[NOT EDITED]

Katherine's POV

I don't know if i should be happy right now or not.

I don't know if i should be relieved to finally have my answers , to finally solve the debate running in my mind.

She is his mother. And she is alive.

Yes, that's good.

But in the same time this will open old pages , this will bring the past again, things now is going to become even more complicated.

Everyone thinks she is dead.

I swallowed the lump in my throat as i looked at her shocked expression, looked at the tears that suddenly escaped her eyes. I stepped closer toward her , "Everyone thinks you're dead !" I said , "Then how ? I - I really don't understand."

She shook her head , "I can't talk about this." She said , "Please , I don't want to talk about this. You got your answers , Mark was the father of my child but that's from the past , that doesn't matter anymore."

Her words cracked my heart. She thinks her son is dead.

Mark didn't just ruin Ashton's childhood , he ruined her life as well.

"It matter." I said , "You have no idea how much it matters."

"No , what happened in the past should stay in the past. Please , you can't tell anyone." She said wiping the tears on her cheek away , "I should leave."

She turned her body again but I directly placed my hand over her shoulder stopping her , "Your son didn't die , he is alive."

Her muscles tensed under my hands , her back still facing me , she shook her head , "No , no , my son died... I h-held his lifeless body in my arms.." her voice broke as she muttered the last sentence.

I can't even imagine how hard that was on her ,maybe that's reason number one why i am risking my life to have my baby, because i know if i survived and he didn't, i would definitely lose my mind.

"That wasn't your son." I said shaking those specific thoughts away, "Ashton is your real son."

She turned around to face me, her eyes widened , her lips parted to say something but nothing came out , shock written on her face as she shook her head again as if not believing what i just said.

"W-what ?" She said , her voice a mere whisper , the news still trying to register in her mind.

"He is your son." I said again.

She looked dazed as she stared back at me, her face paled a little and i was afraid she would faint or pass out in front of me.

"How ?" She asked after a few seconds, confusion filling her pale blue eyes.

I swallowed hard , I didn't want to tell her my next words , but i have to, she also deserves to know the truth.

"When you gave birth , Mark took Ashton from the hospital." I trailed off , the agony and pain in her eyes made it hard to talk , "And he replaced him with a dead child.. to convince you that your son died."

She gasped , more tears fell from her eyes, she placed her hand on her mouth hiccuping the sob the threatened to escape , she shook her head repeatedly, "No ,no ,no." She said , her voice muffled. Her eyes alone showed the pain she is feeling.

A tear escaped my eye as well , I don't know why , but it went down against my own will.

"Mark won't do that." She added , her voice weak and vulnerable, she even sounded unsure of her own words.

"But he did." I said then looked away , I couldn't handle looking at her eyes , seeing her break down.

"Why ?" She asked making me face her again , "Why he did that ?"

"Come lets sit , i'll tell you everything." I said as i ushered her to the table again preparing myself to tell her the rest of the story.

**

I told her everything , starting from Ashton's grandfather threatening Mark to leave her, to how he went back to her but then he discovered that she died , or that what he thought. Then i told her how Ashton knew about this just few months ago.

And while i was saying those words , one question was roaming my mind and eating my inside.

So when i finished telling her everything , i decided it's my time to ask , "Why you faked your death ?"

She bowed her head and looked at her hands ,"I had to." She said.

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion , she lifted her head up and looked at me , "I had no choice , they threatened me."

Her words just made my confusion grow more. Who would threaten her ?

"Who threatened you ?" I asked knitting my eyebrows, she shook her head , "I can't say."

"What ? No , please tell me." I said , her silence making me want to know more.

"No one will ever hurt you anymore." I added , maybe she is afraid to tell because she is still afraid of whoever threatened her. " You can trust me."

"Ashton won't let anyone hurt you." I said and i was sure. At my words, something flashed in her, i saw them soften for a moment.

She took in a deep breath before talking. What she said shouldn't surprise me , but damn in hell it did.

"Melanie." She said , "She made me fake my death , change my name and then leave the town."

My eyes widened. I didn't know Melanie would go that far.

"After i went out of the hospital, i was devastated. I felt like i lost everything." She started , her eyes didn't meet mine as she talked , probably the hurtful memory played in her mind again , "Mark came , he said that he blames me for what happened , he said that he doesn't want to see me anymore.. and then he left."

