Chapter 16: Anger

Ashley sat in the courtroom listening to the two attorneys give them the evidence the jury needed. However, what came out of her father's attorney broke her heart and scared her. "Do we really believe that my client was the one that did the beatings? Let the record show that his daughter broke up with her boyfriend because according to his daughter her father made her. Could a jealous boyfriend be the one to do this?" His attorney explained. Ashley looked over to see the anger in his face.

As the trial went on, Ashley was brought to the stand. She swore under oath and she sat down. "Miss Hammond, you tell us that your father beats you. Would anything happen before the beatings begin?" The prosecutor asked. Ashley bit her lip as she played with her engagement ring.

"Sometimes he would beat me over the little things. Once it was because I was late coming home," she replied.

"Could you tell us what happened the evening your father nearly killed you?" The prosecutor asked.

Ashley started to shake at the thought. "I…um…I was…in my room reading when my father came home. He shouted for me to come down and he ordered me to sit down. Once I did…he held up…a pregnancy test box that my friend, Cassie, bought for me," Ashley explained.

"What was the result of the test?" The prosecutor asked.

"The test was positive," Ashley replied.

People started to talk and Ashley took in a deep breath when the judge silence the courtroom. "The pregnancy test was positive. Your father knew who the father of your child was?" He asked.

"Y--Yes," Ashley replied.

"And who would that be?" The prosecutor asked.

"M--My fiancé, Andros," she replied.

"Is he in this room."

"Yes."

"What happened after your father found out that Andros was the father of your child?"

Ashley's entire body started to shake as she remembered that horrible evening that her father nearly killed her and her baby. "He flipped the coffee table over. He ordered me to get an abortion, but when I refused, he threw me up against the wall. Before I knew it he had thrown me on the floor and he was kicking and punching me. I was covering my stomach so he wouldn't kill my baby. The next thing I know, I'm waking up with Cassie trying to keep me lying completely still and she was telling me that the ambulance was on it's way," she explained.

"And then what happened at the hospital?" The prosecutor asked.

Andros saw that Ashley looked like she was about to cry when he asked her to explain what happened at the hospital. "I--I w--was sleeping after Dr. Warner told me that my baby was going to be okay. I suddenly knew that someone else was in my room. When I woke up, he was standing right there, he had a knife in his hand. When I asked him what he was doing, my father said he was going to finish the job. He pinned me down and tried to put the knife into my stomach. I pushed him back while screaming for help. Andros came in and pulled my father away from me. I watched as my father took the knife and stuck it into Andros's stomach. Everything was happening so fast, security came in and took my father away, but I was on the floor trying to keep Andros from dying," she explained.

"No further questions," the prosecutor informed.

He sat down and Ashley saw the glare in her father's eye as her attorney stood up. "Miss Hammond, when your father told you to breakup with your boyfriend, how did Mr. Karovan take it when you did as your father told you?" The defense attorney asked.

"Andros was devastated, we both were. We both knew it had to be done though," she replied.

"If this child is really Andros's and you weren't allowed to see him anymore, how did this happen?" He asked.

"I snuck out to see him," she replied.

The defense attorney nodded. "According to your father he tells me that you came home the night your child was conceived in tears and you were bruised. Your father claims that your fiancé raped you," he informed. The prosecutor stood up.

"Objection speculation," he objected.

"Sustained," the judge answered.

Ashley glared at the defense. "It's alright, I'll answer his question," she answered. She glared at the defense. "I'll tell you one thing. My fiancé isn't even the one on trial here. No, Andros didn't rape me. That monster who claims to be my father beat me every single day of my life since I was seven. The man who claims and I bet he's told you it was Andros that came into that house that day and beat me because somehow he found out I was pregnant? I'm sorry, sir, but Andros would never ever do that. And second, if I just found out how the hell did Andros find out that quick? Third, He'll die first before he let anything happen to the baby and me and he almost did die protecting us. Andros never hurt me in anyway, if anyone would be the blame of hurting anyone else, it would be me, because I not only hurt myself by staying away, but I hurt him too. Don't you dare let that bastard who claims to be my father run the streets because he'll just find someone else to beat on!" She explained angrily. The defense attorney stared at Ashley in shock.

"No further questions," he informed.

"You may step down, Miss Hammond," the judge told Ashley.

Ashley sat back down and she placed her head in her hands. Andros wrapped his arm around Ashley's back and pulled her to him. He kissed the top of her head. "It's okay," he whispered. Ashley placed her head on his chest and let out a sigh. Andros felt her shake and closed his eyes as he held her. "It's almost over, it's almost over," he added.

Once they were recessed, Mr. Hammond glared at Andros to see him holding his daughter. Ashley had just about fallen asleep in Andros's arms feeling absolutely safe. April came over to the couple. "Is she alright?" She asked. Andros nodded.

"Yeah, she'll be okay," he replied.

April saw her daughter just about asleep in his arms. "You're a good man, Andros, a very good man," she told him.

"Thank you, Mrs. Leonardo," Andros answered.

April smiled and she patted his shoulder. "After hearing my daughter say all those things about what you have done for her, it makes me so glad that she chose you," she commented. Andros smiled.

"Thank you," he answered.

Just then, the announcement came that the jury has made their decision. Andros kissed Ashley's cheek. "Ashley," he whispered. Ashley slowly opened her eyes and looked up at Andros. "The jury's made their decision," he informed. Ashley sat up and looked up when the jury came back.

"Has the jury made it's decision?" The judge asked.

"We have your honor," the lead juror replied.

The juror handed the slip to the judge who read it over before handing it back to the lead juror. "Would the defendant please rise?" The judge asked. Mr. Hammond stood up. Ashley held onto Andros's hand so tight that he felt her nails dig into his skin.

"We the jury find Adrian Hammond charged with physical abuse and attempted murder…guilty," the juror announced.

Ashley's heart stopped and she was just in shock. Andros looked over just as Ashley placed her head in her hands as she let out a small sob. Andros wrapped his arms around her and rocked her back and forth. "It's over, it's finally over," she sobbed against him. Andros smiled as he held her.

"Just you and me now," he answered.

"You, me, and our little baby."

Andros nodded and placed a hand on her stomach while he hugged her. Nothing could come between them now, except for a growing stomach.