[NOT EDITED]

Katherine's POV

I walked out of the car and entered the building , Ashton probably following behind.

But my mind was too busy to even notice. I was still trying to register every word i've heard there.

Trying to figure a way to tell him the truth.

I chewed my lip nervously, and anxiety started taking me over.

I felt myself crashing into something, or more like someone . I directly lifted my eyes up and saw an old man , probably in his sixties.

"I am so sorry." I directly said , apologizing for not paying much attention.

"It's okay dear." He said with a big warm smile exposing the wrinkles on his face even more.

"Hey Ash boy." He averted his gaze and said to Ashton , who was now standing beside me.

"Hey Mr. Smith." Ashton replied giving the man a polite smile before placing his hand behind my back, then he walked us toward the elevator.

His hand was still on my back even after we stepped in, i can feel its warmth from above the fabric.

Feeling the need to be in his embrace for a moment , i leaned closer to him , placing my head lightly on his chest.

He tightened his hold around my waist as if pulling me closer to him.

"I am sorry about what happened today." He said , probably referring to the way his father talked to me.

I shook my head unable to talk or reply back. He doesn't know that what's bothering me is not what his father said about me.

What's bothering me is what he said about him..

And the problem is I don't know if i'll be able to tell Ashton.

How i am going to start such a conversation, how is he going to accept it ?

What if he went crazy and did something ?

The ding voice due to the elevator arrival jerked me from the trail of questions roaming my mind.

Ashton typed the security code to open the penthouse door, while i zoned out again still thinking about what happened.

"Katherine." I felt a hand on my shoulder jerking me
Back to reality , "Huh ?" I said looking at Ashton.

"Come in." He said ushering me inside , looking at me with a questioning look.

I went inside and directly sat on the couch feeling tired both physically and mentally.

I was looking at my hands in my lap thinking of a proper way to start talking when i felt Ashton's hand on my chin , he lifted it up so i can meet his eyes as he was kneeling in front of me.

"Are you okay ? " He asked and i just nodded.

But he didn't seem to buy my lie , "Katherine, what's wrong?" He asked again looking at me with worried eyes.

I chewed my lip nervously averting my gaze away , because looking at his eyes for too long makes me weak.

He placed his finger on my bottom lip freeing it from my teeth because of how hard i was pressing over it, "You're making me worried, tell me what's wrong ?"

I ignored the effect his light touch did to me as i tried to compose myself, " I have to tell you something."

He nodded , ushering me to continue, "But first come sit here." I said pointing to the couch beside me, "And you have to promise me that you will stay calm and you won't do anything crazy."

He looked at me with furrowed eyebrows probably not understanding anything but he did like I said, he sat beside me, "Okay , I promise."

I swallowed the lump in my throat getting ready to tell him the truth , "After what happened at Zoe's house , when you went up , I directly followed you.. But on my way i heard your parents talking about something."

I paused taking a look at his face , his facial expression changed at the mention of them as if he doesn't want to hear anything related to his parents.

Well not his parents , i should say , his father and Melanie..

"So i asked them to explain to me what they're talking about and they did." I took a deep breath , "I am going to start from the beginning."

"You know that your father married Melanie because of an arranged contract your grandfather obliged him into , so they can merge the two companies together or something like that."

He nodded , so I continued telling him the exact words Melanie and Mark told me, "After two years , your father had an affair , with his assistant."

"In the beginning it was just an affair, but it started to become something more, and it lasted for two years before any one knew anything about it." Ashton's expression was still the same confused one so I continued talking further.

"Your grandfather knew about it , so he threatened your dad to stay away from the women and go back to his wife or he will take everything from him , the company , the money , the house , everything. "

"He said he will disown him if he didn't end everything with her . So , your father did as he was told to and went to break things with her but before he could say anything , she told him she is pregnant."

At the mention of that , Ashton's eyes widened and his confusion grew even more , "What ? " he asked bewildered.

I ignored his questions and continued telling him , "So he told your grandfather that he will end everything after she give birth to the child, And with that said , when she gave birth to the child." I paused for a while hating the idea of what i am going say next ."He took him away from the hospital and replaced him with a dead child , then he went out of her life for good." I said and i was scared to look at his face , but i did anyway.

His blue eyes filled with shock , confusion, pain and also a slight hint of realization. So before he would ask the question, I answered it , "And that baby was you."

