d and chose not to

y finished preparing

remembered it. Even the stuffed bear she used to sleep with as a little girl had been

e, she could hardly beli

at her family three years earli

'd rather die than come back to this house! From t

sounded so certain back then. Looking bac

he changed into som

st floor when Ashton walked

ars had passed since their last meeting. Ashton see

hto

ontinue, Ashton cl

he back of her head, the other brushing

d, his voice rough with emotion. "

filled with dishes, and every one

il she sat down before taking the seat across from h

ing more food onto her plate unti

s name, nor did he ask how she h

tir up painful memo

marriage either. If Ashton wasn't bringing it

se before sunrise and often returned long after dark. Even so, he always rem

lier than usual. Wearing a casual tailored suit, he

aking you out to meet some people. You've been gone

er heart, and she smiled be

dress, her long hair loose-ma

ation was El

clusive private club-mem

on the top floor and could only be

n-and the buzz of

ou're fina

ally brought a lad

in. "This is my sister, Khloe. She's back from Esterl

es of men instantly b

s knew Ashton had a younger sister

rs ago, sparking all kinds of

nally brought her here and openly

id ever

r Campbell. Anyone messes

anything in town,

'm

oe. Their smiles were genuine and friendl

them with calm confide

nearby sofa. While casually sampling the appetizers, s

shifted away from business a

tonight?" one of

inning. "He quietly got hitched a few days ago. Probably glued to

n actually g

ng! Who's the

her. All I've heard is th

owned slightly. Caiden... It struck a chord,

eared almost as qu

ore long, she rose and walked over to A

peared on Ashton's fac

r head. "I'm fine. Stay, enjoy y

bag, she quietly le

ving her completely unaware that someone was approaching from the

ick wall. She instinctively stepped back and look

as h