Chapter 13: Missed the old you

Ashley's car soon reached the main mansion. She was supposed to visit her father yesterday after dinner, but even she didn't realize how long it took for her to say Goodbye to Tristan.

Her heart still felt happy remembering her pleasant mood when she was with him.

There wasn't too much talking but just him being so considerate toward her made her anger toward him disappear.

Ashley shook her head when she looked out and found herself in front of her house.

'We reached so soon, she thought and chuckled at her silliness

Stepping out, Ashley walked inside the mansion.

She wanted to ask her father when he came up with a plan to set a date for her, and that too with the most influential man in the country, S.

Ashley knew her father had his way because he was a businessman and getting down Tristen for her wasn't a big deal for him unless he was a good friend with them.

Richard was enjoying his morning coffee sitting on the couch while his eyes scanned through the newspaper in his hand.

As soon as he heard the clicking sound of the heels, he immediately averted his eyes away from the paper and watched his daughter walk toward him.

"I have been waiting for you since yesterday, darling.." Richard folded the newspaper and watched Ashley take a seat.

She found her father very calm even after the entire news channel was flooded with her news.

Brushing off his teasing question, she asked," How do you know Tristen Knight's dad."

Ashley might do she not have known he would also be learning about the knights.

As per her knowledge, the Knight family returned to country S when their elder son Tristen took over the business here. They were very lowkey people who never liked to attend lavishing business parties. Then how come her father got to know about them that he even caught Tristen as her blind date?

Richard had this grin on his face when she came in, and now that grin widened even more, making her curious.

Watching Ashley staring at him with curious-looking eyes made Richard speak up.

"Tristen's mother, Grace, was your mother's childhood friend. Through her, I got to know about Tristan," Richard answered, but that didn't convince Ashley.

" No way...I have never seen any of mom's close friends come to meet her. What rubbish... you are lying, dad," she strikes back, not convinced by his answer.

Richard knew talking with a puzzle never made Ashley believe his words, so he told her everything from the beginning.

There was complete tranquility between both of them when Richard broke the silence.

"I only wish you happiness, and Tristen will be the right guy who would love and cherish you the way you want" Richard wasn't ashamed to think about his daughter's break up with Greg because that man wasn't trustworthy, but Tristen, he wasn't like him at all.

"A-And why do you feel I won't find happiness within me, dad, and would need a man to make me happy? There isn't always a person you need to find happiness with, and I have already learned it."

Ashley didn't want to go through the same phase where she treated herself lower just so her relationship with Greg would be stable, but in the end, what did she get in return for betrayal?

She did everything to keep her relationship together with Greg ignoring all the speculation around him because she trusted him blindly but not anymore.

She didn't want a man to make her happy because she wanted to find happiness within herself, and for that, she had to punish everyone who mistook her for a stupid lamb betraying and playing with her kindness.

Richard knew where her words came from, but that wasn't a solution.

Reaching his hand to her, he held them into his and looked into her eyes," You may not get my words now, Ash, but one day you will find a person who will be the reason for your happiness and the person who I see for you is Tristan."

Ashley saw how profound her father's words were, and she could feel the sincerity within them. He was a man who could tell about any person just by taking one glance.

She said she might try it, but still, a part of her heart feared getting hurt. She liked the time she spent with Tristen but was he the guy who wouldn't break her heart?

She didn't know...

Richard watched Ashley's complicated expression and knew she wasn't ready to start a new relationship.

He had always given her the liberty to make her own decision; even, in this case, he wouldn't force her and let her find it on her own.

When Grace told him about Tristen's liking toward his daughter, he finally saw hope. He only hoped for the right time when Ashley would realize that whatever he said was right.

After spending some more time with Richard, Ashley left the mansion to meet Alice.

Ashley knew she had to keep herself from getting caught by Greg and his team. She knew he had come to find out that it was all her doing that professionally targeted his career.

She didn't want to face him yet because she didn't know if she would keep her calm once she came to see him.

Her car stopped in front of the coffee shop where both she and Alice used to hang out as a teenager. It was their secret meeting place where they would meet without getting clicked on by the paparazzi.

Opening the glass door, Ashley walked in and saw Alice wave her hand. She walked towards the last table in the corner, away from everyone's eyes.

"I thought I would be the one waiting for you" After placing her handbag on the table, Ashley sat opposite Alice.

By the look, Ashley understood the girl hadn't slept the whole night, and when she did fall asleep, she was called to meet with her.

Yawning, Alice rubbed her face," You know it's hard for me to fall asleep at night," Alice complained and closed her eyes for a while before opening them.

"You should consult a better doctor Alice. Your sleeping disorder is getting worse" Alice was an insomniac and would always find it hard to get sleep.

Listening to Ashley's concerned words made Alice roll her eyes," You know I hate going for therapies. It never worked back then, nor it would work now" shaking her head, she continued," By the way are you enjoying attacking Greg. I am sure he must be fuming for his loss" grinning she looked at the menu card ordering the waiter and placing the order for them.

"Hmm... a little bit, but I will be at peace when I would fully get him down n take away everything he got because of me" Ashley didn't have a pity pitiful on her face because she was showing concern towards him.

Now when she thought about their time together, it had always been her who worked hard while he was busy getting project after project under her name.

"That, my girl. You know Ashley, I missed this old you. Now that you are back, I can't wait to see how that bastard sees his end" agreeing with Alice's words, Ashley felt like she had wasted two years on a man who had just used her.

Ashley should have known he wasn't a man of trust when she first saw him with Jane walking out of her changing room.

When she asked about it, he lied, telling her that Jane had a rough time dealing with her boyfriend, which was why he was in her room consoling her.

Greg was so fluent in his lies that she quickly agreed with him. Such a stupid girl she was even to believe him when he had a secret affair with her that time.

"Anyways, let's not about that scum. Let me know how your date goes. Did you like the guy?.." Alice twitches her brows, grinning at Ashley excitedly.

Ashley rolled her eyes at her over excitedly and nodded her head.

"Then, did you find the man exciting? I mean, was he handsome, sexy, and hot" her voice turned heavy as she started to attack with her seducing thoughts.

"Shut up, Alice. You looked like a sex-craving woman right now" Ashley didn't like how she was drooling her words on Tristen.

It was not like she had ever stopped her from talking about any man, but Tristen, she didn't like that words.

"You know I can't stop myself from describing their beauty" Alice was like this from the beginning. She liked to flirt with every other man who would charm her but picking one to entertain her was her choice.

Ashley shook her head and looked at the waiter who came up with the coffee they ordered.

Placing the order, he left when Ashley said," He is the son of my mother's best friend, and-" she said it with a very casual tone which Alice arched her brow in her calm demeanor.

"And???"

Stirring her coffee, Ashley looked down, averting her gaze from Alice, and said," His name is Tristen Knight."

Ashley was waiting for a scream from Alice, but that didn't come, making her lift her head and look at her friend.

Alice, who heard her words, felt her mind freeze. She was talking about Tristen Knight.. the most handsome eligible bachelor of country S whom no one had ever seen.

"Alice, say something" Ashley, who found Alice stuck with her eyes popped out like a ball,s felt anxious; she might have got a panic attack that froze her entire body.