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The Rise of Ashton Chapter Forty five
The Woman Who Left Ashton stood in the dimly lit penthouse, his pulse was hammering wildly in his ears. What was his father talking about? Who was the woman? His eyes flickered toward the door as the raggedly dressed woman stepped inside. She was hesitant, her movements uncertain, as if she didn’t belong. She lingered in the doorway, her fingers ghosting over the pristine white walls for balance.She looked hungry, like she could barely stand on her own. Her clothes were worn, her sand brown hair slightly unkempt, but her eyes looked stronger than the rest of her, like she was looking forward to something.Ashton didn't know what to say. Who was she? Why was she so poorly dressed and why was she in the Reed estate? These questions rang in his mind but he couldn't bring himself to ask them. Somehow, the room had become even more tense. His father was watching the strange woman with a frown on his face. His eyes were red and his jaw clenched. The moment her fingertips brushed a
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Forty six
The Beast AwakenedYour mother. Those words left him dumbfounded. The words left him stunned. The room went silent. Ashton’s body locked up. The air in his lungs turned to stone. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t think. His gaze snapped back to the woman—his mother—but she was already looking at him with desperate, tear filled eyes. A painful lump formed in his throat. This couldn’t be real. Could it? He'd learnt that his mother was dead. His father was barely ever around. His entire life was a lie. She reached for him again, her fingers hesitant. “Ashton…” she whispered, her voice cracking with raw emotion. “My baby…” Ashton jerked away. His heart pounded so violently he could hear it in his ears. His mother. The woman who had abandoned him. He staggered back a step, his entire world shattering in an instant. Frederick watched, his expression smug as if this was all some sort of twisted victory for him. But Ashton’s mind was spiraling. He had spent his
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Forty seven
The Warehouse TrapAshton drove like the devil was on his heels. And maybe he was. Because he'd never felt anger like this in a very long time, not even when his so-called brother was trying to get on his nerves. He had to get to Lancaster and find out why his father was so eager to get rid of Benjamin. What secrets did the old man hold? The city was cloaked in the deep shadows of midnight as Ashton pulled into a nearly deserted parking lot on the outskirts of town. The streetlights flickered overhead and everywhere was gravely quiet. He cut the engine, his fingers still gripping the steering wheel tightly as he scanned the area. “He's not here," he whispered under his breathe. But just as he scanned the area, he soon spotted a lone figure that stood by a rusted bench, barely illuminated by the weak light above him. Lancaster. “About time," Ashton whispered with a sigh and closed the car door as he stepped out. The investigator had one hand tucked into his coat pocket whil
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Forty eight
Into the DepthsOne plunge and the world faded into darkness. Cold. Black. Cold. Black. That's all he felt as he dived into the rushing river. The icy water swallowed Ashton whole, numbing his body instantly as he fought the urge to breathe. The current was stronger than he expected, pulling at his limbs as he fought to surface. Behind him, he heard the distant splash of Lancaster hitting the water, followed by the muffled roar of gunfire. The attackers weren’t giving up. “Find him!" One of them bellowed over the rushing of the river. This was Ashton’s warning to not break the surface. He had to remain underneath in order to not give off his location in the water. With all the strength that remained in his wet and numb muscles, he continued to fight against the currents until he was far off from the attackers. He could still hear the distant and muffled sound of gunshots and the drop of bullets in the river. Finally, after a few minutes of struggling, he broke the surface, g
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Forty nine
A Missing Past The night was slowly brightening up at dawn. Ashton walked in silence beside Lancaster, their soaked clothes clinging to their skin as they trudged along the empty road. The danger was over. At least most of it. No doubt the attackers had lost track of them with all the fake trails that they created in the forest. The cold night air bit at his exposed skin, but the pain in his side was a sharp reminder of everything that had gone wrong. “You better have a plan,” Ashton muttered. Lancaster pulled out his phone, thankfully it was slightly wet from the plastic casing. He risned it out and tapped a few buttons before bringing it to his ear. “I do.” Ashton exhaled sharply, hugging himself against the chill. He was soaked to the bones and he felt like he'd freeze any minute now. A few seconds later, Lancaster spoke into the phone, his voice low. “Yeah, it’s me. We need a pickup. Discreet. No questions asked.” A pause. “Fifteen minutes? Fine.” He hung up and turned
