• T H I R T Y - N I N E (B) •

It's the first draft sorry for all the errors and mistakes:)

N A T A L I A

I started running frantically with Austin trying our best to get away from this place but in the middle of our run, we both froze on our spot the moment we heard the gunshot. Victor Reynolds was having a gun in his hand I knew that he pointed at me countless times threatening to kill me but due to Veronica's greed he didn't like he didn't the time I was born. Due to her greed, I was alive twenty-four years ago and due to her greed, I am alive today as well.

I and Austin stared at each other with a dreadful look on our faces our concern is just one man and he is Ashton David Cross. We run back in the direction we came from and rush to the place where Ashton Veronica and Victor were. As we enter we see Veronica on the floor injured the bullet hit her arm and she fell on the floor but she wasn't my concern she never will be. She never became a mother, to me she was just a person whose ovaries I came from and Victor will never be a father he'll just be a sperm donor.

My eyes search for my husband but he was nowhere in sight, nor Victor.

"You search here I'll search upstairs" Austin suggested and I agreed.

He ran upstairs and started moving forward. It's the same place I was kidnapped and kept hostage. It's an old rusted villa perhaps decades-old used by none. The spider web we're almost at every area not just corners and the dust settled down leaving imprints in no mood of leaving anytime soon.

The villa being old and rusted is scary at a point I feel a ghost might suddenly appear but I'm sure no ghost will be scarier than the person who gave me birth. Speaking of the devil I hear her murmur "Natalia" being called out my name I walk close to her and sit on my toes she looks at me with those wicked eyes which have for now fake love

"child please save me" I hear her sugar-coated words and barked out a laugh

"All these years I've been saying the same thing but did you hear me? For once?" I ask but all I get in return are her crocodile tears and an apology that fake even barbie would look real

I don't listen to her my main concern is my husband I walk past her in search of the man who's been my home and I want him to be mine forever. I search the complete area but no trace of both of them the only area left was the backyard, I rush to the backyard and find both of them fighting, more like Ashton trying to get away from his grip. The gun was lying away from them on the floor.

Ashton punches Victor on the abdomen he releases him crying in pain. Ashton kicks him in the stomach and punches on the face dropping him flat on his face. Blood oozed from the corner of his lips. Ashton averts his eyes towards me. He sprints towards me the same while I study his face his handsome face has scratches and few marks due to punches, his lower lip has a cut and a slight cut around his neck.

The moment he is near I clung to his chest and turn him around my back facing Victor Reynolds, he's holding the gun in his hand aiming at Ashton I can't let him do anything to Ashton. Victor presses the trigger but there were no bullets I crushed myself in Ashton's arms. Abruptly Ashton swaps place turning around and this time when Victor presses the trigger there was a bullet and it hit Ashton.

Another gunshot but this time it was Ashton whom the gunshot hit. He fell on the floor with me in his arms. I tried to wake him up but he was already unconscious, tears started to cloud my vision I hear Victor laugh a sarcastic laugh mocking on Ashton and me. He pulled the gun on me this time and was about to press the trigger I closed my eyes in fear death was near me I didn't know circumstances we're going to be this cruel.

shoot

Gun firing was heard by me but the shot didn't hit me it hit Victor. He fell on the ground I turn around and find Allen and Austin with police officers gathered all around us. Veronica was already taken by the ambulance. Allen and Austin dashed towards us they were trying to wake him up.

After that everything was a blur, the ambulance took all the injured with them and rushed to the hospital. Veronica and Victor weren't severely injured but Ashton had a bullet in his spine. Martin Cross, his father was operating him but I never knew there will be a time where I'll be praying for Ashton's wellness. That my heart will be yearning for him that he will be my home that I'll be in love again, I'll be in love with the person I hated the most I never knew my life, that is full of tragedies will give a happiness in the form of a human lying in front of me totally injured.

He took a bullet for me and I stood there watching doing nothing, why does this man love me with his life? I remember the Christmas night when he became my Santa and said 'I promise to be with you forever even if that means fighting with the world or fighting with fate. I'll be with you till my last breath' his words echoed in my ears. The man I realized I loved is fighting for life and death in the operation theatre and I regret the only thing most is breaking his heart zillion times.

Grandma and Ashton's mother were also present at the hospital they were praying for his well-being crying their heart out for their son. Aaron and Abigail dashed towards me trying to sympathize with me. Abigail was new to us but for Aaron, Ashton was his brother he never had I could see his vision clouded with tears but he kept them at bay and fought hard to appear calm and unaffected. I was standing outside the operation theatre peeping from the glass to my husband being treated. Whenever the doctor had a knife in his hand my heart would rip apart. My feelings for him would grow this stronger I never knew, but this man I can't afford to lose.

I never knew Nicholas was dead rather he was news I got but Ashton is in front of me and he even took a bullet for me. Karma is a bitch I can feel karma right now. I've broken his heart zillion times before but today I can feel his pain the wrenching of heart I can feel it today. The fear he had I can feel it now, the fear of losing you're loved one.

Allen was taking care of the media, Austin and March were with me trying to console me but Austin himself was miserable his condition was more depressing, then mine. His own father took his best friend's life, kidnapped me and not even an ounce of guilt was seen on his face. When the officers took him not even a single amount of stigma was found on his face. He was proud of his own doings.

