Chapter One

'Take the blame'.

Asher had just returned home from a long stressful day at work. He heard some weird rumours at work, but he was really sure if it was true.

Well that wasn't what mattered to him right now. Today was his wife's birthday and he hoped to have a blissful celebration it with her like he did every year. 

He has known his wife Elena for eleven years, married to her for seven years. Yet his love for her renewed with each passing day.

Asher nudged the living room door open and was met with a tense and eerie atmosphere. Mr Andrew Miller and his wife Grace sat together on one couch,while Elena sat on another couch with her hands folded. He couldn't really read the expression on his in-laws faces, but his wife's face was heavy, it looked like she had been crying.

That was what really mattered now. He hates seeing her in tears.

"Elena" Asher rushed to his wife ,who covered her face with her hands as their eyes made contact.

Asher misunderstood the situation and thought he was in trouble for getting soaked up in work and coming home late, as today was Elena's birthday 

"Baby, I'm so sorry for coming back at this time. There were some things that needed my urgent attention at the office". He said, running to hold her hand.

"It's fine, babe". Elena said, not making eye contact with him.

"Then what's wrong darling, why are you so gloomy?"  Asher asked, briefly glancing at his in-laws.

"Look, Asher, something urgent came up". Andrew finally said.

"What do you mean?" Asher asked, impatient to know what made his wife's face like this. He didn't like seeing her like this.

"No!,Dad,let me" Elena called, cutting off her father who wanted to speak. Looking back at Asher who looked lost and disoriented, she continued.

"Daddy was accused of money laundering by the board of directors".Elena said, embarrassed, causing Asher's eyes to open up in awe. " Dad said he didn't do it, he was framed and I believe him" Elena added and Asher's eyes trailed to his father in-law.

"Oh!!. That's not good," Asher said,genuinely pitying the man who didn't give a shit about him. What he heard in the office came out to be true.

"No it's not," Elena agreed. "Our firm is one of the fastest and biggest growing firms in the country, if it's found out by the public that the owner is laundering money, all my parents have worked hard for all these years will crumble" she said almost bursting out into tears. Asher wrapped his arms around her. He didn't really care about his in-laws as they have always demeaned him. But he cared about his wife. And Elena loved her parents.

"I heard about that in the office today. Everyone was talking about it". He said, and Elena burst into tears again.

"You know what to do right, Asher?, it's time to keep your end of the deal" Andrew said, adjusting himself on the couch.

Asher swallowed hard and his heart skipped a beat. He bit down  his tongue as he should have already grown accustomed to his father in-law's husky voice by now. For the past eleven years living with the Millers,he had been belittled and scorned by his in-laws because of his background.

"What are you talking about?" Asher inquired, confused.

"Have you suddenly developed amnesia?" His mother in-law sneered at him.

"I don't-" Asher's voice trailed off.

"Here" Andrew Miller said as he threw a big brown envelope Asher recognised immediately on the table.

Perplexed, Asher tentatively picked up the envelope, he knew what the content held. He remembered vividly who he was and what led to him signing that contract. He clearly remembered that his in-laws bought him at an auction house years ago when he was just 18 years old and made him sign this contract in exchange for him marrying their daughter after going to the university   and earning a spot in their firm. 

His mind trailed back to the night of the auction……

*****

"Tonight we present to you the main event of the evening". The auctioneer announced through gritted teeth.

18 year old Asher, who had just been sold off by his foster parents was pushed into a metallic cage and bounded.

"The auction price starts at $five hundred thousand dollars". The man announced and Asher could feel a cold breeze run through his body.

"$Six hundred thousand dollars". One of the millionaires sitting in the crowd said through the microphone installed on their table. 

"$Eight hundred thousand dollars. I have never had a young male blood all to myself". Another one said, erupting laughter throughout the auditorium.

Different prices were thrown in the air until….

"$Four million dollars". A male hoarse voice rang throughout the auditorium, impacting absolute silence, that even the music playing in the background stopped playing.

There stood Mr and Mrs Miller in all their glory, dressed and adorned in luxurious dresses.

Ever since that day, Asher regarded them as his saviours. He adored them, even though they always treated him as trash.

But what Asher didn't understand was what it had to do with this case.

"I..I don't understand" Asher said, his eyes moving from Grace to Andrew.

"What don't you understand?" His mother in-law asked with frustration.

"I-"

"You agreed to do as I said, should in case crises arise in the future. It's in there you can check."

"Dad!!" Elena scolded as her father scoffed.

Asher hurriedly opened up the envelope and scanned through the contract. His father in-law was right. It was written at the end of the second page, slightly under his signature in a hidden clause and in a smaller font.

"Ok!! so?" Asher asked, dropping the envelope on his lap.

" Take the blame. Go in my place'' Andrew said bluntly,with no expression whatsoever on his face. 

 

"What?" Asher's eyes widened with shock.

"Dad" Elena yelled, drawing her father's attention to her.

"Temporarily honey,it's temporary"  Andrew clarified as he stood up, looking from his daughter to Asher. " If Asher takes the blame, for the money laundering, it won't cause an issue for me and the firm" 

"Are you saying Asher should go to jail? Wow!! Dad, I know you dislike him, but this is too extreme" Elena tried to reason with her dad while Asher sat there,lost for words. 

Wow!!.

"As I said,it's temporary. Look Elena-" Andrew explained to Elena as though she was the one asked to go to prison. " If word gets out about the money laundering, you know what it will do to me, the firm. You know what it will do to us. Besides, it's only for a few days as there is no evidence yet."

Elena stared at her father in shock and back at Asher who felt like a spectator in his own life's drama.

" Look at him," Grace said with disgust and contempt. " Good for nothing, such a nuisance. He's been nothing but a burden to this family. But he can't do this simple thing."

Elena sighed , watching as Asher was mistreated and insulted. There was nothing much she could do. She was helpless as Asher when it came to her mother.

" What made you think this useless boy would help?" Grace queried her husband. " I have always been against you giving our only daughter to him. If we had stuck to our original plan of just placing him the firm and later on framing him, Elena here would have married the Wilson's son as she originally wanted and our lives would have been much more different now".

Asher felt his hands closing in a fist. How dare they wish his wife to marry another person. He would rather die. 

"I accept" Asher spoke suddenly, all eyes turning to him.