Chapter 9

Arabella's P.O.V

" Are you okay?" she asked me

"I.. think so" I muttered, I couldn't stop myself from shivering, as tears flowed from my eyes. What Asher did was shocking. Maybe I deserve it, maybe I was a whore, tears flowed through my eyes as I wailed.

" Oh you, lesser thing." Miss Thompson said as she hugged me, I couldn't stop the tears, I already hated my first day as a wife, I would spend my whole life with someone who despises me.

" Oh dear, dear, is going to be okay," she said while patting my back but the sob increased. I couldn't help but cry.

"Asher is not on his best behavior these days, he is not like this, my Asher is a sweet soul…" Miss Thompson went on and on but I barely could register the words she was saying, all I knew was how she was calling him 'My Asher', it sounded strange.

"Why don't you make Asher your delicacy today, he will come back very soon for his breakfast l, maybe that would lighten his mood," Miss Thompson said.

The sound of that made my ear stand, maybe I could impress him with that. My mom always said the way to a man's heart was a delicious grilled cheese and tomato soup. I quickly cleaned my tears and headed to the kitchen with Mrs. Thompson.

" So what would you be making?" She asked, delighted that just the sound of cooking had made me stop crying.

" I would be making my specialty, grilled cheese, and tomato soup. You are going to love it" I said the only thing that made me this excited was cooking.

" Good thing we still have some cheese and fresh tomato," she said as she went to the fridge to bring out the ingredients I would be needing.

As I cooked, Miss Thompson sat close to me, a nostalgic smile spreading across her face.

"Oh, Asher...he was a different kid back then," she said, her eyes sparkling as she talked about how Asher was when he was a little boy.

"I remember him running round the house in just his underwear and a cape, convincing everyone he was a superhero and he was saving the world from evil." She chuckled, shaking her head. "He was so full of life, so full of joy."

Miss Thompson's face fell, her eyes filled with tears. "But everything changed when Mrs. Blackhood got pregnant," she whispered, her voice trembling. "She barely had time for Asher anymore. She'd get frustrated with his energy, his noise...she even burned his favorite cape once, the one he loved so much." Miss Thompson's eyes welled up with tears, her voice cracking, she bit her lip trying to control her tears. "She… did lock my little Asher in his room for hours, leaving him alone in the dark. And when Arlo was born...it was like Asher didn't exist anymore."

Tears began to fall, streaming down her face as she spoke. "Mrs. Blackhood’s hatred for Asher was so strong. She looked at him with such coldness, such hatred and it was like she couldn't even bear to see him. And Asher, my poor Asher, he tried so hard to get her attention, to make her love him. He'd act out, rebel, and do anything to get her to notice him. But it always ended in disaster."

Miss Thompson's voice broke, her body shaking with sobs. "I watched him withdraw, watched him become this...this shadow of a boy. And I couldn't do anything to stop it. I was powerless to help him, to protect him from the pain she inflicted on him."

She covered her face, her tears falling uncontrollably now. "It's a wonder he's still standing, still breathing...after all she's done to him."

"My...Asher was always beaten; my sweet little boy was hit by that monster" she said while breaking down.

" The day she died was one of the happiest days of my life at least it had put an end to My Asher's ill-treatment, my little boy did not grow up with love so he had never known how to suppress his love, I believe you are a key to unlock his heart and maybe he can find love and fill love," she said as she let the tears flow.

I came close to her and I hugged her, trying to console her although it felt strange that she was being overly sentimental I kind of understood her, the story of Asher made me want to cry for I too had not experienced how to be love, I notice a strand of tears that left my eyes then another, till I was sobbing so hard.

"Oh my, you are crying too, see how we are sobbing like babies," she said as she chuckled, cleaning her tears.

" Asher will be back soon, so just go freshen up and come downstairs so when he comes, he can have his breakfast, for I know Asher never eats outside he likes home-cooked meals, go freshen up I will sort things out here," she said

She chuckled, "You sure do not want Asher to come here and meet you smelling like grilled cheese."

I laughed too, and headed upstairs to change. I quickly freshened up, changed my clothes, and came back down, just as Asher arrived. He went straight to the dining room, and my hands started shaking. I felt a knot in my stomach as he opened the food.

"I, uh, made it," I stuttered, trying to hide my shaky hands.

Asher's eyes narrowed his sharp gaze on me. "You made it?" he asked, his tone dripping with disbelief.

"Why did you even try?" he asked, his voice rising in anger.

Mrs. Thompson intervened, "Asher, come on, it's just a meal—" But he cut her off, his anger boiling over. "

No, Mrs. Thompson, this is unacceptable. You know I hate it when anyone messes with my food." He turned back to me, his eyes blazing. "Never again touch anything that had to do with me. You always manage to ruin my day." With that, he stormed out of the room and headed outside.

I could feel myself collapsing on the floor, how was I going to survive this?