Chapter 87 - No Doubt

Megan's POV

Ashton showed me around town while driving his new car. I couldn't believe he had another car while I don't even have one I could use. It reminds me he is the heir of the largest shipping company in our country, and his grandfather was generous enough to give him a gift as luxurious as this. I couldn't stop myself from feeling sad, and sometimes I couldn't stop myself wishing I was like him.

He doesn't need to worry about his future since his family is filthy rich. And obviously, he has a trust fund. He already has money before he can even graduate from college. And I know his allowance alone is more than my parents' monthly salary combined. Unlike me, I will only depend on my scholarship; that is why I needed to work harder to maintain my grades.

He asked me to drive his car, but I shook my head. I can't afford to drive it, even if my dad and Dexter taught me how to drive, and sometimes I will drive in going to the grocery store with my mom. But driving Ashton's car made my legs tremble, maybe because I know how expensive the car is, and I felt unworthy of driving such type of vehicle.

I don't want the beautiful day to end, but we need to drive back to Astikoz because my boyfriend needs to be with his family. Saying goodbye to Ashton after spending the night and the entire day with him was hard. I watched him drive away from our driveway after he waved his hand at me.

"Hello, my dear; how was your trip?" My mom asked me with a broad smile on her face the moment I got inside our house, and she was watching some shows on the television with my sister. And I could tell Ava was gawking at me with interest, and I could tell she had so many questions for me.

"It was great mom, I love Ashton's grandparents, and of course, the estate was breathtaking, especially the lake, and his grandma's garden was lovely," I said, and my mom was smiling at me.

"I can see you are glowing, Megan. I am so happy that you enjoyed your overnight with Ashton." She said while Ava took the box of cake from my hand. Ashton's grandmother insisted I should take home the red velvet cake.

"Yes, mom, I had fun with Ashton," I responded, and she smiled at me, and I excused myself for a while and brought my stuff to my room. I changed my dress into shorts and a loose t-shirt. The moment I stepped inside the dining room, my sister was eating her cake while I could hear my mom humming as she prepared our food for dinner in the kitchen. I helped my mom, and we talked about so many things, including my college applications, and she asked me if I would choose to study at WEN University.

"I'd love to, mom, but I am afraid if I can't maintain my grades and I will lose my scholarship. Besides, we can't afford the tuition; WENU is the most expensive among the universities in our country." I said, and I wanted to go to WEN University since I know Ashton chose that school; among the universities who recruited him to be part of their football team, my boyfriend decided to enroll at WENU. I know he doesn't need to play football to finish his education, and even his dad's company offered scholarships. And after knowing what happened between Dexter and Isabelle, I withdrew my application for the scholarship in their company.

"Of course, I understand, Megan. Besides, your dad and I still want you to be around where we can still see you every day here in our house. And you don't need to rent a place where you can stay. We can save money for your food and lodging. Besides, Astikoz University is also one of the prestigious universities in the entire country. And I know you will become a successful chemical engineer someday, Meg." My mom said, and I smiled at her.

"Thank you, mom, for believing in me, and I hope I can be the best I can be," I replied, and I want to tell

my mom that I want to be somebody so Ashton's parents will accept me, and they will be proud of me, even if I know, no matter what I do, I will never belong to the society he lives in, and I will forever be an outsider.

We eat dinner, and I couldn't stop myself from feeling so grateful that even if we don't have a big house and we don't live in the most expensive subdivision in the city, we are happy. I can feel my family's support and love for me. I know both my parents are proud of us as their children. And I understand if my mom didn't get sick, we don't have debts, but it was okay as long as mom is alive and she is with us. What matters the most is our family is intact, and we are happy even if I know my parents are trying their best to pay off all our debts, especially my brother. Dexter doesn't need to pay for the money Ashton's father spent for my mom's operation, but because of my brother's love for Isabelle, he wants to pay back Gregory Pritzgold.

