Tough Love

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

ASHTON

I stared at Isabelle like she had lost her bloody mind, just let her go. Over my dead body.

I stormed past them both and headed for the stairs, one thing I had a problem with was thinking straight when I was angry and hell, I was furious. I really wish I had her door back on just so I could kick it in I was that pissed off.

Jenna was pulling her clothing out and packing when I walked in there, the killer was that she didn't even look upset about the whole thing, that she was glad I wasn't her dad.

"Drop the clothes." I spoke calm, I wasn't going to yell at her yet.

"No."

That was the gut punch right there, her going from I love you dad to your not my dad at all, I didn't understand how she could just shut her feeling off from me like that, I still thought of her as my daughter, sure it hurts knowing that she isn't my biological child but I was willing to put it aside and still do the right thing.

"Jenna if you leave you do realise you won't see us again, you won't get to come back here just because you hate it there, do you really want to leave and never see us again?" I felt Belle's hand slip into mine and squeeze it tight.

"I want to go" she shrugged not looking at us.

I turned to Isabelle who had tears running down her cheeks, I wrapped an arm around her and held her close kissing her forehead and turning back to Jenna "fine get in the car now, leave everything here and we'll take you there".

"Ash," Belle called out as I took off towards the stairs.

I didn't turn to look at her as I headed for the kitchen and got the keys "I'll drive her."

"Ashton." she gripped my face with her hands "you're an amazing dad."

Clearly. So amazing that my kid wants to leave me.

"You can't let her leave, there has to be a way to stop her." dad spoke standing up "call a lawyer, God you can't just let her leave".

"Don't you get it; I've been on the phone to a lawyer all week. I can't do fuck all.' I pointed out yet again.

I only looked up when Parker walked in and sat beside me "let her go mate, if this is what she wants then let the little witch leave."

"Witch?" I smirked.

"It's nicer than bitch" he shrugged. True but she was my daughter.

"Let's go then" I stood up with a groan. 'Lets go."

I walked to the front door where Jenna was leaning on the door, looking at her I felt nothing but anger.

"let's go" I spoke bluntly and looked at Belle. I don't think she's stopped crying since all this happened. "Belle I need you to come with me" I held my hand out and she wiped her eyes and walked over.

The drive to the house felt long, as if I had driven forever. I was handing half my life over to woman who didn't give a shit about anyone but herself. How is this justice? This wasn't right.

When we pulled up, I had to hold the scoff in, of course this would have to be her new home, well it wasn't a home it was a cold looking mansion, she thinks she can get a better life because her new family is loaded.

I spotted Kelly walking out with a man who looked old enough to be her own dad. I couldn't believe it, I wanted to be sick.

"Jenna" Belle spoke "you don't have to go; we can just go back home and forget all about this".

"No thanks, bitch" she spat back, and more waterworks came from Belle. Clearly I was getting a glimpse of how Jenna was always speaking to Belle when I wasn't around.

"Watch your fucking mouth" I turned in my seat and glowered at her "get out of the car now" I narrowed my eyes at her.

I stood in front of Kelly while Belle stayed in the car, I didn't blame her, she would have Kelly flat on her ass again, judging by her smile her tooth was fixed.

"Ashton is it, Henry Maine" the man held his hand out and I wanted to punch him in the face.

"I have nothing to say to either of you, but I will be getting a lawyer and putting you through hell after what you've done to my family" I looked at Kelly dead in the eye and she looked slightly frightened. Good I hope she's fucking trembling.

"There's no need for that, it's been a misunderstanding." Henry spoke.

I snorted. "Bullshit, a misunderstanding is something small, not lying about me being a kid's father and even having a dodged up blood match done, I looked after her and then 14 years later I find out it was all a crock of shit, you used me and now I have one thing to ask you" I crossed my arms and tried to control my breathing.

"What?" Kelly asked quietly.

"Who's the real father?"

"Henry is, we had an affair years ago and he was married, I thought it was best to keep it from him, but I couldn't do it any longer once Jenna called me crying, I had to tell him and he wanted to be in her life, we both do." So the three girls were his children, not hers.

"Just stay the fuck away from me and my family" I stepped away and looked at the girl who I had done everything for "Jenna" I spoke, moving closer to give her one last hug. She backed away. I held it together for the sake of her. "You can always call me."

She nodded, and gave me a brief hug before moving away.

I got in the car and back out of the long driveway and headed home, I looked over at Isabelle who had stopped crying and she turned to look at me as if I was going to blow up, I wanted to so badly, but I didn't, I was done being that guy.

We got home and Parker was sitting in the kitchen, three empty beers next to him and mum and dad sitting on the other side of the table. "She's gone" I announced, as they all looked up "she's got her mum and her dad and a big family worth a fucking billion dollars, now I know why she left, so she can do whatever the fuck she wants and get away with it, she'll get money tossed at her and won't learn anything, she's got the life she always wanted."

"You gave her a good life Ashton, money isn't everything, you gave her love."

"And look where that got me" I sighed feeling tired "look I think I'm going to have a rest for a bit, I just need to think" I walked off and headed towards our bedroom. 

I was numb and broken but I wasn't going to tell her that, I was going to act like the strong one and be the man she needed, as much as it killed me to smile and put on a brave face, that was what I was going to do and try to get through the rest of the day without turning to alcohol.