The CEO's Fake Wife

Open Threats

Aurora stared at Asher with unhidden disgust written all over her face. “I don't want to help you anymore.”

Asher glanced at her with a smirk on his face, then he continued with certainty in his voice “You are already helping me, why do you want to back away when we are already close?”

Aurora furrowed her brows in confusion “What are you talking about?”

His eyes fell to the wedding ring that was still on her finger then back to her face. It took Aurora a few minutes to understand the message he was trying to pass along “No,” she said immediately, backing away with a few steps before taking off the ring and throwing it to the ground, as it had burned her. “No way.”

Aurora had long thought of getting rid of the ring but every time she stared at it, it reminded her of the sweet time she spent with Asher, and her hope for a good life together but unfortunately, this new side of him had ruined that illusion.

“We can still be together after all this is over.” He covered the distance between them and held Aurora by her arms.

Her eyes widened as she found her personal space quickly invaded by him, his grip on her arms was so tight, making it difficult to pull away at least without bruising her skin. “Do you really think that after all this I would ever want to be with you?”

“You will.” He replied with a matter-of-fact tone.

Aurora shook her head and burst into laughter, her actions surprised Asher, causing him to loosen his grip on her, letting her put some distance between them once again. “I would rather burn this place to the ground.”

“Say whatever you want,” He started. “I brought you to where you are, gave you this very fancy title as the Mistress of the Lucretia family but in the end,” Aurora could already guess what he wanted to say next “You are still nothing but a pawn in a chess game that you can't control.”

“I hate you.” Aurora's voice trembled as she spoke, then turned around to leave but Asher swiftly held her by her wrist. “Let go of me!” She twisted her hand, trying to break free but his grip only tightened around her. “Don’t touch me!”

Asher pulled at her toward him, hard enough that she slammed into his chest, Aurora froze as a familiar feeling overwhelmed her and for a moment, she stopped trying to fight Asher. One of Asher's hands went up and gently wrapped around her throat, it wasn't tight but just right. Asher's face leaned closer to hers, until there were just a few inches between their lips. Aurora’s eyes slowly lose their fight and she lets out a peaceful sigh.

“Asher…” she mumbled in a daze as Asher cupped the side of her face in a familiar manner and leaned in, placing his lips over hers. His lips were so warm, and with a small gasp, Aurora's lips parted and allowed him the access he desired. She loved the way he rested his hand on the side of her face but that was until she suddenly remembered who it was.

'What the heck?!’ Aurora suddenly

“I’ll marry you after all this is over” he promised.

Aurora was enraged, angry at him for kissing her and herself for responding to him, in anger, she slapped him across the face. The slap was firm enough to force Asher's face sideways.

Both of them stared at one another, with tension brewing in the air, apart from the quiet trickle of the fountain, nothing else could be heard.

Aurora took a few steps back and one of her hands wiped her lips harshly as if she could wipe the feeling and taste of him away “Yo-You dis-disgusting bastard!” Her voice shook as she spoke, not because she was scared of him but because she was boiling with rage.

Asher slowly lifted one of his hands to his cheek and he let out a low, chuckle that made her stomach tighten in panic.

Aurora stared at him hoping that she could tear his face apart. “Do you think that this is funny?”

Asher lowered his hand from his bruising cheek. “I think,” he said slowly, “You still don't understand the position you’re in.”

Aurora’s chest rose and fell, drawing Asher's attention to her breasts. “Then enlighten me.”

Asher didn't say any more words, he simply reached into his pocket and brought out his phone, still chuckling slowly. At first, Aurora thought that this was one of his meticulous plans but that was until he turned the screen toward her.

…Aurora felt her world stop at the sight of what she said and the colors in her face suddenly drained away.

Her eyes were fixed on the image before her, the image of a man she very well recognized even in her dreams.

It was a picture of a man on the floor. Cohen Braxton. Aurora's father with his face battered, blood flowing from the corner of his mouth in a room that she knew so well. “No…” Her voice came out in a whisper.

Asher didn't say anything, he only watched as Aurora’s hand went to her mouth to muffle her soft cry while her knees shook beneath her. She held the side of her clothes, clenching them.

In the image, Cohen was on the ground, curled up to his side, with one hand weakly against the floor, while he was surrounded by the wreckage of a small room that had clearly been torn apart around him. “Wh- what d- di- did you do?” Her voice weakened in the middle of her sentence.

Asher shrugged nonchalantly and put the phone back into his pocket. “You would be surprised to know that, it was me. But I suppose I had a hand in what happened.”

Tears pooled in Aurora’s eyes as she inquired “Why would you do that?”

“He owed the gambling house money.”

Aurora shook her head with disbelief written all ove

r her face. “That is not true.”