She looked back at me, her eyes red from all the tears , "Melanie came the next day , she warned me to stay out of their lives. I told her that Mark and I aren't together anymore, but that didn't convince her , she said she know that Mark would come back to me so she wants me to be out of his life for real."

"If I didn't accept , she would've hurt my whole family , she used my weakness against me , my family were the only people i have left , so i had no choice." She paused for a while and took a deep breath.

"I was afraid so i did exactly what she asked me to do. I changed my name and went out of the whole country."

She cleared her voice , few tears fell down her cheek, "She even told me that she is pregnant and she is just doing that to save her marriage.. i felt bad at the moment , really bad that i almost ruined a marriage by my reckless actions , so the guilt and the shame i felt just convinced me more that i have to forget and leave everything behind me."

I stayed silent trying to register every word she said. This is insane , this is crazy, this is sick . How could Melanie do that ?

She could've told Elizabeth that her son is still alive. How could she lie and tell her that she is pregnant and then claim Ashton as her son.

He is going to definitely lose his mind when he is going to know all this.

"We have to tell Ashton." I said looking back at her. At my words , fear flashed in her eyes, I don't know why !

"I can't." She said , "I can't do that."

Maybe she is afraid of confronting him with the truth , maybe she is afraid to break down while telling him.

"I am afraid of facing him." She added confirming my previous assumptions.

"Don't worry." I said with a confident tone , "You have no idea how much Ashton needs you."

But inside i have this feeling. This small fear.

Fear of his reaction. Fear that he may not accept this idea.

                            ******

Ashton's POV

I let out a sigh and ran my hand in my hair frustrated. My headache is just increasing and so is work.

Especially that Alex wasn't here and i barely came to the company during that period , so all this made the work pile up and these last few days have been hectic.

The ringing of my phone snapped me out of thoughts, with a sigh i grabbed it from the desk and when i saw her name flashing through the screen , my lips involuntary curved a smile.

"Hello beautiful." I said after pressing the answer button.

"Hey." She said with a low voice, "Umm Ashton can you come home now ?"

"Now ?" I asked furrowing my eyebrows , "Umm i am a little busy , is there something wrong ?" I started to get worried , "Katherine , are you okay ?"

"Yeah yeah i am totally fine." She directly said but i felt something is off , I couldn't point it out but it made me more worried and confused. "There is an important thing i need to tell you."

"Can it wait till night?" I asked , "Umm now is better, can you come ?" She answered.

I checked the time , i have a meeting in an hour, i can go and see what's wrong then come back if everything is okay.

"Okay , i am coming." I said standing up , grabbing my jacket. "I am waiting you." She said.

I hanged up after that, telling my assistant that i may skip the meeting , i hoped inside the car and drove home still unable to shook this weird feeling that rose at the pit of my stomach.

When i arrived, i directly unlocked the door and entered. Katherine was in the living room , when she noticed my presence she directly stood up.

I walked toward her eyeing her from her head to toe ,"You're sure you're okay ?" I asked again as i stepped closer. She smiled ,"I am perfectly fine."

Then she surprised me a bit when she wrapped her arms my waist and laid her head on my chest. Confused , I brought my hands up and wrapped them around her hugging her back.

"You're scaring me, you know that." I said after a moment of silence. At my words , she removed her head and lifted it up meeting my eyes , a smile on her face with her eyes almost tearing up.

She looks happy but also on the verge of crying. I really don't understand what's wrong !

I furrowed my eyebrows , "There is something you need to know." She said and i nodded ushering her to continue.

She looked down , i heard her taking a breath , she looked back at me and said a thing my mind couldn't register , "Ashton your mother is alive..she is not dead."

It was like my mind blocked out after her words. My arms around her loosened without my permission. I looked at her eyes searching for something , anything to assure me her previous words.

"What ?" My voice came low , "Katherine are you joking? "

She shook her head , "I won't joke in something like that."

I swallowed hard , the news hit me like a brick , i still don't understand, how could this be true ?

"But how ?" I asked knitting my eyebrows in confusion ,"You heard my dad , he said she is dead , everyone knows she is dead."

