Need to discuss…
“If that’s the case, then she’s definitely playing her cards well,” I muttered. “From everything we’ve just analyzed, those boys are truly ours, and she’s holding the key to the future of our kingdom. And she knows it.”
Lucas nodded. “She’s definitely smarter than we gave her credit for. She’s waited all this time, biding her time until the right moment. She didn’t use the pregnancy back then because she didn’t need to, whether or not she actually knew about it. Considering the possibility you mentioned earlier, it’s also possible that she knew about the pregnancy and decided to hide it, waiting for the perfect moment to corner us-just like she’s doing now.”
“Exactly! Either way, she’s using the boys to force us into a corner.”
I drummed my fingers on the table, lost in thought. Ashley had always been cunning-it seems we’ve underestimated her once again. But that didn’t mean we were out of options.
“So what do we do?” Lucas asked. “We can’t just sit back and wait for her to make the next move.”
“No, we can’t,” I agreed. “We need to take control of the situation before it spirals further out of our grasp. It may seem like we have no control-and maybe we don’t-but touching someone like Ashley Washington, with the reputation she has now, would get people talking. But between us, we both know we have heirs to the throne. Since the boys are ours, there’s no need to continue trying with Veronica. Though our sons aren’t here, anyone can see they belong in the palace, learning to be the future leaders-not in hiding.”
Lucas leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “And Ashley? What do we do with her?”
A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. “We bring her in. We offer her a deal-one that benefits her as much as it does us. She wants power? Fine. We’ll give her a place in the court, under our terms, of course. But the boys stay here, where they belong.”
“And if she refuses?” Lucas pressed.
“Then we use every tool at our disposal to ensure she complies,” I said firmly. “As much as I hate to admit it, we need our mate-and more importantly, our sons. We’ve let Ashley slip away once; we can’t make that mistake again. We need to remind her who holds the real power in this kingdom.”
Lucas nodded slowly. “Alright then. We’ll summon her. But when she comes and we confront her, she’s definitely going to deny everything-from her marriage to that man down to the boys’ paternity. We’ll have to put her in a position where she can’t lie. Once we get her to open up, we’ll move forward with our plan.”
“Exactly,” I replied, feeling determination settle in my chest. “We can’t let anyone else dictate the future of our kingdom. Not Veronica, not the elders, not even Ashley. We’ll handle this, Lucas. Together.”
Lucas met my gaze, and he nodded, his expression hardening. “Together.”
As we stood, ready to put our plan into action, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. The packs needed stability, and we would give it to them. But first, we needed to face Ashley and uncover the truth, no matter the cost. Our legacy, our rule, and the future of our kingdom depended on it.
“So, is there anything we can use to reach out to her? Like her phone number?” I asked, leaning back in my chair. Lucas turned to the papers, scanning through them until his gaze stopped on the top left corner of the second page.
“Oh, here it is. I have it.”
“Good! Alright then, let’s call her.”
“Wait, what? Right now?”
“Of course, man. Why not?”
“I mean, doesn’t it seem too soon? We just got this information not too long ago.”
“You and I both know that time isn’t something we have. The sooner we do this, the better.” Lucas shook his head slowly, contemplating whether to go through with it. “Well then, hand over the papers. I’ll do it myself. But don’t complain if I speak the way I want to, okay?” I said, yanking the papers from his hand.
“Oh no, no. Let me do it myself,” he said, taking the paper back and pulling out his phone.
“Great choice!” I said smugly, and he scoffed loudly at me.
—
**ASHLEY’S POV**
I was seated in my office, responding to messages from clients about a few landed properties, when my phone rang. I pushed aside my iPad and looked at the screen, analyzing the unknown number calling. Nothing rang a bell. After a few more rings, I finally accepted the call, and I didn’t need anyone to tell me who it was when I heard, “Greetings, Ashley,” from the other end.
“King Lucas Salvatore, how may I help you today? Oh wait, I don’t remember you booking a slot for this call.”
“So now I have to set an appointment just to call you?”
“As you can see, Your Highness! In case you’re not aware, I’m a very busy woman. Phone conversations aren’t something I can fit into my schedule unless my assistant has booked them for me.”
The other end remained silent for a moment, and I rolled my eyes, wondering what he was doing.
“Oh well, since you can’t talk for long, I suppose we’ll have to arrange a meeting in person.”
“And why is that, Your Highness?”
“Because there’s something very important we need to discuss.” The moment I heard this, my heart skipped a beat. What could Simon and Lucas possibly want from me now?
“Alright, I’ll think about it and let you know by tomorrow.”
“Okay, that works,” he said, disconnecting the call, leaving me shivering in fear of what this so-called meeting might bring.
I took a deep breath and leaned back in my chair. George quietly entered the room.
“What’s wrong, Ashley? You look a bit stressed.”
I looked up at him, not saying a word about my conversation with Lucas.
