I am araya

The impact of the punch he delivered to her face left her reeling in shock, her body arching backward. "I will deal with you later," he rasped, his voice low and menacing, before he leaped into the water to save his beloved.

She stood frozen, her heart racing as she gulped in disbelief, watching him plunge into the depths. How had he gotten there? She knew that no one else was aware of her plans except for her father. Anger bubbled within her as she raised her hands to her stinging, red face, her eyes wide with horror as she stared at the pool.

"I will deal with you later!" his words echoed in her mind, reverberating through her lungs. Suddenly, she turned to run, but before she could escape, Jack grabbed her wrist, yanking her to a halt.

---

**Araya**

I was drowning with every passing second. Panic surged through me as I struggled to breathe, my body paralyzed beneath the water. The cold grip of the sea tightened around me, and I fought desperately to break free. As I struggled, a painful shock coursed through my memory, revealing the image of the innocent Asher floating underwater, on the brink of losing her breath.

"Asher..." I murmured, reaching out to her, but my efforts were in vain. Tears streamed down my face as despair consumed me.

My tears mingled with the water, fading into the depths as the pain in my head intensified, causing my body to shake uncontrollably.

Suddenly, as I helplessly gazed at the dying Asher, memories flooded my mind like a tidal wave.

"I love you, sister. You are my best friend."

"I guess you'll dry up your tears if you don't stop crying."

"Darling, you are a belle as beautiful as the twinkling stars."

"Don't ever kick if you really want to live!" These words echoed in my head, each scene playing out like a reality show on repeat.

A gunshot rang in my ears.

I saw a horrific scene unfold.

I held a pregnancy test in my trembling hands.

My name echoed over and over again, and with each memory that filled my mind, I wept uncontrollably.

"You are mine, sex doll!" a mocking voice sneered in my ears.

"No one calls Luciano Dragrons by his name, and no one tells me what to do." The deep timbre of that voice sent chills down my spine.

I closed my eyes, tears cascading down my cheeks like a torrential downpour as I whimpered beneath the water. The icy chill penetrated my very being, and I knew Asher felt the same.

"We all care about you, and if you don't want to talk about it, I can understand."

Suddenly, I opened my eyes.

"I am your sister! Please talk to me!" I shook and shivered, realization dawning upon me.

I was not only Araya Elizabeth Stewarts, but I was also Asher Kara's mother. If I didn't act now, I would lose my daughter forever.

The thought of losing my daughter forever clawed at my throat, a silent scream trapped within.

Without thinking, I lunged forward, the water a cold, suffocating blanket as I wrapped my arms around Asher. "Don't leave me, Asher!" I choked out, the words thick with tears. "I'm your mother! You've always yearned for my love, and I'm here, finally here, to drown you in it. Don't leave me!" My voice, a desperate, broken plea, was swallowed by the water. Asher's breaths were shallow, ragged whispers against my ear. Panic, a cold fist, squeezed my heart. If I didn't act, if I didn't pull her back from the edge of oblivion, she would slip away, lost to me forever.

 "Just a few more minutes, Asher," I begged, my voice raw with desperation. "Mama's here. Please, please don't leave me." I felt her tremble, a fragile leaf in a storm, and at the sound of my voice, a flicker of strength, a tiny spark of hope, ignited within her.

"Mama..." she whimpered, her voice barely a breath. Then, my blood turned to ice. A figure, a dark, looming shadow, emerged from the depths, a figure that mirrored the nightmare that had ensnared me in its web - Mr. Dragnons.

 Despair, a crushing wave, threatened to drown me. I was so tired, bone-tired, of fighting for my life, of watching those I loved teeter on the precipice of destruction.

Desperation washed over me as I wished to escape this life. I was tired of endangering my daughter's life because of him. He had taken her, only for her to be mistreated by his woman. I frowned as he drew closer.

"Are you okay?" I could see the words in his eyes from a distance, and my fists clenched tightly at my sides. How dare he show his face here after instigating all of this? I struggled in the water, trying to distance myself from him.

In the next moment, without waiting for my answer, he moved swiftly, pulling Asher from my grasp and wrapping his arms around my waist, lifting us both out of the water.

Disgust and anger surged within me, a fiery rage igniting my every thought.

It took a moment to emerge from the water, and as soon as he set Asher down, he began performing CPR. I was drowning in my own thoughts, watching him with a glare.

What must my child be enduring in his hands?

What had happened to my Asher? If anything happened to her, I wouldn't survive either.

Cough...

