" Richard, how could you do this to me? I thought the happiness of this family meant more to you than your masculine desires…" Ashley asked as her face revealed a mix of anger and sadness.
Richard snorted, "What do you mean by 'my masculine desires'? I'm only doing what I feel is best for this family" he said while he stroking his secretary's pale back on their matrimonial bed as she clung onto him like a leech.
"Grace can't stand the sight of you, and Henry doesn't like you any better. In fact, I am with Linda because the kids adore her. Unlike you, you disgust them. You're not fit to be their mother." He spoke nonchalantly which only infuriated Ashely even more. 'How could he do this to her after only two years of being married to him.
Ashely had always known that Richard never liked her and this was not news to the entire Michaelson's family. This was as a result of the arranged marriage between Richard McBrien and Ashley Michaelson. It was a loveless relationship and anyone could tell just by looking at their wedding pictures.
Ashely didn't expect much from him but this… this was unheard of. Her family had given her up to this widower just so they could get rid of the only unwanted cousin in the house while they leech off her father's company. If only her parents were still alive, none of this would have ever happened.
##
Eight years ago, her parents were involved in a gashly accident that claimed their lives and after then, her uncle pounced on her father's wealth as though it was his to claim.
Ashely could still remember the first thing he said when he came home from the funeral, "Your father has entrusted everything to me. He wrote in his will to hand over every asset of the Michaelson to me. Don't worry Ashely, I will carry you under my wing and take care of you even though it's going to be a burden on my finances. By the way, your father's company isn't doing well anyway and we might be needing to sell off most of his assets if we want to keep the company going."
He made every word sound as though he was doing her a huge favor by letting her stay with him. He was the only family she had and her only shot at survival because she was made to believe that her father's business was in shambles and the people her father owed would coming after her.
##
"Linda, Linda…. Look… look at my painting." Grace pushed past Ashely and rushed straight to the adulterous secretary. Even the kids treated Ashely with disdain. They never acknowledged her to be their stepmom unlike Linda who the cherished as though she were their real mom.
"Oh that's beautiful my dear" Linda responded with a big smile across her face. She then leaned in and whispered something to Grace making the little girl giggle.
Soon after, Grace walked up to Ashely and suddenly looked coy, "Ashy… do you want to see my drawing?" She asked in a very respectful manner than stunned Ashely. Grace was never like that.
"Yes sure, I would love to." Ashely smiled gentle and crouched to Grace's level. Putting aside the duo that were under her skin at that moment, she focused solely on Grace. How could she say no when Grace had never been so polite towards her till now.
Suddenly, that coy face turned into a devilish smirk "NEVER" She giggled then shouted, "now Henry…" before Ashely could process what was going on, she felt a sting on her face then a burning sensation.
"Ahhh…" she screamed. Her face… it was hot… it was hot… at first, she could hear the sound of giggles but soon, everyone was calling for help and that was all she could remember…
Daya turned into weeks before Ashely became responsive again. Unable to open her eyes, Ashely moved her fingers and the nurse that was tending to her quickly alerted the doctor.
"Ms. Michaelson? Ms. Michaelson if you can hear me I need you to lift a finger." He requested and she raised a finger slowly.
The doctor sighed. "Alright" he said with a straight face and turned to the nurses, instructing them to get the pain relief ready seeing as Ashely would only feel pain here on.
"You're in the hospital but you're getting better and soon, you'll be all better and free to go home." He said gently.
She raised her fingers slowly indicating that she could hear him.
With that, he turned around to leave but she suddenly grabbed unto his hand. It's was as though she could see through the bandages wrapped around her face.
Confused, Dr Lee looked at the small hands that held onto his and then looked over at the nurses who were stunned. No one dared touch Dr. Lee without his consent, it was as though he was allergic to reflex touch.
Some nurses speculated that he was allergic to touch while other though he had a skin disease. A very few minority suggested that he could have OCD while the majority believed that he had a phobia for women considering the fact that he never really related much with women let alone, let them touch him.
However, what followed next was much more shocking. Dr. Lee used his other hand to hold onto Ashley's small hand before seating on the small stool. "What? Do you want me to stay?" He asked in a gentle tone and her fingers raised slowly.
The nurses's jaws dropped. Were they dreaming or was this a scene from a movie? How… Impossible.
"Well, I have other patients to attend to…" he said but he could feel her hands shaking. It was as though she was asking him to stay without saying a word.
"Well I guess I could come back and check how you're doing once I finish my shift." He said reluctantly and after a few seconds, he saw her finger rise slowly again indicating that he could go for a while. There seemed to be an understanding between the two even though one was mute and the other was doing all the talking.
As he walked out of the room, Dr. Lee could not help but wonder what got into him to make him give into her re
quest just like that. "Was I bewitched?" He wondered.