~Elena~***"Asher, let me go," I said within my breath as he pushed open the door, shoved me inside, and slammed the door shut.He released my wrist and faced me, his eyes darkened with fury and bemusement.I tend to my hurting wrist, facing him with an equally angry look."For how long has this been going on?" He asked."What are you talking about?""Don't play dumb with me, woman. You know exactly what I'm talking about!" He deadpanned. I was certain that if there was a table nearby, he would have broken it into two with his clenched fist."Nothing has been going on between Jake and I, if that is what you mean.""Don't lie to me!" He yelled, "Did you tell Tron to keep quiet about it? Have you been fuckin your ex-boyfriend behind my back all along?""What?""All of this funny acting lately, is it because of him? Have you been trying to leave me to go be with him?""No. What are you talking about? Jake and I have nothing, how many times do I have to tell you that?""Then can you expl
~Asher~***"Mr Walton?" I jolted out of my reverie, darting my gaze to my secretary and then to the projector. I studied the faces of everyone else in the hall, seeing the contentment in their eyes, I approved the plan."Preparation for this section will commence immediately."Once the meeting was over, I returned to my office and resumed staring at the telephone as I contemplated. The Walton Group 50th anniversary ceremony was just around the corner and I was yet to officially invite Elena to attend the event with me.Even though we now slept in the same room and she no longer made efforts to avoid me, she still hadn't forgiven me and somehow, I knew I deserved it. I was relieved by the fact that she no longer talked about leaving me but I still miss all the little things that weren't there anymore.Discarding the opposing thoughts, I grabbed my Jacket and headed out of my office."Take me home," I said to Tony as I slid into the backseat.When I walked into our room, Elena was seat
***"..and that's a wrap everyone, thank you for your hard work!" The supervisor finalized and walked out of the hall.Sunny burst into the room and ran up to Elena in her seat, "how did it go?""I got a pass," Elena giggled. "I feel high-spirited right now, this just boosted my confidence for the competition.""I told you you'd do well. You worked so hard, also I'm pretty sure you would do well at the competition too." Sunny assured."I hope so," Elena breathed out."Are you hungry? I'm starving!" She dramatically emphasized, "Let's go grab something to eat together. My treat.""Sure. I'll quickly pack up.""I'll be waiting in the car for you."After she left, Elena began stuffing her bag with her art equipment, humming excitedly as she did. She had just zipped it up when her phone beeped. She fished it out to find a video message from an unknown number. A text came in right after and she instantly knew that the messenger was Julia.She opened the video and her mood soured after a mi
~Elena~***With my arms folded, I watched the door open and an intoxicated Asher stumbled in. It was the first time I had seen him drunk to this extent and it erupted several thoughts in my head.What happened between him and Penelope? Did they have sex after the party? How did he get drunk, and with whom?These were questions that I couldn't get answers to and it left me even more downcasted. I could already tell that the answers would break me more but I still wanted to know.I wanted to see how low Asher thought of me and why he lied to me all along, making me believe I was too important to him.Under his breath, he was groaning and he looked uncomfortable."Elena..." he called out to me, stretching an arm while he moaned my name continuously.I watched him approach me, looking like he was passing through some kind of pain whose source I couldn't see.Was he hurt? It hurt me to see how much I cared about him. So when he called out to me again, with the same tone, I stood up to mee
***Asher woke up to Elena's absence, recalling their argument the previous night and how he ended up forcefully having his way with her, he figured she might have slept in a separate room.Aside from the headache, Asher felt horrible for treating her like that.He had decided to hold back a thousand times but ended up failing every time. At this point, he doubted that Elena would still want to be with him.She had endured up till this time but he kept breaking the rules, and he feared that she might not be able to bear with him anymore. The thought scared him.Although she had the right, Asher couldn't imagine being away from her.After a bath, he walked out of the room in his office wear. Elena was nowhere in the living room and Asher wondered if she was still in bed.He tried to remember if he hurt her badly. What if he injured her? Did she, perhaps, cancel school for today out of the mistreatment meted out to her by him?Out of worry, he paused in the living room and turned to a m
***"I spoke to the media, and they all agreed to cooperate," Ricky finally released the words Asher had been haphazardly waiting to hear.Ending the call, he dropped the phone and plopped into his office chair.Save for his grandfather and the Walton Group, Asher wouldn't have paid this much attention to the press. At this moment, his only concern was Elena. Rocco had promised to have some of his men keep watch over her all through her time in the city, but Asher still regretted letting her go without them sorting things out.Everything he planned, all the amendments he penned down to satisfy her before the trip, he wasn't able to do any of them. Instead, he hurt her more.He didn't deserve her. With all of him, he knew this but he also couldn't let her go.