Hayley pulled her luggage out without acknowledging Ashton’s presence. His bipolar attitude confused her. She didn’t know what to think of his announcement anymore. So was it really in jest? Didn’t he have any feelings for her? What about the beautiful moments they shared? Were those fake too?
Ashton followed her broodingly, warily looking around him. He knew the caretaker of the house was spying on them. After the wedding, when he and Alexander had gone to the pier to fix a ferry to take them back, he saw Bruce Kingsley’s assistant talking to Joe Symonds, the caretaker of the house. He offered Joe money to find out about Ashton and Hayley’s relationship. Ever since, Joe had been tailing him everywhere. Ashton remembered Bruce Kingsley’s threat. He knew the shrewd criminal wanted to capture Hayley just to get back at him. Therefore, the only way to save her was to show that he wasn’t interested in her.
When he saw her, he had momentarily forgotten his predicament and kissed her but soon he heard footsteps and realized the danger lurking outside Hayley’s door. He had to show his disinterest in Hayley.
“Let me help you load the luggage in the car,” offered Ashton, but she ignored his offer, loading it herself. Still, he came forward to help, taking the suitcase from her hands and loading it into the trunk of the car.
“I’m sorry it had to happen this way. Won’t you bid me goodbye at least?” he insisted, but she just scoffed and walked away.
Eva, Alyssa, and Alexander joined them and they climbed into the car waiting to take them to the pier where a ferry would take them to Alexandria Bay.
The bright afternoon sun shimmered over the surface of the water as their ferry surged forward towards Alexandria Bay, leaving Preston Island behind. Her friends discussed how much they were missing the place already, but Hayley’s mind was in a state of turmoil.
“I’m missing Sienna’s reception party so much. Sky’s so lucky that she can stay as long as she wants to,” said Alyssa, releasing a deep sigh as she glanced back at the island.
“Yeah, we’re the unluckiest ones in the group,” sighed Hayley.
She glanced at Alexander and Ashton, who were busy encouraging two scantily clad females on the ferry, and felt an ache in her heart. She remembered his last words to her. He was trying to prove that she wasn’t anyone special in his life. Maybe he would remain a Casanova all his life. She needed to get over him and move on.
“What are you guys doing tonight? We could have a stay over at my house,” suggested Hayley as the ferry approached Alexandria Bay.
“I have night duty,” said Eva, her mood destroyed by Alexander’s flirting.
“I’ll call you later and plan this,” said Alyssa, as the ferry reached their destination. She pulled Eva along with her towards her car while Hayley walked dejectedly pulling her luggage along towards her car. She looked around to see what Ashton was up to, but strangely, he wasn’t anywhere around. Where did he go suddenly?
With Alexander having left with Alyssa and Eva, Hayley had no way of asking anyone. She saw the ferry waiting for more passengers on their next journey. Where was Ashton’s car?
Confused, she loaded her luggage into her car. It seemed as if Ashton had disappeared in the blink of an eye. Did he go with those women he was flirting with? Anger and jealousy filled her at the thought and she drove home.
Ashton could see her, but couldn’t emerge from his hiding place. The moment he saw Bruce Kingsley and his goons waiting to nab him, he sneaked out to the parking lot to hide in the sea of cars. The men had all spread out near Alexander, Alyssa, and Hayley’s car and he had no option but to go further down toward the exit.
There was only one way left. With Alexander and Alyssa gone, he had to sneak into Hayley’s car somehow if he had to save himself. With his rucksack strapped to his body, he hunched down and went as close to the exit gate as possible, and called Hayley on her number.
“Pick up the damn phone, Hayley!” he muttered, his eyes on Kingsley’s men approaching the exit gate while they searched all over the place for him.
Hayley slowed down and checked the caller ID. It was an unknown number.
On an impulse, she accepted the call. “Yes?”
“Hayley, it’s me, Ashton. Stop at the exit gate for a minute.” He switched off the phone and took the position to wait for her car to come through.
