(35
The crowd gasped. No one could believe what I just said.
For a moment everywhere was silent but soon murmurs started spreading. Their CEO and the former secretary not only had a secret relationship, but a secret marriage.
I broke free from his arms as he tried to held my hands again.
*Ashley, listen to me first! Let’s be calm.”
“I can’t be calm, Ace. Please sign the divorce papers already.”
Ace shook his head, “You can’t do this Ashley, there is no reason to do this.”
“No reason? Are you sure about this?” I pulled out my phone, my hands trembling but steady enough to pr play yon the recording Dave’s voice rang out loud and clear.
Ace was stunned. He never expected me to find out the truth that he had hidden it for years. He lied about me,
that I broke him and Elena up-
“You still claim there is no reason to?” I yelled at him as my voice broke as I turned to him.
“We don’t have to do this here, Let’s go somewhere else and talk, Ashley.” Ace looked at me with pleading eyes “You’re disgusting” Then I turned towards Elena, and said, “Same to you. Not only because you’ve cheated, but because you fucking never re–think about it, and even spewed lies about me.”
de Lesidit doar atrosmed down my face finally let it all out–the years of pain. the lies, the humiliation
in
how did you repay me? By letting your family and friends treat me like I didn’t matter. By feeding them with lies, and making them hate me By abandoning me when I needed you the most “I paused to take a breath before Ladded, “When I was diagnosed with cancer, you were wills Elena Funny, you just found out about this. And, the girl who your
like so much, forced me to abort my baby She’s a fucking murderer “
Everyone turned shocked. Even Ace “W–Wint?”
“No, Acell just “Elena rushed to explain but I cut her off.
“You don’t have to explain, Llena. The evidence is already handed to the police”
“You bitch!” Ace cursed as he slapped Elenn on her cheeks
The crowd was whispering, and their faces were pale, full of helplessness.
“You’re nothing better, either “As I said it, I reached into my bag and I flung the divorce papers at Ace, along with
the stack of evidence we had gathered.
Everyone gasped in surprise at what they saw. Pictures of their affair, our marriage certificate, my doctor’s report,
and the evidence of how Elena drugged me, and forced me to do the abortion:
My chest heaved as I poured my feelings out I no longer cared about holding back my pain
“Did you think I’ll swallow your humiliation and whatever you do to me?” I yelled, pain coursed through my heart.
Ace broke down in his knees as he tried to gather all the evidence to himself 1–I don’t know what’s happening…
Please, believe me Thad no idea about the abortion..”
I laughed “know”
I already found out that Ace didn’t plan this. He had always been eager for a child, and no, I knew it wasn’t him
But that didn’t matter
“Then why?”
“Does that matter? Does that change anything? Where were you when I needed you the most? Why the heck did you fucking lie about me? And, didn’t you look down on me so, you asked our marriage to be kept a secret? What about your affair?”
“Ashley, please he begged, as he tried to grab my hands.
“Don’t touch me!” I yelled, stepping backwards,
“Ashley”
“Ashley?”
Two familiar voices sounded through the crowd.
Suddenly, Asher and Austin appeared at my side. Austin’s face was filled with fury as he stormed up to Ace and
struck him across the face
“How the heck did you take care of my sister? He gave up everything for you, and even went against us to marry you, but this is what you did “Austin growled “You don’t deserve her. If it wasn’t because of my sister, I wouldn’t even have invested in this shitty company of yours. And now that she is cutting everything from you, our com are done too We’ll withdraw all the funds, and the existing projects ”
Asher stepped forward, his expression cold and unreadable. “Same for our company,” he added sharply.
I turned to leave, my legs shaky beneath me, but Ace followed, his voice desperate
“Ashley, please! Please, wait!
Asher and Austin exchanged a glance before reluctantly stepping aside, giving us space.
Ace reached for my arm, but I pulled back, meeting his eyes with nothing but disgust
“Please,” he begged, his voice cracking “Give me another chance I promise, I’ll treat you nicely”
07
“I shouldn’t have ever left you and won’t leave you ever again if you forgive me “Ace said, his face was pale white and his lips trembled
He was truly shameless, “Another chance? After everything you’ve done?”
“Ashley, I swear, I didn’t know about the abortion,” he said, his tone frantic 1 would never have let that happen.” I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes. “I already know you didn’t do it, Ace But it doesn’t change anything You still lied. You still cheated. You still treated me like I was nothing I can’t get why you even lied
He lowered his gaze, embarassed “I’m sorry for what I have done i go on my knees, and beg you, okay? I’ll tell everyone the truth. I just didn’t want them to look down on me because Elena broke up with me, and I didn’t know when… I went too far with my lies. I’m sorry I’m sorry. Please give me another chance. Please
I laughed, hearing his words. So, he lied about me to everyone just because he was insecure? Just because he was embarrassed?
What kind of man did I fall for all these years? How could I fall for his lies?
He stepped closer, his hands outstretched as if trying to bridge the distance between us “I miss you Every moment you were gone, I keep thinking about you. I missed you a lot. Please believe me, I already ended things with Elena before. And, we’ve never gone beyond Please… Please give me another chance.”
My heart ached at his words. But I couldn’t feel the same about him anymore
If it was in the past, I’d be happy to know he loved me, he missed me. But not anymore.
I backed away from him. “It’s too late, Ace. Look back and see what you did. You’ve gone too far, and I can’t accept it anymore. I had enough, Ace.” I paused for a moment, and looked behind me. My heart throbbed looking at Asher. I turned back to Ace again, my cheeks blushing “Moreover, someone else is in my heart now.”
His face fell, his shoulders slumping in defeat as he stumbled back. “Ashley…”
I smiled, and turned away from him, not letting him finish. I had already fallen for Asher.
