Samuel stared at Ashley's retreating back. His fists clenched and he sat down on the bench, burying his head. He tugged at his hair and wondered what he should do next. She didn't believe him and he expected that.

It still didn't stop the hurt and the clenching of his heart though. He tilted his head up and buried his mouth with both his hands. He had messed up big time. "How do I fix this?" he muttered to himself.

He stood up and shoved his hands into his pockets. He had to find her and try to make her understand. He needs her to forgive him. He can't live with himself until she can.

His sister.

She had been his sister and he treated her like crap all those years before.

He was the reason why she left the estate. Instead of being her biggest protector, he had been her biggest tormentor. He should have been the one who comforted her after a nightmare. Yet he haunted her dreams, taking away her peace of mind.

He could never forgive himself for that.

A tear slipped down his face and he wiped it away hastily. He took another look at the kids. A smile came onto his face when he saw the little girl.

Despite having a cut that would hurt her and hinder her, she still ran around the playground with a big smile on her face. She's strong and Samuel is certain that she could go through anything that life throws at her.

Just like Ashley.

"Excuse me." An angelic voice said.

Samuel turned around. His heart soared inside of his chest, laying eyes on the beauty right in front of him.

A brown haired and blue eyed woman stared back at him. Wearing a pencil skirt and a black blouse, she sported the professional look. Her brown hair had been pinned back and Samuel imagined it down, cascading over her shoulders.

He bit his lip and his eyes wandered down to her chest. He coughed and instantly looked away, praying that she didn't see that he had checked her out.

"Are you Samuel?"

He snapped his head towards her again. Gone is the awkward guy and in his place stood a cautious one. "How did you know my name?"

A scowl came onto her face and she raised her palm up.

Seconds later, Samuel's cheek stung. His hand instinctively raised to his cheek and he glared at the woman. "What the hell?"

"That was for hurting my best friend." She hissed and turned on her heels.

"I don't even know you and you just slapped me?" Samuel shouted. He walked forward and grabbed her wrist, turning her around. "Apologize."

She freed her wrist and glared at him. "The name is Mayla Reilly. It'll be best if you remember the name. After all, this would not be the last time that you hear about me."

With that being said, she turned around and left him.

Samuel's mouth dropped open. He stared at the infuriating woman walking away.

She went up to him and slapped him for no reason at all, claiming to have done it on her best friend's behalf. Who was the best friend that got that girl so riled up for her to punch him?

Was it someone that he slept with and dropped?

Samuel cringed at the thought of his immature ways years back. If he could turn back the clock, he would change so many things about himself, first starting with how he treated Ashley. But he can't. So now all he can do, is try to make himself become a better man.

A man in which his future kids can look up to and be proud that he's their father.

But for now, he must make sure that he becomes that man.

.

.

.

He's her ex-husband.

The words continued to echo throughout Samuel's mind. He looked at Dante and felt anger coursing through his veins. He's the reason that Ashley is in that hospital room. The reason why Ashley is heartbroken beyond compare.

Samuel only saw red.

He didn't think before he raised his fist and pounded it against Dante's nose.

Pain pierced through his knuckles but he ignored it and shook it off. He pushed Antonio to the side and walked forward. Grabbing Dante by his collar, he pushed him against the wall. "So you're the reason why Ashley is in pain right now?"

Satisfaction coursed inside of him as Dante coughed. One hand held Samuel's wrist while the other clutched his bleeding nose.

"Let me go." Dante coughed.

Samuel glared at Dante and threw him to the side. "Can't even defend yourself? You're pathetic."

Samuel felt a comforting hand on his shoulder, stopping him from kneeling down next to Dante to land another blow.

He didn't need to look to know that it was Mayla. His anger start diminished for a second. But all it took was one glance at Dante for his anger to surged through again.

"What the hell did you punch me for? I didn't do anything to you." Dante glared at him.

"You didn't do anything to me but you sure as hell did something to piss me off." Samuel took a step forward.

Mayla placed a hand on his chest, stopping him.

He turned to her and stared into her eyes. "What?" He shouted at her.

Mayla glared at him.

Samuel cleared his throat, loosening the tie around his neck.

"Stop. He's not worth you being thrown out of the hospital." Mayla said coldly making Samuel wince.

He shook his head.

Now is not to time to get offended at all how Mayla talks to him.

"He hurt Ashley." Samuel turned back to Dante and glared at him. "Get out of here before I do worse."

"Not until you explain to me what's going on and why you punched me." Dante wiped the blood that dripped down his face.

Samuel chuckled and walked forward. "Do you want to land a spot here as a patient?"

"We don't need to explain anything to you. Leave before," Mayla paused, "before we both do something we regret."

