The young Ashley, who was in a white blouse and blue short skirt of their school uniform ran after the young Raymond in a school field. They were on break so they were all playing on the school playground that was covered in green grass carpet. Suddenly Raymond heard a plop behind him. He stopped on his track, his smile instantly disappeared as he turned around, seeing that his girlfriend was on the floor wincing in pain.
“Ahh, it hurts.” The young Ashley cried as she stared at her boyfriend with her big watery eyes as her eyelashes fluttered. She reached out to him, “My legs hurt Raymie…please help me up.” She pouted her lips, her cheeks even fairer as she called Raymond the special nickname only dedicated to her to call him. The love-struck Raymond then didn’t even blink, all his attention on his cute girlfriend. The field was so quiet that they could both hear the sound of their breath. “Raymond?” Ashley called seeing her boyfriend standing there in a daze.
Ashley’s body jiggled slightly as she shook herself, her eyes sparkling with playful mischief. She gazed up at Raymond, her lips pursed in a cute pout.
Raymond’s eyes refocused, and a low, rumbling chuckle escaped his lips. He reached down, his hands closing around Ashley’s waist, and lifted her effortlessly into the air.
As he cradled her in his arms, Ashley’s legs wrapped around his waist, and her arms slid around his neck. The surrounding students erupted into a chorus of squeals and shrieks, the females among them gazing at Ashley with envy.
One of them whispered loudly, “Oh my god, he’s so romantic!” Another sighed wistfully, “I wish I had a boyfriend like that!” The commotion drew the attention of passing students, who slowed down to stare at the couple. Ashley was all smiles, still gazing into Raymond’s piercing blue eyes as they walked away.”
Back to the present?
“Raymond!” As Ashley’s hand touched his arm, Raymond’s body stiffened, his muscles tensing beneath his skin. His eyes flashed with a mixture of emotions – anger, pain, and longing before he quickly masked them with a cold, detached expression.
Raymond’s face, once a radiant map of love and adoration, now seemed etched with the lines of time and experience. His eyes, once bright with passion, now appeared cold and detached, piercing through Ashley like a shard of ice. The warm glow of nostalgia was replaced by the harsh fluorescent lighting overhead.
His eyes snapped back into focus, and he was met with the stark reality of the hospital’s sterile surroundings. Raymond’s expression hardened, his jaw clenched in a tight line. He looked down at Ashley, his eyes cold and detached. “Don’t try so hard, Ashley,” he warned, his voice low and even. “I’m not the same man you knew five years ago. And never call me that name again. The day you ended things with me was the day you lost the right to call me that. My heart belongs to someone else now.”
The words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the chasm that had grown between them. Ashley’s face fell, her eyes widening in shock and hurt.
Raymond’s movements were abrupt as he stood up from his squatting position, his eyes never leaving Ashley’s face. He towered over her for a moment, his expression cold and detached. Then, he turned his back on her and walked away, his footsteps echoing off the hospital walls.
“Raymond!” Ashley screamed his name, her voice that of a shrew. I know you are just saying all that to piss me off. You promised to be with me forever. I know you Raymond, I know your heart, and I know you’d never let me go.” What answered the almost crazy Ashley who was still sitting on the floor was the sound of Raymond’s shoes hitting the floor. Raymond didn’t turn back to look at her. He continued strolling away as his footsteps grew fainter until it was just a distant murmur.
The hallway fell silent, the only sound the soft hum of the fluorescent lights overhead. Ashley’s gaze remained fixed on the spot where Raymond had disappeared, her eyes searching the space as if Raymond would suddenly reappear. But he was gone, leaving behind only the faint echo of his footsteps and the unsettling feeling of being abandoned.
After Ashley was sure Raymond was nowhere in sight, she stood up from the floor, the aura of the entertainment queen was once again shown in her. Someone came running to her. “How did it go?” Ashley asked the girl who came running to her hurriedly, excitement evident in her words.
“Don’t worry sis, I recorded all that happened earlier. I also took some pictures. Layla gave Ashley a toothy grin as they high-fived each other before walking out of the hallway.
As Raymond quickened his pace, his thoughts drifted back to Lina’s condition, but he couldn’t shake the nagging sense that he’d just dodged a bullet. The encounter with Ashley had left a bad taste in his mouth, and he couldn’t help but feel that their confrontation was far from over. His original plan of getting married to Lina, to make Ashley regret ever leaving him back then had been completely dashed out.
All he wanted right now was for his beloved wife to wake up and start their life as a loving couple.
A shiver ran down his spine as he wondered what other drama lay in store for him. Little did he know, the brief moment of calm was only the eye of the storm, and the turbulence was far from over.
Meanwhile, Ashley and Layla walked out of the hospital, their high heels clicking in unison as they made their way to the parking lot. Layla’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she handed Ashley her phone. “Sis, you’re going to love this. I got some amazing footage of your intimate moments with Mr Walton. I’m very sure after we leaked this to the media, everyone will keep complimenting you two as a match made in heaven.”
Layla clapped her hands happily. “By then, he wouldn’t have any choice but to get married to you. And with your history together, getting married is like compensation for the longing you both felt.” As Layla was chirping happily, Ashley couldn’t help imagining the scene where she and Raymond married legally and all the glory and fame she would receive being Mrs Walton.
Her lips curled up, a big grin spreading across her face. Let’s go back to the movie set. She voiced out before walking to her car. She was in the middle of filming when she received a message that Raymond was in the hospital. She didn’t want to know what he was doing there, all she cared about was having an encounter with him.
As Ashley’s car drove out of the hospital parking lot, her car was double-crossed by a black limousine. “Ma’am, it’s like another crazy fan of yours is seeking your attention.” Her driver said, not fazed by this common incident. Ashley was used to scenes like this. She was always stalked by crazy fans. “Just get down and settle him.”
Ashley who was resting her head in her palm lazily told her clueless driver, who didn’t know the worth of the car that just double-crossed them. Who in their right senses using a limo would be stalking a celebrity?
As the driver unbuckled his seat belt to get down from the car, a knock came through the window. A man in a dark suit was standing outside the car, he knocked on the side window where Ashley was sitting. “Who the fuck dares to disturb…,” her word hung on her throat seeing the man smiling at her as she rolled down the window. She felt a shiver down her spine as her back was covered in cold sweat. “Miss Brown, I’m glad you are back in the country.” His smile was captivating, but Ashley who knew what this man in her front was capable of doing felt shill instead.
“My master would like to see you, Miss Brown.” Ashley’s arrogant self was suddenly suppressed. “Only someone with a death wish would dare to be arrogant to his master. Though this man looks scary, his boss is scarier. The mysterious man moved away from the door, giving Ashley a hint that it was time to get out of the car.
As Ashley walked to the limousine, her heart was beating loudly in her chest. She didn’t think she would be meeting him sooner.
“Get in the car.” A cold voice ordered the shaky Ashley who was still standing outside the car, contemplating whether to do as told or just run away.