“Ash, you have to pull yourself together, please, for Brandon and Brenda,” Lindsey said, soothing Ashley's back gently. Ashley shook her head, looking at her friend, her eyes red from all the crying. She had never felt her world come to a standstill in just a matter of a day. A lone tear found its way down her cheek, making Lindsey feel her tears sting her eyes. “Please don't cry, it'll be okay, the police are on this, you have to stay strong,” Lin pleaded, feeling her eyes well up irresistibly. Soft steps stopped by their side, “Ashley…” Jordan's voice came, making Ashley snap her head towards him. Jordan felt a hint of Déjà vu as he remembered the last time he saw her that devastated. He couldn’t stop the horrid feeling, worrying that she would end up in a hospital bed again. On the other hand, Ashley looked at him, not saying a word as she felt her strength fail her. She couldn’t feel any strength left in her to start any argument with him. “I’ll go check up on the kids, Ash
Jordan couldn't wipe the smile off his face as he held the results in his hand. It appeared he only needed to talk to Maya about how he treated their son. “Babe, I want to go visit my cousin for a few days,” Maya informed, smiling at Jordan from a meter away. Jordan furrowed his brows, wondering why Maya would bring up such a topic all of a sudden. The fact that she wasn't mad about him requesting for DNA shook him, too. “You are not mad that I had DNA done behind your back?” Jordan couldn't hold the question in again as he let it out. Maya moved towards him with a broadened smile. “It's okay if you wanted to be certain, but now I have to leave right now, I don’t want to be late,” Maya pressed on evading the DNA discussion. “I didn't know you had family here? Are you taking Shane with you?” Jordan asked the questions with concern written all over his face. Her sudden trip unsettling him, especially after the disappearance of his son. Though he hadn’t talked to her about Ashle
Ashley saw the evening of another day without her child, making her heart clench painfully. As the doorbell rang, she couldn't help but feel as if that were music in her ears. The many times she had run to that door thinking maybe her son was home disheartened her. She couldn't face any more disappointment of not seeing her son walk through that door. She could feel her hope hanging on a string as she wiped another set of tears. Lindsey had taken the kids away, she could only hope they didn't ask endless questions about their sibling. The door opened, ushering in a panting Jordan. Ashley stood up looking at him in awe, “What happened? Did they find him?” Ashley asked, offering him a seat but all he could do was shake his head. What he said next made her feel her head swirl in dizziness. “I think they might have Shane too, he was just taken from the house, minutes ago…” Jordan said still in disbelief, hearing himself say the words out loud took a toll on him. “What? How?” Ashley
As the car drove around the city, Ashley felt her mind go miles away. She tried to gather enough strength to face all that was ahead of her. She knew no amount of the fear she felt could outdo the anticipation to see her son again. “We're here, ma'am,” the taxi driver said, pulling Ashley out from her wondrous thoughts. She saw the tall building of the hotel making her breath in sharply before proceeding. The chilly air of the night seeped through her lungs like a sharp knife, taunting her. A text came to her phone from the same new number. ‘Come straight across the street and meet me beside the hotel, I can see you come straight.’ The instructions read, making Ashley glance beside the hotel, her eyes falling on a dark spot. No matter how much her mind warned her against proceeding with the pursuit, Ashley didn't have the heart to stop. As her steps got closer, everything in her was screaming for her to stop, but she couldn't. She looked around but all she could see were some hom
In the alley beside Wilson Hotel;Ashley felt herself being dragged in the dark alley making her struggle to scream. The hand let loose a little, “Ssh, it's me, don't shout,” Ashley heard a woman's voice in the alley making calm down a little. “I know you don't know me, but you know him, right?” The woman asked, revealing a boy behind her. Ashley felt shocked as she saw Shane sleeping out in the cold but was well covered. “I am…” “Elizabeth, the boy's biological mother,” Ashley interjected, letting her know he knew about her. “Yes, Shane's in trouble, Maya knows I took the boy, we were supposed to meet at a certain location to stay there, but knowing Maya, I don't want Shane near him,” Elizabeth explained as she kept glancing around in panic. Ashley stood there dismayed not knowing what to say. “Please take him with you, he told me so much about you, he trusts you, please,” Elizabeth pleaded with her, holding her hand gently. “Where is my son?” Ashley asked, looking at her in
“He's still the same Maya, he doesn't have long,” Danton announced feeling restless. Maya ran her hands through her hair, “we have to move, we've stayed here too long, and that b**ch, I'll kill her!” Maya yelled out loud, pacing around hysterically. “What about Bryson? He needs…” Danton insisted, but was interjected by Maya as she shouted at him. “Shut the f**k up! I need to think!” Maya bellowed, making the room fall silent. Everything she was doing was going sideways all of a sudden. Before anyone could say anything, sirens were heard surrounding the house making Maya’s eyes grow wide as her feet stuck the ground. “What the hell! How did they find this place?” Danton asked in panic as he walked to the window by the main door. Looking out, there were nothing but blue and red police lights. This was it, their end, “you sold us out!” Danton accused Maya angrily as he walked towards her without fear. It didn't matter if she was the boss's daughter anymore. “What are you talking
