His Redemptive Gift

Chapter 41 - Origin

Ashley's POV

"I'm not hungry", I muttered as Carlos asked me why I wasn't ready for breakfast, he looked at me for a moment then grunted, locked the door and left.

I sighed and sunk deeper into my bed, I could barely sleep last night, I felt weak, tired and confused.

Throughout the night, I kept thinking whether it was better to keep the child or not, I didn't want a reminder of my suffering hanging over me for the rest of my life but I also didn't have the courage to  end the life of my own child.

I knew the child will forever connect me to Lorenzo but it was a risk I had to take.

I rolled on to my side and closed my eyes, hoping to fall asleep, my mind drifted to Alex, I'd have to speak to Sir Antonio about him, I just hoped he was okay.

The shuffling of keys disrupted my thoughts, I wondered if Carlos was sent back to force me out.

"Ashley?" Her voice was calm as she walked towards my bed, "Are you okay dear?"

Oh my God, another person already knew ...

The brothers probably told their mother already, she stood at the edge and gave me a comforting smile even though I never replied her question.

"Why didn't you come for breakfast?, is anything wrong?" She asked,

I stared at her, now wondering if she actually knew or not, "I'm fine, I just didn't feel like eating anything." I replied,

"It's okay dear, I know how you feel" She stated, "..but you still need to have breakfast."

She stood up and went to the door which had been left open and signalled for someone to come in, A maid carrying a tray of food entered and placed the tray on the little stool by my bed then quickly hurried out.

She closed the door then came back to my bed side, "Antonio told me everything" she begun,

Of course he did.....

She took the food tray and I sat up straight as she gently placed it on my lap, "I have a story to tell you, it might help you or not, that's for you to decide, but you must promise to eat while I tell the story."

A story?!, 

I definitely didn't feel like eating but I wanted to hear what the story was about, so I nodded and uncovered the plate of food,

She smiled "that's better, so, the story is my story, my life, and how I am where I am now." She paused as if remembering something, then continued, " my father was part of the Mafia, so I grew up in it. I didn't have a normal childhood, my mother left my father when she found out who he truly was, for fear of her life I guess, but she didn't take me along."

How could she leave her child behind?!

"My father had no idea how to cater after me so he brought me to work", she paused and chuckled a little, "that was a stupid idea, he dropped me at his Boss's home, that was  Antonio's Grandfather's home, whenever he left for an operation. Sooner or later, I basically started living there, I wasn't involved in any of their businesses but I knew it all, from their daily operations to their purchases. That's where I met Antonio's father."

Her face turned a light pink as soon as the statement left her lips and I couldn't help the smile that crept on my face,

"At first I disliked him, I thought he was a proud and snobby over pampered kid that was supposed to take over his father's empire, but after spending years together and literally watching each other grow up, I realized, just like me, he was lonely and wanted to be free from the life he was born to."