Brave (Sequel to Beside You)

Chapter Thirty Two

Ashton's POV
I made my way down to the hotel restaurant after a long talk with Michael. Just like he said Ebony was sat at a table in the corner of the restaurant by herself. I approached slowly.

'Hey Ebony.' I said cautiously. She stood up and walked over to me. She flung her arms around me.
'Look Ebony, I'm really sorry about early.' Ashton started, before being interrupted.
'No, i'm sorry Ashton. I should have asked you first before just assuming it was okay. I know I can be a full on.' Ebony rushed.
'Come on, let's sit and talk. I should probably tell you about my past.' Ashton says, gesturing towards the table Ebony had just got up from.
'Um, okay.' she nodded, as they take a seat.

'You mentioned Aria before, how much do you know about our relationship?' Ashton asks.
'Um, not a lot. I know that you were engaged and then you recently broke it off. That's it.' Ebony replies confused.
'Okay so i'll start at the beginning. I met Aria, nearly two years ago now. It was a bit of a whirlwind if i'm honest.' He took a moment, while reminiscing.
'Ashton, why are you telling me this?' Ebony asks.
'I'm telling you because you deserve to know.' he answered.
'You deserve to know the reason that this, us, can't happen.' he admitted. I just looked at him and he continued.

'It was love at first sight. I asked her to be my girlfriend the day after I met her. Skip to a year later, I ask her to marry me and she tells me she is pregnant. I know it was a little fast, but we had both discussed it and were over the moon. Seven months into the pregnancy, I booked her in for a check up. While waiting to go in, she began to bleed heavily. They were the worst hours of my life. Aria was taken into surgery. Two hours later Aria came out of theatre after they struggled to keep her alive and I was told we had lost our baby.' he paused, tears running down his face.

'It was the worst day of my life. The pain from that day has never gone away. I had to stay strong for Aria. She just kept falling apart in front of me. Children were all we discussed from very early on in the relationship. Some stuff had happened, I was beginning to lose it. I hadn't been able to grieve for myself. I spoke to her brother and he said that maybe we needed space. Said that he wouldn't blame me if I felt the need to call it quits for a while. I got back later that evening and found that she'd punched a mirror. I couldn't cope anymore so I left. I'd phoned her brother before I did so he was there. It's the worst thing I've ever done. I'm riddled with guilt.' he finished, before I engulfed him in a hug.