*An hour earlier*Asher was leaning against the bar table in the mini bar in his luxurious three-story building family home. He stared at the golden liquid inside the wine glass he was holding. It took all of his self-control not to toss the glass across the room. Not only did she insult him in front of newscasters and paparazzi, but Lena formed a whole scandal about him. She secretly recorded the rest of their conversation and sent it to the press!Asher gulped down the wine and clutched the glass forcefully. The glass cracked, piercing into his skin. He flung the pieces away in a fit of rage.She tarnished his reputation! Because of her, people are calling him names. Some people are even planning to protest against him for doing completely nothing but trying to put a fraud behind bars.He had gotten a phone call earlier from one of the prominent newscasters, who had told him to repent for his actions and withdraw from calling the authorities on Liam Duke." If you ever call my num
" Okay, ladies and gents, hush up," Josiah said to the ladies and guys sitting on separate couches from each other, with Drake in the middle of the twelve guys and Lena in the middle of the fourteen ladies.Lena had rented a lounging area for the bachelor and bachelorette party. After the introduction, the guys were meant to go to the lounge upstairs and have their fun while the ladies would stay down. Since Drake didn't tip in to either of the party, Lena could only afford a lounge. Abby cashed in a few bucks for decorations.Drake said the bachelor and bachelorette party should be strictly for friends and relatives their age, he didn't want any old people crashing the day he'd supposedly planned." Can you guys leave already?" Rebecca, Lena's distant cousin groaned. She impatiently awaited to enjoy the night with the girls and bride-to-be.Josiah looked at her with a breathtaking smirk and said, " No sweetheart, we have to do the introduction first before we get the main event."Hi
The male strippers returned to join the ladies for the party. Lena's eldest cousin ordered pizza for everyone, while Rebecca ordered lots of snacks. They all rounded the table filled with shots of alcohol whilst they sat on the ground. Lena watched with a smile as Abby chatted with the male stripper who was dancing on her a while ago. From the way she smiled with wide eyes and bit her lips at intervals, she had a crush on him. Lena rolled her eyes, not surprised. She hoped one day, Abby would find a guy she truly loved and stop playing around. " All right ladies," Lena's oldest cousin, Freda, got up and clicked a wine glass. When everyone kept quiet and put their attention on her, she smiled and announced. " So firstly, I'd like to say a big congratulations to my cousin for finding her soon-to-be husband!" Everyone cheered happily while Abby pulled Lena into a hug and kissed her cheek. " Drake is one lucky man but I swear, I'd beat his ass if he makes you cry." Lena fake-la
" Oh my goodness, Lena!" Grace shrieked as she entered Lean's room and noticed Lena was wearing makeup and her hair was tied back into a stylish bun.The next day arrived faster than Lena expected. Her head was still aching from the hangover, and the thought of her single life being eternally gone to a guy who had failed to reciprocate her love made it ache even more."You look stunning." Grace squirmed and moved over to Lena, who was trying to smile. " When Drake sees you, he won't be able to take his eyes off you."Speaking of Drake, she had not seen him since yesterday night, when he was naked and holding Rebecca in his arms." Keep up the good work Hailey," Grace said to the makeup and hair stylist. The wedding was to take place in Lena's patio, the fertile land had enough acres to accommodate less than a hundred guests. Drake requested Lena cash in money for a massive amount of money for the wedding because he was going to invite a lot of people. Lena, who had handled the bills
On hearing what Asher said, Lena's eyes turned loathsome. Her eyes snapped up to look at Asher who had the usual emotionless expression on his face. " You think this is funny, don't you?" Lena accused brusquely. Asher opened his mouth to oppose but she cut him off savagely. " Don't even say anything. You know there should be a limit to your bitchiness-" " Miss Dubby I didn't mean-" " You must have known this would happen all along." Lena threw her hands in the air. " You must have planned it with Drake. That's why you agreed to come today, so you can watch me suffer!" Immediately, she took a second to catch her breath; Asher spoke quickly. " Look, even if I wanted you to suffer, I wouldn't stoop this low. I did not make a joke; I meant it when I said I wanted to take Drake's place. It has nothing to do with hating you and definitely doesn't mean I have feelings for you. I believe it will benefit both of us if I take you down the altar." Lena froze. Her eyes rested keenly on his
Lena wasn't sure she heard correctly.She had spent her childhood and teenage years in an extended family enough to loathe it. She hardly had her privacy and couldn't do anything without someone meddling in. Plus, she had seen enough Bollywood movies to know that living with her husband's relatives would raise a stir.There was no way in hell, she'd pass through that! "What? You expect me to live with your parents?!"Asher's expression remained calm, but a hint of annoyance crept into his voice. "It's not an expectation, Miss Dubby. It's a requirement. My parents are...particular, and they want us to live with them."Lena's mind reeled as she tried to wrap her head around the situation. She had just married a man she barely knew, and now she was expected to live with his parents. It was too much to take in."Why?" Lena asked, trying to keep her tone neutral. "Why do they want us to live with them?"Asher's eyes seemed to cloud over, and for a moment, Lena thought she saw a glimmer of
