Ashton knows exactly why Cara asked him to kiss her out of the blue. He lowered his head and slowly moved towards Cara. He saw her close her eyes and he did the same. Ashton gently placed his lips on hers.
It took a while before Cara realized what was happening. Ashton held Cara’s chin and wiped the side of her lips with his fingers.
“I lo…” Cara gasped as she suddenly came back to her senses. She almost told him those dreaded words, those three words she intended on keeping unuttered from Ashton forever. “Ahem.” She cleared her throat. “Why did you not hesitate? Don’t you hate me?” Cara asked Ashton.
Ashton grunted like he was trying not to answer Cara’s question. “Oh, God!” He muttered under his breath. “I don’t hate you. In fact, I like you very much.” He covered his mouth after he said those words. He took a deep sigh and looked directly into Cara’s eyes. “Hey, so I am just curious… did you compel me not to lie to you?” Ashton asked.
Cara instantly remembered that night. She specifically told Ashton not to lie to her anymore. However, the way Ashton acted is the complete opposite of what she expected. “Ashton, I also compelled you to stop being sweet to me.” She reminded him.
“I see, but I guess the compulsion of truth outweighs that one,” Ashton reasoned out. He inhaled sharply as he acted like he had figured out something big. He poked Cara in her sides, tickling her. “Cheeky little witch! I’m pretty sure you are the one who brought this void within me.” He pointed to his chest.
Cara rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Whatever void you are referring to… just think of it as a boarding pass.”
Her answer confused Ashton; “Excuse me, did I hear that right? Boarding pass?”
Cara bobbed her head. “Exactly. You are riding my boat just because of that void. If not, I would have kicked you off the boat a long time ago.” She made it clear to Ashton that she would not think twice about removing him from her life, after all, the Sakalam could eliminate him with just a flick of a finger. Killing him will not bear any weight on his title or powers, unlike the other way around.
“Chill! Don’t kill me.” Ashton chuckled and raised both his hands. He surrendered for today; he had his entire lifetime to show Cara his love little by little.
“beep” Cara’s phone alerted. She saw a message from Theo. Cara smiled at seeing Theo’s name and it instantly lit the flame of jealousy in Ashton. Cara turned her back from Ashton and sat back in her chair. Ashton followed her without a word.
“Hi, how are you? I could not sleep last night thinking you were not okay.” Theo was straightforward.
Cara felt weird that those sweet words from Theo felt nothing for her. This type of connection with him was her dream, but now… it is Ashton. She looked up to steal glance of her husband. She felt irritated seeing him smiling so sweetly while talking to the staff.
Ashton’s ears turned red and felt uncomfortable, as if someone was cursing at him right then. He looked in Cara’s direction and saw how she was murdering him in her thoughts. He quickly chose a random cake and placed his focus on his own phone as he held his hot ears.
“I broke it off with him.” Cara replied to Theo’s text.
“What? Are you okay? I can’t imagine your situation being stuck with him right now.” Theo said, even though he knew what was really going on with Ashton. For Theo, the situation of Ashton being with Cara is the lesser evil. He can’t let Cara be alone without the protection of Ashton when he himself clearly cannot be beside Cara in tough times like this.
“I erased his memories of us. I think he is fine, but me I am dying inside.” Cara said her truth.
“Here is a virtual hug and pat on the head for you. I can imagine how hard this may be for you. Chin up, you would not want him seeing you sad.” Theo replied.
“How would you know?” Cara mocked Theo without even analyzing the situation.
Theo bared his feelings for Cara. “Knowing that you are sad right now is hurting me. If he sees your pain, he will get hurt too.”
“Nice try, he does not even know.” Cara responded and heaved a sigh.
“Cara, the heart never forgets.” Theo’s words struck Cara deep. She let out a faint smile because, like what Theo said, she should never show her pain to Ashton.
Ashton saw Cara's smile while she was exchanging a text message with Theo. He felt like his heart was stabbed multiple times seeing her smile at another man when she could not even have a decent conversation with her.
“Damn bastard is too lucky.” He mumbled. Ashton is irritated that Theo gets to make Cara's smile again while he receives this kind of treatment from his wife.
Cara barely understood what Ashton had just said. “Huh? What was that?”
Ashton shrugged his shoulders, unwilling to explain further.
“Here is your dessert.” The pretty staff carefully placed the slices of blueberry cheesecake that Ashton had just ordered for them.
“Thanks, dear.” Ashton smiled at the woman.
Cara almost choked on her cake when she heard Ashton speak so sweetly to another woman. He was never this polite to other women before, but he is doing it very openly now. What is worse is how the woman seemed to flirt back at Ashton even if she was there. “Ugh, this cake tastes so bad.” She acted like she wanted to puke.
“Are you jealous?” Ashton chuckled as he asked.
Cara stood up without answering Ashton’s question. “Are you kidding me? Let’s go.”
Ashton stood up and followed Cara. “Do you actually want me to answer that question?” He smirked at Cara and offered his arm to him.
Cara stared at Ashton with disdain. She grunted loudly and raked her hair with her hand. “Ashton! We can’t do this.” She said in a serious tone.
“What do you mean, this?” Ashton asked innocently.
Cara pointed out to both of them. “This, you and me…” She placed her hand on her forehead as if she had a really serious headache. “We are not supposed to be like this anymore.” Cara swallowed hard, doing her best to prevent that first tear from falling.
“Hmm, look what we have here.” Percy interrupted their arguing.
Ashton and Cara fell silent as they both looked in Percy’s direction.
“Oh, okay. It is a lover’s quarrel.” She commented as she rested her hand on her hips. Percy did not get an answer from the two, as she was positive she had figured out the situation. “Okay, I’ll take my leave. I’m not supposed to be near you, anyway.” She said and turned her back to the two.
Cara’s heart pounded hard at hearing Percy’s words. “Wait…”
Percy stopped and faced Cara. “Yes? Do you need anything?”
“We just met yesterday. Why are you acting like you are really avoiding me?” Cara confronted Percy. She truly despises the way she acts innocently while berating her.
Percy’s jaw dropped, and her face turned pale. “What do you mean… We met yesterday?”