Ayla 3 [A WWE Multiverse]

Chapter 17 - I didn't have a choice

Ayla sat there in disbelief.  Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening in disbelief as the words hit her like a sledgehammer. She felt the ground sway beneath her feet, a cold numbness spreading through her veins. No... this can't be true. Not he. How could he...?

"You... sold me?" Her voice trembled, barely a whisper, but laced with a deep, cutting pain. The person who stood before her, someone she had once trusted and looked up to, had just shattered her world.

"How could you do this to me?" she demanded, her voice rising with each word, the anger bubbling up from deep within. "I was just a child! Your family!"

Tears welled up, blurring her vision as memories of her childhood came crashing back. The fear, the loneliness, the feeling of being lost in a world that didn't care about her, a cruel, nasty world. And now... now she knew why.

"Why?" she choked out, the word escaping her lips in a broken sob. "Why would you do this? Was I not good enough? Did you hate me that much?"

Rikishi reached out, but Ayla recoiled, her body shaking with the force of her emotions. "Don't touch me!" she spat, backing away, her mind a whirlwind of anger, sadness, and confusion. "I don't know whether to hate you or... or feel sorry for you."

Rikishi gulped. He expected her to react as such. He knew that it wouldn't be easy but he wanted to come clean to her and explain to her.

Roman sat beside her, slowly reaching for her shoulder, pulling her close, burying her head into his chest. He was glad that she didn't resist. He wanted to come clean about Maxon as well, but seeing how Ayla isn't taking this new well, he figured that he would tell her some other day. For now, he just wants to be there for her and comfort her. 

"I know... I know it isn't easy for you to accept this. I know it's not a small thing what I've done and you might not be able to forgive me either. I'm not pushing you to do so. All I need is a minute for me to explain to you what exactly happened" Rikishi pleaded. His heart felt like being stabbed knowing how hurt she must be. "Please?"

Ayla didn't answer, she stayed in Roman's arms, tears flowing down her cheeks.

Rikishi turned to Roman when she didn't answer, asking for help. Roman understood, nodding, saying that he's got it. 

"Kid" Roman called, gently. "I know it wasn't right what he did. I'm not defending him either. Still, would you please give him a chance to explain himself?" 

"And what?" Ayla asked, taken on by a sudden rage. "Tell lies? More and more lies? Lies to cover up things and make me feel good about the fact that he just sold me off when I was a new born baby who didn't want no harm to anybody? That I had to suffer for 15 years alone, being abused, missing out the most important years of my life, missing my entire childhood? Oh yeah, any explanation would make me feel real good about it" 

Rikishi's heart stung at her sarcasm. Truth to be told, he does deserve her anger. It is justified. He flinched at the harshness in her voice, but didn't back down.

"I know, baby girl. It's not right and no explanation would change any of that. I'm just asking if you could consider, opening up your heart to listen to him, listen to what he has to tell" Roman asked, pleading. He didn't want to force her, he was equally mad too when he knew about this at first. But he didn't have a choice right now.

Ayla looked at Rikishi, her mind was racing. "I hate you! I hate what you did to me! How could you do this and expect me to just listen?"

Her voice was weak as ever, which shattered both of their hearts. 

"Ayla, I'm so sorry. I know I can't undo what I've done, but I need you to understand why. Please, just let me explain." Rikishi pleaded again. He could drop to his knees, a gesture of submission and regret, showing her that he's truly repentant and desperate for her to hear his side. "I know what I did was unforgivable. But please, just hear me out.  I know I can't take back what I did, but you deserve to know the truth. Please, just let me explain. If not for me, then for yourself. Don't leave it like this."