Ti Amor (I Love You)

Chapter one

Exploring the dreamland, the loud bang on the door jolted me back from my deep slumber, and forcing my eyes open, I realized that it was already daybreak.

"Only heaven knows how you always manage to sleep this long. I remember you told me to wake you up by 5am, that you'll be having an interview? Aren't you going for it again?" That's my best friend, Ruby.

I groaned tiredly, sitting up on the bed tiredly. I wished she could just let me get some more sleep, but hell no! My crazy friend won't just let me sleep. Dragging myself out of the bed, I dragged myself sleepily into the bathroom and banged the door hard behind me, frowning my face deeply. I had a quick bath.

It's my boyfriend's birthday today, that was why I asked Ruby to wake me up, but I lied to her that I was going for an interview. Heaven knows that she wouldn't have bothered to wake me up if she gets to know that I was going to see Jayden. Well, Jayden and I have been together for three years, and trust me when I say that I love him, I do badly. For some reason best known to Ruby, she doesn't like my handsome boyfriend, no matter how much I have tried to convince her that Jayden is a good guy. I don't know why she hates her so much, but not that I care though. What matters is that we love each other, so other people's opinions don't matters.

Stepping into the room, I met Ruby typing away her time on the computer. I wonder if she ever gets tired of typing, I mean I feel for her fingers. Just so you know, Ruby is a novel writer and has written many books, and trust me when I say she's talented, she really is. She is earning pretty well from her novel writing. I always wished that I have the same talent that can earn me money, but it's not my fault that I was born a dummy, right?

"Have you made food already?" I asked, walking over to the mirror and sitting down on the dressing chair.

"What normal human being does is to say good morning when they wake up, and not the other way round. Have you greeted me this morning?" She asked, not sparing me a glance and her fingers never stopped moving on the keyboards, as they clicked on the buttons speedily. I wonder how she manages to type so fast and accurately, well what can I say? She's gifted.

"Oh please, don't lecture me. It's too early for that. Where's my food, please?" I rolled my eyes, and I heard her scoff while shaking her head.

"Check the kitchen, I left some food there for you," She said, throwing a glance at me and taking her attention back to her laptop, while I just rolled my eyes. After I was done applying lotion to my skin carefully, I finally walked over to my closet and threw it open, revealing my clothes which were neatly arranged inside it. I ran my eyes through them, but heck! None of them seem to catch my attention.

"Mind helping me out with choosing something to wear?" I turned to her and asked. She sighed, looking frustrated. One thing I have noticed about her is that when she is writing her novel, she hates distraction, and too bad she can't avoid that with me around.

"I thought you were going to an interview and not some special occasion? Why not just select your usual cooperate dress and leave me the hell alone, Ashley? You're getting me distracted, girl. I told you that I have a deadline to meet," She groaned frustratingly and I rolled my eyes. After searching the closet for a few more minutes, I finally settled on a pair of blue long jeans trousers and a white T-shirt, after which I picked a pair of white sneakers to match the dress. A few minutes later, I was all dressed for my boyfriend's birthday.

"How do I look?" I asked Ruby, checking myself out in the mirror.

"You look as beautiful as always, so can you leave me alone now?" She replied, not sparing me a glance.

"Alright, I'll be on my way now, see you later," I said, picking up my handbag which was laying on the dressing table. Of course, I already have a gift prepared inside it for Jayden. I'm just going to give him a surprise visit.

"Good luck with your interview," I heard her say as I exited the room.

My name is Ashley Roxanne, the only child of my poor parents, they're both late though. I'm a school dropout, I couldn't continue school because I had no money to sponsor myself. I have no family, except for my best friend that took me in to leave with her. This is how I've been living my life for years now. Ruby rented and pays for the house we both live in, she takes care of my bills, and feeds me, because I haven't gotten a job yet. I don't know if I had done anything wrong, but the rate at which I was rejected by companies, even to work as a cleaner, is alarming.

