4.Chapter 4 Five Years

Tristan hesitated, his eyes darting away from Ash's piercing gaze like a guilty man caught red-handed. "Five years," he whispered.

Ash let out a bitter laugh. She couldn't believe that after all this time, Tristan's trust in her could be shattered so easily. She silently thanked Samantha for revealing Tristan's true colors.

"You really love Samantha, don't you?" Ash asked, her voice deceptively calm as she watched Tristan's reaction.

"Yes, I do," he said, his tone laced with annoyance. "What's your point, Jewel?"

Ash's laugh was cold and mocking, her eyes glinting with a mix of hurt and disdain. "I hope you won't regret it."

Tristan tightened his grip on Samantha's waist as he declared firmly, "I'll never regret it!" He then added with forced politeness, "Now, can you help Samantha find a dress or not?"

Ash's face became an emotionless mask as she gestured around the store. "The cheapest piece here costs seven figures. Are you sure you can afford it, Mr. Ford?"

As far as she knew, while Tristan's family was well-off, the luxury items here were still beyond his casual credit card swipes.

Tristan bristled at the jab but. Unwilling to lose face in front of Samantha, he pulled out his credit card with a flourish. "That blue dress from earlier. We'll take it."

"Certainly, sir. One moment." Ash reached for the card with a smile.

Tristan's fingers gripped it tightly, but he reluctantly let it go after a brief tug-of-war with Ash.

Ash swiftly swiped the card through the POS machine and then handed it back to Tristan. "Mr. Ford, your total comes to 590 thousand dollars. Here's your receipt."

Samantha squealed with delight, clinging to Tristan's arm like a vine. "Thank you so much, Tristan! You're the best!"

Tristan forced a smile despite the pain evident in his expression. "Anything to make you happy," he murmured.

As soon as the couple was out of sight, Ash crumpled into a chair, her eyes glazing over. She knew she shouldn't waste her tears on Tristan, but the ache in her chest was a harsh reminder that she wasn't as immune to pain as she thought.

Betrayal had a way of cutting deep, no matter how tough you pretended to be - and Ash was no exception.

As she fought back tears, a shadow loomed over her. A handkerchief suddenly appeared in her line of sight, jolting her out of her thoughts.

When Ash realized the man standing before her was Calvert, her eyes widened in shock. "What brings you here?" she blurted out.

Today, he was dressed in a black suit that accentuated his refined and polished demeanor. There was an air of innate nobility about him that commanded attention, making it hard to look away.

"Dry your tears," he said, his voice low and gentle.

Seeing her brow furrow in confusion, Calvert quickly explained, his words spilling out in a rush, "I don't usually eavesdrop, but I overheard your conversation. That guy's not worth your tears."

Ash's tone was light, almost teasing, as she regained her composure. "And what kind of guy is worth my tears, Mr. Snider?" she asked, a hint of playfulness in her voice.

However, an awkward silence fell between them, the air thick with unspoken tension.

Calvert's face darkened, misinterpreting her words. "Ms. Turner," he said stiffly, "your grandfather will likely announce our engagement at tonight's welcome party. I hope you'll keep your promise to cooperate."

Before Ash could respond, Calvert strode out of the store, leaving her staring after him in bewilderment. She shook her head, chuckling wryly, "Did he really think I was talking about him? Talk about an inflated ego."

Later that afternoon, Bailey returned with the good news about her mom's successful surgery. Ash, relieved, invited Bailey to the evening's party, deciding to be upfront about her new identity.

"Miss," he said with a warm smile, "everyone's been waiting. Please, come inside."

Lorelei and Samantha eagerly stepped forward, their faces aglow with anticipation. "Are you here to escort us in, sir?" Lorelei asked.

Although they had no idea who he was talking about, they were sure of one thing—he definitely wasn't here for Jewel.

The man gave them a disdainful look, his lip curling slightly. "Who are you? I'm here for this young lady," he said, gesturing to Ash.

Lorelei exclaimed, "What? There must be some mistake."

"I know exactly who I'm supposed to escort," the man said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Lorelei and Samantha stared at Ash in shock, their faces pale.

"Mom," Samantha whispered urgently, "how does she know anyone from the Turner family? I heard Franklin has been a widower for years. You don't think Jewel has hooked up with..." Her implication hung in the air, unspoken but clear.

Tristan's face darkened at Samantha's tactless words, his gaze fixed on Ash.

Catching wind of Samantha's nasty gossip, Ash stopped in her tracks and muttered something to the guy who'd shown up to escort her.

He nodded respectfully, his expression serious. "Understood, Miss."

Bailey, looking utterly lost after hearing Samantha's words, couldn't help but ask, "Jewel, did you really..."