The test results

The bright light in the room made Ashley narrow her eyes to adjust, the last thing she remembered was signing the divorce then darkness followed. 

The door opened, ushering in a worried Lindsey, “Sweetie, you got me worried, how are you feeling?” Ashley smiled weakly, something she hadn’t done in a week. 

“I feel…okay,” Ashley said looking at her body, her hand resting on her stomach making her expression change. 

“How long have you known Ash?” Lindsey asked, her eyes fixed on her stomach. 

Ashley looked at her, her eyes filled with pain, “some days now.” 

“Gal, I’m so sorry you had to go through all that, why didn’t you tell me?” Lindsey asked, hugging her as she sat before her.

 “No one knows… does he know?” Ashley asked, remembering she fell unconscious before Jordan. 

“No, I didn’t let him come, but you know he needs to know,” Lindsey said, caressing her cheek gently. 

Ashley shook her head, “no, he doesn’t, he has a family now, he chose them Lin, I won’t bother him,” Ashley said fighting back the tears that stung her eyes. 

“What now? What are you going to do?” Lindsey asked, looking at her in concern. 

“I don’t know, but I need to disappear, I…” 

“Say no more sweetie, just tell me the place, I’ll take care of everything,” Lindsey said looking at her with a smile on her lips. 

“Lin, I can’t let you…”

 “Gaal my dad is a billionaire, his money is my money plus I get paid working as a doctor remember,” Lindsey said raising her eyebrow at her. 

Ashley shrugged her shoulders in defeat, once Lindsey set her mind on something no one could stop her. 

“Okay, but I’ll repay you once I get a job, deal?” Ashley said, requesting the last part which made Lindsey chuckle at her silliness.

 “Okay, deal, but you can always work here as a doctor, Ash, now there’s no one to stop you from pursuing your passion,” Lindsey said, holding both her hands in concern.

 Ashley closed her eyes, imagining how lucky she was to have pursued her dreams despite growing up in an orphanage.

 If it weren’t for the late Robert Millers, she wouldn’t have made her medical career a reality or any of her education. 

She owed it all to him, and she would always be grateful and to think his grandchild, Jordan, betrayed his grandfather’s trust. 

“I know I’ll think about it, but I need a favor, can Jordan not know about the baby?” Ashley asked, knowing with his connections, Jordan would find out anything he wanted. 

“Not to worry, I’m your doctor,” Lindsey said, smiling at her. 

“Now I need to get out of this place before I become a real patient,” Ashley joked, making the two laugh out heartily.

 Knowing each other from high school, Lindsey Flint had never found a friend who was worth all her attention and love like Ashley. 

In the hallways, Maya leaned on Jordan for support, making him hold her cautiously, worrying she would get hurt. He knew Ashley was in the same hospital, and he wished nothing more than to inquire about her health, but he had to get Maya home first.

 “Mr. Millers?” a female nurse called, making Jordan turn while still holding Maya. 

“Yes?” Jordan answered looking at her confused, Maya’s discharge papers just got processed, he didn’t see what he might have forgotten.

 “It’s about your wife, her test results just came in, and I thought I could …” Maya tensed up at the nurse’s obvious attraction towards her husband, but more so the papers she held made her feel uneasy. 

“What test result you b$$ch! ” Maya snapped trying to reach for the papers in the process, forgetting she couldn’t stand straight a while ago. 

“Easy there Maya, what results are you talking about, we were given all the results earlier,” Jordan asked holding Maya gently after seeing how she lost it.

 “Um… I’m talking about Mrs. Millers; didn’t you bring her in?” The nurse responded, taking steps back. Jordan inhaled sharply, but before he could say anything Maya had already turned to him with tears brimming in her eyes. 

“She’s here? Did you bring her in? I thought you said things were over between you two?” Maya asked, her voice breaking as she looked at him with glittering eyes.

 “Things are over between us, please don’t stress, remember the doctor said you should not stress because of the baby,” Jordan responded, capping her cheeks gently. 

“Sorry I didn’t know you and Mrs. Millers were not…” the nurse apologized, ready to leave. 

“How is she doing? Is everything okay with Ashley?” Jordan asked before he could stop himself, maybe hearing it from the nurse would ease his guilt. 

“She’s …”

 “Nurse Bethany, are the results out yet?” Dr. Lindsey’s voice called from behind them as she walked in on the conversation. 

“Yes, I was about to tell Mr. Millers about it,” Nurse Bethany answered, turning to the doctor. 

“I said the results should fall into my hands first, why are you sharing my patient’s information with strangers?” Lindsey asked the anger in her tone audible enough.

 “I’m sorry Dr. Lindsey, I didn’t know that was…”

 “Hand over the results Nurse, and meet me in my office later,” Lindsey said, taking the test results from the nurse who was literally shaking. 

Everyone knew how kind and good; Dr. Lindsey was despite being the hospital director but no one dared cross her. 

“Lin please, what was that? Is Ashley going to be alright?” Jordan asked, making Maya to bite her inner cheek in anger at the heightened interest of Jordan in his ex-wife. 

“You don’t have to worry Jordan, you should take care of your mistress now, Ashley is my responsibility from now on,” Lindsey said looking at Maya in mockery but instead of shame she received a smirk. 

Maya scoffed, “well then, you should be the first to know we’re getting married soon, I’ll no longer be his mistress but his legal and only wife.” 

“Ooh I see you move first Jordan, congratulations,” Lindsey said hiding the hurt she felt at the betrayal bestowed on her closest friend, Ashley was like a sister to her. 

Jordan swallowed hard out of words; he didn’t understand what was wrong with Maya's sudden change in behavior.

 “Yeah, he does, tell that wh$$re to stay the hell away from…” 

“Maya!” Jordan snapped holding her upper arm to pull her back. He didn’t have a chance to think what he was doing, but an insult to Ashley was the last thing he was going to take. 

Behind them stood Ashley who witnessed and heard everything making her feel emptiness and ice-cold. It appeared Jordan neither loved nor cared for her at all in all the years. 

She watched just how much Jordan cared for Maya, more than he had ever done for her, maybe they were just mismatched. The only thing she regretted was feeling like she disappointed Robert Millers. 

Jordan’s eyes softened as he saw how scared Maya became at the angry tone of his voice.

 “I’m sorry but can we just leave, there’s no need to get worked up, remember your health, okay?” Jordan said, looking at Maya in concern. 

Maya caught sight of Ashley who was watching them from a distance and bit back a smile. 

“You’re right Jody, let's go, Lindsey, please tell Ashley she can attend our wedding if she'd like, no hard feelings,” Maya said, making Jordan look at her in shock wondering why the sudden change in her tone. 

“I’ll be sure to send presents Maya, thank you,” and that’s when he heard her voice, as cold as ice freezing his veins. 

Jordan raised his eyes to meet her icy emotionless ones making him speechless.