Left Me Broken

Chapter 5

I already erased him from my life but it was hard to erase him from my mind and heart. It had been a week since I had met Zach in the club. Just as I had guessed our pictures of the club circled on social media for a day but all of them disappeared quickly and I knew who was the person behind it. Honestly speaking, I was thankful for that as I didn't have any interest to display on such platforms just for people's attention and gossip.

I scrolled my cell phone screen and found there were so many people who didn't have any job to do that they spent there time cursing me on the comment section of my Instagrams posts

‘ How shameless she is! She was seducing him again for money.'

‘ I wish I had the guts to face my ex just like how she has. Lol.'

‘ She’s trying to hit another woman's man now.'

‘ No way Zach Collin will be back with you again, you bitch.'

The list was going on…..

People do cyberbullying without giving a thought about how it can affect the person.

I fixed my pony on the top of my head as I walked out of the kitchen.

“ Take order from table no. Three," one of the girls said as she walked past me.

I nodded and hurried towards the table to take the order, expecting one of our regular customers.

I frowned as I found the table was empty. I noticed a man was standing by the window, looking out towards the road. I crossed the table and approached him. My presence alerted him as he swirled around to face me.

My welcoming smile faded away as my eyes registered his face.

Matthew Collin was there at my cafe. My ex father in law was there standing before me after a year. Once I considered him as my father but when I divorced his son I thought our relation ended as well.

“ How are you doing, Ashley?" He asked. He looked cool and confident like always. Unlike his son, his eyes were not filled with hatred and rage. He stared at me with pity and concern. Probably he didn't expect to see me in a poor state. Could I blame him for that because I reached this state because of his son and wife. After my marriage, he promised me that he would never let me miss my dad, he would be always there for me just like my father. He cared for me like a real dad and I was grateful for that.

“ I’m doing well," I answered, trying to look as confident as I could. My palms got sweaty and my heart plummeted. His gaze told his feeling of disappointment and sadness. I averted my eyes unknowingly as I began to feel responsible for that even though I had never done anything wrong.

“ How are you doing, da--, Uncle?" I asked.

“ Fine!"

“ Would you like to place your order?" I asked as I decided to stay in my character. However, the way he had greeted me and was taking his time to reply made me think he was not here for a coffee or food. He exhaled and settled himself on the chair.

“ Can we have a little bit of conversation?" He finally asked.

I glanced around the cafe and it wasn't crowded for now. I should be taking and serving orders. I could get in trouble for not working and chatting here.

“ I’m sorry. It’s my workplace." I responded.

He nodded his head and requested, “ It doesn't take much of your time."

“ Okay," I agreed.

“ You have met Zach," he said as he stared straight into my eyes.

Well, it was not surprising at all. Pictures of us surely reached him too through social media.

“ I’m sorry kiddo, I couldn't save your marriage," he apologized. “ Zach should've not hurt you."

It was not Matthew's apology I wanted. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I raised my sad eyes to look at him. I hated Zach and the fact that I loved him so much however I couldn't help but mourn over our failed marriage as if it was all my fault. I couldn't help but sometimes wonder whether perhaps I couldn't give him the love he wanted from me or I couldn't be a good wife, that's why my husband betrayed me. I knew it was not right. He had cheated on me and he was responsible for that.

“ If you really feel sorry for me, please let me have my son, Harvey, with me. A child needs his mother," I begged with tearful eyes.

“ I’m sorry Ashley, you know I can't do that." He paused and rubbed his forehead. My heart sank as a little hope of ray died again and I couldn't bear it. No, I couldn't let my child go away from me. I knew I was the one who had spoiled everything but I would repent for my son and apologize to Harvey for hurting him.

He continued in his husky voice, “ But I am here to help you to get your son. It's the least I can do for you."

“ Really?" The word slipped through my lips as my eyes glistened with mirth.

“ I have found a way to solve many things. I’ve something to offer you. Only you can help me," he said with a slight hesitation.

There were millions of thoughts popping up in my head. I had never in my life heard or seen Collins asking anyone for help. What did he want from me?

He cleared his throat and said, “ Come back where you have left."

I frowned at his words. What did he mean by that? “ Come back where?"

“ Come back to Blue Paradise." His eyes briefly stayed on my face before quickly darting away.

“ What are you saying?" I asked angrily. “ That's impossible." My chest rose and fell as I breathed heavily in rage. Blue Paradise was once a home for me where I built my new family after my marriage but it was the same home where everything got stolen from me. It was the last place in the world I wanted to go.

