~ASH’S POV~
(ASH BACKSTORY ONE)
Growing up in my house was like living in a museum, everything perfectly polished, staged, and hollow. My father was a force of nature, always in control, always demanding more.
No matter what I did—straight A’s, winning trophies, or even the way I said ‘thank you’ to his business associates—it was never enough.
“Do you know how pathetic you sound?” he’d say, his words cutting deeper than any slap. “Straighten up. Speak with confidence. You’re embarrassing me.”
At first, it was just words, sharp and biting, like shards of glass aimed at my pride. But as I got older, his anger turned physical. He’d grab my arm hard enough to bruise or shove me against a wall when he thought I wasn’t trying hard enough.
He never left marks where anyone could see—t
