Introduced her to his family

Chapter 4

Ashley Gustavo POV

I 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...