Chapter 8

Chapter 8

\~Allison\~

Ash's eyes slowly opened, his dark green eyes staring at me with a mix of confusion and pain.

His bruised knuckles caught my attention, making me worry for his well-being.

"Are you okay, Ash?" I asked, my voice filled with concern as I took in the state of him.

"How did you get in here?" he questioned, his voice strained and weak as he attempted to sit up but faltered.

I stammered, unsure of how to convey the truth to him. Did it even matter? He looked disheveled, and I felt he should be grateful I was there.

"I found the door unlocked," I finally managed to say.

Ash stared at me, suspicion evident in his gaze.

"No, the door was locked," he insisted.

"I'm positive it was open, Ash. I wouldn't have mysteriously ended up in this room otherwise," I retorted in irritation.

He remained silent, his expression shifting from suspicion to astonishment.

"I'm sorry, I heard a commotion and came to check on you. I swear the door was open," I explained.

Ignoring me, Ash stood up and started to move toward his shirt, but I hated him.

"There are broken glasses over there," I cautioned.

Following my gaze, he noticed the shattered glass on the floor.

"You should leave," he said, turning towards me as he tried to comprehend what had transpired.

Taken aback by his abrupt dismissal, I hesitated, unsure of whether to stay or leave.

He seemed displeased by my presence as if he was concealing something.

"Did I do something wrong? I feel awful for trying to help," I inquired, hoping for a response.

But he continued to ignore me, stepping cautiously over the broken glass to retrieve his shirt.

"Your wound needs to be treated and bandaged," I reminded him.

Feeling frustrated, I bit my lip. He was testing my patience, and I needed him to say something before my temper flared.

"Maybe it's best if I call Justin; he might know what to do...," I started to say, but before I could continue, Ash grabbed my phone and hurled it against the wall.

"You need to leave!" he shouted.

Enraged by his actions, I could no longer contain my emotions. Slapping him across the face, the sound reverberated throughout the room.

As he caught my hand to prevent another blow, I could see the pain in his eyes.

"You're despicable," I said as I wrenched my hand free. "I don't care what's going on with you or in this room. I hope you rot in hell."

Without looking back, I stormed out of the room, leaving him to deal with his demons alone.

Tears streamed down my face as I walked, the anger and frustration still coursing through me.

How could he treat me like that, after I tried to help him?

As I reached my room, I slammed the door shut behind me, sinking against it as I let out a sob.

I couldn't understand why Ash was pushing me away, why he was so closed off and defensive.

But despite everything, I couldn't shake the feeling of concern and worry for him. I knew he was hurting both physically and emotionally, and I couldn't just abandon him like that.

Taking a deep breath, I wiped away my tears and stood up.

I stood outside his door, exhaling heavily before knocking once more.

"Ash, I'm serious. If you don't open up, I'll have to call someone," I spoke, hoping for a response.

Only silence greeted me, deepening my concern. I attempted to unlock the door, but it was firmly shut from the inside.

"Please, Ash, just open the door," I pleaded.

My fists throbbed as I pounded hard on the door, calling out his name one last time.

Finally, the door creaked open, revealing a visibly angry Ash. I could sense his frustration, but at that moment, I didn't care.

"Why can't you just listen, Allison?" he questioned in exasperation.

I simply shrugged, crossing my arms. "Your wound needs attention, and your room... I can have the maid clean it up."

He hesitated, glancing back into the disheveled room before stepping out.

"No need," he stated coldly, shutting the door behind him.

Respecting his decision, I focused on tending to his wound. That was my main concern at the moment.

Sitting together on the balcony, the cool evening breeze brushed against my skin as I cleaned his wound.

"It's not too deep. Thank goodness the glass didn't cause more harm," I remarked.

Ash remained silent, his gaze fixed on me.

"Do you do this often?" he suddenly inquired.

I looked at him, trying to grasp the meaning of his question. "You mean, why am I good at this?" I sought clarification.

He nodded.

Smiling as I continued to clean his wound, I replied, "It's just a habit I've picked up."

"Bandaging wounds, huh?" he teased lightly.

"Well, it has proven to be useful," I responded, keeping my focus on his injured hand.

Ash's fingers intertwined with mine, causing a momentary distraction from his bruised knuckle. I looked up to meet his gaze.

Our eyes locked, his expression still showing pain and coldness, yet I couldn't ignore the underlying attractiveness in his demeanor.

