“Look, I’m not gonna stand here and let you hurt my sister again like you did when you whored yourself to Aiden. She deserves better than the likes of you! People like you don’t change, Ashley. You put up this nice, rehabilitated front, but you’ll always be a freaking drunk who was too stupid and selfish to love my sister the right way. I know all about how you went on in London. It’s a God damn miracle you aren’t diseased with the amount of people you’ve slept with and the drugs you pumped into your body. I saw what that did to Kyla, how she cried after phone calls with you. I know you almost went and killed yourself without ever thinking how it would affect the few, or rather, one person that still gave a damn about you! Do you honestly think I’m gonna be happy to hear that you’re going to be around the two people I love most in the world permanently?”

Glen was red faced and obviously angry beyond belief. Ashley was just standing there looking like she wanted to crawl into a corner and cry. She had not thought for one moment that Glen was going to welcome her with open arms, but that reaction was not expected. Old self hate flowed over her in waves in that moment.

“Stop it! Just stop it! You don’t ever get to talk to her like that again, Glen. As much as I love you, I won’t stand here and let you talk to her like that.”

Ashley watched with a stricken look as Kyla glared at Glen. She had known she had hurt Kyla with her behavior, but it had never sunk in just how much. Guilt washed through her and she felt her chest tighten, felt as old memories of strangers hands on her body and popping tablets and guzzling Jack Daniels invaded her mind. She felt that old disgust at herself settle firmly into her bones and felt like crying again. She watched with a growing sense of panic as Glen angrily yelled at Kyla.

“Well I won’t stand here and let her breeze back into our lives as if she belongs, as if she deserves too. She hurt you, she hurt Spencer and that’s not acceptable to me. I’m sorry that I’m not as forgiving as you and I get she’s your sister, but I had to live with the fallout of her mistakes. I had to watch first Spencer than you cry yourselves to sleep and walk around with that constant sadness. I won’t let it happen again, I simply won’t!”