“Stressed? Do I really look stressed?” I asked, touching my face and chin nervously.
“Yes, you look like you haven’t had a proper night’s sleep in a year.”
“What? You’re joking, right?” I jumped up to check myself in the mirror.
“Oh my gosh, just relax, okay? I was kidding. But you do look a bit stressed.”
“So what’s wrong?” he asked again, and I took a deep breath before speaking.
“I just got off the phone with King Lucas.”
“Wait, what? What could they possibly want from you again? You were right when you said they’d bring trouble back into your life the moment they returned. They just won’t let go.”
I rubbed my temples, feeling the tension rise. Lucas and Simon’s return had brought nothing but stress, just as I feared.
“So, what’s the plan?”
“Plan? For what?”
“Are you going to meet him or not?” His question took me by surprise, and I bit my lip nervously.
“You don’t need to feel uncomfortable, Ashley. I overheard everything. If you’re going to meet him, don’t go to their place, and don’t invite them here. It’s too risky. Meet in a public place.”
“Yes, that’s true. I’ll consider that.”
“Good. But are you going?”
“Yes… I mean, no,” I sighed, filled with confusion. “Honestly, I don’t know. Part of me says yes, part of me says no. I’m stuck.”
“Look, Ashley, I’ll never tell you what to do, but remember that whatever you decide will affect your children. Don’t let anyone pressure you. Focus on your happiness first, then your children. If you’re happy, you can give them happiness. If not, you won’t.”
“I will! Thank you, George. You’ve made me feel lighter about this situation.”
“You’re always welcome, Ashley,” he responded, and I sighed, feeling much clearer about what to do next. “Alright then, I’ll see you soon, I have to go attend to some things” he said, getting up to leave while I remained seated
After a while, I stood up from my seat, staring at the space George had just vacated. His words still hung heavy in the air, and despite his attempt to comfort me, my chest was tight. Lucas had called me, after all this time. What could he and Simon possibly want from me? Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.
I walked over to my desk and stared at the blinking cursor on my screen. Work was the last thing on my mind now. How could I focus on anything when the ghosts of my past had come roaring back into my life? I rubbed my temples, feeling the dull throb of a headache forming.
As much as I wanted to forget that call, I knew I couldn’t ignore it. Lucas and Simon both had something up their sleeves, and so I had to be prepared. There was no room for weakness-not now, not ever. I stood up and grabbed my phone, dialing George’s number quickly.
“I’ve decided. I’m going to meet him,” I said when he answered.
A pause, then a sigh on the other end. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “I need to know what he wants, and I’d rather face it head-on than wait for whatever game he and Simon are playing.”
“Alright. Where will you meet him?” George asked, his voice laced with concern.
I glanced at my calendar and the notes I had jotted down earlier. “There’s a hotel on the edge of town. A public space, neutral ground. It’ll be safe enough, and I’ll make sure it’s during the day.”
“That sounds reasonable. Just be careful, Ashley. You know how much power these men have, and trust me they’ll definitely try to impose it on you for sure. Lucas might seem a bit calm, in comparison to his twin brother, even though they are both very ruthless sets of individuals. However, you just really need to watch out because I’m very sure they both have plans behind those eyes of theirs.”
“I know,” I muttered. “I’ll be ready.”
After hanging up the phone, I sat down at my desk, staring out the window. For a moment, I allowed myself to think about my pups-their bright smiles and boundless energy. They were growing up, and one day, they would ask about their fathers. I’d been preparing for that conversation for years, but now it seemed it might come sooner than I thought.
With a deep breath, I stood up, steeling myself for the confrontation ahead. If Lucas thought he could manipulate me or use the boys as pawns, he was mistaken. This time, I wouldn’t be caught off guard.
The day of the meeting arrived, and as I left my house, a strange calm settled over me. It wasn’t the kind of calm that comes from peace; it was the calm before a storm-the quiet certainty that things were about to change, whether I liked it or not.
The hotel was only a short drive away. I parked in the lot, taking a moment to gather myself before stepping out of the car. The bustling lobby greeted me as I entered the building, but the usual noise of clinking glasses and quiet chatter was drowned out by the sound of my own heartbeat.
I had expected Lucas to at least say something against the choice of location, since it was made by no one else but me. However, he surprisingly didn’t say anything, but just agreed to the place I set, and also the time which I set myself as well
Lucas had reserved a private room in the hotel’s restaurant, far from the eyes and ears of others. I hated the secrecy of it, but I understood why he’d done it. A public confrontation between us would have caused too many ripples.
When I reached the entrance to the private dining room, I paused, taking a deep breath. Then, with a firm push, I opened the door.
Lucas was already there, but he was not alone. Simon was also there as well, the both of them seated at the head of the table, their postures tense, hands clasped together on the table. The moment I entered, Simon’s piercing gaze locked onto me the moment I stepped into the room. He remained unshaken, nodding slightly in acknowledgment.