I don't know why...

The air hung heavy with unspoken words as Ashley stood a distance away from David, her gaze fixed on the floor. "It's okay," she mumbled, her voice barely a whisper.

David, perched on the edge of her bed, smirked at her. His eyes, usually warm and inviting, held a glint of something else—a challenge, perhaps, or a hint of amusement. He studied her, his gaze lingering on her face, tracing the lines of her features as if memorizing them.

Ashley, unable to bear the intensity of his scrutiny, shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her fingers twisting nervously in the hem of her dress. The silence stretched, punctuated only by the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner.

Finally, David broke the tension, his voice a low rumble. "Just call the head maid if you need or want anything..." He adjusted his clothes, a subtle gesture that seemed to emphasize the distance between them.

Ashley hesitated for a moment before answering, her voice barely a whisper. "Oh, okay. Thanks."

"One more thing," David said, his voice taking on a more serious tone.

Ashley's heart skipped a beat. "What is it?" she asked, her voice laced with apprehension.

"I'm leaving because I have a business trip and I'm leaving now. Just ask the head maid for anything you need."

Ashley's breath caught in her throat. "You're leaving..." she whispered, the words barely audible.

David's expression softened slightly. "Don't worry, you're safe here with us." He paused, his gaze lingering on her face. "I'll be back soon."

"I'm leaving now," David said, his voice firm. He rose from the bed and walked towards the door, his movements decisive. He paused for a moment, his hand on the doorknob, and looked back at Ashley. "Take care," he said, his voice a low murmur.

He closed the door behind him, the sound echoing in the silence. Ashley stood frozen, her eyes fixed on the closed door, her mind racing.

More than a week had passed, and David still hadn't returned from his business trip. Ashley found herself wandering the vast grounds of David's estate, a sense of unease gnawing at her. She sought solace in the solitude of the sprawling backyard, finding herself drawn to a large oak tree that stood sentinel at the edge of the property.

She sat on the worn steps leading up to the tree, her chin resting on her hand, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon. The sun dipped below the trees, casting long shadows across the lawn, and a chill crept into the air.

She heard the rustle of leaves and turned to see the head maid approaching, her face etched with concern.

"Head maid? Do you need something?" Ashley asked, her voice tinged with a hint of nervousness.

"Oh, no," the head maid replied, her voice soft. "I just noticed you've been here alone for a while. Is something wrong?"

Ashley hesitated, unsure how to respond. "Miss, may I ask what you're doing out here?" the head maid inquired, her voice gentle but firm.

"Nothing, I'm not doing anything if I go inside," Ashley replied, her voice barely a whisper.

"Even so," the head maid said, her gaze unwavering. "Please let me stay here," Ashley insisted, her voice firming slightly.

"But I'm worried about you," the head maid expressed, her voice laced with concern.

Suddenly, someone called out, "Head maid!... Head maid!!" A frantic maid rushed in, her eyes darting around, clearly searching for the head maid. Another maid, noticing Ashley talking to the head maid, fell silent, observing the situation with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

"What do you need?" the head maid asked the new arrival, her voice calm and composed.

"Excuse me," the maid replied nervously, her voice barely a whisper. She turned to Ashley, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and excitement. "I just wanted to say..."

Ashley looked at her with curiosity, her brow furrowed in anticipation. "What is it?" she asked, her voice laced with intrigue.

"Young master is here..." the maid whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Oh, I see," Ashley responded, her heart skipping a beat. "When did he arrive?" she inquired, her voice tinged with a hint of urgency.

The head maid quickly made her way to David, her movements swift and decisive. "Just now," the maid answered, her voice barely a whisper. "And I'm going to leave now, Miss, because they might be looking for me," she added, her voice laced with a hint of fear.

"Okay," Ashley replied, understanding the urgency of the situation.

Suddenly, someone was walking towards them, their footsteps echoing in the stillness. The maid bowed before leaving, her voice barely a whisper. "Have a nice day, young master."

David simply looked at her, his expression unreadable, and gestured for her to leave. The maid hurried away, clearly in a rush.

David approached Ashley with a warm smile, his eyes sparkling with a mixture of amusement and affection. "How are you, Ashley?" he asked, genuinely interested in her well-being.

Ashley stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with a mixture of confusion and anticipation.

"I'm... I'm fine," she managed to stammer, her voice barely a whisper.

David's smile widened. "I'm glad to hear that," he said, his voice warm and reassuring. "I missed you."

Ashley's heart skipped a beat. "You missed me?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

David nodded, his eyes locked on hers. "Yes, I did," he said, his voice soft and sincere. "I couldn't wait to get back to you."

Ashley's cheeks flushed crimson. She looked down at her feet, unable to meet his gaze. "I... I missed you too," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

David reached out and gently took her hand, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through her body. "I'm so glad to be back," he said, his voice a low murmur. "I'm so glad to be with you."

Ashley looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and anticipation. She couldn't quite understand what was happening, but she knew that she was falling for him, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and trepidation.

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