Chapter 93
Matthew suddenly glared at her with a frown.
âSnap!â
With a loud slap, he struck Jessica across the face..
Jessica was utterly stunned and covered her face with her hand.
âMatthew, how could you hit me?â She exclaimed..
The slap was so forceful that her face began to swell.
Jessica was already frustrated. She was on the show with Matthew today, hoping that after Matthew met Ash, she would be able to bond with the famous Ash herself.
But fate dealt her a harsh blow.
She had never expected Ashley to be Ash!
Watching Ashley being praised and admired by everyone, Jessicaâs jealousy grew uncontrollably, her insides burning with rage.
Ashley, that despicable woman, always seemed better than her in every aspect!
During the two years since Ashleyâs return to the Ramos Villa, she had been treated like an unwanted child, unloved by her family. It should. have been Jessica who was in the spotlight, receiving all the praise.
Now, everything had changed.
Jessica couldnât accept it, nor could she bear it!
She covered her swollen face, and her mind grew increasingly sinister.
Jessica insinuated slyly. âMatthew, I know that finding out Ashley is Ash must have been a huge shock to youâ¦
âAshley is really something⦠Why didnât she tell you earlier that she was Ash?â
Jessicaâs words were undoubtedly fanning the flames.
Matthew, of course, knew what Jessica was implying and looked at her with a smirk.
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Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Jessica stammered, âMatthew, why are you looking at me like that?â
Matthew softened his expression, smiling more tenderly.
âJessica, during those dark days when I was lost, you wrote a song, âThe Brightest Star, to encourage me. Besides the lyrics, you said two more. lines to cheer me up. Do you remember what they were?*
Jessica clenched her fist upon hearing this. Forcing a smile, she stuttered. âMatthew, itâs been so long, Iâve forgotten.â
âForgotten, have you?â Matthew gently lifted his hand to tuck Jessicaâs hair behind her ear.
But his face turned sullen the next instant, and he forcefully grabbed Jessicaâs hair.
In pain, Jessicaâs face turned pale, filled with panic. âMatthew! I⦠I just forgot, and thatâs all!â
Holding her hair tightly, anger seething in his eyes, Matthew accused.
âYouâre lying! There were no encouraging words besides the lyrics! I was just testing you, and you gave yourself away right there!
âBecause âThe Brightest Starâ wasnât written by you, was it?
âThatâs why you got the name wrong, calling it The Brightest Flowerâ back on the stage!â
Matthew should have realized this earlier. How could Jessica get the name wrong, especially for such meaningful, encouraging lyrics?
âThis song, The Brightest Star, was written and given to me by Ashley, wasnât it!â
Matthewâs grip on Jessicaâs hair tightened, the raging fury in his voice. nearly scorching her to ashes.
Pain surged through Jessica. Her nose tingled with soreness, and tears welled up. âMatthew, please stop⦠Iâm scaredâ¦â
âScared?â Matthewâs anger and regret violently clashed within him, desperately seeking an outlet. âWhen you were impersonating Ashley, why werenât you scared? Huh?â
Matthew yanked Jessicaâs hair, pulling her down forcefully, slamming her
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to the ground!
He despised Jessica for impersonating Ashley.
But he hated himself even more!
Back then, he had been unkind to Ashley, even venting his pain on her.
Still distressed over her brotherâs descent into darkness, Ashley even wrote the lyrics, hoping to help him.
However, Matthew disdainfully ignored Ashleyâs efforts, considering them too despicable to glance at.
This created an opportunity for Jessica. She offered to deliver Ashleyâs lyrics to Matthew, only to brazenly claim them as her own.
Meanwhile, Ashley had no choice but to find another way. Under the name Ash, she secretly continued to guide and support Matthew.
Upon realizing the truth, Matthewâs heart ached intensely, his cheeks. streaked with bitter, salty tears.
He reflected on the countless injustices and abuses Ashley had suffered within the Ramos Villa.
Matthew also acknowledged his hypocrisy. He had shamelessly accepted. Ashâs help while mercilessly mistreating Ashley.
âWhat on earth do I owe Ashley?â Matthew wondered.
He felt the debt was too vast ever fully to repay.
Clutching his chest in agonizing pain, Matthew gasped for air like a fish. on the brink of death.
In a fit of rage, he violently kicked Jessica on the ground and staggered. off in the direction Ashley had gone.
Matthew rushed out to the parking lot
As he walked outside, he saw Ashley and Bryce walking away.
Suddenly, he was seized by a wave of nervousness, similar to the feeling. of encountering a long-lost friend. He yearned to run over to Ashley, yet he couldnât bring himself to do it.
Somehow, he found himself stealthily trailing behind the two, like a thief in the shadows.
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Matthewâs gaze was fixed unblinkingly on Ashleyâs profile.
The sunlight draped her in a glow, casting a sacred air around her. Her skin, delicate as the first snow of winter, shimmered with a fragile, crystal-like beauty.
Her eyelashes were long, and her eyes sparkled with tiny, scattered lights, like a galaxy spilling over, with all its stars captured in her gaze.
Matthew watched until his eyes burned, but he refused to blink.
It was the first time he realized that his sister was indeed beautiful.
She was such a delicate girl, born to be adored by all.
But Matthew and his family treated her that wayâ¦
All the suffering Ashley endured came from her own family!
How ironic was that!
Matthew had never hated himself so much, to the point of wanting to end his own life.
Then, he overheard Ashley and Bryceâs conversation.
Walking beside Ashley, Bryce glanced at her with a playful smile.
âAshley, since youâve severed your mentorship with Matthew, how about taking on a new student?â
Ashley glanced at him casually.
Bryce pointed himself and eagerly volunteered. âWhat about me? I am a superstar with over 80 million fans, after all. I wonât embarrass you!
âPlus, I love art! Iâd give up money for art. Remember when I did not hesitate to pay at least ten million dollars for your song? So, please take me on, will you?â
Ashley flatly refused. âNo.â
Persistent and pleading, Bryce urged, âDonât reject it so quickly. I may not know how to compose, but Iâm willing to learn. Plus, I have a good grasp. of music theory. I want to write my own lyrics and music for a song!
âAshley, Matthew never paid you the teaching fee when he was your student, right? I can pay! No matter the amount, I can afford it!â
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Bryce might not have others, but he was not short on money.
Ashley was visibly annoyed upon hearing this. It seemed like he was trying to solve everything with money.
Did she look like someone who was swayed by money?
However, when Bryce mentioned his desire to write his song, Ashleyâs interest was piqued, and she somewhat wanted to help him.
Ashley mused. âIâll think about it.â
Matthew, trailing behind, instantly changed his complexion upon
hearing this. Unable to hold back, he rushed forward to intervene, exclaiming. âNo way!â
Startled, Bryce clutched his chest. âMatthew, are you insane? Coming like that out of nowhere!â
Matthew hadnât intended to ambush, but he couldnât be bothered to explain. He looked at Ashley intently. âAsh, please donât take anyone else as your studentâ¦â
Ashley had noticed Matthew following earlier but had simply ignored him.
Ashley frowned at him. Her eyes showed unmistakably distant.
âMatthew, who I want to teach is none of your business.
âDo you think you can meddle with my actions?â