• T H I R T E E N •

Ashton took Natalia to a tour of his penthouse. She liked each and every thing of the house afterall it was the same of her dream house. She had once told Nicholas about her dream of their house, like how she wanted their house to be and today Ashton turned her dream, into a reality.

Nicholas used to share everything with Ashton and he did share all Natalia's dreams to Ashton and vowed to fulfill all of them but luck wasn't on his side and he left the world forever but now Ashton vowed to fulfill each and every dream of Natalia and he started with her dream house.

"Nicholas told you about all this, didn't he?" Natalia asked her eyes teary and lips curved in a smile, a crooked smile

"Yes.. We were brothers. We used to share everything with each other.." Ashton told while his voice held sadness

"Thank you.." she said while a tear slipped her eyes. She tried a lot to stop the tears but they didn't stop and again she cried for her dead lover.

Ashton rubbed her arm and tried to soothe her but it wasn't working and her cries went louder and louder. He brought her to his chest and rubbed her back letting her know he was there for her when she needed him the most and will always be there whenever she needed him.

"I try a lot to stop these tears but they never stop.. They are uncontrollable.." she cried on his chest and hugged him back for support. She was thankful Ashton was there to held her or else she would had collapsed

"never stop your tears Natalia..." he whispered in her ear and kissed her hair "...tears are the most trusted people of our life. We need to fake a smile but never fake our tears. They be with us in all walks of life, they come in sadness, happiness, in grief everywhere without we even trying. We are not alone, we trust them the most and they have seen our most vulnerable side. So let them slip Natalia.." he explained lovingly but he couldn't himself led his own tears come out.

"Ashton why is life so cruel.." Natalia said crying bitterly

"Natalia.. My grandma says everything happens for a reason that we don't know now but in future it's for our better.. I don't know what is the reason behind Nicholas death but I'm sure there might be something else store for the future.." he said trying hard not to cry looking at her breakdown. He needs to be strong, strong for her, for his friends and for Nicholas family as well

"come seat I need to tell you something..." he broke the hug and lead her to the couch. He hicupped twice and calmed herself down

"let's get married Natalia.." he whispered and she felt earth slip away from her feet. She looked at him in utter shock and with an unbelievable look on her face

"I have reasons..." he added and her eyes went questioning from shock.

How can she marry her former lover's best friend?? How can even Ashton ask such kind of thing after knowing everything?? Was he that selfish?? All the questions roamed in Natalia's head and the answers were yet not given.

"Ashton I can't..." she whispered gathering her voice that's lost in her throat

"I know it's difficult for you but Natalia I need to tell media about you, tell my family. They will think low about you, they'll think your just another fling but I need to protect you till my last breath and I don't have any other option left..." he tried to convince her. He has no other option left. He needs to protect her from her family, from media and from this cruel world.

She was his responsibility given by Nicholas... And more over she was his love..

"there's no other way left Ashton.." she asked pleadingly but he nodded in a no and her heart broke down. She felt like she is cheating on Nicholas. She is cheating on their love.

"Natalia don't get me wrong... This will be for the sake of your safety, nothing else.. I know you hate me and I don't know what have I done so bad that your hatered towards me has no extent but I know my boundaries and I'll never cross them..." he confirmed with a heavy throat and a bruised heart.

"Thank You..." she whispered and let the tear slip her eye.

***

Natalia eyed her wardrobe in admiration as if a dream came true. Her wardrobe had the type of dresses any girl would die for. Every brand cloth was present, every type of cloth was present. From jeans to shorts Ashton had made sure she uad everything that she needs and even more than that. Her wardrobe was half the size of her bedroom.

When Ashton showed her room she was starstruck with it. The room was five times bigger than her room back in Korea. And the room was of her favourite colour sea green. Her wardrobe was attached to her room. It was like a dream come true for Natalia. She could see the whole city's view from her room.

"you liked the room??" he asked the minute he entered the room keeping his phone back in pocket

"thank you.. I don't have words to thank you enough for so many things you've done for me.."