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Fifty
A House DividedThe thoughts roused him after a restless sleep. He couldn't get the images out of his head. The attack at the old warehouse. The fact that his father just might have been behind it. It was all too overwhelming. Ashton’s eyes snapped open and he groomed as he rolled over and then his ears picked up the distant sound of raised voices echoing through the halls of the Reed mansion. His body ached all over, the wounds from the previous night’s attack at the warehouse still fresh. His arm was wrapped tightly in a bandage, the pain dull but persistent. The doctor had done a good job patching him up. For a moment, he lay still, trying to make sense of what had awakened him. Then another sharp noise, something slamming against a hard surface, sent a jolt of adrenaline through his veins. His father’s voice could be heard loudly in the distance. And then it was followed by another voice, one he recognized just as easily. “Augustine,” Ashton whispered and rolled his eyes
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Fifty one
Kiss and Tell For a long moment, Ashton could only stare. Augustine and Verena Mallory. Together. His mind refused to process it. Of all the things he’d expected when she walked through that door, this wasn’t one of them. Verena had always been a mystery since he wiggled off her grip that fateful day. He did his search and found out that she was a woman of power and influence. But now, seeing her wrapped in Augustine’s arms, it felt like the universe had just played a cruel joke on him. The disbelief must have been evident on his face, because as soon as Verena’s gaze landed on him, she froze. Her striking blue eyes widened, her body stiffening against Augustine’s hold. “Oh,” The gasp slipped from her lips before she could stop it. She took a quick step back, her hands pressing against Augustine’s chest to create distance. But Augustine, oblivious, or perhaps intentionally ignoring her discomfort, tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her closer. “Darling,” he
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Fifty two
Lines We Shouldn’t CrossFor a moment, neither of them moved. Ashton wasn’t sure if he’d heard her right. But Verena didn’t back down. She stood before him, her chin tilted up, eyes locked on his with a challenge. There was no nervousness, no hesitation. Just that same look she always wore when she wanted something. And damn it, he hated that it was working. He exhaled slowly, trying to ignore the way her perfume curled around him, a mix of jasmine and something darker, something seductive and dangerous. “You’re joking,” he said, but his voice was rougher than he intended.Verena was a very attractive woman and he'd be a terrible liar to say he wasn't tempted to do as she'd asked. Verena’s lips curved into something dangerously close to a smirk. “Am I?” She stepped even closer, the space between them vanishing until Ashton could feel the warmth of her body through the thin silk of her dress. His jaw tightened. This was a game. It had to be. Verena Mallory didn’t d
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Chapter Seventy nine
A Strange Father Rovan was out of the picture now until she reached out to them. Maybe, just maybe breaking off wasn't such a bad idea. They just had to get to a safe place and Ashton knew just one way to do that. He turned to Veronica as they stood by the graffiti-smeared wall of an abandoned subway entrance. “He’s sending someone,” Ashton said, slipping the phone into his jacket pocket. “We wait at the fountain by Eden’s Falls. That’s the extraction point.”Veronica narrowed her eyes. “Father said that?”“Yes. We’ll wait there. He said someone from the estate will recognize me and pick me up.”She folded her arms tightly across her chest. “And you believe that?”“We don’t have a choice.”Veronica’s voice dropped cold. “Ashton, that man wiped our memories. He’s not going to save us, he’s going to erase us all over again.”Ashton looked away, jaw tight. “He’s Frederick Reed. He has more security muscle in this city than the governor himself. If we want a chance to survive, we take
Chapter Seventy seven
A Scorpion's Sting “Run!" Rovan hollered again and most of the patrons rushed out of the cafe. The glasses were raining down and shards flew all around. Ashton saw a little boy standing by the door of the restroom, lost, confused. “Head out to the exit, now!" Rovan instructed him and Veronica but there was no way he was leaving that boy there. At once, he ran after the little boy. Rovan looked at him, confused. What was he doing? Couldn't he see the danger? “Ashton! What are you doing?" She called out but he was already by the doorway of the room and he grabbed the little boy. “I want my mummy!" The boy cried out. “Shhh…you'll find your mummy. First, I want you to tell me your name." His little lips wobbled as he replied, “Zion," and then began to cry. “Good, I need you to show me where your mummy is and I'll take you right to her, okay?" Zion nodded and began looking around. He found his mother standing by the exit of the cafe, panicked, begging everyone to find her son.
