Sunlight streamed through the broken blinds and spilled into the dim apartment, casting mottled shadows on the hard floor. Ashley slowly opened her eyes, greeted by the suffocating sea breeze and the nauseating ceiling above her.
Where am I?
She struggled to prop herself up and looked around. The room was a shabby sight — faded walls with peeling corners, old furniture that emitted a musty smell, and the air thick with a mix of cheap cigarettes and tobacco. This was definitely not her luxurious apartment.
"Damn it, you're finally awake!"
A gruff voice came from the doorway. Ashley turned her head and saw a thin man leaning against the doorframe, his face full of impatience. He wore a wrinkled shirt, his hair greasy, and his eyes filled with concealed fear.
"Eugene?" The name slipped from her lips for some reason, accompanied by a flood of unfamiliar memories rushing into her mind.
Eugene White, her husband. No, to be exact, her ex-husband — the one who had just handed her the divorce papers.
"Don't look at me like that, Ashley." Eugene sneered, "I'm done with you. Look at yourself, you're like a pig! You think I'm going to spend my whole life with a woman like you?"
Ashley looked down at herself in shock. The reflection in the mirror revealed a stranger — a round face, swollen body, a cheap floral dress tight on her chest. This was not the sharp and shrewd Ashley Blue from Harvard Business School.
Memories surged like a tidal wave. She was Ashley Taylor, the "true heiress" raised in the countryside, mocked and ridiculed by her husband and everyone around her for lacking manners and experience. And now, Eugene was asking for a divorce, claiming that she "wasn't good enough for his future."
"Are you listening to me?" Eugene's voice grew harsher. "I've already found a woman who truly suits me. She's cultured, has taste, unlike you, a hillbilly."
Ashley closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, confusion was gone, replaced by calm calculation.
The memories of Harvard Business School, her work experience on Wall Street, and the commercial knowledge of the 21st century — all of it was crystal clear in her mind. She didn't know how this happened, but she knew this was her chance.
"Eugene," she said slowly, her voice unexpectedly calm, "Before you try to calm me down, we need to settle the accounts."
"What?" Eugene frowned, clearly not expecting this reaction.
Ashley got up from the bed and walked over to the worn-out desk, grabbing a pen and a piece of paper. Her movements were graceful and precise, completely unlike the humiliated woman from earlier.
"Let's start from the beginning," she began writing down numbers on the paper. "From September 1981 to June 1984, your tuition at Ohio State University was $2,800 a year, totaling $8,400 for three years."
Eugene's face began to change. "What are you talking about?"
"And your living expenses," Ashley continued, "was $150 a month for 36 months, totaling $5,400. Books, transportation costs during your internship, and the down payment for your secondhand Chevrolet — $1,200."
"Ashley, are you crazy?"
"Crazy?" Ashley looked up, her gaze like ice. "I'm just doing what I should — the right thing. Did you forget our pre-nup? The Taylor family sponsored your education, and after graduation, you were supposed to work for the family business for at least five years. Now, you want to break that agreement, and according to the terms, you owe a penalty fee."
Eugene's face went pale. "That agreement... it was just..."
"Just what? Symbolic?" Ashley sneered. "Eugene, maybe you've forgotten, the Taylor family may not be as powerful in New York or Chicago, but in the business circles of Hell County, we still have hundreds of people supporting us."
She walked up to Eugene, exuding an Arctic authority. "Now, let's talk about your 'new woman'. It's Amelia, right? The cashier at the downtown department store?"
Eugene stared at her in shock. "How do you know...?"
"I know more than you think," Ashley's voice was like an ice pick. "For example, she's pregnant. For example, you promised her marriage and a 'better life.' For example, you plan to start your 'new life' with the Taylor family's resources."
"You can't..." Eugene's voice trembled.
"Can't what? Ruin your plans?" Ashley smiled, a beautiful but dangerous smile. "Dear Eugene, you think highly of yourself. Let me tell you a fact: From today on, you will no longer have the support of the Taylor family. And I'll make sure everyone knows what kind of person Eugene White really is."
She walked to the window, opened the blinds, and sunlight instantly flooded the room. In the sunlight, her figure was steadfast and beautiful, completely unlike the humiliated woman from before.
"Now, take your things and leave my house." Her voice was calm and firm. "Remember, Eugene, you chose to abandon me, so don't expect me to show mercy."
Eugene looked at this woman who seemed like a different person and felt a fear he had never experienced before. Was this still the Ashley he could humiliate at will?
"I... I'll come back to get my things." He stammered.
"Not needed," Ashley said without looking back. "Your things are already in the garbage bag at the door. By the way, the clothes and books I bought for you are your severance pay. After all, we were married."
Eugene tried to speak but, seeing the coldness in Ashley's eyes, he finally said nothing and left in a huff.
It was only when she heard the door slam shut that Ashley slowly turned around. She walked to the mirror, staring at her reflection. Though she still looked like the same round-faced country girl, her eyes were completely different — sharp, confident, filled with ambition.
"Ashley Blue," she whispered to the mirror, "Welcome to 1984. Now, let's start building an empire."
She knew this was just the beginning. Eugene was the first person she trampled underfoot, but her real target was the larger world.
The world outside was waiting for her, and she was ready.