112- Family

Ashley Walters pov "She made me promise that I will find you one day. I have been looking for you since I was sixteen, Ashley.” Marwick told me softly. There was a strange calmness in the room. Only Sarah was the one beside me whose soft weeping sounds could be heard in the room.

And me? Ashley Walters? I was dry-eyed.

"Does this mean..." Justin spoke for the first time, "that her birthday is not fake. According to orphanage rules her date of birth is not the one when they found the baby."

'Yeah, that's what they told me." Marwick spoke, "Sister Mary Ann told me everything. When I met Ashley in Arguli and came to know that she was Justin's wife and came from an orphanage, since then I hired another detective to look for clues. My one detective had already been working on the trails of Leigh Walters. Unfortunately, there was another Ashley who had left for Ghana. So, our attention was diverted for a while. My detective started keeping tabs on her. A few months back we were back on track. Then I got lucky to accompany Ashley from Arguli beach. That was when we had tea and I collected it for DNA sample."

I looked up at that. It was hard to digest that Sarah, the devil, was my sister, and Marwick, the handsome, was my brother. Ever since we met, he had been nothing but kind and compassionate.

Now they all were quiet maybe for processing everything and digesting it.

"Ashley!" Sarah touched my arm lightly, "Say something."

I just shook my head. It would be an understatement if I would tell them that I was shaken to the core.

A man who took advantage of a young woman, got her pregnant, and then left her all alone to fend for herself. Instead of taking his child's responsibility, he let her go all alone on a rainy night, with full-term pregnancy.

She got ra*ped but managed to reach the orphanage to keep her unborn child safe. Taking a deep breath, I propped up on my palms and got off the bed.

"Ashley! Wh...what happened?” Sarah asked me and started struggling to stand up from the bed.

"Love! What is it?" Justin came to me in a jiffy, "you alright?"

"I... I need to leave, Justin. I need to go back.” I said without looking at anyone’s face.

"We can go tomorrow morning when ..." he said touching my forehead.

"No, Justin. I want to go now. I ... I have got classes... and there is this very important presentation..." I started blabbering without realizing that the next day was supposed to be Sunday.

"B...But Ashley." Sarah tried to speak when Marwick interrupted,

"Sarah!" his voice was laced with a warning for his sister. Well! For his twin sister.

"Ok. Give me five minutes. Let me freshen up." Justin said after kissing my forehead.

"Justin," I held his hand. He looked at me quietly waiting for me to speak further, "I can go back by bus ... It's ok..."

From my peripheral view, I could see Marwick shaking his head violently to let Justin know that I should not be sent alone.

***

at Justin's place. And the only one too. For two years, it was there under my bed. Last night, I took it out and got

met him, I did feel a connection. Unlike Sarah, he had always treated me well. Placing it on my nightstand, I made my hair

face that I tried to cover with concealer and then

I called my friend and closed the door beside me. The weather was warm and sunny, unlike

to Arguli three days back. Justin dropped me off but didn't stay. And I understood. All of them were giving me

show in movies. You know? The emotional drama

after crossing

hun." And then he stopped

touched my face if there were some food scraps

'You look different!"

"Different? As if?"

you

me know about a good brand that

makeup," I smiled, and he started walking beside me, hooking his arm through

makeup, smart pants!" he

say anything, he spoke again, "Something

A lot." I chuckled and

and catch

***

with your birth family. Your father..." Gerald paused for a

what about that Ashton?" I still could

... your siblings are sensible

was calming me like a true friend. I was lucky to have him in my life. That day

still forcing

Nowadays mom is sick, so my issues are off their mind for the time being."

third coffee cup

I could not confide in Aniya or Evelyne and chose to stay in my room most of the time. My guess was, Justin must have

Siblings.

word no more

I returned home Aniya and Evelyne were again arguing about something but

something to eat? Coffee?"

I said kicking off my sandals.

"Ash..."

took her by surprise by not letting her complete, "I

a little fool. Gosh! My both friends

projects and was so engrossed in it that I didn't realize my neck hurt from sitting too

and yawned loudly. Argh!

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