• T H I R T Y - N I N E (C) •

A S H T O N

Dad sat beside me inspecting my vitals and reports, he was occupied in his work I took my time to stare at my old man, he was exhausted his eyes had dark circles deprived of sleep due to me, his brown hair had turned themselves in white not all but a lot of, his mustache has turned grey, he was never fond of beard always the mustache that mom hated.

I realized even being an adult I have still troubled my father a lot and for no reason resented my old man. He has always loved his kid, I realized it late and I wouldn't ever like to thank Victor Reynolds but this is the only thing I'll ever thank him for. I saw Austin begging his father to throw away the weapon, to surrender himself. I've seen the horrible kind of Satan in the form of Veronica and Victor which certainly makes me realize I'm fortuitous enough to have a great father.

He has always attempted to be an ideal dad even when he couldn't be, he made sure he was with us, no matter what happened he wouldn't have ever let anything happen to Anna if it were in his hands. Perhaps Anna had a short span of life maybe she is better up there away from all the gigantic chaos happening here.

"Dad" I called out his name. He was busy reading my reports on my call he flipped his eyes lashes up with pure shock evident on his face

I cracked up, though it was the first time after Anna's death I've called him dad. My old man was tired yearning for me to call him dad. I'm sure he lost all hopes of mending our relationship back. He knew I can be a dick but I am way too much cold and ruthless

"Say it again" he pointedly looked at me not believing I called him dad

"Paaa" the nickname Anna had given him instead of saying, Papa or dad

"Ash" he whispered I could see tears forming in his eyes

"Excuse me" I hear Natalia knock on the door gaining everyone present in the room precisely a nurse and a junior doctor who was accompanying dad with my checkup

Dad didn't even look at that direction "can you give the father-son a moment" she asked the two they nodded leaving behind the notepad and report and she herself left

"Suddenly you called me dad?" he asked any moment tears could drop themselves from his eyes

"I'm sorry," I say I have nothing else to say I was ashamed of myself, I blamed my old man and distant myself with him where in the world people long to have parents in their life I had a caring one yet didn't value the treasure

"No. I am sorry I shouldn't have let that son-of-a-bitch doctor treat my daughter"

"It's not your fault" the words sounded alien from my mouth but were truth I can't blame my old man for the crime he hasn't committed, not anymore.

***

Natalia sat numbly on their bed trying to process everything happening around her, the media, newspaper, magazine, television all of it was covered with just one story 'Natalia Ashton Cross illegitimate child of Victor Reynolds daughter of a prostitute' The word she dreaded and hated all her life came back as a tight slap 'daughter of a prostitute'

Everyone knew her identity the world came crashing down on her she was a stranger to the eyes she was friends with, they saw her with pity, lust and sympathetic gaze. People were throwing questions on her dignity, questions that not only hurt her pride but put her in a collision she hated all her life. The bubble Ashton created for her was all blown away.

"How did you seduce Ashton Cross?"

"Did you sleep with any one of his friends?"

"Do you have any illegitimate child?"

"How many billionaires have you slept with?

"How much do you charge for a night?"

The worst question that humiliated her the most was "have you slept with Austin Reynolds? Did you find out he is your half-brother after you slept with him?" her head rang with those questions while her eye ran a pool of tears, she has never ever dealt with any of this. Ashton always took care of everything she was helpless and vulnerable. She was never a strong person always hiding behind rich bIllionaires. Sometimes Nicholas saves her sometime it's Ashton. She is always the damsel in distress why?? Can't she once face her own fears? fight her own wars?

How much more are people going to fight on her behalf, always is she going to stand behind people and let them take over her conflicts. How much of a coward is she going to be? She has always been hiding behind people she was always a coward and a hazardous person. When she wanted to run away it was Gracy whom she hid behind today, Gracy is in hospital in Seoul far away from her god knows what is she suffering. Later Nicholas saved her from her mother and died so that she is kept alive. At last Ashton, the man is been wasting millions behind her just to save her and her v-card, gave her an identity to let her feel things she never ever thought existed but today even he was shot and had to fight for his life.

Life is not a fairy tale and not every fairy tale has a happy ending, her modern fairytale has an ending but its different she has to face her fears and fight for her own battles. People are going to destroy her dignity and her identity but she has to keep sane to appear tough and confident. The complete life she has been living is dependent on others.