Lena hurried to catch up with Asher as he made his way toward the house.Upon stepping inside, Lena's jaw nearly hit the floor. The entire interior was a lavish blend of blue and gold. Intricate gold patterns decorated the plush blue walls, and a grand spiral staircase wound upward from the side of the living room. The ceiling was so elegantly designed that it felt almost surreal. Two doors, labeled "Game Room" and "Cinema," caught her attention, further emphasizing the house's luxury."Close your mouth, would you?" Asher's cold voice snapped Lena out of her awe.Realizing her mouth had been open, she quickly shut it, her cheeks warming with embarrassment."Pathetic," Danielle muttered with a roll of her eyes, already seated on the couch beside her husband, enjoying their tea.Matteo was heading upstairs with some of Lena's luggage when a woman's voice called from the staircase."You can leave the bags here in the living room," said Jade, descending the stairs gracefully.Though techn
Lena waited for Asher to return with the rest of her luggage, but it had been over thirty minutes, and he still hadn't come back.Stepping onto the balcony, she inhaled the fresh scent of hibiscus and dandelions. The floral arrangement was stunning, and for a moment, Lena could admit that Asher's only redeeming quality was his neatness. Unlike most men she had known, he took meticulous care of both himself and his surroundings.Her attention was drawn to the massive entrance gate where seven luxury cars pulled into the driveway.'How many damn cars are in this place?' she thought, watching as elegantly dressed men, women, and children stepped out of the cars. Their glamorous attires made her stomach turn."Seriously? Who goes out dressed like a Disney princess trying to take over the world?" she muttered in disgust.They had to be Asher's relatives. Judging by their snooty expressions, they seemed just as unwelcoming as he was. She promised herself she would stay polite-unless they p
As dawn broke slowly, Asher was already awake, restless in the small room he had slept in. The bed was uncomfortable, and the quiet ambiance, interrupted only by the occasional creak or birdcall, kept him anxious. He packed his belongings into a bag, eager to leave this cramped, middle-class setting and return to his own life. He could hear Lena shuffling around downstairs, likely also packing.He made his way down the stairs with his bag slung over his shoulder and found Lena in the kitchen with her mother. Lena was hastily packing a sweater into her backpack, her hair tousled, while her mum fussed by the kettle, steam rising in the dim light. The aroma of toast and tea filled the air, a cozy scent that made Asher uncomfortable. He dropped his bag by the door, gave a brief nod to both of them and said, “Ready when you are,” his voice gruff, already mentally distancing himself from the room.Lena’s mum turned around, wiping her hands on her apron, and gave them a look, sharp yet w
Asher leaned against the small window in the cramped room Lena had arranged for him, the dark and silent night surrounding him. He heard the stairs creak slowly, and his head whipped around. The door opened slightly, revealing Lena, arms crossed, her expression a blend of irritation and an unrecognizable softness.Seeing her was like a breath of fresh air, a comforting surprise he didn’t anticipate. His shoulders relaxed a little, and the tightness in his chest eased, though he would never confess it to her or anyone else. She caught his gaze and smirked, a cheeky sparkle in her eyes. “What’s this?” she teased lightly. “Mum thinks you’re up here missing me. Cute, isn’t it? Tough guy, pining for my company?”He scoffed, sharply turning from the window to face her fully. “Pining? You’re dreaming, Lena. I’ve been perfectly fine without your chatter every five minutes.” He crossed his arms, mirroring her stance, though a twitch at the corner of his mouth threatened a grin.Lena walked
Asher stood alone in the tiny and unkempt room Lena had prepared for him. It was a tight space with barely enough room for the single bed in it, a crippled chair, and a scratched-up dresser in it. He didn’t sit, didn’t unpack, just moved to the small window, pushing the thin curtain aside. The street outside was dark and void of life, just a few shining lamps casting shadows on the Broken pavement. He looked out, hands in his pockets, and his mind filled with so many thoughts, dragging him back to places he didn’t want to go, lucid and uncalled thought.Flashbacks hit him hard on the rain-soaked nights, the smells of blood on his knuckles, shouts echoing down narrow alleys, hovering on his mind. He saw his old life, rough friends, dodgy deals, the kind of stuff that left scars inside and out him. A younger Asher, angry and lost, running through streets not much different from this one. His breath caught, chest tight,breath unsteady, as he remembered the cold, the fear, the mess
