Broken

• Chapter 134 •

"Get in the closet," he whispers.

I quickly pick up my clothes as Ashton slips on a hoodie and jeans. I jump into his closet and hold a hand to my mouth to keep from breathing too hard. I crouch down in the dark space, silently pulling on a big shirt and staring through the small crack between the doors. His father walks into the room just as Ashton is about to open the door.

God, it's scary how alike they look.

"What the hell happened to you?" Ashton's father furrows his eyebrows in disdain as he examines Ashton's face. "I thought those days were over, dammit!" he hisses, "You will not do this to me again, you hear?" he barks.

My heart sinks, do what? Goosebumps erupt across my skin at his tone of voice. I realize quickly, that Ashton's father is not a man to be tested. Ashton squeezes his fist into a ball, I can see him taking a deep breath before responding.

"Fine."

Ashton's father frowns, "Excuse me?"

Ashton shuts his eyes, "Fine, sir."

"It's yes, sir. Not fine. Don't you forget who you're talking to, boy," he snarls.

"What are you doing here?" Ashton deadpans.

The man huffs and walks over to Ashton's chair, setting his jacket down, "It's my house. I can be here if I want to be."

Ashton remains quiet, but I can tell by the discreet vein popping out of his neck that's he's raging internally.

"Heard about your little meet up with Michelle's daughter in the Bahamas..." he muses.

Ashton frowns, "She's your daughter, too—"

"Don't interrupt me, boy. Who said you could go to the Bahamas?" he snaps.

Ashton clenches his jaw, "I did. I'm an adult, I don't need anyone's permission. You made it clear you don't want anything to do with me, so why the fuck are you here?"

Ashton's father raises his eyebrows, then slams them down abruptly, "You will watch your tongue around me, you ungrateful brat! Since you're such a grown man, who watched over the children while you were out vacationing, hm? This is what we call irresponsibility—"

My face falls, and Ashton finally snaps.

"Irresponsibility? WHO WATCHED THEM FOR SIX YEARS? ME, THAT'S FUCKING WHO. WHO WATCHED OVER ME WHEN MOM DIED? NO ONE."

It's silent. The man's jaw has practically fallen off his face, but Ashton's just getting started.

"You have no fucking right to come in here and tell me that I'm irresponsible. You weren't here. For six years, I've had to raise them myself. FOR SIX YEARS I'VE HAD TO RAISE TWO CHILDREN, GO TO SCHOOL, AND GET SHADY ASS SIDE JOBS JUST TO SUPPORT OURSELVES," he's up in his face, now.

"You weren't even here for mom after what happened to her... You left. After those monsters took her fucking soul... You. Fled. You left her all alone... And then she killed herself," Ashton's eyes glisten with tears. My heart collapses.

"Do you realize how much of a fucking dick you are? Do you realize how shitty of a fucking human being you are? Do you realize that I'm fucked up because of you?" his voice is a whisper.

I can feel the tears welling up in my eyes. His heartbreak is so intense that I'm drowning in it, as though it were my own. All his suppressed emotions are overflooding. I want to run into his arms and never let him go. He's finally letting it out, and all his father can do is stand in silent shock.

Ashton shakes his head, "You've never been a father to me. If mom were here, she would be so disappointed in what you've become and what you've done. I don't know what she ever saw in you, you pathetic excuse for a man. She loved you, and you didn't even show up to her fucking funeral," he projects his anger and hurt feelings onto his father.

"You know the twins ask about you... They know you're their father, but they don't feel it. They ask why you don't live with us, and it used to hurt to see them confused. But they aren't, anymore. They don't give a shit if you show up or not anymore," Ashton shrugs.

He wipes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose, scoffing. "For years I blamed myself. Said I was the reason you weren't around. That I'm not worth shit. But nah... I've recently remembered what it's like to have someone give a shit about me. Someone to think I'm actually a good person, and treat me better than I deserve. See, that's your job. You're the parent. You were supposed to be here for me. And now I know that the reason you didn't show up, the reason you never did, is simply because you're a fucking dick," he shakes his head as he stares him straight in the eyes.

"I don't want anything to do with you. I don't need your money anymore. Leave this house, and for the sake of the twins, do what you're best at and don't fucking come back."

The man stands wide-eyed, all the color has drained from his face. He doesn't say anything, but his mouth opens as if he wants to.

"GET OUT," Ashton bellows.

The man flinches back, then in one swift movement, he picks up his jacket and storms out of his room. Out of his life.

My feet don't hesitate to bolt out of the closet and into Ashton's arms. I cling on for dear life.

"I'm so proud of you," I breathe through tears.

He stands in silent shock for a moment, as though he forgot that I was here. Slowly, he hugs me back, burrowing his face at the nape of my neck. We remain in each other's embrace for a while, he slowly pulls away, offering me a faint smile. I laugh softly and wipe my cheeks, bringing my hands to his face.

His eyes are bloodshot from restraining tears, it's the first time I've seen him this broken.

That was the most heart-wrenching thing I've ever seen. I sigh deeply and tug at his arm, "Come on then, let's cuddle?"

We climb into his bed, Ashton snuggles into me, resting his head on my chest. I inhale his scent, he must've taken a shower this morning. His hair smells so nice. I stroke it softly, kissing the top of his head.

"Clementine..?"

"Mhm?" I mumble softly.

He doesn't say anything more. I wait patiently, he releases a breath and shakes his head slightly, "Never mind... It's nothing."

"You sure?"

"Yeah..."

I sigh into his hair, stroking it until he falls asleep. Although I've learned vital information about Ashton's mother's death and his jackass father's actions, questions are not prodding at my ribs. I don't have the urge to question him, to push him to reveal more information. I simply want to hold him and be here for him in every way I can possibly be.

It's scary, how much I'm starting to care for this man...