THIRTY SEVEN
BECAUSE I HAD NOTHING to do, I decided to go to the hospital to visit Charles. There are still three hours for visiting hours so I can still stay there.
I was right in front of the hospital, I looked around first to make sure no one was following me. I didn’t notice anything different so I went straight inside.
I caught nana fixing Charles things.
“Nana,” I called.
“Oh, why are you here?”
“Asher allowed me to go home early and was not included in the meeting.”
“Are you alright?” she asked then give me water.
“Yes, Magdalena, where is she?” I asked when I couldn’t see Magda.
“Hailey came and brought some things she took Magda because she said there is a lot of things to bring her.” Magdalena is a housemaid of the Amaranth family. She is nana’s niece and nana introduced her to Ley, but because of what happened, Ley sent her to nana to take care of Charles.
“Ley and I met at Asher’s office.” She stopped and then looked at me.
“What happened?”
“She wants me to come with her and leave Asher,”
“And you agreed?” he asked.
“No,” She puts the belongings then approached me.
“Why? Isn’t he torturing you, right?”
“I don’t want him out of my sight.”
“Ashley,”
“I’m going to lose my son. I need him and I hope he will forgive me before that happens.”
“I didn’t know what to do. You’re having a hard time.”
“I want him.” Nana caressed my hand.
“Wait, have you eaten yet?” she asked.
“Not yet, but I’m fine,”
“Wait here and I’ll buy you something to eat and drink, Hailey gave me some money for an emergency.” Then she stood up. “Talk to your son first.”
When nana came out I got up and walked to my son’s bed. I sighed because I could see him weak. He is too young and yet, this is all that he got. It is because of me. I was so stressed when he was inside of me so this had an effect on him.
“Charles.” I cried as I looked at him. He doesn’t move anymore because he’s completely brain dead. They are waiting for me to decide if his device is about to be removed.
But I am still hoping that he will be ok. I don’t want to lead him because I can see he is still fighting.
“Please stay with mommy, baby, please don’t leave.”
I know he can hear me. So, I want him to feel my presence.
“Sorry if I wasn’t here always, I don’t have enough reason, baby,”
I was holding his hand when suddenly someone spoke behind me.
“Who is he?” I turned my attention to that voice because I know I can’t be wrong.
I immediately stood up and looked at her standing behind me.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
Fear and trepidation is with me when I saw her standing in the doorway while looking at Charles’ bed. She slowly walked closer to me. I would have stopped her but she finally got in and pushed me away.
When she was in bed she looked at Charles then looked at me.
“Who is that boy?” She asked confused. “Why did you call him a son and you say you’re his mommy?” I didn’t answer her question because I’m just feeling nervous right now.
“Answer me!”
“Asley, I saw Aga—t-ha. She’s here already?” Nana said and she obviously ran to warn me.
“Answer me. Who is that boy, is he Asher’s son? Is he your son to another man? Answer me, Ashley.” Agatha asked angrily but I didn’t say a word. “I’ll let Asher know about this.” She was about to take his mobile but I stopped her.
I knelt down in front of her and pleaded while holding her foot.
“Don’t please, don’t let Asher know.”
“Then who he is?”
“He’s Charles, he’s my son.” I cry answer.
“Son, who’s his father? So, it’s really true that you cheated on Asher, huh Ashley?” I did not say a word. I just cried and cried because I was afraid to answer. I don’t want her to know the truth. “ANSWER!”
“Charles is Ashley’s son. Ashley was got abused and raped by four men and Charles is the result,” Nana answered so I looked at her.
I feel Agatha stunned. Her legs stiffened and when I looked at her she was already crying.
“What?” she asked Nana.
“Nana, nana please,” I pleaded.
Nana approached me and help me to stand. She take me to the sofa and here I continued to cry while Agatha remained standing.
“Nana, don’t,” I said shaking.
“She needs to know the truth. She’s already here and she saw Charles.”
“But —-”
“He is Charles, Ashley’s son as a result of the abuse she sustained.”
Looks like I can’t stop what happened. It looks like someone else will know my secret. And this time it’s not just who, but my husband’s sister and my best friend who are both hurt.
“She was on her way home from the mall when she was kidnapped. Do you remember Agatha when I called and asked you if you were with Ashley? I said I was nervous because she hadn’t come home yet and hadn’t even called us. You said she might have just been upset with Asher because she wasn’t included on the business trip. But to my surprise, she came home with her clothes torn and bruised. She also had bloodstains all over her body. To me, she told the truth. Four men helped to harass her and Charles was the result.”
“Nana, that’s enough,” I pleaded.
“That’s the truth, Agatha, that’s the truth about Charles, and the reason why Ashley left.
“Is it true, Ash?” Agatha asked me tearfully but she couldn’t come close. “Admit it, is what nana says true?”
I didn’t answer and all I could do was cry.
While remembering what happened to me that night I disappear.