“Please,” Ashlee pleaded. Why did she so desperately want to meet the killer of her mother?

“Ashlee, a no means no. You are not going to see him ever again.” He gave her one last cold look and went inside. He didn’t want to yell at her in front of everyone.

So before he did anything stupid to hurt her, he left. She never once thought he was wrong for saying no. Anyone who would have watched what he has would be in denial too.

Everyone gradually came back inside after the burial of her mother. Ashlee stayed out, saying she wanted some time to be with her alone. Esyn left her at her request, having no idea what was in Ashlee’s mind.

Ashlee’s eyes wandered around, making sure no one was watching her. She looked at the path leading to the highway, mentally mapping the route in her mind.

Without thinking twice, she left quietly. No one had any idea she would do that. If no one would take her there, she would do it herself.

She wasn’t really bound to stay in that house.

“Where can I find a ride?” she muttered to herself, walking down the clear path. She remembered the last time Kyle took her out to the hospital. She kept walking, even though the way was long.

Kyle sat in his office, thoughts of Ashlee and her request haunting him. Why would she want to meet that old hag? What is she trying to do? Maybe he had been too harsh on her.

“I shouldn’t have left her alone. Ugh!!” He grunted, rubbing his palm over his face in frustration. He regretted his actions every single time.

It was already dark outside. Why does he always realize it too late? He decided to go to Ashlee and talk it out. Maybe he could comply with her request.

He walked through the hallway, nodding at the guards. They were always stationed outside his room to protect Ashlee. He didn’t want history to repeat itself. The history with Heather. He still didn’t trust her.

He knocked at the door. No response, so he went in. Looking around every corner of the room, he couldn’t find Ashlee. Where is she now?

“Have you seen Ashlee?” he went out and asked the guards.

“No, Alpha. She left with you at noon and hasn’t returned yet,” the guard replied, stating the facts.

“Where is she then?” he muttered to himself, stomping out of there. He went into the kitchen—no sign of her. He checked each and every room in the whole big house but found nothing useful.

“What is going on, Kyle?” Esyn asked, concerned by the way he was shouting for Ashlee.

“Have you seen Ashlee?” he asked, breathing heavily.

“I last saw her outside. She said she wanted some time alone with her mother’s grave. So we left her there. What’s wrong? She hasn’t returned yet?” Esyn was getting concerned too. Maybe she shouldn’t have left Ashlee alone.

Ashlee reached the prison at last. After finding a taxi. Thankfully, she had some loose money to pay—a bit she always kept with herself, as her mother had taught her.

‘It’s better to have something than nothing in the time of need.’

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“Hello, I’m Ashlee Cox. Can I meet Ricardo Wiley?” she asked the first officer she saw outside the gate. She was sure he had to be in this prison since his trial was still pending.

“There’s the office. You need to go there.” The police officer eyed her from head to toe and pointed at the registration office by the side of the gate. She nodded thanks, thinking how weirdly he was staring at her.

“Who are you here for?” the person inside the office asked through the window. He seemed already frustrated by the visits.

“Ricardo Wiley,” she responded sternly.

“And who is he to you?” he asked, staring at her, annoyed. She gulped, coughing a bit.

“Uncle,” she replied. He filled in some data and stood up, retrieving a pass for her.

“One person,” he spoke on the phone, announcing Ashlee’s entry. The gate opened, and two police officers smiled at her.

She sighed, relieved that someone wasn’t acting weird. She entered, flashing a weak smile at them. Cautiously, she waited as they closed the gate behind her.

“Follow me, miss.” One of the officers said, leading her inside the big building. She entered, and everything looked normal. She signed a form they gave her, calling it a consent paper.

“He will be here in a minute,” the officer told her, directing her to sit in the room, which had a receiver, a chair, and a camera. Plus, a mirror, which appeared bulletproof.

Her eyes flickered and her throat went dry, watching her uncle enter the other side. Smirking at her through the glass, he sat in front of her, proud.

She calmed down, taking the phone in her hands and placing it against her ear. Her uncle did the same, their eyes never blinking away from each other.

The tension was real. “I forgot I had someone alive to visit me,” he spoke first, while she stayed silent, watching him blankly.

“You know this is your place to be at. You should be here instead of me.” His smirk slowly faded away as he grew annoyed by her emotionless stare.

“I gave you a roof, food, and clothes to wear, and this is what you did to me!” he growled, bending closer to the glass. “I know you remember everything. You are the one who killed your mother. You are the criminal. I’m here for your crimes!!” he shouted as loud as he could, punching the glass.

“You killed my mother,” she mumbled in a broken voice, yet her tears never fell. She was determined not to let him see her suffering.

He chuckled darkly, lowering his head, staring into her orbs with that smug look on his face. “You’re still going to lie?” he asked, and Ashlee remained silent.

“Still not going to speak the truth?” he asked again, noticing the police officer had entered the room, sensing the disturbance. He wanted to turn the game and get out of there.

“I am,” Ashlee spoke in a louder voice than before. She inhaled deeply, while he smirked, thinking his moment had come. “You molested me my whole childhood. You kept beating me for no reason. You kept touching me like a pervert. You killed my mom because of what happened at my school. You couldn’t stand that I wouldn’t let you have your way with me. That’s why you stabbed my mom in front of my eyes and then stabbed me too.” She stopped, taking sharp breaths.

He looked stunned. This Ashlee was different—blunt, defiant. The Ashlee he used to know would stay quiet, cry, and comply with his ways. Who was this new Ashlee?

“I remember. I remember it all. Vividly.” She said, then put down the phone, though she could still hear his muffled voice through the door.

“Stop, Ashlee!! Pick up the receiver. Damn it!! Talk to me! Get me out of here! I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything. Please. Get me out of here!” he kept shouting and pleading. Each desperate plea was a balm to the wounds he had inflicted upon her.

Ashlee picked up the receiver one last time, and he stopped shouting. “You deserve it all. Goodbye.” She whispered loudly, putting down the phone before standing up. She walked to the door.

The officer opened it for her, looking at her, stunned. “You are a brave kid,” he remarked with a genuine smile.

“Thank you.” Ashlee nodded and left.

She froze upon seeing the person in front of her. Kyle looked at her blankly, his jaw clenched as he watched her coming out of the very place he had forbidden her to go.

“Kyle, I…” Before she could explain, he turned around and left. She rushed to catch up with him. He didn’t glance back and quietly entered his car.

Keeping his eyes on the road, he waited for her to join him in the passenger seat. She took her place, constantly peeking at him nervously.

‘He’s really mad.’ She scrunched her eyes shut, her forehead wrinkling. Throwing her head back on the seat, she cursed herself, feeling foolish.

Instantly, she felt something warm around her face. She opened her eyes, her breath catching. Kyle was inches away, fastening her seatbelt without meeting her gaze.

As soon as he returned to his seat, she let out a breath. That had been so close.

“Kyle.” She tried to call him again, but he ignored her completely and started to drive, focusing solely on the road.

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