Chapter 135 135

Chapter 135 135
Ashley POV

Jayden's father shoved my father away from him and kicked off his shoes before stepping onto the wooden floor past the black mats that covered the floor of the entrance. I spotted Jayden backing away, seemingly unconsciously, even though there was plenty of room in the hallway. I clenched my fists but kept my mouth shut tightly.

"Slippers," Mom warned as she helped Jayden's mom put on her outerwear, her gaze sharp and stern.

My father brushed off her words, something he only dared to do when Jayden's father was around. "That's not necessary. Honey, why don't you prepare something for everyone to drink? For the kids too."

I looked at my mom as she swallowed the explanation of why slippers were good to wear in the house - an explanation I had heard many times before - and merely smiled. "I will. But first..."

My stomach dropped to the bottom of the pit as she locked her gaze on me.

"Don't you have anything to tell Jayden and Jared's parents, Ashley?"

I froze. 

His father and his mother looked at me with varying degrees of curiosity, as my parents looked expectant. My heart started pounding more rapidly, and I covered my hand, or rather, the finger with the ring on it.

"What's the matter?" asked his mother gently.

A supportive hand was felt on my back, forcing me to glance back to find Jayden by my side. He flashed me his curled smile, and the warmth of his palm seeped down my back, through my clothes.

"I'm starving, Ashley," his father said with a crooked smile. "Don't be shy. Just say it."

My mom frowned as I did not speak. "It's about her and Jayden's engagement," she initiated. "It's been canceled-"

"It's postponed," I blurted out, shutting her up with a glare. "We were going to have a wedding later this year."

"Oh, okay." Jayden's mom stroked my cheek with her hand. "That's not something you need to tell us. You're so young - of course, you want more time before you get married."

"Yeah, right." I gulped nervously. "Of course."

Before either of my parents could say anything, I ushered them and Jayden's parents headed for the kitchen. I sensed that both my parents' eyes were set on me, but thankfully, they kept quiet as they started pouring wine along with some light dishes to eat. I joined in the conversation and helped carry the food into the dining room, overzealous in my efforts to shift the subject as far away from my and Jared's engagement and wedding as possible. His parents did not seem to notice anything, and my parents let him, yet there was another pair of eyes that never looked away from me - or the ring on my finger.

And they were his piercing caramel brown eyes.

His parents had been there for about two hours when Dad started to get up from the table to prepare the bread and salad. I offered to do it, much to his relief, but regretted it instantly when Jayden got up as well.

"I will help you," he stated.

I was getting mouthy with protest as I caught sight of the look in his eyes. Even though I managed to escape him for now, I knew I would not be able to do so in the long run. Hence, letting out only a small sigh, I headed towards the kitchen without a word. He trailed behind me.

The two of us did not speak any words for a while. I told him to slice the bread as I washed and prepared the vegetables. Nothing but the sound of the knives we were using to slice filled the room - but that did not mean the atmosphere was not lively. The slight noises the two of us made and the faint voices of the parents made the hush in the kitchen that much more lively.

"Why are you wearing the engagement ring he bought for you, Ash?"

The chilling sound in his voice made my heart thunder. Tentatively, I loosened my grip on the knife and whirled around. He was chopping near the corner of the kitchen as I settled down at the table next to the sink.

"Honestly, I have no words to explain it," I said faintly. "I don't want to marry Jared, and I'm not going to. But... but I can't just end our engagement just like that."

He did not even glance at me.

"Why not?" he asked, putting the pieces of bread into the basket he had brought from the dining room.

"I could not say," I admitted. "And I know it's not fair for me to ask this, but I need you to trust me, Jay."

He stared at me for a few breathless moments, his caramel brown eyes unreadable. But then he reached out his hand to me and grasped my left hand with both of his. I swallowed as he touched the surface of the ring, especially as his eyes turned deadly hard, barely blinking, as he scrutinized the tiny diamonds.

"I hate seeing you with this," he murmured. "I hate seeing you with my brother. But I trust you."

I intertwined my fingers with his. "Thank you," I said gently.

"So, I can assume that you have not told him about us?"

I shook my head. "I have not."

"Well then." He scratched the back of his head. "That explains why you won't let me touch you."

I blushed, but as his words reminded me of what happened in my room, I also recalled that there was something he wanted to tell me.

"Earlier, in my room..."

His smile widened. "Yeah?"

Part of me wanted to wash away the obvious satisfaction on his face with a punch, but I bit back. "You said you wanted to tell me something," I pointed out. "Something important."

His expression crumbled. "Oh."

"We have time now."

He averted his gaze as his jaw clenched. I frowned as I watched his reaction, and when he remained mute, my bemusement turned to genuine concern. However, just as I was about to speak, there was a loud crash of furniture falling from the dining room.

His eyes widened as they darted to me, but before either of us could do anything, Mom dashed into the kitchen, her eyes flashing, wild. As soon as she spoke, the rush of blood through my body turned to ice to the point where I forgot all thoughts of him, Jared, and anyone else.

For what she said was more crucial and terrifying than any... and all of that.

"Call an ambulance, Ashley. I think your father just had another heart attack."