Ashes Of The Throne | Part I

Chapter 153 | The One With The Little Green Dress

Timeline - 36 hours ago

The grand doors to the penthouse suite swung open with a soft whoosh, revealing an opulent, sprawling space bathed in warm golden light. High ceilings stretched above them, chandeliers casting a soft glow over the polished marble floors. The plush furniture was arranged around a sunken living room with floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a panoramic view of the coastline as the waves glittered in the high midday sun.

Jasmine let out an appreciative whistle, spinning on her heels. "Okay, now this is what I'm talking about," she said, her eyes widening at the sight of the grandiose setup.

Eko strolled in with a triumphant grin, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she made a beeline for the massive open bar on one side of the suite. "Now this is a bachelorette weekend," she chimed, eyeing the lavish details that screamed pure luxury.

Mya and Jasmine were already inspecting the modern artwork adorning the walls when Jesse slipped in behind them, her arms crossed, her face a mask of irritation.

"Alright, Jesse," Mya said, turning to her with a knowing look, "you've been in a mood since we got here. What's buggin' you?"

Jesse's eyes flashed with a hint of annoyance as she brushed past them. She spotted the wine—a welcome gift, elegantly presented on the marble countertop, begging to be opened. Without a word, she snatched the bottle of rich red, deftly twisting the corkscrew and popping it open in one fluid motion.

"You want to know what's been bugging me?" Jesse's voice was sharp, but beneath it was a layer of exhaustion. She poured herself a generous glass, ignoring the fancy crystal goblets in favor of something simple. "That dickhead of an ex-boyfriend!"

With the glass in hand, she strode toward the grand longue that overlooked the sea, the fading sunlight casting a warm glow over the suite. Sinking into the plush cushions, she sighed, her gaze fixed on the horizon.

The girls exchanged glances, a mix of shock and curiosity in their expressions. Eko, Jasmine, and Mya shared a silent conversation of raised eyebrows and nods. Whatever had gone down, it was big.

"Urm?" Jasmine ventured cautiously, as she watched Mya and Eko bring over a few more bottles of wine. The three of them settled onto the longue, waiting for Jesse to spill.

"Spill the tea!" Eko was already leaning forward, eager to hear the story, despite being met with a death stare from Jesse.

"You're gloating," Jesse said flatly, her eyes narrowing at Eko's playful smirk.

"I'm reserving judgment," Eko replied innocently, raising the wine bottle in a mock toast. "Now, spill."

Jesse took another sip of her wine, the memory playing out vividly in her mind. "It all happened yesterday."

***** ******

"No," Jesse snapped, her voice trembling with hurt and frustration. "Don't Jesse me. You don't just... you don't just decide to pack up and leave like it's nothing! Like we're nothing! What the fuck, Aiden?"

Aiden sighed heavily, dragging a hand through his hair, avoiding her piercing gaze. "In all honesty, your mate's wedding got me thinking. It brought up a lot of things for me."

"Matthew," Jesse interjected sharply, her tone cutting. "Say his name. If you're going to blame him for your shit like you always do, say his fucking name."

Aiden let out a bitter laugh, sharp and hollow. "Matthew. Fine. Matthew. The golden boy. The almighty headmaster who can do no wrong. Your knight in shining armor. That prick you defend every second you get. Maybe his picture-perfect wedding made me realize something."