Ashley took a seat on the bench and stared straight ahead of her. Her lips curved up into a smile as she watched the kids play with each other happily. Warmth flew into her heart as the kids treated each other with equal respect.

A little girl fell down as she chased after a boy.

Ashley stood up to go help her but stopped.

A group of kids ran towards the little girl and began to baby her.

The boy she was chasing ran up to her with a worried expression. He knelt down next to her and began to look for injuries.

A small laugh escaped Ashley's lips when the small girl just pushed him away.

Without anybody's help, the girl stood up on her own, and told them that she was fine. As to prove her point, the little girl touched the boy's shoulders and ran away, laughing as she went.

Ashley felt a presence sitting down next to her. She didn't need to turn to see who it was. She already knew.

"Why are you here?" Her voice was monotonous while her whole body straightened up and starting to build a defense stance.

"That little girl reminds me so much of you. Always independent and standing on your own two feet." he said softly, ignoring her question.

"I didn't agree to this meeting for small talks. I'm going to ask you again. Why are you here and what do you want?" She turned to him and glared at him. "I don't like wasting my time and that's exactly what you're doing."

"Alright. I'll tell you." he sighed and smiled softly at her. "I wanted to apologize for the way I had treated you when we were little kids. It was wrong of me to do so."

Ashley quickly turned away as he said that and returned her gaze to the group of kids. "Don't you think it's a little too late for that?"

"I need to let you know something. It's not going to be easy for you or for me but I have kept it inside of me for too long. You deserve to know the truth. If you need or even want, I can be your shoulder to cry on." he took a deep breath.

Ashley scoffed. "You're delusional to think I would lean on you."

He sighed.

"Just tell me what you need to and leave." she whispered.

"It's not easy."

Ashley knew based on his tone that whatever he had to say was unutterable. She prepared herself for the worst. Closing her eyes, she prayed that she'll still remain sane after this visit. She opened her eyes. "What is it Samuel?"

"I'm your brother. Your half-brother to be exact. I'm not just your brother through marriage but I'm also your brother through blood."

The words instantly made Ashley freeze. Her whole mind started to only focus on what he had just told her. The world was caving in on her and she fought hard to breathe. Clutching her fists around her handbag, she started to hyperventilate.

"Crap. Ashley, are you okay?" he stood in front of her and grab her shoulders with worry clear in his eyes. "Ashley! Can you hear me? Answer me please. Say something." He himself started to shake.

"No. No you're lying." Ashley responded. She stood up and slapped him across the cheek. "You are just trying to get under my skin. Well guess what Samuel? It worked."

Samuel shook his head violently. He grabbed her arms and held it softly. His eyes shone with unshed tears. "Ashley I'm not. Please believe me."

She yanked her arms out of his hand. Poking his chest harshly she said, "Don't think I don't know what you're up to Samuel. Elena told me that you and your mother got kicked out of my father's house."

Once again, he shook his head. "This has nothing to do with that Ashley, I swear. I don't care about that. All I want is to reconcile with you."

Ashley saw the genuine look in his eyes but told herself that he was just acting. It was all just a game to him and his mother. She scoffed and tears started to fall down violently. "Haven't you destroyed my life enough, Samuel?"

"Ashley please just hear me out." Samuel pleaded.

Shaking her head and laughing emotionlessly, she turned her face away from him. "You took my childhood away."

"I didn't know. Had I known—"

"It doesn't matter Samuel! Whether or not I was your blood related sister, you still should not have treated me that way. You made me become insecure. You made me feel like no one would ever love me." she wiped away her tears and looked back at him. "I never want to see you again. Don't contact me ever."

"Ashley wait please." There was tears also falling down his cheeks. His face looked at her with an emotion that she has never seen before.

"Good-bye Samuel." she whispered. "Please. Let me live my life in peace. It's good where it's at right now. I have a good husband and a good mindset. Let me be happy. For once."

"I can't Ashley. I—I need to make up for my past mistakes." He grabbed her hand again and looked at her with sadness. "Please, don't go."

She yanked her hand and walked away from him, not looking back. Ignoring the calls from him, she picked up her phone and called her husband.

It took a few seconds before he picked up.

Her heart fluttered in happiness when she heard his voice. "Hey. I need to tell you something tonight. Try to come home early, okay?" she hung up the phone and smiled.

