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Unspoken Fears
Last Updated:
2025-02-21 19:45:20
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Asher’s POVThe hospital room was unnervingly quiet, with the only other noise coming from the occasional rustle of fabric as I shifted in my chair and the soft beeping of the heart monitor.Yet, beneath the silence, there was an unshakable tension that made Marcus’s fragile state feel even more real, like he was on the edge of something irreversible, something permanent.It was the only sound breaking the silence, yet somehow, it was deafening. Each measured beep was like a countdown, marking the agonizing passage of time since the accident. Four days.Four days of waiting, of watching, of hoping for something, anything, to change.Four days since my world had come to a screeching halt.Ivy had been discharged, and I should have felt relieved. I should have been grateful that at least she was safe, that she had walked away from this with her life intact. But I couldn’t feel anything close to relief. Not when Marcus was still here, trapped in a lifeless state, hooked up to wires and m
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Asher’s POVIt had been three weeks, and Marcus was still in a coma.Three weeks of sitting by his bedside, hoping for a sign, any sign, that he was coming back to us.I had spent most of my time at the hospital, sometimes with Ivy or Janine, but mostly alone.The doctors gave the same updates every day, their words rehearsed, their voices carefully measured: No change. Stable but unresponsive. We just have to wait.Wait.Like that was something I could do.I didn’t know how to exist outside of this hospital room anymore. My world had shrunk to this space, to the steady hum of machines, the sterile scent of antiseptic, and the unbearable sight of my brother lying still in that bed. But today, I had no choice but to leave.I was about to step out of the house when my father’s voice stopped me.“Asher,” he said, his tone softer than usual. “We need to talk.”I turned to face him. He looked exhausted, more worn down than I had ever seen him.The dark circles under his eyes, the way his s
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Asher’s POVThe office felt heavier than usual, as if the walls themselves were pressing in, waiting for me to crack under the pressure of everything I was trying to carry.The morning light filtered through the large windows, casting long shadows across the polished desk, Marcus’s desk.No matter how many days I sat here, no matter how many times I adjusted the chair or placed my hands on the smooth wood, it still didn’t feel like mine.A sharp knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.“Come in,” I said, straightening my tie.The door creaked open, and Marcus’s secretary, Evelyn, stepped inside. She looked polished as always, her expression calm and professional, but there was something behind her eyes, hesitation, maybe even doubt.“Mr. Sterling,” she said, her voice level, “the board meeting starts in two minutes. We need to leave now.”I exhaled slowly, nodding as I grabbed the file I had barely skimmed through. Two minutes. I had two minutes before I’d be sitting in a room fu
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Asher’s POVI sat in my office, staring out at the city skyline, my thoughts a chaotic mess. The disaster at the last meeting wouldn’t leave my mind. The company board did not have faith in me.Some investors had walked out, disgusted by the company’s ties to the mafia. I had tried to salvage the situation, offering reassurances, but their expressions had been unreadable, their minds already made up.I needed to act fast. If I didn’t, I would lose the majority of our investors, and the company would crumble. That wasn’t an option.The company was our legacy; the sacrifices made were too much to let everything fall apart because of one reckless decision.The only way forward was to sever ties with the mafia completely.My jaw tightened as I reached for the intercom. “Evelyn, get in here.”The door opened a moment later, and Evelyn stepped inside. She was as composed as ever, dressed in her usual tailored suit, tablet in hand, waiting for my orders.“Yes, Mr. Sterling?” she asked, her v
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Isabella’s POV I let out a deep sigh as I stepped into my bedroom, exhaustion clinging to me like a second skin. It had been one of those day, exhausting research work, useless phone calls, and problems that no one but me seemed capable of solving. My head throbbed from the stress, my body ached from sitting at my desk all day, and I hadn’t eaten since noon.All I wanted was a hot bath. Just a few minutes to myself, to let the steam wrap around me and wash away the tension. I unbuttoned my blouse as I made my way to the bathroom, already picturing the warmth of the water.Then my phone vibrated on the nightstand.At first, I thought about ignoring it. I was done for the night. But something about the way it buzzed, the insistent way it rattled against the wood, made me pause.I grabbed it and glanced at the screen.Dante.A strange feeling settled in my gut. I answered immediately.“Dante?”His breathing was ragged, uneven. “Isa, I need you to listen carefully,” he said, his voice lo
