A Lovely Betrayal

Chapter Twenty Two

Niall POV

I hold Ashley’s hand as we walk through central London under the lights of the city. Ashley’s eyes sparkle the most beautiful smile gracing her face as she drags me around town. I pull her closer to me wrapping my arm around her kissing her on the temple. She giggles leaning up to kiss me on the cheek.

“Niall this night has been absolutely perfect.” She says sighing happily.

“It’s not over yet Ash.” She looks up at me confused as I pull her to a stop in front of the palace.

“Niall what are you-“ She gasps as I drop to one knee in front of her and pull out the ring box.

“Ashley, this past year has been the most miraculous year of my life.  I don’t know how I made it before I met you, I can’t imagine not spending every day of my life with you. You make me smile and bring out the best in me, You make me want to be a better man and live life to the fullest. I want to do that with you by my side, I want to take you everywhere and do everything with you. I want to have a family, and wake up with you curled up next to me every day. I love you with all my heart Ashley, I want to spend the rest of my life with you, will you make me the happiest man on earth by becoming my wife?”

She stares at me in shock tears pooling in her eyes as she nods frantically. I grin broadly sliding the ring on her finger. I stand up and she throws her arms around me hugging me tightly

“OH my god Niall we’re engaged! We’re getting married!!!” she squeals and I chuckle leading her back towards the car. I open her door for her and when I finally get back in the car I glance over and she’s staring at her phone in confusion.

“What’s wrong?”

“Tatum’s called me 50 times. Something’s wrong Niall we have to go over there.” She says urgently as she dials Tatum’s number putting it on speaker.

“ASHLEY! YOU AND NIALL HAVE TO COME! WE HAVE TO FIND HIM! WE HAVE TO! HE CAN’T BE WE HAVE TO FIND HIM ASHLEY!”

“Tate what are you talking about? Who do we have to find?” She says urgently as I press the gas harder.

“HARRY WE HAVE TO FIND HARRY WE HAVE TO FIND HIM! HE’S HURT ASHELY! HE-HE-HE SHOT HIMSELF! WE HAVE TO FIND HIM!” She sobs and my eyes widen as I press the pedal to the floor ignoring red lights and swerving through traffic.

“Tatum we’re on our way calm down sweetie we’ll find him, I promise. We’ll find him.” She says her voice thick with worry. I peel into their driveway and leap out of the car bounding up the front steps two at a time bursting into the house to find Tatum rushing around the house like a mad woman. I grab her by the shoulders and yank her against my chest where she collapses in sobs. I watch Ashley slip upstairs as I hold Tatum.

“Tate you need to keep it together. Call your mother. Have her come watch Olivia and Owen. We will go find Harry, I’ll call the police, they will help us find him.”

“O-okay.” She whimpers and I pull out my phone and call the police explaining the situation. Ashley comes downstairs in some of Tatum’s clothes and smiles at me sadly.

“The police are on their way.” I say softly sitting down on the couch running my hands through my hair.

“My mum’s on her way.” Tatum says her voice thick with tears.

“Tate you need to call Gem and Anne. They have to know what’s going on.” She nods slowly and disappears into the kitchen. “Ash what if it’s too late, what if he’s gone.” I whisper tears burning my eyes.

“Niall it’s going to be okay, Harry’s fine, he’s okay.” She says as if she’s trying to convince herself as well. A pounding on the door has me on the feet I rip the door open and several police officers stand on the front porch I let them in and they take statements from all of us.

“Can we go find him now? Please?” Tatum says desperately.

“Ms. Styles, you have to stay here, we can’t involve civilians in a lost person’s search. We’ll find your ex-husband and get back to you.” The officer says gently and she shakes her head furiously.

“No no no I have to find him he has to be okay! I can’t let him be out there alone please!”

“Ms. Styles it’s out of my hands. Civilians aren’t permitted to assist in these kinds of searches. I’m sorry. We’ll let you now as soon as we find anything.” He says and disappears out the door. Tatum collapses on the couch and curls up into a ball sobbing.

“Tate they’re going to find him. It’ll be okay.” I say softly. Ashley goes upstairs when one of the twins starts crying. I sit next to her and wrap my arms around her as she sobs. “They’ll find him Tate.”

We wait for what seems like hours during which Anne and Gem appeared and too my place holding Tate while I helped Ashley with the twins.

“Niall what if he’s dead.” She whispers. I sigh and stare down at Olivia sleeping in my arms.

“I don’t know Ash, we’ll just have to take it one day at a time. There’s really nothing we can do to prepare. I called the boys after I called the police. They’re trying to get over here.”

“They should be here you all need each other right now.” She says softly and I nod. We are silent after that, what was there to say? Our friend could be dead somewhere, he could be gone and there was nothing we could do. My eyes lock with Ashley’s when a knock on the door echoes through the silent house. I stand up and lay Olivia in her crib and climb down the stairs slowly pulling open the door to the house. A police officer stands on the porch his hat in his hands a solemn look on his face.

“You found him.” I whisper and he nods slowly.

“We did.” I close my eyes taking a deep breath. “They’re taking him to the hospital as we speak. He put a gun in his mouth…”

My hands shake as he explains.

“But, He is alive. The bullet didn’t penetrate his brain, it missed and went through his cheek bone beneath his right eye. He’s stable, he’s going to be fine.”

Relief flooded through me in waves as I looked over my shoulder at Gemma, anne and Tatum. She sobbed in relief.

“But, he’s going to have to be detained in the psychiatric hospital due to his attempted suicide as soon as he’s recovered.”

“Thank you so much officer.”

“We can escort you all to the hospital if you’d like.”

“Anne, Gem, Tate they’ll escort you to the hospital, Ash and I can stay here with the babies.” I say and they leap to their feet rushing towards the front door squeezing my hand lightly as they pass by. I watch as they peel out of the driveway with the police ahead of them. I climb the stairs slowly and enter Olivia’s nursery. Ashley looks up at me her eyes glazed over with tears. “He’s alive Ash, He’s alive. He put a gun in his mouth, but it went through his cheek bone, he’s going to be okay.”

“Oh my god Niall.” She said sighing happily “he’s going to be okay.”

“He’s going to be in a Psychiatric Hospital for his attempted suicide.”

“But he’s alive.”

“He’s alive.”