CHAPTER 131: DARE TO LOVE ME The truth 

Ashley 

Alaia had gone to the UK, and I’d been left in charge. It had only been a day, so I hadn’t had to 

see William yet, but I was sure we’d have to meet at some point. Right then, I was debating 

between talking to him and telling him the truth or just forgetting what was happening to me 

and letting them live whatever it was they were living. Knowing that he had almost kissed me 

had left me a bit confused. I was still turning it over to understand it. He was such a macho 

man; he wasn’t going to change his preferences, nor was he going to become gay overnight, 

especially since he and Jessie were getting closer and closer, and she was a girl. My head 

was such a mess. 

I wrinkled my nose at the thought of those two getting together, but it was out of my hands. 

Ever since I had started feeling the way I did about Will, I had flatly refused to accept it. I had 

decided to stay out of it even though my feelings were growing whether I wanted to see it or 

not. Now I realized that Jessie had gained ground, more than I could have expected, and it 

seemed that the wedding she wanted so badly could happen in the future. 

I sighed, playing with the office stress ball. 

“Sir,” my secretary said as he entered. 

“Come in,” I replied without looking at him. 

“Good afternoon,” Will’s voice said. I contained the emotions it stirred in me and looked up slightly at him. 

“Hello,” I greeted, feeling a little nervous, and he nodded. 

“I was just passing by. I brought the documents for the new purchases; they’re signed by us.” 

He looked at me seriously, which was something I had never seen in him before. I avoided 

grimacing. 

“Thank you.” I took the folders, and our eyes met for a few seconds. His jaw was tense. 

“I have to go,” he said, and I nodded. He turned around without another word. I had liked him. 

better as a friend than as this man who seemed so cold. 

I bit my lip, thinking about that moment when we had almost kissed and how uncomfortable 

he had felt. I even felt bad. Because of me, he must have been thinking that he had almost 

kissed a man. I massaged my temple after he closed the door. 

I didn’t think about it anymore. I got up from my chair and ran to the elevator. I pressed the 

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CHAPTER 131: DARE TO LOVE M… 

button for the first floor, and when the doors opened, I saw him before he left the building. I quickened my pace and managed to see him get into the back of a car I didn’t recognize, at 

which point a woman threw her arms around his neck. I tried to see if it was Jessie, but I 

couldn’t. My stomach told me how much it disliked seeing that. I bit my tongue and walked 

back to the office. 

And I had imagined he was having a hard time because he had almost kissed a man. Well, 

there it was. I had to stop trying to tell him the truth. Let them be. 

I grabbed my things and went home. I got out of the van and went up to my room. I didn’t see 

my uncle or Paula anywhere. 

“Ashley, there you are!” Tino entered with a worried look on his face and hugged me. 

“What’s wrong?” I asked, confused. 

“There was an attempt on Aly’s life. A car went after her, and she’s been in the hospital for a 

few hours.” 

“What are you saying? How is she? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I said, frightened. 

“She’s fine now, out of danger. Wait, are you okay?” He took my face in his hands. 

This was a time when I needed my friend and wanted to tell him what was going on with Will, 

but I thought Ali needed us more. 

“Yes, yes. Pack our things.” 

“I already have them ready.” He pointed to a couple of suitcases. I planted two kisses on his 

cheeks, and we left the house a few minutes later, along with my uncle and Paula. 

**Paula** 

We were in the UK. We had arrived a couple of hours ago and had left immediately after 

Darius informed us that González had attacked Alaia. Luckily, nothing major had happened, 

and now she was still sleeping with the children and with Nick, who, according to what I had 

been told, had been with her since it all happened and had been taking care of her and the 

children. I crossed my arms; I couldn’t deny that he was an excellent father, as Patrick had 

been since he found out about Alaia, but that didn’t change the fact that Alaia had decided to move on with her life and had chosen Cedric to do so, although some of the looks between 

the two of them made me fear that things could change at any moment. 

I exhaled, finally able to breathe after knowing that my daughter was fine, as were the children. 

We were all waiting for them to wake up; we couldn’t wait to talk to them. 

“You should be calmer; they’re fine now,” Patrick said as he found me hugging myself. 

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CHAPTER 131: DARE TO LOVE M… 

“I know, it will pass,” I said, and I saw Patrick move a little closer, getting even closer. 

We looked at each other in silence for a few seconds. Part of me wanted to kiss him; the other part wanted to complain about his constant outings, but this was happening because of my 

refusals. 

“I’ll hire a nurse to take care of Alaia,” Darius said as he entered the house, and I instinctively took two steps away from Patrick. 

Darius looked between us. 

“Thank you, but I can take care of my daughter,” I clarified. 

“Perfect,” he said with a nod. 

“Nothing… not even time could separate them,” he commented, frowning. 

I turned to look at Patrick, who looked at me without showing any emotion. Yes, something 

could separate us like the first time: me. 

I waited for Darius to comment like he did years ago. 

“I’m too old for this. I decided to turn my life around a while ago thanks to my grandchildren. 

I’ll support any decision you make. I’m going to see Alaia.” He turned to go upstairs. 

“Sh–she’s asleep,” I managed to stammer after what he said.. 

וויו” 

go up later,” he replied and walked toward the office. 

“Finally,” Patrick laughed ironically. “We have my father’s permission.” He shook his head in 

disbelief and proceeded to leave. 

“Patrick,” I stopped him, swallowing a knot of emotions in my throat. 

I approached him and took his neck to kiss him. Patrick was surprised and didn’t respond at 

first, but then he took me by the waist and pressed me against him while my lips played with 

his, and I felt my stomach do a flip. 

“Paula?” Patrick raised his eyebrows after the passionate kiss. 

We heard movement on the stairs, and I saw that it was Nick, at which point I moved away 

from Patrick. I thanked the father of my grandchildren for taking care of my daughter and reminded him that she had moved on with her life, but his response let me know that he was 

not going to give up. 

I worried when Cedric and Nick met at the door, and I closed my eyes hoping there wouldn’t be 

a confrontation, which, luckily, didn’t happen. 

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CHAPTER 131: DARE TO LOVE M… 

Patrick’s phone rang, and I saw a woman’s name on it. He walked away, leaving an uneasiness in my chest. After so much insistence, was he going with the first woman who came along? 

I watched him go, and, annoyed, I approached Cedric, who greeted me warmly, and we went 

upstairs to see Alaia.