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Asher’s POVThe house was quiet.For the first time in weeks, there were no urgent phone calls, no reporters swarming outside, no meetings looming over my head. The chaos had finally settled, leaving behind a strange stillness that I wasn’t sure how to process.I stood in the dimly lit kitchen, staring at the untouched glass of whiskey on the counter. I had poured it out of habit, but I didn’t want it. I wasn’t sure what I wanted.Footsteps echoed softly from the hallway, and I turned just as Ivy stepped into the kitchen. She wore one of my sweatshirts, the sleeves swallowing her hands as she rubbed her arms. Her dark hair was pulled into a loose ponytail, strands falling around her face.“You’re still up,” she said, her voice quiet.I nodded. “Couldn’t sleep.”She hesitated, then leaned against the counter across from me. “Me neither.”For a moment, neither of us spoke. The silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was heavy. So much had happened. Too much. And now that everyth
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Janine’s POVThe sun had already dipped below the horizon by the time I left the office. My shoulders ached from sitting at my desk all day, staring at numbers that refused to make sense. The vineyard was quiet, the workers gone, but the weight of responsibility hadn’t left with them. It followed me everywhere, sinking into my bones.I barely noticed Luca waiting outside until he spoke.“Come with me.”I blinked, startled. He leaned casually against his car, hands in his pockets, watching me with that unreadable expression he wore when he was up to something.I exhaled, rubbing my temples. “Luca, I have so much to”He shook his head. “Not tonight.”I frowned. “What do you mean, not tonight?”He straightened, stepping closer. “I mean you’re taking a break.”I huffed a laugh, exhausted. “I don’t have time for a break.”“You don’t have time not to,” he countered. “You’ve been running yourself into the ground, Janine. I see it. Everyone sees it.”I opened my mouth to argue, but nothing ca
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Asher’s POV The chair beneath me is stiff, and the air in the office feels heavier than before. It’s been a week since Marcus’s funeral, but his absence still echoes through every inch of this place. I should be used to this by now. I should have settled into my role, into this office, into the life that was never meant to be mine. But I haven’t.I press my fingers to my temples, willing the headache away. The day has been nothing but meetings, numbers, and decisions I don’t feel qualified to make. Every time someone calls me Mr. Sterling, I feel like they’re talking to a ghost.The knock on the door is soft, but it cuts through the silence like a blade.“Asher?” Ivy’s voice is warm, a tether pulling me back before I get lost in my thoughts again.I exhale, forcing myself to sit up straighter. “Come in.”She steps inside, the scent of her perfume a familiar comfort. She doesn’t look at the paperwork on my desk or the unread messages on my screen. She looks at me, really looks at me,
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Asher’s POV The cameras flashed like lightning, the constant clicks filling the air as journalists jostled for position. A long table stretched before us, microphones lined up, waiting to catch every word. Janine and I sat in the center, facing the crowd, our names and titles displayed on small plaques in front of us.Sterling Industries was no longer Marcus’s. It was mine now.I adjusted my suit jacket, my fingers tightening around the edge of the table. The murmurs in the room died down as the moderator stepped up to the podium, tapping the mic to test the sound.“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming,” he began. “Today, we address the transition of leadership at Sterling Industries following the tragic loss of Marcus Sterling. His younger brother, Asher Sterling, will now take over as CEO, while Janine Sterling will assume leadership at Sterling Winery.”I felt Janine stiffen beside me. I didn’t look at her, but I knew what she was thinking—this wasn’t supposed to be her role
