Broken

• Chapter 127 •

"I want you to look at me in the eyes and answer this question for me," she says. I press my lips together as she folds her arms across her chest and locks her eyes on mine. "Do you care about her?"

I almost laugh. "Yes, Aurora. I care about her."

She nods her head slowly, "I'm withdrawing my first judgment of you, for now. You've surprised me with your answers, and I think you might be telling the truth. So you've got a clean slate. Earn my trust, and show me you care about her. Hurt her, and you'll regret the day you stepped foot into this house. Am I clear?"

I straighten up and clear my throat nervously, "Yes sir." I shake my head, "I mean ma'am."

She sighs and shakes her head, "Okay. Now eat your soup and get to bed."

- AURORA -

"Um... I don't really know if that's an appropriate question."

"Did you make love to her then?" I sneer.

He clenches his jaw and I shake my head at him, remembering how Derek used to make love to me. Like an animal. It was only ever like an animal. He never cared, I was just a slam-piece. Guys like that aren't capable of more than a one-night-stand type of love. I remember the bites on Clementine's neck that reminded me of those toxic-filled days. An ugly thing bubbles up inside my chest, I'm suddenly filled with hatred and disgust.

"No. It's never making love with guys like you, is it? The bad boy? It's cold hard math. You fuck people, Ashton. Don't think I didn't notice the bite marks on her neck and shoulder a month ago."

He flinches back. Too forward and honest for him?

"What's your problem with me?" he hisses.

Yeah. He's triggered. I'm right, I must be. He's just like Derek. A psychopath, who probably killed his parents himself. A brooding man with a dark past and a sob story. He reminds me of him, and how I'd fallen for his lies so easily. But I won't this time, and I won't let Clementine make the same mistakes I did. I won't let her ruin her life.

"My problem with you, Ashton, is I've known a man who's just like you. And he was not a good man. And like hell am I going to let my daughter fall for you. You're going to shatter her."

I shake my head in fury as I turn back to the soup. He's going to use her, hurt her, betray her and then come after her and her family and end up having murdered hundreds of people.

"I'm sorry you feel that way. I'll leave," is what I hear.

"Hey!" I snap my head at him. I walk up to him, hoping no one has heard our conversation. I need to be sure I'm sure about him, "I'm not done speaking to you."

His jaw clenches, and I'm alarmed to find pain in his eyes. I hesitate and take a step back as I study them. Had I imagined it? He stares at me like I'm crazy. But I swear I saw it. He looked hurt. Is that possible if I'm assuming he's like Derek? Psychopaths don't have these emotions. Derek's eyes were always dull, although he was a good actor, you cannot fake emotion through your eyes. My mouth runs dry as my eyebrows knit together at this thought. Am I wrong about him? I look down at the floor and turn back to the soup.

"Do you think I'm wrong?" my voice is a whisper.

He seems confused. "About you. Do you think I'm wrong about you?" I repeat. If he says yes, and tries to defend himself, then I might be right. Derek always defended himself, blamed it on his past. Never took responsibility for his actions.

He clenches his jaw and shakes his head, "No, I don't. I know I'm not a good person. I know Clementine deserves the world."

My frown deepens as my stomach drops. I wasn't expecting that. Why is he saying he's not a good person? Is it because he really isn't and he's an upfront type of psychopath? Or is that what he thinks of himself? Derek never said I deserve better. He's sounding a lot more like Brandon than Derek. Brandon... He had left me because my father told him that I deserved better. He thought I deserved better.

I wonder...

I shut my eyes for a moment and turn the cooker off, twirling to face him. I walk up to him and focus on his eyes. "If I asked you to leave her so that she could be happy, would you?"

Pain shoots through this eyes, and I'm sure I've seen it this time. "I tried... Trust me, I tried. I told her over and over again she deserves better. I know she does. But she won't listen. She... She thinks I'm good, for some deranged reason," his voice cracks, "But I can't hurt her like that again. I won't do it. It completely shattered me to see her hurt because of me in the first place."

My eyes bore into his. They're truthful, and in pain. I'm wrong about him. Or at least, that he's a psychopath. Slowly, the hatred in my gut dissolves. I walk back to the soup and pour it into a bowl before walking back to him. I said some pretty hurtful things. I was reflecting Derek's actions onto his. And truth is, I don't know Ashton. All my judgment has been fuelled on mere suspicion. Is Brandon right..? Have I changed? I know I have. I'm not as stupid and naïve as I used to be. But does that make me wrong? Is it wrong to want to be safe?

"I'm sorry that I said those things. It was uncalled for. Perhaps I'm wrong about you..." I tell him as guilt prods at my ribs.

He takes the soup from me, clearly shaken up by my behavior. I shake my head.

"I want you to look at me in the eyes and answer this question for me," I tell him. "Do you care about her?"

His lips twitch, "Yes, Aurora. I care about her."

I nod slowly. Fine, I'll give him a chance, while keeping my guard up. If he's anything like Derek, he's bound to screw up sooner than later.

"I'm withdrawing my first judgment of you, for now. You've surprised me with your answers, and I think you might be telling the truth. So you've got a clean slate. Earn my trust, and show me you care about her. Hurt her, and you'll regret the day you stepped foot into this house. Am I clear?"

His face is pale, "Yes sir." he winces and shakes his head, "I mean ma'am."

I sigh, I hope I'm wrong about him, "Okay. Now eat your soup and get to bed."