"Melanie is not your mother." I added , and it looked from his expression that I answered his assumption.

It took him a moment before he reacted, he shook his head as if not believing, " No , No..How ?" He said but it wasn't like he needed an answer, he's still trying to let it sink in.

It is hard to live your whole life in a lie and then wake up to reality very late.

He placed his head in his hands and his foot was tapping the ground furiously, it was obvious he was trying his best to keep calm.

Hesitantly I placed my hand on his tensed arm feeling my heart constrict in my chest , "I am sorry , but you deserve to know."

He lifted his face and looked at me , "Do you know who she is ? Or anything about her ?" He asked referring to his real mother.

This time i had to look away , because i was afraid of telling him this part exactly, "No." I said , "Because she is dead."

"She died one month after giving birth to you." I added looking at him and i felt pain , real pain from the inside.

I don't know why , but it is as if i am feeling his pain.

Suddenly he stood up and walked away toward the door , i directly followed him tucking his shirt from the back to stop him.

"Where are you going ? " I asked afraid that he may do something , because anger always takes the best of him.

He stopped and turned around , and it took him a moment before responding, "I don't know." He said his tone surprisingly calm yet pained.

God Ashton , don't do this to me. I can't see you like this !

"I still don't understand." He said and shook his head , " Wait , this means that Zoe is not.."

"She is your sister but from another mother." I said interrupting him , "She is still your sister though." I didn't want him to feel like he lost a lot due to this.

The ringing of the bell made my heart sink further in my stomach , because i know who is it and i know it is not the perfect time for him to come.

I walked toward the door , "I don't think you should be here." I directly said once i opened the door and saw Mark standing there.

He didn't respond , but his eyes traveled behind me , " I have to explain." He said talking to Ashton.

Why he is here now ?

Does he like to make everything harder ?

"Explain what ? " Ashton said surprising me because he was talking with a really calm tone , "Explain why you lied to me all this time, or explain why you took me from my real mother and made me live in hell with you and your wife."

"Or explain why you just destroyed my whole life ? " His voice raised as he muttered the last sentence.

"I didn't have a choice." Mark said stepping closer , his features not cold and blank as usual, there was a hint of sadness on his face.

"Of course you had , but you chose money over everything, like you always do." Ashton said and i stood aside keeping silent giving them the space to talk.

"I loved her Ashton , I f*cking loved her, but i did the only thing a man does when he loves." He paused and Ashton looked at him waiting for him to continue, "I hurt her."

Ashton averted his gaze away , and i knew why , because whatever Mark said , it hit a nerve.

"She loved me and i loved her but that wasn't enough..Do you think I don't regret everything ? Do you think i am happy with the life i had ?" He asked and for the first time i saw feelings written all over his face.

Ashton was still silent listening to his fathers words , maybe he is like me , surprised by this version of Mark.

"You were so small , you were so fragile when i took you home." He said , "But Melanie didn't want you, she didn't want to take care of you, because to her you were just the result of my betrayal."

I felt the pain inside me intensify with every word imaging the childhood Ashton had to live, with a women he thought she is his mother yet didn't give him the care he needed.

If i am feeling all this pain, then what about him ?

"But to me you were my only son and i loved you so damn much." Mark added and i saw the way Ashton's eyes widened.

I don't need to be an expert to know that this is probably the first time Mark have ever said this word to him.

"No you didn't." Ashton finally decided to speak.

"I did and i still do." Mark said , "That's why after month of bringing you home, i realized what a big mistake i did and i wanted to correct it all so i took you and went deciding to leave everything behind me just to live with the only two people i care about."

Something in his tone made me believe every word he said , the way he was talking was so sincere , the feelings written on his face proved every word that came out of his mouth.

"But i was late , i was so damn late." He shook his head , probably the memory brought the pain back. "In that day , i discovered that she died. She lost her child and the man she loved, so she couldn't take it anymore."

"I killed her Ashton.. I did !" The way his voice break as he said those words brought a weird feeling to my heart and the first tear escaped my eye.

"I couldn't go back to my old life easily , I couldn't forget all the mistakes i've done, I couldn't look at your face without remembering her." He said and Ashton is still silent just looking at his father , maybe it is the first time they're having a real heart-to-heart conversation.

