BOOK II.
Four months have passed since Ashton and Ria's relationship fell into ruins. He's convinced that she hates him and she believes he never loved her. Giving up on each other, they attempt to mend their loneliness in the arms of their past; Ch...
❝I made the choice of staying by your side and it's a choice I'm not going to regret.❞
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ASHTON SENSES THE DESPAIR CLOAKED OVER RIA'S SPIRIT. She's been nearly silent since they left her apartment with little to no explanation about what Chris wanted from her.
She lies across the sofa in his hotel with rivers of hair falling over the edge. Her gaze dances across the ceiling and she licks her lips a dozen times. Ashton sits on the ground next to her, staring at her, waiting for her to speak. He doesn't know what to do or say, so he does the only thing he knows how to do. Be there for her.
They rest in a hush far longer than he's comfortable with, long enough to let him think about the events of the past twenty-four hours. So many things have happened that he might regret later.
Leaving Vivian without his protection. Coming back to New York with the high probability that Vincent is looking for him. Nearly abandoning his new contract at the gallery. Leaving his advisor behind without
All just so he can see this woman again. The love of his life. His life.
For the second time in Ashton's existence, the idea of love is a crazy dangerous thing that he is willing to risk everything for. It may be reckless and stupid, but he'll never let anything go wrong between him and Ria again. He won't allow himself to repeat the same tragedy he had with Vivian.
"I'm sorry," tender words leave his lips. He lies his head back against the side of her stomach. "For everything. What I put you through. You've been so patient and unrealistically understanding with me. I don't deserve you."
"A lot happened while you were gone," Ria begins; voice raspy so she clears it. "There's a lot I have to tell you."
"Weren't you going to wait?"
"This is about something different."
"Oh." He shivers when her gentle fingers run delicate strokes through his hair. "Does this have to do with Chris?"
She's hesitant for a moment. "Sort of."
"What happened between you two?"
"Apparently, he knows about who sabotaged our relationship."
Ashton sits up fast and peers at her incredulously. "You mean him? Ria, he set us up."
"That's the thing about this situation. I know Chris and one thing he isn't is a planner. He's impulsive and bad at making decisions. If he was a part of this somehow, I believe that he wasn't working alone. We made a deal that if I..." She turns her head to the side, facing away from him. "If I keep seeing him, non-romantically of course, he'll tell me the truth."
"No." The word is out of Ashton's mouth so fast. He glares at Ria and raises up to sit on the sofa next to her legs. "No, Ria. Stop giving this guy chances to manipulate you."
