Chapter 99 - Shattered Dreams

Megan's POV

"Meg, Alice, long time no see!" Zachary said, avoiding my eyes, and I knew right away he was guilty of not answering my text messages and calls.

"Yeah, because the people I know in Astikoz hills were trying to ignore me, and I didn't expect you will also do the same to me, Zach, but I know your loyalty will always be with your best friend, and I get that, but I came here to ask your help. I need to tell Ashton about something, and the guards won't let us in, and you are the only one who can help me." I said, and for the first time after we got inside his gigantic house, he turned to look at me in the eyes, and I was shocked to see his swollen eyes, and I wondered what had happened to him.

"Look, Meg, I don't want to be in trouble, I already talked with Ashton, and this is what I've got." He said as he pointed to his black eye, and my eyes widened in disbelief that Ashton hit him, and I realized my boyfriend didn't want to see me anymore.

"Zach, I need Ashton now, there is something important I want to tell him, and I needed some answers," I said.

"I am sorry, Meg, to say this to you, but I think it will only be useless if you will talk with Ashton right now because he will never listen to anyone, and especially to you." He said, and I couldn't believe I would hear something like that.

"Please, Zachary, if you consider me as one of your friends, you have to help me," I begged, and he raked his hair with his fingers. I could tell Zach was torn between helping me and his loyalty to Ashton, but I could feel it in my heart that he would never help me, and the only thing to convince him to help me talk with his best friend was to tell him why I needed to speak with Ashton. 

"Yes, Meg, but I think Ashton made the right decision. I can't tell you the reasons why he suddenly cut communications with you, but believe me, and he only did it for your sake." He said, and my face turned so red out of anger

"Oh? If he thought it was the best decision for both of us, he could have at least told me about it. Your friend is a coward and has no balls at all. I can take it if he will say it to my face than doing this to me. I felt like a fool texting him every day and calling him multiple times a day, even if I know he won't answer at all." I said while trying my best to control myself.

"And now, I realized he doesn't need to know that I am pregnant with his child." I said, and there I said it, and if we were only on a different circumstance, I could have laughed watching the expression on Zachary and Alice's faces.

"What?" Zach asked in more than a whisper.

"Yes, you heard me right, Zach, but please don't tell Ashton about it. I wanted him to know about my pregnancy because he is the father of this baby in my womb, but I don't want to look pathetic anymore. I don't know how I am going to raise this child alone, but I will do everything I can to have this baby, even if it means I have to give up my dreams." I said, and I could tell that Zach was shocked, especially my best friend, Alice. Zachary was speechless as he stared at me.

"All I am asking you now is don't ever tell Ashton about it, Zach, and thank you for your time. We need to leave now; thank you that you didn't drive us away for letting us in your house and speak with you; at least I could tell you are different from them. Alice, let us go." I said as I turned to face my best friend, and I realized she looked so pale after hearing the news of my pregnancy. I turned my heels and left without taking a second look while I was holding back my tears. I heard Alice walking behind me as I walked faster.

"Meg, you were kidding, right?" Alice asked the moment we reached her car, and we were facing each other over the roof of her father's car since she was on the driver's side while I was standing on the passenger's side. I slowly shook my head, and her face fell.

"Oh, Meg, I am sorry, " She mumbled, and I smiled at her.

"Don't be sorry for me, Alice; this is a gift, and I know I made a mistake for trusting Ashton. I gave him everything without thinking about the consequences, and I can't blame him. I am at fault too. It was a mistake to love him, but I will do everything to have this baby inside my womb, even if it means giving up everything that I have dreamed of for the meantime." I said.

"I don't know how I am going to do it, I know I can't be a burden to my family, but I need to tell them the truth. And I promised I would find a way to finish my studies as well. But I will do everything I can to become a successful chemical engineer no matter what, and I will show the Pritzgold that I don't need them in my life, and I know someday Ashton and his father will realize they made a big mistake." I said, and she looked so funny because she was smiling at me even if her tears were pouring down her cheeks.

"You are strong, Meg, and I am so proud of you. And I could tell, you will be a great mom, and I will be the best godmother ever." She said, and her words made me smile, and it wasn't a fake smile. But before we could get inside the car, I heard Zach's voice calling my name, and when I looked around, he was coming our way.

"I am sorry, Meg, I was stunned, and after I recovered from my shock, I realized I need to do something about it, I have to be the godfather of that child, and I promise to give you my full support, Meg. But first, we have to do the right thing. Ashton must know about this, and I hope he will make the right choice." He said.

"Yes, he has all the right to know, Meg, he is the father, and that child was formed because of your love for each other, and I think if not only because of his wicked father, you could have been together now." Alice added, and she came to my side and held my hand as we followed Zachary on his car. Zach asked us both to stay on the back of his car, so we could hide the moment we passed the gate of Pritzgold's mansion. I know his vehicle has a dark tint, but Zach wanted our plan to work without complications.

"So, Ashton is still in his house?" Alice asked.

"Yes, we are leaving tomorrow for WEN, and his father will fly us to the university, but I think Ashton will cancel our plan the moment he learns the truth. I know you are both young, Megan, but I could tell Ashton will love the idea that he will be a father. I know my best friend, and he loves you so much to choose his dream over you." Zach said, and even if I felt so nervous, his words gave me enough confidence and courage to face Ashton.

I am only fooling myself if I will say I don't love Ashton. I became more in love with him after I confirmed my suspicion I was pregnant with his baby. Having Ashton's baby in my womb made me realize I am so happy that we are going to be parents even if I know how hard it is to raise a child since we are both not ready, but I know as long as we have each other, everything will be manageable. I smiled when we successfully got past the gate without any problems, and my heart was pounding so hard as Zach drove onto the long driveway of the Pritzgold's enormous mansion.

We climbed out of his car, and I felt so nervous as we got inside the stairs and his brothers were shocked to see us. I know they were surprised to see me, and it feels like they have seen a ghost as they try to look at each other. Before they could react, I saw Lauren descend the stairs while Ashton was following behind her, and his face paled when he looked at me, but his expression hardened right away, and I felt my limbs were shaking as I pulled the hem of Zach's T-shirt. He is no longer the Ashton I used to love and care for, and I wonder why he looked at me with anger on his face?

"Zachary, what are you doing here with your friends?" He asked, and Zach's hands curled into his sides, and I realized he was keeping his anger at bay. And I never felt so humiliated my entire life because Ashton acted as if he didn't know me at all; for him, I am just one of Zach's friends.

"Megan came here because she has important things to tell you, Ashton." Zach said, and I looked at him on the stairs even if I was hurting inside. I needed to gaze at his face even for the last time because I couldn't believe his love for me was gone.

"I am not interested to hear what she has to say, Zachary. I couldn't believe you would betray me. How could you do this to me? You know that I don't want to see Megan anymore. I told you about it, what we had was a mistake. It was over between us.. I told the guard not to let her come inside our house, and you of all people?" He asked his best friend in a stern voice, and I couldn't take it anymore; my tears fell on my cheeks even if I tried my very best to contain them, but Ashton's words cut and shattered my heart all at once.