Bound By Lies

Scarlett's Point of View

The needle pierced my skin, and a searing pain radiated from the design, causing my breath to catch with each deliberate stroke.

I used to dislike tattoos, but at this moment, I had no choice. I needed to impersonate Scarlynn, who had a butterfly tattoo on her back-the only feature that could distinguish us. Without this tattoo, Asher would quickly recognize that I wasn't Scarlynn, leaving me with no alternative but to acquire it.

My mom was with the baby while my dad made all the arrangements to swap Scarlynn's identity with mine.

All our relatives were informed that I had died and that Scarlynn had given birth to a baby. This included Asher and his family, but they had not arrived yet; apparently, they lived outside the city.

We had ample time to make all the necessary arrangements. The entire day passed as I transformed myself into Scarlynn, and finally, evening arrived-the Martins were coming to meet their child, which meant Asher would be joining us as well.

I felt a profound numbness, yet the pain still seeped in. Tears streamed down my face as fear gripped my heart.

Many questions swirled in my mind. What if he discovered that I wasn't Scarlynn and harmed my entire family?

What if something were to happen to the baby during the process? No, I couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to her; she was the only person who could remind me of my sister, and I didn't want to lose her.

This reminded me of just how dire the situation was. My entire family's lives were in my hands, and if I made any foolish decisions, everyone could lose their lives. I couldn't allow that to happen.

I cradled the baby, her tiny hands wrapping around my finger as I fed her warm milk from the bottle. Looking into her innocent eyes somehow alleviated my fear, sadness, and heartbreak.

"I wish your sister were alive; she would have been so happy to see her bundle of joy," my mom said, her tone heavy with sadness. A single tear rolled down my cheek.

I still can't believe that my sister is no longer with us; it is just hard to accept. Before I could utter a word, the door to the hospital ward swung open. My eyes widened as I focused on the person entering the room, and my stomach twisted into a knot, a surge of fear coursing through me.

Just when I thought I was prepared to face him, I realized just how unprepared I truly was to meet him.

He walked in with a confident stride, a crooked smile playing on his lips. My heart raced with each step he took toward me until he finally reached the bed, and for a moment, I thought my heart might burst from sheer fear.

He sat at the edge of the bed, bringing his finger to my face to wipe away the tear that was falling from my eye. His touch sent a shiver of dread running down my spine.

"Hey, I'm sorry about your sister. Just know that I'm here for you, okay? Perhaps what happened was for the best? After all, people do die at the end of the day," he said, his tone deep and raspy.

I gritted my teeth at his words; a fire raged within me. How can he claim that what happened was for the best? Does he have no emotions at all? Someone has lost her life, for God's sake; he can't act so nonchalant about it.

"Uhmm," my mother cleared her throat, casting me a knowing glance. "I will leave you two alone," she added. I looked at her, silently pleading for her to stay; I couldn't be left alone with this man who displayed no emotions.

"That would be the best idea," Asher said. My mom ignored my request and walked out of the ward, leaving me alone with him.

"Are you feeling okay?" he asked, his eyes locked onto mine. I attempted to look away, but he wouldn't let me; his finger gently traced my cheek.

I clenched my teeth to the point that my jaws ached; I couldn't tolerate his presence, his touch, or anything about him. I despised him-he was the reason my sister lost her life.

I cleared my throat, attempting to manage my emotions. "I just lost my sister; naturally, I feel sad like any other human being." I struggled to articulate my thoughts, doing my best to avoid saying anything inappropriate.

"Aren't you happy to see me?" he questioned, his gaze turning cold.

I shot him a glare. "Can I please be alone? I just gave birth and lost my sister at the same time; I really don't want to talk to anyone." I forced the words out of my mouth; his presence was suffocating me.

His hand moved to my chin, tightening his grip and sending a sharp pain through my skin. "Don't you love me anymore? Have you changed your mind about us? Is this why you don't want me here?" he questioned, his eyes gazing sternly into mine.

My chest tightened, and my temper flared. Did this jerk physically and mentally abuse my sister? I swear to God, if that were the case, I would kill him.

"Stop what you are doing! You are hurting me!" I exclaimed, my eyes glaring at him without flinching.

I will not allow any man to believe he can physically abuse me and escape the consequences; his actions reveal what a jerk he truly is.

"So much attitude. Did your sister teach you all this before she died?" he questioned, a sly grin on his lips as he tightened his grip on my chin.

I glared at him in silence, determined not to reveal my thoughts. "I know you don't love me, but I love you, and that's all that matters. If you continue with this attitude, I will have no choice but to eliminate your entire family, and you wouldn't want that, would you?" he questioned, his tone barely above a whisper. Rage boiled in my veins as I listened to his words.

He used to blackmail my sister and physically abuse her, while she remained silent to protect us. I felt an overwhelming urge to grab a knife and stab him in the chest right then and there, but the baby in my arms prevented me from taking any action. I simply stared at him in silence. I am not Scarlynn, which means I will not tolerate his nonsense.