Unwanted visitor
Ashlyn
I never thought things would come to this. Ashley... Not once did it cross my mind that she was capable of such wickedness. The lies, the manipulation, the desperation. It was a level of cruelty I never imagined she'd sink to.
I was in Asher’s room, carefully packing the things he could bring to his mother’s house, something I never wanted to do. If I had it my way, he would never leave my side. But just like Marco said, defying the court order might only make things worse for us. We could lose even the little right we have left.
The law isn’t always fair. And it hurts more when you know it's wrong, but you’re powerless against it.
“Ma’am, what if something happens to Asher when he’s with her?” Rere’s voice trembled as she gently placed Asher’s vitamins into a small bag. Worry was etched across her face.
I let out a slow breath. “Don’t worry. Asher will come back to us,” I said, trying to sound strong for both our sakes. “Marco and I won’t stop until he’s with us again.”
“But… I still don’t get it,” Rere pressed on, her brows furrowed. “What did the judge see in that woman to side with her? Didn’t anyone look into her record or her past?”
Realizing what she just said, she quickly covered her mouth, guilt flashing in her eyes. Maybe she remembered that Ashley was still my sister.
“It’s okay,” I said softly, offering a faint smile. “I understand how you feel. I know your concern is for Asher.”
“I just… I saw how she treated him back then. He was barely a few months old, still a baby. And she only acted like a caring mother when Sir Marco was around. It was all for show.”
“I know,” I replied, walking over to her and gently squeezing her shoulder. “But right now, we have no choice but to follow the law. But that doesn’t mean we’re giving up. Marco won’t let his son stay with someone dangerous, even if that someone is his own mother.”
“The truth is, Ma’am… I’m scared,” Rere admitted, her voice cracking. “I remember how she was when she lived here, always shouting, always threatening. She had no respect for anyone, not even the house staff.”
“I know,” I said quietly. “But that was back when she lived under our roof. Now, she no longer has direct access to Marco. I’m sure she’ll try to use Asher just to get close to him again.”
“She’ll do anything, won’t she?”
I nodded, my chest tightening. “Yes. And that’s what scares me the most. But at the same time… I also believe that no matter how twisted she is, she won’t physically hurt Asher. Not while the court is watching.”
After a while, we finished packing. We brought the bags downstairs, where Marco was already waiting for us. He wore a simple polo and slacks, but the heaviness in his eyes betrayed the calmness of his appearance.
As soon as he saw me, he walked up and held my hand tightly.
“We’ll get him back,” he said with quiet determination, though worry flickered in his gaze.
I nodded and gave a small smile. I knelt in front of Asher and hugged him tightly.
“Mommy is going to miss you so much, baby. Always stay safe, okay?”
My voice trembled as I held back my tears.
“I love you, Mommy,” his little voice replied as he wrapped his arms tightly around my neck.
“I love you too, my baby. Always and forever.” I cupped his cheek and kissed his forehead.
I buried my nose in his hair and inhaled his familiar baby scent. It broke my heart. Because I knew the next person he would see as “mother” was someone he barely knew, his mother by blood, yes, but not by heart.
I just hoped and prayed that Ashley wouldn’t hurt him. That somewhere deep inside, there was still a shred of humanity left in her or even a mother instinct.
When Marco and Asher left, I stayed in the living room, surrounded by silence, Maya, and the house staff. Even our baby was quiet, as if she, too, sensed the weight of the day. I tried to distract her with toys in the playpen, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Asher’s face… the way he kept glancing back as he and Marco left.
“I agree with Sir Marco’s decision not to let Ma’am Ashley here,” Rere said from the kitchen while organizing something. “But… I’m still worried. What if she causes a scene at his office?”
“That’s what I’m afraid of, too,” I muttered, pressing my fingers to my temple. “But I also know Marco. He won’t fall for Ashley’s theatrics. He has limits. And if she dares to cross them… she’ll lose.”
I spent the whole day anxious. I tried focusing on Maya, feeding her, bathing her, singing lullabies. But as the hours passed, my heart grew heavier.
Then Marco called.
“Ashley picked up Asher already,” he said flatly. No emotion. No explanation.
It felt like ice water was poured over me.
I didn’t ask for details. I didn’t have to. I knew, and I could feel that Marco was hurting just as much. He just wasn’t the type to cry. But I knew this decision shattered him, too.
Now, all I could do was wait.
Days turned into weeks. Our routine slowly changed. We were allowed to see Asher on weekends, just two days a week. Thankfully, everything went smoothly. There were no issues. No bruises. No signs of harm.
Every time Asher came home to us, I would carefully check every inch of his little body, searching for any scratch, bruise, or mark. My chest would ease only after confirming that his skin was clean and smooth.
“I always check him too whenever Ashley brings him over,” Marco once said. “Don’t worry, I’m keeping a close eye.”
I remember nodding silently, grateful for his vigilance.
The next court hearing was scheduled in three weeks. And now it is a Monday afternoon. I knew Asher was with Ashley since Marco had dropped him off that morning. So, I wasn’t expecting anyone at our gate.
And definitely not her.
“So this is where you’re hiding, my husband? You slut!” Ashley screamed from outside.
The subdivision was quiet, with few people around, but thanks to her outburst, it wasn’t unlikely that neighbors would start peeking from windows or opening their doors.
“Shut up, Ashley. You know exactly what you did,” I snapped, stepping forward but not past the gate.
“You think you’ll become a family with Marco? No! That’s never going to happen! We have a child together, and he’ll always come back to me. Don’t you know what we do every time we exchange Asher?”
“You don’t have to tell me, Ashley,” I said coldly. “Because I already know what Marco tells you, and that is to take good care of his son. That’s all. You can’t manipulate me with lies. I trust him. And speaking of Asher… where is he? Isn’t he supposed to be with you? Did you abandon him already?”
Her face twisted with rage. “You bitch! Come out here! Come out!”
But I wasn’t stupid. I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction. She could scream all she wanted outside my gate. Let her exhaust herself. She thought she could fool me again with her lies.
Not anymore.