A part of me was in denial, a part of me didn't believe that she is really alive , this part was scared as hell of that thought , he was scared because if what Katherine is saying is true then this means that even though she is alive , i had to live without her for the past years. It mean that I was deprived from my real mother.

And it's not deaths fault.

She shook her head again , "Everyone thinks she is dead. There is another part of this story. A part even your father has no idea about."

"Come sit." She said taking my arm ushering me toward the couch , "I'll tell you what really happened."

Many questions roamed my mind as , who is she ? My real mother , where is she ? How Katherine knows about her and I don't ?

But i shook these questions for the time being waiting for Katherine to tell me the real story.

"Your mother is alive." She started , "She had to fake her death because Melanie obliged her to."

At her words , my eyes widened , and as she continues further my blood started to boil , "Melanie threatened her, she threatened her family , so your mother didn't have a choice but listen to her , so she changed her name and went out of the country with her family convincing the people she left behind that she died."

My mind was trying to register every word and something ticked inside it , a realization. A slight realization. But I wasn't sure yet.

I rubbed my temples , my headache just increasing. This is way too much to process.

"Do i know her ?" I asked the question running in my mind. She changed her name , she could be anyone i know.

Especially that exact name my mind is screaming at the moment.

Katherine nodded confirming my assumptions even more.

This can't be true. Goddammit, this is unbelievable.

I shot up from my seat and started pacing the living room , anxiety taking over me as my mind was trying to make sense of everything.

I stopped pacing , i looked at Katherine , i took a deep breath ,and even though i feel i know the answer, i asked , "Then who is she ?"

A few second ticked by and Katherine didn't say a word.

"It's me." A voice from behind me said. The familiarity in the voice startled me. I closed my eyes trying to calm my racing heart.

Slowly and reluctantly , i turned around to be face to face with her , and seeing her standing in front of me proved all my previous assumptions.

It's her.

"Isabelle." I said lowly , she shook her head as she stepped closer , "I prefer Elizabeth." She said, a faint smile on her lips.

She took a step closer and my heart kicks it up a notch. And I don't know why i step backward as a reflex.

You look like your father.

Her previous words rang in my ear again.

I used to work for him.

I tried to take a breath but couldn't, it seems like all the oxygen is knocked out of my lungs.

I saw tears in her eyes, i saw many emotions on her face , she looks happy and sad , she looks nervous and yet in the same time calm.

The locket , her picture is inside.

I looked more closely taking into her details, the same eyes , same face , the same , how didn't i notice that before ?

I felt she was familiar but my mind couldn't notice that she is the same woman in the picture,in the locket , that i always carry with me.

I remember how her face paled when i told her my name, the memory brought with it what my dad wrote in the letter.

She wanted to name you Ashton, after her father.

It's her. It's really her.

She is my mother. My real mother.

I don't know why when her hand touched my arm I directly flinched.

Her eyes widened , pain flashed in them at my action, but i was too shocked to analyze everything happening.

"I.. I can't do this." I said then directly went away toward my room , my shoulder brushed with her as i walked past her.

I closed the door and pressed my back against it. I placed my hand over my chest, my breathing getting heavier.

I rubbed my neck feeling my throat close up. Close up with unshed tears , with pain , with unspoken emotions.

I pressed my back harder against the door ,my limbs drained of all the energy.

What the f*ck just happened ?

Few moments ago, i didn't even have a mother.

All my life , I didn't receive the love and the care a mother give. Heck , I didn't even get them from my father.
So i tried my best to get accustomed to not having them in my life.  

And now , all of sudden , I discover that my mother is alive. And the women I thought she is my mother is the reason behind this all.

Whose fault is this ?

Is it my dad's ? Or is it Melanie's ?

I had to live without a mother, so she in her turn had to live without her son. She had to leave her life and start a new one away from all the people she knew. Dammit , She even had to work serving coffee so she could be able to survive.

My hand beside me curled into fist, anger started to build in me. But anger toward who ?

To really think about it, we are all victims.

Because my dad also lost a woman he loved and Melanie loved a man who didn't even love her back.

Then who's the villain in this story if we are all victims ?!

Yeah , we are all victims , but  victims to our own actions, our own doing.

So instead of blaming each others we should solve what happened and use the time we have left to correct the past mistakes.

