Chapter 13

\~ASH\~

As I stepped into the room, my gaze shifted from Justin to Amanda, memories flooding back and my hand involuntarily clenched into a fist.

“Hello Ash,” Amanda greeted, her smile appearing insincere.

She had always been good at pretending, masking her true intentions. I shifted my focus from her to Allison, who avoided making eye contact.

“What are you doing here, Amanda?” I finally spoke, my tone tinged with suspicion as I awaited her inevitable lies.

“I was in town, so I thought I’d stop by and say hello,” she replied casually.

Her nonchalance only fueled the fire of resentment burning within me. How could she sit there so shamelessly, acting as if things were normal between us?

If only she knew the depth of my hatred for her, she would have heeded my warning and stayed far away from me.

“Justin invited her,” Cara interjected, her arms folded in defiance as she glared at Amanda.

“Cara,” Allison whispered, a look of discomfort flickering across her face.

Turning to face Justin, I saw the coldness in his eyes, his indifference obvious. Was he still harboring resentment towards me? Sometimes, his actions left me baffled.

“Can we talk privately, Amanda?” I requested, wanting to confront her without an audience.

Amanda's expression shifted to one of anticipation as she got up from her seat and followed me outside, away from prying eyes.

Before I could say a word, Amanda wrapped her arms around me, attempting to kiss me. My fist clenched instinctively as I pulled her away from me, wiping my lips with my sleeve and giving her a cold stare.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I questioned, my irritation palpable.

“Come on, Ashton, I miss you,” she pleaded, trying to lean in closer. But I stepped back, creating distance between us, unwilling to entertain her advances.

"Don't tell me you're still holding onto resentment after two years, Ash," she said softly as she trailed off.

My jaw clenched at her words. It had been two years of pain and torment for me, all because I had loved her and she had toyed with my emotions.

"Yes, Amanda, it has been two years, two years of hating you," I reminded her bitterly, hoping she could feel the depth of my anger.

Amanda's eyes softened, and she let go of her wrist. She gently rubbed the spot, trying to soothe the pain.

"You hate me, don't you? You have every right to, after what I did. There's no excuse for my actions," she confessed.

I didn't need an excuse, I needed to understand why. Why had she hurt me? What had gone wrong? Was my love not enough?

"I almost died because of you, Amanda. So, no, your excuses mean nothing to me," I stated coldly.

Amanda hugged me, her voice trembling as she tried to speak. Her touch used to mean everything to me, but now...

I caught a glimpse of Allison, watching us with a smirk on her lips.

I pulled away from Amanda, shaking my head. "You can stop with the drama. It's unnecessary."

"I heard what happened, Ash. That's why I came," Amanda said.

"No one asked for you to be here," I replied, turning to face her. I cupped her face in my hand, remembering the beauty of her blue eyes. "Maybe it's best if you just stop trying."

I walked away, heading towards Allison. I took her hand and led her upstairs.

Allison pulled away from my grip, biting her lip as she stared at me. "It hurts," she whispered, rubbing her wrist.

I smiled at her. Something was captivating about her innocent-looking face, despite the hidden depth in her eyes. Her petite stature made me want to hold her close and never let go.

"I didn't mean to spy on you guys," she said with a hint of apology in her voice.

I offered her a reassuring smile, leaning in closer so our faces were just inches apart. "I don't mind," I murmured, my finger gently brushing against her cheek.

Allison took a step back, her eyes darting nervously between me and the ground. "Someone might see us," she cautioned.

"I don't care," I replied, a mischievous grin tugging at my lips.

She hesitated for a moment before giving me a small, fleeting smile. My desire to kiss her grew stronger, and I leaned in even closer.

"Ash," Justin's voice called out, interrupting the moment. Irritation flickered across my face as I turned to face him.

His gaze shifted from me to Allison, who tried to maintain a composed facade.

"I should go," Allison finally spoke.

I held onto her wrist firmly, stopping her. "And why should you?" I questioned. "We're not done talking."

