If before her heart normally thumped, at this point it thundered.
She didn't want to do that but to make the family believe, wouldn't it be utterly necessary?
Agghhh!
What should she do now?
Scratch that!
It won't be her doing anything, it would be him.
Michael leaned in closer and whispered, "Congratulations, Mrs Ashley Clark." The tips of her fingers curled and then something soft landed at the corner of her lips.
Ashley's eyes were opened wide as her eyelashes touched his skin. He was that close to her.
He stood like that for at least thirty seconds or more amidst the loud cheers and hoots.
What surprised her was that his lips did not even touch hers. Should she say that she was touched that he did not kiss her?
He had angled his face such that to audience it appeared that he was kissing her.
A passionate one on top of that.
He eventually pulled back and threw a smirk at her.
Ashley blinked.
The rest of the day passed in a blink and eventually in the evening only the main members of Clarks were left.
That's what Ashley liked to call the ones who were present in the Clark Mansion on her first visit.
Everyone gathered in the garden area of the resort, waiting for their respective cars to come and fetch them. However, there was just silence here.
An absolute pin-drop silence.
No one was talking to anyone.
Literally no one.
Sofia Jones yawned as she stood far from everyone, busy on her phone.
The evil aunt was busy glaring at her, with her two daughters in tow. It was Ashley's third time meeting Laura Clark and she had behaved same all the three times.
Jonathan Clark and Sally Clark had left as soon as the official ceremony ended.
The only sane and positive couple had to leave as Amelia's maternal grandmother was not doing good.
Even Jeremy Clark made a presence at the time of family picture and went away.
Ashley heard from Amelia how he did not involve himself much with the family. Amelia even doubted that had it not been for the wedding of his favorite grandson, he might not have attended at all.
Michael's father, William Clark also stood away from the rest and he was busy reading a document. Ashley did note that throughout the ceremony, she did not see William together with his wife.
William and Sofia simply stayed away from each other.
Talking about strained relationships.
As for her husband now, Ashley did not know where he was. He had been away for some time now.
Heck, she couldn't spot even Amelia or James around. What an awkward place to be at!
"Ashley, let me help you to car."
Amelia popped up out of nowhere but Asley wasn't complaining.
She couldn't wait to leave this place. She had enough for today and didn't have strength to go through something else.
She, internally relieved, hopped on the passenger seat and went into daze on finding Michael.
"There you go, honey." Amelia helped her in.
Ashley had assumed that he was off to somewhere already.
Guess she was wrong about that.
Before they were off, Amelia leaned in as she whispered mischievously. "Ashley is already tired. So don't tire her out more, Michael."
Ashley's cheeks were instantly painted red as she looked elsewhere. This was not going to happen at all.
The reply Amelia had received from Michael was the rolling up of the windows to block her sight. They could vaguely hear the blocked sound of Amelia's laughter.
"Start the car."
Ashley had known that she wouldn't be staying with the Clarks in their mansion but had low-key expected Michael to bring her either to some penthouse or another one of his huge mansions.
And then left her there to rot all alone with no human being in side.
Like it happened in the novels.
What she had not expected was for the car to be pulled inside the beautiful white gates, which opened to a pretty house.
It was a two-story house, which was still big for an individual, but not what could make one feel isolated from the world.
Unlike his appearance, the house had colours to it. Although the exterior of the house was painted grey, it balanced out well with the bright lights.
The front porch was adorned with hanging flower baskets. Ashley could see the sight of many plants in the garden which would bloom pretty flowers in Spring.
Michael stepped out of the car, and so did she. The car that dropped them here reversed and went back as if it was not even there.
So they were alone now.
Gladly, the house appeared welcoming and gave pleasant vibes; otherwise, Ashley would have been shivering just at the thought of several possibilities that could happen with her now.
Michael did not say a word as he unlocked the front door. Ashley lifted her gown a little as she followed him.
Her eyes widened in doubt as she involuntarily matched the interior with Michael. It somehow coordinated, and yet it did not.
The walls were again grey, and the flooring was all wooden. It was kind of cosy.
She did not expect this at all.
The kitchen was open and connected to the living room. Right beside the kitchen, there were stairs to the next floor.
"Is this really the place where you live?" She couldn't help as the question escaped her lips.
How could it be?
"What exactly had you imagined it to be? A den?"
"I had just imagined it to be like you," Ashley muttered under her breath, but he heard it.
Michael raised a brow in appreciation. "Glad that you know what kind of person I am."
"You never gave a chance to not form an opinion," Ashley replied calmly. Now she raised her eyebrow in challenge.
The corner of his lips lifted as he nodded knowingly. "Your room is on the next floor, right beside mine." Saying that, he left.
The sound of the front door opening and then closing echoed.
Right beside his. Good.
Now she had to first make out which room was his.