More Than A Favor

Chapter 95

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Was Ashton captivated by my beauty?

I had always thought his heart was as tough as his rugged exterior, immune to such charms. But it seemed the saying about men being visual creatures held some truth after all.

Even though I knew I had his attention, I deliberately ran my fingers through my wavy hair, letting it cascade over one shoulder.

His eyes darkened, and his expression became colder. I couldn’t figure out why his mood had shifted so suddenly, nor did I care enough to guess.

I cut straight to the point. “So, are you going to agree to my proposal, Mr. Drake?”

“What?” His gaze had already shifted away from me.

I chuckled lightly.

Was he pretending not to hear me? Or had he suddenly developed selective amnesia?

“Be my boyfriend. Temporarily,” I repeated, reminding him of what I had asked the night before.

Ashton didn’t respond immediately. His eyes were fixed on something in the distance.

Following his gaze, I noticed the Ferris wheel slowly turning, its cabins rising higher and higher.

Victor had mentioned that Logan planned to propose to me. Could the Ferris wheel be part of his plan?

I squinted, trying to spot anything unusual at the top of the ride.

Just then, Ashton spoke, his voice low and steady. “What do you mean by temporary?”

“I mean, be my boyfriend just until Logan’s obsession with me dies down. After that, we go back to being… nothing.”

I felt a pang of guilt as I laid out the terms. It felt wrong to reduce Ashton to a tool for my plan, especially knowing how he felt about me.

After swallowing hard, I rephrased my explanation. “We wouldn’t actually be dating. It’s just for show- to make Logan think we’re together.”

“And why should I agree to that?” Ashton asked, his tone calm but firm.

I avoided his gaze, suddenly feeling awkward. I wouldn’t have even asked if it weren’t for Nora’s endless urging last night and Logan’s increasingly erratic behavior.

A breeze tousled my hair, and I brushed it aside before continuing, “Because you’re the most suitable person for the role, and…”

I hesitated.

I wanted to be honest about why I thought he was perfect for this, but bringing up his past confession -that he wanted to marry me and had feelings for me–felt manipulative.

“And?” Ashton prodded, his piercing gaze unwavering.

I smiled sheepishly. “Nothing.”

“You were going to say I mentioned wanting to marry you and that I have feelings for you, weren’t

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you?” he stated bluntly, cutting through my hesitation like a knife.

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no point in pretending, I met his eyes directly. “Yes. So, will

his expression unreadable. His silence stretched on, and under his steady gaze, my heart began

of silently rejecting me?

to break the tension and save face, I ran my fingers through my hair again and said lightly, “If yo u don’t want to, just forget I said

leave, but Ashton’s hand shot out,

he

at him

real,” he added, his voice calm but

lifted my eyes to meet his, and the

I want to be your real boyfriend. If things don’t work out, we can break up. But

words hung in the air, heavy

was an unmistakable authority in his

wasn’t a man who would let himself

get Logan off my back, but

out of the

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before I blurted out angrily, “Has he completely lost

Mr. Mercer has indeed been acting irrationally

to me that everything–the wedding dresses, the rings–was orchestrated by

to do? Make me hate him even more?” I asked, frustration bubbling

before replying, “Elaine, I really don’t know what Mr. Mercer is thinking. But one thing is clear–he doesn’t want

“it’s one thing for others to say that, but how can you

fell silent, unable

to act crazy, let him. I’m not going to play along with his games,” I said

Hart, I’ve been blaming myself for how things ended between you and Mr. Mercer. If it weren’t for me, the two of you might not have reached this point,” Victor admitted, his voice filled with guilt.

to end things with Logan.” I paused before continuing, “But you should know–our breakup wasn’t because of just one incident. It had been coming for

the final blow,” Victor said, his

If you still want to blame yourself, that’s your choice. But if Logan fires you because of this, then

“Ms. Hart, have you found a

wanting to give him–or

become unpredictable, and I didn’t want him finding out about my new position.

and took a deep breath. I couldn’t believe Logan had gone so far as to plan a public proposal. It was

to Ashton. Remembering our conversation from the night before, I decided

him:

now. When

response. It was still early, and he was

off the lingering frustration. After a quick shower, I decided to visit my parents‘ grave–a place I hadn’t been to in

noticed something unusual. A bouquet of daisies sat by the tombstone, their petals wilted but not

flowers looked like they had been left within the past two

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< Chapter 95

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decade ago, and apart from Ethan, Tessa, and me, no one else ever

Tessa been here recently? But if they had, why hadn’t Tessa mentioned

daisies aside and placed the lilies I had brought–my mom’s favorite flowers–in their

youthful faces etched on the tombstone, a familiar ache resurfaced in my chest. Yet, I managed to

whispered, “have you missed me? I’ve been dreaming about you a lot lately.

I

sorry I couldn’t fulfill your wishes–or

to marry.