A Woman Scorned!

CHAPTER 20

"What... What happened? Mom why is Leeya crying?"
"Vin I..."
"Is it that bad aunt?"
"No Lina, it's just..."
"But is Ms Aleeya okay?"
"Please kids, Just let me take her to her room."

The voices speak from a distance, I can hear them but I'm not in a state to assure them I'm okay, 'cause honestly, I don't think I am.
"Come on baby." Mom and granny take me back to my room. I get settled back on the bed. "Mom can you please go check on the kids, I'll stay here with Leeya." Granny nods, caresses my cheek then walks out leaving me with mom.

As soon as granny is out, I can't help but breakdown.

Mom sits on the bed next to me, she hugs me, rubbing my back softly.
"Stop crying so much baby, you'll not get better."
"Mom... She... I..."
"I know sweety, I know."
"It's been so many years mom. She still looks the same, sounds the same and her eyes still bare hatred."
"Aleeya forget it, it's not worth it."

I pull away from mom's arms, wipe my tears and look at her.
"Not worth it mom? Not worth it?!"
"Aleeya..."
"No mom! It is worth it, it's worth everything. I can even lay down my life for the rage I feel in my heart."

"Aleeya you promised. You promised to stop seeing that boy and you never go back on your word."
"I did mom, I promised. Now you have to promise me."
"What?"
"Promise me you'll support me mom. Now more than ever, I want to be with Ash."
"Aleeya..."
"I don't know how I'm gonna do it but, I'll be the one to marry Zodiac. I'll be the one to become the daughter in law of... of Janneta Coles."
"I am not going to allow that Aleeya."
"Don't you want me to let go of the past?!"
"I do but..."
"Don't you want me to get justice?!"
"Aleeya..."
"The only way to let go of the past is to get justice, and the only way to get justice, is to marry Ash and I will do it, whether you support me or not."

I lay down turning away from my mom, I can hear sigh as she gets off my bed. She brushes my hair, kisses my forehead then walks out.

----------------------------

It's morning, I cried all night. I have to see Ash, I need to see him. I help myself out of bed, walking out I don't see my family and friends.

I'm hoping there's no one in Ash's room. I slowly walk to his room and luckily there's no one in and outside.

Turning the doorknob I feel this heavy lump in my throat. I walk in and walk closer, he's just laying there with all these machines attached to him.

"Oh Ash." I sit on a chair next to him, and finally I can hold his hand. It's warm, so is his face as I caress his cheek. "Won't you open your eyes? Even if it's to see me."

Once again, the tears burn my cheeks. I can't hold them back seeing Ash in this condition. Resting my face on his hand, I cry out.

Had I not left him, had I stayed and not... "Please Ash, I need you to look at me. These machines they... I can't... Oh Ash. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry my love."
"Why are you apologising?" I hear a faint voice asking, I raise my head to look and he's awake, his eyes half open.

"Ash... you..."
He removes his oxygen mask and softly smiles. "You... Are you okay?"
"No. I'm not, seeing you like this I... I'm sorry."
"But why are you apologising?" His voice is really faint, he's struggling but still talking. His chest is rising and falling from his heavy breathing.

"I shouldn't have left... I should've..."
"Alee, it's not your fault. I'm alive because you helped me, I... Arggh" He roughly groans in a low tone, holding his head.

"Ash what's wrong?" I stand from my seat and hold his hand tighter.
"My head I... Damnit." He shuts his eyes tightly and I can see he's in pain.
"I'll go get a doctor."
"No." He holds my hand stopping me. "Please don't."
"But Ash you.. "
"I'll be fine. I just... need you to stay here with me." He breathes in and out then sits up on his bed.

"Careful..." I help him sit up, then I sit next to him, facing him and holding his hand. "You must've suffered a concussion, your head hit the ground when we... when the house..." My voice just breaks when I think of that fire.

"What about you Alee... Are you okay?"
"Yes I..."
He looks at my bandaged head then takes my bandaged hand into his.
"You're hurt."
"It's nothing Ash..."
"You didn't inhale a lot of smoke right?"

I shake my head and he smiles at me before brushing my face with the back of his hand.

"I was so scared you know. I swear I don't know what went wrong last night. Everything was perfect then, I just started feeling light-headed, the next moment I was in bed. I was talking to you, next thing you're waking me up and there's so much smoke."

"Ash just forget..."

"When I saw that fire, I just wanted to protect you but then, I realized I was too weak to even protect myself. I was terrified, I wasn't scared of dying Alee. I was scared of losing you."

I can't stop crying, how could he be the son of Janetta. He's so kind, so caring, he's my love...

What kind of joke is fate playing with me?! He squeezes my hands and continues...
"Look Alee, I know you said we should go our separate ways but..." Before he could complete his sentence, I gently press my lips against his, making him gasp a little.

He delicately kisses me back holding the small of my back and pulling me closer. His lips are soft and warm, he slightly parts them letting in the tip of my tongue.

My hands cup his face and move to the back of his neck. The kiss is not rushed, not rough, not wanting. It's soft, passionate, delicate and needing.

We part after a few minutes and just look at each other. I still have tears in my eyes, how can love hurt like this? How can such a sweet kiss burn through my skin?

I shake my head, removing his hands and jumping off the bed.
"I... I'm sorry, I should go back now."

"Alee..." He holds my hand.
"Your mother... she's... She is here with your fianceé."
"You... You met my mother?"
"Kinda. You never told me your mother is Janetta Coles." I look deeply into his eyes as if I want him to deny being that woman's son.

"We've known each other for a short time, I never had the chance. Did she say something?"
"No. I was just... Shocked."
"Yea, she can be intimidating. Listen Alee..."

"Zoddy! You're awake!" A voice behind me screams out making me pull my hand away from Ash's.

She runs to him, pushes me aside and hugs him tightly, I can only stare at the ground.
"Not so tight Dina" Ash groans. "I'm still in pain."
"Oh sorry husby, I'm just so glad to see you awake. Wait... What are you doing here? Again."

Dina makes me pause as I was about to walk away, I turn to look at her.
"I was just..."

"My baby, you're awake!" That's Ash's mom, she rushes in and hugs him. "I was so worried, what happened to you? How did... Zodiac what happened?"
"I'm fine mom. Alee saved me."
"Alee?" Both Ash's mom and Dina say in sync. Ash looks at me and so do they.

"Were you two together?" Dina asks narrowing his eyes.
"No." I quickly answer before Ash can. "His house is on my way home, I was driving by and I saw the fire. I didn't know it was him inside, I just wanted to make sure there was no one, I found him instead."

"Husby is she telling the truth?"
Ash intensely looks at me before nodding.

"Well, thank you for you kindness but we'll take it from here, you don't have to check on my son, his fianceé and I will."
"Mom, please."
"We'll like to have a moment as a family now, if you could please." She points to the door.
"Mom!"

I meet Ash's eyes, he opens his mouth to speak but closes it without saying a word. "Of course" I pick my feet up and get out of the room as fast as I can.