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The Rise of Ashton Chapter Fifty four
The Dream and the DrawerA bitter wind howled through the darkness, carrying snowflakes that swirled like ghostly whispers around. Ashton shivered. It was very cold. Too old for a child to be out there. He was small, no older than a child, and his body ached from the cold. A woman clutched him tightly against her chest, her arms trembling as she trudged through knee-high snow. Her ragged clothing barely shielded her from the elements, and her breath came in sharp, desperate gasps. “Hold on, my darling, I'll find shelter soon.” she whispered, her voice raw with pain. Ashton blinked up at her. Her face was blurry, her features softened by the veil of snow and darkness, but he could hear her sobs, deep, broken cries that sent tremors through her frail body. She was crying for him. The wind blew coldly against them and the woman stumbled, nearly falling, but she didn’t let go of him. Ashton buried his tiny face against her chest. He could hear the frantic pounding of her hea
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Fifty five
The ChaseThe cold morning air bit at Ashton’s skin as he stepped outside the Reed estate. If nothing, after the conversation with Carter, he needed that jog even more. The sky was still a dark shade of blue, the first hints of dawn barely creeping over the horizon. The entire world felt still, as if it were holding its breath. Ashton exhaled sharply, his breath visible in the crisp air. He adjusted his hoodie, slipped his phone into his pocket, and began stretching. His mind was still tangled in the remnants of the dream and what Carter had said. And perhaps, what he hadn't said. Shaking his head, he focused on the run ahead. He needed to clear his thoughts, push aside the weight of everything, his father’s secrets, Benjamin’s warnings, Carter’s suspicious behavior. A good run would help. But just as he took his first step down the grand stone pathway leading away from the estate, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He hesitated for a second before pulling it out. Unknown Call
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Fifty six
A Blood Confession A dull, throbbing pain pulsed through Ashton’s head as he slowly drifted back into consciousness. His body felt heavy, every muscle aching from the brutal fight in the forest. He groaned, partly in pain and then in irritation. How many times would he get banged up? His mind was foggy, the last thing he remembered was the masked men. The gunshots. Augustine. His eyes fluttered open. The ceiling above him wasn’t familiar. The room was dimly lit, with deep mahogany walls and minimal decor. A single lamp sat on a nightstand beside the bed. Heavy curtains covered the windows, blocking out any indication of time. The scent of aged wood and faint traces of cologne clung to the air. Where the hell was he? Ashton sat up abruptly, his body protesting the movement. His heart pounded as he scanned the unfamiliar surroundings. This wasn’t his room for sure. Maybe it was some room in the Reed estate. Possibly some storehouse or something equally old and damp. Or p
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Fifty seven
A FaThe boardroom of Titanium Incorporated was filled with a quiet sound of conversation as foreign investors and top executives settled into their seats. The atmosphere was a little tense and reasonably so. After all, the two brothers were meeting again and they weren't known for friendliness. At the head of the long mahogany table, Ashton Reed sat with a composed yet commanding presence. His finely tailored navy-blue suit was impeccable, and his demeanor exuded confidence. Just across from him, Augustine was seated, his expression calm with the tiniest but of smile on his face. For the first time in years, the Reed brothers weren’t at each other’s throats. Their cooperation, however temporary, was an unexpected development, and some of the executives couldn’t hide their surprise. Ashton caught more than a few glances exchanged across the room, silent questions lingering in their eyes. Was this really happening? The Reed brothers had been known for their rivalry for as lo
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Fifty eight
The Rooftop DealThere was soft music playing in the interior of a large luxurious penthouse. The dim light could barely make out the faces of the women there. Three women, sitting in the living area, each nursing a glass of Martini and laughing at something the maid said. It was a perfect evening, almost too peaceful. But right outside was a different story entirely. Two men fought for their lives, one overpowering the other. “I know who sent you!" The man on the floor yelled out, fear clearly written on his face. But the assailant didn't wait, he pulled out a gun and strained it right on his forehead. “Any last words?" He asked. The man on the floor began to shake. He didn't want to die. He didn't want to end here with his wife and her friends just in the living room above. “Please, take what you want, please. My wife is pregnant, she just found out last week. I'm going to be a father soon, please." This information should have meant something. But it didn't. The masked man
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Fifty nine
