Chapter 213 Ashley Gets Jealous of Herself
Ashley was washing veggies at the sink, with Ethan's arms wrapped around her waist, helping out. The water splashed, and Ethan's mind wandered.
"When I was a kid, my parents were always working. I'd wait for them on their days off, hoping for a fun weekend. But they'd just argue, sometimes even fight..."
"Once, my mom slashed my dad with a knife right in front of me..."
Ethan's voice cracked.
Ashley's heart ached listening to him.
Some people heal from their childhoods, but others, like Ethan, carry the scars forever.
"After their fights, my mom would take it out on me, yelling and even..."
Ethan's eyes darkened.
Ashley felt a pang of sorrow. "Did she abuse you?"
Ethan nodded, his voice heavy. "Yeah."
"She'd hit me, threaten me, lock me in a dark room with creepy crawlies..."
Ashley gasped, "Oh my God, how could a mother do that!"
"Yeah." Ethan laughed bitterly. "Sometimes I wonder if she's really my mom. How else could she treat me like that?"
"She wasn't just harsh; she had insanely high expectations. She never taught me, just wanted perfect results..."
Ashley felt a deep sadness and pity, unsure how to comfort him.
"So, I learned to read people."
"I got really good at mimicking others..."
Ethan continued, "I'd watch how others did things and copy them perfectly."
"No wonder you picked up washing veggies so quickly," Ashley said, cupping his face tenderly. "I never imagined someone so admired had such a rough childhood. You've been through so much."
"I held on for years."
"When I was twelve, my grandpa found out I was being abused and took me in. He raised me and taught me about life."
Despite his tough upbringing, Ethan's success was a mix of his natural talent and his grandpa Michael's guidance.
Without Michael's guidance, Ethan would've faced even more hurdles.
"Ethan..." Ashley hugged him tightly, trying to share her warmth. "No wonder you care so much about Grandpa. We owe him a lot; without him, you might've been really depressed."
"Yeah."
"After my parents divorced, my mom visited less, and my life slowly got back on track. But thinking about it still makes me sad sometimes..."
"Everyone thinks I have it all, but they don't know how lonely and lost I felt inside."
Ashley nodded.
"Do you find it annoying when I talk about this?"
Ashley shook her head. "No, I feel so sorry for you. If only I'd known you earlier and pulled you out of that abyss sooner."
Ethan smiled. "Actually, during my dark childhood, there was a little girl who kept encouraging me. Without her, I might've turned into a monster!"
Ashley, curious and a bit jealous, asked, "A little girl? Do you have a story with her?"
Ethan said, "There was a cute little girl next door where I lived with my parents. We often met on the way to school."
"Every time I saw her parents treating her like a precious gem, I was so envious. So whenever I saw her, I felt hostile towards her kindness."
Ethan smiled. "I was just jealous."
"Oh..."
Ashley felt a twinge of jealousy but was curious about his story with the other girl.
Seeing her reaction, Ethan decided to tease her.
"One day, my mom scolded me for being picky with food, not knowing I was allergic to seafood. After eating it, I clutched my stomach in pain in the yard."
"And then, that little girl saw you?" Ashley asked, her tone full of jealousy.
"Yes, her name was Hayes."
Hayes?
The name sounded oddly familiar to Ashley, stirring a long-buried memory, but she couldn't quite grasp it.
"Every time Hayes saw I was down, she'd comfort and encourage me. She was like a little sun in my life, pulling me out of the darkness and giving me hope..."
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