Chapter 2 Six years
One pleasant week has passed by peacefully, and the lavish party of the Ashton family is happening today.
"Are you sure you don't want to come sweetie?" my dear mother asks me.
She is for sure going to attract any attention. Her silky raven hair is elegantly braided and styled with a lovely piece of silver hair jewelry. Her elegant black dress hugs her slim body perfectly, paired with three inches silver wedge heels.
"Gosh, mom! You look so lovely!" I compliment her which made her smile.
"How about me? Do I look alright?" I heard my dear dad ask. I turn around and smile gently at him.
"Of course! You look as gorgeous as ever!" since my dear mom always brought him to Canada, he eventually got used to speaking English.
He only speaks fluent Japanese during our frequent visits with my paternal grandparents. He is wearing a black suit and pale shirt underneath it, paired with a black tie and polished black shoes. It is definitely a classic look.
"And I'm going to be fine, I have bodyguards to protect me. Besides, I still have many things I need to do. So enjoy the party for me okay?" I said, before hugging and tenderly kissing their cheeks.
They return the affectionate hug and kiss before my father escorts my dear mother out.
--
Once I enter my room, my phone starts buzzing nonstop.
"Hello?" I answer as I sit down on my luxurious bed.
"Yumi... I need your help." a familiar voice answers back.
"Alecia? What's wrong?" I worriedly ask her. I can sense she's worried about something.
I met Alecia when we went on a high school field trip to the US before. She's two years older than me, with long silky ebony hair, clear black eyes, a pointy nose, and pink thin lips. Many of my classmates notice the similarity in our features and even our aura? I don't really get what they meant by that. Anyway, she was working as a part-timer in a cafe near our luxury hotel.
We instantly got more familiar with one another the moment we had a chance to talk. She's kind and easy to talk to but there I also something about her that made me feel safe?
"I - can you schedule a flight? I just don't know what to do."- she weakly asked.
"Of course, I'll place a schedule tonight. Let me see..." I answer her before grabbing my laptop to carefully look for the flexible schedules of the direct flight to the US.
"Ashley... thank you. I have no one else to ask for help other than you."
"Don't worry, l will always be here for you."
=
Thankfully I have already packed clothes so it did not take too long for me to leave the house.
I message both my dear parents about my sudden schedule. They haven't seen my direct message yet, but I know they will be furious once they found out that I ask my grandmother for a favor so I can leave my bodyguards behind.
=
The reason I manage to schedule a flight this swiftly is that we own this airport. In fact, my grandparents are the one that handled everything for this airport to be built under my name even though I was only a few months old back then.
I don't really know how they did it but...
I've also informed them not to tell Yuki where I've headed since I know she will book a direct flight the moment she found out I'm gone. I just don't want to overwhelm her and Alecia if she found out the reason why I have to leave.
--
After a long flight from the Philippines to the Us, I've finally arrived with jet lag. Despite my using our family's private plane, I did not manage to sleep properly because I keep on worrying about Alecia. I still can't believe what she had told me that night.
"Miss, We've arrived at the direct address you've told me." I heard the driver called to me as I glance outside.
It's already nighttime, yet this city is still full of life.
Making sure I've arrived at the right address before I gave the driver my payment.
"Hello? Alecia? I'm here."- I've dialed Alecia's number as I wait outside the door of her modern apartment.
"Hold on, I'm going to open the door." She said before I heard a tapping sound than the door opened with a click.
I did not even manage to say anything when Alecia suddenly hug me. I caress her back gently as I heard her quiet sobbing.
"Don't worry everything will be fine," I said trying to soothe her down.
--
"Auntie!! What do you mean by that?! Why can't I call her?!" Miyuki asks frustrated that she hasn't see Ashley for a month now.
They have kept their promise to keep where is she a secret. Although they are not happy that Ashley left her bodyguards behind.
"Yuki, dear, I understand you are worried for her and confuse about this whole thing. Trust me, I also don't understand what she is going through for her to be like this. But... I want to place my trust in her decision this time." Sasha, Ashley's mother properly explained as she affectionately pats Yuki on her shoulder.
"But..." Yuki protested, but Sasha only gave her a faint smile.
Sighing in defeat Miyuki bid goodbye to Sasha before she went home.
--
Six years passed by...
During these long six years, Ashley remained by Alecia's side supporting her gave birth to a lovely baby girl. But not long after she passed away as soon as the baby turn three. She was lost of what to do until one look at the baby's eyes. She gathered the necessary courage she needed and travel all the way to a small house Alecia managed to buy with her savings before she passed away. She also appointed her to be the official guardian and mother of baby Aiko and transferred all the legitimate rights to her.
Whenever Aiko would ask about her father, Ashley only told her that he is somewhere far away. Well, it was technically not a lie since her father is not really in the US. Alecia has instructed Ashley to never give Aiko to her father.
Ashley has once asked why they aren't together anymore, but Alecia told her he abandoned them.
"Mommy!!"- A six-year-old child shouts as she runs eagerly towards her mother.
They are playing in a local park along with other local children and parents.
The child has an almost similar feature as her mother, with her silky ebony hair, cute round green eyes, pointed nose, slightly plump cheeks, and rosy lips.
Her eyes she inherited from her father, while the rest of her features she got from her mother.
"Be careful, baby! Run slowly okay?" her mother said gently as she waited for her baby to reach her.
--
Ashley's POV
"Mommy, what's for breakfast?"- I heard a cute voice asks as a small hand wrap around the edge of my shirt.
I glance down to see my cute baby girl rubbing her sparkling eyes before yawning. I can't believe someone as cute as her really exits!
Yes, I have a daughter now. It's been six years since I last saw my dear parents and Yuki. I rarely communicate with them as I've become busy with many things. Though my grandmother who has supported me has been constantly checking on me.
Thanks to her, I've managed to properly raise an adorable baby girl on my own for three years straight. Yes, only for three years...
To tell the truth, this lovely baby in front of me is not really my biological child. I adopted her three years ago when Alecia... her real mother passed away.
I still... Dearly missed her so much. But I have to stay strong for Aiko.