Chapter 21There was something about the way the sunlight filtered through the café windows in Ashland. It didn’t just fall, it settled, warm and drowsy, wrapping the wooden tables and faded cushions in honey colored light. Ava sat by the widow with her knees curled under her seat with a cup of coffe warming her hands.Across her, was Annabelle. The new found friend. Who was virtually making Ashland feel like a home and even felt more interesting than the life she had back in Ithaca.She was scrolling through photos in Ava's gallery, her eyes sharp and mouth twisting into concentrationShe bumped into a particular picture they had taken of a random couple who was passing by, on their last visit to the museum.The expression of the wife to the man in the picture was side splitting and she just could not hold back the push.“This right here,” she muttered, “Is super hilarious. How could someone look that weird?”Ava smiled, not really listening. She was watching the people outside. Her

Chapter 23Christine. The beloved Smith's nanny. The one who had raised Asher and Jessica after their mother's sudden death. She had devoted herself to them, nurturing them into adulthood. However, health issues arose and it was time to go for a well deserved break. Especially since the kids were all grown now.But even in her absence, peace eluded her.It felt like a piece of her was missing. She rarely stays without being lost in thought, even after the doctor had advised her to slow down her thinking, to enable the medication to do their job. Not Christine, she was just closed to obsessed to the kids, especially Asher who would always tell her everything. What was she going to do? The thought of leaving the kids behind and not knowing what happens in their lives, kept haunting her every single dayA day came and she could not hold back the feelings anymore. She picked her phone and called Robert, telling him she would be coming around to see the kids, that was after two years of be

Chapter 25Asher had left the guest house, even longer before Lily could arrive there. She was devastated, sad and wished she had listened to her mother and left the house earlier than she did.And that scooter. It was definitely a devil's messenger. How did she not realise that the girl on that scooter, was sent to mess up her plan? Wait, was that Ava? It's possible that lady was from Ava. If not, why does it have to be on that day, she had finally made up her mind to tell Asher how she feel about him.She was quietly walking round the hotel, searching everywhere and praying harder to see Asher in one of the spots, maybe one thing or another delayed him and he decided to relax before going back into his room.Going towards the pub she noticed her phone had been ringing but didn't know because her mind was several miles away.She paused, slid her hand into her pocket and brought out the phone. Looking at her phone screen, Lily discovered it was Asher calling. Not a second late. She cl

Chapter 27The knock on the door wasn’t loud, but it was enough to distract Jessica in what she was doing with her laptop. She didn’t need to guess who it was. She believed it was Asher who had probably come to ask her questions about their last encounter.However, she didn't stop. She continued with her eyes glued on the business she had going on in her laptop.But then, she heard the door opening slowly. Then the low thrum of her father’s voice followed. But Jessica's stomach twisted when she heard Asher's voice, the way it always did when you suddenly grow hate for someone especially when the echo of their voice and laughter is everywhere.Jessica suddenly detest Asher that the sound from his footsteps aches him so much. She felt Asher was so relaxed and comfortable in the house, after all the things he made herself and their father, Robert, go through.memory you didn’t ask for sneaks in. He sounded the same. That same casual relaxed tone, like nothing ever got under his skin, jus

Chapter 29Robert stood in Jessica's doorway, his arms crossed as he watched Jessica turn the room upside down. He wasn’t angry yet, at least not fully, but he was approaching it and fighting real hard to suppress it. Jessica knew, she could tell from the way he kept averting his eyes to the floor instead. And that has always been his reaction whenever he is angry over something, but what if she doesn't care? Finally she was done, her things set and ready to move with her. She stood in the middle of her room, her bags on the floor right beside her, her eyes piercing through her father's eye. The guts were so high, but she could not as much explain where the power energy was coming from.“I used the past few days to let you know my stand about Asher's return,” she said, her voice raspy but clear. “I have to leave, if your darling son must stay back and that's all I’ve to say "But Robert didn’t respond, his his eyes were still locked on the floor like they were the ones speaking to h