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
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
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 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 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
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
Author's POV The blaring horns of New York City’s late-night traffic hammered against Lena’s skull, intensifying the ache already gnawing at her temples. Rain drizzled down relentlessly, drenching the crowded streets in a damp, miserable haze. “Hey! Some of us need some rest after a long day of work! What's with all this hold-up about?” a man hollered from his luxury Audi, his voice lost in the chaos. Lena exhaled sharply and held her knee, trying to stop her head from aching. Five months. Five whole months of relentless job hunting, yet nothing. It didn’t make sense. She had graduated at the top of her class, valedictorian of her Master's program in accounting with a stellar 4.2 GPA. That should have opened doors. Instead, she was stuck balancing three jobs as a waitress, salonist, and daycare teacher just to get by. But in a city ruled by the elite, academic achievements meant nothing compared to wealth, connections— and curves. "Big boobs and a fat ass," she muttered,
Lena stood frozen in the center of her living room, her body trembling as the sounds of pleasure from her fiancé and the sex worker echoed in her ears.She had often overheard women at the salon sharing stories of infidelity, their voices heavy with pain. Yet, until now, she had never truly grasped the devastation of being betrayed.Unable to endure the torment any longer, she threw her phone aside and then collapsed onto the floor in a storm of tears.She had loved Drake with everything she had. Their love story began after they both had faced rejection from their first job interview at Mac’s Business Institute. Drawn in by his charm, Lena had made the first move, and their connection had deepened swiftly—sharing laughter, late-night talks, and ultimately being intimate with him on her rooftop. Giving him her purity had only intensified her feelings for him.It was she who had proposed to him, not only because of the constant pressure from her parents to marry or risk dying a disgra
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