Scarlett's Point of View

After Asher left, I couldn't get a wink of sleep. The baby cried all night, likely due to hunger or because she sensed that her mother had passed away.

I had to take care of her all night by myself because my mom and dad were preparing for Scarlynn's funeral, and Asher only came in the morning, apparently overwhelmed with work.

All his actions demonstrated just how much of a jerk he was, and unfortunately, I had to endure his presence.

Just as the nurses were taking the baby for her bath, the door to the ward opened, and Asher walked in.

I gritted my teeth, striving to control my emotions. The baby had kept me at a distance, but now it was just the two of us.

"Good morning, my love. Did you sleep well?" he asked, a faint smile gracing his lips.

He placed a bouquet of flowers on the stand alongside a box of chocolates.

He sat at the edge of the bed next to me, leaned closer, and was ready to kiss me on the lips, but I turned my face away.

"Good morning," I forced the words out. "I didn't get a wink of sleep; the baby cried all night," I admitted honestly.

The truth was that I absolutely would not allow him to steal my first kiss. At this point, I regret never having had a boyfriend; the mere thought of him being the first guy to touch me made me feel nauseated.

"I should have been there for you, but I had a lot of important work," he said, and I shot him a glare.

"More important than your own family?" I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes.

I am uncertain about how he treated my sister, but I suspect he must have abused her both physically and emotionally.

"What is that supposed to mean?" he asked, glaring at me. I met his glare with one of my own.

"Of course, your work is more important to you than your own baby. Shouldn't you have stayed here last night to take care of her? I just lost my sister, and I had to stay up late caring for the baby all alone," I retorted, unable to contain my anger.

It was evident that this man never loved my sister; he was merely feeding his ego and indulging his obsession. Asher let out a chuckle.

"So, you know how to talk back to me now?" he questioned, his cold gaze fixed on me.

I stared back at him. "Is your ego bruised? Do you want to cry? I can offer you a tissue if you need one. You can wipe your tears with it," I retorted.

I was not Scarlynn; I will not tolerate his nonsense. I just hope he does not notice that I am not her.

His brows furrowed, deep lines etched into his forehead as his anger intensified. I couldn't care less about his fury or anything else. I was determined to ensure he faced consequences for being the reason my sister lost her life.

Before he could utter a single word, the door to the ward swung open, and the nurse entered with the baby. "She fell asleep right after the bath," the nurse informed me as she handed the baby over to me.

I gently took her in my arms and held her close. "Thank you," I said, forcing a smile at her.

"Go and tell the doctor to prepare for a discharge later; we are leaving from here," Asher said.

I furrowed my brows, trying to make sense of his words. "What do you mean we are going home?" I asked, unable to contain my confusion. I can't just leave without attending my sister's funeral; that would be impossible.

"I mean exactly what I just said. Get ready; we are leaving in an hour," he said as he got off the bed.

"I'm not going anywhere without attending my sister's funeral, and you can't force me," I replied firmly.

He was being utterly ridiculous; how could I possibly leave like that?

"You might as well attend your entire family's funeral. It can be arranged if you wish; I'm sure it will be an entertaining event. Get ready; we are leaving," he stated sternly before turning and exiting the room.

I felt tears pricking the corners of my eyes, but my anger prevented them from falling. How could he have blackmailed my poor sister? He was utterly emotionless. I gently placed the baby in her crib; she was fast asleep.

I was trying to remain calm. The nurse left the ward just as my mom walked in. I couldn't help but burst into tears upon seeing her; I lost all composure. She pulled me into a tight hug, gently stroking my hair.

"Mom, I can't live with this man, let alone marry him. He has no emotions at all; he is nothing but a monster who killed my sister," I sobbed, tears streaming down my face and my whole body trembling with both rage and grief.

"You have no choice, my dear. You must go with him, raise your sister's child, and keep us all safe. He won't hesitate to kill us all," my mother said, her voice trembling with sadness.

"Mom, my life will be over. We should tell him the truth now; maybe he will understand," I urged her. I had no issue with raising Scarlynn's baby on my own; I simply couldn't marry that monster.

