Outside Jasons room , I overheard Melissas choked sobs .
Jason , please dont be mad .
I know I messed up , but I did it for you ! Jason didnt respond .
Melissas voice cracked , You collapsed , and the hospital called her , but she wouldnt even come ! What if something had happened to you … As if I was the one at fault .
Jasons weary voice finally broke the silence .
Im tired , Melissa .
I need some time alone .
A chair scraped against the floor , and Melissa appeared at the door .
She froze when she saw me , eyes wide with shock .
Jason turned , following her gaze .
He looked pale and weak , lying in the hospital bed hooked up to an IV , a stark contrast to his usual commanding presence .
Seeing me , his dull eyes flickered with nervousness ? Uncertainty ? Ashley ? What are you doing here ? I brushed past Melissa and walked into the room .
Well , I < couldnt have people saying I didnt care if my ex husband lived or died .
We went to college together , after all .
No need for bad blood , right ? Jasons jaw tightened .
Hed obviously seen our Instagram exchange .
His pride .
wouldnt tolerate being publicly mocked .
He probably hated me even more now .
The thought was irritating .
Okay , well , here I am .
Anything else ? Ill be going now .
Jasons lips twitched .
Ashley , do you have to be like this ? I raised an eyebrow .
Like what ? You waited three days to see me after my accident .
Im being pretty damn considerate , compared to you .
He paled .
He opened his mouth to speak , but my phone rang .
It was the housekeeper .
Ms.
Carter , weve almost finished unpacking , but theres a box of pottery .
It looks handmade .
I wasnt sure what you wanted to do with it .
Pottery ? Yes ! It looks like you made it .
Thats why I thought I should ask .
I caught Jasons eye .
He looked as surprised as I felt .
And then it hit me .
The original Ashley had made pottery .
In college , Jason had worked at a paint your own < pottery place .
Ashley , obsessed with him , had practically lived there .
She had no artistic talent , and even less patience , focused solely on Jason , leaving every time covered in paint and carrying some truly hideous creations .
She seemed to enjoy it , completely unaware of how embarrassing she was .
Jason , exasperated , had finally told her she was making a fool of herself , and Ashley , always seizing an opportunity , had said , Then teach me ! Jason hadnt wanted to , but Ashley was a big spender , a valuable customer .
He couldnt afford to offend her .
She only stopped when he quit .
That box was filled with the evidence of her artistic pursuits .
Its nothing important .
Throw it away , I said dismissively .
13 .
Wait , Jason said abruptly .
You moved ? For once , the guy was sharp .
I nodded .
Yeah .
He frowned .
Where ? Why so suddenly ? I couldnt help but chuckle .
Mr.
Stone , how many times < do I have to tell you ? Were divorced .
Where I live is none of your business .
Jason flinched , his hands clenching .
After a long pause , he said quietly , … If you dont want that pottery , Ill have someone get it .
I gave him a puzzled look .
Its mine .
I can do whatever I want with it .
That seemed to hit a nerve .
The last spark .
of light in his eyes died out .
Melissa hurried over , her voice full of concern .
Jason , are you alright ? He turned away , avoiding her touch .
Melissa stood there awkwardly .
I wasnt interested in their drama .
I turned to leave and nearly ran into a doctor in the hallway .
Well , hello ! A woman in her forties smiled at me .
Then her expression brightened with recognition .
Are you feeling okay ? Here for a follow up ? I was confused .
Then I saw her nametag : Dr.
Susan Miller , OB / GYN .
My heart sank .
The only reason Ashley would have seen an OB / GYN was … Im fine , thanks .
Just visiting a friend , I mumbled .
She seemed relieved .
Thats good .
Youre still recovering , and the … the loss was hard on you .
Take care < + ) 32 and to … the 1000 was run you , and carc of yourself .
She glanced around .
Your partner didnt come with you today ? I stared at her , stunned .
Her words slammed into me .
Loss ? The original Ashley hadnt had an abortion ? And partner Chad had been the one who rushed to the hospital after the … miscarriage .
The doctor mustve assumed he was my boyfriend .
Jason ! What are you doing ?! Melissas shriek echoed from the room .
I turned to see Jason ripping out his IV , shoving Melissa aside , and striding towards me .
He glared at the doctor , his voice tight .
What did you just say ? She ….
she … The doctor looked bewildered .
Who are you ? Jasons jaw tightened .
He seemed speechless .
My ex husband , I explained .
The partner you saw me with before was a friend .
The doctors eyebrows drew together in disbelief .
… So the baby was yours ? Your wife had spotting and a missed miscarriage early in her pregnancy , and you didnt know ?! 14 .
I barely remember getting home .
I was numb with shock .
I sat in the study , hand unconsciously resting on my flat stomach .
How … the book had said Ashley had a jealous rage and terminated the pregnancy .
It hadnt been a miscarriage .
A wave of grief washed over me , a phantom ache in my abdomen .
It was as if I could feel the original Ashleys pain , her despair on that cold operating table .
I shook it off .
The housekeeper had organized the study .

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I found a box labeled College and , at the bottom , an old scrapbook .
If the miscarriage was different from the book , what else was ? I opened it .
The first page was a photo from freshman orientation week .
A girl in a uniform grinned at the camera , the sun bright on her face .
In the background , on a stage , stood a tall figure Jason .
Below it , a handwritten caption : Got heatstroke on the first day .
This guy took me to the infirmary and gave me water .
He disappeared so fast , I didnt even get to thank him .
Found out who he was today Jason .
Typical crush stuff taking く sneaky pictures of your crush .
This mustve been when she fell for him .
A sad smile touched my lips .
Such a small thing to fall in love over .
I touched my face .
The selfish , manipulative Ashley from the book seemed so different from the bright eyed girl in the photo .
Hard to imagine this girl turning into the bitter , vindictive woman whod caused so much pain .
I flipped through the pages .
Every photo was of Jason .
Him in class , him on the basketball court , him eating alone in the cafeteria , him working at the pottery studio … Little notes accompanied some of them .
His classes are so boring .
How is he good at everything ? He always eats alone .
Does he ever get enough to eat ? Hes always so busy .
Never has time to talk to me … It was Ashleys secret crush diary .
Four years of stolen glances and silent yearnings .
Every photo , every word , contradicted the books version of Ashley .
He likes someone else .
What do I do ? Maybe I should give up … Graduation tomorrow .
Going to confess and finally move on .
He left during < graduation photos .
Followed him and found out his moms in the hospital .
Shes really sick and they need money .
What will he do ? The page for the graduation photo was blank .
Ashley had missed her own graduation because of Jason .
My hands trembled .
The scrapbook felt heavy , as if I couldnt bear to look further .
As if something terrible would happen if I did .
My chest ached .
I couldnt breathe .
Compelled by an unknown force , I turned the page … A wedding photo .