274 Apologies

Sabrina was impatient. She wants to finish what she came here to do so that she can return by Ashton's side. She does not want to miss being there when he wakes up. At the same time, Sabrina thought that it would be the best thing ever if Ashton is awake when she returns to his room.

Seeing Ashton on that hospital bed, wrapped in bandages and unmoving, is devastating. She does not want to consider the possibility that he will not wake up.

Sabrina looked at Jackson and her blood boiled with the knowledge that she is looking at the man who is responsible for Ashton's current condition.

"You crazy bitch!" Jackson cried while spraying blood. He wanted to scream, but he barely had any strength to talk.

While being tased the fifth time, he bit his tongue. That is the source of the blood pooling in his mouth.

Sabrina didn't react to his outburst. "I'm happy that you are energetic. Must be due to all the electricity I pumped into you."

"You… you are a monster."

"It took you eight years to realizes what I am?" Sabrina stifled a mocking laugh and went to the table from where she took a baseball bat. "I allowed you to take advantage of me for eight years. And I knew that you will not take the breakup quietly because you are greedy. Why didn't you let me go? And why didn't you come after me? You dared to touch Ashton. You should know that the few people I cherish are my bottom line. And you crossed it."

"What are you doing with that?" Jackson tried moving away from Sabrina when he saw her approaching him with the bat, but he is tied up.

"Ashton has a broken arm and ribs. His skull is fractured."

Jackson realized that she will do the same to him. "You are going to kill me…"

"That will depend on your luck."

He saw Sabrina swinging the bat and panicked. "How can you hit me when I'm tied up? I can't defend myself!"

Sabrina sneered. "Good. You will experience exactly what Ashton got. Watch me beat you up, and you can't do a thing about it…"

A second later, the baseball bat landed Jackson's left forearm.

Jackson screamed.

Before he caught his breath, he felt the bat connecting with his left side and two of his ribs broke.

…

When Sabrina left the room, she found Max in the hallway.

"Are you going to the hospital?" Max guessed.

Sabrina confirmed. "I'm done here, and Ashton needs me."

Max is concerned about her mental state. Even though she looks calm now, Sabrina was the she-devil while beating the soul out of Jackson. The last thing Max wants is for Sabrina to end up in a car accident because she is out of it.

"Do you need someone to drop you off?"

Max confirmed. "It has begun. And the Stone family as well. Leave them to me and you can focus on Ashton. He will wake up soon."

Sabrina smiled sadly. "I hope so."

Sabrina paused and observed the handsome face of her younger brother for some time before giving him a hug. "Thank you, Max."

When she released Max from her hug, she noticed that Hunter, Jake, Mike, and Derek are a few steps away.

She hugged Hunter. "Thank you, baby brother."

"Rina… I am sorry that I was an ass toward Ashton. I know that he loves you." Hunter said what was weighing on him.

Sabrina nodded in approval. Finally, she heard an apology with sincerity. It's too bad that it took Hunter so long to say those words. "I hope that you will tell that to Ashton when he wakes up."

"I will." Hunter assured her.

She thanked Jake, Mike, and Derek (without hugging them) and headed to the hospital.

Hunter, Jake, Mike, and Derek entered the room where Jackson is.

Sabrina beat up Jackson badly and he is unconscious. He has a number of fractures, and his appearance is a mess with blood and bruises all over.

The medic on-premises confirmed that Jackson is alive.

"I wanted to beat him up for what he did to Ashton, but when I see him like this… I'm not sure where to punch." Jake said in a half-whisper.

The other three agreed with him. It is a tough decision. Sabrina didn't leave much for them to work with.

They all silently agreed that Sabrina is not to be underestimated. And she should not be angered.

~ Seattle, the Franciscan Medical Center ~

11:49 PM

Sabrina entered Ashton's room and looked at Mia, Liz, and Olivia.

"Thank you for watching over Ashton. Any changes in his conditions?"

"No." Liz responded.

