â**Chapter 22**â
â¢Ace
I didn't expect her to do it but she turned herself in on her own. Our son got his justice in just two days.
We're now here in the police station as they're interrogating her. I told Madison the truth yesterday and she can't believe it. That's why Victoria felt guilty and just admitted it. Madison said she can't face her anymore so I just let her stay in the villa with Jenny, Kit and Liam. I bet they're already packing her things now because their flight is tomorrow.
She apologized to me yesterday because she said she can't forgive Victoria, not now. And I understand her. Even me, I don't know if I can even call her mother. For the last 2 days since we left the Hospital, she's been crying every night. I'm not stopping her because I know I can't. She needs to let go of those tears. Though, I told her that she needs to learn how to accept what happened to our son.
She promised me she will, but I'm certain that it will take time, everyone knows it.
I immediately got up from my seat when I saw them leave the room with Victoria, my gaze fell on her hands that were handcuffed.
"We're taking her now Mr Ashford." The officer informed me, making me look up to see her face. She's not looking at me.
"Yeah, I also need to go now."Â I tuck my phone in my pocket and walk past them.
Never, In my life, I thought that she'll be able to do that. Even though I know she's not a good mother, I didn't know she's not a good person either.
I had already reached the exit when I heard her saying something, "I wish I could turn back the time⦠I didn't mean it, I'm really sorry⦠Tell Madison I'm willing to wait for her to forgive me."
"I won't. She'll forgive you when the pain heals. That will take longer than your 12 years sentence to prison." I let out a sigh and leftâ¦
****
"Where is Madison?" I asked Kit as he's the only one I see in the living room.
"She's taking a shower, Liam and Jennie left to buy our lunch, you still haven't gone to groceries." He said as he looked at me.
"Okay, Call us when they arrive." I was about to walk to our room when he asked something about Victoria.
"Jenny is mad at her Mom. But still, she asked me if she could visit her, âCan she?"
"Let her, she's been with her after all."
He just gave me a nod as I continued to our room.
Just as I closed the door, Madison walked out in a simple denim shorts and oversized hoodie. When she noticed me, she showed me a smile that I haven't seen for a while.
"Did you already have lunch?" She asked as she put the clothes in our bed to the floor so we could sit down.
"Not yet, have you?"
"Still waiting for Liam."
My gaze fell on her clothes that were not packed yet. "Do you need help packing?"
"I do, thank you." She starts folding her long sleeves and that's when I notice her being unsettled.
"Are you okay?"
She looks at me before letting out a deep breath. "I'm just thinking about you⦠I just realized, you lost him too and you probably need someone right now, but here I am packing my things."
"You don't need to worry about me, I'm fine. I promise you, I'll follow."
"When?"
"I'll try my best to finish my work much earlier." I scoot over her and wrap my arms on her back to pull her closer. She just hummed in response as she hugged me back.
After a moment of silence, I heard her whispering, "I love you." And that makes me smile.
****
"How is it?" Jenny excitedly asked Madison as she took a bite of the lasagna.
"Hmmm, It's so good. Who cooked this?" Madison asked while taking another spoonful of lasagna.
"Me, I did it like how you do yours." She exclaimed excitedly, making Madison look at her confused. "Ahh, Ace told me your trick to make it more flavorful. It's so great. This is my favorite lasagna now."
"Really?" Madison asked why turning to look at me. With that knowing smile, I let out a chuckle.
"What's so special about it?" Liam asked, ruining her mood. She rolled her eyes as she flipped her middle finger to him.
"You'll see, I'll cook it for you everyday until you find what is so special about it." With a smug smile on her face, she looked at me even more, "Right, Honey?"
I know it, she's not just asking me. She's using her seductive tone , which is my weakness.
"I guess, but I love you cookies more." It's partly true, but it made all of them burst out in laughter. "What?"
"It's sounds dirty from you, bro" Kit who's been quiet beside me finally speaks up. Until now, he's still trying to process everything that just happened. But I can see that he's trying to communicate and socialize with them, especially with Madison. He's the one who's helping her with her things, he's the one who's nursing her back at the hospital, though I can see that they're finally getting closer to each other.
It's perfect.
"Why? I'm just saying. You haven't tasted her cookies yet, Liam?"
"Bro, stop it " Liam facepalm himself making them laugh even more.
"Gosh, you all have dirty minds." Shaking my head, I just took my spoon and just fed her some pudding.
"It's too sweeâ" she was about to complain when Jenny and Kit exchanged the most obvious glance, making her stop. "What?"
"What happened to your no-mouth-to-mouth-sharing? Because it's like you're sharing the germs?" Jennie smirks teasingly, making me stare at her with my so done face.
"She's my wife?" It came out like a question, like a literal question, isn't she my wife?
"And?"
"And� Gosh you're so lame." Rolling her eyes at me, I look at Madison beside me and give her a small smile.
"And you're talkative."
