04

"That's just it. I'm not a father." Dante replied coldly.

"How could you?" she whispered.

"Ashley." Mayla said softly, tugging her hand.

Ashley wiped away her tears and sat down again. She looked away from Dante, not wanting to see him see the pain behind her eyes. "They're yours and you know it Dante. The fact that you would call them that hurts me so much. You're their father." She said softly.

"They're not mine. You and I both know it." He said chuckling darkly. "She gets nothing Thomas. I want everything I own and everything I gave her during our marriage back. She doesn't deserve any of it."

"You insolent pig," Mayla said calmly, standing up abruptly. Fire burned in her eyes despite her attempts at remaining calm. "Ashley has been nothing but faithful to you. This is how you repay her?"

"Ms. Reilly, please calm down." Thomas said coolly. "Don't act so rash and unprofessional."

"I am calm." she hissed out. "I may be a lawyer but I'm a friend first, Mr. Quinton."

"Mayla, please." Ashley said softly. "Sit down."

Mayla scoffed and sat back down again. "Ashley deserves some if not all of his fortune. She started Hastings Enterprises. Without her funds, Hastings Enterprises would have never started."

"It was built on Dante's hand-work. She did nothing but give out money." Thomas said coldly, staring down at Mayla.

"Mr. Quinton, without her funds, Hastings Enterprises would never have the success that it has today. And it's all thanks to Ashley." Mayla said, glaring at Thomas.

"Ms. Reilly, must I remind you that-"

"Enough." Ashley said softly. She looked up from her lap and glanced at all three people in the room. "I want nothing from him. He can have everything back. It doesn't matter anymore."

"Ashley-" Mayla started.

Ashley interrupted her. "No. I want absolutely nothing."

"Very well." Mayla sighed. "Are we done here then?"

Everyone nodded their heads. Mayla looked at Ashley. "Ashley."

"I'm done." She whispered softly, standing up. Her hands instinctively, went to her neck where the necklace that Dante had gotten her for her birthday lay. It had been a few days before their wedding.

She froze as the memory of that day came to her mind.

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.

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"Close your eyes, mia bella." Dante whispered into her ear, standing behind her.

Ashley giggled and did what he said. She felt him moving her hair away from her neck and shivered when his fingers brushed through the sensitive part of her neck. C cold object touched her neck and she touched it.

"Open." He whispered.

She opened her eyes and looked down at the object. Her eyes started watering when she saw the beautiful necklace that resided on her neck. Turning around, she wrapped her arms around her fiancee's neck and hugged him tightly.

"Happy birthday, mia bella." He kissed the top of her head and she relished in his love.

"Dante, it's beautiful." She pulled away from him and touched the necklace, smiling.

He brushed a piece of her hair out of her face and smiled lovingly at her. "Not as beautiful as you, mia bella." He leaned down and captured her lips, sending her all of his love.

Ashley kissed back with the same amount of passion, wrapping her arms around his neck. Pulling away, she leaned her head against his and smiled. "I love you Dante."

"I love you, Ashley."

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.

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The tears brimmed her eyes again as she stared at the necklace.

Memories after memories of them crossed through her mind.

The time where they had their first date, their first kiss, their wedding day, the day of his success with his business. They all came rushing back to her and she could do nothing to stop it.

Her thoughts were consumed by him and by the memories that they shared.

Every part of her belonged to him. Her heart, her mind, her soul. It was all his to take. And he did take it but he gave it back to her, emptied.

He stole everything from her. Her feelings, her thoughts, her passion.

How could he just give everything away like this? Did he ever stop to think about how this is all affecting her? The supposed love of his life? Did he think twice before telling her about their divorce? Was this truly what he wanted?

She felt tears rolling again and she quickly took off the necklace. She could feel Dante's stare on her as she did it. She held it in her hands and stared down at it before looking up at him. She saw him looking down at the necklace before looking up at her.

She walked over to the other side of the table and grabbed his hand. "Here." She whispered.

She placed the necklace down on the palm on his hands and closed it up. "Here's the first thing you ever gave me." She said, trying to remain strong.

She smiled at him and took off her ring. She placed it on the table, never once taking her eyes off of him. "I hope this is what you really want." She whispered.

She hesitated for a second.

But then she reached up and kissed his cheek gently. "Goodbye Dante. I hope you have a nice life." She whispered.

She turned around and started walking out of the door where Mayla was waiting for her on the other side. She sent a small smile at Thomas.

He returned one half-heartedly.

She looked back at Mayla. "Let's go," she whispered.