Chapter 3 She Was Exhausted


    Ashley took some time before she convinced herself. ''I think I''ll do it. We''ve already spent one night


    together, and he''s really good looking. I don''t think a kiss will hurt anyone. I''ll do it!''


    She muttered to herself as her heart was about to explode with anxiety.


    Ashley stared at the ample red lips of the man beside her. She was tempted to get closer. Then, with a


    reddened face, she leaned in and kissed him.


    It was a fast kiss, not even longer than a second.


    Ashley quickly pulled back her blushing face before Andrew noticed what she did.


    Andrew opened his eyes, sincerely disappointed with what had happened. He was hoping for


    something more passionate than a quick kiss.


    Ashley felt awkward with Andrew''s gaze. She tried to act cool as she moved away from him. However,


    her head was full of questions and doubts. ''He clearly shows signs that he wants me to make a move.


    Does he want me to make a move? Is the kiss good enough?''


    "How about we try another one?" Andrew said with a cold charismatic voice as if he knew what Ashley


    was thinking.


    Andrew was a tough-minded businessman, only making arrangements that were beneficial to him or to


    hispany. He never found himself in the losing end of any deal. The kiss was not an exception. He


    wanted something more and he must get it.


    Andrew''s words made Ashley understand that this was just the beginning. Her eyes were filled with


    both shyness and a hint of indecency. Slowly, she found herself moving closer to his face.


    Ashley then pressed her lips against Andrew''s. This time it was different. It wasn''t just a quick peck, but


    was filled with passion instead. She lusted after those gentle, smooth lips with the faint scent of


    cigarette.


    Ashley realized that this was her first real kiss. Andrew was the first man she slept with. She had dated


    Raymond but usually they just walked side by side while holding hands. Raymond would only kiss her


    on the cheeks. He never once dared to give her a passionate kiss on the lips, much less to have sex.


    Andrew wasn''t fond of women''s perfume. He found it too pungent. Ashley didn''t wear one but her skin


    still smelled likevender. Andrew tried to resist smelling her, but the faint arousing scent made him


    crave more.


    Andrew smirked as he gazed upon Ashley – her sweet lips, her shy eyes, her alluring body. The pink


    bruises on her smooth skin reminded Andrew of the sensual night they shared. He caressed her body


    with vigor, touched her in her most sensitive ces. The brief shback made him realize that Ashley


    didn''t know how to kiss. She only used her lips and not her mouth


    Andrew couldn''t control himself anymore. He wanted to be more passionate, more aggressive in this


    kiss that they shared.


    He reached for the phone in the table beside their bed and dialed a number. The call connected and


    with a cold voice he said, "Get rid of people outside!" Andrew then tossed the phone away as he went


    on top of Ashley''s face. Their lips were connected again, but this time, his tongue took part. He licked


    her lips naughtily, making her mouth open up. He then made his way past her teeth as his tongue


    twirled with hers.


    Ashley was reluctant at first. It was her first time sharing a kiss this wild. She was stiff, but Andrew''s


    tongue worked his way to her mouth, going to ces no one had ever been. Her face grew hotter,


    wanting him even more. Their tongues yed, their teeth bit each other''s lips, and their skin pressed


    against each other…


    Ashley woke upte in the afternoon. The yellow sunlight started to turn orange as it beamed across


    the French window. It gave a warm, cozy feeling to an otherwise dark room.


    Ashley knew she had to leave soon. The long sleep she had wasn''t enough to relieve her exhaustion.


    The markings on her neck, shoulders and chest were still there – proof of the intense night she shared


    with the man sleeping beside her. She gathered her belongings and looked at Andrew onest time


    before leaving the room.


    Ashley was wobbly as she walked through the corridor. She called for a taxi to send her home. It wasn''t


    long before she arrived at the apartment she rented with Ellie Su. She headed straight to the bathroom


    and filled the bathtub with water.


    She immersed herself in warm water, trying to fight off the fatigue. In her daze, she remembered the


    events ofst night. It might have been mistaken for a mere sensual dream if her body wasn''t aching


    and full of love-bruises.


    Ashley had never imagined that she would have experienced such a night.


    The zealous movements ofst night''s affair exhausted her. The warm water enveloping her body was


    able to wash her weariness. Ashley''s eyes grew heavy as she rxed. She was sound asleep until her


    ring tone woke her up.


    Ashley realized that the water grew chilly. Her hands, feet and lips were feeling cold. She was quivering


    as she hopped out of the tub. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her body as she answered


    the call from Ellie.


