Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 136

“Thank you for your patronage.”

The manager of the jewelry store bowed respectfully to the special customer who had purchased a wedding ring, seeing him off. Ashley put the ring case into the inner pocket of his suit and headed for his car.

Today, he would propose to Melanie. Since there had already been discussions, she would likely have some expectations. Even if not, they had met with marriage in mind from the beginning, so it was natural to assume a day like this would eventually come.

What was surprising was the fact that Ashley had grown quite fond of her. Unlike his previous thoughts that marriage would only lead to a boring and predictable daily routine, he had a premonition that with her, things might be different.

Indeed, during the past few months of dating Melanie, he had felt a sense of stability and comfort he hadn’t experienced in a long time, accompanied by a slight flutter in his heart. Ashley’s feelings solidified his conviction to propose to Melanie. Of course, Dominique wouldn’t object, so things proceeded smoothly. He readily agreed to Ashley’s suggestion of getting engaged and married simultaneously once he graduated.

She’ll be alright.

He had met several people before Melanie, but she was the only one who made him feel this way. Being with Melanie made him feel good. He couldn’t pinpoint why she was special, yet he drove faster to meet her.

“Ashley.”

Melanie greeted Ashley, who had come to her house as always, with a welcoming embrace, a blush on her cheeks. Ashley smiled, offered a brief greeting, and then opened the passenger door of his car. Melanie, too, was wearing a more elaborate dress than usual, clearly anticipating that today was the day. Ashley drove her to the restaurant he had reserved and asked,

“How’s your graduation preparation going? Is it progressing well?”

Melanie nodded.

“Fortunately, I’ve secured a job. You’ll be going to your father’s law firm, won’t you?”

“Yes, that’s what’s decided.”

Ashley said indifferently. Like the rest of his life, everything was predetermined. Even marrying Melanie. Melanie, completely unaware of his inner thoughts, said with a smile,

“Your father must be very proud.”

If anyone else had said that, Ashley would have scoffed without mercy. But he didn’t do that to Melanie. Instead, he vaguely mumbled, “Yes, probably.”

Fortunately, they soon arrived at the restaurant. As always, dining and conversing with her was comfortable and enjoyable. Ashley even wore a faint smile when he was with Melanie. It instilled in him the confidence that he could manage well in the future.

It was when he had driven her home after their date that Ashley took out the ring he had prepared. Standing opposite her in front of her house after getting out of the car, Ashley pulled the ring case from his pocket and opened the lid.

Even though she must have expected it, Melanie’s eyes widened. Ashley held out the engagement ring, which he had instructed his secretary to purchase, to Melanie and said,

“Melanie, will you marry me?”

He didn’t kneel. It wasn’t a romantic setting at all, and he had merely uttered a conventional proposal without any flowery words.

Nevertheless, Melanie’s face glowed brightly, overflowing with joy. Covering her mouth with both hands and breathing heavily, she managed only to nod. Seeing her reaction, a faint smile appeared on Ashley’s lips.

Why does this woman feel so lovely?

Ashley took out the ring and slipped it onto Melanie’s finger, his smile deepening. Melanie stared at him with a dazed, captivated look. Ashley held her hand with one hand and cupped her cheek and ear with the other.

Melanie hesitated and closed her eyes. Ashley naturally tilted his head, anticipating a kiss. As the distance between them grew smaller, Ashley also lowered his eyelids.

He felt her trembling breath. Melanie tensed her entire body, waiting for the kiss. Just as he was about to press his lips against hers, gently pulling her closer with the hand cupping her cheek—

Suddenly, her ear twitched.

At that moment, Ashley froze. His wide-open eyes, which had been closed, were now fixed. Surely not. No way, no way.

Then, he felt her ear twitch again, against the inside of his fingers. Unable to deny it any longer, Ashley held his breath.

“I…?”

Melanie, who had been waiting, cautiously opened her eyes and looked up at him. Ashley slowly turned his gaze towards her bewildered expression, not understanding what had happened. Melanie, seeing his hand drop from her cheek and his gaze fix on her ear, quickly covered her ear with her hand in embarrassment.

