Billionaire's Bride

Old Photos

“See the nerve of that man! He treats me like a doll he can do whatever he wants with, taking me anywhere without even telling me,” Janette fumed, still seething from her earlier argument with Asher. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of frustration.

First, she couldn’t understand why she was forced into this marriage of convenience. Second, her entire life felt like a lie, her dreams now seemed so out of reach. Third, her husband was useless, and without a cell phone, she couldn’t even check in with Erie or update her best friend Anastasia, who must be worried sick. Hot tears streamed down her face as she headed towards the library that Mart had shown her the day before.

Books had always been her sanctuary. Whenever her mother scolded her or school was tough, books were her escape and her motivation.

The library was filled with an array of books, from historical fiction to business tomes. Janette, a romance enthusiast, was disappointed not to find what she wanted. However, she was determined to locate a book by using the library’s digital map, a staple in this tech-savvy mansion. Her search proved successful.

She discovered a dusty book with a dark pink cover. As she brushed off the dust, she noticed several old photographs tucked inside. The first photo was of a couple holding a baby boy.

“This baby looks just like Asher,” she thought, recognizing the man as possibly Asher’s father and the woman as his mother. Asher’s striking blue eyes were inherited from his mother, and his sharp nose from his father. The baby in the photo must be Asher himself.

“He looks so innocent and sweet here, not at all like the arrogant man he’s become.” But then she wondered, “What are these photos doing here?”

Another photo showed Asher’s mother with a familiar-looking woman. The woman’s face struck a chord with Janette; she remembered the locket Eric had gifted her on her wedding day. She compared the photo to the locket and realized that the woman in the photo was the same as the one in the locket.

Eric had said that the woman in the locket was their mother. So, what was her connection to Asher’s mother?

“Why is my life so confusing?” Janette cried out, her tears flowing freely.

“I need to understand what my real life was before I met my Forester family,” she sobbed. She suspected these must be her mother’s books. She set the photos back where she found them and moved to the window. As the cool breeze touched her face, she closed her eyes, letting the wind carry away her anxieties.

Meanwhile, Asher was puzzled about what he had said to upset Janette. Although he wanted her to suffer, a part of him felt compelled to apologize. He shut down his PC with a groan.

“What have I gotten myself into?” he wondered, texting Mart to bring him a cup of coffee before heading towards the library. The library was his favorite part of the house, lovingly designed by his mother.

As he entered the library, he immediately sensed Janette’s presence through a familiar scent. He felt a surge of anger at the thought of her in his mother’s cherished space. He clenched his fists, ready to confront her, but he paused when he saw her.

She looked captivating, her hair flowing with the breeze from the open window—a window that hadn’t been unrolled in years. This room had been a special place for his mother and her best friend Jenna, where they spent countless hours talking.

Asher’s heart ached with longing for his mother. Although he had intended to remove Janette from the room, he was struck by the sight of her sobbing. Her tears pierced his heart.

“My mother always taught me not to hurt others,” a voice in his heart reminded him. He extended his hand, almost reaching out to her, but something held him back. With a sigh, he withdrew and quietly left the room, unnoticed by Janette.