CHAPTER FOUR

ASHLEY

(TWO YEARS LATER)

Two years.

That’s how long it had been since I packed up my life into a single suitcase and boarded a flight to Germany. Two years since I left behind the ashes of a life I couldn’t bear to live anymore. And now, here I was—back in New York, sitting in Violet’s cozy living room, the aroma of fresh coffee mingling with the faint scent of baby powder that clung to every corner.

Across from me, Violet sat cradling her newborn daughter, her eyes glowing with the soft exhaustion only a new mother could wear.

“You look like hell, Ash,” Violet teased, her lips curling into a smirk.

I snorted, taking a sip of the hot coffee she’d handed me. “Thanks for the warm welcome. Just what I needed after a red-eye flight and zero sleep.”

“Hey, you brought this on yourself,” she retorted, gently adjusting the baby’s pink blanket. “Who waits two years to visit and then shows up unannounced?”

“I didn’t want to miss this,” I said, nodding toward the baby, whose tiny fists poked out from the blanket.

Violet’s face softened, her gaze dropping to her daughter. “She’s worth the trip, isn’t she?”

“She’s perfect,” I admitted, leaning closer to stroke the baby’s soft cheek. “What’s her name again? You texted me, but I was half-asleep and…

“Lila Jenkins,” Violet said, her voice filled with pride.

“Lila,” I repeated, letting the name settle on my tongue. “Beautiful, just like her mom.”

Violet smirked, brushing off the compliment. “Flattery won’t get you out of trouble for staying away so long.”

I rolled my eyes, leaning back into the plush cushions. “I deserve that. But seriously, the second you told me you’d gone into labor, I booked the first flight out of Germany. I wasn’t going to miss meeting Lila.”

Her lips parted as if to say something, but the sudden gleam of mischief in her eyes told me she wasn’t going to let me off that easy. “Can you believe this child is already bossing me around? She’s not even a month old Ash!”

“She gets it from you,” I shot back with a grin.

“Oh, please. I’m delightful,” Violet countered, sticking her tongue out. “It’s Ryan who’s the bossy one. She probably picked it up from him in utero.”

“Sure, blame the dad,” I teased, sitting beside her on the couch. “But let’s be honest—this kid’s going to have your attitude, Ryan’s stubbornness, and a lifetime of drama. Poor thing didn’t stand a chance.”

“Rude,” Violet said, laughing, but her smile faltered as her face suddenly paled. Her hand tightened around Lila.

“Vi?” I said, my grin fading. “You okay?”

She nodded quickly, but the flush of discomfort on her face didn’t escape me. “I’m fine… just a little dizzy. Probably the lack of sleep catching up to me.”

I frowned, watching her grip on Lila loosen slightly. Without a second thought, I reached over and gently took the baby from her arms. “Here, let me. You need to rest.”

“No, I’m fine,” Violet protested weakly, but her voice was too faint to convince anyone. Her body slumped further into the couch, and panic surged through me.

“Violet,” I said, my voice firm now. “You’re not fine. Where’s Ryan?”

Before she could answer, the front door opened, and Ryan stepped inside. His sharp, dark eyes scanned the room before locking onto Violet. His expression immediately darkened.

“What’s wrong?” he demanded, crossing the room in long strides.

“She’s not feeling well,” I said quickly. “Ryan, I think something’s wrong.”

“I’m just tired,” Violet mumbled, but her words were slurred, and her body swayed as if she couldn’t keep herself upright.

Ryan crouched in front of her, his large hands cupping her pale face. “Violet, look at me. Are you dizzy? In pain? Anything else?”

“I…” Her eyelids fluttered, and her head lolled slightly. “I don’t know.”

Ryan’s jaw tightened, his panic barely concealed behind the stoic mask he always wore. “Ashley, take the baby,” he ordered, scooping Violet into his arms before I could even process what was happening.

I quickly cradled Lila against my chest, my heart racing as Violet let out a weak groan.

“We’re going to the hospital,” Ryan said firmly.

“I’m coming with you,” I said without hesitation, following him as he carried Violet toward the door.

—

A few minutes later, we were at the hospital. Violet had been admitted, and the waiting room felt eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustle of papers or the muffled footsteps of nurses down the hall.

Ryan was pacing, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He moved like a caged tiger, his sharp features tense with worry. Back and forth, back and forth, as if his footsteps alone could force time to move faster.

“She’ll be fine, Ryan,” I muttered

He didn’t respond. Maybe he didn’t hear me, or maybe he was just Ryan.

Not surprising.He’d always been that way. Back in high school, he was the guy everyone wanted to be—or be with. Dreamy, famous, and just arrogant enough to make it frustrating. Every girl worshipped the ground he walked on.

It still amazes me how he ended up with Violet. She was his polar opposite—nerdy, easygoing, and perfectly content flying under the radar. Where Ryan was sharp and intense, Violet was soft and steady. Their love story was the stuff of dramas—stepsiblings thrust together by fate, overcoming scandal, judgment, and a million complications to finally be together. They were my favorite couple. They still are.

I sighed, the weight of the moment pressing down on me. Standing around was doing nothing to ease the knot in my stomach. “I’ll be back,” I murmured to no one in particular, stepping out into the cool night air.

New York smelled the same as always. The city was alive, even at this hour, cars honking and distant laughter carrying through the streets. But it all felt muted, as if the world had dimmed in light of what was happening inside that hospital.

I walked down the block, letting the chilly breeze kiss my skin and clear my thoughts. My hands tucked into my coat pockets, and my steps were aimless until a sudden movement caught my attention.

A sleek black Rolls-Royce Phantom pulled up to the parking lot. The kind of car that made people stop and stare, though that wasn’t what made my heart skip a beat.

The driver’s door opened, and out stepped a man. His tall frame was clad in a tailored navy suit, his dark hair styled perfectly, and the sharp cut of his jawline was just as I remembered it.

My ex-husband.

Of all the hospitals,all the nights, and all the damn cars in New York, it had to be him.