Moana’s POV

For a moment, I couldn’t move. I just stood beside the car, staring at Ashton who was about fifty meters away in the flesh.

It had been five years but Ashton looked exactly as I remembered him. The only difference was, he was only sharper now and his presence seemed to fill the entire space.

I tried to take my eyes off him but I couldn't. He was the same man who had haunted my thoughts for years and the one I had tried to forget about but could never.

Before I realized I had company, Miguel had to speak. “Come on, Moana. I’ll help with your bags,” he said, breaking my trance.

Feigning like I was okay, I blinked rapidly, pulling my attention away from Ashton but that was when he turned.

His head shifted towards my direction and he locked his gaze on me instantly.

For a split second, time froze as our eyes met.

It was like being slammed back five years in an instant. His expression didn’t change much; his face was unreadable, though his eyes flickered.

It looked like recognition, surprise or maybe even something softer.

Slowly, he lifted a hand slightly as a silent acknowledgement but I didn’t move. I didn’t smile, nor did I wave back.

Shifting my gaze back to Miguel, I said, “Let’s go.”

Miguel shot me a knowing look but didn’t say a word. He just nodded and began to head for the large oak doors with my suitcase rolling behind him.

Just when I was going to climb the first step up, I heard a small laugh which was followed quickly by a feminine voice.

“Wait, you’re Moana?”

I turned and found myself face to face with the blonde woman who had been resting her hand on Ashton's chest.

Up close, she was even more beautiful. Her hair was perfect, her makeup, dress, in fact, everything about her screamed perfection.

Smiling even more brightly now, she stepped forward and extended her hand before I could react.

“Hi! I’m Nadine Oleg,” she said cheerfully. “Ashton told me so much about you.”

“He did?” I asked before I could stop myself simply because it was hard to believe.

“Of course. Your brother doesn't get bored whenever he is talking about you." She chuckled.

Forcing a polite smile, I shook her hand. “It’s nice meeting you Nadine,” I managed to say with a neutral tone.

She didn’t seem to notice my restraint or maybe she did but she didn’t just care.

With eyes sparkling with genuine friendliness, she continued, “You must be so tired! The flight from Paris is brutal. I can’t imagine how exhausted you must be.”

“Yeah,” I murmured. “It was… long.”

“I will have to leave now so you get settled. One of these days we are going to do some catching up, right?”

"Yeah.” I nodded, giving Ashton who has just joined us a quick run down with my eyes.

Still beaming with excitement, she gave Ashton a playful look before leaning in and giving him a soft kiss on his cheek.

And once again, I froze. My chest was now tight and my throat was aching like I had been yelling.

“I will see you around," she said to me and the moment she disappeared behind Ashton, I turned to leave.

“You good?” Miguel asked, giving me a quiet look.

“Yeah.” I nodded, lying again.

In silence, he led the way into the mansion, halting only when he got to the entrance of my room.

Passing my suitcase to me, he said, “If you need anything, you know where to find me or the domestic staff.”

“Thanks,” I said softly.

When he left, I pushed open the door to my old room. It was almost exactly as I had left it, the same cream walls and the same large window overlooking the garden.

The faint smell of dust and lavender hit me as I sank into my bed. My chest tightened as everything I had been holding back came crashing down.

Overwhelmed, I buried my face in my hands.

I wasn’t supposed to feel like this, I wasn’t supposed to care but the image of Ashton with Nadine kept replaying in my mind.

He had acted carefree with her but when it was my turn, he looked so calm, composed and unbothered making it seem like I never left.

Sitting upright, I wiped a tear off my cheek angrily.

“You’re pathetic,” I said to myself only to dig my teeth into my lower lips.

For the next half an hour or an hour, I just sat there, staring into space until a quiet knock on my door startled me followed by Ashton's voice.

“Moana.” He called from the other end of the door.

Glaring at the door like I could see through it, I didn’t move.

He knocked again, softer this time. “You’re really not going to open the door?” He asked but I said nothing.

“You're still stubborn as hell, huh?”

He hesitated before speaking again. “How was your flight?”

Silence.

“I heard Paris has changed a lot. Did you like it there?”

Still nothing.

Though I couldn't see him, I could tell he was leaning against the door with that same calm expression he always had when he was trying not to show he cared.

“I didn’t think you would actually come back but… it’s good that you did.”

My heart twisted painfully at his words. I wanted to say something but the words wouldn’t come.

After a moment, I heard him sigh again, then the faint sound of retreating steps. Only then did I let myself breathe.

Pushing my hand into my hair, I fell on my back and then exhaled deeply.

By the time the dinner bell rang, I had managed to compose myself. I washed my face, fixed my hair, and put on a plain white dress.

When I stepped into the dining room, I was greeted with the familiar scene I could never forget as it was rare.

The only time all the adults in the Volkova’s family showed up in the family mansion and got to sit in the dining room, something out of the ordinary was going to happen.

It's so unfortunate that I returned on an occasion like this.

On both sides of the long mahogany table everyone had taken their seats and were talking in low tones until the head of the family arrived.

No one was aware of my presence yet until mother saw me.

“Moana!” she exclaimed, standing up to hug me. “Oh, darling, you’re finally here!” She mumbled, squeezing so tightly like she wanted to take my last breath.

For the first time that day, I allowed a genuine smile to spread on my lips as I hugged her back.

“Hey, Mom.” I pulled away from her, still wearing my smile.

“You look beautiful, sweetheart,” she said, cupping my face.

It was at this moment that my stepfather, Matteo Volkova arrived. Spreading his hands wide, he beckoned at me for a hug which I didn't waste any time in falling into.

Now sitting a few chairs away from his left hand, he said, “Welcome home."

“Thank you,” I replied and for the next few minutes, I exchanged pleasantries with my step uncles, aunties and cousins at the table.

Sitting next to my father was Ashton who hadn’t said a word since I had walked in. He was leaning back in his chair with an unreadable expression and hand casually resting on the table beside his glass of wine.

He looked completely at ease.

In no time, dinner began. The maids served wine as plates clinked softly.

My mother chatted about Paris, Matteo asked about my art classes, and I answered with the most normal tone I could muster.

“It was good,” I said, sipping my wine. “Different, but… good.”

“You’ve grown up so much, Moana. I’m so proud of you.” Aunty Brianna chirped, giving my hand a soft squeeze.

“Thank you, aunt.”

And just when I felt like I could breathe again, Ashton finally spoke.

“Still painting?” he asked with a low voice.

Clenching my fork, I looked up, meeting his eyes for the first time since I returned.

“Yes,” I said. “Still painting.”

“Good.” He nodded.

“So, when are you going to let the cat out of the bag?" Uncle Giorgio asked his brother who was swirling the contents of his glass.

Propping myself up for whatever this was, I set my glass down slowly only to start alternating my gaze between my mother and Ashton.

“Say it already," Brianna chirped, her eyes glinting with curiosity.

With my heart in my mouth, I watched as father scanned the entire table but still said nothing.

Suddenly feeling thirsty, I raised my glass to my lip. I saw Ashton's jaw tightened but I didn't think much about it.

“Ashton Volkova, the sixth head of the Volkova's family, is getting engaged to Nadine Oleg in two days."

The moment those words rolled off his tongue, I spat out the wine in my mouth.