Second Love Story

Chapter 6: Starting Anew…?

The early morning sunlight filtered through the heavy curtains of Ash Cooper’s room, casting a golden hue across the room. He lay there for a moment, staring up at the ceiling, processing the previous night’s conversation with Violet. ‘Starting over…’ the words played in his mind, echoing like a distant melody. It felt surreal, almost too good to be true, and yet, as he pushed the covers off and sat up, he felt something light inside him, something hopeful.

Still, as he freshened up, put on his jogging shorts, and headed out for his morning run, his usual demeanor remained intact. His expression, stoic and composed as ever, revealed none of the emotions swirling beneath the surface. His face was bright with a hint of happiness in his smile, yet his voice remained flat as he greeted the staff he passed on his way out of the mansion.

To anyone watching, Ash seemed like his usual, detached self. But for the estate employees who witnessed his growth, it was as clear as the day. They can feel his happiness and his cheerful attitude. Thomas and a few others could guess the reason for his sudden change.

Thomas approached him as he was just about to start jogging, “Your smile’s radiance is as bright as the early morning sun, sir.” as a way of greeting Ash with a good morning.

Realizing that he was smiling, Ash was conscious of his attitude and tugged at the corners of his lips.

As he jogged along the familiar path through the estate’s gardens, his mind wandered back to Violet. Last night had felt like a step forward, a way to start fresh, even if it was just as friends. It was the first real conversation they’d had ever since their separation, and although they had avoided discussing their past in detail, it was a start. For the first time in years, he allowed himself to feel optimistic.

His thoughts were interrupted by the buzzing of his phone in the armband. Slowing down to a walk, Ash pulled out the device to see Gray Laurance’s name flashing on the screen.

"Hey, man," Ash greeted, still slightly breathless from the run. "What’s up?"

Gray’s voice boomed through his earphones, loud and teasing. "Ash! Long time no chat! Who’ve you been hiding away with these days?"

Gray Laurance, the CEO of Pharmzine—a prominent company known for its high-quality medicines and hospital services—was one of Ash’s closest friends. Their friendship went back years, and despite their high-profile positions, their bond remained rooted in simplicity.

Ash and Gray had always been connected by more than just friendship. Their mothers were once best friends, so close that they jokingly planned to betroth their children if one had been born a girl. But fate had other plans, and both were born as straight boys. Despite this, the bond between Ash and Gray mirrored the closeness of family. Much like Violet’s relationship with her cousin Cynthia, Ash and Gray confided in each other deeply, sharing their struggles and triumphs.

Although Gray had to go abroad for his studies and couldn’t attend the same college as Ash, he made sure to visit often. Whenever he was in town, he would catch up with Ash, Violet, Cynthia, and a couple of other close friends, maintaining the strong connection they had built over the years.

Ash chuckled, responding to Gray, "Not anyone new," he replied cryptically, his tone cheerful despite the effort of the run.

There was a moment of stunned silence at the other end of the line. Gray, who was pulling his suitcase off the baggage carousel at the airport, froze in shock. Ash wasn’t exactly known for entertaining any form of relationship talk, least of all something that sounded personal.

Gray dropped his suitcase handle as it thudded onto the ground. "Are you telling me you’re actually with someone right now!? Like, really!?"

Ash, oblivious to Gray’s shock, jogged forward again, smiling to himself. "Not exactly what you’re thinking, though," he said, dodging the real answer. His mind drifted back to Violet, and though he knew Gray’s questions were aimed at teasing, the truth was far more complicated.

Gray’s curiosity skyrocketed. Ash had never talked about his love life after his breakup with Violet. "Man, I need details! Get the narration going—c’mon, spill!"

But Ash just laughed it off. "Maybe another time. What about you? Where are you off to now?"

"Nah, forget about me," Gray said, shaking his head. "I just landed, coming back from a quick meeting in Europe. But listen, let’s hit up the arcade tonight. I’ll invite the others too. What do you say?"

The parties that Ash goes to, unlike the extravagant affairs one might expect from the elite, are always low-key and almost childlike in their simplicity. He prefers gathering with a small group of friends from school and college—bright minds, nerds, and heirs like himself—who share little interest in alcohol or drugs. For them, it is about connection rather than indulgence, a refreshing break from their demanding professional lives.

Ash hesitated. Normally, an invitation like that would’ve been an instant ‘yes,’ but something in him didn’t feel right about going out. After last night’s conversation with Violet, he didn’t want to distance himself from her again, not when they were finally starting to rebuild something. He knew how fragile their relationship still was, and he wasn’t willing to risk it.

"Actually," Ash said, his tone softening, "I think I’ll pass this time."

Gray, clearly shocked by the refusal, paused. "Whoa, whoa—did you just say no to a night out? Who are you, and what have you done with Ash Cooper?"

Ash grinned. "Yeah, well, some things are more important."

"More important than a night out? Now I really need to know what’s going on," Gray teased, but he could tell Ash wasn’t in the mood to explain. "Alright, man. I’ll catch you next time. But I’m not letting this slide—I’ll get the truth out of you eventually!"

Ash chuckled. "Yeah? Look forward to it then… Later, Gray."

With that, he ended the call and slipped his phone back into his pocket. As he resumed his run, his thoughts drifted back to Violet once more. Starting over as friends was the best step for now. But deep down, Ash knew things weren’t going to be simple. Not with their current situation and not with the way his heart still beat a little faster whenever he thought of her.

---

Back at the mansion, Violet was up as well, unable to sleep after their conversation the night before. She stood in front of the mirror in her room, staring at her reflection, her thoughts spinning. ‘Starting over… Could it really work? Could we just be friends?’

