Page 79 of Devious Delusions

It’s my wedding anniversary and I’m sore because of another man. No. Not just a wedding anniversary, aten-yearwedding anniversary. I’ve been married for a fucking decade and even if I don’t remember making the vow or anything about those years it doesn’t detract from what I’ve done. WhatI amdoing.

My skin turns cold, and I hold the card limply as I sit on the chair. The world is further away and I’m not in my body. Time slows down and I’m numb. There’s something deeply wrong inside of me. I can’t find another explanation of why I’m hurting someone who has only ever been there for me. Our mistakes from childhood aren’t enough when that Asher isn’t the man who he’s shown me to be now.

A sob erupts from my stomach and my vision blurs as I bring my arms up to cover my face. I hide from myself and cry, alone. Every instance of my fractured memories spin in a reel and I can’t make sense of any of them. The only time I feel like myfeet are planted firmly are the instances I have Ghost. He’s not a figment of my imagination and I’m not crazy.

But reality is me cheating on my husband.

A husband who never remembered my birthday when we were dating, but he sent me flowers while caring for his sick mother. The promise he gave me when I woke up in the hospital in this life that doesn’t feel like mine adds to my despair.

“I’m not a boy anymore. I’m a man now.”

GOING DOWN

ASHER 17 YEARS OLD

My dad stands in his office, looking out at the city while shaking his head. I don’t look up as I tap on my phone to get the party organized for my birthday in a few months. The little lap dog tries to make the unimportant bastard feel better as Kane clears his throat and begs for his treat.

“Dad, I’m sure whatever has happened isn’t the end of the world.”

I grimace with each word he says. My reflection is pathetic as fuck. It’s embarrassing having someone like Kane be the person who’s privileged enough to have my face, when he takes after our mom and cares about things, people.

The point is proven by him looking at me and gesturing for me to say something that will make Dad feel better. I only have to breathe, and my parents will fall over themselves in pride. If he wants their approval, I’m not going to speak on his behalf. He can do it himself.

So, I stand and speak to Dad’s back. “I’m going to take the lake house for the full month of my birthday. I’ll be home after it’s over and you can send the cleaners when I’m back.”

Kane stands like a fucking idiot and scoffs. He stares at me with my face, and I pat his cheek as I say, “Keep this clean for when I need it, reflection.”

He pulls his head back and I pat my thigh to get Delilah to stand up. The movement gets his attention, but he doesn’t say anything—another flaw he has. How can someone who is physical perfection be so deeply wrong? Everything about him inside is the opposite of who he should be. It’s empathy and selflessness. Fucking disgusting.

Delilah’s manners are like my own and she huffs as she stands. Dad turns and looks at her. It’s not perverted. I’d probably have more respect for him if it was. He only cares about my relationship because he thinks it makes me happy when I couldn’t give a fuck about her as a person. I need her daddy’s money and connections to consolidate it with my own family’s wealth. Then I’ll have everything as the heir and Leroux son-in-law.

Placing my hand on Delilah’s nape, I tighten my fingers and guide her out. She’s been in a foul ass mood since I picked her up and I’ll have to have a conversation with her mother about the way she behaves. It’s no different as we leave the office, and she tries to push me away by swinging her elbow back at the same time as she pushes herself forward.

My fingers tighten around her nape and she’s like a little puppy choking on her yelp. Nora, Dad’s receptionist, gives me a disapproving glare and I return it as I pass her desk. She’s younger than his last receptionist, but she dresses like a bore. The smart attire is useless at hiding what her real role in his life is. No man in his position should allow his power to go to waste so he better be fucking her.

“One day that office is going to be mine, and I’m going to chain you to your desk by your neck so you can’t lift your head,” I whisper with glee.

Delilah throws her elbow back again and hisses, “Stop being a dick.”

I nearly laugh at the fact she’s reprimanding me. She’s a bitch, a cruel one at that. If she thinks I don’t know about her fucking my pouty brother, she’s deluded, but she’s doing worse to him than I ever could by making him believe that she actually possesses any care for him. She fucks anything that looks in her direction and he's too in love with her to notice. When the time is right, for maximum pain, I’ll show him all the videos of her drooling on different cocks to the point that she can’t even keep her eyes open. We might even bond over it and compare notes about how loud we can make her scream.

The elevator doors open as we approach, and I smile over my shoulder at Nora. “Look at you being helpful for once. Or do you just want me to leave so you can fuck my father?”

I push Delilah ahead of me and let go of her since we’re going to be trapped in the elevator as I watch the uptight Nora turn to hide her grimace.

The cameras won’t stop me from disciplining Delilah like her parents told me to. They’re supportive, unlike my own, who only meddle in my life. As soon as the elevator doors close, the shiny steel is a mirror to show me my little bitch standing proudly in the corner. I stretch my arm to the side without turning and press the button for the ground floor. My lips twitch as Delilah flinches and I wait until we begin our descent from the seventy-eighth floor. As soon as the cables hum, I turn and ask, “Do you feel better now that you told him about your bruises?”

Her jaw hardens and she looks at me with murder heating her eyes, which is new. I’d successfully taken that quality awayfrom her and she’d stopped fighting back. With everyone else she’ll act like a bitch because her daddy is from an important family, but we’re on equal footing with my own family being as powerful…

“Fuck you, Asher,” she spits out.

I grab her hair as my other hand balls into a fist while I smile into her pathetic glare and I bend her head back, forcing her to look up at me. Her eyes are darker, the bright blue has turned into a dark navy, and she dares me.

“Go on. Hit me again, you little fucking bitch. Remember to smile for the camera though.”

I shift to the side and cover her body from the camera’s view as I lean into her. My arm doesn’t cock back fully as I push my fist forward into her stomach and she swallows her scream. The pain is shown on her face, and I tighten my hold on her hair to whisper into her ear. “I told you I won’t ever let you leave me. Try it again and I’ll fucking kill you.”

My fist lands on her side and knocks the air out of her. She slumps against the wall and grips the handrail to remain standing as I let go of her hair. I step to the side and turn my head to look at the camera as I lift her jumper and expose her tits. There are red spots forming on her ribs and stomach, but whoever is watching will be distracted by her body as I roughly pull her bra down. Pressing my middle finger to my thumb, I flick her nipple and she whimpers.

---