Groaning as she reached out for the space beside her, Mia's eyes snapped open. She quickly sat up, glancing around, her breath catching as she looked down at herself. She was wearing a loose long-sleeve polo.

"Ash?" Mia called out, her voice shaky. She quickly slipped on her slippers and rushed out of her bedroom. She checked the living room, then the kitchen, but there was no sign of Ashley.

She stopped, realizing the significance of the day. Her eyes widened. "You don't mean to tell me you actually went to the wedding?" she murmured, returning to her bedroom. She picked up her phone, checking for any messages.

Unlocking it, she was about to make a call when the chime from the front door sounded. Her heart skipped a beat. Hastily, she went toward the door, whispering, "Ash?"

Ashley tilted her head as she stepped inside, noticing Mia's pale expression. "What's wrong?" she asked, moving closer.

Without a word, Mia pulled Ashley into a tight hug. Ashley chuckled softly, holding onto Mia while still balancing a couple of plastic bags of groceries. "I thought you went to the wedding," Mia mumbled, burying her face against Ashley's chest.

"What?" Ashley laughed, pressing a kiss to the top of Mia's head. "There's no wedding, sugarplum. I pulled out this morning," she said.

Mia pulled back, surprised. "You did?" she asked, her voice thick with confusion. "W-what did Vika say?"

Ashley shrugged. "The hell do I care?" She laughed again, wrapping her arm around Mia's shoulder as Mia wrapped her arms around Ashley's waist. They walked toward the kitchen. "She'll probably be mad, but I don't even care. And oh, I've got the need to visit the Zurich headquarters later today."

"Zurich? Why?" Mia asked, glancing up as Ashley set the grocery bags down on the counter.

Ashley's grin widened. "Because... I'm getting my revenge for both of us," she said nonchalantly.

"What?" Mia straightened, her worry deepening. "You don't have to—"

Ashley placed a finger gently on Mia's lips. "It's my family's mess, sugarplum," she said. "You don't need to get involved. I don't want you dealing with my family's drama. I have to do this. Besides..." She paused, her gaze softening.

"Besides what?" Mia asked, confusion bubbling up inside her.

Ashley leaned in closer, her voice low. "I'm accepting the position at the Zurich headquarters," she said. "In fact, I already accepted it, but my mom hasn't dared to announce it yet. So that'll be one hell of a surprise for Azriel." She shrugged casually.

"But I thought—"

Ashley's smile turned knowing. "I need to do this. I need to take the company back for the Fletchers. The Amosa clan doesn't belong in it, and I'm the only one who can make sure that happens," she said firmly.

Mia bit her lower lip, concern flickering in her eyes. "But... will you be okay? I mean, will you really be okay?" she asked, clutching the hem of Ashley's shirt.

Ashley nodded, her expression reassuring. "Yes, I'll be fine. Don't worry—there will be security and media appearances. I've got everything covered," she said, cupping Mia's cheeks gently. "But you need to stay close to Vera and Nyx."

"Why?"

"Because I said so," Ashley replied with a teasing glint in her eyes. "I'll drop you off at their mansion later. I can't risk you getting caught up in anything dangerous. I promised them both I'd keep you safe. And I don't want anything happening to my future wife," she added, her tone soft but firm.



Entering the conference room, Ashley tilted her head, a scoff escaping her lips as her gaze swept over the occupants. Her entire family was present—Azriel, Alysse, her father Manu, and her mother Elena. Her brow arched higher when she noticed Vika seated at the table, her expression thunderous. Ashley clicked her tongue against her teeth, a sly smile tugging at her lips.

"Someone's fuming," Ashley muttered under her breath, striding confidently down the center aisle. She wore a sleek white turtleneck bodysuit tucked into faded denim jeans, the ends neatly secured into high-knee platform boots. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail, and strapped across her chest was a double gun holster. A detective badge hung casually from one of her belt loops.

Stopping at the empty seat across from her family, Ashley flipped her ponytail over her shoulder with a graceful motion, pulling out the chair. Crossing one leg over the other, she leaned back, arms folded, a smirk firmly planted on her face.

"Hello, everyone," she greeted sweetly, her gaze sweeping across the table before settling on Vika.

