Ashton’s POV

“You should watch out, Ashton, I think your ex-girlfriend is planning something sinister against your girlfriend, and I can see it the way she’s looking at Megan right now. Did she inform you that she will be working here at Lauren’s place?” Zachary had asked me by the time I joined them, and I watched Lauren from the corner of my eye.

“No, Megan didn’t reply to my text messages the whole day, and now I know why; Lauren kept her busy the entire day. I should have known she was here.” I said, and I let out a soft sigh.

“You know Lauren, Ashton, and she doesn’t want to be insulted. And I am sure you hurt her ego, buddy. She is watching Megan like a hawk. And I can tell she was only waiting for Megan to commit a mistake.” Zach declared, and I agree with him.

“Yeah, I want to pay Lauren for the rate she paid to them to take Megan away from here right now, but I don’t want my girlfriend to get angry with me. You know her. She has the dignity to uphold.” I replied.

Some girls approached me and asked me if I am not ashamed that my girlfriend works as a maid here in Lauren’s enormous mansion.

“Why should I feel embarrassed? It was quite the opposite, and I felt so proud of Megan right now because she is working hard. It only means if I am going to marry her someday, I don’t need to worry about the future because she is hardworking. I could say if ever I lose my father’s inheritance, I will not worry about her because I can tell she will never leave me if I have nothing to offer her.” I said, and I smiled at Alisa. I know she was one of Lauren’s closest friends, her best friend, I should say. I watched her face turned so red.

“Well, if you chose any of us, we will never leave you, Ashton,” Cammie said, and I know she was one of the girls who wanted to date me for a long time now because I already turned her down twice.

“Girls, I know you. You are born with a silver spoon in your mouth. You all grew up with maids around your mansion. I don’t think you will stick with me if something like that will happen.” I replied, and I heard Zach’s chuckled beside me.

“You have to try dating us, Ashton, so you will know,” Alisa said, and I just smiled at them as I excused myself.

“Those girls will never stop bothering you even if they are friends with Lauren.” My best friend said as we walked back towards our teammates. I searched around to look for Megan, and I smiled when I saw her walking beside the swimming pool, and I couldn’t stop myself from beaming as I realized I have a beautiful and hot girlfriend.

“You are crazy about her, Ashton. I haven’t seen you look at any girl the way you are staring at her right now.” Zachary said.

“You bet you are right. I have never felt this way before, Zach, and this is the first time my heart feels like this,” I replied, and he shook his head while smiling at me.

“You got it bad, buddy.” He replied.

“You could never be wrong, Zach, and I don’t care what those girls will think about me,” I replied.

“How about your dad?” He asked, and I turned my full attention to Zachary.

“I don’t care about his opinion either. I know he always wanted me to have Lauren as my girlfriend because Lauren’s dad is his best friend. But my father can’t dictate my heart, Zach, he already tried to stop me from chasing my dreams of becoming a professional football player, and now, I will never let him meddle with my love life.” I declared.

“Well, good luck with that, bro.” He said, and I smiled at him before I get back my eyes to Megan; just on time, I saw Lauren pushed her hard, which made her fall to the swimming pool. I ran right away to the side of the swimming pool. I know Megan can swim because we have been classmates in our swimming lessons, but I know she has no intention of swimming tonight because she is here to work.

I can’t stop the boiling anger from deep inside my core. Lauren is too much, I offered my hands to Megan, and I smiled when I realized Zachary is beside me, offering his hands to my girlfriend as well, and when I looked around, I felt so glad that my brothers came closer to me right away together with my teammates. Their support made me feel so happy for Megan, and I knew Lauren did it to humiliate my girlfriend in front of everyone.

We hauled Megan from the pool, and I can tell her entire body is shivering from the cold and because of her anger towards Lauren. I heard the girls’ laughter while I can see the sinister smile on Lauren’s face that made me angrier towards her, and I shouted what is wrong with her as I put my arms around Megan’s body. And I know my actions fueled her rage towards Megan and me, and I never expected my elder sister to share everything with Lauren.

I know even if Isabelle is older than us, she has been close with Lauren growing up, and mostly because they share the same passion for cheerleading. And I trusted my sister enough that she only kept it a secret from everyone, and I thought I was the only one who knew about her plan. I never expected Lauren to know about it all along, but she didn’t realize I already fall for Megan hard.

When Lauren told Megan I only asked her to be my girlfriend because of my sister’s revenge plan, my entire world turned so dark. It feels like I couldn’t breathe at all. When Megan asked me if it was all true, I want to tell her right away in front of everyone that it is true. Still, I fell in love with her along the way. My feelings for her are genuine, and all the memories we shared has never been fake, but I know I can never convince her at the moment to believe in me because I only told her that I could explain, and I know those words are enough to make her ran away from me with tears on her eyes.

I could have told Megan that I love her in front of my friends, but I know when Lauren said to her that I only get close with her to get back at her brother, I can see the pain that I caused her. I made my girlfriend unhappy, and I hurt her beyond what I can imagine. And I want to run after her, but Zachary hold my wrist and, without warning, my best friend hit me on the face and my gut, and I didn’t fight back while I heard the girls gasped as they shouted at Zach to stop. I fall on the ground, and I can tell Zach has strong fists, and I am just glad my brothers only looked in the sideline. They didn’t try to help me, and it feels just right. My best friend punched me because I deserve a beating for hurting Megan.

“I already told you, Ashton, don’t court Megan if you were only playing with her heart. You have no right to hurt her that way.” Zachary shouted at me, and I can feel the anger in his voice while I felt Lauren ran to my side, and when she tried to touch me, I raised my hand at her to stop her from what she was doing.

“Don’t touch me, Lauren. You could have asked me first before you announced that kind of bullshit. Do you know why I break up with you? Because I know you are a self-centered bitch.” I said, and I know I hurt Lauren, but I was worried about Megan and our relationship, and I am sure she is hurting right now. 

“I want to inform you that you can never make me like you again after what you have done tonight. I thought you know me, you could have seen the sign that I am in love with Megan, and I didn’t ask her to be my girlfriend because of my sister’s pleas, and I don’t need to make Megan, my girlfriend to hurt her, there so many ways I could hurt Megan. Yeah, I admit Isabelle asked me to shatter Megan’s innocent heart, but I don’t have the heart to do it because I fell in love with her hard, and I will do everything I can to make her accept me again.” I declared, and I can see the hurt and tears in Lauren’s eyes, and I never thought I would be like this in front of my teammates, but Megan Corteza made me become a different person.

“I hate you, Ashton, and you have to remember this. I will never give you peace if ever you continue to date her. And I will make Megan’s life a living hell.” Lauren shouted at me before she hurried out from the venue of her party. And I don’t have any fucking idea how to make Megan forgive me after what happened tonight.. But I realized one thing, I am crazy in love with Megan, and I will do everything I can, whatever it takes to have her back in my life.