“Her lips always holds a smile
Don't let it fool you, you fool. ”
- DecentTrouble.

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Amazing cover and banner by emilyawesome383

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The place somehow looked joyous. Scarlett was moving around the kitchen collecting dishes and other cutlery. A permanent smile was spread across her lips while I was trying hard not to look at the Adonis figure leaning against the kitchen door, burning holes into my skull.

"Sophie, I'll just keep everything on the table." Scarlets told me.

"I'll help-"

"--Oh no, you stay I'll do it." She gave me a hopeful smile and then her eyes darted towards the man standing like a stoic statue. I cursed under my breath. It was obvious that she wanted me to be alone with Asher, but why the heck! I was married to him, we didn't need time alone, I fucking lived with him.

She was definitely Asher's mother.

I rolled my eyes at this thought and watched Scarlett leave the kitchen.

Asher was still standing in the same place. He bugged me. His calculating gaze was creeped me out. He was watching my each and every move. Ignoring his torturous presence, I walked up to the sink and washed my hands. Turning off the faucet, I looked around for a towel or tissue to dry my hands and scowled when I found none.

I sighed shaking my head. I was left with no choice but to use my dress to dry my hands. I bend down a little and rubbed my wet hands near the hem of my dress. I smiled triumphantly. Who cares.
After all it was just a dress.

When I straightened up I suddenly realises that I wasn't alone. My head snapped in Asher's direction and my eyes finally met his blues that were glimmering with surprise and curiosity? His lips were slightly turning up, I knew he was fighting not to smile. My heart was louder than thunder. The half smile on his beautiful face made my stomach flip. Warmth creeped up my face. I didn't know why I was embarrassed.

"Sorry." I mumbled looking away.

"Do you know how much the dress costs?"he asked raising a questioning eyebrows. For some reason I was starting to get annoyed. I wanted him to get lost for heaven's sake. Why did he care so much for the dress?

"Do you know?" I almost snapped back.

"I can tell," he tilted his head, a thick lock of this raven hair fell on his forehead. My fingers twitched, damn! I so badly wanted to push his hair  back. Oh, God what was I thinking? I shook my head and looked at his face, his eyes were studying me closely, up and down. My spine went cold as his eyes wandered all over my body, I stiffened.

"Let's go mom is waiting." I suddenly announced to break his gaze from my body and started moving, when I was about to pass him. He stepped to my side. I let out a squeak as my nose bumped in his firm chest. I instantly moved back and raised my head to scowl at him. Fucking idiot! This man worked out too! When? I always see him on the couch.

"Don't call her mom again."

"Why not?"

"Because she's not your mother. I will soon get rid of you. You are absolutely of no use to me". A smirk made its way up to his face. "Until then let's have lunch, Muffin ". My heart dropped at his words ,when it shouldn't have. With that he walked off leaving me with a heavy heart.

What was wrong with me? Why did Asher affected me so much?

Ugh!

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We sat on the table, eating silently. No one was talking. Which was odd. It was always the opposite when I had family meals. Everyone had their mouth open loud. They all kept talking and none of them listened to what the other was saying. I always avoided having meals with my family because of how loud they were but right now I was missing them. A lot.

I absentmindedly twirled my fork in the sphegatti and sighed.

My thoughts went back to the day when I let my bad luck marry me. At this thought, I turned my head and glared at Asher, who was quietly chewing his food while his eyes were staring at the maple tree that was right in front of where he was sitting.

As if noticing me. He turned his head towards me, his eyes narrowed and my chest clenched suddenly, I gave him a small smile that was wavering because of the nervousness. 
I blinked at him . His eyes never left mine. I inhaled deeply as I saw something in those blue. My fingers tightened around the fork in my hand, I couldn't look away. The energy was so strong that it held me captive, buried deep behind the bright ocean was sadness.

Yes, sadness.

He suddenly broke our eye contact and looked down.

I felt the urgent need to comfort him. Hold his hand, squeeze it and tell him that everything will be alright. Even when I didn't even know what was wrong. My mood dropped. why was I sad now?

