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The Rise of Ashton Chapter Thirty seven
A Twin, A Spy, and A Lifetime of Lies Ashton couldn’t breathe. The man in front of him, his exact reflection save for the scar on his temple, stood with an air of absolute confidence, as if he belonged here, as if he had every right to march into Titanium Inc. like he owned the place. And maybe he did. Ashton staggered back a step, his mind scrambling for logic. He had no siblings. No twin. He had been alone his entire life. Hadn’t he? The entire lobby was silent, filled with wide eyes and gaping mouths. The employees, the security guards, even Lila, everyone was frozen in stunned disbelief. The man, his twin? A doppelganger? An imposter? Ashton wasn't sure but the man smirked at him, as if enjoying the confusion and shock on his face. Finally, he arched a brow. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” His voice was smooth, composed, and filled with some kind of amusement. Ashton opened his mouth, but no words came. The twin stepped closer, utterly at ease. “I need access
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Thirty eight
Burning Bridges and Unwelcome EncountersAshton’s fists clenched so tightly his nails practically dug into his palm. His father’s cold stare, his maddening indifference he demonstrated, it was all too much. “I don't know what you're talking about, Ashton, I told you all you needed to know." Ashton hissed, “So I don't deserve to know about my own brother?!" Frederick didn't speak, he just shrugged, “There are things that are better left unsaid." He couldn't believe what his own father was saying. Could this get any worse?The lies, the betrayals, the years of manipulation. How many more secrets was he supposed to swallow? How many more revelations before he lost his sanity entirely? “So that’s it, then? You’ll just stand there and act like none of this matters? Like none of your lies mean anything?” Frederick exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. “You’re overreacting, Ashton.” Ashton let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Overreacting? You just admitted that my entire life has been
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Thirty nine
His Heiress in Shining Armor The moment Zoe let out her fabricated cry for help, the entire atmosphere in the hotel lobby changed. A security guard, dressed in sleek black suit moved in quickly, sneering at Ashton. "You need to step back, sir," one of them barked, shoving Ashton roughly in the chest. Ashton stumbled slightly but caught himself. "Are you seriously believing this crap?" His voice was laced with disbelief. "I didn’t touch her." Zoe let out a small, exaggerated sob, clutching her torn blouse. "He grabbed me," she whimpered. "I told him to stop, but he wouldn’t listen." Another guard, a burly man with a shaved head, narrowed his eyes. "Sir, we’re going to have to ask you to come with us immediately while we wait for the police to arrive." Ashton clenched his jaw. This was absurd. He knew Zoe was capable of deceit, but this? This was low, even for her. "I didn’t do anything," he said coldly. "Check the damn cameras." The bald guard scoffed. "Oh, I don’t need ca
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Forty
The City is too Small for Enemies Just as Verena mentioned the cameras, . Zoe’s face had drained of color, her pity card and pitiful face was quickly replaced with something closer to panic. Ashton could see it in her eyes, she was beginning to realize just how badly she had assumed everyone would play along to her silly game. Verena Mallory wasn’t just another wealthy socialite who could be manipulated with a few tears and a well-placed sob story. She was a woman who owned the room the second she walked into it, and right now, she had made it clear exactly where her allegiance lay. With him. With Ashton Verena’s emerald eyes flicked toward the nearest security guard. “Pull up the footage from the lobby cameras,” she ordered, her voice smooth and deadly. The guards hesitated, still visibly shaken by her presence. “But, Mistress Verena—” one of them began. “Now.” Her voice was cold as ice and quickly silenced any protests. The guards scrambled to obey. One of them rushed