Stepping out of our apartment, I strode down the road before stopping a cab, which took me straight to Jayden's house. After paying the cabby, I stepped out of the car and brought out the wrapped gift I had bought for him, it was a wristwatch. A smile laced up my lips, and I headed straight to his apartment. Jayden lives alone in his apartment. Unlike me, Jayden is from a wealthy home, his parents are wealthy and gave him everything. I wonder why he had decided to live alone.

Placing a soft knock on the door, I got no reply so I pushed it open and walked inside.

"Where's he?" I asked no one in particular, before heading to the staircase, making my way to his room. Stopping in front of his room, I smiled at the wristwatch before pushing the door open without knocking but froze on my spot at the sight I beheld. There was the man I love with everything in me, making out with another woman. I wanted to surprise him but turns out that I was the one that was surprised.

"Jayden!" I called shockingly, my hands dropping beside me as tears welled up in my eyes.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, and I couldn't help the scoff that tore through my throat. He didn't look like he felt remorseful for what he had done.

"How dare you, Jayden!" I yelled angrily, as the tears in my eyes finally found their way out.

"Please, Ashley, this is my house, you have no right whatsoever to come here and yell at me," He said, standing up from the bed, while the bitch he was making out with, sat shamelessly on the bed with a smirk playing on her lips.

"Jay...Jayden..." I called with my shaky voice and he scoffed.

"I thought you said you loved me?" I managed to ask, and he burst into laughter.

"Wait! Don't tell me you believed that? Oh my God! That's crazy. Even if I told you that, you shouldn't have believed me. Look at me, Ashley..., does it look like you're my type? We're from two different worlds, and we'll never work out. I can never have a pauper..." I couldn't hold it anymore, so I sent a slap across his face.

"I hate you!" I spat on his face and threw the wristwatch on his body.

"Happy birthday," I said and pushed him away before running out of the room. I can't believe he did this to me, I should've known that he never loved me, I should've listened to Ruby when she told me that he was a jerk.

Stopping a cab, I hopped in and told the cabby my destination. I just need to clear my head and going home won't help me a bit. All through the drive, I couldn't help the tears that keeps flooding down my cheeks, each time his words rang in my head.

"We're here, ma'am," The cabby's voice brought me back to reality.

"Thank you," I said, stepping out of the car after paying him and he zoomed off. I sighed softly, walked over to the bench that was at the park, and let my weight down it. The park was as calm and cool as always, perfect for my mood.

Staring into space, I couldn't help the scoff that keeps tearing through my throat as the thought of Jayden filled my mind. The sound of my ringing phone pulled my attention and bringing it out of my pocket, it turned out that it was a strange number that was calling me. I picked up the call, but couldn't hear the person, and standing up to get reception around, I bashed into someone and our phones fell on the floor.

"Are you blind or something?" I flared up angrily whoever it was, bending down and picking up my phone.

"You were the one that bashed into me," I heard a masculine voice, and raising my gaze to check who it was, I was welcomed by a pair of deep blue eyes, glaring hard at me...

Chapter 2

Raising my gaze to check whoever it was, I was welcomed by a pair of deep blue eyes, glaring down at me. I scoffed, standing up to my feet angrily.

"Hey! Don't get me pissed. I didn't bash into you, asshole!" I fired at him angrily. If only he knows how angry I am, I'm sure he wouldn't want to mess with me.

"Don't make it look like I'm wrong here, if you're frustrated and want to vent your anger on anyone, you wouldn't wanna try such a thing with me, because I am as crazy as you are," He snapped at me, and I was forced to flinch. Gosh! He's indeed crazy.

"I am not frustrated, and if I vent my anger on you, what the heck do you think you can do, huh? You're an irresponsible man to be fighting with a woman and in public. You're so shameless," I scoffed angrily and started walking away.