I shouldn't be weak. This should make me more strong.

I have to solve this. I have to be strong. I am not going to let my anger lash out and do things i will regret.

I just have to accept and enjoy the fact that my mother, the woman who gave birth to me , is alive.

Yeah. Maybe i got used to not have my parents in my life. But actually having them , it's not a thing you get used to. It happens instinctively. You don't control it, your instinct does.

With that realization i went out of the room hoping that she is still here.

When i reached the living room , the sight beheld in front of me get me relieved but in the same time made my heart ache.

She was sitting there , alone , on the couch, her head in her hands , a sniffling sound coming from her side.

She is crying.

My jaw ticked , my nails digging inside my palm.

I don't want her to cry. Not anymore.

I walked closer toward her , with every step i was making , my heart started beating faster.

She seemed oblivious to my presence, so instead of talking , i knelt down in front of her , leveling myself with her.

She lifted her head and looked at me , tears scrolling down her face making my chest tighten even more.

Her shaking hand went and cupped my cheek , at her touch goosebumps rose over my skin. "You're my son." She whispered.

I swallowed past the lump in my throat, my heart about to burst from my chest , i never felt this rush of emotions.

I never felt this feeling before. I don't know how to even describe it.

"Mom." The word left my mouth and in the same moment tears left my eyes.

She hiccuped a sob , "You have no idea how much i wanted to hear this word."

My throat closed up with emotions , my words caught inside my mouth. I couldn't talk , I couldn't even utter a word so instead i threw myself in her embrace.

She directly hugged me back , she placed her chin over my head , my hold over her tightened. Her sobs came low, my tears kept their flow.

I wanted to stop crying but I couldn't, and in the moment i didn't care. All the feelings overcame me and there is no other way to express them.

No words were spoken , words aren't necessary now , because all of then will fail in express such feeling. All the alphabets , all the language won't be able to find a single word that would describe this overwhelming feeling , this bond between a mother and a son.

I just knew her as my mother yet i feel i know her since the very beginning, I feel i am ready to do anything just to protect her. I would even sacrifice my life for her.

I pulled away , trying at the moment to hold my tears back, i looked at her again , my hand went and brushed the tears on her face away , "Those eyes won't cry anymore." I said with determination.

"No one is going to hurt you from now on. I won't let anyone lay a finger on you."I added.

"They were able to separate us before, but now I won't let anyone take you away from me, i won't let the past repeat itself again."

I gave her my word.

No one will hurt her. Or i am going to hurt him more.

                             *****

Katherine's POV

After I finished from the bathroom , i went back to the living room not wanting to leave her alone.

But when i reached there , i stopped dead in my tracks, the sight in front of me took my breath away.

Somethings inside my ticked , my heart fluttered and i felt shivers running down my spine.

She had her arms around him , both of them holding each other tight. Both crying , but i am sure both happy like never been before.

Just seeing them brought this warming feeling to my heart, my hand involuntary went toward my bump , I slightly caressed it.

At my touch , my baby boy kicked making me smile.

You'll have a beautiful family. I whispered to him as a tear escaped my eye.

A knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. Their head snapped toward me , "I'll open." I said.

Wiping the tear away , i opened the door. My eyes widened a bit as i saw Ashton's father standing there , I wasn't expecting him at all.

"What are you doing here ?" My question came rude but i was shocked of seeing him here.

His smile dropped , "Umm i came to see Ashton." He said stepping inside , i saw few files in his hand.

His eyes traveled to something or more like someone behind me , i tuned around , i saw Ashton , he looked also shocked to see Mark here, "What are you doing here ?"

Mark looked between the both of us confused , "Why i have a feeling my presence is not welcomed here." He said raising an eyebrow.

"I just came to give you those file since you skipped the mee-" he started and when he paused and his whole expression changed i had to look back again.

Elizabeth came from inside ,she was standing behind Ashton.

This is not good. Not good at all.

I looked back at Mark , his lips parted but nothing came out of his mouth. His face paled , he looks like he just saw a ghost.

Well yeah that's kind of true.

His eyes didn't leave hers , he stood there frozen probably trying to realize what is happening or actually realize who is she.

Twenty eight years later , they saw each other again. I don't know how that would feel like.

