Chapter8
1019 Words
Ashton’s POV
The moment Moana walked out, the room felt different, Quieter and Heavier. I didn’t even get a
chance to think before Nadine moved closer again and pressed another kiss on my cheek.
She didn’t stop. She kissed my jaw, then my cheek again, like she was tasting something she
couldn’t get enough of. It felt endless. I pulled slightly back, but she followed me every time.
“Nadine,
” I said, trying to keep my voice calm.
“I’m busy. I need to finish this.
”
She ignored me and leaned in again. Another kiss.
I moved my chair back.
“Nadine. Go.
”
Not harsh and Not loud. Just firm enough for her to sense I don't want her.
But she still didn’t budge. She leaned over the table instead and looked at the documents like
she suddenly cared about them.
“I can help,
” she said.
“Let’s do it together. It will be faster.
”
I stared at her. She wasn’t helping. She was distracting me. And the longer she stayed, the
more irritated I felt.
“I don’t need help,
” I said.
“I need space.
”
She didn’t take the hint. She kept hovering around, touching things she didn’t understand, acting
like she was part of the work. All I wanted was for her to step out of the office and stop breathing
down my neck.
Then her phone rang.
She checked it, frowned a little, then walked out to pick it. The door closed behind her.
I exhaled in relief. Finally. Peace. I hoped she would leave the house entirely. Maybe go
somewhere far enough so she wouldn’t drag me into something again.
I got back to the documents, ready to clear my head, but it barely lasted five minutes.
The door opened.
Nadine walked back in like she never left.
“Ashton, get dressed,
” she said immediately.
“My friends want to meet you. They are already
waiting for us.
”
I stared at her.
“No. I’m not going anywhere.
”
“You can finish it later,
” she said.
“Come on. They have been asking about you.
”
“I said no,
” I repeated.
“I’m not going.
”
But she wouldn’t let it go. She stood there, blocking my space like she owned the room.
“Ashton, please. Just come with me. They will be excited to meet you.
”
“No.
”
She kept pushing, talking nonstop, begging, insisting. I resisted, kept my tone steady, but every
second made it harder to stay patient.
I was about to refuse completely when the one person I didn’t want walking in showed up, my
father.
He stepped into the office just as Nadine turned to him.
“Sir,
” she said quickly,
“I was telling Ashton about the outing today. My friends want to meet him.
He said he doesn’t want to go.
”
My father looked at me. His expression barely changed, but I already knew what he would say.
“Go with her,
” he said.
“Don’t make it a problem.
”
That was it. No explanation. No choice. Just an order.
I couldn’t refuse him. Not here. Not with Nadine watching like she had won something.
“Yes, sir,
” I said quietly.
He left. Nadine smiled like the whole thing was planned.
“So,
” she said,
“go dress up. They are waiting.
”
I didn’t answer. I just stood, walked past her, and left the study. I didn’t want her touch. I didn’t
want her voice in my ear anymore. I just wanted to get this over with.
I went to my room, changed into something decent, and headed downstairs.
Halfway down the staircase, I saw movement from the corner of my eye.
Moana.
She was coming down with her mother beside her. I almost kept walking, but then she lifted her
head slightly and our eyes met for a second.
I froze inside.
Her eyes were red.
Not swollen enough for everyone to notice, but enough for me to recognize immediately. I knew
what that looked like. I knew the difference between tired eyes and someone who had cried
recently.
Moana had cried.
And the moment I realized that, something hit me in the chest, sharp and immediate. I didn’t
even know what part of me reacted first. My throat tightened, my stomach dropped, my mind
went blank for half a second.
I didn’t break eye contact.
I couldn’t.
She looked away first.
And that small movement was enough to tell me everything I needed to know.
She was hurt.
And I hated that I know what it was.
Moana looked away first.
I walked down the last few steps and stopped in front of them.
“Where are you going?” I asked her mother.
She smiled politely.
“I’m visiting an old friend. And Moana insisted in coming with me.
”
I nodded slowly and looked at Moana again. She didn’t hold my gaze this time either. She
turned her face away like she didn’t want me to read anything from her eyes.
“I will take you,
” I said.
Her mother shook her head immediately.
“No. We are going without guards. I don’t want anyone
linking us to Volkavo. If any enemy sees us together, they will try to use us as leverage which I
won't want that to happened. It’s safer if we move like normal people.
”
“I will still take you,
” I said again, firmer this time.
“It is not safe for you two to be out alone.
”
Moana finally spoke.
“We are fine. We don’t need an escort.
”
I looked at her. She didn’t look back.
Nadine stepped forward, acting like she had been part of the conversation from the start.
“I think
her mother is right. They should go on their own.
”
I didn’t even look at her. I ignored her voice completely.
My eyes stayed on Moana.
And she still refused to look at me.
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