Ashton was worried sick about Natalia, the reporters asked questions that made him ashamed, how can people steep that low. Till the time he was discharged from the hospital the word was all over the news everything was lying in front of the world. He didn't care about his reputation it never mattered to him. His personal affairs are none any of his business associates or investors matter. What hurt him more was his own family his mother and grandmother called him and asked to divorce a prostitute. Natalia wasn't one she was his wife. She is as pure as gold.

Natalia had locked herself up in the room it bothered him more. She is always impulsive, her actions are going to affect her more. Rather she needs to be strong trust him that he always has her back, he will be the one to face her battles. All he needs from her is trust. Ashton switched on the television to know about the current buzz and hype in the media. He felt bad for his best-friend he is going to through shit load of things and all alone. Austin had pleaded his mother to leave the country for a while it will best for her to stay away from court and her father's illicit affairs. He didn't want to drag her into this untangled mess. There were a lot of dark secrets his father has been hiding and his mother will also be a target to the media just like his sister Natalia.

The television was filled with Natalia and just Natalia. Every channel had just one story, Natalia. They were all waiting for something juicy to materialize and Natalia is just another victim to increase their rating of the show. Ashton switched off the television pushed back his head on the headrest. He felt fingers caressing his head he knew the owner of the touch. How can he ever forget that touch, the same touch that makes him feel thousand of emotions? Opening his eyes he found the woman of his dreams, his lady love, the girl he loves the most in front of him. He held her wrist and patted his thigh indicating her to sit on his lap. She did as invited and curled herself in his lap rounding her hands around his neck. She hid her face in his neck and inhaled his fragrance.

He held her waist firmly never letting go while she found solace in his arms. Never in her life, she ever thought she'll be finding happiness, love, and peace in Ashton's arms. Life's plans started to make sense to her all these things made sense now. She and he were meant to be from the start it was all fate's plans. Her life has always played dirty games with her but what true love is she learned from Ashton.

If she wouldn't have run away from her mother's house nothing would have started, on that day if she wouldn't have slapped him he wouldn't have fallen this badly with her, he would have never chased her, married her and now loved her like no one ever did. Nicholas was a part of her life, she did love him but the kind of love she feels for Ashton is something different, something she hasn't felt before.

If Nicholas was alive today she would have never learned the actual meaning of love, she would have never known how amazing the guy whose arms she is in. SHe fitted so perfectly the way she never did with Nicholas. His death was much necessary for their love to blossom. She felt sad for his death his loved one did lose him but nobody can defy fate it was meant to be but it was made sense now. Everything from start to end it was meant to be so that she and Ashton could be one.

"You okay?" he asked

The thing nagged him most was how will she cope up with this new disaster, she has to be strong but is she strong enough to face this?

"Never been better," she said, kissed his neck

He sucked in a deep breath, her mere touch can light a fire inside him, squeezing her curves he bought her more to himself even if that was possible. She faced him with a smile on her face, that angelic smile he has always loved which confused him "You're smiling?"

"Because I am in arms of my man" she whispered and kissed the corner of his lips

"Am I hallucinating?"

"is your mind always occupied just by me?"

"Always"

He kissed her roughly, ramming his lips on her fighting with his tongue for dominance, the patience was all gone. He had waited enough for her sweetness, Nicholas had asked him to take care of her not covet her, but he couldn't. He loved her even more than Nicholas.

He knew for what is going to happen next but he was ready for the consequences. He was okay if Nicholas would kick his ass in hell, for the lady in his arms he would happily wither in hell without any further questions or delays.

He gently placed her on the bed and let the night slip in, he wanted her first to be special she would remember forever even she wished the same but then whose plans ever worked today he can't control. This moment is full of love he can't miss this moment. He'll forever regret if he missed this moment. Nicholas up there in the hell is probably rooting his eath and making plans for revenge but he didn't care,

not now,

not today.

She is his today and only his. He'll cherish every single inch of her body, make love to her she wouldn't ever forget not in this lifetime. He removed his clothes and helped her remove hers too. The night was young, the moon blushed when two souls became one today.

Natalia didn't want the night to end, he caressed the places she never knew could pleasure this way, her body was on fire, he didn't leave a single inch untouched, unkissed. Her body willingly gave in to the pleasures, he made her feel things she always saw, read about, heard but never experienced. He stroked her feminine organ, a wave of pleasure shot through her body when his mouth made his way down there to her sensitive parts.