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Forty one
A Family Meeting The black luxury car pulled smoothly into Verena’s large estate, it was big. Ashton had seen wealth before. At least for the last few weeks since his return to the Reed family, he'd seen luxury. But this? This was on another level. It couldn't compare to anything he'd seen before. The driveway alone was impressive, it was an intricate design of stonework leading up to an estate so large it looked more like a private fortress. Towering columns. Expansive glass windows that gleamed even in the dim light. Perfectly trimmed hedges that likely cost more than some people’s entire salaries to maintain. Everything about it screamed power. But none of it prepared Ashton for the real shock. Because standing there, right in the middle of the compound, was someone he never expected to see again. Celeste. Ashton couldn't help the gasp that escaped his lips. The air in the car became suddenly too tight. He couldn't breath well. His grip on the seat tightened. His h
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Forty two
The Other Side of the Coin There was silence in the penthouse. Ashton’s grip on Augustine’s hand remained firm for a second longer before he finally let go, stepping back and shoving his hands into his pockets. His gaze went between his father and his so-called brother, the strange Augustine Reed. The resemblance was undeniable. It was uncanny. In fact, Ashton has goosebumps just looking at him. It felt like seeing one's reflection on the mirror. But there was something different about Augustine. Something cocky. Frederick leaned back in his chair, watching them both with a satisfied expression. “Now that introductions are out of the way, we have more pressing matters to discuss.” Ashton’s arms crossed over his chest. “Like what?” Frederick exhaled, tapping his fingers on the armrest. “Titanium Incorporated is in trouble, but we all know that by now. We’re trying to store up money, losing investors, and if things continue at this rate, we’ll be out of business before we kno
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Forty three
The Price of SecretsAshton paced the dimly lit alleyway, hands shoved deep into his pockets as he scanned the street for the contact Carter had arranged. He has no business being her dead into the night. But Carter had insisted that if he wanted to meet the man, daylight wouldn't be good. The city was alive even at midnight, neon signs flickering from nightclubs and bars. But all Ashton could focus on was one name, Benjamin.What did Benjamin know? He's been with him all through college and although it wasn't all a lie, still, he knew something. He had to. He needed answers, and if there was even a chance that Benjamin was still alive, he had to find him. A black sedan rolled up to the curb suddenly as he stood there. Its tinted windows concealing whoever was inside. Ashton tensed as the passenger door creaked open. “You Ashton Reed?” A rough voice asked from within. Ashton hesitated, his instincts on alert. He wasn’t entirely sure this wasn’t a setup. “Depends on who’s aski
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Forty four
A Legacy of LiesDrama. Ashton could almost smell it and he got into the elevator with Liam right beside him. There was very little he could do now. Frederick himself had set up a meeting and ordered his sons to attend. It didn't matter if Ashton wanted to work with his brother or not, he had to. The boardroom at Titanium Corporation looked more or less like a battlefield. He could see that Augustine was alone. But he slouched on the seat like he owned the room. “Arrogant prick,” Ashton mumbled under his breath as he took his head just at the head of the table. “Isn't it sweet that we all had to wait for you to show up? What great example are you showing as the CEO?” Augustine cleared his throat and said in the most kind voice. Ashton hissed under his breath. But of course, he couldn't react harshly, all eyes were on him. “I had a few things to sort out with the finance department," he replied. Augustine hummed and then looked at everyone. "I thought I heard he got rid of t
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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.
