Chapter 14: The Burden Of Secrets
1149 Words
Ash stood in front of his door, the handle cold beneath his trembling palm. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.
He stared at the envelope.
He couldn’t let her see. Not yet.
He pushed the thought away, forcing himself to focus on the one place he still called “home.”
The lock clicked open.
His wife, Tessa, sat on the couch with her arms crossed, her expression already pinched tight in disapproval. She didn’t even have to say a word; Ash could feel her anger and frustration, he was too.
“You’re late” Her voice was sharp, weary. “And you come home looking like that?” Her eyes darted to his shirt, to the stains, the smell. “Ash, what is it this time? Did you lose your driving job? Did you get kicked out again?”
Ash dropped his eyes, setting his bag carefully near the door, away from her gaze. He couldn’t risk her curiosity leading her to open it.
“I… it wasn’t my fault,” he muttered, his voice raw with exhaustion. “Things didn’t go as planned. But I’ll fix it. I always fix it.”
Tessa let out a humorless laugh. “Fix it? Ash, you’ve been saying that for years. And what do we have to show for it? Overdue rent notices. Empty cupboards. Our daughter…” Her voice faltered, and she clenched her jaw before standing up, her arms gesturing in frustration. “Do you even understand what it’s like for me to come back home with giving her excuses of why she wasn't allowed in school? Do you know what that feels like?”
The words cut deep. Ash's shoulders slumped, guilt clawing at him. “Tess, I’m doing my best. I swear. Just give me time.”
Her eyes softened for only a second, then hardened again. “Time doesn’t pay bills, Ash. Love doesn’t pay school fees.”
There it was, that school fees comment again, half-slipped, half-swallowed. Ash's head snapped up. “What do you mean by that? Tess, what happened?”
She looked away, her hands wringing against each other. For once, her sharp tongue hesitated. “It’s nothing you need to worry about tonight. Eat something and.."
“No.” Ash’s voice came out firmer than he expected, surprising even himself. “Tell me.”
Tessa exhaled shakily and finally met his eyes. There was no anger this time, only a quiet shame that mirrored his own. “She was sent home again, Ash. Today. They won’t let her sit in class until the fees are paid. This isn't even the first time. She’s just five. She shouldn’t have to carry that kind of shame.”
The words hit Ash harder than any humiliation at the Langston Group. He pressed his hands over his face, fighting to keep himself from breaking down. His daughter, his little princess, sent home like that? Because of him?
“I’m sorry,” he whispered through his hands, the words cracking. “I’m so, so sorry.”
Tessa's voice softened, the edge finally dulling. “I know you are. But sorry won’t change things. We need solutions, Ash. We need help. That’s why…” She hesitated, then stepped closer. “That’s why I think you should talk to Brook"
Ash lowered his hands, confused. “Brooklyn.” He didn't know why but Brooklyn had started developing bad attitudes towards him. Though he fought hard to hide it, he could smell the detest dripping in his voice anytime he went to beg him for money. Hence, why he thought it was a bad idea
“Yes. Brooklyn.” She crossed her arms again, but this time it felt more like a shield than an attack. “Your friend. Your best friend. He’s a CEO, isn’t he? Of a big company. If anyone can help you find real work, it’s him. Don’t you think it’s time you swallowed your pride and asked for help?”
Ash's throat tightened. Brooklyn. They hadn’t spoken in months, really. Not since Ash started noticing his behavior shift. Maybe he did a good job hiding it before but it just started showing. Brooklyn had always been the one destined for greatness: sharp, ambitious, polished. Ash, the orphan boy who scraped by, had always been the one trying to keep up. The thought of walking into Brooklyn's pristine office, begging for a chance… it made his stomach churn.
“I can’t,” Ash said, shaking his head. “Not like this. He’ll look at me and see a failure. He’ll see everything I’ve lost.”
Tessa’s jaw tensed. “Maybe he’ll see someone worth helping. Or maybe you’d rather let your pride be more important than your family?”
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Ash's hand drifted to the bag at his feet. Inside was the truth—an inheritance, a bloodline, an empire he hadn’t asked for. He could change everything with a single revelation. He could tell her, right now, that their worries might soon be over. That they wouldn’t need Brooklyn or loans, or begging. That their daughter would never be turned away again.
But the words wouldn’t come. He saw the disappointment Tessa had nursed for years, the broken faith. If he told her now, she wouldn’t believe him. She’d laugh it off as one of his wild dreams. Worse, she might think he’d finally lost his mind.
No. He had to protect the secret until he understood it himself. Until he knew it was real.
So he swallowed it down and forced a nod. “I’ll think about it. About Brooklyn”
Tessa studied him, searching his face, but didn’t push further. She sank back onto the couch, her exhaustion finally showing. “I just… I just want a better life, Ash. For us. For her. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“I know,” Ash whispered. “Me too.”
The silence returned, softer this time. Only the hum of the TV filled the room. Ash sat on the edge of the couch, his mind a storm.
Then his phone buzzed.
He pulled it out, half-expecting another bill reminder, another humiliating notice. But it wasn’t. It was a message from the secretary at Langston Group.
“Location attached. Be there by 7:30 AM sharp. Do not be late. You will be driving the CEO.”
Ash’s heart skipped.
Tessa leaned forward. “What is it?”
He quickly slid the phone back into his pocket, forcing a casual tone. “Just… work. Just someone I have to pick up tomorrow"
Her eyes lit up with fragile hope. “Really?”
“Yeah.” Ash forced a smile he didn’t feel. “Really.”
Then, he remembered he hadn't seen his little princess since he came back..
"How about Nora" Ash asked.
"She fast asleep" Tessa shrugged.
- Writer