Brothers in TurmoilLater that evening, in the Reed's estate, the night outside was eerily silent, but inside Ashton’s bedroom, there was a storm waiting to explode. The executive meeting earlier that day left both brothers riled up. What was Frederick getting at? What was his plan? Ashton sat on the edge of his bed, hands clasped together, his expression both irritated and confused. He had every reason to be upset. But still, he felt a little lost, like he didn't fully grasp what had happened earlier. Across from him, Augustine paced like a caged animal, his steps quick, sharp, and restless. His jaw was clenched so tightly that Ashton thought he might actually crack a tooth. Augustine’s rage was obvious. His breathing was uneven, his movements erratic. And Ashton? He was angry, sure, but nothing compared to what he was witnessing in his older brother. “Are you okay?" Ashton couldn't help but ask. And who would have thought. Just days ago, he wouldn't have cared less. But no
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Sixty
Fractured Bonds The silence that followed was deafening. Ashton’s mind raced, each revelation hitting him harder than the last. A sister? Veronica? And their father had erased her from existence? And what exactly did vanish mean? He turned to Frederick, his heart hammering wildly. “Tell me the truth,” he demanded, his voice sharp. “What happened to her?” Frederick simply looked at him, his expression was still very calm. The man had always been impossible to decipher, but right now, his cold gaze felt even more impenetrable. Augustine stood beside Ashton, arms crossed, watching their father like a predator waiting for his prey to slip up. “Go on, Father,” he sneered. “Tell him. Tell your golden boy what happened to our dear sister. Or are you going to walk away, like you always do?” Frederick’s lips curved into a smirk, but there was no humor in it. “You’ve always had a flair for theatrics, Augustine. I would suggest that you don't start this.” “Answer the damn question
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Sixty one
A Run-in The moment Celeste stepped into the hall, the space became too small. Ashton might not have wanted her but confronting her was more of a burden. How do you tell a woman to unlove you. Her heels clicked against the polished marble floor as she approached, her expression was very calm. Even with her composed exterior, there was so much anger in her eyes. Ashton Reed did not flinch. He had faced deception, betrayal, and near-death more times than he could count. And yet, this was a confrontation he had never anticipated. Sebastian stood beside her, his jaw tight, his posture rigid, but it was clear even he was waiting for Celeste to speak first. She stopped just a few feet away from Ashton, her gaze scanning over him, as if searching for something, an answer, a regret, a hesitation. Instead, she found nothing but cold indifference. "You look well, Celeste," Ashton said mockingly, breaking the silence. "Did you finally move on? Or are you still clinging to the fanta
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Chapter Ninety Nine
Blood of my Blood Ashton didn't have to wait for a reply before he ended the call and slipped through the iron gates of the Green estate and headed straight to the garden. Augustine was waiting there for him no doubt. He found his car parked behind a row of flowers, the engine still warm. Sliding into the driver’s seat, he saw Augustine with a black hoodie sitting in the confines of the car. Augustine pulled back the hoodie and spun around, the corners of his mouth lifting in a rare grin. “You made it,” he said. “I half-expected Marcel to intercept you.” Well, he wasn't lying. “Nearly got held up, thank goodness the driver stopped being so nosey.,” Ashton replied, allowing himself a laugh. “Yeap, I noticed when I first arrived that Marcel wanted to have me under lock and key. I had to break off in order to keep working at Titanium." Ashton nodded. Now it made sense why Augustine had decided to pretend to be a wayward boy just to get what he wanted. Being in the Green Mansion
Chapter Ninety Eight
A Ghost in the MirrorAshton sat there, stunned, staring at the name on the file. Lily Forrest.She was regarded as a ghost in the tabloid news. A missing heiress. A tragedy that had befallen a once great family. "How sure are you about this?" Ashton asked, still bewildered. Lancaster leaned back and sipped his coffee slowly. "One hundred percent. She was declared missing and then after spending a lot of money to find her, her family finally gave up and she's never been found." “She's the one then, if she's missing and her name is Lily then she could be the one. But how does this relate to Marcel? There could be a million missing Lily's in this city.” "Well, she's linked to Marcel somehow. The Forrest family knew the Green family for so long. So…there's a link somehow.” Ashton dragged a hand through his hair. trying his best to fit the pieces together. Marcel had been hiding a girl in his basement for how long? "If she's supposed to be dead," Ashton said slowly, "then how the
Chapter Ninety Seven
A Missing Forest In just a few minutes, Ashton arrived at Swam Limited. It was magnificent, the sheer beauty of it still stunned him. But he knew this was all seeds of wickedness. “Goodness! No wonder they're friends," he hissed. Peter, the driver, looked at him through the rearview mirror and asked, “who are friends?" Ashton replied, "nothing.” Shortly they rolled into the parking lot and Ashton got out of the vehicle closing the door softly behind him. Ashton stepped into the elevator and adjusted the cuffs of his designer suit, preparing himself for yet another tiring day in this establishment. He had become a worker for both Frederick and Marcel, helping them build their empires even when he knew that they did not care about him. But it was all going to be to his advantage and one way or the other he would make them pay, both of them. As soon as he got inside his secretary, Amanda ran to his side, “Thank goodness you arrived on time, the meeting is set to start, sir." A
Chapter Ninety Six
