Chapter 136 - Wounded Heart

Megan's POV

I couldn't believe that I held a photo album in my hands. And I don't understand why Ashton is giving me something like this, and my curiosity heightened, and I became more excited to look at everything inside the old album. I slowly sat at the edge of the bed while I leaned my back at the headboard and put the memory book on my lap, and I started scanning the old photo album.

My eyes widened when I realized it was an album of his grandfather since I could see Henry Priztgold and his wife, Sarah, on the first two pages, and the following photographs that I have seen made my entire body shiver. I can see Axel on the picture with Ashton's grandfather, but it would be impossible since I could tell by the date of each image, the photographer took the photos so many years ago.

No wonder Ashton feels so confident telling me that Axel was his son because he looked exactly like him when he was his age. And I couldn't stop smiling as I looked at Ashton's pictures, and I realized it was mostly his photographs with his grandparents. There were also pictures with his siblings, and I smiled when I looked at Isabelle's beautiful face, and I realized she didn't change much because I could tell right away it was her. 

On the following pages, I saw pictures of Ashton and his brothers and sister together with their parents when they went to Japan, and he was young back then. I could tell Ashton was older than Axel by one year when the photographer took the photos according to the date of the images, and he still looked like Axel, whichever angle I would look at him. As I continued to scan the pages, I saw him turn into a teenager until he became an adult.

And when I reached the last two pages of the album, my heart melted, and I couldn't stop myself from reminiscing when I saw the pictures of Ashton and me on the lake at his grandfather's estate. We looked so happy back then. I don't know how long I was watching our pictures together when I felt my tears dripped on my face. And I suddenly felt so empty, and I couldn't believe I was feeling this way. 

"Are you okay, Meg?" I heard my best friend's voice ask me, and I shook my head. I didn't even notice she get inside my room.

"What is wrong?" She softly asked me, and when her eyes found the photo album, I could see her eyes got so big as she looked at the pictures of Ashton and me, and then I flipped the pages to go back on the page where Ashton was a little boy, and she was speechless for a long time.

"Wow! I don't think you need a paternity test as proof that Ashton is his father. He has all the evidence he needs after all." She said, and I nodded my head.

"What do you think I should do, Al?" I asked in more than a whisper as she handed me the facial tissue from my vanity table.

"Well, if you are going to ask for my opinion regarding this matter, you know what would be my answer. You have always known that your happiness matters to me the most, and I don't want you to live your life filled with regrets, Meg." Alice responded.

"We both know that even if you say you don't want to see Ashton anymore, and you hated him with all your heart, you can't deny that you still love him, Meg. I want you to stop being miserable; give him a second chance." She added.

"You know it will never be easy for me, Alice, you witnessed how much my ex hurt me, and I don't think we can be in a relationship again when my heart is full of resentment." I softly said as I looked at our picture again, wishing I could go back to when we were still in love and so happy.

"And I know the best thing I can do is stay away from him. I already begged him to disappear and never disturb my peaceful life ever again because every time he is near, I can't think straight, and I don't even know what to do. Because you were right, Alice, I am still in love with him. And I can't think every time he is around because my stupid heart keeps telling me how much I wanted to be in his arms again." I added.

"So, why not give yourself a chance to be happy again? We have been talking like this for so many years, Meg, and now that he is finally here, you drove him away." My best friend said.

"At least he knew why I asked him never to communicate with me again, and I was better than him, Alice," I said.

"How can you say that, Meg? Did you ask him why he did it? Did you give Ashton a chance to explain his side after eight years? You have been holding that grudge for so long now, but you didn't know anything that happened to him; during that time, Megan, maybe Ashton didn't tell you the reason because he knew your personality." Alice said, and her words made me fall silent.

"I am sure he was afraid once you will know the truth behind his silence, and why he suddenly stopped communicating with you, because you were a fighter, and like what your brother did, he hurt you so you will stay away from him without knowing he was suffering too," Alice added. I didn't want to tell her she could be right, so I changed the topic.

"I thought you were already sleeping; why did you get inside my room without knocking, Alice?" I asked.

"I am sorry, Meg, I get inside since your door was ajar; I only wanted to give you this invitation card, someone left this in our office, and I wonder why it has our names on it, and I forgot to give it to you on the day your secretary handed it to me," Alice replied as she gave me the card. I suddenly felt worried if it was a wedding invitation coming from Ashton, and if ever it will happen, I will make sure to give him a lesson.

"Why you didn't open it, Alice?" I asked as I tried to calm my nerves and the trembling of my limbs.

"No, I don't want to end the thrill; I want to open it with you since the one who sent the invitation addressed us." She replied, and I thought maybe one of our suppliers knew Alice was my best friend.

"Can you open this Card, Alice? I don't think my heart could handle another surprise in one day." I said, and my best friend chuckled.

"Sure," She responded as she took back the invitation from my hand, and I couldn't wait for the details as she carefully opened the envelope. When she pulled out the off-white card, I could feel the rapid beating of my heart, and I could feel the sweat on my palm as I waited impatiently, and when I saw a beautiful smile on her face, I realized it could be some good news.

"You know I don't have the kind of patience that you possess. What is it, Alice?" I asked, and she was still smiling as she looked at me.

"It is an invitation for a class reunion for our batch, Megan." She said excitedly while my face fell as I realized why I needed to attend an event when I was sure I would be meeting Ashton Pritzgold?

"It would be next month, and the venue is at the Astikoz International, Hotel, and I heard the well known five-star hotel in Astikoz will be under by new management, do you want to know the new owner?" She asked while I shook my head since it still hurt me to remember our city.

"I am not interested to know, Alice," I replied.

"I was expecting you will answer me that way, Megan, because I know until now you are still allergic every time you hear Astikoz, but even if you are not interested, I will still inform you anyway. It was Ashton's family, and maybe Ashton offered the venue for free." She said.

"And do you think I will go knowing he will be there?" I asked, and my best friend's face was saddened.

"If you do that, Ashton will only think you are still crazy about him." She said, and I stood up and dragged her towards my bedroom door, and she continued teasing me until she was out of my door, and I couldn't stop feeling so frustrated with my feelings.

Monday came, and I was busy reading reports and product updates, but when my best friend entered my office, she found me staring into space.

"Are you sad because you haven't received any flowers from Ashton?" She asked, and I looked at daggers at her.

"Why should I? I was the one who told him to stop messing with my life, and I felt so glad there were no more flowers in my office today. Besides, it is better because all the bouquets he will send will only have the same fate. I am going to throw them in the trash bin, Alice." I said, and she only shook her head.

The days passed in a blur, and I couldn't deny Alice was right. I miss the flowers and the messages Ashton put on each card; Alice knew I threw all the flowers, but she didn't know I kept the cards, and I felt like a fool as I got the bouquet tags and started rereading them.. And I can't deny I missed receiving flowers from Ashton as I realized for the second time he had given up on me, and I can feel the piercing of my heart once again as I can feel the reopening of my wounded heart.