I wasn''t this possessive before, but it was different with Ash. He had already imed me, so I wouldn''t let him leave if he ever got bored of me.


    Or maybe I''d give him a taste of his own medicine if he decided to do that.


    "Hello? Am I talking to myself here?" Evangeline crossed her arms and sat next to me. "I''m asking if he''s good. Is he big? Did he make you scream?" "Why are you curious? Are you jealous?" I frowned, meeting the intensity of her gaze.


    She looked away, making me smirk.


    I knew it. She might act indifferent toward me, but she couldn''t hide her true feelings. The only thing she could do to ease the pain was to ept that she couldn''t be with Ash anymore.


    Tanner''s still around; she could go for him since opposites attract, after all.


    "I was just curious!"


    Her voice rose in frustration, drawing the attention of the photographer. She didn''t even bother to apologize for disturbing him with her loud voice. The photographer just shook his head and went back to his work.


    "He''s fucking hot, huge, and you even look like you''ve been reborn," she said with emphasis and jealousy in every word. "You look so fresh, and I hate it."


    I shook my head. I should be the one jealous of her. She has a good life, good connections, and a bright future ahead of her. What more could she want?


    "I don''t share, Evangeline. You know that," I said nonchntly as I noticed the students wrapping up. For sure, we''d be called in next. "Ash''s mine, and even you can''t take him away from me."


    "Dang. You''re starting to sound like someone from the Parker cln, Sapphire!" Haze eximed as he and Mason entered the waiting room. "I''m falling even more in love with you, but Ash might punch me, and that guy''s crazy!" They look like freakin'' supermodels.


    Haze was wearing a ck leather jacket, a ck t-shirt, and ck jeans with some chains on them. He even had ck piercings in his ears and lower lip.


    Meanwhile, Mason was dressed in a white polo, red coat, and red cks, holding a brown paper bag. I figured it was food for me and Evangeline since he often spoiled us like that.


    Mason scolded me when saw me after Ash apanied me home. But everything went well afterward. Mason trusts Ash more, making him realize that Ash wasn''t as bad as he thought. "You''re so loud." Mason immediately smacked Haze, who just snarled in return.


    So, Haze already knew about it, huh?


    "What are you guys doing here?" I asked them curiously.


    "Causing trouble," Haze answered before pulling out a chair and sitting down.


    Mason did the same.


    "I''m here to see how fake you and Evangeline are with each other," he added, shaking his head before chuckling.


    Evangeline cursed at him, making me and Masonugh.


    "Varlett and Miller, you''re up," said the photographer.


    I excused myself from the two idiots and followed Evangeline to the studio room. The photoshoot took a while, and when we went outside the studio, Haze pped sarcastically. "The fake friendship between you two is heart-wrenching, wow!" said Haze.


    The irritation was evident on Evangeline''s face because of what the photographer made us do. We were chosen to be on the promotional banner for the ountancy department, so we had to take a picture together.


    I didn''t mind, but Evangeline hated it. She looked like she was going to vomit while we were posing, which only made meugh more.


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    "Idiot," Evangeline muttered, rolling her eyes at Haze.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Haze stood up, hands in his pockets. "Where are you off to?"


    "Home. Are you dumb?" Evangeline rolled her eyes again. "Don''t talk to me. You''re such an idiot."


    "Someone''s in a bad mood, huh?" Hazeughed, and Evangeline only raised her middle finger in annoyance.


    This guy doesn''t seem to get hurt, even when Evangeline''s insults are so harsh. He really is something else.


    "What about you? Where are you going?" Haze asked me instead, knowing that one more word would probably get him more than just a punch. Plus, Evangeline had already left.


    "Heading home as well. I''m just waiting for Ash," I answered, showing him my phone. Ash had texted me to wait because he''d pick me up today.


    "Are you kidding? That guy shows up for you? He never does it for me." Haze shook his head like he was disappointed by what I said. "I''ll wait here, too. I''m gonna punch that-ouch, damn it, Mason!" Haze screamed after Mason pinched him hard. Good thing Evangeline and I were thest ones to be photographed, so they couldn''t disturb the photographer anymore.


    "She''s his girlfriend. Of course, they see each other often, if not always." Mason nced at me. "Take care. Text me when you get home."


    "Sure thing." I nodded.


    "Me too, Sapphire-damn it, that hurts!" Hazeined to Mason when he pinched him again. I only shook my head, smiling.


    At first, I thought Haze was maniptive and wicked at first, but the longer I got to know him, I realized he was the most chaotic of the three.


    He was the most cheerful, yet also the most dangerous.


    THIRTY MINUTES had passed, and Ash still wasn''t here.


    I was waiting at the same spot where we had our first conversation-the time my skirt was blown by the wind. I couldn''t believe how fast time had flown since that happened over a year ago. "Sapphire."


    Finally, Ash was here. He got out of his car and hugged me. He looked busy, but I was happy he was making time for me. It wasn''t easy, but it was worth it.


    "How''s your day?" I asked as I fixed some strands of his hair that were a bit messy.


    "I''m fine," he answered, giving me a peck on the lips and offering his hand. "Shall we?"


    I took his hand without hesitation.


    Whenever he takes me home, we walk, even though I always tell him we can drive since it''s sometimes dangerous. But he prefers walking because it gives us more time together. I didn''t argue with him because of that reason. Sometimes we talk as we walk, and sometimes we just enjoy the fresh air in silence, like now. He was tired, and I could feel it. He looked like he hadn''t had enough sleep.


    I gently rubbed the hand I was holding, and he smiled at me.


    The darkness and quiet of the ce reminded me again of what I had done. I had identally killed someone, and the court ruled it was self-defense.


    But I still couldn''t ept that these hands, holding his, were once dirty... and bloody.


    "Please... don''t."


    That person was trying tomit an immoral act against me. I wouldn''t regret what I did, but that shattered my innocence.


    Would Ash ept me if I told him about my dark past?