"I couldn't.. I couldn't be a father to you." He added , "With Melanie always complaining about not wanting you and with me regretting my sins and getting drunk all the time , i used to let my anger on you."

Ashton's eyes were glassy , it looked he was trying his best not to cry.

Ashton wouldn't cry.

He would never cry.. I am sure.

"I did many mistakes in my life , but if there is a thing i regret the most." He paused for a moment , "Is hurting you."

"Why ? " It came as a mere whisper from Ashton's mouth , "Why you didn't just leave me with her ?"

"I couldn't." Mark replied, " I wanted you , i wanted to give you the life you deserved."

"The life i deserve ! " Ashton exclaimed raising his voice a little bit , "If you left me , at least i would've had a normal life.. At least I wouldn't be the f*cked up mess i am right now."

Mark kept silent , he probably knows that what Ashton said is the truth.

"I know. Believe me , i know." Mark said breaking the tensed silence that settled between us, "That's why now i am trying to protect you , that's why i am trying to correct my mistakes."

"When i saw that whatever Katherine did, made you break . I wanted to protect you from her. That's why i am doing what i am doing lately." He said and i looked at Ashton to see his reaction.

"Katherine didn't break me." He said not even glancing at my side , "She fixed whatever you broke in me."

Being shocked due to his words was an understatement and the flutter my heart felt was uncontrollable.

"I still don't understand why you keep defending her." Mark said, "She was the reason that you almost lost the company. Why would she do it if it's not for money !"

They were both talking about me as if i am not standing inches away from them. But for unknown reason i couldn't utter a single word.

"She did it because i deserved it ! " Ashton snapped at his father , " She did it because i killed the man she loved !"

My hand tightened over the hem of my shirt as i closed my eyes , I don't know the feeling i felt is because of his words or the fact that I don't want him to blame himself.

Mark looked shocked , "What ? What in hell you are talking about ? " he added then looked at me.

He seemed to be thinking deeply about it as he looked between us with furrowed eyebrows.

It didn't take him long to realize what Ashton meant by that, he opened his mouth to talk , "You.."

"Can you just leave." Ashton said interrupting him , "Just leave like you always do, for good this time."

With that Ashton turned and started walking away toward his room.

"I know you are not going to forgive me." Mark said stopping Ashton , " I think i never really said that before."

Mark took an envelope from his pocket and placed it on the counter beside him , "But i am sorry." He continued then placed his hand in his pocket and took out what seemed like a necklace and placed it over the envelope , "I am really sorry."

He traced his finger over the necklace his face so pained , "I wrote this to you long time ago , i wanted you to have it if anything happened to me."

He removed his hand from the necklace and looked toward Ashton's direction , "But since you know everything now , I don't think you need it anymore."

He turned his body and walked toward the door leaving but stopped for a while when Ashton decided to speak again.

"You are right about one thing." Ashton said , "I don't think i would ever forgive you."

I shouldn't feel bad for Mark but in that moment i did , the pained look on his face made the powerful confident façade drop down.

In that moment i felt how much he and Ashton look alike. Even though with all the differences they're somehow the same.

They both try their best to hide the pain , to hide their weakness. They both try to keep the cold act afraid of exposing what they're really feeling.

Mark left after that , and Ashton went to his room.

Even though he needs some time alone , I don't feel like leaving him.

I debated with myself whether i should enter and be beside him or just act like a normal person and leave him alone for sometime.

But me being me , I couldn't.

I took a look first on the envelope that Mark left for Ashton , and over it was a silver oval photo locket pendent necklace.

Whoever picture is inside it , it is not my business to open and see it. So i just grabbed them and went toward his room.

Ashton was sitting on the beds edge , his elbows over his leg while his head is in his hands.

I placed the envelope and the locket aside for him to look at them whenever he wants to.

I walked toward him , the pain in my chest still the same.

He didn't seem to notice my presence , so i knelt down in front of him that we can be on the same level.

He looked at me not caring to hide the pain he is feeling, or even trying to hide the shakiness in his voice as he talked , "Why nothing good lasts in my life ?" He said , "Am i that bad ?"

"No , no , it is not your fault." I directly said hating that he always looks at the bad side in himself.

He shook his head disagreeing with me.

I hated to see him vulnerable , it made feel weak too.

But by the end of the day he is just a human and sometimes we need to be weak , we just get sick of pretending to be strong for a long time.

