Chapter 4
Ashley Gustavo POVI stood in front of the Greyson's mansion, my heart hammered against my chest as I stared at the building. I had finally agreed to marry Asher to get back on Ace, but a part of me was still having this feeling. Maybe I shouldn't have done that. It was already one week since the incident, and Ace had not called me, not even for once.'I'm here' I texted Asher. We were supposed to meet his family today for a proper introduction, and according to him, he wanted the wedding to commence soon so we could start living together. I was being foolish, no one in her right sense would do the shit I was doing, but even at that, I couldn't withdraw from this.I finally walked into the compound and just then, the entrance door opened and Asher came outside. As usual, he was graced in all black. I haven't seen Asher wear anything else aside from the color black for the past one year since I've known him. I was starting to think that it was a ritual for him to wear black.He counted his steps toward me, and I couldn't help but notice how perfect this man was. Even though he was born of the same Father as Ace, he looked handsome and more perfect than my scum soon-to-be ex-husband."Did I keep you waiting?" He asked when he finally stopped in front of me, tucking his hands inside his pockets as usual."No," I replied to him, and he nodded."We should head inside. Everyone is waiting," he stated then held out his hand to me, and I hesitated."You better play along, Ms. Don't waste my time," for a second he sounded cold, and I placed my hand on his."Uhm... Do you think this is going to be possible? I've not legally divorced Ace yet," I bit my lip nervously, and he scoffed."You are going to sign the divorce papers today," he stated and didn't even give me a chance to say something else before he started to walk away, his hand not leaving mine. He twisted the doorknob and pushed it open, giving us access to the building. My heart felt like it was going to explode as we walked into the living room, and I swallowed nothing."Where is everyone?" I turned to Asher and asked after he let go of my hand."They'll soon be here. Wait here for me. I'll be back," he said to me and walked away.Barely two minutes after he left, I caught a whiff of a familiar cologne which was followed up by familiar footsteps, and my heart skipped because I already knew who the person was. It was Ace, my soon-to-be ex-husband."Look who we have here. Are you here to beg me to take you back again?" His mocking voice sounded behind me, and I turned to find him standing there with one of his hands tucked inside his pocket and his face laced with a smirk.I felt a pang in my chest, my heart wrenched painfully. It was so tight that I could barely breathe. My palms became sweaty, and tears brimmed in my eyes as the image of how he was fucking my sister popped up in my head."You are going to look pathetic, Ashley. Don't cry in front of him," I said to myself, doing everything I could, to hold back my tears. I couldn't even look him in the eyes even though I wanted to. I was scared of breaking down and getting mocked."Are you not going to say anything, you bi...""I dare you to finish those words, Ace, and that will be the last words you will ever get the chance to say. I won't hesitate to make you kiss your life goodbye right here," Asher spoke up as he came from nowhere and stood beside me. He held my hand and clasped our fingers together, and I was forced to look at him. His eyes were filled with rage as they glared murderously at Ace."Wh... what is going on here?" Ace asked, his voice was filled with shock and confusion, and when I finally looked at him, his face didn't fail to express his shock and confusion."What the hell is happening here, Ashley?" Ace looked at me and asked desperately, but I turned my face away, unsure of how to break it to him."You'll find out soon," Asher replied to him, then came to stand in front of me and cupped my cheeks in his palms."Are you ok? Did he hurt you?" My lips parted as I stared closely into those eyes. This was all acting, he didn't mean any of the words he said because he was the last person to give a damn about me, but strangely, I wished it was reality. Nobody had ever stood up for me like this which only made me wish that this was true and not some acting."Hmm... I'm fine," I whispered, and he sighed briefly."Come with me," he held my hand and walked me out of the living room, leaving the stunned Ace.He walked me down to the pool section and finally let go of my hand."What the hell is wrong with you, Ashley? Are you going to act all pathetic in front of that bastard?" His voice was filled with rage, his eyes boring into mine and all I could see in them was fury."You want to cry in front of him and look like a pathetic idiot? Even if you were going to do that, not now that you are here as my fiancee..." He paused and looked up at nothing. He took a step close to me, and my heart almost stopped when he held my cheek in his palm."Wh...what are you doing?" I stuttered as I tried to step away from him."Ace is looking at us. You need to play along," he whispered, and I slowly nodded. It was hard to believe that I was doing this."You are here to get your revenge and not to look pathetic. Take note of that and stay focused, ok?" He stated calmly, and I slowly nodded."You are going to ruin your makeup, so don't cry," he took a handkerchief from his pocket and used it to mop my tears."Come on, let's go inside," he held my hand and led me back to the living room. I heard noises coming from the living room and I knew that they were already there."Comport yourself, OK?" He whispered, and I nodded. He led me to the dining room where we met his Dad, Mr. Greyson Taylor, Ace, and Ace's Mom, all