---All through the entire week that followed, Penelope continuously visited Walton's and tried to meet Asher privately but her efforts were futile because Asher was always busy.He didn't want to resort to drinking to get over El
~Elena~***Since the start of the award ceremony, my attention was mostly on my phone. I wasn't sure why I expected his call after consciously ignoring them all these while. If I knew Asher, even a little, then he would call again. He doesn't give up. But seated here, staring at the blank screen of my phone, I concluded that I didn't know him at all.I had at least thought he would wave off his pride and check up on me today of all days. It was supposed to be my last day in Paris and the day I found out if my hard work paid off or not. If not, I would need some comfort. But Asher didn't seem to be interested in finding out.There was no call from him, not even a text. For the entire week I stayed in Paris, Asher had called until two days ago. When I ignored them, he would text. I read them all, but I never replied.Today was the day I planned to talk to him but he wasn't calling anymore.I placed my phone on my thigh, adjusted in my seat, and shifted my gaze to the event. I pushed my
~Asher~***The first thing that caught my sight as Elena walked out of the airport was the gem bracelet wrapped around her wrist, the second thing was the bouquet. A smile found its way to my lips and it took a generous amount of my willpower to not jump in excitement.She probably still had no idea it was from me but I was excited Seeing her wear it. Since our disagreement, it was the first time Elena was accepting a gift from me. Well, technically she had no idea I was the gifter, but her acceptance was all that mattered to me. I figured she might not accept or wear the bracelet if she knew it was from me, so I kept my identity hidden, hoping she would wear it.And it worked.Tron swooped to get her luggage from her but Elena refused to let go and when she reached the car, which I was very sure she saw, she began walking past it and me.Without a moment of thinking, I stopped her, holding her wrist to cease her steps."Where are you going?" I asked, maintaining my smile. "I came to
***"Asher!" Grandpa Schaeffer exclaimed before pulling Asher in for a close hug. "Hey there, Elena," he passed her a slight smile.Elena accepted it, concluding that it was preferable to the other times when he completely ignored her presence.His eyes dropped to her stomach, and she watched his smile grow. He was fond of doing that, but wouldn't openly admit how he couldn't wait to hold his great grandkids in his arms."The babies are doing okay?" He asked, his smile dying as he brought his eyes up to her."They're fine," Elena smiled widely. Asher chuckled at his grandfather's effort to appear mean to Elena. He knew that he hadn't fully forgiven her for lying to them but he also knew that Schaeffer didn't hate her. Even before he found out about Elena's secret, he liked her a lot and praised her for taking care of his disabled son.This was their last get-together before Asher departed for his surgery. At the table, Ian's mother was already seated, looking like she wanted to be any
~Elena~***Her house was an apartment, with a simple bathroom and an ensuite. In her living room, a corner was demarcated with drapery as her kitchenette and another as her bedroom.In the room was a small unmade bed, and her sitting room, which was the largest part of the house, had a small TV, a radio, a fridge, and two sofas.Her eyes were on me right from the moment we walked in.Harold was already by her side and I saw how sick she was. Unnaturally, she looked lean. Staring at her, one could instantly tell that she used to be a chubby woman. She wore a cap and leaned on Harold's shoulder, but I could see that she didn't have any hair on her head. Her eyebrows were very thin, almost without any hair and her eyes looked tired even though she wore a smile. A beautiful smile."Elena," that was her first word to me and I noticed the similarity in our voices. She was a beautiful woman and I had physically taken after her. Asher's arm was around me, proving to me that he was always by
~Elena~***"You cheat!" I hit Asher in the chest, pouting my lips, "that's not fair."He giggled, reaching to peck me but I covered his lips with my palm, rejecting his kisses."That was the best one!" I complained, staring into the empty cookie bowl with a frown, "you're so childish.""Now, you're mad over a cookie?" He asked, holding my hands."You promised you'd give it to me, but you ate it. I can't forgive you," my hormones kicked in and I felt tears gathering in my eyes.That was my greatest defense and Asher immediately opened his fist to reveal the cookie. "I didn't eat it, I was just messing with you. Please don't cry." He looked utterly concerned. "I'm sorry, I was only kidding." He cupped my face, wiping my eyes.I threw the cookie into my mouth and pecked his face. "Got you.""You sneaky woman!" He grumbled, and we ended up laughing. His fingers worked on my legs, giving me the best massage while he called a maid to get us more cookies."By the way, Grandpa wants us to co
~Asher~***Over the next few months, Elena stayed by my side, doing her best to take care of me until I fully recovered. Our relationship had developed over time and in every aspect, and I was elated about it.Now, I could hold Elena without being afraid of the spite in her eyes when I looked at them, and she would assist me whenever I got tired due to my bedridden state. It was blissful. It was all I ever looked forward to since our misunderstanding.Elena had stepped out of my study room, leaving me and the gang to discuss. It was the first time we were having a meeting in my house, and they all had to come looking ordinary to avoid suspicions. It was also the first time we were collectively meeting since my discharge from the hospital."What did you find out?" I asked Ricky."D.H Entertainment exists but it belongs to Penelope's family. It's their biggest investment. She lied about the ownership, and acted like her job was at stake so she could get preferential treatment from you.
