(Arielle''s POV)


    After exchanging cheesy lines, we both grew shy, embarrassed by our emotional outburst. Then Ashley, ever the opportunist, brightened up. "I''ve got the perfect therapy for today''s drama-a movie night!" she dered, practically glowing. "I can''t Ash. I''ve got to finish this thing I''m working on," I nodded at myptop screen.


    But she ignored me and reached over and shut theptop close. "Come on seriously? After such a tiring day? Work can wait! all work and no y they say...," she wriggled her wrist theatrically for me to fill in the nks.


    I rolled my eyes and sighed. "...Makes Jack even more broke than he was yesterday."


    "You''ve got it all wrong, silly!" She smacked my shoulder yfully. "Now get up!" she sang, off-key, as she pulled me to my feet.


    "Oh,e on, Ash. Do I really have to? I just want to work myself into exhaustion and crash," I whined as she tugged at my arm.


    She gasped in mock horror. "Now that has to be the most joyless thing to do for the night. But not on my watch! You''ll go pick us a movie in the living room while I go pop some corn and fix a couple otherte night snacks," she dered with a yful wink. "You do know eating thiste is bad, right? A second on your lips..." I hinted.


    "Should earn you a kiss," she answered wrongly with a rebellious smirk on her face.


    "We''re even then. Don''t take too long, or I''m picking the cheesiest Turkish telenov I can find."


    She scowled like I''d cursed her and disappeared into the kitchen. "At least we''d be watching something," she called over her shoulder.


    I shook my head, smiling as I headed to the living room. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I noticed a notification-Dwayne had sent me a message, only to unsend it momentster. Whatever it was, I didn''t have the energy to care.


    Sinking into the sofa, I grabbed the remote and started browsing N*****x. One movie about brothers fighting over a bride caught my attention, but I canceled it as fast as I''d clicked it. Too close to home.


    Ashley walked in with a bowl of popcorn and an extra tray holding a bowl of fruit sd and some freshly squeezed orange juice. She looked like a robot with extra arms, only that there were no extra arms. Just the determination of a devoted friend.


    "You know, you could''ve asked for help," I said as she set everything down on the coffee table.


    "Nonsense. I''m spoiling you tonight," she waved it off and settled down beside me on the sofa.


    "By spoiling you mean an borate n to give us both diabetes, huh?" I teased.


    "What do you know... Friendship is sharing. In sickness and in health, my love," she replied with a yful smirk.


    We bothughed, and I found myself asking, "Hey, Ash, do you remember the day we met?"


    She paused, blinking. "How could I forget?"


    I let the memory wash over me, taking on a nostalgic tone. "You know, before meeting you, I never thought I''d ever have any connection to the upper ss. Let alone marry into it."


    Ashley shook her head, brushing it off. "Well, I wouldn''tpare myself to Jared."


    Ashley came from a wealthy family, but her life wasn''t a fairytale. Her dad had a string of illegitimate kids, and her mom was his third wife.


    She used to bask in her family''s status before college, but after that, she cut ties, stopped using their money, and built her own career at a top-sspany. Her rtionship with her dad was neutral at best, but she remained close to her mom, whocked ambition and left her siblings fighting over their dad''s fortune.


    "I met you when I was still an intern chef, catering for one of your dad''s events," I reminisced. "I was just tagging along with my mentor and stepped outside for air. That''s when I saw you-dressed to the nines but crying next to a trash can, smoking. Ashley tilted her head, pretending to think. "What did I say back then?"


    I chuckled. "You told me, ''They wouldn''t let my mom sit at the main table, so I flipped the whole damn thing. Guess who kicked me out? My bloody dad. One day, I''m gonna strut in there, head-to-toe in designer clothes and jewels, and make those assholes kneel to my mom.""


    Ashleyughed, shaking her head. "Yeah, and you said, ''Honestly, I think you''d make a bigger impact storming in looking all ragged and creepy.'' The look I gave you..."


    "Priceless," I finished, grinning.