seated."Ashley, you are here too?" Mr. Greyson asked, and I nodded. Ace's Mom only glared at me and turned her face away. She never liked me from the start. Ace was just looking at me."Come on, come have a seat," Mr. Grey tapped the chair beside him."Asher, your guest is not here yet? We are waiting for her," he looked at Asher and asked, and at that moment, my heartbeat increased rapidly.Asher held my hand and clasped our fingers together."She is here, Dad. Meet my fiancee, Ashley Gustavo," The world froze for a moment as he said that, and a dead silence played in the dining room. I shut my eyes and paid attention to my heart which was thumping violently against my chest as I waited for it to either force itself out of me or explode. I waited for their reaction though I knew it was going to be a horrible one."What!!!" The three of them exclaimed, and Ace was not an exception."Ashley and I are getting married soon. Ashley, meet my Dad, my stepmom, and my stepbrother," Asher introduced them to me as if I was just meeting them for the first time."I know you've met them before, but I'm introducing them to you now as your fiance," he smiled at me, but the smile faded almost immediately."What the hell is going on here?" Mr. Greyson spoke up as he rose to his feet."What do you think you are doing, Asher?" Ace's Mom rose to her feet too, her eyes burning with rage. For a second, I stopped and asked myself if this was not the same woman who never wanted me with her son. How come she was acting as though she was betrayed?Ace was just seated there with a blank expression on his face and I guess he was still trying to process what was happening."I'm in love with Ashley, and we are going to get married," Asher explained to his Dad as if the man didn't hear him when he said that earlier."Cut that crap, Asher. Have you forgotten that Ashley is married to your brother? Are you high on something?" Mr. Greyson slammed his hands on the table, and I flinched fearfully."Uhm..." I cleared my throat and stepped forward."Ace and I are going to get a divorce. He cheated on me, and..."You shameless who...""You don't get to call my woman names, Madam Felicia. I think those insults should be directed to the dog you call a son," Asher stepped forward and gave Ace's Mom a murderous look which made her step back."Asher!" Mr. Greyson scolded him."For a shameless homewrecker like yourself, giving birth to a jerk and raising him as a dog isn't alarming," I gasped and covered my mouth. How could he say those words to his stepmom right in front of his Dad? Does he not have fear?"Asher!" Mr. Greyson called his name again."You don't talk to my Mom like that, Asher!" Ace finally stood up angrily and yelled at Asher like he was going to punch him."I dare you to touch me, Ace, and I promise you death. You won't live to tell the story," Asher threatened him, and I couldn't deny the chills I felt at that moment because he looked like a complete different person. Asher looked like one of those dangerous mafias I've seen in movies. He looked like he could actually kill Ace for real.Ace stepped away from him with a trace of fear written all over him."Ace and Ashley will be getting divorced today..." He paused, then turned to Ace and smirked."If your lawyer is taking much time to process the papers, my fiancee will offer you the divorce instead..." Asher paused, then covered the distance between himself and Ace."We are going to wait for it until the end of today, and if nothing happens, then expect to get her own at the end of the week," And with that, he held my hand and led me out of the dining room...Chapter 5Ashley Gustavo POVI paced restlessly in the room, biting my finger. My heart was yet to settle even though it had been hours. I was scared of going out of the room for fear of running into Ace even though the room seemed to be suffocating me. Did I make a wrong decision? I stopped and asked myself for the umpteenth time, and since I couldn't come up with a befitting answer, I slumped on the bed and sank my fingers into my hair. My heart skipped a beat when the bathroom door opened, and my jaw dropped when I saw Asher cladded in a white towel just below his waist. He was manly built with those sexy biceps and toned abs. They made my breath hitched as I admired them."You look like you are going to devour me with those sexy eyes," His deep voice disrupted me, and I quickly turned my face away embarrassingly."Uhm... I'll be in the living room," I quickly stood up and turned to leave."You can't keep avoiding me. I'm going to be your husband soon, and if you keep shying away l
Chapter 6Ashley Gustavo POV"What the hell do you think you are doing?" I yelled after I pushed him away from myself, breathing heavily because I was almost breathless when he was kissing me."Ashley..." I cut him off with a hot slap across his cheek."How dare you barge in here and think it's okay to kiss me just like that?" I snarled at him, and he breathed in deeply."I'm sorry about that, Ash... I didn't mean to. I couldn't just help myself. I'm really sorry," I was stunned to see my husband who had never for once apologized to me even when he hurt me the most, standing before me and acting all pathetic. "What do you want?" I asked him, and he sighed."You don't have to do this, babe... You can't marry my brother, ok?" He held my shoulders and stared into my eyes. I was almost lost staring into his eyes, but I tried to control it. "Babe? Who is your babe? And what do you care if I marry your brother?" I asked him as I shrugged his hands off my shoulders, and he bit his bottom li
