you picked my petals
thinking I was a wall flower
not knowing I am rose
with thorns.
-

Bridgett Devoue

•••

"Josh! Come here." Rebecca called out. I realised that Josh was his son. The same brown and curly hair, the same nose. Yeah, definitely.

I lowered my head to the floor and sighed closing my eyes. I didn't expect to be introduced to everyone like the way I was.

"What the hell is happening?" I heard Callum say. "Will someone answer me?"

"Callum, quiet."

"No, wife? What?"

"Yes, she's Asher's wife." I clenched my burning palms. I hated how that was sounding. I never wanted to be his wife.

"That is not possible." I looked up at Victoria. Her eyes met mine. Something flashed in them. And, then they widen. I gulped and looked at Asher who was looking at me, his jaw clenched, his eyes colder than I've ever seen them. His hands fisted. A shiver ran down my spine and I sunk in my seat. Oh god...I was fidgeting uncomfortably in my seat, his gaze was burning holes in my head.

"Aunt Scarlett, we need an explanation."

Scott cleared his throat beside me and I tensed even more.

"Sophie and Ash-"

Scarlett stopped abruptly and I heard a chair screeching. I looked up and saw Asher pushing his chair back. He looked at me, while everyone's eyes were set on him. His jaw worked as he started walking, my heart pounded loudly as he rounded the table. I clenched my burned palms and my stomach formed knots. No, no, no. He was making his way towards me.

"Asher, what are you doing?"

"Something I should have done a long time back, mother." he was nearing me and I was near to dying, my heart was going to explode anytime.

"Get up." I didn't dare to look up, I straightened in my seat, my whole body was burning with embarrassment. Every pair of eyes were trained on me. Crimson was creeping up my neck. This day couldn't get any worse.

"I said, get up." He was so close to me that I could feel the heat radiating from his body on my side. I could smell his cologne. I could feel the tiny hair on the back of my neck rise.

I started tapping my foot nervously.

What do I do?!

My mind screamed.

I was determined. I was so done with him making a big fool of me. I was already beyond embarrassed

"Asher, please-"

"No, mother, she will get up right now. "

In the silence of the room I heard someone giggle and I frowned.

My vision was blurring and I squeezed my hands even tighter. What was happening? I wanted to run for my life. Away form everyone. I couldn't bear with them whispering and staring at me.

"Enough", with that a hand roughly grasped my forearm and I was pulled out of my seat.

"No!" I cried in pain and winced

"Asher, you're manhandling her!"

"Keep your nose out of my business, Scott. And, she's my business."

I whimpered and hissed as his grip tightened, my eyes never left the floor. I was hurt.

He was a monster.

He stood there breathing heavily, what did he want? He was neither moving nor speaking. I knew his eyes were on me when mine were on the floor.

"Is it true, that she's your wife?"

"We're just one divorce away from being called that." His voice held a challenge. My heart pounded do loudly and for the first time I turned my head to look at Scarlett, her eyes were filled with shock and tears. My chest ached for her. I failed her.

How could he say that?

I sob escaped my mouth as I saw Josh frowning at me.

No, sophie. Don't.

I cleared my throat and looked at Asher, his eyes narrowed at me menacingly.

"Come on, you need to leave. You're such an insult. We need to get rid off you, Callister. I don't want to see you in my house again." he didn't wait for my reply. He pulled me by my arm and dragged me out of the room. I struggled and tried to yank my hand back.

"Leave me, Asher." His grip tightened even more. He shut the door behind him and continued dragging me. I stumbled here and there but he didn't stop. He didn't care

"I need to show you where you belong. Who the fuck invited you, Callister?" He seethed.

"Who the fuck invited me?" I knocked my shoulder against him as anger rose inside me. I glared at him and yanked my hand out if his grasp. "You shit..." I mumbled "Who the fuck invited me? Scarlett did. You were supposed to be here with me, but no, you had another woman in your arm while your wife was in the same room!"

I moved back.

"Ah, jealousy. I see." He stepped towards me and pressed his palm flat against my stomach and started moving me backwards. We were in the hallway, there was no one and I could see his behaviour changing.

"It's not jealousy. Anything but that, Grayson. And, you know it."

I glared at him and stepped to my right but he had other plans. His nails dug in my skin as he held onto my hips and pushed me against the wall.

"What the hell do you want?
Leave me, right now." I welped and shook my head.

"No. You've said enough."

"The same goes for you." I shot back immediately.

"Filth. Hmm. It suits you."

"Just like it suits you?"

He chuckled bitterly.
"You need to get rid of that smart mouth of yours."

"I don't really think so Grayson. You just need to get rid of your pathetic games. Stop playing with me." I stood so tall at that moment. I wasn't scared of him. I wanted to beat the shit out of him.