The file slipped from his hand and fell on the ground. "Elizabeth." He breathed in the name , it came as a low whisper , confusion and shock rolled over his mouth as he called her name.

I saw a tear escaping her eye as he muttered her name. She is probably in shock too , seeing him after all this years and especially knowing that he lied to her before , that he took her son away.

Mark shook his head as if still not believing it is really her , he stepped forward, as a result she stepped backward.

Ashton directly went toward his dad blocking his way. Mark didn't seem to even notice Ashton in front of him , he tried to pass past him but Ashton blocked his way again. "Dad !" He said trying to grab his attention.

"No , no , how ?" Mark said bewildered as he tried to get Ashton out of his way.

"Dad stop." He said sternly placing his hand on Mark's shoulder , "Katherine, take her and go inside."

I walked toward Elizabeth to take her away , i heard mark asking , "How ? How is she -" he stopped , "I will tell you everything, just calm down , it's not good for your health." Ashton said as Elizabeth and me went out of the room.

We sat down , i looked at her , she looked dazed and lost in her thoughts.

I placed my hand over hers and squeezed gently, it seemed to pull her out of her daze. "Are you afraid ?" I asked , because she looks shaken a bit.

"Is it weird if i said no ?" She said , i smiled , "Good , because there is nothing for you to be afraid of."

She offered me a smile. "I still can't believe he is a grown up man now." She said talking about Ashton. I felt her changing the subject on purpose.

"And he is even going to be a father." She added , her gaze traveled to my bump.

"And you're going to be a grandmother." I said , at my words her face softened.

A glass shuttering voice echoed from the other room , my eyes widened a bit , "Stay here." I said then directly shot up from my seat and rushed toward the living room.

I saw Mark standing few inches away from Ashton , in front of him on the ground lays the broken pieces of the vase, "Don't f*cking tell me to calm down." Mark snapped at Ashton , his eyes fuming with anger.

Ashton ran his hand in his hair grabbing it hard in the process , he looks like he is trying his best to stay calm.

I saw Mark grabbing his phone from his pocket , angrily he pressed few buttons before placing it on his ears, "Come to Ashton's house , now." He ordered however is on the other line.

"Don't f*cking ask me why ! " he growled , "Just come now." And with that he hanged up.

"I don't think this is a good idea." Ashton said , his hand beside him curled into a fist.

Mark ignored his comment and sat down on the couch , Ashton turned around , he walked toward me, "Who's coming ?" I asked curious and in the same time worried.

Ashton clenched his jaw , "Melanie."

Okay.

This is bad. So freaking bad.

Silence filled the house as minutes ticked by , no one uttered a single word as we stayed in separate rooms.

Me and Elizabeth in one and Mark and Ashton in the other.

With every second passing , i was getting more anxious. I just hope this day ends well.

The ringing of the bell pulled me from my thoughts. I looked at Elizabeth , she nodded and we went toward the living room again.

"What's wrong ?" I heard Melanie's voice before seeing her. She looked from Mark to Ashton , then her gaze went toward me , she looked confused but when her eyes saw the exact person standing beside me , she froze in her place , her eyes widened.

"You remember Elizabeth, right ?" Mark asked mockingly stepping closer toward her.

Melanie averted her gaze away , i could say she looked shaken by what she just saw , she probably thought her lies would be hidden forever.

"How dare you do this behind my back ?" Mark asked , his voice raising and as he took a step forward toward her , she took a step backward till her back hit the wall.

"I just wanted to save our marriage." She said , fear evident in her tone but she tried her best to look strong.

Mark let out a humorless chuckle , "Our marriage ? " he asked mockingly, "You mean the business deal my father and your father obliged me into."

"You know that i never loved you from the very beginning." He added , my heart cracked a little bit , " You just destroyed my life !"

"I destroyed your life ?" She asked pointing her finger toward herself , "I was just trying to save our lives , to save you from your father and you ! What were you doing ? Ha ? What ?" Her voice raised with every word. Her face turning red from the anger.

"You were just f*cking that whöre !" She snapped.

She had no right to say that.

I saw Ashton stepping closer , his expression not so pleasant , but before he would say or do anything , Mark's hand went and slapped her on her cheek , "SHUT UP !"