"Scarlett, telling him the truth would mean our death and the innocent baby's death. Is that what you want? Do you want all of us to die?" my mother questioned, pulling me out of the embrace and glaring at me.

"What will happen to me if he discovers the truth?" I replied, tears welling in my eyes.

They were simply being selfish, casting me into a sea teeming with large sharks.

"This is why you should never let him discover the truth; he won't think twice before killing you," my mother shot back.

I was left speechless, and all I could do was cry my heart out. I had just lost my sister, and facing this reality was unbearable. I felt suffocated, and I thought I might die-not because Usher would kill me upon discovering the truth, but simply from the weight of my grief.

"Start getting ready because Asher has informed me that you will be leaving in an hour," my mother said, her tone now cold and devoid of emotion. She is so selfish; she doesn't care about her own daughter but is more concerned about her own life.

Asher's Point of View

I inhaled deeply, smoke swirling around my face in a haze of nicotine and tranquility. As I exhaled slowly, I felt my tension dissipate.

I sat on the bench, observing the flow of people entering and exiting the hospital.

Everything felt like a cruel joke. It seemed as though the universe was playing a prank on me.

I lost the woman I loved with all my heart, yet I couldn't even mourn her or attend her funeral, no matter how much I longed to. I loved her deeply, but she was gone, and there was nothing I could do about it.

My family has always been the most important aspect of my life. Although I lost my parents at a young age, my grandfather has always been there for me. I would do anything for him.

The reputation of my family was at stake, and I had to do everything possible to preserve it, no matter the cost. Sometimes, you must set aside your heart's desires and concentrate on what truly matters.

"Asher," I  turned my attention to Mister Blackwood. I couldn't believe he thought I was such a fool, but I decided to play along with his game for my own benefit. "Please, let Scarlynn stay for her sister's funeral. It wouldn't be right to take her away before the service," he pleaded, his tone desperate.

I clenched my jaw, my teeth tightly pressed together as I stared at him with a cold, hard gaze. He truly believed I was a fool.

"Did you forget our deal, or should I remind you?" I asked, maintaining unwavering eye contact. "You sold your daughter to my family in exchange for the lavish lifestyle you enjoy now. I can do whatever I want with her, and you have no say in the matter." Rising from the bench, I tossed the cigarettes to the ground and walked away, leaving him pale and in shock.

They could manipulate the truth as they pleased, but the harsh reality was that they had sold their daughter to my grandfather in exchange for wealth while I was in college.

Maybe Scarlynn and Scarlett were still in high school at the time, which is how they became wealthy.

Fortunately, I fell in love with Scarlynn, but she did not reciprocate my feelings. She loved someone else, but due to the repercussions of rejecting me, she agreed to everything, including adhering to our family tradition of providing an heir before marriage.

The only thing left was our marriage, which she could not facilitate, but her sister would take it from there.

As I entered the room, I found Scarlett seated on the bed, cradling the baby in her arms.

Her eyes were red, as if she had been crying for an extended period, while her mother busily packed their bags and the baby's belongings. It was a shame that all her success was slipping away.

Unlike her parents, she was not greedy. She had worked diligently for her success on her own, but her parents' avarice overshadowed everything.

She was unaware of many truths, having been fed nothing but lies by her parents, and had no choice but to accept them as reality.

"Are you ready?" I asked, gazing at her with a cold, unyielding stare. My eyes pierced hers like ice picks, searching for any sign of weakness. She shot me a glare, rose from the bed, took the baby in her arms, and began to make her way out, walking past me.

"Interesting," I thought to myself. Unlike Scarlynn, Scarlett displayed no concern about how I might respond to her if she were to give me an attitude.

It was evident that she sought to challenge me at every opportunity.

A smirk spread across my face as I followed them outside. At least I would have something to keep me entertained; her attitude was quite amusing.

As I approached the car, Scarlett was already seated in the back. The guard opened the door for me, and I climbed in, taking a seat beside her.

"Take care of yourself, my dear," Scarlett's mother said, but Scarlett remained silent, not even glancing at her.

Her parents were the most selfish people I had ever encountered. I was selfish, but they took it to another level. When you combine selfishness and greed, the result is manipulation, which is exactly what they were doing to her. I didn't care about any of it.

