Chapter 3

The moment his parents left the room, Asher signaled Parker. It wasn’t long before Parker walked in, his expression indifferent as he surveyed the wreckage on the floor. He had seen this kind of destruction before—his boss had a way of unleashing his fury.

Then, his gaze landed on a crumpled newspaper. His eyes darkened as he read the bold headline:

"Behind the Walls of the Crippled Wood."

His fingers instinctively clenched. Without hesitation, he picked up the newspaper, tore it into shreds, and tossed it into the trash.

The media had been relentless, spreading reports that Asher had secretly married Sheila Phillips, only for her to discover not only his paralysis but also his chronic erectile dysfunction. Within a week, she had filed for divorce.

But it wasn’t just the newspapers. News channels had aired Sheila’s interview, where she openly shared details of their marriage, divorce, and even displayed a so-called medical report proving his condition.

Now, the destruction around the room and the shattered LED screen made sense. Asher must have seen the reports.

"Miss Sheila was forced into that interview," Parker reported, watching Asher’s jaw tighten.

"She left the country an hour later. As for her parents… they vanished overnight. Witnesses say men in a black van took them away," Parker continued.

"The mastermind behind this must have had them taken," he added.

"Find them. No matter what it takes," Asher's voice thundered.

"Our men are already on it. Cruz handled the media well, the news and interviews have been taken down," Parker assured.

"Too late," Asher muttered, his expression unreadable.

Parker sighed. It was true. Even if the reports had circulated for just seconds, millions had already seen them.

Sensing his boss's mood, Parker swiftly shifted the conversation.

"Your wife has settled," he informed, only to receive a piercing glare.

"Miss Aurora has settled," he corrected himself immediately. The look Asher gave him made one thing clear, he did not consider Aurora his wife.

"She requested to see her mother tomorrow. I’ve given her the location," Parker continued, though he knew Asher was uninterested.

"Her mother’s surgery is scheduled in two days," he added, observing his boss’s rigid posture.

"When is Dr. Leonard arriving?" Asher asked gruffly, clearly diverting the topic.

"In two days. By then, she’ll be fully settled," Parker replied.

Silence filled the room. The temperature seemed to drop as Asher’s presence emitted an icy stillness.

Parker took out his phone, typing rapidly before tucking it back into his suit jacket.

"The penthouse is ready. You might consider staying there for now," Parker suggested.

Asher’s head snapped toward him. His assistant knew exactly what he needed. A secluded place to nurse his bitterness.

"Definitely," Asher nodded.

Without another word, Parker grabbed the wheelchair’s headrest. "There’s no need to stay here any longer. Let’s go," he said, pushing Asher out of the room before he could object.

Down in the sitting room, they encountered Layla and Gabriel Wood, Asher’s parents.

"Have a good day," Parker said indifferently as they moved past them. But just as they reached the door, it was pushed open.

"Ash!"

A woman rushed inside, but the harshness in Asher’s gaze stopped her in her tracks.

"I came as soon as I heard," she choked, her voice breaking with emotion. "Why are they doing this?"

Tears spilled down her face, but Asher’s eyes remained cold. He gave Parker a sharp nod. Without hesitation, Parker resumed pushing the wheelchair forward.

Asher didn’t glance back. He didn’t say a word.

As the door shut behind them, Layla Wood broke into uncontrollable sobs. Gabriel lowered his head, resting his jaw on his knuckle.

"I thought she was settled," Ciara Wood, their younger daughter, whispered through her tears.

"She got more than she deserved," Layla muttered brokenly.

The first marriage had lasted barely a day, yet she had been handsomely compensated. The second had lasted a week, and again, she had walked away with a fortune.

"You’re despicable, Sheila!" Ciara collapsed onto the sofa, burying her face in her hands.

"She could’ve just asked for more money instead of humiliating him like this," Layla lamented.

For three years, Asher had endured pain and ridicule, yet he had never allowed himself to break. And still, Sheila had taken millions in settlement, only to turn around and expose his most private suffering to the world.

"If I ever see her again, I won’t spare her," Ciara swore bitterly. "She must pay for what she did to my brother!"

Being crippled was one thing. But for the world to know he was also incapable as a man? That was a wound far deeper than his paralysis.

"I told you not to trust her, Mom!" Ciara sobbed. "I warned you, but you let her in! And now, look at what she’s done!"

She remembered Sheila’s first visit to the Woods' home—her gentle demeanor had seemed too perfect, her smiles too practiced. And she would never forget that desperate glint in her eyes when she suggested they move the wedding up by a month.

They had all been blind.

Sheila had slithered into their lives like a fox, gaining their trust, Asher’s trust, only to betray them. She had stolen their most guarded secret and used it to destroy Asher.

And she hadn’t stopped there.

She had exposed his greatest vulnerability, dragging his self-worth through the mud for the whole world to see.

Gabriel Wood couldn’t stand being in the same room with the wailing women any longer. Rising from the sofa, he strode out of the sitting room.

Once outside, he pulled out his phone.

"Leave no stone unturned. Everyone involved in this must pay," he ordered, his voice cold.

His grip tightened around the phone, his jaw clenched, his eyes burning with rage.

He knew Asher was already working to track down the culprits.

But Gabriel wanted his own revenge.

They had struck his son where it hurt the most.

Now, he would strike them where they would bleed to death.