Chapter 209: Chapter 83
KELLAN'S P.O.V
Ashley's friends pushed themselves in.
They had arrived a few minutes ago with July hushing them all to be calm, that this was a hospital and Ashley was asleep
I tried to keep note of their names as they all introduced themselves, but my mind was only focused on Ash.
I watched as tears pooled in her eyes as her friends hugged her one by one, handing out a small gift parcel to her
Unconsciously, she rested her hand protectively over the swell of her stomach. A warm feeling glided over my chest
I loved it when she did that, like she was shielding out daughter from the evil in this world.
Our daughter.... My daughter
God.
My eyes burned and I blinked it away. I was going to be a Dad, I made a baby with the woman I love
Ashley and I made a human together. My heart grew wings and stretched wide in my chest, almost to the point where it was difficult to breathe
What would I not do for this girl who wasn't even born yet? What wouldn't I give for her and her mother?
“Jackie!” one of the girls yelled. “You're not allowed to use such language in front of my goddaughter "
A fit of laughter followed, and Jackie rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. “She can't hear me Beulah, and I promise I'll put a leash on my tongue once she's born"
One of the ladies, presumably the youngest shook her head “Actually at this stage, the fetus can—"
“Did you just call my goddaughter a fetus?" One of them asked incredulously. “I know you're a practicing nurse, but Sydney," July let out a long, tired sigh, and another fit of laughter followed.
I smiled softly at Ashley all happy and radiant with her friends. I loved seeing her happy. Ashley's eyes found mine across the room, and I threw a thumb over my shoulder, wanting to give the girls some privacy.
She nodded once and I stepped out of the room, laughter and jokes echoing behind me. The security officers I stationed outside her doors were unmoving, their posture firm and menacing.
I haven't left the hospital since Ashley was admitted. I stalked towards the bench in the hallway, a few minutes later, July came out too.
She settled herself into the waiting bench a sigh leaving her lips. “They'll be here for hours." She grumbled
The side of my lips tilted up in a smirk. “Ashley seems to be comfortable around them"
July only shook her head and muttered something about the girls being too loud and causing trouble.
“Nothing yet?” July asked after a moment, breaking the silence.
My mood turned sour. “There's something," I muttered, clenching my fingers into a fist.
It's been nearly twenty hours since Genevieve left. I immediately contacted the private investigators and spies I had watching her while July was away to pick up their friends and bring them here.
She immediately sat upright, arching a brow for me to continue.
A sigh heaved past my lips. “The private investigator caught Genevieve meeting Leonard Beau in his car. They talked for a few minutes after which she got into hers and drove away. We used one of my special limited microphone devices, which can help you hear conversations from afar," I explained, and she nodded.
“Okay, did they say anything we could do to prove that Genevieve actually murdered Pete?"
I dragged a hand down my face, my frustration rising a notch. “No. They only talked about... their selves." I tried not to cringe at the recordings my private investigator sent me,
She placed a hand on her knees, squinting her eyes at a patient in the hallway. “So nothing then” July muttered
My jaw tightened and I dragged a hand over my face again. “Nothing yet”
July took out her phone and shot a quick text at someone, most likely the investigator she got on her own “Genevieve is up to something, Kellan. I just know it”
A humorless laugh worked its way out of me. “Indeed she is." I supported. “I got a call from my lawyer about an hour ago"
Her face whipped away from her phone and towards me “What was it about?"
“Genevieve Harrington filed an official complaint with Child Services," I repeated the same thing my lawyer had told me
July's lips parted in a stunned gasp “She did what?!" Her voice rose with rage, not caring that we were in a hospital.
My shoulders shook with another mirthless, dangerous laugh “She’s claiming Ashley is unfit to be a mother. That she's under manipulation, that the baby would be born in an unsafe environment to an emotionally unstable mother and neglectful father”
“That bitch." She spat out her words with venom, “But it makes no sense, her arguments make no sense. There's no way she can fight for custody of a child whose parents are alive.”
My jaw locked so hard my teeth rattled. “She’s trying to make it seem like Ashley’s unfit. That I’m some kind of manipulative bastard.”
July’s face hardened. “We won't let her win.”
I nodded in agreement, the anger and rage I kept under a leash were already buzzing in my ears..
Genevieve’s complaint might be baseless, but she's about to stir chaos and I needed to put her in line, fast.
She made sure she kept herself clean, but I was smarter and faster than her. I will find a way to lock Genevieve up forever. I will make sure her crimes are exposed and she spends the rest of her life behind bars.
Even if I have to go through illegal means to do it.
A cunning smirk cut across my lips and I let my voice drop to a low whisper. “Tell me July, " I said. “What do you know about Dominic Beau?"