Hannah immediately called Ashton, her heart racing. As soon as the call connected, she began to speak, clearly freaking out.
“Ashton, my ex-husband is stalking me. I don’t know what he wants! He asked about Henry and tried to force me to go with him. Oh God…” Hannah panicked.
“Okay, calm down. Slow down, honey,” Ashton replied from the other end. “Where are you now?”
“I’m on my way to the hospital. I’m in a cab.”
“How long until you get here?”
“Less than fifteen minutes.”
“All right, calm yourself. I’ll wait for you in the hospital lobby. Don’t worry, okay?”
Hannah nodded, though her nerves were still frayed. “O-okay.”
After hanging up, Hannah looked back and saw that Alden’s car was still following her. She couldn’t understand why Alden insisted on bothering her. What did he want?
When Hannah finally arrived at the hospital, she was relieved to see Ashton waiting outside the lobby with two security guards at his side.
“Ashton!” she called out.
Hannah immediately threw herself into her fiance’s arms. Ashton wrapped her in a protective embrace and led her into the hospital.
“Hannah! Wait!” a voice called from behind them.
Alden ran, trying to catch up as fast as he could. Ashton’s usually calm face hardened with frustration.
“Sweetheart, you go inside. I’ll take care of your ex-husband,” Ashton whispered.
Hannah nodded and obeyed.
Ashton stepped forward to confront Alden, his expression cold and calm.
“Mr. Harrison, how may I help you?” Ashton asked.
“I need to speak with Hannah. It is a personal matter between her and me. Can you step aside so I can speak with her?” Alden requested.
Ashton sighed. “I’m afraid I can’t. Hannah is my responsibility now, so if you have something to say, you can say it to me.”
“Hannah is my ex-wife!” Alden said firmly.
“She is your past, and now Hannah is my future.”
Ashton’s words hit Alden like a punch.
Alden had never thought of Hannah as his past. In his mind, their marriage was meant to last forever. Divorcing her was the biggest mistake he’d ever made. But he had his reasons, though they might not be reasons anyone else would understand.
“I suggest you act wisely. This is a hospital. We can talk calmly or not at all,” Ashton said firmly. “The choice is yours.”
Alden nodded weakly. “All right.”
“Then let’s talk in my office.”
Alden reluctantly followed Ashton to the children’s ward. As they walked through the halls, Alden saw numerous young cancer patients. Despite their cheerful demeanor, they seemed to be silently accepting the worst possibilities-at any moment.
“Are you a doctor here?” Alden asked.
Ashton nodded. “In the pediatrics ward.”
“What’s it like, dealing with patients on the brink of death?” Alden murmured, almost to himself.
“It’s hard, especially because I get close to my patients. But I want to give them the best care, to be a friend, an uncle, as well as their doctor,” Ashton said, pausing briefly. “I want to leave them with fond memories.”
“That’s… great.”
Ashton opened the door to his office and invited Alden in. Alden sat down awkwardly and looked around at the child-friendly decor that filled the room.
“So, what do you want to talk to Hannah about?” Ashton asked directly. “We’re getting married soon, and I know for a fact that she’s divorced from you. So I don’t think there’s much left for you two to talk about, is there?”
“Actually, there are a few things,” Alden replied.
“And what are they?”
“First, I want to apologize to Hannah. The reason I divorced her was because…”
Ashton cut him off. “I’m sorry, Mr. Harrison, but there’s no need to explain. Hannah doesn’t care anymore.” He added, “Anything else?”
“There is the matter of Hannah’s house. I wanted to give her the deed.”
“You can send it here.”
“And the division of assets, which I still haven’t given her.”
“I don’t think Hannah will accept that, sir. But I’ll ask her.”
Alden felt trapped, unable to move forward. Every attempt to meet with Hannah had been thwarted by Ashton. What other reason could he find to talk to his ex-wife face to face?
“Is there anything else?” Ashton asked.
“I saw Hannah with a little boy earlier. I wanted to ask her about the child,” Alden said.
Ashton didn’t answer right away. He showed no expression, just stared at Alden intently before taking a deep breath.
“Henry is my son,” Ashton said calmly.
“Your son?”
“Yes. After the adoption is finalized, Henry will be mine and Hannah’s.”
Alden stared at Ashton in confusion. “Adoption? What do you mean?”
“Henry is your biological son, sir. And I need your signature to transfer legal guardianship to me.”
“What?”
Ashton’s calm and matter-of-fact tone only infuriated Alden. Without thinking, Alden slammed his hand down on the desk, his face turning red.
“Hannah can’t have children! How can this boy be my son? Is this some kind of joke?” Alden shouted.
“It’s even better if you don’t accept Henry. All you have to do is sign the papers, and there won’t be any ties. Henry won’t even ask you for a penny of the inheritance,” Ashton said, smiling.
Alden swallowed hard, trying to control his anger.
“Legally, Hannah was still your wife at the time. But after the divorce, we will marry, and of course I will adopt Henry,” Ashton explained. “I’ve always been Henry’s father.”
Alden nodded. “Very well. Send me the adoption papers and I’ll sign them.”
“Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Harrison.”
Ashton extended his hand, smiling again-a smile that made Alden feel sick. Reluctantly, Alden shook the doctor’s hand.
Alden stood. “I wish you both the best.”
“The same to you. Goodbye.”
Alden left Ashton’s office and walked down the hall with heavy steps. Seeing Hannah healthy and well had been incredible. And now Henry was to be his son?
But Alden knew that Hannah couldn’t have children and that she had a serious illness.
What on earth was going on? Alden wondered.