Ashley's smirk deepened as she leaned slightly forward. "Oh, hi there, sweetie," she said, her tone laced with mockery. She let out a playful gasp, feigning shock. "Oh wait, that's right—you're not my fiancée," she added with a laugh.

Vika's jaw tightened as Azriel leaned forward, his confusion evident. "What's the meaning of this, Ash?" he demanded.

Ashley arched a brow at her brother, her smirk unwavering. "Really, Az? Are you that slow?" she chuckled, rolling her eyes. "No wonder you've never been able to get ahead of me."

Azriel scoffed, exhaling sharply. "First, you pull out of the wedding, and now this? What's your game?"

"Game?" Ashley's laugh was sharp and dismissive. "Oh, Az, are we playing games now? Or are we doing this dramatic little act of yours?"

Clasping her hands together, Ashley's tone turned mockingly professional. "Alright then," she said, straightening in her seat. "Since everyone's here, shall we get started?" She stood, leaning against the table in front of her family. Her sharp gaze darted to the other occupants of the room—board members, attorneys, police officers, and the media crew she'd invited.

"First things first," she began, standing tall and slipping her hands into her pockets. "I, Ashley Fletcher-Amosa, have regained my memories. I pulled out of the so-called marriage because it was nothing more than a farce. I was never engaged to Vika Sione—or anyone else for that matter—aside from Mia Tran."

Her declaration drew a sharp intake of breath from Vika, who looked ready to explode, but Ashley pressed on, ignoring her.

"Second," she continued, her voice firm, "I've called this emergency meeting to announce that I, Ashley Fletcher-Amosa, will be taking over as President of the Zurich headquarters."

Azriel shot to his feet, slamming his fists onto the table. "What?!" he hissed. "We agreed on this, Ash! Are you out of your mind?"

Ashley chuckled, unfazed. "Agreed? Sure, Az. But let me ask you—was your position ever officially approved by the board of directors?" Her smirk widened as her brother fell silent. "Didn't think so."

She tilted her head, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "Such a shame for you, Az. I took the initiative, and the board voted unanimously in my favor. Even if you wanted to challenge it, it wouldn't help. The current president of the Zurich headquarters—our dear father—and the presidents of the States headquarters, along with the CEO, have already given their votes to me."

Azriel turned pale, his gaze darting between their parents and Alysse. "What is this?!" he sputtered. "Did you all just—how could you?"

Ashley shrugged, leaning back against the table. "Relax, Az. This is just a little taste of karma," she said, her voice laced with venom. "Out of the three of us, you've always pretended to be the dutiful family man. But tell me, how does that fit with putting your own sister into a coma and causing her memory loss?"

The room fell deathly silent. Azriel stiffened, his face paling further. "What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice strained. "Are you saying I caused your accident? That's absurd!" He let out a hollow laugh, shaking his head. "Maybe your brain got scrambled in the crash, Ash."

"Maybe," Ashley said, clicking her tongue thoughtfully. "But, Az, you seem to have forgotten something important—CCTV cameras. Oh, and my motorcycle?" She let out a sarcastic chuckle, shaking her head. "It had a built-in camera, and lucky for me, it was running during the attack. And, let's not forget that I saw my attackers with my own eyes before I blacked out."

She straightened, her gaze sharp as it scanned the room. The media crew she'd hired had documented everything—every word, every expression, and every photograph that mattered, ensuring nothing would go unnoticed or unrecorded.

Azriel took a step back, visibly trembling. "You're crazy!"

Ashley's smirk grew colder. "Am I? You and Vika worked together to ruin me. You damaged my brain, tried to sabotage my relationship with Mia, and nearly cost me the woman I'm supposed to marry. If I hadn't regained my memories, I would have lost everything. Thankfully, Alysse and Mom tried to tell me the truth," she said, her gaze flickering to her father. "But you, and Dad? You stayed silent. I wonder why."

"Stop this, Ash," Azriel mumbled, his voice barely audible. "Please."

Ashley's brows shot up in mock surprise. "Begging? Really, Az? Is that what we've come to?" She clapped her hands, laughing. "Come on, then. Let's see it—kneel down and beg."