This was so frustrating!

A hand landed on mine dragging me out of my thoughts.

Scarlett smiled at me "Sophie?"

"Yes Mom." I purposely called her mom. From the corner of my eyes I could sense Asher throwing daggers at me with his glare.

That glare was satisfy, a smirk was making it way up my face. I brought my glass of water near my lips to hide it.

"I hope to see little Asher and Sophies soon"

Bang!

It felt like someone poured a bucket of ice on me. I choked on the water. My throat constricted and my breathing staggered. I coughed and sputtered out water while holding onto my damn chest. My eyes filled with tears. What the hell!

Gasping for air I reached for another glass of water, but Asher was fast enough to grab it before me.

I saw it all.

He picked up the glass and the next moment It was all over me. My face was dripping.
He threw it on me. He literally slapped the water on my face.

Everything stopped. I sat there staring at him dumbfounded. Asher threw a nasty look filled with disappointment at Scarlett. The chair screeched loudly as he pushed it back and stood up. He shook his head, "Never!!" was the only word I heard before I felt hot tears roll down my cheeks.

I saw him as he left with my blurry vision.

I was hurt that was nothing new, but never in my entire life I've had been humiliated. He threw a fucking glass of water on me. In front of scarlett!

"Sophie," I sniffed and looked at Scarlett, who looked as if she saw someone die in front of her eyes. Guilty, that was what she was.

I was in awe. "It's okay Mom, don't worry Asher will be fine, he's just in shock." I gave her a weak smile.

She remained silent.

I picked up the towel which was on my lap and wiped my face. My face was crimson with embarrassment.

Big mistake! Asher Grayson was a big mistake that I made.

After sometimes Scarlett  cleared her throat "I should go now."

That way the best for the three of us. To be alone was okay sometimes.

I nodded.

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I made my way to my room and locked it behind me.

I slumped on the couch, it was it then. I hated myself so much at that moment. I hated the tears that left my eyes. Fucking traitors! I dumped my head in my hands. My shoulders shook. I sniffed and wiped my tears away. My heart clenched as I replayed the scene again and again in my mind, how he dumped a glass of water on my face. Why me! What did I even do! For crying out loud I cooked for his mom, I treated her well and what I got in return, a glass of water being slapped on my face!

I missed my mom, she would have beaten the shit out of him, if he would have done this in front of her.

Wake up. Get ready. Fight Asher. Try to smile. Let Asher eat my head for lunch. study. Go to Bits and Bites. Come back. Again let Asher eat me for dinner. Sleep. Sometimes with tears.

This had become my routine.
Though it wasn't planned or anything.

I needed to be more strong than I was already. Crying was not the solution.

Arrggh!

I washed my face and freshened up in the bathroom and decided to not let things bug me,especially Asher.

For the next one hour I worked on my physics Assignment which I had to submit after two days. I had shut my mind for any negatives though and Asher of course, and worked my brains off for the assignment,which I guess was more important. Only this could've get me out of this hell  hole I myself had dug.

I stacked my books behind the couch. I didn't want Asher to know that he was married to a University student. After I was done I made my way to the big carton Scarlett had send. I didn't have time to set the things in the cupboard, they were still as they were two days back in the box.

I decided to change into something more comfortable than the dress I was wearing. That was a pair of blue denim jeans and a red sweatshirt. I tied my hair into a pony tail and slipped into my black vans before leaving the room.

The house was in utter silence. Pin drop silence. Asher was still not back. Strange. That was what I felt thinking about him. My stomach always clenched at his thought. It was weird and I did not like it for some reason.

Shaking all the thoughts away. I collected everything I needed before leaving the house. I passed by the kitchen and stopped abruptly, my jaw worked, I tapped my foot.

I should leave a note.  I thought. I didn't want Asher to worry.

Funny. I thought that he would worry but it was impossible. He didn't even tell me before leaving. He didn't care. At all. And that fact hit me hard for some reason.

Shaking my head I fetched a pink note and a pen from my bag.

I smiled at the note one last time before sticking it on the fridge door and left the house soon after that.