The stretcher beds wheeled endlessly in the hospital corridors as the patients were wheeled in. Jordan held his heart in his stomach as he watched his family head to the emergency rooms. His hands were tied as he felt helpless; he couldn't do anything else to help them. And the waiting started, pacing through the hospital corridor outside the emergency room was not easy for Jordan. The anticipation of the unknown killing him from the inside. “Calm down man, they are going to be alright,” Luke tried to comfort him, his own fear reflecting on his face. He hadn't known Lindsey for years but the time they spent together, he knew she was the one. Seeing her helpless and unconscious made him feel his heart tighten painfully. Maya and Danton managed to run according to the police, but one of their men was in custody. Luke didn't want to complicate things at this point it was discovered Maya and Danton were part of a larger notorious Mafia gang that terrorized some cities. “I'll go check
A month went by quickly, but Ashley had not woken up yet. Jordan stood by the bedside with his four kids looking at her. He had not missed a chance to see her beautiful face every day, praying that she would wake up.“Daddy, when is Mommy going to wake up?” Brandon asked worriedly as he went near his mom. “Soon baby, soon,” Jordan muttered more to himself but loud enough that the kids and probably Ashley heard. “We miss you so much mommy, daddy has been taking care of us, and we have a new brother,” Brenda said, standing next to Brandon. “Yes Mommy, Shane's so cool, he's our brother, I wanted another sister, but it's also cool to have another brother,” Bryson chirped while dragging Shane's hand to the bedside. Jordan watched as the kids told their mother of their experiences and feelings. His eyes welling up with unshed tears as he looked at Ashley in concern. He had watched her lie there for thirty days and counting, each day breaking his heart. If only she could hear her child
4 Months Later…Everything was clear as day as the months unfolded. The tabloids talked of nothing else than Jordan and Maya as Jordan's company grew. Jordan stood by his office window, looking down at the busy streets. His eyes, busy searching for someone he knew he had lost forever. The scene at the park four months ago still replayed in his head, but he stood his ground and left anyway. The pain in her eyes was unforgettable as he walked away with Maya clinging to him. If only he could make her understand, she was never in the wrong. If only… His office door clicked, pulling his thoughts together as he turned to see his best friend. “Hey man, how are you holding up?” Luke asked, greeting him. He could tell just how unhappy Jordan was. “I'm good, how's she doing?” Jordan replied, looking at him in anticipation. “She's doing good. The kids are okay too, man. You should drop by and say hae,” Luke suggested, patting his shoulder gently. “No, I'll watch them from a distance unti
The bell rang making the two women turn their heads quickly towards the door. As the door opened, revealing the children, Ashley's smile widened. “Hey my lovelies, how was school?” Ashley greeted making the kids’ faces lighten up as they ran towards her. It had been a long time since they saw their mom that excited and normal. “Mommy, are you okay?” Brandon asked his question playing in the other siblings’ faces. Not until that moment did Ashley realize just how much the kids had lacked a mother. “Yeah, I'm fine, how about you freshen up, and I'll take you out for ice cream?” Ashley said, making the children jump in excitement. “I'll have strawberry ice cream today and no, Bryson, that doesn't make me a girl," Shane commented before they left to change. “You’re so girly!” Bryson teased, making Brandon smile, but the same reaction was not what Brenda had. “So, Bry,are you saying being a girl is a bad thing?” Brenda asked, looking at her brother in anger. “No, no,I didn't say tha
“So,how is it going with your dad?" Lindsey asked, sitting beside Ashley. "It's good, he's sweet except for the fact that he has been absent all my life,” Ashley responded, her smile falling slightly. “I hope things work out completely well," Lindsey said, not knowing what else to comment. On one hand, it was her best friend but on the other it was her father in law. Making a decision on who to take sides with was totally not an option. “Are you sure you don't want me to forgive him quickly so I can be your sister in law?”Ashley teased pulling Lindsey out from her dilemma. "Geez, you're already my best friend,so either way I don't lose anything, I still have you," Lindsey said, patting Ashley's shoulder playfully. Ashley felt tears sting her eyes from the statement making her force out a smile to mask it. “What's wrong Hun," Lindsey asked,nothing passing her detective eyes. Ashley summed up the courage to look at her before saying the words she thought she could never bring he
