I know I can’t undo what happened to Amelia,” Ash said, his voice low. “But I want you to know it was never my intention. I’d give anything to trade places with her.”
Seth didn’t say anything.
Then, I noticed Kate standing nearby, holding her son in her arms. She looked radiant, the picture of a perfect wife and mother. I had to stifle a laugh. Just this morning, she was in another man’s arms, and now she played the
devoted wife.
Suddenly the shrill sound of an alarm pierced through the air, shattering my thoughts and sending my heart into
a panic.
Without a second’s hesitation, I rushed into my mother’s hospital room, my mind filled with dread. The sight before me froze my blood.
Her monitors were flashing and making beeping sounds, and my mother’s oxygen mask was nowhere on her face. My eyes darted around the room and landed on Kate’s son playing with the very mask that was supposed to keep my mother alive.
Fury ignited in my chest. I lunged forward, snatching the mask from his tiny hands and hurriedly securing it back. onto my mother’s face. My hands trembled as I adjusted it, ensuring it fit perfectly. Then I turned, glaring at the boy
who now sat on the bed
I picked him up carefully but firmly and placed him back on the ground, away from my mother. My heart thundered in my chest, the anger clawing its way out of me.
“What is wrong with you people?!” I exploded, my voice shaking.
Ash and Kate rushed in at that moment, their faces etched with confusion. Ash’s gaze fell on me, surprise flickering in his eyes. “Astrid…?” he started, but I cut him off.
“Get out!” I snarled, pointing toward the door.
“Astrid, wait,” Ash said, his voice calm, as if he could reason his way out of this. “He’s just a kid. He doesn’t know
any better…”
“That doesn’t matter!” I interrupted, my voice rising. The anger bubbled over, spilling out in waves. “Your ‘child’s‘ mistake could have killed my mom! She could have died, Ash!”
I couldn’t hold back anymore. Before I even realized what I was doing, my hand connected with his cheek in a sharp slap. The sound echoed in the room, silencing everyone.
Ash stood there, stunned, holding his cheek. Kate, for once, was speechless.
It was because of Ash that my mother was laying here almost lifelessly, and now, it was because of ‘his son‘ that my mother almost died.
I gritted my teeth “Don’t you have a tinge of shame coming here, acting innocent?”
It was him who ruined our family. It was my obsession with him that allowed it to happen.
No more. Now, I just hated him for what he did to us.
C
I pushed past him, opening the door and gesturing for them to leave. “Get out. You’re not welcome here. Not
now, not ever ”
Ash hesitated, as if trying to find the right words, but I didn’t give him the chance “Out! You aren’t welcomed here “I shouted, and finally, they left, Kate clutching her son tightly as they exited.
I turned to my mother-