10: Reconciling With Her Brother.
“Austin?” I whispered, my voice trembling.
My heart throbbed, and it felt unreal. My brother stood right on the other side of the
door.
“Ashley…”
I stood there frozen in place for a moment as I saw Austin standing at my doorstep.
How could he be here? Was I hallucinating for missing them so much?
I blinked my eyes in disbelief and nervousness. And then I gulped.
It felt embarrassing to see him here. Five years. It had been five years since we met, or talked. I missed him, but seeing him made me feel guilty and anxious. Before I could think more, I instinctively tried to close the door. I didn’t want to let him
1/8
10 Reconciling With Her Brother
know about what I was going through.
But before I could, Austin stepped inside. He walked in leaving me no room to protest and to my shock, Asher followed closely behind him.
“Won’t you let your brother inside? he asked with a painful smile but I cut him.
“How… how do you two know each other?” I stammered, looking between
them.
Austin raised a brow, then turned to Asher.
“You didn’t tell her?”
Asher shrugged, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Not yet.”
Austin settled into a couch making himself comfortable already. “Well, he’s my best friend. He’s also the one taking care of you secretly, and making sure that you don’t get into any trouble for us since you decided to block us.”
My mouth fell open as I stared at Asher, a
28
10 Reconciling With Her Brother
mix of astonishment and confusion
swirling in my mind.
Asher didn’t reply, and just shrugged.
Embarrassment crawled inside my skin. My checks turned red, and hot.
Now, everything made sense. Austin and Asher were best friends, and he was asked by Austin to take care of me. Finally, the pieces clicked into place.
Of course. That’s why Asher had been so willing to help me. It was all because of
this.
Asher calmly placed his hands on Austin’s shoulder. “I thought to bring him here. You missed him, didn’t you?”
I stood there watching them, still astonished that they had known each other all along when I had no idea of this.
Asher gave both of us a stare. “I’ll give you two some space,” he said casually before walking inside the house.
38
10: Reconciling With Her Brother
My lips parted. I wanted to stop him, and
didn’t want him to leave us alone. But I
couldn’t. And, I knew this was going to be
awkward.
“Austin…” my voice cracked as I tried to look at him from the corner of my eyes.
He sighed. I could still see the pain in his eyes. Austin had tried to stop me from meeting with Ace many times, and told me that Ace still loved Elena. But I wasn’t ready to listen. I coldly abandoned him.
My heart throbbed in pain as I recalled how much I spoke cruelly to him, and how coldly I left them when he begged me to
rethink.
All of that pained me, and haunted me for years. But I had no courage to meet or speak with them. And, my parents had already told me before the marriage that they didn’t want to see me in the future.
I gulped when Austin grew closer to me.
“Have you been doing well?”
4/8
10: Reconciling With Her Brother.
I couldn’t reply.
Austin took a breath, and hugged me tightly. “What happened?”
How could he still be so gentle towards me? Shouldn’t he be angry?
At this moment I couldn’t hold it back in front of him. Tears welled up in my eyes as I broke down, throwing my arms around. him.
“I’m sorry,” I choked out, my voice. muffled against his shoulder. “You were right. Everyone was right.”
He held me tighter while he caressed my back. “Don’t cry, don’t cry. Just tell me what’s going on. I’ll deal with it for
you.”
Sniffling, I pulled back, wiping my tears as I shook my head. “No… I was foolish. All of you were correct but I was too blind to
see it. Ace… Ace had never loved me. All he
cared about was Elena. He just took me for her substitute. And, Elena… Elena is back.
He didn’t even tell me… he didn’t… he was
5/8
34
10: Reconciling With Her Brother.
meeting her behind my back.”
Austin’s face darkened, his jaw tightening while he rubbed the tears of my face.
“That bastard. I knew he wasn’t good enough for you.”
I forced a smile. “Yes… you’re right. All of you were right. Only I was stupid.”
Austin clenched his fist in anger, “Don’t cry, princess. I’m going to teach that dimwit a lesson!” he said with a frown.
I grabbed his hands and shook my head, tears slipping down my cheeks again.
“Do you still love that bastard after all he did to you?”
I shook my head. “I don’t want you to get into any trouble for him. And, also… I’m divorcing him. I already sent him the divorce papers.”
Austin gently caressed my head. “That’s good, that’s good. So, come back home with us, princess.”
6/8
10: Reconciling With Her Brother.
I shook my head, backing away from him. while I looked down at the floor. “I can’t. Not now.”
The frown on Austin’s face shifted to one of confusion and worry. “Why not? Mom and Dad miss you. We all do. Come home, Ashley. Or, are you still angry with us?”
I bit my lip, hesitating.
“So, you’re still angry with us…”
I immediately shook my head. “No. I had long been over that. I miss you. I missed everyone all this time. But, not now…”
“Why?” he pressed, his voice softening.
I glanced down hesitating before I finally sighed. “I… I’m pregnant.”
“I… I’m going to be an uncle? No, don’t. worry about that. The problem is Ace. We’ll all love your baby.”
I forced a faint smile, and shook my head.
“I’m going for an abortion tomorrow.”
718
10: Reconciling With Her Brother.
Austin’s face dropped. “That’s your choice, but then, why…? Why won’t you come back?”
“Austin,” my voice cracked, my breath, hitching. “I’m having the abortion because I need to go through cancer
treatment.
“What?” Austin‘ s expression froze, his jaw dropped in shock as color was instantly drained from his face. “What did you just say?” he asked, raising his eyebrows in surprise.
I looked up, meeting his eyes. “I have gastric cancer, Austin.”
8/8
