Chapter 224 Sending Her to the Cellar
Ashley hadn't checked Damian's Facebook, but the viral photo was impossible to miss.
She recognized it instantly. She had taken it.
She didn't want to remember. The people in those memories would sting her and shatter her carefully built beliefs.
Seeing her silent and lost in thought, Damian asked, "Can't remember?"
Ashley gazed at the darkening mountain, the last light of the setting sun casting shadows. The sunset, the moonrise, the scattered stars—night amplified emotions, making people fragile.
His question felt like an axe to her heart, exposing its sharp edge.
Ashley shook her head. "Too long ago, I don't remember."
Damian didn't seem to care about her answer. Looking at the night sky, he said, "The day the castle was completed, I went up the mountain for the celebration."
Ashley pretended not to care, but in her mind, she replayed every scene from that day.
Back then, she was still chasing Damian, digging for information on his agenda from every possible source. She learned from her brother that KM Group's English castle hotel was completed and Damian would attend the celebration. She skipped class, bought a dress, and planned to sneak into the party to see him.
At the foot of the mountain, she met Damian's sister, Faye.
Faye, looking like a fairy tale princess in casual sportswear and a baseball cap, didn't seem like she was going to a party.
Ashley, familiar with Faye because of Damian, greeted her, "Faye!"
Faye had heard about Ashley, the girl brave enough to chase her brother around the world. Admiring her, Faye didn't reject Ashley. She even thought it wouldn't be bad if this pretty girl became her sister-in-law.
Faye asked, "Ashley? Here for the event?"
Ashley smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. "Yeah! You know it."
Faye pulled her aside and whispered, "Don't you know my brother never attends public events? How could he be in such a crowded place?"
"What?" Ashley's excitement was doused like cold water. Of course, how could she forget?
After some sweet talk and coaxing, she learned Damian would climb another mountain to watch the celebration via drone.
Ashley hitched a ride with Faye to the mountaintop and saw Damian sitting there, enjoying the view.
In that moment, she was overwhelmed with joy.
Damian didn't react to her arrival, just ruffled Faye's hair. "Making decisions for me again."
Faye stuck out her tongue.
Later, Ashley secretly took many photos of Damian and shared them with Faye. Faye also shared many beautiful photos in return.
This photo stuck in her memory because of its beauty—the perfect blend of lighting, composition, and the distant fireworks.
Faye had joked, "Ashley, you've captured my brother so handsomely. Aren't you worried someone might see it and snatch him away?"
Ashley replied, "This is our secret."
That girl who looked so much like Damian but was more delicate... had left forever.
The memory halted abruptly, causing Ashley's heart to ache, making it hard to continue.
Six years had passed, splitting memory and reality. They stood on opposite sides.
Ashley said casually, "Mr. Hearst, it's dark. Shall we go find the evidence?"
Damian saw her need to escape. In her eyes, he saw guilt, regret, sorrow, and self-blame.
He once hated her deeply. Despite Faye's death, which could have destroyed the Astor Group, he didn't act immediately. The best revenge was letting someone live a long, miserable life.
Now, her sadness tortured both of them.
He once wanted to imprison her, not realizing he was also trapped.
Emotions surged silently. Damian said calmly, "Let's go."
He walked ahead, Ashley followed, her palms sweating.
By the moonlight, Ashley found the cellar. The mountain wind sent a chill down her spine, unease creeping over her.
She rummaged through the haystack. "I found a rope earlier."
Damian glanced at it. "Good, where to tie it?"
Ashley asked, "What do you mean?"
Damian tugged at one end. "You found the rope, aren't you going down? Tie it around your waist, I'll lower you."
Ashley's hair stood on end. She swallowed, "I..."
Though not claustrophobic, the dim cellar was creepy. Who knew what was down there? It wasn't winter; insects were waking up. What if she encountered something alive?
Ashley felt her hair stand on end. "I'll take a look first."
Turning on her phone's flashlight, she leaned over. The dim beam showed only the entrance. There was a turn inside, and she couldn't see anything.
Damian watched her silently. After a few minutes, he said, "Ashley, it's worth sacrificing for justice."
Ashley had hoped Damian would go down for her. She was overthinking.
She sighed, "You tie the rope to the tree, I'll hold it."
Damian nodded. "Good. Ashley, your professionalism is admirable."
Ashley's nose was covered in sweat. When she studied law, no one told her evidence collection involved risks.
She wrapped the rope around her hand, took a deep breath. "Mr. Hearst, please wait above."
Damian squatted, looking down. "Don't worry, I won't leave."
His promise didn't ease her tension. Since she started working on cases, the two most embarrassing moments were both witnessed by Damian. God really had a way of messing with her.
Ashley almost fell.
The rope cut into her hands painfully. She wanted to loosen her grip but slipped, rolling down, her head hitting the dirt wall first, then landing on the ground.
The light from Damian's phone shone on her, witnessing her fall like a little turtle.
Without looking up, she knew someone was staring at her. Should she be grateful she didn't break any limbs or just play dead?
Damian's voice came from the entrance. "Are you okay?"
Ashley pushed herself up, gritting her teeth. "I'm fine."
Damian said, "Walk inside, don't be afraid."
Ashley thought, 'Easy for you to say. Just because you say don't be afraid, doesn't mean I won't be.'
She was about to retort when she suddenly heard a loud noise.
Ashley asked, "What happened?"
Damian didn't respond. What answered her was the darkness above, followed by the sound of a fierce fight!
