The shock on Ashley's face was unmistakable, her eyes wide with disbelief, as she tried to process Michelle's revelation. She had never known her father had any siblings–hell, she hadn't known he had any family at all, until a week ago. But standing there, staring at the spitting image of the man who was her father's brother, made her wonder just how many things she didn't know about him.
Ashley wasn't just shocked to learn that her father had a brother-she was unsettled. Why did he also never spoke of his own sibling? Even if his relationship with his parents had been strained, wasn't the bond between siblings supposed to be different? Special?
Despite everything she had been through, she knew that if she had a sibling, she would've held on to them, no matter what.
The possibility that it might have been the brother who didn't want a relationship with her dad, after their parents cut him off, crossed her mind. She couldn't help but imagine the sadness her dad must've hidden every day, knowing he had a family he couldn't connect with. It pricked at her heart.
She remembered how she'd eventually stopped asking about his parents after he'd told her they were dead. That afternoon, Ashley had felt really heartbroken for him, believing it was why he always avoided the topic of his family, and why her mom never also entertained her curiosities about them. But now, she realized her father hadn't meant a literal death at all.
And that she knew nothing beyond the fact that he had been kind, loving, and the best father she could've asked for. Thinking deeper, she wondered if that might had been the reason she always felt they lived in hiding –until tragedy struck.
When Ashley finally found her voice, she asked. "Where's Jason? I don't think I've seen him since ... since I arrived."
As the question left her mouth, her confusion deepened. Why had Mikael handed over his company to her, instead of Jason?
Michelle forced down the lump that had formed in her own throat before proceeding to answer Ashley's question.
"That's because..." she swallowed the ache in her chest. Ashley noticed the hesitation, which only heightened her own curiosity. "Jason's dead."
Ashley's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't expected that answer at all, now she didn't know how to react. "I-I'm so sorry. I-didn't..."
A small, sad smile ghosted Michelle's lips. "It's fine dear. He's been gone for over a year now... I suppose I've just learned to go on without him."
Ashley didn't realize she was crying until a tear drop fell on her cheek. She didn't even realize when she hugged Michelle, after seeing the old lady looked close to tears herself. Ashley understood how painful it was to lose the people we love, and how lost it leaves one feeling. Her grandparents had lost two children, and she couldn't understand how they still managed to live on, how they managed to smile often. Unlike them, every day felt like a slow death for Ashley, knowing Vanessa was still out there, lost.
A deeper fear gripped her chest as the thought of never seeing her daughter again crossed her mind. She couldn't bring herself to imagine it- the feeling resembled her heart and soul being shredded apart, slowly, with a blunt knife.
A moment later, Ashley followed Michelle to one of the plush, cream-colored couches, and they sat, facing the large screen in front of them.
"Madison, I want some of those your creamy hot tea please." Michelle said to the maid who had come to take her coat.
"Okay ma'am. I'll prepare it right away."
"Please make some for my granddaughter too. I know she'll love it." She added, making Ashley smile at how confident she sounded.
Madison soon returned with two mugs of hot chocolate tea, stretching one to each women. Ashley hesitated before reaching for the cup. Her mind was troubled, still tangled in the web of everything she was discovering about her new family and the one she'd lost.
The hesitation lingered for a few more seconds before she finally took the cup. She took a tentative sip, and just like Michelle predicted, she loved the creamy taste.
"This tastes really nice." She spoke, earning a soft smile from Michelle.
An awkward moment of silence stretched afterwards, with only the quiet slurping of the hot liquid being heard. Each women nursed their own thought.
Ashley: Jason's death was definitely the reason they looked for me. Maybe they really had no bad intention.
Michelle: I can't wait for you to forgive us child, to get pass that pain, and realize just how much I wanted you from the moment we learned of your existence.
When the silence became uncomfortable, Ashley decided to speak. "Why did you return so early? Isn't the party still ongoing?"
Michelle nodded. "It is, but after you left, I figured you might need some company. I had to leave your grandfather to finish with the guests."
Ashley was taken aback, surprised that Michelle had abandoned the party just because she thought she needed some company. She felt warmth spread through her heart.
"You didn't have to do that." She whispered softly. "I had just wanted to rest early, so that I can be ready for tomorrow."
Michelle shook her head, and was about to say something when the front door slid open. Mikael walked in, Greg following closely behind, his signature frown evident.
"You ladies are still awake?"
"You're welcome, honey." Michelle blushed as Mikael walked over and kissed her cheek. "We were just having tea, and Ashley was talking about resuming work tomorrow."
Ashley watched, a quiet pang of longing tugging at her heart at their PDA. Her grandparents shared the kind of intimate, effortless affection that Ashley had rarely experienced, especially in the fractured relationships that had marked her own life. The way they looked at each other with so much warmth, which she noticed in just the few hours she'd spent with them, so naturally, reminded her of how her parents had once been–before their tragic death.
It was the kind of love she had never known in her own marriage, a love that made her feel, in that moment, like she was the unlucky lamb of the family.
Mikael turned to Ashley with a slight frown. "You don't have to resume so soon, dear. Take your time to rest. It's tedious work."
"I don't mind," Ashley replied hastily. She wanted something to occupy her mind with, until her daughter was found. Rest was the last thing she needed. "I'm going to be bored staying here all day, doing nothing."
The couple exchanged a glance before Michelle spoke. "I see you've made up your mind. You'll need to go shopping tomorrow then," she suggested. "You need new clothes, shoes, bags. You don't want them seeing you as anything less than their elegant CEO." She concluded, whispering the last part with a dramatic gesture of her hand.
Mikael chuckled, calling for Madison to make him his favorite Japanese green tea. He loved to have it in his study, where he would be heading once he concluded with his wife and granddaughter.
A small smile spread across Ashley's face at Michelle's dramatics. "Thanks for everything," she appreciated softly. Michelle felt happy realizing she was starting to see glimpses of a smile on Ashley's face, no matter how fleeting.
"Goodnight," Ashley said, standing up, and turning towards the stairs. But Mikael's sudden cough made her step falter. He repeatedly tapped on his chest as if to soothe the cough. Michelle turned to him with a worried expression.
"Are you okay, honey?"
"Yes baby, I'm fine. Why do you look so worked up over a simple cough?" Mikael who was now relieved, joked.
Ashley wondered the same, thinking, 'Michelle must be such a drama queen' as Michelle's creased brow slowly eased.
"Please go have your rest my dear. You look exhausted." Mikael said to Ashley.
She nodded and continued towards the spiraling staircase. There was a lift, but she preferred the stairs as it offered her a longer moments before being alone with those aching thoughts and emptiness.
"Ash...baby." Michelle suddenly called. The unexpected endearment made Ashley turn back, shocked.
Michelle smiled sheepishly, lowering her gaze before meeting Ashley's again.
"Goodnight." She whispered. "We love you." She added, making Ashley's heart hammer in her chest and her eyes turning glassy.
*********
Mikael walked into his dimly lit study, after escorting his wife to their bedroom, and sharing everything she missed from the party, due to her early departure. He lowered himself weakly on his recliner, releasing a soft sigh.
Madison had dropped his green tea on the desk earlier, and he took a sip, eyes briefly closing as he savored the deep umami taste. Picking up the business ebook on the desk, he flipped through the pages until page 209, where he had stopped the last time.
Mikael barely made it past a few lines before the cough returned, deeper this time.
Dropping the ebook, he quietly reached for the small, light brown bottle, tucked away in the inner section of his desk. His fingers brushed against it before he pulled it out and twisted the cap open, swallowing two tablets without hesitation.