Chapter 206 Chapter 80

Chapter 206 Chapter 80
KELLAN’S P.O.V

She caused everything.

The cold wall outside Ashley's hospital room bit into my back as I watched the security officers I hired take their positions.

Two stationed themselves outside her door. No one I didn't want to was getting close to Ashley and my daughter without my permission.

My daughter.

God, she was mine. She is mine

All this time, the child Ashley was carrying, caring for alone was mine. My own flesh and blood.

My eyes prickled and a tight fist squeezed my heart, making breathing hard. I did, and would have loved that girl, but knowing that she's mine, changes everything.

It changes everything.

I was going to have a child. I closed my eyes tight just as pressure welled up in them again. Ashley had been asleep for hours. I spent those hours thinking, going over every time over the past few months where we had both hurt each other despite still being obviously in love with one another.

I wanted it all to end. Even before coming back to Dallas, I wanted all this unnecessary avoidance of our feelings to end. Now, knowing that Ashley was carrying my baby, solidified everything.

She caused everything.

Genevieve Cece Harrington. Maybe not everything, but if it weren't for her, Ashley might have told me about our baby sooner.

I needed to handle Genevieve, especially now that she posed a threat to Ashley and our daughter.

My wife and my child.

I felt someone's hand clasp my shoulders, and I felt another presence by my side. I turned to the hand holding me tight, comforting me.

“Dad"

He and July had gotten here immediately after I alerted them. Those hours when Ashley was unconscious as the doctors worked to stabilize her and the baby were a hell I never want to experience again

I had never gotten such shattering fear in my life before. Even while the doctors briefed me on how far Ashley was along, which proved that the baby was undoubtedly mine, all I could think of was her

What if Ashley didn't make it? What if I lost her or the baby?

I would never survive it. And so in those few hours, I begged, hoped, and prayed to whatever would listen to me that Ashley and our daughter would make it out.

Dad's face softened, his eyes were filled with warmth and empathy as he glanced between me and Ashley's closed doors.

“This too will pass Kellan." He encouraged, using the same words he had at Mom's funeral. That the pain would pass, that we'd have sunny, happy days again

I swallowed and nodded. Yes, this pain... and deep hurt will pass once I make sure the woman who caused it is thoroughly dealt with.

“How is she?" July asked from my side. I turned from my father and towards her.

She knew, too; she knew the baby was mine.

My jaw locked tight “Why didn't you tell me? Ashley told you about Genevieve, you could have told me even if she was scared to. You know I will fight for my wife and child”

July's silver gray eyes narrowed at me. “And betray my cousin's trust? Ashley....Ashley loves you Kellan, and she was confused and scared that Genevies would kill you if she told you about the baby. You cannot fault her for that”

She sucked in a deep breath and lowered her rising voice. “Look, Kellan, I thought Genevieve was all clout, I assumed it was something I could handle, find a little of Genevieve's secrets so Ashley has some leverage over her, but I never once expected that she'd go as far as murdering her husband.".

I pushed my back off the wall and drew to my full height, but then Genevieve sighed, her eyes turning apologetic

“I know you're hurt we hid the truth of your daughter for so long, and your emotions are valid, but look, we have a bigger situation on our hands"

July glanced around the empty hallway and whispered. “Pete is dead Kellan!. Murdered!. And I know it's all Genevieve's doing. The police found nothing on his dumped body, no single traces to prove it was Genevieve who killed him, and if we don't act fast, she might come for you as well, and then Ashley.”

A hot wave of anger burst behind my chest, filling me with venomous rage. “I will have her behind bars before she can cause us any harm” I swore.

My father made a sound or agreement, his eyes had with the same fury coursing through my blood.“I'll shoot that bitch with my shotgun if she thinks of hurting my family.”

July looked between me and my father, then shook her head slightly. “If it were this easy, I would have done so long ago. Genevieve has..."

She stopped and threw an assertive glance at the bodyguards by Ashley's door.

“We should talk outside.”

I nodded once and turned to my father. “Stay here with her, please.”

He clasped a hand over mine. “You don't have to ask son. I'm going to guard my daughter-in-law and grandchild with all I've got.”

He tapped my shoulder twice as I stalked towards the exit doors at the back of the hospital. The late-night air outside was damp, and it carried the faint hint of trucks and cars in the distance.

July leaned against the wall of the hospital, her arms flooded and her face grim. Genevieve is planning something. I don't know what it is but I'm sure it's nasty as hell”

Every mention of her name had my anger rising higher and higher. I wanted that woman locked up forever. I didn't care that she had given birth to my darling Ashley; she never once cared for her daughter the way a Mother was supposed to do.

“Tell me what you found.” I requested.

July let out another long sigh. “Pete’s death was clean. She made it look like it was suicide. And the cops won't make a move on her since she's smart enough to make herself look innocent.”

The muscles in my neck strained. I wanted to haul her up in jail myself, lock her up, and throw the keys into the ocean.

“She needs to have had help,” I muttered. “Someone who assists her."

July nodded grimly. “My guess is Leonard Beau. Ashley mentioned they were having an affair.”

My gut twisted.

“So this Leonard Beau, anything on him, pictures. Videos, profile? Something we could use to link both together?"

She shook her head. “I've tried. I hired two Private investigators to look into Beau's and Genevieve, but those two snakes are good at keeping their paths unnoticed. Other than our own assumptions, the cops have nothing to hold against Genevieve, and now that Ashley is close to birthing....Genevieve would get more....desperate. She wants your daughter, Kellan. As the next heir of the Harrington's legacy”

Something inside my head snapped, and a short, dry laugh left my lips. “I'll kill her before she thinks of putting her hands on my daughter,” I said and meant it.

“Kellan.” Her tone softened. “You need to be calm."

My head snapped towards July. “Calm?” I asked incredulously. “That crazy woman wants to take away my child, my daughter, and you say I should be calm about it?”

She raised her hands in the air. “Look, Kellan, don't get me wrong. What I'm saying is, you need to he calm for Ashley, she's due anytime soon, she needs you to be sane, not self-destructive.”

I dragged a hand down my face, releasing a tortured breath.

God. I couldn't stand this. Ashley's condition and the risk the baby was in with her water broken, not to mention Fùcking Genevieve and her power-hungry games.

“She loves you, you know,” July's quiet words made my thoughts pause. “Ashley loves you. She never stopped loving you”

A small spark lit up in my heart, it shone. .it has given me hope. My gaze flicked up to her. “I know.”

I knew Ashley still loved me; it felt good to hear her cousin admit it. “I never stopped loving her too."

Before she could respond, my phone buzzed in my pocket. July tensed just as I did, her eyes widening when I told her it was my dad calling.

I answered immediately. “Dad?”

“She’s here,” his words were clipped, having an edge I've never heard before. I knew who it was before he supplied

“Genevieve’s in the hospital.”