Chapter 4

I raised my hand, then let it drop.

If I hit him, and Blake pressed charges, I'd definitely go back to prison. Especially now that he had money-my money!

"What, no guts?"

Blake sneered, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. That disappointment told me he was deliberately trying to provoke me into hitting him.

I said nothing, just turned and walked away.

From that day on, Seraphina rarely came home.

But every day, my SnapChat inbox was flooded with photos of Seraphina and Blake. Photos of them kissing.

Were they really that addicted to making out?

I blocked them, out of sight, out of mind.

But after I blocked them, packages started arriving every day. They were printouts of those same photos.

They seemed intent on driving me insane.

My mental state worsened. I was often deeply depressed, even suicidal, but then I'd suddenly become extremely agitated, filled with destructive urges.

Julian noticed this when he came to visit. He took me to the hospital. His sister, Dr. Julia Hayes, was a psychiatrist there.

Julian was strikingly handsome. His sister Julia was breathtaking. Hers was an artistic, formidable beauty that made you stare-a reflex, not a desire.

After a brief evaluation, Dr. Hayes's gaze found mine in the ensuing silence, then moved to Julian.

"Go on, Asher can handle it." Julian trusted me completely.

I knew my situation was grim.

"Asher, you might have bipolar disorder."

"You need to start medication immediately, and keep yourself busy. Otherwise, it could be very dangerous." Dr. Julia said sympathetically. "My brother told me you're a man of great perspective and a very open-minded person. How did you end up like this?"

"I went to prison for my wife and my best friend, and they ended up together."

"Now my son disowns me, my in-laws curse me, and even my own parents threaten to cut me off if I don't leave my wife alone."

"And I've lost all my company shares."

"Love, career-everything's gone."

"If I could still be 'open-minded' after all that, I'd be a god." I laughed sardonically.

Julia hadn't expected my story to be so tragic. Besides sympathy, she seemed to feel empathy, almost on the verge of tears herself.

"Don't worry about me. I'll get through this." I even ended up comforting her.

She wiped her eyes, then gave me a diagnosis certificate and a stack of prescriptions.

I didn't let the siblings take me home. I left alone.

Instead of taking the elevator, I wandered floor by floor, trying to waste time.

But when I reached the sixth floor, I froze.

I saw Blake helping Seraphina out of a consultation room. Blake's face didn't look good.

"Asher, are you stalking me?"

Seraphina saw Blake's unhappiness, and her temper flared. Seeing me, I became her immediate outlet.

"No, I'm not." I shook my head.

"Easy, Seraphina. You're pregnant." Blake said.

Pregnant?

I looked at her stomach, and my heart ached. Was she carrying Blake's child?

"Congratulations, Asher. You're going to be a father again." Blake said, gritting his teeth.

"Mine?" I scoffed. "She sleeps at your place every night. How do you know the child is mine?"

"Shut up!" Seraphina angrily walked up to me and slapped me across the face. "I told you, I haven't slept with Blake! So the child is yours!"

"Then abort it."

I dropped the bombshell, turned, and left. This time, I took the elevator.

As the elevator doors closed, I saw Seraphina's face, a mask of shock at my words.

"I was going to break things off with Blake for this child!"

"But Asher, you disappoint me too much!" Seraphina said, gritting her teeth. "You just wait, I won't let you spend another dime of my money!"

Blake's eyes were blazing with fury. He had been so happy, thinking Seraphina would demand a divorce, but she was only threatening to cut off my funds.

I ignored them completely. After leaving the hospital, I wandered aimlessly.

Unconsciously, I found myself in a small alley.

"Don't go any further. This is it."

Blake's voice suddenly came from behind me. I turned to see him, flanked by a dozen men.

"What do you want?" I asked, frowning.

"Alright, you guys, go."

"Don't hit him too hard. Don't actually injure me seriously, but make sure to cut me with your knives."

"Don't touch my face, got it?"

"Then I'll call the police. You know what to say, right?" Blake's voice was unnervingly calm, giving orders as if I weren't even there.

"Oh, and take his phone. Add yourselves as contacts. Transfer a few grand from his account to yours. Then type a message saying he hired you to beat me up."

"So determined to send me back, Blake?" I smiled bitterly.

Blake gave a chilling smile. "Not just back, Asher. I've already made arrangements. Someone inside is expecting you. You'll never disrupt my life again!"

"Now. Get to work." Blake roared.