- 10.
Jake had rented an apartment. A small two- bedroom, similar to our place in Bentonville, but three times the price. “Cost of living’s high here. All my money’s tied up in the company.” He looked almost embarrassed. “I used the
money on your card.” “It was yours anyway.” He kissed me. “I’ll give you my paycheck from now on.”
Now that the company was registered, he couldn’t keep going back and forth. I didn’t have much holding me back in Bentonville. We decided I should resign and move to Shenzhen too.
く
I went back to Bentonville to finalize my
resignation just as school started. Jake’s
company was thriving, and he’d even been interviewed a few times as a rising
entrepreneur. The colleague who’d offered to give Jake her Mercedes business saw me and rushed over. “We saw your husband on TV the other day! I knew he was a diamond in the rough. Turns out, we both have good taste. He’s really made it now!” Another chimed in, “Chloe’s got a keen eye. Introduce us to some eligible bachelors, will you?”
I looked at the faces surrounding me. The same ones who’d gossiped behind my back. I gave them a polite smile. “Sure.”
As I was leaving, I heard someone call my name. Sarah. She was wearing a black dress, her face tense. “I… I owe you an apology. I was greedy. Trying to push you towards my cousin. I
shouldn’t have done that.” I shrugged. “Don’t worry about it.” “Wait.” She grabbed my hand.
<
“Chloe, I’m sorry. I was forced to do it.”
Then everything went black.
I woke up in a bed. Soft mattress. Spacious
room. Roses blooming outside the floor–to- ceiling windows. This was… the mansion. My mind reeled. Had I not died? Was I still here? Was it all a dream?
The door opened. Ashton walked in. “Awake?” I tried to sit up, but my body was limp. “Don’t bother. You can’t move.” I remembered Sarah’s words. “You did this? Ashton, you know kidnapping is a crime.” He laughed, as if I’d told a joke. “Kidnapping? Chloe, you were mine to begin with!” He stepped closer, his eyes filled with a possessive madness. “Don’t you see? We were always meant to be together. Right here.”
It finally hit me. Why, despite my best efforts, I couldn’t escape him. He’d been reborn too. I became completely calm. “Meant to be?
<
Ashton, every day with you was a living hell. If
you hadn’t threatened my parents, I would never
have stayed here with you.” He stared at me,
shocked. “You…” “Yes, I remember everything
too.” I met his gaze. “And this time, I won’t give
you another chance to hurt me.” “Hurt you? I
would never! Chloe, you loved me. We were
together for ten years. It was my fault. I
shouldn’t have left you alone in the mansion. If I
hadn’t…” He trailed off. I knew what he meant.
If he hadn’t, I wouldn’t have died.
I almost laughed. “Ashton, don’t you get it? Why
did I stay with you after my parents died? To
gather evidence. To avenge them. I had to see
you go to jail. It was the only way I could find
peace.” “You want to know how your company
secrets got leaked? How the police found out
about all your dirty little secrets? It was me. I
wanted you to pay for what you did.” “Enough!”
“Not nearly enough.” I let it all out. “After you
went to prison, I set the fire. I wanted you to
lose everything.” Including me, tainted by his
<
touch. “Why… I loved you so much… why…”
In my past life, I’d rejected Ashton. He’d tricked
my father into taking out a loan from loan
sharks and forced me to be with him. My dad,
to protect me, turned himself in. My mom,
heartbroken and enraged, fell ill. Ashton cut off
her medical care and forced me to move into
the mansion.
I looked at him, my voice cold. “Love? You don’t deserve to use that word.” I stood up, testing
my restraints. They were gone. Ashton was
stunned. “How…” “How can I move?” I stared at
him, my face expressionless. “You drugged me last time, Ashton. I won’t make the same
mistake twice.” I signaled. Police officers burst
into the room. Ashton became hysterical.
“Chloe, let’s forget everything, start over! I don’t
care what you did. I forgive you!”
I saw Jake standing at the doorway. I ran to
him. As I passed Ashton, I whispered, “But I
don’t forgive you.”
