Chapter 45: The Line Between Past and Present

The name appeared on my phone screen like a shadow from a past that wasn’t entirely unfamiliar—Sandra.

I knew who she was. Ashton’s ex. The woman who once filled a part of his life before I came into it.

Her message was short:

Can we talk for a moment, Lily? Just for a little while.

I stared at it for a long time, uncertain. But curiosity had always been my weakness. Within minutes, my fingers replied:

Alright. Where?

Sandra answered:

The café near your campus. Four p.m.

I knew this probably wasn’t a good idea. But I also knew that if I didn’t go, I would keep thinking about it.

The café was quiet that afternoon. The smell of coffee mingled with the soft light of the sun streaming through the large windows. Sandra was already seated in the corner, waiting for me.

She looked elegant, as always—a former model who knew exactly how to present herself. Her blond hair was tied in a low bun, and a beige blazer framed her slender figure perfectly.

When I approached, she turned and offered a faint smile. “Lily.”

I sat across from her, returning a polite smile. “Sandra.”

For a few moments, silence hung between us, broken only by the sound of a spoon clinking against her cup.

“I’m glad you came,” she said at last. “I know this might feel awkward, but I thought it was better to talk face-to-face than let misunderstandings grow.”

I looked at her carefully. “About what?”

She leaned back, her calm blue eyes watching me with quiet judgment. “About Ashton. And about you.”

I raised my eyebrows but stayed silent.

“I won’t pretend,” she continued. “Ashton and I had a complicated relationship. But I want you to know, I didn’t come here to take anything from you.”

She smiled faintly. “I just want to make sure he’s happy.”

Her tone was soft, but something about it felt off, a subtle edge hidden beneath polite words.

“I’m sure Ashton’s doing fine,” I said carefully. “And so am I.”

Sandra held my gaze for a while. “You look young, innocent… but maybe you don’t really know who Ashton is.”

She took a slow sip of her coffee. “He’s a man who’s always focused. His world in business is ruthless. I know, because I was there with him once. Sometimes… his ambition consumes everything, even his feelings.”

I stayed calm. “I’ve seen that side of him. But that’s no reason to doubt him.”

Sandra gave a small laugh, though her eyes didn’t follow. “You really love him, don’t you?”

I nodded slowly.

“What a pity.”

The words slid out softly, but they felt like thorns. “Love is beautiful… until you realize you’re no longer the center of his world.”

I looked her straight in the eye. “Are you trying to warn me, or scare me?”

“Maybe a bit of both,” she said lightly, then stood up. “I just wanted to see how far you’re willing to go.”

She placed some money on the table, then looked at me one last time. “I hope you’re stronger than I was, Lily.”

Her last smile felt like poison. And before I could say a word, she was gone — leaving behind the sharp scent of her perfume and a strange heaviness in my chest.

Ashton’s POV

A notification appeared on my phone just as I finished a meeting. A message from Sandra.

Just talked to your wife. She’s sweet. Naïve, but sweet. You chose well.

I stared at the words for a long time.

Heat rose in my chest. She had the nerve to approach Lily without my consent, and now she was deliberately sending this message—as if she wanted to stir things up.

I stood, grabbed my jacket. My secretary called after me, but I didn’t care. There was only one thing on my mind, Lily.

That night, Lily was already in the living room when I arrived. She looked surprised to see me home early.

“Ashton?” Her voice was gentle. “What’s wrong?”

“I need to talk.” My tone was firmer than I intended. I looked at her, searching her eyes, for an explanation, maybe.

“She met you.” It wasn’t a question. It was a fact.

Lily paused, then nodded slowly. “Sandra. Yes. I met her this afternoon.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I regretted the harshness in my voice the moment the words left my mouth.

She lowered her gaze but kept her voice calm. “I didn’t think it was something I needed to mention. I just wanted to hear what she had to say, then leave.”

I exhaled, watching her closely. “She texted me after your meeting.”

Lily looked startled. “She… contacted you?”

I showed her my phone. Sandra’s message was still there.

Her expression shifted—not out of fear, but disappointment. “So she really meant to cause trouble.”

I stepped closer, meeting her eyes. “You don’t have to see her again. I don’t want her making you uncomfortable.”

Lily looked at me for a long moment, then nodded. But she took a deep breath before speaking again. “There’s something else you should know.”

I frowned. “What is it?”

“Professor Daniel offered me a position as his research assistant for his current project.”

I felt the blood rush faster in my veins.

That name brought back the image of my sister, Kelly, years ago—her trembling voice, her eyes filled with tears as she finally admitted how that man had hurt her.

“Daniel?” My voice dropped lower. “Are you serious?”

Lily nodded slowly. “Yes. He said I’d be a good fit for his developmental psychology project. I haven’t given him an answer yet, but I wanted to be honest with you.”

I stared at her for a moment. “You know I don’t like that man.”

“I know,” she said softly. “But I don’t want to turn down an academic opportunity just because of your history with him.”

I let out a sharp breath. “It’s not just my history, Lily. He broke my sister. I can’t just ignore that.”

She met my gaze—gentle but steady. “And I won’t let anyone hurt me, Ashton. I know my boundaries. I won’t give anyone a reason to doubt us.”

Her words soothed the storm inside my chest. Lily wasn’t the kind of woman who wavered easily. She might be gentle, but she wasn’t fragile.

I took a deep breath, then said quietly, “Alright. If you’re sure, I won’t stop you. But I want to know everything about that project. If anything feels off, I want you to walk away.”

Lily smiled faintly. “I promise.”

I reached for her hand, wrapping my fingers around her warm ones. “I don’t want to lose you, Lily. Not because of someone else’s past mistakes.”

She looked up at me and whispered, “You won’t lose me.”

And in that quiet embrace, I knew that the world outside might be loud and messy, but the two of us would keep learning how to protect each other, even when the past came knocking on our door again.