My Anti-hero Fairy System-Chapter 93. Ashley’s Broken Heart

Arlene stood frozen, her face puffy, tears streaming down her cheeks, her nose red and dripping.

Cara’s heart clenched. "Mom... What happened? Why are you crying?"

Arlene wiped at her face, her voice breaking. "You were right, honey. He really is a bastard."

Without hesitation, Cara stepped inside, closing the door behind her. She wrapped her arms around her mother, holding her tightly for a long moment before pulling away. "How did you figure it out?"

Arlene sniffled, standing close to the bed as she wiped her tears away. "Travis was there when we spoke on the phone, and he overheard what you said. The moment I hung up, I asked him if there was any truth to it. He didn’t say a word, just tried to change the subject. That only made me more suspicious, so I called Lucrecia. And she told me everything."

Cara’s brows shot up. "You called Lucrecia?"

Arlene nodded. "Yes, I did. And now I know what you did." She paused before narrowing her eyes. "Are you a lesbian now? Or are you just experimenting?"

Cara blinked, feeling caught off guard, like a kid who got caught stealing from the cookie jar. "Yes, Mom."

"Yes, what? Are you a lesbian, or are you experimenting?"

Cara hesitated. "I don’t really know. I just... love women now. Is it a phase? I don’t know."

[What do you mean you don’t know? You don’t even want a man touching you, for crying out loud.]

’Yes, I’m definitely a lesbian. But don’t forget, I just got back together with Kyle. I want her to think I’m still figuring things out.’

[Got it. Carry on.]

Arlene sighed. "Well, you better figure it out soon, so you don’t end up marrying a man when you’re really into women."

"I will, but can we get back to the real issue? Rudy. Not me."

Arlene nodded, exhaling shakily. "Lucrecia told me about her affair with Rudy. How they slept together in his study. And how you seduced her and had sex with her in that same study just so Rudy would catch you both and fire her."

Cara smirked slightly. "That was a fun night."

Arlene shot her a look but continued. "I made some calls to people who know the truth, and they told me Rudy practically stole the diner from Jackie. Everything you said, it all adds up. But that wasn’t even the final straw."

Cara frowned. "What else did he do?"

Arlene clenched her jaw. "I caught him flirting with the new maid in the kitchen. That’s when I ran up here to cry and figure out what to do." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Cara scoffed. "Wow. Rudy is the lowest of the low. So... what’s your plan?"

Arlene sat on the edge of the bed, shaking her head in disbelief. "I’m still grappling with the fact that I was too blind to see him for what he really is. But I know what I have to do. First thing tomorrow, I’m filing for divorce. I can’t stay married to that scoundrel any longer. I’ll finish hosting the gala tonight, and tomorrow, we’re leaving this place." She wiped away another stray tear.

Cara studied her mother’s face, searching for any hesitation. "Are you sure about this? Hosting the gala tonight? Being in close proximity to him all night?"

Arlene straightened her spine, a newfound resolve hardening her expression. "Yes, honey, I can. I’m stronger than I look. If I could keep going after your father’s death, I can handle one night of pretending."

Cara reached for her mother’s hand and squeezed it. "I’ll stand by you every step of the way, Mom."

A watery smile formed on Arlene’s lips. "Thank you, honey. And thank you for opening my eyes to the man I married. But next time, tell me the truth—no matter how painful. I can handle it."

Cara nodded. "Okay, Mom. I promise. But right now, guests are already arriving, and you need to fix your makeup. You can’t go out there looking like you’ve been crying all day."

Arlene rushed to the nearest mirror, her eyes widening in horror as she took in her reflection. "Damn! It’s this bad?"

Cara stifled a laugh. "Yes, Mom. It is."

Arlene turned to her daughter, eyeing her yellow sundress critically. "And you can’t wear that to the gala. Go to your closet and find something more appropriate."

Cara frowned. "What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?"

"I’m not in the mood to debate with you right now, Cara. Just go to your closet, find something elegant, something you could wear to the Oscars," Arlene said as she began applying makeup, dabbing at the smudges beneath her eyes.

Without another word, Cara turned and left the room.

—--

—---

As she entered her bedroom, she found Ashley sitting on the bed, a glass in hand.

Cara arched her brow. "I see you finally decided to show up."