Sabrina sat on the chair next to Ashton's bed and held his right hand.

"Do you want to eat?" Mia offered. "We got plenty and saved some for you."

"Maybe later, thanks." Sabrina responded without turning to face Mia. "I will stay with him overnight."

Olivia realized that Sabrina's comment means that it's time to go.

"Take care…" Olivia told Sabrina. "Let me know if you need anything."

"Thanks."

Mia and Liz left as well.

Before heading out, Liz told Sabrina that she will be back in the morning and that she can call her anytime. "In case of emergency, push this button and a nurse will come."

"Hey…" Sabrina called when it was just she and Ashton in the room. "Jackson got what he deserved. I had to do it because you are resting. Did you rest enough? Wake up, please. I need you…" Her voice drifted away while tears rolled down her cheeks.

Sabrina is not sure at what point she slept off.

…

Saturday

5:19 AM

Sabrina had a dream that she is in the hospital, next to Ashton's bed and that he is awake. He was gently patting her head. She smiled. Only Ashton can be so gentle.

Sabrina's eyes sprang open when she realized that the sensation on her head is real.

"Hey…" Ashton said in a croaky voice. "Why are you sleeping like this? It must be uncomfortable…"

Sabrina's eyes filled with tears. "Welcome back. How are you feeling?"

"Sore. Why is everything hurting? Where are we?"

Sabrina reached for the glass of water and helped him to take a few sips before starting her explanation.

"You got jumped on by four guys when you left my studio on Thursday. It's Saturday morning. You are in the Franciscan Medical Center…" Sabrina saw that he is confused, and she remembered Liz's reminder of what to do first when Ashton wakes up. "Let me inform the nurse that you are awake. I'm sure they need to check on you, and we can talk later."

Sabrina watched one doctor and two nurses examine Ashton and she was happy that they removed most of the bandages from his face. She can see that he is bruised, and his lip is cut, but in her eyes, he is the most handsome man.

The doctor informed Sabrina that Ashton is stable, and he increased the dosage of painkillers before leaving the room.

Ashton moved to the side of the bed and made space for Sabrina. "Come here, next to me…"

"What's wrong?" Ashton asked when he saw that Sabrina is not coming.

"I… This is all my fault. I am so sorry."

Ashton observed Sabrina's expression full of guilt and his heart cracked. "You said that four guys attacked me. Did you know about it beforehand? Did you ask them to attack me?"

"No, but…"

"No buts." Ashton interrupted her. "I don't accept your apology because it's not your fault. Based on your behavior I can guess that Jackson is behind it, and that you are blaming yourself for it. Don't. You didn't have anything to do with the attack. And it was my decision to stay by your side and to provoke him. Even if I knew that I would end up like this, I would not stay away from you, Rina. Unless you don't love me anymore, or you think that I am hideous mummy, come here next to me, because only your proximity will make me feel better."

Sabrina looked at Ashton and her heart melted. Can he be any sweeter?

She snuggled next to Ashton happily.

"Tell me now… what happened?" Ashton demanded.

"What do you remember?"

Ashton frowned. "Not much. We talked about dinner and I left and… that's it."

Sabrina exhaled. "Maybe we should keep it at that for now. The police will come to get your statement."

Ashton understood that they will want to get his statement, so that they can capture whoever hurt him. "I don't remember anything useful."

"It does not matter. Tell them whatever you remember. For your peace of mind, I can tell you that we know who is behind it and we got them. No one will be left unpunished." Sabrina assured him.

Ashton's eyes were droopy from the medications.

"Sleep..." Sabrina said softly before yawning. "I will sleep as well…"

Around 8 AM Liz came with Max to check on Ashton, and they saw that Sabrina and Ashton are sleeping next to each other.

"How about we go and grab breakfast?" Max suggested. When they woke up, Liz saw Sabrina's message that Ashton is awake, and they rushed to the hospital without breakfast.

Liz agreed. "Breakfast sounds good…"

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