Charmed by the Billionaire CEO
Chapter 251: Go with the flow

Chapter 251: Go with the flow

"Then, did you succeed?" she asked curiously.

Ashley was now so immersed in the talks that she wanted to know more about them. She wanted to know what kind of bond both Grace and Dante shared. Was it just the same they shared now or was it different?

"Uhuh..." he answered shaking his head in denial.

Tristan assumed that since he was close to his mother and grandfather, it would be easier for him to get them on talking terms. He thought there would be no hardship because he had seen Grace lowkey miss her dad, but she was too proud to admit it.

Though he learned to shoot with his grandfather fulfilling his words, but Tristan failed to fix the relationship between Dante and Grace in return. And the worst happened when Grace learned about Tristan getting involved with the underworld business.

She blamed Dante for manipulating her son just so he could use him for his benefit. Though she immediately regretted saying it, but after that day, the distance between them widen more than before.

It was not until she found that Dante was dying that all her hate and anger dissipated when she realized how stupid she was. She understood that she wasn’t ready to lose him too.

"Maybe the thought of losing him made her love burst out within a second" Tristan mumbled as he finished telling Ashley everything.

Moving closer, Ashley buried her face into his chest and said," I am happy for them"

The thought of losing your parents was worst than hell and no one other than her could understand it.

Staying in his arms, Ashley tried to suppress the pain in her heart which happened when she recalled her mother’s face. She never let anyone see the pain whenever she would end up missing her mother, but then, she would bury it back into her heart knowing the cause of her death.

"My mom, she died a few months after my birth," she said taking Tristan by surprise, and his hand that was caressing her back paused.

Moving away, she then craned her head looking at Tristan with tears brimming in her eyes. She never thought one day she would open up about the deepest pain inside her heart to someone. All these years, she carried the pain of losing her mother because she wanted to have her.

Blinking his eyes Tristan composed himself and cupped her face, letting her speak what she held inside her heart.

Tristan knew Ashley lost her mother when she was just four months old but he didn’t know the reason. He thought maybe she didn’t want to talk about it and he respect her decision to not talk about it unless she was ready.

But guess now, she was finally opening up and he was happy that she trusted him enough to share her deepest secret.

"I know," he said caressing her cheek with his thumb, and saw a tear roll down her eyes.

"She had cancer when she found that she was pregnant with me. Just like every other couple they felt blessed of having a child together but..." pausing in between she bit her lips trying to stop the pain which surged up along.

"But, when the doctor informed them about the complication, she still decided to have me. She knew carrying a child for a cancer patient would cut her life short, but still, she fought with dad to have me...why... didn’t she think about dad, and how he would survive without her. Why would she become selfish to have me "

Tristan felt a pang inside his heart watching her blame herself for her mother’s death. The way she was questioning her existence made him pull her for a bone-crushing hug.

He didn’t know how he was supposed to comfort her because the news itself was surprising to him. He never thought Ashley’s mom died because he permitted her to bore a child.

Tristan felt his clothes soak with her tears as she cried her heart out within his embrace.

"She could have saved herself if she had agreed to abort me and instead opt for surgery to cure her cancer, but her one selfish decision took her away from us. Dad says he doesn’t miss mom because she left behind the most precious gift for him, but I know he lies. There is not a single day, dad doesn’t miss her"

Ashley bare her heart out expressing the pain she had been holding all this time. He could now understand why Ashley was like this, too reserved and aloof. She had been hard on herself because she couldn’t accept her mother’s decision.

Tristan held her closer to his heart until she calmed herself. Bringing his hand under her chin, he made her face him. Her tear-filled face break his heart but he was content that she finally let her emotions out. In that way, she wouldn’t feel the burden of carrying it along.

"Have you ever tried to know why your mom decided to stick firmly with her decision?" he asked.

Ashely lowered her gaze and bobbed her head slightly. She knew why her mother was adamant about having her and why Richard couldn’t go against her decision.

"She knew that even after she opt for the surgery there wasn’t any guarantee she would make it through it. The chances of her survival were low" her lips tremble as she spoke.

Ashley was a child without a mother and had grown up under her father’s care. Richard was very transparent about his upbringing and never hide anything from Ashley, not even about her mother’s condition.

He told her everything letting her know that her mother loved her more than her life and she didn’t regret her decision even for a bit. Maybe her life with them was shorter but she made sure she kept those memories inside her heart before she left them.

Letting out a faint smile Tristan brushed her lips and said," Your mother wasn’t a selfish lady Ash. She just took a decision so she wouldn’t feel the burden of leaving your father all alone. That time, if she hadn’t decided to keep you then she would have blamed herself for leaving your father all alone. She just wanted your dad to have you as their precious gift. The blessing of their love"

Ashley closed her eye trying to absorb his words. He said the same thing that Richard told her when she had first blamed herself.

These were the same words he said to her back then, but she was too old to understand them. The blame seed inside her heart grew so deep that she carried it within her heart never allowing anyone to find out about it.

But as time went by, she could finally imagine herself stepping into her mother’s shoes, understanding why she took such a big step. She could now understand that it wasn’t her selfishness but her selfless love for her father and her unborn child.

She had already seen her time was up but she didn’t want to let go of the blessing she received during her toughest time. Instead of taking it as a threat, she took it as a blessing.

She wanted Richard to live the happiest moment of his life with their daughter. She knew he wouldn’t entirely let go of her thoughts but at least with Ashley he would forget his pain and try to be happy. All she wanted was for him to have someone in the long run of life.

Ashley felt so bad for judging her mother’s decision all this time. She only saw her father’s pain but never thought of seeing through her mother’s feelings. She was so caught up in her blaming game that she couldn’t see anything.

Tristan saw her slowly calming down. He could tell that she was finally accepting everything.

*****

Studio

After having many hot sessions, Alice finally managed to shove Noah away. She warned him to stop and sit on the couch like an obedient child allowing her to finish her work.

Alice was already tired but she managed to maintain her appearance as she didn’t want anyone to doubt them.

After finishing the work, the couple then left for home. Sitting inside the car, Alice saw Noah grinning like a teenager recalling the moments that took place inside her cabin.

He found it too adventurous. It was his first time making love with Alice inside her office. He was suddenly feeling proud about his actions unaware of the eyes that threw daggers at him.

Staring at him for some time, she finally averted her gaze to the other side and watched out of the window. She tried to forget about the passionate moments they shared in her office but, it was too much for her ignorance.

She never thought one day, she would end up doing deeds in her workplace, and that too with so many people around.

She blushed at the thought of being so bold enough for not caring about their surroundings and just go with the flow.