When the two souls joined her hands gripped his hair while he tried his best to be gentle enough, the satisfaction her body received was unimaginable, she felt complete today as a woman and as a wife but more importantly, she felt happy. Her first was non-other than the person she loved. Her husband. Her man

The next week was a blur everything was messed and chaotic. Veronica claimed that Ashton purchased Natalia in a hundred million dollars and every month he wires one million in her account. Ashton was held accountable in this act and was arrested by police but later bailed out by Abigail. Alessia and Liana blamed Natalia for their son's busting reputation and destroying his life. She was a stranger in the eyes of people she once called family just because she was the daughter of a prostitute. This was the rigorous and brutal existence of life.

But Natalia came out strong and confident. She willing responded to all the media questions and still receives hatred from many people but then her story was heard by the media excluding Nicholas part and the million dollars. Everyone was shocked to see the strong person Natalia has turned out to be. She didn't hide behind anyone this time, she was managing her own battles and her backup was none other than Ashton David Cross.

The world was in haze people were proud of her. She kept her dignity, the most shocking news was Mark Cross Ashton's father accepted Natalia in media, he acknowledged her as his daughter-in-law not a prostitute or daughter of a prostitute. It did solidify Ashton and his father's relationship.

March was out of the whole hardship she was far away from everyone's life. Natalia's companion in this battle was Abigail and Allison. Aaron admired the beauty she wasn't just all brains and beauty but a good human being too.

Finally, it was the day for the hearing, the final verdict will be given today for Veronica and Victor following the complete human trafficking case. Veronica was found tangled with many human trafficking groups and many other big names did appear from her list of ace traders who traded women with money for a night or two. The Natalia gossip was deep down dried away the hot-shot names that appear in the list were caught created a hype in the media.

"Mr. Ashton David Cross is wrongly accused of the things he hasn't done. He loved Natalia and wanted to marry her that's it. Natalia ran away from her house met Ashton in New Zealand and their love blossomed" Abigail presented her statement while it was objected by Veronica's lawyer

"I have bank proof he has given me millions for Natalia" Veronica shouted in the court but was silenced by the Judge

Natalia Ashton & Allison sat together with Mark in the court while Aaron, Austin, and Allen sat opposite them. Natalia impatiently waited for the conclusion to be disclosed but was scared because Veronica was right Ashton did purchase her in Million Dollars. The story she told the media was she ran away from her house before her mother could sell her and worked part-time at a coffee shop. Lisa being a great friend who worked at the coffee shop did give her statement regarding the case and agreed to what Natalia said.

"She even came to the shop after her marriage with Ashton" she added and the media believed to what Natalia had to say

She denied all the questions regarding her mother taken her back and Ashton purchasing her. She was always hidden from the media so that her mother wouldn't find out was her answer. All the story created by Veronica was entirely true yet none believed her.

"I would like to present the bank details of the account Miss Veronica is talking about," Abigail said, passed the documents

A smirk played on Ashton's lips including Allen, Austin, and Aaron. Natalia, on the other hand, was confused. The documents showed no transaction done by Ashton Cross nor by any of his friends. Abigail then presented the CCTV footage of that day Veronica claims Ashton had purchased Natalia but nothing was found. Everything was clear.

Ashton was free of all the charges and the verdict for the case was Victor Reynolds had to serve for ten years of imprisonment and other cases to be filed against him in the judiciary as soon as possible. After ten years of imprisonment, he will be hanged to death for killing Nicholas Wittgenstein, erasing all the pieces of evidence, for illegal guns, being a part of the mafia and other affairs he is held accountable for. Whereas Veronica she will be given twenty-five years of imprisonment for human trafficking.

A/N: Can you believe I can't, I just wrote the last part of this book finally after three long years. I've updated every six months still so many of you stayed till the end as well and the ones who are patient with the book thank you so much for sticking by. I'm sure I won't take this long to complete other books cause I have already set ahead for so many more books.

Now a few things how did Ashton and others save Natalia the complete story will be portrayed by our very own Austin in his own book. Stay Tuned. A lot of things are left unsaid regarding the kidnap of Natalia, March and Austin love story, the court case, Allison, and many more things.

I'll be updating the last but not the least 'An Epilogue' which will give a short conclusion to other books and a little peek into the future.

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