THIRD PERSON POV
Ace's eyes never left his father's face, the anger and hatred simmering just below the surface. He remembered the sight of his mother lying on the ground, her face pale and her body limp. The memory of her blood spreading across the floor fueled his rage, and he could feel his fists clenching at his sides.
His father's words cut through the air, but Ace didn't flinch. He didn't react. He just kept staring at him, his eyes burning with fury. The silence between them was wild, heavy with unspoken words and unresolved tension.
His father's face twisted in anger, his eyes flashing with indignation. "You had the audacity to reassign the people I terminated?" he repeated, his voice rising. "Do you have any idea what you've done, Ace?"
Ace's jaw was clenched, his teeth grinding together as he struggled to contain his emotions. He remembered the sound of his mother's voice, frail and scared, and the sound of her body hitting the ground. The memories threatened to overwhelm him, but he pushed them back, his focus fixed on his father.
The air was thick with tension as Ace's father took a step closer, his eyes blazing with anger. "You will regret this, Ace," he spat. "You will regret the day you ever crossed me."
Ace's eyes never wavered, his gaze locked on his father's face. He knew what was coming. He knew that his father would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. But Ace was ready. He was ready to face whatever his father had planned for him. Bring it on, but his eyes widened in horror as his father pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "The location I shared earlier with you, make sure you eliminate that Sharon girl," he ordered, his voice cold and calculating.
Ace's eyes sparked with anger, and he felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins. He moved towards his father with a force that was almost primal, his fists clenched and his face twisted in rage.
But just as he was about to strike, he suddenly dropped to his knees, his eyes welling up with unknown feeling's. "Please, Father, don't," he begged, his voice shaking with emotion. "Don't hurt her. I'll do anything, just don't hurt her."
The room was silent for a few seconds, the only sound the heavy breathing of the two men. Ace's father stared at him, a mixture of surprise and amusement on his face. Then, he spoke into the phone, "Hold on," before cutting the call.
"Now you call me father..." His father spoke
Mrs. Langley, Ace's stepmother, stood beside them, a wicked smile spreading across her face. She seemed to be enjoying the spectacle, her eyes gleaming with malice as she watched Ace beg for Sharon's life.
Ace's father looked at him with a mixture of disdain and curiosity. "You're really willing to beg for this girl?" he asked, his voice dripping with skepticism. "After everything I've done for you, Ace? This is how you repay me?"
Ace's face was twisted in anguish, his eyes pleading with his father to stop. He knew he had to think fast, to come up with a plan to protect Sharon. But for now, he could only beg, his pride and dignity laid bare on the floor.
Ace's mind was racing as he tried to think of a way to save Sharon. He knew he couldn't get to her before his father's men did, and the only person who could help her was Zion. But he didn't have Zion's contact information, and he was at a loss.
His father's words cut through his thoughts, and Ace felt a glimmer of hope. "If you are able to stay away from Sharon, then she has no problem living," his father said, his voice cold and calculating. "Your mother and Sharon are going to be fine. But if you keep on having interactions with her and neglecting your wife Diana, then there's going to be a lot of problem."
Ace's eyes narrowed, his mind working overtime. He knew his father was trying to manipulate him, to use Sharon as leverage to control him. But he also knew he had to play along, at least for now.
"If I see your improvements with Diana, your wife," his father continued, "then I'm going to let Sharon leave, and maybe even give her a job opportunity."
Ace's face remained impassive, but his mind was racing. He knew he had to pretend to agree to his father's terms, to play the role of the obedient son. But he also knew he would do everything in his power to protect Sharon, no matter what it took.
"I understand, Father," Ace said, his voice neutral. "I'll do as you say."
His father nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Good. I knew you'd see things my way, Ace. Now, go back to your wife and make sure you're seen in public with her. Show everyone that you're committed to your marriage."
Ace nodded, feeling a sense of unease. He knew he was walking a tightrope, but he was determined to save Sharon, no matter what it took.
Ace's father nodded curtly and said, "You're dismissed, Ace. You can leave now." But Ace just stood there, frozen in a moment of despair. His mind went blank, and for a split second, he felt lost and helpless.
His stepmother's voice cut through the silence, her tone dripping with sweetness and malice. "You just have to comply with your father, Ace, so things don't go south for all of us." Her words were laced with a subtle threat, and Ace felt a shiver run down his spine.
He didn't respond. He didn't need to. He didn't even need to listen to her wicked voice, the voice in his head was screaming with anger and frustration, but he pushed it aside. Without a word, he got to his feet and walked out of the room, the sound of his footsteps echoing through the silence.
As he walked out of the mansion, the cool night air hit him like a slap in the face, snapping him out of his trance-like state. He didn't look back, didn't dare to. He knew that if he did, he might just lose control and do something that would put Sharon in even greater danger.
Instead, he kept walking, his eyes fixed on the darkness ahead. He knew he had to come up with a plan, and fast. He couldn't let his father win, not when Sharon's life was at stake. The thought of her being hurt because of him was unbearable, and he felt a surge of determination course through his veins.
He would do whatever it took to protect her, even if it meant sacrificing his own happiness. The thought was a cold comfort, but it fueled his resolve. He would get Sharon out of this, no matter what it took.
As Ace's memories of that night faded away, he found himself back in his apartment, sitting on the couch. The anger and frustration he had felt earlier still lingered, and his mind was racing with thoughts of Sharon and his father.
He looked around the room, taking in the familiar surroundings. The dim lighting, the sleek furniture, the large windows that offered a view of the city. It was a place he had always considered a sanctuary, a place to escape the pressures of his life.
But now, it felt empty and cold. The memories of that night still lingered, and he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in his stomach.
As Ace sat on the couch, he couldn't help but think of Sharon, alone in her house. He remembered when he brought her to his place, the way the house had felt lively when she was there, the way the air seemed to vibrate with her presence. But now, in her absence, the house felt dead and empty.
The silence was oppressive, and Ace could almost feel the weight of Sharon's absence. He stood up, shaking off the feeling, and headed towards the door.
As he walked, he muttered to himself, "I have a false wife to get home to." A wry smile twisted his lips, and he chuckled humorlessly. He had a role to play, and he would play it to perfection. But for now, he had to get back to Diana, his wife on paper, and pretend that everything was normal.
The thought was suffocating, but Ace pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand. He would do what it took to protect Sharon, even if it meant going through the motions with Diana. With a determined look on his face, Ace walked out of the apartment, ready to face whatever lay ahead.