Samuel clenched his fist. "I regret not asking who her husband was. If I did, I would have punched him before signing that contract. He's the reason why the only woman I give a crap about is in paint. Ashley deserves better than him and I will make sure she finds better."

Dante stared at him for five seconds. He turned towards Mayla, his gaze softening. "Ashley. She's the one that's in there?"

Mayla stayed silent.

"Why does it matter to you? You cut off all ties with her already." Samuel crossed his arms over his chest.

Dante glared at Samuel. "I don't know who you are to Ashley but I have a pretty good guess."

Samuel chuckled humorlessly. "I can already tell what you're going to say."

He walked forward, staring down at Dante.

Dante glared at him and pushed him back.

Samuel rolled his eyes. "You think I'm her lover don't you. You think I'm the father to her babies because how protective I am towards her. You think I'm the reason behind your divorce."

"How—"

"I see how you looked at me. Like I was a challenge. But maybe if you had listened to Mayla you would have heard. I'm her brother. Want to know something else? No one ruined your marriage but you. Ashley didn't do shit and neither did I. It was all you and your stupid paranoia. Ashley told me all about those pictures you got that made her seem like a cheater. She showed me copies of them. You're a lawyer. You should have known better. They were all photoshopped but you were too blind to fucking see it. Because of your stupidity, you let the best girl slip through your fingertips. Now, you lost her forever. You're never going to be able to win her back, no matter how hard you try." Samuel shook his head. "I won't let that happen. I'll be dead before I even let her call you a friend."

Dante took a step back.

Realization and then pain flashed through his eyes and he turned to the hospital door. He shook his head and his face became emotionless again. "I wouldn't even dream of chasing after her again."

He gave Antonio a quick nod before turning his back and walking away.

"He was her ex-husband? Dante Hastings is the man that hurt my little girl?" Antonio whispered, speaking up for the first time.

Samuel looked at Mayla.

She nodded her head at them and then looked towards Ashley's room.

"We can't let her know." she whispered, "it will only stress her out more."

Samuel didn't say anything.

He walked towards Ashley's room and opened the door. He slammed it shut behind him.

Ashley jumped and turned to him.

Samuel smiled weakly. "Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." He said, walking over to her bedside. He brushed his hand across her hair. "How are you feeling?"

Ashley gave him a weak smile. "Better than before."

Samuel looked at her with worry. "Don't lie to me, Ash. I may not have been there for you but I'm your brother. I know when you're lying."

That all it took for Ashley to burst into tears.

Samuel pulled her into a hug. He wrapped his arms around her frail body, letting her soak her tears into his blazer.

"Sh. It's okay baby girl. I'm here. I'm not going to go anywhere. I'm going to stay right here with you. We'll get through this." he whispered, kissing her forehead. He closed his eyes.

A tear slipped down his face, knowing that there's nothing he can really do to ease her. He couldn't do anything to make her feel better about herself.

Once again, he felt like a useless brother.

.

.

.

Mayla sat down on the hospital chair and leaned her head against the wall. She closed her eyes and her knuckles formed into a fist.

She felt pathetic.

She shouldn't have stopped Samuel from beating Dante into a pulp. She should have allowed Dante to be hurt.

Be hurt like how he had hurt her best friend.

But a part of her knew that Ashley wouldn't have want Samuel or her to have done that.

Ashley hated violence and didn't believe that there is any reason for revenge.

That was just the type of person Ashley was.

She was too forgiving even to those that didn't deserve it. She couldn't see that those people would only just continue to hurt her.

People like Dante.

Mayla prayed that Ashley wouldn't forgive Dante and let him back into her life.

She deserved better than Dante and she hoped that Ashley would realize that. Ashley deserved a man who respected her and would not jump to conclusions. One who would consult her about their problems rather than dropping her the moment one arises.

"What are you thinking about?"

Mayla opened her eyes and turned to the side. She smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "About how messed up everything is right now."

He chuckled but there was no humor in his voice. He sat down next to her and leaned his head back. "Do you remember the first time we met?"

Mayla nodded her head, a smile coming to her face. "I slapped you."

He laughed, a genuine one this time. One that sent Mayla's heart into overdrive.

"I was so confused. There I was, minding my own business and this little spitfire comes up to me and slaps me for no apparent reason." He said, looking at Mayla.

Mayla looked back at him, getting lost in his eyes. She leaned forward for a second but quickly realizing what had happened. She moved back. She nudged his side. "Hey, this spitfire is no where near little."

"I know. I saw everything there is to her before." Samuel said with a smirk.

Mayla gasped and slapped his chest. She turned to the side, hearing his chuckle. Her cheeks must now resemble that of a tomato.

She's falling.

And she's falling hard.

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