Chapter 7Ashley Gustavo POVMy heart hammered against my chest as I waited in the living room with Asher. I held on tightly to the divorce papers, my body almost trembling nervously. Asher managed to get me the divorce papers from his lawyer, and I was officially going to end my marriage with Ace today."Are you sure about this?" I asked myself for the second time, but even at this point, I was still not sure of what I wanted. I wasn't sure enough that I wanted to end this marriage."Don't you think you can still sort things out? Maybe this is not the best thing to do," My subconscious mind reminded me, and I bit my bottom lip."Are you ok?" Asher's voice brought me back to reality as he held my hand, and I looked at him."Hmm," I nodded slowly even though it was written all over me that I wasn't fine."You are sweating," He uttered, and I quickly wiped my sweat with the back of my palm.A few minutes later, the sound of footsteps approaching the living room made my heartbeat increas
Chapter 8Ashley Gustavo POV'I won't sign the divorce papers' Even after hours, those words were still living rent-free in my head. Ace cheated on me, hurt me so badly, and even went as far as sleeping with my sister, and I was sure he did all that because he never loved me, so why the fuck was he hesitating to sign the divorce papers now. Besides, he was the one who said he was going to divorce me in the first place.Was he saying that to threaten me?"Don't let it bother you," with that on my mind, I left my room after I was ready for work. My heart pounded in my chest as I walked down the walkway, praying silently not to run into Ace because I wasn't confident enough. Glad that he wasn't waiting for me along the walkway, I finally made it out of the house, but I wasn't lucky enough because he was already waiting at the parking lot. He was leaning against his car like he was waiting for someone, and of course, I knew that there was almost a hundred percent chance of him waiting fo
Chapter 9Ashley Gustavo POV"Apologize to her. Now!" Asher demanded."Why should I do..." Her voice trailed off, followed by a yelp as Asher's grip around her hair tightened even more."Aren't you shameless? You slept with your sister's husband and still got the guts to show your face to her? Ugh! You girls of nowadays are unbelievable," Asher clicked his tongue and shook his hair."You know I could sue you for violence, right?" Ann threatened her even though she was in pain, and Asher scoffed. He didn't look like he was freaked about her threat. Not that he had any reason to, anyway. Asher was the last person anyone could ever sue."If you were a fellow man, I would've ripped off your tongue already. Stop being stubborn and apologize before I lose it, bitch!" Asher cursed at her."I'm sorry, Ashley... I'm sorry... I'm really sorry," I guess the pain was being unbearable for Ann because she quickly apologized to me, and Asher finally let go of her.Ann hurried off to her car and zoom
Chapter 10 Asher's lips curved into a smile as he drove down the road. The incident at the hospital replayed in his head, and even though it wasn't something funny, he still found himself laughing about it. He wanted to deny how cute she was earlier, but the fact that was in his head and not something he could just shove away like that.He glanced at the seat beside him, and the broken box was lying there neatly. He sighed briefly and focused on driving.Asher pulled over at the side of the road, then subconsciously took the box and opened it carefully. The blue Jade bangles looked so beautiful and it's sad that bitch broke it."It's pretty," He muttered as he rubbed it gently with his finger. He held the box in his right hand, and with his left hand, reached for his phone and turned on his data connection. Tons of messages popped on the screen of his phone, but he ignored them and went to Google instead.'Place to fix jade bangles near me' He typed on the search engine and clicked
Chapter 11Asher stepped out of his car after he pulled over in front of the cafe shop. With his hands tucked inside his pockets, he strode into the shop and rolled his eyes when he spotted his Dad seated at the far end, sipping from a cup of coffee.Asher strode to his Dad and sat on the chair across from him."You asked me to meet you. I don't have much time. I still got some things to deal with at the office, so I would appreciate it if you make it quick," Asher was as usual not careful with his words. Besides, he didn't want to be there in the first place, so why should he be nice?"We haven't been able to discuss lately, and I've been waiting for you to talk about the company, but it seems that it's never going to happen," Mr. Greg uttered as he placed the coffee cup carefully on the table. Asher scoffed silently and rolled his eyes. A part of him told him earlier before he came here that this might be the reason why the man had asked to see him."I told you that I'm not intereste
Chapter 12Ashley Gustavo POVAnn managed to ruin my day today, but I still tried to smile for the sake of my patients at the hospital. My shift was finally over, and I couldn't be less excited because I really needed to get off work and have some time to think about my life."We are here, ma'am," Came the cab man's voice as he finally pulled over in front of the mansion. I had been wallowing in thoughts ever since the ride started, and I didn't know we were already at home."Thank you," I said to him as I stepped out of the car, and after I paid him, I proceeded inside.'Ace got the car for me two weeks ago on my birthday' Those words were hard to get off my head no matter how hard I tried to. It hurts, no matter how hard I try to get rid of it.Stepping into the house, I paused when I saw Mrs. Greyson seated on the couch in the living room. My heart missed a beat, and for a moment, I regretted not taking the backdoor instead. I wasn't in the mood for anything tonight.Pretending not