Forcing herself to forget the encounter with Samuel, she made her way home. As she passed by the houses in the neighborhood, her hand reached towards her stomach and rubbed it. "Let's do this my babies."

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Ashley slowly opened her eyes and sat up on her bed. She felt a slight pain on her lower abdomen but dismissed it as nothing. She had worst pains than those. Her doctor told her that it was more or less normal.

The conversation from before she passed out replayed in her mind. Questions started to drill their way into her head. Disbelief was the only feeling that consumed her body at the moment. That and a feeling of betrayal like always.

She heard her door opening and already knew who it was. "What did she mean down there, Elena?"

Ashley didn't look at her. She was afraid of the truth that could already be shining through Elena's eyes.

"I'm not the person to tell you this." Elena muttered.

Ashley felt the end of her bed dipping softly. "Then who is?"

It was silence for a while. Ashley debated against herself if she could ask it again. But before she could, Elena answered her. "That book on your nightstand."

Ashley grabbed the book and finally turned to Elena. Elena didn't meet her eyes. "What does my mama's journal have anything to do with this?"

"It will answer everything. That book was your mother's best friend. Your father didn't just give you the journal to help you go through with your pregnancy. It was to also tell you the truth." Elena finally looked up. "The darkest secrets that your mama ever had is in that very journal. All you have to do it open it."

"Will it answer every single question I have?" Ashley whispered.

Elena nodded her head. "Just promise me something."

"What?" Ashley muttered. Turning the book over, she caressed the cover and started to prep herself to read.

"Promise me that no matter what you read in there, you won't think negatively of your mother." Elena placed her hand on Ashley's. "Promise me Ashley."

"I promise."

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For hours, Ashley spent just staring at the journal. Brown leather with a strap on it. A strap that she couldn't bring herself to open.

The journal just laid there, on her bed, calling out for her to open it. The neat handwriting on the front cover stating who it belonged to made Ashley only fear it even more.

Hands reached out, mind set, and her breath evened out, Ashley picked it up. She commanded herself to open it but her hands wouldn't move itself toward the strapped. Frozen it stayed, her thumb on the front cover while her other four fingers on the back.

"You know, staring at it all day won't let you know the truth."

Ashley let out a small screech and her hand let go of the book.

It flew all the way across the room and she cringed when she heard the clank as it met with the floor. Praying that it hadn't gotten damaged, she got off her bed and walked to it. She picked it up and sighed in relief.

Eyes burning with fury, she turned towards the intruder.

"You scared me."

"It's a habit." he smirked and leaned his body against the door. "Well?"

"Well what?" she snapped out.

"My, my, someone is not a happy camper today." Laughing he loosened his tie and rolled his sleeves up.

"What do you want?" Placing the book back on her nightstand, Ashley sat down on her bed. "Can't you see I'm busy."

"Totally. Because staring at the same journal for the past four hours is totally being busy. My, Ashley. You're such a productive person." He let out a chuckle and walked towards the edge of her bed, sitting on it. He smiled softly at her. "I just missed you."

Ashley smiled back at him. She scooted towards him and hugged him tightly. "I missed you too Frankie, my annoying little cousin."

"By four days." he scoffed and poked her cheek. Seriousness then took over his eyes again. "You may seem okay but I know you're not." he leaned his head on hers and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "You want to tell me all about what's going on?"

Ashley smiled sadly at him and just shook her head. "Another time. I just want to forget everything for now. These babies are my main focus right now."

Frankie nodded his head and kissed her forehead softly. "If you ever need me, I'm just a few room down." he smirked.

Ashley raised her eyebrows at him. "You're staying here."

Smirking he flicked her forehead softly. "Of course I am. Someone has to stay here and protect you when Samcow starts to live here."

Ashley felt her whole body freeze. "Samuel? He's coming here?" she whispered.

Frankie sighed. "Yeah I know. Uncle Antonio did try but Ursula down there got him to agree somehow."

Ashley laughed. "Her name is Alessandra."

"Right I knew that." Frankie laughed and stood up. He kissed her forehead again. "I'll see you at dinner in a bit."

She smiled back at him. "Alright."

He sighed dramatically. "Wish me luck. I'm about to go meet Morgana again."

"Alessandra." She corrected again.

"Oh. Cool."

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