Chapter 35: Memory
Ashley continued to cry until she got tired. She dried her eyes and adjusted her car seat until she was lying down, thanks to the luxurious features of the Mercedes Benz.
She caught Greg's worried glances once more—a look she'd noticed before but still couldn't get used to. It surprised her that the man, who was usually so stoic, had the ability to show something other than his usual impassive expression. But then, she ignored him, simply shutting her eyes.
Lorenzo's words about having loved her more than life itself crossed her mind again, and the way her heart raced reminded her of the very first day they had met.
*****
Flashback: fifteen years old Ashley
Ashley had moved into Charlotte's home after the tragic death of her parents. Charlotte, her late mother's younger sister, was now her guardian.
Grief weighed heavily on Ashley. She spent most of her days in sorrow, crying with no one to confide in. But Charlotte believed she should move on—that loss was simply a part of life.
Yet moving on felt impossible. Every memory of her parents was a fresh wound, refusing to fade. One couldn't blame her as it had only been a few months since she last had them—since they were a happy family. They hadn't had much, but they had been comfortable, and that was all that mattered... until the plane crash took everything away.
Removing one of Charlotte's gowns from her wardrobe, Ashley shoved it into a bag and headed out of the house. Charlotte hadn't returned from work the previous day, and she had asked Ashley to bring her something to change into.
Ashley hated going to the brothel. The men there were always ogling at her, and it irritated her to the core, compounded by the fact that the place reeked of alcohol and cigarettes, which always made her nauseous.
But she had no choice now, did she?