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The Rise of Ashton Chapter Twenty six
A Family in the Making Ashton sat stiffly in the grand living room of the Monroe mansion, his fingers loosely clasped together as he listened to Celeste chatter excitedly about the wedding. He was in the Monroe mansion. Clearly, he was going to pass the night here. It was odd. It felt like being held captive. And in a way, it was true. The soft glow of the chandelier reflected off the polished marble floors, and the distant hum of security guards patrolling the estate provided a constant reminder of his captivity. Celeste perched on the arm of the couch beside him, flipping through a thick wedding planner. Her delicate fingers trailed over swatches of fabric as she debated between ivory and pearl for the table settings. "Oh, Ashton, I simply can't decide! Should we hold the ceremony in the main hall, or should we do it outside? I just planted the flowers last month, and they’ll be blooming in a few weeks. What do you think?" She turned to him with expectant eyes. Ashton barely
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Twenty seven
The Head of the Family It was the next day after Ashton had been made to stay at the Monroe mansion. Ashton’s body ached as he stirred awake, a dull throb in his limbs reminding him of his captivity. His eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the soft golden light filtering through the heavy curtains. But it wasn’t the light that had roused him, it was the delicate touch of a hand gliding over his chest. His muscles tensed instantly. He shouldn't have anyone on his bed. Although Sebastian had shown him to his room and said clearly that he was staying the night, that didn't mean he had to sleep in anyone's room. He turned his head, coming face-to-face with Celeste Monroe. She lay beside him, her head propped on one hand as she gazed at him with an almost dreamlike affection. “I was trying to wake you up with an early morning kiss,” she purred, giggling as she traced her fingers along his jawline. Ashton forced a smile, masking the wave of unease creeping up his spine. Why was she
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Twenty eight
A Test of LoyaltyThis is a test. Ashton quickly told himself. It didn't matter how he felt. All he had to do was play along. But this was harder than just games. This was taking a life. Ashton had never killed before. He'd only ever held a gun once in his life. He didn't know what it felt like to watch another suffer. But he had to believe that the ruthless Reed blood flowed through his veins. The weight of the gun in Ashton’s hand felt heavier than it should have. A cold silence settled over the room as he held the gun and every eye fixated on him wearily. They were all waiting for his answer. They were all waiting to test how loyal he would be to the family. Gabriel Monroe leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes shining with what seemed like expectation. Beside him, Sebastian folded his arms, an amused smirk playing on his lips, but his stare was almost judging. Like he was watching Ashton for any sign of weakness. “Ashton,” Sebastian finally said, breaking the silence
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Twenty nine
A Father's WrathDarkness swallowed the room in an instant. And a split second later, chaos erupted. A loud crash shattered the silence, a gunshot rang out loudly, followed by a strangled scream. Someone stumbled, colliding with furniture and almost throwing Ashton to the ground. The bound man wailed in panic, his chair scraping against the floor. “Let me go!" He cried out helplessly, trying to free himself. A gunshot roared through the dark again. Twice now. Nobody knew who took the shot or who was being targeted. “Ashton, get down!” a voice commanded. Ashton barely had time to process before someone slammed into him, shoving him aside. His shoulder hit the cold marble floor as more gunfire erupted. “Take cover!" That was Sebastian's unmistaken scream and at once, he grabbed Celeste and ducked behind a metal door. Then suddenly, the emergency lights flickered on, bathing the room in an eerie red glow. The scene before Ashton was absolute carnage. Men in sleek, tailor
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Thirty
The Point of No ReturnFrederick Reed stood frozen, his gun still raised, his expression filled with shock. The weight of his son’s declaration hung was enough to make him stumble. But he had to act like he was fine. Ashton, standing beside the Monroe family. Ashton, choosing them. Gabriel Monroe, ever the opportunist, stepped forward, his lips curling into a triumphant smile. “You heard him, Frederick. Even your own son has denied you.” His voice was laced with amusement, but beneath it was something deeper, somehow it sounded like victory. Frederick’s grip on the gun trembled slightly, but he steadied himself. “This is madness,” he said, his voice quieter now, as if trying to reason with a child lost in the dark. “You’re my son, Ashton. You’re a Reed. Do you even know what you’re saying?” Ashton’s jaw clenched. He could feel Celeste gripping his arm, but he didn’t turn to her. His gaze remained locked on his father. “If you pull that trigger,” Ashton said slowly, deliberatel
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Thirty one
Sebastian’s WrathSebastian took a step forward, his usual calm demeanor shattering as it dawned on him what his father had just said. “Joint heir?” His voice was low, dangerous. “What are you saying?” Gabriel remained unshaken, his gaze locked on his son. “You heard me, Sebastian.” Sebastian’s fists clenched. “You’re giving him my birthright?” Gabriel’s tone didn’t waver. “I am securing the future of this family.” A few of the men exchanged wary glances. This was new. No one, not even Celeste, had expected Gabriel to go this far. Ashton, playing his role perfectly, tilted his head. “Sebastian, you sound disappointed.” Sebastian snapped his glare toward Ashton. “I don’t trust you.” Ashton smirked, folding his arms. “I can't see why.” Sebastian’s nostrils flared. “You think you can walk in here, win my sister’s heart, and suddenly you’re my equal? You haven’t bled for this family.” Gabriel’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. “Sebastian. Enough.” Sebastian’
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Thirty two
A Way Out Ashton stood in the dimly lit hallway with a smile on his face. This was what he wanted. An accomplice. The pieces were coming together, but he needed to execute this perfectly. One wrong move and he would be trapped, married to a dangerous woman, forever entangled in the Monroe empire. That wasn’t an option. The prisoner, now his reluctant ally, had agreed to the deal. Now came the real challenge: getting Celeste to let him go. Because Nate wouldn't be able to help him if he didn't leave the tank and he wouldn't be able to leave the tank if he wasn't released by Celeste who had instructed to have him punished. Ashton found Celeste in one of the grand parlors, seated on an elegant velvet chaise. She was flipping through wedding catalogs, her eyes alight with excitement. “Darling!” she exclaimed as soon as she saw him. “Look at these invitations! Aren’t they divine?” Ashton forced a smile. “They’re perfect, sweetheart.” She giggled, clearly pleased. “I knew you’
The Rise of Ashton Chapter Thirty three
The Eve of the WeddingFinally, it was the eve of the wedding. The morning sun bled through the grand windows of the Monroe mansion. Outside, the estate was alive with movement. Caterers hauled in crates of fine wines and gourmet delicacies, decorators scrambled to perfect every detail, and additional security patrolled the perimeter with sharp eyes and loaded weapons. The entire place was being transformed into the perfect wedding venue, an opulent prison that Ashton had no intention of staying in. As he stood in front of the mirror in the room he'd been given, adjusting the cuffs of his crisp white shirt, he took in the lavish decorations that filled the room. Red and gold silk drapes adorned the walls, an enormous crystal chandelier glowed above him, and the air smelled of fresh roses. Everything about this wedding screamed power and wealth, just another way for the Monroes to show the world they were untouchable. But Ashton wasn’t thinking about vows or celebrations. His mi
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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
