Chapter 15

2 YEARS LATER

Melanie (the interviewer) turned towards me with a broad smile as the crowd finally settled, “Welcome to ‘The Celeb Night’ Miss Loretta. It’s such an honor to have you with us here tonight.” I smiled at her, “It’s an honor for me as well to be here.” She stood up and gestured for me to go and stand in a jail kinda thing so I went inside. She came around me, “Okay, so I am going to answer some questions and you have to answer them honestly.” She extended a book towards me and I put my hand on it, “Yeah I take an oath that whatever I speak will be truth and all.” How can someone be so childish? Whatever I just need to answer questions without creating any scene. You know guess what? It has been evening and still, I have done nothing scandalous and Ashton promised me that if I won’t do anything scandalous for one day so he will let me live for a week in Rome. Also, I am in a good mood today because I am wearing my favorite white striped blouse and denim jeans with black heels.

“You are said to be the ‘fighter’ in this industry. Why do you think you are called that?” Melanie asked with a satisfied smile on her face. She is so mistaken if she thinks I’ll fall for this. I’ve been asked this question more than I have eaten chocolate this week. I smirk and say, “C’mon how could I know the reason when it was other people who made the nickname? Maybe we should ask them.” I nervously laugh to look cool. Seriously my fans are to be blamed since they were the ones who came up with this. I seriously have to text them.

Now that my answer was not so satisfying so she finally dropped the topic and spoke, “The whole world is going crazy over your clothes. You never disappoint with your voice that’s for sure but seriously thousand of people are asking for your fashion designer. Would you like to expose them?” Hah, my payback time to Kathy. Last time in her interview she exposed me to being the first model of her clothes. “Of course, it would be nice to have her hard work being praised by other people although she is already famous. My one and only sister Kathy”

“Okay, so moving on there are rumors of you being a ‘blink’. Any response to that?” Oh, my favorite topic. I smile widely, “It is not a rumor. It is a fact. I love BLACKPINK with all my might. It’s one of my biggest dreams to meet them. I haven’t attended any of their concerts but youtube helped me a lot with that. I can like to talk about them for hours and hours without getting tired. Their songs are just out of this World. They are just perfect in every sense let it be lyrics or beat or music or tune or choreography. Like real perfect.”

After one hour of that interview in jail, I finally head off to the car standing outside. Freya (my manager) opened the car door for me and I went inside and sat on the big couch-like seat. The car started moving as I spoke, “Freya, book the very first flight to Rome.” Freya shakes her head, “Take some rest, and then you can leave. At least stay the night. It will take 2 hours to fly back and it will be midnight when you reach.” I take off my sandals and put my legs on the seat as well, “I don’t care about that. I just need to go home.”

Freya was now busy booking the tickets while I took out my phone and opened the app ‘Lorey’ and open the chatting room. There were tons of messages but I only read the recent ones which said that the interview was mind-blowing and I got it. If you haven’t guessed yet then let me tell you that ‘Lorey’ is an app made by my fans for us to communicate there. I type a message ‘Guys stop calling me a fighter. It has become a tradition to ask me about the fighter thing in every interview.’

Just as I send the message, thousands of messages popped up. One of them was ‘You give us a concert in LA and you will be free from the title.’ Uh, they are such blackmailing fans. I type a response to that message ‘Deal?’ Just in a second there were messages which said ‘Deal’.

Freya turned to me and spoke, “The plane will take off in just like an hour. We need to directly go to the airport. We don’t have time to go to the apartment.” I nod my head and open my purse and take out a key and hand it to her, “Only book my ticket. You can stay in the apartment and enjoy your time here for 2 more days. I know you wanted to explore this town so take your time. I’ll be spending 2 days with my family so you have a break till then as well. Also, prepare for a concert in LA next week.” Freya jumped in her seat and exclaimed, “Thank you! Thank you very much! And yeah don’t worry about the concert, I’ll have everything prepared there.”

The first thing I did after reaching the airport was to go to the washroom and change into Gray high-rise trousers and a black cropped jacket with black sunglasses with black joggers. Yes, you guessed it right, I am a fashion freak. The only things I don’t wear are gowns and frocks since they are princess things and I am not that. Approximately 12 bodyguards were waiting for my arrival. I started walking towards the exit and with every step, the crowd was getting more and more. It’s seriously 11 pm and look at the crowd. How did they even know about my arrival? While waving and smiling at my fans, I make my way toward the exit.