So i did the one thing on my mind , i wrapped my arms around his neck hugging him tightly , he directly wrapped his arms around me burring his face in my hair.

"You and the baby you're carrying are the only good thing left in my life." He said , his voice so low , "Are you going to leave me too ?"

I closed my eyes to not cry , but even when i did , tears fell down freely throughout my closed eyelids.

I don't want a divorce.

I don't want to leave him.

I want to spend the following seven months i have with him.

With the man i love.

A man I thought I would never love.

But i did anyway.

"No." I said , " I won't leave you."

"I don't want to." I said and at my words his hold over me tightened even more."I promise."

But I can't promise you with forever Ashton.

Actually i can't even promise you with a lot of time.

But as long as i can , i promise to stay.

I pulled away when a feeling of guilt rushed in my chest. For a moment i felt like telling him the truth but when i looked at his face , at his eyes. I couldn't.

I just couldn't.

I think i stopped breathing for a moment when i noticed a single tear escaping his eye.

I bit my lip as my hand went to his cheek and wiped it away.

Never in a million years i thought i would see him crying.

"Today I realized that i never actually apologized for what i did." He said making me lift my eyes from my hand on his cheek to meet his eyes. "I am sorry."

He apologized and I didn't really understand to what he is referring to.

"Do you forgive me ? " He asked his hand went and cupped my cheek.

"For what ?" I asked not knowing what exactly he is apologizing for.

He averted his gaze down and he didn't answer , i heard him take a deep breath before looking back at my eyes.

A moment of silence settled between us before he decide to talk again, "Because i killed him."

The words were fighting to not come out of his mouth and i wish they actually didn't.

"You didn't kill him." I said , "It was an accident."

He shook his head and said , "Accident or not,i was the reason behind his death."

"Don't blame yourself." I said trying to convince him otherwise. "Please !"

He closed his eyes for a while and when he opened them again i saw something else in his eyes.

"Can i kiss you ?" He said after a while , the question came out of the blue that i was too busy trying to register it not knowing how to reply.

He took my silence as a yes because i saw him leaning closer , and my answer for sure was yes because i felt myself leaning toward him too.

Before i even took a chance to process everything, he pulled me closer till our lips locked.

His lips were so warm against mine as they reminded me of soft , little fluffy pillows ; and in the same time reminded me of fairy floss. I couldn't stop my heart from pounding in my chest. My blood flowed rapidly in my cheeks making my face red as ever.

I lifted my hands up and pulled them up high to his shoulders, where I entwined them with his soft dark brown hair.

I was engrossed in the kiss that I didn't notice how he lifted me up and placed me on the bed beside him his lips never leaving mine.

I was trapped between him and the headboard of the bed.

"I love you Katherine." He whispered , "so f*cking much."

I smiled against his lips , its the first time he ever said those words to my face.

I wanted to say it back , but somehow the words didn't come out. I don't think i even need to say it.

And a part of me was still afraid to say those exact words back.

Maybe because i lost all the people whoever said those words to me.

And I don't want to do this to Ashton.

He pulled away from me , a small smile one his face and in the moment i knew that i was wrong before.

The choice i took concerning my life is going to affect him.

In a bad way.

*****

I woke up to the ringing voice of a phone, i opened my eyes and blinked to see where the phone is.

But the room was pitch black , the same as outside.

It is still night.

The light coming from the phone was flashing from Ashton's side.

I felt Ashton shift beside me , he gently removed his hand from around me and took the phone.

"Yeah." He said , his voice sleepy.

"Zoe ? " He asked in alarm his voice sounding really worried.

At his tone I directly shot up from the bed and turned the lights on.

"Zoe , why you are crying ? " He asked and looked at me with furrowed eyebrows.

His eyes widened at whatever she said , "Okay okay , i am coming , don't worry." His voice low and he looked shocked.

He removed the phone from his ear , his expression still the same looking in front of him at nothing specific.

"What's wrong ?" I asked feeling worried of what i may hear next.

"He is in the hospital." He said and i can sense a hint of concern in his voice.

He looked back at me answering my unspoken question, "Mark, he had a heart attack."

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Sorry for not updating earlier , hope you liked the chapter tho.

I somehow felt bad for Mark , ahh am i too nice !

Don't forget to comment and vote 😊
Love ya❤️