The wedding day arrived sooner than Ashley could have imagined.
For almost a week, she had been accompanying Amelia everywhere for the arrangements and decisions that, in Amelia's words, "only she could take."
Tomorrow, she would officially become one of the Clarks.
The evening had set in as she was being driven back to her apartment. That afternoon, Amelia had joined her for the final fitting of the wedding gown.
Looking out the window, Ashley noticed a nearby billboard displaying a picture from their engagement.
Her face wasn't fully visible, nor was it concealed. It had been subtly left for people to guess the exact features.
Beside her in the car, a magazine already lay open. Its cover showed the same photo.
It was the moment when she had unknowingly stood very close to Michael, and Ruby had captured the shot.
What surprised her more was the intensity with which Michael looked back at her in the picture.
Ashley wasn't sure if her imagination was misleading her, or if it was simply the angle from which the photo had been taken.
Either way, she knew the reason behind that look—but others didn't. They would misunderstand it as love he didn't even have for her.
And yet, this photo was everywhere. By tomorrow evening, it would be replaced by her official wedding photos.
This time, at least, she had been warned a week in advance.
She had known that being the first wedding in this generation of the Clarks would bring some hype.
But to this extent? She hadn't imagined it. Even at work, River talked about it, and Ashley was surprised he hadn't recognized her yet.
A beep sounded from the walkie-talkie in the car.
Ashley looked toward it. Steve disconnected it from the speaker and switched to the earpiece.
"Go ahead."
Ashley couldn't hear what was said, but Steve exchanged a quick glance with Dustin, the driver, who also had an earpiece in.
Since the engagement, Steve and Dustin had been assigned to accompany her whenever she went out.
Though she had initially refused, they continued showing up at her building every day before she left for work.
"Roger."
Silence returned to the car as Ashley looked out the window.
"We're here," Steve announced.
Ashley nodded and stepped out. "Thank you for the drop."
Normally, they stayed until she reached her apartment and turned on the lights, but today the car drove away as soon as she entered the building lobby.
Turning back, Ashley felt something was off. A strange premonition crept over her. She recalled how the car had sped up after that call.
Maybe it was something urgent.
The dim lobby light flickered as she headed toward the staircase and began walking up.
Knowing it was her last night here—at least for the next three years—Ashley pressed her lips together. Too many emotions were tied to this place.
Suddenly, the lights went out.
Ashley stumbled but managed to steady herself.
Nothing surprising.
Power outages were common here. The generator rarely worked, and the electricity often cut out without warning.
She was only two floors away from her apartment, so she decided not to pull her phone from her handbag.
Ashley knew the way by heart. She wouldn't fall.
So she kept walking.
But then—she heard another set of footsteps following her. It didn't make sense.
No one lived on the top floor but her, and the people on the floor below were usually out of town.
Maybe they were back.
She didn't mind it—until the next floor. When the footsteps continued even after she passed that floor, a sense of dread crept in.
Steve usually accompanied her all the way to her apartment. Not today, because of that call.
For the first time, she wished he were here.
Could it be the moneylenders again? But they never bothered her after business hours—they were bank officials.
So who was it?
Just as she reached her floor, almost to her door, Ashley sensed someone right behind her.
She froze.
Fear gripped her chest as she fumbled to get her phone from her bag.
Dead.
Damn it!
In the dark, her trembling hands struggled to find the right key. Her breath quickened.
Then—light.
The corridor lit up as power returned.
Ashley exhaled heavily and turned around, her face pale with fear—only to find Skylar standing behind her.
The breath she had been holding escaped in one rush. "Sky—Skylar, it's you."
Relief washed over her. She almost wanted to collapse on the floor.
She had been so terrified.
"Don't marry him."
Ashley looked up, startled by the words. Skylar's face was unreadable—Ashley couldn't tell what was going through her mind.
"What?" she asked.
It was as if a switch flipped. Skylar grabbed her hands.
"I said don't marry him. You won't be happy. I don't believe in any of this nonsense going on. Just tell me—you don't love him, do you? How could you be in a relationship for three years without me knowing?"
Her voice grew vulnerable as she poured out questions. Ashley stood speechless, shocked by Skylar's behavior.
What had gotten into her?
"Ashley, please—tell me all of this is a lie!" Skylar's voice cracked with desperation.
As though if Ashley didn't say yes, Skylar might fall apart.