The black SUV soon reached the main mansion, initially her home and where she spent more of her childhood.
Ashley took a few breaths to calm her beating heart and stepped out, ready to face whatever her father had for her.
She saw their butler Uncle Ben standing there as if he was waiting for her arrival at the main door. Giving her a bow, he opened the door as soon he saw her walk towards him and let her access in.
The house was so lively before but turned out silent when she decided to leave the place and start living alone so that she could pursue her modeling career.
Richard, her father, tried to stop her by asking her not to shift places, but she was so adamant about being independent that he couldn't convince her and let her do as she pleased.
The white lavishing house looked like a palace, with every object specifically designed for her liking. She was the brightness of the house.
Ashley was his only daughter, and pampering her made him more inclined toward her likes and dislike. Everything around the house was according to Ashley's convivence, as she preferred everything top-notch.
Looking around, which seemed the same even after so many years, made her heart squeeze. She knew her father loved her so much that he lowered himself in front of her stubbornness so that she would get whatever she wanted, including Greg, her ex.
She shut her eyes as she recalled how her actions must've upset her father, who agreed to her demands at every step.
Ascending upstairs to his room on the first floor of the mansion, she walked through the hallway and stopped in front of the door of his room.
Her heart began to accelerate thinking about the disgrace she brought to their family when she fought with her father so that she could marry the love of her life.
He had warned her, but she was too blind to think straight and look what she got in return, his betrayal.
Calming herself, she opened the doorknob and entered inside. As soon she stepped in, the first thing she did was to look for her father.
It was quiet inside when her roaming eyes stopped at the figure standing at the corner of the room with his back facing her as he watched the huge picture frame with women smiling back at him.
Ashley felt her heart drop when she realized what she had done by emotionally making her father go through so many things. He must be cursing her for being such an ungrateful daughter who didn't care about his feelings and love.
"Dad," she called, standing behind her father, who did move to turn back, which broke her heart even more.
Ashley felt her eyes well up as she couldn't bear her fathers silence. She was used to his caring and cheering persona, and just watching him facing his back on her made her more ashamed.
After a long time, Richard broke his stare from the picture and turned to meet his daughter face, who was on the verge of a breakdown.
Richard wasn't a heartless man. He knew his daughter had realized her mistake, which showed with the look on her face. He came to learn everything that happened with her and wanted to drag that Greg here and let her watch him punish that bastard who dared to make his daughter cry.
His anger dissipated when he saw her tear-filled eyes, and just as the father he was, he pulled her into a fatherly hug and let her break down in his arms.
He knew Ashley loved Greg with all her heart because the way she fought with him showed how madly she was in love with him, making her go against her father.
"Honey.. don't cry for that ungrateful bastard who didn't value your love towards him" Richard's heart pained to see his daughter break down, letting him see how badly Greg had broken her heart by cheating on her with her so-called friend Jane.
He already knew Greg was never a man anyone would trust because every day, he was surrounded by numerous scandals that said he was a playboy of the modeling industry. But still, Ashley couldn't see through it.
Nevertheless, his daughter finally learned his true face, and he was now finally relaxed that he didn't have to keep tracking her when she was out with that bastard.
Ashley didn't say a word and let her guilt flow through her eyes. She regretted every word she said to her father when he tried to make her understand the truth behind Greg's relationship with her.
He was with her only for fame which he received the moment she agreed to date him, but even after getting the recognition through Ashley, he wasn't still convinced. He wanted her money, too, and just like the greedy person, he even started spending money on Ashley's credit cards, fulfilling his needs and wants.
Now that his daughter was back to her real self, he couldn't wait to see Greg's career fall in the blink of an eye. He dared to make his daughter cry, so he had to face the wrath of Richard Brown.
Richard kept holding her in his arms until she finally calmed down and pulled back, still lowering her head.
Ashley was still ashamed of how badly she behaved with her father back then, not even listening to him when all he tried to do was keep her from getting heartbroken.
Watching her still contemplating action, Richard made her look at him with her chin up," You are my strong daughter Ashley and always remember your father will be there for you no matter what. That man didn't value you, and that is his loss" Richard's words were crystal clear, making her nod her head when again she welled up and cried, embracing her father.
"Dad, I'm sorry... "
She was a child who grew up in her father's care, who gave her both her mother's and father's love, yet she still doubted his intentions towards her. But now that she was back to her senses and she wasn't going to let herself get fooled in the name of love.
She had learned from her mistake, and she wasn't going to do the same thing that made her doubt her father's love for her.
"I am sorry, dad... I hurt you even when all you did was to show me his true face."
Ashley was very sorry for her behavior back then. She wouldn't ever doubt her father and go against him as she learned how important her father's words were for her to listen and not get swayed by fake sweet gestures.
After Ashley was back to normal, both father and daughter decided to spend some time together before Ashley left for her apartment.
She first dropped Miley at her place and then drove to her place. She felt like a big stone of guilt was lifted from her heart.
When the time to meet her father came closer, Ashley felt more and more drawn into the pool of regret, and she didn't know if her father wanted to have a daughter like her who was so arrogant and ungrateful.
But everything went smoothly, and now that she had cleared all misunderstandings with her father, she was feeling better.
Reaching her apartment, she first took a shower and relaxed. When she was done, Ashley walked toward her bed and went to check her next day's schedule.
Now that she had nothing to worry about, Ashley finally felt better, and she completely wanted to focus on her career and nothing else.
All the photoshoots that she postponed were re-schedule the next day. She kept her mind away from all the negativity she would face in the upcoming days, as the news of her and Greg split must've lit the entire industry.
Many people cursed her for being arrogant and bold and looked down on them. She was proud to have a partner like Greg, but that fairytale didn't last long, and she finally returned to the real world where no one believed in true love.
"You have to ignore every questioning eye and focus on yourself" Ashley was not going to let people walk on her by their hurting words, nor would she let them go if they tried to badmouth her.
She was the queen of the modeling world and for someone to crumble her dignity was next to impossible.
With the hope of a new, brightening day, to begin with, Ashley lay on the bed and let the sleep engulf her.
***
After meeting Ashley, Tristen went back to complete his pending work. Karl, who accompanied him, handled the minor matters, and they soon ended the meeting on a good note.
Karl dropped Tristen, where he lived with his entire family. His parents, grandparents, and his siblings.
People who didn't know how the Knights were always considered them a threat, but in reality, the ones close to them knew how loving and kind they were.