Thinking back when he told me I was his daughter, the earth moved away from my feet as if I was thrown into some dark hole where my complete life stood meaningless. My father was alive and he knew I was his daughter yet he didn't for once thought of me nor came to meet me instead he wanted to kill me. The connection I felt for Austin was actually the blood I shared with him. We were siblings.

I felt a soft hand on my shoulder turning my eyes to the owner, Abigail stood behind me trying to coax but of no use. Nothing would help me except him. He needs to be okay and come back to me so that I can love him the right away, the way he deserves to be loved.

*Six Hours Later*

A S H T O N

I wake up to the most mesmerizing face in the entire world my lady, my Natalia. She was a little away from me chatting with my father had medicines in her hand maybe they were talking about my medicines only. I looked at my surroundings nobody was there except Natalia and dad. I don't share a good relationship with him after Anna's death maybe I haven't come to a point where I can forgive him.

I can't help it but forgiveness isn't my cup of tea but today when I saw Austin begging his father to show a little mercy to be a nice and decent man I realized my father is way much better than any of the father in the world. He has always been the best dad in the entire world. Anna's death wasn't his fault I need to let go that maybe I need someone to blame my sister's death, she was my other half. I was alone without her I needed to blame someone and my father so happen to be that person.

I don't hate him, I can't just come to a fact and let that incident go. My dad is an incredible man who has saved hundreds of lives in his entire career and no father would let his daughter die if it were in his hands. I just need to accept the fact that fate only had a little time for my sister it was her destiny to die.

I closed my eyes I am too tired for any conversation the clock ahead me told me it's midnight probably everybody is home except my girl. I clearly remember yesterday's events it was like a heavy storm for a few hours and later everything went back to normal.

Yesterday, when Victor Reynolds canceled the call, I immediately informed Xavier about it. Xavier, on the other hand, was happy explaining he found evidence against Veronica he did inform me about Garcy's health. I was astonished how can a mother be so cruel I am so lucky to have a family who loves me without conditions. They love me even if I am penniless.

We planned on not to fall into his methods, we didn't wire the money not did we stop Abigail. Allen suggested a plan and Austin willingly helped "I am not doing this for anyone but for my sister for she needs to be rescued. After all, we're the same blood and no matter what she deserves happiness"

I was proud of my playboy best friend he spoke like a grown-up man now. Victor's misfortune has taught him a lot of things someone said it true no one is a better teacher than life itself. Life happened to Austin and taught him lessons, revealed him the cruel reality, he was unaware of.

"What is the plan??" I asked looking at Allen and he smiled

"it's Mission Saving Natalia," he said "Abigail and Aaron will go to court and file the case against Victor and Veronica. Austin being the son can help us with Victor's whereabouts"

We all stared at Austin, he nodded his head "every car my dad owns has a GPS in it which is connected to our company's control room. I can get his location"

"Fantastic" I praised him. He gave me an apologetic smile I hugged him trying to console him a little. We all shared a group hug and vowed to have a successful Mission Saving Natalia.

Aaron and Abigail went to the court, Allen with the help of Xavier gathered the best cops in New York and formed our alliance. Xavier and his team were going to be on their way back New York by tomorrow with Gracy and the evidence. Austin informed about the address where Victor had kept Natalia hostage. Everything was according to our plan but the only uncertainty was how impulsive Victor can be.

We reached an old rusted villa the police force surrounded the complete area every one of them was in position with their guns in hand ready to shoot any moment. There was a head officer leading the way we entered the old and dusty villa the sun had set by now moon and stars had made their way into the sky while we all were on our way to save Natalia.

Everyone spread around the province some upstairs some downstairs, some in the backyard while some stood outside to guard us. The more we got near the storeroom, the volume of the fight got louder. Probably Victor and Veronica were fighting over something.

"You should have let me kill her the day she was born at least a lot wouldn't have happened" Victor snarled

"She is my treasure any man would pay me for her and Ashton would give me anything, I wish. She is my golden ticket" Veronica replied

"Your greed will get us in trouble," Victor told

The lead officer with his leg banged the door open and pointed his gun at Victor. At first, he was startled but suddenly laughed at us "You think I'll be unprepared for this battle"

After that for a few minutes, everything was fast forward gun firing was the only thing heard, there were tons of shooters and fighters working for Victor and Veronica. Austin and I hid behind the pillar trying to save ourselves. Natalia was nowhere in the room, my phone pinged with a message, I hastily removed it from pant pocket and opened the message it was from Allen 'I found Natalia, she's upstairs'

We saw Victor and Veronica escape the room, Austin ran behind them while I ran upstairs for my woman. Allen was trying to wake her up she was lying unconscious there were several marks on her cheek and a wound on her forehead. I gathered her in my arms and let Allen take care of other things.

Patting her cheeks I tried to wake her up she was breathing, that was a relief for me soon she opened her eyes, for a few seconds my voice was caught in my throat this woman in my arms made me feel thousands of emotions in a single minute and I couldn't imagine any person other than her captivating my heart. This woman made me helpless in love if anything happens to her I might just die my heart won't be able to take it any further. I hugged her dear to my life as if she was the only person who saves me and she is the only person who can.

"I love you" I whispered in her ear and held her to my chest wrapping herself around me

She whispered "I love you Ashton"

A/N: Omg we're almost there I just couldn't come to a point to fill everything in one part so there is going to be the third part of chapter thirty-nine. I hope all of you are excited just like me. Please Vote Comment and Share. It helps me write more and give an early update.

I have updated 'The Millionaire Chef' Chapter 1 please go ahead read it and let me know your reviews.