Chapter 172
ASHTON
The D-day is finally here. I wake up with the nastiest hangover I ever had in a while. It takes an hour for the world to stop spinning and for the banging inside my head to stop. I contemplate staying in bed for the better part of the morning but decide against it the second I open my blinds and see the madness downstairs. Mother is in full party planning mode, supervising the arrangements she had already made.
As usual, the courtyard has been transformed. There are so many uniformed people moving furniture, making decorations etc. It irks me to see the over-the-top decorations that had been made just to please Demi. Some of the media personnel are already in the compound, filming the scene. I grit my teeth as my rage bubbles hot. I won’t be able to stay here. I’ve got to go somewhere to clear my head before the party tonight.
Three hours later, I find myself behind the wheels of Ferrari, taking off my hand gloves and gnashing my teeth over the race I just lost by a wide margin. I am too embarrassed and disappointed in myself to bother asking for a rematch to prove any point. I know for certain that I will lose again. I can blame it on being scatterbrained but that has never stopped the best racers. They never let their moods fuck up their race. That is something I am yet to learn.
When my eyes flick to my wrist watch, it’s still a few hours before the party kicks off. I put my foot back on the gas and honk three times. When my opponent does the same, I know he’s cool with a rematch. This time, I intend to win.
We return to the start of the line, revving our engines as the countdown begins. At the sound of the gunshot, I whiz across the tracks like the life of a loved one depended on it. For the most part, the world skipping by me felt like a blur. I pummel the steering wheel in anger when unwelcomed thoughts start to filter into my head again.
I just want to forget about everything that’s been happening in my life lately. However, it feels especially difficult to do that today. I can’t seem to stop beating myself up about the roles I played to make such a sad day happen for my family. I hurt Demi’s parents. I married her and brought her into my family. I failed to protect her during her time as the daughter-in-law of our family. In a way, I created the monster she has become. Now, she’s punishing me by going after the people I care about.
My inside voice begins to chide me. "Get over yourself, Ashton. Did you really think she was going to let all that pain go just because of the butterflies you gave her stomach? Did you think loving her was ever going to be enough to save her from the drowning pain of losing her family? She was already lost before you met her at the Blue Cave. Nothing and absolutely no one comes before her revenge. Stop making the mistake of forgetting that bitter truth."
I jerk back to reality with the roar of cheers and applause in the air just as I cross the finish line. I won? Like hell. I swing the car to the right, jump down and storm to my opponent’s car, tapping on the window.
"A word?"
When he gets down, his helmet is still on. At my behest, he takes it off. The first thing I notice is the tumble of lush brown hair, cascading over her shoulders. Well, that stings.