She Took The House The Car And My Heart

Chapter 81

Chapter 81 Ashley Has Been Deceiving You

Gerard barely lingered in the company. With a few swift delegations to the secretarial team, he was out the door.

Weekends were supposed to be for relaxation, but for Gerard, a Sunday was just another day in his relentless schedule.

Kristian, on the other hand, settled into his desk shortly after Gerard's departure.

The office was quieter than usual, a gentle hum of silence filling the space typically buzzing with activity. Like Gerard, Kristian found little difference between weekdays and weekends.

His focus was unyielding as he sifted through documents, his phone's persistent vibration a mere background nuisance until he reached a stopping point. With a nonchalant glance, he finally attended to the insistent device.

The moment he saw the message, a chill ran through him.

The screen displayed several photos of Ashley caught in tender embraces with another man. The accompanying text hit like a cold blade. "Ashley has been deceiving you.'

The message's neutral tone made it hard to discern whether it was sent by a man or a woman. Kristian, his curiosity piqued and a knot of anxiety in his stomach, immediately dialed the mysterious number to unearth the origins of these unsettling photos and to understand the implications behind them.

He examined each photo with meticulous attention, confirming to himself they were genuine, untouched by digital manipulation.

Upon making the call, he was met with the cold, impersonal announcement from a mechanical female voice declaring the number was invalid.

A crease formed between his eyebrows as he pondered this dead end, his mind racing back to a similar scenario that had been the talk of the town not long ago.

Driven by a sudden urge, Kristian snatched his phone and jacket from the back of his chair and stormed out of the office, determined to confront Ashley directly at her place.

Meanwhile, Ashley was in the midst of a tense conversation, her face a mask of fear, her voice quivering with nervous energy "I never thought he'd side with Liam Shaw over me. You can't hold this against me," she stammered into the phone, her words dripping with worry and regret.

The voice on the other end rebuked her sharply. "You know well the repercussions of jeopardizing my plans."

Ashley's grip on her phone tightened, her entire body shaking as tears streamed down her face, fear manifesting more palpably than ever before.

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Chapter 81 Ashley Has Been Deceiving You

She opened her mouth to plead her case when a sudden, insistent knock at the door interrupted her.

sound reverberated, persistent

fathom, her heart hammered against

to hang up.

you don't reveal the truth about your

off as the call disconnected. Swiftly, she erased the call history and

took a deep, steadying breath to calm her nerves before she approached

was crucial that her secret remained just that—a secret. As she opened the door, Kristian's

Ashley, her body stiffening involuntarily. Despite her anxiety, she managed a smile, masking her nerves with feigned surprise and

talk to you," Kristian stated, his voice a low murmur, his lips barely parting as he clutched a stack of urgent-looking

get you

flat refusal came quickly. Kristian's gaze was unreadable, his eyes a

like a trapped bird, her eyes

observing her discomfort, sensed something was amiss. Under normal circumstances, he might have chalked it up to health

an affair,

voice wavered, betraying her anxiety. "What-What would you

of the doubt. "Is there something you're not telling

hand tightened around the glass of water before her, her face a mask of innocence and confusion. "Why would you

that Freya has been deceiving me so frequently

relief. Her shoulders eased, and she flashed him a gentle, comforting smile. "Don't worry.

"Really?"

27.6

"Don't you believe me?"

I believe you." His demeanor remained guarded, his thoughts impenetrable. "I

sure."

you," Ashley asserted with a calm conviction, masking the deceit

simply grunted in

weight of unsaid words hanging

quiet ease, her gaze clear and inquisitive as she peered across at him.

tone was dispassionately businesslike as he continued, "Before we move forward, I need to know- have you been with anyone else during our

composure shattered instantly. "What?" she stammered,

probing into her past now; he had never seemed

motions, didn't miss a beat. "If you have," he stated evenly. "I owe that man my thanks for

would have on him, likely stirring a potent mix of guilt and regret within him. This was her play: if he felt remorseful enough, perhaps he could see past her previous