At the gala, all eyes were on me. It was a high-
profile event, the kind the Howards could
attend, but not the Millers. Yet, there they were,
fawning over Mark. My sister, Amelia, was
practically throwing herself at him.
“Ashley? How dare you show your face here?”
<
Amelia gasped. ivy mother stormed over.
“Ashley, do you have any idea what kind of
event this is? You’re embarrassing us!”
I looked at her, feeling nothing. “Aren’t we
disowned?”
“That doesn’t mean anything! You’re still a
Miller!”
“So, what do you want me to do?”
“Leave LA! Go back to the Philippines with your
sugar daddy!”
“But Dad promised I could come back.”
My mother stared at me as if I were crazy.
“You’re delusional. Your name’s been crossed
off the family register.”
“Really?”
<
“Yes!”
“So, I have no legal or familial ties to the
Millers?”
“Correct.”
“Good.” I turned to the room. “I believe
everyone heard that.”
“Ashley, just leave. Don’t make a bigger fool of
yourself,” Amelia said, pretending to be
concerned. “Mark’s here. Don’t you care what
people will think?”
Mark spoke up. “Ashley, I thought you were
getting married?”
“Honey, he has a wife and kids in the
Philippines, and mistresses all over the world.
He’s not marrying her,” Amelia sneered.
“So, your Instagram post was a lie?”
Mark grabbed my arm. “Ashley, I’m asking you
one last time-”
The room fell silent. “Mr. Blackwood’s here!”
“Why would he be at this event?”
“We’re so lucky to see him in person!”
“He’s coming this way…”
وو
“Is he looking at… Amelia Miller?”
Amelia flushed, and my mother beamed.
I turned. Ethan, in a dark suit, looked imposing
and unapproachable. It hit me again
–
this man,
the man I’d only seen on TV and in newspapers,
was my husband. He’d kissed me, held me,
called me “Ashley.” He’d been kind, almost…
loving.
:
=
<
“Ashley,” he said, his voice cutting through the
whispers. It was the first time he’d used my
first name in public.
- 22.
Amelia’s smile faltered. My mother froze. Mark
stared, dumbfounded.
I pulled my arm away from Mark, my eyes
stinging with unshed tears. “Ethan…”
He walked straight to me. “That dress is
beautiful. The makeup suits you.”
“Ethan…” I wanted to laugh and cry at the
same time. As a tear rolled down my cheek, he
pulled me into his arms, right there in front of
everyone.
“Sorry I’m late. Seems you’ve been having some
trouble.” His eyes swept over the crowd,
lingering on my family, then on Mark. “Mr.
<
Howard, what were you discussing with my
wife?”
