Chapter 216 Big Trouble
Why?
Damian was torn between love and hate, losing control as emotions took over. But he'd never expose his vulnerabilities or admit it to anyone.
He just stared at her, determined never to let Ashley go again.
Damian said, "Whether you hate or love, you're stuck with me."
Did she want to love someone else? No way!
Ashley didn't get in Damian's car. He drove off alone, tires screeching, her hair blowing in the wind.
Watching the car vanish, Ashley felt a chill. This goodbye was long overdue. She'd messed up this relationship but wouldn't repeat the mistake.
Ashley called Amelia, "Come over tonight. I'll get the drinks, you bring the pie."
Living alone, Ashley had been surviving on takeout and frozen food. When she felt down, she craved Amelia's homemade pie.
Amelia sensed the gloom in her voice. "Feeling down? Work or personal stuff?"
Ashley sighed, "I'll tell you when you get here."
After work, Amelia rushed to Ashley's place. Seeing the cozy setup, she nodded. "Not bad, single life suits you."
Then she saw Ashley on the couch, hugging a pillow, looking exhausted. "What happened to you?"
Ashley, barefoot and cross-legged, with beers on the coffee table, said, "Want a drink first?"
Amelia checked her forehead, relieved she wasn't sick. "Sure, but what's going on?"
Ashley rested her chin on her hand. "Two things, one about you and one about me. Which first?"
"Yours," Amelia said.
Ashley sighed, "Today, I pretended to be Harold's girlfriend in front of his parents, and Damian saw it all. He hinted at our messy relationship during dinner, making Harold's parents uncomfortable. Afterward, I had a fallout with him. I realized I don't love him anymore. My heart doesn't hurt or feel sad for him."
Amelia stayed calm through the first part but almost jumped at the second. She managed to stay composed. "You have to figure this out yourself. Congrats on moving on from Damian. Now, love no one, and the world is yours!"
She popped open a can and drank half. She was thrilled her friend had moved on.
Ashley took a few sips and nudged her. "Don't you want to hear about your thing?"
Amelia nodded. "Sure, I'm in a good mood, nothing can bother me!"
Ashley pouted. "I did something behind your back, but don't get mad. Promise you won't get mad, and I'll tell you."
Amelia curled up on the sofa, pouting. "Okay, I won't get mad. Tell me."
Ashley said, "I found out who hurt you. It was Christian."
Amelia's eyes widened, a fire igniting. "What?"
"Yeah, it was him."
Amelia cursed, "He went to such lengths to scare me, making me think I was assaulted? Is he crazy?"
Ashley sneered, "If you hadn't gone to the hospital, would you have known it was a misunderstanding? He probably thought you'd never go, and you'd live in fear forever. Years later, he'd tell you it was a misunderstanding, and you'd be even more devastated."
Amelia felt a chill down her spine. Christian's intentions were so twisted! Even worse than actually doing it.
Ashley said, "Since he wants to break your spirit, we need to break his."
Amelia finished her beer, crushed the can, and her veins bulged. "Fuck!"
Ashley grinned. "I have an idea you can try."
Amelia asked, "What is it?"
Ashley pointed to the kitchen with a mischievous smile. "Where's the pie? I want pie."
Amelia tapped Ashley's nose. "I'll make it now!"
The next day, both Amelia and Ashley, hungover, didn't hear the phone ringing non-stop.
Harold called them repeatedly until his phone was almost dying.
Ashley groggily opened her eyes, saw Amelia on the floor, and crawled to the table to pick up the vibrating phone. "Hello?"
Her voice was hoarse.
Harold hadn't contacted her since last night. He worried she'd feel awkward or think he was blaming her. He'd tossed and turned all night, just wanting to make sure she got home safely after getting into Damian's car.
After a night of fretting, Harold decided to call her under the pretense of work, but before he could, he got a notification.
Lucien told him that Mark was dead, and he had a will mentioning Ashley's name.
Mark's case had already drawn media attention, and his death caused an even bigger stir. The will was exposed, and every word was scrutinized online.
The name Ashley was explosive news.
He bombarded Ashley with calls, worried she'd be depressed after reading the news, but no one answered. Amelia's phone was also unanswered.
He was freaking out.
Finally hearing a response, Harold's heart settled. "Have you been drinking?"
Ashley massaged her aching head. "Yeah, with Amelia, at home. Why are you calling so early?"
She didn't know? Then why did she drink?
Harold crossed his arms and paced around, both angry and anxious. "Never mind, just wait at home."
Half an hour later, Harold arrived with breakfast for three. The smell of alcohol hit him as he entered. "Amelia! Ashley! Will you die if you don't drink? What are you doing?"
Amelia, having washed her face, looked dazed and a bit cute, grinning foolishly. "Harold, you're here?"
Harold handed her water. "Drink this to sober up. You're old enough to know better."
Ashley obediently held the water and drank most of it in one go, feeling warmth in her stomach. "Having a reliable friend is good."
Harold looked at the messy living room, with beer cans, snack bags, and leftover pie, and couldn't bear to look. "Eat something and clear your head before we talk."
Amelia, feeling groggy, hugged his leg and rubbed her face against it. "Harold, my head hurts. The beer Ashley bought is too strong."
Harold wanted to kick her away but couldn't bear to. "Serves you right!"
After filling her stomach, Ashley's hangover improved, and she slowly regained her wits. She recalled the dinner and the late-night drinking, and tried to think about Damian.
She thought, 'Yes, very good, no more heartache.'
Feeling refreshed, she couldn't help but tease, "Harold, are you on your period? Why so emotional?"
Harold's face darkened, and he didn't avoid Amelia's presence. He said directly, "Mark jumped to his death and left a will mentioning your name. He said you were his initial defense attorney and that you encouraged him to shift the blame onto others, which led to his later acquittal and subsequent persecution, forcing him to take his own life. Ashley, you might be in big trouble."