Chapter Seventy seven
The ReturnThe island was behind them now, the ocean winds blew against their skin as the trio made their way to the helipad. It wasn't a chase. The doctor had given them the best escape and they were out of the city before their pursuers could catch up. Ashton’s boots thudded against the damp ground as they arrived at the small town. Veronica was just a step behind him, while Rovan lagged slightly, watching behind them with alert eyes. The trees had thinned, giving way to an open field where the chopper awaited, its blades rotating slowly, ready to lift at any time. Michael led them slowly to the base of the chopper. He looked like he was ready to fight but whatever anger was on his face softened the moment he saw Veronica.A rare tenderness he rarely showed as he stepped forward and held her eyes. “Veronica,” he said quietly.She stopped a foot away from him. “You’re not coming?”Michael shook his head. “This is where I stay behind. There’s still clean-up to do in town. Those
Chapter Seventy six
The Boogeyman Some men find their lives on the right track. Others have to find their own path through life. This was the case of the one known as the Boogeyman. Rain hissed off the black armored truck as it pulled into the glowing heart of the city. The engine purred like a restrained beast, barely audible over the hum of neon signs and the distant thrum of nightlife. The door opened, and out stepped a man whose presence demanded silence wherever he went. They called him Scorpion.Draped in sleek, matte-black armor that gleamed beneath the streetlights, his face hidden behind a helmet with a red-tinted visor, Scorpion looked like something born of shadow and vengeance. “Nothing like the rain to set the mood," he smirked cruelly as he stepped down. He took a slow glance around, reading every motion, every sound. He had to be in charge of his surroundings and be sure everything was just as he wanted. Then, his gloved hand raised, tapping a button on his ear comm. A female voic
Chapter Seventy five
A Rebound The room buzzed with a low hum, monitors flickering softly as data streamed across their screens. But for a second, everywhere was silent. Ashton lay motionless beneath the helmet, its cords glowing faintly blue. His body was tense, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. Veronica paced a few feet away from the table where Ashton laid. Her eyes locked on her brother, while Rovan stood close to her, his arms crossed and jaw tight.The doctor stood a few feet away with his thin-rimmed glasses and steady hands, hovered near the console, monitoring Ashton’s vitals.“He looks like he's in pain," "He’s fine,” he said, more to himself than to them. “His brain is just remembering.”“But he screamed,” Veronica snapped. “That didn’t sound like remembering. That sounded like he's hurt.”“Trauma,” the doctor cut in gently. “Yes. Because memories taken by force leave scars. If we want him to regain them, he must pass through the pain that erased them. If we pull him out now, we
Chapter Seventy four
Unlocking the ShadowsThe tent was tattered. Its fabric flapped lazily in the wind, the faded colors doing little to inspire confidence. Ashton looked around, his brow furrowed. The inside was dim, lit only by a few flickering lamps hung from crooked hooks. Dust floated in the stale air, and the scent of old herbs and engine oil filled his nose. It didn’t look like a place where any real medical or psychological breakthrough could happen.“This is the place?” Ashton asked, glancing over at Veronica.She nodded slowly, a soft smile on her lips. “I know it doesn’t look like much. But trust me, this man helped me remember everything. Without him, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t have found you.”Ashton crossed his arms. “You sure he’s not just another charlatan? This doesn’t exactly scream ‘professional.’”Veronica stepped closer and touched his arm gently. “I know how it looks. I had the same doubts. But when I started getting flashes, those strange dreams, broken memories, I thought I w
Chapter Seventy three
The Man in the Tent The salty breeze carried the scent of the ocean as the helicopter descended onto a small landing pad on the edge of a secluded island town. Ashton squinted against the bright sunlight as the turquoise waters shimmered beneath them. From above, the town was a picturesque scene, with small buildings, white walls and terracotta roofs. There were narrow cobblestone streets winding through bustling marketplaces, and fishing boats swaying gently in the harbor.“Smells like my childhood," Rovan laughed as the helicopter began to descend. Ashton smirked. But he couldn't relate to that. He barely had any memory of his childhood. As soon as they stepped onto solid ground, the heat wrapped around them like a thick blanket. The town was alive with activity. People dressed in casual summer outfits wandered through the market, vendors called out their wares, and the sound of seagulls could be heard from the shores. “It's warm," Ashton noted as he kicked at the sand and tr
Chapter Seventy Two
In Memory Life Ashton felt his pulse pounding in his ears as he held onto Veronica. This felt surreal. He was holding my sister right in my arms. It felt like a dream he couldn't fathom. The wind from the helicopter's blades whipped around them, but for a moment, all he could focus on was the sister he thought he’d lost forever.A sister he never even knew he had until a few video clips ago. “I never thought I'd see you again," she purred and held onto him tightly. Ashton knew that she was crying as he could hear the hiccups as she held onto him. Then, Rovan’s firm voice cut through the moment. “We need to go,” she smiled, "Enough of the lovey dovey, we need to leave, now.”Ashton swallowed down the storm of emotions threatening to consume him and gave a sharp nod. He pulled back from Veronica, studying her face. She looked the same as she had in the pictures he had seen, the same soft brown eyes, same strong tilt to her jaw. But there was something different about her now. T
Chapter Seventy one
The Reunion The elevator hummed softly as it descended, the low mechanical whirr barely masking the hammering in Ashton's chest. He kept his posture relaxed, his fingers resting lightly against his hip where his newly acquired gun was tucked beneath his jacket.The blonde in the sun hat maintained her gaze, an almost lazy amusement in her expression as she took him in.Ashton knew what she was. But he had to play along, the lobby was filled with eyes and he didn't want to endanger anyone. "Nice day for a stroll, don’t you think?" she mused, tilting her head slightly as she drew closed to him. Ashton remained silent. He didn’t like playing with ladies. He was well trained to respect women. The two men flanking the women shifted subtly, positioning themselves to box him in.He noticed when they slowly surrounded him but still, he wasn't alarmed. He forced himself to exhale evenly, calming his expression. If he reacted too soon, they'd have him. If he waited too long, he’d be dead.