"No need.. If you want any changes or want new clothes or some different ones let me know.."

"No.. This all is enough.." she said with a sweet smile and his heart fluttered

"Natalia get dressed we are going home to celebrate Christmas with my family.." he said rubbing the back of his neck. A gesture he was nervous.

She fiddled with her fingers a gesture of her nervousness. "Will they like me??" she asked hesitantly in fear

"Natalia remember one thing, never be afraid of me and about my family they will love you I'm pretty sure about it.." he said and she smiled too.

Ashton kept standing there finding words to tell her more about this meeting but he was afraid she wouldn't like the idea and will leave him. He was having hope of having her to himself. That one day even she will love him back and tell him the reason of such deep hatered but for now he needs to have patience.

"you want to say something..??" Natalia asked in her melodies voice and Ashton just wanted to drown himself in the melody but couldn't.

"Can you pretend in front of my family.." she looked questioned about the sudden word pretend "...pretend to act as my lover.. As my girlfriend.." he added the last line and looked at the floor he knew she would say a no.

"I will.. At least I can do something for you.." she said and half smiled and he nodded his head.

Ashton changed in another room and waited for her impatiently. Actually the impatient ones were his family. They had called almost nine times just to confirm Ashton is going to bring his woman with him. When he broke the news of marriage to friends about Natalia saying a yes, they went in coma for few minutes and the first to recover was Aaron. And the guy first time said something which touched Ashton's heart.

'I wish you both fall in love deeply and have a happily ever after...' Aaron's blessing had Ashton in tears.

"I'm ready.." he heard Natalia's voice. He spin his shoes just to find an angel standing in front of him. His Angel.

"mesmerizing..." the only word escaped his lips and she felt heat creeping up her neck. Just like all other times Ashton used to compliment her and for no reason she used to blush even when she hated him the most. He had that effect.

"Thank you.." she looked at the floor didn't wanted to meet his eyes. Cause now when she looks at him she could see the love in it and she felt guilty for breaking his heart zillion times before

"aren't you saying too much thank yous.. What's mine is all yours.." he said and lead her to the door.

They entered the elevator together and Ashton pressed the 'G' botton and stood beside her closing her suit button. "Mom said you paid your half fortune to buy me.. " she asked the question nagging her since the time her mother said

"you think hundred million is my half fortune..." he asked and she nodded in a no cutely like a child and he smiled. He was one heck gorgeous man any women would die for and would like to love but she couldn't

They drove to his house in silence. A good one hour twenty minutes ride. Ashton rounded the car in Cross Villa and hurriedly came out and open the door for Natalia just like a true gentleman. He extended his hand to her and she gave in. Letting him hold her. It was a dream for him to touch her and hold her. His heart was losing it's pace of beating and was going too fast. He was afraid he wouldn't get heart attack with sudden happiness.

Ashton entered the huge villa with his fingers entwined with her. His family looked at Natalia and smiled while the boys and March waved her hii and she smiled at them. Ashton's mother came ahead with his grandma to welcome the new guest and soon to be part of their family.

"Ashton she is so pretty..." His grandma Mrs Liana Cross exclaimed and March laughed loud

"your changing sides Dida.." March shouted from back and others laughed. Dida was a nick name everyone uses to call Mrs Liana Cross

"She is much more prettier than you.." Mrs Aleesia Cross said and March pouted and side hugged his brother

"I must say your lucky you've got a great women.." Liana said and Ashton smiled but inside he wished everything was true

"I wish I was.." he murmured

"you said something.." Aleesia asked

"No.. I mean I know she is the best.." he covered up with another lie.

"Welcome to Family sweetheart.." Liana said and kissed her forehead followed by Alessia

A/N: Hello Lovies!!! Hope you all are doing well and thank you everyone reading the book voting and commenting. While this part is little late but I have wedding at home and is busy a lot but I'm trying to give update as much as possible. Please ignore all the errors and spelling mistake.. I've written it in a hurry. Please Vote Comment and Share.