The Sin Of Fate

- Prologue -

There are those who say fate is something beyond our command. That destiny is not our own, but I know better. Our fate lives within us, you only have to be brave enough to see it. Marrying a stranger wasn't the best decision I made, but it certainly wasn't the worse. The worst was allowing Kai Bliss into my heart.

***

"Ashley," I tighten my grip around my phone as I hear my older sister, Em speak on the other end. "Yes?" I ask as I glance down at my nails. I do need to get them re-done, the red doesn't seem fitting right about now. "Where on earth are you?" Em asks. "Vegas," I simply respond, I peer up to see my best friend, Faye, wave over a bartender. Her dark hair is tied up in a bun, as she leans over the bar to get served. Okay, so maybe Vegas wasn't the best place for a vacation. But when I have parents who practically drive you to the airport because they believe you're going to visit your older sister in Italy— you have to improvise.

Over my dead body was I going to spend my summer vacation in Italy, under the watchful eyes of my older sister, and her fiance. I would rather the plane crash.

So, when I waved my parents goodbye, I decided to phone Faye, thankfully she answered and claimed she had the best vacation spot. Little did I know that would leave me having to spend five days in Las Vegas. I'm just grateful I'm old enough to drink so I can ignore all the problems going on in my life right now. One of my issues right now is my sister.

"Mom and dad dropped you off at the airport, how on earth are you in Las Vegas?" Em questions, her overprotective sister mode activated. Little did I know six years ago Em would fall in love with an Italian, and five years later she would move to Italy with said Italian. She's happy though, I wasn't going to beg her to stay, I didn't the first time, and I wasn't going to do it for a second time. Em is twenty-four, and she's living her best life. "About that," I start, "no offense, but I didn't feel like going to Italy for my summer," Italy may be beautiful, but I wasn't going to spend the month of June and July in Florence so that my sister could watch me twenty-four seven. "So, after the parents left I called Faye, and now I'm in Vegas," I state and as I make eye contact with Faye, I smile as I watch her order us more drinks.

Emilia has never liked Faye, she believes my best friend is a "bad influence," on me. She isn't, Faye is just crazy, she lives life for the thrill. Faye is someone I wish I could be, but I need to know what's going to happen before it happens. I love to plan my life out, so I can live it perfectly. That's what my parents always told me, I shouldn't take risks without knowing the outcome. And in some aspects, they're right, I have to have an idea before doing it, it makes me anxious if I don't know the results. I also love to stress for other people, hence why my and Faye's friendship works so well, she tries to get me out of my comfort zone, and I make sure the two of us are safe.

"Ashley," Em says bringing me back to the now, I know she's pissed. She's worried about me, she doesn't have to be. I'm twenty-three, not seventeen. I know when to make the right decision, and despite being cautious in the beginning, Vegas has been fun. I highly suggest going with your best friends, at least once while you're still young. "Don't worry, I'm coming home tomorrow— I have an early flight," I explain with a fake smile despite Em not being able to see me. "Good," she replies and I have the urge to hang up, but I don't.