Chapter 39

Ashley

Hearing him utter the word home made me pull apart immediately and gave him a glance. "Home?" I repeated. A smile resonate from his lips. "Yes. Home. But first we need to take care of some things" His eyes wandered through my shoulder. I followed his gaze finding them on Neil.

With a curious look, I stare at him back to Neil. Could he be talking about the secret they're hiding from me? "What is it about father?" I asked seeing as their gaze were still locked together.

"Take a seat and I'll tell you everything" I don't know if it's only my imagination, but I felt like his words came out cold.

"Sir, can you allow me to explain it to-"

"You have nothing to explain here. You've already done enough damage to my daughter. I won't allow you to add to it anymore. The reason I'm allowing you here is because I want her to hear how two faced you are"

If I say I understood what his words meant, then I would be lying. "Dad. What's going on?"

"Neil, what's happening here?" I threw the question at both of them. Yet, none were able to answer me.

"Dear, we know this will come as a shock to you but it's the truth. You have to know" Mom spoke up after keeping quite for a while.

I'm beginning to lose patience already. Why are they talking in riddles? "What truth?"

"The truth about Neil?" Dad interjected.

"What truth?" I calmly asked.

"About who he truly is"

Snapping my eyes shut, I opened them again feeling some kind of anger rising up in me. "Can you explain clearly the way I will understand. You talking in riddles won't make me understand" I turned to Neil who stood consciously calm. "Neil, what are they talking about. What truth are they talking about?"

"Raphael is Neil's father"

As the words settled in my brain, I felt something tug at my heart. "What?" The words left my mouth before I could have a control of them.

"Yes Ashley, he knew about it but still kept it from you" I slowly slumped down on the couch. "This is ridiculous. You-"

"I know it sound ridiculous but it's the truth. I cannot believe I hired a killer's son as your bodyguard. I should've known when you were attacked. It's all my fault" All that my father is saying is blind to my ears. The only words roaming in my head is his first statement.

He's Raphael's son?

The one who almost got me killed?

The one who attacked my father?

He knew it all along but still kept it a secret.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Listen to me Ashley, I know this is a surprise to you as it was to us too. We venture here as soon as we found out the truth. But believe it or not, we love you and we will protect you at any cost. You-"

Like someone who was possessed, I rise up to a standing position and made my way to Neil who was glued to his ground with Kristine beside him. The surprised look evident on her face. His eyes were fixed anywhere else but me. "Tell me. Everything I heard now, is it the truth?"

"Ashley, don't you believe us. Do you-"

I immediately cut her off. "Mom please. Give us a minute"

Hearing the silence from her gave me the cue. "Are you really Raphael's son?"

My eyes didn't waver a bit from him. I need to hear it from him. What the truth really is. "Is it true that you're Rapheal's son?" I repeated again.

"Yes" His answer hit down my heart. I won't lie, I wished his answer would be no. "I'm Raphael's son. And I knew about it from the very first start"

For a moment, I was short of words. I just stood staring at the man in front of me. The man I love who turns out to be the son of a killer? I might be dreaming right?

"Now you heard it yourself. The man here can be the same as his father"

As the word left his mouth, everything began flashing in my head. From the attack on Alex wedding up to our stay in the village. He knew about it all the while. "Why didn't you tell me? Why did you kept it a secret from me? Huh? Tell me?"

"Because I didn't have the courage to. I felt like I could protect you without you knowing about who I am"

"You didn't have the courage to?" I repeated his words. Yet, the man stood calm as if he was expecting the whole event. "Yes. And I'm not sorry that you had to find out like this because sooner or later, you will still find out" I don't know what came over me. Yet, I found my fist connecting with his face.

"How dare you!!" I heard my mom's gasp from behind me while Kristine was quick to my aid. However, my emotions took over me already. His words strike me.

"Does all of it look like a play to you? All that we've been through. You never for once try to tell me. I shouldn't have listen to my heart back then. I should've walked away long before my heart fell deep. I should've known this is only for a short while. I was the only one having hopes about our relationship. About us. Why did you do this to me? Why?"

I nudged him with my fist, grabbing his collar on the accord. "Why did you make me fall in love with you when you know one day, something like this will happen"

"Listen to me Ashley. Like I said, I didn't have the courage to. Trust me, I sleep with the thought and wake up with the thought. There's no single day that I didn't encourage myself to tell you but I couldn't."

"Trust you said? I don't think there's anything like trust between us. I was the only one who trusted you but you didn't. You only trust yourself" With that I didn't say anything more, I headed for the door.

"Where are you going dear?" Mom voice revamped to my ear.

"I'm getting some fresh air. No one should follow me" I said the last statement for the purpose of them. I know Kristine might try to follow me and Neil, I don't care if he'd follow. I know such will not happen since the last time we had an argument, he didn't attempt to follow me.

I need a time alone to clear my head of all the information. This time around I didn't branch at my usual spot, instead I went straight to Mrs. Grace house. Her company will at least make me feel less worried. If not to think about it, it'll maybe desert my mind from thinking about it. I don't know what time it is in the night but I know she must be at home. Since she doesn't stay late outside considering her health.

I puffed out a short breath pressing on the door bell. After for what I would assume as five to ten second, I heard her voice from the other end. "Who's that?"

"It's me Ash...Ava"

Within a second the door was pulled open and Mrs. Grace face surfaces. "Did I wake you up?" I ushered forcing out a small smile.

"No dear. It's too soon for me to be sleeping. Come in" She left the door open while I followed behind her. The inside was exactly the same as I left it. Only some places that are quite dusty.

"Mrs. Grace, your living room is dusty, don't you have any helper" My eyes roamed around the place.

"No my dear. Who would help a poor old woman like me? Some times when I'm less busy I clean it up or when my grandson visits he sanitize the whole house" She passed me a cup of what I assumed as tea. "Thank you" I ushered taking the seat facing the small television set.

"Come to think of it Mrs. Grace. You haven't told me about your grandson" Her eyes lit up at the mention of it. "I must say you love your grandson so much by the look on your face"

Her smile widen more. "Yes I do. He's the only family I got. Guess what?" placing the cup of almost cold coffee on the center table, I squatted closer.

"He's back" She uttered her eyes lighting up. My brows knit in confusion. Who's back? Before I could ask the question, she beat me to it.

"My grandson. He came last week for some work. With his busy schedule, I didn't get to introduce you guy but worry not, you guys will meet at the party"

Party! I've completely forgotten about the party thing we planned. Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend the part.

"Mrs Grace-"

"I'm so glad were holding a party after a long time. The village sound rather boring without some entertainment. I bet your husband have no idea about the whole thing. You two look so lovely together"

How I wish she knew about our fake coupling acting. That none of that is going on between us. I bet if he does feels the same way as I do. I don't know what to think anymore.