The Incredible Anderson Denfield: path to power

02

Anderson smiled weakly as he continued to stare at her in bewilderment.

He couldn't believe he was living under the pretense of love and never fully knew the woman he was married to.

She suddenly looked so changed , like a completely different person.

" I loved you, Ashley. " He said, unable to hide his feelings even after everything that had happened.

“Love?” Ashley said with a faint, mocking smile. “I suppose I did. Once. But love doesn’t pay the bills, Anderson. Not when it’s tied to a man who can’t even afford to take care of himself.”

The words hit him harder than he expected.

"Is this what you want?! " Anderson's voice was calm as he asked her.

"What is it, Anderson? I hate it when people make me repeat myself twice. What's so hard in penning down your signature on a paper? Can you please hurry so I can be where I need to go! "

Anderson smiled and walked over to the table.

She was no longer the good kind hearted girl he once knew- who would do anything possible to make him happy.

The girl who was willing to marry him despite her family's objection and wondered how quickly everything changed.

He could no more see the jovial smile and kindness that once graced her face whenever he stared at her.

Her wrists were adorned with jewelry and expensive bangles —something she once hated wearing.

" What changed you, Ashley? You weren't like this from the start. What happened to the old you?" Anderson asked in a low voice.

" Don't you understand! I'm still me but smarter" Ashley's face was irritated. " I'm done with this marriage, Anderson! Your signature is all that is left. Stop making this harder than it is ."

Anderson didn't answer her, instead he grabbed the pen on the table and took a long look at her.

" Okay, I'll give you what you want. " Anderson said, his voice steady but filled with quiet pain " In the future, know I really had high hopes for you. "

This got Ashley thinking for a second. Why does he sound so different making her feel like she would regret this?

She looked at him hard, guessing he is probably trying to change her mind

" You should have known from the start that me and you can never be together. We had so much difference and yet you still went ahead to marry me. So don't try blaming me for your own mistake "

Anderson smiled out.

" Funny but true. You are now a mighty magnate in charge of one of the top leading establishments in Bedford City and I'm still the same poor guy who cooks and clean for you which is the only thing I seem to be good at in your eyes.

Ashley smiled with disdain. Finally he's seeing the truth she wanted him to see. He is finally accepting the fact that she is now way above his league.

" It feels nice hearing that from your mouth. You can finally see we are in different worlds and I can't be with a useless person like you anymore ."

" Really? " Anderson said in a mocking manner. " If that is what you think of me then I think this divorce is worth it. "

" So what are you trying to say?" She looked cold.

" It's been three years. Three good years, Ashley ... Have I ever treated you wrong during those times, no matter how tired I was, I would make sure to make you warm food. Every time you were in pain, I would make sure you were cared for. And when you said you wanted to have one of the best establishments in the city, I offered you my ideas and support for the sake of achieving your dreams "

" Is this all I get back ... For every single thing I've done! Do I really deserve the pretense? You know—

" Enough. I don't want to hear any of it." She cut him short.

Her chest was rising and falling softly as she spoke. " You did all those things because you love me... Stop making it seem like I was using you."

" And the ideas... Without my careful planning, do you think the company would get to where it is today? I worked tirelessly day and night to build that name. Ideas doesn't build a company, Money does... Something a worthless man like you must know"

" And besides I have been taking care of you, allowing you to live in my apartment since our marriage and feeding you. I think I have done much more for you than you deserve."

" Wow... " He looked at her amusingly " you think your hard work alone was what took the company to where it is ?"

" I don't care what you think. You are just trying to give yourself cheap validation for something you never worked for." Ashley's face was filled with rage.

Anderson smiled, realizing there was no hope in saving their marriage.

He sighed gently then proceeded to signed the document.

When he was done. he dropped the pen and smiled like he won the lottery.

Ashley was surprised.

She was expecting him to plead but somehow, he seemed confident.

He turned to her coldly. " We have nothing together again. I hope you don't get any regrets when you recall this very day."

Ashley's face turned red.

She seemed clearly hurt by his words.

What the hell did he mean she would regret leaving a worthless man like him?

" What the hell are you saying? "Ashley shouted.

Her fists were clenched tightly as she watched him.

She was about to say more when suddenly, her phone started ringing.

She gave him a cold look before picking.

Her voice softened instantly, transforming from harsh to a warm, affectionate tone.

" Hey, " she smiled into the phone, her face lighting up. " Yeah, I'm almost done here, I'll be there soon."

She suddenly burst into cute laughs.

" You know I can't wait to see you too, Haha ha ha"

She turned away slightly, as if dismissing anderson entirely, her focus now solely on the voice on the other end of the line

Anderson stood there, watching bitterly as she continued her conversation, his fists clenched at his sides. It was unmistakably the same man he had accused her of cheating with. The sweetness in her voice, the intimacy, it all confirmed his worst fears.

The betrayal felt like a physical weight pressing down on his shoulders.

Despite everything, he couldn't deny the fact he still loved her greatly and was getting deeply hurt by her actions but chose not to show it.

"Alex, stop it" she laughed again

" I love you too. See you soon, hahaha" she ended the call with a light laugh, as if nothing significant had just happened.

As she hung up, she finally met Anderson's eyes, her expression unreadable and cold. "Well," she said flatly, "I've got to go."

With that, she grabbed her bag and headed for the door, pausing only to look back at him one last time. "Guess this is the last time I'll be seeing you."

Anderson stared at the papers, then back at Ashley, his eyes wide with disbelief.

His heart raced, a desperate hope surging through him that maybe, just maybe, she would give him some explanation, some final reason that could make sense of everything."That's it? You're just leaving? No explanation, no... nothing?"

Ashley shrugged, unfazed. "What more do you want me to say? " She turned to leave.

" ASHLEY! " Anderson tried calling boldly but it sounded more of a desperate cry.

Ashley paused at the doorway, her hand on the door handle. She turned to face him, her face void of emotions "You've already signed the papers, Anderson. We're officially done. You have to let me go, honey." She sent him a cold smile.

Just then, her phone rang again. She took the phone and glanced at the screen, a giggle escaping her lips.

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