Bound By Lies

Asher's Point of View

I inhaled deeply, smoke swirling around my face in a haze of nicotine and tranquility. As I exhaled slowly, I felt my tension dissipate.

I sat on the bench, observing the flow of people entering and exiting the hospital.

Everything felt like a cruel joke. It seemed as though the universe was playing a prank on me.

I lost the woman I loved with all my heart, yet I couldn't even mourn her or attend her funeral, no matter how much I longed to. I loved her deeply, but she was gone, and there was nothing I could do about it.

My family has always been the most important aspect of my life. Although I lost my parents at a young age, my grandfather has always been there for me. I would do anything for him.

The reputation of my family was at stake, and I had to do everything possible to preserve it, no matter the cost. Sometimes, you must set aside your heart's desires and concentrate on what truly matters.

"Asher," I  turned my attention to Mister Blackwood. I couldn't believe he thought I was such a fool, but I decided to play along with his game for my own benefit. "Please, let Scarlynn stay for her sister's funeral. It wouldn't be right to take her away before the service," he pleaded, his tone desperate.

I clenched my jaw, my teeth tightly pressed together as I stared at him with a cold, hard gaze. He truly believed I was a fool.

"Did you forget our deal, or should I remind you?" I asked, maintaining unwavering eye contact. "You sold your daughter to my family in exchange for the lavish lifestyle you enjoy now. I can do whatever I want with her, and you have no say in the matter." Rising from the bench, I tossed the cigarettes to the ground and walked away, leaving him pale and in shock.

They could manipulate the truth as they pleased, but the harsh reality was that they had sold their daughter to my grandfather in exchange for wealth while I was in college.

Maybe Scarlynn and Scarlett were still in high school at the time, which is how they became wealthy.

Fortunately, I fell in love with Scarlynn, but she did not reciprocate my feelings. She loved someone else, but due to the repercussions of rejecting me, she agreed to everything, including adhering to our family tradition of providing an heir before marriage.

The only thing left was our marriage, which she could not facilitate, but her sister would take it from there.

As I entered the room, I found Scarlett seated on the bed, cradling the baby in her arms.

Her eyes were red, as if she had been crying for an extended period, while her mother busily packed their bags and the baby's belongings. It was a shame that all her success was slipping away.

Unlike her parents, she was not greedy. She had worked diligently for her success on her own, but her parents' avarice overshadowed everything.

She was unaware of many truths, having been fed nothing but lies by her parents, and had no choice but to accept them as reality.

"Are you ready?" I asked, gazing at her with a cold, unyielding stare. My eyes pierced hers like ice picks, searching for any sign of weakness. She shot me a glare, rose from the bed, took the baby in her arms, and began to make her way out, walking past me.

"Interesting," I thought to myself. Unlike Scarlynn, Scarlett displayed no concern about how I might respond to her if she were to give me an attitude.

It was evident that she sought to challenge me at every opportunity.

A smirk spread across my face as I followed them outside. At least I would have something to keep me entertained; her attitude was quite amusing.

As I approached the car, Scarlett was already seated in the back. The guard opened the door for me, and I climbed in, taking a seat beside her.

"Take care of yourself, my dear," Scarlett's mother said, but Scarlett remained silent, not even glancing at her.

Her parents were the most selfish people I had ever encountered. I was selfish, but they took it to another level. When you combine selfishness and greed, the result is manipulation, which is exactly what they were doing to her. I didn't care about any of it.

The driver started the car, and we drove away from the hospital, heading home. It was a few hours from town, and we would likely arrive in the afternoon.

The ride was quiet until the baby began to cry. I wasn't particularly fond of babies, but it was a family tradition that a daughter-in-law must bear an heir before getting married. I couldn't defy my grandfather, but now Scarlett would have to care for her sister's child on her own. I would provide material support, while she would offer love and nurturing.

Unexpectedly, Scarlett placed the baby in my arms and handed me the bottle. "You haven't held your daughter since she was born. How about you feed her some milk and put her to sleep before you leave again?" Scarlett said sternly, her tone devoid of emotion.

She must have been angry, but her attitude was unacceptable. "What the heck? Just take her away from me immediately, or else!" I threatened sternly, but she scoffed.

"Or else what? Are you going to harm my family because I made you hold your own baby?" she retorted, glaring at me. A chill ran down my spine as I listened to her words, and my anger boiled within me.

"Of course, I will. Just take this baby away from me," I muttered through clenched teeth.

"Spineless jerk," she muttered before taking the baby back and soothing her. As she fed the infant milk, she sang a lullaby.

I couldn't comprehend where she found the audacity to speak to me that way. I would need to put her in her place before she displayed this attitude toward my grandpa, and I knew precisely how to accomplish that.