Chapter4
1165 Words
Angela barely slept.
The next morning, she found Ashton in the hallway.
“Who is my mother?”
He kept walking.
“Good morning.”
“Don't.”
He stopped.
Angela stepped in front of him.
“Aiden showed me her picture.”
Ashton said nothing.
“You knew.”
“No.”
“Then why did you look terrified?”
“I wasn't terrified.”
“You were.”
“Angela—”
“Who is she?”
“Your mother.”
Angela stared at him.
“You know her.”
“No.”
“Then why did Aiden say my mother was supposed to be dead?”
Ashton looked away.
That was enough.
Angela laughed bitterly.
“Everybody knows something except me.”
“That's not true.”
“Then tell me.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because the truth will put you in danger.”
Angela went still.
“I'm already in danger?”
Ashton didn't answer.
“Is that why you chose me?”
His silence was answer enough.
Angela stepped closer.
“You didn't choose me because you needed a wife.”
“Angela.”
“You chose me because of my mother.”
“Stop.”
“Who is she?”
“I said stop.”
“Why?”
Ashton finally looked at her.
For the first time, the cold mask slipped.
“Because I don't know whether finding your mother will save you or destroy you.”
Angela's heart pounded.
“You know where she is?”
“No.”
“But you're looking for her.”
Ashton said nothing.
Angela stepped back.
“Why?”
“Because someone has been looking for her for twenty years.”
“Who?”
Ashton looked toward the security cameras.
“Not here.”
“Then where?”
“Go home.”
Angela laughed.
“I'm marrying you in four days!”
“Exactly.”
“Then I deserve to know what I'm marrying into.”
Ashton moved closer.
“You think marrying me means you'll get answers?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Then what does it mean?”
For one dangerous second, they were too close.
His eyes dropped to her lips.
Angela forgot what she was about to say.
Then Ashton stepped back.
“Go see your grandfather.”
***
Angela returned to the hospital.
John Caldwell was awake.
“Grandpa.”
His eyes opened.
A weak smile appeared.
“My girl.”
Angela grabbed his hand.
“I thought I was going to lose you.”
“You won't get rid of me that easily.”
She laughed through tears.
Then she remembered.
Her smile disappeared.
“Grandpa.”
He studied her.
“What?”
“Who is my mother?”
His face changed.
Angela's heart stopped.
There.
The reaction.
She had finally found it.
“You know.”
John looked away.
“Angela—”
“Who is she?”
“Where did this come from?”
“Answer me.”
He closed his eyes.
“Please.”
Angela's voice broke.
“My entire life, you've told me she left.”
“She did.”
“Aiden showed me her picture.”
John went still.
“Who is Aiden?”
“Ashton Walter's brother.”
The color drained from John's face.
Angela tightened her grip on his hand.
“Why are you afraid of that name?”
John stared at her.
Then whispered:
“You cannot marry him.”
Angela's heart sank.
“Why?”
“Because the Walters destroyed your mother.”
“What does that mean?”
“Stay away from them.”
“Grandpa, I'm already married to this decision.”
“Then undo it.”
“He saved your life!”
John's eyes widened.
“That's why he chose you.”
Angela froze.
“What?”
John suddenly looked terrified.
“Forget I said that.”
“No.”
“Angela.”
“That's why he chose me?”
John turned away.
“Get out.”
“Grandpa—”
“Get out!”
Angela stood frozen.
Tears filled her eyes.
“Why won't you tell me the truth?”
John's voice broke.
“Because if you learn who your mother really was, you will understand why Ashton wants you.”
Angela stopped.
“What does that mean?”
John said nothing.
Angela left.
She didn't see Ashton standing at the end of the corridor.
He had heard everything.
Angela stopped when she saw him.
“You heard?”
“Yes.”
“Then you know.”
“Know what?”
“That my grandfather believes you chose me because of my mother.”
Ashton's face became unreadable.
“Did you?”
Silence.
Angela's heart cracked.
“Answer me.”
Ashton stepped closer.
“Your mother is the reason I found you.”
Angela couldn't breathe.
“But she's not the reason I asked you to marry me.”
“What's the difference?”
“I needed someone the Walter family couldn't control.”
Angela stared at him.
“And you thought that person was me?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
Ashton lowered his voice.
“Because I knew what would happen if the wrong person found you first.”
A cold chill ran through her.
“Who?”
Ashton looked over her shoulder.
Someone was standing at the end of the hall.
A man in a dark coat.
Watching them.
The moment Angela turned, he disappeared.
Ashton immediately reached for his phone.
“Security.”
Angela stared at him.
“What was that?”
Ashton didn't answer.
Her phone buzzed.
UNKNOWN NUMBER:
YOUR MOTHER IS ALIVE.
Angela's breath stopped.
A second message arrived.
AND SHE KNOWS WHO YOU REALLY ARE.
She looked up at Ashton.
He was staring at her phone.
His expression had gone completely still.
“What?” Angela whispered.
Ashton reached for the phone.
“Give it to me.”
Angela pulled it away.
“No.”
“Angela.”
“You knew.”
“I suspected.”
“You knew!”
Her voice echoed through the hallway.
Ashton looked at her.
“I knew your mother might be alive.”
“And you said nothing?”
“Because I was trying to find out the truth before I put you in danger.”
“You already put me in danger!”
Angela turned away.
Ashton caught her wrist.
She looked down at his hand.
He immediately released her.
“I'm sorry.”
It was the first time she'd heard those words from him.
Angela stared at him.
“Find my mother.”
Ashton said nothing.
“Find her,” Angela repeated.
Then she walked away.
Behind her, Ashton looked at the message again.
His jaw tightened.
Because there was one thing Angela didn't know.
He had received the same message three days ago.
Only his had contained one additional line.
SHE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO SURVIVED.
- Writer
