[NOT EDITED]

Katherine's POV

We directly drove toward the hospital, Ashton didn't say anything after the call.

Neither did I.

It was obvious that the news get him worried, it was obvious that he is really concerned.

Even though he is trying to hide it by just looking in front of him faking just concentrating on the road.

It is still obvious.

His white knuckles from pressing hard on the steering wheel exposed him,

the loud breaths he is taking exposed him too.

The look in his eyes was enough.

To expose him.

He doesn't want to be worried.

I understand.

But he is worried though.

And i understand as well.

It is two after midnight, and it's still dark outside, just few people here and there so It didn't take us long to arrive.

Once we stepped inside , i was the first to talk, "Mark Ryder." I said to the receptionist, who directly typed the name on the screen in front of her, "He is in the operation theater." She said , "At the end of the hall , to the right."

I directly followed the direction and walked further inside. Once i spotted Zoe , grandma and Melanie from far ,my stomach flipped and my heart jumped up and down for unknown reason.

Ashton was beside me and when he saw them , he stopped as well , his hand clenched into a fist and it was obvious he is trying his best to stay calm.

I unclenched his fist and held his hand tightly trying to assure him that it is going to be fine.

He looked at me and i tried to give him a smile , he tightened his hold over my hand and then we walked toward them.

Once Zoe spotted us , she directly ran toward Ashton , i removed my hand from his when she threw herself in her brothers embrace.

"I am scared." She said her voice muffled with tears , "I am so scared Ashton."

Ashton closed his eyes for a brief second , his hand went up and wrapped themselves around his sister.

"He is going to be okay." He said but I noticed the uncertainty in his tone , "He has to be okay."

It was obvious that he is trying to convince himself with those words as well.

She pulled away , her face red,  her eyes puffy and full with tears.

My heart ached for her, and i felt a single tear scrolling down my cheek , because i understand what she is being through right now.

Ashton's hand went and wiped her tears away , "Don't cry." He said , "It's not good for the baby."

She nodded and tried to wipe her tears away as we walked toward the waiting area.

Grandma stood up directly and was the first to speak , "What happened ?" She asked looking at Ashton , and i can see how worried she is just by looking at her tired blue eyes.

Of course she is. He's her son after all.

"Ashton answer me , what happened when he went to your home?" She asked again probably oblivious to the fact that Ashton knows the truth now.

"I don't think this the good time or place to talk about it." Ashton said , then went and sat far away from all of them not even glancing at Melanie's side who in her turn was crying her eyes out oblivious to all of us.

I went and sat beside Ashton. I don't feel like leaving him alone especially after everything happening.

If anything would happen to Mark , i can see how it's going to affect them all.

It will affect Ashton as well.

I wish i can do something now , to erase his pain or at least make him feel better, but i feel so helpless.

I just hope Mark is going to be okay. For Zoe's and Ashton's sake at least.

We waited for almost two hours before the door opened and the first doctor went out.

We all stood up instantly and went beside him ready to know whether Mark is fine or not.

"Is my husband okay ? " Melanie asked quickly while wiping her tears away , "Please answer me."

"For now he is." The doctor said confusing all of us , "We did a percutaneous Coronary Intervention but that won't be enough because the artery is ninety nine percent blocked." He paused removing that cap from his head, "So we need to do a coronary artery grafting as soon as possible."

"It is so urgent so we are going to do the surgery today at noon." He said , "If i can i would do it now , But we need other doctors to be here and such surgery needs preparation."

The look in the doctor's eye showed us that there is more than just this.

"So after the surgery , my dad is going to be fine, right ? " Zoe asked looking somehow confused.

"Well , normally during such operations the risk is fifty fifty, but in your fathers case i am afraid it is more , since he is suffering from Asthma as well which will increase the risk to almost seventy percent." The doctor said , sympathy in his eyes.

"So You're telling us that there is just a thirty percent prospect  that my son will make it alive." Grandma said her eyes wide , the doctor nodded assuring her assumption.

Zoe placed her hand over her mouth as she hiccuped a sob and tears found their way again to Melanie's eyes.

And I felt my heart sink further in my stomach.

This is not good.

This can't happen.

I looked at Ashton to see his reaction since he kept silent during all this.

His right hand was rubbing his forehead furiously as if it's going to explode any moment, while his other hand was fisted beside him.

"We will keep him under supervision till the operation time." The doctor added grabbing our attention ,"There is no need for all of you to stay here because no one is allowed in to see him."

"So I recommend you to go and rest till the surgery starts, because staying here won't do you anything." He said , "Now excuse me i have to go." With that he walked away.

"Come sweetie , lets go." Grandma said to Zoe who was still crying.

"I want to stay with my dad." Zoe said sniffling.

"You heard the doctor Zoe." I said placing my hand over her shoulder , "You should rest , for your baby at least."

She nodded when i mentioned the baby and tried to wipe her tears away.

"Ashton can you please come to our home." Zoe said snapping Ashton from his trance, "Please , I don't want to stay alone."

"Okay." He said , his voice low.

They walked away after that , while Melanie stayed in her place staring at the operation door not moving.

I walked toward her , i placed my hand over her shoulder to grab her attention.