She shook her head, frustrated with herself. The truth was, her heart had never forgotten Ash. The moment she saw him again, all the feelings she had buried came rushing back, and no matter how hard she tried to suppress them, they lingered beneath the surface.

She couldn’t keep herself calm, so she decided to start going to the gym.

As she finished tying her shoelaces, she grabbed her duffel bag, ready to head out for the gym. The thought of getting out of the mansion, away from the memories and the confusion, felt like a relief. She needed to clear her head.

Just as she descended the stairs, the duffel bag slung over her shoulder, she overheard Ash talking to Iva at the breakfast table. She paused, watching from the shadows as Ash—surprisingly cheerful—offered to join Iva at her office the following day. It was odd seeing him like this, so... open.

"How about we go with dark gray for the outfits?" Ash suggested, his voice warm, though his face remained expressionless as always.

Iva laughed, clearly delighted. "That sounds perfect, Ash!"

Violet furrowed her brow. She wasn’t used to seeing Ash like this—so comfortable, so at ease with Iva. She had seen this side of him in the past. And the fact that it was happening now, after their talk the previous night, left her feeling both enraged and... drawn to him.

As she stepped forward into the room, Iva spotted her. "Violet, darling, you’re heading to the gym already?"

Violet forced a smile, though the tension in her body was undeniable, yet her mask was intact. "Yeah, I need to start practicing someday...."

"Alright, sweety," Iva said. "Oh, how about Ash giving you a ride? You’re both heading in the same direction, after all." She glanced over at Ash, her tone bright and cheerful.

Ash nodded in agreement before Violet could protest. Her eyes widened in surprise, "Sure, I could use that..."

Ben, who had been quietly eating his breakfast, looked up in shock, clearly as surprised as everyone by Ash’s willingness to participate. He hadn’t seen Ash this involved in years.

---

The car ride to the gym was quiet. Violet sat in the passenger seat, her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes focused out the window. Ash drove, his expression blank, but his mind was anything but calm. He could feel the tension between them, thick and suffocating, and he didn’t know how to break it.

As they neared the city, Violet finally broke the silence, her voice cold. "You didn’t have to pretend back there, playing nice and all."

Ash tightened his grip on the steering wheel, and he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

Violet scoffed as she continued. "The cheerful, friendly words don’t match that face of yours."

Ash’s chest tightened. He wasn’t used to hearing Violet talk like this—so distant, so cynical. "I was just trying to keep the peace," he admitted.

Violet didn’t respond, her mind drifting back to their time together, how different things had been then. Her heart and body remembered how safe and loved she had once felt with Ash. But now, all those memories were clouded by the pain of their breakup and the coldness that had grown between them.

By the time they reached the gym, the weight of their unspoken history hung heavily in the air. As soon as the car stopped, Violet grabbed her bag and got out without so much as a goodbye, slamming the door behind her.

Ash watched her disappear into the gym, his heart heavy with confusion and regret. He didn’t understand how things had gone so wrong between them. On his way to Eunison, Ash’s thoughts were running mad, and he wanted to get close to what was wrong with them. He felt like he could use some advice.

He went straight to his cabin and hung his coat on the hanger stand. He pulled out his phone and dialed Gray. "Hey, man," Ash said as Gray picked up.

"Whoa, you’re calling me first? What’s going on?" Gray asked, his voice teasing but concerned.

Ash sighed, rubbing his face. "Nothing, really. Just... everything."

Gray chuckled. "That bad, huh? Let’s hit up the arcade tonight, man. You need a break."

Ash hesitated a bit, thinking back to Violet. Despite her coldness, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was shifting between them. But given Gray’s reputation as the ladies' man, he accepted the invite, "Yeah, I think so too."

Gray replied. "Now we’re talking! Pick me up by the hospital at 6."

"What happened?" Ash was surprised, knowing Gray doesn't usually ask to be picked up.

Gray scoffed, “Huh!? What happened!? A certain someone shook the hell outta me this morning when I was pulling out my luggage, and I twisted my wrist. That's what happened!!!”

Sensing that he was that certain ‘someone,’ Ash abruptly hung up and started with his work.

---

Meanwhile, back at the countryside farmhouse, Clara Cooper was busy preparing for renovations. The old ancestral home was in desperate need of repair, and Clara had spent the past few days sorting through boxes and furniture that had been untouched for decades.

As she shifted the old things out, she found a room left unopened. She opened the door and was surprised to find out it was not in very bad shape. There were a lot of modern suitcases and a closet. Among all, something caught her eye—a dusty old trunk hidden in the corner of the room. The lock was old, rusted, and clearly hadn’t been opened in years.

Curiosity piqued, Clara scanned through the room and found out that those belonged to Marie. She had been using just this room for a long time.

“If she was using it, couldn’t she bother to at least assign someone to clean up the place!? What a jerk…” Clara cussed out her late sister in a melancholic voice.

She approached the trunk, knelt down, and examined it more closely. The initials engraved on the top made it clear that it was one of Marie’s belongings, but she had never seen it before.

With a furrowed brow, Clara ran her fingers over the worn surface of the trunk. "What were you hiding, Marie?" she whispered to herself, knowing full well that whatever lay inside had been locked away for a reason.

But the key was missing, and the lock was old. It would take some time to figure out how to open it. Yet as she stood up and brushed the dust off her hands, Clara couldn’t shake the feeling that this trunk held something important—something that might finally bring her closer to understanding the past.

As she stared down at the locked trunk, her mind wandered back to Ash. She needed to talk to him soon. But for now, she’d focus on the secrets hidden within Marie’s old things, knowing that whatever they revealed could change a lot.