Chapter 5 My wife

As Ethan walked into his father's office, a smile spread across Mr. Reynold's face. "What brings you here son?" Mr Reynold asked, adjusting his eyeglass.

Ethan made himself comfortable in his father's office before he proceeded. "Father, there is something I want us to talk about."

Mr. Reynold furrowed his brow, wondering what his son wanted to talk about. He took off his eyeglass and dropped it on the table, next to a pile of documents. "What is it you want to talk about son?"

"Father, I would love to introduce you to my girlfriend as soon as possible." Ethan stated bluntly.

Mr. Reynolds froze, shocked by what Ethan had just said. He thought he hadn't heard right, so he asked. "What did you just say?"

"I am sorry I didn't tell you this earlier, I was waiting for the right time to go do so. Father, I have a girlfriend, and I'm planning to get married to her."

Mr. Reynolds' eyes widened in surprise as he stared at his son. Then, like a dam breaking, a wide smile spread across his face. "Oh my God! Son, why didn't you tell me about your girlfriend? How long have you guys been dating? Where did you guys meet? When can I meet her?" The words rushed out of Mr. Reynold's mouth, excitement palpable in his tone.

"Father, I know you have millions of questions to ask but I can't answer them all right now. However, be rest assured that you'll meet my girlfriend in a day or two as we will be coming to have dinner". Ethan stated plainly.

"Oh my! Yes! Yes! Come for dinner as soon as possible. I am happy for you son," Mr. Reynold voiced. "I can't wait to start the preparation for the wedding!" He added.

Ethan's face instantly furrowed in displeasure. "I'm sorry, Father, but there will be no wedding between my girlfriend and me as we have already decided to get married in court."

The smile on Mr. Reynolds's face instantly disappeared, and his features turned dark. "Nonsense! No son of mine will get married in court! A proper wedding must be held!" Mr. Reynold declared as he slammed his hand on the table.

"Father-".

"Ethan, you will have a proper wedding and that is final!"

Meanwhile, Lauren settled on the bed in her new room, her thoughts swirling with uncertainty about her future. She had learned that Mrs. Liva had been working for Mr. Ethan since he was four, after he lost his mother. Mrs. Liva was his housekeeper and one of the women Ethan cared for.

Lauren took time to study her room before she proceeded to have her bath. She called her father after showering and it was confirmed that Ethan had provided her father with the money to pay off his debt.

"This shouldn't be so bad. I just have to get used to this new life," Lauren thought to herself, referring to how she would make the best of her arranged marriage with Ethan.

As Lauren checked her phone, a flood of emotions overwhelmed her, triggered by the screen saver photo of her and Asher at the beach. Tears welled up in her eyes as she remembered the beautiful moments they had shared on that day. Not wanting to drown in her past, Lauren deleted the picture and changed the screen saver before she cried herself to sleep.

A few hours later, Lauren woke up and almost immediately, she heard a knock on the door. "Come in," She voiced and Mrs Livia walked into the room.

"Ma'am, you have a visitor," Mrs Livia announced and Lauren sighed. She had repeatedly told Mrs Livia to stop addressing her as 'ma'am' but Mrs Liva refused.

Lauren shoved her hand through her hair as she asked. "Mrs Liva, did you just say I have a visitor?"

"Yes dear, he is waiting for you downstairs." Mrs Livia stated calmly.

With a furrowed brow, Lauren silently followed Mrs Livia to the lower floor, her mind racing with questions as she wondered who her visitor might be.

As Lauren descended the stairs, her eyes landed on a figure that made her heart stutter. Her jaws dropped, and her lips parted in shock as her mind struggled to process the sudden appearance of the person she thought she had left behind.

Asher, Lauren's ex-boyfriend, stood in the middle of the living room, pacing back and forth with an air of restless energy. His eyes, those piercing green orbs that Lauren once drowned in, suddenly locked hers and her world froze.

Without warning, Asher closed the distance between them as his hands enveloped Lauren's palm in a warm, urgent grasp. Mrs Livia was long gone as she decided to give Lauren some privacy with her visitor.

"Ash, what?" Lauren started but her word got cut in her throat.

"Lauren, I'm so sorry," Asher whispered, his voice trembling with emotions. "I was so wrong, so foolish to have done that to you! I'm truly sorry." Asher apologized, tears streaming from his eyes.

Lauren's eyes flashed with a mix of shock, anger, and hurt as she jerked her hands free from Asher's grasp. She took a step back. "W-what is the meaning of this? Why are you here?"

Asher staggered a bit but his eyes never left Lauren's face. He took gentle steps closer before he began. "Lauren, I need to explain what really happened". Asher said, his words spilling out in a rush. "I didn't want to break up with you, Lauren. I never planned it. Please believe me."

"Then why did you do it?! Why?!" Lauren yelled, her heart thumping loudly within her ribcage.

Asher's gaze faltered and he looked down at the floor in shame. "Your sister made me do it. She set a trap for me and I fell into it like a fool."

"What do you mean? What trap did you fall into?" Lauren's guard remained up, but her curiosity was piqued.

Asher's face twisted in regret as he recalled his encounter with Lisa a few days back. He ruffled his hair with his hand before he started. "Lisa came to my office some days back, and she told me about your father's plan to marry you off to a certain billionaire. I asked Lisa why your father would do that, but she refused to tell me why."

Asher heaved a deep sigh before he continued. "Lauren, I lost my mind the moment Lisa told me about your father's plan! I could have asked you about this, and I could have gotten some investigation done, but I wasn't thinking properly; my mind was a mess."

"Lisa noticed my confused state and she offered to help me. She told me she would take your place and get married to the billionaire if I followed her plan. I was a fool to have trusted her." He whispered the last sentence.

"Lisa told me to break up with you and pretend like I was having an affair with her. She told me that if I did that, she would volunteer to marry the man your father arranged for you". Asher looked up at Lauren with teary eyes before he continued. "Lauren, believe me, I didn't know Lisa just wanted to hurt you. God...I was such a fool to believe her. I didn't even think it through." Asher cried out.

Lauren's defenses began to crumble, her expression softening. She believed Asher's words as she recognized Lisa's manipulative patterns. Asher was innocent and gullible, so it was easy for Lisa to manipulate him. Also, Lauren had never told Asher anything about Lisa so Asher might have thought Lisa was pure like Lauren.

"A-asher, you could have told me about this." Lauren said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I tried to call you but I guess you blocked my number. Lauren, if I had known your father's company was going bankrupt, I would have provided you with the money. My company has been doing very well in the past few months, so I'm very capable of paying off the debt," Asher stated truthfully. He moved closer to Lauren until they were inches apart. "I'm so sorry Lauren, please allow me to make this right."

"B-but my father has already signed an agreement with Mr. Ethan. I-I really don't have a say in this." Lauren voiced.

"We can think of something Lauren. Let's think of something to get you out of this forced marriage." Asher said, his eyes burning with intensity.

Lauren moved back, her mind racing with so many thoughts. "I-I don't know, Asher, I think you need to leave. I need time to myself right now. I am...confused."

Asher's face drew closer, his lips inches from Lauren's. "Please don't send me out. Let me fix this please."

Lauren's heart skipped a beat, her pulse racing as she felt the familiar warmth of Asher's breath on her skin, sending shivers down her spine.

All of a sudden, her skin prickled with unease as the air in the room thickened, growing heavy and oppressive. Then, a familiar low, menacing voice cut through the air.

"What are you doing with my wife?!"