“Owen will stay here now. I’ll come and get him at the weekend.”
My face falls.
Cameron clenches his hands at his sides, unsure what to say next. Without further word, he turns and leaves, just as Owen comes in the front door.
I stare at Owen for a moment, completely in shock. What just happened?
I smile awkwardly through my tears. “Baby, you’re back already?” I run and scoop him up into my arms and sob with relief.
Thank heavens.
25
Ashley
They say that time heals all wounds.
They lied.
It’s been six weeks since Cameron tried to take my son from me.
It’s been six weeks since I lost all faith in humanity.
I resigned from my internship, and Dr. Jameson stepped in and offered me a placement with him. He knows the full, sordid story.
I hardly see Cameron at work now. We are civil and share custody with Owen. Cameron dropped the court proceedings, but I still have to attend drug counselling once a week from the court orders.
Owen is blossoming before my eyes and he loves his father with all of his heart.
Cameron is good for him. I have no doubt in my mind about that.
Whereas once before I was jealous and nervous around Cameron… now I only have contempt for him.
The gentle, funny man I was in love with has been replaced by the power hungry millionaire he’s shown me to be.
The Stanton family is a tight circle. If you’re on the inside, they’re loyal to each other to the death. But they’re a nightmare if they declare war against you.
Sadly, money wins all battles.
I’m scared for my son—scared for the man he is going to turn into.
He will be one of them, I can already see it. Cameron changed his name legally to Stanton a month ago and he added his name as Owen’s father on his birth certificate.
He is now Owen Stanton with a hefty trust fund and a rich daddy.
I say that like I despise it, and I don’t. I don’t mean to be negative. All those years when I didn’t know who Owen’s father was, I just dreamed of a man who would protect him with all of his heart—who would love him as much as I do.
And he does. Cameron loves Owen. It’s undeniable. The bond they share is natural and strong. It’s everything I ever hoped for.
Natasha has been wonderful and I’ve seen her at least once a week since everything happened. We seem to have formed a friendship out of all of this.
She understands my point of view, but she also understands Cameron’s. I get it, I really do. All hell broke loose when she found out what Cameron had done. I can’t help but wish that she could have talked sense into Cameron before he ruined everything between us.
Part of me is grateful that I know Cameron will fight for what he thinks is best for Owen.
My life has become easier. I don’t work at the club anymore. I have three days where I’m childless every week. I joined a gym and I’m reading books for fun again.
I should be happy. My rent is paid. My son is content.
But I feel like an empty vessel—like my heart has been ripped out and put into the blender on high speed.
I don’t want to feel like this anymore. I don’t want to hate him. I just want to stop hurting over what he did.
I need to get over it. It’s all in the past.
Just like my love for him.
It’s midnight and I am sitting up alone watching a rerun of Friends. Joey can always make me laugh, no matter what.
Jenna has started quite the love affair with her new friend, and she stays over there more times than she stays with me now. I’m happy for her. She deserves someone nice, and he is beautiful.
I check my phone and blow out a deflated breath.
No messages.
I stand up, turn the television off, and head up to bed.
Tomorrow I will feel better. I know I will. Mornings always seem so much brighter.
Sadly, I know that at this time tomorrow night I will feel exactly the same as I do now.
Empty and alone.
Cameron
The phone rings in the middle of the night and I get up to answer it. I knew this call was coming.
“Hello.” I sigh.
“Hello, Dr. Stanton. This is Maria.”
I rub my eyes as I try to focus. “Hello, Maria.” Maria is the head nurse from the cardiology wing.
“Gloria is in her last stages, sir. I know you wanted to be told