"And what are you? A responsible little girl? You must be losing your mind," He scoffed behind me and I was forced to stop on my track, clenching my fist. How dare he call me a little girl, huh? Do I look like one to her?

"Hey! Watch the way you talk to me, I am not a little girl, at least I'm twenty-one and not a damn little girl," I snapped at him, and he smirked at me.

"Then you have your little body to be blamed then because you don't look more than a fifteen years old girl. You're just a little girl going around and getting on people's nerves. This should be the first and the last time you should ever run into me, don't ever show your ugly face to me, ever again," He said with an eye roll, and with that, he walked away while I just stood rooted to the floor with my mouth dropped open in shock. What the heck! Did he just tell me that I'm ugly? That's crazy.

I watched as he hopped in the white sports car that was parked somewhere around the park before driving away, and of course, I didn't forget to take note of the plate number. I'm surely going to deal with him, sooner or later. This is all Jayden's fault, if he hadn't been a jerk, I wouldn't have come here in the first place and ran into that bastard that just left.

The sound of my ringing phone pulled my attention and I huffed angrily. I'm not in the mood of answering any call now, I have a lot going on in my mind. Without checking who the caller was, I ended the call and put the phone back into my pocket before turning around to go sit on the bench again, but stopped on my track as something caught my attention. It was a diamond ring and a card.

"Whoa!" I smiled excitedly, picking up the ring and admiring the beauty of it. Just a glance at the ring would tell you that it is worth a lot. It must be very expensive.

"So beautiful," I whined, wearing it on my middle finger and flaunting my hand in the air excitedly while chuckling. I was sad just a few moments ago, this ring must be so special to make me this happy. I think I'm going to keep this.

Picking up the card, I checked the back for some seconds before I finally opened it, and turned out that it was a wedding card. 'Tristan and Harley' I scoffed, seeing the picture of the jerk I met a few minutes ago. Wow! So he is getting married soon. I wonder who would agree to marry that jerk, he's arrogant and an irresponsible human being. My eyes darted to the date and time of the wedding, and my eyes almost popped out of their sockets, his wedding is today!

"That jerk! Don't tell me he outrun his bride? I'll make sure I get him," I smirked as the thought of what I would do, flashed through my mind. It's time to make him pay for what he did to me today. By the time I'm done with him, he'll regret ever crossing paths with me.

Letting out a sigh, I dipped my hand inside my pocket to get my phone and call Ruby. I have to tell her that I won't be home early, I know that by the time I would be done with that jerk, I may be so late. I don't want her to get worried about me.

Bringing my phone out of my pocket, I slide the unlock button and almost screamed my lungs out at the sight I beheld, displaying on the screen of the phone, is a picture of him.

"What the heck is going on?" I asked no one in particular, checking out the phone and that was when it dawned on me, I picked up his phone instead of when our phones had fallen on the ground. What the heck! Today is such a bad day for me.

"That jerk!" I growled in between gritted teeth. I inputted my number on it and dialed it but it rang and no one picked up. Gosh! Is this dude playing with me or what? Hurrying over to the roadside, I flagged down a cab and gave him the address of the wedding venue. This wasn't my initial plan, but I need to get there and get my phone from him.

After driving for what seemed like forever, the driver finally stopped some meters away from the venue. I guess taxis are not allowed there.

"I'm sorry ma'am, but this is where we're allowed to stop. The place is just five minutes walk from here. Just go straight, the hotel is by the right-hand side," The cabby said and I nodded before paying him.

"Thank you," I said and with that, I hurried away. I walked briskly down the road and just when I was about to take the last turn that lead to the hotel, the sound of the ringing phone brought me to an abrupt halt and bringing it out of my pocket, I saw 'dad' displaying on the screen of the phone.

"Don't play games with me, Tristan! Where the heck are you? We are waiting for you and you dare not to show your face, huh? If you're not here in five minutes, you won't like what'll happen," His hoax voice sounded through the phone and the call was ended immediately. Wow! Now I know where that jerk got his attitude from. His dad is so damn harsh, but that's not my business, right?