"Megan, are you asleep?" I heard my sister call my name, we were both lying on our beds, and even if I closed my eyes, I was still wide awake. I can't deny I am missing Ashton even if we have been together last night and the entire day, and I felt happy knowing he was out there in one of their vacation homes with his family celebrating his birthday. But I couldn't stop myself from feeling sad that until now, he needs to keep our relationship secret from his family.

"Yes, Ava. I am still awake, and why?" I asked my sister, and I turned my body to my right side to face her.

"Did Ashton call you?" Ava asked me.

"Yup, before they boarded the helicopter, and I am happy that his father invited Zachary." I declared, and my sister looked away from the screen of her cellphone, and she gazed at me, and I could tell she seemed so sad.

"Are you okay? Why do you look sad?"I asked, and she shook her head.

"I am not sad for myself, but for you." She declared that made me wonder what she meant, and instead of asking a question, I raised my eyebrows as I sat on the bed and stared at her.

"Did Ashton tell you that Lauren was invited to his birthday party as well?" She asked, and I couldn't stop myself from feeling so hot all over my body, and I don't know how I feel at this very moment. I felt hurt, betrayed, and humiliated again. My sister got up from her bed, and she walked towards my bed and sat beside me.

"I don't want to ruin your night, Megan, because I know how happy you are right now after spending time with your boyfriend. But I also know that you need to know the truth since you are Ashton's girlfriend. And I want to know if Ashton had told you about Lauren being with his entire family." Ava said as she handed me her phone, and I could see the selfie of Lauren inside the chopper where I could tell she was sitting next to Ashton. I can feel my heart pierced.

"It is okay, Ava, Ashton told me about it, and even if I knew she was with him because of his father, I couldn't stop myself from being jealous." I lied to my sister because I didn't want Ava to hate Aston, even if deep inside I felt so hurt, and I was upset with Ashton for not telling me the truth.

"Ah, okay. I need this to slide since Ashton is honest with you. Don't get jealous of her, Meg; Ashton spent the last night with you, and he spent his entire day with you, so it means he loves you and not Lauren." Ava said, and I smiled at my sister as I tried to hide the pain.

"Goodnight, Meg." She said as she stood up, and Ava returned to her bed while I lay on my bed on my side. I couldn't stop the tears that poured down on my cheeks, but I didn't want my sister to know I was hurting, so I tried to control myself not to make a sound, and I was just glad she switched off the light, and she couldn't see the movements of my shoulders as I cry.

I couldn't sleep no matter how I wanted to sleep because I couldn't stop thinking about Lauren, and I realized he would always be part of Ashton's life because she was the daughter of the best friend of Ashton's dad. And I know I don't have any right to hate Ashton because I know how much he cares for me, and I trust him. I cried because I felt so helpless that I couldn't be there for him because of the social and financial status of our family.

It was already past midnight when I received a text from Ashton, and it made me feel so happy even if I was upset with him, and I couldn't stop myself from replying to his message, and he called me right away. And I felt so glad I picked up his call, and I allowed him to explain his side, and I was right, it was his father's idea after all, and I was delighted Ashton was honest with me, and he even asked an apology even if he didn't know Lauren was coming with them. And I know I can't be upset with him forever because I love Ashton, and I want our relationship to become stronger, and I no longer doubt his love and intention for me.

The days passed too quickly, and I enjoyed my days being Ashton's girlfriend. I am so glad the girls stopped bullying me, and maybe because Ashton was always by my side, and every morning during his practice, I stayed and watched on the sideline with my friends. And Oscar got so thrilled when I told him one day that we would be watching on the playground while Ashton and his teammates had football practice.

And I couldn't forget the expression on Ashton's face when he saw me cheering for him, and as a reward, he kissed me in front of his teammates after his practice that day that made me so thrilled, and after we shared our hot kiss, I giggled when I heard the cheers of his teammates and my friends.