Do Not Look For Me

 "Oh, Ash, my baby. I'm so glad you're okay."

 Ashley was caught off-guard when Leticia abruptly hugged her. The woman held her face in her hands, and moved her head from side to side, inspecting her from head to toe.

 With a satisfied but worried look on her face, Leticia pecked Ashley on the forehead and cheeks. "I'm so sorry I couldn't come to see you earlier. I was out of the country. But I'm happy you're okay."

 Leticia continued to peck her on the cheeks. Ashley pushed the woman away gently. "Mom, Ashley's recuperating.", Nathan said from behind.

 "Oh, sorry dear." Leticia pulled back. Ashley then gave Nathan a grateful look. Nathan went ahead to sit next to Ashley. He then pulled her towards him. Ashley didn't react. She had grown used to Nathan's act over the years. "Mom, I want you to advise Ashley about going to random places. If she had listened to me about not going to that club, she wouldn't be this hurt."

 Leticia's gaze then went from Nathan to Ashley. Ashley looked at her mother and inwardly cursed Nathan. "Ash, I have warned you about these places. What if something worse happened to you?" Ashley watched her mother visibly shiver after she spoke those words, and she couldn't help but feel as pang of guilt.

 "I'm sorry, mom." Leticia shook her head. "Don't apologize to me. Apologize to Nathan."

 Ashley had no choice but to look at the man. She didn't miss the mocking smile in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Nathan."

 Leticia nodded in satisfaction.

 The three began to chat. Well, it was mostly Nathan and Leticia talking about business. Ashley didn't care about their conversation anyway. Even though she was Leticia's only child and heir to the Scott's fortune, she had no intention of running the family business. Nathan received a call after some time and left Ashley and Leticia on their own. "I see your relationship with Nathan is good."

 "Mom-", Leticia cut her off. "Ash, I don't see why you should want to divorce such a perfect man. Do you know how many women would die for a man like him?"

 Ashley wanted to scream. Nathan was nowhere near perfect for her. Yes, he had the looks. He had the money and the brains but the man had no feelings. He only acted affectionately towards her when others were around.

 "Such a man would never cheat on you." Ashley's hands clenched into fists. Her mother was wrong. He did cheat and he was very open to her about it.

 Leticia held onto Ashley's hands. She looked into the young woman's grey eyes with a smile. "I want you to be safe and happy. And being with Nathan will guarantee that."

…

 Nathan entered the bedroom with only a bathrobe on. Ashley sat on the bed, busy typing on her laptop. The 'Global Writers Awards' was coming up and she needed a new book to get herself another nomination.

 Nathan, sitting on the side of her bed went completely and unnoticed by her. The smell of aftershave wafted into her nose making her brows wrinkle. Nevertheless, she continued with her work

 Nathan ran his hand through his half-wet hair before speaking, his dark gaze on her. "Would you have gone to my mother too if I had disagreed once again?"

 Ashley stared at him, not speaking. However, Nathan caught the flash of guilt in her eyes. The man shut her laptop close. Fortunately, she had saved her work in advance, hence she had nothing to worry about. Nonetheless, she was not happy with his action.

 Nathan put her laptop away, but before she could speak, he picked her up by the waist, pulling her towards him. Ashley felt a sense of fear, her heart beating out of her chest. "N-Nathan-"

 "Why are you so intent on divorcing me?" He pushed her back onto the bed and got on top of her, his arm around her waist. "I've given you everything. Money, status, whatever it is, you name it. What more do you want, Ashley. What more should I give you to get you to stay with me!"

 Nathan's yell stunned Ashley. She had never seen him like this before. The Nathan she knew was always calm. Unfeeling, even. Except in bed, though. But Nathan was never like this. He seemed so out of touch, his eyes reddened as he stared into her grey pupils.

 His lips then pressed on hers. Ashley felt all the air being sucked out of her. She was unable to breathe. And as Nathan ravaged her body, Ashley felt nothing but pain. She cried out but the man would not stop and eventually, she gave up. She lay idly as he continued.

 The light in Ashley's eyes grew dimmer. When everything was done, Nathan lay by his side with his eyes closed his breathing steady.

 Ashley stared, her gaze on the ceiling. She suppressed the new tears that threatened to fall, her breaths erratic as she got lost in thought. She should have noticed Nathan's drunkenness. She shouldn't have ignored unusual smell of alcohol in his breath. This happened every time he was drunk. Nathan always went crazy with her. It was like the alcohol had driven him to her.

 Ashley hated intimacy with Nathan. She refused to share a man with another woman. But it could not be helped. She had no say in it.

 The night passed quickly. Nathan opened his eyes and felt a throbbing headache. And when he looked down at his body, his eyes widened in shock.

 He had made this mistake once again. He was trembling. This was a mistake he hadn't intended to make once again, especially when Ashley was so intent on getting a divorce.

 Turning his head, he expected to see Ashley, but he didn't. The man went mad looking for the young woman all over the villa.

 It was only when he came back into the room later, did he see a piece of paper on the table by the bedside. 'I'm out of town for business. Do not look for me.' The letter had Ashley's signature below it.