~Elena~
The moment he touched me, the memories of yesterday flooded my head and I felt my nipples tighten. I exhaled, hating myself for reacting this way to his presence.
A shriek left my throat when I sensed the hot liquid running down my back, but I remained still and let my face twitch to express how painful it was.
When it wouldn't stop, I started to move but his hand held me in place.
"Stay still. I'm checking the temperature."
I obeyed. Shutting my eyes and balling my palms, I pushed back the tears, reminding myself that I couldn't react if I wanted to save my family.
This monster was my husband and I was stuck in his web.
After what seemed like an eternity, he stopped. Or ran out of coffee and I confirmed that when he dropped the empty cup on the saucer. Until then, I didn't realize how tightly I gripped the table.
My back started to burn but I made no move to touch it. When he moved to my front, I met his gaze with a glare.
"I guess it was hot, but unfortunately I wasted everything with the test. Make me a fresh cup," he paused when the door opened and Flynn walked in.
"Be back in thirty minutes."
Without a word, I turned around and stumbled out of the room.
I was very wrong when I thought it couldn't get worse than this. Two maids were relieved of their duties and I was made to fill in both their spots. I worked tirelessly every day and was only allowed to rest when everyone else had retired for the day.
The little in-between breaks I had was to eat or use the bathroom, aside from that I worked. Since the day I walked into this house, I seemed to get a new nightmare.
I lived every day with the fear of being exposed for who I really am, and even more so, the fear of pissing off my monster of a husband.
I wondered if this was my last bus stop or if there would be more negative encounters for me in the future.
I washed my hands in the bathroom, preparing to leave when my phone beeped, indicating that I had received a text. I slipped it out of my pocket and opened the message.
[I'll give you a second chance. I'm stoned right now, send me some sexy pics and I'll consider taking you back.]
I didn't need anyone to tell me it was from Jake. That bastard.
He used a different number since I blocked his. I gritted and proceeded to block the number but tears burst out uncontrollably. I really wanted someone to take me away from this nightmare, yet wasn't stupid enough to trust such a scum of the earth like Jack.
What a mess of my life!
"Julia, the master wants you to bring his lunch!"
I froze, then fixed my composure and walked out.
"The master is back?" I asked, my brows squinted as a look of horror rested on my face. Flynn said he wouldn't be back until tomorrow.
"Yes. He wants his lunch in ten minutes. Don't be late."
I nodded as I strode past her to the kitchen and picked up the food trolley. In the elevator, I quickly fixed my wear, hair and readjusted the look on my face.
Marla was in Asher's room when I got there, she flashed me a hateful look and resumed wiping the dining area. With time, I realized why Marla was always mean to me.
Marla had a thing for Asher but he never noticed her. I heard from the other maids how she had tried to seduce him but failed at every attempt. She was jealous of me because the master liked to call me more though I was new.
Keyword, jealous. I found it absurd.
If only she knew how much he enjoyed tormenting me. If only she knew Asher was a literal monster as the rumors professed.
"Hello Julia," Asher grinned. Beneath it, I could see the hatred, undiluted and raw.
I replied simply and proceeded to the table with the trolley. Marla left her position and I faintly saw her push out her leg. I had skidded too late and soon the trolley fell forward and all the plates of food fell out, the sauce not skipping Asher's legs.
I gasped when I saw this, and the glare he sent my way next sent the world to hold its breath. I felt the hair on my skin rise!
"I'm so sorry, master. Someone tripped-"
"Oh my goodness!" Marla cried out, "How could you be so sloppy, Julia? Look what you've done to the master?"
I faced her, my fear partly turning into anger. "Don't act like you didn't cause it. I saw you deliberately try to trip me."
"Don't you dare blame your sloppiness on me," she wagged her finger. "You're incapable, you should accept your faults."
"You little bitch-" I felt anger burning in my lungs.
"Now you're calling me names just because I corrected you. What did I ever do to you?" She feigned hurt. "Master, I told you this is the kind of person she is. I watched her closely as you requested and she never learns! She's mean and sloppy. She should be punished for this-
"You're fired."
I turned to him, unable to process what it meant. I felt my heart pounding fast. Does it mean we're getting a divorce? Does it mean I can run out of this hell?
Or...that only meant I was getting a greater punishment than housekeeping?
"You're fired, Marla," his icy voice rang out again. Marla's face went from displaying a surreptitious satisfied smile to holding a flabbergasted look.
"W-w-what?" She stuttered. "Young master-"
"Don't make me repeat myself. Get out."
Her sobs rented the air as she was dragged out by the guards. And I was still stunned in confusion.
"We will discuss a befitting punishment for you later," I faced him when he started to speak again. "For now, you'll have to wash and dress me up."
"D-dress you?" I stuttered.
My betraying core clenched as his gaze strolled down to my skirt. A flash of anger slammed on his face and I heard him tease me.
"Does the imagination make you wet, slut?"
