Caught

Chapter 4: Caught

Maddy's car turned into Bronze City, and Ashley's heart pounded more loudly.

This was the moment she dreaded most. The moment she'd tried hard to not think about. She'd wanted to just remain blank until she faced Charlotte... but reality wasn't as simple.

She couldn't hide forever, even if she wanted.

The city held a history Ashley would rather forget – bittersweet reminders of her first love, of laughter, obsession, and ultimately, heartbreak. Her mind lingered a little too long on the last word. It was the same thing she was feeling now. The only difference being that the current wound, despite going so deep, held no candle light to what she felt when Lorenzo left her.

It was in the past now, but the memories still felt like sharp fragments that cut deep as they rushed into her mind, though she was quick to shake them off, focusing back on the present. Back on Charlotte.

Four years had passed since she fled Charlotte's house and married Christian. Her eyes stung as she wrapped her arms around herself, clinging to her shoulders.

Maddy turned to her, worry clouding her expression. "Are you okay? Do you need me to stop for awhile?"

Ashley gave a disconnected nod before returning her gaze to the road ahead.

As the duo arrived at Charlotte's compound, the hammering of Ashley's heartbeat could be heard if you listened carefully.

Maddy's small glances and gentle hand squeeze could only do much.

As they unloaded Ashley's bags, Charlotte emerged from the house, dressed to impress with deep red lipstick. With skin smooth as gleaming porcelain, one could see she hadn't aged a bit since Ashley last saw her. She exuded such air of arrogance that would make many have a second thought before approaching her.

Ashley instantly stiffened, her skin could be mistaken for chalk as her blood turned cold.

"Good afternoon, aunty Charlotte." She and Maddy chimed in unison.

Charlotte's shock slowly shifted to anger. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, her grey eyes piercing.

Typical Charlotte.

Maddy and Ashley exchanged a glance before Ashley spoke up. "M-my husband and I got a divorce."

Charlotte's eyes widened, then her lips curled into a malicious smirk, as she pieced the remaining information.

"You've nowhere else to go, have you?"

Ashley pressed her lips together, gaze drifting past her to the big house that once belonged to her mother.

"I wish I could help." Charlotte said in a voice that dripped with sarcasm.

"Please let me stay here." Ashley began. "Just for a few weeks until..."

An evil smirk tugged at Charlotte's lips before she interrupted. "Go back to the husband you ran off with. There's no place for you here."

Desperate, Ashley knelt, grasping the hem of Charlotte's expensive-looking dress. Charlotte's smile twisted, and her gaze lowered to Ashley with an air of satisfaction. She'd waited so long for this day, now she reveled in it.

"I can smell your desperation even from a meter, darling niece. That's not good for you." Charlotte spoke in a voice that you'd mistake for pity. If you didn't know better. "I think I can do something to help change that, but I have my terms."

Ashley rose, hope flickering in her chest.

She wasn't surprised there was a term, Charlotte never got involved with anything that didn't benefit. What rather surprised Ashley was that she agreed so quickly to help at all.

Charlotte brushed a stray hair behind Ashley's ear, the action so slow that a shudder ran through her spine, as she wondered what the evil of a woman had in mind.

Gulping air into her lungs, she asked. "What's the term, aunty?"

Charlotte's smile brightened. "George… remember him?"

Charlotte's voice barely registered as Ashley's breath hitched. That name slammed into Ashley like a fist, yanking her back to a night she had tried to forget.

It had been years, but even now she could still smell the whiskey on his breath, the lust in his voice...

Ashley had woken up to the sound of heavy breathing. The stench of alcohol clung to the air, thick and nauseating.

Her body stiffened, a shadow loomed at the foot of her bed.

George.

His belt was already undone, trouser sagging at his hips.

Her pulse pounded in her ears as she scrambled for the nearest object –. She swung it at him, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She also managed to get on her feet, putting a bit of distance between them.

"I swear I'll smash your head if you take one more step." She could hear her own voice shaking, but it was all she had.

"C'mon sweet pie," he cooed, licking his lips. "I'll treat you better than that little brat ever did. Fuck you better."

Raged flared in Ashley's chest. Lorenzo. That's who he meant.