~Asher~***"Asher, can you see me?"I felt a light tug and then the voice came again, jerking me fully to consciousness."Oh my goodness, Asher! You're awake!" Footsteps followed.I recognized the face after a full minute of staring blankly at it, it was my grandfather."Grandpa," I mumbled and his face softened into a warm smile."That's right, son. It's me," he nodded, sobbing. "I'm so glad you're awake."I rolled my eyes, looking amongst the other people in the room for her but she was not there. I blinked and then tried again but I couldn't find her.I was sure that I saved her, I wouldn't have been able to go without ensuring her safety first. It was unlike me.Did I imagine it? I frowned the thought off. I definitely got her out!"Where is Elena?" I asked, bringing my gaze to rest on my grandfather. I asked him again when he said nothing."She's alive, right? I saved her. I'm sure that I saved her.""You did. She is alive." Richard spoke."Son, don't worry about her right now."
~Elena~***I stood outside the ICU ward where Asher was kept, staring at him through the window with tubes connected all over his body. I could faintly hear the sound of beeping machines.He looked so fragile and pale, not like the domineering and omnipotent Asher I knew that had overpowered me a number of times. He looked different, almost lifeless. The only source of life I saw in him was the many stuff connected to his body, the fact that they were still functioning proved that Asher was still in there fighting for his life.A pang of sorrow slashed my heart. Again, he sacrificed himself to save me. He discarded his own life to ensure I kept mine.If this was the first time it was happening, I probably would have concluded that he did it to save his baby's life, but it wasn't. I've never seen anyone care more about someone else's life than theirs, and I've never heard of anyone who performed such an act of kindness to someone they didn't care about.Can a man like that, who has ri
~Elena~**I sped towards the airport, my determination and anger soaring. Asher's action this time was inexcusable. How could he betray me with Julia knowing fully well what I thought of her?Even though I meant nothing to him, my sanity matters for his child to be safe. How could I successfully take care of our child, if my mental health wasn't guaranteed? This wasn't about me, but the child.Repeatedly, I dabbed tears from my eyes and sniffed but I didn't bother stopping or slowing down.Soon, I recognized Asher's car speeding up behind me. I expected this but there was no way he was going to convince me. My mind was made up this time and except Asher was willing to explain to the world how mentally disturbed he was, and how he locked me up in a dungeon, or how he ceased my freedom, he better not try to stop me.His car was giving me a hot chase and although I wasn't a very experienced driver, I tried to outrun him. I swerved in between cars and gave him no chance to directly get t
~Julia's POV~***His hands groped my waist as he pressed the upper part of my body into the bed, I arched my back for his comfort. I felt his thigh against my behind as he slid into me again, jerking me up to deepen his entrance. He grunted and paced up at the same time, riding me with a slow then successive pace.His fingers dug into the skin of my waist as he prepared to release, his body vibrating against mine.I smirked as the pleasure wavered off, glancing at the camera I had installed in the corner of the room unbeknownst to him. Ian was too carried away with the pleasure to even notice what I had done and I doubt he would have even suspected that I could do something like this.I just couldn't let Elena be. I've got to try out all my cards first before I decide if I should give up, trying to destroy her marriage, or not. I had thought the fabricated pictures were enough to break her and Asher up or cause a deep rift but instead, she came out pregnant.They had been fuckin whil
~Elena~***I opened my eyes to a bright light shining on my face. A few blinks fixed my discomfort and soon I adjusted to the ray of sunshine seeping from the opened window.I looked around the white room I was in and soon realized that I was in a hospital ward. The last place I remembered being in was in Asher's horrifying dungeon and the last sound I remembered was the sound of my scream as the door clicked shut and Asher stomped away.I tried to think of what happened after when the door went open and Flynn walked in."Thank goodness you're awake, ma'am," he said, looking relieved. "I was just about to contact the young master.""What happened?" I asked."I didn't know, we found you unconscious and brought you to the hospital. Thankfully, it's nothing serious."After Asher left, I suddenly felt nauseous being locked up in his dungeon. I couldn't help but wonder if he had locked anyone else in there in the past. The thought was horrifying. Was he always this kind of person?I wonde