The first thing I did was go to Ashton’s office. Don’t even get me started about how the receptionist eyes me whenever I go there. I enter the office and Ashton doesn’t even look up to see who it is as he speaks while typing on the computer, “I’ll be in the meeting in just 5. Get the presentation ready.” I smile and sit on the chair, “Sorry boss but your wife won’t let the meeting happen.” Ashton’s eyes bulged out as he looked up, “Why did you come here? I will seriously destroy your career for not taking a break. I gave that apartment to you for you to have fun there. But here you are. Seriously. Sometimes I think you are not human but a working machine. You need a break. You have your shooting for MV starting from next week so you should’ve taken a break-’’ I cut off Ashton by hugging him. The only way to stop his rambling.

If you guys are curious as to why Ashton’s company is open even if it’s 11 pm then please go ask him and tell me later on as well. He gives me a lecture for taking a break and look at him working overtime, huh? Our sweet hug was interrupted by Steve shouting, “Oh shit! My eyes!” He is still annoying. I pick up a pencil from Ashton’s desk and throw it towards Steve and it landed on his forehead, exactly what I wanted, “Just have some manners, will you? You are supposed to knock on the door.” Steve put his hands on his forehead, “Seriously, I pity your fans who are not aware of your violent side.”

Before I could say anything, Steve was already smacked on his head by Kathy, “What did you say, huh?” Kathy is so dead now. I shout from my place, “I’ll kill you, Kathy!” I started running towards her and she started running into Ashton’s office. Kathy shouts while running, “I swear I was going to tell you.” I stomp my foot, “When were you going to tell me? After you visit Hong Kong?” She stopped as well and turned towards me, “No, I had a plan of surprising you by taking you there without your knowledge. You can ask my manager as well.” I pout and say, “Fine then, let’s go to Hong Kong tomorrow with Mama and Papa.” It suddenly got awkward after I said Mama and papa because Steve was there as well.

Flashback to Grandpa’s death:

I reached the graveyard continuously crying. The tears were just physical proof of feeling hurt but the pain I felt inside could not even be described in words. There were too many people there waiting to see Grandpa’s face for the last time before his burial. Suddenly there was an announcement that now Grandpa’s family will bury him. I wanted to see Grandpa’s face so badly because I was dying every day for not being able to communicate with him and I wanted to communicate with him last time too badly. Without thinking twice, I push people out of my way and reached in front where guards were standing. I pushed the guards to go inside but they won’t let me go so I started shouting, “Let me go! He is my grandfather. He will punish you all if you even touch me. You don’t know I am his favorite, right? Let me complain to him about you.” The guards were starting to push me backward now but I was also fighting to go inside.

The people behind me were shouting at me, “Who the hell is this psycho? Someone take her from here.” I couldn’t care less about them now. Suddenly all the voices faded when I heard a shout, “Let her go. This instant!” The guard let me go and I run toward Addy and hugged him. “Addy! Take me to Grandpa, please. I want to talk to him.” Addy hugged me, “Don’t worry, I’ll take you to him.”

Addy let go of my hand when we reached the room where Grandpa’s dead body was lying and it was surrounded by Mom, Dad, Aunt Iris, Uncle Gratiano, Steve, Addy, Mary, and Grandma. The tears once again started to fall when I make my way toward Grandpa’s body. I hold his hand and start whispering, “You said you would never leave me so where are you going now? You promised to always listen to me so why are you not answering me?” Now I turn towards Grandma and say, “Grandma, I always did whatever he told me, right? I even left the house when he told me so why won’t he do what I say now? This is not fair!” On hearing me, Grandma started crying more and more and came to me and hugged me.

The tears were nowhere to stop while I hug Grandma and held Grandpa’s hand. Suddenly I felt my world drowning when I heard the sentence, “It’s time for his burial.” I am not ready to let him go. C’mon, why should this happen to me? I am his favorite granddaughter so he should listen to me, right?