Justin's jaw clenched, his hands forming fists as he observed the tension in the room. This was it, cousin – get angry, show some emotion.

"It's late, Ash, and I'm really tired. I'll be late for work tomorrow if I don't get some rest," she explained, silently pleading for understanding.

My grip tightened as I pulled her closer, my hand resting on her waist.

"Ash," Justin called out once again.

"You're getting loud, cousin. People might start thinking she's your girlfriend," I teased.

Amanda stood behind Justin, her eyes filled with a mix of pain and hatred as she watched the scene play out. She couldn't tear her gaze away from my hand on Allison's waist, and I could practically feel the tension between us all.

I finally let go, Allison felt too embarrassed to face Justin, as She skimmed past him as he tried to touch her, flinching and avoiding his touch as she headed to her room. The door slammed behind her, indicating her anger.

“Ash, what’s going on?” Amanda asked, concerned.

“Go home, Amanda. It’s getting late,” I replied, trying to dismiss her.

“Won't you drop me off? You know how dangerous it is for a lady to go home alone at this time,” she pleaded.

I knew her game. She was stalling, hoping I would take her home. But I wasn't about to fall for it.

“Surely Justin can be kind enough to take you back since he was the one who invited you over,” I suggested, not giving in to her manipulation.

"But..." She began, but Justin cut her off, offering to drive her home. I sensed her displeasure at his sudden interference, yet I also felt a wave of relief wash over me. I was growing weary of repeatedly seeing her face.

"How long will you keep avoiding me, Ash?" Amanda's voice pierced the tension.

Pausing, I met her gaze sideways. "Until your face and your betrayal hold no power over me," I retorted, striding towards my room. I unlocked the door, entered, and shut it firmly behind me.

My eyes fell on the vase sitting on the table. Consumed by anger, I grabbed it and hurled it against the wall, watching it shatter into pieces.

I couldn't believe Amanda's audacity. The pain of her betrayal was still raw, and I knew I couldn't forgive her easily.

As night fell, everything went awry. I stared at my palm, balling it into a fist, and struck the wall with force.

As I sat on my bed, trying to calm my racing heart, I heard Justin's voice outside my door, apologizing to Amanda for my behavior and offering to take her home.

I couldn't bring myself to listen any longer, so I put on my headphones and turned up the music to drown out their voices.

I knew that this wasn't the end of the drama between us, but for now, I needed to focus on healing and moving on from the pain Amanda had caused me. As I closed my eyes and let the music wash over me, The memory of that night flooded in.

{THAT FATEFUL NIGHT}

"Amanda, pick up the damn phone!" I yelled in frustration, repeatedly dialing her number only to be sent to voicemail each time.

My grip on the steering wheel tightened as I steered through the chaotic weather, the pounding rain making it difficult to see clearly.

"Why is she ignoring me?" Thoughts of what my father had disclosed to me raced through my mind. "Amanda... How could you?"

I clenched the steering wheel even harder, struggling to contain the torrent of emotions swirling inside me.

I needed to hear the truth from her. She couldn't just walk away like this. As I drove, a mix of anger and sorrow clouded my focus on the road.

Stay on track, Ash. Don't let your emotions take over. The memory of my conversation with Amanda echoed in my mind.

"I did it for us, Ash. For our future," her voice rang in my ears, each word a painful reminder of her betrayal.

No, she wouldn't betray me like that. Tears mingled with the rain on my face, blurring my vision. No... I must reach the stadium.

he speeds up, determined to confront Amanda, but as he nears the stadium, his mind becomes clouded with thoughts and emotions

I... I can't concentrate. My hands tremble uncontrollably as I feel the car slipping from my grasp. No... no!

The vehicle collides with the barrier, sending me lurching forward, my body meeting the unyielding steering wheel. "Amanda... why?"

As darkness envelops me, consciousness slipping away, the distant wail of sirens grows louder in my ears.

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