(Freya's POV)I was stunned. The sound of the slap seemed to echo in my head as if it stopped the seconds of time around me. Never once had I seen Ash angry at Stella -his face was so dark, full of anger that he could no longer hide. While Stella staggered back, her face paled, staring at Ash with infinite hatred."You slapped me?!" She shouted loudly, glaring in disbelief. "After everything we've been through, you dare slap me for that bitch?!"Ash ignored her. His gaze remained cold, full of anger, as if the slap was just the beginning of a pent-up explosion."This isn't about her," he said sharply. "It's about you never knowing your limits, Stella. About you always involving innocent people in your mess.""Ash..." I tried to speak, but my voice was drowned out by the tension between them. Ash didn't look at me, his focus was only on Stella.Stella rubbed her cheeks, her eyes flashing with vengeance. "You'll regret doing this to me, Ash!" She stomped away from us.The threat hung in
(Freya’s POV)“You're the one who should stay away from me, Stella.”It was Ash’s voice when the door opened. Both I and Stella were surprised to see him come out. But I could see how Stella looked more shocked than me.She froze, surprise etching her features. For a moment, she was a deer caught in headlights. I held my breath, feeling the weight of the moment settle on my shoulders. The silence stretched, and I could see the flicker of fear in Stella's eyes. It was a side of her I rarely witnessed—vulnerable, exposed.“Ash, you misheard me,” Stella stammered, her bravado cracking. “I wasn’t talking about—”“There’s nothing to mishear, Stella.” Ash’s tone hardened. “I’m tired of this charade. You keep acting like everything’s fine when it’s not.”My pulse quickened. This was escalating fast, and I could feel the tension radiating between them. I shifted uncomfortably, wondering if I should intervene. I hated confrontation, yet it was clear I couldn’t just stand by.“Maybe we should a
(Freya’s Pov)I sighed heavily. As I was declared the bride of Ash Knight. The man who was suddenly married to me because my younger sister refused and ran away from the marriage. Being an illegitimate daughter, I was always used as a replacement for my younger sister. I was called nothing but a bad blood, a pet of the house. I would be given orders that I have to follow just like a loyal dog does for his masters. Just like this replacement was an order from my step mom.“Today, you have to save our reputation by marrying Ash knight. I hope you understood my order, very well?” My step mom Mary spat her words with hatred. As much she hates me more than she loves her daughter Stella.With a nod, I agreed to take her place and follow her orders. But deep down the truth is that I had secretly loved him since college days. Back then, he was my sister's boyfriend, so I always hide my feelings. But today life played a trick on us, and here I am standing as his bride and Mrs.Knight. I wa
(FREYA'S POV)It's been 2 weeks since Ash and I had that hurtful argument. I threw myself into my work. It was my way of escaping the pain and the silence at home. He ignored me completely, always coming back late or drunk. He even moved his room to avoid seeing me. It felt like he didn't want anything to do with me.I kept wondering why he wouldn't give our marriage a chance. His actions made me feel rejected and alone. Our marriage seemed like it was just for show, not real at all. It hurt a lot.I sighed heavily, when my phone rang. It was Clara, my friend from college. I smiled as I answered, "Hey, Clara! What's up?"Clara's voice sounded annoyed."Freya, I just got an invitation to a welcome party.""Oh?" I replied, curious. "Whose party?""It's Stella's," Clara said cautiously.Stella. My half-younger sister, who had always seemed to resent me. "Stella's back?" I asked, trying to hide the unease in my voice."Yeah, she's back in town," Clara confirmed. "I thought you should know
(FREYA'S POV)"You really have no feelings, Ash," I whispered hoarsely. I could only stare at him with a face of disappointment. I bit my lower lip so hard that it hurt. Clenching my hands together, I held back the anger and sadness I was currently feeling."I don't care. I warned you not to get your hopes up with this marriage, but you seem very interested in becoming my wife. Are you in love with me?" he asked in a mocking tone that made my pride feel like it was being trampled on by him. And that made me even more angry and resentful towards him."Why would I love a heartless man like you?""In that case, good. We don't love each other. I was forced to marry you because of my grandmother and you were forced to marry me in place of your sister. Neither of us wants this marriage, so... sign the divorce papers right now!""Even after all the things you've done and said, you don't apologize or feel any guilt towards me? Are you really this evil?"I swallowed my saliva with difficulty.
(ASH'S POV)"Damn it!" I cursed angrily as yet another valuable project was snatched up by the Dental Science company. I don't know how many times this has happened, but I'm sick of seeing my company lose billions of dollars.How great is that company that everyone wants to work with so badly? Which science company is better than my company?"Damn it! I can't let this keep happening!" I threw the document I had been reading onto the table. Then I stomped out of my room."Everyone gather around!" I shouted to all my employees.I had to find out what was wrong with my company that all the projects I wanted were always failing. I could see the worried looks on all of their faces. And quickly, they stood neatly in front of me. With their heads bowed down without daring to look at me.Who would dare to look at me if I was angry like this?"Tell me, what happened that all our projects failed like this? Are you not doing your job properly?!" I snapped with a vein of anger in my neck. I could
(Freya's Pov)"Mom... Mom!!!"I looked back and I saw my two children running around with bright faces. Coming towards me with their small but hurried runs. I smiled, amused by the way they ran which looked adorable in my eyes.I knelt down in front of them and hugged them tightly with my arms wrapped around their bodies. Then I pinched their cheeks one by one and smiled."I told you not to run around, right?" I said to both of them. "There are a lot of people here. What if you bump into one of the guests and you fall."I checked their condition, tidying up their slightly disheveled appearance."You're not hurt, are you?" I asked, then."Um!" They nodded simultaneously and I smiled a little. So cute. "We're fine. We're not hurt!""That's good. But next time, no more running around. Okay?""Okay!"We made a pinky promise. They have always been my source of happiness that I can't get anywhere else. The most precious thing I had that made me survive until now.I smiled, and then my eyes
(Freya's POV)"Married?" I smiled wryly. "Are you referring to that miserable marriage?"All I remember of that marriage is hell-like suffering. Even I can still feel the pain, disappointment, and betrayal Ash inflicted on me. So, why did he have to bring up that fucking marriage when we had been separated for so long.And he was the one who had ditched me in favor of one shameless bitch. I was really getting sick of watching him act all smug while he didn't seem to have any guilt at all."Miserable marriage," he muttered as he clenched his fists."You should understand it better since you were the one who was involved in the incident," I snapped, "and stop bringing up the past unnecessarily. Because that won't make me go easy on you.""Even if I tell them that they are my children?""Watch your language!" I snapped. I stepped forward toward him while glaring at him sharply. "Stop talking nonsense in front of my children. If you try to mess up our lives, I won't hesitate to destroy yo