    Ashley''s throat was feeling rough. She said in a hoarse, dry voice, "Hello, Ellie."


    "Ash, what happened?" Ellie asked in a caring tone as she noticed the fatigue in Ashley''s voice.


    Ashley grabbed a ss from the kitchen and poured herself some water. Her throat felt better as she


    poured some liquid into it. "Nothing. Don''t worry," Ashley replied.


    "Why are you absent at work today, Ash?"


    "Ellie, I''m not feeling well. Will you please notify the boss that I will take a sick-leave for two days?"


    Ashley was still dizzy from the bath. She walked towards the living room and satfortably at the


    sofa.


    "What''s wrong, Ash? ?Do you have a fever? ?Have you visited the hospital yet? ?… ?Mr.… Mr. Luo."


    Ashley was about to answer Ellie''s questions when Ellie suddenly stopped talking and called out


    Raymond''s name. Ashley felt stunned as she heard his name, but she was able to pull herself back


    together and disconnect the call.


    She heard her phone ring again not long after she ended thest call. Ashley saw the caller''s name on


    the screen and she left out a deep sigh. She turned off her phone and put it away. Then, her dizziness


    got the best of her as she fell asleep soundly on the sofa.


    …


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    Ellie was at thepany gate of the Luo Group.


    She fixed her eyes at the man blocking her way. Sheposed herself and said, "Mr. Luo, I''m sorry. I


    am off duty and I have to go home now."


    Raymond looked desperate. He used to be handsome and well-kept, but his hair was a mess and his


    face had a lot of stubble. His eyes showed hisck of sleep and some certain redness might be


    because of crying. There was a phone in his hand, trying to contact someone, but only the sound of a


    voicemail was heard.


    Raymond confronted Ellie with sorrowful eyes. He swallowed, then with a deep, sad voice he asked


    her, "Ellie, is Ash…"


    Ellieshed out even before Raymond could finish his words. With a reprimanding tone she said,


    "Raymond, you are now engaged to Lena!"


    Ellie tried her best not to p Raymond and that dreadful look in his face.


    "I know that. I just want to make sure that Ashley is okay."


    "Stop it, Raymond. She''s not your concern anymore. She''s doing great without you! She''s better off not


    having you in her life!"


    Ellie knew from the phone call she had with Ashley that something was wrong. She needed to ditch


    Raymond immediately and rush back home.


    As if on cue, Lena approached the two of them. Ellie, with a dry smile on her face, turned to Raymond


    and said, "Mr. Luo, your fiancé is on her way. I hope she can keep youpany. I need to leave."


    "Ellie, please…"


    "Raymond, what happened?" Lena asked politely. Ellie already left the scene leaving Raymond and


    Lena at the gate. Lena thenced her small delicate fingers in Raymond''s hands.


    Lena wore a white knee-length tailored dress that expressed her figure. The new Channel handbag in


    her wrist showed her wealthy background. Her make-up took some time to finish but it looked perfect.


    Finally, her long, ck hair flowed gracefully down her back.


    "Nothing!" Raymond answered as he looked at Lena. He stared at her, but his eyes revealed that he


    was yearning for someone else to be in that dress.


    Raymond''s contemtion drew a sour look in Lena''s face. She knew he was thinking of that woman.


    She wanted tosh out but instead she faked a smile before Raymond could say anything.


    "Let''s go home, Raymond. We are having dinner with my parents, remember?"


    Lena said to Raymond as she took his arm and tried to remove the girl in his mind.


    "Lena, I… I''m sorry." Raymond''s eyes were filled with sorrow and regret.


    Raymond was imagining Ashley in Lena''s ce. The simple white dress would make Ashley look like a


    Greek goddess. Her beautiful dark hair would sway as the wind blew. He always enjoyedbing that


    hair of hers. The time they spent together was alling back to Raymond''s head.


    "I understand Raymond. I''ve always known that you are in love with my sister. She is the love of your


    life, not me. I''m so sorry I''m not her. I wish things didn''t turn out like this. If only I hadn''t drunk that cup


    of wine..." Lena''s voice trailed off as she began to cry.


    Her shoulders started to shake while tears flowed down her cheeks. She was gasping for air in


    between sobs. Lena raised her face and with reddened eyes, she looked at Raymond. She was very


    fragile. Any man would feel the need to hug her in his arms, protect her from any harm and kiss her.


    Raymond was no exception. That was exactly what he intended to do. He slowly pulled Lena to his


    chest, embraced her in his arms and said, "Don''t say that, Lena. I am at fault too."