it’s a deal.” “Alright, I want you to make me bagels with cream cheese for breakfast tomorrow. It’s my favorite,” she nodded enthusiastically. “Okay, fine,” I rolled my eyes. “Yes!” she exclaimed so happily, making me smile. “So, what is it? Tell me.” “Actually…” she paused, fighting a grin. “I have nothing to tell you. I just wanted to make sure you’d make my bagels tomorrow.” “Oh no, you didn’t just trick me." I immediately got up and went after her, but she was faster, and we started circling the bed in my effort to catch her and teach her a lesson. We were still laughing when a knock sounded against the door. “Miss Sayrah,” Nana called out. We both stopped dead in our tracks. She let herself in and said, “That’s enough for tonight. Go to bed now, both of you.” Nana Ellie has been our nanny for as long as I can remember. Though she had grown a little bit old, she still had that authoritative yet soft nature. Her dark hair, threaded with silver, was always pulled into a neat bun, and her bold purple-rimmed glasses sat firmly on her nose. I’m sure she would look so pretty when she was younger. “Come on, to bed now, young ladies,” she said, her hand resting on her apron tied to her waist on top of her dark blue peplum dress and her neat black shoes. Lily was still giggling like a little kid, and Nana followed right behind her. “Don’t forget you promised,” was the last thing I heard before Nana shut the door. I laid down on my queen-sized bed, ready to go to sleep, but I started to think of Noah Carter, my crush—or should I say my love interest—ever since I laid my eyes on him, and that was when I was 15. Now I’m 20, but I still love him as much as I did then, probably even more now. . And yes, he doesn’t know find the courage to tell him.yet, but soon I will tell him how I truly feel. I smiled, feeling all warm and cozy just thinking about him, but suddenly I remembered that tomorrow is Monday and is going to be my first day as an intern at Moretti Global. “Well, let’s see where that takes us,” I said to myself quietly before drifting to sleep.