A Morning Kiss, A Dying Truth

A Morning Kiss, A Dying Truth
Ashton's POV

The car came to a smooth stop in front of the university gates. Lily was beaming with excitement. College had always been her biggest dream—a dream once buried, now rising back to life. And I was proud to be the man standing by her side as she reached for it.

“Want me to walk you in?” I offered gently, wondering if she might be nervous.

“Just walk me to the garden,” she said with a bright smile. “I’ll find my class on my own after that.”

She looked radiant, truly radiant. I’d never seen her glow like this before.

“Alright…”

Just as she reached for the door, I caught her hand. She turned to me, eyebrows lifting in question.

“What is it?”

I glanced at Joe in the driver’s seat. “Close your eyes, Joe.”

He grinned, then covered his eyes with one hand. Lily looked at me, puzzled.

“Why did you ask him to do that?”

I smiled, leaning in. I pulled her gently toward me, close enough to feel her breath. Her eyes fluttered shut as she realized what I was about to do. I kissed her softly, at first, a tender brush of lips meant to say I love you, I believe in you.

But it wasn’t enough.

I found myself craving more, drawn to the sweetness of her like a man starved. Our kiss deepened. It grew warmer, hungrier, more urgent. There was always a quiet ache in me, a burning I had to bury until the truth behind my father’s and brother’s deaths came to light. But right now, none of that existed. There was only her.

Time seemed to pause. Every second I tasted her felt like a small eternity. Inch by inch, I kissed her as though I might never get the chance again. Her breathing hitched—shallow, quick, like mine. And then we stopped.

She opened her eyes, smiling up at me, cheeks flushed and eyes gleaming. “Your kisses always leave me breathless,” she whispered. “Wasn’t the one at home enough?”

I couldn’t help the smile tugging at my lips. Maybe we were truly drunk on love. And falling for the same person over and over again... that was its own kind of magic.

“It’ll never be enough, Lily.”

Her cheeks deepened in color.

“Is my lipstick ruined?” she asked, grabbing a mirror from her bag. She dabbed at the smudge.

“You still look perfect, Lily.”

She smiled again. “Okay. Let’s go. Just walk me to the garden.”

I nodded. A gentle tap on Joe’s shoulder told him he could open his eyes again.

We walked side by side through campus. The university was large, the garden ahead bursting with flowers of every color. Students strolled past us in every direction. The scene brought back memories of my own college days. I noticed a few lingering glances in our direction.

“Ashton,” Lily said, leaning closer. “I think some girls are checking you out.”

I blinked. I hadn’t noticed. Was she… jealous?

“It’s tough being me,” I teased. “Every time someone looks my way, my wife gets jealous.”

She laughed softly and nudged my arm. “It’s a small thing. I just know exactly how charming my husband is.”

I cupped her face and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll have a few bodyguards wait nearby and escort you once your class is over.”

“Ashton, that’s too much. I’ll be fine.”

“It’s your first day. You’re not the only one who’s excited—I am too.”

Her smile returned. “Okay. Thank you, my husband. I’m heading in now.”

I nodded. “I love you.”

Her smile deepened, eyes glowing. She paused for a moment before answering—letting those words land where they mattered most.

“I love you too, my husband.”

I watched her walk away. She turned back a couple of times, smiling. I stayed there until I couldn’t see her anymore.



After dropping Lily off, I headed straight to my next appointments. Today was packed with meetings, representatives from various companies, potential collaborations, and promising project discussions. I wanted Williams Corporation to take bolder steps, to expand wider than ever before.

But even with all the business talk, my mind kept drifting toward the investigation.

Evelyn had called earlier. She wanted to meet after lunch.

As always, she was punctual. She arrived just as I finished my final meeting and cleared my schedule for the afternoon. Evelyn always had the same composed expression when we met—focused, intense, and utterly professional. Sometimes I wondered why I hadn’t hired a private investigator sooner. With her, everything moved faster. Clearer.

She opened her laptop, her fingers tapping with precision.

“Ashton, I’ve looked into the Taylor Group vehicle that was trailing your father’s car,” she began. “Inside were Kevin Watson and two of his men. He resigned from Taylor Group a year ago. Their destination matched your father’s. They were heading to the same project site.”

I listened closely, every part of me alert.

“I can’t say for sure whether it’s connected to the accident,” she continued, “but I found something new on one of the remaining CCTV recordings.”

She looked at me then, her gaze sharp, like she was holding something heavy.

“There was a truck, coming from the opposite direction. It struck your father’s car.”

My eyes stayed glued to the screen. The footage was grainy, unclear in parts, but the scene was unmistakable. A massive truck barreling down the road—then impact. A violent one.

For three years, the official report said it was a solo crash. That my father and brother were speeding, lost control, and slammed into a concrete barrier.

But this...

This was no accident.

The truck had hit them. On purpose. The impact had caused their car to swerve uncontrollably before crashing.

I couldn’t breathe. My chest clenched with a fury I hadn’t felt in years. The grief I had buried—repressed beneath work, duty, survival came roaring back.

That crash... that deliberate act… had killed my father and my brother.

And I’d spent three years in the dark.

“Who was the driver?” My voice was low. Tense. My hands curled into fists on my lap. Was he the mastermind? Or just another pawn?

“We’re still tracking him down,” Evelyn said calmly. “I believe the case was covered up. Someone silenced the truth. But I promise, Ashton, my team and I will uncover everything.”

I took a slow breath, forcing the storm inside me to settle. “Thank you, Evelyn. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”

She offered a small smile, brushing her hair behind her ear. Then, for a brief second, her expression shifted warmer, softer. Her eyes lingered on mine in a way that was no longer just about work.

I looked away.

The test of a married man wasn’t always temptation. It was loyalty in the face of memory.

And this... this was memory.

“Do you remember back in high school?” she asked softly. “That day when it rained so hard... I was stranded on the front steps of the classroom, and you waited with me until my father picked me up.”

Of course I remembered. But was this the right time to revisit it when Lily already filled every corner of my heart?

“Yeah,” I said simply. “I remember.”

“I never forgot it, Ashton,” she whispered. “And... I miss moments like that.”

I stayed silent.

The way she was looking at me now. This wasn’t just nostalgia. It was more.

“You should find yourself a boyfriend, Evelyn.” My tone was casual, even if I wasn’t entirely comfortable.

“Yeah. Maybe,” she said, eyes lowering. “Too bad I have a thing for married men.”

She smiled faintly. Regret shimmered behind it.

And I froze.

I didn’t know what to say. I only hoped... the man she meant wasn’t me.