**Chapter 1: A Night to Forget**

Ashley Frangipane, a 22-year-old girl from New Jersey, had always been a small-town girl with big dreams. She had moved to Los Angeles at the tender age of 18, eager to make a name for herself in the city of stars. With her sweet and kind heart, she had quickly made friends and was navigating the ups and downs of life in LA. But on this particular night, Ashley's life took a drastic turn. It was a Friday evening, and Ashley had decided to meet her friends at a popular bar in West Hollywood. She had just finished a long week of work and was looking forward to unwinding with a few drinks and some good company. As she walked into the bar, she was immediately struck by the lively atmosphere and the crowd of people laughing and chatting. She spotted her friends at a table and made her way over to join them. The night was going well, with Ashley and her friends laughing and joking around. She had a few drinks, but not too many, and was feeling carefree and happy. That's when she noticed him - a guy with piercing blue eyes and chiseled features, who seemed to be staring at her from across the room. Ashley felt a flutter in her chest, but quickly brushed it off, focusing on her conversation with her friends. As the night wore on, Ashley got up to grab another drink from the bar. That's when she felt a hand on her shoulder, and the guy with the blue eyes appeared beside her. "Mind if I join you?" he asked, flashing a charming smile. Ashley, being the kind and naive girl she was, hesitated for a moment before nodding and introducing herself. The guy, who introduced himself as Jordan, was 36 years old, and Ashley didn't think twice about his age. They chatted for a bit, and Ashley found herself feeling at ease with Jordan. He seemed charming and friendly, and she didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. But as the night wore on, Jordan started to get a little too friendly, and Ashley began to feel uncomfortable. She tried to brush him off, but he wouldn't take no for an answer. The next thing Ashley knew, she was waking up in a hospital bed, with a pounding headache and a sense of horror. She had no idea what had happened the night before, but as she looked down at her body, she saw bruises and scratches that made her heart sink. A nurse came in and gently told Ashley that she had been brought to the hospital after a night out at the bar, and that she had been sexually assaulted. Ashley's world came crashing down around her. She couldn't believe that she had been so trusting and naive, and that she had let her guard down with a stranger. The police were called, and Ashley gave a statement, identifying Jordan as her attacker. She was determined to see him brought to justice, but as she was being discharged from the hospital, she couldn't shake off the feeling that her life was about to get a lot more complicated. As she was leaving the hospital, Ashley's phone rang. It was her best friend, Emily. "Hey, girl, how are you?" Emily asked, concern etched in her voice. Ashley took a deep breath and told Emily everything - about the night at the bar, about Jordan, and about the assault. Emily listened, shocked and supportive, and Ashley felt a sense of relief wash over her. But as they talked, Ashley couldn't help but wonder - was she okay? Physically and emotionally, she was a mess. And then there was the question that she couldn't shake off - was she pregnant? Ashley had been on birth control, but she had missed a pill a few days before that night at the bar. She hadn't thought much of it at the time, but now she was consumed by worry. "Emily, I need to get a pregnancy test," Ashley said, her voice trembling. Emily reassured her that they would get one, and that they would face this together. Ashley knew that she had a long and difficult road ahead of her, but with Emily by her side, she felt a glimmer of hope. Little did she know, her journey was just beginning, and it would take her to places she never thought she'd go.