Cough...

Asher coughed lightly, fluttering her eyelids, and I let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness! I hadn't realized how much I had been holding my breath, the pressure lifting as I clasped my throat and scrambled forward.

"Thank you, Peony. You don't know how much of a favor you've done for me... I owe you one..." 

---

"Are you satisfied, Mr. Dragrons?" I roared, exuding an aura of vengeful dominance.

"What do you—"

"Mama..." Asher interrupted him, her gaze drifting to the devil behind me, held hostage.

"Mama, why did you do that?" she stumbled forward, and my heart sank with sadness as a crowd began to gather around us.

Just then, I saw Ash and her friend Emma walk in. Without a second thought, I ran into Ash's arms and broke down.

"Ash, I'm sorry I couldn't remember you. I'm so sorry!" I cried, fresh tears streaming down my face.

Ash's shocked expression morphed into one of widening eyes. "What do you mean?"

---

**Author's POV**

Ash, Emma, and Dragrons stood in stunned silence, their eyes wide with disbelief. His heart raced as he watched her, numb with shock.

Nora knew she had reached the end of her rope, and a wicked thought crossed her mind. Why not add a little fury to the game she had started?

"Get your filthy, stinky little fingers off me, you ungrateful brat!" she spat, staggering backward as she glared at me.

Everyone turned to her, astonished.

It's a rain after the sunshine, so why not spill all the beans and go down with him? If she couldn't have Dragrons, then no one would, she thought bitterly.

Flipping her hand free, she lashed out at Dragrons. "Your daughter is a bitch without a mother! How dare she call me her mother?" While some lowered their brows in astonishment, others glared in shock.

"You didn't want me to be yours, but you slept with me!" she pointed a finger at him, smirking. It was clear she was stalling for time.

"Of course, I tried to kill her, but you're a bloody murderer yourself," she sneered bitterly.

At that moment, I jolted, glaring at her.

"I hate Asher Dragrons! I hate her existence, and I hate everything about her!" she turned swiftly toward Asher, a despicable grin on her face. "I wanted this stunt dead. I tried everything to kill her. I dug a grave, and you, a mafia, couldn't find the cooperation."

Dragrons was overcome with silence as his eyes shifted to his daughter, who trembled in fear.

Gradually, Asher advanced toward Nora and took her hand. "I know everything about you, miss. I wanted you dead along with your miserable doppleganger."

---

Thud...

The slap she delivered sent Nora flying to the ground, leaving everyone in shock.

"You are proud? You tried to kill my daughter!" I shouted, stepping forward with a fury that burned within me. "How dare you lay your filthy hands on Asher?" I rasped, landing another blow across her face. I could barely contain myself, just as the two young adults stood frozen in disbelief.

Nora raised an eyebrow, peering into my eyes. "Why are you defending her? Why do you love her so much? It's not like she's your daughter."

"Asher Kara Stewart is my daughter! I am Araya Kathryn Elizabeth's daughter! She is her mother's daughter!" I declared, panting heavily.

Everyone trembled, while Dragrons faltered, anxiously staring at me as if I were a ghost.

"You... you... what?" Nora stammered, sitting up, her voice shaky as her eyes widened.

"You heard me! Or is the president's daughter of an elite business tycoon deaf?" I yelled, my voice filled with unbridled ecstasy. Ash and Emma had tears in their eyes as they absorbed this truth.

I turned to Dragrons, fixing my gaze on him, my eyes steely and bloodshot. He trembled, not from fear of the woman he had fallen deeply in love with.

"Araya?" he called softly, lowering his eyes. But I wasn't done. I stepped toward him and delivered a crisp slap across his face, startling everyone.

"What are you doing?" Ash felt lightheaded but managed to make sense of the situation. "What are you doing, sister?"

Unwavering and unbothered, I strode toward my sister and dissolved into tears.

"Take Asher inside," I demanded, and the nanny obliged quickly.

Once Asher was out, without a second of hesitation, I howled, "He kidnapped me, tortured me, raped me, and got me pregnant."

Emma found it hard to believe, directing her huge blue eyes at her brother, knitting her brows. "How dare you lay charges against my brother! He is innocent of these claims, Ara! In fact, he volunteered to take care of Asher. He adopted Asher, made Ash my sister, and took very good care of them."

"What about the time you went missing? He volunteered to search for you. He isn't that kind of person!" Emma defended again.

"I guess he hasn't told you his evil secrets and business," I said, infuriated, as I glared at her. "Ask your brother.