Millionaire Girlfriend

Chapter 16: Chapter 16 - make up

Ashley walked home despite the several kilometers separating the shop from her apartment.

She hadn’t taken a taxi because she didn’t want to arrive home too quickly.

She didn’t want her roommates to see her looking so pathetic.

This wasn’t her first rodeo when it came to suffering.

But no one ever truly got used to emotional pain.

Or maybe some people did.

Still, her chest felt heavy, and her heart kept pounding in a way she hadn’t experienced since childhood, back when she had accepted that she was alone in the world.

When she passed a small restaurant, she stopped to eat something.

She was sad, but not stupid enough to starve herself.

By the time she got home, her roommates invited her to watch a movie with them but she said ’ no ’.

They didn’t insist after Ashley politely declined, assuming she was simply tired after spending the evening with Clara.

None of them noticed anything unusual.

Ever since she was little, Ashley had become frighteningly good at hiding her sadness.

Now alone in her tiny bedroom, she did the one thing that always comforted her whenever she felt down.

She put in one earbud and watched adorable baby videos on her phone.

She already knew she wouldn’t be able to fall asleep unless she collapsed from exhaustion.

So, once again, she hoped to drift off with her phone still in her hand.

She was almost there...

When her phone rang.

It was Clara.

Ashley wondered whether she should block her again.

But what would be the point?

They were going to see each other at school tomorrow anyway.

"Hello," Ashley answered.

"It was my mother," Clara blurted out immediately, afraid Ashley would hang up again.

"..."

Ashley said nothing.

She felt a little relieved, but the pain inside her was still there.

"She showed up without telling me. I tried calling you to warn you, but you never gave me the chance," Clara explained.

She had even borrowed one of her employees’ phones after Ashley blocked her number, but Ashley had hung up the moment she realized it was Clara again.

"..."

Ashley remained silent.

"I just wanted to tell you in case you thought I was cheating on you or hiding something," Clara added.

Still, Ashley didn’t answer.

"Ashley... are you okay?" Clara asked after several long seconds of silence.

Ashley still didn’t respond.

So Clara continued.

"Please don’t think I sent you away because I was hiding you... or because I’m ashamed of you."

She took a slow breath.

"I just didn’t want you to meet my mother without being prepared. She can be... very intrusive sometimes. I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable when we’ve only just started dating."

Clara hesitated.

"I’m really sorry for sending you away like that. Are you mad at me?"

She already had an idea what Ashley’s answer would be, but she wanted to hear it from her.

After several more seconds of silence, Clara no longer expected a reply.

Then Ashley finally spoke.

"Why would I be mad at you? It’s my own fault. I got myself kicked out because I blocked you... and then showed up at your house without an invitation."

As always, Ashley shifted the blame onto herself.

Clara could almost hear the pain hidden beneath her calm voice.

On any other night, she would have already been driving to Ashley’s apartment.

But tonight, her mother was still there.

She promised herself she would make it up to Ashley as soon as they met again.

"No, no. It’s not your fault," Clara quickly replied.

"I never should’ve harassed you with all those calls."

She let out a small laugh.

"That’s why you blocked me in the first place."

Ashley stayed quiet again.

"Are you really okay?" Clara asked once more.

After another pause, Ashley finally answered.

"Yeah... I’m fine. Everything’s fine."

Her voice wasn’t convincing at all.

"Do you hate me?" Clara asked softly.

"I don’t hate you," Ashley replied.

Clara smiled with relief.

"I’m so happy to hear that."

"I promise I’ll make it up to you." Said Clara.

They stayed on the phone until very late that night.

Ashley hardly spoke, but simply having someone who genuinely wanted to stay with her made her feel much better.

The next day, Clara didn’t come to class.

She had already warned Ashley that she would be spending the entire day with her mother.

Fortunately, the day went surprisingly well for Ashley.

Everyone was friendly, and nothing bad happened.

Well...

Except for the moment Jacob stopped by the shop during his lunch break to ask Ashley whether she had a condom.

But that was a story for another day.

Now it was past ten at night, and Ashley was heading home alone once again.

As soon as she stepped outside, her paranoia told her to look behind her, just in case another lunatic was following her.

Seeing the street was empty, she started walking.

Everything was fine.

Until another car slowly approached her.

She was already preparing to run even though she knew she couldn’t outrun a car

when the horn suddenly sounded.

She looked more carefully.

It was Clara’s car.

Clara had come to pick her up.

Ashley immediately stopped walking.

"Get in," Clara said happily.

She had decided to drive by Ashley’s workplace on her way to the apartment, hoping she might still be there.

Ashley climbed into the car without hesitation.

She was happy that someone had come to pick her up.

And the fact that it was Clara made her even happier.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed walking home this late?" Clara scolded her.

She had no idea Ashley had been walking home like this for months.

Ashley didn’t answer.

Not because she disagreed.

Not because she didn’t want to talk.

She simply wanted silence.

She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, resting her head against the soft leather seat.

Clara glanced at her, wondering whether things had become awkward between them.

But seeing Ashley’s relaxed expression reassured her.

"My mother finally left," Clara said with a smile.

"She had something urgent to take care of tomorrow morning, so she left tonight."

She smiled even wider.

"I’m all yours now."

Ashley still didn’t react.

Then...

"Stop the car," Ashley suddenly said.

"What? Why?" Clara asked, surprised.

She immediately wondered if she had done something wrong.

"No one else is at your house anymore, right?"

"Let’s go there."

Clara slammed on the brakes as realization hit her.

Fortunately, the road was completely empty.

Ashley didn’t have to say it twice.

Clara immediately made a U-turn and drove back toward her house.

The rest of the drive was silent.

Ashley didn’t say another word.

Neither did Clara.

She didn’t completely understand what was happening.

But if Ashley had suggested spending the night at her place...

Then everything between them had to be okay.

Right?

When they finally arrived at Clara’s bedroom, Clara’s heart wouldn’t stop pounding.

She felt both nervous and excited.

Ashley, meanwhile, remained almost completely expressionless.

If anything, that only made Clara even more curious.

"Come in," Clara said as she opened the bedroom door.

Ashley walked inside without hesitation.

Instead of heading toward the bed, however, she walked straight into the bathroom.

Clara sat on the edge of her large bed and waited.

Fifteen minutes passed.

Nothing.

Ashley was still in the bathroom.

Clara knew she was taking a bath.

She wanted to ask whether she could join her...

But for some reason, she was kinda nervous.

Which was strange.

She was usually the one teasing Ashley.

Yet now she simply sat there patiently, waiting without complaining.

Thirty minutes later, the bathroom door finally opened.

Ashley stepped out wearing nothing but a bathrobe.

Clara smiled in relief.

At last.

Ashley untied the robe, letting it slip from her shoulders and fall to the floor.

She slowly walked toward Clara.

She wrapped her arms around Clara, who was still sitting on the edge of the bed.

Gently, Ashley cupped Clara’s cheek.

Clara’s smile grew even brighter.

Her arms instinctively wrapped around Ashley’s waist.

Ashley settled onto Clara’s lap.

She looked into Clara’s eyes.

Her fingertips softly brushed across Clara’s cheek before tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Then she quietly asked,

"Do you love me?"

"Of course I do," Clara answered without hesitation.

A genuine smile finally spread across Ashley’s face.

After hearing those words

She leaned forward...

And kissed Clara deeply.

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