Confused, Hayley looked around but didn’t see anyone. Was this a hoax call? But it was Ashton’s voice! Maybe he was in some danger! She slowed down near the exit gate when she saw Ashton crouching behind a car. She immediately hit on the brakes and stopped right beside him.
He opened the door and climbed in. “Drive fast,” he said, looking backward. Hayley didn’t waste a single minute and drove out of the place as fast as possible.
“You need to drop me at the airport. Take the shortest feasible route.” Hayley noted the desperation, the fear in his voice, and nodded without asking him a single question.
“Shit, they saw me.” He ducked down as Hayley paled considerably.
“Do you want me to drive?” he offered, seeing her hands tremble.
“Yes, please.” She parked the car and unstrapped the seat belt.
“Don’t go out. We don’t have so much time. Just get up and I’ll slide into the seat.”
Somehow, they swapped places and Ashton steered the car into some by-lanes and drove as fast as possible. Hayley sat clutching onto the handle for dear life.
“We lost them. I’ll take a cab from here. I want you to go home.”
“No, I’ll drop you off at the airport,” insisted Hayley.
“Your life will be in grave danger, Hayley.”
“I’ll call my bodyguard over after dropping you,” she said and Ashton nodded.
“Call him now. Ask him to wait for you in front of the domestic terminal.” Hayley called her bodyguard while Ashton drove towards the airport. Thankfully, he could bluff Kingsley and his men this time.
He looked at Hayley and smiled at her. “Thanks for saving my life. Save my new number, Hayley. Call me whenever you miss me.”
“I won’t miss you, Ashton. After all, everything we shared was just a joke, just like your mindless flirting with those women on the ferry. I just hate such guys!”
“What we shared wasn’t a joke.” Ashton couldn’t tell her that the moment they set forth, he could see Joe Symonds watching them from the terrace through his binoculars.
Hayley scoffed and looked away while he drove into the airport with a sigh. He wished he could explain everything now and take her with him. But that was not at all possible. Pasting a sad smile on his face, he stopped the car in front of the domestic terminal. He knew taking a lift from her had jeopardized her security, but he didn’t have a choice.
He opened the door to go out while Hayley gaped at him. Was he bipolar or what? After his rude statements, how can he again change his mind? It left her even more confused. Would he leave her without an explanation? “Call the cops if they stalk you. Be safe, be happy, Hayley.”
“You know what? You’re the most complex character on Earth. I can’t understand you at all!”
Ashton smiled and picked up his bag from the back seat. He knew that but didn’t have time to explain. He had to get out of there quickly. Somehow, he had the feeling that Kingsley came to know of his whereabouts from Madison. He had to teach the bit*h a lesson. Strapping it over his shoulders, he took out the note she had given him.
“Here, this is for you,” he said, handing it over to her and rushing inside as fast as his legs could carry him. Hayley frowned at the note. Did he return her note? Maybe he didn’t want it anymore. She crumpled it and looked around for Henry Stewart, her bodyguard.
“I’m here, Ms. Barclay,” said Henry, opening the door and climbing into the driver’s seat. Hayley released a sigh of relief at the sight of the man. It was evening already and the sun would set any time. She somehow wasn’t feeling very brave at the thought of being stalked by criminals. What if they were lurking in the dark to grab her?
“Take me home, Mr. Stewart.”
“Yes, Ms. Barclay.”
Henry drove her home while Hayley played with the crumpled note in her hands. Suddenly curiosity took the better of her and she opened the note and reread her message to him. It was so heartfelt. How did he not feel anything for her? Did she misunderstand the emotions she saw in his eyes? What was going on? Maybe she was missing something here! She turned the note and gasped with shock. There at the backside was written the answer to her confession. It was something she had never expected to see. Ashton had written it with some red ink.
I Love You, Hayley. Always. Forever!
She gaped at the message, unable to believe her eyes. What did it mean? She touched the letters with her fingertips and blinked with surprise. It wasn’t any red ink; it was Ashton’s blood. He had confessed his feelings with his blood.