Hurrying over to the entrance door, I was stopped by two men in suits that were standing in front of the door. Ok, what the heck is going on now?

"Your invitation card, please?" One of them asked, and I scoffed angrily. Who told him that I'm here for the wedding?

"Don't keep your hope high young man, I'm not here for the wedding, call out the groom for me. I need to see him," I yelled angrily, getting pissed already. They better not mess with me, I'm not a calm person.

"Don't create a scene here, miss. You have to provide your invitation..."

"Damn you, man! I told you to call the groom for me, I'm not here for the wedding!" I cut him off angrily, ruffling my hair like I was going crazy. Yes, I'm damn losing my mind and if they don't do something right away, I'm going to make sure I show them how much of a crazy girl I am, I don't mind turning this place upside down, that's how crazy I can be.

"What's going on here?" I heard a deep voice and that was when I saw the man standing in between the suit men. Judging from his look, I could tell that he has some relationship with that jerk, if not his dad.

"Young lady, what do you want?" He asked in his deep voice.

"Hi, uncle..."

"I am not your uncle, now tell me why you are creating a scene here," He cuts me off, and I couldn't help the scoff that tore through my throat. I can never have someone as bad as this man as my uncle. The only reason why I haven't insulted her yet is that he's an elderly man, but I'm still going to insult him if he dares try shit with me though.

"I need to see Tristan or whatever his name is," I yelled angrily, and the man glared at me. Not that I give a damn though.

"Throw her out," He ordered and with that, he started walking away.

"I'm not leaving here, not until you call out that jerk for me," I yelled after him, but the man didn't stop to look at me.

"You have to leave here, ma'am," One of them said and started dragging me out.

"What's going on here?" I heard a familiar voice and he stopped dragging me. Turning around, my mouth dropped open at the sight I beheld. Wait! Isn't this the same jerk I saw moments ago?...

Chapter 3

Tristan POV

Driving into my mansion, I parked at the garage and stepped out of the car before heading to the entrance door. The thought of that little girl flashed through my mind and I couldn't help the scoff that tore through my throat. I went to the park to clear my head from some mess, but turns out that it was a bad idea in the first place.

Stepping into the living room, I met Leon, pacing restlessly like he was disturbed. He stopped abruptly as soon as I walked in.

"Finally, you're here. Are you planning to kill me before my time, huh? Your dad have been mad at me for letting you leave the house. I called, but you ended the call," He said frustratingly, and I shut my eyes angrily. Can he just please not add to my problem? Well, Leon is my personal assistant. He has been my best friend since childhood and trust me, I've thought of getting rid of him several times, but it won't just work. He's clingy. I don't mean to kill him, I mean to stop him from following me around and bothering me, but heck! It seems like it's never gonna happen.

"Leon..."

"You have to get ready for the wedding already, you've kept them waiting for long already," He said, dragging me to the staircase. Climbing the staircase, I headed straight to my room and once I got in, I stripped out of my clothes and walked into the bathroom to have a quick bath. I spent a little time having my bath, and when I was done, I left the bathroom to get dressed.

Standing before the mirror, fully dressed in a white suit and my blonde hair falling over my face, I stared at my pale face in the mirror as sadness filled my heart. Today's my wedding day, and I supposed to be happy that I'm finally getting married, right? But here I am, drowning in my own painful world. It's a beautiful thing to be married, but it seems like it's the worst experience of my life. What do you expect from a poor soul like me, whose life has already been planned out by my dad even before I was born?

