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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 at Ace, but a part of me was still feeling sceptical about it. 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.

'You can still turn back from here, Ashley. You can still change your mind'

'They betrayed you and didn't feel remorseful. They are going to take you for a stupid woman if you just let it go' Another part of me reminded me, and I succumbed to the latter.

'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 marriage to be registered 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 colour 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 finally stopped in front of me with his hands tucked inside his pockets as usual.

"No,"

"We should head inside. Everyone is waiting," he 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 two will get a divorce. Just follow me," he was confident with his reply which had me asking myself what he was up to. I wasn't give 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 familiar living room, and I swallowed nothing.

"Where is everyone?" I turned to Asher after he let go of my hand.

"They'll be here soon. Wait here for me. I'll be back," he walked away afterwards.

Barely two minutes after he left, I caught a whiff of a familiar cologne which was followed up by thick footsteps, and my heart skipped as 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 drew my attention from behind, 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 call her that, Ace," Asher's voice made me raise my gaze and I saw him coming toward me. He held my hand and clasped our fingers together once he was standing beside me, giving me a little confidence I didn't have earlier.

"And what is going on here?" Ace looked at me with a demanding expression, shocked and confused.

"What the hell is happening here, Ashley? Fucking answer me!" The bastard tried to come close to me, but stepped back when Asher glared murderously at him.

Asher 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 charming eyes. This was all acting, he didn't mean any of the words he said as he was the last person to give a damn about me, but strangely, I wished it was reality. Nobody has ever looked at me that way, and the way he stood up for me just now, no one has ever done that for me after the death of my parents who used to do that for me.

"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 raging voice made me flinch even though he didn't raise it. And as his eyes pierced into mine, I regretted being like that earlier. Somehow, I didn't want to do something that'd piss this man off.

"Were you going to cry if I didn't show up earlier? I told you I hate weak girls like you—"

"I'm not weak!" A drop of tears slid down my cheek as I defended myself even though I knew he was saying the truth.

"If you are not, then prove yourself and not just say it. If you are going to be like that around him, not now that you are here as my fiancé. I hate embarrassment..." He paused and looked up at nothing briefly. 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 slowly wiped my tears with his thumb, his eyes piercing into mine.

"You are going to ruin your makeup, so don't cry," he took a handkerchief from his pocket and used it to mop the tears left on my cheek.

"Come on, let's go inside," he held my hand and led me back to the living room. I heard noises coming from the dining room and I knew that they were already there.

"Be confident. I'm here with you, 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 smiled at me, 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 fiancé, 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 wasn't going to be anything promising.

"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 as if he read my mind, but the smile faded almost immediately.

"What the hell is going on here?" Mr. Greyson 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 casually shrugged.

"Cut that crap, Asher. Have you forgotten that Ashley is married to your brother? Are you drunk?" 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, Dad. 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," I have never seen anyone threatening another while being effortlessly calm like it was nothing. I could not deny the chills I felt at that moment because Asher looked like a completely different person. He was exuding the charm and aura of those Mafias I've read about in fiction novels. 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 fiancé 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…