The Rise of Ashton

Chapter Three

A World Against Him 

The man laughed and leaned back against the headboard, completely at ease in Ashton’s presence. 

He looked as if he had already won. 

"You poor, clueless fool,” he said, shaking his head with amusement. "I’m rich. And that means I can take whatever I want, including your girlfriend."  

Ashton’s fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms, but the man continued to laugh. 

“You kept failing every job interview, didn't you? Kept wondering why nothing was going your way?" He let out another laugh, shaking his head. 

Ashton couldn't speak. He was speechless. The man seemed to know everything about him. Zoe had told him everything. 

"That wasn’t just bad luck. I made sure every company you applied to turned you down. Money opens doors, but it also closes them."  

Ashton’s entire body stiffened as the weight of the words sank in. 

His failures, his crushed dreams, hadn’t been his fault. This man, lounging comfortably in his bed with Zoe, had orchestrated it all.

“What? You told the companies not to hire me?”  

Zoe shifted in the sheets, her lips curling in amusement now that she saw his shock. 

“Did you really think all those companies just didn’t want you?” She tilted her head mockingly.  

Ashton felt his heart pounding. “What the hell are you saying?”  

The man finally sat up, his smirk widening. “I paid them to turn you down.” He chuckled, stretching his arms. “You were never going to get a job, Ashton. Not when I had a say in it.”  

Ashton’s entire body went cold.  

This whole time. It wasn’t that he was unqualified. It wasn’t that he was unlucky. It was Zoe's lover. This arrogant, smirking bastard had deliberately crushed every single opportunity before he even had a chance.  

“Why?” Ashton’s voice was hoarse, his throat dry. 

The man shrugged. “Because I can.”  

Ashton couldn't take the humiliation anymore. 

He couldn't stand by and watch them tangled in each other's bodies and mocking him. 

“Who are you?" The question slipped off his lips before he could stop it. 

The man smirked arrogantly, “I mustn't introduce myself to a low life like you. Ok sure Zoe here knows who I am." 

"You told him about all my struggles?” Ashton looked at Zoe, betrayed. 

“Oh please, you're a nobody. You weren't going to achieve anything anyways." 

Ashton balled his fist and turned to the man. “How dare you?! How dare you mess with my life all because of a girl!" 

But Zoe's eyes widened as she realized that Ashton didn't even beg her, instead he referred to her casually. 

“How dare you call me just a girl? I'm the best thing that could ever happen to your full life!" 

The man sprang from the bed, “Watch your words, poor boy! I could get you beaten up for insulting Zoe." 

Zoe smirked, “You don't have to do that, Clifford. He's just leaving." 

Ashton watched her. Hoping for a second that he could see the love they once shared in her eyes. But it was blank. Nothing. 

“I told you to leave!” she spat.  

Ashton could barely process her words. “

“I won't watch you disrespect my man. Do you know who Clifford is?" she snapped. “This isn’t your house anymore, Ashton. You’re nothing.”  

Nothing.  

That word hit harder than anything she'd said.  

Ashton took a shaky step back. His hands trembled as he stared at her, as he stared at the woman he had loved and given everything. 

She had chosen Clifford. 

Clifford lounged back with a satisfied smirk. “See, that’s the difference between us,” he said smoothly. “I have power. And because of that, she will always choose me.”  

Zoe folded her arms. “We’re done, Ashton.”  

Ashton swallowed the lump in his throat. His heart was tearing itself apart inside his chest.  

Zoe’s lips curled cruelly. “You should leave before you embarrass yourself even more.”  

Laughter.  

Again, there was that mocking laughter as Clifford leaned back against the pillows, pulling Zoe onto his lap like she was his possession.  

And maybe… maybe she had been all along.  

Ashton couldn’t stand it. He turned away and walked out. Out of the room. Out of the apartment. Out of the life he had built.  

Ashton was distraught. His whole life had just shattered in that room. 

He had been betrayed by the woman he loved and his whole life had been manipulated by some rich bastard. 

Broken, Ashton wandered aimlessly down the streets. His mind was blank, his body numb.  

Ashton was still filled with rage when out of nowhere, he heard the loud roaring of engines and a screeching sound. 

A fleet of luxury cars sped past him. Sleek, black, expensive. The kind of cars that he could never afford. .  

People on the street turned to watch, murmuring in awe. They had never seen so many expensive vehicles moving together like this. It was like an entourage of kings. 

Ashton looked in fascination and then suddenly, one car screeched to a stop tight in front of him.  

It was so close that Ashton had to jump out of the way, missing the car by an inch. 

Ashton froze as the door opened, and a man stepped out. An old graying man. 

As

hton’s eyes widened as he gasped in recognition at once because had seen his face before.

He knew the old man.