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4:55 p.m

Phew, I was on time. I thought looking down at my wrist watch. I frowned as I neared the cafe. Not a single person was around. That was odd. At this time Bits and Bites always used to be full and loud.

Shaking my head I tugged on my bagpack and entered the cafe. The bell chimed automatically as I pushed the door open. Not a moment later I felt arms around my mid section. My heart thudded loudly as The hands tightened around my frame and pulled me forward.

"Hey Sophie." I gasped involuntarily as my chest came in contact with another chest. Looking up with wide eyesight I saw Thomas smiling down at me. My heart skipped a beat and a shrill rang down my body. My hands immediately went between these two of us and pushed at his chest. His hands only tightened more around me.

"What are you doing?!" I asked surprised by his actions while staring at him with wide eyes.

"Nothing Bruno I just wanted to hug you." He literally whined.

What even is wrong with people now a days?

I frowned at his stupid behaviour. Why was he talking to me like I was some baby.

My heart was loud, my instincts told me that something wrong would happen if I didn't handle the situation properly. I looked around and my frown sunk deeper.

"Where's everyone?" I asked eyeing the empty cafe. Why were all the odd things happening to me today?

Thomas let out a small breathy laugh "The cafe closed an hour ago."

Surprised by his answer. I almost stopped pushing at his chest. The fear was there. Fear of being forced to do something I didn't want to. Fear of Thomas. Yes, I now feared someone who I once considered as my best friend. But not anymore, not after what he did. I gulped audibly, I just didn't want to make the situation worse.

"Why didn't anyone tell me?" I questioned bending backwards trying anyhow to maintain space between us.

"I texted you." he almost pouted.

"You did." He nodded

"Oh," was all I could say. I looked away not wanting to meet his questioning eyes. In all the chaos I completely forgot to check my phone. Dammit! I cursed myself silently before looking back at Thomas.

I forced a big smile onto my lips. "I should head back home." I told him while grabbing both his hands that were behind me and tried to break through them.

That son of a b○stard!  didn't.
budge.

His eyes narrowed at me, he looked as if he was contemplating on something. I smiled brightly, showing all my 32 teeth or more. My cheeks hurt and my eyes were almost closed. I way trying hard not to show my restlessness and worry.

I did not stop smiling. Suddenly his arms fell limp to his side, he took few steps back, and God it felt like I was finally breathing after years. I sighed in relief and rubbed my sweaty palms on my jeans.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Thomas." I cleared my throat uncomfortably . He nodded his eyes never leaving my face.

I quickly turned around to leave.

"Sophie-"

Fuck!

I paused. My jaw clenched and my hands too. What the hell he wanted now!

"Yeah?" I turned and flashed a smile

"Are you dating someone?"

At that very moment I wanted the earth to open and swallow me up. My eyes widen, my lower lip rolled inside my mouth as I gulped the lump that was forming in my throat. I couldn't afford to let Thomas know that I was married. Thomas was looking at me expectantly, he ran a hand through his hair and pusher the sleeves of his black shirt up today the elbows. He was patiently waiting for my answer.

I laughed awkwardly "Uh.....no, why do you think so?" I could feel myself paling.

His hazel eyes were determined as they stared at me.

"You didn't hug me back" my heart dropped. I suddenly was feeling guilty. It was really sad to see him like this. He was sad but angry. The look on his face told me not to do or say something stupid. Thomas never minded before. So why now? What was he upto goddammit.

Shaking all the thought away, I did what I should have done before.

I hugged him. Like I used to hug Tommy not Thomas.

•••

I'm so so sorry for such a late update guys.

I'll try and update early from now onwards.

Hope you liked the chapter ❤❤

I don't have much to say. I'm just a mess from a few days,  I'm depressed. I can't think straight. Honestly speaking I absolutely felt no emotions while writing this chapters I'm really sorry if it was not what you expected.

Moving onnnnn....

Rapid fire now!

What's your favourite song?

Your favourite colour?

Your favourite desert? 👅

See you soon.

Love ya

-Garima🌸