Chapter 2 The crazy idea

TWO

I had actually just gotten into a mad house. Why oh why did I return from Dallas? I should have sat my fat ass right there.

This was a total nightmare!

I groaned into my pillows,kicking my foot on the soft feather bed.

My room looked nothing like what I had left behind.Olivia had practically turned the room to hers. Her stuffs were lying about everywhere, and a picture of her face was boldly hung up on the wall.

I made a mental note to bring that down and kick the rest of her stuffs out into her actual room later.

My parents knew I was coming. They could have made an effort to at least set the room in order.

Why did I leave Dallas?

Well first question should be why did I go over there in the first place.

Well it started with my fashion internship for two years. And then I decided to stay an extra year to pursue my dream.

I was so wrong.

Dallas wasn't the land flowing with milk and honey. It was far from it.

More like the wilderness.

And I suffered there for a year under an arrogant hot headed boss who always demanded perfection and drove me crazy with his unrealistic expectations.

I persevered because I had no other choice. But I got fed up and decided to quit. I was done with all the bullshit.

To get to where I wanted to be, I had to be at a new location. Los Angeles,my hometown.

The prestigious company I so longed for to work with,Couture Classic,was right here. And I was going to get in somehow.

It seemed impossible but hey,a girl could dream couldn't she?

So here I was ,a 25 year old adult,back into my parents' house searching for greener pastures.

Did I mention my boyfriend? Yes,Brett. He was the sweetest being on the planet.

I loved him with all my heart and he was always there for me.

I met him over there and a year and few months later we started dating.

We actually lived together and when I decided to return here,he came with.

Hold on,not because of his undying love for me or anything but because his Mom had a fatal accident and needed surgery.

He had three sisters which were his responsibility now,so it meant he had to be present here for a while.

I picked up my phone to call and see how he was doing.

He answered on the third ring.

"Hey beautiful," his voice was a bit low though.

"Hey, babe.How are you? How is your Mom?"

"Well I was able to deposit the money needed for her surgery in time and right now they are operating on her,"

"Oh I'm so sorry again,babe," I said,my tone apologetic." I would drop by at the hospital tomorrow,"

"It's okay baby,you just arrived here. You need to settle in at least,"

"I came home to the biggest shock of my life though,"

"What?" His voice sounded curious.

"Apparently, Olivia has been involved in a scandal over a leaked sex tape and she also stole from another guy she slept with. Not just any guy,Ashton Knight. She also stole from my parents too and is nowhere to be found,"

"Are you serious right now?"

"Dead ass. I have also been trying to reach her but it just doesn't connect. Mom is saying that I find a way to raise the money and also some extra because if we don't pay rent soon,we would be kicked out in a few days."

"Ouch. It keeps getting worse.But hey,it isn't your debt to pay. I mean,it's all on Olivia right? She is the cause of everything,"

"But now she decided to go ghost and I have to shoulder her responsibility because I'm her freaking twin."

"That's not fair," I could hear how irked he was from the tone of his voice.

"Nothing is fair in this house," I exhaled.

"Don't worry baby,we would get through this together. Just keep me updated. I gotta go now,"

"Yeah take care. I love you."

"Love you too babe," he replied just before the line went dead.

ASHTON's POV

I stormed into my house, my mind still reeling from the stunt of Olivia Miller. I couldn't believe that she had the audacity to steal from me and disappear without a trace. The thought made my blood boil.

I have had a couple of nightstands,and none had dared to take from me before.

I was going to get my money back from that deceitful woman.

I had to admit that I found myself oddly intrigued by her boldness. It was both infuriating and impressive.

While I was in my thoughts,a call came in from my mother,requesting my presence.

In a few minutes,I had driven down to her mansion.

I walked into my mother's room and immediately felt a wave of sadness wash over me. She lay in bed, surrounded by medical equipment and a team of nurses who tended to her every need.

Despite her illness, she still carried herself with the grace and poise of a true lady. Her blonde hair, once lustrous and vibrant, was now somewhat thin and fragile, framing her face in gentle waves. Her piercing green eyes still held a spark of life, despite the fatigue that weighed on her features. She spoke in a soft, measured tone, as if every word required great effort.

"Mother," I said softly, making my way to her side. "How are you feeling?"

She let out a weak smile. "As well as can be expected, honey. But that's not why I called you here."

I nodded, knowing where this was going. My mother had been nagging me about marriage for years now, but her latest health scare had only intensified her efforts.

"You know I don't have time to waste, Ashton," she continued. "I need to see you settled down before I go. Why haven't you found a suitable bride yet?"

I sighed. "Mother, you know it's not that easy. I haven't found the right woman yet."

"Well, you need to start looking," she said firmly. "I won't be around forever, and I refuse to leave this world without seeing you married and happy."

I felt a pang in my chest at her words. I couldn't imagine life without her, but I also couldn't bear to disappoint her. "I know, Mother. I'm trying. But it's not that simple."

She shook her head. "Nonsense. You're a successful businessman, Ashton. You can have any woman you want. Now, I want you to promise me that you'll start looking for a wife seriously."

I hesitated, knowing that my mother was not one to take no for an answer. "Alright, I promise. I'll start looking."

"Good," she said, her voice softening. "I just want to see you happy,honey."

I leaned over and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "I know, Mother. And I want that too."

As I walked out of her room, my mind was already racing with ideas of how to find the perfect woman to be my wife.

Fuck.This was so fucking hard.

She had cancer and the doctor said she might not live for more than a year.

Although her marriage had failed with my Dad,she was determined to make things work with me.

I had no interest on being tied down to one woman forever,legally bound.

As I scrolled through my phone, I suddenly came across a news article that caught my attention. It was about Olivia, and the headline read "Olivia Miller Involved in Scandal and Leaked Sex Tape."

I clicked on the link and watched in horror as the video played out before me.

Olivia was a real slut,wasn't she?

We had met at a club and she didn't hesitate to go home with me.

Her face wasn't visible in the video though but her tattoo and hair gave her away. So everyone pretty much figured it out.

This woman.

As I pulled up back to my house,a crazy idea popped into my head!