He stood up and walked near me. “ Listen, kiddo, I know it's hard, very hard but at least listen to me first. You think of me like your father then believe me it is good for us." He placed his hand on my shoulder with tenderness.

“ Your son has cheated on me and I left that place. You want me to go back there?" I couldn't subside the bitterness in my tone.

“ You know you can't meet Harvey even if you want to. But I will make a way so that you can reunite with your son," he tried to persuade me.

“ By staying with your son?" I laughed without humour. Pain bursted out of my chest at the very idea.

“ Zach isn't the same. He loved you, but you just broke him in every way. He is messed up and nobody can repair him except you. He is destroying himself and his future. He isn't listening to either his mother or me. I knew he had done wrong with you but please this time only you can fix the things up," he said with desperation.

My eyes widened. I recalled his dull face last time I had met him. Of course he was as attractive and handsome as before but he was changed somehow. His eyes had fury and rage but he had lost the shine in those beautiful eyes. His eyes seemed empty and hollow. He had lost weight and seemed distressed. Why did he turn this way? I couldn't say his condition was because of our divorce. I had found him doing parties after our divorce, celebrating his freedom as if it didn't matter to him a slightest bit. So what happened now?

I inhaled deeply, attempting to cool my temper.

“ Whatsoever is happening with Zach isn't my concern. I just want to live with my son, nothing else. And I will not go back to Zach for anything," I said.

“ No..no, You’ve misunderstood. You don't have to patch up with him. What I am saying is you have a chance to live with your son for the time being. You can work in my office so that you can get a good job. Zach's condition is not good for Harvey either. There's more things that…" he sounded very scared. “ I can't tell you or make you understand. But please believe me I need you back."

“ What things?" I asked, confused.

He wiped sweat away from his brow and blew out a breath. I could tell he was uncomfortable and anxious. He glanced out of the window for a few seconds and said, “ Like I said, I can not tell you. But you know Zach will never let you meet Harvey. If you try to approach him, you know what he will do. So I’m willing to give you a chance. You have to work in my office and live in Blue Paradise." Talking about me and Zach together was absolutely insane. I couldn't go and live with him for my son, could I?

“ Does he know about this? You are here and all?" I asked.

“ No, he doesn't," he replied.

I raised my hands in the air as a quick laugh escaped my mouth. “ I hate him and he loathes me. You think he would let me work in his office or let me live in his house? Screw that, I don't want to be a part of this. I don't want to see his face. Do you think we have separated with our consent and understanding. No, I divorced him because he has betrayed me by sleeping with a woman.. my st---" My voice cracked and I couldn't complete my sentence. Tears streamed down from my eyes and my lips trembled.

He handed me a white handkerchief and said, “ I am sorry. I didn't want to hurt you. But please give it a thought."

I didn't respond and he was ready to leave. He patted my shoulder before he walked out of the cafe. I slumped down in a chair and buried my face in my palms.

After our marriage ended, I was devastated and heartbroken.When I left my husband's house I came back to my maternal house. But soon I knew I couldn't live there because it was my step sister's home too. Julie made it crystal clear that she wasn't going to support me over her daughter and truthfully I didn't expect that from her at all. My dad was out of the country and wasn't going to come back anytime soon. Julie and Helly had already convinced him that I dragged Helly into this because I was jealous of her and whatever happened was all of my fault. I left that house and rented a small apartment. I decided not to use my dad's money because I wanted his support. I wanted him to be there with me in my hard times but he chose his other family over his daughter. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Zach was still with her. Through social media I spotted him at parties with different women. My whole world spun out of my control. I couldn't handle the betrayal. I was never this weak but my love for him made me suffer so much. I wasn't myself at the time. I didn't know what I should do. I didn't feel like doing anything. I tried to work in a company but they fired me because I wasn't doing my job properly. Sometimes I slept for days and sometimes I woke up all day and night. I realized I was depressed but I didn't have money for a proper treatment. I screwed up everything on Harvey's birthday. I was hurt and ended up hurting my son. My bad job history didn't let me work in any office. Of course, everyone wanted a professional employee, not a woman who mopped over her marriage and son. When I got back to my senses, I realized it was almost six months that passed. In these six months everyday I decided to move on but every passing second made me realize it was not that easy. Perhaps if I had a family and support it would be easier for me. But in those hardest times no one was there for me.