part 9
PART 9
Ashley came back the next morning.
Alone.
No coat.
No makeup.
No confidence.
A nurse stopped her at the NICU entrance until Jade agreed to see her through the glass consultation room.
Harrison objected.
Elise objected.
Jade looked at the twins sleeping under warm light and said, “Five minutes.”
Ashley sat across from her with both hands folded over her pregnant belly.
She looked younger in daylight.
Or maybe lies age people until truth removes the costume.
“I’m sorry,” Ashley said.
Jade did not answer.
Ashley swallowed.
“He told me you trapped him.”
“He said you got pregnant to force him into the Whitmore money.”
Jade’s mouth tightened.
“He told you the twins might not be his.”
“Yes.”
“And you believed him.”
Ashley looked down.
“I wanted to.”
That honesty was ugly.
But it was honesty.
Jade respected it more than excuses.
Ashley pulled a folded paper from her purse.
“I found this in his briefcase.”
Elise took it first.
Her eyes sharpened as she read.
“What is it?” Jade asked.
Elise looked at Ashley.
“Do you know what this means?”
Ashley began to cry.
“I think so.”
Jade held out her hand.
Elise passed her the document.
It was a draft affidavit.
A statement prepared for Ashley.
In it, Ashley claimed Weston had promised to divorce Jade before the pregnancy.
Claimed Jade was emotionally unstable.
Claimed Weston feared for the safety of all children involved.
And at the bottom, one sentence made Jade’s blood run cold.
I believe Jade Vale may attempt to use the premature twins as leverage to threaten Weston’s unborn child.
Jade stared at the page.
Weston had planned to use Ashley too.
Not as love.
As witness.
As pressure.
As a second pregnant woman against the first.
Ashley wiped her face.
“He wanted me to sign it today.”
Elise took the paper back.
“Will you give a statement?”
Ashley nodded.
“Yes.”
Harrison stood near the window, arms folded.
He had not softened toward Ashley.
But he was listening.
Ashley looked at Jade.
“I know I hurt you.”
“Yes,” Jade said.
“You did.”
Ashley flinched.
Jade continued.
“But he was going to use your baby the same way he tried to use mine.”
Ashley broke down then.
Not elegantly.
Not for sympathy.
Like a woman finally seeing the cage from inside it.
Jade looked at Elise.
“Get her a lawyer.”
Harrison turned sharply.
Jade met his eyes.
“I’m not saving her from consequences.”
“I’m saving the baby from Weston.”
Harrison looked at his granddaughter for a long time.
Then nodded.
For the first time in years, he saw not only the girl he had raised.
May you like
He saw the woman she had become.
Read the full story 👉 Ashley’s affidavit proves Weston planned to weaponize both pregnancies, and now Jade must decide how publicly she will destroy the man who tried to take her children.
