111-Leigh (Part II)

Third person pov:

It was raining like cats and dogs. Steward Garner came out when he heard the knock at the wooden door and found a beautiful young woman outside his house. Her clothes were drenched, and her teeth were chattering in cold.

"Ash... Ashton. I am looking for Ashton... s... sir.” Several creases appeared on his forehead.

"Are you looking for Ashton Garner?" he asked her kindly.

She raised her index finger and asked him to wait. Fishing in her bag, she took out the photo that looked more crumbled by now with water traces on it.

'Th...this man!" she gave it to him. He took it near his eyes and gave her a sheepish smile.

"My eyesight won't allow me to have a good look at it. Why don't you come inside? My son is outside and might reach here any minute. You can meet him once he is here." She was about to set her foot inside when he said," he is out with his family. His wife is expecting, and she wanted to spend some time outside the home."

That made her go still in her tracks.

'Then ... I guess I am at the wrong place, s...sir." She stepped back.

"Kid! Even if it's the wrong place you can stay here. At least spend the night. I can give you my late wife's clothes and tomorrow, I will ask my driver to take you wherever you want to go."

At this point, Leigh wanted to take the offer, but she shook her head and turned away. This was the wrong place, and this Ashton was not her

Ashton. That garage man lied to her.

It was raining heavily so she didn't cross the main gates and stayed inside the boundary, under a small umbrella on a bench. The guards were kind enough to let her in.

Half an hour must have passed when the same old man came out carrying a tray covered with a lid.

She gulped down and looked at it hungrily when he removed the lid. It had two hard-boiled eggs, with a honey-oat bread piece. There was also a steaming cup of hot chocolate.

She raised her tear-filled eyes at him and nodded her head, thanking him silently.

"As you are not interested in coming inside so I brought it here. The offer is still open though. Warm bed with warm clothes." He said with a kind smile and went back inside.

She attacked the food like a hungry beast slurping the chocolate drink with every bite.

"God! You must be hungry!" she asked her baby and laughed loudly when it kicked inside, "Ouch! Brat!" She really liked the bread. It seemed home- baked.

She finished everything on the tray in no time. Opening the address paper, she ran her gaze and started thinking about what to do next.

Maybe go back and wait for Ashton there? But right now, she couldn't go back like this. The first bus would be available early morning around six a.m.

Should she take the old man’s offer? He seemed to be a nice man.

However, Sandy had instructed her quite strictly, not to trust anyone.

Rubbing her belly, at last, she thought to stand up to scurry to the door again and return the tray. She won't ask the nice old man to take her in. But if he would offer her again, she would accept it this time.

She was about to stand up when she heard the car horn, and the gates were opened by a guard. The car sped inside and halted. The car doors started opening and she heard the giggling sounds of the kids and a woman.

Seemed like a picture-perfect family. With a smile, she lifted her feet to walk, and then her feet froze. There ... getting down from the driving seat was Ashton.

Her Ashton. He hadn't seen her yet.

he asked the woman with a little bulging belly who sprinted to

repeatedly squeezing and opening her eyes in disbelief watching the couple kissing each other and

woman saw her and pulled away from

it?" he asked

in Ashton's eyes. When all this time she was struggling all alone with her unborn baby getting drained physically and emotionally. Here he was enjoying his life with

turning around in a hard, no- nonsense

glued to the spot instead of obeying his

doing here?” he was not expecting her to find him like this. He again turned to his family and shouted, "Didn't you listen to me the first time? Get lost! Go

only Leigh but his family also

forget to look at her

word and looked at the man with her arms folded on

asked her, but

think this is the right question to ask, Ashton?" she said with the confidence

and covered his face with his

..." He said shaking his head, "What exactly brought you here? I gave you lots of money. I didn’t leave you on your own." "Didn't leave me on my own? Ashton? All this time when I was crying and begging you to take me with you and here you were enjoying your family time? You have a wife and kids!”

this child? What responsibility are you talking about? Is this the only responsibility of a father? If that's the way, it is ... then... why don't you leave your family with lots

not the kind of woman who would force a man to leave his family for her. But right now, she

I am sorry, Leigh!” this time he quickly turned back to check if his family member was still there.

man. And I am..." "Family man? Family? Ha-ha." She laughed and then started crying, "Why?" she asked him brokenly, "Why Ashton?" "B...Because I loved you, Leigh! I truly did. B... But

dominant as hell. I

perfect family revolved before

laughed

will come to you and give

was a mean,

of the house opened, and the older man came out who seemed

an Ashton. Can you help her?” he asked but stopped dead in his tracks.

you should

is alive?" "Yes, kid." Steward chuckled, ”l am standing right here." He outstretched his hands sideways to show

you have died,” she said with a humorless smirk on

from his face, "So, he IS

Leave right now." "Money? What money are you talking about?” she was no more the sweet girl from the small town who Ashton knew so well. She

to control his fury. This girl was testing his

leaving, Leigh? Or should I ask my guards

cracked up, 'Throw me away.

remember. You asked

any of it, Ashton. The only thing I asked you was your honesty and your presence in my life." "Guards!" Ashton's voice boomed in the

Ashton. Nobody will touch her." Steward Garner stood

whose baby she is throwing in my

tummy. At this point she wanted nothing. She didn't need

can sort this out in the morning." "Are you out of your

pain." "Help her out!" Ashton shouted and went to

getting worried for his wife and his unborn child.

with Ashton and his

and found Ashton's son looking at her through the window. With tear-filled eyes, she smiled and nodded at him. With a crooked smile, he gestured for her to

a few moments, he appeared before her and gave her his

might start raining again, ma'am. You might need this." He handed over his cap to

an umbrella, not a woolen

child seemed to read her

keep you safe from cold ma'am." He said innocently and she chuckled.

something crossed her mind. With tears flowing down, she touched her belly, "here. She is your sister... Ashley." She hiccupped, "When you grow up can you look for her and take care of your little sister? Can you

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255