Chapter 162 Ashley Taken Away

Chapter 162 Ashley Taken Away
Sarah POV

I spotted Anna right away in the hospital's first-floor café, hunched over a paper cup, eyes scanning the entrance with wariness.

She looked up as I approached, her expression guarded. "You said you had news about Ashley."

I settled into the seat across from her, my hands clasped tightly in my lap. There was no easy way to say this. "Yes, I do."

"What is it?" Anna's fingers tightened around her cup, and I caught a glimpse of something vulnerable beneath her hardened exterior. Despite everything, she cared about that little girl.

"Ashley isn't my biological daughter," I said quietly. "The DNA test shows no blood relation between us." I already knew from Michael that Ashley's report had been forged, but I didn't want to explain all that to Anna. If she was part of whatever scheme brought Ashley to me, I didn't want to tip my hand. And if she wasn't involved, well, no point in making this more complicated than it needed to be.

Anna's shoulders sagged, whether from relief or disappointment, I couldn't tell. She let out a long breath, rubbing her temples. "Figures. How could it be that easy to find your real mother?"

"I need to ask. Are you planning to take her back, or should I arrange for her to go to the children's welfare center?"

Anna laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Hell, I'd love to send her back to the welfare center, but they say it's not happening. I'm stuck taking her home with me." She paused, her voice dropping. "But after spending these past two days with you, she's probably even less likely to go."

I watched Anna's reaction carefully, trying to read between the lines. "You weren't behind this whole situation, were you? Setting up the meeting, arranging for Ashley to come find me?

"Me?" Anna snorted. "Lady, I can barely afford to keep that kid fed and clothed. You think I got the connections to pull strings with orphanage directors?"

Her reaction convinced me she was telling the truth. I leaned back, considering my next words carefully. "Ashley has some... behavioral issues. She can be quite competitive, even extreme in her actions. She might need some patient guidance when you take her back."

Anna's expression darkened. "Patient guidance? That kid's an ungrateful little snake. You want to know what she did last month? Stole money from my purse to buy herself fancy makeup, then told the neighbors I was starving her when I took it away."

Before I could respond, I saw Mom approaching with Ashley in tow from across the lobby. Ashley's eyes immediately locked onto Anna, and her face went white.

"Anna!" Ashley shouted, rushing toward our table. "What are you doing here? Go away! I don't want to see you!"

Anna stood abruptly, grabbing Ashley's wrist. "You think I want to be here? If I don't come get you, what's your plan? Live on the streets??"

Ashley yanked her arm free, darting behind my chair. "I have a mom now! I'm staying with my mom!"

The other café patrons turned to stare, their conversations faltering as Ashley's voice climbed higher. I placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, feeling her trembling beneath my touch.

If Ashley hadn't shown such vindictive behavior toward Lily—if she hadn't tried to hurt my daughter—maybe I could have considered keeping her around as a companion for Lily. But Ashley had fought with Lily over my attention, even tried to harm her, and the cruelty in her eyes made my decision crystal clear.

"That's not your real mom," Anna said bluntly. "You're stuck with me and the broke life we got. Deal with it."

Ashley clutched my hand, tears streaming down her face. "Mommy, I'm sorry! I won't leave Lily alone again, I promise!"

Her words twisted something in my chest. She'd remembered our conversation about staying with Lily, had filed it away, and was now using it against me. Even her apology felt calculated.

"I got you chocolate, Mommy!" Ashley sobbed, digging through her small backpack. "Look, I bought it for you yesterday! Mommy, don't you love me? Please don't let Anna take me away!"

"Ashley," I said softly, "Anna loves you too. You should go home with her."

"No!" Ashley wailed. "You promised! You said you'd take me to the new house!"

Anna stepped forward. "I'm your legal guardian. In the eyes of the law, I have the right to take you back."

With practiced efficiency, Anna tucked Ashley under her arm like a football, despite the girl's kicking and screaming. Mom watched in obvious dismay.

"Ma'am," Mom said gently, "maybe you could try a different approach with the child? The more forceful you are, the more she'll resist."

Ashley's voice echoed through the space as Anna carried her toward the exit. "Anna, let me go! I won't go with you! I'm supposed to be rich!"

Anna paused at the door, not even flinching when Ashley bit her arm. "This is exactly how she is. Sometimes you've got to fight fire with fire."

I watched them leave, noting how Anna, despite her rough methods, never actually struck Ashley even when the girl drew blood. Her sternness was a facade—underneath, she was just a tired woman trying to handle an impossible situation.

Mom shook her head. "That Ashley is quite the little rebel."

"Anna's not as bad as she seems," I murmured, still processing what I'd witnessed. "She might come across as harsh, but she's actually a responsible guardian. She could have hit Ashley just now, but she didn't."

"Sarah?" A familiar voice made me turn. Tomas approached our table, his usually composed demeanor slightly strained. "I apologize for interrupting, but Margaret heard about Lily's incident. She's upstairs in the room now and... she'd like to speak with you."

This was it. Margaret still didn't know that Lily was Michael's and my biological daughter. This conversation was going to change everything.

"I'll be right there," I said, rising from my chair.