Asher was standing on the rickety, dirty porch of Lena’s parents’ home, when his phone buzzed in his hand, and Angelica’s name glared at him from the screen. He thought, "What the hell is going on? Why is she suddenly calling him?" He sighed deeply, frustrated, his thumb scrolling over the end call button. He didn't want to hear her voice, not now, not ever, not after the chaotic and stressful day he’d had, with his mind still filled with old memories and the view of the street. The phone continued to ring again and again, so he reluctantly pressed it to his ear. “What do you want?” he asked, his tone sharp and steady.“Where are you, Asher?” Angelica’s voice came through the air, filled with accusations and fury, as if she were looking for a confrontation.He rested against the porch railing, which creaked under his weight. “Why does it matter to you?” he answered coldly. He wasn’t in the mood for her drama today.She persisted. “Don’t play dumb with me,” she hissed. “I heard y
Asher parked the silver Porsche in front of Lena’s parents' house. The gravel driveway crunched beneath the tires as he sat for a moment, looking at the worn-down place; it was really pathetic. It was a small, unstructured house, with peeling and fading paint, a sagging and leaking roof that needed repair, and a front garden overrun with weeds choking any flowers that once grew there. By the steps lay a rusty and condemned old bike, and the cracked windows let in cold drafts. The sight hit him hard like a plague, bringing back heavy, dark memories. Blood, rain, and shouts from a past he had buried a long time ago. He held the steering wheel of the car, his knuckles turning white, almost tasting the metal and mud of those memories he wished to forget.Next to him, Lena shifted and grabbed her bag softly, her eyes looking slightly down as she looked at him. “You okay?” she asked quietly, her tone sharp as if sensing something was off about him.He forced a quick, strong nonchalant l
That morning, Luca was up to no good. The night before, he had been sneaking around the house and overheard Asher talking to Jade about taking Lena to visit her parents because her father was seriously ill. It was a minor detail, but Luca quickly twisted it into something bigger and more interesting. He saw an opportunity to create a problem and intended to seize it immediately. With a wicked smile on his face, he grabbed his phone and called Angelica. She answered quickly, her tone already sharp with annoyance. “What do you want now, Luca?”He got straight to the point. “Just thought you’d want to know Asher's moved on with a new girl, more beautiful than you. He’s really happy and taking her to her parents today like a hero. Looks like he’s over you.” He threw in some embellishments about Asher being all lovey-dovey with Lena and making future plans with her—complete nonsense, but it sounded enticing to the ear.Angelica went silent for a moment before her anger erupted. “What
The next morning arrived quickly, almost like lightning, with the sun just beginning to rise and casting a beautiful gray light through the curtains of the house.Asher rolled off the couch, his back aching from the stiff cushions he had slept on, and rubbed his eyes awake to see clearly. Lena remained asleep on the bed, covered under the duvet he'd wrapped around her the night before. He stole only a brief glance at her before standing up, unable to concentrate due to the worry and thoughts in his mind. It was time to get moving and prepare for the drive he had promised her.He quickly grabbed a clean shirt and pants from the wardrobe, dressed swiftly without delay, and ran his fingers through his hair to make sure it looked presentable as always .He didn’t have time for a proper shave, though he really needed one, but he was eager to get the day started.He quietly moved out of the room, carrying his shoes gently to avoid waking her, and made his way down the hall. He could hea
Lena fixed her gaze on Asher, studying him as if he were a puzzle to be solved, their eyes locked onto each other, and it felt as though time stood still in that moment. His warm, steady, and soft hands rested on her shoulders as his words, “I’m sorry, you’ve got to believe me,” hung in the air between them. Confusion twisted in her mind. Could he be lying? Was he manipulating her once more?Her heart ached from crying too much, her thoughts unstable, and she couldn’t comprehend if he was sincere or merely trying to prevent her from leaving the house for his selfish benefit. Yet, his expression appeared softer and sincere, as though he genuinely felt remorseful. But she had placed her trust in others before, only to be let down severely. What made this one different?Asher exhaled, loosening his grip slightly. “Listen,” he spoke quietly, “I’ll take you to see your dad tomorrow morning, okay? I’ll cover whatever expenses he needs. Just… don’t leave tonight.” He sounded exhausted,
Asher was not getting himself after the meeting ended. The luxurious andd classic conference room now empty, the expensive suits all gone, he felt his world was being torn apart from the turmoil going on in his mind. Lena's tear-filled wet face kept flashing in his thoughts and memory of her red, puffy eyes and shaking voice as she accused him of causing her father's collapse. He realized he had acted foolishly and childishly for threatening her like that, and guilt tore at him, sharp and relentless like a needle would.He began walking right and left, like he lost something, feeling restless with a tightness and heaviness in his chest like stone and that made it hard for him to breathe smoothly. This wasn’t how he usually was; he didn't dwell on guilt or let others impact him negatively,NEVER. But Lena? She had gotten under his throat, and he hated it and almost hated her for it too. He grabbed his phone tightly, hesitated, and then called Josiah, for the first time, needing some