Chapter Three

As I pushed the door open, a chilling silence enveloped the room. The atmosphere felt eerie and ominous, causing a shiver to run down my spine. 

The atmosphere in Daniel Harlow's house has never been this tense. I could feel the tension hanging in the air like a heavy cloud, even more intense than when he had brought his side chick, who happened to be Olivia's mother, into the picture. 

As I walked further into the lounge, the thick tension in the air became even more palpable. My eyes locked onto a towering figure seated on the couch with a deep frown across his face. 

  “Fa…. ther,” I sputtered, my voice trembling but as soon as my eyes met his sharp gaze, my words immediately caught in my throat, leaving me feeling completely thrown off. The amount of anger in his eyes was enough to silence me. 

“How could you after everything I have done for you? How could you, Ashley?!” He yelled out in rage. 

He has never addressed me by my full name before, this is actually the first time that I have seen my father this upset and mad. What could have inflicted his anger? Has Olivia shown him the video? But I don't think so. 

She is not yet at home. 

“Dad….” 

    “How could you, Ashley? Despite everything you decided to pay me back like this!” His low growl had the words stopped at the tip of my tongue. 

“Dad,” I called again but he instantly shut me up. “Don't you dare call me your, Dad.”

What is going on? 

“Why are you yelling at me? I don't know what I did,” tears were already pooling in my eyes. I have been through a lot of shit this morning, I don't think I have the strength for another drama now. 

“How could you hurt me this much, Ashley?” He shakes his head. “I love you so much but you have decided to tarnish the reputation that I built from scratch.” 

My tears were now trailing down, I could not possibly hurt my father and he knew it. Even when he brought in another woman, still I never hurt him. So what is he talking about? 

My mind was still lacing with confusion when suddenly he angrily switched on the television. The headline on the television captioned my attention, my name and my picture were boldly displayed on that screen. And at the lower side of the screen was a video attached to it though it was a white and black. Is not clear but the lady in the video has long blond hair just like mine.

   She was naked with an old man towering all over her, their faces were not captioned since they were surely feasting on each other's lips with the duvet doing little or no justice in covering them that well.

My gaze slowly shifted to the caption below the video, “What is she talking about, that I slept around for money?!” I stuttered unbelievably. 

What the hell? 

“You heard it right, were you not at DDW hotel last night?” His lips stretched out in a sad smirk as he looked at my tattered dress. His fists curled in a ball form as he tried to control his anger. 

What is happening? The news is everywhere and his question was like a sharp reminder of the pain that I have been struggling to forget. 

  Is this the video that Olivia was talking about? But the girl wasn't me….. I am sure I didn't enjoy anything and the man that I saw in that hotel bed was a young muscular man not an old fat man. 

But again who could possibly believe me? The fact remains that I was in that hotel last night and was raped!

But again, will they believe me?

“You see…… the anchorwoman wasn't lying,” he spat out in disappointment. “I, Daniel Harlow, can never accept a daughter who is shameless and ill-mannered.” I felt a sharp pain shoot me at his words. 

   “Dad, I can explain,” 

“Get out!” He shrieked, glaring at me in nothing but pain and disappointment. 

  “Dad, please, believe me, I still didn't….”

“I said get out and mind you, I don't ever want to see you here again!” He barked, scaring me away. 

Shaking feebly with my lips trembling in fear, I staggered out of the house and started running toward Mason’s house. 

I pray he hasn't seen the news. God please! 

**** ***** 

I parked my Honda Jazz in front of Mason’s penthouse, feeling a mix of emotions clouding me. This place was once a symbol of our love and future together, but now everything feels like it's on the verge of collapsing. 

Just a single mistake is about to have my whole world turned upside down. 

  I hurried out of the car and rushed towards the house, my heart was pounding with fear. As I stood at the front door, I noticed that it was unlocked, 

This is strange. 

Looking at it, I couldn't help but give it a slight push. However, my attention was immediately caught by a feminine clothes scattered on the floor with a sickening cologne lingering in the air. 

  My confusion deepened, causing the skin in between my forehead to twist in suspicion. This is definitely not the fragrance Mason wears. 

I can feel my heart racing, and a wave of unease starting to wash over me that the main reason that I came here was then long forgotten. 

My heart beats hard, yet I pushed the unsettling feelings refusing to believe what my instinct was telling me. 

  But instantly, I felt my body freeze in place as a chilling sensation ran through me, almost knocking me to my knees as I heard a loud moan from the very room that was supposed to be our matrimonial haven. It felt like a punch in my face and I can no longer ignore the feeling that something wasn't right. 

Clutching the fabric of my clothes, my body shivers in fear of what awaits me in that closed door. Drawing in a sharp breath, I mustered the courage and stretched out my shaky hands toward the door handle. 

Despite the nagging voice in my head, screaming at me to turn around and run. Still curiosity consumed me. I needed to see with my own eyes to truly believe what was happening. 

  Meanwhile, I pushed the door open and suddenly a wave of terror washed over me causing me to shudder against the door frame. A mix of pain, shock, and disbelief flashed across my eyes as I took in the sight in front of me. 

Tears flowed down my eyes in full force and my grip instantly loosened on the handle and I felt myself staggering back while holding my mouth to still my sobs. 

  The sight in front of me was what I never expected, I watched in deep pain as Mason fuck Olivia on that exact bed meant for both of us. It felt like a stab in the heart, a betrayal that I never saw coming. 

Not minding my father's warning never to return, I rushed out of the penthouse and made my way back to my car. I need to explain to my father, I need him to listen to me. 

  Because right now, my years of hard work are crumbling in an instant. With furious honking, the gateman opened the gate and I drove my car inside my father's company. Parking it in the carport, I drag in a deep breath to calm myself before stepping out. 

However, feeling devastated and disheveled, I walked into the house to find my father surrounded by a group of men, all dressed in a black attire, busy signing out some documents. 

  Something doesn't sit well, the atmosphere definitely feels off, not like it used to be. Walking inside, I noticed one of them glanced at the door, our gaze locking. 

“I think it's time for us to leave, Mr. Harlow.” The man immediately said, drawing others' attention toward me. The sudden focus made me feel uneasy. 

What is going on here?