â¢Madison
(Time Skip, Day of their flight)
"Where's Ace? I thought he'll be here?" I asked Liam who's holding my bags.
"I don't know, he called earlier saying there's an emergency meeting at the company, so maybe he'll not be here".
I didn't see him last night, I didn't even know what time he went home after he went to work after our lunch, but I heard him leave our room early in the morning.
I already told Jennie and Kit to stay there for the meantime so he'll have someone there.
I bring my wrist up and look at the time, "There's still 10 minutes, let's wait for him."
"We need to get on the plane."
"But Liam, please, just 10 minutes more."
He let out a sigh and grabbed my bags, "I'm so sorry, but he told me earlier that he won't be able to come and send you off."
"Let me call himâ"
"Okay, fine, call him." I hear the irritation in his voice, one thing he hates the most is doing what we need to do at the last minute.
I brought out my phone and immediately dialed his number⦠He's not answering his phone. After a moment, the call ended without him picking it up.
"Maybe he's just busy. Let's get on the plane now."
"Okay." I put my phone back in my bag and reluctantly walked beside Liam.
He didn't say anything to me about not coming here today. He also didn't say when he was going to come. All I know is he promised me that he's going to come for me.
Though yesterday, before he went to work, we again talked about moving to New Zealand for the meantime. And I'm pretty sure that we can't just live there for life time, so maybe after some time, I'll be ready to go back here to New York.
It's not just me who's been missing Ezekiel, Ace has been down too, he just doesn't want to show it to me but he's also sad about his loss.
Letting out a sigh, I took my ticket and gave it to Liam so he'll just show it to them.
When he showed it to the Airline Ticket Agent, I was shocked when a man's arm moved over my waist from my back and handed his ticket to the Agent.
"This is mine."
This voiceâ¦
I've been waiting to hear thisâ¦
Turning my head to my side to look at her, my cheeks immediately meet his lips making me chuckle.
"You came." I finally turn to look at him only to see him with his suitcase. "You're coming already?"
Excitement rushed to me when he just nodded and smiled sweetly, the sweetest smile I've ever seen.
"I realized that I can't wait any longer to be with you, just thinking about you leaving me here, It makes me sick." He whispered in my ear, making me smile.
"So, should we go now or are you two going to make love here?" Liam said boredly while making his way out.
"Is your brother really your brother? You and Zane are so easy to get along with but him?..."
"Let him be, that's because he still doesn't have a girlfriend. Bitter." I peck his lips and make our way to the plane.
When we got to our seats in the first class, his seat happened next to me making me look at him confused.
"Did you plan this?"
"What?" He held my hand and rested our intertwined hands on my lap.
"This? Btw when did you get your ticket?"
"Just earlier, midnight. I rushed all of my work so I can go now, then I'll just continue planning if I'm going to have a company in Switzerland as you want."
"How did you get this seat?"
"I have my ways, sweetheart."
"Should I be terrified of that?"
"Not really, I wouldn't have to use it if it weren't for you in the first place." He said teasingly when he suddenly yawned.
"You haven't slept yet, go on, take a rest I'll just wake you up.
He looked at me for a moment before leaning to rest his head on my shoulder. "I hope everything will be alright now, you're the only one that matters to me." He whispered, softly, and I heard it, clearly.
"I promise I'll be alright, also you're with me so you don't have to worry about me anymore." âis all I can say.
"You know what⦠The moment I first saw you on that aisle, on that day, in that gown, I already knew that I'd love you. And to be honest, I never regret being married to you, because if you'll give me a chance to go back and choose who I will spend that rest of my life with, I'll still choose you.
"Though if you asked Zane, back then, when I still haven't seen you, I really hate being engaged thinking that it'll just bring the worst for me. It's tiring but when I met you, you became my rest, my comfort. I know I'm not really a guy who likes to confess but I think I really need to tell you this.
"It's one of the only ways I think I could help, to tell you that I love you, and I'm always here for you. Ezekiel will always be with you, always remember that okay?" He thumb caressed my hand as he said those words.
"Do you want me to cry?" I asked him to look up.
"That's the last thing I would want to see." With that, he pecked my lips and leaned back on my shoulder.
Not saying anything, I also lay my head on beside him and just rested with him.
I, too, never regretted being married to you..
****
We just arrived at the hotel and started unpacking our things when Liam barged into our room with a panicked look on his face.
"You look like you just saw a ghost, what happened?" I put the tee I'm holding down to the bed and Ace just came out of the bathroom.
"Dada, He got arrested."
"What?!?"
"Zane just called me and he's at the police station right now."
Not processing what he just said, I almost fell back but Ace immediately held me. "Hey, hey, take a seat first." He helped me seat at the best as I waited for Liam to continue.
"He was arrested for?"
"Murder."
"Murder? He murdered who? Can we go back right now?" I'm too nervous that my hand starts to tremble until Ace needs to hold it just to calm me.
He can't do that.
Dada didn't kill anyone.
What was happening again?...