She placed her hand over where he slapped her and i saw a tear scrolling down her cheek. But that didn't seem to stop Mark because he stepped even closer , he grabbed her harshly from her arms and pinned her against the wall.

"If you f*cking say anything like that again , i will -" he started but couldn't continue his sentence when Ashton placed his hand over his shoulder , "Leave her." He said.

Mark's jaw ticked , "Ashton stay out of this." He said then turned back toward Melanie. She looked frightened and in pain.

Ashton removed his father's hand from around Melanie , "Stop ! You're hurting her !" He snapped trying to push Mark away.

I was surprised that Ashton was the one acting maturely about this. Even thought after everything Melanie did and said , he didn't let his father hurt a woman in front of his eyes.

And for that , I respected him more.

"Ashton !" Mark growled , "Don't interfere in this." He stepped again closer toward Melanie.

"Leave her alone." It wasn't Ashton who said that, it was Elizabeth and to that I was utterly surprised.

She inched toward them , all of their attention seemed to go to her by now , "She is not the only one blamed for what happened. You're the one who took my son away from me , you're the one who lied."

Mark's anger seemed to fade as he looked at Elizabeth, his eyes softened a bit.

"If i knew my son was alive I would've never left no matter who would've threatened me." She added , "So don't throw your sins on other people , she was just trying to save her marriage."

"And if there is anyone to be blamed here then it's you."

Mark stepped forward toward her , "Don't! " she said warning him.

"Ellie -" he said his voice so low and weak , guilt and shame filling his eyes.

"Don't call me like that !" She said pointing her index finger toward him.

"It's true i am not going to leave and go back to my old life from now on after discovering that i have a son , but that doesn't mean i want to talk with you or even see you."

"So don't come near me ever again." With that she walked away, Mark walked after her but Ashton stopped him , "She said leave her alone."

"I have to talk with her." Mark said shaking his head , "I have to explain."

From the corner of my eye i saw Melanie leaving. I felt a little bad for her.

I know she did many wrong things but I can't help it but feel bad for her. For living with man she loved but he didn't love her back , to even see him fall in love with another woman.

"I think you should leave." Ashton said , Mark shook his head , "Let me talk to her first."

"She doesn't want to talk with you !" Ashton said , "Give her time. What you did is not a thing that would be forgiven easily."

That seemed to stop Mark from insisting on going after her , "She is alive." He said , "All these years I thought she is dead , but she is alive."

He shook his head , his eyes filled with regret and pain , " I ruined everything, i always ruin everything."

"Stop doing this to yourself and calm down , it's not good for your health." Ashton said , his eyes softened a bit as he looked at how miserable Mark seems to be , "Come let me drive you home."

Mark nodded and went out , Ashton came toward me , "I'll be right back, don't let her leave." He said , i nodded. And then he went after that.

I cleaned the mess in the living room then i sat with Elizabeth, we chatted for a while till Ashton came back.

I gave them space to talk ,probably they have a lot to catch up. So i went to the kitchen , i prepared a cup of green tea to calm my nerves and get rid of all the tension this day has caused.

I took my cup and went toward the bedroom , i sat at the bed's edge , sipping on my tea, i scrolled down the notifications on my phone, then talked with Cara checking on her and Alex.

When my phone signaled battery low , i went toward the counter , placing my cup over it, i started searching for the charger.

The door opened and Ashton came in , he gave me a smile as he threw himself on the bed. "She is going to sleep." He said , he sounded tired as well.

"You look tired too. Have some rest." I said , he nodded , "Yeah my head hurts also."

"Take some Advil pills." I said plugging my phone on charger.

"I was going to but the bottle is empty." He said with a sigh , "I always keep one in my purse. Take it , it's beside you." I said as i typed to Cara that i will talk to her later then locked my phone.

I took my cup and turned around but i froze at what i saw in front of me , Ashton was holding the papers in his hands , the papers the doctor gave me to sign , they were folded.

He looked at them confused, then he looked at me , "What is this ?" He asked as his hand slowly was unfolding them.

Fear coursed through my body and without my permission the cup slipped from my hand and crashed on the ground.

*********************************

Sorry if the chapter wasn't that good , but it got deleted and i had to write it again.

Stay tuned !

Love ya ❤️❤️