The driver started the car, and we drove away from the hospital, heading home. It was a few hours from town, and we would likely arrive in the afternoon.

The ride was quiet until the baby began to cry. I wasn't particularly fond of babies, but it was a family tradition that a daughter-in-law must bear an heir before getting married. I couldn't defy my grandfather, but now Scarlett would have to care for her sister's child on her own. I would provide material support, while she would offer love and nurturing.

Unexpectedly, Scarlett placed the baby in my arms and handed me the bottle. "You haven't held your daughter since she was born. How about you feed her some milk and put her to sleep before you leave again?" Scarlett said sternly, her tone devoid of emotion.

She must have been angry, but her attitude was unacceptable. "What the heck? Just take her away from me immediately, or else!" I threatened sternly, but she scoffed.

"Or else what? Are you going to harm my family because I made you hold your own baby?" she retorted, glaring at me. A chill ran down my spine as I listened to her words, and my anger boiled within me.

"Of course, I will. Just take this baby away from me," I muttered through clenched teeth.

"Spineless jerk," she muttered before taking the baby back and soothing her. As she fed the infant milk, she sang a lullaby.

I couldn't comprehend where she found the audacity to speak to me that way. I would need to put her in her place before she displayed this attitude toward my grandpa, and I knew precisely how to accomplish that.

Scarlett's Point of View

The driver steered the car into the driveway of a luxurious villa. As much as I wanted to admire its beauty, my life was too dull to appreciate anything beautiful. My chest weighed heavily, but I took a deep breath, trying to lift the burden.

I couldn't afford to break down right now; a lot was at stake, and keeping my emotions in check was my only option.

I pushed the door open, clutching the baby to my chest, and stepped out of the car. The guards rushed over to Asher's side, swung the door open, and he stepped out; a line of maids and guards stood by the entrance, all dressed in white and black. I couldn't help but roll my eyes; typical rich people, just trying to show off at their best.

Asher loomed beside me. "Scarlynn, you'd better be respectful to my family, or else?" His eyes narrowed, like he was boring into my soul.

I scoffed. If he thought he was going to scare me, then he had another thing coming. I wasn't scared of him, and I wouldn't let him bully me like he did with my sister.

I shrugged, my shoulders rising and falling in a careless motion. "Or else what?" My tone was unfazed. "Oh, I totally forgot, the great Asher Black will kill my whole clan, right? Oops, sorry, but guess what, I don't give a damn."

Brushing past him, my shoulders knocked against his... "Welcome back, Miss Black," the maids and guards said in unison. I said nothing and proceeded to make my way inside, only to stop in my tracks.

The whole family gathered at the entrance, gifts clutched in their hands. I furrowed my brows, trying to understand exactly what was happening here; it seemed like they were all weird, just like Asher, or else why would they stand here like idiots?

"Welcome back, daughter-in-law," I turned my attention to the calm and authoritative voice. His lined face and air of authority told me that he was the head of the family, probably Asher's grandpa. I just hoped they wouldn't push my limits to the point of venting my emotions on all of them; I was already going through alot.

The lady who seemed to be Asher's grandma walked forward, a smile stretching on her lips as she peeked at the baby. "She is beautiful," she extended her hands over to me, and I placed the baby in her hands. "Her name is Ashley," she muttered.

I rapidly blinked, my eyes racing to keep up with the scene in front of me. What the heck, would they name the child just like that, without even considering the parents of the child?

"But..." Asher didn't let me finish my sentence; he snaked his hand around my waist. I gritted my teeth, trying to remove his hand, but he was unfortunately stronger than me.

"Shut the hell up, and don't you dare say anything," he muttered in my ear, his tone cold and stern.

"Why the heck should I keep quiet? Don't I have the right to name my own child?" I retorted impatiently, my teeth clenched.

"Utter a word and along with your sister, you will also bury your family," he threatened.

A fire raged inside me, fueling my fury. "What more can you do? Spineless jerk!" I shot back. Asher let out an amused chuckle.

"Try me, and you will see what more I can do."