“I-I’m sorry. I made a mistake…”

She stammered an apology, but Ashley didn’t hear her. He stared intently at Melanie’s ear and spoke, his voice trembling violently, unlike anything she had heard from him before.

“Your ear… moves? Naturally?”

Melanie couldn’t hide her bewilderment and hesitated.

“Ah… yes. When I’m nervous… it sometimes twitches. It doesn’t happen often…”

She continued to say something, but not a single word reached Ashley. He just stood there, stunned, as if he had been hit on the head. And Ashley remembered a past he had never realized.

The memory of first meeting her, Melanie calling out to him at the entrance. Why had Ashley agreed to her request to meet again? Why had he suggested seeing a movie?

Meeting her several times and having many conversations, why had gentle words flowed out naturally each time, why had he smiled, why had his heart felt warm, why had he felt good, why had he felt she was lovely?

There was only one reason.

He had clearly seen it. Her ear, twitching ever so faintly.

He couldn’t move, as if lightning had struck him. Only then did Ashley realize. Why she was different from other partners, why he felt both comfort and a flutter with her alone, why he believed he could do well with her.

Why did he think he had fallen for her?

And then, he could no longer stand there.

He couldn’t remember how he got into the car. Before he knew it, he was speeding down the road. He ignored lanes, traffic lights, everything. He just drove and drove and drove.

I thought I had forgotten.

He gasped for breath, pressing the accelerator. Horns blared all around him, but he ignored them.

Soon, the sea appeared, and he continued to drive along the coastal road. The road, darkened by night, suddenly brought back that day. The day he drove with Koi. If they had succeeded in escaping then, would something have been different?

The memories he had suppressed and endured were suddenly unleashed, overflowing all around him. Koi, who had come to Ashley’s mansion on a worn-out bicycle; Koi, who had laughed while giving him a useless, ugly doll; he, who had diligently cooked cheap instant soup and fed it to Ashley; his appearance diligently skating on the ice rink in a cheerleading skirt; his face reddening, flustered by Ashley’s kiss; and.

Even that sweet voice saying, I love you.

“If I go, you’ll be alone.”

Koi whispered in his ear.

“Let’s stay together, Ash.”

“Ah… Aaaah!”

Finally, Ashley screamed. He thought he had forgotten everything, but he hadn’t. He hadn’t forgotten a single thing.

I’m still going crazy like this. Why, why?

You abandoned me, so why can’t I forget you like this? Why am I, why are you?

Tears overflowed, blurring his vision. Sobs rose, making it impossible to breathe.

Why did you abandon me?

“You have so much.”

At that moment, Koi’s expression vividly reappeared before his eyes. He slammed on the brakes.

You’re wrong, Koi. I have nothing.

The tires screeched, skidding for a long time.

I only had you, but now I have no one. No one, nothing.

Because I lost you.

Inside the car, which had barely come to a stop, Ashley gasped for breath, remembering.

You said you’d be by my side. You promised to stay with me forever, so why?

Tears welled up again, and he covered his mouth with both hands. Unable to bear it, he threw his head back and covered his eyes with his palms. Why didn’t you choose me then?

“If I leave, Dad will be alone.”

Why, why, why.

The tears didn’t stop, continuing to pour out.

“Ah, ah… Aaaah…”

Why did you make a promise you couldn’t keep to me? Why did you do that from the beginning? Why did you say you liked me? Why did you say you’d stay by my side? Why. Why. Why.

When you were going to abandon me so easily.

“I’m sorry, Ash.”

His ragged sobs broke his breath into pieces. Ashley gasped, weeping uncontrollably. No matter how much he cried, the tears wouldn’t stop.

If I meet you again.

Ashley gritted his teeth, trying to force down the rising sobs. But the cries continued to escape his lips. He bit his lower lip hard and clenched his fists.

I’ll make you regret that you abandoned me.

In the distance, the sun was slowly rising.