Chapter 653
Chapter 653:
Ashton nodded, clearly impressed. “It really is. I can see now how Rayden managed to raise such a remarkable daughter. Family really does shape a person.”
Alisha couldn’t quite tell if Ashton was complimenting her or her father. With a playful shrug, she snatched the bags of groceries from his hands and tossed them onto the living room table. Then, without warning, she grabbed his hand and led him to a door painted a cheerful pink.
“Forget about cooking for a second,” she said, her eyes sparkling with mystery. “You’re here now, and there’s something I need to show you. This is what I’m most proud of!”
Ashton gulped, taking a fleeting glance at Alisha’s chest with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty.
His mind spun for a moment, wondering, but he stammered, “Are you sure? Your dad’s bound to come home any minute. I could get a start on cooking…”
But Alisha didn’t let him finish. She gripped his arm and, with a gleam in her eye, pulled him into her room.
Inside, Ashton heaved a sigh of relief. It wasn’t what he was thinking. What she had to show him was a testament to her ambition, dedication, and fiery spirit—a wall entirely lined with certificates, ribbons, and awards.
The display was staggering. From the floor to the ceiling, the wall glittered with accolades she’d earned since childhood, each one a step in her journey, a badge of grit, and a promise of excellence. Every award, from spelling bees to sports tournaments, was a petal on the rose of her ambition.
With a proud smile, Alisha gestured toward the wall. “See this? Aren’t I amazing? I’ve won every competition I entered since I was a kid.”
Ashton took it in, nodding slowly. “It’s… amazing, Alisha. You’re extraordinary.”
𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘁 g𝗮𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝗲𝗅𝘀.ⅽ𝗼𝗺
But as he looked back at her, he saw something shift. Her proud smile softened, her gaze clouded as if touched by an invisible shadow.
“Yet, none of this seems to matter,” she murmured, her voice a threadbare whisper. “I’ve been proving myself for as long as I can remember. But no matter how hard I try, people still look down on me… because I’m just a girl. When I graduated from the academy, I placed third in my class. Yet when it came time for assignments, they stuck me with a traffic cop position—at my father’s insistence. It’s as if they couldn’t trust me with anything real.”
Ashton, sensing her frustration, gently tried to reassure her. “Your father probably wanted to keep you safe. You have a pure heart, Alisha. If you’d joined the criminal investigation team or homicide, the dangers would be…”
Alisha looked away, her expression pained. “I understand that. But it doesn’t stop me from wanting to prove myself. No matter what I achieve, it’s as if people see me as a mere pawn. Even you, Ashton… as much as I admire you, you treated me like a simple bet, a wager to play with. I know your intentions were good, but still, it makes me wonder—am I just a tool to be used by others? I hate feeling this way.”
As Ashton saw the sorrow in her eyes, he finally understood. Her lightheartedness from the day before had been a mask. Beneath it, Alisha had been hiding her wounds to avoid burdening others.
With a gentle smile, Ashton reached out, brushing away a glistening tear from the corner of her eye.
.
.
.