He Didn't Seem To Hate It

"Will?" Ashley was reading when she saw the platinum blonde-haired man enter.

 Will walked towards her and sat on the seat next to her. "I was visiting a friend when I saw you here. I never got a chance to visit since there were so many people around." The man scratched his head. "I didn't want any misunderstandings."

Ashley tilted her head and smiled. "Don't worry. Everything's been solved." William smiled back at her. "I'm relieved to hear that."

"How are you feeling right now?", William asked with concern in his tone. "I heard from a few nurses that you suffered from an asthma attack."

"I'm perfectly okay." Ashley pushed up her glasses. "I don't get why everyone keeps asking me about my health. The doctors are so obsessed with keeping me here."

William chuckled. "They all care about you. That's why." A lock of Ashley's hair moved to her face and William pushed it back behind her ear.

"You're extremely special. It's no wonder everyone cares about you."

Ashley felt an extremely weird feeling inside. She felt a sense of happiness mixed with a bit of sadness.

The door once again swung open, and Leticia worked in carrying three plastic bags. "Ash, I bought food.", she said with the bags raised in the air and a smile on her face.

Once she caught sight of William caressing Ashley's face, her smile faded. Sternness overcame her previously happy expression. "Ashley!"

William pulled back at once. The two were now staring at the livid middle-aged woman. "What's going on here?" Ashley saw that her mother's eyes were filled with indescribable fury. "I'll be leaving now." William spoke and got up to leave the room. Leticia didn't bother taking a glimpse of him, but she did not miss the sideways glance he gave her.

There was a loud silence in the room once William left. The sternness on Leticia's face faded. She let out a heavy sigh before walking towards her daughter.

"You don't love Nathan." It wasn't a question but a statement. Ashley looked at her mother and nodded. "But you're married to him and that can't be changed."

Ashley opened her mouth to speak. "Yes, it can, mom. We can get a divorce- "

"I told you already, Ashley. Divorce is out of the options." Leticia opened her eyes as if in deep thought. Ashley watched as she spoke. "The power I have is not enough to protect you, Ashley. If one day, when I'm gone-"

"Mom!" Ashley held her hand and shook her head. Leticia looked up at the young woman with an emotionless look, but motherly love was overflowing from her eyes. Let's me speak Ashley. If one day, when I'm gone, you need someone to protect you. And the best person is Nathan."

Leticia cupped Ashley's cheek and brought their foreheads together. "I am not enough to protect you. You're my only daughter, Ashley. You're the only one I have. I can't bear to lose you."

…

Ashley watched a show on the hospital television. It was a new k-drama called 'juvenile justice'. Ashley's eyes were on the television, but her mind was elsewhere.

Nathan sat on the couch in a loose black t- shirt and sweatpants. He had his glasses on a bunch of documents on his lap.

"What would you say if I decided to no longer go on with the divorce?" Nathan's hand which was busy signing the documents paused at Ashley's words.

"I would say you've finally come to your senses."

Ashley glanced up at him with an annoyed look. "Don't you have any work to do?"

"I am working.", Nathan replied, raising the documents for her to view.

"No. I mean, why aren't you at work?", Ashley inquired, narrowing her eyes at the carefree man opposite her.

"I need to take care of you.", He answered and the next thing he received was a flying pillow, hitting him on the head. The documents on his lap fell to the ground.

"I don't need you here!", Ashley yelled out in frustration.

Nathan put the pillow aside. "Yes, you do. We can't have the last situation repeating itself."

Ashley got out of bed. When Nathan looked up, she was standing right in front of him. "Ashley! You're not supposed to move around." He sprung out from his seat.

Ashley pulled away when he tried to hold on to her. "Go to work now. You're being a distraction." She tried pushing him out of the room.

Nathan moved a couple of steps before halting. He rested his hands on her shoulders, her head only to the height of his chest. He lowered his head to the height of hers, his dark blue eyes staring into her gray ones.

"How am I distracting you?" His voice sounded both melodious and seductive in her ears. She could feel her cheeks heat up. "I-I'm trying to work and your-your presence is distracting me." Nathan let out a low chuckle which caused Ashley to gulp. This was a whole new side of her husband she had never seen before.

"If you're still able to talk, then I'm not being much of a distraction, am I?" He then pressed his fingers against her lips which had her heart pounding like crazy. "I'll show you how much of a distraction I can be."

 Ashley's eyes widened as Nathan closed his eyes and leaned in to kiss her. But before he knew it, he was pushed out of the room and the door was shut with a bang.

Nathan opened his eyes to see a shut door in front of him. Just as he was about to speak, the door swung open once again which caused his eyes to light up. A bunch of papers were then thrown at his face before another bang was heard.

Nathan stood there speechless with a few medical personnel and patients looking and pointing at him. A few picked up his papers and scrambled towards him, expecting to receive his attention but Nathan's gaze was locked on the shut door.

In the past, Ashley was quiet and humble. She always obliged to his every request. However, after demanding the divorce, she seemed to have changed, in. Nathan had just realized it. And he didn't seem to hate it.

Not in the least bit.