Naomi seed genuinely interested in helping. She even ca up with a plan.
‘I’ll show Ryan this statent and ask him why he transferred money to so woman nad Catherine. I’ll ask if he’s keeping a mistress, if he’s done sothing to betray . He’ll panic and want to explain himself. He’ll have to tell the truth.’
She nodded as she spoke, looking very pleased with her own idea.
I was about to suggest the sa thing. ‘That would be perfect. I don’t know how to thank you. I know I shouldn’t be bothering you with all this, especially now you’re pregnant. But I really need to know if what I suspect is true. I don’t think I can let this go until I know for sure.’
‘Don’t worry, I’ll definitely help you. Leave it to . And try not to overthink it. I’m sure Ashton had his reasons.’ She squeezed my hand reassuringly. ‘Really, I can tell he cares about you deeply. I’ve heard Ashton and Genevieve have known each other since they were kids. Maybe he just wanted to give her a second chance.’
‘I really hope I’m wrong about this.’ I didn’t know if I was trying to convince Naomi or myself.
‘Tell you what, once I’ve found out the truth from Ryan, you should talk to Ashton properly. Ask him why. I think marriages need trust to last. Just give him a chance to explain, alright?’ Naomi patted my hand.
I nodded. ‘Okay. Thank you. I’m so glad I have you.’
‘What are friends for? Besides, that day at the party, if you hadn’t caught , I might have lost the baby.’ Her expression grew sombre. ‘Every ti I think about it, my heart still clenches. We were so lucky, thanks to you.’
‘I really didn’t do that much. Besides, it was partially my fault.’
‘Let’s not dwell on it. We’re friends. You can always co to with anything, you know that? I’ll always help.’ Naomi’s tone was completely sincere.
‘Okay. Thanks.’
‘Co on, eat. You look like you need the calories more than I do,’ she urged, pushing a plate towards .
We ate and chatted. Naomi was in good spirits, but I couldn’t really share her mood. I felt heavy and subdued, my heart sitting like a stone in my chest.
That evening, I got a text from her.
Naomi: [I asked him. It’s true. Ashton did get Ryan to transfer the money to that Catherine woman.]
She ended the ssage with an apologetic emoji.
But it wasn’t her fault.
I thanked her.
She sent another ssage: [Ryan told Ashton. Sorry, I asked him not to, but he’s stubborn.]
My phone rang.
‘Mira, where are you?’ Ashton sounded tense.
‘I’m at a friend’s place. She’s had so bad news and isn’t doing well, so I’m staying with her.’ My voice was flat and distant, stripped of any warmth.
‘So you’re not coming ho tonight?’
‘No. I was going to call you, but you beat to it. Don’t wait up. I’ll probably stay with her for a few days.’ I didn’t want to go back yet. I couldn’t face him.
All this ti, I’d believed Ashton was too good to . He wasn’t much of a talker, and he could seem cold on the outside, but his love felt fierce and real. It almost made feel unworthy.
It wasn’t until we were stranded on that island that I finally understood my own heart, and started to believe that fairy tales could actually happen—that a prince really could choose a nobody like .
But I never thought he would help Genevieve lie to . I never imagined he’d find a scapegoat just to cover for her.
‘You can stay one night. But I expect you ho tomorrow,’ he said, his tone gentle but leaving no room for argunt.
‘Alright.’ I didn’t have the energy to argue.
‘Take care of yourself.’
‘I will. Bye.’ My voice stayed empty.
‘Why didn’t you just ask him? Ask him why he did it?’ Yvaine asked after I hung up.
I hadn’t lied to Ashton—I really was at a friend’s. But the one who wasn’t doing well wasn’t Yvaine. It was .
I gave a weak smile. ‘What’s the point? If he wanted to explain, he would have. If he really cared, he’d be worried now that I know. He’d try to explain himself. But he didn’t say anything.’
‘But he’s always been so good to you.’
‘I don’t know anymore. Maybe he’s found soone more worthy of his attention.’ I sighed bitterly. ‘Maybe I should just be grateful it lasted this long. A man like Ashton... he was always out of my league.’
Maybe I should have known better. Nobody’s perfect. Why did I ever think Ashton could be?
‘Well, if you’re convinced he’s betrayed you, you should divorce him,’ Yvaine said. ‘There are plenty of decent n out there. No point wasting your ti on the wrong one.’
As my best friend, Yvaine had always been team ‘break up’, not ‘make up’. She lived by that rule herself, changing boyfriends faster than most people change clothes. The second a new guy showed a flaw she didn’t like, she was done. No second chances.
A part of had always admired how decisive she was, how easily she could walk away.
I thought I was like that too—at least, I had been with Rhys. I ended things cleanly and never looked back.
So why was I hesitating now when it ca to Ashton?
‘It’s late. Ti for bed,’ I said, and slipped into the bathroom.
Yvaine called after from the other side of the door, ‘You can’t run from this forever!’
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