***"Asher!" Grandpa Schaeffer exclaimed before pulling Asher in for a close hug. "Hey there, Elena," he passed her a slight smile.Elena accepted it, concluding that it was preferable to the other times when he completely ignored her presence.His eyes dropped to her stomach, and she watched his smile grow. He was fond of doing that, but wouldn't openly admit how he couldn't wait to hold his great grandkids in his arms."The babies are doing okay?" He asked, his smile dying as he brought his eyes up to her."They're fine," Elena smiled widely. Asher chuckled at his grandfather's effort to appear mean to Elena. He knew that he hadn't fully forgiven her for lying to them but he also knew that Schaeffer didn't hate her. Even before he found out about Elena's secret, he liked her a lot and praised her for taking care of his disabled son.This was their last get-together before Asher departed for his surgery. At the table, Ian's mother was already seated, looking like she wanted to be any
~Elena~***Her house was an apartment, with a simple bathroom and an ensuite. In her living room, a corner was demarcated with drapery as her kitchenette and another as her bedroom.In the room was a small unmade bed, and her sitting room, which was the largest part of the house, had a small TV, a radio, a fridge, and two sofas.Her eyes were on me right from the moment we walked in.Harold was already by her side and I saw how sick she was. Unnaturally, she looked lean. Staring at her, one could instantly tell that she used to be a chubby woman. She wore a cap and leaned on Harold's shoulder, but I could see that she didn't have any hair on her head. Her eyebrows were very thin, almost without any hair and her eyes looked tired even though she wore a smile. A beautiful smile."Elena," that was her first word to me and I noticed the similarity in our voices. She was a beautiful woman and I had physically taken after her. Asher's arm was around me, proving to me that he was always by
~Elena~***"You cheat!" I hit Asher in the chest, pouting my lips, "that's not fair."He giggled, reaching to peck me but I covered his lips with my palm, rejecting his kisses."That was the best one!" I complained, staring into the empty cookie bowl with a frown, "you're so childish.""Now, you're mad over a cookie?" He asked, holding my hands."You promised you'd give it to me, but you ate it. I can't forgive you," my hormones kicked in and I felt tears gathering in my eyes.That was my greatest defense and Asher immediately opened his fist to reveal the cookie. "I didn't eat it, I was just messing with you. Please don't cry." He looked utterly concerned. "I'm sorry, I was only kidding." He cupped my face, wiping my eyes.I threw the cookie into my mouth and pecked his face. "Got you.""You sneaky woman!" He grumbled, and we ended up laughing. His fingers worked on my legs, giving me the best massage while he called a maid to get us more cookies."By the way, Grandpa wants us to co
~Asher~***Over the next few months, Elena stayed by my side, doing her best to take care of me until I fully recovered. Our relationship had developed over time and in every aspect, and I was elated about it.Now, I could hold Elena without being afraid of the spite in her eyes when I looked at them, and she would assist me whenever I got tired due to my bedridden state. It was blissful. It was all I ever looked forward to since our misunderstanding.Elena had stepped out of my study room, leaving me and the gang to discuss. It was the first time we were having a meeting in my house, and they all had to come looking ordinary to avoid suspicions. It was also the first time we were collectively meeting since my discharge from the hospital."What did you find out?" I asked Ricky."D.H Entertainment exists but it belongs to Penelope's family. It's their biggest investment. She lied about the ownership, and acted like her job was at stake so she could get preferential treatment from you.
~Asher~***"Asher, can you see me?"I felt a light tug and then the voice came again, jerking me fully to consciousness."Oh my goodness, Asher! You're awake!" Footsteps followed.I recognized the face after a full minute of staring blankly at it, it was my grandfather."Grandpa," I mumbled and his face softened into a warm smile."That's right, son. It's me," he nodded, sobbing. "I'm so glad you're awake."I rolled my eyes, looking amongst the other people in the room for her but she was not there. I blinked and then tried again but I couldn't find her.I was sure that I saved her, I wouldn't have been able to go without ensuring her safety first. It was unlike me.Did I imagine it? I frowned the thought off. I definitely got her out!"Where is Elena?" I asked, bringing my gaze to rest on my grandfather. I asked him again when he said nothing."She's alive, right? I saved her. I'm sure that I saved her.""You did. She is alive." Richard spoke."Son, don't worry about her right now."
~Elena~***I stood outside the ICU ward where Asher was kept, staring at him through the window with tubes connected all over his body. I could faintly hear the sound of beeping machines.He looked so fragile and pale, not like the domineering and omnipotent Asher I knew that had overpowered me a number of times. He looked different, almost lifeless. The only source of life I saw in him was the many stuff connected to his body, the fact that they were still functioning proved that Asher was still in there fighting for his life.A pang of sorrow slashed my heart. Again, he sacrificed himself to save me. He discarded his own life to ensure I kept mine.If this was the first time it was happening, I probably would have concluded that he did it to save his baby's life, but it wasn't. I've never seen anyone care more about someone else's life than theirs, and I've never heard of anyone who performed such an act of kindness to someone they didn't care about.Can a man like that, who has ri