“I'm sorry pumpkin, it's my fault, I should have found you sooner,” Mr. Hamilton said as he sat on the couch next to Ashley. Ashley sniffed as she wiped another streak of tears from her eyes. “Why didn't you? It was so hard!” Ashley said as she recalled her past life. Mr. Hamilton lowered his head, shaking it as if he were contemplating on what to say next. “You know, if Mr. Millers hadn't found me, I would still be out there with no meaning,” Ashley muttered as she let her mind wander into the past. “You know, your mother and I, we didn't work out too well and by the time I knew about you, it was years back, I don't mean to excuse myself but…” Mr. Hamilton said soothing Ashley back hoping she would understand. “My mother? She's still out there?” Ashley asked, her voice breaking as if she were ready to burst out in tears again. “Yeah she is, although I haven't heard or seen her in years, she's still out there,” Mr. Hamilton explained, his voice low as if he were talking to himse
Ashley fluttered her eyes, slowly opening them as she fought hard to adjust to the light in the room. The last she could remember was passing out with a striking pain in her belly. The door cracked open, revealing a man in a white coat. “Mrs. Millers? You're awake, I'm Dr. Stevens,” the man said, examining her eyes. “Doctor, what's happened to me?” Ashley mumbled, her voice coming out enstrangled. “Well, you were overwhelmed by stress and passed out,” Dr. Stevens explained cautiously. “I… I am going to be okay?” Ashley asked, her voice filled with worry. “Yes, yes, of course, but you need to be more careful now that you…” “Yes I know my unpredictable change in mood,” Ashley said dismissively as she closed her eyes lightly. “No, I was going to say… Congratulations, you're pregnant,” the doctor explained, smiling at her. Ashley's eyes shot open at the news, her heart beating fast in shock. She tried to open her mouth to say something, but it went all dry. How could
Distant faint chatter hit her ears as she heard her name being mentioned. Her body moved like waves as she closed her eyes tightly waiting for the effect from the impact which never came. The room was filled with horror as they watched Ashley passing out in shock. Jordan rushed to catch her in time before she could fall to the ground. “Ashley? Ash? Can you hear me?” Jordan asked, holding her cheeks in worry. “Let's get her to the hospital,” Jordan added, looking at the frozen Lindsey before them. Lindsey’s sight focused on Luke who ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “I'm sorry man, I didn't mean it to come out that way,” Luke apologized, pacing in the doorway. Jordan hoisted Ashley in his arms quickly heading towards the parking lot. None of them appeared to be in a state to help him as they were all shocked. As hours passed, the doctor came out his face neutral, not letting out any emotion. “Mr. Millers, I have good and bad news, which would you like to hear first?
Jordan breathed in sharply as he tried to calm himself as he yet again got another negative call. It's been two days since Lindsey came back with the news. Outside the hospital corridors Jordan paced running his hand through his hair. He didn't think he was ready to make any other step forward. Seeing his little boy helpless on the hospital bed rendered his muscles weak. He pushed the door gently open, breathing out slowly as he saw his son sleeping peacefully. The doctors kept him under medication due to the seizure. Jordan couldn't hold back the lone tear that fell as he held his son's hand. He didn't know what to start with as Ashley was still missing. As Jordan sat by the bed, the door to the room gently revealed Luke, his best friend. “Hey man,” he greeted entering the room as he stood behind Jordan. “He's still the same, I don't understand why he's still unconscious,” Jordan said, his eyes fixed on his son. “He's going to be okay, Jordan, don't worry yourself too much,”
Ashley moaned softly as she turned by the naked man beside her on the bed. How peacefully he was sleeping made Ashley wonder how they got to that point. How she went from hating him to sleeping next to him every night. The birds chirped joyfully, announcing the dawn of a new day. Everyone around her had been so supportive, telling her anything she didn't remember. But deep inside, Ashley still felt she was missing something. “Hello sunshine,” Jordan's voice hit her ears, making her smile as she locked eyes with him. “Heey, you,” Ashley greeted back, smiling sweetly. Having to look at him each morning filled her heart with so much joy. “Today's the day, are you sure you can do it?” Jordan asked, brushing his fingers through her hair. Ashley smiled, leaning her face on his hand, “yes, I can do it, I can't miss his last therapy session.” Jordan kissed her lips softly, “good, now kiss me properly, love.” Jordan teased, making Ashley giggle in joy. The sound of a soft knock pulled
Ashley watched the man playing with the children outside her house from a distance. It had been a week since she left the hospital, but still couldn't get the anger she felt at him. A big part of her wanted to run to him and kiss him breathless, making her blush for even thinking that. But the thought that he abandoned her to be with another woman, stopped her. Ashley couldn’t get the horrid feeling that a big chunk of her life memories were missing from her mind. She could only wonder if she ever forgave him, given that the children already knew him. “What are you thinking about, sweetheart?” Lindsey’s voice came from behind her, lighting up her heart. “Was he always this good with the kids?” Ashley asked, making Lindsey follow her line of sight. Lindsey smiled as she heard the four children chanting ‘daddy, daddy' all over the house happily. “I guess so…” Lindsey mumbled as she touched her invisible baby bump unconsciously. “You're going to make a great mom, Lin, and Luke wi