She jumped at the contact as if i pulled her out if her thoughts, "You need to rest as well." I said but she shook her head, "I want to stay here."

"You heard the doctor, we can't do anything if we stayed." Ashton said and me being surprised is an understatement.

Her eyes snapped to his direction as she stared at him for a while and this time i couldn't interpret the look in their eyes.

"I am sorry." She said stepping closer to him ," I know what i did wa.."

"This is not the good time to talk about the past." Ashton directly interrupted her his face blank.

He is trying to hide his feeling as usual.

He doesn't want to feel it.

Actually, He is afraid to even feel it.

So wearing the cold façade is easier for him.

"Lets go now." He added, grabbed my hand and started walking away taking me with him.

I thought we're going to Zoe's place , but when we arrived to a house i've never been in i got really confused.

"Whose house is this ?" I asked looking at Ashton , "It's His house." He answered and started walking inside, and by his , i think he is referring to his father.

Grandma ,Melanie and Zoe followed us inside.

The place is gigantic inside out yet with an antique theme proving that it was built many years ago.

We entered what i suppose is the living room -which is as big as Ashton's whole place by the way.

I directly sat down feeling really tired , since it is five in the morning and I hadn't slept yet.

I bet all of them are tired like me.

"I'll be back." Ashton whispered in my ear before walking away to I don't know where.

Zoe and Melanie also weren't here so it was just me and grandma.

"He knows everything now, right ? " She asked and i nodded.

And i wish he didn't know though.

"Did they fight ? " She asked again , "I wont say they fought, It is just Mark explained what happened." I said.

"Why you never told him about that ?" I asked. I mean if he knew this from the beginning, he won't feel the same pain as now.

"I thought i was protecting him for the truth." She said , "But i was wrong."

"He .." I started to say but was interrupted when a girl wearing a maid costume came rushing toward grandma.

"What's wrong Sara ? " Grandma asked noticing the panicked look on her face.

"Its Mr. Ashton, I don't know.."

"What's wrong with Ashton ?" I directly interrupted her as my heart raced in my chest.

"I don't know.. He is throwing up and.." She didn't have time to continue as I directly ran searching for Ashton, my heart pounding really hard in my chest.

But I didn't know where to go , so i stopped for a moment.

"Come with me Mrs." The maid who i think her name is Sara came from behind me and directed me to where Ashton is.

I directly entered the room and went toward the bathroom , he was kneeling in front the toilet throwing up.

My stomach flipped at the sight but i ignored that and directly went beside him , my hand went toward his back stroking it soothingly.

"I don't want you to see me like this." He said , and when he talked i noticed how hard it was for him to breathe normally.

"Don't say that." I said brushing the hair strand over his forehead away.

He looked at me and if it was possible my heart beats accelerated even more as i looked at his eyes.

I prefer seeing the angry Ashton that seeing him weak like this.

"Are you okay ? " I asked feeling really worried. He is probably throwing up due to nervousness.

With every thing happing, with every feeling he is burying inside, he won't be able to handle it anymore.

It all would bile up.

Till it all explode.

I shook these thoughts as i helped him get up ,wash his face and brush his teeth.

I ushered him toward the bed and then searched through the closet for something to change his clothes.

Weirdly enough i found clothes that would fit him. Maybe this was his room before or something.

I placed the clothes on the bed beside him. "You should cha.." I was about to talk ,but when i saw him trying to open the drawer beside him but failing ,i stopped.

His hand was shaking not able to open it , i directly rushed toward him and when i saw his other hand rubbing his chest my heard sank further in my stomach.

"The..in..inhaler." He tried to say struggling in taking a breathe.

Not wasting a second i opened it directly and searched for the inhaler my whole body shaking too.

I directly placed it in his mouth and pressed. His hand went over mine above the device and pressed harder.

My heart beats calmed when i saw him relaxing.

I still can't shake this fear whenever he has his asthma attack.

I always feel like I can't breath as well.

"Why i am feeling like this ?" He asked after a while breaking the silence that settled between us.

"Why i am afraid ?" He added looking at me with furrowed eyebrows , "I always wanted him to be out of my life , i always wished his death but now.."

He paused taking a moment to calm himself, "Now i can't bare the thought that he may not make it alive.."

I bit my lip trying not to break , i have to stay strong.

For him.

"Because even after everything, he is still your father." I said.

"But i hate him Katherine." He said , "I always hated him."

"No , you didn't hate him." I said telling the truth , "You just hated what he did to you."

"You hated the fact that you can't hate him." I added , while he kept silent as if trying to register my words.

I wrapped my arms around him feeling real pain from the inside hoping that all this would just be solved , "Even if you try to deny it , but you're scared of losing him Ashton."

"Because even after everything you still love him."

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So guys , do you think Mark will make it out alive ? Or i will just kill him 😂
Do you want him dead though ?

Anyway , this is for those people who messaged me -that they don't like the story- just want to say , if you don't like it then don't read it. It is that simple really. It's not like i am obliging you to read it or anything !

Seriously thought , these messages made me less enthusiastic to write and that's why i took longer in updating this time, and that's why the chapter is not that good. *sigh*

Next Update probably tomorrow since i felt this one was small.