My name is Tristan Thompson, a twenty six years old young man, the only son of Mr Thompson Chris, a renowned billionaire and one of the wealthiest men in Texas. Unlike other families where their sons has freedom to make decision, I live under the shadow of my dad, I am just his puppy he controls, and I'm bound to abide by his decision, no matter how difficult it seem to be. I am always the victim and he never cares how I feel, as long as his decision pleases him, that's all that matters to him. At times I doubt if he's my biological dad, considering how he always treated me in the name of helping me, but always ended up hurting me instead, as much as I want to believe that he's not my dad, seeing the striking resemblance between us, how am I supposed to let my mind think of that?

Here I am today, about getting married to someone I feel nothing for, and dad doesn't care if I'm happy with his decision or not. Yes, dad forced me to get married to his best friend's daughter, and I dared not to object to his decision. I wish I can run away from here, but I have no where to go, he will make my life miserable if I dare to leave.

Letting out a sigh, I adjusted my tie and walked over to the bed to pick up my phone. Sliding the unlock button, I almost screamed at the top of my voice at the sight I beheld, imthe picture displaying on the screen of the phone was that of the little annoying girl I bumped into moments ago, and that was when I realized that I switched phone with her. Gosh! Can my day get any better? I don't think so.

I exhaled deeply and shove the phone inside my pocket. I think I'll just find her and return it to her later after the wedding. Dad would kill me if I dare to stay any more minutes back here. I picked the dress I wore earlier and reached out to the pocket to get my ring, but was met with an empty space. I searched all the pockets of the dress, but found nothing. Gosh! Did I drop it somewhere unknowingly?

Dropping the clothes on the bed frustratingly, I stormed out of the house and soon I was in the living room, where I met Leon, fully dressed.

"Finally, you're here. Your dad has called me more than three times already. He said he called you, but you didn't pick up," He said, walking behind me as I headed to the exit door.

"Go to the jewelry story and get me a diamond ring, fast," I said, hopping in my car.

"What about..."

"I lost it. Don't keep me waiting," I said and without waiting for him to say a word, I ignited the car and drove out of the house. Driving down the road, I tried as much as to stay focused, but I couldn't stop thinking about the misery of a life I'm living. I wish mom was alive, I don't think I would be made to go through this, if she was here with me. At least, she would protect me whichever way she can, but death had taken her away from me. I heard that she died, minutes after she gave birth to me.

After a long drive, I finally got to the venue of the wedding. Stepping out of the car, I headed strode to the entrance door, but stopped on my track as I was welcomed by a funny scene. The suit men and a young lady were arguing about what I don't know. Taking a close look at the lady, I found out that she was the crazy girl I had bumped into at the park. What the heck is she doing here?

"Where going on here?" I asked, and she snapped her head to look at me, and I bet that her mouth dropped open as soon a she sight me.

"Finally you're here," She breathed out, walking over to me.

"Why are you here? Are you stalking me?" I asked, smirking at her, and she shook her head while scoffing.

"You should stop dreaming, please. Stalking a jerk is the last thing on my mind," She said, then brought out my phone from her pocket and hold it out to me.

"Take your damn phone and give me mine," She spat angrily, but then something caught my attention, it was the ring in her hand. What! Isn't that my ring? Don't tell me she stole it.

"Isn't that the ring I was looking for? Don't tell me it's what I'm thinking, you're a thief?" I asked with my eyes widened in shock. I wasn't expecting that, how the heck did she manage to steal it.

"What! Did you just call me? A thief?" She exclaimed with her eyes widened and I smirked.

"Isn't that what you are? How come you have my ring?" I asked and she shook her head.

"You know what? I'm not in the mood for this, but I'll sure make you regret those nonsense you just spit out," She said, handing me my phone and I gave her own back to her.

"Leave, and I don't want to ever see you, never again," I said, and she scoffed.

"Not that I want to see you though," She huffed and left angrily.

"Hey! Give me back the ring!" I yelled after her, but she didn't stop to spare me a glance. She's really crazy. Turning around to walk inside, I stopped on my track as I was welcomed by the most scary man, giving me the glare of my life, it's my dad. Just the sight of him makes me terrified...