"Get out." She hissed. "Or I won't have a second thought before I cut that stupid dick off!" She yelled, eyes aiming for the pepper spray she always hid in her wardrobe.

Ashley's stomach churned as she snapped back to the present. Her lungs felt like they've forgotten how to breathe.

Charlotte was still speaking, and Maddy looked like she'd collapse soon from worry.

"...never stopped hoping you'd return, lovely."

Untrue to her words, George had slowly pulled his support from Charlotte's business since that night –after Ashley disappeared. But if she could convince Ashley now, he'd run back smiling. The old fool was obsessed, and Charlotte couldn't explain what fascinated him about her niece.

She was beautiful, yes. Almost like a porcelain doll. Attractive, hell yes. But that couldn't be all, could it?

"You just need to apologize, and give him what he wanted. Then, I'll welcome you into my house with open arms." Charlotte pressed.

"You want me to apologize to the same man who almost raped me? You're heartless!" Tears rolled down Ashley's cheeks.

Charlotte scoffed. "You're being too picky for someone in your situation."

Ashley shook her head in disbelief, stepping backward, wondering what kind of material her aunt's heart was made of.

She was the devil in human form.

Ashley swore to make them pay, especially George. He went about ruining lives of young girls, using his wealth and power as protection. Ashley wished so much to Strip him off everything he had, and sentence him to a slow, agonizing death, filled with torture.

"You're evil!" Maddy chipped in.

"You know where to find me when you make your decision, sweetheart," Charlotte said to Ashley before her pretend smile vanished.

"Now leave." she said sternly.

"You're forgetting this is still my mother's house, Aunty..." Ashley snapped.

"Get out!" Charlotte shrieked, sending Ashley and Maddy springing into action, as they slipped back into Maddy's car.

***********

TWO YEARS LATER.

Maddy's Apartment.

Ashley walked in, exhausted from another unfruitful interview. She headed straight for the bedroom, laid Vanessa in her crib, and kissed her hair.

The little girl slept peacefully, tired from accompanying Ashley to the interview since morning. With Maddy and her husband working, Ashley had no one else to leave Vanessa with, and affording a nanny was...well, Ashley had no job, and that equates to no money.

The endless interviews were starting to frustrate her so much that she wanted to just yank at her hair. They all always gave the same reply as the manager from today.

"We'll contact you."

But they never do.

Ashley sighed, momentarily shutting her eyes as she exhaled into her palms. Relying fully on Maddy's support was becoming too shameful.

She left for the kitchen to prepare something for Vanessa before she woke up.

She'd barely started when a hand suddenly snaked around her waist, starling her. She jumped, spilling Vanessa's oatmeal.

"You're so skittish, you know?" Fred whispered in a low, flirtatious voice that sent a chills through Ashley.

"You could have announced yourself without touching me." She snapped.

"What's the fun in that, sweetheart?" Fred leaned forward, just enough to make her feel the storm raging beneath his pants.

Ashley's fist balled as she tried to create some distance between them, but his grip tightened, making her skin crawl with unease.

He had been trying to get her into his bed since she arrived two years ago, even when she was still heavily pregnant. She hadn't reported him to Maddy because she thought she could handle him herself. Plus she didn't want to hurt Maddy, and Fred had stopped bothering her for a few months now, after she threatened to cut off his dick once.

"Let me go, Fred. I'm busy." Ashley gritted, even though her heart was on a marathon.

Fred spun her around, and she gasped. "Just help me out, and I'll leave you alone… is that too much to ask?"

Ashley saw the raw lust in his dark eyes, and dread twisted her stomach. "You're a jerk. My little girl is sleeping next door, and your wife will be back soon, yet here you're embarrassing yourself."

"No one gets to know if you do it right now."

"I'll do no such..."

Before Ashley could finish, Fred _her onto his shoulder, hurrying out of the kitchen, ignoring her screams and curses.

Getting to his bedroom, he threw Ashley on the bed, pinning her as he planted disgusting kisses all over her neck.

She struggled, shouting, thrashing and clawing on him.

"We don't have to do this the hard way, Ash."

Ashley spat on his face, and he momentarily lost focus. She seized the moment to escape, but he grabbed her before she could get away, trapping her atop him, and at the same time captured her lips.

Just then, Maddy's voice cut through the chaos. "What the fuck is happening here?!"