Ashley took a slow sip of her drink before responding. "I had a not-so-great day, Cara."

Cara sighed, walking toward her closet. "Is that why you’re drinking like an Irishman?"

Ashley let out a bitter laugh. "He told me point-blank that he doesn’t want me to succeed him."

Cara paused, glancing over her shoulder. "That’s rough. But you already knew that, didn’t you?"

Ashley exhaled sharply, swirling the amber liquid in her glass. "Yeah, I knew. But hearing him say it to my face? It felt like he drove a knife straight into my heart." She took another sip, her expression hardening.

Cara turned back to her closet, scanning the rows of dresses. Finally, she pulled out a black strapless gown and laid it on the bed. "I’m sorry, Ash. But this isn’t the end of the road for you... or is it?"

Ashley met Cara’s gaze, determination flickering in her eyes. "No. It’s not. But it still hurts." She sighed, then scoffed. "And you know the worst part? He wants me to work for my brother, my unqualified brother. The same one none of the shareholders even respect."

Cara smirked slightly. "That only means one thing, you’ve got the shareholders on your side."

Ashley’s lips curled into a knowing smile. "Yeah. I think so. Three of them approached me after the meeting. The first one was Kyle. He made it very clear, he wants me to take over from my father."

Cara slipped off her dress, leaving her breasts exposed to the cool air. Ashley didn’t look away, her eyes remained locked on the sight in front of her, like she could pounce at the slightest provocation.

"That’s good news," Cara said, stepping closer. "Whether your father likes it or not, you, a woman, is going to be the CEO of his company. And he won’t be able to stop it."

Ashley, however, wasn’t listening. Her focus had shifted entirely. All she could think about was sucking on the tit’s in front of her.

Cara smirked, taking Ashley’s hand and placing it against her chest. "I know you want this," she murmured, her voice teasing. "But you’ll have to wait until after the gala."

Without another word, she slipped into the black strapless gown, adjusting the fabric as Ashley sat motionless, looking like someone who had just lost something they had firmly held in their grasp.

Cara tossed her hair to the side and leaned toward the mirror, applying a light touch of makeup. Satisfied with her reflection, she turned back to Ashley. "Let’s go."

Ashley’s gaze roamed over her, admiration flickering in her eyes. "You are just so damn beautiful. Every man, and some women, would kill to fuck you tonight."

Cara smiled, grabbing her clutch. "Thank you for that classy compliment. And you look wonderful, too. I am sure everyone out there would kill to fuck you, but now let’s go and meet those people."

Ashley sighed dramatically but got up from the bed, following Cara out of the room.

—-----

—------

Downstairs, the grand sitting room had been transformed into an elegant hall, filled with guests in stunning, expensive-looking attire. The air buzzed with conversation as waiters, hired specifically for the evening, weaved through the crowd carrying trays of drinks and delicate pastries.

Cara stood close to Ashley, her gaze constantly flickering toward her mother. Arlene had assured her she could handle the event, but Cara still had her doubts.

Ashley noticed and nudged her lightly. "Why do you keep staring at your mother? Is something wrong?"

Before Cara could respond, Kyle appeared out of nowhere, his voice smooth and familiar. "Good evening, darling," he said, pulling her into a tight embrace.

Ashley’s eyes widened in surprise. She was certain Cara had broken up with him. She even promised her that she would never get back with him.

Cara pulled away, her expression unreadable. "I thought you weren’t coming tonight?"

Kyle offered a charming smile. "Got caught up with work. But I wouldn’t miss this for the world."

Turning to Ashley, he greeted her casually. "Hey, Ash. How’s it hanging?"

Ashley crossed her arms. "It’s hanging just great, Kyle."

Kyle’s smirk didn’t waver. "I hope this isn’t awkward for you, you know me and Cara, getting back together?"

Ashley blinked, momentarily stunned. Her eyes darted to Cara, silently asking if this was some kind of joke.

But Cara simply smiled. "I’m sure it’s not awkward for her anymore, right?" she asked, her tone almost teasing.

Ashley hesitated before forcing a response. "No, not at all. Totally fine." She cleared her throat and gestured toward the bar. "If you don’t mind, there’s someone I need to speak with over there." Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked away, needing a moment to process what she had just happened.