The marriage certificate rested in Elijah's hand, and a sharp chill settled into his gaze as he studied it.
Earlier, he clearly remembered attaching a photo of his wife to the document, yet the picture was gone now, leaving behind a noticeable bite mark.
Without much doubt, he concluded that the damage had been done by the large and unruly dog he kept around.
With little care, Elijah returned the certificate to the drawer, and a dull ache crept into his head since he still could not reach the woman by phone to arrange a meeting.
Throughout the years, the credit card he had given her showed no trace of use, as though she had disappeared entirely from his life.
In the end, Elijah saw no option but to be honest with his grandmother.
Clearly irritated, Rita did not bother to hide her frustration as she said, "You have neglected her for years. If I were in her place, I would not want to take your calls either. I have already spoken with your wife's grandfather, and we will meet at Savored Moments this Saturday evening. You should go to her apartment yourself and invite her properly so that she can see your sincerity."
Before Elijah managed to say a word, Rita sent him the address. Heights Residences, Room 1609.
Giving in to Rita was unavoidable for Elijah, and he accepted her decision despite his reluctance.
Sometime deep into the night, Ashley's phone vibrated.
A new message appeared, sent by Rory, along with a long sequence of digits.
In the text, he wrote, "I've already coordinated with your husband's grandmother, and you'll meet at Savored Moments this weekend. Think of a reason to move in with your husband. If you want a child someday, the two of you need to build a proper relationship."
Reading it left Ashley torn between laughter and irritation.
After storing the number, she decided she would bring up the topic of divorce with the man when the time came.
That first night in the villa passed restlessly for Ashley, and sleep refused to settle.
Sometime after midnight, she rose from the bed, went downstairs, and poured herself a glass of water in the kitchen.
Once she returned upstairs, she carefully found her way back into the room and lay down again.
Seeking comfort, she intended to pull the blanket close and wrapped her arms around it, wishing for deeper sleep.
Moments later, something felt off, as the surface beneath her touch seemed far too solid.
As her hand moved across it, she realized she was touching warm, firm muscle, and the unexpected heat and solidity made her pause.
As her hand continued to move, unease crept in, and she became certain something was wrong.
Without warning, a man's cold voice cut through the haze. "Have you had enough?"
The sound startled Ashley fully awake.
Shock ripped a gasp from her, and she lashed out instinctively, yet her kick was stopped when he seized her ankle in one clean motion.
A sharp click followed, and the room was suddenly flooded with light.
Only then did Ashley clearly see that the man on the bed was Elijah.
Cold indifference filled his eyes, and during the brief struggle, his silk robe loosened, showing the solid frame of a grown man.
Heat rushed to Ashley's face as she asked, "Why are you in my room?"
Resting back against the bed with lazy composure, Elijah replied, "Open your eyes. This room belongs to me."
Driven by instinct, Ashley glanced toward the nightstand, but her medical kit was nowhere in sight, and the unfamiliar layout caught her attention.
In that moment, the truth dawned on her, and she realized she had walked into the wrong room.
Uneasiness surged through her, and she tried to pull away in a hurry, only to remember that Elijah still had a firm grip on her ankle.
She had slipped into a nightdress and wore nothing else beneath it.
A slow glance from Elijah traced her figure through the thin fabric, leaving nothing unnoticed.
He lifted his gaze, his eyes sharp and cool, a faintly mocking smile curving his lips. "Dr. Scott, sneaking into my bed this late at night. What exactly are you trying to do?"
Fury surged through Ashley at his implication, and her breathing grew uneven. "I am not familiar with this place, so I walked into the wrong room."
In a tone full of provocation, Elijah said, "That's a lame excuse."
"Think whatever you like!" Anger burned across Ashley's face as she pushed herself up, but her foot caught the blanket, and she lost her balance, pitching forward.
In that split second, everything seemed to halt.
The sharp pain she expected never arrived because a strong arm wrapped around Ashley in time.
Ashley found herself pulled firmly against Elijah's chest.
Warmth spread through her senses, and the unmistakable scent of a man surrounded her.
When she opened her eyes, she realized her lips had landed directly against Elijah's.
Ashley's thoughts emptied all at once, and tension crept across her scalp while heat rushed to her cheeks.
"I'm sorry. I really did not mean for that to happen!" Panic took over as Ashley scrambled away from Elijah, her voice on the verge of breaking. Right after speaking, she covered her face and rushed out of the room.
Once she reached the guest room, Ashley dove beneath the blanket, and the lingering sensation on her lips refused to fade.
Throughout the night, her face stayed hot, and her heart would not slow down, leaving her unable to rest properly.
Morning eventually came, and when Ashley went downstairs, she found Luciana and Darin gathered in the living room with several subordinates.
Moving closer, Luciana stepped behind Ashley on purpose, and with a motion that seemed careless, she slipped the phone hidden in her hand into the pocket of Ashley's coat.
With a faint sneer, Luciana asked, "Dr. Scott, where did you complete your studies?"
Keeping her composure, Ashley replied, "I graduated from Trinity Medical School, and I hold a PhD."
A mocking laugh followed as Luciana said, "A PhD? I doubt it. That certificate probably came from some shady place."
At her remark, the room turned quiet, and every gaze shifted toward Ashley with open contempt.
None of them was willing to trust Ashley's claim.
Given her youthful appearance, which placed her squarely in her mid twenties, they found it impossible to believe she held a doctorate and concluded she was fabricating the story.
Letting out a sharp scoff, Ashley said, "If you doubt me that much, why not let me examine you?"
As she spoke, Ashley's hand closed around Luciana's wrist, and Luciana immediately tried to pull away. Yet no matter how hard she struggled, Ashley's grip would not loosen.
"What is happening here?" Elijah's voice cut in as he stepped forward, his presence pressing down with quiet menace.
Once she finally wrenched herself free, Luciana hurried to his side and spoke quickly. "Mr. Fletcher, I discovered why the Nocturne knew our location yesterday. There was an informant inside, and that person is Ashley."