Feeling sickly

The whole thing that went on inside the office was witnessed by Asher, who felt wronged. For no reason someone she doesn't know had made a mockery of her life and everyone she thought she knew was falling for it, her work place had pretty much left her in shambles, and now even Peterson who was supposed to listen to her was finding solace in the arm of her friend who left her side soon after graduation.

The outcome of her life was becoming the most unexpected joke in the history of all her other celebrated birthdays, since this birthday had only brought her bad luck even after celebrating it just yesterday. It was like her twenty-four years of living had been made into a public joke and a lie, feeling very hurt and also wronged. Asher left the company, not bothering to make her presence known by her fiance who seemed perfectly fine getting away from her.

The long walk towards her home was very tiresome, the very same road that was always close had now felt distance. That very neighborhood which had always seen her as the youngest Miss of an influential family had now cast a heinous gaze at her, looting her figure as she walked across the street like she was going to soiled the ground.

Asher arrived home, finding the gates left open and devoid of the security man. She walked into the compound, and got into the house where she saw the help, and how they looked at her strangely like she was just arriving from the airport after visiting another country.

" Um,.. excuse me! But, what's going on? " Asher asked, suppressing her weak tone from her long and tiresome day she has had. Her question was directed at the woman who had always been in charge of tending to her all the while she lived here.

" Miss Asher, you don't know? " The elderly woman's voice showed a slight edge of panic, and her worry didn't last long before she pulled Asher towards the side and looked at her closely.

" Sir Moss, is very ill, and his situation seemed serious! Madame and Mrs, have taken him abroad for proper medication. " The elderly woman said, holding onto the young Miss's hands to prevent her from worrying.

" But, my grandfather was fine all this while. How could something just trigger his health to such an extent? " Asher asked, the worry in her eyes was slowly replaced by incomprehension as she looked at the elderly woman for more details.

" I'm sorry, I don't know what truly happened with him! "

The elderly woman shook her head slowly knowing how close the young Miss was to the old man of the house.

" How long has it been? "

" Um,.. let me see! " The elderly woman said, racking through her memory like she was slowly trying to get the true timing of the event.

" Well it was immediately after breakfast, after he was done having his meds! " She said.

" What! That's-- " Asher words trailed to a halt when she heard the sound of the car driving back into the mansion premises.

Asher was quick to run off leaving the elderly woman, and arriving at entrance. She stood there visibly panicked and worried to see what, and who it was that was arriving.

The doors into the mansion was pushed open, and in came the old Madame of the household. She walked feebly yet filled with anger, like she was here to carry out an hidden motive.

" Grandma, you,.. I heard my grandfather was--"

What followed was a hand slap, cutting into Asher's words.

The shock stricken Asher could only place a hand on her cheek, where the hand had hit her from the sting she felt.

" Grandma, I , I--"

" Shut up! You insolent girl. " The old Madame of the house, reprimanded Asher. The harsh tone she used in berating her was very hard which made Asher silent, and waited to hear what she did, even though feeling guilty of not being able to see her grandfather off into the airport.

" You ungrateful child! So detestable, and very dirty! "

Asher felt lost, though she knew her grandma never truly liked her presence much, but what could really make her this mad at her.

" Come here! " She lifted her hands and gripped hard at Asher who was still processing everything that was going on. Pulling her by the arm and thrusting her into the couch. The old Madame pulled out a whip from her bag, and began lashing out at Asher.

" Grandma, please! I'm sorry if I have done anything wrong! Please, it hurts! " Asher said, crying from the pain the old woman was inflicting on her.

" You dirty girl, so shameless and how very shameful of you! " She said, amidst releasing the whip on her consecutively with much strength from an elderly woman.

" Grandma please, I'm sorry! Please,.. " she broke into a sob, feeling the pain from each whip released into her pale skin.

The house helps all present in the living room could only stand aside, watching how the old Madame beat up the young Miss.

" Mother please. " A man walked into the living room at this moment, grabbed the whip from the old Madame's hand.

" Mother please, take it easy on her! " The man was none other than Ridge. The son in-law to old Madame, and Asher's uncle.

" Calm down, mother. Father is already worse at the moment, the least we want is getting you worked up as well and also getting hospitalized! "

" Well then get that insolent girl from my sight! She's so disgusting. " Old Madame said, cringing her nose and closing her eyes like she had seen a very disgusting being.

The old Madame was held by the man, and together she left with him towards the stairs where they walked straight for her room.

Asher who felt wronged could only sit up in the couch, and wipe her tears. She wished, if only she knew why grandma was this hard on her for no good reason.

" Oh Asher, if only I could have--"

" No! Don't worry about it, Charlotte, I will be fine. " Asher said, looking at the elderly woman who came towards her in worry.

" Oh my poor child. " Charlotte weeped in silent.

Soon the man returned, finding Asher in the living room where she looked a bit disheveled from the beating she had got from the old Madame.

" Uncle Ridge, I,.. didn't do--"

" Shhh,.. " He placed a finger in his lips and pulled out his cellphone, scrolling through it and finally bringing out a video where he showed Asher her scandal.

" But,.. this, this is not true! " Asher said, still sobbing quietly.

" This was what triggered father's condition, and it was mother's reason for hitting you so hard! " He said, looking at her so pitifully.

" Did you know what you have done? "

" Uncle Ridge, I didn't do anything. The video is a fake! " Asher said, hoping at least one person would listen to her.

" I don't know what you want us to believe, but. You can see for yourself, how this scandal has affected the family. " He said, making a reference to the current state of her grandfather. Which made her sob even more, wishing she could have been here a while earlier.

" I'm sorry Asher, I have to go now! Your aunt needs me. " He said, walking away from the living room and heading out the mansion.