Chapter 3
Seeing Asher so protective of Grace, my mom, leaning against the wall, couldn't stop herself from trembling. Her frail, hunched body seemed to curl in on itself even more.
I knew she was hurting for me, thinking I didn't deserve to be treated like this. My mom had never lost her composure in front of him before. She always put on a smile whenever he was around.
Asher seemed to sense something was off. Out of respect for an elder, he humbled himself.
Forcing himself to be patient, he started using sign language. "Grace's been through a lot, and she's not doing well. I'm just here to keep her company.
"Once I get her settled, I'll go see Emily and the baby. Emily's so independent. She wouldn't get upset over something like this. Don't you think?"
Standing right in front of him, listening to his words, it felt like someone was twisting a knife in my heart, again and again.
Asher, it had been two whole days. Did he ever spare a single thought for our baby and me?
My mom raised her trembling hand and signed with difficulty, "It's too late. You've lost your chance."
That was right. It was over. He would never see our baby or me again.
After signing, my mom buried her head in her arms, her tears falling in a place where Asher would never see them.
When my mom stopped looking at him, Asher started to look a little uneasy. He quickly pulled out his phone and finally sent me a message.
Asher: [What's with Mrs. Bennett today? Why is she giving me the cold shoulder? Don't say anything unnecessary to her. Just call her and tell her to go home. I promise I'll show up before six.]
It had been twelve years, and this was the first time Asher had ever backed down in front of me. But none of it mattered anymore.
After a long while without a reply from me, he probably realized I was giving my mom the silent treatment.
Still feeling guilty, Asher ended up calling his assistant, Thomas. "Take the documents and my bank card from my desk to the hospital for Emily. Help calm her down and let her know I'll be back a bit later."
That was what Asher had promised me as a reward for bearing an heir for the Blackwell family, 15 million dollars and a building.
Before, I would have taken whatever he gave me, smiled, and forgiven him, just so Asher wouldn't feel awkward. But now, I could never do that again.
A staff member walked over to my mom with a handwritten note that simply said our time was up. My baby and I were next in line for cremation.
But suddenly, Grace shoved aside the cart with my baby and me on it, stopping us from going in.
She stood right at the entrance of cremation room number eight, holding her dog in her arms.
"Asher, the fortune teller, mentioned that this is the best time for cremation. That way, Emmie can make it to heaven and live a joyful life in her next world," she said.
The moment she started crying, Asher couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
He pulled out his credit card and handed it to the staff member. "I'll pay extra. Just let us have this time slot."
The staff member looked hesitant, but Asher's face turned fierce.
"Don't forget who paid for all your new equipment," he said coldly.
That was right. If it weren't for Asher's funding, there was no way they'd ever let a dog and a human be cremated in the same furnace.
My mom saw the staff about to push Grace's dog in and suddenly understood what was going on.
She dashed over like she'd lost her mind, trying to stop them.
She signed rapidly, demanding, "Why are you giving our time to a dog? No, we won't allow it."
Her thin, fragile figure looked so helpless right then.
My mom, who had spent her whole life in silence, was suddenly like a woman possessed, desperately trying to fight for her daughter's justice for the first time.
Upon watching her, my heart ached so much that it felt like it was bleeding.
Grace put on a show of being scared and hid behind Asher. "Asher, what's wrong with Mrs. Bennett? I just wanted to pick a good time for Emmie. Why is she picking on me today?"
As she spoke, my mom stormed up to them, trying to shove both her and the dog out of the way.
Grace looked even more flustered and hid in Asher's arms.
"Asher, I'm scared," she whimpered.
Asher had never faced anything like this before, and he was clearly at the end of his rope.
He grabbed my mom by the arm, putting himself between her and Grace.
"Mrs. Bennett, did Emily put you up to this? Are you here to make a scene because of her?" he snapped. "I already told her I'd come back. Why is she still doing this? She's just making me hate her even more."