    "From that moment, I knew you were impossible and super interesting," she said with a fond smile.


    I smiled back. Was it amazing how far we''de? After that day, she''d skip ss to try my wild kitchen experiments, and I''d save her food whenever she got kicked out of her dad''s house.


    She patted my shoulder, her voice softening. "Life''s just incredible, Ari. It gives you the best people when you least expect it. We''ll all get what we deserve in the end-you included."


    *********


    The next morning was chaos central. Ashley and I had overslept after binge-watching two full seasons of a show the night before-bad idea, in hindsight.


    As we rushed around the house, the early morning sunlight finding its way into the house through the window blinds seemed to taunt us, highlighting the chaos of our morning routine.


    I expertly juggled between the tasks


    of making breakfast, packing Maverick''s lunch, feeding the dogs. and getting myself ready for work.


    Ashley on the other hand, washe


    responsible for getting Maverick dressed and ready for school.


    "Maverick,e on, sweetie, we''re going to bete!'' Ashley called out, when she was preceding him in ascending the stairs.


    I looked up from setting the table as Maverick appeared and skidded past her, beating her to get to the table first .He had his usual wide grin, as he plopped on his chair in the dinning. "Good morning, Mommy," he said with an even wider grin.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Morning, Sonshine," I returned the smile, ruffling his hair fondly before sliding a bowl of steaming hot oatmeal in front of him.


    "Hey, you good?" Ashley asked, joining us.


    "Define good," I said with a dramatic eye roll, handing Maverick a spoon. "Remind me to never agree to another movie night with you."


    "What?!" She feigned an offended look.


    "Are you trying to put the me on me?"


    "Exactly," I retorted, sliding a te of well garnished noodles in front of her, while I sat down to do justice to mine.


    "Oh well, with a te of noodles like this, I can stomach the usation," she said, shing me a naughty grin.


    "Silly girl."


    After scarfing down breakfast and a flurry ofst-minute checks, we were miraculously ready to leave on time. Maverick''s backpack was on, lunchbox stowed, and my nerves slightly less frazzled. "Alright, let''s hit the road!" Ashley eximed, as she opened the front door, and gestured for us to precede her.


    We stepped out onto the porch, and


    my stomach did a little flip when I saw Big Joe standing at the foot of the stairs. His usual stoic bodyguard vibe was missing, reced by an


    almost... apologetic expression?


    I was surprised because I hadn''t expected to see him show up after telling Dwayne I didn''t need his services anymore. Not after lying to me.


    I braced myself for the confrontation, and put on a neutral look as I approached him.


    Ashley noticed the brewing tension and announced, "We will wait in the car," and with that she gently ushered Maverick towards the car.


    I watched as they walked away, d they were giving me some space because I really needed to give this big guy a piece of my heart.


    "I told your boss I don''t need your services anymore. Didn''t he pass that along?" I stopped in front of him, crossing my arms.


    Big Joe dropped his gaze to the


    ground, "He did. But I wanted toe here myself to apologize. You were right to be upset, ma''am. I lied to you, and I know earning back your trust is probably impossible now. I just.. I needed to say I''m sorry. Really sorry."


    I


    His gruff voice was softer than I''d ever heard it, and the regret in his eyes threw me off. Against my better judgment, my anger started to fade.


    I sighed. This wasn''t entirely his fault-he was just following orders. But I wasn''t about to let him off the hook so easily.


    Rolling my eyes, I kept my expression stern.


    "Fine, I forgive you."


    "Are you sure?" His eyebrows shot up, and he studied my face like he thought I was messing with him.


    "Yes, really," I said, this time with a little smile.


    His face immediately lit up with relief, and he let out a deep breath. "Thank you. This means a lot to me."


    The tension in his shoulders eased, but then he started fidgeting, rubbing the back of his neck like he was nervous. "There''s... one more thing," he muttered, his eyes flicking to the street behind me.


    "What now, Big Joe?" I started, but the words got stuck in my throat when I turned and saw the figure walking toward us.


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