“Just let me take care of you, okay?” I whispered, gently pressing a bandage onto his would.

He didn't say anything, but the tension in his shoulders seemed to melt away as he leaned into my touch.

I finished dressing his wound and stood up, offering him a smile. “All done. Just try not to punch any more walls or mirrors, okay?”

He chuckled, his previous anger fading away. “I'll do my best.”

I stood frozen in place, my eyes locked on him, unsure of what to say after witnessing him punch the mirror in anger.

"Why did you do it?" I finally mustered up the courage to ask.

Ash remained silent, staring down at his bandaged hand before slowly walking towards me. With each step he took, I instinctively moved back until my back was pressed against the wall. His hand reached out to cage me, his cold gaze boring into mine.

“You are prying, Allison,” he stated calmly.

"If I didn't ask, would you tell me?" I questioned.

He smirked and brushed a strand of hair off my face. "I was just angry," he admitted, his voice filled with raw emotion.

I could sense there was more to his outburst than just anger, but I wasn't sure how to approach the topic.

“I see,” I responded softly, trying to offer some understanding.

Ash studied me closely, his eyes searching for something in mine. “It seems like you don't believe me, cupcake.”

I reached out and touched his cheek gently, offering him comfort in the only way I knew how. His surprised reaction was evident in his widened eyes.

“You don't have to keep up a tough exterior with me. If you need someone to talk to, I'm here as a friend,” I reassured him.

“I don't want to be friends with you, Allison. It makes it difficult for me to resist what I truly desire most,” he confessed, his tone low and filled with longing.

Unsure of how to respond, I bit my lip nervously, feeling conflicted by his words.

“Which is...?” I trailed off, curious but hesitant.

He leaned in closer, his breath tickling my ear as he whispered, “I want you so badly, Allison. I want to touch you, feel you, lose myself in you.”

I gasped, the intensity of his words leaving me breathless. He pulled away, his gaze still locked on mine as the tension between us simmered.

My heart raced as I tried to process his confession. Part of me wanted to give in to the desire that flickered between us, but another part of me hesitated, cautious of the possible consequences.

“I...I don’t know what to say,” I stammered, feeling the weight of his words hang heavy in the air.

Ash's expression softened as he took a step back, his eyes stared at the figure standing at the entrance of the balcony.

A mischievous smile tugged at the corner of Ash's lips as my gaze followed his, landing on Justin who stood there with his hands clenched into fists.

“Hey, cousin” Ash greeted casually, slipping his bandaged hand into his jogger’s pocket.

I stood tensely, shifting my gaze between Justin and Ash, hoping their interaction wouldn't escalate into a brawl.

The thought of Justin possibly confiding in Cara sent a wave of anxiety through me. I couldn't bear the idea of her turning against me.

As Justin walked towards us, I could see the anger in his eyes. He didn't say a word, but his clenched jaw and narrowed gaze spoke volumes.

I could feel the tension rising, the air thick with unspoken words.

I stepped forward, trying to defuse the situation before it escalated any further.

"Justin, let me explain-" I began, but he cut me off, gripping Ash's shirt tightly. "I warned you to stay away from her. Stop confusing her. We both know what you are truly after," Justin's voice exuded anger.

I nervously bit my lower lip, my fingers fumbling as my gaze flickered between Justin and the entrance door, silently praying that Cara wouldn't walk in on the scene.

"Justin, please stop for Christ's sake," I pleaded, the desperation evident in my voice.

All eyes were on me, astonished by my sudden outburst. "He's injured, I was just tending to his cuts. Nothing inappropriate happened," I clarified.

I could sense the weight of Ash's gaze, even though he tried to mask it from his cousin.

I wasn't willing to jeopardize my relationship with them for someone who held no significance in my life.

Ash was not my boyfriend or anyone of importance to me, so why should I be dragged into his web of games?

Justin's focus shifted from me to Ash's hand as he paced back and forth, eventually turning to confront Ash. "You did it again, didn't you," Justin accused.

Confusion clouded my mind as I struggled to comprehend what Justin was alluding to. What had Ash done this time? Was this a recurring pattern of behavior?

Ash's jaw clenched tightly, his eyes devoid of emotion.

"Thanks a lot, Allison," he muttered, unable to meet his gaze as I shrugged in exasperation.

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