“As my wife?” he asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement. Hayley’s jaws dropped with shock and she just gaped at him, unable to think of an answer. He couldn’t be serious! He was surely playing games with her mind! “As if you’re the marrying type! I know you don’t believe in love, in relationships. Please don’t joke about such things.” She concentrated on her food instead of the man in front of her, who just watched her in silence. “Okay, I’m sorry if I hurt your sentiments. You're right, I don’t care about such things!” Ashton noted the slight quiver to her lips as if she was trying hard to choke her tears, her pain. Did he hurt her so badly? Did she still dream of marrying him like she used to when younger? He had overheard her conversation with Alyssa when they were young. For years,