Chapter Seventy
Marked for DeathMorning came slow. The night that passed was the longest of Ashton's life. Every time he woke up, he could almost hear his brother's voice right in the hotel room. His dreams were plagued with his face. Was he dead? Was his ghost now haunting him? “Bloody hell!" He swore as he slammed his hands down on the alarm clock and jerked up. What was the alarm for anyway? He couldn't even recall. Sighing, he padded out of bed and went to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee. Celeste and Carter had both left him yesterday with more questions than answers. But the good thing was that they offered to help him. Or at least that's how he understood it. Celeste was convinced that they had a common enemy and he didn't know why. But so far, he knew how influential the Monroe family was and that they could help him. So, he was in. After getting his coffee, Ashton sat in the dim motel room, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts all over the place. The events of the past 24 hou
Chapter Sixty nine
Breaking Point"Stay with me," Ashton growled, shaking him. "Stay with me, damn it!" Augustine coughed, blood flecking his lips. His fingers weakly grasped at Ashton’s sleeve. "I’m fine," he muttered, though his voice was barely above a whisper. "Just...a scratch..." A scratch? That was a goddamn bullet wound, and Augustine was slipping away. Before Ashton could react, the masked men snapped into action. "Move! Take them!" Ashton watched in shock as the men got out of the van and tried to grab him and Augustine. Ashton fought with all he had. Punches. Kicks, blows, everything he had. But he was outnumbered sixteen to one. The odds were against him on every side. "We're taking him now!" the man barked, holding Ashton off despite how much he fought. Two men rushed forward lifting Augustine’s limp body from Ashton’s grasp. "Don’t take him!" Ashton snapped, his voice raw, "you cowards!”At this same time, the roar of new engines added to the chaos on the bridge. Headlights s
Chapter Sixth eight
Trapped on the BridgeThe men didn't stop chasing them as they rushed into the car, finding a way to reverse out of the parking lot of the school. Ashton sprinted toward the abandoned lot. His legs burned, his breath came in ragged gasps, and behind him, the sound of rapid footsteps and gunfire echoed through the school’s quiet lot. Augustine was right behind him, and for once, neither of them had the time to argue. "Get to the car!" Augustine shouted. Ashton didn’t need to be told twice. His eyes locked onto the sleek black sedan they had driven in, parked near the rusting chain link fence. The engine was off, but the keys were still inside. They just had to get there. Another gunshot rang out. Ashton ducked, cursing under his breath. "Who the hell are these people?!" "No idea," Augustine grunted. "But they sure as hell aren’t here to say hi!" That alone was obvious and it made Ashton even more upset. How many times did he have to duck a bullet in one month? It was be
Chapter Sixty seven
The Forgotten YearsMemory lane? Ashton didn't know why that sounded oddly too familiar considering his circumstances. Did Augustine know how horribly confused he felt? Did he know anything more about Veronica than he was letting on? The car ride was long and silent, the hum of the engine the only sound filling the space between them. Ashton clenched his jaw, glancing at Augustine, who was focused on the road ahead, his expression giving nothing away. “Where are we going?” Ashton finally asked, breaking the silence. “You’ll see,” Augustine said simply. “That’s not an answer.” “It’s the only one you’re getting right now.” Ashton exhaled sharply and turned to the window, watching the landscape blur past. He wasn’t armed, and the realization left him on edge. But as he sized up Augustine, he reassured himself, if it came down to a fight, he could take him. Years of taekwondo and self-defense training weren’t for nothing. But he hoped he didn't have to fight his brother. H
Chapter Sixty six
BlankAshton stepped out of the Blackwell Hospital, his breath misting in the cold night air. His heart was still racing, though not from adrenaline anymore. It was the intensity of what he had just uncovered, all the lies, the betrayal, the lengths to which his father had gone to erase his mother from existence. “Wicked old goose!" He hissed as he got to the car park. He clenched his jaw, shoving his hands into his coat pockets as he made his way to his car. The truth had been there all along, just waiting for him to uncover it. His mother had been abandoned. Denied medical treatment. Left to suffer because Frederick Reed had deemed her unworthy. Ashton got into the car and slammed the door shut. Carter looked at him through the rearview mirror. “Where to, sir?" Ashton hissed, “home.x The ride was silent as they drove back to the Reed estate. Thankfully, Carter didn't ask questions. He wasn't ready to answer anyways. His mind was a storm, torn between anger and a cold reso
Chapter Sixty five
A Mother's Heartthrob The speed on the motorbike was exceptional. The city lights blurred into streaks of gold and red as the motorcycle tore through the streets. The cold night air bit at Ashton’s skin, but he barely noticed. His focus was locked on the darkened roads ahead, on the wind whipping past his face, and on the woman maneuvering the bike with impressive speed. Behind them, the men that pursued from the house had vanished into the distance, but Ashton didn’t let his guard down. He still had his gun in hand as he twisted his head slightly, scanning the streets. No headlights, no black vans. Had they really shaken them? Even if they seemed to be out of immediate danger, Rovan didn’t slow down. She weaved through the lonely road with the confidence of someone who had done this a hundred times before. Every sharp turn, every sudden swerve sent adrenaline coursing through Ashton’s veins. It was reckless. It was dangerous. But so far, Rovan seemed to know what she was