My nostrils flared, my breath quick and ragged. I swear this man was going to be my first murder case. I was simply going to kill him one of these days . I decided to keep quiet and let them do as they pleased.

"Thank you, dear, for bringing us our daughter home as a token of appreciation; we've prepared these gifts for you..." Grandpa's voice trailed off.

“Please accept them…” He added

A lump formed in my throat, but I swallowed it. “Grandpa, I don't need these luxurious gifts.” I said, trying hard to sound as polite as I could; I just hated being here and all these lies.

I just wished I could tell them all the truth and end this matter here, unfortunately, I was helpless; I had no choice but to lie.

“Look at her trying to act innocent and perfect; we all know you are nothing but a gold digger.” My attention snapped to the voice, my eyes locking with hers; judging from the way she speaks, she must have treated my sister poorly, and I was going to show her the worst side of me…

The other lady standing next to her laughed. “These countryside pumpkins always try to act noble but are actually social climbers.” The other lady said, her tone dripping with disgust.

A smirk spreads across my face, my lips curling upward in amusement, a dark thrill runs through me, a shiver of excitement, the kind of evil excitement.

I walked directly to them, my eyes holding a steady gaze on hers. I stood in front of the lady who was first to speak, amusement dancing in her green eyes as her finger twirled around her hair.

“Take back your words.” My voice is low and smooth, a velvet-covered razor. My gaze left hers; each one of them will pay if they ever disrespected my sister. I was nothing like Scarlynn; I fought my own battle, and I won't let anyone make me their doormat.

“Or else what?” She challenged me. I let out a chuckle. I reached up, my fingers tracing the contours of her face, until they tangled in her hair, and I yanked, causing her to wince in pain.

“Take back your words.” I tightened my grip around her hair, her desperate screams filling the whole house.

“Let go of me, you bitch; what the heck do you think you're doing?” She tried to push me away, but I wasn't going to let go easily. I don't know who she was, but whoever she is, she won't try it again. I will use her to set an example for everyone who has hurt my sister.

“Daughter-in-law, what kind of behavior is this?” Grandpa's voice echoed inside the house, but his words fell into deaf ears.

“Scarlynn, what has gotten into you? Why are you behaving like a wild animal?” Granny shouted. The other lady tried to remove my grip, but I wasn't a weakling; no woman here can stand against my strength.

“Scarlynn, stop it.” Asher spoke, his tone lazy and bored. God knows what this jerk might do to my family if I don't listen to him. I decided to release her hair, but not gently. I pushed her so hard that she fell to the ground, bursting into sobs. The other lady rushed to her.

“Scarlynn, what kind of behavior is this? Is this how you behave with your sister-in-law?” Grandpa asks, his tone stern. I turned my gaze to him.

“So she is allowed to disrespect me, and I'm not allowed to defend myself?” I shot back. Asher threw a glare at me, but I ignored it. I have realized just how much he never loved my sister; he threatened her, and his family mistreated her, and he did nothing.

“Scarlynn, you were never like this; what has gotten into you?” Granny shook her head in disbelief. I rolled my eyes in annoyance. I walked over to her and snatched the baby from her hands.

“Please show me my room; I need to feed my baby and rest.” I said curtly. If I stayed here another second, I was going to do things I would regret later, and I didn't want that.

“You can't just leave; you need to apologize to my granddaughter.” Granny shouted, and I scoffed.

“Yes, you should apologize.” Grandpa added. I just wonder what made them think I was going to apologize. They made my sister's life a living hell; they left her with no will to live. She didn't even try to get treated because of them. I was going to make them all pay.

“I am not going to apologize, and no one here is going to force me,” I declared, my tone firm. “Please show me where my room is. Surely you don't want this newborn baby to starve to death.”

“This is not over,” Grandpa said sternly. I locked eyes with him. “Take her to your house.”

Asher said nothing. He started walking upstairs, and I followed him quietly. He was just a useless jerk. My sister was bullied in front of him, yet he did nothing. He just watched like a useless fellow and then claimed to love my sister. What kind of man was he, who does that anyway? I was sure of one thing: if my sister hadn't come here, she would still be alive today. He killed my sister.