I was taken to Castle after Grandpa’s burial. Everyone left their room except Addy, Steve, and Mary. We four went to the backyard garden and sat on the grass. None of us spoke anything, we just sat in a circle for ten minutes until Steve suddenly hugged me. I know he was already going through a rough patch after I left the Castle and he had fights with Grandpa as well so he felt guilty. I hugged him back. Soon enough it turned into a group hug since Kathy and Addy joined us in the hug as well. We four just kept crying unable to say anything.

End of flashback

I, Steve, Ashton, and Kathy went to a nearby restaurant where we ordered four plates of steak, four burgers, four drinks, four large ice cream cups, and one jumbo pizza. It felt good to eat with these weirdos while bickering and fighting every second. I missed these meals in Hollywood where I had to eat alone showing the basic etiquette and all. “Kathy, I am going to my house tonight and will come to Dad’s house tomorrow morning. I don’t want to disturb them.” Kathy nodded while eating but then her pleading eyes traveled to Ashton who just shrugged. Kathy pleadingly spoke, “Please Ashton. I promise I’ll make breakfast as well. It’s been so long since I came there.” I turn Kathy’s face towards me and spoke, “Don’t ask him. I don’t want anyone at our house tonight. It’s our house, not a hotel where you come whenever you want. We have our privacy, get that?”

Steve choked on his water, “Why do you need privacy, huh.” I smirk and spoke, “Because, unlike you and Kathy, I and Ashton are married while thanks to your cowardness you and Kathy are still single.” Ashton bitterly smile and spoke, “Don’t talk as if you both were planning to get married. It was just fate that you got married to him.”

Okay, so filling you guys in on my and Ashton’s marriage. It turned out that Papa and Professor Maddox were childhood friends. One day Papa asked me if I wanted to get married and so I honestly told him that yeah I am ready for getting married also I would like him to choose a groom for me because I am not interested in a love marriage and that I want an arranged marriage. It turned out the same with Ashton and so our marriage was decided by our parents when we met each other as fiancé so we were both shocked but happy as well that at least we are getting married to someone we know. My Dad and Mom didn’t participate in the marriage and told Mama and Papa that they are free to take decisions for me and they are not concerned with me anymore.

Honestly, it hurt me when I heard them talking but then I pretended like I didn’t hear anything. Mom and Dad haven’t spoken anything to me since Grandpa’s decision. They didn’t say anything when Grandpa announced his decision. They didn’t say anything when I left the house. They didn’t say anything when I came for Grandpa’s funeral. They haven’t spoken to me for 2 years and I don’t think they will want to speak to me ever. I find it so ironic that my blood relations always reject me but heart-to-heart relations always accepted me.

I entered the bedroom and started taking off my jewelry while Ashton took off his coat and went for a bath. After he came I went and took a bath and changed into a night suit. I finally lay on the bed, stressed out from the day. Ashton sat on his side on the bed and spoke, “Want me to massage your head?” I instantly sat up and speak, “Yes! You are so nice.” I pinch his cheek and put my head on his lap. While massaging he spoke, “How was your day?” I close my eyes and answer, “It was hectic but of course worth it.” Ashton put his hand on my forehead and started massaging it, “You don’t have to overwork yourself. I know exactly why you do this but just know that sometimes it’s okay to feel weak. Look, I am your partner, and even if you should yourself strong in front of the World, you still don’t have to pretend to be strong in front of me.” Now Ashton took my face in his hands and turned it towards him and spoke, “You can cry in front of me because I am there to wipe your tears. You can fall in front of me because I am there to pick you up.”

It was just his words that my tears started to fall. I hugged him while laying down. He knows how much I miss Grandpa and how much I feel rejected first because of my real mother and now because of my mom and dad. Even though I still have a loving and caring family but that space can be filled by no one but them. My surroundings are filled with happiness but why do I still feel sad? Ashton is the only one who knows and I always go to him whenever I feel like crying.

Ashton is someone who stood by me during my hard times. I feel so lucky when I am with him. I couldn’t have asked for a better husband. Even though we don’t confess our feelings that much but we both know what the other is feeling. Our relationship is not bound by words. We just need to look into each other’s eyes and we know what’s wrong. I don’t know when I fell asleep while crying on Ashton’s lap.