The Worthless Son-in-law: Hidden Legend

Rescue at the last moment

Lauren's fists clenched against the ropes that bound her. She couldn’t let this happen. Her mind raced, searching for any words she could say to Asper to save Maya. But in this moment of helplessness, all she could do was curse Ethan for abandoning her, for leaving her to fend for herself in this cruel place with their child.

"Why?" she whispered, her voice breaking. "Why did you leave me, Ethan? Why didn't you take us with you?" Her voice cracked under the weight of years of unanswered questions.

Asper leaned in closer, his face twisting into a mocking smirk. "That’s not something you’ll ever get an answer to. He chose to run away and left you behind. And you… well, you’re just a pawn in this game now. I can manipulate you and your child as I wish."

Tears streamed down Lauren’s face as she stared at him. She had nothing left to lose—nothing except Maya. And she would fight for her daughter’s life until her last breath.

"If you harm her, Asper, I swear to you, I will make you regret it," she spat through gritted teeth.

Asper chuckled darkly. "Your words carry no weight. You can't even escape from the chains, and you want me to regret it? You're ridiculous," he muttered, tracing her collarbone with his fingers.

"You know, Lauren," he continued, his voice growing colder, "you are so beautiful. I’ve always wanted you. Katherine couldn’t even hold a candle to you. It’s funny how you were both born by the same mother, yet her beauty standard was so... average."

"Why are you telling me this?" Lauren shouted, her eyes burning with fury. "What does this have to do with me? You chose to be engaged to Katherine! You can have my body—just let my daughter go."

"Don’t you know why I chose Katherine?" Asper sneered. "She’s an heiress to the Walker's fortune. What are you? Choosing you would only benefit me in bed."

"Stop all this and do whatever you want to do! My daughter needs the operation..." Her voice faltered with desperation.

"Do you think I’ll let you go after having you?" He interrupted, irritation lacing his voice. Asper chuckled darkly as he unbuttoned his shirt.

"Keeping you as a mistress is so stressful. I had to bring you here to avoid the reporters. But this place suits you well. No matter how much you shout or wail, no one will rescue you."

He unbuttoned Lauren’s shirt and tossed it aside. Lauren shivered as his hands caressed her body. She was now half-dressed, her upper body exposed in only a pink bra. She closed her eyes, tears flowing down her face. She felt dirty as Asper’s hands crawled over her skin. She couldn’t bear it, but she had no choice—she had to endure this for her daughter.

"Will you... will you let the doctor do the operation after this?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Asper’s gaze softened for a moment, mesmerized by her tear-filled eyes. He locked his gaze with hers. "It depends on your performance."

Lauren nodded, her heart heavy with sorrow. Performance? What performance? Ethan had been her only man, and she hadn’t been with anyone else since that night they were set up. What technique could she possibly have?

Her heart pounded in fear as Asper leaned closer, positioning himself above her. Instinctively, she wanted to push him away, but her hands were trapped. She wanted to hide, but there was nowhere to go. She twisted her body, wailing in terror as Asper fiddled with her trousers' zipper.

Suddenly, the door banged open, and a bodyguard rushed into the room.

"Master, master, someone is here for Lauren Damien!"

Asper, interrupted, felt an immediate surge of rage. "Is that why you barged in here? Can’t you see that I’m busy? Who the hell would come for her that you couldn’t handle?" he shouted furiously.

Lauren quickly turned her head, mortified by the scene. She was already humiliated, with Asper sitting on top of her. Seeing the bodyguard only deepened her shame, and she wished the ground would swallow her whole.

"Get out of this room and close the door!" Asper roared.

Lauren, however, secretly hoped the bodyguard wouldn’t leave—at least his presence would delay what was about to happen.

"But… but..." the bodyguard stammered.

"Get out!" Asper shouted again.

As the bodyguard moved toward the door, a gunshot rang out. Before he could react, a bullet struck his forehead, and he crumpled to the floor, blood trickling from the wound.

"Si... len... cer..." That was his last thought, the silencer muffling the sound of the gunshot.

Asper, still processing the shock, didn’t have time to react. The air rushed toward him, and he was suddenly kicked violently. He was slammed into the wall, where he slumped unconscious, his body crumpled in a heap.

Lauren’s mind spun. Who would kill so brutally? And Asper? She wanted him dead, but… wasn’t that too fast? She turned her wide eyes toward him, checking to see if he was truly dead.

"It seems that he’s dead," she muttered in disbelief, fear lacing her voice.