His New Mission It was a new day. The morning sun poured through the tall windows of the Green family mansion. Ashton had barely slept the previous night. Nightmares of Marcel and the nas girl plagued him even as he had breakfast. He sat alone, dressed in a simple grey shirt with the sleeves rolled up, sipping a warm cup of coffee. His eyes were distant as he stared at the meal but couldn't seem to erase the thoughts of the previous night. The revelations about Marcel left a bitter taste in Ashton’s mouth. This man was up to something. He was no knight in shining armor. He was a monster.While he was still picking on his toaster, bacon, omelette and coffee, footsteps echoed down the staircase, softly. Ashton looked up and saw Veronica appear at the edge of the room, wrapped in a navy-blue bathrobe. She looked like she'd just showered and her dark hair was still damp from the shower. Her anger was quite obvious and even before she spoke, he could hear the irritation in her foot
Chapter Ninety Five
The Green Monster Ashton felt bad for her. What could she have possibly done that would justify such harsh treatment? He reached out to hold her hands but she jerked away violently. "I don’t like to be touched," she said suddenly. "Don’t come any closer.."Ashton froze. "I wasn’t going to." He lied. "I trusted someone once. A girl. She said she was my friend and I believed her, but she was a spy. Marcel sent her to watch me and see if I was healing. And when I told her that I was, she reported it. And then they brought the doctors."Her voice cracked and she was now trembling at the memories. "They made it worse. So much worse."Ashton’s stomach turned. Marcel had mentioned doctors occasionally visiting Lily for her condition. He’d said he paid the best of doctors and nurses to attend to her. Now he wasn’t so sure if it was to hurt her or cure her. He looked into her eyes again. There was so much pain there, buried beneath layers of anger and bitterness. How long had she been h
Chapter Ninety Four
Finding Insanity 2 The Green Mansion was quiet at midnight and Ashton knew this was the right time to move around. No one would see him. He was under the cover of darkness. Slowly, he rose from the dinner table and the maid moved close to him. "Would you like anything like dessert before bed?” She asked. The idea of a sweet and sugary treat sounded fun but he had other things to attend to. "No, I'll just get in bed. I'm exhausted,” he said, placing his hands on his forehead dramatically. She nodded, apologized and went off. As soon as he returned to his room, he locked the door, and shed the clean shirt and slacks Marcel had gifted him. In their place, he pulled on a black long-sleeved hoodie, jeans, and soft boots. He strapped a flashlight to his belt, then pulled up the hood. There was no one around as he stepped into the hallway, but he moved quietly anyway, sticking to the parts of the mansion he knew no one strolled. The left wing of the mansion was kind of forbidden.
Chapter Ninety Three
Finding InsanitySoon, they got to the parking lot and got into their car. “Take me out of this bloody place," Ashton hissed. Somehow, he couldn't even stand the sight of the company anymore. It was sad that he'd built something like his and yet his father couldn't even take clean deals. He was greedy and he was willing to con a clueless monarch's wife. Well, the joke was on him. In the black sedan, Ashton peeled off the prosthetic beard, the fake eyebrows, and the glasses."God, that glue smells like death."Veronica, however, remained in character until they pulled up to the Vermartel Hotel and got into their suite. In fact, she looked like she liked her disguise. “Won't you get out of that body suit?" He finally asked. She smirked and began to remove her sunglasses and slowly unwind her turban.Her wig came off next, and her real hair tumbled free in soft waves. She pulled the padding from under her dress, revealing her true slender form."You did it," Ashton said, watchin
Chapter Ninety Two
A Deal with DevilsEveryone was in awe. The rich heiress. A monarch’s wife rumoured to own an entire village. Ashton has picked out the best profile for their disguise. A name they could not refuse or dispute. Veronica, or rather, Miss Pam, sat like a matriarch that she claimed to be.Ashton stood behind her, arms folded, disguised with a salt-and-pepper beard and thick-rimmed glasses. He played the role of her assistant and nephew, he remained quiet and held her handbag. Beside him, Augustine leaned against the table, arms crossed tightly across his chest, eyeing the other board members intensely. They all stared at her with open admiration and it seemed none of them was eager to break the silence. "So, Miss Pam," began one of the directors, a balding man with gold rings on three fingers, "you’re offering what exactly in terms of capital injection?"Veronica clipped her fingers. "Two hundred million dollars in three phases. I want board influence, multiple shares and exclusive
Chapter Ninety One
Hello, Miss Pam. Time was ticking. There was no way he was going to get there in fifteen minutes, but Ashton was counting on making an entrance either way. “What is keeping her?" He hissed impatiently and looked at his Patek Philippe watch. It was getting really late and soon, Augustine was going to be on his neck. “Gosh! Doesn't she understand the meaning of urgent?!" His fists clenched. Maybe he should have done this himself. What was keeping his sister? Just as he continued to fume, a car pulled up to the front entrance of the Vermartel Hotel. Ashton stood by the revolving doors, dressed in a simple gray suit, a flat cap tugged low over his brow, and dark glasses shielding most of his face. He had a full ginger beard and he looked nothing like his former self. It was a simple disguise that would work. All he had to do was talk less. He glanced at his watch, then at the street.Right on cue, the back door of the car opened.A woman stepped out.Ashton blinked and then bl
