04.

Riley’s POV

I walked into the hospital, my hand slightly on my bump. My heart was heavy, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness.

I had already made up my mind, and there was no going back. I was here to get my abortion pills to end the pregnancy.

Asher didn’t want me or my baby; he has Amber now and their child.

As I walked down the hallway, I bumped into someone who seemed oddly familiar, like I had seen him somewhere, but I couldn’t point it out.

He was covered in blood, with a large stain on his stomach.

He held on to me for support, his eyes meeting mine with desperation.

His grip on my arm tightened, making my blood run cold, mortified by the situation. "Please," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "You need to help me."

Fear clouded my thoughts as he struggled to keep his balance, his eyelids beginning to close.

Who was this man, and why was he covered in blood?

It’s not every day one decides to be generous; I felt the need to help him, panicked by the situation.

His blood was beginning to stain my outfit.

It seemed like he was shot, like a bullet grazed his lower abdomen because it doesn’t seem like there is a bullet inside of him.

My lips quivered, feeling a sense of horror.

I screamed for help, and nurses rushed to us.

“We need to get him to surgery immediately; he is losing a lot of blood," one of the doctors said.

As they rushed the man away, one of the doctors turned to me. "Are you his wife?" he asked.

I hesitated, unsure of what to say. But then I looked at the man, who was being wheeled away on a stretcher. I knew that if I didn't sign the necessary paperwork, he wouldn't be attended to.

And I couldn't just leave him to die.

"Yes," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm his wife."

The doctor nodded, handing me a clipboard with some papers on it. "We need you to sign these," he said. "It's just some standard paperwork, but we need your consent before we can operate."

I took the clipboard, my hands shaking as I signed the papers. I didn't know what I was getting myself into.

I sat in the ICU corridor waiting for the surgery to be done, my mind racing with different thoughts.

What happened to this man?

My thoughts come short when I hear a familiar voice call out to me.

Asher!

My blood ran cold.

“What the fuck are you doing here, and why are you covered in blood?” He spat, his brows knitting in confusion.

I watched him hold Amber so delicately while he stared at me with what I couldn’t quite fathom.

Before I could respond, the doctor stepped out of the surgical room.

“Ma'am, your husband is out of danger; we’ve moved him to one of the rooms for further treatment. It was a bullet that grazed him; luckily, it wasn’t that deep. The patient is out of danger, the doctor explained.

I gulped a lump, nodding, “Thank you,” I said before the doctor walked off.

And just like a blur, Asher was in front of me.

“Husband? What the fuck is going on? Who did you bring here? And..., he paused, hissing, “Fucking answer me, he roared.

A shiver ran down my spine; fear crept within me. My lips trembled, unsure of how to respond to him or defend myself.

He gripped my wrist. “So you were cheating on me all along? Huh? Is that it?” He accuses yelling.

I felt anger surge within me, his words getting to me more than I had expected, “It’s not your business, I thought you made it clear. We are divorced! It’s none of your fucking—“

He cut me off with a slap, catching me off guard.

“How dare you accuse me of cheating? How could you do this to us? For all these years I have worshipped and loved you, and this is what you give me in return?” He charges.

My hands are held on my left cheek which is stinging with pain.

“I always knew she never loved you. I did catch her a few times with some of your colleagues at work, but I never wanted you to find out because I knew it would break your heart,” Amber states, walking to his side.

He stared at me unbelievably, “You fucking cheat! I gave you everything, and betrayal is what I get in return?” He raised his hand to slap me, but a masculine hand held him back.

I turned my stare to the figure, taken aback by the nerve racking physique man that stood behind me.

“Don’t you dare,” he warns, his tone authoritative.

“Who the hell are you?“ Asher fires.

The man moved forward, taking off his glasses looking ready to break bones, standing in between Asher and me.

"Touch the Boss's wife, and you'll be begging for mercy. You'll be lucky to walk away with your life, let alone your limbs intact."