His eyes ran down from my eyes to my exposed neck. From my shoulder to the tip of my fingers that were pressed against his chest. Goddammit.

"Let go, Grayson. I want to leave."

"Why? Aren't you enjoying being close to your husband."

"You're my husband just for namesake."

"Oh, is that why you let him handle you?" he squeezed my hips and I gasped "Just like that."

I blinked and shook my head. I looked around but there was no one to help

"You can't run Callister until I let you."

"So let me." I whispered and tipped my head back on the wall as he pressed himself closer.

My eyes met his, they were darker, so livid.

My breathing was uneven and my body was shaking. What is wrong with him, one minute he is dragging me out of the house and other minute I find myself pressed against the wall by him. Fuck.

"What do you want, Asher?"

"I wish I knew but it's not you."

"I want you to let go, right now." My gaze held his and I refused to look away. I was so done with his bullshit.

His eyes searched for something. For a minute they made me wonder if he could see through me. If he could read my mind. I looked away immediately. No, I was just overthinking.

"What are you hiding?"

My breath hitched and my palm pressed harder against his chest making me wince.

"Tell me."

I looked down. Was he playing mind games with me? I felt like he knew everything about me.

If that was the case, then why didn't he just throw me out of his house, yet. Scarlett invaded my thoughts, no, I promised her that I would help her. She was his mother. God.

"Fucking let go."

His hands grasped mine and pinned them against the wall "Asher!" I cried. I needed to bandage my wounds.

"What? Goddammit, speak!"

I cried and my head hung low. My hands were shaking. How can one be so blind. Why couldn't he see that I was in pain.

"Please..."

"Fine, fucking go!" he pushed me to the floor and moved back. "Is that what you want-" I couldn't hear him anymore, my eyes widen as I saw my hands, red, burned...

"Wait, what is that?" My head snapped in his direction as he started walking towards me.

I pushed myself back "No, don't touch me." I spat.

"Don't be such a bitch.
Your hand..."

I quickly stood up and rushed out towards the door. I was crying harder. I was a mess! All because of him. He pushed me, again. This was the second time when Asher lost control over himself and pushed me away. I couldn't stop myself tears.

"Stop right there."

"No, go to hell- ahh fuck!"

His hands gripped my shoulders and pulled me back,I struggled in his grip and kicked my legs in the air but nothing changed. "Now you, stay right here and I'll go get the car if you move you'll be in trouble"

"Do you understand?"

I nodded. "I'll move."

"Christ. " he cursed in my ear and chills ran down my spine. Goodness!

"Go fuck yourself."

He squeezed my shoulders so hard that I cried and shuddered in pain.

"You're hurting me. Please don't " I pleaded looking up at him. His jaw worked as he narrowed his eyes at me.

"I will hurt you more if you move"
He took a step back and I stood rooted to my spot.

I wanted to scream and cry. I wanted to yell so loud. Tell him that I'm hurting because of him.

I wiped my tears away with the back of my hand and shook my head. A mild pain ran up my hands and I shivered.

"Stop day dreaming and get in." I looked up and squinted at him as he looked at me, his hands resting on the steering wheel.

"No."

"What did I tell you, Callister?"

"That you're a jerk?"

"And, what else?"

Something bubbled inside me, my stomach clenched, a smile was etching on my face. I rolled my eyes and looked away. "That you will hurt me? Oh, I doudt your capabilities." I looked back at him and smiled.

"Such a rebel". He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair, sighing.

"Get in, or -" he opened his door, clearly to come up to me. My eyes widen and I quickly slipped inside the car.

"Hey, you. What are you doing out there!?" I called out to Asher. He turned towards me and frowned looking at me inside the car. "Get in and drive."

He shook his head at me and mumbled something under his breath.

Idiot.

I thought.

.

.

.

.

We have had been driving for a while now.

I didn't complain because I got a chance to close my eyes and relax.

Asher was shady. I couldn't make out what he was thinking. What he wanted. He changed so quick.

Sometimes he doesn't even want to see me and other times I'm sitting beside him driving to nowhere.

"Now, get out. You need to get your hands bandaged." The car came to a stop and my eyes shot open. "I don't know how in the hell that happened. "

What the hell was he going on about, I thought frowning and blinked clearing my vision.

I looked out of the window and it felt like someone knocked the air out if me.

Oh. My. God.

St. Clare Medical Centre.

I stared with wide eyes, my jaw on the floor and my heart so loud.

The hospital where I practised very often. Where every intern, nurse and doctor knew me.

I knew If Asher would go inside with me he'd come to know the truth, that I was a student. A medical student.

"I don't have time, Callister. Come on"

Fuck.

I'm back!

2 updates in a week!!

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[ I'll update the next chapter after Unsinkable has 4.5K+ reads and 800+ votes. ]

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