Chapter 153
ASHLEY
"What the hell are you saying, doctor? How did this happen?" My heart is thudding in my chest as I try to make head and tail of what Nicci’s doctor is saying to me right now. Tears cloud my eyes when he explains Nicci’s sudden sickness and strange bleeding on the island. With shaky hands and a shakier voice, I ask him the hardest question.
"And my baby?"
"I’m sorry, Mr. Ashley. It was miscarried."
My vision blurs for a long minute and every other sound drawls to silence around me. I neither hear my phone clatter to the floor or my brothers rushing forward to check on me. After a few violent shakes, I snap out of it.
"Ashley, what’s wrong, man? You’re tearing up." Ashal pulls me into a hug while Ashton grabs my phone and redials the doctor’s line. He listens quietly to him with a somber expression on his face. Asher descends from the stairs and joins us.
"What’s going on?"
"Nicci lost the baby." Ashton reveals to everyone. A fresh stab of pain lances through my heart. I never thought I was already attached to my unborn baby, never thought its death would hit me this hard unlike my experience with Demi’s. I guess the promise of a new life and new status as a father has been the one good thing about my fucked existence lately.
"Calm down, Ash." Asher pats my shoulders. "Get a grip on yourself."
"GET THE FUCK OFF ME!" I snap at him. Suddenly, memories of his planned brutality towards mine and Demi’s child fills my head. "You know nothing about how I feel." I scratch my head roughly while a sickening laugh spills off my lips. "I wanted that baby! I needed...how could you understand? Huh? How could you ever understand, Asher? You demand yours be aborted in two heartbeats because having a child would cramp your ambitious goals. We’re not the same. How could you possibly expect me to just get over such a huge loss?"
"Whoa, Whoa, that’s enough." Ashton and Ashal circle me while Asher stands stunned into silence by my sudden harsh accusation. "Cool it, Ashley. We know you’re hurting right now and we are deeply pained by it but there’s no need to be vindictive."