Chapter 2: Ashley

Ashley's POV

The bright light above almost blinded me.

Where was I? Was I dead? Did I make it to heaven?

My vision wasn’t clear yet but I heard beeping sounds. Then, I caught the smell of drugs and antiseptics.

I was in the hospital.

I struggled to sit up to get a clearer view. But someone was holding my hand.

I traced the veiny hands and it was…Noah.

But he was asleep.

A sharp pain throbbed in my chest, sharper than ever.

Divorce. Cheating. Baby.

It kept replaying my head and every image felt like a dagger in my chest.

I yanked my hands out of his and he woke up.

“What are you doing here?” I said, trying to get out of the bed that felt like I was taped to.

“Wait wait…let me help so you don’t hurt yourself. Just stay calm.” He said with a husky voice and gently sat me up as I wanted.

“Thank you.” I said quietly and he stood up.

“Tell me, why are you here?” I finally said.

“I was going out for a walk and I saw you collapsed on the sidewalk. I couldn’t leave you there so I brought you to the hospital.” He explained.

A sharp pain throbbed in my head. “Fuck.” I cussed. “Thank you for helping out but I would’ve appreciated it if you left me there. I don’t need your help…anymore.”

“Right.”

The silence between us was getting very awkward.

Why did he bring me here? What was his plan? What was he trying to do? Why was he being nice? He just discarded me back there.

I didn’t get it.

“I think you should go now.” I said. I wanted him to stay but he can’t. I can’t let him.

“Yeah, I should leave now.”

“Ash!” Someone shouted my name from the hallways.

Before I could process who it was, the young lady burst into the ward.

“Ash!” My little sister, Stella, ran towards me with her arms outstretched.

She pulled me in for a hug.

“I got a call from the hospital. When did you get back? You didn’t even tell me.” Before I could speak, she pulled me in for another hug. “Oh my gosh, I’ve missed you so much!”

“I’ve missed too, El!” I hugged her tighter.

Suddenly, she stopped. I pulled away from Stella and saw she was glaring at Noah.

Oh no.

Stella never liked Noah from the beginning. She warned me he was far too dangerous and powerful for me but I was blinded.

She doesn’t even know about our divorce yet. 

“Well, if it isn’t the devil that sent my sister away for eternity.” Stella scoffed.

“Noah, please go. Please.” I pleaded so peace could reign.

He looked at me and hesitated.

Before I could blink, Stella grabbed him by his collar.

“Why is she in the hospital? What did you do to my sister? Did you lay your finger on her?” She yelled at him.

Noah looked really uncomfortable and Stella, in turn, was furious. And I didn’t know what to do.

“I didn’t lay a finger on your sister. She caused her misery.” Noah replied.

Oh no.

There were two things Stella didn’t play about; food and me.

Stella slapped him before I could get on my feet.

He turned red.

“How dare you slap me!” 

“I’d do it again.” She kept eye contact.

Stella was only 24, three years younger than me, but she had so much more courage than me.

“I’ll make sure you regret this.” Noah said and dashed out.

I held Stella’s arm. “What was that for huh?”

She breathed heavily. “I don’t know, I was just so angry. I couldn’t control it and it’s not my fault.”

“Still…mom always told us to control our temper.” I tried to calm her down.

“Well, see where that got mom. She tolerated dad too much. She was too calm with him. She never stood up for herself. She took his beatings everyday till one day she could no longer fight for herself, or breathe. Noah is bigger than you and far more dangerous, I can’t let you put yourself in that position. I can’t lose you too.”

Memories flashed in my head and deepened my headache.

“You shouldn’t be stressing yourself out. Just lay back.” Stella steadied me to the bed.

“I’m fine,” I insisted.

I noticed the shiny ring on her finger. Was it what I was thinking?

“El, is that…?” I held up her hand.

“Sure is.” She squealed and I joined her.

“Gosh, you’re engaged? How long have I been gone?” I deadpanned, biting back a cry.

“I wanted to announce back at my apartment. But I guess it could happen now…surprise!”

“I’m so happy for you, baby sis. I need all the tea. I mean, where did Alex propose? What was your reaction? Can I see the pictures?”

Her smile faded.

“What’s wrong? Did I say something bad?” I said to her, with a calm voice.

“No, no. It’s not that. It’s just…I broke up with Alex before you left.”

“Oh…baby. It’s fine. It happens. And it’s part of life.”

“Yeah it was pretty rough and hard to handle and you weren’t there so…I had to survive.” She said while meddling with her fingers.

I felt guilty. I wasn’t there for her. 

“Look, I’m super sorry. I’m so so sorry. I would make it up to you. I’m back now, okay?”

“Yeah, until you go back to Noah’s mansion.” She rolled her eyes.

She doesn’t know about our divorce yet and I’m not ready to tell her about it either. 

“Look, I’m back now. I’d stay with you for as long as you want me to now, okay? It’s time to spend more time with you.”

“You mean it this time?” She turned to me and I nodded with a smile on my face.

We both laughed.

“So, uhm…if Alex isn’t the lucky guy, then who is?…” I asked.

“Liam. I met him at an art exhibition a few weeks after I broke up with Alex.” She noticed the confusion on my face. “I know what you’re going to say. We met for a little while and he proposed?”

“Well…yeah” I laughed.

“He’s a good guy. And he makes me happy. So why wait?”

“Well, it's true. I’m happy for you still. We can have dinner together this weekend. I wanna see the lucky lad.”

“Sure.” She giggled. “Let me call him now to let him know.”

I mouthed okay.

She pressed her phone to her ear and his line kept going dead over and over again.

“Maybe he’s at work.” She dropped the phone and said. “For the meantime, I met with the doctor before and said nothing was wrong with you and it was just stress. But what the hell were you doing fainting on the sidewalk. Weren’t you with Noah?” 

“I was-”

Her phone rang and cut our conversation.

“That must be Liam…wait no it isn’t. It’s Uncle Wilbur.” She said.

Uncle Wilbur? We haven’t heard of my father’s brother since our father’s death.

What did he want?

“Okay? Now? It’s urgent? We’re on our way…” 

“What did he say?” I asked as soon as she hung up.

“We have to go…now.” Stella’s voice deepened.