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Janine’s POVI ran my fingers over the fabric of my blazer, adjusting the sleeves as I stood at the edge of the vineyard. The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and fresh leaves. It should have been comforting. This was Marcus’s place, the heart of everything he had built. But instead of feeling connected to him, I felt like an outsider trespassing on something sacred.I took a slow breath and stepped forward, my heels sinking slightly into the soil. I had walked these rows a hundred times before, but never like this. Never as the person responsible for keeping it all together. Marcus had made it look easy, but now that it was my turn, I felt like I was holding something too fragile, something that could shatter in my hands if I wasn’t careful.As I made my way deeper into the vineyard, I spotted a few of the workers tending to the vines. They moved with practiced ease, their hands working through the leaves, trimming, inspecting, ensuring everything was as it sh
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Janine's POV I stood in front of my closet, staring at the rows of clothes that suddenly felt meaningless.What did someone wear to bury a brother?My fingers trailed over the fabrics, stopping at a simple black dress. It wasn’t fancy, wasn’t dramatic, just… appropriate. Marcus would have liked that. He always appreciated simplicity, things that were neat and put together.I pulled it off the hanger, holding it against myself in the mirror.It was ridiculous, but part of me wanted to hear his voice one more time, some teasing comment about how I was overthinking this, how I should just wear whatever made me feel comfortable. He never cared about appearances as much as people assumed he did.I squeezed my eyes shut.Marcus.My perfect, impossible, frustrating brother.My mind drifted back, grasping at the memories that felt both too close and impossibly far away.I remembered the time I got into my first real argument with Asher. I was furious, pacing in my room, ranting about how in
Dumped the Scumbag, Now I'm Married to a Billionaire Sterling
Asher’s POV I stared at the suit laid out on the bed.Black. Crisp. Perfectly pressed.Marcus would’ve approved. He was always the one who looked flawless, the one who knew exactly what to wear, what to say, how to carry himself. I was the mess, the one who never quite fit into the image of a Sterling.And yet, here I was.I sat on the edge of the bed, gripping the fabric between my fingers. The funeral was in a few hours. People were already gathering. I needed to get dressed.But I couldn’t move.It felt wrong. Putting this suit on, walking into that ceremony, standing in front of a coffin that held my brother’s body.I should have been the one in there.I swallowed hard, pushing the thought away. Ivy would be here soon. She wouldn’t let me sit here and spiral.With a deep breath, I forced myself up, moving on autopilot as I changed. The tie was the hardest part. My fingers fumbled with it, frustration boiling over as I tried to get the knot right.“Dammit,” I muttered under my bre
Dumped the Scumbag, Now I'm Married to a Billionaire Everywhere
Asher’s POVThe news was everywhere.Every time I turned on the TV, there it was. Every time I scrolled through my phone, there was another headline. It wasn’t just about Marcus anymore. It was about Sterling Industries, about the board, about the future of the company.“Sterling Industries Faces Uncertain Future After CEO’s Tragic Death.”“Who Will Inherit Marcus Sterling’s Empire?”“With Marcus Gone, Can Asher Sterling Step Up?”I wanted to smash the screen every time I saw my name in those headlines. As if I wasn’t already drowning in grief, they wanted to throw expectations on my shoulders, shove a legacy into my hands like I was supposed to carry it without stumbling.I wasn’t Marcus. I never would be.The funeral preparations were already in motion, but none of it felt real. The calls, the arrangements, the condolences, they blurred together in a haze of exhaustion and pain. The house was filled with people coming and going, making decisions about flowers and speeches and seatin
Dumped the Scumbag, Now I'm Married to a Billionaire Steam
Ivy’s POVThe steam still clung to my skin as I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around myself. The bathroom mirror was fogged over, the edges beginning to clear just enough to reflect a blurred version of me. I reached out, dragging my fingers across the glass, watching as my reflection sharpened. My hair dripped down my back, water trailing over my bare shoulders, but I didn’t move to dry it.I just stood there, staring at myself.My eyes looked hollow, the dark circles beneath them more pronounced than usual. I looked tired. I felt tired.My chest ached with the weight of everything, pressing down on me like something physical, something heavy. Marcus was gone. Asher was slipping away. And I didn’t know how to stop any of it.I turned away from the mirror, walking slowly back into the bedroom. The sheets on the bed were untouched, the pillows still fluffed, undisturbed. I had barely slept the past few nights, and it wasn’t just because of Marcus. It was Asher.He hadn’t
