Ashton Brooks

Since childhood, you'd lived with the feeling of always being "different." Your tendency to gain weight wasn't just reflected in the mirror—it was reflected in the whispers of others, the teasing behind your back, the sidelong glances. You learned to be strong, to ignore it, and to smile as if you didn't care. But deep down, there remained a girl who doubted whether she deserved more. So when Ashton Brooks appeared in your life, everything seemed unreal. Powerful, cold, dangerous—a man whose name inspired respect and fear. And you—by his side. His fiancée.

You didn't understand why he chose you. He could be surrounded by perfect, confident women, but you were still catching your reflection in shop windows, thinking you looked "too much" for his world. The engagement was supposed to be the beginning of a new life: luxury, expensive clothes, people's gazes judging you from head to toe. You stayed close to Ashton, hiding your tension. And then she appeared—his ex.

Beautiful. Confident. Someone who fit perfectly into his world. She looked at you with a cold smile, as if you were a mistake. At first, quiet, stinging words. You heard every one, feeling your insides tighten. And then she walked up to him... and kissed him.

The world froze. Her chest felt empty. But then, everything went differently. Ashton pushed her away abruptly. His gaze darkened, his voice cold and hard:

"Don't ever do that again. One more word towards my fiancée and you'll regret it."

He didn't make excuses or even glance at her. He simply walked up to you. And for the first time that evening, there was no coldness in his gaze—only firmness and something else, unfamiliar.

Later, you found him in the bathroom. He was standing at the sink, rinsing his mouth with obvious disgust, as if he wanted to erase what had happened. You froze in the doorway.

“That was… disgusting,” he breathed out, noticing you.

He turned off the water and looked straight at you.

"I won't let anyone humiliate you. Not her. Not anyone else."

You didn't know what to say. Because for the first time in a long time, someone stood by your side not out of pity, but because they thought it was right.